My Dear GuardianĀ Episode 20 Recap
> My Dear GuardianĀ Recap
Mi Gu was convinced that Liang Muze was in love with Xia Chu. She pointed out that Liang Muze had allowed Xia Chu to hug him, had provided his bank card for Liu Ran's medical expenses, and even personally delivered homemade cake to her office, especially when she worked overtime.
Mi Gu insisted that Liang Muze's actions were obvious enough to indicate his feelings, but Xia Chu felt that romance required a sense of ritual, like a confession and a promise. Mi Gu playfully asked if Xia Chu was admitting they were romantically involved, then suggested that if Xia Chu liked Liang Muze, she could make the first move herself, likening their relationship to a "layer of window paper" that anyone could break through.
Xia Chu then asked if Mi Gu had made the first move with Zhuo Ran, to which Mi Gu confirmed, adding that after her confession, she realized the distance between them was "more than just one step away." Meanwhile, Zhuo Ran reported to the Old Master on the progress of their operations, mentioning that they had re-contacted buyers and expected remaining goods to be sold soon.
The Old Master was quick to note that the police had already been alerted, suggesting someone might have provided them with information. He criticized Zhuo Ran's carelessness, stating that Liang Muze's sudden appearance had disrupted their entire plan and prevented them from eliminating all witnesses. Zhuo Ran acknowledged that Liang Muze was their biggest obstacle moving forward and implicitly suggested dealing with him.
However, the Old Master rejected this, reminding Zhuo Ran that the incident in Willick had already drawn the attention of the Chinese Embassy, and he wanted to avoid any further complications. He prioritized securing Xia Guang Yuan's experimental information, instructing Zhuo Ran to win him over quickly. Zhuo Ran explained he was attempting to gain influence with Xia Guang Yuan's assistant, Tang Lin, who was involved in writing all the experimental reports and could help them acquire information faster.
The Old Master inquired if the "daughter route" was no longer viable, then suggested they pursue both avenues simultaneously, emphasizing the need for clean and precise work to avoid more trouble. Zhuo Ran assured him he understood. Before leaving, Zhuo Ran asked the Old Master about his father's death. The Old Master reiterated his previous story: his father had been shot by Chinese military police while fiercely guarding goods during a raid.
Zhuo Ran alluded to Gui's dying words, which contradicted the Old Master's account. But the Old Master dismissed Gui as untrustworthy, claiming Gui would say anything to survive, and asked Zhuo Ran to trust him instead. Zhuo Ran affirmed his trust in the Old Master. At the hospital, Zhang Yichi updated Xia Chu on Liu Ran's condition, explaining that her information had been uploaded to the OPO system, which would automatically assign a suitable lung if found.
He thanked Xia Chu for her dedication but also shared his initial reservations about installing ECMO due to the uncertain nature of organ donation and the torturous waiting period for the patient. He stressed that waiting was their only option now to avoid rendering all their efforts futile, calling it a true test for everyone involved. Later, Liang Muze contacted Xia Chu, asking her if she was done with work and to meet him at a nearby supermarket.
While at the supermarket, Liang Muze and Xia Chu chatted. Xia Chu noticed Liang Muze's unusually sweet demeanor, uncharacteristic of his usual aloofness, which he attributed to making too many desserts. Xia Chu then returned Liang Muze's bank card, promising to transfer the money for Liu Ran's medical expenses once her financial investments matured.
Liang Muze offered to count her contribution as a donation, but Xia Chu insisted on repaying it as a loan first, suggesting she would make her own donation afterward. Over dinner, Xia Chu pressed Liang Muze to explain how he deduced Liu Ran's suicide attempt without having met her.
Liang Muze revealed that a relative of his had experienced similar trauma, which he explained was the source of all their current odd behaviors and sensitivities, likening them to edges carved by pain. This conversation revealed the depth of Liang Shaoxue's past suffering, dating back to kindergarten. Later, back at home, Liang Shaoxue prepared to visit Tian Yong at the Special Forces Brigade.
She decided to borrow Xia Chu's clothes, acknowledging they weren't her usual fashionable style, but were necessary to enter the military base. Xia Chu took the opportunity to advise Liang Shaoxue on how to present herself, suggesting lighter, more lively attire and a natural, "no-makeup makeup" look, emphasizing that it appealed to "straight guys." Liang Shaoxue initially resisted, wanting to maintain her mysterious and sexy image, but ultimately took Xia Chu's advice.
The scene shifted to Tian Yong at the Special Forces Brigade, where he was assigned to care for a parrot, affectionately called Master Le Tian, and to persuade its adopter to take it home. Liang Shaoxue arrived at the base, looking noticeably different. Tian Yong, surprised, stumbled over his words before complimenting her appearance with poetic descriptions. Liang Shaoxue thanked him and suggested they go to register and then visit Master Le Tian.
Tian Yong expressed concern about the parrot's unusual "sardonic laugh," which he explained it had learned from the Brigade Commander. Liang Shaoxue found the laugh unsettling, but Tian Yong philosophized that the world would be boring if only those who looked good were allowed to laugh. Liang Shaoxue remarked that Tian Yong was more like a poet than a soldier, albeit an "ugly" one whose every "wrinkle" radiated "wisdom."
She then expressed her desire to be his friend and politely asked for them to release hands as it was improper. She tried to exchange contact information via various social media platforms, but Tian Yong, who only used his phone for calls, seemed unfamiliar with them. She then gave him her phone number, telling him to call and even suggesting writing letters if calls were missed.
Seeing Liang Shaoxue's changed attire, Liang Muze commented to Xia Chu how happy Rao Feng would be to see her. Xia Chu responded that a girl's ideas about clothing, makeup, and life were constantly changing, and it was best to let them grow freely without too much pressure. Liang Muze then asked Xia Chu about her aspirations in life. Xia Chu described her ideal life: wearing a doctor's robe to save lives and being with the person she loved.
When Liang Muze asked if she had achieved it, Xia Chu looked at him and replied that she thought she was "almost there." As they grew closer, almost sharing a kiss, the moment was abruptly interrupted by a pet's bark. They then playfully argued about who should do the dishes. They decided on a pushing game, with the loser taking on the chore.
Xia Chu, despite initially protesting that she couldn't possibly win against a Special Forces soldier, managed to push Liang Muze onto the sofa. He fell in a way that led to an accidental kiss. Embarrassed, Xia Chu quickly recovered and declared her victory, sending Liang Muze to wash the dishes. Liang Muze, however, revealed it was all a "trick," implying he let her win. Later, outside, Tian Yong thanked Liang Shaoxue for taking care of Master Le Tian.
Liang Shaoxue then posed a poignant hypothetical: if a person had suffered deeply and looked "ugly" when they laughed, would they still have the right to laugh? She questioned if others would blame victims for their suffering, allowing criminals to go free while the injured were tormented, even deeming their laughter wrong.
Tian Yong countered that no one had the right to judge or condemn those who had experienced such pain, advising her to disregard them and find her own happiness. He emphasized that true happiness did not need to be proven to anyone, and those who genuinely cared would always prioritize her joy.
He then asked if she truly loved Master Le Tian, and she confirmed she did, adding that since the parrot came into her life, she no longer needed to recite poems to herself. Tian Yong gently added that she had him now, and he would listen to her recite poems every day. When she asked if he liked ancient poems, he replied, "I like you. . . and the poem that you recite."
As Liang Shaoxue's ride arrived, she bid farewell to "Mr Tian," who advised her to sit in the back for safety and call him when she got home. Xia Chu suddenly received an urgent call from Zhang Yichi, informing her that a suitable lung for Liu Ran had become available from a brain-dead donor. The system had quickly reassigned it to Liu Ran after the previously matched patient unexpectedly passed away.
Zhang Yichi, short-staffed, asked Xia Chu to go to the airport to retrieve the lung immediately. Thrilled, Xia Chu quickly rallied Liang Muze to join her. In the car, Xia Chu calculated the critical time frame, realizing they had to deliver the lung to the operating room before 4:00 PM to ensure its viability. Liang Muze drove at high speed.
Unbeknownst to them, Zhuo Ran had intercepted their conversation and, using the platform "City of Desires," placed a bounty to intercept Liang Muze's vehicle. As they rushed back from the airport with the precious lung, Liang Muze noticed they were being followed. He instructed Xia Chu to secure the lung container, then accelerated to shake off their pursuers while Xia Chu urgently called Rao Feng for assistance. Rao Feng, upon learning of the pursuit, quickly mobilized his team.
However, before Rao Feng's support could arrive, Liang Muze's car was forced off the road and plunged into the sea, resulting in the immediate death of one of their pursuers. Liang Muze quickly rescued both Xia Chu and the lung from the water. They borrowed a nearby motorcycle and sped towards the hospital, arriving just in time to deliver the lung to the operating room. As Xia Chu handed over the lung, Zhuo Ran unexpectedly appeared.
Xia Chu instinctively recoiled, a nervous reaction given their past encounters. Zhuo Ran, however, produced a check, stating it was his donation to help fund Liu Ran's surgery, which eased Xia Chu's tension. Just then, Zhang Yichi called Xia Chu into the operating room to observe the procedure, prompting her to quickly change into surgical scrubs. After Xia Chu entered the OR, Zhuo Ran departed. Mi Gu called him to remind him of a movie premiere they were supposed to attend that night, but Zhuo Ran politely declined, claiming he had urgent work to finish.
