My Dear GuardianĀ Episode 22 Recap
> My Dear GuardianĀ Recap
Chen Mengzhen and her son, Luo Xiaojun, were flying a kite at a park when they encountered Zhang Yichi. Noticing their difficulty, Zhang Yichi offered to help fix the kite. Though Luo Xiaojun was initially skeptical, Zhang Yichi quickly repaired it, even playfully giving Luo Xiaojun some "medicine" to drink, which he claimed would make the kiteāand perhaps even Luo Xiaojunāfly. Luo Xiaojun, impressed and now believing him, drank the "medicine" and joined Zhang Yichi in flying the kite.
Zhang Yichi then addressed Luo Xiaojun's previous question about marrying his mother, stating he intended to show his utmost sincerity and spend time with Chen Mengzhen in a way she preferred. He admitted he didn't know the outcome but asked Luo Xiaojun for some time, which Luo Xiaojun agreed to.
Zhang Yichi handed the kite string to Luo Xiaojun and sat beside Chen Mengzhen to chat about her work as a scriptwriter, designing wedding dresses, and her experiences as a single mother. Chen Mengzhen shared her initial struggles as a single parent and how Luo Xiaojun has been her source of strength and courage. As they talked, the kite string broke, and Luo Xiaojun and Zhang Yichi quickly ran to retrieve it.
Meanwhile, Xia Chu and Liang Muze were out enjoying their day. Xia Chu repeatedly asked if Liang Muze was jealous, but he avoided the question, which annoyed her. She rode her bike in silence, pulling ahead of him. When they stopped, the runaway kite headed straight for Xia Chu, but Liang Muze quickly caught it. Seeing Chen Mengzhen and Zhang Yichi together, Liang Muze expressed his concern about Zhang Yichi's extensive romantic history, deeming him unsuitable for Chen Mengzhen.
However, Xia Chu argued that Zhang Yichi was not in the wrong, believing he simply sought true love, and wanted to encourage a relationship between them. Their argument quickly escalated into a debate about the nature of love and suitability, with Xia Chu also questioning Liang Muze's own dangerous profession and his perceived prejudice against her friends, including Zhuo Ran and Zhang Yichi.
Their debate was cut short when Zhang Yichi and Chen Mengzhen returned with water, seeming to have overheard their heated discussion, leading to an awkward silence. On their way home, Liang Muze received a call from Liang Shaoxue, who informed him that their maternal aunt-in-law, Mu Min, was in town for a business trip and had already arrived at his home, excitedly preparing for a "second renovation" of the house due to their perceived progress.
After parking, Liang Muze reminded Xia Chu that she was still his girlfriend for appearances. Xia Chu, amused, then questioned if his earlier kiss was also just to make Liang Shaoxue believe their relationship. Liang Muze denied this, admitting he genuinely liked Xia Chu but couldn't offer a commitment at that moment, which deeply disappointed her.
When Xia Chu pressed him further about his feelings, he offered an apology for causing her unease, but stated he was unable to give a commitment currently, causing her to feel confused and hurt. Upon entering the house, they found Mu Min attempting to send Er Miao, the cat, away, claiming it was no longer suitable to keep, citing advice from a "master" and suggesting she had found it a new home.
Liang Muze quickly picked up the cat, then noticed something unusual about Er Miao's collar. After a quick search, he found a professional tapping device hidden inside. Liang Muze immediately took the tapping device to the police station. Rao Feng asked if he had any suspicions, and Liang Muze directly named Zhuo Ran.
He explained that Zhuo Ran had previously arranged to switch the sleeping pills Xia Chu was bringing him, though Zhuo Ran claimed it was out of concern for Xia Chu. Liang Muze had never fully believed that explanation, especially given the suddenness of the pill switch after Xia Chu had only improvised the medicine the night before.
Liang Muze also mentioned that he had already taken precautions after suspecting someone had entered his home, but the community surveillance had yielded nothing. The discovery of the tapping device made him immediately think of Zhuo Ran again, especially considering Zhuo Ran was Xia Chu's first love and Xia Chu was now living with Liang Muze. Rao Feng noted Zhuo Ran's high vigilance, as he had repeatedly evaded surveillance while frequently traveling between Ningjiang and Dong'an.
Rao Feng then revealed that Zhuo Ran had saved Liang Shaoxue at Yunshan Tunnel, which Liang Muze found highly suspicious, as it would have exposed Zhuo Ran if he was involved in illegal activities there. They also discussed Zhuo Ran's new pharmaceutical factory venture, where Professor Xia Guang Yuan had supposedly agreed to be a consultant, a detail Liang Muze found suspicious as Zhuo Ran had used a private email to request confidential clinical trial data from Tang Lin.
They concluded that Zhuo Ran's behavior was either a reckless gamble or a sophisticated form of deception. Given the severity of a tapping device being found in a Special Forces officer's home, Liang Muze and Rao Feng decided that Xia Chu and Liang Shaoxue could no longer stay at Liang Muze's place and needed new arrangements. Brigade Commander Dong would also be brought in for a meeting the next day to review all information.
Back at home, Xia Chu was preoccupied with thoughts about the tapping device and found herself reluctantly suspecting Zhuo Ran, wondering how he could have known about Liang Muze's medicine if he didn't know it was for him. Her mother, Lan Zi Yu, called, mentioning that Mu Min had contacted her and referred to her as "in-laws." Xia Chu explained that she was merely pretending to be Liang Muze's girlfriend to help him avoid blind dates.
Lan Zi Yu then pressed Xia Chu about her true feelings for Liang Muze. Uncertain of her own heart, Xia Chu asked her mother how she and Xia Guang Yuan fell in love and knew he was "the one." Their conversation was cut short when Lan Zi Yu heard Xia Guang Yuan knocking at the door and quickly hung up.
Xia Guang Yuan, upset, discussed the information leak with the Department of Security, fearing it would end his research career and negatively impact Tang Lin's future. Lan Zi Yu comforted him, assuring him it was an oversight, not a crime. Later, she messaged Xia Chu, reflecting that she loved all of Xia Guang Yuan's virtues despite disliking his flaws.
Separately, Zhuo Ran met with Tang Lin and deceptively told him that Professor Xia Guang Yuan had agreed to become a consultant for a new pharmaceutical factory. Tang Lin was surprised. Zhuo Ran then presented a contract, offering Tang Lin a monthly salary of 100,000 yuan as a consultant for preliminary preparations. Tang Lin, swayed by the offer and the assurance that Professor Xia had also signed, signed the contract.
When Liang Muze returned home, Xia Chu gave him the gift Mu Min had left, explaining that Mu Min wanted them to arrange a meeting between their parents and also suggested Liang Muze change careers. Xia Chu added that she had told Mu Min they currently had no marriage plans, as "love can be faked, but marriage cannot," and she couldn't continue the pretense.
Liang Muze asked Xia Chu for her thoughts on his career change, but she simply stated it was his own choice. He then asked if she had ever brought Zhuo Ran back to the house. Xia Chu denied it and expressed her strong reluctance to suspect Zhuo Ran, whom she knew from age eighteen and considered a part of her youth, declaring she wouldn't point a finger at him.
Liang Muze tried to reason with her, emphasizing that youthful memories aren't always reliable and questioning why Zhuo Ran was at the tunnel, to which Xia Chu said Zhuo Ran claimed he was just out for a night run. Xia Chu then turned to leave, but Liang Muze grabbed her arm. Xia Chu, without resisting, leaned in and kissed him, declaring they were now "even," and adding, "Do you see me as medical waste, to be discarded after use?
I'm tired, I want to rest." Liang Muze continued to advise Xia Chu to be vigilant of those around her, including familiar strangers, and to learn to protect herself. He gave her practical advice such as running regularly, avoiding solo travel, setting emergency numbers, learning emergency exits, and using specific elevator safety tactics, emphasizing that self-preservation was crucial for saving more people. Confused by his sudden advice, Xia Chu questioned his motives.
Liang Muze then revealed that he was going to be redeployed. He asked again if she truly had nothing to say about his career change. Xia Chu simply wished him goodnight and left.
