My Dear GuardianĀ Episode 3 Recap
> My Dear GuardianĀ Recap
Chen Mengzhen brought Luo Xiaojun to the hospital, where Xia Chu reviewed his echocardiography report. The doctor had diagnosed Luo Xiaojun with an atrial septal defect and recommended hospitalization. Chen Mengzhen explained that Liang Muze was busy, but Xia Chu assured her that she would join them in the ward after her work was done. However, Luo Xiaojun became very resistant, refusing to be admitted. He tearfully accused Xia Chu of being the reason Liang Muze no longer wanted them.
Chen Mengzhen quickly apologized to Xia Chu for Luo Xiaojun's behavior and tried to pull him to register, but Luo Xiaojun seized the opportunity and ran away. Concerned about Luo Xiaojun's condition, Xia Chu sought out Dr. Zhang Yichi. She explained that Dr. Li Juan from Cardiology had not performed further examinations, and that based on Luo Xiaojun's left ventricular enlargement, she suspected his atrial septal defect might not be a simple case, possibly requiring adjustments to the surgical plan.
Zhang Yichi, however, refused to intervene without an official consultation request from the Cardiology Department, citing hospital regulations. His colleague, Xiao Xiao, also expressed frustration, believing Xia Chu had ruined her chance to assist in a surgery. Soon after, Xia Chu received an urgent call from Chen Mengzhen, who reported that Luo Xiaojun had run away from the hospital, still insisting on seeing Liang Muze.
Xia Chu advised Chen Mengzhen to search near the hospital while she tried to contact Liang Muze, suspecting Luo Xiaojun might head to the military unit. She then intercepted Tian Yong, who was about to return to the troop after his wound recovery. Xia Chu urgently informed Tian Yong about Luo Xiaojun's disappearance and his severe congenital heart disease, emphasizing the life-threatening danger if he didn't receive immediate treatment.
She instructed Tian Yong to find Liang Muze and relay the message, or bring Luo Xiaojun back if he found him at the unit. Meanwhile, Liang Muze was pushing his "Team Thunder" through intense training, expressing anger and disgrace over a recent imperfect mission. His insomnia, a recurring issue after losing comrades or experiencing operational flaws, had worsened, and he had been taking sleeping pills.
Brigade Commander Dong Zhigang tried to talk to him about the pressure he was putting on himself, but Liang Muze insisted he was fine. When Tian Yong returned to the unit and informed Liang Muze of Luo Xiaojun's disappearance, Liang Muze immediately joined Chen Mengzhen in the search. They eventually found a weak and unresponsive Luo Xiaojun hidden in a closet, muttering that he had "seen Dad." Liang Muze quickly rushed him to the hospital.
Determined to ensure Luo Xiaojun received the correct diagnosis, Xia Chu approached Dr. Li Juan to discuss her concerns about the boy's suspected atrial septal defect. Xia Chu suggested that based on Luo Xiaojun's left ventricular enlargement, his condition might be more complex than a simple atrial septal defect, drawing parallels to a case she encountered during her time with a joint medical team in Isaia.
Dr. Li Juan, however, took offense, accusing Xia Chu of questioning her diagnosis and attempting to "poach" patients for the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Dismissed, Xia Chu then sought out Zhang Yichi, who was utterly exhausted after completing three emergency surgeries in sixteen hours. Despite his fatigue, Xia Chu insisted that their fundamental duty as doctors was to save lives. Arriving at Luo Xiaojun's ward, Xia Chu learned from Chen Mengzhen that surgery was scheduled for the next day.
Xia Chu hesitated, struggling to articulate her suspicions to Liang Muze. Observing her reluctance, Liang Muze harshly challenged her, stating that if she couldn't clearly articulate the child's true condition, she was "unfit to be a doctor." Provoked, Xia Chu retorted that as Luo Xiaojun's primary caregiver, Liang Muze had only fostered the child's insecurity and fear of abandonment, thereby contributing to the progression of his illness.
She concluded that if he considered her unfit to be a doctor, he was even more undeserving of being a father. Calming down, Xia Chu confided in Chen Mengzhen that she believed Luo Xiaojun's condition was more severe than a simple atrial septal defect. At that moment, Dr. Li Juan arrived, expressing her displeasure at Chen Mengzhen's support for Xia Chu's suspicions. However, Zhang Yichi also arrived, revealing that he had, in fact, sent Xia Chu to discuss the case.
He then asserted his authority, reviewed Luo Xiaojun's chart, and questioned Dr. Li Juan's diagnosis, pointing out that the echocardiography showed a relatively small defect that typically wouldn't lead to such severe pulmonary hypertension so quickly. Zhang Yichi then instructed Dr. Li Juan to request an urgent cardiac surgery consultation and schedule an emergency CTA examination for Luo Xiaojun.
Meanwhile, a man named Zhuo Ran arrived in China on a mission, strategically establishing a company in a newly emerging, discreet innovation park. He deliberately approached Mi Gu at the airport, claiming she had picked up the wrong luggage and had been waiting for her, though he only exchanged a business card before she left without giving him her contact information. His new office featured specific room structures tailored for his operations.
However, his organization, T4, didn't fully trust him after he failed to properly dispose of Sang Kun's body. They sent Long Yi, a comrade who had just returned from Isaia, to assist him, clearly acting as a monitor. Long Yi suggested more direct, violent methods, but Zhuo Ran insisted that in China, achieving their goals required "higher intelligence" than brute force. During a video call, "the master" confirmed Long Yi's role, emphasizing that his assistance would ensure the mission's success.
Zhuo Ran explained that he had tried to dispose of Sang Kun's body at the border to avoid suspicion, but an encounter with Chinese military police forced a quick retreat, preventing further exposure and ensuring no useful clues were left behind. He assured the master that this "minor blip" would not affect T4's operations.
After the call, Long Yi questioned if the master truly trusted him, to which Zhuo Ran coolly replied that it didn't matter, as they were all "the best actors." He also alluded to an "eight-year gap" that he needed to fill, indicating a significant past.
The cardiac surgery consultation confirmed Xia Chu's earlier suspicions: Luo Xiaojun was indeed suffering from an atrial septal defect complicated by an abnormal left inferior pulmonary artery originating from the descending aorta, a much more complex condition than initially diagnosed. Zhang Yichi commended Xia Chu for her accurate judgment, stating that he was helping "Zhang Yichi the rookie" who, like her, believed in the bounden duty of saving lives.
However, he sternly warned her never to privately contact patients or their families again, threatening to bar her from his surgeries if she did. Later, Xia Chu met Chen Mengzhen, who profusely thanked her for her timely discovery, acknowledging that it had prevented severe consequences for Luo Xiaojun. Chen Mengzhen apologized for Liang Muze's earlier "inhuman" behavior, explaining that he becomes overly protective when it comes to Luo Xiaojun.
She clarified that Liang Muze was not Luo Xiaojun's biological father, but a comrade of Luo Xiaojun's father, Luo Liang, who had sacrificed himself eight years prior, before Luo Xiaojun was even born. Consequently, Liang Muze and his comrades had been the primary caregivers for Luo Xiaojun since his birth, leading to the child's deep dependence on Liang Muze.
During the closet incident, Luo Xiaojun had confessed to Liang Muze that he ran away not because he feared hospitalization, but because he feared Liang Muze would stop liking him if he were sick or bullied, unlike a brave soldier. Liang Muze had then tenderly reassured him that his affection would never change, regardless of Luo Xiaojun's circumstances.
Separately, Chen Mengzhen also assured Liang Muze that she could handle Luo Xiaojun's surgery costs, revealing that her bookstore and sideline cultural product sales had made her "a hidden rich lady." Later, Xia Chu approached Liang Muze, extending forgiveness for his earlier harsh words. She observed that his recent insomnia might stem from Post-traumatic stress related to the failed mission and advised him to seek professional help from a psychologist.
She suggested that his devoted care for Luo Xiaojun might be a way for him to evade the reality of his comrade's sacrifice by taking on the role of Luo Xiaojun's father. Unreceptive, Liang Muze abruptly told Xia Chu to move out, asserting that learning to live independently was a "mandatory course" for adults. Xia Chu, annoyed, retorted that she didn't want to live in his house anyway, calling him a "cheapskate."
Moments after Liang Muze's departure, Xia Chu unexpectedly encountered Zhuo Ran. She and Zhuo Ran had been high school deskmates and were each other's first loves. Eight years prior, Zhuo Ran had abruptly disappeared without a trace, causing Xia Chu profound pain. Now, his sudden reappearance left her unsure how to confront him, leading her to instinctively flee. That evening, Xia Chu joined Mi Gu for drinks, attempting to unwind.
Mi Gu was preoccupied, lamenting her failure to obtain the contact information of a mysterious and brooding man she had met at the airport, worried he might be "pounced on" by other women. Xia Chu then revealed her own distress: Zhuo Ran was back. Mi Gu, recalling Xia Chu's past stories, asked if Zhuo Ran was her high school deskmate and if he had returned for her.
Xia Chu admitted she had run away from him, unable to face him or even demand answers for his past disappearance, despite his appearance being largely unchanged. As they talked, two men began to harass Xia Chu and Mi Gu. Just then, Zhuo Ran appeared, swiftly intervening to diffuse the situation. Mi Gu, surprised by this second encounter, recognized him as the intriguing man from the airport and, to her shock, realized he was also Xia Chu's long-lost first love. Overwhelmed, Xia Chu once again fled, pulling Mi Gu along, confessing that she still couldn't bring herself to speak to him.
