My Dear GuardianĀ Episode 7 Recap
> My Dear GuardianĀ Recap
At dinner, Mi Gu tried to discuss the upcoming show with Zhuo Ran, but he was more interested in how she knew Xia Chu. Mi Gu explained that they initially connected online after she found an article Xia Chu wrote about her first love. Feeling particularly down after a breakup and struggling with her own career and academic uncertainties, Mi Gu resonated with the piece and reached out.
This led to a deep friendship despite their age and personality differences, with Mi Gu affectionately calling them "outstanding young women" and "role models." Mi Gu also mentioned that Xia Chu had a relationship in college that ended quickly, possibly due to her being too busy. Suddenly, Zhuo Ran received a call from Long Yi, who informed him that Liang Muze was a Special Forces army major and that he and Xia Chu were likely living together.
After hanging up, Zhuo Ran appeared to recognize Liang Muze, muttering, "It's him. It's really him." Overwhelmed, he clutched his chest and collapsed, prompting Mi Gu to immediately call for an ambulance. At the hospital, Mi Gu waited for news about Zhuo Ran. Zhang Yichi, a cardio surgeon, happened to pass by and, upon hearing Zhuo Ran was in the ER and remembering a project they had discussed, offered to check on him.
He informed Mi Gu that Zhuo Ran had experienced ventricular tachycardia, with elevated cardiac markers, indicating a heart-related issue. Mi Gu explained that Zhuo Ran's mood had abruptly changed after receiving a phone call just before he collapsed. Since no family was present, Mi Gu, as a friend, signed the necessary documents for his treatment. Zhang Yichi, needing to attend an emergency surgery, suggested a coronary angiography for Zhuo Ran.
He then offered Mi Gu his WeChat, playfully suggesting it as a consolation for the inconvenience, and also inquired about the status of her proposal, which his director was apparently pressing her about, indicating that Zhuo Ran's hospitalization had put a damper on her plans. Meanwhile, Liang Muze was completing the final test of his military training program: an endurance test involving tear gas. As the last one remaining in the room, he was visibly affected but resolute.
He felt the presence of his old comrade, Luo Liang, and inwardly lamented that Luo Liang could no longer be there, especially since it was the anniversary of his death eight years ago. Liang Muze imagined Luo Liang telling him, "You should walk ahead of me. It'll be the right direction when you walk ahead of me. Following you keeps me steady."
Liang Muze responded to his memory, asserting that despite the passage of time, Luo Liang would always remain his captain, a sentiment he still deeply needed. Later, a heavily intoxicated Liang Muze returned home. Xia Chu found him struggling, and he confessed that he had cried due to the tear gas and his headache, but primarily because it was Luo Liang's death anniversary.
He shared with Xia Chu how he still felt Luo Liang's presence and struggled to accept his complete disappearance from his life. Liang Muze recounted their shared past: both were exceptional students from a military academy's special operations program, joining the Special Forces Brigade. Their Brigade Captain, Dong Zhigang, used to say that when two such sharp individuals met, "sparks will fly."
They constantly competed in everything, from training and shooting skills to arm wrestling, seeing it as their unique way of expressing friendship. When a younger special operations force, Team Thunder, was being formed, all young officers vied for the captaincy. After rigorous assessments, only Liang Muze and Luo Liang remained. Although Liang Muze's scores were higher, Luo Liang was selected as the official captain, and Liang Muze as the deputy captain.
Liang Muze admitted he "lost" and was initially resentful, refusing to join the first training. Luo Liang confronted him, telling him his attitude made him unworthy of being a soldier or captain. They had a physical altercation, which allowed Liang Muze to vent his frustration. Luo Liang then told him that the Brigade Captain believed Liang Muze was a "good sword" that needed sharpening, and that not being captain might be beneficial.
Liang Muze finally returned to duty as Team Thunder's deputy captain, with Luo Liang proclaiming that "only death will keep us apart." Liang Muze recounted how they went on a mission together, but only Luo Liang never returned. He remembered Luo Liang's final moments before that mission, when soldiers were writing wills.
Luo Liang, whose wife Chen Mengzhen was nine months pregnant, had asked his comrades to care for his family if he didn't return, and they had promised to treat his son as their own. They recited a powerful poem, pledging to fight as one. Liang Muze vividly recalled Luo Liang's joy at becoming a father and his final instructions for the team to train diligently, focusing on "actual combat standard" to ensure everyone returned safely with "results, not accidents."
Overcome with emotion, Liang Muze drifted off. Xia Chu, seeing him asleep, discreetly took a photo. The next morning, Liang Muze awoke to Xia Chu teasing him about sleeping soundly. She had prepared a meticulously healthy breakfast, including homemade yogurt, wholemeal bread, and a specially blended juice, explaining their benefits after tear gas exposure. She playfully reminded him how "adorable" he had been the previous night while talking about Luo Liang.
Xia Chu then revealed she had booked an appointment for him with a psychiatrist at her hospital, emphasizing that even special forces personnel are human and need to process emotions. When Liang Muze resisted, she showed him the photo she had taken, using it as leverage to ensure he attended the session. He reluctantly agreed. Meanwhile, at the hospital, Zhuo Ran woke up and immediately asked for Xia Chu.
Mi Gu, who had stayed with him all night, had not yet contacted Xia Chu. She offered to get him some food. On her way, she unexpectedly met Xia Chu and quickly informed her that Zhuo Ran was in the emergency room. Xia Chu rushed to his side, surprised by his condition, given his usually robust health and past ambition to join a military school.
A doctor explained that Zhuo Ran had stress-induced cardiomyopathy, or "wilting octopus heart," caused by intense emotional stress, likely triggered by a phone call. Zhuo Ran requested to speak with Xia Chu privately. Alone, he attempted to manipulate her emotions, reminding her of their shared past, including "boring weekends," detective novels, and handwritten letters, claiming his heart "almost stopped beating" because she had forgotten "Zhuo Ran." He then abruptly told her not to be with Liang Muze.
Xia Chu retorted, stating that while anyone else could misunderstand her relationship with Liang Muze, he, Zhuo Ran, could not. She revealed that for a long time, she couldn't even stand to hear the words "special force," let alone consider a relationship, hinting at a painful past connected to the military. Just then, Liang Muze arrived to return Xia Chu's phone, which she had left in his car.
Witnessing their intense conversation, he became annoyed and, when Xia Chu asked if he had seen the psychologist, he dismissively replied that he had not and did not want to, adding, "It's up to you" regarding the photo.
