My Deepest Dream Episode 25 Recap
> My Deepest Dream Recap
As the syringe was about to pierce Tan Jiao, she whispered a tearful farewell to Wu Yu. Just then, Wu Yu and Shen Shiyan arrived, with Shen Shiyan calling out Tan Jiao's name. Wu Yu immediately went to Tan Jiao while Shen Shiyan engaged the masked assailant. During their struggle, Zhuang Yu, using a stick, struck the masked man from behind, knocking him unconscious. She angrily chastised him for daring to harm her person.
Shen Shiyan, observing Zhuang Yu's spirited action, subtly smiled. After securing the scene and instructing an officer to record details, Shen Shiyan brought the masked man, Zhou Wei, to the police station. He then found Zhuang Yu and embraced her tightly, admitting he felt a sense of finding a lost treasure whenever he saw her. Zhuang Yu, fearing her aggressive display might have been unappealing, offered to change her behavior.
However, Shen Shiyan reassured her, stating that her actions were "perfect" and she shouldn't change. Tan Jiao was then transported to the hospital, with Wu Yu by her side. Tan Jiao awoke in the hospital, Wu Yu by her side. He informed her that the masked assailant had injected her with a drug that triggers neuritis, but she was recovering. Tan Jiao, still dazed, commented that the scene felt familiar, echoing a past experience.
Wu Yu expressed that he would rather suffer in her place, but Tan Jiao wished for neither of them to be hurt. She then asked about the assailant, and Wu Yu revealed it was Zhou Wei, a person they knew. Tan Jiao was shocked but recognized his eyes from behind the mask. Accompanied by Wu Yu and Shen Shiyan, Tan Jiao confronted Zhou Wei in the interrogation room, demanding to know why he had targeted her and other girls.
Zhou Wei, taunting her about her supposed understanding of human nature, made a grab for her hair as she approached, but Shen Shiyan and Wu Yu quickly restrained him. Afterward, Tan Jiao told Wu Yu that the Zhou Wei she saw in the interrogation room was not the same person she knew from the island, noting a profound difference in his eyes and behavior.
She likened it to Chen Xingjian, who also seemed to be a completely different person both on and off the island, finding the whole situation "weird." During the interrogation, Captain Ding pressed Zhou Wei on his crimes, specifically asking about the kidnapping of Tan Jiao and Chen Ningmeng, and his intent to murder Chen Ningmeng, Liu Xiaojiang, Ye Xunyi, and Xu Jingmiao.
Zhou Wei, showing no remorse, declared that they "deserved to die" and "should've died earlier," condemning them as "murderers who killed someone with their keyboard in the dark" for taking Ren Jie's life without punishment. He then recounted his story, revealing that Ren Jie, a still model and his first love, was a fellow netizen he met on an ACG forum. Their online chats quickly led to a real-life meeting, and they bonded over shared interests.
He vividly remembered June 4th, 2019, when Ren Jie tearfully confessed that malicious photos from an event had been posted online, leading to her company being targeted and constant abusive calls from a girl. Zhou Wei had attempted to help her, confronting Xu Jingmiao, who posted the photos, to have them removed. Xu Jingmiao refused, citing that she didn't take the photos and that others would spread them anyway.
Next, they approached Chen Ningmeng, the photographer, who claimed she hadn't intentionally taken indecent photos and that many images online were retouched, making it difficult to distinguish real from fake. The situation escalated, with Liu Xiaojiang exposing Ren Jie's personal information, and Ye Xunyi harassing her because her boyfriend had Ren Jie's pictures, believing she was seducing him. Ultimately, the relentless bullying and public shaming led to Ren Jie's suicide, which Zhou Wei witnessed firsthand.
He concluded his confession by asserting that every person involved, despite claiming innocence, had "blood on their hands" and "must pay for it." When asked about Tan Jiao, Zhou Wei explained that he had targeted her because she and Wu Yu had continuously interfered with his plans, forcing him to kill her to avenge Ren Jie. Captain Ding informed him that with Chen Ningmeng rescued, his revenge plan could not proceed.
Zhou Wei became highly agitated, insisting that "all of them must die," repeating the names of his intended victims as his heart rate dangerously accelerated. A doctor intervened, asking everyone to leave due to the patient's emotional instability. Outside, Wu Yu confirmed to Tan Jiao that Shen Shiyan had verified Zhou Wei's account of Ren Jie's tragedy, and the other three girls had confirmed their roles.
Wu Yu observed how trivial actions by individuals online could escalate into tragedy, turning words into deadly weapons. Tan Jiao expressed both sympathy and disgust for Zhou Wei, noting his complete manipulation by hatred and his descent into madness. Despite Zhou Wei's confession, Wu Yu felt uneasy.
He pointed out that while Zhou Wei's changed tactics—targeting them first due to his past timeline memories—made sense, Wu Miao's inclusion as a target remained a baffling anomaly, as she had no connection to Ren Jie's case and wasn't on Zhou Wei's original list. Furthermore, Zhou Wei claimed to have killed Chen Xingjian because of their interference and that Chen Xingjian was his "puppet."
However, this contradicted Chen Xingjian's earlier statement on the island that he and Zhou Wei were not on good terms and hadn't been in contact for a long time. Wu Yu confessed that despite Zhou Wei's capture, he felt more confused than ever, urging Tan Jiao to trust the police to uncover the full truth.
Wu Yu checked on Tan Jiao, who, though still shaken, asserted her determination, crediting her belief that Wu Yu would save her for preventing her from breaking down earlier. She playfully chided him for not arriving "a bit earlier" for a cooler rescue. Shortly after, Tan Jiao received a call from her mother, who joyfully announced her arrival in Jinghai and was already in a taxi heading to Zhuang Yu's apartment, expecting to cook for them.
Panicked, Tan Jiao confided in Wu Yu about her forehead injury, wondering if her mother would believe a story about her falling. She reluctantly sent Zhuang Yu's address. When Tan Jiao's mother arrived, Zhuang Yu tried to discreetly cover up Wu Yu's presence by explaining Tan Jiao's excessive tidiness regarding bedding and claiming Tan Jiao's toothbrush was broken. However, Tan Jiao's mother grew suspicious and directly asked Zhuang Yu why Tan Jiao was in Jinghai.
Before Zhuang Yu could answer, Tan Jiao rushed in and, seeing her mother's concern over her bandaged forehead, quickly fabricated a story. She claimed to be in Jinghai for cosmetic surgery, specifically a Botox injection to remove nonexistent forehead wrinkles, fearing that admitting to an injury would cause her mother endless worry, while a cosmetic procedure would only lead to temporary scolding. Her mother, though still finding it ridiculous, seemed to accept the explanation and went to prepare food.
During dinner, Tan Jiao's mother reminisced about Tan Jiao's lack of a dating life since she turned eighteen and suggested she reconnect with Shen Shiyan, whom she found to be a good match. Zhuang Yu, seizing the opportunity, painted a hypothetical picture of a tall, handsome, well-educated scientist with a doctorate who cares deeply for Tan Jiao, asking if her mother would approve.
Tan Jiao's mother, thrilled by the description, enthusiastically declared she would be overjoyed and would "have no argument." As they walked out, Tan Jiao cautiously confirmed her mother's stance on such a partner before calling Wu Yu over to introduce him. However, upon seeing Wu Yu, Tan Jiao's mother's demeanor completely shifted. She became enraged, accusing Wu Yu of making Tan Jiao get plastic surgery or cause her injury so early in their relationship.
She declared that while her son-in-law didn't need to be tall, handsome, highly educated, or wealthy, he "must" cherish Tan Jiao wholeheartedly. With that, she dismissed Wu Yu and stormed off to catch a taxi to her hotel, leaving Tan Jiao and Wu Yu behind. At the hotel, Tan Jiao confronted her mother about her disapproval of Wu Yu.
Her mother initially reiterated her belief that Wu Yu hadn't protected Tan Jiao adequately, but then confessed she was just "tricking" her. After careful thought, she realized that given Tan Jiao's personality, she would likely be in a much worse condition if not for Wu Yu's protection. Tan Jiao affirmed that Wu Yu was the person who treated her best, aside from her mother, and that they had been through a lot together, confirming he was "the one."
Her mother, touched, expressed playful exasperation about how she would face Wu Yu after her earlier outburst, but ultimately accepted him. Wu Yu received good news: Liu Xiaojiang was safe, and the other potential victims had been alerted and were on high guard, making it difficult for any plan to proceed. Ren Jie's photos had also been found on the internet, confirming the veracity of Zhou Wei's story.
Wu Yu shared this with Tan Jiao, both marveling that they had managed to "change their destiny" and confirming that Wu Miao was now safe. Relieved and joyful, they embraced and kissed passionately, with Wu Yu expressing his desire to be with Tan Jiao "in every second and every breath," and Tan Jiao reciprocating his love. The next morning, Tan Jiao woke up feeling shy after the previous night's intimacy.
She quietly left the room and found Wu Miao in the living room. Upon asking about Wu Yu's whereabouts, Wu Miao, initially evasive, eventually let slip that Wu Yu was preparing a surprise for Tan Jiao. Tan Jiao, relieved that he hadn't disappeared, then met up with Zhuang Yu for coffee. As Zhuang Yu joked about Wu Yu's predictable taste in romantic surprises, mentioning "gas balloons," Tan Jiao noticed a child holding a balloon.
On the balloon, a message read: "Tan Jiao, I'm waiting for you at the usual place. I don't just want you to be my brilliant moon; I want to be by your side forever and have you be my sun." Realizing Wu Yu's romantic gesture, Tan Jiao's heart swelled.
