Never Say Goodbye Episode 3 Recap
> Never Say Goodbye Recap
Despite Mr. Glasses' initial reluctance, he allowed Li Ruosheng and Mu Qing to enter the mansion at Ou Kexin's insistence, though Mr. Glasses had initially wanted to question them further before being interrupted by Ou Kexin. He instructed them to wait in the lobby while he led Ou Kexin upstairs to meet her father, Mr. Ou. As they waited, Li Ruosheng warned Mu Qing that Mr. Glasses was a crafty man and advised him to be careful with his words.
Mu Qing observed the luxurious lobby and discreetly asked if it was Li Ruosheng’s first time there, noting that Mr. Ou kept very few people close, with Mr. Glasses being the exception. Upstairs, a slightly nervous Ou Kexin was led by Mr. Glasses to her father’s study. Upon seeing Mr. Ou, father and daughter shared a heartfelt embrace, shedding tears after years apart.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Mr. Glasses complimented Mu Qing's reputation as Li Ruosheng's capable advisor, but then sternly chastised both Mu Qing and Li Ruosheng for their "unruly" behavior, reminding them to conduct their business properly and avoid excessive flattery. Mu Qing, understanding the hint, suggested they leave, but Li Ruosheng stubbornly insisted on staying longer to meet Mr. Ou, claiming he hadn't seen his godfather in a long time. Mu Qing was surprised by Li Ruosheng’s persistence.
Ou Kexin, still upstairs, mentioned Mu Qing's name to her father, suggesting he meet the man who had helped her. However, Mr. Ou flatly refused and instructed Mr. Glasses to arrange for Ou Kexin to return to France the next morning. Upset, Ou Kexin confronted her father, accusing him of not caring about her feelings and questioning why he hadn't been there for her when she faced difficulties three years prior or when her mother died.
Mr. Ou explained that his actions were for their safety, as he had many enemies, and while her mother understood his business, he never wanted Ou Kexin to know. Enraged, Ou Kexin declared she had no such father and would not seek him even in death, then stormed downstairs. Mr. Glasses immediately went after her. In the lobby, Ou Kexin vented her frustration to Mu Qing and Li Ruosheng, accusing her father of abandoning his wife and daughter.
She then left abruptly. Mr. Glasses, rushing to catch up, entrusted Ou Kexin’s safety to Mu Qing and Li Ruosheng, handing Mu Qing a card with a password, urging them to keep her safe. As they watched her go, Mu Qing and Li Ruosheng briefly discussed whether Mr. Ou truly wanted them to care for Ou Kexin, or if it was a ploy by Mr. Glasses and Dakun to distract them.
Mu Qing suspected it was the latter, an attempt to prevent them from investigating Scorpion’s operations. Upstairs, Mr. Ou was seen picking up pieces of a broken ceramic vase, a casualty of his daughter’s outburst. He confessed to Mr. Glasses that he desperately wanted to keep Ou Kexin by his side but dared not, fearing for her safety and not wanting her to learn about his illicit business. He initially suggested that Tieguanyin accompany Ou Kexin.
However, Mr. Glasses explained that Dakun was busy playing hide-and-seek with the police, managing a factory, and shipping goods; Tieguanyin was also busy managing the factory; and Congtou was preoccupied with "grass materials" (possibly an alias for drug ingredients) and couldn't even be found. This left Mu Qing and Li Ruosheng as the most suitable and available protectors, especially given their skills and their role in rescuing Ou Kexin. Mr. Ou, after some thought, agreed with Mr. Glasses’ arrangement.
In the car, Ou Kexin let out a cathartic scream, releasing her pent-up emotions. Later that night, she went to a nightclub for entertainment. Mu Qing and Li Ruosheng were there discussing countermeasures. As Mu Qing was about to leave, he saw Ou Kexin beating up a man who had harassed her. Mu Qing intervened, trying to pull her away. But Ou Kexin, still seething, demanded that Mu Qing stay by her side at all times, asserting he owed her.
She made outlandish demands, even implying she would be in danger if he left. Mu Qing calmly rebuffed her, stating he was working for her father, not her personal bodyguard or boyfriend, and refused to be blackmailed. Seeing his unwavering resolve, Ou Kexin finally relented and got into the car. Mu Qing then left, while a tipsy Li Ruosheng called a designated driver. Mu Qing met Director Liu, ostensibly for a date, but it was actually Mu Qing's birthday.
Director Liu presented him with a cake and delivered grave news: Mu Qing's undercover mission would be extended. International police intelligence had detected a new, highly potent drug called G3307, which was about to enter Yungang. Ou Zhenhai (Mr. Ou) was suspected of being the primary recipient, and "Spectre," the supplier of the raw materials, was a high-priority target for the Public Security Bureau.
Director Liu explained that arresting Ou Zhenhai now would compromise the larger operation to catch Spectre and dismantle the entire drug network. Mu Qing's new directive was to ensure his own safety, maintain his cover, and wait for the opportune moment to strike, coordinating with law enforcement to annihilate the criminal organization.
Mu Qing expressed his concern about the prolonged mission, playing the role of the steady and melancholic Mu Qing, and worrying about not being able to sustain the act. Director Liu promised that by next year, he would not be singing him "Happy Birthday" in such an environment. Later that night, Mr. Glasses and Dakun met in a car to discuss their plans.
Mr. Glasses revealed that he had deliberately arranged for Mu Qing to become Ou Kexin's personal bodyguard as a diversion to keep Mu Qing busy and curb Li Ruosheng's growing influence. Dakun expressed his satisfaction with the plan, confident that without Mu Qing, Li Ruosheng was just an "empty shell" who would pose no significant threat. He boasted that seasoned operatives like themselves were indispensable for handling serious matters, unlike those "immature brats."
Mu Qing returned to his apartment to find Ou Kexin passed out on the sofa, wearing his long shirt. Li Ruosheng then emerged from another room, leading Mu Qing to mistakenly believe something had happened between them. Li Ruosheng quickly clarified, explaining that after they returned home, he and Ou Kexin had engaged in a drinking game until she was completely intoxicated and collapsed in the bathtub.
He had then called a caregiver to help her bathe and change into Mu Qing's shirt. Mu Qing warned Li Ruosheng to stay away from Ou Kexin. Despite the warning, Li Ruosheng commented on Ou Kexin's beauty, fantasizing about her not being Mr. Ou's daughter. Mu Qing, exasperated, physically pushed him out of the room. Mu Qing then gently carried Ou Kexin to bed in a princess carry, comforting her as she slept.
Afterward, Mu Qing went to Li Ruosheng's room to complain about the lingering alcohol smell, only to find himself locked out by Li Ruosheng, who had secured the door to prevent Mu Qing from taking his bed. Mu Qing then realized his phone was missing. He returned to his own room, which Li Ruosheng had also locked. Frustrated but having no other choice, Mu Qing deduced that his phone was likely under the sleeping Ou Kexin. He carefully retrieved it.
Later, he painfully deleted photos of his deceased girlfriend, Rong Yu, from his phone. The following morning, Mu Qing and Li Ruosheng were jogging on the beach. Li Ruosheng, still curious about the previous night, pressed Mu Qing for details, but Mu Qing remained focused on Mr. Ou’s distant attitude. Li Ruosheng suggested that winning over Ou Kexin was their best strategy to gain access to Mr. Ou.
Suddenly, Ou Kexin called Mu Qing on his phone, urgently shouting and demanding his immediate return. Upon his arrival, she confronted him about her clothes and where she had slept. Mu Qing, having anticipated this, calmly explained the situation, reiterating that a caregiver had changed her clothes and that, given her high status as Mr. Ou’s daughter, neither he nor Li Ruosheng would ever dare to act improperly.
He also frankly told her that a "normal man" wouldn't be interested in a woman who was "dirty" and "had a bad drinking habit" like she did. Ou Kexin, seemingly convinced and perhaps a little abashed, told Mu Qing to meet her in the basement in 30 minutes to go shopping with her. Mu Qing reluctantly agreed, while Ou Kexin covertly smiled to herself. Later, Mu Qing was seen dutifully accompanying Ms. Ou, laden with numerous shopping bags.
Li Ruosheng called, agitated, informing Mu Qing that Dakun was aggressively stealing their business. Mu Qing instructed him to avoid direct confrontation with Dakun for now, prioritizing the elimination of Scorpion. Immediately after the call, Mu Qing sent a text message to Director Liu, stating, "Collect the laundry tonight," indicating the upcoming operation.
