Never Say Goodbye Episode 42 Recap
> Never Say Goodbye Recap
Glasses met with Li Ruosheng, advising him to stop trying to discover his intentions. Glasses stated his genuine desire to retire and emphasized he had dismissed all his subordinates, even sending Shao Nan back to his hometown. He claimed that he had given away everything and had no intention of making a comeback, telling Li Ruosheng to relay this to Mu Qing so he wouldn't send him to probe him further.
Li Ruosheng questioned Glasses about Mu Qing, to which Li Ruosheng asserted his influence over Mu Qing, stating that "My thoughts are his thoughts" and he would make Mu Qing listen to him. Glasses then questioned Li Ruosheng's certainty that Mu Qing would listen, and warned Li Ruosheng that despite his tough exterior, his softheartedness was a dangerous weakness in their line of work.
Glasses declared that he now had no one by his side and was prepared for anything, expressing his sole wish for Mu Qing and Li Ruosheng to protect Mr. Ou and manage the group effectively, ensuring his past efforts were not in vain. Li Ruosheng reported his conversation with Glasses to Mu Qing, noting that Glasses seemed particularly lonely and aged.
He questioned if Glasses was truly giving up, suggesting his retreat might be too significant if it were merely a tactical move. Mu Qing expressed his continued suspicion about Glasses' sincerity, especially hearing that Shao Nan had been sent away.
Despite Li Ruosheng's surveillance revealing only mundane activities like internet surfing and dining with friends, Mu Qing insisted they couldn't let their guard down and ordered Li Ruosheng to maintain close watch over Glasses in China to preempt any attempt at a comeback. When Li Ruosheng suggested eliminating Glasses if he was such a concern, Mu Qing stated he would handle it upon his return from Japan, where he was going to meet Matsumoto.
Mu Qing revealed that Spectre had unexpectedly decided to collaborate with Matsumoto, and he needed to intervene. Mu Qing refused Li Ruosheng's offer to accompany him, emphasizing the danger and the necessity of someone staying behind to monitor Glasses. He also preferred to operate alone to maintain focus and minimize risks. Li Ruosheng reluctantly agreed, urging Mu Qing to stay safe.
Rong Yao expressed his concern regarding the operation, but Director Liu assured him that Mu Qing and Ou Kexin had been working together for a long time and their capabilities were not in doubt. Director Liu informed Rong Yao that he would not be going to Japan as per orders from higher-ups. Instead, his mission was to liaise with the Japanese police and provide backup for Mu Qing and Ou Kexin.
He clarified that although Rong Yao would not be physically present in Japan, he would remain fully connected with Ou Kexin throughout the mission, ensuring a collaborative effort. Rong Yao acknowledged his orders and promised to complete the mission. Upon landing in Japan, Mu Qing was surprised to find Ou Kexin awaiting him.
She informed him that she was officially dispatched by the Yuncheng Police to assist him, citing direct orders for both of them to locate and apprehend Spectre in cooperation with local authorities. Mu Qing, aware that she had come without her father's explicit permission, expressed his disapproval, calling her actions reckless and urging her to return immediately.
Ou Kexin, however, was already on the phone with her anxious father, Mr. Ou, who was deeply worried about her safety and also expressed concern that Mu Qing might be led astray ("his heart won't come back") while in Japan. She playfully dismissed his concerns, feigning a dying phone battery to end the conversation. Mr. Ou, distraught, immediately decided to travel to Japan to bring her back himself.
Li Ruosheng intercepted him, explaining that Mr. Ou's high-profile arrival would jeopardize Mu Qing's covert plan to intercept Spectre and Matsumoto's meeting. Li Ruosheng pledged to use his extensive contacts in Japan to ensure Kexin's safety, reassuring Mr. Ou, who reiterated that Kexin's well-being was his utmost priority.
Mu Qing then shared intelligence with Ou Kexin, detailing Matsumoto Bunichi, a 44-year-old Chinese-Japanese mixed-blood and the formidable fourth-generation leader of Japan's Tiandao Group, who was known for his ruthlessness, intelligence, and a fiercely loyal network of subordinates. Mu Qing also highlighted Li Tianlong, Matsumoto's top enforcer, responsible for many illicit activities that the Japanese police could never pin on them due to the group's unwavering loyalty.
Meanwhile, Director Liu informed Rong Yao that Director Wang had secured full cooperation from the Japanese police for the Spectre operation. They had also leaked information to Spectre via Zhou Changhao, indicating Group K's representatives had arrived in Japan. Director Liu anticipated Spectre would exploit the rivalry between Group K and Matsumoto, waiting for them to undermine each other.
However, with Spectre's whereabouts and meeting status still unconfirmed, Director Liu ordered Mu Qing and Ou Kexin to await further instructions from the Japanese police before acting. Back in China, a visibly troubled Mr. Ou resumed smoking a cigar, a habit he had long forsaken, while Li Ruosheng, who had just spoken with Mu Qing, reassured him that things in Japan were proceeding smoothly. Moments later, Li Ruosheng received news that their raw material supplier had ceased deliveries.
He confronted the supplier, Feng, who cited recent police inspections as justification for demanding a 20% price increase, claiming his men were risking their lives for meager profits. Li Ruosheng initially offered a 4% increase and a 200,000 yuan payment for the delivery team, but Feng scoffed at the offer.
After a tense exchange, during which Li Ruosheng's men subtly deterred Feng from leaving, Li Ruosheng appealed to Feng's gratitude, reminding him that Mr. Ou had once saved his life in the Golden Triangle. When this failed to sway Feng, Li Ruosheng revealed his knowledge of Feng's son's substantial gambling debts in Macau, implying that Feng was secretly funneling money to his son while feigning poverty to his own subordinates.
He offered to look after Feng's son in Macau if he cooperated, but threatened consequences if he didn't. Faced with this pressure, Feng relented, promising to maintain full supply. Observing from nearby, Mr. Ou emerged, commending Li Ruosheng's newfound strategic thinking and leadership, noting his growth from an impulsive individual. Li Ruosheng humbly credited Mu Qing for teaching him how to handle such situations.
Impressed, Mr. Ou proposed to make Li Ruosheng his successor and entrust him with the entire group, intending to move abroad with Kexin and Mu Qing after Spectre's deal was concluded, citing Kexin's headstrong nature. Li Ruosheng, deeply touched, pledged his unwavering loyalty to Mr. Ou. Ou Kexin proposed to Mu Qing that they should try to meet Matsumoto first to gather definite information about Spectre's arrival.
Rong Yao, overseeing the operation remotely, received intelligence that Matsumoto had deployed hundreds of men around his stronghold, signaling an important meeting, likely with Spectre. Despite Mu Qing's apprehension about the inherent dangers, recalling Matsumoto's previous attempt on Kexin's life in France, Kexin insisted that her identity as Mr. Ou's daughter would ironically be their advantage.
Rong Yao equipped Kexin with a special watch containing a wireless transmitter, instructing her to activate it to confirm Spectre's presence and then press the dial again to signal the Japanese police to initiate the arrest. Rong Yao urged Mu Qing to protect Kexin at all costs. Ou Kexin and Mu Qing proceeded to Matsumoto's stronghold. Matsumoto welcomed Ou Kexin, remarking on her beauty and acknowledging her past escape from his grasp.
Kexin, cutting to the chase, declared her intention to break away from Group K and form her own enterprise. She proposed a partnership with Matsumoto, offering him half the profits from her future operations if he would let her take over Spectre's deal. Matsumoto questioned her authority and relationship with Mu Qing, asking "Who are you? Do you have this authority?"
To sweeten the deal, she presented Mu Qing's sophisticated dark web system, promising its use would greatly expand their business and eventually allow her to usurp Group K entirely, especially if she obtained the new drug, Ecstasy Dream. Kexin justified her ambition by explaining her father's distrust and his preference for Glasses, as well as his recent attempts to send her abroad. She warned Matsumoto against refusing, reminding him that her father would retaliate if she were harmed.
Matsumoto, however, deferred any decision until after his meeting with Spectre and then dismissed them. As they were being escorted out, Ou Kexin confirmed Spectre's presence and activated the signal on her watch. Rong Yao's team immediately contacted the Japanese police, who were already rushing to the scene. The police raided the premises, apprehending Matsumoto and Spectre. Simultaneously, Matsumoto's guards attacked Mu Qing and Ou Kexin. During the struggle, Ou Kexin was shot and severely wounded.
Mu Qing fought fiercely, but when Kexin was taken hostage, he was forced to surrender. Rong Yao's team, losing Kexin's signal, confirmed the arrests but discovered their undercover agents were missing from the scene. Mu Qing and Ou Kexin were subsequently imprisoned in a warehouse. With Matsumoto and Spectre now under arrest, Rong Yao urgently requested permission from Director Liu and Director Wang to travel to Japan.
However, Director Liu denied his request, explaining that going there would be futile since they lacked overseas jurisdiction and would not be allowed to participate in any rescue operations. He urged Rong Yao to trust the Japanese police, who had already increased their forces and expanded their search area for the missing agents. Meanwhile, in the warehouse where they were being held, a subordinate of Matsumoto interrogated Mu Qing and Ou Kexin, accusing them of colluding with the police.
Mu Qing protested, explaining they were representatives of Group K and would not have risked such a journey if they harbored ill intentions. The subordinate, however, dismissed their explanations, stating he no longer feared Mr. Ou since Matsumoto and Spectre were themselves in peril. He mockingly thanked them for inadvertently clearing his path to power within the Tiandao Group, before leaving them to their fate.
Mu Qing, seeing Ou Kexin's severe gunshot wound, carefully helped her sit down and used a piece of his clothing to provide makeshift first aid, then left to investigate their surroundings.
