Never Say Goodbye Episode 9 Recap
> Never Say Goodbye Recap
Zhao Ran, an undercover operative, met with Dakun, attempting to establish a cooperative relationship by mentioning his connections with Mr. Glasses and Guanyin. Dakun, however, was highly cautious and dismissed Zhao Ran as an insignificant figure, asserting that some money was too dangerous to accept. Despite Zhao Ran's attempts to provoke him, Dakun remained unmoved, even threatening Zhao Ran's life by suggesting that he would not be able to speak after having "two holes" in his body.
Rong Yao, monitoring the situation, grew anxious about Zhao Ran and Li Yimeng, but they eventually emerged, having successfully installed a tracking and listening device in Dakun's car. This device allowed Task Force 84 to map all of Dakun's operational points. While Li Yimeng suggested apprehending all of Dakun's associates at once, Rong Yao decided against it, explaining that such a move would only catch small players and not the "big fish."
Instead, he instructed his team to only target the points associated with Xiaofoye to create internal discord among the higher-ups in Group K. That evening, Mr. Ou hosted a dinner gathering at his home, where he prepared a fish dish and used it as an analogy for maintaining harmony and clear divisions of labor within the organization. He implied that disrupting this balance would attract unwanted attention, explicitly addressing Dakun to mind his position.
During the meal, a subordinate discreetly informed Mr. Glasses that Xiaofoye's 17 drug hideouts had been raided. This news, confirmed by a television report detailing the seizure of over 200kg of drugs and four million in drug money, shocked everyone present, visibly upsetting Mr. Ou. Dakun tried to explain, promising that such an incident would not happen again. Mr. Ou, acknowledging Dakun's long-standing service, decided to give him another chance.
Meanwhile, Ou Kexin, Mr. Ou's daughter, pestered Li Ruosheng and Mu Qing for details about what happened, claiming concern for her father's health. Li Ruosheng, however, suggested she was more worried about her finances. Both men, bound by Mr. Ou's instructions, refused to disclose any business information, frustrating Ou Kexin, who playfully hit them with a pillow.
After the tense discussion, Mr. Ou left to try on a new outfit Ou Kexin had made for him, feeling much better after her enthusiastic compliments on her design and tailoring. Later, Dakun expressed to Mr. Glasses his relief that Ou Kexin's presence had diffused Mr. Ou's anger. Mr. Glasses warned Dakun about running out of chances, reminding him that Mr. Ou operates on a "second chance, not third" policy.
He then subtly suggested that cultivating a closer relationship with Ou Kexin, whom he called Mr. Ou's "precious daughter," would be like acquiring a "life-saving amulet." Dakun appeared thoughtful. Just then, Ou Kexin, Mu Qing, and Li Ruosheng approached. Dakun, seizing the opportunity, warmly greeted Ou Kexin and asked about her warehouse business. She then promoted her new fashion boutique, asking Dakun to bring his subordinates to her shop as a "lucky break."
Dakun readily agreed, to which Ou Kexin privately gloated to Mu Qing and Li Ruosheng that she would buy wholesale clothes and then overcharge Dakun's men. Li Ruosheng jokingly asked if he and Mu Qing would also be forced to buy clothes, to which Ou Kexin playfully insisted it would be a blessing.
Mr. Ou, still suspicious despite his outward calm, instructed Mr. Glasses to conduct a thorough investigation into the night's events and to place Dakun under surveillance, requiring reports on all his contacts. Mr. Glasses acknowledged the order and departed. Meanwhile, a furious Dakun was seen brutally beating his subordinates. He demanded to know why all his visible and hidden goods were seized, even those protected by secret compartments.
His subordinate explained that the police had used dogs to sniff them out, adding that the raid suspiciously targeted Xiaofoye's territory. Dakun, still confused about the source of the leak and enraged by the losses, continued to lash out at his men, calling them useless. At the police station, Task Force 84 received certificates of honor for their "second-class merit" in Operation Thunderbolt, celebrating their success.
However, Rong Yao quickly dampened their enthusiasm, stating that the victory was merely a small wave in a vast sea. He emphasized that Xiaofoye was just a distributor, and the losses of 200kg of drugs and four million in drug money were insignificant to Group K's overall foundation. He expressed his disappointment, mentioning the sacrifices of comrades like Zhao Nan and other undercover agents whose names could not be publicly honored.
Later, Director Liu found a despondent Rong Yao standing alone in the rain, lamenting that he "didn't want to owe" Mu Qing for the intelligence he provided. Director Liu gently admonished Rong Yao, telling him to let go of his past trauma regarding his sister Rong Yu, whose sacrifice had nothing to do with Mu Qing. He stressed the importance of maturity and strong cooperation between Rong Yao and Mu Qing to successfully complete their future missions.
At her home, Ou Kexin, while getting ready, looked in the mirror and touched a scar on her forehead, recalling Mu Qing's comment about her "prettier forehead wrinkles." Concurrently, Dakun, while lighting a cigar, discovered the hidden tracking device inside his lighter. He discreetly pulled over and questioned his driver about who had accessed the car. The driver mentioned that a girl from the repair shop, along with Li Ruosheng and Mu Qing, had touched the vehicle.
Dakun, now with a plan, sent a formal, archaic-sounding text message to Mu Qing and Li Ruosheng, apologizing for past "disagreements" and inviting them to dinner at the revolving restaurant on the 28th floor of Sunshine Plaza. Li Ruosheng found Dakun's message peculiar, immediately suspecting a "Hongmen Banquet," but Mu Qing, believing Dakun wouldn't dare act so boldly, decided they should attend.
The next morning, Ou Kexin prepared a nutritious breakfast for Mu Qing as a thank-you for his care during her stay. She playfully fed him a piece of steak, and despite his initial shyness, he found it delicious. She then announced her plans to move into her studio's second floor, combining living and working spaces to become a "career woman," and suggested she was doing it for him.
Mu Qing, trying to keep things professional, told her not to joke, but Kexin insisted she was serious, flaunting her "career woman" aura. Over the phone, Mu Qing informed Li Ruosheng about Ou Kexin's impending move. Li Ruosheng, overjoyed that Ou Kexin would no longer be living with Mu Qing, saw this as an opportunity.
He declared his intention to pursue her, reasoning that since Mu Qing was "unwilling" to be a "prince consort" and Mr. Ou might not object, he wouldn't hold back. Later that day, Dakun hosted Mu Qing and Li Ruosheng at the revolving restaurant. He lowered his guard, telling a story about the dangers of old-school drug smuggling in the past and offering an elaborate apology for "that disappointing Xiaofoye," proposing they "move on and work together."
Li Ruosheng, acknowledging the apology, assured Dakun of their loyalty. Dakun then offered them a "new shipment. . . uncut and pure," initially offering one batch, then three, finally settling on five batches as compensation. While outwardly accepting, Mu Qing and Li Ruosheng privately recognized Dakun's elaborate acting and suspected his intentions were more than just business. Meanwhile, Li Ruosheng visited Ou Kexin at her boutique, bringing her favorite Rainbow Swiss Rolls after an extensive search across Yungang.
Ou Kexin teased him about his sudden generosity, questioning his motives. Li Ruosheng explained he was expressing gratitude for her saving Mu Qing from "Laoba the Butcher." Ou Kexin wondered why Mu Qing hadn't come himself and asked if he had sent Li Ruosheng. As Li Ruosheng awkwardly confirmed, Mu Qing arrived at the boutique.
