Operation: Special Warfare Episode 23 Recap
> Operation: Special Warfare Recap
Qin Guan refused to approve Chen Haozhe's decision to leave the special forces. He expressed that outside the military, they are all ordinary people, and that problems can be understood and overcome together. After initially dismissing the topic by asking about a new training plan, Qin Guan inquired about Chen Haozhe's family. Chen Haozhe's expression changed, but he simply stated that everything was fine at home.
Sensing something was amiss, Qin Guan left to request leave from the detachment leader to help Chen Haozhe. Meanwhile, Lin Yi, with keen emotional sensitivity, noticed Chen Haozhe's heavy heart and encouraged him to open up. Chen Haozhe confided that he previously envisioned spending his entire career in the special forces. However, after his recent contest with Ning Meng, he received a devastating call from a neighbor.
His stepfather had a history of domestic violence, which had escalated to the point where his mother jumped from the second floor of their house to escape an attack, breaking her leg and falling into a three-day coma. His mother, despite wanting him by her side and constantly worrying about his safety, always told him that the country needed him more. Chen Haozhe felt that in his dedication to defending the nation, he had inadvertently neglected his own mother.
Qin Guan's words about the ancient dilemma of loyalty and filial piety resonated with him, reinforcing his belief that by serving as a soldier and protecting the country, he was also protecting his mother and countless others. He concluded that since someone must endure hardships to safeguard peace, it might as well be him, vowing to recover quickly and adjust his state of mind. Concerned, Qin Guan visited Chen Haozhe's mother at her home.
She was surprised to learn of Chen Haozhe's desire to leave the special forces, emphasizing that the brigade was his home and his comrades his family, and that he should not leave because of her. Qin Guan urged her to share her family's story so he could help put Chen Haozhe's mind at ease.
She revealed that Chen Haozhe's biological father died many years ago, and her current husband would become violent when drunk, a secret she had kept out of shame. This recent incident finally made her decide to live alone. Qin Guan reassured her, affirming her right to resist as a victim and stressing that there was no shame in her situation. He promised to report the matter to his superiors, ensuring the military would provide a proper solution.
Following this, Qin Guan contacted the detachment leader and offered his newly allocated apartment in Yanzhou for Chen Haozhe's mother to live in, making it easier for Chen Haozhe to care for her. Upon his return, Qin Guan informed Chen Haozhe that his mother was recovering well and shared a video message she had recorded for him. In the video, Chen's mother, filled with pride, commended Chen Haozhe's performance and urged him to live up to his uniform and responsibilities.
She also mentioned that Qin Guan had reported their family situation to his leaders, who promised to arrange for her to live with him in Yanzhou after his mission. Overwhelmed with emotion, Chen Haozhe wept, affirming his commitment to overcome his difficulties and shoulder his responsibilities for the safety of all mothers. Relieved by Chen Haozhe's renewed resolve, his teammates, including Guo Xiaowei, welcomed him back with cheerful banter, and Qin Guan invited them all to dinner.
Meanwhile, a shadowy operation was underway. Wu Mei, expressing dissatisfaction with Wu Jie's slow progress, announced she had dispatched someone she referred to as "Third Brother" to handle the matter of Professor Wu. A reporter named Chen Zihan, introducing herself as the editor-in-chief for "Focus on the Times," was sent to approach him. Professor Wu, a leading figure in new energy development, was in Yanzhou for a crucial project with Yuanhang Group.
During her interview, Chen Zihan tried to entice him with promises of maximizing the financial benefits of his research. Professor Wu rejected this, stating that new energy product revenues are open and transparent, unless one intends to use them for illegal purposes. She then explicitly offered him a 50 million bank card to join a different company's development plan, but Professor Wu firmly declined, unwilling to betray Yuanhang Group or the local government.
Separately, Ning Meng found herself constantly thinking about Qin Guan. She mysteriously sought Li Sisi's help in selecting a movie, withholding the identity of her companion. Li Sisi eventually deduced her excitement was for Qin Guan. Ning Meng, holding two tickets for an emotional film, hesitantly invited Qin Guan to the cinema. Qin Guan initially refused, stating he only watched war movies. Undeterred, Ning Meng's spirits immediately lifted, and she excitedly went to re-book tickets for a war film.
During their movie date, Ning Meng curiously asked if Qin Guan had ever seen a movie with a girl before. After first telling her to focus on the film, Qin Guan eventually admitted he had never seen a movie with anyone, delighting Ning Meng. As the intense war film reached its climax, Qin Guan tensed up, and when Ning Meng teared up, he quietly handed her a tissue.
After the movie, Ning Meng suggested another date, but Qin Guan playfully warned her to prioritize her training, or he would not be lenient. Back in the covert operation, Chen Zihan met with Wu Jie. He mistakenly assumed she was the "Third Brother" Wu Mei had mentioned, but Chen Zihan denied it, stating her contact with their boss was one-way.
After another failed attempt to bribe Professor Wu, this time with a ten percent stake in Guangde Energy, Chen Zihan reported her failure to Wu Jie, implying it was now up to him to use other methods. Simultaneously, military intelligence, following up on the anonymous letter incident involving Ning Meng, confirmed that a woman named Li Li was a hacker and a member of the S Group terrorist organization.
Public security forces, while tracking Li Li, discovered her involvement in the kidnapping of Professor Wu. Blue Lightning was immediately deployed for a rescue mission. Qin Guan assigned Ning Meng, Yang Shu, and Lin Yi to accompany him to a sand field to rescue Professor Wu. Chen Haozhe was tasked with leading a separate team to the Guangde Energy Building, where Li Li was located, with instructions to secure the complex and apprehend her. The dual operations commenced.
At the sand field, Professor Wu was subjected to torture but steadfastly refused to cooperate, asserting that he had made the right choice not to collude with "bandits." At the Guangde Energy Building, Tong Mengyao successfully accessed the building's monitoring center and blocked all signals, preventing Wu Jie from contacting Wu Mei. However, Li Li had already destroyed the surveillance cameras in her area and was actively seeking an escape route.
Realizing the authorities were closing in, Wu Jie fled the building by rappelling down from the 30th floor to an adjacent structure, escaping just before Chen Haozhe's team could reach him.
