The Demon Master Episode 42 Recap
> The Demon Master Recap
Li Shendong had investigated Qin Qing's travel records and discovered she had not left the country, contrary to her earlier claims. Puzzled by her deception, he wondered why she would lie to him. When one of Shengde's F4 greeted him with news, Li Shendong was completely preoccupied with Qin Qing's lie, which puzzled his friend. He then stated he was not in the mood and left.
Han Qilu arrived at the study room where he had arranged to meet An Chuxia, but she was nowhere to be found. He then received a distressing video message from An Chuxia, crying for help, which confirmed she had been kidnapped. He immediately sought Li Shendong's assistance, explaining that someone had taken An Chuxia and left the video. Han Qilu suspected a familiar perpetrator, as An Chuxia was taken from their regular meeting spot.
He also connected this event to Qin Qing's lie about leaving the country, suggesting the two incidents might be linked. After discovering that An Chuxia's phone call records had been deleted, making a phone search impossible, Han Qilu decided to await a ransom call while he contacted others for clues. Observing Han Qilu's composed demeanor, the butler remarked on his calmness, but Han Qilu’s mother understood that he was simply trying to hold himself together.
Han Qilu had a note found within An Chuxia's wedding dress designs tested. The report confirmed the paper's material was unique to Jueshe, Mr. Qin's fashion company, and was not available on the market, solidifying his suspicion about Mr. Qin's involvement. Han Qilu then enlisted Li Shendong to pose as a demanding businessman, "Mr. Niu," to visit Mr. Qin's company.
This ruse, despite Li Shendong's theatrical performance, led them to discover that Mr. Qin was at home, allowing them to indirectly obtain his address. Han Qilu then asked for Qin Ao's home address to be looked up. Han Qilu and Li Shendong infiltrated Qin Ao's residence. There, they found Qin Qing held captive by bodyguards. She had been refusing food, demanding that her brother, Qin Ao, come to see her.
Qin Qing attempted to fake a stomach ache to escape, but the bodyguards saw through her act. She then tried a different tactic, claiming she needed to change for a nap and asking the bodyguard not to stare. This was a ploy to ambush him, but it backfired, and she was knocked unconscious. Seizing the moment, Han Qilu and Li Shendong burst in, overpowering the bodyguards and rescuing Qin Qing.
Qin Qing, once rescued, explained that she was held captive because she had uncovered Qin Ao's secret. She showed them her phone, revealing a photo of Ming Yuan with Qin Ao. This instantly made Han Qilu and Li Shendong realize that Ming Yuan was behind An Chuxia's kidnapping, facilitated by Qin Ao. Han Qilu immediately left Li Shendong to take Qin Qing to the hospital.
An Chuxia, held captive by Ming Yuan, was confused to see Qin Ao, who apologized to her. Ming Yuan taunted An Chuxia, questioning Han Qilu's love and asking if An Chuxia was surprised. Ming Yuan, fueled by resentment, challenged An Chuxia, asking for her opinion on a drawing, while asserting that An Chuxia was praised as a genius, implying she was always inferior. An Chuxia calmly stated that art should not be compared.
Determined to get answers, Ming Yuan then issued an ultimatum, giving An Chuxia one minute for Han Qilu to arrive, or An Chuxia would be forced to jump from the rooftop. Han Qilu burst in just as the countdown reached two. Han Qilu confronted Ming Yuan, who retorted that she was driven to madness by her struggles to stay at Shengde, her dreams and love destroyed by An Chuxia, and Han Qilu's complete disregard for her.
She demanded to know why he accepted An Chuxia but not her. Han Qilu definitively told Ming Yuan that from the first moment he saw An Chuxia, he knew he could never leave her; she was his fated one, and his love for her needed no reason. Receiving this answer, Ming Yuan, in utter despair, felt her life was a joke and contemplated suicide by jumping from the rooftop.
Qin Ao desperately tried to stop her, reminding her of their agreement. An Chuxia intervened, telling Ming Yuan that she did not truly love Han Qilu but merely refused to admit defeat. True love, An Chuxia explained, would never wish harm upon the beloved.
An Chuxia offered to let Ming Yuan hit her if it would help, to which Ming Yuan responded by striking her, expressing her hatred for An Chuxia's "winner's look" and questioning if life was only about romantic love. An Chuxia implored Ming Yuan to stop self-torturing, reminding her that Qin Ao and Kou Yi genuinely cared about her happiness. Ming Yuan then attempted to jump, but An Chuxia bravely pulled her back from the edge.
Overwhelmed, Ming Yuan cried, apologizing for her actions. Back in the art room, Ming Yuan was about to tear up her ring design for Han Qilu when he stopped her. He explained that the design was excellent, but he was not the right person to wear it, encouraging her to find someone who truly loved her. He also revealed that Qin Ao was deeply worried about her and wanted her to know she deserved love.
Just then, Qin Ao arrived, reiterating his wish for Ming Yuan to forget the past and accepting responsibility for his own mistakes, apologizing to An Chuxia through Han Qilu. He confessed his love for Ming Yuan, promising to be the one to make her happy and asked her to go abroad with him for a new start. Ming Yuan, moved by his unwavering affection despite her actions, accepted his hand and his heartfelt apology.
A flashback then showed their first meeting when Qin Ao generously paid for Ming Yuan's items after she forgot her wallet, introducing himself as Qin Ao. An Chuxia later realized that Qin Ao was the "very nice Chinese man" Ming Yuan had met during her exchange studies. Han Qilu and An Chuxia both expressed their hopes for Qin Ao and Ming Yuan's happiness and a fresh start abroad.
Qin Ao left a letter for his sister, Qin Qing, apologizing for her captivity and wishing her the freedom to live the life she desired. As An Chuxia returned home, she encountered Han Qilu's grandmother, who once again treated her with disdain.
