The Flaming Heart Episode 23 Recap
> The Flaming Heart Recap
Huo Yan found himself outside Han's pharmaceutical factory, secretly taking photographs when Han Pei's men ambushed him, beating him severely. On the phone, Han Pei mocked Huo Yan, asking if he now understood the consequences of interfering in others' business. He warned Huo Yan that if he dared to contact the police, he would never see Yan Lan again. Distantly, Huo Yan could hear Yan Lan's faint pleas through the walkie-talkie, urging him to run and stating her fear.
Suddenly, he heard a child's voice through the walkie-talkie, crying for help and expressing fear of being lost. A childhood memory flashed through Huo Yan's mind: his own voice reassuring a frightened child, promising protection. This memory brought him back to reality. Huo Yan returned to Southeast Hospital, where Bai Xiaolin and Ji Yuan were on the night shift.
They rushed to treat his head injury, which Bai Xiaolin identified as inflicted, and urged him to get a CT scan for possible intracranial congestion. Huo Yan, however, insisted on merely having his wounds bandaged to stop the bleeding, stating he only wanted to rest before resuming his search for Yan Lan, planning the CT scan for the next morning.
Concerned, Bai Xiaolin made sure he lay down to rest, emphasizing that he must inform them if he felt any discomfort. The following day, Han Pei called Huo Yan, instructing him to go alone to a deserted chemical factory, an address he provided. When Huo Yan arrived, Yan Lan, still bound, urged him to leave, shouting that Han Pei's real target was him and that he was insane.
Ignoring her pleas, Huo Yan confronted Han Pei, who welcomed him, stating he had been waiting. Han Pei demanded Huo Yan sit down, then began a philosophical discourse about "survival of the fittest," comparing it to people eating steak without considering the cow's feelings. Yan Lan tried to warn Huo Yan that Han Pei was spouting nonsense and had gone insane, but Han Pei silenced her. Huo Yan urged Han Pei to stop his madness.
Han Pei revealed that the chemical factory was his father's, and the fire years ago, which led to Huo Yan's father becoming a hero, had caused his own father's imprisonment and their family's disgrace. He recalled his childhood, when his father promised him a Ferris wheel ride if he topped his class after being released from prison. Han Pei meticulously planned to cheat with the top student, but Huo Yan, in his righteousness, intercepted the cheating materials.
This act, Han Pei claimed, changed his destiny and left his father deeply disappointed and angry, refusing to even look at him. Huo Yan countered that Han Pei's father was responsible for the fire, which had killed many innocent people, including Huo Yan's own father. Han Pei retorted that Huo Yan was the least qualified to speak of responsibility, arguing that without his father, many in the factory would have no livelihood.
He further ranted about his own apartment projects, which were criticized for formaldehyde issues, claiming he built them to prove his worth to his father. Huo Yan tried to reason with Han Pei, offering himself as a hostage in exchange for Yan Lan. Han Pei refused, revealing that he hated Huo Yan's "hypocrisy" and intended to expose it by forcing Huo Yan to choose between his beloved Yan Lan and several children he had also abducted.
Yan Lan immediately urged Huo Yan to save the children. At this critical moment, Luo Jie appeared, having already alerted the police and fire station. Han Pei expressed surprise at his presence, asking why he wasn't lighting fireworks as per their supposed plan, and then tried to provoke him, calling him weak and a failure in love and business. Luo Jie calmly stated that only the bravest knew how to let go.
With the firefighters' arrival imminent, Luo Jie told Huo Yan to save Yan Lan while he would save the children. Han Pei, seeing his plan disrupted, suddenly cut the rope suspending the children and pushed Yan Lan, who had managed to free her hands earlier, off the ledge. Huo Yan lunged and caught Yan Lan, pulling her up, while Luo Jie bravely grabbed the falling children.
As Huo Yan struggled to save Yan Lan, Han Pei attacked him with a chair and then a stick. After securing Yan Lan, Huo Yan fought back, eventually knocking Han Pei unconscious. Just as everyone thought the danger was over, Han Pei suddenly revived, rushed at Huo Yan, and dragged him off the ledge. Han Pei died instantly from the fall, but Huo Yan was left in a coma. Yan Lan immediately performed CPR on Huo Yan.
With the help of doctors, Huo Yan's heartbeat was restored, though he remained unconscious. Luo Jie, also injured, received first aid from Liu Xuan. Liu Xuan, concerned for his well-being, asked who he would save if she and Yan Lan were both in danger. Luo Jie replied that Yan Lan was like family, but Liu Xuan was "his person." Later, Chief Chen visited the unconscious Huo Yan.
He spoke to Huo Yan about his father, expressing how much he wanted Huo Yan to wake up. The police informed everyone that all evidence against Han Pei's group had been gathered, and they would be prosecuted. It was also revealed that Luo Jie and Huo Yan's conflict had been a performance to gain Han Pei's trust and gather evidence, much to the surprise and amusement of the Dongshan Station firefighters.
Yan Lan and Sister Xian took turns caring for Huo Yan. When left alone, Yan Lan confessed her deep feelings for Huo Yan, admitting she had liked him since hearing his voice through the walkie-talkie during the first tunnel fire incident. She recounted how he always made her feel safe, how she cherished his diligent work and his smiles, and how her affection for him had never wavered, even during their disagreements.
She vowed that from now on, while he protected the world, she would protect him. As Yan Lan spoke, Huo Yan's fingers twitched slightly. He eventually opened his eyes. Doctors quickly came to check on him. Yan Lan, holding his hand, stared at him anxiously. Huo Yan looked at her, then, confused, asked, "Who are you?"
