The Lion's Secret Episode 21 Recap
> The Lion's Secret Recap
Mu Wanqing and Feng Cong had dinner with Patong, the child who had stolen Mu Wanqing's phone and wallet. Feng Cong urged Patong to contact his accomplices to retrieve Mu Wanqing's belongings. Patong, however, explained that he was at the lowest level of his organization, which was powerful in Bazhen, monitoring every street, and that Mu Wanqing's items had likely already been sold.
He warned them that if his gang discovered he was with them, Mu Wanqing and Feng Cong would face serious trouble. Feng Cong suggested sending Patong to the police, but Mu Wanqing felt a strong sense of pity for the boy. She asked Patong if keeping him would implicate his parents, to which he sadly revealed they were deceased. Mu Wanqing decided to take Patong under her wing and asked for his name.
Feng Cong, still concerned, tried to dissuade Mu Wanqing, reminding her that she was there for vacation and not to care for a stranger. Mu Wanqing, however, insisted that she simply could not abandon him. The next day, Mu Wanqing and Feng Cong continued their search for the charity school, with Patong accompanying them. While they were asking around, Patong suddenly slipped away. Mu Wanqing became anxious, frantically calling his name.
Unbeknownst to them, Liu Qing, who had been secretly observing, noticed someone trailing Mu Wanqing. He swiftly intervened, apprehending Patong. Meanwhile, Lei Shuo and Wu Fengyu intercepted the person who was following Mu Wanqing. Upon realizing this individual was merely pursuing Patong and not a larger threat, they allowed him to leave after a brief scuffle. Mu Wanqing and Feng Cong decided to rest at a local shop.
There, Mu Wanqing was surprised and moved to find an old photograph of her grandparents, taken to commemorate the establishment of the very charity school she was seeking. She felt a profound connection to them, finding solace in this discovery despite Patong's temporary disappearance. Feng Cong, however, spotted Liu Qing outside and promptly tried to get Mu Wanqing to leave. It was too late; Liu Qing was already waiting for them back at their inn, having brought Patong with him.
Mu Wanqing expressed her wish to send Patong to the charity school, hoping it would offer him a chance at a new life. Liu Qing initially objected, concerned that Patong might exert a negative influence on the other children and reiterating the suggestion to send him to the police.
Mu Wanqing countered that sending him to the police would only address the immediate issue and would not help his future, insisting that she wanted to give him an opportunity for a different path. She then successfully persuaded Patong to try living at the charity school, promising him many friends and daily rewards if he refrained from running away. Liu Qing clarified that he had been "protecting" them, not "monitoring," having intervened when he noticed them being followed.
Mu Wanqing found his interference unwelcome. Liu Qing then confronted Feng Cong, accusing him of having ulterior motives. He pointed out the suspicious timing of Mu Wanqing's phone theft coinciding with Feng Cong's arrival in Bazhen. Feng Cong denied any involvement, but Liu Qing sternly warned him against any harm to Mu Wanqing. The following day, Mu Wanqing, Liu Qing, Feng Cong, Patong, Fu Jundie, and Lei Shuo converged at the charity school.
Mu Wanqing introduced Patong to Miss Yan, the school's supervisor. Miss Yan, upon learning that Patong's parents had passed away, welcomed him into the school, offering him a sense of belonging. Later that evening, Mu Wanqing discussed the school's dire situation with Miss Yan. Miss Yan revealed that since the previous year, the school and its children had been subjected to constant harassment, including intermittent cuts to electricity and water supply.
Despite seeking police assistance, local authorities had been unable to resolve the issues, and all other local shareholders had mysteriously vanished without a trace. Liu Qing, overhearing their conversation from outside, sensed significant trouble. Lei Shuo suggested taking Mu Wanqing back home immediately. However, Mu Wanqing appeared and firmly declared her refusal to leave. She asserted that the school was her grandparents' legacy, and it was her responsibility to ensure its well-being.
Liu Qing voiced his suspicions, explicitly naming Feng Cong as the "chief culprit" behind a series of incidents targeting Maoyuan. He highlighted the "too coincidental" timing of her phone theft after Feng Cong's appearance. Mu Wanqing, due to Liu Qing's past actions, flatly stated that she had lost all trust in him. Liu Qing insisted he was only trying to protect her, but Mu Wanqing remained resolute.
Separately, Patong, disliking the school, tried to run away but was convinced to stay by Mu Wanqing with promises of fun and rewards. Mu Wanqing arranged for a significant shipment of supplies to be sent to the school from China. Miss Yan was deeply grateful and proposed that Mu Wanqing teach a class, suggesting it would be a good way for her to get to know the children.
Mu Wanqing agreed, leading an art class where the children were encouraged to draw about "My happy day." The next day, while Lei Shuo and Fu Jundie were out collecting daily necessities, and Mu Wanqing and Miss Yan were teaching, an uninvited guest arrived at the school. He introduced himself as Tau, the chief executive of UT Enterprises, claiming his company held shares in the school's land.
Mu Wanqing asked for proof of his identity and the purpose of his visit. Tau presented documents confirming his company's 8% stake. He then stated that the land was too valuable to be merely a school and expressed his intention to develop it into an amusement park. Mu Wanqing, identifying herself as Mrs. Lin's inheritor and the largest shareholder, vehemently rejected his proposal and ordered him to leave.
Tau's demeanor immediately changed, and he summoned a group of armed thugs into the school. Mu Wanqing quickly instructed the children to go upstairs, but Patong, wanting to protect her, bravely stood his ground. In the tense standoff, Liu Qing called Tau, threatening to shoot his tie with a sniper rifle if he didn't retreat. Uncertain of Liu Qing's capabilities, Tau reluctantly ordered his men to withdraw.
After Tau's departure, Liu Qing contacted his friend Nawa in Bazhen, who commanded a local armed force, to secure the school. As Nawa's armed men approached, Mu Wanqing and Patong initially mistook them for Tau's returning thugs and frantically tried to shut the gate. Liu Qing calmly opened the gate, explaining the situation and reassuring Mu Wanqing.
Nawa informed Liu Qing that he had apprehended a suspicious individual on his way to the school, who turned out to be Feng Cong. Liu Qing instructed Nawa to release Feng Cong, who left the premises indignantly. Later, Liu Qing, Lei Shuo, and Feng Cong gathered Mu Wanqing to insist she leave for her safety. They explained that today's attackers were likely connected to her previous two assaults and were part of an organized, illegal drug trafficking ring.
Feng Cong added that Tau's real name was Basse, a key member of a local drug cartel, whose crony was Paitun, and their leader was Ma Kulu. Hearing the name Ma Kulu, Liu Qing realized the gravity of the situation, recognizing him as the leader of MAPAGO, a rapidly growing and clandestine drug organization operating across Southeast Asia from the Golden Triangle.
Emphasizing the extreme danger, Liu Qing informed Mu Wanqing that he had already booked tickets for her departure the next day. However, the mastermind behind these events, unwilling to let Liu Qing and Mu Wanqing leave so easily, hacked into the school's network. A disturbing video suddenly appeared on the computers, showing two captive girls. Mu Wanqing quickly alerted Liu Qing. Liu Qing identified it as an illegal live-streaming auction site, with numbers indicating bids and a countdown.
Once the timer reached zero, the girls would be taken away. Teacher Tata then arrived and, to her horror, recognized one of the girls in the video as her own daughter, Taisa. Mu Wanqing, distressed, stated that they could not abandon the girls and promised Teacher Tata that they would find and rescue Taisa. Teacher Tata placed her trust in Mu Wanqing's words.
