The Silence of the Monster Episode 1 Recap
> The Silence of the Monster Recap
Luo Bin, an appraiser renowned for his unwavering honesty, found himself in a precarious situation during a gem authentication for a client. He identified a cornflower sapphire as fake, explaining that genuine ones possess a purplish deep blue hue with a velvet, hazy, dream-like glow, and unique mineral identity, whereas the client's stone was unnaturally perfect. He flatly refused to authenticate the fake gem as real.
The client, unnerved, decided not to buy it, but the seller, a formidable figure, angrily insisted on the purchase, threatening that no one would leave without the transaction completed. Luo Bin, fearing for the client's safety, vehemently advised against the purchase, repeatedly shouting that the gem was fake. As the situation escalated, Luo Bin tried to pull the client away to flee, but they were both apprehended by the seller's thugs.
Feeling his life was truly in danger, Luo Bin sent a desperate SOS message to his roommate, He Chufeng, emphasizing, "I'm not joking this time. I'm really going to die." The leader of the thugs confronted Luo Bin, accusing the "appraiser who only tells the truth" of ruining his business. Luo Bin, defiant, asserted that few people dare to speak the truth in this era and that people should not be too greedy.
Infuriated, the leader threatened to blind Luo Bin, declaring that a blind man could not be an appraiser. Just as the threat was about to be carried out, He Chufeng arrived, swiftly intervening and working with Luo Bin to fend off the attackers. On their way home, He Chufeng maintained his usual composed demeanor, while Luo Bin, still agitated, peppered him with questions about a heavy box He Chufeng was carrying and why he was dressed in a certain way.
He Chufeng simply told him to keep a meter's distance, and Luo Bin joked about 80cm being sufficient. Back at Monster Vintage, the shop owned by Granny Mi and where He Chufeng and Luo Bin reside along with a cat named Bean Bun, Luo Bin found himself once again awakened by the irritating sound of He Chufeng grinding keys. He complained about the "360-degree surround sound" but He Chufeng merely wanted him to be quiet.
Granny Mi visited the shop, already aware of Luo Bin's latest "trouble," and despite Luo Bin urging her to check the business accounts, she expressed implicit trust in him, stating that his management allowed her to be at ease. Meanwhile, Sui Yi, a law intern, spent her day at a street stall, acting more as a civil mediator for local residents.
She was swamped with mundane domestic disputes: a man seeking help for his snoring problem, a couple arguing over cheating at mahjong, and a woman detailing her son's meal preferences and oddly sized eggs. Overwhelmed, Sui Yi yearned to finish work quickly, as she had promised to attend Su Xiaoyue's performance that evening. At the venue, a fervent fan managed to bypass security and enter Su Xiaoyue's dressing room, demanding a photo.
Su Xiaoyue's manager swiftly removed the fan, expressing exasperation at the fans' increasing audacity. Despite the disturbance, Su Xiaoyue composed herself and delivered an electrifying performance, captivating the audience, including a thrilled Sui Yi. However, the shadow of sasaeng fans continued to loom over Su Xiaoyue's life. Even after changing her phone and moving to a new address with an undisclosed door password, she found her privacy invaded.
Disturbing messages appeared on her phone, showing the sasaengs knew her new address, criticized her home decor as cheap, and even listed her photos and clothes for sale online. To address her security concerns, Su Xiaoyue placed an order with Monster Key, He Chufeng's locksmith service. He Chufeng arrived and, adhering to industry regulations, requested Su Xiaoyue to fill out a form and present her ID. She reluctantly complied, removing her mask and sunglasses to confirm her identity.
Initially, Su Xiaoyue expressed skepticism about He Chufeng's "primitive" lock, preferring a more advanced electronic one. However, her doubts vanished when He Chufeng effortlessly demonstrated his skill by quickly unlocking a combination lock in under a minute, earning her approval. Sui Yi, in her capacity as an intern lawyer, attended a meeting at Su Xiaoyue's agency to discuss a new case.
She presented how sasaeng fans had grossly infringed upon the artist's portrait rights, generating over eight million yuan in illegal profits, and also damaged her reputation. Sui Yi argued for litigation, proposing two comprehensive plans. During the meeting, Su Xiaoyue walked in, sending a jolt of excitement through Sui Yi, who was overjoyed to see her idol up close.
Later, Sui Yi relived the encounter, calling Su Xiaoyue "my daughter" in her mind and renewing her resolve to pass her lawyer's examination to better protect her idol. That evening, as Su Xiaoyue prepared for a shower, she heard a disturbance. Upon investigating, she found no one, but discovered her personal space had been violated, with some of her things rearranged, leaving her feeling utterly unnerved.
The next day, she called He Chufeng, claiming the new lock he installed had been "forced open," and arranged to meet him at the community gate. Luo Bin insisted on accompanying He Chufeng, bringing his phone to "record life," despite He Chufeng's irritation at being filmed. At the community gate, Su Xiaoyue arrived heavily disguised.
Sui Yi, seeing Luo Bin filming and mistaking He Chufeng and Luo Bin for sasaeng fans harassing her idol, rushed forward and tackled them both to the ground. After the misunderstanding was cleared, Sui Yi, while secretly thrilled to be interacting with her idol, adopted a professional tone, acting as Su Xiaoyue's counsel. Su Xiaoyue reiterated that someone had entered her 46th-floor apartment, insisting the lock must be faulty.
He Chufeng confidently maintained his lock was secure, jokingly suggesting the intruder might be "Spider-Man." Sui Yi warned against slandering her client's mental state after Luo Bin suggested Su Xiaoyue might be experiencing mental stress due to work pressure. Sui Yi also questioned the legitimacy of Monster Key, even threatening a lawsuit. Luo Bin, in turn, defended their company's legitimate status and police registration. Despite Su Xiaoyue mentioning a friend's recommendation, Sui Yi considered seeking another locksmith.
He Chufeng ultimately proposed inspecting the apartment. The group proceeded to Su Xiaoyue's home. He Chufeng examined the lock, confirming it had not been forced. Inside, Luo Bin noticed a pot of white Balloon flowers, reciting their symbolic meanings of "eternal love" and "hopeless love." Su Xiaoyue initially thought her manager might have placed them, but wasn't certain. They discussed Su Xiaoyue's practice of keeping curtains drawn for privacy, even on a high floor, to avoid paparazzi and persistent fans.
He Chufeng then checked her room, identifying a specific Gundam and Hello Kitty collaboration figure. Suddenly, Su Xiaoyue's phone buzzed with chilling messages from the sasaeng fan: "Hello, sister. Do you like the flowers I gave you? I want to be with you forever. This is a gift set. Look carefully. There's a surprise waiting for you." Terrified, Su Xiaoyue cried out in despair.
To gather more information, He Chufeng and Luo Bin went to the building's security room to review surveillance footage. Luo Bin, attempting to maintain a cover, jokingly inquired about their lost cat, Bean Bun, but their true purpose was to check for unusual activity around Su Xiaoyue's apartment. The security guard explained that due to Su Xiaoyue's specific request for privacy, the cameras did not cover her apartment's entrance.
Furthermore, the footage was only stored for seven days, and no anomalies were detected in the hallways or elevators. He Chufeng reaffirmed that the lock was not the issue, pondering how the intruder could have entered or exited undetected, while Luo Bin mentioned he had searched the room but found nothing unusual.
