The Silence of the Monster Episode 14 Recap
> The Silence of the Monster Recap
Luo Bin started to subtly gather information about Zheng Xingchuan from Sui Yi, who remembered Zheng Xingchuan's earlier advice to maintain an air of mystery. Luo Bin found the noodles unappetizing and soon departed, leaving He Chufeng and Sui Yi alone. He Chufeng immediately apologized for the previous day's events, following Luo Bin's tips to be sincere and look into her eyes. He expressed regret for speaking harshly to Big Force and letting his emotions out on Sui Yi.
Sui Yi kindly responded that it was alright and that she had also acted poorly. Following another piece of Luo Bin's advice to subtly move items closer to her to symbolize their relationship, He Chufeng then poured half a bottle of vinegar into his bowl, revealing his preference for sour foods. Luo Bin, observing from afar, silently shook his head at the young man. That evening, after receiving her salary, Sui Yi promptly repaid the money she owed He Chufeng.
He Chufeng, curious, inquired about Zheng Xingchuan, whose name Sui Yi confirmed, explaining that he was merely a senior martial arts brother from her childhood, having trained with her grandfather. They had lost touch for a long time and only met up because he was in town for a business trip. Sui Yi then spontaneously asked He Chufeng if he would like to join her that weekend to buy Christmas and New Year decorations and plants.
Fearing rejection, she quickly tried to retract the invitation, but He Chufeng agreed to go with her. As the warmth of December settled in, Sui Yi fretted over what to wear for her outing with He Chufeng, finding outfit selection harder than a law exam. Luo Bin, seeing her dilemma, quickly intervened.
Though Sui Yi was initially dressed in a formal, bright outfit, Luo Bin insisted she change, stating that while he might not know her style, he certainly knew He Chufeng's. After Sui Yi changed into an elegant skirt that beautifully complemented the soft light from the window, making her look radiant, He Chufeng came downstairs. He suggested Luo Bin join them for decoration shopping, but Luo Bin declined, stating he had customers at his shop and had to stay.
As He Chufeng and Sui Yi left, Luo Bin mused about how a date should involve only two people, jokingly wishing he could "break open" He Chufeng's "safe-like" head. He hoped they understood the proper steps of a date and wouldn't return immediately after just buying decorations. He Chufeng and Sui Yi went shopping, then decided to eat first before heading to the decoration market. He Chufeng mentioned that Luo Bin needed a large gift box.
During dinner, He Chufeng confessed that he sometimes visited the barbecue restaurant. Sui Yi proudly shared her talent for grilling, a skill she discovered after her mother gave up on teaching her to cook due to her burning two pots in two days. She invited He Chufeng to try her grilled meat, and he found it surprisingly good.
Meanwhile, at his shop, Luo Bin felt bored and frustrated, receiving a call from a friend asking him to go shopping, which he declined. He complained to himself about being stuck working while He Chufeng and Sui Yi were on a date, feeling it was "too much." His friend called again, and Luo Bin reiterated he couldn't leave the shop. After dinner, they went to watch a movie. He Chufeng considerately bought popcorn and drinks for them.
However, during the movie, He Chufeng received an urgent phone call. He stepped out to answer it, and upon returning, he apologized to Sui Yi, explaining he had an urgent client request and couldn't stay. He told her to enjoy the rest of the movie and be careful on her way home. Sui Yi was left alone to watch the remainder of the film, feeling a sense of disappointment, and returned home by herself, carrying all the shopping bags.
Upon her return, Luo Bin noticed her subdued mood and asked where He Chufeng was. After a playful argument where Luo Bin helped her with the bags, he learned that He Chufeng had left her alone at the cinema. Sui Yi insisted it was fine, as she was used to watching movies alone. Luo Bin then directly asked if she liked He Chufeng. After some hesitation, Sui Yi admitted that she did.
Luo Bin advised her to be prepared, explaining that He Chufeng's dangerous job often involved sudden, urgent calls and business trips, meaning their time together might frequently be interrupted. He emphasized that if she wanted to be with He Chufeng, she would need to understand and accept this aspect of his life. Sui Yi shared that she simply felt He Chufeng carried many unspoken burdens.
Luo Bin acknowledged this, describing He Chufeng as someone who, having experienced pain, actively sought to protect others from it. Sui Yi then turned the tables, asking Luo Bin why he wasn't in a relationship and if he didn't have a girl he liked, noting his failed blind dates. Annoyed, Luo Bin retorted that Sui Yi was becoming as irritating as He Chufeng, and they bickered further over the bags before he retreated upstairs.
Later that night, He Chufeng returned, looking weary. Sui Yi, who had been waiting for him, prepared a bowl of instant noodles, recalling He Chufeng's previous comment that she made delicious instant noodles. He Chufeng apologized again for leaving her at the cinema, to which Sui Yi replied that work was more important and she would have done the same.
He had a small injury on his hand, which Sui Yi noticed with concern, gently taking his hand to apply medicine while he ate. He Chufeng, clearly upset, confessed that he had witnessed something disturbing that day and felt quite distressed, asking her to stay with him. He asked if she had ever felt utterly powerless, watching things unfold before her eyes without being able to do anything. He Chufeng then recounted a painful memory from his childhood.
At ten years old, he opened his first lock, a password-protected savings pot belonging to his younger sister, Chunian. He realized that a brute-force approach would take too long, so he guessed Chunian would use their mother's birthday as the password, which proved correct. Both Chunian and his mother praised him as a "genius," though his mother warned him not to tell his father. He became fascinated with lock-picking, but this fascination soon led to trouble.
One day, his father discovered him opening a box at home and severely punished him, accusing him of trying to steal and warning that he would become a thief if not disciplined. Despite this, under his mother's secret encouragement, He Chufeng continued to hone his skills, opening various locks around the house, including Chunian's savings pot, the bookcase, and even his own room door.
He then moved on to the iron gate of their home, believing he could pick it without leaving a trace, and felt immense joy and accomplishment each time a lock yielded to his skill. This profound sense of achievement was his greatest childhood pleasure. However, this joy soon turned into a nightmare.
One day, a fire broke out at their home, trapping his mother and Chunian inside because the very lock he had expertly picked had been damaged and could not be opened from the inside, preventing their escape. He Chufeng returned home to a chaotic scene of fire and smoke, and by the time firefighters rescued his mother and sister, it was too late. He was haunted by the memory of their screams, calling for his help as the door remained shut.
