The Silence of the Monster Episode 23 Recap
> The Silence of the Monster Recap
Having been heartbroken, Luo Bin no longer found solace in being alone; the freedom he once cherished now felt like a burden. He expressed that Cupid had tied a "dead knot" in his heart that he couldn't untie, stating that he thought of countless possibilities but never anticipated this outcome, making it impossible to accept.
He had fallen in love too quickly and plummeted just as fast, leaving him no time to truly savor the experience before Fang Qi left him, taking his love with her. Luo Bin was reluctant to call Fang Qi, reminding He Chufeng that she had a fiancé. He then realized that Fang Qi had even taken his phone, a used one at that, and he wondered if she had taken more than just his phone.
He Chufeng and Sui Yi discussed the profound impact of heartbreak. Sui Yi mentioned having read about several stages of a breakup, with varying expressions between men and women. He Chufeng then listed these stages: "heartbreak, attempting to recover, trying to save the relationship, letting go and moving on." Sui Yi speculated that Luo Bin, in his current crazy and distraught state, was still in the first stage: heartbreak.
Both He Chufeng and Sui Yi admitted they had never truly experienced a breakup. Sui Yi decided to have a serious discussion about their relationship and asked He Chufeng for his honest feedback, promising not to get angry. After some hesitation and reassurance from Sui Yi, He Chufeng objectively pointed out that she was a bit careless in her daily life and hadn't finished any of the books he had recommended.
Sui Yi immediately became annoyed, accusing him of doing it on purpose and insisting these were not real problems, to which He Chufeng maintained they were. On the third day of his breakup, Luo Bin, in a frenzied state, declared it was time for a "big clean-up," enthusiastically offering to wash clothes, fix items, or appraise objects for free.
He Chufeng provided him with a pile of dirty laundry, while Sui Yi mischievously loosened a light bulb and collected other broken household items for him to repair. Luo Bin proudly embraced these tasks, feeling indispensable. He then directed He Chufeng and Sui Yi to clean, and after half an hour, announced it was time for "rest," which surprisingly turned into broadcast gymnastics and eye exercises.
Fed up with his antics, He Chufeng and Sui Yi resorted to tying him up with a necktie and escorting him back to his room. The next morning, the fourth day of his heartbreak, Sui Yi was surprised to find Luo Bin appearing somewhat more normal. She attempted to dissuade him from bothering He Chufeng, who had classes and work to attend.
However, Luo Bin angrily lashed out, accusing them of being selfish and caring only for their own happiness, especially now that they were a couple and he was alone, making him feel like a burden. He then recounted his school days, mentioning he came second in an idiom competition to Liu Feng.
He Chufeng inquired about a letter in his mailbox, which prompted Luo Bin to reveal that He Chufeng frequently received love letters from various girls in high school, even enlisting Liu Feng to help him collect them. Sui Yi grew visibly upset and demanded an explanation about the letters and Liu Feng. Before she could press further, she had to leave for work, promising to confront He Chufeng later.
Luo Bin, feeling a sense of satisfaction after his outburst, retreated to his room, where he continued to long for Fang Qi, wondering how he could possibly move on. Later, as He Chufeng was organizing his mail, Luo Bin suddenly entered and discovered a stack of anonymous letters. He Chufeng explained that he had been receiving these identical, blank letters for several months.
The two roommates then tried to uncover any hidden messages on the Dongba paper, a traditional paper used by Nakhi priests, known for its thickness, durability, and moth-resistant properties due to canescent wikstroemia. Luo Bin confidently boasted about his appraisal skills but admitted a slight chance of failure. They experimented with common invisible inks like starch and baking soda, but no writing appeared. Luo Bin then suggested using potassium thiocyanate and ferrous sulfate, which also yielded no results.
Meanwhile, an elderly woman arrived at the antique shop, seeking a lost pen. Luo Bin, still emotionally distraught, became confrontational, demanding she prove ownership of the expensive pen. He Chufeng intervened, suggesting she check for a purchase receipt or any distinguishing marks. The woman then remembered that the Chinese character "Xiong," her son's name, was engraved on the pen cap. To Luo Bin's astonishment, the engraving was indeed there. He had held the pen all day without noticing it.
He wondered if he had been swapped by aliens, and after He Chufeng commented that such lapses were normal due to heartbreak, Luo Bin mused if he truly needed an IQ test. During this time, Sui Yi's superior, Mr. Zhou, reinstated her on a crucial game company case, praising her recent performance and noting the case's critical stage. He mentioned that the previous lawyer, Yu, had become "slack" and needed a break, so Yu would now assist Sui Yi.
Yu, clearly upset by this demotion, later made a point of expressing his frustration to his assistant, Wang Qing, for including irrelevant foreign cases. Sui Yi later observed Wang Qing being overly apologetic and submissive to Yu, even when she wasn't at fault. Sui Yi advised Wang Qing to stand up for herself and learn to refuse demands, emphasizing that being kind did not equate to being a doormat.
Wang Qing, however, confided in Sui Yi that she felt incompetent and could only find happiness in assisting others. After work, Sui Yi bought three cups of osmanthus oolong milk tea. The cashier, noticing Sui Yi's cat smell, warned her that someone in the community was abusing cats, advising her to keep her own cat safe. Sui Yi felt a surge of unease.
Upon arriving home with the milk tea, Luo Bin reacted strongly, ordering her to throw it away, refusing to let anything from that particular store into the house. He Chufeng also suggested she discard it. Annoyed by their unexplained refusal and still silently fuming over He Chufeng's lack of explanation regarding the love letters, Sui Yi defiantly drank all three cups herself.
The next morning, Sui Yi, still upset, refused He Chufeng's breakfast and opted to bring her own rainbow oatmeal to work. She repeatedly tried to provoke He Chufeng into addressing the love letter issue, hinting at her puffy face from the previous night. However, He Chufeng, oblivious to her hints, merely offered her coffee to reduce swelling or milk for her oatmeal. Frustrated by his lack of understanding, Sui Yi informed him she would be working overtime and left, leaving He Chufeng puzzled by her behavior.
