The Silence of the Monster Episode 32 Recap
> The Silence of the Monster Recap
Sui Yi returned from her hometown, bringing an end to He Chufeng's solitude. He Chufeng playfully remarked that he felt like a "pig breeder" after Sui Yi, on her first day back, declared her desire for ten dishes for lunch. At the law firm, Wang Qing appeared distracted. Sui Yi prompted her for some files she had requested, and Wang Qing, apologetic, went to retrieve them. Hesitantly, Wang Qing then inquired if Sui Yi's boyfriend was a skilled locksmith.
Sui Yi confirmed this and asked if Wang Qing needed help, but Wang Qing quickly dismissed the idea, claiming it was merely a casual question before excusing herself. Later that day, Wang Qing’s distracted demeanor persisted, prompting Sui Yi to offer her assistance. Wang Qing, after some hesitation, finally confessed her need for a locksmith's help.
Sui Yi, accompanied by He Chufeng, then went to the home of Professor Xu Chenghuan, a renowned appraiser and a close friend of Wang Qing’s late father, Wang Jian. To their surprise, Luo Bin was already there, having arrived with Professor Xu, his teacher. He Chufeng exchanged a brief, somewhat tense greeting with Luo Bin, who stated he was "not too bad." He Chufeng examined the item Wang Qing needed unlocked: a double-sided box.
He explained that this unique lock required two people to open it simultaneously, demanding perfect synchronicity, consistent breathing, coordinated strength, and ideally, similar finger lengths. He cautioned that they only had three attempts before the lock mechanism would permanently seize. Wang Qing suggested Sui Yi, as He Chufeng's girlfriend, might have the necessary synchronicity. However, Sui Yi admitted she didn't know how to pick locks and turned to Luo Bin for help.
Luo Bin, acknowledging he had encountered and opened such a lock once before, expressed doubt about his ability to assist He Chufeng, citing the latter's advanced technique and the need for mutual trust and reliance. He Chufeng pressed him, asking if he remembered the procedure. Their first attempt failed. He Chufeng, clearly still upset with Luo Bin, attributed the failure to Luo Bin's distraction and lack of trust. Luo Bin retorted by questioning He Chufeng's trust in him.
For their second attempt, they coordinated their actions and, with a click, successfully opened the box. Inside the box was a leaf teacup. Professor Xu carefully inspected it and, with all due respect, declared it wasn't Wang Jian's work. He pointed out the incomplete leaf, blurry veins, and unclear stem, emphasizing Wang Jian’s reputation for perfection and his habit of destroying any flawed pieces.
Luo Bin, however, questioned whether judging solely on a habit was sufficient, especially with no signature on the cup. He then mused if Wang Jian might have lied, keeping an imperfect, non-original cup, and presenting it as his best work. He Chufeng reacted with visible anger, admonishing Luo Bin for immediately jumping to deception. He passionately stated that there could be many reasons for the teacup's presence, and not everyone resorted to lying, especially to those they cared about.
Sui Yi quickly interceded, suggesting they shouldn't comment on such a family matter and apologizing for He Chufeng's outburst. Luo Bin apologized for his earlier comment. Later, He Chufeng confronted Sui Yi, asking if she had orchestrated the meeting with Luo Bin. Sui Yi denied it, explaining Wang Qing’s last-minute request and her own surprise at Luo Bin's presence.
She admitted wanting them to reconcile, believing they had a strong connection, and pointed out that He Chufeng's public argument showed he still cared deeply for Luo Bin. She urged him to talk things through, but He Chufeng refused, insisting there was "nothing to talk about." Sui Yi stressed the rarity of a true friendship and how tragic it would be to lose it, telling He Chufeng to reflect on his feelings.
Sui Yi subsequently called Luo Bin, who also denied intentionally arranging the meeting. Luo Bin revealed his ongoing bewilderment about the Jian Zhan's appraisal. He had thoroughly researched Wang Jian's work and remained convinced the teacup was indeed Wang Jian’s, finding its craftsmanship and materials consistent with the master’s style. He found Professor Xu's firm insistence on his initial judgment, despite their usual practice of reaching a consensus, to be quite strange.
Sui Yi speculated that Professor Xu might be withholding the truth to protect Wang Jian’s reputation, given the teacup’s flaws. Luo Bin, however, dismissed this, asserting that Professor Xu was known for his unwavering honesty, even when it cost him. Despite this, Luo Bin admitted the appraisal felt odd to him.
When Sui Yi asked if he had spoken to He Chufeng, Luo Bin sighed, complaining about a headache and recalling He Chufeng's icy stare, which made him feel "like he was going to eat me." Luo Bin decided to "go with the flow." Sui Yi approached He Chufeng again, asking if he would talk to Luo Bin and suggesting there might be a misunderstanding.
He Chufeng, however, remained resolute, stating there was "nothing to talk about" and that the "result is just this." Sui Yi pressed him, urging him to at least give himself the chance to understand the full truth, emphasizing her wish that he wouldn't lose an important friend due to a possible misunderstanding. Meanwhile, at the law firm, colleagues noted Wang Qing's unprecedented absence, highlighting the inconvenience her departure caused. Sui Yi defended Wang Qing's invaluable contributions.
Wang Qing later sent Sui Yi the files she had requested, explaining she was taking personal leave to handle important family matters but would be available for remote assistance. She sincerely thanked Sui Yi and He Chufeng for opening the wooden box, stressing its significance to her family.
Wang Qing’s mother reiterated her belief that the Jian Zhan could not be Wang Jian's, despite his deathbed declaration of it being his best work, as he would never leave a flawed piece. Wang Qing, however, firmly believed it was her father’s creation and that he would never substitute another’s work. She was convinced he had a profound reason for preserving it.
She recalled a conversation with her father, where he praised her own flawed Jian Zhan, saying its natural and lively form possessed more vitality than perfectly uniform ones. He had told her that "something with defects may be the one that has a soul." Carrying this conviction, Wang Qing visited Sui Yi and He Chufeng at the vintage store. She requested Sui Yi’s help in contacting Luo Bin for a re-appraisal, noting his initial differing opinion from Professor Xu.
Understanding the potential awkwardness, she offered to contact Luo Bin herself if Sui Yi found it difficult. Sui Yi called Luo Bin, who returned to the vintage store, carrying his dog, Bean Bun. He Chufeng questioned why Luo Bin hadn't replied to his messages, to which Luo Bin vaguely attributed to forgetting. Luo Bin then reiterated his firm belief that the Jian Zhan was indeed Wang Jian’s work, a conviction reinforced by further research.
He mentioned that part of his initial uncertainty stemmed from Professor Xu’s conclusion, and he now suspected Professor Xu might be concealing something. He Chufeng, still holding onto past grievances, immediately retorted, "Someone also said he never lied, but in the end, he lied." Following this exchange, Luo Bin made a phone call to Professor Xu. Wang Qing expressed her affection for the vintage store and her admiration for Sui Yi’s talented friends.
She confided her feelings of inadequacy, as her entire family, including her father, was skilled in making Jian Zhan, yet she, his daughter, felt she had inherited none of his talent, believing he must have been saddened by this. She reminisced about a cherished childhood tradition with her father: every autumn, they would collect the "first falling leaf" from their yard’s tree.
Her father had once shared a secret, telling her that leaf teacups crafted from the first fallen leaf were the most beautiful and unique, extending nature's beauty onto the cup. He imparted a profound philosophy, explaining that flawed leaves, when transformed into a teacup, could better embody the "meaning of time" and integrate the "beauty of nature." He often reminded her that perfection wasn't always paramount, and that "something with defects may be the one that has a soul."
Wang Qing then noted this romantic sentiment of her father's, recognizing that while many perceived him as rigidly pursuing perfection, she understood his deeper appreciation for the soulful beauty found in imperfection.
