The Silence of the Monster Episode 5 Recap
> The Silence of the Monster Recap
Su Xiaoyue found herself contemplating whether she truly wished to continue her life as a celebrity. Although she was a star, she felt no happier than when she worked in a shop, perceiving herself merely as a wage earner. A shop owner kindly told her that if she ever decided to return to an ordinary life, she would always be welcome, but then asked if she would truly quit willingly.
This inner turmoil was exacerbated by the escalating sasaeng fan incident, which had shockingly revealed the fan to be a high-achieving student. Public opinion intensified, and Su Xiaoyue went missing, with her agency unable to contact her. Sui Yi, deeply concerned and empathetic due to her own past traumatic experiences, felt that while she had friends like He Chufeng and Luo Bin by her side, Su Xiaoyue was facing this alone.
Determined to help, Sui Yi asked He Chufeng and Luo Bin for assistance. The next morning, Sui Yi woke to find breakfast prepared by He Chufeng, along with a note reminding her to eat. She felt a genuine warmth in her heart. As she left for work, Sui Yi couldn't stop thinking about her idol, hoping she would reappear, especially with the Star Moon Girls' performance approaching and public opinion on Su Xiaoyue's disappearance escalating, while Su Xiaoyue remained lost.
He Chufeng, later that day, spotted Su Xiaoyue at a roadside stall. He had previously spoken to Su Xiaoyue's father, who had initially denied knowing her, but then confided that he knew his daughter was not as the public portrayed her. Her mother had passed away early, and he, feeling incapable of much, had called her back only to protect her from suffering outside. He truly loved his daughter.
He Chufeng then used this information to speak with Su Xiaoyue, revealing that her father kept a notebook filled with photos of her since her debut in a drawer at the security booth, and would hum her latest songs when alone, proving he was a true fan. He Chufeng pressed her, asking if she was truly willing to abandon her passion when she had such supportive fans and a loving father.
In the final moments before the Star Moon Girls' performance, Su Xiaoyue, with renewed determination, returned to the stage. Her father arrived just in time to cheer her on, visibly moved by her presence. After the show, Su Xiaoyue delivered a heartfelt speech, thanking everyone for their presence and unwavering support, and her teammates for their tolerance, admitting she wouldn't be there without them.
She apologized for causing worry and declared her resolve to bravely stand up for herself and protect those she loved, using proper means. She proudly displayed a bracelet, a non-expensive gift from her father, symbolizing his hope, and clarified that all gifts from sasaeng fans had been returned by her agent. She promised to strive harder, and become a better version of herself, to be their pride.
Sui Yi, who chose not to attend the concert but was happy knowing Su Xiaoyue was back on stage, soon received a grateful text message from Su Xiaoyue, thanking her and her two friends for helping her regain strength, and inviting them to dinner sometime. Sui Yi was ecstatic at the prospect of dining with her idol. As life continued, He Chufeng pondered on the unpredictable nature of existence.
He believed there was no singular "truth" in life; everyone faced their own unique challenges and strived to overcome them. No one was forewarned of the surprises, pains, accidents, or heartaches ahead. When confronted, one had to exert all their strength to resolve it, move forward, and become stronger and more capable.
Meanwhile, at the police station, officers, including Jia Xiaoguo, were reviewing a video of He Chufeng, marveling at his ability to pick a lock in just 56 seconds, even appearing to slow down deliberately. They wondered about his origins and training, especially if such a skilled individual might use his abilities for illicit purposes. Captain Chen then revealed a shocking fact: He Chufeng was the one who sent his own master to prison.
With the clock ticking, He Chufeng and Luo Bin rushed to the police station, confronting Li Jun. He Chufeng successfully picked the lock of a critical safe box just before Li Jun was to board his flight, leading to his arrest.
Sui Yi, who had rushed to the scene after receiving a call, was reassured by the police that the cameras in her rental apartment had long lost signal and were not transmitting, putting her mind at ease; ultimately, the wrongdoers would be brought to justice. Relieved, He Chufeng and Luo Bin took Sui Yi home for dinner.
Seeing He Chufeng cooking, Sui Yi felt apologetic and offered to take over, but He Chufeng, concerned, meticulously instructed her on the tasks before leaving. He Chufeng soon fell asleep on the sofa, prompting Sui Yi to gently cover him with a blanket. As she reached to remove his glasses, He Chufeng instinctively woke and grabbed her wrist, a tense moment broken by a timer. It was revealed He Chufeng was a hidden culinary master.
Sui Yi then proposed sharing food expenses, a suggestion that also enlightened Luo Bin, who had been eating for free for a year. Sui Yi displayed impressive combat skills, explaining her grandfather taught her self-defense as a child. Sui Yi and Luo Bin, both chatty and outgoing, created a lively atmosphere, even with the usually quiet He Chufeng.
When He Chufeng and Luo Bin started courteously declining to do the dishes, Sui Yi offered to do them herself, only to be stopped by both men exclaiming in unison, "Girls don't wash dishes!" The night his master was taken away remained He Chufeng's never-fading nightmare, and now, that nightmare had returned from prison. In early autumn, Granny Mi announced her plans for a trip to Paris.
Luo Bin informed He Chufeng that he had secured a major appraisal contract with the Qianhe Art Museum. Granny Mi then explained that the museum was originally founded by Meng Qianhe, a renowned collector celebrated for his good reputation and for discovering many contemporary artists. However, after Meng Qianhe's death from an illness, his business was inherited by his spendthrift son, Meng Ziyang, who had run the museum's finances into the ground, forcing them to sell off valuable collections.
Granny Mi then mentioned a peculiar sculpture named "One & Only," created by sculptor Dong Li. Its contents remained a mystery, but a sinister rumor claimed it could allow people to see the deceased, or even drag people away. Luo Bin, intrigued, mused that if it truly allowed one to see the dead, he would be very interested. He Chufeng, too, expressed a desire to witness such a phenomenon.
Luo Bin later met with Director Han at the Qianhe Art Museum to discuss the various collections for sale. He specifically inquired about "One & Only." Director Han grew visibly uneasy, admitting the item was "too weird." He recounted an incident where movers, hired to transport the sculpture for a buyer, suddenly went mad, a problem that remained unresolved.
Director Han further explained that "One & Only" was encased in a strange, unopenable lock that emitted a chilling aura, and its key was long lost. The museum was at its wits' end, worried about damaging the valuable piece. Luo Bin, sensing an opportunity, insisted on seeing it, confident he had someone who could solve their predicament. Luo Bin then brought He Chufeng to the museum.
Curator Meng Ziyang stressed the immense value of "One & Only" as Dong Li's final masterpiece, expressing deep concern that the internal contents might be damaged during the unlocking process. He Chufeng identified the ornate lock as a "magpie lock." Luo Bin and Meng Ziyang discussed the popular, auspicious legend associated with such locks, where they symbolized distant lovers reuniting like the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl over the Magpie Bridge.
However, He Chufeng then elaborated on a lesser-known, darker legend: ancient women would lock themselves with a magpie lock on the Qixi Festival; if the lock failed to open by itself by morning, the woman would fall into despair, eventually dying of grief, leading to a spiritual reunion in the afterlife. Meng Ziyang found this unsettling, lamenting his father's choice to collect such an item.
He Chufeng calmly stated that locks themselves held no good or evil; only humans brought about various misfortunes. As He Chufeng began to work on the lock, he suddenly fell into a trance, experiencing vivid hallucinations where his name was repeatedly called in a misty, disorienting void. Luo Bin quickly snapped him out of it. Meng Ziyang, concerned, asked if He Chufeng could proceed.
He Chufeng declined to open it that day, stating that despite its antique appearance, the lock was a modern replica requiring special preparation. Meng Ziyang insisted it be opened regardless. Luo Bin offered He Chufeng a strong, double-iced Americano to help him regain focus, teasing him about saving his life. Luo Bin then tried to persuade He Chufeng to abandon the job, given the lock's eerie reputation.
However, He Chufeng firmly refused, declaring his intention to open it, hinting at a discovery. Luo Bin handed He Chufeng the cloth he had subtly used to wipe the lock earlier, then left for a blind date. He Chufeng often observed Luo Bin's frequent blind dates. However, Luo Bin, in an internal reflection, clarified that he attended these dates out of filial obligation, not genuine interest, as his mother pressured him.
He recounted past blind dates: one where he, as an appraiser, truthfully informed Miss Liu that her designer bag was fake, advising her to be wary of certain boutiques. Another date, with Miss Huang, ended abruptly when Luo Bin, again being truthful, stated he had never been in a relationship and felt no need to lie, prompting Miss Huang to feel insulted.
Luo Bin, admitting his shyness and difficulty in communication, mused that he had a "cleanliness" for both truth and emotions. He believed in love at first sight, describing himself as a "cracked egg" among many, outwardly similar but intrinsically different. He held a deeply romantic view of love, seeing it as an occasional, patternless, untraceable phenomenon. He imagined that upon meeting the right person, his heart would race, birds would sing in his head, and a hundred butterflies would flutter in his stomach.
