Episode Summary
Lin Zhitao reflects on fatherly protection while handling Wang Hengquan's case. The long-unsolved Jane Doe case is closed as DNA identifies the victim and confirms He Guoqiang as the murderer; he is sentenced to death, bringing relief, especially to Zheng Yanlai. Zheng Yanlai receives transfer orders and farewell gifts from colleagues. At the welfare institution, Hu Li has a severe breakdown, attempting to cut her hair and revealing a traumatic past: her sister, Hu Minmin, forced her to keep short hair and look dirty to protect her from a predatory dance teacher, Wan Xuemin, before taking her own life. Xiao Qing struggles in therapy, projecting her trauma onto a teddy bear.
Spoiler Alert
"Endless Protection" Episode 21 Recap & Spoilers
Alright, so this episode packed quite an emotional punch, juggling a few intense storylines.
First up, we have Lin Zhitao. She's deep into Wang Hengquan's case, and it's clearly making her think. You can tell she's really empathizing with the protective instincts of a father. It hits home so much that when she finds her brother cooking for her, she throws a hypothetical at him: what would he do if his future daughter was harmed? His answer is immediate and visceral – he'd round up his buddies and absolutely wouldn't let the perpetrator off easy, implying a serious beatdown. Hearing that raw, protective rage seems to give Lin Zhitao some clarity or confirmation for whatever she's wrestling with regarding the case.
Meanwhile, the cold case that's been hanging over Zheng Yanlai – the unidentified woman, the "Jane Doe" – finally gets a major breakthrough. Thanks to DNA testing, they not only figure out who the poor woman was but also zero in on the suspect. Remember He Guoqiang, the repeat offender they questioned earlier? Turns out, he was the guy. Back then, he tried to save his own skin by lying, painting the victim as some kind of promiscuous woman ("not engaged in proper work"). Now, the truth is out. He Guoqiang's attempts to cover his tracks were heinous. Zheng Yanlai is present for the trial, and the court delivers the ultimate sentence: death. It's a huge moment – a years-old mystery solved. You could practically feel the weight lift, especially for Lin Zhitao, who seemed deeply affected by this case too.
Just as this case closes, a chapter ends for Zheng Yanlai personally. Orders have come down, and she's being transferred to a new post. Her colleagues gather to say goodbye. Lu Wenzhao gives her a bouquet of flowers, and another thoughtful coworker gifts her a pair of sneakers, hoping they'll make her fieldwork or village visits more comfortable in her next role. A bittersweet farewell.
Now, things take a deeply disturbing turn over at the welfare institution with Hu Li. She sees other girls with ponytails, notices her own hair is getting long (covering her ears), and grabs a pair of scissors, starting to hack at her hair erratically. Lu Sheng is right there and thankfully intervenes, grabbing her hands and trying to calm her down. That's when Hu Li voices the terrifying depth of her despair, saying she wants to use the scissors not just on her hair, but on her own neck.
And then, the floodgates open with a horrifying flashback explaining her trauma. Her older sister, Hu Minmin, had been obsessed with keeping Hu Li's hair brutally short, like a buzz cut ("mao sui"). Hu Minmin would forcibly cut it whenever it covered Hu Li's ears. This last time, Hu Li fought back, even locking herself in a closet. Through the door, Hu Minmin told her she must keep her hair short and, crucially, if she ever went outside, she had to smudge her face with dirt or soot to make herself look dirty. After delivering this chilling instruction, Hu Minmin took the scissors, went to the bathtub, lay down, and cut her own carotid artery.
It's unclear how long Hu Li stayed hidden, but when she finally came out, she found her sister bleeding out in the tub. In shock, Hu Li promised to listen, to cut her hair, to do whatever Hu Minmin wanted. Seeing her sister unresponsive, she covered Hu Minmin with a blanket and lay down beside her body.
Why the obsession with short hair and a dirty face? Hu Li's memories reveal the monster behind it: a dance teacher named Wan Xuemin. He had been in Hu Minmin's room, saw Hu Li, and clearly had predatory intentions. To protect her little sister from becoming his target, Hu Minmin tragically agreed to Wan Xuemin's demands, which involved helping him recruit students (likely putting herself in harm's way or compromising situations to shield Hu Li).
Finally, the episode checks in on Xiao Qing. Her situation is still fragile. Her guardians – her mom, Lin Zhitao, and Bai Enyu – take her to a therapy session. The psychologist tries a technique, placing a teddy bear on a chair and asking Xiao Qing to talk to it alone. Left in the room, Xiao Qing's trauma surfaces violently. She projects onto the innocent bear, seeing it as her abuser, getting incredibly agitated and pleading with it not to torment her anymore. It's heartbreaking to watch.
