Original subtitles

[The White Olive Tree]

[Episode 29]

[This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to reality is purely coincidental.]

Zan.

Have you experienced something

that you don't want to tell me about?

It's okay if you don't want to talk about it now.

I can wait.

Tomorrow,

I want to visit the cemetery in Matuman for inspiration.

I heard it's difficult to get in.

Can you take me there?

Attention!

Just got an order.

The special forces will be transferred to Happo together

with other troops.

The specific departure time is tomorrow midnight.

So, everyone go to prepare.

Yes, Sir!

Dismissed!

Ben.

What's up?

You're relocating to Happo this time.

I want to go with you.

They're transferring us to Happo at such short notice.

Although they didn't tell me the specific reason,

I have a feeling something must have happened.

This mission could be very dangerous.

So you...

I know.

But the more dangerous it is,

the more I can help.

Besides,

I want to do more.

Not only for you,

but also for myself.

Okay.

I'll go talk to the special forces.

Zan.

I think you should go say goodbye to Song.

Instructor Li.

Tomorrow,

I want to visit the cemetery in Matuman for inspiration.

I heard it's difficult to get in.

Can you take me there?

Sure.

I'll pick you up at the hotel at 10 AM tomorrow.

Captain.

Captain.

Here we go again.

Captain.

Sasin, come with me.

Captain, if you're done making a show of your authority,

I'll go back and pack my gear.

What are you talking about?

Making a show of my authority?

I'm not so childish as you.

I was inspecting your military bearing and discipline.

Now I have a mission to assign you.

Alright, Captain.

What's the mission? Go ahead.

This time, Zan will be going with us to Happo.

I want him to stay with you.

Unless there's a special situation,

you must stay in an absolutely safe place.

Zan is going too?

The higher-ups agreed?

I went there in person.

How could they not agree?

You just went there

and bragged about

Zan's expertise in engineering blasting.

What are you so smug about?

You went out

to ask for permission from the higher-ups?

Of course.

Why else?

Why else would I go out?

I thought you went to say goodbye to Dr. Pei.

It was such a good opportunity,

and you'd let it slip by?

I told you how young and naïve you are,

yet you weren't convinced.

How could I possibly use

this kind of trick that everyone has used?

Besides,

I hate those sentimental parting scenes the most.

What a nag.

Compared to life-and-death farewells,

I prefer leaving without saying goodbye,

suddenly disappearing,

without letting her know whether I'm dead or alive.

That's how you make a girl worry about you

and unable to forget you.

Captain.

I really feel sorry for Dr. Pei.

Why did she get stuck with someone like you?

Besides,

it's one thing for you to talk nonsense about yourself,

but don't just go on about life and death like that.

You're dragging us all into this.

All that talk about suddenly disappearing

and not knowing if one's alive or dead.

There wasn't a single word of good fortune.

If you keep talking nonsense,

give me back Rina's little star.

It's useless to bless you anyway.

It's exactly because I have Rina's blessings

that I dare to talk nonsense.

You want to take the little star from me?

Dream on.

Captain.

Sasin.

Dismissed.

Yes, Sir.

You ran down here?

I got up too early

and fell asleep again.

I almost didn't make it.

What time did you wake up?

Six o'clock.

Six o'clock?

Why did you get up so early?

The light woke me up.

Haven't you hung the drapes?

I failed to hang them.

I'm too clumsy.

I'll go help you hang the drapes first.

I don't know where your room is.

You'll have to lead the way.

I'm still staying in the same room as before.

Fortunately, the hotel's not too crowded,

so there are guest rooms available.

You're quite nostalgic.

Aren't you nostalgic too?

These drapes are so high.

It must have been tough for you.

Done.

Thank you.

It's nothing.

There are mice here?

Come on, girl.

I love you.

Baby.

I love you.

Come on.

Give me your promise.

Let's go now.

I'll have the waiter put it away.

Okay.

We'll hit the road now.

Put your helmet on.

Okay.

Done.

Do you know

the legend of this place?

I do.

Several centuries ago,

Eastern Country suffered an invasion.

This war

brought the Eastern Country back then

to the brink of national extinction and genocide.

Uglai was the capital of the ancient Eastern Country.

That counter-encirclement battle

lasted for a full year.

The soldiers defended Matuman Hill, the last line of defense,

to the death,

waiting for reinforcements to arrive.

The battle was extremely fierce.

Eventually, reinforcements arrived,

and they managed to defend the ancient Eastern Country.

The soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the Battle of Matuman Hill

were all buried here,

including General Matuman himself.

Later generations specially built

a memorial hall on the hilltop

for these martyrs,

known as the Matuman Holy Temple.

It seems you're well prepared for this field trip.

It's about 15 meters tall here.

The reliefs on it are characteristic of Eastern Country.

Hey, Max.

Instructor Li.

Am I that scary?

Instructor Li.

It's you.

Captain.

She's my friend.

Her name is Song Ran.

"Carry."

"Candy."

Yes.

I took these pictures.

Ma'am.

You're a passionate journalist

who capture moments for our country with true feelings.

I'm ready to help you.

Shall we?

Thank you.

Song.

Li will show you the temple.

Excuse me.

Zan.

I've always wondered,

if the Battle of Matuman Hill had been lost back then,

would the ancient Eastern Country still exist?

What would happen to its people?

It wouldn't have failed.

The soldiers would have regrouped,

come back with renewed strength,

again and again,

until victory was achieved.

What's this?

Is it an epitaph?

Don't bury me too deep.

Brother.

If someone invades my country,

please wake me up.

I will rise and continue to fight.

These were General Matuman's last words

before he died in battle.

Later generations carved them

to clarify their resolve.

This has also become the oath

of all the soldiers buried here,

passed down to this day.

The squad of soldiers you saw just now

are the ninth patch of soldiers

guarding Matuman Hill.

Since the day of the riot,

those rioters have been trying to occupy

this place of extraordinary significance

to Eastern Country.

Even if it's just for one day,

they would feel

they've defeated Eastern Country's army.

But these successive batches of soldiers

haven't let them succeed.

They've firmly held their ground at Matuman Hill.

Captain.

You're so incredible.

They want to blow the city,

destroy the temple,

and desecrate the remains of our heroes.

If this were your homeland,

would you allow it?

This is a little present we prepared for you.

Ms. Song.

Li never mentioned to you

what he has done for Matuman, did he?

After these jerks failed in their attacks several times,

they sneaked around and planted landmines all over this area.

We can die for Matuman,

but exploding those mines with our own bodies

and ruining this city of hero

would make us sinners through the ages.

Fortunately, Li and his buddies

cleared the mines for a straight 36 hours,

wracking those bastards' despicable scheme.

So he's also a guardian of Matuman.

Crafted

by our own hands.

She will survive.

Max.

Didn't you tell me that Song Ran is your idol?

Then why are you keeping your distance from her now?

Come over.

Take a photo?

Captain.

I'd like to take a photo of your adjutant.

Is that okay?

Don't be nervous.

Smile.

One more.

Sorry.

The battery is dead.

It doesn't matter.

One photo is enough.

No.

I will come back

and take a picture of your smile.

Deal.

Deal.

♫In the land of Matuman♫

♫There's a place where heroes stand♫

♫Through the ages♫

This was the song that child sang

♫Your story aligns♫

♫We sing our oath to the sky♫

when you were disposing bombs in Happo.

Yes.

♫In the land of Matuman♫

That's the song.

♫From the sea to desert lands♫

♫All the beautiful souls♫

♫Forever friends♫

I feel that this time coming to Eastern Country,

♫We sing our oath to you♫

you're different from before.

You were so determined to come to Eastern Country.

♫Oh white, white♫

Is there any special reason?

♫White olive tree♫

♫Can you see♫

There's no special reason.

♫Those wishes we've dreamed♫

I'm just annoyed with those bastards.

I can't stand them.

♫Oh white, white♫

I've never heard you talk like this before.

♫White olive tree♫

♫Can you hear us?♫

I guess Benjamin's a bad influence.

♫We sing our oath to you♫

No.

It's very cool.

Indeed.

I also came to Eastern Country for my book.

There's no special reason.

During your stay in Eastern Country this time,

have you been injured?

Have you heard of

a safety ranking circulating in Uglai?

What is it?

It goes soldiers, journalists, Doctors without Borders,

Red Cross, volunteers.

Volunteers rank last,

while journalists rank second,

just behind soldiers.

So I'm very safe.

How could I get injured?

Some injuries

can only be seen by oneself.

They're invisible to others.

You're not an ordinary volunteer.

You must be extra careful.

Okay.

Excuse me.

What happened?

I heard a soldier from the special forces

is having a wedding on the rubble.

Everyone is there to celebrate.

Everyone can go?

Of course. For such a joyous occasion,

who wouldn't want to share the happiness?

Too bad

I'm on duty.

Thank you.

Do you want to go?

I do.

I'd like to take some photos.

Reporting, Captain.

We've completed

Morgan's work for him.

We're all geared up

and ready to go.

Got it.

Today is Morgan's wedding.

Don't be so serious.

Lighten up a bit.

I'm not like you.

We have a mission tonight,

yet you're still in the mood to approve a wedding at a time like this.

I've always been a carpe diem kind of person.

Are you just realizing this now?

Then enjoy yourself.

I won't join your craziness.

Why are you so unromantic?

Marriage is

a beautiful thing.

It shouldn't be prevented

for any reason.

What reason do I have not to help them achieve their happiness?

Besides, the mission is at night.

We still have plenty of time.

I can't argue with you.

You're the captain.

You make the call.

Look how disgruntled you are.

Are you jealous of Morgan?

Jealous that there's no girl to propose to you?

No matter what tragedy may happen tomorrow,

it can't rob us of today's happiness.

This is a life philosophy I learned

when I was in the orphanage.

Why?

I'm an orphan too.

My parents were said to have

died in a traffic accident.

By the time I could remember things,

I was already in an orphanage

in Chinatown.

If it weren't for this principle,

I'm afraid I'd be moping around every day.

You should learn this attitude too.

Don't keep a poker face all the time.

I have something to ask you.

If the war ends,

will you go back to school?

I haven't thought about it.

I'll see when the time comes.

Then let me tell you now.

If the war ends

and I'm still alive,

it'll be up to you whether you go back to school or not.

You can decide for yourself.

But if I die,

you must go back to school and finish your journalism degree.

Because this was my original dream.

Complete it for me.

Did you hear me?

This is an order.

What kind of bullshit order is that?

What if I die?

I won't let that happen.

Do you know what another good thing

about this wedding is for me?

That is I can say goodbye to Dr. Pei

in a very cheerful way.

Dance a little,

have some drinks,

and flirt a bit.

It's perfect.

What's your dream?

Same as yours.

To get into the journalism department at Todewell University

and become a journalist.

So what happened?

You didn't get in?

Are you looking down on me?

I got admitted,

but I couldn't afford to go.

My test scores

weren't nearly good enough to qualify for a scholarship.

I had no idea

that getting into college would cost so much money.

The money I earned working at a Chinese restaurant

was nowhere near that astronomical figure.

That's when I realized

what it means to have no family.

There's no one to help you.

You have to do everything on your own.

You can only rely on yourself.

It's a very painful thing.

So then you thought about

becoming a mercenary to make money?

That's risking your life for money.

What else do I have besides my life?

Hi.

Hey, Instructor Li.

Buze.

So who's getting married today?

Morgan and his love, you know.

Ms. Song, hello.

Instructor Li.

Morgan.

Welcome.

Morgan.

Hello, Instructor Li.

So it's you getting married today.

What a good secret keeper.

Congratulations, Morgan.

Thank you, thank you.

It's her who insisted

to make it done before we go.

You have a pretty and brave bride.

Thanks.

It's really rushed.

We didn't have time to find a venue.

So we decided

to have our wedding here eventually, where both of us

were born.

She said that it's a place being blessed here.

I see.

It's such a meaningful place for you.

You will be safe and sound.

Because you're blessed twice,

from you and your wife.

Thanks.

Morgan.

Morgan.

Come on. Welcome.

Come over here.

Of course.

Hey, here.

Come over here.

Actually, this kind of wedding is quite nice.

Even strangers come to give their blessings.

No need to greet anyone.

No formalities.

Only the most sincere wishes.

It's not awkward at all.

I knew you'd like this kind of

natural atmosphere.

You hate awkwardness the most.

I've attended two weddings with you.

♫She is a white island♫

I liked them both.

♫The colorful wind rushes past♫

But what I'm looking forward to is the next one.

♫Lonely waves, starlit glow♫

With you.

♫Quietly leaning together♫

♫Autumn reflects in the water♫

♫He is a blue sailboat♫

♫Sailing alone♫

♫Through the boundless night♫

♫His sails dancing in the wind♫

♫Silently by her side♫

When we get married in the future,

♫Heading toward her shore♫

we won't invite so many irrelevant people.

To spare you from feeling awkward.

♫The sky turns a deeper blue♫

Whether relevant or not,

♫The brilliant night♫

it doesn't matter who doesn't come.

♫Has never shone so bright♫

As long as it's not you who's absent.

♫A white island♫

♫Blooms in the vast sea♫

♫I wish I could pick it♫

♫And give it to you♫

This scene is beautiful.

Indeed.

If it weren't for all this turmoil,

it would be even more beautiful.

♫She is a white island♫

Zan.

♫Maybe the world has long forgotten her♫

Have you really

♫Lonely waves, city lights♫

never been hurt?

♫Drifting softly apart♫

♫Longing lingers in the reflection♫

I've never been seriously injured,

just minor injuries.

♫He is a blue sailboat♫

Were they serious?

♫He once lost♫

Didn't I say they were all minor injuries?

♫The warmth of the harbor♫

They weren't serious.

♫No more words are needed♫

Besides,

♫Just quietly gazing♫

they've all healed.

♫Heading toward her shore♫

From now on,

I entrust my daughter to you.

Whether in prosperity or adversity,

wealth or poverty, health or sickness,

joy or sorrow, you must take good care of her.

Zan.

If it were you,

would you choose to get married at a time like this?

You're relocating to Happo this time.

I want to go with you.

This trip could be dangerous.

I think you should go say goodbye to Song.

No.

I don't want my loved one to be hurt

because of any accident that might happen to me.

I don't want this happiest moment

to become her most painful memory.

But I think this is happiness.

At least there are memories,

don't you think?

The happier they are now,

the more painful the memories will be.

If it were me staying behind to bear everything,

I would be willing.

But if it were you,

I wouldn't want that no matter what.

It seems

this question has no easy answer.

So,

I hope the sun won't rise,

and tomorrow won't come.

Look how happily they're dancing.

Look,

Ben and Pei Xiaonan are dancing.

I'll go take some footage.

Thank you for helping me yesterday.

This is an apple as thank-you gift.