Film Name: 中南海保镖 / The Bodyguard from Beijing / The Defender / 中南海保鑣
Because of the movie “The Bodyguard from Beijing,” I fell in love with the song “Qing Ni Kan Zhou Wo De Yan Jing.” After watching it, I left my computer screen on for a long time, wondering what happened to Xu Zhengyang later, what became of them. The background music was melodious and soothing, carrying a faint melancholy. “What else do you doubt? How much longer will you run away…” It felt like the heartfelt monologue of Zhong Li Ti leaning against the door, filled with sorrow and loss.
So much time has passed, yet I still can’t stop thinking about this movie. I recently watched it again. Finally, I realized why it left such a deep impression. Among all the films Jet Li has made, this is the only one where the emotional drama holds equal weight to the action sequences. Whether it was the legendary master Wong Fei-hung or the martial arts hero Chen Zhen, love stories in Jet Li’s other films were always glossed over, and his later works often avoided romance altogether.
The world adores heroes, and Jet Li is a hero in the eyes of his audience. He faces evil forces with furrowed brows and lightning-fast strikes. When ambushed, his skill and courage always turn danger into safety. He embraces compassion for the weak, willing to shoulder responsibility. Before the powerful, he remains neither arrogant nor servile, embodying both grace and courtesy. This heroic image has long been deeply etched in the audience’s mind. If a beautiful woman could love the hero on our behalf, it would undoubtedly be a welcome sight for viewers. Wong Fei-hung had Auntie Thirteen’s devotion and companionship; Chen Zhen had Yamada Mitsuko sharing his hardships and joys. Yet Xu Zhengyang has no girlfriend in the film. He possesses every admirable quality of a hero: resilience, sharpness, composure, attentiveness, and self-sacrifice. Yet his character is also distinctly ascetic—cold on the outside, fiery within. Combined with Jet Li’s youthful good looks, he easily outshines any current heartthrob, igniting the romantic fantasies of every young woman.
When Yang Xuer weeps in distress, he offers a tissue with a stoic expression while tapping the car hood. Amidst a hail of bullets in the shopping mall, he shields Yang Xuer with his arm, calmly neutralizing threats one by one. He bandages her wounds without a word of reproach or complaint. He maintains a stern demeanor with children, yet actively tells stories to comfort them when they feel guilty. Even while inspecting a room, he remembered to place a glass of milk and a cup of warm water by the bedside. This revealed how harmoniously strength and sensitivity, resilience and compassion could coexist within one person. Yang Xue’er soon found herself utterly captivated by him—and truthfully, any woman would be.
Yet they were like two straight lines that crossed by chance. Though their hearts stirred, they could never stay together. Merely passersby in each other’s lives, they came swiftly and departed silently. Such a love is all the more heartbreaking and unforgettable. The film portrays the protagonists’ feelings with such delicacy—arising from emotion yet stopping at propriety, hinting at depth while teasing the heart. There is no happy ending. Only a receding silhouette remains, along with an old watch, leaving a permanent space in the heart. Tragedy lies in witnessing the destruction of beauty. This sorrow of star-crossed lovers lingers throughout the film, becoming a small regret in my heart—and perhaps the very reason “The Bodyguard from Beijing” leaves such a profound impression.
After their relationship thaws following the mall shootout, Yang Xue’er finds herself both guilt-ridden and falling for this man of few words. Thankfully, the guilt isn’t overplayed; both are generous souls. Her straightforward apology, his turning smile—and just like that, old grievances are settled. How refreshing, how cleanly done.
The scene where he gives her the watch is truly worth savoring over and over again. After their candlelit birthday dinner, on the way home, their eyes meet in the rearview mirror. Yang Xue’er’s gaze is clear and determined, yet tinged with a hint of inquiry. Xu Zhengyang, merely glancing at her through the mirror out of habit, accidentally locks eyes with her. Startled, he looks away, a touch flustered.
Returning home, Xu Zhengyang sat in the living room habitually flipping through the surveillance footage, only to discover the female lead wasn’t in the bedroom. He frantically scanned each camera feed, growing even more flustered when he spotted her standing right behind him, walking step by step toward him. Daring not to turn around, his heart pounded wildly, his fingers fumbling over the buttons as he randomly pressed the switch. Finally, he tried to escape by pretending to fix the monitor, but she blocked his path. Tonight, the female lead had dressed up specially, looking even more radiant and captivating. He avoided looking at her, glancing around instead. She smiled and said she wanted to give him a watch, then personally helped him put it on. Taking his hand, she examined it while saying, “It matches you perfectly,” her advances unmistakable. It was clear Yang Xue’er was a bold and passionate young woman. She knew exactly what she wanted and disliked. She wouldn’t compromise for what she disliked, and pursued what she loved with fervor. Her genuine nature was both admirable and endearing. Xu Zhengyang, however, was emotionally inexperienced. Faced with this situation, he couldn’t confront his own feelings, much less meet her intense gaze. Out of professional duty, he chose to avoid it, pulling his hand away. This left the heroine slightly awkward, but she quickly composed herself, gracefully bid him goodnight, and went upstairs. Xu Zhengyang, however, remained unsettled for a long time. Watching the light in her bedroom go out, then glancing at the two watches on his wrist—one new, one old—his thoughts drifted back to her.
Yang Xue’er gave him a second chance. She pretended to accidentally press a button, hiding behind the door to surprise him. Little did she know Xu Zhengyang would be so clueless. Mistaking it for danger, he immediately executed a shoulder throw. Only upon recognizing her did he hastily use his own body as a cushion, letting her land on top of him. I heard the thud of her body colliding with his, saw the smile playing at the corner of her lips as she turned her head. It was the reassuring comfort of being protected, the sweetness of being cherished. Then, then—after the bold female lead was helped up, she grabbed the male lead’s wrist and confessed her feelings. Damn, girl, I’m impressed. If only more women were this straightforward in real life, the world would be filled with love. Xu Zhengyang didn’t know how to respond. Clearly, he loved her too—it was evident in the deep, lingering gaze he fixed on her. But he couldn’t admit it. Rationally, he was her bodyguard; he couldn’t let emotions cloud his duty. Of course, deeper reasons lingered: she had a boyfriend, and he couldn’t be the other man; he worked on the mainland, while she’d eventually return there, making a future together impossible; his dangerous job meant he could sacrifice his life at any moment, offering no guarantee of her happiness… Reality forced him to deny these feelings. He pulled the curtains shut and walked away. Little did he know this action led Xue’er to misunderstand, and she closed the door. The situation grew even more awkward. Seeing this, Xu Zhengyang hurriedly pulled the curtains open again, repeatedly explaining, “That’s not what I meant.” Xue’er opened the door slightly and said, “I didn’t mean it that way either.” But she was so close to him that he could feel her breath, making his face flush and his heart race, leaving him utterly flustered. A bodyguard who never flinched in the face of criminals now flustered like a child before the one he loved. Xue’er was confident in her charm. She stepped back again, closing the door and switching off the light. In the dim glow, she glided toward him in a sheer nightgown, gazing deeply into his eyes. Before such beauty, Xu Zhengyang wavered. His heart raced; he clenched his fists as if summoning great resolve, then slowly drew the blinds shut once more. The camera shifted to an exterior view, darkening as the blinds closed. Just when it seemed something might happen, the scene abruptly cut back inside. Xu Zhengyang hurriedly blurted, “It’s too late. Go to bed early,” then fled the scene. Left alone, the female lead leaned against the door, deflated and disappointed.
“Qing Ni Kan Zhou Wo De Yan Jing” plays repeatedly as background music throughout this scene—it perfectly captures the heroine’s inner turmoil at this moment. “Just look into my eyes and you’ll see, this feeling has nowhere to run. Listen to my heartbeat that won’t calm down. Please don’t tell me you can’t hear it…” This emotional scene abruptly ends here, never reaching its climax. Yet it leaves one unable to calm the surging emotions within, lingering with a hint of regret, yearning for more.
Their love existed, though Xu Zhengyang never voiced it. In the final showdown, their mutual sacrifice—each shielding the other from bullets—was profoundly tragic. Even true spouses might not achieve such devotion, yet these two, who’d known each other less than two months, were willing to give their lives for one another. Yang Xue’er clung to Xu Zhengyang, weeping and crying out, “Don’t leave me!” No one could doubt their love.
At the film’s conclusion, Xu Zhengyang leaves Yang Xue’er a watch. Seeing the box, Yang Xue’er’s expression is heartbroken, but upon opening it and recognizing his worn, old watch, she smiles knowingly. Gazing at the car fading into the distance, she murmurs Zhengyang’s name, understanding his heart. Though they may never meet again, each now possesses a watch of profound significance—a symbol of that night’s heart-pounding courage and selfless devotion. They will forever cherish the memories of one another. Perhaps years later, he will have married, she will have married, each living their own lives. Yet neither will ever forget this sincere love.
This ending is the best possible ending.
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