Almost Famous Episode 15 Recap
> Almost Famous Recap
Ding Dongdong, recommended by his teacher, began working as an assistant on a drama set. The set was chaotic, and he felt somewhat out of place. He noticed Qu Shiyun, an extra, struggling through multiple takes while carrying a heavy load. Despite her best efforts, she dropped the load, profusely apologizing to the director. Later, he saw her eating a simple boxed meal alone.
Qu Shiyun recognized Ding Dongdong and pulled him aside, sternly warning him not to reveal her presence on the film set to their classmates, threatening him if he did. Ding Dongdong promised to keep her secret and, with warmth, handed her a meal he had bought, complete with clean silverware, urging her to eat well and take care of herself. Qu Shiyun was deeply moved by his gesture.
Upon seeing Cheng Ming's urgent message expressing her desire to see him, You Zhiqi impulsively tried to leave. However, Xiao Liu physically restrained him, reminding him that the company had forbidden him from going anywhere for a few days. During their struggle, Xiao Liu accidentally revealed that You You had been suspended by the company due to the scandal. You Zhiqi was shocked, realizing the severe repercussions his actions had caused for You You.
Meanwhile, You You was confronted by a swarm of reporters outside the company building, all clamoring for answers about her relationship with You Zhiqi. Security escorted her safely into a car, and she headed to meet Cheng Ming. You You explained to Cheng Ming that You Zhiqi had been grounded by the company for his safety. She then pressed Cheng Ming about what truly happened the day she left You Zhiqi with her, and Cheng Ming admitted they had quarreled.
You You commented that she had suspected as much, knowing it would explain why You Zhiqi got drunk. With You You herself suspended and unable to access her usual resources and connections, she turned to Cheng Ming and her friends, requesting their help to resolve You Zhiqi's crisis. You You presented her comprehensive plan, the first step of which was to address You Zhiqi's fan club.
She explained that the fan club leader, a girl known as Curly, was responsible for mobilizing fans, and even she was now suspicious of You Zhiqi. You You tasked Cheng Ming with gaining Curly's absolute trust, leveraging Cheng Ming's close connection to You Zhiqi. Cheng Ming messaged Curly, describing You Zhiqi as a positive idol dedicated to charity and asserting that his relationship with You You was purely professional, not romantic.
She stressed the importance of fans uniting to support him during this challenging time and proposed a meeting. At their meeting, Cheng Ming reassured Curly that her willingness to meet suggested she still believed in You Zhiqi. She then urged Curly to help clarify the truth about You Zhiqi's situation to all fans. Curly, initially skeptical and asking about Cheng Ming's true intentions, was told that Cheng Ming was simply another concerned You fan.
Cheng Ming then refuted the false claims: You Zhiqi was not in a relationship with You You, nor was he a violent assailant who seriously injured Reporter Wang. When Curly questioned how Cheng Ming knew this, Cheng Ming showed her a special video of You Zhiqi performing a song he wrote for his fans, featuring a "lucky rabbit" charm that Curly recognized as her own gift to him.
The video, recorded before the scandal, convinced Curly that You Zhiqi remained the warm and inspiring person they had always admired. Cheng Ming emphasized that now was the time for fans to protect him. Curly agreed to carefully consider Cheng Ming's appeal, effectively "conquered" by her sincerity. The second part of You You's plan involved counter-attacking Reporter Wang, a notoriously unethical figure in the entertainment industry known for his secret filming habits and blackmail.
You You planned to leverage his illicit activities against him. Wei Feng, Zhang Yiyong, and Ding Dongdong were recruited for this mission, as they had no personal stakes with Wang. Wei Feng called Reporter Wang, posing as a delivery driver with a package from "Ms. Coco," luring him downstairs. As Wang came out, Zhang Yiyong "accidentally" bumped into him, allowing Ding Dongdong to surreptitiously photograph Wang appearing completely unharmed, contrary to his claims about being assaulted by You Zhiqi.
Wei Feng then gave Wang a package containing a hotel room key card, implying a private meeting with Coco. Meanwhile, You You was already with actress Coco in the hotel room. You You revealed that Reporter Wang possessed compromising photos of Coco with Director Zeng and intended to both blackmail Coco for money and sell the photos to Director Zeng's wife, effectively ruining Coco's career. Realizing the severity of her situation, Coco, convinced by You You, agreed to cooperate.
You You instructed Coco to wait in the hotel room for Wang, equipped with a hidden camera to record his actions. Later, in the hotel room, Reporter Wang accepted 300,000 yuan from Coco but then demanded more and tried to physically assault her. At that moment, Wei Feng, Zhang Yiyong, and Ding Dongdong burst in, rescuing Coco and subduing Wang. After Coco discreetly thanked You You over the phone, Reporter Wang realized he had been set up by You You.
Confronted, he was forced to confess that he had maliciously fabricated all the rumors about You Zhiqi. He admitted You Zhiqi was merely drunk that night, and You You was only trying to calm him down, confirming that the stories of You Zhiqi being a "sugar baby" and assaulting a reporter were entirely made up. With the rumors about You Zhiqi debunked, Director Chen called You You to his office.
He reinstated her as the company's ace agent and presented her with a new batch of promising celebrities to manage. However, he specifically stated that he had assigned another agent to You Zhiqi and strongly advised You You not to get involved with him. Director Chen explained that You Zhiqi had breached numerous contracts, resulting in as much as 50 million yuan in compensation fees, and didn't want his top agent to be dragged down.
You You, however, adamantly refused, reminding Director Chen that she had brought You Zhiqi out of the welfare agency and had treated him like her own younger brother for years. She declared that she would not abandon him. You Zhiqi later reflected on his past behavior, understanding now You You's unwavering support and the burdens he had placed on her, realizing it was time for him to take responsibility.
Despite the initial crisis being resolved, a new issue emerged: news of You Zhiqi's 50 million yuan in contract breach penalties quickly went viral. Cheng Ming and her friends saw the news, deeply concerned. Cheng Ming's worry intensified when she saw You Zhiqi's advertisements being taken down, further highlighting his precarious situation. You Zhiqi himself saw his own advertisements removed, looking dejected. Still deeply worried about You Zhiqi's immense debt, Cheng Ming pondered how to help him.
She then contacted You You, asking for an urgent meeting. At their meeting, Cheng Ming proposed a solution: she would sign a ten-year contract with the company, using her earnings to offset You Zhiqi's contract cancellation fees and other financial losses.
You You was naturally pleased by the offer, having long sought to sign Cheng Ming, but she urged Cheng Ming to discuss such a significant decision with You Zhiqi first, believing it wasn't Cheng Ming's sole intention and anticipating You Zhiqi's strong reaction if he wasn't consulted. Following You You's advice, Cheng Ming went to You Zhiqi's residence.
She explained that she knew about his substantial debt from online news and wanted to sign with You You to help him repay it, offering to share his burden. You Zhiqi asked why she would do such a thing, to which Cheng Ming courageously confessed, "Because I like you." Though deeply moved, You Zhiqi stated he now had nothing and was burdened by debt.
Cheng Ming reiterated that she liked him for who he was and was willing to stand by him through any hardship. You Zhiqi acknowledged her feelings but firmly stated he would not allow her to suffer alongside him. He assured her he had his own plan to handle the situation and would give her an answer once everything was resolved.
Without informing either You You or Cheng Ming, You Zhiqi covertly scheduled a personal statement press conference and announced it on his Weibo. Xiao Liu discovered the post, showing it to a stunned You You. After failing to reach You Zhiqi, whose phone was off, You You and Xiao Liu immediately decided to rush to the venue. Meanwhile, Cheng Ming also learned about the press conference from her friend Amy, who showed her the online announcement.
You You called Cheng Ming to confirm she also had no prior knowledge of You Zhiqi's plans. Online, additional baseless rumors about You Zhiqi's background were spreading, painting him as opportunistic and mocking his old performance videos. You You, distressed, urged her driver to speed up, while Cheng Ming, wanting to go to You Zhiqi, was stopped by Amy, who feared Cheng Ming's presence would only worsen the situation amidst the throngs of reporters.
Wei Feng suggested they gather at his store to formulate a plan. At the press conference, You Zhiqi stood bravely and calmly before a multitude of reporters. He began by candidly addressing the online rumors, confirming that his parents were not abroad and that he was not, nor would he ever be, the son of a rich family as previously speculated. As he spoke, Cheng Ming watched the live broadcast from Wei Feng's store, growing increasingly anxious.
A reporter then pressed him about his relationship with his agent, You You, implying it was more than just professional. You Zhiqi confirmed, "Yes. We don't simply have an artiste and manager relationship." Just as he was about to elaborate further, You You and Xiao Liu burst into the conference hall, with You You urgently calling out You Zhiqi's name, fearing he was about to make the situation uncontrollably worse.
