Almost Famous Episode 21 Recap
> Almost Famous Recap
You Zhiqi and Cheng Ming spent the night together in the rehearsal room. Cheng Ming, feeling much better, fell asleep on You Zhiqi's shoulder. Suddenly, You Zhiqi received a phone call, learning that his production team for "No Escape" had secured new investment and would officially resume work that very day. He was overjoyed, and Cheng Ming shared in his excitement, urging him to return to the set immediately.
Meanwhile, back at the dorm, Fang Yali and Amy were discussing Amy finally finding her father. Amy, mindful of Qu Shiyun, kept her voice down, not wanting to cause embarrassment. However, Qu Shiyun overheard the mention of "President Mi" and immediately suspected they were deliberately concealing something from her.
Cheng Ming brought breakfast, but Qu Shiyun, feeling angry and excluded, refused to eat and stormed out of the dorm, making a snide remark about filming President Mi's movie, hinting at her own perceived future success and status. Qu Shiyun was arranged by Bin Ge to be a temporary actress on a film set.
Before filming began, Bin Ge emphasized that it was a significant production with over thirty scenes and urged her to perform well to impress the director, hoping for more roles. However, during filming, Qu Shiyun chose to deviate from the script, explaining that she felt there were issues with the lines and she wanted to "rationalize" them. This decision was driven by her current mindset of disliking the lead actress's seemingly privileged background and deliberate showing off.
The director grew increasingly frustrated with her changes. After two takes, despite Bin Ge's attempts to intervene and ask for another chance, the director fired her, stating that his actors must follow his script. Qu Shiyun tearfully pleaded for another chance, acknowledging her mistake, but the director remained unmoved and ordered her to leave the set. Feeling drained and disheartened, Qu Shiyun returned to campus.
She spotted Ding Dongdong, who deliberately ignored her as he passed by, upset because he felt she had lied to him about Mi Dongnan. Qu Shiyun, further enraged, confronted him, challenging him to ignore her forever if he had the courage. Her mother then called, not to offer comfort or concern, but to demand money for the family.
Qu Shiyun, already at her breaking point, angrily retorted that she wasn't a "money printing machine" and that she had no funds to send. Later, back in the dorm, Qu Shiyun, after much thought, composed a contrite voice message to Bin Ge apologizing for her earlier behavior on set, indicating she had to swallow her pride for the sake of her livelihood. She was interrupted by Amy entering without knocking. Qu Shiyun immediately accused Amy of being "crazy" and eavesdropping.
Amy, taking offense, shot back that she had no need to snoop and asked why Qu Shiyun was acting so strangely. She warned Qu Shiyun not to reject her "face-saving offer" as a classmate, implying there were things she knew but wouldn't say. Qu Shiyun, provoked, retorted that Amy was simply jealous and that President Mi appreciated her abilities. She even dared Amy to get Mi Dongnan to recognize her as a "god-daughter" herself.
Finally, pushed too far, Amy declared, "Mi Dongnan is my father!" Qu Shiyun was stunned, questioning how this could be true. Fang Yali confirmed Amy's words, explaining that she had seen President Mi call Amy his daughter in the cafeteria. Amy then launched into a tirade against Qu Shiyun's vanity, telling her that some things in life, like background, are inherited and can't be gained through effort.
When Qu Shiyun attempted to physically attack Amy, Cheng Ming stepped in to separate them. Qu Shiyun then turned her anger on Cheng Ming and Fang Yali, accusing Cheng Ming of being a hypocritical schemer who manipulated You Zhiqi, and Fang Yali of secretly binging and purging, and stringing Zhang Yiyong along for years.
She passionately expressed her frustration that everyone else seemed to have advantages, whether through wealthy families or successful boyfriends, while she had struggled since the age of eight to get on stage. After her emotional outburst, Qu Shiyun left the dorm in tears, vowing to prove that she could achieve her dreams and be recognized, even without Mi Dongnan's help. Ding Dongdong, having seen Qu Shiyun leave the dorm distraught, followed her to the rehearsal room, concerned.
Qu Shiyun was still angry, but Ding Dongdong, disregarding her mood, went forward and asked her about the Mi Dongnan situation, specifically why she had claimed President Mi was her father. Qu Shiyun fiercely denied ever making such a claim, insisting it was everyone else's "crazy assumption" that was now being blamed on her.
She declared that she, Qu Shiyun, possessed the ability and resources to succeed on her own, having started her career as a child star at eight, and she would prove it to them all. They parted ways angrily. The next morning, Cheng Ming was worried that Qu Shiyun hadn't returned to the dorm all night, wondering if they had "gone over the line" during their argument.
Amy tried to reassure her, saying Qu Shiyun was an adult and would be fine, as they had often argued before. When Ding Dongdong heard this, he called Qu Shiyun, expressing concern for her safety and urging her to return to school, or he would go find her, as it wasn't safe for her to roam alone.
Misinterpreting his concern, Qu Shiyun accused him of making "thoughtless remarks" and lashed out, implying he was a coward for not daring to openly express his feelings for her by saying "I like you." Meanwhile, Cheng Ming attended an interview at the Seahorse Art Group for an internship opportunity. While initially welcomed, the tone of the interview shifted when Director Bai learned that her parents were a teacher and a chef, with no influential background.
He noted that she had needed to take a make-up examination in her first year and stated that he would need to consult with his superiors, emphasizing that their art group only took on the "best interns." At the same time, Fang Yali was coerced by her parents into attending a dinner arranged by her father with Director Bai, the head of the Seahorse Troupe, and his son, Young Master Bai.
Fang Yali's mother was eager for her daughter to make a good impression. During the dinner, Young Master Bai made several inappropriate comments, commenting on Fang Yali's figure and asking her to dance ballet to "assess her basic skills." Despite her mother's insistent urging to perform "Swan Lake," Fang Yali repeatedly refused, stating she didn't feel well.
Growing increasingly uncomfortable and frustrated by their persistent demands, she eventually made an excuse about her phone battery and then abruptly left the dinner, much to her parents' chagrin. Still reeling from her experiences, Qu Shiyun desperately began calling various contacts, seeking acting roles. However, each person she called either hung up or made excuses when she inquired about work. Finally, she called Bin Ge again to apologize for her behavior on set and offer to pay any penalty.
Learning that he was with producer Meng Ge at Dynasty Karaoke, room 888, she asked if she could join them, hoping to make amends and secure an opportunity, as her current situation required more film and television resources. Bin Ge agreed. Upon arriving at the KTV, Qu Shiyun felt out of place and uncomfortable as Meng Ge and the others pressured her to drink heavily.
Bin Ge, instead of protecting her, eventually left, instructing her to stay and make a good impression, hinting that a lead role in a future production could be hers. This made Qu Shiyun realize the danger she was in. Meng Ge then kept Qu Shiyun at the KTV, continuing to ply her with alcohol under the guise of discussing potential projects. Out of desperation, Qu Shiyun continued to drink.
