Assistant of Superstar Episode 19 Recap
> Assistant of Superstar Recap
During a meal at an ancient town, You Xi personally cooked and served, much to the surprise of Zhu Da Zhuang. Having long protected You Xi as a precious and high-maintenance star, Zhu Da Zhuang expressed his disbelief at seeing him acting as a chef.
Meanwhile, Song Qie Ge met with the Huateng Hotel owner, who offered him the male lead role in the new drama "Chancellor Zhong" on the condition that he become an unpaid brand ambassador for the hotel. Back in the ancient town, You Xi confessed his feelings for Yao Yao before informing her he had to return to the city.
Yao Yao offered to go with him, but You Xi gently refused, explaining he didn't have the energy to care for her amid the crisis. He reassured her that the public outrage would eventually subside and she could return then. As You Xi prepared to leave, Zhu Da Zhuang gave him a prepared apology script for Mr. Zhang and advised him to visit their advertisers to win them back.
Yuchi Lin Sen also gave You Xi a note with a poem, encouraging him to face the challenges ahead and start anew. Upon returning to the company, You Xi immediately sensed a new presence. Wen Moxuan appeared, greeting him warmly. Mr. Zhang then introduced Lucy as the company's new manager, informing a shocked Zhu Da Zhuang that she would now handle all company matters and had already taken over his office.
Lucy smugly declared that You Xi was a figure of the past, revealing the company had invested heavily to recruit Wen Moxuan from a rival agency. She touted Wen Moxuan as a rising star who could replace You Xi. Later, Zhu Da Zhuang learned from an assistant that Lucy had exploited his absence to seize control of artist management, poached You Xi's assistants, and convinced Mr. Zhang to redirect all company resources to make Wen Moxuan their new leading star.
Despite the bleak outlook, Zhu Da Zhuang remained defiant, vowing to fight back and teach Lucy a lesson. After You Xi's departure, a listless Yao Yao was approached by a fan at the guesthouse. The fan excitedly showed her an online post that used Yao Yao's own poems to eloquently defend her character, clarifying recent misunderstandings. This post had turned public opinion in her favor, making her the "Queen of Douban" with soaring popularity.
Yao Yao realized this was You Xi's thoughtful way of supporting her. Motivated, she decided to make spicy chicken for Yuchi Lin Sen's father. He initially criticized her cooking but ultimately enjoyed the dish. Concurrently, You Xi ate the same dish alone, feeling a profound sense of loneliness and recalling a time he had made it for Yao Yao, intentionally omitting the vinegar—the "soul of the dish"—playfully fearing she wouldn't need his cooking if she mastered the recipe.
You Xi's situation at the company worsened. Zhu Da Zhuang received news that while the drama "The Founding of the Three Kingdoms" was resuming filming, the script had been changed, the male lead replaced, and all of You Xi's scenes were cut. Lucy had also convinced advertisers to switch their endorsement deals from You Xi to Wen Moxuan, even securing a ten percent fee increase.
Facing a halved salary and no annual bonus, a desperate Zhu Da Zhuang began selling his luxury bags, shoes, and wine to make ends meet. Worried, Yao Yao called Pan Duo for an update. Zhu Da Zhuang intercepted the call, forcing Pan Duo to lie that You Xi was extremely busy with new projects. Unconvinced, Yao Yao left a note for Yuchi Lin Sen and set off to find You Xi, eventually locating him on a film set.
Seeing her, You Xi expressed his frustration, admitting he didn't want her to see him in such a vulnerable state. Yao Yao simply replied that she missed him. Back at the company, Zhu Da Zhuang recounted a heated confrontation with Lucy. He had used his connections to secure a variety show appearance for You Xi, only for Lucy to intercept it and give the slot to Wen Moxuan, leading to a physical altercation between them.
He warned You Xi that Lucy was deliberately suppressing him to elevate Wen Moxuan. Shortly after, Wen Moxuan appeared and greeted Yao Yao familiarly, boastfully asking if she had seen his press conference and suggesting that he and Yao Yao would make a "golden couple." You Xi and Yao Yao scoffed at his low social media engagement, pointing out that his followers were clearly fake accounts.
That evening, Yao Yao tried to comfort You Xi, confident his fans would support him upon his official return. However, a month after his relationship announcement, discussions about You Xi had plummeted and advertisers resisted him. Lucy advised Mr. Zhang to funnel all resources to Wen Moxuan and to "shelve" You Xi—ceasing all his public activities to let the negative sentiment die down. Despite Zhu Da Zhuang's vehement objections, Mr. Zhang agreed, stating You Xi's "transformation" had failed.
When Zhu Da Zhuang relayed the news, a dejected You Xi simply replied that it was fine and he could finally rest. Depressed, You Xi sought out Qi Chao for a drink. Qi Chao offered some serious advice from his own long career, stressing that in an industry full of new faces, true longevity comes not from fame but from skill. Meanwhile, Pan Duo returned home to find it nearly empty.
After Zhu Da Zhuang explained their financial ruin, Pan Duo vowed to stand by him, only to reveal her "cost-saving" solution was to move in with her idol, Qi Chao, enraging Zhu Da Zhuang. Qi Chao brought a heavily intoxicated You Xi home, where Yao Yao cared for him. In his drunken state, You Xi mumbled about being shelved and finally being free.
As she tended to him, Yao Yao confessed that she had liked him for a long time and was even an admin of his fan club, pouring out her heart about all the things she loved about him. The next morning, Yao Yao assured You Xi that they would face everything together, good or bad. An assistant then delivered a stack of fan letters. Expecting hate mail, You Xi was hesitant, so Yao Yao offered to read them aloud.
She cleverly rephrased the harsh criticisms into words of praise, turning insults into compliments about his talent and inner beauty. You Xi listened happily, moved by the gesture. He reflected that he had kept every fan letter since his debut, and as long as he had even one fan left, he would continue to persevere.
