Assistant of Superstar Episode 23 Recap
> Assistant of Superstar Recap
Early in the morning, Zhu Da Zhuang arrived at You Xi's home expecting to pick up his niece, Pan Duo, for a shopping trip, only to find she hadn't come home. Panicking, he immediately assumed she had run away due to the recent scandal, even blaming Shen Yiling, and broke into tears. You Xi calmed him down, suggesting Pan Duo might be at Qi Chao's place.
After frantically failing to reach Qi Chao by phone, Zhu Da Zhuang's worry subsided when You Xi showed him a news headline on Weibo. He recognized Pan Duo's distinct writing style in a post, confirming she was safe.
Upon her return, Zhu Da Zhuang, as both her second uncle and agent, sternly reprimanded her for staying out all night without notice, causing immense worry, and for disappearing amidst a scandal, which was unprofessional for an artist, especially a young woman staying with a man alone. Later, while You Xi and Qi Chao were cooking, You Xi teased Qi Chao about deliberately losing to Pan Duo in cards, hinting at his growing affection for her.
He playfully asked if Pan Duo had "melted the iceberg" and if Qi Chao would soon have to call him "third uncle." A flustered Qi Chao changed the subject, prompting You Xi to gently advise him that it was time to let go of his past. Meanwhile, Pan Duo successfully landed the role of the second female lead in Mr. Wei Ran's new project, "Chancellor Zhong."
After mistakenly calling You Xi first, she invited Qi Chao to a small celebration dinner, citing her financial struggles as the reason for a low-key event. When Qi Chao arrived at a restaurant to find a private candlelight dinner, Pan Duo explained that You Xi and Yao Yao couldn't make it, allowing them some private time. She then formally confessed her long-standing love for Qi Chao, which she had felt since their first meeting.
Acknowledging that he might reject her, she expressed her willingness to wait for his acceptance. Pan Duo then urged him not to run from his past, revealing she knew about his previous tragedy and assuring him his former love would want him to be happy. Moved, Qi Chao took her hand and confessed that he loved her too, unsure of when it began but recalling her encouragement in the recording studio and her bravery in defending him.
He thanked her for giving him a new beginning and the chance to love again. Anxiety grew as the cast for "Chancellor Zhong" was nearly set, with many actors already announcing their roles online, but the male and female leads remained unconfirmed. You Xi, who had not yet received a contract, grew visibly anxious for the male lead role, despite Zhu Da Zhuang's philosophical reassurances.
Shortly after, Qi Chao officially announced his relationship with Pan Duo on Weibo, clarifying that he was the one pursuing her, which effectively dispelled rumors that Pan Duo was opportunistically seeking fame. You Xi's memoir was published and became an instant bestseller, selling out rapidly and garnering widespread positive reviews. Netizens praised his unexpected literary talent, with some playfully attributing it to the influence of his "top student girlfriend," Yao Yao.
Mr. Wei Ran also personally endorsed the book on Weibo, praising its authenticity and noting that You Xi had matured beyond his former "impetuous and conceited" demeanor. When You Xi nervously asked about the role, Mr. Wei Ran teased him that the part "is not right for you," before confirming he had secured the male lead in "Chancellor Zhong." At a meeting with investors, Mr. Wei Ran officially announced You Xi as the male lead.
When one investor questioned the choice, citing You Xi’s lower popularity compared to Song Qie Ge, Mr. Wei Ran staunchly defended his decision, emphasizing an actor's skill over fame. In parallel, an enraged Song Qie Ge confronted his financial backer for failing to secure him the role of Guan Zhong. Seizing an opportunity when Shen Yiling arrived, Song Qie Ge devised a scheme, lying that he had been cast as the male lead and Pan Duo as the female lead.
When Shen Yiling expressed her outrage, Song Qie Ge offered to help her secure a role, suggesting they shared a common enemy in SG Entertainment and arranging to meet her at the Huateng Hotel, Room 9019. At SG Entertainment, Zhu Da Zhuang triumphantly announced to Mr. Zhang that You Xi was the male lead in "Chancellor Zhong." Overjoyed, Mr. Zhang immediately lifted the company's decision to "shelve" You Xi.
However, their celebration was cut short by an online exposé—an 80,000-word post accusing You Xi of cheating on Yao Yao with Shen Yiling, complete with a fabricated timeline of international trips and pseudo-psychological analysis of their interactions. You Xi and Zhu Da Zhuang, recognizing the post's loopholes, planned a counter-strategy: refute the claims and have You Xi publicly display affection with Yao Yao.
When Pan Duo and Qi Chao visited, they saw You Xi and Yao Yao in a heated argument, making them fear the rumors had caused a real breakup. However, it was revealed to be a performance designed to expose their enemies, with You Xi declaring his and Yao Yao's bond was "stronger than gold." They all suspected Song Qie Ge was behind the plot.
Just then, Zhu Da Zhuang received devastating news: a video of You Xi and Shen Yiling's "night rendezvous" at a hotel had surfaced. You Xi vehemently denied it, only to recall that he had indeed stayed at the Huateng Hotel in Room 9019 after a party. He quickly deduced the video was manipulated by splicing footage of him and Shen Yiling entering the same room on different dates, and he tasked Zhu Da Zhuang with obtaining the original surveillance footage.
Meanwhile, a furious Shen Yiling confronted Song Qie Ge, who smugly admitted to luring her to the hotel to frame You Xi, declaring he would sell out anyone to get what he wanted. When she threatened to expose him, he revealed her assistant had been bribed. Her Weibo account had just posted a confession to an "underground relationship" with You Xi and announced her retirement.
As a final, cruel blow, Song Qie Ge informed her that she had been fired and that the female lead in "Chancellor Zhong" was originally meant for her. The scandal plunged SG Entertainment and the "Chancellor Zhong" production into crisis. With Shen Yiling's company, Shidai Entertainment, having already terminated her contract, pressure mounted on SG.
At an urgent meeting, management learned that online forums had crashed, five advertisers had suspended cooperation, and the company's stock was plummeting, jeopardizing projects for their other artists. Their efforts to disprove the video failed when the Huateng Hotel claimed the original footage was lost, and their own technical department could find no signs of tampering, declaring the video "real." With no other options, Mr. Zhang was forced to prepare a statement announcing the termination of You Xi's contract.
