City of Streamer Episode 17 Recap
> City of Streamer Recap
Yu Zhihui, consumed by alcohol, poured out her heart to Feng Shizhen. She lamented her dire situation, explaining that while she and Yang Xiucheng shared feelings, her brother and sister-in-law were pushing her to marry a wealthy man to resolve their debts. Her family had pressed Yang Xiucheng to set a wedding date, but his hesitation made it clear their future together was uncertain. Yu Zhihui’s family had previously rejected Yang Xiucheng, hoping she could find a richer husband.
Yang Xiucheng had helped her brother repay debts multiple times, but this time, he was scared away. Now their financial troubles were worsening. When Feng Shizhen suggested she find a job, Yu Zhihui retorted that she didn't want to end up like Feng Shizhen, subservient to a boss and harassed by a young master. Realizing her drunken insult, Yu Zhihui profusely apologized.
Feng Shizhen urged Yu Zhihui to go home, but she refused, explaining her brother owed 5,000 yuan, an amount her family could never repay. A creditor was demanding she marry him, promising to divorce his countryside wife and publicly wed her. The man's eldest son was the same age as Rong Jiashang, and Yu Zhihui dreaded becoming a stepmother.
She revealed that Yang Xiucheng had previously helped her family with many debts, but this 5,000 yuan was too much, causing him to flee. Yu Zhihui desperately wanted to ask Rong Dingkun for help, believing he was the only one who controlled enough money and that he had a soft spot for her, having previously indulged her request for a dancing dress. She implored Feng Shizhen to bring Rong Dingkun to her. Reluctantly, Feng Shizhen agreed, asking her to rest.
As Feng Shizhen returned to the ballroom to find Rong Dingkun, Meng Xu'an discreetly informed her that her brother, Feng Shixun, was looking for her in the garden. Feng Shizhen found Feng Shixun being pestered by Concubine Sun, who was insistent on him personally treating her baby. Feng Shizhen intervened, and Concubine Sun, thanking her, departed.
Feng Shizhen cautioned her brother to be mindful of gossip in the household, but Feng Shixun, in turn, expressed concern for Feng Shizhen, reminding her that she was a guest and not a servant of the Rong family, and should not overextend herself. Feng Shizhen assured him she understood, and after he reiterated his need to return to the hospital, she offered to walk him out.
Meanwhile, Meng Xu'an, after a brief pleasantry with a Mr. Wang, subtly approached Rong Dingkun. He mentioned seeing a girl, seemingly drunk, enter the small saloon with a glass of wine, adding that from the back, she resembled Rong Dingkun's daughter, though he couldn't be certain. This piqued Rong Dingkun's curiosity, prompting him to investigate. Rong Dingkun entered the small saloon and found Yu Zhihui drunk on the sofa.
She tearfully confided in him about Yang Xiucheng's perceived cruelty and her family's troubles, wishing Yang Xiucheng were as mature and steady as Rong Dingkun. Rong Dingkun comforted her, attributing his composure to age and experience. As Yu Zhihui grew increasingly emotional, she fell into his arms, saying she felt safe with him and wished Yang Xiucheng were more like him.
In a moment of vulnerability, Rong Dingkun began to see Yu Zhihui as Meng Qingzhi, hallucinating that Qingzhi had returned and asking her not to leave. He promised to divorce and marry her. Yu Zhihui, attempting to sit up and pour wine, stumbled back into his arms, intensifying his delusion. At the same time, Mrs. Rong, prompted by Meng Xu'an’s pointed questions about Feng Shizhen's relationship with Rong Dingkun, grew suspicious.
Meng Xu'an had observed that Mr. Rong seemed to "like" the governess, triggering Mrs. Rong’s alarm. She had already noticed Feng Shizhen missing and recalled Rong Dingkun heading to the small saloon alone. Believing Feng Shizhen was attempting to seduce her husband, Mrs. Rong quickly gathered her retainers, including Concubine Wang and Rong Jiashang, to catch them red-handed.
However, upon bursting into the saloon and turning on the lights, she was horrified to discover Rong Dingkun embracing Yu Zhihui, who was conspicuously wearing a dancing dress similar to one Meng Qingzhi used to wear. Mrs. Rong exploded in a furious tirade, lashing out at Rong Dingkun for his indecency and physically assaulting Yu Zhihui, calling her a slut and an ingrate who had betrayed her family.
Yu Zhihui, distressed, cried out that she hadn't seduced Rong Dingkun and that he had mistakenly called her "Qingzhi." Rong Jiashang, witnessing the chaotic scene, quietly slipped away. Mrs. Rong continued to berate her husband for his actions, threatening divorce due to the public humiliation. Yu Zhihui, overcome with shame, declared it was all her fault and threatened to take her own life, lamenting the burden she placed on her family.
Just then, Yu Zhihui’s sister-in-law rushed in, expressing shock and concern for Zhihui's future prospects for marriage. Yang Xiucheng then stormed into the room, slapping Yu Zhihui across the face before forcibly ordering everyone, including Concubine Wang and the servants, to leave and closing the door. After the room was cleared, Rong Dingkun questioned Yu Zhihui’s sister-in-law about how she learned of the incident, confirming it was Meng Xu'an who had alerted her.
Rong Dingkun then realized he had been deliberately set up. Yang Xiucheng echoed this, stating his belief that Meng Xu'an had planned the entire situation. Rong Dingkun then pressed Yu Zhihui about what Meng Xu'an had told her. Yu Zhihui tearfully recounted Meng Xu'an's mockery of her borrowed dress and jewelry, asserting she would never conspire against Rong Dingkun. Her sister-in-law interjected, demanding that Rong Dingkun take responsibility for staining Yu Zhihui's reputation.
Yu Zhihui, wanting to escape the humiliation, tried to leave, but her sister-in-law stopped her, insisting on proper compensation. Rong Dingkun then offered Yu Zhihui a check, pointedly asking if she wanted to wear borrowed dresses her whole life. Yu Zhihui accepted the check and quickly left with her sister-in-law, who expressed her intention to manage the money. Consumed by hatred for Meng Xu'an, Yang Xiucheng directly confronted him as he was chatting with Du Lanxin.
Yang Xiucheng firmly told Meng Xu'an that he was no longer welcome at the Rong residence and demanded he leave. Meng Xu'an, accepting his dismissal, bid farewell to Du Lanxin. As he exited, he exchanged a knowing, triumphant smile with Feng Shizhen, who had just entered. Rong Jiashang intercepted Yu Zhihui as she was leaving, accusing her of being cunning and using his father.
He warned her that Rong Dingkun would seek revenge if he realized he had been exploited, advising her to leave Shanghai immediately if she wished to avoid a fate worse than death. He then arranged for a driver to take her. Curious, Rong Jiashang asked why Mrs. Rong had mistaken Yu Zhihui for Feng Shizhen. Yu Zhihui casually revealed that Feng Shizhen was the one who had brought Rong Dingkun to the saloon, leaving Rong Jiashang visibly stunned.
Nearby, Shiori Hashimoto had witnessed Rong Jiashang sending Yu Zhihui away. She approached Rong Jiashang, congratulating him on his engagement to Du Lanxin, admitting she felt jealous of Du Lanxin. Shiori Hashimoto confessed her enduring love for Rong Jiashang since their time in Chongqing, reflecting that while she had once mistaken her feelings then for love, she now genuinely loved him. She expressed her desire to be his lover, but Rong Jiashang gently refused, explaining that their relationship was over.
Shiori Hashimoto, undeterred, promised not to interfere and offered to remain friends before leaving. Moments later, Feng Shizhen arrived on the second-floor terrace, her eyes meeting Rong Jiashang’s across the distance. The next day, Yu Zhihui went to a bank. Despite being directed to the regular queue, she approached the VIP counter to cash the check. She cashed the entire 10,000 yuan, then opened an account and deposited 5,000 yuan.
Meanwhile, Concubine Sun, delighted by the scandalous gossip, listened intently as Chuntao recounted the previous night's drama, including how Mrs. Rong had initially suspected Feng Shizhen before discovering her own niece. Concubine Sun relished the thought of Mrs. Rong’s humiliation and predicted the downfall of the Huang family’s reputation. Their conversation was interrupted by the sounds of a furious argument from Rong Dingkun's quarters. It was Rong Dingkun, now sober, yelling at Mrs. Rong.
He accused her and Yu Zhihui of conspiring against him, linking Yu Zhihui's actions, particularly wearing a dress like Qingzhi's, to a deliberate plot. Mrs. Rong vehemently denied the accusations, pointing out that she wouldn't have brought so many people to expose her own niece. However, Rong Dingkun brought up Mrs. Rong's past actions, reminding her how she had driven Meng Qingzhi away. In a fit of rage, he declared that from that day forward, the Rong and Huang families would sever all ties.
