Count Your Lucky Stars Episode 14 Recap
> Count Your Lucky Stars Recap
Tong Xiaoyou was at home looking at her design sketches when Lu Xingcheng suddenly criticized her, telling her not to randomly add popular elements, finding her design disorganized and questioning her seriousness. Tong Xiaoyou countered that popular elements exist for a reason and one should keep trying new things. Lu Xingcheng retorted that new elements still need proper context and dismissed her ideas as a disorganized mixed style, challenging her to show her own designs if she was so capable.
When she saw his sketches, she found half of them were data analysis, prompting her to ask if he was designing or planning. Lu Xingcheng explained his "scientific" approach, stating he analyzed all of Ye Mang's previous dresses and personal attire to deduce her true preferences, enabling him to create the perfect dress. Tong Xiaoyou remained skeptical of his scientific method, insisting that design should have warmth and not be constrained by cold data.
Lu Xingcheng, calling her dense, snatched his sketches back and relayed a message from her father, urging her to quit designing, which she angrily dismissed. Later, at the office, Tong Xiaoyou received a pot of health tea from Lu Yanzhi, who came to check on her after noticing her late-night work. She showed him her design for Ye Mang's dress, seeking his opinion on incorporating popular elements. Lu Yanzhi found the design very good and eye-catching.
Tong Xiaoyou expressed concern that these elements might deviate from the original concept for Ye Mang's dress. Lu Yanzhi reassured her, explaining that using contemporary popular elements to complement Ye Mang's thirty years in the entertainment industry could highlight a classic mixed style. He emphasized his dedication to his craft by meticulously studying fabrics and sketching dress details in his studio.
While Lu Xingcheng was eating dinner at home, Jiang Yan called him for advice on her Ye Mang dress design, citing her unfamiliarity with the Chinese market after years of overseas treatment. Lu Xingcheng agreed to meet her at her office. He then abruptly left his meal to go see Jiang Yan, leaving Tong Xiaoyou feeling inexplicably upset and pensive, constantly watching the door. Upon meeting Jiang Yan, Lu Xingcheng quickly got to the point.
Jiang Yan presented her design, explaining she had referenced Hollywood actresses of Ye Mang's standing, hoping for his valuable feedback. Lu Xingcheng critiqued her design as too "taken for granted," pointing out that comparing Ye Mang to Hollywood stars without truly understanding her personal requirements or Eastern aesthetics was a flaw. He suggested she observe Ye Mang's mannerisms, acting, and private clothing to glean insights into her true style preferences.
Jiang Yan remarked that no designer's work seemed to meet his standards. Lu Xingcheng, however, contradicted her, revealing that his former assistant, Tong Xiaoyou, was a design new star he highly regarded, praising her potential despite her lack of experience. Jiang Yan appeared disheartened by this. After sharing a drink, Lu Xingcheng left, declining Jiang Yan's offer to walk him out, as he advised her not to drive after drinking.
Back at home, Tong Xiaoyou waited for Lu Xingcheng for a long time, pondering why he was so late and even starting to wonder if he had a new romantic interest. When Lu Xingcheng finally returned, he found Tong Xiaoyou sitting on the sofa, pretending to do homework, a sight that touched him. As the submission deadline neared, Tong Xiaoyou became increasingly busy, engrossed in studying sketches and fabrics.
Lu Xingcheng, in contrast, continued his leisurely routine at home, riding his bicycle. Song Ruru, having changed clothes, went to Brother Bao's noodle house to try new items. Not wanting to go to the supermarket alone, Tong Xiaoyou reluctantly invited Lu Xingcheng to accompany her. At the supermarket, Lu Xingcheng showed a particular obsession with sticky rice dates as they purchased ingredients. Upon returning home, they made sticky rice dates together.
Lu Xingcheng criticized Tong Xiaoyou's technique, playfully asserting his own expertise in making them. He then told her that her father had specifically asked him to take good care of her, both in design and in life. Tong Xiaoyou, in a moment of playful excitement, suggested that if he listened to her father so much, they should just get married.
Just then, Tong Xiaoyou received a message on her phone, informing her that her dress design had been selected by Ye Mang. Overwhelmed with joy, she spontaneously hugged Lu Xingcheng. However, the good news was quickly overshadowed by a terrible development: a highly unfavorable report about Lu Xingcheng ignited online discussions, with media outlets alleging that he had repeatedly taken advantage of female subordinates during his tenure as Chief Editor at CHIC magazine.
Upon learning of the news, Wen Xi confronted Sarah Lin, who, rather than offering support, threatened Wen Xi. Sarah Lin suggested Wen Xi use her own fame to keep the scandal trending, warning her that Lu Xingcheng's popularity would fade, but Wen Xi's could be amplified using existing compromising information. Wen Xi initially refused to cooperate further but reluctantly conceded after Sarah Lin's thinly veiled threats.
Meanwhile, Song Ruru, deeply worried about the scandal's impact on Tong Xiaoyou and Wen Xi, confronted Lu Xingcheng, demanding to know if he had taken advantage of Xiaoyou. Xiaoyou quickly denied this, though she expressed concern for her parents seeing the "unscrupulous media" reports. Lu Xingcheng argued that responding would only escalate the situation as the media desired.
Song Ruru pressed him to publicly clarify, but Lu Xingcheng deflected, suggesting they celebrate their design selections instead, choosing to remain silent, though he privately felt bad for Tong Xiaoyou. When Tong Xiaoyou went to work, she clearly felt her colleagues gossiping and pointing fingers at her behind her back.
Concerned, Lu Yanzhi arrived at her office early to comfort her, but Tong Xiaoyou, composed, reassured him, saying that she had experienced so much bad luck since childhood that one more incident was insignificant. Hearing this, Lu Yanzhi handed her a stack of design drafts for review, asking her to finalize them with clients that afternoon, treating it as a normal work task rather than an unfortunate event.
Elsewhere, Lu Xingcheng met Dali and tasked him with investigating the source of the scandal. Dali, already aware of the "unwritten rules" accusation, agreed to investigate, though Lu Xingcheng kept his exact counter-attack plans to himself. During a meeting, Tong Xiaoyou endured passive-aggressive remarks from colleagues who questioned her "experience" with men and how she secured her chief position.
Tong Xiaoyou calmly asserted that the design department was not a "one-person show" and urged everyone to contribute ideas, but firmly drew a line between private life and professional work, warning that those who couldn't distinguish between the two would be asked to resign. Meanwhile, Mu Yang, worried about Wen Xi's well-being due to the scandal, found her in the dressing room.
Wen Xi, about to be late for a commercial, was initially dismissive and asked if he, too, was questioning her. Mu Yang assured her of his belief and concern, stating he would stand by her no matter what, a sentiment that visibly touched Wen Xi, despite her continued anxiety about potentially losing her last commercial. Song Ruru, still fuming that Lu Xingcheng remained nonchalant despite the gravity of the situation, worried the scandal would ruin Tong Xiaoyou's future.
She confronted him again, chastising his inaction and apparent indifference while Xiaoyou faced bullying at work. To prevent a full-blown conflict, Tong Xiaoyou quickly took Song Ruru to Brother Bao's noodle house. At the noodle house, Tong Xiaoyou confided in Song Ruru that she felt Lu Xingcheng didn't care about her feelings at all. Soon after, Mu Yang found Lu Xingcheng, immediately confronting him and appearing ready to fight.
Mu Yang demanded an explanation from Lu Xingcheng about the rumors, especially concerning Wen Xi. Lu Xingcheng stubbornly refused to explain, which further angered Mu Yang, who criticized Lu Xingcheng's unyielding nature and warned him he would regret his silence, emphatically stating that Wen Xi was no longer connected to him. Meanwhile, Ye Mang was chatting with Chengpei Yu, acknowledging that Lu Xingcheng was the designer she found most suitable for her dress.
Chengpei Yu, however, disparaged Lu Xingcheng, bringing up the rumors of him taking advantage of female subordinates and even alleging that he was responsible for his mother's death. With negative news about Lu Xingcheng circulating widely, Ye Mang, feeling helpless, reluctantly decided to consider other designers.
Later, Lu Xingcheng arrived at Brother Bao's noodle house, seemingly intending to explain himself, but Song Ruru, still angry, cut him off, telling him to remain silent forever and that he would eventually regret his uncommunicative nature. Moments later, Tong Xiaoyou checked her phone and saw the devastating news: Lu Xingcheng and Yange's qualification for the Ye Mang dress competition had been revoked.
