Count Your Lucky Stars Episode 19 Recap
> Count Your Lucky Stars Recap
At Ms. Ye Mang's celebration, a woman expressed her gratitude to Lu Xingcheng for his unique dress design, wishing him to become the brightest star in the industry. However, the atmosphere quickly soured as Chief Editor Sarah Lin directly questioned Lu Xingcheng about plagiarism. When someone attempted to redirect her, suggesting a private discussion, Lu Xingcheng calmly asserted that he never plagiarizes and did not understand her accusation.
Sarah Lin then presented a design on a large screen, which many in the audience noted was strikingly similar to Lu Xingcheng's. She explained that the design was created 24 years ago by Professor Lu Ren, Ms. Cheng Peiyu’s husband, who was in Italy at the time, making information about the dress scarce.
Sarah Lin then revealed that Professor Lu once mentioned the unique design idea came from his son, who admired Escher’s "Day and Night" work, inspiring the dimensional flying bird images. She accused Lu Xingcheng of unauthorized use, calling it a "shame in our industry." As the crowd began murmuring that Lu Xingcheng copied Lu Yanzhi, reporters pressed Professor Lu for an explanation.
To quell the rising chaos, Jiang Yan dramatically intervened, confirming that Lu Xingcheng's design was indeed identical to Lu Ren's son's childhood work. She then publicly announced that Lu Xingcheng is Lu Ren’s biological son, clearing him of plagiarism but plunging him into a deeper storm of public scrutiny. Reporters swarmed Lu Yanzhi, asking if he knew Lu Xingcheng was his biological brother, and demanded answers from Lu Xingcheng himself.
Lu Xingcheng, overwhelmed, tried to leave, but Jiang Yan told him to stay until the reporters departed. Later, Lu Xingcheng and Lu Yanzhi found themselves at Tong Xiaoyou's house. Lu Yanzhi confronted Lu Xingcheng, demanding to know if Lu Ren was his father and why he had never disclosed it. Lu Xingcheng responded evasively, telling Lu Yanzhi to "go ask that father of yours."
Angered, Lu Yanzhi reiterated the question, and a physical struggle ensued with Lu Xingcheng eventually declaring, "What does your family have to do with me?" Their argument intensified, prompting Tong Xiaoyou to try and separate them. Lu Yanzhi, in a fit of rage, shouted that Lu Xingcheng deserved to live alone his entire life, while Tong Xiaoyou defended Lu Xingcheng, insisting Lu Yanzhi didn't mean it. Lu Xingcheng stormed out.
Tong Xiaoyou, distressed, followed him, asking why he was so furious, wondering if it was his current demeanor or the fact that she was unaware of his biggest secret. When Tong Xiaoyou accidentally sprained her ankle, Lu Yanzhi rushed to her side, examining her injury. Soon after, Lu Xingcheng also arrived, immediately asking if she had applied ice to it. Song Ruru suggested Tong Xiaoyou move to her room to rest while Lu Yanzhi helped her.
Song Ruru then urged Lu Yanzhi and Lu Xingcheng to talk. Lu Yanzhi once again confronted Lu Xingcheng, demanding a direct answer to whether Jiang Yan's revelation about Lu Ren being his father was true. The next day, Daly called Lu Xingcheng with exciting news, informing him that the previous night's expose had made him a trending topic and a popular new designer, and the President of CHIC magazine wanted to meet him.
Various business associates also called, offering congratulations and collaboration opportunities. Despite his professional success, Lu Xingcheng's thoughts were with Tong Xiaoyou, wondering if her foot was better. He considered visiting her with medicine but ultimately decided against it, believing his presence might cause her more trouble. Later, the President of CHIC personally called Lu Xingcheng, good-naturedly asking him to return to the magazine.
The President joked about Lu Xingcheng holding a grudge over being dismissed, but explained he had no choice due to past negative publicity, reminding Lu Xingcheng of his unwavering support during that time. Lu Xingcheng, however, politely declined the offer to return as Chief Editor, stating his desire to become a designer and establish his own brand. He expressed confidence that they would have future opportunities to collaborate, but not at the present moment.
Pleased by Lu Xingcheng's ambition, the President assured him that CHIC’s doors would always remain open, to which Lu Xingcheng promised to give the magazine exclusive interviews in the future. Following their conversation, the President promptly instructed Sarah Lin to interview Lu Xingcheng. Sarah Lin was furious at the assignment, but complied under the President’s stern reminder of her recent poor performance and the magazine's dwindling sales. Back in her office, Sarah Lin reluctantly called Lu Xingcheng.
Lu Xingcheng, to her annoyance, initially pretended not to recognize her voice and then sarcastically inquired why "Chief Editor Lin" was calling him, implying she might have dialed the wrong number. When she proposed an interview, Lu Xingcheng agreed to it but made it clear he would not grant the interview to her, preferring to hear things "directly from the person involved" unlike her who "likes to put up a front."
He instructed her to inform the President that he would accept the interview, but only with "a more competent person." Enraged, Sarah Lin immediately called Cheng Peiyu, admitting her previous plan had failed but assuring her she would find a way to fix it. Sarah Lin then proposed a new strategy: highlighting the alleged rivalry between Lu Xingcheng and Mu Yang over a girl, coupled with the "illegitimate child" rumors, confident this would "take down Lu Xingcheng."
Cheng Peiyu urged her to proceed quickly. Meanwhile, Lu Xingcheng, carrying various medicines, stood outside Tong Xiaoyou's door, practicing how he would give them to her. He hung the bag on the doorknob, then noticed the door was unlocked. He overheard Song Ruru and Tong Xiaoyou talking inside. Song Ruru was lamenting Lu Xingcheng's disappearance since regaining his success, calling him a "horrible friend" for not checking on Tong Xiaoyou after her injury.
Tong Xiaoyou defended Lu Xingcheng, suggesting he was overwhelmed and deserved some time, reminding Song Ruru of his past help. Song Ruru commented that Tong Xiaoyou understood him best, describing him as having a harsh exterior but a soft heart. Tong Xiaoyou, however, retorted that she didn’t know him that well, especially his past, implying that "a certain someone" (Jiang Yan) knew more. Song Ruru deduced that Tong Xiaoyou was "just jealous," a claim Tong Xiaoyou denied.
As Tong Xiaoyou attempted to get up, she stumbled and fell, prompting a worried Lu Xingcheng to rush inside. He gently applied medicine to her injured ankle, teasing her for being a "dummy" who got hurt easily and reminding her to protect herself, especially when he wasn't around. Tong Xiaoyou was touched by his unexpected care but also expressed concern that Cheng Peiyu might resent her because of the recent revelations.
Mid-treatment, Jiang Yan called Lu Xingcheng, urging him to meet, which immediately dampened Tong Xiaoyou's spirits. Lu Xingcheng then met Jiang Yan, who offered him his favorite cake and coffee. He confronted her, asking why she had publicly revealed his identity. Jiang Yan explained that she hoped to see him "rise to the top again," claiming her actions were a "special situation" and the "only way." She then expressed regret for sharing so much of his past with him.
When Lu Xingcheng questioned if she was blaming him, Jiang Yan maintained that without her companionship and conversations, he wouldn't be the Lu Xingcheng he was today. She passionately declared his immense importance and uniqueness to her, recounting past memories, including a time Professor Lu visited their school. Everyone sought his advice, but Lu Xingcheng had forbidden her from going. She went anyway, and Professor Lu's first words to her were, "Do you have a classmate named Lu Xingcheng?"
Lu Xingcheng interrupted, asking her to stop dwelling on the past, but Jiang Yan insisted. She continued, explaining that from that moment, she vowed to follow, accompany, and take care of him, regardless of his circumstances. She then asked if they would have been together if "that accident never happened." Lu Xingcheng firmly replied that their potential relationship had "nothing to do with that accident at all, Jiang Yan," leaving her heartbroken.
Separately, Mu Yang received a call from the station chief, informing him of complaints and his temporary suspension by the PR department due to the chaotic live broadcast. The station chief, unable to help further, advised Mu Yang to rest at home. Mu Yang also saw the news of Lu Ren publicly announcing Lu Xingcheng as his son.
This news deeply upset Cheng Peiyu, who wept bitterly, expressing her feelings of betrayal and humiliation, asking why Lu Ren had done this to her. Lu Yanzhi tried to comfort her, assuring her that "it'll all pass" and that neither she nor he had done anything wrong. Cheng Peiyu then angrily instructed Lu Yanzhi to call reporters to follow Lu Xingcheng.
Lu Yanzhi, however, urged her to "let bygones be bygones," stating that Lu Xingcheng was also innocent and that they should both move on. Cheng Peiyu lashed out, calling Lu Xingcheng a "bastard" and questioning why her son was defending him, recounting her loneliness and fear when Lu Yanzhi was abroad. Cheng Peiyu then confronted Lu Ren, accusing him of constantly dwelling on the past and refusing to cherish the present, begging him to stay with her.
As Lu Ren tried to leave, Lu Yanzhi, unable to bear his father's indifference, grabbed him, angrily demanding he stay for his mother and questioning why innocent people like them had to bear the consequences of his actions. Despite his son’s rare outburst, Lu Ren still left. Lu Yanzhi then coldly asked Cheng Peiyu if she truly liked living a life like this. At Brother Bao's noodle house, Song Ruru was engrossed in writing.
Wen Xi arrived heavily disguised, complaining about the heat and the persistent reporters. Song Ruru shared the news that Mu Yang had been suspended by the TV station due to the scandal involving him and Lu Xingcheng fighting over Wen Xi. Wen Xi was visibly shocked. Immediately after, she received a threatening phone call. The caller reiterated their offer of resources and reputation restoration if Wen Xi complied with their demands.
Wen Xi defiantly stated she would not be controlled again, threatening to expose everything. The caller, unfazed, warned her that Mu Yang, her "boyfriend," was also implicated in their "net." Wen Xi denied any romantic involvement with Mu Yang. The caller challenged her to test the strength of her "fish" against their "net" and declared that regardless of her cooperation, they would deliver this "gift" to the public, demanding she speak out immediately, leaving Wen Xi in a grave predicament.
