Count Your Lucky Stars Episode 21 Recap
> Count Your Lucky Stars Recap
The President and the Chief Editor discussed internal matters, noting that individuals like Sarah Lin could no longer be employed. They asked if Lu Xingcheng was reliable. After receiving assurance, the President appointed Daly as the acting editor-in-chief until a permanent replacement was found. Daly was ecstatic, pinching "Lu Xingcheng" to ensure he wasn't dreaming. He enthusiastically pledged his loyalty to the magazine and the President, declaring, "President, moving forward, the magazine is my home. Your business is my business!
For you, I will do anything." The President cautioned him not to be overly excited, stating it was a temporary arrangement and holding Lu Xingcheng accountable if Daly encountered any issues. Daly then hugged Lu Xingcheng in celebration, and "Lu Xingcheng reminded him to adopt a more formal demeanor" given his new position. The President reminded Daly to give special attention to Lu Xingcheng's studio, to which Daly affirmed that Lu Xingcheng's affairs were his own.
Upon returning home, Tong Xiaoyou found Wen Xi and Song Ruru sharing drinks and their thoughts. She inquired about the situation, but her questions quickly turned to Lu Xingcheng's well-being. Seeing Tong Xiaoyou's concern, "Song Ruru" teased her, asking if she truly didn't like him. Wen Xi then explained that at the press conference, Lu Xingcheng had the perfect opportunity to clear his name but chose not to, fearing it would embarrass her.
She confided that she almost collapsed from the stress of self-exposing but was glad it was all over. Wen Xi, fueled by alcohol, opened up about her difficult past. She recalled her mother's struggles to find work, which led Wen Xi to drop out of junior high to become a model and financially support their family. Tong Xiaoyou asked if she was afraid entering the industry at such a young age.
Wen Xi admitted she was, but the thought of her mother always dispelled her fear. She had established a strict rule for herself, vowing never to use her beauty to advance her career. She revealed that her current agent helped create her "intellectual model" persona, which brought her many desired things, including a glamorous facade and material possessions, but also caused her to lose many precious aspects of herself.
Despite this, she remained hopeful, believing she was still young and had the chance to start over. Meanwhile, Lu Yanzhi had booked plane tickets for his parents, encouraging them to view the trip as a vacation and assuring them he would handle the company. Chengpei Yu, tearfully, invited Lu Ren to join them, leaving the final decision to him. This time, Lu Ren decided not to leave Chengpei Yu alone, choosing to go with her.
Chengpei Yu was deeply moved, and the family shared a heartfelt embrace. Lu Xingcheng found himself smiling inexplicably as he recalled Tong Xiaoyou's confession of liking him. He later found her in an alleyway and confronted her, asking why she was avoiding him and if she had anything to say now that the truth was revealed. Tong Xiaoyou merely offered an "I'm sorry."
Lu Xingcheng then cornered her, sternly telling her to resign from Yange immediately and return to work by his side. He explicitly stated his displeasure at seeing her with Lu Yanzhi. Tong Xiaoyou, trying to deflect, commented on his "fever," but he insisted she get to his studio after breakfast. Back at Yange, rumors were rampant about layoffs and several months of unpaid salaries, putting immense pressure on Lu Yanzhi.
He approached Tong Xiaoyou in her office, first apologizing on behalf of his mother for the recent events. He then, as a friend, advised Tong Xiaoyou to leave Yange and seek opportunities at a better company, emphasizing he didn't want to burden her. Tong Xiaoyou, touched by his sincerity, firmly stated she would not abandon a partner who had shown her kindness during such a challenging time. Her resolve deeply moved Lu Yanzhi, who secretly wished she wouldn't leave.
He presented her with a puzzle piece, asking her to keep it and place it once they finished the puzzle, symbolizing his desire for her to stay and complete their project together. At Lu Xingcheng's studio, he carefully arranged an office space. Jiang Yan entered, admiring the comfortable environment, but mentioned she would prefer a white chair. Lu Xingcheng suggested she ask her assistant to change "her" chair, leading Jiang Yan to realize the office was not for her.
She deduced it was meant for a designer like Tong Xiaoyou. Jiang Yan confronted Lu Xingcheng, asking if he had feelings for Tong Xiaoyou, arguing that Tong Xiaoyou wasn't his usual type. Lu Xingcheng questioned if Jiang Yan truly knew him. She insisted she did, then pressed him to admit his feelings for Tong Xiaoyou. He countered by asking if his feelings for Tong Xiaoyou were that important to her, and Jiang Yan, visibly upset, left.
Meanwhile, Mu Yang visited Wen Xi at a photoshoot, bringing her flowers and a doll. A colleague made a snide remark about his gifts, suggesting Wen Xi preferred classical music. During the shoot, a photographer behaved inappropriately with another model. Wen Xi intervened, slapping the photographer and warning him to keep his hands to himself. The photographer retaliated with insults, calling her an old woman.
Mu Yang, unable to tolerate the abuse, stepped in to defend Wen Xi, grabbing the photographer. Wen Xi pulled Mu Yang away, expressing concern that his impulsive actions, as a public figure with a promising career, could lead to public backlash, similar to her own recent experience. Mu Yang insisted he didn't care about public opinion. Later, Wen Xi returned home and discussed the incident with Tong Xiaoyou and Song Ruru.
She expressed her intention to avoid Mu Yang to protect his career from being tainted by her past. Tong Xiaoyou and Song Ruru argued against her self-sacrificing stance, questioning if letting Mu Yang suffer alone was not also selfish. Just then, Mu Yang called, and Tong Xiaoyou encouraged Wen Xi to talk to him. Wen Xi met Mu Yang at his hotpot restaurant, where he apologized for his earlier impulsiveness and treated her to a meal.
She reiterated that while she appreciated his apology, he needed to control his temper for the sake of his career. Mu Yang, however, confessed he found it hard to control himself when it came to her, promising it wouldn't happen again, insisting that his impulsiveness was just "the real him." Their meal was interrupted when the photographer and his gang arrived, seeking revenge.
Mu Yang attempted to defuse the situation, offering an apology for the earlier incident but demanding the photographer apologize to Wen Xi. When the photographer refused and initiated a fight, Mu Yang told Wen Xi to leave, but she refused to abandon him. She quickly used pepper spray on the attackers, and ultimately, the group was apprehended and taken to the police station.
After returning home, Tong Xiaoyou and Song Ruru peppered Wen Xi with questions about the incident, having been unable to reach her by phone. Wen Xi recounted how she and Mu Yang had teamed up, using pepper spray to fight off the photographer and his gang before sending them to the police station. She praised Mu Yang's courage and protective nature. Seeing Mu Yang's injuries, Tong Xiaoyou pointed out that he too was hurt.
Wen Xi then had a profound realization: "I finally get it. I kept having so many thoughts against him, but the most important thing is that he treats me well." Convinced of his genuine affection, Wen Xi, despite her friends' warnings against acting impulsively, made a courageous decision. She called Mu Yang and met him outside his house.
Mu Yang, relieved to see her, expressed his worry, saying he had waited all night for her message and feared she would never speak to him again. Wen Xi asked him to close his eyes and then confessed her true feelings. She admitted that all her past fears and evasions were self-imposed, driven by a feeling of unworthiness due to how incredibly good he was to her.
But now, because of him, she had discovered her own worth and was determined to become a better person. She declared, "So this time, I'm not going to run away. I won't let you run away, either." With newfound courage, she proposed, "Mu Yang, you must marry me!" Overjoyed, Mu Yang knelt and proposed back to her, "Wen Xi, will you marry me?" She joyfully accepted, "I will!" They embraced, and he affectionately called her "My wife!"
