Count Your Lucky Stars Episode 24 Recap
> Count Your Lucky Stars Recap
Chuangwei had not completely rejected Yan Ge's cooperation, so Tong Xiaoyou resolved to work harder to find opportunities to save Yan Ge. In a meeting with Chuangwei, their representative noted past stalled collaborations and expressed caution due to Yan Ge's recent issues and market reputation. He criticized their initial design plan for a long-distance running sports and casual wear series, particularly its inaccurate user age targeting for high school students, and suggested further market research to develop a new proposal.
After the meeting, Tong Xiaoyou expressed optimism, believing that not being completely rejected meant they still had a chance, and vowed to refine the plan quickly. Meanwhile, Lu Xingcheng went to Tong Xiaoyou's parents' house to apologize for a past incident. Tong Xiaoyou's mother welcomed him warmly, but Tong Xiaoyou initially remained angry, telling him to keep silent if he was there to gloat.
Lu Xingcheng sincerely apologized, which led Tong Xiaoyou to admit her own fault for being overly invested in the previous collaboration. Over dinner, Lu Xingcheng, aware of Yan Ge's plan to launch a co-branded series with Chuangwei, asked to see Tong Xiaoyou's design drafts. He claimed he was helping her escape her predicament, not Yan Ge.
He critiqued her "youth sports style" designs, advising her to incorporate street elements like basketball and parkour to inject newness, stimulate consumer desire, and expand their market. He confidently stated his judgment was infallible and dismissed her concerns, calling her "mediocre and stupid" for not thinking. Later, Tong Xiaoyou prepared a lavish meal for Lu Xingcheng, hoping to secure his design assistance for the Chuangwei collaboration. Lu Xingcheng, suspicious, asked her to be direct.
She then explicitly requested his help with the co-branded design. He initially refused, citing his issues with Cheng Peiyu, Yan Ge's founder, and stating he wouldn't "get into trouble" for her. Tong Xiaoyou clarified he would be helping her, not Cheng Peiyu. When he still hesitated, she offered to resign from Yan Ge and join his studio, a long-standing desire of his.
Intrigued, Lu Xingcheng asked when she would join, to which she promised she would once he helped Yan Ge through the crisis. They made a playful pinky promise, but then he insisted she repeat the drunken insults she had previously hurled at him, which she reluctantly did. Tong Xiaoyou, accompanied by Lu Yanzhi, presented the revised design proposal to Chuangwei. The representative found the new ideas unique and beneficial for opening new market segments, agreeing to proceed.
However, he clarified that formal cooperation discussions would only commence after seeing the first design draft. Afterward, Lu Yanzhi assigned Tong Xiaoyou full responsibility for the new series. She confessed that the core ideas for the successful proposal came from Lu Xingcheng, as the urban sports style was not her area of expertise. Lu Yanzhi, realizing this, simply told her to work hard. Jiang Yan found Lu Xingcheng in the library, diligently researching sports designs.
She commented on his consistent seriousness and inquired about his new interest in sportswear. Lu Xingcheng explained his research into functional designs, driven by the public's growing interest in health and sports. Jiang Yan, impressed, invited him to dinner, but he declined, stating he had an appointment with Tong Xiaoyou. Visibly displeased upon hearing Tong Xiaoyou's name, Jiang Yan abruptly left.
Meanwhile, Song Ruru had another disappointing blind date, being stood up for the second time, once even after sending a selfie. Feeling dejected, she confided in Tong Xiaoyou about her woes, lamenting that women are emotional creatures and wealth means nothing without love. She then advised Tong Xiaoyou to cherish Lu Xingcheng, as many women were pursuing such a man. Tong Xiaoyou, however, was unfazed, citing Lu Xingcheng's difficult temper and her own lack of fear.
At home, Wen Xi greeted a tired Mu Yang, who had just returned from a long meeting. He explained that the Fashion Cup Grand Prix was partnering with their show, "the road to the next stop," for a reality show segment to attract a younger audience. Wen Xi, excited, asked about Lu Xingcheng and Tong Xiaoyou's potential participation.
Mu Yang cautioned her not to mention the Fashion Cup to Lu Xingcheng, revealing his mother's tragic accident occurred after participating in that very event. Undeterred, Wen Xi expressed a strong desire to participate as a model. Despite Mu Yang's initial attempts to dissuade her, citing the arduous nature of the work and preferring she stay at home, Wen Xi remained adamant, feeling she was at her prime and would "go moldy" at home.
Mu Yang eventually relented and agreed to sign her up. Jiang Yan instructed her assistant, Celine, to check on Yan Ge's latest movements. Upon learning about their ongoing negotiations with Chuangwei for a co-branded sports model, Jiang Yan realized this explained Lu Xingcheng's recent research in the library. She then immediately told Celine to arrange a meeting with Chuangwei's Mr. Liu. Tong Xiaoyou then brought a surprised Lu Yanzhi to Lu Xingcheng's office.
Lu Yanzhi expressed disbelief that Lu Xingcheng would help him, but Tong Xiaoyou urged him on, emphasizing that Lu Xingcheng, despite his harsh words, was a good person and this was their last chance for Yan Ge. Inside, Lu Xingcheng immediately began to provoke Lu Yanzhi, claiming Lu Yanzhi couldn't beat him in design and that Yan Ge's products would remain "second-rate" under Lu Yanzhi's artistic direction.
Lu Yanzhi countered that customer preference, not Lu Xingcheng, determined product quality, and accused Lu Xingcheng of begging for cooperation. Their argument escalated, with Lu Xingcheng claiming to give a "design lesson" and Lu Yanzhi retorting he was teaching Lu Xingcheng "how to be a person." Overwhelmed by their incessant bickering, Tong Xiaoyou finally left, leaving them to continue their fiery discussion. Lu Yanzhi then tried to steer the conversation back to cooperation.
While browsing a leather goods store, Tong Xiaoyou coincidentally encountered Jiang Yan. Tong Xiaoyou had been admiring a limited-edition bag, which Jiang Yan then purchased. Jiang Yan, with thinly veiled contempt, implied that Tong Xiaoyou lacked the "ability" to afford such luxuries and advised her to "just watch from a distance."
She then subtly warned Tong Xiaoyou to keep her distance from Lu Xingcheng, asserting that only she truly understood his designs and that she wouldn't allow his future to be "hindered by small matters." These remarks left Tong Xiaoyou deeply unhappy. Back at his office, Lu Xingcheng helped Tong Xiaoyou refine her design drafts.
He made several adjustments to her work and offered gentle encouragement, telling her to take her time and promising his continued support, assuring her that if she couldn't do it, he would always be there to help. His words provided great comfort to her. Elsewhere, Lu Yanzhi called to order a custom puzzle frame, specifying it was for a "very important person," implying Tong Xiaoyou. Later, Jiang Yan visited Lu Xingcheng at his office, bringing him food.
She noticed a map of an ancient town on his desk and offered to drive him, even suggesting she accompany him. Lu Xingcheng politely declined, stating that "someone will accompany me." He then made an excuse to leave the office, further fueling Jiang Yan's suspicion that he was going with Tong Xiaoyou, leaving her consumed by jealousy. Later, Jiang Yan, still seething from Lu Xingcheng's repeated rejections and his clear preference for Tong Xiaoyou, drank alone, recalling his words.
She then swiftly moved to intercept Yan Ge's cooperation with Chuangwei, leveraging her own company's maturity and her confidence in their collaboration with Mr. Liu. Consequently, when Lu Yanzhi and Tong Xiaoyou arrived for their next meeting with Mr. Liu, his demeanor had completely changed. He ambiguously stated that the leadership hadn't yet decided on a co-branded model and proceeded to dismiss their designs as "old-fashioned" in terms of color and style.
Despite Tong Xiaoyou's attempts to defend their retro trend designs, which were based on market research, Mr. Liu insisted that Chuangwei's "big data" showed young people's disinterest, completely disregarding Yan Ge's findings. Feeling deliberately undermined, Lu Yanzhi angrily confronted Mr. Liu, calling his excuses blatant lies and reminding him that their current proposal adhered to decisions previously made by Mr. Liu himself. He also emphasized that Tong Xiaoyou was Yan Ge's chief designer, not a "little girl."
Realizing the negotiation was futile, Lu Yanzhi decided to end the unproductive meeting, and he and Tong Xiaoyou left the negotiation room, enraged. Meanwhile, Lu Xingcheng was impatiently waiting for a text from Tong Xiaoyou, expecting her to confirm a successful contract with Chuangwei and thank him for his help. His frustration mounted as no message arrived. Shortly after, Jiang Yan came to his office with an invitation to an event.
When he declined, citing his unsuitability for social functions, she insisted he attend to network with young and talented designers. Despite his firm refusal, Jiang Yan, unwavering, declared she would continue to deliver invitations until he agreed to accompany her.
