Count Your Lucky Stars Episode 25 Recap
> Count Your Lucky Stars Recap
Employees expressed their concerns to Lu Yanzhi, as the company's finances were in dire straits, with salaries unpaid and factories demanding overdue payments. Lu Yanzhi, looking stressed, assured them that he would find a solution as quickly as possible and asked them to return to their work. Lu Xingcheng confronted Tong Xiaoyou, telling her that Yange was destined to fail due to market forces and that she should leave.
He attributed all the company's problems to Chengpeiyu and argued that no one else was to blame. Tong Xiaoyou, however, felt it would be disloyal to abandon Yange during such a difficult time, stating she didn't want to kick Yange when it was down. Lu Xingcheng, suspecting her motives, questioned if she was staying for Lu Yanzhi, to which Tong Xiaoyou countered that she simply refused to abandon Yange.
Their argument escalated, with Lu Xingcheng accusing her of trying to undermine him. Tong Xiaoyou conceded to taking the blame, but remained steadfast in her decision not to leave Yange, causing Lu Xingcheng to storm off in frustration. Wen Xi was overjoyed when Mu Yang presented her with the application form for the Fashion Cup, excitedly planning her entry and highlighting her perceived competitive edge. Tong Xiaoyou found Lu Yanzhi still at the office, feeling defeated.
She insisted on taking him to Brother Bao's Noodle House to alleviate his stress. Despite his initial reluctance and lack of appetite, she convinced him that a meal and some drinks could help clear his mind. At the restaurant, they ordered noodles, side dishes, and several bottles of beer. Lu Yanzhi apologized for his current state, and Tong Xiaoyou reassured him that their evening was solely for relaxation, not work.
Meanwhile, Lu Xingcheng repeatedly tried to reach Tong Xiaoyou, but her phone was off. Growing anxious, he called Song Ruru, who informed him that Tong Xiaoyou was working overtime. Shortly after, Jiang Yan arrived at Lu Xingcheng's design studio. She told him she had been waiting for him at a reception and suggested they go eat at a highly recommended noodle shop. As they arrived at Brother Bao's, Jiang Yan subtly pointed out Tong Xiaoyou and Lu Yanzhi inside.
Seeing them together, Lu Xingcheng left the restaurant in a visibly unhappy state, leaving Jiang Yan with a knowing smile, pleased that her plan had succeeded. The next morning, Lu Xingcheng angrily confronted Tong Xiaoyou about being with Lu Yanzhi at Brother Bao's. Tong Xiaoyou explained that Lu Yanzhi was upset about work, so she accompanied him for dinner, and he lent her his coat because it was cold.
Lu Xingcheng revealed he had been outside the noodle house, sarcastically suggesting he didn't want to disturb their "romantic rendezvous." Tong Xiaoyou dismissed his accusations as an overreaction and pointed out that he had also been out with Jiang Yan. Lu Xingcheng retorted that his relationship with Jiang Yan was different, but Tong Xiaoyou was too annoyed to listen, prompting him to throw his jacket down and leave in a huff.
Later, Lu Yanzhi confided in Tong Xiaoyou that he had mortgaged his family home to secure funds for Yange, hoping that employees would soon receive their overdue salaries. Tong Xiaoyou was taken aback by his significant sacrifice. Tong Xiaoyou was dejected by Lu Xingcheng's jealousy. She met with Wen Xi and Song Ruru, who tried to comfort her.
Wen Xi framed Lu Xingcheng's jealousy as a "happy trouble," indicative of his affection, and shared her own experiences with Mu Yang's possessiveness, advising Tong Xiaoyou to be flexible in her relationship. Song Ruru, as the only single one, expressed her desire to be pursued. Wen Xi then encouraged Tong Xiaoyou to participate in the Fashion Cup, mentioning her own plan to join as a model, suggesting they could collaborate.
Tong Xiaoyou later discovered that Wen Xi's name was missing from the official Fashion Cup list. When confronted, Wen Xi realized that Mu Yang had deliberately failed to submit her application. Enraged, Wen Xi confronted Mu Yang, who argued that the contestants were confined in a "players’ village" and that her "inner beauty" was more important. Offended by his dismissive attitude, Wen Xi declared she would retaliate by going shopping and maxing out his credit card.
Tong Xiaoyou visited Lu Xingcheng's studio to return his jacket and explain her evening with Lu Yanzhi. However, Lu Xingcheng remained visibly upset and coolly invited her to a friend's gathering, seemingly ignoring her explanation. Song Ruru continued to have blind dates at Brother Bao's Noodle House, much to Brother Bao's irritation, as she often occupied a prime table without ordering. He grew increasingly concerned when he noticed her date's disinterest.
Eventually, Brother Bao directly intervened, calling the man a "scumbag" and warning Song Ruru not to leave with him, having seen the man with other women. Song Ruru initially dismissed his interference as "annoying." Lu Xingcheng then took Tong Xiaoyou to a cocktail party. There, she was almost mistaken for a waitress, and felt out of place. Jiang Yan discussed autumn fashion trends, but Tong Xiaoyou disagreed with her data-reliant approach, arguing it lost the beauty of clothing design.
Feeling incompatible with the atmosphere, Tong Xiaoyou left the party early, and Lu Xingcheng also departed shortly after. Later, Song Ruru witnessed her blind date with two other women, realizing Brother Bao had genuinely been looking out for her. Song Ruru, Tong Xiaoyou, and Wen Xi gathered, each frustrated with their respective romantic situations.
Song Ruru was upset about her recent blind date experience, Tong Xiaoyou was annoyed by Lu Xingcheng's dismissive behavior at the party, and Wen Xi was still fuming about Mu Yang. The three friends commiserated, offering each other advice. Wen Xi encouraged Tong Xiaoyou to be more assertive in her relationship, while Song Ruru wondered if Brother Bao's interference stemmed from jealousy.
Just then, Lu Xingcheng arrived at the door, but the women decided to ignore him, wanting to continue their shared commiseration. The next morning, Tong Xiaoyou brought breakfast to Lu Xingcheng. Shortly after, Jiang Yan arrived with fabrics from Kaili, feigning a need for Lu Xingcheng's expert opinion. Observing Tong Xiaoyou's growing jealousy, Lu Xingcheng pretended to be deeply engrossed in the fabrics, secretly enjoying her reaction. Feeling ignored, Tong Xiaoyou left for work.
At work, Tong Xiaoyou overheard her colleagues discussing the impending acquisition of Yange, with negotiations scheduled for that afternoon. Employees were anxious about their unpaid salaries and the company's financial crisis, which had prevented bank loans. Tong Xiaoyou went to Lu Yanzhi's office, where he confirmed that Yange was indeed being acquired by C and G.
He explained that his father, Professor Lu, had given him the difficult task of handling the situation and chose not to burden his mother with the news. As Tong Xiaoyou left Lu Yanzhi's office, she saw Jiang Yan, who revealed herself as C and G's negotiation consultant, gloating that they would soon be colleagues. Tong Xiaoyou confronted Jiang Yan, accusing her of plotting against Yange.
Jiang Yan, however, claimed she was "helping" Yange by resolving its financial problems and preventing bankruptcy. She then admitted that her actions were partly driven by revenge against Chengpeiyu, Yange's chairman, who had once wronged Lu Xingcheng, seeing it as a "two birds with one stone" opportunity. Tong Xiaoyou, however, flatly told Jiang Yan that her plan would not succeed.
