Count Your Lucky Stars Episode 30 Recap
> Count Your Lucky Stars Recap
Tong Xiaoyou intervened in a heated argument between Lu Xingcheng and Lu Yanzhi, asking them to stop quarreling and suggesting that if she left, they would cease arguing. She then departed alone. As she walked, feeling downcast, she received a text from Lu Xingcheng saying he was hungry. Tong Xiaoyou apologized for the earlier situation, acknowledging she had been thoughtless in her haste.
Lu Xingcheng replied that he still needed some time to process things, but then suggested she make him sticky rice dates as an apology. Though initially hesitant and calling him "insatiable," Tong Xiaoyou agreed, urging him to also quickly resolve his own issues. Meanwhile, Lu Yanzhi found the "father" design theme challenging. He looked through magazine covers featuring fathers, but couldn't bring himself to start drawing.
Instead, he turned to his computer to search for information about Lu Ren, finding it ironic that he had to rely on magazines and the internet to understand his own father. Later, Tong Xiaoyou made sticky rice dates. Other contestants praised their delicious taste, exclaiming how sweet and well-made they were, wondering if she learned it from her father. However, Lu Xingcheng commented that the taste was "wrong."
At his noodle shop, Xuan Guangbao, also known as Brother Leopard, was listlessly playing his guitar. Wen Xi entered and immediately noticed his low spirits. Xuan Guangbao was troubled because Song Ruru was smitten with a man resembling Andy Lau. Wen Xi deliberately provoked him, claiming she had introduced Song Ruru to an even better man, like Aaron Kwok or a male model. Xuan Guangbao finally admitted his feelings for Song Ruru.
Wen Xi, exasperated by his hesitation, urged him to be more proactive, comparing him to her husband Mu Yang and questioning his masculinity and ability to make Song Ruru happy. She then forced him to leave with her. Lu Ren arrived at the program's set and approached a distracted Tong Xiaoyou, who was struggling with the "father" theme for her design.
Tong Xiaoyou confessed that she thought she knew her father best, but his recent unusual behavior made her question that. She expressed how challenging it was to fully understand another individual, especially a loved one, and how good intentions can sometimes manifest as unspoken pain or even hurt. Lu Ren thoughtfully told her that fatherly love encompasses many layers, one of which is restraint, hoping this insight would inspire her.
Qixing returned the sticky rice dates to Tong Xiaoyou, finding them too sweet. Lu Ren, overhearing this, remarked that Tong Xiaoyou knew how to make them. He then shared that he used to make sticky rice dates for Lu Xingcheng and his mother, and that Lu Xingcheng always found the taste "wrong." He suggested Tong Xiaoyou try adding osmanthus honey.
As Lu Ren prepared to leave, Tong Xiaoyou stopped him, wanting to ask more about his past comments on Lu Xingcheng and his mother, and whether his critiques were meant to motivate Lu Xingcheng into design. Just then, Jiang Yan saw Lu Ren and quickly invited him to her design area for a private discussion, interrupting Tong Xiaoyou.
As Lu Ren and Jiang Yan walked away, Tong Xiaoyou received a text from Wen Xi, announcing that Xuan Guangbao was about to confess to Song Ruru. At a coffee shop, Song Ruru awaited her blind date, surprised when Xuan Guangbao walked in. He candidly told her he was the man Wen Xi had arranged for her. Xuan Guangbao sincerely introduced himself, sharing details about his life, including his age, his parents, and his noodle restaurant.
He then presented her with a bouquet of flowers and serenaded her with a heartfelt song. This public display of affection left Song Ruru overjoyed as they gazed at each other, while Wen Xi secretly watched their sweet moment from outside the window. Later, in the lounge area, Qixing was eating dumplings. Lu Xingcheng approached, asking where Tong Xiaoyou was, as she had not yet returned.
Just then, Lu Yanzhi came to get some wine, and Qixing invited both of them to join him for dumplings. The three sat together, and the atmosphere, less awkward with Qixing present, became more relaxed. Lu Xingcheng asked them about their relationships with their fathers. Qixing described his father as an ordinary, kind man who took care of the family, while his mother earned money.
He felt very close to his father, like brothers, even getting advice on how to pursue a girl. Lu Yanzhi then shared that before he returned to the country, Lu Ren was always busy with work, teaching, and even bringing students home, but never taught him. He admitted that his participation in the competition and his efforts to manage the company were all aimed at gaining his father's recognition, yet he had never received a single word of approval.
Qixing empathized, remarking that being ignored could be more painful than being criticized, as criticism still implies a connection. Lu Xingcheng and Lu Yanzhi both expressed envy for Qixing's close relationship with his father. Due to a rise in ratings, the program gained new sponsors and required additional video recordings. Tong Xiaoyou received a call from her mother, informing her that her father was hospitalized. She immediately rushed to the hospital, accompanied by Lu Xingcheng.
There, Tong Xiaoyou and her mother received the devastating news that her father had gastric cancer. Both were heartbroken, unable to accept the diagnosis, questioning its possibility. The doctor reassured them that it was an early-to-mid-stage diagnosis with a high cure rate and stressed the importance of a positive mindset. Later, Tong Xiaoyou tearfully confided in Lu Yanzhi, blaming herself for not being there to care for her father and regretting her participation in the competition.
Lu Yanzhi comforted her, encouraging her to continue the competition and assuring her that he and her friends would support her. Lu Yanzhi continued to follow Lu Xingcheng, seemingly wanting to talk. Lu Xingcheng, however, curtly stated that he had a cold attitude towards those with whom he shared no common language. Lu Yanzhi countered that they did have one thing in common: their shared envy for Qixing's relationship with his father. He then suggested they discuss their own fathers.
Lu Xingcheng immediately refused, declaring he had no father. Despite this, Lu Yanzhi persisted, sharing details about Lu Ren's preferences, such as his dislike for tea, Chinese food, and lateness. This heavy conversation made Lu Xingcheng increasingly agitated and unwilling to listen further. The program then officially invited Lu Ren to give a lecture on the theme of "father." Lu Xingcheng expressed disinterest, calling it a trick to deceive children.
However, Lu Yanzhi expressed eagerness to listen, pointing out that Lu Ren rarely spoke so much at home. Lu Xingcheng, hearing this, felt a pang of sympathy for Lu Yanzhi, acknowledging how miserable it must be to live under the same roof and barely exchange words with one's father. Because of her father's illness, Tong Xiaoyou returned to the players' village late, causing concern among Qixing and other contestants.
However, Jiang Yan saw this as Tong Xiaoyou seeking sympathy, which greatly angered Tong Xiaoyou. She confronted Jiang Yan, fiercely questioning if Jiang Yan's lack of genuine concern for others made her perceive all kindness as cold, self-serving interest. Tong Xiaoyou, having endured Jiang Yan's constant criticism, finally unleashed her frustration, causing Jiang Yan considerable embarrassment. She declared that her father, a chef, was just as remarkable as Jiang Yan's artist father, and that professions should not be ranked.
She also highlighted her dual struggle of caring for her father and competing, refusing to tolerate Jiang Yan's judgmental remarks. During a subsequent promotional video shoot, Jiang Yan complained to the director about Tong Xiaoyou's persistent absence and tardiness, deeming it unfair to others. However, the other contestants rallied in support of Tong Xiaoyou, stating they were willing to wait for her, and Lu Xingcheng also dismissed Jiang Yan's complaints, effectively ending the argument.
Both Lu Yanzhi and Lu Xingcheng remained troubled by their "father" design assignment. Lu Yanzhi, with a bottle of wine in hand, approached Lu Xingcheng again. He confessed that despite growing up with Lu Ren, his father had never acknowledged him. He recalled showing his father awards like "Three Good Student" and "Excellent Class Leader," or achieving first place in his grade, only to be met with cold indifference.
Lu Ren's typical response was a dismissive comment about dead reading and a curt "remember to close the door." Lu Yanzhi admitted he had grown accustomed to this coldness, even when he was a top student. He further revealed that Lu Ren had sent him abroad before he even started high school. Lu Yanzhi then asked Lu Xingcheng if the children's drawings he remembered seeing in their father's desk drawer were his.
This question triggered a flashback for Lu Xingcheng, who remembered a younger Lu Ren showing him kindness and encouragement regarding his artwork. After hearing this, Lu Yanzhi expressed envy for Lu Xingcheng's memory, though he noted that their conversation didn't seem to offer much help for their design. Lu Xingcheng impatiently told him to leave, but Lu Yanzhi leaned in and whispered, "We are from the same root." Although Lu Xingcheng outwardly remained cold and told Lu Yanzhi to go away, inwardly, he slowly began to accept the reality that Lu Yanzhi was his half-brother.
