Count Your Lucky Stars Episode 31 Recap
> Count Your Lucky Stars Recap
At Brother Bao's Noodle House, Mu Yang and Wen Xi openly displayed their affection. Song Ruru, observing them, playfully urged Brother Bao to show some affection too. Brother Bao, in his typical straightforward manner, remarked that Song Ruru seemed to have gained weight, though he quickly added that he liked her, which pleased her. Their conversation then turned to Tong Xiaoyou.
Mu Yang mentioned that participating in the Fashion Cup had long been Tong Xiaoyou's dream, and it was finally coming true. Song Ruru concurred, marveling at Tong Xiaoyou's persistence in realizing her aspirations to become a designer and compete in the Fashion Cup. Wen Xi added that Tong Xiaoyou had even found love with Lu Xingcheng, her crush from ten years ago, noting that Tong Xiaoyou no longer complained about bad luck.
Mu Yang challenged the idea that Tong Xiaoyou was ever unlucky, stating he felt fortunate to have her as a friend and recounting how she had courageously rescued him at a bar by pretending to be his girlfriend. Wen Xi suggested Mu Yang's actions were partly influenced by Lu Xingcheng, an assertion Mu Yang partially admitted to before charmingly attributing any reason for his help to Wen Xi herself.
Brother Bao, weary of their discussion about luck, declared that their gathering today transcended such notions and proposed a toast to Tong Xiaoyou, friendship, and love, which everyone enthusiastically joined. At the hospital, Tong Mama was peeling an apple for Tong Papa, who playfully grumbled about its uneven cuts. Tong Xiaoyou arrived, joining in the lighthearted teasing, remarking that her mother's angular apple-peeling resembled her own designs. Tong Mama stepped out to refill water, and Tong Xiaoyou followed.
Away from Tong Papa, Tong Mama tearfully confided her deep fear and anxiety to her daughter. Tong Xiaoyou comforted her, proposing that they take turns caring for Tong Papa, each taking a half-day shift, to ensure Tong Mama could rest and Tong Papa received consistent care. Tong Mama initially hesitated, worried about Tong Xiaoyou's competition, but Tong Xiaoyou assured her that arrangements had already been made. Meanwhile, Jiang Yan visited Lu Ren to discuss design.
She encountered Lu Yanzhi, who had just returned home. Unaware of the family's complex dynamics, Jiang Yan expressed envy for Lu Yanzhi, praising his father, Professor Lu Ren, and how advantageous it was to live with such an accomplished mentor for constant learning and exchange. She then suggested that Lu Xingcheng would be at a disadvantage in the current design round, implying Lu Yanzhi would surely triumph.
Lu Yanzhi dismissed her comments as mere speculation and then subtly questioned Jiang Yan about her relationships with both Lu Xingcheng and Tong Xiaoyou. Back in the hospital, Tong Xiaoyou attentively cared for Tong Papa. She fed him porridge and peeled fruit, playfully teasing him about his lack of pickiness for a chef. Tong Papa inquired if she was feeling tired from her recent activities.
Tong Xiaoyou, with a cheerful demeanor, assured him she wasn't, explaining that young people should embrace challenges and that she found joy in her time at the Players’ Village and in visiting him daily. Tong Papa observed that her happiness stemmed from pursuing her true passion, to which Tong Xiaoyou readily agreed. Later, Lu Yanzhi visited Lu Ren, bringing tonics for his father's health and inquiring about his mother, Chengpei Yu.
Lu Ren, sensing a deeper motive behind the visit, noted that Lu Yanzhi’s concern wasn't solely for his parents' health. Lu Yanzhi conceded, explaining that with "father" as the design competition's theme, he sought to understand Lu Ren's true perception of him. Lu Ren described Lu Yanzhi as a gentle and introspective person, acknowledging that he had always known Lu Yanzhi disliked design but continued it to uphold Chengpei Yu's reputation.
Lu Yanzhi then openly shared his feelings, admitting that while his mother's wishes played a part, his main motivation for pursuing design was to earn Lu Ren's approval, similar to the recognition Lu Xingcheng received. Lu Ren simply stated that Lu Yanzhi and Lu Xingcheng were fundamentally different. Lu Yanzhi agreed, lamenting that he wasn't much luckier than Lu Xingcheng.
He pointed out that Lu Xingcheng was the child of the woman Lu Ren truly loved, whereas his own mother was merely a choice Lu Ren made. He criticized Lu Ren for making a choice but failing to take responsibility, concluding that both Lu Xingcheng and his own mother were victims. With these words, Lu Yanzhi quietly left the room, making sure to close the door behind him. Lu Ren then approached Lu Xingcheng, who was sitting alone.
Lu Xingcheng initially moved to leave without a word but, recalling a past conversation with Tong Xiaoyou, paused and sat down. Lu Ren expressed his wish to hear directly from Lu Xingcheng and Lu Yanzhi about their designs. When asked about his thoughts on the theme "father," Lu Xingcheng curtly replied that as someone raised by a single mother, he had no such thoughts. Lu Ren asked if he remembered his original intention for pursuing design.
Lu Xingcheng admitted he had long forgotten. Lu Ren then reminisced about Lu Xingcheng's childhood, describing his abundant "wild, unstoppable ideas" and "natural designing gift," noting his purity and curiosity before negative emotions took hold. Lu Ren then suggested that if certain traumatic events had not occurred in his own past, he, too, might have retained that childlike purity. He acknowledged Lu Xingcheng's deep-seated resentment towards him, stating he would not object if Lu Xingcheng continued to harbor that hatred.
However, Lu Ren earnestly encouraged Lu Xingcheng to find his "original intention" for design, emphasizing that design filled with love creates warmth. He reminded Lu Xingcheng that the competition's "father" theme did not necessarily refer to a biological father. Lu Ren urged Lu Xingcheng not to let life's harsh experiences lead him to lose the capacity for love, warning him not to become the kind of person he himself despised. Lu Ren's heartfelt words brought tears to Lu Xingcheng's eyes.
Later, Tong Xiaoyou returned to the hospital with a lunchbox for Tong Papa, only to find him missing from the ward again. Alarmed, she and Tong Mama frantically searched for him, but soon discovered that Tong Papa had been taken out for a stroll by Lu Xingcheng. Tong Papa expressed his gratitude to Lu Xingcheng for his kindness towards Tong Xiaoyou, playfully calling his daughter immature.
Lu Xingcheng, in turn, humbly recalled the many meals he had enjoyed at their home, stating it was no trouble at all. Tong Papa then inquired about Lu Xingcheng and Tong Xiaoyou's relationship. Lu Xingcheng assured him there were no issues. Tong Papa, however, expressed more concern for Tong Xiaoyou, describing her as unyielding and stubborn, particularly in her career. He mentioned that despite enrolling in a teacher's college at his insistence, she immediately pursued design after graduation.
Lu Xingcheng praised Tong Xiaoyou's remarkable talent in design, acknowledging her persistence in chasing her dream for seventeen years. He shared that she had inspired him to rekindle his own passion for design after he had almost given up due to personal difficulties. He vividly described her "glowing" whenever they discussed design. Lu Xingcheng reassured Tong Papa that while he understood his wish for a stable life for Tong Xiaoyou, he believed Tong Papa's deepest desire was for her happiness.
He confidently stated that Tong Xiaoyou could achieve a stable life through her design talents. To demonstrate, Lu Xingcheng showed Tong Papa some of Tong Xiaoyou's impressive design works on his phone, including pieces already in production. Tong Xiaoyou arrived during this conversation, jokingly accusing them of gossiping about her. Lu Xingcheng then excused himself to return to the Players' Village, leaving Tong Papa deeply impressed by him.
After Lu Xingcheng departed, Tong Papa confided in Tong Xiaoyou, expressing regret for not having supported her design dreams sooner. He explained that his recent illness had made him realize the importance of pursuing what one loves, and that his past disapproval was likely why she avoided discussing her design work with him. Having spoken with Lu Xingcheng, Tong Papa deeply regretted his earlier misunderstanding.
He echoed Lu Xingcheng's sentiment: while he desired a stable life for her, her happiness was paramount. He playfully added that he longed to see his daughter "glow" as Lu Xingcheng had described. Tong Xiaoyou, attributing her practical nature to him, called the "glowing" an exaggeration but indulged his request, playfully "glowing" for her father. Later, Lu Yanzhi sat by Lu Ren's bedside, looking pensive.
He made a phone call to Tong Xiaoyou, apologizing for not having visited Tong Papa as promised, explaining that Lu Ren had suddenly felt unwell. Tong Xiaoyou inquired about Professor Lu Ren's condition, and Lu Yanzhi assured her he was much better. She urged him to attend to his own work. Sometime later, Lu Ren woke up and, seeing Lu Yanzhi still by his side, told him not to worry and to go take care of his own affairs.
Lu Yanzhi, after urging his father to take care, then departed. An exhausted Tong Xiaoyou returned to the Players’ Village, where Lu Yanzhi was waiting. He offered to order her a coffee, but while he was at the counter, she fell asleep on the sofa. Observing her peaceful sleep, Lu Yanzhi gently draped his jacket over her, then sat beside her, contentedly watching.
Speaking softly to the sleeping Tong Xiaoyou, Lu Yanzhi finally confessed his long-held feelings, telling her he had liked her for a very, very long time, and then quietly wondered if she liked him too. Suddenly, Tong Xiaoyou received a phone call from her mother, waking her up. She quickly grabbed Lu Yanzhi's jacket and left for the hospital. Tong Mama had called Tong Xiaoyou in a panic, as Tong Papa had gone missing from the hospital yet again.
She expressed deep worry about his increasingly pessimistic nature and the changes brought by his illness. Tong Xiaoyou, Lu Xingcheng, and Daly quickly set out to search. In the car, Lu Xingcheng logically concluded that Tong Papa would likely head to a place dear to Tong Xiaoyou, such as their old family home.
Simultaneously, Wen Xi was firmly telling Mu Yang that, despite the competition's rotating system, she refused to model for Jiang Yan, insisting she would only model for Tong Xiaoyou. She accused Jiang Yan of being a "witch" who had tried to steal Tong Xiaoyou's man. Mu Yang playfully suggested she model for Jiang Yan to sabotage her, but Wen Xi staunchly defended her professional ethics, urging Mu Yang to appeal to the committee on her behalf.
Around the same time, Song Ruru learned of Tong Papa's disappearance and announced she was going home to check if he was there. Later, Song Ruru called Tong Xiaoyou to report that Tong Papa was not at their home. As their search yielded no results, Lu Xingcheng remembered the pharmacy where Tong Papa had previously bought medicine. Upon showing Tong Papa's photo, the owner confirmed his visit.
After Tong Xiaoyou pleaded for more information, explaining her father's disappearance and their distress, the owner revealed that Tong Papa had ordered a two-year supply of traditional Chinese medicine, paid for upfront, to be delivered twice a week to a specific address – Tong Xiaoyou's old family home. Their search finally led them to Tong Xiaoyou's old family home, where they found Tong Papa. He greeted them warmly, announcing that he had made Tong Xiaoyou's favorite dumplings.
Tong Xiaoyou, relieved yet exasperated, immediately questioned his departure from the hospital, explaining how worried they had been. Tong Papa dismissed their concerns, stating he was fine, but Tong Xiaoyou insisted he return to the hospital. Tong Papa, however, stopped her, asking her and Lu Xingcheng to sit, as he had something in a box he wanted to show Tong Xiaoyou.
