Count Your Lucky Stars Episode 34 (Ending) Recap
> Count Your Lucky Stars Recap
Tong Xiaoyou confronted Jiang Yan, revealing that the dress Jiang Yan was about to ruin was not Lu Xingcheng's, but her own; Lu Xingcheng's dress was the other one in the room. She then falsely claimed the dress she was holding (which was actually hers) was Lu Xingcheng's, and pointed out his distinct stitching style on it, acknowledging Jiang Yan's familiarity with it. Tong Xiaoyou then challenged Jiang Yan to cut the dress if her hatred was truly strong.
When Jiang Yan hesitated, Tong Xiaoyou picked up the scissors and immediately started cutting it herself. Jiang Yan, unable to bear it, cried out for Tong Xiaoyou to stop. Tong Xiaoyou pressed her, asking if she wanted to mark their relationship with such an imperfect ending. Jiang Yan, somewhat overwhelmed and feeling she had lost, apologized and cried out that it was too late, blaming herself for ruining everything.
As she turned to leave, she accidentally slipped, and the scissors went flying. Tong Xiaoyou deftly caught them with her bare hands, preventing further harm. Lying on the ground, Jiang Yan lamented it was too late. Tong Xiaoyou assured her that it wasn't, revealing the dress she was cutting was hers, thereby preserving Jiang Yan's perfect image in Lu Xingcheng's heart. Jiang Yan, realizing the depth of Tong Xiaoyou's love, conceded, "I really lost this time.
You love him more than I do." Tong Xiaoyou replied that love is not about winning or losing, simply "love is love." Afterward, Jiang Yan packed her bags and left the Players’ village without reluctance. Meanwhile, Lu Xingcheng and Lu Yanzhi were drinking together, unaware of the events with the women. Lu Xingcheng complimented Lu Yanzhi on his talent for developing new fabrics at Yange. Lu Yanzhi seized the opportunity to invite Lu Xingcheng to design for them.
Lu Xingcheng jokingly offered a discount for his "brother," making Lu Yanzhi happy as it was the first time Lu Xingcheng had acknowledged him as a sibling. Their conversation was interrupted by a committee member who announced that Jiang Yan had withdrawn from the Fashion Cup due to personal reasons, and Lu Yanzhi was invited to take her place in the finals. Lu Xingcheng quickly inquired about Jiang Yan's withdrawal, but the committee member had no specific details.
Disturbed by the news, Lu Xingcheng hurried back to his room. He found Tong Xiaoyou crying while trying to clean a red wine stain off his dress. He then noticed another dress, which had been cut. Recognizing his own unique stitches on the damaged garment, he looked at Tong Xiaoyou, who explained that after he made a dress for her when she was ill, she started using his stitching style.
This made her feel as though he was always with her. Deeply moved, Lu Xingcheng embraced her. He then took the scissors and deliberately cut his own dress, telling Tong Xiaoyou that the dream was theirs together, and asked her to join him in making a new dress for the finals. Preparations for the finals began, with Lu Yanzhi busily working on his design.
Lu Xingcheng and Tong Xiaoyou worked in sweet harmony to create their new gown, with Lu Xingcheng taking her measurements. Separately, Qixing approached Lu Xingcheng to ask for Tong Xiaoyou's home address, hoping to enjoy some home-cooked meals after the competition. Lu Xingcheng playfully gave Qixing the address, referring to it as "our home," much to Tong Xiaoyou's amusement. At the Fashion Cup finals, host Mu Yang introduced the first contestant, Lu Yanzhi. Lu Yanzhi presented his remarkable design.
When asked about his interpretation of love, he candidly stated that love seemed difficult to understand. He had once believed it was about companionship, sacrifice, protection, and nurturing someone under his arm. However, he later realized that holding too tightly could make the other person feel suffocated.
He likened love to a flower that should not be picked and confined to a vase for sole admiration but should be given ample space to grow freely, as what we love is a pure, eternally blooming life. He then expressed his gratitude to Tong Xiaoyou for helping him find himself and his passion for design, and to his parents for their unwavering support, which allowed him to stand on that stage. His words deeply moved the audience.
Next, Mu Yang announced Jiang Yan's withdrawal from the competition before introducing Lu Xingcheng. Lu Xingcheng walked onto the stage, accompanied by a stunning Tong Xiaoyou, who modeled his gown. Her father in the audience beamed with pride. Tong Xiaoyou addressed the crowd, recalling her fourteen-year-old self at the first Fashion Cup and how she never imagined standing on such a stage. She described herself as a "bad luck" person for over two decades.
She met Lu Xingcheng ten years prior, and he gave her purpose, but the subsequent decade was still challenging, making her feel insecure. She often wondered how he would cope with adversity. To her surprise, she met him again after ten years and found that despite his own problems, he never gave up, living with determination and without complaining about bad luck.
She shared his belief that "persistence is more important than luck, and effort is more important than luck," words that profoundly impacted her. She also mentioned that although she couldn't present her own work today, she was honored to be on stage. She concluded by stating, "Love is to love," referencing a Zen koan about enduring hardship and adding, "But I want to add one more sentence, that's to ardently love him." The audience responded with thunderous applause.
Lu Xingcheng then spoke about his creation, revealing its name: "Eternal." He shared his deep connection to the Fashion Cup, explaining that ten years ago, he designed a dress for his beloved mother to wear for the competition. He described his mother as the person who loved, tolerated, and believed in him most, silently supporting him through his rebellious phase. He then heartbreakingly revealed that his mother had passed away a decade ago.
Upon hearing the competition's theme, "make a dress for the one you love," he initially felt immense pain and wanted to avoid it, almost giving up. However, recent events and a special person helped him understand that love manifests in many forms, and that others, not just him, also deeply loved his mother. He concluded by urging everyone to actively show their love to those closest to them every day.
He further explained that Tong Xiaoyou's sacrifice and their collaboration to create "Eternal" taught him many things. He observed how much he had changed, his work had changed, and even Tong Xiaoyou, who he once perceived as "unlucky" and not the "most professional, beautiful, or perfectly proportioned," was now the "cutest" in his heart, someone he wanted to cherish deeply.
He then asked the audience if they believed in eternity, answering firmly, "I believe, because love will make you believe in eternity." He defined his love as tirelessly creating a dress for the person he loves most, and finding joy in seeing her wear it happily. As the judges tallied their scores, Lu Xingcheng affectionately confessed to Tong Xiaoyou, and they shared a heartfelt embrace. The host announced Lu Xingcheng as the Fashion Cup champion, winning by three points.
Lu Ren, the renowned fashion figure, presented the award. He privately whispered to Lu Xingcheng, acknowledging him and Lu Yanzhi as his favorite children. Overcome with emotion, Lu Xingcheng became teary-eyed. Friends and family, including Lu Yanzhi, Song Ruru, and Tong Xiaoyou's parents, rushed onto the stage to celebrate and take a group photo. Later, Jiang Yan visited Lu Xingcheng's studio one last time.
She expressed remorse for the many mistakes caused by her "unnecessary possessiveness" and apologized, acknowledging that he might never forgive her. She knew their paths might not cross again but wanted him to know, "I loved you. I loved you crazy. I will never regret." Elsewhere, Song Ruru had finally learned to make noodles.
Sarah Lin, having stepped down as editor-in-chief, felt a sense of relief and found contentment in starting anew as a receptionist, realizing the futility of constant, exhausting competition. Wen Xi and Mu Yang were seen on a sweet shopping date, with Mu Yang playfully asking Wen Xi for a kiss. Lu Ren enjoyed sticky rice dates, reminiscing about past joys with a sweet smile.
Lu Yanzhi completed his puzzle, intentionally leaving out the last piece – a picture of Tong Xiaoyou – which symbolized the profound warmth she brought into his life. Tong Xiaoyou and Lu Xingcheng returned to the place where they shared their first kiss. Tong Xiaoyou still mused that she had used her two decades of bad luck to gain the good fortune of meeting Lu Xingcheng.
Lu Xingcheng, however, gently challenged her belief, citing examples like Sarah Lin ruining Ye Mang's dress or Jiang Yan causing issues between Yange and Chuangwei, asking if those were simply bad luck, and if her journey to the finals was merely good luck. Tong Xiaoyou reconsidered, admitting it was her years of effort. Lu Xingcheng then told her that her real deficiency wasn't luck, but confidence.
He explained that he encouraged her because he preferred to see her confident and positive. Realizing his true feelings, Tong Xiaoyou asked if he would stay by her side forever, to which he responded, "I want to accompany you always." They shared a deep embrace. Lu Xingcheng reflected on the wonder of life, how two people, seemingly destined not to meet in a vast crowd, found each other for an encounter and companionship that would last "forever." He promised to give her all but two of his good luck moments: one to meet her, and the other to stay with her forever.
