Dear Mr. Heavenly Fox Episode 17 Recap
> Dear Mr. Heavenly Fox Recap
A distressed group of common people gathered on the mountain, demanding that Qi Yuanbao be handed over. They accused her of colluding with a fox demon and being responsible for the many deaths that had occurred by enabling the demon fox. They threatened to destroy Qishan Sect if their demands were not met. Qi Yuanbao's father, Master Qi, stepped forward, apologizing for failing to properly raise his daughter and assuring everyone that Yuanbao did not collude with the demon fox.
However, the villagers pressed for a guarantee, fearing that if the fox demon reclaimed its soul from Qi Yuanbao, its power would increase, leading to more slaughter. Just then, Huo Shuyai intervened, announcing that he would marry Qi Yuanbao. He explained that if they were to marry, the fox demon would never be able to retrieve its soul, thus preventing its return to harm more humans.
Qi Yuanbao's father initially expressed his hesitation for his daughter to marry under such circumstances, but the escalating threats from the mob forced Qi Yuanbao to publicly agree to the marriage. She promised she would prevent the fox demon from ever reclaiming its soul or harming humanity again. After her pledge, the crowd dispersed, satisfied. It was later revealed that the "villagers" leading the charge were actually hired by Huo Shuyai, cunningly orchestrated to compel Qi Yuanbao into marriage.
Meanwhile, Chang Yue, who had been recovering from his injuries and reading, learned the shocking news of Qi Yuanbao's impending marriage to Huo Shuyai from his subordinate. The subordinate expressed his disbelief at Qi Yuanbao's ingratitude, given Chang Yue’s past actions to save them, and called her a "heartless and ungrateful woman." Chang Yue, visibly shaken, silently absorbed the information. Qi Yuanbao, looking beautiful yet sorrowful in her wedding dress, felt the weight of her decision.
She was unwilling to marry Huo Shuyai but felt compelled by public opinion and her father's predicament. Later, Chang Yue, in his fox form, secretly visited her. Though he left quickly, Qi Yuanbao caught a glimpse of him, recognizing his presence. That night, Xue Hanyu expressed his unease about Qi Yuanbao marrying Huo Shuyai, as he knew Qi Yuanbao did not truly love him. He and Su Qianqian decided to confront Huo Shuyai.
As they approached, they overheard Huo Shuyai and his father discussing their scheme to frame Chang Yue. Huo Shuyai's father voiced regret, admitting that Chang Yue had saved his life at Fragmented Moon Mountain and that his participation in framing and attacking Chang Yue had left him restless. Huo Shuyai, however, expressed his indifference to Qi Yuanbao's feelings, and their discussion revealed his role in orchestrating the framing of Chang Yue.
Enraged by this revelation, Xue Hanyu attempted to burst in, but Su Qianqian held him back. Their accidental noise alerted Huo Shuyai, who chased them down and had them bound, determined to prevent anyone from disrupting his wedding. The wedding ceremony commenced with the traditional bows. Just as Qi Yuanbao and Huo Shuyai were about to complete their final bow as husband and wife, Chang Yue dramatically arrived, interrupting the ceremony and attempting to take Qi Yuanbao.
Huo Shuyai attempted to shield Qi Yuanbao, but Chang Yue easily injured him. In the ensuing chaos, Xue Hanyu and Su Qianqian managed to free themselves, incapacitated the guards with a potent sleeping medicine, and rushed to expose Huo Shuyai's true nature to Qi Yuanbao. Still under the impression that Chang Yue was the killer, Qi Yuanbao pointed her sword at him.
Chang Yue, ignoring the weapon, gravely asked if her past declarations of sincerity at the Qiqiao Festival were true. He then questioned her sincerity towards him, lamenting that he foolishly believed her words despite her apparent lack of genuine emotion. He spoke of his unwavering protection and truthful intentions, asserting that he only sought to reclaim what was his, and wondered why she was so intent on killing him without ever seeking the truth.
As he finished, Qi Yuanbao, with a desperate thrust, stabbed Chang Yue. With the sword still in his chest, Chang Yue, heartbroken, pulled it out and threw it, embedding it into the 'double happiness' decoration. He then turned to Huo Shuyai's father and challenged him, asking if he had ever harmed a single member of their sect during the Fragmented Moon Mountain incident. Huo Shuyai's father remained silent, unable to respond. With that, Chang Yue, utterly despairing, turned and left.
Qi Yuanbao, realizing her profound mistake, tried to chase after him but was restrained by Huo Shuyai. Xue Hanyu and Su Qianqian then rushed forward, exposing Huo Shuyai's elaborate scheme. Huo Shuyai, driven by jealousy, confessed that he orchestrated everything, unapologetically stating that Chang Yue, as a fox demon, deserved to die.
Incensed, Qi Yuanbao slapped Huo Shuyai and publicly declared that from that moment forward, she had no connection to him whatsoever, warning him never to mention their "marriage" again. Overwhelmed by grief and shock, she fainted. Huo Shuyai, his dreams shattered, retreated to his room. In a fit of rage, he destroyed a dress Qi Yuanbao had once intended for Chang Yue, severing his ties with her and declaring their relationship eternally broken.
Following the disastrous wedding, Qi Yuanbao's father ordered all the red wedding decorations to be taken down. Qi Yuanbao secluded herself in her room, endlessly writing apology letters to Chang Yue. Elsewhere, Chang Yue lay gravely wounded, his physical pain exacerbated by the emotional wound Qi Yuanbao had inflicted. His subordinate expressed outrage at Qi Yuanbao's ruthlessness, noting that the sword had struck precisely where he already bore a Soul-Destroying Arrow injury.
Chang Yue, however, simply stated that "the past is dead," and he would never repeat such a foolish mistake. His grandmother, noticing his deteriorating condition, suggested that Yi Xuan, who had returned from Mount Taiyi, would care for him. Chang Yue agreed, allowing his grandmother to make the arrangements, though he had not completely forgotten Qi Yuanbao.
