Granting You a Dreamlike Life Episode 21 Recap
> Granting You a Dreamlike Life Recap
After the sudden death of Jiu Suixian, Tianci felt overwhelmed with grief and uncertainty about the troupe's future. He expressed his sadness, reminiscing about how Jiu Suixian was like a "big tree" providing shelter for them all, and now, without him, Tianci felt lost. Tianying, however, remained strong and encouraged her brother, asserting that they could not dwell in sorrow if they wished for the troupe to continue.
She emphasized that revitalizing the troupe was their responsibility and the only way to honor their father's Spirit Of Heaven, making their lives more prosperous than before. Tianci, deeply moved by Tianying's resolve, insisted that she become the new troupe leader, explaining it was Jiu Suixian's dying wish. Tianying hesitated, feeling she was not as deserving as her brother or the other senior members and worried about their acceptance.
Tianci quickly dismissed her concerns, reminding her of her talent and how she once saved their master on stage, preventing the Longfu troupe's boss Ma from evicting them. He promised to stand by her against anyone who dared to object. Tianying still felt a pang of guilt, believing the position rightfully belonged to Tianci, but he reassured her that they were family and should not keep such distinctions.
He declared that from then on, Tianying would manage external affairs, and he would handle internal matters, together ensuring the troupe's success. Tianying then gathered the troupe members, humbly acknowledging her past laziness and the care she received from them and their master, which resulted in her experiencing the least hardship. She admitted she was inferior in seniority, effort, and even kinship to Tianci. Nevertheless, since the master had entrusted the troupe to her, she would wholeheartedly accept the responsibility.
She proclaimed that she was no longer their "junior sister" but the troupe leader. She reminded them of the master's initial encouragement when they debuted in Dongjiang and his subsequent inability to perform again. She contrasted this with her accidental rise to fame, reminding them that Dongjiang had seen many famous performers and excellent plays. To establish themselves, she stressed, they must present their best, unique skills.
She passionately stated that the plays and the troupe belonged to everyone, not just her. Concluding, she urged them to remember the master watching from above and vowed that they would never disgrace him. Inspired, the troupe members collectively pledged to work hard to revitalize the troupe. Luo Fusheng watched this scene with a subtle smile of satisfaction. Despite her outward strength, Tianying privately struggled with her memories of Xu Xingcheng.
She visited a bar, ordering a third Long Island Iced Tea and insisting she wasn't drunk, before going to a church. There, she quietly reflected on her past with Xu Xingcheng, lamenting that while she loved him, she never truly "possessed" him. She left a bracelet, a gift from Xu Xingcheng symbolizing sweet love and his unchanging heart, on a church pew. A young girl named Lili found it and returned it to Tianying, who thanked her and left.
Unbeknownst to Tianying, Luo Fusheng had been secretly following her, his heart heavy with her evident sadness. Later that evening, Xu Xingcheng appeared downstairs at the troupe's residence, hoping to reconcile, but Tianying, unable to forgive him, firmly drew her curtains, signaling her refusal to see him. Meanwhile, Boss Ma, eager for Tianying to perform, arrived to pressure the troupe. He complained about the financial losses incurred during Tianying's mourning period and the public's insistence on only seeing her perform.
He highlighted the theater's operating costs and suggested that tradition should not hinder business. Luo Fusheng, present at the discussion, intervened. He reminded Boss Ma of the existing 1:9 revenue split agreement, heavily favoring Boss Ma, questioning why he continued to demand more. Boss Ma argued that both the theater and the troupe had many people to feed, and the continued closure was harming everyone.
Luo Fusheng then announced a solution: he would buy out all the theater's tickets for the entire mourning period, ensuring Boss Ma would not suffer losses. Boss Ma was initially relieved but became wary when Luo Fusheng, leveraging the Hong family's influence, dictated a new "Hong family rule": he would cover all ticket costs and ensure the full revenue went to the troupe upfront.
However, Boss Ma would only receive his 50% share nightly, requiring him to come to the troupe after each performance to collect it. Boss Ma, intimidated by the Hong gang's power in Dongjiang, reluctantly agreed. Tianying tried to refuse Luo Fusheng's generous financial assistance, but he insisted it was an advance for future performances, not charity, and reminded her of the troupe's dire financial situation after Jiu Suixian's funeral.
He urged her to use the money to rebuild the troupe, work hard, and become a national star to repay him with interest. Later, Xu Xingcheng accosted Tianying, desperately pleading with her not to completely cut ties with him. In a fit of desperation, he attempted to forcibly take her away, declaring that this was the only way they could be together forever. Tianying called him insane and demanded to be released. Luo Fusheng quickly intervened, challenging Xu Xingcheng's actions.
Xu Xingcheng, however, lashed out, accusing Luo Fusheng of betrayal. He claimed that if Luo Fusheng truly considered him a brother, he would not have prevented him from leaving Dongjiang with Tianying, nor would he have constantly approached Tianying, thereby deepening the rift between them. Xu Xingcheng maintained that he had won Tianying's affection fairly and blamed Luo Fusheng for all his misfortunes.
Tianying, exasperated, pointed out that Xu Xingcheng's violent behavior was no different from the police officers he used to despise. Xu Xingcheng retorted that he was merely employing "violence to do the right thing." At this critical moment, Tianci and other troupe members, having heard the commotion, rushed out. Enraged, they called Xu Xingcheng a "killer" responsible for Jiu Suixian's death and confronted him, seeking revenge.
Unexpectedly, one of Xu Xingcheng's subordinates, acting without orders, fired a gun, grazing Tianci's arm. Tianci collapsed, bleeding profusely. Tianying immediately rushed to her brother's side. At the hospital, Tianying asked Tianci if his arm still hurt. Tianci, downplaying the injury, assured her it was just a bullet graze and that he wasn't as fragile as she thought. Tianying apologized, feeling responsible for his injury, but Tianci dismissed her apology.
He passionately urged Tianying to sever all ties with Xu Xingcheng, reminding her of their deceased father and the well-being of the entire troupe, warning her that Xu Xingcheng was a dangerous man. Luo Fusheng confirmed that Tianci's injury was minor and he would soon be discharged. Tianying expressed her gratitude to Luo Fusheng for his timely intervention, and he told her to seek him out at Mei Gao Mei anytime she needed help.
Back at the police station, Xu Xingcheng severely reprimanded his subordinate for the unauthorized shooting, emphasizing that no one had the right to fire on a civilian. His subordinate tried to justify his actions as an attempt to protect Xu Xingcheng, but Xu Xingcheng angrily dismissed him, stating he would rather die than be protected in such a reckless manner. Meanwhile, Xu Ruian met with Lin Daoshan.
Lin Daoshan expressed gratitude for a previous gift and remarked on the traditionally close ties between the Xu, Lin, and Hong families, although these interactions had recently diminished. Lin Daoshan subtly noted the increasingly delicate relationship between the Xu and Hong families. He clarified that his recent frequent engagements with the Hong family were primarily for his son, Lin Qikai's, future stability, hinting at a potential strategic alliance.
He then spoke of rumors circulating about the Hong family's weakening influence due to a new "Xinglong Pavilion" challenging their power. Lin Daoshan then suggested that if the Hong family's power declined, the strategic value of any alliance previously tied to their influence, including a strong alliance for the Xu family, might diminish.
Xu Ruian agreed with Lin Daoshan's assessment of the changing power dynamics and proposed that if Lin Qikai and Xu Xingyuan were to marry soon, it would be an even more advantageous match, implying a direct strengthening of the Xu-Lin tie. Lin Daoshan concurred, expressing his desire for a stronger kinship with the powerful Xu family, provided the children themselves were willing. Preparing for Tianying's comeback performance, the troupe was bustling with activity.
Boss Ma, anticipating large crowds, was optimistic about the troupe's renewed prosperity. However, their excitement was short-lived when a junior brother informed them they lacked enough rouge for the evening's performance. Tianci revealed that all their funds had been spent on Jiu Suixian's elaborate funeral, leaving them without money even for basic makeup. He offered to borrow money, vowing not to disgrace their master.
Just then, Luo Fusheng arrived with a massive delivery of various types of rouge as a "comeback gift." The troupe members were ecstatic, exclaiming that the generous supply would last them for months. Tianying, however, pointed out that many of the items were ordinary cosmetics for everyday wear, not theatrical makeup, and therefore unsuitable. Luo Fusheng's assistant explained that his boss, being a "rough man," simply bought a bit of everything.
Luo Fusheng insisted they keep whatever they could use for the stage and for their personal use. In a separate encounter, Lin Qikai visited Xu Xingcheng at the police station, hoping to mediate the escalating conflict between Xu Xingcheng and Luo Fusheng. Xu Xingcheng adamantly blamed Luo Fusheng for ruining his relationship with Tianying, accusing him of sabotaging his happiness and secretly undermining him, despite earlier claims of fair competition.
Lin Qikai tried to defend Luo Fusheng, suggesting there was a misunderstanding and urging Xu Xingcheng to allow Luo Fusheng an opportunity to explain, reminding him of their two decades of brotherhood. Xu Xingcheng, however, was resolute in his refusal. He declared his complete disappointment in Luo Fusheng and swore he would never trust him again, convinced that his kindness had been exploited. That night, Tianying finally made her comeback performance.
Both Xu Xingcheng and Luo Fusheng were in the audience, with Boss Ma awkwardly seating Xu Xingcheng away from Luo Fusheng. Mid-performance, Tianying suddenly lost her voice and collapsed on stage, shocking everyone. Luo Fusheng immediately rushed to her side. At the hospital, Tianying anxiously inquired about her condition. Luo Fusheng reassured her that the doctor had diagnosed her with temporary voicelessness caused by overwhelming stress, advising her to relax and not push herself too hard. Tianci pleaded with Boss Ma for more time, assuring him that Tianying would undoubtedly recover.
