Granting You a Dreamlike Life Episode 28 Recap
> Granting You a Dreamlike Life Recap
Xu Xingcheng burst in on Tianyi and Luo Fusheng as they were having a meal. Angrily, Xu Xingcheng accused them of cohabiting and sarcastically asked if this was their "ordinary friend relationship." He called Luo Fusheng "cheeky." Tianyi tried to explain that things were not as he thought, but Xu Xingcheng was convinced she had been drugged or manipulated by Luo Fusheng, who, he claimed, always had ulterior motives.
Tianyi retorted that she was clear-headed and had her own judgment, and that she no longer recognized the person Xu Xingcheng had become. Xu Xingcheng then brought up their shared past, reminding her of intimate moments, stating that such "sweetness" should only belong to them. He expressed his unwillingness to accept her sharing this with Luo Fusheng, whom he called a "beast who forces love upon others," and declared he was "not reconciled."
Tianyi firmly stated that while she would never forget their past, it was indeed "past tense." Xu Xingcheng, with a sneer, asked if Luo Fusheng was now her "present and future." Luo Fusheng intervened, addressing Xu Xingcheng as "Inspector Xu De" and asking him to leave the private residence. As Xu Xingcheng left, he sarcastically wished them well, but ominously promised to "bless" Luo Fusheng in "the most unique way," then violently overturned the table.
Later that night, outside MGM, a famous actor, Huang Xinghan, approached Tianyi. He mentioned seeing her perform at MGM and, along with his director, was deeply impressed, believing she had the potential to become a star. He then formally invited her to act in a movie he was currently shooting called "Love Song King," handing her his business card and asking her to consider the offer.
Tianyi was flattered but felt conflicted, as she was grateful to Luo Fusheng for her job at MGM. Upon hearing the news, Luo Fusheng abruptly declared Tianyi "fired" from MGM, asserting his authority as the boss. He explained that this was to free her from any obligation to him, allowing her to pursue this new opportunity without hesitation or feeling she owed anyone. Tianyi understood that Luo Fusheng was encouraging her to chase her dreams.
The next day, Luo Fusheng accompanied Tianyi to the film set for her audition. There, they encountered Lin Qikai. Luo Fusheng asked Lin Qikai to look after Tianyi, but Lin Qikai, clearly unhappy, reminded Luo Fusheng to consider Hong Lan's feelings. Luo Fusheng, feeling helpless, chose to wait outside the set. Huang Xinghan then took Tianyi to the dressing room, where Hong Lan was already present.
When Tianyi tried to be polite, Hong Lan immediately criticized her for being late and acting like a "diva," despite Tianyi stating she arrived at the time Huang Xinghan had given her. Hong Lan then launched into a tirade, accusing Tianyi of having "more and more" cunning "methods," charming Luo Fusheng and now "climbing up to a big star like Huang Xinghan."
Tianyi, choosing not to engage in a verbal fight, simply stated that they would see whose "Kung Fu on the stage" was better. During the filming, Hong Lan deliberately made things difficult for Tianyi by constantly improvising her lines, making it impossible for Tianyi to respond correctly and leading to the director calling "cut" multiple times. Hong Lan delivered an exceptionally strong performance, fueled by her jealousy and desire to outshine Tianyi.
However, Tianyi, being new to acting, struggled to find her rhythm, looking directly at the camera and causing retakes. While Hong Lan was praised for her performance, Luo Fusheng, observing from outside, simply watched Tianyi's efforts. Soon after, a subordinate informed Luo Fusheng that an incident had occurred at the dock, prompting him to quickly depart, telling Tianyi to take care. That evening, Tianyi stayed home and prepared a meal, eagerly awaiting Luo Fusheng's return.
When he finally arrived, looking weary and disheveled from handling the dock incident, Tianyi noticed his torn clothes. She lovingly took his jacket to mend it, asking if the damage was from another fight and reminding him about "smile service." Luo Fusheng joked that he couldn't smile at enemies who were cruel to him, while Tianyi expressed a wish for a world without violence, which Luo Fusheng dismissed as "naive."
As Tianyi mended his clothes, she discovered a bottle of liquor Luo Fusheng had tried to hide. She playfully scolded him, limiting him to one bowl. Luo Fusheng then confided in Tianyi, revealing that for years he had been embroiled in conflicts, collecting protection fees and seizing territory, but it was not for money or status. What he truly desired was a genuine home – a warm meal, a guiding light, and someone waiting for him.
Their intimate conversation made him feel a sense of belonging he hadn't experienced in a long time. Meanwhile, Qian Kuohai, the owner of Xinglong Hall, met with Xu Xingcheng. Qian Kuohai presented several gold bars as a gesture of sincerity, but Xu Xingcheng dismissed them, sarcastically questioning if the money was extorted from the public and threatening arrest. Qian Kuohai clarified it was a token of gratitude, not a bribe.
Xu Xingcheng then declared that for him, "women are ungrateful" and "money is just a means," neither being his ultimate goal. He articulated his "ambition" to upset the balance of power among Dongjiang's three families (Hong, Lin, Xu), asserting that Xinglong Hall would be a crucial piece in this change, aiming to suppress the Hong family.
Qian Kuohai, discussing the encounter with his subordinate, believed Xu Xingcheng would no longer trust Luo Fusheng, making their alliance advantageous despite having previously attempted to assassinate Xu Xingcheng. He concluded that "heroes emerge in troubled times." Back at Tianyi's home, her brother Tianci burst in, desperately asking for 100 yuan to pay off a gambling debt, apologizing for his previous drunken behavior.
Tianyi was furious, questioning why he gambled again, and refused his suggestion to ask Luo Fusheng for money, insisting they shouldn't burden him further. Tianci, however, accused her of abandoning him, recalling their father's dying wish for her to care for him, and suggesting she wanted to be free to pursue Luo Fusheng. Tianyi, deeply hurt by his accusations, gave him all her savings, but it was nowhere near enough.
Suddenly, Hou Li, a debt collector from the casino, arrived with his men. Tianci, terrified, begged Tianyi to produce the money. Hou Li threatened Tianyi and Tianci, declaring that since Tianci couldn't pay, they would take Tianyi to MGM to demand the 100 yuan from Luo Fusheng, convinced he would pay for her. Tianyi vehemently resisted, pleading with them not to involve Luo Fusheng, stating it was their family matter.
Ignoring her pleas, Hou Li struck her, knocking her unconscious, and his men seized both Tianyi and Tianci. At MGM, Hou Li confronted Luo Fusheng, presenting Tianci and demanding the 100 yuan gambling debt, claiming Tianci said Luo Fusheng would pay. Luo Fusheng initially dismissed Tianci, stating he had no obligation to him. However, Hou Li then revealed Tianyi, who was bruised and tied up. Seeing Tianyi harmed, Luo Fusheng’s demeanor changed instantly.
Enraged, he swiftly attacked Hou Li's men, untied Tianyi, and ordered Luo Cheng to escort her safely home. Luo Fusheng then turned his full fury on Hou Li, pinning him to a sofa and brutally beating him. Just as the chaos escalated, Hong Zhengbao, Luo Fusheng's godfather, arrived, frowning at the sight of his men injured and the ongoing brawl. He sternly demanded an explanation from both Luo Fusheng and Hou Li.
Hou Li attempted to shift blame, recounting Tianci's debt and claiming Luo Fusheng had instigated the fight by attacking him and his men, also revealing that Luo Fusheng had released Tianyi. Luo Fusheng affirmed Tianyi was "just friends," but Hong Zhengbao, furious, chastised both men. He decried their "shameless" behavior, fighting "in broad daylight in their own factory" over a woman, emphasizing the damage it did to the Hong family's reputation and his own.
Luo Fusheng admitted his fault, but Hong Zhengbao also reprimanded Hou Li for bringing such a dispute to their own establishment, particularly with external threats like the looming wedding of Hong Lan and Xu Xingcheng, the rising Xinglong Hall, and Xu Xingcheng's constant troubles. He stressed the importance of unity, admonishing them for "internal strife" when facing so many "external threats."
He ordered both Luo Fusheng and Hou Li, his "right-hand men," to reflect on their actions, warning that such incidents must not recur. He then sent Hou Li back to his casino. After Hou Li was dismissed, Hong Zhengbao, his expression serious, sat down with Luo Fusheng.
He asked Luo Fusheng if he was truly "sincere" about Tianyi, drawing a parallel to Luo Fusheng's father and expressing his deep concern that Luo Fusheng might "repeat his father's mistakes" by letting a woman cause conflict among brothers, a situation Hong Zhengbao "hated most." He sternly warned Luo Fusheng, stating "事不过三 (shi bu guo san)," meaning "things don't happen more than three times" and implying this was a final warning, and told him to "take care of himself."
Luo Fusheng acknowledged his words. Later, Sister Shuang also advised Luo Fusheng to heed Hong Zhengbao's warnings, cautioning him against giving Hou Li further opportunities to sow discord, as repeated "slander and provocation" could eventually turn "true" in Hong Zhengbao's eyes. Luo Fusheng promised to be more careful. Back on the film set, Tianyi continued to struggle with her acting.
Hong Lan, determined to make her life difficult, constantly improvised her lines, making it impossible for Tianyi to respond correctly and leading to the director calling "cut" multiple times. Hong Lan then harshly criticized Tianyi, questioning her suitability for acting if she couldn't adapt to changes and be more spontaneous, lamenting the wasted time and resources. Huang Xinghan intervened, defending Tianyi and reminding Hong Lan that this was Tianyi's first acting experience.
Seeing Tianyi's distress, Huang Xinghan suggested to the director that they suspend filming for the day to give everyone a break, to which the director agreed. That evening, Huang Xinghan invited Tianyi to dinner. He noted her somber mood, then shared his own early struggles in acting, including forgetting lines on stage, to reassure her. He explained that a supportive drama group helped him strengthen his "inner self" and adapt to challenges.
Tianyi, still feeling inadequate, asked why he, a seasoned professional, chose her, a "layman," for the film. Huang Xinghan explained that he saw in her an "energy" to "inherit movies." He described film as an art form with a "thought-provoking power" stronger than "guns and cannons," and actors as the "carriers" of this power, a potential he recognized in Tianyi.
Tianyi reflected that his words reminded her of someone who once spoke with similar inspiration but had since changed, hinting at Xu Xingcheng. Huang Xinghan advised her to "strengthen her heart" to "adapt to changes" in a world full of temptations. Encouraged, Tianyi asked Huang Xinghan to be her acting teacher, and he happily agreed. Using a steak analogy, he explained the nuances of acting—finding a "five-five point" balance between maturity and naivety.
He emphasized that the "most advanced performance" is when you "can't see that he is acting," integrating it seamlessly into life, and eventually learning to "pretend to be another person." Tianyi found his advice profound.
