Hello, My Shining Lover Episode 4 Recap
> Hello, My Shining Lover Recap
After work, Du Guruonan and Ji Mo shared a subtly tense elevator ride, a residual effect from her drunken behavior the previous night. Du Guruonan maintained that she had encountered numerous unfortunate events since meeting Ji Mo. He countered, saying she was the real source of bad luck and reminded her that she had been the one crying and begging him to stay that night.
When Du Guruonan suggested they put the past behind them, Ji Mo sternly warned her against drinking with other men, implying she could face serious consequences, unlike with him, who knew her true nature. She inquired if he was worried about her, to which he coldly responded that he was merely concerned about who would buy her house if something happened to her.
Du Guruonan then questioned his persistent obsession with her apartment, noting that most people would have given up by now. Ji Mo dismissed her, stating that some questions are better left unasked. Frustrated, Du Guruonan muttered that he was a "freak" and a "pervert" as he departed.
Alone, she pondered if his words were meant as mockery or genuine concern, then recalled her drunken attempt to kiss him and felt a wave of embarrassment, attributing it to being single and desperate. At Wing Fashion, a photoshoot featuring plus-size models was underway. Initially, the models felt self-conscious, impacting their poses. Ji Mo intervened, assuring them the custom-made dresses were perfectly tailored.
He advised against wearing black slimming stockings, emphasizing that their natural legs were beautiful and should not be hidden. He explained his vision was to capture their authentic, uninhibited selves to prove that "plus-size can also be beautiful." After they changed, he offered individual affirmations, praising one’s fair skin and the elegance of the green dress, another’s leg proportions in a short skirt, and a third’s perfect look with a confident smile.
He highlighted that beauty stems from within and is subjective, encouraging them to embrace their beauty despite past societal criticism. His words visibly boosted their spirits, and they approached the camera with newfound confidence. Meanwhile, Chen Fei'er arrived at the studio, initially irritated that her agent had scheduled work when she wanted to relax.
Seeing Ji Mo personally and patiently guiding the plus-size models, even assisting with equipment, she was impressed by his respectful and gentlemanly demeanor, noting that this went beyond superficial politeness towards attractive women. She confided in her agent that this level of respect was something only those who had been marginalized would truly understand. Moved by his character, Chen Fei'er decided to sign with Wing Fashion and specifically requested that Ji Mo personally handle the contract.
Back at the company, Du Guruonan overheard colleagues gossiping and mocking her for signing Si Da, an actor notorious for minor roles. Infuriated, she vowed to prove them wrong by transforming Si Da into a "rising star." She immediately summoned Si Da for intensive training in lines, acting, physical expression, and talent, starting with his fundamentals. She tasked him with a dramatic scene of a man trying to win back his breaking-up girlfriend, emphasizing deep sorrow and desperation.
Si Da’s performance was so over-the-top that Du Guruonan had to stop him, declaring the script irrelevant. She then asked for his "specialty roles." Si Da proudly demonstrated playing a corpse, so realistically he held his breath. When asked for a living character, he offered "living zombie." Finding his acting skills severely lacking, Du Guruonan decided to focus on his physical training. At the dance studio, Tong Tong's artists were rehearsing.
Du Guruonan approached the dance instructor for help with Si Da, but the instructor cited company policy, stating she was only assigned to Tong Tong’s artists. Tong Tong then refused to let Du Guruonan use the studio space. Du Guruonan confronted Tong Tong, accusing her of bullying a newcomer. Tong Tong reluctantly relented. Si Da joined the class but struggled immensely, appearing clumsy and awkward. Du Guruonan patiently offered him guidance.
Later, Ji Mo met Chen Fei'er to finalize her endorsement contract. She had intentionally scheduled their meeting during rush hour, expecting him to be late, but he arrived promptly, explaining he always accounted for traffic. Chen Fei'er praised his principled nature. Ji Mo presented a one-year endorsement deal. Chen Fei'er feigned disinterest, claiming she heard Wing Fashion was considering other models, and she disliked being a "backup option."
Ji Mo subtly challenged her, remarking that desirable items are always contested, and questioning her confidence, clarifying that as president, he had only considered her for the role. Chen Fei'er, satisfied she was his "only choice," signed the contract. Afterward, Alan expressed his relief, having initially thought Chen Fei'er was trying to make things difficult for Ji Mo.
Ji Mo revealed that Chen Fei'er had already intended to sign, and her show of dissatisfaction was a lie, evidenced by her "interpretive gestures" disappearing and her "controlling gestures" (fidgeting with her ring) increasing. Alan noted Chen Fei'er's clear interest in Ji Mo, but Ji Mo dismissed it, stating she was merely a "model" and a "cooperative partner." He also declared Du Guruonan "truly troublesome," wanting no personal involvement with her. Du Guruonan unexpectedly ran into Ji Mo.
Complaining about Si Da's lack of basic skills, she shared her struggle to teach him while admitting she couldn't bring herself to crush his dreams. Ji Mo advised her against overthinking, warning of anxiety. Du Guruonan, remembering he was a psychology major, asked for his advice. Ji Mo retorted that she had "thick skin" for treating his home like her own.
Du Guruonan explained her overwhelming anxiety stems from her promise to her boss to make Si Da a superstar within a year, a seemingly impossible task given Si Da's limitations and the unpredictable nature of fame, which could force her out of the industry. Ji Mo diagnosed her with "obsessive-compulsive behavior" that could lead to "serious mental illness," suggesting she see a psychiatrist. Offended, Du Guruonan rejected his advice to "give up," fearing loss of face.
Ji Mo then launched into a psychological analysis, interpreting her drunken attempt to kiss him as a subconscious fear of loneliness, masked by a domineering, arrogant, and competitive exterior, hiding an inner fragility. When Du Guruonan asked if there was hope for her, Ji Mo declared her "beyond saving" but suggested she find a boyfriend to "vent her inner emotions" rather than "harassing" him.
Enraged, Du Guruonan accused him of being "frivolous and heartless," claiming he had "never truly loved anyone." Ji Mo's expression hardened, and he abruptly told her she had no right to question him, then dismissed her. Du Guruonan left, labeling him "absurd" and "insane," bewildered by his low emotional intelligence despite his psychology background. Later, Ji Mo sat alone on his balcony, the words "never truly loved anyone" echoing in his mind. He was plunged into memories of Su Xiao.
In a flashback to what appeared to be his current apartment, Su Xiao enthusiastically suggested they place a big sofa in the living room for him to sleep on when they argued. She joyfully declared she was "finally back" after three years, then asked him to marry her, reminding him of his promise once he owned a house. Ji Mo, however, hesitated, asking her to "stop joking around" and suggested they settle in first and wait "a couple of years."
The next morning, Du Guruonan took Si Da to a swimming pool to train his lung capacity for singing and line delivery. To her surprise, Si Da admitted he couldn't swim. Despite his fear, Du Guruonan insisted he get in. He struggled, nearly drowning, prompting Du Guruonan to jump in and perform CPR. As Si Da slowly regained consciousness, he confessed he hadn't told her about his inability to swim because he feared her disappointment and abandonment.
Du Guruonan reassured him that her contract was a promise to support and protect him and urged him to be honest moving forward. She noticed he briefly fainted again and discovered it was due to his "opposite-sex interaction disorder," which caused him to become nervous and pass out from close contact with women, something he'd experienced since childhood and had never been in a relationship. Du Guruonan worried how he could be an actor without understanding emotions from real-life experiences.
Si Da, curious, asked if she had experienced many deeply painful relationships. She confirmed she had, but playfully dodged his further inquiries. As Si Da resumed his breath-holding exercises, Du Guruonan noticed other girls at the pool admiring his handsome looks. This gave her an idea: she decided to train him as a male model. Si Da initially resisted, protesting he didn't want to be a model and didn't even know how to catwalk.
Du Guruonan firmly told him never to dismiss something he hadn't tried, explaining that modeling could lead to fame and eventually acting roles. Si Da, recalling his "artist rules" to obey her every command, reluctantly agreed. At Wing Fashion, Chen Fei'er arrived for her rehearsal. Ji Mo, however, stopped the music mid-walk and called her down from the runway.
He publicly critiqued her performance, stating she lacked confidence and was merely imitating "exaggerated walks and expressions" of European and American models to attract attention, a sign of "extreme insecurity." He explained that he signed her for her "unique temperament and personality," not her outward appearance, and found it a "shame" that she was conforming to popular beauty standards. Chen Fei'er, despite the public criticism, humbly accepted his feedback, acknowledging her initial walk was indeed too casual.
She reassured him that she was a professional and would deliver "whatever he wanted." She then walked the runway again, showcasing a new, more confident and authentic style. Alan praised the transformation, believing Ji Mo’s "suppress first, then elevate" tactic had completely won her over. Ji Mo reiterated that for him, she was merely a "model" in a "cooperative relationship."
After the rehearsal, Chen Fei'er confided in her agent that she felt "seen through" by Ji Mo and wondered if his criticism was a subtle way to gain her attention. Her agent, sensing Chen Fei'er's developing feelings for Ji Mo, warned her against "stirring up trouble," jokingly suggesting that if she truly wanted his attention, she should have just stripped on the runway. Chen Fei'er dismissed her agent’s skepticism, affirming her growing interest in Ji Mo. Her agent, exasperated, reluctantly agreed to help, though she grumbled about Chen Fei'er's self-centeredness.
