I Am The Years You Are The Stars Episode 20 Recap
> I Am The Years You Are The Stars Recap
Xiaoyu returned home to find several men on the phone, looking strange. Puzzled, she asked Jiang Baiju, who informed her that Qian Cheng’s parents’ 40th wedding anniversary celebration was approaching. The Qian family's profound background made the banquet a crucial social occasion for their business partners, so choosing a suitable dance partner was extremely important.
Jiang Baiju had received an invitation, expressed envy for such a long-lasting marriage, and to Xiaoyu's surprise, agreed to attend, something he hadn't done for the 30th anniversary. Xiaoyu teased him that romance had changed him. Meanwhile, Qian Cheng desperately tried to secure a date.
He showed Xue Wanwan several exquisite dresses from his collection, including a Qing'ai classic designed by Mrs. Dao and a signature piece by a designer named William, asking her to be his date for the upcoming banquet. Xue Wanwan was shocked, reiterating that she considered them "bros" and had never thought of him as a man or herself as a woman in their relationship. Attending as his date would publicly declare them a couple, which she adamantly refused.
Qian Cheng, feeling wronged, explained he was out of options and wouldn't be bribing her with such valuable dresses if he could find anyone else. Xue Wanwan dismissed his plea, calling him out on his poor social skills and stating her principle against romantic involvement with her "bro's bro," implying William (Xue Zaozao).
She even suggested he ask her cousin, who was single, but Qian Cheng dismissed it, saying his brother had rejected her cousin, and taking her would be an insult to his brother. He also mentioned meeting Cao Guangming’s daughter, an e-commerce tycoon, who was single. Xue Wanwan was unimpressed, arguing that such a person was not suitable for the Qian family.
Ultimately, she refused, explaining that because Qian Cheng's mother and brother actually liked her, his brother, Xue Zaozao, would force them to marry on the spot if they appeared together. At the hospital, Dao Ruifeng sought out Weilan, asking her to be his date for the same anniversary event. Weilan had just discussed Xiaoyu's worsening health and upcoming consultation with a colleague, emphasizing the importance of keeping it secret from Jiang Baiju, nicknamed Bai, to avoid him doing something drastic.
Dao Ruifeng used this knowledge to his advantage, threatening to reveal Xiaoyu’s condition to Jiang Baiju if Weilan refused to be his date. Weilan accused him of being inhuman, but Dao Ruifeng declared he only wanted to be a "beast" in front of her. Weilan scoffed at the constant need for dance partners in their social circle, comparing it to her mother’s elderly dance classes.
When she suggested he invite Xue Wanwan, Dao Ruifeng dismissed it, explaining that Xue Wanwan's brother, Xue Zaozao, would "break his legs" if he dated his sister. Dao Ruifeng insisted that as a popular person, he had limited options within his circle, half of whom were "bros," and he needed an "excellent and independent female outside my social circle" like Weilan.
Meanwhile, Xiaoyu was trying on dresses for the event with Jiang Baiju, playfully bickering about the styles and her preference for more "windproof" attire. Jiang Baiju had chosen only three dresses for her, joking that the rest were for Qian Cheng. Xiaoyu expressed doubt that Qian Cheng could fit into such dresses and wondered if he had found a date. Suddenly, Lin Nuoyan called Xiaoyu, looking anxious. Jiang Baiju, though reluctant to let her answer, allowed her to step outside.
Lin Nuoyan revealed that Bella had run away from the hospital. Jiang Baiju told Xiaoyu to change quickly and, despite his usual avoidance of public appearances, insisted on accompanying her to the Bajiao Amusement Park, refusing to let her go alone with Lin Nuoyan. At the Bajiao Amusement Park, Xiaoyu was on the phone with Lin Nuoyan, reporting no luck finding Bella in various areas, while Jiang Baiju had separated from her to search elsewhere.
Jiang Baiju then spotted a little girl wearing sunglasses indoors, just like him. He grabbed her, and it turned out to be Bella. Bella, thinking he was sent by the hospital, panicked and begged him to release her, even calling him "Grandpa" when he insisted. She revealed she had leukemia and would not live long, and her hair was almost gone. Upon learning he was Lin Nuoyan's friend, Bella's demeanor changed instantly.
She assertively demanded he bring Lin Nuoyan to her or text him immediately, insisting on a mini-train ride first, despite everyone being worried. Jiang Baiju called Lin Nuoyan, telling him Bella was found and to meet them at the Romon Train. Lin Nuoyan soon arrived, and after Bella tearfully pleaded that it was her dying wish, he agreed to ride the mini-train with her "just this once." Jiang Baiju and Xiaoyu also joined them.
During the ride, Lin Nuoyan gently told Bella to apologize to Miss Wang and her mother after they returned. Bella, however, refused to apologize to her mother, accusing her of breaking promises to bring her father and take them on the train. She complained that her mother only cared about money, endorsements, and acting roles, not her well-being.
Lin Nuoyan tried to reassure her, explaining her mother's focus on money was to afford her better medical care, and that no one loved her more than her mother. Bella, precociously, said she wasn't stupid and knew her mother would simply have another child and forget her if she died. Jiang Baiju, hearing this, quipped that Bella’s parents were divorced, so her mother couldn't have another baby with her father, but Bella retorted that children could be had without marriage.
Bella then asked Lin Nuoyan if he would forget her. He promised he wouldn't, reminding her she was his girlfriend. Bella, citing something Jin Xiaoyu had told her, decided they should just be friends, as being his girlfriend would make him a "giant baby." She named Lin Nuoyan her "second friend in this world," with Miss Wang being the first. Exhausted by the children's drama, Xiaoyu declared she wouldn't have kids in the future, to which Jiang Baiju heartily agreed.
Back at the hospital, Bella's mother angrily berated Miss Wang for Bella's escape, threatening to dock her pay. Bella, growing weaker and struggling to breathe, simply wanted her mother to hug her, but her mother continued scolding the care worker. Bella, left alone, said goodnight to her doll and drifted off to sleep. At Bella's funeral preparations, staff discussed her passing, noting her mother's public display of grief.
Xiaoyu, preparing Bella's remains, was shocked to discover faint purple spots on her body. This raised her suspicions; Bella, despite having leukemia, had not experienced significant hair loss during chemotherapy, and both she and Mrs. Xu, another patient, were in VIP wards. Xiaoyu realized Bella had been given the "specific drug." Distraught, she informed Jiang Baiju, who arrived after being alerted by Xue Zaozao and Weilan about Xiaoyu's emotional distress.
Xiaoyu explained that the "specific drug" used in Bella's case was an upgraded version, making the cyanosis barely visible except for small patches on her back and near her neck. She urged Jiang Baiju to send a sample for testing, fearing that if her suspicions were correct, many other patients in the Second Hospital were also on the drug.
She expressed profound relief that Bella’s mother had not signed an organ donation consent form, preventing the transfer of potentially virus-laden organs to another person. The thought of this hidden danger and the cruelty of using a 12-year-old child for drug testing chilled Xiaoyu to the bone, with Jiang Baiju sharing her outrage. On the day of the anniversary banquet, Xiaoyu and Jiang Baiju arrived.
Xiaoyu and Qian Cheng immediately fell into a playful argument, betting on whether Dao Ruifeng would have a female date. To Qian Cheng’s chagrin and envy, Dao Ruifeng arrived with Weilan as his date. Qian Cheng later prepared to enter the hall alone when a woman suddenly took his arm. He turned, surprised, as memories flooded his mind. It was Ye Lai, his childhood sweetheart. Ten years prior, they had been kidnapped.
The incident was widely known because Qian Cheng, in a heroic act to save Ye Lai, was thrown from a tall building by the kidnappers and miraculously survived. After that, Ye Lai went abroad to study, and Qian Cheng disappeared for many years. At the party, Qian Tu, Qian Cheng’s brother, expressed his frustration to Xiaoyu about Qian Cheng and Ye Lai being affectionate, noting their parents' silence on Ye Lai indicated disapproval.
He also complained about Dao Ruifeng bringing two dates to the event, a typical move for him. Xiaoyu, recalling that Xue Zaozao and Weilan had mentioned Qian Cheng's previous panic disorder, asked Qian Tu if Qian Cheng was at risk of a relapse. Qian Tu was surprised by her knowledge, to which Xiaoyu explained she had pieced it together from various sources. Qian Tu praised her intelligence, vowing never to lie to her.
Later, Qian Cheng experienced a vivid nightmare, reliving the kidnapping where he fought frantically to protect Ye Lai from the kidnappers, who threatened to torture her. He woke in a cold sweat, his hands cold. Qian Tu, noticing his distress, offered to arrange psychological counseling, but Qian Cheng declined, attributing it to fatigue. Qian Tu then asked if Qian Cheng still loved Ye Lai.
Qian Cheng admitted he didn’t know, but seeing her transported him back to a time when "those awful things never happened," even though the nightmare still haunted him. Qian Tu complained about his friends, including William (Xue Zaozao), all being absorbed in romance, leaving him to uphold Qing'ai with his "handsome face and talent." Qian Cheng retorted that Xue Zaozao had called, threatening further compensation if he "pestered his sister," implying Xue Wanwan.
Qian Cheng sarcastically asked how much the new compensation would be, arguing that it was Xue Wanwan who pursued him. Qian Tu teasingly promised to buy Qian Cheng an electric wheelchair for his protection. Later, Wen Zhuren decided to turn Officer Su's funeral into a wedding, as they had never formally married during their long courtship. Xiaoyu and Jiang Baiju attended this special ceremony.
After the ritual, Wen Zhuren gave her bridal bouquet to Xiaoyu, and the two conversed happily, their past misunderstandings and sharp edges gone. Xiaoyu accompanied Jiang Baiju to pay respects to Old Chen. Jiang Baiju recalled how years ago, book clubs were popular, with two or three couples discussing books in the park. Lacking a girlfriend then, he could only attend drama club, forced to memorize scripts.
Seeing Old Chen with a girlfriend, he vowed that when he had a girlfriend, he'd be the first to join a book club, enthusiastically discussing so no one else could get a word in. It was Jiang Baiju's birthday. Xiaoyu and a few others gathered to celebrate the more than one-hundred-year-old man. Xiaoyu and Jiang Baiju openly displayed their affection, as if no one else was around, prompting Dao Ruifeng to playfully remind them.
After blowing out the candles, everyone gathered in the courtyard for photos, laughing and playing joyfully. Later, Xiaoyu visited a little girl in the hospital who particularly liked Lin Nuoyan and knew he needed care. Lin Nuoyan was deeply moved upon hearing this.
