I Am The Years You Are The Stars Episode 21 Recap
> I Am The Years You Are The Stars Recap
Weilan and Xue Wanwan were eating noodles in the cafeteria when Dao Ruifeng arrived. Dao Ruifeng immediately began bickering with Xue Wanwan, completely ignoring her and stating his eyes were only on Weilan. Xue Wanwan reminded him that her brother, Xue Zaozao, had once injured Dao Ruifeng, causing a mild concussion, and had to pay over 500,000 yuan in compensation. Dao Ruifeng retorted that Xue Zaozao had recently announced he would invest in him again.
Dao Ruifeng then shared that he used a small portion of the compensation to buy a cheap computer to write web novels, and spent the remaining 400,000 yuan on fake view numbers, which unexpectedly led him to become one of the Top-10 writers. Xue Wanwan, in turn, teased him about his injuries, jokingly offering to marry him to "offset her brother's sin" if he became disabled and stayed in a wheelchair, preventing him from flirting.
Weilan, observing their exchange, grew worried and asked about Qian Cheng. Dao Ruifeng mentioned Qian Cheng had recently been "having a spring dream" in his office. Weilan quickly stressed the importance of immediate psychological counseling for Qian Cheng, explaining that once a patient starts dreaming, their emotions become unstable and they are prone to mental breakdowns. She emphasized that the patient's own honest self-disclosure is crucial for successful therapy, and any concealment would stagnate his treatment.
Dao Ruifeng tried to brush it off, claiming his ten years of "counseling" had been futile, but Weilan insisted that if he truly considered Qian Cheng a brother, he should help him get proper help rather than concealing his issues, as his condition would only worsen. After learning that there were new issues with Bella’s body, Lin Nuoyan rushed to Xiaoyu. Unsure how to proceed, Xiaoyu drove Lin Nuoyan to Qing'ai Building.
On the way, Lin Nuoyan discussed Bella’s autopsy findings: very faint cyanosis and no signs of hair loss. He deduced that this indicated the specific drug was close to being successfully developed, as the drug's efficacy and side effects are key indicators. Xiaoyu, perplexed, asked why Bella and Mrs. Xu had died if the drug was nearing success. Lin Nuoyan explained that the drug wasn't a miracle cure for terminal illnesses like leukemia or cancer and still required auxiliary treatment.
He hypothesized that the current pill-takers had only accidentally encountered the medication, achieving partial therapeutic effects. Therefore, he believed there must be a long-term user—a true participant in the project—around the pill maker, and this individual might already be cured. Xiaoyu agreed, noting that external drug tests would not yield accurate information. After leaving the municipal funeral home, Xiaoyu and Lin Nuoyan realized a car was tailing them. Lin Nuoyan attempted to lose them but it was too late.
He instructed Xiaoyu to prepare to jump out of the car when he slowed down. Xiaoyu vehemently refused, wanting them to jump together, but Lin Nuoyan countered that there was nowhere for both of them to hide. Without waiting for her consent, he unbuckled her seatbelt and, after a countdown, pushed her out. After safely landing, Xiaoyu immediately called Jiang Baiju for help, but just as she hung up, a flash of red light signaled disaster.
Lin Nuoyan's car was severely hit and overturned by the pursuing vehicle. He was rushed to the hospital with a mild concussion, a dislocated arm, a sprained ankle, and multiple scratches. Xiaoyu, deeply concerned, volunteered to stay and care for him, much to Jiang Baiju's ill-concealed jealousy.
Jiang Baiju later spoke to a colleague, expressing frustration that Lin Nuoyan, the "unrequited love knight," hadn't died, but nonetheless arranged for two men to secretly protect Lin Nuoyan, believing the culprit would soon emerge. Ye Lai and Qian Cheng met to reminisce about their youth, finally verbalizing long-held feelings. Ye Lai, recalling their high school days, teased Qian Cheng for being too shy to confess his feelings, stating that everyone, including herself, knew he liked her.
Qian Cheng expressed regret for not acting sooner. Ye Lai thanked Qian Cheng for keeping her past secret from his therapist, which protected her reputation. However, she emphasized that keeping her secret was detrimental to his health. She then suggested he accompany her to America to see her therapist, where he could finally express everything. Qian Cheng, contemplating this, seemed lost in thought, resembling a "mediating monk," which Dao Ruifeng and Jiang Baiju noticed.
Qian Tu later advised Qian Cheng that his parents were open-minded and wouldn't object to Ye Lai's past, given she was a victim. He urged Qian Cheng to be clear about his feelings for Ye Lai, who had fought her family to return for him. Later, Jiang Baiju received a call from Qian Tu, who had located Zhao Shan. They drove to the hiding place but were too late; Zhao Shan had already fled.
The location was merely a temporary den, filled with photos mostly of Lin Nuoyan, with more recent ones including Xiaoyu. Qian Tu informed Jiang Baiju that Lin Nuoyan, whose parents died when he was young, was adopted at ten and moved to America, where he excelled academically, studying genetics and bio-economics, and became a charity enthusiast. Jiang Baiju, examining some old photos found in a book, recognized a particular flower he had been searching for for eighty years.
The photos also showed Lin Nuoyan in front of what looked like the Third Affiliated Hospital of Central Medical University, a place known for a major medical research accident. Jiang Baiju stressed the importance of finding this location. In the middle of the night, Qian Tu was startled awake by his dog's barking. He went downstairs to find his pet, Nuonuo, lying dead in a pool of blood.
Qian Cheng then appeared, completely unfazed by the scene, only remarking on the dog's noise. The next day, Xue Wanwan organized a KTV gathering with old classmates, including Ye Lai and Qian Cheng. She blamed her brother, Xue Zaozao, for secretly inviting Peng Zichun, a "playboy" she disliked, who then flirted with Ye Lai, making Qian Cheng visibly uncomfortable. During the festivities, a waiter rushed in to announce that "two friends" were fighting outside.
They found Qian Cheng slumped on a sofa while Peng Zichun was covered in blood. Qian Cheng was consequently placed in a special hospital for compulsory medical treatment, which Qian Tu grimly likened to a prison, noting Peng Zichun's severe injuries. Ye Lai, feeling immense guilt for the incident, decided to seek a settlement with Peng Zichun, who was hospitalized in the orthopedics department of Weilan's hospital.
She told Dao Ruifeng that her family wanted her to return to America due to the fight, and she intended to try one last time for Qian Cheng before leaving. Dao Ruifeng, despite his concerns about her safety and potential exploitation by the Peng family, agreed to accompany her to the hospital but wait outside. Meanwhile, Xue Zaozao ambushed and beat up Dao Ruifeng at the hospital.
Mrs. Dao was furious at Dao Ruifeng for fighting and failing to protect Qian Cheng, accusing him of betraying the Qian family's trust. She declared she would personally take over the management of Qing'ai, given Qian Cheng’s sudden "resignation" as CEO and the anticipated "upcoming turmoils" from the Peng and Xue families. Dao Ruifeng's uncle and Mrs. Dao then insisted he leave for France immediately, where his parents were waiting, asserting that his presence was only making things worse.
Dao Ruifeng, though reluctant to leave Qian Cheng, ultimately complied. Before departing at the airport, Dao Ruifeng approached Weilan, reiterating his sincere desire to pursue her and asking her to tell Qian Cheng that he would return for him. Weilan, feeling stomach pain, then excused herself to the bathroom.
