I Am The Years You Are The Stars Episode 8 Recap
> I Am The Years You Are The Stars Recap
Since parting ways with Ms. Luosifen, Mr. Coffee would often think of her. Their first encounter was so special, or perhaps the lingering scent of luosifen was just too strong, but for many days afterward, the coffee shop carried the distinct aroma of the noodle dish. Their second meeting occurred half a year later when Ms. Luosifen, identified as Miao by her friends, brought them to the coffee shop to celebrate her first co-writing credit for a 36-episode web series.
Miao’s friends noticed that Mr. Coffee, the co-owner of the shop, gave her an extra-large shaved ice with special toppings. They playfully teased her about having a boyfriend who worked there, but Miao denied it. However, she thanked Mr. Coffee for the special treat and apologized for her friends' teasing, to which he replied that he wished their words were true.
He then flirtatiously asked if she had come to make their relationship official and why she hadn't visited since their last meeting, playfully calling her "Girlfriend." Miao defensively asked if he called all female customers his "girlfriends," but he clarified he only said that to "the girl who asked for hot water" while closing shop.
Feeling flustered, Miao quickly ran back to her seat, while Mr. Coffee inwardly wondered if his advances would make her keep her distance or if she would find them endearing. Elsewhere, Tan Yueran was listening to an audio novel about Ms. Luosifen and Mr. Coffee, eventually drifting off into a dream where she became Ms. Luosifen. In her dream, Tan Yueran entered the lab where two male colleagues were discreetly eating their lunchboxes, a clear violation of lab rules.
Normally, Tan Yueran would report such behavior to the professor, but this time, to their surprise, she not only let it slide but also demanded half of their food, complaining that her own healthy meal was tasteless. The colleagues, noticing her uncharacteristic behavior and cheerful demeanor, joked that she must be in love. Tan Yueran confirmed she had someone she liked and offered to introduce them if they treated her to a meal.
They agreed, and she took them to the same coffee shop that perfectly matched the novel’s description. There, Tan Yueran proudly pointed out the barista, Fu Liang, as her crush, who was also the owner of the shop. While at the coffee shop, Zhang Quanzhan called Tan Yueran, explaining he was near her school and asking to meet. Tan Yueran gave him a brief, vague response and quickly hung up, mentioning she was out for food with her seniors.
Her accompanying male colleagues then jokingly called Fu Liang "Brother-in-law." Fu Liang was displeased by this and asked Tan Yueran to clarify their relationship. However, Tan Yueran was in no hurry to explain, instead playfully deflecting his questions and even calling him "Brother-in-law" herself before leaving.
Meanwhile, Jin Xiaoyu had been investigating Tan Yueran and found discrepancies between her official profile, which described her as an extremely introverted individual with congenital heart disease and severe social anxiety, and her current outgoing personality, which included striking up conversations with men at the funeral home and treating others to milk tea. Jin Xiaoyu suspected this was not the same person. During a shopping trip with Jiang Baiju, Jin Xiaoyu was captivated by a veil displayed on a model.
Jiang Baiju, noticing her delight, tenderly placed the veil on her head, commenting that she looked like a bride, and then took a picture for her to remember the moment. Just then, Qian Cheng, who had been given a week off, burst in, furious with Jiang Baiju for using him as a bargaining chip in a deal with his brother. Jiang Baiju quickly pulled Jin Xiaoyu aside to hide.
After Qian Cheng stormed off, Jin Xiaoyu and Jiang Baiju shared a hearty laugh, and the atmosphere between them grew intimate. Later, Jiang Baiju observed Jin Xiaoyu accompanying Lin Nuoyan on a tour of the funeral home, which made him visibly jealous.
From a hiding spot, he watched as Lin Nuoyan demonstrated his expertise by explaining the complex mechanisms of ascites in a cadaver and complimented Jin Xiaoyu's professionalism, prompting her to jokingly tell him not to be so sentimental in such a setting. Muttering to himself, Jiang Baiju called Lin Nuoyan "an animal in a suit."
After Lin Nuoyan departed, Jiang Baiju appeared and confronted Jin Xiaoyu, sarcastically asking if dating at a funeral home was how "earthlings" conducted their relationships and questioning why she was meeting with "that perverted professor." Jiang Baiju then somberly stated that he couldn't accompany anyone, and neither could she, as they were both "abnormal beings" in the eyes of "normal people." Jin Xiaoyu retorted that he was an old, ill-mannered man.
After Lin Nuoyan departed, Jiang Baiju, still in a bad mood, took Jin Xiaoyu to the grave of his old friend, Chen Zhongshun. Jiang Baiju explained that Chen was his classmate and a comrade for a month in bootcamp. Chen later joined the navy and remained in Taiwan after the war. His lifelong dream was to return home, but Jiang Baiju could only fulfill that wish after Chen's death.
As Jiang Baiju recounted their history, he revealed that he and Chen had both admired a singer named Chen Mansha at Paramount in their youth. However, Chen Zhongshun later fell truly in love with Ms. Qin Xiangjun. Despite being engaged, Chen insisted on joining the army, which led to Ms. Qin marrying another man. They never reunited in life. Chen had always yearned to know how Ms. Qin was doing, even while fearing the answer.
Jiang Baiju, in a bittersweet gesture, arranged Chen's tomb to be "two aisles apart" from Ms. Qin's, hoping they could at least observe each other in the afterlife. Jin Xiaoyu criticized this arrangement as "poor taste," but Jiang Baiju found it "fun," claiming she simply didn't understand men. In a different conversation, two doctors discussed Tan Yueran. They noted that her recent disinterest in contacting Jin Xiaoyu was suspicious.
They were concerned about her heightened curiosity regarding the organ donor, which wasn't new. Tan Yueran had previously complained of sleeplessness and dreaming of a boy, a fact also mentioned by Chief Fan, though the identity of the boy remained unclear. They further discussed the psychological challenges organ recipients face in accepting another's organ. They then observed a twelve-year-old congenital heart disease patient nicknamed Cutie.
Tan Yueran, once quiet, had become lively after her successful heart transplant, but Cutie's condition worsened, leaving her dispirited. Despite her despair, Cutie maintained a positive attitude, calling her fate and earning the nickname "Zen girl." One of the doctors found the scene too upsetting and was called "soft-hearted" for wanting to leave. Meanwhile, in a flashback, Fu Liang and Cai Miao were on their first date, attempting to ride a shared bicycle.
When the chain broke, Cai Miao, whose family once owned a motorcycle repair shop, easily fixed it, joking that it was "nothing." Fu Liang expressed his desire to be "all-capable" for her, but Cai Miao reassured him that they just needed to do what they were good at. She playfully called him "kitty" as he teased her with "the touch of love."
They reflected on their future, with Cai Miao poignantly stating that while he wouldn't be with her for her whole life, she would be with him, and while she wouldn't grow old with him, he would. Later, Jin Xiaoyu and Jiang Baiju found themselves lying in the morgue, with Jin Xiaoyu simulating Jiang Baiju's past experience of being brought there. Jiang Baiju joked if she hadn't "died enough," and Jin Xiaoyu expressed her desire for a normal, quick death.
Jiang Baiju confessed he was there to "experience what it feels like to lie next to you." He then shared his personal philosophy: as someone close to death, Jin Xiaoyu wished her potential partner would move on and find new love after her passing. However, Jiang Baiju, drawing from his own "experienced" perspective, suggested that her wish might be "only her wish," as beautiful things would constantly remind him of her, making it difficult to start anew.
Jin Xiaoyu asked Jiang Baiju if he had ever truly loved anyone in his long life, besides his parents. He cryptically replied, "my clients," adding that "every Party A is my true love." Jin Xiaoyu then directly asked if he had never been in love. He responded with a wry "Are you impressed?" and "Does it not seem that way?"
