Love Scenery Episode 1 Recap
> Love Scenery Recap
The 26th Annual Golden Cicada Awards ceremony was underway, with intense competition for the "Best Female Artist" and "Artist of the Year" awards. Liang Chen and Meng Lan Zhi were both nominated for these two major honors, a rare occurrence as no artist had ever won both since the inception of the awards. When Liang Chen was announced as the winner of "Best Female Artist," a voice backstage teasingly congratulated her on winning the "consolation prize."
Liang Chen gracefully accepted the award, thanking her fans and her manager, Ms. Qing, and light-heartedly mentioned she would have reimbursed her fans' transportation if she hadn't won. As she was speaking, news broke, shocking the audience: photos of her boyfriend, Yue Yu Xun, with Meng Lan Zhi had been leaked.
Meanwhile, in a separate high-stakes gaming competition, a skilled player named Lu Jing was navigating treacherous virtual territory, succeeding in his mission just as the awards ceremony was about to announce the "Artist of the Year." The scandal continued to unfold as Liang Chen's team reacted with dismay. Her assistant, Yuan Ke Ke, worried about the impact on Liang Chen's upcoming album.
Despite the distraction, the ceremony proceeded, and Liang Chen was announced as the winner of "Artist of the Year," securing a historic "grand slam" by winning both major awards. Lu Jing, who had been following the ceremony during his game, celebrated her win with his friends.
In her second acceptance speech, Liang Chen, alluding to the recent news, powerfully stated she was grateful to her fans for giving her "what I desire" and thanked "a certain person for taking away what I don't need." Her fans, including Lu Jing and his gaming friends, were thrilled by her assertiveness. After the ceremony, Liang Chen encountered a young, high-achieving fan upset about not getting first place in the city-wide exams and offered her comforting words.
Later, Liang Chen's team discussed the leaked photos, confirming Yue Yu Xun's betrayal and noting he had likely used Liang Chen for fame. Ms. Qing suggested a "cold treatment" approach, advising against a public response to avoid sensationalism and keep the focus on Liang Chen's career. The news spread quickly, reaching Lu Jing, who remarked to his friends that Yue Yu Xun was never good enough for Liang Chen.
Liang Chen had a difficult phone call with Yue Yu Xun, who asked her to issue a statement claiming they had already broken up. She refused, declaring that "trash should stay in the trash can" and vowing not to date for the rest of the year. Overwhelmed, she tried to book a flight but, finding none, decided to drive overnight.
Meanwhile, Lu Jing had driven through the night to check on her, leaving quickly after receiving confirmation from a contact that she was alright. Amidst the personal turmoil, Liang Chen's song "Downwind" unexpectedly surged in popularity. Yuan Ke Ke explained it was because Herman, a famous esports streamer, played the song after completing a record-breaking "Beautiful Soul" game live stream on the night of the awards.
The song became an unofficial anthem for both success and failure in the game, resonating widely with players. This led Core Technology, the developers of "Beautiful Soul," to offer Liang Chen a role as their project ambassador, promoting healthy gaming and collaborating with streamers. Unfamiliar with gaming, Liang Chen felt unsure, but Ms. Qing suggested she ask her friend, Sun Bin Yu, for help. Liang Chen, using the in-game name "Little Orange," attempted to play "Beautiful Soul" but struggled immensely.
She sought help from a fellow player named "Taro," unaware that this was Lu Jing's alternate account. Seeing her frustration, Lu Jing humorously advised her to minimize the game window and play her own song "Downwind" for luck; while the song played, he single-handedly dispatched the enemies for her. In a separate incident, Lu Jing's friend Liu'er mischievously changed Lu Jing's in-game name to "Happy Bootlicker Lu Jing," leaving him stuck with it due to system maintenance.
Still struggling with the game and unable to reach Taro, Liang Chen visited Sun Bin Yu, who was preparing to leave for a film shoot. Seeing her desperation, he offered to find a "master" to help her, promising to connect her with a "dark horse" player from the world ladder tournament, agreeing to keep her identity a secret.
