Moonshine and Valentine Episode 4 Recap
> Moonshine and Valentine Recap
In a fleeting memory or dream, a young Helan presented a finely crafted, glowing Pearl of Charm to a young Huiyan. He told her that it was a tradition of his clan, and by wearing the Pearl, they would be together forever. At her coffee shop, Xiaoju observed her long-time friend Chen Nan and his girlfriend. The girlfriend's volatile temper often led to shouting matches and physical altercations, leaving Xiaoju heartbroken for Chen Nan.
Xiaoju often comforted him afterward and offered support like a true friend. When Chen Nan was once again broken up with, he decided to ask Xiaoju to pretend to be his new girlfriend to make his ex-girlfriend jealous and test if she still cared about him. Xiaoju, seeing it as a favor for a close friend, readily agreed, though secretly hoping to take on the role of his actual girlfriend.
Inside the cafe, Xiaoju over-acted, trying to make their apparent affection as obvious as possible. However, her heart shattered when Chen Nan's ex-girlfriend pulled him outside, and Xiaoju watched through the window as they embraced. Though tears welled up, Xiaoju forced a smile and offered Chen Nan encouragement. Later, trying to hide her profound sorrow, Xiaoju called Pipi, pretending to be lighthearted and boasting about her "success" in helping Chen Nan, but her reddened eyes betrayed her true feelings.
Meanwhile, at a high-profile Ralph's Auction, Wang Xuan, dressed impeccably, was denied entry to the VIP channel because she lacked an invitation. She grew loud and attempted to bribe and threaten the staff, but to no avail. Her anger intensified when Pipi, wearing an expensive outfit given to her by Helan, calmly presented her invitation and was promptly escorted in, drawing all attention.
Wang Xuan was left standing awkwardly outside until Kuanyong, finding her persistent shouts unbearable, eventually brought her inside using his own eligibility to bring a guest. Once seated with Pipi, Helan largely ignored Qian Hua, a beautiful and charming woman who was also present. Instead, Helan focused on Pipi, recounting romantic stories from the past, hoping to trigger Pipi's memories. Pipi, however, remained engrossed in the narratives without any sense of familiarity or recollection.
Wang Xuan, observing this, felt further marginalized and tried to needle Pipi by remarking that she was too unsophisticated for premium Brugg black caviar and only fit for street food like pan-fried buns. Helan intervened, asking a waiter to go to great lengths to find pan-fried buns for Pipi. He then praised Pipi's taste, implying that genuine preference surpassed superficial status. Wang Xuan, fuming, stormed off, fearing she might lose control and physically assault Pipi if she stayed any longer.
She then tried to approach Kuanyong, but he quickly dismissed her, giving her no chance to speak. The auction also featured the Pearl of Charm, a non-sale item loaned as the exhibition's centerpiece, which everyone yearned to see. Helan and his team were secretly preparing to acquire it. Xiu Xian and Kuanyong had meticulously mapped out the Pearl's transport routes and the series of stringent examinations it would undergo.
Their plan was for Kuanyong, due to his classical appearance, to pose as a jewelry appraiser. At the moment he received the Pearl for appraisal, he would swap it for a fake. To successfully infiltrate the appraisers' ranks, Xiu Xian needed fifteen minutes to upload Kuanyong's fake identity into the venue's computer system and knock out one of the actual appraisers. This crucial time window depended on Helan creating a distraction.
Qian Hua identified Guan Zhihao, a descendant of Guan Hanqing, as their target. She instructed Helan to bid aggressively against him for the "Inscribed fan of landscape painting from the Yuan dynasty," which Guan Zhihao coveted, to prolong the auction. As Helan and Guan Zhihao engaged in a high-stakes bidding war, the surface calm of the auction belied the hidden maneuvers. Helan repeatedly outbid Guan Zhihao, much to his frustration.
Pipi, sensing Guan Zhihao's distress, even tried to persuade Helan to let him have the fan, but Helan firmly told her he invited her to bid, not to interfere with his decisions. The bidding escalated dramatically, with Helan eventually securing the fan for 9. 9 million yuan. This strategic maneuver bought them precisely the time Xiu Xian needed, allowing Kuanyong to successfully swap the Pearl of Charm in the authentication room.
Shortly after, the real appraisers discovered the pearl they had just confirmed as authentic was, in fact, an LED fake. Afterward, Helan magnanimously returned the high-priced, authentic fan to Guan Zhihao, stating that a "great man shall not deprive others of their treasures" and that the work of Sir Yi Zhai (Guan Hanqing) rightfully belonged to his descendants. Delighted at finally possessing the Pearl of Charm, which he considered his clan's rightful property, Helan placed it on Pipi.
He watched intently, hoping to see the pearl glow, believing it would do so when worn by its true owner, just as it had for Huiyan. He could smell a faint fragrance emanating from Pipi, but the pearl remained inert, failing to emit any light. Later, Pipi spoke with Xiaoju on the phone. Xiaoju, despite her earlier heartbreak, cheerfully recounted how her fake relationship with Chen Nan had successfully made his ex-girlfriend jealous, leading to their reconciliation.
Xiaoju feigned happiness and pride in her "accomplishment," even though Pipi directly asked if she had feelings for Chen Nan. Xiaoju quickly dismissed the idea, insisting Chen Nan was just her "buddy," and helping each other was normal among friends.
As the episode concluded, a narrator reflected on the phrase "returning something to its original owner," noting how it often signifies a perfect ending, yet conceals the profound sadness or reluctance felt by those who once possessed or desperately desired that very thing. In the end, Xiu Xian confirmed to Helan that the Pearl of Charm had been placed on Pipi, but it had not glowed.
