My Lonely Planet Episode 21 Recap
> My Lonely Planet Recap
After working tirelessly all night, Miao Yu woke up feeling regretful about his performance from the previous day. However, he was relieved that his collaboration with Coli was progressing smoothly.
Wang Chen, confident in Fluffeee’s future, proudly shared their progress, noting their excellent team, including Mengmeng, who provided a camera, reflector, and a simple script, and Luo Li, who, as a devoted fan of Coli, had secured Coli’s team for post-production and even found an old TV station friend to assist. Miao Yu jokingly remarked on the cost of Mengmeng’s year-long nut supply, to which Wang Chen clarified it would be categorized as daily expenses.
Just as Miao Yu was praising Wang Chen’s cleverness, Wang Chen’s father, Wang Chen's Dad, arrived unexpectedly, interrupting their sweet moment. Meanwhile, Li Zhizhi was mailing health supplements home. On the phone, she reassured her parents that she was fine and asked them not to worry about a past incident. She claimed she would be working through the entire Spring Festival and couldn't return, as her rented apartment was conveniently close to her company.
However, she was seen standing wistfully outside her family's home, watching a happy family pass by before turning away in solitude. Elsewhere, at his restaurant, Qin Sirui’s employee, Luca, announced his sudden resignation, declaring he was deeply in love with a Spanish girl he’d only known for three days and was moving to Spain with her. He paraphrased the line, "When Autumn’s Golden Wind embraces Dew of Jades, all other scenes on earth will fade," to express his feelings.
Qin Sirui, despite his surprise, offered his blessings, then revealed his own intention to start anew by renting an apartment, implying a move out of his mother's home. As Miao Yu was cleaning their apartment, Wang Chen and her father returned. Miao Yu, sensing the need for privacy, politely excused himself to continue cleaning outside. Shortly after, Wang Chen received a call from the aunt landlord about overdue rent.
Wang Chen's Dad seized the opportunity to demand that Wang Chen cancel her rental agreement and return home with him. He proposed finding her a stable job and a more reliable boyfriend, asserting that her timid nature made her unsuitable for entrepreneurship. He dismissed her current life as being centered around a "half-dead store" and a boyfriend "who can't even take care of himself."
Wang Chen firmly rejected his dictates, declaring her love for her current life and for Miao Yu. She stated that her choices were based on what she liked, not on fear of failure, but rather fear of regret. She chastised him for trying to control her life with his own "failed life." To emphasize her independence, she immediately paid the rent. Miao Yu, listening from outside the door, heard every word of their heated exchange.
Wang Chen, still upset, described her father as an autocratic and selfish man. Miao Yu, trying to console her, suggested her father's intentions were to protect her. Wang Chen reminisced about her childhood, where her father was a proud figure at the cultural center, teaching her to draw and buying her beautiful dresses. However, after her mother left them for another man, her father became depressed, drank heavily, and grew short-tempered, creating an emotional distance between them.
She wished he could return to his old self but felt helpless. Miao Yu empathized, relating her struggle to his own past doubts after a setback, emphasizing that overcoming challenges made Fluffeee possible. He reassured her that failure is a part of life and promised his unwavering support. The next morning, Miao Yu cleverly pretended to forget his phone, using it as an excuse to return and personally invite Wang Chen's Dad to Fluffeee to witness Wang Chen's interview.
Wang Chen's Dad initially refused, expressing his disapproval of Miao Yu, but Miao Yu passionately argued that it was about Wang Chen’s growth, talent, and hard work to prove herself. Wang Chen's Dad, surprised by Wang Chen's transformation from a timid girl to someone confident enough for an interview, eventually agreed to visit, but chose to wait outside the store during the shooting to avoid making his daughter nervous.
During the interview with Coli, Wang Chen expressed profound gratitude to Miao Yu, her partner, for his support, encouragement, and for inspiring her innovative spirit. Wang Chen's Dad, who had discreetly held a reflector for the lighting during the interview, was later surprised when Coli revealed that Miao Yu had sold his house to fund Fluffeee and had secured this interview by working tirelessly all night for Coli.
That evening, Li Zhizhi arrived at Qin Sirui’s closed restaurant, explaining that she, like him, wanted to be alone and avoid going home. When she addressed him as Ray, he initially claimed not to remember her from their previous encounter, which she found hard to believe given her confidence. However, when she mentioned Miao Yu as someone "unlike those men that day," Qin Sirui’s interest was piqued, and he invited her to sit down.
During dinner, he persistently questioned her about Miao Yu’s character. Li Zhizhi found his curiosity about his ex-girlfriend's current boyfriend tedious, and, noting his wary nature, she decided he wasn't worth her romantic pursuit. She struggled to eat a Napoleon cake gracefully with cutlery, leading Qin Sirui to comment that the cake was "more difficult than me." He then showed her a practical way to eat it with her hands, which she adopted, abandoning her pretense of elegance.
Back at Wang Chen and Miao Yu's apartment, Wang Chen's Dad watched a video of Wang Chen's interview, visibly proud of her newfound confidence and ambition. He apologized for his past harshness, acknowledging her growth and expressing his desire for her happiness. He confessed his fears for her, living alone and facing hardships, and reaffirmed his unwavering support, reminding her that she always had a home and him.
Overwhelmed, Wang Chen also apologized for her previous words, and they shared a heartfelt embrace. Later, while watching TV, Wang Chen's Dad subtly, yet clearly, instructed Miao Yu to "be nice to my daughter," signaling his acceptance. When Wang Chen returned with food, the three sat down for a joyful family dinner. After dinner, as Li Zhizhi and Qin Sirui left the restaurant, Qin Sirui spotted his mother in the distance.
He apologized to Li Zhizhi for having "taken advantage" of her to create a façade for his mother, who he explained was the reason he was starting his independent life. Li Zhizhi, demanding "sincerity" for his apology, challenged him to treat her to the most expensive wine at a nearby bar.
There, two women recognized Li Zhizhi and began to publicly humiliate her, accusing her of tricking men for money and feelings, and sarcastically challenging her to demonstrate her "seducing men" skills on stage. Li Zhizhi defiantly accepted, throwing her belongings to Qin Sirui and confidently taking the stage.
As she began to dance, the music abruptly stopped, but Qin Sirui, like a knight in shining armor, took to a piano on stage and provided a flawless accompaniment, turning her humiliation into a captivating performance. After their impromptu performance, the most expensive bottle of wine was brought to their table, but Qin Sirui’s card was declined due to insufficient funds. Li Zhizhi, for the first time, paid for a man.
Feeling indebted, Qin Sirui asked for her contact information, emphasizing his desire not to owe anyone. As they walked down the street, a little girl selling flowers approached them. Qin Sirui bought the last rose for 100 yuan, allowing the girl to go home for the Spring Festival. Li Zhizhi remarked it was the "cheapest flower I have ever received," to which Qin Sirui responded it was also the "cheapest flower I have ever given."
With their relationship quickly mended, Wang Chen’s father, inspired by his daughter's journey, picked up his paint brushes again and began painting a plum blossom. Miao Yu, though not an art connoisseur, enthusiastically praised his work, showing his newfound appreciation and integration into the family.
