Out Of The Dream Episode 16 Recap
> Out Of The Dream Recap
Bai Feili received an urgent phone call, learning that Lingjiu had just announced in a video her decision to terminate her cooperation with Feiwo. The news also revealed that Zhuang Sheng, a key member, had surprisingly gone to work for Li Hentian at his studio, Feiwo. In her video, Lingjiu explained her actions, stating she had joined Feiwo initially to provoke Bai Feili and was now leaving to help him.
Feiwo studio was in a precarious state, facing demands for compensation from Director Zhou of Dragon Scale if ticket attendance fell below 80%. Lingjiu was suspected of intentionally quitting to sabotage ticket sales, and Feiwo was also struggling with actor shortages and prop production. Amidst the chaos, Zhuang Sheng was observed to be the only one consistently working on props, arriving first each day, working silently and refusing payment.
At Jiubai Studio, the news of Zhuang Sheng's move sparked a heated discussion. Zhuang Sheng apologized to his colleagues, admitting he had nothing to say in his defense. Yu Fei, angry, questioned why he would help Feiwo, reminding him of their strained relationship and asking if Li Hentian had paid him. Zhuang Sheng denied taking any money from Li Hentian, but Yu Fei, still furious, declared she was going home to cook.
Bai Feili then approached Zhuang Sheng, acknowledging his freedom to work for Feiwo and that Jiubai had no right to interfere, but as a friend, he requested an explanation. Zhuang Sheng revealed that before playing Dragon Scale, he wasn't considered amazing in school. He recounted his eight-year journey with the game, starting from seeing the "Shadow Blade" assassin's top configuration in a magazine, and how it inspired his first handmade prop.
He experimented with various materials before finally using 3D printing for the Dragon Scale project to create the Shadow Blade, a prop he had imagined countless times. For him, Dragon Scale was more than just a project or a game; it represented his "original aspiration" for prop making.
He expressed his deep desire for his meticulously designed and crafted props not to be sealed away, and for Dragon Scale to be presented perfectly, opening a window to game and animation derivative culture. He concluded by reiterating his apology. Moved by Zhuang Sheng's passion, Bai Feili decided to help Li Hentian. Hao Shi strongly disagreed, pointing out Feiwo's past wrongdoings, including sabotaging their project, causing Wuchang to be cyberbullied, and even assaulting Yu Fei.
Bai Feili countered that their profession was ultimately about "feelings," and Zhuang Sheng's passion had to be supported. Hao Shi, incensed, immediately left. Yu Fei later confronted Bai Feili, referencing the opera "Interrogate The Head and Assassinate Tang Qin" to warn him about the consequences of helping someone like Li Hentian. She pressed him, asking if he would still help Li Hentian if she were the one harmed.
Bai Feili, in turn, challenged her, asking why she had given him another chance when he had failed to open the car door for her in the past. Left speechless, Yu Fei angrily declared she had lost her appetite and would not make dinner, retreating to her room. Later that night, hungry and unable to sleep, she angrily switched off the light when Bai Feili offered to get her some night snacks.
Bai Feili then went out for wontons, where he encountered Li Hentian. Li Hentian mockingly asked if Bai Feili was trying to play the "good guy" and stated he didn't need his pity, asserting that Dragon Scale belonged to him. Bai Feili revealed his detailed knowledge of Li Hentian's desperate measures for the project: accepting all commercial ad placements, mortgaging his house, forfeiting the entire box office revenue from the first tour, and humbly asking for help everywhere.
Li Hentian acknowledged Bai Feili's intelligence but scoffed at his presence. Bai Feili shared an anecdote about the wonton stall owner never remembering his specific order despite his long patronage. He then announced that Jiubai Studio was starting a new project and offered Feiwo all the Dragon Scale costumes and props that Jiubai no longer needed, promising delivery by 10 AM the next morning.
Li Hentian, confused, asked why Bai Feili hadn't offered help when he was "asking for help everywhere," noting that Bai Feili was the kind of person who would make the same choices as him when facing such a situation, to sacrifice everything for a Dragon Scale-like project, even working with enemies. Bai Feili clarified that his help wouldn't be free, only that Li Hentian would pay for the wontons, and then set their meeting for 10 AM the following day.
Li Hentian then had a flashback to his past with Bai Feili, remembering how he had once invited Bai Feili to be his deputy at Feiwo, to focus on graphic roleplay while he pursued stage plays. He also recalled Bai Feili helping him find actors when he suffered sunstroke. Li Hentian confessed his past insecurities, feeling like a "loser" and "weirdo" in college, and finding respect through roleplay.
He recalled Bai Feili's unexpected popularity as a minor character which inspired him to found Feiwo, driven by the belief that every role deserved dedication. He admitted that ideals alone were insufficient, and sometimes "disliked things" were necessary to sustain Feiwo. He expressed relief that Bai Feili had "stolen" Dragon Scale, believing Bai Feili had the clearest vision and greatest love for the project, and would see it through by any means necessary.
He mentally challenged Bai Feili to become strong so he could one day defeat him. Meanwhile, Lou Shitang arranged for someone to investigate the financial flow from Bai Juyuan's two companies, which had undergone equity pledges. During a phone call, he subtly threatened the individual by mentioning his wife and father-in-law. Later, Brother Dao, while delivering a contract, accidentally caught a glimpse of a video on Lou Shitang's phone.
Lou Shitang assured him there was no backup of the video and then took him to a night market noodle stall. There, he recounted the story of the noodle stall owner, whom he had once forced out of his home using "some methods" to develop the land, only to later rent the shop back to him for ten years rent-free, enabling the owner to multiply his income twenty-fold.
Lou Shitang used this story to illustrate his philosophy: "if you want to build a road without cutting down a tree or throwing out a stone, it's a fool's talk." He asserted that successful people are often seen as villains in others' stories, but as long as the purpose and result are good, the means are inconsequential. Understanding his point, Brother Dao agreed.
Recognizing Brother Dao's potential, Lou Shitang then offered him a position as his assistant, believing he was underutilized as a bar manager. Brother Dao gratefully accepted, promising to work hard. The next morning, Yu Fei hesitated at Bai Feili's door, still angry about his decision to help Li Hentian, and decided not to wake him. However, upon entering the kitchen, she discovered Bai Feili had already prepared breakfast, leaving a note for her to rest.
Despite her lingering annoyance, she couldn't help but feel a little mollified by the gesture, playfully remarking to herself about how easily she was swayed by small acts of kindness. Bai Feili then left for work, teasing her about his good taste in girlfriends and urging her to take an umbrella for a coming rainstorm.
Yu Fei later confided in Shuji about Bai Feili helping Li Hentian, recalling how Li Hentian had once prevented her from seeing her mother's last moments, vowing never to forgive him. Shuji offered a broader perspective, noting that despite the animosity, both Jiubai and Feiwo were stage production companies that shared a common fate.
Shuji suggested that Yu Fei already knew her heart's true desire, but struggled to find her place in that decision, feeling torn between supporting Bai Feili and changing his mind. Shuji advised her to stand in the middle during disagreements, trying to accept and understand. That evening, Yu Fei waited for Bai Feili to return. He offered her snacks initially meant for their pet, Cang.
When Bai Feili tried to share details of his meeting with Li Hentian, Yu Fei cut him off, stating she would not interfere with his decisions but didn't want to hear the specifics. She accused him of enjoying "saving" people, wondering if that was how he viewed their relationship.
Bai Feili earnestly denied it, claiming it was Yu Fei who had always saved him by helping him discover his true self, and he hoped she would like him for who he was. Yu Fei admitted she wanted to accept but couldn't, asserting that this struggle was also her true self. Later, Wuchang called Yu Fei, requesting her help to record a Peking opera line for the opening of Dragon Scale.
Before Yu Fei could respond, Bai Feili's voice was heard on the other end of the phone (presumably with Wuchang or overhearing), and he promptly declined on her behalf, stating she was occupied. Subsequently, Li Hentian asked Bai Feili to apologize to Yu Fei for him.
However, Bai Feili insisted that Li Hentian apologize to her in person, emphasizing that a true apology involves acknowledging one's mistake and accepting if forgiveness isn't given, rather than merely saying "sorry" and expecting immediate absolution. Yu Fei decided to visit Feiwo Studio, where she ran into Guan Jiu. Guan Jiu apologized for the previous misunderstanding when she had unbuttoned Bai Feili's shirt, explaining he seemed distressed and needed to breathe.
Yu Fei then asked Guan Jiu if she had feelings for Bai Feili. Guan Jiu explained that she was not the person Yu Fei saw today without Bai Feili's help. She recounted how Bai Feili had stood by her when she violated school rules and faced isolation, telling her that "two people don't count as isolated" and that the best revenge against those who wanted to see her fail was to "laugh loudly in the spotlight."
They then founded Jiubai with the dream of establishing their own theater, and Guan Jiu reflected that someone who appears at such critical moments becomes a "special existence." Yu Fei, still curious, asked what truly happened to Bai Feili on the day of their competition, and Guan Jiu speculated that Bai Feili likely had his own secrets. Ultimately, Yu Fei agreed to help Feiwo with the Peking opera, surprising Bai Feili when she arrived at the studio.
Li Hentian then personally apologized to Yu Fei. Yu Fei, however, clarified that her help was not a sign of forgiveness towards him, but rather because Dragon Scale represented a cherished dream for many people, including the "annoying guy" (referring to Li Hentian himself). She then recorded her Peking opera segment for the project.
