Out Of The Dream Episode 18 Recap
> Out Of The Dream Recap
Bai Feili and Guan Jiu's business collaboration was progressing faster than anticipated. Guan Jiu offered to change Bai Feili's flight, but was amused to overhear Bai Feili talking affectionately to Yu Fei through his phone speaker, which had accidentally been left on during the call.
Later, Guan Jiu noticed her feet were sore from her high heels and was pleasantly surprised to find a band-aid in her bag, along with a series of caring messages from Hao Shi, who had thoughtfully reminded her about essentials like an eye mask, melatonin, and an energy bar that were already in her bag or luggage, reminding her to eat and rest well.
Yu Fei returned to Shandengting, having promised Mengru she would find a solution for the final fight scene of "South Song 2". She found the troupe hall deserted, with fallen leaves covering the courtyard. Her junior apprentice, Lanting, greeted her, explaining that Shandengting wasn't busy these days, the Master was away, and everyone else had gone out to find work.
Lanting shared his frustration that his popular live streams had been shut down by Uncle, and now Shandengting could barely manage two or three performances a week. Yu Fei asked for his help, as the stage play needed actors with martial arts skills, and Lanting readily agreed, needing money and wanting to help her. Despite the positive outcome, Yu Fei felt a pang of sadness looking at the empty Shandengting.
In a classroom setting, Yu Fei and Da Die presented their views on the inheritance and development of traditional opera using light and handmade props. Yu Fei argued that for an art form to truly live, it must be understood and even criticized by the public, advocating for innovation over mere preservation. Her phone rang unexpectedly, and Da Die accidentally answered it while trying to hang up.
Uncle, who was on the line, overheard Yu Fei's speech and harshly interrupted, telling her to stop. He reprimanded her, stating that innovation should not mean abandoning one's roots or blindly adopting external elements. He compared her approach to a fish growing wings to please birds, or removing its bones to avoid being disliked, leaving only a monster. He concluded that pandering would not find true connoisseurs and demanded that Yu Fei redo her presentation.
Bai Feili, having overheard the entire conversation, later asked Guan Jiu what reason a person would have for not telling their current partner about a reunion with a former love. Guan Jiu, aware of an approaching typhoon and potential flight disruptions, advised him to consider his decision carefully. Later, Yu Fei had dinner with Lanting.
Lanting expressed his desire to leave Shandengting, lamenting the dwindling audience for opera and the lack of opportunities for performers like him, who struggled to make a living. Yu Fei felt it would be a pity to give up after enduring so many hardships. Suddenly, Uncle appeared in the heavy rain, criticizing Lanting for associating with "unconventional people" like Yu Fei and doing "unorthodox things." He ordered Lanting to kneel.
Yu Fei also knelt, taking responsibility and explaining that she had encouraged Lanting to earn money due to his difficult circumstances. Overwhelmed with tears, Yu Fei apologized for her mistakes, for encouraging Lanting, for expressing her views on opera, for disobeying him, and for still holding onto her gratitude despite leaving Shandengting.
Then, in a raw outburst, she confessed to Uncle, with Bai Feili present, that she had developed feelings for him (Uncle) in her vulnerable youth, stemming from her perception that he had always been cold and looked down on her. Uncle, furious, played a recording of a song Yu Fei had performed earlier, expressing his profound disappointment. He reminded her of the ten years he had spent teaching her opera, not for her to sing "such things."
He revealed his high hopes for her, seeing her as someone destined for greatness, not to be confined by Shandengting. His previous harshness, he explained, was to push her to a bigger stage to sing major operas like "Wu Zixu" and "Wenzhao Pass," not to stay and sing simple tunes. As Uncle raised his hand, seemingly to hit her, Bai Feili intervened, physically stopping him. Yu Fei, angered by Bai Feili's action, questioned him sharply.
Disappointed, Bai Feili left, ignoring her calls and turning off his phone. He threw away the fluffy little lion phone charm, a token of their affection, which was picked up by two children. However, Bai Feili soon returned to retrieve the charm, exchanging it with the children for tickets to an amusement park he had prepared for Yu Fei. Yu Fei waited for him outside his house, wanting to resolve their argument.
When Bai Feili finally returned, Yu Fei tried to explain that she had simply sought Lanting's help for the stage play "South Song 2" because it required martial arts actors, and the dinner was to thank him. Bai Feili, however, was still upset and walked past her. Yu Fei's grandparents, witnessing the tension, nudged Bai Feili.
Though he feigned indifference, upon learning Yu Fei was outside without an umbrella in the rain, he immediately grabbed one and rushed out, but missed her. Meanwhile, Hao Shi, back at the studio after a trip, was practicing how to ask Guan Jiu to an event. Guan Jiu, having returned from her own business trip, overheard him. She playfully tried to deter him by claiming she had a date and borrowed a bouquet of roses from a delivery person.
Hao Shi, however, was undeterred, clarifying his invitation was for the following day and simply handed her the tickets before leaving. Guan Jiu returned the roses to the delivery person. The next morning, Bai Feili brought breakfast to the studio, intending to apologize to Yu Fei, only to learn from Guan Jiu that Yu Fei had a cold and called in sick. Rushing to Yu Fei's apartment, he immediately took charge, preventing her from doing anything.
Yu Fei, conscious of her unkempt appearance while sick, quickly tidied herself up in the bathroom. In the kitchen, Bai Feili, a novice cook, attempted to prepare a nutritious porridge for her, creating what appeared to be a culinary disaster with ingredients like abalone, dried scallops, and matsutake. Despite the questionable taste, Yu Fei found his effort touching. He then tenderly wrapped her in a blanket.
