Rising With The Wind Episode 24 Recap
> Rising With The Wind Recap
Yang Jian worked through the night in his studio, only finishing in the morning when his mother arrived. Concerned he hadn't slept, she asked what he was secretly working on. Yang Jian explained it was a surprise for Xiang Chaoyang but playfully refused to show her. His mother then lamented how hard Xiang Chaoyang was working for Jiang Hu, worrying about her well-being and even considering asking Jiang Hu for a raise on her daughter's behalf.
Yang Jian gently reminded her of her morning tea appointment to usher her out. At the factory, with the month's orders completed, the atmosphere grew tense. Huang Xiaolin questioned if Xiang Chaoyang was a "fake" designer, as the new designs were yet to appear. Master Zhang defended her, trusting Jiang Hu's judgment. Pei Zhiyuan, however, paced anxiously, panicked by the quiet factory, which reminded him of the brink of failure six months prior.
He complained to Jiang Hu about the lack of new designs and fabrics. Jiang Hu calmly explained she had sourced a Xinjiang cotton fabric and acquired a patent for an anti-odor, anti-sweat agent. Unconvinced, Pei Zhiyuan fixated on the urgent need for a new product for the next quarter, fearing the factory's collapse. Jiang Hu argued that establishing the product's core style was more critical than price, but he dismissed her concerns.
She asked him not to pressure Xiang Chaoyang, who was already working hard. Pei Zhiyuan retorted by questioning what she would sell on the next livestream, warning that if she failed, workers, distributors, and investors would hold her accountable. He concluded that if the factory failed, it would be Xiang Chaoyang's fault. Overhearing Pei Zhiyuan's harsh words, Xiang Chaoyang felt crushed by the pressure and doubts about her ability.
She wandered aimlessly and ran into Gao Yi outside the Lidu Department Store. Sensing her distress, he drove her home. Xiang Chaoyang confessed to having a creative block, feeling she was a failure as a designer. Her guilt was compounded by the fact that Jiang Hu wasn't pressuring her, making her feel she was only worsening Jiang Hu's difficult situation. Gao Yi encouraged her, noting her resemblance to Jiang Hu in their shared stubbornness and deep love for shoes.
He observed that Jiang Hu had evolved from someone who loved buying shoes to someone who loved making them. He expressed his admiration for their perseverance and assured Chaoyang their collaboration would succeed, urging her to have faith in herself. As Gao Yi dropped her off, they met Yang Jian. Gao Yi felt a sense of familiarity, but Yang Jian claimed they had never met and excused himself.
However, he then decided to let someone else handle his delivery and led Xiang Chaoyang inside. He showed her a collection of their childhood photos and his own drawings of her, using the memory of her passion for drawing to reignite her confidence. This heartfelt encouragement and walk down memory lane broke through her creative block, providing the inspiration she needed. Within a week, Xiang Chaoyang produced several new drafts.
Meanwhile, Ren Bing arrived to collect the final OEM shipment for Free Unicorn, officially ending their manufacturing contract with Teng Yue. Afterwards, Xiang Chaoyang excitedly presented her work to Jiang Hu, who, in a powerful display of trust, handed the drafts directly to Pei Zhiyuan for sampling without even looking at them. Later, Xu Si examined the samples, praising the craftsmanship, the high-quality fabric, and the new anti-odor technology. He correctly deduced the high price point of 599 yuan.
Jiang Hu revealed that a more affordable series, priced under 200 yuan, would be unveiled at their first livestream. She also outlined her marketing strategy: selling the advanced insoles separately for 59. 9 yuan, or for only 9. 9 yuan with a shoe purchase. After Huang Xiaolin tried on a pair and praised their comfort, Jiang Hu instructed Pei Zhiyuan to contact distributors. Master Zhang, observing the scene, praised Jiang Hu's growth into a composed and strategic leader.
In her office, Xu Si asked Jiang Hu about Yang Jian's frequent presence at the factory. She explained it was partly for e-commerce advice and mostly to shuttle Xiang Chaoyang. Relieved, Xu Si commented, "That's good," which annoyed Jiang Hu. She teased him for overthinking and brought up his past physical advances. Xu Si playfully admitted he was intentionally pursuing her but promised to act like a gentleman until she officially confirmed their relationship.
Jiang Hu accused him of being contradictory—sometimes strategic, sometimes impulsive—and of acting on his feelings without admitting them. Xiang Chaoyang began livestreaming her design process, incorporating traditional Chinese aesthetics like the color "Tianqing" and the concept of Tai Chi. Her audience grew steadily, stabilizing between 100,000 and 150,000 viewers. Ren Bing reported this growing engagement to Zhang Wenshan, recognizing it as a clever "emotional appeal" strategy.
He finally understood that Jiang Hu kept the factory to control R&D and maintain secrecy. He warned Zhang Wenshan that Teng Yue's upcoming 189 yuan shoe would directly compete with Free Unicorn. Concerned, they planned to use their influence to block Teng Yue's access to distributors. Their plan worked. Pei Zhiyuan tried to contact offline distributors but was met with excuses and rejections. It became clear that distributors were siding with the established power of Free Unicorn.
Pei Zhiyuan returned disheartened and suggested asking Xu Si, a Teng Yue shareholder, for help. Separately, Xu Si remarked to an acquaintance that Jiang Hu's pride would never allow her to ask him for help, recalling how she once sold her only luxury item rather than ask him to help secure a loan. Just as they hit a wall, Gao Yi visited Xiang Chaoyang.
Impressed by her livestream, he extended a formal invitation for Teng Yue to participate in the Lidu New Chinese Fashion Festival, a major national event. Xiang Chaoyang was stunned, doubting Teng Yue was qualified. Gao Yi clarified that his invitation only opened the door; their success would depend on a strong marketing proposal evaluated by a project team. Noting this was Jiang Hu’s specialty, he asked Xiang Chaoyang to pass on the message, inspiring her with a renewed sense of purpose.
