Sunshine by My Side Episode 23 Recap
> Sunshine by My Side Recap
After resolving the misunderstanding and clearing Sheng Yang's name, Song Chen and Pan Rou invited him to celebrate. Pan Rou announced her decision to resign from July Advertisement, citing the unfavorable working environment and the demanding nature of their profession. She believed that since art and life often demand everything, it was better to embrace a complete fresh start. Together, she and Song Chen proposed that the three of them establish their own independent design studio.
Sheng Yang readily agreed, stating he felt obligated to them, as their current situation was a direct result of helping him. Confident in their unity, they toasted to their new venture, with Sheng Yang contributing design and creativity, Pan Rou providing the initial capital, and Song Chen offering his manpower. Meanwhile, Ms. Qiao expressed immense satisfaction with Jian Bing's recently completed advertisement, praising it for exceeding her expectations. Jian Bing, in turn, thanked Ms. Qiao for her trust and support.
Ms. Qiao even complimented them as a "perfect couple" who supported each other in both life and work, before playfully inquiring who made the decisions between them on set. Early the next morning, Liang Shanshan arrived at the office, noting that Sheng Yang was the only candidate who hadn't shown up for his interview. Shortly after, Xue Yiming discovered Sheng Yang's name on the recruitment list and confronted Jian Bing, expressing his strong disapproval.
Their discussion quickly escalated into a heated argument, beginning with a dispute over a milk powder project where Xue Yiming insisted on compromising with a demanding client. Jian Bing vehemently argued for maintaining their principles and integrity, reminding Xue Yiming of their original pact when they founded Jian Yi Advertisement—that service did not equate to endless compromise. The argument intensified, with Xue Yiming making pointed remarks about Jian Bing potentially letting personal affections influence recruitment decisions.
As their voices rose, Sheng Yang arrived at the company. He calmly informed Mr. Zheng and Liang Shanshan that he was not there for an interview but had instead started his own studio, Moses Advertising, with friends and offered their services for future projects or urgent assistance. Overhearing Jian Bing and Xue Yiming's escalating quarrel at the door, he quietly departed. Later, Jian Bing encountered Liang Shanshan, who informed her that Sheng Yang had indeed started his own studio.
Realizing his departure, Jian Bing hurried after him. Sheng Yang then appeared, thoughtfully bringing her pear juice, anticipating her sore throat from the argument. Jian Bing, concerned, questioned his impulsive decision to start a business, contrasting it with the careful planning she and Xue Yiming had undertaken when they established Jian Yi. Sheng Yang asserted his professional aspirations, explaining his desire for an independent design studio and his belief that participating in competitions was the best way to gain recognition.
He then boldly invited Jian Bing to direct their entry film for an upcoming competition. Jian Bing challenged him to pitch his creative concept within one minute, emphasizing the crucial need for conciseness in advertising. Unprepared, Sheng Yang fumbled through an idea for a public service advertisement about garbage classification told from the trash's perspective, incorporating personification and Unreal Engine 4 effects, but he ran out of time and failed to articulate his vision clearly.
Jian Bing declined, cautioning him against acting solely on passion. Undeterred, Sheng Yang persisted, explaining that he saw his new studio as an "accelerator" to bridge the gap between their respective achievements. He promised to deliver a detailed creative script and budget. Jian Bing, in turn, offered him encouragement and wished him luck, cautioning him about the evolving industry landscape where quality and creativity often took a backseat to direct promotion by influencers.
Meanwhile, Liang Shanshan relayed Sheng Yang's new entrepreneurial venture to Xue Yiming. Xue Yiming immediately expressed concerns, misinterpreting Jian Bing's earlier defense of Sheng Yang as a sign of developing affection and fearing that Sheng Yang might be trying to exploit Jian Bing for his own advancement.
Liang Shanshan dismissed his worries, urging him not to meddle and reminding him that Jian Bing was an adult capable of making her own decisions, having already overcome significant challenges, subtly implying his own past actions had been more hurtful. Concurrently, Hao Junjie was diligently caring for Jian Shuang at the hospital.
Fang Mu arrived with a wheelchair to pick her up, explaining to Jian Shuang that her bone fracture would heal in about ten days, and her third-degree meniscus injury, though serious, fortunately wouldn't require removal and would recover with proper rest and rehabilitation, though her ice hockey days were over. He had thoughtfully brought her dresses suitable for wearing with a cast and a tool to scratch under it.
A nurse, clearly smitten with Fang Mu, attempted to give him her contact information, but he subtly directed her to Hao Junjie, indicating his disinterest. After Jian Shuang was settled, Jian Bing returned home, visibly shocked to see her sister in a wheelchair, only then learning about her injury from a week prior. Fang Mu calmly reiterated the details of Jian Shuang's condition and reassured Jian Bing about her recovery.
Jian Bing worried about Jian Shuang's studies, but Fang Mu had already anticipated this, retrieving all her books from school, coordinating with her professors, and arranging for lecture notes to be emailed, ensuring her academics wouldn't be delayed. Jian Bing attempted to transfer money to Fang Mu for the hospital expenses and his extensive care, but he gently refused, stating the school's insurance would cover it. Jian Bing insisted, uncomfortable with owing favors.
Fang Mu then expressed his deep admiration for Jian Bing's advertisements, claiming to have watched them "countless times," meticulously studying each frame. He described her as an artist with a childlike heart and vivid imagination, asserting that her films were not merely product promotions but a silent act of defiance against the world, reflecting her unyielding spirit. He suggested that despite her mature exterior, she harbored a powerful inner drive and discontent, seeking a kindred spirit through her art.
Fang Mu also shared a personal anecdote about a past mistake that led to his nephew Hao Junjie being sent to his care, explaining that it taught him the meticulousness he now applied. Jian Shuang and Hao Junjie discreetly overheard this intimate conversation.
Later, Jian Shuang playfully pressed Hao Junjie about Fang Mu's past relationships, speculating that his long-term singleness might stem from a deep emotional wound, similar to Jian Bing's own past, and even half-jokingly suggested he might be using Jian Bing out of a desire for "revenge." Hao Junjie quickly shut down her gossip, urging her to focus on her recovery.
Later, at Sheng Yang's home, he convened a brainstorming session with Song Chen and Pan Rou for their new studio's first project. Sheng Yang proposed focusing on garbage, specifically from the perspective of the trash itself. Pan Rou initially found brainstorming challenging. Song Chen then pitched a "dark" and cinematic concept: garbage sorting as a divine judgment by humans, who act as "proctors" manipulating the fate of each piece of trash.
He envisioned a scenario where a slight misstep could trigger a "butterfly effect," leading to all the world's trash uniting to rampage through the city. As they delved into how to realize this concept, Sheng Yang's mother, Luo Meijuan, along with his father, prepared a lavish meal for them. Despite his mother's insistence, Sheng Yang remained engrossed in his work, prompting Luo Meijuan to bring the food directly to his study, highlighting his intense dedication to his new venture.
