The Brightest Star in the Sky Episode 23 Recap
> The Brightest Star in the Sky Recap
Yu Zirui confessed his true feelings to Yang Zhenzhen, admitting he genuinely liked her but could not pursue a relationship. As an artist under contract with Star Entertainment, he explained that he was forbidden from dating and was determined to sacrifice everything, including her, for the sake of his career, hoping the world would hear his music. A stunned Zhenzhen remarked that the Yu Zirui she knew would never say such things.
While acknowledging his selfishness and the pain he caused, he expressed a desperate hope for someone to understand him in a world full of deceit. Zhenzhen firmly rejected this, stating she would not be that person, and left. As Zhenzhen wandered the streets heartbroken, Zheng Baixu called and heard that she was crying. Worried, he asked where she was, but she only requested the next day off before hanging up.
Zhenzhen went home and drowned her sorrows in alcohol, passing out after finishing an entire bottle. Concerned for her, Zheng Baixu went to her apartment and found her asleep. Guessing her distress was because of Yu Zirui, he gently covered her with a blanket and left a glass of water by her bed before departing quietly. The next morning, a hungover Zhenzhen was awakened by her roommate, Xia Yuan, who had just returned after being out all night.
Zhenzhen told Xia Yuan that Yu Zirui had said they were "better off as friends." Xia Yuan was furious on her behalf, but Zhenzhen was resigned to her fate, used to her crushes ending poorly. Zhenzhen mentioned she vaguely recalled someone taking care of her during the night, but Xia Yuan dismissed it as a dream induced by heavy drinking. At the office, Zheng Baixu politely declined an invitation to eat from Kexin, citing a meeting.
When Yang Zhenzhen arrived, he asked about her well-being and played a melody he claimed was from a friend, asking for her opinion. Zhenzhen listened and bluntly called it "average" and "missing something," advising him not to sing it. She correctly deduced that Zheng Baixu had written it himself, though he denied it. Shortly after, Ma Lina summoned them to a meeting to discuss a proposal from Wenwen's agency for Zheng Baixu to collaborate with Wenwen on charity work.
Ma Lina emphasized the lucrative offer and strong PR support, seeing it as beneficial for his image. Zheng Baixu, remembering his past conflicts with Wenwen, flatly refused, accusing Ma Lina of seeing him not as a person but as a collection of parts to be exploited for scandals. When he stood to leave, Ma Lina declared she would finalize the details with Zhenzhen. However, Zhenzhen stood firmly with Zheng Baixu, stating her disagreement with the plan.
An infuriated Ma Lina threatened to fire her, but Zhenzhen remained unfazed, asserting that she had always insisted on doing what she believed was right and would continue to do so. Pleased by her loyalty, Zheng Baixu announced he was treating the team to lunch. Furious, Ma Lina stormed into Chen Tianhao's office, complaining about Zheng Baixu's defiance and Zhenzhen's insubordination, demanding Zhenzhen's dismissal.
The company boss, Chen Tianhao, calmly advised her to learn how to communicate with and appease artists, noting that different personalities require different approaches. He refused to fire Zhenzhen and told Ma Lina to be patient. News of the confrontation spread quickly through the company. At home, Xia Yuan warned Zhenzhen to be cautious of Ma Lina, who had strong backing. To their surprise, Ma Lina called Zhenzhen to apologize for her earlier behavior.
She claimed to have reconsidered and dropped the collaboration proposal with Wenwen, asking Zhenzhen to pass on her apologies to Zheng Baixu. Xia Yuan remained suspicious, believing Ma Lina's apology was a strategic retreat rather than a sincere change of heart. The next day, Luo Luo, the leader of Zheng Baixu's fan club, visited Zhenzhen's office. Under the guise of discussing fan club matters, she praised Zhenzhen and presented her with an expensive gift.
Zhenzhen tried to refuse, finding it too extravagant, but Luo Luo insisted. Moments later, Zhenzhen discovered a large sum of cash hidden inside the gift box. She immediately chased after Luo Luo to return it, but Luo Luo refused to take it back, threatening to give the money to the company instead. Left with no other choice, Zhenzhen took the money back to avoid causing more trouble.
Later, at a celebrity basketball game, Xia Yuan revealed that Luo Luo had also given her a necklace, which Xia Yuan believed was an attempt to get closer to Zhenzhen through her. Zhenzhen, understanding Luo Luo's true motive, told Xia Yuan to return it immediately. She realized that with Yu Zirui's rising popularity, Luo Luo was trying to curry favor with his new assistant, Xia Yuan, to secure future influence.
