The Brightest Star in the Sky Episode 3 Recap
> The Brightest Star in the Sky Recap
Yang Zhenzhen reluctantly began her first day as Zheng Baixu's assistant, only to be verbally attacked by him almost immediately. Feeling frustrated, Zhenzhen called her best friend, Xia Yuan, to vent. Xia Yuan suggested she quit if she was unhappy, but Zhenzhen explained she was chosen from thousands to work at Star Entertainment and, having given up on her dream of singing once, she couldn't afford to give up a second time.
Xia Yuan tried to lift her spirits by highlighting the perks of the job, but Zhenzhen dismissed these, feeling like a "servant girl" despite the glamour. Soon after, Zhenzhen received a call from her boss, Liu Yinan, who welcomed her to the "landmine-filled assistant life" and instructed her to turn Zheng Baixu into an "obedient, beautiful, young man." Trying to sound confident, Zhenzhen falsely claimed that Zheng Baixu was quite satisfied with her.
Following instructions from Teacher Changran, the company's music director, Zhenzhen went to a bar to find Yu Zirui to record a demo for Zheng Baixu's new single. Upon entering, she was captivated by Yu Zirui's singing. They recognized each other from a past singing competition, where Zhenzhen had developed a crush on him. On his break, Yu Zirui approached her, and they reminisced, with Zhenzhen admitting she had given up on singing.
Zhenzhen then revealed her purpose, explaining that Teacher Changran had specifically requested him to record a demo for Zheng Baixu's new song, praising his unique style. Zhenzhen urged him to seize the opportunity, but Yu Zirui initially hesitated, citing a past rivalry and "high hostility" from Zheng Baixu. However, Zhenzhen's sincere belief that his singing was superior and he just lacked an opportunity eventually persuaded him to agree.
At the studio, as Yu Zirui looked at the musical score for the demo titled "Oh, Love," credited to Zheng Baixu, his demeanor changed. He abruptly declared he couldn't sing the song and stormed out. A confused Zhenzhen followed him, and he furiously revealed that the song was his own original composition, for which he possessed the original file. He expressed disbelief that a major company like Star Entertainment would plagiarize an unknown artist's work.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Zhenzhen promised to help him fight for his rights. She then confronted Zheng Baixu at his home, accusing him of plagiarism. Their discussion quickly became a heated argument, as Zheng Baixu denied ever claiming the song as his own and asserted he had no idea why his name was on it. He angrily told her not to interfere, blaming Liu Yinan for making him a "scapegoat."
Though Zhenzhen suspected he might also be a victim, she still pressed him on the copyright issue, but he defiantly retorted that "an unknowing one does not have any faults." Later, Yu Zirui discussed the plagiarism with a friend at the bar. His friend saw it as a chance to gain fame by leveraging Zheng Baixu's notoriety, but Yu Zirui was adamant about simply reclaiming his rights and was wary of the media.
His friend then suggested an independent music critic named Wu Gong, known for his harsh criticism of Zheng Baixu. Meanwhile, Zhenzhen called Yu Zirui to explain there might be a misunderstanding, but he angrily refused to meet, stating he could tolerate anything but plagiarism. His friend, however, saw the call as a sign of guilt from Star Entertainment and an opportunity to negotiate.
He urged Yu Zirui to "strike while the iron is hot," advising him to meet with a lawyer instead of Zhenzhen to pressure the company. Meanwhile, Du Wanqing, the company's CEO, learned about the plagiarism allegations. She confronted the chairman, Chen Tianhao, appalled that he and Teacher Changran would knowingly allow such an act.
Chen Tianhao admitted to it, explaining that Liu Yinan had suggested repackaging Zheng Baixu as a "singer-songwriter" to create a "large impact" and aid the company's IPO, and had assured him it was safe. Du Wanqing scoffed at Liu Yinan's "cheap tricks," revealing that the original writer had already contacted Wu Gong and planned to sue.
An enraged Chen Tianhao then confronted Liu Yinan, who confessed he had simply heard the song at a bar and thought the issue could be "solved with some money." Zheng Baixu also learned of the situation and approached Chen Tianhao, asserting that he would not sing "Oh, Love" and proposed releasing his own C-pop music instead. He argued that the songs provided by the company did not suit his style.
Chen Tianhao rejected the idea, emphasizing the niche market for C-pop and prioritizing commercial interests. He advised Zheng Baixu to accumulate more fans before attempting different styles. Disheartened, Zheng Baixu went to Yu Zirui's bar, where he was spotted by Yu Zirui's friend, who secretly called the paparazzi. The friend then approached Zheng Baixu, introducing himself as Yu Zirui's manager. He provocatively suggested Zheng Baixu's past talent show victory was rigged and that Yu Zirui was the true champion. When Zheng Baixu dismissed Yu Zirui's talent as "too average," the friend sharply retorted, "Then, why did you copy his work?"
