The Starry Night, The Starry Sea Episode 17 Recap
> The Starry Night, The Starry Sea Recap
Shen Luo pulled Mi Xue'er away from Wu Julan, but Mi Xue'er unexpectedly collapsed. Despite his lingering doubts about Mi Xue'er's words, Wu Julan stayed by her side, feeling a deep obligation to Bai Yihan. He believed if Mi Xue'er was truly Bai Yihan's descendant, he was bound to care for her unconditionally.
When Mi Xue'er regained consciousness, she immediately sought Wu Julan, claiming she had late-stage brain cancer and only wished to see him before she died to have no regrets. Shen Luo, who had come to bring her porridge, overheard this and quietly left. Mi Xue'er then told Wu Julan that while doctors had given her a death sentence, she knew he could save her.
She reminded him that 150 years ago, Bai Yihan had saved his life, and he had promised his life to her in return. Therefore, Mi Xue'er insisted Wu Julan should now use the spiritual pearl to save her. Wu Jingjing strongly disagreed with Wu Julan's intention to save Mi Xue'er, leaving him in a difficult position, torn between the woman he loved and an old debt.
Later, while walking by the sea, Mi Xue'er reiterated her demand for the spiritual pearl, then fainted once more. As Wu Julan helped her back, they encountered Jiang Yisheng, who fabricated an urgent message from Shen Luo to send Wu Julan away. Wu Julan rushed home only to discover Jiang Yisheng's deception. Shen Luo then told him that after hearing about Mi Xue'er's terminal illness, she had decided to step aside and fulfill Mi Xue'er's dying wish.
Fighting back tears, Shen Luo ran off. Jiang Yisheng's true intention in stopping Mi Xue'er was to get her to the hospital for a check-up, but she repeatedly refused. His suspicions grew, and from that day on, he often waited outside Shen Luo's house for Mi Xue'er, hoping to convince her to get a full physical. His persistence backfired, however, leading to a beating from Mi Xue'er, from which Wu Jingjing rescued him.
Meanwhile, Shen Luo, distraught, went to an island bar to drink. Zhou Buwen followed her, noticed her unhappiness, and tried to cheer her up by buying her cotton candy, just as he did when they were children. Shen Luo, however, only wanted to drown her sorrows. Zhou Buwen couldn't understand why she loved Wu Julan, acknowledging Wu Julan's cold demeanor, but Shen Luo admitted she loved him without reason.
Despite Zhou Buwen's repeated declarations of love, Shen Luo's heart was entirely taken by Wu Julan. Zhou Buwen took a very drunk Shen Luo back home, where he began yelling at Wu Julan. Hearing this, a drunken Shen Luo sat up and started kicking and punching Zhou Buwen. Wu Julan took the opportunity to carry Shen Luo to her room. Zhou Buwen then received a call from Zhu Yiyang and promptly left.
Zhu Yiyang shared his investigation findings with Zhou Buwen, revealing that the people An Zuo was looking for, Wang Liming and Zhu Haixia, had left the island over a decade ago. Zhu Yiyang also casually mentioned Shen Luo and Wu Julan's relationship, subtly encouraging Zhou Buwen to pursue Shen Luo. Already harboring a grudge against Wu Julan, Zhou Buwen's determination to harm him intensified.
Aware that mandrake was an incurable and swiftly fatal poison for merfolk, he decided to use mandrake-tipped arrows to kill Wu Julan. Wu Julan booked a flight for Mi Xue'er to return to New York the following afternoon, explaining that Wu Jingjing had found top doctors for her in the US. He also clarified to Mi Xue'er that he had never harbored romantic feelings for her, only caring for her out of respect for Bai Yihan.
Mi Xue'er offered to cook a farewell dinner, but secretly poisoned Shen Luo and Wu Julan's drinks with a substance designed to disorient them. Shortly after dinner, Shen Luo felt sleepy and went to her room. Wu Julan, suffering from the poison's effects, struggled against it but gradually lost control. His eyes blood red, he rushed into Shen Luo's room and approached her.
Wu Jingjing, having had Mi Xue'er's background investigated in the US, arrived at Shen Luo's house to reveal the truth to Wu Julan. Upon entering, she saw a triumphant Mi Xue'er, immediately suspecting a trick to make Wu Julan take the spiritual pearl from Shen Luo. Wu Jingjing quickly went to Shen Luo's room and found Shen Luo sleeping soundly. Wu Julan, to prevent himself from succumbing to the poison's disorientation and harming Shen Luo, had stabbed himself.
Stumbling and wounded, Wu Julan left Shen Luo's house, where Zhou Buwen discovered him. Zhou Buwen tracked Wu Julan and then attacked him with the poisoned arrow he had prepared, causing Wu Julan to fall. Zhou Buyan witnessed the entire horrifying scene, heartbroken that her trusted brother was capable of such evil. Wu Julan, having nearly sacrificed his life for Shen Luo, was found in time and recovered after taking an antidote.
His first thought upon waking was to ask about Shen Luo. Wu Jingjing then shared her investigation results, revealing that Mi Xue'er was part of a plan by Wu Jingjing's grandmother, Olivia, to retrieve the spiritual pearl for Wu Julan's longevity. Mi Xue'er herself was merely an infatuated fan of Wu Julan. A few days later, back at home, Shen Luo playfully asked Wu Julan to taste her cooking.
She teased him about his age, asking if his previous girlfriends were octopuses or bighead carp, then compared her appearance to theirs. She reminded him she hadn't yet blamed him for "what happened last night," adding that she luckily had a healthy heart and survived.
She added, "Don't think I'll forgive you just because you're sick," referring to Mi Xue'er's prior claims of illness, and asked how he would repay her, to which he offered to take her out that night. Meanwhile, Wu Jingjing received an update on An Zuo, confirming he had returned to New York but quickly evaded surveillance.
Wu Jingjing expressed her continued worry, noting An Zuo's meticulous nature and long-standing obsession with the spiritual pearl, fearing he might uncover the truth about Shen Luo's past drowning. She emphasized the importance of protecting Shen Luo and keeping her decade-old drowning incident a secret, ordering her team to locate Dr. Zhang Aiguo, the only remaining person who knew about it. Wu Julan also shared with Wu Jingjing his respect for Shen Luo's decisions regarding their future.
Jiang Yisheng attempted to play the role of a doting boyfriend, offering to take Wu Jingjing to work on his motorbike daily. Wu Jingjing, however, took the driver's seat, speeding off and leaving Jiang Yisheng comically motion-sick, though he remained committed to their new "daily habit." Elsewhere, Zhu Yiyang presented Zhou Buyan with a box of homemade macarons, attempting to win her over.
Zhou Buyan rejected his efforts, bluntly stating she didn't like him and preferred professionally dedicated men like her brother, calling Zhu Yiyang "neither fish nor fowl." Later, An Zuo met with Zhu Yiyang, advising him that a man without a career was worthless and inviting him to work for him if he wanted to succeed.
Jiang Yisheng found Shen Luo troubled by a hypothetical scenario: a twenty-year-old friend falling in love with someone vastly different, questioning if they should pursue the relationship. Jiang Yisheng initially misunderstood, thinking Shen Luo was concerned about Wu Julan's poverty. Shen Luo clarified that it was the woman who felt she wasn't good enough for the man.
Jiang Yisheng advised her to trust her heart, reflecting on his own past as a playboy and how those experiences led him to his true love. He encouraged Shen Luo to be more confident, despite her self-perceived flaws. An Zuo, disguised as Dr. Zhang Aiguo's nephew, attempted to obtain Zhang Aiguo's contact information from the hospital, but was unsuccessful as the staff had lost touch with the retired doctor.
Shortly after, Wu Jingjing arrived at the hospital, also seeking Zhang Aiguo. She learned from the staff that "his nephew" had just inquired, realizing An Zuo was also on the same trail. She instructed her team to continue searching for Zhang Aiguo, as finding him might confirm the whereabouts of the spiritual pearl. Back at home, Shen Luo, still pondering Wu Julan's concern about her aging, practiced anti-wrinkle exercises.
She then spoke to Wu Julan, acknowledging his three pictures illustrating her aging while he remained youthful, interpreting them as his fear that time was their greatest enemy. However, she saw them differently: Wu Julan by her side through youth, middle age, and old age, covered in grey hairs, signifying "no leaving, no deserting." She asserted that time was not their enemy but their greatest witness, confident that he cared for her despite his denials.
Wu Julan again asked if she could truly accept growing old while he remained unchanged. Shen Luo declared she would be overjoyed to have a handsome man loving her even with wrinkles and would never regret it, eager to show him off for others to envy. Wu Julan, after confirming her unwavering feelings, simply said, "Good." Back in their home, Shen Luo asked Wu Julan to clarify his earlier words, complaining that he always spoke halfway.
He responded by kissing her. Shen Luo, realizing his meaning, was ecstatic that she, after twenty-five years, finally had a boyfriend. She playfully declared her intention to train him into an attentive and agreeable boyfriend, then worried he might have overheard her boastful plans. Later that night, Shen Luo asked Wu Julan if they should do something meaningful. He suggested she close her eyes, then tried to kiss her.
Shen Luo teasingly asked if he was trying to "indecently assault" her and offered to do the same to him. Wu Julan, recalling Wu Jingjing's explanation of the "true love's kiss" method to retrieve the spiritual pearl, knew that if Shen Luo truly loved him, the pearl would return to his body during a kiss. Shen Luo, impatient with his gradual approach, urged him to "get to the important point directly" and suggested moving to a more "suitable place."
Wu Julan, misunderstanding her intentions, clarified he only meant to "chat." Shen Luo then asked about his past, specifically if he had any girlfriends. He confirmed he had, but she quickly retracted the question, deciding she didn't want to know since they were long gone. She then asked about the jade pendant he wore. Wu Julan revealed it belonged to Bai Yihan, the woman he deeply loved, who had sacrificed everything for him.
He confessed that his inability to save her life was his greatest regret. Shen Luo comforted him, telling him not to be sad and reminding him that he now had her.
