The Starry Night, The Starry Sea Episode 24 Recap
> The Starry Night, The Starry Sea Recap
Jiang Yisheng confronted Zhou Buwen, accusing him of being despicable and warning him to stay away from Shen Luo. Zhou Buwen retaliated, questioning how he could allow Shen Luo to be with a "monster" like Wu Julan, given what Shen Luo meant to him. Jiang Yisheng countered that Shen Luo did not love Zhou Buwen and Wu Julan had never harmed her, unlike Zhou Buwen, who had "done every bad thing possible."
Jiang Yisheng severed their brotherhood, declaring that the "good brother Da Tou" in his heart was long dead, and Zhou Buwen now "frightens" him. Zhou Buwen accepted the severance, threatening to "teach [them] a lesson." Zhou Buyan intervened in a physical altercation between them, demanding to know why Jiang Yisheng was hitting her brother. Jiang Yisheng accused Zhou Buwen of escalating from trickery to attempting murder.
Zhou Buyan later confronted Zhou Buwen about not returning home and his continued involvement with An Zuo, begging him to stop. Zhou Buwen defiantly stated he acted willingly and challenged her to report him. Despite his stubbornness, Zhou Buyan insisted she trusted him and was willing to help him if he would just give her a reason. Wu Jingjing's grandmother reprimanded her, stating she had almost jeopardized their family's generations-long duty to the mermaids due to her personal feelings.
Wu Jingjing accepted responsibility and requested severe punishment. Jiang Yisheng immediately offered to take the punishment in her place, then insisted on enduring it alongside her. Wu Jingjing warned him that their family's punishment was like torture, and he, a normal person, might not survive two days and nights, unlike her, who had been specially trained since childhood. Jiang Yisheng, shocked, asked why she hadn't revealed the severity of the punishment earlier.
While undergoing their ordeal on a rock, Jiang Yisheng, suffering from dehydration, attempted to cheer Wu Jingjing by reminiscing about a tangerine tree at their hospital. Wu Jingjing realized he was trying to console himself through illusions. Meanwhile, An Zuo discussed his plans with an associate, reflecting on their previous failure to acquire the mermaid pearl. He declared he had put "everything on the line" and could not give up, especially after losing something vital to him.
He then unveiled his "perfect plan" to defeat Wu Julan by targeting Shen Luo, whom he identified as Wu Julan's "true weakness." He assured his associate that he would not harm Shen Luo but would use her as a lure to trap Wu Julan. The associate, after some initial hesitation, agreed to trust him and await his news.
Later, the grandmother ended Jiang Yisheng and Wu Jingjing's punishment early, not for Wu Jingjing, but out of concern that Jiang Yisheng might not survive, which would cause Wu Jingjing to lose someone truly good to her. She imparted wisdom, suggesting that only through unforgettable pain could one re-examine the meaning of fate and discover the "most beautiful scenery" that had always been beside them.
Jiang Yisheng, despite being starved, expressed happiness to be with Wu Jingjing, making light of his own suffering. Wu Jingjing thanked him for showing her "the most beautiful scenery," playfully teasing him about his physical boasts failing him when he fainted on the rock. To mend fences and celebrate their reconciliation, Shen Luo hosted a dinner, inviting Zhou Buwen, Zhou Buyan, Jiang Yisheng, and Wu Jingjing. Zhou Buwen announced his relationship with Zhou Buyan, receiving congratulations.
Shen Luo then shared that, after her persistent pleas, Wu Julan had decided to stay, a revelation that delighted everyone. Following this, Wu Julan took Shen Luo to his home in the vast ocean. They joyfully swam with sea snails and fish, savoring their shared moments. However, Wu Julan's body began to weaken. Wu Jingjing helped him with his medication, expressing frustration that he was hiding his impending death from Shen Luo.
Wu Julan confirmed he only had one month left, explaining his desire to spend his remaining time making Shen Luo happy, knowing she would sacrifice everything to save him if she knew the truth. At night, Zhou Buwen quietly went to the laboratory and took a mysterious medicine bottle. In the evening, Shen Luo feigned that her bed was broken and insisted on sleeping with Wu Julan.
Wu Julan, unable to resist Shen Luo's playful charms, turned over and hugged her tightly. Shen Luo happily lay in Wu Julan's arms, imagining whether their child would be human or fish. Wu Julan told Shen Luo to sleep soundly. The next morning, Shen Luo woke to an empty bed. Wu Julan had prepared her breakfast and playfully corrected her wrongly buttoned shirt, an intimate gesture she still found slightly unfamiliar.
Shen Luo later went to the hospital to return Jiang Yisheng's forgotten phone. There, she overheard Jiang Yisheng and Wu Jingjing discussing Wu Julan's condition, confirming that his fate was death regardless of his choices, and that he had been relying on medication, hiding the truth to protect her. Heartbroken, Shen Luo fled to the beach, contemplating Wu Julan's permanent departure and cherishing their beautiful memories.
Wu Jingjing followed, explaining that her family had exhausted all methods to save Wu Julan and that all his actions were motivated by his wish for Shen Luo's happiness. Shen Luo, accepting the grim reality, resolved to make Wu Julan's remaining days as joyful as possible. Zhu Yiyang noticed Zhou Buwen was still tracking Shen Luo, believing he hadn't moved on. He advised Zhou Buyan to keep a closer watch on Zhou Buwen.
Zhou Buyan initially expressed faith in Zhou Buwen but later confronted him at home. Zhou Buwen confessed he still loved Shen Luo and that his relationship with Zhou Buyan was a pretense. He requested time, asserting he would eventually forget Shen Luo and that love could overcome anything, which brought a smile to Zhou Buyan's face.
Zhou Buwen later met a former colleague of Dr. Zhang Aiguo, a nurse, seeking information about any unusual or "freakish" patient-related incidents during Dr. Zhang Aiguo's work, to which the nurse responded that strange occurrences were common in emergency rescue. Jiang Yisheng and Wu Jingjing, present at Shen Luo's home for dinner, observed Shen Luo's outward composure, which perplexed Jiang Yisheng as he knew she was aware of Wu Julan's impending death.
He did not realize she was suppressing her grief for Wu Julan's sake. While strolling by the sea, Shen Luo took the initiative and proposed marriage to Wu Julan. He knelt, accepted, and placed a ring on her finger, declaring them family. Overwhelmed with emotion, Shen Luo wept tears of joy, and Wu Julan held her close. Back home, they joyfully planned their wedding, playfully discussing inviting fish and shrimp from the sea, cherishing their precious, final moments together.
Jiang Yisheng and Wu Jingjing were astonished to learn of the wedding, scheduled for two days later. Shen Luo extended an invitation to Zhou Buwen and Zhou Buyan. Wu Jingjing later confided in Wu Julan that Shen Luo was fully aware of his impending death and had proposed to ensure they had no regrets. Concurrently, strange events plagued the island, with residents' chickens mysteriously dying, causing widespread fear and unease among the community.
