The Starry Night, The Starry Sea Episode 25 Recap
> The Starry Night, The Starry Sea Recap
An old story circulated among unnamed people on the island about a miraculously resurrected drowned girl. Doctors had pronounced her dead after thirty minutes without oxygen, but her grandfather insisted she was alive, and after several hours, she revived. Her name was Shen Luo. Wu Julan, having returned to the island but concealing himself, was confronted by Shen Luo, who had noticed him secretly following her. She was angry he had hidden from her.
The following morning, she teased him about getting drunk the previous night and sneaking into her bed. She questioned why he had returned without consulting her on such an important matter. Wu Julan asked if she wanted to see him, to which she playfully responded that his actions, like following her from America and drunkenly crawling into her bed, revealed his true feelings. She declared that he still loved her. Shen Luo urged him to drop his ego and apologize.
Wu Julan offered a simple apology for his embarrassment, but Shen Luo found it insufficient and angrily called him a "lying brat" who liked to hide, telling him to leave. When Wu Julan actually started to leave, Shen Luo was surprised and chided him for his indecisiveness, vowing to deal with him someday. Later, Wu Julan expressed his apology to Shen Luo, admitting he had no promises to make and shouldn't interfere with her life, but he couldn't help it.
He told her that after he left, she was free to love anyone she chose, but he wished to spend his remaining month with her. Shen Luo, acknowledging he finally spoke the truth, initially feigned reluctance, calling him boring and a jerk. She then confessed her deep regret over their breakup, admitting her heart ached without him. She declared her willingness to spend any time they had left together, even a week or a day.
Embracing, they vowed never to separate again and to live each day as if it were their last. Shen Luo then playfully demanded Wu Julan cook her different meals every day for the next month. As they spent time together, Wu Julan sensed his powers slowly diminishing. They shared a poignant conversation about his inevitable return to the ocean depths, explaining that he would go where she couldn't follow and wouldn't return, even in her old age.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yisheng, believing Shen Luo to be heartbroken, attempted to distract her by setting her up on multiple blind dates. Shen Luo, annoyed by the unsuitable suitors, used the opportunity to try and provoke Wu Julan, who had been secretly watching her. When one of the dates turned aggressive, Wu Julan intervened, rescuing Shen Luo. He later confronted Jiang Yisheng, jokingly accusing him of flirting with other women.
Jiang Yisheng, initially confused, was shocked to learn that Wu Julan had returned to the island and had witnessed his attempts to set Shen Luo up. Wu Jingjing clarified that Wu Julan had been by Shen Luo's side all along and that Jiang Yisheng's misguided efforts had, in fact, helped Shen Luo and Wu Julan reconcile. When Jiang Yisheng asked for a reward for his accidental good deed, Wu Jingjing showed him a beautiful view, which he found satisfying.
Wu Julan and Shen Luo continued to cherish their time together. Shen Luo playfully jumped into the sea, pretending to drown, only to be caught by Wu Julan, who made her promise not to do such dangerous things again. He drew a tattoo on her neck, assuring her that for the remaining days, he would fulfill her every wish. Jiang Yisheng and Wu Jingjing reiterated their concerns about Shen Luo's upcoming marriage, urging her to reconsider.
Shen Luo, masking her pain with a forced smile, asked them to be her maid of honor and best man, claiming she would forever cherish the memories of her time with Wu Julan. As she left to deliver wedding invitations, her tears streamed down her face once she was alone.
Wu Julan, learning from Wu Jingjing that Shen Luo was aware of his impending death, felt conflicted but resolved to make her remaining time happy, despite his inability to fulfill her wish for a lifetime together. Wu Jingjing implored him not to leave Shen Luo with regrets. Shen Luo's stepmother, Su Gui Fang, arrived on the island upon hearing about the wedding. Her terror returned when she realized the groom was Wu Julan, recalling his merman form.
Jiang Yisheng seized the moment to take her to his hospital, where he and Wu Jingjing fabricated a diagnosis of delusional disorder, which partially relieved Su Gui Fang. Back home, still wary, Su Gui Fang questioned Wu Julan's background and wealth. Upon discovering he possessed nothing, she angrily berated Shen Luo, fearing Wu Julan would be a financial burden. That evening, she attempted to brainwash Shen Luo into breaking off the engagement.
The next day, Grandma Olivet came looking for Wu Julan and introduced herself to Su Gui Fang as Wu Julan's American housekeeper, asking her to pass on a document. Su Gui Fang eagerly opened it after Grandma left, discovering it was a deed to Wu Julan's property, along with bank deposits totaling over a hundred million. Su Gui Fang's attitude towards Wu Julan immediately changed, becoming overly solicitous.
When Su Gui Fang gave Wu Julan the document, he and Shen Luo understood the reason for her sudden change. Meanwhile, Zhou Buyan stumbled upon a small vial of solution hidden in Zhou Buwen's bookshelf. Discovering it contained potent Mandrake poison, she confronted her brother about it. Zhou Buwen claimed An Zuo had left it with him.
He then feigned discarding the poison by pouring it into a sink, but secretly soaked it into a tissue, later wringing it out to retrieve the liquid after Zhou Buyan had left. Zhu Yiyang, feeling guilty about his past complicity in Zhou Buwen's "illicit deeds," discussed Zhou Buwen's actions with Zhou Buyan, promising to help persuade Zhou Buwen to change his ways for his sister's sake.
Zhou Buyan later tried to convince Zhou Buwen to buy a house and open a hotel on the island, but he dismissed the idea, citing its plainness and his preference for the city. Heartbroken by Shen Luo's wedding invitation, Zhou Buwen reminisced about his impoverished childhood and Shen Luo's kindness towards him, which had fueled his ambition to become wealthy and marry her. Unwilling to accept defeat, he vowed to win her back.
Zhu Yiyang confronted Zhou Buwen, accusing him of not truly loving Zhou Buyan. Enraged by Zhou Buwen's dismissive remarks, Zhu Yiyang brandished his phone, threatening to expose a video. The video showed Shen Luo's grandfather collapsing in the forest, and Zhou Buwen, after following Wu Julan, deliberately refusing to administer life-saving medicine, watching Shen Luo's grandfather die. Zhou Buwen attempted to seize the phone, leading to a violent struggle where Zhu Yiyang vented years of accumulated resentment.
Zhu Yiyang then proposed a deal: he would help Zhou Buwen win Shen Luo if Zhou Buwen agreed to hand over Zhou Buyan. Zhou Buwen reluctantly accepted. Grandma Olivet expressed her disapproval of Wu Julan marrying Shen Luo, viewing her as a descendant of his enemies. Wu Jingjing pleaded with Grandma to respect their deep love and offer her blessings. She then entrusted An Zuo's Black Magic Knife to Grandma, asking her to destroy it.
While rehearsing the wedding ceremony by the sea, Jiang Yisheng, moved by the atmosphere, expressed his eagerness to marry Wu Jingjing, and the two shared a passionate embrace. Zhou Buyan excitedly showed Zhou Buwen her outfit for the wedding, but he was preoccupied with his sinister plan to poison Wu Julan during the ceremony. As their wedding day approached, Wu Julan, sustained by medicine, cherished every moment with Shen Luo.
They visited a bustling night market, enjoying spicy squid skewers and playful banter. Jiang Yisheng and Wu Jingjing observed them, delighted by their blossoming romance. At the market, Zhu Yiyang confronted Zhou Buwen, who was attempting to monopolize a vendor. After Zhu Yiyang forced Zhou Buwen to apologize, a scuffle broke out, with Wu Julan stepping in to defend Zhu Yiyang.
Later, Wu Julan and Shen Luo participated in a lantern riddle, where Wu Julan's clever answer, interpreting "lovers will eventually get together" as "terrified" (symbolizing two hearts becoming one), amused Shen Luo. An unexpected fire then erupted on a lantern, which Wu Julan quickly extinguished. On the wedding day, Shen Luo awoke to find Wu Julan already gone; Jiang Yisheng informed her that Wu Julan had left early to prepare the venue.
Zhou Buwen approached Wu Julan to offer a toast, his wine secretly laced with poison. Suspecting his malicious intent, Wu Julan politely declined, citing concerns about drinking before the ceremony. Amidst the joyous gathering of friends and family, Shen Luo, radiant in her wedding gown, walked towards Wu Julan. As she excitedly stumbled, Wu Julan caught her. At that precise moment, his hand began to transform into a merman's.
Zhou Buwen had discreetly placed a poisoned needle on Shen Luo's dress, which pricked Wu Julan when he touched her. Witnessing Wu Julan's agonizing transformation, Zhou Buwen smiled malevolently. The transformation was complete: Wu Julan became a merman, triggering a sudden storm. Panic erupted, and guests fled as Wu Julan plunged into the sea. Su Gui Fang, terrified, stumbled towards the dock to escape the island.
Jiang Yisheng intercepted her, revealing Wu Julan's true identity as a merman and threatening her with dire consequences if she ever spoke of it. Su Gui Fang, trembling, agreed to remain silent. The island residents, now aware of Wu Julan's true form, spread rumors and proposed banishing him. Zhou Buwen seized the opportunity to falsely accuse Wu Julan of killing their chickens, prompting the mayor to organize a protest against Shen Luo. Shen Luo, meanwhile, waited anxiously for Wu Julan's return.
