The Starry Night, The Starry Sea Episode 3 Recap
> The Starry Night, The Starry Sea Recap
Shen Luo was determined to earn money from the upcoming Merman Folk Festival but was also concerned about the potential embarrassment of participating herself. She devised a plan and returned home, reminding Wu Julan of the significant loss she incurred when he burned her angel's trumpets and stating that she would have originally sent him away.
However, because he had "sensibly" played along as her fake boyfriend in front of her Grandpa, she offered to let him stay a few more days. When Wu Julan thanked her, Shen Luo said there was no need for thanks, but he should show gratitude for her letting the past go. She then proposed that he continue to pretend to be her boyfriend in front of Grandpa while also impersonating a merman for the festival.
She promised to forget the money he owed her and even let him stay and eat for free if he agreed. Wu Julan, after some contemplation, agreed to her terms, though Shen Luo warned him not to develop any real feelings, to which he dismissed her concerns. The next day, at the Merman Folk Festival, Wu Julan, disguised as a merman, sat on a parade float, captivating the crowds with his handsome appearance.
Young women and older ladies screamed excitedly, a reaction Shen Luo hadn't anticipated from him. Realizing she needed to pick up Grandpa to join the festivities, Shen Luo rushed to the hospital to bring him to the seaside. By the time Grandpa arrived, the festival was reaching its climax. Wu Julan, following tradition, tossed a wreath into the sea, which immediately led to a spectacular display of fish leaping in unison, a phenomenon resembling "fish leaping over the dragon's gate."
Grandpa, witnessing this, became deeply agitated, and Wu Julan keenly observed his reaction. After the startling display, Shen Luo tried to calm Grandpa, but he insisted on a serious conversation about Wu Julan's true origins. Grandpa directly questioned Wu Julan about his background, asking where he came from, if he had family, and what kind of work he did. Wu Julan vaguely replied that he was from "near the sea" and was an orphan who "does everything."
Shen Luo interjected, explaining that Wu Julan had a "stable job" helping her with household chores to repay a debt. Grandpa was taken aback, asking if Wu Julan was living off Shen Luo. Wu Julan, misunderstanding the idiom "eating soft rice," simply commented that "today's rice isn't soft" and asked for more. Reluctantly, Shen Luo revealed to Grandpa that Wu Julan was on the island looking for someone who owed him something.
Upon hearing this, Grandpa became visibly agitated and began to cough violently. That night, amidst a fierce thunderstorm, Grandpa sat alone in the hospital, holding an ancient silver box. He mused that after more than a hundred years, what was fated to happen was finally unfolding. He then called Shen Luo, instructing her to come to the hospital the following morning as he had something very important to tell her. The next morning, Shen Luo visited Grandpa at the hospital.
Jiang Yisheng and Zhou Buwen were also there. Zhou Buwen, having learned about Shen Luo's fake relationship with Wu Julan, was agitated and voiced his disapproval. Jiang Yisheng, however, urged Zhou Buwen not to upset Grandpa, emphasizing that the arrangement was for Grandpa's peace of mind, and warned him not to mess it up. Grandpa, still gently warned Shen Luo about not settling for just anyone.
Shen Luo, unaware of the real danger, continued to play the part for Grandpa, exaggerating Wu Julan's devotion and obedience to make him happy. Grandpa, still skeptical about Wu Julan, secretly planned further tests for his character, first for "greed and lust," and then "life and death." He convinced a reluctant Jiang Yisheng to help him orchestrate these tests, sending Shen Luo away on an errand to buy cakes.
A test for greed was conducted where a gold bracelet was offered to Wu Julan, which he refused. Later, Jiang Yisheng, disguised as a flirtatious woman at a bar, tried to seduce Wu Julan. Wu Julan, however, saw through the disguise, noting Jiang Yisheng's unshaven legs and other unappealing traits, and rejected the advances. Jiang Yisheng reported to Grandpa that Wu Julan had passed the "greed and lust" test.
Grandpa then proceeded with the "life and death" test, staging a fake kidnapping where Shen Luo and Wu Julan were held captive, along with a reluctant Jiang Yisheng, by "kidnappers" (Grandpa and his aides). When told only one of them could live, Wu Julan immediately offered his life for Shen Luo, even though Shen Luo, playing her part aggressively, had declared she wanted him killed.
During their escape, Shen Luo found herself desperate on a rooftop, but Wu Julan bravely leaped from the building with her, landing safely. The "kidnappers" then revealed themselves as Grandpa and Jiang Yisheng, and Grandpa, satisfied with Wu Julan's selfless love, solemnly entrusted Shen Luo into his care. Wu Julan pledged to protect Shen Luo for life. Following this ordeal, Shen Luo's understanding of Wu Julan deepened.
She proposed they become friends, a concept Wu Julan found perplexing, believing humans to be treacherous and self-serving. Shen Luo explained that friendship brings connection, a confidant, and someone to miss, which are all sources of happiness. Wu Julan listened thoughtfully. Soon after, Wu Julan received a phone call from Grandpa, arranging a meeting in the island's mountain forest for noon.
Wu Julan, aware that Shen Luo's family were descendants of Du Xiaolin, who had betrayed him and stolen the spirit pearl centuries ago, felt a familiar pain, though he knew Shen Luo herself was innocent. Grandpa then went alone to the mountain. Upon meeting Wu Julan, Grandpa was met with an angry gaze, and he fearfully avoided eye contact. Suddenly, without warning, Grandpa lunged at Wu Julan with a dagger.
Enraged, Wu Julan seized the dagger and turned it towards Grandpa, stopping it inches from his head. Grandpa dropped to his knees, confessing his ancestors' remorse and their creation of the Merman Folk Festival as an act of repentance. He claimed he had not meant to kill Wu Julan, but was protecting Shen Luo, begging for her life. Wu Julan demanded the spirit pearl, and a trembling Grandpa produced the silver box containing it.
Just as Wu Julan reached for the box, a shadowy figure snatched it and fled. Wu Julan gave chase, while Grandpa, his strength failing, collapsed. Wu Julan pursued the assailant to the sea, where he identified the person as a Black Wizard by a flame tattoo. The stolen silver box fell and cracked open, revealing it to be empty.
The Black Wizard summoned a swarm of black bats to cover his escape, leaving Wu Julan to roar in anger at the loss of the spirit pearl. In the meantime, Shen Luo, Zhou Buwen, and Jiang Yisheng, having realized Grandpa was no longer at the hospital, searched for him. They eventually found his lifeless body in the mountain forest. Overcome with grief, Shen Luo fainted.
Zhou Buwen and Jiang Yisheng were perplexed by Grandpa's presence in the forest and discovered that his last phone call had been to Wu Julan. Since Wu Julan had not been seen since Grandpa's death, they began to suspect his involvement. Shen Luo found Wu Julan standing motionless by the sea, where he had remained for an entire day and night. She grabbed him, demanding to know if he had been with Grandpa before his death.
With red, angry eyes, Wu Julan stared at Shen Luo, then forcefully pulled away from her grasp. He explicitly stated that he was not responsible for her Grandpa's death. Wu Julan then left silently, his face grim. Jiang Yisheng and Zhou Buwen arrived shortly after. An agitated Zhou Buwen, convinced Wu Julan had murdered Grandpa, furiously lunged at him with a punch.
However, his fist was intercepted by the hand of a beautiful woman, leaving Jiang Yisheng utterly stunned by her appearance. The beautiful woman introduced herself as Wu Jingjing, Wu Julan's psychologist. She explained that Wu Julan was a Chinese American suffering from mild depression. Jiang Yisheng readily believed her, immediately developing admiration for Wu Jingjing. Zhou Buwen, however, remained skeptical and still harbored suspicions about Wu Julan's involvement in Grandpa's death.
Via video call from New York, Violet introduced her granddaughter, Wu Jingjing, to Wu Julan, explaining that Wu Jingjing had come specifically to assist him in his search for the spirit pearl. Wu Julan informed Violet that he had encountered the Black Wizard during his search. Violet expressed dismay, noting that after 150 years, the Black Wizard still hadn't given up pursuing the spirit pearl.
Zhou Buwen, who had previously confided to Jiang Yisheng his unwavering desire to marry Shen Luo now that he was no longer the "poor boy of the past," approached the distraught Shen Luo to comfort her. He passionately confessed his feelings, hoping she would accept him. Shen Luo, however, subtly rejected his affectionate advances. Later, Zhou Buwen received a call from Boss An, who, sounding weak, asked him to bring medicine and bandages to a hotel room.
Unknown to Zhou Buwen, Boss An was the Black Wizard who had been gravely wounded during his confrontation with Wu Julan while stealing the spirit pearl. Though confused, Zhou Buwen followed Boss An's instructions. Upon entering the hotel room, Zhou Buwen was horrified to see Boss An covered in blood and instinctively recoiled.
