The Starry Night, The Starry Sea Episode 8 Recap
> The Starry Night, The Starry Sea Recap
Shen Luo recounted to Zhou Buwen that the recent attacks targeting them seemed to be orchestrated during Wu Julan's weakest moments. She also mentioned an incident where Wu Julan, during one of his episodes, threw her grandfather's most precious wine, which she managed to retrieve. Zhou Buwen, feigning concern that Wu Julan would be upset if he knew, offered to dispose of the wine for her.
Shen Luo directed him to where it was, and Zhou Buwen then purposefully collected the very same poisoned wine that had once harmed Wu Julan. Despite the recent earnings from selling sashimi, Shen Luo still felt burdened by debt. She offered half of the money to Wu Julan, but he only took a small amount, telling her to use the rest to pay off her creditors. While this pleased her, Shen Luo remained worried about her overall financial situation.
With the island's fishing season closed, Shen Luo expressed frustration at the difficulty of finding a job on the island, lamenting the limited opportunities. She had considered various roles, such as a hotel employee, ferry ticket sales staff, or a tour guide, but consistently found herself lacking the necessary education, experience, or certifications. She specifically mentioned owing a significant sum to Zhou Buwen and Jiang Yisheng, and even playfully complained about Wu Julan "staying at my place for nothing."
Wu Julan acknowledged the island's limited job market and noted that, given her lack of qualifications and delicate health, he was likely the only one who would take her in, though he quickly retracted the comment. Shen Luo, however, insisted on her capabilities, believing she could find a job. With the island's fishing season closed, Shen Luo proposed a new plan: making and selling seashell necklaces. Wu Julan accompanied her to the beach.
Due to the area's growing tourism, most beautiful shells had already been collected, but Wu Julan guided her to another spot where she discovered a rare rose spindle shell, previously thought to be extinct. Shen Luo excitedly began sharing her knowledge about shells, only to find that Wu Julan possessed an even deeper understanding.
He explained the history of shells, from their use as burial items for the wealthy to luxury goods for the common people, and their current symbolism as tokens of love, before gifting her the spindle shell. Shen Luo playfully teased him, saying he sounded like an old man of the sea, and Wu Julan chuckled. As they enjoyed the water, Shen Luo stumbled, and Wu Julan caught her.
He leaned in as if to kiss her, but she unexpectedly spat a mouthful of water on his face. Meanwhile, Jiang Yisheng continued his persistent pursuit of Wu Liangliang. He approached her at the hospital, presenting her with a rose, and then offered her a hair clip. Wu Liangliang was unamused, pointing out that all the nurses in the hospital had the same clip, suggesting he had bought them wholesale. Jiang Yisheng defended his economical choice.
Later, pretending to be a patient in Jiang Yisheng’s office, Wu Liangliang sternly pointed out that due to his strict upbringing and high parental expectations, he had developed a low sense of self-worth. This childhood trauma made him prone to promiscuity to gain confidence, despite being an excellent man. Jiang Yisheng was enlightened, realizing his philandering was a condition, and he became utterly impressed by Wu Liangliang, declaring his complete love for her.
Later, Jiang Yisheng received a phone call from Zhou Buwen, who asked him to pick someone up. Jiang Yisheng initially complained about the errand but quickly changed his tune when he saw Zhou Buwen's step-sister, Zhou Buyan. He immediately began to flirt, introducing himself as "Brother Jiang" and offering her discounts around the island. Zhou Buyan, however, was unimpressed, declaring that she only loved her big brother the best.
Zhou Buwen soon intervened, and they made their way to Shen Luo's house for dinner. At Shen Luo's home, Jiang Yisheng playfully teased Zhou Buwen, implying that he was spending too much time with Shen Luo and had even brought his sister along because of his growing affection. Zhou Buwen introduced Zhou Buyan to Shen Luo, explaining that his step-sister, a history major, was now helping him.
Shen Luo, ever conscious of her financial woes, insisted that her guests pay for their meal, stating that their dinner had consumed two days' worth of her food money. She then suggested that if they wouldn't pay, they should at least help her and Wu Julan find work. Both Zhou Buwen and Jiang Yisheng promised to brainstorm ideas. Later, Zhou Buyan asked Zhou Buwen to take her sightseeing.
He declined, citing other commitments, which prompted her to question if he was avoiding her because of Shen Luo, whom she suspected was his childhood crush. She declared that he was "not allowed to like her anymore." Zhou Buwen told her to stop acting like a child, as they were in public, and took her to eat.
Still struggling with her significant debt, Shen Luo calculated that selling seashell necklaces at ten yuan each, with a five yuan profit, would only yield 1,500 yuan a month. At this rate, it would take twenty years to pay off her 200,000 yuan debt, by which time she would be 45 years old. She dramatically declared she was entering "menopause" prematurely due to the stress and wondered aloud why Wu Julan was still preoccupied with a "stupid piece of wood."
Wu Julan then informed Shen Luo that he had invited over ten people for dinner that evening, instructing her to prepare the courtyard with tables, chairs, bowls, chopsticks, food, and wine. Shen Luo was initially indignant, given their financial struggles, but decided she "cannot embarrass myself" and proceeded with the preparations. That evening, Wu Julan returned with an enormous "sea phoenix" fish. Villagers gathered, marveling at its size and rarity.
Shen Luo, seizing the opportunity, declared her home the "Hai Luo Little Diner" and charged 1,000 yuan per person for dinner. Jiang Yisheng jokingly inquired if he could eat as an employee since he had helped. Wu Julan then showcased extraordinary fish carving skills, employing a Tang Dynasty method, and even played a captivating melody, "Sea of the Summer Night Sky", on an ancient zither he crafted from a piece of wood.
The guests were enthralled, praising the "exquisite Tang dynasty ancient feast" and Wu Julan's exceptional talent. One guest offered him 500,000 yuan annually to be an executive chef, but Shen Luo proudly refused, stating that Wu Julan was her "top talent" whom she had trained, and he would not leave. Others clamored to make reservations, some even for the following year. Shen Luo, ecstatic, collected payments, accumulating a substantial sum of money.
Overjoyed, she asked Wu Julan to pinch her to ensure she wasn't dreaming, reveling in their newfound wealth. Observing Wu Julan's sudden and remarkable talents, both in catching the rare fish and his refined skills, Jiang Yisheng and Zhou Buwen found it highly suspicious. Zhou Buwen wondered how Wu Julan could have acquired such abilities so quickly, implying he was "not a simple person."
Jiang Yisheng suggested he might have learned since childhood, but Zhou Buwen accused him of being "full of jealousy." Later that evening, after the guests departed, a slightly inebriated Shen Luo confided in Wu Julan that she did not believe in love, calling it a belief for "crazy people" and something she would "never fall in love" with. Wu Julan attempted to reason with her, but she questioned how feelings could develop from mere "hugs and kisses."
She then leaned close to him, asking if kissing him would create any feelings, and playfully kissed his cheek. Wu Julan was visibly affected by the gesture. Shen Luo then expressed her sheer joy at being newly wealthy. Separately, Zhou Buwen received a phone call from An Zuo, who commended his preparedness against Wu Liangliang. An Zuo then assigned Zhou Buwen a new mission: to "bring me Wu Julan" using "extreme methods," but without killing anyone.
Zhou Buwen, referring to himself as "just an antiques dealer," expressed hesitation. An Zuo, however, asserted that knowing his true identity meant Zhou Buwen was no longer "simple" and that working for him was a "shortcut to extreme wealth," promising fame and wealth upon successful completion of the task. Wu Liangliang later confronted Wu Julan, having heard the villagers discuss his extraordinary fish cooking and zither playing.
She expressed concern that his actions were raising suspicions about his identity and were "too risky." She believed he had already done "too much for Shen Luo," warning that his identity would eventually be exposed and bring him "unnecessary troubles." She then directly asked if he was "really in love with Shen Luo." Wu Julan's silence served as a confirmation of her suspicions.
Meanwhile, An Zuo, whose father had passed away, had been keeping his father's body in a secret room, hoping to revive him with the spiritual pearl. He believed only Shen Luo knew its whereabouts, as Wu Julan was too weak to have found it. Later, Wu Julan and Shen Luo returned to the beach to collect more shells. Shen Luo walked off to search near the cliffs, leaving Wu Julan to wait.
Suddenly, An Zuo, who had recovered from his injuries, appeared behind Shen Luo and aggressively demanded the spiritual pearl. Shen Luo, not understanding what he meant, was bewildered. Wu Julan sensed Shen Luo was in danger and saw An Zuo attempting to grab her. Shen Luo accidentally fell into the sea, and Wu Julan immediately jumped in after her.
To his astonishment, Shen Luo's body began to emit a soft light, surrounded by a multitude of fish, with a large fish even supporting her from beneath. Wu Julan quickly swam to her, pulled her from the water, and carried her home. Upon waking, Shen Luo recounted the strange man's demand for a "silver box" and her confusion, as she had no knowledge of such an item.
Wu Julan, feigning an errand, immediately went to Wu Liangliang and made a video call to his grandmother. He described Shen Luo's glowing body and the surrounding fish. His grandmother confirmed that the spiritual pearl was indeed within Shen Luo. She explained that there were only two ways to retrieve it: either by using the Black Wizard's black magic knife, which had been missing for over a century, or through a true love's kiss from Shen Luo.
If Shen Luo genuinely loved Wu Julan and kissed him, the spiritual pearl would automatically return to his body. However, Wu Julan expressed his unwillingness to exploit Shen Luo's feelings to obtain the pearl.
