Unusual Idol Love Episode 23 Recap
> Unusual Idol Love Recap
Hu Li awoke to a disturbing symptom: a loss of color vision, which nearly led to a car accident when he couldn't distinguish a red light. Despite his distress, he simply told Ji Nian, who was with him, that he was distracted and asked her to take a taxi to her interview, while he went to see Yang Zhe. Meanwhile, Bai Dongchen began what he intended to be a final day of happiness with Zhou Yifei.
He surprised her with a date to do "couple things," expressing his desire to make up for a previous argument. They posed for photos with excited fans, with Bai Dongchen making sure Zhou Yifei looked beautiful. They visited a spot where couples hung wishes. Bai Dongchen's message simply wished Zhou Yifei eternal happiness, excluding himself, which Zhou Yifei noted, before hanging her own wish for them to be together forever until she became an old woman.
They reminisced at the place where they first met, recalling their initial encounter and Bai Dongchen's admission that he was destined to love her even before he was conscious. He expressed how happy he was, wishing he had told her he loved her sooner. At the lab, Hu Li pressed Yang Zhe for the truth about his worsening condition.
Yang Zhe confirmed that Hu Li's declining senses and past amnesia were symptoms of a damaged chip, warning that his functions would continue to deteriorate, eventually leading to his demise. When Hu Li inquired about a possible cure, Yang Zhe revealed that Bai Dongchen had been fitted with a core program identical to Hu Li's, specifically designed to save him, but at the cost of Bai Dongchen's own life.
Hu Li, horrified, compared this to the destructive intent of Zhou Hongwei and stated he wouldn't allow it. Unaware of Hu Li's true condition, Ji Nian was elated when she received an unexpected job offer after her initial interview failed. The company praised her "Hu Li's Daily Life" video for its professional program production, rhythm, and her on-camera style, offering her a position as a reporter.
Later, Hu Li called the company representative, thanking them and admitting he owed them a favor for giving Ji Nian the opportunity, confirming he had secretly arranged it. Ji Nian excitedly returned home to share her good news with Hu Li. They kissed and celebrated with red wine. However, as Hu Li poured hot water, he became momentarily detached, letting the scalding water run over his hand without reaction.
Ji Nian, alarmed by his blank stare and strange behavior over the past few days, urgently asked him what was wrong, but he simply dismissed it, saying he was fine. Later, Hu Li confronted Bai Dongchen, asking whether their bond was a "mission" or a "friendship." Bai Dongchen confessed to being tired of secrets, explaining that ever since he learned he was an AI created to protect Hu Li, he could no longer differentiate.
Hu Li urged him to forget the mission and simply be friends, emphasizing Bai Dongchen's right to choose his own life. Bai Dongchen countered that Hu Li needed life, not friends, adding that he wouldn't force Hu Li and would make his own plans, jokingly offering to be a guest at Hu Li's upcoming farewell concert, suggesting they were "bound together by fate."
Hu Li then took Ji Nian to a "Time Post Office" to write postcards to their future selves. Ji Nian penned a hopeful message about their future happy family, with Hu Li as her "perfect man" and brightest star. In contrast, Hu Li wrote a poignant farewell, expressing his deepest love and telling his future self's postcard that "your Shi Tou should have gone now."
He wished for Ji Nian to find happiness with someone new, fulfill her dreams, and spend all the money he would leave her. When Ji Nian asked if he was done, Hu Li tearfully confessed that only the "present Hu Li" would read the postcard, as the "future Hu Li won't," revealing that he could only be with her for "one last period of time." Ji Nian was heartbroken, struggling to comprehend his words.
Bai Dongchen met Zhou Yifei at a café, performing a heartfelt song. He then apologized, tears streaming down his face, admitting he could no longer fulfill his promise to live only for her. He revealed that Hu Li's condition was critical, and his mission, to save Hu Li using his own chip, meant he would die. Zhou Yifei was devastated, pleading with him not to go and reminding him of his initial declaration of love.
She begged him to stay with her, but he insisted he could promise her anything except that. He then slipped his necklace onto her before walking away, leaving a weeping Zhou Yifei. Hu Li held a press conference, announcing an upcoming farewell concert with Bai Dongchen as a guest, after which he would "indefinitely retire" from the entertainment industry due to personal reasons, which he declined to explain further. After the conference, Bai Dongchen met Hu Li alone.
Bai Dongchen admitted his jealousy of Hu Li, who lived unknowingly, protected by all, while he, with his memories, was bound to live only for Hu Li. He declared that he too could now choose his fate and wanted to do one "great thing." He asked for a final hug as a gesture of their friendship before his departure. As they embraced, Bai Dongchen stunned Hu Li with an electric device, then carried his unconscious body away.
Distraught, Zhou Yifei called Ji Nian, crying uncontrollably that Bai Dongchen was going to die to save Hu Li. Ji Nian, realizing Bai Dongchen had revealed the secret she tried to keep from Hu Li, was shocked. Zhou Yifei begged her to help find a solution, and they rushed to Yang Zhe's lab. However, they arrived too late. Bai Dongchen had already completed the chip transfer. Yang Zhe then reactivated the new AI, naming it "Bai Dongchen" and reiterating its mission: "to protect Hu Li." The newly activated AI declared, "Mission completed."
