Bright Eyes in the Dark Episode 21 Recap
> Bright Eyes in the Dark Recap
Lou Mingye, the station director, asserted his authority, making it clear that the team must follow his orders regardless of Lin Luxiao's previous leadership style. He criticized Liu Ruyi's poor performance, having come in last in both recent simulation training and exams, attributing it to an attitude problem and the past lax management under Lin Luxiao.
Liu Ruyi, who was once Lou Mingye's master, defended his emphasis on practical skills over theoretical tests, leading to an argument about the balance between theory and practice. Lou Mingye concluded that Liu Ruyi's theoretical knowledge was his biggest weakness and ordered Shao Yijiu and others to run ten laps around the field and submit self-criticism essays. Distressed, Liu Ruyi called Lin Luxiao, complaining that Lou Mingye was enforcing daily theoretical exams and constantly arguing.
Liu urgently urged Lin to find a way to transfer back to the station. Yu Qilei intervened, taking the phone to reassure Lin Luxiao before handing it back to Liu. Yu then advised Liu Ruyi not to involve Lin, who had already transferred to the Fire Investigation Department, and counseled Liu to control his temper and speak less around Lou Mingye to avoid conflict.
Liu Ruyi reluctantly accepted the advice but predicted that the new director would cause many future issues. Later that night, Lin Luxiao found Lou Mingye meticulously cleaning a fire tender. Lou Mingye explained that he was correcting the team's lack of attention to detail, which he attributed to Lin Luxiao's previous relaxed management style. He stressed the importance of meticulousness to prevent equipment aging and potential losses, stating he was correcting Lin's past mistakes.
Lou acknowledged that his rigorous reforms, including promoting innovative training methods, procuring advanced equipment, and focusing on areas like high-angle rescue, might seem stern or unrealistic to some. He declared his goal was to build a cutting-edge firefighting team capable of mastering high-tech equipment, which he believed was the future of firefighting. Lin Luxiao expressed his support and offered his assistance if needed.
In her acting class, Nan Chu witnessed her teacher's harsh criticism, directed at other students but implying her own struggles, regarding the lack of empathy and emotional depth in some performances. The teacher suggested acting required talent and prompted Nan Chu to reconsider if she was suited for it. Lin Luxiao, present in the class, offered comfort afterward. Nan Chu admitted the teacher was harsh but resolved to "stick with it" given the high cost of her tuition.
On their way later, Nan Chu told Lin Luxiao she believed his assignment to the Fire Investigation Department was temporary and that he truly belonged on the front line. The next day, the acting teacher continued emphasizing empathy and confidence, noting Nan Chu's lack of confidence in acting compared to her experience as a dancer.
To help the students overcome stage fright and psychological barriers, he instructed each student to bring one trusted person to the next evening class to perform a scene study together. Lin Luxiao and Nan Chu visited Yang Zhengang, who was actively recovering and practicing walking with a prosthetic leg. Yang Zhengang shared that Captain Meng had helped him secure the best available prosthetic leg and arranged rehabilitation to start the following week, with Li Lei also offering assistance.
Yang Zhengang encouraged Lin Luxiao to focus on his relationship with Nan Chu and suggested a joint trip during Lin's vacation, including Li Lei. Lin Luxiao agreed. Nan Chu tried to invite Xi Gu to her evening acting class performance, but Xi Gu had to cancel due to an engagement with Zong Ge. Learning this, Lin Luxiao volunteered to attend as her audience.
Nan Chu was initially hesitant, embarrassed by her previous performance issues, but Lin Luxiao encouraged her to be confident, emphasizing that in the learning phase, there was nothing to fear. At the class, the teacher, Mr. Jin, explained the exercise: performing scenes with familiar, trusted individuals would help students overcome their performance anxiety and psychological barriers, which he called "liberating their nature." When told he would also have to perform, Lin Luxiao became nervous.
Nan Chu reassured him, telling him to just stand by her like a "fire hydrant." Mr. Jin selected them first, and upon learning Lin Luxiao was Nan Chu's firefighter boyfriend, assigned them a scene about meeting again after he had saved her. Nan Chu chose to perform using dance and acting, set to music, without dialogue.
Her performance depicted their history, including the times firefighters had saved her, and her evolving emotions towards Lin Luxiao, culminating in a moment resembling their first kiss. Mr. Jin praised their performance, noting the genuine emotion conveyed without a single line of dialogue, attributing its success to their empathy and Nan Chu's newfound confidence on stage. He urged Nan Chu to remember that confident feeling.
Mr. Ma informed Lin Qi that the company wanted him to learn dancing and participate in a talent show to become a pop star. Lin Qi protested, stating his only interest was playing the violin to let more people hear his music. Mr. Ma dismissed his ambition, revealing the company invested in him for his appearance, not his musical talent, and ordered him to comply. Lin Qi refused to learn dancing and decided to quit.
Mr. Ma then informed him of the significant five-million-yuan penalty for breaching his ten-year contract, which stipulated a 30% loss compensation for early termination by either party, in addition to training and costume costs incurred during his employment. Upset, Lin Qi met Jiang Ge for drinks and explained his predicament.
Jiang Ge initially criticized Lin Qi for being impulsive and not reading his contract carefully, but, seeing his distress, promised to handle the matter, stating Lin should not have to resort to dancing. The scene then showed Jiang Ge arriving at Mr. Ma's office, indicating his intention to intervene in the contract dispute. Lin Luxiao visited Captain Meng, who confirmed Yang Zhengang's rehabilitation approval and assigned Lin to assist him with escort, care, and psychological recovery.
Lin Luxiao then asked about Lou Mingye's reforms. Captain Meng acknowledged Lou's constructive suggestions but urged both men to communicate better for the benefit of the firefighting service. Lou Mingye arrived during their conversation and discussed his equipment funding requests, which had been significantly reduced due to budget constraints. Lou argued for the necessity of advanced equipment, stating that "a craftsman must sharpen his tools" and that expenses on hardware could not be spared to reduce casualties.
Captain Meng instructed him to list the most urgent items for reconsideration at a brigade meeting. Captain Meng also informed Lou about the upcoming comprehensive National Firefighting Competition, which would soon begin in Beixun. He emphasized its importance, stating that provincial officials would inspect and select the team to represent Beixun, necessitating rigorous training. Lou Mingye announced to the station that daily training would increase, in addition to normal dispatches, for the upcoming comprehensive National Firefighting Competition.
He demanded excellence in both traditional skills and the use of new technology and equipment, especially from Combat Units 1 and 2. Performance during this period would contribute to their evaluations. Drivers like Qi Huo were confirmed to be eligible to participate. Qi Huo received a call from his father, Captain Meng, who instructed him to visit his grandpa during his holiday, as his mother was on duty and Meng himself was leaving on a business trip.
Meng also told Qi Huo to perform well in the competition, mentioning Lou Mingye's high standards. Qi Huo promised to seize the opportunity, seeing it as a chance for himself. Fang Xiangqian, who was looking for Qi Huo, overheard the call and realized Captain Meng was Qi Huo's father.
In a public service announcement, Jin Kexi shared fire safety tips for crowded venues, advising awareness of exits and evacuation signs, calm and orderly evacuation in case of fire, seeking exits and holding onto sturdy objects during crowding to prevent falls, avoiding going against the flow, calling the police, and staying away from accident scenes to prevent secondary harm.
