Where the Lost Ones Go Episode 23 Recap
> Where the Lost Ones Go Recap
Ye Zi sought solace at a bar she frequented during college. The owner noticed Ye Zi's troubled expression and asked why she was there and where her boyfriend was, observing that something was clearly amiss between them. Ye Zi admitted she didn't understand it either. The owner then posed a question to Ye Zi: if she loved someone, would she marry him? This prompted the owner to share her own story.
She revealed that the bar was purchased with money her deceased husband earned from working three jobs and his car accident insurance payout, combined with her own savings over the years. Her husband had promised to open a bar for her, and though it now existed, he would never see it. She described their life as poor and difficult, with daily arguments and fights, often because he would come home drunk. She confessed she hated him but couldn't leave him.
It was only after he passed away that she realized he was her entire world. The owner reflected that it always hurts, whether one marries or not, because people wish things could remain as they were. She noted that while people expect their loved ones to never change, often it is they themselves who have changed. Deep in thought, Ye Zi sent a message to Xiang Zeyi, explaining she felt overwhelmed and needed some time apart to calm down.
Meanwhile, Xiang Zeyi was at the gym, his mind preoccupied with Ye Zi's message about needing space. He soon received a call from Zhang Daniao, who was upset to hear about his breakup with Ye Zi. Zhang Daniao sternly questioned Xiang Zeyi's actions, reminding him that Ye Zi needed his support and company. Xiang Zeyi, however, hung up the phone, acknowledging to himself that there were deeper issues between him and Ye Zi that were difficult to resolve.
Lin Sen met with Chen Yiman, his arranged fiancée, to confess his true feelings. He told her that he loved someone else and, despite his attempts to forget her and start anew, he couldn't deceive himself. He apologized and informed Chen Yiman that he would ask his father to cancel their engagement, hoping she would understand. To his surprise, Chen Yiman smiled, relieved that she could finally stop pretending to be a "good girl."
She revealed that she had returned home at her father's insistence but her real intention was to find her boyfriend and discreetly ruin the engagement. Chen Yiman shared her story of a tough childhood after her parents' divorce and how she met her boyfriend while skipping school. She also expressed her dislike for formal attire and symphonies, suspecting Lin Sen felt the same.
Feeling a sense of ease, Lin Sen then asked her about the girl he loved, describing her as nothing special, yet uniquely special to him. Later, while unpacking groceries with Liu Xinran, Zhang Daniao grew suspicious when she repeatedly checked her phone and smiled. He playfully complained about carrying all the heavy bags, and she promised to put things away if he cooked her stewed pork chops.
When he asked who she was texting, she vaguely replied, "A friend of mine," further fueling his suspicion. Still uneasy, Zhang Daniao secretly followed Liu Xinran to a restaurant, where he saw her talking and laughing with a man. Believing she was having an affair, he rushed over, angrily demanding to know who the man was. Liu Xinran tried to introduce him, but Zhang Daniao, overcome with anger, accused her of betraying him.
The man, Mr. Jiang, intervened, explaining that there was a misunderstanding. He clarified that Liu Xinran was seeking investment for her sculpture studio through a crowdfunding website, and he was simply an investor in her project. Realizing his mistake, Zhang Daniao apologized profusely. Liu Xinran explained that she hadn't told him earlier because she knew starting a studio at their age was risky, and she wanted to take that risk herself.
Zhang Daniao, regretting his outburst, affirmed his unwavering support for her dreams, reminding her of his promise to be her "shooting star." They then reconciled and decided to have lunch together. Meanwhile, Yuan Lang had been troubled by persistent headaches. One night, while Zhu Xuan was asleep, he secretly got up and looked through old keepsakes from their relationship, filled with deep nostalgia. He was reluctant to leave this world and Zhu Xuan, but felt powerless against fate.
Shortly after, he received a devastating call from Renai Hospital. They informed him that the shadow on his brain was likely a malignant tumor and urged him to seek treatment immediately. In a follow-up conversation with a doctor, Yuan Lang learned he had only three months to live at most.
Unable to bear telling Zhu Xuan the grim news, he covertly prepared for his departure, leaving behind labeled bank cards and instructions for her, such as remembering to walk and drink yogurt within three days. He then recorded a video message for his family and friends. He began by saying he was glad to live one more day and acknowledged his difficulty in expressing himself, which often frustrated Zhu Xuan.
He told them that by the time they watched the video, he would be gone, explaining that he didn't mention names specifically to avoid causing them distress. He reflected on his profession as a legal examiner, where he witnessed death daily, but admitted he didn't know how to feel now that it was happening to him.
Addressing Lin Sen, he urged his best friend to stop being silent and to pursue the woman he loved, warning that no woman would want a man who didn't take action. He swore he would look down on Lin Sen even from the afterlife if he failed to win her over.
Then, in a heartfelt message to Zhu Xuan, he advised her to eat on time after he was gone and to find a better, more romantic man to marry, one who wouldn't annoy her like he sometimes did. He thanked her for bringing him happiness, saving him from becoming a "psycho," and showing him what life should be like.
He confessed his own fear of death, recalling her words that people fear death because they don't want to leave loved ones behind. He reassured her not to worry about him, promising to always watch over her and to take good care of herself. Zhu Xuan, unbeknownst to Yuan Lang, overheard his emotional recording. Struggling to suppress her cries and accept the devastating truth, she left the house. Alone on the street, she felt immense pain and loneliness.
Stumbling on some steps, she finally broke down, sitting on the roadside and weeping uncontrollably. Back at her studio, as Ye Zi was watering the plants, both Lin Sen and Xiang Zeyi arrived unexpectedly. Each held a ring, intending to propose to her. Faced with two proposals simultaneously, Ye Zi was stunned, unsure how to choose.
