Episode 15 recap: Jiang Xiaoyuan was constantly harassed by Feng Ruixue.
Qi Lian knew that Jiang Xiaoyuan was busy with the theater makeup and hadn't eaten yet, so she quickly took Jiang Xiaoyuan to have a meal. In the restaurant, there happened to be a burly man with bulging muscles passing by a young man's table. Not only did he knock over the young man's cola cup, but he also tried to extort money from him. Unable to tolerate the situation, Jiang Xiaoyuan stood up and spoke out in righteousness. The burly man thought Jiang Xiaoyuan was meddling and wanted to teach her a lesson. Qi Lian directly subdued the burly man, making him realize that he had picked on the wrong person. While complaining about Jiang Xiaoyuan's interference, he left, understanding the situation.
Qi Lian advised Jiang Xiaoyuan to understand the characters, like the burly man and the bullied man from earlier. Jiang Xiaoyuan quickly grasped the idea and realized that she could use makeup to help the audience understand the characters better. She immediately picked up a brush and started designing. Qi Lian knew that Jiang Xiaoyuan hadn't been resting well these past few days, so she took away Jiang Xiaoyuan's sketchbook and urged her to go rest, emphasizing that it would be more efficient to learn about the characters from the actors at the theater the next day.
Jiang Xiaoyuan agreed with Qi Lian's reasoning and happily went back to rest. The next day, she went to the theater, but everyone there was busy, and they couldn't spare any time for Jiang Xiaoyuan. She was despised by others for hindering rehearsals and could only wait at the entrance. However, as soon as the rehearsal ended, the actors quickly left to take on other part-time jobs, and Jiang Xiaoyuan didn't have a chance to interview them. She had no choice but to approach Sister Xi, who was in charge of rehearsals. Unexpectedly, Sister Xi bluntly said that there was no need to revolve around Jiang Xiaoyuan, which left her feeling disappointed.
Manager Cui happened to be preparing props and ran into Jiang Xiaoyuan. As they walked together, they discussed the current situation of the theater. Jiang Xiaoyuan discovered that these actors used to be part of a big theater but joined Manager Cui's troupe after being laid off, hoping to continue their acting careers. Although Manager Cui managed to secure funding from Feng Ruixue, he spent a lot of money due to lack of management experience, and now he couldn't even pay the salaries. The actors had to find other ways to make a living, but it didn't hinder their rehearsals. Manager Cui was grateful for their dedication.
Jiang Xiaoyuan didn't expect such a story behind the scenes and felt ashamed of her previous inappropriate words. She inquired about the part-time locations of the theater members from Manager Cui and decided to wait for them there when they had time to learn about the characters. Sister Xi worked part-time at a convenience store, and Jiang Xiaoyuan waited for her for a long time until she finished her shift. Seeing Jiang Xiaoyuan's sincerity, Sister Xi had a good conversation with her about the characters and selected a makeup look suitable for the role of the Rabbit Spirit. She also suggested that Jiang Xiaoyuan make her look more pitiful.
Sister Xi knew that Jiang Xiaoyuan wanted to meet with all the actors individually and thought there wouldn't be enough time. She advised Jiang Xiaoyuan to arrive at the theater early the next day, believing that she would be able to catch them. So the next day, Jiang Xiaoyuan arrived at the theater entrance an hour early, proactively offering hot coffee, which gained everyone's goodwill. The subsequent work progressed much more smoothly.
Today, everyone's costumes for the performance have arrived. When Jiang Xiaoyuan saw them wearing the costumes, she gained a deeper understanding. She noticed that Wang Ge was rushing for his part-time job and helping to hang the costumes. Wang Ge's determination to pursue his dreams despite working multiple jobs touched Jiang Xiaoyuan, and she thought that people with dreams are truly admirable.
Qi Lian noticed that Jiang Xiaoyuan was coughing and specially cooked pear soup for her. She intended to have Chen Fangzhou deliver it, but Chen Fangzhou didn't want to give the wrong impression, so Qi Lian ended up going herself. She found an excuse to pass by and picked up Jiang Xiaoyuan, bringing her back to the store. Jiang Xiaoyuan was moved after drinking the pear soup and, while feeling sweet inside, intentionally asked Qi Lian if she liked her. At the same time, she reminded Qi Lian not to develop feelings for her, as she would eventually return home. These words made Qi Lian feel a twinge of sadness.
The makeup design that Jiang Xiaoyuan created this time pleased Manager Cui. However, Feng Ruixue, using her status as the investor in the theater, refused to accept any criticism and insisted on being the first one to have her makeup done before Sister Xi. Jiang Xiaoyuan couldn't stand Feng Ruixue's arrogant behavior, taking advantage of her investment in the theater and disregarding the efforts of others. She criticized Feng Ruixue, which angered her, leading her to immediately drive Jiang Xiaoyuan away.
When Jiang Xiaoyuan returned to the store, she learned that the headquarters had issued a directive to halt the beauty business. Overwhelmed with anger and frustration, she couldn't help but burst into tears. Qi Lian, knowing how much Jiang Xiaoyuan loved makeup and the tremendous effort she had put into it, consoled her, telling her that it wasn't the end yet and there was still room for things to turn around.
On the day of the theater performance, a new makeup artist was driven away by Feng Ruixue, so Manager Cui urgently asked Jiang Xiaoyuan to step in. Feng Ruixue was particularly angry, but this was an important opportunity for all the hardworking members of the theater. Despite Feng Ruixue threatening to cancel the performance, everyone quickly adjusted their roles, and the show was successfully performed. Unexpectedly, Jiang Xiaoyuan encountered Huo Baiyu backstage, which surprised her greatly.
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