Episode Summary
In this episode, Lu Li reveals the traumatic origin of his panic attacks to Qin Yuebai. Through her unwavering support and creative encouragement, including an unconventional paint-splashing technique, he begins to heal. Qin Yuebai cleverly turns a trap set by her stepmother into a high-stakes bet on Lu Li's recovery. The gamble pays off when Lu Li, motivated by his feelings for her, overcomes his creative block and begins to paint again.
Spoiler Alert
Double Fugue Episode 13: A Breakthrough in Color
Following an intimate moment, Qin Yuebai gently asks Lu Li about the origins of his panic attacks, wanting to help him overcome them. Lu Li opens up, recounting a traumatic event from many years ago. He describes pulling a girl from a fiery car wreck. While others stood by and simply called for help, he felt compelled to act, rushing into the intense flames. The harrowing scene had replayed in his dreams for years.
Lu Li is aware that the girl he saved was Qin Yuebai, but he chooses not to reveal this, not wanting to put any pressure on her. He simply tells her he never knew the girl's name. Understanding his struggle, Qin Yuebai takes him to a quiet, grassy field to watch the sunrise. In the peaceful dawn, watching the sun appear like a golden yolk, Lu Li finally begins to relax. He feels ready to try creating art again with her by his side.
Later, Qin Yuebai holds Lu Li’s hand as he attempts to paint. At first, his breathing is steady, but with each stroke of the brush, it becomes increasingly rapid and labored, making it impossible for him to continue. Qin Yuebai comforts him, reassuring him that a brush isn't the only way to make art and that they can find another path.
True to her word, Qin Yuebai introduces Lu Li to a new, liberating technique. She brings a small bucket of paint and splashes it onto a statue. As different colors run and mix, they create a beautiful, unexpected effect. The act of splashing the paint is a release for them both, and they find joy in the process. With Qin Yuebai's guidance, Lu Li's anxiety subsides, and he begins to confront his creative block with new confidence.
Meanwhile, Wang Ji-ye is consumed with guilt for leaking the news of Lu Li’s inability to paint. He offers a heartfelt apology, likening himself to the ancient general Lian Po, who famously begged for forgiveness by carrying thorns on his back. Lu Li doesn't blame him harshly, simply telling him to make up for his mistake in the future.
With Bao Yan abroad, Qin Yuebai’s stepmother views her as a thorn in her side and schemes to remove her from the General Manager position. She persuades Qin Yuebai's father to host a dinner and invite Lu Li, intending to expose his condition. Aware that it's a trap—a modern-day Hongmen Banquet—Qin Yuebai accepts the invitation. The stepmother's plan backfires spectacularly. She proposes a wager: if Lu Li can no longer paint, Qin Yuebai must resign. Qin Yuebai counters with her own terms: if Lu Li produces a new work, she must be given a seat on the board of directors. Her father, convinced Lu Li's career is over, agrees to the deal.
Inspired by love and Qin Yuebai's faith in him, Lu Li does not let her down. He finally picks up his brush again, and this time, the strokes flow smoothly across the canvas. When Wang Ji-ye calls Qin Yuebai to tell her that Lu Li is painting on a bridge, she can hardly believe it. She rushes to the location and is overjoyed to see with her own eyes that Lu Li has truly found his way back to his art.
