Discovery of Romance Episode 10 Recap
> Discovery of Romance Recap
Xia Tian's mother finally resolved her feelings and visited the illegitimate child of Xia Tian's deceased father. She found the child quite pathetic and, after a brief interaction where the child mentioned his grandma's financial difficulties regarding soccer shoes, commented to a persistent Director Jian about the child's plight. Director Jian expressed satisfaction, believing Xia Tian's mother no longer resented her late husband.
However, Xia Tian's mother clarified her visit was unrelated to her husband, noting that while he had a strange temper, he wasn't truly a bad person. She then sternly told Director Jian to stop bothering her and invading her privacy, demanding he keep his distance, which he reluctantly did. At the hospital, Lu Xi brought afternoon tea for Guan Xin, including his favorite Americano and a freshly baked cake.
Guan Xin politely refused the gifts, explaining that the hospital's busy environment often led to such food being thrown away, and asked her not to bring items in the future. Disheartened, Lu Xi first wanted to ask if she could continue bringing afternoon tea, but then shifted and asked about the treatment plan for another child. Guan Xin, checking his schedule, offered to discuss it the following Wednesday or Friday.
As Lu Xi dejectedly took her untouched gifts, Guan Xin reassured her that he would always assist her with surgery-related matters. Xia Tian visited her mother, bringing some money to repay a debt. Her mother advised her to keep the money for her upcoming marriage to Guan Xin, but playfully insisted that any remaining debt would be collected after the wedding. Xia Tian's mother then directly asked if she was truly ready for marriage.
Xia Tian admitted her hesitation, feeling that neither she nor Guan Xin had fully revealed their true selves. She confessed that she had never told Guan Xin about her father's death and that he was unaware of her studio's financial situation. Xia Tian believed that honesty was crucial in marriage. Her mother, acknowledging Xia Tian's pride, cautioned her against allowing it to hinder trust, questioning whether genuine love would truly care about such vulnerabilities.
Meanwhile, Xu Zehao, still grappling with the recent revelation of Xia Tian’s father’s death, struggled to reconcile this with his own memory. He looked at the cherry wood carving Xia Tian had made for him, recalling her saying it symbolized "the one and only love."
He vividly remembered their past arguments, including an instance where Xia Tian accused him of prioritizing work and hobbies over her after he was late and unreachable, making her feel easily bullied, to which he playfully responded that was why he liked her. He clung to the belief that he couldn't have forgotten something so significant, wondering if Xia Tian had deliberately chosen to forget telling him.
Seeking clarity, Xu Zehao confronted Xia Tian, asking her on the phone why she hadn't informed him about her father's passing. Xia Tian insisted she had, but he had simply forgotten. Xu Zehao conceded he remembered other past details, like the marshmallows and hot dog stand mentioned at yesterday's dinner, and apologized for his past negligence and for overlooking her when they broke up five years ago, feeling she had become part of his habits.
However, he firmly denied any recollection of her father's death. Xia Tian challenged his certainty, recalling how she had called him multiple times, crying, after her father’s funeral, desperately needing him, but he had dismissed her calls, citing overtime work. She questioned if he ever bothered to ask why she called, asserting that he wouldn’t remember which call it was even if she told him.
Xia Tian declared that dwelling on the past was pointless as their relationship had ended completely five years prior. Xu Zehao, however, defiantly insisted that she would eventually return to him, claiming he never failed at anything he set his mind to. Xia Tian retorted that he would soon learn the world didn't revolve around him and that she knew who she truly liked now, reminding him that no relationship is constant, just as theirs had ended.
During their argument, Xu Zehao accidentally cut his hand on a nail. As Xia Tian bandaged his wound, she berated him for his characteristic recklessness and lack of foresight, just like in the past, urging him to get a tetanus shot as the nail was likely rusty. Xu Zehao, captivated by her concern, unexpectedly kissed her. Xia Tian angrily ordered him to leave, flatly refusing his invitation for dinner.
After he departed, Xia Tian fiercely wiped her mouth, mentally concluding that Xu Zehao would never comprehend true love, tolerance, or understanding. Xu Zehao, for his part, internally argued that he had only expressed liking her again, not love, believing that she was overthinking things and that he was indeed capable of tolerance and understanding if given another chance. Separately, Lu Xi visited a charity house, bringing snacks for the children.
She spoke with Ms. Zhang, who introduced her to Lili, a new, introverted child with a scar on her forehead. Ms. Zhang explained Lili's tragic backstory: her parents were in jail for selling fake drugs, and Lili had been injured while trying to protect her mother from her drunk father, who had attempted to set fire to their kitchen. Deeply moved, Lu Xi called Guan Xin, explaining Lili's plight and requesting a meeting to discuss her situation.
Guan Xin agreed to meet her at the hospital after work the following day to learn more. At a dinner with Xia Tian, Donghao, Xiao Song, and Xia Tian's mother, Director Jian attempted to impress Xia Tian's mother by offering her beef in sauce, claiming it was from a female hiking teammate who harbored unrequited love for him, which he had "determinedly" rejected. Uninterested, Xia Tian's mother dismissed his story.
Director Jian then tried to engage her in a "professional and personal question," complimenting her, but Xia Tian, Donghao, and Xiao Song, visibly uncomfortable with his continued advances, quickly made their excuses and left, leaving the two alone.
Director Jian pressed Xia Tian's mother about his "sexy brain" (a compliment from his female teammate), but she scoffed, telling him to accept he was ugly and that his brain was "too simple," adding that only his face was "more decent" in comparison. She ridiculed his "cheekiness" in pursuing her, to which he retorted that one couldn't fall in love without being cheeky. Xiao Song, planning to confront Tan Xu at their university reunion, intended to make a grand entrance.
Upon arriving late, she discovered Tan Xu had brought his girlfriend, Alice, and they had been dating for over half a year, having joined the same company. Overwhelmed and feeling used by Tan Xu, who had relied on her for chores like feeding his fish and cleaning his house while secretly dating Alice, Xiao Song struggled internally to expose his "scummy behavior."
When prompted by other classmates to share his "dark history," she chickened out, hastily fabricating an excuse about another engagement and left the party. In the taxi, fueled by resentment, she changed her destination from "Binhai Road" to "Jianshe Road" (Tan Xu's apartment area) and, with a stone, savagely scratched his car, much to the taxi driver's shock.
She vented to the driver about feeling exploited and discarded, having done so much for him only to be told they were nothing to each other. The driver sympathized, lamenting the wasting of a young girl's youth by being strung along. The next morning, Xiao Song, uncharacteristically, dragged Donghao out for a run. During their jog, Tan Xu called on the phone, accusing her of scratching his car and labeling her a "psycho" who stalked him and retaliated after rejection.
He presented video evidence of her vandalism. Enraged, Xiao Song ripped off her shoe and began beating Tan Xu, demanding he return all the gifts she had given him. Donghao intervened, separating them and apologizing to Tan Xu, offering to pay for the damages and even free medical checkups at his hospital. Tan Xu accepted the private settlement but warned Donghao to keep Xiao Song away from him permanently.
Afterward, Donghao gently scolded a crying Xiao Song, calling her "stupid, crazy, and psycho" for liking such a man. He then took her out drinking to console her, where a heavily intoxicated Xiao Song, ranting about how all men were bad and questioning her own attractiveness, caused a scene, even trying to take off her clothes.
She lashed out at Donghao, who was repeatedly mistaken for a villain trying to take advantage of her by other patrons and endured several slaps and accusations. Finally, getting her home, Xiao Song suddenly pulled Donghao close, declaring him "super handsome," a moment that sent his heart racing. He then went to get her some honey water.
Meanwhile, Xu Zehao, aware that Xia Tian had been avoiding him since their last intense conversation, used work as a pretext to visit her studio. Despite her cool demeanor, Xia Tian efficiently identified and marked the suitable wood samples for him for their B&B project. Xu Zehao admired her, even her anger.
As he prepared to leave, he informed her of his evening appointment with Guan Xin, suggesting she join them if she wished to prevent "uncontrollable situations," implying she would be responsible for any consequences if she didn't. Xia Tian was left speechless. Later that evening, Guan Xin was leaving the hospital after discussing Lili’s situation with Lu Xi. When Lu Xi's electric scooter ran out of battery, Guan Xin offered to drive her home.
However, he spotted Xia Tian in the distance. Recalling his previous promise to Xia Tian not to meet Lu Xi privately, Guan Xin quickly pulled Lu Xi into hiding. Unbeknownst to them, Xu Zehao, arriving to meet Guan Xin, witnessed the entire clandestine encounter, finding it highly amusing.
