Discovery of Romance Episode 14 Recap
> Discovery of Romance Recap
Ms. An returned and immediately sought out Xia Tian, who she knew well. Ms. An directly told Xia Tian that she was in charge of the guesthouse project's design. She noted that working with an ex-boyfriend must have gone smoothly, implying Xu Zehao had indulged Xia Tian, which led to the project running over budget.
Ms. An declared that the guesthouse project, one of their company's most important, would not only fail to profit but would incur losses due to constant reworks for Xia Tian’s "personalized design." Xia Tian clarified that her studio was only responsible for design and its associated fees, and was unaware of other issues.
Ms. An, observing Xia Tian’s studio was only four years old with limited capital and no prior notable works, asked if this was her first major project, to which Xia Tian affirmed. Ms. An emphasized that Xu Zehao, as the client, had indulged Xia Tian, and other partners would never have approved such a proposal. She insisted that terminating the contract was the best option to stop the losses. Xia Tian expressed surprise, requesting time to consider.
She proposed adjusting the costs if the design itself was acceptable, believing termination was unnecessary. Ms. An clarified that the financial loss was only one factor; the greater concern was Xu Zehao's continued emotional involvement as long as Xia Tian remained on the project. Ms. An, as a partner, stated she could not allow the project to continue losing money.
She presented a generous termination agreement, assuring Xia Tian that any money already received would not be reclaimed, and urged a prompt response. Xia Tian countered that her graduation project had been nominated for an ADA design award, asserting her capability. She added that Xu Zehao himself had approached her studio, seeking a young and innovative team, and had chosen them for their distinct design style.
Xia Tian suggested that if cost overruns were due to selecting the wrong Party B, Xu Zehao should bear most of the responsibility. Later, Xu Zehao instructed Mr. Yu to have Xiao Song handle the wood material inspection, rather than Xia Tian who usually managed it. Mr. Yu, confused, relayed this to Xia Tian over the phone, leaving her puzzled.
Ms. An, present during Xia Tian’s call, chuckled and mockingly advised Xia Tian to reflect on whether she secured the project through her own ability or "something else," suggesting their cooperation was not as solid as it seemed. Xia Tian and Xiao Song confronted Xu Zehao at the wood yard. Xiao Song angrily accused Xu Zehao of treating them as disposable, reminding him that he had "begged" for their collaboration.
Xu Zehao admitted he had been "careless" and apologized, but remained stoic. Xiao Song called him "self-important, selfish, arrogant, and casual," noting he had become "more cold-blooded." Deeply hurt, Xia Tian looked sad. Xiao Song offered to take Xia Tian for a drink, but Xia Tian decided to visit her mother instead. Meanwhile, Guan Xin wanted to tell Xia Tian the truth about his adoption and his connection to Lu Xi, hoping to resolve Xia Tian's misunderstandings.
However, his mother objected, wishing to keep his adoption a secret to preserve the stability of their family life, which they had worked hard to build in their new town. Guan Xin, feeling he had "stolen" Lu Xi’s rightful life, wanted to give back some of what he had received. His mother dismissed his guilt, reminding him that she was the one who chose not to adopt Lu Xi.
Guan Xin pleaded to make his own decision regarding Lu Xi this time. His mother then advised him to reconsider telling Xia Tian if they were not yet committed to marriage. A distraught Xia Tian went to her mother's house. Her mother offered her fish soup, which Xia Tian immediately recognized as being from her late father's favorite restaurant. This discovery further deepened Xia Tian’s sadness.
Her mother's new partner made a comment about Xia Tian missing her dad, which her mother quickly dismissed, joking about him being jealous of a "dead man." Separately, Ms. An, while dining with Xu Zehao, praised his newfound calmness.
She confessed she had approached Xia Tian privately about terminating the contract after returning to China, explaining she acted because she had seen the project's severe financial losses before her return and feared Xu Zehao would be too emotional to end the collaboration. Xu Zehao was furious, stating he never intended to terminate the contract and accusing Ms. An of meddling and making rash decisions without proper due diligence on the project's broader implications.
Ms. An retorted that Xia Tian's studio lacked the necessary capability and scale for their projects. She then dropped a bombshell: Xia Tian had been nominated for an ADA design award but had withdrawn. Ms. An used this to argue that Xia Tian lacked professional ambition. Xu Zehao was visibly shocked, asking her to repeat the information. Unable to reach Xia Tian by phone, Xu Zehao called Xiao Song.
He explained Ms. An's actions were a misunderstanding and that he only wanted to avoid meeting Xia Tian, not terminate their contract, lamenting his impact on Xia Tian. He then inquired about Xia Tian's withdrawal from the ADA competition. Xiao Song angrily recounted that Xia Tian's father had died and Xu Zehao had broken up with her around that time, leaving Xia Tian "depressed" and barely able to graduate. Xiao Song chastised him for asking only now.
Pondering why a breakup would cause such profound despair, Xu Zehao realized there was more to the story than he knew. He asked Mr. Yu to investigate Xia Tian's graduation records from 2016, specifically concerning her ADA nomination. Meanwhile, Guan Xin, unable to reach Xia Tian, called Xiao Song, who directed him to Xia Tian's mother's house, emphasizing that Xia Tian "needed him the most." Upon arriving, Guan Xin found Xia Tian upset.
She confided that Ms. An wanted her off the guesthouse project due to its high cost and low profit, a decision Xia Tian understood given her "lack of impressive resume." Xia Tian felt she was being "too headstrong" trying to prove her talent while struggling financially.
Guan Xin reassured her that "talented people are allowed to be headstrong" and offered to cover her living expenses for a year, citing the story of Harper Lee, author of "To Kill a Mockingbird," who received a year's salary from a friend to focus on writing. Guan Xin stated he wanted Xia Tian to have the "confidence to choose," not to quit because of Xu Zehao. Xia Tian thanked him and said, "I love you."
A narration (Xia Tian’s inner thoughts) emphasized the importance of a partner's immediate support, concluding that Guan Xin made her feel "safe." They decided to get something to eat. The next morning, Xia Tian awoke feeling better. Her mother, relieved to see her "alive again," joked about how Xia Tian's emotional resilience had improved, recalling past dramatic reactions to minor setbacks. She mentioned preparing a "remedy card" for her "trouble maker" daughter but noted it was no longer needed.
Xia Tian jokingly attributed her stubbornness to her mother, who accepted it as a "precious inheritance." Later, Mr. Yu presented Xu Zehao with Xia Tian's old design materials. Xu Zehao was impressed by her "ingenious," "natural," "smart," and "modern" designs. He then asked Mr. Yu to research the ADA jury members from that year and the whereabouts of Alex, a prominent figure. Xu Zehao then took Mr. Yu to Xia Tian's studio.
Finding Xia Tian absent, Xu Zehao sent Mr. Yu to eat with Xiao Song to discuss work and took Donghao with him, needing to ask him some questions. In the car, Donghao reassured Xu Zehao about Xia Tian’s well-being, mentioning that he, as a doctor, would take good care of her. Xu Zehao then asked Donghao for the location of Xia Tian’s father's grave.
Donghao was surprised, revealing that Xia Tian had never visited since the funeral; only her mother went each year. He explained that on the death anniversary, Xia Tian became "neurotic" and "wouldn't talk to anyone," a state her mother allowed due to Xia Tian's fragility. Donghao also confirmed Xia Tian’s withdrawal from the ADA, recounting her deep depression after her father's death, which caused her to grow up "overnight."
Xu Zehao pressed for the grave's location, and Donghao told him it was at Xiaoshan Cemetery, where he and Xiao Song had gone once with Xia Tian's mother. Xia Tian visited the beach to clear her mind, sending a photo to Guan Xin, who responded with affection and shared that he was performing scar removal surgery for Lili, the little girl from the Charity House, that day.
At the same time, Xu Zehao went to Xia Tian's mother's house, where Xia Tian used to live. He explained he was there to talk to Xia Tian about the project and make amends for not having supported her during a crucial competition in the past, implying he wished to help her through work. Xia Tian’s mother, however, insisted that her past struggles were "none of his business."
She then revealed a devastating truth: Xia Tian's father had died in a car crash, not from a cerebral hemorrhage as Xu Zehao believed. She tearfully disclosed that on Mid-Autumn Day, he and his lover had died together in the accident. This revelation deeply shocked Xu Zehao, bringing back memories of a past conversation with Xia Tian’s father. He recalled the advice given to him about marriage and supporting Xia Tian, realizing now that these had been his "last advice."
The advice included not fighting with Xia Tian, always standing by her side, and understanding that one's partner is more important than parents. Xia Tian’s father had also expressed his regret that he wouldn't be with Xia Tian much longer, urging Xu Zehao not to impose his own ideas of "good" on her, emphasizing that "happiness is the most important." Overwhelmed by this understanding, Xu Zehao drove to Xiaoshan Cemetery and placed a bouquet of flowers on Xia Wei's grave.
