Discovery of Romance Episode 15 Recap
> Discovery of Romance Recap
Five years ago, Xu Zehao chose to prioritize his dignity and listen to his business partners, leaving Xia Tian to endure profound pain when she needed him most. Now, with Ms. An's return, he is determined not to harm Xia Tian again. He decides to act on his emotions, stating he will follow his heart instead of his logic, and will not compromise with Ms. An, regardless of being emotional.
Xu Zehao contacted Alex and sent him Xia Tian’s design portfolio. Alex was impressed with her unique style and expressed interest in meeting her upon his return to China. Ms. An confronted Xu Zehao, disappointed that he was not approaching the situation rationally. She questioned his actions, accusing him of letting his personal feelings influence company decisions and making the company bear the cost of his "unrequited love," reminding him that she runs a business, not a charity.
Xu Zehao, however, argued that he was now capable and had the opportunity to make amends. He decided to take a gamble, offering to personally cover all project losses if he failed, on the condition that Ms. An would also reclaim her share of the company. Despite Ms. An calling him arrogant and selfish, Xu Zehao assured her that he would not "drag her down."
That night, Xu Zehao visited Xia Tian’s studio, where she was still secretly working on the guesthouse project. He informed her that he had settled things with Ms. An and urged her to return to the project, acknowledging the significant effort she had already invested. Xia Tian expressed her reluctance to continue, stating she wanted her achievements to be based on her own merit, not out of pity.
Xu Zehao apologized for having distanced himself from her for personal reasons, and for Ms. An's interference, which he claimed he was unaware of. To make amends for her withdrawal from the ADA competition due to him, he revealed he had sent her postgraduate work to Alex, her favorite designer, and hoped to arrange a meeting for them.
Xu Zehao then showed Xia Tian a photo of her father's tomb, admitting he had visited to apologize for not being there and for failing to protect and care for her as he had promised her father. Overwhelmed with emotion, Xia Tian broke down, lamenting that after five years together, she believed he would have sensed her deep sorrow and rushed to her side without her having to explicitly ask.
Xu Zehao acknowledged his failure to understand her emotional state, admitting he had thought she was merely sensitive and had not given her the patience or understanding she deserved. Embraced by Xu Zehao, Xia Tian found solace, finally feeling safe enough to confront the grief she had avoided for years since her father's passing. She confessed that she had only learned of her parents' divorce the day before her father's fatal car accident, which involved another woman.
This revelation shattered her illusion of their perfect marriage and left her unable to face the truth. Xu Zehao recalled her father's dying wishes during their camping trip—to never argue with Xia Tian, to always concede to her in marriage, and to love her as the last woman in his life. He expressed regret that he had failed to uphold any of these promises.
Reflecting on their past, he admitted that while their problems were not insurmountable, they had reached a dead end. He decided it was time to let go and leave Xia Tian to Guan Xin, recognizing Guan Xin's deep love and care for her. Xu Zehao then formally broke up with Xia Tian, explaining that he had finally accepted their separation after five years of confusion because he previously hadn't understood why they broke up and couldn't accept it.
He acknowledged Xia Tian's unspoken animosity, asking them both to let go. He returned a box of items she had left with him and requested one last embrace, wishing her happiness and a joyful life. Xia Tian wept silently, while Xu Zehao, after leaving, collapsed in a corner, crying uncontrollably. Later, as Xia Tian was about to open the box from Xu Zehao, Xiao Song interrupted, calling her for hotpot.
Xu Zehao, meanwhile, held a hidden engagement ring, remembering his original plan to propose to Xia Tian five years ago at the place where they first met, which turned into their breakup trip. At the hotpot, Xia Tian tearfully recounted her official breakup with Xu Zehao to Xiao Song and Dong Hao. They were initially confused, reminding her they had broken up five years prior.
Xia Tian clarified that Xu Zehao had not accepted their initial separation and she had clung to her resentment, but now they had both let go. Xiao Song and Dong Hao comforted her, advising her to cry her fill and assuring her that they would handle the guesthouse project with Mr. Yu so she wouldn't have to see Xu Zehao.
Xia Tian apologized for not being a good friend, admitting she couldn't face many things herself and thus struggled to share them. The next morning, much to Xiao Song and Dong Hao’s surprise, Xia Tian was cheerful and ready for her date with Guan Xin, prompting them to comment on how capricious people in love can be. Xia Tian and Guan Xin spent the day cooking lunch together, their rapport growing stronger.
However, Xia Tian voiced her concern that as time passed, their relationship might become tiresome and expose more problems. Guan Xin, sensing her past hurts, reassured her that he would never change and would always resolve any issues, as long as she trusted and loved him. Meanwhile, Lili's surgery was successful, and she woke up in the hospital asking for her mother. Lu Xi comforted her, promising to always be her family.
As Lu Xi needed to retrieve some items from home, Guan Xin offered to drive her, discovering her humble living conditions and the unsuitable sleeping arrangements for Lili's recovery. Concerned, Guan Xin decided to book a hotel room for them near the hospital, causing him to miss his date with Xia Tian again. While checking in at the Jindu Hotel, Xia Tian called. The front desk's inquiry about a standard room for two people caused Guan Xin some embarrassment.
He stepped aside to explain to Xia Tian, truthfully stating that he was booking a room for a child he had just operated on from the charity house, who had nowhere to stay. He did not mention Lu Xi was with him, but later reflected that he felt relieved for being "seventy percent honest" and admitted he disliked the uneasy feeling of lying.
In the days that followed, Xu Zehao, having released his possessiveness and resentment, truly wished Xia Tian well, realizing he was only now learning how to genuinely love someone. This newfound perspective, however, manifested in an extremely demanding and short-tempered demeanor at work. He harshly criticized his employees for minor errors, yelling at them to use their brains and redoing poorly designed plans.
For matters requiring Xia Tian's input on the guesthouse project, Mr. Yu and Xiao Song were forced to act as intermediaries between her and Xu Zehao, who refused to communicate directly. During one such relayed conversation about furniture placement details, Xu Zehao asked Mr. Yu to inquire about Xia Tian's well-being. Mr. Yu, annoyed, retorted that Xu Zehao should ask her himself, especially since he "goes to her house every night" to watch her. Unbeknownst to Mr. Yu, his phone was on speaker, and both Xiao Song and Xia Tian heard his comment, leaving them both astonished.
