Discovery of Romance Episode 17 Recap
> Discovery of Romance Recap
When Xia Tian correctly answered "twinned trunks" at the event, a hidden memory was stirred within Xu Zehao, and he struggled to hold back tears. The surrounding festivities faded into irrelevance for both of them. Xia Tian, overwhelmed, quickly took Guan Xin's hand and pulled him away. She realized that the past relationship held not just pain but also cherished, beautiful memories that she no longer needed to share with Xu Zehao.
Reflecting on their past, Xu Zehao acknowledged that Xia Tian, who had loved more actively and given so much without reservation, was ultimately the stronger person, capable of letting go with no regrets, while he, who had always been loved, was left with lingering sorrow and regret. Later that night, Xia Tian couldn't sleep. She went for a walk alone and unexpectedly encountered Xu Zehao.
She admitted to him that his frequent presence near her home, even though he always remained hidden, had made her anticipate seeing him, causing her to constantly look out her window. Overwhelmed by emotion, Xia Tian broke down crying, expressing her genuine wish for him to live a happy life. Just as Xu Zehao cautiously approached to comfort her, Guan Xin arrived, having realized Xia Tian was missing when he found her phone still in their room.
Misinterpreting Xia Tian's tears, Guan Xin was about to speak, but Xu Zehao quickly reprimanded Xia Tian, making Guan Xin believe she was upset about work-related issues. Guan Xin then gently led a still-crying Xia Tian back to their room, expressing his concern and urging her not to let work upset her. Back in his room, Xu Zehao was left pondering the true meaning of Xia Tian's tearful words.
The following morning, Guan Xin and Xia Tian checked out of their hotel. Meanwhile, Xiao Song, noticing numerous missed calls from Guan Xin the previous night, inferred that Xia Tian had gone missing and likely encountered Xu Zehao. She confronted Xu Zehao at breakfast, pressing him for details. Xu Zehao admitted to meeting Xia Tian and that she had cried, but he vaguely attributed it to work.
Xiao Song grew frustrated, reminding him of her earlier warnings not to interfere in Xia Tian and Guan Xin's relationship, urging him to keep things simple. She then observed Guan Xin and Xia Tian leaving together, looking content, which left Xu Zehao feeling disheartened. On their drive back, Guan Xin reassured Xia Tian, asking her to put the previous night behind them and focus on their happiness.
He then offered to spend the day at her studio to learn about her work, an offer Xia Tian accepted. At the studio, they worked together, polishing and painting, with Guan Xin actively helping out. Later, Xiao Song voiced her exasperation with Xu Zehao at the office, feeling like a "sandwich biscuit" caught between his demanding changes and Xia Tian's design work. She felt he was making the project unnecessarily complicated.
Deciding to confront him, Xiao Song met Xu Zehao at a pub. She passionately criticized him for ruining Xia Tian's "fairy tale" relationship and shattering her own belief in true love, expressing how much she had envied their perfect romance. As she became increasingly intoxicated, Xu Zehao, exasperated by her harsh words, reminded her that he had been there for her in the past, even carrying her home when she was heartbroken.
He questioned why she was so relentlessly angry with him when his relationship had been with Xia Tian, not her. Despite her protests, Xu Zehao eventually carried a thoroughly drunk Xiao Song back to her apartment, where she continued to berate him until Donghao stepped in to help. Xu Zehao found himself pondering why he seemed to be everyone's scapegoat. As Xu Zehao was leaving Xiao Song's building, Xia Tian offered him a ride home.
The car ride was filled with unspoken thoughts and awkward pauses as both contemplated their late-night encounter and Xia Tian's emotional words. Xia Tian finally broke the silence, proposing they maintain a strictly professional Party A and Party B relationship to avoid any further complications in their collaborative work. Xu Zehao, after a moment of reflection, agreed. The next morning, Mr. Yu brought breakfast to Xu Zehao, who was still deeply troubled by his unresolved feelings for Xia Tian.
He confided in Mr. Yu, questioning if Xia Tian could truly move on and why she had offered him a ride. Mr. Yu, quoting an "expert" article (which he later humorously realized he had written himself), advised Xu Zehao that time would heal everything and that strong emotions eventually fade, urging him to accept that no one is special, and all relationships eventually become a distant memory. Elsewhere, Xia Tian's mother enjoyed a cheerful morning stroll with Director Jian.
Director Jian, encouraging her to embrace life and seize the moment, gently took her hand as they walked. Meanwhile, outside Xiao Song's home, Tan Xu unexpectedly appeared with a bouquet of flowers, startling Xiao Song and provoking a wary response from Donghao, who tried to send him away. Xiao Song, however, told Donghao to go back inside, seemingly ready to handle Tan Xu herself.
