Discovery of Romance Episode 18 Recap
> Discovery of Romance Recap
Xiao Song shyly asked Li Donghao to leave, but he stood firm, insisting that Tan Xu did not deserve her. Xiao Song scolded him and eventually got Li Donghao to go back inside. She then asked Tan Xu if he had something to say. Tan Xu sincerely apologized for pretending not to know her feelings and for making her pay for car repairs in the past, acknowledging he had been confused back then.
Xiao Song accepted the bouquet of flowers from him. Li Donghao, however, remained concerned and displeased, snatching the flowers away and asking if Xiao Song wasn't allergic to pollen. Later, he saw Xia Tian rushing off and offered her a different bouquet of Lisianthus, touting its meaning of "sincere and unchanging love" as the best for a woman. He was clearly worried about Xiao Song’s romantic pursuits with either Tan Xu or Mr. Yu.
Later, Xiao Song confided in Xia Tian, describing her personal life as unexpectedly complicated. She found Mr. Yu to be a careful, considerate, and mature man, yet she felt a lack of deeper connection. While she had grown less fond of Tan Xu, she acknowledged that he had positively influenced her, teaching her about financial management. Most importantly, he now genuinely liked her.
However, the person who truly confused her was Li Donghao, especially given his recent unusual reactions and strange behaviors towards her, which even Xia Tian noticed. Xia Tian, drawing from her own experience, advised Xiao Song that feelings often develop without logical reasons, and the heart can react faster than the mind. She explained that true affection can manifest naturally, leaving no room for regret. Xiao Song realized Xia Tian was referring to her own renewed feelings for Xu Zehao.
Xiao Song expressed her frustration, struggling to understand the dynamic between Xia Tian and Xu Zehao, particularly their second "breakup" after five years apart. Xia Tian admitted that Xu Zehao’s inexplicable words still caused her pain, and yes, she had developed feelings for him once more. She explained that it was impossible not to, as Xu Zehao was the person who understood her best, having seen her at her most vulnerable during their five years together.
However, Xia Tian clarified that despite her feelings, she knew her boundaries and was committed to her relationship with Guan Xin, asserting that Xu Zehao was a part of her past and she had no intention of breaking up with Guan Xin. Xiao Song hugged Xia Tian, apologizing for her earlier harshness and promising to always support her friend. That afternoon, Xia Tian arrived at Xu Zehao’s company for a project discussion concerning the townhouse project. Xu Zehao feigned composure.
During the discussion, Mr. Yu slyly noted the uncanny similarity between Xia Tian’s and Xu Zehao’s concerns about planting a tree in the villa courtyard, observing Xu Zehao's discomfort. After the meeting, Xia Tian and Xu Zehao shared a quick farewell. However, fate had other plans, and they coincidentally met again at their frequently visited restaurant, still holding onto their familiar food preferences from five years ago.
Guan Xin called Xia Tian, and she frankly told him she was having dinner with Xu Zehao because the company project was in its final sprint stage. Guan Xin paused, then informed her that he would be working overtime that night.
With an unexpected evening ahead, Xia Tian and Xu Zehao openly discussed their past relationship, reminiscing about trivial arguments over food preferences—such as adding cheese to instant noodles, the salty versus sweet tofu debate, or whether to add salt or sugar to scrambled eggs. They also recounted how they had changed habits for each other, like Xu Zehao learning to eat seafood noodles and Xia Tian delving into movies and Jay Chou’s work because of him.
They both found humor in how at least half of their current habits were shaped by their past relationship. After their meal, they took a walk by the sea. Xu Zehao shared that his parents were still on their world tour, living freely, and had been for three years, which prompted Xia Tian to express her envy for their deep love for each other and for him.
They recalled the urban legend about couples who sang the song "Love in Hiroshima" eventually breaking up; despite Xia Tian's efforts to avoid singing it with Xu Zehao, they still ended up separating. As they walked, both felt an unspoken longing; Xia Tian internally wished to hold Xu Zehao's hand, and he secretly contemplated pretending to be drunk to touch her face again, as he once did.
Their shared emotions were abruptly reined in when Xia Tian stumbled, nearly spraining her ankle in her high heels, and Xu Zehao instinctively caught her. The next morning, Guan Xin prepared breakfast, but Xia Tian was unreachable by phone. He called Li Donghao, who, after checking Xia Tian’s empty room, covered for her by saying she had gone for a walk by the sea, a frequent habit of hers lately.
Xiao Song, waking up and realizing Xia Tian hadn't come home, was worried and suspected she might be with Xu Zehao, especially remembering their meeting the day before. Guan Xin, growing increasingly anxious, drove towards the seaside. Meanwhile, Xiao Song and Li Donghao argued passionately about Xia Tian’s potential whereabouts. Xiao Song, still unable to reach Xia Tian or Xu Zehao, called Mr. Yu, who happened to be on his way to Xu Zehao's apartment.
Mr. Yu covertly entered the apartment, observing for any signs of Xia Tian, even checking for hidden shoes, but she was not there. Xu Zehao then appeared, clearly annoyed by Mr. Yu's intrusion. Guan Xin eventually located Xia Tian through a phone tracking app, finding her safely asleep at her mother's house. Xu Zehao later reassured Mr. Yu that neither he nor Xia Tian were the kind of people to betray a boyfriend.
He confirmed that after tending to her sprained ankle the previous night, he had driven her directly home. Xia Tian was at her mother’s, crying and emotionally overwhelmed by life's difficulties, wanting to ask her mother why she had brought her into the world. Xu Zehao, understanding her sentiment, replied that he too often wondered about such profound questions.
