Discovery of Romance Episode 19 Recap
> Discovery of Romance Recap
Xu Zehao, visibly frustrated by misunderstandings surrounding his relationship with Xia Tian, asserted that despite any perceived risks, they had never overstepped boundaries and he had actively tried to control his feelings for her. He questioned why others refused to trust him. Meanwhile, Xia Tian called Guan Xin, who teased her for calling so many times, implying she missed him. He mentioned making sandwiches for her that morning, only to find she wasn't home.
Xia Tian explained she had stayed at her mother's house the previous night and had forgotten to tell him. Guan Xin, saying he had other commitments, playfully called her "petty" and asked her to think of him while he was busy. Hearing that Xia Tian was at her mother's, Xiao Song and Dong Hao were visibly relieved.
Guan Xin then arrived at the coffee shop where Lu Xi worked, surprised to learn it was closing due to low profits and converting into a nail salon. He asked about her future plans, and she shared that she had been accepted into a public service organization. Lu Xi intended to bake one last cake for Guan Xin as a farewell gift, but Guan Xin insisted on making it for her instead.
As they baked together, Guan Xin drew a sunflower on the cake, telling Lu Xi it symbolized her resilience, vitality, and youthful spirit. Lu Xi revealed she didn't celebrate her birthday because she didn't know the date. She then made three wishes: to be more capable and experience the wider world, to reunite with her "brother Xuan," and for Guan Xin to love himself more and open his heart.
She pointed out his numerous acts of kindness towards her, such as buying recording equipment, decorating her house, and funding Lili's surgery, but questioned why he neglected his own needs, especially regarding a scar on his arm. Guan Xin subtly hinted that some scars are not just physical but emotional. Lu Xi reiterated her wish for him to prioritize his own well-being and open up more. Later, on his way home, Guan Xin reflected deeply on Lu Xi's words.
He realized that since becoming "Guan Xin," he had lived cautiously, constantly trying to please others and avoid disappointing his mother, upsetting Xia Tian, or incurring Lu Xi's blame. He wondered if his self-sacrificing nature was, as Lu Xi suggested, a burden to those he cared for, and if people would still like the "real him" if he dared to take off his mask.
That night, Guan Xin called his mother, requesting to meet her after work the next day for an important conversation. The following day, Guan Xin's mother unexpectedly visited his apartment and discovered an old photo of him and Lu Xi, expressing her annoyance that he had kept it despite her clear instructions. She confronted him at the hospital, sternly reminding him that the photo should not be kept, especially if Xia Tian were to see it.
Guan Xin, tearfully, confessed his desire to atone to Lu Xi and, more importantly, to be completely honest with Xia Tian about his past. He expressed a profound longing to shed his secrets and live authentically with the person he loved, acknowledging that such honesty carried both benefits and pains. He thanked his mother for adopting him from the welfare house but revealed his deep loneliness in carrying his secret alone.
He pleaded with her to allow him to confide in Xia Tian, the woman he loved. After a long pause, his mother reluctantly agreed, still labeling him as stubborn. As Guan Xin's mother left the hospital, she accidentally bumped into Lu Xi, causing the photo frame to fall.
Lu Xi picked it up and was stunned to see a photo of herself with "Brother Xuan," immediately realizing Guan Xin's true identity and his connection to the woman she now knew was his mother. Overwhelmed, Lu Xi went to the seaside alone to cry. Unaware of Lu Xi's discovery, Guan Xin called Xia Tian, telling her he missed her and had something important to say that evening, for which he had prepared a romantic dinner.
Lu Xi, meanwhile, reflected on her past. A flashback showed a young Guan Xin promising to become a doctor and fix her arm scar. She recalled how she sustained the scar from a bicycle accident at the welfare house when she was six. She expressed a prior belief that she would instantly recognize her "brother Xuan" if she ever saw him, and a lingering doubt about Guan Xin possibly recognizing her but feigning ignorance.
Xia Tian found Lu Xi crying downstairs at Guan Xin's apartment building. Upset, Xia Tian demanded to know why she was there. Lu Xi explained that Guan Xin was like family to her. Xia Tian dismissed this, suggesting Guan Xin's kindness was merely pity for Lu Xi's difficult background.
Lu Xi, deeply offended, retorted with sarcasm, questioning why Xia Tian felt the need to deliver such a hurtful message and accusing her of suspicion despite her supposed understanding of her boyfriend. Lu Xi passionately asserted that her relationship with Guan Xin was private and that Xia Tian had no right to interfere or remind her of her circumstances.
She defiantly told Xia Tian to "try being an orphan" to understand, declared herself the protagonist of her own life, and refused to be told she was pitied, before leaving in tears. Xia Tian entered Guan Xin's apartment, seeing the prepared romantic dinner, and immediately confronted him about Lu Xi, accusing him of continuously delaying an explanation. Guan Xin, his earlier joy replaced by anger, questioned Xia Tian's lack of trust.
He pointed out his own acceptance of her ambiguous interactions with Xu Zehao, such as swapping phones, sleeping at his house, and becoming business partners, despite his inability to fully understand them. He challenged her love and questioned whether she truly considered his feelings. Xia Tian apologized for her harsh words and suggested they both calm down. However, Guan Xin, unable to reconcile in that moment, declared, "I can't do this." Xia Tian then left.
Alone, Guan Xin regretted his past cowardice, lamenting the many missed opportunities to confess his secret and realizing that once a chance to speak is missed, it becomes harder to retrieve. Xia Tian, unable to leave Guan Xin alone in his sorrow, returned to his apartment and found him at his door. She confessed her love, expressing a newfound sense of security and belief in his love, free from any lingering unease. Guan Xin reciprocated her feelings.
He then finally revealed his long-held secret: he, too, had grown up in a welfare house alongside Lu Xi. When he was twelve and Lu Xi six, his mother had initially intended to adopt Lu Xi. However, Lu Xi, too young to understand adoption, had only wanted to stay with her "Brother Xuan." Guan Xin had promised to always be with her.
Later, during a bicycle ride, Lu Xi sustained a severe arm injury that left a permanent scar, leading his mother to abandon her adoption plans. Guan Xin confessed that he believed he had "replaced" Lu Xi in the adoption and had been too ashamed to say goodbye when he left. Xia Tian immediately reassured him, saying he was only twelve at the time and couldn't be blamed.
She regretted that he had carried this burden for so long, understanding that his mother's strong will and his own fear of losing her had kept him silent. Xia Tian affirmed her love for Guan Xin, regardless of his background, stating that she loved him for who he was and was strong enough to completely trust him. Guan Xin then revealed his birth name, He Xuan, prompting Xia Tian to playfully "re-introduce" herself as Xia Tian.
He Xuan, filled with joy, responded, "Nice to meet you, Xia Tian." Xia Tian then realized her mistake in misunderstanding Lu Xi and expressed remorse for her harsh words, particularly telling her that Guan Xin's kindness was merely pity. She explained that she hadn't known Lu Xi was his sister and admitted her tendency to speak without thinking. Guan Xin absolved her, taking responsibility for not having told her sooner and promising to explain everything to Lu Xi himself.
He then playfully teased Xia Tian about her sharp tongue, which she, after a lighthearted argument, eventually admitted was a flaw. Later, while shopping, Xiao Song spotted Guan Xin leaving a jewelry store with a small gift bag containing a small box. She immediately speculated that he might be planning to propose to Xia Tian, excitedly claiming the role of maid of honor. Xiao Song then pressed Dong Hao for more information.
Dong Hao, trying to maintain the element of surprise for Xia Tian, discreetly learned that Guan Xin had booked a private room at Bairong Restaurant for the following evening. News of Guan Xin's impending proposal reached Xu Zehao, making his mood complicated. During a work meeting, Xu Zehao oversaw the final stages of Xia Song Studio's project, advising fine-tuning but no major changes, and cautioning against complacency.
Xiao Song excitedly informed Xia Tian about Guan Xin's romantic "bombardment" and the predicted proposal with flowers and a diamond ring. Meanwhile, Xia Tian encountered her mother with Uncle Jianmin. Her mother was embarking on a night hike, a new activity for her. Xia Tian playfully suspected her mother was in love, and her mother, in turn, playfully confirmed it. Xia Tian then sought her mother's advice, asking about her decision to marry her father.
Her mother explained that he was kind and accepted her temper, suggesting that complete mutual understanding isn't always possible between two independent individuals, and sometimes people simply "make do." When Xia Tian asked if she should accept if Guan Xin proposed, her mother advised her to make her own decision without considering anyone else, emphasizing Xia Tian's independence.
She added that she had never imposed her will on Xia Tian and that Xia Tian must understand her own feelings to avoid hurting others. Xia Tian jokingly attributed her own selfishness to her mother's genes. Finally, Guan Xin, holding a diamond ring, called his mother, indicating he had something to tell her.
