Discovery of Romance Episode 26 (Ending) Recap
> Discovery of Romance Recap
One year later, a male applicant arrives at Xia Tian's studio, seeking an assistant position. As Xia Tian offers him coffee, he reveals that he has been observing her for some time, living nearby and having previously bought a chair from her studio. He openly expresses his admiration for her, stating he liked her from their first encounter and wishes to know her better.
He directly asks if she has a boyfriend, and when she confirms she is single, having recently ended a relationship, he suggests dating. However, Xia Tian candidly tells him she was dumped for cheating. His demeanor immediately changes, and he quickly takes the application form, making a swift exit. Both Xia Tian and Xu Zehao reflect on their breakup a year prior.
Xia Tian muses that the intense emotions of their separation – whether madness, guilt, or regret – are simply parts of love. She wonders if their story would have ended differently if Xu Zehao had turned back that day. Unbeknownst to her, Xu Zehao had similar thoughts, recalling how he cried for hours, secretly hoping she would return.
Later, a drunken Xia Tian called Xu Zehao, claiming to be doing great after winning the ADA award and denying she missed him, suggesting their breakup was for the best. Her call, however, went to a new number, as Xu Zehao had changed his phone and deleted her WeChat, resolving not to contact her again. Meanwhile, Donghao and Xiao Song are enjoying a sweet, openly affectionate relationship, prompting Xia Tian to playfully tell them to "get a room."
When Guan Xin calls Donghao, he tries to conceal the caller's identity, but Xia Tian encourages honesty, calling his behavior childish. Donghao then reveals to Xia Tian that Guan Xin still wears their couple ring. Separately, Guan Xin confides in Donghao, reflecting on his inability to truly understand Xia Tian and how love cannot be forced. He asks Donghao to tell Xia Tian he is thriving and doesn't miss her, while inwardly struggling.
Donghao encourages him to call Xia Tian if he misses her, but Guan Xin declines, stating that he learned from their relationship that love cannot be forced through effort; it is an illogical force, like fate. At Xu Zehao's design firm, a meeting to select a new project partner ensues. The current options are deemed unsatisfactory, and Xia Song Studio is suggested due to Xia Tian’s superior designs and their established rapport.
Xu Zehao tries to object, revealing his past relationship and breakup with Xia Tian as a reason against collaboration. To his surprise, everyone already knows about their history, even recalling a successful guesthouse project they completed together. The team decides to use Xia Song Studio as a benchmark for selecting a new partner. Later, a female client meets with Xu Zehao's team.
She praises their thoroughness and Xu Zehao’s professionalism, hinting at personal interest and suggesting a wine cellar in her basement. She also mentions hiring an ADA award-winning furniture designer who creates beautiful wood furniture. Xu Zehao, uncomfortable with her advances, politely declines her invitation for a drink. Shortly after he leaves, Xia Tian arrives for her meeting with the same client.
The client, unaware of their past, enthusiastically shows Xia Tian the design plans created by Xu Zehao’s company, gushing about Mr. Xu’s talent and handsome appearance. Xia Tian listens silently. Xu Zehao then has an awkward encounter with Guan Xin at a ramen shop. Guan Xin deliberately emphasizes his couple ring and provocatively offers to send Xu Zehao an invitation to his and Xia Tian’s wedding. Believing they are marrying, Xu Zehao leaves abruptly in a fit of pique.
Left alone, Guan Xin finds Xu Zehao's reaction amusing, but then questions the purpose of his own actions after a year. The client arranges a joint meeting with Xu Zehao and Xia Tian. Xia Tian greets Xu Zehao as if meeting for the first time, then confidently suggests a structural modification to the kitchen design to accommodate a large refrigerator.
The client, eager to please Xu Zehao, defers to his judgment and then, in a misguided attempt at matchmaking, suggests that Xia Tian might someday live in the designed house with Xu Zehao. This comment causes Xu Zehao to accidentally spray water on Xia Tian in shock. Xia Tian, realizing the client’s intentions, sarcastically acknowledges she is helping design their "love nest."
During dinner at a hotpot restaurant, Xia Tian orders for Xu Zehao, revealing an intimate knowledge of his preferences, from specific ingredients to his choice of beer. The client grows suspicious, and Xia Tian eventually reveals their 11-year history, including their five-year romantic relationship. Realizing she has been misled, the client angrily returns Xu Zehao’s gift and leaves.
Xu Zehao, enraged and having genuinely believed Xia Tian was marrying Guan Xin, confronts her, accusing her of intentionally embarrassing him and ruining his prospects. Xia Tian counters that they are "even" since he ruined her past relationship. Xu Zehao expresses gratitude for their breakup, believing it "let him go," and tells her to live her own life with a loving heart. Xia Tian responds by giving him a "wedding gift," a sarcastic retort to his earlier words.
Later, Donghao returns a box of Xia Tian's belongings and informs her that Guan Xin had lied to Xu Zehao about their impending marriage out of spite, and now wishes to apologize. Donghao tells Xia Tian to decide what to do with the box. Despite Guan Xin forbidding anyone from knowing about his departure or seeing him off, Xia Tian goes to the train station to bid him farewell.
She asks him how long he will be away, and he says "a year," then asks if she would wait for him if he returns. Xia Tian, however, takes the opportunity to finally apologize, acknowledging she has owed him one since their breakup.
Guan Xin then confesses that his time with her was neither happy nor peaceful; he was exhausted by hiding his insecurities and desperately trying to gain more of her love, mistakenly believing she and a complete family could fill an internal void. He now understands that true happiness is not given by others but must be found by facing his true self. They share a heartfelt goodbye, wishing each other happiness and care.
Mr. Yu, inspired by the love stories he has witnessed, embarks on his own blind date. His date is Xia Tian's mother’s former apprentice, now an author who has written "Love's Summer," a novel chronicling the relationships of Xia Tian, Xu Zehao, and Guan Xin. The author explains that she observed their journey, understanding that in love, there is no absolute right or wrong. She hints at an open ending.
Meanwhile, Xia Tian’s mother, deciding to live her own life, visits her late husband’s grave with Xia Tian. There, a bouquet of flowers is already placed. Xia Tian apologizes to her father for her absence and promises to visit regularly. Her mother then informs her deceased husband of her decision to remarry Director Jian, stating that she will not visit his grave with her new partner and that if they meet in the afterlife, they can pretend to be strangers.
She thanks him for their shared life but asserts her right to live the rest of her life free from past sentiment. Xia Tian is surprised to learn her mother is remarrying before she has had her first marriage, but her mother calmly dismisses her reaction, affirming her choices. Separately, Guan Xin travels to Lu Xi’s location, having tracked her through social media posts. Lu Xi, surprised to see him, asks if he got married.
Guan Xin sadly replies, "I didn't. I screwed up." Lu Xi, understanding, mentions her own secret crush on someone who had a girlfriend, then affectionately calls him "Brother Xuan." They sit together as the sun sets, finding a quiet, warm comfort in each other’s company. At a train station, as Xu Zehao takes photographs, Xia Tian unexpectedly walks into his camera frame, smiling. He questions how she knew he was there, which she playfully attributes to "fate."
As they board the train, Xia Tian deliberately sits across from him and then follows him when he attempts to change seats, refusing to let him avoid her. Xu Zehao expresses his frustration, stating he finally became "immune" to her after a year of struggle and now desires a normal life. Xia Tian, however, finds planned life boring and prefers the "fresh and exciting" element of their chance encounter.
She provocatively suggests that since both of them are "not good people," they should simply "make do" and "internally digest" each other to avoid harming anyone else. Feigning offense, Xia Tian pretends to leave to "harm others" in the world. Xu Zehao stops her, pointing out that she is conspicuously wearing items he bought for her – earrings, a necklace, and a bag – proving she "came prepared." Xia Tian acknowledges that he also hurt her.
As he firmly holds her hand, declaring she can no longer leave, Xia Tian smiles, telling him she feels most truly herself when she is with him. They embrace passionately. A narration concludes that despite experiencing two failed relationships, Xu Zehao still believes that at the right time, love will indeed find its way.
