Discovery of Romance Episode 5 Recap
> Discovery of Romance Recap
When Guan Xin showed Xu Zehao the notebook with Xia Tian's portrait, asking if it was his, Xu Zehao denied it, claiming he didn't know where it went. Both men felt an instant rivalry, their intuitions telling them the other was more than just a polite acquaintance. Guan Xin tried to end the awkward encounter by offering a single serving of seafood congee he had bought for Xia Tian.
Xu Zehao initially accepted but then stated he had already eaten, which Guan Xin used as an opportunity to politely dismiss him and end the awkwardness, asking him to take care of Xia Tian in future. After Xu Zehao left, Xia Tian tearfully apologized to a visibly angry Guan Xin for not disclosing that Xu Zehao was her client, explaining she was afraid of him overthinking it.
Guan Xin was frustrated, feeling he was always the last to know about Xu Zehao's repeated reappearances in her life—from losing her phone and staying at his place to now working with him. Xia Tian offered to terminate the contract, but Guan Xin stopped her, though he expressed his annoyance at her secrecy. Xia Tian assured him that her coming to him proved she had nothing to hide, and that seeing him had already improved her cold.
She admitted her fault but urged him to stop arguing, which made Guan Xin relent, saying he couldn't stay angry with her. Xu Zehao, meanwhile, searched for Guan Xin online, feeling a competitive urge. He saw numerous positive reviews, including one expressing a desire to marry Guan Xin, which he scoffed at. He privately questioned if Guan Xin's good looks allowed him to "cheat and lie" and go on "blind dates" behind Xia Tian's back, deeming him a playboy.
Xu Zehao reaffirmed his belief that his financial success was crucial, as it allowed him to become Xia Tian's Party A. Later that night, Xu Zehao called Xia Tian, and then appeared at her apartment, claiming to have "remembered" that the notebook Guan Xin showed him was indeed his, but that the lighting in her studio distorted its color. He then invited her to dinner the next day, fabricating a need to visit a design-oriented store for project inspiration.
Xia Tian reluctantly agreed for work, but laid down three rules: he must inform her before visiting, refrain from talking nonsense to her boyfriend, and keep their interactions strictly professional. Xu Zehao jokingly added a fourth rule: "see you tomorrow." Xia Tian confessed to Xiao Song that her life felt like a "spy show."
Xiao Song joked that Xia Tian's encounters with Xu Zehao, culminating in him becoming her client, resembled an idol drama and that they were making a fool of Guan Xin. Donghao explained that men are sensitive to rivals, warning that Guan Xin should be told about Xu Zehao's true identity, especially since they would continue to work with him.
Xia Tian, however, after considering telling Guan Xin, decided against it, insisting they keep Xu Zehao's identity a secret to protect Guan Xin's pride. Xiao Song, eager to borrow a sexy dress from Xia Tian for a "housewarming" with her junior fellow, promised to keep the secret. Guan Xin visited the coffee shop where Lu Xi works. He picked up his Americano and tried a cake she had made.
Lu Xi explained her diverse skills, from baking and making coffee to doing nail art and delivering food, were all to save money to learn recording, which she described as a "healing thing." Noticing a scar on her arm, Guan Xin offered to help her apply for a grant to remove it, mentioning it could even be free. He gave her his business card, and Lu Xi agreed to meet him at the hospital after work.
Moments later, as Guan Xin stepped out of the coffee shop, he saw Xia Tian and Xu Zehao having lunch together. He called Xia Tian, who openly confirmed she was with Xu Zehao for a work meal, which eased his mind. During their meal, Xu Zehao tried to rekindle their past, claiming he had changed from five years ago.
Xia Tian firmly told him that five years had passed, that she was very satisfied with her current life and her relationship with Guan Xin, whom she described as "360-degree perfect" and her "most satisfying relationship," and that she had no desire to revisit the past. Despite Xia Tian's clear stance, Guan Xin, for his part, remained somewhat unable to fully let go of the situation, feeling a lingering sense of melancholy.
After their work lunch, Xia Tian intended to go to Guan Xin's hospital to surprise him. Xu Zehao, determined to accompany her, invented another excuse, claiming he needed to visit the hospital to inquire about a hair transplant. As they drove towards the hospital, Lu Xi met Guan Xin there, confirming she wanted to inquire about assistance for a young boy with a cleft lip and palate.
Guan Xin assured her that the child could receive a grant, potentially even free treatment. Overjoyed, Lu Xi embraced Guan Xin, thanking him profusely for helping the children at the welfare house. Xu Zehao, who saw this embrace as he drove Xia Tian past, quickly sped away before Xia Tian could witness it, making a false claim about a "no stop" sign. Xia Tian, familiar with the area, immediately suspected his intentions.
Xu Zehao then drove a long, circuitous route before dropping her off, only for Xia Tian to point out that there was no "no stop" sign after all, confirming his deception. Xia Tian rushed into the hospital only to discover that Guan Xin had already left for the day, leaving her frustrated that he hadn't replied to her messages. Meanwhile, Xu Zehao spotted Guan Xin and Lu Xi shopping for snacks at a supermarket.
He remembered Xia Tian's earlier glowing description of Guan Xin and silently fumed, calling Xia Tian a "fool" for believing Guan Xin was a "perfect man" while he was "two-timing" by "flirting with the patient." Xiao Song went for a "housewarming" dinner with her junior fellow, Tan Xu, but they ended up eating out. She gave him a swimsuit, hoping they could go to a hot spring together.
Tan Xu rejected the gift and the idea, stating that hot springs were for couples, and they were merely ordinary friends. Heartbroken, Xiao Song tried to convince herself that love wasn't everything and that she wasn't clingy. However, she later broke down crying in front of Xia Tian and Donghao, recounting all the "couple-like" activities she and Tan Xu had done in college and wondering if their relationship wasn't dating just because they "never slept together."
Donghao, in a show of support, grabbed her phone and pretended to call Tan Xu, posing as "Xiao Song's older brother," threatening him with his Taekwondo skills if he bothered Xiao Song again. Realizing Donghao wasn't making a real call, Xiao Song, feeling lied to, fiercely bit him. Xia Tian and Xiao Song's concept for the "healing guesthouse" was approved, earning praise for its "creative and unconventional" design.
Xu Zehao, though pleased, secretly felt Xia Tian "could do so much better" and shouldn't "settle for the status quo." Xia Tian caught Xu Zehao secretly searching for Guan Xin online. He awkwardly claimed it was a "Background Investigation" on Party B, which Xia Tian dismissed as a childish excuse, less believable than his "hair transplant" lie. Guan Xin then called, reminding Xia Tian of their 8 PM movie date.
Xia Tian informed Xu Zehao she would not work overtime that day. Xu Zehao, after initially allowing them to leave once their "performance targets" were met, found a detail in Xia Tian's presentation that needed adjustment and then identified a potentially plagiarized image, forcing her and Xiao Song to redo a section. This caused Xia Tian to run late for her movie.
After the revisions were finally approved, Xu Zehao offered to drive Xia Tian to the cinema, claiming he had a salon appointment nearby. Reluctantly, she accepted due to time constraints. Upon arrival, Xia Tian hurried into the cinema, not noticing Guan Xin, who was just emerging. Guan Xin confronted Xu Zehao, warning him not to drive Xia Tian anymore and accusing him of overstepping the boundaries of a client-designer relationship.
Xu Zehao retaliated by revealing he saw Guan Xin "cuddling with your patient," urging him to "clean up this mess" before Xia Tian found out. Guan Xin accused Xu Zehao of tracking him, which Xu Zehao denied, claiming it was a coincidence, then declared his intention to make them break up. Enraged, Guan Xin punched Xu Zehao, questioning if only Xu Zehao was allowed to "cheat" while he couldn't like Xia Tian. They exchanged blows, escalating into a full-blown fight. Xia Tian then rushed out of the cinema and, seeing Xu Zehao pinning Guan Xin against a car, intervened by punching Xu Zehao.
