Discovery of Romance Episode 7 Recap
> Discovery of Romance Recap
At the restaurant, Xia Tian and Xu Zehao, startled by Guan Xin's unexpected arrival, hid under a table. Xu Zehao suggested Xia Tian go ahead, planning to sneak away himself. However, realizing his phone was still on the table, he had no choice but to emerge and face Guan Xin. Xia Tian quickly apologized to Guan Xin, blaming her busy schedule and a demanding client for mistakenly sending him a message meant for Xu Zehao.
Xu Zehao interjected, calling her excuse clumsy and accusing her of making him look foolish. As Xia Tian went to get more food, Xu Zehao and Guan Xin engaged in a war of words and childishly started a competition to see who could eat more, until they were both too full. Guan Xin and Xia Tian attempted to break the strange atmosphere, but only made it more awkward.
Xu Zehao then challenged Guan Xin, remarking on the unusual number of coincidences lately, implying they might be fate. Guan Xin affirmed his right to like Xia Tian but urged Xu Zehao to restrain himself, concerned that a client pursuing a partner would inconvenience Xia Tian's work. Xu Zehao questioned if Guan Xin was afraid Xia Tian would waver, but Guan Xin stated his only concern was Xia Tian’s comfort at work.
He also brought up Xu Zehao's unexplained presence at the hospital, which Xu Zehao dismissed as a misunderstanding and scoffed at the idea of having told Xia Tian about it. After Xia Tian returned and tried to ease the tension by discussing work, Xu Zehao, claiming he was full, departed. Guan Xin then asked Xia Tian to maintain her distance from Xu Zehao outside of work, admitting he couldn't maintain his composure whenever Xu Zehao was around.
Xia Tian playfully apologized and offered a kiss to appease him. Later, Xu Zehao and Guan Xin coincidentally met at a pharmacy, both purchasing stomach medicine. Xu Zehao, buying a box identical to Guan Xin’s, inquired if Guan Xin had also overeaten. Guan Xin claimed the medicine was for a friend, then playfully told Xu Zehao to guess his reason for being there.
This encounter triggered a poignant flashback for Xu Zehao, recalling when Xia Tian had lovingly cared for him during a stomachache, bringing medicine and offering comfort, making his pain vanish just by her presence. He remembered telling her that even her "little head" helped him sleep. Now, he felt a profound loneliness. Meanwhile, Guan Xin spoke with Lu Xi, a doctor, arranging a meeting to discuss a cleft lip and palate boy's surgical repair plan.
Later, in their meeting, Lu Xi outlined the complex three-stage procedure, which included removing scars, lifting the philtrum, possibly using ear cartilage, and later applying laser therapy to fully eliminate any remaining marks. Lu Xi assured Guan Xin she would support the boy throughout his treatment and then offered to treat Guan Xin to dinner. Just then, Guan Xin received a message from Xia Tian saying she was staying at his place that night.
Confident he had enough time, Guan Xin accepted Lu Xi's invitation, sending a quick message to Xia Tian that he had an appointment and would try to return early. At Guan Xin’s apartment, Xia Tian, weary of secrecy, decided to reveal that Xu Zehao was her ex-boyfriend. While tidying, she found a takeaway receipt from "Seashore House" dated November 1st, the day she and Xu Zehao had encountered Guan Xin.
A call with Xiao Song, who mentioned she was out to lunch "with Mr. Xu," confirmed Xia Tian’s suspicion that Guan Xin had indeed seen them. She wondered why he hadn't said anything. Guan Xin enjoyed dinner with Lu Xi at an upscale restaurant, observing that Lu Xi was still "cheerful and optimistic." Back home, Xia Tian greeted Guan Xin, noting his late return, his change of clothes, and the lingering scent of perfume.
When asked about his dinner companion, Guan Xin lied, claiming he had met with "a junior fellow" for a medical consultation, someone Xia Tian didn't know. Xia Tian's suspicions were confirmed when she found a message on his phone from "Running Deer" (Lu Xi), thanking him for dinner and suggesting skewered food for their next outing. Confronting him, Xia Tian challenged his lie, noting Lu Xi's name and avatar didn’t suggest a male.
When Guan Xin playfully described Lu Xi as "beautiful, good in shape, youthful, and with a pretty face," Xia Tian became serious, revealing she knew he had seen her and Xu Zehao at the restaurant. She pressed him on why he hadn't confronted her, arguing that honest arguments were preferable to silence, which made her feel he thought she was "gullible." She then firmly stated she didn't want him dining with "that deer" anymore.
Guan Xin, pleased by her jealousy, admitted he had held back to avoid being "super selfish" and causing issues for her work. Xia Tian, in turn, reassured him that her interactions with Xu Zehao were purely professional and would cease once their project concluded, promising they would "never see each other again" thereafter. At work, the tension between Xia Tian and Xu Zehao remained palpable.
Xu Zehao relentlessly criticized her design proposals, deeming elements like the table "too cold," the sofa fabric "too showy," and a screen placement problematic for blocking sunlight. He demanded reworks, disparaging their efforts as merely "like something that a college graduate would do," lacking professionalism. Xia Tian, though visibly frustrated, agreed to modify the proposal "until he was satisfied," but firmly asserted her right to respect, reminding him that "even as Party B, I also need respect."
Xu Zehao then instructed Mr. Yu to convey to Xia Tian that clients also deserved respect and not to be interrupted. Mr. Yu later revealed to Xia Tian that Xu Zehao was under significant pressure from his superiors regarding the project's progress and was pushing them hard to "make something to prove yourself." He also mentioned Xu Zehao had an important document for her.
When Xia Tian returned, Xu Zehao demanded an apology for the embarrassing restaurant incident, stating he couldn't get past her sending the wrong message. Xia Tian, to his surprise, simply said, "I am sorry." He then warned her not to "embarrass me in front of your boyfriend" again, clarifying he was "not obligated to act with" her, and handed her a document containing reference pictures.
As Xia Tian tied her hair, Xu Zehao found himself transported back in time, recalling a tender moment where they had shared an expensive Civet cappuccino, a symbol of their past efforts to save money. These recurring memories of Xia Tian infuriated him, as he confessed internally that the days following their breakup hadn't been "that easy as I said before."
He desperately tried to reach Xia Tian by phone, but she didn't answer, leading him to wonder if she had blocked him, intensifying his frustration. Despite the ongoing friction, Xia Tian’s revised proposal was finally met with approval. Mr. Yu seized the opportunity to suggest Xu Zehao treat the team for their hard work. Xu Zehao agreed, announcing that it was "on me today," and specifically praised Xia Tian for her excellent work.
Later, at a KTV gathering, Xiao Song toasted Mr. Yu, affectionately describing him as "very old-fashioned but very serious" and a "very nice guy" who would surely be "rewarded" with a "peaceful life." During a game of truth or dare, Xia Tian initially chose "truth," but quickly switched to "dare" when asked to reveal her first boyfriend’s name and their first date location.
Her dare was to sing a love song with the person of the opposite sex on her right, which happened to be Xu Zehao. As Xu Zehao enthusiastically selected "Love in Hiroshima," Xia Tian excused herself to answer a call from Guan Xin, telling him, "See you later then." A visibly inebriated Xu Zehao followed her out, pleading, "Xia Tian, please come back. There are some things I've figured out now."
Despite her suggestion he was drunk, he insisted he was "serious," acknowledging he would likely "regret what I said tonight" but felt compelled to speak. He confessed, "Xia Tian, I fall for you again. No. I. . . I fall in love with you again." He realized his past affection had been "far from enough" because he had never felt "as miserable and inferior" or "missed you as much as I do right now."
He finally understood the pain she had expressed during their relationship, concluding that "the person who loves more suffers more." He described his current agony as a "hellish torment" before stumbling back into the private room, leaving a tearful Xia Tian standing alone outside. A short while later, as Xu Zehao looked towards the open door of the private room, Xia Tian reappeared, beaming, and holding Guan Xin's hand. They entered the room together, radiating happiness, a sight that filled the others with envy.
