Hidden Love Episode 18 Recap
> Hidden Love Recap
Duan Jiaxu watches Sang Zhi as she studies at his apartment, saying he wants to get more glances at her. Sang Zhi playfully complains she cannot focus with him there, but he insists on staying quietly. He then offers to cook her a meal, affectionately worrying that someone might "steal his kiddo." Sang Zhi finds his cooking delightful, and he reveals she is the first person to taste it.
After eating, Sang Zhi insists on doing the dishes, explaining that in the future, he cannot be the only one doing chores, a comment that makes her realize she is already thinking about their life together. Although Sang Zhi claims she isn't sleepy and is determined to study for a scholarship, she soon finds herself dozing off in his bedroom.
When Duan Jiaxu enters, he finds her on the floor, where she quickly claims to be memorizing vocabulary, asserting that studying on the floor is "more exciting" and helps her stay awake. Amused, Duan Jiaxu playfully pins her down, teasing that he will show her what "exciting" really means. Sang Zhi, blushing, pushes him away.
She admits she fell asleep and was afraid he would misunderstand her intentions if he found her napping after she had been so determined to study. Duan Jiaxu reassures her he is not that petty and encourages her to rest, offering to wake her later. When she worries he will be bored, he admits he might be "a little bit" but is happy just to have her there.
Sang Zhi then clarifies that she does not dislike his physical affection, but she gets extremely nervous whenever he is close and is not yet used to it. Duan Jiaxu, understanding, tells her not to worry and urges her to sleep. Later, as Duan Jiaxu walks Sang Zhi home, she offers him a choice between a piece of candy or holding hands, quickly deciding on the latter herself.
She then teases him for being so formal, unlike others who might grab a hand while crossing the street. Duan Jiaxu explains he is being cautious because he previously upset her by kissing her without asking. Sang Zhi clarifies she was not upset, just nervous. When he asks if she is finding it hard to get used to being his girlfriend, she reassures him she is not, and for the first time, tells him that she "really, really likes him."
Duan Jiaxu reciprocates, saying he likes her "very much, too." Sang Zhi also mentions she has applied for several internships in Yihe but has not received any replies yet. Qian Fei calls Duan Jiaxu to announce an upcoming business trip to Yihe and demands a seafood feast instead of their usual fried chicken. Duan Jiaxu generously agrees, leading Qian Fei to correctly guess that he has successfully "gotten the girl" and to jokingly take credit for it.
Qian Fei immediately boasts in a group chat that he helped Duan Jiaxu find a girlfriend, tagging Sang Yan. Panicked, Duan Jiaxu confesses to Qian Fei that the girl is Sang Zhi. Stunned, Qian Fei tries to retract his message, but Sang Yan has already seen it and calls Duan Jiaxu, angrily questioning why he sought help from Qian Fei instead of him. Duan Jiaxu calmly deflects, promising to explain everything in person when he returns to Nanwu.
Sang Yan agrees, asking them to bring Sang Zhi home for the summer vacation. Meanwhile, Sang Zhi’s friend Wang interviews Jiang Ming for a project. He speaks about the perseverance required of an athlete and the difficulty of being unable to train, recounting a past rib injury. Wang finds his dedication inspiring. Separately, Sang Zhi and her roommate Ning Wei are struggling with their term papers.
When Ning Wei learns Sang Zhi has been studying at Duan Jiaxu’s place, she teases her about their time alone and asks if they have kissed. Sang Zhi confirms they have and confides in Ning Wei about her nervousness during intimate moments, fearing Duan Jiaxu might misinterpret her tension as dislike. Ning Wei reassures her, suggesting her anxiety might stem from a subconscious fear that he will discover her long-held crush.
She encourages Sang Zhi to be proactive and show him through her actions that she enjoys his affection. Taking Ning Wei's advice, Sang Zhi invites Duan Jiaxu on a skating date for the weekend. At the rink, she notices he looks tired, but he insists on skating to "show off" his skills. Before they start, Sang Zhi boldly informs him that she plans to kiss him that day, giving him a heads-up so it is not too sudden.
Amused, he agrees. After he patiently teaches her some moves, she skates into his arms and gives him a quick peck on the lips. He playfully complains he was not ready and that it "didn't count," pulling her in for a more deliberate and passionate kiss. After an exam, Sang Zhi discusses her internship plans with her friends.
Her parents want her to return to Nanwu for an internship they found for her, but she prefers to stay in Yihe, believing there are more opportunities—both for her career and her relationship. She then receives a call confirming she has passed an interview. Later, a girl approaches Duan Jiaxu to ask for his WeChat. He politely declines, stating that his girlfriend would "kill" him. Sang Zhi, who witnessed the exchange, confronts him with a pout.
He teases her for being jealous, which she initially denies before admitting it, accusing him of "flirting" with the girl. He defends himself, but it's soon his turn to be jealous when he sees another man ask for Sang Zhi's contact information. He accuses her of flirting back, but she explains that she immediately rejected the man by telling him she already has a boyfriend.
