Hidden Love Episode 20 Recap
> Hidden Love Recap
As Sang Zhi was about to leave a private room due to her dorm's curfew, she encountered Jiang Ying at the doorway. Refusing to be ignored, Jiang Ying stopped her and began to speak ill of Duan Jiaxu. She revealed that his father was in a vegetative state, incurring nearly 100,000 yuan in annual medical bills, and questioned which young girl would be willing to waste her time and money on him.
Sang Zhi firmly declared that she could and would. Jiang Ying escalated her attack, asserting that Duan Jiaxu's father had killed someone while driving, labeling him a murderer. Sang Zhi dismissed this, asking what it had to do with Duan Jiaxu, and told Jiang Ying not to concern herself with her parents' approval of their relationship.
Jiang Ying continued to provoke Sang Zhi, claiming that due to his family circumstances, Duan Jiaxu grew up without love and mistook any kindness for affection. She even suggested he would be indifferent if Sang Zhi were to break up with him, believing he could easily find thousands of others. Unmoved, Sang Zhi remained steadfast, prompting Jiang Ying to reveal the painful truth: Duan Jiaxu's father had killed "her" own father.
Jiang Ying recounted how Duan Jiaxu's father had fled after the accident and attempted suicide out of fear of imprisonment, but survived while her father died. She claimed she was the one who suffered the punishment. Sang Zhi acknowledged Jiang Ying's pain but firmly stated that it was Duan Jiaxu's father who had committed the crime, for which Duan Jiaxu had already tried to compensate.
She emphasized that Duan Jiaxu himself was innocent and that Jiang Ying's personal tragedy did not justify her attempts to hurt him. The confrontation left Sang Zhi deeply saddened for Duan Jiaxu, making her wonder if Jiang Ying had previously made him feel such profound guilt. Later that evening, Duan Jiaxu found a visibly upset Sang Zhi sitting alone by the riverside, drinking beer. He offered her some bread he had bought.
Moved by his concern, Sang Zhi unexpectedly handed him her bank card, which contained five thousand yuan, and promised an additional three thousand after her internship. She declared sincerely that she wanted to be good to him for the rest of her life.
Duan Jiaxu accepted her card but, in a tender gesture, gave her his own wallet, telling her its password was her birthday and that she should use the money inside to buy beautiful dresses, while he would use her card. Sang Zhi teased him for being corny, but he advised her to save the money, jokingly suggesting it could be for her dowry or to buy a house.
Sang Zhi enthusiastically detailed her research, noting that a downtown Yihe apartment of over 100 square meters would require a down payment of more than 500,000 yuan, optimistically estimating they could save it in fifty years. Duan Jiaxu playfully agreed, joking about her buying a huge house for him to hide his mistress in. Despite her earlier unhappiness, Sang Zhi affirmed she was perfectly fine, expressing joy simply at his presence, and Duan Jiaxu quietly remained by her side.
As Sang Zhi worked late, a colleague delivered food that turned out to be an order from Duan Jiaxu. He had been concerned about her working overtime, especially with the campus being quiet during summer break. He playfully suggested picking her up daily or having her stay at his place, though Sang Zhi mentioned her mother's nightly check-ins. Shortly after, Sang Zhi's mother called, expressing worry and requesting a video call once she returned to her dorm.
Duan Jiaxu reassured Sang Zhi, promising to continue picking her up. Just then, Sang Yan called, despite having blocked her number. He immediately confronted her, having spotted her holding hands with a man on campus. Sarcastic, he remarked on how her postgraduate boyfriend bore an uncanny resemblance to Duan Jiaxu, questioning if she took him for a fool. Sang Zhi nervously tried to deflect, attributing it to a "generic face," but Sang Yan pressed on.
Stepping forward, Duan Jiaxu honestly declared that he was the one who wooed her. Sang Zhi added that she had intended to tell Sang Yan but he had blocked her, admitting her earlier lie about a postgraduate boyfriend was to prepare him for their age difference. Fuming, Sang Yan walked Sang Zhi to her dorm, brusquely telling her to go inside and call her mother. As Sang Zhi reluctantly headed into her dorm, she repeatedly looked back, worried.
Sang Yan, unable to contain his rage, immediately turned on Duan Jiaxu, landing several punches. Duan Jiaxu, accepting the blows without retaliation, calmly stated he was serious about Sang Zhi. Sang Yan demanded to know how long they had been dating—two and a half months—then launched into a furious tirade. He accused Duan Jiaxu of lacking a conscience, expressing that he wouldn't object if Duan Jiaxu dated any other girl, but Sang Zhi was his sister.
He pointed out that Sang Zhi had known him since junior high and had always seen him as an older brother, questioning how Duan Jiaxu could pursue her. Duan Jiaxu admitted his fault and apologized, even offering to let Sang Yan beat him further. Sang Yan, though still enraged, eventually told Duan Jiaxu to clean himself up. When Sang Zhi called, Sang Yan ignored her, prompting Duan Jiaxu to quickly text her and reassure her that everything was fine.
Duan Jiaxu then turned back to Sang Yan, declaring with utmost sincerity that he would treat Sang Zhi well for the rest of his life. Sang Yan sarcastically questioned his seriousness and implied intimacy between them, which Duan Jiaxu denied. Sang Yan continued his accusations, calling Duan Jiaxu shameless for pursuing a girl who had just started university.
Duan Jiaxu calmly reiterated his seriousness, reminded Sang Yan their age difference was only five years, and invited more punches if it would make Sang Yan feel better. Duan Jiaxu led a fuming Sang Yan back to his apartment. Upon arrival, Sang Yan attempted to raid the refrigerator, but Duan Jiaxu swiftly intervened, playfully stating that the contents were exclusively for his girlfriend. Later that night, Sang Zhi initiated a video call.
To conceal his bruised face, Duan Jiaxu claimed he wasn't wearing clothes, prompting them to switch to an audio call. He downplayed his confrontation with Sang Yan, assuring Sang Zhi that her brother had merely told him off, which soothed her anxieties and allowed her to sleep soundly. The next morning, Duan Jiaxu met Sang Zhi wearing a mask, feigning a cold to hide his injuries.
However, Sang Zhi quickly noticed the bruises on his face and deduced that Sang Yan was responsible. Incensed, she stormed off to confront Sang Yan at a restaurant, threatening to disown him. Touched by Sang Zhi's fierce protectiveness, Duan Jiaxu tried to calm her down, while Sang Yan, exasperated, muttered about her temper worsening due to Duan Jiaxu's indulgence. He then sarcastically offered Duan Jiaxu another beating, claiming he was moved by Sang Zhi's display of affection.
Sang Yan taunted Sang Zhi for siding with an outsider, and a heated argument erupted between the siblings, with Sang Zhi questioning Sang Yan's resort to violence. Duan Jiaxu, mediating, revealed that Sang Yan had willingly stood still the previous night to be hit, effectively evening the score. The trio eventually shared a meal, during which Duan Jiaxu peeled shrimp for Sang Zhi, much to Sang Yan's visible annoyance.
Later, back at Duan Jiaxu's apartment, Sang Yan jokingly questioned Duan Jiaxu about an old appendicitis scar, hinting that he had aimed for it during their fight. Still seeking fairness, Sang Yan insisted Duan Jiaxu punch him back, to which Duan Jiaxu awkwardly complied, much to Sang Yan's exasperation. As the night concluded, Sang Yan, observing the single set of slippers, questioned where he was supposed to sleep, hoping it wouldn't be the couch.
