Hidden Love Episode 21 Recap
> Hidden Love Recap
After dropping Sang Zhi home, where she had fallen asleep in the car, Duan Jiaxu intended to return to his office for more work. Sang Yan, expressing concern about Duan Jiaxu’s late hours, insisted on accompanying him. At Duan Jiaxu's apartment, Sang Yan questioned if Duan Jiaxu had been neglecting his sleep due to spending time with Sang Zhi—picking her up, having dinner, shopping, and going to movies before returning to work.
Duan Jiaxu explained that while he had been busy due to his superior's illness, things were better now, and today was an exception. Sang Yan remarked that Duan Jiaxu was risking his health just to date. Duan Jiaxu then revealed his plan to move to a new, larger two-bedroom apartment closer to Sang Zhi's campus, hoping it would ease Sang Yan's worries.
Although Sang Yan was still protective, recalling Sang Zhi's past online dating incident, he admitted he felt relieved that Duan Jiaxu was her boyfriend. He warned Duan Jiaxu never to hurt Sang Zhi, threatening serious consequences, to which Duan Jiaxu confidently replied that Sang Yan would never get such an opportunity. Understanding, Sang Yan promised not to tell Sang Zhi about Duan Jiaxu’s late-night work.
The next morning, after Sang Yan had returned home, Duan Jiaxu learned from a colleague that Sang Zhi had been seen talking with Jiang Ying at a karaoke lounge a couple of days prior. Duan Jiaxu immediately went to Jiang Ying's office. He stated that he could tolerate her past harassment of him, but if she dared to harm Sang Zhi, the person he loved most, he would call the police and do anything to protect her.
Meanwhile, Sang Zhi attended a work meeting where she bravely proposed an innovative idea for an advertisement for the Dongjie brand. She suggested an animated character-driven story focusing on product ingredients and safety, drawing from her personal experience with allergies to connect with potential customers. Her superior, Shi Xiaoyu, advocated for a more conventional approach focused on bold innovation to attract new clients, dismissing Sang Zhi's idea as childish and out of sync with the brand's image.
However, the manager, Mr. Zhang, was intrigued by Sang Zhi's creativity and decided to have both her "innovative" concept and Shi Xiaoyu's "functional" one developed for the client to choose from. Following the meeting, Shi Xiaoyu confronted Sang Zhi, accusing her of undermining her by presenting the idea directly in the meeting. She then resorted to a personal attack, accusing Sang Zhi of stealing someone else's boyfriend.
Later, Sang Yan informed Sang Zhi that he was flying back home the next morning, which upset her. She expressed frustration that he hadn't told her sooner, as she would have taken time off to show him around Yihe. As Sang Zhi started crying outside her workplace, Sang Yan, though initially telling her it was embarrassing, noticed her genuine distress. She confessed her unhappiness with her internship, feeling like a watchdog.
Realizing her sadness, Sang Yan suggested she quit if she was unhappy, reassuring her that they had enough money and even offering to confront her superior if she was being bullied. When Duan Jiaxu arrived, Sang Yan quickly handed Sang Zhi over to him to be comforted. After Sang Yan left, Duan Jiaxu gently asked her about her bad mood. Sang Zhi admitted she didn't want to burden him with her problems, thinking she could handle them herself.
Duan Jiaxu reassured her that it was alright to cry and that she could always rely on him, even offering to support her indefinitely. He then asked if she was homesick and offered to take leave and accompany her back home, reiterating his desire to be more than just her boyfriend, but someone she could truly depend on. Sang Zhi agreed.
Duan Jiaxu then revealed that he knew Jiang Ying had approached her and that he had already warned Jiang Ying to stay away. He implored Sang Zhi to always tell him immediately when she encountered problems, as she didn't have to face everything alone. Sang Zhi explained that she hadn't told him about Jiang Ying because she felt she had grown up and could handle it herself, adding that she could also protect him.
Duan Jiaxu was deeply moved by her maturity. Later, Sang Yan sent Sang Zhi her allowance and advised her not to be temperamental with Duan Jiaxu. Subsequently, Sang Zhi's "allergic little girl" ad concept was enthusiastically approved by the client. Mr. Zhang praised Sang Zhi for her brilliant idea, promising a bonus for the entire team.
After this success, Duan Jiaxu picked Sang Zhi up and surprised her by showing her a new two-bedroom apartment he had rented near her university. He clarified that they wouldn't be living together but that it would be a convenient place for her to rest when tired. He solemnly handed her the key, declaring, "From now on, this is our home." A few days later, the air conditioner in Sang Zhi's dorm broke down.
The dorm supervisor informed her that maintenance workers were on summer vacation and couldn't fix it. Complaining to Duan Jiaxu about the heat, he immediately offered to pick her up and take her to his place. Once at his new apartment, he showed her a variety of her favorite snacks he had bought, playfully tempting her to stay. After Sang Zhi took a shower, she emerged to find Duan Jiaxu in his pajamas.
They settled down to play a game together. At one point, Sang Zhi's hair accidentally got tangled in a button on his pajamas. As he helped her untangle it, an intense moment passed between them. Flustered, Sang Zhi quickly said she was tired and rushed to her bedroom without her slippers, leaving Duan Jiaxu to compose himself. The next morning, Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu emerged from their rooms dressed in coincidentally matching clothes, sharing a warm smile.
Duan Jiaxu made breakfast, and they discussed his upcoming game test launch and her internship ending. They agreed to spend more time together and go wherever Sang Zhi wished once they were both free.
