Hidden Love Episode 3 Recap
> Hidden Love Recap
The meal concluded with Qian Fei humorously complaining to Duan Jiaxu and Sang Yan about not getting anyone's number, feeling like a "backup" compared to them. As Duan Jiaxu went to retrieve the car, Sang Zhi internally wondered if his earlier actions—preventing her from eating certain foods—were meant to spare her embarrassment over her period. Though Sang Zhi initially expressed reluctance, Qian Fei led her towards a claw machine.
Duan Jiaxu then joined them, asserting he was the best at the game and would teach her. He specifically helped her win a white doll, telling her afterward not to cry anymore. Feeling brave, Sang Zhi offered him a candy in return, which he accepted. As he prepared to walk her home, Duan Jiaxu playfully threatened to "lecture" her. His words triggered a memory for Sang Zhi of the time he had posed as her brother for a parent-teacher meeting.
Back then, he had also joked about lecturing her but relented when she started to cry at his threat to call Sang Yan. On that day, Duan Jiaxu had insisted on walking her home, promising to keep the school incident a secret if she, in turn, promised to pay attention in class.
Touched by his kindness, which included giving her a new lightbulb for her family's broken kitchen light, Sang Zhi had even suggested he could pretend to be her brother again in the future. Back in the present, Sang Zhi clutched the doll he had just won for her as he affectionately called her a "difficult kiddo." Yin Zhenru persistently urged Sang Zhi to join her for Fu Zhengchu's birthday celebration.
They met at a dessert shop where, to Sang Zhi's surprise, Duan Jiaxu was working. He greeted them warmly. While Sang Zhi was ordering, her classmate Yin Zhenru gushed about how handsome he was. Duan Jiaxu playfully teased Sang Zhi for staring at him, but ultimately refused to let her pay, insisting the dessert was on him.
Shortly after, Sang Zhi overheard Duan Jiaxu's boss offering him half a month's salary in advance, making her wonder if he was working multiple jobs because he was short on money. Fu Zhengchu arrived, greeting Duan Jiaxu, and then curiously asked Sang Zhi why Duan Jiaxu was working part-time if her family was wealthy, a question Sang Zhi quickly dismissed. Despite Sang Zhi not finishing her dessert, Fu Zhengchu insisted they leave to meet their classmates.
As they departed, Duan Jiaxu reminded them to be careful. However, Sang Zhi quickly doubled back to the shop alone. Worried that Duan Jiaxu was struggling financially, she told him he didn't have to treat her and left cash on the table before running off, leaving a visibly moved Duan Jiaxu behind. During Fu Zhengchu's birthday celebration, he attempted to confess his feelings to Sang Zhi as he was about to make a wish.
Uncomfortable, Sang Zhi made an excuse to go home and left the party, with a disappointed Fu Zhengchu following her. He confronted her, growing emotional as she tried to deflect his advances. Just then, Duan Jiaxu appeared, causing Fu Zhengchu to flee. Duan Jiaxu gently advised Sang Zhi that while it's okay to be admired, she should learn to reject people kindly without hurting them. He then returned the money she had left at the dessert shop.
Sang Zhi explained she only wanted to help, just as she would for her own brother. Touched by her sincerity, Duan Jiaxu assured her he wasn't in dire financial trouble and promised he would only borrow from her if he was ever truly desperate. He then made sure she knew her way home before returning to work. In the aftermath of the party, Yin Zhenru became noticeably distant from Sang Zhi.
During a school assembly, Sang Zhi's teacher overruled her request to be a record clerk for the annual sports day and instead signed her up for the high jump, dismissing her concerns about having bad knees. Later, Zhenru rebuffed Sang Zhi's attempt to walk with her to the store and was later seen enthusiastically cheering for Fu Zhengchu during his race.
When it was time for Sang Zhi's high jump competition, Zhenru flatly refused to join their friends to watch, highlighting their strained friendship. At the registration area for the high jump, Sang Zhi found Sang Yan and Duan Jiaxu overseeing the event. Sang Yan immediately began teasing Sang Zhi about her height, but Duan Jiaxu intervened, giving her a hat to prevent sunburn and encouraging her. During the competition, Teacher Chen from her junior high was also present to observe.
Sang Zhi struggled with the high jump, failing several attempts. On her final try, she landed badly and twisted her ankle. Sang Yan immediately rushed to her side and carried her on his back towards the medical room. In the medical room, Teacher Chen recognized Sang Yan and addressed him as Sang Zhi's brother. To Sang Yan's immense annoyance, Sang Zhi quickly covered his mouth and declared he was her father.
As Duan Jiaxu gently disinfected and dressed her sprained ankle, Sang Zhi reflected that he was much kinder to her than Sang Yan. Duan Jiaxu, however, pointed out how worried Sang Yan had been when she fell. The medical staff advised a hospital visit for the sprain. As they prepared to leave, Sang Zhi watched Duan Jiaxu carefully help another girl who had also fallen.
A pang of jealousy struck her as she realized that while he was very kind to her, he was just as kind to everyone, making her feel less special. Several days later, with her ankle still sprained, Sang Yan called to inform Sang Zhi that Duan Jiaxu would be picking her up from school, adding a warning for her to behave.
Annoyed, Sang Zhi later went out with a friend who had arranged for her to have the day off school, which Sang Zhi planned to hide from her parents. Her friend, after buying a drink for Duan Jiaxu, also brought Sang Zhi some candy, teasing her gently.
