I Cannot Hug You Episode 5 Recap
> I Cannot Hug You Recap
Li Lanxi severely reprimanded Li Shiya, reminding her that she had previously warned against using extreme "flood therapy" on Jiang Zhihao without being a professional. Li Lanxi emphasized that such methods could lead to Jiang Zhihao rejecting further treatment if his psychological trauma was mishandled. She clarified that the cause of germaphobia varies, but for Jiang Zhihao, it might stem from being controlled by an "other self."
To truly help him heal from his obsessive-compulsive disorder, Li Lanxi advised Li Shiya to get closer to him gradually. After a photoshoot, the director gifted Li Shiya a goldfish that had been used as a prop. Li Shiya, who had never owned a pet, was initially hesitant. The director assured her that goldfish were easy to care for and that having a small pet could help relieve stress and uplift one's mood.
Remembering Jiang Zhihao's need for mood regulation, Li Shiya decided to give the goldfish to him as a present. Jiang Zhihao, initially resistant, tried to return the fish, but Li Shiya (on the phone) insisted it would be good for his mental health and that she would check on it. Li Shiya's agent, Qingran, had successfully secured her a spot in the final selection for NL, a prestigious beauty cosmetics company's spokesperson. Vampire disappearance incidents had become increasingly severe.
Concerned about Li Shiya's safety, Simba, who was abroad, was unable to reach her by phone. He decided to skip a very important awards ceremony, booking a flight immediately to return home. Standing downstairs at Li Shiya's house, Simba finally got through to Li Shiya (on the phone). He didn't tell her he had flown back, content as long as she was safe.
Jiang Zhihao, who had a water tank primarily for air humidity, now found it serving a new purpose for the goldfish. Though he had never cared for a pet before and initially struggled with the fish's habits, he soon bought books on fishkeeping, reading about its dietary quirks and care. Through caring for this new friend, Jiang Zhihao's solitary nature began to soften.
Li Shiya noticed a significant change when she saw Jiang Zhihao's WeChat avatar had become a picture of the goldfish. He even started proactively messaging her about the fish's well-being, bringing a growing smile to Li Shiya's face. Encouraged by his progress, Li Shiya invited Jiang Zhihao to the beach for a relaxing trip.
However, his immediate concern was returning early enough to feed the goldfish, as he had learned from his books that they needed to be fed twice a day. Li Shiya reassured him they would leave in the morning and return before nightfall. Li Shiya hoped the trip to the sea would provide an opportunity to get closer to Jiang Zhihao and fulfill her desires.
While Jiang Zhihao pondered the unusual idea of traveling to the beach, feeling a sense of safety when it came to Li Shiya, their plans were abruptly interrupted by a phone call from his stepmother. She called to remind him about his father's death anniversary the following month, expecting him to attend to fulfill his duties as a son. The call immediately dampened Jiang Zhihao's spirits, and all of Li Shiya's recent efforts seemed to crumble.
Jiang Zhihao told Li Shiya that he was no longer going anywhere and that he wanted to end their relationship, stating that she had appeared wanting to change him but would never succeed. He told her to stop bothering him. Heartbroken, Li Shiya went to the beach alone, walking through the shallow water. She reflected on Jiang Zhihao's rejection, contemplating if her sister had been right about his inherent resistance to change.
Later, Qingran went to NL's headquarters to further Li Shiya's candidacy. There, she unexpectedly encountered the company's vice president, Yu Ze, whom she recognized as her former senior from school, having not seen him for many years. They met privately, where Qingran’s past feelings for Yu Ze were evident as she nervously talked about her "low blood sugar," a habit he remembered and even offered her candy for, just like in their student days.
Qingran admitted she had heard rumors of his death after he disappeared from school. Yu Ze assured her he was healthy and expressed his happiness at seeing her after dealing with many recent upsetting issues. Later, as Li Shiya was still at the NL office, dreaming of becoming a model, she received a phone call from Jiang Zhihao. With a trembling voice, he delivered the devastating news: the goldfish had died. Li Shiya rushed to his side, finding him distressed.
She offered to take him out, and despite his initial reluctance, she persuaded him to drink a glass of alcohol, suggesting it could help him relax and confront his emotions. After just one drink, Jiang Zhihao became heavily intoxicated. As Li Shiya observed him in his defenseless state, she contemplated her desire to touch him, ultimately deciding to allow herself only a brief touch.
Drunk, Jiang Zhihao began to reveal his deepest sorrows, secrets he had suppressed for over twenty years. He spoke of his parents' divorce when he was eight, his mother leaving him with his father, and the subsequent psychological torment from his stepmother, who told him his mother left because he was "lazy and dirty." This led him to compulsively clean himself, believing it would bring his mother back. He became isolated, avoiding classmates for fear of contamination.
In his last year of elementary school, his father died, and even then, he couldn't stop cleaning his hands, hating himself for it. He expressed his profound wish to stop living this way. Li Shiya helped a still-intoxicated Jiang Zhihao back to his home. She now understood his profound trauma and felt immense pity for him. After some internal debate about whether to take advantage of his vulnerable state, she gently reached out and touched his cheek, whispering an apology.
