I Cannot Hug You Episode 9 Recap
> I Cannot Hug You Recap
Li Shiya, after taking off her clothes and exposing her shoulders, attempted to entice Jiang Zhihao, suggesting they could get closer. Jiang Zhihao, however, quickly dismissed her, stating he understood enough and was tired, asking her to leave his room. The next morning, Jiang Zhihao sat alone in the park, pondering why fairy tale princes and princesses always had to embrace and kiss.
He questioned if love truly needed such physical proof or if a loving heart was sufficient, observing a couple nearby and gaining some understanding. Meanwhile, Li Shiya reflected on her approach to their relationship, admitting she had not considered Jiang Zhihao's feelings. She then realized that Jiang Zhihao's hesitation likely stemmed from his mysophobia, and he might be waiting for her to help him overcome it, feeling she had been selfish and misunderstood him.
Jiang Zhihao then sent Li Shiya a text message asking to meet because he had something to tell her. Panicked that he wanted to break up, Li Shiya quickly went to meet him. When they met in a light drizzle, Li Shiya, fearing the worst, loudly interrupted Jiang Zhihao, declaring that she absolutely would not break up with him.
Jiang Zhihao, with a faint smile, then put on white gloves and bravely took Li Shiya's hand, and they walked together in the rain. He apologized for his words from the previous night, clarifying he didn't find her "dirty" or "unpleasant" but admitted he couldn't quickly accept another person's body heat. He promised to work hard to change and asked Li Shiya to wait for him.
Despite the gloves preventing direct physical contact, Li Shiya felt a profound sense of ease. Meanwhile, Xin Ba and Shi Huan were stuck in traffic in their RV. Shi Huan noticed Jiang Zhihao and Li Shiya walking hand-in-hand, and Xin Ba, initially curious about what Shi Huan was looking at, was shocked to see them. Qingran and Yu Ze sat by the sea, sharing drinks and intimate conversation.
Yu Ze expressed his disbelief at drinking by the sea with a senior from high school he once admired, thinking he was dreaming.
Qingran reciprocated, sharing her affection for the spot and recounting a sad story from a novel about a dragon that, after millions of years alone, lived in the darkest and coldest place, then mistook a lighthouse's warning for a call from its kind, only to return to the ocean floor in anger and hatred when it realized its perpetual solitude.
Qingran reflected that the feeling of hope followed by emptiness is the most painful, and Yu Ze agreed that people in dark worlds cling to even tiny specks of light. Qingran then told Yu Ze that despite his wealth, big house, and success, he didn't appear happy. She observed that his smiles seemed fake, and his preferences for sad songs and stories suggested an underlying unhappiness, especially given his avoidance of past topics.
Yu Ze silently listened, then suggested they leave. Jiang Zhihao called Li Shiya to tell her he was waiting for her at the bookstore, reassuring her to take her time since she was stuck in traffic. While waiting, Jiang Zhihao overheard two women disparaging Li Shiya, calling her annoying, disgusting for being close to Xin Ba, and even ugly.
Jiang Zhihao immediately defended her, proclaiming Li Shiya was very pretty, prettier than both of them, causing the women to remark that he was handsome but a little crazy. When Li Shiya arrived, she teased him about waiting for her and watching her, which he denied, insisting he was just looking at books. They then went to the supermarket.
As they shopped, Li Shiya light-heartedly challenged Jiang Zhihao to allow her to carry the groceries so they could walk hand-in-hand, and he agreed. She expressed how magical it felt to hold his hand, making her especially happy. Jiang Zhihao, feeling similarly, then confessed his desire to consult a psychologist. He explained that he wanted to change, as Li Shiya had always been the one making an effort.
Li Shiya immediately offered to introduce him to her older sister, Li Lanxi, an excellent psychiatrist. Li Lanxi, Li Shiya's sister, was actively investigating the disappearance of Xiao Can. She informed someone on the phone that she had identified the last footage of Xiao Can before she entered an alleyway and was awaiting comparison results for vehicles entering and exiting the area.
While watching the news, she learned that Li Shiya, despite voluntarily withdrawing from a competition, had miraculously become NL Company's new annual endorser. Soon after, Li Lanxi visited NL Company and confronted a representative with evidence that a suspicious delivery vehicle belonged to their company. The representative confirmed the vehicle's ownership but claimed the driver had been fired three months prior due to issues with alcohol, gambling, and violent tendencies.
He further stated that the driver, out of revenge, had stolen a vehicle full of medicines, and a police report had already been filed. The representative suggested their combined efforts might be more successful in finding him. Li Lanxi, with no immediate leads, promised to work hard. Xin Ba arrived at Li Shiya's apartment and deliberately knocked on Jiang Zhihao's door, feigning knocking on the wrong door, before heading to Li Shiya's.
Li Shiya welcomed him, asking why he hadn't informed her of his visit and why he wasn't wearing a mask to avoid paparazzi. Xin Ba explained he was on vacation and wanted them, along with Shi Huan, to go on a three-day, two-night trip. Li Shiya then tried to reassure Xin Ba that Jiang Zhihao was just "food," and she wasn't seriously in love with him, only using him as a source of energy.
Xin Ba, relieved, reminded her that vampires shouldn't fall in love with their food. Jiang Zhihao, overhearing their conversation from his apartment, then knocked on Li Shiya's door, feigning a need to borrow vinegar. Xin Ba emerged from Li Shiya's apartment, acknowledging Jiang Zhihao as Li Shiya's boyfriend and stating he wouldn't disturb them, implying a challenge before leaving.
Jiang Zhihao, still outside, asked Li Shiya why she called him Simba, and she explained he was a popular idol group leader whose messy hair earned him the nickname. Jiang Zhihao declined to come in, and Li Shiya offered him the vinegar. He was left wondering if Xin Ba and Li Shiya were truly "just friends." The next morning, Xin Ba visited Jiang Zhihao, seemingly to return an album, and suggested they go for a walk.
During their walk, Xin Ba claimed he and Li Shiya were like family, having known each other since childhood, and that he had introduced Jiang Zhihao to her before. Jiang Zhihao, who dislikes listening to music, rejected Xin Ba's suggestion to listen to his songs. At a music store, Xin Ba noticed Jiang Zhihao trying to buy his album and teased him about it, accusing him of stealing his heart and mimicking his poses.
Jiang Zhihao dismissed it, saying he picked it up by the roadside, then questioned if idols like Xin Ba were so idle. Xin Ba retorted, asking if writers were equally idle, and asked about Li Shiya. Learning she was out for a photoshoot, Xin Ba then threatened to enter her apartment to "surprise" her, claiming his closeness to Li Shiya meant he knew her password, implying a level of intimacy Jiang Zhihao hadn't reached.
Jiang Zhihao argued that lovers don't necessarily need to know each other's passwords, but Xin Ba insisted their bond was "closer than lovers." Xin Ba then blackmailed Jiang Zhihao with a cute childhood photo of Li Shiya in a bathing suit, offering it if Jiang Zhihao would "play" with him, leading them to a bar.
At the brightly lit bar, Xin Ba officially issued a challenge to Jiang Zhihao, then interrogated Jiang Zhihao about his wealth and past relationships, claiming Li Shiya was only dating him out of curiosity and was not seriously interested in a romantic relationship. He tried to touch Jiang Zhihao, who recoiled, stating he didn't want to be touched.
Xin Ba then asserted that Li Shiya was not someone who wanted a serious romantic relationship and that the people close to her would always remain close. Jiang Zhihao firmly declared Li Shiya as his girlfriend and that their relationship was his business, advising Xin Ba to focus on himself. Xin Ba then left, but not without a final cheeky remark. Feeling the pressure, Jiang Zhihao later sat outside his home, waiting for Li Shiya. When she arrived, he immediately asked her to introduce him to her sister, hoping to quickly cure his mysophobia.
