Love Formula Episode 20 Recap
> Love Formula Recap
As Gu Entong was speaking to her father on the phone, Han Yansheng, Jian Dan, and Jiang Zhishan overheard her. Her lie about suffering from depression was exposed. Gu Entong tried to explain, insisting her love for Han Yansheng was genuine.
However, Jiang Zhishan confronted her, reminding her how she had always driven away any girl who got close to Han Yansheng since childhood, and that Jian Dan was no exception, revealing that Gu Entong was the one who sent the video to Jian Dan. Han Yansheng asked if this was true. Gu Entong admitted it, claiming she acted out of intense affection for him. Han Yansheng then clearly stated that he was in love with Jian Dan.
Gu Entong brought up Nan Yuan, asserting that their shared past meant she understood Han Yansheng best and they were the most suitable couple. Jian Dan stepped forward, telling Gu Entong that repeatedly using Nan Yuan to hurt Han Yansheng was not an act of love. She firmly declared that Han Yansheng was now her boyfriend and warned Gu Entong that she would not be polite if Gu Entong continued to hurt him.
Afterwards, Jian Dan, Han Yansheng, and Jiang Zhishan walked away. Feeling too ashamed to remain at school, Gu Entong fabricated a story about attending a music exchange program at another university and temporarily left Ocean University. As she departed in a taxi, Shi arrived with a cup of coffee he had specially prepared for her. Gu Entong hugged him, expressing her gratitude for his silent support during her most vulnerable moments.
Shi reassured her that everything would eventually pass and promised to wait for her return. Meanwhile, Jian Dan, a psychology major, was determined to help Han Yansheng overcome his PTSD. She consulted her professor, who explained that treatment for PTSD varies greatly depending on the individual and requires long-term observation to determine the most effective approach. The professor recommended several books for Jian Dan to study.
Later, Jian Dan’s friends, commenting on her extensive reading, also shared news of Gu Entong’s departure, suspecting she was simply avoiding embarrassment after her lies were exposed. Jian Dan then gathered her friends, including Monkey and Yuan Sen, to discuss strategies for helping Han Yansheng, emphasizing his own desire to heal.
She explained from her studies that guiding a patient to confront their psychological barrier is a valid treatment method, but clarified it wasn't about directly recreating the traumatic scene, but rather a gradual, step-by-step approach. Monkey enthusiastically volunteered to devise a plan. Monkey's first attempt involved luring Han Yansheng to the girls' dormitory, claiming Jian Dan wanted to see him but couldn't come down. Han Yansheng, however, grew impatient and tried to leave, prompting Monkey to physically restrain him.
As planned, Jiang Zhishan poured a basin of water from a window, but she accidentally drenched Monkey instead, rendering the plan a comical failure. Monkey, soaking wet, chastised Jiang Zhishan, who retorted that he had been standing too close to Han Yansheng. Jian Dan intervened, ending the argument and admitting the plan was rushed, but Monkey insisted his next idea would surely work.
For the second attempt, they went to a city fountain, intending for Han Yansheng to be caught in its midday activation. However, as noon approached, Han Yansheng spontaneously decided to buy Jian Dan a milk tea. Panicking that he would leave the designated spot, Jian Dan rushed over and passionately kissed him. Han Yansheng responded with an equally fervent embrace, completely oblivious when the fountain activated on schedule, soaking him.
Later, Han Yansheng confronted Monkey about his "lame idea," but also clarified that his issue was not a general fear of water, but rather an inability to enter the water to swim. He pointed out that if he were truly afraid of water, he wouldn't even shower. While the friends acknowledged the plan's limited effect on his specific phobia, Han Yansheng appreciated their good intentions, assuring them he wasn't angry.
Jian Dan then announced they would move on to the next plan. After discussing Monkey's consistently unreliable schemes, Jian Dan suggested they try another approach by going to a hot spring. Han Yansheng was hesitant to enter the water. Monkey, attempting to provoke a reaction, dramatically pretended to drown in the shallow 0. 9-meter deep water, but Han Yansheng simply observed him, having noticed the "water depth 0. 9m" sign.
Monkey complained about Han Yansheng's heartlessness, who jokingly retorted that if Monkey's brain was already waterlogged, drowning was his own fault. Jian Dan then had an idea: she covertly dropped the special necklace Han Yansheng had given her into the water and discreetly stepped on it. Mi Fen, in on the new plan, loudly exclaimed that Jian Dan’s necklace was missing.
Seeing Jian Dan's distressed reaction, Han Yansheng immediately jumped into the water to help search for it, knowing its profound meaning to them both. As he searched, Jian Dan released the necklace. Han Yansheng quickly found it, carefully dried it, and lovingly placed it back around Jian Dan's neck. Seeing him finally enter the water, Jian Dan expressed her happiness, saying she knew he could do it.
Han Yansheng, realizing their deception, jokingly asked how she planned to apologize for lying, to which Jian Dan playfully replied that it wasn't solely her idea. Their success in the hot spring emboldened them to continue. At a restaurant, Jian Dan presented Han Yansheng with a breath-holding challenge, explaining the restaurant record was 4 minutes and 3 seconds, and Monkey had boasted that Han Yansheng could hold his breath for 4 minutes and 20 seconds.
Monkey encouraged Han Yansheng, promising a lobster dinner if he broke the record. Jian Dan added that they would all support him. Han Yansheng accepted the challenge and successfully broke the record. Everyone celebrated, excitedly picking out a lobster. However, Monkey got his hand painfully pinched by one. As the restaurant owner tried to help him, Monkey, in his panic, impulsively blurted out to Han Yansheng, "I. . . I like you!"
After his hand was freed, Han Yansheng jokingly told Monkey not to say such things again, calling it scarier than the lobster and teasing that he deserved to be pinched harder. Jian Dan observed Han Yansheng’s positive state and expressed confidence in helping him overcome his remaining psychological barriers. That evening, Han Yansheng texted Jian Dan, asking her to accompany him to a special place, and she agreed.
Han Yansheng took Jian Dan to Nan Yuan's parents' home, a place he hadn't visited since Nan Yuan’s accident. Nan Yuan's mother greeted him warmly, delighted to meet Jian Dan. A delivery of yellow roses arrived, which Nan Yuan's mother initially attributed to Han Yansheng, but he clarified he hadn't sent them, speculating they were from another of Nan Yuan's friends.
Nan Yuan's mother wistfully remarked that if Nan Yuan were still alive, he might have brought his own girlfriend home. Han Yansheng apologized, blaming himself for Nan Yuan’s accident. Nan Yuan’s mother gently reassured him that they had never blamed him, that it was an accident, and that they had moved on with their lives. She urged Han Yansheng to do the same, believing Nan Yuan wouldn't want him to carry such guilt.
Nan Yuan’s father then joined them, explaining that he and Nan Yuan's mother were moving abroad in a few days. He shared that they had planned to move after Nan Yuan started college but now felt there was nothing tying them to China. Han Yansheng and Jian Dan offered to help with the packing. While packing, Han Yansheng found a watch, a gift he had given Nan Yuan for his 18th birthday that symbolized their eternal friendship.
He recounted their childhood in the high school swimming club, training and competing together. He then shared a painful memory of a city swim meet selection where butterfly was his weakest stroke. Nan Yuan had promised to help him train. Later, Han Yansheng overheard that Nan Yuan, the team captain, had not made the cut. He soon learned from their coach that Nan Yuan had suffered a hip joint injury while training.
Nan Yuan had requested the coach keep his injury a secret from Han Yansheng to allow him to focus on the competition. Realizing Nan Yuan had been injured because of him, Han Yansheng wanted to withdraw, but Nan Yuan refused, reminding Han Yansheng of their promise to win a championship together and urging him to bring home the trophy for the team. Han Yansheng ultimately competed and won.
Jian Dan then noticed a photo of Han Yansheng and Nan Yuan in front of a "Time Post Office" in a small French town. Han Yansheng explained that at this unique post office, people write messages for their future selves. He and Nan Yuan had each written a postcard to be sent a year later. Han Yansheng's was lost, and he wondered if Nan Yuan had ever received his.
Nan Yuan’s father then retrieved Nan Yuan's postcard, which revealed his wish: to become a water rescue volunteer. Inspired by this, Han Yansheng declared to Nan Yuan’s mother that he would take the water rescue volunteer exam to fulfill Nan Yuan’s dream. Nan Yuan’s mother was deeply moved and expressed her joy. Later, Han Yansheng and Jian Dan checked the exam results, confirming they both passed. Jian Dan explained she wanted to help him realize Nan Yuan's wish.
She informed him that the annual water rescue volunteer selection was held at Ocean University's swimming pool, which was an advantage. She noted that swimming and the theoretical exam were manageable, but the practical exam—focusing on on-site rescue, land-based extraction, and especially CPR—would be the most challenging. Having learned CPR in high school, Jian Dan offered to teach Han Yansheng.
She meticulously demonstrated the steps: positioning the person, checking consciousness and breathing, clearing the airway, performing 30 chest compressions, and then giving rescue breaths. To practice, she lay down and acted as the drowning victim, guiding Han Yansheng on the correct hand placement for chest compressions as he practiced on her.
