Love Formula Episode 21 Recap
> Love Formula Recap
Jian Dan continued to support Han Yansheng as he prepared for the water rescue volunteer exam. She assisted him in practicing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and CPR, a moment that Monkey and his friends stumbled upon, leading them to playfully tease Jian Dan about her unexpected skills. The day of the volunteer selection competition arrived, but Han Yansheng hesitated, unable to enter the water. He ultimately missed the entire event, leaving him deeply dejected.
Jian Dan, witnessing his despair, worried greatly about him. She confided in Mi Fen that Han Yansheng's spirits were very low. To distract him, Mi Fen invited everyone to celebrate her and Yuan Sen's 199-day anniversary, explaining that "199" in Chinese sounds like "forever," symbolizing their wish for a long-lasting relationship. Although some found the idea unusual, Mi Fen insisted on the importance of small rituals in life.
The group gathered at a beautifully decorated beach, a romantic setting arranged by Mi Fen and Yuan Sen. Mi Fen announced that they had buried surprises in the sand for everyone to find. Monkey and Jiang Zhishan eagerly dug in the sand. Jiang Zhishan eventually unearthed a box containing a stone. Looking at it fondly, she told Monkey, "I like you." Monkey, surprised and disbelieving, pressed her to repeat it, but Jiang Zhishan, embarrassed, feigned drunkenness.
Monkey rushed to support her, but when he showed no further reaction, Jiang Zhishan, annoyed, immediately got up and walked away. Jian Dan and Han Yansheng were also digging for treasure. Jian Dan excused herself to the restroom, leaving Han Yansheng to continue alone. When she returned, she couldn't find him. Suddenly, shouts of "Someone's drowning!" echoed from the distance.
Spotting Han Yansheng's hat floating in the water, Jian Dan mistakenly believed he was in danger and bravely plunged into the sea, calling his name. Han Yansheng, who had just finished a phone call nearby, saw her and called out for her to return, but she couldn't hear him over the waves. Distraught, he jumped into the water to reach her, followed by Monkey and Yuan Sen who rushed to help.
Jian Dan finally heard their shouts, turned, saw Han Yansheng struggling in the water, and quickly swam back. Together, they awkwardly helped Han Yansheng to the shore. After a moment, he regained his composure, physically unharmed but inwardly crushed. He lamented how he, once a strong swimmer, now felt utterly useless. Determined to overcome his trauma, Han Yansheng sought professional help.
He visited a psychologist who recommended a psychological assessment, with results expected in a few days, advising him to relax as anxiety would only worsen his condition. Jian Dan invited him to attend her psychology class. During the class, the professor discussed post-traumatic stress disorder, presenting successful cases of recovery. This initially reassured Han Yansheng and Jian Dan.
However, when the professor mentioned a failed case involving a man who developed severe depression due to an unresolved fear of water from a childhood near-drowning incident, Han Yansheng's anxiety visibly spiked. Jian Dan, sensing his unease, quietly took his hand, reiterating her belief in his recovery. Meanwhile, Monkey couldn't stop thinking about Jiang Zhishan's "I like you." He wondered if it was genuine or just drunken rambling.
To find out, he went to the Rock Climbing Club to confront her. As he nervously deliberated, Jiang Zhishan noticed him mumbling. Before she could press him for answers, she received a phone call. Monkey followed her out and saw her interacting cheerfully and intimately with a foreign man named Jason. Convinced they were romantically involved, Monkey followed them to a restaurant. There, he saw Jason in an embrace with another woman, whom Monkey mistook for Jiang Zhishan.
Infuriated, he stormed over, pulled Jason away, and angrily declared Jiang Zhishan was his girlfriend, warning Jason to stay away. To his embarrassment, he quickly realized the woman was not Jiang Zhishan, and his misunderstanding made him even more reluctant to face her. Later, Jiang Zhishan revealed to Jian Dan that she had received an invitation to an international climbing competition and would be going abroad for special training.
She expressed concern for Han Yansheng's condition and asked Jian Dan to look after him during her absence. She hadn't yet told Monkey about her departure. Monkey, however, overheard the news and was heartbroken, believing Jiang Zhishan would not return. Tasked with buying supplies for her trip, he deliberately crushed all the instant noodles he purchased, hoping to deter her. Jiang Zhishan, upon discovering the mashed noodles, couldn't help but laugh.
On the day of her flight, Monkey rushed to the airport, searching frantically for her. He called her name and then dialed her phone, only for her to respond from right behind him, "I'm behind you."
