Love is Deep Episode 1 Recap
> Love is Deep Recap
Zheng Dingding, a shy and introverted woman, had dedicated herself to her relationship with Chen Xun, a successful businessman. She set aside her dream of designing pet toys to support him, diligently managing their online mall, Chengpin, which thrived under their combined efforts. However, a sharp chest pain led her to Renxin Hospital.
During her examination, Dr. Ning Weijin, a breast specialist, instructed her to remove her clothing and, after palpating, diagnosed her with a mammary fibroma measuring about 2x2 cm. He recommended surgery, scheduling it for Friday and advising her to undergo an ultrasonography (USG) beforehand. When Zheng Dingding hesitated about the timing and necessity of surgery, Ning Weijin stated he was only available on Friday and that surgery was the standard treatment.
He also informed her that he would perform the surgery himself, revealing he had tried to call her the previous day to confirm, but she had missed his call. Meanwhile, hospital interns gossiped about Ning Weijin, acknowledging his exceptional talent as the youngest professor at 28, but also his famously aloof personality. Rushing back to the company, Zheng Dingding found it in disarray during their 2nd-anniversary celebration.
The main server had crashed, rendering the website inaccessible, and customer complaints overwhelmed them. Unable to reach Chen Xun, who was away on a business trip, Zheng Dingding decisively rented two proxy servers to stabilize the system, taking full responsibility for the significant cost. After a day of hard work, the website was restored, and Zheng Dingding treated her exhausted team to night snacks.
As they ate, Chen Xun finally called, apologizing for his unavailability due to meetings and commending Zheng Dingding's handling of the server crisis. He informed her he would be delayed by another day but promised to return for the anniversary celebration. He then requested a last-minute change to the event’s floral decor, asking for champagne roses instead of the original lavenders and sunflowers.
Although Zheng Dingding was surprised, noting the original flowers suited their "return to nature" theme, Chen Xun insisted, mentioning an "important announcement" he planned to make, and felt champagne roses would be more fitting. Zheng Dingding started to mention her surgery but chose not to, and they ended their call. Perplexed but hopeful about Chen Xun's impending announcement, Zheng Dingding confided in her childhood friend, Xiao Feng.
Xiao Feng immediately believed it was a marriage proposal, a joyous assumption Zheng Dingding also embraced. Xiao Feng insisted on taking Zheng Dingding shopping, not only for a formal dress for the party but also a wedding gown, which she paid for. Alone in the dressing room, Zheng Dingding playfully rehearsed her wedding vows, imagining the perfect moment. She was startled when Ning Weijin suddenly appeared, causing her to lose her balance.
He asked if she was getting married, to which she sheepishly replied she was just trying on the dress. Discovering Ning Weijin owned a cat, Zheng Dingding gifted him a handmade cat toy she called "Shrimp Ball," crafted in the likeness of her own feline and filled with catmint. Later, Zheng Dingding received a video call from her parents.
Her father, Lao Zheng, casually mentioned her upcoming surgery was minor and confirmed they wouldn't return from their Hokkaido trip, suggesting Chen Xun should accompany her. When her mother saw Zheng Dingding in the wedding dress, she became ecstatic, assuming Chen Xun was proposing. Zheng Dingding vaguely confirmed he "might propose," and her mother's excited questioning continued until Lao Zheng quickly ended the call.
Ning Weijin, who happened to be nearby and overheard parts of the conversation, quietly offered his congratulations to Zheng Dingding. He then reminded her that her surgery was scheduled for Friday at 3 PM and that he had called her yesterday to confirm the time, which she had missed. Zheng Dingding apologized for missing his call, explaining her overwhelming workload.
On the night of the Chengpin Life anniversary celebration, Zheng Dingding, radiant in her formal dress, felt a surge of anticipation as employees greeted her, some affectionately calling her "boss' fiance." Heading to the elevator to welcome Chen Xun, she was met with a shocking sight: the doors opened to reveal his ex-girlfriend, Wen Zixin, intimately adjusting Chen Xun's tie. Chen Xun, seemingly unaware of Zheng Dingding's distress, introduced Wen Zixin as his "girlfriend."
Zheng Dingding stood momentarily stunned before numbly shaking Wen Zixin's extended hand. After the elevator closed, a heartbroken Zheng Dingding retreated to the party. Shortly after, Chen Xun and Wen Zixin made a grand entrance together. During his anniversary speech, Chen Xun thanked everyone for their support, and then, in his "important announcement," revealed Wen Zixin as Chengpin Life's new spokeswoman. The announcement drew murmurs of surprise from the audience, utterly shattering Zheng Dingding's hopes for a proposal.
Seeing Zheng Dingding's dejected departure, Chen Xun followed, attempting to explain that Wen Zixin was merely a business partner. However, Wen Zixin soon joined them, pointedly thanking Zheng Dingding for arranging the champagne roses, implying the idea had originated with her. She then led Chen Xun away to meet Mr. Sheng from Huasheng Dairy, who was interested in a partnership. As Zheng Dingding watched them leave, a mix of emotions washed over her when she spotted Ning Weijin.
Ning Weijin, who was looking for a friend, noticed her distress and offered her ice cream. He advised her that while sweet food might temporarily stimulate endorphins, it was ineffective for true emotional regulation, and she should instead "directly confront" her unhappiness. That evening, a troubled Zheng Dingding lay on her sofa when her parents video called. Her mother, still enthusiastically calling her "bride," became visibly upset upon learning there was no proposal and no ring.
Her father, sensing Zheng Dingding's distress, quickly ended the call. The next day at the office, Zheng Dingding noticed colleagues whispering and pointing at her. She confronted Xiao Feng for spreading rumors that had caused a stir. Unfazed, Xiao Feng warned Zheng Dingding to be vigilant against Wen Zixin, fearing her influence could reignite old flames and cause trouble in Zheng Dingding's relationship.
Later, a distracted Zheng Dingding made a critical error with the order blanks, misdirecting fresh produce intended for Shanghai to Inner Mongolia. Chen Xun, furious, reprimanded her for the "low-level mistake" that threatened Chengpin's reputation, emphasizing her responsibility to set an example. Wen Zixin, entering the office, promptly mitigated the situation by leveraging her connections at a TV station to locate the delivery driver at a highway service area.
Chen Xun, visibly relieved, praised Wen Zixin's efficiency, further diminishing Zheng Dingding's spirits. After work, Chen Xun drove Wen Zixin to her hotel. During the drive, Wen Zixin jokingly suggested they co-rent, which visibly unsettled Chen Xun. He then received a call from Zheng Dingding and, uncharacteristically, lied, claiming he was stuck at work and couldn't leave. He dropped Wen Zixin off, unaware that Zheng Dingding had just arrived outside the company and witnessed their departure.
The following morning, Zheng Dingding arrived at the company and, with unexpected resolve, broke up with Chen Xun. She explained that she was exhausted; she had mistakenly believed that her hard work, understanding, and unwavering support during his challenges could somehow make her a substitute for Wen Zixin. However, seeing Wen Zixin in person, she realized she was perpetually relegated to the role of a "junior schoolmate" and could never truly compete.
What Zheng Dingding toiled to achieve, Wen Zixin accomplished effortlessly and superiorly. She concluded that Wen Zixin was the one Chen Xun genuinely needed, admitting her defeat entirely. Chen Xun was stunned by her pronouncement. Shortly after, Xiao Feng confronted Chen Xun, revealing that Zheng Dingding had surgery scheduled for 3 PM that afternoon, emphasizing it was his final opportunity to salvage their relationship.
Wen Zixin, overhearing, interrupted to remind Chen Xun of their critical meeting with Mr. Sheng that same afternoon, subtly challenging him by recalling his disdain for dishonest men, and asked him how he planned to proceed. Meanwhile, Zheng Dingding sat alone at the hospital, filling out her surgery consent form. A nurse approached, asking about her family.
