Love is Deep Episode 20 Recap
> Love is Deep Recap
The next morning, Gao Ren attempted to rouse Ning Weixuan, who was still in bed at his apartment, implying she might be avoiding her brother. Ning Weixuan, feeling unwell, complained of severe stomach pain, attributing it to expired yogurt. Gao Ren, noticing her poor state, urged her to go to the hospital, but she refused, explaining her aversion to hospitals due to her mother's illness in childhood and the depressing atmosphere. She asked Gao Ren to buy her medicine instead.
Just then, Ning Weijin and Dingding arrived at Gao Ren's house. Hearing her brother's voice, Ning Weixuan quickly hid in her room. Dingding knocked, and Ning Weixuan reluctantly let her in. Dingding clarified the misunderstanding between the siblings, admitting she hadn't known about Ning Weijin's conflict with their father. She confessed to persistently urging Ning Weijin to visit, leading to his difficult decision. Understanding the situation, Ning Weixuan forgave her brother.
Dingding then excitedly shared the news that Mu Yixun wanted to collaborate with her, and Ning Weixuan was thrilled for her. Ning Weijin then drove Dingding to Mu Yixun's studio. Dingding entered alone, while Ning Weijin waited outside. The receptionist informed Dingding that Mu Yixun was out on business and asked her to wait in the lounge after submitting her resume. Meanwhile, Gao Ren received a call from a client about a follow-up visit at the hospital that afternoon.
Ning Weixuan, overhearing his conversation, dramatically faked intense stomach pain, recalling how her mother would rub her stomach to soothe it when she was a child. Alarmed, Gao Ren prepared to take her to the hospital, but she insisted on this old remedy. Gao Ren rubbed his hands together to warm them and placed them on her stomach. Seeing her apparent distress, he rescheduled his client's appointment for the next day, deciding to stay with Ning Weixuan.
Ning Weixuan, having successfully manipulated him, secretly smirked. Upon Mu Yixun's return, he met with Dingding. Despite her initial nervousness, she found him to be approachable and engaging, easing her tension as they chatted about topics she enjoyed. Dingding explained that her artistic inspiration stemmed from two cats: her former pet, Shrimp Ball, and her boyfriend’s cat, Little Scarf, a Garfield.
This emotional connection imbued her works with rich feeling, a quality Mu Yixun, being a fellow cat person and often incorporating cat elements into his own designs, deeply appreciated. He informed Dingding about an upcoming "cute pets" project and, acknowledging her love for cats and talent in designing pet toys, comics, and merchandise, expressed interest in her ideas.
He revealed he was consulting several designers, giving them time to develop and compete with their concepts to select the most suitable collaborator. Having no immediate inspiration, Dingding and Ning Weijin decided to seek it together. Ning Weijin suggested that the best way to find inspiration was through close contact with nature, combining a date with their search. Dingding agreed, and they planned to first go to Habitat Coffee for her drawing board.
Meanwhile, Chen Xun was looking at Dingding's comic strip, a smile gracing his lips. Wen Zixin, observing him, subtly remarked that "Little Scarf" in the comic must be Ning Weijin, causing Chen Xun’s smile to vanish. Unable to bear seeing Chen Xun upset, Cat called Dingding, but Dingding declined the call. Ning Weijin, who was with Dingding, asked her about the call, initially wondering if she was uncomfortable answering because of him.
Dingding clarified it was Cat calling and she hadn't wanted to contact anyone from Chen Xun's circle since the Zhong Miaoli incident. Ning Weijin stated he didn't mind her contacting Chen Xun, but he desired transparency in their relationship to prevent misunderstandings, unlike his parents. He explained that his mother's unconditional trust in his father led to her devastation when she discovered his infidelity. He emphasized that being completely open with him would be the greatest display of trust.
Understanding his perspective, Dingding promised to gradually learn to be more transparent and avoid suspicion. Later that day, Gao Ren brought soup and porridge for Ning Weixuan, only to find her unresponsive. Discovering she had a high fever and was unconscious, he panicked and rushed her to the hospital. The doctor severely reprimanded Gao Ren for the delay, stating that if she had arrived any later, she would have suffered a life-threatening acid-base imbalance due to dehydration.
Gao Ren admitted his mistake, his heart filled with fear at the thought of how close she came to danger. He asked if she would recover after the intravenous drip, but the doctor could not guarantee it, instructing him to complete the admission procedures first. As Ning Weixuan's condition began to improve after the IV, Gao Ren, relieved, playfully remarked that she was "still naughty."
Returning to Habitat Coffee to retrieve her drawing board, Dingding discovered an abandoned kitten with an injured leg outside. Noting its inflamed back leg, she and Ning Weijin immediately took it to a nearby pet hospital. The veterinarian treated the wound, and they arranged for the kitten to be vaccinated and dewormed. Dingding felt a strong resemblance to her previous cat, Shrimp Ball, and, convinced it was her beloved pet returning to her, named the kitten Shrimp Ball Junior.
She affectionately kissed the kitten, but Ning Weijin was reluctant to hold it, pointing out that it needed a bath and disinfection first. Dingding, unconcerned by such details, urged him to hold it. Ning Weijin reluctantly complied, his face clearly showing his discomfort. Shortly after, Ning Weijin received a call from Gao Ren informing him that Ning Weixuan was seriously ill. Ning Weijin and Dingding immediately rushed to the hospital.
Upon their arrival, they found Ning Weixuan playfully feigning extreme weakness and insisting Gao Ren feed her grapes. Gao Ren, relieved by Ning Weijin’s presence, took the opportunity to leave and find Shu Yiran. Ning Weijin consulted the doctor, who confirmed that Ning Weixuan was no longer in danger and could return home after her current intravenous drip. However, Ning Weixuan, hoping to prolong Gao Ren’s attention, wanted to stay in the hospital for a few more days.
Unable to convince her, Ning Weijin could only take Dingding and leave. Meanwhile, Gao Ren found Shu Yiran. She expressed her concern about Ning Weixuan’s deep affection for Gao Ren and urged him to be kinder to her. Gao Ren reiterated that he only regarded Ning Weixuan as a sister and wished she would move past her feelings for him.
He also advised Shu Yiran to let go of her feelings for Ning Weijin, suggesting that holding on would only lead to a tiring life. Shu Yiran, however, stated that she couldn’t simply abandon her feelings. She again pressed Gao Ren to treat Ning Weixuan better, emphasizing that while effort doesn't always guarantee reward, nobody would make an effort without some hope of return.
As Ning Weijin and Dingding left the hospital, Ning Weijin confided his worries about Ning Weixuan, noting her stubborn personality reminded him of their mother's unwavering commitment. Dingding reassured him, reminding him that Ning Weixuan was an adult with her own will. They then spoke of their own relationship, agreeing that while love wouldn't always be sweet and passion might eventually fade, as long as they were together, they would share everything, both the bitter and the sweet.
They decided to buy food for Shrimp Ball Junior. Meanwhile, Gao Ren returned to Ning Weixuan's room. He had called her earlier, but she hadn't answered. He expressed how worried he had been for her, emphasizing that she must promise him that, for anyone or anything, she would never harm herself. Ning Weixuan readily agreed. The encounter with Shrimp Ball Junior provided Dingding with a fresh surge of inspiration.
She aimed to portray the lives of stray animals in the city, focusing on their existence as animals rather than merely as pets. Working through the night, she developed a "dirty cat" character and promptly submitted her design to Mu Yixun’s studio. To his astonishment, Mu Yixun discovered that Dingding's new design was almost identical to one of his own previous works.
