Love is Deep Episode 21 Recap
> Love is Deep Recap
Zheng Dingding arrived at Mu Yixun's studio, where he first complimented her design for its technique and concept. He then presented a design, asking if she had seen it before. Dingding, shocked by the resemblance, tried to explain, but Mu Yixun revealed the design was his, published years ago under the pen name Mu Bai.
His assistant accused Dingding of intentionally copying his work, suggesting she would have plagiarized an unknown author and gotten away with it if she hadn't been unlucky enough to copy the original creator. Declaring plagiarism a taboo, Mu Yixun dismissed Dingding, invalidated her competitive presentation, and announced that his studio would issue a public statement on Weibo condemning her. Distraught, Dingding returned to the cafe and cried non-stop.
Ning Weixuan was angered by the accusations, while online comments flooded with condemnation, urging "Dingding Cat get out of the artist circle." Ning Weijin arrived and advised Dingding to stay offline, explaining that people would only believe what they wanted. He assured her, "Leave it to me. This is the work we created together. I won't let it be stigmatized."
Meanwhile, Mu Yixun's assistants discussed how frequently his work was plagiarized, noting that Dingding was unlucky to copy an early piece he published under a pen name, which few people knew belonged to him. Ning Weijin attempted to meet Mu Yixun at his studio multiple times. Each time, Mu Yixun was absent, but Ning Weijin left a message with the receptionist: "Zheng Dingding did not plagiarize."
Meanwhile, Shu Yiran asked Gao Ren about Ning Weijin's recent activities, to which Gao Ren replied he was unaware. Gao Ren attempted to engage her by showing an invitation for their old school's ballroom dancing competition, where they had been invited to judge and perform. He suggested they practice together, but Shu Yiran, still focused on Ning Weijin, declined, claiming other plans. She quickly left, and moments later, Ning Weijin called Gao Ren, narrowly missing Shu Yiran.
The "dirty cat" cafe experienced a significant drop in business, and Dingding was inundated with return orders. Feeling overwhelmed, Dingding sequestered herself in her upstairs studio. Ning Weixuan discovered that Dingding's Weibo account had been hacked, displaying aggressive messages. Ning Weijin quickly confiscated Dingding's phone, urging her to stay offline and even suggesting she move in with him temporarily. Dingding reassured them she was okay.
Moments later, a courier delivered a disturbing package to Dingding: a bloody doll accompanied by a threatening note. Ning Weijin instructed Ning Weixuan to screenshot the hacked Weibo page and kept both the doll and the screenshots as evidence. Shu Yiran relayed the news of Dingding's alleged plagiarism to Yin Fei, who harbored a strong negative opinion of Dingding.
Shu Yiran suggested Dingding might have been "anxious" to climb the professional ladder, but Yin Fei asserted that "a stain is always a stain." She expressed concern that Ning Weijin's deep involvement in Dingding's issue could "affect his reputation." Shu Yiran lamented Ning Weijin's apparent loss of principles, recalling how he fiercely fought plagiarism in the past. Yin Fei attributed his current actions to the idea that "love blinds" people.
Both agreed that only Ning Weijin's father, Lao Ning, possessed the authority to "wake him up" and convince him to break up with Dingding. Yin Fei reassured Shu Yiran that she and Ning Weijin's father supported her. Deeply distressed by the plagiarism accusations and the online backlash, Dingding drank heavily with Xiao Feng, feeling it was "so unfair." She voiced her fear that Ning Weijin might also believe she "plagiarized."
Xiao Feng reassured her that Ning Weijin was actively "trying to figure it out for you" and urged her to have confidence in their relationship. " Not all guys are Chen Xun," Xiao Feng stated, emphasizing her belief that Ning Weijin "must be on your side with determination." She added that if he were to waver now, he would be no different from Chen Xun, implying Dingding should then end the relationship.
Xiao Feng also offered a more positive outlook, suggesting that these "hardships" could serve as "materials for you artists" to inspire future comics once the ordeal was over. She lightened the mood by reminding Dingding to enjoy "good wine and crayfish." Ning Weijin meticulously reviewed copyright law, concluding that there were no specific provisions for artistic works, leaving Mu Yixun with "absolute initiative" if he insisted on the plagiarism claim.
He explained this to Xiao Feng, realizing that "the only way now is to get in touch with Mu Yixun." Ning Weijin, having "witnessed the whole process of Dingding's creation," believed he could prove her innocence, but Xiao Feng rightly pointed out that his verbal testimony alone would not convince Mu Yixun.
Ning Weixuan uncovered a crucial clue on Mu Yixun's social media: a photo from years ago showing him with a stray cat that bore an uncanny resemblance to Shrimp Ball Junior. She realized this was the "source of things" and explained it to Ning Weijin, clarifying "why the two works are so similar." Ning Weijin planned to take Shrimp Ball Junior to Mu Yixun, confident that seeing the cat would lead to understanding.
However, Gao Ren cautioned against this, likening it to his own experience with academic plagiarism, where he would not have listened to explanations from the plagiarizer. He advised them to "try to hit on what he likes" to gain an audience with Mu Yixun. Later, Ning Weixuan discovered the ballroom dancing competition invitations in Gao Ren's pocket. She eagerly expressed a desire to watch him dance.
Gao Ren attempted to dismiss the invitations, claiming they were "void" and he was "not going anyway" because he lacked a "dancing partner." Recognizing an opportunity, Ning Weixuan immediately offered to be his partner. Mu Yixun's cat, Dora, had been suffering from depression and refusing to eat for two days, causing him considerable distress. He expressed frustration with veterinarians who offered diagnoses but no effective treatment.
His assistant mentioned that while pet communicators were common abroad, they were rare in their country and offered to search for one. Coincidentally, a package arrived containing contact information for a "Pet Psychology Clinic." Believing his deceased cat was sending him a blessing from the "Cat Planet," Mu Yixun instructed his assistant to immediately book an appointment for three o'clock that afternoon. With Mu Yixun's appointment confirmed, Ning Weijin declared, "the fish was hooked" and mobilized everyone.
Knowing Ning Weixuan's expertise as a pet communicator, he had Xiao Feng hastily set up a temporary "Pet Psychology Clinic." They rapidly decorated a room and prepared appropriate signage, with Ning Weixuan providing specific aesthetic directions for the clinic sign, aiming for a look that was both "classic and graded" and had "a hint of black for calmness" within its colorful background.
Ning Weijin informed Dingding he would pick her up at 2:30 PM with Shrimp Ball Junior, keeping the plan a secret. Mu Yixun arrived at the newly established clinic with his assistant, who voiced concerns about its legitimacy since it was not listed online. Mu Yixun opted to "observe first." Inside, Ning Weixuan, Yun Sheng, and Xiao Lei, acting as initial clients, presented an agitated cat.
Ning Weixuan calmly interacted with it, accurately diagnosing its fear, which she attributed to a traumatic experience at a previous vet visit. Impressed by her abilities, Mu Yixun then introduced himself and handed over Dora. Ning Weixuan precisely identified Dora's symptoms—loss of appetite, disinterest in canned food, and social withdrawal—as "early symptoms of depression," differentiating it from an organic illness. She then proposed that they search for "the source of its problem." Ning Weixuan placed Dora on the ground.
Just then, Dingding entered, holding Shrimp Ball Junior. Dora instantly showed signs of renewed interest and spirit, a reaction Mu Yixun noted, recognizing Shrimp Ball Junior's striking resemblance to his beloved, deceased cat, Oreo. He observed that Dora had been depressed since Oreo's passing, and the presence of Shrimp Ball Junior clearly stirred a memory. Dingding clarified that Shrimp Ball Junior was a stray cat she found and shared her story with Mu Yixun.
Mu Yixun was visibly moved by Shrimp Ball Junior, confirming its likeness to Oreo and asking to hold it. Ning Weijin explained that Shrimp Ball Junior was the stray cat he and Dingding found, and it served as the inspiration for Dingding's "dirty cat" design, with Ning Weijin having "witnessed the whole process of her creation."
Xiao Feng further supported Dingding by presenting her initial design drafts for "dirty cat," emphasizing that all of them were "based on" Shrimp Ball Junior. He asserted that the striking "similarity" between Dingding's work and Mu Yixun's was not plagiarism but rather a shared "love for pets," and that all of Dingding's designs were otherwise "original." Mu Yixun, realizing his mistake, admitted, "It seems that I blamed you wrongly," and understood Dora's depression was due to missing Oreo.
He then made an "abrupt" request to adopt Shrimp Ball Junior. Seeing the immediate bond between Dora and Shrimp Ball Junior, Dingding agreed, unwilling to "separate them." With the misunderstanding resolved, Mu Yixun expressed his gratitude and stated that there was "no reason our cooperation can't continue," asking if Dingding "still wants to cooperate with me." Dingding enthusiastically agreed. However, Ning Weijin intervened, demanding a formal apology from Mu Yixun.
He pointed out that Mu Yixun's "careless" and uninvestigated public accusation of plagiarism, posted on Weibo, had severely "damaged her whole life and reputation." Mu Yixun sincerely apologized for his rash actions, promising to "make a formal statement apologizing" to clear Dingding's name and hoping for her forgiveness, which Dingding readily granted. Ning Weijin then formally introduced himself, "My name is Ning Weijin." To express her gratitude, Dingding hosted a celebratory dinner.
Ning Weixuan playfully egged on the group, insisting Dingding give Ning Weijin a proper reward. Dingding, slightly embarrassed, put food on Ning Weijin's plate. Ning Weijin gave Ning Weixuan a stern look, silencing her, and then whispered to Dingding, "I'll get the reward I'm owed." Meanwhile, Gao Ren received a call from Shu Yiran, who had learned of his involvement and asked if he was helping Dingding.
Gao Ren casually confirmed he was "just here to help" and "do Ning Weijin a favor," further irritating Shu Yiran who, hearing the festive background noise, angrily hung up and told him to find a different dance partner. Soon after, Mu Yixun's apology statement was released on Weibo. It confirmed that "Ms. Zheng Dingding's design draft is indeed original" and the similarity to his work was "purely coincidental."
He apologized for his previous accusations and his fans' "improper words and deeds," and "sincerely invite Ms. Zheng Dingding to cooperate with my studio in depth." Dingding was overjoyed upon reading the statement. Later, while they were together, Ning Weijin reminded Dingding of his earlier whisper, "I told you. I'll get the reward I'm owed," before pulling her closer.
