The Sweetest Secret Episode 20 Recap
> The Sweetest Secret Recap
At breakfast, Tang Weiwei's father informed her that Lin Ran's parents planned to send him abroad for specialized allergy treatment, having already secured a renowned hospital and expert. Tang Weiwei asked about their return, expressing her surprise. Her father explained that Lin Ran's condition remained a hidden threat and that Xu Jian, being familiar with living overseas, would accompany and care for him.
He also reminded Tang Weiwei to prioritize her own well-being so she could have the strength to care for others. Tang Weiwei acknowledged this, and her father then excused himself to take a phone call. At the hospital, Xu Jian encountered Ji Han, asking why she was there. Ji Han explained that Lin Ran was asleep, but his condition had stabilized. Needing to leave, Xu Jian asked Ji Han to look after Lin Ran.
Meanwhile, at her dessert shop, Tang Weiwei was deeply preoccupied with Lin Ran's health. Her distraction led to a series of mistakes, including serving a customer the wrong dessert, spilling chocolate, and dropping a plate. Noticing Tang Weiwei's distraught state, the customer apologized and left, declining the dessert. Li Xiang soon arrived to comfort Tang Weiwei, taking over the cleaning of the shop and reassuring her that things would be alright.
Overwhelmed with worry for Lin Ran, Tang Weiwei tearfully accepted the water Li Xiang offered. Xu Jian later called Tang Weiwei to share the good news: Lin Ran's condition had stabilized, and she no longer needed to worry. He urged her to come to the hospital. Relieved, Tang Weiwei shared the update with Li Xiang, and they rushed to the hospital together.
However, upon reaching Lin Ran's ward, Tang Weiwei paused, pulling Li Xiang back after seeing Ji Han attentively wiping Lin Ran's hand. When Li Xiang questioned why she wasn't entering, Tang Weiwei stated a quick glance was sufficient, as he was awake. Li Xiang encouraged her to cry if she needed to. In the corridor, Ji Han spotted them and tried to explain that she was there on behalf of the school. Li Xiang immediately questioned her presence and intentions.
Tang Weiwei inquired about Lin Ran, and Ji Han confirmed his recovery. Tang Weiwei then politely thanked Ji Han for her care and suggested she go home to rest, effectively cutting off any further explanation. Li Xiang then suggested they proceed into the ward. Li Xiang then asked Tang Weiwei about her true feelings for Lin Ran. Tang Weiwei confessed that if she were 20, she would have readily embraced or married him.
However, at 28, she felt their relationship was sustained only by his youthful passion, and she feared that as she aged before him and the realities of life set in, he would resent her for not ending things earlier. She described herself as a "timed bomb" beside him, poised to "explode at any time."
Li Xiang tried to reassure her that the recent syrup incident was merely an accident, but Tang Weiwei insisted it might be "god's will," and she refused to be a burden, an "alligator," that would trap him. She believed Lin Ran had "more options" without her, and any of those choices could lead to a better future for him. Despite Li Xiang's promise of unwavering support, Tang Weiwei requested to be left alone to process her emotions.
Li Xiang, telling her to stop crying, then left, leaving Tang Weiwei to weep uninhibitedly in the hospital. Upon waking, Lin Ran saw Tang Weiwei and jokingly asked her to rub his eyes, having thought she had left. Tang Weiwei informed him of his parents' plans for him to receive specialized allergy treatment overseas, highlighting the excellent hospital and experts. Lin Ran, however, repeatedly questioned if she, as his girlfriend, would accompany him.
Tang Weiwei attempted to explain his parents' concerns and their desire for him to get well, but Lin Ran interrupted, demanding a direct answer. He grew agitated, accusing her of trying to "chase him away" by staying behind. Tang Weiwei tried to calm him, but he insisted she look at him and answer. When she remained silent, Lin Ran declared that if he left this time, he "won't come back."
Tang Weiwei, struggling with her emotions, ultimately responded that "it's good for us both," then turned and walked away, leaving Lin Ran alone. Lin Ran, following his old habit, looked up at Tang Weiwei's window from downstairs, but she deliberately stayed out of sight, making him believe she didn't want to see him. He then left with his luggage. Later, Tang Weiwei went to the airport to see him off. Li Xiang asked her if she would regret her decision.
Tang Weiwei admitted she didn't know, reflecting that perhaps they "shouldn't have been together since the first place," as it might have prevented the current pain of separation. When Li Xiang pressed if she could truly forget Lin Ran, Tang Weiwei explained that her significant age difference made her believe continuing a "wrong relationship" would be akin to "deceiving him."
She recalled Jin Zichuan's advice about "stopping the loss in time" as potentially the "correct choice" and hoped that "everything will pass." Li Xiang assured her of her presence. Tang Weiwei then observed that since she was the one who welcomed him when he first came to her home, seeing him off now felt like a fitting conclusion to their journey. She then suggested they leave.
Despite Lin Ran's departure, Tang Weiwei continued to run her dessert shop, though her emotional state had visibly shifted. She absentmindedly mistook customers for Lin Ran, staring blankly until gently prompted. The shop was filled with "shadows" of Lin Ran, and she often found herself lost in thought, requiring her staff to call her several times before she focused on tasks like checking baked bread.
Tang Weiwei returned to her apartment, familiar sights along the road reminding her of Lin Ran. That night, sitting on her bed, she recalled every moment spent with Lin Ran, her longing intensifying. Realizing she had broken up with him, she grew increasingly sad and wept by the bay window.
Fond memories of Lin Ran often flooded her mind, from their playful banter to his declarations of affection, emphasizing his unwavering trust and desire for her to be his "goal and life." He had even expressed a wish for her not to leave him, whether as a girlfriend or a brother. In a particular instance, a staff member approached Tang Weiwei about a cupcake order for which the pastry chef couldn't create the required flower design.
Tang Weiwei took it upon herself to decorate the cake, accidentally creating a flawed one. When the staff member praised its beauty and suggested launching it as a new product, Tang Weiwei dismissed it as "damaged" and proposed they eat it themselves, describing it as "not sweet" and capable of making people "gloomy." The staff member wisely pointed out that "sadness and dismay are also types of emotion" for their "emotional cakes."
Considering this, Tang Weiwei decided to name the new dessert "Dark Cloud." The "Dark Cloud" cake, initially deemed imperfect by Tang Weiwei, unexpectedly became a hit. Li Xiang informed Tang Weiwei that her dessert shop had been on the city's hot search for three consecutive weeks, predicting a significant increase in revenue.
She revealed that her company had approved a cover shoot for their magazine at the dessert shop in September, a proposal she championed due to the "Dark Cloud" cake's overnight popularity. Tang Weiwei reflected that if the shop had been this successful initially, things might have unfolded differently. Li Xiang, however, urged her not to dwell on it and confirmed the photoshoot for next Saturday.
Tang Weiwei inquired about her role, and Li Xiang clarified that she just needed a menu for the marketing department and to be informed of any new products. Tang Weiwei mentioned she hadn't developed a traditional "new product" yet, but Li Xiang insisted that anything she made was delicious.
After Li Xiang left, she encountered Jin Zichuan, who had been persistently pursuing her for three months, constantly trying to get her to add him back on WeChat after she blocked him. Jin Zichuan pointed out that Tang Weiwei didn't sell her shop, so Li Xiang had no valid reason to delete him. Li Xiang retorted that she simply wanted to delete him. Jin Zichuan then invited her to dinner.
Impressed by his persistence, Li Xiang agreed to dine with him. Later, as Li Xiang mused to herself, she wondered if she missed Lin Ran, acknowledging that he was completely devoted to Tang Weiwei and had no room for anyone else. She reflected that even if the world criticized him, Tang Weiwei should still believe in him.
While Lin Ran was at the hospital, his condition took a sudden turn for the worse, and doctors rushed to his aid, calling for a defibrillator as he was in a critical state. Tang Weiwei, seemingly sensing his distress, attempted to call him, but her calls went unanswered. Without hesitation, she instructed someone to book the earliest flight to America, changing her prior plans by telling her taxi driver to turn back.
