Unrequited Love Episode 17 Recap
> Unrequited Love Recap
Ye Zhanyan confronted Sheng Huainan, accusing him of prioritizing Luo Zhi's feelings over hers, especially during moments when she needed him most. She lamented that he consistently sided with Luo Zhi when making important decisions, leading her to believe she should abandon all hope. Ye Zhanyan then recounted her attempt to return a gift, admitting she backed off from giving it directly to Luo Zhi due to fear of mockery and instead entrusted it to Ding Shuijing.
When Sheng Huainan questioned Ding Shuijing's involvement, Ye Zhanyan explained that Ding Shuijing was in Xiamen for an art exhibition and claimed to have passed the gift to Luo Zhi. Ye Zhanyan then insinuated that Luo Zhi had not given him the gift because she feared a reconciliation between Sheng Huainan and herself. Sheng Huainan was quick to shut down her accusations, reminding her they had broken up and he had no intention of reuniting.
He stated that the disposition of his gifts was her concern, and any interaction regarding them with Luo Zhi was solely between them. Instead of pursuing the matter, Ye Zhanyan handed Sheng Huainan a document, instructing him to review it. Meanwhile, Jiang Baili expressed regret over agreeing to read a love prophecy for Ge Bi and Chen Mokan. Luo Zhi then asked Jiang Baili to perform a tarot card reading for her own secret crush on Sheng Huainan.
Luo Zhi drew "the Tower" card. Although Jiang Baili initially hesitated and suggested drawing another, Luo Zhi insisted on understanding its meaning. Jiang Baili revealed that "the Tower" signifies that "false lies will be severely tested." Later, Luo Zhi messaged Sheng Huainan, inviting him to see Tiffany and Jack that evening. Sheng Huainan declined, citing an urgent need to leave campus.
Shortly after, Luo Zhi received a call from Zhu Yan, who informed her that Tiffany and Jack had a fever, causing the tutoring session to be canceled. Luo Zhi then messaged Sheng Huainan again, letting him know he could continue with his business since her tutoring was also canceled. Sheng Huainan reviewed the document given by Ye Zhanyan, which detailed a fire at his father's bicycle factory from a decade prior.
Ye Zhanyan highlighted that the man who died in the fire was Luo Zhi's father, and Sheng Huainan's father was the factory manager at the time. She suggested Luo Zhi's decade-long pursuit of him was a calculated plot for revenge, urging him to investigate Luo Zhi's true motives and warning him against giving her his sincere affection. Sheng Huainan, however, rebuked Ye Zhanyan, noting her change from a warm-hearted and straightforward girl.
He condemned her past actions of showing him Luo Zhi's diary through Ding Shuijing, framing Luo Zhi with a necklace for jealousy, and now digging into Luo Zhi's past to make him doubt her. Ye Zhanyan insisted her actions were "for him," but Sheng Huainan retorted that they were for her own competitiveness.
He clearly stated that even if he and Luo Zhi didn't end up together, he and Ye Zhanyan would, at most, remain friends, with no possibility of rekindling their romantic relationship. Ye Zhanyan, still convinced of Luo Zhi's hidden agenda, declared that only she truly cared for him. At the third canteen, Zhang Mingrui mentioned that Sheng Huainan had returned to the dorm late and pale the previous night, immediately falling asleep, and had left early that morning.
Luo Zhi and Jiang Baili were unaware of his whereabouts. The next day, Sheng Huainan met his mother in Xiamen. She expressed anger that he defied his father's plans and expected an apology. Sheng Huainan refused, stating he only sought a clear conscience regarding his team's research and denying that any friends had influenced his decision to participate in the venture competition. He then showed her the newspaper article about the old factory fire.
His mother, recognizing the technician Yu Guang, Luo Zhi's father, as an "unlucky" son-in-law who drank frequently, recounted how Yu Guang's careless operation of new machines during his shift led to the devastating fire, causing his death and severe losses for their factory.
She further detailed how Yu Guang was held responsible for the fire, and his wife and "skinny child" (Luo Zhi) came to their home dressed in mourning clothes during the New Year, demanding compensation and disrupting their peace. Sheng's mother adamantly refused to help, fearing public gossip that would implicate their family in the accident. Sheng Huainan was struck by this revelation, realizing the painful past hidden beneath Luo Zhi's proud demeanor.
His immediate thought was why his parents didn't offer help to Luo Zhi's family, rather than dwelling on who was responsible for the fire or suspecting Luo Zhi's motives. He wondered why she had never shared it with him. His mother then declared that the Sheng family would never allow "strange children" like "Ye" or "Luo" into their home, indicating her strong prejudice. Back at school, Li Mi asked Jiang Baili to write a recruitment plan for their new guild.
Jiang Baili, only interested in makeup and skincare, suggested Luo Zhi. Luo Zhi, after learning Li Mi and Guo Xiaoxiao's former guild leader had unfairly kicked out Li Mi, agreed to help, promising to write the plan by the next day. Later, Jiang Baili expressed frustration over Sheng Huainan's continued silence after their date, lamenting the passive nature of secret crushes while the loved one can play hot and cold.
Luo Zhi, still lost in thought, looked at the "Tower" tarot card, fearing Sheng Huainan would discover her "lies." Zhang Mingrui later informed Luo Zhi that Sheng Huainan had been suffering from a cold for several days, keeping to himself in his dorm, not talking to anyone, and looking "strange." He noted that Sheng Huainan, usually healthy, wasn't even this depressed after his breakup with Ye Zhanyan.
Zhang Mingrui added that he and his roommates had been taking turns bringing him food and various medicines, but his condition hadn't improved. Luo Zhi realized this was the reason for Sheng Huainan's recent disappearance, almost blurting out her fear that he had discovered her secret, but quickly covered it by remarking on the changing weather.
Sheng Huainan, alone, replayed Ye Zhanyan's accusations in his mind, along with his mother's biased account of Luo Zhi's family history, wondering if Luo Zhi's secretiveness meant she didn't trust him or intended to hurt him. Zhang Mingrui arrived with takeout, expressing concern about Sheng Huainan's prolonged illness and mentioning Luo Zhi's worry.
Sheng Huainan confessed his mind was a mess, admitting his previous confidence in understanding human nature was shaken, as he felt he knew nothing about Luo Zhi despite their perceived connection. Zhang Mingrui urged him to stop overthinking and to contact Luo Zhi, accusing him of playing hard-to-get. Sheng Huainan, however, insisted he'd never wanted to understand someone so deeply and questioned why he always felt like the one apologizing.
He refused Zhang Mingrui's offer to message Luo Zhi on his behalf, asserting it was his personal matter. Afterward, Zhang Mingrui excitedly prepared for a shopping trip with Xu Riqing, asking Sheng Huainan for fashion advice and borrowing his skincare products. Before leaving, he reminded Sheng Huainan to eat his takeout and contact Luo Zhi, but Sheng Huainan remained unresponsive.
Luo Zhi, seeing Zhang Mingrui leave and worried about the potentially greasy food he had brought for Sheng Huainan, decided to go buy him some light porridge. Jiang Baili, watching Luo Zhi rush off, felt a sense of familiarity, likening Luo Zhi's urgency to her own past efforts for Ge Bi. Luo Zhi went to a porridge shop and ordered porridge with Chinese yam, corn pancake, and stir-fried Chinese broccoli for Sheng Huainan.
As she was about to reach the male dormitory, Jiang Baili called, urging her not to deliver the porridge, warning that Sheng Huainan's prolonged silence and sudden illness seemed suspicious. Jiang Baili suggested that even if he was sick, he could at least send an emoji. Jiang Baili believed there was a definite "trick" in his cold indifference.
The call unsettled Luo Zhi, and while climbing the steps, she stumbled, falling to the cold ground and spilling the hot porridge on her leg. Unknown to Luo Zhi, Sheng Huainan, wearing a hat and mask, witnessed her fall but did not reveal himself. He secretly followed her as she returned to the porridge shop to buy an identical order.
He then watched her instruct Sheng Huainan's roommate (whom she had called to come down and collect the food) to take the porridge upstairs. Once Luo Zhi had limped away, Sheng Huainan emerged, silently snatched the food bag from his roommate, and headed upstairs. Later, Ye Zhanyan obtained the materials for Mr. Mo Shan's new book symposium from Chen Yongle. She was furious to see Luo Zhi's name listed as a co-host alongside hers.
Chen Yongle explained that Luo Zhi, being a big fan and mystery enthusiast, was listed as a backup in case Ye Zhanyan struggled with professional questions or fan interactions. Ye Zhanyan, offended and questioning her competence, threatened to withdraw from the event. Chen Yongle quickly apologized, reassuring her of his respect and explaining that a backup was a mandatory requirement for such an important event and for an important person like her.
He then revealed the other co-host would be Sheng Huainan. Ye Zhanyan accepted the backup rule but adamantly declared that only she belonged by Sheng Huainan's side and she would ensure Luo Zhi had no opportunity to take the stage. Meanwhile, Jiang Baili found Luo Zhi, whose pants were dirty from the fall. Jiang Baili asked who had hurt her, but Luo Zhi replied she had fallen by accident.
Luo Zhi expressed a realization that she wasn't even "qualified to run errands" for Sheng Huainan, reflecting on how she used to perceive Jiang Baili's efforts for Ge Bi. Jiang Baili comforted her, saying they were both "fools" and that she shouldn't blame herself, then helped Luo Zhi back to their dorm.
