Unrequited Love Episode 20 Recap
> Unrequited Love Recap
Jiang Baili, preparing for a new symposium, went shopping to ensure she looked her best when appearing alongside Ge Bi and Chen Mohan. Ge Bi, though perhaps already harboring feelings for Jiang Baili and accustomed to her constant presence, remained deeply fixated on a past, unattainable love, which left him feeling lost. During a dinner with Chen Mohan, Ge Bi was mostly silent, reduced to merely trying to please her.
Meanwhile, Luo Yang and Chen Jing were taking their wedding photos. What should have been a joyful occasion felt mechanical, with Luo Yang reluctantly posing and even withholding a kiss for Chen Jing. While Luo Yang was away, Ding Shuijing, who had been observing them, approached Chen Jing. Ding Shuijing, confident in her understanding of Luo Yang, asserted that he was unhappy with Chen Jing and that their union was a mutual burden.
Chen Jing, who had been with Luo Yang for five years and supported him through his lowest points, desired a stable life and thought practically. Ding Shuijing, in her youth, was ready to pursue dreams with Luo Yang, regardless of the consequences. Feeling a profound sense of defeat in front of Ding Shuijing, Chen Jing had to admit that Ding Shuijing was more appealing to men, a realization that cast a shadow over her special day.
Later, in Xiamen, Luo Zhi, her brother Luo Yang, and Chen Jing had lunch together, showcasing Luo Zhi and Chen Jing's close relationship. Ding Shuijing, who had been watching from a distance, felt out of place. Luo Zhi, Luo Yang, and Chen Jing took photos, and Luo Zhi noticed Ding Shuijing in the background of one of them. Chen Jing then excused herself to the restroom, with Luo Zhi following close behind.
There, Ding Shuijing directly confronted Luo Zhi, expressing surprise at Luo Zhi's brief "wish you success" and questioning her aloofness towards a classmate of three years. Luo Zhi advised Ding Shuijing to focus on getting into a good art school. Ding Shuijing then threatened Luo Zhi, claiming to know many of her secrets. When Luo Zhi found Chen Jing, whose face was pale, she asked if Chen Jing knew the girl who had just left. Chen Jing nervously denied it.
Ding Shuijing then met Luo Yang, who was glad to see her but explained it wasn't a good time with his fiancée and sister present. Ding Shuijing explained she was in Xiamen for art research and requested to continue using Zhenhua's art classroom for a few more days, as she hadn't found a new studio. Luo Yang, perhaps without realizing it, felt a sense of loss.
After Ding Shuijing left, Luo Zhi saw a flyer in Luo Yang's hand that was identical to one Ding Shuijing had. Chen Jing offered to take Luo Zhi back to school, saying Luo Yang was busy. Once they were in the elevator, Chen Jing confessed that she had lied, admitting she knew Ding Shuijing, who was Luo Yang's junior from Dongjiang University. Luo Zhi finally understood why Ding Shuijing had sent her so many messages since college.
Chen Jing, feeling insecure, confessed that she felt Ding Shuijing was a charming and challenging woman, but still believed her brother was faithful. Luo Zhi, considering Chen Jing her sister-in-law, promised to talk to Luo Yang. Luo Yang then brought a sandwich and salad to Ding Shuijing, hoping for a picnic. Ding Shuijing refused to eat, stating that Luo Yang was unhappy with Chen Jing and merely acting as an obedient puppet.
Luo Yang advised her to focus on her studies and art. Ding Shuijing pressed further, questioning why he was marrying Chen Jing as a form of repayment, when he clearly didn't love her and was suppressing his desire to paint. She accused him of not daring to tell Chen Jing the truth. Luo Yang tried to change the subject, offering to buy coffee.
Ding Shuijing, rejecting his food and company, called him "boring" and "tasteless" before leaving, though she then joked that she was only teasing and urged him to cherish his remaining time alone before marriage. Luo Yang was left lamenting that Chen Jing found him too casual and Ding Shuijing found him tasteless. Back in the dorm, Li Mi returned to find Jiang Baili teasing Luo Zhi with a bra, with Guo Xiaoxiao also present.
After Guo Xiaoxiao went to shower, Luo Zhi, engrossed in editing Mr. Mo Shan's interview draft, threatened to withhold her notes and homework if they bothered her, sending them away. Jiang Baili felt it was unfair that Luo Zhi was doing all the work when Ye Zhanyan would get the credit. Li Mi then discovered the student union's promotional webpage for the symposium, which listed Luo Zhi's name but featured only Ye Zhanyan's photo, placed prominently beside Sheng Huainan's.
Jiang Baili, incensed, declared Luo Zhi to be the superior choice as host. However, Luo Zhi calmly stated she was content simply to participate and hear Mr. Mo Shan discuss his creative philosophy. Later, Sheng Huainan's roommates, led by Lei Tian, recorded a comical birthday video for Tang Wen, surprising a delivery person with their costumes. Sheng Huainan received a package containing a photo album.
As he looked through pictures of Luo Zhi from high school, he reflected that he had no memories of her from that time and wondered if it was too late to fill that void. Ding Shuijing sent another message to Luo Zhi, reiterating that she knew many of Luo Zhi's secrets.
Luo Zhi replied, saying she wasn't interested in what Ding Shuijing knew or hid, and urged her to face herself honestly and focus on her passion, emphasizing that art reflects the creator's inner world. She reminded Ding Shuijing of the painting she did for the school celebration, a work Luo Zhi had admired, and encouraged her to pursue what she loved without regret.
Ding Shuijing recalled that it was Luo Zhi who had given that first painting its beautiful name, "Zhenhua's Early Spring." Ye Zhanyan approached Ding Shuijing, asking about a message she'd asked her to pass to Sheng Huainan. Ding Shuijing recounted telling Sheng Huainan about Ye Zhanyan's breakup letter and necklace being thrown away by Luo Zhi, but Sheng Huainan hadn't believed it.
Ye Zhanyan then admitted she had shown Sheng Huainan the old news about their families' past conflicts to expose Luo Zhi's supposed "scheming." She noted that Sheng Huainan had since distanced himself from Luo Zhi but also stopped contacting her. Ding Shuijing expressed doubt that Luo Zhi was scheming, but Ye Zhanyan insisted Luo Zhi was trying to get involved in the symposium.
Ye Zhanyan then asked Ding Shuijing to help her devise new ways to make Luo Zhi give up on Sheng Huainan. Ding Shuijing responded that "this game is boring," and accused Ye Zhanyan of stooping to using Luo Zhi's family's past tragedy against her. She held up her phone, telling Ye Zhanyan to "look at yourself," saying she no longer resembled the confident and passionate Ye Zhanyan she once admired.
Despite this, Ye Zhanyan, consumed by her hatred for Luo Zhi, ignored Ding Shuijing's words. Luo Zhi then went to the student union and handed Liu Jing a USB drive containing her suggestions for the Mo Shan symposium interview draft, asking her to pass it to Ge Bi. After Luo Zhi left, Ye Zhanyan questioned Liu Jing about Luo Zhi's visit and then took the USB drive, claiming that she was in charge of the symposium interview.
Luo Zhi later arrived at the cafeteria, where she found Zhang Rui already queuing for her favorite food. Zhang Rui playfully teased her about her love for a particular biscuit, then invited her to watch him play basketball, mentioning that Sheng Huainan was not on campus. Zhang Rui often took Luo Zhi for walks when he walked dogs for his part-time job, trying to distract her from overthinking.
These gestures, from buying her favorite food to taking her for walks, were actually at Sheng Huainan's indirect request, as he cared for Luo Zhi but was unwilling to approach her directly. Sheng Huainan, meanwhile, was still dwelling on the photo album, reflecting on his high school years, lamenting that he hadn't noticed Luo Zhi's existence then and wondering if it was too late to make up for lost time.
