Unrequited Love Episode 23 Recap
> Unrequited Love Recap
Ge Bi and Jiang Baili playfully chased each other on their way to buy late-night snacks, with Ge Bi teasing Jiang Baili about her height. Jiang Baili caught him and playfully hit his head. Ge Bi then remarked on her surprising speed, comparing it to "last time." This innocent comment, however, instantly dissolved their cheerful mood, as it reminded them of a painful past breakup when Ge Bi had told Jiang Baili to "give up" and "end it now."
The lightheartedness vanished, replaced by an awkward distance, as they politely offered to go buy the snacks alone before ultimately deciding to go together. Meanwhile, with the project accounts still being sorted, Luo Zhi felt the need to stretch her legs and stepped out of the tent. Sheng Huainan immediately followed her, expressing concern for her lingering fever, which she had tried to conceal.
When he offered to take her for a check-up, Luo Zhi firmly stated that since they had no special relationship, there was no need for such warm concern. Sheng Huainan, asserting his obligation to ensure her well-being while she was helping, became unusually overbearing, insisting she drink hot water. Luo Zhi found his current demeanor strange, noting he hadn't been this way before.
She refused his implicit invitation to move closer in the tent, choosing instead to go for a walk outside. When Sheng Huainan again tried to open a conversation, Luo Zhi preemptively asked if he wanted her to confess the details of her past crush or clarify which of her words were "scheming and tricks." Sheng Huainan clarified that he only wished for them to resume their "comfortable and natural interactions" of the past.
Luo Zhi apologetically yet unequivocally refused, stating, "We can't go back." She explained that what he considered "ease and chat" felt like "dancing on knife-edges" to her. Since he already knew her true feelings, she felt there was nothing left to say between them, emphasizing these were her "sincere words, not lies." Sheng Huainan's past actions had deeply wounded her, leaving a lasting mark, and she clearly no longer held any illusions or expectations for their relationship.
After working through the night, the project accounts were finally completed. Sheng Huainan praised Luo Zhi's meticulous work, calling it well-organized and easy to understand. While Luo Zhi woke up a pretending-to-be-asleep Jiang Baili, Sheng Huainan and Ge Bi went to present the accounts to their teacher. Predictably, Chen Yongle, the student union president, took all the credit for the successful accounts and the smooth preparations for Mo Dan's upcoming seminar, dismissing Ge Bi's complaints about his shamelessness.
When Luo Zhi and Jiang Baili came to return the sleeping bags, Chen Yongle also lauded them as "great contributors." As a reward for their hard work, Sheng Huainan gave Luo Zhi and Jiang Baili two VIP tickets to Mo Dan's seminar, explaining that two reserved guest seats had become available. He emphasized to Luo Zhi that the interview draft for the seminar had been prepared by her, so the ticket "originally belonged to her."
Jiang Baili thanked them, also confirming she was fine after being caught in the rain previously. Back at her dorm, Luo Zhi saw the freshly cleaned yellow raincoat in her drawer. She decided to return it, taking it with her while going to return books at the library, where she coincidentally encountered Sheng Huainan. Without hesitation, she handed him the raincoat, remarking that she had washed it.
Sheng Huainan called out to her, apologizing for "being wrong" after their previous encounter, reflecting on how he seemed to always be apologizing to her, as if he owed her a great deal. Luo Zhi, however, questioned his sincerity, noting that he always offered apologies without ever explaining his inconsistent behavior. She admitted she had wanted to ask for an explanation but he remained silent.
Sheng Huainan then expressed a belief that no matter what he did, she would understand him. Luo Zhi responded by acknowledging that he had never physically harmed her or said overly harsh words, but his actions had simply made her "very sad." When he offered another apology without explanation, she stated she wouldn't ask further.
She then defended herself, admitting to having lied to him, but clarifying that these lies were only to maintain her "illusion and balance," and that she had "never done anything unethical, not a single thing." Luo Zhi then turned and walked away. Watching her leave, Sheng Huainan felt a profound sense of understanding, realizing how many times she must have watched his back while he walked away, completely unaware of her feelings.
He longed to chase after her and apologize again for the pain he caused, promising to protect her heart, but knew that simple apologies were not what she truly desired. Jiang Baili and Luo Zhi used their VIP tickets to enter Mo Dan's new book seminar. Backstage, a staff member informed Ye Zhanyan that Mo Dan was very disappointed.
Ge Bi, Sheng Huainan, and Chen Yongle confronted her, learning that Mo Dan, initially pleased with the interview draft, had asked Ye Zhanyan several in-depth questions about his extensive bibliography and personal background which she couldn't answer, having only read his new and recent works. Sheng Huainan criticized her lack of preparation and failure to grasp Mo Dan's background.
Mo Dan's agent had emphasized that for his first Asian book launch, he sought a truly in-depth discussion, not a superficial interview, to inspire young people. Chen Yongle quickly realized Ye Zhanyan was no longer suitable to host. Despite Ye Zhanyan's indignant protests, Sheng Huainan and Ge Bi proposed Luo Zhi. Sheng Huainan argued that Luo Zhi, with her quick wit and his support, could handle it, also reminding Ye Zhanyan that she had previously ignored Luo Zhi's valuable advice.
To buy time, Chen Mohan performed a Bach aria. During this, Jiang Baili expressed admiration for Chen Mohan's stage presence, wishing she were as charming. Luo Zhi, however, reassured her friend, praising Jiang Baili's resilience, wit, and capacity for both playfulness and deep conversations, saying that if she were a man, she would definitely choose a woman like Jiang Baili, as life with her would never be boring.
Meanwhile, Sheng Huainan secured Mo Dan's approval to change the host, explaining that Luo Zhi was the actual author of the impressive interview draft. Ge Bi then secretly approached Luo Zhi, urgently pleading for her to host the seminar, with Jiang Baili echoing his request. Luo Zhi, motivated purely by her admiration for Mo Dan and a desire for him to have a positive experience at Sida, ultimately agreed.
Chen Yongle expressed immense relief upon hearing the news, stating that his presidency could now end without infamy. Surprising everyone, Ye Zhanyan put aside her personal feelings. She took Luo Zhi aside and, after declaring that Luo Zhi's unkempt appearance would shame the university, meticulously did her makeup. She then, to ensure Luo Zhi and Sheng Huainan matched on stage, gave them both formal outfits she had originally prepared for herself.
This was a significant moment for Ye Zhanyan, as she willingly sent her perceived rival to stand by Sheng Huainan, watching them walk onto the stage together, lamenting that "that position was originally mine." At the seminar, Mo Dan expressed his pleasure at being interviewed by Sheng Huainan and Luo Zhi. Luo Zhi delivered a captivating introduction for Mo Dan's new book, "The Albatross of the Southern Cross," a love story that deviated from his usual crime novels.
She confessed to falling in love with him all over again for this new direction, a statement that garnered cheers from the audience, who even declared she had "defeated Sheng Huainan" and called for her continued success. Luo Zhi continued by explaining how the book "exposes the true and false love in the human world," drawing parallels to the albatross's exceptional loyalty in love, flying thousands of kilometers only to return to its mate.
She highlighted how the book's albatross, while loyal, also maintained its individuality and pursued its solitary path, unconstrained by worldly norms, with only the Southern Cross as its lifelong pursuit. She then subtly critiqued the "ambiguous tricks" found in human relationships, contrasting them with the albatross's honesty. Mo Dan agreed that such ideal love was "going extinct" and encouraged everyone to be their own "Southern Cross," bravely exploring the world.
Sheng Huainan interjected with a romantic interpretation of the albatross's lonely journey, while Luo Zhi, seizing the moment, offered advice to female students "overly obsessed with scumbags" who "still hold illusions," asserting that the book would free them. Jiang Baili enthusiastically cheered her on. Mo Dan then posed questions to both interviewers about their understanding of love after reading his book.
Luo Zhi interpreted love as a "suspense novel without murder or corpses," where one constantly guesses at affection, only knowing the truth at the very end. Sheng Huainan spoke of the albatross's flight as a "lofty ambition" and "self-discovery," a search for a soulmate that gives life meaning, even if it might be mocked. Mo Dan wished for Sheng Huainan's "flight to land soon" and for him to find his "true destiny."
The seminar concluded successfully, with Mo Dan expressing immense satisfaction with the excellent performance of Sheng Huainan and Luo Zhi. Back in their dorm, Jiang Baili, Li Mi, and Guo Xiaoxiao celebrated Luo Zhi's success, excitedly telling her she was the top trending topic at Sida. Jiang Baili recounted the backstage drama, humorously declaring Ye Zhanyan "inferior" and praising Luo Zhi's wisdom and beauty.
Luo Zhi, however, preferred a quiet celebration with her friends, revealing she had declined the official student union gathering. They toasted to Luo Zhi, calling her the "Goddess of Sida." Meanwhile, Ye Zhanyan, drinking with Zhuo Chen, expressed her disbelief at her own generosity, lamenting that she had prepared her "love rival" and sent her to stand by Sheng Huainan, watching them leave together, a position she felt was rightfully hers.
