Unrequited Love Episode 4 Recap
> Unrequited Love Recap
Luo Zhi was working a part-time tutoring job when she was unexpectedly asked to take her two young students, Jack and Tiffany, to Fantasy Land. As she was taking photos of the children on a merry-go-round, Sheng Huainan appeared behind her.
Unknown to Luo Zhi, Sheng Huainan was also at Fantasy Land with his roommates and their girlfriends; his roommate, Xu Zhian, was celebrating his birthday with their friend Xiaosen, who had flown in specifically for the occasion, partly to show appreciation to Sheng Huainan for his help in the past. Later, they crossed paths again in a restaurant. Luo Zhi ordered food for Jack and Tiffany, giving specific instructions about their preferences.
Sheng Huainan then approached her, expressing surprise at their coincidental meeting. Luo Zhi explained she was there as a tutor, while Sheng Huainan mentioned he was acting as a local guide for his long-distance roommates and their partners. Sheng Huainan offered to let Luo Zhi cut in line, which she accepted. At their table, Sheng Huainan introduced Luo Zhi to his roommates as a fellow student from their university and Zhenhua High School.
Xu Zhian started to ask if she knew Ye Zhanyan, but Sheng Huainan quickly interrupted him. The roommates discussed their plans for the next few days in Xiamen, including visits to Gulangyu Island, a botanical garden, and a night view at Pearl of the Sea, culminating in a birthday dinner. They invited Sheng Huainan, but he declined, citing homework, and suggested Zhang Mingrui go instead. When Jack and Tiffany asked for ice cream, Luo Zhi went to buy it.
Simultaneously, Sheng Huainan's roommates and their partners also expressed a desire for ice cream. Sheng Huainan, seeing an opportunity to spend more time with Luo Zhi, offered to buy the ice cream himself. While waiting in line, Sheng Huainan asked Luo Zhi if he could join her and the children that afternoon. Luo Zhi hesitated, warning him about Jack’s recent moodiness due to an argument with his mother, fearing Sheng Huainan wouldn’t be able to handle it.
However, Sheng Huainan insisted he liked children and that it would be safer with an extra pair of hands. To "bribe" the children, he insisted on paying for all the ice creams. Luo Zhi eventually agreed, jokingly stating she would teach the children about the principle of "taking someone's gift and owing them a favor." Luo Zhi reflected on the unexpected encounter with Sheng Huainan, a dream she had envisioned countless times, pinching herself to confirm its reality.
Later, Jack and Tiffany had a disagreement about which ride to go on; Tiffany wanted the carousel, but Jack wanted the roller coaster and called her a coward, making her cry. Luo Zhi comforted Tiffany. Sheng Huainan intervened, speaking to Jack about the importance of protecting his sister, regardless of their different fathers, emphasizing that true family cares for each other. Jack, understanding, apologized to Tiffany, and they reconciled. Someone captured this moment in a photo.
To manage their time, Sheng Huainan suggested he queue for the roller coaster while Luo Zhi took the children to play other attractions like the carousel for about an hour, arranging to meet later. During their activities, Sheng Huainan offered Luo Zhi his half-empty water bottle, which she accepted. Later, as they rode the roller coaster, Sheng Huainan instinctively took Luo Zhi's hand, a gesture that filled Luo Zhi with happiness.
He also tied her shoelaces, sharing a childhood memory of how his aunt taught him. They discussed Luo Zhi's tutoring job and its earnings. Meanwhile, at the dorm, Zhang Mingrui was practicing a magic trick for Xu Riqing when he received a message in the group chat from Lei Tian, who had shared a photo of Sheng Huainan and Luo Zhi that Xu Zhian had taken earlier.
Zhang Mingrui felt annoyed, believing Sheng Huainan was intentionally leading him on to pursue Xu Riqing while secretly pursuing Luo Zhi himself. Soon after, Zhang Mingrui received a call about a girl waiting downstairs, expecting it to be Xu Riqing. To his disappointment, it was Ye Zhanyan. She inquired if Sheng Huainan had found a new girlfriend since their breakup. Zhang Mingrui, initially saying no, eventually showed her the photo, revealing Sheng Huainan was at Fantasy Land with Luo Zhi.
Ye Zhanyan was shocked. She recounted the story of her relationship with Sheng Huainan, admitting it was built on a misunderstanding: she had frequented the Zhenhua windowsill after observing Sheng Huainan there, eventually leading him to mistake her for the girl who had previously recommended the book "Years of Childhood" to him.
She also expressed her frustration that their breakup was due to his mother's disapproval and Sheng Huainan's unwillingness to fight for their relationship, and how she was upset that he seemed to move on so quickly. Ye Zhanyan, feeling lost, contacted Ding Shuijing, who was also disheartened after dropping out of school and facing unrequited love for Luo Zhi's brother, Luo Yang, who never responded to her feelings.
Ding Shuijing expressed her anger at Luo Zhi's apparent indifference and refusal to reply to her messages, feeling that Luo Zhi, who also harbored an unrequited love for Sheng Huainan, would understand her pain. She felt looked down upon by Luo Zhi and vowed not to bless her relationship. Both women commiserated over the unfairness of love and friendship. During their car ride home, Sheng Huainan’s phone, which Luo Zhi was holding in her bag, vibrated.
Luo Zhi saw a message from Ye Zhanyan: "Don't trust Luo Zhi. Everything she does to you is a calculated approach. Her mask is hidden deeper than anyone else's. . . Even Ding Shuijing knows. Only you are kept in the dark." Sheng Huainan looked lost in thought for a long time, clearly affected by the message content. Luo Zhi noticed Ye Zhanyan continued to send messages, causing her to feel uneasy.
After dropping off Jack and Tiffany, Luo Zhi offered Sheng Huainan a ride, noting how difficult it was to get a taxi at that hour. Sheng Huainan paused briefly before getting into the car. During the ride, Sheng Huainan asked Luo Zhi what she had said to Jack earlier that made him change his behavior. Luo Zhi mentioned that Jack had confided in her about his mother thinking he wasn't manly enough, describing it as "a man's secret."
Sheng Huainan seemed to confirm this. Upon arriving at Luo Zhi's dorm, Sheng Huainan apologized for a past incident. He then mentioned that Zhang Mingrui had a good impression of her, thinking he liked her. Luo Zhi, though upset by this, did not show it. Sheng Huainan then expressed that he enjoyed talking with her and believed they could become good friends, describing her as a "good girl." Luo Zhi reflected internally that she knew she was a good girl, "good enough to be held by you, but not good enough for you to keep holding me."
