Unrequited Love Episode 6 Recap
> Unrequited Love Recap
During a high school assembly, Sheng Huainan addressed his peers on achieving academic success, comparing it to the ladder ranking in StarCraft. He emphasized understanding subjects thoroughly and practicing diligently to overcome weaknesses. Later, in his college dorm, a visibly upset Sheng Huainan snapped at his roommates, who speculated he was going through a difficult time. At the university cafeteria, Luo Zhi, noticing a table with three chopsticks, realized Sheng Huainan had been there.
She sent him a message, passing on thanks from Jack and Tiffany's mother for playing with the children. The mother had also extended an invitation for Sheng Huainan to be their tutor, offering double the usual pay. Jiang Baili, observing Luo Zhi, commented that even top students behave like ordinary people in love. She then offered Luo Zhi a tarot reading, from which Luo Zhi drew "The Hanged Man."
Jiang Baili interpreted the card, stating that Luo Zhi was suffering from gossip and lies, in pain, aware her relationship might end, yet unwilling to let go, choosing to suffer and sacrifice silently. Luo Zhi, listening to the interpretation, smiled faintly, acknowledging the truth of the card in her own long-held, unspoken feelings for Sheng Huainan. The campus debate began, with Capital University arguing that love is selfless, and Siming University, Sheng Huainan’s team, contending that love is selfish.
His ex-girlfriend, Ye Zhanyan, sat in the audience. The affirmative side elaborated that love involves prioritizing the other person’s happiness, and even unrequited love, driven by an uncontrollable longing and a desire to improve oneself for the beloved, is selfless, remaining hidden from the object of affection. Sheng Huainan, as Siming University’s closing debater, powerfully argued that love is inherently selfish.
He asserted that relationships are formed to fulfill individual desires and needs, and when these are unmet or threatened, people act in ways that seek to control their partner’s behavior and thoughts. He specifically cited unrequited love as the most self-centered form of affection, questioning if anyone would continue to love without expecting emotional return or if the other person remained indifferent. He concluded that love is a self-serving, instinctive tendency to pursue one's own happiness or social status.
Ye Zhanyan observed Sheng Huainan's unusually sharp and emotional arguments, wondering if they were directed at her or Luo Zhi. Afterward, Ye Zhanyan tried to engage Sheng Huainan and suggested they watch a movie as a reward for her support. He declined, citing a need to meet his law professor. Ye Zhanyan then subtly attempted to dissuade him from taking the law course, mentioning Luo Zhi was also in it, implying it wasn't beneficial for him.
Sheng Huainan firmly told her to mind her own studies. Sheng Huainan’s rejection of the tutoring job, stating he would play with the children for free because he was too busy for paid work, deeply wounded Luo Zhi. She questioned if taking money was "despicable." The exchange brought back painful memories of a thick reference book she couldn’t afford for the "Burmese Student Ambassador" selection, a book Sheng Huainan had easily dismissed as not worth buying.
Later, a classmate, having borrowed it from Sheng Huainan, offered the same book to Luo Zhi, which further saddened her. That night, she helped her mother, who was working late to fulfill a large client order. Her mother encouraged her to apply for the ambassador program to broaden her horizons, unaware of Luo Zhi’s quiet struggles. Zhang Mingrui, noticing Luo Zhi's distress, discreetly messaged Sheng Huainan, urging him to address the situation.
Later, over ice cream, Zhang Mingrui gently revealed to Luo Zhi that in high school, Sheng Huainan only knew her name, having no personal impression of her, and had even tried to set up Luo Zhi and Zhang Mingrui because he thought Zhang Mingrui liked her. Luo Zhi's high school aspirations and close encounters felt disillusioned by this, creating a profound sense of distance.
Sheng Huainan, after receiving Zhang Mingrui's message about Luo Zhi crying, initially drafted an apology for causing her distress. However, perhaps recalling Ye Zhanyan's past accusations of Luo Zhi's "cunning," he revised his message to apologize for his high school self-centeredness and overlooking her hard work, but ultimately did not send it. He then found a message scrawled on a wall, acknowledging a "telepathic connection" with someone, a sentiment that resonated with him.
Luo Zhi, reflecting on her secret admiration, recorded her thoughts about her childhood encounter with Sheng Huainan, describing it as her sole comfort during a difficult upbringing. She yearned to ask if he remembered her or their childhood promises but feared his rejection would devalue her cherished memories. She also worried he might view her 15 years of silent devotion as manipulative.
In a vivid dream, she confronted Sheng Huainan, detailing how his preferences had shaped her life choices, from eating with three chopsticks to choosing liberal arts, all to be closer to him. However, in her dream, Sheng Huainan dismissed their childhood words as childish tricks, saying they held no weight. Startled awake, Luo Zhi recounted her dream to Jiang Baili, who encouraged her to confess.
Luo Zhi, however, expressed her fear that a confession might lead to regret and strip away the last vestige of her secret love. The Southern University Joint Debate Competition final arrived, with the topic "Kind Lies." Luo Zhi found herself sitting between Ye Zhanyan and Zheng Wenrui, feeling like a "sandwich."
Ye Zhanyan's pointed remarks, thanking Luo Zhi for keeping Sheng Huainan company at the amusement park and bringing up Luo Yang teaching at Zhenhua, subtly highlighted her awareness of Luo Zhi’s connection to Sheng Huainan. Despite her understanding of debate logic, Luo Zhi struggled to remain objective with Sheng Huainan on stage. In her mind, she passionately argued against his potential points on "kind lies" being a lack of integrity.
She imagined confronting him about his perception of her "kind lie" of a long-term secret admiration, wondering if he would dismiss it as a self-serving fantasy. The applause of the audience snapped her back to reality, where she once again felt like an "ostrich" lacking courage. Noticing her discomfort, Zhang Mingrui fabricated an excuse about a professor needing to see them, leading her away from the suffocating atmosphere.
Outside, he confessed to the lie, explaining he rescued her from being a "sandwich" between Ye Zhanyan and Zheng Wenrui. Luo Zhi thanked him but declined his offer for food, stating her need to return to studying.
