Hidden Love Episode 15 Recap
> Hidden Love Recap
Duan Jiaxu offered Sang Zhi medicine for her allergic reaction and checked if she felt better. Sang Zhi, still covering her face, assured him she was fine and surprisingly commented that the milk tea was good, though she wouldn't have it again due to her bad experience with milk. Duan Jiaxu recalled giving her milk before, but Sang Zhi quickly claimed her classmate drank it.
As they walked, Sang Zhi kept scratching her face, prompting Duan Jiaxu to hold her hands to stop her, a gesture she amusingly compared to being "walked like a dog." Sang Zhi then asked Duan Jiaxu why he introduced her as his "friend" to his colleagues when he previously called her his "sister." Duan Jiaxu deflected the question, simply saying it was nothing.
He then mentioned her approaching birthday, regretting he couldn't get her a cream cake due to her allergies. When he noted their birthdays are close, he added that he doesn't celebrate his own because "it's pointless to celebrate it alone." Back at the dorm, Sang Zhi's roommates were discussing dating strategies. One roommate advocated for bold confessions, while another, Wang Wang, expressed a more passive approach, stating she wouldn't pursue someone who hadn't shown interest first.
When Sang Zhi finally arrived, her face covered from the allergy, she couldn't hide her hopeful smile. She confided that she had a good time and believed Duan Jiaxu might like her too. Her roommates immediately advised her to hide her feelings, insisting that the woman should be the one pursued. Sang Zhi worried he might not make a move, but ultimately agreed to wait, though she jokingly added that if he didn't, she would pursue him.
On her birthday, a dressed-up Sang Zhi was on her way to meet Duan Jiaxu when she was intercepted by Jiang Ming. He gave her a gift but made a quick exit upon seeing Duan Jiaxu approach. Duan Jiaxu took the gift and asked if Jiang Ming was the "manly man" she once mentioned. Sang Zhi denied it. Duan Jiaxu then leaned in close, challenging her to look at him and say if "he" resembled the boy she liked.
Flustered and panicking internally that he knew her secret, Sang Zhi quickly denied it. She tried to cover her tracks by claiming she no longer had a crush, dismissing her former crush as a "central air-conditioning system"—a term she explained meant a guy who is overly friendly with all women. Intrigued, Duan Jiaxu listened to her definition before playfully murmuring that she's "pretty good at framing people." They headed to the cinema to watch the movie they missed.
On the bus, Sang Zhi held onto Duan Jiaxu's sleeve for balance. Later, at the concession stand, Sang Zhi ordered an iced lemon tea, but Duan Jiaxu, wary of her allergies and the cold, tried to manage her order. When she insisted, he relented but playfully told her to get used to him managing her.
When Sang Zhi's hands got cold from the drink, Duan Jiaxu offered to hold it for her, then jokingly asked her to warm his hands in return. Sang Zhi refused, calling it "inappropriate," to which Duan Jiaxu teasingly agreed, remarking, "After all, you're not my girlfriend yet." After the movie, Duan Jiaxu invited Sang Zhi back to his place. She was surprised, reminding him he'd previously warned her away from his home and office.
He explained that Jiang Ying had shown up unexpectedly that day, and he had acted hastily out of concern for Sang Zhi's safety, leading to the misunderstanding. They both apologized, clearing the air. At his home, Duan Jiaxu surprised Sang Zhi with a rooftop birthday setup, complete with two cakes: one store-bought, and one he personally baked to be dairy-free. Moved, Sang Zhi chose the handmade cake for her wish, hoping for many more birthdays with him.
Duan Jiaxu then presented her with a gift, saying it was "something that lasts longer" than cake. His jealousy flickered as he noticed Jiang Ming's gift, prompting him to ask what qualities a guy needed to pursue her. Sang Zhi listed being handsome, good-tempered, taller than her, and having a sound moral compass. Duan Jiaxu, pointing out that he meets all her criteria, then asked directly, "Can I woo you?" Flustered, Sang Zhi asked him to clarify his meaning.
Duan Jiaxu confirmed her suspicion, explaining that calling her a "kid" was just a term of endearment and that he no longer wanted to be just her brother—he wanted to be her boyfriend. Still processing, Sang Zhi cleverly responded that she could only know her true feelings if he actually pursued her. Duan Jiaxu accepted the challenge, playfully promising to pursue her for decades and warning her not to see other boys, or he'd complain to her parents.
Before she left, Sang Zhi sought clarification: he had asked to pursue her, not confessed, and she hadn't rejected him. She then asked to take the cakes. After a mock-petty refusal, Duan Jiaxu agreed she could take both, even offering to bake for her daily. Sang Zhi returned to her dorm, where her roommates surprised her with their own celebration.
They immediately noticed the two cakes she brought, with one commenting on the "ugly" handmade one, which Sang Zhi affectionately defended as "cute." Realizing Duan Jiaxu made it, they excitedly confirmed that there had been "substantial progress." A flashback revealed Duan Jiaxu earnestly learning to bake from a baker, who recognized him from his high school part-time job and teased him about finally dating someone. Despite his initial struggles, Duan Jiaxu's determination to make the perfect cake for Sang Zhi was clear.
