Hidden Love Episode 9 Recap
> Hidden Love Recap
Sang Yan encouraged Sang Zhi to treat Duan Jiaxu to a meal, reminding her that his suggestion came from genuine concern, not a complaint. He recalled how Duan Jiaxu had consistently inquired about her well-being and grades over the years, careful not to pressure her. Sang Yan also pointed out that Duan Jiaxu, despite his own financial struggles, unfailingly sent Sang Zhi various small gifts for her birthdays, good exam results, and holidays.
Reflecting on this, Sang Zhi began to question if her recent coldness towards him had been inappropriate, admitting to herself that he had always treated her well and she felt like an ungrateful person. Meanwhile, at Duan Jiaxu's company, a crucial meeting was underway for their new game expansion. After a team member, Wang, presented updates to maps, characters, and gameplay, Duan Jiaxu reintroduced his "Celestial Progression System."
This ambitious AI-driven algorithm was designed to make non-player characters (NPCs) more lifelike and logical, creating a truly immersive world. The concept, which had been rejected before, was met with skepticism over technical feasibility and resource allocation. However, Duan Jiaxu presented a compelling demo featuring a popular NPC, Fang Siming, which impressed his colleagues with its realistic reactions.
In a subsequent meeting, the manager officially greenlit the system as a core feature for the new project, appointing Wang and Duan Jiaxu as co-leads. Later, Sang Zhi drafted a message to Duan Jiaxu, laboriously editing her words before settling on a formal tone. Duan Jiaxu, seeing her unusually formal use of "您" (a respectful 'you'), called her. He teased her, asking if the honorific implied he was on her mind.
Sang Zhi quickly fabricated an excuse, claiming her father advised her to use honorifics with anyone five years her senior, noting that Duan Jiaxu fit the description exactly. Before she could end the call, Duan Jiaxu asked why she hadn't responded to his messages before. Sang Zhi explained that she hadn't had her phone while living on campus, to which Duan Jiaxu revealed Sang Yan had already told him.
Soon after, Sang Zhi's roommate, Ning Wei, happily announced she was dating someone new. Later, a student named Jiang Ming came looking for Sang Zhi, inviting her alone to a movie premiere. Her roommates immediately intervened, insisting they all go together. Jiang Ming extended the invitation to the group for Sunday evening.
Sang Zhi hesitated, mentioning she had plans with Duan Jiaxu, but her roommates eagerly pushed her to accept, suggesting it could be an "excuse to leave" if her dinner turned awkward. Reluctantly, Sang Zhi agreed. Meanwhile, Duan Jiaxu received a package from Jiang Ying containing health supplements. He immediately wired her the final compensation payment and firmly texted her not to contact him again before discarding the items. Jiang Ying's subsequent anxious calls went unanswered.
During the follow-up meeting about the "Celestial Progression System," a colleague noted Duan Jiaxu's pale complexion and that he had barely eaten, a subtle sign of his declining health. That evening, Sang Zhi arrived at the restaurant for their dinner. Duan Jiaxu called, his voice noticeably strained, to cancel, citing an urgent work matter. Sensing his discomfort, Sang Zhi pressed him, and he admitted to having stomach pain.
Despite his insistence that he was fine, Sang Zhi demanded his company address and rushed over in a taxi. She found him pale and clearly in pain. Over his protests, she insisted on taking him to the hospital. As she helped him into a taxi, they stumbled, and she bumped into his arms. The driver mistook his condition for intoxication, but Sang Zhi clarified he was sick and urged the driver to hurry.
At the hospital, an ultrasound confirmed Duan Jiaxu had acute appendicitis, and the doctor noted that the delay in seeking treatment had nearly caused a perforation. Given the severity, Duan Jiaxu chose to have immediate surgery. As he was wheeled into the operating room, Sang Zhi felt a wave of anxiety, realizing he likely wouldn't have come to the hospital if she hadn't insisted.
She called her mother, who was saddened by the news, remarking how pitiful it was that he had no family in Yihe to care for him. Confused, Sang Zhi questioned this. Her mother then revealed a story she'd never heard: years ago, after Duan Jiaxu's mother fell ill, his family borrowed money from Sang Yan's parents.
Duan Jiaxu, then just a college freshman, had repaid the entire sum within six months of his mother's funeral, a testament to his character despite his hardship. After the surgery, a nurse informed Sang Zhi that he would be hospitalized for seven days and could only have liquids. Duan Jiaxu, though groggy from anesthesia, urged her to return to her dorm safely, asking her to text him the taxi's license plate.
He told her to only visit when she didn't have classes, insisting he was fine. As she left, he quietly wondered if she was upset about their accidental collision earlier. Shortly after, Sang Yan called to tease him about the surgery, and Duan Jiaxu started to say something but stopped himself. Deciding she couldn't leave him alone, Sang Zhi soon returned to the hospital room.
She reasoned that if their roles were reversed, he would undoubtedly stay to look after her. Seeing her return, Duan Jiaxu asked if she had eaten, and she showed him a piece of bread. Concerned, he offered to order her food, but she refused, insisting she wasn't a child. He chuckled, observing how she stuffed her cheeks like a pufferfish while eating. Later, realizing he couldn't get up, Sang Zhi offered to wipe his face with a wet towel. He initially resisted, but she gently warned him not to disturb his stitches, and he relented, allowing her to care for him.
