Part 1 is here: Hidden Love: Ep 20 The Quick Explanation

As I said, I have my IOUs.

1. Write-up on Ep 7: his money worries/her offer to help
2. Write-up on Ep 7: the airport goodbye
3. Write-up on Ep 18: the roller skating
4. Write-up on DJ’s shamelessness

The fourth explanation of this episode’s theme is linked to my IOU #1.

Chapter 20. Safeguard. One path, two people
Featured Object: Broken heart

Remember this scene from Episode 7 when Jiaxu confided in Sang Zhi about his financial worries?

DJ: Let me tell you a secret. I have plenty of debtors out there.
SZ: Are you in huge debt?
DJ: It isn’t about money. (pausing to rethink it) Well, I guess it is about money.
SZ: How much do you owe? Is it a huge sum?
DJ: How do I put it?
SZ: Jiaxu Ge. Don’t panic. Once I grow up and start making money, I’ll help you pay it off.
DJ: (looks at her intently)
SZ: I’m not kidding. I’m serious.
DJ: (exhales, pats her head, and smiles) Sang Zhi. Actually, these aren’t my debts so there’s no need to help me repay them. So, Sang Zhi, after you start earning money, buy beautiful dresses for yourself.

I thought this conversation deserved a write-up of its own for the following reasons:

a. The screenwriter used the same exact dialogue from the web novel. The fact that she didn’t delete or alter the scene indicated to me that the money issue would

b. In the web novel, however, Jiaxu pinched her cheeks after she vowed to help him repay his debt. His action didn’t sit well with me. To me, he behaved like an “ahjussi,” or doting uncle entertained by his favorite niece. I preferred Jiaxu’s action in the drama where he studied her eyes intently — as if he was trying to read her mind — before reaching out to rub her hair and grinning at her.

To me, both his expression and gesture showed that he was moved by her offer to the point that he was tempted to believe that he could rely on her for emotional support. In the end, he had to mentally remind himself that he was conversing with a sheltered, young girl who couldn’t possibly know what she was talking about.

That’s why he patted her head. He didn’t do it because he was amused or entertained by her offer to pay his debts. No. He did it because he was deeply moved by her sincerity and wanted to soothe her visible distress over his affairs.

c. Telling her to buy dresses was his way to reassure her not to worry about him. He probably regretted this temporary moment of weakness because he unburdened his worries to her and caused her in turn to worry about him. But at the same time, he needed this moment with her to regroup himself. After he confided in her, he found a renewed strength to face his problems on his own. It was like knowing that he had somebody on his side was enough encouragement for him to go on.

He no longer looked grim when he left for the airport early the following morning. He saw her on the balcony and signaled that he would text her. Then, he waved goodbye with a smile.

d. Meanwhile, back in her room, she wondered whether Jiaxu was just pretending to be tough on the outside because she had never seen him brood like that before. And she made one of her star wishes for him. She wrote, “Make a lot of money and help him pay off his debts.”

Now, Episode 20 circles back to this scene in Episode 7.

Sang Zhi is accosted by the Psycho outside a work party. The Psycho divulges that Jiaxu is paying for his dad’s exorbitant hospital bill of nearly 100,000 yuan per year. She thinks that no girl, in her right mind, will want to waste the time and money on him given that kind of financial burden.

But Sang Zhi shoots her down. She tells her, “I do. I have the time and money to waste on him.”

She appears unfazed by the Psycho’s arguments to leave Jiaxu. But later when she’s all alone, she reflects on how terrible Jiaxu must have felt living with this kind of guilt the Psycho imposed on him.

She then offers him her bank card. In other words, she’s safeguarding him – just like the title said – from the Psycho.

SZ: Here you go.
DJ: What’s the meaning of this? I only bought you bread and you gave me your bank card.
SZ: There’s 5,000 yuan on the card. If I successfully complete my internship, I’ll get another 3,000 yuan. In that case, there will be 8,000 yuan.

5000 yuan is about $685, and 8000 yuan is a little over $1k. This reminds me of the biblical story about the widow’s mite. Once there was a poor widow who gave two coins to the temple’s treasury. Jesus said that she gave more than the rich because the rich donated only their surplus while she gave all that she had. Similarly, what makes Sang Zhi’s monetary gift touching was that she gave him all that she had.

DJ: Why are you suddenly giving me this?
SZ: I just want to tell you that I can be nice to you. I can be nice to you for life. I’m serious.

She then takes a bite of the bread, trying to appear nonchalant. Jiaxu is momentarily speechless.

DJ: So our little Sang Zhi wants to take care of me. (pulling out his wallet) Take this.
SZ: What?
DJ: The PIN on my card is your birth date. You can use the money to buy beautiful dresses for yourself. As for this card, it’s mine now. (sighing) You have quite a lot of money. So… Boss! what are your orders?

My comments:

a. I think she’s avoiding his eyes because she doesn’t want to tear up.

b. This is Sang Zhi trying to safeguard Jiaxu. She knows that he’s had a tough time but is too proud to say so.

c. Hmmm. I wonder when he changed the PIN on his bank card to her birthday or has it always been her birthday.

d. Like before, telling her to buy beautiful dresses is his way of reassuring her that he’s fine and that he isn’t facing an insurmountable problem.

But unlike before, he told her to use HER earnings to buy the dresses, now he’s telling her to use HIS earnings to buy the dresses. I guess, as his boyfriend, he thinks it’s his responsibility to take care of her financially.

DJ: I can satisfy all of your desires. Hmm?
SZ: (laughing)
DJ: What? I know I’m corny.
SZ: Do you finally admit it?
DJ: I’m just joking! Am I really corny?
SZ: Yes, you are.

Then he squeezes her face. Note here: he doesn’t squeeze her face because he finds her cute. He does it to make her laugh, to lighten the mood.

SZ: (returning his wallet) Take it.
DJ: (still teasing her) There’s no use giving it back. I won’t return your card to you.
SZ: I didn’t ask you to.
DJ: (sighing) This is truly unexpected. At my age, there’s still someone I can depend on.

Yes, this is a welcome change for him. Previously, he didn’t have anyone to depend on. But finally, when he’s 26, he’s found Sang Zhi. However, it’s his fault for not taking seriously her offer to help him three years ago. He thought she was too young to understand what she was promising to do for him. He wasn’t to know that she meant every word she said back then.

SZ: However, you can’t spend recklessly.
DJ: It’s mine to do with now.
SZ: (insistent) Don’t misspend. You need to save up.
DJ: For what? Your dowry?

I think this needs clarification. Dowry is the wealth, in the form of money, material assets, or real estate, that the bride brings to the marriage. Jiaxu is referring to the “bride price” or the payment that he has to save and pay to Sang Zhi’s family when he marries her.

SZ: Save up to buy a house.
DJ: (looks at her strangely)
SZ: I seriously looked into it. For an approximately 100-square-meter unit located in downtown Yihe, the down payment is around 500,000 yuan. But don’t worry. It’ll be quick. We’ll have enough money in 50 years.

Lol. This is funny considering she still argues with her brother Sang Yan over “red envelopes.”

DJ: Sure. I’ll wait for you to buy a huge house, so I can hide my mistress there.
SZ: What a headache!
DJ: Boss. (taking out a wad of bills) Keep this.
SZ: I told you I don’t need it.
DJ: I already told you. I’m depending on you now. With you around, I don’t need to save money for myself.
SZ: I spend lavishly.
DJ: Can you spend it as quickly as I earn it? Hmm?
SZ: Mmm. I guess I’ll keep it for you. However, if you need to use the money, just tell me. I’ll give it to you, okay?
DJ: (turning serious) Sang Zhi. If you’re upset about something, you can talk to me about it.
SZ: (lying because she doesn’t want him to worry) I’m not upset. I’m already happy that you came to get me.

So this is my fourth and final interpretation of the title: Sang Zhi is safeguarding Jiaxu from financial worries. She doesn’t want him to suffer alone any kind of heartache, be it from the stress of paying creditors and taking care of his father or guilt imposed by the Psycho. In the future, there’ll be one path for them, and they’ll walk it together.

Moving on to Episode 21. Hooray!