Meteor Garden 2018 Episode 2 Recap
> Meteor Garden 2018 Recaps
Two female classmates, seeing Shancai and Huaze Lei smiling together as they descended from the rooftop, felt a surge of jealousy. They teased Shancai about quickly getting close to Huaze Lei, implying she had a crush on him. They then informed her that Huaze Lei had had a special girl in his heart for over a decade: the beautiful school senior Teng Tangjing, who was about to return from her studies in France. Shancai felt a pang of sadness.
Later that evening, walking home alone, she unexpectedly encountered Huaze Lei. He gently cupped her face, kissed her, and told her she looked "so cute today," instantly lifting her spirits despite her confusion about his actions. The following day, Shancai bumped into Daoming Si, who sported a new haircut. Shancai playfully asked about his former "pineapple haircut."
Daoming Si, clearly sensitive about her previous teasing but unwilling to admit it, insisted he changed his hairstyle purely because he wanted to, not due to her comments. He boasted that with his "handsome face," he would be "charming" regardless of his hairstyle. Shancai scoffed, retorting that he was "not charming from head to toe." Their usual bickering was cut short by the arrival of the entire F4, who were excitedly waiting. Teng Tangjing had returned.
Daoming Si immediately abandoned Shancai to greet her, while Huaze Lei's face also lit up with visible joy. Observing the elegant and beautiful Teng Tangjing, Shancai felt like an "ugly duckling," realizing that this was the girl Huaze Lei loved and that they belonged to completely different worlds. That night, F4 gathered with Teng Tangjing for dinner. While everyone else was cheerful, Huaze Lei appeared unusually quiet.
When prompted, he confronted Teng Tangjing about a series of "vulgar photos" she had taken, clearly expressing his disapproval. Teng Tangjing, however, found the photos quite appealing. Huaze Lei insisted he disliked them, stating she was "different from those vulgar women." Pleased by his concern, Teng Tangjing embraced him. Shancai, reflecting on the day's events, resolved to stop fantasizing about men like Huaze Lei and to distance herself from F4.
Daoming Si attempted to talk to Shancai, but she ignored him, choosing instead to cheerfully study and joke with Chen Qinghe, even sharing a bento box her mother had prepared. Shancai told Daoming Si that the happiness she shared with Chen Qinghe was "priceless" and something he "wouldn't understand." Annoyed by their closeness, Daoming Si sent a Joker card not only to Shancai again but also to Chen Qinghe.
Outraged that he would involve her friend, Shancai confronted Daoming Si, but he remained unrepentant. Chen Qinghe, surprisingly, was thrilled, believing it was a sign of F4's respect and an invitation to friendship. He eagerly anticipated challenging Daoming Si, despite Shancai's warnings about the inherent dangers. When Shancai and Chen Qinghe hesitated to accept the challenge, Daoming Si publicly branded them "cowards."
In the cafeteria, Daoming Si orchestrated an incident where a student deliberately bumped into Shancai, causing her to spill food all over herself and fall. Daoming Si then taunted her, expressing his immense pleasure at seeing her in such a "sorry and pitiful state." Unable to bear the sight, Huaze Lei intervened, taking Shancai's hand to lead her away. However, Daoming Si also grabbed Shancai, resulting in a painful tug-of-war.
Shancai cried out in pain, prompting Daoming Si to finally release her, allowing Huaze Lei to escort her out. Daoming Si threatened Huaze Lei, stating that if he took Shancai away, he should never speak to him again. Teng Tangjing gently led the disheveled Shancai to the restroom to clean up. She offered Shancai a clean set of her own clothes and shoes, emphasizing that girls should always strive to be "clean and beautiful."
As Shancai changed, she gazed at Teng Tangjing, feeling only admiration for her beauty and kindness. She thought to herself that anyone would love such a beautiful, kind, and elegant girl, finally understanding why Huaze Lei was so fond of her. Teng Tangjing mentioned that this was the first time she had seen Huaze Lei so emotional, suggesting that Shancai must be very important to him.
Shancai, however, dismissed the idea, stating that Huaze Lei liked Teng Tangjing, and asked if Teng Tangjing liked him in return. Later, Shancai and Chen Qinghe were walking home when Shancai suddenly fainted, revealing she was unwell. She took a few days off school to recover. To her surprise, Daoming Si visited her at home, bearing gifts. Her parents were immediately charmed by his handsome looks and polite demeanor, enthusiastically welcoming him and inviting him to stay for dinner.
Shancai was utterly bewildered by his uncharacteristic calm and politeness. During dinner, Shancai tried to subtly dissuade him by mentioning their simple home-cooked food and her mother's supposedly "fierce" personality. However, Daoming Si remained unperturbed, even complimenting her mother's cooking, particularly the "fried eel fillets with soy sauce," and diligently finished his meal. Her parents, oblivious to Shancai's attempts, dismissed her comments as fever-induced ramblings or shyness. After dinner, compelled by her parents, Shancai escorted Daoming Si outside.
She fully expected him to drop his polite facade, assuming he had an ulterior motive for his visit. However, Daoming Si genuinely checked her temperature before surprising her with an invitation to Hawaii for the upcoming seven-day National Day holiday. Shancai quickly refused, citing her lack of funds and her pre-existing plans with Chen Qinghe to visit his family's luxurious seaside villa in Sanya, where they could enjoy surfing, diving, and fresh seafood.
Daoming Si was visibly displeased by her refusal, but a sudden idea sparked in his mind as he departed. Upon returning home, Daoming Si overheard his butler mentioning his scheduled trip to Hawaii. He abruptly canceled his Hawaii plans, having decided to travel to Sanya instead.
Meanwhile, Shancai and Chen Qinghe arrived in Sanya, where Chen Qinghe proudly showed her his family's impressive villa, pointing out a "golden chandelier" that he claimed was identical to one owned by a famous entrepreneur. He also mentioned that the villa was rented out as a homestay on a rental app when not in use. Later, they went to the docks, where Chen Qinghe showed her his family's small yacht.
They decided to take it out for a spin, but to their dismay, the engine wouldn't start. Just then, a much larger, luxurious yacht approached, carrying Daoming Si and the rest of F4. Chen Qinghe enthusiastically waved at them, while Shancai tried to make a discreet exit, but Daoming Si quickly intercepted them. He mocked Chen Qinghe's small boat, sarcastically calling it a "fishing boat."
Teng Tangjing then intervened, inviting both Shancai and Chen Qinghe to their evening party, assuring Shancai that with her presence, Daoming Si "wouldn't make trouble." As Teng Tangjing helped Shancai prepare for the party, Shancai couldn't help but admire her beauty, feeling no envy, only genuine admiration, believing that Teng Tangjing was truly deserving of Huaze Lei's affection. She cautiously asked Teng Tangjing if Daoming Si and Huaze Lei had reconciled.
Teng Tangjing replied that they hadn't yet, but she was confident that their long-standing friendship and personalities would ensure their reconciliation would not take long. She then gave Shancai a small gift and reiterated her invitation to her birthday party the following week, again assuring Shancai that she was welcome to bring any friends along.
