Meteor Garden 2018 Episode 20 Recap
> Meteor Garden 2018 Recaps
Shancai's parents were surprised by an unannounced visit from Daoming Feng, Daoming Si's mother. Initially trying to be polite, Shancai's mother proudly spoke about Shancai's achievements, including winning a special award in a cooking competition. She even tried to pitch a financial investment opportunity to Daoming Feng. However, Daoming Feng quickly got to the point, stating that while Shancai was ambitious and dedicated to her son, she would not let her "give up for nothing."
She then presented a check for five million yuan, explicitly telling Shancai's family to have Shancai stay away from Daoming Si. Daoming Feng elaborated that Daoming Si was destined to manage the entire Daoming Group, and Shancai, with her humble background running a small business, was an "obstacle" in his path. She warned that if Shancai continued to "cling" to him, she would be the one to get hurt.
Infuriated by this humiliation, Shancai's mother, declaring she wouldn't allow anyone to insult her daughter, poured a bowl of flour over Daoming Feng's head. Shancai's father also made a show of threatening to splash water. Daoming Feng and her assistant, covered in flour, left in a huff, retrieving the rejected check. Shancai, witnessing her parents' fierce defense of her dignity, was overjoyed, feeling invincible with such a "strong role model" of a mother.
Her mother, however, playfully admitted that for "five hundred million," she might reconsider, quickly adding that a son-in-law as handsome and loving as Daoming Si couldn't be bought for any price. Meanwhile, Daoming Si was blissfully admiring the cookies Shancai had made for him, finding them precious even though they were "ugly" and abstract. He showed them to his friends, Meizuo and Ximen, proudly pointing out how each one resembled him.
The friends teased him about his relationship with Shancai, questioning if he was truly a man for only having "porridge"—meaning they only watched stars and kissed—with her after all this time. Daoming Si defended their progress, emphasizing his affection. Elsewhere, Daoming Feng, vexed by Shancai's family's unyielding stance, decided it was time to accelerate her plan to arrange Daoming Si's marriage. She instructed her assistant to immediately contact the other family.
At her part-time job in a bubble tea shop, Shancai was venting to her friend Xiaoyou about Daoming Feng's outrageous offer. Suddenly, Daoming Feng's assistant arrived, handing Shancai an invitation to meet Daoming Feng at a VIP room in the Maple Hotel that afternoon. Shancai, suspecting foul play but determined to face it, bravely accepted the summons, mentally preparing herself for whatever Daoming Feng had in store.
At the hotel, Daoming Feng had orchestrated a blind date for Daoming Si with a young woman named Xiaozizi, the daughter of a wealthy family in the oil and mineral resources business. Both Daoming Si and Xiaozizi had been tricked into attending; Daoming Si was told his sister was returning, and Xiaozizi was simply dragged there without her phone. They immediately began bickering, each expressing their disdain for the setup and the other person. Shancai then entered the room.
Daoming Feng, with a triumphant air, announced that Shancai was there to "witness" Daoming Si and Xiaozizi's future marriage, then proceeded to praise Xiaozizi's beauty, talent, and suitability for Daoming Si, asking Shancai if she agreed they were a perfect match. Hurt and overwhelmed, Shancai numbly affirmed her agreement, stating she was happy for Daoming Si. Angered by Shancai's words and his mother's manipulation, Daoming Si declared he would never marry Xiaozizi.
He tried to pull Shancai away from the room, but in his haste, he mistakenly grabbed Xiaozizi's hand instead. Daoming Feng reprimanded them for their childish behavior. As Daoming Si pulled Xiaozizi out, her shoe fell off. Realizing his mistake, Daoming Si tried to abandon Xiaozizi, but she clung to him, barefoot and without money or phone. She demanded he either give her money or take her home.
Daoming Si called her a "monkey" for climbing on him, but she retaliated by biting his ear. His face turning red, Daoming Si fled, leaving Xiaozizi alone but intrigued by his reaction. Left alone, Shancai felt a wave of sadness, believing Daoming Si genuinely liked Xiaozizi. Daoming Si tried calling her all night to explain, but Shancai, upset, ignored his calls and even threw her phone into the refrigerator.
The next day at school, a visibly dejected Daoming Si was asked by his friends if he had quarreled with Shancai again. Shancai then approached him, sarcastically congratulating him on his engagement. Daoming Si insisted he had pulled the wrong person, mistaking Xiaozizi for her in the moment. Shancai, however, dismissed his explanation, pointing out their clear physical differences and accusing him of liking "tall, slim, beautiful girls." She stormed off, feeling foolish for getting involved.
Later, F4 discussed Daoming Si's somber mood and the "Xiaozizi" situation. Daoming Si described Xiaozizi as a "monkey" who bites ears, confirming his red face from the previous day. While walking around campus, still fuming, Shancai unexpectedly ran into Xiaozizi. Xiaozizi, who was there specifically to "get revenge" on Daoming Si for abandoning her barefoot the day before, recognized Shancai from the hotel.
Unaware of Shancai's true feelings or her connection to Daoming Si, Xiaozizi poured out her grievances, wondering if Daoming Si might even like men. As F4 approached, Xiaozizi boldly confronted Daoming Si, declaring her intention to "train" him as his fiancée, playfully referencing his blushing from her ear bite. Feeling a pang of jealousy, Shancai tried to distance herself, but Xiaozizi followed, insisting on becoming friends.
Over coffee, Xiaozizi confessed her loneliness as an only child and her initial impression of Daoming Si: irritable but "cute." She admitted she was genuinely interested in marrying him. She probed Shancai about her past crushes, to which Shancai vaguely described Huaze Lei as "silly, doesn't talk much, likes to sleep." Then, Xiaozizi directly asked if Daoming Si had ever liked Shancai, and more pointedly, if he had ever said he "only" liked her.
Shancai's hesitation fueled Xiaozizi's conviction that Daoming Si might be a "playboy." Seizing the opportunity, Xiaozizi proposed a "cooperation": Shancai would help her pursue Daoming Si. If Daoming Si remained indifferent to Xiaozizi, it would prove his unwavering love for Shancai. If he fell for Xiaozizi, it would confirm he was a "playboy," and they would both abandon him. Shancai, despite feeling overwhelmed by Daoming Feng's influence, reluctantly agreed to the plan.
Later, Shancai sought solace on the school rooftop, feeling a deep sadness and the immense pressure from Daoming Feng. Huaze Lei found her there, noting her unusual despair. He gently reminded her of the depth of Daoming Si's feelings for her and their shared past, urging her to have confidence in herself and their relationship. Shancai, however, expressed her feeling of powerlessness against Daoming Feng.
That evening, Shancai returned home to find Daoming Si waiting for her, having been there all afternoon. He angrily demanded to know where she had been and why she hadn't answered his calls. Shancai coldly informed him that she had spent the afternoon with his fiancée, Xiaozizi. She then praised Xiaozizi, describing her as cute, simple, thoughtful, with a good figure and manners, and concluded that Xiaozizi was a much better match for him.
Tearfully, Shancai advised Daoming Si to follow his mother's wishes and be with Xiaozizi, stating it would make "everyone happier." Daoming Si was utterly devastated by her words, feeling deeply betrayed. He had believed their love could overcome the differences in their backgrounds and his mother's opposition, but Shancai's pronouncement left him heartbroken. Soaked in the rain, he returned home and furiously punched his punching bag, releasing his intense anger and disappointment.
Witnessing Daoming Si's profound despair, Meizuo and Ximen decided they needed to intervene. They planned to "handle" Xiaozizi to prevent her from further complicating things for Daoming Si and Shancai, hoping to clear the path for the couple. Huaze Lei, however, expressed reservations, believing their interference might only make things more complicated. Undeterred, Meizuo and Ximen proceeded to engage Xiaozizi.
She proved to be a handful, making Ximen try to win a non-existent "Lord Durian" doll from a claw machine and demanding a "laughing durian" doll, while Meizuo was tasked with buying all the C-cup bras in a store, only for Xiaozizi to demand limited-edition ones and insist he try them on.
Frustrated but desperate, Meizuo and Ximen tried to keep her distracted, but Xiaozizi soon grew bored and threatened to seek out Daoming Si, forcing them to continue their antics. Meanwhile, Shancai was struggling at her cafe job, still wrestling with her emotions, telling herself she should be happy for Daoming Si and Xiaozizi. She had another encounter with Xiaozizi, who was still pursuing Daoming Si and again questioned if he still liked Shancai, expressing her insecurity about Daoming Si's emotional distance.
