Meteor Garden 2018 Episode 36 Recap
> Meteor Garden 2018 Recap
Huaze Lei intentionally teased Daoming Si, who was eager for Lei to ask about his relationship with Shancai. Daoming Si pressed Lei, insisting he ask how he was doing, even though Lei already knew from Ximen, Meizuo, and Xiaozizi. Lei finally relented, asking Daoming Si about his situation with Shancai. Daoming Si happily announced that he and Shancai were officially together. The F4 friends then raised their glasses, toasting to Daoming Si's new relationship status.
Later, Shancai found Huaze Lei on the rooftop. She asked him when he returned to Shanghai and how his family was, expressing happiness that he was back and would continue preparing for his concert. Lei acknowledged that he was doing well. He then asked Shancai about her relationship with Daoming Si, admitting his feelings were complex. He felt a mix of happiness and loneliness, describing Shancai as having a special meaning to him, like a pet.
He quickly corrected himself, saying they should all be happy, and that as she was his best friend's girlfriend, they could be friends forever. As Lei left to practice the violin, Shancai confessed that she used to like him, realizing her first love had ended and transformed into friendship. Meanwhile, Meizuo and Ximen were at a bar. Meizuo asked Ximen about his work, noting that Ximen had been solely managing the tea ceremony events since his father stepped down.
Meizuo also expressed his own increased stress from managing entire projects, with demanding details. He then brought up Xiaoyou, acknowledging her courage but questioning Ximen's intentions towards her. Ximen denied any interest, stating he didn't want to provoke Shancai's temper and receive her "flying kick." Meizuo observed Ximen's recent reserved behavior and fewer dates, comparing Xiaoyou to a potent "fruit wine with a strong aftertaste."
Meizuo, having learned about "sacrifice" in love from his own experience with Sister Caina, tried to convey the importance of responsibility in a relationship, which Ximen found amusing and noted he'd never heard Meizuo speak of "sacrifice" before. Meizuo then left for his own date. A woman approached Ximen, but he politely declined her offer to drink, stating he had something to do. Alone in her apartment that night, Shancai found herself thinking of Daoming Si.
She then heard strange noises. Growing alert, she called Daoming Si, but only managed a scream before checking the living room. Daoming Si, hearing her scream, immediately rushed to her apartment. The police arrived, informing Shancai that although the thief hadn't succeeded, they might return, advising her to lock her doors and windows and call 110 if anything suspicious occurred. After the police left, Shancai, still shaken, heard knocking at the door.
Believing the thief had returned, she grabbed a frying pan, only to find Daoming Si standing there. He pulled her into a hug, expressing immense worry. Daoming Si suggested she move to a safer, better apartment or even stay at his place. Shancai, however, insisted on staying in her own home, though she appreciated his concern. As it was late, Daoming Si could not stay the night.
Shancai asked him to go home, and he reluctantly left, but instead of returning home, he stood guard in an alleyway near her building. The next day, Shancai recounted the events to Xiaoyou at the tea shop. Xiaoyou, showing a surprising change in demeanor, asked Shancai if she and Daoming Si had been intimate. Xiaoyou explained that she believed liking someone naturally led to wanting to give everything for them.
Shancai was taken aback by Xiaoyou's newfound boldness, jokingly wondering if Ximen had enchanted her. Just then, Ximen called Xiaoyou, inviting her out. Excited, Xiaoyou immediately agreed, asking Shancai to cover for her at work and hastily applying a "catch men color" lipstick. Shancai observed Xiaoyou's radiant happiness, noticing a faint pink glow around her, as if she was about to float. Ximen and Xiaoyou met at a Western restaurant.
Their conversation initially revolved around Daoming Si and Shancai, before moving to themselves. Ximen presented Xiaoyou with a specially customized dessert titled "You Are the Most Beautiful Tonight," featuring the numbers "1573." Xiaoyou, touched, initially thought it symbolized "deep affection," but Ximen clarified that it was his hotel room number. Later that night, Shancai returned home to find lights on in the previously unoccupied apartment next door.
Curious about her new neighbor, she approached and noticed a key left in the door. She called out, but no one answered. As she turned to leave, Daoming Si emerged from the apartment, revealing that he had rented it to be her neighbor. He explained it was a "secret mission" to protect a "national treasure pig" (referring to Shancai) from potential attacks.
Shancai expressed concern about him, a spoiled young master, living in such a humble, damp place, but he insisted it was to be there for her immediately if she was in danger, claiming he charmed the landlord with his good looks. Shancai was deeply moved by his dedication. Both of them found themselves sleepless that night.
Shancai was touched by Daoming Si's feelings, while Daoming Si, uncomfortable with the poor living conditions, gained a deeper understanding of the environment Shancai grew up in, and her tenacious personality. Daoming Si contemplated going to Shancai's apartment but decided against it, fearing she might misunderstand his intentions. Shancai, also wanting to express her gratitude, hesitated to knock on his door, worried she might appear too casual. Meanwhile, Ximen and Xiaoyou were in Ximen's hotel room. Xiaoyou was visibly trembling.
Ximen, noticing her fear, told her not to force herself, stating he wasn't interested in a shaking girl. Xiaoyou, however, asserted that she was there because she cherished their connection and was willing to cooperate in any way that made him happy, asking for patience for her initial nervousness and promising to do better next time. Ximen was surprised that his attempt to scare her off had failed, noting her unexpected resilience.
He then cautioned her not to believe in love, calling it regret. After paying for the room, he abruptly left, telling her she was free to stay or leave. Xiaoyou was left alone, grappling with why loved ones couldn't always be together. Later, Shancai and Daoming Si both coincidentally stepped out of their apartments into the small courtyard, claiming they were just getting some fresh air. Their faces, however, betrayed their surprise and delight at seeing each other.
Daoming Si asked for a hug before he went back. He then revealed that he had been secretly visiting her from 1 AM to 5 AM every night, but his family's bodyguards had discovered his movements. Just then, Shancai received a call from Daoming Si's sister, Zhuang, who warned her that Daoming Si was being closely monitored by bodyguards sent by their mother, and that some of them were now at Shancai's doorstep.
Shancai relayed this information to Daoming Si, telling him to meet her in the corridor. Together, he and Shancai devised a plan: Daoming Si would distract the bodyguard captain at his own residence while Shancai would sneak into his house through a back door, the location of which was known only to the F4 members. They felt as if they were embarking on a secret military operation.
