Meteor Garden 2018 Episode 8 Recap
> Meteor Garden 2018 Recap
Shancai asked Huaze Lei what was bothering him, noticing he had changed significantly since returning from Paris. Lei, leaning his head on her shoulder, admitted he was fine during the day but felt overwhelmingly lonely at night, asking her to hold him tightly for warmth. Shancai, seeing him so vulnerable for the first time, realized she still hadn't let go of her feelings for him. Lei explained that Jing didn't need him anymore.
He recounted their happy beginnings in Paris, which quickly faded as Jing became increasingly busy with her studies and law firm internship, leaving him alone and feeling like the same withdrawn child she once pulled from the shadows. He felt he couldn't do anything for the one he loved and eventually couldn't bear it any longer. He expressed regret for burdening Shancai with his feelings but thanked her for listening. Meanwhile, Daoming Si awoke in a panic, finding Shancai gone.
He rushed to Ximen and Meizuo, dragging them along to search for her. Shancai soon returned, explaining she couldn't sleep and went for a walk on the beach, forgetting her phone. Ximen teased Daoming Si for his dramatic reaction, but they all went back to sleep. The next day, Daoming Si learned that Huaze Lei had also been at the beach all night, overlapping with Shancai's presence.
News then broke online that Jing was to marry the son of the mayor of Paris within the year. While others were surprised, Lei remained calm, revealing he had known about it since he was in Paris. Shancai understood then that this news was the reason for Lei's transformation, and she felt even more sympathy for him. That night, after she thought Daoming Si was asleep, Shancai secretly returned to the beach where she found Huaze Lei.
She struggled to find the right words to comfort him, feeling awkward in her attempts. Overwhelmed by sorrow for him, Shancai began to cry, wondering why such a good person couldn't find happiness. Lei, touched by her tears and showing compassion for her, leaned in and kissed her, wiping away her tears. At that moment, Daoming Si appeared, having followed Shancai after realizing she had left. Without a word, he punched Lei.
Shancai tried to explain, but Daoming Si was too enraged to listen. He broke off his relationship with Shancai, accusing her of not being wholeheartedly devoted to him, and declared that he no longer considered Lei his friend. The following day, Daoming Si abruptly left the island. Shancai returned home in a melancholic mood. Her parents, unaware of the recent events, excitedly asked about her trip with Daoming Si and their potential romantic progress.
Shancai, however, cut them off, stating it was impossible for her and Daoming Si and asking them not to mention him again. Later, looking through Daoming Si's messages and voice notes on her phone, she felt a pang of guilt for hurting him, thinking he might have already blocked her. She rationalized that perhaps it was for the best, as they were fundamentally different people.
Elsewhere, Daoming Si vented his anger and frustration by furiously playing sports, much to the concern of Uncle Liu. Meizuo and Ximen heard whispers about Huaze Lei and Shancai, leading them to believe this was the source of Daoming Si's anger. During class, they approached Lei, questioning him about the rumors and expressing their disapproval of him pursuing Shancai, knowing Daoming Si's feelings. Lei offered no explanations, further fueling their frustration.
Daoming Si then arrived and reaffirmed his decision to cut ties with Lei, accusing him of betraying their friendship. Later, Shancai found Lei on the rooftop, where he had drawn a portrait of an angry Daoming Si on the blackboard. Shancai added to the drawing, remarking on how vividly she remembered Daoming Si's angry expression. She apologized to Lei, feeling responsible for the rift between the two friends.
Lei, however, took responsibility for the kiss, stating he acted on his desire to kiss her. He then surprisingly asked her to go on a date with him on Sunday. On Sunday, Shancai dressed up for her date with Huaze Lei. Her parents were overjoyed when Lei came to pick her up, praising his good looks. As Lei and Shancai left, her parents enthusiastically discussed their daughter's popularity. The date itself was awkward, with long silences.
Shancai attempted to initiate conversation by mentioning Jing, inadvertently striking a nerve and upsetting Lei. They decided to go to a Thai restaurant. Shancai, in her nervousness, ordered several spicy dishes, only to realize Lei didn't like spicy food. Later, she mistakenly drank from the finger bowl, which Lei found amusing. The date concluded somewhat abruptly when Shancai left for work. Shancai later confided in Xiaoyou about the awkwardness of the date. Xiaoyou inquired about her experiences with Daoming Si.
Shancai reflected, admitting that despite their frequent arguments and Daoming Si's self-righteousness, she felt more at ease with him. In contrast, with Lei, she felt a constant pressure to present her best side, leading to nervousness and an inability to relax. She pondered whether compatibility and comfort were more important in a relationship than initial sparks of attraction. The next morning, Shancai intervened when an old lady was nearly hit by a cyclist.
A short-haired woman in white clothing swiftly appeared, chastising the cyclist and insisting he take the old lady to the hospital. Noticing Shancai's injured hand, the woman insisted on taking her to her home to treat the wound. Shancai was initially reluctant, but the woman, who introduced herself as Dao Ming Zhuang, Daoming Si's older sister, was insistent. Shancai realized she was being taken to Daoming Si's house and tried to escape, fearing an encounter with him.
However, Dao Ming Zhuang, asserting her authority, prevented her from leaving and directed Uncle Liu to attend to Shancai's wound and also summon Daoming Si. While trying to find another way out, Shancai unexpectedly ran into Daoming Si, who misinterpreted her presence as an act of flaunting a new relationship.
