My Mr. Mermaid Episode 16 Recap
> My Mr. Mermaid Recap
Tang Yibai’s recent victory propelled him to fame, making Yun Duo’s previous interviews with him highly sought after. At work, Yun Duo learned that the entertainment sector had chosen Tang Yibai as their headline, with many people, even those typically uninterested in sports, now captivated by him and imitating his actions online.
Director Liu personally informed Yun Duo that her past footage of Tang Yibai, captured for a South Physical University special report, was invaluable because it offered rich material from his comeback. Director Liu instructed Yun Duo to re-edit and organize this content, emphasizing Tang Yibai’s calm demeanor in the face of criticism and his belief that performance is the most effective rebuttal.
He stressed the importance of adding an "exclusive" tag and preparing a comprehensive series report proposal centered on Tang Yibai for the next day's meeting, predicting Tang Yibai's strong rise to popularity. Yun Duo was ecstatic, her colleague even exclaiming that being ranked third was the peak of her career, prompting Yun Duo to try and compose herself. Tang Yibai's mother, eager to understand his feelings, visited his school and directly questioned him about his relationship with Yun Duo.
She openly expressed her fondness for Yun Duo, offering to actively help if Tang Yibai had romantic interest, even suggesting they could work together and make Yun Duo his wife. However, Tang Yibai firmly maintained that he and Yun Duo were just friends, asserting that his primary focus was his swimming career and that he would not pursue a romantic relationship before achieving his competitive goals.
Undeterred, his mother playfully threatened to introduce Yun Duo to his cousin, Liang Lingchen, reasoning that if he truly had no feelings for Yun Duo and they were merely friends, then such a good girl shouldn't be allowed to "end up in another person's family" without her intervention. She hoped this tactic would compel Tang Yibai to admit his feelings. Meanwhile, Qi Ruifeng attempted to fix a broken light bulb in the resting room by himself.
Xiang Yangyang saw him and offered assistance. He tried to apologize to her for their previous street encounter, but struggled to articulate his words, fumbling to say that most girls wouldn't carry ladders and fix light bulbs themselves. Xiang Yangyang, misinterpreting his comments as criticism, grew increasingly frustrated, accusing him of blaming her for being a "tomboy." She then sarcastically apologized for being self-sufficient and "like a boy," before storming off.
Qi Ruifeng, left alone, could only comment on her "manly" demeanor, while others lauded Xiang Yangyang's actions. Later, Qi Ruifeng called Tang Yibai, relaying the "bad news" that Tang Mom was indeed setting up Yun Duo with his cousin, Liang Lingchen, implying that Tang Yibai needed to intervene. Tang Yibai initially dismissed it as a mere tactic to pressure him, confident his mother wouldn't genuinely introduce Yun Duo to someone else given her fondness for her.
However, Qi Ruifeng insisted that this time, Tang Mom was serious, revealing he had already helped her book a "VIP lovers' meal course" for that very evening. He then extolled Liang Lingchen's virtues—handsome, a surgeon, and active in medical community service—calling him a "match made in heaven" for a morally upright girl like Yun Duo, and claiming he couldn't find a reason why Yun Duo wouldn't like him.
This information visibly agitated Tang Yibai, who abruptly announced he was returning to his dorm to do English homework. Immediately after Tang Yibai left, Qi Ruifeng called Tang Mom, confirming his mission was accomplished and that Tang Yibai would "definitely show up."
True to her word, that evening, Tang Mom approached Yun Duo at home, expressing concern that Yun Duo was sacrificing her youth for work and excitedly offering to introduce her to a potential boyfriend, asking about her weekend availability. Yun Duo, initially hesitant, politely declined, stating she wasn't ready to date. Tang Mom, however, persisted, expressing her deep affection for Yun Duo and admitting she had even hoped to set Yun Duo and Tang Yibai up herself.
She then reasoned that while Tang Yibai was entirely focused on swimming, Yun Duo's youth, much like a swimmer's golden period, was fleeting. Tang Mom passionately encouraged Yun Duo to "seize this opportunity and be in charge of her destiny" by experiencing the "taste, romance, and wonderfulness" of love.
Though Yun Duo reiterated her lack of a current dating interest, Tang Mom convinced her to view the introduction simply as a chance to meet a new friend over dinner, which Yun Duo eventually agreed to. As expected, Tang Yibai, agitated by the news, rushed home. Upon his arrival, his mother reiterated that Yun Duo was out of his reach for the evening, as she had a dinner date with his cousin, Lingchen.
Tang Yibai confronted his mother, questioning her motives for arranging the date. His mother cleverly used his past words against him, reminding him that he had claimed competitions were his priority and he wouldn't date until he achieved success. She dared him to admit regret for his words, asserting that Yun Duo, like a cloud, was floating away. Tang Yibai feigned regret, only to immediately retract it, revealing he knew his mother's "little tricks."
Seeing Yun Duo dressed elegantly for the occasion, Tang Yibai decided to accompany them, claiming it would make the first meeting less awkward, a suggestion Tang Mom happily endorsed, urging him to take good care of Yun Duo. However, driven by a hidden agenda, Tang Yibai then subtly sabotaged Yun Duo's outfit. He advised her to change from her white dress, which he claimed was too formal and unlike his cousin's preference for "natural beauty."
He suggested she wear her usual jeans, wipe off her makeup, and remove her jewelry, assuring her that men prefer a more understated look. Despite Yun Duo's hesitation, mentioning that Tang Mom had chosen the outfit, Tang Yibai insisted that "girls don't understand guys" and persuaded her to change into her everyday clothes. At the agreed-upon location, Liang Lingchen, a tall and handsome man, arrived. He greeted Yun Duo warmly, commenting on how beautiful her name sounded.
Tang Yibai immediately took charge, embracing his cousin tightly and then subtly maneuvering Yun Duo and himself into the back seat of the car, seemingly to keep Yun Duo from interacting too much with Liang Lingchen. During dinner, Yun Duo noted the formal setting, feeling out of place in her casual clothes and playfully accusing Tang Yibai of "messing" with her, though he denied it.
While Yun Duo and Lingchen chatted about his work as a Cardiac surgeon, Tang Yibai felt excluded. To recapture Yun Duo's attention, he folded a cute paper bunny, though Yun Duo jokingly said it looked more like a bird. When Yun Duo stepped away to take a call, Lingchen probed Tang Yibai about his romantic life. Tang Yibai admitted he didn't have a girlfriend but confessed that a particular girl constantly occupied his thoughts.
He described her captivating eyes and beautiful smile, adding that she inspired him to train harder, and that he never wanted to disappoint her. Lingchen smiled knowingly, implicitly understanding who Tang Yibai was referring to. Lingchen then offered to drive them home, but Tang Yibai insisted on taking Yun Duo back himself. As they walked home, Tang Yibai voiced his concern about his swimming performance, but Yun Duo immediately reassured him, proclaiming him "the best."
Tang Yibai looked at her, a gentle smile spreading across his face, his gaze fixed on her. He felt a surge of inner strength, knowing he wanted to work even harder for her, no matter what, to ensure he would never disappoint her. As they continued, Yun Duo noticed the path was unusually dark and deserted, questioning if they were on the wrong way.
Tang Yibai, feigning seriousness, claimed that the area was once bustling but that "something happened" one "dark and stormy night," causing over a hundred people from seventy households to suddenly disappear. When Yun Duo, frightened and curious, pressed for an explanation, Tang Yibai leaned in close and whispered, revealing the truth: the houses had been demolished, and everyone had simply moved away.
Realizing she had been tricked, Yun Duo jokingly admonished him for scaring her, but Tang Yibai affectionately ruffled her hair, teasing her for being so easily startled. Suddenly, a drunken man appeared, loudly demanding money to buy alcohol. Frightened, Tang Yibai and Yun Duo fled in a panic, only to trip over a stack of goods, sending them both tumbling.
In a protective instinct, Tang Yibai instinctively shielded Yun Duo, bearing the brunt of the fall and sustaining a severe arm abrasion. Back home, Yun Duo tearfully helped Tang Yibai bandage his injured arm, worried about his future as a national athlete. She expressed her concern that he shouldn't get hurt protecting her given his potential. Tang Yibai, looking into her eyes, pressed her on whether her worry stemmed solely from his athletic career.
Yun Duo struggled to articulate her true feelings, finally sobbing that it wasn't just about his career; she simply couldn't imagine being without him, though she hesitated before concluding he was her "friend." Seeing Yun Duo's emotional vulnerability, Tang Yibai gently wiped away her tears, his face slowly approaching hers as if to kiss her. At that tender moment, Tang Mom appeared, having witnessed the entire scene with delight.
She playfully encouraged them to continue their romantic moment, expressing her love for "watching romance dramas" and praising their perfect pairing, before happily leaving them alone. Later, Yun Duo walked Tang Yibai to his team. She wanted to ensure he got there safely despite his injury, but he insisted she return home to rest after her own scare. As they stood at the intersection, their lingering gazes conveyed a profound reluctance to part, their emotions intensifying.
The next morning, the swimming team, including Qi Ruifeng, began their training under Coach Wu. Qi Ruifeng, still struggling to reconcile with Xiang Yangyang, complained to a teammate, expressing his bewilderment over her unforgiving nature and how he had been startled by seeing her in a dress, given her typically masculine demeanor. His complaints intensified when Head Coach Yuan, usually known for her commanding presence, arrived wearing a flowing long dress, shocking everyone, especially Coach Wu, who was visibly captivated.
Another man, Coach Fei Yu, the Head Coach of the Asia Elite Training Team, accompanied her. Head Coach Yuan introduced him, explaining she had specifically invited him to conduct a two-week special training program for the team in preparation for the upcoming Dream Cup. Coach Fei Yu then introduced himself, emphasizing that swimming is a sport that demands continuous effort.
Qi Ruifeng, unimpressed, questioned Coach Fei Yu's reputation, going on to accuse him of having a "special terrifying skill" where he takes credit for others' hard work, calling him "shameless." Coach Wu, observing Head Coach Yuan's admiring gaze towards Coach Fei Yu, clearly showed signs of jealousy. Later, at the company, Yun Duo was diligently working late into the night. Lin Zi remained by her side, bringing her dinner.
Yun Duo urged him to go home and not wait for her, but he insisted on staying. Finally, when Yun Duo completed her tasks and turned around, she discovered Lin Zi asleep at his desk. She gently woke him, but he seemed disoriented and unsteady on his feet. Yun Duo, initially amused, then touched his forehead and realized he had a high fever.
