My Mr. Mermaid Episode 17 Recap
> My Mr. Mermaid Recap
Yun Duo stayed up all night at the hospital after rushing Lin Zi there, who had fainted from a high fever. When he awoke the next morning, he saw Yun Duo asleep in a chair and playfully greeted her. Yun Duo, though relieved, scolded him for neglecting his health, her concern evident in her words. Lin Zi, now feeling better, was happy to see her care, explaining he was only teasing to prevent her from worrying.
Yun Duo intended to return to work, but Lin Zi insisted on accompanying her. When she refused, he pursued her, then took her hand and placed it on his face, assuring her his fever was gone. This unexpected intimate gesture made Yun Duo uncomfortable. As they arrived at the company together, Cheng Mei observed them. Cheng Mei's suspicions about Lin Zi's true identity had grown, so she directly confronted him while he was making coffee for Yun Duo.
She questioned why James Lin, a renowned investment expert, would work as a mere assistant at their company, adding that she had overheard Director Liu addressing him by that name. Lin Zi, brushing off her inquiry, reiterated that his sole purpose for being there was Yun Duo. He then added that his objective had expanded: he liked her and intended to be with her. With that, he left Cheng Mei alone, pondering his words.
During a company meeting, Cheng Mei was visibly distracted, her gaze fixed on Lin Zi, leading Director Liu to reprimand her. When Director Liu asked Yun Duo for her proposal, she calmly outlined her idea for a long-term, documentary-style interview series focusing on Tang Yibai, spanning until the end of the Dream Cup. Initially, Director Liu expressed reservations, concerned that Tang Yibai's current popularity might not last, potentially diminishing audience interest and making such a significant investment unwise.
Yun Duo, however, had a well-thought-out solution. She suggested releasing the series weekly as an "up-close and personal" reality show. This approach would distribute the workload and costs, allowing for immediate adjustments or even termination if Tang Yibai's appeal waned or viewership dropped. Her comprehensive plan convinced Director Liu, who approved the weekly instant interview series about Tang Yibai. After the meeting, Director Liu asked Cheng Mei to stay behind.
He informed her that one of the two full-time positions for interns had already been filled by Li Hongyan, leaving only one highly competitive spot. He added that if he had to choose now, he would select Yun Duo over her. Cheng Mei’s expression changed, and she promptly vowed to redouble her efforts to regain his trust.
Shortly after, Teacher Sun assigned Yun Duo the task of interviewing Ouyang Heng from North Physical before his first qualifier for the Dream Cup. Yun Duo seemed hesitant about the additional workload. Cheng Mei stepped in, noting Yun Duo's already heavy schedule and suggesting it was too much. Surprisingly, Lin Zi volunteered to accompany Cheng Mei on the North Physical interview, explaining that Cheng Mei was more familiar with the sports line and he could learn from her.
Cheng Mei agreed, and Teacher Sun approved the new arrangement, instructing Yun Duo to focus solely on Tang Yibai's exclusive interview. Yun Duo thanked Cheng Mei for her help, and Lin Zi departed to arrange the Tang Yibai interview with the coaches at South Physical. At the swimming pool, Coach Yuan and the newly arrived Coach Fei were overseeing the team's training. Coach Wu, feeling overlooked and jealous, became particularly assertive.
He criticized Tang Yibai's swimming form, claiming it was poor, and decided to personally demonstrate in the water. However, his efforts didn't draw Coach Yuan’s attention. Coach Fei, on the other hand, appeared quite impressed with Tang Yibai. He approached Tang Yibai and offered him a walkman, suggesting he listen to the music—Beethoven's "Cannon"—while swimming.
To everyone’s surprise, Tang Yibai’s performance significantly improved; he swam with newfound calm and grace, his speed increasing effortlessly, and even the splashes he created appeared beautiful. Coach Fei later explained that Tang Yibai, despite his introverted and steady nature, lacked a consistent rhythm, and the music provided the steady tempo he needed. He added that if Tang Yibai's breathing was right, breaking the 48-second barrier for the 100-meter freestyle would be no problem.
Tang Yibai’s next attempt clocked in at 48. 02 seconds, a remarkable improvement. In the office, Coach Fei expressed his desire for Tang Yibai to join the Asia Elite Training Team. While Qi Ruifeng was already a confirmed internal candidate for the team, Coach Fei clarified that he wanted to privately select Tang Yibai, with the expectation that Tang Yibai would prove himself during the training period to gain the coaching group's full trust.
Tang Yibai questioned the coaches' initial lack of recognition for him, but Coach Fei affirmed his belief in Tang Yibai's potential, recalling an old doggerel poem that highlighted Tang Yibai’s unique talent, Ouyang Heng’s technique, and Qi Ruifeng’s confidence as the future hopes of the swimming world. Coach Fei emphasized that joining the Asia Elite Training Team would mean shifting focus from domestic competitions, including the Dream Cup, to international ones, viewing it as a "passport" to the world stage.
Tang Yibai hesitated, asking for time to consider this significant decision. Yun Duo arrived at the school to prepare for Tang Yibai's interview and found Qi Ruifeng, Ming Tian, and Lingye crowded outside a door, eavesdropping. Encouraged by Qi Ruifeng, she joined them just as Tang Yibai emerged, startling both parties. In the cafeteria, the team members discussed Tang Yibai's potential move to the Asia Elite Training Team.
Ming Tian and Lingye voiced their hopes that Tang Yibai would at least compete in the Dream Cup or graduate before leaving, emphasizing the team's reliance on him, especially for the 4x100 meter relay, which would be jeopardized without him. Xiang Yangyang countered, urging them to consider Tang Yibai's individual dreams, arguing that joining the Asia Elite Training Team was a professional aspiration for any athlete and should not be sacrificed for the team's sake.
Qi Ruifeng, usually outspoken, was uncharacteristically quiet. When pressed, he stated that Tang Yibai should make his own decision, then walked away. Everyone could see through his words, knowing he was the one most reluctant to see Tang Yibai leave. Yun Duo later met with Head Coach Yuan and Coach Wu to discuss Tang Yibai's special interview.
Coach Wu vehemently opposed the idea, expressing his long-standing disapproval of Tang Yibai's frequent interactions with reporters, fearing it would distract him from his training for the Dream Cup. Coach Fei, however, supported the initiative, believing that such a specialized interview could generate positive publicity for Tang Yibai and potentially change other coaches' perceptions of him.
Yun Duo, delighted by Coach Fei's support, then asked if she would still be able to interview Tang Yibai if he joined the Asia Elite Training Team. Coach Fei confirmed that she could, but explained that Tang Yibai would immediately travel to the United States for training, meaning the interviews would have to take place there. The sudden revelation instantly extinguished Yun Duo's previous excitement, and her expression clouded with disappointment.
