My Mr. Mermaid Episode 2 Recap
> My Mr. Mermaid Recap
At the company, Yun Duo was passionately discussing Tang Yibai's past with Teacher Sun, who finally conceded to her persistence. At the company, Teacher Sun had dismissed Tang Yibai as an insignificant competitor, emphasizing that only the "Four Swim Stars" — Ding Liangjian, Lin Haoyang, Qi Ruifeng, and Ouyang Heng — were truly newsworthy.
Yun Duo, however, firmly believed Tang Yibai was an exclusive story, citing her research into his excellent performance before he was eighteen, followed by a mysterious four-year disappearance from swimming after passing an Asian Elite Training Team trial. She called this period a "blank," a story waiting to be told. Teacher Sun, seeing her determination, eventually agreed to investigate after the competition.
Earlier, Yun Duo's internship standing had dropped significantly, from seventh to twelfth out of thirteen, because Director Liu found out she broke the camera. Teacher Sun, despite being frustrated, still believed in her potential and urged her to secure an exclusive story to save her position, even giving her his own camera. Together, they hurried to the swimming pool, where the Four Major Physical Education Colleges were holding a joint warm-up match.
The highlight of the event was the Men's 4x100m Mixed Relay, featuring Qi Ruifeng. When Yun Duo and Teacher Sun arrived at the packed swimming venue, the race had already begun. They quickly made their way to the media area. The atmosphere was electric. Tang Yibai and Qi Ruifeng were both anchor swimmers for their respective provincial teams. The competition had reached a fever pitch, yet both swimmers appeared calm and confident.
Teacher Sun explained that for these major colleges, winning was secondary; the warm-up match was primarily a rehearsal for the Dream Cup, allowing younger swimmers to gain experience and teams to gauge their opponents' strengths. He also pointed out Ouyang Ji, the CEO of Jisu, a leading sports brand, speculating he might be looking for a new spokesperson.
In the first two legs, Qi Ruifeng's team maintained a slight lead, which widened to a quarter body length by the third leg. The race then entered its thrilling final leg. Qi Ruifeng executed a perfect dive, and Tang Yibai, like an arrow released from a bow, fiercely pursued him. Spectators were amazed that Tang Yibai's speed matched Qi Ruifeng's.
Despite their similar speeds, the quarter body length lead established by Qi Ruifeng's team in the earlier legs made Tang Yibai's chances of winning seem slim. Yun Duo watched Tang Yibai, silently praying for him, feeling a pang of disappointment. Just as everyone believed the outcome was predetermined, Tang Yibai suddenly accelerated, entering the most intense part of the race. Yun Duo watched as the gap between Tang Yibai and Qi Ruifeng incrementally closed.
In a flash, the race concluded with both swimmers touching the wall almost simultaneously. Yun Duo, whose eyes never left them, couldn't discern who was faster. Everyone anxiously awaited the electronic results. The final results were displayed, stunning the entire stadium: Tang Yibai had won by a mere 20 milliseconds, leading his team to an unexpected victory. Yun Duo was ecstatic. After seeing the results, Qi Ruifeng and Tang Yibai high-fived, showing no animosity despite the outcome.
From the awards podium, Lin Zi observed Tang Yibai, lost in his thoughts. After the awards ceremony, Teacher Sun instructed Yun Duo to interview Qi Ruifeng while he interviewed Tang Yibai. Unwilling to interview Qi Ruifeng, Yun Duo deliberately moved slowly, joining the crowd of reporters surrounding him. Qi Ruifeng immediately recognized her and offered her the first question.
Yun Duo seized the opportunity, asking him pointedly how it felt to lose a race that his team was expected to win. Qi Ruifeng's expression darkened, and he flatly refused to answer, redirecting the question to another reporter while Yun Duo mumbled about his "short-circuited brain." Yun Duo then left the group interviewing Qi Ruifeng, as she preferred to see how Tang Yibai was doing.
Just as she suspected, reporters were grilling Tang Yibai about his whereabouts for the past four years. Tang Yibai gave measured responses until a male reporter loudly accused him of a four-year suspension due to doping. The word "doping" sent a ripple of shock through the crowd. Yun Duo noticed Tang Yibai's eyes dimming and his smile fading, knowing that doping was an athlete's ultimate disgrace.
Unable to bear seeing Tang Yibai bullied, she stepped forward, demanding the reporter provide concrete evidence for his accusation. The reporter retorted that a positive drug test and suspension were facts enough. Yun Duo, however, eloquently countered that a positive drug test didn't necessarily imply intentional doping, citing cases of accidental food contamination or misprescribed medication in international sports. She firmly demanded conclusive proof. Tang Yibai, quietly observing Yun Duo's spirited defense, felt his dark eyes brighten.
He then addressed all the reporters, confirming his suspension due to a failed drug test but vehemently denying ever taking performance-enhancing drugs, vowing never to do so. Coach Wu arrived, dispersed the reporters, and led Tang Yibai away. As Yun Duo and Teacher Sun left the venue, feeling a mix of disappointment and exhaustion, Tang Yibai caught up to them.
He sincerely thanked Yun Duo for defending him when he was cornered, then presented her with the flowers he was holding. Shortly after, Qi Ruifeng and other teammates arrived, also pressing flowers into Yun Duo's hands. Yun Duo, laden with bouquets, left the swimming complex. On the way home, Teacher Sun chastised Yun Duo for speaking up for Tang Yibai, warning her that taking sides would alienate fellow reporters and compromise her professionalism.
He emphasized that a journalist's role is to ask questions and record responses, not to act as an athlete's advocate. Yun Duo acknowledged her impulsiveness, promising to be more objective next time. Teacher Sun, while recognizing her potential, also pointed out her "fatal flaws": being too stubborn and judgmental, stressing the importance of trust with interviewees for "truthful reports" without "using" them. As Yun Duo diligently jotted down his advice, she inadvertently dropped her wallet.
Lin Zi, who was walking behind them, picked it up. On the bus, Yun Duo realized she had no money. Lin Zi, having followed her, paid her fare. He then playfully took a flower from her bouquet, claiming it as repayment. Lin Zi disembarked first, secretly taking a photo of Yun Duo, who found the kind stranger quite peculiar.
Meanwhile, Coach Wu was admonishing Tang Yibai for his terse answers during the interview, reminding him that such an attitude could alienate many reporters. They then discussed the four-year doping incident. Coach Wu emphatically assured Tang Yibai that what happened four years ago was not his fault, urging him not to let the reporters' questions affect his mood.
He reminded Tang Yibai that unlike Qi Ruifeng, who had a Dream Cup gold medal, Tang Yibai had yet to prove himself since his return. Tang Yibai lightheartedly nicknamed him "Big Aunt Wu" for his nagging. Coach Wu reiterated his belief in Tang Yibai's innocence, stating that time and Tang Yibai's future achievements would prove his capabilities were earned through hard training.
Tang Yibai's initial smile faded, replaced by a look of sorrow, clearly pained by the memory of the past four years that had nearly destroyed his swimming career. He called out to Coach Wu, expressing his deep gratitude for the immense support that had allowed him to return to swimming. Coach Wu simply told him to show his thanks through his achievements.
Later that evening, outside the dorms, Xiang Yangyang delivered dinner to Qi Ruifeng and handed him a box of new swimming goggles from a female teammate named Xiao Lü. Tang Yibai, however, refused the gift, stating he never accepted gifts from others. Qi Ruifeng, quick-witted as ever, immediately teased him about the tea egg Yun Duo had given him, referring to her as "Egg Sister," and a teammate joked that Tang Yibai only accepted tea eggs.
Back home, Yun Duo meticulously placed each bouquet of flowers into vases. Just then, Lin Zi called, informing her that he had found her wallet and would deliver it to her company the following day. Yun Duo was overjoyed. On the other end of the line, Lin Zi reminisced about a past encounter: he had been a disheveled man on the street, drinking heavily and coughing up blood, when Yun Duo had saved him.
He had remembered her kindness ever since. The next morning, Tang Yibai and his teammate Chen Ziqiang arrived early at the pool for training. Both specializing in the 100-meter freestyle, they were friends and rivals, agreeing to fair competition for the Dream Cup qualification spot. Lin Zi delivered Yun Duo's wallet to her company. Yun Duo recognized him as the "strange man" who had paid her bus fare the previous day.
Since this was his second act of kindness, Yun Duo offered to treat him to a meal as thanks. Lin Zi politely declined, citing other commitments, and told her he would repay her later. Yun Duo found his behavior quite peculiar. After Lin Zi left, Yun Duo observed other interns tearfully emerging from Director Liu's office. Teacher Sun explained that interns who spent more than five minutes with Director Liu either cried hysterically or looked dejected.
However, Cheng Mei, another intern, emerged smiling and informed Yun Duo that Director Liu specifically wanted to see her. Yun Duo was startled, unsure if it was good or bad news. She nervously entered the office. Director Liu had learned about her public confrontation with the reporter the previous day and sternly reprimanded her for it. He then proposed that Yun Duo use her connection with Tang Yibai to uncover the reason behind his four-year suspension. Yun Duo, unwilling to compromise her principles or exploit her simple relationship with Tang Yibai, refused Director Liu's demand.
