My Mr. Mermaid Episode 35 Recap
> My Mr. Mermaid Recap
Yangyang sought out the doctor treating Qi Ruifeng to understand his condition. The doctor, however, was reticent, only indicating that if Qi Ruifeng did not receive treatment, the upcoming competition would mark the end of his career. Meanwhile, Lin Sang found Tang Yibai at the swimming pool. Upon seeing Lin Sang for the first time in four years, Tang Yibai was visibly moved, instinctively calling her "Little One."
Lin Sang, in tears, embraced him, completely unaware of Yun Duo, who watched from a distance with a heavy heart. Lin Sang suddenly fainted in Tang Yibai's arms. Yun Duo quickly intervened, helping Tang Yibai transport Lin Sang to the hospital. Lin Zi and Ouyang Heng soon arrived. An agitated Ouyang Heng struck Tang Yibai. Lin Zi and Yun Duo separated them, and to defend Tang Yibai, Yun Duo admitted that she had withheld information about Lin Sang from him.
After Lin Sang regained consciousness and was surrounded by concerned faces, Lin Zi pulled Tang Yibai aside. Lin Zi revealed the truth about Lin Sang's car accident and subsequent coma four years prior. Tang Yibai, bewildered, demanded to know why this information had been kept from him for so long. Ouyang Heng, however, redirected the blame, accusing Tang Yibai of causing Lin Sang's current state by not believing her.
Tang Yibai attempted to defend himself, but Ouyang Heng refused to listen. Lin Zi interceded, sternly warning Tang Yibai that any future harm to Lin Sang would be unforgivable and that her subsequent well-being was no longer his concern. Inside the ward, Yun Duo stayed with Lin Sang, who seemed cheerful, expressing happiness at finding the person she could never forget: Tang Yibai.
Later, when Lin Zi and Ouyang Heng returned, Tang Yibai was gone, prompting Lin Sang to immediately insist on finding him. Unable to refuse the woman he loved, Ouyang Heng agreed. He pushed Lin Sang's wheelchair to catch Tang Yibai as he exited the hospital. Ouyang Heng humbly pleaded with Tang Yibai to stay with Lin Sang for a while, which Tang Yibai reluctantly agreed to. Tang Yibai attentively cared for Lin Sang, making her exceptionally happy.
That night, Tang Yibai finally had time to spend with Yun Duo. He asked her about Lin Sang and how long she had kept secrets from him. Yun Duo understood his anger, acknowledging their promise of no secrets, and apologized. Tang Yibai's true concern, however, went beyond the mere concealment; he was troubled that she had hidden it at Lin Zi's behest.
Yun Duo directly asked Tang Yibai what truly happened between him and Lin Sang four years ago, and why he always appeared to carry a sense of guilt towards her. Tang Yibai clarified that he never felt guilt towards Lin Sang, but rather kept silent out of fear of harming her. He explained that during his selection for the Asia Elite Training Team, he habitually drank pomegranate juice.
Surveillance footage from the break room showed Lin Sang tampering with his drink. Before a full investigation could proceed, Lin Sang vanished, leaving the drug case unresolved and Tang Yibai unable to clear his name. Yun Duo, realizing Tang Yibai had endured this burden alone for four years, questioned why he never revealed the truth.
He confessed that deep down, he couldn't believe Lin Sang would betray him, recalling how she was the only one who supported him through a severe knee injury before a crucial qualifying match, even going to great lengths to alleviate his pain so he could compete. Yun Duo, upset, declared she now hated Lin Sang for costing him four crucial years as an athlete.
She accused him of being more than just friends with Lin Sang, but Tang Yibai insisted their relationship was always purely platonic. Yun Duo admitted her jealousy, stating she did not want him to care for other women, to which Tang Yibai affectionately reassured her that she was the only one in his heart.
He then reflected that perhaps the four years he lost were a gift from destiny, allowing him to discover more precious things in life and ultimately leading him to meet and fall in love with her. Yun Duo tearfully admitted that if he hadn't been suspended and hadn't saved her from drowning in Cui Lake four years ago, she might not even be alive today, realizing the profound connection between their fates.
During Qi Ruifeng's follow-up visit to the doctor, he learned that Yangyang had come looking for him and cried upon hearing about his injury. Stunned, he walked out of the clinic, silently wondering why she cried for him, given her previous claims of not liking him. Meanwhile, Yangyang went to Coach Yuan's office to discuss Qi Ruifeng's situation.
Later, at the swimming pool, Yangyang approached a despondent Qi Ruifeng, who was sitting by the pool, and again urged him to accept the surgery. He still refused. As a disappointed Yangyang turned to leave, Qi Ruifeng suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace. He apologized for always making her cry and thanked her for being by his side, asking her to tolerate his stubbornness just this one last time. Yangyang, also in tears, hugged him back tightly.
Later, Yun Duo arrived at the hospital with dinner, only to hear Tang Yibai and Lin Sang laughing inside the ward, reminiscing about past birthdays. Feeling like an outsider, Yun Duo stood unnoticed for a long time. It was Qi Ruifeng, having just left his own appointment, who spotted her, looking forlorn.
Yun Duo confided everything to Qi Ruifeng, expressing her distress at feeling like a third party between Tang Yibai and Lin Sang, and her hurt over Tang Yibai's excessive concern. Qi Ruifeng, acting as her supportive friend, encouraged her to trust Tang Yibai's affections. Guided by his words, Yun Duo resolved to stop worrying and confront Tang Yibai directly.
Outside the hospital, Yun Duo approached Tang Yibai, confessing her unhappiness and longing for their relationship to return to its former state. She admitted her dislike for the change in Tang Yibai since Lin Sang's reappearance, their endless shared past, and his reluctance to discuss it. Most painfully, she confessed to hating her own jealousy. Tang Yibai, his eyes filled with tenderness, simply smiled.
He expressed joy at her jealousy and her honesty, affirming she was truly the one for him. As Yun Duo finished her tearful confession, Tang Yibai silently leaned in and kissed her, a gesture that conveyed more than words ever could. After a long, tender kiss, he softly asked, "Do you still question the answer?" He then pulled her into an embrace, apologizing and promising that there would be no more secrets between them.
Unbeknownst to them, Lin Sang witnessed this entire sweet exchange. Following this, Ouyang Heng confronted Lin Sang, expressing his deep anguish that despite waiting four years for her to awaken, she still remembered Tang Yibai, who had forgotten her, while completely forgetting him, who had remained by her side.
He vehemently urged her to give up on Tang Yibai, reminding her that her current condition was Tang Yibai's fault, and that Tang Yibai had abandoned her four years ago for his own ambitions. Lin Sang, however, denied Tang Yibai had betrayed her, tragically believing that she was the one who had betrayed their shared dream. This revelation caused her to collapse, prompting Lin Zi to urgently call for a doctor.
The doctor then informed Lin Zi and Ouyang Heng that Lin Sang's brain clot was shifting, posing a severe danger to her life if not surgically removed. The surgery was scheduled for Friday morning, the very day of the Dream Cup finals. Meanwhile, in the swimming pool, Tang Yibai intensively focused on strengthening his leg muscles. Yun Duo joined him, presenting him with detailed analysis of his past performances and his competitors for the upcoming Dream Cup.
Tang Yibai explained his strategy to overcome Ouyang Heng's speed at the 50-meter turn: by maximizing acceleration off the wall, compensating for his long legs and old knee injury. Yun Duo then suggested they go to the hospital. Tang Yibai clarified that he intended to speak frankly with Ouyang Heng and Lin Zi.
He stated that continuing to deceive Lin Sang would be unfair to Yun Duo, Ouyang Heng, and Lin Sang herself, preventing Lin Sang from recognizing Ouyang Heng's unwavering devotion. At a team meeting, Coach Yuan announced that Qi Ruifeng would not be participating in the final competition due to his shoulder injury, much to the dismay of the teammates.
Qi Ruifeng angrily confronted Yangyang, accusing her of betraying his trust by informing Coach Yuan about his injury, which led to his withdrawal. Yangyang, devastated, pleaded with him to accept the surgery, urging him to return to the pool healthy and continue his career proudly. Later, his worried teammates tried to persuade him from behind his locked door. Yangyang, breaking through, burst in, furious at his self-pity and refusal to seek treatment.
When Qi Ruifeng retorted that it was none of her business, Yangyang shot back that his struggles were hers, as he had done so much to protect her. She revealed that Lin Haoyang had told her everything. Lin Haoyang then appeared, explaining that Qi Ruifeng had confronted him earlier, thinking Lin Haoyang was only interested in Yangyang for personal gain.
Lin Haoyang concluded that Qi Ruifeng cared for Yangyang more deeply than she realized, even risking his career to ensure her well-being. Tang Yibai then entered, gently telling Qi Ruifeng to move past Lin Haoyang's issue and focus on his own future. Qi Ruifeng, still reluctant, expressed his regret at missing the Dream Cup, his last chance to compete for South Physical before graduation.
Tang Yibai then delivered a powerful speech, reminding Qi Ruifeng that he had been the only one who believed in Tang Yibai's return to swimming four years ago. He urged Qi Ruifeng to give him a chance to wait for him, just as Qi Ruifeng had waited for him, and to look beyond the Dream Cup towards a grander stage: the Olympics. Inspired by Tang Yibai's words, Qi Ruifeng finally agreed to the surgery.
Yangyang, amazed, questioned why Qi Ruifeng listened to Tang Yibai after refusing her pleas for so long. Qi Ruifeng, playfully asserting his new commitment, told a teammate he would take responsibility for Yangyang's future, much to Yangyang's mock outrage. He informed Yangyang that he had already booked his doctor's appointment for the next morning, demanding her punctuality.
Yangyang, suspicious of his sudden obedience, learned his condition: she had to make him his special "delicious bento box," just as she used to secretly make for him after competitions. He then confessed that he had long liked her, not just her cooking, and that she had made him fall in love with her. Finally, Qi Ruifeng returned to the team, confirming his surgery was scheduled. His teammates and Yangyang expressed their concern and frustration over his past stubbornness.
Qi Ruifeng explained that as South Physical's spiritual pillar, he felt he couldn't abandon the team for such an important competition. He pleaded with Coach Yuan to at least let him participate in the 400-meter team medley, even if not the 1500-meter freestyle. Coach Yuan, however, insisted he focus solely on treatment and rehabilitation, even threatening to remove him as captain if he continued to protest.
