My Mr. Mermaid Episode 6 Recap
> My Mr. Mermaid Recap
In high school, Qi Ruifeng, Tang Yibai, and Ouyang Heng suffered a crushing defeat in the summer championships, leaving everyone dejected. Despite the loss, Qi Ruifeng remained resolute, urging Tang Yibai and Ouyang Heng to transform their disappointment into a fierce determination to become stronger and avoid future failures. He declared that from then on, what they held in their hands was not regret, but resolve, and they would not rest until victory was firmly in their grasp.
Later, Tang Yibai reminded Qi Ruifeng of this moment, and Qi Ruifeng, recalling their youthful aspirations, was revitalized and smiled. Meanwhile, Ouyang Heng trained alone in the gym, his thoughts drifting back to high school. He remembered taking a senior’s spot in the preliminaries, drawing the senior’s anger and accusations. Tang Yibai and Qi Ruifeng had stepped in, defending Ouyang Heng and offering to compete if needed.
Qi Ruifeng had sternly told the seniors to resolve disputes in the pool, not with petty tricks. Recalling their shared past and initial camaraderie, Ouyang Heng felt a wave of complex emotions. Later, Qi Ruifeng returned to his dorm to find Head Coach Yuan and Coach Wu waiting outside. Misunderstanding their presence, Qi Ruifeng assumed they knew about his private competition with Ouyang Heng and began to defend himself, insisting he was framed.
However, the coaches clarified they were looking for Tang Yibai and instructed Qi Ruifeng to tell him to report to the office later. The next morning, Xiang Yangyang waited for Qi Ruifeng outside the dorm. Qi Ruifeng had seemingly reverted to his usual playful demeanor. Yangyang asked him about his confrontation with Ouyang Heng and why he disliked him so much. Qi Ruifeng became visibly irritated and walked away, refusing to discuss it.
At the same time, Yun Duo missed her bus. Lin Zi conveniently pulled up in a sports car, offering her a ride to the company. He claimed he borrowed the car to make a good impression for his new job, but Yun Duo still seemed annoyed with him. She advised him to be more grounded and focus on self-worth rather than superficial appearances.
Later, at a coffee shop, Yun Duo’s mentor, Cheng Mei, confronted Lin Zi, expressing her suspicion about his expensive tastes and his persistent attempts to ingratiate himself with Yun Duo. Cheng Mei, proclaiming herself Yun Duo’s closest friend, warned Lin Zi that she would protect Yun Duo from any harm. During team training, Qi Ruifeng noticed Tang Yibai's absence. A teammate informed him that Head Coach Yuan had called Tang Yibai to her office that morning.
Recalling the coaches’ visit the previous night, Qi Ruifeng felt puzzled, wondering what kind of trouble Tang Yibai had gotten into. In the locker room, Coach Wu was already discussing Tang Yibai’s declining performance, pointing out issues with his entry angle and breathing. Tang Yibai admitted he felt stuck, constantly seeing his four-years-ago self ten meters ahead in the water, unable to catch up.
He confessed this ten-meter gap represented the four-year hiatus from competition and a mental barrier he needed to overcome to compete effectively. Qi Ruifeng, having entered the locker room, assured Tang Yibai of his support, promising to help him break through this slump as his “little training partner.” Meanwhile, Ouyang Heng led North Physical’s team to the pool. Qi Ruifeng, ready for his training, dove into the water. Ouyang Heng immediately began timing him.
After a hundred meters, some of North Physical’s team members began to mock Qi Ruifeng’s speed. Ouyang Heng, however, revealed that Qi Ruifeng was swimming the 1500-meter event. The North Physical team members silenced their laughter, watching intently as Qi Ruifeng’s speed unexpectedly increased with every hundred meters, leaving them astonished and calling him a "monster." QKVideo had seen a massive surge in click rates after publishing the four-year-old video of Tang Yibai and Ouyang Heng's past competition.
Director Liu instructed Yun Duo and her colleagues to seize the momentum and prepare follow-up reports. During a meeting, Yun Duo advocated for objective reporting, cautioning against simply following public opinion, a view surprisingly supported by Lin Zi. However, Lin Zi then introduced the idea of focusing on a previously unpublicized detail: Tang Yibai had defeated Ouyang Heng in an Asian Elite Training Team tryout four years ago but was subsequently disqualified for unknown reasons.
Director Liu found this intriguing and greenlit a report. This new angle shifted the public's focus to Tang Yibai’s past disqualification. Yun Duo, realizing Lin Zi's intention to stir controversy, angrily confronted him, but he deflected her accusations with a playful demeanor. He then pointed out her strong defense of Tang Yibai, directly asking if Tang Yibai was that important to her. Yun Duo, taken aback, simply stated that Tang Yibai was her friend, and of course, important.
At the pool, surrounded by a throng of reporters, Yun Duo repeatedly checked her phone, hoping for a message from Tang Yibai, but there was none. When Tang Yibai arrived with his coaches, reporters swarmed him. Yun Duo watched from the periphery as he walked past, noting his seemingly indifferent expression, which filled her with sadness, a sense of loss, and a deep feeling of apology. Later, while eating, Tang Yibai and Qi Ruifeng saw the online reports.
North Physical's team, including Ouyang Heng, arrived and openly mocked Tang Yibai, accusing him of cheating. To avoid further confrontation, Tang Yibai walked away. A reporter then asked Tang Yibai about his mindset after a four-year hiatus from swimming. Tang Yibai responded that swimming was no longer just about himself; it was also for his teammates and coaches.
He also revealed a promise he made to someone: to win the Dream Cup and become the fastest male swimmer in the world, reserving his first exclusive interview for her. Afterward, Yun Duo, feeling helpless and apologetic about the news, sent Tang Yibai a text message expressing her regrets. Back at the dorm, Tang Yibai received Yun Duo's message.
Just as he was about to reply, his teammate Ming Tian rushed in, breathlessly informing him that Qi Ruifeng and Ouyang Heng were having a private duel at the pool. Tang Yibai immediately dropped his phone and hurried to the sports complex to stop them. However, he arrived too late. Qi Ruifeng had already lost to Ouyang Heng. In the empty swimming hall, a dejected Qi Ruifeng sat alone by the pool.
Tang Yibai, Xiang Yangyang, and other teammates found him, but Qi Ruifeng remained silent and walked away, heading to the showers where he let cold water pour over himself, hitting the wall in frustration. Head Coach Yuan, learning that Qi Ruifeng had already swum 2500 meters without showing any signs of stopping, angrily ordered him to swim an additional 5000 meters. Qi Ruifeng readily agreed and re-entered the water, still demonstrating remarkable stamina, further astonishing North Physical's team.
After finishing his extended swim, Qi Ruifeng was called to the office. While eating bananas, he overheard a phone call taken by Coach Wu. The coach's expression turned grim as he listened. After hanging up, Coach Wu remained with Tang Yibai and informed him that the Dream Cup organizers were launching an investigation into his past doping incident, which could lead to his disqualification from the competition. Tang Yibai was left stunned by the news.
Qi Ruifeng, Ming Tian, and Zheng Lingye, who had been eavesdropping outside, stormed in, vehemently defending Tang Yibai. Qi Ruifeng declared that if Tang Yibai’s participation was revoked, the entire South Physical team would withdraw from the competition. The coaches expressed their helplessness, stating they could only wait for the official decision. Tang Yibai, prioritizing the team’s interests, reluctantly agreed to abide by the coaches’ instructions and await the organizers’ notice.
Unwilling to let Tang Yibai be disqualified due to baseless rumors, Qi Ruifeng decided to take matters into his own hands. He borrowed money from Ming Tian and Zheng Lingye and left the school. Back at QKVideo, Yun Duo’s mood was foul, exacerbated by her unanswered message to Tang Yibai, and she gave Lin Zi a cold shoulder. Seeing the widespread rumors about Tang Yibai’s potential disqualification, Teacher Sun decided to take Yun Duo to South Physical to investigate.
Just then, Qi Ruifeng burst into the QKVideo office, announcing he had an exclusive interview for Yun Duo. Qi Ruifeng boldly declared that if the Dream Cup organizers revoked Tang Yibai's eligibility due to public pressure, he would stand with Tang Yibai and refuse to participate in the Dream Cup himself. He urged Yun Duo to publish his statement without alteration. Yun Duo hesitated, sensing the inappropriateness of the declaration, when Tang Yibai suddenly rushed in.
He emphatically told Yun Duo not to publish Qi Ruifeng's interview. After a brief argument, Tang Yibai took Qi Ruifeng away. Back at the dorm, Qi Ruifeng endured another reprimand from Coach Wu. Overwhelmed by anger, Qi Ruifeng argued fiercely with the coach, lashing out with accusations.
To calm him, the others revealed the coaches' plan: they had contacted Ouyang Ji, Ouyang Heng's father and a business acquaintance, who had previously helped Tang Yibai clear his name in the four-year-old doping incident. For the current situation, Ouyang Ji had suggested Tang Yibai voluntarily withdraw from the Dream Cup, a proposal vehemently opposed by everyone present. Tang Yibai firmly stated he would not withdraw. Head Coach Yuan even threatened to resign from her position in protest.
Through this intense conversation, Tang Yibai was shocked and deeply moved to learn that Head Coach Yuan had sacrificed her position as an Asian Elite Coach four years ago for his sake. This revelation solidified Tang Yibai’s resolve to not give up, not just for his own ambition, but for all the coaches and friends who had supported, nurtured, and loved him.
