My Mr. Mermaid Episode 7 Recap
> My Mr. Mermaid Recap
Tang Yibai confronted Qi Ruifeng about his impulsive decision to withdraw from the Dream Cup, accusing him of trivializing their shared dream. Tang Yibai asserted that Qi Ruifeng should continue to swim and win, reminding him that if he had not given up on their goal of winning a medal together, Qi Ruifeng should not either. Qi Ruifeng apologized to Tang Yibai for his rashness. As Tang Yibai exited the swimming hall, he was immediately surrounded by reporters.
Coach Wu attempted to shield him, but Tang Yibai, acknowledging his coach's protective intent, chose to face the media directly. Reporters pressed him with questions about his past suspension and the ongoing rumors regarding his eligibility for the Dream Cup. Tang Yibai apologized for the disturbance but firmly stated he would not apologize for pursuing his dreams.
He explained that his four-year suspension taught him that a life without dreams is not living, and no one could stop him from returning to the pool. When asked if he would still compete in the Dream Cup, Tang Yibai affirmed his commitment, even if it meant undergoing drug tests before every competition, because his dream was invaluable. Yun Duo, witnessing his unwavering resolve, felt her belief in him solidify.
Before Tang Yibai could answer a reporter's question about being forcibly withdrawn from the competition, Ouyang Heng intervened. Standing before the media, he publicly vouched for Tang Yibai, willing to stake his own athletic career on Tang Yibai's innocence. Ouyang Heng declared Tang Yibai his only true rival and expressed confidence that Tang Yibai would never violate the spirit of an athlete.
He urged the media and public not to believe rumors and trusted the Dream Cup organizers to make a fair decision without unjustly stripping a competitor of their future. Soon after, Ouyang Heng's interview was widely shared online. His father, Ouyang Ji, was furious and confronted Ouyang Heng over the phone, demanding to know why he risked his reputation for Tang Yibai.
It was then revealed that Ouyang Ji had orchestrated all the rumors to prevent Tang Yibai from competing, aiming to advance Ouyang Heng's swimming career. However, Ouyang Heng despised such underhanded tactics, wanting to defeat Tang Yibai fairly. He told his father that if he couldn't beat Tang Yibai legitimately, his career would feel pointless.
Ouyang Heng accused his father of constantly fixating on Tang Yibai as his sole competitor, which pained Ouyang Heng, whose only desire was to make his father proud by becoming the world's best swimmer. Faced with his son's fervent opposition, Ouyang Ji finally ceased spreading rumors against Tang Yibai. In the office, Coach Yuan announced that the Dream Cup organizers had released an official statement, dismissing the rumors about Tang Yibai's disqualification as baseless.
They reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring fair competition and would not revoke his eligibility. The team erupted in joyous celebration, and a weight was lifted from Tang Yibai. Coach Yuan added that, as a measure of fairness for athletes with a history of suspension, Tang Yibai would undergo several special tests in addition to routine drug screenings. Tang Yibai, however, accepted this condition, believing it would dispel any lingering doubts about him.
Following this, Tang Yibai directed Qi Ruifeng to apologize to Coach Yuan. Qi Ruifeng reluctantly apologized to Coach Yuan for his outburst, admitting his error in speaking without full understanding. Coach Yuan playfully disciplined him for questioning her authority, which brought amusement to Tang Yibai and Xiang Yangyang. Upon hearing the Dream Cup's announcement, Yun Duo excitedly went to the swimming hall, intending to cheer for Tang Yibai as a friend. However, Coach Wu blocked her entry, sternly reprimanding her.
He blamed Qingkong News's inaccurate reporting on her, accusing her of nearly destroying Tang Yibai's career, and instructed her to stay away from him. Already consumed by guilt, Yun Duo was deeply disheartened by the scolding and left. Back at her office, she watched old interview videos of Tang Yibai, reminiscing about his smile, words, gaze, and swimming form. The realization that she had caused him such trouble intensified her feelings of remorse.
Feeling increasingly anxious, Yun Duo called Tang Yibai. Tang Yibai happily answered, but before he could speak, Coach Wu snatched the phone, admonishing him to focus on training and confiscating the device. Unaware of the intervention, Yun Duo saw the call disconnected and sadly concluded that Tang Yibai was genuinely angry with her, which further distressed her. At the swimming hall, the school belle arrived to watch Qi Ruifeng train. Noticing her, Qi Ruifeng began training with renewed intensity.
Xiang Yangyang, observing this, asked Xiao Lü to request that the onlookers leave the swimming hall. When Qi Ruifeng complained that Xiang Yangyang lacked femininity, she secretly pondered how he never saw her as a woman, feeling a pang of sadness. Yun Duo returned home dejected, only to find her luggage outside her door. Her landlady, due to a divorce, could no longer rent the room.
Late into the night, a helpless Yun Duo aimlessly wandered the streets with her suitcase. As she prepared to contact Cheng Mei for a temporary stay, her mother called. Her mother's concern only deepened Yun Duo's sadness, but she fought back tears, reassuring her mother that she was fine, and quickly hung up to hide her distress. To make matters worse, her phone battery was almost depleted.
With nowhere else to go, Yun Duo decided to spend the night at her company office. Upon arrival, she received a text from her mother, asking her to come home for the holidays because her parents missed her. This message broke Yun Duo's composure, and she burst into tears. From the building across, Lin Zi watched Yun Duo's heartbroken sobs, his own heart aching for her.
Later, Tang Yibai tried to get his phone back from Coach Wu to send Yun Duo a message. Coach Wu, seeing Tang Yibai's developing affections, shared a personal story of how a past relationship had negatively affected his own swimming career, advising Tang Yibai to learn from his experience and prioritize his training over romantic distractions. At the swimming hall, the South Physical team observed Ouyang Heng's training.
They noted his powerful bursts and remarkable stability; from the moment he entered the water, he showed no flaws and maintained a consistent lead. His training performance reached 48. 52 seconds, indicating an immeasurable potential for his future. With the joint training session concluded, Teacher Sun assigned Yun Duo and Lin Zi to interview at South Physical to secure the team's participant roster for the Dream Cup. Upon arriving, Yun Duo hesitated at the entrance, unsure whether to go in.
Tang Yibai spotted her immediately and enthusiastically walked toward her, but Yun Duo pretended not to see him and instead followed Coach Wu to his office to obtain the team roster.
