Pegasus Episode 18 Recap
> Pegasus Recap
Xiaohe confronted the man without glasses, asking for his true identity. He claimed to be Lin Zhendong, but Xiaohe was already suspicious, detailing past events from the Ningzhou Circuit and Nineteen Devil's Bends where his actions were crucial and seemingly impossible for an outsider.
She mentioned how he subtly influenced Zhang Chi's tire choice leading to a win, stopped Mr. Xiao from selling the resort, promised Nineteen Devil's Bends to the team, manipulated events so he could be Zhang Chi's co-driver to avoid the sheep, and even warned Zhang Chi against entering a race, predicting his leg would break – which came true. He deflected, trying to dismiss them as minor things everyone knew.
However, Xiaohe pointed out his "avoiding gaze," which she recognized well. As she pressed him, she stumbled, and he instinctively reached out, catching her briefly, leading to an awkward moment between them. He realized Xiaohe had discovered his secret. Later, Zhendong spoke as if to the real Zhang Chi, who was in a coma, urging him to wake up quickly because Xiaohe was getting married.
He stressed that if Zhang Chi didn't wake up and propose, he would be a bridesmaid at Xiaohe's wedding. Zhendong revealed that his return was initially just to wish Zhang Chi a recovery but now felt pressured to ensure Zhang Chi proposed to Xiaohe in the current timeline because, in the future he knew, Zhang Chi's lack of romantic initiative allowed another man in a suit to win Xiaohe over.
He was determined to control Zhang Chi and ensure the proposal was successful this time. On Xiaohe's birthday, Zhang Chi wished her well and gave her car keys as a gift. He urged her to get in the car, hinting at another gift inside. Xiaohe searched the car, expecting something, but found nothing, looking disappointed. She then drove off to her meeting. On the way, the car's navigation system activated, and the voice was Zhang Chi's.
He had recorded a custom navigator sound for her. Xiaohe tried to turn it off, but the system prevented her. Zhang Chi's recorded voice gave her directions, reminded her to check her side mirrors, and even playfully accused her of rolling her eyes. He apologized for being difficult and admitted that she was the reason he got so worked up. He ended the recording with a heart symbol.
After her meeting, Xiaohe returned to the team, where she and Zhang Chi were quickly pulled aside by their teammates who insisted something serious had happened to Lin Zhendong and they needed to go immediately. Meanwhile, Zhendong and Shen Xiting were by a river, meticulously setting up an elaborate proposal scene with flowers and balloons. Zhendong was highly anxious, checking every item on a list, determined to make it perfect for Xiaohe.
He reiterated to Xiting that he was preventing the future where Zhang Chi failed because he didn't understand what women truly desired, emphasizing that a grand romantic gesture like a diamond ring and roses were key to winning someone over, something he learned after five years of reflection following his past failure. He stressed the importance of controlling "that idiot Zhang Chi" to ensure nothing went wrong this time.
Zhang Chi and the others arrived at the scene and were stunned by the elaborate setup. The team initially thought it was a proposal for Zhendong and Xiting, expressing their support. Zhendong quickly clarified that the entire setup was for Zhang Chi and Xiaohe, prepared by him and Xiting. He privately pressured Zhang Chi to follow his lead and seize the moment. The team enthusiastically pushed Zhang Chi and Xiaohe onto the stage.
Zhendong announced that Zhang Chi wanted to sing a love song, suggesting "Fairy Tale." Zhang Chi awkwardly attempted to sing, but it was terrible. Zhendong quickly intervened, grabbing a large diamond ring from the table and pushing it into Zhang Chi's hand, urging them to skip the song and move to the main part. As Zhang Chi hesitated, Zhendong pulled him aside, his tone urgent.
He told Zhang Chi there was no time to wait for future success, because the future he knew involved Xiaohe marrying someone else while Zhang Chi was left poor, with nothing, and in a coma in Bayanbulak. Zhang Chi reacted, thinking Zhendong was cursing him. Zhendong pressed on, highlighting how Zhang Chi's leg injury wasn't planned either, and without him and Lin Zhendong, the team would have fallen apart and Xiaohe would have left long ago.
He told Zhang Chi that some opportunities only come once, and if he didn't seize this chance to propose, it would be his biggest regret before he died. Zhang Chi looked from the ring to Xiaohe, still conflicted. Despite his internal struggle, Zhang Chi finally got down on one knee with the ring. Xiaohe looked at him, commenting that such "vulgar" things couldn't possibly be something he prepared.
She tossed the ring aside, took Zhang Chi's hand, and led him away from the elaborate setup to another spot. They settled down and reminisced. Zhang Chi confessed that years ago, he had written her a love letter but was too shy to give it to her, so he buried it in the ground. Xiaohe playfully challenged him, saying she would marry him if he could dig it up.
Zhang Chi searched and surprisingly found a message in a bottle buried under a tree, exactly where he remembered burying it. He dug it out and read the letter aloud. It was a heartfelt message written after his injury, thanking her for helping him grow up, confessing his love for her since fifth grade when they were deskmates, how she was always by his side, and how, as his manager, she always wished him a safe return from races.
He revealed that his true destination was never the finish line, but getting back to her, feeling secure knowing she was waiting. He expressed how special she was and his desire to become a better person to be worthy of her, regretting that years passed and he still felt inadequate. He ended the letter saying he couldn't hold back his feelings anymore and didn't want her to suffer quietly.
As Zhang Chi finished reading, Xiaohe embraced him, and they held each other, crying, seemingly reconciling and fully accepting their deep connection. Later, Zhang Chi took Xiaohe to play billiards, teaching her the basics as she admitted she didn't know how. He told her he planned to start fulfilling the many promises he had made to her over the years, starting with teaching her billiards. They also visited a photo sticker booth where they had taken pictures in the past.
They found their old photo sticker still stuck there after many years, finding good meaning in it. Meanwhile, Zhendong and Shen Xiting were cleaning up the proposal site. Xiting offered her thoughts, but Zhendong accepted the outcome, stating that Xiaohe had returned and things were different now. He reflected on his younger self's stubbornness, knowing he needed setbacks to learn.
He advised Xiting not to be like him, urging her to cherish the present moment and not wait, lest she be filled with regret in the future. Back at the team base, the teammates discussed the confusing events of the failed proposal. Sun Yuqiang arrived with milk tea, but there weren't enough cups for everyone, specifically missing one for Hong Kuo. Despite others offering their drinks, Hong Kuo felt excluded and treated as an outsider, leaving with a heavy heart.
Zhang Chi moved his belongings into a room. Zhendong returned, and Zhang Chi hugged him, expressing deep gratitude for the elaborate and romantic proposal setup, even though he knew it was the other personality who arranged it. As they settled into sharing the room, Zhendong prepared for bed. Zhang Chi claimed he was a quiet sleeper and wished Zhendong goodnight, but immediately upon lying down, he began to snore loudly, keeping Zhendong awake. The next morning, Zhendong was practicing driving.
He told Zhang Chi he would leave the car for him in the afternoon, acknowledging the pressure Zhang Chi faced in his comeback and his need for practice time. Sun Yuqiang arrived, intending to practice, but seemed frustrated seeing Zhendong in the car. Zhang Chi, however, deferred, suggesting they let the "youngsters" practice more. Zhendong still habitually called Zhang Chi "Master."
Zhang Chi corrected him, stating that from now on, they were teammates but also competitors on the same track, with no master-apprentice relationship between them. Zhendong looked determined, reiterating his goal to reach the Dakar Rally.
