Rattan Episode 2 Recap
> Rattan Recap
Having spent many years in a state of dormancy, Si Teng awoke with little understanding of the modern world. Curious, she sought the quickest way to grasp current affairs. Qin Fang, in an attempt to enlighten her, pointed to a television set and offered to teach her how to use the remote control, but Si Teng haughtily refused his assistance. Seizing an opportunity, Qin Fang found a reason to leave.
He first attempted to call An Man, but her phone was off. Frustrated, he reached out to his close friend, Shan Zhigang, requesting him to go to An Man’s residence and ascertain her safety. If she was not there, Shan Zhigang was to inquire about her whereabouts from other friends. Qin Fang, still in Darna, promised to return as soon as he could secure a flight. Shan Zhigang agreed to help.
Qin Fang then purchased a train ticket for the soonest departure, regardless of destination, eager to return and ensure An Man's well-being. Before leaving the hotel, he noticed Si Teng was learning to use the TV. He offered to buy her food, but she stated that her kind did not eat. Qin Fang then explained the concept of money and left some for her, suggesting she was intelligent enough to figure things out.
Si Teng, however, saw through his pretense, pointing out his eagerness to leave. Qin Fang's escape was short-lived. As he rode in a taxi towards the station, he began to age rapidly, his face visibly transforming, alarming the driver and passersby. Horrified, he demanded the car stop and jumped out. He later called Shan Zhigang, who confirmed An Man was still not home but reassured him he was contacting her friends.
Qin Fang confessed to Shan Zhigang that he used to find life boring, contemplating only meals, but now realized "it's great to live." His will to survive pushed him to return to Darna. Upon his return to the hotel, his youthful appearance miraculously restored itself. Qin Fang, determined to understand his mysterious condition, tested the limits of his physical independence.
He discovered that he was inextricably linked to Si Teng; venturing too far from her caused him to rapidly age and nearly die. He returned to the hotel, fuming with frustration, while Si Teng calmly soaked her feet, unfazed. She revealed that she had known he would return, having foreseen his inability to leave her. Enraged, Qin Fang accused her of toying with him, but Si Teng remained indifferent.
She then laid down her terms, giving him five minutes to consider. She declared that his survival now depended entirely on her. She outlined two choices: follow her unconditionally, adhering to her every command—even to the point of kneeling if she so desired—or choose not to follow her, in which case he could walk away until he inevitably perished. Realizing his dire situation, Qin Fang conceded.
He began addressing her politely as "Ms. Si Teng" and was instructed to improve her mood. Meanwhile, An Man was being held captive by two men, Bro Dong and Bro Qi. Feigning a need to reassure worried family and buy time, she convinced them to let her use her phone.
She crafted a social media post, claiming she and Qin Fang were exploring the virgin forest of Darna where there was little to no signal, and that Qin Fang's phone was broken. The captors, believing this would buy them time to find a man named Zhao Jianglong and the "Heavenly Pearl," allowed her to post it, noting her shrewdness. Shan Zhigang, who had arrived at An Man's mother's house to inquire about her, saw the post.
While there, An Man's mother mentioned her daughter often talked to her "fragrant rattan." Intrigued, Shan Zhigang immediately offered to buy the plant. That night, Si Teng attempted to use her powers but found they had faltered. During a test, she inadvertently extended vines into a brazier. Instinctively, she knocked it over, igniting a larger blaze. Qin Fang returned to his room with a green plant, only to find Si Teng bewildered amidst the spreading flames.
He quickly pulled her and the plant out of the room. He sternly admonished her for playing with fire, explaining the dangers, then gave her some clothes to keep warm before rushing back to extinguish the fire. While Qin Fang was busy dealing with the fire's aftermath, An Man's captors were nearby, discussing their search for Zhao Jianglong in Darna's hospitals, meaning Qin Fang narrowly missed encountering them. Upon his return, he found Si Teng alone.
She unexpectedly asked him about his dream. Qin Fang expressed his desire to return to a normal life, free from his dependency on her, and to be a human again, not forced to hide like a dog. Si Teng revealed that legends suggested some of her kind could save humans, though at a great cost. She then admitted she was only a "half" being, implying her own weakened state.
She explained their fates were intertwined, comparing herself to the host's blood and bone and him to the parasite's hair and teeth; if she was not well, he could not be either. Si Teng then shared her own aspiration: she found Darna unpleasant and wished to return to her true home to become her complete self once more. Elsewhere, Yan Furui, a descendant of the Xuanmen, discovered a vine in a well.
Frightened, he sought assistance from Mr. Li Zhengyuan of Changming Academy. However, he was met by Wang Qiankun, who revealed that Li Zhengyuan was his grandmaster and had passed away years ago. Having understood his predicament, Qin Fang finally agreed to Si Teng's demands. She outlined five things she required. First, she needed to understand the modern world, which she conceded she was already handling.
Second, she needed a completely reliable person to execute her orders, accept her identity, and keep her secret. Qin Fang offered himself, and Si Teng reluctantly accepted, stating she had no other choice. As she laid out her terms, she mused that she found the idea of so many people losing sleep over her existence to be "truly wonderful."
