Sparkle Love Episode 21 Recap
> Sparkle Love Recap
Mei Weiwei and her friends were trying to reach Mai Sichong, but his phone was unreachable. Li Daixi then informed them that Lin Baihui had mentioned Mai Sichong wasn't in the dorm. Mei Weiwei instructed Li Daixi to call Ding Yi, who confirmed Mai Sichong had just arrived at the swimming pool and gone to the locker room to confront Xia Rui, refusing to let anyone else in. Ding Yi noted Mai Sichong's unprecedented anger.
Mei Weiwei and the others immediately headed to the gym. Inside the locker room, Mai Sichong confronted Xia Rui, who, seeing Mai Sichong's fury, knew his actions had been discovered. Xia Rui admitted to reporting Mai Sichong to the provincial team for cheating and sending the incriminating video and pictures. Mai Sichong questioned his betrayal, considering their long training together as a friendship.
However, Xia Rui coldly stated they were competitors, not friends, and that Mai Sichong's weakness allowed him to win. He confessed to knowing Mei Weiwei was electriferous and considered her his "last bargaining chip," threatening Mai Sichong with the public exposure of Mei Weiwei's condition if he didn't comply. Enraged by Xia Rui using Mei Weiwei, Mai Sichong punched him, leading to a brawl. Ding Yi and the others burst in, separating them.
As Xia Rui left the swimming pool, he passed Mei Weiwei, but his indifferent facade crumbled when he saw the disappointment on Jun Jun's face, a sudden wave of shame washing over him before he walked away with his head bowed. Mai Sichong later revealed to Ding Yi that Xia Rui was the one who reported him to the provincial team for cheating, leaving Ding Yi speechless with shock.
When Mei Weiwei and the rest arrived, seeing Mai Sichong's bruised lip, they inferred the confrontation. Mei Weiwei's heart ached for Mai Sichong's visible distress. Alone on a bench, Xia Rui was consumed by regret. He remembered Mai Sichong's past encouragement, who once noted his slowed speed and challenged him not to give up, acknowledging Xia Rui as one of the few who could beat him.
He also recalled Jun Jun's firm words at the hot spring party, reminding him that Mai Sichong and Mei Weiwei were a couple, and that not all unrequited love finds a resolution, even when Xia Rui argued that Mai Sichong ignored Jun Jun's long-standing affection. Overwhelmed, Xia Rui crumpled the beer cans in his hand. In the dormitory, Ding Yi rallied everyone, asserting that Xia Rui was blackmailing Mai Sichong.
He pressed Li Daixi for information, then speculated if Mei Weiwei was involved. When Ding Yi urged Mai Sichong to open up, Mei Weiwei started to reveal her secret. However, Mai Sichong quickly interrupted, feigning thirst and leading her away to buy water. Outside, Mei Weiwei questioned why he stopped her, suggesting that revealing her electriferous condition would neutralize Xia Rui's threat.
Mai Sichong, however, expressed concern for Mei Weiwei's safety, telling her he didn't want her to risk herself for him. He advised her to protect herself first, and then they would face the challenges together. Later, when Li Daixi noticed Mei Weiwei's distress, Mei Weiwei tried to cover up. Upon returning to the dorm, Xia Rui was immediately confronted by Ding Yi, who angrily questioned his betrayal of their friendship.
Xia Rui retorted that they were rivals, not brothers, justifying his actions as his only path to the provincial team, unlike Mai Sichong, who had a wealthy family as a safety net. Ding Yi condemned his "despicable" behavior. As Xia Rui left, he was met by Mei Weiwei, who earnestly pleaded with him to let her and Mai Sichong go, appealing to what she believed was his fundamentally good nature and asking them not to become enemies.
Xia Rui remained unyielding, asserting that Mai Sichong's departure was his only way into the provincial team. He then cynically questioned if Mai Sichong would truly sacrifice his dream for her, accusing Mei Weiwei of never cherishing anyone, and dismissed her pleas before heading off to training, stating he wouldn't be manipulated. They parted ways on hostile terms. Seeking a solution, Mei Weiwei went to the hospital with her parents, where they met Dr. Jiang.
Mei Weiwei immediately expressed her desire to try the experimental therapy. Dr. Jiang explained that this therapy involved high-voltage instruments and drugs to maintain a heart rate below 110 long-term, and warned that it was still in testing with inherent risks, initially advising against it in favor of stabilizing medication.
However, Mei Weiwei, driven by the thought that eliminating her electricity would remove Xia Rui's leverage over Mai Sichong, firmly insisted on the experimental therapy, viewing it as her last resort. Despite Dr. Jiang's continued warnings about the risks, Mei Weiwei pleaded, stating she simply wanted to live like a normal person. Dr. Jiang then agreed to proceed. Mei Weiwei later began night running at the gym.
Later, Ding Yi, still perplexed by the conflict between Mai Sichong and Xia Rui and the reason Mai Sichong would skip a drug test, deduced Mei Weiwei must be the secret. He and his friends then spotted Mei Weiwei night running, looking "weird," and followed her. They witnessed Mei Weiwei's electricity cause a vending machine to spark and shut down.
Mai Sichong quickly arrived, and Mei Weiwei initially tried to deny anything happened, but Mai Sichong conceded, "This is the whole thing." Realizing the truth, their friends understood that Xia Rui had discovered Mei Weiwei's condition and was using it to blackmail Mai Sichong. Mai Sichong then implored them to keep Mei Weiwei's secret, to which they all readily agreed.
Xia Rui later encountered Jun Jun outside the dorm, who confronted him, asserting he must feel guilty since he anticipated her words. Jun Jun urged him to drop the report, as everyone would believe Mai Sichong cheated. Xia Rui defended his actions, contrasting his limited opportunities with Mai Sichong's privileged background and secure future, stating he had no other option to join the provincial team.
Jun Jun countered that his family background was no justification for such "despicable" actions that harmed both Mai Sichong and himself. Xia Rui, dismissive, questioned if her concern was truly for him or for Mai Sichong. Back in his dorm, Xia Rui stared silently at his past conversations with Jun Jun on his phone. In a classroom, students' phones simultaneously buzzed with news spreading through the school chat group: rumors of Mai Sichong cheating in the provincial training camp trials.
Many students blamed Mei Weiwei, calling her a "pest" and questioning the legitimacy of Mai Sichong's past achievements. Later, at a wellness lecture hosted by Lin Baihui, Mei Weiwei was met by a hostile crowd. The students directly confronted her, accusing her of being the reason Mai Sichong was exposed. Lin Baihui tried to defend her, but the students insisted Mai Sichong's actions were a disgrace.
Mei Weiwei attempted to clarify, starting to explain that Mai Sichong missed his drug test "because. . ." but was unable to voice the truth. Overwhelmed by the malicious accusations, she fled. Mai Sichong found Mei Weiwei and immediately apologized for failing to protect her, acknowledging the suffering she endured because of him. Mei Weiwei insisted it wasn't his fault and that she could protect him too.
She suggested letting Xia Rui reveal her secret and urged Mai Sichong to take the drug test, asking him why he should bear the burden of her condition. Mai Sichong reassured her, promising to find a solution within the deadline and telling her to prioritize her own well-being. Mei Weiwei made him promise to take the drug test before the deadline.
Mai Sichong then made a heartfelt pledge, promising to always support her, to bear any burden, pave any difficult path, and ensure they would have a beautiful life together, reassuring her not to be afraid because he would always be by her side. Returning home, both Mai Sichong and Mei Weiwei independently reflected on their current predicaments and their feelings for each other.
Mei Weiwei remembered the isolation and bullying she endured due to her electricity, and Mai Sichong's promise to protect her. Mai Sichong, in turn, recalled his deep passion for swimming, Mei Weiwei's unwavering belief in his potential as an Olympic champion, and his commitment to building a beautiful future with her.
Mei Weiwei then received a phone call from Mai Sichong, who, sensing her distress, assured her he was seeking more time for his drug test and even contemplated giving up competitive swimming to become a coach if necessary, emphasizing their safety as paramount. Deeply moved by his words and potential sacrifice, Mei Weiwei went to see Dr. Jiang alone.
Despite Dr. Jiang's renewed warnings about the risks of the experimental therapy, Mei Weiwei firmly insisted, stating her prescribed medication hadn't worked and this was her last chance to live like a normal person, confirming her parents' awareness and her belief that her condition was a form of "human over-evolution." Finally, she lay down on the experimental test bed. After undergoing the experimental therapy, Mei Weiwei, completely drained, collapsed at the entrance of her dormitory.
Li Daixi and others heard the commotion and rushed to help her back inside. When Mei Weiwei finally awoke, she found Mai Sichong lying beside her. He, clearly worried, asked how she was feeling and what had happened, explaining Li Daixi had called him when she fainted. Mei Weiwei, however, was focused on a profound change within herself; her electricity, she realized, had completely vanished.
