My Mr. Mermaid (浪花一朵朵)

​ Segments and Subtitles brought to you by the Just Keep Swimming Volunteer Team @ Viki

Episode 18 -

You clearly knew that I wanted you to stay away far away from Yibai, but you still came to look for him.

You even went farther this time, and asked for a personal interview.

You purposefully want to create trouble for me and Yibai, right?

No, no, no, Coach Wu. I think you misunderstood.

This is my job, I'm not trying to give you any problems.

Okay, I hope you can reconsider it. I won't bother you anymore. Bye.

Wait.

Runmei, can I express my opinion on this?

Of course, go ahead.

If it's really like what you say, little girl. Your interview

focuses on Tang Yibai's efforts during his everyday practice and displays his motivation towards his dream.

Runmei, maybe this interview

could help Tang Yibai gain some credibility

in front of the Asia Elite Training Team's coaches. This is a good opportunity.

Coach Fei, I have a question to ask you. - Go ahead.

If Tang Yibai really joins the Asia Elite Training Team, can I still interview him?

Of course, but by then, you'd have to interview him in America.

America?

You're saying, if he joins the team, he'd have to go to America?

Yes. Once he joins, I'll take him to America's training facility for secret training.

It would take at least...18 months.

Coach Wu, you're looking for me?

I have to talk about two things. Do you want to join the Asia Elite Training Team?

I haven't decided.

What is there to hesitate about?

It's such a good opportunity. Most people would be so happy hearing it.

If I were you, I'd agree to go immediately.

Coach Wu, you want me to go, too?

I've been losing to him my whole life, in both my swimming career and love life.

But after seeing how he helped you today, I can't help but admit defeat.

Coach Wu!

Today, he used one song and improved your time by a second and a half.

I lost fair and square.

Next to him, I should be called Fei Coach. "Fei" as in "fail."

Coach Wu, don't say that. You will always be the best coach in my heart.

Enough.

It's good if you leave with Fei Yu. It's better than staying with me.

You'll have a greater chance to become the fastest swimmer.

Think about if carefully. Don't make a decision you will regret.

I will.

Coach Wu, you told me you'd tell me two things. Then the 2nd thing...

Have her tell you the second thing herself.

If I didn't guess incorrectly, you're suggesting me to go interview with you,

to keep an eye on me because you're scared I'll expose your true identity to Yun Duo.

Right?

You only guessed half of it right. I do have a motive for suggesting to go with you,

but it's more than that.

What do you mean?

I want to make a deal with you. As long as you can help me keep this secret,

and keep my identity from Yun Duo, I can help you.

Are you trying to bribe me?

Okay, I want you to use James Lin's identity to accept my interview.

I knew you wouldn't agree, I was just joking.

I won't tell Yun Duo about your situation.

Rest assured. I want you to remain in debt to me.

Okay, don't try to act tough.

With your situation right now, you must need someone to help you.

What does that mean?

If I didn't guess wrong, Director Liu asked you to stay behind earlier

to say that if you don't improve your performance, you can't pass your internship.

That's weird. Something so important,

why didn't you tell Yun Duo when she asked you earlier?

Aren't you best friends?

It's because you realized Director Liu likes Yun Duo more and more.

You were scared to hurt your pride. That's why you didn't tell her. Right?

That's not it. Yun Duo and I have been great friends for many years.

I have always helped her, taken care of her, and helped her solve problems.

So we have grown used to living like that.

So, I don't want her to worry for me. That's why I didn't tell her.

It's not lying, like you said.

Okay, I don't care what you say. As long as you can live with it.

But don't worry, I won't let you fail.

I told you, the only purpose I came to this company was for Yun Duo.

And you are Yun Duo's best friend. She told me more than once

that her biggest wish is to pass the internship together with you.

Her wish is my wish.

I will do anything to get what she wants.

This is the real price I am using to bribe you.

Coach Yuan really let you do the personal interview?

Yeah. But she gave me two conditions.

Once she finds out that my interview interferes with your practice,

or I make up things, or write random stuff in the reports,

she will stop the interview immediately,

and never accept another one of QKVideo's interviews.

What's wrong?

You heard about me joining the Asia Elite Training Team, right?

Everyone gave an opinion on it. You haven't said anything.

I'm waiting to hear it.

I didn't say anything because I was waiting for you to say something.

I... - It's probably an occupational disease.

Instead of my opinion,

I want to know more how you feel.

I...

Tang Yibai, you're faced with such a hard decision,

do you have anything you want to say?

You're still interviewing at this time? You're such a professional.

Don't think of this as a camera or interview.

Just pretend that it is a tree hole.

Tree hole?

Yeah, like you can tell it any kind of secret

and it won't tell anyone. A tree hole.

As a swimmer, to be able to join the Asia Elite Training Team

is equivalent to standing in a worldwide stage. I will be closer to my dream,

but I have a group of teammates and coaches who worked together with me.

This is my starting point.

We promised to become champions together, and help South Physical become first in the nation again.

How could I easily break our promise?

More importantly, joining the Asia Elite Training Team

means that I will need to train overseas for more than a year.

I can't leave behind Coach Wu and Head Coach Yuan.

I can't leave behind my best friends, and most importantly, I can't leave...

I understand.

You can't leave Auntie Lu, Mr. Tang, and Erbai.

But I think that as long as it is your dream,

even if you're not by their side, they will still be supporting you.

You, too?

Of course! I am your number one fan.

Maybe I can go interview you overseas in the future.

Right now, don't treat yourself as a reporter, and don't treat me as an athlete.

Even more, don't treat me as your interviewee.

Tell me the truth.

Do you want me to abandon everything here to join the Asia Elite Training Team

or do you want me to stay to fulfill our promise to each other?

I remember you telling me that your dream is to become the fastest swimmer in the world.

So as your friend, of course I want you to accomplish your dream.

If joining the Asia Elite Training Team

leads you closer to your dream, why wouldn't you go?

Don't overthink.

No matter what choice you make, I will support you.

Okay, you should probably head back to training.

I still need to prepare materials for your interview.

Let's go.

By the way, when we went back to your high school last time,

wasn't there a DV camera filled with your videos from high school?

Yeah, what's the matter?

Could you let me borrow it?

I want to add some footage of you in high school into this interview.

No problem. I'll get it to you later.

Okay.

Little One, stop being so biased and only film Yibai.

I'm not only filming him. I'm filming you three.

Come to me! Look at me!

Stop messing around. You're so ugly.

Yes, yes. Don't forget me!

Stop filming.

Tang Yibai, you train so hard everyday. Don't you find it tiring or boring?

In order to achieve my dreams, this training is nothing.

What is your dream?

Do I even need to say?

It's to become the fastest male swimmer in this world, of course!

Tang Yibai, good luck.

Y-You finished running already?

Yes. Why did you come so early?

It's my first day of your personal interview. Of course, I can't be late.

It's only 6 a.m., though. It's a little too early.

It's not early. I have to record your everyday life and training, so I need to keep up with your tempo.

Moreover, you already finished running. Maybe I'm late.

I need to come earlier tomorrow so that I can record your running.

I don't think that's necessary. - It is!

This is the daily life of an athlete.

Honestly, I'm a little doubtful. Do people really want to watch me train?

Yes! Of course, they do!

Everyone wants to know the daily life of a highly skilled swimmer like you.

It must be interesting and fun.

Maybe we'll be able to see those brand-new training black technology

as seen in movies.

Don't be too excited about that. I'm afraid to disappoint you.

I won't be.

Don't mind me. Pretend like I don't exist. Continue training.

I really can ignore you?

Yes.

Continue training. I'll just film you from afar.

Okay. - Go train.

Okay.

Tang Yibai was absolutely right.

Turns out a swimmer's daily life has nothing to do with excitement.

Repetitious and tedious exercises,

repetitious seemingly identical actions,

repetitious training

of those core muscles I have never heard of before.

Just filming him felt dull.

I really don't know how he stands these numerously repetitious exercises

and unexciting days.

After many hours of filming, I realized one thing.

No matter how dull the training, no matter how many times he had to repeat it,

each time, Tang Yibai gave it his all.

In that moment, my heart was a little touched.

I never thought that for athletes like Tang Yibai,

their competition isn't merely in the swimming pool when faced against their opponent for a few seconds,

it is also in their every training session.

It is every minute, every second, of pushing through the pain of torn muscles.

It is the persistence through every drop of sweat that will make them stronger.

It is the look in their eyes, saying that they will not give up.

It is the growls to force them to keep going.

They are like repeated promises to their dreams.

At this moment, for some reason,

I admired Tang Yibai a lot

because I know that every moment he's experiencing now