Episode 36 recap: Li Guo Duo and Chen Wei Lan Win the National College League Championship
In Episode 36, standing on the beach volleyball court of the National College League, Li Guo Duo was filled with a sense of accomplishment. From the initial voices of opposition around her, to now competing at the highest level, she was even more convinced that by persisting in her dream, she would find her best self. Chen Wei Lan was grateful that she had not given up, and had found love in addition to beach volleyball.
Li Guo Duo and Chen Wei Lan won their first group match. Tu Ling Ling and Long Ya watched from the sidelines and noticed how much Li Guo Duo had improved. The next match was against Ocean University. Li Da Fu analyzed Long Ya's attack patterns, advising Chen Wei Lan to try to avoid them. Li Guo Duo and Tu Ling Ling used to be partners, then became rivals, always playing with an edge. Now, Li Guo Duo was finally able to approach the game with a calm mindset, which brought her a sense of peace.
During the match, Li Guo Duo displayed a diverse range of attacks, catching Ocean University off guard. Ultimately, Li Guo Duo and Chen Wei Lan emerged victorious, securing New Port University's best result in 8 years. After the group stage, Liang Yueting confronted Chen Wei Lan, ready to physically shove her. Li Guo Duo stepped in front to defend her, only to be pushed to the ground, scraping her leg badly. Wang Xiu Yun urged Li Guo Duo to forfeit the match, but she refused. Back in her room, Li Guo Duo felt scared, when Shao Nian suddenly appeared, promising to stay by her side. He had been changing her bandages every two hours the previous night to ensure her wound healed quickly.
The next day, Li Guo Duo and Chen Wei Lan faced Liang Yueting. Two years ago, Chen Wei Lan had beaten Liang Yueting, but did not receive the MVP award, so this match was about regaining their pride. Li Da Fu recognized Liang Yueting as a rare player with both power and skill, and thought the chances of defeating her were slim.
In the first half, New Port University took the lead, but Liang Yueting told her partner to focus on attacking Li Guo Duo's injured leg in the second half. Li Guo Duo struggled to hold her ground, and with Chen Wei Lan alone, they quickly fell behind.
After a break, Chen Wei Lan realized Liang Yueting was still as formidable as ever, having trained in beach volleyball for a full year. She increased the power of her spikes, but Li Guo Duo kept crashing to the ground, her injury seeming to worsen. Chen Wei Lan was ready to request a timeout.
But Li Guo Duo refused, quickly getting back up to face the challenge. Li Da Fu, watching from the stands, was pained to see his daughter's dedication to the sport. As Li Guo Duo kept jumping up despite her injury, the audience erupted in cheers. In the end, New Port University won by 2 points over the Sports University. Li Guo Duo's leg was covered in blood, yet she had become the most shining, inspiring athlete on the court.
A few days later, Li Guo Duo and Chen Wei Lan were selected for the national youth team. At the celebratory barbecue hosted by Li Da Fu, Lu Xiao Le arrived with Tian Qing, holding up her hand with an engagement ring, prompting everyone to raise their glasses in congratulations. Tu Ling Ling and Long Ya passed by the lively scene, and felt inspired to also train together for the national youth team tryouts.
The next day, Li Guo Duo and Chen Wei Lan participated in the national youth team selection. Regardless of the outcome, they had both found their best selves at the prime of their youth, with boundless potential for the future.
Comments(Episode 36)