The Bond Episode 20 Recap
> The Bond Recap
Qiao Erqiang went to pick up Sun Xiaomo, who had been working late and getting home increasingly later. Sun Xiaomo, feeling stressed and exhausted, reacted with tension and frustration, even accusing Qiao Erqiang of deliberately trying to worry her and seeking a "sense of purpose" by helping. Qiao Erqiang patiently explained he was genuinely concerned for her safety and offered to stop picking her up unless she specifically asked.
Despite his calm demeanor, Sun Xiaomo called him "spineless" for enduring her anger without complaint. She announced she had a business trip with Manager Chen that weekend, and then advised Qiao Erqiang to think about his own future, suggesting he couldn't spend his entire life moving books. Qiao Simei consoled Ye Xiaolang about their difficult parents, remarking that while good people are similar, bad people are bad in a "thousand different ways."
She jokingly nicknamed Qiao Yicheng "Auntie Qiao" for his nagging and stinginess. She then asked Ye Xiaolang when Qiao Yicheng would join her in America. Ye Xiaolang confessed a premonition that he wouldn't go, expressing worry about how they would maintain their relationship across such a vast distance. Qiao Simei dismissed these concerns, reassuring her that love has a powerful life of its own, just like her love for Qi Chenggang.
However, Ye Xiaolang countered that love comes and goes unpredictably and admitted she was worried because Qi Chenggang hadn't been in touch. Soon after, Ye Xiaolang fell asleep. The next morning, Qiao Simei and Ye Xiaolang left for work hand-in-hand, waving goodbye to Qiao Yicheng. Early one morning, after Qiao Erqiang saw Sun Xiaomo off to the bus stop for her trip, Qiao Simei was on the phone trying to get Qi Chenggang's contact information.
Inside Wang Yiding's home, his mother instructed a pregnant Qiao Sanli to mop the floor, causing both of them to slip and fall. Wang Yiding, who had been asleep, immediately rushed them to the hospital. There, they discovered Qiao Sanli was pregnant and had nearly suffered a miscarriage. Qiao Yicheng arrived swiftly, confronting Wang Yiding about allowing his pregnant wife to mop, especially while he was asleep.
Qiao Sanli defended Wang Yiding, explaining he had been working late shifts and that they wouldn't have known about the pregnancy otherwise. Qiao Yicheng remained stern, reminding them he wasn't as easily fooled as Qiao Erqiang. Wang Yiding apologized repeatedly, and Qiao Sanli urged him to check on his own mother, who had also fallen and possibly twisted her back.
After getting medicine for Qiao Sanli, Qiao Yicheng encountered Qiao Simei, who had brought their aunt, Wei Shufang, to the hospital for sudden stomach pain. Doctors suspected a benign tumor and planned further tests. Learning of Qiao Sanli's pregnancy, Qiao Simei was overjoyed, though Qiao Yicheng appeared less enthusiastic.
Later that evening at home, Wang Yiding returned with olive oil, explaining that during Qiao Sanli’s tests, he was so frightened he spent his time reading pregnancy information on the hospital walls. He diligently applied the oil to Qiao Sanli's belly, calves, thighs, and waist, determined to prevent stretch marks, fearing she might dislike her body otherwise.
He also vowed to work more overtime to save money so they could eventually move into their own place, promising to use their canceled wedding trip money for a future family trip with their child. Meanwhile, Song Qingyuan drove Ye Xiaolang's parents, telling them Qiao Yicheng and Ye Xiaolang were busy. He then surprised them by taking them to a hospital for check-ups, despite their protests.
Ye Xiaolang's parents accused him and Qiao Yicheng of tricking them, but Song Qingyuan insisted it was the best hospital and Qiao Yicheng was a rare, good son-in-law. Song Qingyuan explained that humans, like machines, need regular check-ups to prevent minor issues from becoming serious. To everyone's relief, a hospital director acquainted with Song Qingyuan informed them that Ye Xiaolang's parents were in excellent health.
Afterward, Song Qingyuan told Qiao Yicheng that Qi Weimin would be back next week, and they should have a farewell dinner for both Ye Xiaolang and Chang Xinyu, as Chang Xinyu was also leaving for a six-month exchange program in America from the TV station.
Qiao Yicheng later urged Ye Xiaolang to see her parents off, emphasizing that they didn't yet know about her plans to go to America, and her presence would offer them peace of mind, preventing them from feeling deceived. After her business trip, Manager Chen drove Sun Xiaomo home but stopped near her house to avoid being seen. She got out of the car resentfully and in tears.
At school, Qiao Qiqi tried to talk to Yang Lingzi, but she was surrounded by other boys, playfully dismissing Qiao Qiqi and stating her mother's advice to be selective. Qiao Yicheng and Qi Weimin picked up Wei Shufang from the hospital. Wei Shufang thanked Qiao Yicheng for his help, feeling she was a burden, but Qiao Yicheng assured her it was his duty as her nephew.
Qiao Qiqi was home instead of at school, claiming the computer lab was being upgraded. Wei Shufang's husband invited Qiao Yicheng and Qi Weimin for dinner, but Qiao Yicheng declined, reminding Qi Weimin of their plan for Chang Xinyu's farewell dinner. As Qi Weimin would also be out of Nanjing, he advised Qiao Qiqi to contact Qiao Yicheng for urgent matters and gave him Chang Xinyu's email.
Qi Weimin then suggested to Qiao Yicheng that he should personally take care of Qiao Qiqi rather than relying on others, subtly criticizing Qiao Yicheng for not visiting often enough. He further implied that Chang Xinyu, like a "star" moving into a wider "universe," would soon leave Qiao Yicheng's "orbit" and reminded him of his wedding day advice: "The ultimate winners are the people who can maintain their laughter until the very end."
Qiao Yicheng retorted that Ye Xiaolang had long desired to go abroad, and he would not hinder her. Meanwhile, Qiao Sanli, despite being pregnant, was still doing housework. Wang Yiding's mother focused her attention on her other son, Wang Yining's, wedding, demanding that Wang Yiding hand over his and Qiao Sanli's wedding and travel money for Wang Yining and his fiancée Xiao Min's expenses.
On the day of Ye Xiaolang's departure, Qiao Yicheng gave her numerous instructions and well-wishes, while Ye Xiaolang advised him to consider his own needs more. She insisted that neither Qiao Yicheng nor Song Qingyuan see her off, as she disliked emotional goodbyes. Qiao Yicheng tried to help her with her luggage, but Ye Xiaolang firmly refused, telling him to stay in the car. Qiao Yicheng reluctantly watched her walk away alone.
On the way home, he discovered Ye Xiaolang had left her savings book in the car. Song Qingyuan remarked that Ye Xiaolang had her "own ways of affection," a rare compliment that Qiao Yicheng noted. Unbeknownst to them, on the plane, Ye Xiaolang found a guarantee letter she had written years ago, with a note on the back confirming her father had received money for her brother's affairs.
Qiao Sanli received a letter from her old admirer, nicknamed "Sparrow Eye," who informed her he was leaving Nanjing to pursue business in the south and would likely not return, wishing her happiness. At a skating rink, Qiao Erqiang accidentally bumped into Ma Suqin’s son, Zhiyong. Looking up, he saw Ma Suqin, and his eyes lit up with visible joy at the reunion. Qiao Yicheng and Ye Xiaolang continued to communicate via email.
Ye Xiaolang informed him that she was doing well in America; the first semester was challenging but manageable. The money Yicheng had borrowed from Xiaomeng for Ye Xiaolang's family was quickly repaid. Xiaomeng then invited Qiao Yicheng and Song Qingyuan to dinner, playfully suggesting it could be a farewell for Qiao Yicheng before he went to America. Qiao Yicheng clarified he was not going abroad.
Song Qingyuan refused the dinner, stating that Xiaomeng wouldn't be herself if she didn't criticize Ye Xiaolang. Qiao Yicheng admitted he was increasingly confused about whether Xiaomeng and Ye Xiaolang were truly friends. Following his reunion with Ma Suqin, Qiao Erqiang began frequently visiting her tofu shop, buying vegetables for "two families" and helping with repairs.
Ma Suqin urged him to spend more time with his own family, but Qiao Erqiang insisted that as her disciple, it was his duty to help her. He also noted that she never accepted money for his tofu purchases. Later, Manager Chen invited Sun Xiaomo to dinner again. She called home only after Qiao Erqiang had already prepared dinner, claiming she lost track of time on her computer.
Back at their home, Sun Xiaomo's mother expressed her disapproval of Sun Xiaomo's constant late returns. She advised Qiao Erqiang to change his approach, suggesting he shouldn't always be so accommodating and should use a "stick and carrot" method to keep the relationship interesting. She criticized him for eating tofu every day for a month, declaring she wouldn't last a day if she were Sun Xiaomo.
