The Bond Episode 26 Recap
> The Bond Recap
Xiang Nanfang went to see fireflies, and Qiao Yicheng, leaving Song Qingyuan behind, followed her. Xiang Nanfang shared that she didn't need a specific reason or a plan to want to see fireflies, she simply wanted to. Qiao Yicheng was surprised by her spontaneous and carefree nature, especially given her background from a high-ranking family and her military education. He noted that if he didn't know her well, he wouldn't have guessed her upbringing.
When Xiang Nanfang sneezed, Qiao Yicheng put his coat over her shoulders. As it was winter, he pointed out that they wouldn't see any fireflies until dawn, and suggested they go home since he had interviews scheduled for the next day. Xiang Nanfang apologized for the fruitless trip. To fulfill her wish, Qiao Yicheng used a camera, creating a silhouette and adjusting the focus to make it appear as if there were fireflies, which Xiang Nanfang fondly named "heart-shaped flies."
Meanwhile, Song Qingyuan, waking up from his drunken state on the roadside, realized he was abandoned. He later playfully scolded Qiao Yicheng for ditching him to spend time with Xiang Nanfang, joking about them "messing around" together, a claim Qiao Yicheng quickly dismissed, stating they were merely work friends. Qiao Sanli was busy with the renovation of their new home when Wang Yiding came to apologize.
He admitted he was wrong for his earlier outburst and mentioned that his mother had cried, fearing she would grow old alone. Qiao Sanli, however, remained firm, arguing that if his mother continued to use such reasons to control him, their future life together would be unsustainable. Qiao Sanli decided that she would return to Wang Mother’s house every day to cook for her, and they could communicate by phone.
Wang Mother initially reacted with sarcasm, noting how quiet the house was and musing about opening a mahjong hall. Despite her passive-aggressive remarks, and after Wang Yiding assured her they would continue to provide for her living expenses and utility bills, she reluctantly agreed to their moving out. The couple then happily decorated their new small home.
Separately, Qiao Erqiang and Ma Suqin led a simple, ordinary life, often picking up Zhiyong together, enjoying small moments like Erqiang teasing Suqin about his cycling speed. Qiao Simei, waiting for her prenatal checkup, had to use a public phone since she forgot her pager. She complained to the phone owner about her husband, Qi Chenggang, missing her appointment.
When she finally reached him, he abruptly canceled, explaining he had a "big client" going to Shi Jiuhu and had to leave in ten minutes, telling her to take a taxi home. Upset, Qiao Simei visited Qiao Sanli, rambling about her life and suggesting Wang Yiding open his own car repair shop, a business idea Sanli noted she was still considering due to being busy with moving and renovating.
Sanli also subtly dismissed Simei's concerns about marital disharmony, implicitly referring to Simei's own relationship issues. Wang Yiding, observing Qiao Sanli's plan to cook daily for his mother, believed it was just to provoke her and suggested that they should bring his mother to live with them instead. Wang Yiding then announced that he had resigned from his job.
Qiao Sanli supported his decision, seeing it as a new beginning, and even brought out a bottle of wine Qiao Simei had given them to celebrate their new house and his fresh start. Wang Yiding, however, was impatient and had no immediate plans. When Qiao Sanli suggested he open his own shop and become his own boss, he became angry, dismissed the idea, and stormed off to stay at his old home with his mother for a few days.
Qiao Simei grew increasingly uneasy about Qi Chenggang’s recent behavior. One night, when he returned late, she found a woman's hair on him. Qi Chenggang calmly explained it away, stating that as a taxi driver, he interacts with dozens of men and women daily, implying the hair was from a passenger. He asked her to trust him and promised to massage her legs, leaving her unable to argue further.
Wang Yiding's sudden return home late at night further upset Wang Mother, who immediately accused Qiao Sanli of instigating him to distance himself from his family. At the same time, Qiao Sanli was busy caring for a crying Xuanxuan. While Qi Chenggang was showering, Qiao Simei secretly jotted down his recent phone numbers and then went to his car with tape, trying to find more evidence. Although she found nothing, her heart remained unsettled.
She even called a taxi call center to ask about "Hongfa Restaurant," which she suspected was related to his recent activities, claiming to be his wife. Qiao Erqiang had cooked wontons, and after he went to his room, Zhiyong secretly ate them. Qiao Erqiang, observing this from his doorway, was relieved.
Qiao Simei made a lace-trimmed lumbar support belt for Qi Chenggang, hoping that its unique design would make other passengers realize he was a married man with a skillful wife. She expressed her guilt to Qiao Sanli for suspecting Qi Chenggang of cheating. Qiao Sanli, however, found Simei's suspicions completely normal, remarking that if she were in Simei's position, she would have suspected him much earlier.
When Simei asked if Sanli suspected her own husband, Wang Yiding, Sanli firmly said no, stating that love required one hundred percent trust. She concluded that people ultimately believe what they want to believe, and trust is born from love. Qiao Yicheng and Song Qingyuan conducted an interview at an after-school tutoring agency.
Song Qingyuan voiced his skepticism, questioning the need for such tutoring and criticizing the sly nature of those who ran them, claiming he became successful without ever attending one. Qiao Yicheng, however, responded that he started caring for children a long time ago, implying his understanding of parental pressures. Their interview with the agency's director, where they exposed discrepancies between the agency's claims and regulations, provoked an angry parent. During the confrontation, Qiao Yicheng was kicked, sustaining a work injury.
In the hospital, Song Qingyuan lightheartedly gossiped about Qiao Yicheng and Xiang Nanfang, even suggesting Yicheng might become his "half brother-in-law." Just then, Xiang Nanfang arrived, causing Song Qingyuan to discreetly excuse himself. Qiao Yicheng appeared visibly uncomfortable as Xiang Nanfang kindly checked on him and offered him fruit and snacks. Meanwhile, Qiao Sanli accompanied Qiao Simei for a check-up. The doctor informed Simei that she had moderate swelling. Downstairs, they encountered Song Qingyuan, who comically mixed up their names.
Hearing about Qiao Yicheng's injury, they rushed to his ward. However, pausing outside the door, they overheard Qiao Yicheng and Xiang Nanfang talking and, seemingly happy for the developing connection, decided not to go in. Xiang Nanfang offered Qiao Yicheng kumquats, explaining a traditional remedy for a hoarse voice, further highlighting her care. Qiao Simei asked Song Qingyuan for a ride to Huamei Restaurant, leaving Qiao Sanli to return alone.
Sanli reflected on her earlier conversation with Qiao Yicheng, reiterating his words that siblings, having grown up, should learn to handle their own life and problems. Back at his old house, Wang Mother demanded that Wang Yiding hand over his compensation money, suggesting it be used for his brother's business and to retrieve his payroll card. Wang Yiding then calmly revealed to her that he had already resigned.
Wang Mother immediately blamed Qiao Sanli, yelling that it must have been her idea and accusing her of deceiving him and trying to alienate him from the family. Qiao Sanli arrived during the heated argument, calmly asserting her clear conscience. Wang Yiding defended Qiao Sanli, stating she only learned of his resignation a few days prior, but his mother dismissed his words, continuing her tirade. At this point, Qiao Zuwang arrived, carrying a crying Xuanxuan.
He complained loudly about the "torture" of babysitting, declaring he wouldn't do it again even for money, and called the baby a "little ancestor" who shortened his life. Amidst the chaos, Wang Yiding revealed his true intentions to his mother: he would not give her the compensation money. Instead, he planned to use that money to open his own repair shop and "establish his own household," starting from scratch.
