The Wonderful World Episode 20 Recap
> The Wonderful World Recap
Before the performance, Wen Xiaoyao and Zhou Tong had a conversation. Zhou Tong stated their relationship was over, explaining that she didn't truly accept the director's vision for her role as Bai Suzhen and didn't love him, believing she loved herself the most. He felt these two reasons made everything awkward and mentioned he would be flying to Malaysia the next day. Events at the theater took a dramatic turn when Yang Yun, the dancer playing Bai Suzhen, was injured.
With the premiere the next day, the understudy would need to take over. Wen Xiaoyao, who aspired to the role, initially expressed she couldn't dance at that moment, but when challenged about handling the responsibility, she affirmed she could. The lead role of Bai Suzhen was hers. This unexpected development meant changing posters and preparing for reporters, with the ballet company announcing the role change. After the events at the theater, Wen Xiaoyao left, followed by Xu Tian.
She went into a pub and began drinking. Xu Tian found her and urged her to drink less. Wen Xiaoyao confessed that seeing Xu Tian, who resembled Zhou Tong, was difficult. Despite knowing he wasn't the same person, she couldn't control her desire to spend more time with him and wondered if he would look for her if she were to disappear. Xu Tian confirmed he would.
Soon after, Xiaomi located Wen Xiaoyao using her phone's GPS and arrived with Zhao Gang (also known as Uncle Hui and Mr. Qiao). Xiaomi tearfully implored her not to abandon her dance career, especially alone in Hangzhou without family, and urged her to return to Beijing. Wen Xiaoyao remained unresponsive. As they argued outside in the rain, their dispute was interrupted by the sudden crash of a car nearby that had lost control.
Meanwhile, back at the pub, Xu Tian learned about Zhou Tong's death and was stunned. He finished the drink Wen Xiaoyao had left behind before leaving the pub feeling dejected. Shi Diandian arrived by plane, feeling anxious about seeing Xu Tian. She took some medicine and in the taxi practiced explaining her feelings to him. She was met at a hotel lobby and directed upstairs to see her mother, Fang Fang (referred to as Mr. Fang in the subtitles).
While in another taxi later, Shi Diandian practiced what she would say to Wen Xiaoyao, intending to state that she and Xu Tian were just beginning their relationship and she hoped Wen Xiaoyao would leave Hangzhou soon. Feeling unwell and disoriented, Xu Tian went into Lao Shi's convenience store. He asked for two identical bottles of water, presenting them as a choice, which caused Lao Shi concern about his state of mind.
Xu Tian explained that he had seen a person who looked exactly like him (Zhou Tong), feeling that this person represented a connection for him in the world. Learning that this person had disappeared from the world had deeply upset him, leading him to drink heavily. Shi Diandian went to the convenience store to buy some items. Inside, by the shelves, she unexpectedly encountered Xu Tian.
He asked her why she had returned so suddenly, and she replied that she came simply to see him. As they walked back, Shi Diandian cautiously inquired if the old ring had been sold. Xu Tian told her that Wen Xiaoyao had returned it that very day and that he had later coincidentally met Wen Xiaoyao on the street, leading to them visiting the theater where Jia Sulan performed.
Hearing this seemed to make Shi Diandian more uneasy, and she forgot the things she had just bought until Lao Shi reminded them. They continued walking back towards the tailor shop. When they arrived, Shi Diandian seemed to forget the door code, and Xu Tian had to open it. As they entered, the plastic bag containing their purchases suddenly broke, scattering the food on the ground. Later, Wen Xiaoyao, Xiaomi, and Zhao Gang were together in a rental house.
Zhao Gang expressed frustration at their childish behavior and his wasted efforts over the years. He tried to reason with Wen Xiaoyao about her life and career choices, reminding her of her dedication to dance, the lessons she should have learned from loss (like her mother's death), and how quitting now would be a waste of decades of practice. When Wen Xiaoyao remained unresponsive, Zhao Gang became angry and prepared to leave.
Wen Xiaoyao followed him to a hotel and transferred her remaining funds to him. Zhao Gang then chased after her again, trying to persuade her not to give up dancing altogether, even if it wasn't the White Snake role. He suggested they could re-rehearse Yang Yun's 'Jin Se' instead, acknowledging Wen Xiaoyao was a rare talent he didn't want to see wasted. Shi Diandian prepared a meal for Xu Tian.
During dinner, the power suddenly went out, which reminded Xu Tian of the day Zhou Tong had arrived in Hangzhou, creating a sense of fated connection despite Zhou Tong's death. Shi Diandian revealed that she had only learned of Zhou Tong's death while she was about to board her plane and that she had rushed back specifically because she worried Wen Xiaoyao would take Xu Tian away.
She recalled how her mother, Fang Fang, had summarized the situation during Shi Diandian's engagement, suggesting that while Shi Diandian could provide Xu Tian with security, there was no real affection between them, and perhaps Wen Xiaoyao might be a more suitable partner for him. Feeling that she wouldn't be able to control the situation in the long run, Shi Diandian decided it might be better to allow Xu Tian and Wen Xiaoyao to be together sooner rather than later. With that, she placed a photograph of Xu Tian's mother with Jia Sulan on the table, turned the power back on, and quietly left.
