The Wonderful World Episode 28 Recap
> The Wonderful World Recap
Life's journey continues, and Wen Xiaoyao's friend, who she calls Little Ears, invites Qiaomi to join her in wandering far away. Little Ears emphasizes freedom, suggesting they could go anywhere, with her singing and Qiaomi dancing, making happiness under the open sky. Qiaomi expresses hesitation, worried about her father, Wen Xiaoyao, and giving up her ballet career.
Little Ears dismisses these concerns, believing Qiaomi can leave them behind for love and for "us," describing free love as beautiful but also acknowledging it might fade. Despite finding Little Ears' bluntness understandable, Qiaomi finds the idea unreliable but still believes in it somehow. Little Ears announces they will leave for Yunnan from West Railway Station at 10 AM the next day, telling Qiaomi she won't need any luggage.
Qiaomi voices her doubt that she could truly abandon her loved ones and the stage, but Little Ears confirms the plan regardless. Back home, Qiaomi asks Wen Xiaoyao if Zhou Tong ever spoke about leaving to wander. Wen Xiaoyao says the opposite is true; after meeting her, Zhou Tong decided he didn't want to wander anymore and wanted to settle down with her in Beijing.
Wen Xiaoyao then presents Qiaomi with a qipao that belonged to her mother, explaining she has one for each of them. Meanwhile, Xu Tian helps Diandian prepare for a job interview by going over common HR questions he found online.
They practice answers to questions about why she chose the company, why they should hire her (she says honestly, because she needs to pay rent), her personal qualities (she calls herself ordinary, but Xu Tian calls her the prettiest), and her motto. When asked about her family, Xu Tian suggests she include him, adding "Dad, mom, you, and me" to her answer.
Later, at a coffee shop, after buying drinks, Diandian suddenly tells Xu Tian they didn't pay and urges him to run. Unwilling to do anything wrong, Xu Tian returns to the shop and finds out Diandian had paid, realizing she simply played a prank on him. Diandian is later heard on the phone with her mother, saying she's doing well in Beijing and has made new friends, ending the call as Xu Tian appears.
The next day, Qiao Guanghui drives Qiaomi and Wen Xiaoyao to West Railway Station. Qiao Guanghui speaks dramatically, warning that if Qiaomi leaves with "that guy," he will confront him aggressively, even facing prison, to protect her, while still emphasizing his love for Wen Xiaoyao too. As Qiaomi exits the vehicle, stating her intention to go to Yunnan, Wen Xiaoyao calmly tells Qiao Guanghui that Qiaomi isn't actually leaving because she brought no luggage.
They decide to drive around the block and return for her. Qiaomi speaks to Little Ears, suggesting she will be fine once she matures. Little Ears asks if Qiaomi isn't coming, and Qiaomi says she will wait for Little Ears to stop wandering and take her home. Little Ears counters that they may never meet again, not because of distance, but because their hearts have drifted apart. Little Ears professes her love, which Qiaomi finds simultaneously unreliable and believable.
After they part, Wen Xiaoyao finds Qiaomi and confronts Little Ears, accusing her of hurting Qiaomi and calling her harmful. Wen Xiaoyao states she and Qiaomi are like one person and dismisses Little Ears' view that sometimes one must let go to gain something else. Qiao Guanghui picks up Qiaomi and Wen Xiaoyao.
Qiao Guanghui, clearly stressed, later complains to Wen Xiaoyao about his work troubles, including a recent talk with Director Yang about the need to support younger artists like Yang Yun, who wants to dance and choreograph, feeling overwhelmed by the demands and the irony that one of his lead performers almost left the troupe. Wen Xiaoyao dismisses his complaints as predictable petty problems. Qiaomi and Wen Xiaoyao decide to take the subway home.
On the subway ride, Qiaomi and Wen Xiaoyao share their saddest moments, including Wen Xiaoyao's sorrow over her mother's departure and Qiaomi's grief over Zhou Tong and complex feelings involving Xu Tian. Wen Xiaoyao admits she is still heartbroken about Little Ears despite seeing no future with her. Qiaomi expresses a sudden urge to dance, realizing she feels this way when she is sad as well as happy.
Wen Xiaoyao gives Qiaomi a gift, telling her it's from Little Ears and she should open it when she gets home. Diandian has successfully secured the job she interviewed for, sharing details of the salary and benefits. Xu Tian asks if she plans to return to Hangzhou, being from the south. Diandian asks his plans, and he replies that he will be wherever she is, stating that location doesn't matter as long as they are together, which makes her happy.
Passing a flower shop, the owner suggests Xu Tian buy Diandian flowers, noting how happy they look. Xu Tian declines, mentioning he's never bought flowers, but Diandian finds them beautiful and goes inside to choose a bouquet herself. She asks Xu Tian when he started liking her, and he says it was when they first met on the street, feeling a connection like meeting an old friend, even though he is a man.
Diandian then asks to film him, remarking that they look like the characters White Snake and Xiaoqing in the human world. In the ballet studio, Yin is assisting Yang Yun, who seems to be dealing with a physical issue, possibly a back injury. Yin gives Yang Yun a massage. Wen Xiaoyao and Qiaomi arrive intending to practice but apologize for interrupting Yang Yun and Yin, initially trying to leave.
Yang Yun stops them and suggests Wen Xiaoyao try the role of White Snake in 'Jinse'. Wen Xiaoyao is hesitant, saying she doesn't know the choreography, but Yang Yun encourages her to just imagine the characters White Snake and Xiaoqing and dance based on her own interpretation and feeling. Diandian and Xu Tian are in a taxi on their way home, Diandian holding a pillow they purchased.
Xu Tian asks if they should tell her mother about their living arrangement, clarifying they are just roommates. He then reveals he is an orphan and now considers Diandian his only family. Diandian tells him that despite the sadness of that, she doesn't feel sad having met him. Upon arriving, Diandian, also holding a bouquet, asks the driver to wait a moment as she wants to stand with Xu Tian a little longer.
After their visit, presumably to Zhou Tong's grave, Qiaomi and Wen Xiaoyao discuss Zhou Tong's thoughts on individuality and the idea that no two people are the same, concluding they should try to be happier. Impatient to know what's inside, Qiaomi opens the gift Wen Xiaoyao had given her from Little Ears. It is a beautiful wind chime. Holding the wind chime, Qiaomi starts dancing, visibly cheered. Wen Xiaoyao is happy to see her friend's spirits lifted.
They briefly talk about Little Ears being on a train to Yunnan and sending a photo, and Wen Xiaoyao admits she is heartbroken by her feelings for her, reaffirming their bond and mutual dependence. Mr. Song is reviewing the financial state of the space operated by Xi, noting the lack of profit and the need to update equipment amidst competition. Recognizing Xi's hard work and considering her family, Mr. Song decides to waive the rent to help her.
Qiao Guanghui arrives and, seeing their discussion, proposes a different business structure. He suggests Xi continue to operate, Mr. Song provide the space as an asset, and Qiao Guanghui act as the investor, covering all costs like rent, utilities, and equipment upgrades, describing himself as a wealthy individual with money to spare. He proposes they become equal partners, splitting profits while he absorbs any losses, which Mr. Song agrees to after Xi expresses her surprise at the offer.
Qiao Guanghui then suggests expanding this plan to the second floor, converting it into a ballet arts training center. Leveraging his position as a sponsor of the ballet company, he outlines plans to attract students, gain official recognition, and even have the recently retired Zhao Gang teach there, positioning it as a place to train future talent for the ballet company. Mr. Song acknowledges Qiao Guanghui's business sense.
Qiao Guanghui insists he's not doing it solely for business but because he can't bear to see Mr. Song struggling. He envisions a successful operation that allows Mr. Song to enjoy life on the third floor with hired staff. Mr. Song is skeptical, suspecting Qiao Guanghui is scheming, but Qiao Guanghui states his scheme is to have a good life with Mr. Song. A student named Tiantian approaches Qiao Guanghui about getting involved with the new dance group connection.
Qiao Guanghui offers her options, including becoming Master Zhao's assistant, which Tiantian eagerly accepts. As Mr. Song prepares for square dancing, Qiao Guanghui proposes a plan for the third floor as well, suggesting they create a map of all the places Zhou Tong traveled and retrace his steps by visiting them together.
When Mr. Song expresses regret that Zhou Tong never joined him for square dancing, Qiao Guanghui immediately calls Xu Tian, explaining they are good friends despite their age difference, and asks him to come urgently to the square dancing area, presumably to join Mr. Song.
Qiao Guanghui also mentions he will be meeting Zhao Gang there, who is upset about being forced into retirement by the bureau, and plans to clarify their new business arrangement to him, suggesting this pressure might help Zhao Gang rise again. Qiao Guanghui proposes they draft a contract to formalize the new partnership structure for the space.
