The Wonderful World Episode 4 Recap
> The Wonderful World Recap
Qiao Mi went to the police station to pick up Wen Xiaoyao. Puzzled why dating seemed connected to being at the station, Qiao Mi joked that Wen Xiaoyao must be under love's spell. As she playfully twirled a ring in her hand, it accidentally fell into the roadside grass, causing them both to search frantically. Wen Xiaoyao clarified that she hadn't been involved in any trouble; others were drunk and causing problems, but she had remained sober.
Wen Xiaoyao then told Qiao Mi she would not see Zhou Tong again. Qiao Mi asked if she was heartbroken, and Wen Xiaoyao admitted she was a little sad at first but felt fine now. Despite Qiao Mi asking what would happen if Zhou Tong came looking for her, Wen Xiaoyao insisted she still wouldn't see him. Meanwhile, Song Guanwang asked Zhou Tong about the outcome of his date.
Zhou Tong informed her that he would not be going to Malaysia for the time being and would instead spend time dating Wen Xiaoyao to help her experience real life, noting her performance was in just a week. Song Guanwang believed her son had developed genuine feelings for Wen Xiaoyao. Zhou Tong returned to his room to admire photos of himself and Wen Xiaoyao and asked his mother not to disturb him.
With the weekend approaching, Qiao Mi told Wen Xiaoyao they needed to take time off to transfer the property deed for their home into Qiao Mi's name. She expressed concern that Qiao Guanghui, now dating, might give the house away again and felt she needed to keep an eye on him. During a rehearsal at the dance school, Yang Yun was late again.
When he did participate, he interpreted the role based on his own understanding, which frustrated the artistic director, Zhao Gang. Zhao Gang stopped the rehearsal, criticizing Yang Yun's approach and telling him he needed to embody the character, not expect the character to embody him. Yang Yun argued that the traditional choreography was outdated and he sought a modern interpretation. The argument escalated, with Zhao Gang stating Yang Yun didn't have to dance if he didn't like the direction.
Yang Yun challenged the director's authority and asked the other dancers who wanted to dance the principal role. Qiao Mi muttered quietly that Wen Xiaoyao had already learned all the steps. Yang Yun became angry and left. Wen Xiaoyao wanted to follow Yang Yun to explain, but Qiao Mi stopped her.
Qiao Mi then told Wen Xiaoyao that her mother was Bai Suzhen and she should be too, believing that if Wen Xiaoyao took on the role, her mother would somehow know. Wen Xiaoyao hesitated, noting her mother was no longer aware of such things, but Qiao Mi insisted taking the role would make it known. Later, someone accused Qiao Mi of meddling, which she denied. The decision was made to replace the principal dancer.
Later, Zhao Gang complained to Qiao Guanghui that Qiao Mi was making decisions based on his influence and the yearly 3 million sponsorship, which Zhao Gang felt was a mere drop in the bucket compared to the trouble. Qiao Guanghui was distracted, announcing excitedly that he had just started dating a woman who ran a dance training program. He asked Zhao Gang, the ballet company's legitimate director and former Swan Prince, to help him make a good impression.
Qiao Guanghui warned Zhao Gang that if he didn't help and he failed to impress Song Guanwang, next year's 3 million sponsorship would be gone. Zhao Gang seemed surprised upon hearing Song Guanwang's name. Zhao Gang expressed skepticism, noting Song Guanwang wasn't much older than Qiao Mi and questioning if Qiao Guanghui's daughter would approve of a young stepmother. As Song Guanwang arrived, Qiao Guanghui urged Zhao Gang to look presentable. They visited the Guanwang Children's Ballet Training Center.
Song Guanwang mentioned her business upstairs was losing money and relied on the downstairs for subsidy. Qiao Guanghui introduced Zhao Gang as the artistic director and former Swan Prince. Song Guanwang introduced herself and her business, pointedly stating she was older than Qiao Guanghui. Qiao Guanghui declared his sudden obsession and love for her, which Song Guanwang found confusing.
Qiao Guanghui stated his simple motivation: he just wanted her to be healthy, successful, and in good spirits, believing "when you're good, I'm good." Song Guanwang then commented on Zhao Gang, calling him arrogant and referencing his company's five years of sponsorship at 3 million annually before suggesting he teach part-time at her center, even just once a week, as parents would be thrilled to see the 'Prince'.
Zhao Gang took offense, demanding to know what she meant by "joke," specifically regarding his teaching there for parents' happiness. Feeling agitated, Zhao Gang announced he was leaving, having trouble breathing. Song Guanwang called him ridiculous and questioned Qiao Guanghui about bringing such a seemingly "effeminate" person. Qiao Guanghui defended Zhao Gang's masculinity despite his ballet background.
Zhao Gang confronted Song Guanwang, arguing that ballet was a refined art often misunderstood by those who only used its name to make money. Song Guanwang countered that she did need to make money, but her businesses weren't profitable yet, stating she was there for fun as her business registration was for 'entertainment and games'. She mentioned her son loved fun even more and needed something "cutting-edge" like dating. Zhao Gang, still present, asked what cutting-edge meant.
Song Guanwang asked why he hadn't left. Zhao Gang stated he would never teach at her establishment. Song Guanwang challenged his status, calling him over fifty and still unsettled, holding his breath and stressing himself out. Zhao Gang found her comments ridiculous. Qiao Guanghui told Zhao Gang to ignore Song Guanwang. Qiao Guanghui then turned to Song Guanwang, asking if she agreed to date him, referencing her comment about dating being cutting-edge.
Song Guanwang clarified she was referring to her son when she mentioned cutting-edge dating, stating that she and Qiao Guanghui were too old. Qiao Guanghui accepted this, saying he just wanted to visit her often and take care of her. Song Guanwang sensed he was "up to something." As Qiao Guanghui exited, he found Zhao Gang still waiting outside and told him to go home.
Outside, Zhao Gang complained about Song Guanwang and Qiao Guanghui, noting Qiao Guanghui had chosen someone his own age despite claiming to be with a younger woman earlier. Qiao Guanghui reiterated his purpose in bringing Zhao Gang was for him to earn money teaching part-time. Zhao Gang disparaged this as making money in the name of art, leading to a heated argument about the value of their respective artistic pursuits and Qiao Guanghui's financial support.
Qiao Guanghui warned Zhao Gang again not to jeopardize his relationship with Song Guanwang, stating the sponsorship would cease if he did. Zhao Gang refused to discuss money. Qiao Guanghui suggested Qiao Mi could handle the discussion about the White Lady role because Song Guanwang was connected to the ballet company (implying through the children's center). Zhao Gang revealed Qiao Mi had already told him to let Wen Xiaoyao try the role.
Qiao Guanghui defended his family's company, dismissing Zhao Gang's high-mindedness and reminding him he started as a chorus dancer, which offended Zhao Gang. Qiao Guanghui brought up their shared history and care for Qiao Mi and Wen Xiaoyao over the years. Zhao Gang defiantly declared the ballet company didn't want the 3 million sponsorship, but Qiao Guanghui insisted he needed it, mentioning his closed business and dwindling savings. He questioned Zhao Gang's loyalty to art compared to his own.
Qiao Guanghui pressured Zhao Gang to stop being stubborn and asked if he was willing to swallow his pride and beg Yang Yun to return and perform. Shi Diandian asked her Uncle Lao Shi to take her to Xu Tian's qipao shop and introduce her, despite Lao Shi's embarrassment about his niece actively pursuing a man. Lao Shi, using the excuse that a relative needed a custom qipao, introduced Shi Diandian to Xu Tian's shop.
After Xu Tian took her measurements, Shi Diandian spotted a classic qipao and wanted to try it on. Xu Tian explained it was made by his mother years ago for herself, intended for Teacher Jia Sulan, a famous Yue Opera performer known for playing Bai Suzhen, who had fainted on stage years ago and then vanished, so the qipao was never given to her.
Shi Diandian, referencing what she'd learned about Xu Tian, attributed his current state to childhood trauma from losing his mother, suggesting he relied on past memories and an imaginary world. She proposed changing the shop's layout and replacing the two old qipaos displayed in the window with new items, offering to buy one herself. She took the classic qipao down and went to try it on, despite Xu Tian suggesting another style might fit her better.
Asking if they were good friends, she offered two "remedies" for his psychological issues: a gentle one involving transferring emotions to a new romantic relationship, or an intense one involving replacing everything old in the shop and forcing himself to forget unhappy things by focusing on the future. Xu Tian noted she had given him similar advice before. Shi Diandian went upstairs to look around.
Upstairs, Shi Diandian saw a photo of Xu Tian as a child with his mother and Teacher Jia Sulan in character as Bai Suzhen. Xu Tian mentioned the photo and the room had been unchanged for twenty years. She saw his mother's room, where a bedside lamp was kept constantly lit, which Xu Tian explained he kept on purpose.
Shi Diandian entered the room and turned off the lamp, instructing Xu Tian not to turn it on again for two days before leaving the shop to change. Reaching the crossroads, Shi Diandian suddenly remembered her ID card and returned to the shop. She found Xu Tian putting the two old qipaos back in the window.
She retrieved her ID and offered to stay and help expand the search for the person he was looking for, checking surveillance footage from days around the 6th, acknowledging the hundreds of hours of footage involved. Xu Tian expressed his gratitude, and Shi Diandian insisted it was unnecessary formality between friends. Noticing several bags of sweets on his table, she told him eating too much was bad for his health and asked if she should help him put them away. After Shi Diandian departed again, Xu Tian promptly gathered the bags of snacks and threw them into the trash can.
