The Wonderful World Episode 5 Recap
> The Wonderful World Recap
Concerned about being isolated and afraid of being replaced, Yang Yun chose to practice in the collective training room. Director Zhao noticed her and asked Joey to find the male principal dancer, Yin Ye, who dances the role of Xu Xian. When Director Zhao arrived, Yang Yun apologized for her rude behavior the previous day in the theater. Director Zhao responded graciously, saying no one dances White Snake better than her.
Yang Yun then expressed her frustration, stating she couldn't dance the Director's version of White Snake because she wanted to dance her own. She argued that the ballet company's audience is dwindling because they cling to outdated concepts, repeating the same core stories for years instead of reinterpreting them for modern audiences. Yin Ye arrived during this discussion. Director Zhao asked Yin Ye's opinion on Yang Yun's desire to reinterpret "The Legend of White Snake" from Xu Xian's perspective.
Yin Ye stated he believed in democracy. Director Zhao then proposed they hold a vote to decide the matter. The company gathered in the theater. Director Zhao reiterated Yang Yun's differing opinions and asked the actors on stage what "The Legend of White Snake" meant to them, encouraging open discussion.
After some hesitation and an awkward musical interjection from Wen Xiaoyao, Yang Yun presented her perspective, contrasting Bai Suzhen's thousand-year bond with Xiaoqing against her roughly ten years with Xu Xian and questioning which relationship represented deeper love. Director Zhao suggested a vote by having dancers physically stand on different sides to represent their support for a focus on either the Bai Suzhen/Xiaoqing relationship or the Bai Suzhen/Xu Xian relationship. Yin Ye was asked to choose, as was Joey.
Wen Xiaoyao stated she supported Yang Yun's idea. The majority sided with the traditional Bai Suzhen/Xu Xian interpretation. Yang Yun, visibly unhappy with the outcome, stated she didn't want to rehearse that day and needed a temporary break to regroup. Director Zhao, appearing frustrated by her attitude, immediately announced Wen Xiaoyao as the understudy for Bai Suzhen after Yang Yun left.
Around this time, Zhou Tong formulated a plan for daily outings, which Song Guanwang approved of, seeing her son taking dating seriously. Wen Xiaoyao began focusing on training for the role, receiving coaching from Director Zhao alongside Yin Ye. Director Zhao repeatedly instructed Wen Xiaoyao to concentrate on the character and trust Yin Ye completely during partner work, emphasizing that an immortal who gives up everything for love should not be afraid of falling.
He noted that her lack of belief couldn't be fixed by mere effort. Rehearsal was cut short due to Wen Xiaoyao's inability to fully commit. Later, Director Zhao sought out Yin Ye, asking about Yang Yun's whereabouts and their relationship status. Yin Ye confirmed they were seeing each other but described their connection as inconsistent, noting Yang Yun was only affectionate when she was in a bad mood and cold when things were going well.
Director Zhao asked Yin Ye to tell Yang Yun he was looking for her. Zhou Tong contacted Wen Xiaoyao, proposing daily outings for "dating practice," complete with a schedule, and asked her to meet him at the Forbidden City's Shenwu Gate despite it closing soon. Wen Xiaoyao questioned if he was serious, referencing a silly conversation they had while drinking the previous day. Zhou Tong claimed neither took it seriously and suggested they continue practicing.
He assured her he could arrange entry after hours because he had done photography work for them. Meanwhile, Joey visited her Aunt Song Guanwang and presented her with a ring from Joey's father, Qiao Guanghui. Joey inquired about Song Guanwang's feelings for her father. Song Guanwang admitted to liking him somewhat but felt she was too old to consider a romantic relationship seriously, stating her focus was on her son's happiness.
She expressed skepticism about Qiao Guanghui's persistent attention, believing his enthusiasm would eventually fade, leaving them as friends. She returned the expensive ring to Joey and mentioned that she had heard her son was on a date. Zhou Tong and Wen Xiaoyao entered the deserted Forbidden City.
As they walked, Zhou Tong joked about injuries he sustained the two times they had met, suggesting their destinies might clash and the third encounter could be dangerous, unless, he quipped, she was his destiny. Wen Xiaoyao responded that she was his destiny and asked him to be romantic since it was a date. Zhou Tong deflected, talking about the humidity and potential for creepy things, although he claimed not to be trying to scare her.
Wen Xiaoyao grew increasingly uncomfortable as it got late and dark and due to his behavior. When she asked him to stop trying to scare her and expressed a desire to leave, he seemingly left but then started giving her a remote tour via video while hiding. Wen Xiaoyao, scared and confused, repeatedly called out for him to show himself. While preparing to reveal himself, Zhou Tong got another cramp and fell, delaying his emergence.
A staff member found Wen Xiaoyao alone and escorted her out, informing her the area had been cleared. Zhou Tong left later after the area was cleared. Later, on her way home, Wen Xiaoyao received a text message from Zhou Tong, along with a collection of photos he had secretly taken of her during their outing.
In the message, he admitted that while he had initially just planned to accompany her in experiencing life, he had genuinely developed feelings for her, which made him feel awkward and unable to face her. Because of this, he wrote, he was canceling their plans. Shortly after, Joey met Wen Xiaoyao, walking home and visibly upset.
Joey shared her concerns about her father's interest in Song Guanwang, her own strictness towards him, and mentioned that Auntie Song also felt the relationship wasn't ideal. Having heard from her aunt that her son was on a date, Joey asked Wen Xiaoyao about her outing with Zhou Tong. Wen Xiaoyao showed Joey Zhou Tong's message explaining his feelings and cancellation.
Joey warned Wen Xiaoyao not to become romantically involved with Zhou Tong, suggesting she would end up just like her mother, unable to dance the role of Bai Suzhen and instead getting married and starting a family before getting the chance, losing her artistic opportunity. Director Zhao visited Yang Yun at her home, first sending Yin Ye away.
Director Zhao softened his stance initially, telling Yang Yun that Wen Xiaoyao was too inexperienced to take on the role of Bai Suzhen and he needed Yang Yun's expertise. He reminded Yang Yun of his long history of supporting her career, promoting her from lead dancer to principal, and suggested this major choreography might be his last with the company. He appealed to their past collaboration and urged her to help him by performing the role well.
Yang Yun maintained her stance, and Director Zhao then emphasized the importance of her support at this stage. The next day, preparing for rehearsal, Yang Yun told Yin Ye that Director Zhao's choreography for Bai Suzhen still felt uncomfortable to her. She asked Yin Ye to convey this feedback to the Director, stating she was too embarrassed to repeat it herself.
She even instructed Yin Ye to blame it on him and say she had no chemistry with him as Xu Xian. During rehearsal, Director Zhao observed that both Yang Yun and Yin Ye seemed off-balance. He directly asked Yin Ye if he had something to say, guessing that Yin Ye was being guided by someone. Yin Ye then voiced the feedback as Yang Yun requested, stating that she seemed strange and lacked connection and chemistry with him as Xu Xian.
Director Zhao asked Yang Yun directly if she could still dance; she replied no. Director Zhao then instructed Yang Yun to take a break and wait for him on the rooftop. He immediately turned to Wen Xiaoyao and told her to step in as Bai Suzhen, continuing the rehearsal with Yin Ye and Joey.
As Yang Yun left, she exchanged a few pointed words with Director Zhao, acknowledging him as her teacher but also referencing the finite time they both have in the company at their respective ages (54 for him, 31 for her).
