The Wonderful World Episode 9 Recap
> The Wonderful World Recap
After finishing work, Shi Diandian met Xu Tian at Leshui Pavilion as they had agreed. Xu Tian stated clearly that he would no longer continue investigating the surveillance footage. With that task behind them, they decided to formalize their relationship, reintroducing themselves to each other. Shi Diandian was more forward, asking how he felt about her. Xu Tian described his feelings as being like Xu Xian's affection for Bai Suzhen, adding that he would be good to her for life.
Shi Diandian was pleased with the comparison, noting that like Bai Suzhen, she had been the one to fall for Xu Tian first. Xu Tian stated he wasn't good with sweet talk but could offer stability, which Shi Diandian confirmed was exactly what she desired, feeling secure that someone belonged to her now.
When two women walked by, Xu Tian glanced at them twice, prompting Shi Diandian to immediately assert her claim over him and tell him not to look at other women now that he was hers. He agreed. Meanwhile, Qiao Guanghui sought comfort from Zhao Gang regarding his romantic disappointment.
Zhao Gang was blunt, pointing out that Qiao Guanghui's life had been "too smooth" and he had always had someone to date, unlike his own experience at 36 when a relationship ended abruptly, leaving him alone. Qiao Guanghui, still nursing his feelings for Song Guanwang, questioned her perceived wisdom. Qiao Guanghui then instructed Zhao Gang to continue interacting with Song Guanwang at her training center once his leg recovered and to put in good words for him.
Qiao Mi returned home to find Qiao Guanghui in high spirits, singing and treating their apartment like a karaoke bar, asking her to pour drinks. Qiao Mi, however, was upset, lamenting that Wen Xiaoyao was now dating someone and spent less time with her. She and Qiao Guanghui briefly exchanged complaints, comparing their respective miseries.
Wen Xiaoyao met Zhou Tong at a bookstore, having previously arranged a "coffee debriefing" via WeChat where they would pretend to be meeting for the first time again to talk things through. Zhou Tong began by formally ending things, explaining that he had only agreed to the blind date at his mother's insistence as a filial gesture and felt guilty continuing the pretense.
Wen Xiaoyao reacted, seemingly taking it seriously, stating she would cancel their planned activity and suggesting they end things there. Zhou Tong, visibly confused and concerned, chased after her, reminding her of their agreement to just talk it through. Wen Xiaoyao, however, maintained her act, listing her commitments as an actress and dancer and offering him tickets to her upcoming premiere as the understudy for White Snake, implying that other connections between them would cease.
Zhou Tong was genuinely taken aback by her seriousness. Seeing his reaction, Wen Xiaoyao suddenly burst out laughing, revealing that she was just getting "payback" for him having seemingly scared her first with his initial bluntness by making her believe he was seriously ending things. Relieved, they immediately shifted to planning dinner. Zhou Tong suggested she come to his place to try his mother's cooking.
Wen Xiaoyao agreed but added a condition: Zhou Tong would need to get approval from Qiao Mi, stating that if Qiao Mi didn't approve, he would be out. Zhao Gang found Song Guanwang participating in square dancing. He confronted her about publicly rejecting Qiao Guanghui, suggesting it hurt his pride and caused Qiao distress.
Song Guanwang countered that it would have been more irresponsible to prolong the ambiguity when he was already so infatuated and she had to "throw cold water on it." She called Qiao Guanghui an "old-timer" who could handle such a setback and would be fine. Zhao questioned her "wisdom," and then he spoke philosophically about life's cycles of blooming and withering, joy and sorrow.
Song then shifted the conversation, commenting on Zhao Gang's well-being and unconventional dancing, before reminding him to spend more time with Qiao Guanghui and ensure he applied his medicine. Filled with frustration, Qiao Mi went looking for Song Guanwang and Zhou Tong at their place, feeling that Song had "stolen" her father and Zhou Tong had "taken" Wen Xiaoyao from her side. Someone named Xi, recognizing Qiao Mi's distress, offered to play pool with her.
Just then, Zhou Tong and Wen Xiaoyao arrived. After a brief interaction where Wen Xiaoyao mentioned wanting to spend more time with "Xiaomi," Wen Xiaoyao left. Qiao Mi then stopped Zhou Tong, addressing him as "Zhou Butong" and demanding he come with her to eat, despite his mentioning his mother's whereabouts and their plans for Wen Xiaoyao to meet his mother the next day. Later, Qiao Mi and Zhou Tong were having dinner.
Qiao Mi was clearly angry and questioned how his relationship with Wen Xiaoyao had developed so quickly ("acted without permission"). Zhou Tong nervously tried to explain, mentioning that to be with Wen Xiaoyao, he needed Qiao Mi's approval. He then cited the moment at Guangming Pavilion during their first meeting when Wen Xiaoyao leaned forward from a stool to pour a drink, a moment that completely "dazed" him and constituted "love at first sight."
Qiao Mi was skeptical, dismissing the idea that such an action could be so impactful and calling Zhou Tong foolish for being "dazed." To demonstrate, she climbed onto a stool herself, mimicking the action. Wen Xiaoyao unexpectedly arrived, saw Qiao Mi on the stool, and immediately intervened, pulling her down and expressing concern for her safety, especially with rehearsals approaching.
Despite Wen Xiaoyao's presence, Qiao Mi continued to express her grievances, demanding that Zhou Tong "pay respects" to her as the "boss" and get her approval as Wen Xiaoyao had required, reiterating her anger towards both him and his mother, Song Guanwang, whom she had initially come to confront. Back at home with Wen Xiaoyao, Qiao Mi was still distraught.
She hung upside down, complaining about the rapid development of Wen Xiaoyao's relationship with Zhou Tong, which she had only intended to be "practice" that she herself had set up. She lamented how quickly things became serious in just a few days. She demanded that Wen Xiaoyao say she would break up with Zhou Tong and recite specific lines declaring he was just practice.
To placate the exhausted Qiao Mi, Wen Xiaoyao recited the words Qiao Mi wanted to hear, stating that she was using Zhou Tong for practice and had already moved on to playing Bai Suzhen. Shi Diandian went to a store to buy ingredients to cook for Xu Tian, declaring that Xu Tian was hers now and she was cooking for him. Lao Shi, the store owner, questioned the freshness of the ingredients and suggested going to a supermarket.
Lao Shi also expressed concern about the speed of her relationship with Xu Tian, wanting to hear confirmation from Xu Tian himself. As Shi Diandian was about to leave for the supermarket, Lao Shi removed a withered pineapple flower from display. Shi Diandian dismissed his worries, stating that she was different now and felt secure because someone belonged to her. Lao Shi invited both her and Xu Tian over for dinner that night.
Later, Lao Shi visited Xu Tian at his home, confirming the dinner invitation and their relationship status (Shi Diandian said Xu Tian belonged to her, and Xu Tian confirmed they were officially dating, that it was mutual). Lao Shi then proceeded to share information about Shi Diandian's past. He described her unique personality and a past relationship where she was intensely possessive, treating her boyfriend "like her personal property."
When the boyfriend left because he "couldn't take it anymore," Shi Diandian experienced selective amnesia, forgetting him and everything from that year. Lao Shi explained that this was diagnosed as psychological trauma, rooted in the sudden death of her mother when Shi Diandian was nine.
He recounted the traumatic event, including her mother being taken straight to the crematorium and cremated, and Shi Diandian locking herself in her mother's room where she stared at a vase of flowers for nine days until they withered and died. Lao Shi revealed that since then, Shi Diandian has become increasingly insecure.
He explained that this childhood trauma is the root of her insecurity and possessiveness, helping Xu Tian understand her past actions and perhaps why she had helped him turn off the light in his mother's room.