Episode Summary
Wen Xiaoyao and Shi Diandian find common ground in Xu Tian's uncanny resemblance to the late Zhou Tong. Driven by guilt, Qiao Mi travels with Zhao Gang to Hangzhou, hoping for a confrontation with Wen Xiaoyao. Wen Xiaoyao's connection with Xu Tian deepens as she returns his lost wedding ring and he takes her on an emotional visit to her mother's old, abandoned theater. The trip triggers powerful and painful memories of Zhou Tong, blurring the lines between her past and present. In a key revelation, Zhou Tong's father, Song Guanwang, discloses that he had already met Xu Tian on the day of his son's fatal accident.
Spoiler Alert
The Wonderful World: Episode 19 Spoilers
The episode opens after Xu Tian's departure, with Shi Diandian calling Wen Xiaoyao. She explains her actions on the day of Zhou Tong's accident, confessing that the shocking resemblance between Xu Tian and Zhou Tong compelled her to help; she couldn't bear to see someone who looked so much like him get hurt. Wen Xiaoyao completely understands, as she harbors the exact same feelings. After their conversation, Wen Xiaoyao discovers that Zhou Tong's ring was left at her place, so she puts it in her bag, intending to return it.
Meanwhile, Qiao Mi and Zhao Gang are stuck at the airport due to a delayed flight. A frustrated Zhao Gang takes his anger out on the airline staff. Qiao Mi tries to manage his expectations, telling him not to be overly optimistic about Wen Xiaoyao returning to Beijing. She confides in him that her reason for the trip is different from his; she carries a heavy burden of guilt for Zhou Tong's death and secretly hopes Wen Xiaoyao will lash out at her, believing it might offer some relief. She also muses that Wen Xiaoyao is unlikely to perform as the White Snake again and that she, Qiao Mi, would prefer to dance the lead in Yang Yun's new choreography, "Jin Se."
Later, Wen Xiaoyao is in her dance class when Qiao Mi calls from the plane. Wen Xiaoyao admits that she wants to spend as much time with Xu Tian as possible. This piques Qiao Mi's curiosity, making her determined to see for herself what is so captivating about him.
Shi Diandian is on a video call with Xu Tian while waiting for an appointment when Wen Xiaoyao calls her. Wen Xiaoyao asks for Xu Tian's address, explaining that he left his ring behind while they were assembling furniture. Instead of giving the address, Shi Diandian suggests she simply return it to the jewelry store's service counter. Immediately after, Shi Diandian calls Xu Tian, who is shocked to realize his wedding ring is missing. He's embarrassed, but Shi Diandian is gracious, saying all that matters is that he holds her in his heart. Despite her calm demeanor, she abandons her plans and decides to rush back to Hangzhou.
Elsewhere, Qiao Guanghui keeps Song Guanwang company. Song Guanwang is slowly emerging from the fog of grief over his son's death. He recalls how on the morning of the accident, Zhou Tong had urged him to find a companion and even suggested Qiao Guanghui, which felt like a solemn entrustment. When Qiao Guanghui playfully suggests he honor Zhou Tong's last wish, Song Guanwang dismisses the idea, stating firmly that they are just "bros." Disappointed, Qiao Guanghui waits in the car. When Song Guanwang joins him, Qiao Guanghui tells him about Zhao Gang's trip to Hangzhou and about Xu Tian, the man identical to Zhou Tong. Song Guanwang then makes a startling revelation: he has met Xu Tian before, on the very day of the car crash.
Xu Tian retrieves his ring from the mall, where Wen Xiaoyao is waiting for him. She catches his eye with a balloon, and they walk and talk together. As she gazes at his profile, the illusion is so powerful that she feels Zhou Tong has returned to her. As a token of her gratitude, she asks Xu Tian for a favor: to take her to the old theater where her mother, Jia Sulan, used to perform.
They take the subway, and the journey plunges Wen Xiaoyao into a vivid memory of her first subway ride with a blindfolded Zhou Tong. She watches Xu Tian's familiar face in the dark reflection of the window, lost in her thoughts.
At the now-derelict theater, Xu Tian squeezes through a gap in the door and then helps Wen Xiaoyao inside. She instinctively finds her way to the stage and strikes a pose from her mother's famous role as Bai Suzhen. Xu Tian finds the main power and floods the stage with light. He tells her he once had a photo taken in a side room with Jia Sulan, speculating she might have already been pregnant with Wen Xiaoyao at the time. He also recounts the story of how her mother fainted on this very stage during a performance.
He asks if she still dances "The Legend of the White Snake" and if Zhou Tong ever saw her perform it. She quietly answers no. As Xu Tian walks down into the empty seats, Wen Xiaoyao is overcome by a memory of Zhou Tong excitedly taking photos of her at the ballet theater, and she begins to weep silently. While Xu Tian steps outside for a moment, she goes to the dressing room. Staring into her mother's old mirror, she pours out her heart. Her reverie continues with a painful memory of how Zhou Tong, upon returning to that theater, was discovered by a security guard and unceremoniously thrown out.
