Episode Summary
In this episode, Xu Tian travels to Beijing to cope with his grief by living as his late lookalike, Zhou Tong, for three days. He forms an unexpected bond with Zhou Tong's friend, Qiao Guanghui. Wen Xiaoyao struggles with her loss but is encouraged by Zhou Tong's father to persevere. The episode culminates in a major shake-up at the ballet troupe, where director Zhao Gang is demoted, and Wen Xiaoyao receives a demerit, setting a new, uncertain path for her career.
Spoiler Alert
"The Wonderful World" Episode 22 Spoilers: A Trip to Live Another's Life
Following the death of his doppelgänger Zhou Tong, a troubled Xu Tian flies to Beijing, determined to experience the life of the man who looked just like him. Upon arrival, he is quietly followed by Wen Xiaoyao, but he quickly notices her. Xu Tian's attempt to contact Shi Diandian fails as he discovers she has blocked him, and his calls won't go through. Wen Xiaoyao informs him that Shi Diandian had arranged for her to look after him in Beijing and that he could still catch a flight back to Hangzhou. However, Xu Tian decides to stay for three days to walk in Zhou Tong's shoes.
He asks Wen Xiaoyao about Zhou Tong's favorite activities and then heads out alone to the Guangminge teahouse to listen to crosstalk. There, he runs into Qiao Guanghui, who is stunned by Xu Tian's identical appearance to his late friend, Zhou Tong. While the staff mistake him for Zhou Tong, Qiao Guanghui knows he is not. The two men connect over their shared feelings of unease and loss. Qiao Guanghui finds it strange that Xu Tian would come all the way to Beijing, but Xu Tian explains he felt compelled to, a sentiment Qiao Guanghui deeply understands.
Meanwhile, Wen Xiaoyao has dinner with Song Guanwang, Zhou Tong's father. She tearfully recounts her dreams of building a life with Zhou Tong in Beijing, all of which are now shattered. Song Guanwang, grieving his own son, comforts her, urging her to continue living and not to give up on her ballet career and her role as Bai Suzhen, for which she and her mentor, Zhao Gang, have worked so hard.
Later, Qiao Guanghui, seeing Xu Tian's melancholy, takes him to a KTV, a place Zhou Tong often visited. Xu Tian loosens up, but the night is interrupted when a drunk man stumbles into their room, and Qiao Guanghui unleashes his pent-up frustration on him before they are separated. Xu Tian ends up spending the night at Qiao Guanghui's home. The next morning, Qiao Mi returns home and is shocked to see Xu Tian.
The drama shifts to the ballet troupe, where a crucial meeting is to take place regarding the future of director Zhao Gang. Qiao Guanghui accompanies his friend Zhao Gang to meet with Mr. Yang. Despite Zhao Gang's pleas, the decision is made: he will retain his title but will effectively be demoted to assist the new director, Yang Yun. Qiao Guanghui supports this change. The troupe is informed that they will halt rehearsals for "The Legend of the White Snake" and begin work on a new production, "Jin Se." To make matters worse for Wen Xiaoyao, she is given a demerit.
