Do Santi and Xiaoyu End Up Together in Mad Unicorn?

While Netflix’s ‘Mad Unicorn‘ centers on the world of express delivery service, the show also delves into the complex human relationships behind the scenes, such as the one between Santi and Xiaoyu. Although the two begin their friendship on an ambivalent note, they develop a strong bond that is pivotal not just in a business sense but also on a personal front. To that end, the progression of their relationship is central to the show’s emotional storyline, offering fans the chance to root for a possible romantic connection in the future. However, these likelihoods are constantly scuppered by a slew of challenges faced by both Santi and Xiaoyu, forcing them to reevaluate themselves as individuals. Still, they remain close throughout the narrative, leading to a complicated ending with a jumble of emotions. SPOILERS AHEAD.

Xiaoyu Chooses Her Fiancé Over Santi

Despite developing feelings for one another over the course of their work as CEO and CFO, respectively, Santi and Xiaoyu do not end up together, much to the frustration of fans. The real roadblock in their relationship is the latter’s commitment to her fiancé, Liam, who waits to marry her even though she leaves him to work with Santi in establishing Thunder Express. As time progresses, she and Santi grow much closer than before, prompting some awkward conversations between them. However, Xiaoyu is constantly plagued by her thoughts of Liam, who, despite his distance, remains a shining light in her heart. Thus, even when her relationship with him becomes fraught with tension, she returns to Liam in the end, effectively ending any hopes for a relationship with Santi.

At the end of the show, Santi is distraught at the fact that Xiaoyu dissolves her shares in Thunder Express and hands them over to Alice Wang, their Chinese benefactor. While the deal sounds egregious from a business standpoint, he is more frustrated by the fact that Xiaoyu is basically ending her ties with the company, indirectly stating that she is also distancing herself from the protagonist. She tells him that while Thunder Express means a lot to her, there are other things in her life that have a greater priority – case in point, marriage with Liam. The statement symbolically identifies her desire to end her feelings for Santi, something she admits to Liam in a separate conversation. However, even though he is important to her, she believes her life belongs to someone else – Liam. Thus, there is no positive resolution for Santi and Xiaoyu’s romance.

Xiaoyu is Santi’s Biggest Supporter in the Tough Moments

Although Santi and Xiaoyu’s romance ends up going nowhere, it does not detract from the fact that they play a pivotal role in each other’s lives. It is hard to imagine Santi succeeding with Thunder Express if not for the encouragement and sacrifices from Xiaoyu. When Santi makes a huge blunder by reducing the prices of the company due to his vengeful obsession with Kanin, Xiaoyu is the first person to pull him up for his mistake. Yet, she is also the first person to encourage him when he loses hope, reminding him that success is a guarantee as long as he never gives up. She then dissolves her shares in the company to provide Santi and Thunder with a loan to alleviate their dire financial needs. It helps the organization live through some dark days, even though it costs her massively.

One of the main reasons Xiaoyu joins Santi’s startup despite having better job prospects elsewhere is because she sees something special in the protagonist. She also thinks being his partner will allow her to accumulate enough wealth in the future to pay off her father’s crippling debts. However, upon letting go of her control over the company, she basically ends any hopes of getting some monetary reward to clear those debts. But Santi never forgets her efforts nor the debt he owes her. After Thunder becomes a thriving unicorn company, he heads over to Xiaoyu’s home to deliver her the share of the money she deserves for her efforts. While it brings a sense of closure to her story, it leaves a bittersweet taste for the romance that might have happened between the protagonist and her, especially when the former sees her baby daughter through the house window.