Lu Guang/Story

== Early Life ==
Not much is known about Lu Guang's Childhood or family.
Lu Guang first met Cheng Xiaoshi on the basketball court in high school, where he was invited to a basketball game. Later, he passes by the Time Photo Studio by chance, coming across Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling refurbishing the studio. Invited by Qiao Ling, Lu Guang agrees to help them with the work.
After finishing the work, Qiao Ling asks Lu Guang how they became friends. Initially bashful, Lu Guang explains it started when Cheng Xiaoshi invited him to play basketball. However, Qiao Ling presses further, insisting that for them to have become friends, there must be a quality that Lu Guang was attracted to. Though slightly reluctant, Lu Guang answers with a serious tone that it was probably Cheng Xiaoshi's "innocence."
Lu Guang would go on to attend a university name Hui Jie Movie Academy along with Cheng Xiaoshi, Qiao Ling, Dong Yi, and Xu Shanshan.
Lu Guang now lives in the photo studio and is implied to share a bedroom with Cheng Xiaoshi. They both work at the studio developing photos as a front business with their photo based time traveling services as their true behind the scenes business.
== Emma's Commission ==
The Time Photo Studio is asked to find Quede Games' financial report before its official release.
As they get ready for the mission, Lu Guang proceeds to repeat the three important rules Cheng Xiaoshi has to follow. Cheng Xiaoshi replies that he knows them perfectly well, Lu Guang having repeated them a thousand times already.
Cheng Xiaoshi enters the photo, inhabiting the CFO's assistant, Emma, with Lu Guang providing him instructions via his own special ability. Throughout the episode, he is seen repeatedly reminding the other that any action that did not happen in the past could change the future. 
When Cheng Xiaoshi wakes up from a dream after coming back to Emma's appartment, he talks about his parents to Lu Guang who is still awake. After trying to comfort him, he tells Cheng Xiaoshi to sleep and does so too, unaware that Cheng Xiaoshi disobeyed his orders. 
The next morning during a meeting, Lu Guang guides Cheng Xiaoshi's actions in order to obtain the information needed from Mr. Zhu's laptop. When Emma gets slapped by Mr Zhu's wife, Lu Guang has to vehemently remind an enraged Cheng Xiaoshi of their three rules, fearing that he would inadvertently change the future by fighting back against Mrs Zhu. Cheng Xiaoshi finally complies and Lu Guang is able to retrieve the financial information, he then declares the mission completed. 
Afterwards, when the news announces Quede Games' falsifications, Cheng Xiaoshi asks Lu Guang if he had truly done something in the past, would that really have changed anything, before wondering how Emma is doing now. Lu Guang answers to not ask about the future. It is then that Qiao Ling enters the store and Cheng Xiaoshi runs out of the room to greet her, leaving Lu Guang alone and watching a news report video on his phone announcing Emma's death. 
When Cheng Xiaoshi calls out for him, Lu Guang calmly replies that he is coming, turning off his phone at the same time.
== Yu Xia's Commission ==
A client named Yu Xia, the owner of a chain noodle restaurant, comes to the photo studio with a request to find a "secret recipe" used by her former business partner, Lin Zhen, with whom she had a feud with.
Observing and assisting Cheng Xiaoshi as he dives into the provided photos, he witnesses the stages of Lin Zhen and Yu Xia's partnership, from the start of the noodle house business, to their sudden explosion in popularity, then to their eventual falling out as a result of Yu Xia's gradual straying from their original vision. However, their efforts to find the secret ingredient prove fruitless.
After exhausting all but the last photo, they are still no closer to finding out what Lin Zhen's secret ingredient was. However, in the last photo where Lin Zhen bids farewell to Yu Xia and boards a taxi, Cheng Xiaoshi finds multiple punched-out train tickets to Xiang Zhuang, and when he mentions it, the taxi driver speaks of a "fragrant flower" that has beautiful flowers and a great smell, which is only found in Xiang Zhuang. Lu Guang looks it up on his phone, and confirms that it was the most likely seasoning that Lin Zhen used.
After completing the commission, they find one more photo taken in Yu Xia and Lin Zhen's college dormitory. Spotting some delicious noodles on the table, Cheng Xiaoshi cannot resist having one last taste. In the photo, they decide to open a noodle house after they graduate, with their signature dish being the . They also learn that Xiang Zhuang is Yu Xia's hometown, and she was the one who introduced Lin Zhen to the spice.
When Yu Xia is informed of their discoveries, she is touched by the revelation. She then travels to find Lin Zhen at a new noodle house she opened in the countryside, finally reconciling with her.
== Liu Siwen's Commission ==
The photo studio receives another commission. Qiao Ling explains that their client, Liu Siwen, has repeatedly tried to defeat Ouyang Bubai, a martial arts master, to win permission to marry his daughter Ouyang, but has yet to succeed despite trying his entire life. Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang's goal is to uncover the secret behind the master's fighting skills to help Liu Siwen succeed.
Cheng Xiaoshi enters the photo, taking on Liu Siwen's role. He climbs the mountain to confront Ouyang's father, but is already exhausted by the time he reaches the top. Declaring his intent to marry Ouyang, Cheng Xiaoshi engages in a fight with her father. Despite Lu Guang's instructions, Cheng Xiaoshi is unable to land any significant hits, and Ouyang's father easily overpowers him. Neither of them is able to figure out Ouyang Bubai's secret technique, ending their attempt in failure. Qiao Ling takes the news calmly and prepares to inform the client, but also proposes another solution.
Liu Siwen arrives at the base of the mountain for another attempt. As he struggles up the staircase once again, Ouyang's father sadly reflects on his past experiences, thinking that Liu Siwen had finally given up. But Liu Siwen, with the support of Lu Guang, Cheng Xiaoshi, and Qiao Ling, reaches the top. Though exhausted, he declares his desire to fight again, but he collapses before the fight can even start. He weakly suggests they do it at the bottom of the mountain next year. Ouyang's father, touched by Liu Siwen's persistence, admits defeat and allows his daughter to run to her lover. Lu Guang stops before Ouyang Bubai and asks him why he waited that long to grant his approval. He replies that Liu Siwen and Ouyang's child is already a martial artist of international skill, yet Liu Siwen still couldn't beat the child's grandfather, so how could he ever approve?
== Chen Xiao's Commission ==
A mysterious stranger follows Qiao Ling while she takes a morning run, and is stopped by Lu Guang when he spots him trying to grab her. However, the man, introducing himself as Chen Xiao, shares a photo, explaining that he lost a basketball game, missed his chance with someone he liked, and had a fight with his mother. Cheng Xiaoshi is asked to enter the photo and speak to Chen Xiao's friends, crush, and mother to mend his regrets.
Lu Guang directs Cheng Xiaoshi as he enters a photo taken prior to the high school basketball game at a poor countryside school, the results of which would supposedly determine whether the basketball team will be disbanded. Despite his instructions to deviate from past events as little as possible, Cheng Xiaoshi ends up winning the game. Although the team, led by their captain Lu Hongbin, rejoices, this change would make little impact, as the school had decided to demolish the gym either regardless of the results.
In the following hours, Lu Guang directs Cheng Xiaoshi to deliver the client's three messages to Lu Hongbin, his sister and Chen Xiao's crush Liu Meng, and Chen Xiao's mother. However, Cheng Xiaoshi realizes the gravity of the situation when she mentions her husband's birthday, realizing it's May 12, 2008 — the day of the devastating .
Cheng Xiaoshi questions the purpose of delivering the messages if these people were destined to die anyway. Despite Lu Guang's repeated warnings that he cannot save anyone, Cheng Xiaoshi tries to warn his friends about the earthquake, but to no avail as none take his claims seriously. However, he asks Lu Guang to save at least one person — Chen Xiao's mother. Lu Guang initially goes along with him, but despite the precautions taken, they are still caught under rubble when the earthquake hits. Cheng Xiaoshi wakes up to find the mother holding him tightly. As he begins to tear up, Lu Guang tells him that if it is too much for him, he can leave the photo. However, Cheng Xiaoshi stays, helplessly crying as the mother holds his hand, eventually passing away.
When Cheng Xiaoshi returns from the dive, despite Lu Guang's apology, he angrily questions him why he lied to him and left the mother for dead. Lu Guang responds that he had to do it to keep time intact. Cheng Xiaoshi punches him in frustration, which he accepts without resistance, before breaking down crying. Lu Guang crouches down to comfort him, and Cheng Xiaoshi asks what the point of delivering those messages was if he couldn't save them. Lu Guang remarks on Cheng Xiaoshi's silliness, reminding him again that they have to leave the past be, because they cannot change it, and to never question the future, as the future is always changing because of them.
== The Search for Doudou ==
Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang are not on speaking terms after a failed mission. Despite this, a police officer named Xiao Li and a father to a missing child arrive at the Time Photo Studio, pleading for help in finding the boy. Cheng Xiaoshi cynically rejects the request, insisting the past cannot be changed. However, after hearing Qiao Ling's confession that she witnessed the kidnapping but never came forward, Cheng Xiaoshi agrees to help, motivated by Qiao Ling's determination.
Cheng Xiaoshi enters the past using CCTV footage, observing Doudou before his kidnapping. As they wait, Lu Guang brings up their previous mission and explains his reason for taking on the commission: that giving closure to the living by relaying a proper farewell they never got to say is very much worth it, even if they could not save those destined to die. When Cheng Xiaoshi follows the kidnapper after she appears, he becomes distracted by running into Qiao Ling and her friend, Xu Shanshan, causing him to lose track of Doudou and the kidnapper. After failing to find any leads in the alleyways, Cheng Xiaoshi returns to the present and apologizes to Doudou's parents. A breakthrough occurs when Doudou's father discovers a photo the boy took on the day of his disappearance, giving Cheng Xiaoshi another chance to dive into the past.
This time, Cheng Xiaoshi experiences the kidnapping firsthand, entering Doudou's body just before the abduction. A woman, pretending to be Doudou's aunt, drugs him and takes him away. Cheng Xiaoshi wakes up in a hotel room and, with Lu Guang's help, gathers crucial information about the kidnapper, Mei Piyan. Before exiting Doudou's body, Cheng Xiaoshi intimidates Mei Piyan by pretending to be an ancestor speaking through Doudou, warning her of her future capture. This clever ruse allows him to escape the situation.
In the present, Mei Piyan is arrested, and Doudou is reunited with his parents. Captain Xiao Li, aware of Cheng Xiaoshi's time-traveling ability due to detecting him in past CCTV footage, asks for his help in a homicide investigation. Before Cheng Xiaoshi can agree, Lu Guang intervenes, asserting control over their decision to take on the case. Xiao Li reluctantly hands over evidence, including a photograph of Emma's corpse.
== Hunt for the Serial Killer ==
Xu Shanshan, one of Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi's university classmates, visits the photo studio, needing their help figuring out what her friend Dong Yi meant to say to her from a recent drunken night out. Despite Cheng Xiaoshi's reluctance to help for free, they agree to assist her, and Cheng Xiaoshi enters the photo as Xu Shanshan during the post-graduate party. As he relives the night, he interacts with Dong Yi and realizes how strong Xu Shanshan's feelings are for him.
After the party, Dong Yi is about to speak the words Xu Shanshan missed when Cheng Xiaoshi notices a suspicious person who may be connected to the serial killings mentioned by Officer Xiao. Despite Lu Guang's warnings, Cheng Xiaoshi follows the man into a secluded alley. The man attempts to attack him with a drugged towel, but accidentally covers his own nose with it when Cheng Xiaoshi pukes. However, the man turns out to not be the serial killer.
However, Lu Guang still manages to extract Dong Yi's words with his own ability, and later relays it to Xu Shanshan: Xu Shanshan, there is something I'd like to talk to you about. Around the time we graduated, my parents were telling me to go home ASAP, where my dad had already had everything arranged for me. I knew I couldn't stay in this city after graduating. I was afraid to confess to you, because I didn't want to hurt you after you kept me company for six years. Only now, when I have no choice but to graduate, do I realize that I wish to stay no matter how hard it might get, because leaving you is more painful than anything else.
Back in present time, they find a news article featuring an exaggerated version of Xu Shanshan's story, and Xu Shanshan has mysteriously disappeared. In their group chat, they receive a cryptic "clue received" message sent from Xu Shanshan's phone, and when trying to call her, they are answered by an unknown third party who promises to come to them.
Suspecting a connection to the serial killing case, Lu Guang leaves to finds officer Xiao Li at the police station, instructing Qiao Ling to keep an eye on the anxious Cheng Xiaoshi. He asks Xiao Li for the CCTV photo to investigate, explaining that a friend is in danger and informing him of the strange call.
Handed the photo, Lu Guang identifies the criminal's license plate number, which turns out to belong to Liu Min, which the police are currently suspecting. However, he then spots Cheng Xiaoshi in the photo. Realizing that Cheng Xiaoshi has acted on his own on impulse, Lu Guang rushes back to the studio to find Cheng Xiaoshi returning from a dive. He angrily confronts Cheng Xiaoshi for his actions, but Cheng Xiaoshi, utterly defeated answers that he now knows, which is why he didn't do anything to interfere this time — he witnessed Emma falling victim to Liu Min, an indirect result of him sending a message to Emma's parents on her behalf during the Quede Games commission.
However, Lu Guang receives a call from officer Chen Bin, informing him of their conclusion that Liu Min cannot be a suspect — CCTV footage was discovered showing Emma walking alone on an abandoned bridge prior to her death. He asks for about Xu Shanshan so they can begin preparing for a missing person case.
In the meantime, Cheng Xiaoshi suggests finding a recent photo of Xu Shanshan to investigate themselves. Lu Guang finds a recent selfie posted on her WeChat Moments, and investigating it with his ability, he discovers that she was attacked by a masked man at home after visiting the photo studio. Cheng Xiaoshi is eager to enter the photo but is told to prepare for the worst case scenario. Lu Guang and Qiao Ling leave Cheng Xiaoshi to mentally prepare. He explains to Qiao Ling that, if the worst outcome did occur, entering the photo would mean experiencing death first-hand for Cheng Xiaoshi, and with no choice but to accept it.
After a few hours, Cheng Xiaoshi finishes preparations and they commence the dive. As night falls and the time of the attack nears, Lu Guang gives Cheng Xiaoshi instructions to try to unmask the perpetrator. However, Cheng Xiaoshi requests that he leads the operation this time, and reveals a radical plan: Inspired by the cryptic messages, Cheng Xiaoshi plans to confront the attacker and propose a "game," pointing her to a "clue" in the form of Qiao Ling's text in the group chat the following morning in exchange for Xu's safety, leading him to the photo studio in midnight. He has also set up a trap for the attacker in the photo studio's darkroom, hanging up various photos of the serial killer's victims and setting up the sensor doorbell that will lure the criminal into his trap.
Lu Guang agrees to go along. As Cheng Xiaoshi confronts the criminal in the photo and makes a deal, in present time, Lu Guang simultaneously locks the darkroom door on the criminal, who has paid a visit and fallen into Cheng Xiaoshi's trap as expected. Cheng Xiaoshi exits the photo to return to the darkroom. He employs a unique fighting style involving jumping between the different photos hanged in the darkroom and successfully defeats the criminal, unmasking him to reveal Liu Min.
Lu Guang explains everything to Qiao Ling, who is impressed by Cheng Xiaoshi. However, Cheng Xiaoshi is still concerned about Liu Min's alibi in the Emma case and suspects an accomplice. He enters the surveillance image of Emma taken before her death, and finds a despairing Emma on the abandoned bridge, about to commit suicide. Cheng Xiaoshi stops her in time, introducing himself and revealing the truth about his ability. He encourages her to continue fighting, sharing what he learned from the various lives he has witnessed — that "even in the darkest of times, one will eventually meet the one who carries light."
However, just as Emma begins to change her mind, her eyes suddenly turn a bright red, becoming remotely controlled by another yet unknown person possessing special abilities. Witnessing this, Lu Guang comes to the realization that Liu Min may have merely been a puppet, and the true culprit is still running free. Just as he begins to comprehend the danger, Qiao Ling, too with glowing red eyes, suddenly plunges a fruit knife into his stomach.
== Chen Bin's Tragedy ==
After stabbing Lu Guang, the true culprit, remotely controlling Qiao Ling, confronts Cheng Xiaoshi as he returns from the dive. The confrontation ends when the police enters the room and mistakenly assume Cheng Xiaoshi to be the attacker.
Lu Guang is rushed to the hospital, while Cheng Xiaoshi is taken to the police station for interrogation. In order to protect Lu Guang, they decide to have Lu Guang take on a fake identity. Qiao Ling asks Liu Siwen's family to help, and Lu Guang is admitted under the name of Liu Siwen's father-in-law, Ouyang Bubai. Additionally, he is transferred to a brand new hospital building that has yet to open as a further security measure.
Some time later, Cheng Xiaoshi arrives at Lu Guang's ward with Chen Bin, who picked him up from the police station. Believing that Lu Guang had passed away from his injuries, Cheng Xiaoshi is unable to hold back tears when he sees Lu Guang lying in bed, only to be stunned by the sight of Lu Guang opening his eyes, very much alive. Lu Guang sarcastically questions his reaction before dismissing him, demanding solitude. Cheng Xiaoshi turns to Captain Xiao, who explains that false news was spread about Lu Guang's death as a measure of protection.
When Lu Guang is handed a phone supposedly belonging to Liu Min to look for clues, the group is shocked to see a wallpaper of Chen Bin and his wife, realizing it's actually Chen Bin's phone. Turning around, they find Chen Bin missing. Xiao Li immediately rushes out to find him, while Cheng Xiaoshi hesitates, realizing the danger of leaving Lu Guang and Qiao Ling alone, and decides to stay behind.
However, not long after, they suddenly loses contact with Xiao Li. Checking the surveillance footage, they discover that Chen Bin has met a grim fate, having fallen to his death. Lu Guang points out a suspicious man descending from the top floor, prompting Cheng Xiaoshi to rush out to intercept him, joined by Qiao Ling. Using his ability to scan the entire building via security cameras, Lu Guang informs them of two exits they can block and prepares to lock the door behind them, urging haste.
Combining their efforts, Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling intercept the suspicious man and eventually defeat him after exchanging blows, eventually joined by Liu Siwen, Ouyang, and Ouyang Bubai who effortlessly fend off the thug's reinforcements. Meanwhile, Lu Guang, alone, moves to his door to slide it shut, someone suddenly grasps the door from outside, holding it open. The masked individual turns towards Lu Guang, revealing a bright red eye. However, the intruder does not attempt to hurt Lu Guang, and instead hands him a photo depicting a woman and a young girl. On the back side is hand-written text that reads "can't live without a good brother." as well as a child's drawing. After handing him the photo, the stranger immediately runs off. Fearing impulsive actions by Cheng Xiaoshi, Lu Guang hides the photo under his pillow and decides to not mention this incident for the time being.
Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling attend Chen Bin's funeral some time later, with Cheng Xiaoshi bringing a flower on behalf of Lu Guang who cannot attend due to injuries. After the funeral, Cheng Xiaoshi, sympathizing with Chen Bin and his wife, asks Lu Guang for permission to help them. Lu Guang agrees, and Cheng Xiaoshi dives into the past through a photo of the day Chen Bin and his wife received their marriage certificate. As Chen Bin, he presents her with a dandelion ring and proposes, expressing gratitude for her patience with his absences and pledging his love across lifetimes. He asks if she would marry him again in future lives, to which she smiles and playfully replies that it depends on his efforts then.
== Visit to the Li Family's Past ==
After the arrest of the trespassing thug Ma, the trio learn that he had been to Chen Bin's house together with Qian Jin. Qiao Ling and Cheng Xiaoshi suspect Qian Jin as the one with remote control abilities, but Xiao Li disagrees, believing Qian Jin to be a righteous man based on his past experience with him as colleagues.
Xiao Li then questions Lu Guang about a mysterious hooded figure was spotted on surveillance outside Lu Guang's room while he was alone. Only then does he reveal the photograph that he was given. With Qiao Ling speculating that the visitor may be seeking help finding a lost family member, they decide to dive into the photo to investigate, greatly astonishing Xiao Li as Cheng Xiaoshi disappears from the room. Cheng Xiaoshi finds her inhabiting the young girl named Xixi. The woman, her mother, directs him to collect the freshly taken photo from the instant camera. Cheng Xiaoshi inadvertently lets out a "oh," to which the woman reacts with surprise. Before he speaks again, Lu Guang urgently interjects, noting that the girl is supposed to be mute.
The mother and daughter then embark on a follow-up visit to a doctor, who remarks on the apparent effectiveness of his treatment upon hearing that the girl spoke today. Cheng Xiaoshi vents his skepticism on the doctor's methods to Lu Guang, but Lu Guang chides him for his narrow-mindedness. Checking the girl's pulse, the doctor is visibly puzzled, remarking on the pulse's unusual similarity to that of a boy rather than a girl, but attributing it to the prescription's impact, claiming it is a sign of the child's strengthening health and impending recovery. The mother's spirits lift at this news, while Cheng Xiaoshi is astonished by the doctor's apparent skill.
Walking home with the delighted mother, they stop at a claw machine. The mother and daughter both try and fail to win a doll in the machine, but are approached by their next-door neighbor passing by, who helps them win the toy using a niche technique.
Arriving back home, Cheng Xiaoshi communicates their address to Lu Guang. The neighbor affectionately pats the girl on the head, but is abruptly interrupted by the shout of a young boy, sternly warning the man to stop touching his sister. As Cheng Xiaoshi turns towards the source of the voice, he wonders if this protective boy is the "good brother" referred to in the message on the back of the photo. As Cheng Xiaoshi turns to look at the boy, he wonders if this might be the "good brother" referred to in the message written on the photograph.
Reaching their floor and entering their apartment, the son rants about the neighbor's insincerity, warning his sister to be cautious around him and lectures her on the principle of survival of the fittest, amusing Cheng Xiaoshi. Guided by Lu Guang, he attempts sign language to communicate, learning that these ideas were imparted by a new friend whom the boy admires. The boy, noticing Cheng Xiaoshi's clumsiness, corrects his sister and teaches her the proper signs for "I wanna go home." As the brother holds his sister's hand, Cheng Xiaoshi momentarily loses contact with Lu Guang but quickly reconnects.
The children's father arrives home as their mother finishes preparing dinner. Lu Guang finds himself having to temper an excited Cheng Xiaoshi's enthusiasm, reminding him to moderate his appetite, given his current guise as a young girl. However, the warm atmosphere of the meal would be interrupted when the father suddenly shifts the conversation, asking if his wife bought a new camera for the kids. She denies it, but he confronts her after seeing the camera hidden behind the plush toy. His patience wears thin, accusing her of deceit and infidelity, fueled by neighborhood gossip. He smashes the camera, believing it was a gift from a teacher, Mr. Zhou, and accuses his wife of having an affair. The mother tearfully defends herself, explaining that Mr. Zhou was concerned for their daughter and suggested a special needs school, but her husband dismisses this as a cover for his interest in her. He scoffs at the idea of a special needs school, citing financial burdens and traditional roles for girls.
This conflict would go on to escalate into a horrifying domestic abuse incident. Under Lu Guang's instruction, Cheng Xiaoshi follows the brother into their room, but the sounds of physical abuse continue. Tianchen, recalling his friend's words about bravery, charges at his father, while Cheng Xiaoshi pounds on the neighbor's door for help. The father drags his daughter back inside and, in a fit of rage, retrieves a hammer, threatening them all.
The mother tries to shield her children, pleading for him to stop, but he interprets her plea as guilt and prepares to strike her. The neighbor becomes aware of the chaos, but is threatened to remain silent. As the husband speculates that even the neighbor is seduced by his wife, she suggests divorce, but he furiously rejects it, raising the hammer for another blow, unexpectedly striking his son, who stands to intervene, in the forehead.
As the boy falls to the ground, the man is frozen in shock while his wife is engulfed in rage. However, he is quick to shift blame, and resumes his assault once more. Noticing the photo had fallen to the floor, Lu Guang urges Cheng Xiaoshi to go pick it up. Cheng Xiaoshi hesitates, feeling the immediate need to assist the mother, but Lu Guang insists on the importance of the photo, fearing that its loss would erase the future they know. Cheng Xiaoshi crawls towards the photo amidst the ongoing chaos. With the photo in hand, Cheng Xiaoshi sits, paralyzed by the distressing scene before him. Lu Guang apologizes to Cheng Xiaoshi, expressing regret that his inability to foresee every outcome has subjected Cheng Xiaoshi to such a traumatic experience.
Amidst the turmoil, the boy approaches his sister, shielding her eyes with his forearm and recalls bedtime story that their mother used to tell when they were younger: In a vast forest stood a small cabin, home to a family with a father, a mother, and two siblings. One day, the brother took his sister into the forest to gather fruits, but they found themselves lost as night fell. They encountered two talking crows and sought their help, but the crows mocked them instead. In anger, the brother killed one crow with a stone, and the other flew away in fright. The brother chased the remaining crow, running endlessly.
Cheng Xiaoshi then finds himself losing connection once again, before soon being ejected from the photo, returning to the hospital room. Base on clues gathered, they conclude that he photo subjects are a woman named Liu Lan and her daughter. Liu Lan and her husband Li Fan died years ago in a domestic abuse incident, killing each other in simultaneous blows. Present during the incident were their twin son and daughter, Li Tianchen and Li Tianxi. Though Cheng Xiaoshi recalls that Liu Lan was consistently on the receiving end of the violence, never retaliating, Xiao Li suggests that her resistance might have occurred only after Cheng Xiaoshi's exit from the photo. Additionally, he reveals that information about the children are nowhere to be found in their system, and they seemingly vanished following the incident.
== The Abduction ==
Xiao Li informs Cheng Xiaoshi that an informant with crucial knowledge about the case insists on speaking only to him. Despite Lu Guang's concerns, Cheng Xiaoshi confidently heads to the police station, with Qiao Ling instructed to keep an eye on him.
The informant at the police station introduces herself as "Li Tianxi." However, yet unknown to them, this is actually the older brother, Li Tianchen, in disguise, and the goal of his visit is to abduct Cheng Xiaoshi using his special ability to control via touch. Lu Guang, sensing this potential danger, snaps a photo while alone in his hospital room in order to serve as an anchor for Cheng Xiaoshi to time leap.
Meanwhile, Li Tianchen's kidnapping plan appears to go smoothly as he arrives at his arranged boat at the riverbanks. However, Qiao Ling has managed to catch up to them on her bike. Li Tianchen is surprised but carries on to board the boat. However, circumstances take another unexpected turn as he spots a speedboat rapidly approaching them. The speedboat performs a drift and collides with their boat, knocking it sideways. Leaping ashore from the speedboat is Lu Guang, who immediately pushes Cheng Xiaoshi to the ground and rolls away. As Cheng Xiaoshi regains consciousness, Lu Guang expresses his relief for making it in time.
Broken free of Li Tianchen's control and finally regaining consciousness, Cheng Xiaoshi questions why Lu Guang is there. Li Tianxi attempts to reach towards Lu Guang, but he reacts quickly, knocking her hand away. She then aims for Cheng Xiaoshi, but Lu Guang continues to intercept her attempts, forcing her into a physical confrontation. Eventually, Li Tianchen gives up on fighting Lu Guang and walks onto the boat. Still unaware of Li Tianchen's plot to kidnap him, Cheng Xiaoshi gives chase, but Lu Guang gets ahead of him. As Lu Guang touches Li Tianchen, he activates his control ability again, taking an obedient Lu Guang with him as the boat departs, leaving Cheng Xiaoshi behind.
Perplexed, Cheng Xiaoshi has no choice but to return to the hospital with Qiao Ling. He learns that some time earlier, Lu Guang had broken the window of his room as a distraction as he escaped unnoticed. Xiao Li notes Lu Guang's swift twenty-minute journey to the riverside, indicating premeditation. Within the washroom, they find Lu Guang's phone wrapped in a towel, realizing that he had left clues.
Cheng Xiaoshi successfully unlocks the phone with the passcode 091305, which he had previously seen by accident, and discovers a lone photo of the window in the album, taken at 18:42, coinciding with Qiao Ling receiving a location message from Lu Guang which led her to the riverside. They realize that the photo was taken as a temporal marker, and the Lu Guang who intercepted Cheng Xiaoshi at the riverbank was actually Cheng Xiaoshi himself, accounting for his unusual combat skills and impulsive pursuit of Li Tianxi. Cheng Xiaoshi ponders the implications of not entering the photo, possibly becoming the one captured instead of Lu Guang.
Within Lu Guang's photo, Cheng Xiaoshi reaches the riverbanks just in time to intercept Li Tianchen, reenacting the earlier scene. When the time comes for him to chase after Li Tianchen as he boards the boat, he instead halts his chase, choosing not to proceed down this predetermined path any further. Yet, he quickly realizes an oversight, as the Cheng Xiaoshi in the photo started chasing Li Tianchen. To avoid an even more unpredictable outcome, he changes his plan, deciding to chase after Li Tianchen himself. However, upon making contact, Li Tianchen seizes his hand and activates his ability yet unknown to Cheng Xiaoshi, abruptly ejecting him from the dive.
As a result, Li Tianchen's kidnapping plan ends with him capturing the wrong person. Lu Guang is taken to the hideout, tied to a chair and blindfolded. After a discussion with Qian Jin, revealed to be the true conspirator, Li Tianchen confronts the captive Lu Guang, smugly removing his blindfold. When Lu Guang points out his true identity, Li Tianchen commends his astuteness but inquires how he came to know about their rendezvous. Lu Guang remains evasive, reasoning that revealing such information would diminish his worth. Li Tianchen, clutching Lu Guang's jaw and declaring his irritation, admits his regret at not inflicting more harm on Lu Guang but vows not to let him die easily.
== Hostage Exchange and Final Confrontation ==
Though they are successful in preventing Cheng Xiaoshi's capture, Li Tianchen has begun preparation for his final strategy. He attends to Lu Guang's injury, staunching the bleeding but causing intense pain. With Lu Guang's bleeding temporarily stopped, Li Tianchen hands him a change of clothes, ominously hinting at his imminent "performance."
Lu Guang is taken down to a theatre stage where a hostage exchange is expected to occur, exchanging Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang. Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling arrive in the auditorium as instructed by Li Tianchen, finding Lu Guang standing at the center of the stage, mouth taped and hands tied. Cheng Xiaoshi calls out to him and runs forward, but is stopped by the sound of a gunshot and Li Tianchen's warning over the speakers to adhere to the rules of the "show" to prevent any harm. Li Tianchen directs Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang to approach each other slowly, then swap places. As they pass each other, Cheng Xiaoshi whispers a reassurance of his plan to Lu Guang. Once Cheng Xiaoshi reaches his designated spot on stage, Lu Guang urgently calls out to him, but Cheng Xiaoshi gives a composed wave as he is dropped beneath the stage through a trapdoor, escaping the theatre with a clever use of his ability.
Lu Guang and Qiao Ling rush to exit the theatre. However, Qian Jin had rigged the place with explosives. Fortunately, they are unharmed the detonation, managing to emerge from the theatre to find Xiao Li, assisting an injured officer in the process. Xiao Li informs them that although Cheng Xiaoshi was able to escape the theatre, they were found by Ma, who tased him unconscious and took Cheng Xiaoshi away, along with the true Li Tianxi, who was earlier found by the police and had joined them on their trip to the theatre. Lu Guang, pondering the explosion's rationale, suspects an alternate escape route. He recalls the sound of a subway from his time in Qian Jin's hideout, raising concerns about a potential underground getaway. Xiao Li acknowledges the possibility and agrees to Qiao Ling's proposal to split up.
Down in the subway tunnels, their search leads eventually leads them to Li Tianchen, who is engaged in battle with Cheng Xiaoshi while a helpless Li Tianxi watches. Qian Jin and Ma however, are not there when they arrive. Lu Guang attempts to intervene, but is quickly tased and restrained by Li Tianchen. As Li Tianchen presses on Lu Guang's stab wound and threatens Cheng Xiaoshi, his mute sister, in tears and unable to bear the situation any longer, calls out to her brother and utters the words "brother, I want to go home." Jolted from the conflict, Li Tianchen recalls teaching the phrase to her sister while they were young, breaking into tears himself. However, the emotional moment is abruptly shattered when a bullet strikes Li Tianxi in the chest. Li Tianchen desperately rushes towards his falling sister, as Qian Jin emerges from the shadows, muttering about betrayals. As Qiao Ling kneels next to the fallen Li Tianxi, he approaches Qiao Ling from behind, his pistol aimed at her head, calling for everyone to die. However, Cheng Xiaoshi jumps in front of Qian Jin as he fires, taking the bullet to the side of his waist. Lu Guang lets out a desperate scream and charges at Qian Jin. Qian Jin turns to fire at him too, only to realize his gun is empty. Lu Guang tackles and him and launches a fierce series of punches.
In response to Qiao Ling's desperate call, Cheng Xiaoshi rises and assures her that he is fine. Qian Jin manages to overpower Lu Guang, but Cheng Xiaoshi rushes to his aid, joining Lu Guang in a two-on-one struggle against Qian Jin. As Qian Jin momentarily pauses, discarding his bulletproof vest, Cheng Xiaoshi cautions Lu Guang to not overexert himself due to his injury, but Lu Guang retorts that Cheng Xiaoshi is not in a much better condition. Resuming the fight, Qian Jin still proves to be overpowering despite the valiant efforts of them both. Just as he prepares to finish off Cheng Xiaoshi, Xiao Li arrives in the nick of time to confront him.
The conflict ends with Qian Jin arrested and Li Tianchen having escaped again. Li Tianxi unfortunately passes away from her wounds, transferring her special ability to Qiao Ling. After some time recovering from the gunshot at the hospital, Cheng Xiaoshi returns to the photo studio with Lu Guang and Xiao Li, welcomed by Qiao Ling.
Settling down, Cheng Xiaoshi enjoys his welcome home meal, while Lu Guang is locked in a daze, his gaze fixed on Cheng Xiaoshi. It is then revealed via Lu Guang's flashback that in a previous timeline, showing that Cheng Xiaoshi had succumbed to his wounds. Lu Guang in bloodied clothing, sitting in front of his desk. In a monologue, he apologizes to Cheng Xiaoshi, acknowledging that though he always tells him to not change the past, he is unable to adhere to his own principle. He admits that although he knows death is unchangeable, he still wants to use his last chance to go back to the beginning and save Cheng Xiaoshi. With his watch displaying a date and time of 00:05 09/13, his palms meet as he disappears from the room — in this former timeline, Cheng Xiaoshi had succumbed to his injuries, with Lu Guang inheriting his photo-diving ability. The present timeline where Cheng Xiaoshi survives is the result of Lu Guang somehow managing to alter the past, despite his prior beliefs. Back in the present, Cheng Xiaoshi turns towards Lu Guang to catch his gaze, and shows him a radiant smile.