Cheng Xiaoshi/Story

== Childhood and Early Life ==
Not much is known about Cheng Xiaoshi's childhood, but it is implied in Episode 1 and Episode 5 that his parents were very caring, and that he loved them dearly. 
For unknown reasons, Cheng Xiaoshi's parents left him while he was a kid which caused immense emotional distress to Cheng Xiaoshi. Due to this, he runs to one of his only friends, Qiao Ling, to which her parents became concerned over his family situation. Tearfully, Xiaoshi exclaims that he does not want their sympathy. He asks Qiao Ling if she also believes his parents weren't going to come back, to which Qiao Ling says she doesn't. This was when Cheng Xiaoshi started living at the Hero Photo Studio (now known as the Time Photo Studio). Despite all the help, Cheng Xiaoshi still had a hard time with his life, as both parents and children would talk about his family, which caused Cheng Xiaoshi to lash out at them. 
Later, during the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake, Cheng Xiaoshi cries over the idea that his parents were in the earthquake and that they were quite possibly dead. He asks Qiao Ling if she believes that his parents are dead, to which she responds that she doesn't, and hugs him as he cries about missing them. 
Cheng Xiaoshi continued to grow up alongside Qiao Ling. Qiao Ling describes this time of his life as very lonely, and would often concern herself with his wellbeing. 
It was only during high school that he made another friend, Lu Guang, meeting him on the basketball field. Lu Guang one day passes by the photo studio by chance, agreeing to help with refurbishing work and getting to know Qiao Ling as well. Later, Cheng Xiaoshi attends a university name Hui Jie Movie Academy along with Lu Guang, Qiao Ling, Dong Yi, and Xu Shanshan. At some point, Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang would rebrand the photo studio and start their side business of revisiting people's past through photos.
== Emma's Commission ==
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. 
While in the past, Cheng Xiaoshi follows Lu Guang's directives and inhabits Emma, suffering through Zhu Ye's advances despite his utter disgust. After getting saved by a call from Emma's mother, he listens to her worries regarding Emma's health with a smile. Cheng Xiaoshi is then forced to work until 2 AM per Mr. Zhu's orders. He asks Lu Guang about Emma's exhausting work life and if she has to do it every day but Lu Guang only says to focus on their mission. 
Finally, he returns to Emma's apartment where he tiredly collapses on the bed and falls asleep, ignoring a message on Emma's phone, following Lu Guang's orders.
After waking up from a dream, he shares it with Lu Guang who is still awake and says that he is not the only one who misses his parents, before asking if they would ever return. Under Lu Guang's encouragements to sleep, Cheng Xiaoshi bides him good night. However, he looks inside Emma's phone despite the latter's indications, reading the messages sent by Emma's concerned mother. It is revealed later that, influenced by his host's feelings of loneliness, coupled with his own sadness at having been reminded of his past, he sent a message to Emma's parents.
The next day, Cheng Xiaoshi follows Lu Guang's order and spills hot tea on Mr. Zhu's pants. When Mrs. Zhu enters the room, she slaps Emma while insulting her and Mr. Zhu accuses Emma of harassing him to defend himself. Under the unfair treatment, Cheng Xiaoshi is visibly enraged and about to fight back but is reminded by Lu Guang not to do anything. He finally relents and lets Emma be slapped a second time, falling to the ground and retrieving the necessary information for their mission with a grim face.
After coming back from the dive and the news announcing Vicky Games' falsifications, Cheng Xiaoshi asks Lu Guang if, had he done anything in the past, would that truly have changed the future? Lu Guang asks if he did do something while inside the picture but Cheng Xiaoshi deflects the question and wonders how Emma is doing now. 
When Qiao Ling enters the studio, Cheng Xiaoshi teases Lu Guang about his seriousness before leaving the room to greet her.
== 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.
Cheng Xiaoshi enters the first photo, taken while Yu Xia and Lin Zhen were both young adults, having just opened their restaurant together. Cheng Xiaoshi inhabits Yu Xia, and Lu Guang instructs him to search for clues. While working with Lin Zhen, Cheng Xiaoshi notices her using a mysterious black powder from the fridge, which he immediately suspects to be the secret ingredient. However, when he asks Lin Zhen what the ingredient is, she refuses to answer something that seemed obvious to her. Yu Xia gets into a confrontation with a deliveryman before sitting down to share a meal with Lin Zhen. As they eat, they inadvertently bite into the same strand of noodle on both ends, ending with the noodle hanging from both of their mouths. When Lin Zhen lets go of the strand. Cheng Xiaoshi slurps up the noodle and the two share a wholesome laugh. Lu Guang tells Cheng Xiaoshi it's time to leave the photo, as no further clues can be found.
Cheng Xiaoshi continues to follow Yu Xia through various photos, but each attempt yields no significant information. Cheng Xiaoshi is given a final picture by Lu Guang, who suggests they should give up. Cheng Xiaoshi insists on trying again, reminding Lu Guang to have hope. This time, Cheng Xiaoshi inhabits Lin Zhen in the photo. Yu Xia, who has long departed from the duo's original vision for their restaurant, confronts Lin Zhen about her reluctance to embrace change, leading to a heated argument, eventually ending with Lin Zhen leaving the business. Cheng Xiaoshi realizes it was in fact Yu Xia who changed, not Lin Zhen.
Lin Zhen gets on a taxi, and Cheng Xiaoshi asks if they had any more chances. Lu Guang tells him that she would be crying at home the whole night, with no possibility of clues. However, 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. Liu Siwen is mocked for his inability to fight properly, but he stubbornly presses on, even as Ouyang's father grows more enraged.
Cheng Xiaoshi continues to fight, using evasive tactics to avoid punches. At one point, he charges forward using the "Monkey Steals Peach" move, but Ouyang's father delivers a powerful uppercut that knocks him out. Neither Cheng Xiaoshi nor Lu Guang can figure out the old master's special technique, but Cheng Xiaoshi refuses to give up. Ouyang's father beats him repeatedly, yet Cheng Xiaoshi rises again, driven by his feelings for Ouyang and his desire for their future together.
Ouyang, watching the fight, begs her father to stop, promising never to marry anyone if he continues. However, Liu Siwen, determined to prove himself, makes one last stand. Despite being physically battered, he charges at Ouyang's father once more, but the fight ends with another brutal blow. Back in the photo studio, Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang return, dejected after failing to discover the master's secret. 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 Cheng Xiaoshi, Lu Guang, 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, and Cheng Xiaoshi join in celebrating the couple's reunion along with Qiao Ling.
== Chen Xiao's Commission ==
The photo studio receives a request from a man named Chen Xiao. He 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.
Cheng Xiaoshi enters the photo during a high school basketball game, taking on Chen Xiao's role. As the game progresses, Cheng Xiaoshi uses his skill to boost Chen Xiao's performance, surprising his teammates and turning the tide of the game. However, Chen Xiao begins to struggle with balancing his efforts to help the team while following Lu Guang's instructions to deviate from past events as little as possible. Despite trying to lower his performance later, his teammates keep stepping in to save his errors.
As the game nears its conclusion, Cheng Xiaoshi feigns exhaustion but manages to make a crucial play, tying the score. In the final moments, he passes the ball to a teammate, allowing them to win the game. However, this would still be the last game they play as a team, as the school's decision to demolish the gym remains unchanged. Bringing the captain back home on a bike, he deliver the first set of words.
Next, Cheng Xiaoshi has to interact with Chen Xiao's first love, Liu Meng. He takes a picture with her at Lu Hongbin's request and later walks home with her and Lu Hongbin. Cheng Xiaoshi feels Chen Xiao's emotions strongly, realizing that Liu Meng likely reciprocated his feelings all along. Following Lu Guang's cues, Cheng Xiaoshi recites a heartfelt speech to Liu Meng, ending with a pinkie promise, fulfilling another part of Chen Xiao's request.
Cheng Xiaoshi then goes to visit Chen Xiao's mother. After dinner, he delivers a message as instructed by Lu Guang, and he and Chen Xiao's mother make up after their argument. 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 .
Despite Lu Guang's warnings, Cheng Xiaoshi tries to warn his friends about the earthquake, but to no avail as none take his claims seriously. However, he is determined to save at least one person — Chen Xiao's mother. Although he convinces the mother to take precautions, they end up trapped under rubble as the earthquake hits. She holds his hand and comforts him as he cries, telling him that she always supported her family, even if she couldn't teach much or offer material wealth. She sings a lullaby that triggers memories of Cheng Xiaoshi's own mother. Cheng Xiaoshi desperately begs her not to leave him, but she dies while holding his hand.
Cheng Xiaoshi is rescued from the rubble, but he refuses to accept Chen Xiao's mother's death. He begs the rescue team to save her, but they confirm her passing. Still in denial, Cheng Xiaoshi breaks down, unable to process the loss. After returning to the present, Cheng Xiaoshi confronts Lu Guang, angry that he couldn't save Chen Xiao's mother despite all their efforts.
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. When he follows the kidnapper, Cheng Xiaoshi 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 Cheng Xiaoshi's university classmates, visits the photo studio. They initially bicker, but Xu Shanshan is also here as a customer, 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.
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 finds officer Xiao Li at the police station. The police is currently suspecting Liu Min as the culprit after releasing a CCTV image online. When investigating the photo, he spots Cheng Xiaoshi who has also entered the same photo on his own after finding it online. Cheng Xiaoshi hides in the car trunk and follows the suspect, who is indeed Liu Min, as he offers a ride to a woman later revealed to be Emma. Liu Min drives Emma to a secluded location and reveals malicious intentions, verbally and physically assaulting Emma.
Cheng Xiaoshi realizes that it was the text message to Emma's parents that he sent on her behalf which brought this situation upon her, deeply regretting not listening to Lu Guang's warnings. Overcome with frustration, Cheng Xiaoshi breaks down and screams, attracting Liu Min's attention. However, when he checked his trunk, Cheng Xiaoshi has already exited from the photo to find an angry Lu Guang who has rushed back from the police station. Feeling thorough defeat, Cheng Xiaoshi relays what he learned in the photo. However, they soon receive news from the police that Liu Min cannot be a suspect — CCTV footage was discovered showing Emma walking alone on an abandoned bridge prior to her death.
Lu Guang investigates what happened to Xu Shanshan through a recent photo and 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.
Alone, Cheng Xiaoshi comes up with a radical plan to capture the perpetrator. 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 also sets 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.
Once finished preparing, Cheng Xiaoshi enters the photo and inhabits Xu Shanshan. Walking with Qiao Ling after the photo studio visit, he is touched as Qiao Ling shares her true thoughts on him and recounts his difficult childhood to Xu Shanshan. At night, he reveals his plans to Lu Guang. He confronts the criminal in the photo and makes a deal, while 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. During his arrest however, "Liu Min" ominously declares that he will be back.
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. After briefly addressing Cheng Xiaoshi, the possessor controlls Emma to jump off the bridge. Cheng Xiaoshi is ejected from the photo, only to find a gravely injured Lu Guang who has been stabbed by Qiao Ling, also possessed with her eyes turned red. "Qiao Ling" turns to him, informing him that this is "punishment" for his cheap tricks in the earlier "game," declaring that the "game" has now been reset.
== Chen Bin's Tragedy ==
Confronted by the possessor, Cheng Xiaoshi deduces that Liu Min was also under their control. Cheng Xiaoshi angrily questions the possessor about their identity and intentions, but is reminded that if he attracts the police's attention, Qiao Ling, who is holding the weapon, would be held responsible for Lu Guang's stabbing. 
Cheng Xiaoshi attempts to negotiate, and the possessor orders him to answer honestly how his special ability works. Cheng Xiaoshi claims that his ability is to teleport, but the possessor immediately calls him out for lying, deducing that his ability is "also" related to photos, as he can no longer teleport without a room full of them. 
Declaring their intent to take Cheng Xiaoshi's power and experience it for themselves, the possessor attacks, but Cheng Xiaoshi manages to disarm him after a struggle. However, the police have now entered the building, and after witnessing the scene, they mistakenly arrest Cheng Xiaoshi. Though he doesn't resist the arrest, Cheng Xiaoshi urging the police to save Lu Guang.
Lu Guang is rushed to the hospital, while Cheng Xiaoshi is taken to the police station for interrogation. Unable to convey the truth, he requests to speak with Captain Xiao. Later, he's devastated to learn that Lu Guang has passed away. Left alone, Cheng Xiaoshi contemplates going back in time to start over, but Chen Bin arrives to pick him up, as instructed by Xiao Li.
On their way to the hospital, Chen Bin asks if Cheng Xiaoshi knows the situation, then lets him rest. When Chen Bin's wife calls, Cheng Xiaoshi answers for him. She mentions Qian Jin is waiting, and Chen Bin tells her he might not come home due to the case. Afterward, Chen Bin shares that he and his wife took their phone wallpaper photo two years ago after getting their marriage certificate but haven't held a proper wedding. Cheng Xiaoshi briefly considers changing the past but dismisses the idea, returning Chen Bin's phone. Chen Bin then hands him clothes, urging him to change before seeing Lu Guang.
Chen Bin ensures Cheng Xiaoshi is ready before opening the door to Lu Guang's ward, where Lu Guang lies in bed with Xiao Li and Qiao Ling present. Overwhelmed, Cheng Xiaoshi is unable to hold back tears, 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 the false news was spread to protect Lu Guang, while it was Liu Min whose rescue failed.
Qiao Ling admits she now understands everything, including that she had stabbed Lu Guang under external control. Reflecting on his confrontation with the possessor, Cheng Xiaoshi recalls two key details: the possessor mentioned Cheng Xiaoshi's power was "also" linked to photos and expressed a desire to take his ability. From this, Cheng Xiaoshi deduces that the possessor's powers are likely photo-related and that their abilities could potentially be taken. To mitigate risks, Cheng Xiaoshi has deleted information and photos related to the Photo Studio from the internet.
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.
Not long after, Cheng Xiaoshi 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. When Qiao Ling offers to join, Cheng Xiaoshi tells him to stay, earning an unexpected punch. Qiao Ling asserts that while he appreciates Cheng Xiaoshi's protection, he needs his trust more. 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. However, when they search the man for Liu Min's phone, they realize he was not carrying it. The man laughs as reinforcements arrive. However, they are interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat. Turning towards the source of the sound, they see three people walking into the hallway, wearing cartoon superhero masks.
The three turn out to be martial arts masters Liu Siwen, Ouyang, and Ouyang Bubai, who were at the hospital to help Lu Guang get admitted under a fake name. They instruct the two to leave, and effortlessly defeat the thugs.
The thugs arrested and interrogated, and Qiao Ling and Cheng Xiaoshi are also taken to the police station. They confirm Lu Guang's safety over a call before Xiao Li arrives to meet them. Xiao Li informs them that Liu Min's phone has not yet been found, attributing Chen Bin's death to his own errors in judgment and inadequate planning, deciding to seek a demotion and accept any repercussions after uncovering the whole truth.
Later, Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling attend Chen Bin's funeral, with Cheng Xiaoshi bringing a flower on behalf of Lu Guang who cannot attend due to injuries. Meeting Xiao Li there, their conversation is interrupted by Liu Jing, his wife, and lawyer Qian Jin, attending Liu Min's funeral, held alongside Chen Bin's.
Liu Jing aggressively demands answers about his son's death but refuse to listen to what Xiao Li has to say. Cheng Xiaoshi declares he witnessed Liu Min's knife-wielding attack, but Liu Jing's wife mocks the idea, claiming her disabled son couldn't have committed homicide. She threatens legal action and provocatively accuses Chen Bin of taking bribes, enraging Xiao Li, who orders her to stop spreading rumors. Liu Jing persists, citing alleged cash found at Chen Bin's house and threatening to speak publicly.
The tension peaks when Cheng Xiaoshi attempts to punch Liu Jing, but is intercepted by Qian Jin. Liu Jing's wife demands Cheng Xiaoshi's arrest for assault, but he insists Liu Jing provoked him. Qian Jin refuses to release Cheng Xiaoshi without an apology, until Qiao Ling slaps Qian Jin, declaring her hit as the only real blow. Xiao Li teases Qian Jin for being struck by a girl, and the group leaves, ending the confrontation as Liu Jing decides to avoid further conflict.
Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling pay their respects to Chen Bin. They notice absence of his wife, but she soon arrives in a flowing white dress, holding dandelions. Tearfully, she accuses Chen Bin of breaking promises and laments their lost time together. She makes a heartfelt plea, asking him to fulfill one final promise in their next lives by returning what he owes her.
Later, Cheng Xiaoshi, sympathizing with Chen Bin and his wife, asks Lu Guang for permission to help them. They activate their powers, diving into the past through a photo of the day Chen Bin and his wife received their marriage certificate. As Chen Bin, Cheng Xiaoshi hands her a dandelion flower fashioned into a ring and proposes: Apologizing for inability to stay by her side, he thanks her for forgiving his frequent absences. He pledges love and protection not only for the rest of this life, but also across the span of their future lives to come, and asks if she is willing to marry him in all subsequent existences. She smiles, remarking that she can't refuse now that they have their certificate, and teases that his chances of marrying her in the next life will depend on his performance then.
== Visit to the Li Family's Past ==
After the arrest of the mysterious trespasser 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. Lu Guang reveals a photograph given to him by the visitor, depicting a woman and a young girl and bearing a handwritten message, "can't live without a good brother," on its back side.
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 dinner. The father asks about the plush toy from the claw machine, and the mother credits a lucky final coin for the win. As they gather to eat, the boy places meat in his sister's bowl, showing his care. Their father does the same for him, but the boy insists on serving himself, earning a mild reprimand from their mother. Cheng Xiaoshi reflects on the warmth of the meal and ponders over the photo's message, "can't live without a good brother," finding it puzzling as the brother seems to be doing fine.
However, 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.
Tianchen protectively covers his sister's ears, disapproving of their father's harsh words. The father, enraged, rips apart Xixi's plush toy, assuming it too was a gift. When the mother tries to stop him, she is knocked to the ground. The father orders Tianchen to take his sister to their room. Reluctantly, they leave, 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, vaguely seeing a blurry image of himself in Liu Lan's body before he is abruptly 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. Cheng Xiaoshi reflects that his time in the photo corresponded with the day of the incident. However, he also recalls that Liu Lan was consistently on the receiving end of the violence, never retaliating. Xiao Li suggests that Liu Lan's resistance might have occurred only after Cheng Xiaoshi's exit from the photo. Cheng Xiaoshi then inquires about the children, theorizing that they could have been the ones who gave Lu Guang the photo. However, Xiao Li 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. At the station, Wang Juan briefs them about the evasive nature of the informant and tasks Cheng Xiaoshi with carrying a listening device.
In the interrogation room, the informant introduces herself Li Tianxi. During their conversation, Cheng Xiaoshi realizes that she was the person with remote control abilities behind the previous incident at the photo studio. When he probes further, Li Tianxi dodges the question and instead shares her trauma, revealing her sensitivity to her surroundings and the events that led her to wear a mask.
After downing three cans of coke all by herself, Li Tianxi grabs Cheng Xiaoshi's hand, requesting that he accompanies her to the washroom. Officer Wang Juan steps in to accompany them. However, all three of them are soon found missing from the station, with surveillance footage revealing them leaving together, with Wang Juan seemingly leading the escape.
"Li Tianxi." later revealed to be Li Tianchen in disguise, intends to capture Cheng Xiaoshi and use him to change the past. Using his own special ability to control Wang Juan and Cheng Xiaoshi via touch. Escaping into an abandoned district, he ditches Wang Juan and continues onward with Cheng Xiaoshi. Stopping at a designated spot, a masked thug uses a metal detector to discover a listening device that the police planted on Cheng Xiaoshi. Li Tianchen scolds him for "cheating" once again and controls him to respond in a robotic voice, apologizing and swearing it won't happen again, crushing the device with his fingers. Officer Xiao Li catches up to them right after losing his tracking signal, but is blocked by the thug as Li Tianxi continues his escape.
As they arriving at an arranged boat at the riverbanks, things seem to have gone as Li Tianchen planned. 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. Xiao Li recalls Lu Guang appearing anxious when he left his room, leading Cheng Xiaoshi to deduce that the photo was taken as a temporal marker. This revelation leads Qiao Ling to realize that 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.
They then receive the news that the police have located Li Tianxi: a girl matching her description was discovered in an abandoned grocery store two days ago. Upon arriving at the station, Xiao Li and Cheng Xiaoshi storm into the interrogation room, aggressively confronting Li Tianxi. However, they soon realize that she may not be the same Li Tianxi as before, as the mute girl, overwhelmed, begins to cry, echoing Cheng Xiaoshi's earlier experience in the photo. They deduce that the "Li Tianxi" they encountered was actually her twin brother in disguise.
However, questions still remain unanswered as Qiao Ling is puzzled about why he went to such great lengths to abduct Cheng Xiaoshi, and Cheng Xiaoshi uncertain of how he simultaneously controlled both himself and Wang Juan, or the specific triggers for his powers. Grabbing Cheng Xiaoshi's cheeks, Qiao Ling encourages him to enter the photo left by Lu Guang to find the answer. Despite his reluctance, she expresses her belief that avoiding action will not change the past, and Lu Guang's self-sacrifice to save Cheng Xiaoshi is an inevitable destiny.
After the police's attempts to communicate with Li Tianxi prove fruitless, Qiao Ling volunteers to give it a try. At the same time, Cheng Xiaoshi, in coordination with Xiao Li, presses his palms together to enter Lu Guang's photo, taking Lu Guang's place in the hospital room at 18:42. He waits until 18:55 before making his move, hurling a water kettle at the window to create a distraction, then swiftly hides in the restroom as the officers attempt entry. He hides Lu Guang's phone inside a towel and stealthily escapes the room.
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.
Returned to the police station, Cheng Xiaoshi recounts the events of the dive to Xiao Li. Linking this to his earlier forced ejection from the Li family dive, Cheng Xiaoshi notes that both instances involved physical contact with Li Tianchen. Based on the observation that Li Tianchen was simultaneously holding hands with both Wang Juan and Cheng Xiaoshi when he escaped the police station, they infer that Li Tianchen's power to manipulate others is triggered by touch.
While this is yet unable to explain Li Tianchen's ability for remote control, Qiao Ling reports to them with additional info obtained from Li Tianxi: Both siblings possess special powers. Li Tianxi can inhabit others through photographs, enabling her to see through their eyes, monitor their actions, and access their memories, though she lacks direct control over them. Reflecting on the photo studio incident, Cheng Xiaoshi realizes why the possessor could instantly see through his lie: he had accessed the truth in Qiao Ling's memories, evidenced by his remark, "You can fool me, but you can't fool her." This leads to the realization that Li Tianchen and Li Tianxi's powers, when combined, facilitate remote manipulation. Moreover, it becomes apparent that Li Tianchen's abduction of Cheng Xiaoshi is driven by his desire to exploit his ability to alter the past.
== Hostage Exchange and Final Confrontation ==
In a critical development, Xiao Li arrives with urgent news: Li Tianchen has contacted him, proposing a hostage exchange within the next 35 minutes, trading Cheng Xiaoshi for Lu Guang. Moreover, Li Tianchen insists that Qiao Ling must be the only one to accompany Cheng Xiaoshi. Given the tight deadline, they decide to set off immediately and strategize en route, with Li Tianxi requesting to go together.
Cheng Xiaoshi comes up with a clever strategy to both extract Lu Guang and escape capture himself. Via a live recording, his ability enables him to effectively teleport to the location of the recording without changing timelines, and when he claps his hands again, he will "exit" the dive, teleporting him back to the original location.
Soon, Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling arrive at the designated exchange location — a theatre. Once inside, they hear an announcement from Li Tianchen, declaring the commencement of the "show" and directing them to the theater entrance. When Cheng Xiaoshi triggers an alarm at the metal detector, Li Tianchen instructs them to leave all personal items behind and change into prearranged attire. With monitoring devices stripped from them, Xiao Li, staying behind in his car, hands Li Tianxi a photo, entrusting her with the task of monitoring Cheng Xiaoshi.
Entering the auditorium, they find 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.
In the darkness, he anticipates Li Tianchen's incoming grab and dodges away. Li Tianchen approaches Cheng Xiaoshi, confidently asserting that he has no chance to cheat without any photos. However, as he lunges for another grab, Cheng Xiaoshi claps his hands and vanishes, reappearing in Xiao Li's car — Cheng Xiaoshi had entered the theatre in the middle of a same-timeline dive.
However, Li Tianchen had also anticipated this move: He placed a tracker in the clothes that he forced Cheng Xiaoshi to change into. After he exits from the dive, Ma, stationed nearby, manages to locate him via the tracker. Tasing Xiao Li unconscious, Ma takes Cheng Xiaoshi and Li Tianxi into a subway tunnel to meet with Qian Jin — the former policeman who took in the Li twins after their parents' deaths and erased their profiles, and the true orchestrator behind the series of crimes. Li Tianchen also reveals himself, declaring Cheng Xiaoshi exhausted of all his tricks. However, his smugness fades into shock upon noticing his sister standing behind Cheng Xiaoshi. Qian Jin, taking the pistol from Ma, points it at the duo, grimly commenting on the "family reunion" and commanding Li Tianxi to join their side. Li Tianxi however, shakes her head, taking cover behind Cheng Xiaoshi.
Qian Jin once again expresses his disdain for betrayal, finger slowly pressing against the trigger, prompting Cheng Xiaoshi to shield Li Tianxi. Li Tianchen moves to intervene, but Ma restrains him. Amidst the mounting tension, Cheng Xiaoshi inquires who it was that delivered the photo to Lu Guang's ward that night. Ma, recollecting a individual he encountered in the staircase and to whom he gave Liu Min's phone, which Qian Jin was asked by Liu Jing to retrieve, is convinced it was Li Tianchen. This leads Qian Jin to aim his gun at Li Tianchen, demanding answers and questioning whether he possesses Liu Min's phone. Li Tianchen attempts to evade, questioning if Qian Jin harbors doubts even for him. Qian Jin turns to Li Tianxi, reasoning that if Li Tianchen wasn't involved, it must be her. With Li Tianxi shaking her head, Cheng Xiaoshi presses Li Tianchen to stop hiding it, asserting that Li Tianxi would never lie. Unable to conceal the truth any longer, Li Tianchen turns to Cheng Xiaoshi, confessing that he had thought about changing the past. Hearing this, Qian Jin bitterly exclaims that even Li Tianchen has turned against him and demands the surrender of Liu Min's phone.
A perplexed Ma recalls telling Qian Jin about the phone long ago and questions why Qian Jin had not confronted Li Tianchen sooner, but quickly realizes that Qian Jin had known all along. Deciding that he knew too much to be kept around, Qian Jin shoots him in the chest. An infuriated Qian Jin demands an explanation from Li Tianchen for his betrayal, to which Tianchen calmly responds that their relationship has always been rooted in mutual use, devoid of any trust, and there couldn't be betrayal without trust in the first place. Qian Jin argues that he had indeed placed trust in Li Tianchen, having raised the siblings as his own children. Cheng Xiaoshi interjects, countering that Qian Jin had merely treated them as tools and emotional substitutes. Growing increasingly agitated, Qian Jin argues that he was not the one in the wrong. Reminded of his original reason for capturing Cheng Xiaoshi, he hands Cheng Xiaoshi a photo of his wife, blaming her for his misfortunes and demanding that Cheng Xiaoshi alters his past using the photo.
Cheng Xiaoshi, picking up the photo, arrives at the conclusion that Qian Jin had been one responsible for the death of his wife. Well aware of Qian Jin's past, Li Tianchen follows by stating that Zhuang Shuai, whom Qian Jin thought his wife was having an affair with, was actually innocent. He reveals his certainty stems from his ability to access the memories of those he controls, recounting that Zhuang Shuai was the first person Qian Jin commanded him to kill after discovering his power, leaving a lasting impression on him.
Qian Jin, still unable to admit that he is wrong, continues to condemn his victims. Unbeknownst to Qian Jin, the shot he previously fired at Ma was not fatal. Amidst Qian Jin's tirade, an enraged Ma rises from the ground, tackles and disarms him. Seizing the pistol, Ma fires at Qian Jin, hitting his chest but failing to incapacitate him, revealing he's wearing a bulletproof vest beneath his suit. Feeling betrayed by the discovery that Qian Jin had selfishly protected himself while constantly assigning him dangerous missions and by Qian Jin's attempt on his life, Ma chases Qian Jin down the tunnels.
Li Tianchen seizes the opportunity to attack Cheng Xiaoshi. Li Tianxi attempts to intervene, but to no avail, as Li Tianchen expresses his disappointment in Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang's lack of action to change their tragic past despite him seeking their help. He continues to attack Cheng Xiaoshi, eventually gaining the upper hand and pressing him to the ground, declaring that he is going to change their fate himself. At this moment, Lu Guang arrives at the scene with Qiao Ling 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 their 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 proves to be overpowering despite the valiant efforts of Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi. Just as he prepares to finish off Cheng Xiaoshi, Xiao Li arrives in the nick of time to confront him. With a police officer now on the scene, Li Tianxi urges her brother to flee despite her condition, while simultaneously holding Qiao Ling down with her remaining strength. Recognizing his dire situation, Li Tianchen heeds her sister's plea, fleeing in tears.
Qian Jin is eventually defeated in the fight and arrested, but 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, Cheng Xiaoshi had succumbed to his wounds, with Lu Guang inheriting his photo-diving ability, and 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.