Episode 3

> "If your pictures aren't good enough, you aren't close enough."
>
> -Robert Capa, Quote in the episode title card

***To Lose, Not To Win*** (Chinese: 只许输，不准赢 *Zhǐ Xǔ Shū, Bù Zhǔn Yíng*, lit. "Only Losing, Not Winning, Is Allowed") is the third episode of the first season of Link Click.

## Synopsis

Architect Chen Xiao hears rumors of Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang powers and seeks them out to change his regrets from the past during his last basketball game. Cheng takes the role of benchwarmer and photographer during the game, until an untimely flash allows the opponent to get away with purposefully injuring the team's star player. Cheng is substituted in, and dominates the court. However, Cheng Xiaoshi's actions could end up shifting the past and altering the future, something that Lu Guang warns Cheng of multiple times, especially in regards to changing the results of the game. Remembering the importance of others and teamwork, Cheng passes the ball to a teammate at the final moments. The teammate make a three-point shot, changing the results of the game.

## Plot

Qiao Ling is taking a morning run, listening to the news on her earbud when a mysterious stranger appears behind her and is about to grab her. Lu Guang steps in suddenly and stops him from making any moves, but the stranger, introduced as Chen Xiao explains that he was looking for the person that can enter a photo, and that he had seen many rumours of it circulating online. Qiao Ling immediately changes her demeanor, seemingly interested in the new customer while Lu Guang takes the photo and activates his ability on it.

Chen Xiao tells how in the image, he lost the basketball game, missed his chance with the perosn he liked, and quarreled with his mother in the end. He asks Lu Guang and Qiao Ling if they could go back in time and say a few words to each of them, just to make up for his past actions.

Lu Guang brings the photo upstairs to Cheng Xiaoshi, where he explains that the photographer was a basketball player on his high school team, and wants to say a few words to his friends, crush, and mother. Cheng Xiaoshi enters the photo and finishes snapping a photo of Chen Xiao's teammates. The team captain goes up to him and reminds him to stay prepared on the bench, as well as take many photos. Meanwhile, the opposing team, Long Yang, joke and make fun of their basketball court and how shabby it is.

Long Yang takes the first ball, and their blond-haired forward easily takes the first point. While the other team celebrates, Chen Xiao's captain, Lu Hongbin, encourages their team to not get dispirited. Chen Xiao sits on the bench with one of the faculty. As he takes a photo, the flash goes off, distracting Lu Hongbin. Liu Lei, from the opposing team takes this as a moment to charge, and he hits the captain's knee. This causes him to be injured, and having to sit out the rest of the game. Chen Xiao apologizes to him, but he reassures him that the opposing team would've given them a hard time even without the accidental flash.

When play resumes, the Long Yang team immediately gain possession of the ball once again. Just as their best player is about to shoot, Chen Xiao steals the ball and makes his way down the court, shooting and giving his own team their first point. Everyone on the court is shocked, wondering when Chen Xiao became so strong.

In a flashback, Lu Guang picks up a stray basketball, and is invited by Cheng Xiaoshi to join him and his friends in a game of basketball.

In the game, Chen Xiao continues scoring, stealing the ball and racking up points extremely quickly. During a time-out, Lu Hongbin compliments him on his skills, that he must practice often on his own. He hands him a bottle of water, and optimistically declares that they'll win the game with Chen Xiao here. Though Chen Xiao initially agrees confidently, Lu Guang reminds him of his duty, so he changes his assertion to one that helps the rest of the team as well.

Beginning the second half, Chen Xiaoshi tries to stay out of the way. Despite his teammates attempting to pass to him, Long Yang's best player is able to easily intercept the ball, calling them useless without Chen Xiao. Chen Xiao awkwardly wonders why his teammate would pass to him, even while he was hiding behind the opposing team. The blond quickly scores a point, but Chen Xiao is distracted, wondering if his fake turnover looked real enough. His teammates discuss Chen Xiao's questionable move until Lu Hongbin jumps in and explains that Chen Xiao was trying to clear the key and provide ample scoring space. Chen Xiao, to the side sighs that it wasn't his intention.

Cheng Xiaoshi continues to simulate a weakening of skills, but all his "accidental" drops, misses, and interruptions are caught & saved by his teammates. As a last-ditch effort, Cheng Xiaoshi feigns a fall on his face, dropping the ball. Finally, their team, Motor Factory Middle School, calls for a suspension. Lu Hongbin confronts Chen Xiao, calling his lowering ability "deformation action" due to exhaustion. The captain reassures the rest of his teammates that the doctor had done emergency treatment on his leg already, and that he was ready. Noticing Lu Hongbin's limp, he asks the overseeing chemistry teacher if he could really play. He sighs and says that if the captain didn't play now, he might not have any more chances in he future. A flashblack of Lu Hongbin personally asking for the abandoned factory as a basketball court surfaces as the chemistry teacher tells the story of their team. Hearing this, Chen Xiao asks to be put back on court.

Back in Lu Guang's flashback, the game finished, Lu Guang is complimented on his skills and called Cheng Xiaoshi's future partner. Lu Guang dismisses the game as no big deal, but Cheng Xiaoshi rebukes it, saying that he places his trust in Lu Guang every time he passes the ball.

> How precious it is to be with trustworthy partners in our life.
>
> Cheng Xiaoshi

Chen Xiao watches his team play, only for their captain to collapse on his bad leg again. This time, he begs the teacher for a substitution. As his teammates haul Lu Hongbin back onto the bench, Cheng Xiaoshi walks up to him and promises that it wouldn't be his last game. They high-five. Lu Guang makes a half-hearted protest, but Cheng Xiaoshi is already going. He makes multiple shots, before Liu Lei knocks him over and steps on Chen Xiao's glasses. He smirks and believes that he will no longer be able to shoot with such accuracy anymore. Cheng Xiaoshi smiles instead and makes a three-point shot, tying the score. Long Yang makes a two-point shot, and Lu Guang tells Cheng Xiaoshi that he can stop here. A player from his team hurls the ball across the court, and Chen Xiao runs to catch it. He jumps to make a shot, but three opposing players leap into his path as well. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees one of his teammates, ready, so he passes the ball to him instead. His teammate shoots. Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi watch anxiously, as the ball makes it's way to the rim. It scores a three-pointer, bringing Motor Factory Middle School to be the winners of the game.

## Trivia

* The episode takes place in the Chinese province of Sichuan and the locals in Chen Xiao's village speak with a Sichuan accent.