Episode 8

> "A good photograph is like a good hound dog, dumb, but eloquent"
>
> -Eugene Atget, Quote in the episode title card

***Lost Signal*** (Chinese: 错失的讯号 *Cuòshī de Xùnhào*) is the eighth episode of the first season of Link Click.

## Synopsis

Xu Shanshan, friend of the Time Photo Studio gang, requests aid in discovering what her close friend and likely love interest, Dong Yi, said to her as she blacked out from intoxication. Just as Cheng is hearing what Dong said, he notices a man approaching Xu’s friend. Fearing the man was the serial killer from the police chief’s photograph, Cheng gives chase into an alleyway. It turned out to be a man Xu recently turned down, and was not the serial killer. In the present, Lu Guang texts Xu what Dong said to her, and the group receives an uncharacteristic text message in reply. Concerned, they call Xu and are surprised to hear a strange man’s voice deliver a cryptic message on the other end.

## Plot

Cheng Xiaoshi questions Lu guang about his choice to not help out with the recent homicide cases. Lu Guang deflects the question by reminding Cheng Xiaoshi that he was the one who requested a break. Cheng Xiaoshi tries to think of a response but is unable to come up with anything. Just then Qiao Ling opens the door and Xu Shanshan walks in. Cheng Xiaoshi is surprised by Xu Shanshan’s presence and asks why she isn't studying in university right now. To which she sarcastically responds that she is checking in on society's homeless people(referring to Cheng Xiaoshi). The two then bicker back and forth and it gets heated. Qiao Ling steps in and slaps Cheng Xiaoshi in the face and reminds him that they must always be polite to customers. Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiaoshi then realizes that Xu Shanshan is a customer and not just here for fun. Lu Guang asks Xu Shanshan what she is here for and Qiao Ling starts telling the story of why she needs help.

Back when Lu Guang, Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling were in university, they had a friend called

Dong Yi. Dong Yi and Xu Shanshan were always hanging around each other and liked each other. Qiao Ling asks Xu Shanshan why she doesn't get in a relationship with him already. To which she responds that the men should take initiative in these situations.

Later while Xu Shanshan is in a lecture hall, Dong Yi comes in with fried eggs and sausages exactly how she likes them. Xu Shanshan says she’ll pay him for the food but Dong Yi stops her. Instead he suggests that she helps him level up in a video game. They play for a bit and Dong Yi reaches platinum level.

Back in the Time Photo Studio, Cheng Xiaoshi spits out his drink. He is astonished that Dong Yi and Xu Shanshan liked each other. To which Lu Guang remarks that his EQ is low for not noticing. Qiao Ling comments on the fact that after so many years Dong Yi and Xu Shan Shan still aren't officially together. She then resumes her story.

In the girls dormitory, Qiao Ling is having a conversation with Xu Shan Shan. Xu Shan Shan announces that she wants to pursue a postgraduate. Her reasoning is that she wants to further her studies so she can get a better job in the future. Qiao Ling knew this was just an excuse however, and that her real reason was that she wanted to stay with Dong Yi for a bit longer. But during the entirety of postgrad, Dong Yi never confessed to her and soon the two years of postgrad were over.

Back in the present Xu Shanshan shows them the two pictures she took last night at a postgraduate party. One of the pictures was a photo of her and Dong Yi. The other photo was a selfie. Cheng Xiaoshi being inappropriate sends a barf emoji in the chat box. Qiao Ling proceeds to scold him for it. Lu Guang asks what their task is, and Xu Shanshan explains that after the party they went to karaoke where she got really drunk.

As the party members were dispersing and going their own ways, the only people who remained were Dong Yi and Xu Shanshan. Xu Shanshan drunkenly tells Dong Yi that other people may be leaving but he cannot leave her. He tells her that he has something to tell her. But before she can hear what Dong yi says, Xu Shanshan passes out.

Lu Guang asks Xu Shanshan why she doesn't just ask Dong Yi what he said. she explains that she's afraid the answer won’t be what she's hoping for. Lu Guang then agrees to help her. Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiaoshi gets pissed. Saying that they shouldn't help her for free. Arguing that they should get some kind of compensation. Qiao Ling gets mad and yells at Cheng Xiaoshi.

Qiao Ling and Xu Shanshan then exit the Time Photo Studio to take a walk. Outside, Xu Shanshan asks her how Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang are able to get info from photos. she responds that she doesn't know how the two do it and that she's never seen them do it before. Xu Shanshan expresses concern that Cheng Xiaoshi will mess something up. Qiao Ling reassures her by saying that Lu Guang is reliable and that Cheng Xiaoshi is probably just a tool Lu Guang uses to achieve their goal.

Back in the studio, Cheng Xiaoshi has gone inside the photos. Now in Xu Shanshan’s body at the postgraduate party, Cheng Xiaoshi comes to a realization that he can do anything he wants in Xu Shanshan’s body. He starts picking his nose while laughing maniacally. A guy approaches Xu Shanshan and offers to give her an internship position at his mom's hospital. In return he wants to date Xu Shanshan. Cheng Xiaoshi then turns around to look at the man while picking his nose and laughing like a lunatic. The guy tells Xu Shanshan that she is going too far and runs away. Cheng Xiaoshi puzzles at why he would overreact at a joke. Lu Guang reminds him that he needs to watch his demeanor. Dong Yi then walks over and sits down by Xu Shanshan. Cheng Xiaoshi comments on how he can feel Xu Shanshan’s body reacting to the presence of Dong Yi. how her heart beats faster and her chest feels uncomfortable. They talk for a bit before someone comes over and offers to take a picture of them.

Later they go to karaoke where their classmate requests that Xu Shanshan sing a song. she drunkenly responds that she can sing anything. She lifts her drink up to take another sip of her beer, but Dong Yi stops her. Saying that she usually doesn't drink this much. Lu Guang tells Cheng Xiaoshi that because he is drunk, he will be sleeping on the couch when he comes back from the mission. Back in the karaoke, Dong Yi tells her why he chose to pursue a postgraduate. He says its because he had gotten used to school life with her but says that because postgrad is now over he has to leave. Cheng Xiaoshi takes note of the word leave and thinks of when Xu Shanshan said she was too afraid of what Dong Yi’s answer might be.

Someone then hands Xu Shanshan the mic and she starts singing. Everyone is amazed at her amazing ability to sing. During the song there are flashbacks of her university days. At the end of the song Dong Yi thinks to himself saying if he had the choice he would never say goodbye to her. He and Lu Guang both congratulate the singing.

At the end of the party, everyone dispersed and said their goodbyes leaving only Xu Shanshan and Dong Yi at the entrance of the karaoke bar. Xu Shanshan tells him that everyone else can leave but he can't. Dong Yi starts saying the words that she missed that night, but all Cheng Xiaoshi can focus on is a suspicious looking person sitting on a bench. He realizes that he has seen this person somewhere and that the man might be the person who has been behind the recent homicides. Cheng Xiaoshi decides to follow the man into an ally to take a picture of him but realizes Xu Shanshan doesn't have her phone. Lu Guang tries to convince him that he can't do anything but fails.

As the man approaches Xu Shanshan, Lu Guang tells Cheng Xiaoshi to pretend like he hasn't seen the man as it might trigger him to knock out Xu Shanshan faster. Lu Guang advises him to create a situation where the man won't be able to attack. Thinking quickly Cheng Xiaoshi decides to pee in the alley way but as he is about to do so, he realizes that Xu Shanshan is a female. He then changes his game plan and tries to fake throwing up. The man however is not phased by this and continues toward Xu Shanshan. Xu Shanshan then throws up for real and the attacker covers his nose with the cloth he is holding, which is laced with a sleeping drug, and passes out. A hand then grabs Xu Shanshan’s shoulder. Lu Guang yells for Cheng Xiaoshi not to do anything but its too late and he takes down the person. It turns down the person is Dong Yi and the attacker is the guy that approached Xu Shanshan earlier asking to date her.

Back in present day, Xu Shanshan has gotten on the news except her story was exaggerated from an unrequited love story to a resolved urban mystery. Cheng Xiaoshi gets mad at how dishonest news sources are, and how Xu Shanshan’s picture got published in the news article. Qiao Ling steps into the Time Photo Studio and asks how the mission went. Lu Guang states that he has written Dong Yi’s words down and that it is a success. He then tells the group what Dong Yi said.

Dong Yi told Xu Shanshan how his parents wanted him to go back home after he graduated meaning he wouldnt be able to stay in the city. He tells Xu Shanshan the reason he never confessed his feelings to her is because he was afraid that by doing so he would hurt her. But now that hes graduating, he has realized that he wants to stay no matter what because leaving her side would be painful. Upon reading what Dong Yi said, Xu Shanshan smiles.

Lu Guang also sent a message last night to Xu Shanshan telling her that Dong YI has invited her to an interview tomorrow. Qiao Ling messages Xu Shanshan asking if she went to Dong Yi’s interview this morning. She quickly gets a reply. Lu Guang and Cheng Xiao shi also get a message. However at the entrance to a building, Dong Yi is still waiting for Xu Shanshan. He hears someones voice and turns around thinking its her but its not. The woman asks him why he still hasn't gone in for his interview when its already 10 AM. To which he replies he’ll be there in a bit.

Back at the Time Photo Studio, the trio look at their phones to find new messages from Xu Shanshan saying "clues received, my new friends". The trio call Xu Shanshan to ask her what the messages are about. But before they are able too, Xu Shanshan calls them first. They take the call and a distorted gruff voice answers them saying, "I will come as promised".