Episode 21

***Improvise*** (Chinese: 即兴演出 *Jìxìng Yǎnchū*, lit. "Improvised Performance") is the tenth episode of the second season of Link Click.

## Plot

By examining Li Tianxi's drawings, Qiao Ling uncovers crucial information about how Li Tianchen's powers function. She rushes into Xiao Li's office, finding him engaged in conversation with Cheng Xiaoshi, who has just returned from his dive into Lu Guang's photo.

Cheng Xiaoshi recounts the events of the dive: He had managed to intercept Li Tianchen at the riverbanks. Intending to prevent Lu Guang's capture, he attempted to alter the past, refraining from pursuing Li Tianchen. Yet, he quickly realized an oversight, as the Cheng Xiaoshi in the photo started chasing Li Tianchen. To avoid an even more unpredictable outcome, he changed his plan, deciding to chase after Li Tianchen himself. However, upon making contact, Li Tianchen seized his hand, abruptly ejecting him from the dive.

Linking this to his earlier forced ejection from the Li family dive, Cheng Xiaoshi notes that both instances involved physical contact with Li Tianchen. Xiao Li contributes an observation: when Wang Juan left the police station with Cheng Xiaoshi and Li Tianchen, Li Tianchen was simultaneously holding hands with both Wang Juan and Cheng Xiaoshi. They infer that Li Tianchen's power to manipulate others is triggered by touch, shedding light on the mysteries surrounding Cheng Xiaoshi's abduction.

Yet, this insight does not explain Li Tianchen's ability for remote control. At this juncture, Qiao Ling steps forward, presenting Li Tianxi's drawing. She explains that 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 suddenly 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.

The narrative revisits the night of Chen Bin's death. Qian Jin hands Li Tianchen the photo of Chen Bin, stolen from Chen Bin's home. Photo in hand, he calls for Li Tianxi, seated in the back seat of Qian Jin's car, to shift over for a nap. With a smile, Li Tianxi complies, taking his brother's hand and moving next to him. As she settles, Li Tianchen activates his power, assuming control over his sister. Using her sister's power, he gains remote control over Chen Bin via the photo.

Manipulating Chen Bin, he arrives at the top floor of the hospital to rendezvous with Ma, handing over Liu Min's phone. Ma greets the manipulated Chen Bin, remarking on the surreality of interacting with Li Tianchen through a controlled individual. Following this exchange, Li Tianchen walks to the edge of the roof, intending to murder Chen Bin. However, at this critical juncture, the car door swings open, as a distraught Li Tianxi tearfully flees, with Li Tianchen in frantic pursuit.

Back in the present, Qiao Ling provides Li Tianxi with a photograph of Lu Guang on her phone, requesting her help in pinpointing his location and assessing his condition.

Back in the present, Qiao Ling hands Li Tianxi her phone with a photo of Lu Guang, requesting her to help them locate him and check on his current situation. Over at Qian Jin's hideout, Li Tianchen has begun preparation for his final strategy. As Li Tianxi activates her power to inhabit Lu Guang, Li Tianchen attends to Lu Guang's injury, staunching the bleeding but causing intense pain. Li Tianxi, overwhelmed by the pain experienced through Lu Guang, is driven to distress, crying out and discarding the phone. With Lu Guang's bleeding temporarily stopped, Li Tianchen hands him a change of clothes, ominously hinting at his imminent "performance".

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. This tight deadline thwarts any chance for the police to devise countermeasures. Moreover, Li Tianchen insists that Qiao Ling must be the only one to accompany Cheng Xiaoshi. Qiao Ling immediately agrees to these terms. Despite Xiao Li's reservations, she asserts the urgency of the situation, suggesting that they strategize en route. At this point, Li Tianxi approaches her, signaling that she also wants to come.

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.

As Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling enter the auditorium, a spotlight suddenly illuminates 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, vanishing from the stage as the spotlight turns off.

Cheng Xiaoshi, dropped beneath the stage through a trapdoor, anticipates Li Tianchen's incoming grab in the darkness 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. Upon seeing him return, Xiao Li signals the nearby police to initiate their raid on the theatre. However, as they await Qiao Ling and Lu Guang's emergence from the theatre, a sudden explosion rocks the entrance. Xiao Li exits the car to check on the situation, only to be tased unconcsious from behind. The assailant is revealed to be Ma, who then brandishes a pistol at Cheng Xiaoshi, ordering him to follow.