Cheng Xiaoshi/History

Overview**History**RelationshipsGallery

## Childhood

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 an unknown reason, 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 Lu Guang

While on the basketball courts, a teenage Cheng Xiaoshi meets the new student, Lu Guang; and invites him to play basketball with them.

## University Life

Cheng Xiaoshi is seen studying in university (Hui Jie Movie Academy) along with Lu Guang, Qiao Ling, Dong Yi, and Xu Shanshan.

## Time Photo Studio

Along with the help of Qiao Ling and Lu Guang, they manage to repaint and rebrand Hero Photo Studio and open their current business.

## Emma's Case

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 impersonates Emma, suffering through Mr Zhu’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 2:00AM 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.