Episode 15

***Them In The Photo*** (Chinese: 照片中的她们 *Zhàopiàn-zhōng de Tāmen*) is the fourth episode of the second season of Link Click.

## Plot

In Liu Jing's office, Liu Jing's wife rants about the fact that her son, Liu Min's funeral had been held at the same time as Chen Bin's. Confused about the police's statements, she voices her confusion about the supposed case that Liu Min is involved in. Liu Jing, however, dismissively instructs her to stay out of these matters and give him privacy to discuss matters with his lawyer, Qian Jin.

Once his wife has left the room, Liu Jing lets out his frustration, slamming his fist on the desk. Piecing together recent events, including Zhu Ye's investigation and the troubles involving Liu Min, he suspects a larger conspiracy targeting him, and coldly remarks on Liu Min's death as a relief from a worthless burden. Reminded of the task he had given Qian Jin, he queries him about the status of Liu Min's phone, which Qian Jin admits to losing due to unforeseen complications. Initially alarmed, Liu Jing cautions Qian Jin against deceit, noting his flawless track record. Qian Jin, composed, reassures him that his secrets are of no interest to him and that the phone is likely not within the police's possession. Liu Jing, though skeptical, gives Qian Jin another opportunity to retrieve the phone but emphasizes that his trust is limited.

Qian Jin falls to silence, recalling his visit to the police station following Ma's arrest. During the visit, he learned that the phone had been intercepted by another one of his associates, who had acted without his orders, deceiving Ma into handing over the phone before he reached the hospital ground floor.

In the hospital, Xiao Li updates Lu Guang, Cheng Xiaoshi, and Qiao Ling in Lu Guang's room. He shares that while Ma and his accomplices are in custody, they can't be charged due to insufficient evidence. However, they also learned from Chen Bin's wife that Ma had been to Chen Bin's house together with Qian Jin. Qiao Ling, suspecting Qian Jin as the one with remote control abilities, questions Xiao Li about what kind of person he is. Cheng Xiaoshi echoes the sentiment, noting the possessor's recent inactivity might be a strategic move to lay low.

Xiao Li, however, immediately denies this possibility based on his close past with Qian Jin. He reminisces about their days as police academy classmates and subsequent service together in the police force, where they cracked numerous cases together. Xiao Li admired Qian Jin's righteousness and dedication, doubting he'd have risked his life so often if he had such powers. They drifted apart over time, and Qian Jin faced an unexpected tragedy: the murder of his pregnant wife. A suspect surfaced but was not convicted due to lack of evidence, only to later confess in a suicide note. This incident spawned rumors about Qian Jin's possible vengeance, pushing him to resign and pursue a new career as a lawyer. Xiao Li, having lost touch with Qian Jin post this incident, feels a growing distance between them in their recent encounter.

Following this, Qian Jin is shown receiving a phone call from a masked individual. Upon hearing what he has to say, Qian Jin laughs, calling him a madman, but acknowledging that the proposed plan, while risky, does have a chance of success provided they act swiftly before the police's detection.

Meanwhile, at Lu Guang's hospital room, Xiao Li steers the conversation towards a crucial discovery from the building's surveillance: A mysterious, hooded figure spotted outside Lu Guang's room. This revelation prompts Cheng Xiaoshi to question Lu Guang about the mysterious visitor and the reason for his secrecy. After a hesitant pause, Lu Guang reveals a photograph hidden under his pillow. This photo, handed to him by the silent, face-concealed visitor, depicts a woman and a young girl, and bears a handwritten message, "can't live without a good brother," on its back side, leading Qiao Ling to speculate that the visitor may be seeking help finding a lost family member. While Xiao Li suggests using Lu Guang's special ability to explore the photo's context, Lu Guang's current condition impedes him. Eager to help, Cheng Xiaoshi volunteers to enter the photo himself under Lu Guang's guidance. Lu Guang reacts with a facepalm, expressing that this was the exact reason for his reluctance to show the photo.

Xiao Li, still in the dark about Cheng Xiaoshi's unique abilities, is puzzled by his proposal to "enter" the photo. This prompts Qiao Ling to unveil the truth about Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang's special powers. Amazed, Xiao Li remarks that with such abilities, there would be no unsolvable case. Lu Guang, however, cautions that delving into the past is carries the risk of altering the present, a concern Xiao Li acknowledges with understanding. Seeking to caution Cheng Xiaoshi as well, Lu Guang reminds him of the immutable aspects of past, and the challenge that lies in acceptance. Cheng Xiaoshi acknowledges this, but reminds Lu Guang of his own belief that their actions can shape the future. He reaches out to Lu Guang, photo in hand. Amidst Lu Guang's contemplative silence, Qiao Ling asserts her belief in the worth of their endeavor, suggesting it could prevent further misfortunes and aid their investigation. With a resigned sigh, Lu Guang concedes, reaching out to Cheng Xiaoshi and reciting their three principles. As their palms touch, Cheng Xiaoshi enters his dive, disappearing from the hospital room, eliciting an astonished reaction from Xiao Li.

Upon entering the photo, Cheng Xiaoshi finds himself within the body of the young girl, moments after she and the woman have snapped a selfie with an instant camera. The woman, addressing the girl as Xixi (Chinese: 小希 *Xiǎo Xī*), directs the her attention to the camera, pointing out the freshly printed photo for her to collect. Cheng Xiaoshi inadvertently lets out a "oh," to which the woman reacts with surprise, seeking confirmation if the girl just uttered the sound. As Cheng Xiaoshi begins to turn and speak, Lu Guang urgently interjects, noting that the girl he inhabits is supposed to be mute. Captain Xiao, eager for progress, presses the duo for more clues. Qiao Ling steps in, urging patience and and reassuring him of their expertise. Meanwhile, back in the photo, the woman urges the mute girl to try speaking again, only ceasing her attempts once the girl starts crying. Realizing she had pushed too hard, she frantically apologizes to her daughter.

Qiao Ling and Xiao Li step aside and sit down, leaving Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi alone. Pondering the situation, Qiao Ling expresses her confusion over previously being the target of control. Xiao Li suggests she reflect on whether she had left photographs of her anywhere, citing to their earlier theory about the possessor's reliance on photos. Qiao Ling recalls that while she doesn't keep personal photos, her parents do, but quickly adds that dealing with her father isn't straightforward. Xiao Li then wonders if someone might have captured her image, or if she had been part of any group photos. This jogs Qiao Ling's memory about her friend, Xu Shanshan, who likely has photos of her, leading them to make a significant connection: Liu Min had access to Xu Shanshan's phone when he was controlled. Without delay, Qiao Ling contacts Xu Shanshan, asking her to check for any photos featuring her. Xu Shanshan soon discovers a selfie with Qiao Ling accidentally in the background, taken outside a photo studio. Qiao Ling urges her to verify if this photo was ever shared with an unknown recipient.

Back in the photo, the woman, now known to be the girl's mother, begins to gather her belongings, readying to leave the house with her daughter. Cheng Xiaoshi, alarmed by this abrupt departure, fears it might be a consequence of his accidental speech. However, Lu Guang calms his concerns, reassuring him that he can still predict their movements, indicating no significant changes have occurred. Meanwhile, Xu Shanshan struggles to find any messages sent to suspicious parties, which leads Xiao Li to theorize that the message may have been deleted after being sent. He asks Qiao Ling for Xu Shanshan's phone number, intending to reach out to the cellphone provider for assistance.

Some time later, the mother and daughter arrive at a doctor's office for a follow-up visit. Upon hearing from the mother that her daughter spoke that day, the doctor comments on the apparent effectiveness of his treatment. Cheng Xiaoshi, dubious of the doctor's methods, vents his skepticism to Lu Guang, labeling the doctor a quack. Lu Guang, in response, advises him to be cautious with his judgments and to respect things beyond his understanding, regardless of his beliefs. He further chides Cheng Xiaoshi for his narrow-mindedness, attributing it to excessive gaming and a lack of reading, a habit he frequently criticizes. This exchange catches Xiao Li's attention, leading him to question if Lu Guang always takes on such a paternal role with Cheng Xiaoshi. Qiao Ling responds with an awkward chuckle, acknowledging that Lu Guang does indeed often assume a more grown-up demeanor.

As Cheng Xiaoshi attempts to retort, the doctor asks the girl to extend her arm for a pulse check to determine the next treatment steps. Cheng Xiaoshi hesitates, fearing the doctor might sense his presence through the pulse reading, which leads Lu Guang to remark on his sudden shift of attitude. The doctor, while checking the pulse, reveals a puzzled look, remarking on the pulse's unusual similarity to that of a boy rather than a girl. The mother queries about the significance of this observation. Though baffled himself, the doctor credits the anomaly to the prescription's impact, optimistically suggesting that it's a sign of the child's strengthening health and impending recovery. The mother's spirits lift at this news, while Cheng Xiaoshi, witnessing the doctor's apparent skill, is left in a state of astonishment, reassessing his earlier skepticism.

On their way home after the visit, the mother expresses delight over the doctor's seemingly miraculous treatment, while Cheng Xiaoshi observes his surroundings, relaying details of the street and landmarks to Lu Guang. Using the provided clues, Qiao Ling manages to identify their approximate location. Xiao Li then raises questions about the mysterious intruder's connection to the mother and daughter, as well as the meaning behind the photo's message. Lu Guang instructs Cheng Xiaoshi to help the mother carry a bag of medicine, noting the child's awareness of her mother's weariness. Following this instruction, Cheng Xiaoshi takes a bag from the mother's hand, shouldering it and walking forward with steady strides. His action leads the mother to remark on her daughter's newfound strength, prompting Lu Guang to caution him to maintain the demeanor of a young girl.

Qiao Ling speculates that the girl might have an older brother, based on the photo's message, but struggles to draw a connection to Qian Jin or Liu Min. Xiao Li receives a call from his colleague Wang Juan, who confirms that Xu Shanshan's number did indeed send a MMS message on the night of the incident, which has been erased after the fact. Meanwhile, in the photo, the mother and daughter have stopped at a claw machine. The mother tries and fails to win a doll. With two coins remaining, she lets her daughter operate the machine. Cheng Xiaoshi, too, fails to secure the doll, sparking frustration. The mother encourages her to take another attempt, as an unknown figure approaches from behind, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Meanwhile, back in the present, Wang Juan reveals to Xiao Li that the message's recipient, Liu Lan, residing at Apartment 607, 48 Tongli Lane, Nande District, had actually died years earlier. As Xiao Li processes this bizzare discovery, Wang Juan alerts him to another urgent situation: A witness has arrived at the police station, claiming to have full knowledge of the cases. This individual, shown escorted through the police station wearing a mask and a pink hoodie, insisting on speaking only to Cheng Xiaoshi.

## Notes

1. ↑ The Chinese title uses the feminine form of "them".