Episode 20

***Three Stories*** (Chinese: 三个故事 *Sān Gè Gùshì*) is the ninth episode of the second season of Link Click.

## Plot

In the photo left by Lu Guang, Cheng Xiaoshi hurls a water kettle at the window to create a distraction, then hides in the restroom as the officers attempt entry. He hides Lu Guang's phone inside a towel, preparing for a stealthy exit. However, an officer spots the restroom door and begins to approach. Just as he begins to push open the restroom door, another officer diverts him to retrieve the surveillance footage. Cheng Xiaoshi breathes a sigh of relief at this close call. Seizing the opportunity, he sneaks out of the room while the officers have their backs turned, and dashes out of the hospital at full speed.

### Part 1: Inevitable Tragedy

The first of the three stories begins in a theatre. Two actors, Zhuang Shuai and Chen Nan, deliver a performance of *Romeo and Juliet* in front of a sparse audience. The play ends with Romeo's declaration of unwavering love. Qian Jin, amidst the applause, watches sternly, tears slipping from his eyes.

After the performance, Qian Jin visits the duo backstage, praising their stirring portrayal and admitting it moved him to tears. Chen Nan introduces her husband to Zhuang Shuai, who acknowledges Qian Jin as the renowned "great detective Captain Qian". Qian Jin reciprocates, mentioning his wife's admiration for Zhuang Shuai's talent, which Zhuang graciously deflects to praise Chen Nan's skills.

Qian Jin laments the scarcity of appreciation for such refined art in modern times. Chen Nan seizes the moment to remind him of his promise to support her career, to which Qian Jin reaffirms his commitment. He then inquires about their recent scouting of a new venue, receiving a hesitant reply from Zhuang Shuai. Chen Nan then reminds him of their visit to the old factory on Tiantong Road after dinner two days prior. Zhuang Shuai, recalling the visit, clarifying he only viewed it as a casual visit due to the high rent, which hadn't led him to seriously consider it an option. Qian Jin, noting the mention of Tiantong Road, comments on the factory's conversion to commercial offices. Chen Nan then elaborates that a small section at the back, unsuitable for offices, was discreetly put up for rent. Chen Nan suggests dinner together, but Zhuang Shuai declines, not wanting to intrude as a third wheel. As the lights turn off, an ominous highlight is casted on Qian Jin's face.

The flashback shifts to the police station. Lost in thought, Qian Jin is jolted back to reality by Chen Bin's call. Inquiring why Chen Bin has come to visit, he also asks how he's adjusting to working alongside Xiao Li. Chen Bin, concerned, mentions that he is there because he heard Qian Jin hasn't been doing well lately, and questoins his unusual distraction. Qian Jin downplays it, attributing it to the late nights common in their profession, acknowledging his waning stamina with age. Chen Bin advises Qian Jin to cherish time with his wife, citing her probable loneliness and paralleling it with his own girlfriend's complaints. Acknowledging Chen Bin's upcoming marriage, Qian Jin offers him a cryptic piece of advice to keep a close eye on his fiancée, and vaguely states that his wife is "busy with her own stuff".

The scene briefly shifts to Chen Nan, seated on a couch at home, engaged in a phone conversation. As she speaks, a shadowy figure gradually approaches her from behind. Noticing the presence, Chen Nan turns to face the individual, her expression morphing into one of horror and shock.

The next scene opens with Qian Jin engulfed in uncontrolled laughter, seated alongside Xiao Li. Xiao Li attempts to calm him, advising moderation in his drinking, but Qian Jin pours himself another glass of beer, downing it in one go. He bitterly reflects on the futility of their hard work, lamenting their inability to even ensure their wives' fidelity. He challenges Xiao Li to assign blame for his predicament. Xiao Li's silence, however, leads Qian Jin to descend into another bout of agonized laughter, refilling his glass once more. Xiao Li reaches out, gripping Qian Jin's arm. He indicates that there is a significant matter he should have shared with Qian Jin much earlier. As Xiao Li speaks, his words become inaudible, but Qian Jin's face registers profound anguish. Tears cascade down his face as he descends into hysterical laughter, continuously pouring beer as it overflows from his glass.

### Part 2: Fortuitous Comedy

Qian Jin reaches the residence of Liu Lan and Li Fan, responding to a report of domestic violence. In the elevator, he encounters a colleague, surprised to see Qian Jin given his recent family affairs. Qian Jin inquires about the case. The officer reveals that upon forced entry, the police found Liu Lan and Li Fan deceased, victims of an apparent mutual killing using a household knife and hammer. Upon reaching the floor, Qian Jin encounters the couple's children, Li Tianchen and Li Tianxi. He kneels, gently embracing them, then asks them to recount the events. The sister breaks down in tears, while the brother confesses to killing his parents, descending into hysterical laughter. This unsettling laughter infectiously grips Qian Jin too, who tightens his embrace around the children again while laughing.

The next scene takes place in the park, opening with Li Tianchen's friend engulfed in the same laughter, upon learning that Li Tianchen and his sister have lived with Qian Jin since the incident. Remembering that his friend once told him to become a "hunter in the forest", he inquires about his current perception of him. His friend responds, labeling him "a wounded beast", and challenges him to describe the difference between a beast and a hunter. Li Tianchen suggests that beasts are more ferocious, while hunters are more cunning. However, his friend corrects him, pointing out that beasts hunt only out of necessity, whereas hunters are driven by different motives. After being summoned by his butler, he expresses his belief that Li Tianchen's opportunity to transform into a hunter is imminent. Questioning if their paths will cross again, Li Tianchen receives assurance from his friend that they undoubtedly will.

In the following scene, a servant of the Liu family answers the door to find Qian Jin and Li Tianchen waiting outside. Qian Jin informs the servant they were summoned by Liu Jing. Hearing the guests' arrival, Liu Min, on the balcony, invites them inside. Offered a drink, Qian Jin shares his awareness of Liu Min's struggles, extending his sympathy. Qian Jin inquires about Liu Min's needs but is interrupted as Liu Min turns his attention to Li Tianchen, questioning if they have met before. Li Tianchen remains silent, drawing Liu Min's derision. Qian Jin attempts to steer the conversation back to business, but Liu Min vents about the constant online harassment he faces. He requests Qian Jin's intervention but expresses doubt about the effectiveness of legal letters against his defamers. Instead, Liu Min insists on permanent silencing his online critics, believing Qian Jin capable of such actions. When presented with a photo of Liu Min's chosen target, Qian Jin asserts his inability to fulfill such a task, leaving the decision to Li Tianchen. Upon viewing the photo, Li Tianchen erupts into manic laughter.

### Part 3: Siblings' Fairy Tale

The third of the three stories begins as the bedtime tale that Liu Lan used to tell her children: In a vast forest stood a small cabin, home to a family with a father, a mother, and two siblings. One day, the brother took his sister into the forest to gather fruits until night fell.

From this point on, the story changes its course to mirror the real-life experiences of the Li siblings: They encounter two talking crows and overhear their chatter about a male teacher's alleged fondness for a woman. Angered, the brother throws a stone at the birds, scaring them away. The brother pursues the crows, continuously throwing stones while they persist in their gossip about the woman's infidelity. This pursuit leads them back home, only to discover it engulfed in flames, their father in a fit of rage, assaulting their defenseless mother. Rushing to their mother's defense, the siblings too are repelled by their enraged father. The two mocking crows circle overhead, further inciting the father's wrath with their taunts. Consumed by rage, the father launches relentless attacks on the mother once more.

Some time later, the siblings are seen alone in the forest, with the brother laying flowers on their mother's grave. At this point, a hunter approaches them, offering the brother a bow, which he accepts. Learning to wield the bow, he fires an arrow at one of the mocking crows, initially missing the shot. However, emboldened by this new skill, he soon lands a successful hit, slaying the bird. Empowered, he embarks on a rampage against the talking crows in the forest, oblivious to his sister's growing discomfort. Despite the brother's ongoing affection and care for his sister, one night she awakens to find him absent. Upon searching, she is horrified to see him aiming an arrow at a helpless family of rabbits. She cries aloud, cause her brother to narrowly miss his target. Distressed and in tears, she flees from him, with her brother in pursuit.

The scene of the fairy tale transitions to a crying Li Tianxi running aimlessly on the night streets of the city, intertwined with scenes of Cheng Xiaoshi running through the same streets as Lu Guang in the photo.

The earlier scene with Xiao Li and Qian Jin is replayed, this time with Xiao Li's words audible, revealing that Qian Jin's wife was pregnant when she was murdered. Connecting from scenes of Qian Jin and Li Tianchen's laughter, the negotiation with Liu Min is revisited. The subject of Liu Min's photo is revealed to be none other than the Li family's former neighbor, Deng, symbolized in the fairy tale as one of the gossiping crows. With the deal struck, Liu Min stands, raising a toast to ridding the world of another piece of garbage.

### Finale: Inevitable Destiny

Within Lu Guang's photo, Cheng Xiaoshi reaches the riverbanks just in time to intercept Li Tianchen, reenacting the sequence from the previous episode. As the disguised Li Tianchen boards the boat, Cheng Xiaoshi contemplates the inevitability of destiny and how all coincidences are fated to become the inevitable. Despite this, he halts his chase of Li Tianchen, choosing not to proceed down this predetermined path any further.