Fell Upon Me Episode 4 Recap
> Fell Upon Me Recap
An Zhenzhen woke from a restless sleep, visibly troubled by the knowledge of her impending death revealed in the previous episode. The next morning, she asked her father to spend more time with her, lamenting his frequent work travels.
As her father drove her to school, An Zhenzhen was unusually anxious, constantly reminding him to drive carefully, maintain a safe speed, and watch out for other vehicles, explaining that the approaching 100-day countdown to the college entrance exam made her feel immense pressure and a need to avoid all risks. Her father noted her uncharacteristic quietness and jumpiness. Upon arriving at school, An Zhenzhen continued to be on edge, startled by every small movement and sound.
Her behavior caught the attention of Teacher Liu, who questioned class monitor Gu Ming about An Zhenzhen's recent change. Gu Ming suggested that An Zhenzhen was likely under extreme academic pressure, possibly suppressing her feelings, and offered to keep a closer eye on her. An Zhenzhen remained hyper-vigilant throughout the day, her anxiety deepening when she realized Jiang Ling was absent from school.
Her mind raced, wondering if he had disappeared and if the future Jiang Ling's attempted suicide had impacted the present. During a class, her fears culminated in a vivid hallucination where the teacher's voice became distorted, telling her she was dead, had no future, and couldn't be saved, while also hearing a voice claiming rebirth. The illusion only broke when the class bell rang.
Still concerned about Jiang Ling, she asked Gu Ming about his whereabouts, but the class monitor gently steered her back to focusing on her studies and the looming college entrance exam, stressing its importance for their futures. An Zhenzhen felt a profound sense of despair, believing that her future was nonexistent and that the timeline of her future self was influencing the present. Just as she was grappling with these thoughts, Jiang Ling suddenly appeared.
An Zhenzhen pulled Jiang Ling aside, initially wanting to scold him for his absence but ultimately holding back. Jiang Ling explained that a power outage the previous night led to his aunt falling and injuring her back, requiring him to stay with her. An Zhenzhen then remembered a detail from her call with future Jiang Ling, mentioning that "Lao Jiang" had asked her to remind him to pay the electricity bill.
Jiang Ling was surprised by this seemingly personal knowledge, wondering if the mysterious caller was indeed his future self. They discussed the lottery numbers future Jiang Ling had given her, which hadn't won, leading them to ponder whether their two timelines truly couldn't influence each other, citing Hawking's theory of an invisible energy preventing changes to the universe's trajectory. Jiang Ling, however, was more interested in the identity and purpose of this "Lao Jiang."
When Jiang Ling asked about his future self and his aunt's well-being, An Zhenzhen, hesitant to reveal the full truth, told him he would become a very successful writer, perhaps facing only minor financial difficulties. But when he pressed her about her own future, An Zhenzhen bravely admitted that she would die before the college entrance exam.
Jiang Ling was taken aback, immediately offering to treat her to meals and encouraging her to live the rest of her life to the fullest and seek happiness, dismissing the phone call as potentially a scam. An Zhenzhen, still haunted by her hallucination, questioned if they would have a future together. Jiang Ling then offered to buy her snacks, and as they ate, An Zhenzhen shared her unfulfilled dreams, like owning a kitten and visiting Disneyland.
Jiang Ling promised to experience these things for her, even taking her photo with him if she were gone, but An Zhenzhen playfully insisted he take her in person if she survived. Finally, An Zhenzhen urged Jiang Ling to persevere in the future, no matter what difficulties he faced, and to live well for his dreams.
Time then shifted to twenty-four years later, where Jiang Ling woke from a drunken stupor, having been saved by some individuals from what he thought was a fall. He was given noodles by a man who called him a "great writer" and told him to cherish his life, then assigned him work as a delivery driver with a new motorcycle.
Jiang Ling, now working diligently and no longer lost in fantasies, found himself delivering a document to his old high school. He approached the entrance, seeking Teacher Liu Yaru, and was greeted by You Lifeng, the familiar security guard, who was surprised to see him. Jiang Ling, an alumnus, reminisced about the old food stalls around the school, learning they were gone because the vendors had aged or the younger generation couldn't handle the work.
You Lifeng shared how he used to chase the vendors away but now felt an unexpected emptiness in their absence. Jiang Ling asked to look around the unchanged school grounds. As he walked through the familiar campus, memories of An Zhenzhen and their time together flooded his mind. Suddenly, An Zhenzhen, in her own time, received a phone call from the future Jiang Ling.
Shocked, she asked if he was real, confirming he was alive and hadn't jumped from the building as she had feared. She expressed her immense terror and demanded an explanation for his mysterious "death" and reappearance. Future Jiang Ling reaffirmed that he had not lied about their previous calls. An Zhenzhen then pressed him for details about her own death, specifically how she would die before the college entrance exam.
Future Jiang Ling admitted he didn't know the specifics, only that she had died at school. Distraught, An Zhenzhen pleaded with him to investigate further, hoping to find a way to change her fate and realize her dreams, despite their previous belief that timelines couldn't be influenced. Future Jiang Ling, hearing her earnest plea, promised to do everything he could to save her.
