First Love Again Recap, Plot, Synopsis
First Love Again Synopsis
A sweet encounter in parallel time and space between the “cool schoolboy” Ye Youning and the “sunflower girl” Xia Wenxi. With a one in a billion chance of meeting, they restart their high school life, meet their youthful playmates, and relive their first love.
First Love Again Recap
Episode 1 Recap
Some time prior, Ye Youning delivered a presentation on "Quantum mechanics," explaining how "the future can change the past" and the "Butterfly effect" where small changes can lead to dramatic outcomes. During his talk, a young woman named Xia Wenxi unexpectedly rushed into the wrong venue, interrupting him before quickly leaving. Later, Ye Youning made a video call to Yang Chuang back in Jiangcheng, inquiring about his grandpa.
Yang Chuang informed him that his grandpa's Alzheimer's had worsened and he might no longer recognize Ye Youning. Deeply concerned, Ye Youning immediately returned home from the UK. Upon his arrival, his grandpa indeed failed to recognize him, asking Yang Chuang, "Who is he? I don't know him. Go away." Overwhelmed with sadness and guilt, Ye Youning lamented not returning sooner to care for his closest family member.
Yang Chuang and Gao Xiaoai, who had been looking after his grandpa, tried to comfort him, reminding him he had already done his best by arranging doctors and regular visits. While they were talking, Ye Youning looked at old photos from his high school days on the wall, commenting that he had recently seen Xia Wenxi at a lecture.
Yang Chuang explained that she was now a traveling writer who regularly visited his grandpa whenever she was back in the country. As a storm began to brew outside, Ye Youning quickly helped his grandpa indoors. Once inside, his grandpa, distressed, demanded his radio. Ye Youning quickly found it and turned it on, calming him.
The radio then broadcasted news from the Antarctic Observatory about a powerful gravitational wave, originating from a heavy binary star explosion 120 million light-years away, expected to reach Earth soon. The report noted that this gravitational wave could cause "changes that last for an extended period of time in the space-time through which they travel over." As the news jumped erratically through different years, the household appliances began to malfunction. The radio then announced, "Today is March 1, 2006."
Ye Youning noticed a previously turned-off old Nokia phone ringing. Puzzled, he picked it up, and at that moment, a sudden flash of light enveloped him. When he next opened his eyes, he found himself hit by a car and flying onto a bewildered Xia Wenxi at the high school gate. He had been transported back to March 1, 2006.
In 2006, on her eighteenth birthday, Xia Wenxi confronted her mother about her accumulated lucky money, only to discover the balance was zero. Her mother declared this her "Grown-Up Ceremony," imparting a lesson about managing her own money, and then left for a dance class. When Xia Wenxi asked for her ID card, her mother refused, stating she couldn't go anywhere before the college entrance exam.
Her father, Xia Nanshan, upon learning his wife was dancing, announced he was taking a Taekwondo class next door to keep a watchful eye on her and her "flirtatious" dance teacher, proudly displaying his new white belt. Xia Wenxi then visited Grandpa Zhou (who is Ye Youning's grandpa), who had fixed her mobile phone—the very phone that would later trigger Ye Youning's time travel.
Grandpa Zhou mentioned it took him all night and, as a birthday surprise, also presented her with her bicycle, now equipped with a sidecar. He explained it would make her rides more stable and prevent falls, much to her delight that he remembered her birthday.
As she left for school, she noticed a rare daytime meteor and quickly made several wishes: for world peace, a Doraemon, for fallen ice cream to fly back up, and most importantly, for a time travel machine. Determined not to be late on her birthday, she sped off on her newly modified bicycle. Just as she approached the school gate, Ye Youning was hit by a car and flew onto her, landing in the sidecar.
Ye Youning, dazed, asked if she was alright, but Xia Wenxi, rushing to avoid being late, left him there and hurried into school. Disoriented, Ye Youning heard a newspaper vendor announce the date: March 1, 2006. He realized this was the first day of his senior year transfer. Thinking he was dreaming, he tried to hit himself, but Director Zhu intervened, mistaking his action for self-harm and admonishing him.
Ye Youning, familiar with the way, then went to the classroom himself, where his class teacher, Mr. Wang, introduced Ye Youning as a transfer student from No.1 High School of Huanzhou with excellent grades, destined to study abroad after graduation. Ye Youning, however, was preoccupied with how to return to his original time. Unlike his past self, who had rejected a deskmate to avoid distractions, this time he found himself sitting beside Xia Wenxi.
Other students whispered, calling Xia Wenxi one of the "top ten unlucky students," known for her "powerful and destructive" bad luck that affected those around her. Xia Wenxi, still feeling awkward about their morning collision, apologized to Ye Youning, who in turn introduced himself and declared she would be his "lucky star," promising to treat her well. During morning self-study, Mr. Wang called Lin Jiaqi and Xia Wenxi to his office, directly asking if they were in a relationship.
They emphatically denied it, explaining they had been close childhood friends since birth, even meeting in their mothers' bellies. Xia Wenxi even jokingly swore that any feelings she had for Lin Jiaqi were merely "the accumulation of dislike," especially for his height, which Lin Jiaqi countered was the "cutest height difference." Meanwhile, Ye Youning was consumed with calculations, trying to understand the mechanism behind his time travel and how to return to his critically ill grandpa in 2019.
He was reprimanded by the Chinese teacher for doing English exercises during Chinese class. Later, during a chemistry experiment, Xia Wenxi accidentally caused a small fire, which was quickly put out by the teacher. Ye Youning, still calculating physics equations during chemistry, pondered that while gravitational waves caused minor temporal changes, his leap must have been triggered by something specific, a "barrier between space and time."
When the physics teacher asked him to solve a problem on the blackboard, Ye Youning instead filled two blackboards with complex equations, declaring he was describing "time swap" and planned to "change human history." The unimpressed teacher sent him to the back of the class to squat as punishment. From his new vantage point, Ye Youning noticed Xia Wenxi's mobile phone and realized it was the same device he had interacted with before his journey.
He surmised that pressing its power button might have "broken the barrier between the two time-space" and that her phone could be the key to returning to his original timeline. During PE class, Xia Wenxi discovered her recently repaired phone was malfunctioning again, with no signal and a dead battery, suspecting her earlier fall. As she tried to figure it out, she slipped.
Ye Youning, seeing her about to fall and drop her phone, rushed forward, catching her and secretly pressing buttons on the device, hoping to trigger something. To his disappointment, nothing happened. Xia Wenxi, surprised, asked why he was holding her phone. Soon after, Lin Jiaqi, who had observed Ye Youning's interaction with Xia Wenxi, challenged him to a basketball game. Ye Youning displayed extraordinary skill, effortlessly scoring, which impressed his classmates.
They immediately urged Lin Jiaqi to recruit him for the school team, confident he could lead them to victory against their rivals. Ye Youning agreed, but on one condition: Xia Wenxi must lend him her phone for a few days. Xia Wenxi, finding his request peculiar given he already had a phone, asked for his reasons.
Ye Youning simply stated that the "basketball game is not difficult; it depends on what you provide me with," clearly referring to her phone, before making another impressive shot and walking away without further explanation. Later, he bought coffee, asking for pour-over, and paid with cash, briefly mentioning "Apple Pay"—an anachronistic payment method for 2006. He left the change, seemingly as a treat for the other students who were gossiping about him standing near the girls' restroom.
After school, Xia Wenxi found herself alone as her friends, including Lin Jiaqi, made excuses to avoid walking her home, some even jokingly citing her "bad luck." Unbeknownst to her, she had an internal monologue reflecting on her birth, where her father, Xia Nanshan, had wished for her to be born on February 29th to save money on birthdays, and a doctor had remarked on how many "funny" things would happen in her life.
Now, turning eighteen, she declared this her "second life," determined to seize the opportunity to "turn her luck around." Observing her, Ye Youning, determined to find a way back, noted that "None of them remember it" (her birthday or his request for her phone) and reiterated his need for her phone. He then followed her home. There, he was deeply moved to see his Grandpa Zhou healthy and vibrant, a stark contrast to his ailing self in 2019.
Grandpa Zhou warmly greeted him, mentioning how much he had missed him over the past half-year since Ye Youning decided to study abroad, and offered him his favorite wontons. Overcome with emotion, Ye Youning hugged his grandpa tightly, shedding tears, which he playfully attributed to the strong smell of his grandpa's ointment. Though touched, Ye Youning's resolve to return to his own time strengthened, believing his future grandpa needed him more.
As he went to take out the trash, he heard Yang Chuang calling Xia Wenxi. He then witnessed a surprise birthday gathering as Xia Wenxi's friends arrived, playfully teasing her about her "greedy" nature and her dislike for libraries, before revealing a cake, Mayday merchandise, and a customized gift from Lin Jiaqi (which looked like a breakfast voucher) that a friend jokingly called stingy.
Despite their earlier teasing, Xia Wenxi's father, Xia Nanshan, graciously invited everyone, including Ye Youning, inside for a celebratory feast. Still focused on his mission for his grandpa, Ye Youning noted, "For grandpa, I still have to get her phone and find out the reason." Seeing him, Xia Wenxi then invited Ye Youning to "Join us to have the cake together."
Episode 2 Recap
Ye Youning arrived at Xia Wenxi's house, where several students were playfully popping balloons. The loud bursts triggered unpleasant memories for Ye Youning, making him feel distressed. He told Xia Wenxi he needed to leave, and she followed him out, finding him crouched by the door, visibly in pain. Xia Wenxi quickly offered him a sweet, saying that no matter what happened, eating sweets would help.
Ye Youning felt a little better and wished her a happy birthday before heading home. Later that night, he watched from his window as Xia Wenxi blew out her birthday candles, wondering what she wished for. Back home, Ye Youning searched online and discovered an upcoming Jiangcheng Physics Lecture. He was disheartened to see his father, Zhou Zhihua, listed as the host.
He remembered how he had wanted to attend that lecture in high school but chose not to because his father was involved, instead participating in a basketball game. He scoffed, thinking that in his current state, his father wouldn't even be fit to host a physics lecture he organized, but then dismissed it as a past matter.
Realizing that simply pressing the old phone hadn't been enough to send him back, Ye Youning concluded that other factors must be at play. He recalled thunder during his initial time travel and speculated that lightning might be a crucial element. He tried running complex calculations on his old computer, but it merely smoked and failed. He knew he needed to get Xia Wenxi's phone for further research into a way back.
The next day at school, Xia Wenxi was late again due to her car breaking down. Ye Youning noticed Yang Chuang, Xie Zhenyu, and others drafting a basketball challenge letter for Class 8. The class monitor confiscated the letter, reprimanding them for their lack of collective honor and deducting points. The monitor then presented the challenge letter to Mr. Wang, the Class Advisor, who stressed the importance of studying for the College entrance exam over sports.
Mr. Wang wrote a difficult problem on the blackboard and promised to personally deliver their challenge if anyone could solve it before tomorrow's class. No one in the class, including the representative Chen Tingting, could do it. Seizing the opportunity, Ye Youning approached Xia Wenxi and offered to solve the problem if she lent him her phone. Xia Wenxi, eager for the basketball game, agreed without hesitation.
Ye Youning confidently solved the complex problem, but Mr. Wang criticized him for using a university-level method, calling it showing off, and emphasized that College entrance exam problems must be solved using high school methods to earn step-by-step points. Despite the criticism, Mr. Wang acknowledged that Ye Youning's answer was correct and, keeping his word, agreed to deliver the challenge, much to the delight of the class. After class, Ye Youning reminded Xia Wenxi to fulfill her promise.
She agreed, but on the condition that he only use her phone in front of her and not snoop through her personal items. To Ye Youning's dismay, Xia Wenxi revealed she had received a new phone for her eighteenth birthday the previous night and had already sold her old one to a waste collector. Ye Youning frantically rushed out and managed to buy back the old phone for 20 yuan. However, he noticed the phone chain was missing.
Since his previous calculations suggested the phone needed to be exactly 121 grams, he decided it was safer to retrieve the chain. He returned to ask Xia Wenxi for it. As he was doing so, students from Class 8, including Zhao Bin, arrived to provoke them, mocking their class and calling Ye Youning a "jinx." Ye Youning, preoccupied with getting the phone chain, initially ignored their taunts.
When they persisted, he sharply told them to "work on your brains" instead of just muscles, effectively shutting them down. After the Class 8 students left, Yang Chuang urged Ye Youning to join their basketball team to defeat their rivals. Xia Wenxi offered to give him the phone chain if he joined and promised not to harm her "Ashin Chen" (a Mayday charm on the chain). Ye Youning agreed, but requested access to a computer.
Xia Wenxi led Ye Youning to a sealed-off screening room, making him perform a "reception ceremony" by tearing off the seal before leading him through a window, explaining that "life needs rituals." Inside the room, filled with her "memories," Ye Youning quickly found a connected computer. He revealed his discovery of the "secret of time travel" to Xia Wenxi, explaining that a "heavy binary star that exploded 120 million light-years away" was causing effects that would create a wormhole.
He specified that this wormhole, with dimensions of "twenty times one hundred and one times forty-three millimeters," corresponded precisely to the size of Xia Wenxi's old phone, capable of enabling time travel. Xia Wenxi was thrilled, confirming that stories of time travel from novels and movies were true. Ye Youning added that the time-traveling device also needed to weigh exactly 100. 2 grams, and asked for her Mayday charm and SIM card to achieve the precise weight.
As Xia Wenxi became excited about witnessing history and taking a selfie, Ye Youning subtly snatched the old phone and the chain, then ran off. Xia Wenxi chased him, explaining to her confused friends that he had taken her phone chain. Ye Youning skipped classes and rushed home, hoping to test his theory during the predicted afternoon and evening thunderstorms.
Before attempting, he went to his grandpa, Grandpa Zhou, and gave him heartfelt advice, urging him to take good care of his health in the future, mentioning stimulating acupoints with walnuts, drinking less, taking fish oil, and socializing more. Grandpa Zhou was puzzled by his "nonsense." Ye Youning even mentioned his future hairstyle, which Grandpa Zhou found "like a punk," but Ye Youning insisted his grandpa remember him. He then bid an emotional farewell to "this dream."
During the thunderstorm, he tried to activate the phone, but it didn't work. He even tried recreating his wet hair from the initial time travel and using Grandpa Zhou's radio tuned to an agricultural weather broadcast, but all his efforts to return to the future failed. Defeated, Ye Youning returned to school. In class, Mr. Wang was upset about low test scores, though he didn't question Ye Youning's absence because of his usually high grades.
Xia Wenxi was surprised to see Ye Youning back. Knowing his secret, she suggested joining his experiments. Ye Youning considered that her frequent appearances before his original time travel might mean she was a necessary condition, so he agreed.
They attempted various time-travel methods from Xia Wenxi's "secret book," including "high-speed rotation with power on" using a teddy bear (which caused a power outage and got them caught by Mr. Wang), "jumping into the sea" (which they decided against because the water was too cold), and a quirky rule of hitting each other three times if they said the same thing simultaneously to avoid "doom." None of these worked.
Finally, they returned to the school gate, the exact spot where Ye Youning had first arrived in 2006. He reminded Xia Wenxi that the lightning presented an "unparalleled chance" and asked her to "hit me as hard as that car" that initially struck him. Xia Wenxi was hesitant and only bumped him lightly. Ye Youning insisted she hit him "harder" like the car, but she refused, saying she didn't dare and it seemed useless.
As Lin Jiaqi walked by, he witnessed their struggle and completely misunderstood, accusing Ye Youning of "losing his head over lust." Ye Youning tried to explain they were reviewing "physics acceleration," but Lin Jiaqi stormed off. Ignoring Lin Jiaqi, Ye Youning urged Xia Wenxi to try again, but she still refused. Determined, Ye Youning walked to the middle of the road, closed his eyes, and told Xia Wenxi, "Some things are not what they seem to be.
I hope you understand it." He again asked her to hit him harder. Suddenly, the very same car from his initial time travel struck him. Ye Youning found himself back in time again, but this time he woke up in a precarious position, being held up by Yang Chuang who was trying to prevent him from jumping, indicating he had traveled to the moment of his own suicide. Xia Wenxi, witnessing the scene, was terrified and called his name.
When Ye Youning opened his eyes, he looked at Xia Wenxi and asked, "Who are you? Are you from Jiangda Affiliated High School as well?" Xia Wenxi, shocked, replied, "I'm Xia Wenxi!" He repeated her name, his eyes betraying no recognition.
Episode 3 Recap
Ye Youning from the future found himself attempting to commit suicide and was saved by Yang Chuang. Before he could fully recover, Yang Chuang aggressively demanded money from him. Ye Youning then discovered that in this altered timeline, his older self had just been released from prison, and his life had been completely rewritten.
He realized that because of this time alteration, his 2006 self had lost 39 hours of memory and, unaware that Zhou Zhihua, his father, was the host, had attended a theoretical physics lecture. This led to a conflict, his expulsion from school, and a downward spiral into a life of trouble, eventually leading to his incarceration. Ye Youning also learned that Grandpa Zhou had passed away two years prior, with his funeral arranged by their old neighbors and his classmates.
Overwhelmed by this devastating reality, Ye Youning was desperate to find his old phone, hoping it could send him back to the past. Meanwhile, the 2006 Ye Youning woke up having lost 39 hours of memory. Xia Wenxi took him back to Grandpa Zhou's house and recounted the events of the past two days, even showing him photos of their previous experiments as proof. However, 2006 Ye Youning remained unconvinced.
His rebellious attitude towards Grandpa Zhou also seemed different from before, prompting Grandpa Zhou and Xia Wenxi to worry that his brain might have been affected by the car accident and take him to the hospital for a check-up. Eventually, Ye Youning found his old phone and, after locating a charger, powered it on. The phone displayed "March 1, 2006, 7:53 am," which was the exact time he had first collided with Xia Wenxi in the past.
Simultaneously, the 2006 Xia Wenxi received a message "Who are you?" on her old phone, to which Ye Youning from 2019 received and replied with the same question. He quickly deduced that the phone in 2006 must be in Xia Wenxi's possession. Xia Wenxi initially thought he was a hacker who had broken her phone and was playing a trick. She swiftly typed out an angry message, accusing him of being a liar and threatening to call the police.
Frustrated by her disbelief, Ye Youning decided to use a more convincing method. He sent her the winning lottery numbers for that day and instructed her to check them when they were announced. The next morning, Xia Wenxi, still skeptical, casually asked her father about the lottery results. To her astonishment, the numbers her father mentioned perfectly matched those sent by Ye Youning.
Convinced that Ye Youning was indeed from the future, she eagerly messaged him, calling him "Big bro" and asking for more lottery numbers. However, Ye Youning explained that the future was in chaos, and money was meaningless. He revealed that 2006 Ye Youning was destined to be a future hero, but a terrible fate awaited him due to external interference.
Xia Wenxi's mission was to save 2006 Ye Youning, as without her, he would become cold-hearted and his life would be ruined. Ye Youning from 2019 emphasized the importance of 2006 Ye Youning participating in the upcoming basketball game. Just as Xia Wenxi finished reading the messages, she saw 2006 Ye Youning heading to school. She quickly grabbed her bike and chased after him, even putting a plastic bag on his head to protect him from bird droppings.
At school, Lin Jiaqi and their friends invited Ye Youning to play basketball, but he declined, stating he didn't play. Xia Wenxi intervened, telling them Ye Youning had a minor accident and she would talk to him. She reminded Ye Youning of their group of friends and their promise to participate in the basketball game. When Ye Youning learned the game was on Saturday, he again refused, insisting he needed to attend the Theoretical Physics Lecture.
Xia Wenxi immediately reported this to 2019 Ye Youning, who emphatically stated that 2006 Ye Youning must not attend that lecture, or the world would be doomed. Xia Wenxi tried various tactics to dissuade him, from opening windows for fresh air to offering him snacks and canteen food, but Ye Youning remained singularly focused on his studies, dismissing her efforts as distractions. Desperate, Xia Wenxi again sought help from 2019 Ye Youning.
He then disclosed the reason: the lecture's host was Zhou Zhihua, 2006 Ye Youning's estranged father. Their relationship was terrible due to his parents' divorce, and his father having an illegitimate child whom he neglected. If 2006 Ye Youning were to encounter his father at the lecture, he would lose control, fight with the security guards, and be expelled from school. Shocked by this revelation, Xia Wenxi resolved to find a way to convey this to 2006 Ye Youning.
Xia Wenxi tried to tactfully explain to Ye Youning why he shouldn't go to the lecture, hinting that he would encounter someone he disliked and get into trouble. Ye Youning, however, was unfazed and simply asked who this person was. When Xia Wenxi blurted out "your father," he became angry, accusing her of making a bad joke. Realizing that a direct approach wouldn't work, Xia Wenxi messaged 2019 Ye Youning with a new idea.
After class, Ye Youning disappeared, and Xia Wenxi had to ask Grandpa Zhou, who told her Ye Youning had gone to the bookstore. She rushed to find him there. Knowing 2006 Ye Youning was obsessed with academic problems, she suggested that 2019 Ye Youning devise an incredibly difficult physics problem to distract him. 2019 Ye Youning agreed, remembering his own past devotion to solving problems.
Xia Wenxi presented the complex problem to 2006 Ye Youning, proposing a bet: if he couldn't solve it, he would join the basketball team. Confident in his abilities, Ye Youning accepted, agreeing that if he failed to solve it by that night, he would concede. Xia Wenxi followed him home, even joining him for dinner at Grandpa Zhou's, where she continued to monitor his progress on the problem.
Grandpa Zhou, noticing Ye Youning's usually solitary nature, encouraged Xia Wenxi to help him make friends. As Ye Youning struggled, Xia Wenxi offered encouragement and even retrieved snacks for him, but he was entirely engrossed in the challenging problem, telling her not to disturb him. Throughout the evening, 2006 Ye Youning remained captivated by the puzzle, unable to find a solution.
Xia Wenxi recorded her thoughts in her journal: her old phone had become a time machine connecting her to a mysterious future man who tasked her with saving the world. The oblivious Ye Youning, she noted, had no idea that she was the one saving his life.
Episode 4 Recap
The next morning, Xia Wenxi eagerly waited outside Ye Youning's home to ask if he had solved the challenging math problem. When he handed her his notebook, she panicked upon seeing his solution. She immediately contacted Ye Youning from the future, sending him the answer. He reviewed the process, noted the unfamiliar symbols, and informed her that the answer was clearly zero, meaning the younger Ye Youning had made a mistake.
Thrilled, Xia Wenxi quickly cycled after the present-day Ye Youning to tell him he was wrong. Unconvinced, Ye Youning insisted he hadn't made an error, so they sought out Mr. Wang for verification. After quickly calculating the problem, Mr. Wang confirmed that Ye Youning's answer was indeed incorrect, and the true answer was zero. Mr. Wang gently admonished him not to waste time on overly difficult or rare problems, explaining that such advanced knowledge was for college.
Seeing Ye Youning's crestfallen expression, Xia Wenxi worried he would be too upset to join the basketball team. To her surprise, Ye Youning, accepting his defeat, simply said, "See you in the basketball court," indicating he would honor their bet and play. Meanwhile, Ye Youning from 2019 experienced another shift in his life. He woke up in a restaurant kitchen, now the owner of Ye's Seafood, having previously failed in a cloned pet business.
He reflected on his past, realizing that in this altered timeline, it was Lin Jiaqi who had made the last shot in the crucial basketball game, leading their team to victory. Determined to change this, he messaged Xia Wenxi, instructing her to ensure the 2006 Ye Youning made the final shot. Xia Wenxi admitted she didn't understand basketball.
Future Ye Youning reassured her, promising to guide her and immediately sent a detailed message with strategic advice, emphasizing teamwork and passing the ball to Ye Youning, along with specific roles for each player: Zhao Donglei as the center, Xie Zhenyu to defend Zhao Bin, Yang Chuang to control the ball and interpolate, and Lin Jiaqi for inside play and rebounding, leaving Ye Youning to find scoring opportunities from the outside.
Xia Wenxi shared future Ye Youning's strategic advice with the basketball team during their practice. Although the team members were amused by her sudden expertise and teased her about reading Ye Youning's mind, they acknowledged her points and agreed to the new tactics. Even Ye Youning was surprised by her detailed understanding. With Ye Youning now part of the team, he, who had always been a lone wolf, started eating meals with his teammates.
During a practice session, players from Class 8 arrived and began to taunt them. Ye Youning, in a burst of youthful bravado, challenged them, but unfortunately, he injured his foot in the skirmish. Back in the classroom, Mr. Wang scolded the team for their preoccupation with basketball at the expense of their studies, pointing out that none of the players had submitted their compositions.
He declared that from then on, they were forbidden from playing basketball anywhere on school grounds and threatened to cancel the upcoming game if their essays weren't submitted by the end of the day. With the school ban in place, the team resorted to practicing at an outdoor court at night. During their training, Chen Tingting suddenly spotted a small puppy by the side of the court, drawing the attention of Xia Wenxi and the others.
Lin Jiaqi, observing Xia Wenxi's focus on Ye Youning, felt a twinge of jealousy. Xia Wenxi then received another message from future Ye Youning, and she reassured him that everyone was now fully supportive of Ye Youning, confident they would succeed. On the day of the basketball game, Xia Wenxi messaged future Ye Youning to report that the match had begun, while he anxiously awaited updates.
The Class 9 cheerleaders, including Xia Wenxi, Gao Xiaoai, and Chen Tingting, arrived, only to discover that the uniforms they had purchased for the team's cheerleading were red, the same color as the opposing Class 8 team, leading to an awkward moment. As the game unfolded, Ye Youning played exceptionally, scoring accurately, but this also made him a target for the opposing team, and he sustained an injury to his right leg.
He called for a timeout, and during the huddle, the team discussed their strategy. Ye Youning managed to score another crucial basket, but upon landing, an opponent deliberately tripped him, causing him to twist his ankle badly. Xia Wenxi quickly rushed to fetch a first-aid kit, returning with bandages and medicine to tend to his swollen ankle. After the injury was bandaged, the game resumed.
In the critical final minute, with the score close, the ball found its way into Ye Youning's hands, thanks to Yang Chuang, who, influenced by Xia Wenxi's frantic shouting, passed it to him. Unlike the previous timeline, Ye Youning successfully made the final shot, securing victory for their team. In 2019, Ye Youning's life changed once more. He awoke to find himself at the opening dinner of the Jiangcheng Institute, where he was now the CEO.
His first act was to instruct his subordinate to immediately halt the Cloned Pet project. As he descended to greet his guests, Xia Wenxi suddenly appeared, holding a framed portrait of Grandpa Zhou. With anger in her eyes, she confronted him, accusing him of neglecting his own grandfather for years, even after his death, and returning only to host a lavish party.
Episode 5 Recap
Ye Youning, finding himself back in the year 2019, was astonished by Xia Wenxi's harsh accusations. He believed his timeline had been set right, yet it had clearly gone awry. At the opening dinner of the Jiangcheng Institute, he suddenly fainted. Upon waking, he saw Xia Wenxi and was shocked to realize his grandpa had passed away. Ye Youning went to Xia Wenxi to ask how his grandpa died.
Xia Wenxi fiercely confronted him, asking if he was even human, having neglected his own grandfather for so many years and now holding a celebration party right after returning to the country. She told him that Grandpa Zhou had a leg injury and fell down the stairs while tidying up, leading to his accidental death. Ye Youning couldn't understand why his grandpa's leg was injured.
Xia Wenxi scorned him, demanding he ask himself when Grandpa Zhou died, and accused him of pretending amnesia when Ye Youning asked why his grandpa’s leg was injured. She insisted the injury was "all because of you." Disturbed, Ye Youning wondered why he had abandoned his grandpa for over a decade and never contacted him. The narrative then shifted to Jiangcheng in 2006, right after a basketball game.
As Ye Youning’s friends celebrated their victory, he decided to leave to catch an online lecture, despite his leg injury. Xia Wenxi, concerned, offered to walk him home, as they were neighbors. On their way, she spotted a small, adorable stray dog near a basketball court and immediately wanted to adopt it. However, upon returning home, Xia Wenxi’s mother flatly refused, stating she couldn’t keep a pet before the college entrance exam and instructed her to return the dog.
Saddened, Xia Wenxi sat on the street with the dog. Ye Youning, having anticipated her mother's reaction, revealed his own childhood wish for a dog and offered to adopt it himself, clarifying it was out of his own desire, not merely to help her. Xia Wenxi happily agreed to let Ye Youning keep the dog, suggesting they name it Sanfen (Three-pointer) in celebration of his winning shot that day.
A few days later, Xia Wenxi brought food for Sanfen when visiting Ye Youning. Noticing his severe leg injury, she insisted on taking him to and from school until he recovered, viewing it as a reward for taking Sanfen out to play. Later that weekend, Xia Wenxi met with Lin Jiaqi and other friends at a fried skewer shop to discuss Mayday concert tickets.
She eagerly shared her plan: a Mobile Phone Zone ticketing hotline would open tomorrow at 11:30 AM, and the first thirty callers would receive free tickets. Despite knowing they would be in class, she declared her determination to try, calling it her "last stand" and a lifelong dream. The next day in class, Mr. Yu announced an "I For the Olympics" English Speech Contest with certificates and bonuses, and the top scorer on the day’s test would represent their class.
Meanwhile, Xia Wenxi, fixated on the clock, prepared to make her call. Precisely at 11:30 AM, as she dialed, she accidentally dropped her old phone, and it landed near Ye Youning's feet. Mr. Yu, mistakenly thinking Ye Youning was playing with it, ordered him to pick it up and report to the office. Ye Youning silently complied, taking the blame.
Xia Wenxi, feeling remorseful, tried to go to the office to explain, but Mr. Wang, their class teacher, intervened on Ye Youning’s behalf. Citing Ye Youning's excellent academic record, Mr. Wang returned the phone with a verbal warning about future offenses. Ye Youning then handed the phone back to Xia Wenxi, who had almost forgotten to check for her concert ticket.
She quickly called the hotline but was dismayed to learn she was the thirty-first caller, missing out on the free tickets. Later, Lin Jiaqi, seeing Xia Wenxi’s disappointment, tried to get money from his mother for concert tickets, asking for a thousand, or even five hundred, yuan.
His mother, however, was unsympathetic, reminding him of his pilot retest in two days and urging him to focus on his studies before abruptly ending the call as she was about to board a flight. Feeling guilty about the phone incident and Ye Youning's injured leg from the basketball game, Xia Wenxi decided to show her gratitude by making him egg dumplings.
Simultaneously, at Ye Youning's house, his grandpa was cooking noodles and excitedly reminded Ye Youning that tomorrow was his birthday, promising to make up for all the birthdays he had missed and fulfill any wish. Suddenly, Grandpa Zhou received a call from Zhou Zhihua, Ye Youning's father.
Zhou Zhihua, who had been out of contact for a long time, immediately asked for money for his younger son's overseas education, claiming he was unable to cover it himself and hinting at Grandpa Zhou’s savings. Grandpa Zhou grew angry, scolding his son for only calling to ask for money and forgetting Youning’s birthday. Overhearing this, Ye Youning snatched the phone, verbally attacked his father, and angrily stormed out of the house, intent on confronting him.
Back in 2019, Future Ye Youning, reflecting on his grandpa's medical records, realized the car accident that injured his grandpa's leg thirteen years ago happened when his grandpa was chasing him. He immediately texted Xia Wenxi, asking about his younger self's whereabouts. Learning that Ye Youning had just left in a taxi and Grandpa Zhou was chasing him, Future Ye Youning urgently warned Xia Wenxi to "Quickly go stop Ye Youning and Grandpa Zhou!
Don't let them go to the bridge! Or something bad will happen!" Xia Wenxi quickly cycled after Ye Youning’s taxi, successfully intercepting him before he reached the bridge. She urged him to get out of the car, claiming a terrible accident, like a serial car crash or temporary collapse, would happen there. Ye Youning, perplexed by her illogical behavior, questioned her. At that moment, Grandpa Zhou arrived, slightly twisting his ankle but otherwise unharmed.
Taking his grandpa's hand, Ye Youning turned back home. In 2019, Future Ye Youning was relieved, believing the mission was completed and his crisis averted. However, when he called Yang Chuang to inquire about his grandpa, Yang Chuang, surprised to hear from him after so many years, denied ever receiving payments to care for Grandpa Zhou and revealed that Grandpa Zhou had tragically passed away a few days prior.
Future Ye Youning was stunned, unable to comprehend how his grandpa had died despite successfully preventing the car accident. He was left questioning where things had gone wrong. Grandpa Zhou had once reflected on Youning, lamenting that in his life, he simply wished for his family to be whole, but it was shattered.
He worried about his grandson, Youning, who never spoke his mind, trusted no one, and pushed away those who cared for him, especially when his father was mentioned. He feared Youning was living a bitter life, unlike other happy children his age. He hoped Youning would one day meet someone who would never abandon him, allowing him to finally let go of his burdens.
Episode 6 Recap
In 2019 London, Xia Wenxi arrived at Ye Youning’s home, bringing a stack of letters Grandpa Zhou had written during his hospitalization. She explained that Grandpa Zhou had frequently written to Ye Youning, though he never knew where to send them. Grandpa Zhou often expressed how much he missed Ye Youning and wondered about his life, including his career and if he had married.
He had also shared with Xia Wenxi that while he wouldn’t see many things in Ye Youning’s future, he was certain Ye Youning would find happiness. Despite believing in Ye Youning’s future happiness, Grandpa Zhou carried immense guilt, regretting that he hadn't treated Ye Youning better after taking him in, and that he ultimately caused him pain. Ye Youning, deeply saddened, recounted his repeated attempts to alter time and space, hoping to bring Grandpa Zhou back.
Each time, however, Grandpa Zhou would still pass away, burdened with new sorrows. He desperately asked Xia Wenxi what he needed to do to save his grandfather. Xia Wenxi revealed that Grandpa Zhou had suffered a traumatic injury that led to a brain hemorrhage. She also mentioned that he had an old head injury from a previous car accident, which, combined with his old age, his body simply couldn’t withstand.
When Ye Youning pressed for details about the car accident and the old injury, Xia Wenxi admitted she couldn't recall the specifics, only remembering it happened after Ye Youning had left. She then urged Ye Youning to return with her to their hometown to retrieve Grandpa Zhou's ashes and pay their respects.
Meanwhile, back in Jiangcheng in 2006, Xia Wenxi and Ye Youning arrived late for school, having taken the bus together after Ye Youning refused to ride his Grandpa's sidecar. As they entered the classroom, the teacher scolded them. Xia Wenxi tried to explain their tardiness by saying she was helping Ye Youning, whose leg was injured. During class, while reciting texts, Ye Youning noticed a patch of bird poop on the back of Xia Wenxi's uniform.
He subtly offered his jacket to cover it. Xia Wenxi was annoyed he hadn't told her earlier, and her outburst earned her a punishment of standing at the back of the classroom with a textbook. Lin Jiaqi, who harbored feelings for Xia Wenxi, also offered his jacket, but Ye Youning had already given his. Other students who made light of Xia Wenxi's bad luck also earned themselves similar punishments.
The mysterious smell in the classroom was eventually traced to Ye Youning’s desk—Xia Wenxi’s homemade egg dumplings. Xia Wenxi, upset that Ye Youning didn't want the burnt dumplings, was about to throw them away after class when Lin Jiaqi intervened. He offered to taste her cooking and ended up eating the entire burnt batch. Later, Lin Jiaqi asked Xia Wenxi if she had managed to get tickets for the Mayday concert.
She replied that she had given up, lamenting that it would take money falling from the sky for her to get tickets. Unbeknownst to Xia Wenxi, Lin Jiaqi was determined to get her concert tickets. He sold his cherished jersey for cash, despite the low price, and used the money to buy two 500-yuan recharge cards. He meticulously followed the instructions to redeem points online for concert tickets, which would be mailed to him within three days.
Soon after, during P. E. class, word spread that Lin Jiaqi was in the clinic due to food poisoning from the egg dumplings. Chen Tingting, who secretly admired Lin Jiaqi and kept a record of every small interaction they had, including a candy wrapper he once gave her, rushed to the clinic only to find he had already left. Lin Jiaqi, having obtained the tickets, was attempting to sneak back into school by climbing a wall.
He was nearly caught by Director Zhu, but Chen Tingting, spotting the situation, cleverly distracted the director by pointing him in the wrong direction, allowing Lin Jiaqi to get back inside undetected. Later that day, Ye Youning received a call from his father, Zhou Zhihua, who wished him a happy birthday and apologized for forgetting it.
Ye Youning, still resentful, accused his father of having ulterior motives, believing he was only calling to butter him up to ask Grandpa Zhou for money, just as he had done before. He angrily hung up. At home, Grandpa Zhou had prepared a celebratory birthday dinner. He presented Ye Youning with a gift from Zhou Zhihua, assuring him that his father still cared.
This only further incensed Ye Youning, who vehemently denied his father's sincerity, believing the gestures were hollow and self-serving. He then lashed out at Grandpa Zhou for defending Zhou Zhihua, exclaiming that everyone expected him to be understanding and forgiving, but no one ever told his father to stop hurting him. Ye Youning recounted how his mother cried daily because of his father, making his childhood miserable. He declared his hatred, wishing his father would die in front of him.
Heartbroken and angered by Ye Youning’s words, Grandpa Zhou slapped him. Ye Youning, furious, stormed out of the house, limping down the street. In 2019, while at home mourning Grandpa Zhou, Ye Youning had a sudden realization. He remembered that he had left Grandpa Zhou after their heated birthday argument years ago.
He concluded that his childish outburst and subsequent departure had led to Grandpa Zhou being left alone, causing him to suffer a car accident while chasing after him, and ultimately passing away with guilt and regret. Overwhelmed with remorse, Future Ye Youning desperately texted Xia Wenxi in 2006, imploring her to prevent Ye Youning from leaving Grandpa Zhou, no matter what.
Xia Wenxi, who hadn't spoken to Ye Youning all day and was initially reluctant to intervene due to their recent tensions, changed her mind after learning that Grandpa Zhou's fate was at stake. She then set out to find Ye Youning, checking with a police officer who directed her towards the train station. She tried calling Ye Youning, but his phone was off. Xia Wenxi eventually found Ye Youning at the train station.
She confronted him, asking if he was really leaving and urging him not to abandon Grandpa Zhou. Ye Youning retorted that it was none of her business and accused her of being selfish. Xia Wenxi, in turn, called him selfish for considering leaving his elderly grandfather alone. Ye Youning, emotional and in pain, shot back that people like her, who lived happy lives, couldn't understand his suffering, and questioned her right to lecture him.
Just as the argument escalated, Grandpa Zhou appeared, calling out for Youning. As he hurried across the street, he was nearly hit by a car. Xia Wenxi quickly pulled him to safety. Ye Youning, witnessing his grandfather's close call, rushed over, his anger melting into concern. Grandpa Zhou, tearfully, apologized to Ye Youning, admitting his failure in raising Zhou Zhihua and the suffering it caused Ye Youning and his mother.
He also expressed regret for not understanding Ye Youning's feelings and for hitting him. He then gently asked Ye Youning to come home with him. Ye Youning, also in tears, embraced his grandfather, and together, they walked home. In 2019, a lightning flash signaled another shift in the timeline. Future Ye Youning sat alone in his home, still thinking of his grandfather. Suddenly, he heard Grandpa Zhou's voice. Grandpa Zhou walked in, holding a bowl of wontons, calling out to Youning. Grandpa Zhou was alive, and Ye Youning, stunned, asked, "Grandpa, it's really you?"
Episode 7 Recap
In the altered 2019 timeline, Ye Youning was overjoyed to find his Grandpa Zhou alive and well, without Alzheimer's. Grandpa Zhou not only remembered him but lovingly scolded him to eat his wontons and consider marriage, observing Youning's tearful happiness. Ye Youning, overcome with emotion, wished to live in this perfect timeline forever, having finally saved his grandpa.
The next morning, Ye Youning visited Xia Wenxi's house, where her mother informed him that Xia Wenxi had just returned from abroad and was currently at Gao Xiaoai's wedding. Simultaneously, Yang Chuang called Ye Youning, urging him to hurry to the wedding, as he was supposed to be his best man. Ye Youning realized that in this changed timeline, Gao Xiaoai and Yang Chuang were getting married, and he was close friends with Yang Chuang and Lin Jiaqi.
At the wedding venue, Lin Jiaqi rushed Ye Youning to change into his best man suit. As Ye Youning emerged, he was captivated by Xia Wenxi, who looked stunning in her bridesmaid dress. He approached her, wanting to thank her, but before he could properly explain, Chen Tingting pulled Xia Wenxi away. During the bouquet toss, Xia Wenxi accidentally bumped into Ye Youning, leading to an unexpected kiss that drew cheers from the crowd.
The ceremony continued with heartfelt vows, and Grandpa Zhou was present, celebrating with everyone. Later, at the wedding reception, a drunken Yang Chuang and Lin Jiaqi were taken care of by Gao Xiaoai and Chen Tingting, leaving Ye Youning and Xia Wenxi alone in a noticeable silence. As Ye Youning and Xia Wenxi walked home, he asked about her two years in Australia and why she had been absent from Jiangcheng since his return.
Xia Wenxi confirmed she had lived in Australia for two years and had likely left Jiangcheng before he returned, then questioned why he had visited her house. Ye Youning revealed he wanted to thank her in person for saving his Grandpa Zhou, an act that represented the biggest change in his life. Xia Wenxi was surprised, recalling he had already thanked her for that incident when they were younger.
Ye Youning clarified that the previous thanks were from his 18-year-old self to her 18-year-old self, whereas now his present self was thanking her present self. She playfully teased him, remarking on how he once criticized her for "wayward thoughts" and "talking without logic," suggesting he was now quite similar, and joked about her perpetual bad luck, like being hit by bird poop daily.
Back in 2006, after Ye Youning brought Grandpa Zhou home safely, he noticed Xia Wenxi's injured foot from saving his grandfather. He meticulously cleaned and bandaged her wound, offering her a piece of candy to ease the pain, and apologized for the trouble. Xia Wenxi, ever understanding, assured him it was alright, emphasizing that people should be considerate of one another.
Xia Wenxi still yearned to see the Mayday concert and, recalling that future Ye Youning could predict lottery numbers, she texted him, asking for the winning combination. Ye Youning, seeing her strong desire, sent her a set of numbers. After class, Xia Wenxi rushed to buy a lottery ticket. That evening, as she and her father watched the lottery draw on TV, they were overjoyed to find she had won.
Their celebration was cut short by the arrival of Xia's mother, who, disapproving of her husband's lottery habits, demanded he hand over his tickets. Xia's father secretly passed Xia Wenxi her winning ticket while giving his own, losing tickets to her mother. After a scolding, Xia's mother tore up the tickets she held.
Moments later, Xia Wenxi rushed out, distraught, realizing her father had mistakenly given her the wrong ticket to hide, and her winning ticket had been shredded by her mother. Heartbroken, she cried, demanding her father compensate her for the concert ticket, leading to another argument where her mother discovered his hidden private money. Xia Wenxi spent a night in misery, leaving for school in despair the next morning.
Witnessing Xia Wenxi's distress and the public taunts at school, Ye Youning decided to act. Remembering that the English speech contest offered prize money, he approached Mr. Yu, the teacher in charge. Mr. Yu initially refused, explaining that Ye Youning had previously declined, and the spot was given to Yang Shiyi. Ye Youning then approached Yang Shiyi directly, proposing to tutor her in physics in exchange for her spot in the contest.
Yang Shiyi agreed, and Ye Youning successfully secured the spot and won the prize money. Meanwhile, Lin Jiaqi received his own Mayday concert tickets via delivery, brimming with excitement as he pondered how to best invite Xia Wenxi. Ye Youning, with his prize money, also went to an offline ticket booth, where he observed a chaotic crowd trying to buy the few remaining tickets.
There, Yang Chuang mentioned that Xia Wenxi had already gone to pick up Lin Jiaqi from his pilot retest. Soon after, Xia Wenxi was seen playfully greeting Lin Jiaqi after his retest, and he invited her to walk home together.
Episode 8 Recap
In 2019, Ye Youning bought breakfast for Grandpa Zhou and saw Xia Wenxi at her window. He kindly offered her some breakfast, but she, having just woken up with disheveled hair, felt embarrassed and quickly closed her curtains. Shortly after, Ye Youning received a call from his assistant, confirming that the Mayday signed album he had sought was ready. He instructed her to deliver it promptly.
After meticulously wrapping the album as a gift, Ye Youning noticed Xia Wenxi downstairs, struggling to hail a taxi. He offered to drive her, and despite her initial reluctance due to the long distance, he insisted, stating he also had to go out. During the drive, Xia Wenxi received a call, informing her that her work meeting had been rescheduled and her trip was no longer necessary.
Noticing her disappointment, Ye Youning decided to take her to an indoor activity park to help her relieve stress. They both had a joyful time there. Afterward, as he dropped her off at her home, Ye Youning presented Xia Wenxi with the signed Mayday record. However, the moment she looked up after opening the gift, Ye Youning unexpectedly disappeared, having time-traveled once more. Back in 2006, Ye Youning went to Xia Wenxi's house and took her to Central Park.
There, he delved into scientific theories about time travel, mentioning Tesla's research on magnetic fields influencing space-time and Einstein's theory of relativity. He then gifted her a handmade time machine, explaining it was an apology gift and that if she firmly believed, her future self could place desired items inside. Secretly, Ye Youning put his Mayday concert ticket into the time machine, anticipating her wish.
However, when Xia Wenxi made her wish, she selflessly wished for Ye Youning to "be happy forever," explaining she didn't want to see him in pain. Ye Youning was deeply touched by her wish. As they buried the time machine, Lin Jiaqi and Yang Chuang arrived, having been directed to the park by Xia Wenxi's mother. Lin Jiaqi excitedly announced that he had gotten two free Mayday concert tickets and invited Xia Wenxi.
She was ecstatic and, in her joy, offered to treat everyone to fried skewers. She invited Ye Youning, but he, disheartened that his surprise had been preempted, declined. That evening, Xia Wenxi, Lin Jiaqi, Yang Chuang, and Chen Tingting enjoyed their fried skewers. Xia Wenxi thoughtfully asked for a portion to be packed for Ye Youning. After Yang Chuang left, Lin Jiaqi offered to walk Chen Tingting home.
As they walked, they talked about Xia Wenxi being the "soul" of their group, and Lin Jiaqi expressed surprise at how the quiet Chen Tingting and the carefree Xia Wenxi were such good friends. Chen Tingting then hesitantly asked if Lin Jiaqi and Xia Wenxi were truly "just friends," and he affirmed they were, albeit with a slight hesitation. An awkward moment arose when Chen Tingting nearly stumbled, and Lin Jiaqi quickly steadied her.
Later, Xia Wenxi brought the packed fried skewers to Ye Youning's house, but he coldly rejected them, claiming he had already eaten. Grandpa Zhou intervened, accepting the skewers, and later brought them up to Ye Youning, who eventually ate them, moved by Xia Wenxi's earlier wish for his happiness. The next morning, Ye Youning's attitude towards Xia Wenxi remained distant. He left for school without waiting for her and ignored her at school.
His apparent indifference was further highlighted when he helped Yang Shiyi with physics problems, much to Xia Wenxi's displeasure. That evening, as they both took out the trash, Xia Wenxi confronted Ye Youning, asking why he was avoiding her. He vaguely stated his intention to "study hard" for the upcoming college entrance examination and refused to elaborate.
Shortly after, Lin Jiaqi arrived, presenting Xia Wenxi with two commemorative Mayday concert T-shirts for them to wear to the concert, which visibly intensified Ye Youning's jealousy. On the day of the concert, Xia Wenxi applied heavy makeup. She met Ye Youning at the bus stop, who, initially startled by her appearance, didn't immediately recognize her, playfully remarking that she looked ready for a "ghost festival." Xia Wenxi explained she had dressed up for someone important.
Ye Youning mentioned he was going to the pet market, and Xia Wenxi realized their bus routes coincided for several stops. On the bus, Xia Wenxi spotted their pregnant Chinese teacher, Ms. Liu, on the roadside, clearly in labor as her water had broken. Without hesitation, Xia Wenxi and Ye Youning got off to assist. A passing doctor immediately offered help, instructing them to find a stretcher and a suitable vehicle.
Xia Wenxi bravely appealed to the bus driver and passengers to alter their route to transport Ms. Liu to the hospital. The passengers readily cooperated and exited the bus. With heavy traffic obstructing their path, Ye Youning called the traffic radio for help, which promptly broadcast an emergency alert, clearing the way for the bus. They successfully reached the hospital, and Ms. Liu was safely admitted. As Ms. Liu was being attended to, Xia Wenxi suddenly remembered the concert.
To her dismay, she discovered a tear in her pocket and realized her wallet, containing her precious concert ticket, was missing. Overwhelmed with despair, she broke down, lamenting that she wouldn't be able to attend the concert. Ye Youning quickly took her back to Central Park, to the spot where they had buried the time machine. They dug it up, and to Xia Wenxi's astonishment, inside lay a Mayday concert ticket.
Ye Youning vaguely explained that it must be the time machine working, a signal received by her future self. Xia Wenxi then revealed that her actual wish had been for Ye Youning's happiness, not the ticket, and asked if he was happy now. With no taxis available, they raced on foot towards the concert venue. Lin Jiaqi was still waiting outside for Xia Wenxi. However, their late arrival meant ticket checking had already concluded, and they were denied entry.
The three friends sat outside the venue, listening to the final few songs, including Xia Wenxi's favorite, "Time Machine." Xia Wenxi then shared a heartfelt regret about not having spent enough time with her grandmother during her final days in the hospital, emphasizing her desire for a time machine to avoid such regrets and for everyone to remain happy.
She reaffirmed her unwavering dedication to Mayday, vowing to listen to their music until she was eighty and to always stay together with her friends, ensuring they would all remain happy forever. Ye Youning left briefly to buy them drinks. Upon his return, Xia Wenxi thanked him sincerely for the day, expressing her profound happiness. Ye Youning reciprocated the sentiment.
As Xia Wenxi prepared to depart, Ye Youning called her back, presenting her with a Mayday signed record, the very gift he had intended to give her earlier. The moment Xia Wenxi looked up after opening the gift, Ye Youning time-traveled again.
Episode 9 Recap
At Xia Wenxi's doorstep, after spending the day together, Ye Youning presented her with a Mayday signed record as a thank you gift. As he said goodbye, Ye Youning found himself unexpectedly teleported downstairs, confused, as he had not consciously altered the timeline. He returned to Xia Wenxi's door and overheard her speaking to herself.
She reminisced about her past feelings for him, acknowledging her love for Mayday and her belief in the Time Machine and old phone's ability to communicate with the future, though she couldn't recall the phone's whereabouts. Overhearing her, Ye Youning knocked on the door and asked if she would like to go for a drink. Xia Wenxi agreed and went to change, but before she could return, Ye Youning was abruptly teleported away again.
Unsure what was happening, he quickly messaged past Xia Wenxi on his old phone, asking what she had done. Future Xia Wenxi then called Ye Youning, wondering about his sudden disappearance. He admitted he didn't know his current location but offered to meet the next day. However, she informed him that she was flying out tomorrow. Ye Youning urged her to find a convenient spot, promising to be there soon.
After hanging up, his phone fell, shattered, and he found himself in a desolate area, far from any means of transport. Determined to return, he ran frantically and eventually secured a ride from a passing stranger. In 2006, after a Mayday concert, Xia Wenxi, Lin Jiaqi, and Yang Chuang struggled to find transportation home due to the large crowd. Xia Wenxi was anxious that her mother would discover she had gone to the concert instead of the study room.
Her mother found out about her attending the concert despite her father's attempts to cover for her, becoming furious and threatening to tear up all of Xia Wenxi's Mayday posters. With help from Lin Jiaqi and Ye Youning, Xia Wenxi eventually boarded a bus. Upon returning home, Xia Wenxi cautiously entered, expecting a severe reprimand, but her mother simply told her to go to her room.
In her room, Xia Wenxi received a message from Future Ye Youning asking what she had done. She replied that she hadn't done anything and then decided to do her homework. Feeling her brain needed a boost, she wanted to eat some walnuts. Unable to find a tool, she picked up her old phone and used it to smash the walnuts.
Each time she hit the walnuts with the phone, Future Ye Youning experienced an involuntary time jump, teleporting erratically between different locations. When Xia Wenxi noticed the phone was cracking but the walnuts remained unbroken, she stopped. Future Ye Youning, observing the phone's damage, messaged her, asking if she had dropped it. Upon her affirmative reply, he instructed her to drop it again. To their astonishment, another time jump occurred, confirming the phone was the cause.
Future Ye Youning immediately warned her against further damaging the phone, explaining that her actions were seriously impacting the future and putting him in danger. Xia Wenxi, horrified, apologized and promised not to do it again, asking him to apologize to Ye Youning on her behalf. The next morning, determined to see Xia Wenxi before her flight, Ye Youning overslept. Luckily, Xia Wenxi posted on her Moments that her flight was delayed, giving him another chance.
As he was about to leave for the airport, Yang Chuang burst in, distraught, proclaiming that Gao Xiaoai wanted a divorce. Ye Youning, impatient to reach the airport, tried to get rid of him, explaining he had no time. Yang Chuang cried that everyone was abandoning him. After a brief struggle, Ye Youning managed to calm Yang Chuang and rush to the airport.
He found Xia Wenxi and apologized for his disappearance the previous night, explaining his broken phone and the fantastical nature of his experience. Xia Wenxi accepted his apology, acknowledging she saw his social media post about being hungry and delayed. Before they could properly talk, Yang Chuang caught up, interrupting their conversation with more lamentations about his impending divorce.
Xia Wenxi, empathetic, promised Yang Chuang that she would arrange a meeting with Gao Xiaoai to help them reconcile after she returned. She also pointed out that Yang Chuang, still in his pajamas, might catch a cold. After Xia Wenxi boarded her flight, Ye Youning pressed Yang Chuang for details. Yang Chuang confessed that Gao Xiaoai discovered his old QQ alt account, named "Mr. Lonely", which only had Yang Shiyi as a contact.
Gao Xiaoai suspected him of having an affair with Yang Shiyi and initiated the divorce. Yang Chuang claimed he couldn't remember why he created the account, lamenting his past "playboy" behavior and asking Ye Youning for help, even threatening to follow him every day if he lost Gao Xiaoai.
Ye Youning messaged past Xia Wenxi, tasking her to investigate why Yang Chuang created the alt account, emphasizing the need for honesty and discouraging secret alt accounts to avoid impacting the future. In 2006, at a hot pot gathering in the projection room, Xia Wenxi and her friends discussed an anonymous post defending Director Zhu on the school's BBS. Yang Chuang, ironically, criticized people who use alt accounts, stating they are hypocritical and have hidden secrets, unaware of the irony.
Xia Wenxi then asked Gao Xiaoai if she hated people with alt accounts, to which Gao Xiaoai vehemently agreed, threatening to hit such a person with a shot put. Xia Wenxi, having received Ye Youning's message, turned her attention to Yang Chuang, noticing his unusual behavior. She confronted him about possibly having a secret alt account and threatened to tell Gao Xiaoai.
Panicked, Yang Chuang immediately deleted Yang Shiyi from his contact list, insisting that it was a "white lie" to hide his crush on Gao Xiaoai, but Xia Wenxi admonished him, stating that even well-intentioned lies only lead to more deceit. Later, Future Ye Youning was seen holding two broken walnut shells, explaining to a friend that Xia Wenxi had smashed them with his old phone to eat the kernels. He comically lamented the walnuts, which he had kept for two years, and teased Xia Wenxi for not sharing.
Episode 10 Recap
In 2006, Yang Chuang struggled to get an MP4 player working to show Gao Xiaoai a Mayday concert video in the projection room. Gao Xiaoai quickly recognized the video as one Yang Shiyi filmed and pressed Yang Chuang to tell her the truth. After a moment of hesitation, Yang Chuang admitted he got the video to cheer Gao Xiaoai up, as she was upset that Xia Wenxi couldn't attend the concert.
He confessed that he had specifically asked someone to delete all footage of Yang Shiyi from the video. Yang Chuang then felt something was wrong; with so many concert videos, how did Gao Xiaoai know with just one glance that it was Yang Shiyi's video? Gao Xiaoai, realizing she was exposed, revealed her own secret: she had already seen the video, having secretly obtained it from Xie Zhenyu.
Yang Chuang then confessed his secret: he had created a fake QQ account to impersonate Ye Youning and get the video from Yang Shiyi, and now Yang Shiyi constantly messages him, mistaking him for Ye Youning. They secretly agreed to keep both secrets, vowing to "bury them in their stomachs" like the cracker they share. Gao Xiaoai reassured Yang Chuang she was not angry.
As the past timeline changed, the misunderstanding between future Gao Xiaoai and Yang Chuang was resolved, and they reconciled. Later, in 2019, Ye Youning, Xia Wenxi, Yang Chuang, and Gao Xiaoai shared a meal. Ye Youning reminded Xia Wenxi that he owed her a drink, but Xia Wenxi demanded an explanation for his absence the previous night. Unable to provide one, Ye Youning tried to apologize by sending Xia Wenxi gifts of fruit and a green plant.
However, Xia Wenxi discovered that his assistant was making the deliveries, and the assistant stated that he typically handled such "trivial matters" for Ye Youning. Feeling disappointed and concluding that Ye Youning only sees her as an old friend, Xia Wenxi rejected the next delivery. The following morning, Ye Youning attempted to stop Xia Wenxi as she leaves, but she was still upset and simply told him she's flying to Dalian before departing.
In 2006, Xia Wenxi received a letter from Mayday, which deeply moved her. Inspired, she declared her commitment to study hard and get into Jiangcheng University. While some classmates were skeptical, suggesting it was written by staff, Xia Wenxi was determined. She, along with Gao Xiaoai and Yang Chuang, makes wishes at a postbox for her academic success. Ye Youning remarks that wishing alone won't get her into college and suggests she find a study partner to improve her grades.
During class, the teacher announces an exciting study exchange program to 45 Forest Farm No. 3 High School for students ranking in the top thirty of the upcoming mock exam or those showing the greatest improvement in their grades. Ye Youning subtly encourages Xia Wenxi to aim for this opportunity. Driven by her newfound ambition, Xia Wenxi first approaches Ye Youning for help with a difficult problem, but he playfully tells her to "beg" him.
Annoyed, she turns to Ms. Zhao, earnestly vowing to change her ways and achieve admission to Jiangcheng University. Ms. Zhao challenges Xia Wenxi to score above 80 in physics on the mock exam, betting that if Xia Wenxi succeeds, Ms. Zhao will treat the entire class to fried skewers; otherwise, Xia Wenxi will pay. Faced with this high-stakes bet, Xia Wenxi recruits both Lin Jiaqi and Ye Youning to help her study.
As they discuss physics in the schoolyard, Xia Wenxi's father arrives on his bicycle, informing Lin Jiaqi that their nanny is on extended leave and he will be staying at the Xia family's house. Xia Wenxi is not pleased at the prospect of giving up her room for him. That evening, Ye Youning, observing Xia Wenxi and Lin Jiaqi studying together, feels a pang of jealousy and decides to join them.
Both boys offer to tutor Xia Wenxi, but their teaching methods quickly clash, leading to a heated discussion about whether to focus on foundational concepts or direct formula application. Xia Wenxi intercedes, reassuring them of her commitment and her determination to fulfill her promise to Mayday. They officially form "Xia Wenxi's Study Group."
Both Lin Jiaqi and Ye Youning present her with rigorous study plans, with schedules like waking at 5 AM and sleeping at 2 AM, which overwhelms Xia Wenxi. The next morning, Lin Jiaqi wakes her early for a biology session.
He explains that he and Ye Youning have collaborated on a revised study plan: Lin Jiaqi will be responsible for teaching her biology, Chinese, and chemistry in the mornings, while Ye Youning will cover mathematics, English, and physics in the evenings. Lin Jiaqi implements a strict reward and punishment system, offering a fried skewer for three consecutive correct answers but five squats for each wrong one. Meanwhile, Xia Wenxi's parents discuss the two boys helping their daughter, expressing concern about potential "puppy love" but also pride in Xia Wenxi's newfound dedication to her studies.
Episode 11 Recap
In 2006, Chen Tingting excitedly rode her new bicycle, hoping to share the journey to school with Lin Jiaqi. She informed him she had taken the "road by the beach" that morning and suggested they could commute together. To her disappointment, Lin Jiaqi revealed he was temporarily residing at Xia Wenxi’s home to tutor her, thus unable to join. Chen Tingting, after carefully locking her new bicycle, watched Lin Jiaqi and Xia Wenxi depart.
In the classroom, Gao Xiaoai and Yang Chuang were attempting to copy Ye Youning's homework as Xia Wenxi looked on. Ye Youning then pushed Xia Wenxi to pre-learn, going so far as to remove her chair and declaring she could "sit down when you master it." Later, while Xia Wenxi was still struggling with her exercises, Lin Jiaqi encouraged her to memorize, emphasizing that "Ebbinghaus' forgetting curve is coming to the bottom again."
Ye Youning, however, intervened, insisting she complete her problems first, as her "progress has fallen seriously behind" and that due to the active "left cerebral hemisphere" near noon, it was "more suitable for physics exercise than memorization." A heated argument erupted between Ye Youning and Lin Jiaqi over whose teaching method was superior. Overwhelmed by their constant squabbling, Xia Wenxi sought refuge on the rooftop, where she found Chen Tingting.
Xia Wenxi confessed her frustration, explaining that Ye Youning and Lin Jiaqi "can't stay together in peace" and were always fighting over teaching her. She pleaded with Chen Tingting to tutor her instead. Chen Tingting, visibly annoyed, retorted that "other people's time" was valuable and that Xia Wenxi’s "study is your own business. Don't always bother others!"
She pointed out that Lin Jiaqi needed to prepare for the college entrance exam and Ye Youning was planning to go abroad, questioning why everyone should "be around you." Dejected, Xia Wenxi returned to the classroom, where Ye Youning and Lin Jiaqi were still locked in debate. She told them she "don't need you to help my study" and could "learn by myself," asking the teachers for help instead. After school, Xia Wenxi followed Chen Tingting.
Suddenly, Chen Tingting’s new bicycle, parked outside, was stolen. The two girls chased the thief, who defiantly claimed the bicycle was his. Chen Tingting countered by pointing to a "number nine sticker" on the fender, which she revealed was Lin Jiaqi's "lucky number." Ye Youning and Lin Jiaqi soon arrived but struggled to overpower the thief. Ultimately, Yang Chuang appeared and swiftly apprehended the thief, securing Chen Tingting’s bicycle.
Yang Chuang modestly stated he only shows his ability "at critical times." Following the incident, Xia Wenxi deduced Chen Tingting's secret crush on Lin Jiaqi. That evening, Xia Wenxi suggested to Lin Jiaqi that Chen Tingting join their study group, and he agreed. In 2019 Dalian, Ye Youning and Xia Wenxi checked into a hotel. Upon being told only a "one-bed room" was available, Xia Wenxi called her assistant, who confirmed numerous rooms were available just the day before.
Realizing Ye Youning had deliberately booked all other rooms, she confronted him, asking if he thought she was "an idiot." Ye Youning admitted he simply wanted "to have a good talk with you." Later, as they walked by the beach, Ye Youning cautioned Xia Wenxi against eating ice cream in the cold, but she insisted it felt "great." He then gently wrapped a scarf around her neck and kissed her.
The romantic moment was abruptly interrupted by a phone call from Chen Tingting, who angrily accused Xia Wenxi of revealing a secret and declared, "I'll break up with you!" Chen Tingting explained that her current boyfriend, Luo Jiafei, had discovered her past crush on Lin Jiaqi and was threatening to end their relationship. She believed Xia Wenxi, whom she called a "big mouth," was responsible. Xia Wenxi defended herself, suggesting others might have known.
Chen Tingting then brought up an old "hotline matter" from high school. Ye Youning recalled that during that time, Chen Tingting had called a radio show to dedicate a song. Xia Wenxi, present at the time, noticed the number nine sticker on Chen Tingting's bicycle—Lin Jiaqi’s lucky number—and blurted out, "You like Lin Jiaqi, don't you?" This information was broadcast, greatly upsetting Chen Tingting.
Realizing Xia Wenxi had unintentionally exposed Chen Tingting's secret through the radio, Ye Youning immediately sent a message to 2006 Xia Wenxi using his old phone. He warned her to "be careful" if she discussed the meaning of the number nine with Chen Tingting, as Chen Tingting "may be having a call to the radio at that time." He stressed, "Keep this in mind, or you may hurt your friend."
As a result of this intervention, the friendship crisis between Chen Tingting and Xia Wenxi in 2019 was resolved. When Chen Tingting and Xia Wenxi later visited Ye Youning, Chen Tingting happily reported that Jiafei "didn't get mad actually" and she was no longer upset. Chen Tingting and Xia Wenxi then visited Ye Youning.
Since Chen Tingting had an "emergency on her work" and couldn't keep her plans, she asked Ye Youning to accompany Xia Wenxi to the amusement park the next day. Ye Youning readily agreed. After the girls left, Grandpa Zhou mentioned Lin Jiaqi's unfortunate circumstances. Ye Youning remembered that in 2006, during Chen Tingting’s debate final at Xinyi Auditorium, a light fixture fell from the old, leaking, and severely rusted roof, striking Lin Jiaqi on the head and leaving him unconscious.
He recalled switching seats with Lin Jiaqi due to a stomachache, inadvertently placing Lin Jiaqi in harm's way. Ye Youning immediately sent a message to 2006 Xia Wenxi, instructing her to warn the venue about the "major accident" and to specifically inspect the chandeliers and roof, especially the fixture "above the left aisle of the sixth row of seats in the middle of the venue." He also advised 2006 Ye Youning to "eat less spicy."
Xia Wenxi (2006) confirmed Tingting had made it to the finals and assured future Ye Youning she would fulfill the mission. Relieved, Ye Youning felt he could now "go on my date with no worries." On the day of the date, Chen Tingting helped Xia Wenxi choose an outfit for her planned confession to Ye Youning. She rejected several dresses as "too normal," "makes you look fat," or "makes your legs look short," before finally selecting a suitable one.
Chen Tingting reminded Xia Wenxi not to "mess up your makeup" and to avoid "trying too hard," as she was going on a date, "not to a bar." Meanwhile, Grandpa Zhou secretly assisted Ye Youning by filling his car with flowers and leaving a CD for Xia Wenxi, featuring his voice explaining that Ye Youning "has been liking you for long." Xia Wenxi discovered the elaborate decorations and the message, finding Grandpa Zhou's efforts amusing.
Ye Youning picked up Xia Wenxi, bringing her Wang Baobao, a snack she "liked the most in childhood." They enjoyed a happy day at the amusement park, including a roller coaster ride where Ye Youning comforted a nervous Xia Wenxi by guiding her to "breathe in and out with me." Later, walking by the sea, Ye Youning shared how reconnecting with her made him realize that now, "things that made me feel accomplished" were no longer solely work-related.
He mentioned future plans for dates at a "drive-in movie theater" and a "music restaurant." Xia Wenxi playfully touched a jellyfish, and when Ye Youning warned her about its venom, she light-heartedly replied she just wanted "to see if I am still conscious after I am stung by a jellyfish." As they shared a kiss, Ye Youning experienced another time-travel.
Back in 2006, Ye Youning told Xia Wenxi he no longer planned to "go abroad" and would instead "take the college entrance exam." Xia Wenxi was overjoyed, but Ye Youning asked her to "don't tell anyone else for now" to avoid distracting their friends from the upcoming exams.
Episode 12 Recap
In 2006, Xia Wenxi arrived at the debate finals venue with an urgent message for the manager. She insisted it was a matter of life and death, pointing to "Seat 19 on the right row" where a specific light fixture was poised to fall, potentially causing a fatal accident. The manager initially dismissed her, assuring her that maintenance workers were ensuring safety. However, as Xia Wenxi continued to plead, emphasizing that "a light will definitely fall off! Someone will die!"
, the fixture indeed dropped. Startled, the manager asked who had told her this, to which Xia Wenxi replied, "My boss." She also relayed that her "boss also said that my four friends and I would sit in the first row to watch." This intervention changed Lin Jiaqi's fate, subsequently altering Ye Youning's future timeline. In this new 2019 timeline, Ye Youning encountered Lin Jiaqi, who greeted him coldly.
Ye Youning was surprised, remarking, "Never thought I could meet you here after many years. Lin Jiaqi? How are you? When did you return to China?" Lin Jiaqi curtly replied, "Not your business." Ye Youning speculated that his saving Lin Jiaqi might have caused this new timeline and immediately asked where Xia Wenxi was. Lin Jiaqi informed him, "What's the use? You've already broken up."
This left Ye Youning confused, wondering if they had ever been a couple, which triggered a flashback of Xia Wenxi telling him, "I've decided… We're done." He desperately tried to call her, but her phone was unreachable. Ye Youning pressed Lin Jiaqi, "There's no time to explain further. Where is she?" Lin Jiaqi accused him, saying, "You've already chosen your study over her. Where she is has nothing to do with you."
Despite the harsh words, Ye Youning insisted, "Lin Jiaqi, tell me where she is!" Lin Jiaqi eventually revealed that Xia Wenxi was in Venice, working as a resident writer. Ye Youning, determined to win her back, declared, "I need to find Xia Wenxi. After I explain it to her, we can start over again. She will understand me." He immediately booked a flight to Venice and a copy of the book "Venice Boat."
While getting directions, he met Wang Anton, a fellow Chinese person who offered his help. Guided by Wang Anton, Ye Youning found Xia Wenxi at a Masked Book Club, described as a "new form of carnival" in Venice. To draw her attention, he chose to share her own book, "Venice Boat." He read a passage, describing Venice as "a bright stage stand on the water… Tourists are full of laughter, leaving only noise to the natives.
Until the end of the night, the bright stage left only the rising tide." Hearing her words read aloud, Xia Wenxi stood up and introduced herself as the author, saying, "Hello, I'm the author of this book, Xia Wenxi." Ye Youning, still masked, recognized her, thinking, "Xia Wenxi, I finally found you." Ye Youning invited Xia Wenxi for a drink, though she insisted on treating him.
She asked where he found her book, and he explained it was on an advertisement rack in a Japanese restaurant in China. He praised her work, stating that it "broke my stereotype of Venice" and that "realism is the real beauty. I saw romance in this book. The real romance. It's not a young couple kissing under the streetlight, but reuniting in a foreign country after many years, walking and drinking together."
When Xia Wenxi asked if he was a writer, Ye Youning revealed he was a physicist, adding, "This is what physicists are like. Have you met any physicists that are not romantic?" Xia Wenxi replied, "I have. It's all in the past though." Taking the opportunity, Ye Youning then asked, "If everything can start again and he has a chance to make amends, will you forgive him?" Xia Wenxi, sensing the intensity, deflected by suggesting they order drinks.
She then excused herself to the restroom and called Chen Tingting, excitedly telling her she might have met her "Prince Charming" at the book club, a tall and gentlemanly reader who specifically shared her book. However, she noted he wouldn't take off his mask. Chen Tingting, hearing this, advised her, "You took it down but he didn't. That's his problem. Maybe he is not good-looking enough. Your priority is to take down his mask. Or you can just leave."
Back at the table, Xia Wenxi confronted Ye Youning, stating, "I have taken my mask down. Don't you think it's only fair that you do that too?" When she removed his mask, she was stunned to see Ye Youning. Memories flooded back—of him saying, "I won't go abroad. Ye Youning won't go abroad!" and of her own words, "I've decided… We're done." Xia Wenxi immediately tried to leave, but Ye Youning grabbed her arm, pleading, "Wenxi, Xia Wenxi!
I mean no harm. Trust me." Furious, Xia Wenxi retorted, "You mean no harm? You've disappeared for such a long time. Now you're here to laugh at me? Laughing at me behind your mask, are you happy now?" She slapped him and demanded, "Ye Youning, leave me alone. Or I'll call for help." Ye Youning continued to pursue her, saying, "Wenxi, there are some misunderstandings between us. I'll explain." But Xia Wenxi was resolute, "Why do you think I'll listen?
Ye Youning disappeared from my world ten years ago. Who are you?" Ye Youning was left in despair, pondering, "Xia Wenxi used to be my girlfriend, but I remember little about her. Instead, I remember lots of things about work and exams. Why does she hate me so much now?" Desperate for answers, Ye Youning used his old phone to communicate with Xia Wenxi in 2006. He asked her about her wishes, "How's the feeling of studying hard?
Did your parents reward you? What do you want as a reward?" Young Xia Wenxi enthusiastically replied, "MayDay, of course. Everything about MayDay," and then specifically requested, "I want the yellow dress on Belle in Beauty and Beast." Ye Youning went to a store to purchase the dress. After a lengthy process involving three different bank cards to cover the cost, he managed to buy the display sample. Wang Anton helped him deliver the expensive dress to Xia Wenxi.
Upon arrival, Chen Tingting confronted Ye Youning, accusing him, "She's not your Wenxi, you don't deserve her. Leave. Or I'll call for help." Ye Youning explained, "I'm just here to give her the dress." However, Xia Wenxi rejected the gift, stating, "Who would like this princessy dress? Not anymore." She then challenged him, "Ye Youning, do you remember what day it is today?"
When he confessed he didn't, Chen Tingting angrily revealed, "Thirteen years ago today, you left Wenxi and went abroad. Ye Youning, how can you be so cruel? Wenxi is unable to let go. She still keeps the ticket of MayDay concert." Xia Wenxi quickly interrupted Chen Tingting and left with her friend, who affirmed that Xia Wenxi was right to be harsh. Shortly after, Ye Youning received a call from his assistant, informing him that his company, Maxwell, was bankrupt.
The capital chain was broken, bank accounts frozen, and his house and car had been mortgaged. He declined his assistant's offer to mortgage their own property, recognizing the dire situation. Due to his financial distress, Ye Youning had to ask Wang Anton to find him a cheap hostel instead of a luxury hotel. He then read from Xia Wenxi's book that "In the Little John's Cathedral, there is a mysterious jigsaw. But no one has ever solved it.
To solve the mystery, the locals set up an event. Whoever solves the jigsaw during the opening time of the Cathedral can receive prize money." Back in 2006, the results for the second mock exam were released. Xia Wenxi was celebrated as the most improved student, even scoring 90 in physics. However, Yang Shiyi, the class monitor, publicly accused her of cheating. Xia Wenxi vehemently denied it, asserting, "I improved because I wake up early to study every day.
You are such a sore loser." Lin Jiaqi stepped in to defend Xia Wenxi, asking Yang Shiyi, "What's your problem? Why don't you just mind your own business?" Yang Shiyi persisted, highlighting Xia Wenxi's rapid climb from 210th place and her 90 in physics as "impossible." Ye Youning then intervened, declaring, "Her physics tutor. What's wrong with the mark?" silencing Yang Shiyi. To celebrate Xia Wenxi's achievement, her parents planned a dinner.
Her father proudly presented a "signed poster of MayDay," and admitted to Xia Wenxi's mother that he had forged the signature and even written a letter from the band himself, sending it to Taiwan and back to make it seem authentic. He bemoaned that their daughter "All she's thinking is those five boys." At the restaurant, decorated with many balloons, some people began popping them. The sudden loud noises caused Ye Youning's heart rate to quicken.
Seeing his distress, Xia Wenxi quickly pulled him aside, covered his ears, and offered him a candy, reassuring him, "It's not just a candy. It can be really relieving." This mirrored a similar event in 2019, where Xia Wenxi, despite her earlier anger and telling Ye Youning, "Please don't come here again. Leave me alone. I really don't want to see you," still softened and comforted him after a balloon pop triggered his panic. She asked, "Feeling better?"
Episode 13 Recap
In 2019, Ye Youning was delighted that Xia Wenxi still remembered his phobia after all these years, believing she still had feelings for him. However, his current guide, Anton, pressed him for payment. Short on cash, Ye Youning stalled, saying he would stay longer and promised to pay Anton for sure. Ye Youning then sold his watch and suit for some money and sought out Xia Wenxi.
He asked her to treat him to a meal, admitting she was the only person he knew in Venice. Xia Wenxi refused, stating she didn't want to eat with him and also that she had no money. Ye Youning then brought up a jigsaw puzzle game with a prize at Little John's Cathedral, which he had read about in her book, and stated his intention to try it.
Back in 2006, as Xia Wenxi's school prepared for an exchange trip to 45 Forest Farm No. 3 High School, she was at home asking her friend Gao Xiaoai for advice on what to wear for her upcoming outing. Gao Xiaoai, who couldn't go to the forest farm, jokingly criticized Xia Wenxi's choices but eventually offered support. Later, Lin Jiaqi, having seen Chen Tingting home, joined Xia Wenxi as she packed.
He reminded her to bring essentials, playfully asking what she'd do without him, to which Xia Wenxi retorted she'd live a great life. That evening, Ye Youning called Xia Wenxi, asking for her QQ number. Gao Xiaoai put him on speaker phone, wary of his intentions. Xia Wenxi shared her number, and Lin Jiaqi, who was nearby, also shared his with Ye Youning.
Ye Youning then sent Xia Wenxi a map of 45 Forest Farm and advised her not to wear bright clothes due to the animals, to bring her mistakes notebook for review, and not to be late. Xia Wenxi and Gao Xiaoai found his advice amusing. On the bus ride to the forest farm, Ye Youning thoughtfully reserved a window seat for Xia Wenxi, knowing she got motion sick, and sat beside her.
He also made sure she had thick clothes and reminded her to be careful and not wander off. Noticing Lin Jiaqi’s slight jealousy, Xia Wenxi suggested that Lin Jiaqi sit next to Chen Tingting, who also suffered from motion sickness, so he could take care of her. On the journey, Xia Wenxi fell asleep, leaning on Ye Youning.
Lin Jiaqi also drowsily leaned towards Ye Youning, who gently pushed him away, causing Lin Jiaqi to lean on Chen Tingting's shoulder, much to her embarrassment. Upon arrival at 45 Forest Farm No. 3 High School, during a sharing session, the class representative delivered a lengthy, somewhat hypocritical speech about study methods. Then, Mr. Wang introduced Xia Wenxi as the student with the most significant improvement in the recent monthly exam, her ranking having jumped by 210 places.
Xia Wenxi took the stage, admitting she didn't know what to say. She shared her philosophy, emphasizing the importance of dreams and hope, quoting Ashin's words about not despairing despite disappointment. She honestly told everyone that her immense progress was "forced out" by Ye Youning and Lin Jiaqi. She further elaborated that when facing difficulties, one should not be afraid but actively seek help from teachers and classmates, as this can reveal one's true capabilities.
She concluded by saying that while the future is uncertain, remembering their diligent selves today is what matters. After the sharing session, students went to 45 Forest Farm for recreation and to feed animals. They met Zhao Zhenghu, a local student, who showed them alpacas, sheep, and dairy cows. Xia Wenxi spotted a deer running off and followed it.
Ye Youning quickly noticed Xia Wenxi was gone and, feeling anxious, instructed Lin Jiaqi and Chen Tingting to help search for her in the woods, warning them about traps. While searching, Chen Tingting accidentally fell into a pit and twisted her ankle. Lin Jiaqi tried to pull her out but couldn't, so he jumped in to help her. They both became trapped.
Fortunately, Zhao Zhenghu, who was looking for Yang Shiyi after she also wandered off with a deer, came by and used a rope to pull Lin Jiaqi and Chen Tingting out. Lin Jiaqi then offered to carry Chen Tingting back. Meanwhile, Xia Wenxi followed the deer deep into the forest until her phone lost signal, causing her to panic.
She used her old phone to send a distress text to the future Ye Youning, saying she was lost in 45 Forest Farm. In 2019, Ye Youning, who was at Little John's Cathedral trying to solve the puzzle, recalled memories of the 45 Forest Farm and a red flower sea. He texted the past Xia Wenxi, instructing her to find a sea of red flowers, as someone would soon find her there.
Later, the 2019 Ye Youning went to meet Xia Wenxi, asking if she remembered who found her when she was lost in the forest farm, specifically if it was him in the red flower sea. Xia Wenxi confirmed it was him. In 2006, it was indeed Ye Youning who found Xia Wenxi. He scolded her for wandering off alone in the wilderness without concern for safety. Xia Wenxi, feigning tears, apologized.
Ye Youning, feeling agitated, tried to comfort her by offering to let her poke him as hard as she wanted. She refused, saying she was a "generous person." As it started to get dark, they realized Ye Youning had also forgotten the way back in his haste to find her. Xia Wenxi then pulled out a camera, expressing how beautiful the spot was, and convinced a reluctant Ye Youning to take a picture with her amidst the red flowers.
That evening, back at the forest farm camp, Lin Jiaqi was helping Chen Tingting, who was still limping, peel an orange and put a band-aid on his small cut. Xia Wenxi offered to make mushroom soup for everyone, but Chen Tingting and Lin Jiaqi knew her cooking was terrible and politely declined. Only Ye Youning bravely drank the soup. Soon after, he suffered from severe vomiting and diarrhea. Lin Jiaqi accompanied him outside.
While Ye Youning was sick, they discussed their feelings for Xia Wenxi. Lin Jiaqi admitted they both knew what the other was thinking but urged Ye Youning not to disturb Xia Wenxi, as she had finally found her goal. Ye Youning countered that Lin Jiaqi shouldn't bother her either, especially since she had been fine before he appeared.
They agreed to a truce: from then until the end of the College entrance exam, neither of them would excessively disturb Xia Wenxi, allowing her to focus on getting into Jiangcheng University. They shook hands, sealing the deal. Before leaving the forest farm, everyone took a group photo. Zhao Zhenghu shared his ambition to develop the forest farm into a large, industrialized enterprise, suggesting his classmates might rely on him someday.
Xia Wenxi and Ye Youning wished each other luck, hoping to meet again at Jiangcheng University. In 2019, Ye Youning's assistant called with good news: their company had secured an investment from Zhao Zhenghu, enough to overcome their financial difficulties. Ye Youning immediately remembered Zhao Zhenghu from the 2006 exchange trip and booked the fastest flight back to Jiangcheng. However, instead of attending the crucial meeting with Zhao Zhenghu, Ye Youning prioritized finding Xia Wenxi, who had returned to Jiangcheng.
His assistant was perplexed by his absence, questioning what could be more important than the company. Ye Youning tried to reach out to Xia Wenxi, but she simply texted back, "Stop harassing me." He wondered how to appease her, realizing she was still angry. He later texted her about a class reunion. The next day, he appeared at her doorstep, holding tickets to a Mayday concert.
Xia Wenxi, however, closed the door, saying she hadn't listened to Mayday much since their breakup. Concerned that her change of heart might alter their shared past, Ye Youning texted his 2006 self, urging her to continue loving Mayday, warning it would affect her future fortune and even her chances of getting into Jiangcheng University.
In 2006, Xia Wenxi, taking the message seriously, made a wish to Mayday, promising to love them until she was eighty, hoping for good grades and admission to Jiangcheng University. In 2019, Xia Wenxi reappeared, holding the Mayday tickets. She admitted she still loved Mayday, but she just didn't want to go to the concert with Ye Youning.
Episode 14 Recap
In 2019, Yang Chuang hosted a class reunion at his restaurant, which he had recently renovated. He greeted Leizi and other classmates, including Gao Xiaoai. Chen Tingting, who frequently changed boyfriends but secretly still thought of Lin Jiaqi, also arrived. Lin Jiaqi was also present. Yang Chuang was skeptical that Xia Wenxi would arrive on time. However, to everyone's surprise, Xia Wenxi arrived, having been followed there by Ye Youning.
Ye Youning insisted on speaking with her later, much to Xia Wenxi's annoyance, as she denied inviting him or knowing why he was there. Their shared arrival immediately sparked gossip among their old friends, who wondered if they had reconciled. Later, Yang Shiyi and Xie Zhenyu made a joint announcement: they were engaged and planned to hold their wedding at the end of the year, inviting everyone.
Yang Shiyi explained that after graduation, she became a teacher at their old school, and Xie Zhenyu had followed her there to also teach. Their old teacher, Mr. Wang, was also mentioned by the classmates who playfully gossiped about his marriage to Ms. Zhao, their physics teacher. Later, Mr. Wang himself made an appearance. When it was time to eat, Ye Youning attempted to sit next to Xia Wenxi, but she deliberately avoided him, choosing a seat further away.
Once Yang Chuang had served all the special dishes, everyone raised their glasses to toast Mr. Wang. Yang Shiyi then proposed a special toast to Xia Wenxi, expressing deep gratitude for an incident in 2006. She recounted how she had been cornered by a group of thugs demanding money. Xia Wenxi, despite being "annoyingly loud" at times, had bravely intervened, fighting off the thugs and chasing them away.
Yang Shiyi admitted that if not for Xia Wenxi's quick actions, she might not have been there today. After finishing her drink, Xia Wenxi excused herself to use the restroom. Ye Youning, his attention fixed on her, immediately rose to follow. As Xia Wenxi walked, she slipped, nearly falling, but Ye Youning swiftly caught her before she quickly disentangled herself and continued to the restroom, while their classmates began to playfully tease them.
While Xia Wenxi was away, her classmates reminisced about another time she had shown her warmhearted nature. They recalled a physical exam in 2006 where their classmate, Yu Huan, was so exhausted she collapsed, fearing she wouldn't graduate. Xia Wenxi went to her side, encouraging her to stand up and finish the race, reminding her of their shared goal to graduate together. Inspired by Xia Wenxi's encouragement and the cheers of their classmates, Yu Huan found the strength to finish.
When Xia Wenxi returned from the restroom, Yu Huan immediately proposed a toast, expressing her heartfelt gratitude for Xia Wenxi's timely support that ensured she could graduate. Yang Chuang then brought up the infamous "ghost event" from their high school graduation party. Xie Zhenyu recounted how he had spent an entire night decorating the classroom with balloons to surprise Yang Shiyi, only to find them all mysteriously gone the next morning.
A sheepish Xia Wenxi, glancing at Ye Youning, confessed that she was the culprit. She admitted to secretly releasing all the balloons that night because she feared they would trigger Ye Youning's phobia. Ye Youning was astonished to learn of her thoughtful act, prompting him to reflect on how deeply he truly knew Xia Wenxi.
He mused that while her attitude toward him varied across the many timelines he had experienced, her inherent kindness and warmth toward others remained a constant. Gao Xiaoai then brought up another "mischievous" act by Xia Wenxi. During a senior year evening study session, the power suddenly went out, sparking excitement among students hoping to be dismissed early. To their dismay, Xia Wenxi, carrying a fuse in her bag, quickly fixed the problem.
When questioned about her actions, Xia Wenxi offered a vague explanation. However, Ye Youning recalled that she had done it specifically so he could complete his outstanding physics homework, a revelation that deeply moved him. During her repair, Xia Wenxi had gotten her face smudged, and Ye Youning had thoughtfully used a tissue to clean it for her. As the reunion drew to a close, the friends took a new group photo.
Someone also shared their old high school graduation photo in the chat group. This prompted reminiscing about the day the photo was taken, when Gao Xiaoai and Xia Wenxi had attempted to do each other's makeup, resulting in comically exaggerated looks. Ye Youning had kindly helped Xia Wenxi remove her thick eyeliner before the picture. In the old photo, everyone noticed Ye Youning's exceptionally wide smile, a rare sight.
They speculated, given the direction of his gaze, that he must have been looking at Xia Wenxi, wondering what he was thinking at that moment. Before leaving, Mr. Wang offered some advice, urging his former students to cherish the present moment and the people around them. He politely declined requests for more drinks, joking that Ms. Zhao was very serious, especially at home, before departing early.
After the reunion, Yang Shiyi approached Xia Wenxi, asking if she and Ye Youning were getting back together. Xia Wenxi quickly denied it, diverting the conversation to Yang Shiyi and Xie Zhenyu. Xia Wenxi expressed surprise, recalling how much Yang Shiyi used to dislike Xie Zhenyu in high school.
Yang Shiyi admitted her initial aversion but explained that Xie Zhenyu had dedicated himself to her, retaking exams to attend a normal university and then following her back to their high school to become a teacher. He was consistently present whenever she needed him, and eventually, she found herself feeling a sense of emptiness in his absence. Realizing her feelings, Yang Shiyi confessed her love to him, a revelation that astonished Xia Wenxi.
Yang Shiyi then advised Xia Wenxi not to hesitate when it comes to love, to avoid future regrets, and to genuinely consider if she truly no longer held feelings for Ye Youning. That evening, Yang Chuang encouraged a disheartened Ye Youning not to give up on Xia Wenxi. Ye Youning followed Xia Wenxi all the way home, asking for another chance and offering her tickets to a MayDay concert. Xia Wenxi firmly declined, stating she had already made herself clear.
She acknowledged the beautiful memories they shared and her nostalgia for their past, but asserted that she wished for their past to remain exactly that: in the past. With those words, she closed the door, leaving Ye Youning outside. Alone in the stairwell, Xia Wenxi broke down in tears. Her mind replayed the painful memory of Ye Youning's decision to study abroad.
He had informed her abruptly, without any prior discussion, and dismissed her pleas for him to stay as "childish" and "selfish" before closing the door on her. Moments later, Chen Tingting called to check on her. Xia Wenxi admitted she was "not good" and felt conflicted. She explained that she hated feeling this way, but every encounter with Ye Youning brought back the sting of his departure.
She found herself questioning the truthfulness of his current words, wondering if he was merely trying to win her over or if he would abandon her again. Meanwhile, Ye Youning overheard Chen Tingting telling Lin Jiaqi and Yang Chuang that Xia Wenxi was scared and hadn't fully thought things through. Lin Jiaqi advised that past mistakes could only be slowly mended.
Confused, Ye Youning struggled to recall what specific hurtful actions he had taken against Xia Wenxi in this particular timeline. He had a flashback to his past self, who had abruptly broken up with Xia Wenxi and then decided to study abroad, telling his mother about his change of heart. Despite Xia Wenxi's evident resistance, Ye Youning was determined not to give up. The very next morning, he waited outside her home with a bag full of egg pancakes.
Xia Wenxi was surprised to see him again, and he explained he had bought her favorite egg pancakes – a variety of fillings including sausage, chicken fillet, spicy strips, and bacon – from the stall near their old school. Though she initially feigned disinterest, Xia Wenxi couldn't resist her old favorite, noting that it still tasted just as it used to. Ye Youning seized the moment to apologize for his past shortcomings and declared his only desire now was to treat her well.
Episode 15 Recap
In 2006, with only ten days left until the College Entrance Exam, Xia Wenxi, Ye Youning, and Lin Jiaqi were diligently preparing, with Ye Youning and Lin Jiaqi specifically helping Xia Wenxi catch up. Their math teacher lectured on high-frequency, error-prone ellipse problems, and Xia Wenxi was seen struggling with her notes. The day before the exam, Xia Wenxi was visibly nervous.
Her mother, trying to bring good luck, presented a specially prepared cheongsam, hoping for "qi kai de sheng" (a play on words for success), and a "college entrance exam suit" adorned with checkmarks. She even mentioned preparing a green suit for Xia Wenxi's father, believing it would bring a "smooth journey."
However, Xia Wenxi, overwhelmed by nerves, asked her mother to be quiet, exclaiming that if her mother wore such an outfit to school, she wouldn't even need to take the exam. Her father intervened, advising her mother not to agitate their already anxious daughter. Despite her mother's well-intentioned gestures, Xia Wenxi remained tense.
In the midst of her 2006 anxiety, Xia Wenxi picked up her old phone and sent a message to the future Ye Youning, questioning her chances of getting into Jiangcheng University. In 2019, Ye Youning, who was planning to invite Xia Wenxi to a Mayday concert, replied, assuring her that "as long as you believe in it, you can make it."
He then asked her if his concert invitation would be successful, to which she also offered encouragement, saying "as long as you are also firm, you can do it," and wishing "little Xia Wenxi" luck for the exam. Back in 2019, Ye Youning decided to send his dog, Sanfen, to deliver the concert tickets to Xia Wenxi, while he secretly watched from the stairwell. Xia Wenxi let Sanfen in, but soon after, Ye Youning heard Sanfen's barks.
Fearing the worst, he rushed into her apartment to find Xia Wenxi collapsed on the floor, looking weak. Despite her protests, he insisted she go to the hospital. At the hospital, the doctor informed them that Xia Wenxi had chronic gastritis, which had led to inflammatory polyps in her stomach. The doctor recommended immediate gastroscopic resection, a simple procedure lasting about half an hour, but requiring two days of hospital observation. Ye Youning immediately agreed.
While waiting, Ye Youning received a call from his assistant about crucial business decisions, but he dismissed his assistant, telling him to make the decision himself because he was dealing with "the most important thing in my life." He reassured Xia Wenxi that he would stay by her side. On the morning of the 2006 College Entrance Exam, Xia Wenxi arrived at the exam center, feeling anxious.
Ye Youning noticed her anxiety, took her right hand, and held her left pinky, suggesting it would calm her nerves. Before entering the exam room, he encouraged her, saying, "You can do it. Answer well. Go for it!" As the exam began, students were instructed to place their ID cards and admission tickets on their desks, and Xia Wenxi began writing.
Back in 2019, after Xia Wenxi's surgery, the doctor reiterated that she needed to observe for two days but could be discharged that afternoon if all went well. Ye Youning stayed by her side, tiredly leaning on a nearby table. When she woke up, she noticed a wound on Ye Youning's hand and asked about it, but he evaded the question, not telling her that the injury was from cooking for her.
Feeling hungry, she chose porridge from the options he offered. Xia Wenxi then mentioned needing her laptop to submit a manuscript that day. Ye Youning immediately offered to go home and retrieve it for her, asking her to finish her food and rest. After Ye Youning left, Xia Wenxi called Chen Tingting, admitting her confusion about her feelings for Ye Youning.
She confessed that while her rational mind urged her not to trust him again and to avoid repeating past mistakes, her emotions were swayed by his changed behavior and his kindness. Chen Tingting, understanding Xia Wenxi's decade-long struggle, advised her to let things "run their course," suggesting that Xia Wenxi already had an answer but needed time to fully accept it.
When Ye Youning returned with her laptop, he noticed her wallpaper was a photo of them in a field of red flowers, which embarrassed Xia Wenxi. He playfully teased her about it, then suggested that with her current condition, she wouldn't be able to type, offering to scribe for her as she dictated. She reluctantly agreed, and they worked together on her manuscript. As they finished, Xia Wenxi unexpectedly took Ye Youning's hand and suggested, "Let's try again."
Initially surprised, Ye Youning quickly reciprocated her grasp and promised to "use the rest of my life's love to fill the void I left in your life." He then shared his intention to invest in a publishing house to help publish her new book once his company was stable.
Later, when the doctor confirmed Xia Wenxi was ready for discharge, she playfully pretended to be in pain, not wanting to leave the hospital, leading to a lighthearted struggle with Ye Youning. Meanwhile, back in 2006, after the College Entrance Exam, Mr. Wang held the last class meeting for Grade Three, Class Nine.
Students reminisced about their time, including a past debate about whether to choose a buffet or fried skewers for a class outing, and a humorous memory about a self-proclaimed class monitor, Yang Shiyi, whose authority was often challenged by lively classmates like Xia Wenxi. Mr. Wang became emotional as he reflected on his first graduating class, expressing gratitude for their three years together and the lessons he learned from them despite their mischief.
He thanked them for their companionship and tolerance, advising them to "eat and play as you want," though he cautioned against excessive drinking. He wished them all success, urging them to "always stay enthusiastic, to ride the waves and march forward courageously!" As he bowed to his students, they collectively rose and bowed back, solemnly acknowledging their graduation.
Xia Wenxi, though expecting joy, felt a profound sense of emptiness, realizing that the end of high school meant a departure from cherished routines and friendships. She pondered whether those she met every day would still be part of her future journeys, wishing time could stand still. At home, Xia Wenxi's mother found her feeling sad and empty despite the exam's end. Her mother comforted her and offered to make her favorite chicken drumsticks.
Concurrently, at Ye Youning's home, his grandfather offered him fish soup to replenish his energy after the exams. His mother called, pressing him to begin preparations for studying in the UK, but he curtly refused and hung up. A few days later, Xia Wenxi, Gao Xiaoai, and Chen Tingting were bored at home. They decided to invite Ye Youning and Lin Jiaqi over for board games, knowing Xia Wenxi's mother was away at her grandmother's house.
However, both Ye Youning and Lin Jiaqi declined, claiming to be busy (though unbeknownst to Xia Wenxi, both were secretly preparing to confess their feelings to her). Only Yang Chuang agreed to come. While waiting for Yang Chuang, Gao Xiaoai discovered old hair dye cream at Xia Wenxi's house and suggested they dye their hair, arguing that it was the best time after graduation. Despite Chen Tingting's hesitation about her mother's reaction, the girls enthusiastically chose colors—red, purple, and green—imagining themselves shining brightly on the streets.
Episode 16 Recap
Yang Chuang was on the phone with Gao Xiaoai, discussing snacks for their planned board game session, when he noticed Ye Youning meticulously setting up a romantic scene in Central Park. Yang Chuang, realizing Ye Youning intended to confess his feelings to Xia Wenxi, was surprised by his usually stoic friend's romantic gesture.
Ye Youning, who was about to call Xia Wenxi, instead asked Yang Chuang to invite her to the park for a surprise, to which Yang Chuang readily agreed, wishing him good luck. Shortly after, Ye Youning left to pick up the flowers he had ordered. Meanwhile, Yang Chuang encountered Lin Jiaqi, who was also preparing a confession for Xia Wenxi, remarking on the unusual coincidence that both friends chose the same day.
Yang Chuang informed Lin Jiaqi that Ye Youning was also planning to confess at Central Park and had asked him to deliver an invitation to Xia Wenxi. Enraged by this news, Lin Jiaqi immediately rode his bike to the park, where he destroyed Ye Youning's carefully planned confession site. He then told Yang Chuang to guard his own setup, especially the balloons, until he returned.
Just as Lin Jiaqi rode off, Ye Youning returned to find his site destroyed and gave chase to Lin Jiaqi. Yang Chuang found himself in a dilemma, having promised both friends different tasks related to their confessions. Back at Lin Jiaqi's designated confession spot, which Yang Chuang was supposed to be guarding, Gao Xiaoai and Chen Tingting arrived, having been waiting for Yang Chuang for longer than he promised.
As Yang Chuang attempted to stand up after crouching for an extended period, his legs became numb, causing him to involuntarily kneel, holding the bouquet of flowers intended for Lin Jiaqi's setup. Chen Tingting, misinterpreting the situation, enthusiastically encouraged Gao Xiaoai, believing Yang Chuang had orchestrated the romantic scene and flowers specifically for her. Seizing this unexpected opportunity, Yang Chuang confessed his feelings to Gao Xiaoai, who, amidst cheers from onlookers, accepted his proposal.
Just then, Lin Jiaqi returned to find Yang Chuang and Gao Xiaoai celebrating their new relationship. Ye Youning also arrived, confronting Lin Jiaqi and accusing him of destroying his carefully planned confession site. Lin Jiaqi, upset by the turn of events, scoffed at Ye Youning, implying he deserved it. Xia Wenxi, witnessing the chaotic scene, wondered why Lin Jiaqi and Ye Youning were even there together.
Feeling defeated and not wanting to prolong the argument, Ye Youning began pushing his bicycle home, only to be surprised by his mother, who had unexpectedly returned. Ye Youning's grandfather had previously advised Ye Youning's mother to be patient and communicate with her son about moving to England, noting how much more cheerful and social Ye Youning had become since living with him.
Despite this, Ye Youning's mother quickly began packing his belongings, telling him they could buy clothes in England. Ye Youning finally confronted her, stating he didn't want to leave, and asked her to listen to him for once. She dismissed his refusal as a tantrum, reminding him of their prior agreement to move to England after her divorce from his father.
She spoke of the immense effort she had put into securing his future abroad, feeling deeply betrayed by his change of heart. Ye Youning calmly explained that the decision to go abroad had always been hers, and she was emotionally manipulating him. His mother, deeply wounded, broke down in tears, calling his words a "stab in her heart."
She recounted the hardships she endured with his father, enduring a difficult marriage for his sake, and confessed that he was her sole hope and reason for living. Ye Youning retorted that he had always wished for them to divorce, enduring over a decade of torment from their daily fights. He insisted that he had finally found a normal life, and if she truly cared for him, she should let him stay.
She then asked if he would abandon her, just as his father had. Ye Youning firmly replied that he was not abandoning her but insisted she couldn't continue to exert such pressure. His mother then recalled how his father had always favored his half-brother, providing him with the best international schooling and plans for overseas studies, while neglecting Ye Youning. She asserted that they could thrive without his father, relying solely on each other.
Ye Youning listened, appearing helpless and weary. The day for college entrance exam results arrived, and Xia Wenxi's parents excitedly roused her to check her scores. Despite their anxious encouragement, Xia Wenxi discovered she scored 525. While her parents were thrilled, celebrating her intelligence, Xia Wenxi was visibly upset. She knew the minimum admission score for Jiangcheng University the previous year was 545, rendering her score insufficient for her dream school.
Distraught, Xia Wenxi expressed her disappointment, emphasizing that she had promised Ashin of Mayday, who had written to her to encourage her, that she would get into Jiangcheng University and she couldn't let him down. Her father tried to reassure her, while her mother, frustrated, began to expose the truth. She chastised her husband, blaming his "bad idea" of impersonating Ashin for Xia Wenxi's current obsession with Jiangcheng University.
Her father, in turn, argued that his letters were precisely what motivated her to achieve such a high score. To rectify the situation, Xia Wenxi's father decided to write another letter, again under Ashin's guise. This new letter would gently advise Xia Wenxi not to be overly critical of herself and to choose a university that was a realistic fit for her abilities.
To maintain the illusion, he arranged for the letter to be mailed from Taiwan by a contact and sent back. A few days later, while Xia Wenxi was discussing her university application worries with Gao Xiaoai and Chen Tingting, a postal worker delivered another letter addressed to her. Her friends suggested she consider other universities, assuring her that Ashin wouldn't be disappointed. However, upon opening the letter, Xia Wenxi became even more determined.
Despite the letter's content, which subtly discouraged her from applying to Jiangcheng University, she interpreted it as Ashin's way of comforting her. She declared with newfound resolve that she would apply to Jiangcheng University, vowing to re-take the exam the following year, or even the year after, if she didn't get in, determined to achieve her goal. Xia Wenxi's father, despite his previous attempt to steer her away from Jiangcheng University, was delighted by her renewed enthusiasm.
However, he was quickly dismayed when she revealed she had already applied to Jiangcheng University, once again disregarding his "Ashin" letter. Xia Wenxi, unwavering, asserted that she had to try and was prepared to retake the exam if unsuccessful. At that moment, Xia Wenxi's mother arrived, asking if Lin Jiaqi had visited.
She then shared the concerning news that Lin Jiaqi had a heated argument with his father about his university application, which escalated to his father slapping him, causing Lin Jiaqi to run away from home. She urged Xia Wenxi to go and find him. Xia Wenxi hurried off to find Lin Jiaqi, eventually locating him by the sea. Lin Jiaqi confirmed he had indeed fought with his parents over his university application.
Xia Wenxi pressed him, asking why he had abandoned his dream of attending Huanzhou University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He corrected her, revealing that it was his parents' dream, not his, and that he actually wished to attend Jiangcheng University of Aeronautics and Astronautics because someone he liked was in Jiangcheng. Xia Wenxi then mentioned that Ye Youning had told her he would not be going abroad, surprising Lin Jiaqi.
She clarified that Ye Youning had confided this to her privately at school. However, Xia Wenxi also expressed her doubt, noting that with Ye Youning's exceptional academic performance, he would likely be accepted into prestigious universities like Tsinghua or Peking University, making it improbable for him to stay in Jiangcheng. She resolved to confirm his plans directly. Lin Jiaqi then asked Xia Wenxi if she truly didn't understand his reasons for wanting to stay.
When she suggested it was for their group to remain together, he confessed that he was staying because someone he liked was in Jiangcheng. He then reached out, attempting to kiss her, but Xia Wenxi quickly pulled away, startled and frightened. Lin Jiaqi calmly stated that it was sufficient for him that the person he cared for knew his feelings. He then extended his hand, asking if she would allow him to continue to be by her side.
Xia Wenxi, without a word, declined his offer and walked away. Returning home, Xia Wenxi found her parents still arguing vehemently about her university application. Her father was exasperated that she had ignored his "Ashin" letter and applied to Jiangcheng University. During their heated exchange, her mother, in a moment of fury, blurted out the truth: the encouraging letters she had received were not from Ashin, but from her own father.
Devastated by the revelation, Xia Wenxi confronted her father, who was then berated by her mother for his clumsy handling of the situation. Later, her father attempted to apologize, assuring her that he and her mother would support her choices regardless. Overwhelmed by betrayal, Xia Wenxi messaged the 2019 Ye Youning, expressing her heartbreak and confusion. She recounted how her dream of attending Jiangcheng University turned out to be a deception, realizing her father had impersonated Ashin.
She tearfully questioned why he would lie to her after she had placed so much trust in him. The 2019 Ye Youning, taking a break from a lecture, was on a video call with the 2019 Xia Wenxi, who had almost fully recovered from her surgery. She playfully chided him for being too strict and eagerly anticipated their upcoming date.
As he comforted the distressed 2006 Xia Wenxi via text, reassuring her that she would succeed in getting into Jiangcheng University and even date him there, a new memory fragment flashed through his mind: a scene of himself and his mother at an airport, suggesting he was preparing to go abroad.
Concerned, he immediately texted the 2006 Xia Wenxi, urging her to investigate why his younger self was at the airport with his mother, and if he was indeed leaving the country. However, the consequences of his actions were swift and drastic. His timeline abruptly shifted, and he found himself back in his apartment, but this time, the 2019 Xia Wenxi was confined to a wheelchair, in a vegetative state, with a prominent scar on her head.
Distraught, he asked what had happened, only to be met with his own past self's confused reply: Xia Wenxi had been like this for thirteen years, and he had always been by her side. A flood of new memories then revealed the truth: his earlier instruction to the 2006 Xia Wenxi to go to the airport had led to a terrible accident.
On her way, she was struck by a falling telephone pole, causing the severe injury that put her in a coma for over a decade. Realizing his intervention had inadvertently caused this tragedy, the 2019 Ye Youning frantically sent another text to the 2006 Xia Wenxi: "Don't go out! Don't go out! Ye Youning is not going abroad! Listen to me! Don't go out!" In 2006, Xia Wenxi had just stepped outside her home when she received the urgent messages.
She paused to read them, and at that exact moment, a large telephone pole crashed down right where she would have been, narrowly missing her. Her life was saved. The timeline then stabilized, and the 2019 Ye Youning found himself back in his original reality, conversing with a healthy and vibrant 2019 Xia Wenxi on a video call, their relationship restored.
In the 2006 timeline, despite narrowly escaping the falling telephone pole, Xia Wenxi was informed by her grandfather that Ye Youning had gone to the airport with his mother for a 9 AM flight. Panicked and believing he was leaving, Xia Wenxi rushed to the airport. Unable to find him, she broke down in tears, calling him a "liar" and a "bastard" for promising he wouldn't leave and then departing without a word.
She cried, heartbroken that she almost missed a final farewell. Suddenly, Ye Youning appeared behind her, asking who had told her he was going abroad. Relieved and overwhelmed, Xia Wenxi's anxiety vanished, and she threw herself into his arms, crying with joy.
Later, Ye Youning reaffirmed to his mother that he had indeed chosen not to pursue overseas studies, opting instead to attend university domestically, asserting his right to make his own life choices rather than be dictated by his parents' divorce. Xia Wenxi, now reassured, shared a moment of peace with him.
Episode 17 Recap
Upon returning home, Ye Youning assured Xia Wenxi repeatedly that he would not go abroad. Xia Wenxi confided that she had learned that morning her father had deceived her and now felt no motivation to apply to Jiangcheng University. Ye Youning then revealed his own application form, showing he had also applied to Jiangcheng University. Xia Wenxi was astonished, as she had assumed he was aiming for prestigious universities like Tsinghua or Peking University.
Ye Youning hesitated, wanting to confess that he was staying for her, but Xia Wenxi's father emerged and pulled her away, interrupting him. Xia Wenxi's father then confessed to having impersonated "Mayday" in the letters to her. She told him that while she couldn't forgive him for that deception, she now had renewed motivation to attend Jiangcheng University.
Later, at home, Grandpa Zhou asked Ye Youning if he was truly determined to stay, expressing concern that he might regret such an impulsive decision, especially given his mother's situation abroad. Ye Youning explained that he had grown up and wished to choose his own life. He emphasized that he found a true sense of home and met many supportive friends after moving there, making it the happiest period of his life, and he had no regrets.
He also expressed hope that his mother would start living for herself as well. Grandpa Zhou, seeing his grandson's happiness, expressed contentment and offered to make wontons for him. Flash forward to 2019, Ye Youning was working late when Grandpa Zhou gently reminded him to rest. The next morning, Ye Youning was dressed early and his grandpa offered him milk, asking why he was dressed up so early. Ye Youning was late for a date with Xia Wenxi.
She playfully chastised him for being thirty minutes late and demanded he make amends. He offered her a warm breakfast he'd brought, but she jokingly insisted on wanting buns from a specific shop. After a brief negotiation, she accepted his offering. Later, they went to a pottery studio. The owner, remarking on their compatibility, suggested they looked like a couple and even offered a tarot reading, which Ye Youning politely declined, stating that fate should unfold naturally.
As the owner instructed Xia Wenxi, Ye Youning, appearing jealous, took over teaching her. Xia Wenxi was surprised by his skill, teasing him about secretly practicing, which he denied. He then carved the date of their first date into his pottery, explaining he wanted to preserve all the memories they shared. After their pottery session, they walked by a lighthouse.
Xia Wenxi wistfully recalled that visiting the lighthouse had always been on her wish list when they were together before, lamenting that Ye Youning had left before they could fulfill it. Ye Youning expressed a desire to "make up" for past regrets. This word, "make up," bothered Xia Wenxi, and she questioned if his current kindness was merely an act of compensation.
Ye Youning gently clarified that while his memories of the past were somewhat hazy, it did not diminish his feelings for her. Xia Wenxi, confused as to why his memories were unclear when she remembered every detail, pressed him. Ye Youning, embracing her, declared his unwavering love, stating, "I love you. No matter in the future or in the past, you are my only love."
He then asked if she would still love him if he were not the "old" Ye Youning. Xia Wenxi, confirming she loved the "new" Ye Youning she had reacquainted herself with and had no more doubts, kissed him. As the sea breeze grew chilly, Ye Youning offered her his jacket and went to buy her a hot coffee.
Back in 2006, as students began receiving their university acceptance letters, Chen Tingting was admitted to Huanzhou University of Political Science and Law, while Gao Xiaoai and Ye Youning also received their letters for Jiangcheng University. Gao Xiaoai called Xia Wenxi, who hadn't received hers yet, but Ye Youning confirmed he had. Xia Wenxi, anxious, then went to meet Ye Youning and confirmed he had received his. She then told him she'd check her mailbox.
Xia Wenxi's parents tried to comfort her about the acceptance letter. Later, Ye Youning visited her and, seeing her distress, took her to a park to clear her mind. There, he encouraged her to make a wish, jokingly calling it a "time machine" to fulfill her desires. Xia Wenxi, feeling better, thanked him and resolved that if she didn't get into Jiangcheng University, she would simply retake the exam next year. Ye Youning assured her he would wait.
That evening, Xia Wenxi's parents joyfully presented her with her acceptance letter, explaining it had arrived shortly after she left the house, due to a wrongly written address. She was thrilled to be admitted to Jiangcheng University, though she was surprised to find she had been transferred from her chosen Literature Major to Archeology. Her parents, however, were ecstatic that she had been accepted into a prestigious 985 university, celebrating with a drink.
A graduation dinner was held at Yang Chuang's family restaurant. Prior to the dinner, Lin Jiaqi's mother confirmed he wouldn't be returning, but would transfer from Spain directly to Huanzhou. At the dinner, Yang Chuang called Lin Jiaqi, who revealed he had flown to Spain the previous day with his parents for a spontaneous break and would head directly to Huanzhou for university without returning home.
Yang Chuang expressed frustration at Lin Jiaqi's unreliability and asked if Xia Wenxi knew about his plans. Xia Wenxi admitted she was unaware and voiced her confusion about why he needed a "break." At the dinner, Yang Lechen excitedly announced she had signed up for the "Jiangcheng Talent Show" and received enthusiastic support from her friends, including a blessing from Ye Youning. They also called Chen Tingting, who was already at Huanzhou University.
She told them she was still in her dorm studying and hadn't yet explored the city or met up with Lin Jiaqi. The next day, at Jiangcheng University, Xia Wenxi and her roommates, Hu Ling (also from Archeology) and Yang Lechen (Music Performance), settled into their dorm.
Xia Wenxi was surprised by the poor condition of the dorm and the "Watch out for ghosts" written on the bed, and learned from Hu Ling that Archeology was a "marginal" and "unpopular" major with a low admission score. Hu Ling also learned Xia Wenxi was a local and asked her to be a local food guide. Later, at the freshman orientation ceremony, Ye Youning (Physics) and Yao Siyao (Architecture) gave speeches as student representatives.
Hu Ling casually remarked that the two on stage looked very compatible, "like a perfect match," which noticeably upset Xia Wenxi. Afterward, she and Gao Xiaoai left for dinner at Yang Chuang's, forgetting to invite Ye Youning. He eventually joined them, expressing his dismay at being forgotten and having his messages unread, but Xia Wenxi remained distant. The following day, during the club fair, Xia Wenxi and Ye Youning browsed the booths.
Xia Wenxi, seeing a poster for Huanzhou University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, jokingly called out, "Lin Jiaqi, I'm coming!" She found herself overwhelmed by the many club choices, from drama to gourmet to fashion, while Gao Xiaoai quickly decided on the Gourmet Club. Ye Youning decided to join the Star Observing Club. Xia Wenxi, however, saw Yao Siyao also at the Star Observing Club booth.
Recalling Hu Ling's comments about Ye Youning and Yao Siyao's compatibility, Xia Wenxi grew visibly upset, abruptly leaving Ye Youning behind and running off with Gao Xiaoai. Ye Youning tried to follow, but Xia Wenxi deliberately avoided him. He tried to offer her a burger for lunch, but she refused, claiming she wasn't hungry. When Yang Chuang called, asking Ye Youning to accompany him to the talent show, Xia Wenxi urged Ye Youning to go, pretending that she was fine.
Ye Youning, still worried about her, left for Yang Chuang. Later, Yang Chuang advised Ye Youning on his dating strategy for Xia Wenxi, commending his detailed "love schedule" and offering to book them a fancy restaurant for lunch. Ye Youning then asked Yang Chuang to help him choose a scarf he had bought for Xia Wenxi, as it was going to be cold. Yang Chuang, however, suggested that a scarf taken directly from Ye Youning's neck would be far more meaningful than one simply handed to her.
Episode 18 Recap
Feeling vexed, Xia Wenxi called Chen Tingting, explaining that Ye Youning had joined a club because of Yao Siyao. Chen Tingting, laughing at Xia Wenxi's slow realization, questioned if she hadn't yet understood her feelings for Ye Youning, adding that Ye Youning surely liked Xia Wenxi too. Chen Tingting urged her to confess now that she had clarified her feelings, but Xia Wenxi worried Ye Youning might not reciprocate.
Xia Wenxi admitted she liked Ye Youning but feared he didn't like her back. Chen Tingting reassured her, mentioning Ye Youning's changed attitude towards her over the past half-year. Later, Xia Wenxi secretly attended Ye Youning's class, hoping to observe his interaction with Yao Siyao. While intently watching Ye Youning, she became distracted and failed to respond when the teacher called on her.
Recognizing her, Ye Youning intervened, telling the teacher that Xia Wenxi was a friend from another department who came to audit the class. After the teacher resumed lecturing, Xia Wenxi quietly slipped away. Seeing her leave, Ye Youning quickly followed her, taking out a confession gift from his bag and skipping class to catch up with her. Xia Wenxi confronted him, accusing him of joining the Star Observing Club only because of Yao Siyao, her tone clearly laced with jealousy.
Ye Youning then playfully asked if she had come to his class just to confirm his relationship with Yao Siyao because she was unhappy and liked him. Embarrassed, Xia Wenxi hesitantly admitted her feelings. Ye Youning then presented her with a wooden carving of a time machine he had made, confessing that he had liked her for a long time and had planned to confess after the College entrance exam, but unforeseen circumstances prevented it.
He explained he'd found a better way to express his feelings through the carving, hoping she would like it. Overwhelmed, Xia Wenxi cried tears of joy, realizing that Ye Youning had confessed to her first. He then asked her if they were now officially together. Afterward, as Ye Youning and Xia Wenxi walked hand-in-hand, they were seen by Yang Chuang and Gao Xiaoai, who were at a restaurant. Yang Chuang was distraught after being eliminated from a talent show.
Gao Xiaoai was happy for the couple. Separately, Xia Wenxi called Chen Tingting to share the news. Following this, Yang Chuang called Lin Jiaqi to inform him that Ye Youning and Xia Wenxi were dating. Upon hearing the news, Lin Jiaqi immediately returned to Jiangcheng to speak with Ye Youning. Lin Jiaqi asked if Ye Youning's feelings for Xia Wenxi were sincere.
Initially reluctant to share his true feelings, Ye Youning, provoked by Lin Jiaqi, declared his intention to make Xia Wenxi happy. Lin Jiaqi confided that he had also confessed to Xia Wenxi on the day they submitted their college applications but realized then that they could never be together. He pledged to silently protect her as long as she was happy with Ye Youning.
Lin Jiaqi urged Ye Youning to treat Xia Wenxi well, warning him that if she was ever unhappy because of him, he would find Ye Youning no matter where he was. After their conversation, Lin Jiaqi prepared to leave, but Xia Wenxi stopped him, wanting to talk privately. She apologized to him, asking if they could still be good friends as before. Lin Jiaqi paused, then asked for more time.
In 2019, while Ye Youning and Xia Wenxi were on a date, Xia Wenxi mentioned that seeing a meteor shower was the wish she most wanted to fulfill from her wish list. Ye Youning checked the weather forecast and found a meteor shower was predicted for the next day. As they talked, Ye Youning received a call from the police station, informing him that Grandpa Zhou had gotten lost.
The police later brought Grandpa Zhou home, noting that his memory seemed to be deteriorating, and advised Ye Youning to be more attentive. Ye Youning worried that his grandfather might have Alzheimer's, fearing that certain events were destined to happen regardless of his interventions. The following day, Ye Youning arranged for Yang Chuang to look after Grandpa Zhou, then took Xia Wenxi to watch the meteor shower. They drove to a mountain and waited.
Just before midnight, the meteor shower began. As Xia Wenxi stood at the edge of a cliff watching, a stone beneath her feet became loose, and she fell. Ye Youning rushed her to the hospital. Though she was rescued in time and her life was no longer in danger, her optic nerves were severely damaged, and the doctor informed Ye Youning that she might never see again.
While attending to Xia Wenxi in her hospital room, Ye Youning inadvertently saw her diary. In it, Xia Wenxi had written extensively about meteor showers, expressing her deep desire for Ye Youning to accompany her to see one, a wish he had never fulfilled. He then called Gao Xiaoai, asking if she knew why Xia Wenxi was so fixated on meteor showers.
Gao Xiaoai explained that during their freshman year, the re-airing of "Meteor Garden" sparked a craze for meteor showers. Xia Wenxi had often talked about wanting to see one, but Ye Youning had never fulfilled her wish. Later, Ye Youning sent a message to Xia Wenxi in 2006, urging her to take Ye Youning to see a meteor shower and make a wish, specifically mentioning the Draconid meteor shower happening that very night.
However, the 2006 Ye Youning replied that the moon phase wasn't ideal for observation. Xia Wenxi, upon hearing this, inquired and learned that they could see the meteor shower if they went to the top of Dazhu Mountain. She then quickly planned an overnight camping trip and even borrowed money from Yang Chuang to buy equipment, hoping to convince Ye Youning to join her. But Ye Youning refused, stating that he didn't want to skip his English class. Despite her pleas and having already borrowed money, Ye Youning reiterated that he wouldn't be happy even if he went.
Episode 19 Recap
Upon returning to her dorm in 2006, Xia Wenxi found a pile of snacks on her desk. She initially thought they were a peace offering from Ye Youning, but her roommate, Hu Ling, informed her they were from Yang Lechen’s boyfriend, who was in a long-distance relationship. Moments later, Hu Ling’s new boyfriend arrived with more treats.
Hu Ling then explained to Xia Wenxi that she had confessed to him, and her boyfriend believed in winning a person's heart through their stomach, a strategy he'd learned from a magazine. Xia Wenxi confided in Hu Ling, voicing concerns about whether a girl confessing her feelings first would make a boy less appreciative. Later, Xia Wenxi messaged her future self, asking if a girl initiating a confession would cause a boy to not cherish her.
Her future self, acting as "Boss," reassured her that Ye Youning would not treat her that way. " Boss" advised Xia Wenxi that if Ye Youning ever mistreated her or hurt her, she should immediately report him to Grandpa Zhou, hinting at severe consequences for Ye Youning. " Boss" also informed her that with his IELTS score of eight, Ye Youning was eligible for an exemption from his English class.
Xia Wenxi clarified that her real frustration wasn't about missing the meteor shower, but rather Ye Youning walking away during their argument. Still not understanding his error, Ye Youning believed Xia Wenxi was upset about missing the meteor shower. He sought advice from Yang Chuang, who inadvertently let slip that Ye Youning could be exempt from his English class. This prompted Ye Youning to suspect that Xia Wenxi had contacted Gao Xiaoai for information.
Determined to make amends, Ye Youning purchased camping supplies and went to find Xia Wenxi. He presented her with milk tea and asked what he had done wrong. His initial guesses, which included not accompanying her to the meteor shower and his English class exemption, were met with disappointment from Xia Wenxi, who felt he still didn’t understand. Ye Youning then consulted Yang Chuang again, who offered "four pieces of advice": "Your girlfriend is always right.
When she says it's fine, it's not fine. When she says she's not angry, she's angry. When she says you're right, you're wrong." Yang Chuang also reiterated the English class exemption, mentioning Gao Xiaoai had told him, confirming Ye Youning's suspicion that Xia Wenxi had learned about it through Gao Xiaoai. Gao Xiaoai later reprimanded Yang Chuang for giving away their "rehearsal," which made it seem like Xia Wenxi was begging Ye Youning.
After setting up a tent with the new camping gear, Ye Youning brought Xia Wenxi to see it. He continued his apologies, making more guesses about his mistake. Finally, he asked if she was angry because he had walked away during their fight when she told him to. Xia Wenxi, still annoyed, indicated he was on the right track but that only half her anger was gone, prompting him to kiss her again.
Ye Youning assured her the camping equipment wasn't expensive, proudly stating that as the top student, he had a scholarship and wasn't broke. Reconciled, they prepared for their trip. As they traveled by bus towards Da Zhu Mountain, their journey was unexpectedly halted by a landslide that blocked the road. Xia Wenxi immediately messaged her future self, who advised her to prioritize safety, return to school, and promised a better meteor shower viewing opportunity in the future.
Despite this, young Ye Youning, seeing Xia Wenxi’s profound disappointment, declared it an act of "going crazy for his girlfriend." He decided they should disembark and continue their journey on foot. After a long hike, they found a secluded spot away from the city lights. Ye Youning assured Xia Wenxi it would offer a similar viewing experience to the mountaintop, and a tired Xia Wenxi agreed. As they waited, Ye Youning used binoculars to point out constellations, identifying Draco.
Suddenly, Xia Wenxi spotted a shooting star and excitedly rushed forward, with Ye Youning quickly steadying her. As the meteor shower streamed across the sky, she made a wish: "One life, one love." They decided to wait until early morning for more meteors, passing the time in their tent. Xia Wenxi shared her childhood dream of living on the moon as Chang'e with a Jade Hare, to which Ye Youning playfully countered that she had him instead.
He then taught her that the phrase "the moon is beautiful" actually meant "I love you." Before falling asleep, with an alarm set for early morning, Ye Youning read from a book about a bug corroding a hand, proclaiming that the wilderness would one day be "his battlefield." Meanwhile, in 2019, Xia Wenxi awoke, disoriented, asking why the lights were off, unaware she had lost her eyesight. Ye Youning, deeply saddened, hid his tears.
He brought her home, reassuring her that her vision loss was temporary, and stayed by her side. To comfort her, he narrated a movie called "Exclusive Memory" as they lay in bed. Mid-film, his phone glitched, unexpectedly displaying a painting from the Little John's Cathedral in Venice. Xia Wenxi described the image: a priest and a young woman wearing strange masks on a bridge.
She then recounted the legend behind it: a priest, also an inventor, created a time machine and became consumed by time travel. He fell in love with a girl, but his frequent journeys began to subtly alter the future. When his actions were discovered, he faced punishment and the destruction of his time machine.
He made one final trip to the past, not to elope, but to desperately ensure the girl would not fall in love with him, thus sparing her from the repercussions of his temporal alterations. The story concluded with the priest walking towards his execution from the Bridge of Sighs, as the girl passed underneath on a rowboat with her new beloved. Ye Youning found the tale profoundly sad.
Xia Wenxi observed that unlike most people, Ye Youning didn't question why the priest hadn't used the time machine for personal gain. Ye Youning explained that the priest had initially tried to profit, but his actions always brought severe consequences to those around him and accelerated his own aging. This harsh lesson led him to build Little John's Cathedral and preserve the story in its gallery.
The parallels between the legend and his own time-traveling experiences left Ye Youning in deep contemplation. He asked Xia Wenxi if the future would still change if the priest had only observed the past without attempting to alter it. Xia Wenxi was uncertain, questioning if such non-interference was truly possible or if it would indeed prevent change. Following the successful meteor shower viewing in 2006, the future in 2019 had changed.
Ye Youning found himself in a new timeline where Xia Wenxi had not fallen off the cliff and was healthy and by his side. Overjoyed, he spontaneously arranged a candlelight dinner. Kneeling before her, he proposed marriage, expressing his deep love and thanking her for her kindness, trust, and bravery since they met. He vowed to be with her through all of life’s circumstances, asserting that not even death would separate them.
Though surprised, Xia Wenxi happily accepted his proposal, and he placed an improvised ring on her finger, promising a formal one later. As they embraced and shared a kiss, time shifted once more. Ye Youning abruptly found himself outside Xia Wenxi's house, seeing white chrysanthemums—a symbol of mourning—adorning the entrance. Realizing this meant a funeral, he rushed inside, only to be confronted with a memorial photo of Xia Wenxi.
Distraught and refusing to believe she was gone, he caused a scene at the funeral, desperately calling for Xia Wenxi and demanding to know where she was. Others present, including Yang Chuang, tried to calm him, saying Xia Wenxi had passed away and that he himself had "brought her back from Venice," a statement that only confused and enraged Ye Youning further. Overwhelmed by grief and confusion, he eventually collapsed, unconscious.
He later woke up in a hospital bed, with Yang Chuang by his side. Mumbling, he pondered why Xia Wenxi had died, wondering if it was because they hadn't seen the meteor shower in 2006, or if some other event had occurred after their viewing. Yang Chuang tried to console him, bringing him water and promising to fetch some food. Later, in 2006, on their way back from the wilderness, Xia Wenxi noticed Ye Youning sleeping.
She discreetly took out her old phone and sent a message to her future self. Young Ye Youning, however, woke up and saw her. Xia Wenxi quickly covered, claiming she only used the old phone for writing memos. Back at school, they encountered a poster for the Campus Singer Contest. Although Xia Wenxi was hesitant, fearing embarrassment from singing in front of a large audience, Ye Youning encouraged her, praising her singing voice.
With his support, she decided to sign up for the preliminary round. Later, while sharing a snack, Xia Wenxi playfully mused about the possibility of becoming famous after the contest. Ye Youning wished her good luck and reaffirmed his promise to attend her preliminary round. When she expressed anxieties about potential mishaps during her performance, such as falling, forgetting lyrics, or equipment failures, Ye Youning calmly advised her to relax and simply enjoy the competition.
Episode 20 Recap
In 2019, Ye Youning awoke in the hospital and immediately used his old phone to text young Xia Wenxi, asking what had happened after they watched the meteor shower. At that moment, young Xia Wenxi was watching a movie with young Ye Youning, and her reply was discovered by him.
She dutifully reported all the events since the meteor shower, detailing that they had slept in a tent on the mountain, that she had signed up for a singing contest with him that noon, they had eaten hot pot, and were now at the cinema. Ye Youning, finding no clues in her response to explain her death, recalled Chen Tingting's earlier words about him bringing Xia Wenxi back from Venice.
He resolved to go to Venice to uncover the truth behind Xia Wenxi's passing. Upon arriving in Venice, Ye Youning sought out the doctor who had treated Xia Wenxi. The doctor reiterated that her death was medically inexplicable, stating that her body showed no abnormalities. Undeterred, Ye Youning requested the ambulance records. Following the records, he located the spot where Xia Wenxi had collapsed. There, he encountered an old man who had been drawing her portrait at the time.
The painter recounted that Xia Wenxi had been fine, but she suddenly collapsed without any prior warning. Both the police and the hospital had confirmed there was nothing unusual. With no apparent anomalies, Ye Youning was at a loss as to how he could alter the past to save her. He sent a message to young Xia Wenxi, instructing her never to go to Venice, ever. Although puzzled, she promised him she wouldn't.
However, this action did not change the timeline. Ye Youning then recalled a story told by a local Venetian about a priest who invented a time machine. The priest, after falling in love with a girl at a carnival, used the machine to interfere with her life, trying to save her from death. But each attempt to change her fate only shortened her life, until she vanished completely, forgotten by all.
The local Venetian explained that this was a punishment for interfering with time, as the priest and the girl's timelines were never meant to overlap, and their love was a product of wrongful intervention. The story resonated deeply with Ye Youning, leading him to believe that if he had never intervened in Xia Wenxi's life, she might have lived a peaceful existence.
Meanwhile, in 2006, after the movie, young Ye Youning was upset about Xia Wenxi secretly texting on her old phone. He suspected she was involved with someone else, but Xia Wenxi insisted it was a misunderstanding. She tried to explain that the person was a "future man" and the phone was a "time machine," reminding him of how the person had helped them in high school and even provided lottery numbers.
Young Ye Youning dismissed her explanations as fabrication and, still angry, walked away. Xia Wenxi, feeling distraught, called Chen Tingting to talk about the argument. As they spoke, a basketball nearly hit Xia Wenxi, but young Ye Youning suddenly appeared, blocking it. Surprised and pleased, she asked why he was there, but he tersely claimed he was just "passing by" before heading to his dorm. Despite the cold, snowy weather, Xia Wenxi waited outside his dormitory.
Eventually, young Ye Youning came out, draped his jacket over her, and expressed concern for her well-being. Xia Wenxi tearfully swore there was no third party involved, and he softened, no longer pressing the issue. He then carried her back to her dorm. Separately, Chen Tingting attended a club event at HUAA where she encountered Lin Jiaqi. He asked about Xia Wenxi's recent situation, and Chen Tingting reassured him that Xia Wenxi was doing well.
Later, Chen Tingting realized she had left her old code notebook at HUAA. Coincidentally, Lin Jiaqi found it. Using an invisible pen, he discovered entries detailing Chen Tingting's long-standing affection for him, including a note about "the 109th day of knowing Lin Jiaqi." Lin Jiaqi went to Chen Tingting's dorm to return the notebook and, before she could express her feelings, he gently rejected her.
He explained that Xia Wenxi was the only one in his heart, acknowledging that her feelings were her own but that his could not change, leaving Chen Tingting heartbroken. Back in 2019, deeply affected by the priest's story, future Ye Youning decided to try to restore the correct timeline to save Xia Wenxi.
He sent a message to young Xia Wenxi, telling her that she and young Ye Youning were not meant to be together and that their continued relationship would negatively impact both their futures. He urged her to break up with him. At that moment, young Xia Wenxi was preparing to perform at the preliminary round of a singing contest, and her phone was with young Ye Youning.
He saw the message and, enraged, texted future Ye Youning, demanding to know why he kept harassing Xia Wenxi and pushing them to separate. Future Ye Youning responded, identifying himself as the 31-year-old version of young Ye Youning and insisting that if he truly loved Xia Wenxi, he should break up with her. Young Ye Youning was furious and dismissed the claim as absurd.
After Xia Wenxi finished her song, "Time Machine," she descended from the stage to find young Ye Youning gone. She quickly went to find him. Upon learning about the future Ye Youning's message, she was shocked. Young Ye Youning demanded that she cease all contact with the future Ye Youning, but she hesitated, wanting to understand more. Angered by her reluctance, he refused to answer her calls and walked away.
Xia Wenxi frantically searched for him and found him near a live electrical wire. She quickly pulled him away just as he was about to touch it. Relieved and scared of losing him, Xia Wenxi promised never to use the old phone or contact the future Ye Youning again, regardless of who he was.
Later, young Xia Wenxi sent a final text to future Ye Youning, saying goodbye and explaining that she could no longer communicate with him, as she didn't want to jeopardize her current life.
Episode 21 Recap
In 2019, Ye Youning received a final message from 2006 Xia Wenxi, who stated she could no longer contact him to protect her current life. Desperate, Ye Youning attempted to send multiple text messages to her, urging her to break up with 2006 Ye Youning, but she had blocked him, rendering them undeliverable. Believing this would save her future self and unable to communicate with her, he resolved to travel back in time himself.
After a series of attempts, 2019 Ye Youning successfully traveled back to 2006, embodying his younger self. This happened during winter break as Xia Wenxi and Ye Youning (his younger self, now inhabited by 2019 Ye Youning) were returning home, planning to meet his parents. A meteor shower coincided with his time travel. Upon arrival, 2019 Ye Youning, in his younger body, abruptly told Xia Wenxi he wanted to break up.
Internally, he knew he had to hurt her now to save her future, even if it meant she would hate him. He cruelly told her he had never truly liked her, accusing her of pestering him, and claimed he mistook her persistence for love. He blamed her "unlucky" nature for making his life chaotic and falsely asserted that she had caused him to miss the opportunity to reunite with his mother abroad.
Xia Wenxi was heartbroken, reminding him of his recent declarations of love and her handmade "Sanfen" gift. When her friend, Gao Xiaoai, tried to intervene, Ye Youning coldly insisted he was simply being honest. He then threatened Xia Wenxi, warning her not to seek him out again, or he would disappear permanently. Xia Wenxi and Gao Xiaoai were left distraught as Ye Youning walked away in the snow. Xia Wenxi struggled immensely with the sudden breakup.
Back home, she remained in bed, unable to be woken by her worried parents. Meanwhile, Lin Jiaqi, having learned of the breakup, angrily rushed to Jiangcheng University to confront Ye Youning, only to be told by a classmate that he had dropped out. Still desperate, Xia Wenxi went to Grandpa Zhou’s house, where she was informed that Ye Youning had left the country to find his mother—a lie orchestrated by 2019 Ye Youning.
Gao Xiaoai continued to comfort the crying Xia Wenxi. Observing Xia Wenxi from a distance, 2019 Ye Youning covertly left an umbrella near her in the rain, but she spotted him. She desperately tried to reconcile, expressing her unwavering love and recalling their first meeting, but he pushed her away with harsh words, telling her their love was a mistake and that he regretted ever meeting her.
To return to his own time, 2019 Ye Youning deliberately stepped in front of a moving car. He woke up back in 2019 and immediately rushed to Xia Wenxi's house. A new owner informed him that the Xia family had moved out. At Grandpa Zhou's, Ye Youning learned that after their breakup in her freshman year, Xia Wenxi had suddenly fainted one day.
She was taken to many hospitals, but doctors could not diagnose her illness, and she eventually passed away. Her heartbroken parents then moved away. Chen Tingting appeared, angrily confronting Ye Youning and calling him a jerk for what he had done to Xia Wenxi, but she handed him a box containing Xia Wenxi's belongings, including a time machine, Mayday concert tickets, an old phone, and her diary.
Ye Youning was devastated to find that Xia Wenxi had again died without warning, and her lifespan had seemingly shortened with his interventions. Grandpa Zhou tried to comfort him, urging him to accept her death. Examining Xia Wenxi's belongings, Ye Youning found her diary, which described her instant attraction to him when he first transferred to her class in 2006, sensing a special, "heartbeat" feeling.
Reading this, Ye Youning realized that to save her, he had to ensure they never met, theorizing that if they had been strangers from the start, she might have lived a peaceful life. He deduced that while lightning and a violent impact were necessary for time travel, a specific object from the desired past moment was crucial for precise temporal relocation. He asked Grandpa Zhou for items from when he first moved in during his senior year of high school.
After some searching, Grandpa Zhou found his high school admission certificate. Ye Youning then used this item, successfully returning to 2006, to the time before he had met Xia Wenxi. Back in 2006, Ye Youning saw Xia Wenxi on the street, but she did not recognize him. He followed her and her friends to Yang Chuang's restaurant, observing them from outside. Gao Xiaoai noticed him and remarked on his attractiveness to Xia Wenxi.
Xia Wenxi inexplicably felt a profound sadness emanating from him and began to cry, instinctively attempting to follow him. However, Ye Youning quickly fled, reaffirming his decision to sever all ties for her safety. He resolved that starting the next day, the timeline would return to normal, and their paths would never cross. The following morning, he deliberately left for school early to avoid encountering her at the gate.
Despite his efforts to avoid her by going to school early, Ye Youning still encountered Gao Xiaoai, who, in turn, introduced him to Xia Wenxi in class. Resigned to the fact that their paths would always cross, Ye Youning decided to simply experience this day with her. During class introductions, various students including Yang Chuang, Lin Jiaqi, Gao Xiaoai, Chen Tingting, and Xia Wenxi introduced themselves. Later that day, Chen Tingting's phone unexpectedly broke.
Ye Youning realized his attempt had failed to significantly alter Xia Wenxi's fate, confirming his fear that their lives would always intertwine. He returned to 2019. Back in 2019, Ye Youning recorded his first modification failure, noting that going to school early still led to meeting Xia Wenxi through Gao Xiaoai. His old phone then displayed a message: all free time-travel attempts had been used, and further attempts required a "cost."
He agreed, and his watch instantly disappeared, the price for one more chance. In his next attempt to avoid Xia Wenxi in 2006, he successfully avoided Gao Xiaoai at the school gate but was noticed by Yang Shiyi, a student monitor. In class, as Ye Youning tried to move his desk to the back to distance himself from Xia Wenxi, Yang Shiyi, recognizing him from outside, called Xia Wenxi a "jinx" and suggested he sit with her instead.
Xia Wenxi misinterpreted Ye Youning's actions as agreeing with Yang Shiyi and began to cry. Ye Youning, heartbroken, reached for a tissue for her, but Lin Jiaqi, also in the class, quickly got to her first.
Episode 22 Recap
Ye Youning, determined to finally change Xia Wenxi's fate, had returned to the past, resolved to have no interaction with her. Before this attempt, he had even written down many unfortunate events Xia Wenxi would encounter. He observed from a distance as she struggled in chemistry class with an experiment, narrowly avoiding an incident that could have caused a fire. Though he wanted to intervene, he restrained himself.
Despite his efforts, other classmates, still calling Xia Wenxi a jinx, ridiculed her after the near-miss, and the teacher sent her to the back of the class. Later, as Xia Wenxi hurried down a corridor, she tripped and fell, hurting her tailbone. Lin Jiaqi and Chen Tingting rushed to her aid, carrying her to the infirmary while she cried out in pain. Lin Jiaqi even promised to push her in a wheelchair for life if she became disabled.
From afar, Ye Youning watched, agonizing over her suffering. He acknowledged that while he had avoided direct interaction, he could not simply stand by and watch her get hurt. Upon returning to the future, Ye Youning discovered that this attempt had still failed to change Xia Wenxi's destiny. Upon returning to the future, Ye Youning faced the consequences of a failed modification, which the system designated as the "second modification failure." This time, the price was his company.
His secretary, Siyong, arrived to inform him of the business's failure. Siyong also took this opportunity to confess her long-held feelings for Ye Youning, admitting that she had always found happiness just being by his side, but now she had an overwhelming intuition that they could never be together. Ye Youning apologized for neglecting her feelings, but Siyong reassured him that it was her own choice to leave.
She wished him well and left, planning to build a new, simpler life for herself, mentioning her parents had left her a house in her hometown. With another chance granted, Ye Youning returned to 2006. He secretly entered the school before classes began, tampering with the clock to set it back, ensuring Xia Wenxi would not be late. On the morning of Xia Wenxi's eighteenth birthday, he left a poem on her desk as a subtle gift.
Later that day, during chemistry class, Xia Wenxi successfully performed the experiment, a clear sign of his indirect intervention. He then deliberately chose a different route after school to avoid encountering Xia Wenxi on her way home. His plan appeared to be working, as Xia Wenxi's parents and friends surprised her with a birthday celebration, which Ye Youning, in the form of his younger self (Ningning), watched from his home next door.
He felt relieved, believing he had successfully altered her destiny and that if he could just make it to the next thunderstorm, he would be able to return to his own time, his mission accomplished. The following day, a challenge letter from Class 8 was presented to Mr. Wang, proposing a basketball match.
Mr. Wang, prioritizing upcoming exams, decided to put a difficult math problem on the blackboard, promising to accept the challenge only if a student could solve it by the next morning. Ye Youning secretly solved the problem and gave the solution to Mr. Wang, asking him not to reveal his name, stating he was too shy. Mr. Wang agreed, announcing to the class that an anonymous, shy student had solved the problem.
The class erupted in cheers, demanding the challenge be accepted. While Mr. Wang kept his promise not to name the student, the classmates, through deduction and comparison of handwriting by Chen Tingting (who secretly took his math homework), quickly suspected Ye Youning. Lin Jiaqi and others planned to invite him to the basketball team, but Xia Wenxi volunteered to approach him alone. She slipped a note to Ye Youning, asking him to meet her on the rooftop.
However, when Ye Youning went to the agreed spot, he found not just Xia Wenxi, but her entire group of friends waiting for him. They collectively thanked him for solving the math problem. Xia Wenxi then directly asked him how he knew her birthday and if he was the one who sent her the poem. She added that she felt he understood her from the first time they met and wondered if they had met before.
Unable to provide an explanation, Ye Youning realized his efforts were futile once more, as he had once again interacted with her in a significant way, leading him to leave abruptly. Upon returning to the future, Ye Youning understood that this third modification had also failed, concluding that leaving the "draft" (the calculation paper) had been his mistake.
He paid the price again to return to the past, but this attempt, referred to as the "fourth experiment," also failed when he caught Zhao Bin's basketball from Class 8. This continuous cycle of attempts and failures led to a gradual depletion of his assets, as he repeatedly paid the price to return to the past. He undertook a total of thirty-nine experiments, each one ultimately failing.
He realized the core problem: every time he returned to the future through a collision, his younger self in the past would suffer injuries and memory loss, inevitably leading to a new form of interaction with Xia Wenxi. He concluded that modifying the past was futile under these conditions. The only solution, he determined, was to destroy the time machine before its creation, thus severing all ties between him and Xia Wenxi and restoring the original timeline.
To do this, he needed a different method of time travel, one that didn't involve the destructive impact that caused his younger self to suffer and interact with Xia Wenxi. Ye Youning began to research historical locations rumored to have time travelers, realizing these sites were geographically disparate. He even consulted a professor via phone, who dismissed his "superstitious" research, but Ye Youning insisted he was seeking an understanding beyond modern physics, all for a girl.
While researching coordinates, his old push-button phone automatically initiated a factory reset. Fearing the loss of his research data, he quickly removed the battery. When he reinserted it, the phone powered on but required a password, with a prompt: "the most important day in your life." After several unsuccessful attempts, including his own birthday, Xia Wenxi's birthday, and the date of their first text message, he recalled the day the results of the 2006 Jiangcheng second mock exam were released.
Calculating a two-day delay for grading from the exam dates (April 18-19), he arrived at April 21. Entering "0421", the phone unlocked, revealing his records intact. This breakthrough led him to a profound realization: time travel required considering not only spatial coordinates but also the temporal dimension. Using this new insight, Ye Youning recalculated the coordinates, pinpointing a location in Jiangcheng.
He traveled there and found himself in what appeared to be an abandoned area, not the modern CBD he expected. Following the coordinates, he discovered a mysterious mask. Donning the mask, he was instantly transported through time and space, finding himself in a swirling void where he encountered the legendary Priest. The Priest, observing Ye Youning, acknowledged his journey and asked if he now understood the message the Priest wanted to convey to the world.
Ye Youning, intent on his mission, declared his sole desire was to destroy the time machine and restore the world to its original state. The Priest then posed a final, pivotal question: given another chance, would Ye Youning still choose to modify space and time?
As the question hung in the air, Xia Wenxi's voice echoed through the void, pleading for his help, followed by a somber pronouncement from an unseen voice that they were parallel lines, never meant to love, and that Ye Youning alone must bear the consequences of his temporal interference.
Episode 23 Recap
Ye Youning stood before the Priest, asserting that he had no choice in his connection to the time machine; it had chosen him. He argued that anyone who discovered their past mistakes had drastically altered their future would naturally try to rectify them.
The Priest, however, admonished him, stating that he should not be so greedy as to reclaim what was not meant for him, insisting that the world operated by its own rules, rules that people often forgot to respect, believing they could change anything by themselves. Undeterred, Ye Youning declared that even if his efforts were futile, he would still try to rectify his past mistakes.
The Priest responded that humanity would always succumb to greed, acknowledging his own failed attempts to persuade others. He then instructed Ye Youning to remove his mask and return to the past, emphasizing the need for haste as time travel demanded immense sacrifices, and this journey would be both his new beginning and his end. When Ye Youning asked how to destroy the time machine, the Priest revealed that the mobile phone was merely a conduit.
He showed Ye Youning a collection of various phones, explaining that they were all different forms of time machines used by many to connect with the past or future, but none had ever succeeded in destroying them, and all devices eventually returned to that very place. The Priest confessed that he never created the time machine himself but was chosen by it, believing it to be a trial from either God or the devil, its origins and purpose unknown.
He asked if Ye Youning was ready to face it, and Ye Youning affirmed his readiness. Upon removing his mask, Ye Youning found himself back in February 2006, before school started, inside Yang Chuang's family restaurant. There, he saw a younger Xia Wenxi and Gao Xiaoai, who were diligently working on their winter homework. Ye Youning covertly approached Xia Wenxi, intending to take her old phone, but instead found only keys attached to what he thought was her phone chain.
He realized then that Xia Wenxi's phone was currently at Grandpa Zhou's shop for repairs, a fact Xia Wenxi herself mentioned to Gao Xiaoai when her phone broke again that morning. As he made his way toward Grandpa Zhou's, the immense cost of time travel began to manifest. Time sped up drastically for Ye Youning, causing him to age rapidly. Despite his deteriorating condition, he briefly helped at a fruit shop fire before collapsing.
He hailed a taxi to the seaside, stumbling and feeling his body weaken as the clock spun faster and faster in his vision, a direct consequence of the sacrifice the Priest had foretold. Reaching the shore, he threw the old phone into the ocean, his strength completely spent. In the aftermath of his mission, Ye Youning found himself in a void where he encountered Xia Wenxi.
She explained that they were within his collective memory, a compilation of all his and her memories, not just the fragments he usually experienced during memory overlays. She led him through various scenes, including one from their college days in 2006 and another from the seventeenth day of their relationship, when she called him during a business trip to share a charming anecdote about a red bottle cap and a morning glory.
Suddenly, a chaotic memory of Grandpa Zhou calling out for "Youning" appeared. Xia Wenxi then urgently noted that the time tunnel was closing. She told him that by mixing new memories, they could prolong their stay in this memory space.
Ye Youning managed to mix the memories, but the result was a bizarre fusion of a science show about gravitational waves and a dating program, featuring both his 2006 and 2019 selves, along with both versions of Xia Wenxi, as "lovers across time and space." During this surreal program, the 2019 Ye Youning expressed frustration with his 2006 self for not listening and for his past mistakes, while the 2006 Ye Youning accused his future self of selfishly manipulating events.
Both Xia Wenxis supported the 2006 Ye Youning, hoping for a better future and proclaiming their belief that they would meet him again and wait for him. Meanwhile, back in 2019, Xia Wenxi suddenly awoke with a scream in Lin Jiaqi's car.
When he pulled over and asked what was wrong, she recounted a vivid nightmare: her alarm clock's hands spinning wildly, her falling into a black hole, and being led by a strange, familiar person who vanished once she emerged. She couldn't recall his face but felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity. Lin Jiaqi tried to reassure her it was just a nightmare, but Xia Wenxi felt a sudden, profound sadness.
Upon returning home, Gao Xiaoai inquired if Xia Wenxi's angina and tear incontinence had improved after her half-year journey. Xia Wenxi responded that she felt fine as long as she wasn't in a relationship, lamenting that she might be "allergic to love," similar to pollen or mango allergies. She explained that she felt incomplete and empty when dating, growing increasingly fearful and sad in intimate relationships. As they conversed, thunder and lightning erupted.
They saw Yang Chuang helping Grandpa Zhou downstairs. Gao Xiaoai revealed that Grandpa Zhou had become increasingly confused over the past six months, constantly calling for Ye Youning, who, tragically, had died in an accident abroad. They were forced to keep this secret from Grandpa Zhou. Hearing Ye Youning's name, Xia Wenxi was struck by another bout of angina. Gao Xiaoai went out to buy medicine and iodine for Grandpa Zhou's minor injuries.
Alone at home, Xia Wenxi looked at a photo of Grandpa Zhou and Ye Youning, recalling Ye Youning as a solitary, studious classmate with whom she had little interaction. Yet, she felt a profound sense of familiarity when looking at his picture. Yang Chuang then informed her that Grandpa Zhou had found a broken old phone on the beach and was extremely protective of it, refusing to let anyone touch it.
Xia Wenxi was astonished to realize it was her own phone, lost over a decade ago. The phone suddenly powered on, revealing text messages exchanged between "06 Xia Wenxi" and "19 Ye Youning." Scrolling through the conversations, she discovered Ye Youning's meticulous records of his repeated time travels to save her. These entries detailed events she remembered, such as a basketball game, a Mayday concert, and a forest farm, but with differing details that still resonated with her.
She read about how, on December 21, she had fallen off a cliff during a meteor shower, leaving Ye Youning in agony, wishing he had been the one to fall. After she awoke blind, he was determined to understand and fix it. He realized that if they hadn't seen the meteor shower, nothing would have happened. Discovering her wish list, he learned she regretted not seeing a meteor shower with the 18-year-old Ye Youning.
He modified the past, telling her younger self to go with him. Seeing her healthy filled him with both joy and lingering fear. He proposed to her, vowing to protect her forever. However, their happiness was brief; she died. Xia Wenxi learned that Ye Youning believed this was time's punishment, a consequence for his alterations, and that he vowed to save her, even if it meant his own death.
He returned to the past, pushed her away, marking his 39th attempt. His final message read, "If I never come back, Wenxi, I love you." Simultaneously, Grandpa Zhou was shown at the beach, clutching the old phone, calling out for Youning, refusing to part with it.
Episode 24 (Ending) Recap
Xia Wenxi showed the records from her phone to Chen Tingting and Gao Xiaoai. Chen Tingting found the content touching but believed it to be a fabricated story, and Gao Xiaoai remained skeptical about the existence of a time machine. However, Xia Wenxi insisted that the memo detailed things about her, including specific preferences like her love for Mayday, her past as someone prone to bad luck and tardiness, and nearly every detail of her school life.
She explained that the memo also contained information she had never shared with them, or even remembered herself, such as her insistence on seeing a meteor shower or her inexplicable anxiety around balloons. Chen Tingting dismissed this, suggesting it was natural to forget why one develops certain habits. She also pointed out that the messages chronicled events involving Xia Wenxi and Grandpa Zhou's deceased grandson, Ye Youning, and extended into the future, which she deemed impossible.
Gao Xiaoai echoed her disbelief, questioning if Xia Wenxi truly thought the old phone was a time machine. Xia Wenxi then argued that the records weren't solely about her and Ye Youning, but also included details about their friends.
She revealed that Yang Chuang, during his student days, had created a secret QQ account named "Mr. Lonely" with only one friend, Yang Shiyi, to obtain Mayday videos for Xia Wenxi – a detail that even Chen Tingting, Yang Chuang's wife, was initially unaware of. This revelation momentarily stunned Chen Tingting, who then tried to pull Yang Chuang away for a private discussion, while Yang Chuang defensively claimed his intentions were pure.
Xia Wenxi continued, emphasizing that if the phone knew things even they didn't, it couldn't be a fabrication. Overwhelmed, Xia Wenxi admitted she didn't understand, but the phone's writings triggered vivid, clear images in her mind, making them feel incredibly real. She wondered if she had truly forgotten something important, though her friends tried to reassure her that collective amnesia was impossible.
Driven by the phone's messages and an inexplicable feeling, Xia Wenxi sought a "Big phoenix tree" in a park, recalling a large swing. She also found the painting of a priest and a girl, and a book left by the priest. An old man informed her the tree and swing had been removed during a park renovation.
She reflected on a deep-seated, irrational conviction that miracles existed, imagining another version of herself who had lived a different life, and a man who had repeatedly altered time and rewritten destiny for her. Later, Xia Wenxi was startled awake by a nightmare, screaming aloud, prompting her parents to take her to the hospital.
The doctor found no physical ailments, attributing her frequent crying and chest discomfort to stress and advising her to focus on the present or seek psychological counseling. Xia Wenxi's mother urged her to confide in them, but Xia Wenxi could only express a profound sense of emptiness, feeling like a crucial person was missing from her heart, someone she was on the verge of remembering.
She insisted that the phone's messages were true, and the memories were becoming clearer, convinced she was close to finding this person. Ignoring her parents' pleas to rest, Xia Wenxi abruptly left the hospital. She confronted Yang Chuang, asking for recent photos of Ye Youning. Yang Chuang recalled Ye Youning's research institute abroad and found a news article with his photo.
Upon seeing the image, Xia Wenxi gasped, finally recognizing the man as the "handsome gentleman" she and Gao Xiaoai had encountered at a restaurant during the winter break before their third year of high school. She realized it had been 31-year-old Ye Youning, and he had been there all along. The full weight of her memories returned, and she broke down crying. Xia Wenxi began to pack, resolute in her decision to find Ye Youning.
Gao Xiaoai and Chen Tingting tried to stop her, dismissing her beliefs as an obsession with a mere story and offering to confront the "story maker." Xia Wenxi firmly stated it was not a story, reiterating that she had seen a 31-year-old Ye Youning when she was 18. Chen Tingting reminded her that Ye Youning had passed away, but Xia Wenxi corrected her, asserting that he had only disappeared and she would find him.
She confided that she had told her parents she was leaving for work and asked her friends to keep her secret, especially Gao Xiaoai. Through the records Ye Youning had left on the phone, Xia Wenxi learned of his desperate attempts. He had found a way to return to 2006, before they met, and tried to alter their past by avoiding any interaction with her.
He observed her life from a distance, never daring to speak, yet always feeling her presence, only to open his eyes and find himself alone. Despite his efforts, he had failed, and Xia Wenxi's time of disappearance had only accelerated. He feared she would be erased from existence, just like the Priest's beloved. Realizing he had no other option, he resolved to destroy the time machine, prepared to bear any consequences himself.
After numerous failures, he discovered a legend about a location "that doesn't exist on the map." Standing at the entrance of a cave, his heart pounded violently, a premonition of the unknown. He faced the uncertainty, concluding his message with "Wenxi, I love you," a final declaration before his intended sacrifice. Following these records, Xia Wenxi journeyed to the cave where Ye Youning had gone. As she entered, her heart raced with a powerful sensation.
She found herself in a void, similar to what Ye Youning had experienced, though she did not encounter the Priest. The old phone displayed scrambled code, and fragmented memories flashed through her mind. Suddenly, her surroundings shifted, and she was transported back to 2006, the time before the old phone became a time machine. Checking the date, Xia Wenxi confirmed it was 2006. She went to Grandpa Zhou's shop, hoping to find Ye Youning.
She saw a younger version of herself talking to Grandpa Zhou about her broken phone, reinforcing the timeline. Grandpa Zhou mistook the older Xia Wenxi for her younger self and mentioned he had lost "her" phone, leaving only some rhinestones. Realizing Ye Youning had likely taken the phone, Xia Wenxi suddenly remembered Yang Chuang saying Grandpa Zhou had found the phone by the sea.
The side effects of time travel began to manifest, and Xia Wenxi felt herself weakening, her body becoming increasingly fragile. She saw her parents pass by, but they couldn't see her, leading her to fear she might disappear just as Ye Youning had. Despite her deteriorating condition, she pushed on, drawn by an intense feeling that Ye Youning was nearby. She found him on the beach, burying something in the sand. " Ye Youning!" she cried out.
He turned, surprised and overjoyed, rushing to embrace her. As they held each other tightly, Xia Wenxi was struck by a wave of excruciating pain. In that instant, all her lost memories of Ye Youning flooded back, and she finally remembered everything. Ye Youning, overwhelmed, questioned why she had sought him out, emphasizing that his only desire was for her to live a good life without him.
Xia Wenxi, however, told him she remembered everything and couldn't bear to leave him alone to suffer in his memories, or to live in a world without him. She confessed her love for him, believing their entanglement might be destiny and that her own time was running out. Ye Youning frantically searched for the time machine to send her back, but Xia Wenxi stopped him, pleading that she didn't want to lose him again.
They sat on the beach, accepting their fate, and Xia Wenxi proposed they disappear together, unwilling to return to a world where he didn't exist. Ye Youning expressed a wish that the time machine had never existed if it meant she could live. Xia Wenxi, however, declared she had no regrets about knowing him, stating that sharing so many memories across different timelines had already made her immensely happy.
With these words, Xia Wenxi slowly faded away on the sand and vanished. Soon after, Ye Youning also disappeared. The timeline then reset, returning to the first day of school in 2006, devoid of the influence of time travel. Xia Wenxi went to Grandpa Zhou’s shop to collect her bicycle, and he playfully told her he’d lost her phone, leaving only some rhinestones—the same phone he would later find on the beach.
Meanwhile, in class, a new transfer student, Ye Youning, was introduced. During a school event, the sound of a balloon popping caused Ye Youning to flinch, but this time, Xia Wenxi approached him from behind, gently covering his ears. She then introduced herself, asking if he was alright. In this new timeline, their paths intertwined naturally, setting the stage for a fresh and perfect love story.
The narrative concluded with a reflection on parallel universes, highlighting the precious, rare chance of two people meeting and falling in love in the same dimension, and the enduring hope to find each other again, no matter the odds.
