Love in Time Episode 14 Recap
> Love in Time Recap
He Zhengyu confronted Wu Anwen, revealing he had visited Jialan in the hospital and found her still in a coma. Wu Anwen confessed, admitting he was the one who hit Chen Jialan. He explained that on the night of Jirong's divorce case, he and Jirong were driving home when a heated argument erupted.
Jirong accused him of conspiring with Chen Kexin to frame Jiang Shenghao for infidelity, a scheme designed to force a divorce so Wu Anwen could seize a portion of the Jiang family's assets to cover his gambling debts. Wu Anwen admitted in a monologue that the photos were indeed his setup. Amidst their furious exchange, their car struck something. Wu Anwen dismissed it as an illusion, claiming it was too dark and unsafe to investigate.
Despite Jirong's insistence on checking, he drove away from the scene, hoping for a lucky escape. The next day, Wu Anwen saw an investigation notice and realized he had hit a person. Jirong, distraught, urged him to turn himself in immediately. However, Wu Anwen refused, arguing that since no traffic cameras captured their vehicle, his confession would needlessly implicate Jirong, a public figure, and ruin her career.
He promised to concoct an alibi for her and then surrender in a few days, appealing to their sibling bond and expressing false remorse for having wronged her. Jirong, desperate, briefly considered calling the police but ultimately chose to trust her brother’s vow. As the promised days passed, Wu Anwen still hadn't surrendered. A heartbroken Jirong confronted him, revealing the victim was Chen Jialan, a fact Jiang Shenghao had told her, with the accident's time and place matching perfectly.
Wu Anwen denied it, speculating it was a coincidence or a setup. Jirong tearfully described Jialan’s critical condition, comatose for days with an uncertain future, and insisted he face the consequences, offering to help repay his debts. Wu Anwen continued to make excuses, claiming his creditors would harass her if he went to jail. Overwhelmed by his cowardice, Jirong declared she would go to the police herself.
In a desperate attempt to stop her, Wu Anwen grabbed her, and in the ensuing struggle, he accidentally pushed her from the high-rise building. Overcome with guilt, he later lamented to Zhengyu that he had caused his only sister's death and deserved to die. Meanwhile, He Zhengyu planned to prevent Jialan's car accident by ensuring she did not pass through the specific intersection on the night of January 7, 2022.
He decided against revealing the truth to Jialan, fearing it would cause her immense fear. When Jialan arrived, He Zhengyu fabricated a story to explain her future, claiming that in four months, she would voluntarily become a foreign correspondent in Africa, a destiny fitting her ambition to emulate the renowned journalist Oriana Fallaci. Jialan, finding this consistent with her aspirations, accepted it, noting it also explained why her access card had been demagnetized, signifying a change in her status.
Later, they discussed a paper crane. Jialan confirmed she had always kept hers in the same spot. He Zhengyu explained that in January 2022, he found a paper crane she had lost and, after moving into the apartment, unknowingly placed it in the exact same location. Jialan, intrigued, asked if the crane was the secret behind their overlapping timelines. He Zhengyu couldn't confirm it was the secret to the phenomenon itself, but he was certain the crane had connected them.
Delighted, Jialan suggested they celebrate by going kart racing to win a stuffed toy, a prize she had previously failed to win. At the kart racing track, He Zhengyu encouraged Jialan, prioritizing her happiness. Jialan emerged as a co-champion, but there was only one stuffed toy prize. When a couple approached, explaining it was the girlfriend's birthday, Jialan graciously gave them the toy, accepting two discount coupons instead.
He Zhengyu then excused himself and, realizing time was short to use a claw machine, quickly bought a small stuffed toy from the owner. He returned and presented it to Jialan, reiterating his commitment to fulfilling his promises. Touched, Jialan leaned in to kiss him, but at that moment, He Zhengyu vanished. In 2021, Jialan, still suspicious about the Africa story, asked her editor, Ms. Wen, about new foreign correspondent positions.
Ms. Wen stated that the company's overseas operations were shrinking and there would be no new assignments, especially to Africa, for at least two years. This contradiction deepened Jialan's suspicion. She then asked a colleague, Nana, why an employee card would be demagnetized, learning it typically happens when someone is no longer an employee. This intensified her concern about her future and why He Zhengyu was hiding the truth.
In 2022, He Zhengyu was reading to the comatose Jialan when Jiang Shenghao arrived. He criticized Zhengyu’s choice of book, claiming Jialan preferred children's stories and asserting his own deeper understanding of her. The argument escalated as Jiang Shenghao furiously confronted Zhengyu for acting as Wu Anwen's defense lawyer. Zhengyu defended his professional responsibility, stating that even suspects have rights and his role was to ensure legal fairness.
Consumed by grief, Jiang Shenghao dismissed the argument and ordered him out of the room. That evening, during the time overlap, Jialan pressed He Zhengyu about the Africa assignment. He vaguely attributed the discrepancy to the "butterfly effect." Suspecting he was hiding something, Jialan declared her intention to go to her workplace in 2022 to find the truth herself. As she ate, He Zhengyu stepped away to secretly call his 2021 self.
He urgently relayed the grim details: Jirong's death, Wu Anwen's arrest, and his own disbarment. He explained that Wu Anwen had gambled away all his money again in early December and implored his past self to report the gambling ring to the police at that time, believing it could prevent the entire tragedy. As he finished his plea, he turned to find Jialan had vanished.
Meanwhile, Jialan had gone downstairs, where a neighbor mistook her for the "Miss Chen who used to live upstairs," casually mentioning the young woman had been in a car accident a few days ago. Learning the truth about her future, a devastated Jialan wandered the streets alone. Seeing a police officer triggered a painful memory of her father, also a police officer, who died in the line of duty in 2013.
In a flashback, her gravely injured father urged her to be brave and live a happy life so he would have no regrets. Back in the present, clutching a photo of her and her father, Jialan vowed to live well and be happy. She realized the time-space overlap must have started on January 13, 2022, after her accident, which explained He Zhengyu's presence. She reaffirmed her commitment to bravely live every day to the fullest.
