Love in Time Episode 23 Recap
> Love in Time Recap
As time swiftly passed, Jialan tightly embraced He Zhengyu, her body trembling. He Zhengyu struggled to control his emotions, holding Jialan’s hand firmly and promising her that nothing bad would happen. He Zhengyu returned to his law firm but found his office door locked. Sun Defeng approached, feigning concern, to inform He Zhengyu that the Lawyers Association had received evidence from a man named Meng Jianguo, reportedly Gao Ming's driver.
This evidence suggested He Zhengyu had conspired with and solicited bribes from Gao Ming. Consequently, the Lawyers Association had issued a notice to investigate him, and his office was sealed. He Zhengyu questioned why Sun Defeng received the notice before he did. Sun Defeng then pointed out the widespread online denouncements against He Zhengyu, claiming the firm had issued an official statement supporting him, but implied that He Zhengyu had hired posters to manipulate public opinion.
Accusing him of harming the firm, which was losing clients, Sun Defeng urged He Zhengyu to take a long leave. He Zhengyu retorted that ninety percent of the firm’s clients were there because of him and asserted his right to retrieve his personal belongings before leaving. Later, a call from the Fuxing Lawyers Association officially confirmed the investigation, while negative online comments mounted.
After He Zhengyu’s departure, Zhang Hui returned to Fengyu Law Firm, making He Zhengyu suspect she and Sun Defeng were confident he couldn't find evidence of their collusion. Jialan, hearing this, proposed sowing discord between them. He Zhengyu, realizing Jialan intended to confront Sun Defeng because of his situation, had his assistant Dajun investigate Sun Defeng's vehicles for any unusual activity since December 12 of the previous year.
While Dajun found nothing on Sun Defeng's cars, he discovered Zhang Hui's car had its front bumper replaced on December 14. Meanwhile, Jialan, disguised as a delivery person, arrived at the law firm with ninety-nine roses. She loudly announced they were a gift from Sun Defeng to Zhang Hui, wishing them everlasting love. Zhang Hui and the arriving Sun Defeng both frantically denied any romantic involvement.
Jialan accused them of framing He Zhengyu and mockingly questioned if they planned to announce their relationship now. Sun Defeng threatened a defamation lawsuit, but Jialan warned them that fabricating evidence carries severe legal consequences and their conspiracy would fail. In 2022, He Zhengyu contacted Sun Defeng, revealing that Jialan was not dead. He showed Sun Defeng a video of himself and Jialan at a high point in Fuxing.
Sun Defeng scoffed at the "pieced-together video," but He Zhengyu then revealed he knew Sun Defeng had hit Jialan with Zhang Hui's car on the night of December 12 of the previous year and possessed the car's maintenance record. He offered Sun Defeng a chance to confess and return to how things used to be.
Sun Defeng, thinking He Zhengyu was insane, was told to meet He Zhengyu at his home at 10 PM to witness the truth, with a threat of calling the police if he didn't appear. That night, at 10:06 PM, He Zhengyu brought Sun Defeng to his apartment. As the time-space overlap began, Sun Defeng was transported to 2021 and saw a news report from December 11, 2021, leaving him completely disoriented.
Still in 2021, He Zhengyu demanded Sun Defeng reveal the truth of how Jialan died, emphasizing it was his last chance to save her. Terrified, Sun Defeng confessed. He explained that on December 11, 2021, Jialan had exposed his and Zhang Hui’s relationship at the law firm. This led to an argument where Zhang Hui, feeling used, demanded he make their relationship public.
Fearing this would confirm they had framed He Zhengyu, Sun Defeng decided to confront Jialan the next day. Believing Jialan had bugged him, he arranged for two thugs to be present. However, Jialan, skilled in martial arts, fought them off and escaped. To his shock, she returned for a pair of glasses, which he assumed contained a hidden camera. Desperate to stop her, he chased her in his car and deliberately ran her over.
Upon hearing this, He Zhengyu (2022) was distraught. At the last moment of the time-space overlap, Jialan (2021) and He Zhengyu (2022) rushed back to their respective apartments, catching a brief glimpse of each other before the overlap ended. The next morning, December 12, 2021, was Jialan's last day. She woke up, said a silent farewell to her father, and thought of He Zhengyu, telling him in her mind, "I love you. Forget me."
Later, Sun Defeng called to arrange a meeting at 9:30 PM. Jialan agreed, wanting to understand the full story, and packed the glasses she believed had a camera into her bag. He Zhengyu (2021) was waiting for Jialan, insisting on spending the day with her. He followed her everywhere, refusing to let her go to her scheduled meeting with Sun Defeng.
As they argued, He Zhengyu (2021) admitted his past arrogance, explaining he focused obsessively on work to prove his worth to Sun Defeng. At that moment, reporters swarmed them, questioning He Zhengyu about the bribery rumors. Jialan bravely defended him, publicly exposing Sun Defeng and Zhang Hui as the ones who framed him. Meanwhile, He Zhengyu (2022) went to meet Sun Defeng (2021) in Jialan's place.
He confronted Sun Defeng about the frame-up and for pushing Zhang Hui to take the fall. He offered Sun Defeng a chance at redemption, stating he would drop the charges if Sun Defeng changed his ways. Sun Defeng appeared to relent, and the two men made peace. On the night of December 12, 2021, He Zhengyu (2021) suddenly experienced a splitting headache.
In a daze, he saw an image of his future self (2022 He Zhengyu) and was instantly flooded with all of his future memories. A strange intuition guided him to an unfinished building at 206 Changfeng Street, Jiudianliang Road—a place he now remembered as the location of his own future death. Witnessing his distress, Jialan realized that the He Zhengyu from 2022 had made contact with him.
She rushed home, knowing there were only 22 hours left until 10:06 PM the next day, when He Zhengyu (2022) would appear on her sofa. Alone in her apartment, she desperately called out for He Zhengyu (2021) to appear, crying that she couldn't endure his games any longer.
