Love in Time Episode 3 Recap
> Love in Time Recap
In a convenience store that only opened in October 2022, Jialan enthusiastically ordered a variety of food items. She soon discovered her phone had no signal, which He Zhengyu explained was because it was 2022 and her phone bill was unpaid. Despite his offer to pay, Jialan, a journalist, insisted on using cash, emphasizing the importance of being prepared. As she paid, He Zhengyu commented on her affinity for Doraemon, which was on all her belongings.
Now convinced of the time travel, Jialan cited the "Javier incident" she'd seen on TikTok and expressed excitement about confirming the time-space overlap. She declared her intention to report the "cool" phenomenon, but He Zhengyu dismissed her, telling her not to be embarrassing. He explained that his own memories update constantly, citing a fight he'd had with the 2021 Jialan earlier that day—an encounter only possible due to the overlap.
Recognizing him as the man she had earlier mistaken for a pervert, Jialan decided she wanted to interview him. The winter air was cold, and Jialan shivered in her shorts. He Zhengyu pointed out her inappropriate attire and offered her his coat. Jialan explained that her earlier aggression was because she had mistaken him for a pervert. Showing her the bruise she'd given him, He Zhengyu sarcastically threatened a lawsuit.
As they argued, two bystanders watched, curious if a fight would break out. Noticing it was 10:47 PM and Jialan would disappear in five minutes, He Zhengyu pulled her under his coat to shield her from the suddenly falling rain. In the warmth and proximity, he became flustered and told her to go back. Jialan then vanished, leaving his coat to fall to the ground. He Zhengyu picked it up, feeling an unexpected sense of loss.
Later, He Zhengyu received a call from a distraught Wu Jirong, who tearfully apologized for getting him into trouble before abruptly hanging up. The next day, He Zhengyu and his associate, Zhou Dajun, waited outside Jirong's apartment. After spotting her brother, Wu Anwen, they followed his car to a nursing home, where they found Jirong. He Zhengyu tried to comfort her by reminiscing about her first movie and Best New Artist Award, but Jirong expressed fear of being forgotten.
When he gently questioned her about withdrawing her lawsuit against her husband, Jiang Shenghao, she broke down, blaming herself for everything. Wu Anwen intervened, revealing to a shocked He Zhengyu that Jirong was suffering from severe depression. He explained that Jirong had sacrificed immensely for Jiang Shenghao, who repeatedly hurt her, and that his recent public post disavowing ex-girlfriends had been a major trigger. Wu Anwen then lamented Jirong’s marriage, wishing he could turn back time.
In 2021, Jialan, an intern reporter for iNEWS, was covering a landslide. While her colleague Liu wanted a standard report, Jialan suspected a man-made cause after researching the local geology. She persuaded Liu to hike to the site, where she found evidence of human excavation and irrigation canals for ornamental plants, confirming her theory. There, she interviewed a man she assumed was a local, only to discover he was Mu Shiming, a renowned journalist and her idol.
Mu praised her journalistic instincts but gently critiqued her for revealing her conclusions prematurely to an interviewee. He later recognized her name, mentioning that her editor, Wen Yiru, often praised her work, and encouraged her. That evening, Jialan tidied her messy apartment in anticipation of the 10:06 PM overlap. He Zhengyu appeared on time and, seeing the clean room, joked that she had moved out.
To foster peace, they agreed on rules for their 46 minutes together: no using the bed or bathroom, no touching each other's belongings, and minimal interaction. Jialan added a fourth rule—no violence—and again apologized for their first encounter. The conversation soured when she accused him of only representing wealthy clients. He Zhengyu, defending his integrity, offered to show her a thank-you letter from an elderly client in his closet.
As he opened it, a pile of Jialan’s clothes tumbled out, staining his new shirt. Furious, he called her room a "dump" and declared he was moving out the next day, vowing to never see her again. He immediately called Zhou Dajun to arrange the move. While packing, He Zhengyu found a photo of Jialan with a man he recognized as Jiang Shenghao, nicknamed "Rat," leading him to assume they were childhood friends.
He then found a social media post from Jialan dated September 24, 2021, congratulating "Rat" and his fiancée, who she believed would be the happiest bride. Realizing this was Jiang Shenghao and Jirong, and connecting it to Wu Anwen's wish to turn back time, He Zhengyu saw an opportunity. He called off the move. Meanwhile, Jialan was celebrating a successful report with her colleagues when Jiang Shenghao called her away for an urgent, "life-long matter."
She met him at a venue he was preparing for his proposal to Jirong, complete with a photo wall of their memories, and he asked for her help. That night, He Zhengyu finalized his new plan: first, get along with Jialan, and second, ask her to help him meet the Jirong from four months prior. As the clock struck 10:06 PM, he braced for her arrival, and Jialan materialized directly in his arms.
