Pegasus Episode 23 Recap
> Pegasus Recap
Growing up, Zhendong would often ask his father to tell him stories. He loved the tales of wildebeests, admiring them for having many companions, unlike the polar bear his father likened himself to – capable but lonely. Zhendong promised that when he grew up, he would stay with his father so he wouldn't be alone. Now, looking at "Polar Bear"'s records, Zhendong persistently practiced driving, vowing to surpass Yu Tai'ang.
After disappearing for a while, Xiaohe asked Ye Gong if he had heard from Lin Zhendong. Zhendong was currently without a home or car to practice with, and the race was the next day. Ye Gong instructed Ji Xing to prepare for two possibilities, stating that Lin Zhendong was still considered part of the Speeding team since he hadn't joined Master, and the team agreed with their boss. The next day, the Shagouling circuit race began on a challenging track.
Wei Qianli started first, followed by Zhang Chi. Zhang Chi had adjusted his state, and Sun Yuqiang called out accurate pace notes. Li Aoduo trailed close behind, with the gaps between the racers remaining relatively small. Backstage, Xiaohe reported Zhang Chi's data. However, Zhang Chi's thoughts were preoccupied with what Lin Zhendong had said, and he seemed distracted. His team noticed his unusual state, believing he needed time to regain focus.
Yu Tai'ang started his run, and his times immediately showed his high skill level. Lin Zhendong was not competing in the actual race; instead, he was at home using a simulator to race against Yu Tai'ang's pace. He maintained a fast speed even without a co-driver, internally noting that if he could overcome Yu Tai'ang's specific difficulties, he could surpass him.
On the simulated track, the road ahead seemed to slow for Lin Zhendong, and his time gradually closed in on Yu Tai'ang's. In the final 500 meters, Zhang Chi finished, again failing to beat Wei Qianli. Yu Tai'ang finished, securing another victory. Meanwhile, Lin Zhendong's simulated race finished just 2. 082 seconds behind Yu Tai'ang's official time. Lin Zhendong removed his helmet, privately pleased with this result, seeing the gap between himself and his father figure narrowing.
Later, Lin Zhendong recorded a video message for his other personality, expressing how long it had been since "he" appeared and that he was worried. He confided that he had raced on the simulator today and almost caught up to Yu Tai'ang, hoping maybe next time "he" returned, Zhendong would have surpassed him. He felt these were things he couldn't tell anyone else. Knowing "he" was worried about Speeding, Zhendong apologized for leaving the team.
Reviewing the race results, Zhang Chi was not particularly bothered by losing to Wei Qianli, but expressed frustration with Lin Zhendong for not even participating in the race. Yu Gong subtly steered the conversation, intentionally sending Zhang Chi and Sun Yuqiang away so he could speak with the rest of the team privately. He wanted their opinions on Zhendong's serious absence and if they should ask him to return.
Sun Yuqiang voiced support for Lin Zhendong, noting he didn't join Master despite their offer and wasn't truly involved in the Hong Kuo incident. Xiaohe felt Zhendong just needed a way to reconcile, and Ye Gong believed they could create an opportunity for him. Yu Gong asked Weiyi to contact Officer Shen to find out where Lin Zhendong was living.
Meanwhile, at Master, Wei Qianli publicly praised Hong Kuo as an outstanding co-driver, stating he was exactly who Master had been looking for and would develop well there. However, when they were alone, Hong Kuo pressed Wei Qianli about when he would get formal work, training, and a partner, noting it had been half a month. Wei Qianli vaguely told him to adapt and that candidates were being considered, saying it takes time.
Desperate to find Lin Zhendong, Zhang Chi sought out Shen Xiting and falsely claimed Zhendong owed him eighteen yuan and had disappeared without paying. He insisted on collecting the debt himself and asked Xiting to deliver an important item, a coupon, to Zhendong. He then followed Xiting to Residence Shui'an. He overheard Xiting on the phone telling Zhendong the building and unit number (3-1) but not the floor.
As Zhang Chi tried to figure out which floor, he was surprised to see Xiaohe and Ye Gong also arriving. He hid behind a tree, but his phone rang, giving away his position. Xiaohe and Ye Gong then dragged him upstairs, insisting he needed to apologize to Lin Zhendong. Just as they confronted Lin Zhendong, Zhendong received a call from Zhang Chi's grandpa.
Grandpa asked if Zhang Chi's grandson had given him a necklace, mentioning the person was right next to Zhendong now. Zhendong, Zhang Chi, and Xiaohe quickly realized Grandpa was referring to something important given to him by future Zhang Chi. They decided to go back to the team workshop immediately to examine the item, asking Ye Gong to head back first while the three followed. Grandpa gave Zhang Chi a U-disk, which he had mistakenly called a necklace.
Grandpa had been stressed keeping it safe, even wearing it while showering. Suspecting it might be damaged, Zhang Chi volunteered to try fixing it. Back at the workshop, Zhang Chi worked on the U-disk, successfully repairing it. During this time, he explained the situation to Zhendong: the "other personality" was himself from 2027. He recounted how he had traveled to 2027 for a Bayanbulak race, aiming to beat Lin Zhendong.
After crossing the finish line, his brakes failed, sending him over a cliff, and he somehow became Lin Zhendong in the present. He stressed that the other version of Zhendong was Zhang Chi five years in the future. Zhendong was initially skeptical but the evidence made him believe. He understood then that the peculiar actions attributed to his "other self" were actually Zhang Chi's from 2027. Zhang Chi quipped that compared to him, Zhendong wasn't the weird one.
They called the rest of the team—Sun Yuqiang, Weiyi, Ji Xing, and Ye Gong—to gather, announcing a "newcomer." Weiyi played the recovered video from the U-disk. It was a message from Zhang Chi addressing Lin Zhendong. He reflected on the past half-year, acknowledging they hadn't met officially and likely wouldn't. He accepted that if Zhendong was seeing this video, he might not return, but found peace in the extraordinary experience it had been.
He mentioned seeing foolish online questions about advising one's past self and shared what he'd tell his younger self: don't refuse Wei Qianli's offer, listen more, be patient, think before acting. He had returned with regrets, hoping to help his younger self avoid mistakes and become successful and self-serving. However, he had come to realize that mistakes and detours were integral parts of who he was.
He spoke frankly to Zhendong, calling his overly planned life sometimes boring, but emphasized that there was no single right answer in life. What mattered was pursuing one's desired life with all effort and courageously fulfilling dreams. He told Zhendong not to constantly seek the correct answers, as he would eventually surpass Zhang Chi honestly. He felt he had merely accelerated Zhendong's path into racing.
Future Zhang Chi expressed frustration with his present self for getting injured, causing Wei Qianli to mock him. He had worried about changing the future, fearing Zhendong wouldn't reach his potential or might remain subordinate to present Zhang Chi at Speeding. He confidently stated that Zhendong would become the world's greatest racer, the best in his eyes. He told Zhendong not to worry about the Speeding team members, as he had made arrangements and said everything that needed saying.
He revealed he had arranged for their current workshop property to be purchased for 2. 8 million, explaining it was currently cheap but would be demolished for a million-dollar profit later. He had left the contracts for Zhendong to sign. Zhang Chi was surprised, having known nothing about it. Future Zhang Chi concluded, reflecting that he had intended to teach them but had learned much himself.
He said goodbye to them in their youth, wishing them freedom and vigor to live their lives to the fullest. In a hospital room, a medical monitor beside a figure beeped.
