The Heart of Genius Recap, Plot, Synopsis
The Heart of Genius Synopsis
After graduating from the philosophy department, Lin Zhaoxi’s life was not satisfactory. She had the seeds of mathematics buried in her heart, but due to her long time admiring her father Lin Zhaosheng and her first love Pei Zhi, two mathematical geniuses, she was not confident until she experienced two trips to parallel time and space and burst out with power beyond her imagination.
The first time Zhaoxi came to the parallel time was when she was only twelve years old. With the help of Lin Zhaosheng, she spent a summer vacation in the Olympic summer camp, regained confidence in mathematics, and decided to take the initiative in life.
On her second time travel, Lin Zhaoxi returned to her senior year of high school with Pei Zhi. In their side-by-side battle, Lin Zhaoxi gained the courage to face life in a positive way.
Back in the real world, Lin Zhaoxi prepared for her graduate studies in mathematics while participating in a modeling competition to earn prize money to subsidize her family.
In order to help her father, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, recover soon, Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi work together to promote the research of P/NP problems and climb to the top of mathematics.
The Heart of Genius Recap
Episode 1 Recap
Lin Zhaoxi, who had just obtained her driver's license, was riding her bicycle through the alleys of Anping, feeling a calm that belied her 23 years. Ever since her childhood sweetheart, Pei Zhi, left for university in Germany, Lin Zhaoxi had changed, adopting a mature demeanor that kept her composed in any situation. Her father, Lin Zhaosheng, a mathematical genius, had forgone opportunities to study abroad to raise her, working as an accountant at a middle school.
Despite his wishes for her to study mathematics, Lin Zhaoxi chose philosophy. After college, she began an internship at a school and meticulously planned her life, including blind dates, cooking classes, and getting her driver's license. Returning home on her bicycle, Lin Zhaoxi was greeted by her best friend, Bao Xiaomeng, who brought her boyfriend Zhu's new automatic car for Lin Zhaoxi to practice driving. Bao Xiaomeng reassured her not to worry about scratches, as the car had full insurance.
Despite Bao Xiaomeng's encouragement, Lin Zhaoxi drove cautiously, reciting manual transmission driving formulas learned in driving school. Bao Xiaomeng pointed out that she was driving an automatic car as if it were a manual and retrieved a hand-drawn map from Lin Zhaoxi's bag, marveling at her friend’s thoroughness. During her internship, the Academic Affair Office director, Director Gao, introduced Lin Zhaoxi to her nephew for a blind date. Lin Zhaoxi reluctantly agreed.
The nephew, trying to impress her, spoke about philosophy and German education, using cliches he seemed to be looking up on his phone. When he mentioned Einstein getting one point in math as a child, Lin Zhaoxi corrected him, explaining that in Germany, a one-point score is the highest, not the lowest. Unbeknownst to Lin Zhaoxi, her father, Lin Zhaosheng, had arrived at the school by bus to see her and discreetly left upon seeing her on the date.
Later that day, Lin Zhaosheng waited for Lin Zhaoxi at their doorstep. He encouraged her to reconcile with Pei Zhi and prepare for the mathematics postgraduate entrance exam. Lin Zhaoxi expressed no interest in pursuing Pei Zhi or the exam, but Lin Zhaosheng knew she had secretly bought math exam textbooks.
He urged her not to give up, but Lin Zhaoxi, having been out of touch with math for four years, felt disheartened, remarking that "growing up is learning to compromise" and that people don't always do what they like. Meanwhile, Pei Zhi, having returned to China, left a group photo in Lin Zhaoxi's mailbox after seeing her and her father return home.
The next morning, as Lin Zhaoxi drove to work, Director Gao called, pushing for a second date between Lin Zhaoxi and her nephew. Lin Zhaoxi politely declined. Director Gao then criticized Lin Zhaoxi, mentioning her modest family background and average looks, suggesting she shouldn't feel inferior because her prestigious university degree still offered her a chance within their family. Lin Zhaoxi tried to clarify her stance, but the conversation was abruptly interrupted.
At a red light, Lin Zhaoxi's car was rear-ended. Before she could react, a man and a woman rushed into her car, urging her to drive faster. Journalists soon appeared, and Lin Zhaoxi realized the man was the actor Ji Jiang. Without time to think, she drove them away. Inside the car, Ji Jiang complained to the female singer about meeting at a hotel for script rehearsal, leading to paparazzi photos. He then forced the singer out of the car.
Lin Zhaoxi silently labeled him a "scumbag" and demanded compensation for her car. Ji Jiang readily agreed, asking her to pull over in a secluded spot. He gave her 1,000 yuan, much more than the 300 yuan estimated for repairs, then quickly left. Before leaving, he also took her contact information and address, threatening legal action if she spread rumors about their conversation, stressing that it was a private matter.
Lin Zhaoxi arrived home late to find her father leaving for his workplace. Lin Zhaosheng told her to eat first, mentioning he was just going to his unit and would be back soon. Later, Lin Zhaosheng received a call from his colleague, Sun Peigen, informing him that a window in the finance office was open. He rushed to the school, closed the window, and checked the safe, finding the money intact.
As he turned to leave, he was attacked from behind and knocked unconscious. Lin Zhaoxi was about to sleep when she received a call from the police, informing her that Lin Zhaosheng was hospitalized. She hurried to the hospital, where the police explained that her father was found unconscious in the school's finance office that morning, and 170,000 yuan was stolen.
They revealed that Sun Peigen had called Lin Zhaosheng to close the window, and he was ambushed as he was leaving the office. Lin Zhaosheng was in a coma due to a severe head injury. Lin Zhaoxi called Bao Xiaomeng to ask her to care for her father while she went home to retrieve money. In Lin Zhaosheng's room, she discovered old photos of herself, each with a handwritten note detailing the date, her age, and the activity.
Section Chief Sun from the school's security department called Lin Zhaoxi in, blaming Lin Zhaosheng for negligence and for concealing his Alzheimer's disease, which Lin Zhaoxi was completely unaware of. He emphasized that while the school was not pursuing Lin Zhaosheng for the lost 170,000 yuan, medical expenses were her responsibility. Lin Zhaoxi then spoke with the doctor, who revealed Lin Zhaosheng had been receiving treatment for Alzheimer's for five years, and his condition had worsened significantly in recent months.
The doctor couldn't predict when he would wake up. Lin Zhaoxi stayed by her father's bedside, but Bao Xiaomeng insisted she go home to rest, offering to watch over Lin Zhaosheng. Back home, Lin Zhaoxi found the group photo in her mailbox, triggering memories of her childhood. She recalled failing to get into Zhang Shuping's Math Olympic training camp, and her father comforting her despite his apparent disappointment.
She then saw a wall in her house covered with mathematical formulas that she and her father had written. Ji Jiang abruptly appeared, recognizing the photo as one from Zhang Shuping's Math Olympic training camp, which he had also attended. He pointed out discrepancies in the photo, mentioning that Pei Zhi had left the camp after only two days due to a conflict with Zhang Shuping and never participated in the competition.
Lin Zhaoxi then confessed that the photo was faked by her father, who had Photoshopped her into it because she hadn't been accepted. Feeling immense guilt, she began furiously scrubbing the mathematical formulas off the wall. Ji Jiang tried to stop her, leading to a struggle. Suddenly, a temporal shift occurred, and they were transported from 2018 back to 2006.
Lin Zhaoxi, now an 11-year-old, was brought into the office of Director Dang Aiping after a fight with other children at a welfare home. Confused and disoriented, Lin Zhaoxi insisted she was 23 and from 2018, desperate to return home. Director Dang, believing Lin Zhaoxi was hallucinating from reading too many novels, was saddened that she didn't consider the orphanage her home, given that she had supposedly grown up there.
Lin Zhaoxi refused to believe this and continued to demand to be let out, prompting Director Dang to lock her in the office for reflection. Lin Zhaoxi tried to call her father but discovered the number was out of service. Searching through archived files, Lin Zhaoxi found a document stating that Director Dang Aiping had found her as an abandoned infant at the welfare home's entrance in 1995.
A white paper found with her specified her name, Lin Zhaoxi, and birthdate, but her parents were unknown. As she pondered what had happened, Ji Jiang entered, bringing her food. He asked her to identify the host city of the 24th Winter Olympics, and when she correctly answered "Beijing," he immediately recognized her as a fellow time-traveler.
Ji Jiang, revealing his birth name was Dang Aimin, nicknamed Hua Juan, and that he grew up in this very orphanage before being adopted, showed her his own file. They both realized they had traveled back to 2006 and wondered if the time reversal was caused by the photo or by erasing the formulas. Lin Zhaoxi noticed her father, Lin Zhaosheng, in the photo, which led her to believe it wasn't Photoshopped by him after all.
Director Dang Aiping entered, sending them both to their rooms, with Lin Zhaoxi hoping to wake up and find everything returned to normal. Ji Jiang, however, found the secret of their time travel "exciting," comparing it to a spy drama and emphasizing the importance of not revealing their identities. The next morning, Ji Jiang woke Lin Zhaoxi, confirming they were still in 2006, attending Hongxing Elementary School, Class 2, Grade 5.
Episode 2 Recap
Ji Jiang, who was known as Dang Aimin in his childhood, woke Lin Zhaoxi up for school. Lin Zhaoxi vehemently resisted, declaring that as a 23-year-old adult, she shouldn't have to attend primary school. Ji Jiang warned her that such behavior would lead to her being labeled as mentally unstable or punished for truancy. Lin Zhaoxi refused to carry her "ugly" schoolbag, decorated with "Gunara, the God of Darkness" and "Balala the Fairies" characters, stating she'd rather be institutionalized.
She then confided in Ji Jiang, outlining her plan to return to their original time. They would first go to her house's front door, as that was where their time travel began, and search for the mathematical formula on the wall. If found, erasing it might send them back. If not, she intended to tear up the photo they possessed.
Should both attempts fail, she would seek out Lin Zhaosheng, her father, to understand why she had become an orphan in this new timeline. Ji Jiang found her reasoning "super sensible." Their conversation was cut short when Mrs. Li, a caregiver from the welfare home, called the children to gather for school.
As Mrs. Li escorted the children to school, Lin Zhaoxi seized an opportunity at the school gate to pull Ji Jiang onto a bus heading back to her old home. Meanwhile, at school, the teacher discovered their absence and contacted Mrs. Li, who became distraught. The director, Dang Aiping, tried to calm her as Mrs. Li searched the dorms and contacted hospitals and traffic police, relieved that no accidents involving children were reported.
Lin Zhaoxi and Ji Jiang arrived at her former residence, only to find the wall where the formula should have been was bare. Ji Jiang tore up the photograph, but nothing happened. With no other options, a desperate Lin Zhaoxi resolved to find Lin Zhaosheng. Soon after, Lin Zhaosheng arrived home on his motorcycle with his girlfriend, Qian. Lin Zhaoxi confronted him, addressing him as "Dad," but he did not recognize her.
She rattled off precise details about his life, including his birth year (1973), birth hospital (Second People's Hospital), his grandparents' names (Lin Shixiang and Song Chunhua), and his elementary and middle schools (Changgeng and No. 3 Middle School). Hearing that Lin Zhaosheng supposedly had a daughter, Qian grew angry, calling him a "liar" and "trash" before riding off, ignoring his pleas.
Lin Zhaoxi persisted, explaining that she was his 23-year-old daughter from 2018, who had mysteriously traveled back in time after he fell into a coma. Lin Zhaosheng, convinced she was delusional, abruptly left. Ji Jiang tried to rationalize the situation with Lin Zhaoxi, pointing out that her father now believed she was mentally unwell and would not listen. He suggested they return to the welfare home and devise a better plan.
Lin Zhaoxi, however, expressed her frustration, reminded him that her real father was still in a coma in 2018, and criticized Ji Jiang's lack of concrete ideas, scoffing at his repeated suggestions of "time travel." Ji Jiang defended himself, saying he was an actor, not a physicist, and that their collective attempts, like erasing formulas or ripping photos, were equally unscientific. Later, Mrs. Li found them at a local eatery, where she treated them to their favorite dishes.
She conveyed her deep concern, mentioning that five teachers and she had searched extensively for them. She gently reminded them that they were generally well-behaved, especially Lin Zhaoxi, who was usually more independent. Mrs. Li’s compassionate demeanor caused Lin Zhaoxi to feel genuine remorse, leading her to apologize for skipping class and causing worry, and for not valuing her learning opportunities. Mrs. Li then urged them to return to school after lunch.
Ji Jiang, observing the interaction, remarked that it was Mrs. Li’s "psychology battle" tactic, akin to a girlfriend subtly making her boyfriend feel guilty without direct confrontation. He conceded that they had no choice but to go back to school, lamenting their fate of having to repeat primary school after 16 years of education. Back in class, Lin Zhaoxi was unable to focus.
She failed to recite a passage from her Chinese textbook and was made to stand at the back of the classroom. During a break, she complained to Ji Jiang that she would go mad if she stayed in primary school. Their classmate, Lu Zhihao, overheard them discussing "eloping" (a misunderstanding on his part) and threatened to tell his mother, who was their class teacher. Recognizing Lu Zhihao as his future agent, Ji Jiang quickly tried to appease him.
Lu Zhihao demanded Fang Wensan's new CD in exchange for his silence. At a music store, Lin Zhaoxi was surprised by the availability of Fang Wensan’s new CD in 2006. This prompted her to drag Ji Jiang to an internet cafe, where they discovered several discrepancies in this timeline. Celebrities had different names (e. g. , Ge You was "Ge You," Yu Qian was "Yu Xiaoqian"), and other significant events were altered.
Lin Zhaoxi realized they hadn't merely traveled to the past but had entered a "parallel world," which she dubbed the "Cheese World," as opposed to their "Strawberry World" origin. She explained that even minor changes could lead to entirely different life trajectories. She pointed out that Lin Zhaosheng, her father in the "Strawberry World," never had long hair, but in this "Cheese World," he did, as evidenced by the photo they carried.
Lin Zhaoxi hypothesized that the photo represented a future possibility within this "Cheese World." She proposed that by consciously fulfilling the conditions depicted in the photo—specifically, both of them qualifying for Zhang Shuping's Olympiad math training camp—they might trigger a return to their "Strawberry World." Ji Jiang agreed to this ambitious plan.
During a volunteer event at the welfare home, Lin Zhaoxi, adorned with a hairpin and skirt chosen by the director, Dang Aiping, managed to slip away with Ji Jiang. They visited Lin Zhaosheng’s house, where Lin Zhaoxi retrieved a spare key from the mailbox and let them in. She inquired about Lin Zhaosheng’s whereabouts from a neighbor, Auntie Song, pretending to be his niece.
Auntie Song informed her that Lin Zhaosheng worked at the Youth Palace, although he frequently changed jobs. Inside his house, they found a profusion of math books and materials, confirming his enduring passion for mathematics, despite being an accountant in her original world. Ji Jiang remarked on the room's chaotic state, calling it more typical of a single man in his thirties than the "respectable academician" persona he initially projected.
Their search for Lin Zhaosheng at the Youth Palace proved fruitless, as no one named Lin Zhaosheng worked there. As they left, they stumbled upon a street vendor peddling a "calculation book" for 100 yuan. Lin Zhaoxi quickly identified it as a pirated copy of a book by Arthur Benjamin and Michael Shermer, which retailed for only 17. 5 yuan. The vendor, feeling exposed, challenged her to a mental math duel. A passerby offered a complex division problem.
While Lin Zhaoxi struggled, a young boy named Pei Zhi quickly and accurately provided the precise answer. Pei Zhi then accused the vendor of using a plant in the crowd to pose the question. The angry vendor chased the three children, but Lin Zhaosheng intervened, tripping the vendor and driving him away for selling pirated goods. Lin Zhaoxi once again tried to convince Lin Zhaosheng that she was his daughter.
He remained skeptical and tested her knowledge of his preferences, asking about his favorite food and hobbies. Lin Zhaoxi's answers, based on her memories of her "Strawberry World" father, were incorrect. For instance, he preferred chicken wing "middles" instead of "tips", and his hobbies here included motorcycling, billiards, clubbing, and hiking, not math or chess. He even spoke a few sentences in the Shanghai dialect to prove his life experiences were different. Lin Zhaosheng firmly rejected her claims.
Pei Zhi and Ji Jiang, now acquainted, exchanged names. Ji Jiang, momentarily forgetting himself, introduced himself as "Ji" before correcting to "Dang Aimin," adding that his nickname was Hua Juan and they were from the Hongxing Welfare Home. Pei Zhi introduced himself in return.
Episode 3 Recap
Lin Zhaoxi adamantly sought recognition from Lin Zhaosheng, who, unaware of their relationship, refused to acknowledge her. He explained his hobbies to her as motorcycles, billiards, clubbing, and hiking, claiming to have even worked in Shanghai for two years and demonstrating his Shanghai dialect, all of which Lin Zhaoxi dismissed as dreams. Their conversation was interrupted by Yao, Lin Zhaosheng’s girlfriend and a dance teacher at the Youth Palace, who came to pick him up from the mail room.
Lin Zhaosheng quickly introduced Lin Zhaoxi, Pei Zhi, and Ji Jiang as his math students. Yao didn't question it, and they left on his motorcycle. Ji Jiang, amused, remarked on Lin Zhaosheng's succession of "pretty girlfriends," but Lin Zhaoxi remained firm in her denial of him being her father. Pei Zhi then prepared to leave for his Go class.
Lin Zhaoxi, still holding a grudge from her future self in the Strawberry World, lashed out at him, telling him she hoped he would "never come back" or call her again. Confused, Pei Zhi didn't understand her words, and Lin Zhaoxi quickly apologized, explaining she had mistaken him for "an asshole with the same name." She revealed she knew his name because teachers at Hongxing Elementary School constantly praised him as the top student from Experimental Elementary School.
Before he left, Pei Zhi asked her name, and she introduced herself as Lin Zhaoxi. Lin Zhaoxi reflected on past events in the Strawberry World in 2010. She and Pei Zhi were both honored as outstanding students. During the award ceremony, a clumsy Lin Zhaoxi accidentally bumped into Pei Zhi. Later, conversations among her classmates highlighted Pei Zhi's brilliance in math, earning him the nickname "alien."
They also discussed a superstition that if two people shared the same number of strokes in their names, their chances of a predestined marriage would double. A classmate noted that Lin Zhaoxi and Ji Jiang both had twelve strokes in their names, but Lin Zhaoxi playfully suggested changing her name to Lin Dongxi to match Pei Zhi's name stroke count. Lin Zhaosheng, amused, teased her about the name change while reminding her to do her homework.
The next day, Lin Zhaosheng brought Pei Zhi to their home for math tutoring. Lin Zhaoxi was thrilled, seeing it as a sign that the "probability has been doubled." Pei Zhi remembered Lin Zhaoxi from school, but she corrected him, offering her new nickname, Lin Dongxi, instead. Lin Zhaosheng began teaching Pei Zhi about graph theory, including vertex sets, edge sets, and undirected edges. Lin Zhaoxi tried to participate but couldn't grasp the concepts, despite her insistence on listening.
Lin Zhaosheng explained that such advanced topics were beyond her age and praised Pei Zhi as a genius. Later, Ji Jiang led Lin Zhaoxi to their childhood "secret base," a room he hadn't visited in years. The light bulb suddenly burst, plunging them into darkness. Da Tou then appeared, revealing that their friend Jiao Zi had been adopted by college professors named Ji, who also planned to help with Jiao Zi's illness.
Ji Jiang was devastated, realizing he had missed his chance to be adopted by his own future parents in this world because he had been out with Lin Zhaoxi. Lin Zhaoxi felt deep regret, but acknowledged that her relationship with her father in the Strawberry World was also strained by his constant disappointment in her, suggesting that perhaps not having him here might be easier.
Lin Zhaoxi then confessed her lifelong struggle with math, recalling her failure to get into Zhang Shuping’s training camp and her father's unspoken disappointment. She contrasted herself with Pei Zhi, who became a prodigy and a close friend to her father, only to leave for Germany without a trace, leaving her father heartbroken. Despite her lack of talent, Lin Zhaoxi admitted her love for math, acknowledging her chances of success were slim, perhaps "one percent."
Ji Jiang reassured her, "one percent is better than zero," praising her intelligence and emphasizing that hard work trumps IQ. Lin Zhaoxi then confided that her father in the Strawberry World was in a coma after a robbery, intensifying her desire to return to him. Ji Jiang, now an orphan in this world, vowed to help her, and they made a pinky promise to "do their best to go home together."
The following morning, a welfare worker woke them up to meet potential adoptive parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jia. Determined to avoid adoption in this parallel world, Lin Zhaoxi and Ji Jiang hatched a plan. During the interview, Ji Jiang declared his ambition to be an actor, while Lin Zhaoxi claimed to read obscure philosophical texts like "The Phenomenology of Spirit," even reciting passages.
Ji Jiang then shocked the couple by describing the "scratching reflex" in brainless frogs, a detailed and unsettling account that successfully scared off Mr. and Mrs. Jia. Afterward, Mrs. Li expressed her frustration, reminding Lin Zhaoxi of the immense challenges a girl without family support and education would face.
Lin Zhaoxi apologized for her "willfulness" but stood firm, revealing their goal: to get into Zhang Shuping’s Olympic math training camp, win a gold medal in the Jin's Competition, and prove that even orphans from the welfare home can achieve greatness. Moved by their ambition, Mrs. Li agreed to support them until the competition. Lin Zhaoxi spent all her free time trying to get Lin Zhaosheng to acknowledge her.
Her sincerity slowly began to wear down his defenses, though he still tried to push her away. During one visit, she attempted to engage him by discussing a book by Lu Xun’s grandnephew, but Lin Zhaosheng dismissed her, insisting he had other plans. Meanwhile, Zhang Shuping met with education officials to discuss his Olympic math training camp. He laid out his strict conditions: complete autonomy, three months' use of the Oasis Camp, and support from Sanwei University’s math department.
He asserted that Olympic math was "crueler than the college entrance exam" and not a shortcut, dismissing concerns about student psychology and parental acceptance. As summer vacation began, their teacher announced that Lu Zhihao, Lin Zhaoxi, and Dang Aimin (Ji Jiang) had signed up for the camp. Their classmate Lu Zhihao boasted about enrolling only because his father promised him a computer to play "World of Warcraft" and disparaged Lin Zhaoxi and Ji Jiang's chances.
Lin Zhaoxi and Ji Jiang diligently worked on math problems. They tackled a riddle about a gold bar needing two cuts to make daily payments for seven days. Ji Jiang struggled until Lin Zhaoxi revealed the solution: cuts creating segments in a 1:2:4 ratio. Realizing he once knew this, Ji Jiang lamented his forgotten knowledge, which Lin Zhaoxi attributed to his long break from math.
He begged her to teach him, emphasizing that they needed to enter the camp together to take the crucial photograph. Lin Zhaoxi, acknowledging her own limitations, suggested Pei Zhi could teach them. They found Pei Zhi at a Go class, where he effortlessly defeated Zhang Liang, his classmate and rival. Ji Jiang rushed to hug Pei Zhi, imploring him for Olympic math tutoring.
Zhang Liang intervened, mocking Ji Jiang and Lin Zhaoxi as "trash students from a trash school" and warning Pei Zhi not to associate with them, lest he become "stupid." Lin Zhaoxi retorted, defending Ji Jiang and questioning Zhang Liang's "sense of superiority." Zhang Liang challenged them to a game to determine who was "stupid." Lin Zhaoxi proposed a game of Bash Game with seventeen beans, with players taking one to three at a time.
She secured her victory on the first move by taking one bean. After Zhang Liang conceded, surprised by the quick loss, Pei Zhi explained the winning strategy: by taking one, Lin Zhaoxi ensured she could always leave Zhang Liang with a multiple of four beans, guaranteeing her victory. Ji Jiang suggested they flee, but Lin Zhaoxi insisted on staying, explaining that Zhang Liang was a "core character" in the photograph they needed to replicate.
Zhang Liang soon returned with four other boys—Jia Bing, Liu Xu, Shi Zhe, and Chen Chengcheng—proudly introducing themselves as the "Winning Five Tigers." Ji Jiang jokingly called them a "boy band." Zhang Liang then challenged Lin Zhaoxi to another game, using four boxes of Go pieces and allowing them to take one to five pieces at a time.
Pei Zhi offered to play for Lin Zhaoxi, but she refused, asserting it was a "battle between Hongxing and Experimental" schools, though Pei Zhi clarified there were "no enemies." As they began, Zhang Liang's friends left to rally more students from Experimental Elementary School.
Episode 4 Recap
Lin Zhaoxi and Zhang Liang began their competition. Ji Jiang, seeing Zhang Liang’s friends from Experimental Elementary School gather to cheer him on, tried to rally support from Hongxing Elementary School students for Lin Zhaoxi. However, only Lu Zhihao joined him, and even Lu Zhihao temporarily switched allegiance to Zhang Liang. Pei Zhi observed silently, occasionally offering Lin Zhaoxi subtle guidance. Zhang Liang, overly eager to win, made a crucial mistake.
Lin Zhaoxi, composed, capitalized on his error to secure an easy victory, leaving Zhang Liang to depart dejectedly. Lin Zhaosheng, hearing of the commotion, arrived just in time to witness Lin Zhaoxi’s triumph, which greatly impressed him. Intrigued, Lin Zhaosheng decided to test Pei Zhi's abilities. After losing twice, Pei Zhi promptly bowed and asked Lin Zhaosheng to be his master.
Lin Zhaoxi and Ji Jiang also expressed their desire to learn, explaining they wanted to excel in math to qualify for Zhang Shuping’s Math Olympiad training camp. Lin Zhaosheng reluctantly agreed, humorously revealing that he and Zhang Shuping were rivals in love, and that Zhang Shuping had been his classmate and had been defeated by him. He advised them not to mention his name to Zhang Shuping, or even a perfect score wouldn't guarantee admission.
Lin Zhaoxi then requested a photo with Lin Zhaosheng at a future date and time of her choosing, to which he readily agreed. Meanwhile, Pei Zhi's mother, believing math to be useless beyond academic excellence, pressured him to take Go lessons. However, Pei Zhi disliked Go and secretly skipped his classes to learn math from Lin Zhaosheng.
Lin Zhaosheng tailored his teaching methods to each student; Lin Zhaoxi and Ji Jiang were given endless test papers, while Pei Zhi, being more advanced, was assigned mathematical literature, a task he found enjoyable. Ji Jiang, feeling the unfairness, complained about the arduous test-taking regimen compared to Pei Zhi's relaxed study. Lin Zhaoxi reminded him that persistent practice was essential for passing the training camp exam, urging him to focus and avoid being a "trainee" in this world.
She reminisced about their time in Strawberry World, recalling Ji Jiang’s optimistic and carefree nature, even when he faced a scandal with a female celebrity, which he dismissed as an attempt to leverage his fame. The day of the training camp selection exam arrived. Zhang Liang, Pei Zhi, Ji Jiang, and Lin Zhaoxi were all present. Lin Zhaoxi waited anxiously for Lin Zhaosheng, disappointed when he didn't appear. Pei Donglai, Pei Zhi's father, brought him to the exam.
Lin Zhaoxi, recalling that Pei Donglai had passed away during Pei Zhi's junior high years in her original timeline, felt a pang of concern. Ji Jiang suggested warning Pei Zhi, but Lin Zhaoxi, unsure of the details and fearing it would cause unnecessary alarm, decided against it. Zhang Liang confidently declared his intention to win. Thirty minutes into the exam, Pei Zhi had already finished and submitted his paper.
Zhang Liang and Lin Zhaoxi, both facing the challenging final question, eventually completed their tests. As Lin Zhaoxi exited, she found Lin Zhaosheng and Pei Zhi waiting for her, with Ji Jiang soon joining them. Lin Zhaosheng, claiming to be "just passing by," casually asked about the last question's answer, which Pei Zhi and Lin Zhaoxi both confirmed as two-thirds. Lin Zhaoxi explained that she remembered the answer from a dream about Strawberry World.
She then insisted Lin Zhaosheng pay for their celebratory meal, which he reluctantly agreed to after a humorous exchange about him footing the bill for their free lessons. They then raced off, eager to celebrate. Soon after, Pei Donglai received a phone call from his wife, informing him that Pei Zhi had been skipping his Go classes. They rushed to the Youth Palace, where they encountered Lin Zhaosheng and the children.
Pei Zhi's mother immediately accused Lin Zhaosheng of being a swindler and misleading her son. Pei Zhi bravely interjected, stating clearly that he disliked Go and preferred studying math with his master. Lin Zhaosheng, to defend himself, presented his academic credentials, including his undergraduate degree from Yongchuan University and his postgraduate studies at Sanwei University, along with his published math thesis from 1993, to prove his expertise.
Ji Jiang tried to smooth things over by comparing Lin Zhaosheng to the "Sweeping Monk" from a martial arts novel, highlighting his hidden talents despite his humble appearance. However, he also inadvertently mentioned Lin Zhaosheng's rougher edges (smoking, drinking, long hair, swearing, and "beating people"), which only agitated Pei Zhi's mother further.
Lin Zhaoxi tried to explain that mathematicians were respected professionals, but Pei Zhi's mother remained prejudiced against math as a career path, declaring that her son's math skills were already sufficient and forbidding him from returning to the Youth Palace for lessons. The selection results for Zhang Shuping's Math Olympiad training camp were released. Out of 1245 applicants, only 80 were chosen.
Zhang Shuping noted that Pei Zhi, Zhang Liang, and Lin Zhaoxi were the only three students to achieve perfect scores, with many others missing only the last challenging problem. At home, Pei Zhi's father attempted to cheer him up, but Pei Zhi remained focused on convincing his mother to let him attend the training camp.
With his father's help, Pei Zhi used Euler's Seven Bridges problem to illustrate the profound and unexpected discoveries that can stem from seemingly simple mathematical questions. He passionately argued for the importance of math and the opportunity to make new friends and broaden his horizons at the training camp. His father supported him, emphasizing the value of childhood friendships. After much persuasion, Pei Zhi’s mother reluctantly agreed to let him go, prioritizing his social development and happiness.
Lin Zhaoxi and Ji Jiang were overjoyed to learn they had also been accepted into Zhang Shuping's Math Olympiad training camp, feeling one step closer to their goal of returning to Strawberry World. As they prepared to depart, Lin Zhaosheng was nowhere to be found. Lin Zhaoxi went to the mail room, where a colleague informed her that Lin Zhaosheng had left a package for her. Unbeknownst to them, Lin Zhaosheng was secretly watching Lin Zhaoxi from Yao's dance studio, while Yao tried to teach him some dance moves, remarking on how well they matched.
Episode 5 Recap
Lin Zhaosheng's mind was preoccupied while with Yao, his thoughts drifting to Lin Zhaoxi. He wished for her to live a simple life, yet understood her inherent drive, fearing she might later regret not pursuing her true potential. Meanwhile, Lin Zhaoxi, despite outwardly feigning indifference, felt a pang of sadness that Lin Zhaosheng hadn't come to see her off. Ji Jiang, observing her, reassured her, asserting that Lin Zhaosheng was truly her father, "He's your real dad.
He's your dad in every sense. That's the tie of kinship." Ji Jiang then opened a package Lin Zhaosheng had left for Lin Zhaoxi, which, much to their surprise, wasn't pocket money but a thick book titled "Secret to Success," filled with mathematical strategies, leaving Lin Zhaoxi impressed by her father's thoughtfulness. The students soon arrived at Oasis Camp, its beautiful scenery a stark contrast to the competitive atmosphere brewing.
Zhang Liang and his group, the "Winning Five Tigers," immediately began to challenge Lin Zhaoxi's group. Ji Jiang noticed Lu Zhihao among Zhang Liang's contingent and scoffed, reminding him of how Zhang Liang had previously cast him aside in the Strawberry World. Lin Zhaoxi, meanwhile, was discreetly scanning the faces, relieved to confirm that all the individuals from the important group photo she needed were present.
Her optimism waned as Ji Jiang explained the camp's rigorous elimination process: students would be expelled if they failed tests, with only about twenty remaining for the final photo. Lin Zhaoxi expressed her frustration, realizing that the elimination of even one person from the photo would jeopardize her entire plan to return to her own world. Zhang Shuping formally welcomed the students via broadcast, outlining the demanding nature of the "Jin Cup Olympic Mathematics Selection Training Camp for Pupils."
He reiterated that only five students would ultimately represent their city in the Jin Cup competition, and throughout the month, multiple tests would progressively eliminate low-scoring participants. He then announced the immediate first test, requiring students to carry all their luggage to Room 501 on the fifth floor of the teaching building, with papers due by 12:00 PM. The five lowest-scoring students would be sent home that very afternoon. The announcement, particularly the luggage requirement, caused an uproar.
Lin Zhaoxi voiced her concern for her peers, prompting Pei Zhi to propose a "relay" system: he would stay downstairs to watch everyone's luggage while they took the test, confidently stating he only needed ten minutes to finish his own exam. Zhang Shuping, observing this from his office, acknowledged Pei Zhi's "sacrificial spirit" but insisted he must face the consequences of his choice.
Lin Zhaoxi swiftly calculated the time, determining she needed to complete her exam by 11:44 AM to allow Pei Zhi sufficient time. She raced up the stairs to the fifth floor and diligently worked through the questions. Finishing first, she quickly handed in her paper and hurried back downstairs to swap with Pei Zhi. With approximately eleven minutes remaining before the deadline, Pei Zhi calmly entered the examination room and efficiently completed his test.
Zhang Shuping promptly graded the papers, announcing the results to the students. While Liang Shuang scored 72, Lu Zhihao 63, Chen Chengcheng 75, Liu Xu 81, and Yu Tianjiao 65, Lin Zhaoxi achieved 91 points, and Zhang Liang 98. Pei Zhi, to everyone's amazement, earned a perfect score of 100, prompting widespread applause. Ji Jiang, defending Lin Zhaoxi, pointed out that Zhang Liang had taken significantly longer to complete his test.
Zhang Shuping then announced the elimination of the five lowest-scoring students, none of whom had reached 60 points, and confirmed their parents had been notified. This immediate expulsion deeply unnerved the remaining students. Zhang Shuping justified the challenging test conditions, explaining they were designed to prepare students for unexpected, stressful situations, such as taking an exam while unwell.
When Lin Zhaoxi questioned the practicality of preparing for low-probability extreme scenarios, Zhang Shuping firmly stated that in modern society, examinations are a necessary and relatively fair method for allocating educational resources. He then penalized Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi for violating camp discipline with their "relay" scheme, sentencing them to clean the teaching building's courtyard every morning at 6 AM for the next week.
After the class meeting, Zhang Shuping instructed other teachers to escort the remaining students to their dorms. He personally oversaw the departure of the eliminated five students, a somber scene that left the others feeling as if they were in an "Olympic math battle royale." Meanwhile, Lin Zhaosheng, troubled by Lin Zhaoxi's persistent claim of being his daughter, visited the orphanage where she had been abandoned in 1995.
He learned that she was found with only a note bearing her name. This information, coupled with a friend's encouragement to face his responsibilities, further deepened Lin Zhaosheng's internal conflict and doubt. At the camp's opening ceremony, Zhang Liang delivered a formal speech as the student representative. Zhang Shuping then introduced Professor Zeng Qingran, a renowned mathematician and tenured professor from Sanwei University, as the honorary principal.
Unable to attend in person due to an international conference, Professor Zeng presented a captivating video message. He discussed the universe's origin through the Big Bang, emphasizing the vastness of the unknown and its inherent beauty, encouraging the young mathematicians to embrace exploration.
During the ceremony, the camp's official student rankings, based on the two exams, were also revealed: Pei Zhi stood alone in the top tier, while Zhang Liang and Lin Zhaoxi were among the thirteen students in the second tier, considered most likely to reach the finals. The next morning, Lin Zhaoxi arrived for her cleaning duty to find that Pei Zhi and Ji Jiang, now playfully engaged in mock sword-fighting, had already completed the task.
The three then headed to the canteen, where Ji Jiang indulged in the food, celebrating the freedom from the strict diet he maintained as a celebrity in the Strawberry World. Lin Zhaoxi, however, had little appetite, worried about the future eliminations. She showed Pei Zhi a list of the photo-group members' previous test scores, noting that several were barely passing.
Realizing that the elimination of even one of them would derail her crucial plan to return to her world, Lin Zhaoxi resolved to help them all. Professor Zeng Qingran had also sent a Kongming Chess set as a challenge to the camp, which Pei Zhi, ever the problem solver, immediately began to play. Later, Jie Ran announced the rules for the upcoming elimination test, scheduled for the afternoon of the 20th.
Given that the Jin Cup was a team competition, this test would be group-based: students were to form teams of five to six members, and the three groups with the lowest average scores would be entirely eliminated. This shocking news left the students reeling, with Lin Zhaoxi predicting that the system would foster competition rather than cooperation, as no one would be truly willing to help weaker members.
Jie Ran clarified that any students unable to form a group would be randomly assigned to one. As students scrambled to form teams, Zhang Liang, prioritizing high scores, ruthlessly cut Lu Zhihao from his group, despite Lu Zhihao's attempts to appease him with Swiss chocolate. Observing this, Lin Zhaoxi hesitated when other students tried to join her and Pei Zhi's group, her focus on a larger goal.
She realized that seven students, including Lu Zhihao, remained unchosen—precisely the individuals from the old photograph she needed to protect. Convinced this was fate, Lin Zhaoxi approached Pei Zhi, reaffirming their strong friendship and requesting his complete cooperation with her grouping strategy, to which he readily agreed. She then rallied the seven disheartened students, acknowledging their past struggles but proposing a unified effort to pass the next test under her leadership.
All seven, including a grateful Lu Zhihao, accepted her proposition, with Lin Zhaoxi playfully demanding Lu Zhihao's Swiss chocolate as a "toll." She then began to outline her detailed plan for their success.
Episode 6 Recap
Lin Zhaoxi gathered the other students, proposing they split into two teams of five, with herself and Pei Zhi as leaders. She confidently stated that neither team's average score would fall into the bottom three, but Yao Xiaotian and some others lacked confidence, worrying they would hold the teams back. Lin Zhaoxi, determined to help them, explained her motivation, saying, "Just take it as my dislike of Zhang Shuping. I want to go against his rules."
She encouraged them, reminding them that their goal was for everyone to achieve high scores, emphasizing, "not one person less." To uplift their spirits, she drew an analogy to Harry Potter, likening Zhang Liang to Slytherin's Malfoy, Zhang Shuping to Professor Snape, and their group to Gryffindor—brave, united, and helping each other. Ji Jiang passionately reinforced this message, urging them to be courageous. Although still hesitant, the students reluctantly agreed.
Zhang Shuping then led the students to the library, revealing that an entire multi-tiered bookshelf of mathematics books would be the scope for their upcoming elimination exam, to be completed within a month. The students were shocked by the sheer volume and protested, but Zhang Shuping called upon Pei Zhi to explain his strategy.
Pei Zhi calmly outlined his method: identifying the logical connections between the books, categorizing them, and then summarizing the key points to build a mental knowledge system. Zhang Shuping commended Pei Zhi's approach, emphasizing that this was the learning method they should master – to discover weaknesses through exams and then address them with questions during short lecture sessions. Zhang Shuping then awarded Gryffindor ten points, a reference some students didn't understand.
The training camp routine settled into a pattern of short morning lectures followed by extensive self-study. Lin Zhaoxi prepared a study outline, guiding her team to focus on key knowledge points and seek help from her or Pei Zhi when needed. Rules were strict: return library materials promptly, be back in dorms by 8 p. m. , and lights out at 10 p. m. to prevent late-night studying.
In this atmosphere, some students started identifying with Harry Potter characters: Lin Zhaoxi as Hermione, Pei Zhi as Harry Potter (the "Miracle Boy"), Ji Jiang as Ron, and Lu Zhihao as Neville Longbottom. Meanwhile, Lin Zhaosheng, having broken up with Yao, made calls to friends seeking job recommendations, hinting at a new job as he was "quitting again."
The day of the first elimination exam arrived, and Yao Xiaotian, overwhelmed by pressure, broke down in tears, fearing she would drag her team down. Lin Zhaoxi reassured her, promising, "I'm here." After the exam, Zhang Shuping announced the results: out of fourteen teams, the bottom three would be eliminated. Zhang Liang's team secured first place with an average of 85. 8 points, while Pei Zhi's team ranked seventh, aided by Pei Zhi's perfect score of 100.
Lin Zhaoxi's team, with an average of 68. 8 points (and Lin Zhaoxi scoring 95), ranked eleventh and narrowly avoided elimination by a mere 0. 5 points, much to Ji Jiang's relief. Zhang Shuping warned Lin Zhaoxi's team to work harder. Zhang Shuping then instructed Jie Ran to inform the parents of the eliminated students, wishing those leaving a pleasant summer.
He then announced the rules for the mid-term exam, scheduled in ten days: students could freely form new teams until the day before the exam, but any team with fewer than five members would be disbanded, forcing remaining members to join other groups or go home. The most daunting rule was that half of the remaining teams would be eliminated, with an odd number of teams meaning the middle-ranked team would also be cut.
The news sent a wave of anxiety through the students. Yao Xiaotian, struggling with the pressure, declared her intention to quit, lamenting her 60-point score and feeling like a "burden." Shao Mingchen, sharing her sentiment, also expressed a desire to leave rather than face inevitable elimination. Lin Zhaoxi pleaded with them not to go. Since Yao Xiaotian was one of the people in the crucial photograph she was trying to recreate, her departure would jeopardize Lin Zhaoxi's entire plan.
She then rushed to a public phone after Yu Tianjiao informed her of a call from her "master." It was Lin Zhaosheng on the phone, who tried to lighten the mood with a joke before Lin Zhaoxi poured out her frustrations about the intense exams and high-pressure environment. Lin Zhaosheng, criticizing Zhang Shuping's methods, described him as a "talent theorist" and advised Lin Zhaoxi to show her talent and play by his rules to gain leeway.
However, Lin Zhaoxi questioned what would happen if she didn't want to follow his rules, to which Lin Zhaosheng simply replied that she would be "done." Later, Ji Jiang asked Lin Zhaoxi about the call, and she revealed Lin Zhaosheng offered no concrete advice. Meanwhile, Pei Zhi, observing the frequent clandestine conversations between Lin Zhaoxi and Ji Jiang, grew suspicious. Lu Zhihao openly speculated that they were in a "puppy love" relationship, but Pei Zhi vehemently denied it.
Concurrently, Zhang Liang attempted to replace Chen Chengcheng in his team with Li Ming, who scored 85. When Chen Chengcheng refused, Zhang Liang cunningly suggested Chen Chengcheng prove his "value" by helping him "get rid of Lin Zhaoxi." Unable to shake his suspicions, Pei Zhi cornered Ji Jiang, pressing him for the real reason behind his secret talks with Lin Zhaoxi.
Finally, under pressure, Ji Jiang swore Pei Zhi to secrecy and divulged that he and Lin Zhaoxi had traveled from a "parallel world" known as Strawberry World. Early the next morning, as Lin Zhaoxi was sweeping the grounds, Zhang Shuping approached her, acknowledging her punctuality and diligence. He expressed confusion as to why she, a "rare genius" like Pei Zhi, chose to associate with "students with poor qualifications."
Lin Zhaoxi, standing her ground, challenged his rules, arguing that they were designed to "destroy confidence" and foster hatred for mathematics, rather than cultivating interest and happiness. She asserted that childhood setbacks could affect one's entire future, declaring, "I am the example." Zhang Shuping dismissed her concerns as youthful idealism, stating she would understand when she reached his "age" and "height." Lin Zhaoxi promptly retorted, "Now I'm as tall as you."
Zhang Shuping, unfazed, reiterated his hope that she and Pei Zhi would represent the municipal team but firmly stated that he would not alter the rules for anyone, "even for a genius." Shortly after Zhang Shuping departed, Pei Zhi found Lin Zhaoxi, reassuring her, "Don't worry. You will return to the Strawberry World." Surprised by his belief in Ji Jiang's story, Lin Zhaoxi learned that Ji Jiang had indeed shared their secret.
Pei Zhi promised to help both her and Ji Jiang return home, vowing to keep their secret. Later, observing a tourist car, Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi separately checked their dorms, fearing more students were leaving. Lin Zhaoxi found Wang Lu packing, revealing that Li Ming had joined Zhang Liang's team, leaving her group with only four members and forcing them to disband. Wang Lu and Qu Ge, however, expressed a desire to stay.
Seizing the opportunity, Lin Zhaoxi invited Wang Lu to join her team and Qu Ge to Pei Zhi's, filling their vacant spots. Wang Lu questioned Lin Zhaoxi's motives for helping them, to which Lin Zhaoxi replied that choosing to stay was "the power of courage" and encouraged them to join, promising mutual support.
Upon their return, Shao Mingchen, still disgruntled by the academic performance of Qu Ge and Wang Lu, announced that he and Yao Xiaotian would leave before the next exam to avoid impacting the team's average score. Feeling helpless, Lin Zhaoxi was comforted by Pei Zhi, who affirmed that "boys should protect girls." She confided in him, lamenting the possibility of never seeing her "nagging and stubborn" father from her world again.
Pei Zhi noted that "Master" (Lin Zhaosheng in this world) seemed different. Lin Zhaoxi pondered if her existence was the cause of Lin Zhaosheng's differing personalities across worlds, drawing a parallel to Digimon Evolution: "Boys-mon Evolution! Papa-mon!" In her distress, Lin Zhaoxi called Lin Zhaosheng again. He sensed her low spirits and, after playfully chiding her for calling without a reason, asked her to come to the mailroom at the base gate to help him move some heavy books.
Lin Zhaoxi rushed there and embraced him tightly. Lin Zhaosheng, a full-time security guard and night watchman at the base, joked about her sudden appearance and his habit of changing jobs. He admitted he had no books to move and was "just kidding," calling himself a "liar," which made Lin Zhaoxi remark on his improved ability to deceive.
Episode 7 Recap
The Education Bureau's colleagues had arranged some park expansion activities for the training camp students, including farming experience, physical games, and camping. Xiang Ke reported this to Zhang Shuping, who firmly disagreed, stating there was less than a month left before the Jinbei competition and no time for such recreational activities. However, Xiang Ke explained that the Bureau had arranged for newspaper coverage and required photos of extracurricular activities as part of the city's quality education project.
Later, Chen Chengcheng arrived at Zhang Shuping's office, looking disheveled, to falsely accuse Lin Zhaoxi of hitting him. Earlier, Lin Zhaoxi had gone to help Lin Zhaosheng move his belongings, but he had already finished, teasing her that his words could not be trusted. She returned to tell Pei Zhi and Ji Jiang the good news: Lin Zhaosheng could now tutor them like in the Youth Palace, and she planned to take them to meet him after class.
As Zhang Shuping brought Chen Chengcheng to the classroom to confront Lin Zhaoxi, she saw Zhang Liang's smug smile and realized it was a setup. She then feigned recollection, admitting she might have accidentally bumped into Chen Chengcheng while running. Zhang Shuping pressed Chen Chengcheng to tell the truth without fear, and he finally confessed that he had accidentally fallen on his own.
Despite Chen Chengcheng's admission, Zhang Shuping was convinced Lin Zhaoxi had lied at some point during the incident. Pei Zhi intervened, stating it was clearly a misunderstanding and that Lin Zhaoxi would not bully a classmate. However, Zhang Shuping, believing Lin Zhaoxi had lied, declared her at fault. He punished both Lin Zhaoxi's and Pei Zhi's teams, forbidding them from studying in the library that afternoon and instead sending them to dig sweet potatoes with Teacher Xie.
To everyone's surprise, the students enjoyed the "labor reform" immensely, playing happily in the sweet potato field. Ji Jiang suggested they go see Lin Zhaosheng, and Pei Zhi offered to create a distraction, but then Lin Zhaosheng arrived on his motorcycle. Lin Zhaosheng, upon arriving, greeted Teacher Xie, who mistook him for a journalist from City Times due to the Education Bureau's arrangement for reporters.
Lin Zhaosheng played along, claiming his leader wanted him to see the activities firsthand to write a "heart-stirring, truthful article." He then took charge, leading the students to roast the sweet potatoes they had dug, an activity not originally planned but which he insisted would let them experience the "joy of harvest." While the sweet potatoes roasted, he asked the students about the difference between math and Olympic math.
He explained the historical origins of numbers, likening the challenges faced by primitives to the problem-solving in math. He described Olympic math as a tool to "sharpen the axe" for building a "bridge" across personal "rivers" of mathematical challenges, encouraging them to use innovative thought like ancient scholars. He stressed that the true meaning of math lay beyond just these tools, emphasizing the importance of finding joy in learning.
Teacher Xie, realizing Lin Zhaosheng was not a journalist, asked who he really was. Lin Zhaosheng admitted he was a "student parent" and Lin Zhaoxi's master. Lin Zhaoxi watched him, smiling knowingly. A flashback revealed Zhang Liang's elaborate plan: he had instructed Chen Chengcheng to have someone call Lin Zhaoxi out, fake a fall, and then blame her, with Zhang Liang's teammates acting as false witnesses.
Zhang Liang was furious when Chen Chengcheng unexpectedly told the truth and subsequently forced Chen Chengcheng out of his team. Lin Zhaoxi confronted Zhang Liang about his actions, but he defiantly denied responsibility and arrogantly challenged her, predicting her team would be eliminated in the next exam. Undeterred, Lin Zhaoxi decided to take her and Pei Zhi's twelve team members to Lin Zhaosheng for tutoring.
She devised a rigorous study schedule, and they committed to nightly lessons in the mail room after lights out, lasting until around 2 AM. Lin Zhaoxi also began bringing extra food to share with Lin Zhaosheng daily, strengthening their bond. During one of their meals, she affectionately called him "Dad," which made him blush.
Every night, after the dormitory lights were out and the teachers had finished their checks, Lin Zhaoxi and the two teams would secretly gather at Lin Zhaosheng's mail room for intensive tutoring. Lin Zhaosheng taught them complex concepts using simple, innovative methods, such as solving the classic "chicken-and-rabbit problem" without equations and explaining the significance of prime numbers through the history of mathematics. His teaching led to a dramatic improvement in the students' understanding and performance.
However, the late-night study sessions left the students exhausted, and they often dozed off during daytime classes. Eventually, the day for the elimination exam arrived. Three students had voluntarily withdrawn from the training camp, leaving ten teams to compete. Lin Zhaoxi and her teammates felt confident in their preparation. The results were soon announced by Zhang Shuping: Zhang Liang's team took first place with an average score of 85, followed by Zhao Hongliang's team in second with 80.
4, and Nie Shuai's team in third with 78. 4. Pei Zhi's team secured fourth place with an average of 78. 2, and Lin Zhaoxi's team came in fifth with 77. 5, allowing both groups to remain. The students rejoiced at their success. Zhang Shuping congratulated the remaining 27 students, praising them as the "elites of the elites." Despite their success, Lin Zhaoxi remained anxious.
She remembered a future photo that showed students from four groups, but also recalled Zhang Shuping stating that only three groups would graduate in the end, leaving her worried about which team would eventually be cut. Ji Jiang tried to console her, suggesting circumstances could change. Meanwhile, Lu Zhihao, thrilled with his 82 points, wanted to thank Lin Zhaosheng. Pei Zhi suggested they plan a surprise for him that evening.
This conversation was overheard by a member of Zhang Liang's team. Annoyed by the progress of Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi's groups, Zhang Liang grew suspicious upon learning they had a "master" and resolved to investigate. Later, Lin Zhaosheng went to the kitchen to pick up some fried peanuts he had asked the cook to prepare, despite her hesitation about violating rules. He passed Zhang Shuping, who recognized him and initiated an awkward exchange.
Zhang Shuping commented on Lin Zhaosheng's "stable" job as a gatekeeper, while Lin Zhaosheng inquired about Zhang Shuping's role in leading the Olympic math class. They feigned pleasantries, but a palpable tension remained between them, hinting at a hidden past. In a separate conversation, Zhang Shuping had expressed surprise at the unexpected improvement of Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi's teams, unknowingly attributing their success to his pressure rather than Lin Zhaosheng's secret tutoring.
That night, the students surprised Lin Zhaosheng with a unique gift: a portrait of him. Hua Juan had drawn the outline, Pei Zhi had done the hair, and Lu Zhihao had drawn the beard, with Lin Zhaoxi adding the eyes, though Lin Zhaosheng playfully complained about being depicted wearing sunglasses. They also presented him with "sunglasses cookies." As Lin Zhaosheng prepared to feed a cat, he called out "Mimi," revealing he had adopted a stray.
Episode 8 Recap
Lin Zhaosheng adopted a stray cat named Mimi, and Lin Zhaoxi joked that raising a stray cat was much easier than raising a stray child. She then asked Lin Zhaosheng if he preferred being alone or having a child. He initially said he preferred being alone, as being a single father sounded tiring, but then added that a child might make life feel more meaningful, giving him something to care about.
Lin Zhaosheng quickly clarified that he was talking about the cat. Zhang Liang anonymously reported to Zhang Shuping that Lin Zhaoxi's and Pei Zhi's groups were secretly receiving tutoring from Lin Zhaosheng after lights out. Zhang Shuping went to the library and found all twelve students asleep at their desks, confirming his suspicions. That night, the students again sneaked out for their private lesson with Lin Zhaosheng.
After the class, Zhang Shuping arrived with Jie Ran and Xiang Ke, catching everyone by surprise. When asked who led the group, Pei Zhi started to stand up, but Lin Zhaoxi stopped him and took full responsibility, explaining she was afraid of failing and that Mr. Lin was an excellent teacher. Zhang Shuping was furious and sent the students back to their dorms to sleep.
As he left, Zhang Shuping told Lin Zhaosheng that he always knew nothing good would come from seeing him. On their way back, Lin Zhaoxi worried about Lin Zhaosheng, but Pei Zhi reassured her that Lin Zhaosheng was a temporary worker and she wasn't to blame. She felt she was ready to live in this world with her friends.
She also revealed that she was an orphan who felt lonely on her classmates' birthdays and used to try to avoid them. Later, Jie Ran pleaded with Zhang Shuping on Lin Zhaoxi's behalf, stating that the students' rule-breaking was motivated by a desire to learn and that Lin Zhaosheng seemed harmless.
Zhang Shuping then revealed Lin Zhaosheng's past: he was once a brilliant math postgraduate at Sanwei University, but his arrogance, chaotic lifestyle, getting a student from another university pregnant, and plagiarizing a professor's thesis led to his expulsion. Zhang Shuping emphasized that he instilled strict rules to prevent his students from ending up like Lin Zhaosheng. Jie Ran understood and dropped his plea.
The next morning, Zhang Shuping announced in class that Lin Zhaoxi's and Pei Zhi's groups were disqualified from receiving certificates of completion, and Lin Zhaoxi was expelled immediately. He told Lin Zhaoxi that her parents were being contacted and she should pack her belongings. Ji Jiang immediately stood up, declared that he would leave if Lin Zhaoxi did, as there was no point in staying without her.
Lu Zhihao and many other students also stood up, expressing their desire to leave with Lin Zhaoxi. Zhang Shuping agreed, warning them that their disciplinary violations would be reported to the Education Bureau and recorded in their files. Just then, Pei Zhi rushed in with his phone, telling Zhang Shuping to answer a call. It was Zeng Qingran. Lin Zhaoxi realized Pei Zhi had solved the Kongming Chess puzzle Zeng Qingran had given him and had sought his help.
During the call, after Zeng Qingran vouched for the students, Zhang Shuping revealed their secret tutor was Lin Zhaosheng, which saddened the old professor to hear how his former star student had ended up. While Zhang Shuping was on the phone, Zhang Liang tried to provoke the other students, calling Lin Zhaoxi an "attention-seeker" and trying to recruit Pei Zhi to his team. Pei Zhi, enraged, lunged at Zhang Liang but was held back by his classmates.
After his call, Zhang Shuping re-entered the classroom. He praised Pei Zhi as the second most brilliant student he had ever met, cautioning him not to abuse his talent like the "first genius" he knew – Lin Zhaosheng. Zhang Shuping portrayed Lin Zhaosheng as someone who played with life, broke rules, and ended up as a gatekeeper. Lin Zhaoxi fiercely defended Lin Zhaosheng, refuting Zhang Shuping’s claims.
Zhang Shuping then announced that he would revoke all punishments for the two groups and wouldn't inform their parents or schools, but Lin Zhaoxi must still leave the camp, stating that "no one can save you." As Lin Zhaoxi began to pack, Xiang Ke offered to help, but Lin Zhaoxi politely declined. All her classmates gathered downstairs to see her off.
Lin Zhaoxi looked at a photo, recalling a promise she made to Lin Zhaosheng when he was hospitalized in Strawberry World, feeling sad that she couldn't fulfill it. When Zhang Shuping ordered Pei Zhi and Ji Jiang to come down and watch Lin Zhaoxi leave, they appeared carrying their own luggage, declaring they would leave with Lin Zhaoxi. Before getting into the car, Lin Zhaoxi delivered a heartfelt speech, thanking her friends and expressing her enjoyment of their shared journey.
She admitted that she used to be unconfident and feared her future and destiny, but now she was no longer afraid. She told Zhang Shuping that she understood him, because they were both "losers" who struggled with math talent, envying and even idolizing true geniuses like Lin Zhaosheng and Pei Zhi, forgetting their own willpower. She also voiced her dislike for Zhang Shuping, equating it to her past self-hatred, and criticized his method of denying effort from the outset.
She asserted that math isn't only for geniuses, and success isn't only for the highly intelligent, adding that scores shouldn't define one's life. She vowed to continue studying math. Just then, Director Li from the Red Star Children's Welfare House arrived with a group of children, revealing that Lin Zhaoxi and Ji Jiang were orphans from their institution and had come to take them home.
Lin Zhaosheng then appeared, dramatically declaring his intention to undergo a paternity test with Lin Zhaoxi, suggesting that they might be father and daughter due to their shared "bad luck." Zhang Shuping, still insisting that rules cannot be broken, got a slap from Lin Zhaosheng, who then forced Zhang Shuping to drive them to the hospital for the DNA test. During the car ride, Lin Zhaosheng and Zhang Shuping bickered.
Lin Zhaosheng was hesitant about the blood draw, offering hair, nails, or oral cells instead. While Lin Zhaosheng was inside, Director Li pleaded with Zhang Shuping to give Lin Zhaoxi a chance, emphasizing how difficult it was for orphans like her to get this far. Zhang Shuping then asked Lin Zhaoxi about her biological mother, and Lin Zhaoxi replied that she only knew her name was Qiu Yue and she died during childbirth.
Zhang Shuping looked deeply affected, seemingly having known Qiu Yue. Zhang Shuping explained to Lin Zhaoxi that his harsh elimination system was a "comfort" mechanism for children, allowing them to blame the system or the teacher for their failures rather than denying their own talent. He said admitting lack of talent is hard and often unnecessary. Lin Zhaoxi countered that excessive childhood comfort might be why people give up easily later in life.
Zhang Shuping acknowledged this but maintained that the Olympic Mathematics training camp was inherently cruel, not a basic school, and that many things are "destined" by talent. He confessed that after ten years of teaching, he could no longer be moved by hard work alone, having seen too many students fall. He said those without talent would eventually give up.
Despite this, he encouraged Lin Zhaoxi not to abandon math, offering a final chance: if the combined average score of her group and Pei Zhi's group exceeded Zhang Liang's group in the last elimination exam, all twelve of them could stay, taking up only one completion certificate spot. Lin Zhaoxi accepted.
She also mentioned that students privately called him "Snape," to which Zhang Shuping wryly commented that the character must be annoying, but Lin Zhaoxi added, "Sometimes he is annoying, but he is a good man." Lin Zhaosheng left the hospital first to make a call to a friend and learned that his and Qiu Yue's child had been sent to a welfare home years ago. Overjoyed, he returned to Lin Zhaoxi.
Although the official DNA results weren't out, he was certain she was his daughter. In the car, he provoked Zhang Shuping by mentioning how much Lin Zhaoxi resembled Qiu Yue, particularly her stubbornness. A furious Zhang Shuping kicked them out of the car. Lin Zhaosheng then apologized to Lin Zhaoxi for not being able to raise her. He formally introduced himself as Lin Zhaosheng, her father, promising to take care of her from then on.
Lin Zhaoxi affectionately told him that she would take care of him. Later, back at the camp, Pei Zhi asked Lin Zhaoxi if Lin Zhaosheng was really her father, as the DNA results wouldn't be back so soon. Lin Zhaoxi replied that sometimes emotion is more accurate than science. The students then enthusiastically agreed to Zhang Shuping's challenge, ready to face Zhang Liang's group.
Episode 9 Recap
To gain an advantage over Zhang Liang's team in the upcoming exam, Lin Zhaoxi asked Lin Zhaosheng to tutor her and her teammates in math. Lin Zhaosheng enthusiastically announced that they could now attend classes openly, no longer needing to hide. Zhang Shuping, impressed by Lin Zhaosheng's capabilities, informed them that he had arranged for Lin Zhaosheng to be their tutor, canceling the previous tutors, and secured Room 501 for their lessons.
He advised them against cramming in dim light to protect their eyesight. Zhang Shuping then challenged Lin Zhaosheng to prove his teaching methods were superior, to which Lin Zhaosheng repeatedly declared his seriousness. With Lin Zhaosheng's guidance, the students, feeling energized, studied diligently day and night. Their hard work paid off. Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi's combined team achieved an average score of 85. 2, surpassing Zhang Liang's team by 0. 4 points and securing first place.
Zhang Shuping announced the five students selected to represent their city in the Jin's Cup Olympic Mathematics Competition: Pei Zhi, Lin Zhaoxi, Zhang Liang, Liu Xu, and Lu Zhihao. The students cheered, especially congratulating Lu Zhihao for his outstanding performance. Lin Zhaosheng then proudly showed Lin Zhaoxi the paternity test results, confirming a 99. 9999% paternal probability.
Lin Zhaoxi, having previously concocted a story about erasing a math formula and becoming an orphan, pressed Lin Zhaosheng for the real story of how she became an orphan. After some playful banter where Lin Zhaosheng called her "my little Alice" for her elaborate dream story involving a "Red Queen," Lin Zhaoxi asked who he had called after leaving the identification center.
Lin Zhaosheng then humorously "confessed" that he was an undercover graduate student from Yongchuan University's mathematics department, sent to Sanwei University. He recounted his teacher's fatalistic prediction of "one general's success costs ten thousand bones" but asserted his belief in self-determination. As the Jin's Cup Olympic Mathematics Competition approached, students enthusiastically cheered for Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi. Lin Zhaosheng and Zhang Shuping led the team to the competition.
En route, Lin Zhaosheng reminisced about his own past victories, claiming he once led a gold-medal-winning team. Zhang Shuping, however, disputed this, arguing that he was always the leader and was chosen for being more "mature and steady." Lin Zhaosheng retorted that he had merely "given him the chance" by intentionally making a mistake. At the competition venue, other coaches remarked on Lin Zhaosheng's unconventional appearance, noting that he looked more like a musician than a math teacher.
When asked about Lin Zhaosheng, Zhang Shuping jokingly introduced him as the "security officer." Lin Zhaosheng, offended, insisted he was an instructor and had personally taught three of the five competing students, sparking another round of good-natured argument between the two. Lin Zhaoxi, Pei Zhi, and Zhang Liang finished their exams forty minutes early and emerged from the examination hall. Lin Zhaosheng expressed confidence in their "normal performance." Zhang Shuping offered to treat them to ice cream.
Zhang Liang initially declined, then agreed for Pei Zhi's sake, but reiterated that Lin Zhaoxi still needed more time to earn his approval. Later, the Anping City team was announced as the Jin's Cup elementary school group champions. Lin Zhaosheng cheered wildly until Zhang Shuping intervened to quiet him. Professor Zeng Qingran, from Sanwei University, presented the awards. He congratulated Lin Zhaoxi and extended an invitation to Pei Zhi to become his doctoral student when he grew up.
After the ceremony, Zhang Shuping declared the training camp officially over, encouraging the students to continue pursuing their interests and reminding them that "struggle is always a part of life." He announced a graduation photo and a celebration, telling them to change into their own clothes. As the time for their return to Strawberry World drew near, Lin Zhaoxi and Ji Jiang discussed the approaching "moment of destiny."
Ji Jiang, ever the optimist, revealed he had left "inheritance" in Cheese World—predictions for lottery numbers—just in case, and resigned himself to fate. Lin Zhaoxi thanked him for his unwavering optimism, acknowledging the immense pressure he had carried. Before the photo, Lin Zhaoxi went to speak with Lin Zhaosheng. She reminded him he owed her a photo, convincing him to come looking "handsome" in his leather jacket.
She then asked him a series of questions: if she had math talent (he said "of course, you're my daughter"), if he would force her to study math if she didn't want to (he said "of course, you're my daughter"), and if he would love her forever even if she wasn't as smart as Pei Zhi (he again said "of course, you're my daughter").
Finally, Lin Zhaoxi revealed she was from another world, which Lin Zhaosheng calmly accepted, referring to her dream-story alter ego as "my little Alice." Pei Zhi then arrived to say his goodbyes to Lin Zhaoxi, asking if he would ever see her again. Lin Zhaoxi confirmed she was leaving and requested that he take care of the "real" Lin Zhaoxi of this world, whom she described as gentle, sensitive, and fragile. Pei Zhi promised he would.
They held hands one last time before joining the other students for the graduation photo, with Lin Zhaosheng playfully warning Pei Zhi to keep his hands off his daughter. During the photo session, Lin Zhaoxi and Ji Jiang secretly held hands, hoping the act would transport them back to Strawberry World. The photographer instructed everyone to smile and not blink, taking several shots.
Ji Jiang and Lin Zhaoxi repeatedly made excuses about blinking to request more photos, but their efforts were in vain. They were frustrated, realizing their plan had failed. Ji Jiang despondently decided to return to the welfare home, hoping to be adopted again before he was too old, and then try to re-enter the entertainment industry.
Lin Zhaoxi tried to convince him to reconnect with his biological family, but Ji Jiang worried they wouldn't believe his story and would think him a liar or a lunatic. Lin Zhaoxi then suggested Lin Zhaosheng adopt Ji Jiang, an idea Ji Jiang enthusiastically embraced, envisioning a future where they, as siblings, would use their knowledge of unreleased movies and songs to become superstars, much like a character from a movie.
They playfully argued about who would be the older sibling, with Ji Jiang claiming he might be older because he didn't know his birthday. Lin Zhaosheng, begrudgingly, agreed to adopt Ji Jiang, jokingly calling it "buy one get one free" and lamenting being "indebted" to Lin Zhaoxi. He promised to raise them well and ensure Ji Jiang grew tall, while Ji Jiang, listing his many names, expressed content that even if he wasn't the smartest, he had the most names.
Suddenly, as Lin Zhaoxi picked up a torn group photo, a sense of dizziness washed over her. She and Ji Jiang successfully traversed back to 2018. Lin Zhaoxi checked her phone, finding the time was precisely when they had initially traveled to Cheese World, but she remained unsure. After checking her computer, she confirmed they were indeed back in Strawberry World, and they both rejoiced excitedly.
Just as they were celebrating, Lin Zhaoxi received a phone call from Bao Xiaomeng, who tearfully informed her that Lin Zhaosheng had finally woken up. Ji Jiang accompanied a worried Lin Zhaoxi to the hospital. There, they found Lin Zhaosheng in a dazed state. Bao Xiaomeng, recognizing Ji Jiang, became flustered with excitement. Concerned by her father's condition, Lin Zhaoxi pressed Bao Xiaomeng for details.
Bao Xiaomeng explained that Lin Zhaosheng had woken up a few days prior, insisting it was 1993 and he was in his twenties. However, when he saw his forty-year-old face in the mirror, he was so terrified he fainted. Ji Jiang wondered if Lin Zhaosheng had also time-traveled, but in the opposite direction. When Lin Zhaosheng woke up again, he did not recognize Lin Zhaoxi as his daughter and questioned who she was, though he found her cute.
He couldn't recall how he ended up in the hospital. Lin Zhaoxi tried to explain, telling him he was her father, it was 2018, and he was an accountant who had been attacked in the finance office. Lin Zhaosheng dismissed her story as a prank, proudly declaring himself a math genius who would never be an accountant. He even asked if Zhang Shuping or Qiu Yue were behind the trick.
Unable to reason with him, Lin Zhaoxi sought out Director Ma. Director Ma conducted a series of tests on Lin Zhaosheng. She revealed that a car accident several years ago had caused him to develop early-onset Alzheimer's disease. His condition had worsened over the past six months, and the recent head trauma had caused further brain damage and internal bleeding.
Director Ma confirmed that Lin Zhaosheng now suffered from cognitive impairment, causing him to believe he was twenty years old and that it was 1993. When Lin Zhaosheng saw his reflection and struggled to reconcile his perceived age with his appearance, his brain activated a self-protective mechanism, causing him to shut down. Director Ma offered little hope for a full recovery, stating that while he might improve somewhat after rest, the cognitive impairment would likely persist.
As Lin Zhaosheng looked at a computer, a device unfamiliar to him, he gradually realized it couldn't be fake. Tearfully, he acknowledged that Lin Zhaoxi was indeed his daughter, that he was old, and that it was no longer 1993. Lin Zhaoxi comforted him, saying he was "just sick." Zhang Shuping tried to calm him, suggesting his condition might be temporary. Lin Zhaosheng then remembered Lin Zhaoxi's name and, with a fragile hope, asked if she was truly his daughter.
He then asked about her mother and whether he had a happy marriage. Lin Zhaoxi sadly informed him that he had never married, and her mother, Qiu Yue, had died during childbirth. Lin Zhaosheng was left in stunned silence, a broken man who couldn't utter another word.
Episode 10 Recap
Lin Zhaosheng felt like his life had been a failure. Once considering himself a genius, he now faced Alzheimer's disease and the abandonment of his mathematics research. He remained depressed, prompting his daughter, Lin Zhaoxi, to stay by his side, constantly trying to cheer him up with tales from their childhood.
Lin Zhaoxi recalled his past encouragement, how he taught her that "it's not a big deal" and that there would always be a solution, emphasizing that the effort itself brings rewards and that as long as one isn't changed by the world, they can change the world. Despite her efforts, Lin Zhaosheng remained deeply troubled by his current state, especially when he asked if the P=NP problem had been solved and if his own research had been successful.
Upon learning his research remained unfinished, he lamented that his brain was broken. Witnessing his despair, Lin Zhaoxi knew she had to act. She resolved to resign from her job, pursue mathematics, find Pei Zhi, and dedicate herself to caring for her father and herself. After bringing Lin Zhaosheng home, where he sat motionless on the sofa, Ji Jiang offered to hire a caregiver for him.
Lin Zhaoxi thanked him, and Ji Jiang noted that she had become unusually polite since returning to Strawberry World. Lin Zhaoxi acknowledged the change, admitting she couldn't treat him like their carefree days in the Cheese World now that he was a celebrity. Soon after, Lin Zhaoxi went to her workplace to tender her resignation. Her supervisor, dismissive of her decision, accused her of being dramatic.
Lin Zhaoxi firmly expressed her determination, explaining that a good education allows women to achieve financial and spiritual independence, giving them the courage to refuse people and things they dislike. She walked out, reflecting on her father's words that it is never too late to pursue what one truly desires in life. Meanwhile, Bao Xiaomeng wanted to visit Lin Zhaoxi.
Her father, Bao Song, who had heard about Lin Zhaosheng's discharge, gave her some money to buy comfort items for him. Later, Ji Jiang received a call from his manager, Lu Zhihao, who was frantically trying to locate him, worried about potential scandals. To reassure him, Ji Jiang sent a selfie of himself with Lin Zhaosheng, explaining he was visiting a friend of his father's.
Shortly after, Bao Xiaomeng called Lin Zhaoxi, and upon learning that Ji Jiang was at Lin Zhaoxi’s house, she immediately speculated about a romantic relationship between them. Lin Zhaoxi quickly denied it, insisting they were just friends and schoolmates, urging Xiaomeng not to spread rumors that could harm Ji Jiang's career. During their call, Lin Zhaoxi suddenly spotted Pei Zhi across the street getting into a taxi. She abruptly ended the call and hailed another taxi to follow him.
Her pursuit led her to a boxing gym, where she found Pei Zhi working as a boxing coach. Their reunion was filled with emotion. Lin Zhaoxi remarked on how nervous Pei Zhi seemed, to which he confessed he had always been nervous around her, especially when visiting her home, but had learned to hide it.
She asked why he had never replied to her emails after going to Germany, stating that he had been back for "8 months and 27 days" without contacting her. Pei Zhi admitted that he felt he had let both Lin Zhaoxi and her father down by not pursuing mathematics in Germany. Lin Zhaoxi, however, declared that his academic path didn't matter to her.
To prevent him from disappearing from her life again, she publicly confessed her long-standing affection for him to everyone in the gym, asking them to be her witnesses and to help keep an eye on him. Pei Zhi was visibly taken aback by her sudden and bold declaration, while his colleagues clapped and cheered. Later, as Pei Zhi reflected, he remembered his father, Pei Donglai, teaching him boxing when he was a child.
He recalled his coach, Mr. Yu, praising Pei Donglai as an "invincible" boxer who had given up the sport to become a traffic police officer to please his mother-in-law. Pei Zhi had wanted to follow in his father's boxing footsteps, but Pei Donglai had insisted he focus on his studies, suggesting boxing could be a hobby. Meanwhile, Lin Zhaoxi received an urgent message from Ji Jiang.
Rushing home, she found Lin Zhaosheng happily absorbed in watching a 1994 World Cup match. Lin Zhaoxi was confused until Ji Jiang explained. After Lin Zhaoxi had left earlier, Lin Zhaosheng had regained some awareness but believed he was in his twenties. When he saw Ji Jiang's modern phone and other appliances, he grew suspicious of the current year. Ji Jiang, recalling their previous time travel experience, impulsively told Lin Zhaosheng that he had time-traveled from the past to 2018.
Lin Zhaosheng accepted this explanation, feeling a sense of relief. Lin Zhaoxi worried that the lie would eventually be exposed, but Ji Jiang persuaded her that giving her father a "mission" to complete before returning to his own time would provide him with purpose and stability, allowing them to slowly help him accept reality. Lin Zhaosheng, referring to himself as a genius, used logical deduction and online searches to confirm his "time travel."
He eagerly asked Lin Zhaoxi and Ji Jiang to take him out to see the world 20 years into the future. He even suggested that they drop the formal address and call him "Old Lin," and he would call her "Little Lin." Lin Zhaoxi agreed, reminding him not to call her "Dad" when they were out. That night, Pei Zhi returned to his place, and memories surfaced of his father, Pei Donglai, who had died in a car accident.
The next day, Lin Zhaosheng, Lin Zhaoxi, and Ji Jiang went on a drive. Lin Zhaosheng, with his memories fixed in his youth, was overwhelmed by the rapid developments of the modern world, marveling at the bustling city and its new technologies. He exclaimed how happy he was and how he didn't want to go back. Lin Zhaoxi gently suggested he stay in the present.
However, Lin Zhaosheng, driven by his supposed mission, asserted that he must return to his original time to contribute to society. He argued that if everyone simply enjoyed the fruits of development, no one would build the future. He also felt that as a twenty-year-old soul in a forty-year-old body, he had missed out on two decades of youth. He believed he had a task to complete to return, though he didn't know what it was.
Lin Zhaoxi and Ji Jiang reassured him, telling him to take his time figuring out his mission, and he continued to express excitement about watching the 1994 World Cup online. After spending a full day showing Lin Zhaosheng around, they drove home, with Lin Zhaosheng asleep in the back. Lin Zhaoxi confided in Ji Jiang about finding Pei Zhi and his current job as a boxing coach.
Ji Jiang expressed surprise and a desire to see Pei Zhi, noting that Pei Zhi must have changed a lot over the four years he was gone. Lin Zhaoxi wondered aloud what had truly happened to Pei Zhi in Germany, as he hadn't replied to any of her emails, and Ji Jiang agreed they needed to find out, acknowledging that people change over time.
As Ji Jiang pulled up to his building, a crowd of his fans had gathered, but his manager, Lu Zhihao, arrived, using an old trick to distract them and clear the path.
Episode 11 Recap
When Ji Jiang's enthusiastic fans gathered outside the company building, his manager, Lu Zhihao, employed their usual tactic to help Ji Jiang escape. However, feeling guilty about the fans who had come to support him, Ji Jiang returned to address them directly. He clarified that he was not currently in a relationship with anyone but, as an adult, would eventually find a girl he liked.
He promised that if he were to fall in love, he would make an official announcement immediately and would not hide it from them. After a deep bow of thanks, the fans cheered, and Lu Zhihao quickly pulled Ji Jiang away. Back inside, Lu Zhihao presented Ji Jiang with a new script for a film to be shot in Yinchuan, suggesting it would be a good opportunity to avoid the recent troubles.
Ji Jiang flatly refused, leading to a persistent argument with Lu Zhihao. Ji Jiang eventually confessed that he had fallen in love with Lin Zhaoxi, admitting his competitor was strong and that leaving now would ruin his chances. Lu Zhihao was surprised, realizing Lin Zhaoxi was their high school classmate, but Ji Jiang clarified that she and Pei Zhi had never dated in high school.
Lu Zhihao then urged Ji Jiang to be sensible and consider the company's employees and his fans before acting, to which Ji Jiang responded that he felt he had already lost his mind. Ji Jiang later sought out Pei Zhi at a boxing gym where Pei Zhi worked as a coach and occasional competitor.
Pei Zhi, shrewdly deducing Ji Jiang's romantic interest in Lin Zhaoxi and his purpose for visiting, explained that Ji Jiang must see him as a rival to seek him out, as they were not close. Ji Jiang, confirming his intentions, directly asked Pei Zhi about his feelings for Lin Zhaoxi, suggesting Pei Zhi be decisive and put an end to Lin Zhaoxi's hopes if he had no romantic interest. Pei Zhi rebuffed him, stating it was none of his business.
Concerned for Lin Zhaoxi's well-being, Ji Jiang then revealed that Lin Zhaosheng was seriously ill with Alzheimer's disease. As Ji Jiang pressed Pei Zhi to visit Lin Zhaosheng and clarify things with Lin Zhaoxi, he even offered Pei Zhi a bank card containing 1,453,524 yuan. Moments later, Pei Zhi’s mother, Luo Jing, returned from shopping. Ji Jiang made a quick exit, but Pei Zhi returned the bank card to him.
That night, unable to sleep, Pei Zhi looked at a childhood photo of Lin Zhaoxi, which brought back memories of their high school days. He recalled studying math with Lin Zhaosheng and spending a lot of time with Lin Zhaoxi, during which they developed feelings for each other and exchanged childhood photos.
He remembered teasing her about her big head in a photo and betting on how many stairs there were, resulting in a playful chase when she tried to trick him with a different photo. The next day, Pei Zhi visited Lin Zhaosheng. He saw Lin Zhaosheng and Lin Zhaoxi playfully running home, with Lin Zhaosheng eager to watch "Slam Dunk" and Lin Zhaoxi comically threatening to spoil the outcome.
Pei Zhi, having been informed by Ji Jiang, feigned curiosity about Lin Zhaosheng's "time-travel" story. Lin Zhaosheng, remembering Pei Zhi as his math student and confirming his knowledge with a complex math question, warmly invited him inside. While Lin Zhaoxi prepared lunch, Pei Zhi and Lin Zhaosheng chatted, discovering a mutual connection and quickly bonding. Lin Zhaosheng remarked that he wished Pei Zhi were his college classmate, finding him much more engaging than an old acquaintance named Zhang Shuping.
He also wished Pei Zhi was his son, lamenting that his daughter couldn't play basketball with him. After lunch, Pei Zhi joined Lin Zhaosheng for a game of basketball. When Lin Zhaosheng grew tired and sent Lin Zhaoxi to buy water, Pei Zhi revealed he was a boxer and invited Lin Zhaosheng to his gym.
Realizing Lin Zhaoxi had forgotten her phone and wouldn't be able to pay for the water, Lin Zhaosheng asked Pei Zhi to take it to her. Left alone, Lin Zhaosheng noticed a small boy riding a balance bike and began happily trying it out himself, even singing along to a song. When Lin Zhaoxi returned to get her phone and encountered Pei Zhi, she became worried about her father being alone.
Rushing back, she found Lin Zhaosheng joyfully circling the basketball court on the balance bike, which finally eased her mind. Afterward, Lin Zhaosheng, covered in sweat, was urged by Lin Zhaoxi to shower. He then asked her to see Pei Zhi off.
As they walked, Lin Zhaoxi fondly recalled their childhood, including times she’d walk with him under the pretense of buying ice cream, and confessed that she had once changed her name to "Lin Dong Xi" (with 16 strokes) to match his, believing it would increase their chances of being together. Pei Zhi, however, corrected her, explaining his name actually had 17 strokes. He then urged her to forget him, stating they were not suitable.
Lin Zhaoxi refused to accept his abrupt dismissal, tearfully demanding an explanation for his distant behavior since his return from Germany. Pei Zhi eventually admitted that he had many unresolved issues and asked her to wait a little longer, promising to tell her everything once matters were settled. Lin Zhaoxi, having already waited four years, agreed to his request.
Later, Lin Zhaosheng remembered Pei Zhi as his postgraduate student and himself as a math professor at Sanwei University who was currently on vacation. Lin Zhaoxi had to quickly invent excuses to manage his confusion, even warning him not to look up any future math research online to prevent him from "cheating." The next morning, Ji Jiang arrived at the Lin's home with a large lobster to nourish Lin Zhaosheng, startling him awake.
Lin Zhaoxi discreetly updated Ji Jiang on her father's current delusion, explaining that he believed he was a Sanwei University math professor on holiday and expressing concern about him wanting to go to work. Ji Jiang had no immediate solution, and they quickly changed the subject when Lin Zhaosheng asked how to prepare the lobster. The three comically struggled with the online instructions to "let lobsters pee" before deciding to simply boil it.
Meanwhile, Pei Zhi continued investigating the cause of his father Pei Donglai’s death. He sought assistance from police officer Uncle Cao, a former colleague of his father's, who located a recording device identical to Pei Zhi's from a scrap warehouse. Playing the recording, Pei Zhi recognized his father's voice describing a car accident.
However, Uncle Cao revealed that Pei Donglai had died in 2009, while this particular model of recording device wasn't designed until 2010 and the department only began using them in 2011. Furthermore, the recording was dated February 22, 2013, and the details of the only hit-and-run incident from that month did not match the recording. Despite the logical impossibility, Pei Zhi firmly believed it was his father's voice.
Uncle Cao advised Pei Zhi to let go, reminding him that many officers still cared about him. During their lobster dinner, Ji Jiang eagerly inquired about Lin Zhaoxi's "negotiation" with Pei Zhi. Lin Zhaoxi truthfully recounted Pei Zhi's assertion that they were not suitable, which visibly disheartened Ji Jiang. Lin Zhaosheng, observing Ji Jiang's reaction, directly asked if he liked Lin Zhaoxi. Ji Jiang quickly denied it, claiming he was merely wondering why Pei Zhi had abandoned math for boxing.
Lin Zhaoxi then shared her ambition to enroll in a postgraduate entrance exam prep course and apply to Sanwei University's math department. Lin Zhaosheng fully supported her, though he cautioned her about the difficulty given her current mathematical foundation. Later, as Ji Jiang drove Lin Zhaoxi to check out prep courses at Henghui Square, his manager, Lu Zhihao, called, urging him to return to the company for a meeting. Ji Jiang promised to return once he was done and, at Lin Zhaoxi's request, asked Lu Zhihao to research the best postgraduate entrance exam prep courses in the city.
Episode 12 Recap
Lu Zhihao found the best postgraduate entrance exam training class, 99 Education, and immediately sent the information to Ji Jiang. Ji Jiang drove Lin Zhaoxi to the school, located on the second floor. Lin Zhaoxi thanked him, but told him to go on his way as she knew he had other commitments. She mentioned that she planned to take the bus later and assured him she would be fine.
Before driving off, Ji Jiang mentioned he would visit Pei Zhi after he was done with his work. At 99 Education, Lin Zhaoxi consulted with a staff member about applying for a master's degree in the math department at Sanwei University. The consultant was concerned about her philosophy background, explaining that the Sanwei University math department's 601 program only admitted a few students each year, a highly competitive field for top math students nationwide.
Lin Zhaoxi confidently declared she would be one of them. However, the consultant, prioritizing 99 Education's high admission rate, refused to accept her, suggesting she try other tutoring centers. As Lin Zhaoxi prepared to leave, she saw Zhang Shuping arriving. She greeted him, reminding him she had attended his Olympic math training camp as a child. Zhang Shuping apologized, saying he had no memory of her. Disappointed, Lin Zhaoxi left.
The consultant later reported to Zhang Shuping about the "philosophy major" who wanted to study math at Sanwei, and Zhang Shuping affirmed her decision to turn Lin Zhaoxi away. Meanwhile, Luo Jing confronted Pei Zhi at the gym about missing a job interview that her sister had painstakingly arranged for him. Pei Zhi insisted he was content with his current situation. Lin Zhaoxi entered the room, greeting Luo Jing, who recognized her as Lin Zhaosheng's daughter and complimented her.
However, Luo Jing politely but firmly asked Lin Zhaoxi to leave, stating she had not finished her conversation with Pei Zhi. Outside, Lin Zhaoxi was approached by Coach Ding Minghai, who called her "Mrs. Pei" and invited her to practice some punches. Luo Jing soon emerged and overheard Ding Minghai's address, which visibly angered her. Ding Minghai quickly made an excuse and departed.
Luo Jing then spoke to Lin Zhaoxi, expressing her happiness to see her and acknowledging she hadn't raised Pei Zhi well. She told Lin Zhaoxi she hoped someone like her could accompany Pei Zhi and take care of him, giving him someone to rely on. Luo Jing stated she wouldn't object to their relationship, but then sternly warned, "If you don't want him to die, then don't let him learn math." Perplexed, Lin Zhaoxi asked Pei Zhi for an explanation.
Pei Zhi clarified that his mother believed he was interested in math again. He decided not to hide anything from Lin Zhaoxi and revealed that his maternal grandfather, Luo Jiayi, was a math teacher and a genius mathematician in the 1980s, who researched combinatorial mathematics in his spare time. Luo Jiayi made significant achievements, leading to an invitation from Beijing scholars to an academic conference.
However, Pei Zhi's grandmother strongly opposed his attendance, seeing no practical benefit like a pay raise or promotion. Luo Jiayi, undeterred, borrowed 200 yuan for travel expenses and attended. After the conference, he was invited to Germany and never returned. Pei Zhi's mother, Luo Jing, always believed that math "took" her father away, which fueled her aversion to Pei Zhi studying the subject.
Pei Zhi continued, explaining that when he was in Grade 9, his father, Pei Donglai, passed away, making Luo Jing even more extreme. In senior high, when his mother discovered he was secretly learning math from Lin Zhaosheng, she forced him to Germany to meet his grandfather. To Pei Zhi's dismay, his grandfather was in a mental hospital.
Although his grandfather found a better academic environment in Germany, the guilt he felt towards his wife and daughter led to a diagnosis of mental illness. Luo Jing feared Pei Zhi would inherit this condition if he pursued advanced math. Her fears were seemingly confirmed when Pei Zhi was diagnosed with a minor mental illness. He started boxing, combining it with professional treatment, and eventually recovered.
However, he had to obey his mother, remaining in Germany to study a major unrelated to mathematics. Lin Zhaoxi realized this was why Pei Zhi had suddenly left and ceased all contact. Pei Zhi apologized for his silence, admitting he didn't know how to face her as a "patient," and confirmed this was why he had said they weren't suitable.
Lin Zhaoxi reassured him that her feelings for him had nothing to do with whether he studied math or was ill. She told him she trusted he could overcome his illness again. Pei Zhi, however, confided that he felt sick again, believing his father, Pei Donglai, was still alive. He showed Lin Zhaoxi a recording pen that inexplicably appeared by his bed after a long sleep.
The pen contained a recording of a traffic police officer from February 22, 2013, whose voice Pei Zhi confirmed was identical to his father's through voiceprint analysis. This was despite his father having passed away in 2009, and the recording pen only being produced in 2010. Lin Zhaoxi suggested it might be a second recording, but Pei Zhi emphasized the computer's accuracy and his father's prior use of identical police recording pens.
Lin Zhaoxi asked if he saw his father's cremation; Pei Zhi said he only saw the body. He mused about his father faking his death, a scenario Lin Zhaoxi dismissed as illogical. Lin Zhaoxi then revealed her own experience: about a month ago, she received an illogical photo, a group picture from Zhang Shuping's training camp that included a younger version of herself and Pei Zhi. She realized the phenomenon indicated the existence of a parallel world, or "Cheese World."
Pei Zhi, now convinced, asked Lin Zhaoxi how he could travel to that world to find his father, but she admitted she didn't know. Pei Zhi approached his mother, Luo Jing, to discuss his father. Luo Jing, having personally witnessed Pei Donglai's cremation, urged him not to be delusional. Pei Zhi insisted his father was alive in a parallel world. Luo Jing, visibly distressed, then suggested he make an appointment with Dr. Jia for a check-up, fearing a relapse.
Pei Zhi denied being sick, asserting that someone had been to that other world. He promised to find a way to visit it and asked Luo Jing if she had anything she wanted to say to his father. Through tears, Luo Jing asked him to tell Pei Donglai that she missed him. Pei Zhi also said he missed him.
Later, Ji Jiang called Lin Zhaoxi, who explained she hadn't found a suitable postgraduate tutoring class due to strict admission requirements, and that Zhang Shuping hadn't recognized her. She then asked Ji Jiang if he was free the next day to discuss something important for Pei Zhi. Misinterpreting her intent, Ji Jiang enthusiastically checked his schedule and agreed to meet. Back home, Lin Zhaoxi began self-studying calculus.
Her father, Lin Zhaosheng, offered encouragement, explaining that great mathematicians throughout history collectively laid the foundation for calculus, a profound and beautiful subject that shapes the modern world. He told her that experiencing difficulty in learning it was natural, and encouraged her with the motto, "Studying hard always improves strength." The next morning, Ji Jiang arrived early at Lin Zhaoxi's house with a king crab for Lin Zhaosheng.
Lin Zhaoxi told Ji Jiang she had informed Pei Zhi about Cheese World. Ji Jiang realized she had omitted a critical detail: for her, traveling to Cheese World required not just the photo but also erasing a formula. Now that Pei Zhi had a recording pen from Cheese World, he still needed to erase a formula to trigger travel. Lin Zhaoxi, however, was terrified of the risks—Pei Zhi not returning, becoming vegetative, or returning irrevocably changed.
Ji Jiang, torn by her dilemma, admitted he didn't know what to advise. Lin Zhaoxi planned to attend Pei Zhi's boxing match. Ji Jiang, having managed to clear his schedule, insisted on accompanying her, and she reluctantly agreed. Meanwhile, Lu Zhihao visited Zhang Shuping at 99 Education, and later went to Lin Zhaoxi's home looking for Ji Jiang. At the boxing match, fans cheered loudly for Pei Zhi. Ji Jiang directed his own fans to support Pei Zhi as well.
The announcer introduced Pei Zhi's experienced opponent, Pilavakhun. The match began intensely, with both fighters exchanging blows. During a difficult moment, Pei Zhi's mind flashed back to his parents arguing about his math studies. Distracted, he was knocked down. Luo Jing, in the audience, desperately yelled for him to get up, proclaiming his father wouldn't be defeated so easily. Pei Zhi, envisioning his father reaching out to help him, rose to his feet.
He quickly rallied, analyzing his opponent's moves, and delivered a decisive uppercut, knocking out Pilavakhun. The crowd erupted in cheers. Luo Jing, overwhelmed with emotion, shed tears but quietly left before the final announcement. Lin Zhaoxi noticed her departure. Later, Lu Zhihao arrived at Lin Zhaoxi's house, where Bao Xiaomeng answered the door. She tried to impersonate Lin Zhaoxi, but Lu Zhihao quickly saw through her attempt.
He clarified he was Ji Jiang's manager and was looking for him, as Ji Jiang wasn't answering his phone. Bao Xiaomeng, acting possessive of Ji Jiang, refused to call him and challenged Lu Zhihao to prove his identity by showing her Ji Jiang's merchandise. Lu Zhihao pointed out the absurdity of her request given her implied authority to have Ji Jiang fired, leading Bao Xiaomeng to accuse him of being a bad person.
Episode 13 Recap
Lu Zhihao recognized Bao Xiaomeng from high school and playfully approached her. Bao Xiaomeng initially warned him, asserting her close relationship with Ji Jiang and threatening to have him fired. Lu Zhihao retorted by questioning why she would need Ji Jiang's merchandise if they were so close, suggesting she get a handmade item from him instead. Bao Xiaomeng clarified she was merely verifying his identity, as he "didn't look like a good person."
Lu Zhihao correctly identified her as being from Class 13 of the 2010 batch of Experimental High School, while he was from Class 1. They formally introduced themselves. Later, as Ji Jiang drove Pei Zhi and Lin Zhaoxi, Pei Zhi commented on Ji Jiang’s cheerful singing, which Lin Zhaoxi teased him about. Lin Zhaoxi mentioned that Pei Zhi’s mother, Luo Jing, had attended the match but left before it concluded.
Pei Zhi explained that his mother always left before he came down from the stage, fearing she would see him injured. He shared that his parents had met at a boxing match, and his mother would always watch his father, Pei Donglai, compete. However, his father eventually gave up boxing to alleviate his mother's worries.
As their conversation continued, Lu Zhihao recounted a humorous anecdote to Bao Xiaomeng about how he mistakenly majored in medicine because a girl he liked posted about "liking Doctor," only to later discover she meant the singer Eason Chen. He then asked Bao Xiaomeng if she was free that weekend, and she replied that she was. Ji Jiang dropped Lin Zhaoxi off at home, where he saw Lu Zhihao and Bao Xiaomeng engaged in lively conversation.
Lu Zhihao offered Bao Xiaomeng a ride, but she decided to stay at Lin Zhaoxi's house instead. After taking Pei Zhi to the boxing club, Ji Jiang eagerly asked Lu Zhihao about Lin Zhaoxi. Mistaking Ji Jiang's inquiry, Lu Zhihao expressed his surprise regarding Bao Xiaomeng and mentioned their dinner plans for the weekend.
Ji Jiang clarified he was asking about Lin Zhaoxi, prompting Lu Zhihao to advise him to give up, stating that Lin Zhaoxi only had eyes for Pei Zhi and that any efforts would be futile. Ji Jiang acknowledged this but insisted he still wanted to try, believing she was worth the cost in time, energy, and money. Lu Zhihao reminded Ji Jiang about his company’s responsibilities, but Ji Jiang assured him he had everything under control.
That night, Bao Xiaomeng persistently questioned Lin Zhaoxi about her relationship with Ji Jiang, asserting that Ji Jiang clearly had romantic feelings for her, backing her claim with her "eight relationships" experience. Lin Zhaoxi dismissed it, stating they were just friends, and that a prominent star like Ji Jiang, surrounded by many beautiful women, wouldn't be interested in her. Bao Xiaomeng advised Lin Zhaoxi to "move on" and not just be drawn to "scholars" as she was in school.
Lin Zhaoxi then deflected, asking Bao Xiaomeng about her situation with Lu Zhihao, which caused Bao Xiaomeng to become flustered and try to end the conversation. The next morning, Lin Zhaoxi found Lin Zhaosheng calculating math problems on a blackboard and promptly stopped him. She then received a phone call from 99 Education, informing her that Zhang Shuping wanted to meet her. Lin Zhaosheng overheard and mistakenly thought Zhang Shuping was a female postgraduate entrance exam agent.
After ensuring her father was settled, Lin Zhaoxi left for the meeting, unknowingly followed by him. At 99 Education, Lin Zhaoxi met Zhang Shuping, who informed her that a spot had opened in the math training class. He mentioned her grades were acceptable and that since he was in business to make money, an additional student was welcome. Suddenly, Lin Zhaosheng entered, having followed her.
He enthusiastically greeted Zhang Shuping, remarking on his appearance and asking if he had cut his "long hair." Zhang Shuping reacted with hostility, asking if Lin Zhaosheng was there to humiliate him. Lin Zhaosheng, confused, insisted they were "best friends." Zhang Shuping sharply declared that Lin Zhaosheng did not deserve to be his friend and ordered him to leave. A mortified Lin Zhaoxi quickly pulled her father outside.
Returning to Zhang Shuping's office, Lin Zhaoxi confronted him about his rude remarks. Zhang Shuping retaliated by accusing her of using "backdoor connections" through her "actor boyfriend's" investment and advised her to find another institution. Confused, Lin Zhaoxi asked for clarification. Zhang Shuping revealed that Ji Jiang's manager had offered to invest in 99 Education in exchange for her enrollment. Shocked, Lin Zhaoxi denied using any connections and explained that her father had Alzheimer's, making him unaware of past conflicts.
She assured Zhang Shuping that they would not trouble him again and left with her father. Furious, Lin Zhaoxi went to confront Ji Jiang, who admitted he had offered to invest over six million in Zhang Shuping's school just to secure her a spot. Lin Zhaoxi asked if he had romantic feelings for her, and Ji Jiang confessed that he had developed feelings for her during their time together.
Lin Zhaoxi gently but firmly told him she cherished their friendship but could not reciprocate his feelings, and if they couldn't remain just friends, she would rather keep her distance. Disappointed, Ji Jiang asked for a hug to honor their friendship. As they embraced, they were photographed by fans, causing a panicked Lin Zhaoxi to flee. On their way home, Lin Zhaoxi asked Lin Zhaosheng about his past with Zhang Shuping.
Lin Zhaosheng vaguely remembered them being classmates in the Math Department at Yongchuan University, where they both met Qiu Yue. He also recalled leaving to attend the Math Department of Sanwei University, but everything after that was a blank. To comfort him, Lin Zhaoxi reassured him that his memory gaps were normal since he had "traveled from the past" and couldn't know future events, warning him against learning too much to avoid altering the past.
Meanwhile, Pei Zhi, under the guise of searching for a friend's lost cat, convinced a convenience store owner to let him view CCTV footage. He pinpointed the moment Lin Zhaoxi and Ji Jiang emerged from the old pagoda and theorized that it held the secret to their travels to Cheese World, a parallel world.
Upon visiting the old pagoda, Pei Zhi noticed that one of the two formulas previously on the wall had been erased, suspecting the remaining one was the key. As Lin Zhaosheng and Lin Zhaoxi arrived home, they saw Pei Zhi leaving the pagoda. Lin Zhaosheng eagerly pulled Pei Zhi inside to play games. Pei Zhi subtly inquired about the missing formula on the wall, but Lin Zhaoxi dismissed it as random scribbles.
Pei Zhi began tutoring Lin Zhaoxi in math, conducting an intense four-hour session without breaks. Lin Zhaoxi found it exhausting and wished she were a genius like him, but Pei Zhi contended that geniuses work even harder and that the true challenge is for ordinary people to persevere without immediate results. During their tutoring, Luo Jing unexpectedly arrived with winter clothes and cold medicine for Pei Zhi. Trying to avoid her, Lin Zhaoxi hid in a closet.
However, Luo Jing opened the closet to put away clothes and discovered her. Enraged, Luo Jing demanded Lin Zhaoxi leave. Pei Zhi firmly declared Lin Zhaoxi was his girlfriend and told his mother not to interfere. He then opened the door, revealing Ding Minghai and others from the boxing club eavesdropping, and Lin Zhaoxi seized the chance to leave.
Outside, Ding Minghai playfully warned Lin Zhaoxi about her formidable "future mother-in-law," commenting that Luo Jing was the woman who turned Pei Zhi's "boxing champion" father into a "hen-pecked man." Lin Zhaoxi was astonished to learn Pei Zhi’s father had been a boxing champion. After a private conversation with Pei Zhi, Luo Jing called Lin Zhaoxi back inside. Upon learning that Lin Zhaoxi had studied philosophy, Luo Jing's demeanor softened.
She stated that philosophy students were "simpler" and "better than studying math," then approved of their relationship. As they prepared to go out, Luo Jing reminded Lin Zhaoxi of her previous warning: she must not let Pei Zhi study math, or it would "kill" him. Pei Zhi later clarified to Lin Zhaoxi that he had told his mother he would no longer be influenced by her regarding math and would seek an office job.
Lin Zhaoxi expressed regret that he was abandoning his talent but respected his choice. Both admitted they disliked shopping but decided to try it. Pei Zhi observed their rapid pace through a store and joked that his estimation of Bao Xiaomeng's four-hour shopping trips must have been too low, since she currently lacked a boyfriend to slow her down.
Episode 14 Recap
Pei Zhi and Lin Zhaoxi found their mall excursion rather uninteresting, so they used mathematical calculations to analyze how long different people typically spend shopping. Lin Zhaoxi expressed a desire to return to class but worried her mother, Luo Jing, might still be at their house. Observing a pair walking slowly, Lin Zhaoxi initially assumed they were a couple, but Pei Zhi, through keen observation, quickly deduced they were just friends.
He explained his reasoning, noting their lack of intimate physical contact despite their slow pace, their happy conversation, and the man's rigid posture, always walking a step behind the woman, trying to leave a good impression. Lin Zhaoxi, realizing their mutual disinterest in shopping, joked that they weren't suited for it and admitted she missed calculus. She suggested returning home, but they agreed that they should keep walking to avoid Luo Jing.
As they continued, Lin Zhaoxi's eyes lit up at a claw machine. She mentioned she had never played it before, and Pei Zhi, embracing the role of "Brother Pei," enthusiastically took her to try. They played together, catching several dolls and genuinely enjoying themselves. Meanwhile, at a meeting with Director Zeng, Ji Jiang and Lu Zhihao were present as Director Zeng passionately described a dramatic love triangle script. The plot resonated uncomfortably with Ji Jiang's own unspoken feelings.
Overwhelmed, Ji Jiang excused himself, sending a message to Lu Zhihao to handle the contract. Lu Zhihao then finalized the deal with Director Zeng. Later, Ji Jiang, driving by the mall, saw Pei Zhi and Lin Zhaoxi holding hands as they exited, looking joyful and reluctant to part. He then followed Pei Zhi to a boxing gym and challenged him to a match.
During their intense fight, Ji Jiang revealed that he had seen Pei Zhi's father, Pei Donglai, in the Cheese World and knew of an impending misfortune, though they hadn't known how to warn him. He also provocatively suggested Pei Donglai might already be dead. After Pei Zhi landed a powerful punch, Ji Jiang playfully complained about his face, which he claimed was his livelihood.
He then admitted that while Lin Zhaoxi was a reason for his challenge, he and Pei Zhi's counterpart in the Cheese World were also close friends. Ji Jiang offered to tell Pei Zhi the method to travel to the Cheese World, hoping that once there, Pei Zhi would "never come back," leaving Lin Zhaoxi to him.
Pei Zhi, however, revealed he already knew the method by deducing it from CCTV footage of Lin Zhaoxi and Ji Jiang entering and exiting the old tower, noting their changed behavior and finding the formula on the wall. Pei Zhi confessed his hesitation to use the method, fearing he might stay there and disappoint Lin Zhaoxi again. Ji Jiang, amused, remarked on how similar Pei Zhi and Lin Zhaoxi were in their concerns.
Upon returning home, Lin Zhaoxi found Lin Zhaosheng engrossed in the P-versus-NP problem, one of the seven Millennium Prize Problems. He enthusiastically explained its profound implications, particularly for medical advancements like targeted cancer treatments without chemotherapy. Lin Zhaosheng expressed his lifelong dream of solving it but conceded that he might have to pass this ambitious goal to the next generation, suggesting Lin Zhaoxi.
Lin Zhaoxi, feeling unqualified, demurred, stating her humble goal was simply to learn math, and shared her belief that intelligence isn't the most crucial factor; rather, it's about holding a firm dream, maintaining passion, finding joy in research, and remaining steadfast. After this profound discussion, Lin Zhaosheng suddenly declared he was hungry. Meanwhile, Pei Zhi, seeing a pair of boxing gloves in his cabinet, was transported by a flashback to his childhood birthday.
His father, Pei Donglai, had given him those gloves. A playful banter ensued between his parents and his younger self about how his father, with limited pocket money, needed Luo Jing's approval for purchases. The memory underscored his deep connection to his father. The next morning, Ji Jiang arrived at Lin Zhaosheng's home with a large box of fresh oysters, which he cooked for them, showcasing his newfound culinary talent.
Over a meal, Ji Jiang announced his departure, explaining that he would soon begin filming a new drama and then relocate his company to Shanghai for more opportunities, implying it was his last time visiting them. After the meal, Lin Zhaoxi walked Ji Jiang out, directly asking if his move was because of her. Ji Jiang confirmed it, expressing his deep affection for her.
He told her that while others might share his triumphs, she was the only one who had shared his hardships, making her incomparable in his heart. He recounted his fight with Pei Zhi the previous night after seeing them holding hands, admitting that Pei Zhi had won the fight. Ji Jiang passionately asserted that he, who loved her more and had traveled through time with her, should be her partner, not Pei Zhi.
He then confessed to telling Pei Zhi about the formula, hoping he would travel away and not return, only to discover Pei Zhi already knew. At that moment, Ji Jiang realized he had lost and that Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi were meant to be together, concluding that he was "the extra fool." Lin Zhaoxi gently told him he was "a good person," a label Ji Jiang accepted with a wry joke.
Before leaving, he gave her a small box of Oreos, asking her not to see him off as he feared he might cry. He wanted her to remember him as "the always optimistic Hua Juan" with a smile. After he left, Lin Zhaosheng commented to Lin Zhaoxi that Ji Jiang was a good kid, but it was "a pity that Pei Zhi is here." Later, Lin Zhaoxi went to see Pei Zhi.
She acknowledged that Ji Jiang had told her everything and apologized for not sharing the method of travel with him sooner. She then gave him her full support for his desire to go to the other world to see his father, reassuring him: "But if you want to go, just go. I'll wait for you in this world." Concurrently, Bao Song and Section Chief Sun were playing mahjong.
Section Chief Sun inquired about some missing money from the school and expressed suspicion about Lin Zhaosheng's memory loss, suggesting he might be faking it to avoid responsibility. Knowing Bao Song's connection to the Lin family, he asked him to tell "Old Lin" to collect his personal belongings from the school. The next day, Bao Song went to Lin Zhaosheng's house. Lin Zhaosheng didn't recognize him at first until Bao Song mentioned his daughter, Bao Xiaomeng.
Lin Zhaosheng agreed to go to the school with Bao Song, curious to see his workplace. During the drive, Bao Song probed about Lin Zhaosheng's injury, but Lin Zhaosheng couldn't recall anything about who hit him. Lin Zhaosheng attempted to explain his memory loss as a complex scientific phenomenon related to time, space, and cosmic philosophy, which Bao Song, admittedly not well-educated, struggled to grasp.
When they arrived at the school, Section Chief Sun and some students were already moving boxes of books. Sun informed Lin Zhaosheng that these were all his personal items. Lin Zhaosheng, bewildered, didn't recognize Sun either. Sun, assuming Lin Zhaosheng's "Alzheimer's disease" was the cause, reintroduced himself as "Section Chief Sun, Sun Peigen," recalling their ten years of working together in the Finance Department. Lin Zhaosheng was stunned, insisting he was a "math professor," not an "accountant."
He challenged their assertion, asking if an accountant would read "Surface Theory," a book he held. In the car on the way back, Lin Zhaosheng suddenly experienced a flash of clarity, remembering everything, including that it was Bao Song who had struck him from behind. Bao Song, sensing the shift, became visibly nervous.
Later, at the ancient tower, Lin Zhaoxi instructed Pei Zhi to wait until she had left before erasing the formula, promising to wait for him to return to their world. Back home, Lin Zhaoxi discovered Lin Zhaosheng was missing. She immediately called Pei Zhi for help. While she was telling him that Old Lin was gone, Pei Zhi, at the tower, erased the formula on the wall, causing both of them to be transported to September 25, 2012.
Lin Zhaoxi awoke in the school infirmary, where Bao Xiaomeng informed her she had fainted from heatstroke. Disoriented, Lin Zhaoxi frantically asked for the current year, month, and day, realizing she was 17 years old and in her senior year of high school. Lin Zhaosheng soon arrived, concerned for her well-being. Lin Zhaoxi, overjoyed to see him in this past world, laughed and exclaimed, "It's good to see you!"
Lin Zhaosheng, mistaking her behavior for feigned illness to skip class, chided her. After confirming she was fine, he left for work, asking Bao Xiaomeng to look after her. Lin Zhaoxi, eager to find Pei Zhi, quickly questioned Bao Xiaomeng, who revealed that Pei Zhi was not only in the same class but was also Lin Zhaoxi's deskmate. Still somewhat bewildered by her new reality, Lin Zhaoxi asked Bao Xiaomeng to lead her to their classroom.
Episode 15 Recap
Lin Zhaoxi, still dazed, rushes into Class 1, where Zhang Liang and Lu Zhihao are solving problems on the blackboard. The teacher, not recognizing Lin Zhaoxi, questions her presence. Bao Xiaomeng then arrives and clarifies that they are in the wrong classroom. She explains that they are actually in Class 13, a class known for its low-achieving students, and not Class 1.
Lin Zhaoxi expresses confusion about her poor academic performance, recalling her past achievement of an Olympic mathematics gold medal in primary school and wondering how her grades could have become so bad. Bao Xiaomeng further reveals that Pei Zhi, despite being a top student, deliberately turned in blank papers for three subjects in every exam and purposely ranked at the bottom just to be in Class 13 with Lin Zhaoxi—a fact widely known throughout the school.
Concerned about Pei Zhi, Lin Zhaoxi presses Bao Xiaomeng to take her to their actual classroom. Classmates jokingly mention Lin Zhaoxi having fainted during PE. Bao Xiaomeng guides Lin Zhaoxi to her seat, pointing out Pei Zhi's empty desk beside her and noting that he hasn't returned. During chemistry class, when the teacher calls on Lin Zhaoxi to explain a question from their exam, Lin Zhaoxi mistakenly pulls out an English paper.
The chemistry teacher, annoyed, asks if she is joking. Bao Xiaomeng quickly interjects, explaining that Lin Zhaoxi suffered a heatstroke in PE and is still confused. Feigning illness, Lin Zhaoxi requests to leave class, intent on finding Pei Zhi, and a worried Bao Xiaomeng follows her out. Lin Zhaoxi hurries to the school gate and is stopped by Lin Zhaosheng, who is working in the mail room.
She is surprised to find him in this role and asks if he has seen Pei Zhi, to which he replies that Pei Zhi might have gone home. To get permission to leave, Bao Xiaomeng tells Lin Zhaosheng that Lin Zhaoxi is feeling unwell and wants to go out for lunch. Despite sensing something is off with his daughter, Lin Zhaosheng gives her money, instructing them to eat something good and return to school promptly.
Meanwhile, Pei Zhi returns to his home in Cheese World, finding his mother, Luo Jing, cooking. Luo Jing is surprised by his unexpected return during school hours. Pei Zhi falsely claims that school is on holiday and then anxiously asks about his father. Relieved to learn that Pei Donglai was on a night shift and would be home soon, Pei Zhi later greets his father, who arrives home exhausted from dealing with three accidents without sleep.
Pei Donglai barely acknowledges Pei Zhi before heading to eat, and Pei Zhi, overcome with emotion, privately sheds tears in his room. During lunch, Pei Zhi is overjoyed watching his father eat heartily and consumes three bowls of rice himself. Luo Jing then attempts to persuade Pei Donglai to transfer to an office position, reminding him of a motorcycle accident three years prior where he crashed while chasing a thief, narrowly escaping serious injury thanks to his helmet.
Pei Zhi distinctly remembers the accident happened in 2009, when he was in junior high. He also recalls a heated argument between Luo Jing and Pei Donglai regarding his math studies. Luo Jing had pushed for him to attend a math program for gifted youth, while Pei Donglai vehemently opposed it, asserting that their son wasn't a "math genius" and shouldn't have his life completely dictated by his mother.
After the argument, an angry Pei Donglai left for work, and Luo Jing, in a fit of pique, threw his helmet downstairs. Lin Zhaoxi tries to explain her situation to Bao Xiaomeng, initially offering a complex scientific explanation about parallel universes, which Bao Xiaomeng finds unbelievable. Lin Zhaoxi then resorts to claiming she has "lost her memory" due to heatstroke. Bao Xiaomeng, after some skepticism, promises to keep this a secret.
Lin Zhaoxi proceeds to gather information: she and Bao Xiaomeng met in high school, and Lin Zhaoxi's grades were poor, placing her in Class 13 from the start. She learns that Lin Zhaosheng works in the school mail room, having followed her to whichever school she attended, a fact that previously annoyed her.
Crucially, she discovers that Ji Jiang is her younger brother, nicknamed Hua Juan, and that Pei Zhi, despite being the city's top-ranked student, intentionally remained in Class 13 to help her with her studies, even resisting the principal's efforts to move him to an advanced class.
Bao Xiaomeng describes Lin Zhaoxi's relationship with Pei Zhi as "weird," certainly not romantic, and reveals that Lin Zhaoxi supposedly has a crush on a classmate named Zheng Tianming, which Lin Zhaoxi denies with an incredulous expression. Dismissing these personal matters, Lin Zhaoxi, still concerned about Lin Zhaosheng in Strawberry World, hastily leaves the cafe, leaving Bao Xiaomeng to pay, determined to find Pei Zhi and retrieve the voice recorder.
After lunch, while Pei Donglai is resting, Pei Zhi confesses to Luo Jing that he lied about school being on holiday, admitting he simply missed them and wanted to see them. Luo Jing, though understanding, urges him to return to school to avoid being late. Just as Pei Zhi is leaving his house, he encounters Lin Zhaoxi.
They confirm their shared experience of traveling between worlds by testing each other with a pre-arranged question: "Which country won the World Cup in 2014?" Pei Zhi, overjoyed and deeply emotional at seeing his father alive, expresses profound gratitude to Lin Zhaoxi, stating he would not have seen his dad again without her. He apologizes for rushing home to check on his father first instead of looking for her.
Lin Zhaoxi then asks for the voice recorder, which Pei Zhi produces, explaining it was in his pocket when he awoke, similar to how the photo remained with them. Pei Zhi embraces Lin Zhaoxi, who, despite his joy, remains focused on the task at hand. She notes that it is currently September 2012, and the recording is dated February 2013, giving them five months to uncover the truth about the recording and find a way back to Strawberry World.
Learning that Lin Zhaosheng works as a school guard in this world, Pei Zhi observes that the two parallel worlds have significant differences. He encourages Lin Zhaoxi to integrate into their current reality. Lin Zhaoxi informs him that while in Strawberry World she was in Class 1 and he in Class 3, they are now both in the lowest-ranked Class 13, and their relationships with teachers, students, and friends are altered.
As they head back to school, they are immediately confronted by Jie Ran, their homeroom teacher, whom Pei Zhi recognizes as an assistant from an Olympic math training camp he attended as a child. Jie Ran, frustrated, reprimands them for skipping class without permission, emphasizing that as high school seniors, they should act responsibly.
Pei Zhi attempts to reassure Jie Ran that Lin Zhaoxi's grades will improve, but Jie Ran expresses deep disappointment in Lin Zhaoxi's current academic performance, lamenting how a child once so intelligent in elementary school has declined. He sternly advises her that if she gives up on herself, no teacher, no matter how good, can help her. Jie Ran dismisses Lin Zhaoxi to class and speaks privately with Pei Zhi.
He congratulates Pei Zhi, revealing that due to his outstanding performance in the Olympic mathematics competitions for the past two years, the Mathematics Department of Sanwei University has offered him early admission. Jie Ran advises Pei Zhi to stop turning in blank papers and promises to talk to the principal to ensure he can remain in Class 13 if he chooses, overriding any grade-based transfer policies. Pei Zhi, seeing a class group photo on Jie Ran's desk, requests a copy.
Later, Pei Zhi hands the photo to Lin Zhaoxi, and together they identify their classmates. Lin Zhaoxi learns about Chen Zhu, the former burly commissary in charge of sports who now appears thin and spends his time in internet cafes, and Zhou Qian, a girl with glasses known for snitching. She also identifies Sun Wenqi, or "Qi," as her other best friend.
They discuss the upcoming basketball game between Class 13 and Class 1, and also confirm that, similar to Strawberry World, evening classes were initially suspended for inspection but were reinstated due to parental objections. The next day, preparations are underway for the basketball game between Class 13 and Class 1. Bao Xiaomeng and Sun Wenqi are enthusiastically practicing a "cutest" cheerleading dance and try to persuade Lin Zhaoxi to join their team.
Lin Zhaoxi, feeling it's too embarrassing and still disoriented, declines their invitation and heads home after school. That evening, at home, Lin Zhaosheng discusses household chores, mentioning a dart-throwing "old way" of deciding who cooks, which Ji Jiang opposes because Lin Zhaoxi is too skilled. Ji Jiang then brings up his plans to participate in the "Super Singer" competition, a fact Lin Zhaoxi is completely unaware of.
Later, as Ji Jiang practices his singing loudly, Lin Zhaoxi tries to study, surprising both Ji Jiang and Lin Zhaosheng, as she hasn't opened a textbook since starting high school. Lin Zhaoxi, annoyed by the noise, goes into Ji Jiang's room and tears down his posters.
Later that night, while Pei Zhi is playing cards with Luo Jing and Pei Donglai, Luo Jing expresses to her husband that she finds Pei Zhi's behavior unsettling and that he has changed a lot, despite Pei Donglai dismissing her concerns as oversensitivity. Lin Zhaoxi calls Pei Zhi, explaining that her situation is "complicated": she has become rebellious, and Lin Zhaosheng seems to have given up on trying to control her academic performance.
The most surprising revelation for her is that Ji Jiang is now her younger brother. She expresses concern that in Strawberry World, at this very time, Ji Jiang (Hua Juan) was already famous and filming commercials, whereas in this world, he has achieved nothing and is merely planning to enter a singing competition. Pei Zhi suggests they discuss these matters further at school the following day.
Episode 16 Recap
The previous night, Luo Jing expressed concern about Pei Zhi's unusual behavior, but Pei Donglai dismissed it and engaged Pei Zhi in a game of "Fight the Landlord." Earlier, Lin Zhaoxi had called Pei Zhi, discussing the strange turn of events where Ji Jiang, a celebrity in the Strawberry World, had become her younger brother in this Cheese World. She worried that her presence might have altered his fate, making him a struggling student instead of a rising star.
Pei Zhi reassured her, suggesting they discuss it further at school, before hanging up as his parents were present. The next morning, Lin Zhaoxi overslept, causing Ji Jiang to complain as it was her turn to make breakfast. Lin Zhaosheng quickly prepared a simple meal, urging them to hurry to avoid being late. Lin Zhaosheng then took Lin Zhaoxi to the bus stop on his electric bike, having sold his motorcycle previously because she deemed it unsafe.
Despite his efforts, they missed the bus. Lin Zhaoxi, now late for class, was reprimanded by Mr. Xie, who kept a watchful eye on students from outside the classroom. Lin Zhaoxi lamented the struggles of senior year, but Pei Zhi encouraged her to find joy amidst the difficulties. During English class, Lin Zhaoxi passed a note to Pei Zhi, expressing her guilt over Ji Jiang's altered path.
Pei Zhi responded that each world had its unique trajectory and suggested Ji Jiang might thrive through a talent show. Lin Zhaoxi, however, doubted this. When the English teacher noticed them passing notes, Lin Zhaoxi was made to stand up and read from the textbook. To everyone’s surprise, she read fluently with accurate pronunciation, earning applause from her classmates and a reprieve from the teacher.
After class, Pei Zhi candidly asked Lin Zhaoxi about her feelings toward living in the Cheese World. He believed it offered a chance for a fresh start, where their parents were healthy and he and Lin Zhaoxi were together, famed as "mysterious deskmates" or "legends" of Experimental High School. He urged her to consider staying, emphasizing that they had lost everything in the Strawberry World, but here they could study mathematics together at Sanwei University.
Lin Zhaoxi, however, maintained that despite the Cheese World's beauty, they belonged to the Strawberry World. She likened their situation to having "rocks in their socks," asserting that they should remove the stones rather than "change shoes." She spoke of her "sick Old Lin" who needed her, and her inability to lose him.
Pei Zhi then revealed his own pain, explaining that returning to the Strawberry World would mean witnessing his father's disappearance for a second time, a trauma he was "not brave enough" to endure. He desperately pleaded with her to reconsider. During a math class, as the teacher solved a problem, Lin Zhaoxi recalled a past warning not to let her father delve deeply into mathematics if she wished him to live.
This memory, coupled with Pei Zhi’s heartfelt plea, brought her immense inner conflict, but ultimately, she firmly told Pei Zhi, "Sorry, we have to go back." Later, Mr. Xie announced the upcoming basketball game and urged players to prioritize safety. After class, Lin Zhaoxi was confronted by Bao Xiaomeng, who, along with Qi Qi, tried to persuade her to join the cheerleading squad.
Lin Zhaoxi, finding the idea childish, offered various excuses, claiming she was still weak from heatstroke and would faint on stage. Bao Xiaomeng, however, noticed Lin Zhaoxi's recent strange behavior and accused her of being afraid of embarrassment, pointing out that Lin Zhaoxi used to be the most enthusiastic, even "shameless" when chasing Zheng Tianming. Feeling rejected, Bao Xiaomeng declared she wouldn't speak to Lin Zhaoxi anymore. Qi Qi intervened and convinced Bao Xiaomeng to give Lin Zhaoxi another chance.
Bao Xiaomeng returned, issuing an ultimatum: join the squad or she would reveal to Lin Zhaosheng that Lin Zhaoxi and another girl fought over buying Zheng Tianming milk tea. Lin Zhaoxi reluctantly agreed, viewing it as payment for Bao Xiaomeng's imagined help in "taking care of Old Lin," a comment that left Bao Xiaomeng confused. The basketball game between Class 1 and Class 13 began with fervent cheering from both sides.
During halftime, Lin Zhaoxi suggested the cheerleading squad dance with masks, but Bao Xiaomeng adamantly refused. Lin Zhaoxi, despite her initial reluctance, took to the stage with Qi Qi and Bao Xiaomeng, performing a synchronized dance that captivated the audience and earned widespread applause. In the second half, Class 1 maintained a lead of 45:37.
However, the game took a turn when Chen Chu from Class 1 committed an aggressive foul against Zheng Tianming of Class 13, causing him to fall. Zheng Tianming then noticed a suspicious change on the scoreboard, with Class 13's score dropping from 37 to 33. Zhang Liang of Class 1 arrogantly dismissed the issue, claiming they would still win even if they "gave" Class 13 four points. This sparked outrage among Class 13 players, leading to a full-blown brawl.
The commotion drew the attention of Zhang Shuping, the newly appointed principal, whose presence surprised Lin Zhaoxi. Zhang Shuping demanded an explanation. Lin Zhaoxi recounted the events: Chen Chu's foul, the accidental knocking over of the scoreboard, the subsequent change in Class 13's score, Zhang Liang's condescending remarks, and the ensuing fight. Zhang Liang, in turn, accused Class 13 of trying to manipulate the score.
To resolve the dispute, Pei Zhi meticulously recited every single point scored by Class 13, detailing each shot (a lay-up, a perimeter shot, a free throw, a bank shot, two perimeter shots, a three-pointer, two lay-ups, a three-pointer, a bank shot, a tip-in, two free throws, a three-pointer, a perimeter shot, and a lay-up), confirming their score of 37 points. He even offered to provide the names of the scoring players and further match details.
Zhang Liang then conceded that the scoreboard might have been incorrect but blamed Class 13 for escalating to a physical fight. Zhang Shuping, after hearing both sides, declared that Class 13 students would remain for disciplinary action while Class 1 could return to their classroom. He sternly rebuked Class 13 for prioritizing basketball scores over their poor academic performance and for being quick to fight. He announced that those involved would receive "serious demerits."
Lin Zhaoxi vehemently argued against the unfairness of this decision, demanding that he investigate the truth instead of simply siding with the "better performing" class. Angered, Zhang Shuping invoked the pressure of the upcoming college entrance exam before dismissing her. Back in the Class 13 classroom, the returning players were hailed as heroes. Mr. Xie, upon learning that Class 1 had initiated the altercation, marched directly to Principal Zhang Shuping.
During their heated discussion, Zhang Shuping noted that Mr. Xie had reverted to calling him "Teacher Zhang" instead of "Principal Zhang" out of disapproval. Mr. Xie asserted that the principal’s handling of the situation was unfair, with both classes deserving responsibility, and that Class 1 was the aggressor. Zhang Shuping, however, claimed his intent was to "stimulate" Class 13, hoping to motivate them to "focus on their studies" and transform a negative event into a positive one.
Mr. Xie strongly disagreed, warning that such an approach would "ruin their values of right and wrong." Despite the clash, Zhang Shuping, acknowledging Mr. Xie's firm stance, agreed to reduce the "serious demerits" to regular "demerits" that would not be recorded in permanent files and could be "automatically canceled" by the end of the semester for good behavior. This lighter punishment was also extended to the Class 1 students involved.
Zhang Shuping also urged Mr. Xie to "keep an eye on Lin Zhaoxi," recognizing her as a "good seedling." Meanwhile, the Class 1 teacher announced the disciplinary action to her students, lamenting their involvement in a fight with the "worst" Class 13. Zhang Liang and his friends expressed their defiance, but the teacher advised them to strive for good academic performance to have their demerits revoked.
Zhang Liang, however, boasted that his father had connections with the "director of the education authority," implying he could easily resolve the issue. After school, Pei Zhi offered to walk Lin Zhaoxi home. Initially hesitant, she eventually agreed, admitting she found high school "not bad actually," and even confessed to making many mistakes during her cheerleading dance, though Pei Zhi insisted her performance looked intentionally unique and natural.
Their pleasant conversation was interrupted when they encountered Zhang Liang and five of his Class 1 teammates waiting for a ride. Zhang Liang confronted Pei Zhi, calling him a "traitor" for siding with Class 13. Pei Zhi calmly stated he merely presented the facts. Zhang Liang then attempted to persuade Pei Zhi to rejoin Class 1, offering to help him tutor Lin Zhaoxi so she could also transfer.
Lin Zhaoxi vehemently refused the tutoring, exclaiming that Zhang Liang "might as well beat me!" Pei Zhi, stating he could defeat them but didn't wish to harm "children," grabbed Lin Zhaoxi's hand, and they fled. Zhang Liang's group, joined by Lu Zhihao who was passing by, pursued them. As the chase intensified, Lu Zhihao tried to mediate, reminding Zhang Liang and his friends of the potential negative impact on their college applications and overseas study plans.
Just then, a group of ruffians led by Da Tou arrived. Recognizing Lin Zhaoxi as "Xi Ge" (Sister Xi) from the welfare home, Da Tou pledged to protect her. An exchange of insults quickly escalated, and Da Tou struck Zhang Liang. In the ensuing chaos, Lu Zhihao was pushed down a flight of stairs, breaking his arm. Seeing this, Da Tou and his gang immediately fled.
Meanwhile, Zhang Shuping visited Lin Zhaosheng, attempting to persuade him to open a mathematics cram school. Zhang Shuping highlighted the impending college expenses for Lin Zhaoxi and Ji Jiang, estimating tuition and living costs at 40,000 to 50,000 yuan annually, suggesting Lin Zhaosheng’s current salary would be insufficient. Lin Zhaosheng, however, was deeply absorbed in his P/NP research, asserting he was "just one step away" from a breakthrough and unwilling to abandon two decades of work.
Zhang Shuping urged him to be realistic, reminding him that many in fundamental mathematics often spend a lifetime pursuing goals that may prove unattainable or even nonexistent. He noted that even success in P/NP research would primarily yield "academic recognition," not "fame and fortune." Lin Zhaosheng remained steadfast. Zhang Shuping then offered to cover Lin Zhaoxi and Ji Jiang's tuition expenses, but before Lin Zhaosheng could respond, both men received urgent phone calls.
They rushed to the hospital, where Lu Zhihao was being treated for an "ulnar radius fracture and multiple contusions," requiring internal plate fixation surgery. His mother anxiously inquired if this injury would jeopardize his dream of becoming a surgeon, to which the doctor replied it was "hard to say" and depended on his recovery. At the hospital, Zhang Liang's mother tried to deflect blame, arguing that since no one witnessed the fall, her family shouldn't bear sole responsibility.
Zhang Liang, however, took full responsibility, admitting it was his fault for involving Lu Zhihao. His mother then fiercely defended him, characterizing the incident as a mere "accident." This prompted a heated argument with Lu Zhihao's mother, who was furious at the attempt to downplay the incident and argued about responsibility and medical costs.
Episode 17 Recap
Principal Zhang, Zhang Shuping, tried to mediate an argument between Zhang Liang’s mother and Lu Zhihao’s mother in the hallway. Lin Zhaosheng was waiting nearby. Principal Zhang informed Lin Zhaosheng that the instigator of the fight was a friend of Lin Zhaoxi's from the orphanage. He observed that Zhang Liang, though often a troublemaker, also displayed a sense of responsibility.
Concerned about the upcoming college entrance exams for Zhang Liang, Lin Zhaoxi, and Lu Zhihao, Principal Zhang decided to downplay the incident as an accident to avoid severe consequences. He then urged Lin Zhaosheng to focus on setting up the tutoring center he had previously discussed, rather than worrying about others' affairs. Lin Zhaoxi felt burdened by guilt, believing her presence in Cheese World had ruined Ji Jiang's dream of becoming a star and led to Lu Zhihao's arm injury.
She confessed her regret about coming to this world. Pei Zhi, however, tried to persuade her to stay, arguing that many things are beyond their control and they should focus on making their future better in this world, which offered a "cheating" opportunity to overcome past regrets. He emphasized his desire to remain in Cheese World to be with his father, Pei Donglai.
Lin Zhaoxi, however, insisted on returning to Strawberry World, asking what Pei Zhi would do if she left. Their disagreement led to an unhappy parting. Later, Lin Zhaosheng noticed Lin Zhaoxi's melancholic mood, which he suspected was due to a quarrel with Pei Zhi. She vaguely spoke of complex "math problems" and then recounted a story about a little fox who, after her father became gravely ill, traveled to a parallel world where he was healthy.
The fox faced a choice: return to her sick father or stay in the easy life of the parallel world. Lin Zhaosheng initially suggested the fox should face her difficulties and return. However, when asked what he, as the sick father, would wish, he expressed that he would want his child to live a happy, unburdened life, and explicitly told her not to spend money trying to cure him if he were terminally ill, as parents feared being a burden.
He also reminisced about feeling helpless when he first learned he had a daughter. That evening, Pei Donglai downloaded an action movie and invited Pei Zhi to watch it. Instead of cola, Pei Zhi suggested they drink beer together, a moment Pei Donglai had anticipated for seventeen years. They enjoyed their drinks, and Pei Zhi felt a profound sense of comfort watching his father's happiness.
Meanwhile, Ji Jiang, upon hearing that Lin Zhaoxi had been bullied by Zhang Liang and Lu Zhihao injured, offered to avenge her. Lin Zhaoxi, however, urged him to focus on his singing competition. Ji Jiang then noticed a voice recorder in her hand, mistakenly thinking it was a gift for his practice. Lin Zhaoxi quickly claimed it was for English listening practice, and when he expressed disbelief, she dramatically pulled out an English textbook and began "studying," which satisfied him.
The next morning, Lin Zhaoxi found Lin Zhaosheng taking medicine for a cold. His hoarse, nasal voice, combined with his casual "do your things" and the memory of his 2013 car accident, made her realize something. She asked him to record several phrases from her mysterious audio clip, including descriptions of a fast car heading towards a passageway, him and his daughter walking, and "do your things."
Upon comparing his voice to the recording, Lin Zhaoxi realized Lin Zhaosheng was the car accident victim, and Pei Donglai was the one responding in the recording. She immediately called Pei Zhi to share this startling discovery, explaining that Lin Zhaosheng's car accident in 2013 in Strawberry World had led to his Alzheimer's. The recording now suggested she could prevent this accident in Cheese World, thereby preventing his future illness.
Pei Zhi seized the opportunity to persuade Lin Zhaoxi to stay in Cheese World, arguing that there were multiple ways to prevent Lin Zhaosheng's accident without returning to the Strawberry World. He reminded her that regardless of how long they stayed, their return point in Strawberry World remained fixed. However, Lin Zhaoxi felt an urgent responsibility to return to her original father, who was suffering, refusing to gamble his well-being on an uncertain "possibility."
She asked Pei Zhi to return with her, but he regretfully declined, citing his own compelling reasons to stay. Acknowledging their differing but equally strong motivations, they parted with mutual disappointment. Meanwhile, Zhang Shuping arranged a dinner for Lin Zhaosheng with a Mr. Zhou, hoping to secure investment for Lin Zhaosheng's tutoring center. Mr. Zhou, knowing little about mathematics, made superficial comments that irritated Lin Zhaosheng, who nearly walked out. Zhang Shuping intervened, smoothing things over.
After Mr. Zhou left, Zhang Shuping chastised Lin Zhaosheng for his lack of social grace, reminding him that this endeavor was for Lin Zhaoxi's future, especially with her recent academic decline. Stung by the remarks, Lin Zhaosheng impulsively decided to cut his long, twenty-year-old hair, which had been deemed unprofessional. However, at the barber shop, after much deliberation, he suddenly fled before the haircut could begin.
During class, Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi continued their debate on how to prevent Lin Zhaosheng's accident. Lin Zhaoxi believed she could save him by accurately predicting the time and location and maintaining vigilance. Pei Zhi countered that the recording lacked specific time or location details beyond mentioning "trees by the road," and that relying on her real-time intervention was extremely risky, potentially endangering her own life with low chances of success.
Their animated discussion led their teacher, Jie Ran, to send them outside. Back home, Lin Zhaosheng’s unusual behavior of diligently preparing dinner caught Lin Zhaoxi and Ji Jiang’s attention, though they couldn’t fathom the reason. After dinner, Lin Zhaosheng initiated a conversation with Lin Zhaoxi, asking if his perceived lack of concern or high expectations had caused her stress and affected her grades.
Lin Zhaoxi responded that academic performance was primarily a matter of self-effort, unrelated to external factors, and she could handle pressure. Reassured by her maturity, Lin Zhaosheng then expressed concern about her college tuition. Lin Zhaoxi confidently stated that she only needed his support for the first year, as she would manage the remaining three years herself. She then sought his advice on how an ordinary person could triumph over a genius like Pei Zhi.
Using a gambling analogy, Lin Zhaosheng explained that by consistently making small, incremental improvements to her "winning probability" each day, she could achieve a near-certain victory. He emphasized the power of "persistent effort" and "daily small accumulations," concluding with a playful remark about love, which Lin Zhaoxi brushed off.
Later that night, Pei Zhi's mother brought him fruit as he was writing computer programs, inquiring if he was troubled, to which he simply said no. Lin Zhaoxi decided to pursue a strategy of mathematical modeling, using Lin Zhaosheng's daily habits and extensive traffic data to pinpoint the exact time and location of the impending car accident. She borrowed a book titled "Neural Networks and Applications" from Lin Zhaosheng. Meanwhile, Ji Jiang prepared for his "Youth Super Singer" audition.
Lin Zhaosheng, wishing him luck, presented him with a red vest embroidered with "Go, brother!" , fabricating a story that Lin Zhaoxi had painstakingly sewn it over two nights using three of his own red vests. Ji Jiang was touched by the gesture. During the live broadcast of the "Youth Super Singer" competition, Ji Jiang began his performance of "Sailor," dramatically shedding layers of clothing as he sang.
A judge abruptly stopped him, criticizing his "greasy" performance and questioning if it was a striptease. Another judge, however, saw the act as an artistic representation of a "homebody's transformation into a trendy man," appreciating the creativity despite vocal and dance imperfections. Ji Jiang pleaded to finish his song, explaining that his father and sister were watching from home. The judges relented, allowing him to continue from where he stopped.
As he resumed, he again removed more clothing, revealing the red vest. He had altered the original "Go, brother!" to "Sister and brother, let's work hard together" with a red pen. Ji Jiang then shared his story, revealing that he and Lin Zhaoxi were not biological siblings but had grown up together in an orphanage. After Lin Zhaoxi found her biological father, he adopted Ji Jiang, forming a happy family.
Ji Jiang explained that he wanted to cheer up Lin Zhaoxi, who had been feeling down, and affirmed that as long as their family was together, no challenge was insurmountable. His heartfelt narrative moved both the judges and Lin Zhaoxi to tears.
Episode 18 Recap
The judges deliberated on Ji Jiang's performance. During his act, Ji Jiang had emotionally recounted his story: after Lin Zhaoxi found her biological father, Lin Zhaosheng, Lin Zhaosheng adopted him, and now they are a truly happy family of three. He expressed that despite their humble financial situation, he was content and wished for his father and sister to always be happy. He added that no matter what difficulties they faced, it was manageable as long as they were together.
Moved by his sincerity, the judges praised his heartfelt delivery, with one acknowledging that it changed her view on overly sentimental performances. All three judges agreed to let him advance, bringing joy to Ji Jiang, Lin Zhaoxi, and Lin Zhaosheng. Elsewhere, Pei Zhi diligently worked on developing a small program, even bringing his laptop to school.
Lin Zhaoxi approached him, eager to learn programming and mathematical modeling, believing these skills could help her calculate the exact location of Lin Zhaosheng's car accident. Pei Zhi, however, refused her request, stating firmly that he neither wanted to return to Strawberry World nor wished for her to go back. During math class, Lin Zhaoxi, out of spite, reported Pei Zhi for having his laptop in school.
Their teacher, Jie Ran, mildly cautioned Pei Zhi, telling him not to bring irrelevant items as they might distract other students. Unimpressed by this lenient warning, Lin Zhaoxi then openly began reading an extracurricular book. Pei Zhi promptly reported her to Jie Ran, who confiscated her book. Lin Zhaoxi protested the unfairness, pointing out that Pei Zhi’s laptop was not confiscated, but Jie Ran dismissed her, stating Pei Zhi was different.
Their classmates, Bao Xiaomeng and another student, observed their ongoing conflict, concluding they were definitely at odds. After class, Jie Ran summoned Lin Zhaoxi to his office. He questioned her motives for studying such advanced topics when her recent math scores were low. Lin Zhaoxi confidently claimed she had already mastered high school math and had intentionally scored 88 for "good luck." To prove her point, she asked for a test.
Jie Ran, skeptical, gave her a math paper from last year's college entrance exam. Lin Zhaoxi confidently stated she would finish before lunch, and indeed, she completed the exam in just over an hour. Jie Ran graded it and was astonished to find she scored 141 points. Still disbelieving, he suspected she had seen the paper before and gave her another randomly chosen test. Lin Zhaoxi insisted on taking it immediately, sacrificing her lunch break.
As she worked diligently, other teachers, including Principal Zhang Shuping, came to observe, with Zhang Shuping quietly sitting nearby. Bao Xiaomeng and her friend arrived, expressing concern for Lin Zhaoxi under the intense scrutiny. Lin Zhaoxi quickly finished the second paper. Zhang Shuping personally graded it, announcing a score of 148. The teachers were utterly amazed, referring to both Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi as extraordinary talents.
When Jie Ran asked why she deliberately scored low, Lin Zhaoxi playfully responded that she loved the atmosphere of Class 13 and didn't want to leave, even joking about not wanting to fight with Zhang Liang from Class 1. Despite another teacher trying to recruit her for Class 1, Zhang Shuping ultimately allowed Lin Zhaoxi to choose her class freely. Jie Ran, fulfilling his promise, returned her book and apologized to her.
Lin Zhaoxi returned to class, happily clutching her returned book. Pei Zhi attempted to engage her, but she treated him as an adversary, explicitly stating they were now enemies and that he couldn't stop her from going home. Bao Xiaomeng and her friend observed this interaction, confirming their belief that Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi had completely fallen out.
Later, Pei Zhi requested Jie Ran to move his seat to the back row, explaining he didn't want to distract Lin Zhaoxi. Lin Zhaoxi confronted Jie Ran about the seat change, but Jie Ran simply presented Pei Zhi’s perfect test paper, telling Lin Zhaoxi that if she also achieved a perfect score next time, all her wishes would be granted. Meanwhile, Pei Zhi trained in boxing with his father, Pei Donglai, and Yu Minghai.
Yu Minghai commented on Pei Zhi's rapid improvement in boxing, to which Pei Zhi humorously promised to reveal his "secret" later. Pei Zhi asked Pei Donglai about his work as a traffic policeman, and Pei Donglai affirmed his enjoyment, despite the demanding nature. Pei Zhi then subtly asked if his father would consider resigning if he earned a significant amount of money.
Pei Donglai initially joked about living a leisurely life of boxing and fishing, but then clarified that true success wasn't about money but about health and continuous effort, urging Pei Zhi not to put too much pressure on himself. Pei Zhi assured his father he felt no stress. Earlier, Pei Zhi had noticed that Yu Minghai’s father looked unwell.
Knowing from Strawberry World that Mr. Yu would pass away from late-stage liver cancer in 2014, Pei Zhi strongly advised Yu Minghai to take his father for a check-up, emphasizing the importance of early detection given Mr. Yu's smoking and drinking habits. When Yu Minghai expressed difficulty convincing his father due to cost, Pei Zhi suggested paying for it secretly and telling his father it was a prize from a lucky draw.
Later, Yu Minghai tearfully thanked Pei Zhi, revealing that his father was indeed diagnosed with early-stage liver cancer and would undergo timely surgery, a life-saving intervention thanks to Pei Zhi's foresight. At the hospital, Pei Zhi was playing chess with Zhang Liang, who repeatedly lost. Lin Zhaoxi and Bao Xiaomeng arrived to visit Lu Zhihao. Lu Zhihao recognized Bao Xiaomeng, whom Zhang Liang jokingly exposed as Lu Zhihao's secret admirer.
Pei Zhi received a call from the Steak Games platform and stepped out to answer it, with Lin Zhaoxi following him. Inside, Bao Xiaomeng confided in Lu Zhihao about the ambiguous, on-again-off-again nature of Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi's relationship. Zhang Liang interjected, disparagingly implying Pei Zhi shouldn't associate with "bad students" like them. Bao Xiaomeng quickly retorted that Lin Zhaoxi was now recognized as a genius by the teachers.
Outside, Lin Zhaoxi pressed Pei Zhi about his recent activities and the program he was writing. Pei Zhi admitted to having a plan but refused to disclose details, promising she would know in a few days. Soon after, Zhang Liang’s mother arrived with numerous tonics for Lu Zhihao. Charlie, the operations director for the Steak Games platform, contacted Pei Zhi, proposing a meeting to discuss a partnership for "Auto Chess Battle."
Pei Zhi agreed to meet him at noon at the fast food restaurant across from their high school. In class, Lin Zhaoxi was struggling with a math problem. Pei Zhi, despite their ongoing tension, offered to teach her, stating that even if she learned, he was confident she wouldn't be able to return to Strawberry World.
At the fast food restaurant, Charlie, who had arrived early, was surprised to find that the creator of the successful game was Pei Zhi, a seventeen-year-old high school student, not his father, Pei Donglai. Charlie lauded Pei Zhi as an extraordinary talent for developing such a creative and polished game in his spare time. They promptly began discussing the collaboration. The "Auto Chess Battle" game achieved phenomenal success, with downloads skyrocketing globally.
Reporters, under the impression that Pei Donglai was the game's developer, flocked to interview him. Pei Donglai was completely unaware of the game until the reporters’ questions. Back home, Pei Zhi explained to his parents that he had created the popular game. He proposed establishing a company with funding from the game platform and asked Pei Donglai to resign from his traffic police job to manage it, allowing Pei Zhi to focus on his college entrance exams.
Pei Donglai hesitated, citing his lack of knowledge in computers and his commitment to his police team. However, Pei Zhi's mother, Luo Jing, supported Pei Zhi, interjecting that the investment was 20 million, which made Pei Donglai concede. Pei Zhi then took Pei Donglai to meet Charlie. During the contract review, Pei Donglai struggled to understand the business terms and eventually fell asleep.
Charlie expressed reservations about Pei Donglai's lack of industry expertise but honored Pei Zhi's request for his father to be the company’s legal representative, ensuring a termination clause for risk mitigation. Pei Donglai signed the contract. Later, reporters swarmed Pei Zhi's school for interviews. Principal Zhang Shuping and Jie Ran proudly presented Pei Zhi’s academic records to the media, highlighting his exceptional talent and the school's policy of nurturing geniuses.
Lin Zhaoxi confronted Pei Zhi at school, accusing him of stealing the "Auto Chess" concept from Strawberry World. She realized his true intention when she found out that Pei Donglai had resigned and was now the CEO of "Donglai Network Technology Development Company."
Lin Zhaoxi understood that Pei Zhi had orchestrated this to prevent her from returning to Strawberry World by removing the specific circumstances of Lin Zhaosheng's car accident, which originally led to the crucial recording pen, thus eliminating her "path home." Pei Zhi confirmed her suspicions. Lin Zhaoxi expressed her profound disappointment, admitting she was foolish to believe he might change his mind.
Pei Zhi then reminded her of Yu Minghai's father, who, in Strawberry World, had died of late-stage liver cancer in 2014. Pei Zhi explained that by using this knowledge from Strawberry World, he had prompted Yu Minghai to get his father checked, leading to an early diagnosis and successful surgery, effectively saving his life.
Episode 19 Recap
Pei Zhi earnestly urged Lin Zhaoxi to remain in Cheese World, arguing they could make this world better. He cited the example of Yu Minghai's father, who had died of late-stage liver cancer in Strawberry World in 2014, but was diagnosed with an early-stage tumor in Cheese World and underwent successful surgery thanks to Pei Zhi's prompt. Lin Zhaoxi conceded that they could indeed change things in this world but firmly stated her intention to return to Strawberry World.
She explained that while Lin Zhaosheng in Cheese World had Lin Zhaoxi (from this world) to accompany him, the Lin Zhaosheng in Strawberry World only had her. Seeing his efforts to convince her were futile, Pei Zhi expressed his disappointment, saying he thought she might change her mind, but now he realized he was too naive. Later that evening, Ji Jiang was still downcast after being eliminated from the competition.
Lin Zhaosheng tried to cheer him and Lin Zhaoxi up with jokes about famous authors like Jin Yong and J. K. Rowling, but neither of them was in the mood to laugh. Lin Zhaosheng noted Ji Jiang's inability to handle setbacks. The next morning at school, Lin Zhaoxi asked Jie Ran for leave, falsely claiming she had menstrual cramps and a stomachache. Jie Ran, seeing her energetic demeanor, dismissed her excuse and told her to return to class.
However, Lin Zhaoxi ignored him, packed her things, and left the classroom. Not long after, Jie Ran informed Lin Zhaosheng that Lin Zhaoxi had skipped class to find Pei Zhi. Lin Zhaosheng, however, seemed unconcerned, stating that the children were almost ready for college and knew what they were doing, leaving Jie Ran exasperated.
Lin Zhaoxi arrived at Pei Zhi's company, where she found Pei Donglai, who was supposed to be managing the business, enthusiastically watching a motivational seminar on how to be a confident boss. She asked him about his feelings regarding his resignation. Pei Donglai expressed some regret about leaving his job serving the people but explained that he needed to care for his family's business as Pei Zhi's mother, Luo Jing, was not in good health.
He intended to return to his old job after Pei Zhi finished college and could manage the company himself. Lin Zhaoxi muttered that it would be "too late." Just then, Pei Zhi returned and immediately called Lin Zhaoxi outside. He reiterated his desire to stay in Cheese World with his parents and live a happy life, while she wanted to return to Strawberry World to care for her ailing father.
Recognizing their incompatible demands, he urged her to give up, but Lin Zhaoxi insisted she couldn't. With neither willing to concede, they agreed to rely on their own methods to achieve their goals. Lin Zhaoxi returned home disheartened. Lin Zhaosheng was waiting for her, trying to lift her spirits with a joke before presenting her with a calculus book.
He shared his profound reason for loving mathematics: it offers a vast world to explore, making most human misfortunes seem insignificant in comparison. Although Lin Zhaoxi found his words a bit cheesy, she appreciated the gesture. Soon after, Ji Jiang arrived home. Lin Zhaosheng also had a gift for him – a book titled "General Knowledge of Art."
Ji Jiang, having reflected on his recent elimination, told Lin Zhaosheng that he had come to terms with it, realizing that becoming famous wasn't everything and he just wanted to enjoy the process and be an artist. Lin Zhaosheng, however, insisted Ji Jiang would be a huge star across Asia. The family then enjoyed a cheerful hotpot dinner together.
That night, Lin Zhaoxi confided in Ji Jiang, asking him to arrange for Pei Zhi to be out of his house for the weekend. She instructed him to take Pei Zhi to an Internet cafe or a movie and to keep him away until she sent a specific signal, indicating her task was complete or if problems arose. Ji Jiang, though curious about her intentions, agreed to help.
The next day, Luo Jing, complaining to Pei Zhi about his father's new work schedule, encouraged Pei Zhi to accept Ji Jiang's invitation to play games when Ji Jiang called. Pei Zhi, who initially wanted to stay home with his mother, agreed and promised to be home before dinner. After Pei Zhi left, Lin Zhaoxi arrived at his house, telling Luo Jing that Pei Zhi had asked her to wait in his room to discuss some math problems.
Luo Jing, busy in the kitchen, allowed Lin Zhaoxi into Pei Zhi's room. Ji Jiang attempted to take Pei Zhi to several Internet cafes, but they were either denied entry for being underage or found the establishments closed for renovations. Pei Zhi, who hadn't been keen on going out in the first place, expressed his desire to return home.
Desperate to keep Pei Zhi occupied as per Lin Zhaoxi's instructions, Ji Jiang fabricated a story about having a major fight with Lin Zhaoxi and feeling too upset to go home. He then convinced Pei Zhi to go to the cinema instead. Meanwhile, back at Pei Zhi's house, Luo Jing offered Lin Zhaoxi some tangerines. Lin Zhaoxi then requested to use the internet, and Luo Jing directed her to Pei Zhi's computer in his room.
Seizing the opportunity, Lin Zhaoxi swiftly copied the source code for Pei Zhi's game onto her USB drive. When Luo Jing entered the room, Lin Zhaoxi, flustered, accidentally spilled some tangerine juice on the keyboard, but Luo Jing didn't seem to notice. After successfully obtaining the code, Lin Zhaoxi quickly messaged Ji Jiang and then departed, telling Luo Jing that her father urgently needed her at home.
Upon receiving Lin Zhaoxi's signal, Ji Jiang abruptly announced to Pei Zhi that he needed to go home to cook dinner, dragging him out of the cinema. When Pei Zhi returned home, he was surprised to hear from Luo Jing that Lin Zhaoxi had visited, claiming to need help with math problems and waited in his room.
He then noticed tangerine juice on his keyboard, which made him thoughtful, although Luo Jing didn't suspect anything as she was eating tangerines nearby. Later, Ji Jiang excitedly confronted Lin Zhaoxi, eager to know what she had done. Lin Zhaoxi confessed her intention to make Pei Zhi's company go bankrupt. Ji Jiang was appalled, questioning why she would do such a thing to their childhood friend.
Lin Zhaoxi replied that the reasons were between her and Pei Zhi alone and couldn't be shared with a third party. Ji Jiang expressed his concern about her recent transformation, longing for the old Lin Zhaoxi who struggled in school with him. Meanwhile, Pei Donglai was immersed in paperwork for recruitment. Luo Jing, however, was worried about Pei Zhi's recent mood swings and mentioned Lin Zhaoxi's visit, wondering if the two had fought, but Pei Donglai was dismissive.
The next morning, Charlie, the operations director from Stick Games, arrived at the company, having discovered that Pei Zhi's game source code had been leaked online. He confronted Pei Donglai, who promptly called Pei Zhi. Pei Zhi, taking leave from school, rushed to the company. Charlie explained the severe repercussions: the leak allowed larger companies to clone their innovative auto-chess game, diminishing their competitive edge and raising concerns about their management.
He offered to buy out the game's copyright for eight million yuan, threatening to terminate their partnership otherwise. Pei Zhi, left with no alternative, decided to close the company. Luo Jing arrived, distraught, and learned about the stolen source code. She then recalled Lin Zhaoxi using Pei Zhi's computer the day before and suspected her of stealing the code, but Pei Donglai still thought it was impossible, attributing the leak to hackers instead.
Realizing Lin Zhaoxi was behind the leak, Pei Zhi confronted her, asking if she had orchestrated Ji Jiang's actions and published the source code online. She admitted to everything. Pei Zhi argued that her act of destruction would not change his resolve to rebuild, as destroying was easier than creating. Lin Zhaoxi countered that her goal was to show him not to waste time on meaningless pursuits, and that with every effort, her chances of winning would increase.
Pei Zhi then made a heartfelt offer: if she agreed to stay with him in Cheese World until next February, he would give her everything he possessed as compensation. Lin Zhaoxi, however, presented her own vision: they would return to Strawberry World, build a family, and she would dedicate herself to caring for his mother and Lin Zhaosheng, supporting Pei Zhi in whatever path he chose, be it boxing or mathematics.
With their differing visions unresolved, they agreed to meet again next February to determine their fate. Later, Pei Donglai and Luo Jing, worried about Pei Zhi, picked him up from school to take him out for dinner to lift his spirits. They were relieved to see him in high spirits and confident about future opportunities.
Episode 20 Recap
Pei Zhi was having dinner with his parents, Luo Jing and Pei Donglai. Pei Donglai expressed his desire to return to his original unit as an auxiliary police officer. Luo Jing, still unsettled, inquired about the stolen source code. Pei Zhi revealed that Lin Zhaoxi was responsible for secretly copying the source code from his computer. Luo Jing became furious, insisting on pursuing legal action against Lin Zhaoxi.
Pei Donglai tried to dissuade her, concerned about damaging the long-standing friendship between their families and Lin Zhaoxi’s future. However, Luo Jing was unyielding, leading Pei Zhi to agree to press charges against Lin Zhaoxi. He stated that they should call the police and offered his laptop for technical identification. Meanwhile, Lin Zhaoxi unexpectedly discovered a tape hidden under her desk.
She approached Ji Jiang, who immediately recognized it as belonging to the digital camcorder Pei Zhi had given her after their middle school entrance exam. Ji Jiang reminded her that he had accidentally broken the camcorder later. Lin Zhaoxi, however, couldn't recall having such a device. In school, before class began, Jie Ran announced that evening self-study sessions would resume the following week, much to the students' dismay.
He reminded them that as seniors, they needed to work harder to achieve good results. Soon after, police officers arrived at the school looking for Lin Zhaoxi. Lin Zhaosheng quickly went to her classroom to call her out. At the police station, Lin Zhaoxi was brought in for questioning.
The officer explained that they had records of her using Pei Zhi's computer and that the IP address used to upload the source code to a sharing platform traced back to her home. With the evidence seemingly conclusive, the officer urged Lin Zhaoxi to reflect, but she remained silent. Lin Zhaosheng requested a moment alone with his daughter, and the officers conceded. He then asked Lin Zhaoxi if the accusations were true, but she still said nothing.
Zhang Shuping arrived at the police station upon hearing the news. Lin Zhaosheng briefly informed him of the situation, explaining that Lin Zhaoxi was accused of stealing Pei Zhi's game source code and uploading it online. He asked Zhang Shuping to keep an eye on Lin Zhaoxi while he went to find Pei Zhi at school. When Lin Zhaosheng confronted Pei Zhi, Pei Zhi admitted that it was he who had his mother contact the police.
Lin Zhaosheng pleaded with Pei Zhi to show mercy and spare Lin Zhaoxi. Pei Zhi agreed, but demanded five million yuan in compensation for the severe economic losses he had incurred. Pei Zhi then presented an IOU, requesting Lin Zhaosheng to sign and fingerprint it. He pointed out that with Lin Zhaosheng's current financial situation, it would take him ten years to repay, motivating him to open the tutoring class he had been considering.
Pei Zhi promised that if Lin Zhaosheng signed, Lin Zhaoxi would be safe, expressing a hope that he could explain his reasons someday. Faced with this ultimatum, Lin Zhaosheng signed the IOU. Meanwhile, Ji Jiang repeatedly questioned Lin Zhaoxi about her conflict with Pei Zhi, but she remained tight-lipped. Luo Jing also arrived at the police station. Zhang Shuping attempted to mediate, suggesting a private resolution to protect Lin Zhaoxi's future.
Luo Jing, however, dismissed his plea, stating that the matter should be handled impartially by law enforcement. Zhang Shuping informed her he had secured a lawyer for Lin Zhaoxi. Pei Zhi then presented the signed IOU to his mother and clarified to the police that the incident was a "misunderstanding," effectively retracting the case. The police officers severely reprimanded Pei Zhi and Luo Jing for filing a false report, emphasizing the potential lifelong repercussions for Lin Zhaoxi.
Following this, Lin Zhaoxi was released and Lin Zhaosheng took her home. Pei Zhi and Lin Zhaoxi briefly exchanged glances, their friendship now seemingly shattered. At home, Lin Zhaosheng tried to comfort a still-distraught Lin Zhaoxi, offering her food and medicine. He told her there was no need to explain, and she could talk when she felt ready. Soon after, Lin Zhaosheng left for work, entrusting Ji Jiang with Lin Zhaoxi's care.
That evening, Pei Donglai expressed regret to Luo Jing for involving the police, feeling ashamed to face Lin Zhaosheng and Lin Zhaoxi. Luo Jing, however, was unconcerned, asserting that reporting a theft was normal and that Lin Zhaoxi would eventually become a distant memory for Pei Zhi. Around the same time, Lin Zhaosheng visited a barbershop, insisting on a haircut even as it was closing.
He asked for his long hair to be cut short, despite the barber's implied concern that something significant had happened. Lin Zhaosheng simply reiterated, "Cut." Later, Bao Xiaomeng, Lu Zhihao, and other friends visited Lin Zhaoxi at home, expressing their worry. They pressed her for details, but Lin Zhaoxi dismissed the incident as "just a misunderstanding." They also mentioned Lin Zhaosheng had taken Pei Zhi away from school.
When Lin Zhaosheng returned with his new short haircut, Lin Zhaoxi and Ji Jiang were astonished, complimenting him on his youthful and handsome appearance. That night, Lin Zhaosheng discussed his plan to open a math tutoring class with Lin Zhaoxi and Ji Jiang. He explained that since they would soon be off to college, he wanted to earn some money and keep himself occupied, playfully linking his new short hair to avoiding chalk dust while writing on blackboards.
Lin Zhaoxi voiced her concern that this venture would detract from his true passion for math research. Both Lin Zhaoxi and Ji Jiang encouraged him to pursue what he truly loved. However, Lin Zhaosheng insisted that he had been too self-indulgent for six years and now wanted to provide for their college education. He announced his decision was final and the class would open soon, dismissing any further discussion.
The next morning, on her way to class, Lin Zhaoxi encountered Zhang Shuping. He inquired about her well-being and revealed that Lin Zhaosheng had resigned, which Lin Zhaoxi already knew. Later, in the classroom, Lin Zhaoxi approached Pei Zhi to thank him. Pei Zhi then coldly informed her about the five million yuan IOU Lin Zhaosheng had signed, adding that this financial pressure would prevent Lin Zhaosheng from focusing on math research, effectively changing his destiny.
Shocked by the revelation, Lin Zhaoxi immediately sought out Lin Zhaosheng to confirm. He downplayed the IOU, stating it was "no big deal" and confirmed it was a decision he had been contemplating with Zhang Shuping and merely needed a catalyst. He also admitted his short haircut was related to this new venture. Lin Zhaoxi then confronted Pei Zhi, demanding an explanation for forcing Lin Zhaosheng into debt.
Pei Zhi calmly revealed his true motive: to prevent Lin Zhaosheng from attending a specific math seminar, thereby averting the car accident and its lasting consequences that he experienced in Strawberry World. He analogized his actions to removing a single block from a Jenga tower to collapse the entire structure, thereby altering Lin Zhaosheng's life trajectory. Lin Zhaoxi was furious, reminding Pei Zhi of Lin Zhaosheng's deep love for mathematics.
She questioned his actions, especially since he desired to return to Strawberry World and considered Cheese World Lin Zhaosheng not her "real" father. She argued that he shouldn't interfere with Lin Zhaosheng's life. Pei Zhi countered that in Strawberry World, Lin Zhaosheng's six extra years of math research, including the NPC problem seminar, yielded no results and were ultimately meaningless.
Lin Zhaoxi retorted that the healthy Lin Zhaosheng in Cheese World could succeed and questioned if results were the only measure of importance. She firmly believed that Lin Zhaosheng, despite potential setbacks, would find joy in the process of exploring the unknown, declaring, "This is Lao Lin." The two parted ways in anger. Observing their ongoing conflict, Bao Xiaomeng decided to intervene.
She convened an "Expanded Meeting of the Leading Group for Saving the Relationship Between Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi," inviting friends like Lu Zhihao and even Zhang Liang, who claimed to be there only because he owed Lu Zhihao a favor. Bao Xiaomeng analyzed their strained relationship, noting how Lin Zhaoxi's academic improvement had transformed their dynamic from mentor-mentee to fierce rivals. Zhang Liang clarified that he was Pei Zhi's academic competitor, not Lin Zhaoxi.
Bao Xiaomeng speculated that Pei Zhi's business venture was a way to prove himself, and Lin Zhaoxi's perceived jealousy led to her sabotaging his plans, resulting in Pei Zhi suing her before retracting due to their past friendship. She concluded it was difficult for two excellent individuals to remain close. After a brief discussion, everyone agreed to Bao Xiaomeng's plan: to create a relaxed environment for Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi to reconcile.
On Saturday, Bao Xiaomeng gathered everyone for a game of "You Draw and I Guess." Lu Zhihao deliberately paired Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi, explaining the rules: draw for your team to guess while making it difficult for the opposing team. During Lin Zhaoxi's turn, she drew a "matchstick man." To everyone's astonishment, Pei Zhi immediately guessed "Harry Potter," even though the drawing was minimalistic. Pei Zhi confidently explained his deduction based on the wand and round glasses.
Then, during Pei Zhi's turn, he drew a rabbit with an arrow and a boiling pot. Lin Zhaoxi, with uncanny precision, immediately guessed the idiom, "The dogs are cooked after the rabbits are dead," astounding everyone with her interpretation of the drawing's subtle clues. The friends marveled at their "tacit understanding," with Bao Xiaomeng admitting her deliberate pairing yielded unexpectedly strong natural chemistry. Lin Zhaoxi dismissed it as luck, but Pei Zhi insisted it was indeed tacit understanding.
Just then, Zheng Tianming arrived late, explaining he was delayed by his mother. He then revealed that Lin Zhaosheng was outside, braving the rain to hand out flyers for his new math tutoring class. Hearing this, Lin Zhaoxi immediately rushed out to help her father, followed closely by her friends. Pei Zhi, however, remained seated, declining to join them. Later that evening, Lin Zhaosheng and Lin Zhaoxi returned home.
Lin Zhaosheng was visibly drunk, proudly proclaiming his future as a school principal, promising to expand his school, lead them to a happy life, and handle the debt himself. Ji Jiang asked Lin Zhaoxi about the debt, and she revealed that Lin Zhaosheng owed Pei Zhi five million yuan to save her, asserting that Pei Zhi was targeting her, not simply seeking money.
Lin Zhaoxi then asked Ji Jiang to turn off the lights for her sleeping father before heading to her room. Ji Jiang presented her with a second-hand digital camcorder he had found, and Lin Zhaoxi thanked him. She then played the tape, which began with a message exclusively for "Lin Zhaoxi from Strawberry World." On the screen, "Lin Zhaoxi from Cheese World" appeared, expressing her long wait.
She revealed she had been aware of Strawberry World Lin Zhaoxi's presence since 2006, feeling as though she was confined within a small space, watching a multi-month movie of everything Strawberry World Lin Zhaoxi did, though she didn't fully comprehend it then. Cheese World Lin Zhaoxi thanked Strawberry World Lin Zhaoxi for helping her find her father, making Ji Jiang her younger brother, and enabling her to win an Olympiad medal and attend the best middle school.
However, her gratitude was tinged with deep resentment. She confessed to hating Strawberry World Lin Zhaoxi because she always felt inferior, constantly being told she was "getting worse and stupider." She accused Strawberry World Lin Zhaoxi of "cheating" by being an adult in a child's body, essentially bullying her, a real child. Most unforgivably, Cheese World Lin Zhaoxi claimed, "you took Pei Zhi away from me."
She recalled Strawberry World Lin Zhaoxi asking Pei Zhi to take good care of her before leaving, acknowledging he did, but she always felt that when he looked at her, he was thinking of Strawberry World Lin Zhaoxi and waiting for her return.
Episode 21 Recap
Lin Zhaoxi watched a video recorded by the Cheese World Lin Zhaoxi. In the video, Cheese World Lin Zhaoxi tearfully confessed that her life had been taken away. She resented Strawberry World Lin Zhaoxi for taking Pei Zhi from her, explaining that while Pei Zhi took good care of her, he always seemed to be thinking of someone else. She revealed her unrequited feelings for Pei Zhi, admitting her insecurity prevented her from confessing.
She added that she could see everything that happened and felt sad whenever Pei Zhi mentioned his past experiences in the math training camp. Fearing that Strawberry World Lin Zhaoxi might return and take her life again, Cheese World Lin Zhaoxi pleaded for her to leave and take Ji Jiang with her if he also crossed over, so that she wouldn't remain trapped in a "dark house."
After watching this, Lin Zhaoxi (Strawberry World) was more determined to return to her own world. She acknowledged the Cheese World Lin Zhaoxi's presence and thanked her for inadvertently helping her devise a plan to persuade Pei Zhi. Lin Zhaoxi then wrote a letter to Pei Donglai, revealing that she and Pei Zhi were from a parallel world and explaining that the current Pei Zhi was not his true son.
She texted Pei Zhi, requesting a face-to-face meeting the next day and instructing him to bring Lin Zhaosheng's IOU, clarifying that she would not claim the five million. When Pei Zhi initially refused, stating they couldn't convince each other, Lin Zhaoxi sent him a picture of the letter addressed to Pei Donglai, effectively threatening to expose him. Pei Zhi then agreed to meet at the boxing gym at 9 a. m. Lin Zhaoxi arrived at the boxing club.
Yu Minghai, who was managing the club, greeted her before leaving. Pei Zhi arrived shortly after, holding Lin Zhaosheng's IOU. He asked for the letter, but Lin Zhaoxi revealed she had not sent it yet. She explained that she would wait a few months, hoping he might change his mind, but intended to send it in January if he refused. Pei Zhi scoffed at the idea that his father would believe stories of parallel worlds.
Lin Zhaoxi countered that they must return to free their Cheese World counterparts, who were trapped in their deepest consciousness. Pei Zhi then tore up the IOU, declaring their past grievances settled. However, he maintained he would not leave Cheese World and would prevent her from leaving as well. He reiterated his determination to stop Lin Zhaosheng's accident and destroy any recordings that would allow them to return.
He boasted of countless ways to disrupt their plan, from rescuing Lin Zhaosheng himself to destroying any potential evidence or delaying events. He concluded that Lin Zhaoxi had lost the moment the "game" began. Lin Zhaoxi, frustrated, said, "I'm sorry," to which Pei Zhi retorted that she should apologize to the Cheese World Pei Zhi for stealing his life.
Lin Zhaoxi then asked him directly if he truly intended to return to Strawberry World as he had promised before their jump, especially if she hadn't come with him. Pei Zhi admitted his promise was sincere, but since arriving in this world and experiencing life with his father—bragging, boxing, drinking, and eating together—he was unsure what he would ultimately choose. Feeling defeated, Lin Zhaoxi said that she had lost from the beginning and walked out.
Returning home, Lin Zhaoxi discovered the letter she wrote was missing. Her father, Lin Zhaosheng, mistakenly believing it was an apology letter to Pei Donglai, had already put it in Pei Donglai's mailbox while out buying vegetables. Alarmed, Lin Zhaoxi called Pei Zhi, who retrieved the letter from the mailbox just as his father arrived home. Luo Jing was at a class reunion, so Pei Donglai prepared a simple noodle dish.
After hesitating, Pei Zhi left the letter on the table. Pei Donglai began reminiscing about past family memories, subtly testing Pei Zhi. He recalled a trip to Happy Valley where a roller coaster broke down, a family hike where they released a sky lantern, and his 2009 accident where a helmet saved his life. Pei Zhi, having no memory of these events, could only offer vague, agreeable responses.
Pei Donglai also mentioned Lin Zhaoxi visiting him in the hospital and saying she’d be his daughter-in-law. Pei Zhi commented that "Time changes people," to which Pei Donglai pointedly replied, "But time won't make you another person." He then produced Lin Zhaoxi's letter, revealing he had been testing him all along. Pei Donglai directly confronted Pei Zhi, asking, "Who are you?"
Pei Zhi claimed to be his son, but Pei Donglai revealed that the memories he mentioned were deliberately false and Pei Zhi's inability to correct them proved he wasn't the "real" Pei Zhi. He explained that in Pei Zhi's original world, he himself—Pei Donglai—had died in the 2009 accident. Therefore, the Pei Zhi from Strawberry World would have no memory of the events he had shared with his Cheese World son after that year.
Pei Zhi admitted he was the Pei Zhi from another world but insisted he was still his son. Pei Donglai refused to accept this, stating his son was "bright, warm and kind" and wouldn't send Lin Zhaoxi to the police or lie to him. He demanded that Pei Zhi return to his own world and give him back his true son.
Pei Zhi expressed his pain, questioning if his father knew what kind of life he lived without him or how happy he had been for the past few months. Pei Donglai was resolute, kneeling and pleading with Pei Zhi to leave and return his son, even threatening to die if he didn't. Overwhelmed, Pei Zhi finally broke down, repeatedly acknowledging, "I was wrong. Fake is fake after all." He then ran out of the house in tears.
Pei Donglai, chasing Pei Zhi, accidentally sprained his ankle. Unable to reach Pei Zhi by phone, Lin Zhaoxi went to his house, where she met the injured Pei Donglai and learned Pei Zhi had fled. She quickly called Lin Zhaosheng to ask him to go check on Pei Donglai, then rushed to the boxing gym and school in search of Pei Zhi. Yu Minghai and his father, who were practicing boxing at the gym, hadn't seen him.
She eventually found a despondent Pei Zhi on the school playground. Lin Zhaoxi approached him and apologized, explaining she never intended for the letter to reach Pei Donglai so soon. Pei Zhi responded that she had won by attacking his "only weakness." He then revealed the true story of his father's death in Strawberry World.
In 2009, when he was in the third year of middle school, he received an invitation to join the University of Technology's Youth Class to major in math. While he eagerly wanted to go and his father supported him, his mother, Luo Jing, vehemently opposed it. This led to a huge fight between his parents, during which Luo Jing angrily broke Pei Donglai's motorcycle helmet. That same night, while on duty, Pei Donglai chased a motorcycle robber.
During the pursuit, both bikes crashed, and Pei Donglai hit his head on the curb. With his helmet already broken, he died. Pei Zhi blamed himself, believing his desire to study math caused his father's death. Lin Zhaoxi tried to console him, insisting it was an accident. Pei Zhi further revealed that the Cheese World Pei Zhi also received the same invitation but refused it.
He discovered this was because Strawberry World Lin Zhaoxi (who had jumped to Cheese World in 2006) had asked the Cheese World Pei Zhi to take care of his world's Lin Zhaoxi. To honor this promise and remain in the same class with her, Cheese World Pei Zhi gave up the prestigious university offer.
Pei Zhi concluded that the Cheese World Pei Zhi's inability to forget Lin Zhaoxi was the root of all these changes, ultimately saving Pei Donglai in this world. He expressed that without Lin Zhaoxi, he would never have had the chance to see his father again. Lin Zhaoxi apologized, accepting her role in events. Pei Zhi, reflecting on the many regrets in Strawberry World, wondered why she still wanted to return.
Lin Zhaoxi acknowledged the regrets but countered that no life is perfect, and even if they started over, new regrets would emerge. Recalling Pei Zhi's own words, she stated that jumping was like cheating, and while many desired a "cheating" life, she refused. She declared her intention to "face life," confronting challenges head-on like a boxer, "never a coward." Lin Zhaosheng, having been informed by Lin Zhaoxi, found Pei Donglai, who was limping from his sprained ankle.
After Pei Donglai explained that he understood the truth, they started walking to the school. At the school, Pei Donglai spotted Pei Zhi and immediately demanded he come home. Pei Zhi, in turn, offered to carry his limping father home. On the way, Pei Zhi promised his father that he would return his true son to him. Pei Donglai, filled with remorse for his earlier harshness, apologized to Pei Zhi.
Pei Zhi then requested that, before he left, Pei Donglai treat him as his own son, even if just for a little while, and Pei Donglai readily agreed. Meanwhile, Lin Zhaosheng took Lin Zhaoxi home. He reflected that her presence, despite being a "trouble," made his life more interesting and helped him realize that while math was wonderful, it wasn't the entirety of life. Lin Zhaoxi assured him that no matter the world, he would always be the best father in her heart, extending her affection to the entire universe and all three-dimensional space.
Episode 22 Recap
Having made up his mind to return to Strawberry World, Pei Zhi earnestly requested Pei Donglai to treat him as his own son before he left, even if only for a short while. Pei Donglai readily agreed, reassuring him with a promise. Later, Pei Zhi reflected on his alternate self in Strawberry World, asking what kind of person he was there. Pei Donglai responded that in his heart, his son was like a mountain.
The next morning, Pei Zhi arrived early at Lin Zhaoxi's house, waiting for her to wake up. Lin Zhaoxi, eager to know the outcome of his conversation with his father, learned that they had reached a consensus. Pei Zhi explained that he had promised to leave the Cheese World, and in return, Pei Donglai had promised to treat him as his biological son before his departure.
He felt fortunate to have been able to meet his father and spend a few months with him, acknowledging that many who lost loved ones didn't get such a chance. He then reminded Lin Zhaoxi of his words from the previous night, stating they were now even. He also offered to help Lin Zhaoxi with the programming to find the location of Lin Zhaosheng's car accident.
Lin Zhaoxi, delighted, accepted his help, trusting that he wouldn't go back on his word. Suddenly realizing it was Monday, Lin Zhaoxi rushed to change, only for Pei Zhi to calm her, noting they could still make it to the first class in the afternoon. At school, their teacher, Jie Ran, was sternly reprimanding students with poor grades, including Zheng Tianming for his failing English score of 44 and Bao Xiaomeng for her last-place math score of 23.
Jie Ran expressed frustration that Bao Xiaomeng hadn't learned from Lin Zhaoxi, whose grades had significantly improved. Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi arrived late, prompting Jie Ran's further anger, but Pei Zhi quickly explained they overslept. The other students chuckled, and Jie Ran warned them not to let it happen again. After class, Lin Zhaoxi approached Jie Ran to request moving her seat next to Pei Zhi, a request Jie Ran granted.
When a classmate teased them about getting back together, Lin Zhaoxi clarified they had reconciled a past conflict. She then settled into her new seat, eager to begin their work. Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi immediately began discussing the car accident prediction.
Lin Zhaoxi outlined a sophisticated plan to use a Bayesian Network model with Python, dividing the city map into grids and incorporating various data points like longitude, latitude, time, historical accident data, traffic conditions, and traffic light timings to constantly update probabilities and predict the accident location. Pei Zhi commended her intelligence, especially given she had only been studying for two months. He also noted the need for extensive traffic data and suggested his father might be able to help.
Lin Zhaoxi then asked if Lin Zhaosheng knew about their time travel, to which Pei Zhi confirmed he had informed him. They agreed the safest approach was to be transparent with Lin Zhaosheng about the rules and have him follow a predetermined schedule for the day of the accident to minimize risk.
Pei Zhi then invited Lin Zhaoxi to his house that weekend for programming, but she expressed shyness and fear of his mother, Luo Jing, due to a past incident. Pei Zhi reassured her, dismissing the past event as his idea. Pei Zhi then contacted Pei Donglai to ask for traffic data, specifically a year's worth of car accident records, road traffic, and pedestrian flow, emphasizing the need for raw data rather than personal details.
Pei Donglai was skeptical about the privacy concerns. Pei Zhi explained that they needed the data to prepare for their return to Strawberry World, which required them to experience a car accident. He clarified that he would not be in danger, but Lin Zhaoxi and Lin Zhaosheng might be, hence the program was to minimize their risk. Pei Zhi further explained that identifying accident-prone areas is a basic application of statistical math.
Convinced, Pei Donglai promised to help, leveraging his many years as a traffic police officer. He then inquired about Pei Zhi's age and profession in Strawberry World. Pei Zhi revealed he was 23 and a university teacher who also became a boxer to commemorate his father. Pei Donglai, delighted by this revelation, recalled a famous Thai boxing champion named Pilavakhun and was impressed when Pei Zhi described how he defeated Pilavakhun by using his intellect rather than just physical strength.
Pei Donglai praised Pei Zhi for being even stronger than himself, expressing immense pride. The next day, Lin Zhaoxi went to Pei Zhi's house, bringing fruit for Luo Jing, who seemed unwelcoming. Pei Zhi quickly ushered Lin Zhaoxi into his room to work on programming, leaving Luo Jing uneasy. She immediately called Pei Donglai, expressing her concern about Lin Zhaoxi's presence and recounting their past conflicts.
Meanwhile, Pei Zhi was discussing the need for real-time computer monitoring, proposing that his father rent a car so he could follow Lin Zhaosheng with a laptop. He worried about creating new causalities, but Lin Zhaoxi suggested staying across the road or slightly ahead to minimize impact. Pei Zhi then received a call from his father, telling them to come downstairs. Pei Donglai confessed to them that he had failed to obtain the traffic data, feeling ashamed.
Lin Zhaoxi offered to collect the data themselves but admitted it would be a massive, time-consuming undertaking. Pei Zhi then proposed that they take a leave of absence from school to focus entirely on developing the program, reasoning that their current activities were already affecting other students. He suggested keeping his mother, Luo Jing, in the dark, pretending to go to school each day while secretly working on the program.
For a workspace, Pei Donglai offered an old, unused shop that he and Luo Jing had invested in years ago, which had electricity, water, and a bathroom. It had served as a resting place for him and his friends after night shifts. They eagerly accepted the offer. Lin Zhaosheng and Pei Donglai later visited Jie Ran at school to formally request a leave of absence for Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi.
Jie Ran expressed concern, emphasizing it was the final sprint stage of high school, but seeing their parents' determination and having Principal Zhang's approval, he reluctantly agreed. Lin Zhaosheng and Pei Donglai thanked him for his support before leaving. Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi then went to a furniture store to purchase necessities for their new "secret base." They found a bed particularly comfortable and lay down to experience it, feeling relaxed.
Back at the shop, Lin Zhaoxi enthusiastically decorated the space, placing a countdown timer on the wall marking 111 days until their return. She presented Pei Zhi with a key to their secret base, complete with a matching keychain. They shared a meal of frozen dumplings, celebrating their new workspace. Their classmate, Bao Xiaomeng, overheard someone discussing Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi taking a leave of absence. She seemed indifferent, remarking that they didn't belong in this world anyway.
Each day, Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi split up to collect traffic data, then reunited in the evenings to organize and analyze it. One day, a friend of Pei Donglai, a police officer, dropped by their secret base, explaining he was staking out the area due to a string of electric bike thefts. He frequently used their bathroom and drank water there, lamenting the difficulty of catching thieves and half-jokingly suggested they develop an anti-theft program.
This sparked an idea in both Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi. They realized they could use the electric bike theft situation to test the accuracy of their prediction program's logic. They immediately started collecting data on electric bikes in the neighborhood, seeing it as a way to validate their approach and help the community. With less than three months left until their return, Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi discussed their plans for Strawberry World.
Pei Zhi expressed his desire to spend quality time with Luo Jing and to fight a few boxing matches on behalf of Pei Donglai. Lin Zhaoxi intended to care for Lin Zhaosheng and diligently study for the postgraduate entrance exam. She then casually asked Pei Zhi about their relationship. Pei Zhi smiled and revealed that she was the reason he decided to go back, making Lin Zhaoxi's heart flutter.
Meanwhile, Luo Jing noticed Pei Zhi's intense focus on his computer work. Pei Donglai dismissed her concerns, claiming Pei Zhi was working on an extracurricular project to predict traffic conditions. Luo Jing, however, suspected Pei Donglai was hiding something, knowing his tells. Pei Donglai, trying to deflect, admitted he couldn't get the traffic data for Pei Zhi. Luo Jing chastised him for his inability to handle such a small task.
Unbeknownst to them, Pei Zhi and Lin Zhaoxi's efforts bore fruit. Their anti-theft program successfully aided in cracking a major electric bike theft ring. Pei Donglai was summoned by Director Wang, who intended to promote the program throughout the force, making Pei Donglai incredibly proud.
Reflecting on the program's success, Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi noted that while successful, the time prediction had a slight error, possibly due to their oversight of the thieves' psychological changes—speeding up after a theft due to nervousness, then slowing down once they felt safe.
Episode 23 Recap
Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi marvel at the success of their thief-catching program, though Lin Zhaoxi notes a significant time error in their calculations. Pei Zhi suggests they overlooked the psychological changes in the thief, who might speed up initially out of nervousness and then slow down after gaining distance. Lin Zhaoxi adds that their program assumed the thief wouldn't follow traffic rules, but he might have waited at intersections to avoid drawing attention from police.
Soon after, Pei Zhi receives a call from Pei Donglai, who shares good news: the higher-ups are highly interested in their program's code, and Director Wang has agreed to provide a year's worth of traffic data and access to city surveillance for a day of testing. Pei Donglai also secured a video detailing the thief's escape route, which will be useful for their review. Later, Pei Donglai and Pei Zhi spar, with Pei Zhi effortlessly outmaneuvering his father.
Pei Donglai, proud, boasts to his friend Yu that his son is a boxing champion. Pei Zhi confesses that upon returning to Strawberry World, he no longer wishes to pursue boxing but instead wants to continue studying mathematics. Pei Donglai, to Pei Zhi's surprise, fully supports his decision, declaring his happiness that his son is talented in both martial and academic pursuits, embodying the saying "Knowledge and literature can bring world peace; power and martial can determine the universe."
Pei Donglai then asks about Luo Jing's well-being in Strawberry World. Pei Zhi somberly reveals that since Pei Donglai's death in that world, Luo Jing has lived alone, struggling and appearing somewhat abnormal, making it difficult for him to connect with her. Hearing this, Pei Donglai urges Pei Zhi to take on the responsibility of being the sole man of the house and care for his sensitive and vulnerable mother.
Driven by concern for Luo Jing, Pei Zhi attempts a delicate conversation with her about dealing with profound sadness, using a hypothetical situation where Pei Donglai might die. Luo Jing is immediately horrified, demanding he touch wood and say "pei pei pei" to ward off bad luck. Her imagination runs wild, first suspecting Pei Donglai of having an affair, then fearing he has cancer.
Pei Zhi repeatedly tries to clarify that it's just a hypothetical, but Luo Jing remains distressed, even fearing her son might commit a crime. Realizing he is only upsetting her further, Pei Zhi suggests she continue her yoga, leaving her still demanding answers. Meanwhile, Lin Zhaoxi's classmate, Qi, expresses concern for Bao Xiaomeng, who has become despondent about the upcoming college entrance exam and feels disconnected from Lin Zhaoxi, believing they now belong to different worlds.
Lin Zhaoxi dismisses the school rumors about her own leave of absence and decides to create a study group to help her Cheese World self and her friends improve their grades. She records tutorial videos, focusing on high school math for her other self. Her father, Lin Zhaosheng, finds her "talking to herself" and, understanding her intention, brings in Ji Jiang, teasingly calling him "Hua Juan" to join the "one-on-one cross-time education" session.
Ji Jiang is initially confused by Lin Zhaoxi teaching the camera but eventually accepts his father's explanation and joins the lesson. Later, Lin Zhaoxi holds an English study session at school, teaching her friends an efficient vocabulary method for exams. Bao Xiaomeng briefly appears but quickly flees. Lin Zhaoxi pursues her, trying to persuade her to join the study group.
Xiaomeng, feeling stupid and overwhelmed by her academic struggles, believes she is destined for a life of waiting tables and cannot possibly catch up to Lin Zhaoxi's brilliance. She tearfully expresses her frustration, feeling that Lin Zhaoxi is merely visiting her "world" and will soon float away, leaving her stranded on the ground. Lin Zhaoxi tries to reassure her, sharing her own past struggles to catch up with Pei Zhi and emphasizing the importance of overcoming oneself.
She confesses her admiration for Xiaomeng's resilience and resourcefulness, admitting that without Xiaomeng's help and friendship in college in Strawberry World, she wouldn't have known how to live. Despite Lin Zhaoxi's heartfelt plea, Xiaomeng remains unconvinced and leaves angrily. Undaunted, Lin Zhaoxi writes an encouraging note, telling Xiaomeng that Lin Zhaosheng's tutoring class will start on Sunday and that their study group will meet there. She has a classmate discreetly place the note in Xiaomeng's schoolbag.
Back home, Xiaomeng finds the note and is visibly touched. She eventually makes her way to Lin Zhaosheng's tutoring class, where he is lecturing students on Fermat's Last Theorem and the perseverance of Andrew Wiles. Lin Zhaoxi, waiting at the door, is delighted to see Xiaomeng.
In a separate moment, as the day of their return approaches, Lin Zhaoxi attempts to share a poignant farewell with Pei Zhi through a mock hypnosis session, but her tickling fails to induce the desired effect, leaving them to simply acknowledge the impending departure. With only three days left before their return, Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi instruct Lin Zhaosheng and Pei Donglai to memorize the key conversations from a voice recorder to ensure a smooth transition back.
Pei Donglai expresses his aversion to memorization, while Lin Zhaosheng, ever philosophical, muses on the "chicken or egg" dilemma of the accident's cause. On Lin Zhaoxi's birthday, Lin Zhaosheng surprises her with a cake. Lin Zhaoxi makes a wish for both her and her other self's wishes to come true, hoping for double luck. Ji Jiang arrives home, playfully complaining about being excluded from the cake and vowing to treat them all to a seafood feast once he's famous.
During their conversation, Lin Zhaoxi asks Lin Zhaosheng about the hardships of his other self, and Lin Zhaosheng clarifies his own past, confirming he raised her himself in Strawberry World. Lin Zhaoxi still wonders why her Cheese World self became an orphan while she didn't. Lin Zhaosheng gives her a card with "P=NP" on it. Later, Lin Zhaosheng secretly records a video message, wishing his Cheese World daughter a happy birthday and professing his love for her.
Finally, the day arrives for Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi to return to Strawberry World. Pei Zhi and Pei Donglai wait silently outside Lin Zhaosheng's house. As Lin Zhaosheng and Lin Zhaoxi emerge, the four exchange a quiet glance. Lin Zhaosheng and Lin Zhaoxi begin their walk to Sanwei University. Lin Zhaoxi, wearing a Bluetooth earphone, relays crucial route details and potential accident spots to her father, emphasizing vigilance as this is a parallel world.
Pei Zhi and Pei Donglai drive to Sanwei University, waiting for the academic conference to conclude, which Pei Zhi estimates will take about three hours. During the wait, Professor Zeng Qingran, a renowned master in mathematics, recognizes Lin Zhaosheng. He is intrigued by a freshman named Pei Zhi, who reminds him of Lin Zhaosheng's younger self, only to learn that Pei Zhi is Lin Zhaosheng's student.
Professor Zeng approaches Lin Zhaosheng, acknowledging past misunderstandings and offering him a position back at the university. Lin Zhaosheng, however, politely but firmly declines, stating he will only return with his own research achievements, not through charity. He maintains that he will not admit fault for something he did not do. After this tense exchange, Lin Zhaosheng returns to the car, feigning a headache to rest, emphasizing that the journey back will be the true challenge.
As the academic conference ends, Lin Zhaosheng and Lin Zhaoxi begin their walk back along the pre-determined route, with Pei Zhi guiding Lin Zhaoxi via her Bluetooth earphones. Passing a subway tunnel where young musicians are performing, Lin Zhaoxi pauses, drawn to the music. Lin Zhaosheng, too, is stirred, recalling his own youthful dream of being a musician.
This moment triggers a profound reflection on his life, including a memory of a conversation with his young daughter about facing life's difficulties rather than avoiding them, culminating in his poignant recollection of the moment he first learned he had a daughter.
Episode 24 Recap
As Lin Zhaoxi and Lin Zhaosheng emerged from the subway station, having just listened to a piece of music, they began walking towards the bus stop. Nearby, Pei Donglai drove with Pei Zhi, who monitored the road conditions and relayed crucial information to Lin Zhaoxi through his earpiece.
Pei Zhi mentioned that the current stretch was safe, but advised them to be especially cautious on Ronghua Road, where they would transfer from Bus No.107 to No.113, and walk for 500 meters. He explained that traffic police often set up barriers there, and drunk drivers might detour onto Ronghua Road. Lin Zhaosheng recounted a "dry joke" about a foreign student searching for "Bus No.404 Not Found" after he had given her directions.
Lin Zhaoxi playfully pointed out the anachronism, noting that her father didn't have a phone in college. Lin Zhaosheng, observing Lin Zhaoxi, remarked how nice it was to see her so healthy. He then pondered if the concept of a "parallel world" was a form of escapism, asking if she ever felt perplexed or hopeless. Lin Zhaoxi admitted she had, and when asked when, Lin Zhaosheng confessed it was "when I knew I had a daughter."
Pei Zhi, listening in, spoke of a bracelet his sister made for him, appreciating its crude craftsmanship and how he later altered it to say "Go Brother & Sister" to encourage his sister, who had been feeling unhappy. As Lin Zhaosheng and Lin Zhaoxi disembarked from the bus and walked towards home, Pei Zhi's calculations showed a high probability of an accident on Ronghua Road, escalating from 49. 7% to 75. 5%.
Pei Donglai promptly relayed this critical update to Captain Cao. Suddenly, a speeding car swerved towards them. Lin Zhaosheng instinctively pulled Lin Zhaoxi out of harm's way, and the car crashed into the roadside barrier. At an officer's request, Lin Zhaosheng described the scene for the record. To complete their journey back to Strawberry World, Lin Zhaosheng and Pei Donglai meticulously recited the dialogue stored in the recording pen.
Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi exchanged emotional farewells with their respective fathers. As the recording pen fell to the ground, disintegrating into dust, Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi found themselves back in Strawberry World, overcome with emotion, embracing tightly. Pei Zhi expressed a profound feeling of being reborn, a sensation Lin Zhaoxi shared, recalling her own first return. They both recognized the urgent need to find Lin Zhaosheng.
Meanwhile, Lin Zhaosheng, already in Bao Song's van, suddenly remembered that Bao Song was the one who had attacked him. Bao Song, realizing he was exposed, admitted to gambling away all his money and, in a moment of desperation, had followed Lin Zhaosheng to the school finance office to steal. He tearfully pleaded for forgiveness, offering Lin Zhaosheng 30,000, then 50,000 yuan, if Lin Zhaosheng would let him go.
Lin Zhaosheng insisted he return the money to the school to seek leniency. Enraged by Lin Zhaosheng's refusal, Bao Song brandished a kitchen knife, threatening to kill him. Lin Zhaosheng, undeterred, calmly analyzed Bao Song's predicament, explaining the severe consequences of murder versus self-surrender, emphasizing that current technology, including surveillance cameras everywhere, would make it impossible to escape detection. He pointed out a camera in the shop, stating it was all being recorded.
Lin Zhaosheng's steadfastness unnerved Bao Song, preventing him from acting on his threats. Unable to contact Lin Zhaosheng, Lin Zhaoxi called Bao Xiaomeng, who was at work and also couldn't reach her father. Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi then went to Bao Song's dumpling restaurant.
Noticing Lin Zhaosheng's belongings in a Wuling van outside – which Lin Zhaoxi recognized as the one that had been rear-ended and had a broken taillight, a detail she knew of from a prior incident – Lin Zhaoxi repeatedly knocked on the locked door. Bao Song eventually opened it, denying any knowledge of Lin Zhaosheng's whereabouts and suggesting Lin Zhaoxi look for him at the school. Pei Zhi, however, sensed something was amiss and insisted on taking Lin Zhaosheng's items.
As Bao Song went to retrieve the car keys, Pei Zhi and Lin Zhaoxi seized the opportunity to enter the restaurant. They quickly discovered a kitchen knife hidden behind Bao Song's back, confirming their suspicions. Inside, they found Lin Zhaosheng bound and gagged. Pei Zhi immediately rushed to his aid, while Lin Zhaosheng, freed, explained that Bao Song had stolen the school's money and assaulted him.
Bao Song then confessed the full story: after taking the 1,000 yuan compensation money from the van accident to a mahjong game, he lost it all. Later in the game, hearing Section Chief Sun mention the open finance office window, he gave in to temptation. He followed Lin Zhaosheng to the office, panicked when Lin Zhaosheng turned around, and knocked him unconscious before taking the money.
He begged Lin Zhaosheng and Lin Zhaoxi for mercy, not wanting to go to jail. Lin Zhaoxi, however, firmly told him to surrender, reminding him of his actions against her father despite his friendship with Xiaomeng. Bao Xiaomeng arrived, having learned of her father's actions. She was furious, refusing his pleas to help him avoid prison or obtain a letter of understanding from Lin Zhaosheng.
She reminded him of his threats and violence against Lin Zhaosheng, emphasizing his lack of remorse. Bao Xiaomeng stated that he deserved to be imprisoned to reflect on his actions, criticizing him for not even being sorry. She then personally escorted Bao Song to surrender to the police.
With the crisis resolved, Lin Zhaosheng confirmed that he remembered everything, including the lie about him being a time-traveler from 1993, and expressed his sincere gratitude to Lin Zhaoxi for all her efforts. Lin Zhaoxi, seeing her father's recovery, was overjoyed, reassuring him that things would get better. Separately, Pei Zhi had dinner with his mother, Luo Jing, who had cooked his favorite braised pork.
He apologized to her for his past distance, acknowledging that after his father's death, she was the one who suffered the most, and he had failed to truly understand or share his feelings with her. He promised to visit her regularly from now on. Luo Jing was deeply touched by his words, shedding tears and wishing Pei Donglai could see Pei Zhi as he was now. Pei Zhi assured her, "He already saw it."
Later, Lin Zhaoxi accompanied Lin Zhaosheng for a follow-up hospital visit. Dr. Ma delivered a sobering report: Lin Zhaosheng's Amyloid β-protein levels had increased, indicating that his Alzheimer's was still progressing. He explained that temporary lucidity did not equate to a cure, and with five years passed, the median survival period was 7. 21 years, warning of potential cardiovascular and depression complications.
Lin Zhaosheng, however, maintained an optimistic outlook, citing the initial "4 in 10,000" chance of contracting the disease at his age as a reason to believe he could live to ninety. He dismissed Dr. Ma's concerns, declaring his health to be excellent and his lifespan "at least 80, with no upper limit," even suggesting a cure might be found soon. Lin Zhaoxi urged him to take his condition more seriously.
Lin Zhaosheng then took Lin Zhaoxi to visit Grandpa Gong, an elderly man in their old neighborhood who also suffered from Alzheimer's. Lin Zhaosheng repeatedly told a chicken thief joke, and Grandpa Gong, in turn, recounted a story about his son, Gong Yi, and his colleagues Henry, Bond, and Yamamoto, practicing shooting, which he also repeated. Lin Zhaosheng laughed heartily at his own joke, and Lin Zhaoxi was deeply moved by the interaction.
She pondered how Grandpa Gong, despite his repeated stories, seemed genuinely happy, contrasting him with many clear-minded people who might not be as content. Lin Zhaosheng reflected that "anything in this world can happen to anyone; it's no big deal," a sentiment he repeated with emphasis. Shortly after, Bao Xiaomeng arrived at their home, bringing fresh white fungus to visit Lin Zhaosheng.
Episode 25 Recap
Xiaomeng visited Lin Zhaosheng, bringing him fresh white fungus and books. Lin Zhaosheng was heading out to buy groceries and invited her to stay for dinner. Lin Zhaoxi, concerned about her father's health, urged him to be careful and keep his phone with him. Xiaomeng expressed her apologies to Lin Zhaoxi for her father, Bao Song's actions, regretting that his behavior exacerbated Lin Zhaosheng's illness.
She informed Lin Zhaoxi of her intention to hire a lawyer for her father and repay the money he stole. She seemed to want to ask Lin Zhaoxi for further help but ultimately couldn't bring herself to say it and left abruptly. Lin Zhaoxi, however, told Xiaomeng not to feel burdened, emphasizing that a father is still a father.
Later, while buying groceries, Lin Zhaosheng experienced a moment of confusion, unable to find his way home and asking strangers for directions to "Zhuanzhu Alley." He eventually located a familiar old pagoda and sat dejectedly outside a convenience store before returning home, feigning normalcy. Lin Zhaoxi offered to cook that evening. As she prepared the meal, Lin Zhaosheng inquired about her relationship with Pei Zhi, encouraging her to reach out to him to keep their bond strong.
Lin Zhaoxi dismissed his concerns, confidently asserting the strength of their connection. At his home, Pei Zhi's mother, Luo Jing, confided in him about her boredom and her desire to work at a clothing store. Pei Zhi agreed that she needed an activity but cautioned her against overworking. He discreetly continued his math studies, telling his mother he was reading a boxing magazine when she asked. Meanwhile, Lin Zhaoxi sent Pei Zhi a message.
When Luo Jing asked who it was from, Pei Zhi claimed it was a "trainee" and replied with a single character, leaving Lin Zhaoxi wondering if he was disinterested. Pei Zhi later invited Lin Zhaoxi to watch a movie the next day, and she happily accepted. Before their movie date, Lin Zhaoxi found Lin Zhaosheng on the floor, seemingly engrossed in watching ants.
He sadly confessed that he could no longer comprehend his own mathematical theses, lamenting that his math career was over and he felt like a "useless person." Lin Zhaoxi lay beside him, comforting him. She vowed to diligently pursue mathematics, follow the path he had to abandon, and eventually earn enough to hire ten beautiful female nurses to care for him. Lin Zhaosheng found solace in her heartfelt promise.
That morning, Lin Zhaosheng played chess in the park, easily winning against his neighbors, who eventually gave up, frustrated. As they dispersed, Gong Yi, the son of Gong Laosi, approached Lin Zhaosheng. Recognizing him, Gong Yi invited Lin Zhaosheng to a place where he could play against a true "master," suggesting it would be more stimulating than playing with ordinary players. Later, Pei Zhi and Lin Zhaoxi watched their movie.
Lin Zhaoxi, tired, fell asleep on Pei Zhi's shoulder, a scene that stirred a memory in Pei Zhi of a similar incident in high school when she had dozed off on Zheng Tianming's shoulder, eliciting his jealousy. After the movie, Pei Zhi accompanied Lin Zhaoxi to her postgraduate math remedial class. Finding the course material too rudimentary, the two subtly engaged in a playful "love game" using math formulas.
Meanwhile, Gong Yi led Lin Zhaosheng to a boat that housed a large gambling hall. Lin Zhaosheng, sensing it was a setup, initially refused to enter, explaining he didn't gamble and feared a trap involving debt. Gong Yi, however, assured him it was only for chess and implied that leaving now would cause trouble, compelling Lin Zhaosheng to stay. During the chess match, Lin Zhaosheng experienced a sudden health episode, feeling nauseous and vomiting.
He explained to Gong Yi that he takes Rivastigmine for Alzheimer's, which, while activating his hippocampus and cerebral cortex, often caused side effects like vomiting and diarrhea. Gong Yi was visibly taken aback by this revelation. Despite his discomfort, Lin Zhaosheng swiftly defeated his opponent, winning a significant sum for Gong Yi. Gong Yi gave Lin Zhaosheng a few hundred yuan as payment, and Lin Zhaosheng quickly left, eager to return home to cook for his daughter.
After her remedial class, Lin Zhaoxi approached the teacher to inquire about transferring to the "100% Enrollment for Famous Schools Course," a higher-level class. The teacher was skeptical, citing her undergraduate degree in philosophy and presumed lack of mathematical foundation. Pei Zhi intervened, supporting Lin Zhaoxi's request, and together they convinced the teacher to arrange a meeting with the head teacher, Mr. Wang (the previous teacher's nephew). Mr. Wang presented Lin Zhaoxi with three challenging math questions.
She answered them all confidently and quickly. Although her answers were incorrect, Mr. Wang was impressed by her composure and quick thinking, concluding that her psychological resilience made her a suitable candidate for his demanding class. He accepted her, telling her to start the day after tomorrow. Mr. Wang recognized Pei Zhi and mentioned that Professor Zeng often spoke highly of him.
Pei Zhi then revealed his decision to abandon boxing and openly pursue mathematics, crediting Lin Zhaoxi's encouragement and his father's support. He informed Lin Zhaoxi that he had already paid the tuition for his postgraduate political science course. He proposed they both take the postgraduate entrance exam together, a prospect Lin Zhaoxi enthusiastically embraced, though she jokingly expressed concern about feeling intellectually outmatched by him. Pei Zhi acknowledged that he still needed to discuss his decision with his mother.
Back home, Lin Zhaosheng checked his bank account, discovering he only had a little over 20,000 yuan. He shared his financial worries with Lin Zhaoxi. She, however, reassured him, confidently stating that she could work while pursuing her postgraduate studies. Later that night, Lin Zhaosheng, unable to sleep, calculated the total cost of Lin Zhaoxi's three-year postgraduate education, including tuition, living expenses, commuting, dating, and a contingency fund, which amounted to 144,800 yuan.
Meanwhile, Xiaomeng attempted to sell several branded bags, gifts from her boyfriend, to repay her father's debt, only to be told by a shop assistant that all the bags, along with their accompanying receipts, were counterfeit.
Episode 26 Recap
Bao Xiaomeng was stunned to discover her brand-name bag was fake, and even the receipt accompanying it was forged. A shop assistant confirmed the bag’s inauthenticity and suggested she look elsewhere. Meanwhile, Lin Zhaoxi attended her guaranteed pass class. Mr. Wang, the teacher, humorously referred to the less proactive students as "muggles." He outlined his teaching method: copying all formulas and theorems three times, followed by relentless practice until "you lose all hope in life."
When students inquired about alternative methods, he suggested that those with an IQ over 160 could merely read the textbook once without needing to do exercises. Challenged by a student who claimed a high IQ from a WeChat test, Mr. Wang quickly dismissed the claim. He then presented a difficult Olympiad math problem to the class.
Lin Zhaoxi, recognizing it as a variation of a 2012 Olympiad question, confidently approached the blackboard and solved it with ease, surprising Mr. Wang, who exclaimed, "You lied to me. You're not a muggle." Bao Xiaomeng, having gathered all her savings, was still 10,000 yuan short for her father, Bao Song's, compensation. She desperately pleaded with Section Chief Sun to endorse the documents, promising to pay the balance next month. Section Chief Sun refused, stating he couldn't violate regulations.
Xiaomeng then accused him of inadvertently causing her father's crime by discussing the finance office window being left open in a mahjong parlor, a conversation Bao Song overheard. She asserted that he bore some responsibility, and her father had kept quiet to protect his job. Just then, Lin Zhaosheng arrived. After a moment of thought, Section Chief Sun agreed to cover the 10,000 yuan for Xiaomeng, asking her to repay him. Xiaomeng expressed deep gratitude.
Section Chief Sun then gave Lin Zhaosheng his retirement paperwork, informing him that due to his illness and 22 years of service, he would receive 75% of his pension. He also handed Lin Zhaosheng a sum of money, explaining it was less than 10,000 yuan pooled by his colleagues who knew he was seriously ill. Lin Zhaosheng thanked them, promising to visit frequently.
Later, Bao Xiaomeng found Lin Zhaosheng and apologized for her earlier hesitation in asking him for a letter of understanding for her father. Lin Zhaosheng, understanding her difficulty, readily agreed to sign, stating it was "no big deal." They proceeded to a print shop, where he signed the document. When Xiaomeng offered compensation, Lin Zhaosheng gently refused, acknowledging her own financial struggles.
He hinted that there was a favor she could do for him, but he needed more time to think it over, and Xiaomeng pledged her availability. Meanwhile, Pei Zhi went to the boxing club to inform his coach, Yu Minghai, of his decision to quit and resume studying mathematics. Though initially taken aback, Yu Minghai was supportive of Pei Zhi's new path.
He retrieved a boxing champion trophy that Pei Zhi's father, Pei Donglai, had given to his own father as a memento. He presented it to Pei Zhi, reframing it as a gift to celebrate his "new life." A moved Pei Zhi accepted the trophy and thanked him. Yu Minghai then lightheartedly suggested Pei Zhi could repay him by handing out flyers to recruit new students.
After class, Mr. Wang asked Lin Zhaoxi to stay behind to clean the blackboard, using the opportunity to discreetly inquire about Pei Zhi. Lin Zhaoxi, however, stated that "discussing feelings will only slow my speed of solving questions" and declined to answer questions unrelated to their studies. Suddenly, Mr. Wang's colleague, Guang, rushed in, distressed that no one wanted to team up with them for the High City Modeling Competition, which required three participants.
Guang admitted he had likely alienated potential teammates by boasting they could "win even with a dog as our teammate." Mr. Wang confirmed this was the problem. Noticing Lin Zhaoxi, Guang initially mistook her for "Pei Zhi's woman," to which Lin Zhaoxi sharply retorted, "Firstly, my name is Lin Zhaoxi. Secondly, I'm not anyone's accessory." Mr. Wang clarified that she was "at most half a muggle."
Faced with their recruitment dilemma, Mr. Wang suggested his uncle could "fill up the spot" since there was no age limit for registration, a solution Guang readily accepted. Mr. Wang then reminded Guang to use more refined language, advising him not to "always say words like dog." Lin Zhaosheng, while burning the midnight oil studying math, suffered another episode of nausea and vomiting, a side effect of his medication.
Lin Zhaoxi, witnessing his discomfort, brought him a bowl of porridge, urging him to eat it. Observing her studying, he encouraged her, and she went to the yard to continue her studies. A neighbor passing by complimented Lin Zhaosheng on having such a diligent daughter, calling him blessed. Pei Zhi brought food to Luo Jing at the clothing store where she was now working after her film shoot.
He took the opportunity to inform her of his desire to study math. Luo Jing reacted with strong opposition, convinced that Lin Zhaoxi was a negative influence and that Pei Zhi would follow his grandfather's path into mental illness, declaring she would only agree "unless I died." Pei Zhi revealed he had already begun studying. He calmly confronted her, explaining that her "wrong opinions" and prohibition had caused him immense suffering.
He clarified that his past mental health issues in Germany were caused by "fear," not by genetics or mathematics. He confessed that he had withheld the full truth from her: while a professor confirmed he carried the schizophrenia gene, his symptoms were "more like anxiety disorder," stemming from the internal conflict between his love for math and his mother's disapproval. Pei Zhi tearfully admitted to cutting his thigh to cope with the "guilt about deceiving you" and his fear.
He credited Lin Zhaoxi with encouraging him to confront his challenges. He also explained that her treatment of him "as a mental patient" sometimes made him prefer staying at the boxing club over coming home. He assured her his symptoms had not recurred and he no longer felt guilty or scared, declaring, "even if my mental illness relapses, I won't be afraid anymore. Because I can defeat it." He earnestly asked for her trust one more time.
Luo Jing, visibly moved, tearfully embraced him and agreed, with one condition: he must "pay close attention to your body condition. If you have any problems, stop immediately no matter how much you love math." Pei Zhi solemnly swore to abide by her request. Later, Mr. Wang informed Guang that his uncle had refused to join the modeling competition, having been scolded by his aunt due to the requirement of living at the competition venue.
Guang, frustrated, again suggested finding "anyone on the street," repeating his infamous phrase about winning "even with a dog as our teammate," which further annoyed Mr. Wang. The next morning, Lin Zhaoxi arrived early for class, and Mr. Wang approached her, asking if she was interested in the modeling competition. Zhaoxi initially declined, prioritizing her postgraduate studies.
Mr. Wang explained the competition schedule was after the preliminary exam and before interviews, and she would simply need to "help us form a team." When Zhaoxi inquired why she was specifically chosen if anyone could "fill up the spot," Mr. Wang revealed the competition was jointly hosted by Gaocheng Navigation and Sanwei University, with numerous Sanwei University Mathematics Department professors serving as judges.
He framed it as a "good opportunity to impress these teachers and increase your possibility of passing the interview" for her postgraduate application. Considering the academic advantage, Lin Zhaoxi agreed. When she asked why she, in particular, was chosen, Mr. Wang simply responded, "You're early. You're not late. That's important." Later, Lin Zhaosheng called Bao Xiaomeng to discuss his gambling plan. Xiaomeng expressed apprehension, reminding him of her father's disastrous experience.
Lin Zhaosheng explained his dire need for 150,000 yuan to cover Lin Zhaoxi's postgraduate expenses, with no other quick way to raise the funds without burdening his daughter. He considered it his responsibility and confessed he sometimes envied Zhaoxi. He claimed to have a foolproof "card counting" strategy to win. He asked Xiaomeng if she could "act," outlining his plan: they would go to a casino on an abandoned cruise ship.
Xiaomeng would pose as his daughter, and on the first day, he would intentionally lose to establish a "persona" as a "lucky fool" who would surely return, thus ensuring the casino wouldn't obstruct him. This strategy, he explained, involved "eat the bait and leave the hook," with the real winnings planned for the next day. They proceeded to the casino, and their coordinated acting went smoothly, attracting no suspicion.
Lin Zhaosheng introduced Xiaomeng as his daughter to Brother Tao, a casino employee. After deliberately losing money as planned on the first day, Lin Zhaosheng informed Xiaomeng, "Everything is going well. We'll proceed as planned tomorrow." Meanwhile, Pei Zhi encountered Lin Zhaoxi outside a classroom. He sheepishly admitted he hadn't come specifically to pick her up, but "just came across you after a political class." Lin Zhaoxi playfully teased him about his honesty.
Pei Zhi then shared the good news that he had confessed his desire to study math to his mother, and "she agreed." Zhaoxi expressed her delight. Pei Zhi then handed her his domestic psychologist's phone number, asking her to contact the doctor if she noticed "anything wrong with me, and I can't overcome it by myself." Zhaoxi accepted it, promising to keep it safe, while reassuring him of his strength.
She then asked for his help with some math problems from her class. Upon returning home, Lin Zhaoxi found her father washing dishes. She playfully remarked on him doing dishes both when she left and when she returned. He casually dismissed it, stating he simply had to eat. She then noticed he had only consumed one box of nuts, reminding him about the other box.
He quickly claimed he was saving it for after dinner to avoid getting inflamed, then went to prepare noodles. At the boxing club, Pei Zhi was informed he had a visitor. It was Zhang Liang, who dramatically recited a poem about hard work and the fleetingness of youth, then chided Pei Zhi for "fall[ing] down" while he himself had been "working really hard in Japan."
Pei Zhi calmly greeted him, inquiring about his transition from studying hotel management in England to Japan. Zhang Liang explained that his family's hotel business "was closed down," which, he declared, was a "blessing in disguise" as it allowed him to pursue "physics," his true passion, unburdened by parental expectations. Zhang Liang then mocked Pei Zhi for being in a "shabby place" and for seemingly prioritizing "muscles much more than your brain."
He arrogantly offered Pei Zhi a boxing "experience class," while also deriding him as "rude" and an embarrassment to their high school's "straight A students." He concluded by stating, "I'm relieved since you're having a hard life. I'm leaving," adding that Pei Zhi didn't "have the right" to see him off, as they were "not at the same level now." He further boasted that he would attend "Yongchuan University next year. Its math department is famous." After Zhang Liang departed, Pei Zhi smiled to himself, recognizing his old rival's enduring pride and arrogance.
Episode 27 Recap
Lin Zhaoxi informed Lin Zhaosheng about her participation in a math modeling competition, clarifying that her teacher had asked her to join a three-person team after her postgraduate entrance exam, mostly "to fill up the spot." Lin Zhaosheng warned her not to hold the team back, to which Lin Zhaoxi confidently replied that she had already done some research in the field, surprising him.
Before his own plans, Lin Zhaosheng casually asked about her class schedule for the next day, which she provided. Lin Zhaosheng, having made meticulous preparations, called Bao Xiaomeng to outline their plan: she would enter the casino two hours after him to "advise him to leave when the going is good," acting as his daughter. At the casino, Lin Zhaosheng engaged a dealer, claiming to have lost yesterday and declaring his new strategy of sticking to one table.
He quickly accumulated significant winnings, acting out his role of uncontrolled gambling luck, even momentarily forgetting himself and mentioning their "plan" to Bao Xiaomeng. He tried to appear erratic by suggesting changing tables and desperately attempted to lose when approached by casino staff. However, the casino boss, having observed his impressive winning streak via surveillance, invited Lin Zhaosheng to his office.
Far from punishing him, the boss presented Lin Zhaosheng with a VIP card, welcomed him as their most distinguished guest, and assured him he could exchange all his chips for real money. Lin Zhaosheng and Bao Xiaomeng then proceeded to exchange their chips. Although the casino staff offered to transfer the funds in three days, Lin Zhaosheng, wary of potential complications, requested only 200,000 yuan in cash, promising discretion and never to return.
He was given 180,000 yuan, and his VIP card was confiscated. As they were leaving, they were cornered by a group of thugs, but the police arrived just in time to intervene. At the police station, Lin Zhaosheng was informed that all his money, including his initial seed money, was confiscated as gambling funds, and he would be detained and fined. He immediately tried to protect Bao Xiaomeng, insisting she was not involved in the gambling.
Bao Xiaomeng corroborated that they had only wanted 200,000 yuan for Lin Zhaosheng's daughter and explained his illness to the officers. The police, understanding the circumstances, assured her they would look after him within permissible limits. Bao Xiaomeng was then released. When Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi arrived at the station, Bao Xiaomeng relayed Lin Zhaosheng's message to his daughter, telling her not to worry and to focus on her studies.
Lin Zhaoxi, understanding her father's intentions, reassured Bao Xiaomeng that it was her father's idea and had nothing to do with her. Pei Zhi then offered to take Lin Zhaoxi home. Pei Zhi drove Lin Zhaoxi home, where she expressed a need to be alone. He departed after urging her to take care of herself and to reach out if she needed financial help.
Later, while at a bank to withdraw money, Pei Zhi observed an AI robot assisting customers, sparking an idea to get an AI housekeeper for Lin Zhaosheng. Lin Zhaosheng was released, and Lin Zhaoxi picked him up from the detention center, expressing her concern. He apologized for losing over 20,000 yuan, nearly all his savings, but Lin Zhaoxi comforted him, saying they would consider it a lesson and that she would support him.
Soon after, Pei Zhi arrived with an AI housekeeper, which he had reprogrammed to have the persona of Lin Zhaoxi's younger brother and Lin Zhaosheng's son, named "Little Lin." The robot, designed to assist with daily life and remind Lin Zhaosheng of important things, immediately endeared itself to Lin Zhaosheng with its playful comments and "like father, like son" programming. Lin Zhaosheng, though pleased, also expressed a humorous, slightly jealous sentiment about Pei Zhi's influence on his daughter.
On the day of the postgraduate entrance exam, Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi wished each other good luck before entering the test center. Pei Zhi finished early and encountered Ji Jiang, who had returned from filming and was waiting to celebrate with Lin Zhaoxi. Pei Zhi directly confronted Ji Jiang, asserting that he had no chance with Lin Zhaoxi and that he would take care of her and Lin Zhaosheng.
Ji Jiang, who had already been distracted by thoughts of Lin Zhaoxi during his recent acting commitments, admitted his anger but also that he knew the truth. Later, Ji Jiang discussed his feelings with Lu Zhihao, who firmly advised him to accept reality, emphasizing the shared history between Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi. When Lin Zhaoxi finished her exam, Pei Zhi informed her of Ji Jiang's visit.
Lin Zhaoxi reassured him that she had clarified her feelings to Ji Jiang, confirming they were just friends, and urged Pei Zhi not to be overly concerned. Lu Zhihao continued his conversation with Ji Jiang, revealing that he and Bao Xiaomeng were "more than friends, but not a couple yet" and that he admired her strength after her family's accident, wanting to pursue a serious relationship with her.
He also confided that Lin Zhaoxi had once saved his life in a "special situation." Later, Lin Zhaosheng prepared a celebratory dinner for Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi after their exams. Lin Zhaoxi outlined two money-making proposals: writing science popularization articles for a senior's public account, or actively participating in the math modeling competition to earn prize money, rather than just taking a free ride.
Despite Lin Zhaosheng's playful jab at her self-praise and concern about her workload, Pei Zhi immediately supported her, promising his full assistance, leading Lin Zhaosheng to jokingly declare himself a "third wheel." Lin Zhaosheng also suggested that Lin Zhaoxi team up with Pei Zhi for the competition, but she insisted on keeping her promise to her current team.
Meanwhile, Aguang and Mr. Wang discussed replacing Lin Zhaoxi with Zhang Liang for the math modeling competition, believing it would increase their winning chances by 20%. Despite Mr. Wang's reluctance to go back on his word, Aguang pushed the idea, offering to deliver the news himself. However, Mr. Wang, fearing Aguang would worsen the situation, decided to speak with Lin Zhaoxi personally.
Separately, Pei Zhi revealed to Lin Zhaosheng that he was looking for a new place, as his mother, Luo Jing, was now in a relationship with a college friend with whom she had opened a clothing store. Lin Zhaosheng, expressing support for Luo Jing's happiness, invited Pei Zhi to live with them, suggesting bunk beds to accommodate him. Pei Zhi accepted, offering to pay rent.
Lin Zhaoxi then visited Mr. Wang, intending to discuss her active participation in the modeling competition and a share of the prize money. However, Mr. Wang preempted her by stating they were considering replacing her with a classmate, citing concerns about team competitiveness and an alleged disdain among Sanwei University professors for "award freeloaders." He further claimed her participation could harm her postgraduate interview chances, contradicting his earlier statements.
Infuriated by his shifting excuses and condescending assessment of her "temperament" (comparing her to Pei Zhi), Lin Zhaoxi declared that not including her would be his loss and stormed out. She later vented to Pei Zhi, expressing her determination to not only win the competition but also ensure Mr. Wang's team loses. Pei Zhi, fully supportive, immediately agreed to team up with her to "beat them." As Lin Zhaosheng cleared space for Pei Zhi, he uncovered old keepsakes.
Lin Zhaoxi found one of her teenage books, prompting a playful struggle as he tried to hide it. Then, finding her old badminton racket, he recounted how she broke it during a game under a tower in high school. During that memory, he had pressed her about her school performance, comparing her grades to Pei Zhi's, which Lin Zhaoxi resented, accusing him of imposing his unfulfilled dreams on her by pushing her towards mathematics.
He countered that he simply recognized her talent, and that his hopes were not solely on her, but also on Pei Zhi, whom he considered like a child too. Back in the present, Lin Zhaoxi still didn't recall the racket incident. They continued sifting through items, finding a childhood photo of Lin Zhaoxi with an unusual hairstyle, which Lin Zhaosheng dubbed "money strings." Finally, Lin Zhaosheng pulled out an old long wig, identical to his appearance in the Cheese World.
He dramatically donned it, reintroducing himself as "Lin Zhaosheng, your father," and tearfully apologized for not raising her, promising to care for her from then on. Lin Zhaoxi commented on his youthful resemblance with the wig, affirming that he had mentioned his long hair to her before, subtly referencing her memories from the Cheese World.
Episode 28 Recap
Pei Zhi moved into Lin Zhaosheng's home. The smart robot repeatedly reminded Lin Zhaosheng to eat nuts, but Lin Zhaosheng insisted he had already eaten them in the yard, which Pei Zhi confirmed. The robot, feeling unappreciated, threatened to run away to a bank to recharge. Observing the robot's limited phrases, Lin Zhaosheng expressed a desire to learn how to input more information into it, and Pei Zhi readily offered to teach him using Python.
Lin Zhaoxi showed Pei Zhi an article she was writing titled "When a Car Thief Meets a Math Model," which was based on their experience catching a thief in Cheese World. She explained she wanted to introduce the concept of mathematical modeling and its real-life applications in an interesting way. Pei Zhi was eager to read it, and Lin Zhaoxi promised to share it once it was complete.
As the mathematical modeling competition approached, Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi reviewed the rules, which involved an online preliminary round and a live main round at Sanwei University's stadium. Lin Zhaosheng enthusiastically wanted to join, but Lin Zhaoxi was hesitant, concerned about his health and suggesting she find Bao Xiaomeng to complete their team of three. Lin Zhaosheng, feeling lonely at home, persisted. Pei Zhi intervened, suggesting Lin Zhaosheng could be their "anchor," providing stability.
Lin Zhaoxi reluctantly agreed, assigning him the role of handling logistics only. Watching Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi prepare day and night for the competition, Lin Zhaosheng grew restless and wanted to offer his ideas. However, Lin Zhaoxi reminded him that the doctor had advised against high-intensity mental work. He confessed that seeing them work made him "itch with excitement" and that he simply missed the good old days.
He then revealed that he used to participate in similar competitions with Zhang Shuping and Lin Zhaoxi's mother, Qiu Yue, even remembering a specific competition topic about fertilizer. He cherished those times. Lin Zhaoxi then asked him about her mother, whom he described as strong, motivated, and always smiling, much like Lin Zhaoxi herself. He sadly admitted that after more than twenty years, he could no longer recall what Qiu Yue looked like.
Later that night, Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi continued their preparations, eating instant noodles. Meanwhile, the smart robot incessantly prompted Lin Zhaosheng to take his medicine. He adamantly claimed he had, but when Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi checked, they found he had forgotten. He expressed distress, even momentarily forgetting about the modeling competition. Overwhelmed, Lin Zhaosheng later sat alone, looking at a photograph of Qiu Yue.
The day of the postgraduate entrance exam retest arrived, and Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi went to Sanwei University. Lin Zhaosheng waited outside and was recognized by Zhang Yan, a former colleague and senior. Zhang Yan coldly greeted him as "academic scum," reminding him of his past expulsion. Lin Zhaosheng clarified that the school committee, not Professor Zeng, expelled him.
Upon learning Lin Zhaosheng was waiting for his daughter, who also studied math, Zhang Yan expressed a desire to meet her. Back home, Lin Zhaoxi prepared for her interview. Lin Zhaosheng, who had been a recommended postgraduate student, shared that he had never experienced an interview himself but offered advice, suggesting she remain composed even if interviewers did something unexpected. Pei Zhi advised her to highlight her talent. Pei Zhi was the first to be interviewed.
Professor Zeng Qingran specifically attended Pei Zhi's interview. Professor Zeng inquired why Pei Zhi, who had shown amazing mathematical intuition and declined the International Math Olympiad team, chose not to attend Sanwei University for his undergraduate degree. Pei Zhi maintained it was for "personal privacy reasons," despite Professor Zeng's insistence that his special presence at the interview showed how much they wanted Pei Zhi. Next, Lin Zhaoxi entered her interview. She answered questions about complex analysis confidently.
Zhang Yan, part of the interview panel, asked if her father influenced her choice of mathematics. Lin Zhaoxi confirmed his passion for mathematics was a significant influence. Zhang Yan then directly asked for Lin Zhaoxi's opinion on her father's alleged academic misconduct. Lin Zhaoxi firmly defended him, stating that after twenty years of dedicated research, she did not believe he was a plagiarist.
She emphasized that having lived with him for over two decades, she had the most insight into his character. Zhang Yan expressed dissatisfaction and moved on. After the interview, Lin Zhaoxi emerged disheartened and went home in silence. Lin Zhaosheng felt deeply remorseful when she recounted Zhang Yan's questioning.
He finally explained the past: his master's thesis, titled "Theoretical and Methodological Study of Graph Isomorphic Verification," was found to be highly similar to a paper by Professor Feng Ming from Yongchuan University. Consequently, he was expelled from Sanwei University for alleged plagiarism, without a chance to defend himself.
Lin Zhaosheng believed it was a coincidence, asserting that Professor Feng Ming, a respected mathematician, would never plagiarize him, and that the two universities were in different cities, making such an act difficult. Pei Zhi also pointed out the geographical distance. Lin Zhaoxi, convinced something was amiss, decided she and Pei Zhi would investigate the matter. To access the university library, Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi planned to borrow Mr. Wang's card.
At the university basketball court, they encountered Zhang Liang, their middle school alumnus. Zhang Liang snatched Mr. Wang's card, challenging Pei Zhi to a five-point basketball game. He proposed the loser call the winner "elder brother." Lin Zhaoxi encouraged Pei Zhi to teach Zhang Liang a lesson. Pei Zhi, despite not having played for a while, skillfully won five consecutive points.
Zhang Liang grudgingly called Pei Zhi "elder brother" and vowed to defeat him in the upcoming modeling competition, revealing he had already formed a team and passed the preliminary round. Pei Zhi assured Lin Zhaoxi that his participation was primarily to accompany her. At the university archives, Lin Zhaoxi located a duplicate of Lin Zhaosheng's old thesis. She observed a flaw in its proof framework, noting that her father's current understanding of the subject was entirely different.
They then obtained Professor Feng Ming's paper and compared the two. The papers were indeed strikingly similar in their proof ideas and key points. Meanwhile, Lin Zhaosheng, tired of the robot's repetitive reminders, reprogrammed it to sing songs. Pei Zhi later visited his mother, Luo Jing, at her clothing store. He noticed she was working alone and learned that her business partner, Mr. Qian, had fired an employee and now escorted her home every evening.
During dinner, Luo Jing hesitantly shared her intention to marry Mr. Qian. Pei Zhi, recognizing his mother's long-standing single status since his father's passing, expressed his full support and joy for her new life. Elsewhere, Zhang Liang, Mr. Wang, and Ah Guang diligently prepared for the modeling competition. Ah Guang's boastful claim that their team could win "even with a dog" sparked an argument with Zhang Liang.
Mr. Wang intervened, stressing the importance of serious preparation, especially against competitors like Pei Zhi and Lin Zhaoxi, and urged them to study diligently. Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi continued to ponder the uncanny similarities between the two papers. Pei Zhi hypothesized that a "third person" might have leaked Lin Zhaosheng's thesis. Their suspicion quickly turned to Lin Zhaosheng's former advisor, Professor Zeng Qingran. They approached Professor Zeng after his class.
When Lin Zhaoxi brought up the topic of her father, Professor Zeng claimed he knew little and advised them to investigate at Yongchuan University. Lin Zhaoxi countered by reminding him that Professor Feng Ming had been deceased for many years and that as Lin Zhaosheng's former advisor, he should be the most knowledgeable. Professor Zeng, however, explicitly stated he did not leak Lin Zhaosheng's paper to Professor Feng.
Pressed on why the school concluded plagiarism, Professor Zeng cited Professor Feng Ming's respected status, whose word carried more weight, and dismissed the issue as a "family private affair" that made the university's position difficult. Lin Zhaoxi insisted her father had done nothing wrong.
Episode 29 Recap
Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi confronted Professor Zeng Qingran about Lin Zhaosheng's plagiarism case. Lin Zhaoxi insisted that her father had done nothing wrong. Professor Zeng explained that Professor Feng, a highly respected scholar, had higher credibility, and the matter was also a "family affair," making it difficult for the school. Perplexed, Lin Zhaoxi learned from Professor Zeng that Professor Feng had a daughter named Qiu Yue, who was Lin Zhaoxi's biological mother.
Upon returning home, Lin Zhaoxi asked Lin Zhaosheng why he had never told her that Professor Feng was her grandmother. Lin Zhaosheng admitted that Professor Feng hated him and refused to acknowledge Lin Zhaoxi. He recounted the events from years ago: He, Zhang Shuping, and Qiu Yue were close classmates in the math department at Yongchuan University, where Professor Feng was their head teacher. Both Lin Zhaosheng and Zhang Shuping harbored feelings for Qiu Yue.
Zhang Shuping confessed his love for Qiu Yue to Lin Zhaosheng. To avoid hurting Zhang Shuping, Lin Zhaosheng decided to pursue postgraduate studies at Sanwei University. However, Qiu Yue followed him, confronting him about his departure. She revealed she liked him, not Zhang Shuping, and vowed to stay by his side. Lin Zhaosheng was delighted. Two years later, Qiu Yue became pregnant. While Lin Zhaosheng was engrossed in writing his thesis, they decided to marry once it was complete.
Qiu Yue suggested naming their child "Lin Zhaoxi," inspired by "picking flowers in the morning and evening." Shortly after, Lin Zhaosheng submitted his thesis, only to find it strikingly similar to Professor Feng's. Professor Feng was enraged, accusing him of being a shameless liar who had plagiarized her work and used Qiu Yue to steal her academic achievements. Consequently, Sanwei University expelled Lin Zhaosheng. Devastated, a heavily pregnant Qiu Yue embarked on a long-distance bus journey to find him.
Her water broke on the bus, leading to an early birth of Lin Zhaoxi, who was healthy. However, Qiu Yue suffered a severe postpartum hemorrhage and passed away before Lin Zhaosheng could reach the hospital. Lin Zhaosheng lamented that if he had stayed at Yongchuan, things might have turned out differently. Lin Zhaoxi was convinced that someone else had leaked her father's thesis to Professor Feng. Lin Zhaosheng speculated that it could have been Zhang Shuping.
He mentioned that Zhang Shuping had visited Qiu Yue and stayed at their home for two days, during which he had access to Lin Zhaosheng's thesis draft. Since Zhang Shuping was also Professor Feng's graduate student, he could have subtly conveyed Lin Zhaosheng's ideas to her. Furious, Lin Zhaoxi wanted to confront Zhang Shuping, but Lin Zhaosheng stopped her. He recounted visiting Zhang Shuping after Qiu Yue's death, only to find him seemingly unstable and consumed by guilt, almost "crazy."
Lin Zhaosheng believed that Zhang Shuping's torment was punishment enough. Lin Zhaoxi confessed to Pei Zhi that she couldn't forget Zhang Shuping's past kindness towards her and her father in Cheese World, believing it was driven by guilt. She admitted wanting to expose him publicly. Pei Zhi encouraged her to do so and took her to Zhang Shuping's teaching center. They observed Zhang Shuping giving a free public class to children and their parents.
Pei Zhi urged Lin Zhaoxi to speak up, taking advantage of the audience. However, as Zhang Shuping taught a story about a mathematician's rigor and later mentioned her mother's passion for math, Lin Zhaoxi's resolve softened. After class, seeing the departing families, she decided against confronting him and left with Pei Zhi. A few days later, Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi reviewed the schedule for the upcoming modeling competition, set for April 15th to 17th at Sanwei University stadium.
Lin Zhaosheng eagerly offered to participate, but Lin Zhaoxi playfully suggested his expertise might be "bullying the young." He agreed to act as their "anchor," supporting them from the sidelines. Pei Zhi mentioned Yu Minghai had invited him to a boxing match on the morning of April 15th. Lin Zhaoxi, remarking that "a man who keeps his word is the most handsome," encouraged him to participate, noting that the modeling competition wouldn't start until 1 PM that afternoon.
Meanwhile, at Bao Xiaomeng's father's dumpling restaurant, Lu Zhihao observed the lack of customers and suggested she consider a different career. Bao Xiaomeng expressed a desire to open a nail salon or, ideally, a pet hospital, but was deterred by the high investment and her lack of veterinary knowledge. Lu Zhihao, a medical student, offered to find staff and invest, proposing a 50/50 partnership where he would simply receive profits. Bao Xiaomeng agreed to consider it.
Seizing the moment, Lu Zhihao then asked her if she would meet his parents, to which she happily agreed. On the day of the competition, Pei Zhi entrusted his phone to Yu Minghai before his boxing match. Lin Zhaoxi and Lin Zhaosheng arrived at the modeling competition venue, surprised to see Ji Jiang, a popular celebrity, as the event's ambassador.
Zhang Liang, also present, approached Lin Zhaoxi, expressing concern about Pei Zhi's absence and warning that the venue would be sealed after the opening ceremony, barring any latecomers. Lin Zhaosheng reassured Lin Zhaoxi. Worried, Lin Zhaoxi called Pei Zhi, but he was in the middle of his boxing match, and Yu Minghai, fully absorbed in the fight, did not answer. Pei Zhi fought fiercely but eventually collapsed in the ring, unconscious.
Yu Minghai rushed him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a mild concussion and advised to stay for two days of observation. Pei Zhi immediately asked for his phone, seeing Lin Zhaoxi's missed calls. As he attempted to return her call, he was struck by a wave of dizziness and uncontrollable muscle spasms. Yu Minghai, alarmed, called for the doctor. At the modeling competition, Ji Jiang was performing on stage as the event's opening act.
Lin Zhaoxi, increasingly anxious, received a call from Pei Zhi. He informed her that his mother, Luo Jing, was unwell, and he had to go home, making it impossible for him to attend the competition today. Understanding the seriousness of the situation, Lin Zhaoxi urged him to prioritize his mother. With Pei Zhi out, Lin Zhaosheng stepped in to join Lin Zhaoxi's team, but they were still short one member.
As Ji Jiang finished his performance and was about to leave, Lin Zhaoxi rushed to him, explaining Pei Zhi's predicament and pleading with him to convince the organizers to allow Pei Zhi to compete the following day. Ji Jiang, however, had a different plan. Knowing that the event supervisor was unyielding, he proposed an audacious idea: his makeup artist, Ou Xiaopu, would disguise him as Pei Zhi for the day.
He saw it as a challenging acting role and believed they could secretly swap him with the real Pei Zhi tomorrow. Lin Zhaoxi was hesitant, concerned that many contestants, including Zhang Liang, knew Pei Zhi. Despite her doubts and her desire to speak directly with the organizers, Ji Jiang insisted on his plan, eager to experience being Pei Zhi for a day.
Ji Jiang introduced Ou Xiaopu to Lin Zhaoxi as the competition announcement declared its imminent start and the commencement of identity verification in the computer rooms. Zhang Liang and his teammate noticed that both Pei Zhi and Lin Zhaoxi were missing. Ou Xiaopu, with Ji Jiang's insistent urging to finish in 15 minutes by skipping his hair styling, began to transform Ji Jiang into Pei Zhi.
Meanwhile, in one of the competition rooms, the supervisor questioned Lin Zhaosheng, asking why he was alone and where his other two team members were. Lin Zhaosheng simply replied, "I'm a local."
Episode 30 Recap
The mathematical modeling competition was scheduled to be completed within two days, with simple beds and food provided in the machine room. Lin Zhaosheng arrived early, but when the staff came to take attendance, he deliberately stalled, hoping for Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi to arrive. The impatient staff member warned him that if his two teammates didn't show up immediately, their team would be disqualified.
Just then, Lin Zhaoxi rushed in with Ji Jiang, who was wearing his hat pulled low to conceal his identity. The staff, unsuspecting, allowed them into the machine room. Meanwhile, Zhang Liang, feigning a trip to the restroom, saw "Pei Zhi" (Ji Jiang) arrive through a window. He then instructed his teammates, A-guang and Mr. Wang, to choose the most challenging problem, B, and they divided the work among themselves. Lin Zhaoxi also chose Problem B.
She and Pei Zhi had previously developed a program to catch thieves, so they were quite adept at the task. As Lin Zhaoxi articulated her ideas, Lin Zhaosheng and Ji Jiang, unable to assist, sat nearby and played chess. At the same time, Bao Xiaomeng called Lin Zhaoxi, saying that Lu Zhihao's father had sent a large quantity of fish and seafood, and she wanted to deliver some.
Lin Zhaoxi, expecting to finish the competition in two days, asked Bao Xiaomeng to place the seafood in her refrigerator. Meanwhile, the real Pei Zhi went to the ancient tower. He smashed open the wall containing the mathematical formulas, retrieved a tin box holding a letter, and then meticulously repaired the breach with cement. Bao Xiaomeng happened to pass by and noticed Pei Zhi restoring the wall.
Pei Zhi asked her to keep his actions a secret, fearing Lin Zhaoxi would scold him for being meddlesome. Bao Xiaomeng chuckled, calling him the "Best boyfriend on earth." Back at the competition, Ji Jiang was repeatedly losing at chess. Feeling discouraged, he wanted to quit, but Lin Zhaosheng urged him for another round. Ji Jiang then excused himself to use the restroom. Lin Zhaosheng advised him to keep his mask on to avoid being recognized.
Ji Jiang stealthily made his way to the restroom, but Zhang Liang followed him. Ji Jiang quickly hid in a stall, but Zhang Liang persisted, pressing him about which problem their team had chosen. Ji Jiang, his voice hoarse, reluctantly revealed they chose Problem B. Zhang Liang announced his team also chose B and hinted at their upcoming rivalry, then left.
Believing the coast was clear, Ji Jiang tried to sneak back to the machine room but was caught by Zhang Liang, who recognized him despite the disguise. Zhang Liang threatened to report him for cheating. Ji Jiang pleaded with Zhang Liang not to, explaining that Pei Zhi had an emergency today and would be back tomorrow, and that he was only filling in to maintain their qualification.
He argued that their team was already at a disadvantage and that reporting them would prevent Zhang Liang from competing fairly against Pei Zhi, whom he seemed keen to face. Zhang Liang, after some thought, agreed not to report him, confirming that Pei Zhi would indeed come the next day. Soon after, Lu Zhihao called Ji Jiang, reminding him about a new film showcase he had to attend the next morning.
Ji Jiang promised to be ready for pickup at Sanwei University's gym entrance. Pei Zhi arrived at a boxing gym and locked himself in a room, securing it with three locks. It was Cheese Pei Zhi, the version of himself from the Cheese World, in control of the body. He addressed the trapped consciousness of Strawberry Pei Zhi, the original Pei Zhi of this world, intending to exchange their lives via self-hypnosis.
He explained that his arrival in Strawberry World was because he had fallen in love with its Lin Zhaoxi, who was different from the Lin Zhaoxi he knew in Cheese World. He offered Strawberry Pei Zhi a way back to the Cheese World to live with his father, Pei Donglai, claiming he had already discussed it with him. Cheese Pei Zhi then initiated the hypnosis, setting an alarm for when he would regain full control.
During the hypnosis, Strawberry Pei Zhi, briefly in control, vehemently refused the exchange, asserting he would tell Lin Zhaoxi everything. He tried desperately to escape the locked room but failed. When Cheese Pei Zhi regained control, he showed Strawberry Pei Zhi a video explaining that a bloodstain on a letter was the key to traveling between worlds. He noted that two of the three original bloodstains had already been used for previous travels.
He then attempted to entice Strawberry Pei Zhi with the "P=NP" world of Cheese World, where he was a renowned mathematician. When Strawberry Pei Zhi again refused, Cheese Pei Zhi revealed that he had anticipated this and had learned lock-picking specifically for this moment. He asserted that one world could only have one Pei Zhi and declared his intention to permanently trap Strawberry Pei Zhi in his body, using Strawberry Pei Zhi's mental illness to his advantage.
Back at the modeling competition, Lin Zhaoxi was deeply immersed in her work. Ji Jiang, observing her, commented on her intense focus, likening her dedication to the "Halo of Courage" that inspires those around her. He reflected on how much he used to admire her for her positivity. Later that night, Pei Zhi called Lin Zhaoxi, saying he was outside. She opened a window to let him in, and he immediately embraced her tightly.
Ji Jiang, feeling a bit awkward, decided it was his cue to leave. He climbed out the window, getting momentarily stuck, before heading off to wait for Lu Zhihao to pick him up.
Episode 31 Recap
Ji Jiang was about to leave the competition through the window when he encountered some difficulty getting unstuck, enduring pain to make his exit. Lin Zhaoxi, concerned, asked if he was alright, to which Ji Jiang claimed he was fine and would rest there while awaiting his ride. Before leaving, he implored Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi to win, stating he was counting on them for the rest of the contest.
As Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi made their way to their room, they were intercepted by Zhang Liang, who had been waiting. Zhang Liang revealed he knew Pei Zhi had secretly replaced Ji Jiang after seeing Ji Jiang sneak out. Lin Zhaoxi, wary, asked Zhang Liang what he intended, but Pei Zhi calmly assured her that Zhang Liang was simply showing his support in his own way.
Lin Zhaosheng was sound asleep on the sofa, while Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi worked tirelessly through the night. Lin Zhaoxi had already completed half of the problem's structure and asked Pei Zhi to review it. The following morning, Lin Zhaosheng woke up, immediately noticing a subtle difference in Pei Zhi. A staff member arrived to deliver notices and also detected a change in Pei Zhi's appearance compared to the previous day's registration.
Lin Zhaoxi quickly intervened, confirming Pei Zhi's identity. However, when the staff member insisted Pei Zhi stand up for further verification, Lin Zhaosheng quickly feigned a sudden illness and collapsed, successfully diverting attention. The staff member, concerned, arranged for Lin Zhaosheng to be taken to the hospital. En route, Lin Zhaosheng declared he felt better and insisted on being taken home, claiming his legs were too weak to take public transport.
Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi continued their diligent work, with Pei Zhi catching a typo on page six, line three, as they raced against the clock. With only 25 minutes left, the staff member checked on Lin Zhaosheng's condition and cautioned Lin Zhaoxi against discussing the questions with withdrawn contestants. Finally, they submitted their solution and celebrated with a high-five. An announcement declared the end of the answering phase, with the defense scheduled for 5 PM, allowing for a break.
Mr. Wang approached Lin Zhaoxi, expressing regret for his earlier actions that had made her a competitor and offered a handshake of reconciliation. Lin Zhaoxi, however, simply walked away. Afterward, Ah Guang challenged Pei Zhi to a one-on-one basketball game, but Pei Zhi declined, claiming he hadn't played in a long time. Ah Guang scoffed, pointing out that Pei Zhi had been playing right before the competition. Zhang Liang then pulled Ah Guang away, telling him to rest.
The defense session officially commenced, with Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi presenting their work. Lin Zhaosheng, watching the live broadcast from home, sent messages to Lin Zhaoxi, expressing his pride. Lin Zhaoxi introduced her team, Group 6, and their chosen topic, "Suspect Tracking," outlining the five parts of her thesis defense.
Zhang Laoshi, a judge, immediately questioned Lin Zhaosheng's absence and Lin Zhaoxi's competence, specifically asking her to elaborate on the modeling algorithm for the second question, despite Pei Zhi's offer to answer. Zhang Laoshi continued her skeptical line of questioning, highlighting Lin Zhaoxi's background in philosophy. Another judge interjected, reminding Zhang Laoshi that individual contributions were not a criterion. Lin Zhaoxi then accepted the challenge, providing a detailed explanation that earned applause.
Undeterred, Zhang Laoshi continued to probe, asking Lin Zhaoxi about her personal contribution given the strong abilities of Pei Zhi and Lin Zhaosheng, implying she might be "taking the award by doing nothing." Pei Zhi quickly defended Lin Zhaoxi, asserting she was the team's core. Lin Zhaoxi also defended herself, pointing out that Zhang Laoshi's persistent questioning contradicted the rules. Zhang Laoshi, maintaining her "personal doubts," assured Lin Zhaoxi that her team's first-place ranking would not be affected.
Just as Zhang Laoshi was about to conclude the defense, Zhang Liang stepped forward to accuse Lin Zhaoxi's team of violating competition rules. He claimed Pei Zhi had used an actor to impersonate him on the first day, only arriving himself in the early hours of the second day, and stated he had witnessed it all. Pei Zhi immediately confessed, admitting he arrived the previous night due to personal reasons and had indeed used an actor.
He clarified that Lin Zhaoxi had completed all the modeling herself and that he was merely an assistant. He also revealed that Lin Zhaosheng, his master, suffered from Alzheimer's disease and was physically incapable of participating, having been brought in solely to fulfill the three-person team requirement. A staff member corroborated that Lin Zhaosheng had indeed fallen sick and withdrawn. Mr. Wang then stepped up, calling for Lin Zhaoxi's team's disqualification and declaring his own team the rightful first place.
He then argued that Pei Zhi's late arrival proved Lin Zhaoxi was the sole primary contributor, emphasizing her capability, and challenged Zhang Laoshi to apologize to Lin Zhaoxi for her earlier harsh criticism. Lin Zhaoxi then took the stage and openly admitted her team's rule violation, apologizing for her eagerness to win.
She stated that even without Pei Zhi's help, she believed she could have completed the thesis independently, acknowledging that her high score also contained an element of luck, as she and Pei Zhi had encountered similar math models before. She directly addressed Zhang Laoshi, confessing her desire to perform well to help her postgraduate entrance exam chances. She implored Zhang Laoshi not to judge her with the same prejudice that had impacted her father, Lin Zhaosheng.
Lin Zhaoxi passionately described her father as the most mathematics-loving person she knew, recounting how he was expelled from Sanwei University's math department and burdened with accusations of "academic misconduct" for over two decades simply because his thesis resembled that of a renowned professor. She stressed that there was no concrete evidence, only intuition and prejudice, drawing a parallel to Galileo's experiment. She urged influential figures like Zhang Laoshi to demonstrate greater rigor and respect to prevent similar tragedies.
Lin Zhaoxi concluded by publicly apologizing again and stating her readiness to accept any penalties. Lin Zhaoxi's impassioned speech was met with thunderous applause. Watching the live broadcast from home, Lin Zhaosheng was deeply moved, tears welling in his eyes. After the competition, Lin Zhaoxi's team not only lost their first-place ranking but also forfeited any prize money. Ah Guang, still competitive, challenged Pei Zhi to a rematch, and Zhang Liang, surprisingly, agreed to a solo game with Ah Guang.
Pei Zhi and Lin Zhaoxi left together. Lin Zhaoxi expressed satisfaction with her speech but lamented the loss of the prize money. Later, Zheng Bian Dao, a TV show producer, approached Lin Zhaoxi, inviting her and Pei Zhi to participate in a knowledge challenge program. Upon learning there was a 100,000 yuan prize, Lin Zhaoxi readily accepted, promising to call him back. Lin Zhaosheng encouraged Pei Zhi to take Lin Zhaoxi out to celebrate while he rested at home.
Pei Zhi took Lin Zhaoxi to a lounge, where he surprised her by playing the piano and singing a German song, "La Vie en Rose." Pei Zhi elaborated on the connection between mathematics and music, describing both as beautiful and expressed through logical symbols. During his explanation, he suddenly felt dizzy and disoriented, briefly muttering "Cheese. . ." Lin Zhaoxi, alarmed, asked if he was alright. Pei Zhi attributed it to a lack of rest and suggested they go home.
When they arrived, Lin Zhaosheng, who had been working on the world problem, quickly hid his draft papers under a pillow and switched his computer screen to a game. Lin Zhaosheng affirmed that hearing her speak at the competition made him feel great, despite the lost prize money. That night, Pei Zhi retrieved his phone, which contained a recording of Lin Zhaosheng's research process, and sent it to Lin Zhaoxi.
Lin Zhaoxi then confronted Lin Zhaosheng, pulling the draft papers from under his pillow. She scolded him for overexerting his mind, reminding him of their agreement not to do brain-straining activities that could trigger a relapse of his old illness. Lin Zhaosheng admitted his unwillingness to give up, having dedicated twenty years to his research. Lin Zhaoxi insisted that his health was paramount and ordered him to stop, which he reluctantly agreed to.
The next morning, Pei Zhi brought breakfast to Lin Zhaosheng. Lin Zhaoxi had just received a "death call" from Sanwei University's graduate admissions office, informing her that she would likely be transferred to another major due to her initial exam scores. She was disappointed, feeling it was a pity she couldn't enroll with Pei Zhi, though she was prepared to study for another year. Pei Zhi tried to comfort her, but Lin Zhaoxi felt the call confirmed her rejection.
That night, after Lin Zhaosheng was asleep, Pei Zhi resumed working on the world problem. He recalled a memory from "Cheese World" in 2018, where he and Lin Zhaosheng received an award in Chicago for solving the same mathematical problem related to graph isomorphism, the P vs. NP problem. After an all-nighter, Pei Zhi finally completed the problem. The next morning, he showed the proof to Lin Zhaoxi, explaining it was the missing piece of her father's research.
Lin Zhaoxi, eager to share the news with Lin Zhaosheng, rushed to his room, but Pei Zhi stopped her. He explained that he had only completed the final one percent and that it was Lin Zhaosheng's twenty years of foundational work that made it possible. He urged Lin Zhaoxi to let Lin Zhaosheng believe he had completed it independently.
Lin Zhaoxi, remembering her father's hatred for cheating after twenty years of plagiarism accusations, questioned why Pei Zhi would downplay his contribution. Pei Zhi insisted his role was "tiny" and, given Lin Zhaosheng's illness, he wanted his master to experience pure joy, free from the burden of believing it was a collaborative effort or, worse, another instance of "cheating."
Episode 32 Recap
Pei Zhi explained to Lin Zhaoxi that his intention was to make her father, Lin Zhaosheng, purely happy. He noted that Lin Zhaosheng was ill and frequently forgot things, and after more than twenty years of research, he was truly close to completing his work. Pei Zhi believed that if he told Lin Zhaosheng he had finished the last part, it would not bring him joy, especially given Lin Zhaosheng’s recent low spirits.
Lin Zhaoxi initially questioned why Pei Zhi downplayed his own contribution but ultimately agreed to his plan. The next morning, Pei Zhi and Lin Zhaoxi began a "general cleaning," making a deliberate mess. Lin Zhaosheng, waking to the commotion, offered to help but Pei Zhi suggested he just "sit there and be the supervisor" after washing his face. As Lin Zhaosheng cleaned up the scattered papers, he discovered a missing section of his research.
He asked Pei Zhi to examine it. Feigning surprise, Pei Zhi exclaimed that Lin Zhaosheng had proven "Graph Isomorphism is NP-complete" and asked when he had finished it. Lin Zhaosheng was disoriented, questioning if he had truly completed it and forgotten. Pei Zhi suggested his memory was faulty, reminding him he often thought he was still twenty-three. Lin Zhaosheng then became ecstatic, proclaiming to Lin Zhaoxi that he had succeeded after twenty years of effort.
Pei Zhi presented Lin Zhaosheng's completed research to Professor Zeng Qingran. Initially, Professor Zeng praised Pei Zhi for his impressive accomplishment at such a young age. However, Pei Zhi clarified that the work was his master, Lin Zhaosheng's. Professor Zeng immediately recognized Lin Zhaosheng's genius and acknowledged that he had suffered unfairly, with this injustice even extending to his daughter, Lin Zhaoxi.
Pei Zhi proposed that if Sanwei University would vindicate his master, the university would share in the paper's glory. Professor Zeng realized this was a negotiation and agreed to the vindication. Pei Zhi then requested Lin Zhaoxi’s admission into the graduate program. While Professor Zeng initially deemed it against the rules, Pei Zhi pressed, asking if previous decisions regarding her admission had been influenced by Lin Zhaosheng's past.
Professor Zeng promised that Lin Zhaoxi's exam assessment would not be influenced by any other factors, which Pei Zhi accepted as sufficient. Soon, Sanwei University publicly announced Lin Zhaosheng's proof that Graph Isomorphism is an NP problem. This groundbreaking research garnered widespread attention in the academic community and the media.
Professor Zeng, in a television interview, discussed the monumental impact of such a breakthrough, explaining it could revolutionize the internet, lead to significant technological advancements, and bring about earth-shattering changes in human life. Lin Zhaosheng was introduced as the mathematician behind this achievement. Lin Zhaoxi informed Pei Zhi that the school had called, telling her she no longer needed to consider a different major.
She deduced that Pei Zhi had intervened on her behalf, despite his claims that the academic success of her father had simply removed previous discrimination. Lin Zhaoxi expressed her desire to earn her admission to Sanwei University through her own merit, vowing to take the exam again next year. Pei Zhi agreed to respect her decision and speak with Professor Zeng. Lin Zhaoxi later participated in a television quiz show called "Super Quiz."
For the final question, which involved translating and identifying a German quote, she used her lifeline to ask Pei Zhi for help, as he had studied in Germany. However, the Pei Zhi currently inhabiting the present timeline had, in the Cheese World, chosen not to study in Germany and never learned German. Silently acknowledging his lack of knowledge, he deliberately gave her the wrong answer, choosing option A instead of the correct option B.
Lin Zhaoxi was eliminated from the competition. Afterwards, Pei Zhi explained that he intentionally answered incorrectly, stating that they had been too high-profile lately and he didn't want them to draw further envy by excelling in an entertainment show. Lin Zhaoxi remained puzzled by his strange behavior. Meanwhile, Zhang Shuping visited Lin Zhaosheng, and they played a game of chess.
Lin Zhaosheng revealed that he had known Zhang Shuping was responsible for leaking his paper after Qiu Yue's death, accusing him of twenty years of torment. He refused to accept Zhang Shuping's apology, recounting how he had shed all his tears before Lin Zhaoxi was two years old and never cried in front of her, wanting her to see him as strong. He lamented the betrayal by his best friend, suggesting Zhang Shuping experience such pain himself.
Despite his anger, Lin Zhaosheng jokingly asked Zhang Shuping to kneel but then stopped him, recalling that Zhang Shuping had taught him chess in Renmin Park when they were children. They finished their game. As Zhang Shuping left, he encountered Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi, telling them he had played chess with Lin Zhaosheng and lost.
Lin Zhaoxi asked her father if he had forgiven Zhang Shuping, to which Lin Zhaosheng firmly replied, "No." Professor Zeng Qingran contacted Lin Zhaosheng, urging him to return to Sanwei University as a lecturer. Lin Zhaosheng agreed to give a speech but declined the teaching position, explaining that he was suffering from Alzheimer's and was no longer fit to be a teacher.
He said he would give the speech to repay Professor Zeng for helping him secure an accounting job years ago, which allowed him to raise Lin Zhaoxi. Pei Zhi informed Lin Zhaoxi that he would be busy at Sanwei University for a few days, attending academic conferences with Professor Zeng. That night, as Lin Zhaosheng practiced his speech, he struggled to remember his lines. A voice from a programmed device he used to motivate himself called him an "idiot."
Lin Zhaoxi suggested he simply read from the script. While pouring water for Lin Zhaosheng, Pei Zhi suddenly suffered a dizzy spell, knocking over the glass. Lin Zhaoxi quickly called his name and checked on him. Later, Pei Zhi enrolled in one-on-one German tutoring at Jordan Foreign Language School, explaining he needed to understand non-professional German books for immigrant life. During a class, he experienced another dizzy spell, internally struggling and telling something to "get out of my body."
He quickly recovered, assuring the teacher it was just a "regular symptom." Lin Zhaosheng delivered his speech at Sanwei University, with Pei Zhi introducing him. Lin Zhaosheng began by humorously downplaying the "miserable" portrayal Pei Zhi had given, then enthusiastically highlighted the fun and practicality of mathematics in various fields. He shared a personal anecdote about a passionate argument with his college classmate, who later became his wife and Lin Zhaoxi's mother, over the P vs. NP problem.
He recalled how their argument even led them to book a hotel room one night, though "nothing happened." Through her eventual passing, he realized that "IQ has nothing to do with happiness." He spoke of his struggles raising Lin Zhaoxi and the realization that "not all efforts will be rewarded. And not all dreams will come true." As he continued, his memory faltered, and he began repeating himself. Lin Zhaoxi quickly stepped to the podium, taking the microphone.
She emotionally revealed to the audience that her father had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease, explaining that while he once had an exceptional memory, he now struggled with even a short manuscript. She then respectfully asked to finish the speech for him, which she did, speaking about pursuing ideals, love, and discovering truth. The audience responded with a thunderous ovation. Following the speech, Lin Zhaoxi took Lin Zhaosheng for a medical check-up.
The doctor informed her that his condition was progressing faster than anticipated and recommended professional institutional care. However, Lin Zhaoxi insisted on caring for her father herself, and the doctor advised consistent medication and frequent conversation. Lin Zhaosheng's memory continued to decline, and he often sat silently. While doing laundry, Lin Zhaoxi discovered a receipt for the "Jordan Foreign Language School" and its "German course for immigrant life" in Pei Zhi's pocket.
She called the school and confirmed Pei Zhi was indeed enrolled in a German class. Connecting this to his strange behavior, his incorrect German answer on the quiz show, and his recent dizzy spells, Lin Zhaoxi began to suspect that the Pei Zhi with her was the Pei Zhi from the Cheese World. She then sought out Ji Jiang.
Episode 33 Recap
Lin Zhaoxi confided in Ji Jiang, expressing her suspicion that the current Pei Zhi was actually Pei Zhi from the Cheese World. She elaborated on her doubts, noting that during a recent quiz competition, Pei Zhi had claimed to lose on purpose without discussing it with her beforehand. She also presented a receipt from a German class at Jordan Foreign Languages, which she had confirmed, indicating Pei Zhi was secretly learning German.
Lin Zhaoxi reasoned that if this Pei Zhi were from the Cheese World, he might not possess German language skills, as his counterpart in that world had struggled academically. Ji Jiang, initially skeptical, was convinced by Lin Zhaoxi's explanation and agreed to help her investigate. To test Pei Zhi, Ji Jiang invited him to play basketball. However, concerned about potential injuries that could affect his film shooting schedule, Ji Jiang suggested they play video games instead.
During their time together, Ji Jiang asked Pei Zhi about various past events, all of which Pei Zhi recalled with perfect detail, even remembering a specific amount of money—1,453,524 yuan—that Ji Jiang once had in his card. Ji Jiang then pretended to be preparing for a role as a con artist and asked Pei Zhi for advice on how to "sincerely deceive" someone.
Pei Zhi responded that he would tell a white lie if it meant everyone could live a better life. Pei Zhi seemed to sense Ji Jiang's unusual line of questioning and made to leave, but Ji Jiang insisted they continue playing and talking. Lin Zhaoxi, who was listening outside, heard the entire conversation. Despite Pei Zhi's flawless and detailed answers, Ji Jiang concluded that Pei Zhi was legitimate and advised Lin Zhaoxi against overthinking.
Nonetheless, Lin Zhaoxi remained unconvinced and disheartened, lacking any concrete evidence to support her theory. As she walked home, she encountered Bao Xiaomeng, who was attempting to deliver fruit to her house. Lin Zhaosheng was inside but refused to open the door, fearing that someone would steal his important thesis. Lin Zhaoxi quickly let them in, finding her father sitting by the window, staring blankly.
Bao Xiaomeng, noticing Lin Zhaoxi's low spirits, mistakenly assumed she was having a disagreement with Pei Zhi. Lin Zhaoxi, unable to explain her complex worries, was intrigued when Bao Xiaomeng suddenly recalled seeing Pei Zhi mending a hole in the wall with cement on the day of the modeling competition. Bao Xiaomeng then led Lin Zhaoxi to the old pagoda.
Lin Zhaosheng soon arrived, emphatically stating that there was something crucial hidden inside the wall, although he couldn't recall its exact nature. Lin Zhaoxi managed to calm him down and take him home, asking Bao Xiaomeng to stay and look after him. Lin Zhaoxi then went to Pei Zhi's house and confronted him, demanding to know what he had taken from the wall. Concerned that Luo Jing, his mother, might overhear, Pei Zhi led Lin Zhaoxi outside.
He admitted that he had taken a letter written by Qiu Yue, Lin Zhaoxi's mother. Lin Zhaoxi pressed him further, asking if he was Pei Zhi from the Cheese World and showing him the German class receipt she had found. Pei Zhi, realizing he could no longer hide the truth, confessed.
He explained that he was the Pei Zhi who had loved Lin Zhaoxi since childhood, accompanied her through the Olympiad training camp in the Cheese World, and ultimately helped her return to the Strawberry World. He revealed that he had willingly come to the Strawberry World for her, and that Qiu Yue's letter was instrumental in his journey. Meanwhile, a news report about the impending demolition of Anping Liberation Hospital triggered a forgotten memory in Lin Zhaosheng.
He abruptly left the house, with Bao Xiaomeng following closely behind. Bao Xiaomeng called Lin Zhaoxi, who then rushed to the courthouse with Pei Zhi. There, Lin Zhaosheng unveiled a startling revelation: he, too, had once traveled to a parallel world. He recounted the events of 1995. He had gone to court to appeal a defamation lawsuit against Professor Feng Ming.
Unbeknownst to him, Qiu Yue's water had broken on a long-distance bus as she traveled to meet him, and she was rushed to the hospital. While at the courthouse, Lin Zhaosheng suddenly fainted. Although his mind remained clear, he found himself unable to move or control his body, his thoughts completely disconnected from his words. The "other self" controlling his body frantically borrowed a bicycle and rode to the hospital.
Lin Zhaosheng witnessed everything but had no idea where he was going or what awaited him. Upon arrival, he learned Qiu Yue had given birth to Lin Zhaoxi but had died from a massive hemorrhage due to complications during childbirth. Before her passing, Qiu Yue had left a letter for her newborn daughter. Lin Zhaosheng later understood that the "other self" who controlled his body was desperate to see Qiu Yue one last time, knowing her fate.
Overwhelmed with grief, Lin Zhaosheng read Qiu Yue's letter daily, often contemplating joining her in death. However, the sight of his infant daughter, Lin Zhaoxi, always softened his heart, reminding him of his duty as a father. He had eventually hidden Qiu Yue's letter in the wall of the old pagoda. Lin Zhaoxi, now aware of its existence, desperately wanted to know its contents, but her father couldn't recall. Pei Zhi stepped in, reciting the letter word for word.
Qiu Yue's letter read: "I love you. Although I only saw you once, I want to be with you, but I have to leave. You don't have memory of me, but I don't regret it. Don't imagine about me. Imagination brings sadness. I'm just an ordinary mom who went far away." As Lin Zhaoxi listened, tears streamed down her face.
Lin Zhaosheng, in a moment of confusion caused by his Alzheimer's, mistook her for Qiu Yue, asking if she had come to pick him up from work. Lin Zhaoxi gently took him home. Later, she requested the letter from Pei Zhi. She observed a faint drop of blood on the paper and, rereading the words, felt her mother's profound love and reluctance to leave.
She then pieced together the full story: the Lin Zhaosheng of the Cheese World was in court during her birth and knew nothing of her mother's death. Her grandmother took her from the hospital and placed her in a welfare home. It was the Lin Zhaosheng from the Strawberry World, who had traveled to the Cheese World, who then possessed the Cheese Lin Zhaosheng's body to raise her, seeking to right the tragedy of his own world.
This meant that the Lin Zhaoxi of the Cheese World became an orphan. Lin Zhaoxi then asked Pei Zhi when he had come from the Cheese World. Pei Zhi recounted his journey in full detail. In July 2006, after the Olympiad training camp, Lin Zhaoxi (from the Strawberry World) was preparing to return to her own world. She said goodbye to Pei Zhi, asking him to take care of the Lin Zhaoxi who belonged to the Cheese World.
Pei Zhi, unwilling to believe she was truly gone, went to her home. There, he found that Lin Zhaosheng had adopted Ji Jiang, making him Lin Zhaoxi's younger brother. Pei Zhi immediately noticed that this Lin Zhaoxi was different from the one he had grown close to. Although the Cheese Lin Zhaoxi liked him, Pei Zhi remained haunted by the memory of the Strawberry Lin Zhaoxi, with whom he had spent a transformative month at the Oasis Camp.
He continued, describing how in 2012, the Strawberry Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi once again traveled to the Cheese World after erasing the formula. During this time, Pei Zhi (the one from the Cheese World) temporarily lost control of his own body but saw the Strawberry Lin Zhaoxi again. They disagreed about whether to return to the Strawberry World.
Nevertheless, a few months later, they (the Strawberry versions) made preparations to return, gathering traffic data to predict and prevent a car accident that would later cause Lin Zhaosheng's Alzheimer's disease in the Cheese World. They successfully intervened and stopped the accident, changing the course of their respective fates.
He then explained the current situation of the Cheese Lin Zhaoxi: she was so overwhelmed by the expectation of being the second-best student in school, a status created by the Strawberry Lin Zhaoxi's presence, that she couldn't face the potential disappointment of her upcoming college entrance exam results, knowing she was only capable of getting into a second-tier university. In a desperate act, she intentionally injured her hand to avoid the exam.
Everyone else believed it was an accident, but Pei Zhi and Lin Zhaosheng knew the truth. Pei Zhi apologized to Lin Zhaoxi for what had happened to her Cheese World counterpart. He recounted how he had offered to tutor the Cheese Lin Zhaoxi, assuring her she could still get into her dream university next year. However, she vehemently refused, telling him there was no need and that she felt "relaxed and free." She then threw all her textbooks into a trash can.
Episode 34 (Ending) Recap
In the Cheese World, Lin Zhaoxi chose not to repeat a year of school. Instead, she paid to attend the art college where Ji Jiang was enrolled, completing a two-year adult art management class. As Ji Jiang, known as Hua Juan, rapidly gained popularity, Lin Zhaoxi became his dedicated agent, making her entry into the entertainment industry. Within two years, she founded her own company, which quickly prospered thanks to Hua Juan’s widespread appeal.
Lin Zhaoxi was exceptionally driven, reportedly sleeping only four and a half hours a day, running for half an hour, dedicating an hour each to lunch and dinner, and spending all other waking hours working. Her and Hua Juan's rise in the Cheese World was meteoric. Meanwhile, in Pei Zhi's second year of postgraduate studies, Lin Zhaoxi had already become the youngest president of a major entertainment company.
Through persistent efforts, Pei Zhi, collaborating with a healthy Lin Zhaosheng, successfully proved the graph isomorphism problem was NP-Complete, a significant world mathematical problem. This achievement earned them international academic acclaim. To celebrate their success, Hua Juan organized a hot pot gathering, inviting all of Lin Zhaosheng’s former students.
Everyone had graduated; Hua Juan was dating his makeup artist, Bao Xiaomeng ran a small pet clinic, Zheng Tianming worked as a high-speed rail attendant, Lu Zhihao pursued postgraduate studies in medicine, and Zhang Liang continued his beloved physics major. On that joyful day, everyone reminisced about the past, but Lin Zhaoxi was notably absent, consumed by her demanding work schedule. Lin Zhaoxi had sent a package containing two letters to Lin Zhaosheng.
One was from Qiu Yue, written before her death, and the other was from Feng Ming. Professor Feng had held onto Qiu Yue's letter for many years, and her students delivered it to Lin Zhaosheng according to her last wishes. In her letter, Feng Ming expressed her deep regret regarding Lin Zhaoxi's situation and apologized, stating that she could never forgive Lin Zhaosheng for taking Qiu Yue from her.
Qiu Yue's letter, meant for her daughter, spoke of her love despite having only seen her once, her wish to stay, and her regret at having to leave, asking her daughter not to imagine her to avoid sadness, as she was just an ordinary mother who had gone far away. This deeply emotional letter, stained with blood, stirred Lin Zhaosheng's memories of Qiu Yue.
One night, as he attempted to carefully wipe away a bloodstain from the letter, a remarkable event occurred: he suddenly traveled to 1995. Lin Zhaosheng found himself disoriented, asking for the date and discovering it was 1995. He then learned that Qiu Yue was experiencing complications during childbirth. He urgently borrowed a bicycle and rushed to the hospital, but by the time he arrived, it was too late.
Qiu Yue had already passed away from severe postpartum hemorrhage after giving birth to Lin Zhaoxi, leaving her last words for her newborn daughter. Lin Zhaosheng initially believed he had traveled to the past of his own Cheese World. However, upon returning to his desk, he realized that nothing in his world had changed.
He then understood that he had traveled to the Strawberry World he had heard about, and his intervention had altered Lin Zhaoxi's fate in that world by preventing her from growing up in an orphanage. For years, Lin Zhaosheng kept this experience a secret from Pei Zhi. While Pei Zhi successfully pursued the P=NP problem, achieving immense career, wealth, and fame, he remained unhappy, consumed by the desire to reach the Strawberry World. His numerous attempts, however, proved unsuccessful.
Driven by his longing, Pei Zhi purchased Lin Zhaoxi’s old house, meticulously preserving it as it was two decades ago. One day, Lin Zhaosheng visited him, acknowledging Pei Zhi’s unwavering persistence. He handed Pei Zhi Qiu Yue’s blood-stained letter, suggesting it might aid his quest. Pei Zhi, eager with anticipation, immediately tried to remove a second bloodstain, but nothing happened. He chastised himself for his impulsiveness, realizing he had wasted a valuable opportunity and needed a more rigorous approach.
Analyzing the previous travels, Pei Zhi deduced that while formulas and bloodstains acted as triggers, the specific timing and recipients of the travel were uncertain. He recognized the need for "anchors"—items connected to the target world. Remembering the photograph and a recorder associated with Lin Zhaoxi in the Strawberry World, he chose them as his only remaining hope.
With only one bloodstain left on the letter, he meticulously prepared for all contingencies in the Strawberry World, particularly how to handle his counterpart there. He diligently learned self-hypnosis techniques to control his own body and, when the time came, erase the final bloodstain. His preparations complete, Pei Zhi successfully traveled to the Strawberry World, arriving on August 12th, 2018.
Upon hearing Pei Zhi's account, Lin Zhaoxi recalled the day she visited the boxing club in 2018, realizing that the Pei Zhi she had encountered then was this newly arrived Cheese Pei Zhi. Filled with excitement after his successful travel, Pei Zhi had rushed to her home. From a distance, he observed Lin Zhaosheng and Lin Zhaoxi in a heated discussion.
Lin Zhaosheng was trying to persuade Lin Zhaoxi to reconnect with Pei Zhi, but she declared she had given up, believing that growth meant learning to compromise. Pei Zhi immediately understood that this Lin Zhaoxi, who hadn't yet experienced her own travels, was not the person he knew. Realizing that a person's experiences define them, he decided to "make up for the past" according to his temporal logic.
He secretly placed the group photo in Lin Zhaoxi's mailbox, knowing it would serve as the catalyst for her first journey to and from the Cheese World. After Lin Zhaoxi discovered the photograph, she and Ji Jiang, with whom she had discussed the mysteries of the ancient pagoda, erased the formula found there, initiating their own travel to the Cheese World. Lin Zhaoxi found herself bewildered, not at home with her father, but in a welfare institution in 2006.
In the Strawberry World, to gather more information and conceal his identity without affecting Lin Zhaoxi's subsequent travels, Cheese Pei Zhi implemented his plan: self-hypnosis to inhabit Strawberry Pei Zhi's body. He set a countdown to Lin Zhaoxi's postgraduate entrance exam, hiding the timing software. Strawberry Pei Zhi eventually awoke to find a Newton's cradle and a recorder on his table, unaware of the control Cheese Pei Zhi had exerted.
Lin Zhaoxi, upon returning to Strawberry World, connected with Strawberry Pei Zhi. Together, they investigated the recorder, which contained a critical conversation during a car accident involving Lin Zhaosheng and Pei Zhi's father. Lin Zhaoxi realized that preventing this car accident in the Cheese World could avert Lin Zhaosheng's Alzheimer's disease. Ultimately, Pei Zhi and Lin Zhaoxi jointly succeeded in preventing that car accident in the Cheese World.
Eight months later, the awakening conditions set by Cheese Pei Zhi were triggered, and he addressed Strawberry Pei Zhi, introducing himself as Cheese Pei Zhi and proposing an exchange of lives so Strawberry Pei Zhi could live with his father in the Cheese World. Lin Zhaoxi confronted Cheese Pei Zhi, realizing he had inhabited Strawberry Pei Zhi's body since the modeling competition.
Cheese Pei Zhi admitted the struggle between his two selves and explained he had kept his true identity a secret to avoid complicating matters until Strawberry Pei Zhi had willingly left for the Cheese World. However, Lin Zhaoxi asserted that he should not have come, as she would never let him stay.
Undeterred, Cheese Pei Zhi proposed a compromise: if Lin Zhaoxi allowed him to remain, he would immediately complete the P=NP proof, which, according to Cheese World history, would lead to an early cure for Alzheimer's. He argued this was the only way to save Lin Zhaosheng, who might not live long enough otherwise. Torn by the impossible choice between her love for Strawberry Pei Zhi and her desire to save Lin Zhaosheng, Lin Zhaoxi was in a profound dilemma.
Just then, the robot Little Lin activated, relaying a poignant message from Lin Zhaosheng about facing life's challenges bravely and cherishing passion. After much agonizing deliberation, Lin Zhaoxi made her decision: she asked Cheese Pei Zhi to return to the Cheese World, declaring her intention to face her own life directly and honor Strawberry Pei Zhi's existence. This entire narrative, Lin Zhaoxi revealed, was a story she was telling to her students, using their names for the characters.
When the students clamored for royalties, she playfully refused, offering to change their names in the story instead, and encouraged them to study mathematics diligently to one day solve the P=NP problem. Pei Zhi and Lin Zhaosheng then arrived. Lin Zhaosheng was both amused and annoyed to discover that Lin Zhaoxi had written him as having senile dementia in her story.
Later, the students, curious about the fate of Strawberry Pei Zhi in the story, asked Lin Zhaoxi, who explained that he ultimately chose his own world. At a riverside, Lin Zhaoxi found Pei Zhi.
Recalling shared childhood memories, Pei Zhi confirmed his identity as Strawberry Pei Zhi, revealing that Cheese Pei Zhi had already departed, leaving a message: he loved Lin Zhaoxi but realized she was a person who never gave up and always moved forward once she set her mind to it—the very qualities he loved about her.
Strawberry Pei Zhi then asked Lin Zhaoxi if she regretted her decision, implying the loss of Cheese Pei Zhi's immediate P=NP proof and the cure for Lin Zhaosheng. Lin Zhaoxi, embracing the Pei Zhi she had yearned for, passionately declared her belief that together, they could also prove P=NP. She affirmed that if Cheese Pei Zhi could achieve it in his world, they too could accomplish it in theirs. With unwavering commitment, the two embraced, ready to face their future together, striving with consistent effort towards a life that would never slacken, knowing their destination was within reach.
