The Night of the Comet Episode 5 Recap
> The Night of the Comet Recap
Lin Xiaoxiao found herself in close proximity to Cheng Hao, becoming flustered and struggling to speak. Internally, she wondered if he was testing her intentions, or if he might have "broken his brain" by thinking she was a sasaeng fan wanting to sleep with him. She quickly reassured him, stating she had no improper desires and would adhere to fan rules, maintaining a respectful distance. She then rushed off to cook. Observing her departure, Cheng Hao grew thoughtful.
He reflected on how Lin Xiaoxiao seemed to trigger his feelings of pain and suspected that his own time-travel might have endowed her with special abilities. He felt a strong need to return to his own time. While Lin Xiaoxiao was busy preparing noodles, fretting over Cheng Hao's specific food preferences and her limited ingredients, Cheng Hao suddenly appeared. He retrieved a seasoning from a high shelf for her.
Overwhelmed by his handsome and thoughtful gesture, Lin Xiaoxiao was once again speechless. Cheng Hao, his patience waning, directly asked if she had experienced any "special reactions" or "weird dreams," particularly mentioning a "dark tunnel," since his appearance. He even tried to induce a reaction by embracing her and asking if she felt any "electricity" or a sense of time changing.
Lin Xiaoxiao, mistaking his questions as a test of her fan loyalty and purity, adamantly denied having any such dreams or disrespectful desires. She stressed that her admiration for him was purely based on his talent and morality, seeing him as a "sweet father" figure whom she would only admire from afar, unlike "sasaeng fans." She quickly diverted the conversation back to eating. Lin Xiaoxiao's flustered denials seemed to momentarily satisfy Cheng Hao, and they continued their breakfast.
During the meal, Cheng Hao displayed an approachable demeanor, which further endeared him to Lin Xiaoxiao. She then brought up recent gossip, showing him articles on her phone, earnestly explaining that she was not responsible for the intimate photos taken at a hotel or the rumors involving him and Xu Miao. She clarified that while her name might have appeared on reports about the photos, the content had been altered without her knowledge.
Cheng Hao, realizing the situation, expressed that he wasn't concerned about past events, acknowledging her previous help. He listened thoughtfully but did not express any anger, deciding that Lu Hongjian would handle these public relations issues. Meanwhile, Lu Hongjian, relishing his new identity as a celebrity, went on a lavish shopping spree. He tried on various outfits and sunglasses, enjoying the attention from fans and his assistant.
However, when his assistant itemized the costs – stylist fees, bodyguard expenses, and two pairs of sunglasses totaling tens of thousands – Lu Hongjian's excitement vanished. He feigned a sudden stomach ache and, dragging his reluctant assistant, made a hasty escape from the mall. Back at Lin Xiaoxiao's home, Cheng Hao presented her with a confidentiality agreement.
He explained that due to unfinished business, he would need to continue living in her house, using her room, and asked her to name her price for rent and for keeping his presence a secret, including his activities and schedules. Lin Xiaoxiao, initially questioning if it was a delusion, was thrilled to realize her idol genuinely intended to reside with her.
She fantasized that Cheng Hao, moved by her "honest fan heart" and simple food like fried eggs, had chosen to experience a normal life, much like an actor developing his skills according to Stanislavski's method, to become a "true people's artist." Cheng Hao surmised that his arrival in this world was connected to Lin Xiaoxiao, and he believed that continued interaction with her might be his only path back to his own timeline.
He then laid out a strict set of rules for Lin Xiaoxiao, emphasizing that she must follow all his orders without question, no matter how unusual. These included daily room cleaning, specific times for fresh juice and breakfast, fish and vegetables for lunch, multiple head massages, precise room temperature control, no red items in the room, no noise during bedtime, and keeping all sharp objects away. He also forbid any "gas" within 100 meters of him.
Lin Xiaoxiao readily agreed, promising to help him on his "upgrading road." To secure her cooperation and ensure her well-being, Cheng Hao provided her with a card containing 1. 2 million, insisting it was a deposit and for her silence, and that he would pay her rent once she decided on a price. Despite her initial refusal, he persuaded her to accept it, stating he didn't want his fan to suffer.
Meanwhile, Boss Xu, who had a vested interest in Cheng Hao, pressed Xu Miao to find a way to get close to him. Xu Miao expressed frustration at the real Cheng Hao's perceived coldness and difficulty, but Boss Xu insisted she "take him down." Later, Xu Miao encountered Lu Hongjian (who she thought was Cheng Hao) trying on suits. Boss Xu also arrived, mistaking Lu Hongjian for Cheng Hao, and greeted him warmly, discussing a future drama collaboration.
Lu Hongjian, still posing as Cheng Hao, attempted to deflect Boss Xu's advances by mentioning "Ling" as a reason to postpone discussions. He then invited Boss Xu to a warmer spot, leaving Xu Miao behind. Despite Xu Miao's continued attempts to get close to "Cheng Hao" (Lu Hongjian), he subtly repelled her advances. Cheng Hao was plagued by another vivid dream of the car accident in the tunnel, where Lin Xiaoxiao's face appeared with increased clarity.
Upon waking, he wondered if recreating the accident scene in the same tunnel might be the key to returning to his own world. He mused about the concept of parallel worlds, where something might be dead in one reality but alive in another, while talking to a lobster. Cheng Hao sought out Lin Xiaoxiao and, referencing their signed agreement, commanded her to accompany him to the tunnel that evening.
Once there, he instructed her to get into a car he claimed he had reinforced for safety. To her horror, Cheng Hao then demanded that she "hit him with that car." Lin Xiaoxiao was terrified, questioning his sanity and arguing that such an act was wrong as it concerned life. Cheng Hao, however, coldly reminded her of the contract's clause, stating that failure to comply would incur a penalty of 300 times the agreed-upon money.
When Lin Xiaoxiao declared she was going home, he presented her with a grim ultimatum: either she hit him, or he would simply wait for another car to do so, giving her "one more chance." Lin Xiaoxiao found herself unable to drive her car into Cheng Hao, thus failing to recreate the desired collision. Cheng Hao, observing her actions, noticed that she had sprained her ankle in her desperate attempt to avoid hitting him.
This revelation brought a complex mix of emotions to him. Recognizing that the recreation could not proceed that day due to her injury, he carefully examined her ankle, acknowledging it was still raw. He offered to massage it again the next day and then gently escorted her home, urging her to rest.
