I Am Nobody Episode 2 Recap
> I Am Nobody Recap
At Mount Wudang, Tai Chi martial arts are taught, emphasizing balance and diligent practice for mastery. A student, Wang Ye, is admonished by another student for being lazy instead of practicing, but Wang Ye's focus remains on the 'inner vision'. He states he is going to see his Grandmaster for forgiveness and to ask a question. Wang Ye asks his Grandmaster if a person can be passively drawn into the phantasmagorical dimension without intending to.
The Grandmaster explains that this dimension arises from thoughts and causes, not all of which are conscious, and that everything in the world can potentially evoke it. He notes that past causes lead to present effects, and present events can lead to future consequences, but clarifies this is not predicting the future. Wang Ye then asks the Grandmaster if he traveled by train in the year of Jiashen.
Years earlier, a young Zhang Chulan caused trouble with a slingshot, leading angry villagers to confront his grandfather, Zhang Xilin, at their home. The villagers complained that Zhang Chulan had hit their sons, with one claiming his son was even shocked with electricity. Zhang Xilin immediately silenced Zhang Chulan and sincerely apologized to the villagers, taking full responsibility.
He promised to compensate them for the children's injuries, stating he would borrow money the next morning, even from loan sharks if necessary, despite villagers questioning his ability to find his own missing son and highlighting that Zhang Chulan was fatherless. Back home, Zhang Xilin took away Zhang Chulan's slingshot and put the elastic band on his grandson's hand, instructing him to snap himself with it whenever he felt unable to endure being bullied.
He explained that enduring until the snapping no longer hurt meant he had successfully controlled himself. Zhang Xilin noted that while Zhang Chulan stood up for a friend named Yu, getting into a fight meant they had to move again. Traveling by car later that night, a sad Zhang Chulan questioned his grandfather about his father, whom he had never met, wondering if his father would come for him because he felt his grandfather was harsh.
He also asked why they always moved whenever he got into a fight. Zhang Xilin told him his father would come when he grew up and promised to explain everything clearly when Zhang Chulan was older, adding that whether he should help others would also be his decision when he was older.
Zhang Xilin outlined his hopes for Zhang Chulan in their new home: finding a good school, studying hard, graduating college, getting a respectable job, finding a good wife, and settling down to live a simple, peaceful life like an ordinary person. He expressed concern about his own age and how much longer he could stay by his grandson's side, while reiterating the crucial lesson of endurance – holding on and not losing spirit.
Time fast forwards to the present day at college. Zhang Chulan is on the campus field when he is hit by a ball. His immediate reaction is anger, but he consciously uses the rubber band on his wrist to snap himself, visibly struggling to maintain control as instructed by his grandfather. He calmly picks up and returns the ball.
Other students nearby comment on his behavior, finding him odd and unsociable, mentioning he even avoids them when going to the toilet and seems to have bad luck. Zhang Baobao is also present and observes Zhang Chulan. Later, in his dorm room, while other students go out to an internet cafe, Zhang Chulan is left alone, appearing downcast. He messages someone online named Liu Yanyan, who has a cute profile picture. They agree to meet the next day.
The following day, while Zhang Chulan is attending a Classical Chinese Studies lecture, Zhang Baobao finds him, stating she had been looking for him all morning. She tells him she is going out that night, will return later, and he must accompany her to meet someone when she gets back. Zhang Chulan attempts to decline because of his planned meeting with Liu Yanyan, asking her to wait for his call instead. Zhang Baobao simply tells him to "calm down".
That evening, Zhang Chulan goes on his date with Liu Yanyan, who orders an excessive amount of food, claiming she is never full because she raises worms in her body, which Zhang Chulan finds endearing. During the date, Zhang Chulan is secretly texting someone, receiving threatening messages from "Master" (implied to be Zhang Baobao) for not responding. Liu Yanyan notices and asks if he is texting his girlfriend, which he denies. She expresses happiness that he doesn't have one.
The date continues, eventually leading them to an amusement park area. Zhang Chulan reveals he knew her identity was fake, having checked the class roster in the Classical Chinese Studies department that morning and not finding her name, and realizing such a perfect romantic encounter was unlikely for him. Liu Yanyan then reveals she is the Xiangxi Thrall Master and was sent to bring him, dead or alive, in order to join their group.
Masked individuals, her thralls, surround Zhang Chulan. Members of Sinister Pleasure (全性), including Lyu Liang and Xia He (the "Bone Scraper"), are present. Xia He uses her charm technique on Zhang Chulan, leaving him disoriented and vulnerable. While he is affected, she senses a powerful energy within him, noticing it is sealed, and recognizes Zhang Xilin had left this protection. Lyu Liang introduces himself as a member of Sinister Pleasure who can directly examine primordial spirits and extract memories.
He intends to extract Zhang Chulan's memories, specifically all memories related to his grandfather. Liu Yanyan confirms she brought Zhang Chulan as requested and asks if she can now join Sinister Pleasure, to which Lyu Liang agrees, stating membership only requires declaring it publicly. Just as Lyu Liang is about to extract the memories, Xu San and Zhang Baobao arrive, interrupting them.
Xu San acknowledges the presence of Lyu Liang, Xia He (the Bone Scraper), and Liu Yanyan (the Xiangxi Thrall Master), noting they brought too few people for such opponents. Zhang Baobao confidently states she can handle them. Xu San attempts to negotiate, offering to let the Sinister Pleasure members leave if they hand over Zhang Chulan, but Lyu Liang refuses. Xu San tells Zhang Baobao to quickly take Zhang Chulan away as his memories haven't been extracted yet.
Liu Yanyan interferes, seeing this as a chance to prove herself to Sinister Pleasure. Xia He engages Xu San, noting his improved psychic power. Xu San warns Zhang Baobao not to underestimate Xia He, explaining her ability (charm technique) can awaken primal desires and cause people to become lost in indulgence. As the fight escalates, Xu San is significantly affected by Xia He's technique, calling out that he will become very dangerous soon.
Zhang Baobao fights fiercely alongside him, and Zhang Chulan calls out for help while still affected. Xu San, despite being compromised, instructs Zhang Baobao to retreat with Zhang Chulan. They manage to escape the Sinister Pleasure members by getting onto a roller coaster. In the aftermath, Zhang Chulan is safe but distraught, feeling his grandfather's words about luck turning around were false and despairing over being deceived by Liu Yanyan.
Zhang Baobao responds with blunt honesty, stating his bad luck isn't the issue; rather, he is an "idiot"for believing a girl like Liu Yanyan would genuinely be interested in someone who looks unlucky, dresses cheaply, and seems utterly worthless. She concludes a stranger would only want something from him if they were interested, implying she must have wanted something as he has nothing to offer otherwise. After this harsh "comfort," she tells him to get up.
They arrive at a building disguised as a courier company. General Manager Xu San (Xu Xiang) explains it is actually a special management organization for Outsiders called NDT Express, operating under cover as a courier company. He identifies the attackers as Sinister Pleasure, another group of Outsiders, but unlike NDT Express, they are irresponsible and abuse their abilities, posing a threat to ordinary people.
He clarifies NDT Express's mission: to protect the ordinary world from being affected by Outsiders, maintain stability in the Outsider world, and deal with dangerous Outsiders like those from Sinister Pleasure, working to ensure a peaceful life for ordinary people. He then invites Zhang Chulan inside to see the organization. Zhang Chulan asks if Zhang Baobao isn't coming, and the scene concludes with his entry into this "new world."
