Twelve Letters Recap, Plot, Synopsis
Twelve Letters Synopsis
The drama tells an emotional story set in motion by a single letter that triggers an intertwining of fates, gradually unveiling long-buried mysteries of the past. A mailbox and a letter become the medium for a cross-time connection, awakening a symphony of emotions at both ends of time. Through twelve letters exchanged across decades, the intertwined tales of love, friendship, and family are revealed. As the mystery of fate comes to light, the protagonists also find emotional redemption. With a fantastical premise as its shell, the suspense of fate as its lure, and delicate emotions at its core, the series uses letters as vessels of love and feeling to tell a moving story that transcends time and space.
Twelve Letters Recap
Episode 1 Recap
In the pouring rain of a dark night, a somber woman penned a letter. After placing it in an envelope, she vanished, leaving behind only a chrysanthemum cat. The letter, a suicide note, was addressed to her nineteen-year-old self, expressing her exhaustion and inability to escape Meiwan Town or "him." She wished for a chance to choose if her life could begin again, dating the letter September 3, 1991.
Years later, in the winter of 2026, a security guard named Zhang Quan in Beixing City noticed an old man, Yu Zhiyong, repeatedly breaching the property. Zhang Quan confronted him, asking why he sat there daily. Yu Zhiyong initially claimed he was "waiting for a letter" but later corrected himself, saying he was "sending letters." Zhang Quan, frustrated, tried to get him to leave, explaining the property was scheduled for demolition and he risked losing his job.
Nian, Yu Zhiyong's daughter, arrived to take him home. Zhang Quan complained about the old man's persistent intrusions, which had already led to a confrontation with his coworker. Nian attempted to persuade her father to move to Beijing with her, mentioning she had already bought tickets and arranged a car with her friend Miaomiao. However, Yu Zhiyong refused, insisting he had something important to do and would return afterward.
Nian, exasperated, argued that his refusal was a burden that cost her a relationship with Mingxiao and jeopardized her job in Beijing. She urged him to visit a doctor instead of just taking medication, but Yu Zhiyong remained steadfast in his desire to "send letters." The next morning, Nian awoke to find her father gone. She discovered a note from him, explaining he didn't want to leave, burden her, or make her angry, and that his illness wasn't entirely bad.
He reiterated his need to complete an important task before returning. Nian reported him missing to the police, identifying him from a blurry surveillance image, though the police found no trace of him at the factory she suggested. Concerned about her father's confused state, Nian returned to the property where he often sat.
There, Zhang Quan informed her that Yu Zhiyong had visited again the previous night, put a letter in the mailbox, and then mysteriously disappeared, as if he had "crawled into the mailbox." Dismissing Zhang Quan's "nonsense," Nian opened the mailbox herself. Inside, she found a letter addressed to Ye Haitang, dated September 3, 1991.
Overcome with emotion, Nian tearfully apologized to her father, promising not to force him to move and begging him to come home, as a cat meowed nearby. The story then shifted to Meiwan Town in 1991. Li Chadong, along with Tang Yixun and another subordinate, was discussing their plan to buy a large trawler, which required over ten thousand yuan.
Li Chadong instructed his men to carry out two debt collection jobs west of the bridge, after which they were to meet Bao. At Ye Yibo's house, Li Chadong and his men confronted Ye Haitang, demanding a 1,000-yuan debt owed by her father. Ye Haitang stated her father was absent and informed them it was her Grandma’s seventh-day memorial. Unmoved, Li Chadong ordered his men to take items as collateral.
When a subordinate found and seized some cash, Ye Haitang pleaded with them, revealing it was her Grandma's money. To honor the deceased, Li Chadong agreed not to seize more items but warned Ye Haitang to tell her father to pay by next month. As they left, Ye Haitang tried to retrieve the money from the subordinate to no avail, and Tang Yixun paused, looking back at her with a conflicted expression.
Later, at the video store, Tang Yixun discussed his ambitions with a friend, expressing his and Li Chadong's goal to save money for a ten-meter trawler capable of sailing fifty nautical miles, aiming for a more respectable livelihood transporting goods. Meanwhile, Li Chadong received a phone call from his boss, who demanded the collection of a debt, regardless of the borrower's mother having passed away and a funeral being held.
Following this, Bao, a more dominant figure in the underworld, confronted Li Chadong, telling him to assign Ye Yibo's debt to Qiang, one of Bao's own men. Bao reminded Li Chadong of his dependence and instructed him to remember his place. Tang Yixun, despite being involved with Li Chadong, also attended school. On his first day, he arrived late, drawing a reprimand from Miss Tan (Tan Xin), his teacher.
She urged him to finish his senior year for a diploma and to avoid debt collection and fighting with Li Chadong. Tang Yixun reassured her that Li Chadong never involved him in such activities. In class, Miss Tan introduced Tang Yixun, who identified himself to the class, which included Ye Haitang, the class monitor. Miss Tan instructed Ye Haitang to assist Tang Yixun with textbooks and class funds.
After school, Tang Yixun encountered Shen Xiaojun, a student who boasted about his brother's connections with Qiang from Old Street, offering protection. Tang Yixun politely declined an invitation to play pool, saying he had other commitments. On the street, Ye Haitang confronted Tang Yixun, demanding her Grandma's money back and threatening to report him to the school. Tang Yixun denied having the money. Ye Haitang accused him of being involved in debt collection for her father's gambling debts.
A classmate, observing them, later identified Tang Yixun as a "hooligan" seen at an Old Street pool hall and advised Ye Haitang to keep her distance from him. Ye Haitang also worked at the Sunshine Bookstore, where her boss discussed a new marketing idea: "Write a letter to your future self." Ye Haitang liked the concept, and the boss explained it as a way for customers to write "diaries" of their feelings, which the bookstore would store for future retrieval.
While drinking tea with his subordinates, Li Chadong discussed the violent debt collection for "mustache," one of Bao's fellow villagers. He stated their plan to buy a trawler in a month, envisioning a legitimate business transporting clothing to earn respectable money, even if it meant undercutting Bao's prices.
Li Chadong then informed Tang Yixun that they would no longer pursue Ye Yibo's debt, stating that "Bao's men" would handle such "small debts" as they were "a bunch of scumbags" who used brutal methods. Tang Yixun expressed concern for Ye Yibo's daughter, Ye Haitang, acknowledging her pitiful situation. The next day, a new mailbox mysteriously appeared outside the Sunshine Bookstore. The owner discovered a letter inside, addressed to Ye Haitang.
Thinking it perfect for their new event, he asked Ye Haitang to get a lock for it. At school, as Ye Haitang collected class funds, Shen Xiaojun and another student mocked her. Later, Shen Xiaojun rummaged through Ye Haitang's bag and found the letter. Ye Haitang confronted Tang Yixun outside, accusing him of writing the letter and threatening to call the police. Tang Yixun denied it.
Shen Xiaojun then read the "corny" love letter aloud in class, attributing it to "Xun." Ye Haitang tried to retrieve it, but Shen Xiaojun resisted. Tang Yixun intervened, kicking Shen Xiaojun and taking the letter. Miss Tan entered, believing Tang Yixun was responsible. Despite his denials and explanation that the handwriting was similar but not his, Miss Tan dismissed his claims, ordering him to write a self-criticism. He refused.
Later, Ye Haitang's father, concerned about the incident, met with Miss Tan. He took responsibility for neglecting Ye Haitang's upbringing, acknowledging her sensitivity and the profound impact of her Grandma's passing. He pleaded with Miss Tan to give the students a second chance, suggesting they were "just trying to make friends" and promising such an incident wouldn't recur. Miss Tan agreed not to blame Ye Haitang, advising her father to be more attentive.
Tang Yixun, present at the meeting, was identified by Ye Haitang's father. When he tried to lecture Tang Yixun on focusing on studies and upholding student ethics, Tang Yixun retorted, "Who are you to lecture me?" and again denied writing the letter. Ye Haitang's father attempted to defuse the situation, suggesting they treat it as a joke, but warned Tang Yixun of serious consequences if it happened again. Miss Tan confirmed the letter had been "thrown away."
As Ye Haitang's father and Miss Tan left, Ye Haitang remained. A voiceover, presumably from Nian, concluded the episode: "A'Tang, I wanted to help you escape this endless suffering, but I never imagined I was opening another abyss. The abyss is more terrifying than a mire, because demons lurk within."
Episode 2 Recap
Tang Yixun opened the letter that Ye Haitang had torn. The contents of the letter shocked him. Meanwhile, Ye Haitang returned home with her father, Ye Yibo, only to be brutally beaten by him. Ye Yibo, who appeared polite in public, was in fact a compulsive gambler. He often physically abused Ye Haitang, trying to take the money she earned from her arduous part-time job, caring little for her well-being, and even plotting to marry her off for money.
Feeling hopeless after her father’s assault, Ye Haitang lay on the floor and wept after Ye Yibo left with her money. Tang Yixun showed the letter to his friend, observing that Ye Haitang's life must be incredibly painful based on its contents. However, his friend dismissed it as a prank. That night, Ye Haitang woke up in agony. Although she had once strived fiercely to live, repeated blows from life had eroded her courage.
She penned a suicide note to her mother, dropped it into a mailbox, and then, armed with a knife, headed to a gambling den to confront Ye Yibo. Just as she was about to act, Tang Yixun suddenly appeared, stopping her. Ye Yibo seized the opportunity to flee. Infuriated by Ye Yibo's escape, Ye Haitang blamed Tang Yixun for interfering.
She had been determined to die with Ye Yibo, but Tang Yixun insisted that sacrificing her life for such a person was not worth it. Ye Yibo, having fled, reported the incident to the police, fabricating a story that painted Ye Haitang as mentally ill and dangerous. Tang Yixun and Ye Haitang also arrived at the police station. Upon seeing Ye Yibo, Ye Haitang's rage erupted. Tang Yixun quickly intervened, explaining the situation to the police to prevent further misunderstanding.
Tang Yixun patiently talked to Ye Haitang, learning that Ye Yibo had stolen her class funds. When Tang Yixun walked Ye Haitang home, they found Bao's men at her house, demanding payment. Ye Haitang was not afraid, but Tang Yixun, knowing the debt collectors' methods, urged her to flee. As Bao's men spotted Ye Haitang, Tang Yixun, fearing for her safety, took her back to his own home.
He promised to help her resolve the issues with the class funds and the love letter (which he would later recognize as a suicide note), hoping to encourage her to continue living and honestly be herself for another year. After Ye Yibo returned home, he mistook his daughter for being there and was about to berate her. Tang Yixun bought some snacks and daily necessities for Ye Haitang.
Tang Yixun met with his friend, Rat, who had been observing Zhenzhu, a disabled girl who managed the video arcade. While Rat went out to buy late-night snacks, he overheard some hooligans mocking Zhenzhu with insulting remarks. Unable to contain his anger, Rat confronted them and punched their leader, but due to being outnumbered, he suffered severe injuries. The narrative then shifted to 2026.
A security guard intended to destroy the old letter, but Yu Nian believed it was a crucial clue to finding her father and prevented its destruction. Suddenly, Officer Hu called Yu Nian, asking her to come to the police station. After exchanging contact information with the security guard, Yu Nian went to the station, only to be told that her father had died in prison over 20 years ago.
Yu Nian found this impossible to believe, as her father had raised her from childhood, and she couldn't accept that he was no longer alive. However, the police officer confirmed the information was accurate, as it was linked to a nationwide database. Returning home, a bewildered Yu Nian began searching through her father's belongings for clues. She discovered old train tickets and a greeting card. The handwriting on the greeting card matched that on the letter she found, both belonging to Ye Haitang. The train tickets also showed travel to Pushui East.
Episode 3 Recap
Yu Nian discovered that Meiwan Town is now known as Pushui. The narrative then shifted back to 1991. At school, rumors spread like wildfire about Ye Haitang, with students claiming she attacked her father with a huge knife and comparing her to a demon. Others found it hard to believe, given Ye Haitang’s usually well-behaved demeanor. Tang Yixun intervened to stop the gossip. Just then, Ye Haitang arrived for school, and her classmates watched her with wary curiosity.
Soon after, Ye Yibo, Ye Haitang’s father, created a scene at the school, disregarding his daughter’s dignity. Tang Yixun, angered by Ye Yibo's behavior, hit him. This incident drew the principal's attention. The principal apologized to Ye Yibo and offered him money. Feigning politeness and righteousness, Ye Yibo eventually took the money but still insisted on further action against Tang Yixun and Ye Haitang.
The class teacher was upset that Tang Yixun resorted to violence, considering it an unwelcome societal influence in the school. She urged him to change his ways, but Tang Yixun argued that Ye Yibo was a deplorable man and that normal conversation wouldn't work with him. Despite his explanations, the teacher remained firm that hitting someone was wrong and suspended him from school, angrily sending him away.
Ye Haitang later tried to explain to the teacher, even offering to speak to the principal herself, but the teacher warned her that if she continued to stir up trouble, both she and Tang Yixun could be expelled. Li Chadong learned of Tang Yixun's suspension and was furious, especially after his two associates provoked Bao, a dangerous individual, leaving Li Chadong worried about retaliation.
He confronted Tang Yixun for getting involved in Ye Haitang's family matters, reminding him that they were debt collectors, not heroes. Tang Yixun argued that the debt belonged to Ye Yibo, not Ye Haitang. Tang Yixun found Ye Haitang at the library where she worked. She tried to repay him for the class funds he had covered for her. He initially refused but eventually accepted the money.
Tang Yixun then gave her a separate sum, explaining it was a repayment for funds previously taken from her grandmother. He also gave her a slip of paper with his phone number, telling her to call him if anyone ever bullied her or if she encountered any difficulties. The timeline then jumped to 2026. Two men arrived at Yu Nian's home, looking for her father regarding demolition matters.
They didn't believe Yu Nian's claim that her father had disappeared and suspected she was hiding him. Yu Nian's pregnant sister arrived and intervened, prompting the men to leave. Yu Nian then showed her sister a letter and a postcard, pointing out a connection to a woman named Ye Haitang and revealing that their father's real name was not Yu Zhiyong.
Yu Nian used a computer to pinpoint Meiwan Town's location, confirming it was now part of Pushui, and traveled there to find clues. At the police station, she was informed that she couldn't access information without being a direct family member. Just then, Ye Haitang’s son arrived to report his mother missing. A police officer noted that his mother, Ye Wanru, was formerly known as Ye Haitang.
Overhearing Yu Nian's inquiries, the son confronted her and pulled her back inside the station. Yu Nian was distressed, believing Ye Haitang was responsible for her father's disappearance. She expressed her frustration to Ye Haitang's son, criticizing him for knowing nothing about his own mother. As they were leaving, Yu Nian suddenly thought of checking Ye Haitang’s home for clues. Inside, she found a cookie tin identical to one her father owned.
They found letters inside, and Yu Nian pointed out a similarity in the handwriting on the letters to a postcard her father kept. Ye Haitang's son, however, was skeptical, questioning how a letter from 1991 could still look so new. Yu Nian maintained that her father's disappearance on November 8th, the same day his mother became unreachable, pointed to a connection. Ye Haitang’s son revealed his mother is a patient who needs surgery.
Yu Nian countered that her father has Alzheimer's and would be incapable of abducting anyone. Despite their ongoing arguments and mutual accusations, they eventually decided to search for their parents together, with Ye Haitang's son agreeing to follow Yu Nian’s lead. Back in 1991, Bao, a powerful gang leader, was furious with his men for failing to collect debts and for being outmaneuvered by Tang Yixun. Bao then confronted Li Chadong's crew. To appease Bao and prevent Tang Yixun from suffering worse consequences, Li Chadong was forced to strike Tang Yixun in front of everyone.
Episode 4 Recap
Ye Haitang discovered her letter missing from the mailbox and immediately tried to call Tang Yixun. Meanwhile, Tang Yixun was in dire straits, being severely beaten by Bao and his men. One of Bao’s henchmen, annoyed by the persistent ringing, angrily smashed Tang Yixun’s phone. At this moment, Ye Yibo came looking for Ye Haitang and witnessed her attempt to call Tang Yixun. Li Chadong initially believed that teaching Tang Yixun and his associate a lesson would appease Bao.
However, Bao remained relentless, demanding that Tang Yixun and the other person each compensate with a leg, as one of his men, Qiang, had a crippled leg. To spare Tang Yixun from such brutality, Li Chadong reluctantly agreed to pay Bao 10,000 yuan, which Bao then reduced to 8,000 yuan, instructing Qiang to make Li Chadong sign an IOU. Ye Yibo took Ye Haitang home and forced her to kneel before her grandmother's portrait.
He then tearfully complained, accusing Ye Haitang of being influenced by a "hooligan," pulling a knife on him, and even wanting to kill him. He lamented his struggles, claiming he paid her tuition, her mother's debts, and even Grandma's medical bills, and now might have to sell the house to pay back his own debts. Ye Haitang firmly refused to sell her grandmother's house. Enraged, Ye Yibo violently beat and kicked her, demanding the house deed.
Ye Haitang clutched her grandmother's portrait, refusing to give in. While Ye Haitang suffered at home, Tang Yixun's side also faced trouble. After Li Chadong settled his business with Bao, Bao's men decided to handle "kid's matters" themselves and exacted revenge. They violently trashed Tang Yixun's billiards hall and another hall, leaving them in ruins. During the attack, Li Chadong was present, urging Tang Yixun and his associate, Rat, not to fight back.
Rat was seriously injured, prompting Tang Yixun to comfort him, apologizing, and promising to protect him. Later that night, worried about Tang Yixun, Ye Haitang, still distraught from her father's abuse, went to look for him. Seeing blood on his doorknob, she frantically knocked. Tang Yixun returned at that moment, attempting to appear fine, but his injuries couldn't be hidden from Ye Haitang. Without a word, she gently tended to his wounds.
Tang Yixun noticed the injuries on her wrist, realizing his father had beaten her again. He asked her if she still wanted to go back to school, to which she affirmed. Tang Yixun then went directly to Ye Yibo’s gambling den, pretending to be a debt collector. Ye Yibo, initially boastful upon seeing Tang Yixun, immediately turned pale at the mention of "debt collection."
Tang Yixun seized the opportunity to threaten Ye Yibo, warning him never to harm Ye Haitang again, or he would "kill you." After delivering his threat, Tang Yixun left. No sooner had he departed than Bao's men arrived, demanding money from Ye Yibo. The next day, in the drizzling rain, Tang Yixun brought steamed buns to Ye Haitang. She spotted him from afar and hurried to meet him with an umbrella.
Tang Yixun sensed something was bothering her, and Ye Haitang shared the story of her missing letter. She explained that she had written what she considered her "last note" and placed it in the bookstore's mailbox, only to find it gone later, while all other letters remained. Moreover, a love letter had appeared in its place. She found the situation suspicious, as the mailbox was locked, and only she had the keys.
Tang Yixun agreed that "something is wrong here" and suggested someone was trying to "mess with them," proposing they investigate. Meanwhile, Miss Tan visited the damaged billiards hall, looking for Tang Yixun. Seeing the disarray, she expressed concern for Li Chadong and Tang Yixun, asking if Tang Yixun could still return to school. Li Chadong confirmed he would not let Tang Yixun end up like himself and encouraged him to focus on school once he recovered.
Ye Haitang felt the love letter found in the mailbox was sincere, not a prank. She noticed the stationery matched what their store sold and bore an anchor logo. This led her to believe the person who wrote it, took her letter, and left the love letter must have visited the store many times and was likely someone she knew.
Determined to uncover the truth, Tang Yixun suggested they prepare an empty envelope and place it in the mailbox, then observe to catch the culprit. They waited by the mailbox until late at night, but no one appeared. Ye Haitang eventually fell asleep, her head gently resting on Tang Yixun’s shoulder. Tang Yixun, feeling awkward, didn't dare wake her. Upon waking, they decided to go home and return the next day.
The following day at school, Ye Haitang discovered a prank drawing on the blackboard depicting her and Tang Yixun, with "May you have many children soon, may you be a couple for 100 years" and "A Tang, I will never forget my love for you," "A Xun, you are my eternal light" written on it. Her friend quickly erased the drawing. Tang Yixun, meanwhile, continued to monitor the mailbox, but for three consecutive days, the empty letter remained untouched.
Elsewhere, Yu Nian took Ye Haitang's son to the mailbox. The security guard, Zhang Quan, explained that he was present when Ye Haitang's father vanished after mailing a letter at midnight, describing a cat meowing and paper rustling, after which both the father and the letter disappeared. He also mentioned that a new letter had appeared in the mailbox out of thin air on another occasion.
Zhang Quan added that this area was "cursed," a "no man's land" where people vanished annually, likening it to black holes, auroras, and aliens. Yu Nian found these supernatural explanations hard to believe, but then, a chrysanthemum cat suddenly appeared. Seizing the moment, Zhang Quan threw an envelope into the mailbox, and in an instant, time seemed to reverse, transporting the world back to 1911.
Back in 1991, Ye Haitang and Tang Yixun, having waited three days with no one taking their empty letter, concluded that no one would come and prepared to leave. Suddenly, a cat's meow broke the silence, and the same chrysanthemum cat appeared by the 1991 mailbox. Seeing the cat, Ye Haitang and Tang Yixun opened the mailbox again, to their surprise, finding a new letter inside. They exchanged a look, their faces reflecting both confusion and surprise.
Episode 5 Recap
In 1991, Ye Haitang and Tang Yixun returned to the Sunshine Bookstore and opened the mailbox, finding an unexpected letter inside. Ye Haitang realized it was the letter she had previously sent, which had disappeared, now returned without its envelope. Tang Yixun thoroughly searched the mailbox, confirming there were no hidden mechanisms. The unusual occurrence left them puzzled, pondering if the mailbox could automatically send and receive mail.
Meanwhile, in 2026, Yu Nian and Ye Haitang's son, Shen Cheng, were at a similar red mailbox outside Northern Shipping. Shen Cheng had just deposited a letter, which mysteriously vanished. He dismissively accused Yu Nian and the security guard, Zhang Quan, of performing magic tricks. Zhang Quan, a security guard for Group 3, defended himself, stating he was merely fulfilling his duties and that such strange phenomena were real, not magic.
Yu Nian tried to explain the scientific impossibility of a letter simply disappearing, but Shen Cheng remained skeptical, challenging them to make his phone disappear. Yu Nian countered that specific conditions—midnight and a cat's presence—were required. As the weather grew colder, Yu Nian suggested they go home. At Yu Nian's home, the two continued to discuss the mysterious events.
Yu Nian revealed that, according to police records, a man named Yu Zhiyong, her father's registered name, had died over twenty years ago, implying her current father was using an assumed identity. They reviewed the clues they had gathered: identical biscuit tins, train tickets to Pushui found among her father's belongings, and the strange 1991 love letter Ye Haitang had received. Yu Nian theorized that her father and Ye Haitang might have had a romantic relationship in the past.
To confirm their suspicions, Yu Nian decided to write another letter to Ye Haitang, seeking answers about the mailbox and Yu Zhiyong. Back in 1991, Ye Haitang also wrote a letter and attempted to mail it, but it did not disappear from the mailbox. She deduced that the letters only traveled under specific conditions: precisely at midnight, and only when a "chrysanthemum cat" ran past the mailbox.
In 2026, Yu Nian prepared some of her father's old objects to send with their next letter. Shen Cheng, still determined to expose what he believed to be a trick, placed his phone inside the mailbox to record, along with his own blank letter and the old objects. At midnight, after Yu Nian lured the cat with cat food, Yu Nian's letter was sent, but Shen Cheng's blank letter and the old objects remained in the box.
Shortly after, a reply from Ye Haitang mysteriously appeared. Shen Cheng, though amazed, was frustrated that his phone had failed to capture the event. The reply from Ye Haitang, dated 1991, recounted her finding a strange love letter and her own letter disappearing and reappearing. She asked who they were and if they knew how the mailbox worked. The letter confirmed that the two sides were indeed communicating across time.
Meanwhile, Tang Yixun decided he wanted to return to school and asked Ye Haitang to help arrange a meeting with their teacher, Tan Xin. During his meeting with Tan Xin, Tang Yixun also voiced his concern for their friend, Li Chadong, who had isolated himself after his pool hall and arcade were vandalized by a gang, and requested that she visit him.
Tan Xin went to see Li Chadong, bringing money to help him rebuild and deliberately using harsh words to provoke him, aiming to reignite his fighting spirit. Despite his initial despair, Li Chadong was moved by Tan Xin's support. He resolved to rise again, telling his two younger associates, including Tang Yixun, that they would rebuild the business. He acknowledged that Tan Xin had lent them the money, emphasizing that he would repay her.
In 2026, after receiving Ye Haitang's letter, Yu Nian and Shen Cheng realized the mailbox truly connected different timelines. To further prove their claim and obtain more information, they decided to send another letter to Ye Haitang, including a verifiable future event: the waterspout phenomenon at Meiwan Wharf on September 23, 1991, and the subsequent renaming of the wharf to Longshui Wharf. They also noted that time seemed to pass faster in 1991 than in 2026.
At midnight, in 1991, as the chrysanthemum cat once again passed the mailbox, Ye Haitang opened it and found Yu Nian's letter. She rushed to Tang Yixun, and together they read the contents. They were astonished by the date, November 12, 2026, realizing it was 35 years in their future. They decided to wait for September 23 to verify the waterspout event. Later, at home, Tang Yixun carefully copied the love letter Ye Haitang had received.
He noticed his own unique handwriting style, especially the character "Xun," was strikingly similar to the one in the love letter. This led him to suspect that the love letter Ye Haitang received might have been written by his future self. The strange events prompted Tang Yixun to deeply contemplate the mysteries of time and emotion, eagerly anticipating what the future held.
Episode 6 Recap
Ye Haitang's eyes traced the words on the letter, noting how the detailed descriptions of daily life astonishingly matched Tang Yixun's. Their gazes met briefly, then quickly averted, as an awkward silence settled between them. The letter was, in fact, an unsent love letter. Tang Yixun reflected that if the letter truly came from his future self in 2026, a man in his fifties, he would never pen such sentimental words.
Ye Haitang suggested that the writings felt genuine and indeed mirrored their current challenging lives, marked by daily fights, debt collection, and constant fear, reminiscing about the simpler days she missed. Tang Yixun found it bizarre that his future self would write such things. Determined to understand the origin of the mysterious postbox, Tang Yixun listened as Ye Haitang recalled an old, thin, white-haired man, accompanied by a cat, pulling a flatbed cart with a similar red postbox on it.
She had only seen him once, and he didn't seem to be from their town, but the postbox appeared the day after he left. Tang Yixun also remembered seeing this old man at Ye Haitang's doorstep. With both their names appearing in the letters, they concluded that the phenomenon was directly related to them. They decided to search for this old man, and though they journeyed in the rain, discussing the uncertainties of the future, they failed to find him.
Tang Yixun admitted he still struggled to believe the situation was real, questioning what it all meant even if true. Ye Haitang, however, saw it as an opportunity. If the senders were truly from the future, she wanted to ask if she would get into college and manage to leave Meiwan. Tang Yixun immediately affirmed that she certainly would.
When asked about his own future, he confessed he hadn't given it much thought, only hoping his future self would be doing well, but admitted to a pessimistic feeling that the future might not hold anything good. Ye Haitang countered that knowing bad things in advance could help them avoid them.
They pondered Yu Nian's identity, wondering if she truly knew their future selves, yet both felt an inexplicable trust in her, much like the genuine feeling they had about the love letter. In 2026, Yu Nian anxiously awaited a reply. As she consulted with Ye Haitang’s son about their next steps, a call from the public security bureau reported the discovery of a disoriented elderly man near the Wangjialing National Highway Gas Station, possibly her father.
Yu Nian rushed to the location. Upon arrival, she confirmed it was not her father nor the person they were looking for, and urged the officers to call an ambulance for the elderly man, who was cold and disoriented. Reflecting on the situation, Yu Nian grew distraught, wondering if her father was also lost and unable to remember his name or home.
She was overcome with regret, questioning why she had argued with him, and desperately wished to know where he was and if he was safe. Meanwhile, Li Chadong, Tang Yixun, and their friends were busy cleaning their newly acquired shop. Bao's henchman arrived with fruit, attempting to persuade Li Chadong to return to his old, illicit business.
Li Chadong politely but firmly refused, stating that they were merely "battered soldiers" who could no longer join Bao's "boat" and did not wish to hold them back. When the henchman pressed, implying Li Chadong blamed them for his injury, Li Chadong clarified, declaring that from then on, they would only operate the pool hall to earn an honest living, and their business was no longer connected to Bao's gang.
After the henchman left, Li Chadong advised his men to avoid provoking Bao’s gang but confidently asserted that they would not be forced back into debt collection. He then rallied them to continue their honest work. Soon after, Tan Xin, Tang Yixun’s teacher, visited the shop. She expressed her happiness about Li Chadong’s intention to do legitimate business and offered Tang Yixun a chance to return to school under two conditions.
First, he had to study diligently and cause no more trouble at school, with Ye Haitang agreeing to tutor him so they could both improve. Second, he was strictly forbidden from fighting outside school or associating with outside troublemakers; any violation would result in immediate expulsion. Tang Yixun eagerly accepted, thanking her profusely. Tan Xin declined an offer to stay for dinner, urging Tang Yixun to focus on his studies.
After she left, Li Chadong playfully chastised Tang Yixun for being shy and not keeping Tan Xin longer. That evening, Ye Haitang went to Tang Yixun's place to cut his hair, saying it was in preparation for his return to school the next day. As she trimmed his hair, she stressed the importance of not fighting with Shen Xiaojun or others, promising to help him with any academic difficulties.
Tang Yixun admitted he had many things he didn't understand, and she vowed to teach him until he did. She asked if he had ever considered attending university or his future. He confessed he hadn't, feeling that people like them lived day by day, merely trying to survive, especially since he experienced hunger as a child. He felt being alone made nothing matter. Ye Haitang strongly disagreed, insisting he shouldn't give up.
She revealed that her hope of getting into college was what kept her going. It was her escape from Meiwan and her father, Ye Yibo. Her grandma had left her the house with instructions to sell it after college and leave, taking the money to go as far away as possible. She recounted how, during her father's abuse, she would silently repeat "Get into college, leave Meiwan" a hundred times, feeling each day brought her closer to that dream.
Tang Yixun expressed his belief that she could achieve her dream. Ye Haitang then encouraged him to join her, suggesting they could study together, "charge ahead," and leave Meiwan together. Tang Yixun was skeptical, doubting his ability to get into college, but Ye Haitang playfully assured him it was "easier than fighting."
After finishing the haircut, Ye Haitang remarked on Tang Yixun's new, neat appearance, and Tang Yixun himself said he almost didn't recognize himself, adding that Ye Haitang cut his hair very well. She then suggested that if the events of the 23rd mentioned in the letters proved true, they should ask Yu Nian if they could attend the same university. Tang Yixun, however, stated that he surely wouldn't be able to get into the same university as her.
Tang Yixun then walked Ye Haitang home. Before she entered, she handed him a greeting card addressed "To Tang Yixun," with the message: "May we both have the courage to journey through mountains and seas, and the luck to witness the aurora. - Ye Haitang." Tang Yixun was filled with joy as he watched her go, unaware of the unsettling sounds emanating from inside her house. The moment Ye Haitang stepped inside, she was violently attacked and rendered unconscious.
The next morning, Tang Yixun arrived to pick her up for school, only to find her room empty and her nowhere to be found. At school, Shen Xiaojun tried to provoke him, but Tang Yixun, remembering his promise to Ye Haitang, calmly avoided a fight. However, upon hearing that Ye Haitang had taken sick leave, requested by her father, he instantly panicked. He rushed to the Ye family residence, only to find it deserted. Desperate, Tang Yixun called the police.
Following their hints, he suspected Ye Yibo had admitted Ye Haitang to a psychiatric hospital. It was revealed that Ye Yibo, in his greed for the family property, had falsely claimed his daughter was mentally ill to imprison her. Tang Yixun immediately raced to the psychiatric hospital. He found Ye Yibo trying to force a distraught and restrained Ye Haitang further inside, claiming he was doing it for her own good and that she needed treatment.
Ye Yibo cruelly told Ye Haitang not to blame him, promising to pick her up after selling the house. Tang Yixun confronted Ye Yibo, calling him a "beast." Ye Yibo, feigning victimhood, accused Ye Haitang of trying to stab him and of bringing Tang Yixun, a "punk," to kill him. A fierce physical altercation ensued, with Tang Yixun fighting to rescue Ye Haitang. Other hospital staff intervened, warning of fatal consequences if the fight continued.
Tang Yixun, still calling Ye Yibo an "animal," eventually managed to free Ye Haitang, who was deeply traumatized, repeatedly apologizing. Tang Yixun comforted her, saying "Let's go home," and brought her back. Back at his home, Tang Yixun was enraged by Ye Yibo’s monstrous behavior towards his own daughter. Ye Haitang then opened up about her traumatic childhood. Her mother had left them because she could no longer endure Ye Yibo’s violence.
However, her mother was slandered in the community for taking money from the Fenghua Sugar Factory, where she worked as a cashier. Ye Yibo, in public, was a master of deception.
He never spoke ill of his wife and tearfully promised the factory’s Director Wei and Secretary Liu that he would repay the stolen funds, even offering to have it deducted from his meager wages, claiming he and Ye Haitang could eat simply so he could save money for his own mother's medical bills. The factory leaders were moved by his apparent selflessness, and the factory agreed not to press charges if he repaid the money.
He even became a local hero after rushing into a factory fire to save over a dozen people, receiving an award and publicly declaring his commitment to justice and courage. He helped neighbors whenever needed and refused all offers of remarriage, stating he wouldn't let a stepmother mistreat Ye Haitang.
Because of this carefully crafted facade, no one believed Ye Haitang when she tried to expose his abuse; instead, they were convinced she was mentally ill, a diagnosis Ye Yibo reinforced by learning the term "delusional disorder" from doctors. He would fly into a rage whenever her mother spoke to other men, escalating into violence, eventually driving her mother away. Tang Yixun, in turn, shared his own painful past.
He had never met his father and last saw his mother when he was four, when she promised to find his father and return for him, a promise she never kept. He recounted almost starving to death in their house before being sent to an orphanage. His parents left him nothing, not even a name; "Xun" was given to him by Chubby Auntie (Tan Xin's mother) at the orphanage.
He later learned his birth parents never truly cared for him, which fueled his determination to survive, no matter the cost. He admitted that his early fights stemmed from being bullied and called a "stray dog," with his books thrown into the toilet. He found solace and guidance from Tan Xin and Chubby Auntie, who always encouraged him to study.
He also revealed that Tan Xin and Li Chadong used to be a couple, with Li Chadong cycling long distances to visit her at normal college, but they broke up when Tan Xin felt he strayed to the "wrong path."
Tang Yixun defended Li Chadong and Rat, explaining that Li Chadong, lacking education, struggled to find legitimate work, while Rat had suffered deeply after his murderer father's imprisonment and his mother's subsequent suicide due to bullying, leading him to drop out of school. Seeing so many unfortunate people struggling to survive, Tang Yixun reflected on the fragility of life. Ye Haitang then asked why he saved her when she tried to take her own life.
Tang Yixun simply said he wanted her to live. He added that she hadn't done anything wrong and, being so diligent, deserved to live well. He confessed that when he was injured and saw her frantically trying to reach him, he felt for the first time what it was like to have family. He then offered to be her family if she would accept him.
With tears in her eyes, Ye Haitang agreed, and they resolved to live well together, as each other's chosen family, moving forward. Life slowly returned to normal as they focused on their studies. Tang Yixun practiced riding a bicycle, with Ye Haitang teaching him about mathematics and offering encouragement for finding freedom through education. On the designated day, the 23rd, Ye Haitang and Tang Yixun headed to the dock Yu Nian had mentioned.
As dusk settled and their hope dwindled, the promised waterspout, which the locals called a "dragon," dramatically appeared. Amazed, Ye Haitang immediately wrote a reply to Yu Nian. Her letter confirmed the waterspout, stating her current date as September 23, 1991, expressing her astonishment at communicating with someone from 2026. She clarified that she had received a previous letter, but it was not from "Yu Zhiyong," whom she didn't know, and that the letter was already torn.
She also informed Yu Nian that she didn't know Beixing City and that letters arrive when a cat jumps onto the postbox at midnight. She earnestly asked Yu Nian for an explanation. In 2026, Yu Nian received the reply. Ye Haitang's son, seeing the confirmation of the date, asked Yu Nian if she was sure this was his mother. Yu Nian admitted she couldn't confirm it yet, especially since the letter stated it wasn't from his father.
They hypothesized that the postbox might connect multiple timelines, or that others might also be using it, making the situation far more complex. Ye Haitang's son then insisted on writing the next letter himself, alone, to ask a question that only he and his mother would know the answer to, to conclusively verify her identity. Yu Nian agreed. The episode concluded with Yu Nian informing someone via phone that she was going to Pushui, as her mother had been found.
Episode 7 Recap
In 1981, in Meiwan Town, a young Ye Haitang’s mother brought her fish cakes, a favorite treat. However, her father, Ye Yibo, violently beat her mother, demanding money. Witnessing her mother’s suffering, Ye Haitang tearfully vowed never to eat fish cakes again. She clung to her mother, asking if her father’s anger stemmed from her being a girl.
Ye Haitang offered to become a boy, asking to be called "Son" (A-zai), and promised to protect her mother like a son would. Her mother agreed, making a secret pact: if she ever said, "Son, let's have fish cakes at Shiqiao," Ye Haitang should go directly to the stone bridge after school and wait for her. In 2026, police discovered the body of a woman, estimated to be between fifty and sixty years old, by the river.
Officer Zhao reported to Captain Wang that the body showed signs of drowning, old burn scars on the arms, and some struggle marks. Yu Nian and Shen Cheng were promptly informed. Shen Cheng rushed to the scene, where the police looked grim due to the body's severe decomposition, making identification difficult. While Shen Cheng went in to identify the body, Yu Nian paced anxiously outside.
When Shen Cheng emerged, he gravely informed Yu Nian that a man had been found in his mother’s passenger seat, a prime suspect, possibly Yu Nian’s own father. This revelation shattered Yu Nian, who adamantly refused to believe his father could be a killer, chasing after Shen Cheng to deny the accusation. Shen Cheng, enraged and distraught over his mother's death, declared his intention to tell the police everything he knew.
Distraught but still skeptical, Yu Nian frantically called Miaomiao, asking her to search their house for letters and to keep watch over a specific mailbox, emphasizing the secrecy of the request. Yu Nian was then brought to the police station for questioning. He was shown a photo of the man from the passenger seat, but he firmly stated it was not his father, pointing out the different hat, clothing style, and body shape.
The investigating officer also asked about the man's relationship with Ye Wanru, which Yu Nian denied knowing. He mentioned his father’s health issues and confusion, asserting he had no motive for murder. The officer then revealed a shocking truth: Yu Nian’s real father, Yu Zhiyong, had died in prison in 2004. The man Yu Nian knew as his father was an imposter.
The police explained they needed to understand the imposter’s motives and what he might have done to Yu Nian. Yu Nian struggled to process this, insisting that he had known this man as his father his entire life, that his grandmother always called him "Dayong," and that everyone in their hometown knew his father as Yu Zhiyong.
Meanwhile, the police confirmed that fingerprints found at Yu Nian’s house belonged to a man named Tang Yixun, an ex-convict who had served thirteen years for involuntary manslaughter in 1991. Elsewhere, Miaomiao, despite being pregnant, stubbornly guarded the mailbox as requested, dismissing the shipyard guard Zhang Quan's superstitious warnings. She even paid him to put up "missing person" flyers for Yu Nian's father. Back in 1981, Ye Haitang and Tang Yixun returned home to find their furniture being moved out.
They learned that Ye Yibo had mortgaged the house due to his debts. Ye Haitang confronted the debt collectors, asserting the house wasn't Ye Yibo's. When they became aggressive, Tang Yixun bravely grabbed a cleaver and brandished it, forcing the men to retreat, though their leader warned them this wasn't over. Later, Ye Haitang decided to give up the house to protect Tang Yixun from further danger.
She pager-called Ye Yibo back home and forced him to sign a "Relationship Severance Agreement" in exchange for the house deed. Ye Yibo initially resisted, pleading and recalling old memories, claiming he only mortgaged the house to pay debts and planned to reclaim it. However, Ye Haitang remained firm, reminding him of his past abuses and insisting that her grandmother, not him, had raised her.
Ye Yibo eventually signed, and Ye Haitang handed him the deed, declaring they were now square. Feeling a sense of liberation, Ye Haitang gathered only her grandmother's belongings and her books, telling Tang Yixun that nothing else mattered. As they walked home, Ye Haitang spoke to a picture of her grandmother, expressing her newfound hope for a good life and higher education with Tang Yixun. Tang Yixun, in turn, vowed to protect Ye Haitang.
That night, Tang Yixun, respecting Ye Haitang’s need for space, slept outside their new room. Later that night, Tang Yixun met his friend Rat and asked him where to find trendy clothes. He confessed he wanted to buy some women’s outfits for Ye Haitang, who had left her old home with nothing.
Rat, teasingly suggesting a "Joey Wong" dress, eventually agreed to help Tang Yixun find more modest, schoolgirl-style dresses, and they planned to go shopping the next day after school. Tang Yixun bought several dresses. At the bookstore, the owner's son, Hu, claimed to see a kitten in the mailbox. The owner opened it, found no cat, but did find a pile of letters, which he then took.
The next day at school, Ye Haitang and Tang Yixun discovered a joint petition to expel Tang Yixun. Ye Haitang confronted Shen Xiaojun, who she suspected was behind it, and defended Tang Yixun in front of the class, challenging anyone who claimed to have been hurt or harassed by him, or whose grades had dropped.
When no one stepped forward, Ye Haitang asserted that the students knew right from wrong and that Shen Xiaojun was the true "black sheep" for her constant bullying. The teacher arrived and class began. Afterwards, Ye Haitang and Tang Yixun checked the mailbox but found no reply, unaware that the letters had been taken by the bookstore owner.
Tang Yixun left to go shopping with Rat, while Ye Haitang, with the bookstore owner's permission, took home an old, broken wire bed from his warehouse. Arriving back at their new home, Ye Haitang found the dresses Tang Yixun had bought. She happily tried on a dress, reassuring Tang Yixun it fit perfectly, even if the shoes were a bit big.
Later that evening, as it began to rain while they were organizing letters, they playfully splashed around, enjoying their moment of shared happiness. Lee Chadong’s Buddies Billiards reopened, attended by Ye Haitang and Tan Xin, a major shareholder. They celebrated with a ribbon-cutting and a meal. However, the festivities were interrupted by Brother Bao and his men.
Bao, feigning well wishes, then made it clear he intended to take over the billiards hall, intimidating Lee Chadong and his friends before his men proceeded to vandalize the place. Later, while Ye Haitang was organizing letters, she unexpectedly discovered one dated 2026.
