Reunion (Chinese: 重逢 Chóngféng) is the fifth episode of the Bridon Arc of Link Click.
Synopsis[]
Plot[]
After Cheng Xiaoshi's accidental dive to the night of the fire, Lu Guang asks him to recount what happened in the photo. Cheng Xiaoshi speculates whether the photo is special in any way, but Lu Guang attributes the dive to his special ability, which elicits a dramatic reaction from Cheng Xiaoshi. As he narrates the details of his dive, Cheng Xiaoshi begins to question whether his father is already dead. However, Lu Guang tells him to not jump to conclusions and mentions the supposed survivor as a potential lead.
Based on his online research, Lu Guang reveals that the survivor was a student at BAHATI and had been rescued shortly after the fire. He shows Cheng Xiaoshi a photo of a half-burnt student ID card, the only item recovered from the scene. No further information about her or her whereabouts is available, as all student records were destroyed in the fire. However, Lu Guang points out that the report contains photos of other students and suggests using Cheng Xiaoshi's ability to dive into the photos to uncover the survivor's identity.
Cheng Xiaoshi rushes to act, but Lu Guang advises him to first confirm the conditions required to activate his ability. Lu Guang instructs him to repeat their prior conversation and actions before entering the photo. Just as Cheng Xiaoshi is about to clap his hands, Lu Guang stops him, noting that this was when he disappeared. Cheng Xiaoshi struggles to grasp how clapping his hands could be the trigger when he has clapped before without incident, but Lu Guang adds that there likely is an additional condition for there to be a photo within Cheng Xiaoshi's line of sight.
Cheng Xiaoshi suggests using his special ability to return to the day before the fire and report the arson to the police. However, Lu Guang immediately rejects the idea, pointing him to a post made by James Brown the day after the fire, which appeared shortly after Cheng Xiaoshi disappeared from the hotel. In the post, Brown expresses confusion about how he ended up in the burning building and shares a photo of burns on his hand — proof that innocent people became involved due to Cheng Xiaoshi's dive. While this particular change in past events didn't cause any irreversible consequences, Lu Guang stresses that Cheng Xiaoshi's ability is meant to uncover the truth by borrowing someone else's body — not to rewrite the past, as doing so could lead to unbearable consequences.
Before taking action, Lu Guang goes over the three rules of time dive:
- Cheng Xiaoshi may only spend 12 hours in the photo, as that is as far as Lu Guang's ability allows him to see.
- Cheng Xiaoshi must follow Lu Guang's instructions exactly as given, with no room for deviations.
- Leave the past and future be — it is better to hold onto the known present than to face unpredictable variables.
Lu Guang continues to elaborate that he will accompany Cheng Xiaoshi into the photo — since Cheng Xiaoshi's ability activates by clapping, it may be possible for them to form a connection and maintain communication during the dive if they high-five. Cheng Xiaoshi notes how much Lu Guang seems to know, almost as if he has long prepared for this moment, but Lu Guang brushes off the observation, saying that someone once spoke with him at length about special abilities.
Cheng Xiaoshi accuses Lu Guang of being a control freak, to which Lu Guang sharply retorts, attributing his need for control to Cheng Xiaoshi's naivety, recklessness, excessive sympathy, and impulsiveness. However, he then adds that this is also to fulfill his own promise to always stay by Cheng Xiaoshi's side.
Finally ready to set off, the two high-five, initiating another time dive.
In the photo, Cheng Xiaoshi inhabits the body of a female student named Wang Qing. The scene begins with another female student repeatedly beating her wrist, leaving a deep bruise. She justifies her actions as payback for taking a blurry photo of she and her friend after they were "kind enough" to associate with Wang Qing. Though Cheng Xiaoshi doesn't retaliate, his anger boils under the surface. He tells Lu Guang through their connection that he would have beaten them up if Lu Guang weren't there to stop him.
Lu Guang provides more context: Wang Qing is a student with good grades but is somewhat of a loner, which makes her a target for hatred among some of her peers. The bully then approaches Wang Qing again, demanding her to help her cheat on the upcoming exam. When Cheng Xiaoshi tries to refuse, the bully violently grabs Wang Qing's hair and throws her to the ground, causing her head to strike the edge of a sink. Pinning Wang Qing down with her foot, the bully continues to threaten and intimidate her. Cheng Xiaoshi is naturally furious, but is reminded by Lu Guang to stay calm and follow instructions.
Later, Cheng Xiaoshi is left alone in the washroom. Frustrated, he vents his anger, declaring that when the bullies enter society in the future, they'll finally get a taste of the real world. However, Lu Guang interjects, reminding him that they "no longer have a future," referencing the fire. He adds that while the bullies take from others, they likely don't realize that they too will end up being taken from.
Cheng Xiaoshi inquires about the next step, and Lu Guang answers that he must answer all questions correctly in the upcoming exam. Feigning confidence, Cheng Xiaoshi reassures himself that as a university student, he should have no problem handling a high school exam. However, once the exam begins, he is completely stumped, unable to understand the questions written in English. Meanwhile, the bully sitting next to him begins signaling Wang Qing, impatiently urging her to write down her answers.
Just as Cheng Xiaoshi is about to bluff his way through the exam, Lu Guang steps in to help, providing the correct answers and stressing the importance of accuracy. Eventually, Cheng Xiaoshi finishes answering all questions except one last multiple choice. Despite not having done any thinking himself, he is exhausted from the process of writing down the answers alone.
Sliding his paper to the edge of the desk, Cheng Xiaoshi allows the bully to copy the answers while he asks Lu Guang about the last question. At this moment, a student sitting behind the bully can be seen raising his head, his eyes glowing white. However, while Lu Guang speaks the answer, Cheng Xiaoshi suddenly loses connection and cannot hear him. Panic sets in briefly as the bully continues signaling to Wang Qing for help. Attempting to stay calm, Cheng Xiaoshi recalls the "3 long, 1 short, pick the shortest" rule but quickly realizes the answers are in the form of function graphs, rendering the trick useless.
As the examiner announces that there are only five minutes left, Cheng Xiaoshi turns to his last resort. Grabbing a small mirror, he attaches it to his pen with a rubber band and uses it to peek at the answers of the student sitting behind him. The improvised trick works, and he manages to fill in the final answer just as Lu Guang reconnects. However, Lu Guang warns Cheng Xiaoshi to brace himself — he is about to get caught.
The examiner approaches Wang Qing, asking her to put down her pen. Calm but firm, the examiner says he knows what she has done and instructs her to come with him for a private talk.
In his office, the teacher serves Wang Qing a cup of tea, while Cheng Xiaoshi trembles with the realization that the teacher is none other than his father, Cheng Weimin. Speaking in a gentle tone, Cheng Weimin asks Wang Qing if she's been in any kind of trouble lately, believing that someone with her talents wouldn't need to cheat unless there was more to the story.
As Cheng Xiaoshi remains silent, Cheng Weimin shifts the conversation to his own son. He mentions that his son has always been a troublemaker, but has a good heart deep down; with his mother's guidance, he believes Cheng Xiaoshi is destined to grow into someone with a strong sense of justice. He then admits that he should have been a part of his son's growth, but feels he failed as a father.
Cheng Weimin muses that perhaps fate brought him to this role as a teacher to make up for his negligence towards his own son. Kneeling down next to Wang Qing, he explains that although this is an opportunity to teach them various things including integrity and being an upright person, he wishes not to be a strict teacher, but instead a friend, or even family. He extends his hand towards Wang Qing, remarking on how everyone gathering at this school is proof that each of them was searching for a home to belong, and asking for her trust.
Cheng Xiaoshi reflects on the bullying that Wang Qing has endured, relating it to his own childhood experiences. The word "liar" escapes his lips, and he slaps his father's hand aside. In an emotionally-charged speech, Cheng Xiaoshi questions how he can trust someone who doesn't care about him. He argues that if Cheng Weimin truly cared, he wouldn't have dragged Wang Qing out of the exam for everyone to see. He then shows the bruise on Wang Qing's wrist, pointing out that if he truly cared, he should have stepped in before scars like these were formed.
Breaking character, Cheng Xiaoshi angrily smashes the table and scoffs at Cheng Weimin's "friend" and "family" talk, questioning his father where he was every time he needed him. His accusations grow sharper, calling Cheng Weimin a hypocrite who'd rather act kind to strangers than to even see his own son, undeserving of trust. Cheng Xiaoshi continues to lament his childhood hardships where his father's absence was painfully felt, questioning why he left him with hope if all the waiting was for nothing in the end. At this point, Lu Guang interrupts him, telling him to stop.
As Cheng Xiaoshi sits back down, Cheng Weimin reaches towards Wang Qing, but a young boy resembling Xia Fei enters his office and calls him away. Cheng Weimin steps out with the boy, telling Wang Qing to wait for a moment, drawing a bitter remark from Cheng Xiaoshi on the irony of the situation. Acknowledging the unfortunate circumstances of the father-son reunion, Lu Guang asks asks Cheng Xiaoshi if he still wants to continue, to which he responds affirmatively.
Now alone in the office, Cheng Xiaoshi begins searching through the student files in Cheng Weimin's desk as planned, managing to locate the survivor's profile based on the student number visible on the burnt ID. To their surprise, the survivor turns out to be none other than Wang Qing. After Lu Guang notes down the important information, Cheng Xiaoshi returns the files to the drawer. He freezes momentarily as Cheng Weimin is about to return, before clapping his hands to exit the dive.
Cheng Xiaoshi inquires about their next steps for locating Wang Qing. Lu Guang acknowledges that the police won't be of any help, and that they will have to rely on special means, referring to Vein. Cheng Xiaoshi notes that they didn't seem to get along well the last time they met, but Lu Guang explains that he simply wasn't used to his overly enthusiastic personality. When Cheng Xiaoshi points out his social anxiety, Lu Guang mutters that perhaps it is time for him to change. Cheng Xiaoshi assures him not to worry, boasting that he's picked up a lot of English lately and volunteering to handle all social interactions.
Some time later, Cheng Xiaoshi, Lu Guang, Vein, and Xia Fei meet up at a restaurant in Chinatown. Cheng Xiaoshi and Vein exchange bizarre greetings by calling each other "tasty." Cheng Xiaoshi brags to Lu Guang about his "authentic" English, causing Xia Fei to laugh uncontrollably.
As they settle in for hot pot, Vein continues with peculiar remarks even in Chinese, likening the freshness of the duck blood he's eating to Cheng Xiaoshi's flesh. Turning to Xia Fei, Cheng Xiaoshi comments on Vein's poor Chinese before Xia Fei steers the conversation back on track. Cheng Xiaoshi finally brings up their purpose for the meeting, requesting Vein's help in locating Wang Qing.
However, the request prompts an unexpected reaction from Vein. Setting down his chopsticks, his expression grows sharp and unnerving. In a cold tone, Vein questions whether they one of those "involved." Lu Guang attempts to defuse the tension, claiming that they learned about the fire by chance and wanted to make a video on it, and stumbled upon all of their information online.
His expression softening, Vein resumes a cordial tone. He assures them that he can help, but with one condition: they must do him a favor first. When Lu Guang asks what he wants, Vein points at Cheng Xiaoshi and says, "Work for me."
Characters[]
In order of appearance:
(flashback)
(flashback)
(mentioned)
Trivia[]
- Wang Qing's student number, 54274636454943, results in "假死能力者" ("fake death ability user") when typed into a Chinese T9-like keyboard.
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