Puzzle (Chinese: 迷局 Míjú) is the sixth and final episode of the Bridon Arc of Link Click.
Synopsis[]
Plot[]
Seeing Cheng Xiaoshi shocked at his proposal, Vein tells him that finding someone like Wang Qing would normally cost much more. However, since they appear to be students, he's offering an alternative — to "pay with their bodies." Cheng Xiaoshi turns to Lu Guang, immediately speculating the worst, only for Lu Guang to tells Vein that Cheng Xiaoshi has accepted the deal. Xia Fei eventually clarifies, explaining that the gig is simply to act as substitute models, as his original partner had just been fired.
The next day, heavy rain pours at the shoot site. Cheng Xiaoshi is pessimistic and nervous, but is reassured by Xia Fei. They are unexpectedly approached by a man named Jack, apparently the fired model. He blames Xia Fei for his firing, accusing him of ratting him out to the boss for selling confidential files.
Jack then turns to address Cheng Xiaoshi, warning him to be cautious of Xia Fei, bitterly claiming that Xia Fei's success is solely due to his good looks. Cheng Xiaoshi, unable to stand his attitude, is about to confront him, but Lu Guang steps in first.
He calmly explains that, as far as he knows, the modeling industry thrives on individuals with superior genetics, whose presence boosts consumer dopamine levels and drives sales — a business of mutual benefit. He argues that if Xia Fei got his job due to his appearance, it only proves that he meets market demand. Jack, on the other hand, not only lacks proof for his accusations but also demonstrates unprofessionalism, poor skills, and an inability to think critically. He advises Jack to stop humiliating himself.
Enraged by his sharp words, Jack approaches Lu Guang, only to be removed by a security guard. As Jack is taken away, Cheng Xiaoshi is impressed by Lu Guang's eloquence, while Xia Fei thanks him for his support, though he insists there's no need. As the weather clears up and the shoot begins, Lu Guang jolts up from his seat, only to trip and fall, apparently nervous himself. Xia Fei reassures them once more, promising to teach them well.
Once they complete the gig, the sun has begun to set. Vein, impressed by their performance, asks if they'd like to sign a contract. However, Cheng Xiaoshi, thoroughly exhausted, admits that modeling isn't for them after all. Vein then informs them that he has finished preparing their reward. He points at a nearby psychological clinic, stating that Wang Qing now works there as a psychotherapist under the English name "Chris." He adds that he has booked a one-on-one counseling session in Cheng Xiaoshi's name, scheduled to start in just ten minutes.
Despite the surprise, Cheng Xiaoshi thanks Vein and turns to thank Xia Fei as well, only to find him gone. Meanwhile, in an empty movie theater, Xia Fei sits down next to Liu Xiao, who is playing Tetris on his phone. He reports that Cheng Xiaoshi has found Wang Qing, before requesting to end their cooperation, stating that he no longer wants to deceive his friends. Liu Xiao responds by asking if they would still be friends if they saw each other's true color, but claims that he respects his decision. Still, he remarks that it's a pity — if Xia Fei had stayed with them longer, he might have seen something interesting. Xia Fei, unsettled, asks him what he means, but Liu Xiao shushes him, saying the movie is about to start.
Cheng Xiaoshi tries to search for Xia Fei, but Vein urges him to take care of the task at hand first. As Cheng Xiaoshi leaves for the clinic, Lu Guang asks Vein why he's still hanging around. Vein simply replies that he has his own reasons, before posing a question of his own: why has there always been a murderous intent in Lu Guang's eyes since the first time they met? Lu Guang, unfazed, too answers that he has his own reasons.
At the clinic, Cheng Xiaoshi enters Wang Qing's office. She greets him, saying that she's been waiting for a long time. Cheng Xiaoshi is taken aback by how different Wang Qing looks compared to her student days. She treats Cheng Xiaoshi to a tea, which he notices to be the same one his father served her in the past.
Wang Qing reassures him that their conversation is fully confidential and encourages him to speak his mind. Looking over his files, she comments that his life must have been stressful and reads out his supposed background: an n illegitimate son of a mafia boss, whose nine brothers fought over inheritance after their father's death, only for all of them to die in the end. Though he survived, he has suffered from severe paranoia ever since.
Wang Qing remarks that his past sounds straight out of a TV show, which a flabbergasted Cheng Xiaoshi silently agrees with. She invites him to speak what's on his mind, emphasizing the importance of fully opening up. Cheng Xiaoshi tries to reveal the truth, but struggles to steer the conversation. To his surprise, Wang Qing then asks if he had a fight with his father.
She elaborates that although he seemed distracted while discussing his fabricated background, she noticed subconscious reactions whenever "father" was mentioned — subtle signs of anger, anxiety, and guilt. She assures Cheng Xiaoshi that they still have plenty of time to talk, before introducing him to a story.
Meanwhile, outside the clinic, Vein shares more details about Wang Qing with Lu Guang. He explains that she is known for her ability to see through a person’s mind in just five minutes and is highly sought after by elites and even law enforcement. Though she has never appeared in public, her research is widely recognized, with her most famous work being a psychological test presented in the form of a story.
Wang Qing and Vein both begin narrating the same story to Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang respectively:
Once upon a time, in a southwestern forest, a group of animals lived together: a strong elephant, a clever fox, a messenger dove, and a seemingly harmless rabbit family. Though they occasionally quarreled, they coexisted in peace and worked together to protect their home.
One winter, disaster struck as a sudden fire broke out in the forest. The dove flew around spreading the news, while the fox directed the elephant to put out the flames. The elephant tirelessly fought the fire, injuring itself in the process, while the rabbits ran for their lives.
Despite their efforts, the forest completely burned down. The animals gathered together to find the culprit behind the fire, but struggled to reach a conclusion. In the end, they decided to spend their last remaining coin to hire the only detective available — a destitute investigator who also happens to be the listener of this story.
After finishing the tale, both Wang Qing and Vein pose the same question to their respective listeners: Who do they think is the culprit? In response, Cheng Xiaoshi suggests that maybe there is no culprit at all, which appears to surprise Wang Qing. While Lu Guang's answer is not revealed, Vein laughs upon hearing it, saying that he likes his response and that it's exactly what he was thinking too. He wonders aloud whether Cheng Xiaoshi would think the same. At this moment, Vein receives a phone call. His expression shifts into a grin as he responds, "I see."
Back in the clinic, Wang Qing asks Cheng Xiaoshi to elaborate, prompting him to reason that the southwest region is prone to forest fires to begin with. Wang Qing acknowledges his perspective as rigorous, but kind at the same time. She then reveals that only two people have ever given this answer, one being Cheng Xiaoshi, and the other being her teacher.
Cheng Xiaoshi asks Wang Qing if said teacher is Cheng Weimin, catching her off guard. He follows by directly confronting her, identifying her as the survivor of the fire ten years ago and stating that he came to ask her something very important. However, Wang Qing apologizes, saying their time is up. She raises her phone and snaps a picture of Cheng Xiaoshi, and in the next instant, she stands up and walks toward him.
She leans down, cupping Cheng Xiaoshi's face and examining him closely. Suddenly, she begins cheerfully remarking on how well Cheng Xiaoshi has grown and affectionately patting him on the head. When Cheng Xiaoshi questions what she's doing, she reveals herself as his mother, before trying to go for a kiss. Cheng Xiaoshi escapes her, refusing to believing her and concluding that she must be a patient herself.
However, "Wang Qing" begins recounting all sorts of embarrassing history from his childhood. As Cheng Xiaoshi is finally convinced, "Wang Qing" opens her arms and invites him for a hug. Seeing him hesitate, she throws herself forward and wraps Cheng Xiaoshi in an embrace, then apologizes for the past years.
When Cheng Xiaoshi presses her for answers, she explains that she is here thanks to Wang Qing's help — years ago, she entrusted Wang Qing with a request: if she ever met Cheng Xiaoshi, she was to create an opportunity for them to reunite. With this, Cheng Xiaoshi comes to understand that his mother shares the same photo-diving ability as him.
Cheng Xiaoshi begins bombarding her mother with questions about special abilities, but she says that there is no time, and she's here to tell him something much more important — to stop investigating his father and her. Cheng Xiaoshi protests, mentioning that Cheng Weimin may have died in the BAHATI fire, but his mother says that she already knows, which is why she is here to save him. However, if his presence here continues to disrupt the timeline, she will no longer be able to follow the predetermined path and prevent Cheng Weimin's death.
Hanging up his call outside, Vein tells Lu Guang that his friend seems to be in some trouble and that he'll go lend a hand. Lu Guang calls out his obvious lie, but Vein challenges him on whether he can stop him even if he knows. Lu Guang muses that he's been thinking about how to change a fixed outcome completely — wondering what would happen if he created an additional node before it, that is equally unchangeable.
Vein remarks that he's out of his mind. Lu Guang then acknowledges that while he knows he can't stop him, he can delay him. With that, he now allows Vein to go in. As he turns to leave, Vein suggests getting a hot pot together afterward so Lu Guang can tell him about this original outcome. Watching him go, Lu Guang mutters to himself, hoping that they never meet again.
In the clinic, Cheng Xiaoshi's mother peeks outside, saying that their time is running out. She promises that as long as Cheng Xiaoshi gives up on the investigation, she will return to him one day along with his father. She warns him to not talk to anyone about this matter, as any change related to it may affect her plan.
Cheng Xiaoshi, dejected, remarks that he's being left alone once again. However, his mother asserts that he is not alone — with the photo studio left behind by them and the countless bonds it holds, even a long wait won't be boring. She promises that, as long as they exist within the same "time," they are bound to meet again.
Finally, Cheng Xiaoshi agrees to keep the promise and wait for them to come back. Her mother mentions there being one more thing, but they are interrupted by the sound of knocking on the door. Opening the door is Vein, who immediately fires a tranquilizer dart at Cheng Xiaoshi's leg, paralyzing him. He then points the tranquilizer at Wang Qing, demanding her to hand over "you know what," speaking in English.
However, Cheng Xiaoshi's mother, still possessing Wang Qing, scoffs and claims that she never passed her English classes. She charges towards Vein, disarms him with a kick, and manages to overpower him with impressive martial prowess, throwing him to the ground. She then walks up to one of the paintings on the wall and removes it, revealing a notebook taped to the other side. However, Vein ambushes her from behind and snatches the book for himself. Muttering to herself that someone has complicated things even further, Cheng Xiaoshi's mother claps her hands, exiting Wang Qing's body.
When Wang Qing's consciousness returns, she is visibly in pain as Vein leisurely strolls towards the door, book in hand. As Lu Guang is then seen making puppeteer-like motions, Wang Qing crawls up, shouting out the name "Xiao Weiying" at Vein. Surprised, he turns around, but before he can react, Lu Guang makes a crushing motion with his hand — and Vein collapses, clutching to his chest. As Wang Qing stands up, her eyes turn blue.
Vein mutters, “So that’s how it is,” before the scene abruptly cuts back to the movie theater, where a man on screen collapses into a pool of blood. Liu Xiao claps and bravos, while Xia Fei's phone rings. Much to his shock, he is informed that Vein is dead. He immediately rushes toward the exit, only for Liu Xiao to casually ask if he isn't going to finish the movie. Xia Fei hesitates briefly before continuing to run. As Liu Xiao remarks on his impatience, a line from the movie plays: "Don't celebrate too soon. I feel like the mastermind behind the scenes hasn't shown up yet."
After some time, the police are called. Both Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi are taken in for questioning. The autopsy confirms that Vein's cause of death was a sudden myocardial infarction, with signs of a struggle at the scene. DNA analysis indicates that Wang Qing, who has since disappeared, is key to the case. Due to insufficient evidence, Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang are released.
Upon their release, Cheng Xiaoshi receives an angry call from Qiao Ling, demanding that they both return by tomorrow. Cheng Xiaoshi, however, no longer remembers what happened before he fell unconscious, and Lu Guang does not press him for details.
Lu Guang reflects that in "that moment," he didn't believe that he could come back here and change the past — all he had wanted was to return to their side and move toward a new future, because he knows that this is "the last time."
Under heavy rain, Xia Fei accompanies Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi to the airport. He asks Cheng Xiaoshi if he truly have no clues about Vein's death, which he admits that he doesn't. Xia Fei struggles to believe that Vein died in such a bizarre way — without signs of external injuries or poisoning, the police had no choice but to chalk it up to a natural condition.
Finding such a conclusion impossible, Xia Fei asks the two if they believe in superpowers, speculating that something of the sort may have enabled someone to kill without a trace. Though he admits it is a laughable hypothesis, it is the only explanation he can come up with. He firmly vows that, no matter how bizarre the truth may be, he will get to the bottom of it, and will not let the culprit get away.
Back at the clinic, Liu Xiao is seen walking towards the entrance. Meanwhile, Xia Fei warns Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang to be careful and advises them to stop their investigation for now, saying that he doesn't want any more people he cares about to be put in danger. Cheng Xiaoshi reassures him not to worry, as he has already made a promise with someone to stop.
As they prepare to part ways, Cheng Xiaoshi and Xia Fei shake hands. Cheng Xiaoshi tells him to contact them if he ever needs help. Xia Fei asks for an address, saying he'd like to visit them when he returns home. Cheng Xiaoshi begins to say "Hero Photo Studio," but quickly corrects himself, saying "Time Photo Studio" instead.
3 Years Later[]
The next scene takes place 3 years later in the present day, after the Li Tianchen and Li Tianxi incident has settled. Cheng Xiaoshi is outside the photo studio, tending to their sign. Watching him, Qiao Ling recalls their Bridon trip and asks why he decided to rename the studio from "Hero Photo Studio" to "Time Photo Studio" right after they returned. Cheng Xiaoshi responds by quoting his mother, "As long as they exist within the same 'time,' they are bound to meet again."
As Qiao Ling teases Cheng Xiaoshi for his sudden poetic turn, Lu Guang is inside, watching a news report about two missing celebrity models — Jack and Xia Fei.
In the post-credit scene, Liu Xiao is seen unzipping Vein's body bag in an unknown location. Moments later, his eyes open.
Characters[]
In order of appearance:
(flashback)
(possessing Wang Qing)
(cameo)
Trivia[]
- It is the first, and currently only episode to not feature an opening song.
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