Episode Summary
In this episode, Gu Xuejiao sees major academic improvement thanks to Lin Zhihua's tutoring, inspiring those around her. A crisis at the lab forces a traumatized Lin Zhihua to step up, creating a safer program for Gao Rui and leading to his official return to the research team. The episode culminates in a revealing dream where Lin Zhihua remembers a tragic future where Gao Rui has died, confirming he has traveled back in time and is now determined to prevent the fatal accident.
Spoiler Alert
The episode kicks off with Gu Mingze narrowly avoiding trouble when questioned about his school. His young apprentice quickly names a foreign university, buying Mingze enough time for Gu Xuejiao to whisk Lin Zhihua away from the scene.
Later, Gu Xuejiao finds her brother, Mingze, and his apprentice eating boxed meals by the roadside. While she's frustrated with him, the apprentice reveals his deep admiration for Mingze's genius in game programming and design, even changing his own name to "Flag" to emulate his idol. This sparks a memory for Xuejiao: the winner of the 2023 Hangzhou Best Mobile Game Designer award was named Flag. She realizes that her seemingly unambitious brother had a significant impact on someone's future, proving he isn't entirely without merit. After pulling an all-nighter at an internet cafe, Mingze sneaks back home with Xuejiao's help, but they're caught by their father. The two manage to lie their way out of it. To Xuejiao's envy, Mingze is also rewarded with a new phone from his stock trading activities.
At the hospital, Gao Rui finally regains consciousness. Lin Zhihua and Gu Xuejiao rush to his side, and Lin Zhihua is relieved to see Gao Rui is well enough to bicker with him again. Both Professor Tan and Gao Rui are eager for Lin Zhihua to return to the lab, but Lin Zhihua is still haunted by the accident and hesitates. Gao Rui asks Xuejiao to help persuade him, believing she has a unique influence.
Xuejiao's attempt to talk to Lin Zhihua at a coffee shop doesn't go as planned. She sees him create beautiful latte art only for it to be sent out for delivery, and she uses it as a metaphor for his own wasted talent. However, Lin Zhihua is unmoved and lectures her on the importance of having a "craftsman spirit."
Meanwhile, Lin Zhihua gives a speech at No. 7 Middle School, where he is swarmed by female students afterward. Zhou Shiyun approaches him with a drink, asking him to be her private tutor as well. He politely declines, stating that tutoring Gu Xuejiao already takes up all his energy.
The results of the first mock exam are released. Following Lin Zhihua's methods, Gu Xuejiao achieves an incredible rank of 99th in her grade, making good on her promise to Director Fu. Her parents, who were worried she'd be discouraged, are overjoyed by her success. Inspired by her turnaround, even the slacker Yi Tianyu starts to focus on his studies.
Wanting to share the good news, Xuejiao and Lin Zhihua go to find Gao Rui, only to learn he has already checked himself out of the hospital and gone straight to the lab. Worried, Lin Zhihua rushes to the training ground, knowing the program has dangerous flaws. He finds Gao Rui preparing for a test and desperately tries to stop him. Xuejiao jumps in, claiming that Lin Zhihua has been developing a much safer version and can deliver it immediately. Spurred on by Gao Rui's insistence, Lin Zhihua agrees and, in just ten minutes, produces a new, stable version. Professor Tan, witnessing this, sincerely asks him to rejoin the team. Lin Zhihua, who had wanted to return all along, finally agrees.
That night, Lin Zhihua has a dream that takes him to the year 2024. In this timeline, Gao Rui had died in a car crash the previous year. At his lowest point, he encountered Gu Xuejiao, who was struggling with her own job search. She encouraged him not to give up, telling him that as long as you're alive, you always have a chance to turn things around.
He wakes up with a start, still in 2014. Realizing he has returned to the past with a chance to change the future, his mission becomes clear: he must prevent Gao Rui's death at all costs. He immediately calls Gao Rui, who is preparing for another test, and demands that he cancel it.
