Episode Summary
The rules of the time-traveling mailbox become clearer as both groups experiment with sending letters. In 2026, Yu Nian and Haitang's son learn that their fathers knew each other and that one is officially deceased. To prove the connection, they send a letter to the past with specific details from 1991. In the past, Ye Haitang and Tang Yixun receive the letter from 35 years in the future, leaving them stunned. Tang Yixun begins to suspect he is the future author and questions what became of Haitang. Also, Tang Yixun's friend Li Chadong gets back on his feet after a motivational visit from his teacher.
Spoiler Alert
The Mailbox Gets Weirder
A Letter from the Past... and the Future?
Back in 1991, Ye Haitang and Tang Yixun check the mailbox. They find the letter Haitang wrote earlier, but the envelope is gone. Tang Yixun checks the box for any hidden tricks. He finds nothing.
This is happening right after the letter Yu Nian put in the mailbox in 2026 vanished into thin air.
So, Tang Yixun tells Haitang to write another letter. They need to figure out the rules of this thing. She writes one and puts it in, but nothing happens. It just sits there. Haitang guesses there are conditions. Maybe it has to be midnight. Maybe that chrysanthemum cat needs to be around for it to work.
Meanwhile, in 2026, Yu Nian and Haitang's son are trying their own experiments. The son is a total skeptic. He thinks Yu Nian is just doing a magic trick. To prove him wrong, Yu Nian and the son put a new letter in the box. The son even puts his phone inside to record what happens. They also add some of Yu Nian's father's old things. But again, nothing disappears.
Then, things get strange. The letter Haitang wrote back in 1991 disappears from her time. It suddenly appears in the mailbox in 2026. Haitang's son is the one who finds it.
Making Sense of It All
With no other proof and the cold setting in, Yu Nian and Haitang's son head home. The conversation gets serious. Yu Nian tells the son that according to official records, his father is dead.
They go over the clues they have about Ye Haitang. Yu Nian admits he never met his own mother. He starts to suspect his father and Ye Haitang had a romantic relationship. Since the letters are the only lead, Yu Nian decides they have to write another one to ask more questions.
Meanwhile, Back in 1991
A Friend in Need
There's also a side plot going on with Tang Yixun's friend, Li Chadong. Li Chadong's place was trashed in an earlier episode. He has been hiding out ever since, completely defeated. Tang Yixun is worried about him.
He gets an idea. He asks Haitang to help him get their teacher, Tan Xin, to talk to Li Chadong. Tan Xin agrees and pays him a visit. She gives him some money. Then she lays into him with some harsh words. She does it to provoke him. She wants to light a fire under him so he stops moping.
Her plan works perfectly. The combination of money and a reality check from Tan Xin gives Li Chadong the push he needed. He decides to get his business running again. He calls up his two old associates and tells them they're back in action.
The Future Arrives
Now we get to the main event. In 2026, Yu Nian and Haitang's son write their most important letter yet. To finally prove this is all real, the son includes details about events that happened in 1991.
Back in 1991, it's midnight. The cat shows up. Ye Haitang opens the mailbox and finds the letter from the future. She gets Tang Yixun, and they read it together. Tang Yixun can't believe it. The letter is dated 35 years in the future. He decides they should wait and see if the events mentioned in the letter actually come true.
Then he notices something else. The handwriting looks a lot like his own. He starts to wonder if he is the one who writes it in 2026. And if he's there, what happened to Ye Haitang?
