Episode Summary
This episode centers on Xun Weilai's attempt to secure his future by pushing Zhao Youzuo into the spotlight. A DV camera, introduced by a manipulative Zhao Liao, becomes the new catalyst for changing the timeline. Xun Weilai sees a potential goldmine in a video competition and tries to manage Zhao Youzuo's success, but his plan backfires when Zhao Youzuo's integrity impresses a potential backer more than Xun Weilai's scheming.
Spoiler Alert
The Magazine Gets Real
The episode kicks off with some school news. They're doing a work practice event at a factory. It turns out the factory belongs to Luo Aiwen's dad. Luo Aiwen is pretty happy about the ego boost.
More importantly, the magazine club is now official. Xun Weilai puts Luo Aiwen in charge of the money as the CFO. I see Xun Weilai is also making some big plans for himself. He wants to step back from the spotlight because of his health. He's decided Zhao Youzuo is the right guy to take over the whole operation.
A Camera Changes Everything
Zhao Liao shows up needing a favor. He tells Zhao Youzuo he bought a new device but can't figure it out. Zhao Youzuo goes to his room for the first time. He finds a game console and a really nice DV camera. Zhao Liao asks him to take the camera home. He wants him to learn how to use it and then teach him later.
This whole thing is a setup. We learn Zhao Liao is doing this on purpose. He wants to help his mom achieve her dream of being in movies. His little camera trick just changed the timeline again.
Of course, the future is watching. The customer service rep, Xiaoxue, contacts Zhao Liao. She warns him to stop interacting with people. The system flagged his actions as a violation. But his return portal is still under repair. So, she apologizes and deletes the violation record. She also basically begs him not to file a complaint against her. It's a messy situation.
Xun Weilai's Big Push
A reporter comes to the school. They want to interview Xun Weilai about the magazine. During the interview, Xun Weilai does something interesting. He lies and says all the magazine's ideas came from Zhao Youzuo. He gives him all the credit, right there in public. Zhao Youzuo's parents are thrilled when they hear about it. They are incredibly proud of him.
Later, Zhao Youzuo visits Xu Tutu. He brings the DV camera with him. He films her while she eats, and they just laugh and have a good time together. It's a really nice moment for them.
After all this, Zhao Youzuo officially decides to join the magazine. Xun Weilai is relieved. He thinks the timeline is finally back on track. Then he sees Zhao Youzuo on campus. He's interviewing students and filming them with the DV camera. Xun Weilai starts to worry again. He's afraid this will mess up his own future.
He asks Zhao Youzuo what he's doing. Zhao Youzuo explains he's entering a video competition. The prize is 5 million. That number gets Xun Weilai's attention. He starts thinking. If Zhao Youzuo gets in on the ground floor of this whole video content thing, maybe his own middle-aged self could become a millionaire. He immediately decides to help him win.
The Dinner Test
Xun Weilai goes into full manager mode. He tries to convince Zhao Liao to help with the filming. Zhao Liao says no. He's being monitored by the system and doesn't want to risk getting caught. Xun Weilai also goes to Wang Yiman and asks her to be in the video.
That night, Xun Weilai is hanging out at home. Luo Aiwen's dad, who I'll just call Uncle Luo, shows up. Xun Weilai turns on the charm. He makes dumplings for him. He gets him tea. He's really laying it on thick. Uncle Luo says their magazine is pretty good. Xun Weilai uses the opportunity to praise Zhao Youzuo again. He tells Uncle Luo that all the good ideas were his.
This makes Uncle Luo really interested in Zhao Youzuo. He then drops a bomb. He says Luo Aiwen can't join the magazine, and he won't support it, unless he meets Zhao Youzuo in person.
So, Xun Weilai sets up the meeting. He brings Zhao Youzuo to a hotel to have dinner with Uncle Luo. He even plants a listening device to hear how it goes. Uncle Luo's goal is simple. He wants Zhao Youzuo to make a video for his factory that shows exactly what he wants people to see.
But Zhao Youzuo is a straight shooter. He only wants to film things as they really are. After thinking it over, he politely turns down Uncle Luo's offer. You'd think Uncle Luo would be angry. He isn't. He actually respects Zhao Youzuo for it. He even says he has a much better character than Xun Weilai. Over on the listening device, Xun Weilai hears this and feels completely awkward. He starts to wonder if Uncle Luo's praise from the night before was even real.
