Episode Summary
In this episode, Xiao Xue's attempt to trap Zhao Liao in the past backfires, leading to a major revelation. Dr. Yu learns her time travel research is successful when Xiao Xue, a time traveler herself, warns her that the company "Life Inc." wants to kill her before being recalled. With the phone booth destroyed, Zhao Liao is now stranded in the past.
Spoiler Alert
The Attack at the Phone Booth
So, the episode kicks off with Zhao Liao doing his usual thing. He heads to the phone booth right on schedule. He has to report his spending to "Life Inc." or he doesn't get his money back. Pretty strict accounting department they have in the future.
While he's there, Xun Weilai is tailing him from a distance. Suddenly, a girl jumps out and attacks Zhao Liao. Xun Weilai doesn't hesitate. He runs in, ties the girl up, and gets Zhao Liao to the hospital.
It turns out Zhao Liao is going to be fine. He just had a bad allergic reaction to pineapple juice. The doctor says it messed with his heart for a bit, but he can go home the next day. A pineapple allergy. That’s a new one for an assassination attempt.
A Confession Full of Lies
The Interrogation
Xun Weilai starts questioning the girl, whose name we learn is Xiao Xue. He wants to know how she knew about the pineapple allergy. Xiao Xue notices that Zhao Liao hasn't ratted her out to Dr. Yu yet. So she decides to lie. She claims someone else paid her to do it.
But her voice gives her away. Zhao Liao recognizes it immediately. She's the customer service agent from his company. He tells Xun Weilai to grab his ID and use the phone booth to call the company right now. This makes Xiao Xue panic. She starts talking fast and tells a different story. She says she wanted to shut down the time portal. She was afraid the company would find out she deleted a violation from someone's record. She then blames the whole thing on a "Manager Gao," twisting the story to make herself look like a victim.
The Real Confession
Later, Xun Weilai and Zhao Liao are trying to figure out what to do with her. The phone booth is scheduled for demolition. Xiao Xue is running out of time to get back. She begs Zhao Liao to let her go. But he can tell she's still not being honest. He tells Xun Weilai to go do some digging.
Back at the house, Zhao Liao is alone with a tied-up Xiao Xue. She starts crying, trying to get some sympathy. It actually works. He takes the tape off her mouth. She finally apologizes for real. She admits she was scared about losing her job. She made a mistake at work and was worried she wouldn't get her permanent position. So, her solution was to trap him in the past.
Zhao Liao is just stunned. He can't believe this recent graduate tried to get him killed over a job. But he doesn't get angry. He actually promises to defend her when they get back to their own time.
Dr. Yu Crashes the Party
Just as Xun Weilai gets into his car, he gets a surprise. Dr. Yu pops up from the back seat and grabs him. She thinks he stole her research the other night.
Xun Weilai has to explain everything quickly. He says he was just trying to find investors for his movie. He ran from her because he thought a brilliant scientist like her wouldn't want to work with a regular guy like him. Dr. Yu isn't buying it completely. She demands to meet the person he's working with. He has no choice but to take her back to his house.
The Future Comes Calling
Zhao Liao hears Xun Weilai coming back with someone. He and Xiao Xue quickly hide behind a screen. Dr. Yu totally sees them, but she plays it cool. She tells Xun Weilai she'll keep funding his movie. She admits she was only suspicious because she was so worried about her research being stolen.
From behind the screen, Xiao Xue recognizes Dr. Yu's voice.
Dr. Yu starts to leave, but then she turns around and comes back. Zhao Liao starts to panic. He thinks if he and Dr. Yu meet face-to-face, it will trigger a "highest alert." That would get him recalled to the future immediately. He quickly says goodbye to Xun Weilai.
But nothing happens. Xun Weilai isn't recalled.
Then, a voice cuts through the room. It’s Xiao Xue, still tied to her chair. She yells that Dr. Yu's research was a success. She knows because she is from the future. She warns Dr. Yu not to go back. She says Life Inc. is an organization that uses time travel to kill her.
And just like that, Xiao Xue vanishes. She's been forcibly recalled. Dr. Yu just breaks down crying. She's filled with joy. Her life's work is real. She's not the crazy scientist everyone thought she was.
Cutting the Cord
The second Xiao Xue gets back to her time, she erases her travel records. She also deletes the event log of Dr. Yu appearing in the past.
Xun Weilai rushes to Dr. Yu's house. He tries to explain again that he never wanted to steal her work. She doesn't believe him. She packs up all her research notes and leaves.
To make things worse, the phone booth is now officially demolished. Zhao Liao's expense account won't be refilled. His only way home is gone. He figures his only chance now is to find Dr. Yu again during the day. Maybe that will trigger the alert and get him sent back.
Meanwhile, in the Past... and Future
In a few side plots, Zhao Youzuo is having dinner with Xu Tutu. He loves watching her eat, so he films her. He even suggests she become a food vlogger and gives her the screen name "Lonely Glutton."
At school, Luo Aiwen is busy with his inventions. The dean sees him and doesn't scold him for ignoring his studies. Instead, he encourages him to follow his dream. Luo Aiwen is thrilled. He's already making some money and has plans for even bigger inventions.
Back in the future, Xiao Xue is a nervous wreck at work. Every little alert makes her jump. She's now dead set on one thing. She has to make sure Zhao Liao stays trapped in the past forever.
