Episode Summary
Du Xiaoxi connects with Chen Mo across time via sticky notes in a library book. They arrange a meeting in 2016, but a misunderstanding leads to Xiaoxi beating him up. Later, Xiaoxi discovers Chen Mo is the paralyzed brother of an author she works with and that he wrote the book she is editing. She learns he was crippled in a car accident on May 11, 2016. Desperate to change history, she tries to warn him through the books, eventually running into him on the day of the accident.
Spoiler Alert
A Note in a Book Changes Everything
I love a good time-travel romance. There is something special about two people connecting across time. This episode leans hard into that trope. Du Xiaoxi is chilling at a book bar. She picks up her favorite copy of "One Hundred Years of Solitude." She finds a sticky note inside.
The note is from 2016. A guy named Chen Mo wrote it. He was complaining about the lack of snow in Shenzhen. Xiaoxi decides to write back. She leaves a long reply right next to his note. We learn a bit about Chen Mo here. Back in 2016, he quit his publishing job to become a writer. His mom wanted him to be a civil servant. He felt stuck. He was just waiting for a miracle.
The Coincidences Keep Piling Up
The universe really wants these two together. Xiaoxi actually works at the same publishing house Chen Mo left. She even sits at his old desk. They start a conversation through the sticky notes in the book. They click immediately.
Chen Mo starts falling for her. He asks to meet up in his timeline. The date is set for May 6, 2016. Xiaoxi agrees. She has a specific plan for this date. In her timeline, she remembers getting followed by a creep that night. She fought the guy off herself. But this time, she wants Chen Mo to show up and play the hero.
It does not go as planned. Chen Mo shows up on time. He sees Xiaoxi and follows her to make sure she is safe. Xiaoxi spots him. She thinks he is the stalker. She beats him up. Chen Mo takes the beating. He is just happy to finally see her in person.
The Mystery of "Sour Soup"
They keep writing notes to each other. They share everything. Chen Mo mentions he wants to write a novel called "First Reunion." He plans to use the pen name "Suan Tang" (Sour Soup).
This stops Xiaoxi in her tracks. She is currently working on a book at her job. It is also called "First Reunion." But the author is a woman named Chen Meng. Xiaoxi suspects foul play. She thinks this Chen Meng person stole Chen Mo's work.
The Heartbreaking Reveal
Xiaoxi confronts Chen Meng. She wants answers. Chen Meng takes her to her house. The truth comes out. Chen Mo is Chen Meng's brother.
Xiaoxi enters the room. She sees the wall covered in the sticky notes she wrote. Then she sees Chen Mo. He comes out in a wheelchair. He is paralyzed. He sees Xiaoxi and panics. He denies knowing her. He feels ashamed of his disability.
We finally get the full story. On May 11, 2016, Chen Mo went to the eye doctor. A car lost control. It plowed into the crowd. Chen Mo survived, but his legs were crushed. He became a recluse after that. He wrote "First Reunion" while hiding from the world.
Racing Against Fate
Xiaoxi refuses to accept this. She thinks she can use the notes to change history. She runs back to the book bar. She needs that copy of "One Hundred Years of Solitude."
It is gone. Someone bought it. Xiaoxi chases after the buyer but loses them. She gets desperate. She starts writing "Don't go to the hospital" on sticky notes. She stuffs them into every single book on the shelf.
The bookstore owner tells her to stop. He says fate is set in stone. You cannot change the past. Xiaoxi ignores him. She thinks her first reply caused the distraction that led to the accident. She has to fix it.
Her boss sends her to a book signing at the bar. She goes reluctantly. She looks up and freezes. She runs right into Chen Mo. The date is May 11, 2016.
