Derailment Recap, Plot, Synopsis

Derailment Synopsis

A “Time travel” which has many secrets made Jiang Xiaoyuan, a rich girl, turn into a low-level working girl with the same name.

Struggling to survive, she met her mysterious childhood sweetheart Qi Lian.

Together they searched for the truth. On the way to uncovering the "fog", they compose the song of love and career together, performing an inspirational life.

Derailment Recap

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Year 2025. A pink car speeding on the elevated highway encountered a series of accidents. Jiang Xiaoyuan in the car was thrown off the bridge with the vehicle, and the situation was extremely critical.

In 2012, Qi Lian, his face covered in blood, pleaded desperately with the doctor to save his friend Xu Jingyang. He was informed that surgery in such a condition carried risks, but as a long-distance runner aiming to join the provincial team, the best option was rehabilitation training. Qi Lian lowered his head, his eyes filled with incomprehensible darkness.

On the hospital rooftop, Qi Lian made a phone call, and Xu Jingyang, who was originally in a wheelchair, suddenly disappeared. In 2025, just three days before the lighthouse system activation.

Wealthy heiress Jiang Xiaoyuan did not go to her family's company but went to a bar to have fun. She wanted to introduce her new boyfriend, Huo Baiyu, to her friends. He was a Stanford graduate and not accustomed to such occasions. Jiang Xiaoyuan's friends teased him, insisting he join them for a drink. Jiang Xiaoyuan, displeased, intervened, but her friends hinted that they were looking forward to a spectacle. Soon, Jiang Xiaoyuan witnessed the shattering of his innocent image, orchestrated by that girl taking photos. However, Jiang Xiaoyuan noticed that the girl was manipulating the situation. She didn't fully trust Huo Baiyu, but 70% of the orders in his advertising company were referrals from her, and he dared not betray her.

Jiang Xiaoyuan's friend Feng Ruixue opened a café with her help, and business visibly improved. They both wore the same ribbon that day, but Jiang Xiaoyuan could tell that Feng Ruixue's was fake. She advised her not to buy counterfeit goods. To help Feng Ruixue expand her business, Jiang Xiaoyuan gave her company's afternoon tea and gifted her a new scarf. However, Feng Ruixue couldn't ignore the gossip among the employees. It wasn't until Jiang Xiaoyuan had Huo Baiyu take Feng Ruixue home that she discovered their secret relationship. Feng Ruixue first begged for mercy, then hysterically accused and ridiculed out of jealousy. She begged Jiang Xiaoyuan not to withdraw her investment, as doing so would be akin to forcing her to die. But Jiang Xiaoyuan couldn't accept betrayal; she would not allow it.

That night, Feng Ruixue disappeared. Jiang Xiaoyuan felt responsible for her apparent suicide, but unable to reach her father, she asked her special assistant for help. The special assistant asked her strange questions, such as whether she liked herself in this world and why she came to this world. The assistant gave Jiang Xiaoyuan a phone, instructing her to use it for matters concerning Feng Ruixue, as some of her statements could be used against her in the future.

Fifteen minutes before the lighthouse system activation, Jiang Xiaoyuan received a call from the assistant, saying that Feng Ruixue had been found, but the situation was extremely complex. He asked her to rush from the Cross-River Bridge to Pier 13 within fifteen minutes. On the way to Pier 13, anxious and in a hurry, Jiang Xiaoyuan got into a car accident. She and the car plunged into the river. In a situation deemed worthless, Jiang Xiaoyuan logged into the lighthouse system and began this strange journey through a certain passage. Meanwhile, Qi Lian received a signal. After so many years, Xu Jingyang, is it you?

Qi Lian has been following Jiang Xiaoyuan, claiming they are fellow townspeople, wanting to ensure she has a place to stay. To avoid exposure, Jiang Xiaoyuan decides to quickly shake him off but unintentionally runs into a dead end. No matter how she hides, she will be discovered. So, Jiang Xiaoyuan hides in the women's restroom, seizes the opportunity to climb out through the window, and escapes. Hungry for a long time, Jiang Xiaoyuan takes out the only two coins left on her, checks the price list on the wall, and orders two-thirds of a bowl of white rice.

Qi Lian never gives up searching for Xu Jingyang. Upon accidentally encountering Jiang Xiaoyuan eating plain rice in a destitute state, he tasks someone with investigating what happened to her in Chongqing. Jiang Xiaoyuan, a wealthy heiress, eating plain rice, never thought hunger could be so unbearable. Thinking about finding a job, Jiang Xiaoyuan witnesses a robbery. Once again, Qi Lian descends from the sky to rescue her, but she scolds him for his trouble. Ignoring her, Qi Lian gives her some money and advises her to find a place to stay quickly. Tearful, Jiang Xiaoyuan dislikes this kind of charity, but Qi Lian is right—without his help, she wouldn't survive the night.

Qi Lian brings Jiang Xiaoyuan to a hotel. The two remain silent throughout the journey. Before leaving, Jiang Xiaoyuan asks Qi Lian how to repay the money, and he tells her to call her dad's number. The two hundred yuan Qi Lian gave her is just enough for a night in a standard room, excluding breakfast. Jiang Xiaoyuan runs to an internet cafe to apply for a job as a network manager. However, she takes the wrong turn and ends up at a live-streaming anchor recruitment event. She doesn't stay in the hotel arranged by Qi Lian, causing him to search frantically.

Relying on her attractive face, Jiang Xiaoyuan becomes a network manager, eating instant noodles, and dreams during a daze. The next morning at 8 o'clock, Jiang Xiaoyuan finishes work, and her place of residence is a storage room behind the internet cafe. Qi Lian has searched all the nearby internet cafes but hasn't found Jiang Xiaoyuan. Unaware that she has entered an illegal internet cafe, Jiang Xiaoyuan, with the two hundred yuan given by Qi Lian, eats a bowl of wonton soup, buys some essentials, and purchases a phone charger. This phone is the only thing that traveled with Jiang Xiaoyuan when she crossed over, and she firmly believes that through it, she can contact her original world. After so long, she truly misses home. When the phone is turned on, she still can't reach her father, but a person claiming to be an uncle says her dad had a sudden cerebral infarction and needs surgery funds. Disregarding the scam, Jiang Xiaoyuan is found by Qi Lian. In Qi Lian's eyes, it's strange for Jiang Xiaoyuan to pretend not to recognize him after six years, but only Jiang Xiaoyuan knows that no one can help her.

In the following days, Jiang Xiaoyuan lives on five yuan worth of wonton soup each day, working as a network manager in an internet cafe, experiencing days of homelessness. Qi Lian is constantly worried about her and quietly watches over her. Until today, when Jiang Xiaoyuan was touched inappropriately by thugs in the internet cafe, she fought back, threatened the boss to settle her wages, and finally received a three hundred yuan salary. Jiang Xiaoyuan immediately goes to Qi Lian to repay the money, following the address he provided and arriving at a certain house.

Jiang Xiaoyuan sits outside the house, nibbling on a steamed bun, when suddenly three menacing men approach, inquiring about Qi Lian's whereabouts and even throwing her steamed bun. Before Jiang Xiaoyuan can react, Qi Lian returns, and the aggressors, clamoring to stand up to Qi Lian, end up receiving a lesson from him. Witnessing this, Jiang Xiaoyuan feels a bit scared, quickly offers the owed two hundred yuan in a respectful manner, and Qi Lian explains that he is now involved in some small business and occasional internet activities, and the men were rivals seeking him.

Qi Lian takes Jiang Xiaoyuan inside the house. Initially uneasy, she becomes frightened when she sees him holding a knife and rushes to leave. However, Qi Lian insists she stays to share a meal of curry-covered rice. Unable to resist the temptation of delicious food, Jiang Xiaoyuan devours her portion at the table and realizes that the person in front of her might not be as fearsome as she thought. She attributes his actions to assistance rooted in fellow-township camaraderie. While wandering around Qi Lian's home, Jiang Xiaoyuan accidentally enters a room filled with photos of dead people. Shocked, she attempts to flee but is cornered by Qi Lian.

Qi Lian speeds with Jiang Xiaoyuan on the highway, and upon reaching their destination, he drops her off and runs away. Qi Lian helps Jiang Xiaoyuan secure a job at a salon owned by their old friend Chen Fangzhou, although Jiang Xiaoyuan acts as if she doesn't recognize him. It's a high-end salon, and Jiang Xiaoyuan starts as an apprentice, but she gets free meals and accommodation.

Qi Lian finds information about Jiang Xiaoyuan during the years she went missing. She faced many hardships, working since entering school. Her poor relationship with wealthy classmates resulted in social isolation, and after a while, there was no news about her. Qi Lian is deeply saddened, wondering why Jiang Xiaoyuan didn't come to find him all these years. Chen Fangzhou arranges for Jiang Xiaoyuan to stay in the employee dorms, revealing that she and Qi Lian were inseparable in the past. They went to Chongqing for college, but she didn't inform Qi Lian, which deeply saddened him. Jiang Xiaoyuan decides to stay temporarily, finding it more respectable than the illegal internet cafe.

Assigned to the hair-washing section, Jiang Xiaoyuan faces exclusion and even goes without food. If not for Chen Fangzhou sharing his meal with her, she would go hungry. Confronted with colleagues' provocations, Jiang Xiaoyuan remains defiant. After work, she discovers Qi Lian waiting for her at the door. Despite her fear of him, Qi Lian returns her ID card and takes her to a supermarket to buy daily necessities. Qi Lian's gaze is complicated, and Jiang Xiaoyuan, choosing a leather jacket, bankrupts herself when she sees the bill.

Jiang Xiaoyuan realizes belatedly that Qi Lian's assistance is due to his fondness for the Jiang Xiaoyuan of this world. If he discovers she's an impostor, she fears he might act impulsively. She persists in searching for the time-space portal, frequently checking information while at work. Chen Fangzhou continues to pester her for hair-washing practice, making her even more frustrated. Qi Lian believes that Xu Jingyang must still be somewhere in this world. After being injured years ago, Xu Jingyang mentioned the possibility of leaving Qi Lian's world, but Qi Lian has never believed in his words.

Jiang Xiaoyuan excitedly called Qi Lian, informing him that she passed the assessment and wanted to have dinner together. However, Qi Lian mentioned he was on a business trip and could only meet tomorrow night. In reality, Qi Lian went to Jiang Xiaoyuan's hometown, Baiyang County, and met her grandmother. Jiang's grandmother was delighted to see Qi Lian and urged him to sit down, expressing concern about not hearing from Jiang Xiaoyuan for a year. Qi Lian sighed but assured her that Jiang Xiaoyuan was fine.

Qi Lian learned from Jiang's grandmother that Jiang Xiaoyuan had disappeared for a year. During her last visit, she was seriously ill, and silently left a hundred thousand yuan for her. In fact, when Jiang Xiaoyuan first entered college, her grandmother was critically ill, and she worked hard to earn money for her treatment. Jiang Xiaoyuan treated Qi Lian to a meal with her 2,000 yuan salary. However, Qi Lian became suspicious; Jiang's grandmother mentioned that she now smoked and drank, habits she never had before. Qi Lian wondered how a girl like her could suddenly earn a hundred thousand yuan.

As Jiang Xiaoyuan raised her second glass, Qi Lian's expression grew more serious. He had been waiting for her to ask why he didn't keep their appointment six years ago, why he left without a word and didn't return to Baiyang County, and why, knowing Jiang Xiaoyuan needed help, he was absent for four years. Jiang Xiaoyuan, confused and not aware of the events, urged Qi Lian to understand that she wasn't the same person as before. Qi Lian, suppressing his heartache, agreed to all of Jiang Xiaoyuan's requests.

Jiang Xiaoyuan was grateful that Qi Lian was willing to be friends after learning the truth. However, she was unsure about their past. In the salon, Jiang Xiaoyuan, ranked last in seniority due to performance, received no clients. Xiao K voluntarily gave her clients to Jiang Xiaoyuan, helping her secure the first customer. Inspired by a client's suggestion, Jiang Xiaoyuan realized she could use her strengths to attract regulars. Implementing a plan with Xiao K, Jiang Xiaoyuan and Xiao K gradually improved their business, much to the dismay of Ling Jie.

While happily sharing her success with Qi Lian, Jiang Xiaoyuan noticed his ambiguous expression. Chen Fangzhou, before leaving for a business trip, shared insider information with Jiang Xiaoyuan: two junior technician slots would open up this month, and with effort, she could secure one. On the first day of Chen Fangzhou's absence, Ling Jie deliberately sabotaged Jiang Xiaoyuan by assigning her to attend to Helen's clients. Despite Xiao K's warning about Ling Jie, Jiang Xiaoyuan confronted her after a client left due to allergies, resulting in Helen disqualifying her from performance and competition.

Feeling betrayed by Xiao K, Jiang Xiaoyuan confronted her, stating they were not on the same side. This incident reignited Jiang Xiaoyuan's determination to find the time-space gate. While browsing online, she came across a post where someone mentioned their friend, Little Xu, disappeared inexplicably, becoming a forgotten person in everyone's memory. Looking at the pictures in the post, Jiang Xiaoyuan experienced severe headaches, as if an invisible force was pulling her back. Qi Lian found her unconscious again and took care of her, covering her medical expenses.

The video exposing Ling Jie's scheming went viral online, and Jiang Xiaoyuan was unaware of it. However, everyone, including Chen Fangzhou, believed she was responsible and questioned her over the phone.

Jiang Xiaoyuan arranged to meet a forum friend online, revealing herself as a time-space traveler. Unaware that the person she would meet was Qi Lian, she embarked on the journey with only 24 yuan, hoping to find a way back. Qi Lian, upon receiving a call from Chen Fangzhou about Jiang Xiaoyuan resigning and being unreachable, reluctantly set out to find her. Jiang Xiaoyuan reached the agreed coffee shop but waited from dawn to dusk without meeting her online friend. With her last 22 yuan, she bought a pearl milk tea and checked the forum on the tablet, finding no messages.

After a month, penniless and with no way back to the salon job, Jiang Xiaoyuan felt lost. Qi Lian arrived at the coffee shop after Jiang Xiaoyuan left, and the staff handed him her abandoned phone. Using the phone, Qi Lian unexpectedly discovered that the online friend Jiang Xiaoyuan was supposed to meet was her. Jiang Xiaoyuan, now in the rain, felt everything unrelated to her collapsing and cried uncontrollably. Qi Lian pulled her back from the road as a car approached. Jiang Xiaoyuan clung to him, crying profusely, seeing him as a lifesaver.

Qi Lian, angry upon learning that Jiang Xiaoyuan wrote the forum post and arranged the meeting, questioned if she was a real time-space traveler. Jiang Xiaoyuan couldn't provide answers, and Qi Lian insisted she stay by his side until he finds the truth about the original Jiang Xiaoyuan. He revealed that their previous interactions were for the real Jiang Xiaoyuan. Emotions ran high between them, and Qi Lian took Jiang Xiaoyuan back to where she woke up a month ago. The coordinates were sent to her phone, originally belonging to Xu Jingyang. Suspecting Xu's involvement, Qi Lian confronted Jiang Xiaoyuan forcefully, demanding her body back.

The next day, Qi Lian dropped Jiang Xiaoyuan at the salon, promising to find a way for her to return. Chen Fangzhou scolded her and assigned her menial tasks. Despite the emotional turmoil, Jiang Xiaoyuan remained silent. Qi Lian, dealing with his own concerns, arranged for an investigation into the two phones. The salon changed its promotion criteria to prioritize technical skills. Jiang Xiaoyuan, demoralized, was scolded by Chen Fangzhou, who complained to Qi Lian about her lifeless state. Qi Lian warned her to stop or risk hindering her life. Jiang Xiaoyuan, contemplating her choices, decided to prove to those who saw through her that she could overcome. From then on, she dedicated herself to practicing hairdressing techniques, vowing to pass the assessment within a month.

Jiang Xiaoyuan practiced all night in Chen Fangzhou's office, startling him the next day. She couldn't figure out where she went wrong; every haircut turned out differently. Chen Fangzhou, helpless, sent her back to sleep, but Jiang Xiaoyuan collapsed after a few steps. Despite a high fever, she insisted on practicing, as she had nothing left, and only excellence could prevent her from being ignored. In this world, no one cared about her, and she feared that if Chen Fangzhou knew she wasn't the original Jiang Xiaoyuan, he would despise her like Qi Lian.

That night, Qi Lian brought food, even if Jiang Xiaoyuan didn't want to eat, her body needed nutrition. Jiang Xiaoyuan, with teary eyes, ate the plain congee under his gaze, reminding Qi Lian of the time she ate in tears, having suffered grievances. They were both fond of putting on a brave front. Qi Lian's words provoked Jiang Xiaoyuan, and suddenly she smashed the bowl, asserting that crossing was not her fault, so why was Qi Lian angry with her!

Qi Lian received a call, and later knocked on the door, saying that Jiang's grandmother suddenly fell ill in the afternoon but was saved. Qi Lian requested Jiang Xiaoyuan to call her grandmother, considering it a favor returned. However, Jiang Xiaoyuan couldn't do it; her grandmother died before she was born, and her parents never cared for her. Softening his approach, Qi Lian pleaded once again for Jiang Xiaoyuan's help. She eventually relented, and Jiang's grandmother, hearing Jiang Xiaoyuan's voice, became emotional, causing tears to flow from Jiang Xiaoyuan's eyes. After the call, Qi Lian said he was looking for a way to send her back but warned it wouldn't be quick. Jiang Xiaoyuan needed to prepare for an extended stay in this world. As for the junior stylist exam, she didn't need to push herself too hard.

The next day was the promotion exam. Chen Fangzhou asked Qi Lian to come and show support, but Qi Lian felt that Jiang Xiaoyuan might not want to see him. Despite this, Qi Lian still showed up the next day. Both Jiang Xiaoyuan and Xiao K registered for the assessment, scoring full marks on the theoretical part. In the practical section, Jiang Xiaoyuan received the advanced stylist test, making Chen Fangzhou realize that Qi Lian had switched the questions. Qi Lian stated that if Jiang Xiaoyuan wanted to prove herself, she should strive for absolute fairness. Xiao K's speed was impressive, and while Jiang Xiaoyuan was doing well, her speed was not fast enough.

With only five minutes left, Jiang Xiaoyuan's hairpin broke. However, she improvised by tying a scarf around her hair to create a unique hairstyle. Despite this creative touch, Helen argued that Jiang Xiaoyuan's mistake was too noticeable. Qi Lian agreed, and they didn't approve Jiang Xiaoyuan's assessment. The winner was Xiao K. Frustrated, Jiang Xiaoyuan confronted Qi Lian, questioning if it was so difficult to acknowledge her excellence.

Xiao Bai suddenly reported to Chen Fangzhou, accusing Sister Ling of helping Xiao K cheat. She overheard Sister Ling obtaining the exam questions for Xiao K, and Chen Fangzhou instantly recalled the scene where Sister Ling emptied the trash in his office that night. Chen Fangzhou also realized that Jiang Xiaoyuan's curling iron had been intentionally damaged. After a heated argument, Sister Ling resigned, and Xiao K's promotion qualification was revoked due to cheating. The winner this time was Jiang Xiaoyuan.

Qi Lian, troubled by Jiang Xiaoyuan's situation all day, decided to help her revisit past scenes and people to recover the old Jiang Xiaoyuan. Qi Lian called Jiang Xiaoyuan to have dinner together, and Lily, thinking Qi Lian was pursuing Jiang Xiaoyuan, quickly helped her dress up. Qi Lian organized a hometown gathering, introducing Jiang Xiaoyuan to many people from their past. However, an encounter with Ding Xiangling, who claimed Jiang Xiaoyuan had stolen her 500 yuan, led to a quarrel. Jiang Xiaoyuan became angrier and disliked Qi Lian more, thinking he brought her here just to make her suffer.

To establish an equal relationship between them, Jiang Xiaoyuan and Qi Lian reached an agreement. Qi Lian would help Jiang Xiaoyuan find a way home, while she continued to play the role of this world's Jiang Xiaoyuan. Qi Lian told her the person sending coordinates might be a hacker, but Jiang Xiaoyuan found it surprising, as it seemed unnatural to her. When she woke up, her phone was off, making it impossible to locate. Where did these coordinates come from? Jiang Xiaoyuan and Qi Lian were increasingly terrified, and through investigation, they finally found the person who installed the locator for Jiang Xiaoyuan.

Jiang Xiaoyuan and Qi Lian immediately set out. Jiang Xiaoyuan's emotions became uncontrollable, even suspecting her crossing was orchestrated by Assistant Xu, but Qi Lian believed in Xu Jingyang. The location indicated by the locator was a large shopping mall, and Jiang Xiaoyuan and Qi Lian searched separately. Qi Lian followed a suspicious person to a secret passage, but at the same time, Jiang Xiaoyuan was being trailed by a mysterious figure. When they reunited, Qi Lian claimed the person he followed vanished into thin air, but Jiang Xiaoyuan didn't believe him.

Today is Christmas Eve, and Lily mentioned having a friend who has a date tonight and asked Jiang Xiaoyuan to help her dress up. Jiang Xiaoyuan created a very successful look for her. The locator in the phone has run out of battery, and Qi Lian learned that it can only last for a year.

Jiang Xiaoyuan has recently caught a cold but still wants to stay at the salon to practice. Seeing her getting close to Lily, Chen Fangzhou suggests that Jiang Xiaoyuan should spend more time with her. Lily's boyfriend, who works as a makeup artist in a photography studio, is in need of help since the original makeup artist ran away. Although Jiang Xiaoyuan is reluctant, she agrees to lend a hand. The clients at the studio are agitated due to a long wait, and the makeup supplies are insufficient. Jiang Xiaoyuan has to make a last-minute purchase.

Qi Lian receives news about the locator, so he asks for the staff dormitory phone number from Chen Fangzhou to inform Jiang Xiaoyuan. However, Chen Fangzhou says that Jiang Xiaoyuan is neither at the dormitory nor the salon. Qi Lian becomes nervous, fearing that someone might have found her. While purchasing makeup, Jiang Xiaoyuan recalls her past friendship with Feng Ruixue, feeling a fleeting warmth. As she finishes shopping, Qi Lian walks towards her through the snow, holding an umbrella. He informs her that the locator is produced by a company in Chongqing, and he needs to go there. Jiang Xiaoyuan wants to accompany him, but he refuses, citing concerns for her safety. She playfully lifts her chin, asking him whose safety he is worried about. Before he can answer, she avoids the question.

Qi Lian insists on accompanying Jiang Xiaoyuan back home, which infuriates her. At the photography studio, Qi Lian almost reports the studio. The bride is unhappy with her dress, and Jiang Xiaoyuan, using scissors, makes slight modifications, making it even more beautiful. Thanks to Jiang Xiaoyuan's help, the photography session goes smoothly. Upon leaving, Qi Lian unexpectedly brings cold medicine and hot water. In gratitude, Jiang Xiaoyuan buys him a cup of hot cocoa. She gives him sincere advice, suggesting he stop searching for her old self in her. Regardless of the circumstances, they are not the same person. Jiang Xiaoyuan playfully leaves, wishing Qi Lian a Merry Christmas, and Qi Lian's heart races.

The photography studio offers double pay to poach Jiang Xiaoyuan. Chen Fangzhou rushes to find Qi Lian, but he is certain that Jiang Xiaoyuan won't leave. Qi Lian asks Chen Fangzhou if he noticed any difference in Jiang Xiaoyuan compared to before. Chen Fangzhou thinks she has become more arrogant, but Jiang Xiaoyuan was like that in the past too. When Jiang Xiaoyuan arrives, she proposes opening a beauty department in the salon. However, Chen Fangzhou, not being from the headquarters, cannot make the decision. Jiang Xiaoyuan knows she won't stay here for long, but being suddenly recognized for her abilities makes her somewhat proud. Qi Lian also acknowledges her skills, thinking that maintaining this situation might not be a bad thing. That night, he writes an email proposing the addition of beauty services to the salon. The salon plans to add beauty services and send someone to Chongqing for training. Jiang Xiaoyuan boards a train to Chongqing and coincidentally meets Qi Lian, who is investigating the locator. Upon arriving, Qi Lian gives Jiang Xiaoyuan a new phone. The company has hired a reputed beauty instructor, Jiang Bo, who Jiang Xiaoyuan doesn't particularly like due to his arrogance.

For Jiang Bo's class, Jiang Xiaoyuan couldn't muster much interest because it was just too basic. Upon receiving a message from Qi Lian, Jiang Xiaoyuan decided to get up and leave. However, Jiang Bo unhappily stopped her. Jiang Xiaoyuan was also indignant, questioning the significance of staying here to listen to him rigidly recite that basic knowledge. Jiang Bo challenged Jiang Xiaoyuan to put on makeup, and if she did well, he would allow her to skip class. After applying makeup skillfully, Jiang Xiaoyuan left boldly.

Jiang Xiaoyuan and Qi Lian visited the manufacturer of the positioning device. To investigate, Qi Lian equipped Jiang Xiaoyuan with a camera, and they entered the investigation as citizen journalists. They were informed that the device was customized for a laboratory seven or eight years ago, but the lab's data had disappeared. The manufacturer was attacked by mysterious individuals while searching for records, leading the police to immediately seal off the scene. Qi Lian realized the danger and hurriedly took Jiang Xiaoyuan away, understanding that she was the target, and it wouldn't be suitable for her to be involved in the investigation.

Qi Lian was set to return to Luoshan City in two days. Before leaving, he promised to update Jiang Xiaoyuan on the progress of the investigation every night. Qi Lian also informed her that the device's effective time was only one year, meaning the experiment might conclude within a year. Even if Jiang Xiaoyuan found nothing, she might be sent back, similar to what happened to Xu Jingyang. Excited, Jiang Xiaoyuan's eyes sparkled, but Qi Lian was determined to continue the investigation and find Xu Jingyang. After Jiang Xiaoyuan left, Qi Lian realized he was being tracked.

Due to Jiang Xiaoyuan's performance, Jiang Bo adjusted the teaching plan to practical exercises. Jiang Bo had Jiang Xiaoyuan come up to demonstrate, and with a hint of arrogance, she clashed with him. Regardless of how many times Jiang Xiaoyuan drew, Jiang Bo claimed it was incorrect and eventually expelled her under the pretext of disrupting the classroom order. The argument escalated, and Jiang Bo's remark, "Can't you survive without a sense of superiority?" completely infuriated Jiang Xiaoyuan. Despite this, she remained persistent and returned to her room to study diligently.

Qi Lian called her for a late-night snack, arriving half an hour late. Unexpectedly, Jiang Xiaoyuan seized the opportunity to do his eyebrows. Qi Lian mentioned that Director Zhong had escaped danger but hadn't awakened yet, and they would investigate carefully once he did.

The next day, Jiang Xiaoyuan attended class on time, wearing a mask since Jiang Bo expressed a preference not to see her face but didn't explicitly forbid her from attending. While diligently practicing makeup, Qi Lian arrived. Jiang Xiaoyuan couldn't wait to show him her new makeup, and as he looked at her approaching face, it was hard for Qi Lian to deny being tempted. Sitting by the river, Jiang Xiaoyuan shared her world with him, where she lacked nothing but didn't seem very happy. Despite feeling warmth in this world, Jiang Xiaoyuan couldn't articulate why she still wanted to go home. Qi Lian bought her an ice cream, reminiscent of the ice cream truck, which, although gone, brought a sense of familiarity.

Jiang Bo considered it unrealistic to become a makeup artist in just two weeks and dismissed the inquiries from Qi Lian and the boss. Qi Lian, the only son of General Qi, was the target of cooperation for Mr. Cai. However, since Jiang Bo insisted otherwise, Mr. Cai was unwilling to continue. Qi Lian, determined not to stop, wanted those undergoing training to see results. Mr. Cai eventually agreed to arrange a final graduation assessment. If everyone passed, the project could continue.

Jiang Xiaoyuan overheard their conversation and quickly discussed it with everyone, encouraging them to practice together and pass the graduation assessment. After two weeks of classes, the graduation assessment arrived. It was a simple task: complete a basic full-face makeup within forty-five minutes, each person with a unique theme. However, the questions exceeded the scope, causing some panic. Jiang Xiaoyuan, undeterred, finished her makeup within thirty minutes and then proceeded to guide others. The judges were somewhat displeased, but their rules didn't explicitly prohibit mutual assistance, and Jiang Xiaoyuan hadn't done the makeup herself.

After the assessment, Jiang Bo announced that eleven people had achieved passing grades, while the remaining person had assisted others, violating the rules. However, Jiang Bo acknowledged Jiang Xiaoyuan's outstanding performance, granting her a pass. Thanks to Jiang Xiaoyuan's efforts, the trial opportunity for the new business was secured. Chen Fangzhou was proud, though Jiang Xiaoyuan didn't believe Qi Lian specifically wrote the recommendation for her; perhaps the original Jiang Xiaoyuan also liked makeup? During a photo shoot, there was a small incident: Jiang Xiaoyuan accidentally fell, leaving a lipstick mark on Qi Lian's face.

Jiang Xiaoyuan and Jiang Bo expressed gratitude. Jiang Xiaoyuan admitted she had learned a lot from Jiang Bo. In the afternoon, as they were about to return to Luoshan City, Qi Lian took Jiang Xiaoyuan to the ice cream truck by the river she had mentioned. Jiang Xiaoyuan tasted the flavors of her childhood, feeling elated. She took pictures with Qi Lian to commemorate the moment, realizing that despite her initial dislike for this life, she couldn't bear to part with her friends here. When she went to develop the photos, she returned to find Qi Lian gone and received a message saying he had something to attend to. Unaware that Qi Lian had been watching her from a distance, she was perplexed. Qi Lian, conflicted and fearful, knew that Jiang Xiaoyuan was no longer the same person.

Jiang Xiaoyuan became the chief beauty and styling artist, sparking dissatisfaction from Helen. Jiang Xiaoyuan set a challenging goal: she would be responsible for the beauty KPI in the store, aiming for a monthly performance of ten thousand. Chen Fangzhou thought Jiang Xiaoyuan was surely crazy, and through his analysis, Jiang Xiaoyuan realized she had acted impulsively but had to stick to her decision.

Qi Lian visited Director Zhong, who sensed something strange. Although unaware of Qi Lian's investigation, Director Zhong was reluctant to get involved. Qi Lian didn't reveal much but noticed a listening device under Director Zhong's bed as he left. Qi Lian quickly focused on investigating Director Zhong's student, Huo Baiyu, discovering he was Jiang Xiaoyuan's boyfriend from university and had left Chongqing early that morning.

In order to promote makeup sales, Jiang Xiaoyuan spent a day distributing flyers outside with Lily, but it yielded no results. So, Jiang Xiaoyuan thought of using live broadcasts and the internet for promotion. She asked Lily to go back and went alone to seek Qi Lian's help, completely unaware that someone was trailing her. Qi Lian discreetly appeared and drove away the pursuer. Jiang Xiaoyuan, upon seeing Qi Lian's shadow, quickly called him, only to learn that Qi Lian claimed to still be in Chongqing. Qi Lian informed Jiang Xiaoyuan that Director Zhong didn't have much information, and the leads had temporarily gone cold.

Upon receiving Qi Lian's message, Jiang Xiaoyuan called him, reminding him to be safe. She felt that Qi Lian might have something on his mind lately, but Qi Lian continued to evade the issue. After hanging up, Qi Lian asked Ade to protect Jiang Xiaoyuan and find someone named Huo Baiyu. Ade kept an eye on Jiang Xiaoyuan during the day, and her online videos gained popularity. However, no one came forward to request her makeup services. By the end of the year, Jiang Xiaoyuan considered taking on assignments for year-end parties as an opportunity.

Huo Baiyu's appearance raised Qi Lian's suspicion. Did he already know that the current Jiang Xiaoyuan was not the same as before? After investigating Huo Baiyu's address, Qi Lian immediately arrived at the hotel where he was staying, but the room was already empty. It seemed that Huo Baiyu had sensed Qi Lian looking for him and left early. Qi Lian had someone look into Huo Baiyu's activities over the past two years and concluded that Huo Baiyu was indeed connected to the ongoing investigation.

In the past few days, Jiang Xiaoyuan continued to go to work as usual. Ade, who was tracking her back home, was discovered and had to confess. He explained that Qi Lian had asked him to protect her and mentioned Qi Lian discovering an ex-boyfriend. Jiang Xiaoyuan, who had made a small fortune from her promotional video, planned to treat Qi Lian to a meal, but he didn't respond to her messages. Thinking Qi Lian was still in Chongqing, Jiang Xiaoyuan was surprised when Lily mentioned seeing him with Chen Fangzhou a couple of days ago. Immediately, she went to Qi Lian's house and confronted him about avoiding her. Qi Lian, unwilling to answer, informed her that her ex-boyfriend was related to their investigation. This revelation angered Jiang Xiaoyuan even more, as Qi Lian had always shared his speculations with her. Now, the information he had uncovered suggested that both the original Jiang Xiaoyuan and her ex-boyfriend were accomplices, and Xu Jingyang was the mastermind. Qi Lian, realizing the misunderstanding, tried to explain, but Jiang Xiaoyuan, infuriated, believed he was blaming her.

The two had an inexplicable argument, and Qi Lian's mood sank. They were only two thousand short of the ten thousand turnover goal, and the year-end party customers were running out of time. Jiang Xiaoyuan had to attract more customers. Xiao K asked for help with makeup for a date that evening, and although Jiang Xiaoyuan understood it as a favor, she agreed. Suddenly, Jiang Bo called, saying that an art troupe needed makeup for a private event. He was unwilling to take the job and asked Jiang Xiaoyuan to handle it, as it seemed to be a significant order.

Huo Baiyu dreamt that Qi Lian killed him, leading him to decide to eliminate Qi Lian as the "virus." The theater group was indeed financially tight, but they easily agreed to Jiang Xiaoyuan's asking price. The challenge was that they needed makeup and design within a week. For the sake of business performance, Jiang Xiaoyuan took on the order. In the evening, she met the female lead of the theater group, who turned out to be the investor. At the nightclub, Jiang Xiaoyuan encountered Feng Ruixue. Feng Ruixue, unlike her previous humble self, now acted like an arrogant heiress. When the food delivery was delayed, she threatened to give a bad review. Jiang Xiaoyuan, not recognizing her as the Feng Ruixue she knew, advised her to be lenient. Unexpectedly, Feng Ruixue slapped her, and Jiang Xiaoyuan promptly retaliated. What Jiang Xiaoyuan didn't realize was that Feng Ruixue was the owner of the theater group, leading to her puzzlement about why this world's version of Feng Ruixue had the same name.

A friend informed Qi Lian that Jiang Xiaoyuan's ex-boyfriend, Huo Baiyu, had a legitimate girlfriend at the time. According to the friend, Jiang Xiaoyuan persistently pursued and snatched Huo Baiyu away. However, Qi Lian didn't believe this and sensed there must be a misunderstanding. Feng Ruixue became the client for Jiang Xiaoyuan, and for the sake of her business performance, Jiang Xiaoyuan reluctantly apologized and drank with Feng Ruixue. However, Feng Ruixue didn't accept her apology, and she kept making Jiang Xiaoyuan drink more. Unable to bear it, Jiang Xiaoyuan, after a quarrel with Feng Ruixue, decided to leave but encountered a group of rich young ladies outside the private room. They were surprised to see Jiang Xiaoyuan and sarcastically mentioned her stealing Huo Baiyu, Feng Ruixue's boyfriend. Shocked, Jiang Xiaoyuan wondered if the original Jiang Xiaoyuan in this world had snatched Feng Ruixue's boyfriend. Before she could process this, Feng Ruixue poured a drink over her head, and Jiang Xiaoyuan fainted.

Upon learning that Feng Ruixue was present, Qi Lian rushed to the room to talk to her. However, he found Jiang Xiaoyuan unconscious on the floor, with Feng Ruixue and her friends berating her. Qi Lian carried Jiang Xiaoyuan out of the room, and though she kept mumbling, Qi Lian couldn't bring himself to leave her behind. On the way, Jiang Xiaoyuan insisted that Qi Lian record her, claiming it was the only evidence of her existence. Qi Lian, biased towards the original Jiang Xiaoyuan, despite being good to her initially, reluctantly agreed. Jiang Xiaoyuan, who had encountered few people genuinely kind to her in her life, kissed Qi Lian on the face, expressing her gratitude for meeting those who treated her well.

Qi Lian took Jiang Xiaoyuan to the hospital, and after the blood test results showed no serious issues, they discovered she had just consumed too much alcohol. However, even lying on the hospital bed, Jiang Xiaoyuan couldn't stay still. Qi Lian struggled to get her to lie down and stayed by her side. Holding Qi Lian's hand, Jiang Xiaoyuan displayed a sense of reliance, pleading in her sleep for him not to leave. However, when she woke up, Jiang Xiaoyuan completely forgot what she had said, telling Qi Lian about her best friend in that world named Feng Ruixue and how Huo Baiyu was her ex-boyfriend. Jiang Xiaoyuan felt there must be some connection between the two worlds but then stated that their contract was no longer valid. Qi Lian, seeing Jiang Xiaoyuan no longer recognizing him, played the recording, and their contract continued. However, due to Qi Lian's inexplicable jealousy towards Baiyue Guang, Jiang Xiaoyuan became angry. To change the subject, Qi Lian promised not to avoid Jiang Xiaoyuan anymore.

Feng Ruixue changed her focus, wanting to torment Jiang Xiaoyuan. After receiving the contract, Jiang Xiaoyuan decided to consider it, as it involved a payment of three thousand yuan. Qi Lian arranged to meet Feng Ruixue, but she wasn't pleased to see him and mentioned that Huo Baiyu had disappeared. After leaving, Qi Lian went to the barbershop, where Jiang Xiaoyuan was diligently working on a design. Qi Lian gave her a bubblegum, and as she put it in her mouth, it reminded him of the previous Jiang Xiaoyuan. Jiang Xiaoyuan expressed that she used to have everything, so she didn't have anything she particularly liked. However, in this world, she discovered a passion for makeup and intended to continue in the field after returning. Since Jiang Xiaoyuan had no experience with stage makeup, her first design didn't receive approval, and Feng Ruixue nitpicked it. Manager Cui mentioned that the makeup designs were all beautiful but too similar and not close to the characters. Feeling frustrated, Jiang Xiaoyuan was invited by Qi Lian to have dinner to ease her mind.

Jiang Xiaoyuan showed her design to Qi Lian, and he agreed with Manager Cui's critique. While chatting, they noticed a menacing man at a nearby table bullying someone. Unable to stand by, Jiang Xiaoyuan intervened, and with Qi Lian's help, they drove the bully away. This incident inspired Jiang Xiaoyuan with new ideas. Despite planning to work all night on her designs, Qi Lian insisted she go back to rest. He suggested visiting the theater the next day to observe how the actors interpreted their roles.

However, Jiang Xiaoyuan's visit to the theater did not yield ideal results. The actors were not focused on rehearsals, and there was no time for in-depth discussions with Jiang Xiaoyuan. Many of them were struggling actors who had been laid off by larger theaters. Manager Cui, lacking experience in running a theater, often couldn't pay salaries on time, and the actors, though understanding, needed to make a living.

Undeterred, Jiang Xiaoyuan inquired about the part-time jobs the actors were doing. She spent a day working at a convenience store where she finally gained the actors' trust. They informed her of the upcoming joint rehearsal, where Jiang Xiaoyuan could showcase her skills. The next day, she arrived at the rehearsal venue, even buying coffee for everyone.

Qi Lian asked Chen Fangzhou to pick up pear soup he had specially cooked for Jiang Xiaoyuan, who had been coughing. However, Qi Lian wanted Chen Fangzhou to claim he made it himself. Chen Fangzhou, unwilling to take credit for someone else's work, refused, so Qi Lian went to fetch Jiang Xiaoyuan himself. Having interacted with the theater actors, Jiang Xiaoyuan had learned about their dedication to their goals. Qi Lian handed her a thermos, surprising her with pear soup. She wondered why he bothered to bring it if he claimed it was a casual visit. Jiang Xiaoyuan found Qi Lian's behavior strange and playfully asked if he liked her. Qi Lian changed the subject, informing Jiang Xiaoyuan that Huo Baiyu had temporarily left, allowing her to focus on work.

Manager Cui was pleased with Jiang Xiaoyuan's latest design and planned a formal photoshoot. Feng Ruixue was present, displaying her arrogant demeanor. Jiang Xiaoyuan defended the theater group against Feng Ruixue's disdain, leading to a heated confrontation. After this incident, Jiang Xiaoyuan offended Feng Ruixue and requested to work with someone else, which Manager Cui reluctantly agreed to. Back at the shop, Chen Fangzhou revealed that the headquarters had decided to cancel the beauty business, adding to Jiang Xiaoyuan's frustration.

Feeling upset, Jiang Xiaoyuan sat at the barbershop's entrance crying. The cancellation meant their efforts were in vain. A new makeup artist was driven away by Feng Ruixue, and with a performance approaching, Manager Cui urgently called Jiang Xiaoyuan for help. Feng Ruixue, displeased with Jiang Xiaoyuan, demanded her departure, but the cast refused to listen to her. The play was successful, and Jiang Xiaoyuan was touched by the actors' shining dedication to their dreams. Planning to treat Qi Lian to a big meal, she returned to the backstage area, only to find an unexpected person there – Huo Baiyu.

Huo Baiyu suddenly appeared in front of Jiang Xiaoyuan, even knowing about the original conflict between her and Feng Ruixue. Upon sensing Jiang Xiaoyuan's reaction, Huo Baiyu, emotionally stirred, revealed that he was Huo Baiyu from the advertising company, and they had been together for a full three years. He was the Huo Baiyu from Jiang Xiaoyuan's original world! With countless questions in her mind, Jiang Xiaoyuan was eager for explanations, but Huo Baiyu was unwilling to provide more details. Instead, he produced the time-traveling phone that all transmigrators possessed and hurriedly took Jiang Xiaoyuan away. Huo Baiyu stated that he knew the way back, but he couldn't reveal it to her at the moment. Throughout the ordeal, Jiang Xiaoyuan had been entangled in this situation by him.

Qi Lian went backstage to find Jiang Xiaoyuan but discovered the door was locked. Huo Baiyu seemed afraid upon hearing Qi Lian's voice, rushed to leave, and warned Jiang Xiaoyuan not to tell anyone about this. When Qi Lian entered the backstage, he noticed Jiang Xiaoyuan's strange demeanor and sensed Huo Baiyu's presence but still let him escape.

Qi Lian instructed Jiang Xiaoyuan to be cautious and stay with the theater group until his return. The successful performance revitalized the theater, and everyone was grateful to Jiang Xiaoyuan. She was formally invited to become the resident makeup artist at the theater. However, as the beauty business was canceled, Jiang Xiaoyuan couldn't continue as a makeup artist. Nevertheless, she promised to support everyone's dreams. During the celebration, Feng Ruixue unexpectedly arrived, claiming she had something to say to Jiang Xiaoyuan. Despite not harboring ill feelings towards Feng Ruixue, Jiang Xiaoyuan would have continued their friendship in the past. Feng Ruixue questioned why Jiang Xiaoyuan disappeared suddenly, and she explained it was due to her grandmother's illness and the need to earn money for medical expenses. Feng Ruixue got even more emotional, offering financial help and expressing her disdain for Huo Baiyu. She accused him of deceiving Jiang Xiaoyuan and tried to shift the blame onto her. Eventually, they reconciled with a handshake, recognizing their past friendship.

Qi Lian discovered that Jiang Xiaoyuan had met Huo Baiyu, and he was puzzled that she seemed uninterested in pursuing Huo Baiyu. Jiang Xiaoyuan wondered if she could return to her original world, but she had developed attachments to this world, including Qi Lian, Chen Fangzhou, Lily, and others. However, perhaps only by leaving could Qi Lian wait for the return of the real Jiang Xiaoyuan. Unaware of Qi Lian's thoughts, she treated him to ice cream, and they took a walk together. Although Jiang Xiaoyuan didn't dislike this world now, she might miss Chen Fangzhou, Lily, and Qi Lian if she returned. When Qi Lian asked if she had promised anything to Huo Baiyu, Jiang Xiaoyuan avoided the question, unwilling to discuss it with him. Qi Lian felt disappointed as Jiang Xiaoyuan's current behavior indicated a lack of trust in him. Jiang Xiaoyuan advised Qi Lian to save his energy for the real her's return. Qi Lian had no words, only asking her to inform him before leaving.

After listening to Jiang Xiaoyuan's recording, Qi Lian couldn't bring himself to delete it. Suddenly, the police arrived, requesting Qi Lian's assistance in investigating Huo Baiyu. The Chongqing police had located Huo Baiyu, and they hoped Qi Lian could provide any information he knew. Ad informed them that Huo Baiyu had been found, and they rushed to the location. However, when the police arrived, Huo Baiyu had already left.

Jiang Xiaoyuan bought gifts for everyone, causing Chen Fangzhou to worry that she might be leaving. She received a call from Huo Baiyu, arranging to meet tonight at the warehouse in the northern suburbs – they were leaving tonight. Qi Lian asked Jiang Xiaoyuan if Huo Baiyu had approached him again, hoping she would end her dealings with him and tell everything to the police. However, Jiang Xiaoyuan was unwilling to get involved, only wanting Huo Baiyu to take her home. Qi Lian couldn't persuade Jiang Xiaoyuan, but he promised to ensure her safety and find out the truth from Xu Jingyang.

Jiang Xiaoyuan exchanged harsh words with Lily, who came to care for her. Lily knew well that Jiang Xiaoyuan wanted her gone, but she refused to leave, even pulling her to join a dinner. Qi Lian did not participate in the gathering; Jiang Xiaoyuan didn't want to see him, and he only asked Chen Fangzhou to send red envelopes to everyone. Starting from tomorrow, the store would be closed until the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year. Little K informed Jiang Xiaoyuan that she wouldn't return to the store after the New Year; she was going back to her hometown to get married due to her parents' illness. Jiang Xiaoyuan felt it was a pity as Little K loved makeup, but reality forced her to compromise. Little K admired Jiang Xiaoyuan's freedom and hoped she would persist in it.

Uncertain where to spend the New Year, Jiang Xiaoyuan considered staying at the store to look after it for Chen Fangzhou. Chen Fangzhou earnestly advised Jiang Xiaoyuan to reconcile with Qi Lian, but she refused to see him, not wanting any connection with him. Huo Baiyu remained silent during police questioning, and the police had to keep an eye on him. Tomorrow morning, Huo Baiyu would be discharged, and the Chongqing police would come for handover.

While the police were called away by a nurse, Qi Lian took the opportunity to visit Huo Baiyu. Huo Baiyu's mental state was worrying, and Qi Lian hoped he would recall who made him believe this world was virtual. However, Huo Baiyu was reluctant to believe and erupted emotionally. Qi Lian hurriedly called for help, and Huo Baiyu was unharmed. Qi Lian was left for reflection by the police. Qi Lian speculated that perhaps time travel didn't exist, and someone altered Jiang Xiaoyuan and Huo Baiyu's memories. But if that was the case, what about Xu Jingyang? Why did he disappear?

The sisters had all gone home early to celebrate the New Year. Jiang Xiaoyuan, unsure where to go, found gifts and well-wishes from everyone on the table. Touched, she shed tears unknowingly. Grandma Jiang called, urging her to come home for the New Year. After the call, Jiang Xiaoyuan boarded the train home. On the train, Jiang Bo called, mentioning a need for an assistant and asking if she was interested. Jiang Xiaoyuan decided to consider it later.

At the village entrance, she met Grandma Jiang covered in snow, who had specially cooked dumplings for her. They rode back home on Uncle Qi's tricycle, and as soon as they entered, Grandma busied herself warming a hot water bag for Jiang Xiaoyuan. She reported her safety to Chen Fangzhou over the phone, and then, with an investigative attitude, she opened the door to her room. Strangely, everything in the room, including the layout and the positions of items, was identical to her world, even the parents in the photos were the same! Jiang Xiaoyuan was astonished; what was this, just a coincidence? She would keep the secret hidden under the bed, where she found a box, and upon opening it, discovered a book.

Jiang Xiaoyuan found a diary in the box under her bed, which documented the tragic life of Jiang Xiaoyuan in this world. The story unfolded on the first day of Jiang Xiaoyuan's freshman year when her parents had a car accident while working outside and never returned, not even their bodies. Grandma, who had a serious illness when Jiang Xiaoyuan was young, fell ill again after her parents' death, leaving Jiang Xiaoyuan feeling helpless. One day, she discovered that her family owed a lot of money to the villagers. Grandma never told Jiang Xiaoyuan about it and always provided her with pocket money for school. Later, her classmates spread rumors that she stole money from others, making Jiang Xiaoyuan furious.

Chen Fangzhou confirmed Jiang Xiaoyuan's return home and reported the situation to Qi Lian. Due to the debt issue, the villagers had a falling out with their family. Chen Fangzhou was worried, but Qi Lian believed that some truths could only be found by Jiang Xiaoyuan herself. Qi Lian was summoned by the Chongqing police to cooperate with the investigation, and Huo Baiyu committed suicide and couldn't be saved.

The last date in Jiang Xiaoyuan's diary was August 31, 2010. She believed there were other diaries, but after searching the entire room, she couldn't find them. Grandma mentioned that a year ago, Jiang Xiaoyuan brought back a hundred thousand yuan and had a secret contract. Jiang Xiaoyuan racked her brains and decided to investigate with the village secretary.

Qi Lian consulted experts about the possibility of completely replacing a person's memories. When mentioning Mingguang Laboratory, the expert remembered their leader, named Noah, a Chinese-American, but they didn't have his contact information. With Huo Baiyu dead, Qi Lian planned to visit Mingguang Laboratory, hoping to find the answers there.

While on her way to find the village secretary, Jiang Xiaoyuan suddenly saw familiar scenes, recalling certain memories. When she was falsely accused of stealing money and bullied by bad students, it was Qi Lian and Chen Fangzhou who saved her. Qi Lian didn't speak to her at the time, but Jiang Xiaoyuan considered him her protector, running to him whenever she encountered trouble. After following Qi Lian for two months, he still didn't say much. Later, Jiang Xiaoyuan suggested solving their overnight accommodation issue, benefiting both of them. Qi Lian suggested she could ask her parents to come to school, but she had no parents; she only had herself. At that time, she worked in a hair salon, so she asked Qi Lian to stay overnight at the shop. Jiang Xiaoyuan's only goal at that time was the college entrance exam, and Qi Lian accepted.

Every morning, Jiang Xiaoyuan would bring breakfast to open the store. Qi Lian was there, and she was no longer bullied. Every night, she followed Qi Lian to the internet cafe, sitting beside him to do her homework, and they gradually became familiar with each other. Once, Jiang Xiaoyuan received a love letter, and Qi Lian made the sender tear it up publicly. During that time, Jiang Xiaoyuan's youth was painted in pink.

The hair salon closed down, and Qi Lian couldn't stay here anymore. While blow-drying Qi Lian's hair, Jiang Xiaoyuan made plans to return here after the college entrance exam. She intended to tell Qi Lian the answer to the question of whether their relationship would affect the college entrance exam. With the exam approaching, villagers came to demand payment, and Grandma gave Jiang Xiaoyuan the last bit of money, instructing her to go back to school and not return. This money was meant for her to attend college. Jiang Xiaoyuan left home, and Qi Lian arrived just in time to pick her up.

Recalling from his memories, Qi Lian received a call from Jiang Grandma, who said that Jiang Xiaoyuan had gone missing and didn't go to the village secretary. They searched for a long time but couldn't find her. Qi Lian suddenly remembered the closed hair salon, where he and Jiang Xiaoyuan used to hide. It became their secret hideout, and now they both needed it.

Qi Lian found the closed hair salon, and as expected, Jiang Xiaoyuan was hiding there, muttering to herself, "I am not her." Jiang Xiaoyuan's emotions were unusually agitated; she wasn't the same Jiang Xiaoyuan, so why could he see her memories? Qi Lian patiently comforted Jiang Xiaoyuan until her emotions were barely stabilized.

Jiang Xiaoyuan spent the night in the hair salon, and upon waking up, she noticed a box in the corner. Qi Lian took it out for her, and inside was a contract with Mingguang Laboratory and Jiang Xiaoyuan as the first and second parties, respectively. Qi Lian reluctantly shared information about Mingguang Laboratory with Jiang Xiaoyuan. It seemed that Jiang Xiaoyuan, Huo Baiyu, and Xu Jingyang might have participated in an experiment that led to their current state. The contract was dated May 2018, but Mingguang Laboratory had closed six years ago. What hidden truths lay behind this?

Qi Lian took Jiang Xiaoyuan back home, where Jiang Grandma anxiously checked her for injuries. Qi Lian called his father, and they went together to pay respects to Qi Lian's mother. Qi Lian's relationship with his father was strained because he had abandoned them. Now, Qi Lian's father wanted to mend their relationship, but Qi Lian couldn't let go of the past.

Curious about what Qi Lian could be busy with during the Chinese New Year, Jiang Xiaoyuan's grandmother revealed that Qi Lian's family was once wealthy but had faced setbacks. His father, however, had established a large company in the city. Jiang Xiaoyuan decided to visit the school, hoping for new discoveries. Unable to enter the locked school, she considered climbing over the wall. Suddenly, she saw a scene from the past where she and Qi Lian, wearing school uniforms, climbed over the wall together. Jiang Xiaoyuan turned around and found Qi Lian right behind her, slowly overlapping with the Qi Lian in school uniform. Stubbornly, she decided to climb over the wall but ended up, as before, succeeding with Qi Lian's help. Everything in the school felt unfamiliar yet incredibly familiar to Jiang Xiaoyuan. However, there were no traces of her, considering how many years had passed and people had come and gone.

Qi Lian suddenly remembered burying a time capsule with the entire class ten years ago, and they dug it out from under a tree. Jiang Xiaoyuan's letter expressed expectations for the next ten years, but the subsequent letter was addressed to her eighteen-year-old self. She mentioned her inability to fulfill her dreams due to her grandmother's illness and the financial difficulties. Jiang Xiaoyuan was on the verge of collapse, recalling the time when she talked to her father about learning to draw, only to face his silence. She had a dream from that time where she could learn to draw and study abroad, but it seemed impossible in this lifetime. This letter was written the day before Jiang Xiaoyuan signed the contract, and she came back home for it.

In Jiang Xiaoyuan's painting is the "Little Princess Jiang Xiaoyuan" from her dreams. However, the current Jiang Xiaoyuan, upon seeing this painting, is extremely shocked. Why is the life depicted in the painting identical to her own? Qi Lian seems to have had the answer for a long time – Jiang Xiaoyuan did not travel through time and space. Unwilling to believe Qi Lian's words, Jiang Xiaoyuan, with a complete memory from childhood to adulthood, refuses to accept that she could be someone else's alter ego or part of a dream! Frustrated, she fiercely stomps on the painting on the ground, venting her emotions, and then collapses due to overwhelming emotions.

Despite the shock, Jiang Xiaoyuan insists on visiting the laboratory. After much internal struggle, Qi Lian finally tells her about Huo Baiyu. He fears that Jiang Xiaoyuan might end up like Huo Baiyu, but she firmly declares that she won't go insane until she unravels the truth. Qi Lian contacts Professor Lu and informs him about finding a photo of Noah. When Qi Lian opens the photo, he discovers that the legendary Noah is none other than the long-disappeared Xu Jingyang. Initially intending for Qi Lian to stay overnight, both of them are too excited, so they decide to visit the laboratory overnight.

The structure of Mingguang Laboratory is strange, located in a remote and seemingly abandoned place. Qi Lian believes that Mingguang Laboratory, despite publicly announcing closure, might still be operating, possibly under someone else's guise, continuing the Lighthouse experiment. Regardless of the possibility, Mingguang Laboratory is no longer there. The lab is spotless, appearing too clean to resemble an abandoned place for the past six years.

Jiang Xiaoyuan accidentally twists her ankle, and while Qi Lian intends to take her back, she insists on finding the truth quickly. Qi Lian asks her to wait for him in the same spot. As soon as Qi Lian leaves, the lights in Jiang Xiaoyuan's location start flickering. Fearful, she follows the lights and discovers a place. Inside is a scene resembling a laboratory, and although the two machines are gone, Jiang Xiaoyuan recalls the moment. She woke up from the sleep pod, and an experimenter mentioned the memory module. However, they were reprimanded, as the experimenter only knew that the Lighthouse experiment was a virtual game, oblivious to the real situation. If attention is raised, memories will be overwritten. Previous participants were fine initially but went mad a year later. Hearing this, Jiang Xiaoyuan was scared, and when she questioned Huo Baiyu, he reassured her that there was no problem.

Jiang Xiaoyuan didn't believe him and wanted to secretly escape. Recovering her memory, she found the diary left in the corridor, revealing that she sensed the Lighthouse system tampering with her memories. She hoped that if she forgot everything, her future self could remember through this notebook. Discovered eavesdropping, she was confined, asked to sign a liability waiver. They urged her to treat the Lighthouse system as a dream machine, a world opposite to hers. Gradually, Jiang Xiaoyuan's waking time became shorter. Not willing to accept her fate, she escaped the laboratory with a strong will to live but fainted again after walking for a long time. The place she collapsed was where Jiang Xiaoyuan initially woke up.

Jiang Xiaoyuan fainted after looking at the diary, and Qi Lian quickly took her away. In the shadows, a mysterious person had been monitoring their every move. When Jiang Xiaoyuan woke up, she cried while holding Qi Lian. She couldn't go back; she might go insane! Qi Lian comforted her, assuring her that he would stay by her side. Qi Lian started contacting doctors, hoping for medical help for Jiang Xiaoyuan. Inside the room, there were sounds of breaking things; Jiang Xiaoyuan just wanted water but accidentally knocked over a cup. She wanted to return to her original home, but Qi Lian asked her to rest for a while, promising to go back home once she woke up.

At dawn, Qi Lian took Jiang Xiaoyuan back home. She remembered the movie that Chen Fangzhou mentioned, and she couldn't imagine that the virtual world she thought was real. Regardless, Jiang Xiaoyuan would forever cherish this dream. Qi Lian hoped to minimize the impact of the Lighthouse experiment, but Jiang Xiaoyuan didn't want to forget the past. Erasing her memories would be erasing her existence. Even Qi Lian said they were fundamentally different.

Qi Lian accompanied Jiang Xiaoyuan back home. Jiang Xiaoyuan felt a bit uneasy, but she knew this was her home. Qi Lian collapsed next to the car door, and the doctor said it was fainting due to excessive fatigue, discovering injuries on Qi Lian's body. Not wanting to worry Jiang Xiaoyuan, Qi Lian insisted on keeping her company patiently. Jiang Xiaoyuan guessed that the injuries on his back were caused by herself, and she hadn't healed all this time. Chen Fangzhou kept calling, and to avoid disturbing Qi Lian's sleep, she quickly answered the phone and informed him about Qi Lian's injury. Unexpectedly, Chen Fangzhou thought their relationship had progressed rapidly and directly wished them a hundred years of happiness and early children.

Jiang Xiaoyuan also had different thoughts about Xu Jingyang's situation. What role did he play in the Lighthouse experiment? And Qi Lian confirmed that the Xu Jingyang she knew was Noah? Jiang Xiaoyuan looked at Qi Lian's photo and found a significant loophole. In 2008, Xu Jingyang was only fourteen years old. How could he be the same person as the one now? Jiang Xiaoyuan suggested that Qi Lian meet his childhood friend; maybe they know something. When Qi Lian asked Jiang Xiaoyuan about her plans for the future, she replied that she used to want to change everything, but now she didn't want that. She hoped to face whatever happened in the future with courage.

Qi Lian attended a class reunion, helping everyone present in various aspects of life. However, Qi Lian was not happy at the moment, and Chen Fangzhou and others felt guilty. Qi Lian spoke up, showing them the photo, saying he found Xu Jingyang but realized he wasn't Xu Jingyang at all. Everyone looked guilty and lowered their heads, clearly hiding something from him. Qi Lian, in anger, smashed a cup. Chen Fangzhou reluctantly admitted that there was such a person, but his name wasn't Xu Jingyang; he was Chen Tianyang. That day in the fight, it was Xu Jingyang, or rather Chen Tianyang, who pushed him, causing him to fall from upstairs.

Jiang Xiaoyuan stared at the dazzling fireworks, saying she wanted to earn a lot of money to take her grandmother to live in the city. She considered changing jobs, and Jiang Bo suggested she learn makeup, but she was worried about Jiang Bo's reliability. Jiang Xiaoyuan's grandmother understood her temperament; if she didn't strive for what she liked, it would be unlike her.

Chen Fangzhou explained that after Chen Tianyang was sent to the hospital, he couldn't survive even after a day and night of rescue. Later, their whole family moved away. Qi Lian, after learning about it, was depressed for a long time, and his father took him abroad. They lost contact afterward. Qi Lian forgot about Chen Tianyang when he returned to China but kept searching for someone named Xu Jingyang. Chen Fangzhou decided to keep Qi Lian in the dark about Chen Tianyang. When Qi Lian asked if they had a photo of Chen Tianyang, he was shocked to find out that Chen Tianyang looked completely different from what he remembered. Jiang Xiaoyuan received a mysterious call, threatening her to arrange her limited awake time; otherwise, they would launch crazy retaliation. Chen Fangzhou told Jiang Xiaoyuan that Qi Lian had drunk too much, and she hurriedly went to pick him up. Jiang Xiaoyuan supported Qi Lian with her petite body. While he used to seek the truth, now he seemed a bit lost. On the way back, Chen Fangzhou kept matchmaking Jiang Xiaoyuan and Qi Lian, advising her not to let Qi Lian wait in vain. However, Jiang Xiaoyuan was afraid she might go insane and feared her stubbornness might expose Qi Lian to retaliation from those people.

Jiang Xiaoyuan asked Chen Fangzhou to take Qi Lian to his home to sleep, as things were not peaceful around here recently. After Jiang Xiaoyuan got off the car, Chen Fangzhou, with Qi Lian, got into a car accident on the way home. Jiang Xiaoyuan rushed over, seeing both Chen Fangzhou and Qi Lian covered in blood, and Qi Lian's father accusing her frantically. In a daze, Jiang Xiaoyuan was convinced she needed to leave, the farther, the better, to ensure their safety. The next day, Jiang Xiaoyuan packed her bags and left, stuffing some money into her grandmother's clothes. Chen Fangzhou had been discharged, but Qi Lian's father, worried about potential after-effects, refused to let him leave the hospital. Resigning, Chen Fangzhou promised to keep Jiang Xiaoyuan's decision a secret because it was her own choice.

Jiang Xiaoyuan went to Chongqing and was stopped by security guards downstairs at Jiang Bo's studio. Unable to reach him by phone, she waited downstairs the entire day until Jiang Bo finally came down to pick her up. He even gave her a month's salary in advance. Under Jiang Xiaoyuan's incessant chatter, Jiang Bo arranged for her to stay in a dormitory not open to the public. Qi Lian kept calling, and after much contemplation, Jiang Xiaoyuan finally answered, telling him she had returned to Luoshan City. Qi Lian hid the fact that he had been in a car accident from Jiang Xiaoyuan, and she cooperated with the act. She claimed to have quit her job at the hair salon and moved to Chongqing, expressing her reluctance to investigate the Bright Light Laboratory further; she just wanted to move forward. Qi Lian remained silent, agreeing to whatever she said, even suggesting he might visit her in Chongqing. After holding back her tears for a long time, Jiang Xiaoyuan uttered hurtful words, advising Qi Lian to look forward and not remain stuck in one place.

Jiang Xiaoyuan knew she should be firm and stop contacting Qi Lian. Without her, Qi Lian would surely live a better life. However, Qi Lian's emotions seemed to be on the brink of collapse, and in a daze, he even saw Xu Jingyang coming toward him. Xu Jingyang said Qi Lian should consider himself an imaginary childhood playmate. But if Xu Jingyang was just a product of Qi Lian's imagination, why did Jiang Xiaoyuan also know the answer? Qi Lian refused to admit that he already knew the answer.

After being discharged from the hospital, Qi Lian's father took him home, and Qi Lian went back to the company after that. In his home, Qi Lian found a locked box. Xu Jingyang urged him to open it quickly. Qi Lian opened it, and to no one's surprise, there were contracts from the Lighthouse experiment, dated 2012. The answer had always been with Qi Lian, and the one with problems was always himself.

To meet Jiang Bo's requirements, Jiang Xiaoyuan worked late into the night. Unexpectedly, her menstrual cycle began, and she was hit by a bicycle when she went out to buy things. To avoid embarrassment, she sat down abruptly. At this critical moment, Qi Lian appeared again to help her avoid embarrassment. Qi Lian understood Jiang Xiaoyuan's implied message but didn't want to end things unclearly. Regardless of whether Jiang Xiaoyuan would go crazy, Qi Lian didn't care because this was his just reward. Qi Lian pressed Jiang Xiaoyuan for the reason she pushed him away, and Jiang Xiaoyuan, stubbornly, said she was annoyed by him. Unbeknownst to her, Qi Lian had seen her at the scene of the car accident and finally understood. The people from the Bright Light Laboratory had found Jiang Xiaoyuan and threatened her safety by using those close to her. Jiang Xiaoyuan admitted everything, then left resolutely. From now on, they should each live their own lives.

After a tearful breakdown, Jiang Xiaoyuan returned to the dormitory to work overtime. Qi Lian firmly believed that all this was not a coincidence and needed to quickly identify the mastermind behind it. Jiang Xiaoyuan had a keen eye today, but Jiang Bo seemed preoccupied because he unintentionally overheard his mother on the phone, instructing someone to closely monitor Jiang Xiaoyuan's data. Qi Lian had someone check the surveillance footage and found that Jiang Xiaoyuan was in an abnormal state when she picked him up. Perhaps, before that, Jiang Xiaoyuan had already been threatened. Qi Lian also knew that involving the police was not an option, as it would put Jiang Xiaoyuan's grandmother in danger.

Jiang Xiaoyuan learned a lot from Jiang Bo, and tomorrow he asked her to accompany him on a business trip. Criticizing her clothes, Jiang Bo suggested she borrow clothes from a classmate. Inadvertently, she also found out that the salary for a school teaching assistant was only sixteen hundred yuan per month, and Jiang Bo was probably supplementing it by giving her three thousand yuan.

Jiang Bo's mother, Fan Xiaoxiao, insisted that he must come home today; otherwise, no matter where he is, she would personally find him. Obediently, Jiang Bo returned home, and Fan Xiaoxiao warmly welcomed him, asking about his well-being while serving tea. With only one month left in Jiang Bo and Zhuang Meng's contract as makeup artists, they had agreed not to continue in this profession after its expiration. Fan Xiaoxiao pressured him to honor the commitment. Despite taking information from Fan Xiaoxiao to hire Jiang Xiaoyuan before the new year, Jiang Bo didn't think it meant he held her leverage. After all, Jiang Bo was adopted by Fan Xiaoxiao, and without her, he would be nothing. Fan Xiaoxiao's emotions suddenly erupted, and she even threw things at Jiang Bo.

Jiang Xiaoyuan told Qilian that she had passed her intermediate exam and praised Jiang Bo as a good person who had given her many opportunities. Qilian, feeling jealous, saw Jiang Bo exit Fan Xiaoxiao's house with blood on his head. Later, Fan Xiaoxiao refused the scheduled interview. Qilian confronted Jiang Bo about the situation, believing that Jiang Bo hiring Jiang Xiaoyuan was at Fan Xiaoxiao's behest, and he wasn't genuinely appreciative of her talent. Jiang Xiaoyuan was shocked to hear this. Qilian didn't reveal much to Jiang Bo but warned him that he had his own leverage, having spent four years in a mental hospital at the age of ten.

Jiang Xiaoyuan, distraught, called Feng Ruisue, and later, Qilian informed her of everything he had investigated, including his own participation as an experimental subject in the Lighthouse System. Initially skeptical, Jiang Xiaoyuan had to believe it when she saw the 2012 contract. Qilian's first thought upon finding this contract was that if he could survive, then Jiang Xiaoyuan surely could too. Although she couldn't recall how she got involved with the Lighthouse experiment, Chen Fangzhou's words convinced her that Qilian's intentions, at least when creating the Lighthouse System, were good, even if it was initiated by Xu Jingyang.

Holding her resignation letter, Jiang Xiaoyuan came to the classroom but learned about Jiang Bo's resignation. He asked her to bring her office box, and she did. Today was the last order Jiang Bo had arranged for her, but he evaded her questions. He just hoped she would honestly complete the order and pursue her dreams. While this order was originally Jiang Bo's, he gave it to Jiang Xiaoyuan as a stepping stone. However, she didn't disappoint him; she handled the challenging celebrity exceptionally well. Jiang Bo's first assistant, Yue Ningchuan, tried to recruit Jiang Xiaoyuan upon hearing the news. Still, she hesitated, especially regarding the Star River magazine, which had ties to Fan Xiaoxiao, saying she would consider it. Jiang Bo specifically advised her that Star River wasn't suitable for her, suggesting Amy's studio instead.

Tonight was the Star River Fashion Gala, and Feng Ruisue also attended. Qilian kept a close eye on Fan Xiaoxiao. When the female celebrity Jiang Xiaoyuan did the makeup for walked the red carpet with visible powder issues, actors blamed the makeup artist. Jiang Xiaoyuan was certain she had used mica-based loose powder, although she hadn't.

Feng Ruisue immediately called Qilian after discovering the incident. Actors demanded accountability from the organizers regarding Jiang Xiaoyuan. Upon hearing this news, Jiang Bo had no choice but to approach Yue Ningchuan. She had climbed up to Fan Xiaoxiao, and everything she did was under Fan Xiaoxiao's instructions. To mitigate the situation, Qilian called his father to ask for help and spoke to Xie Zong. The actor involved in the incident, Xie Yi, was his daughter. Jiang Bo rushed to support Jiang Xiaoyuan, offering compensation such as a red carpet appearance, magazine cover, and commercial endorsement for Xie Yi. He publicly mentioned his relationship with Fan Xiaoxiao for the first time and called her in front of everyone.

After everyone left, Jiang Bo gave Jiang Xiaoyuan an answer. Qilian had only guessed half of it. Jiang Bo hired Jiang Xiaoyuan to make a trade with someone else, but he wouldn't continue as a makeup artist. Jiang Xiaoyuan should shine on her own. When Jiang Xiaoyuan tried to check the surveillance, she found that the theater was funded by the Qi family, making it impossible to access. They discovered that the person touching up Amy's makeup was named Mei Mei.

Amy's company called and specifically mentioned not hiring Jiang Xiaoyuan. Jiang Bo's initial efforts had failed. As Jiang Xiaoyuan left, she inadvertently witnessed Fan Xiaoxiao slapping Jiang Bo. Feeling dizzy, she vaguely recalled seeing Fan Xiaoxiao before, asking about some data.

With Fan Xiaoxiao and Jiang Bo leaving, Jiang Xiaoyuan collapsed again on the roadside. This time, Qilian examined her and found a chip on the back of her neck, a police reminder. They had officially announced the end of the case involving Huobaiyu, but secretly continued the investigation as they found a chip on him too. Qilian's test results came out, revealing no chip on his body. Huobaiyu withdrew from the entertainment industry, announcing his relationship with Fan Xiaoxiao. However, people also discovered significant financial loopholes in Fan Xiaoxiao's company, and she had to announce Noah's Ark as soon as possible.

The person who framed Jiang Xiaoyuan turned out to be Yue Ningchuan's assistant. He visited Jiang Xiaoyuan the next day. Jiang Bo publicly revealed the secret to help Jiang Xiaoyuan, facing extreme danger himself. Fan Xiaoxiao adopted Jiang Bo due to an unhappy marriage, but even with him, her husband didn't change. Thus, Jiang Bo's childhood was extremely oppressive. That night, Fan Xiaoxiao played the family card to seek Jiang Bo's help. They checked her accounts every night, leaving her with no way out.

When Qilian visited Jiang Xiaoyuan, he shared Jiang Bo's story with her. Jiang Bo's neighbors claimed he suffered severe domestic violence. When the police arrived, they found that Jiang Bo had fatally stabbed his adoptive father. He spent four years in a mental rehabilitation center before returning to normal life. After he came out, Fan Xiaoxiao had remarried and didn't inform her second husband about him. Jiang Bo's academic history was also full of misconduct. Despite all this, Jiang Xiaoyuan was grateful to Jiang Bo and didn't want him to be implicated.

Qilian found someone who knew the inside story of the Mingguang laboratory. They said that Noah had died five years ago, leaving incomplete data about the Lighthouse System, which the Mammoth Game currently plagiarized. The person also revealed that Noah's real name was Xu Jingyang, an American of Chinese descent adopted by a white couple. After searching for him for so long, Qilian was still unable to meet him, causing him great pain. To further investigate, Qilian, accompanied by Jiang Xiaoyuan, went to interview Fan Xiaoxiao. She resisted Jiang Xiaoyuan's arrival, unwilling to let them see Jiang Bo. Qilian exposed Fan Xiaoxiao's old story, suggesting that the ten-year-old Jiang Bo might have been a scapegoat for Fan Xiaoxiao killing her husband.

Jiang Xiaoyuan entered Jiang Bo's room, finding him sitting alone in a dim corner. She tentatively expressed her desire to take him away, suggesting that he could do anything, like starting a studio or pursuing things he enjoys. However, Jiang Bo replied that he couldn't leave, as no matter how many times he runs away, Fan Xiaoyiao would bring him back. Frustrated, Jiang Xiaoyuan showcased Jiang Bo's proud works, questioning what had become of him. While the body could be confined, the soul remained beyond anyone's control. Jiang Bo seemed moved by Jiang Xiaoyuan's words and gradually lifted his head.

Deciding to leave with them, Jiang Bo faced a displeased expression from Fan Xiaoyiao. She reminded him that everything he had was given by her, and if he left today, there would be no way back. Despite Fan Xiaoyiao's words, she knew well that Jiang Bo had survived this far on his own. Jiang Bo, Jiang Xiaoyuan, and Qi Lian left the place together, returning to where Qi Lian stayed. While Jiang Xiaoyuan showed concern for him, Qi Lian, feeling jealous, explicitly stated that his special care for Jiang Bo was limited to tonight; he had to leave tomorrow.

Jiang Xiaoyuan cooked soup for Jiang Bo, but he didn't take a single sip. Qi Lian accompanied Jiang Xiaoyuan back, and she hoped he would let Jiang Bo stay a bit longer. She had already resigned from her job and intended to continue assisting Jiang Bo. Jiang Xiaoyuan wanted to participate in this year's national beauty contest, but Qi Lian believed it wasn't the best time and advised her to rest. However, Jiang Xiaoyuan saw the opportunity as rare, Qi Lian assured her that he would find a way to remove the chip before telling her.

Early in the morning, Jiang Xiaoyuan tried to persuade Jiang Bo to join the national beauty contest with her, but Fan Xiaoyiao, a judge, and Star River, the organizer, made her ineligible. Seeing Jiang Xiaoyuan's excessive care for Jiang Bo, Qi Lian, unable to bear it, decided to have a private conversation with him. Qi Lian thought Jiang Bo brought Jiang Xiaoyuan under Fan Xiaoyiao's influence, but Jiang Bo clarified that he anticipated Star River's invitation for her and brought her in early. Qi Lian suggested Jiang Bo not worry and just accompany Jiang Xiaoyuan in opening a studio. Jiang Xiaoyuan, wanting to keep emotions and interests separate, refused Qi Lian's investment.

Jiang Bo and Qi Lian went out to inspect the studio. With only half a million, participating in the competition under the studio's name required an invitation, making their efforts possibly futile. Qi Lian investigated the report on Noah's accident, suspecting a connection between Fan Xiaoyiao and Noah's death, considering her as an experimental subject.

After work, Qi Lian returned home, finding Jiang Xiaoyuan still busy with studio matters. He stared at the back of her neck, knowing that the chip would automatically detach in a year, finally feeling a bit relieved. Qi Lian presented the note where Jiang Xiaoyuan owed him a favor, requesting to join the studio, and she had no reason to refuse. Meanwhile, Jiang Bo, sleeping on the floor in the living room, found it hard to get a good night's sleep due to their affectionate behavior.

Thanks to Jiang Xiaoyuan's efforts, the studio was taking shape. She received a call, informing her that Jiang Bo had drunk too much and needed her to come. Jiang Bo had been pleading with Gao Zong for a long time for the competition's invitation, but Fan Xiaoyiao intervened, and Gao Zong was unwilling to get involved. Jiang Xiaoyuan arrived, scolded Gao Zong, and took Jiang Bo away from the troublesome situation.

The studio is decorated, and Qi Lian eagerly comes to take a look. With many clients attracted by Jiang Xiaoyuan's previously popular videos, the studio is bustling with activity. Jiang Xiaoyuan believes that as long as Jiang Bo engages in what he excels at, he won't fall into depression. As for the makeup artist competition, since it cannot be forced, they decide to think about it later. Jiang Bo suddenly gets into Qi Lian's car; he has something to discuss. Jiang Bo hopes Qi Lian can approach the organizers to open up the qualification for beauty bloggers in the competition. He has prepared an industry report. This time, the Qi Group is one of the organizers, but Qi Lian cannot use the Qi family's connections. However, they can seek help from the media.

As the studio begins its journey, Feng Ruixue introduces many contacts and clients to Jiang Xiaoyuan. She feels that Jiang Xiaoyuan has changed; she used to reject all goodwill. Qi's father finds Jiang Xiaoyuan and reveals that Qi Lian got involved with the troublemakers due to her, losing his chance at the college entrance exam, and a friend even lost his life. Qi's father, angry, accidentally sees the message Jiang Xiaoyuan sent, deletes her plea for help, and makes her wait in front of the barbershop. Qi's father meets Jiang Xiaoyuan, scolding her for clinging to his son and seeking wealth. Jiang Xiaoyuan, with teary eyes, explains that she needs money for her grandmother's surgery.

When Jiang Bo returns to the studio, he informs Jiang Xiaoyuan that the qualification for beauty bloggers has been added, and she now has the eligibility. Despite this, Jiang Xiaoyuan seems distracted, her mind preoccupied with Qi Lian. Soon after, at the National Makeup Artist Competition, Jiang Xiaoyuan performs exceptionally well. However, Jiang Bo has high demands, leading to a disagreement with Qi Lian. Jiang Xiaoyuan hasn't slept well for a month, and Qi Lian suggests she take a few days off. The day after tomorrow is Chen Fangzhou's wedding, and they decide to relax by making a trip to Luoshan.

Back in Luoshan, Qi Lian cooks curry for Jiang Xiaoyuan. Qi Lian learned to cook because of Xu Jingyang; when Qi Lian broke his leg, he felt guilty and sent him meals every day. However, those events turned out to be dreams. Jiang Xiaoyuan visits the barbershop, and everyone is pleasantly surprised to see her. When Jiang Xiaoyuan asks Chen Fangzhou about what happened to Qi Lian before graduation, Chen Fangzhou reveals that Qi's father had a secret son. Qi Lian was abandoned in the countryside, and only after the incident with Yangzi did Qi's father realize he should care for his son. Jiang Xiaoyuan, guilty, learns that Qi Lian, during those difficult years, met her and tried to prepare for university with her every day. However, due to their conflict with the troublemakers involving Chen Fangzhou and Yangzi, Qi Lian faced disciplinary action and was barred from taking the college entrance exam. Qi Lian kept this from Jiang Xiaoyuan. Qi Lian has been seeing a psychologist, and after Jiang Xiaoyuan left for Chongqing, they lost contact. Hearing this, Jiang Xiaoyuan sheds tears, feeling extremely guilty.

Jiang Xiaoyuan can't stop crying, and Qi Lian rushes to console her. He knows that Qi's father met Jiang Xiaoyuan. In the past, Jiang Xiaoyuan borrowed 20,000 yuan, signed a note, and decided to cut off contact with Qi Lian. Initially angry, Qi Lian later understood that Jiang Xiaoyuan just wanted to save her grandmother. Qi Lian carries Jiang Xiaoyuan home, leaving the past behind and looking forward to a better future.

Jiang Xiaoyuan and Qi Lian attend Chen Fangzhou's wedding together. Talking about how Jiang Xiaoyuan could remember Qi Lian's phone number, Qi Lian feels that everything in the Lighthouse System has real-world echoes because, in high school, Jiang Xiaoyuan would call him whenever something happened.

The list of the top 20 contestants for the beauty contest is out, but Jiang Xiaoyuan is not on it; she is precisely ranked 21st. Fan Xiaoyiao, in response, accepts an interview, emphasizing the contest's high professionalism. Regarding Jiang Xiaoyuan's exclusion, she suggests that relying solely on cleverness won't take one far. Jiang Bo feels he has burdened Jiang Xiaoyuan, who seems indifferent but is uncomfortable deep down. Despite Qi Lian's efforts through connections, they are unsuccessful. Jiang Xiaoyuan and Qi Lian run into Qi Lian's father, and Qi Lian deliberately holds Jiang Xiaoyuan's hand. She doesn't hold back, responding directly to Qi Lian's father. With more orders at the studio now, Jiang Xiaoyuan believes she can only continue to improve. Qi Lian's father is unlikely to allow her into the family, but Qi Lian doesn't mind; he can always become the son-in-law.

Jiang Xiaoyuan is busy every day with work, and unintentionally, she feels dizzy. Jiang Bo notices a scar on the back of her head and urges her to go home and rest. At the hospital, Jiang Xiaoyuan is surprised to learn about a chip in the back of her head. However, she wonders why Qi Lian didn't tell her about it. Rushing to her side after a call, Qi Lian is scolded by Jiang Xiaoyuan for keeping it from her.

Back at the studio, an international beauty brand manager discusses cooperation with Jiang Xiaoyuan. Qi Lian has been searching for the experimental subjects from the past, discovering that only two people participated: himself and Fan Xiaoyiao. Perhaps Fan Xiaoyiao's experiment failed, and her memories weren't completely overwritten. Although Qi Lian doesn't know how she did it, he believes she killed Noah, obtained the sleep chamber, and went into hiding. As Fan Xiaoyiao climbs higher, Jiang Xiaoyuan's chip serves as evidence. Once the chip can be removed, it can be used to incriminate Fan Xiaoyiao. However, Fan Xiaoyiao might be waiting for a chance to get her hands on the chip.

An agreement is reached with the brand, providing Jiang Xiaoyuan a path to resurrection. Fan Xiaoyiao, upon learning this, loses control of her emotions. Having failed seven attempts to enter the Lighthouse system and rewrite memories, she sees Jiang Xiaoyuan's chip as her only hope to upgrade the system. Therefore, Fan Xiaoyiao is determined not to let Jiang Xiaoyuan participate in the top 20 contest.

Jiang Bo receives a call; Fan Xiaoyiao has self-harmed and wants to meet him. Jiang Xiaoyuan has a nightmare and faints, ending up in the hospital again. Her condition worsens, and she experiences hallucinations. Mr. Bai mentions these are normal for Lighthouse system experimenters. Jiang Xiaoyuan's results are still unknown, and whether she can break through the critical point depends on her beliefs. Qi Lian stays by her side, warming up meals for her. Aware of her situation, Jiang Xiaoyuan takes a photo to commemorate the moment, shedding tears. She wipes them away and suggests a date for tomorrow, realizing that they've been together for a long time without a proper date.

The next day, wearing a beautiful dress, Jiang Xiaoyuan approaches Qi Lian radiantly. In Qi Lian's eyes, Jiang Xiaoyuan has been as dazzling as the stars. She asks, "Will you remember me forever?" Unable to hold back, Qi Lian turns around and bursts into tears. Jiang Xiaoyuan hugs him from behind, at least for this moment, they are together.

Jiang Xiaoyuan and Qi Lian fly kites together, ride bikes together, and on this day of their date, Qi Lian accompanies Jiang Xiaoyuan to do everything she wants. Qi Lian believes that Jiang Xiaoyuan will surely get better. However, Jiang Xiaoyuan wishes time could freeze at this moment, with her and Qi Lian together forever. In three days, the chip behind Jiang Xiaoyuan's head can be removed, and Fan Xiaoyiao is eagerly anticipating it. Fan Xiaoyiao has been unconscious these days, and Jiang Bo visits her daily. Qi Lian continues to search for the whereabouts of Noah's Ark. Qi Lian hopes that Jiang Bo can keep an eye on Fan Xiaoyiao; it's the only way to stop her from saving Jiang Xiaoyuan.

Jiang Xiaoyuan receives a message from Jiang Bo asking her to do makeup at a certain place. She asks Qi Lian to take her there. However, the place seems strange and nothing like a studio. In the art studio, a woman with a covered face is painting. Qi Lian is asked to move the car, and shortly after, Jiang Xiaoyuan sees the woman who destroyed half her face and is then knocked unconscious and taken away. Qi Lian realizes something is wrong, rushes over, but also gets knocked out. Fan Xiaoyiao kidnaps Jiang Xiaoyuan, only to find out that the chip cannot be removed yet. Fan Xiaoyiao is furious; she is running out of time! To bring Jiang Xiaoyuan to the verge earlier, Fan Xiaoyiao even plans to make her experience extreme external stimuli.

Jiang Bo is also tied up by Fan Xiaoyiao, and he can only watch helplessly. Fan Xiaoyiao wakes Jiang Xiaoyuan with a basin of cold water, brandishing a knife with a demonic smile, intending to make Jiang Xiaoyuan's life worse than death. Fan Xiaoyiao approaches Qi Lian, originally planning to disfigure him, but then she stabs him in the body. Unable to bear it, Jiang Bo kneels in front of her. As Fan Xiaoyiao repeatedly stabs Qi Lian, Jiang Bo rushes towards her, but he also gets brutally stabbed. Discovering that Qi Lian knows Xu Jingyang and is the only successful subject, Fan Xiaoyiao becomes more frantic. Fortunately, the police arrive in time and save them. Manager Zhou had reported the incident.

Qi Lian, covered in blood, is rushed to the hospital. Before entering the operating room, his only hope is that Jiang Xiaoyuan must participate in the competition and pursue her dreams, leaving no regrets. At the competition venue, Jiang Xiaoyuan reaches the so-called critical point, struggling between virtual and reality. To everyone's expectation, she redeems herself.

Fan Xiaoyiao is investigated for intentional harm, admitting she killed Xu Jingyang but claiming it was accidental. After a thorough investigation, Officer Chen believes her statement might be true. They find an audio recording, discovering it was a message from Xu Jingyang to Qi Lian. In the recording, Xu Jingyang expresses his belief that what he did was right. In the code, he added a patch to send a distress signal to Qi Lian if the Lighthouse System is misused by someone with ill intentions. Although Xu Jingyang dishonestly befriended Qi Lian, he genuinely hoped for the best for him. If they could meet in the real world, they would have become good friends.

The competition concludes, and although Jiang Xiaoyuan didn't win the championship, Jiang Bo believes she has great potential. Jiang Bo has never harbored hatred for Fan Xiaoyiao; she was just sick. Moreover, now that Fan Xiaoyiao has faced consequences, he can pursue his dreams. Qi Lian also arrives, and the three, dressed in hospital gowns, share their feelings. Although life is not perfect and has temporarily deviated from its original course, everything will get better.

Six months later, Qi Lian and Jiang Xiaoyuan return home to celebrate the New Year with their grandmother. Xu Jingyang's original intention to create the Lighthouse System was to help people escape nightmares, and his dream will surely come true. Jiang Xiaoyuan walks unsteadily on the abandoned tracks, sharing her dream with Qi Lian. There are no absolute right or wrong choices in life, whether as Miss Jiang Xiaoyuan or the destitute Jiang Xiaoyuan. As long as they persist bravely, they can control their own lives. Even if they deviate someday, Qi Lian will pull her back, and they will keep moving forward, always.

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