Episode 1 – The Ordinary World Before Fate Strikes
The summer air was thick with the scent of rain, and the streets of Hangzhou buzzed with life. Chun Yu clutched her bag tightly as she hurried through the crowded market, weaving between vendors selling fragrant dumplings and silk scarves. The weight of her mother's words pressed on her mind.
"This scholarship is your only chance, Chun Yu. Don't waste it."
She knew what was at stake. Winning meant escaping her mother's endless expectations, securing her future, proving she was worth more than the life laid out for her. Losing… wasn't an option.
Thunder rumbled in the distance. A drizzle turned into a downpour within seconds, sending people scattering for cover. Chun Yu cursed under her breath and darted into a small alleyway, pressing herself against the wall beneath the narrow eaves of an old bookstore. She wiped the raindrops from her face and sighed.
That was when she saw him.
A lone figure stood across the street, unfazed by the rain. Dressed in a simple white shirt and dark pants, he held no umbrella, yet the rain seemed to avoid him, as if the world itself refused to touch him. His gaze was fixed on her—not in an intrusive way, but as if he were seeing something long lost.
Chun Yu shifted uncomfortably. Why is he looking at me like that?
The man took a step forward. And then another.
For a brief moment, a strange sensation washed over her—like a memory on the tip of her tongue, just out of reach.
Then her phone rang, snapping her out of the moment.
"Hello?"
Her mother's sharp voice came through the receiver. "Chun Yu! Where are you? The competition starts in thirty minutes! Do not embarrass me."
Chun Yu exhaled. When she looked up again, the man was gone.
---
Episode 2 – The First Encounter with Song Lu
The rain had stopped by the time Chun Yu reached the old library where the competition was held. She shook off her damp sleeves and hurried inside, finding her seat among the other competitors. The weight of the moment pressed on her.
"Focus," she muttered to herself. "This is your future."
A faint movement caught her eye.
By the far window, the same man from before stood with his hands in his pockets, watching her.
Chun Yu's breath hitched. What is he doing here?
Their eyes met. Unlike before, there was no hesitation in his gaze—only certainty. A knowing.
A shiver ran down her spine.
The instructor's voice broke the moment. "The test begins now."
Chun Yu forced herself to focus, but the weight of his stare lingered, like a ghostly whisper she couldn't shake.
---
Episode 3 – The Unexplained Connection
After the competition, Chun Yu stepped outside, stretching her stiff limbs. The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and violet. She should have felt relieved, but her mind was tangled in the presence of that man.
When she turned the corner, she nearly collided with him.
"You—" she started, stepping back in surprise.
"I'm Song Lu," he said, his voice smooth yet carrying something deeper, something ancient. "And you are… Chun Yu."
She frowned. "Do I know you?"
Song Lu tilted his head slightly, as if considering his answer. "Not yet."
A strange silence settled between them. Chun Yu couldn't explain it, but something about him felt… familiar. As if she had met him before, in a dream she had long forgotten.
Before she could question him further, a gust of wind swept through the street. For a moment, the world felt unreal—hazy, as if time itself had wavered.
And then, just like that, the moment passed.
Song Lu smiled faintly. "I'll see you again, Chun Yu."
Before she could respond, he was gone.
---
Episode 4 – The First Sign of the Loop
That night, Chun Yu tossed and turned in her sleep.
She dreamt of lantern-lit streets, of laughter echoing through ancient corridors, of a man whispering her name with such love it made her heart ache.
"Chun Yu… Don't forget me."
She woke up with a gasp.
Her heart pounded. The dream felt too real, as if it was something she had lived before. But that was impossible… right?
She shook her head, brushing off the unease. It was just a dream.
Yet, as she got out of bed, her reflection in the mirror made her pause. For a fleeting second, she swore she saw another version of herself—a girl in ancient robes, eyes filled with sorrow.
She blinked. And the image was gone.
---
Episode 5 – The Forgotten Dream
Chun Yu tried to ignore the unease following her throughout the day.
At breakfast, her mother scolded her for not paying attention. At school, she found herself staring out the window, lost in thoughts of someone she didn't remember.
Then, in the middle of class, a note slid onto her desk.
"Meet me at the old bridge after sunset."
No name. No signature.
She turned her head, scanning the room. No one seemed to be watching her.
But deep down, she already knew who had sent it.
That evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Chun Yu found herself walking toward the bridge. Her steps felt guided by something beyond her control—like a thread of fate pulling her toward something inevitable.
When she arrived, Song Lu was already there, waiting.
And this time, she wasn't sure if she had met him for the first time—or if she was simply finding him again.