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mimicha-arts · 8 months

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Date: 09/13/2023 In my previous post, I wrote that time in s2 is broken and dead. I was curious if this was true for s1, too… For me the main problem of the last month was the dates in the files (character intros), the date of Emma's death + September 9th mentioned in episode 3, so I tried to consider these as related things. I always was confused by April-September thing, I thought that it is a mistake, but. Probably not. So. Let's break down the first episode! It was a deep dive, I'm not sure how real any of this can be, but (c) Let's divide everything into three parts:

Сhronology

It's not about Quede

April is not April

WARNING: SPOILERS

Chronology

April 16, which we see hours later that day. Qiao Ling receives an order from an unknown customer.

The goal is to get financial core data of Quede company. Information has to be obtained by diving in Emma, during the last financial settlement meeting before the release of the financial report, 2 days ago, on the April 14th, photo was posted at 10 pm.

Additionally, it is mentioned that there was an earlier photo, but they start with the most recent one so that the information is not “outdated”.

Events take place from April 16th to 17th in the present for Lu Guang. From April 14th to 15th in the past for Emma and Cheng Xiaoshi.

April 14th: 10:00 pm - start of diving. As Emma, Cheng Xiaoshi lived through the events in the company's office and stayed for overwork.

April 15th: About 2:45 a.m. Emma's parents text to her, Cheng Xiaoshi decided to reply.

9-10 am, morning, the meeting began. A conflict situation occurs, the laptop falls, Emma!Xiaoshi is on the floor. Lu Guang records data from the screen - Cheng Xiaoshi returns to the present time.

Later this day. Somewhere later that day, information about the company is leaked, involved people are arrested (news from April 17th)

Before 10 pm: Emma comes home after this day, she realizes that the situation with Quede is a stain on her career, because she was Mr.Zhu's assistant, there is no way for her to find a job in this field anymore.

Lately she discovers messages (02:48, that Cheng Xiaoshi texted) with her parents - this becomes her motivation for a call. It's the same day, still today (今天）- April 15th. This is the reason why we know that the disclosure of the company's affairs occurred on the same day after the meeting.

After 10 pm, before 10:30 pm Emma goes to the train station but runs into Liu Min, agrees to go with him.

About 10:34 p.m Liu Min attacks Emma.

Somewhere between April 15th and 16th. An accident occurs, Liu Min will be left paralyzed.

April 16: At the moment of dawn, Emma jumps from the bridge.

Later this day, Quede Company was suspended (news from the 17th)

Later, Emma's body is found in the river in the evening (mentioned as "yesterday", news from the 17th)

April 17: present 9-10 am: Lu Guang gives instructions to Xiaoshi, they successfully obtain the information, Xiaoshi returns to the “present” time.” Evening, the same day: We receive information about the disclosure of financial fraud in the past tense until the 17th from the news at the end of the ep. Additional note: in these events, there is another Cheng Xiaoshi from the "future" (events of October 22-23), who hides first in Liu Min's trunk, and then on the bridge with Emma. The chronology of events can be written as follows:

So it's clear - Lu Guang himself receives the necessary information about the company on the 17th at 10 am. By that time, Mr. Zhu had already been arrested 2 days ago and the company's activities had been suspended 1 day ago. Precisely because of financial fraud.

Also his reaction to Emma's death is interesting. Okay, that's a guess, but I always had the feeling that he knew she was dead from the very beginning of the case.

2. It's not about Quede

And so, we know that data about the company and financial fraud were already published on the 15th. The question remains simple - why did the mysterious unnamed client need the data, since he would have received it only on the 17th, after information about the fraud in Quede was already made public before they (the client) offered this task/job. So what other events are happening on nearby dates? They're not in the episode, they're in the characters intro. Obviously, the unknown client was unknown for a reason. As we also know, there is a character (or characters, there are 2 signatures on the documents) who are collecting dossiers on the main trio. There is a high chance that all of this is connected. This event takes place from the 14th to the 17th in total. Date on Qiao Ling's file: april 8th Lu Guang's file: april 10th Cheng Xiaoshi's file: april 12th

Documents for Lu Guang should be destroyed on the 17th, for Xiaoshi - on the 19th. This timing is kinda perfect. In my opinion, this task/job came as part of an "investigation" so that the unknown could better study the process of trio's work, understand the abilities of Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang, probably, what their time limits are. So, yes. If we look at it from this side, this is not about Quede, it is not about financial fraud, it has never been about it. This research is to answer questions about the abilities of Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang that remained on the files.

3. April is not April

April is a lie. Events take place in September. Although it’s more likely that the time has already been broken since the first season, and we technically don’t know which one is correct. Although Lu Guang's watch and documents (character dossiers) point to April, real events cannot possibly take place in April for many reasons.

1. 3rd financial quarter This is the main reason. This is stated in the first episode by Qiao Ling, and should immediately raise questions. The third quarter cannot possibly be April, absolutely. Because the following months are considered the third quarter: July, August, September.

2. News, 3rd ep Qiao Ling listens to the news on her headphones. We are not given a name, but the circumstances are the same - we learn that Emma's "suicide" was most likely a murder. Once again, it's September.

3. Cold weather is coming Emma's parents arrive to bring Emma warm clothes and mention that it is getting colder. If it were April, on the contrary, it would only get hotter, but everything is different when it comes to autumn.

4. Murders I am firmly convinced that the numbering of victims does not correspond to the real chronology. Yes, we know that there were more victims, and Emma was never "first", I mean those cases that were consolidated by the police and are in Xiao Li's documents. We have dates for an early murder in April, Emma being somewhere in the middle of that "break", since she was killed in both “April” and “September”, and there were murders after her, where the month was not indicated. Which once again points to the fact that something is wrong with these two months. Now things are going to get confusing, we consider April like September here. I can't see and understand details, so I'm only able to find the dates, since the numbers can at least be distinguished. Emma is considered the first murder only by number (died "April-September" 16th), but number 4 (Zao Cai, a blond man) died before her, "April-September", 2nd. In the folder, her documents go after his case. I think the fact is that initially the police believed that Emma committed suicide; at first, her case was not classified as a part of a series of murders, so police did not assign a chronological fifth number, but later, with new clues, simply moved her old documents in the "correct" chronological order to fifth place.

This technically makes Emma a 5 case… Or even a 6th. Because case 6 (Nan You) is also not without mysteries. The date of death is 14. I'm not sure why they put her file after Emma. Maybe they're unsure of the date or something and it's just an estimated date? So her date of death also “fell out of space.” But if 14 is correct, then this girl died 2 days earlier than Emma herself, and Emma technically becomes case 6.

The eighth case (Zhao Lin) occurs on 25th. The mystical 7 case is somewhere before that date, but we don't know how much of this is actual April or September.

In addition to mysterious 7th case, we also have 3 other earlier victims. They had to die before "April-September" 2nd, so the time of their death is roughly "March-August". We haven't seen their documents, but we know about their cases because of the photographs (the girl in the pink suit is probably the girl with the dog from ep11, since the BG is the same)

And also Xu Shanshan.

Who technically didn't die due to the time loop, but most likely "died" (since Lu Guang was thrown out) in the original events, which was still visible for Lu Guang in the unaltered photo.

I mentioned this in the post about s2 - the interesting thing is that Xu Shanshan's phone, as shown in s2, does not have a single photo from May to the end of October (current events with unknown date), which is quite. Strange.

All the murders had to happen with the similar style and certain time frame that they could be connected as a series. Given the news about Xu Shanshan: it was written - no new murders had occurred for several weeks (数周未出现新的受害者), which fits the September-October period (s1 ends at October 23). So we know for sure that the last cases with unspecified months should have occurred in September.

So. Obtaining financial information as a goal does not make sense, "someone" studies our main characters at the "perfect time", and all the dates are intertwined and have inaccurate implications. Like, almost half a year was literally “stolen” from time? Or something similar. The dates are so deliberately strange that I am speculating solely that time was broken from this point already, not even in s2 - what happened can only be speculated for now until we are told the background of Lu Guang's story. And who is the real 7th victim if April and September are mixed up, and the time has been “changed”. The funny thing is that everything also connected to the birthdays: April 15th - Cheng Xiaoshi's birthday September 16th - Qian Jin's birthday October 23th - the day Lu Guang was stabbed, exactly before his birthday Maybe I understand something incorrectly and I'm going down the wrong path altogether. No conclusions. My CPU is blown up. Thank you @wrathyforest for discussing this with me, trying to find connections, completing everything with time points, you are the best!

#link click #shiguang dailiren #link click s2 #link click spoilers #I myself died like Emma while writing this #I don't know how many times I rewatched s1 at this point #I need to sleep #mimicha.lc

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mykingdomforapen · 3 months

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Lunar New Year headcanons of our favorite trio while I do my deep cleaning...

brought to you by a Cantonese person disclaimer disclaimer

Cheng Xiaoshi loves the dancing lions so much. When he was little, he always told his parents he wanted to be one of the lion dancers one day, doing all sorts of acrobats and tricks. He would always run to the front to feed the lion money or lettuce and to this day as an adult still gets giddy when they eat something out of his hand.

That being said, Lunar New Year was hard for Cheng Xiaoshi the first several years without his parents. He was extremely lonely, and while Qiao Ling's family would have invited him over to their celebrations for the holidays, they also had all of Qiao Ling's grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins running around. It was too stressful for him so there were years he refused the invitation and spent it alone. Also, because so many of his classmates' parents didn't really like him, no one would give him a red envelope* which made him feel really embarrassed when the other kids would make fun of him for it. And he had no parents to get him new clothes, get him a haircut, etc. He honestly got depressed around the season each year. *if I understand correctly, while in the south of China it's usually your family/close friends who give you red envelopes with lots of money, northerners will give red envelopes to any kid they come across with a nominal amount

Lu Guang does go down south to see his extended family each holiday, and he has a pretty large extended family as well. His grandparents spoil him rotten and he gets SO much money. Most of which he subtly shares with Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang ie treating them to dinner, getting them little presents, etc. It helps that his grandparents worry he's destitute for working in a photo shop and give him extra money.

That being said, he does try to spend some of the important days with Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling because he LOVES THEM!!! And also he's got beef with one of his cousins.

Nowadays, Qiao Ling and her parents prioritize Cheng Xiaoshi over extended family when it comes to celebrations. Qiao Ling insists that they all like it better this way, but it took Cheng Xiaoshi a bit of time to believe it. He's grateful for their home, where there will always be a pair of chopsticks for him....

Also, Qiao Ling's mom begs him every season that she help him cut his hair. He says No ❤️

Lu Guang takes the deep cleaning very seriously around this season. He dedicates an entire weekend to scrubbing, dusting, changing out filters, cleaning out closets, everything. Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling always get a little nervous when, in the weeks leading up to LNY, they notice Lu Guang buying new cleaning liquids and rags.

Meanwhile, Cheng Xiaoshi cooks up a storm for the holidays. he completely takes over Qiao Ling's kitchen and cooks like crazy. He badgers Qiao Ling to keep him company but also doesn't want her in the kitchen else he'll trip over her when he's In The Zone, so she literally pulls up a stool and sits at the doorway.

This isn't a headcanon but just picture the trio bundled up in scarves and watching the fireworks together....clapping with the lion dancers...eating niangao and talking over the TV special....my heart.

#link click #shiguang dailiren #shiguang daili ren #also!!! this upcoming year is year of the dragon which is CXS' year!!! happy zodiac year b b boy!!!#this will either be your luckiest year or the worst year of your life!!!!#cheng xiaoshi #lu guang #qiao ling

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goinghostie · 7 months

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One thing that immediately stood out to me in both the PV and the official art was Lu Guang's glasses:

So gear up, guys - it’s time for a deep dive into the meaning behind this (possibly completely insignificant) fashion choice!

To "look at/see the world through rose-coloured/rose-tinted glasses" is an idiom that first appeared in the 1830s. Its exact origin isn’t clear. However, it is expected to have originated in the UK (something that fits the British theme of the overseas arc).

One origin theory I do want to mention is that map-makers were believed to have once used rose petals to clean the lenses of their glasses. An interesting note, considering roses are included in the Inplick artwork! 🌹

Glasses with pink lenses can also be helpful for those suffering from migraines – the lenses are able to filter out more painful wavelengths of light, providing comfort and pain relief (shoutout to LG eye theory believers!)

As a whole, the idiom itself most commonly refers to people who look on the bright side of life - those who see the glass half-full. Despite all the evil in the world, these individuals are able to find a silver lining. Sound familiar?

Cheng Xiaoshi is exactly the type of character who could be described as seeing the world through rose-tinted glasses. He’s naive, able to empathize with those who have made wrong choices…even years later, he still holds a belief that his parents may return.

However, Cheng Xiaoshi isn’t the one wearing rose-tinted glasses. In both the PV and the Inplick art, Lu Guang’s pink-toned glasses are a staple item for his character. So, how does this fit in with the phrase itself?

One main trait of this idiom is a sense of optimism. There have been many studies that show that optimists tend to live longer, show more confidence, and ultimately feel more fulfilled and happy with their lives. In Link Click’s case, though, Cheng Xiaoshi is the one destined to die.

Despite how pure and optimistic a person he is, Cheng Xiaoshi's fate is sealed. While we don’t know the specific reasons why Lu Guang is determined to rewrite time for Cheng Xiaoshi, one thing is clear: he believes that his partner deserves to live, regardless of the consequences.

I can see the pink glasses symbolizing two different things, depending on the context of how Lu Guang got them. The two scenarios are:

1. CXS gifted the glasses to LG

2. LG bought them for himself

Scenario 1:

In this scenario, the glasses may symbolize Cheng Xiaoshi’s hope. How his optimism and words stuck with Lu Guang - which motivates him to keep trying, despite not “seeing hope”.

Scenario 2:

Another way of viewing the phrase is the glasses themselves being deceptive to the wearer - he who wears them loses all common sense. Lu Guang’s rose-tinted glasses symbolize an abandonment of his own morals so he could blindly seek out a better future for Cheng Xiaoshi.

Lu Guang isn't motivated by optimism - he is driven by selfish desperation. He knows that Cheng Xiaoshi is the one who deserves a long, happy, and fulfilling life. The fact his partner was deprived of that is what motivates Lu Guang to go against his own morals.

For Lu Guang, his “rose-tinted glasses” (or reason for seeing the world in a new light) do not represent optimism but a selfish desire. Cheng Xiaoshi is the good in the world that deserves protection. And Lu Guang will do anything to save him from a tragic fate.

Lu Guang is the one with rose-tinted glasses because, despite everything, he isn’t willing to accept the fact that Cheng Xiaoshi died. What drives him isn’t optimism - it’s a stubborn determination to change reality to fit what he deems a brighter future than what is meant to be.

It may be no coincidence that his rose-tinted glasses quite literally overlap/touch CXS in the Inplick artwork - because the only world Lu Guang wants is one where Cheng Xiaoshi is alive and well.

#link click #shi guang dai li ren #shiguang daili ren #lu guang #cheng xiaoshi #shiguang #character study #idiom analysis #link click theory

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kukuandkookie · 7 months

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Saw someone who apparently really really hated the new direction Link Click season 2 took, to the point they felt like it ruined season 1 in a way that hurt and so on, and I am not here to attack a solely subjective opinion nor to say that Link Click is perfect. But this belief that season 2 was too different from season 1 did get me thinking, because...

Huh. The biggest criticism people had for season 1 was that the main characters outside of Cheng Xiaoshi (Lu Guang and Qiao Ling) were underdeveloped and/or the origins of their powers were unexplained. People freaking out over season 2 means people care more about these characters now. So it's just interesting in that regard. :ooo

I can't comment on this narratively yet, although I have seen people disagree that this goes against the themes of the show (I actually think it could lead to a really intriguing thematic breakdown, since Lu Guang seems so on top of things in season 1, but he isn't in season 2).

Basically, it already leads to a conversation about grief and regret and letting go. Season 1 very explicitly tells you to do these things, to the point of spelling them out repeatedly. Season 2 and beyond will likely implicitly explore these things, even if they directly state something else.

Contradictory themes can still be meaningful; the world is contradictory, so if we see a series challenge itself with a seemingly different set of themes (at first glance), it doesn't automatically mean it's a bad thing. I can see how it may feel like a sellout, but Link Click explores such complex ideas that there's still lots of themes we can enjoy even in the new direction the show is taking—especially when looking at things about moving on and letting go and being human (which we now know Lu Guang is. He isn't the more "perfect" time diver we saw in season 1). And this does begin to unravel the mysteries set up by season 1, and based on the fandom growth, a lot of fans do like it—which, again, I think this indicates an interesting turn of events.

Because the fact is that before season 2, Link Click has always been praised for its narrative but not really its characters. Now, despite the criticism against season 2, it's being praised for both. If nothing else…

We can see more to these characters now, beyond just Cheng Xiaoshi's pain. Now we see Qiao Ling and Cheng Xiaoshi's childhood, Lu Guang's pain, Cheng Xiaoshi's growth, and how they're not only just a group of friends, but a family.

And given the trend of episodic shows turning more narrative-driven, from Gravity Falls to Steven Universe to SVtFoE to Amphibia and more (even in donghua, we have Scissor Seven and The Legend of Luo Xiaohei and even God Troubles Me basically doing this too)… I think a lot of people do want to tell deep, emotionally-connected stories, and if fandom has proven anything, it's that connecting to the characters are crucial. So at the very least, season 2 has achieved that!

#link click #时光代理人 #link click season 2 #shi guang dai li ren #shiguang daili ren #cheng xiaoshi #lu guang #qiao ling #donghua #kuku88 #kuku rambles

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frostfires-blog · 7 months

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Shiguang Dailiren/Link Click

Season 2 Key Visual

Hanakotoba Analysis

In the first key visual for season 2 of the donghua, Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang are pictured alongside what seems to be pink periwinkle and spiderwort flowers. The spiderwort (Tradescantia) is also called the dayflower and is known as zǐ wànniánqīng shǔ (紫万年青属) in Chinese and the shirokusa (紫露草) in Japanese. The spiderwort flower is associated with immortality, optimism, and moral authority in English floriography because of its evergreen foliage and lasting flowers. Its hanakotoba meaning is platonic respect. In China, the spiderwort flower symbolises longevity and good luck. It is also utilised in pain-relieving medicine used to treat diseases. Conversely, the spiderwort flower can also symbolise transient happiness. The periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) is also known as the Madagascar periwinkle, Cape periwinkle, or Rose periwinkle. The periwinkle is known as chángchūnhuā (长春花) in Chinese and nichiodoriji kusa (日々草) in Japanese. The periwinkle symbolises faith, trust, everlasting love, and purity in English floriography. This flower is associated with admiration, appreciation, new beginnings, and friendships. Periwinkles can also symbolise tender recollections and sweet or pleasing remembrances. Its hanakotoba meaning is pleasant memories. In China, periwinkles love, passion, nurturing and warmth. Memories and human relationships are a central part of Link Click as Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang co-own a shop called the Time Photo Studio where they use their powers that let them jump into photographs, live the events of the picture, and resolve past regrets. The deep friendship between its main cast is another central theme in Link Click especially the great lengths Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi are willing to go through to ensure the other’s safety and happiness. This ties in well with the periwinkle’s meanings of tender recollections, sweet or pleasing remembrances, friendships, and new beginnings. Every time they jump into a photo, they risk changing the past which has ultimately resulted in dire consequences for them both interrupting their halcyon blissful lives and trapping them in a seemingly endless cycle of loss. This ties in well with the spiderwort flower’s contradictory meanings of longevity and transient happiness.

[If you liked this post, check out my other hanakotoba analysis posts here ❀]

[P.S. I didn't want to go into too much detail here since I've already done 2 other hanakotoba analysis posts on Link Click―so if you liked this post then check out those... Also, if I've gotten any of the kanji, romaji, hanzi or pinyin incorrect, feel free to correct me]

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shimmeringweeds · 8 months

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Link Click Season 2 Episode 10 pt1

Okay. Taking a deep breath before documenting my thoughts because that was some info we got.

like first off --

How did he do that???

When I tell you I paused the episode and put my head in my hands for five minutes.

I have some dead end theories, but for now that one is a mystery for future me to chew on.

What I want to discuss:

Now that we have confirmation, I want to start talking about the implications of mixing and matching our character's abilities. This gets dark. If you want to live in a brighter world with happier theories, look away. I don't blame you.

Lu Guang can see into the future of a photograph through the eyes of its photographer.

Cheng Xiaoshi can possess the photographer and even feel their emotions.

Li Tianxi can see through a photograph what a person in the present is doing and feeling.

Li Tianchen possesses people in the present through touch.

There's a reason these abilities are paired as they are. If Li Tianchen worked with Lu Guang? Well, he could see the photograph. That's no benefit.

If Li Tianxi worked with Lu Guang? Similar issue. She goes to the present and gains memory. No need to see the past.

If Cheng Xiaoshi works with Li Tianxi? Well, yeah, they just did that. It's useful for undercover intelligence gathering, but not much else.

If Cheng Xiaoshi works with Li Tianchen? This is where things can get scary.

A dark thought has been nagging at me. And now that we have confirmation on what each individual twin's powers are are, I'm ready to discuss.

I’m interested, logistically, in what would occur if Cheng Xiaoshi and Li Tianchen combined powers.

They both have a possession ability.

They both take over a body.

Each time we see Li Tianchen take possession of a body that Cheng Xiaoshi is occupying, Cheng Xiaoshi is forcibly evicted.

Yes, I understand that these possessions have been coming from opposing sources and not one source traveling through another. That's the point.

I don't think this will work out as simply as anyone wants it to.

Li Tianxi doesn't have a possession ability. She's just an observer and an empath.

Cheng Xiaoshi does have a possession ability. And he, too, feels their emotions.

If Li Tianchen dives into a photo through Cheng Xiaoshi, how aware would Cheng Xiaoshi still be? Even Li Tianxi maintains some awareness if her ability is used (and that was a horrifying thought I'd suppressed for weeks, thanks Link Click, I hate being right.)

Look, both Li Tianchen and Qian Jin seem to think that Cheng Xiaoshi can change the past. But from Cheng Xiaoshi's current perspective? He can't. He's tried. In his experience what has happened -- will happen. That logic has been his sword. And to "leave the past be" is drilled into his mind.

I think -- and honestly I pray that someone talks me down from this because I hate this thought--

I think that Li Tianchen wants to protect his sister. I think that Li Tianchen doesn't want to change the past. He doesn't want to bring anyone back to life.

I think Li Tianchen just wants to make it so those acts weren't committed by Li Tianxi.

And if -- and admittedly this is stretching it -- but if somehow Li Tianchen had the foresight to send a selfie to a certain phone before each person died...?

He's found a way.

#This gets super dark I'm sorry #but LTXs story is already a nightmare #Another post will be needed to supply evidence I have more thoughts on the matter but this is long #I'm slowly going insane and this theory is wild even for me #I realize I contradict myself in tiny ways each time post #new episodes mean evolving thoughts #but I'm stuck in all the holes please dig me out #link click #时光代理人 #shiguang dailiren #link click spoilers #my lc theories

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muninnhuginn · 6 months

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Link Click Fic Recs

I've seen some of these around and thought I'd have my own go. As others largely have the shippy side covered and I've historically struggled to find good gen fic, I ended up deciding to make this list gen-only. This means that all fic included can be read as platonic regardless of tags.

That's not to say shippers won't get anything out of these though. Think of it as canon-typical levels of ship and that's about what to expect here.

Notes: These are listed in largely chronological order as to when they were posted. I've limited it to one fic per author in instances where multiple fic would otherwise appear on the list.

Overtime by machasw

The job for Chen Xiao has been a nightmare from start to finish. Cheng Xiaoshi changes almost every event, breaks almost every rule, and the night ends with a roof crashing down on his head. There's one more nightmare in store though. When the twelve-hour limit arrives, Cheng Xiaoshi doesn't return home.

without you (i don't know if i could take this road) by DandyDonut

Roleswap AU where Lu Guang enters photos and Xiaoshi guides him through the process using precognition.

Depth of Focus by Shadaras

Cheng Xiaoshi’s earliest memories were of the click and flash of a camera.

synesthesia by silverinerivers

“First, you only get 12 hours.” “Wait, why?” Cheng Xiaoshi interrupts, wrinkling his brows. (Or: the moments which bring them to the start of it all.)

power of possessions by macrauchenia

A group of violent thieves starts targeting businesses around their neighborhood. When the photo shop becomes the next victim and Lu Guang ends up bruised and bloody, he tells the others not to get involved. Leave the past in the past. Too bad Cheng Xiaoshi is allergic to listening. [Link Click Case-Fic]

wine glass on the cusp of falling by sunslants

Cheng Xiaoshi wakes up the morning after Liu Min is arrested feeling an intense, nauseating deja vu.

Spoilers for season two below

the first time by choucobos

Lu Guang (stupid, foolish, and naïve, but not for much longer) looks at the photo. He listens to his heartbeat, the reliable ticking of the clock that can save Cheng Xiaoshi. Bringing his hands up in front of him, he takes a deep breath. He dives back in time.

clasp my contradiction-filled hand by jan (note: jan has a lot of other fic playing with underutilised dynamics in canon so if that's your fare I'd check them out)

What the twins don't tell each other.

like once you did for me by Syncogon

"If this is a loop, then... how many times has it been?" "I don't know." Cheng Xiaoshi laughs, somehow. "You wouldn't tell me."

did you know bunnies can die of loneliness by lesbievie

Lu Guang abandons countless timelines to save Cheng Xiaoshi — and in every one, he leaves Qiao Ling alone.

#despite my best attempts to find them there aren't many fic above 5k and even fewer that are complete.#link click #shiguang daili ren #spoilers for s1 in most of these and s2 in the latter half of them #fic recs

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spoken-outofturn · 8 months

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rough dives.

[1,858 words]

It was a particularly rough dive.

Lu Guang used his powers to get a clearer picture of the timeline the client was asking for before coming to Cheng Xiaoshi with the picture they needed to dive, as he normally does, but what the client wanted was not particularly easy to find. Meaning, Lu Guang had to dive into at least 20 pictures himself before pulling Xiaoshi from the darkroom to jump.

The client was looking for clues on her long-lost lover. That much Lu Guang was able to piece together through his own research—that helpful tidbit of information was not given to him before starting on the work. All the client had told Qiao Ling was that she was wanting to find clues as to where her old university roommate had disappeared off to after graduation.

It would have been helpful to have the pictures timestamped. It also would have been helpful to know that it wasn’t right after graduation when her old roommate had disappeared.

Instead, Lu Guang dove into at least 7 pictures alone to piece together when all of them were taken. Then, it was sorting out their last semester living together, the days leading up to graduation, the day of graduation getting ready in their dorm together, their fight a week after…

He had written out the important details he found; he wasn’t an idiot. But the information overload was starting to weigh on his brain.

He was going to need a long nap after this one.

But the work wasn’t over yet.

Lu Guang knocked on the door of the darkroom. “Hey, Cheng Xiaoshi, found the one we need to learn more from. I think there was something the roommate said to her, but the client wasn’t paying enough attention for me to catch it. I also think there was a train ticket in the roommate’s purse that might give us a clue as to where she went.”

The door slid open. Despite it being almost nine in the evening, Xiaoshi was still as peppy as ever. Which really didn’t surprise Lu Guang—his partner did just get done with developing the last of some wedding photos they had shot over the weekend. The smile that greeted Lu Guang eased some of the pounding in his head. He couldn’t help it; if Xiaoshi was happy, it always lifted Lu Guang’s spirits too.

“Alright! Another dive? Its been almost a week and half. You sure you’re good to dive tonight though? I know we just got this client this morning…” Xiaoshi trailed off, letting concern leak into his voice. It made Lu Guang’s mouth twitch into a small smile, against his will.

“Yeah, it’s all good. The quicker we get this done the better, and it shouldn’t be too hard of a dive.” Xiaoshi simply looked at him with that hint of concern behind his eyes for a moment, but eventually stepped out of the dark room and closed the door behind him. “Alright, navigator, I trust you.”

Cheng Xiaoshi always said those words so easily, and Lu Guang always had his breath catch on the honesty they held.

They trailed into the living room, Lu Guang handing the picture over to his partner. “Alright, you know the rules…” he let himself trail off, sending a pointed look at Xiaoshi. The dark-haired man may trust him, but he always seems to need reminding of their rules.

“Yeah, yeah, I know, I only get twelve—” “You only get twelve hours. Follow my lead and change nothing. Lastly, past or future—” “Past or future, let them be. I got this, and you’re by my side as always, my guide.” Xiaoshi winks at him on those last words, clapping his hand on top of Lu Guang’s.

“Idiot.”

--x--

At first, nothing appears to go awry. By all accounts, it’s the smoothest dive they’ve had in a while, especially as Xiaoshi didn’t need to continually be punched in order to obtain the necessary information for their client.

The issue, in fact, didn’t even come from Cheng Xiaoshi, as the recklessly empathetic man is prone to causing.

It was from Lu Guang himself.

First, there was a deep throb deep in Lu Guang’s head. He brushed it off—it wouldn’t be the first time he used his powers with a migraine.

Then, it was the silence.

“Cheng Xiaoshi? I caught what I needed to of that conversation, but I need you to wait before trying to find the train tickets.”

Silence.

“Cheng Xiaoshi? …Xiaoshi! Answer me if you can hear me.”

--x--x--

It wasn’t often that Lu Guang had genuine panic creep into his tone. “Lu Guang? Hello?” The sigh that followed would have sounded exasperated to anyone who didn’t know Lu Guang. But Cheng Xiaoshi knew Lu Guang. Better than anyone. “Hey you went dark on me there for a second, is everything okay?”

The silence returned.

Xiaoshi waited a few more seconds before trying again. “Guang Guang, I know you like to tease, but I do need instruction.” The teasing tone in his voice was mostly for himself—he cannot panic now, not in the middle of a dive, not in the middle of a conversation with the target of the client’s inquiry.

--x--x--

It wasn’t often that Xiaoshi completed a job by himself. In fact, he could really only say he entered a photo by himself once before. But he knew there was only this one chance to use this one photo to get the client’s information. So, he carried on, but only for exactly as long as he needed to.

Lu Guang was not responding. He tried about once a minute to reach out to his partner, each time to no response. He got the train line and the name of the destination that was on the ticket hidden in the roommates’ purse, then did what he has only needed to a few times before.

He pulled himself out of the photo early.

Landing on the couch, he immediately rushed to Lu Guang’s side, where he was slumped on the floor, almost like he was on his way to the kitchen and simply passed out. The panic that Xiaoshi suppressed when he was in the dive resurfaced, tenfold.

He rushed to the white-haired man’s side, dropping to the floor next to him. “Lu Guang, Lu Guang!” He took his partner’s head and maneuvered it into his lap. He checked Lu Guang’s pulse; normal. He watched the rise and fall of the man’s chest; normal. He let out a breath of relief—at least he still had his best friend with him. Now all he had to do was figure out what was wrong with him.

Unconsciously, he started running his fingers through the white locks in his lap while he thought. Lu Guang had absolutely overworked himself that day. He knew it by the extra tired look in his eyes when he had retrieved Cheng Xiaoshi from the dark room. He had been through bouts of fatigue before with his powers, but it had never caused him to outright pass out before. Right?

Or had he simply never noticed?

Lu Guang was always doing what amounted to reconnaissance for their dives the day or two leading up to Xiaoshi entering the photo. Had this happened before? Had Xiaoshi simply overlooked what was happening to his best friend, to his partner?

The guilt started to well up in Xiaoshi. How had he not seen this coming? Why didn’t he push harder for them to wait another day to dive? How many photos had Lu Guang looked through, and why didn’t Xiaoshi notice?

“Hey.”

His thoughts were immediately cut off as he whipped his head back down to the man still in his lap. Whose hair he was still carding through with his fingers. Whose tired eyes were lidded, but open, and focused on him.

“Lu Guang.”

It came out like a blessing, breathless and full of relief. His partner was awake.

The man looked up at him, eyes sharpening. “This isn’t your fault, Xiaoshi. I should have known my limits… no, I do know my limits and I surpassed them anyways. This is not on you.”

Xiaoshi didn’t know if his emotions written all over his face, or if the other man just knew him that well. He had a sneaking suspicion it was the latter. A small smile broke out over his face at the thought. It faded back into a small frown, however, before he pointed out, “I should have paid better attention, Lu Guang. I know you, and I knew you were tired before we dove. I should have realized how it would affect you.” “There was no way for you to have known, idiot. I just need to rest, and I’ll be back and running in no time. And this isn’t an example for you to follow, you know, you shouldn’t test the limitations on your powers either.”

At that, Xiaoshi truly smiled. If Lu Guang was lecturing him, even from the spot he himself passed out at with his head in Cheng Xiaoshi’s lap, that meant he was feeling okay. Shaking his head, he couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped him. “You always feel the need to nag, huh? Well, shops closed tomorrow—no objections!—and you can nag all you want while you rest.” Lu Guang made to open his mouth but Xiaoshi covered it with his free hand, only letting the man make a muffled sound of protest in response. “Nuh uh. No objections,” he taunted with a smirk.

Letting his hand still from where it was moving through the white hair, Xiaoshi made to shift his weight to stand. A shadow of disappointment flashed briefly over Lu Guang’s face, so brief if he hadn’t known the man for as long as he did, he would have missed it. But he didn’t. A small grin replaced the smirk on his face, and he ruffled the man’s hair before picking him up, supporting him under his knees and around his torso. Lu Guang all but squawked.

With a laugh, Xiaoshi made his way to the stairs leading to their bedroom with Lu Guang in his arms. “Remember, no objections! You need rest, doctors’ orders.” “You most certainly are not a doctor,” was the only grumbled reply Lu Guang gave as they made their way upstairs. “Maybe not, but you most certainly need rest. And you’re taking the bottom bunk tonight, you don’t need to be climbing a ladder.” Lu Guang wrinkled his nose at the statement. “You haven’t washed your sheets.” “I did them three days ago! I wash them weekly, you know this. What, you can’t handle a night in my clean peasant sheets?” All he got in response was a deadpan stare. Xiaoshi sighed dramatically. “Fine, I’ll replace them with your spare sheets. Then I’ll wash both sets tomorrow. Deal?” A ghost of a smile passed over Lu Guang’s face. “Deal.”

--x--

It was a particularly rough dive.

But they always pick each other up again.

#link click #lu guang #cheng xiaoshi #shiguang #fanfiction #man I love these two #I needed a bit of fluff #so I wrote myself some #praying I portrayed their characters well #characterization is one of my biggest pet peeves #well #ooc characterizations I suppose #but these two deserve a bit of fluff and happiness

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lizzieonka · 8 months

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The more I think about the LG kidnapping, the more I find it odd. So you're telling me that resident reckless Cheng Xiaoshi didn't try to swim in the lake to reach the escape boat? Or, if it really was future!CXS who drove the speedboat and did that 10m jump, you're telling me that the current CXS couldn't jump the same distance back onto said boat and drive after them???

Even if the enemy had a gun, I think we'd still see CXS try to save LG. This is the boy who tried to save everyone from a catastrophic earthquake, dived into a photo alone to investigate a suspected serial killer, and even confronted "Liu Min" while the other had a knife. Now that it's Lu Guang in danger, not seeing CXS risk his life to catch after that boat is just suspicious

Unless he really couldn't

Maybe the lake was too deep, or he really couldn't jump 10m back onto the speedboat. But why couldn't he?

Maybe because it wasn't him all along. Qiao Ling guessed wrong.

Edit: I just realized that CXS could've also just swam to the speedboat, yet he didn't. Maybe he doesn't even know how to drive

#link click #link click meta #or smth #link click spoilers #cheng xiaoshi #miyamiwu.tol #miyamiwu.src #shiguang dailiren #时光代理人

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hirokari · 2 years

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maybe, possibly, perhaaaps...

p: cheng xiaoshi x gn!reader | wc: 1.3k | g: coffee shop!au, fluff, strangers to more | w: mentions of food and drinks

"He's been in here for, like, 2 hours."

"He could be working on an assignment," Answers Lu Guang as he hands you a mug absentmindedly. You snatch it from his grasp and sigh, wiping it down with the rag you hold. "But he's been on his phone."

"Why are you bugged, anyway? It's not like you," Your co worker wipes his palms against his apron, leaning against the counter. "I'm not bugged," You argue, cheeks hot. "I just... he's strangely but insanely attractive and I maybe, possibly, perhaaaps... would like to ask for his number."

The deadpan Lu Guang wears earns him a firm smack to the shoulder and a rushed, quiet whisper for him to shut up despite him not saying anything. He scrunches his nose up, stealing a not-so-subtle glance at the raven-haired boy across the cafe. You curse him out again, though it's not like the charming boy would notice with how focused he seems as he types on his phone with frantic (maybe a little shaky) fingers.

QL: ohmygod how long will you be pretending to text me

QL: just grow a pair and ask them smh

CXS: whar???

CXS: hell no have you SEEN them???

QL: no because you refused to show me a picture of them

CXS: i'd be charked by them then i'd slip up then boom. caught.

CXS: *charmed

CXS: you must be ctazy to thnik that i'd risk beign caught and ruinign my chances with them

Xiaoshi can't bring it in himself to notice his typos because his chest beats so violently he feels like he's about to throw up. He can hear you cursing at something faintly and though it isn't clear or flattering, the boy feels slightly enamoured. Just slightly. He hasn't felt this nervous since his middle school talent show where he (thought he) pulled the best move ever invented.

After being ghosted by Qiao Ling— nothing new— Xiaoshi groans and lets his cheek mush against the skin of his palm as he slaps his face with a hopeless groan. It's when he looks out the window in hopes of calming his mind when he notices- it's pouring.

How deep in thought had he been to not notice? He feels stupid now.

Xiaoshi takes a moment to look around the cafe-- there are a few patrons sat in different seats, some in pairs and most not; the white-haired employee wipes down a table with a fresh cloth, eyes half-lidded as he watches the downpour outside; the coffee machine whirrs, though there's no one to attend to it at the moment.

You've disappeared.

Puzzled, he takes another sip of the caramel macchiato you'd made for him— call him biased, but he believes it's the best he's ever had— and takes another look around, hoping to spot you.

Though to no avail, he assumes you’re taking a much deserved break in the back.

“Hi,”

Xiaoshi jumps a little, shoulders rising. “Oh! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to, um, startle you.” You apologize with a sheepish smile. You stand in front of him, a little to his right, pressing a tray against the material of the apron you wear. “I just- are you done? With-with that?”

Curses. You and your nervous stammering. You’re insanely embarrassed right now, fingers picking on a loose strand of your jeans.

“Oh! Um, yeah, thanks.” Answers Xiaoshi, drawing attention back to his ‘thesis’ that displays on his laptop. It’s been half-finished for two hours. With a bouncing knee, he watches as you carefully pick up the menu and the plate his strawberry macarons had been displayed on, tucking the tray and menu under you arm and bringing the plate with one hand,

You take a step, something in Xiaoshi jumps. He doesn’t want you to go yet. This is a poor excuse of an interaction to go home to. His lips part a little, but his throat goes dry. You take another step, though this one feels hesitant. He wets his lips with his tongue.

"It’s po-"

"How was yo-"

You both stop, skin burning. The moment settles in the air that sits between the two of you as you both look at each other as caught off guard as the other. “I’m sorry- I didn’t mean to cut you off.” Says Xiaoshi with a little nervous chuckle. He gestures for you to go on with a shrug and a charming smile.

“I just wanted to ask if you, um, liked the coffee. And macarons.”

“They both tasted like heaven,” He answers almost immediately. The answer was easy, he thinks. It’s the truth. “Though, those macarons were pretty hefty.”

A small playful, slightly bewildered scoff bubbles from your throat, “Well, they were pretty hard to make.”

“So you made them too? No wonder they were good.”

Your fingers clench around the plate you hold as you struggle to resist a smile. Tilting your head a bit, you shrug, “I had a little help. From Jack Frost over there,” You motion towards your co-worker’s direction, who watches you two not-so-subtly as he wipes down the cashier counter. “Though he’s a little clumsy at times.”

“Jack Frost,” Laughs Xiaoshi. “They were really nice, helped or not. Thanks for them.”

You’re left to smile at each other for a moment, and before it’s too long and too awkward, you clear your throat. “Gotta wash, uh, some dishes.” You scrunch your nose up as you bring the plate in your hand up a little.

You don’t miss the little shit-eating look Lu Guang gives you as you retreat behind the counter to wash the said dish, letting your eyes roll at his antics.

CXS: I

CXS: I DID IT

CXS: I TLAKED TO THEM

QL: cool

QL: does this mean you’ll stop bothering me ab them

CXS: screw you

CXS: i’m comign home in a bit btw

QL: okay, but make sure to get those digits

QL: don’t want you moping here

Xiaoshi, shutting his laptop down, presses his lips into a line after reading his roommate’s messages, suppressing an annoyed murmur. He stuffs the device into his backpack and sends a few more messages to stall his time in the cafe.

“He’s leaving,” Says Lu Guang. You smack him in the back for saying it too loud for your liking. The boy hisses and gives you a glare, whispering harshly, “He’s. Leaving.”

“Oh shit,” You mumble. In a nimble rush, you steal the pen from Lu Guang’s pocket and snatch a napkin, scribbling down in the fastest pace you can. You hope it’s readable.

Xiaoshi stands from his seat with his backpack slung over one shoulder, gathering all the courage in him to ask you one question. But when he turns around, he’s met with your deadpanning co-worker and a receipt in his hand.

“Your receipt.” He says in a monotone expression.

“Thanks…” Mumbles Xiaoshi, looking a bit over the boy’s shoulder. He sees you entering the back breakroom, untying the knot behind your apron. A wave of disappointment washes over him as he takes the paper strip from the white-haired boy, but it’s soon quelled by a small sense of curiosity when he feels a soft napkin under the receipt.

It’s your digits. It’s written a little messily, but he thinks it just adds to your charm. Under the said numbers is written carefully:

Macaron Maker :) ♡

“They were too nervous.” Sighs Lu Guang. Xiaoshi looks at him, wordless. The younger one picks the mug Xiaoshi had been drinking out of before from the table up, “To give it to you.”

Xiaoshi can’t help but steal another glance towards the backdoor, grinning a tight-lipped smile when he meets eyes with you, who bites the inside of your cheek out of embarrassment. He waves, you give one back.

The rain seems to have stopped when Xiaoshi strides out of the coffee shop, feeling a little stupidly giddy when he feels the warm rays of the sun adorn and rest on his face.

a/n: kinda think i went a liiittle overboard here, could i have opinions maybe? ^^

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mimicha-arts · 5 months

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Long time no see.

Decided to copy my thread from twitter here, since twitter is not the best place to keep posts like this.

SGDLR audiobook, ep19;

To add the context: during the case Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi tried to help their client Huang Xing to find a guy named Xiao Liu, who went "missing", but the plot is not dramatical, mostly funny, since the lack of communication is a thing. So Lu Guang and CXS told everything to Qiao Ling, she laughed very hard at this. It reminds Qiao Ling of Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi themselves, so she literally compares. Then this scene happened.

QL: By the way, if Huang Xing and Xiao Liu had been franker and talked to each other a little more, this situation couldn't happened at all.

QL: This reminds me about two people, they are also like this. They obviously care about each other, but can't express it well, even occasionally quarrel and get upset.

After, Qiao Ling is literally side eyeing LG and CXS, her eyes are sliding back and forth.

QL: Even I, the landlord, have to show up and mediate ... Truly, it's exactly the same.

LG: It’s not the same.

QL: A? So, what’s the difference? Lu Guang doesn’t answer her, after he gets up and goes outside. Cheng Xiaoshi watches him, suddenly raises his head, looking at Lu Guang's direction. CXS: Hey, Lu Guang, where are you going? LG: Getting a takeout.

CXS: You actually ordered takeout behind my back! Don’t even think about eating it all by yourself! Cheng Xiaoshi stands up from the sofa in confusion. He runs out after Lu Guang without any trace of frustration that he has had earlier.

Qiao Ling gazes after them, deep in thoughts. QL: Yeah. . . Seems it’s not the same

Friendly reminder that I'm not a native speaker, so mistakes are possible. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong somewhere ~

#link click #shiguang dailiren #they literally ran away from Qiao Ling hjhj #so what's the difference haha

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mykingdomforapen · 23 days

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courage of stars | Link Click (时光代理人）

After receiving a cryptic photo of a missing man, Cheng Xiaoshi dives into the past in hopes of solving his disappearance. What he discovers leads him and Lu Guang into a mystery deeply entangled with both their families. Cheng Xiaoshi is desperate to save his parents. Lu Guang is desperate to save Cheng Xiaoshi. As the days draw closer to September 12th, the universe is dropping hints that it wants to do neither.

Rating: M

Characters: Cheng Xiaoshi, Lu Guang, Cheng Xiaoshi's Parents, Lu Guang's Extended Family, Qiao Ling, Original Male Character(s)

Relationships: Cheng Xiaoshi & Lu Guang, Cheng Xiaoshi & His Parents, Lu Guang & His Grandpa, Cheng Xiaoshi & Qiao Ling, Cheng Xiaoshi & Qiao Ling & Lu Guang, Lu Guang & Qiao Ling

Excerpt-

When Cheng Xiaoshi had woken up afraid, he had already forgotten the nightmare. All that he knew was that he wanted his mother.

He stayed very still under the sheets. If there was a monster in his room, they wouldn’t notice him. He kept the blanket drawn over his head, and his breath made his face feel all hot and itchy. He wanted his mother, but leaving the bed felt scary, and also Ling jie said that he was seven years old now, and that meant he needed to stop being such a scaredy-cat. What was he doing, still getting scared by bad dreams? They weren’t real. Snakes and bad grades were real, but nightmares weren’t.

So he curled up in a ball by his pillow and tried to be brave. If he couldn’t see what was outside of his blankets, then there was nothing to be scared of. He didn’t have to run to Mama, and then tomorrow morning he can tell Ling jie that he isn’t afraid of the dark. Then she would stop calling him ‘baby brother,’ which made all the other boys laugh at him. He hated when they laughed at him.

He just needed to go back to sleep.

He needed to sleep and stop imagining dark rooms and glowing eyes and something breathing behind his shoulder. There was nothing behind his shoulder. There was no one else in the room. He did not need to wake up Mama for this. She and Baba were always so busy and looked so tired by the end of the day. They were probably sleeping now, and there was no one else awake in the house.

He cradled his head and squeezed his eyes shut. What would Mama do if she was here? She would pat his head and sing a song until he fell asleep. Cheng Xiaoshi ruffled his own hair and hummed until his eardrums itched. It didn’t help, and now his nose was itching too. He wanted to cry, which was not what Mama would do if she was here, and exactly what he wanted to do because she wasn’t.

All of a sudden, he heard Mama and Baba’s voices downstairs, and now nothing could scare him too much to run after them. He took in a big, deep breath like he was about to go swimming before he leapt out of the bed and ran for the stairs. There was still a dim light on in the sunroom. They were the only ones in the room, but they still whispered. It made them sound afraid.