offlineallthetime

There is a train headed towards a little boy. Diverting its direction would cause the train to crash into a vast world, a protagonist receiving most of the impact.

However, the writer still chooses to divert the train's direction, saving the boy in the process.

For she loved the boy so dearly.

And the protagonist loved him just as much, which is why he held no animosity for the writer and her choice

But what about the protagonist?

What does he have left?

He comes face to face with the child, already grown up and mature. And seemingly, the he finds his purpose.

The boy has given him a reason to live.

But the boy should've been the one run over by the train that day. So he leaves the protagonist due to his guilt.

For he has also come to love him and his creator.

K-NOVELS

Omniscient Reader (Line Webtoon) [2018]

중독: Yu Junghyuk/Kim Dokja

그분독자: Secretive Plotter/Kim Dokja

Lout of the Count’s Family (Tappytoon) [2018]

최케: Choi Han/Cale Henituse

알케: Alver Crossman/Cale Henituse

My S-Class Hunters (Line Webtoon) [2018]

윻윶: Han Yuhyun/Han Yujin

현윶: Sung Hyunjae/Han Yujin

Return of the Blossoming Blade (Line Webtoon) [2019]

백청: Baek Cheon/Cheongmyeong

당청: Tang Bo/Cheongmyeong

The Greatest Estate Developer* (Line Webtoon) [2019]

하비로이: Javier Asrahan/Kim Suho

I Woke Up as the Villain (Tapas) [2019]

도진유성: Kim Dojin/Choi Yuseong

When the Third Wheel Strikes Back (Line Webtoon) [2020]

세드예서: Cedric Riester/Jung Yeseo

지브예서: Jibril Diop/Jung Yeseo

Debut or Die (Tapas) [2021]

앟문: Seon Ahyeon/Park Moondae

큰문: Lee Sejin (Keun)/Park Moondae

윶문: Cha Eugene/Park Moondae

랩문: Kim Raebin/Park Moondae

엋문: Cheongryeo/Park Moondae

Beacon of Light in the Dark Sea [2022]

해량무현: Shin Haeryang/Park Moohyun

재희무현: Kim Jaehee/Park Moohyun

The Hunter of the Other World is Being Misunderstood [2023]

창호기려: Kang Changho/Kim Kiryeo

하성기려: Jeong Haseong/Kim Kiryeo

Black Badger [2023]

윤힐: Choi Yoon/Hildebert Talev

예힐: Lee Yehyun/Hildebert Talev

Got Dropped Into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work [2024]

샇룻: Baek Saheon/Kim Soleum

솔샇: Kim Soleum/Baek Saheon

잫솔: Lee Jaheon/Kim Soleum

블솔: Braun/Kim Soleum

WEBTOONS

Tower of God [2010]

쿤밤: Khun Aguero Agnes/The 25th Bam

Lookism [2014]

재열형석: Hong Jaeyeol/Park Hyungseok

No Home [2018]

은영해준: Baek Eunyoung/Goh Haejoon

Garbage Time [2019]

준상: Seong Junsu/Ki Sangho

뱅상: Park Byungchan/Ki Sangho

종상: Choi Jongsu/Ki Sangho

Special Civil Servant** [2024]

이든마루: Seonwoo Eden/Han Maru

*note: the MC has a canon relationship with another character.

**note: the MC has canon feelings for another character.

UPDATES

15/02/2025: filled in the pairings for Black Badger.

Vein and Xià Fěi hold the powers of Foresight and Hindsight – here's how I came to believe it. Get ready for a lengthy post—this is the first in a series. (30 mins read).

Have you heard of the dual power theory? Let me explain this beautiful theory first caught by @miyamiwu (GIFs and correlating posts can be found here and here).

For those who missed it, Vein and Xià Fěi’s frames in the LULL Bridon arc credits feature VFX that spill into each other’s frames. As seen in her post, this does not happen with any of the other four characters, all of whom have confirmed powers. We know that Link Click never does anything without a reason! What does this mean, and why are these two characters highlighted over the others? Well Miyamiwu threw it out there that maybe it correlates to them having a dual power. And that theory makes so much sense.

Where have we seen the use of dual powers? We've seen dual powers used before with Lu Guang and Chéng Xiǎoshí, as well as with the siblings Li Tianchen and Li Tianxi. So, this isn’t something new. In fact, of the 7 confirmed characters with powers, 4 of them are in pairs. This makes it highly probable that two new complimenting characters who act as a duo are also connected in this way. The symbolism is clear: the two share something deeper, just like the other powerful pairs. If four others can have dual powers, why not Xià Fěi and Vein, a pair so tightly connected both in contrasting personalities but equal and parallel in their relationship? Now that I've explained this dual theory my goal was to figure out and prove which powers makes the most sense for either of the two to have. To help me I've set up two cannon-bound rules that helped me find what it is. Rule #1 Dual powers means the characters would either have parallel powers with complementary abilities or opposite powers that act as a counterbalance to each other. Vein and Xià Fěi are constantly contrasting in these frames. Not only do the characters themselves contrast personality-wise, but their friendly dynamic complements each other. Given this dynamic, their powers would either need to complement or contrast with one another, or exist in the fine line between. It also goes to show that assuming Vein has smoke or immortal/resurrection powers would not work, because it needs a fitting connecting power.

Rule #2 There’s no reason to assume Link Click's powers are elemental. Based on what we've seen, Powers are tied to photography, time travel, or something related to the body or the mind. Introducing elemental powers would, in my opinion, mess with the established lore.

Assuming Xià Fěi has light powers doesn’t quite fit, even if it aligns with Rule 1 about having a parallel or opposite. Similarly, the theory of Xià Fěi having fire powers falls short if Vein’s doesn't seem like he would complement or contrast with that power in any way. In my quest to narrow down the possible powers, I couldn’t help but find a loophole that had me wondering why Xià Fěi and Vein's eyes always glow so brightly, as if their power is constantly active. Even the other main characters' eyes dim when their powers aren't in use. This led me to a third rule—more hypothesis than canon-based, so your free to ignore it— My biased Rule #3 - If both character’s power is one that stays on, it could be a passive or constant ability, always active but perhaps unnoticed until the right moment. This rule genuinely backs you into a corner, but it only managed to put my last two remaining theories on a pedestal... So, after digging myself into dozens of holes including loopholes to find potential powers that actually fit within a time-travel story, I finally hit on foresight and hindsight—and suddenly, everything clicked. Maybe its called link click because everything always clicks into place. hahaha....just pretend I'm funny. These concepts not only make sense for both characters story arcs, but they’re backed by existing theories and new evidence I've uncovered. Now, I’ll dive into each of their respective powers, explaining the why, how, and what that support my theory.

Vein: "Immediate Foresight" Memory that does not transcend time, but transcends a series of moments.

GIF by ydotome

Vein’s foresight works differently from Lu Guang’s—while Lu Guang’s power transcends time, Vein’s memory doesn’t carry over through each reset. I will stand by my belief that Vein didn’t know or recognize either Lu Guang or CXS before they were introduced to each other in episode 3— otherwise he would have simply killed them both.

While it looks like Lu Guang is on the edge of having both foresight and hindsight, I'd like to argue his power is more akin to clairvoyance. The difference in these powers is significant, but different enough for it makes sense for characters to have such similar abilities. Let me explain further. Vein's power is PREDICTIVE Lu Guangs power is TRUTH

Foresight - Vein's power is about predicting what might happen, based on the present circumstances. It’s more about a sense of anticipation or intuition—He would know what’s likely to happen. The where and how is clear, while the why and when remains predictive until within that moment.

Clairvoyance - Lu Guang’s power is about seeing specific details of the future, present, or past. He wouldn’t just predict what might happen; he has seen and experienced clearly both the past and future as if it were happening right in front of him. It’s about truth—the direct and clear perception of events, like he’s watching a film. 

Since the director mentioned that Lu Guang always stays within his own timeline, I don't believe their powers see different timelines or possible outcomes, but rather 'the timeline's current outcome' in varying levels of clarity. This view of Foresight aligns with Vein's almost superhuman reflexes,

Next 3 GIFs by ydotome I invite you to take a look at this scene until you REALLY understand it. On second glance there's something subtly off about the timing of Vein's reactions.

Study how swiftly Vein moves—it looks effortless. Too easy. Upon closer inspection, it even feels like Vein's own movements anticipate a frame or two before than the other even prepares to strike. Like he is one full moment ahead of each strike. I have several frames here for example (this gif is originally 69 frames long)

While many anime characters can dodge like this, few do it with their eyes closed for three full swings without some kind of 'extra sense perception.' So I'm calling it evidence. Here Vein is showing complete confidence in his knowledge that he won't get hurt. 

Just the fact that he stands still with that smug ass little smile screams that he is in control of the situation. I'm hypothesizing that Vein learns the truth of the moment only within that moment; everything before is predictive. The closer he is, the clearer the information becomes. In that instant, he can dodge every strike because their next move shifts from a probability to a complete certainty. This gives him a sense of control and explains why he often looks so pleased.

I believe Vein is constantly downloading new information about his opponent and surroundings mid-battle, making him the perfect, constantly adapting adversary. Vein is the embodiment of 'right place, right time,' and I doubt need to elaborate further. But I'll show some more GIFs instead.

This post is kinda long already but I also invite you to look into the Vein vs. Shao Yuanyuan fight as well. Because it feels like another use of his foresight abilities (Video link here) and finally Vein's fatal limitation.

If too much is happening in too short a time, it’s possible to slip through the cracks of his foresight. He may fail to react to an immediate danger simply because his attention is divided between too many things. While he might have the right information, he is still human. In a scenario like this, Vein could potentially be open for attack but never taken completely by surprise. So why was Vein blindsided by his own death?

There could be better theories to this part specifically, but maybe Vein never saw the possibility of the attack coming, because Vein's death was never supposed to have happened. It was too fast, and everything he thought would happen changed too quickly. Simply because a more powerful third party had inserted themself into the situation. (From what I understand Lu Guang changed something in their timeline and Vein had never been killed before).

GIF from @shantechni The REAL genuine fear shown when Vein is called by his real name, and during the heart attack show how caught off guard he was. His mind racing, dare I say it had little to do with the fact that he couldn't breathe, but that there was a flaw within his foresight. That he was finally unable to take control of his precious moment. He didn't know what was going on until it was too late to prevent it. But there is nothing wrong with Vein's foresight, because he still figures it out. But at the moment of his realization, Vein's death is already in motion—an attack happening in real time without even touching him, its not something that he can run away from. And it is this eye opening realization on the brink of death where Vein is given the answers he's looking for.

He knows his killer, he knows what happened... and all he can do is laugh at having been one-upped. It's all so very interesting—and he would love to see who plays the next piece in this game of chess. Vein's death is now a certainty. His own tricks used against him. And his final words,

“So that’s how it is…” I'd like to slide in another extra piece of proof for my Foresight theory. This is the 6th episode's cover art. I think its pretty self explanatory.

Screenshot @mysterialistic (posts relating to this sentence here, here, and this) Thank you so much for bearing with me, but we're only halfway done! I already cut this bad boy into two separate separate posts too! Next up....

Xià Fěi: "Hindsight" The tragedy of only ever figuring it out in hindsight. Power born from memories and a grief that transcends the present...

"I’ve made up my mind. No matter how bizarre the truth, I’ll find out what happened."

The idea of hindsight comes from it being the inverse of foresight, and fitting Xià Fěi's potential character development. 

I propose that he always had the power and it wasn’t 're-awakened' until Vein’s death. With Vein’s foresight gone, Xià Fěi's hindsight is born.

I think Xià Fěi always had the ability but was too young or traumatized to use it. His time at Chéng Wěimín's school raises questions. There’s a solid theory that the school was full of children with powers. (here and here).

(if you look up this scene you'll see Chéng is mouthing something, and from there we never see young Xià Fěi's eyes again, as they remain cast in shadow). There are a lot of inconsistencies with this new information, wasn't Felix only an exchange student for college? What's with this scene? What did "it's time," mean? Here me out, what if Xià Fěi's memory was altered by Chéng Wěimín? Xià Fěi seems unaware of what 'Bahati' was. He doesn't seem to know about the fire or the meaning of the word. If he remembered he could've helped them- or maybe warned them. But instead he was perfectly comfortable helping CXS question his previous boss, as well as Vein. Also how interesting is it, that he ended up working once in the same place that he went to school in at one point?? Xià Fěi feels like a character that follows the theme of returning back to the past. If not during the Bridon arc, that at least because we known off screen he's going to dedicate his life to finding out what happened to Vein. Another thing that stood out to me during episode 3 was when (time stamp 14:30) when CXS said "Bahati" there was a magical sound effect. I study these Link click sound effects a lot and they're always happening. Mostly when someone notices something or when one could make the case that someone is subtly using their power. For example the sound effect shows up the most around Vein and Lu Guang. And its always the same sound effect. What if Xià Fěi remembers when the name is spoken, but anything related to CXS's father is a trigger word for a memory wipe on the subject? Another piece of Xià Fěi's story. (Found by @joyokosuka, post here)

I want to believe Vein's interest in Xià Fěi has to do with their close connection and not just because there was a subliminal connection that comes with dual powers. If you believe in fate and all, which I’ll get into the next post. But I don't think either were actually aware of Xià Fěi's power, as it wouldn't have re-manifested until Vein's death. It also makes sense, because Xià Fěi was open to powers existing. Xià Fěi discovering his own past, and using his gift of hindsight would open up a whole can of worms for everyone. The good and the bad, and the past that should've stayed buried.

I imagine Xià Fěi will be pretty upset when learning about the past and revisiting his memories before Vein’s death. It’s going to destroy him if he figures out that Lu Guang and CXS were involved. I could see him using his power in a way that might allow him to re-experience or analyze past events but not actually go back in time. He will constantly search and long for for what he missed out on.

And if not to attempt revenge… then for closure.

Xià Fěi is taking up the gauntlet of an unwanted legacy for closure. How sad and ironic that Vein could've potentially been using his power along side him but Xià Fěi never realizes until the death of his counterpart. Xià Fěi's power gives an ulterior meaning to what he told our mains.

“but I’ll remember the time I spent with you guys forever”

It's so haunting. Knowing he was backstabbed by his friends. This feels like a self-fulfilling prophecy. The tragedy of hindsight.

Now after explaining where Hindsight would fit into the plot, I'll share the rest of the evidence for why Xià Fěi's power is Hindsight, more than just because he is Vein's inverse/parallel. In another post by @miyamiwu (Click here) beautiful theory by the way. There was one thing she said that stood out to me.

She explained that “In Mandarin Chinese, time is viewed in a vertical fashion. The past is above you, while the future is below you.”

Because of this I asked my friend for an impromptu lesson in Mandarin, to help me analyze that the name 夏斐 (Xià Fěi) can be linked to the idea of time. Thank you so much to Yuqianqian 🌸💕 for dealing with my madness.

In Mandarin the past and future is viewed in a vertical fashion only through a spoken fashion.

Let me introduce you to “The Four Mandarin Chinese Tones” which are used to identify the TONE (shēngdiào) of a word. You use each tone to help you pitch your syllables. All Chinese words have tones.

First tone: a level and higher pitch Second tone: rising, start from a lower pitch and end at a slightly higher pitch Third tone: falling rising, start at a neutral tone then dip to a lower pitch before ending at a higher pitch Fourth tone: falling, start the syllable at a slightly higher than neutral pitch then go quickly and strongly downwards

The reason the future is viewed downwards And past is viewed upwards is because they pitch upwards and downwards when you say it!

Fun fact you can figure out out which tone both the first and surname are in by using these diacritical marks.

1st tone:  ā 

2nd tone:  á 

3rd tone:  ǎ 

4th tone:  à

Neutral tone - a  (no pitch)

So Xià (is the 4th falling tone) followed by Fěi (the 3rd falling/rising tone). 

Chinese people usually give their kid a 2 words name or 3 words name. If the words in a first name were both the same tone it’s would be hard to pronounce. 

谐音 is a literarily trick similar to how a writer can use homophones in English to symbolize something. 

谐音 is when words can sound the exact same but be are spelled completely differently. 

“By, bye, buy” “To, too, two”  “Flour, flower” “Knight, night”

夏斐 Xià Fěi’s name actually uses 谐音

夏 is Pronounced Xià it means “summer”

下 is also pronounced Xià it means “down”

It changes meaning depending on the word next to it though, but other meanings of Xià still include; Downwards, Under, Below, Descend, Fall, Give birth too, Spate...

'Second of two parts'... guys is it obvious I ship Veinfei 下 is not typically not used anymore unless it refers to very specific instances of time, directions, or positions.

This play on words of Xià and the concept of 下 “down” works in tandem with the 4th tone. And brings us back to the original idea of “the future being below you.” It perfectly relates the idea of time to the name, while also holding symbolism. The future is below Xià Fěi.

And who is future?

Vein's name is first pointed out by @rainibao (here). That Vein’s true name - 萧未影 Xiāo Wèiyǐng relates to the concept of the future! 

I’d like to add that 未 by itself does not mean future, but rather it’s 未来.

未来 - Future 未 on its own means “not yet”  Both are falling tones.

Just in case I made this pretty confusing. I gave Xià Fěi's name as proof to show that he is RELATED TO TIME and related to VEIN. Meanwhile every example of Vein points to downwards symbolism as well. And even though Xià Fěi should represent Upwards symbolism, the fact that he also represents downward symbolism felt like it does help my case in relate to hindsight as well. But either way, heres some pretty obvious Upwards symbolism for Xià Fěi too.

This is a post by miyamiwu (here) guys wtf I already ran out of image space Here with the water Lu Guang is drowning and falling downwards into the Future Vein pulls Xià Fěi upwards above water into the past. Once again it also references unwanted legacies left behind by Vein.

In the end we see the huanting idea of Vein as a concept of life after death Xia Fei as a concept life before death  And Lu Guang representing death itself

Alright, I’ve been thinking about the ending of the Bridon Arc for a while, so it’s theory time. Let’s go over what we saw and, more importantly, what we didn’t see. I have multiple different theories, but here is perhaps one of the more far-fetched ones that I don’t think I’ve seen voiced yet.

For this theory, I want to focus on Liu Xiao, Xia Fei, and Vein, and then tie everything back to the first two seasons. We know that Liu Xiao is the hidden mastermind of everything that happens, given his PV and title as Manipulator. We don’t actually see a lot of him in the Bridon Arc, which is to be expected. We’re led to believe that Vein is and will be the main antagonist, the one who kills Cheng Xiaoshi, and that perfectly fits the hidden mastermind theme. We’re not shown anything that directly antagonizes Liu Xiao, and we’re only given small signs that he’s working against the other two: having Xia Fei track them, gaining information about Cheng Xiaoshi’s dad, stealing the note left in the book by said dad, etc. Much smaller things in comparison to Vein shooting at the two. But it’s important to note that Vein will likely be manipulated and used by Liu Xiao the same way Xia Fei is.

Everything that happened at the end of Bridon Arc was in Liu Xiao’s favor, particularly Vein’s faked death. We know that Lu Guang took control of Wang Qing (how he gained the power to do so is an entirely different problem, for it’s not the ability he got from Cheng Xiaoshi; we do at least know that powers are inherited either through blood or death, so it’s very possible it came from a parent, especially since Lu Guang hints at having learned about abilities from someone else. It’s also important to note the difference in eye appearance from when he usually uses his powers.) and used her ability to fake Vein’s death. (Wang Qing can fake a death if she knows someone’s full name, hence why she called out Vein’s real name. Also a smaller detail, but I think it’s safe to say that Lu Guang wasn’t able to possess her sooner because he had to wait for Cheng Xiaoshi’s mom to stop possessing her.) Some people argue that he intended to kill Vein, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. We know he’s done this all before, so it’s very likely he’d know exactly what her ability is. Not to mention that when he talks to Vein beforehand, he states that he knows he can’t stop Vein, but he can at least delay him. He knew he couldn’t kill Vein, but he could do something drastic—like temporarily kill him—to set him back. And that exact setback is what’s going to work against Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi.

Vein has been pronounced dead, which means he’s now an unknown player. There’s a certain level of freedom that comes with faking one’s death, and Liu Xiao is going to use that. In the post-credit scene, when we find out that Vein is alive, we see a hand open the bag. And that hand is Liu Xiao’s. We can tell from the rings. Liu Xiao knew exactly what happened, knew that Vein was still alive, and got ahold of his body bag to be there right when he woke up. It’s possible it has to do with his ability, and he heard Vein’s heart beating from inside the bag. Or it’s possible that Vein didn’t have a pulse at all until the moment the bag opened, and Liu Xiao simply knew ahead of time that he hadn’t really died. Either way, he now has ahold of a cannibalistic mafia boss who’s been pronounced dead and can get around unmonitored. Vein also now likely knows about abilities—assuming he didn’t before—and knows that Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi are his enemies. And in the small chance he didn’t realize that, I’m sure Liu Xiao will tell him. We also know that Vein has a weakness Liu Xiao is fully aware of—a person Vein would drop everything for and show up to defend, a person he has saved countless times, the only person who truly seems to have a close bond with him.

Xia Fei might be the most overlooked piece of this puzzle. He’s not antagonized in the Bridon Arc—quite the opposite. He becomes friends with Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi and ends up wanting to help them out. He even quits his arrangement with Liu Xiao because he feels bad about tracking them. Cheng Xiaoshi trusts him completely, and while Lu Guang doesn’t seem pleased around him, there isn’t the same murderous intent or anxiety that we see around Liu Xiao and Vein. He’s caring, lovable, and generally not seen as a threat, which is exactly why he’s the perfect person for Liu Xiao to use. Yes, he quit his arrangement with Liu Xiao, but I doubt that’ll last long. At the end of the last episode, we see that he’s gone missing along with Jack, a model who leaked internal information and got fired as a result (also notably the model shown trying to drown Xia Fei). This happens after he learns that Vein has been killed. Xia Fei already has plenty of reasons to want Jack gone, even dead, and now he’s lost the only person in his life that appears to be close to him. It’s not a stretch to say that he killed Jack and went into hiding after. We don’t have enough clues to say why with certainty, but there are a few obvious possibilities: maybe Vein’s death pushed him over the edge and drove him to do what he’d wanted to for a while, maybe he needed to shut Jack up since Jack had information that could hurt Xia Fei and Vein, maybe he suspected that Jack had something to do with Vein’s death, or maybe Jack attacked him again and it was self-defense. Regardless, we know that the two are missing and Xia Fei is probably on the run or in hiding. We also know that Xia Fei will stop at nothing to find Vein’s killer.

His exchange with Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang at the end gave us several important details:

1. Xia Fei believes that Vein is dead.

2. Xia Fei already suspects that supernatural powers are at play.

3. Xia Fei plans to hunt down Vein’s killer, which was ultimately Lu Guang.

4. Xia Fei knows about Cheng Xiaoshi’s father and warns him to quit before things get too dangerous. In other words, he generally knows where the two might be going and looking in the future, and he knows what they might find.

5. Xia Fei is staying in contact with the two, hence “let me know when you land.”

6. Xia Fei now knows exactly where the two live, thanks to Cheng Xiaoshi.

The first point is perhaps the most important, and it plays a role in most of the others—or it will, in the future (past? Future of the past? You know what I mean). Xia Fei genuinely believes that Vein is dead. Liu Xiao knows that Vein is alive. Liu Xiao could very easily tell Xia Fei the truth, but he won’t. Instead, it’s likely he’ll either directly reveal the existence of supernatural abilities to Xia Fei or lead him to find it out for himself, then explain that Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi used their abilities to kill Vein. Vein’s death will remain a driving motivator for Xia Fei (he’d still probably be upset if he knew the truth, but it wouldn’t be nearly as effective and emotionally shattering), and it’ll hit even worse with the betrayal of his (now) only two friends. With Vein dead, his only friends the murderers, and his own career pretty much over after he goes missing alongside Jack, what does he have left to lose? (It’s also important to note that his theme song directly says “I’ve got nothing to lose.” Which may not have been true before since he had a solid career and a close relationship with Vein, but now, it certainly is. Additionally, the following line, “All I do is pursue,” which originally could be taken to reference his career, but now takes on an entirely different meaning. He’s pursuing Vein’s killers. He’s pursuing revenge. He’s pursuing Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi, and it’s all he can do.)

The reason he’s the perfect person to send after the two is because he’s trusted by them and knows exactly where they are. Cheng Xiaoshi told him the name of the photo studio, and even if they’re not there, he knows who the two are looking for (it’s important to remember that he was Cheng Weimin’s student and therefore likely also has ties to Wang Qing and anyone else the two might go to for information on the man). If he knows what they’re after, then he knows how to find them. And either way, since he’s staying in contact as a friend, he could always just ask Cheng Xiaoshi if he can stop by and meet with them. He has the easiest way to find and meet with the two without drawing suspicion. And with everything that happened, he could easily pretend that he’s going to them for help or safety. He could work up some story about how Jack attacked him, he fought back in self defense but went too far, now he’s hiding, etc. You get the idea. Cheng Xiaoshi would likely easily believe him and want to help.

Let’s look back at Liu Xiao for a second, for we need to explain how he’d get Xia Fei working for him in the first place. I think it’s possible that after Xia Fei and Jack go missing, Liu Xiao finds him and offers his help. It’s also possible that Xia Fei would go to Liu Xiao for help. Who better to turn to when you’re on the run for murder than the shady guy who’s obviously involved in something illegal and incredibly intelligent? One way or another, Xia Fei ends up relying on Liu Xiao’s help, which puts him back under Liu Xiao’s control. Liu Xiao makes sure Xia Fei doesn’t find out the truth about Vein (he’d have to ensure the two are always in different places), reveals the existence of supernatural powers to him, and leads him to the conclusion that Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi were responsible for Vein’s death. Even better if he explains the fact that he’d had Xia Fei track the two by saying that he knew they were dangerous, threats, murderers, etc. and was trying to keep tabs on them or stop them from hurting people. That would be a sure way to make himself more sympathetic and appealing. But he doesn’t even necessarily have to explain that. All he has to do is give Xia Fei information that turns him against the other two and then sit back and watch, quietly pulling the strings from behind the scenes like always.

Assuming this theory is correct (it’s all speculation so take this as you will), we now have Xia Fei working from the inside to take down Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi and Vein still with Liu Xiao. It seems likely that Liu Xiao would use Xia Fei to keep Vein under control and also offer his assistance in keeping Vein hidden. We know that Vein is ultimately the one who goes after Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi, at least in the (or one of the branches of the) original timeline. And it’s entirely possible that Vein would go after them to avenge his own death, but that’s not what he says in the clip in episode 1. He says that it’s punishment for changing the past. He also noticeably misses nearly every shot despite being trained in combat. Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi are hardly dodging at all. It’s almost as if Vein is intentionally missing, and he even leaves before he can confirm that Cheng Xiaoshi is actually dead. He easily could’ve broken down the door and been sure to kill both of them. But he doesn’t, and he doesn’t look happy, either. We don’t see his eyes during this scene, which is also suspicious, for the show typically does that when someone is being controlled.

Which he probably is.

It would explain why he can’t shoot as well, why he’s focused on them changing the past instead of avenging the wrongs they’ve done (bonus points if he’s given more reason to hate them by making them have to hurt Xia Fei when they discover that he’s working against them, but that’s a whole other can of worms), and why he seems upset and leaves after Cheng Xiaoshi takes the bullet for Lu Guang. Lu Guang became insignificant the second Cheng Xiaoshi died, and this could be for one of two reasons 1. Cheng Xiaoshi was always the intended target or 2. The attack was meant to get Lu Guang out of the way so Cheng Xiaoshi could be used. If we go with the latter option, then Vein was not meant to kill Cheng Xiaoshi at all. Lu Guang was the only one he was supposed to kill, and Cheng Xiaoshi’s death was actually a huge mistake.

Because of course, under this assumption, the person controlling him would have to be Li Tianchen.

We don’t know exactly when Vein kills Cheng Xiaoshi, but we see the two wearing the same outfits they wore in seasons one and two, which means it took place around that same time. We also can’t be certain that it’s a different timeline than the season one and two timeline. The scene itself seems to span multiple timelines, considering the small changes to the background—blood splatters, pictures on the wall, minor inconsistencies—and if that’s the case, it’s entirely possible that it takes place after what we see in season two. We know that Li Tianchen is working with Liu Xiao by that time. If Vein, for some reason, discovers Liu Xiao’s secrets and manipulation and stops helping him, what’s stopping Liu Xiao from having Li Tianchen possess Vein and make him try to kill the two anyway?

And, if we’re following the theory that their intention was to remove Lu Guang and use Cheng Xiaoshi (which we already saw in season 2, so who’s to say Liu Xiao didn’t also play a hand in that?), then we know Li Tianchen has plenty to gain from the use of Cheng Xiaoshi’s powers. He wants his family back. He wants to change the past and save his dead mother (and now sister), which was established at the end of season 2. Liu Xiao could easily use that to talk Li Tianechen into killing Lu Guang and capturing Cheng Xiaoshi. It’s unclear what Liu Xiao’s own motives are in all of this, but we know that he has connections to Cheng Xiaoshi’s father, which gives him further reason to want to leave Cheng Xiaoshi alive and use him. Or kill him, depending on the nature of said connection, if we want to go back to the former theory. Either way, it seems likely that Vein was somehow possessed and forced to try and kill one of the two.

An argument could be made that Vein wasn’t possessed because he was shooting left-handed, as we see him do when he’s not being possessed. But it’s important to note that we also see Li Tianchen comfortably fighting with his left hand when possessing Qiao Ling and attacking Cheng Xiaoshi in the first episode of season two. He seems to be ambidextrous, so it wouldn’t be unlikely for him to continue having Vein shoot with his left hand, especially if that just comes more naturally to the body he’s possessing.

Lu Guang's genuine happy smile slowly breaks as he looks at silly Cheng Xiaoshi.

it's not just a small smile we usually see

it's a smile that takes over the looming gloominess we have seen for the entire 3 seasons

this smile is DIFFERENT. The pleasant warm forest background along with the young green leaves falling on them, it is one of the most beautiful framings of shiguang I have ever seen. If the leaves were yellow/orange, it would have made me cry like a howling hyena because that signifies 'the autumn of life', death is not far away. But it's green and young! it symbolises young and pure love. The warmth of the forest really holds them like a blanket. This scene is vibrant with youthfulness and lively spirit, and the focus of the scene is THEM.

You know what is interesting, why is Yingdu so special? We had multiple opportunities in S1 and S2 to see Shiguang framed like this but they deliberately avoided it. for example take this scene,

the focus is on their hands, which is of course very symbolic and it just looks like Cheng Xiaoshi just asked,

"Would you like to be my life partner?"

- "yes"

but they didn't show their faces.

But I am not here just to talk about Shiguang. It's him

there is something in his expressions that pleasantly sends shivers to my heart.

He is genuinely happy to cross paths with them, probably in another life, he would not meet them as a spy. In another timeline, he would have enough agency upon his life to choose to befriend them of his own volition. Link Click is so agonisingly beautiful to portray the often ignored yet deep yearning of the human mind, the yearning to meet people who make you believe in 'found family', even if it's for a fleeting moment, you are grateful to be able to form human bondings, with people who feel to be 'your people'. You know when Beckett said that the fundamental condition of human existence is being enveloped by loneliness and that's why they are constantly in search of the 'others'...he was painfully truthful.

Whatever transpires (even if it's Xia Fei who actually kills Cheng Xiaoshi and wants to kill Lu Guang) this scene will not lose its value. On the contrary, the emotions will be more profound. In a world where destiny had not designed such a heinous survival game, we will be alive and happy together.

Another thing (apart from their friendship) he realises is that...how Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang are so deeply in love. (Listen, Ik the dialogues may add a whole different meaning altogether but I wanna write it cuz it makes me happy hmph!) He recognises it, and kind of wishes something of that in his own life too. I would not be surprised if he actually views shiguang as the model lovers he kind of pines for in his own life too ( probably with Vein-)

whatever, this scene is PRICELESS!

edit : this.

At first the choice of the bishop was surprising to me, cause I would have expected a queen

however then I looked a bit into the symbolism

and yeah, this does fit well, he's a character that works from the sidelines and strategizes. I do find the dyplomacy bit interesting, could relate to him trying to get lu guang to join him

In terms of the cultural interpretations, the whole PV is full of religious symbolism, so that part definitely tracks as well.

Side note, love that they picked purple for him, it's usually connected with royalty or corruption, so I wonder how that ties into everything. It also relates to the church, but there are several robe colors, so it's probably more than just that.

to pick goats, usually symbolizing lucifer, to worship him, especially combined with the previous headless angel statue, is… definitely a choice…

I do find it interesting how the goats, the headless angel (later the angel with bleeding eyes) are things which are associated with hell, meanwhile the colors, the lighting, those are associated with god and heaven.

a 10-ace straight, not much more to say besides it showing him having power

interesting how much younger he looks here, less tired, too. used to have everything very easily, but lu guang is proving to be a worthy adversary and that's taking a toll on him?

and now, speaking of lu guang

the knight piece

Again, shows Lu Guang as a worthy advercary, one he can't predict.

But the cultural interpretations are the interesting part for me

The eastern traditions could be connected to his powers and the ideals he tries to present "past or future let them be." At the same time although he messes with time, he does try to balance that, like it's said here, he changes things, but is careful with it.

With the western interpretation we have him trying to save cxs, that's the noble part, what's more the knight is also often connected with some damsel, which can be interpreted as cxs.

And about cxs, he is represented by the king piece

Although the king is crucial in chess, he also doesn't have much movement. Cheng Xiaoshi is central to the plot, but knows nothing of it, really. The king, is a piece that's targeted and vulnerable, obvious connection.

What is interesting to me is this shot

which I interpret as Liu Xiao basically saying "he will be your downfall" to Lu Guang.

And because of that, back to lu guang, this time his relationship with Liu Xiao

Previously, every time Lu Guang was refered to in music videos and just music ("Mastermind" being a prime example) by Liu Xiao, it has been in this toxic, very possessive sense. And here it's no different

He sees him as something to play with

And just like how in "Mastermind" you have this combination of hunter and pray with some, I would argue, sexual connotations, you see the same here, especially in this shot

Because the easiest way to present something sexual when it comes to gay relations in censored media is to try to use the female body as a symbol for one of the characters.

In adition we also have the line

"Would you ever want to become my friend?"

Considering what I've just said, I'm gonna say that the "friend" part is not exacly accurate, however, this lyric does show how he views all his relationships, too

THE TWINS.

Vein is supposed to kill cxs sometime in s1. What happens this time? LTC possesses Qiao Ling and stabs LG. Which is when everything starts changing. If you think about it, the twins existence changes everything. It’s because ltx dies that ql gets her powers and sees a glimpse of what lg has been up to. And we assumed it was bc lu guang never got this far in the timeline. But what if the twins didn’t exist till now? What if this is the only timeline the twins are born in? It just fate that made their life suck. But see, ltx and cxs both get shot in the tunnel. Only ltx dies so what if she took on cxs’ death node?

What if the twins are the anomaly that is the reason cxs lives this time?

Vein imo is too much of a menace to be around right now. I simply can’t fathom him entering the present story. Vein and LTC also have red eyes tied to their abilities. So what if, in some crazy butterfly effect, Vein is written out of the timeline? And as time/the universe likes to correct itself it gave the twins powers in his place.

And what if LX knows this and he’s telling ltc that there is a timeline where you and your sister never went through all this suffering.

I have my theories, but I don’t necessarily think LX has fully lied about the hearing heartbeats thing.

Being able to do so, and so deduce lies and nervousness, fit pretty well with his manipulator theme. There’s also apparently lyrics in past songs foreshadowing this (Burning Palace and Prometheus I believe) though I’m not gonna seek them out. Him being able to spot a bluff at the poker table wouldn’t have made sense otherwise.

I just fully believe Liu Xiao’s hearing is so good he can hear the OST as well.

Eyes are always used to show whether someone is using their powers or not. VIVIDLIE has a video talking about it some more, but in short: when eyes aren’t an option, one’s glasses reflecting light can also be an indicator of power use.

Aaaand who is always wearing glasses that keep. Freaking. Reflecting?

During the bathroom scene it’s completely quiet safe for the sound effects and dialogue. However, once the first proper beat of Vacant plays, LX’s glasses reflect, which, kudos to the sound mixers and editors because it’s timed perfectly. It hints that Liu Xiao that he’s currently threading into a suspicious, even dangerous situation. If reflected glasses are really a hint at power use, Liu Xiao can hear the ominous notes, basically warning him.

Also: When he first hinted at his ability, he said that ‘the sound’ has been getting more complicated since he and Xiang walked into the room. That doesn’t really make too much sense. Xiang has been defrauding money from students for years; there’s always a risk, but he should have been fairly comfortable and familiar with the situation. His heart should have been as steady as ever. But. What was getting more chaotic as they played?

That’s right the goddamn soundtrack. Serenade was playing in the background when they walked through that big door, which was the same casual, mellow song playing during poker. After Liu Xiao casually pulls the trigger, Earth plays, which is a much more nervous, quick song, but becomes confident in the later half, when Xiang predicts LX shooting himself. This is also when LX is starting to wonder what the scammers trick is.

And once he pulls the gun at the scammer and talks about ‘the sound’, a (I think) new ost plays in the background, the rhythm akin to a heart. On my first watch I genuinely thought that’s what he meant, only to get disappointed later. Afterwards either the second half of the ost kicks in, or a new song plays, which interestingly enough mixes instrumentals with an irregular heartbeat as its beat. Which for me just solidifies my theory even more. It’s likely Liu Xiao’s theme, too.

Additionally, the heartbeat being ‘steady like a requiem’ is a weird line I can’t help but point out. It’s weird in context, maybe it’s a translation thing, and I’m putting it next to my other evidence.

Later on when the guy has Xiang restrained on the ground, Blaze of all things starts, which feels like a way too climactic song for the situation lol. It really felt as if LX pulled that choir out of his ass just to be a dramatic little bitch.

The theory could make sense, considering his past fourth wall breaks, like in the Surprising Click BTS or his English name Xavier being spelled out in red in the OP. I don’t know if Link Click will go that route, fourth wall breaks like that can be risky and hard to pull off since not everyone likes them, but it’s a cool thought.

(Also, it’s really funny that LX only shows off when in front of the audience. Off-screen he flushed his whole allowance down the drain, but becomes awesome the second he’s on screen. Which would fit a fourth wall breaker)

Thanks for reading, have a good one.

The stench was awful. A mix of sweat and alcohol hung heavy in the air.

His footsteps are silent as he approaches Till, his eyes narrowing. His friend’s clothes were crumpled, his jacket half-slipped off. Ivan hadn’t expected to find him in such a miserable state.

Kneeling down to his level, Ivan frowns deeper at the sight of sweat droplets clinging to Till’s face.

Till had been drugged and had fallen into unconsciousness. He must have fought an Alien, and it had gone badly—very badly.

A wave of frustration crashes over Ivan, his hand pressing against the wall behind Till as an intense glint flickers in his dark eyes.

The sight of Till like this twists his heart, suffocating him with a mix of anger and helplessness. If only he were more obedient, if only he stopped fighting against their oppressors, he wouldn’t be punished so often. Yet, that fiery defiance is what Ivan loves about him, too. As fierce and fleeting as a shooting star, Till burns through everything in his path.

Ivan reaches out, easily removing the collar that gags Till’s mouth.

He’s always been the one to take away anything that binds Till, hasn’t he? Always the one to set him free, time and time again, ever since they were kids. Ivan has the rare privilege of manipulating Alien technology. It’s the bittersweet but advantageous result of being a “good” and obedient pet human. After all, Ivan’s behavior has always been exemplary. Why would the Aliens suspect him of anything? They’ll never realize he follows their rules not out of choice, but for survival—and for the comfort he was denied when he lived in the slums.

His hands cup Till’s face gently—something he only allows himself to do when Till can’t see. Till must never see the depth of his affection. He wouldn’t understand. Ivan’s fingers brush away the sweat and tears from the face of the human he cherishes most.

A mix of despair and compassion overwhelms Ivan, his body trembling with emotions he can no longer contain. His fingers shake as he lifts Till’s head slightly, drawing closer until his nose softly touches Till’s. Then, turning his head, he presses his cheek against Till’s and nuzzle. Just like when they were kids. It was Till who had taught him this—a simple gesture of affection meant to soothe. If Ivan could, he’d absorb Till’s pain into himself, locking it away inside forever.

“...Cheer up…”

He murmurs, trying to steady his voice, but it cracks under the weight of his emotions.

“Cheer up, cheer up…”

The words are a desperate mantra, a plea to ease the crushing ache in his heart. If only it were easier. If only he’d been kinder back in Anakt Garden. Maybe then he’d have no regrets.

Fewer wounds.

Less frustration.

And now? Now, in just a few hours, they would have to sing against each other. But Till’s flame had been extinguished. Ivan needed to reignite it—he needed Till to burn brightly again.

There’s so much he wishes he could do.

Ivan sighs, forcing himself to pull away from Till, though it tears at him to let go. Gently, he drapes a blanket over Till’s weakened body.

A rambling analysis of Ivan's "Nowhere"

I'll start with my thoughts on the song itself, then break down some of the lyrics.

So, "Nowhere" is quite a bit different from Ivan's other songs, mostly in regards to the melody and his singing. His voice is a lot more... flat, and the pitch and length of the notes vary a lot less. In "Cure" and "Black Sorrow," there's a lot more variance: Ivan's voice goes from soft and low, singing shorter notes, to louder and higher, holding long notes, et cetera.

In Nowhere, the notes are typically shorter, and tend to stay in the same general area on the scale. Ivan's tone stays very consistent; in his other songs, it goes from calm and collected to full of emotion and feelings. He sounds a lot more monotone in Nowhere, and not just because he's singing quietly. He's not entirely apathetic; there's still a lot of emotion in his voice. But it's muted. Numb.

slowly because i keep hitting low battery

but so

ive learned like. a lot of things. (feel free to correct me, i dont know korean me is using translation from translator app that sometimes translates different things depending on how focused the characters are in the image)

this is really more for my sake so i just have a list of this compiled for me to go back to instead of hunting down the pages all over again with my phone out cause the app drains my battery FAST 😭

there is stuff ive glossed over tho or didnt include

mainly ivan focused because he's my favorite

for some reason i started adding stuff about round 6 while i was in the middle of stuff for round 3 💀??

also ive only just realized that when it says unknown its probably referring to mizi so im just sat here like how many times has it referred to 'unknown' earlier and it was actually mizi i cant remember 😭 i was just rolling with it like unknown? sure

(1) apparently theres like a 'crack' that happened in like the wall. there are ghost stories spread about it so not many go there but theres like a hidden passage. but so ivan was very curious about till and led him to that crack. seeing him get back up over and over to protect mizi made him realize the uniqueness of till, that he couldnt be till or understand him so it led to that curiosity turning into obsession. also the monster there is for security purpose)

(2) when till was being discounted (sold) and ivan had been like sold(??) or something in the slums they saw each other once. then they forgot that was their first meeting im going insane i remember reading this but i cant remember what page and i cant find it??? i want to recall what circumstances ivan was in 💀 cause like for all i know he was taken out for a walk or something IDK MAN 😭😭😭

(3) ivan having had a rough childhood in the slums was able to get the upperhand on fighting till (when they beat each other up and ivan was smiling), to which till unaware of his past and just thought ivan was naturally good at it also to ivan, hitting till was expressing his feelings, and that till was someone who accepted those feelings, which attracted him. ..?

(4) ivan having been underfed in the past, made him smaller than the other kids but as he grew he ended up catching up to till's height (also i dont think he had his fang when he was younger. if you look at ivan at (2) there was like a note about his tooth not there yet or something in the artbook)

(5) He also kept close to Till like he wanted him to know he existed, and as his expression as a child was blank, Till couldn't understand him at all.

(6) The way Ivan looks at Till is a little too creepy to be defined as love, and that his one-sided feelings for Till eventually became an indescribable concept.

(7) Kissing was an unfamiliar act to modern humans. There'd been a time where kissing on the cheek was popular in Anakt Garden, which lingered in Ivan's mind and gave him an idea. It shouldn't be just a kiss, Ivan concluded. It's a section where various emotions were driven to act. ("Thank you for being the victim of my shallow emotions" still has me breaking im) (I would also like to mention there was like a comic or something about Ivan asking Till for a kiss on the lips, and that other people have been doing it) (I'm relying on the translator app but I also saw this translation first so)

(8) It's described as Ivan acting like a child, unilaterally pouring out his feelings to Till 💀 (when kissing him)

(9) his outfit on round 3 has symbols of the brands that he's sponsored by, and show that he's 'being sold as a product'

(10) in the slums, when being held over like the edge due to the anger of a dealer, he faced the fear of death at such a young age that it stuck with him, that death was always near him. the shooting stars that then appeared stayed with him unconsciously (the translation it gives me is "the ecstasy faced with death took place intensely in Ivan's deep unconsciousness.")

(11) ivan gradually feels anger and affection towards till to where its hard to tell when his feelings started and eventually it turns into obsession

(12) the lyrics of black sorrow dont fully explain him. in the last chorus he recalls the start of his old emotions, showing affection for a brief moment before returning to reality

(13) originally the relationship between ivan and till overlapped too closely with mizi and sua so it was changed to be about like possessiveness control and obsession

anyway the only thing i havent checked so far is like pages 240+

other things: ??? when was i gonna learn freddie(?) apparently was a father to two wtf till did you just orphan children 💀

in the sort of like detention room(??), the only sound you can hear is your breathing

tills clothing in round 6 is meant to signify that hes become kind of more obedient? he doesnt believe mizi died but he is like a lot more subdued. also tills shoes are apparently made of metal wtf (which shows his urak's lack of care for him)

SORRY??? WAS THE SONG TILL WAS MADE TO SING BE MY CLEMATIS????

if i look at whats in in <> are and compare it to the korean characters of My Clematis.. yeah. thats my clematis alright. oh damn.

he refused to though and i guess we have more context why but holy fuck man.

originally started because i wanted to share my findings about till being told to sing my clematis, and also apparently that we couldve gotten mizisua but ivantill and i need someone to make an au of that so i can live in denial that its one-sided 💀

One thing that's kind of going through my head is what I've heard is in the recent patreon post. To Till, Mizi is his god, his kind salvation, while Ivan is someone he feels a range of love and hate and deep emotions

In other words, the unrealized ivantill truthers are right; Till did love Ivan, but the love was mixed with hatred, complicated painful emotions. With Mizi, it wasn't the same kind of love, I suppose more shallow, but in a safer, less painful way. A distant kind salvation.

Shallow is kind of the wrong word to use here though, it's not that they don't have a connection. They very much were friends, as shown in the mizitill scene in the end of round 7. But while his love for Mizi cradles his heart, Ivan's pierces and threatens to consume it.

So, while he did have a connection with Ivan, that connection wasn't as safe. Mizi was his god, not because he was closer, but because she was the figure of light that shined in his dark world, an idol he could worship and feel happy worshiping.

So. Ivan was someone he felt a range of emotions about, sweet and bitter, painful and kind. But more of the bitter, more of the painful. It really does make sense, Ivan doesn't emote normally, his kindest, tenderest moments were when Till wasn't looking.

But despite that, Till still cared. He didn't see everything, but it's not as though he was always turning his head. There were plenty of times Till cares and Ivan had his head turned, like when Till was hesitant about going back to anakt, but all Ivan saw was Till's leaving him.

It isn't that Ivan was in love and Till loved someone else, it's that they both cared, but could never find a way to bridge the gap. Ivan could never show his love in a way Till understood, and so Till could never feel safe putting his emotions in Ivan's hands.

And so, round 6 was Ivan trying one last time to show his love, but just as always, it was damaging, and Till couldn't truly understand it. (We all have to understand, kissing as romance really isn't something in the alnst world, as a certain comic explains.)

So, now we get to round 7. We all saw how Luka pretended to be Ivan to make Till despair, and that seeing Mizi again made Till break free and smile again but in a way that spelled his doom. I really think that encapsulates his whole deal honestly.

Because, the love he has for Mizi was doomed from the start, for several reasons. And, I kind of think he knew that on some level. The obvious thing is Sua being Mizi's god, but there's also the 'shallowness' I mentioned above.

Mizi was someone he cared about, certainly a friend, and he liked her in a certain way, but it was a comfortable love. A love he felt good about. And, certainly the love he felt was real. But the /connection/ they had would never be as strong as what he could have had with Ivan.

However, in Round 7, he had no time to process how he felt about Ivan's death, no time to process the feelings unrealized that now would never have a name. And Luka's manipulation took advantage of that turmoil. The mimicry of the kiss directly mocked it.

I agree with what a different user said, that what Luka takes advantage of isn't love, but loss. But, what is grief but love persevering? And what do you call it when you don't understand that it was love after all, what is it that perseveres?

That lost connection, that never truly blossomed and stayed sheltered in its bud, is what Luka was mocking. "Remember these sensations, remember what happened to this person? Remember the person who died in front of your eyes? What's in your head now? What do you feel now?"

Honestly, the question Luka is asking to provoke him is the same one we all have: Who was that person to Till? Sua was Mizi's god and love, Till is Ivan's love and obsession, but what was Ivan to Till? Come to think of it, that may be why we only see a flashback of the kiss.

Because the question asked is, "What do you feel about this?", but Till's head definitely isn't in the right place to think about it. He's blocking out any thoughts of what it might be, but the question itself makes Till pained enough for the provocation to have worked.

And, just in time for Till to not have to think about it. Just when he almost had to think about his complicated bond with Ivan, Mizi appeared, his god, his salvation. He smiled, not thinking of the question at all. Which is why Luka was upset, Till ignored the question.