时光代理人 – Season 3 OP (Lyrics)

The following analysis draws quotes, lyrics, themes, characters and evidence from 时, the 时光代理人 Season 3 Opening.

时光代理人 is owned by Li Haoling, and produced by LAN studio and CMC media with the help of Haoliners Animation League. The donghua airs on Bilibili with the assistance of BeDream Studios.

I am working based on the translation from the 时光代理人 wiki and also translations from my Chinese friend, (@Sui_2461 on Reddit) I really couldn’t have done this without your interpretations!!

For anyone who didn’t know, as to avoid confusion, 时 is from Cheng Xiaoshi’s POV to Lu Guang.

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A little rundown of how I tend to layout my lyric analysis, I go by usually one lyric at a time, all of which will be labeled like this, which is your sign that it’s official. My interpretation of each will then be written normally underneath. Okay, let’s begin!

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How am I supposed to answer?

The first feels like a response to a question we haven’t heard yet, maybe from Lu Guang, some sort of confession (yes I’m being purposely vague on what sort) that Cheng Xiaoshi doesn’t know how to respond to.

How can I stop this world that’s fallen out of control?

A world out of control… that feels like a consequence that comes from diving, especially since Xiaoshi seems to put himself in the position of having the ability to stop it – though that could easily be his personality as he’s very susceptible to believing he can help everybody. If we’re framing this as some sort of consequence from their time traveling, though, then his asking how he can stop it can have one of two interpretations. 1), anticipating the scenario and wondering how he can prevent it from happening – which suggests some inner conflict between wanting to protect everybody and change the past, the former being a wish I can only assume has come from something happening to Lu Guang. Or 2), stopping the world literally by stopping time. This can be metaphorical, maybe Cheng Xiaoshi simply wants to stop whatever chaos is happening just to spare a moment more. Maybe he wants to preserve a particular moment or memory.

The second hand chases the next fleeting blink of an eye

I’ll work off the translation from my friend for this one, which makes more sense. She thought it was more like the second hand catches/chases after the blink of an eye, “blink of an eye” being the expression used to convey a “split second.” The second hand literally meant the third clock hand sometimes included for seconds, but I had a look into other symbolism anyway. The second, as in 2nd, hand on the clock (the minute hand) can also be regarded as a modern memento mori (Latin for “remember you must die”) as that hand moves faster and more urgent, symbolizing how time moves faster and death approaches. If we take it that the “second hand” is a representative of death, that lyric could be translated as death chasing or catching up to something/someone in the blink of an eye, before they even realized. It could be demonstrating how neither Cheng Xiaoshi or Lu Guang anticipated being in danger (this actually is supported by a lyric in the latter part of the chorus.)

Carrying with me the moments you were by my side

“Were” – past tense. Cheng Xiaoshi is carrying around the memories of when Lu Guang was with him, which not only confirms yet again something has happened, but also that it could be in the future or present. Because if Lu Guang had tampered with the past, Cheng Xiaoshi wouldn’t remember him at all. Although this is my understanding, I’m not believing that by just one lyric. Look at S3 Trailer 1, Cheng Xiaoshi has forgotten him after all. Maybe what transpired to make him forget Lu Guang isn’t supernatural, just a natural blank in his memory from childhood.

Reliving the memories in my mind, it never quite feels dignified (?)

I’m using another translation from my friend, because “dignified” doesn’t quite fit the context. The word used is 体面 (tǐmiàn) which can mean dignity, or respectful, or similar subjects – but is better known as “face”, (as in putting up a face) or a way to say pretty, good looking. She sees the line as it doesn’t match your face, as in, it doesn’t quite live up to your face/do you justice. Which fits the context better, I’d say. Judging from this explanation I would say with utmost confidence that this line is Cheng Xiaoshi saying that simply thinking of memories of Lu Guang isn’t enough, and instead would need to see him in person – through going back in time. Could it also be seen as a roundabout way of saying he looks prettier as the real thing? Actually, technically. But I don’t think that’s quite how it was intended, haha.

But I don’t want the past to fade away

A little but here, which basically confirms what he was saying before was actually that he wanted to dive, because now this line claims he doesn’t want the past to fade away. Like I mentioned earlier, the world falling apart and the past being disrupted are huge consequences of their time traveling, if something were to go wrong. Cheng Xiaoshi acknowledges this here.

We still have so much left to say

Him and Lu Guang have left things unsaid, which is probably a huge factor as to why he doesn’t want to cause any deviations in the past. Interestingly, both these are present tense, which feels like he’s making a statement regardless of what has happened or will happen in the future.

Even a camera flash can’t capture this moment

“Camera” was probably included in the wiki for context as it never actually turns up in the direct translation, which replaces it with a flash of light – mind you, a camera is one of the few reasonable things that could cause said light. Then Cheng Xiaoshi states it’s “unable” to capture the moment, (from alternate translation) with negative tones, which implies the moment – whatever it may be – is too fleeting to be preserved. Actually, I wonder if this sentence could be interpreted also as [the] light [is] unable to capture this moment. As in, the light can’t reach this moment. But that really pulls it down a negative road that I don’t think was intended, rather I would say the lyric is supposed to suggest that he experienced something too special to be conserved.

Tell me there’s nothing to worry about

Cheng Xiaoshi is openly asking for comfort, I can only guess because either he found out or Lu Guang told him about what’s going to happen. But he doesn’t just want comfort, he wants it from Lu Guang (“tell me”, in a song directly to him). Probably Lu Guang because he’s the one who’s experienced everything, Cheng Xiaoshi wants confirmation from the person who knows how it ends that it won’t go the way he thinks it will. Even though Lu Guang is likely the one who told him.

Just wait for me a little longer

Whether this line is following the usual sort of way lines like this tend to go (waiting for somebody because they aren’t ready for whatever will come next in a relationship, whether that be platonic or romantic. Might make sense given Cheng Xiaoshi’s likely confused mental state at this point in time) or if it’s a reference to wanting Lu Guang to wait and find a timeline where he survives… I’m not entirely sure. “A little longer”, the wording feels as if Cheng Xiaoshi is aware Lu Guang has already been waiting for a while and is asking him to hang on for a bit – wait for a lifetime where he’ll be okay. This lyric is coupled with the shot of Cheng Xiaoshi, Lu Guang and Qiao Ling as children, which makes me think maybe the lyric is somewhat directed to both of them. For the same reasons.

Shimmering fragments drifted to the shore

I covered my opinion on this in the last blog, how the use of the word ‘fragments’ to describe photographs implies their memories are broken up into pieces, no longer a whole, possibly split between them. Maybe because one doesn’t remember. They drift to the shore – in the way a lot of abandoned things usually do.

Piercing through yesterday, appearing again

Fragments, depicted as photographs through the imagery – so I’ll refer to them as memories. “Appearing again”, memories that keep replaying in pieces in his head, from yesterday – but it’s like intrusive thoughts, “piercing” usually regarded as a violent action. The memories force their way through the past and reappear in the present.

Yet the words have vanished from my mind

Almost definitely a reference to Cheng Xiaoshi forgetting Lu Guang. In fact, I’m pretty sure “the words” addressed in this lyric are whatever promise they made (I’m not sure whether it’s the same one from the Yingdu Arc Episode 1 or another one they made as children), which Lu Guang brings up in the first Season 3 Trailer: “why does it feel like you’ve forgotten everything, forgotten our promise.” It’s refreshing to see Cheng Xiaoshi’s side of the scenario, and is interesting to me that he’s aware that he’s forgotten something. Is there anyway he could’ve recovered those memories? Did Lu Guang tell him? Did he go back in time? What if it was Lu Guang’s power he used to see the truth, after whatever happened with him (assuming he really did die.)

None of us ever imagined saying goodbye

It’s not entirely clear who “none of us” are, whether that’s the whole trio or just Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi. My friend’s translation is we never imagined saying goodbye which is also vague. Therefore I can’t make any predictions based on that lyric about whether something happened to Qiao Ling also. But the way it’s worded makes it evident that something has happened. Now if I can call back to something earlier, when I said that one of the lyrics could mean “how neither Cheng Xiaoshi or Lu Guang anticipated being in danger” – this lyric entirely supports that with the same claim, saying how none of them thought they’d have to say goodbye. Many fans pointed out that 再见, which was used for goodbye – doesn’t always mean goodbye forever. It is also intended more often than not as a temporal goodbye, a “see you again.”

All we can do is smile and say “I’m sorry”

Though the words are negative, Cheng Xiaoshi says they’re smiling anyway, so they’re trying to offer comfort. I was thinking of this in regards to Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling apologizing to Lu Guang, but maybe even it’ll be the other way around and Xiaoshi gets the comfort he wanted from Lu Guang in the form of a smile – maybe one of the only ones. I wonder if “I’m sorry” will be their last words to each other?

With you by my side, I always reflected your unwavering resolve

My friend translated this as always reflected your persistence. The regarded definition of resolve is to make firm decisions or show strong personal determination, whereas persistence is to work very hard to achieve something even if it’s hard. I think what Cheng Xiaoshi means here is that by spending so much time with Lu Guang, he started working harder for the goals he wanted, which mirrored Lu Guang’s own personality. In the end, I think part of it was always trying to preserve the family the three of them have. What I thought cute here was that mirroring somebody else’s traits or personality is often a subconscious sign you really care for them.

It wasn’t until I picked up that fallen leaf that I realized, I was never able to change anything

After looking into the symbolism of the leaf myself, I came up with a connection, but I’d also like to include my friend’s theory as well – because it’s great. The regarded symbolism of falling leaves is that it represents time passing (seasons moving on) and people also having to move on from the past. So I connected this line to the Season 1 Ending theme – Overthink – which is from Lu Guang’s POV. There’s a lyric that goes, I glanced unconsciously at my right hand, a falling leaf brushed me where I stand (translation from the first official 时光代理人 artbook). His right hand is the hand he wears his watch on most of the time, so he’s making a comment here about being in habit of glancing at it without thinking. If we were to say the symbolism of a leaf falling is time passing, then time passes past Lu Guang here and falls. He doesn’t try to catch or stop it, just lets it brush past. Could be symbolising how he’s giving up on the inside and just watching fate play out as a bystander. Whereas Cheng Xiaoshi’s line here, he goes out of his way to pick it up – attempting to stop the passing time. Only after he’s done this, however, does he realize time cannot be stopped or reversed. The leaf is already fallen, already dead, and you can pick it up but not put it back on the tree. He tries to fix the outcome but maybe realizes earlier than Lu Guang that it’s pointless. @Sui_2461 also pointed out how Lu Guang was hidden behind a magnolia tree in the opening, where photos sprouted from the leaves and flowers, falling out of them. And that maybe the fallen leaves represent photos, and each one that falls is a failed attempt.

It seems only through loss can we understand

You don’t understand how much something matters until it’s gone. I feel that’s how I’d interpret that line. You can’t accept what happened with any certainty until you’ve experienced grief and moved past it, which links up to:

It seems only through moving on can we miss someone

If you spend your life replaying moments of somebody who’s already gone (ahem, Lu Guang) then you can’t grieve them properly. Even though Lu Guang is the “mature” one, it seems Cheng Xiaoshi has realized this a lot earlier than he has. In Season 2 Episode 1, Cheng Xiaoshi had already debated diving after he assumed Lu Guang was dead. He thought if he went back far enough, he would have time to save Lu Guang. But he didn’t in the end because he respected Lu Guang’s wishes, and he had always told him not to change the past. So if Cheng Xiaoshi has really discarded all of that now, even still being aware of the logistics of how grief worked, then he must truly be in a bad state.

The moment my longing for you left no hesitation, I had already made my choice

Wow. I’d say lines like “left no hesitation” and “already made my choice” would circle back round to the idea Cheng Xiaoshi went back to save Lu Guang, maybe with no or little consideration to the consequences, because of… “longing for you”? You could argue this means a longing to see him again, yes. You could. But… you know.

Stop thinkin’ bout it, close your eyes

Another reference here to Overthink, partially the chorus of the song which repeats “you should stop thinkin’ bout it, stop thinkin’ bout it” countless times. But instead of the harsh way Lu Guang delivered those words to himself in that song, here Cheng Xiaoshi says the same thing but in a much softer, gentler way. It’s a nice comparison of the difference between how Lu Guang treats himself and how Xiaoshi treats him. Even the “close your eyes” feels like he’s trying to take care of him, because he won’t look after himself.

Defying gravity, floating back to the past

Gravity – time, cause and effect, natural order. Both of them are constantly denying it daily by meddling with the past. Floating – falling weightlessly, drifting seamlessly backwards.

Submerged in the deep sea of time

This line is from the Season 2 Ending theme – The TIDES – however in that song it translated as “drowning.” We’ve come further now, from drowning to being completely submerged in time.

Even if I could start over, I still couldn’t let go

This could be referring to the fact that he wouldn’t be able to forget anything, even if he could go back. He wouldn’t still be faced with the knowledge of what will happen.

Even if the past can never be rewritten

This line is from the Yingdu Arc Ending theme – Lull – word for word. And so is the next one:

Until we cross through the endless night once more

Though notably it used to be until we cross the ever growing night , so having it changed to “once more” implies that this night (darkness, if you will) will have to be crossed more than once. Conquer the darkness a few times and you may reach the light.

Please don’t let me forget again

So Cheng Xiaoshi finally shows some awareness of the things he has forgotten. This part is undoubtedly the climax of the song, it builds up and up before lowering into the chorus again. He’s begging to never forget Lu Guang again, because those memories are what is the most important to him. It makes me wonder the situation in which he forgot in the first place.

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Because it’s only the chorus that repeats twice more before the song finishes, I’m going to end the analysis here. That concludes my two-part analysis on 时 , thank you to everybody who read this absurd amount of words.

Because next week is the start of Season 3, I AM CHANGING MY SCHEDULE to every Tuesday and Sunday – so I can write an episode review each week. Expect that review to become the Sunday slot, and I’ll post other analysis work like normal on the Tuesday. I plan to maybe begin on the Dreamout songs. So, I’ll see you then!