Recaps

Wuling and Chisaki met Auntie Bo’s baby capybara, Bozai, and learned about his distinctive latte-art belly pattern. After Bozai warmed to Chisaki, they carried him to his bed in the storeroom, then accepted desserts from Auntie Bo as thanks.

• Auntie Bo recognized Bozai and told Wuling and Chisaki that she and her husband had named all their capybaras Bozai.
• Auntie Bo showed them the latte-art pattern on the baby capybara’s belly and explained that Bozai was shy around strangers.
• Chisaki gently touched Bozai, and Auntie Bo passed him into Chisaki’s arms when he stayed calm and relaxed.
• Auntie Bo asked Wuling and Chisaki to put Bozai in his storeroom bed, and they settled him there before returning to the shop.
• Auntie Bo thanked them and treated them to desserts, so Wuling chose passion fruit tiramisu and Chisaki chose chocolate cheesecake pudding.

Wuling and Chisaki enjoyed a quiet break before finishing their café shift, and Wuling learned to make coffee during the rush. Near closing, Aimisi arrived to visit him and the kittens, praised his latte, and teased him about his relationship with Chisaki.

• Auntie Bo gave Wuling and Chisaki desserts, and they talked about Chisaki's fondness for animals and how Bozai trusted her.
• After their break, Wuling helped make coffee by following the café's preparation chart and handled the busy shift with Chisaki.
• Aimisi arrived near closing with shopping bags, hugged Chisaki, and asked Wuling to make her a hot latte with three spoonfuls of sugar.
• Wuling quickly prepared a latte that Aimisi praised as better than drinks from other cafés.
• Aimisi told Wuling she had asked Chisaki whether he had been bullying her, and Wuling protested while Aimisi agreed that she did doubt his character.

Aimisi jokingly played emperor while Wuling indulged her at the café, and Auntie Bo gave her a box of milk cakes before the siblings and Chisaki left for the night. Aimisi eagerly led them toward the kittens with cat food and treats.

• Aimisi teased Wuling at work by declaring herself emperor and ordering him to massage her shoulders.
• Wuling indulged Aimisi with a gentle shoulder massage until Auntie Bo told her to let him finish cleaning up.
• Wuling and Chisaki finished tidying the café, and Auntie Bo gave Aimisi a box of milk cakes to take home.
• The three left the café, and Aimisi hurried ahead with cat food and treats, eager to feed the kittens.

Wuling, Chisaki, and Aimisi found the kittens and their injured mother cat in a secluded alley after bringing food. Once Chisaki calmed the wary mother, she invited Aimisi to approach and pet her.

• Aimisi admitted she did not know the way to the kittens, so Wuling and Chisaki led her to the alley.
• The three followed Wuling's directions through the dark alley and found the kittens beneath a cardboard box.
• The mother cat hissed at Aimisi, but relaxed when she recognized Wuling and Chisaki.
• Chisaki gently stroked the mother cat and reassured her that they had brought food and meant no harm.
• Chisaki made room for Aimisi, who crouched beside the nest and cautiously reached out to pet the mother cat.

Aimisi, Chisaki, and Wuling settled a new bed and food for the alley cats, and Aimisi earned the mother cat’s trust. They left before curfew after promising to meet again the next night to feed the cats.

• Aimisi gently petted the mother cat, who relaxed and accepted her touch.
• Wuling, Chisaki, and Aimisi set up a bed, towel, food, and warm water for the mother cat and her three kittens.
• The three watched the cats together and shared milk cakes before Wuling reminded them that curfew was approaching.
• Aimisi reluctantly agreed to leave after Wuling refused to let her stay for two more minutes.
• Aimisi and Wuling made a promise to meet the next night to feed the cats, then parted ways at the dormitory fork.

Wuling explored the silent island in the strange dreamlike shallows and found a pristine white piano that seemed tied to a melody he had heard before. After he left, the piano’s butterfly ornament transformed into a veiled woman who watched the place where he had vanished.

• Wuling found that Abu and the system panel could not reach the shallows, so he walked toward the island alone.
• Wuling discovered a white grand piano at the island’s center, though the figure he remembered seeing there was absent.
• A sudden pain showed Wuling fragmented images, leaving him with the sense that two people had once sat together at the piano.
• Wuling pressed a piano key, but it made no sound, and he wondered whether playing it required special conditions.
• Wuling’s vision blurred, and he allowed himself to leave the shallows.
• The butterfly ornament flew from the piano and transformed into a short blue-haired woman with a veil, who watched where Wuling had disappeared.

Wuling struggled to shake off fragments of a strange dream before colliding with Camellya on campus and offering to make it up to her. They exchanged WeChat contacts and agreed to eat together on Saturday, but Wuling realized he was nearly late for class.

• Wuling told Calcharo and Lingyang that his distraction came from a heavy dream, though images of the shallows kept returning to him.
• Walking to class, Wuling became absorbed in thoughts of the dream and collided with Camellya, who fell onto the campus road.
• Wuling helped Camellya up, returned her belongings, and learned that she was a dance-program senior who claimed intuition had told her he was a junior.
• Wuling and Camellya exchanged WeChat contacts and agreed to meet at the snack street on Saturday, with each insisting on treating the other.
• Camellya warned Wuling that only three minutes remained before his eight o’clock class, and he hurriedly reacted to the news.

Wuling discovered that Abu had gained a Growth System that let him nurture a mysterious blue butterfly. He released her in class, where she landed on his fingertip, invisible to everyone else.

• Wuling raced up the stairs and narrowly dodged a long-haired figure, who privately judged his reflexes and athletic ability impressive.
• Wuling reached class just before the bell and later wondered why Abu had been absent since morning.
• Abu appeared and introduced the Growth System, explaining that gifts and play could raise a creature's growth and affection.
• Wuling opened the system and saw a pale blue butterfly whose affection for him was already maxed out, while Abu gave an unconvincing explanation.
• After Abu assured Wuling that other people would not see the butterfly, Wuling released her, and she landed on his fingertip.

Wuling named his newly bonded nurturing spirit Shorekeeper Butterfly and learned that gifts and physical interaction could raise her nurturing level. Abu fled when Wuling asked about his dream, leaving its secret unresolved.

• Wuling named the blue butterfly Shorekeeper Butterfly, and she responded with a gentle mental resonance.
• Abu explained that Wuling could raise her nurturing level by feeding her, spending time with her, or giving her gifts.
• Wuling asked Abu about his dream, but Abu dodged the question and returned to Wuling’s hand.
• Wuling offered Shorekeeper Butterfly a pencil, which vanished into her and raised her nurturing level from one to two.
• Wuling gently rubbed Shorekeeper Butterfly’s wings, raising her nurturing level from two to three.

Wuling searched for a laid-back club and stumbled into the Star Society, where its president, Nabomo, tricked him into joining to keep the club from being disbanded. After she begged him to stay until the next inspection and promised to agree to anything he asked, Wuling saw an opportunity to take advantage of her offer.

• Wuling refused invitations from several clubs because their schedules were too demanding, while the Shorekeeper Butterfly helped muffle the noise around him.
• Wuling found a twin-tailed senior asleep at a booth and watched as she woke up and introduced herself as Nabomo, president of the Star Society.
• Nabomo pressed Wuling's thumbprint onto a membership form before he could agree to join.
• Nabomo claimed that anyone who stopped at the booth was fated to join and refused Wuling's request to leave.
• Nabomo begged Wuling to stay until the next inspection so the Star Society would not fall below twenty members, promising to agree to anything he asked.
• Wuling decided to make use of Nabomo's promise.

Wuling joined Nabomo's Star Society after learning that it had almost no obligations and only one rule: members could not write its president as a villain. He left for the dorm, puzzled by his sudden urge to smack Nabomo, and learned that his afternoon classes had been canceled.

• Nabomo explained that the Star Society had no regular activities or duties and only forbade members from portraying its president as a villain in a novel.
• Wuling agreed to the rule, joined the Star Society, and exchanged WeChat contacts with Nabomo, bringing its membership back to twenty and saving it from deregistration.
• Nabomo thanked Wuling and offered to help him with school problems before he left.
• Wuling felt a strange urge to smack Nabomo and wondered whether they had been connected in a past life.
• Wuling returned to the dorm and confirmed that Calcharo had joined the gaming club and Lingyang had chosen the martial lion dance troupe.
• Wuling learned that his two afternoon classes had been canceled, giving him the rest of the day off.

Wuling entered an abandoned classroom while looking for Aimisi and listened to a gray-haired girl play the violin. After he said he could hear sadness beneath the cheerful music, she thanked him, leaving their brief encounter unresolved.

• Wuling followed the sound of a violin into an abandoned classroom and found a gray-haired girl playing alone.
• The girl finished playing, noticed Wuling, and startled at finding him there.
• Wuling explained he was looking for Aimisi, and the girl told him the music department was in the neighboring building.
• As Wuling started to leave, the girl asked what he thought of her playing.
• Wuling said the music sounded as if its player was unhappy, and the girl quietly thanked him.

Wuling met Aimisi and Chisaki after school, bought them red bean dorayaki, and began looking for a healthy restaurant for an upcoming meal with Senior Camellya. The three of them continued down the shopping street to scout places before heading to work.

• Aimisi complained that Wuling had gone to the wrong classroom, then asked him to make it up to her with red bean dorayaki.
• Wuling and Aimisi met Chisaki at the arts department building, and Aimisi linked arms with her.
• The three of them went to a nearby stall and bought warm red bean dorayaki.
• Wuling considered the stall as a possible place to take Senior Camellya out to eat on Saturday.
• Aimisi suggested that they look for healthy restaurants along the way, and she led Chisaki down the street as Wuling followed.

Wuling, Aimisi, and Chisaki chose a restaurant for lunch with their friends the next day before heading to their shift at Bozai Coffee. After Auntie Bo recommended dishes and they discussed dietary preferences, Wuling made Aimisi her usual cappuccino and reflected on his future.

• Wuling, Aimisi, and Chisaki settled on Kuainiang Restaurant for lunch after class and planned to invite their roommates, including Calcharo, Lingyang, and Jinhsi.
• The three arrived at Bozai Coffee just before their shift, where Auntie Bo praised Kuainiang Restaurant and recommended its sweet and sour pork, ribs, casserole, vegetables, and mixed stew.
• Aimisi said she would ask Jinhsi about her food preferences, while Chisaki told Wuling she could only handle mildly spicy food.
• Auntie Bo said the shop would be quiet on Thursday and asked Wuling to make Aimisi her usual cappuccino with three spoonfuls of sugar.
• Wuling made Aimisi a cappuccino, and she praised his coffee-making skills as he considered his ambitions and the possibility of a more relaxed life.

Wuling’s mind game with Abu ended when Cartethyia tripped and fell into his arms after class. He discovered she had sprained both ankles, and the chapter ended with him asking permission to carry her to the infirmary.

• Wuling caught Abu cheating at their mental card game and threatened to stop buying him food.
• After class, Cartethyia tripped on a schoolbag strap and fell into Wuling’s arms.
• Wuling noticed Cartethyia’s ankle was twisted, and Abu’s system assigned him a task to take her to the infirmary.
• Cartethyia tried to walk, felt pain in both ankles, and leaned on Wuling for support.
• Wuling asked Cartethyia if he could carry her.

Wuling carried Cartethyia to Star Torch Academy’s infirmary after she sprained both ankles, where Doctor Lu examined and treated her. Cartethyia stayed behind to rest and eat while Wuling left for his plans, after she thanked him for helping her.

• Wuling carried the embarrassed Cartethyia from the classroom to the infirmary while Abu photographed them.
• N.A.N.A brought Wuling and Cartethyia inside, where Doctor Lu introduced himself and examined her ankles.
• Cartethyia asked Wuling to help remove her shoes and socks, and Doctor Lu confirmed she had only mild sprains.
• Doctor Lu instructed Cartethyia to ice her ankles, avoid walking, and ask N.A.N.A to replace the ice packs as needed.
• Cartethyia accepted a free nutritional meal after her stomach growled, and Wuling left after she thanked him.

Wuling met Aimisi’s roommate Jinhsi and joined his friends for a meal. The group reached a crowded restaurant and sat down, with plans to visit a market and get drinks afterward.

• Wuling arrived at the school gate, where Aimisi introduced him to Jinhsi and the others.
• Wuling greeted Jinhsi and complimented her, while Calcharo teased him about his sweet talk.
• Jinhsi asked whether Wuling had helped someone on his way, and he kept the details vague.
• The group discussed visiting the arts and crafts market and getting drinks after their meal.
• Wuling and his friends reached the restaurant, found seats near a corner, and sat down.

Wuling and his friends shared a large meal at a restaurant, then set off for the creative market. The group left the restaurant with their afternoon plans underway.

• Wuling ordered dishes to suit everyone's preferences while ignoring Abu's requests for fried chicken.
• The friends discussed their plans after visiting the market, with Lingyang planning to sleep and Aimisi, Chisaki, and Jinhsi planning to shop.
• The group ate the restaurant's dishes, and Calcharo made Lingyang eat vegetables.
• After the meal, Jinhsi suggested browsing the creative market, and Wuling paid the bill.
• Calcharo led the group toward the market, with Aimisi walking ahead and Wuling alongside Jinhsi and Chisaki.

Wuling and his companions explored a student market, bought animal-themed hair clips, and shared ice cream. As they ate, Wuling sensed an object flying toward the group.

• Aimisi chose a white seal hair clip, and Wuling put it in her hair after teasing her.
• Wuling bought clips for Abu and Aimisi, then picked a free fries clip and saw Chisaki and Jinhsi choose their own.
• Aimisi questioned who Wuling intended to give the fries clip to and seemed relieved when he said it was not for a person.
• The group found Calcharo and Lingyang eating ice cream, and Wuling treated everyone to their chosen flavors.
• Wuling sensed an object flying toward the group and warned everyone to look out.

Wuling saved Chisaki from a falling ice cream at the market, and the two grew closer as they browsed and walked back together. They arrived at the coffee shop at 4:20, ten minutes before work.

• Wuling pulled Chisaki out of the ice cream’s path and caught the child who had fallen, while the child’s mother apologized and led him away.
• Chisaki thanked Wuling, and Aimisi watched their interaction with jealous frustration.
• The group browsed the market, with Calcharo and Lingyang buying snacks while Aimisi, Chisaki, and Jinhsi picked out accessories.
• Aimisi showed disappointment when Wuling and Chisaki prepared to leave, and Calcharo asked Wuling to bring him a coconut latte.
• Wuling and Chisaki walked back together, talked about enjoying the outing, and reached the coffee shop at 4:20.

During a busy shift, Chisaki dropped a cup, cut her leg, and spilled coffee on a customer. After Wuling treated her wound and reassured her, Chisaki asked to call him “senior,” and he agreed; they then prepared to return to the shop.

• Wuling noticed Chisaki tiring during the rush and offered to handle the tables.
• Chisaki dropped a cup while carrying an order, cutting her leg and splashing coffee on a customer.
• Wuling apologized to the customer, and Auntie Bo recognized her as Bu Ling and told Wuling to tend to Chisaki's wound.
• Wuling took Chisaki to the storeroom, treated her cut, and reassured her that the accident was not her fault.
• Chisaki asked Wuling if she could call him senior, and he happily agreed.
• Chisaki felt better, and she and Wuling got ready to return to the front of the shop.

After Chisaki’s accident at the café, Auntie Bo and Bu Ling reassured her and Wuling, explaining the café’s welcoming history and their own ties to Star Torch Academy. While resting together, Chisaki told Wuling she would practice until she could do the job without holding everyone back, and he encouraged her.

• Auntie Bo and Bu Ling welcomed Chisaki and Wuling back after the café was cleaned, and Bu Ling introduced herself as their senior.
• Bu Ling and Auntie Bo discussed Lynae’s reported demotion, while Auntie Bo recalled her fondly and wondered why the academy had punished her.
• Auntie Bo told Chisaki and Wuling that she had attended Star Torch Academy and opened the café to support students working their way through school.
• Wuling made Chisaki orange juice and prepared himself a green grape yogurt drink while they rested in the café.
• Chisaki told Wuling she would practice hard and stop holding everyone back, and Wuling said he believed in her.

Wuling joined the Star Society group chat after learning that its entry question praised the club’s founder, Lady Phoebe, rather than Nabomo. He accepted Nabomo’s invitation to a two o’clock welcome activity, while the other members warned him about her reckless adventures.

• Calcharo complained about being woken for breakfast, and Wuling and Lingyang teased him for being weak after he stayed up late playing games.
• Wuling, Wuling, and Lingyang ate breakfast in the cafeteria, where Wuling received Nabomo’s invitation to the Star Society group chat.
• Wuling failed the group’s entry question until Nabomo explained that its answer was Lady Phoebe, the Star Society’s founder and first president.
• Wuling entered the chat, introduced himself, and saw members warn him not to trust Nabomo’s promises or join her midnight and back-mountain adventures.
• Nabomo invited Wuling to the club’s welcome activity at two that afternoon, and he agreed to attend.

Wuling arrived at the Star Society activity room and discovered that Danya was also a new member. Nabomo introduced Wuling to the club, and the gathering awaited the arrival of the second new member.

• Wuling met Danya on the stairs, and they realized they had both joined the Star Society.
• Danya told Wuling that Nabomo had recruited two new members but was keeping the other member's identity secret.
• Wuling and Danya entered the activity room, where Nabomo introduced Wuling to the gathered club members.
• The club members enthusiastically flirted with Wuling, and Nabomo scolded them before Wuling asked about the other new member.
• Nabomo said the other new member would arrive soon, and the activity room door opened again.

Wuling and Phrolova joined the Star Society after bonding over their chuunibyou antics, and Nabomo welcomed them with a chaotic ceremony. The chapter ended as Wuling tasted Nabomo’s cooking and the narration revealed his bitter thoughts about working unpaid at the hospital.

• Wuling and Phrolova recognized each other at the Star Society’s activity room, then exchanged dramatic poses and declarations that sparked the club members into a frenzy.
• Phrolova introduced herself by her codename, Hecate, and Wuling gave his name as the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King; their handshake left Phrolova’s palm aching and inspired her to compete with him.
• Nabomo introduced Wuling and Phrolova as new members, assigning Wuling the codenames Rover and Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King.
• The Star Society members celebrated Nabomo as their president, and she ushered the newcomers to try her cookies.
• Wuling tasted a warm cranberry cookie while thinking bitterly about being made to work weekends without pay at the hospital.