Chapter Summaries

Bai Le learned that the Xi Family was arranging for Bai Xiao Yin to marry Xi Yan, and he worried about how his pregnancy could affect his sister and the families. Unable to bring himself to end the pregnancy, he planned to secretly leave town and give birth, but Bai Huizhang came home to check on him.

• Bai Le overheard Bai Huizhang and Chen Suqiu discuss Old Master Xi's support for Bai Xiao Yin marrying Xi Yan and the possibility that Xi Yan might not want children.
• Bai Le realized his child could complicate Bai Xiao Yin's future and bring shame on the Bai family, but he could no longer bear to abort it.
• Bai Le decided to run away and secretly planned to carry the pregnancy to term in a small southern county town.
• Bai Le pretended to be sick, withdrew a large amount of cash, wrote a note for his family, and planned to leave at three in the morning.
• Bai Huizhang returned from work, learned Bai Le had stayed home again, and went to check on him.

Bai Le secretly left the Bai family home for a small county town, taking money and two books while hiding his pregnancy. After finding his note, Bai Yin searched his room and discovered scraps of a prenatal examination report.

• Bai Huizhang checked on Bai Le, believed he was unwell, and let him sleep.
• Bai Le left a note, removed his phone's SIM card, packed money and two books, and took a taxi to the eastern suburbs bus station.
• Bai Le boarded a bus to a small county town and thought anxiously about the child he was carrying before falling asleep.
• Bai Huizhang found Bai Le's note and grew furious, while Chen Suqiu claimed Bai Le would return soon.
• Bai Yin doubted that Bai Le had left without a reason and searched his room for clues.
• Bai Yin pieced together scraps from the trash and recognized part of a prenatal examination report.

Bai Huizhang learned that Bai Le was the one who had become pregnant, but the family’s secret leaked and spread as increasingly distorted rumors. When Zhou Kun told Xi Yan that Bai Le had supposedly been forced into sex and thrown out, Xi Yan reacted violently, and Secretary Xing revealed that he had seen Bai Le buying a pregnancy test.

• Bai Yin found Bai Le’s prenatal checkup report in the trash, and Bai Huizhang confirmed that Bai Le was the patient.
• Bai Huizhang warned Chen Suqiu and Bai Yin to keep the pregnancy secret, but gossip spread after a maid overheard them.
• Bai Huizhang replaced the maids, but rumors grew to claim Bai Le had been violated and expelled by his parents.
• Zhou Kun told Xi Yan the rumors about Bai Le, prompting Xi Yan to order him out.
• Secretary Xing told Xi Yan he had seen Bai Le buying a pregnancy test, and Xi Yan began coughing violently and scattered the game pieces.

Xi Yan told Old Master Xi he wanted to marry the Bai family's eldest son, believing the child he was carrying might be his, and Old Master Xi agreed on the condition that the child undergo a paternity test. Days later, the Xi Family held a banquet where guests gossiped about the Bai family's scandal and anticipated a marriage announcement.

• Xi Yan told Old Master Xi he wanted to marry the Bai family's eldest son and suggested the child might be his.
• Old Master Xi agreed to Xi Yan's decision but required a paternity test before the child could enter the Xi Family genealogy.
• The Xi Family invited prominent families to a banquet, prompting guests to expect an announcement of a marriage alliance with the Bai family.
• Guests whispered about the Bai family's eldest son's pregnancy and mocked the family while Bai Huizhang and Chen Suqiu listened.
• Bai Huizhang snapped at Chen Suqiu when she complained about the gossip.

At Xi Yan’s banquet, he announced that Bai Le—not Bai Yin—would marry into the Xi Family because Bai Le was carrying his child. Bai Huizhang reluctantly accepted the arrangement if Bai Le agreed, and he publicly corrected the earlier claim about Bai Yin.

• Chen Suqiu scolded Bai Yin after she returned, then Wu Xueying confronted Bai Huizhang over Bai Le’s disappearance.
• Xi Yan arrived and told Bai Huizhang and Wu Xueying that he had invited them to announce something.
• Xi Yan declared that Bai Le would marry into the Xi Family and revealed that Bai Le was carrying his child.
• Bai Huizhang asked what would happen if he refused, and Xi Yan said he was informing him rather than asking permission.
• Bai Huizhang agreed to proceed if Bai Le agreed, while Chen Suqiu grew furious and Bai Yin appeared pleased.
• Bai Huizhang clarified to the banquet guests that Bai Yin would not be marrying into the Xi Family.

Xi Yan learned that Bai Le was hiding in Yishui County, while Bai Le stayed at a local inn and went out for a stroll after waking. The chapter left Xi Yan searching for him and Bai Le unaware that his location had been found.

• Bai Huizhang guessed Bai Le had left to protect his younger sister's marriage and planned to confront him when Xi Yan brought him back.
• Secretary Xing told Xi Yan that Bai Le was in Yishui County, and Xi Yan asked where he was.
• Third Auntie and a local woman discussed their fussy guest and wondered whether he was pregnant.
• Bai Le came downstairs, declined breakfast, and hurried out for a stroll.

Bai Le struggled with the cold, food, and discomfort of his stay in the county town while thinking about home and his pregnancy. After developing symptoms of a cold, he refused medicine and decided to seek a doctor’s advice at a hospital.

• Bai Le went to a breakfast shop, where he met Liu Niannian and her school friends and offered to arrange a meeting with Meng Rong.
• Bai Le returned to the inn, curled up in bed against the cold, and worried about his family, friends, and the child in his belly.
• Bai Le developed a sore throat and a heavy head, so he asked Third Aunt about nearby hospitals.
• Third Aunt offered him cold medicine and said her husband could take him to the hospital the next day, but Bai Le refused to take medicine without consulting a doctor.

Bai Le tried to hide from Xi Yan after hearing him arrive, but Xi Yan found him in the alley. Xi Yan ordered Secretary Xing to fetch shoes for Bai Le, while Bai Le asked how he had tracked him down.

• Third Aunt noticed Bai Le's unusual abdominal swelling and sent him upstairs to rest, then brought him ginger and brown sugar water.
• Liu Dong told Third Aunt that black cars were searching for someone on the road into town.
• Bai Le woke with a worsening fever and heard Xi Yan arrive at the house.
• Bai Le fled barefoot through the back door, but several men in black blocked his way and Xi Yan appeared behind him.
• Bai Le asked Xi Yan how he had found him, and Xi Yan told Secretary Xing to fetch Bai Le's shoes.

Xi Yan found Bai Le after he ran off and brought him to the hospital when he collapsed with a fever. After Bai Le woke, his family visited, and he realized they knew about his situation too.

• Xi Yan had Secretary Xing give him Bai Le's shoes, then helped Bai Le put them on.
• Bai Le grew dizzy and feverish, then lost consciousness while holding Xi Yan's sleeve.
• Bai Le woke in the hospital, where a doctor told Xi Yan that he needed rest.
• Bai Le asked Xi Yan why he had brought him back and wondered if it was because of the child.
• Wu Xueying, Bai Huizhang, and Bai Yin visited Bai Le, and Bai Le realized they knew too.

After Bai Yin revealed that Bai Le had tried to escape, Xi Yan reassured him that his sister had no objection and asked him to marry. Bai Le was startled but weighed his feelings, the child, and the prospect of sharing his life with Xi Yan.

• Bai Yin admitted that she had figured out Bai Le's secret, and Bai Le felt guilty as the family asked what he wanted to do.
• Xi Yan sent Bai Huizhang and the others out, then told Bai Le that his escape did not need to be because of Bai Yin.
• Xi Yan told Bai Le that he had discussed the situation with Bai Yin and then asked him to marry.
• Bai Le said he needed time to think and considered that he did not dislike Xi Yan and that their child might need a complete family.

Bai Le agreed to marry Xi Yan after they drew up an agreement about separating if either fell for someone else. The next day, Bai Le visited Old Master Xi at the Xi family residence and surprised him with his skill at chess.

• Bai Le agreed to marry Xi Yan and proposed an agreement allowing them to part if either met someone they liked.
• Bai Le and Xi Yan signed the agreement, including a discussion about what would happen to their property if one of them cheated.
• Wu Xueying and Bai Huizhang worried about Bai Le, Bai Yin was relieved to avoid marrying a stranger, and Chen Suqiu complained privately.
• Wu Hua called Bai Le to question him about the marriage, then invited him to meet friends on Friday.
• Bai Le visited the Xi family residence with Xi Yan and played chess against Old Master Xi, who was surprised by Bai Le's ability.

At Old Master Xi’s house, Bai Le and Xi Yan were pressed into staying overnight in one room, forcing them into an awkward glimpse of married life. As Xi Yan helped dry Bai Le’s hair, Bai Le asked when he would stop pretending to be disabled, leaving Xi Yan visibly troubled.

• Old Master Xi questioned Bai Le about his pregnancy, then asked Xi Yan where they would hold their wedding.
• Old Master Xi insisted that Bai Le and Xi Yan stay the night and ordered a single room prepared; Xi Yan agreed despite Bai Le’s protests.
• Xi Yan gave Bai Le pajamas and told him to shower, then scolded him for getting into bed with wet hair.
• Xi Yan roughly dried Bai Le’s hair, easing his touch after Bai Le cried out.
• Bai Le asked when Xi Yan’s legs would get better and whether he planned to keep pretending to be disabled; Xi Yan paused, showing complicated emotions.

Bai Le learned that Xi Yan had set a plan in motion that involved him, but accepted Xi Yan’s assurance that it would not harm him or his family. The next day, Bai Le left to meet Wu Hua and their friends at an upscale bar, where he found a quiet, elegant venue.

• Xi Yan admitted that his plan to strike Xi Defeng could affect Bai Le, but said it would not harm him or his family.
• Bai Le reassured Xi Yan that he understood the situation, and the two shared a quiet moment before falling asleep with the bedside lamp on.
• Bai Le woke after ten, remembered his Friday plans with Wu Hua and the others, and changed into loose clothes to conceal his rounded belly.
• Old Master Xi insisted that Bai Le take a driver, and Bai Le accepted before heading out.
• Bai Le arrived at the upscale bar and found that it was peaceful and elegant rather than loud and flashy.

Bai Le met his friends for drinks, but Xi Yan arrived and caught him at the table. After Xi Yan left, Bai Le's friends encouraged him to be bolder with his new husband, only for Xi Yan to return and overhear them.

• Wu Hua and Bai Le's friends checked on Bai Le, teased him about marrying Xi Yan, and offered to help if he was in trouble.
• Bai Le noticed Xi Yan approaching and warned his friends that someone had come to catch him.
• Xi Yan confronted Bai Le about the liquor, and Bai Le insisted he had only been drinking hot milk.
• Secretary Xing reminded Xi Yan of his appointment, so Xi Yan left after looking at Bai Le again.
• Wu Hua encouraged Bai Le to show more backbone with Xi Yan, but Xi Yan returned and challenged him by asking, "Is that so?"

Xi Yan took Bai Le from his friends, brought him to a business meeting, and later ordered Zhou Kun to set a trap for Xi Defeng by revealing that his legs had healed. As Bai Le and Xi Yan prepared for their wedding aboard the Pearl, Xi Yan woke him with a question about what he had called him.

• Xi Yan took Bai Le away from Wu Hua and his friends, then reassured him by holding his hand during a meeting with an elderly man.
• Xi Yan told Zhou Kun he would let Xi Defeng learn that his legs were healed so Xi Defeng would make a move and be unable to recover.
• News spread that Xi Yan's legs had healed, while Bai Le recognized that Xi Yan had been pretending all along.
• The Xi family set the wedding for the following Wednesday on an island and arranged for Bai Le and Xi Yan to board the Pearl ahead of time.
• As Bai Le began to drift off beside Xi Yan, Xi Yan whispered, "What did you call me?"

Xi Yan and Bai Le married in a lavish ceremony, and Bai Le felt an unfamiliar stir in his heart after their kiss. At the reception, Xi Defeng watched the guests from a shadowed corner.

• Xi Yan quietly watched Bai Le sleep and touched his belly.
• Bai Le got ready with Xi Yan for their wedding and asked Secretary Xing to keep calling him Mr. Bai.
• Xi Yan and Bai Le entered the wedding hall together, exchanged vows, and kissed when Xi Yan pulled Bai Le close.
• Bai Le felt something strange in his heart after the kiss.
• Xi Defeng stood in a shadowed corner at the reception and watched the dancing guests.

At the wedding reception, Xi Defeng realized the rumor about Xi Yan’s healed legs had been staged and proposed making it real by targeting Xi Yan’s younger brother. Bai Le left the hall with Xi Yan, noticing that Xi Yan had been slowing his pace to wait for him.

• Xi Defeng told his companion he knew they had been played, then suggested making the false story real by going after Xi Yan’s younger brother.
• Bai Le deflected Bai Yin’s questions about Xi Yan’s healed legs and rescued a young woman from the drunken Wu Hua.
• Wu Hua asked Bai Le whether he liked Xi Yan and lamented that he still had not found love.
• Xi Yan appeared and called Bai Le away, while guests discussed his healed legs and Bai Le’s marriage into the Xi Family.
• Wu Hua bumped into a woman who gossiped about Bai Le and Xi Yan, spilling champagne on her dress.
• Bai Le stopped in the corridor, confirmed Xi Yan had slowed down to wait for him, and caught up with him.

Xi Yan took Bai Le to the quiet top deck, where he revealed his troubled childhood and confessed that he might really be abnormal. Bai Le tried to comfort him, and Xi Yan embraced him and leaned in to kiss him, but Bai Le suddenly went pale and retched.

• Xi Yan took Bai Le's hand and led him away from the crowd to the cruise ship's top deck.
• Xi Yan asked how much Bai Le knew about his childhood, then told him that people had called him crazy because of an illness in his head.
• Xi Yan recalled pushing his younger brother down the stairs, feeling pleasure at the sight of blood, and being locked up before his father sent him to a psychiatric hospital.
• Bai Le told Xi Yan that his cold smile did not look genuine, and Xi Yan pulled him into a tight embrace.
• Xi Yan stroked Bai Le's hair and leaned in to kiss him, but Bai Le shoved him away and retched at the railing.

Bai Le and Xi Yan arrived on the island and spent time together at a barbecue, where their awkward closeness continued. Bai Le asked whether Xi Yan was still taking medicine, leaving Xi Yan to wonder how he knew about it.

• Bai Le and Xi Yan reached the island after Bai Le avoided a possible kiss by getting seasick.
• Bai Yin teased Bai Le about wanting to be alone with Xi Yan, and Xi Yan said she would leave before them.
• Bai Le changed clothes and headed to the barbecue, but Xi Yan stopped talking with Secretary Xing and went with him.
• Xiaozhouzi questioned Bai Le about his relationship with Xi Yan, but Xi Yan sent him away to find his brother.
• Bai Le persuaded Xi Yan to add more salt to the grilled meat and complimented his hands.
• Bai Le asked Xi Yan whether he was still taking medicine, and Xi Yan asked how he knew.

Bai Le spent the evening with Xi Yan and his family, discussing the baby and the changes marriage would bring. After Xi Yan grilled food for him, the two walked together along Sun-Moon Island’s beach and sat beside the waves.

• Bai Le claimed he had liked Xi Yan before, and Xi Yan grew irritated at the word “before” before softening when Bai Le offered to grill for him.
• Bai Yin asked Bai Le about the baby’s sex and name, then tearfully worried that he would move out after marrying Xi Yan.
• Bai Le helped Xi Yan prepare the seasonings, then praised the meat Xi Yan grilled and ate it.
• Xi Yan wiped Bai Le’s mouth and invited him to walk on the beach.
• Bai Le asked Xi Yan about Sun-Moon Island’s name, then sat down and invited Xi Yan to sit beside him as they watched the waves.