Chapter Summaries

After a frustrating day at work, Tang Song played the game that had sustained him for three years, only for its story to end as its timeline caught up with reality. A mysterious system appeared on his computer, leaving him facing an unexplained new beginning.

• Tang Song reflected on being overlooked at Brocade Business and decided to keep his job while searching for a better offer.
• On the ride home and later in his apartment, Tang Song thought about his stalled life and saw a high school graduation photo that reminded him of his former hopes.
• Tang Song logged into Male God Growth Plan and watched its timeline reach April 2, 2023, the same date as the game’s current online time.
• After an animation declared the game cleared, Tang Song tried unsuccessfully to continue playing and felt a sharp sense of loss.
• A notification sounded, the game vanished from the screen, and a sci-fi light screen appeared, confirming the player and loading system resources to completion.

At Qingning Technology’s reception, Liu Qingning spoke privately with Wen Ruan about Tang Song and learned that Wen Ruan willingly accepted being his lover despite giving up marriage and family approval. Shaken by Wen Ruan’s devotion, Liu Qingning booked a trip to Yancheng to see Tang Song, while Shen Yuyan suggested to Xu Qing that the three of them could be together.

• Liu Qingning and Wen Ruan mingled with guests before discussing their relationship with Tang Song in private.
• Wen Ruan told Liu Qingning she loved Tang Song and would accept being his lover, even though she could never marry him.
• After the reception, Liu Qingning returned home, looked at a high-school photo of herself and Tang Song, and booked two tickets to Yancheng for the next day.
• Shen Yuyan returned home after entertaining a major client and told Xu Qing that their potential partnership could help fulfill their Betting Agreement with Gongying Technology.
• While teasing each other about Tang Song, Shen Yuyan hugged Xu Qing and suggested that the three of them could be together, leaving Xu Qing flustered.

Tang Song discovered that the Male God Growth Plan game interface had appeared in reality and that its rewards could affect his life. After receiving a cash-paying skill and a weight-loss challenge, he resolved to improve himself and raise his Charm to 30.

• Tang Song opened his game profile and saw his Charm was 24, with the main storyline promising real-world rewards at higher thresholds.
• Tang Song opened his Beginner Gift Pack and received Male God Halo (LV1), which paid him 200 yuan for his first smile of the day.
• Tang Song confirmed the system was real when his bank account received the 200-yuan reward.
• Tang Song examined his appearance and circumstances, then triggered the Restraint and Persistence challenge to lose 9 kilograms in 20 days.
• Tang Song checked the Lung Strengthening Potion reward and resolved to lose weight and raise his Charm to 30.

Cheng Qiuqiu struggled with a nightmare and doubts about her design work, while Tang Song watched Qingning Technology unveil Lime3.0 and visited Xu Qing and Shen Yuyan. After Liu Qingning asked him to find a ginkgo leaf near their old university, Tang Song arrived and unexpectedly found her waiting there.

• Cheng Qiuqiu woke from a nightmare about her grandmother, then studied He Yiyi's brand and live stream to improve her visual identity design.
• Tang Song noticed Cheng Qiuqiu's Dream Flower Seed cultivation rise as she watched him and Gao Mengting together, then tuned in to Qingning Technology's Lime3.0 launch.
• Shen Yuyan watched the Lime3.0 launch and felt conflicted about her attraction to Tang Song and her friendship with Xu Qing.
• Tang Song joined Xu Qing and Shen Yuyan for dinner, where Shen Yuyan discussed their university memories and Qingning Technology's new AI model.
• Liu Qingning called Tang Song and asked him to find a ginkgo leaf near Yan City University of Science and Technology, so he left North City Garden and drove there.
• Tang Song searched the old street for a ginkgo leaf and found Liu Qingning waiting beneath a tree.

Tang Song began a strict weight-loss plan and posted a masked transformation request on Little Red Book, hoping to improve his appearance and Charm Value. After receiving blunt advice to lose weight, he committed to changing his habits and started deep-cleaning his apartment.

• Tang Song jogged 3.5 kilometers, ate a light breakfast, and drafted a detailed weight-loss plan.
• Tang Song was inspired by viral advice-following transformation posts and uploaded a masked photo asking for transformation advice.
• Tang Song bought fresh ingredients for fat-loss meals and filled his refrigerator.
• Tang Song prepared a chicken, brown rice, and salad lunch, then replied to comments urging him to lose weight.
• Tang Song noticed his apartment was dirty and cluttered, so he began a thorough deep clean.

Tang Song reunited with Liu Qingning, who came to Yancheng for a vacation, and the two rekindled their closeness as they spent the evening together. He brought her home, where she agreed to stay the night with him, while Shen Yuyan worried about Tang Song’s relationships and Xu Qing accepted money from him.

• Tang Song embraced Liu Qingning beneath the ginkgo trees, and they reminisced through playful teasing, kisses, and a walk together.
• Tang Song took Liu Qingning to visit his alma mater, then brought her to his apartment after assuring her Wen Ruan lived elsewhere.
• Shen Yuyan suspected Tang Song had gone to see another woman, while Xu Qing received a 100,000 transfer and celebrated with her best friend.
• Shen Yuyan asked Xu Qing whether she had considered a future with Tang Song, and Xu Qing admitted she had not thought about marriage.
• Liu Qingning explored Tang Song’s apartment, insisted on taking time to understand his life, and let him hold her as they fell asleep together.

Tang Song continued his weight-loss plan, exercising, eating carefully, and resisting tempting snacks while maintaining his job. He ended the day satisfied with his progress and focused on reaching the system’s 30 Charm Value reward.

• Tang Song checked his system status, saw that his weight had fallen to 86.5 kg, and completed a fasted cardio workout before preparing healthy meals.
• Tang Song went to work at Brocade Business, where coworkers noticed his weight loss and Zhao Yue sampled his lunch and encouraged him to slim down.
• Tang Song exercised during the afternoon and resisted his coworkers’ snacks despite intense hunger.
• Tang Song declined the company’s Friday afternoon tea, then left work on time and jogged home.
• Tang Song ate a light dinner of spinach, steamed fish, and brown rice while imagining his future.

Lin Mu Xue and Zhao Yaqian met Qian Lele outside Yanjing Sky City, where Lele was waiting with homemade pickles she seemed to have brought for Tang Song. Meanwhile, Tian Jing returned to Yancheng, dismissed Qin Hua’s advice about Zhongcheng Group, and spotted Qing Qing near SkylineClub.

• Lin Mu Xue and Zhao Yaqian teased each other in bed, then went out for breakfast and walked around the neighborhood.
• Lin Mu Xue and Zhao Yaqian ran into Qian Lele, who gave them her homemade pickled radish before leaving for the bus stop.
• Lin Mu Xue and Zhao Yaqian suspected Qian Lele had brought the pickles for Tang Song, and Zhao Yaqian planned to let him try them and give him her ring.
• Qin Hua picked up Tian Jing at Yancheng High-Speed Rail Station, where Gao Junfeng failed to make an impression on Tian Jing.
• Qin Hua urged Tian Jing to help protect her father’s interests in Zhongcheng Group, but Tian Jing refused to discuss business and went to SkylineClub.
• Tian Jing spotted Qing Qing with Ma Luoluo near Yanyun Center and decided to approach her.

After receiving the final 5,000-yuan payment for his Mini Program, Tang Song accepted Xie Shuyu’s invitation to lunch and sought advice on improving his appearance before their meal. A styling commenter recommended a windbreaker outfit, a new haircut, and trimmed eyebrows, and Tang Song went to bed dreaming of impressing Xie Shuyu.

• Tang Song finished his workout and received Xie Shuyu’s 5,000-yuan final payment for the coffee-ordering Mini Program.
• Xie Shuyu invited Tang Song to lunch at Yanbin Restaurant, and he accepted the transfer and invitation.
• Tang Song posted about his weight loss and upcoming dinner with a goddess, asking for quick appearance advice.
• Yao Yao Ling recommended a windbreaker outfit, a Micro Layered Cut, and eyebrow trimming after Tang Song shared his height and weight.
• Tang Song went to bed imagining himself handsome and confident beside Xie Shuyu, and his phone later announced a 200-yuan deposit.

Xu Qing tried to hide her online identity from Xiao Jing while visiting the Skyline Private Club, but their gaming session exposed that they were close online friends. Xiao Jing cornered the panicked Xu Qing with affectionate teasing, leaving her convinced that her secret had been discovered.

• Xu Qing agreed to treat Ma Luoluo and Xiao Mei to Wagyu barbecue, but Xiao Jing invited them to dine at the Skyline Private Club instead.
• Xiao Jing brought Xu Qing, Ma Luoluo, and Xiao Mei into the club, then sent Qin Hua's assistant Gao Junfeng to a separate lounge.
• Ni Qingli introduced the new club member, Lin Jingming, a successful charging-station company founder, and Qin Hua urged Xiao Jing to meet him because of her father's business interests.
• Xiao Jing left the gathering and joined Xu Qing in the game area, where Xu Qing became absorbed in playing Unravel Two with her.
• After they cleared a level, Xiao Jing hugged Xu Qing and called her “Boss Qing Qing,” then hinted that they had finally met offline, making Xu Qing believe her online identity had been exposed.

Tang Song went to a salon to improve his appearance before meeting Xie Shuyu, hoping a new hairstyle would raise his charm. After the technical director finished cutting his hair, Tang Song saw an unflattering bowl cut and discovered his charm had fallen back to 24.

• Tang Song chose a windbreaker and other clothes, then thought about his former love and resolved to improve himself.
• Tang Song searched for a salon, chose one without a wait, and paid for its technical director to style his hair and trim his eyebrows.
• Li Wen recommended a Micro Layered Cut and promised to improve Tang Song’s looks with the cut and a hair mask.
• Li Wen finished the haircut, but Tang Song saw that his hair had become a giant bowl cut.
• Tang Song checked the System Interface and found his charm had dropped to 24.

Xiao Jing kept Xu Qing at lunch while learning about Tang Song's connection to Shangguan Qiuya, then wondered what secrets he was hiding. Back in Yancheng, Liu Qingning endured a migraine and worried Tang Song no longer desired her, but dressed provocatively and sought reassurance from him.

• Xiao Jing stopped Xu Qing from leaving lunch by hinting she might expose their encounter in The Beauty of the Anime World group, then exchanged numbers with her before letting her go.
• Lin Jingming tried to discuss Huineng Electronics and Xiao Jing's training, but Xiao Jing declined and called her boyfriend instead.
• Qin Hua questioned Xiao Jing about rejecting Lin Jingming, and Xiao Jing praised Tang Song and wondered about his secrets.
• Liu Qingning woke with her period and a migraine, reflected on her perfectionism and fear of losing Tang Song, then returned to bed and kissed him.
• After Tang Song left for exercise, Liu Qingning changed into a black slip dress and stockings, and Tang Song returned and began touching her legs after she asked who he loved most.

After Tang Song’s hairstyle was restyled, he met beautician Zhao Yaqian for an eyebrow trim and unlocked the Betting Agreement achievement reward. The agreement generated a wager tied to how his relationship with Zhao Yaqian progressed, leaving him to decide how much to bet.

• Li Wen restyled Tang Song’s hair and recommended a perm and dye, but Tang Song declined because he had somewhere to be.
• Zhao Yaqian refused President Li’s offer of a high-paying assistant job after realizing he wanted her as his mistress.
• Zhao Yaqian began trimming Tang Song’s eyebrows, and Tang Song admired her appearance while trying not to move.
• Tang Song unlocked the Betting Agreement after his Little Red Book account passed one hundred followers.
• Tang Song used the item and received betting conditions involving adding Zhao Yaqian on WeChat within an hour, becoming friends within a week, and earning her good impression within a month.

Liu Qingning and Tang Song spent her last day in Yancheng revisiting places from his past, sharing a rainy-day kiss, and exchanging a gift before she returned to Shencheng. Liu Qingning left through airport security after a tender farewell kiss.

• Liu Qingning thought about Tang Song's closeness with Wen Ruan and Su Yu, then joined him for breakfast as he cared for her menstrual pain.
• Liu Qingning and Tang Song rode bicycles to Qingxin Garden, where Tang Song found the old Yade Electric Vehicle he had left behind and showed her around his former neighborhood.
• When rain began, Tang Song ran to buy candied hawthorns for Liu Qingning, and their kiss triggered a System reward: the Green Pouch Gourd.
• Tang Song made the Green Pouch Gourd into a necklace and gave it to Liu Qingning, who packed for her flight to Shencheng.
• Tang Song accompanied Liu Qingning to the airport, where she gave him a final kiss before disappearing beyond the security checkpoint.

Tang Song signed a Betting Agreement tied to improving his relationship with Zhao Yaqian, a beautician, and quickly earned the first milestone by adding her on WeChat. After returning home, he bought a salon membership from her, confident their friendship was underway.

• Tang Song invested 50,000 yuan in the Betting Agreement, reducing his balance to 1,020.80 yuan.
• Tang Song asked Zhao Yaqian for skincare advice while she shaped his eyebrows, then added her on WeChat and increased his stake to 75,000 yuan.
• Tang Song paid 367 yuan at the salon, bought Converse shoes, and withdrew 20,000 yuan through Ant Credit Pay.
• Tang Song returned to his rental house and received Zhao Yaqian's promotional poster on WeChat.
• Tang Song transferred Zhao Yaqian 2,000 yuan for a salon membership card.

Shen Yuyan drew closer to Tang Song through flirtatious messages, while Xiao Jing faced her parents’ concerns about their relationship and Tian Chengye’s worsening financial crisis. Lin Mu Xue chose Imperial College London’s online MBA, and Tang Song advanced his plan to take control of Hua Chang Apparel before welcoming Lin Mu Xue’s intimate thanks.

• Shen Yuyan sent Tang Song a morning message and a suggestive selfie, and he praised her figure before their chat turned flirtatious.
• Xu Qing complained that Xiao Jing was pestering her, then received Xiao Jing’s message about planning a provocative game with Tang Song at work.
• Xiao Jing told Tian Chengye that her relationship with Tang Song was fine, while Tian Chengye revealed that Huineng Electronics’ troubles could force him to sell his Brocade Business shares to repay guaranteed debts.
• Lin Mu Xue chose Imperial College London’s Global MBA, and Tang Song told her he would arrange her enrollment.
• Tang Song reviewed Confluent Investment’s progress toward acquiring control of Hua Chang Apparel and planned to use its convertible bond agreement to dilute the He Jingping family’s stake.
• Lin Mu Xue thanked Tang Song by sitting on his lap and kissing him in his office.

He Jingping tried to stabilize Hua Chang Apparel by offering Tang Song production capacity and scheduling a shareholders' meeting, while Tang Song prepared to use the meeting to gain control of the company. After reuniting with Xiao Jing at the office, Tang Song encountered an elegant woman outside his office, setting up their first meeting.

• He Jingping told Li Mingjie to clean up related-party transactions and called shareholders after hearing that a Hong Kong trust company had tried to buy Huang Yangming's shares.
• He Jingping offered Songmei Clothing part of Hua Chang Apparel's new production line and scheduled a shareholders' meeting to vote on the joint venture with Yingqu Media.
• Tang Song agreed to the production offer for now and planned to use the shareholders' meeting to pursue control of Hua Chang Apparel.
• Tang Song replied to Anne about her planned visit and considered using the Light Feather of Memory to recover memories involving Su Yu.
• At the Lin Jin Building, Tang Song learned that Wen Ruan had returned to Yancheng, then met Xiao Jing, who gave him a ring and reunited with him in the stairwell.
• As Tang Song and Xiao Jing reached the CT0 office, they came face to face with a mature, elegant woman whose connection to Tang Song intrigued Xiao Jing.

Tang Song arrived at Yanbin Restaurant and ran into Zhao Yue with Wang Yubo, prompting Zhao Yue to wonder whether he was on a date. The woman Tang Song had been waiting for arrived, leaving Zhao Yue stunned by her beauty and apparent wealth.

• Tang Song greeted Zhao Yue and Wang Yubo at Yanbin Restaurant, then went upstairs to his reserved table.
• Zhao Yue watched Tang Song and guessed he had arranged a date with a woman from work.
• Zhao Yue messaged Tang Song about her meal with Wang Yubo and asked whether he was on a date; Tang Song replied that his date was gorgeous and not from their company.
• A striking, stylish woman arrived, and Tang Song stood up to greet her with a smile.
• Zhao Yue recognized the woman's expensive Louis Vuitton bag and stared in disbelief as she approached Tang Song.

Tang Song met Xie Shuyu for a meal, where she praised his work on Glimmer Coffee’s Mini Program and offered him a monthly part-time maintenance job. Meanwhile, Zhao Yue and Wang Yubo spotted them at the restaurant, and Zhao Yue learned that Brocade Business was preparing to expand its e-commerce operations.

• Tang Song greeted Xie Shuyu at the restaurant, and they discussed his recent work on the Mini Program.
• Wang Yubo and Zhao Yue saw Tang Song dining with Xie Shuyu and speculated about their relationship.
• Wang Yubo told Zhao Yue that Brocade Business planned to expand its e-commerce business, though the company had forbidden employees from discussing it.
• Zhao Yue connected the planned expansion to Director Chen’s ambitions and Du Shaokai’s sudden efforts to take on more work.
• Xie Shuyu invited Tang Song to maintain her company’s website and Mini Program part-time for 3,000 yuan a month.
• Tang Song asked when they would sign the contract.

Wen Ruan visited Tang Song at Brocade Business, where she and Xiao Jing unexpectedly got along while Xiao Jing quietly assessed Wen Ruan as a rival. Later, Wen Ruan teased Tang Song at home, while Su Yu learned that Bei Yuwei had been harassed on set and saw an intimate photo of her with Tang Song, deciding to handle the matter herself.

• Wen Ruan visited Tang Song at Brocade Business and met Xiao Jing, who introduced herself as Tang Song’s good friend.
• Xiao Jing and Wen Ruan bonded over compliments, while Xiao Jing watched Tang Song and later arranged for Liu Huihui to investigate Wen Ruan and Light and Shadow Media.
• Xiao Jing told Tang Song she had been transferred to Tang Yi Precision’s Yancheng branch, then reassured him she would not blame him for his relationship with Wen Ruan.
• Tang Song brought Wen Ruan flowers at home, but she revealed she had eaten sour-and-spicy Konjac Shuang and teased him before they continued their evening together.
• Su Yu saw Mo Xiangwan’s message and a photo of Bei Yuwei kissing Tang Song, then asked Zhen Yu about Bei Yuwei’s situation and decided to handle it herself.