Chapter Summaries

Xu Qi learned that Anna had misunderstood Eden’s suggestion as pressure to date him, while Eden framed it as a blind date and teased him about the encounter. The chapter left Eden lying in Xu Qi’s arms, their closeness blurring the bounds of ordinary sibling affection.

• Xu Qi told Eden what had happened with Anna, and Eden went to speak with her privately.
• Anna admitted she had instinctively avoided Xu Qi’s kiss but found his sincerity and awkwardness endearing, and she agreed to start over.
• Eden told Xu Qi she had merely introduced him and Anna like a blind date, then teased him into believing Anna would dislike him.
• Eden laughed with Xu Qi, who complained that her happiness was built on his pain.
• Bronya listened as Xu Qi began recounting the events, while he touched her intimately.
• Eden ended up lying in Xu Qi’s arms as they continued laughing and playing together.

Xu Qi and Eden shared an intimate birthday encounter before she revealed that what she wanted most was a home with him and the people at the Golden Courtyard. Afterward, Eden asked Xu Qi to stay at her company for the night, promising they would sleep in separate rooms.

• Eden teased Xu Qi about having kissed and touched Anna, then invited him to make it up to her, and they kissed passionately.
• Xu Qi told Eden that he had prepared a birthday cake and that everyone was waiting for her at the Golden Courtyard, making her realize he had come to celebrate her birthday.
• Eden said she wanted Xu Qi to call her by name and offered him her birthday cake, leading to further intimacy between them.
• Xu Qi and Eden recovered from their encounter, and Eden asked whether he would stay at her company overnight.
• Eden clarified that they would sleep in separate guest rooms, and Xu Qi agreed to stay.

Xu Qi prepared for Alysia’s upcoming birthday and asked Fu Hua about her future mother-in-law Fu Xian’er’s hobbies. After learning Fu Xian’er liked raising small animals, he woke Alysia to discuss a birthday present and asked whether their household needed a pet.

• Eden suggested Xu Qi invite Alysia to the Golden Group headquarters, and he called her with a technically truthful excuse.
• Xu Qi told Bronya he had spent the night with Alysia, then left their gaming session to be intimate with Bronya.
• Xu Qi considered Alysia’s November eleventh birthday and asked Fu Hua about Fu Xian’er’s interests before her arrival.
• Fu Hua said Fu Xian’er enjoyed listening to crosstalk, playing with walnuts, and raising small animals.
• Xu Qi woke Alysia the next morning and asked whether their family was missing a pet, but Alysia replied that they already had one.

Xu Qi and Elysia planned to visit a pet market for her birthday, then Fu Xian'er arrived at the Golden Courtyard and reconciled with Xu Qi. Fu Hua began helping her master adjust to modern life, leaving Fu Xian'er dressed in casual clothes.

• Xu Qi agreed to take Elysia to a pet market for her birthday and said Fu Xian'er might join them.
• Fu Xian'er arrived at the Golden Courtyard aboard Mei's Ptolemy and floated down from the ship using her Mental Power.
• Xu Qi greeted Fu Xian'er, who gave him a small box as compensation for damaging his armor during their previous encounter.
• Fu Hua welcomed her master and guided Fu Xian'er around the courtyard as she encountered modern technology.
• Fu Hua dressed Fu Xian'er in jeans and a green shirt, and Mei turned a dangerous gaze toward Xu Qi.

Fu Xian'er explained why Xu Qi and the others had not conceived and gave Fu Hua medicine intended to regulate his body. On Elysia’s birthday, Xu Qi, Elysia, Pardofelis, Fu Hua, and Fu Xian'er visited a flower and bird market, where Pardofelis briefly felt like an outsider watching Xu Qi and Elysia together before insisting they enjoy the outing as a group.

• Fu Hua asked Fu Xian'er what she had given Xu Qi, and Fu Xian'er explained that his unusually powerful cells made conception difficult and could endanger the mother.
• Fu Xian'er revealed that the box contained medicine meant to regulate Xu Qi's body and possibly help them conceive.
• On November 11, Xu Qi took Elysia, Pardofelis, Fu Hua, and Fu Xian'er to a nearby flower and bird market for Elysia's birthday.
• Pardofelis excitedly suggested buying a cat and ran ahead to find a cat café while Xu Qi and Elysia strolled through the market together.
• Pardofelis watched Xu Qi and Elysia share an intimate moment, felt like an outsider, then told them it was more fun when all three of them were together.

Xu Qi, Elysia, and Pardofelis investigated reports of a cat stealing food and small items around the Flower and Bird Market. After Cheng Lixue gave them a photo and some fur from the culprit, Xu Qi used Professor Mobius’s scent tracker and found a trail leading into an alley.

• Pardofelis insisted that Xu Qi help catch the thief cat to defend her own reputation, and Xu Qi agreed to go with Elysia.
• Cheng Lixue told Xu Qi and Elysia that a light-brown Chinchilla had been stealing from local shops for several months.
• Cheng Lixue gave the group a photo of the cat and a bag of its fur to help them track it down.
• Xu Qi joked that Pardofelis should sniff out the cat, then used Professor Mobius’s scent tracker instead.
• The scent tracker reacted and led Xu Qi, Elysia, and Pardofelis toward a nearby alley.

Xu Qi, Alysia, and Pardofelis followed a cat-fur tracker to a gathering of strays, where Pardofelis spotted the Chinchilla and chased after it. Back at Cheng Lixue’s cat café, Xu Qi asked about Dusk Street and heard the legend of its Righteous Thief, leaving Elysia silently troubled by the story.

• Xu Qi, Alysia, and Pardofelis followed the tracker into an alley and found a group of stray cats instead of the cat they sought.
• Alysia befriended the strays, and Xu Qi recognized the Chinchilla perched on a crossbeam.
• Pardofelis chased after the Chinchilla while Xu Qi and Alysia returned to Cheng Lixue’s cat café.
• Xu Qi asked Cheng Lixue about Dusk Street, and she told them it had once been home to a homeless thief who stole from wealthy households and aided the poor.
• Elysia recognized the Righteous Thief’s story but stayed silent as Cheng Lixue dismissed it as a legend.

Xu Qi deduced that Cheng Lixue was a New Type who had been helping a light-brown Chinchilla protect stray cats, and Cheng Lixue explained how she had kept her promise for four years. Pardofelis’s painful memories of Dusk Street emerged as she rushed out to catch the Chinchilla, while Xu Qi sensed her distress and expanded his Mental Power.

• Xu Qi inferred that the light-brown Chinchilla stole food to feed stray cats and revealed that he knew Cheng Lixue was a New Type.
• Cheng Lixue admitted she could understand animals and described meeting the Chinchilla while it tried to protect stray cats from cat abusers.
• Cheng Lixue recalled agreeing to help the Chinchilla and using her earnings to open a cat café where she had protected the cats for four years.
• Pardofelis heard the story, said the Chinchilla would only suffer, and ran out, followed by Elysia and Cheng Lixue.
• Kalpas explained that Pardofelis had once helped Dusk Street’s homeless residents, but redevelopment destroyed their homes and left her feeling that her efforts had been futile.
• Xu Qi understood why Pardofelis was distressed, spread his Mental Power outward, and sensed Fu Hua and Fu Xian'er nearby.

Pardofelis caught the Chinchilla cat and promised to help it find a lasting home for its fellow strays. Back at the Golden Courtyard, Elysia finished a story inspired by the encounter and spent her birthday evening sharing an intimate moment with Xu Qi.

• Xu Qi, Elysia, and Cheng Lixue helped Pardofelis catch the Chinchilla cat at the Flower and Bird Market.
• Pardofelis learned the cat had wanted to protect its fellow strays after seeing her act as the Righteous Thief, and she promised to handle their situation.
• Elysia finished writing the story and said she would share it with her stream audience.
• Xu Qi learned Pardofelis had named the cat Canned Food, while Pardofelis stayed behind to fulfill her promise.
• Elysia told Xu Qi she wanted to have a child with him, and he reassured her that he loved every part of her.

Xu Qi and Elysia spent an intimate night together, then discussed Pardofelis’s efforts to help Canned Food and the people around her. Pardofelis arranged for Miss Li Xue to open a shop at the Flower and Bird Market, confident she could build a stable life for them.

• Xu Qi teased Elysia about her feet, then the two became intimate, with Elysia eventually asking him to slow down.
• Elysia suggested calling Mei, but Xu Qi continued, and she soon begged him for mercy.
• Mr. Zhao met the disguised Pardofelis, who instructed him to negotiate with Miss Cheng about renting his land near the Flower and Bird Market.
• After Mr. Zhao left, Pardofelis explained to Canned Food that she planned to combine a cat rescue center with a pet hospital and have Miss Li Xue run the shop.
• Xu Qi told Elysia that the Golden Courtyard had helped Pardofelis grow capable of solving her own problems.

Xu Qi spoke with Kevin about his relationships before finding Fu Hua waiting up because she was worried about Pardofelis. Fu Hua admitted that she still wanted to resent Fu Xian'er for a little longer, then left with Xu Qi to spend the night together; Fu Xian'er overheard them and stormed off in embarrassment.

• Kevin told Xu Qi to exercise restraint with Elysia and encouraged him to invite Rita to move in.
• Xu Qi mistook Fu Hua for Fu Xian'er, then discovered Fu Hua had been teasing him.
• Fu Hua said she still felt some resentment toward Fu Xian'er despite understanding how much her master cared for her.
• Xu Qi embraced Fu Hua, and she asked to spend the night with him in Elysia's room.
• Fu Xian'er overheard Xu Qi and Fu Hua in the room and left, embarrassed and annoyed.
• Xu Qi woke the next morning feeling refreshed after a night of passion.

Pardofelis brought a chinchilla named Canned Food to the Golden Courtyard, where Xu Qi’s easy rapport with the female pet sparked teasing and suspicion about his relationship with Durandal. The courtyard gained a lively new pet, while Xu Qi fled with Kalpas as the women demanded explanations.

• Xu Qi found Fu Hua and Alysia still asleep after their exhausting night together, then ran into Mei, who questioned him about spending time with his sister.
• Pardofelis introduced Canned Food, a female chinchilla, as the Golden Courtyard’s new family member.
• Canned Food immediately leaped into Xu Qi’s arms, prompting Mobius to joke about his appeal to women and Su to suggest he make more male friends.
• Vil-V revealed she had seen Xu Qi’s chats with Durandal, and the women teased him and threatened to confront him about their relationship.
• Xu Qi dragged Kalpas out of the courtyard to escape the women’s questions, while Fu Xian’er returned from training and Eden explained that the courtyard was always noisy.
• Pardofelis later brought Canned Food back to the Flower and Bird Market, where a shop called Canned Food’s Home had appeared under renovation.

Xu Qi reassured Rita that he would face the dangers and secrets surrounding her, and she agreed to stop shielding him from her past. Their relationship deepened as Rita resolved to share her life with him.

• Cheng Lixue told Pardofelis that the stray cats would have a new shop and that she would keep bringing them food in the meantime.
• Xu Qi introduced Rita to his parents, whose questions about his many girlfriends left him reflecting on how far his relationships had changed his life.
• Xu Qi invited Rita and Durandal to move to the Golden Courtyard, and Rita was moved by the news.
• Xu Qi told Rita he would not regret being with her even if it meant facing danger, and said he would learn her secrets from her or from Kafka and Hack Rabbit.
• Rita brought Xu Qi to the bedroom, and he urged her to share her past and face their future together rather than protecting him from it.

Rita kept her feelings for Xu Qi private, while their relationship and Xu Qi’s many connections became the subject of office gossip. As Christmas approached, Xu Qi began thinking about gifts and celebrations, then visited Kiana in the underground factory, where she was asleep at her monitoring console.

• Rita refused to tell Xu Qi what she had been holding back, then asked him to punish her, and they spent the night together.
• Xu Qi arrived late at work and said Rita had taken the day off; Delta teased him about their night together and reminded him to report his progress to Bronya.
• Bronya learned Rita had moved into the Golden Courtyard and told Xu Qi to prepare for Christmas, whereupon she asked him to look forward to her gift.
• Xu Qi discussed Christmas costumes and merchandise with Qian Chen, then complained that Bronya had judged him for liking Momoka and named Chihaya Kisaragi as his preferred figure.
• Xu Qi went with Mobius to the underground factory to find Kiana, discovered her asleep at the monitoring console, and woke her; Kiana reproached him for not visiting sooner.

Xu Qi told Kiana he wanted to celebrate her birthday and help her regain a physical body, then shared an intimate moment with her in her Mental Power world. As he planned Christmas gifts for the many girls close to him, Shi-bao called to say she and others were coming to visit.

• Kiana showed Xu Qi how realistically her Mental Power world had developed, and they discussed whether she had a birthday.
• Xu Qi described birthday celebrations and told Kiana he wanted to celebrate hers, revealing that he had learned about the Kaslanas and Schicksal.
• Xu Qi confessed his willingness to help Kiana escape her current state, and they kissed and merged their Mental Power.
• Xu Qi returned to his body and began planning Christmas, realizing he had many gifts to prepare for his girlfriends and other close acquaintances.
• Shi-bao called Xu Qi, teased him about Fu Hua and Sister Xian'er, and announced that she and others were coming over.

Xu Qi and the women of the Golden Courtyard planned Christmas gifts, and the women decided to surprise him with a fashion show. They prepared to invite their friends from outside the courtyard, while Elysia went to speak privately with Rita.

• Xu Qi worried about choosing Christmas gifts for his many friends and girlfriends, settling on ideas including a Hoom doll for Bronya and glasses for Mei.
• Mei gathered the Golden Courtyard women to discuss what to give Xu Qi, and Eden urged them to focus on a thoughtful shared gift.
• Vil-V proposed a fashion show featuring outfits Xu Qi would like, and the women enthusiastically agreed to make it a Christmas surprise.
• The women decided to request leave on Christmas, prepare at the Golden Courtyard, and invite the women from outside the courtyard.
• Elysia visited Rita's room while Durandal was there, and Durandal left them alone to talk.

Mei and the Golden Courtyard planned Christmas surprises for Xu Qi, while Xu Qi comforted Mei after she shared painful news about her father’s prison sentence. The chapter ended with Xu Qi reassuring her that she was his beloved and promising her a happier future.

• Durandal told Alysia she was happy to wear a uniform for the Christmas fashion show, and Alysia asked Rita for help wearing a maid outfit.
• Mei called Raiden Mei, agreed to help with a secret Christmas gift for Xu Qi, and teased her about needing a very large gift box.
• Xu Qi joined Mei’s call, exchanged good-night wishes with Mei, and then held Mei as she asked what he had been discussing with Raiden Mei.
• Xu Qi told Mei she was the girl he loved most, and Mei revealed that her father’s prison sentence had been reduced to twenty years.
• Mei confessed that the news made her feel like a criminal, and Xu Qi comforted her, affirmed that she was his lover, and promised to make her happy.

Xu Qi and Mei shared an intimate night after Mei let out her pent-up emotions, then Xu Qi spent Christmas at Seed Studio and handed gifts to the employees who stayed to work. The gift distribution was still underway when he gave Susana an hand drum.

• Mei persuaded Xu Qi to continue their intimacy through the night, and they finally went to sleep after showering.
• Xu Qi stayed at Seed Studio on Christmas with Rita and Bronya, while several employees took leave and others continued working.
• Xu Qi invited the female employees who stayed to work into the large production office and announced that he had prepared Christmas presents for them.
• Xu Qi gave Sirin a purple-red pair of scissors and Seele a white lily hair ornament, delighting both girls.
• Xu Qi gave Susana an exquisite hand drum.

Xu Qi gave Christmas gifts at work, then advised Kosma on how to take Daisy Dubea on a date. With Kevin, Su, and Jie Ge all staying away, Xu Qi realized he would be the only man at the villa that night, while the women prepared a Christmas surprise for him.

• Xu Qi gave Susana a hand drum and Liu Qi a fan bearing a line of poetry, then agreed to let Bronya and Rita go ahead to the villa to prepare a surprise.
• Kosma arrived at Xu Qi’s office after Eden and the others sent him away, and Xu Qi explained a four-step plan for a date after learning Daisy Dubea had given Kosma a harmonica.
• Xu Qi urged Kosma to hurry and invite Daisy to a four o’clock movie, and Kosma rushed out to arrange their date.
• Xu Qi learned that Kevin, Su, and Jie Ge would all be away that night and worried that he would be the only man at the villa.
• At the Golden Courtyard, the women decorated the villa for Christmas, and Mei appeared in a festive outfit while Elysia and Rita wore maid outfits.

Xu Qi arrived at the Golden Courtyard dressed as Santa Claus and began distributing the Christmas presents he had prepared for everyone. After giving Theresa a special Christmas Hoom doll, he left her blushing as the others urged her to kiss him.

• The women admired one another’s festive outfits as they waited for Xu Qi, who arrived through the heavy snow in a decorated pickup truck dressed as Santa Claus.
• Xu Qi brought a box of presents inside, and Griseo kissed him before receiving feather ornaments she eagerly took to her room.
• Xu Qi gave Bronya a limited-edition Hoomay, Rita a forget-me-not hair ornament, Elysia a handmade pop-up book, and Mobius a pair of interlocking earrings; each woman responded with an affectionate kiss or embrace.
• Xu Qi gave Theresa a special Christmas Hoom doll, and Elysia and the younger girls urged Theresa to kiss him.