Chapter Summaries

Tang Meina interrupted Third Master Zhu’s conversation with Su Qiao and left with him, while Chu Yihan took Su Qiao to the dance floor. As Chu Yihan began teaching her to dance, Su Qiao challenged him about his earlier promise not to seek her out.

• Tang Meina arrived, clung to Third Master Zhu, and persuaded him to leave with her.
• Sister Jin reminded Tang Meina that she was scheduled to perform, but Tang Meina declined and went with Third Master Zhu.
• Chu Yihan asked Su Qiao to dance, and she resisted, saying she did not know how.
• Chu Yihan pulled Su Qiao onto the dance floor and offered to teach her.
• Su Qiao asked why Chu Yihan had come to find her after saying he would not, and he claimed he only needed a pleasing dance partner.

Chu Yihan tried to teach Su Qiao to dance, but she repeatedly stepped on his feet and found the activity dull. He asked whether she wanted to leave Xianle Mansion and offered to help, but Su Qiao said leaving would be difficult because the club and its owners profited from her growing fame.

• Su Qiao stepped on Chu Yihan's feet while they danced, and he hid how badly they hurt.
• Chu Yihan insisted on continuing to teach Su Qiao, saying he wanted them to be able to dance together in the future.
• Su Qiao questioned why Chu Yihan wanted to dance, and he claimed he was in a bad mood and wanted to cheer her up.
• Chu Yihan asked whether Su Qiao wanted to leave Xianle Mansion and offered to help her.
• Su Qiao said leaving would be difficult because Xianle Mansion, Third Master Zhu, and Sister Jin would not want to lose the profits from her growing popularity.

Chu Yihan urged Su Qiao to leave Xianle Mansion, but she insisted on staying for now. As he walked her back, he warned her about Third Master Zhu and grew angry when she seemed unconcerned, leaving him to believe she doubted his ability to help her.

• Chu Yihan offered to get Su Qiao out of Xianle Mansion, but she said she would leave later, not now.
• Chu Yihan walked Su Qiao back to the Little White Building and warned her that Third Master Zhu might target her.
• Su Qiao teased Chu Yihan for worrying about her, and he denied that he cared.
• Chu Yihan accused Su Qiao of refusing his help because she did not believe he could get her out safely.

Su Qiao investigated Manager Qian and learned who had orchestrated Chairman Cheng’s family’s massacre before killing him and exposing his stolen wealth at the bank. She then headed for Zhu Residence to target Third Master Zhu, another conspirator who had tried to harm her.

• Su Qiao wondered why the young man felt inferior, then asked 444 to learn more about his family.
• Su Qiao broke into Manager Qian’s home and learned that he, Third Master Zhu, Chairman Tian, Deputy Director Ge, and two foreigners had conspired to kill Chairman Cheng’s family and loyal subordinates.
• Su Qiao killed Manager Qian, took the wealth he had stolen, and hung his body at the bank entrance with the money beneath it.
• Su Qiao decided to continue her mission by killing Third Master Zhu and, guided by 444, found Zhu Residence.

Su Qiao scouted the Zhu Residence and decided to prepare poison before trying to kill her target. Meanwhile, Manager Qian’s public murder stirred Haicheng, and Nanny Wu reassured Su Qiao that the killer was unlikely to harm them.

• Su Qiao watched the heavily guarded Zhu Residence and decided that poisoning her target might be easier than killing him directly.
• Su Qiao visited several herbal medicine shops to gather poison ingredients and returned home near dawn.
• Manager Qian’s bloodied body and a detailed bill were found displayed at Wanli Bank’s main gate, prompting a citywide search for the killer.
• Yingzi told Su Qiao and Nanny Wu that Haicheng residents suspected the same person had killed Manager Qian and King Yama Wang, and that many secretly approved.
• Nanny Wu told Su Qiao that the killer’s methods suggested he was not entirely wicked, despite Yingzi’s objections.

Su Qiao accepted Sister Jin’s request to teach the club’s dancers and began creating new dances for them. Sister Jin then spoke with Su Qiao over tea about women finding a secure home, leaving her purpose for the conversation unclear.

• Sister Jin asked Su Qiao to temporarily teach the club’s dancers and help them create distinctive dances, and Su Qiao agreed.
• Su Qiao drew two dance costume designs, and Sister Jin paid to have them made.
• Su Qiao taught the backup dancers in the club’s grand dance hall while Chu Yihan delivered her lunch and watched briefly without interrupting.
• Sister Jin joined Su Qiao for tea and said that women shared the goal of finding a good home and living without financial worries.

Sister Jin tried to persuade Su Qiao to become Third Master’s third concubine, warning that Chu Yihan could never marry her and was an unreliable good-for-nothing. Su Qiao questioned Sister Jin’s claims as she learned how poorly Chu Yihan was regarded by his father and older brother.

• Sister Jin warned Su Qiao that her beauty and fame could put her in danger without a powerful backer.
• Sister Jin said Third Master wanted to marry Su Qiao as his third concubine and let her record songs at home.
• Sister Jin argued that Chu Yihan could never bring Su Qiao into Chu Manor and might abandon her as a lover.
• Sister Jin called Chu Yihan a good-for-nothing and said Marshal Chu and Chu Yihan’s older brother were dissatisfied with him.

Sister Jin tried to persuade Su Qiao to marry Third Master Zhu, but Su Qiao considered killing him instead. Before she could act, a bloodied young girl fell from the upper floor of Xianle Mansion, leaving Su Qiao watching calmly as the crowd panicked.

• Sister Jin argued that marrying Third Master Zhu would give Su Qiao security and pointed out that he had never offered Meina the same commitment.
• Sister Jin admitted that losing Su Qiao would hurt Xianle Mansion and left the dance floor regretfully.
• Su Qiao dismissed Sister Jin’s pitch and discussed with 444 the possibility of killing Third Master Zhu after gathering information about him.
• A young girl fell from the upper floor of Xianle Mansion beside the dance floor, causing the crowd to scream and scatter as Su Qiao watched from the stage.

After a girl fell to her death at Xianle Mansion, Sister Jin claimed she had jumped because her family forced her to become a concubine and sent the guests away. Su Qiao investigated with 444 and identified a suspicious man in the only occupied fourth-floor suite without women, but his identity remained unknown.

• Nanny Wu helped Su Qiao backstage while the guests stared at the girl's body.
• Sister Jin recognized the girl as a former handicraft worker and told the guests she had jumped after her family forced her to become a concubine.
• Sister Jin ended the evening, ordered A-Zhong to call the Police Station, and had servants deal with the body.
• Su Qiao asked 444 to scan the club, which found evidence that the girl had been raped before she fell from the fourth floor.
• Su Qiao checked the fourth-floor suites and found a lone, half-dressed man beside a disordered bed in the only suite without women.
• Su Qiao asked 444 to identify the man.

Su Qiao prepared to deal with Third Master Zhu after learning about his abuse of young girls, but he left Xianle Mansion before she could act. She then encountered Su Yunxia with Young Master He and secretly warned his family about her.

• Su Qiao learned that Third Master Zhu had likely assaulted a girl and ordered someone to watch whether he stayed overnight at Xianle Mansion.
• Third Master Zhu left Xianle Mansion, so Su Qiao postponed her plan and prepared medicinal powder while gathering information about the patrols around Zhu Residence.
• Su Qiao spotted Su Yunxia walking arm in arm with Young Master He, whom she recognized as the man who had harassed her in the ballroom.
• Su Qiao mailed a letter warning Young Master He's parents that Su Yunxia wanted to marry into their family and that her older sister worked as a dancing girl.
• Su Qiao rolled medicinal herbs into coils and packed them away in her storage space.

At Xianle Mansion, Su Qiao grew frustrated over a woman’s death being brushed aside and still being unable to kill Third Master Zhu. She noticed Yingzi’s perfume and suspected something was wrong with the tea, while Nanny Wu spotted Yingzi’s unusual makeup; Su Qiao ended by hinting that she would arrange a marriage for her.

• Su Qiao reflected that the Police Station had closed the case after the victim’s family said their daughter had jumped because they had forced her to become a concubine.
• After singing two songs, Su Qiao returned backstage, where Yingzi brought her tea that had spilled onto her hand.
• Su Qiao smelled strong perfume on Yingzi and stopped before drinking the tea, making Yingzi panic and claim she had only used perfume because she had not bathed.
• Su Qiao helped Yingzi up after she knelt and apologized for taking Su Qiao’s things without permission.
• Nanny Wu noticed Yingzi’s makeup, and Su Qiao smiled and said she would find Yingzi a suitable match so she could leave the difficult life at Xianle Mansion.

Su Qiao and Nanny Wu exposed Yingzi’s attempt to poison Su Qiao by making Yingzi drink the tea herself. Yingzi collapsed in agony, confirming that the tea was poisoned.

• Yingzi pleaded to stay with Su Qiao rather than marry, and Su Qiao agreed to let her choose.
• Su Qiao offered Yingzi the tea, claiming she could not drink it because of her inflamed throat.
• Yingzi panicked and refused the tea, prompting Nanny Wu to force it into her mouth.
• Yingzi choked, collapsed, and writhed in pain as she lost the ability to speak.
• Nanny Wu examined Yingzi and confirmed that something was wrong with the tea.

Yingzi tried to poison Su Qiao with a Muting Potion, but Nanny Wu caught her and took her away. Su Qiao went to see what was happening, and Chu Yihan arrived, furious that she still wanted to consider whether Yingzi had been forced or misunderstood.

• Nanny Wu discovered that Yingzi had drugged Su Qiao’s tea with a Muting Potion and had a costume assistant help take Yingzi to Sister Jin.
• Su Qiao followed them out, but ran into Chu Yihan, who had come to check on her after hearing that someone had died at the club.
• Su Qiao told Chu Yihan that Yingzi had tried to make her mute, and he vowed not to let Yingzi off.
• Su Qiao insisted on going to see what happened and said Yingzi might be in danger, while Chu Yihan questioned why she still wanted to save her.
• Su Qiao said she would not spare Yingzi if she had acted without reason or under pressure, and Chu Yihan doubted she would follow through.

Yingzi’s attempt to silence Su Qiao was exposed, and Sister Jin confronted her over the harm she had caused. Yingzi identified Amber, Tang Meina’s maid, as the person who had encouraged her, while Chu Yihan mocked Amber.

• Nanny Wu dragged Yingzi to Sister Jin and told her what had happened.
• Sister Jin kicked Yingzi and accused her of trying to replace Su Qiao.
• Yingzi begged Sister Jin for mercy and blamed someone else for provoking her.
• Yingzi rushed at Amber, but Chu Yihan kicked Amber back into the room.
• Yingzi pointed out Amber, Tang Meina’s personal maid, and Chu Yihan insulted her as Su Qiao held his arm.

Chu Yihan confronted Sister Jin over the attack on Su Qiao and demanded that Tang Meina be held accountable. Sister Jin said she would wait for Third Master to decide, and Chu Yihan left warning that he would intervene if the matter was not handled fairly.

• Su Qiao tried to stop Chu Yihan from criticizing the people who had harmed her.
• Sister Jin checked on Su Qiao, while Chu Yihan accused her of ignoring him and insisted the attack be taken seriously.
• Chu Yihan threatened to leave Haicheng with his family’s troops if Sister Jin failed to give him an explanation.
• Sister Jin said she could not punish Tang Meina without Third Master’s instructions and that Meina and the others would remain locked up until he arrived.
• Chu Yihan said Third Master should judge the matter fairly, warned that he would act himself otherwise, and left with Su Qiao.

After Amber confessed to acting alone and committed suicide, Chu Yihan wanted to pursue Tang Meina, but Su Qiao insisted on handling the matter herself. Nanny Wu warned that Tang Meina was protected by Third Master, leaving Su Qiao's next move uncertain.

• After Su Qiao and Chu Yihan left the room, Sister Jin criticized Chu Yihan for openly challenging Third Master, and Nanny Wu followed them out, worried about a coming dispute.
• Amber committed suicide after confessing that she had acted alone because she could not bear to see Tang Meina suffer.
• Chu Yihan accused Tang Meina of sacrificing a pawn to save herself and vowed to keep pursuing the matter, but Su Qiao told him she would resolve it herself.
• Chu Yihan grew angry at Su Qiao and stormed out before she could explain that she still intended to investigate.
• Nanny Wu told Su Qiao that Tang Meina was Third Master's woman and that it might be difficult to hold her accountable.

Su Qiao let Yingzi leave and secretly gave her two gold bars, while telling her to think carefully about her choices. Chu Yihan confronted Su Qiao outside Xianle Mansion, angry that she had shown Yingzi kindness despite Yingzi’s attempt to harm her.

• Su Qiao decided to let Yingzi go, believing she had been led astray, and asked Nanny Wu to bring her to the entrance.
• Su Qiao gave Yingzi two gold bars and told her to rely on herself and think before acting.
• Su Qiao left Yingzi behind and returned toward Xianle Mansion with Nanny Wu.
• Chu Yihan grabbed Su Qiao’s arm and scolded her for treating Yingzi kindly while being cold toward him.

Su Qiao dismissed Chu Yihan’s anger and explained to Nanny Wu that his growing desire to help her was a result of her refusal. She said she did not plan to marry into the Chu family, but intended to make Chu Yihan have only her as his woman, while keeping her plans for Third Master Zhu secret.

• Chu Yihan left in a fury after Su Qiao mocked his concern and suggested they should stay farther apart.
• Su Qiao told Nanny Wu that Chu Yihan became more determined to help the more she rejected him.
• Nanny Wu warned Su Qiao that marrying into the Chu family would be difficult, and Su Qiao said she had no plans to marry into it.
• Su Qiao declared that she would make Chu Yihan keep only her as his woman for the rest of his life.
• Su Qiao said she had her own way of dealing with Third Master Zhu, who was unlikely to pressure her for now after the club death and Tang Meina’s near-poisoning.

Su Qiao rejected her estranged sister Su Yunxia and continued observing the Zhu Residence without acting. Su Yunxia’s attempt to confront He Bin ended with him revealing that he knew about Su Qiao’s work as a dancer.

• Su Qiao returned to her apartment with Nanny Wu and stopped worrying about singing.
• Chu Yihan learned that the girl he sought had been robbed and injured before his men arrived, then returned to the car.
• Su Qiao visited the Zhu Residence and studied its patrols, shift changes, and dogs without making a move.
• Sister Jin brought Su Qiao gifts and gold bars as compensation, while Su Qiao ordered Nanny Wu to turn away her estranged sister and anyone else who came asking for help.
• Su Yunxia confronted He Bin outside a restaurant and demanded to know who the woman with him was.
• He Bin called the woman his girlfriend, dismissed Su Yunxia, and told her to ask her blind older sister about her work as a dancer.

He Bin cruelly rejected Su Yunxia after his mother learned about her, and Su Yunxia blamed Su Qiao for the breakup. Su Yunxia and Su Mother both tried to reach Su Qiao but were turned away by the guards.

• He Bin mocked Su Yunxia, told her he had only been playing with her, and left with another woman.
• Su Yunxia cursed He Bin and went to find Su Qiao, convinced that Su Qiao had caused the breakup.
• The guards threatened Su Yunxia and drove her away before she could enter.
• Su Mother heard what had happened and went to seek money from Su Qiao, but the guards drove her away as well.