Chapter Summaries

Jiang Xueli invited Lin Zhengran to watch her perform in next summer’s competition, then arranged to meet him at the park bridge at five that afternoon to give him something. She fled before hearing his response, while Lin Zhengran already had another meeting planned at the same time.

• Jiang Xueli told Lin Zhengran she had not signed up for the studio competition because she wanted his opinion, and he promised to attend her performance.
• Jiang Xueli hesitated to tell Lin Zhengran what she wanted to say while they practiced, but her mother called to say her grandmother had arrived.
• Jiang Xueli left to meet her mother and grandmother, then asked Lin Zhengran to meet her at five by the park bridge so she could give him something.
• Lin Zhengran thought of his five o’clock meeting with He Qing as Jiang Xueli shouted that he had to come and hurried away.

Little He Qing and Jiang Xueli both went to meet Lin Zhengran, but their plans collided and a downpour left them too flustered to explain themselves. The next morning, Lin Zhengran found muddy Little He Qing by the river and offered to take her home to wash up, reminding her that she had something to tell him.

• Little He Qing prepared a scarf gift while Han Wenwen encouraged her, and Jiang Xueli told Grandma that Lin Zhengran helped her feel brave about singing.
• Little He Qing and Jiang Xueli separately went to the bridge to meet Lin Zhengran, where they discovered each other and awkwardly stared at the gift box and zoo flyer.
• A heavy rain left all three riding in the same taxi, but Little He Qing and Jiang Xueli stayed silent despite Lin Zhengran's questions.
• The next morning, Little He Qing freed a puppy from a broken manhole, fell in the mud, and checked that the scarf inside her stained box was still clean.
• Little He Qing visited their old kindergarten and sat by the river, where Lin Zhengran found her and offered to take her home to wash up.

Lin Zhengran carried the injured He Qing home and reassured her that she could stay by his side. He Qing left still wondering whether she had confessed to him, even though she had never actually confessed.

• He Qing's ankle became swollen and painful again, so Lin Zhengran carried her home after asking her to help wash his jacket.
• Passing the kindergarten, Lin Zhengran said he was not interested in middle school girls, and He Qing mistakenly thought her confession had failed.
• Lin Zhengran told He Qing to flick her own head and reminded her that she had wanted to become strong enough to protect him.
• Lin Zhengran promised He Qing a little wish if she won next year's Town Taekwondo Competition.
• He Qing asked whether Lin Zhengran would abandon her, and he confirmed that his childhood promise to let her follow him still counted.
• He Qing happily wondered whether she had confessed successfully, then realized she had never confessed at all.

Little He Qing brought a long-prepared gift to Lin Zhengran’s home, where she showered, changed into his pajamas, and eagerly cleaned and prepared fruit for him. The chapter left Lin Zhengran helping her dry her long hair.

• Little He Qing told Lin Zhengran that the box she had carried was a gift for him, which she would show him after showering.
• Little He Qing got mud on several layers of clothing while changing, so Lin Zhengran gave her pajamas to wear.
• Little He Qing used Lin Zhengran’s bath towel, then washed their clothes, cleaned the restroom, and washed his socks while he waited in the bedroom.
• Little He Qing cut an apple for Lin Zhengran and brought it to him, earning Strength +1 and Charm +2 from the game-like narration.
• Little He Qing asked how to use Lin Zhengran’s new hair dryer, and Lin Zhengran offered to help dry her hair.

While Lin Zhengran dried her hair, Little He Qing mistakenly concluded that they were already boyfriend and girlfriend. She gave him a scarf she had knitted, and the two spent time together while waiting for their clothes to dry.

• Lin Zhengran dried Little He Qing’s hair, and she decided they must already be boyfriend and girlfriend.
• Little He Qing gave Lin Zhengran a gray scarf she had knitted over half a month, and he praised it while warning her not to neglect her health for him.
• Lin Zhengran put on the scarf, and Little He Qing helped adjust it and happily went to find a mirror.
• Little He Qing sat beside Lin Zhengran under a blanket while he read linear algebra, content just to be near him.

Lin Zhengran treated Little He Qing’s ankle and gave her money for a taxi home. Jiang Xueli saw them parting, mistook He Qing tying her shoelace for a proposal, and tearfully confronted Lin Zhengran about breaking his promise to marry her.

• Lin Zhengran checked Little He Qing’s ankle, applied ointment, and told her to take care of it.
• Lin Zhengran gave Little He Qing money for a taxi, and she promised to repay him with her Taekwondo prize money.
• Jiang Xueli arrived and watched Lin Zhengran and Little He Qing from behind a wall, noticing He Qing’s scarf around him.
• Jiang Xueli mistook Little He Qing tying her shoelace for kneeling to propose and imagined Lin Zhengran accepting.
• After Little He Qing left, Jiang Xueli accused Lin Zhengran of accepting another girl’s proposal and breaking his promise to marry her, and he stopped her to demand an explanation.

Jiang Xueli mistook He Qing’s gift of a scarf to Lin Zhengran for a proposal, but accepted his explanation and trusted that he had told her the truth. After accompanying her to the recording studio, Lin Zhengran asked what she had wanted to tell him the day before.

• Jiang Xueli confronted Lin Zhengran about what she thought was He Qing proposing, then believed him when he explained that He Qing had only washed her clothes at his place and given him a winter scarf.
• Sister Zhang offered Jiang Xueli a ride to Child Star Studio, and Lin Zhengran went with her.
• Jiang Xueli’s voice sounded hoarse during recording, so the sound engineer suggested she take a break.
• Two girls asked Lin Zhengran for his contact information, and Jiang Xueli hurried over after hearing them call her his girlfriend.
• Jiang Xueli asked about He Qing’s scarf, and Lin Zhengran said he would put it away because it was too warm.
• Lin Zhengran asked Jiang Xueli what she had wanted to tell him the day before, when she had been holding a flyer.

Jiang Xueli asked Lin Zhengran how important she was to him, then invited him to visit a new zoo. Lin Zhengran agreed to go to the zoo and watch a movie with her if she won next year’s Town Competition, and she ended the chapter singing confidently at the studio.

• Jiang Xueli asked Lin Zhengran whether she was truly important to him, and he told her that he would be worried if she disappeared because she was the only person who had grown up with him.
• Jiang Xueli showed Lin Zhengran the flyer for a new zoo and said she wanted to visit it with him.
• Lin Zhengran agreed to go to the zoo and watch a movie with Jiang Xueli if she won an award at next year’s Town Competition.
• Jiang Xueli confidently claimed she could win with Lin Zhengran’s help, then went to the recording room to sing her competition song.
• The studio’s singers and owner admired Jiang Xueli’s performance as she sang the final lyric, “You are my eternal star,” while looking at Lin Zhengran.

After recording a song, Jiang Xueli told Lin Zhengran she would stop doubting her chances and promised to win their competition, then secretly shouted that they had to be together for a lifetime. Lin Zhengran heard her words and received system rewards for helping Jiang Xueli and He Qing resolve their heart demons.

• Jiang Xueli walked home with Lin Zhengran and shared her fears about growing up and losing her place in his life.
• Jiang Xueli promised to believe she could win next year's competition, and Lin Zhengran encouraged her.
• After saying goodbye, Jiang Xueli shouted that she and Lin Zhengran had to be together for a lifetime, and Lin Zhengran heard her.
• Lin Zhengran's system reported that He Qing and Jiang Guniang had overcome their heart demons and granted him rewards, raising his Spiritual Energy Level to 48 and unlocking new abilities.
• Jiang Xueli hid nearby in excitement before answering a call from her mother, while Han Wenwen watched her departure in surprise.

Little He Qing told Han Wenwen that she and Lin Zhengran had considered themselves together since kindergarten, so her goal shifted from confessing to becoming someone he would favor. After a week of studying and preparation, finals ended and winter break began.

• Han Wenwen returned to the dorm and teased Little He Qing about her taekwondo practice and confession to Lin Zhengran.
• Little He Qing explained that she had realized she and Lin Zhengran had been boyfriend and girlfriend since kindergarten, and that confessing was unnecessary.
• Little He Qing decided to focus on improving herself and winning Lin Zhengran's affection, while Han Wenwen suggested a wish she could ask for if she won next year's taekwondo championship.
• Little He Qing and Jiang Xueli spent the following week preparing for the future, and Lin Zhengran tutored Han Wenwen before finals.
• Han Wenwen earned upper-middle-range final results, and the school announced winter break.

As winter break began, Han Wenwen moved into the Rental House and prepared to spend New Year alone for the first time. Lin Zhengran visited and promised to help her cook and keep her company during the holiday, leaving them looking forward to celebrating together.

• Han Wenwen told Little He Qing she would spend winter break with her uncle, while Jiang Xueli said she was going to her hometown with her parents.
• After seeing Little He Qing off, Lin Zhengran asked Han Wenwen when she would tell her friend she was no longer going south; Han Wenwen said she would wait until she could support herself.
• Han Wenwen invited Lin Zhengran to dinner in exchange for help moving her luggage to the Rental House, and they ate stewed chicken.
• Han Wenwen bought snacks and other food for New Year, then felt lonely as she imagined spending the holiday by herself.
• Lin Zhengran visited Han Wenwen and offered to buy ingredients with her and cook three dishes and a soup during New Year.
• Han Wenwen agreed to wait for Lin Zhengran so they could eat together.

During winter break, Lin Zhengran spent the morning with Han Wenwen, helping her prepare and post a gaming video before accompanying her to buy New Year decorations. Han Wenwen teased him and tried to draw out his affection as they walked together.

• Lin Zhengran brought breakfast to Han Wenwen, watched her play a competitive game, and discussed her video earnings and plans to make more content during winter break.
• Han Wenwen tried to fluster Lin Zhengran by blowing on his ear and leaning against him, but he told her to behave and asked whether she planned to put up spring couplets.
• Lin Zhengran agreed to go with Han Wenwen to buy spring couplets after she finished recording the voice-over for her video.
• Han Wenwen recorded the voice-over, Lin Zhengran checked and posted the video, and they ate breakfast together while fans commented on her channel.
• Han Wenwen teased Lin Zhengran about changing clothes in front of him, then got dressed and went with him to the market.
• As they walked, Han Wenwen told Lin Zhengran that his praise mattered more to her than compliments from her fans and said she wanted to talk with him more.

Lin Zhengran and Han Wenwen shopped for New Year's goods, then returned to her rental house and shared lunch. During his nap, Little He Qing called to ask about his plans, leaving Han Wenwen jealous as the chapter ended.

• Han Wenwen repeatedly clung to Lin Zhengran's arm when other girls looked at him, while he told her to keep a proper distance.
• Lin Zhengran and Han Wenwen bought spring couplets, a lantern, fireworks, and food, spending more than planned.
• Han Wenwen admired her purchases at home, and Lin Zhengran teased her for spending freely on fun despite being stingy about food.
• Han Wenwen served Lin Zhengran her badly cooked tomato-and-egg dish, and he tried it before joking about how awful it tasted.
• Little He Qing called Lin Zhengran to ask what he was doing over New Year's, and Han Wenwen turned away jealously as he spoke with her.

As New Year approached, Lin Zhengran and Han Wenwen shopped for ingredients and spent the day making dumplings together. Han Wenwen grew increasingly jealous as several girls called Lin Zhengran, and the chapter ended when his mother, Lin Xiaoli, called.

• Lin Zhengran hung up after talking with Little He Qing, and Han Wenwen admitted she felt jealous when he spoke to her.
• Two days before New Year, Lin Zhengran accompanied Han Wenwen to buy chicken and dumpling ingredients.
• On New Year's Eve, Han Wenwen prepared a place to make dumplings, and Lin Zhengran joined her to learn and wrap them.
• Han Wenwen joked that she would become Lin Zhengran's secretary if he became rich, and he said she would suit the job.
• Little He Qing, Jiang Xueli, and a former middle-school classmate called Lin Zhengran, making Han Wenwen increasingly jealous.
• Lin Zhengran's mother, Lin Xiaoli, called him.

Lin Zhengran rushed to the hospital after learning his father had been hurt, then stayed until Lin Yingjun was cleared to go home with a fractured little toe. As snow fell on New Year's Eve, Han Wenwen waited anxiously for Lin Zhengran, and when he arrived, she ran into his arms.

• Lin Xiaoli called Lin Zhengran to say Lin Yingjun had been taken to the hospital, and Han Wenwen stayed behind to prepare dinner.
• Lin Zhengran found Lin Yingjun eating an apple and learned that only his right little toe was fractured.
• Lin Zhengran stayed with his parents until Lin Yingjun could leave the hospital, then helped prepare New Year's Eve dinner.
• Han Wenwen remembered waiting in vain for her mother as a child and went outside to look for Lin Zhengran in the snow.
• Lin Zhengran arrived at the intersection, and Han Wenwen hurried over and threw herself into his arms.

Lin Zhengran reunited with Han Wenwen after she waited outside in the snow, and they shared dinner before going out to celebrate the New Year. At midnight, he agreed to spend future New Year’s Eves with her, and she kissed his forehead and gave him a Little Fox plush as a gift.

• Han Wenwen embraced Lin Zhengran in the snow, explaining she had feared he would not come, and he took her home.
• Han Wenwen and Lin Zhengran warmed up with chicken soup and dumplings at the Rental House.
• Lin Zhengran and Han Wenwen went to the town square to watch fireworks and count down to the New Year.
• Han Wenwen asked Lin Zhengran to spend every New Year’s Eve with her, and he agreed, recalling his promise that she would follow him for the rest of her life.
• Han Wenwen kissed Lin Zhengran on the forehead and gave him a Little Fox plush, saying it represented her.

Han Wenwen left Lin Zhengran a letter confessing her feelings and possessiveness, and Lin Zhengran destroyed it after reading. The story moved through the rest of winter break and the school year, ending at the middle-school graduation ceremony as He Qing remarked on how quickly ninth grade had passed.

• Han Wenwen said goodbye to Lin Zhengran after the New Year celebration and reminded him to wipe the lipstick from his forehead.
• Lin Zhengran found Han Wenwen's letter inside the fox plushie, read her confession, tore up the note, and kept the plushie.
• A passing girl in a Maserati watched the fireworks before telling her driver to continue.
• Jiang Xueli called Lin Zhengran after returning to town, and he told her they could practice singing after school started.
• Lin Zhengran visited Han Wenwen at the Rental House, where she demanded that he not talk to other girls while he was with her.
• At the graduation ceremony, He Qing remarked that ninth grade had gone by quickly.

Lin Zhengran and his friends graduated from middle school, and his parents hosted a celebratory lunch at home. The three girls each offered him food at the table, leaving everyone watching to see whose dish he would eat first.

• Lin Zhengran, Han Wenwen, Jiang Xueli, and He Qing took their graduation photos and left school together.
• Lin Zhengran discussed He Qing’s upcoming taekwondo competition and Jiang Xueli’s concert, promising to attend both.
• Lin Yingjun and Lin Xiaoli picked up the four friends and invited them to celebrate graduation with lunch at home.
• At the table, He Qing, Jiang Xueli, and Han Wenwen each put food in Lin Zhengran’s bowl or plate.
• Lin Xiaoli and Lin Yingjun realized the meal had created an awkward rivalry and watched Lin Zhengran’s chopsticks with the others.

Lin Zhengran's grandfather visited and revealed that he had arranged a childhood sweetheart for Lin Zhengran with an old army comrade's granddaughter. The other girls reacted jealously, and the chapter ended with them seeing the girl's photograph and remarking on her beauty.

• Lin Zhengran told the girls and his parents to stop giving him their food during lunch, while his parents noticed the awkward atmosphere among the three girls.
• Lin Yingjun received a call from Lin Zhengran's grandfather, who asked them to come get him at the neighborhood entrance.
• Lin Zhengran and Lin Yingjun brought Grandpa home, where he revealed that an old comrade wanted his granddaughter to meet Lin Zhengran as a potential childhood sweetheart.
• Han Wenwen, He Qing, and Jiang Xueli questioned Grandpa about the arrangement and reacted with jealousy when he mistakenly called the girl Lin Zhengran's fiancée.
• Lin Xiaoli showed everyone a photograph of the girl, and Han Wenwen, He Qing, and Jiang Xueli were surprised by how pretty she was.

Lin Zhengran saw Little He Qing off and reassured Han Wenwen after she questioned what he meant by caring about the girls around him. Elsewhere, Jiang Qian learned that Lin Zhengran had matched her near-perfect grades and was due to attend her high school.

• Lin Zhengran called a girl pretty, making Little He Qing, Jiang Xueli, and Han Wenwen jealous.
• Little He Qing left by high-speed train after asking Lin Zhengran whether he thought she was pretty too.
• Jiang Xueli left after telling Lin Zhengran to remember their singing practice and joking that he could flirt himself to death.
• Han Wenwen pressed Lin Zhengran to explain what he meant by caring about the few girls he knew.
• Jiang Qian saw that Lin Zhengran's grades nearly matched hers and learned he would attend her high school.
• Jiang Qian dismissed her grandfather's plans for her Childhood Sweetheart and said she would meet the boy only to turn him down.