Chapter Summaries

Before high school began, Han Wenwen realized Lin Zhengran had meant his promise to keep her for life as a confession, though he had made the same promise to two other girls. A few days later, Lin Zhengran, Han Wenwen, and Jiang Xueli left for high school in the City Area, with Han Wenwen determined to keep him from making that promise to anyone else.

• Lin Zhengran told Han Wenwen that a high-school Placement Exam might separate them into different classes, then asked whether she had enough money for school.
• Han Wenwen offered to give Lin Zhengran some of her savings, but he told her to keep the money and reminded her that she was already his.
• Han Wenwen realized Lin Zhengran's old promise to look after her for life had been a confession she had accepted, and she asked whether their middle-school years had been meaningless.
• Lin Zhengran explained that he had wanted Han Wenwen and the other girls to grow, while they had been thinking about different things; Han Wenwen then called him a flirt for making the same promise to three girls.
• A few days later, Lin Zhengran, Han Wenwen, and Jiang Xueli set off for high school in the City Area, and Han Wenwen resolved to stop Lin Zhengran from making the promise to other girls.

Lin Zhengran and his friends arrived at their new high school, where He Qing welcomed them at the gate. A wealthy, striking girl arrived in a Rolls Royce, and Lin Zhengran recognized her as someone connected to a photo the others vaguely remembered.

• Lin Yingjun could not drive the three students to school, so Lin Zhengran, Han Wenwen, and Jiang Xueli rode to the city in a hired van.
• Han Wenwen called Jiang Xueli “Lily” and privately wrestled with her jealousy over Lin Zhengran’s other potential girlfriends.
• The three students arrived at their new high school and reunited with He Qing at the school gate.
• Lin Zhengran patted Jiang Xueli on the head and told her she should eat more, leaving her flustered.
• A cold, beautiful girl arrived in a Rolls Royce with another girl, and Han Wenwen, He Qing, and Jiang Xueli thought she resembled someone in a photo.
• Lin Zhengran recognized the girl, while the chapter left the others wondering where they had seen her before.

Lin Zhengran and Jiang Qian competed in their placement exam, and Lin Zhengran ranked first while Jiang Qian came second. During military training, Jiang Qian won the girls’ sprint, but Lin Zhengran’s astonishing speed left her and Fang Meng stunned.

• Lin Zhengran’s prediction proved right when Jiang Xueli, Han Wenwen, and He Qing were placed in the same class, while Jiang Qian sat beside him for the placement exam.
• The exam results put Lin Zhengran in first place and Jiang Qian in second, prompting Jiang Qian to insist that she did not care and to look forward to the sports competition.
• A week into military training, Jiang Qian won the girls’ sprint with a time of fourteen point three five seconds.
• Lin Zhengran won the boys’ sprint in eleven point one one seconds despite holding back, and Jiang Qian and Fang Meng stared at him in shock.

Lin Zhengran dominated the school sports competition, leaving Jiang Qian determined to beat him in a future contest. As military training continued, classmates discussed the prettiest girls in the first year, while Little He Qing approached Lin Zhengran with lemonade.

• Little He Qing cheered when Lin Zhengran won the sports competition, while Jiang Xueli and Han Wenwen watched him and the girls around him.
• Jiang Qian lost every event to Lin Zhengran, then rejected Fang Meng’s suggestion to challenge him with piano because she considered it unfair.
• Jiang Qian secretly stayed up studying to prepare for another contest, while Jiang Jingshi discussed the childhood sweetheart arrangement and offered to meet the boy herself.
• After half a month of school, Lin Zhengran’s classmates discussed the attractive girls in Class Three and said Han Wenwen claimed to have a boyfriend.
• Little He Qing shyly approached Lin Zhengran with an unopened cup of lemonade while the boys were chatting.

He Qing brought Lin Zhengran lemon water during military training and confessed that she only wanted to pay attention to him. After she left, Jiang Xueli approached Lin Zhengran with lemonade of her own.

• He Qing walked into Class One, gave Lin Zhengran lemon water, and sat with him while the class watched.
• He Qing told Lin Zhengran that she had rejected the boys who approached her and wanted to talk only to him.
• Lin Zhengran reassured He Qing that she could visit him anytime and offered to help if she ran into trouble at school.
• He Qing left with the unfinished lemon water, and Lin Zhengran received Icy Divine Water with Charm +2 and Physical Strength +1.
• A boy teased Lin Zhengran about He Qing, then Jiang Xueli approached holding a cup of lemonade.

Jiang Xueli brought Lin Zhengran lemonade, confessed her jealousy, and blushed when he called her cute and said he liked her. Han Wenwen then approached Lin Zhengran with another drink, while Jiang Qian watched; a few days later, Lin Zhengran and Jiang Qian were called to help prepare for the final-day New Student Evening Gala.

• Jiang Xueli brought Lin Zhengran lemonade and admitted she was jealous of the girls who had been talking to him.
• Lin Zhengran called Jiang Xueli cute and said he liked her as she was, leaving her convinced he had confessed to her.
• Han Wenwen approached Lin Zhengran with a drink, while Jiang Qian and Fang Meng watched from across the classroom.
• A few days later, Lin Zhengran and Jiang Qian were called to the office to prepare for the New Student Evening Gala.

Lin Zhengran and Jiang Qian were chosen as freshman student representatives and agreed to perform a piano duet, prompting Jiang Qian to grow curious about his abilities. Later, Han Wenwen visited Lin Zhengran while he wrote his speech and arranged to go with him to Snack Street.

• A teacher named Lin Zhengran and Jiang Qian the male and female freshman Student Representatives and asked them to prepare speeches and a program.
• Lin Zhengran said he could play piano, and Jiang Qian agreed to perform a duet with him after learning he had no piano at home.
• Jiang Qian asked Fang Meng to have two pianos brought to school so she and Lin Zhengran could practice together.
• Han Wenwen visited Lin Zhengran in an empty classroom while he wrote his speech and admitted she had joined a skit to see him.
• Han Wenwen complained that Lin Zhengran would perform with Jiang Qian, and Lin Zhengran invited her to Snack Street after he finished writing.

Han Wenwen joined Lin Zhengran for a secret dinner outing after arranging for He Qing and Jiang Xueli to eat together. They left school with Lin Zhengran’s pass and began sampling snacks on the crowded street, where a vendor mistook them for a couple.

• Han Wenwen told He Qing and Jiang Xueli to eat without her, and He Qing and Jiang Xueli agreed to have dinner together.
• Han Wenwen returned to Lin Zhengran, who finished his speech, and the two left school using his pass.
• Lin Zhengran took Han Wenwen to the nearby Snack Street, where she linked arms with him to avoid getting separated.
• A vendor called Han Wenwen Lin Zhengran’s girlfriend and offered them a Couple Chicken Rack, which Han Wenwen eagerly ordered.
• Han Wenwen asked for more snacks, and Lin Zhengran teased her about claiming her stomach hurt while eating so much.

Han Wenwen and Lin Zhengran spent the evening eating snacks together, and she used their closeness to ask whether he felt the same excitement she did. She asked him to stay with her at her rental house next month, but the chapter ended before he answered.

• Han Wenwen told Lin Zhengran that he had cheered her up, then walked Snack Street with him and shared food and a drink.
• Lin Zhengran instinctively protected Han Wenwen when a child nearly bumped into her, and she leaned against his shoulder.
• Han Wenwen asked whether He Qing had leaned on Lin Zhengran before, and he said He Qing had leaned on his left side years earlier.
• Han Wenwen learned Lin Zhengran would accompany He Qing and Lily to competitions over the next two weeks, then asked him to spend time with her and stay overnight at her rental house the following month.
• Han Wenwen admitted she missed Lin Zhengran at night and asked whether having her lean on him made his heart race.

Han Wenwen guessed that Lin Zhengran’s drive came from growing up feeling alone, and the two held hands as she encouraged him to enjoy small comforts along the way. They discussed his other relationships and plans for her to stay at his rental house next month before preparing to leave for rehearsal.

• Han Wenwen asked why Lin Zhengran seemed to share her sense of having grown up alone, and he silently recognized that her guess about his past was right.
• Han Wenwen encouraged Lin Zhengran to take breaks from striving, and he allowed her to hold his hand.
• Han Wenwen teased Lin Zhengran about his other relationships, then switched hands with him while eating fried chicken cutlet.
• Lin Zhengran said he would consider staying at Han Wenwen’s rental house next month if it had a spare quilt, and she eagerly planned their shopping trip and overnight stay.
• Han Wenwen recalled how she had struggled to care for Lin Zhengran when he was sick, and they teased each other about her restless sleep.

Lin Zhengran reached Spiritual Energy Level 50 at the Lantern Festival and unlocked Affinity with All Things, which gave him extraordinary proficiency across many skills. Back at school, he parted from Han Wenwen and joined Jiang Qian, who invited him to play the piano.

• Lin Zhengran and Han Wenwen finished their Lantern Festival snacks, and he gained attributes, broke through to Level 50, and unlocked Affinity with All Things.
• Lin Zhengran checked his new Qi Refining Stage and attributes while walking Han Wenwen back to school, where they separated so she could rehearse.
• Lin Zhengran saw Jiang Qian playing piano and quickly recognized the strengths and flaws in her performance through his new affinity.
• Jiang Qian invited Lin Zhengran to try the piano she had prepared for him.

Lin Zhengran stunned Jiang Qian by outperforming her at piano and quickly teaching her a difficult passage, leaving her shaken before their school performance. After the duet, she took three days off, then woke on the fourth morning flushed and shy.

• Lin Zhengran played Jiang Qian’s difficult piano piece flawlessly and demonstrated a better way to perform one passage.
• Jiang Qian learned the passage quickly, then left practice, saying she was not qualified to have Lin Zhengran accompany her.
• Jiang Qian went home without sleeping, but she and Lin Zhengran delivered the freshman speech and performed their duet smoothly at the welcoming ceremony.
• Jiang Qian heard the gap between their piano skills again after the performance and took three days of sick leave.
• On the fourth morning, Jiang Qian woke beneath the covers with a flushed face and bashful shyness.

After three days of seclusion, Jiang Qian emerged hungry and unable to stop thinking about Lin Zhengran, whose abilities she could not imagine surpassing. She became his deskmate and vice class monitor, then discovered he was casually reading a master's-level ecology textbook.

• Jiang Jingshi and Fang Meng discussed Jiang Qian's three-day seclusion and Lin Zhengran's superiority in every field.
• Jiang Qian left her room because she was starving, ate two servings of breakfast, and blushed when Fang Meng asked about Lin Zhengran.
• Jiang Qian explained that she had spent three days imagining ways to surpass Lin Zhengran, but her curiosity about him had turned into an inexplicable fascination.
• At school, Jiang Qian asked the homeroom teacher to make her Lin Zhengran's deskmate and learned she had been appointed vice class monitor beneath him.
• After the teacher announced the seating changes, Jiang Qian asked Lin Zhengran about his study habits and learned he was casually reading a required master's course book in ecology.

Fang Meng questioned He Qing about Lin Zhengran and learned that He Qing was his girlfriend, leaving her worried that Jiang Qian might be developing feelings for someone already in a relationship. Jiang Xueli overheard He Qing’s claim and was left stunned.

• Jiang Qian asked Lin Zhengran about his piano experience, and Fang Meng noticed Jiang Qian’s growing shyness around him.
• Fang Meng saw He Qing pass Class One and decided to ask her about her connection to Lin Zhengran.
• He Qing mistook Fang Meng’s attempt to make friends for a romantic advance and said she had a boyfriend.
• Fang Meng clarified that she wanted to ask about Lin Zhengran, and He Qing confirmed he was her boyfriend.
• Jiang Xueli overheard He Qing say Lin Zhengran was her boyfriend and froze in shock.

Jiang Xueli realized Lin Zhengran might have called He Qing his girlfriend after confessing to her, while Jiang Qian insisted she did not like him despite acting jealous. At home, Fang Meng learned her parents and the Lin family were reviving an old childhood betrothal promise.

• Jiang Xueli remembered Lin Zhengran's confession and wondered whether he had also confessed to He Qing, then decided to confront him.
• Fang Meng showed Jiang Qian documents identifying He Qing as Lin Zhengran's girlfriend and childhood sweetheart.
• Jiang Qian denied liking Lin Zhengran, but said she wanted to meet He Qing and see what Lin Zhengran liked about her.
• Fang Meng stopped Jiang Qian from going to meet He Qing, recognizing that Jiang Qian was acting jealous.
• Fang Meng returned home and met Lin Yingjun and Lin Xiaoli, whose son her parents had once promised to match with her.

Fang Meng’s parents revealed her childhood engagement to Lin Zhengran, and she recognized him as the boy in her class whom Qian Qian liked. Later, Lin Zhengran met Jiang Jingshi at a supermarket, where they reached for the same instant noodles.

• Fang Meng’s parents reminded Lin Xiaoli and Lin Yingjun of the childhood engagement they had arranged for their children in college.
• Lin Xiaoli and Lin Yingjun showed Fang Meng a photo of Lin Zhengran, and Fang Meng realized he was her classmate and childhood fiancé.
• Fang Meng agreed to meet Lin Zhengran, while privately deciding she needed to get closer to him and find his weaknesses.
• Lin Zhengran went to a supermarket to buy food for the weekend and bumped into Jiang Jingshi.
• Lin Zhengran and Jiang Jingshi reached for the same cup of instant noodles, touched hands, and both told the other to take it first.

Lin Zhengran helped Jiang Jingshi comfort a little girl by retrieving her balloon, then accepted Jiang Jingshi’s invitation to share instant noodles in her Rolls Royce. He recognized her as Jiang Qian’s older sister and gained strength from drinking Jade Nectar, while Jiang Jingshi invited him to visit her home.

• Jiang Jingshi tried to comfort a crying little girl whose pink balloon was stuck in a tree, and Lin Zhengran retrieved it by pulling down the branch.
• Jiang Jingshi offered Lin Zhengran a replacement bag and hot water after his shopping bag tore, then invited him to eat with her in her car.
• The system identified Jiang Jingshi as the Empress of the Imperial City and offered Lin Zhengran an opportunity to drink Jade Nectar.
• Lin Zhengran accepted Jiang Jingshi’s invitation, shared her seasoning and hot water, and gained ten strength from the Jade Nectar.
• Jiang Jingshi introduced herself as Jiang Qian’s older sister, thanked Lin Zhengran for looking after Jiang Qian, and invited him to her home.

Jiang Jingshi left impressed by Lin Zhengran, while He Qing discussed her wish to hold hands with him after their competition and Han Wenwen secretly sought comfort from him. The chapter ended with Lin Zhengran agreeing to keep Han Wenwen company next month.

• Jiang Jingshi drove away after deciding to build a good relationship with Lin Zhengran, whom she believed would become an extraordinary person.
• He Qing and Han Wenwen talked in their dorm room, where Han Wenwen encouraged He Qing to ask Lin Zhengran to hold hands if she won their competition.
• He Qing admitted she hoped holding hands would confirm her relationship with Lin Zhengran, and Han Wenwen supported her despite feeling jealous.
• Han Wenwen secretly met Lin Zhengran at the male dormitory, held his hand, and asked him to stroke her head.
• Lin Zhengran agreed to keep Han Wenwen company next month.

Jiang Qian donated money and two pianos to the school, then received permission to practice in its Piano Room and invited Lin Zhengran there. As Jiang Qian struggled to learn a difficult piece with her tutors, she became increasingly convinced that Lin Zhengran’s piano skills surpassed theirs.

• Jiang Qian donated a large sum and offered the school two pianos in exchange for access to practice rooms, and Lin Zhengran overheard her discussing the arrangement with their teacher.
• The school gave Jiang Qian a key to its Piano Room, and she asked Lin Zhengran to meet her there the next day so she could give him something.
• Lin Zhengran heard the system describe a marriage contract with the Eldest Princess and decided to accept the opportunity to meet her in the Piano Room.
• Jiang Qian attempted to play the difficult piece Watching Snow for her tutors but repeatedly faltered at its climaxes.
• Jiang Qian listened to her tutors demonstrate Watching Snow and concluded that neither could match Lin Zhengran’s piano skill.

Lin Zhengran accepted a key to the Piano Room from Jiang Qian and helped her master the difficult piece Watching Snow. Jiang Qian grew increasingly admiring of him, while Fang Meng watched and recognized that Jiang Qian’s curiosity was taking root.

• Lin Zhengran went to the Piano Room, where Jiang Qian gave him its key as repayment for his earlier piano help.
• Lin Zhengran accepted the key and gained Physical Strength +1 after obtaining the key to the Wonderful Sound Palace.
• Jiang Qian asked Lin Zhengran for help with the difficult sections of Watching Snow, and he played the piece twice to understand its techniques.
• Lin Zhengran explained the tricky passages, and Jiang Qian played through the first two difficult sections smoothly.
• Jiang Qian listened to Lin Zhengran with growing admiration as Fang Meng watched from outside and noticed her feelings beginning to take root.