Chapter Summaries

Lin Baici took Tang Qing to browse Audi dealerships and unexpectedly ran into his high school classmate Liu Jiaxin at the second one. After hearing that she was struggling with sales quotas, he agreed to buy an Audi Q5 from her, leaving her stunned that he could pay in full.

• Lin Baici told Tang Qing he was only browsing cars because he was bored, then took her to another Audi dealership after declining the first salesperson's quote.
• At the second dealership, Lin Baici recognized Liu Jiaxin, his high school classmate, who worked there as a salesperson.
• Liu Jiaxin told Lin Baici that she had been working for three months without making sales beyond her base salary.
• Lin Baici asked Liu Jiaxin for a quote on an Audi Q5 and told her he would pay in full.
• After Liu Jiaxin quoted him 350,000 yuan, Lin Baici agreed to buy the car, and she was stunned that he could pay in full.

Lin Baici bought an Audi Q5L and brought his mother, Li Guiru, to see it after work. As she sat inside, he prepared to tell her something important.

• Lin Baici told Liu Jiaxin that he had earned money by joining a classmate’s game business, then bought the Audi Q5L in cash.
• Liu Jiaxin handled the purchase and delivery, and Lin Baici gave her a 5,000-yuan red envelope before taking her and Tang Qing to lunch.
• Lin Baici dropped Liu Jiaxin back at the dealership and drove Tang Qing home, letting her take photos of the car along the way.
• Lin Baici waited outside his apartment building and surprised his mother, Li Guiru, by showing her the car and urging her to get a driver’s license.
• Li Guiru sat inside the car, and Lin Baici gravely told her he needed to come clean about something.

Lin Baici reassured Li Guiru about his money by explaining his investment, showing her his viral singing videos and their earnings, and introducing her to Mi Qin and Xia Hongyao. After Li Guiru accepted that he was doing well, she went home with him, while Zhou Yufen learned about the car and compared her son Tang Chenglong unfavorably with Lin Baici.

• Lin Baici told Li Guiru that he had borrowed a million yuan to invest with Mi Qin, then called Mi Qin to show his mother that they were business partners.
• Lin Baici showed Li Guiru his Bilibili earnings from his popular chanting videos, convincing her that he had made enough money to afford the car and help support them.
• Lin Baici showed Li Guiru a photo of Xia Hongyao and explained that she had lent him the investment money, easing his mother's remaining concerns.
• Li Guiru suggested that Lin Baici take the car to Haijing, but he encouraged her to get her driver's license and consider opening a small shop instead.
• Zhou Yufen questioned Li Guiru about the Audi, then scolded Tang Chenglong for being less successful than Lin Baici after Tang Qing confirmed that Lin had paid for the car in full.
• Tang Chenglong announced that he planned to become a gaming streamer, and Tang Qing mocked his looks and lack of talent.

Lin Baici took Li Guiru to tour upscale apartments in Guangqing, hoping to buy her a new home before he left. After discussing the price and options with agent Han Yue and consulting Feng Ting, he chose to view a high-floor unit, where another couple was already looking.

• Lin Baici persuaded Li Guiru to take the day off so they could buy a house, and she agreed after breakfast.
• Lin Baici drove Li Guiru to Yongsheng Hefu, where agent Han Yue introduced the development and showed them a model apartment.
• Lin Baici learned the premium building's apartments cost 32,000 per square meter and asked Han Yue to show them a move-in-ready unit.
• Lin Baici called Feng Ting, who advised him to avoid the largest apartment and consider the resale difficulty of buying in Guangqing.
• Lin Baici asked Han Yue to find a high-floor unit, and they went to view a ninth-floor apartment where a couple was already looking.

Lin Baici tried to buy his mother a spacious apartment, but a confrontation over a God's Taboo Object led to Xu Wanying's arrest and left Li Guiru too shaken to continue house-hunting. Two days later, Lin Baici heard Tang Qing sobbing upstairs and went to investigate.

• Han Yue showed Lin Baici and Li Guiru an apartment, and Lin Baici decided to buy it in full.
• Xu Wanying tried to use his Jade Guanyin on Lin Baici, but Lin Baici resisted and slapped him.
• After Xu Wanying and his girlfriend called the police, Xia Hongyao arranged for Liao Changhui, head of the Guangqing branch, to intervene.
• Liao Changhui's men found the Jade Guanyin and took Xu Wanying and his girlfriend into custody.
• Li Guiru refused to look at more houses, and two days later Lin Baici heard Tang Qing crying upstairs and went to check on her.

Lin Baici comforted Tang Qing after Zhou Yufen took her savings, then offered to fund a milk tea shop for Tang Qing and his mother, Li Guiru, to run. Tang Qing began preparing to manage the business, and the chapter ended when Tang Chenglong spotted Sister Yu arriving at the residential compound.

• Lin Baici found Tang Qing crying on the rooftop after Zhou Yufen took the savings she had hoped to use to move to Haijing, and he called Feng Ting to explain the realities of working there.
• After hearing Feng Ting describe life in Haijing, Tang Qing reconsidered moving away, and Lin Baici offered to fund a milk tea shop for her to manage in Guangqing in exchange for caring for Li Guiru.
• Lin Baici confronted Zhou Yufen about taking Tang Qing's money, then Tang Qing's father warned Zhou Yufen not to damage their relationship with Lin Baici and his family.
• Tang Qing quit her factory job, accepted Lin Baici's offer, and received one hundred thousand yuan and his car keys to begin researching and preparing the shop.
• Lin Baici persuaded Li Guiru to leave the food factory and join the milk tea business, then Tang Chenglong saw Sister Yu arrive at the residential compound.

Hua Yueyu and Xia Hongyao visited Lin Baici in Guangqing, reunited with him and his teammates, and went to meet his mother. The chapter ended with Xia Hongyao introducing herself to Li Guiru as Lin Baici’s close friend.

• Tang Chenglong recognized Hua Yueyu on the street, took a photo with her, and shared it in his group chats.
• Xia Hongyao and Hua Yueyu found Lin Baici’s apartment, surprised him, and Hua Yueyu kissed him before Xia Hongyao interrupted them.
• Lin Baici called Long Miaomiao and met her, Yi Jisheng, and Ai Xuyue for lunch with Xia Hongyao and Hua Yueyu.
• Hua Yueyu bought ingredients and began cooking at Lin Baici’s home so she could meet his mother.
• Li Guiru came home, and Xia Hongyao accidentally called her “Mom” before introducing herself as Lin Baici’s close friend.

Xia Hongyao and Hua Yueyu visited Lin Baici’s home, where they competed to impress his mother, Li Guiru, before Lin Baici took them to a hotel and spent the night with Hua Yueyu. The next morning, he agreed to take the visitors to Longchan Temple and invited Long Miaomiao and the others to join them.

• Xia Hongyao and Hua Yueyu helped prepare dinner at Lin Baici’s home, and Li Guiru recognized that Hua Yueyu had feelings for her son.
• Lin Baici took Xia Hongyao and Hua Yueyu to the Crowne Plaza Hotel, sent Xia Hongyao out of Hua Yueyu’s room, and stayed with Hua Yueyu before returning home late.
• Lin Baici met Tang Chenglong on a late-night run and encouraged him after he confided his disappointment about failing the college entrance exams.
• Li Guiru questioned Lin Baici about arriving home freshly showered, while Hua Yueyu later messaged him to ask whether his mother had noticed anything.
• The next morning, Lin Baici agreed to take Xia Hongyao and Hua Yueyu to Longchan Temple and invited Long Miaomiao and the others along.

Lin Baici introduced Tang Chenglong to Hua Yueyu, thrilling the streamer’s devoted fan, then prepared to attend his class reunion with Li Wei. The chapter left them arriving at the restaurant, where Xu Chenyang greeted them and the reunion began.

• Tang Qing argued with Tang Chenglong about borrowing Lin Baici’s car, and Lin Baici stepped in to calm them down.
• Lin Baici introduced Xia Hongyao and Hua Yueyu to Tang Qing and Tang Chenglong, who recognized Hua Yueyu as his favorite streamer and later boasted about meeting her in his group chats.
• Li Wei reminded Lin Baici about their class reunion and told him about his tutoring job, while Hua Yueyu teased Lin Baici during their call.
• Li Wei visited Lin Baici the next morning, and Lin Baici surprised him by driving a new Audi to the reunion.
• Lin Baici and Li Wei arrived at Yuxiang Seafood Restaurant, where Xu Chenyang welcomed them and offered Lin Baici a cigarette.

Lin Baici reunited with his former classmates at Xu Chenyang’s dinner, where they teased him about his looks, college life, and rumored romantic prospects. The gathering left the girls pressing him to reveal who he liked, while Zhao Xiyan’s curiosity and Liu Jiaxin’s feelings quietly surfaced.

• Lin Baici chatted with his classmates as they arrived, and Xiao Meng teased him before inviting him to visit Haijing University and meet Hua Yueyu.
• Liu Jiaxin arrived, sought out Lin Baici, and asked whether the car he had bought from her was easy to drive.
• Zhao Xiyan joined the dinner and learned from Xiao Meng about Lin Baici’s campus fame and his rescue of a girl, Zhu Qiunan.
• Xu Chenyang tried to seat himself beside Zhao Xiyan, but she chose to sit with Xiao Meng and the other girls instead.
• During dinner, Zhao Xiyan asked whether Lin Baici liked someone, and he joked that the woman he liked was beautiful, mature, and poised.
• Xiao Meng asked Lin Baici to show everyone a photo of his girlfriend, while Liu Jiaxin felt a pang of bitterness.

At the class reunion, Lin Baici charmed Zhao Xiyan with his jokes and stories, while Xu Chenyang tried to impress the group and keep Lin Baici in his place. Zhao Xiyan and Lin Baici grew closer, leaving Liu Jiaxin watching their lively conversation with troubled feelings.

• Xu Chenyang boasted about his family, plans to start a mobile game company, and a million-a-year job he could offer Lin Baici.
• Zhao Xiyan asked Lin Baici to add her on WeChat, and he joked with her about his high school nickname, Lin the Donkey.
• Zhao Xiyan reminisced about Lin Baici's high school years and admitted she might have dated him if he had been more amusing.
• Lin Baici joked that women chased him, making Zhao Xiyan laugh and draw Xu Chenyang's jealous attention.
• Zhao Xiyan led a toast to their friendship, while Liu Jiaxin watched her closeness with Lin Baici and felt troubled.

Lin Baici paid for the classmates’ meal and grew closer to Zhao Xiyan, who offered to invest in his business. As the group left in heavy rain, Lin Baici revealed he had driven there, surprising everyone.

• Lin Baici paid the 3,500-yuan bill, and Zhao Xiyan teased him while asking where his money came from.
• Lin Baici told Zhao Xiyan that a wealthy entrepreneur had hired him and that he had started a company with a senior student; Zhao Xiyan offered to invest and become his partner.
• Lin Baici asked the waiter to pack up the uneaten food, and Xu Chenyang discovered someone else had already paid the bill.
• When heavy rain began, Zhao Xiyan asked Lin Baici how he was getting home, and he suggested sharing a cab.
• Lin Baici revealed that he had driven to the restaurant, leaving Wei Haolun and the others surprised.

At a high school reunion, Lin Baici’s classmates learned that he had bought a car and started a business, while Xu Wanying humbled himself to apologize after recognizing him as someone powerful. Lin Baici left with Hua Yueyu, whom he openly called his girlfriend, and apologized to her under an umbrella.

• Liu Jiaxin told Lin Baici’s classmates that he had bought an Audi after starting a business, and Zhao Xiyan defended him when Xu Chenyang belittled his income.
• Xu Wanying recognized Lin Baici, apologized for offending him, and offered him a house; Lin Baici told him to let the matter go, and Xu Wanying warned Xu Chenyang to stay away from Zhao Xiyan.
• Lin Baici rode with Liu Jiaxin, Li Wei, and Zhao Xiyan, joked with Zhao Xiyan, and said he would leave for Haijing in a few days.
• Near Shanglin Garden, Lin Baici sent Xia Hongyao to drive Liu Jiaxin home and walked with Hua Yueyu under an umbrella.
• Lin Baici introduced Hua Yueyu as his girlfriend to Li Wei, then embraced and kissed her, apologizing for putting her in a difficult position.

Lin Baici welcomed Jin Yingzhen to Guangqing, but his mother Li Guiru caught them behaving intimately and confronted him about having two girlfriends. The chapter ended with Li Guiru demanding to know whether Hua Yueyu knew about Jin Yingzhen and whether Lin Baici was involved with anyone else.

• Li Guiru quit her job and chose a Vanke apartment for the family, refusing Hua Yueyu's offer to pay the remaining cost.
• Tang Qing and Li Guiru saw Jin Yingzhen kiss Lin Baici outside their residential complex when he went to meet her.
• Lin Baici took Jin Yingzhen home, where they began making out in his bedroom before Li Guiru returned.
• Li Guiru met Jin Yingzhen at dinner and grew suspicious of her relationship with Lin Baici, so he took her to a hotel afterward.
• Li Guiru waited up for Lin Baici and scolded him, then asked whether Hua Yueyu knew about Jin Yingzhen and whether he had other girlfriends.

Lin Baici and his companions arrived at Gu Qingqiu’s luxurious Hong Kong Island villa, where she questioned their plan to visit Dragon Palace Island and warned of its deadly risks. After Lin Baici reaffirmed that he wanted to go for his mother’s sake, Gu Qingqiu revealed their cruise route, which Xia Hongyao suspected was also meant to seek out the Hong Kong Island Ghost Ship.

• Li Guiru confronted Lin Baici about his relationships with Hua Yueyu and Jin Yingzhen, then accepted that he would make his own choices.
• Lin Baici invited High Ponytail, Hua Yueyu, and Jin Yingzhen to his home, toured Guangqing with Jin Yingzhen, and told Li Wei he was leaving for Hong Kong Island.
• Lin Baici and the others flew to Hong Kong Island, where Gu Qingqiu greeted them with a prank and brought them to the Gu family’s Green Island Villa.
• Over dinner, Gu Qingqiu warned Lin Baici that going to Dragon Palace Island could mean a nine-in-ten chance of death, but he said he wanted its God’s Taboo Object to keep his mother healthy.
• Gu Qingqiu said they would take the Ocean Miracle cruise to Osaka and then travel to Mutsu, while Xia Hongyao revealed that Gu Qingqiu hoped they might encounter the Hong Kong Island Ghost Ship.
• Hua Yueyu entered and asked whether they could take a different route because she feared ghosts.

Lin Baici and his companions visited the Nine Dragon Pavilion, where a strange hunger and an elevator with eighteen floors hinted at the place’s hidden secrets. The chapter ended as they began exploring the pavilion, while the author’s note said the Ghost Ship storyline would start after an exam.

• Xia Hongyao and Gu Qingqiu explained the elusive Ghost Ship off Hong Kong Island and encouraged Lin Baici to hope they would encounter it.
• Li Yintong and Fish Ball Guy invited Lin Baici to visit the Nine Dragon Pavilion, and Lin Baici agreed to go the next day.
• Lin Baici, Xia Hongyao, Gu Qingqiu, Jin Yingzhen, and Hua Yueyu arrived at the Nine Dragon Pavilion and were greeted by a maid doll.
• Lin Baici felt an intense hunger inside the pavilion as the group entered an elevator that revealed the mansion had eighteen floors.

Lin Baici and his companions entered a Rule Pollution inside the Nine Dragon Pavilion and were transported into an ancient city. Separated from the others, Lin Baici disguised himself and began investigating the disappearance of twelve women selected as palace candidates.

• Xia Hongyao sensed danger on the 12th floor, where the group found a strange corridor and a large red door instead of the expected rooms.
• The maid doll vanished after stepping through the doorway, and Lin Baici followed it into a moving painted world with his companions.
• Lin Baici arrived alone in an ancient city, stole rough clothes to disguise himself, and learned from posted notices that twelve women had disappeared after a fire.
• Lin Baici suspected the portraits on the notices had been deliberately drawn poorly and questioned an old man about the women.
• When Lin Baici suggested that a missing courtesan might have faked her death to escape the emperor, the crowd fled, and he cornered the old man to demand information about the palace candidates.

Lin Baici investigated the deaths of the palace-bound young women and, suspecting Shen the God of Wealth, abducted him for questioning. He reunited with Xia Hongyao, Gu Qingqiu, Hua Yueyu, Jin Yingzhen, and Li Yintong, and the group began interrogating Shen.

• Lin Baici learned that the chosen young women had burned to death on their journey north and went to investigate Shen the God of Wealth’s family.
• Lin Baici found Xia Hongyao and Gu Qingqiu questioning Shen, then met them in an alley and discussed whether the Rule Pollution had targeted their group.
• Gu Qingqiu arranged for beggars to carry a meeting message through the streets while Lin Baici and Xia Hongyao waited for the missing teammates.
• At night, Lin Baici sneaked into Shen’s study, caught him painting a happy family scene, knocked him unconscious, and carried him away.
• Lin Baici returned to the meeting place and reunited with Hua Yueyu, Jin Yingzhen, and Li Yintong, who explained how they had been caught up in the Rule Pollution.
• Gu Qingqiu hooded Shen and had Xia Hongyao wake him so the group could begin questioning him.

Gu Qingqiu’s group interrogated Shen the God of Wealth and the brothel madam while investigating the missing palace maid candidates, but neither revealed where the Chaste Maiden and Shen’s daughter were. Gu Qingqiu concluded the Investigating Official might be involved and ordered the prefect to launch a disruptive citywide search, leaving the prefect facing the threat of death if she refused.

• Gu Qingqiu’s group tortured Shen the God of Wealth psychologically and learned that a mysterious person had offered to help his daughter escape, though Shen claimed he did not know who the person was or where his daughter had gone.
• Gu Qingqiu’s group questioned the brothel madam and found no sign that a mysterious person had approached her, so Gu Qingqiu suspected the Investigating Official might be involved with the Chaste Maiden’s disappearance.
• Gu Qingqiu assigned the group to investigate Shen’s confidants and properties, the Investigating Official, and the Chaste Maiden while they searched for the missing women.
• Fish Ball Guy reported that the Investigating Official and the Chaste Maiden’s grandfathers had passed the imperial examination together, and he suspected the official had arranged the fire to save her.
• Gu Qingqiu had Fish Ball Guy kidnap the prefect and ordered her to send constables and soldiers on a noisy citywide search; when the prefect worried about political consequences, Gu Qingqiu threatened to kill her if she refused.

Lin Baici and Gu Qingqiu traced the missing palace maidens to Shen Family Village and uncovered Shen the God of Wealth’s role in hiding them. They watched as the Servant led more than twenty women toward a mountain refuge, then followed them while preparing to act.

• The prefect freed Gu Qingqiu and told her that his men had found no trace of the missing girls, so she questioned the people watching Shen the God of Wealth’s and the Investigating Official’s homes.
• Lin Baici reasoned that Shen the God of Wealth was involved because he had not used his contacts to search for his supposedly missing daughter, and Gu Qingqiu concluded that his household’s trusted aides’ families needed investigation.
• A servant reported that Shen’s family-born servant had been expelled for gossiping about the eldest young lady’s death, and Gu Qingqiu ordered a search of the servant’s village and farmstead.
• Lin Baici investigated Shen Family Village and identified its renovated ancestral hall and threshing ground as clues that the missing women were being hidden there.
• At night, the Servant gathered seven or eight men, led more than twenty young women out of a cellar, and took them toward a mountain refuge.
• Lin Baici told the others to follow the women and wait for his signal before moving.