Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• An Nuan and Liu Chang'an discuss their high school dating experiences over lunch.
• Liu Chang'an reveals he had an online relationship in high school.
• Huang Shan arranges for Liu Chang'an and Miao Yingying to swap seats to avoid chaos before the college entrance exam.
• Liu Chang'an becomes Bai Hui's deskmate after the seat swap.

Character Developments

• An Nuan: Realizes she has feelings for Liu Chang'an but is unsure about his feelings for her. Feels a sense of loss and separation after Liu Chang'an becomes Bai Hui's deskmate.
• Liu Chang'an: Remains nonchalant about his feelings for An Nuan. Agrees to the seat swap arranged by Huang Shan, becoming Bai Hui's deskmate.
• Bai Hui: Not directly involved in this chapter but remains a significant character in the love triangle.

Significant Themes

• Love and relationships: An Nuan's feelings for Liu Chang'an become clearer, while Liu Chang'an's feelings remain ambiguous.
• The college entrance exam: The upcoming exam looms large, influencing characters' actions and decisions.
• Change and separation: An Nuan feels a sense of loss due to the changes in her relationship with Liu Chang'an and the impending separation after the exam.

Character Interactions

• An Nuan and Liu Chang'an: Their interactions are tense and filled with unspoken feelings, with An Nuan trying to understand Liu Chang'an's true feelings.
• An Nuan and Gao Dewei: Gao Dewei tries to encourage An Nuan about her exam scores, but his words come off as boastful.
• Liu Chang'an and Bai Hui: Liu Chang'an becomes Bai Hui's deskmate, which An Nuan finds unsettling.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Chang'an continues to show no interest in Bai Hui, focusing on his studies.
• An Nuan is upset about the rumors at school and ignores Liu Chang'an initially but later forgives him.
• Liu Chang'an has a moment of emotional vulnerability while watching An Nuan, reminiscent of his past with Ye Sijin.
• An Nuan and Liu Chang'an have a playful argument, and they're caught by their homeroom teacher, Huang Shan.

Character Developments

• Liu Chang'an shows a rare moment of emotional openness, thinking about his past and comparing An Nuan to Ye Sijin.
• An Nuan forgives Liu Chang'an for his actions, showing her growing feelings for him.
• Bai Hui feels uncomfortable with An Nuan's provocation but maintains her disinterest in Liu Chang'an.

Significant Themes

• The passage of time and the echoes of the past in the present.
• The complexities of teenage emotions and relationships.
• The struggle between personal desires and societal expectations.

Character Interactions

• Liu Chang'an and An Nuan's playful argument highlights their growing bond and attraction.
• Bai Hui's interactions with Lu Yuan and Qian Ning show her vanity and insecurities.
• Liu Chang'an's interactions with Chen Changxiu remain tense, with Chen Changxiu threatening him.

Key Plot Points and Events

• An Nuan returns home late, meeting Professor Ling who praises her mother's wins at a school competition.
• An Nuan and Professor Ling discuss the upcoming college entrance exam and An Nuan's dancing.
• An Nuan finds her mother, Liu Yuewang, still in her qipao, looking happy and distracted by her phone.
• Liu Yuewang tells An Nuan to be cautious about her relationship with Liu Chang'an as the exam approaches.
• An Nuan tries to find out who her mother is chatting with online but gets brushed off.

Character Developments

• An Nuan: Shows maturity and skill in lying to her mother about her whereabouts. She's also curious and perceptive about her mother's potential romantic interest.
• Liu Yuewang: Shows affection and concern for An Nuan's academic and romantic life. She's also secretive about her online conversations, hinting at a possible romantic interest.

Significant Themes

• Mother-daughter relationship: An Nuan and Liu Yuewang have a close, confiding relationship, but Liu Yuewang keeps secrets from An Nuan.
• Online relationships: Liu Yuewang's potential online romance is a new development, hinting at the theme of modern relationships and their complexities.

Character Interactions

• An Nuan and Professor Ling: They have a friendly, almost familial relationship, with Professor Ling treating An Nuan like her own daughter.
• An Nuan and Liu Yuewang: Their relationship is close, with An Nuan being perceptive about her mother's moods and Liu Yuewang showing affection and concern for An Nuan. However, Liu Yuewang keeps secrets from An Nuan, creating some tension.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Chang'an reflects on life, humanity, and his past as he walks along the river.
• He plays Pao Hu Zi with the elderly residents, winning eight yuan.
• Qin Yanan approaches Liu Chang'an after the game, and they walk back to his residence together.

Character Developments

• Liu Chang'an: Shows introspection and wisdom, recalling his past and the Great Man's statue. He also displays a calm and composed demeanor.
• Qin Yanan: Struggles with confusion and frustration regarding her great-grandfather's intentions and her growing feelings for Liu Chang'an.

Significant Themes

• The passage of time and the impermanence of life.
• The contrast between the simple life Liu Chang'an leads and the complexities of Qin Yanan's life.
• The weight of family history and expectations.

Character Interactions

• Liu Chang'an and the elderly residents: They enjoy each other's company and share a friendly rivalry during their Pao Hu Zi game.
• Liu Chang'an and Qin Yanan: They walk back together, with Liu Chang'an revealing his connection to Qin Yanan's great-grandmother, leaving Qin Yanan with more questions than answers.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Yanan, now twenty, accepts that romantic love is unlikely and begins considering suitable matches arranged by her family.
• Liu Chang'an, Qin Yanan's distant cousin, appears and claims her as his fiancée, much to her surprise and dismay.
• Qin Yanan learns about her great-grandfather's past and his connection to Liu Chang'an's great-grandfather.
• Liu Chang'an reveals that he finds Qin Yanan's resemblance to his great-grandmother unsettling and cannot accept her as his wife.
• Qin Yanan seeks comfort from Zhu Juntang after the revelation, sharing her frustration about her great-grandfather's matchmaking plans.

Character Developments

• Qin Yanan: Becomes more accepting of reality and her family's influence over her life. She struggles with her great-grandfather's matchmaking plans and Liu Chang'an's rejection.
• Liu Chang'an: Reveals his emotional turmoil regarding his great-grandmother's memory and his inability to accept Qin Yanan as his wife due to her resemblance.
• Zhu Juntang: Shows concern for Qin Yanan's well-being while maintaining her playful and carefree demeanor.

Significant Themes

• The influence of family and tradition on personal relationships and choices.
• The impact of the past on the present, particularly in terms of emotional baggage and unfulfilled expectations.
• The struggle between personal desires and familial obligations.

Character Interactions

• Qin Yanan and Liu Chang'an: Their initial meeting is marked by surprise and misunderstanding, leading to a tense conversation about their potential relationship.
• Qin Yanan and Zhu Juntang: Qin Yanan seeks solace in Zhu Juntang's company after her conversation with Liu Chang'an, revealing her frustration and disappointment.
• Qin Yanan and her great-grandfather: Qin Yanan's discovery of her great-grandfather's past and his matchmaking plans causes her to reevaluate her understanding of him and their relationship.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter delves into the past of Su Mei (Miss Zhao Four) and her social circle during the Republican era in Shanghai.
• Zhu Juntang and Qin Yanan discuss the mysterious man in Qin Peng's photograph and suspect he might be Su Mei's first love.
• Zhu Juntang expresses concern about her grandmother, Su Mei, learning about the man's descendant, fearing it might excite her too much.
• Qin Yanan considers the possibility of Liu Chang'an marrying into the Zhu family as revenge for her great-grandmother's unrequited love.

Character Developments

• Su Mei is revealed to have been a prominent socialite with a romantic past before marrying into the Zhu family.
• Qin Yanan struggles with her feelings for Liu Chang'an and his lack of interest in her.
• Zhu Juntang remains loyal to Qin Yanan, refusing to be used as a shield in her romantic pursuits.

Significant Themes

• The enduring influence of the past on the present, particularly in the context of family legacies and romantic entanglements.
• The complexities of romantic feelings and the challenges of navigating them, as seen through Qin Yanan's struggles.

Character Interactions

• Zhu Juntang and Qin Yanan's close friendship is highlighted, with Zhu Juntang supporting Qin Yanan despite her initial jealousy.
• The dynamic between Su Mei and her granddaughter, Zhu Juntang, is explored, showing Su Mei's sternness and Zhu Juntang's love and respect for her.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Chang'an wakes up, sweeps the yard, and drinks soy milk, reflecting on the origin of soybeans.
• He scatters beans hoping they'll grow, and buys some old beans at the market.
• At school, he finds a toad drawn on his desk, and he draws a swan being roasted on a grill next to it, with the character "Bai" written on the swan.
• Bai Hui, sitting next to him, is annoyed by his actions and leaves the classroom feeling nauseous after Liu Chang'an describes sea snakes mating.

Character Developments

• Liu Chang'an shows his laid-back and philosophical nature, not bothered by the insult on his desk, and instead turns it into a humorous scene.
• Bai Hui reveals her disgust for snakes and her annoyance with Liu Chang'an's teasing.

Significant Themes

• The passage of time and change (e.g., the decline of sea snakes, the origin of soybeans).
• Liu Chang'an's indifference to insults and his ability to turn them into something positive.
• Bai Hui's discomfort with Liu Chang'an's behavior and her dislike for snakes.

Character Interactions

• Liu Chang'an interacts with the little girl delivering soy milk, showing his knowledge of soybeans' history.
• At school, Liu Chang'an's actions provoke Bai Hui, leading to her leaving the classroom.
• Liu Chang'an's drawing on the desk is a response to the toad drawn by Qian Ning and Lu Yuan, showing his nonchalance and humor.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Hui ignores Liu Chang'an all morning, feeling humiliated after he caught her staring at him.
• Bai Hui, Lu Yuan, and Qian Ning examine Liu Chang'an's drawing, interpreting it as a confession of his feelings for Bai Hui.
• Liu Chang'an and An Nuan have lunch together, discussing online romance and the novel 'Qingwu Feiyang'.
• An Nuan gets upset when she thinks Liu Chang'an might be having an online romance with her mother.

Character Developments

• Bai Hui: She feels humiliated and ignored by Liu Chang'an, leading her to seek validation from her friends about his feelings.
• Liu Chang'an: He remains calm and collected, provoking An Nuan playfully while trying to reassure her about his intentions.
• An Nuan: She becomes jealous and upset when she misinterprets Liu Chang'an's actions, showing her growing feelings for him.

Significant Themes

• Misinterpretation and Assumption: Characters often jump to conclusions based on limited information, leading to misunderstandings and conflict.
• Online Romance vs. Reality: The chapter explores the differences between online relationships and real-life interactions, as well as the potential for confusion between the two.

Character Interactions

• Bai Hui and Liu Chang'an: Their dynamic shifts as Bai Hui feels ignored and humiliated, while Liu Chang'an remains indifferent.
• Liu Chang'an and An Nuan: Their relationship deepens as they discuss sensitive topics, with An Nuan growing more protective and jealous of Liu Chang'an.
• Bai Hui, Lu Yuan, and Qian Ning: The trio's friendship is highlighted as they support and confide in each other, often seeking validation from one another.

Key Plot Points and Events

• An Nuan and Liu Chang'an have breakfast together, discussing ancient men's relationships with women and Liu Chang'an's preference for mature women.
• An Nuan is interviewed by a reporter from Middle School Student magazine.
• Liu Chang'an provokes Lu Yuan and Qian Ning by looking at Bai Hui's collarbones and smelling her breath, leading to a minor altercation.

Character Developments

• An Nuan: Shows independence and modern thinking, rejecting traditional gender roles.
• Liu Chang'an: Maintains his preference for mature women but appreciates the beauty in younger girls, reflecting his genetic and evolutionary instincts.
• Bai Hui: Becomes more aware of her physical appearance and feels embarrassed when Liu Chang'an comments on it.
• Lu Yuan and Qian Ning: React protectively when they think Liu Chang'an is disrespecting Bai Hui.

Significant Themes

• The evolution of gender roles and relationships over time.
• The influence of genetics and evolutionary instincts on human preferences and behaviors.
• The tension and misunderstandings that can arise from casual comments and observations.

Character Interactions

• An Nuan and Liu Chang'an: Share a friendly and honest conversation, with An Nuan challenging Liu Chang'an's views on ancient men and women.
• Liu Chang'an and Bai Hui: Liu Chang'an teases Bai Hui, causing her to feel embarrassed and leading to a minor conflict with Lu Yuan and Qian Ning.
• Bai Hui and An Nuan: Bai Hui's feelings for Liu Chang'an create tension between her and An Nuan, despite Bai Hui's attempts to maintain a better relationship with An Nuan.

Key Plot Points and Events

• An Nuan's interview concludes quickly, with the reporter showing no interest in interviewing anyone else.
• Liu Chang'an jumps into the Junsha River, swims to the middle, catches a crucian carp, and returns home.
• Liu Chang'an takes a night watchman job at a construction site.
• Zhong Qing arrives at the construction site with bodyguards, but Liu Chang'an treats her like any other unauthorized personnel.

Character Developments

• An Nuan: Maintains her popularity and academic excellence, but her interview is cut short.
• Liu Chang'an: Shows his swimming skills and fishing prowess, takes a night job, and remains indifferent to Zhong Qing's interest.
• Zhong Qing: Demonstrates her determination to pursue Liu Chang'an, arriving at the construction site with bodyguards.

Significant Themes

• Pursuit of Interests: Zhong Qing's pursuit of Liu Chang'an contrasts with An Nuan's interview, which was cut short due to lack of interest in other students.
• Adaptability: Liu Chang'an adapts to various situations, from swimming and fishing to taking a night job.

Character Interactions

• An Nuan and the reporter: The reporter shows no interest in interviewing anyone else, focusing solely on An Nuan.
• Liu Chang'an and Auntie Xie: Liu Chang'an buys alcohol and interacts playfully with Auntie Xie.
• Liu Chang'an and Zhong Qing: Liu Chang'an treats Zhong Qing like any other unauthorized personnel, showing no special attention to her.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Chang'an kills a Rottweiler named High Templar with a single punch, demonstrating his formidable martial skills.
• Zhong Qing invites Liu Chang'an to meet Zhu Juntang, with Liu Chang'an's condition being that he gets to keep the dog he killed.
• Liu Chang'an and Zhu Juntang meet again on the rooftop, where Liu Chang'an continues their previous conversation about immortality.

Character Developments

• Zhong Qing: Realizes Liu Chang'an's true strength and is forced to reassess her initial impressions of him.
• Liu Chang'an: Shows no fear or hesitation in facing multiple opponents and killing a dangerous dog, displaying his confidence and composure.
• Zhu Juntang: Becomes more intrigued by Liu Chang'an and his claims of immortality, no longer dismissing him as a liar.

Significant Themes

• Power and Strength: Liu Chang'an's martial skills command respect and intimidate his opponents.
• Appearances vs. Reality: Zhong Qing misjudges Liu Chang'an initially, underestimating his abilities and background.
• Immortality: Liu Chang'an's claims of immortality continue to intrigue Zhu Juntang, driving the plot forward.

Character Interactions

• Liu Chang'an and Zhong Qing: Their interaction is tense and misunderstandings abound, with Zhong Qing struggling to understand Liu Chang'an's motivations and behavior.
• Liu Chang'an and Zhu Juntang: Their meeting is a continuation of their previous conversation, with Zhu Juntang now more open to the possibility of Liu Chang'an's claims of immortality.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhu Juntang and Liu Chang'an reunite on the roof of her building.
• Zhu Juntang believes Liu Chang'an has superpowers and tries to persuade him to cooperate with her, offering wealth and status in exchange for his powers.
• Liu Chang'an kicks Zhu Juntang into her swimming pool to teach her a lesson.
• Zhu Juntang emerges from the pool, soaked and humiliated, and leaves without speaking to Liu Chang'an.
• Liu Chang'an stays in the living room, drinking tea and waiting for Zhu Juntang to return.

Character Developments

• Zhu Juntang: She remains confident and ambitious but is humbled and humiliated by Liu Chang'an's actions. Her belief in her own power and status is challenged.
• Liu Chang'an: He remains calm and unyielding, refusing to bow to Zhu Juntang's demands. He shows no remorse for his actions and stands by his principles.
• Zhong Qing: She is protective of Zhu Juntang and feels insulted by Liu Chang'an's treatment of her. She tries to reason with him but is unsuccessful.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics: The power struggle between Zhu Juntang and Liu Chang'an highlights the theme of power and its abuse. Zhu Juntang, used to having power and influence, is shocked when Liu Chang'an refuses to bow to her demands.
• Delusions of grandeur: Zhu Juntang's belief in her own power and status is a delusion that is challenged by Liu Chang'an. Her inability to accept reality and adapt to it is a significant theme.
• Reason vs. emotion: Liu Chang'an's actions are guided by reason and principle, while Zhu Juntang's are guided by emotion and a desire for power. This contrast highlights the theme of reason vs. emotion.

Character Interactions

• Zhu Juntang and Liu Chang'an: Their interaction is tense and confrontational, with Zhu Juntang trying to assert her power and Liu Chang'an refusing to bow to her demands. The power dynamic shifts when Liu Chang'an kicks Zhu Juntang into the pool, humbling her and challenging her belief in her own power.
• Zhu Juntang and Zhong Qing: Zhong Qing is protective of Zhu Juntang and feels insulted by Liu Chang'an's treatment of her. She tries to reason with him but is unsuccessful. Their interaction highlights the theme of loyalty and the lengths to which Zhong Qing will go to protect Zhu Juntang.
• Liu Chang'an and Zhong Qing: Their interaction is tense and confrontational, with Zhong Qing trying to reason with Liu Chang'an and Liu Chang'an refusing to back down. Their interaction highlights the theme of reason vs. emotion and the futility of trying to reason with someone who is guided by principle rather than emotion.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhu Juntang, after being humiliated by Liu Chang'an, tries to seduce him into working for her, but Liu Chang'an refuses and leaves.
• Liu Chang'an spends the night at the construction site and returns home at dawn.
• He burns the fur off a dead Rottweiler, guts it, and keeps the liver for himself, planning to make dog meat sauce with the rest.

Character Developments

• Zhu Juntang: Despite her initial humiliation, she remains determined to recruit Liu Chang'an, showing her ambition and resilience.
• Liu Chang'an: He maintains his composure and refuses Zhu Juntang's advances, demonstrating his self-control and independence.

Significant Themes

• Ambition and Power: Zhu Juntang's desire to recruit talented individuals to further her ambitions is a central theme.
• Self-Control and Independence: Liu Chang'an's refusal to compromise his principles, even when faced with temptation, highlights these qualities.

Character Interactions

• Zhu Juntang and Liu Chang'an: Their interaction is marked by tension and power dynamics, with Zhu Juntang trying to assert her authority and Liu Chang'an refusing to be controlled.
• Liu Chang'an and Zhou Dongdong: Their brief interaction shows Liu Chang'an's patience and understanding towards children, despite their lack of reason.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Chang'an sells dog meat he obtained after killing a stray dog, making a significant profit.
• An Nuan and Liu Chang'an skip class together and climb the school wall to leave campus.
• An Nuan sits on the wall, swinging her legs, and Liu Chang'an admires her calves.

Character Developments

• Liu Chang'an: Shows entrepreneurial spirit by selling dog meat, and demonstrates his physical prowess by killing the dog with a single punch.
• An Nuan: Reveals her competitive side and agility by climbing the wall, and shows a playful, mischievous streak when she teases Liu Chang'an.
• Bai Hui: Shows signs of being upset with Liu Chang'an, possibly due to romantic feelings or jealousy.

Significant Themes

• Class differences: Liu Chang'an's ability to support himself contrasts with the other students' focus on academics.
• Female beauty and grace: An Nuan's beauty and grace are emphasized, particularly when she sits on the wall.
• Friendship and camaraderie: Liu Chang'an and An Nuan's bond is strengthened through their shared adventure of skipping class and climbing the wall.

Character Interactions

• Liu Chang'an and An Nuan: Their friendship deepens as they share a secretive, adventurous moment together.
• Liu Chang'an and Bai Hui: Tension exists between them, possibly due to unrequited feelings or a misunderstanding.
• Liu Chang'an and Huang Shan: Liu Chang'an's unique lifestyle and reasons for tardiness continue to surprise and befuddle his teacher.

Key Plot Points and Events

• An Nuan and Liu Chang'an visit the vegetable market to buy ingredients for dog meat sauce.
• They encounter Zhou Dongdong, a child who lives in the neighborhood, and have a brief interaction.
• An Nuan has dinner at Liu Chang'an's place, where he cooks dog meat sauce for her.
• An Nuan's mother calls, and she decides to go home, leaving Liu Chang'an to walk back alone.

Character Developments

• An Nuan: Shows her domestic side by trying to haggle at the market, but Liu Chang'an doesn't acknowledge it. She feels uncomfortable with the idea of boys pursuing her for her appearance rather than her personality.
• Liu Chang'an: Shows his cooking skills and knowledge of historical anecdotes related to food. He also displays a competitive side, trying to one-up An Nuan in their banter.

Significant Themes

• Friendship vs. Romance: An Nuan prioritizes her friendship with Liu Chang'an over potential romantic interests, while Liu Chang'an jokes about the challenges of maintaining both.
• Jealousy: The theme of jealousy is discussed, with Liu Chang'an suggesting that girls are prone to it, and An Nuan asserting that she wouldn't be jealous if she were the better match.
• Competition: There's a playful competitive dynamic between An Nuan and Liu Chang'an, with each trying to outdo the other in their banter.

Character Interactions

• An Nuan and Liu Chang'an: Their dynamic is playful and competitive, with each trying to get the upper hand in their conversations. They share a meal together, and An Nuan feels a sense of warmth in Liu Chang'an's small room.
• An Nuan and Zhou Dongdong: An Nuan has a brief, friendly interaction with Zhou Dongdong, who mistakes An Nuan for Liu Chang'an's girlfriend.

Key Plot Points and Events

• An Nuan and Liu Chang'an hail a ride in a Bentley, driven by a streamer who recognizes An Nuan as an internet celebrity.
• The driver tries to engage with them, but An Nuan ignores him, and Liu Chang'an subtly defends her.
• An Nuan gets upset about being recognized and Liu Chang'an not walking her home.

Character Developments

• An Nuan: Shows discomfort with her online fame and prefers to keep a low profile.
• Liu Chang'an: Demonstrates protective behavior towards An Nuan, subtly defending her without causing a scene.

Significant Themes

• Privacy and the lack thereof in the digital age.
• The double standards and expectations placed on women's appearances and behavior.

Character Interactions

• An Nuan and Liu Chang'an: Their dynamic shows a growing comfort and camaraderie, with Liu Chang'an acting as a protective older brother figure.
• An Nuan and the driver (Ma Benwei): An Nuan's discomfort and Ma Benwei's attempts to engage with her highlight the power imbalance and lack of respect for her privacy.
• An Nuan and her mother: Their interaction shows the mother's protective nature and her disapproval of An Nuan's perceived behavior.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Chang'an wakes up early and goes for a run, avoiding Zhu Juntang.
• He finds a dead hen in his carriage and buries it.
• Liu Chang'an encounters Bai Hui, who overhears him complimenting her figure.
• He meets An Nuan at the gym and later encounters Chen Changxiu, whom he beats up.
• An Nuan and Liu Chang'an have a playful interaction, with An Nuan hinting at her feelings.

Character Developments

• Liu Chang'an maintains his calm and collected demeanor, even when faced with potential threats like Zhu Juntang and Chen Changxiu.
• Bai Hui shows signs of growing feelings for Liu Chang'an, despite her initial dislike for him.
• An Nuan's feelings for Liu Chang'an become more apparent, although she struggles to express them directly.

Significant Themes

• The theme of ambition and power, as seen through Zhu Juntang's character.
• The theme of attraction and relationships, explored through Liu Chang'an's interactions with Bai Hui and An Nuan.

Character Interactions

• Liu Chang'an and Zhu Juntang: Liu Chang'an avoids Zhu Juntang, showing his disinterest in her recruitment efforts.
• Liu Chang'an and Bai Hui: Liu Chang'an's casual compliment of Bai Hui's figure leads to a tense interaction between them.
• Liu Chang'an and An Nuan: Their playful banter hints at An Nuan's growing feelings for Liu Chang'an, despite her initial resistance.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Chang'an prepares for the Dragon Boat Festival, including making realgar wine and collecting centipedes.
• He visits the Affiliated High School for a leadership inspection, where he interacts with Bai Hui.

Character Developments

• Liu Chang'an: Shows interest in Bai Hui's development and uses it to tease her.
• Bai Hui: Struggles with her feelings about Liu Chang'an and his relationship with An Nuan, feeling a sense of inadequacy.

Significant Themes

• The passage of time and change.
• The impact of leadership inspections on daily life.
• The dynamics of high school relationships and hierarchies.

Character Interactions

• Liu Chang'an and Bai Hui: Their interactions become more frequent, with Liu Chang'an teasing Bai Hui about her development and Bai Hui feeling increasingly conflicted about her feelings for him.
• Liu Chang'an and An Nuan: Their relationship is mentioned, with Bai Hui feeling insecure about it.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Chang'an, An Nuan, Gao Dewei, and Bai Hui are chosen to have lunch with a visiting leader, Ma Xingguo.
• Ma Xingguo delivers a speech about the students' responsibility to the nation.
• Ma Xingguo interacts with each student, showing particular interest in Gao Dewei and Liu Chang'an.
• A beautiful woman, Qin Yanan, joins them for lunch and later approaches Liu Chang'an.

Character Developments

• Liu Chang'an: Remains calm and collected throughout the event, showing no signs of nervousness or eagerness to impress the leader.
• An Nuan: Feels inferior to Qin Yanan's beauty and confidence, but maintains her composure.
• Bai Hui: Initially feels jealous of An Nuan's attention, but later feels annoyed by An Nuan's perceived mocking.
• Gao Dewei: Shows off his competition medals and exam rankings, living up to his reputation as a top student.

Significant Themes

• The pressure and expectations placed on students to succeed and contribute to the nation.
• The impact of beauty and confidence on others' perceptions and interactions.
• The subtle dynamics of competition and jealousy among peers.

Character Interactions

• Liu Chang'an and Ma Xingguo: Ma Xingguo seems to have some interest in Liu Chang'an's background, but Liu Chang'an remains indifferent.
• An Nuan and Bai Hui: The two girls subtly compete, with An Nuan feeling superior and Bai Hui feeling annoyed.
• Liu Chang'an and Qin Yanan: Qin Yanan approaches Liu Chang'an after the meal, revealing a connection between them.
• Gao Dewei and Liu Chang'an: The two friends walk back together, discussing their food intake, oblivious to the girls' conversation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Yanan visits Liu Chang'an at school, initially to discuss ending their arranged engagement but finds him unwilling due to her resemblance to his great-grandmother, not because she's ugly.
• Liu Chang'an agrees to write to Qin Peng to explain his unwillingness.
• Qin Yanan realizes Liu Chang'an has feelings for one of the two girls they met earlier.
• Liu Chang'an jokes about taking care of Qin Yanan's future needs, like a facelift, if she encounters life obstacles.

Character Developments

• Qin Yanan: Realizes Liu Chang'an's true reason for being unwilling and finds him more mature than she initially thought.
• Liu Chang'an: Shows his willingness to help Qin Yanan, despite his own feelings, and displays a mix of maturity and immaturity in their interaction.

Significant Themes

• The influence of family and elders on life decisions.
• The complexities of romantic feelings and their influence on actions.
• The importance of open communication and understanding in relationships.

Character Interactions

• Qin Yanan and Liu Chang'an: Their conversation reveals their mutual unwillingness to marry, leading to a more honest and friendly interaction. Qin Yanan begins to see Liu Chang'an in a new light, while Liu Chang'an shows understanding and care towards Qin Yanan's situation.
• Qin Yanan and the two girls: Qin Yanan observes the girls and later discusses them with Liu Chang'an, showing her awareness of his feelings.