Chapter Summaries

Lin Chen told Xu Mengyao that his overseas publishing deal had earned him thirty million dollars, and she gave him an antique courtyard for his birthday so he could open a private kitchen. Their plans were interrupted when Lin Xiaoqian called to say Zhao Tianyou was coming to visit her, so Lin Chen and Xu Mengyao hurried to Grandma's house.

• Lin Chen told Xu Mengyao that the Dawson Family had paid thirty million dollars for the overseas publishing rights to his three books, and he said he would still run his private kitchen to build connections.
• Xu Mengyao took Lin Chen to an antique courtyard she had bought for just over fifty million yuan as an early birthday gift, and he suggested installing a four-burner High-Heat Stove.
• Xu Mengyao asked whether her father should introduce guests to Lin Chen, but Lin Chen declined because he wanted to build connections beyond her family's circle.
• Lin Xiaoqian called Lin Chen and Xu Mengyao from Grandma's house, saying that Zhao Tianyou was coming and that she disliked him.
• Lin Chen and Xu Mengyao set off for Grandma's house, and Xu Mengyao wondered whether Zhao Tianyou still had not given up.

Zhao Huaiyuan and Zhao Tianyou tried to convince the Xu Family that Xu Mengyao should leave Lin Chen, but Mengyao and her family defended him. After the Zhao men left, Lin Chen and Xu Guofeng discussed the possibility of confronting the Zhao Family, until Lin Xiaoqian returned upset after hearing Zhao Tianyou call her parents' marriage fake.

• Zhao Huaiyuan argued that Xu Mengyao was too good for Lin Chen and suggested she marry Zhao Tianyou, while Xu Guofeng and Yang Qingyue stood up for Lin Chen.
• Lin Chen arrived with Xu Mengyao and rebuked Zhao Tianyou for insulting his rural background; Mengyao said she loved Lin Chen, and Lin Chen showed off by lifting her with one arm.
• Zhao Huaiyuan and Zhao Tianyou left, and Lin Chen advised Xu Guofeng to wait for the Zhao Family to make the first move before dealing with them.
• Xu Guofeng joked about Lin Chen taking over the family business, while Xu Mengyao said she might have another child with him.
• Lin Xiaoqian returned and told Xu Mengyao that Zhao Tianyou had called their marriage fake, then tearfully told Lin Chen she did not want to leave him.

Lin Chen reassured Lin Xiaoqian that he and Xu Mengyao were not in a fake marriage and promised not to leave them. He welcomed Xu Guofeng and Yang Qingyue to his apartment, where they admired his cooking and learned that his culinary skill had reached the Transcendence Realm.

• Lin Chen comforted Lin Xiaoqian after Zhao Tianyou’s claims, and she apologized for believing the rumors about him and Xu Mengyao.
• Lin Xiaoqian asked why she could sleep with her grandparents but not with her parents, and Lin Chen explained that she kicked off her blanket and that he worked late.
• Lin Chen invited Xu Guofeng and Yang Qingyue to visit his apartment in Ziyuan Community, where they toured the home and heard about the nearby piano room and dance studio.
• Xu Mengyao took her parents and Lin Xiaoqian downstairs while Lin Chen prepared lunch, and the family returned before noon to find the meal ready.
• Xu Guofeng and Yang Qingyue praised Lin Chen’s cooking, and he confirmed that his cooking skill had reached the Transcendence Realm and was even stronger than his calligraphy.

Xu Guofeng began purging Zhao Huaiyuan’s faction from the company after Zhao’s people spread rumors about Xu Mengyao, while Xu Mengyao and Lin Chen prepared for a gathering with shareholders. Lin Chen spent the next day playing doctor with Lin Xiaoqian and reached Master level in Western Medicine.

• Xu Guofeng fired Hu Jie and Ma Yuhe for spreading rumors that Xu Mengyao and Lin Chen were in a fake marriage.
• Xu Guofeng announced personnel changes, and Lu Xinchang chose to support the Xu Family.
• Zhao Huaiyuan confronted Xu Guofeng, who said he would seek the board’s approval to remove him.
• Xu Mengyao told Lin Chen that the board needed a two-thirds vote to remove Zhao Huaiyuan and that Xu Guofeng had invited shareholders to a gathering.
• Lin Chen accompanied Lin Xiaoqian as she played with doctor toys, and the system announced that his Western Medicine Skill had reached Master level.

Lin Chen gained Legendary Driving Skills and took Lin Xiaoqian to pick up Xu Mengyao from work. On the way home, he learned that many important guests had gathered for the evening, and he reassured Xu Mengyao that he and Lin Xiaoqian would protect her.

• Lin Chen's Driving Skills advanced to Legendary level while he drove Lin Xiaoqian to the company.
• Lin Xiaoqian asked for a little car, and Lin Chen agreed to buy her a push car rather than an electric one.
• Xu Mengyao came down from the company, asked Lin Chen for a hug, and coworkers watched them leave together.
• Xu Mengyao told Lin Chen that sixty or seventy influential guests had gathered at home and warned him he might have to drink a lot.
• Lin Chen told Xu Mengyao that Tai Chi had improved his strength and drinking capacity, and promised that he and Lin Xiaoqian would protect her.

Zhao Huaiyuan and Zhao Tianyou worried that the Xu Family would move against them, while Lin Chen's welcome at the Xu Family gathering revealed that influential people respected his painting skills. Elder Xu arrived and backed Xu Guofeng, leaving Lin Chen to consider whether he could treat the seriously ill elder.

• Zhao Huaiyuan blamed Zhao Tianyou's remarks for prompting the Xu Family to act and suspected Lin Chen was behind Xu Guofeng's fierce response.
• Lin Chen, Xu Mengyao, and Lin Xiaoqian arrived at the villa, where Zhao Jingshou and Liang Chunhua warmly welcomed Lin Chen because of his painting skills.
• Xu Guofeng introduced Lin Chen as Lin Xiaoqian's father and clarified that Xu Mengyao was marrying into Lin Chen's family, not the other way around.
• Elder Xu arrived at the gathering, and Lin Chen recognized that he was seriously ill and likely had only two or three years to live.
• Elder Xu urged the Xu Group directors to handle their conflicts properly, signaling his support for Xu Guofeng and the Xu Family.
• Lin Chen wondered whether improving his medical skills could let him help Elder Xu.

At the Xu Family gathering, Elder Xu examined Lin Xiaoqian’s paintings and discovered that Lin Chen was the celebrated artist and author Lin Yu. Elder Xu kept Lin Chen’s identity secret, gave him a place among the banquet’s most important guests, and showed him favor.

• Elder Xu met Lin Xiaoqian and asked to see her paintings, then recognized her extraordinary talent and offered to find her a teacher.
• Lin Chen painted a landscape that left Elder Xu astonished, and Elder Xu suspected he was the online creator Lin Yu.
• Lin Xiaoqian revealed that Lin Chen was Lin Yu, and Lin Chen asked her and Elder Xu to keep his identity secret.
• Elder Xu asked Lin Chen for an autograph, and Lin Chen gave him the painting he had just made.
• At the banquet, Elder Xu and Zhao Jingshou invited Lin Chen to sit with the important guests, surprising everyone.

Lin Chen impressed Elder Xu, Zhao Jingshou, and the other guests by drinking a remarkable amount at Xu Guofeng's gathering. After the guests discussed the conflict with the Zhao Family, Elder Xu and Zhao Jingshou agreed to attend Lin Chen and Xu Mengyao's engagement as witnesses.

• Xu Guofeng introduced Lin Chen to the influential guests, who challenged him to drink as they learned more about him.
• Lin Chen accepted the guests' toasts and drank more than five kilos of liquor while remaining composed.
• Xu Mengyao checked on Lin Chen, and he reassured her while telling her to drink less and look after Qian Qian.
• Lin Chen drank more than eight kilos, then downed an unopened bottle, leaving the other guests impressed and unable to keep drinking.
• Xu Guofeng explained that the Zhao Family had upset him by telling Qian Qian her parents' marriage was fake, and Lin Chen described Zhao Tianyou's attempts to make him leave Xu Mengyao.
• Lin Chen told Elder Xu and Zhao Jingshou that he and Xu Mengyao were getting engaged on Saturday, and both men offered to attend as witnesses.

After Zhao Huaiyuan’s political support collapsed, he came to Xu Guofeng’s villa to admit defeat and negotiate his departure from the company. He agreed to surrender his voting rights, while Lin Chen warned him that Zhao Tianyou would face consequences.

• After the banquet, Lin Chen assured Xu Guofeng and Yang Qingyue that he was fine despite drinking nearly ten jin of baijiu.
• Xu Guofeng explained that Elder Xu’s support made Zhao Huaiyuan’s removal highly likely and discussed how family ties and favors worked.
• Xu Guofeng predicted Zhao Huaiyuan would come to resign, and Zhao arrived at the villa shortly afterward.
• Zhao Huaiyuan offered to resign, take some of his people with him, and send Zhao Tianyou abroad so he would stop disturbing Lin Chen and Xu Mengyao.
• Xu Guofeng proposed taking control of the Zhao Family’s voting rights, and Zhao Huaiyuan agreed after Lin Chen threatened further action.
• Lin Chen told Zhao Huaiyuan that Zhao Tianyou needed to be taught a lesson and said he would visit him in the hospital the next day.

Zhao Huaiyuan returned home and brutally punished Zhao Tianyou after agreeing to compromise with the Xu Family. Meanwhile, Lin Chen and Xu Mengyao discussed their family’s improved safety and the private kitchen, and the chapter ended with Lin Xiaoqian asking Lin Chen not to drink so much.

• Lin Chen and Xu Guofeng persuaded Zhao Huaiyuan to discipline Zhao Tianyou, and Zhao Huaiyuan left without confronting the Xu Family.
• Zhao Huaiyuan returned home, found Zhao Tianyou gaming and swearing, and beat him after Zhao Tianyou fought back.
• Zhao Huaiyuan ordered the bodyguards to restrain Zhao Tianyou, continued whipping him with a salt-soaked belt, and sent him to the hospital.
• Xu Mengyao brought Lin Chen warm water, massaged his head, and discussed the family’s safety and whether he would open his private kitchen.
• Lin Xiaoqian visited Lin Chen the next morning and asked him to drink less because she worried he might die.

Lin Chen visited Zhao Tianyou in the hospital and warned him to behave, then took Xu Mengyao and Lin Xiaoqian to the zoo. He learned that Zhang Qingyuan might refer a wealthy gourmet to his private kitchen, which Lin Chen planned to open after his engagement.

• Lin Chen told Lin Xiaoqian about death, and Xu Mengyao offered to drive him to visit Zhao Tianyou at the hospital.
• Lin Chen photographed Zhao Tianyou’s injuries and threatened to share the pictures unless he stopped causing trouble; Zhao Tianyou admitted Zhao Huaiyuan had whipped him with a salt-dipped belt after he hit his father.
• Lin Chen returned to Xu Mengyao and Lin Xiaoqian, and the family went to the zoo, where Lin Chen taught Lin Xiaoqian about animals.
• Zhang Qingyuan called Lin Chen about a wealthy, picky gourmet who might visit his private kitchen, and Lin Chen said the kitchen would open after his engagement.
• Lin Xiaoqian asked Lin Chen whether getting engaged meant he and Xu Mengyao could sleep together at night.

Lin Chen taught Lin Xiaoqian to count while they visited the zoo, and she eagerly agreed to attend kindergarten so she could eventually sleep with her parents. On the way home, Lin Chen told Xu Mengyao he had rented the apartment upstairs for visiting parents, leaving them to arrange sleeping space for the family.

• Lin Xiaoqian counted the months until her third birthday and agreed to go to kindergarten when Lin Chen said it would help her sleep with her parents.
• Lin Chen began teaching Lin Xiaoqian mathematics at the zoo and gained Mathematics Skill experience from the system.
• Xu Mengyao said Lin Xiaoqian seemed interested in math, then asked Lin Chen to stop at a supermarket so she could buy things for his parents' visit.
• Lin Chen told Xu Mengyao that his parents could sleep with Lin Xiaoqian while he and Xu Mengyao slept together.
• Lin Chen explained that he had rented the apartment upstairs for visiting parents, paying thirteen thousand a month after getting a discount from the landlord.

Lin Chen treated Lin Xiaoqian’s cough and learned that Xu Mengyao might have an issue affecting her ability to have another child, though he could not identify it yet. As he cared for Qian Qian through the night and the following day, his Ancient Medical Skill advanced to Master level.

• Lin Chen examined Lin Xiaoqian’s cough, prepared medicinal bath liquid and medicine, and stayed up to watch over her.
• Lin Chen checked Xu Mengyao’s pulse and found an abnormality he could not diagnose, so he resolved to improve his medical skills.
• Lin Chen continued treating Qian Qian with acupoint massage while Xu Mengyao went to pick up his parents.
• Lin Chen’s Ancient Medical Skill reached Master level, bringing his medical skills to a level he believed would rank among the country’s top five.

Xu Mengyao brought Lin Hai and Chen Mei home, where Lin Chen checked their health and discussed the engagement arrangements with them. Lin Chen decided to give Xu Mengyao’s family a ten-million-yuan betrothal gift, leaving his parents shocked by his wealth.

• Xu Mengyao picked up Lin Hai and Chen Mei at the airport and told them Lin Xiaoqian was recovering from a bacterial infection.
• Lin Chen checked his parents’ pulses, found Lin Hai was healing well and Chen Mei had mild rheumatism, and reassured them about Lin Xiaoqian.
• Lin Chen examined Xu Mengyao but could not identify her condition, so he told the family she was healthy.
• Over dinner, Chen Mei asked Xu Mengyao about engagement requirements, and Xu Mengyao’s family said they wanted a simple ceremony with no special demands.
• Lin Chen told his parents he had ordered an engagement ring and would prepare paintings and calligraphy as gifts, then chose ten million yuan in cash as the betrothal gift.
• Lin Hai and Chen Mei were astonished when Lin Chen explained that overseas rights to three books had earned him over two hundred million yuan.

Lin Chen prepared a lavish betrothal gift for his engagement to Xu Mengyao, arranging ten million in cash and ten one-kilogram gold bars. He arrived at the Xu Family residence with his parents, where both families gathered for the engagement.

• Lin Chen arranged for ten million in cash and ten gold bars to be delivered, then bought betrothal gift boxes and a little car for Lin Xiaoqian.
• Lin Chen and his parents packed the cash and gold into gift boxes after the armored vehicle delivered them on Saturday morning.
• Lin Chen met Elder Xu and Xu Zhongting on the way to the Xu Family residence, and the two families greeted each other when they arrived.
• Lin Chen gave flowers to Xu Mengyao and Yang Qingyue, then handed Lin Xiaoqian a small bouquet when she playfully reminded him not to forget her.

Lin Chen presented Xu Mengyao’s family with lavish betrothal gifts, including treasured calligraphy and paintings, as their families discussed the wedding. The families set the wedding for September 20th, and Lin Chen and Xu Mengyao exchanged engagement vows and began calling each other’s parents Mom and Dad.

• Lin Chen gave Xu Mengyao’s family cases of banknotes, gold bars, calligraphy, and a painting as betrothal gifts.
• Xu Guofeng and the others admired Lin Chen’s calligraphy and his Plum Blossom, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum Painting.
• The two families discussed wedding arrangements and agreed to hold the wedding on September 20th, Lin Xiaoqian’s birthday.
• Lin Chen put an Engagement Ring on Xu Mengyao’s finger and kissed her forehead.
• Lin Chen and Xu Mengyao called their respective parents Mom and Dad, and the parents gave them Red Envelopes.

Lin Chen and Xu Mengyao celebrated their engagement with their families, while Xu Guofeng learned that Wu Haoyu might receive a sentence reduction. The chapter left Lin Chen concerned that Wu Haoyu’s early release could affect Xu Mengyao’s recovery.

• Lin Chen and Xu Mengyao thanked Lin Xiaoqian for helping bring them together, then celebrated their engagement with the Xu Family.
• Lin Chen left without Xu Mengyao, who stayed with her parents, and promised to pick her and Lin Xiaoqian up the next day.
• Lin Chen assured his parents that Xu Mengyao was likely to recover within three months, before the planned wedding.
• Xu Guofeng learned from Guo Qiguang that Wu Haoyu could receive a sentence reduction after ten days, with help from the Wu Family.
• Lin Xiaoqian noticed Xu Guofeng was unhappy and suggested that Lin Chen could help him.
• Xu Guofeng called Lin Chen and warned him that Wu Haoyu might be released soon, potentially affecting Xu Mengyao’s condition.

Lin Chen learned that Wu Haoyu might receive a sentence reduction, possibly as part of a move against the Xu Family, and decided to strengthen his own influence by opening his private kitchen. He arranged to delay Wu Haoyu’s release if possible and took a reservation for the kitchen’s first meal.

• Lin Chen told Xu Guofeng that Wu Haoyu’s possible release could harm Xu Mengyao’s recovery, and Xu Guofeng agreed to investigate the Wu Family’s backing.
• Elder Xu asked Old Zhang about Wu Haoyu and learned the release might be tied to people seeking Xu Zhongting’s position; without intervention, Wu Haoyu could be released in about a month.
• Elder Xu told Lin Chen that Xu Zhongting would try to delay Wu Haoyu’s release, though he could not act too forcefully if powerful forces were involved.
• Lin Chen decided to build his own influence by opening his private kitchen rather than publicly revealing his identity as Lin Yu.
• The next day, Lin Chen visited Xu Mengyao and Lin Xiaoqian, then told Xu Guofeng he planned to open the kitchen and work hard to get it running quickly.
• A middle-aged man referred by Old Zhang reserved lunch for the next day, agreeing to Lin Chen’s one-million-per-meal charge and ingredient rules.

Lin Chen and Xu Guofeng discussed how to draw the Wu Family deeper into a conflict, then Lin Chen took Xu Mengyao and Lin Xiaoqian to his private kitchen. After Shen Qing joined them for lunch, Lin Chen sent a photo of his dishes to Yu Heyan, who was stunned by their appearance.

• Lin Chen told Xu Guofeng he wanted to let the Wu Family escalate their actions so their eventual losses would be greater.
• Lin Chen and Xu Mengyao saw Lin Dong and the others off at the airport, and Lin Xiaoqian asked to learn folding paper airplanes again.
• Lin Chen taught Lin Xiaoqian during the drive to his private kitchen and gained knowledge as she learned.
• Lin Chen invited Shen Qing to the private kitchen, where Lin Xiaoqian told her that Lin Chen had kissed Xu Mengyao after their engagement.
• Shen Qing photographed Lin Chen's meal, and Lin Chen sent a picture to Yu Heyan, who was amazed by the dishes.

Yu Heyan rejected two hotel chefs’ dishes and secured a dinner reservation at Lin Chen’s restaurant despite its strict rules. The next day, Lin Chen trained Lin Xiaoqian, learned she could practice twice daily, and showed his family his strength before leaving for work.

• Yu Heyan dismissed two rounds of hotel dishes as below average and messaged Lin Chen to request another reservation.
• Lin Chen told Yu Heyan that each person could book only once a month, and Yu Heyan decided to attend despite the restrictions.
• Zhang Qingyuan praised Lin Chen’s cooking and warned Yu Heyan to treat him respectfully to preserve future reservations.
• Lin Chen taught Lin Xiaoqian Tai Chi and learned from the system that she could practice twice daily if sessions were separated by more than six hours.
• Lin Chen lifted the heavy coffee table with one hand, impressing Lin Xiaoqian and Xu Mengyao, then prepared to leave for the restaurant.