Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wei Linxuan and Lu Heng are overjoyed about Lu Chi's return and shower him with compliments, delegating the task of coming out to him.
• The Lu and Wei families gather for dinner to welcome Lu Chi home.
• Lu Miaomiao excitedly greets her eldest brother and expresses her admiration for him.
• Father Wei brings a bottle of rare liquor to celebrate Lu Chi's return.

Character Developments

• Lu Chi is portrayed as calm and collected, handling the situation with humor and maturity.
• Wei Linxuan and Lu Heng are shown to be carefree and affectionate, not bothered by their public outing.
• Lu Miaomiao is depicted as enthusiastic and mischievous, trying to taste the expensive liquor.

Significant Themes

• Family and Belonging: The chapter emphasizes the importance of family unity and togetherness, with both families gathering to welcome Lu Chi home.
• Acceptance and Honesty: The theme of acceptance is explored through the characters' reactions to Wei Linxuan and Lu Heng's relationship revelation.
• Ambition and Career: Lu Chi's plans for his future career highlight the theme of ambition and personal growth.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chi, Wei Linxuan, and Lu Heng: The three share a playful dynamic, with Wei Linxuan and Lu Heng teasing Lu Chi, and Lu Chi good-naturedly laughing along.
• Lu Miaomiao and Lu Chi: Lu Miaomiao's adoration for her eldest brother is evident in their interaction.
• Father Wei and Father Lu: The two fathers share a friendly camaraderie, with Father Wei bringing a special liquor to celebrate Lu Chi's return.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chi, after successful international business, returns to Huaxia and is welcomed by the Wei family.
• The Lu and Wei families discuss the ongoing gay rumors about Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan, believing them to be false and caused by someone with a hidden agenda.

Character Developments

• Lu Chi: Shows maturity and wisdom in handling the situation, acting as a mediator and providing guidance to his younger brother and cousin.
• Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan: Struggle with the rumors but remain united, trying to uncover the truth behind them.

Significant Themes

• Family unity and support: The Lu and Wei families stand together in the face of adversity, emphasizing the importance of family bonds.
• Truth and deception: The chapter explores the power of rumors and the struggle to uncover the truth.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chi acts as a mentor figure to Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan, guiding them on how to handle the situation.
• The Lu and Wei families express their support and concern for Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan, encouraging them to eat well despite their troubles.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chi's eldest brother returns home, and Papa Lu is delighted to serve him Guobaorou.
• Lu Chi's eldest brother reveals he has stomach issues due to his time in M Country.
• Lu Chi's eldest brother manipulates his parents and in-laws to force-feed Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan to teach them a lesson.

Character Developments

• Lu Chi's eldest brother shows his manipulative and strategic side, proving he's a formidable businessman.
• Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan display their naivety and impulsiveness, easily manipulated by Lu Chi's eldest brother.

Significant Themes

• Family dynamics and manipulation.
• The consequences of impulsive actions (Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan's public display of affection).
• The importance of strategic planning (Lu Chi's eldest brother's approach to investments and family matters).

Character Interactions

• Lu Chi's eldest brother interacts with Papa and Mama Lu, showing affection and respect while subtly manipulating them.
• Lu Chi's eldest brother interacts with Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan, teaching them a lesson while appearing caring and protective.
• Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan interact with each other, showing their bond and shared confusion and frustration.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Heng receives a call from someone claiming to be his cousin, who turns out to be Song Yiyi, an actress from his movie 'Spring Renewal'.
• Song Yiyi offers to help Lu Heng clear his name from gay rumors by faking a romance born from acting together.
• Lu Heng politely declines, revealing that Heng Xuan Studio has its own plans.
• Song Yiyi admits to using the opportunity to ride Lu Heng's popularity but warns him about the risks of using actresses for promotions.

Character Developments

• Lu Heng: Maintains professionalism and politeness while declining Song Yiyi's offer. Keeps Heng Xuan Studio's plans confidential.
• Song Yiyi: Initially appears concerned for Lu Heng but reveals her ambition to use his popularity. Shows foresight in warning Lu Heng about potential risks.

Significant Themes

• Ambition vs. Professionalism: Song Yiyi's ambition leads her to try and use Lu Heng's situation to her advantage, while Lu Heng maintains professional boundaries.
• Trust and Manipulation: Song Yiyi attempts to manipulate Lu Heng into accepting her plan, but he remains cautious and declines.

Character Interactions

• Lu Heng and Song Yiyi: Their conversation reveals their differing priorities and agendas. Lu Heng remains polite yet firm in declining Song Yiyi's offer, while she tries to persuade him, ultimately revealing her true intentions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Yiyi, in an interview, hints at a close relationship with Lu Heng to boost her career, but Lu Heng is upset by her actions.
• The next day, media focuses on Zhao Miao's Weibo post defending Lu Heng's friendship with Wei Linxuan, overshadowing Song Yiyi's interview.
• Zhao Miao reveals Lu Heng's role in helping him when his career was struggling, including securing him the male lead role in 'Flower and Sword'.

Character Developments

• Song Yiyi: Calculating and ambitious, she tries to use Lu Heng's name for her own gain but fails.
• Lu Heng: Gentle and softhearted, he is upset by Song Yiyi's actions but doesn't want to cause her trouble.
• Zhao Miao: Loyal and grateful, he stands up for Lu Heng and reveals their true friendship.

Significant Themes

• Friendship and loyalty (Zhao Miao's support for Lu Heng)
• Ambition and manipulation (Song Yiyi's attempts to use Lu Heng)
• The power of influence in the entertainment industry

Character Interactions

• Lu Heng and Song Yiyi: Lu Heng is upset by Song Yiyi's interview, while she tries to appease him.
• Zhao Miao and Lu Heng: Zhao Miao publicly defends Lu Heng's friendship with Wei Linxuan, showing his loyalty.
• Zhao Miao and Wei Linxuan: Zhao Miao playfully teases Wei Linxuan for his dedication as a boss.

Chapter 386 Summary

Key plot points and events

• After Zhao Miao posts two supportive Weibo updates defending Lu Heng, Hong Kong superstar Rong Xiu immediately reposts them and uploads numerous personal photos with Lu Heng. Their affectionate-looking pictures intensify public attention.
• Rong Xiu launches the phrase “I’m joining in to ride the trend,” prompting a large-scale industry-wide campaign. Nearly a hundred domestic and international celebrities, directors, fashion editors, and stylists post their own “intimate photos” with Lu Heng and tag him.
• The campaign overwhelms the scandal surrounding Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan, while Song Yiyi’s attempt to attract attention is completely buried beneath the global celebrity spectacle.
• Worldwide media quickly report on the “riding the trend” movement, turning it into a major news event.
• Although Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan had been preparing their own response to Star Gossip Entertainment News, they are deeply moved by the spontaneous support from their friends and colleagues. They decide to hold a global press conference through Heng Xuan Studio.
• Heng Xuan Studio publicly condemns Star Gossip for spreading the alleged Lu-Wei affair without solid evidence. It also reveals that nearly one hundred paid online-commenter accounts had operated around two thousand alternate identities to manipulate forums, Weibo, and other platforms.
• The studio presents detailed technical evidence showing that these accounts deliberately stirred hostility, attacked Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan, abused Lu Heng’s fans, and created the false impression of widespread public condemnation.
• The press conference exposes how easily paid commenters can manufacture online outrage and exploit ordinary users’ emotions. Reporters recognize the seriousness of online violence, particularly in the still-developing internet environment of 2005.

Character developments

• Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan move from silence and strategic preparation to an organized public counterattack. Their response shifts the scandal from gossip about their private relationship to a broader investigation into media manipulation and online abuse.
• Rong Xiu and the other celebrities demonstrate strong loyalty to Lu Heng, willingly risking involvement in the controversy despite having no personal need to intervene.
• Zhao Miao becomes the catalyst for the celebrity-support movement.
• Song Yiyi is completely overshadowed; her scheme to gain attention fails as the public focuses on the superstar alliance.
• Heng Xuan Studio reinforces its reputation for innovative and effective use of online publicity, using data and technology to expose the mechanisms behind the smear campaign.

Significant themes

• Solidarity and friendship: Lu Heng receives protection from an unusually broad network of powerful figures in the entertainment and fashion industries.
• The manipulation of public opinion: The chapter shows how a small number of paid accounts can fabricate the appearance of mass outrage.
• Online violence and mob mentality: Anonymous commenters exploit prejudice and emotional reactions, turning a beloved celebrity into a target of vicious abuse almost overnight.
• Media responsibility and truth: Star Gossip’s unsupported reporting demonstrates the destructive consequences of sensationalism, while Heng Xuan Studio attempts to restore facts and accountability.
• The power of collective action: The “riding the trend” campaign and the press conference both show how coordinated public responses can challenge malicious narratives.

Character interactions

• Rong Xiu’s affectionate photos with Lu Heng publicly emphasize their long friendship and shared history, directly undermining the implication that Lu Heng’s close relationships are suspicious.
• Numerous celebrities and industry professionals symbolically join Zhao Miao and Rong Xiu, transforming personal support for Lu Heng into a global collective statement.
• Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan act together through Heng Xuan Studio, presenting a united professional front against Star Gossip and the paid commenters.
• The hostile interaction between anonymous online users, Lu Heng’s supporters, and the hired commenters reveals how manipulated conflict can escalate into widespread abuse.

Chapter 387 Summary

Key plot points and events

• Heng Xuan Studio investigates the online backlash against Lu Heng and discovers that much of the abuse came from organized trolls rather than ordinary netizens. Once troll accounts are identified and blocked, it becomes clear that most people either support Lu Heng or do not care about his private life.
• At a press conference, the studio’s public relations spokesperson exposes Star Gossip Entertainment News as the force behind the scandal claiming that Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan are lovers.
• Evidence shows that editor-in-chief Yang Wei used a newly created Jiujiu account to hire a troll farm, offering 20,000 yuan to spread insults and rumors. Although he tried to conceal his identity, the account’s login IP address led directly to his Beijing residence.
• The studio presents sales and financial data proving that the newspaper dramatically profited from the scandal. Within seven days, its sales reached 7.5 million copies, its market expanded nationwide, it secured 12 million yuan in advertising contracts, and its valuation rose from 4.78 million to 12 million yuan.
• Heng Xuan Studio argues that the newspaper violated Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan’s portrait rights, defamed them without proof, and caused serious emotional, professional, and personal harm.
• The studio announces that it will sue and report Star Gossip Entertainment News, seeking compensation and severe legal punishment.

Character developments

• Lu Heng is shown as perceptive and knowledgeable about internet manipulation. His understanding of online tactics enables Heng Xuan Studio to uncover the newspaper’s hidden campaign.
• Wei Linxuan remains a central victim of the fabricated rumor and is included in the planned legal action alongside Lu Heng.
• Yang Wei is revealed as the mastermind behind the smear campaign. His careful efforts to hide his involvement fail because he overlooks the evidence contained in an IP address.
• Heng Xuan Studio’s PR department demonstrates strategic skill, using evidence, emotional appeals, and financial analysis to turn public and media opinion against the newspaper.
• Lu Heng’s loyal fans and people he previously helped reveal their continued affection and support, despite some fans leaving after the scandal.

Significant themes

• Manipulation of public opinion: The chapter exposes how hired trolls can create the illusion of widespread outrage.
• Media ethics and exploitation: Star Gossip Entertainment News treats a person’s private life and reputation as tools for profit.
• Technology as evidence: An overlooked IP address defeats an elaborate plan to conceal the perpetrators.
• Public empathy and truth: Once reporters understand how easily anyone could be targeted, they become more sympathetic to Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan.
• Justice and accountability: The chapter shifts from public accusation to legal retaliation, emphasizing that profit-driven defamation has consequences.

Character interactions

• Heng Xuan Studio confronts Star Gossip Entertainment News indirectly through the press conference, dismantling its claims with evidence.
• The PR spokesperson guides reporters from recognizing the danger of trolls to understanding the newspaper’s deliberate role in the scandal.
• Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan are presented as united victims whose reputations and rights were attacked for commercial gain.
• Fans, reporters, and ordinary netizens respond differently to the scandal, but the chapter shows that genuine public support ultimately outweighs the hostility manufactured by the troll campaign.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Heng Xuan Studio concludes its global press conference by demanding that Star Gossip Entertainment News return everything it took and compensate for the damage it caused.
• The statement triggers widespread outrage across the entertainment and news industries because Star Gossip had fabricated scandals, manipulated public opinion, hired online trolls, and concealed the truth for profit.
• Journalists are especially offended because the newspaper’s behavior damages the reputation of the entire news profession and embarrasses Huaxia before the international media.
• Domestic authorities and industry leaders quickly intervene. They demand that Star Gossip:
  • Compensate Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan
  • Pay fines
  • Suspend operations for rectification
  • Face severe punishment for spreading false rumors and abusing media influence
• Star Gossip’s owners and editor-in-chief, Yang Wei, panic after receiving court summonses and official notices. Unable to contact Heng Xuan Studio or gain support from other media outlets, they turn to their major shareholder, Yingdun Group, for protection.
• Yingdun Group had encouraged the attack on Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan, with President Wang Dafu promising Star Gossip that it would be protected if the scheme was exposed. Yang Wei now expects Yingdun to honor that promise.
• Meanwhile, Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan remain unaware of Star Gossip’s desperate efforts to escape punishment. The scandal instead elevates Heng Xuan Studio’s reputation and brings global attention to online harassment, internet security, and investigative technology.
• Heng Xuan’s ability to trace online troll accounts through their IP address demonstrates how careless digital activity can expose hidden conspirators. The chapter closes by emphasizing that the conflict is already decided: Heng Xuan Studio has won, while Star Gossip must deal with the consequences.

Character Developments

• Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan: They are portrayed as decisive, powerful, and willing to use legal and technological means to defend themselves. Their response turns a targeted media attack into a public victory.
• Yang Wei: The editor-in-chief changes from a confident participant in the smear campaign to a frightened and desperate man seeking help from Yingdun Group. His earlier trust in President Wang’s assurances is revealed as a serious mistake.
• President Wang Dafu and Yingdun Group: They emerge as the likely masterminds behind the attack. Their manipulation of Star Gossip exposes their willingness to use media outlets as tools against their opponents.
• The media industry: Journalists collectively regain a sense of professional responsibility by condemning Star Gossip’s misconduct, treating the scandal as an attack on journalism itself.

Significant Themes

• Professional ethics and truth in journalism: The chapter condemns media organizations that sacrifice truth for profit, sensationalism, and public attention.
• Accountability and justice: Legal action and industry pressure ensure that malicious reporting has real consequences.
• Technology as both weapon and vulnerability: IP tracing allows Heng Xuan Studio to uncover the campaign’s origins, while Yang Wei’s careless use of online accounts exposes him.
• Collective reputation and national dignity: Star Gossip’s actions are seen as disgracing Huaxia’s entire news industry before the world.
• The dangers of online manipulation: The chapter highlights the growing threat of trolls, fabricated scandals, and coordinated rumor campaigns.
• Victory and defeat: Heng Xuan’s strategic response secures its victory, while Star Gossip and its hidden backers are left to face the damage they created.

Character Interactions

• Heng Xuan Studio confronts Star Gossip publicly through the press conference and demands restitution.
• Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan indirectly force the news industry and authorities to act against Star Gossip.
• Yang Wei seeks assistance from Yingdun Group after realizing that the newspaper cannot survive the backlash alone.
• President Wang’s earlier promises of protection create the connection between Yingdun Group and Star Gossip’s failed attack.
• The wider media community turns against Star Gossip, refusing to defend it and instead supporting punishment for its unethical conduct.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yuka Huaxia hosts a charity gala, inviting industry elites, entrepreneurs, and superstars.
• Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan attend together, drawing attention.
• Yang Wei, editor-in-chief of Star Gossip, apologizes to Wei Linxuan in public, attempting to sow discord.
• Zhao Miao intervenes, provoking Yang Wei and drawing hatred to himself.

Character Developments

• Wei Linxuan remains expressionless and cold, showing no mercy to Yang Wei.
• Zhao Miao displays his chuunibyou tendencies, using his sharp tongue to provoke Yang Wei.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and manipulation (Yang Wei's attempt to sow discord, Zhao Miao's counterattack).
• The importance of self-control and restraint (Zhao Miao's efforts to suppress his bad habits).

Character Interactions

• Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan attend the event together, showing unity despite their family feud.
• Zhao Miao supports Wei Linxuan, using his quick wit to protect him from Yang Wei's schemes.
• Yang Wei attempts to manipulate the situation to his advantage but fails, drawing Zhao Miao's wrath.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Zhonghao, chairman of Yingdun Group, intervenes in the dispute between Lu Heng, Wei Linxuan, and Yang Wei, editor-in-chief of Star Gossip.
• Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan refuse to forgive Yang Wei for the malicious gossip, leaving him kneeling and apologetic.
• Wang Zhonghao tries to persuade Wei Linxuan to relent but fails, and the two stars walk away.

Character Developments

• Lu Heng shows a more assertive side, refusing to be manipulated by Yang Wei's public display of remorse.
• Wei Linxuan stands up for Lu Heng, displaying his loyalty and disdain for Yang Wei's behavior.
• Yang Wei's desperate attempt to save his career backfires, leaving him at the mercy of Wang Zhonghao and Young Master Qi.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and manipulation within the entertainment industry.
• The importance of integrity and dignity in the face of adversity.
• The consequences of unethical behavior and the lack of remorse for causing harm.

Character Interactions

• Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan's friendship strengthens as they stand united against Yang Wei's attempts to manipulate them.
• Wang Zhonghao's intervention highlights the power imbalance between him and the other characters, as well as his desire to maintain control over the situation.
• Yang Wei's desperate attempt to save his career leads to a humiliating public display, further isolating him from the other characters.

Chapter Summary

At a charity gala, Zhao Miao mocks the editor-in-chief of Star Gossip for fawning over Wang Zhonghao, while Lu Heng teasingly reproaches him for making another enemy. Despite Zhao’s abrasive personality, Lu Heng recognizes that he was defending them and appreciates the gesture.
Lu Heng notices that Zhao’s usual agent, Sun Shuliang, is absent. Zhao explains that Sun is at the hospital supporting his girlfriend, He Weiwei, whose mother is undergoing surgery. Sun and He Weiwei met while working on Zhao’s film Kung Fu Hero, which Zhao produced and starred in. The film was a critical and commercial success, earning over eighty million yuan and helping establish Zhao as a successful producer and studio head.
The news deeply affects Lu Heng because, in his previous life, Sun and He Weiwei had met much later under far more difficult circumstances. He Weiwei’s mother had died because they could not afford timely treatment, and He Weiwei had suffered harassment and ostracism while struggling in the entertainment industry. In this altered life, however, Sun and He Weiwei have become a couple earlier, and her mother has a chance to recover and witness their marriage. Lu Heng feels relieved and happy that their destinies have changed for the better, reinforcing his belief that his actions in this life can alter the futures of those around him.
Zhao then shifts the conversation to business. He has heard that Heng Xuan Studio is partnering with the Ministry of Health on a historically researched television drama promoting Huaxia medicine, history, and culture. The studio plans to cast established actors in major roles while holding open auditions for supporting parts. Zhao has already submitted the artists from his own studio for consideration and asks that they receive priority if suitable. Wei Linxuan quietly agrees, signaling a friendly and potentially useful collaboration between the two studios.

Key Themes

• Changing fate and second chances: Lu Heng sees Sun and He Weiwei’s improved circumstances as evidence that the future is not fixed.
• Friendship and loyalty: Zhao’s defense of Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan contrasts with his reckless manner, revealing his loyalty beneath the sarcasm.
• Personal relationships amid career ambitions: Romantic and family developments are intertwined with the entertainment industry.
• Professional cooperation: Zhao’s request demonstrates the growing influence of Heng Xuan Studio and the importance of networking and talent development.

Chapter Summary

At the charity banquet hosted by Yuka Huaxia, Star Gossip Entertainment News editor-in-chief Yang Wei publicly apologizes to Wei Linxuan and Lu Heng and alludes to the Wei family’s internal conflict. News of the apology and the family dispute quickly spreads throughout Four-Nine City.
Meanwhile, the Wei family attends the annual Huaxia Entrepreneurs’ Conference. Since Old Master Wei divided the family assets between his sons, the businesses controlled by his younger son, Wei Zhanjie, have flourished. Huaxia Real Estate, Huaxia Network Technology, HiTao.com, and other internet enterprises become highly valued by investors. Wei Linxuan and Lu Heng’s Heng Xuan Studio, along with Huaxia Live Network and Huaxia Weibo, also achieve enormous success through strong programming, marketing, and audience data. Wei Linxuan is increasingly recognized as an exceptional marketing and business talent.
By contrast, Wei Renjie struggles to maintain the performance of the half of the Wei Group assigned to him. Although revenue remains superficially stable, rising labor and material costs cause profits and margins to decline. Outsiders and even some shareholders begin questioning Old Master Wei’s decision to favor Wei Renjie as heir, believing that the supposedly irresponsible Wei Zhanjie and Wei Linxuan have ultimately achieved far more success.
At the conference, business leaders and officials enthusiastically surround Wei Zhanjie and his wife, while Wei Renjie is left with relatively little attention. He feels humiliated, resentful, and deeply confused by the reversal of fortune. He recalls how Wei Zhanjie was once viewed as a reckless playboy and Wei Linxuan as an equally spoiled troublemaker, while Wei Renjie’s branch had been treated as the family’s future. Their current success makes him painfully aware of his own declining position.
The chapter ends when Old Master Qi, a longtime rival of the Wei family, arrives with his grandson Qi Jiaming. He proudly introduces Qi Jiaming, who has recently returned from studying abroad and joined the family business. Qi Jiaming confidently greets Old Master Wei and Old Madam Wei, appearing polished, energetic, and far more self-assured than during his earlier embarrassment at Precious Flavor Tower.

Character Development and Interactions

• Wei Linxuan and Lu Heng: Their business partnership has become highly successful, establishing them as influential figures in entertainment, media, and marketing.
• Wei Zhanjie: Once dismissed as irresponsible, he is now a powerful and respected businessman whose companies attract investors and prominent figures.
• Wei Renjie: His confidence deteriorates as his business performance declines and he watches his brother receive admiration. His resentment and insecurity become increasingly evident.
• Old Master Wei: His former succession plans are implicitly questioned as Wei Zhanjie’s branch outperforms the branch he once favored.
• Qi Jiaming: He returns from overseas study with confidence and ambition, presenting a more mature image than before.
• Wei and Qi families: Old Master Qi’s cordial introduction is outwardly respectful but carries an undertone of rivalry and comparison, especially given the families’ longstanding poor relationship.

Significant Themes

• Reversal of expectations: Those once considered irresponsible unexpectedly become the family’s greatest successes.
• Business competition and changing fortunes: The chapter emphasizes how rapidly expanding markets reward innovation while exposing stagnation.
• Family conflict and succession: Commercial performance intensifies existing tensions over inheritance, legitimacy, and leadership.
• Public image and status: Reputation shifts according to wealth and achievement; admiration follows success, while failure invites gossip and isolation.
• Resentment and social comparison: Wei Renjie’s humiliation shows the emotional cost of watching a once-inferior rival surpass him.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qi Jiaming meets Old Master Wei at the Entrepreneurs' Annual Conference and compliments him on his grandson, Lin Xuan.
• Qi Jiaming hints at a misunderstanding between him and Lin Xuan, requesting Old Master Wei's intervention.
• Qi Jiaming reveals that Star Gossip Entertainment News exposed Lin Xuan's relationship with Lu Heng, causing tension between the Wei and Qi families.
• Qi Jiaming implicates Wei Renjie in hiring the private investigator who tipped off Star Gossip.
• Old Master Qi defends Qi Jiaming and criticizes the Wei family's internal conflict, angering Old Master Wei.

Character Developments

• Qi Jiaming shows political acumen by using the conference to clear his family's name and shift blame onto the Wei family.
• Old Master Qi demonstrates his sharp tongue and lack of filter, further straining the relationship between the Wei and Qi families.

Significant Themes

• Family dynamics and power struggles within wealthy families.
• The importance of reputation and public image in business.
• The consequences of internal conflict and infighting.

Character Interactions

• Qi Jiaming and Old Master Wei: Qi Jiaming subtly manipulates Old Master Wei to intervene in the Lin Xuan matter.
• Old Master Qi and Old Master Wei: The two old men's long-standing feud escalates as they exchange barbs in public.
• Qi Jiaming and Wei Renjie: Tension builds between them as Qi Jiaming implicates Wei Renjie in the Star Gossip incident.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter begins with Old Master Wei reflecting on a past business conflict with Old Master Qi. When Wei learned that the government planned to impose damaging policies on their shared industry, he secretly withdrew his investment to protect himself.
• Old Master Qi, unaware of the impending policies and confident in the project, nearly borrowed his entire fortune to purchase Wei’s shares. Wei refused to sell to him, instead finding another buyer, and only revealed the truth after the sale was complete.
• By then, Qi could no longer find a buyer before the new policies were announced, leaving him with devastating losses. Qi and another deceived partner came to hate Wei, while Wei justified his actions as necessary business practice rather than betrayal.
• At the annual entrepreneurs’ meeting, Old Master Wei defended his belief that business was a battlefield and that no one should expect an opponent to sacrifice himself for another person’s benefit.
• Ironically, that same night, Wei’s son, Wei Zhanjie—or “Father Wei”—used a similar strategy against the eldest branch of the Wei family. He acquired several valuable Beijing department stores from them in exchange for keeping Wei Linxuan in Beijing over the New Year and helping preserve the family’s public image.
• The arrangement functioned as both compensation and hush money. Although the two branches were openly hostile in private, they maintained the appearance of family harmony to protect their reputation and avoid damaging the family’s stock prices.
• The chapter then shifts to Wang Dafu and Qi Jiaming at a private club, where Wang explains how their scheme involving the gossip magazine Star Gossip collapsed.
• They had intended to exploit rumors surrounding Wei Linxuan and provoke conflict within the Wei family. However, Wei Linxuan traced the source of the campaign through a Jiujiu alternate account and obtained leverage over Yang Wei, ruining their plan.
• As a result, Star Gossip lost credibility, faced public outrage and possible legal action, and became commercially damaged even if Wang and Qi were willing to rescue it.

Character Developments

• Old Master Wei: Revealed as pragmatic, secretive, and firmly committed to self-preservation. He considers his actions morally acceptable because he believes businesspeople are responsible only for protecting their own interests.
• Old Master Qi: Becomes the example of someone who trusted a partner too completely and failed to read warning signs. His financial ruin turns his former cooperation with Wei into lasting resentment.
• Father Wei / Wei Zhanjie: Demonstrates that he is far more calculating and aggressive than his seemingly uninvolved image suggests. He turns a family scandal into a profitable transaction and extracts major assets while still appearing to preserve family unity.
• Wei Linxuan: Emerges as observant, resourceful, and strategically capable. By tracing the online campaign and uncovering Yang Wei’s weakness, he prevents the plotters from using the scandal against his family.
• Wei Renjie: Suffers significant losses from the failed scheme. His attempt to investigate and discredit Wei Linxuan ultimately exposes him to retaliation and costs his branch several profitable properties.
• Wang Dafu and Qi Jiaming: Are shown to be frustrated opportunists whose plan fails because they underestimate Wei Linxuan and mishandle the digital evidence.
• Yang Wei and Star Gossip: Become liabilities after their role in spreading manipulated information is exposed, with the magazine’s reputation and financial survival placed in jeopardy.

Significant Themes

• Self-preservation versus loyalty: The chapter questions whether withholding dangerous information is justified when revealing it could harm one’s own interests.
• Business as warfare: Both Old Master Wei and Father Wei treat commercial and family conflicts as battles in which hesitation leads to defeat.
• The danger of trusting an enemy’s mercy: The title emphasizes that people must not rely on an opponent to protect their interests; they must recognize danger and act independently.
• Profiting from disaster: Father Wei mirrors Old Master Wei’s earlier conduct, turning another family’s crisis into an opportunity to seize valuable assets.
• Appearance versus reality: The Wei family maintains an outward image of harmony despite deep internal hostility because public conflict could damage its reputation and stock value.
• Information as power: Secret policies, leaked rumors, IP addresses, online identities, and personal weaknesses all become tools that determine who gains the advantage.
• Consequences of manipulation: The attempt to weaponize media gossip backfires, destroying Star Gossip’s credibility and weakening the people behind the scheme.

Character Interactions

• Old Master Wei and Old Master Qi: Their former partnership is destroyed by Wei’s secret withdrawal and Qi’s resulting financial ruin. Their disagreement reflects opposing views of business ethics and responsibility.
• Father Wei and the eldest Wei branch: Father Wei forces them to trade valuable department stores for the appearance of family peace, humiliating and weakening them while avoiding an open public feud.
• Father Wei and Wei Renjie: Father Wei publicly helps clarify the scandal, but only after receiving substantial compensation. His cooperation is transactional rather than familial.
• Wei Linxuan and the plotters: Wei Linxuan outmaneuvers Wang Dafu, Qi Jiaming, and their associates by tracing the online smear campaign and exploiting Yang Wei’s vulnerability.
• Wang Dafu and Qi Jiaming: Their conversation reveals their frustration and regret. They recognize that their failed operation not only achieved nothing but also cost them a valuable media tool and worsened the Wei family’s internal conflict in an unexpected way.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Wang Dafu, president of Yingdun Entertainment, decides that Star Gossip Entertainment News may no longer be worth saving after its dishonest reporting scandal and the lawsuit brought by Wei Linxuan.
• He considers allowing the magazine to be seized and liquidated, then restarting under a different name to avoid further losses.
• Qi Jiaming is deeply dissatisfied with this approach. His concern is not only financial but also personal: losing to Wei Linxuan would damage his reputation among Beijing’s wealthy heirs and make him appear incompetent.
• Wang Zhonghao proposes a legal and strategic way to protect the magazine. He argues that the original rumor report itself was based on photographs supplied by Wei Renjie and was written cautiously, using terms such as “reportedly” and “suspected.”
• The main wrongdoing—hiring paid online commenters to smear Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan—was allegedly carried out personally by editor-in-chief Yang Wei, without the magazine’s knowledge. This gives Star Gossip grounds to shift primary blame onto Yang Wei.
• However, Wang Zhonghao recognizes that this alone may not prevent financial damages or prolonged legal restrictions. He recommends privately negotiating with Heng Xuan Studio.
• The proposed settlement would involve Star Gossip issuing a prominent, sincere public apology to Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan, acknowledging the magazine’s responsibility for poor personnel management and the harm caused by the scandal.

Character developments

• Wang Dafu is shown as calculating, ruthless, and focused on minimizing losses. Although outwardly crude, he understands the practical value of abandoning a compromised asset.
• Qi Jiaming reveals his pride and inexperience in business warfare. His desire to preserve his dignity and fulfill his promise to Yang Wei makes him unwilling to simply give up.
• Wang Zhonghao emerges as the most perceptive and strategically capable figure in the room. He understands both the legal loopholes and the social importance of Qi Jiaming’s pride, offering a plan that addresses both.
• Yang Wei becomes the likely scapegoat. His secret use of paid commenters exposes him to personal liability, though the chapter leaves open whether he will accept the blame.
• Wei Linxuan and Lu Heng remain offstage but hold decisive power through their lawsuit and their potential willingness—or refusal—to settle.

Significant themes

• Power, reputation, and face: Qi Jiaming’s concern over humiliation demonstrates how social standing among elite heirs can matter more than money.
• Manipulation and scapegoating: The company seeks to preserve itself by isolating Yang Wei’s misconduct and presenting it as a personal act rather than an institutional one.
• Responsibility in journalism: The chapter distinguishes between reporting rumors and deliberately inciting public harassment, while still acknowledging that the publication bears responsibility for its employee’s actions.
• Pragmatism versus pride: Wang Dafu favors abandoning the magazine, while Qi Jiaming wants to fight for honor and Wang Zhonghao searches for a practical compromise.
• Legal strategy and moral ambiguity: The proposed defense may be technically plausible, but it relies on shifting blame and exploiting distinctions between the magazine’s formal reporting and its harmful campaign.

Character interactions

• Wang Dafu repeatedly explains the magazine’s worsening legal and regulatory situation, but his pessimistic calculations increasingly irritate Qi Jiaming.
• Qi Jiaming remains mostly silent, though his growing frown reveals his anger and anxiety.
• Wang Zhonghao reads Qi’s unspoken concerns and interrupts Wang Dafu with a more hopeful strategy, immediately gaining Qi’s attention.
• Wang Dafu enthusiastically accepts the idea of making Yang Wei responsible, but questions whether Yang will cooperate and recognizes that the lawsuit could still cripple the magazine.
• Wang Zhonghao ultimately argues that only a private settlement and apology to Wei Linxuan and Lu Heng can reliably save Star Gossip.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Wang Zhonghao proposes resolving Star Gossip Entertainment News’ crisis through an out-of-court settlement with Wei Linxuan and Lu Heng.
• He argues that a public, honest resolution could preserve the newspaper’s reputation, prevent suspension or a ban, and protect its expanding mainland Huaxia market.
• The Wang brothers decide that Qi Jiaming must intervene with the Wei family, since their own influence is insufficient.
• Qi Jiaming agrees, believing the Qi family can persuade the Wei family to settle despite the hostility between the two Wei branches.
• The conversation reveals that Qi Jiaming secretly orchestrated the entire scandal: Yang Wei published rumors about Wei Linxuan and Lu Heng, launched online attacks against Wei Linxuan, and was supposed to expose Wei Renjie as the mastermind, thereby provoking conflict within the Wei family while concealing the Qi family’s involvement.
• Qi worries that Yang Wei, if abandoned and cornered, might reveal the truth. Wang Zhonghao assures him that Yang Wei will remain silent because the Wang brothers will support his family and possibly rehire him after serving any prison sentence.
• The meeting ends with mutual flattery, as Qi praises Wang Zhonghao’s loyalty and management philosophy, while Wang humbly defers to Qi’s superior family background and experience.

Character developments

• Qi Jiaming is revealed as the true strategist behind the scandal. He is calculating, ambitious, and willing to manipulate multiple families for profit, but remains highly concerned with protecting the Qi family’s reputation.
• Wang Zhonghao demonstrates composure and political skill. He presents a practical solution, carefully manipulates Qi into helping, and portrays himself as a loyal employer who protects subordinates even when sacrificing them publicly.
• Wang Dafu initially reacts emotionally and pessimistically, but quickly recognizes the brothers’ strategy and uses crude flattery to win Qi’s cooperation.
• Yang Wei is positioned as the expendable scapegoat. Though absent, he is characterized as experienced and intelligent enough to understand the consequences of speaking out.
• Qi Jiaming and the Wang brothers strengthen their alliance, though their relationship remains based on mutual advantage rather than genuine trust.

Significant themes

• Manipulation and political calculation: The scandal is treated as a tool for creating conflict and advancing family interests.
• Scapegoating and betrayal: The Wang brothers plan to sacrifice Yang Wei while preserving their own positions.
• Power and social hierarchy: Influence determines whose words carry weight, with the Wangs relying on Qi’s prestigious family connections.
• Public morality versus private corruption: The proposed “honorable” settlement is partly a reputation-management strategy, contrasting sharply with the characters’ deceitful actions.
• Loyalty as a business tactic: Wang Zhonghao’s promise to care for Yang Wei’s family is presented both as compassion and as a way to ensure silence and maintain employee loyalty.
• Media exploitation: The chapter highlights the mutually dependent but adversarial relationship between newspapers and celebrities, where scandal generates profit and publicity.

Character interactions

• Wang Zhonghao tactfully persuades Qi Jiaming to negotiate with the Wei family.
• Wang Dafu reinforces the appeal through exaggerated praise of Qi’s status.
• Qi responds by praising the daring nature of Hong Kong tabloids, indirectly encouraging the Wangs to continue their aggressive methods.
• Qi questions Yang Wei’s reliability, prompting Wang Zhonghao to reassure him that the editor will accept responsibility and remain silent.
• The exchange concludes with reciprocal praise: Qi admires Wang Zhonghao’s supposed righteousness, while Wang presents himself as humble before Qi’s family and business stature.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qi Jiaming, the young master of Qi Group, meets with Wang Zhonghao and Wang Dafu from Yingdun Entertainment.
• Qi Jiaming expresses interest in producing television dramas, inquiring about Yingdun's operations.
• Wang Dafu reveals that Yingdun Entertainment typically invests in productions rather than producing them independently.
• Qi Jiaming hints at the potential profitability of producing a historical drama about Huaxia's medical arts and culture before Heng Xuan Studio releases theirs.
• Wang Dafu eagerly agrees, seeing a lucrative opportunity.

Character Developments

• Qi Jiaming: Initially aloof and arrogant, he reveals a keen business acumen and understanding of the entertainment industry's dynamics.
• Wang Dafu: Eager to please Qi Jiaming, he shows his cunning and willingness to exploit opportunities for profit, even if it means undercutting competitors.

Significant Themes

• Ambition and opportunism in business.
• The cutthroat nature of the entertainment industry.
• The blurred line between legitimate competition and unethical practices.

Character Interactions

• Qi Jiaming and Wang Zhonghao/Wang Dafu: Qi Jiaming subtly manipulates the brothers, playing on their greed and ambition to plant an idea in their minds.
• Wang Zhonghao and Wang Dafu: The brothers exchange glances, indicating their understanding of each other's intentions and their shared eagerness to exploit the opportunity suggested by Qi Jiaming.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qi Jiaming visits Wang brothers' club, where he discovers Su Man, his long-time idol, performing behind a one-way glass wall.
• Wang Dafu and Wang Zhonghao arrange for Qi Jiaming to meet Su Man in a private room.
• Wei Linxuan and Lu Heng prepare to return to their hometown for the New Year, with Wei Linxuan sulking about the temporary separation.

Character Developments

• Qi Jiaming shows surprise and delight upon seeing Su Man, indicating his admiration for her.
• Wei Linxuan displays jealousy and insecurity about Lu Heng's upcoming absence.

Significant Themes

• Admiration and attraction (Qi Jiaming towards Su Man)
• Jealousy and insecurity in relationships (Wei Linxuan towards Lu Heng)
• The struggle between personal desires and family obligations (Wei Linxuan)

Character Interactions

• Qi Jiaming and the Wang brothers: Qi Jiaming is manipulated by the Wang brothers to meet Su Man, while they subtly facilitate the encounter.
• Wei Linxuan and Lu Heng: Wei Linxuan expresses his displeasure about their temporary separation, and Lu Heng reassures him while playfully teasing him.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wei Linxuan expresses his desire to spend the New Year with Lu Heng in Lu Family Village, but his father insists he returns home.
• Wei Linxuan understands his father's intentions and the potential threats from the Wei family's main branch.
• The Lu family travels to Lu Family Village for the New Year, arriving amidst a stunning display of ice and snow sculptures.

Character Developments

• Wei Linxuan: Struggles with his family's expectations and the potential threats to his relationship with Lu Heng.
• Lu Heng: Misses Wei Linxuan and looks forward to his return, expressing his excitement about the ice and snow sculptures in Lu Family Village.

Significant Themes

• Family expectations and obligations vs personal desires.
• The potential dangers and threats from Wei Linxuan's family.
• The beauty and joy of the New Year celebrations in Lu Family Village.

Character Interactions

• Wei Linxuan and Lu Heng: Share their hopes and fears about the New Year and the future of their relationship.
• The Lu family: Travel together to Lu Family Village, expressing their excitement and anticipation for the New Year celebrations.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Heng returns to his village for the New Year, finding it modernized with new houses.
• The Lu family's new village and home are ready, but they can't move in immediately due to customs and practical reasons.
• The Lu family is invited to dinner at the village chief's home by their third uncle.

Character Developments

• Lu Heng shows disappointment at the changes in his village but adapts quickly.
• Lu Chi, Lu Heng's brother, is portrayed as responsible and considerate, having arranged for the family's new home.

Significant Themes

• Change vs. Tradition: The village has modernized, but the Lu family still adheres to traditional customs, such as not moving house during the first lunar month.
• Community and Belonging: The villagers welcome the Lu family back warmly, emphasizing their connection and shared history.

Character Interactions

• Lu Heng and Lu Chi interact, with Lu Chi explaining the changes in the village and the plans for their new home.
• The Lu family interacts with the villagers, who enthusiastically welcome them back and invite them to dinner.
• Third Uncle Lu and the village chief (Third Granduncle) interact, with the latter scolding the former for delaying the Lu family's dinner.