Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue and his companions leave the casino triumphantly after he wins ten million from the Lin Household. Shen Fangli and Lei Xuan question how he managed it, suspecting luck or unusual card skills.
• Yan explains that his victory came from a combination of limited skill and a guess with only a thirty percent chance of success. He admits he was gambling with money transferred by his eldest brother, meaning he would not personally have suffered if he lost.
• Despite winning, Yan warns everyone not to imitate him and orders Ji Xi to add a company rule banning gambling. Since he violated the rule himself, he decides to fine himself five hundred thousand for the company’s year-end bonuses.
• Back on the cruise ship, Yan asks Lei Xuan to photograph Lin Lang’s IOU in a way that appears candid but keeps the writing legible. Lei Xuan complains but produces an excellent photograph before fleeing.
• Yan sends the photograph to Lin Shi as repayment for a photograph Lin Shi had previously lent him. The exchange appears to be connected to Lin Rui and possibly an arrangement involving mutual favors.
• Lin Shi responds sarcastically, offering Yan a “free chance” to eliminate someone, but Yan reminds him that Lin Shi still has not refunded him for a previous favor. Lin Shi immediately logs off, leaving Yan irritated.
• While Shen Fangli studies her script, Yan silently takes the photo, sends it, and begins mentally cursing the Lin Household when Lin Shi avoids discussing the refund.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue demonstrates confidence, strategic daring, and a reckless willingness to gamble, though he also shows responsibility by warning others against gambling and imposing a penalty on himself.
• His “evil capitalist” personality remains prominent, but it is balanced by his playful humor and practical concern for company rules and employee bonuses.
• Yan also displays a teasing but considerate side with Shen Fangli. He jokes with her because he knows she will not take offense, and he silences his phone so he will not disturb her studying.
• Shen Fangli shows growing perceptiveness and improved acting-related emotional analysis. She correctly infers that Yan’s exchange with Lin Shi may involve Lin Rui, earning his exaggerated praise.
• Her dedication to acting is emphasized as she studies scripts and completes assignments despite already having endured a busy day.
• Lei Xuan reveals a strong talent for photography, even though his main profession is screenwriting. His irritation with Yan’s demands contrasts with his willingness to complete them perfectly.
• Lin Shi continues to maintain a sarcastic, transactional relationship with Yan, but his immediate logout when the refund is mentioned suggests he is deliberately avoiding repayment.

Significant Themes

• Risk and calculated action: Yan’s casino victory reflects the tension between skill, probability, and luck. He acknowledges that success was far from guaranteed.
• Responsibility and hypocrisy: Although Yan breaks the company’s future anti-gambling rule before creating it, he accepts responsibility and fines himself.
• Friendship and teasing: The interactions among Yan, Shen Fangli, Lei Xuan, and Ji Xi show a relaxed group dynamic built on sarcasm, familiarity, and mutual trust.
• Work and self-improvement: Shen Fangli’s disciplined study highlights the effort required to develop professionally, while Yan recognizes the difficulty of her dual academic and acting pursuits.
• Transactional relationships: Yan’s photograph exchange with Lin Shi suggests that relationships between the two groups are shaped by favors, debts, and strategic benefit.
• Dislike of the Lin Household: Yan’s continuing frustration with Lin Shi and Lin Lang reinforces his antagonistic relationship with the Lin family, even when he cooperates with them.

Character Interactions

• Shen Fangli repeatedly challenges Yan’s explanations, refusing to accept his claims of simple luck or his absurd anime reference.
• Yan teases Lei Xuan about being better suited to photography, while Lei Xuan responds with exasperation and mock hostility.
• Yan and Shen share a comfortable romantic dynamic in which he jokes with her, observes her habits, and quietly avoids disturbing her work.
• Shen uses her developing insight to interpret Yan’s motives, particularly his connection to Lin Rui, while Yan humorously exaggerates his surprise at her progress.
• Yan and Lin Shi communicate through sarcastic messages centered on favors, repayment, and mutual leverage. Their exchange ends with Lin Shi avoiding the refund and Yan privately cursing the Lin Household.

Chapter Summary: “The Victim Who Lost 750 Million”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Fangli suggests that Yan Xianjue withhold Lin Shi’s share of the profits from Tourmaline Entertainment until Lin Shi repays the money he owes. Yan Xianjue approves of the idea, while both conveniently forget about Lin Shi’s predicament.
• The chapter reveals how news of Yan Xianjue winning 750 million in one casino round spread throughout Qianhai City. A wealthy young man recorded the event and posted it online, driven partly by envy.
• Although gambling carried a negative reputation among wealthy families, the enormous sum—and the fact that Yan Xianjue left immediately after winning—made the incident more impressive than scandalous.
• Yan Xianjue’s parents learned of the event through congratulatory phone calls. His mother prepared to punish him with a feather duster, but they called him first to hear the truth.
• Yan Xianjue claimed that his eldest brother, Yan Yi’an, had told him to go. When Yan Yi’an returned home, he admitted that he had encouraged Yan Xianjue to socialize in Harbor City and had even transferred money to him, but clarified that he meant meeting Manager Liu—not gambling.
• Yan Yi’an explained that Manager Liu had business grievances and had redirected several partners to Lin Lang. Because Lin Lang was in Harbor City, Manager Liu likely used Yan Xianjue to gain favor. The explanation shifted the conversation toward company affairs, though Yan Yi’an recognized that his decision had been reckless.
• The chapter then turns to Lin Lang, who was summoned home by Old Master Lin. He is ordered to kneel and is treated as the true “victim” of the gambling incident because the 750 million Yan Xianjue won came from him.
• Lin Shi mocks Lin Lang’s punishment, emphasizing the loss and joking that outsiders might think he was the one who had gambled away the money. Old Master Lin prepares to deal with Lin Lang first.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue remains shameless and opportunistic, using his brother’s words to deflect blame while happily keeping the casino winnings. His complaints about Lin Shi owing him money reveal his casual, financially entangled relationship with his friend and rival.
• Shen Fangli demonstrates her loyalty and bias toward Yan Xianjue by immediately helping him devise a way to pressure Lin Shi, even though the situation is morally questionable.
• Yan Yi’an is shown as responsible and protective but somewhat impulsive. He knowingly accepts his parents’ anger because he realizes that giving Yan Xianjue money and encouraging him to go out was dangerous.
• Yan Xianjue’s parents react in a familiar, family-oriented way: his mother is furious and ready to punish him, while his father remains calmer and trusts that there is an explanation.
• Lin Lang is humiliated and resentful after losing the enormous sum. Despite being an adult and a powerful figure, he is forced to kneel before Old Master Lin.
• Lin Shi remains mischievous and provocative, taking pleasure in Lin Lang’s misfortune and deliberately highlighting the 750 million loss.

Significant Themes

• Wealth and risk: The chapter explores how enormous sums of money can blur the line between recklessness and success. Yan Xianjue’s gambling is condemned in theory but celebrated in practice because he won so much.
• Family accountability: Both the Yan and Lin families respond to the incident through discipline, though their approaches differ. The Yan family focuses on understanding what happened, while Old Master Lin immediately punishes Lin Lang.
• Favoritism and loyalty: Shen Fangli’s unquestioning support of Yan Xianjue and his parents’ trust in Yan Yi’an show how family and romantic loyalties shape people’s judgments.
• Reputation and appearances: The wealthy families care about the social implications of gambling, but the spectacular result makes the scandal seem enviable rather than disgraceful.
• Humor through blame and misunderstanding: Yan Xianjue shifts responsibility to Yan Yi’an, while Yan Yi’an redirects the discussion toward business. Meanwhile, Lin Shi exploits the confusion to mock Lin Lang.

Character Interactions

• Shen Fangli and Yan Xianjue joke about Lin Shi’s unpaid debt, reinforcing their affectionate and conspiratorial relationship.
• Yan Xianjue’s parents confront the consequences of his actions, with his mother prepared to punish him and his father trying to establish the facts.
• Yan Yi’an cooperates with his parents’ reprimand and explains the business context behind Yan Xianjue’s presence in the casino.
• Lin Shi taunts Lin Lang while Old Master Lin disciplines him, creating a tense but comedic family confrontation.
• The contrasting reactions of the Yan and Lin families emphasize their different dynamics: the Yan family is protective and investigative, while the Lin family is strict, hierarchical, and openly punitive.

Chapter Summary

• Lin Lang returns to the Lin Household after losing 750 million to Yan Xianjue at a Harbor City casino. Suspecting that Lin Shi and Yan Xianjue may have conspired against him, he nevertheless concludes that their known hostility makes cooperation unlikely. He begins wondering whether Lin Shi has developed hidden influence or inherited a secret advantage from his late father, Lin Rui.
• Lin Lang tries to explain the casino incident to Old Master Lin, claiming that he merely encountered Yan Xianjue by chance. The old master ignores the explanation and focuses on the lost money, demanding to know how Lin Lang will repay or resolve the 750 million debt.
• Old Master Lin orders Lin Lang to stay away from Lin Corporation until the matter is settled. In his absence, Lin Shi will assume his responsibilities and occupy the vacant vice-president position. Lin Lang protests that Lin Shi is only eighteen and inexperienced, but the old master refuses to compromise, merely assigning Fifth and Eighth to assist Lin Shi.
• Lin Lang realizes that the casino loss is likely only a pretext. Old Master Lin has already decided to bring Lin Shi into the company as a rival and potential successor. Though resentful, Lin Lang accepts that he has lost this confrontation and vows internally not to underestimate Lin Shi again.
• Lin Shi then emphasizes that news of Lin Lang’s loss has spread throughout both Shallow Sea City and Harbor City’s wealthy circles. Because the incident occurred publicly among influential people, the damage to the Lin Household’s reputation is considerable. Old Master Lin orders Lin Lang to reflect before the family ancestors and consider how an heir should behave.
• After Lin Lang leaves, Old Master Lin privately warns Lin Shi to use his own judgment and not rely completely on Fifth and Eighth. He hints that the Lin Household will eventually belong to Lin Shi. Lin Shi outwardly agrees but privately distrusts the promise, recognizing that the old master has likely made similar assurances to many family members.
• Once Lin Shi leaves for class, Old Master Lin examines the photograph implicating Lin Lang. He summons a covert subordinate and orders an investigation into the photograph’s source and the exact casino events. When the subordinate suggests checking whether Yan Xianjue cheated, the old master dismisses the idea, recalling the legendary gambling abilities of Yan Xianjue’s grandfather, who once emptied Angel City’s casino reserves without being caught. He implies that Yan Xianjue is equally unlikely to have cheated.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Lin Lang shifts from confidence to alarm and humiliation. He recognizes that Old Master Lin is deliberately weakening his position and installing Lin Shi as a competitor. His interaction with Lin Shi becomes openly adversarial, though he masks his resentment before the old master.
• Lin Shi demonstrates strategic awareness and calculated provocation. He uses the casino rumor to worsen Lin Lang’s punishment, presents himself as capable and eager, and cleverly twists Old Master Lin’s warning about being a “whetstone.” His cheerful attitude conceals deep skepticism toward the family’s promises.
• Old Master Lin asserts control over the family and company. He uses Lin Lang’s financial scandal to justify removing him and elevating Lin Shi, while privately investigating the incident rather than accepting appearances.
• The chapter strengthens the rivalry between Lin Lang and Lin Shi, while also showing that Old Master Lin is manipulating both of them as part of a larger succession struggle.

Significant Themes

• Family power struggles and succession: The Lin Household is portrayed as a competitive environment where relatives are cultivated as rivals.
• Manipulation and hidden motives: The casino loss is treated as an excuse for a decision Old Master Lin had likely already made.
• Reputation and public consequences: Lin Lang’s gambling loss threatens not only his position but also the Lin Household’s standing among elite circles.
• Distrust and strategic intelligence: Nearly every character conceals intentions, and promises of future authority are treated as tools rather than guarantees.
• Legacy and inherited ability: Old Master Lin’s comparison between Yan Xianjue and his formidable grandfather suggests that reputation, skill, and danger can pass across generations.

Chapter Summary: “Lin Lang, Help Me Take the Blame”

Key Plot Points and Events

• During a livestream aboard the cruise ship, Yan Xianjue becomes the subject of intense online speculation after viewers bring up his recent visit to a Harbor City casino and his reported winnings.
• The livestream team quickly adapts by adding a temporary question-and-answer segment. Yao Weiran manages the production while Jiang Miaomiao handles the public response.
• Jiang confirms that Yan violated his own company’s anti-gambling rule and fined himself 500,000, supposedly to be distributed as employee year-end bonuses.
• Viewers investigate the claim by photographing the announcement on Random Investment’s bulletin board. They notice that it lacks an official stamp, though Jiang explains that Yan and Ji Xi are currently on the cruise ship and will stamp it later.
• The audience also learns that the company does not make employees compensate for scheduled days off, although staff frequently volunteer to work overtime.
• When viewers accuse Yan’s casino winnings of being illegal income and pressure him to donate, Jiang avoids giving a direct answer. Prompted by Ji Xi’s sign, she jokingly shifts responsibility to President Lin, suggesting that the matter depends on when Lin transfers the money into Yan’s account.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue remains shameless and confident despite being publicly questioned. He is amused by the controversy and trusts Jiang Miaomiao’s ability to manage it, while also teasing Shen Fangli and displaying mild jealousy.
• Jiang Miaomiao demonstrates strong potential in public relations. Although nervous, she quickly identifies useful comments, responds calmly, and skillfully redirects uncomfortable questions. Her performance suggests she is adapting well to her new role.
• Lei Xuan has matured into an efficient “corporate slave,” understanding the company’s workflow and recognizing that Yan’s impulsive actions create extra work for everyone.
• Yao Weiran proves highly capable at crisis management, rapidly organizing the livestream’s new comment-reading segment.
• Ji Xi shows foresight and practical wisdom by preparing contingency plans and supplying Jiang with the strategy for deflecting the donation question.
• Shen Fangli remains relaxed and supportive, helping with the stream while teasing Yan about his jealousy.
• Lin is not physically present, but Jiang invokes his name as a convenient scapegoat for Yan’s controversial winnings.

Significant Themes

• Public scrutiny in the internet age: Private actions can quickly become livestream controversies, forcing public figures and companies to respond immediately.
• Corporate transparency and performance: The company turns an embarrassing incident into entertainment by publicly discussing Yan’s self-imposed fine and internal policies.
• Crisis management and teamwork: The staff’s preparation and coordinated response prevent the casino controversy from overwhelming the livestream.
• Workplace culture: The chapter contrasts the company’s generous policies—such as no make-up workdays and employee bonuses—with viewers’ assumptions about exploitative employers.
• Moral judgment and scapegoating: Viewers pressure Yan to donate his winnings, while Jiang humorously redirects the blame toward Lin.

Character Interactions

• Yan and Lei Xuan exchange silent blame over the chaos Yan has caused.
• Yan and Shen Fangli bicker playfully, with Shen accusing him of unnecessary jealousy and urging him to watch Jiang’s statement.
• Jiang works closely with Yao Weiran and the remote PR team to manage the livestream.
• Ji Xi guides Jiang from off-camera, enabling her to evade the donation question without directly defending or condemning Yan.
• The livestream audience actively investigates the company’s claims, questions its policies, and pressures Jiang for further explanations, turning the stream into an informal public inquiry.

Chapter Summary: “Grandfather’s Notes”

Key Plot Points and Events

• During the livestream, Yan Xianjue teaches the audience an underwater escape technique for situations such as being kidnapped with their hands tied. The viewers joke that the lesson is impractical, while Lei Xuan appears increasingly irritated by Yan’s teasing.
• Before the livestream ends, Lei Xuan reminds Yan about the upcoming release of the Gaokao results. Yan announces that next week’s program will feature more “friends,” potentially offering university-application advice, and will be filmed on the grasslands rather than on the cruise ship.
• Yan openly contradicts Lei Xuan’s prepared script, insisting that the cruise project can resume whenever they feel like it. The audience humorously compares the pair’s disagreement to employees trying to manage an unpredictable boss.
• The group returns to Qianhai City by cruise ship. Ji Xi appreciates the convenience of traveling by sea directly to the company, prompting Yan to joke that he has not exploited Ji to that extent.
• Lei Xuan and Yao Weiran return to the company to oversee the editing of the footage. Yan offers to take Shen Fangli home, but she reveals that her father is picking her up. Yan cautiously agrees to let her inform President Shen first, remembering his previous explosive confrontation at a restaurant.
• Yan rewards Uncle Lu and the other guards with double bonuses because the cruise trip was unusually dangerous and required them to maintain watch shifts.
• At home, Yan discovers that his parents attended Yan Ci’s match without telling him. Yan Yi’an explains that the event conflicted with Xiao Wan’s farewell performance, which the family will attend the next day. Yan suspects Yan Ci intentionally concealed the match to prevent Yan from attending and distracting him.
• Yan Yi’an asks to see Grandfather’s handwritten notes. Yan reveals that he has stored them in a temperature- and humidity-controlled display cabinet and brings out numerous books—enough to fill the two large suitcases he brought back from the sanatorium.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue remains playful, outspoken, and difficult to control. He improvises during the livestream, openly challenges Lei Xuan’s plans, and treats expensive or unusual possessions—including the cruise ship and Grandfather’s notes—with casual eccentricity.
• Lei Xuan acts as the practical organizer and script-holder, repeatedly attempting to keep Yan on schedule. His growing frustration with Yan’s improvisation becomes a recurring source of comedy.
• Yan Yi’an demonstrates a detailed understanding of Yan Xianjue’s personality. He carefully gives him a plausible explanation for the parents’ absence rather than revealing that Yan Ci deliberately hid the match.
• Yan Ci is portrayed as competitive and mischievous. His failure to tell Yan Xianjue about the match suggests he wants to avoid Yan’s distracting, overly intense presence.
• Shen Fangli continues to interact comfortably and playfully with Yan Xianjue, while also showing awareness of her father’s intimidating temperament.
• Uncle Lu and the security team are shown to be loyal and diligent, having worked under heightened danger during the cruise trip.

Significant Themes

• Comedy through personality clashes: Yan’s impulsive behavior repeatedly disrupts Lei Xuan’s plans, creating humor both on the show and behind the scenes.
• Family rivalry and familiarity: The Yan siblings understand one another’s habits and schemes well, especially Yan Xianjue’s tendency to interfere and Yan Ci’s desire to avoid it.
• Responsibility beneath extravagance: Although Yan appears careless and playful, he recognizes the risks his activities create and compensates his staff generously.
• Preserving family legacy: Grandfather’s notes represent an inherited connection to the family’s past. Yan’s elaborate preservation of them contrasts with the family’s previous indifference.
• Public performance versus private life: The livestream presents a scripted entertainment program, but Yan’s unscripted remarks and the family’s backstage interactions reveal the genuine personalities behind it.

Important Character Interactions

• Yan and Lei Xuan exchange sarcastic remarks throughout the livestream, with Yan undermining Lei’s script and Lei trying to keep the program organized.
• Ji Xi jokes about the cruise ship’s convenience, while Yan mockingly denies exploiting him.
• Yan carefully avoids provoking President Shen after Shen Fangli says her father is picking her up.
• Yan thanks and rewards Uncle Lu for protecting the group during the dangerous trip.
• Yan Yi’an tactfully explains why their parents missed Yan Ci’s match, then shifts the conversation toward Grandfather’s notes.
• Yan’s elaborate presentation of the notes surprises Yan Yi’an, revealing that the seemingly modest inheritance consists of a large and carefully preserved collection.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Yi’an stops Yan Xianjue from taking more books and asks whether their grandfather left a reading order for the collection.
• Yan Xianjue finds a thin notebook containing their grandfather’s list and detailed explanations, then lends Yan Yi’an the cabinet key so he can study the materials.
• Yan Xianjue prepares to sleep before their noon flight, while Yan Yi’an remains in the study to examine the notes.
• Yan Yi’an questions Yan Xianjue about telling their mother that Yan Yi’an had sent him to the casino. Yan Xianjue sincerely believes this was what his eldest brother intended.
• Yan Yi’an warns Yan Xianjue never to gamble again. Yan Xianjue agrees but remains proud of winning 750 million after wagering five million, viewing it as an extraordinary financial success and as revenge against Lin Lang.
• Yan Xianjue reflects that the casino victory was probably a one-time opportunity created by the original plot. Lin Lang’s available funds were limited because Old Master Lin controlled and redistributed the family’s resources.
• While jokingly wishing he had transmigrated into a gambling-stone or “Dragon King” novel where making money would be easier, Yan Xianjue falls asleep.
• Left alone, Yan Yi’an realizes that Yan Xianjue has effectively revealed that he is a transmigrator. Yan Yi’an concludes that Xianjue likely does not retain memories from infancy, reasoning that his behavior as a child seemed genuine. He estimates Xianjue’s previous-life age at roughly twenty to twenty-four.

Character Developments

• Yan Yi’an: Becomes increasingly aware that Yan Xianjue is not an ordinary person. He notices the implications of Xianjue’s comments and begins analyzing his origins and past-life identity. Despite his practical and serious nature, he is repeatedly rendered speechless by his younger brother’s behavior.
• Yan Xianjue: Remains carefree, shameless, and financially ambitious. He takes pride in his casino winnings and in humiliating Lin Lang, yet understands the limits of his success and recognizes that the opportunity may not recur. His comments unintentionally confirm that he transmigrated.
• The Yan brothers’ relationship: Their interactions show strong familial trust and casual intimacy. Yan Yi’an protects and reprimands Xianjue, while Xianjue freely exploits his brother’s support and interprets vague comments in his own favor.

Significant Themes

• Family loyalty and favoritism: Yan Yi’an helps cover for Xianjue, while their mother’s special indulgence toward the youngest brother is repeatedly acknowledged.
• The consequences of transmigration: Xianjue’s past-life knowledge shapes his choices, while Yan Yi’an must reconsider his understanding of him now that his secret has been exposed.
• Wealth, luck, and opportunity: Xianjue’s enormous casino profit is treated as both impressive and temporary, emphasizing the difficulty of building lasting wealth.
• Humor through personality contrast: Yan Yi’an’s restrained seriousness clashes with Xianjue’s reckless confidence, producing much of the chapter’s comedy.
• Limits of cleverness and plot advantages: Xianjue recognizes that his success depended on a rare plot-driven opportunity rather than repeatable skill or unlimited resources.

Character Interactions

• Yan Xianjue respectfully gives Yan Yi’an access to the grandfather’s notes and study.
• The brothers argue playfully over responsibility for the casino trip, with Xianjue shifting blame toward Yan Yi’an.
• Yan Yi’an reprimands him for gambling, but ultimately acknowledges the scale of his winnings.
• Xianjue boasts about his success while Yan Yi’an reacts with disbelief and exasperation.
• After Xianjue falls asleep, Yan Yi’an privately pieces together the truth about his transmigration and begins questioning how much of his past he remembers.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Yi’an investigates the connection between Yan Xianjue’s apparent past-life memories and the family’s ability to hear his inner thoughts. He suspects the two events began at roughly the same time.
• He reexamines Grandpa’s letter and realizes it may not merely explain the book list—it was likely a message specifically intended for Yan Xianjue.
• Each book in Yan Xianjue’s collection is marked with a number, and handwritten notes are hidden inside. Yan Yi’an recognizes Grandpa’s old method of encoding clues through page, line, and word numbers, but realizes decoding the entire collection will be an enormous task.
• After photographing and photocopying the letter, Yan Yi’an wakes Yan Xianjue and prepares to leave for the airport.
• Yan Xianjue complains about being woken but secretly sets a timer so he can watch Yan Ci’s competition livestream, despite claiming he is uninterested. Yan Yi’an also gives him university application materials, though Yan Xianjue would rather sleep and choose an easy school and major.
• Yan Yi’an jokes about Yan Xianjue’s excessive sleeping and decides he must find an occupation for him, comparing him humorously to a lazy husky.
• Meanwhile, Shen Fangli has dinner with her father, President Shen. Her mother has disappeared from the villa following the couple’s divorce, but Shen Fangli chooses not to interfere in their marital problems.
• Shen Fangli nervously reveals that she is dating someone. President Shen immediately guesses Yan Xianjue, then becomes suspicious that their relationship may have influenced his business collaboration with Yan Corporation.
• Shen Fangli denies that the relationship was connected to the contract, insisting they only began dating on Wednesday and that the business agreement was arranged earlier. When her father suggests she returned for her birthday solely to start dating Yan Xianjue, she firmly denies it.

Character Developments

• Yan Yi’an becomes more observant and analytical, connecting previously strange details about Yan Xianjue’s behavior to possible past-life memories. He also takes responsibility for deciphering Grandpa’s hidden message, despite recognizing how burdensome the task will be.
• Yan Xianjue remains lazy, sleepy, and verbally dismissive, but his secret timer reveals genuine interest in Yan Ci’s livestream. His reluctance toward university applications reflects his desire for a comfortable, low-pressure life.
• Shen Fangli shows increasing independence. She accepts that her parents’ divorce is their own matter and decides not to intervene, while also taking the difficult step of acknowledging her romantic relationship to her father.
• President Shen is protective and perceptive. He quickly identifies Yan Xianjue as Shen Fangli’s boyfriend and immediately worries about whether the relationship is connected to corporate dealings.
• Grandpa is further characterized as someone who leaves elaborate, puzzle-like clues and communicates indirectly through books and codes.

Significant Themes

• Hidden truths and deciphering the past: The coded books and letter suggest that the family’s history contains secrets that must be carefully reconstructed.
• Past lives and unexplained knowledge: Yan Yi’an’s theory links Yan Xianjue’s memories to the emergence of his audible inner thoughts.
• Family protection and boundaries: Both Yan Yi’an and President Shen act protectively, but Shen Fangli also recognizes the importance of respecting personal boundaries.
• Romance versus family suspicion: Shen Fangli’s relationship with Yan Xianjue becomes a source of awkwardness and concern, especially because of the families’ business connection.
• Contradictions between words and actions: Yan Xianjue denies wanting to watch Yan Ci’s livestream while secretly setting a timer, while Shen Fangli awkwardly tries to reassure her father without revealing too much.

Important Character Interactions

• Yan Yi’an and Yan Xianjue: Their exchange highlights their familiar, teasing dynamic. Yan Yi’an manages Yan Xianjue’s schedule and responsibilities, while Yan Xianjue complains but quietly follows along.
• Shen Fangli and President Shen: Their dinner conversation shifts from cautious disclosure to interrogation. President Shen reacts protectively and suspiciously, while Shen Fangli tries to defend her relationship and separate it from the business partnership.
• Yan Yi’an and Grandpa: Though Grandpa is absent, his influence drives the chapter through the coded letter, books, and clues he left behind.

Chapter Summary: “Toothache”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Fangli tells her father that Yan Xianjue denied knowing about the business collaboration and claimed that the Yan Household only worked with others for profit.
• President Shen worries that Shen Fangli and Yan Xianjue come from unequal social and financial backgrounds. He cautions her that class differences can create unintended conflict in marriage.
• Shen Fangli admits that although she was willing to accept a marriage alliance for her family’s sake, Yan Xianjue is the only man she genuinely likes.
• President Shen points out that Yan Xianjue is more ambitious and involved in business than he pretends. Although he claims not to care about the family company, his own business operates under Yan Corporation, and he has reviewed the corporation’s investment projects.
• Shen Fangli realizes that Yan Xianjue’s apparent laziness may actually reflect his ability to delegate effectively. She reassures her father that she likes him despite his imperfections.
• After traveling overnight, Yan Xianjue arrives with Yan Yi’an and is welcomed by Yan Wan. The siblings prepare for Yan Wan’s evening performance.
• Yan Wan and Yan Yi’an tease Yan Xianjue for sleeping through the flight instead of watching Yan Ci’s competition, though he secretly watched the entire broadcast.
• Yan Xianjue sulks and threatens, implicitly, to complain to their mother. Yan Wan and Yan Yi’an laugh together, revealing the family’s habit of teasing and sabotaging one another.

Character Development

• Shen Fangli demonstrates emotional clarity and independence. She understands her father’s concerns but refuses to abandon her feelings simply because Yan Xianjue may not be an ideal or socially equal match.
• President Shen is revealed to be protective and pragmatic. Rather than opposing Fangli outright, he tries to teach her how to assess a man through his actions rather than his words.
• Yan Xianjue appears lazy and unserious, but the discussion reveals his hidden competence, ambition, and talent for choosing capable subordinates. In his family interactions, he is childish, sensitive, and easily embarrassed.
• Yan Wan is caring toward Yan Xianjue, particularly concerning her safety, but she also enjoys teasing him. Her return strengthens the playful family dynamic.
• Yan Yi’an acts like a responsible elder brother but is also mischievous and vulnerable to Yan Xianjue’s retaliatory schemes.

Significant Themes

• Love versus social expectations: Shen Fangli values genuine affection over a politically advantageous marriage.
• Actions versus appearances: President Shen emphasizes that Yan Xianjue’s behavior reveals more ambition and responsibility than his careless words suggest.
• Class differences in relationships: The chapter explores how unequal social positions can create tension even without deliberate cruelty.
• Family teasing and affection: The Yan siblings express closeness through mockery, complaints, and playful revenge rather than overt sentimentality.
• Hidden competence: Yan Xianjue’s laziness masks an ability to manage people and business effectively.

Character Interactions

• Shen Fangli and her father have a serious but affectionate discussion about her relationship and future.
• Yan Xianjue’s behavior is indirectly examined by both the Shens and his siblings, creating a contrast between his public image and his actual abilities.
• Yan Wan and Yan Yi’an unite to tease Yan Xianjue, while he reacts with wounded pride and threatens to seek their mother’s intervention.
• The chapter ends by portraying the Yan family as mutually troublesome but deeply familiar and connected.

Chapter Summary: “Murder—This Was Definitely Murder!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Wan brings Yan Xianjue and Yan Yi’an to a shooting range before her evening dance performance. Although Yan Xianjue has practiced with prop guns before, this is his first time using real firearms.
• Excited by finally being allowed to handle a gun after turning eighteen, Yan Xianjue spends the entire morning trying different weapons and ignoring warnings to take it easy. The recoil leaves much of his body sore and numb.
• Back at the hotel, Yan Wan gives him medicated oil and leaves to prepare for her performance. Yan Yi’an applies the oil, but Yan Xianjue complains dramatically that his brother is “trying to murder” him because the treatment hurts.
• While resting, Yan Xianjue discovers that Yan Ci is trending online. He and Yan Yi’an learn that Yan Ci has been criticized for bringing bodyguards to a competition and for not personally playing in recent matches.
• Yan Ci explains that the bodyguards were present because someone had previously attempted to block his team at competitions. On this occasion, attackers actually tried to interfere with the team and brought reporters, seemingly hoping to provoke a fight and get the team punished.
• The family’s bodyguards caught the attackers, and Yan Ci had already contacted the police. Despite the online backlash, he plans to respond through legal channels rather than retaliating physically.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue is shown as childish, excitable, and highly dramatic, but also observant and loyal to his family. He enjoys his newfound freedom with real firearms and feels Yan Ci is being unfairly blamed.
• Yan Wan is confident about her dancing and thoughtful toward Yan Xianjue, bringing him effective medicated oil and looking after him before leaving for her performance.
• Yan Yi’an acts as the responsible older brother, warning Yan Xianjue about the dangers of recoil and helping treat his injuries. He also feels guilty about the family’s excessive restrictions on Yan Xianjue.
• Yan Ci appears to be under significant public pressure but demonstrates foresight by arranging protection, recognizing a potential setup, and calling the police instead of engaging in a violent confrontation.
• Yan Yi’an’s view of Yan Ci softens as he realizes that Yan Ci’s controversial choices were motivated by concern for the team and that he handled the threat sensibly.

Significant Themes

• Family protection and responsibility: The siblings constantly look after one another, even while teasing and complaining.
• The gap between reality and public perception: Yan Ci is criticized online because outsiders misunderstand the presence of bodyguards and his absence from matches.
• Restraint versus violence: Despite belonging to a stereotypically “villainous” family, Yan Ci chooses legal action over fighting, highlighting the family’s unexpected morality.
• Comedy through exaggeration: Yan Xianjue’s complaints about rules, gun recoil, and medicated oil create humor while emphasizing his spoiled but lovable personality.
• Consequences of past behavior: The family’s many absurd restrictions exist because of the older siblings’ previous exploits, suggesting a history of reckless or dangerous actions.

Character Interactions

• Yan Xianjue repeatedly complains to Yan Wan and Yan Yi’an about being restricted before adulthood, while they indulge and tease him.
• Yan Wan and Yan Yi’an supervise his shooting and later deal with the consequences of his overenthusiasm.
• Yan Xianjue and Yan Yi’an discuss Yan Ci’s trending scandal, with Yan Xianjue passionately defending their brother.
• Yan Yi’an privately contacts Yan Ci, who explains the attempted ambush and the reason for the bodyguards. This interaction reassures Yan Yi’an that Yan Ci is handling the situation competently.

Chapter Summary: Swan Lake

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue and Yan Yi’an attend Yan Wan’s farewell performance using family tickets she gave them. Yan Xianjue wears a lake-blue brooch from Yan Wan.
• Before the show, Yan Xianjue is surprised to learn that Yan Wan will perform in Swan Lake, believing she mainly performed classical solo ballet. Yan Yi’an explains that the ballet requires dancers for both the White Swan and Black Swan.
• Mary’s brother, whose sister plays the Black Swan, introduces himself and explains that the performance represents the company’s old and new principal dancers passing the role between them. He enthusiastically practices his Chinese with the brothers until Yan Yi’an tactfully reminds him that the performance is about to begin.
• Yan Xianjue, despite knowing little about ballet, becomes absorbed in the emotional conflict of the performance, especially its themes of black and white, good and evil, and love and hatred.
• After the show, he gives Yan Wan a bouquet and congratulates her. Yan Yi’an photographs the siblings together.
• Yan Wan asks her brothers to wait in the car while she changes. Mary then comments on how attractive Yan Wan’s brothers are and bluntly asks whether she can sleep with Yan Xianjue. Yan Wan firmly refuses, still viewing him as a child.
• Yan Xianjue helps load Yan Wan’s suitcase, but her sighs and strange behavior leave him confused. Internally, Yan Wan realizes that her “little brother” has grown into an attractive young man who attracts attention.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue: Shows affectionate support for Yan Wan and genuine openness to new experiences. Although initially ignorant of ballet, he becomes emotionally invested in the performance. His formal appearance and growing attractiveness are noticed by others, though he remains unaware of the impression he makes.
• Yan Yi’an: Continues to act as the composed, practical older brother. He corrects Yan Xianjue’s misconceptions, quietly manages awkward social situations, and captures a family photograph.
• Yan Wan: Demonstrates confidence in her professional abilities and warmth toward her brothers. Her protective instincts remain strong, especially when Mary propositions Yan Xianjue. She also begins to recognize that he is no longer merely a child.
• Mary and her brother: Mary’s brother is sociable and talkative, while Mary is direct and uninhibited, providing comic contrast to Yan Wan’s more restrained sensibilities.

Significant Themes

• Family affection and support: The brothers attend Yan Wan’s farewell performance, celebrate her success, and help her afterward.
• Growth and changing perceptions: Yan Wan struggles to adjust to the fact that Yan Xianjue has matured into an appealing young man rather than remaining the child she remembers.
• Cultural differences: The chapter humorously contrasts Western openness and bluntness with Yan Wan’s discomfort and more conservative sense of propriety.
• Art and emotional communication: Although Yan Xianjue lacks technical knowledge, the dramatic symbolism and emotional intensity of Swan Lake allow him to understand and appreciate the performance.
• Transition and succession: The pairing of the White and Black Swan dancers symbolizes the ballet company’s older and newer principal dancers handing their roles over.

Character Interactions

• Yan Xianjue and Yan Yi’an exchange dry, sibling-like banter before the performance.
• Mary’s brother engages Yan Xianjue in an overly enthusiastic conversation about Chinese, while Yan Yi’an remains mostly silent and eventually ends the discussion.
• Yan Xianjue congratulates Yan Wan with flowers and a hug; Yan Yi’an takes their photograph.
• Mary openly flirts with Yan Xianjue through Yan Wan, prompting Yan Wan’s immediate protective refusal.
• Yan Wan’s sighs and private thoughts reveal her amused but unsettled realization that her younger brother now attracts romantic attention.

Chapter Summary: “I’m in Love”

After returning from a long flight, Yan Xianjue is exhausted and disoriented, while Yan Wan sleeps heavily as well. In contrast, their eldest brother, Yan Yi’an, remains tirelessly focused on work, reviewing documents throughout the flight and after returning home. Yan Xianjue jokingly decides that Yan Yi’an should be forced to participate in a triathlon because of his extreme workaholic habits.
During the drive home, Yan Yi’an changes the subject by asking about Yan Ci, who had recently been confronted by several thugs before one of his esports matches. Yan Ci avoided being barred from the competition because he had bodyguards with him, but reporters filmed the incident, causing him to trend online once again. Yan Xianjue finds the situation amusing, while Yan Wan reminds him that Yan Ci was actually the victim.
The family discovers that Yan Ci has responded to the incident in an unusually aggressive and thorough way. He reposted the police announcement explaining that he had been attacked without provocation, sued the reporters who secretly filmed him, and personally argued with online antis. He even captured screenshots of their insults so they could not delete them later. Yan Xianjue enthusiastically likes Yan Ci’s posts, while Yan Yi’an realizes that the situation is likely to become even more chaotic. He asks the company’s public relations department to coordinate with Yan Xianjue and Yan Ci, but ultimately tells them to let Yan Ci’s esports club handle the matter unless public opinion becomes uncontrollable.
That evening, the Yan family holds a large celebratory dinner. They are honoring both Yan Ci’s match victory and Yan Wan’s successful farewell performance, marking the end of her dance career and the beginning of a new stage in her life.
Yan Xianjue decides to add a third reason for celebration. Nervous but determined to tell his family personally, he announces that he is in a relationship. Yan Ci reacts with immediate disbelief and bluntly asks whether Xianjue’s girlfriend is blind. The exchange turns into playful bickering, with Yan Ci questioning how Xianjue found time to date when he spends so much time at home, while Xianjue points out that Yan Ci is single despite spending even more time training or staying at home.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue reveals that he is dating someone, marking an important personal development and suggesting a more mature or independent side of him.
• Yan Ci continues to display his combative personality, responding to online attacks with relentless sarcasm and legal action. His behavior is reckless and entertaining but also shows that he refuses to be bullied or misunderstood.
• Yan Yi’an remains responsible and composed, attempting to manage both Yan Ci’s public controversy and the family’s affairs. His workaholic nature is teased by his siblings, revealing the family’s comfortable closeness with him.
• Yan Wan demonstrates concern for Yan Ci despite enjoying the family’s teasing. Her completed farewell performance marks the conclusion of her professional dance career.

Major Themes

• Family intimacy and teasing: The siblings constantly mock one another, but their jokes reveal affection, familiarity, and mutual concern.
• Public image and online conflict: Yan Ci’s controversy highlights the instability of internet fame, the power of social media, and the consequences of public harassment.
• Personal transitions: Yan Wan ends her dance career, while Yan Xianjue begins a romantic relationship, emphasizing change and new stages in life.
• Individual approaches to problems: Yan Yi’an prefers controlled management, while Yan Ci confronts problems directly and aggressively, creating humorous tension between them.
• Celebration and family support: The dinner brings together several major milestones, showing the Yan family as a supportive, if chaotic, unit.

Chapter Summary

• Family discovers Yan Xianjue is dating: During a family meal, Yan Ci realizes that Yan Xianjue’s travel reality show involved women and figures out that his younger brother has a girlfriend. The rest of the family admits they had already noticed, with Mother Yan being the first to understand because of her familiarity with Yan Xianjue’s normally indifferent personality.
• Sibling rivalry and teasing: Yan Ci immediately worries that Yan Xianjue’s girlfriend will take up their parents’ attention and asks when his brother plans to move out. Yan Xianjue sees through his selfish motives and teases him, boasting that Mother Yan likes his girlfriend. Their playful argument highlights the close but competitive relationship between the two brothers.
• Girlfriend revealed: Yan Xianjue identifies his girlfriend as Shen Fangli, whom Yan Ci remembers because of a scandal involving the Shen family and the destruction of Fatty Bro’s shop. Yan Ci initially worries that Shen Fangli’s relatives might exploit Yan Xianjue, but Yan Xianjue explains that her problematic second aunt and cousin have been arrested and sentenced to lengthy prison terms.
• Shen family background explained: The family discusses Shen Fangli’s parents’ divorce and her father’s establishment of a trust fund for her mother. Yan Yi’an and Yan Wan explain that President Shen created the fund primarily to protect Shen Fangli from being pressured by her mother’s relatives. By ensuring that Shen Fangli’s mother has financial security while refusing to provide extra money for extended family, he prevents those relatives from exploiting Shen Fangli and shields her from future public criticism.
• Themes of parental protection: Yan Xianjue realizes that President Shen’s actions demonstrate careful, long-term parental love. The chapter contrasts this with the Yan family’s more openly affectionate and humorous style of parenting, while showing that both families are concerned with protecting their children.
• Mother Yan’s warning: Mother Yan accepts Yan Xianjue’s relationship but sternly tells him to date responsibly and never cheat. She also warns him that his previous gambling incident remains on record; repeating it will lead to punishment. Yan Xianjue jokingly complains that she is biased, but her reaction shows both affection and firm expectations.
• Yan Xianjue feels accepted: The next day, while preparing to drive his Ferrari to meet Shen Fangli and their friends, Yan Xianjue realizes that no one in his family objected to the relationship. He becomes genuinely happy, recognizing that his family has accepted and supported his romance without making a fuss.
• Awkward meeting with President Shen: Yan Xianjue arrives at the Shen family residence and unexpectedly encounters President Shen, who looks extremely displeased. Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli exchange silent, panicked looks, each blaming the other for failing to warn him. The chapter ends humorously with Yan Xianjue privately wondering whether President Shen might shoot him, emphasizing the intimidating father-daughter dynamic and Yan Xianjue’s nervousness about winning his girlfriend’s father’s approval.

Chapter Summary: “The More He Tried to Ease Things, the More Awkward It Got”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli are caught by Shen Fangli’s father, President Shen, as they prepare to leave together in Yan’s flashy sports car.
• Yan awkwardly tries to defuse the tension by greeting President Shen with, “What a coincidence,” despite arriving directly at his home. This only makes the situation more uncomfortable.
• Shen Fangli laughs at Yan’s failed attempt to ease the atmosphere, then links arms with him and quickly announces that they are late for their flight.
• President Shen reluctantly lets them leave but warns Yan to drive safely and not too fast. Afterward, he realizes he is still holding Shen Fangli’s suitcase, which Uncle Lu takes from him.
• During the drive, Shen Fangli teases Yan about his awkward behavior. Yan explains that President Shen’s intimidating presence reminded him of their school’s vice principal.
• Their conversation shifts to Yan’s new driver’s license and sports car, which was given to him by his eldest sister as a belated coming-of-age gift.
• Shen Fangli mentions that her father plans to buy her a car and that her future company may provide a vehicle for work-related travel.
• She then asks whether her cousin, Fang Qin, could become her manager. Yan advises against it, suggesting that personal relationships and professional interests could create complications.
• Yan recommends that Shen consult Ji Xi about the company’s plans for assigning her a manager.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue: Demonstrates thoughtfulness toward Shen Fangli but is socially awkward around her father. He is increasingly involved in helping her plan her career and shows practical knowledge about the entertainment industry.
• Shen Fangli: Becomes more openly affectionate and comfortable with Yan, publicly clinging to his arm and joking with him. She also begins seriously considering her future career, including transportation and management arrangements.
• President Shen: Remains protective and suspicious of Yan, visibly unhappy about his daughter leaving with him, though he ultimately accepts the situation and expresses concern for their safety.
• Uncle Lu: Acts as a discreet and reliable aide by taking responsibility for Shen Fangli’s suitcase.
• Fang Qin: Though absent, she is established as Shen Fangli’s preferred manager. Yan’s concerns suggest that her family connection may make her unsuitable for the role.

Significant Themes

• Awkwardness and family approval: Yan’s attempts to win over or reassure President Shen repeatedly backfire, highlighting the tension surrounding his relationship with Shen Fangli.
• Romance and growing intimacy: Shen and Yan’s playful teasing and physical closeness show that their relationship is becoming more natural and affectionate.
• Professional boundaries: Yan emphasizes that friendship or family ties can interfere with effective management, particularly when an artist’s career and financial interests are involved.
• Maturity and future planning: Yan’s new license, car, and career advice reflect the characters’ transition into greater independence and responsibility.

Character Interactions

• Yan and President Shen exchange an awkward but restrained greeting, with Shen Fangli mediating between them.
• Shen Fangli teases Yan during the drive, while Yan jokingly compares her father to the intimidating vice principal.
• Yan and Shen discuss practical matters about cars, company transportation, and her future work.
• Shen seeks Yan’s opinion about Fang Qin becoming her manager, and Yan responds seriously, prioritizing Shen’s long-term interests over her personal preferences.

Chapter Summary: Cat-Type Boyfriend

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The cast travels to the grasslands for the week’s filming, with an unusually large number of guests joining them.
• Yan Xianjue arranged for the show to host a discussion session that would serve as a conclusion to the failed Top Student variety show, after its original director refused to organize one.
• He jokes about offering the overworked production crew a bonus, prompting playful teasing from Shen Fangli and Director Lei Xuan.
• At the airport, Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli behave childishly, running around together and teasing each other until the others criticize them.
• During the flight, Yan complains about his exhausting travel schedule. Shen teases him but also makes sure he is comfortable, while he returns her care by telling her to stay warm.
• After landing, the group meets Yao Weiran and a local guide. Shen struggles to see over the tall crowd and notices Jiang Miaomiao’s familiar child companion.
• Yan jokingly warns Shen not to wander off because he might lose sight of her in the crowd.
• Shen then realizes with horror that she forgot to bring her suitcase, which was left at her father’s home.

2. Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue continues to display a mischievous, childish side around Shen Fangli. Despite his teasing and complaints, he is attentive and protective, helping her stay warm and making sure she does not get lost.
• Shen Fangli becomes increasingly comfortable and playful with Yan. She recognizes that she acts more childish around him and privately compares him to a proud, temperamental cat.
• Lei Xuan remains practical and sarcastic, managing the large group while mock-threatening to abandon Yan now that the show has stable ratings.
• Ji Xi is portrayed as a competent subordinate who often smooths over Yan’s behavior, though he denies responsibility for Yan’s personality.
• Yao Weiran appears prepared for the trip, having arranged local assistance and gathered additional guests.

3. Significant Themes

• Romantic intimacy through playfulness: Yan and Shen’s teasing, mock arguments, and childish behavior reveal their closeness and comfort with one another.
• Mutual care: Beneath their jokes, both characters look after each other, particularly during the tiring journey.
• Work and personal relationships intertwining: Yan’s role in arranging the Top Student discussion and his relationship with Shen both unfold within the setting of their variety-show work.
• Comedic contrast: Yan and Shen’s flirtatious behavior contrasts with Lei Xuan’s exasperation and the production team’s practical concerns.
• Human imperfection: Shen’s forgotten suitcase provides a humorous mishap that undercuts the group’s otherwise carefully organized arrival.

4. Character Interactions

• Yan and Shen exchange playful accusations, with Shen blaming him for their childish airport antics and Yan willingly accepting the blame.
• Lei Xuan mocks their public affection, while Ji Xi observes that love has made them childish.
• Shen teases Yan by calling him a “high-flying traveler,” irritating him, but later offers him an eye mask and helps him prepare to sleep.
• Yan responds affectionately by pulling a blanket over Shen and warning her not to catch a cold.
• Upon arrival, Yan keeps hold of Shen to prevent her from getting lost, though his comment embarrasses and annoys her.
• The chapter ends with Shen confessing to the group that she forgot her suitcase, creating an immediate practical problem for the trip.

Chapter Summary: “Riding”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue mocks Shen Fangli after she notices one of her intimidating bodyguards carrying her childish Hello Kitty suitcase.
• The guests’ luggage is loaded onto vehicles, but instead of traveling by bus, the vehicles leave without them.
• Lei Xuan announces that the group will ride horses to their destination because taking a bus would be “too slow.”
• The livestream audience reacts with amusement and confusion, comparing the trip to a rally race and recognizing that the episode is a crossover with a student variety show featuring twin brothers Zhao Rongjin and Zhao Rongxuan.
• Lei Xuan introduces a competition: the guests will race on horseback toward a destination, with the roasted whole lamb divided according to ranking:
  • First place: half the lamb
  • Second place: one quarter
  • Third place: one eighth
• A local man acts as the group’s “pacer,” leading the route and controlling the speed. Each horse also has a coach to ensure safety.
• Yan Xianjue quickly chooses a horse and pulls Shen Fangli along with him. Despite her preference for a smaller pony, he insists that she ride with him on the larger horse.
• Yan reveals his considerable horseback-riding experience by mounting smoothly, surprising the coach and prompting an enthusiastic cheer.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue displays his confident, controlling personality. He immediately understands the competitive rules, considers forming teams, and takes charge of Shen Fangli’s riding arrangements. His effortless mounting reveals that he is an experienced rider.
• Shen Fangli remains embarrassed and somewhat helpless around Yan, particularly when he treats her like an accessory and ignores her preference for the safer-looking pony. Her discomfort also adds to the chapter’s humor.
• Lei Xuan demonstrates his mischievous and competitive nature. He deliberately prevents Yan from interfering, creates a race with food as the prize, and takes pride in designing rules that may disadvantage experienced riders who do not know the route.
• Ji Xi reacts as an inexperienced rider, realizing that he has learned many elite social skills but not horseback riding.
• Jiang Miaomiao and Ye You provide comic commentary about Lei Xuan’s evasive use of the local man as an authority.
• Zhao Rongjin and Zhao Rongxuan show familiarity with variety-show conventions by immediately asking about hidden rules and restrictions.

Significant Themes

• Comedic competition: Ordinary travel is transformed into an absurd race, with food portions used as motivation.
• Control versus unpredictability: Lei Xuan tries to outmaneuver Yan by controlling the route and format, while Yan counters through his riding ability.
• Class and lifestyle contrasts: The guests are placed in an unfamiliar grassland setting where elite status and polished social skills matter less than practical abilities such as riding.
• Public entertainment and performance: The livestream audience constantly interprets and jokes about the guests’ behavior, emphasizing how their interactions become part of the show.
• Protectiveness and forced intimacy: Yan’s insistence on choosing Shen Fangli’s horse and riding with her creates a dynamic that is simultaneously domineering, familiar, and comedic.

Character Interactions

• Yan and Shen Fangli’s playful but unequal relationship is central: he teases her, dismisses her concerns, pats her head, and physically guides her onto his chosen horse.
• Yan and Lei Xuan continue their ongoing rivalry. Yan questions Lei’s plans, while Lei deliberately cuts him off and designs the race to limit the advantage of his riding skills.
• Jiang Miaomiao and Ye You bond through quietly criticizing Lei Xuan’s questionable explanation.
• The livestream viewers act as an additional “character,” reacting to the guests’ luggage, the bizarre travel arrangement, and Yan’s treatment of Shen Fangli.
• The chapter ends with Yan’s smooth horseback mounting establishing him as a serious contender in the upcoming race.

Chapter Summary: “Learning to Ride a Horse”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue helps Shen Fangli mount and ride a horse, holding the reins and supporting her from behind while reassuring her not to be nervous.
• He repeatedly rides past the other guests, openly showing off his riding ability and amusing the livestream audience while irritating Ji Xi.
• The viewers discuss the show’s nickname, “Shaopeng,” and gossip about Ji Xi’s background and his relationship with Yan Xianjue.
• Ye You unexpectedly becomes the first guest besides Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli to successfully mount a horse, largely because Yan Xianjue allowed him to participate after Jiang Miaomiao suggested it.
• Yan Xianjue pushes Shen Fangli to try riding on her own. Though frightened, she follows his instructions and successfully gets the horse moving.
• Shen Fangli learns that Yan Xianjue began riding as a young child, which leads to playful teasing when he compares her to “three-year-old him” and calls her his “little kid.”
• After watching the pair’s affectionate behavior, the other guests find the motivation to mount their own horses.
• The livestream audience also discusses Jiang Miaomiao’s previous public-relations success and the scandal involving Lin Lang, who has reportedly been suspended after losing hundreds of millions through overseas gambling.
• Once everyone is mounted, director Lei Xuan reviews the safety rules before the group prepares to set off across the grasslands.

Character Developments

• Shen Fangli begins the chapter highly anxious and physically tense on horseback, but gradually gains confidence through Yan Xianjue’s guidance. She successfully rides independently, showing that she is willing to trust him despite his teasing and overconfidence.
• Yan Xianjue is shown as confident, playful, and protective. He enjoys displaying his riding skills, but his teasing is balanced by genuine attentiveness toward Shen Fangli. His possessive affection is evident when he insists on staying with her and jokingly calls her his “little kid.”
• Ji Xi becomes the unwilling target of Yan Xianjue’s repeated showing off, highlighting the comedic strain in their relationship.
• Ye You demonstrates unexpected competence and becomes the first guest to master mounting a horse, establishing him as more capable than others initially expected.
• The other guests overcome their initial difficulty and embarrassment, eventually managing to mount their horses and participate in the upcoming ride.
• Lei Xuan acts as the responsible director, emphasizing safety and ensuring the activity is properly supervised.

Significant Themes

• Trust and confidence: Shen Fangli’s progress depends on trusting Yan Xianjue and overcoming her fear through gradual practice.
• Affection expressed through teasing: Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli communicate through playful banter, with his jokes revealing intimacy and protectiveness.
• Public entertainment and gossip: The livestream comments provide humorous commentary on the guests while also spreading personal histories and outside scandals.
• Competence beneath appearances: Ye You’s early success and the guests’ eventual progress challenge assumptions about who will perform well.
• Safety versus playful competition: The chapter balances the cast’s joking rivalry with Lei Xuan’s reminders that the horseback excursion still requires caution.

Character Interactions

• Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli: The central interaction. He teaches and encourages her while teasing her fear; she relies on him but also jokes that his presence makes her more nervous.
• Yan Xianjue and Ji Xi: Their interaction is largely comedic, with Yan Xianjue deliberately riding past Ji Xi and refusing to stop showing off, leaving Ji Xi exasperated.
• Yan Xianjue and Ye You: Yan Xianjue permits Ye You to join the episode, partly because of Jiang Miaomiao’s recommendation and partly because he views Ye You as a future valuable associate.
• The guests and the livestream audience: The viewers react to the cast’s riding attempts, comment on their relationships, and discuss unrelated scandals involving Jiang Miaomiao and Lin Lang.
• Lei Xuan and the guests: Lei Xuan takes charge of the group’s departure, giving instructions and reassuring everyone that coaches will monitor them.

Chapter Summary: “Mongolian Yurt: Never Been So Wronged”

Plot and events

The group prepares to ride horses to a Mongolian yurt after Lei Xuan repeatedly explains the rules and warns Yan Xianjue not to wander off. Yan, impatient and hungry, innocently asks whether they can simply be sent the yurt’s location and go ahead themselves, prompting everyone to realize he has forgotten that a traditional Mongolian yurt cannot have GPS. The guests and viewers mock him, while Shen Fangli laughs so hard that she falls into his arms.
Yan rides off indignantly with Shen seated in front of him, but their journey quickly becomes chaotic. He deliberately makes the horse speed up after Shen teases him, forcing her to threaten him and plead with him to slow down. Meanwhile, the other guests struggle with their own horses: Ji Xi’s young horse keeps wandering, and Yao Weiran reveals that the short route and some of the production details were originally scripted but forgotten by Lei Xuan. The cast realizes that the supposedly organized production team is extremely careless.
At the end of the chapter, Yan tells Shen how to use the reins, but when she loosens her grip, their horse begins walking backward. Yan then shamelessly refuses to help and tells her to lead him, prompting Shen to angrily call his name.

Character development

• Yan Xianjue is shown as spoiled, impulsive, and technologically out of touch, but also playful and deliberately mischievous. He enjoys provoking Shen and avoiding responsibility when the horse misbehaves.
• Shen Fangli becomes increasingly comfortable teasing Yan, laughing openly at his mistakes and using playful threats and coaxing to manage him. Their physical closeness and easy banter suggest growing intimacy.
• Lei Xuan appears responsible but exasperated, constantly trying to control the unruly group. His failure to deliver one of the scripted explanations also highlights the production team’s disorder.
• Ji Xi remains intelligent and capable but is helpless against his unpredictable horse. His earlier “Top Student” reputation is humorously contrasted with his current lack of control.
• Yao Weiran reveals a more relaxed and mischievous side by admitting that one of his explanations was merely a forgotten line from the script.
• The twins and the rest of the guests function as amused observers who gradually recognize how casually and chaotically the show is being run.

Themes

• Comedy through incompetence and contrast: The supposedly grand horseback-riding excursion becomes a disorderly mess, with both guests and production staff struggling.
• Modern technology versus tradition: Yan’s demand for GPS in a Mongolian yurt humorously clashes with the yurt’s traditional nature, leading to the chapter’s central joke about the yurt being “wronged.”
• Spontaneity over scripted entertainment: The forgotten lines, unscripted jokes, and uncontrolled horses make the show feel more genuine and entertaining than a carefully planned production.
• Growing intimacy through teasing: Yan and Shen’s arguments, physical proximity, and mutual teasing demonstrate their increasingly familiar and affectionate relationship.

Important interactions

• Lei Xuan scolds Yan for riding off, while Yan dismisses his warnings.
• Shen laughs at Yan’s GPS mistake and then tries to placate him after he rides away.
• Yan intentionally makes their horse restless, while Shen complains and threatens him.
• Yao encourages Ji Xi and explains the practical details of the route, then surprises him by admitting his words came from the script.
• Shen struggles to control the horse, and Yan humorously abandons her to deal with it herself, ending the chapter on their playful confrontation.

Chapter Summary: “He Really Was Fast”

Key plot points and events

• The group of guests continues their horseback journey toward a Mongolian yurt camp, exhausted from riding but revitalized when they smell roast whole lamb and airag.
• Zhao Jiaxuan and Zhao Jiarong reflect on their earlier conversation with Ji Xi. They remain skeptical of Jiang Miaomiao’s improved opinion of Yan Xianjue as a boss, since Yan appears more interested in flirting with Shen Fangli than managing people.
• Yan Xianjue complains about the heat while riding closely with Shen Fangli. She teases him by suggesting he get off the horse, though she eventually reassures him that the yurts are nearby.
• Jiang Miaomiao and Ye You catch up. Their playful exchange reveals that Ye You is still underage and therefore cannot drink airag. Their relationship is also indirectly exposed during the livestream, embarrassing Jiang Miaomiao.
• Ye You confirms privately that he and Jiang Miaomiao have essentially made their relationship official and jokingly asks Yan not to set Jiang up with anyone else.
• Hungry and motivated by the promise that first place will receive half a roast lamb, Shen Fangli and Yan Xianjue decide to speed up. Shen hands Yan the reins and nestles into his arms while he urges the horse forward.
• Yan rides dramatically fast, overtaking the others and even passing Jiang Miaomiao and Ye You. His speed leaves Lei Xuan shouting for him to slow down through a loudspeaker.
• Jiang and Ye You hurry after them, aiming to finish ahead of everyone except Yan, whom Jiang regards as an unbeatable “cheat.”
• The livestream audience enjoys Yan’s reckless speed and Lei Xuan’s exasperation, comparing their dynamic to two mischievous children and suggesting that Lei has taken on an “old father” role.

Character developments

• Yan Xianjue displays his childish, shameless, and competitive side rather than his usual composed image. He complains, teases others, flirts with Shen Fangli, and becomes intensely motivated by food.
• Shen Fangli grows more comfortable handling Yan’s bratty behavior. Although exasperated by him, she cooperates with his riding and clearly enjoys the exhilaration of speeding across the grassland.
• Jiang Miaomiao becomes increasingly embarrassed by public discussion of her relationship with Ye You, but remains energetic and competitive. She accepts that Yan is impossible to beat and adjusts her goal accordingly.
• Ye You shows his devotion to Jiang Miaomiao by readily following her lead. He openly acknowledges their relationship and worries about Yan trying to arrange a match for her.
• Lei Xuan functions as the responsible, anxious counterpoint to Yan’s recklessness, shouting for him to slow down and unintentionally entertaining the audience.
• Zhao Jiaxuan and Zhao Jiarong remain observers who question whether Yan is truly a competent boss, though their skepticism is based largely on his flirtatious and unconventional behavior.

Significant themes

• Playful romance and public embarrassment: Jiang Miaomiao and Ye You’s relationship is effectively confirmed in front of the livestream audience, while Yan and Shen’s physical closeness and teasing reveal their own intimacy.
• Contrasting public and private personalities: Yan’s dependable professional image contrasts sharply with his childish, affectionate behavior around Shen.
• Competition and appetite: The roast lamb becomes a humorous source of motivation, turning an exhausting activity into a race.
• Friend-group dynamics: The guests tease one another freely, while the livestream audience interprets their interactions and assigns familiar roles such as “bratty child” and “old father.”
• Novelty and adventure: Shen’s excitement over horseback riding highlights the group’s enjoyment of unfamiliar experiences, even amid discomfort and fatigue.

Important character interactions

• Yan and Shen bicker affectionately about the heat and riding conditions, with Shen tolerating his childish complaints.
• Yan embarrasses Jiang by asking whether she and Ye You are officially together.
• Ye You quietly confirms their relationship to Yan and asks him not to interfere romantically.
• Shen and Yan cooperate seamlessly when racing toward the yurts, with Shen trusting him to ride while he protects her from the wind.
• Yan’s sudden burst of speed frustrates Lei Xuan and amazes the other guests, while Jiang and Ye You attempt to follow at a more realistic pace.

Chapter Summary: “Chatterbox”

Plot points and events

After a long journey involving a flight and several hours on horseback, the contestants arrive at a grassland destination, exhausted and extremely hungry. Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli have already settled beside the roast lamb, pretending they arrived separately despite clearly traveling together. The guests eagerly wait for Director Lei Xuan to distribute the food while viewers comment on their hunger and the contestants’ horseback-riding abilities.
Lei Xuan announces the rankings without creating suspense: Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli take first place and receive half the lamb; Jiang Miaomiao and Ye You place second; Zhao Rongjin third; Zhao Rongxuan fourth; Jiang Xinyi fifth; Lü Hui sixth; Good seventh; and Ji Xi last. Ji Xi’s poor athletic performance, especially his inability to ride well, becomes a source of amusement for Lei Xuan and the audience.
Because Ji Xi comes last, he receives a large pot of plain pilaf with no meat. Good offers to trade some of his meat for rice, and Ji Xi allows him—and everyone else—to help themselves, feeling guilty that Good’s low ranking was partly caused by searching for him. Ji Xi then joins Yan Xianjue’s meal, reminding him of his earlier promise to feed him. Yan Xianjue mockingly gives him a knife but ultimately slices tender lamb and places it over Shen Fangli’s rice. The scene ends with Lü Hui enthusiastically questioning Lei Xuan about the upcoming activities, wolves, and sleeping arrangements.

Character developments

• Ji Xi shows humility and consideration despite losing. He accepts his last-place result calmly, shares his plain rice generously, and recognizes his responsibility for Good’s ranking. His dependence on Yan Xianjue also reveals a more playful, shameless side.
• Yan Xianjue remains confident, outspoken, and unconcerned with appearances. He openly expects first place and food, teases Lei Xuan, and silently takes care of both Ji Xi and Shen Fangli by preparing meat for them.
• Shen Fangli is relaxed and amused by the group’s antics. She recognizes Yan Xianjue’s habitual tendency to treat people according to whether he currently needs them and participates warmly in sharing food.
• Lei Xuan takes pleasure in Ji Xi’s defeat because of their longstanding friction, although he is also tired and hungry himself.
• Good demonstrates kindness by offering to share his meat with Ji Xi.
• Lü Hui emerges as the group’s energetic chatterbox once the horseback activity ends.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes comradery and mutual care, especially through the sharing of food after a difficult journey. It also uses the rankings to highlight the contrast between academic ability and physical skill: Ji Xi, despite being intellectually capable, performs poorly in horseback riding. The playful teasing between the contestants and the director reinforces the show’s themes of competition mixed with friendship, while Ji Xi’s generosity introduces a moment of guilt, responsibility, and emotional consideration.

Character interactions

Yan Xianjue casually teases Lei Xuan, treating him as “Director” only when he wants food. Shen Fangli sympathizes with Lei Xuan internally but is too hungry to intervene. Lei Xuan mocks Ji Xi after announcing his last-place finish, while Ji Xi responds with indifference. Good offers Ji Xi meat in exchange for rice, prompting Ji Xi to share freely with everyone. Ji Xi then deliberately sits beside Yan Xianjue to take advantage of his promise to feed him; Yan Xianjue complains but still prepares meat for him and Shen Fangli. The chapter closes with Lü Hui bombarding Lei Xuan with questions about the next stage of the trip.

Chapter Summary: “The Brain... Was Broken”

Key Plot Points and Events

• During a livestream meal on the grasslands, the guests discuss the origins and meanings of their names.
• The conversation begins with Yan Xianjue joking about Lü Hui’s name, prompting comments about whether the show’s playful interactions are becoming too flirtatious.
• Each guest explains their name:
  • Shen Fangli’s name reflects her childhood attachment to pears.
  • Yan Xianjue’s name comes from a poem, implying that his older brother thought he slept too much.
  • Jiang Miaomiao’s family chose her water-related name because her family made a living on the water and associated water with wealth and blessings.
  • Zhao Rongjin and Zhao Rongxuan’s names were chosen according to feng shui and the elements they supposedly lacked.
  • Jiang Xinyi’s common name was selected because it sounded pleasant, though she was teased for it during school.
  • Lei Xuan’s name was intended to balance the aggressive meaning of his surname with an earth-related character.
  • Good’s nickname, “Teacher Maoning,” is discussed alongside his English name, Good.
  • Yao Weiran’s name means that he arrived late in his parents’ lives.
  • Ji Xi’s name is revealed to have been chosen by his poorly educated father, who misunderstood a quotation and selected the character “Xi.”
• Yan Xianjue reveals that he, his siblings, and several members of the Yan family all used “Yan”—their surname—as an English name. This surprises the others and leads viewers to speculate about how many siblings he has.
• The viewers also question how the program maintains such a clear livestream signal in remote locations. It is explained that the show uses satellite communication, likely enabled by its investors.
• After the meal, the guests find that they prefer Ji Xi’s hand-grabbed rice to the roasted lamb, which becomes an amusing disappointment for Ji Xi.
• While cleaning up, Yan Xianjue accidentally causes another mess. Ji Xi finally tells him to move away, but Shen Fangli steps in to clean up and defends him, joking that Yan Xianjue is simply incapable of helping without making things worse.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue remains playful, outspoken, and accident-prone. He readily shares embarrassing family details and repeatedly derails the discussion with jokes. His inability to help effectively becomes a recurring comedic trait, especially compared with his otherwise capable and confident personality.
• Shen Fangli continues to be warm, observant, and protective of Yan Xianjue. She understands his intentions even when his actions fail and willingly cleans up after him. Her teasing also shows increasing familiarity with him.
• Ji Xi is stern and easily exasperated by Yan Xianjue, but he participates in the conversation and reveals a more vulnerable part of his past. He has emotionally moved beyond the turmoil of the Ji family and can now discuss his father and family history with detachment and self-mockery.
• Jiang Miaomiao is lively and straightforward, frequently reminding everyone that they are being filmed live. Her comments help keep the conversation grounded.
• Lei Xuan is blunt and mischievous, deliberately provoking Ji Xi and making crude jokes without embarrassment. As director, he also makes sure quieter guests are included.
• Good is shown as good-natured and unexpectedly funny, while Jiang Xinyi, Yao Weiran, and the Zhao brothers contribute quieter but sincere explanations of their names.
• The Yan family is characterized as unusually large and close-knit, with most siblings adopting the same English name.

Significant Themes

• Names and identity: The chapter explores how names reflect family hopes, childhood stories, cultural beliefs, social status, and parental education. Although the names often have ordinary or humorous origins, they become part of each character’s identity.
• Family influence: The guests’ names reveal different family backgrounds, including traditional beliefs, poverty, career expectations, and parental affection.
• Humor and intimacy: The casual name discussion creates a relaxed atmosphere and allows the cast to reveal personal information while strengthening their relationships.
• Healing and acceptance: Ji Xi’s calm discussion of his troubled family suggests that he has released much of his resentment and can now view his past with distance.
• Good intentions versus competence: Yan Xianjue genuinely wants to help, but his efforts repeatedly create problems. The chapter humorously emphasizes that kindness does not always translate into usefulness.
• Public performance versus private relationships: Although the guests are aware they are livestreaming, their natural teasing and familiar interactions make the show feel increasingly candid and personal.

Character Interactions

• Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli share the chapter’s most affectionate dynamic. She teases him about his name, understands his accidents, and habitually protects or excuses him.
• Yan Xianjue and Ji Xi maintain their familiar bickering relationship. Ji Xi mocks Yan’s behavior and eventually orders him away from the cleanup, while Yan continues to provoke him.
• Lei Xuan deliberately annoys Ji Xi by taking his seat and making suggestive jokes, reinforcing their combative friendship.
• The whole group bonds through mutual teasing, especially when discussing common names, questionable naming choices, and Yan Xianjue’s family’s shared English name.
• Ji Xi’s revelation about his father briefly shifts the mood from comedy to sympathy, but the group and livestream audience respond by reframing his name positively rather than judging him.
• The final exchange, in which Shen Fangli calls Yan Xianjue “hopeless” like his physics while defending him, highlights the group’s affectionate acceptance of his flaws.