Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “The Sucker”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Xi leaves after Yan Xianjue accidentally causes a mess, while Yan awkwardly insists that he did not do it deliberately.
• Shen Fangli sends Yan to shower and returns to help Jiang Xinyi wash the dishes.
• The women discuss the variety show’s misleading title, The Young Master and His Laborers, as well as producer Lei Xuan’s failed ambition to become a screenwriter.
• The livestream audience digs into Lei Xuan’s history, discovering that he has no successful writing credits despite working in the entertainment industry through his father’s connections.
• After the group finishes cleaning, the women go to inspect the men’s progress building yurts. Their work is so poor that viewers doubt the structures will be safe or finished before nightfall.
• When Yan Xianjue returns from showering, Lei Xuan dramatically begs him to “think of something” about the collapsing yurts.
• Yan sarcastically compares the construction to a dangerous building, prompting the group to acknowledge how badly the yurts have been built.
• Since Yan is the employer and investor funding the trip, the others implicitly decide that the already completed yurt should belong to him.
• Lei Xuan theatrically claims that even ancient slave owners provided lodging and pressures Yan to solve the housing problem.
• Yan protests that everyone expects him to provide both food and shelter, asking whether they think he is “some kind of sucker.” Lei Xuan and Ji Xi unconsciously nod in agreement before Ji Xi discreetly distances himself.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue is shown as wealthy but increasingly exasperated by the others’ expectations. He remains calm in the face of chaos, using dry sarcasm to defend himself, but his generosity makes him an easy target.
• Shen Fangli continues to act as a practical organizer, handling cleanup and managing Yan’s clumsiness with mild disdain and amusement.
• Ji Xi remains blunt, emotionally detached, and quick to distance himself from Lei Xuan’s absurd behavior. His ability to avoid being dragged into trouble contrasts with Lei Xuan’s impulsiveness.
• Lei Xuan is revealed to be an unsuccessful aspiring screenwriter whose career has been supported largely by his father. He is dramatic, shameless, and willing to exploit Yan’s wealth for the group’s benefit.
• Jiang Xinyi and Jiang Miaomiao contribute to the lighthearted commentary and help expose Lei Xuan’s background.
• The livestream viewers function almost like additional characters, investigating the cast, mocking their failures, and influencing the production through their suggestions.

Significant Themes

• The contrast between wealth and labor: Although Yan is the group’s wealthy “young master,” he is repeatedly expected to fund, fix, or provide everything, while the others tease him about his privilege.
• Incompetence and comedic survival: The failed yurt construction and chaotic cleanup turn basic outdoor tasks into sources of humor.
• Public image versus reality: The show’s title and its cast personas are mocked, while the livestream reveals embarrassing details about the participants’ actual lives.
• Exploitation disguised as camaraderie: The others treat Yan’s money as a resource while pretending their demands are jokes, reinforcing his feeling that he is being taken advantage of.
• Found-family style banter: Despite their constant complaints and teasing, the group works together and interacts with familiarity and comic chemistry.

Character Interactions

• Yan and Shen Fangli exchange restrained, sarcastic remarks after Yan makes a mess; she dismisses him but still directs him toward a useful task.
• Shen Fangli and Jiang Xinyi bond while washing dishes and gossiping about Lei Xuan.
• Jiang Miaomiao adds information about Lei Xuan’s ambitions, prompting further discussion of his failures.
• Lei Xuan repeatedly appeals to Yan as the wealthy leader, while Ji Xi responds with dry detachment and avoids sharing responsibility.
• Yan, Lei Xuan, and Ji Xi end the chapter in a comic exchange: Yan asks whether he is being treated like a sucker, and both men effectively agree—though Ji Xi quickly realizes he should not admit it.

Chapter Summary: “In Your Fifties, It’s Time to Make Your Mark”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue solves the group’s accommodation problem by using his money to have hired workers quickly assemble yurts. His wealth once again proves more useful than practical survival skills.
• The yurts are divided among the guests, production crew, and Yan’s bodyguards. Lei Xuan opportunistically claims a bed in Yan’s spacious yurt and brings Ji Xi with him, while Shen Fangli and two others share the central yurt.
• After the livestream ends, Lei Xuan and Ji Xi discuss the upcoming schedule while Yan pretends to sleep to avoid participating.
• Yan becomes alert when Ji Xi mentions that three provinces’ examination results will be released simultaneously the next day. He orders Ji Xi to arrange a modest trending-topic campaign for the variety show Top Student.
• Ji Xi explains that Yan intends to use the current show’s popularity to revive Top Student, which has been inactive and financially neglected. Yan plans to invoke the investor’s contractual promotional obligations, using supplementary terms he had previously insisted on.
• Lei Xuan initially misunderstands the strategy, wondering why they are promoting Top Student instead of the current program. Ji Xi clarifies that Top Student can “take the blame” for exploiting the trending attention while still benefiting from the exposure.
• Lei Xuan worries that the students’ exam results may be bad and cause an emotional disaster on the livestream. Yan remains confident, praising the show’s director for choosing guests well, even though he criticizes the director’s inability to seize opportunities.
• Yan leaves the others to handle the next day’s work, while Ji Xi reassures Lei Xuan that Yan’s confidence has historically been justified.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue: Continues to appear lazy, detached, and unwilling to perform routine work, but reveals that he is observant, strategically minded, and carefully remembers contractual details. His confidence suggests he has anticipated that the next day’s events will go well.
• Ji Xi: Becomes increasingly frustrated at being burdened with Yan’s responsibilities, recognizing that Yan may deliberately evade work. Nevertheless, he remains competent and loyal, translating Yan’s vague schemes into actionable plans.
• Lei Xuan: Acts as an eager but somewhat naïve participant. He contributes to the group’s comic dynamic, seeks clarification about business decisions, and worries sincerely about potential problems with the livestream.
• Shen Fangli and the other guests: Remain mostly in the background, accepting Yan’s practical arrangements without protest.
• The show’s director: Though absent, is characterized as poor at promotion and opportunity-taking but talented at selecting suitable guests.

Significant Themes

• Wealth versus practical ability: Yan cannot pitch a yurt, but his financial power allows him to solve the problem instantly.
• Hidden competence beneath apparent laziness: Yan’s habit of sleeping and avoiding work conceals strong business instincts and careful long-term planning.
• Strategic publicity and media manipulation: The characters treat trending topics and public criticism as tools that can be deliberately redirected to revive a struggling program.
• Reliance and exploitation within relationships: Yan depends heavily on Ji Xi and Lei Xuan to execute his ideas, while they grumble but continue supporting him.
• Comedy through mismatched personalities: Yan’s indifference, Ji Xi’s exasperation, and Lei Xuan’s confusion create much of the chapter’s humor.
• Confidence based on judgment: Despite lacking a contingency plan, Yan trusts his assessment of the guests and the director’s casting choices.

Character Interactions

• Lei Xuan and Ji Xi share a yurt with Yan, reinforcing their informal roles as his dependents or “henchmen.”
• Ji Xi confronts Yan after realizing he was pretending to sleep, but Yan ignores him and immediately issues business instructions.
• Ji Xi and Yan debate how to use contractual obligations and current media attention to promote Top Student.
• Lei Xuan repeatedly asks practical questions, forcing Ji Xi to explain Yan’s complicated strategy.
• Ji Xi teases Lei Xuan about continuing to work into his fifties, while Lei Xuan misunderstands the joke and enthusiastically embraces the idea.
• Yan’s final reassurance about the director’s guest selection leaves Lei Xuan uncertain but suggests that Yan’s instincts are usually dependable.

Chapter Summary: “Steady and Reassuring”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue wakes up alone in the yurt, though someone has thoughtfully prepared water for him.
• Outside, Lei Xuan explains the day’s schedule: the guests will follow local herders deeper into the grasslands, graze livestock, set up yurts at their next destination, and milk sheep and horses in the afternoon.
• Yan objects to being left behind and asks why no one woke him. Everyone looks toward Ji Xi, who claims that minor matters can be handled by the “Long-Term Workers” and that landlords should not be expected to work in the fields.
• Ji Xi’s excuse is obviously weak, but Yan pretends to accept it, amusing the other guests and viewers.
• Yan settles into a chair in a relaxed, boss-like posture and tells Lei Xuan to continue with the briefing.
• Ji Xi worries about having to ride horses while herding. Lei Xuan confirms that horses are necessary and jokes that Ji Xi cannot simply run after the livestock.
• The group learns that sheepdogs will not be provided because they cost extra. If an animal goes missing, Yan Xianjue will supposedly pay compensation, leading him to joke that his role is essentially being a “bank card.”
• The guests prepare to leave. Yan again chooses the gentle pony Shen Fangli prefers and helps her mount it.
• Shen Fangli feels relieved by the pony’s manageable height and describes it as “steady and reassuring.”

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue continues to display a laid-back, pampered attitude. He expects others to manage practical matters for him, yet he is perceptive enough to recognize Ji Xi’s excuse and deliberately plays along.
• Ji Xi shows both avoidance and quick thinking. He does not want Yan interfering with the group’s work, so he disguises their reluctance to wake him as a matter of proper workplace hierarchy. His earlier difficulty with horseback riding remains a source of embarrassment.
• Lei Xuan acts as the practical organizer, clearly explaining the demanding schedule while teasing Ji Xi and enforcing the activity requirements.
• Shen Fangli is cheerful and teasing toward Ji Xi, refusing to rescue him from Yan’s questioning. Her preference for the gentle pony also shows her cautious, practical approach to riding.
• The other guests and viewers increasingly treat Yan and Ji Xi’s dynamic as comedic, especially the contrast between Yan’s relaxed “boss” behavior and Ji Xi’s efforts to manage him.

Significant Themes

• Workplace hierarchy and manipulation: Ji Xi humorously reframes the group’s decision to leave Yan asleep as a legitimate division of labor.
• Privilege and dependence: Yan’s willingness to pay for lost livestock emphasizes his wealthy, sheltered position, while the others must handle the physical work.
• Group teasing and camaraderie: The guests bond through shared amusement at Ji Xi’s excuses and Yan’s unbothered reactions.
• Adaptation to unfamiliar challenges: Horseback riding, herding, and rural labor continue to test the guests outside their usual abilities.
• Stability and reassurance: Shen Fangli’s response to the gentle pony introduces the idea of finding comfort and confidence through reliable companionship or support.

Important Character Interactions

• Yan confronts Ji Xi about leaving him behind, while Ji Xi attempts to justify the decision with a mock “landlord” argument.
• The guests silently observe and tease Ji Xi, especially Shen Fangli, who enjoys watching him struggle.
• Lei Xuan and Ji Xi exchange a humorous boss-and-employee-style interaction, with Lei Xuan subtly questioning how Ji Xi managed to fool Yan.
• Yan and Shen Fangli share a considerate moment when he helps her onto the pony she prefers, reinforcing his otherwise hidden attentiveness.

Chapter Summary: “This Is Still Traveling, Isn’t It?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue prepares Shen Fangli’s pony for the day’s horseback journey, feeding it sugar and leaving her snacks for the road.
• Shen Fangli complains that he prepared food for the horse but not for her. Yan explains that she is no longer allowed to casually eat snacks because filming is about to begin and she needs to maintain her appearance on camera.
• Yan secretly gives Shen a piece of beef jerky anyway, prompting her to eagerly eye the rest of his snack bag.
• Shen realizes that Yan pats her head in exactly the same way he pats the horses, leading her to wonder whether he has been treating her like a horse. She decides not to confront him, fearing he would use the opportunity to tease her.
• The group prepares to herd cattle and sheep across the grassland. The enormous herd overwhelms the guests, who protest that this activity is far more exhausting than the “travel” they expected.
• Lei Xuan defends the activity as a local experience and jokes that the show is still technically a travel program as long as they remain on the road. He admits without shame that the point is to torment them.
• Once the herding begins, the horses prove difficult to control. Shen’s pony refuses to move without snacks, while Yan’s horse rushes about uncontrollably.
• Lei Xuan laughs at Yan and tells him to run as he did the previous day. Yan dryly points out that his horse is already moving fast enough.
• The production team separates the guests into different camera feeds, capturing each person’s individual struggle. Viewers particularly enjoy Shen’s horse-related misery and Yan’s inability to control his mount.
• Other guests, including Good and Ji Xi, are shown helping each other with their tasks despite their previous rankings.
• The chapter ends with the production team announcing scores over an extremely loud loudspeaker, drawing attention to the show’s comically excessive equipment.

Character Developments

• Shen Fangli becomes increasingly aware of Yan Xianjue’s affectionate but teasing behavior. She notices his habit of patting her head like a horse and chooses silence to avoid giving him more opportunities to tease her.
• Yan Xianjue continues to display understated affection toward Shen. Although he pretends to prioritize the horse’s needs and lectures Shen about snacks, he secretly gives her beef jerky. His usually composed image is undermined when his horse refuses to obey him.
• Lei Xuan is established as a mischievous producer or leader who deliberately designs difficult activities for entertainment. He remains calm under criticism and openly enjoys watching the guests struggle.
• The other guests are portrayed as inexperienced and comically unprepared for physically demanding rural work, though some begin cooperating and helping one another.

Significant Themes

• Affection expressed through teasing: Yan’s care for Shen is hidden behind jokes, practical gestures, and playful neglect.
• Reality versus expectation: The guests expect a relaxed travel program but instead face exhausting, unfamiliar labor.
• Public performance and private behavior: The cameras capture the guests’ failures and interactions, turning their embarrassment into entertainment for viewers.
• Adaptation and cooperation: Despite their lack of experience, the guests gradually try to manage the unfamiliar environment and assist one another.
• Humor through loss of control: The normally confident characters are reduced to struggling with stubborn animals, emphasizing the unpredictability of the experience.

Character Interactions

• Yan and Shen share a flirtatious exchange over horse snacks, dieting, and his habit of patting her head.
• Shen silently observes Yan’s similarity in treating her and the horses, while Yan remains unaware—or pretends to be unaware—of her realization.
• The guests collectively challenge Lei Xuan about the difficulty of the activity, but he dismisses their objections with amused confidence.
• Lei Xuan teases Yan about his horse’s speed, while Yan responds with dry sarcasm.
• The viewers and production crew enjoy the contrast between the guests’ intended rankings and their current struggles, especially the interactions between Good and Ji Xi as they help one another.

Chapter Summary: “Scores Won’t Run Away, but Sheep Will”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The guests learn that the Gaokao results have been released, and the production team offers to check their scores through its satellite connection.
• Good, whose provincial science-track results have been announced, refuses to check immediately because he is busy herding sheep. He jokes that his scores will remain available, while the sheep may wander away.
• Ji Xi sympathizes with Good’s reluctance, recognizing how stressful it would be to learn such important results while filming and working.
• The livestream audience reveals that Good is already rumored to be the province’s top science-track scorer. His school has even prepared celebratory banners, meaning almost everyone knows his result except Good himself.
• Viewers laugh at the contrast between Good’s major academic achievement and his current exhaustion while herding sheep. They also note that his previously strict, studious “Little Stickler” persona has relaxed after the Gaokao.
• Lei Xuan, the show’s director, realizes that the episode has unintentionally gathered several top scorers in one place. Although he had not planned this situation, the timing creates valuable publicity for the program.
• Lei Xuan and Yao Weiran plan to discuss the guests’ scores during lunch rather than conduct a separate interview, especially since other guests—including Jiang Miaomiao and Lü Hui—are also receiving their results that day.
• The anticipated lunch discussion, held while roasting lamb, is expected to boost the show’s ratings and fulfill part of Yan Xianjue’s promotional strategy.

Character Developments

• Good: Shows a humorous, relaxed, and unexpectedly reluctant side. Despite apparently being the provincial top scorer, he prioritizes keeping track of the sheep over checking his results. His post-exam personality is much less restrained and perfectionistic than his earlier “Little Stickler” image.
• Ji Xi: Demonstrates empathy toward Good and recognizes the emotional pressure surrounding exam results. He also helps explain the situation to the audience and remains attentive to Good’s feelings.
• Lei Xuan: Reveals his practical and opportunistic production instincts. He quickly recognizes the promotional value of having multiple top scorers on the show and adapts the episode’s plans accordingly.
• Yao Weiran: Continues to support the production team efficiently, agreeing to incorporate the scores into the planned academic discussion.
• Yan Xianjue: Although he does not directly participate in the events, his investment and promotional plans remain central. The guests’ strong academic results make his crossover strategy even more successful.
• Livestream viewers: Act as commentators who connect the guests’ current behavior to their public images and speculate about the production team’s hidden plans.

Significant Themes

• Success versus immediate responsibility: Good’s impressive academic achievement is temporarily less important to him than completing his task of herding sheep.
• The tension between public image and private personality: Good’s relaxed behavior suggests that his strict school persona was partly shaped by academic pressure and expectations.
• Media and commercial opportunism: The production team quickly turns the release of the Gaokao scores into content, while Yan Xianjue’s investments and cross-program promotion drive much of the episode’s strategy.
• The unpredictability of live entertainment: Lei Xuan’s plans are repeatedly disrupted by outside events, yet these unexpected developments create even better publicity.
• Humor through contrast: The chapter repeatedly contrasts elite academic achievement with mundane, exhausting sheep herding, creating a lighthearted tone.

Character Interactions

• Ji Xi urges Good to check his score, but Good insists on waiting until noon because the sheep require his attention.
• Good and Ji Xi bond over their shared understanding of the stress surrounding exam results.
• The livestream audience discusses Good’s reputation, his unexpected change in behavior, and the irony that reporters cannot reach him on the vast grasslands.
• Lei Xuan consults Yao Weiran about how to cover the guests’ results. They agree that a group discussion during lunch will be more natural and effective than a formal interview.
• The interactions between the guests, viewers, and production team highlight how personal milestones are transformed into entertainment and publicity.

Chapter Summary: “Surprise”

Plot points and events

The cast successfully herds the cattle and sheep into a temporary enclosure after an exhausting morning. Jiang Xinyi, participating in the show for the first time and assigned to the Cowherding Group, is overwhelmed by the physical demands, while Shen Fangli sympathizes with her. The cast members discuss the release of their college entrance examination scores, which are being secretly withheld so the production team can announce them as a surprise during the evening meal.
Meanwhile, Yan Xianjue chooses a sheep for the group’s roast meal and jokingly holds a grudge against one that escaped earlier. Ji Xi tells him that he must bring up the subject of the cast’s exam results during an upcoming reporter interview, since he is the program’s only true regular cast member. Yan reluctantly agrees.
Around the grill, the group prepares roast lamb and drinks freshly boiled milk tea. Yan complains that the tea is too hot and wishes for ice, prompting Shen Fangli to tell him to let it cool. Lei Xuan then announces that there are three pieces of good news. The score results are revealed: Good receives 720, Jiang Miaomiao 721, and Lü Hui an impressive 726. Lü Hui is shocked because he mistakenly believed his results would be released the following day and had even set his reminder incorrectly.

Character developments

• Jiang Xinyi struggles with the difficulty of her first variety-show assignment, highlighting her inexperience and vulnerability.
• Shen Fangli continues to show a caring, supportive side, offering Jiang Xinyi water and patiently responding to Yan Xianjue’s complaints.
• Yan Xianjue remains irritable, blunt, and dramatic, but he cooperates with the group and accepts responsibility for addressing the score-related topic in the interview. His high-strung personality is contrasted with his willingness to help the program.
• Ji Xi demonstrates his mischievous, calculating personality by persuading Yan to handle the awkward interview topic while pretending it is purely for the ratings.
• Lü Hui is revealed to be extremely careless and forgetful, yet academically outstanding, scoring the highest of the three.
• Good is more composed and informed than Lü Hui, already having checked his results and knowing about the planned surprise.

Character interactions

Shen Fangli comforts Jiang Xinyi and later advises Yan to let his milk tea cool. Yan and Ji Xi exchange sarcastic remarks over the escaped sheep and the interview assignment. Lü Hui jokes with Good about the mysterious third piece of good news, unaware that it concerns his own score. The group’s teasing and banter create a relaxed atmosphere despite the exhausting work.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes the contrast between the cast’s demanding rural labor and their exceptional academic achievements. It also explores friendship and group camaraderie through teasing, mutual assistance, and shared meals. Yan’s complaints and Lü Hui’s absent-mindedness provide comic relief, while the surprise score announcement builds anticipation and celebrates the cast’s hard work and success.

Chapter Summary: “Looking to the Money”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lü Hui presents the exam results, prompting excitement from the top scorer, Good, while Jiang Miaomiao and the others react more quietly.
• The group discusses their intended university majors:
  • Jiang Miaomiao reveals that she plans to study public relations instead of business administration, influenced by her enjoyable experience working in the PR department.
  • The conversation turns to Good, who is asked whether he will pursue teaching, as he had once mentioned wanting to become a teacher.
• Good explains that he is not especially concerned about his major and will choose whichever school offers him the largest scholarship.
• His blunt focus on money shocks Jiang Miaomiao, who reminds him that they are speaking on a live broadcast.
• The statement quickly sparks online criticism, with some viewers accusing Good of being overly mercenary and opportunistic.
• Yan Xianjue and Ji Xi defend Good’s attitude, arguing that earning money is nothing shameful. Their support further shapes the public discussion.
• Viewers debate whether Good is calculating or simply honest and practical, while others praise his forthrightness.
• The chapter ends with Yan Xianjue internally describing Good as unusually clear-headed—and foolishly straightforward—for a college student, offending Shen Fangli on behalf of future university students.

Character Developments

• Jiang Miaomiao demonstrates growing confidence in her interest in public relations and shows awareness of how statements made on television can affect public perception.
• Good is characterized as highly pragmatic, financially motivated, and refreshingly honest. His priority is economic benefit rather than prestige or idealism.
• Yan Xianjue continues to observe events with amusement and uses his knowledge of the original plot to speculate about Good’s future career in finance. He openly supports Good’s belief that money matters.
• Ji Xi reveals his own practical background and sympathizes with Good. His past—earning money through odd jobs and helping classmates—explains why he does not judge Good’s materialism.
• Shen Fangli remains puzzled by the conversation but becomes increasingly curious about the hidden gossip surrounding Good. She also reacts defensively to Yan Xianjue’s dismissive comment about college students.
• Lü Hui is surprised by the contrast between the participants’ polished ideas and Good’s unusually direct answer.

Significant Themes

• Money versus idealism: The chapter questions whether openly prioritizing financial security is morally questionable or simply realistic.
• Authenticity and public image: Good’s honesty creates controversy because society expects young people to give more socially acceptable, idealistic answers in public.
• Career uncertainty: The characters acknowledge that one’s university major does not necessarily determine one’s lifelong career.
• Privilege and opportunity: Yan Xianjue reflects on how fortunate he is to have been born wealthy, contrasting his situation with Good’s need to think carefully about scholarships.
• Class and practicality: Ji Xi’s history emphasizes how financial hardship can force people to abandon lofty ideals and focus on survival.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Miaomiao interviews Good about his future, inadvertently giving him a platform to make his controversial scholarship comment.
• Yan Xianjue teases and supports Good rather than criticizing him.
• Ji Xi silently but meaningfully backs Yan Xianjue’s defense of Good, showing their shared practical outlook.
• Shen Fangli tries to interpret the hidden implications of Yan Xianjue’s reactions and feeds him fruit in hopes that he will reveal more gossip.
• The live audience becomes an indirect participant, debating Good’s personality and motivations while also commenting on the different ways the cast presents themselves publicly.

Chapter Summary: “You’re a Top Scorer, and He’s a Top Scorer Too”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lü Hui becomes overwhelmed after realizing that the other top-scoring contestants did not necessarily spend their entire senior year studying in the conventional way.
• Jiang Miaomiao explains that she researched different university majors and introductory reading lists throughout high school, allowing her to make an informed decision about her future.
• Viewers investigate old episodes and discover that Good had previously mentioned wanting to become a teacher. However, he reveals that he had also spent much of high school reading economics books rather than simply reviewing for exams.
• Good casually admits that he had already mastered most of the required material and only completed practice exams to maintain his skills. This makes Lü Hui, who studied diligently throughout the entire year, feel especially inadequate.
• Lei Xuan jokes that Good is the “lowest-scoring top scorer,” while Jiang Miaomiao currently has the highest score. Good dismisses the comparison by pointing out that they took different exams and that he was never particularly concerned with being a top scorer.
• The contestants and livestream viewers discuss the difference between talent and effort. Although the group’s extraordinary abilities make Lü Hui feel ordinary, viewers also emphasize that most people still benefit greatly from hard work.
• Lü Hui realizes that he has never truly considered what school or major suits him. He had assumed that, given his grades, choosing the most prestigious school and major was automatically the correct path.
• Ji Xi encourages him to use the remaining application period to think carefully. Good suggests practical alternatives, such as self-learning another field or choosing a program with generous scholarships.
• The chapter ends with Yan Xianjue jokingly pitying Lü Hui while the group continues teasing one another.

Character Developments

• Lü Hui: His confidence is shaken as he compares himself with contestants who achieved similar results through very different methods. He begins moving from an externally focused mindset—choosing the “best” school or major—to considering personal suitability.
• Jiang Miaomiao: She is shown to be thoughtful and proactive. Her preparation involved exploring academic fields well before applications, demonstrating maturity and deliberate planning.
• Good: His understated intelligence becomes even more apparent. He treats his extraordinary abilities casually, revealing that he studied beyond the exam syllabus out of personal interest rather than ambition. His practical advice also shows his detached, pragmatic personality.
• Lei Xuan: He uses teasing to expose the absurdity of Good’s humblebrag and helps lighten the uncomfortable atmosphere.
• Ji Xi: He quietly manipulates the conversation by prompting Yan Xianjue to raise the topic, then innocently avoids responsibility when Yan realizes he has been set up.
• Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli: Their playful exchange highlights their comfortable friendship. Shen Fangli points out Yan’s hypocrisy, while Yan attempts to preserve his self-image as innocent and kind.
• The other contestants: Their reactions reinforce how extraordinary the group is. Even the contestants who worked hard throughout high school feel unable to compete with the natural talent surrounding them.

Significant Themes

• Talent versus effort: The chapter examines whether innate ability can overshadow hard work. It ultimately suggests that talent matters at the highest levels, but effort remains valuable for most people.
• Individual paths to success: The top scorers achieved their results through different combinations of study, talent, curiosity, and experience. There is no single correct route to excellence.
• Choosing one’s future: Academic achievement does not automatically determine the right school or major. Personal interests, suitability, and practical concerns must also be considered.
• The pressure of comparison: Lü Hui’s insecurity comes from comparing his conventional effort with the unusual abilities of others. The chapter gently criticizes the tendency to judge oneself by exceptional standards.
• Humor and friendship: Teasing, private jokes, and playful manipulation ease the tension and strengthen the relationships among the contestants.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Miaomiao and Good are indirectly compared because both carefully considered their futures, though Good’s approach centered on economics and self-directed learning.
• Lei Xuan mocks Good’s status as the “lowest-scoring top scorer,” while Good responds calmly and without competitiveness.
• Lü Hui seeks validation from the others, but his attempts only highlight how unusual the group is.
• Yan Xianjue blames Ji Xi for engineering the awkward conversation; Shen Fangli then points out that Ji Xi may have learned the behavior from Yan himself.
• Ji Xi ultimately offers Lü Hui sincere reassurance, reminding him that he still has time to choose.
• Good provides blunt, practical advice while casually cooking lamb, creating a humorous contrast between the seriousness of Lü Hui’s dilemma and Good’s relaxed attitude.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• During the afternoon sheep-milking task, Shen Fangli continues questioning Yan Xianjue about his earlier comment that the sheep was “pitiful.” Because they are livestreaming, Yan refuses to explain, prompting playful speculation from the viewers.
• Shen worries that Yan might roast the ewe if it does not produce milk. Yan jokes about having hotpot instead, then admits he lacks the skill to roast anything himself. His thoughts turn to Good’s delicious roasted lamb and the possibility of sponsoring Good to open a barbecue stall.
• Shen asks what major Yan’s family has chosen for him. Yan deliberately refuses to reveal the answer, teasing her while she guesses various majors that do not require physics. Her increasingly absurd guesses culminate in the idea that his family created a new major specifically for him.
• Yan corrects her with the line that his family “does business, not emperoring,” mocking the idea that they are powerful enough to establish their own academic system. His private thoughts reveal his contempt for the Lin Household’s ambitions and its patriarch, who supposedly wants to become Shenzhen’s “local emperor.”
• The livestream audience notices the unusual chemistry between Shen and Yan and speculates that they may publicly reveal their relationship before Shen even formally debuts in the entertainment industry.
• Elsewhere, Su Su receives a court summons connected to Fang Zhiyuan’s gambling debts. Creditors have forced her to seek refuge at Lin Shi’s villa, but Lin Shi is rarely present, while the villa is increasingly filled with attractive young female servants brought by the Lin Household.
• Feeling neglected and unfairly disadvantaged compared with Shen Fangli, Su Su questions whether she chose the wrong man and should have pursued Yan Xianjue instead. However, she ultimately rejects regret and resolves to find another way forward.

Character Developments

• Shen Fangli remains compassionate and somewhat impulsive, showing concern for the ewe and its unborn or nursing offspring. Her easy teasing and curiosity toward Yan reveal increasing comfort and intimacy between them.
• Yan Xianjue displays his usual sharp wit, confidence, and fondness for provoking Shen. He also shows practical self-awareness about his poor cooking abilities and reveals disdain for the Lin Household’s power-hungry behavior.
• Su Su becomes increasingly distressed and resentful. Her financial and legal troubles, combined with Lin Shi’s neglect, intensify her jealousy toward Shen Fangli and make her reconsider her past choices. Despite her breakdown, she retains her determination to pursue success.
• Lin Shi is characterized indirectly as distant and unreliable, offering Su Su shelter without emotional support or meaningful companionship.
• The Lin Household is portrayed as domineering and strange, with its elaborate “venomous insects in a jar” style of upbringing and its apparent effort to surround Lin Shi with potential marriage candidates.

Significant Themes

• Romantic intimacy and public scrutiny: Shen and Yan’s private banter becomes entertainment for the livestream audience, highlighting how their relationship is interpreted and commodified by outsiders.
• Privilege and unequal opportunity: Su Su compares her difficult attempts to enter entertainment with the effortless resources available to Shen through Yan’s support.
• Family power and ambition: Yan’s joke about “emperoring” contrasts his family’s business-oriented identity with the Lin Household’s apparent desire for political or social dominance.
• Jealousy and regret: Su Su’s suffering leads her to compare herself with Shen and reconsider her relationship choices, though she refuses to surrender completely.
• Compassion versus exploitation: Shen’s concern for the sheep contrasts with Yan’s jokingly ruthless attitude and recalls the chapter’s broader tension between treating people or animals as individuals and viewing them as useful resources.

Important Character Interactions

• Shen Fangli and Yan Xianjue: Their teasing over the sheep, Yan’s chosen major, and Shen’s guesses demonstrates their growing closeness and playful romantic tension.
• The couple and the livestream audience: Viewers actively interpret their private exchanges, joking about secret conversations and predicting a relationship announcement.
• Su Su and Lin Shi: Their relationship is shown through conflict and absence: Su Su seeks emotional and practical support, while Lin Shi responds with indifference and leaves her surrounded by uncomfortable reminders of his family’s marriage arrangements.
• Su Su and Shen Fangli: Though they do not interact directly in the chapter, Su Su’s thoughts frame Shen as the person who possesses everything she desires, deepening their emotional and competitive contrast.

Chapter Summary: “Court Summons”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After crying, Su Su calls Lin Shi and attempts to gain his sympathy by saying she misses him and has prepared dinner for his return.
• Lin Shi recognizes that Su Su is acting, but agrees to come home at eight o’clock. He considers—but rejects—the idea of using her in the entertainment industry because antagonizing Yan Xianjue would be too dangerous.
• At Lin Corporation, Lin Shi faces opposition from senior executives over a project associated with Lin Lang. Although he argues that the project should be cut, he does not genuinely intend to cancel it.
• Lin Shi realizes the executives are wavering because Lin Lang’s suspension is temporary and they expect him to reclaim control. He privately views their hesitation and conservatism as evidence that the company is burdened by “deadweight.”
• His real strategy is to subtly undermine Lin Lang in front of Old Master Lin while preserving the valuable project. He also hopes Yan Xianjue will move against the Lin family more aggressively.
• When Lin Shi returns home, Su Su has prepared an elaborate dinner and waits for him outside. She tries to behave affectionately and serve him food, but he avoids her physical advances and points out that she seems to be acting like a servant.
• Su Su finally reveals that she received a court summons and asks Lin Shi to help her find a lawyer.

Character Developments

• Su Su: Presents herself as vulnerable, affectionate, and supportive of Lin Shi, but her behavior is largely calculated to secure his help. She feels increasingly isolated and persecuted by the household staff, believing they want to remove her as Lin Shi’s official girlfriend. Her resentment also grows because she feels financially controlled and disrespected.
• Lin Shi: Demonstrates strong emotional control and sharp political instincts. He sees through Su Su’s performance while maintaining the appearance of a caring partner. At work, he balances opposition and cooperation carefully, manipulating both the executives and Old Master Lin without damaging his own interests.
• Lin Lang: Though absent, he remains central to the conflict. His temporary suspension and expected return make the executives reluctant to support Lin Shi, while Lin Shi seeks to weaken his standing.
• Yan Xianjue: Operates as a powerful external threat to the Lin family. His increasingly aggressive actions may indicate that he intends to destroy or seriously undermine the Lin household.
• Old Master Lin: Continues influencing events indirectly by placing spies around Lin Shi and maintaining uncertainty over who will control the corporation.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and performance: Both Su Su and Lin Shi perform roles to achieve their objectives. Su Su acts like a devoted partner, while Lin Shi pretends to challenge the executives despite protecting the project.
• Power and control: Financial dependence, corporate authority, household status, and family influence all determine the characters’ behavior.
• Political maneuvering: Lin Shi must maintain a delicate balance between appearing loyal, undermining Lin Lang, and preserving valuable business opportunities.
• Isolation and distrust: Su Su feels surrounded by enemies in the villa, while Lin Shi trusts neither his colleagues nor his family and assumes that everyone is acting strategically.
• Class and domestic hierarchy: Su Su’s discomfort at needing servants’ approval to spend money reflects her lack of real authority despite being Lin Shi’s girlfriend.

Character Interactions

• Su Su attempts to emotionally influence Lin Shi during their phone call, while Lin Shi calmly evaluates her acting and gives her the response she wants.
• Lin Shi clashes with the senior executives, who challenge his authority and insist that Lin Lang’s project should not be abandoned.
• At dinner, Su Su tries to create an intimate, harmonious atmosphere by preparing food and serving Lin Shi, but he deliberately keeps his distance and exposes the artificiality of her behavior.
• Their conversation ends with Su Su using the court summons as the direct reason for seeking Lin Shi’s assistance, shifting their interaction from romantic manipulation to a concrete legal problem.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Su cooks a meal for Lin Shi, hoping to persuade him to help her.
• Lin Shi reveals he has joined Lin Corporation and discusses his grandfather's paranoia.
• In the study, Lin Shi reveals he knows Su Su's true intentions and that he has been using her as well.
• Lin Shi admits to being the one who informed the court about Su Su's whereabouts.
• He reveals that he recognized Su Su's appraisal of him from the beginning and decided to use her.

Character Developments

• Su Su: Realizes that Lin Shi has been manipulating her and is shocked and hurt by his admission.
• Lin Shi: Shows his manipulative side and enjoys toying with Su Su's emotions.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and power dynamics in relationships.
• The consequences of deceit and hidden intentions.
• The struggle for control and dominance.

Character Interactions

• Su Su and Lin Shi's relationship evolves from one of potential allies to enemies, with Lin Shi revealing his true colors.
• Lin Shi toys with Su Su emotionally, enjoying her distress and shock.
• Su Su's determination to use Lin Shi backfires as he admits to using her as well.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Su tells Lin Shi that she is supposedly a “natural-born protagonist,” based on a fortune-teller’s prediction from her childhood.
• She explains that she has always succeeded at whatever she attempted, escaped danger repeatedly, and usually obtained what she wanted—until Yan Xianjue appeared during her final year of high school.
• Su Su claims her unusual luck also affected her relationships, suggesting that Lin Shi, Ji Xi, and Yan Xianjue may correspond to different “male lead” roles in her life.
• She offers Lin Shi information about her supposed protagonist ability in exchange for a defense lawyer.
• Lin Shi questions her about Yan Xianjue, particularly why she had believed the Yan Household had only four children. He suspects this detail may reveal something about the fortune-teller or Yan Xianjue’s hidden circumstances.
• Su Su proposes that Lin Shi become her “male lead,” believing his support could strengthen her ability and help them overcome their current crisis.
• Lin Shi outwardly agrees to let her continue living with him and says he will consider her proposal, while privately remaining skeptical.
• After dismissing Su Su, Lin Shi estimates that only about thirty percent of her story may be true, but considers that enough to investigate. He contacts someone to look into the bald man previously imprisoned by the Shen Household.

Character Developments

• Su Su: Moves from emotional distress to strategic negotiation. Though she no longer believes Lin Shi genuinely loves her, she tries to make herself useful by presenting her “protagonist” theory and offering an alliance. Her dependence on fictional ideas reveals both her desperation and distorted understanding of reality.
• Lin Shi: Remains cynical, emotionally detached, and suspicious of Su Su’s claims. Nevertheless, he recognizes that her information may contain valuable clues, especially concerning Yan Xianjue and the Shen Household. He begins an investigation rather than dismissing her completely.
• Yan Xianjue: Though absent, becomes increasingly important through Su Su’s account. His unexpected existence and unusual registration are presented as potential clues to hidden family or social circumstances.
• The fortune-teller/master: Is indirectly connected to the mystery surrounding Su Su’s “protagonist” fate and may also be linked to a man whom Lin Shi’s grandfather accused Shen Fangli of cursing to death.

Significant Themes

• Reality versus fictional thinking: Su Su interprets her life through novel-like concepts such as protagonists and male leads, while Lin Shi rejects these ideas as delusions or narrative conventions.
• Manipulation and transactional relationships: Both characters treat relationships as exchanges of usefulness rather than expressions of affection. Su Su offers information for legal help, while Lin Shi views continued shelter as payment for using her.
• Luck, fate, and control: Su Su believes her repeated successes prove she has special destiny, whereas Lin Shi believes the true “protagonist” is simply whoever survives and wins in the end.
• Desperation and self-preservation: Su Su tries to regain security through negotiation after losing faith in romance, while Lin Shi seeks to exploit whatever useful information she possesses.
• Hidden identities and secrets: Questions about Yan Xianjue’s place in the Yan family and the imprisoned bald man suggest deeper conspiracies involving wealthy families and past events.

Character Interactions

• Su Su attempts to bargain with Lin Shi for a defense lawyer, turning her personal history into leverage.
• Lin Shi challenges her account and questions her past relationships, especially her connection to Yan Xianjue.
• Su Su asks Lin Shi to become her “male lead,” framing their relationship as a mutually beneficial experiment rather than a romantic request.
• Lin Shi mocks her beliefs but pretends to consider the proposal, allowing her to remain in the house while he evaluates her information.
• Afterward, Su Su privately regrets how badly her request for help turned out, while Lin Shi privately begins investigating a clue connected to the Shen Household.

Chapter Summary: “Lamb Hot Pot-Flavored”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Shi considers how to use Su Su’s claim that she wants him to be her male lead. Although he does not believe her, he realizes the information could help him contact Yan Xianjue and strengthen their alliance.
• Lin Shi views Yan Xianjue as an unusually valuable partner: he is wealthy, independent, and repeatedly causes trouble for the Lin Household through seemingly accidental actions. Lin Shi especially enjoys recalling how Yan won 750 million from Lin Lang.
• Wanting to contact Yan Yi’an without attracting the Lin family patriarch’s attention, Lin Shi decides to use Lin Lang as an excuse for making the call.
• Su Su, still distressed, contacts her mother to ask for help moving to another residence. Her mother refuses, accuses her of becoming involved with Fang Zhiyuan and the Fang family, and cuts off financial support before blocking her number.
• Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli spend the evening stargazing after eating lamb hot pot. Their playful conversation ends with a kiss flavored by the meal.

Character Developments

• Lin Shi demonstrates his calculating nature and strong initiative. He is willing to exploit Su Su’s information and manipulate family circumstances to pursue a useful alliance with Yan Xianjue.
• Su Su tries to maintain her usual resilient outlook, convincing herself that she can survive another crisis. However, her failed appeal to her mother exposes her vulnerability, loneliness, and lack of dependable family support.
• Su Su’s mother is shown as distant, bitter, and pragmatic. She views Su Su’s problems as burdens and firmly rejects responsibility for her.
• Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli continue growing more comfortable and intimate with each other. Their affectionate teasing reveals a relaxed romantic relationship.

Significant Themes

• Pragmatism over superstition: Lin Shi accepts beliefs only when they benefit him, reflecting his flexible morality and practical worldview.
• Power and alliances: Lin Shi recognizes that he needs influential partners to protect himself and counter the Lin Household.
• Family neglect and abandonment: Su Su’s conversation with her mother highlights the emotional damage caused by parental rejection and the instability of her relationships with the Fang family.
• Fate versus coincidence: Yan Xianjue’s repeated ability to disrupt the Lin family is treated as coincidence, though Lin Shi suspects there may be something more deliberate or powerful behind it.
• Romantic intimacy through humor: The final scene uses teasing and physical affection to portray Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli’s growing closeness.

Character Interactions

• Lin Shi and the Lin Household: Lin Shi strategically works around the family patriarch’s authority while privately mocking the family’s feudal customs.
• Lin Shi and Yan Xianjue: Though they do not interact directly in the chapter, Lin Shi plans to deepen their partnership and views Yan as a powerful ally.
• Su Su and her mother: Their hostile phone call reveals longstanding resentment, emotional distance, and the mother’s refusal to provide further support.
• Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli: They share playful banter while stargazing, discuss food and wishes, and end the evening with an affectionate kiss.

Chapter Summary: “Hell Joke”

Key plot points and events

• After kissing, Shen Fangli relaxes in Yan Xianjue’s arms and orders him to continue massaging her.
• She is surprised by his skill and learns that he practiced massage techniques when caring for his childhood horse, Goldie, and Goldie’s daughter, Treasure.
• Shen feels insulted when Yan compares her eating habits and treatment to those of a horse, leading to playful bickering. He teases her, misuses an idiom, and deliberately provokes her until she tries to headbutt him.
• Yan then reveals the truth behind his massage knowledge: as a child, he learned the techniques from his grandfather’s doctor while trying to ease his grandfather’s stomach problems.
• Lying together beneath the stars, Yan recounts his grandfather’s difficult life and death. His grandfather comforted the family by saying he would become a star in the sky.
• Shen silently stays beside Yan, understanding that he is reminiscing rather than seeking consolation.
• Nearby bodyguards struggle to suppress their emotional reactions and laughter while observing the couple, with Captain Lu warning one particularly expressive guard not to disrupt the moment.
• An alarm signals that it is time to return. Shen checks Yan’s expression, but he insists he has long recovered from the grief and continues making inappropriate “hell” jokes. Shen finally complains that he should be able to stop joking even in a serious moment.

Character developments

• Shen Fangli becomes increasingly comfortable and openly demanding with Yan, showing affection through mock anger, physical play, and teasing. She also demonstrates growing emotional sensitivity by noticing Yan’s lingering attachment to his grandfather.
• Yan Xianjue reveals a more vulnerable and caring side beneath his playful, mischievous personality. His childhood efforts to help his grandfather show his early devotion and the emotional significance of his memories.
• Yan’s tendency to use humor as a defense mechanism becomes clearer. Even when discussing death and grief, he deflects emotional intensity with jokes.
• The bodyguards’ reactions show that Yan’s normally reserved entourage is familiar with and quietly protective of his emotional life.

Significant themes

• Love expressed through teasing and care: Shen and Yan’s arguments function as playful intimacy rather than genuine conflict.
• Memory and grief: Yan’s recollection of his grandfather reveals how childhood memories and small acts of care remain meaningful long after a loved one’s death.
• Humor as emotional defense: Yan uses absurd jokes to soften painful subjects, while Shen challenges him to acknowledge the seriousness of the moment.
• The limits of childhood understanding: Yan realizes that his childhood actions may not have medically helped his grandfather, but they still mattered as expressions of love and gave him comfort later.
• Quiet companionship: Shen’s silence beside Yan emphasizes that emotional support does not always require words.

Character interactions

• Shen and Yan alternate between affectionate physical contact, mock accusations, and playful retaliation. Yan massages and teases her; she complains, attempts to headbutt him, and criticizes his “horse” comparisons.
• Yan reassures Shen through touch and humor while also sharing an unusually sincere story about his family.
• Shen does not interrupt Yan’s remembrance, instead quietly watching the stars with him and later checking whether he is truly all right.
• The bodyguards provide comic relief from a distance, reacting emotionally to the couple’s intimate moment while Captain Lu attempts to keep them silent and professional.

Chapter Summary: “A Little Mouth Dipped in Poison”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli return to their yurts after visiting his grandfather’s grave. Yan reveals that his father compiled the Ji Household banquet into a book and burned copies at the grave so his grandfather could “receive” them, though he keeps this detail from Shen as a surprise.
• Their conversation turns to Lü Hui’s future after the Gaokao. Yan argues that many students lose their sense of direction once the exam—their primary life goal—is over, though top scorers like Lü Hui have more choices.
• Yan jokingly claims his own life goal is to live off his family across every stage of life. When he tells Shen to “work hard,” she points out that they could both live comfortably forever as long as neither starts a business.
• Yan tries to record Shen repeating this statement, but she refuses and escapes into her yurt. He then goes to the neighboring yurt to meet Ji Xi and Lei Xuan.
• Ji Xi and Lei Xuan discuss work, including the upcoming results of Jiang Xinyi and the Zhao brothers, as well as a proposed crossover with Top Student Variety Show. Yan rejects the collaboration, criticizing the program and accusing it of trying to benefit from their show’s success without contributing.
• The exchange becomes a comedic argument about Yan’s unusually harsh attitude, the studio’s high moral standards, and Lei Xuan’s lack of awareness that he had signed a morality pledge.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue continues to present himself as lazy and unserious, but his comments reveal a sharp understanding of students’ anxieties and the emptiness many feel after achieving a major goal. He is also affectionate, mischievous, and deliberately keeps sentimental family details from Shen so she can discover them later.
• Shen Fangli shows increasing comfort and familiarity with Yan. She challenges his cynical and exaggerated claims instead of simply accepting them, matches his humor, and recognizes his habit of turning her own thoughts into jokes at her expense.
• Ji Xi remains the practical, responsible figure handling documents and business matters. He quietly prepares water for Yan and gets a small revenge on Lei Xuan during their banter.
• Lei Xuan is portrayed as outspoken but easily defeated in arguments. He tries to redirect the conversation toward work and resists Yan and Ji Xi’s teasing, but repeatedly loses control of the exchange.

Significant Themes

• The loss of purpose after achievement: The chapter explores how students often define their lives through the Gaokao and may feel directionless once it ends.
• Privilege and security: Yan’s jokes about relying on his family highlight the characters’ financial comfort and his deliberately self-indulgent attitude toward life.
• Affection expressed through teasing: Yan and Shen’s relationship is marked by playful provocation, physical affection, and mutual understanding.
• Workplace satire and elitism: Yan mocks a rival variety show for trying to exploit their success, while the studio’s insistence on academic and moral standards exposes its own form of elitism.
• The contrast between responsibility and idleness: Ji Xi and Lei Xuan work diligently while Yan jokes about his “perfect” life of doing nothing, creating much of the chapter’s humor.

Character Interactions

• Yan and Shen walk hand in hand, debate ambition and life goals, and tease each other about working—or avoiding work. Shen ultimately flees when Yan attempts to record her statement.
• Ji Xi and Lei Xuan react to Shen’s refusal and silently judge Yan’s romantic antics. Their later conversation shifts into a series of sarcastic exchanges about the crossover offer, educational discrimination, and professional ethics.
• Yan’s sharp criticism of the rival show provokes Lei Xuan, while Ji Xi sides with Yan’s practical approach and uses the opportunity to remind Lei Xuan of the studio’s morality requirements.

Chapter Summary: “Wipeout?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After spending the night thinking about the harsh online criticism of the show, Lei Xuan decides that simply being “easygoing” is not enough and plans to prove the program’s authenticity.
• He learns that brothers Zhao Rongjin and Zhao Rongxuan will receive their Gaokao results at 9 a.m. and asks them to livestream the moment they check their scores. They agree.
• Zhao Rongxuan suggests inviting Jiang Xinyi, whose scores will also be released that day. Jiang explains that her province’s results will not be available until 4 p.m., so she leaves open the possibility of joining later.
• Lei Xuan reorganizes the breakfast livestream around the score release. Two screens are installed: one for audience comments and another showing the official score-checking website. The tables are arranged in a U-shape so everyone can watch.
• During breakfast, Yan Xianjue complains about the repetitive lamb-based meals and jokingly suggests that the milk tea should be renamed “milk porridge.” Shen Fangli firmly makes him eat properly, prompting viewers to comment on their playful dynamic.
• The livestream audience also jokes about Lei Xuan’s transformation from a wealthy heir into a competent production employee, as well as the essay giveaway he organized.
• Lei Xuan explains that the early livestream is meant both to make up for previously skipped breakfast segments and to let viewers watch the contestants check their scores before online trends and speculation take over.
• The audience worries that livestreaming the results could lead to everyone “wiping out,” meaning performing badly. Zhao Rongxuan responds confidently that while they cannot guarantee being national top scorers, they should still outperform 99.9% of test takers.
• When a viewer mocks top students for eventually entering the entertainment industry, Lei Xuan seizes the opportunity to ask Zhao Rongjin and Zhao Rongxuan about their future plans.

Character Developments

• Lei Xuan becomes more proactive and determined to defend the show’s reputation. He demonstrates both organizational skill and a strong desire for an honest, high-stakes broadcast.
• Zhao Rongxuan appears confident and composed about the exam results. His remark about surpassing 99.9% of test takers reveals both self-assurance and a sharp sense of humor.
• Jiang Xinyi is practical and calm, focusing first on the technical issue of the website possibly slowing down.
• Yan Xianjue continues to behave playfully and somewhat childishly, complaining about breakfast and joking with Shen Fangli. His teasing appears partly intentional, giving the couple a relaxed and entertaining dynamic.
• Shen Fangli acts as the more grounded and controlling presence in her relationship with Yan Xianjue, keeping him focused while remaining visibly exasperated by him.
• The production staff and guests increasingly function as a coordinated team, adapting the show around the exam-results event.

Significant Themes

• Authenticity and transparency: Lei Xuan uses a live score check to prove that the show is willing to expose its contestants to genuine, unpredictable outcomes.
• Public judgment and reputation: The chapter explores how online criticism pressures the program to respond visibly rather than merely defend itself.
• Achievement and social expectations: The discussion of “wiping out,” national rankings, and future careers highlights the enormous pressure attached to Gaokao results.
• Humor amid pressure: Breakfast jokes, livestream comments, and playful arguments soften the tension surrounding the score release.
• Performance versus reality: The contestants are entertainers on a variety show, yet their exam results represent a real and consequential part of their lives.

Character Interactions

• Lei Xuan coordinates with the Zhao brothers and Jiang Xinyi to arrange the livestream.
• Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli exchange affectionate, comic banter, with Shen physically interrupting his complaints by stuffing food into his mouth.
• The livestream audience actively shapes the conversation, teasing Yan Xianjue, Lei Xuan, and the show’s format.
• Lei Xuan uses the audience’s comments to redirect attention and eventually turns the discussion toward the Zhao brothers’ future plans, setting up the next part of the chapter.

Chapter Summary: “Face-to-Face Mockery”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Rongjin and Zhao Rongxuan explain that they only attended Ji Xi’s livestream because Ji invited them. They mockingly describe him as the “legend” who livestreamed selling self-criticisms on a variety show.
• The brothers perform their answers in alternating sentences, prompting Yan Xianjue to accuse them of putting on a comedy routine. They claim they are helping director Lei Xuan keep the conversation balanced.
• Lei Xuan deliberately provokes them by asking whether they would return to Straight-A Students’ Daily Life. The brothers bluntly refuse, calling the show boring because they were made to livestream studying for eight hours.
• Their comments become a source of amusement for the audience, especially their comparison of the experience to a one-day part-time job and their joke that even the production team’s donkey would not study that long.
• While waiting for the brothers’ exam results to load, viewers discuss the popularity of the livestream, the previous variety show, Yan Xianjue’s investment in the new program, and the unusual concentration of high-achieving students among the guests.
• The brothers’ scores are revealed as 634 out of a possible 660. Although objectively excellent, viewers compare them unfavorably with the even higher scores of the previous guests and mock them for acting superior.
• Some viewers claim they could also score above 600. Yan Xianjue challenges them to provide their exam numbers so he can verify their results, exposing their empty boasting.
• Yan Xianjue becomes increasingly sharp and sarcastic in response to the barrage, particularly toward commenters criticizing the brothers or calling him a “young master.”

Character Developments

• Zhao Rongjin and Zhao Rongxuan: Their coordinated speech and teasing reveal their close relationship, confidence, and playful arrogance. They are academically accomplished but openly uninterested in entering entertainment or repeating the tedious variety-show experience.
• Yan Xianjue: Although initially eating quietly, he becomes an active defender of the brothers and responds aggressively to hostile comments. His biting humor and refusal to tolerate anonymous boasting show a more direct and combative side.
• Lei Xuan: He acts as an instigator, intentionally asking provocative questions to create entertaining interactions and increase the livestream’s dramatic energy.
• Ji Xi: He remains mostly quiet and focused on eating, only reminding everyone that it is nine o’clock. His reserved reaction contrasts with the chaos around him.
• The livestream audience: Viewers shift between admiration, envy, mockery, and defensiveness. Their reactions show how easily online audiences turn academic achievement into spectacle.

Significant Themes

• Public performance and mockery: The livestream turns intellectual achievement into entertainment, with guests and viewers constantly teasing and challenging one another.
• Academic elitism and insecurity: The brothers’ dismissive attitude toward entertainment provokes viewers, while the audience’s insistence that 634 is “low” exposes competitive and unrealistic standards.
• Online anonymity: Commenters boast about their own abilities or criticize the guests without evidence, while Yan Xianjue calls out their lack of credibility.
• Entertainment versus genuine achievement: The chapter contrasts the tedious, manufactured nature of variety shows with the guests’ real academic accomplishments and candid personalities.
• The appeal of spectacle: Viewers are drawn not only to the scores but also to the interpersonal conflict, sarcasm, and possibility of someone being embarrassed publicly.

Character Interactions

• The Zhao brothers use synchronized banter to tease Ji Xi and the show, while Yan Xianjue calls attention to their rehearsed comedic style.
• Lei Xuan provokes the brothers about returning to the previous program, encouraging a confrontation for the audience’s enjoyment.
• The brothers criticize their former director and show, while the livestream viewers debate whether their bluntness is refreshing or arrogant.
• Yan Xianjue defends the brothers against sarcastic comments and verbally dismantles viewers who claim they could match the scores.
• The audience also speculates about Yan Xianjue’s relationship with the variety-show director, especially why he invested heavily in the program despite apparently disliking its creator.

Chapter Summary: “A Lifetime Passes Quickly”

Plot points and events

During a livestream focused on checking scores, viewers begin attacking and speculating about the participants. Yan Xianjue immediately takes control of the situation, ordering paid trolls out, cleaning up the chat with blacklists and blocked keywords, and jokingly threatening anyone who causes trouble. His authority is emphasized by the revelation that he owns the livestream platform and can easily investigate users if necessary.
The mood shifts when director Lei Xuan privately jokes to Yao Weiran that Shen Fangli must have “arsenic on her lips,” referring to her sharp remarks the previous night. He fails to realize that his microphone is still on, broadcasting the comment to everyone. The chat erupts in amusement, while the guests solemnly pretend to mourn his impending doom. Lei eventually turns around and apologizes, only for Yan Xianjue to humorously threaten to bury him. Shen Fangli then joins in, calmly telling Lei that “a lifetime passes quickly,” leaving him even more frightened.

Character developments

• Yan Xianjue displays his powerful, domineering personality while remaining playful and controlled. He efficiently handles the hostile chat but turns the incident into comedy rather than genuinely punishing anyone. His teasing threats reinforce his intimidating “villain” image, which the viewers enthusiastically embrace.
• Lei Xuan shifts from a confident director to a panicked victim after accidentally broadcasting his insult. His embarrassment and desperate attempts to survive become the main source of humor.
• Yao Weiran acts as Lei’s horrified partner and tries, unsuccessfully, to protect him from the consequences of his mistake. His exaggerated resignation suggests long familiarity with Lei’s obliviousness.
• Shen Fangli remains calm, elegant, and seemingly benevolent while delivering increasingly ominous remarks. Her composed demeanor contrasts with Lei’s fear and strengthens her image as someone whose words can be more dangerous than open aggression.
• The other guests, including Zhao Rongjin, Zhao Rongxuan, Jiang Xinyi, and the surrounding cast, mostly suppress their laughter and observe the spectacle.

Significant themes

• Power and control in online spaces: Yan’s ownership of the platform allows him to regulate the chat and silence harassment instantly.
• Public image and livestream authenticity: Private jokes become public entertainment, showing how easily performers can lose control of their image in a live broadcast.
• Humor through contrast: Yan and Shen’s calm, polished behavior contrasts sharply with Lei’s panic.
• Threats as playful intimacy: The characters use exaggerated danger and mock violence to tease one another, creating camaraderie beneath the intimidation.
• The unpredictability of live performance: A simple microphone error becomes the central event of the broadcast.

Character interactions

Yan dominates the exchange with the chat, while the guests silently allow him to defend them. Yao Weiran warns Lei that his microphone was unmuted, but only after the damaging comment has already been heard. The cast collectively “mourns” Lei, amplifying his embarrassment. Yan then reassures Lei before immediately frightening him with a mock burial threat. Finally, Shen Fangli calmly joins the teasing, and her line about life passing quickly becomes the chapter’s ominous punchline.

Chapter Summary

During a livestream breakfast, Yan Xianjue continues teasing Lei Xuan over his inappropriate on-camera remark. Jiang Miaomiao explains to Ye You that Yan’s joking threats mean he is not truly angry; his silence would be more dangerous. Once satisfied that Lei Xuan has learned his lesson, Yan orders him to write a self-criticism and pay a 50,000-yuan fine each to Ji Xi and Shen Fangli.
Lei Xuan accepts responsibility without arguing and transfers the money immediately. Shen Fangli initially considers returning her share, but Yan tells her to keep it as compensation for emotional distress. She instead gives Yan 30,000 yuan, joking that they are “splitting the loot.” Their playful exchange highlights their comfortable intimacy, while Lei Xuan grudgingly acknowledges that he deserved the punishment. Yan also prevents Lei Xuan from asking Ji Xi to write the self-criticism for him, showing that he knows Lei Xuan’s habits well.
The conversation then shifts to the company’s unusually high fines and salaries. Zhao Rongxuan and the livestream audience are shocked to learn that Yan once fined himself 500,000 yuan and that he previously won 750 million yuan. Ji Xi explains that he began with an internship salary of 3,000 yuan per month, including room and board, but now earns substantial bonuses—nearly 100,000 yuan even during a slow month. The audience is stunned by the contrast between his modest stated salary and his large performance-based bonus.
Good becomes interested in working for Yan’s companies and asks about Jiang Miaomiao’s compensation. She clarifies that, as an intern, she receives the lower internship rate, but enjoys flexible working conditions and company-provided housing. Since rent in Shenzhen would otherwise exceed her salary, she considers the benefits generous. Zhao Rongjin and Zhao Rongxuan then ask whether Random Entertainment and Random Investment provide equal treatment. Ji Xi explains that compensation and resources depend on the value each employee creates, though everyone competes fairly.
The audience questions whether Shen Fangli received special treatment because Yan personally selected her. Shen openly admits that she was handpicked, refusing to pretend otherwise. She says that being chosen directly is something others would envy, and playfully challenges Yan’s assumption that she would accept the benefits while denying the privilege.

Character Development and Interactions

• Yan Xianjue acts as a strict but fair authority figure, punishing Lei Xuan while keeping the situation humorous. His teasing relationship with Shen Fangli reveals affection and familiarity.
• Lei Xuan demonstrates accountability by paying the fine without protest, though he still tries to find ways around writing the self-criticism.
• Shen Fangli appears confident, content, and candid about receiving preferential treatment. Her playful money-sharing with Yan emphasizes their closeness.
• Ji Xi is established as a highly capable employee whose compensation is tied to performance rather than title alone. He also serves as the calm, factual voice in the salary discussion.
• Jiang Miaomiao gains confidence in her employment situation and recognizes the value of her flexible schedule and housing benefits.
• Good and the Zhao brothers function as curious outsiders, voicing the audience’s disbelief about the companies’ wealth, salaries, and employment policies.

Significant Themes

• Accountability and boundaries: Private joking is tolerated, but inappropriate public remarks have consequences.
• Wealth and distorted perceptions: Yan’s enormous fortune causes everyone to lose perspective about what counts as a large or small amount of money.
• Merit-based fairness: The companies may offer unequal compensation, but Ji Xi insists that resources are distributed according to ability and contribution.
• Privilege and honesty: Shen Fangli acknowledges her special status rather than pretending her success was entirely independent of Yan’s support.
• Workplace intimacy and trust: The employees’ teasing, candid salary discussions, and willingness to accept criticism suggest an unusually informal but closely connected working environment.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The livestream audience becomes increasingly interested in the generous benefits offered by Yan Xianjue’s company, especially Ji Xi’s internship package: a high salary, room and board, and substantial disposable income.
• Good regrets refusing Ji Xi’s earlier recruitment offer. Ji Xi reminds him that he had invited Good before, but Good had not believed him. Ji Xi explains that his circumstances changed after being transferred.
• Ji Xi openly confirms that he is still recruiting interns, prompting viewers to realize that the travel variety show may function partly as a recruitment campaign for Yan Xianjue’s company.
• The guests discuss whether athletes would fit into an investment company. Yan Xianjue explains that employees without a fixed career goal may begin through job rotations before being assigned roles according to company and personal preferences.
• Lei Xuan redirects attention to a major revelation: Zhao Rongjin and Zhao Rongxuan are both athletes and top academic scorers.
• Yan Xianjue reveals that his second brother, Yan Ci, has also been selected for the Olympic Games as an esports athlete, shocking the guests and viewers.
• The Zhao brothers reveal that one competes in swimming and the other in shooting. Yan Xianjue learns that neither intends to pursue a sports-related career.
• Remembering their future plans, Yan Xianjue suggests that they study information technology and develop firewall technology together, since their complementary personalities would suit offensive and defensive cybersecurity work.
• The brothers are stunned because this suggestion matches one of their actual plans, making them suspect that Yan Xianjue somehow “leaked the questions” about their future.

2. Character Developments

• Ji Xi becomes more openly strategic and confident about recruiting talent. He no longer hides that the show also serves as a way to attract capable employees.
• Good shifts from distrusting Ji Xi’s offer to regretting that he did not accept it, highlighting Ji Xi’s unusually attractive working conditions.
• Yan Xianjue demonstrates extensive knowledge of both his company’s hiring practices and the guests’ potential. His ability to anticipate the Zhao brothers’ ambitions makes him appear almost suspiciously perceptive.
• Zhao Rongjin and Zhao Rongxuan are revealed to be exceptional in multiple areas: both are top scorers and Olympic-level athletes, despite planning to leave sports for technology. Their mutual understanding is emphasized through their shared reaction to Yan Xianjue’s suggestion.
• Yan Ci, though absent, receives significant development through the revelation that he has qualified for the Olympics in esports, adding another impressive achievement to the Yan family.
• Shen Fangli continues to act as an audience surrogate, reacting with surprise when Yan Xianjue reveals information about his brother.

3. Significant Themes

• Workplace envy and ideal employment: The audience contrasts Ji Xi’s benefits with their own difficult corporate jobs, turning his position into an object of fantasy and admiration.
• Recruitment disguised as entertainment: The variety show increasingly appears to be a talent-acquisition strategy, blurring the boundaries between television, business, and employment.
• Exceptional ability across fields: The chapter repeatedly emphasizes that the most outstanding characters excel simultaneously in academics, athletics, esports, and career planning.
• Hidden information and foresight: The title’s idea of “leaked questions” reflects Yan Xianjue’s uncanny ability to know or predict the characters’ plans.
• Flexible career paths: Rather than forcing employees into predetermined roles, Yan Xianjue’s company uses job rotations and mutual suitability to discover the best positions for them.

4. Character Interactions

• Ji Xi and Good exchange a humorous but revealing conversation about Good’s missed opportunity to join the company.
• The livestream audience collectively interprets Ji Xi’s recruitment pitch and Yan Xianjue’s company as unusually desirable.
• Zhao Rongxuan and Zhao Rongjin question whether athletes fit an investment company, leading Yan Xianjue to explain the company’s management-trainee approach.
• Lei Xuan interrupts the business discussion to expose the brothers’ athletic identities, creating widespread shock among the guests and viewers.
• Shen Fangli questions Yan Xianjue about his knowledge of Yan Ci, prompting the esports-Olympics revelation.
• Yan Xianjue advises the Zhao brothers about studying IT and developing firewall technology. Their stunned confirmation that this is already their plan creates the chapter’s final comedic twist.