Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Shi calls Yan Xianjue after being taken in for questioning over a serious car accident involving a Lin Corporation vehicle. The accident killed three people and injured sixteen, particularly workers who had previously argued with Lin Shi.
• Before hanging up, Lin Shi jokingly—or perhaps seriously—asks Yan Xianjue to bail him out.
• News reports reveal that Lin Lang publicly describes Lin Shi as young and hot-blooded, effectively implying Lin Shi’s guilt before the police investigation is complete. Lin Shi later encounters Lin Lang during a media interview, and the two get into a physical fight in front of reporters and police.
• Yan Xianjue suspects the accident was deliberate or involved tampering, but considers leaving Lin Shi in custody as punishment. He ultimately decides to arrange for someone else to bail him out because Lin Shi is needed to deal with the fallout surrounding the incident.
• Yan Xianjue asks his parents for help. During the visit, they reveal that he has inherited control of the Yan family’s bodyguard and security company, which supplies security for the family’s properties and personnel.
• The responsibility is part of a broader redistribution of power within the Yan family. His father explains that the decision was discussed with Yan Xianjue’s eldest brother and reflects the family’s belief that the brothers must trust and support one another.
• Yan Xianjue is overwhelmed by the new authority and worries about the responsibility, though he recognizes that he cannot simply pass the work to Ji Xi as he does with many of his other affairs.
• His father suggests using personnel from the security organization to bail out Lin Shi. The available bodyguards possess highly specialized abilities, leading Yan Xianjue to jokingly compare them to recruits from Arkham.
• Later, Yan Xianjue tells Shen Fangli that he may leave Lin Shi in jail for a while and jokingly invents a scenario in which Lin Shi is forced to eat scraps from trash cans because nobody pays for his meals. Shen Fangli laughs but points out that Lin Shi is not actually being mistreated.
• Yan Xianjue explains that Lin Shi must eventually return because a public controversy remains unresolved. Online commenters are attacking Yan Xianjue’s eldest sister over her treatment of someone connected to the foundation, and Lin Shi is expected to clean up the mess he caused.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue: Although he presents himself as lazy, irresponsible, and determined to avoid work, he repeatedly helps Lin Shi and takes family responsibilities seriously when necessary. He is reluctant to inherit the security company but understands that its authority affects the safety of the entire Yan family. His instinctive protectiveness toward his family—especially his eldest sister—also becomes apparent.
• Lin Shi: He is placed in a highly dangerous and politically damaging situation, becoming the apparent scapegoat for the car accident. His impulsive temper is emphasized by his fight with Lin Lang, but his continued importance to the Lin Corporation means he must eventually face the crisis.
• Lin Lang: He attempts to shape public opinion against Lin Shi by commenting on the incident before the investigation is finished. His confrontation with Lin Shi suggests that the conflict within the Lin family is openly hostile and possibly connected to a struggle for control.
• Ji Xi: Despite complaining about his workload and claiming not to care about Lin Shi, he immediately investigates the incident. His exhaustion and sarcasm provide comic relief, while Yan Xianjue’s unexpected transfer of money shows a measure of consideration.
• Yan Xianjue’s Parents: They balance teasing with genuine support. They deliberately give Yan Xianjue greater authority, believing that he is capable of handling it and should begin assuming his share of family responsibility.
• Shen Fangli: She serves as Yan Xianjue’s amused confidante, recognizing his exaggerated complaints and exposing his biased view of his family members.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility versus avoidance: Yan Xianjue wants to remain a “salted fish,” but family power and security responsibilities force him to mature and participate.
• Family trust and succession: The transfer of the security company reflects the Yan family’s efforts to prevent misunderstandings and ensure that authority is shared among the siblings.
• Political and corporate power struggles: The Lin family’s public accusations, internal violence, and possible manipulation of the accident suggest a larger struggle for dominance within the Lin Corporation.
• Public image and premature judgment: Lin Lang’s statement effectively condemns Lin Shi before the facts are known, demonstrating how quickly public opinion can be manipulated.
• Comedy amid serious conflict: The dangerous accident, family power struggles, and possible conspiracy are repeatedly undercut by sarcasm, teasing, and exaggerated fantasies about prison life.

Important Character Interactions

• Lin Shi and Yan Xianjue: Lin Shi relies on Yan Xianjue for help, while Yan Xianjue responds with irritation, mockery, and reluctant support.
• Yan Xianjue and Ji Xi: Their exchange highlights Ji Xi’s exhaustion and Yan Xianjue’s habit of delegating work, though Yan Xianjue rewards him unexpectedly.
• Lin Shi and Lin Lang: Their televised physical confrontation exposes the severe hostility and instability within the Lin family.
• Yan Xianjue and his parents: Their tea-room conversation combines family teasing with a major turning point, as Yan Xianjue receives control of the security company.
• Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli: Their video call reveals Yan Xianjue’s mischievous side and Shen Fangli’s ability to see through his excuses, while also showing their comfortable, humorous relationship.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Fangli complains to Yan Xianjue about the foundation’s blunt response to an online critic who accused it of mistreating relocated workers during a rainstorm.
• Yan Xianjue reassures her playfully that he would defend her in the same way, making her blush and deny that she is jealous.
• Their conversation turns to Yan Xianjue’s family and whether the siblings share similar personalities. He explains that their behavior was shaped by growing up together, describing his eldest brother, Yan Yi’an, as serious and difficult to approach when they were young.
• Yan Xianjue says that he and Yan Ci often relied on their eldest sister to resolve their problems.
• He tells Shen Fangli that his family is arranging bodyguard candidates for her. She accepts the plan and recognizes that the arrangement reflects how much the Yan family values and protects her.
• Shen Fangli watches the rain and mentions that the lamb her father brought home is being kept indoors and may become a pet rather than food.
• While Shen Fangli waits for Yan Xianjue’s reply, he speaks with Yan Yi’an about information related to getting Lin Shi out of trouble.
• Yan Yi’an questions why Yan Xianjue went to their father instead of him, but ultimately supports his decision and sends him the information he gathered.
• Yan Yi’an also tells him to inform Yan Ci, though Yan Xianjue refuses because of their recent quarrel.
• Their argument reveals that Yan Ci has been avoiding the family attending his competition because Yan Xianjue’s uncontrollable inner voice distracts him. Yan Yi’an quietly understands the real reason but gives a gentler explanation.
• After reading the information, Yan Xianjue realizes that Lin Shi’s conflict resulted from his greed and unwillingness to compromise. He decides not to give Lin Shi the evidence immediately, believing that allowing him to suffer the consequences will teach him a lesson.

Character Developments

• Shen Fangli becomes more aware of the Yan family’s close, complicated dynamics and recognizes how thoughtfully they make her feel included. Her affection for Yan Xianjue deepens as she sees the importance his family places on her safety.
• Yan Xianjue continues to show a playful, protective personality. He is somewhat childish in his feud with Yan Ci, but he is also perceptive and willing to use the information he receives strategically.
• Yan Yi’an is portrayed as the responsible mediator of the family. Although stern, he cares about his younger brothers and tries to prevent misunderstandings while managing their conflicts.
• Yan Ci remains absent from the direct interactions but is shown to be under pressure from his competition and troubled by Yan Xianjue’s inner voice, which affects his concentration.
• Lin Shi is characterized as arrogant and inflexible. His refusal to negotiate has left him vulnerable, and Yan Xianjue expects him to pay for his behavior.

Significant Themes

• Family protection and belonging: The Yan family expresses care through practical actions, such as arranging Shen Fangli’s bodyguard and helping Yan Xianjue handle difficult matters.
• Sibling conflict and affection: The brothers argue and exclude one another, but their disputes exist within a deeper pattern of loyalty and concern.
• Consequences of greed and arrogance: Lin Shi’s troubles stem from prioritizing money and refusing reasonable compromise.
• Emotional reassurance and romantic intimacy: Yan Xianjue’s teasing defense of Shen Fangli and her reaction to it highlight their growing closeness.
• Different forms of justice: Rather than immediately exposing Lin Shi’s wrongdoing, Yan Xianjue chooses to let him experience the consequences of his own choices.

Character Interactions

• Shen Fangli and Yan Xianjue: They exchange affectionate teasing, discuss his family, and strengthen their romantic bond. Shen Fangli also accepts the bodyguard arrangement because she understands it comes from genuine concern.
• Yan Xianjue and Yan Yi’an: Their conversation combines practical cooperation with sibling tension. Yan Yi’an advises him while Yan Xianjue complains about Yan Ci and resists involving him.
• Yan Yi’an and Yan Ci: Though Yan Ci is not present, Yan Yi’an defends his motives and tries to prevent his disagreement with Yan Xianjue from worsening.
• Yan Xianjue and Lin Shi: Their interaction is indirect. Yan Xianjue has obtained information about Lin Shi’s misconduct and decides to withhold it temporarily, partly to teach him a lesson.

Chapter Summary: “Men Die for Wealth”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue reflects on Dazhuang, the worker who died in the car accident. Although Dazhuang was desperate to pay for his younger brother’s medical treatment, Yan believes his greed and willingness to cause trouble led to innocent people being endangered.
• Yan concludes that Lin Lang bribed Dazhuang to create problems for Lin Shi and suspects Lin Lang arranged for the vehicle to be tampered with. Dazhuang was likely meant to serve as disposable cover for Lin Lang’s larger schemes.
• Yan discusses the case with his sister, Yan Wan. They agree that Lin Lang was probably the true cause of the accident, but the lack of evidence—worsened by heavy rain and the vehicle’s destruction—makes proving it difficult.
• Yan proposes that Dazhuang’s younger brother receive medical treatment through the Yan Foundation but that the family not receive additional condolence money. He argues that Dazhuang’s death should not erase the consequences of his actions, while official survivor benefits and possible compensation from the Lin Household should already provide enough support.
• Yan Wan warns that the decision could be controversial, but Yan argues that public controversy is unavoidable and that excessive compensation may not benefit the younger brother.
• Yan humorously asks his brother, Yan Yi’an, how he gathered so much information on Lin Lang so quickly. Yi’an explains that Lin Lang had been under surveillance and reminds Yan that illegally investigating people is against the law.
• Yan complains to his girlfriend, Shen Fangli, about Yi’an’s double standards. Their conversation shifts into playful teasing about the lamb Yan had sent as emergency food but which Shen’s family has continued raising.
• Shen invites Yan to dinner, but Yan becomes nervous upon learning that her intimidating father will be present. Their banter reveals his lasting fear of her father, stemming from their chaotic first meeting.
• Meanwhile, Lin Lang and Lin Shi leave the police station after apparently fighting. Lin Shi mocks Lin Lang and notices that Lin Lang’s assistant has an umbrella while he has none.
• Lin Shi is driven away by Lin Wei, a seemingly ordinary driver sent by Yan Xianjue. The driver provides a first-aid kit but refuses to indulge Lin Shi’s complaints or conversation.
• During the drive, the car suddenly makes a sharp turn. Lin Wei tells Lin Shi to fasten his seat belt and then accelerates abruptly, creating a cliffhanger.

2. Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue shows a strong sense of justice and practicality. He is sympathetic to Dazhuang’s sick younger brother but refuses to reward Dazhuang’s wrongdoing simply because it ended in death. He also demonstrates growing involvement in managing complicated family and business affairs.
• Yan Wan acts as a mature, pragmatic adviser. She understands both the moral and public-relations consequences of helping Dazhuang’s family and treats Yan’s proposal seriously despite recognizing its controversial nature.
• Lin Lang is increasingly exposed as manipulative and ruthless. He exploits Dazhuang’s poverty, likely sabotages the car, and appears willing to use others as expendable tools in his conflict with Lin Shi.
• Lin Shi remains sharp-tongued and confrontational, but his injuries and dependence on Yan’s protection reveal a more vulnerable side. He also begins recognizing that Yan Xianjue’s seemingly ordinary arrangements may conceal greater competence.
• Yan Yi’an is portrayed as efficient, well-informed, and legally cautious, though Yan Xianjue suspects him of hypocrisy.
• Shen Fangli provides comic relief and emotional warmth. Her teasing relationship with Yan reveals their intimacy, while her sudden embarrassment suggests concern about how Yan’s family views her past behavior.
• Lin Wei appears stoic and highly capable beneath his ordinary appearance. His abrupt driving maneuver suggests that he may be acting to protect Lin Shi or respond to an immediate threat.

3. Significant Themes

• Greed and its consequences: Dazhuang’s desperation and willingness to accept Lin Lang’s money lead him into a dangerous scheme, illustrating the chapter’s central idea that people may risk their lives for wealth.
• Justice versus compassion: Yan struggles with whether Dazhuang’s innocent younger brother should benefit from his death. The chapter questions whether compassion should be separated from moral accountability.
• Class exploitation: Lin Lang takes advantage of a poor worker’s financial desperation, treating him as disposable in a conflict between wealthy families.
• Power and manipulation: The Lin family conflict operates through bribery, sabotage, surveillance, and public narrative rather than open confrontation alone.
• Family responsibility: The Yan siblings cooperate in deciding how to assist Dazhuang’s brother, while the Lin family’s behavior contrasts genuine responsibility with self-preservation.
• Humor amid danger: Playful exchanges between Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli, as well as Lin Shi’s sarcastic complaints, offset the darker themes of death, corruption, and betrayal.

4. Character Interactions

• Yan Xianjue and Yan Wan: They discuss Dazhuang’s death, Lin Lang’s possible involvement, and the ethics of providing aid. Their exchange shows mutual trust and Yan Wan’s willingness to treat Yan as a serious decision-maker despite teasing him.
• Yan Xianjue and Yan Yi’an: Their brief messages highlight Yan’s admiration for Yi’an’s investigative ability and Yi’an’s dry, legalistic personality.
• Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli: Their playful argument about her father and the lamb demonstrates their affectionate relationship. Yan’s fear of her father becomes a recurring comedic point.
• Lin Lang and Lin Shi: Their tense encounter outside the police station confirms their hostility. Though both conceal their emotions, their bruises suggest that their conflict has become physical.
• Lin Shi and Lin Wei: Lin Shi tries to treat Lin Wei like a subordinate he can order around, but Lin Wei responds coldly and refuses to accommodate him. Their strained dynamic emphasizes Lin Wei’s independence and Yan Xianjue’s deliberate choice of an unpleasant but capable protector.
• Lin Shi and Yan Xianjue: Though Yan does not appear directly, his influence is evident through the driver, medical supplies, and instructions he arranged for Lin Shi.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Shi is being chased by a black sports car driven by someone from the Lin Household.
• Lin Wei, his bodyguard, leads the chase and eventually crashes into the pursuer.
• The pursuer is captured, but Lin Shi doesn't recognize him.
• Lin Shi receives a call from his teacher informing him that Test Subject No. 3 (his mother) has escaped.
• Lin Shi decides to let his mother run free for a few days before recapturing her.

Character Developments

• Lin Shi shows his ruthless and manipulative side, enjoying his mother's suffering and planning to toy with her hope before recapturing her.
• Lin Wei demonstrates his reckless driving skills and concern for his car's headlights over Lin Shi's safety.
• The doctor shows remorse for sending Lin Shi out in the rain but still expects him to handle the situation with his mother.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and cruelty: Lin Shi's enjoyment of his mother's suffering and his plan to toy with her hope reflect his manipulative and cruel nature.
• Family dynamics: The complex relationships within the Lin Household are explored, with Lin Shi showing no affection or loyalty to his family members.
• Power dynamics: The power struggle between the Lin and Yan households is hinted at, with both sides showing their strength and ruthlessness.

Character Interactions

• Lin Shi and Lin Wei: Their interaction shows Lin Shi's indifference to his own safety and Lin Wei's concern for his car over Lin Shi's well-being.
• Lin Shi and the doctor: Their conversation reveals their manipulative and uncaring nature, with the doctor expecting Lin Shi to handle the situation with his mother despite knowing it's dangerous.
• Lin Shi and his mother: Their relationship is shown to be one of cruelty and manipulation, with Lin Shi enjoying his mother's suffering and planning to toy with her hope.

Key plot points and events

• Lin Lang learns that the man he sent after Lin Shi has vanished after a car crash. Unsure whether Lin Shi’s people intervened, he orders a search and tells his staff to watch Lin Shi.
• Experts investigating the rain-soaked site confirm it is an archaeological graveyard, though its identity as an imperial tomb remains uncertain. Lin Lang is forced to negotiate compensation and withdraw the workers, assigning Lin Shi responsibility for placing them in new jobs.
• Furious that the Yan family appears to have anticipated his bidding strategy, Lin Lang smashes up his villa. He briefly entertains the idea of a mudslide killing the experts, but the rain eases and their investigation proceeds quickly.
• Lin Shi learns that Lin Lang’s company is involved in a demolition where some residents have refused to leave. He decides to investigate two car accidents and asks whether Lin Lang plans to visit the site, hinting that he may use the situation against him.
• Lin Shi’s assistant is revealed to be his cousin, a hacker who changed his appearance after undergoing many surgeries to take revenge on the Lin family. The two acknowledge their shared hostility toward the household, though the assistant insists that his former identity is dead.
• After the rain stops, Yan Xianjue’s parents leave to go out, apparently eager to enjoy themselves. Yan Xianjue considers visiting Shen Fangli and invites his quiet second sister, Yan Shan, to dinner rather than leave her home alone. She declines, and he leaves—then pops back to ask whether her guard should come over.

Character developments and interactions

• Lin Lang becomes increasingly volatile and paranoid, interpreting the Yan family’s actions as a deliberate trap. His calm response to the experts’ findings unsettles his assistant more than his earlier outbursts.
• Lin Shi remains playful and calculating. He treats Lin Lang’s setback as an opportunity, probes the demolition situation, and uses his characteristic crooked “dice roll” to choose a course of action. He also teases his assistant, whose dry professionalism contrasts with Lin Shi’s antics.
• Lin Shi’s assistant is revealed as a deeply committed enemy of the Lin family, despite presenting himself as a polished professional. His relationship with Lin Shi is candid and familiar, though he denies their shared family connection.
• Yan Xianjue is eager to go out but awkwardly reluctant to admit it. He worries that Yan Shan might be neglected or unable to manage alone.
• Yan Shan is reserved but perceptive; she understands Xianjue’s motives and is amused by his concern, while making clear she does not need looking after.

Significant themes

• Paranoia and suspicion: Lin Lang reads the Yan family’s success as proof of a conspiracy, while the chapter leaves the actual extent of their foreknowledge unresolved.
• Power and consequence: Lin Lang’s business decisions create legal and practical problems that he must now pass to Lin Shi to manage.
• Family identity and resentment: Lin Shi’s family position is hollow, and his alliance with his disguised cousin rests less on kinship than on mutual hatred of the Lin household.
• Contrasting forms of care: Yan Xianjue expresses affection through anxious, sometimes misguided concern; Yan Shan’s quiet independence exposes how little she needs his protection.
• Comic characterization: Lin Shi’s rigged dice, the assistant’s deadpan responses, and the siblings’ dry exchange offset the chapter’s violence and scheming.

Chapter Summary

Plot points and events

Yan Xianjue arranges for a guard to watch over Yan Shan after visiting her, prompting Yan Shan to realize he had already taken care of her safety before mentioning it. She decides the gesture is harmless and does not retaliate. Meanwhile, Yan Xianjue prepares to attend dinner at his girlfriend Shen Fangli’s family home for the first time. Unsure what gifts to bring, he shops extensively with Uncle Lu, considering and rejecting inappropriate options such as health supplements. He ultimately buys so many items that they cannot fit in one car, requiring the mall to arrange delivery.
At the Shen household, Shen Fangli’s father has gone to great lengths to prepare for Yan Xianjue’s visit, hiring an expensive chef, importing ingredients, and planning to cook himself. Yan Xianjue arrives with multiple delivery workers carrying a huge number of gifts. Among the presents are numerous dresses for Shen Fangli, revealing that he became carried away while shopping. Although embarrassed and exasperated, Shen Fangli has the dresses put away.

Character developments

• Yan Xianjue is shown as considerate but inexperienced and excessive when trying to make a good impression. His anxiety about meeting Shen Fangli’s family leads him to over-shop, while his instinctive desire to buy her pretty clothes exposes his affectionate, slightly childish side.
• Shen Fangli remains practical and perceptive. She recognizes the absurdity of both her father’s preparations and Yan Xianjue’s gifts, but she handles the situation with tolerance rather than genuine anger.
• Uncle Lu is increasingly burdened by Yan Xianjue’s impulsive behavior. Though outwardly restrained, he privately criticizes and looks forward to watching the young master embarrass himself.
• Yan Shan demonstrates her analytical nature by calculating how quickly the guard arrived and correctly inferring that Yan Xianjue had arranged the protection himself.

Character interactions

Yan Shan and Yan Xianjue interact teasingly, with her throwing a pillow at him and silently judging his thoughtful but indirect actions. Yan Xianjue relies on Uncle Lu for advice, though Uncle Lu offers little help and quietly disapproves of the shopping spree. Shen Fangli repeatedly tells Yan Xianjue that he does not need to buy anything, but he ignores her and continues shopping. When he arrives, she confronts him about the excessive gifts and especially the dresses, while he defensively insists that buying clothes for one’s girlfriend is a normal mistake.

Significant themes

The chapter humorously explores romantic inexperience, social anxiety, and the pressure of making a good impression on a partner’s family. It contrasts genuine affection with over-the-top displays of generosity, showing how well-intentioned actions can become excessive. The family’s elaborate preparations also emphasize the importance they place on the relationship, while the playful banter highlights intimacy and mutual understanding between Shen Fangli and Yan Xianjue.

Chapter Summary: “Could Something Like That Happen Too?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue visits the Shen Household for the first time, expecting President Shen to take him out to dinner.
• He discovers that President Shen is actually cooking for him, prompting a series of jokes between him and Shen Fangli about whether her father is trying to make a statement—or secretly “assassinate” him with his cooking.
• President Shen overhears their conversation because the kitchen door is open and sends them to feed the sheep in the backyard.
• While feeding the sheep, Yan Xianjue notices the smell of traditional medicine on Shen Fangli and realizes she has met his mother. Shen Fangli admits this, though she withholds some details.
• Yan jokes that his mother may have offered Shen Fangli money to leave him, referencing an old insecurity Shen Fangli once had.
• Shen Fangli asks whether the traditional medicine can make her taller, since Yan Xianjue’s sister is tall. Yan tells her genetics matter more, teasing her about being short. Their playful argument ends with him holding her and calling short people “cute.”
• During dinner, Yan places the fish’s eye in Shen Fangli’s bowl as a joke based on her claim that she had “sincere little eyes.” She immediately understands the insult and becomes irritated, while Yan struggles not to laugh in front of her father.
• President Shen attempts to thank Yan for looking after Shen Fangli during a variety show, but Shen Fangli corrects him by pointing out that the show was called The Young Master and His Laborers and that Yan was the one being taken care of.
• President Shen reassures Yan that he does not need to be overly nervous or formal and says that Shen Fangli has always made her own decisions.
• He also tells Yan not to spend so much money bringing gifts. Yan explains that he is preparing for a production where actors must wear their own clothes to reduce costs.
• Shen Fangli reveals that she is playing an ordinary young woman who becomes an internet celebrity after high school and loses direction in life. President Shen and Yan both react skeptically to the quality of the script, leaving Yan embarrassed.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue becomes increasingly comfortable with Shen Fangli’s family but remains comically nervous about President Shen’s opinion of him. His instinctive joking and awkward attempts to behave respectfully reveal both his immaturity and genuine desire to make a good impression.
• Shen Fangli shows that she is comfortable teasing Yan and defending him when necessary, but she also enjoys exposing his foolishness. Her openness about meeting his mother suggests growing trust in their relationship.
• President Shen shifts from a potentially intimidating father figure to a bemused observer who recognizes that Yan and Shen Fangli are too childish and affectionate to pose any serious threat. He accepts their relationship while retaining his dry, teasing authority.
• Yan Xianjue’s mother remains off-page, but her meeting with Shen Fangli—and the traditional medicine she gave her—continues to influence the conversation.
• The relationship between Yan and Shen Fangli develops through increasingly natural physical affection, shared jokes, and mutual understanding.

Significant Themes

• Family acceptance and relationship dynamics: The dinner serves as an informal test of Yan’s relationship with Shen Fangli, but President Shen ultimately signals that her happiness matters more than formal approval.
• Humor as intimacy: Teasing, absurd misunderstandings, and private jokes allow Yan and Shen Fangli to express affection while easing social tension.
• Generational and family parallels: Yan compares President Shen’s behavior to his own older sister’s treatment of visiting children, recognizing similar family hierarchies and teasing styles.
• Self-awareness and insecurity: Shen Fangli’s concern about her height and Yan’s concern about being judged reveal their vulnerabilities, which they handle through humor rather than serious conflict.
• Authenticity versus social formality: President Shen repeatedly encourages Yan to stop acting nervous and formal, emphasizing that genuine behavior is more important than etiquette or expensive gifts.

Character Interactions

• Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli: Their interaction is playful, physically affectionate, and full of rapid teasing. They understand each other’s jokes immediately, even when those jokes are insulting.
• Yan Xianjue and President Shen: Yan begins tense and overly polite but gradually relaxes. President Shen treats him with amused tolerance and gently undermines his nervousness.
• Shen Fangli and President Shen: Their father-daughter relationship is affectionate but irreverent. Shen Fangli openly contradicts and embarrasses her father, while he responds with resigned exasperation.
• Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli’s family as a whole: Yan’s visit reveals that he is being informally welcomed, though his attempts to behave properly repeatedly collapse into childish humor.

Chapter Summary: “His Sins Weren’t Few, Were They?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Fangli enjoys teasing Yan Xianjue, especially by liking posts that embarrass him. During dinner with her father, she and Yan bicker over the quality of Lei Xuan’s film project and jokingly blame Yan for its overly simple summary.
• Father Shen feels awkward and left out as the two grow increasingly familiar, eventually deciding not to interfere in their relationship. His impression is reinforced when Shen Fangli later complains about Yan while happily trying on clothes and sending him photos.
• After leaving, Yan discovers messages from Lin Shi. The messages reveal that the wealthy young man responsible for the drunk-driving accident has not yet been formally detained because the detention center is overcrowded.
• Yan learns that Lin Shi has somehow taken control of the man while he waits for detention. Uncle Lu points out that Lin Shi’s behavior technically constitutes unlawful detention, but also reminds Yan that neither Lin Shi nor Yan has a clean legal record.
• Lin Shi complains that Yan knowingly allowed Dazhuang to walk into a trap, which Yan dismisses as an excuse to avoid paying for the resulting car repairs. Their relationship is shown to be based on mutual exploitation rather than trust.
• Lin Shi promises Yan an entertaining “show” in the near future. Yan ignores the warning, remembering that Lin Shi’s previous promise of entertainment was followed by Lin Rui’s death.
• With the torrential rain finally over, Yan’s family becomes occupied with disaster recovery. His eldest siblings handle the aftermath, his parents join an overseas rescue effort, and his second brother remains busy preparing for the Olympics.
• Yan realizes that only he and his second sister, Yan Shan, are free at home. He invites Yan Shan to attend Lei Xuan’s upcoming film launch ceremony, but she refuses because she dislikes crowds and heat.

Character Developments

• Shen Fangli appears increasingly comfortable and playful with Yan Xianjue. Her teasing, arguments, and habit of sending him outfit photos suggest growing intimacy and dependence.
• Yan Xianjue takes his meeting with Father Shen seriously and demonstrates considerate manners during dinner. However, he remains scheming and morally flexible in dealing with Lin Shi, seeing no reason to help a rival without personal benefit.
• Father Shen recognizes that Shen Fangli and Yan are becoming close. Though initially uneasy and somewhat isolated, he chooses not to interfere after seeing how naturally they interact.
• Uncle Lu continues to act as Yan’s practical observer and moral counterpoint. His blunt remark about Yan and Lin Shi’s many crimes exposes how accustomed he is to their illegal behavior.
• Lin Shi is portrayed as manipulative and opportunistic. He uses questionable methods, complains when Yan withholds information, and hints at another dangerous plan.
• Yan Shan remains quiet, introverted, and uninterested in social activity. Her brief, firm refusals emphasize her preference for laboratory work and solitude.

Significant Themes

• Growing romantic familiarity: Shen Fangli and Yan’s playful arguments and private exchanges reveal increasing closeness, even as they continue pretending to blame one another.
• Moral ambiguity and criminality: Yan and Lin Shi casually discuss unlawful detention and other crimes, treating them as ordinary tools. The title reflects the normalization of their extensive wrongdoing.
• Mutual distrust and self-interest: Yan and Lin Shi cooperate when useful but do not genuinely trust each other. Their interactions are driven by leverage, money, and strategic advantage.
• Family distance and changing responsibilities: The disaster has scattered Yan’s family into different roles, leaving him and Yan Shan relatively detached from the main recovery efforts.
• Social attention versus isolation: Yan is increasingly surrounded by public interest because of his status, while Yan Shan actively avoids crowds and attention.

Important Character Interactions

• Shen Fangli and Yan Xianjue: Their constant bickering is affectionate rather than hostile, and Shen’s later messages show that she seeks Yan’s attention even while criticizing him.
• Yan Xianjue and Father Shen: Yan makes a serious effort to earn Father Shen’s approval, while Father Shen quietly observes their closeness and ultimately decides not to interfere.
• Yan Xianjue and Uncle Lu: Uncle Lu provides dry commentary and challenges Yan’s attempts to distinguish himself from Lin Shi, reminding him that his own actions are hardly innocent.
• Yan Xianjue and Lin Shi: Their exchange highlights a hostile alliance based on manipulation, concealed information, and competing schemes.
• Yan Xianjue and Yan Shan: Yan tries to draw his withdrawn sister into social activity, but her concise refusal demonstrates how little interest she has in leaving her laboratory or dealing with crowds.

Chapter Summary: “Yan Yi’an Takes Full Responsibility”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue proposes secretly borrowing Yan Yi’an’s plane with Yan Shan to watch a meteor shower on the night filming begins.
• Yan Shan agrees after realizing that Yan Yi’an—not them—will take responsibility if they are caught. The siblings secretly obtain flight-route and low-altitude airspace clearance without informing the family.
• Yan Yi’an only discovers what they have done after the plane takes off, leaving him speechless and effectively responsible for their mischief.
• The delayed opening ceremony for Shen Fangli’s project resumes after the torrential rain. Yan Xianjue attends as both the company’s boss and an investor, while Ji Xi and Yan Yi’an remain occupied with business matters.
• Screenwriter Lei Xuan hosts the livestreamed ceremony because director Yao Weiran dislikes being the center of attention. Lei embraces the spotlight, including wearing newly dyed rainbow-colored hair.
• Lei performs a fire-walking ritual intended to dispel the bad luck caused by the previous ceremony’s cancellation. Yan Xianjue refuses to participate, so Lei completes the ritual alone.
• During the ceremony, Lei tries to pull the reluctant, sleepy Yan Xianjue into the livestream. Yan Xianjue protests that he does not want to participate, despite their prior agreement.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue: Shows his mischievous side by conspiring with Yan Shan, but also appears exhausted and unmotivated at the ceremony after staying up late planning the trip. His casual, unbothered attitude remains intact even while he is publicly criticized as a privileged investor.
• Yan Shan: Initially hesitant, she quickly commits to the plan once she realizes Yan Yi’an will bear the consequences. Her decisive cooperation highlights the siblings’ shared willingness to tease their eldest brother.
• Yan Yi’an: Is portrayed as responsible and unsuspecting, learning only after takeoff that his younger siblings have used his plane. His silence and shock emphasize how routinely the family relies on him to clean up their antics.
• Lei Xuan: Continues to be flamboyant, energetic, and comfortable in front of cameras. His rainbow hair, enthusiasm for rituals, and insistence that Yan Xianjue keep his promise reinforce his extroverted personality.
• Yao Weiran: Remains camera-shy and prefers working behind the scenes, relying on Lei Xuan to handle public-facing duties.
• Zhuang Yushu: Experiences the lively opening ceremony as something nostalgic and reminiscent of rural celebrations, revealing his unfamiliarity with such productions.

Significant Themes

• Family mischief and responsibility: Yan Shan and Yan Xianjue exploit Yan Yi’an’s position, trusting that he will absorb the consequences of their actions.
• Privilege and unequal opportunities: The livestream comments debate whether Shen Fangli’s access to famous actors and substantial funding is unfair. The discussion ultimately frames the entertainment industry as inherently unequal, while noting that Shen Fangli secured legitimate resources rather than taking them from others.
• Public image versus reality: Viewers joke about Yan Xianjue’s “rich young master” persona, but his genuine wealth, relaxed behavior, and lack of unnecessary assistants make the image believable rather than manufactured.
• Work, exhaustion, and escapism: Yan Xianjue’s sleepiness and desire to avoid the ceremony contrast with the loud, highly visible demands of filming and livestreaming.
• Tradition and superstition: The fire-walking ritual reflects the production team’s attempt to counter bad luck, while Yan Xianjue’s refusal provides a humorous contrast between superstition and skepticism.

Character Interactions

• Yan Xianjue and Yan Shan quietly coordinate the unauthorized flight, bonding through their shared desire to prank Yan Yi’an.
• Yan Yi’an’s shock after discovering the plane’s use highlights the family’s playful but irresponsible dynamic.
• Lei Xuan repeatedly pressures Yan Xianjue to join the ceremony and livestream, while Yan Xianjue responds with dry sarcasm and resistance.
• Yan Xianjue rejects Lei’s overly familiar physical affection, but their banter shows an established friendship.
• The livestream audience observes and comments on Yan Xianjue’s behavior, defending or criticizing his privileged position while turning his sleepy, detached presence into a source of comedy.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• At the opening ceremony of Lei Xuan’s new film, Yan Xianjue becomes the center of attention because of his unusually stiff, “corporate drone” behavior and his colorful outfit, which contrasts with Shen Fangli’s simpler appearance.
• Netizens notice that Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli are wearing coordinated outfits and matching bracelets, interpreting it as Yan subtly declaring their relationship.
• Lei Xuan and Yao Weiran force the reluctant Yan Xianjue onto the stage to speak.
• When asked to offer a blessing for the production, Yan delivers a deliberately ominous statement: “Work hard on the filming. If this drama doesn’t make money, Lei Xuan is dead.”
• Lei Xuan protests that Yan should say something auspicious, explaining that he had chosen a lucky date. Yan reveals that the fortune teller who selected the previous date was arrested for fraud after the earlier ceremony was ruined by heavy rain.
• Yan eventually lifts the red cloth covering the camera and gives a proper blessing, allowing the ceremony to proceed smoothly.
• Afterward, Yan tries to leave early rather than attend the filming segment and dinner. Lei Xuan admits that many cameo actors attended because of Yan’s reputation and because Lei had used Yan’s name to promote the production.
• Lei expects Yan’s paid promotion to keep the film’s opening ceremony at the top of the trending charts, but the topic is pushed to second place by news that Lin Lang fell from a fourth-floor building.
• Lin Lang survives but breaks both legs, and the police investigation uncovers illegalities in the demolition work connected to him, creating serious legal trouble.
• Yan Xianjue and Yan Shan gleefully regard Lin Lang’s injuries and legal problems as “good news.”
• The siblings claim they are going to watch a meteor shower but secretly plan to fly their eldest brother’s helicopter. Yan Shan flies first, while Yan Xianjue agrees to fly them back.
• Their security officer, despite possessing a pilot’s license, is excluded from the plan and discovers that even the helicopter’s owner is unaware they are taking it.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue: Remains outwardly cold, sarcastic, and reluctant to participate in publicity, but he supports Lei Xuan when necessary. His teasing threat demonstrates his dry humor and intimidating presence. His coordinated appearance with Shen Fangli also reveals a quiet, deliberate affection and confidence in their relationship.
• Lei Xuan: Shows his dependence on Yan’s influence and money to secure attention and industry participation. He remains energetic and shamelessly willing to exploit Yan’s reputation, while also acting comfortable enough to tease and physically push Yan into the spotlight.
• Shen Fangli: Although she says little, her presence and coordinated accessories with Yan show their closeness. She watches him from the front row, and Yan prioritizes messaging her after the ceremony even while avoiding a public interruption.
• Yan Shan: Displays a mischievous, reckless side by eagerly planning to fly the family helicopter without informing its owner. Her relationship with Yan Xianjue is marked by easy cooperation and shared cruelty toward their enemies.
• Lin Lang: Suffers both physical injury and the exposure of misconduct, suggesting a major reversal in his fortunes.
• The security officer: Acts as the anxious, powerless straight man amid the siblings’ dangerous spontaneity.

Significant Themes

• Money and influence: Yan’s financial power shapes the film’s publicity, attracts actors, and creates expectations that he can control public trends.
• Workplace and social hierarchy: Lei Xuan jokingly treats Yan like a powerful employer, while Yan’s wealth allows him to dominate the production without taking it seriously.
• Dark humor and schadenfreude: The characters define “good news” according to whether an enemy has been punished, turning Lin Lang’s injuries and legal troubles into a source of satisfaction.
• Public image versus private relationships: Netizens analyze clothing and accessories to understand Yan and Shen Fangli’s relationship, while Yan himself remains understated and avoids openly displaying affection.
• Recklessness enabled by privilege: The Yan siblings casually undertake dangerous activities because their wealth, connections, and confidence make consequences seem distant.

Character Interactions

• Lei Xuan repeatedly pressures Yan to perform publicly, while Yan responds with sarcasm and mock threats.
• Yan and Shen Fangli communicate subtly through matching clothing and a private message rather than an overt public exchange.
• Yan and Lei joke about Lei’s failed fortune teller and questionable promotional tactics, revealing their unusual blend of employer-employee tension and friendship.
• Yan Xianjue and Yan Shan share gleeful commentary about Lin Lang and cooperate enthusiastically in stealing—or at least secretly borrowing—their brother’s helicopter.
• The security officer tries unsuccessfully to impose caution, but the siblings dismiss him, emphasizing their confidence and disregard for ordinary authority.

Chapter Summary: “He Didn’t Push Him Down”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue travels by helicopter with his second sister, Yan Shan, and her notably unintelligent guard. He openly mocks the guard, while Yan Shan bluntly confirms the criticism.
• Before departing, Yan Xianjue asks Ji Xi to send flower baskets to Lin Lang, who is hospitalized after falling from a building and breaking his leg. Yan Corporation has already posted a video showing fourteen flower baskets outside Lin Lang’s hospital room, though their vertical inscriptions make them resemble funeral wreaths.
• Ji Xi, despite disliking the Lin family, immediately arranges the additional flower baskets and takes satisfaction in the possibility of irritating Lin Lang. His unusually cheerful mood surprises his exhausted public-relations director.
• The production of a new drama faces an unexpected online controversy surrounding screenwriter Lei Xuan. Rather than Shen Fangli or Yao Weiran, Lei Xuan becomes the main target of criticism because several of his previous dramas were unaired or removed after airing.
• Netizens also connect Lei Xuan with the heavy rain at a previous opening ceremony and Lin Lang’s recent fall, joking that Lei Xuan is simply unlucky and lacks the “fate” to become famous. Ji Xi sarcastically points out that Lei Xuan could hardly have pushed Lin Lang from the building.
• Zhuang Yushu’s fans, unhappy that he has only a supporting role beneath Shen Fangli, launch a boycott and demand either that Lei Xuan be replaced or that the actors withdraw.
• Ji Xi’s public-relations team discovers that paid commenters are deliberately fueling the controversy, likely as part of a coordinated attack by rival companies. Ji Xi orders lawyer’s letters against the most aggressive participants.
• Rather than suppressing all discussion, the PR team plans to turn the controversy into humorous memes. The increased attention may help audiences remember the drama, even if Lei Xuan temporarily gains a reputation for bad luck.
• Zhuang Yushu’s manager panics, suspecting Tourmaline Entertainment and Qian Quan of orchestrating the attack after Zhuang’s conflict with them. Zhuang remains calm and views the controversy as potentially beneficial because it may loosen the unhealthy connection between him and his idol-style fanbase.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue remains playful, casually irreverent, and unconcerned with social formality. His decision to send Lin Lang more flower baskets shows both his mischievousness and his willingness to use his family’s influence.
• Yan Shan displays a blunt, practical personality. She does not meaningfully defend her guard, but her directness suggests familiarity and an unfiltered relationship with both him and Yan Xianjue.
• Ji Xi reveals his strong dislike of the Lin family, particularly Lin Lang, while also showing professional competence. He quickly shifts from personal amusement to strategic crisis management.
• Lei Xuan is characterized by terrible professional luck rather than actual wrongdoing. His past failures make him vulnerable to mockery, but the controversy may ironically provide publicity for his new drama.
• Zhuang Yushu demonstrates increased composure and strategic thinking. Instead of fearing the fan backlash, he sees it as an opportunity to distance himself from an idol-centered career structure.
• Zhuang Yushu’s manager is anxious and politically cautious, worried that Zhuang’s former company is retaliating through public opinion.

Significant Themes

• Publicity and scandal: The chapter emphasizes that controversy can benefit a production if managed properly, even when the original accusations are weak.
• Reputation versus reality: Lei Xuan is attacked for being “unlucky,” not for misconduct. The chapter mocks how the entertainment industry can turn coincidence into a damaging narrative.
• Manipulation of online opinion: Paid commenters and coordinated boycotts reveal how public sentiment can be manufactured by competing companies.
• Strategic use of conflict: Ji Xi’s team uses lawyer’s letters selectively while allowing harmless discussion and memes to increase the drama’s visibility.
• Breaking free from fan control: Zhuang Yushu recognizes that separating himself from an idol-style fanbase may give him greater professional independence.
• Humor amid hostility: The title and Ji Xi’s remark—“It wasn’t like he pushed him down”—highlight the chapter’s tendency to treat absurd scandals and interpersonal malice with dry comedy.

Character Interactions

• Yan Xianjue teases Yan Shan’s guard, and Yan Shan responds with blunt agreement rather than defending him conventionally.
• Yan Xianjue relies on Ji Xi to carry out his prank-like request involving Lin Lang’s flower baskets, demonstrating their established working relationship.
• Ji Xi’s PR director notices his unusual happiness, creating a brief comedic exchange before they discuss the controversy.
• Ji Xi and the PR director collaborate efficiently, combining investigation, legal threats, and publicity tactics.
• Zhuang Yushu’s manager urges caution and blames rival companies, while Zhuang calmly reframes the crisis as an opportunity.
• Zhuang’s confidence reflects his belief that his long-standing relationship with Shen Fangli may protect him from serious consequences.

Chapter Summary: “I Know Exactly What Kind of Person You Are!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhuang Yushu and his agent discuss why leaving Tourmaline Entertainment was necessary. Zhuang believes Yan Xianjue would not have allowed him to become Shen Fangli’s teacher unless he had completely severed ties with the company.
• Zhuang recognizes that Qian Quan, Tourmaline’s boss, is petty and vindictive. Once Tourmaline recovers from its current crisis, Qian Quan may retaliate, leaving Zhuang without protection.
• They consider whether the Ji Household could have helped them, but Zhuang points out that Ji Xi is a powerful nephew of Ji Corporation’s chairman. Ji Corporation’s unusually strong involvement suggests Ji Xi has personal motives and influence.
• The charity banquet that triggered the conflict has become a source of anxiety for Zhuang. Although fans seem to defend him, their actions are also worsening the situation by fueling the corporate dispute.
• Random Entertainment asks Zhuang to restrain his fans. Zhuang agrees, viewing this as an opportunity to distance himself from fan manipulation and regain control over his career.
• His agent plans a carefully worded public-relations statement emphasizing Zhuang’s respect for the new script and cooperation with Random Entertainment. He also intends to negotiate for Zhuang to lead the next collaboration and for Random to fund the online public-opinion campaign.
• Lei Xuan, upset by a trending meme portraying him as unlucky, calls Ji Xi to complain. Ji Xi defends the strategy, arguing that turning the criticism into a joke is better than letting others use it against Lei.
• Ji Xi promises that the meme will disappear if Lei’s sitcom succeeds. Lei remains suspicious but agrees after Ji offers to write him a formal guarantee—addressed to Lei’s father rather than Lei himself.
• After the call, Ji Xi privately reflects on how easily Lei can be persuaded.

Character Developments

• Zhuang Yushu demonstrates political awareness and emotional maturity. He understands the dangers posed by Qian Quan, recognizes the limits of fan support, and deliberately chooses greater independence from his fans.
• Zhuang’s agent remains protective and ambitious. Though initially frustrated by their circumstances, he quickly returns to negotiating for better opportunities and compensation for Zhuang.
• Ji Xi appears strategic, pragmatic, and somewhat mischievous. He manages corporate and public-relations matters while skillfully calming Lei Xuan with teasing promises.
• Lei Xuan is blunt, emotionally transparent, and sensitive about his reputation. Despite his complaints, he trusts Ji Xi enough to accept his solution.
• Qian Quan is characterized indirectly as vindictive and dangerous, while Yan Xianjue is portrayed as someone who values more than simple business calculations.
• Shen Fangli and Zhuang share a mutually beneficial relationship: she tries to obtain industry gossip from him, while he gains information about Yan Xianjue.

Significant Themes

• Corporate power and survival: Career decisions are shaped by alliances, leverage, and the threat of retaliation.
• Public image and media manipulation: Memes, fan behavior, PR statements, and online trolls all influence the characters’ professional futures.
• Independence from fans: Zhuang realizes that fan loyalty can become another form of pressure and chooses to establish healthier boundaries.
• Trust and strategic relationships: Characters exchange information and support while remaining aware of one another’s motives.
• Humor as damage control: Ji Xi transforms Lei’s negative reputation into a meme, using humor to control public perception.
• The cost of fame: Both Zhuang and Lei suffer because their public identities—and even their misfortunes—are treated as entertainment.

Character Interactions

• Zhuang Yushu and his agent: They debate past decisions and future negotiations, with Zhuang offering the strategic perspective and his agent advocating for stronger benefits.
• Zhuang Yushu and Shen Fangli: Their relationship is based on reciprocal information-sharing, with each subtly probing the other.
• Ji Xi and Lei Xuan: Their phone call highlights their familiar, teasing dynamic. Lei complains openly, while Ji Xi uses reassurance and humor to manage him.
• Ji Xi and Yan Xianjue: Though Yan does not appear directly, his influence shapes the corporate conflict and Zhuang’s decisions.
• Zhuang Yushu and Yan Xianjue: Zhuang respects Yan’s unusual willingness to act beyond pure business interests and understands that his support enabled Zhuang’s new position.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lei Xuan complains to Ji Xi about being treated unfairly after Ji Xi decides to let him and Yao Weiran temporarily bear the negative publicity surrounding Random Entertainment. Ji Xi prioritizes protecting Yan Xianjue and the company’s reputation.
• Lei Xuan calls his father, Boss Lei, for support. Boss Lei asks whether Lei Xuan still enjoys writing scripts and working with the production team. Lei Xuan admits that he does, accepting that occasional unhappiness is unavoidable.
• Boss Lei gently criticizes his adult son for repeatedly being manipulated by Yan Xianjue, but still promises to support him.
• When Ji Xi visits to deliver the formal agreement, Boss Lei serves him his finest tea and warns him not to push Lei Xuan too far. Ji Xi explains that the current sitcom is only the company’s first project and promises that, if Lei Xuan and Yao Weiran succeed, they can lead a major costume drama of their own.
• Boss Lei agrees to let Lei Xuan “suffer” for a few months as a lesson, though Ji Xi privately thinks Lei Xuan’s spoiled behavior is largely his father’s fault.
• Random Entertainment prepares to open a branch office near Ji Xi’s university. Yan Xianjue deliberately suggests locations near Lin Corporation offices, clearly hoping to provoke the Lin family, who caused Ji Xi trouble during high school.
• Boss Lei posts a photo of an expensive turtle he claims will reverse Lei Xuan’s bad luck. Yan Xianjue and Yan Shan realize it is the same turtle they saw at a mountain temple, where visitors tossed coins into a separate pool.
• Yan Xianjue jokes about buying the turtle for Ji Xi and reflects on how easily unusual things can be purchased if one has enough money.
• While waiting for a meteor shower, Yan Xianjue teases Shen Fangli, who is stuck filming and cannot attend. He takes photographs of the meteors and sends them to his family and friends, claiming he watched the shower for them.
• Shen Fangli responds angrily because she is exhausted from her first day on set and cannot take leave without reinforcing rumors that she received the role through connections.
• Yan Xianjue admits that he cannot compete with her thoughtfulness toward the production. Yan Shan points out that Shen Fangli’s considerate nature is precisely why he is attracted to her.

Character Developments

• Lei Xuan shows that, despite his complaints and impulsiveness, he genuinely enjoys writing and working on the production. His willingness to accept Ji Xi’s decision suggests growing maturity.
• Boss Lei is protective and indulgent toward his son but also perceptive about Lei Xuan’s flaws. He recognizes that Lei Xuan has accepted the situation and negotiates with Ji Xi while still defending him.
• Ji Xi continues acting as the practical backbone of Random Entertainment. He manages contracts, finances, expansion plans, and damage control while remaining outwardly cold and internally frustrated by everyone else’s behavior.
• Yan Xianjue remains mischievous, wealthy, and prone to creating trouble, but he is also affectionate and generous toward his family and friends. His actions reveal his attachment to Shen Fangli, even though he expresses it through teasing.
• Yan Shan is stern and observant but quietly indulgent toward Yan Xianjue. She understands his personality and rewards him generously, offering him an entire ranch.
• Shen Fangli demonstrates professionalism and concern for others. Even while exhausted, she worries about how her absence would affect Yao Weiran and Lei Xuan.
• The security officer increasingly suspects that Yan Xianjue is a source of endless trouble, while also noticing how strongly the Yan family protects and indulges him.

Significant Themes

• Parental protection and indulgence: Both Boss Lei and Yan Shan support their younger family members, sometimes enabling their childish or troublesome behavior.
• Luck versus personal responsibility: The turtle and Lei Xuan’s “bad luck” are treated humorously, while the chapter suggests that success depends more on talent, persistence, and being given the right opportunity.
• Business and personal loyalty: Ji Xi must make cold, strategic decisions to protect the company, while Boss Lei and Yan Xianjue prioritize personal relationships.
• Growing maturity: Lei Xuan begins accepting unpleasant consequences, while Shen Fangli shows responsibility by refusing to exploit her connections.
• Affection expressed through teasing and gifts: Yan Xianjue’s jokes, meteor photographs, and attempts to include Shen Fangli reveal genuine care beneath his childish provocations.
• The burden of competence: Ji Xi is overwhelmed because he handles the responsibilities of multiple people, while Yan Xianjue’s “thoughtful” plans often create even more work for him.

Important Character Interactions

• Lei Xuan and Boss Lei discuss whether Lei Xuan is truly unhappy, leading Lei Xuan to acknowledge that he still loves his work.
• Ji Xi and Boss Lei negotiate Lei Xuan’s temporary loss of reputation and the possibility of a future costume drama.
• Yan Xianjue and Yan Shan joke about Boss Lei’s fortune-bringing turtle and reminisce about the temple where they saw it.
• Yan Shan protects Yan Xianjue from the security officer’s criticism and offers him a ranch as a reward.
• Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli exchange playful but revealing messages: he teases her for missing the meteor shower, while she rebukes him for being inconsiderate.
• Yan Shan accurately identifies that Shen Fangli’s kindness and initiative are what draw Yan Xianjue to her.

Chapter Summary: “Yan Yi’an, Not Good with Words”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue and Yan Shan finish their meteor-watching outing and decide to stay overnight at a hotel rather than return home late.
• After showering, Yan Xianjue video-calls Shen Fangli, who is struggling to sleep because she became too engrossed in reading her script.
• He teases her by refusing to explain why he suddenly wanted to watch the meteor shower, implying that the reason might make her jealous.
• Yan Xianjue reveals that he and Yan Shan secretly took their eldest brother Yan Yi’an’s helicopter without permission.
• To prevent Yan Yi’an from contacting them and ordering them to return, Yan Xianjue blacklisted him during the trip. Afterward, he removed him from the blacklist and sent him meteor photographs as compensation.
• Shen Fangli is astonished by Yan Xianjue’s shamelessness and jokes that Yan Yi’an should discipline him.
• Yan Xianjue explains that Yan Yi’an is highly capable and persuasive in business but is “not good with words” within the family. He tends to silently take the blame for his younger siblings rather than argue or explain himself.
• Yan Xianjue then shares that Yan Shan has given him a ranch on the grassland, offering Shen Fangli the chance to watch meteors with him there in the future.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue is shown as mischievous, self-confident, and unapologetically troublesome. He enjoys provoking Shen Fangli, takes advantage of his siblings’ tolerance, and regards his ability to escape blame as perfectly natural.
• Shen Fangli becomes increasingly familiar with Yan Xianjue’s chaotic personality. Though exasperated by his behavior, she is also touched that he remembered her disappointment at missing the previous meteor shower.
• Yan Shan remains calm and dependable, accompanying Yan Xianjue without strongly objecting to his reckless plans. Her quiet reliability contrasts with his childishness.
• Yan Yi’an is characterized indirectly as a powerful and capable businessman who is reserved and ineffective at defending himself in family disputes. His willingness to take responsibility for Yan Xianjue suggests patience and familial protectiveness.
• The Yan siblings’ relationships are revealed as affectionate but chaotic, with blame-shifting, teasing, and mutual indulgence forming their normal family dynamic.

Significant Themes

• Family intimacy expressed through teasing: The siblings show affection through pranks, provocation, and casual exploitation rather than open emotional declarations.
• Contrast between public and private identities: Yan Yi’an is an impressive negotiator in business but quiet and passive at home, demonstrating how people can behave very differently with family.
• Mischief and irresponsibility: Yan Xianjue’s actions are reckless, yet he views them as harmless fun and expects his family to tolerate the consequences.
• Thoughtfulness beneath playfulness: Despite his teasing, Yan Xianjue remembers Shen Fangli’s missed meteor shower and plans a future opportunity for them to experience it together.
• The unusual Yan family dynamic: Shen Fangli’s reactions emphasize how chaotic and entertaining the family’s internal relationships are.

Character Interactions

• Yan Xianjue and Yan Shan interact with casual sibling familiarity: she tells him to move, and he theatrically rolls off the blanket without protest.
• Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli engage in playful banter, with him deliberately withholding information and her challenging his childish behavior.
• Their conversation reveals their emotional closeness: Shen Fangli is curious about his activities, while Yan Xianjue remembers her past disappointment and wants to include her in a future meteor-watching trip.
• Yan Yi’an does not appear directly, but his relationship with Yan Xianjue is central to the discussion. Yan Xianjue treats him as both a target for pranks and a dependable shield who will quietly take responsibility for him.

Chapter Summary: “Please, Have Some Decency”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After spending the night talking with Yan Xianjue, Shen Fangli ends their video call and goes to sleep. Yan Xianjue remains awake, amusing himself by sending meteor-shower photos to his friends.
• Ji Xi angrily complains that Yan Xianjue sent vacation photos while Ji Xi was working overtime. Zhou Ye also curses him for flaunting his leisure, though he quickly changes the subject to gaming and graduation banquets.
• Yan Xianjue decides not to hold a graduation banquet, fearing that, like previous banquets hosted by the Ji and Lin families, it would become the setting for scandals and drama. Zhou Ye plans to hold one because his second uncle will publicly confirm him as heir.
• Yan Yi'an fails to reply to Yan Xianjue, causing concern. However, Yan Xianjue humorously assumes that his brother is merely planning to dock his allowance, never suspecting anything serious.
• The chapter reveals that Yan Shan deliberately helped Yan Xianjue become distracted and lose contact with Yan Yi'an. While Yan Xianjue was supposedly taking her to see a meteor shower, Yan Yi'an secretly traveled to a remote town to investigate coordinates hidden in their grandfather’s notes.
• Yan Shan solves the puzzle and discovers several buried boxes containing valuables and a message from their grandfather. The inheritance is meant to serve as a backup plan if the Yan Household ever collapses. The message also warns them not to go north, suggesting another hidden location may be dangerous.
• Yan Yi'an later receives Yan Xianjue’s meteor photos and jokes that, since he can access a helicopter, he should not steal a plane again. Yan Xianjue immediately accepts the offer to use Yan Yi'an’s card to maintain one, remaining completely unaware of his brother’s secret mission.
• Several days later, Zhou Ye’s graduation banquet takes place. Yan Xianjue attends with Shen Fangli, who publicly appears as his genuine companion for the first time rather than pretending for strategic reasons.
• Yan Xianjue gives Zhou Ye a peace pendant as a graduation gift, joking that it may protect him from the disasters that befell the Ji and Lin family banquets. Zhou Ye is convinced not to complain further.
• The Yan Household announces that it will not hold a graduation banquet, and the Lin Household follows suit. Zhou Ye mentions that the Lin family is undergoing a serious power struggle. Yan Xianjue warns him not to interfere, and Zhou Ye affirms that he trusts him.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue: Remains carefree, mischievous, and shamelessly indulgent, but also demonstrates loyalty and protectiveness toward Zhou Ye. His tendency to focus on superficial explanations—such as worrying only about his allowance—allows his siblings to hide important matters from him.
• Shen Fangli: Becomes more comfortable and affectionate with Yan Xianjue. Her playful teasing about his singing and coffee shows increasing intimacy, and attending Zhou Ye’s banquet as his true companion marks a development in their relationship.
• Yan Yi'an: Is revealed to be more proactive and capable than Yan Xianjue realizes. He investigates the grandfather’s hidden inheritance and takes the warning about the family’s possible downfall seriously.
• Yan Shan: Shows intelligence, initiative, and protective cunning. She solves the numerical puzzle and deliberately orchestrates Yan Xianjue’s distraction to protect Yan Yi'an’s secret activities.
• Zhou Ye: Is officially positioned as his second uncle’s heir and is preparing for the public confirmation of that status. Despite complaining about the banquet and his workload, he deeply trusts Yan Xianjue.
• Ji Xi: Serves as the overworked, exasperated employee who highlights Yan Xianjue’s privileged and irresponsible behavior.

Significant Themes

• Family loyalty and hidden protection: Yan Shan and Yan Yi'an work together to safeguard the family’s future, while Yan Xianjue is protected through deliberate distraction.
• Foreshadowing and survival: The grandfather’s hidden boxes, cryptic puzzles, and warning not to go north suggest future danger and reinforce the possibility of the Yan family’s collapse.
• Comedy amid danger: Serious issues such as inheritance, power struggles, and potential family ruin are contrasted with jokes about coffee, singing, helicopters, allowances, and graduation gifts.
• Trust and relationships: Zhou Ye’s unquestioning faith in Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli’s growing closeness with him show the importance of personal bonds amid the larger family conflicts.
• Avoiding drama versus being drawn into it: Yan Xianjue deliberately avoids hosting a banquet or interfering in the Lin family’s struggle because he recognizes how easily wealthy-family events become chaotic.

Important Character Interactions

• Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli: Their late-night call is teasing and intimate, with Shen Fangli jokingly avoiding his frightening singing and promising to hear about his day later.
• Yan Xianjue and Ji Xi: Ji Xi vents about working overtime while Yan Xianjue relaxes. Yan Xianjue’s smug responses further irritate him.
• Yan Xianjue and Zhou Ye: Their friendship is playful and familiar. They discuss graduation banquets, Zhou Ye’s inheritance, and the dangers of becoming involved in the Lin family’s conflict.
• Yan Yi'an and Yan Xianjue: Their exchange about helicopters reveals their contrasting personalities: Yan Yi'an is dry and pedantic, while Yan Xianjue is opportunistic and immediately accepts financial support.
• Yan Shan and Yan Yi'an: They collaborate secretly to decode their grandfather’s message and recover the hidden inheritance while keeping Yan Xianjue from becoming suspicious.
• Yan Xianjue, Shen Fangli, and Zhou Ye: At the banquet, Shen Fangli and Yan Xianjue openly act as a couple, while they jokingly warn Zhou Ye that his celebration could suffer the same fate as earlier family banquets.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Fangli and Yan Xianjue attend Zhou Ye’s graduation banquet. They discuss Zhou Ye becoming the Zhou family’s heir, though Yan points out that Zhou Ye has no real competition and is not yet expected to take over fully.
• Yan takes care of Shen by bringing her warm, sweetened milk when she admits she is hungry. Their affectionate teasing reveals their comfortable relationship.
• Zhou Ye joins them and complains about the attention he receives from women at the banquet. He jokes with Yan and Shen, and the three exchange playful banter.
• Zhou Ye reveals that his deceased second aunt had a twin sister, Zhao Lesi, who wants to marry his widowed second uncle. Zhao Lesi has brought her daughter, Ruan Baibai, to the banquet.
• Yan recognizes Ruan Baibai and realizes the situation resembles a melodramatic “replacement lover” plot: she resembles her deceased aunt, while her mother hopes to use her connection to the Zhou family for personal gain.
• Zhao Lesi pressures Zhou Er to remarry and have another child, arguing that Zhou Ye is not his biological son. Zhou Er rejects her motives, pointing out that she benefits from his continued loyalty to his late wife.
• Zhou Er remains emotionally affected by the resemblance between Zhao Lesi and his deceased wife but does not encourage Zhao Lesi’s advances.
• Yan and Shen secretly observe the family drama, comparing it to an exaggerated television plot. Yan jokingly warns Zhou Ye to protect himself from becoming a disliked “adopted son” in a future succession struggle.
• Yan and Shen later join Zhou Ye’s classmates for entertainment. Shen replaces Yan at a mahjong game, showing that she has improved and can now play strategically.

Character Developments

• Shen Fangli is increasingly comfortable and affectionate with Yan Xianjue. She participates in teasing him, openly identifies herself as his girlfriend, and demonstrates growing confidence by joining the mahjong game.
• Yan Xianjue acts attentive and protective toward Shen, while continuing to use humor and sarcasm to cope with bizarre social situations. His gossiping and “plot analysis” expose how quickly he imagines dramatic consequences.
• Zhou Ye appears relaxed and sociable but is frustrated by the pressure and unwanted attention connected to his family status. Despite joking about his uncle, he remains protective of Zhou Er.
• Zhou Er is portrayed as loyal to his deceased wife and skeptical of Zhao Lesi’s motives. He understands that her interest is tied to status and financial benefits rather than genuine affection.
• Zhao Lesi is opportunistic and persistent. She treats her daughter, Ruan Baibai, largely as a tool for approaching Zhou Er.
• Ruan Baibai is uncomfortable and passive in the situation, seemingly used by her mother because of her resemblance to her late aunt.
• Yan Xianjue’s parents become visibly unsettled after hearing the family’s complicated circumstances, showing how outrageous the situation appears even to outsiders.

Significant Themes

• Family succession and inheritance: Zhou Ye’s position as heir is uncertain, and the possibility of Zhou Er having another child creates anxiety about the family’s future.
• The difference between genuine love and exploitation: Zhao Lesi’s desire to replace her sister and secure benefits contrasts with Zhou Er’s continued loyalty to his deceased wife.
• Resemblance and substitution: Ruan Baibai’s similarity to her mother and aunt evokes the “replacement lover” trope, raising questions about whether people are valued for themselves or for who they resemble.
• Friendship and romantic affection: Yan and Shen’s playful care for one another contrasts with the manipulative relationships surrounding the Zhou family.
• Comedy amid melodrama: The chapter deliberately treats an extreme family situation like a fictional plot, using Yan’s commentary and the characters’ banter to turn potentially tragic circumstances into farce.
• Ignorance versus knowledge: Shen and Yan realize that knowing the hidden family story makes the banquet much stranger, reinforcing the idea that “ignorance is bliss.”

Character Interactions

• Yan and Shen display increasing romantic intimacy through teasing, physical affection, and mutual support.
• Zhou Ye frequently interrupts them, acting as both friend and comic foil while complaining about his family responsibilities.
• Yan and Zhou Ye trade sarcastic remarks, but Yan still offers genuine advice and concern for Zhou Ye’s future.
• Zhao Lesi confronts Zhou Er about remarrying, while Zhou Er bluntly exposes her financial motives.
• Zhou Ye’s parents and the Yan couple react with confusion and discomfort to the family drama.
• In the final scene, Shen plays mahjong with Zhou Ye’s classmates while Yan encourages her from the sidelines, showing her growing integration into his social circle.

Chapter Summary: “You Really Aren’t Human”

Key Plot Points and Events

• During a mahjong game, Wang Zihe asks Yan Xianjue for advice about selling his family’s overstocked sporting goods, including rackets and gloves.
• Wang has tried discounts and product bundling, but both strategies failed and even hurt sales of the popular products.
• Yan initially mocks Wang for calling the task a “summer job,” but becomes interested when Wang offers him one-fifth of the net profit.
• Wang reveals the real problem: the products are disastrously designed, including rainbow basketballs, fluorescent ping-pong paddles, and a Hello Kitty baseball bat. The designer and everyone who approved the products have already been fired.
• Yan proposes an aggressive salvage strategy:
  • Repackage suitable products as limited collaborations with smaller brands.
  • Use Wang’s family brand reputation to attract manufacturers seeking credibility.
  • Turn the remaining ugly products into blind boxes, with the worst design as a rare hidden edition.
• When Shen Fangli questions whether this would damage the family brand’s traditional image, Yan suggests using Wang’s youth as an excuse: if the plan fails, the family can call it a youthful experiment; if it succeeds, they can present it as an intentional attempt to enter new markets.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue displays his sharp business instincts and opportunism. Though he initially ridicules the products, he quickly identifies ways to monetize their ugliness through trends such as collaborations and blind boxes.
• He also shows a playful, shameless side by joking that he has “a family to support” while putting his arm around Shen Fangli.
• Wang Zihe is practical and willing to accept criticism. He recognizes the absurdity of the merchandise and is open to Yan’s risky proposal, despite having little confidence in the products.
• Shen Fangli remains sensible and cautious, questioning whether Yan’s plan conflicts with the brand’s established image. She is also easily embarrassed by Yan’s public teasing.
• The classmates serve as amused observers, reacting with disbelief to Yan’s ruthless but potentially effective ideas.

Significant Themes

• Turning failure into opportunity: Yan suggests that even terrible products can become profitable if marketed as novelty items or collectibles.
• Brand transformation and generational change: The chapter contrasts traditional, practical household brands with youth-oriented strategies such as collaborations, limited editions, and blind boxes.
• Capitalism and opportunism: Yan treats commercial failure as something to exploit rather than simply discard, prompting the classmates to joke that he is “not human.”
• Youth as protection: Wang’s age allows the family to frame the venture as an experimental mistake if it fails, highlighting how privilege and reputation can soften consequences.
• Appearance versus value: The products are objectively ugly, but Yan recognizes that scarcity, fandom, and marketing can make consumers want them anyway.

Character Interactions

• Yan and Wang develop a temporary business partnership, with Wang offering a share of profits in exchange for advice.
• Yan teases Shen Fangli by referring to her as part of his “family,” embarrassing her in front of the group.
• Shen challenges Yan’s plan, especially its potential conflict with the brand’s identity, but Yan counters her concern with practical public-relations strategies and feeds her a grape in a teasing gesture.
• The classmates collectively criticize Yan’s morally questionable plan while also recognizing its cleverness, ending in the humorous conclusion that he has thought of every possible excuse for success or failure.

Chapter Summary: “Break His Leg”

Key Plot Points and Events

• During a card game, Yan Xianjue and Wang Zihe jokingly debate whether making money without a conscience is shameful. The students realize that Wang Zihe has become just as ruthless as Yan Xianjue, while Zhou Ye takes advantage of everyone’s distraction to win money.
• Zhou Ye tries to escape the game after accomplishing his goal of creating an opportunity for Wang Zihe, but Yan Xianjue forces him to remain. Ni Qiu also attempts to leave, though Yan Xianjue stops him as well.
• In the Zhou family’s garden, Yan Xianjue’s parents discuss the suspicious way Zhao Lesi looks at Zhou Ye. They warn Zhou Ye’s parents to be alert, especially because a scandal could damage Zhou Ye’s important banquet and affect Yan Xianjue by association.
• The adults arrange additional protection by sending Old Lu to watch over the younger generation.
• The banquet proceeds without incident. Yan Xianjue is disappointed that Ruan Baibai and her mother do not cause a public disturbance, while Shen Fangli silently reminds him to behave and applaud.
• Later that night, Zhou Ye calls Yan Xianjue in outrage. He reveals that Zhao Lesi got her daughter, Ruan Baibai, drunk and attempted to send her into Second Uncle Zhou’s room.
• The plan failed because a waiter discovered them before they entered. Zhao Lesi then fabricated excuses, accused Zhou Ye’s mother of fearing the birth of a legitimate heir, and demanded that Second Uncle Zhou dismiss the waiter.
• Zhao Lesi even suggested that her daughter could bear a son for Second Uncle Zhou, supposedly providing the Zhou family with an heir carrying Zhao family blood.
• Ruan Baibai suffered alcohol poisoning and was hospitalized. Yan Xianjue realizes that this may affect her upcoming performance with Yan Wan’s dance troupe.
• Enraged, Second Uncle Zhou cuts off all business cooperation with the Zhao Household, which Zhou Ye explains had largely amounted to financial favors anyway.
• Zhou Ye learns that Yan Xianjue’s parents were responsible for noticing Zhao Lesi’s intentions and arranging extra protection. He jokes that Yan Xianjue’s protective pendant failed, but Yan Xianjue argues that it may have prevented an even worse scandal.
• Yan Xianjue imagines the possible outcome: Second Uncle Zhou might have married Ruan Baibai, leaving Zhou Ye isolated and potentially driving him out of the Zhou family—exactly as predicted by the novel’s original plot.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue remains sarcastic, observant, and entertained by other people’s misfortune, but he shows growing concern for Zhou Ye. He also becomes increasingly invested in preventing the tragic plot events he remembers from the novels.
• Zhou Ye shifts from a carefree, loudhearted heir into someone genuinely shaken by the schemes surrounding his family. Despite his frustration, he remains humorous and concludes that he would leave the Zhou Household if he were pushed aside.
• Shen Fangli acts as Yan Xianjue’s quiet social restraint, reminding him to behave appropriately during the banquet.
• Yan Xianjue’s parents prove more perceptive and proactive than their son realizes. Their warning and security arrangements help prevent Zhao Lesi’s scheme from becoming a public scandal.
• Zhao Lesi is revealed as manipulative, shameless, and possibly deliberately pretending to be foolish. Her obsession with securing influence and an heir leads her to sacrifice her own daughter’s reputation and safety.
• Ruan Baibai is drawn further into the novel’s dangerous plot. Though she is largely acted upon by her mother, she suffers the direct physical consequences of the scheme.
• Second Uncle Zhou finally reaches his limit. Unlike his previous tolerance of Zhao Lesi, he decisively cuts ties with the Zhao Household.

Significant Themes

• Fate versus intervention: The chapter shows characters actively disrupting events that were supposed to follow the original novel’s plot.
• Family manipulation and power: Zhao Lesi treats marriage, children, and inheritance as tools for gaining influence, exposing the ruthless politics of wealthy families.
• The absurdity of novel logic: The characters repeatedly question implausible relationships and coincidences created by merged fictional worlds.
• Protective friendship and family loyalty: Although Yan Xianjue mocks Zhou Ye, he works to protect him, while both families quietly cooperate to prevent disaster.
• Consequences of obsession: Zhao Lesi’s actions destroy her remaining relationship with the Zhou family and endanger her own daughter.
• Comic relief amid serious conflict: Card games, sarcastic commentary, and Yan Xianjue’s internal monologue contrast with the serious threats involving inheritance, marriage, and family scandal.

Character Interactions

• Yan Xianjue and Zhou Ye maintain a teasing but increasingly loyal friendship, with Yan offering practical warnings beneath his mockery.
• Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli demonstrate a familiar dynamic: she moderates his behavior while he privately complains about the banquet.
• Yan Xianjue’s parents discuss the situation with Zhou Ye’s parents, showing mutual trust between the two families.
• Zhao Lesi confronts Second Uncle Zhou with her outrageous proposal, prompting him to sever business ties with her family.
• Zhou Ye and Yan Xianjue discuss the protective pendant and the disastrous alternate future it may have helped prevent.

Chapter Summary: “Set Visit”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• After taking time off to attend Zhou Ye’s graduation banquet, Shen Fangli works overtime to catch up with filming.
• Her acting improves noticeably, and she begins to recognize that she has genuine talent—something she jokingly considers a “perk” of playing a villain.
• Yan Xianjue complains that he has become neglected because Shen Fangli returns to the hotel exhausted and falls asleep after briefly informing him of her arrival.
• In response, Yan visits the filming set under the pretext of inspecting a company project. He quietly enters so he will not disturb the crew or attract Yao Weiran’s notoriously harsh criticism.
• Shen is filming a major turning-point scene in which her character burns her university admission letter. Yao Weiran repeatedly asks her to convey a complicated mixture of anger, excitement, rebellion, and madness.
• Shen becomes embarrassed and distracted when she notices Yan watching her perform, especially because the scene reflects Yan’s own history of tearing up a physics textbook.
• After several more takes, Yao remains dissatisfied. When he learns Yan is present, he goes to speak with him.
• Yan discovers that the script has changed dramatically since the version he previously read. Instead of the protagonist eventually returning to school, the revised ending has her become highly successful as a streamer, earning more than her parents and eventually reconciling with them.
• Yan questions whether the new message will pass censorship and worries that it promotes controversial values.
• Lei Xuan defends the rewrite, arguing that the original ending is outdated given the modern job market and that earning money through streaming may be more realistic and lucrative than attending university.
• Yao explains that the story is intended to satirize the conflict between traditional parental expectations and newer ideas about work and success.
• Lei remains unconcerned about controversy, insisting that he will film what he wants. Yan sarcastically predicts that he may change his attitude once the ratings arrive.

2. Character Developments

• Shen Fangli: Demonstrates increasing confidence and ability as an actress. She also shows emotional vulnerability when Yan unexpectedly witnesses her filming a scene inspired by his past.
• Yan Xianjue: Reveals his longing for Shen’s attention through his complaints, then takes initiative by visiting her set. He becomes more involved in the production and displays practical concern about censorship, audience reaction, and the project’s commercial prospects.
• Yao Weiran: Remains demanding and perfectionistic about performances, but is willing to discuss the production honestly with Yan. He supports the revised script as a form of social commentary.
• Lei Xuan: Appears bold, stubborn, and confident in his creative choices. He prioritizes personal artistic conviction over possible criticism or poor ratings.
• Shen and Yan’s relationship: Their affection is shown through mutual attention and teasing. Shen feels guilty about neglecting him, while Yan’s visit demonstrates that he wants to spend time with her rather than merely complain.

3. Significant Themes

• Changing definitions of success: The revised script challenges the traditional belief that university education and a stable job are the only paths to a good life.
• Generational conflict: The protagonist’s arguments with her parents reflect tensions between older expectations and younger people’s changing economic realities.
• Art versus censorship and public opinion: Yan questions whether the controversial storyline can pass review, while Lei insists on pursuing his vision regardless of criticism.
• Acting and emotional authenticity: Shen’s struggle to capture the exact emotional balance in the burning-letter scene highlights the difficulty of translating complex feelings into performance.
• Romantic attention and guilt: Shen and Yan’s interactions show their growing closeness, as well as Shen’s discomfort over failing to give him enough time.

4. Character Interactions

• Shen and Yan exchange an embarrassed but affectionate look when he unexpectedly sees her filming.
• Yao and Yan discuss the difficult scene and the script changes, with Yan challenging the production’s logic and Yao explaining the creative intentions.
• Lei joins the discussion and openly defends the altered ending, leading to a disagreement with Yan over realism, censorship, and audience response.
• Yan and Lei’s exchange ends in playful but pointed skepticism, with Yan warning that confidence in artistic freedom may weaken if the show performs poorly.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lei Xuan warns Yan Xianjue that the drama’s controversial creative direction may prevent it from receiving approval or even getting a second season. Yan Xianjue realizes that excessive public controversy could attract intervention from the broadcasting authorities.
• Yan Xianjue asks his sister, Yan Wan, whether she knows anyone in the broadcasting authority who could help. Yan Wan is surprised that he is aware the drama’s direction may be improper but refuses to change it. Despite her reluctance, she agrees to ask around.
• While waiting on set, Yan Xianjue plays a digging game with Zhou Ye. Zhou Ye jokingly considers the game a potential source of income, while Yan Xianjue privately doubts his gaming ability.
• The production team prepares to film a pivotal confrontation between Shen Fangli’s character and her parents. Zhuang Yushu suggests adding a slap to make the emotional conflict stronger, arguing that anger and disappointment alone would not convincingly motivate the protagonist to move out and pursue independence.
• Shen Fangli agrees with the change, but she and the others decide to conceal it from Yan Xianjue until after filming. The scene was deliberately moved up because Yan Xianjue is visiting the set.
• Yao Weiran and Lei Xuan reveal that the version of the script given to the actors already includes the slap. They intentionally allow Zhuang Yushu to appear responsible for the addition, giving them someone to blame if Yan Xianjue objects.
• Lei Xuan explains that he no longer holds a grudge against Yan Xianjue over their previous historical-drama dispute. He views the conflict pragmatically and admits that setting Zhuang Yushu up as the scapegoat is useful.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue shows concern about the drama’s survival and approval but remains unwilling to compromise its creative direction. His boredom and family frustrations lead him to seek entertainment through gaming.
• Yan Wan is exasperated by her younger brother’s troublesome request but demonstrates affection and responsibility by agreeing to help despite having no direct connections to the broadcasting authority.
• Shen Fangli displays a stronger understanding of her character’s motivations. She believes the protagonist’s decision to leave home requires a more forceful emotional trigger and willingly supports the physical confrontation.
• Zhuang Yushu demonstrates initiative as an actor by proposing a physical action to deepen the scene’s emotional impact, though he unknowingly becomes the intended scapegoat.
• Lei Xuan reveals himself to be calculating and politically savvy. Rather than acting out of resentment, he manipulates the situation to protect himself and Yao Weiran.
• Yao Weiran recognizes Lei Xuan’s cleverness and helps coordinate the deceptive plan.

Significant Themes

• Creative integrity versus censorship and commercial survival: The production risks official rejection because of its controversial direction, raising the question of whether artistic choices can survive institutional scrutiny.
• Family relationships and independence: The planned slap is meant to make the protagonist’s break from her parents emotionally believable, emphasizing the pain of familial control and the need for self-determination.
• Manipulation and responsibility: The production team’s plan to blame Zhuang Yushu highlights how people in the entertainment industry protect themselves by shifting responsibility.
• Privilege and idleness: Yan Xianjue and Zhou Ye treat an online game as casual entertainment and potential employment, reflecting their wealthy backgrounds and lack of immediate financial pressure.
• Hidden competence beneath appearances: Characters who seem carefree or foolish, particularly Lei Xuan, are shown to be observant and strategically clever.

Character Interactions

• Yan Xianjue and Lei Xuan debate the consequences of controversy, with Lei Xuan warning that the show may not survive official review.
• Yan Xianjue and Yan Wan exchange messages, revealing their sibling dynamic: she is frustrated by his behavior but still willing to help him.
• Yan Xianjue and Zhou Ye bond through gaming, with Yan Xianjue silently mocking Zhou Ye’s belief that gaming could support him financially.
• Yao Weiran, Zhuang Yushu, and Shen Fangli collaborate on strengthening the emotional confrontation scene.
• Shen Fangli and Lei Xuan joke about Yan Xianjue’s likely reaction, while Zhuang Yushu becomes confused when he realizes he may be blamed.
• Yao Weiran and Lei Xuan privately discuss their plan, exposing Lei Xuan’s strategic use of Zhuang Yushu as a shield against Yan Xianjue’s anger.