Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Keeping a Low Profile Was Impossible”

Key Plot Points and Events

• During filming, Yan Xianjue notices that the script’s admission-letter scene has been changed to include a slap. He sees Zhuang Yushu rush toward the burning letter in anger before the scene ends with Shen Fangli apparently slapping him.
• Worried that Shen Fangli has actually been struck, Yan Xianjue moves toward the directing team. Lei Xuan tries to escape the situation, but Yao Weiran stops him and explains that the slap was only a camera angle and sound effect.
• After filming, Shen Fangli immediately goes to reassure Yan Xianjue. He checks her face, confirms she is unharmed, and reluctantly accepts her explanation.
• Yan Xianjue then confronts Shen Fangli, Lei Xuan, and Yao Weiran for failing to tell him how drastically the script had been rewritten. The supposedly minor revisions had turned the scene into a much more controversial and intense plotline.
• Lei Xuan claims he sent the revised script to Ji Xi and copied Yan Xianjue on the email, but Yan Xianjue points out that a direct message or phone call would have been more effective.
• Yan Xianjue forgives them this time because he also failed to read the email, but warns that another secret script change will endanger the production’s future. He threatens to prevent Shen Fangli from filming another historical drama.
• Shen Fangli argues that controversial scripts are valuable experience and explains that the crew has prepared two versions in case the first fails censorship.
• Concerned about the crew’s lack of restraint, Yan Xianjue decides to ask Ji Xi to send a supervising producer to monitor the production.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue: His protective feelings toward Shen Fangli become increasingly obvious. He is alarmed by the apparent slap and distrustful of the crew’s reckless decisions, though he admits his own failure to read the email. He also shows growing awareness of Shen Fangli’s possible future career trajectory and worries that this role could push her toward the controversial path he hoped to prevent.
• Shen Fangli: She remains playful, shamelessly using affection and exaggerated crying to defuse Yan Xianjue’s anger. At the same time, she shows confidence in taking on challenging roles and accepts the possibility of censorship as part of gaining acting experience.
• Lei Xuan: He is revealed as evasive and mischievous, attempting to avoid Yan Xianjue’s anger and hiding behind the technicality that the revised script was emailed. He jokes that Yan Xianjue is like a second parent because he supports his career.
• Yao Weiran: Though outwardly quiet and harmless, he is shown to be another behind-the-scenes instigator of the production’s increasingly extreme plot developments.
• Zhuang Yushu: His emotional reaction to the burning admission letter demonstrates his investment in the scene and the intensity of the revised script.

Significant Themes

• Protectiveness and control: Yan Xianjue’s concern for Shen Fangli reflects both genuine care and his desire to control the risks surrounding her career.
• Visibility versus privacy: Despite trying to keep Shen Fangli’s career low-profile and safe, her controversial role threatens to attract public attention and controversy.
• Entertainment-industry risks: The chapter highlights censorship, controversial casting, revised scripts, and the dangers actors face when productions prioritize dramatic impact.
• Communication and responsibility: The conflict stems from the crew’s failure to communicate properly. Yan Xianjue’s unread email also shows that responsibility is shared.
• Foreshadowing and altered fate: Yan Xianjue remembers Shen Fangli’s original storyline, in which a controversial villain role led to fame, online conflict, and eventual decline. The new script appears to be recreating that dangerous trajectory despite his efforts to change her future.
• Found-family dynamics: The teasing, scolding, and exaggerated parent-child comparisons reveal a close, informal bond between Yan Xianjue and the production team.

Character Interactions

• Yan Xianjue reacts protectively to the apparent slap, while Lei Xuan and Yao Weiran try to prevent him from intervening.
• Shen Fangli reassures Yan Xianjue by allowing him to inspect her face, then uses playful behavior and physical affection to soften his anger.
• Yan Xianjue reprimands Lei Xuan and Yao Weiran for secretly approving major script changes; both jokingly surrender rather than seriously defend themselves.
• Lei Xuan teases Yan Xianjue about being Shen Fangli’s powerful protector, while also calling him a parental figure.
• The chapter ends with Yan Xianjue asserting authority over the production by arranging for a supervising producer, while the others accept his decision without protest.

Chapter Summary: “Settle the Score with You Later”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Filming continues despite Yan Xianjue’s visit to the set. He orders an elaborate meal for the entire crew, greatly improving their usual studio food.
• During lunch, Yao Weiran explains that although the production has undergone some changes, its central message remains intact.
• Yan offers to use his connections to help the production understand broadcasting and censorship requirements. He assigns Lei Xuan to arrange a dinner with someone from the broadcasting bureau.
• Yan jokingly threatens Shen Fangli to “settle the score” with her later because she helped the crew keep the changes to the production secret from him.
• After lunch, Yan confronts Shen privately about her participation in the deception. She admits she found the situation amusing and argues that, as an actress, she was simply following the director’s confidentiality rules.
• Shen asks for an honest assessment of her acting. Yan teases her by comparing her performance in a scene where she burns an admission notice to burning funeral offerings.
• Shen becomes briefly insecure about her acting, but Yan reassures her that her exaggerated performance was appropriate for the scene’s intended emotional effect. He suggests she study Lin Shi’s distinctive “madness,” though she rejects his eccentric style.
• The couple takes a walk after lunch. Yan explains that he must leave for his company, while Shen jokes that his absence is driving Ji Xi to exhaustion.
• Shen playfully invents a story about Ji Xi hiring attractive twin receptionists who call Yan “Little President Yan,” provoking Yan’s mock jealousy and suspicion.
• She reveals that the story was false, and Yan jokingly pinches her cheek, accusing her of being a habitual liar who readily apologizes but will repeat the behavior.

2. Character Developments

• Shen Fangli becomes more confident and mischievous. She enjoys participating in the production’s secrecy and demonstrates a playful willingness to tease Yan, while still showing genuine concern about whether her acting is good enough.
• Yan Xianjue acts as both a supportive investor and a teasing romantic partner. He uses his connections to protect the production’s chances of approval, but he also gives Shen candid, if sarcastic, feedback.
• Yao Weiran is shown as a responsible director who remains focused on preserving the project’s message while navigating censorship restrictions.
• Lei Xuan is treated as the crew member most suited to handling social arrangements and negotiations because of his outgoing lifestyle.
• Zhuang Yushu remains tactful after the earlier awkward incident and avoids reopening the subject.
• The Best Actress is portrayed as socially observant and cautious, keeping quiet because she is not personally familiar with Yan and does not want to encourage rumors.
• Ji Xi, though absent, is characterized as an overworked but demanding company employee who prioritizes high hiring standards.

3. Significant Themes

• Trust and playful deception: Shen and the crew hide information from Yan, but the secrecy is treated as harmless fun rather than betrayal.
• Support behind the scenes: Yan’s influence helps the production navigate external restrictions, showing how creative work depends on institutional and financial support.
• Art versus censorship: The chapter acknowledges the tension between preserving a story’s core message and modifying it to meet approval standards.
• Performance and authenticity: Shen’s discussion of acting highlights the importance of exaggeration, emotional intensity, and finding memorable character traits.
• Romantic intimacy through teasing: Yan and Shen express affection through mock arguments, jokes, physical play, and mutual familiarity.
• Work-life balance: Yan’s visit briefly connects him to Shen’s professional world, but he ultimately returns to his own responsibilities at the company.

4. Character Interactions

• Yan and Yao Weiran: They discuss the production’s message and censorship strategy, with Yan offering practical assistance and resources.
• Yan and Lei Xuan: Yan assigns Lei the task of arranging the broadcasting-bureau dinner, teasing him about his social habits.
• Yan and Shen Fangli: Their relationship dominates the chapter. They flirt, argue playfully, discuss her acting, and joke about jealousy and work.
• Shen and the crew: Shen has successfully integrated into the production, following Yao’s and the screenwriter’s direction while helping maintain the secret.
• Yan and Ji Xi: Although Ji Xi never appears, Shen and Yan’s conversation presents him as Yan’s hardworking, exacting subordinate and provides another source of affectionate banter between the couple.

Chapter Summary: “Reasonable and Convincing”

Plot Points and Events

• Shen Fangli and Yan Xianjue joke about Ji Xi’s demanding standards and his failure to recruit enough executives. Yan Xianjue dismisses the importance of unread group-chat messages, insisting that truly urgent matters would reach him directly.
• Shen Fangli reassures Yan Xianjue that she is “on his side,” prompting him to tease her affectionately and notice that she has lost weight from the exhaustion of filming.
• Yan Xianjue encourages her to stop filming if she becomes too tired, joking that his wealthy family can support her. He also checks whether she is still practicing the Tai Chi and Eight Brocades he taught her.
• Shen Fangli explains that Tai Chi has helped her bond with elderly residents near the film set. Two of her Tai Chi partners, Teacher Zhou and Teacher Li, greet her and openly refer to Yan Xianjue as her boyfriend.
• Yan Xianjue promises to visit the set again soon and suggests giving the crew a vacation, while Shen Fangli jokes that his “visits” sound like prison visits. He puts her back to bed and leaves only after she falls asleep.
• Outside, Lei Xuan discusses Yan Xianjue’s proposed costume drama. Yan confirms that the project is serious and necessary to fill the months required for approval and release.
• Lei Xuan doubts that Shen Fangli can carry the female lead because of her youth and appearance, though Yan Xianjue does not strongly defend her casting. Lei jokingly suggests Yan play the male lead, but Yan refuses, saying acting would be too troublesome and that his only real hardship has been eating bitter melon.
• Yan instructs Lei and Yao Weiran to handle casting carefully, investigate actors’ personal conduct, and avoid scripts that will fail censorship review. He then leaves for Yan Corporation.

Character Developments

• Shen Fangli is shown adapting well to life on set despite physical exhaustion. Her Tai Chi practice helps her form unexpected friendships with the elderly locals, revealing her easygoing and sociable nature.
• Yan Xianjue displays his usual confidence, wealth, and blunt logic, but also shows genuine concern for Shen Fangli’s health. His affectionate teasing and willingness to visit her demonstrate his attachment and protectiveness.
• Lei Xuan remains wary of Yan Xianjue’s promises because of past tricks, yet he takes the proposed drama seriously. His comments also reveal practical concerns about casting and censorship.
• Yao Weiran continues functioning as a hands-on director, supervising changes to the set while the business and casting discussions proceed around him.

Significant Themes

• Affection expressed through teasing: Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli communicate intimacy through sarcasm, playful arguments, and physical affection.
• Work versus personal life: Shen Fangli’s demanding filming schedule contrasts with Yan’s desire to care for her and make her workload easier.
• Reasonable but unconventional logic: Yan repeatedly justifies questionable behavior—such as ignoring group chats or offering financial support—with his own “reasonable” standards.
• Trust and skepticism: Lei Xuan has learned not to take Yan and Shen’s words at face value, reflecting the playful deception and complicated working relationships among the characters.
• Practical entertainment production: The chapter highlights approval timelines, casting suitability, actor reputations, and censorship as important realities of making a drama.

Character Interactions

• Shen Fangli and Yan Xianjue engage in affectionate banter about Ji Xi, work, weight loss, exercise, jealousy, and visiting the set.
• Shen interacts warmly with Teacher Zhou and Teacher Li, who recognize her relationship with Yan Xianjue.
• Yan and Lei Xuan discuss the costume drama, casting Shen Fangli, Yan’s possible involvement, and the need to avoid problematic actors or unapproved material.
• Lei Xuan then returns to Yao Weiran, while Yan leaves for Yan Corporation to attend to business.

Chapter Summary: “No Money Left, Time to Farm Some Coins”

• Aftermath of the prank involving Yan Xianjue: Lei Xuan and Yao Weiran joke about Yan Xianjue’s startled reaction. Lei admits that Yan Xianjue tends to punish everyone involved in a mishap regardless of who is actually responsible, so Yao Weiran regrets ever getting involved with him. Their banter highlights Lei Xuan’s mischievous, carefree personality and Yao’s resigned familiarity with him.
• Lei Xuan’s spoiled nature: Yao reflects that although Lei Xuan is older than the others, he often behaves immaturely, especially by constantly eating candy. Lei’s father is extremely indulgent and repeatedly arranges for others to look after him, leading Yao to joke about someday making an educational film on the dangers of overindulgence.
• Yan Xianjue visits Yan Yi’an’s office: Yan Xianjue arrives while his older brother is meeting with two unfamiliar men. He waits on the sofa with snacks and a game console while the special assistant vaguely explains that Yan Yi’an has been very busy.
• Yan Corporation’s situation: The special assistant internally complains about the heavy workload caused by Yan Yi’an’s constant overtime. Chairman Yan has largely stopped working since the storm, and employees suspect Yan Yi’an may soon be promoted from president to chairman. This would allow Yan Xianjue to become president without needing to do much, though it would increase the staff’s burden.
• Yan Xianjue asks for money: When Yan Yi’an finishes his meeting, Yan Xianjue straightforwardly announces that he is out of money and asks his brother to “farm” him some coins. Yan Yi’an immediately gives him two bank cards, despite reminding him of the enormous sum he previously received from Lin Lang.
• Yan Xianjue’s finances: Yan explains that taxes, donations, and investments—including one in an amusement park—have left him with little available cash. His projects will not produce returns soon, and he jokingly wishes the novel’s world had a time-acceleration function. He clarifies that he is not recklessly spending his allowance; rather, he is taking advantage of the visit to ask for additional funds.
• Sibling dynamic: Yan Yi’an is accustomed to Yan Xianjue’s shameless requests and responds with dry sarcasm, even suggesting that Yan Xianjue help process company documents. Yan refuses, worried that making mistakes would cause trouble for the employees. Their interaction shows Yan Yi’an’s indulgent but teasing attitude and Yan Xianjue’s dependence on his brother.
• A new objective: Yan Xianjue asks Yan Yi’an to help locate a former Wall Street investment manager who recently left his company because of personnel changes. He identifies the man as a highly skilled short-term trader with an exceptional ability to avoid risk, suggesting that Yan hopes to recruit him for one of his ventures.

Key Themes

• Indulgence and irresponsibility: Lei Xuan and Yan Xianjue are both portrayed as privileged figures who rely on others while behaving casually or immaturely.
• Family support and teasing: Yan Xianjue’s relationship with Yan Yi’an combines financial dependence, trust, and sarcastic sibling banter.
• Business ambition: Despite his frivolous behavior, Yan Xianjue actively invests in projects and seeks talented professionals to improve his financial prospects.
• Workplace burden and class contrast: The special assistant’s hidden frustration contrasts with the Yan brothers’ carefree treatment of money and work, emphasizing the gap between wealthy employers and overworked staff.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue proposes recruiting a talented short-term investment trader who recently resigned from a Wall Street company because of internal factional conflict. Although the trader has many opportunities in the United States, Xianjue believes he might be persuaded to work for them.
• Xianjue recognizes the trader’s importance from the original storyline: he was a supporting character connected to the heroine and later helped Lin Lang obtain funding after the male lead stole Big Brother’s battery technology. Since the heroine is now imprisoned and Lin Lang has been ruined by Lin Shi, Xianjue sees no issue with recruiting him.
• Yan Yi’an questions why Xianjue does not let Ji Xi handle the recruitment. Xianjue argues that Ji Xi lacks sufficient connections and will soon be transferred to a branch office, meaning the company needs an assistant for him.
• Yan Yi’an agrees to make the initial contact but leaves the negotiation to Xianjue and Ji Xi. Xianjue jokingly notes that Ji Xi is skilled at “selling people a dream,” while Yan Yi’an privately recognizes that Ji Xi learned this skill from Xianjue.
• Xianjue decides to spend the afternoon at Yan Yi’an’s office and play computer games. Since the office has only one computer, Yan Yi’an orders a high-end gaming desktop and has it installed in their father’s unused office.
• Xianjue sends the family a video showing the transformed office. Their father is shocked that his sons appear to have taken over his workspace, while their mother jokes that they may have effectively “fired” him from the company.
• The parents discuss Xianjue’s continuing grudge against Yan Ci. They realize his anger stems from a misunderstanding: Yan Ci excluded him from the Olympic competition because he feared Xianjue’s unpredictable thoughts could create complications, but Xianjue interpreted the exclusion as deliberate rejection.
• The parents conclude that the misunderstanding will likely remain unresolved until they reveal that they can hear Xianjue’s thoughts.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue demonstrates growing strategic awareness. He uses knowledge of the original story to identify valuable people and opportunities before events unfold, while also approaching recruitment with confidence and opportunism.
• Yan Yi’an continues to act as Xianjue’s practical and somewhat exasperated older brother. Although he criticizes Xianjue’s logic, he repeatedly supports him and is willing to use his own influence to help.
• Ji Xi is portrayed as an effective employee and persuasive negotiator, though Xianjue’s comments suggest that his abilities were shaped by working under Xianjue.
• Father Yan is beginning to withdraw from corporate leadership but feels comically displaced by his sons’ takeover of his office. He also sympathizes with Yan Ci’s need to protect his team.
• Mother Yan remains amused and perceptive. She understands that Xianjue’s resentment comes from feeling excluded and recognizes the emotional reason behind his reaction better than Father Yan does.
• Yan Ci, although absent, is characterized as responsible and protective of his team. His decision to exclude Xianjue was intended to avoid problems and prevent Xianjue from feeling burdened, but it unintentionally worsened their conflict.

Significant Themes

• Family support beneath bickering: The brothers constantly tease and criticize one another, yet Yan Yi’an readily helps Xianjue, and the family remains attentive to his feelings.
• Miscommunication and hidden knowledge: The parents’ ability to hear Xianjue’s thoughts creates an uneven understanding of events. They know his true feelings, while he remains unaware of their knowledge, allowing misunderstandings—especially with Yan Ci—to persist.
• Using foreknowledge to alter fate: Xianjue applies his knowledge of the original novel’s plot to recruit useful people and prevent unfavorable developments.
• Generational and organizational transition: Father Yan is gradually stepping away from the company, while his sons increasingly take responsibility, symbolically beginning to replace him even before he fully retires.
• Comedy within family relationships: The serious business discussions are repeatedly undercut by jokes about gaming, office takeovers, family-group-chat names, and the father’s exaggerated sense of being “forced out.”

Character Interactions

• Yan Xianjue and Yan Yi’an have a playful but argumentative exchange over recruitment, company responsibilities, and whether Xianjue should put his education into practice.
• Their conversation also shows mutual trust: Yan Yi’an complains but agrees to contact the prospective trader, while Xianjue relies on him because of his stronger business connections.
• The parents humorously discuss the sons’ behavior, with Mother Yan defending Xianjue’s emotional perspective and Father Yan attempting to justify Yan Ci’s decision.
• Father and Mother Yan’s discussion highlights the family’s central unresolved issue: Xianjue feels abandoned by Yan Ci, while Yan Ci believes he was protecting both Xianjue and the larger team.

Chapter Summary: “Eighteen or Nineteen, the Perfect Age for Tattling”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mother Yan admits that she feels guilty for continuing to hide the truth from Yan Xianjue. She and Father Yan are searching for clues about the mysterious past of Old Master Yan, following a list of more than a dozen locations identified from his paintings.
• Yan Yi’an is too busy with work to join them, so the retired Yan couple takes on the investigation. They have already visited three sites without finding anything.
• The couple discusses how Xianjue may react if he eventually discovers the truth. They conclude that he will probably forgive Yi’an, while Yan Ci is more likely to bear the blame.
• Their conversation turns into a humorous review of the children’s lifelong habit of “tattling,” especially Xianjue’s repeated reports about Yan Ci at various ages.
• They also recall Yan Ci’s mischievous deeds, including soaking his grandfather’s dentures in rice vinegar, as well as Yi’an’s more subtle and manipulative childhood behavior.
• The couple arrives at a run-down, abandoned Taoist temple that may once have belonged to Old Master Yan, raising the possibility that he was connected to feng shui or Taoist practices.
• Inside the temple, they encounter two children, Mai Mai and “Chubby,” who appear to have been stealing or picking jujubes. Mai Mai cautiously questions the visitors and demands to know what she will receive in exchange for information about the temple.

Character Developments

• Mother Yan: Shows increasing guilt and concern over deceiving Xianjue, while remaining practical and protective of the family. Her memories reveal that she has always excused or rationalized the children’s behavior.
• Father Yan: Acts as the comic skeptic of the group. He doubts that his father could have been a “protagonist” or respected feng shui master, and he points out the family’s hypocrisy regarding tattling and mischief.
• Yan Xianjue: Though absent, he is portrayed as observant, persistent, and inclined to report Yan Ci’s behavior. His loyalty toward his sister suggests that he is forgiving despite his complaints.
• Yan Ci: Described as troublesome and in need of discipline, but also as the family member most likely to be blamed for past secrecy. His childhood prank reveals his mischievous nature.
• Yan Yi’an: Remembered as outwardly reliable and mature but secretly capable of clever retaliation and manipulation when mistreated.
• Mai Mai and Chubby: Introduced as clever, mischievous children. Chubby is innocent and impulsive, while Mai Mai is more guarded, calculating, and socially perceptive.

Significant Themes

• Family secrets and guilt: The Yan parents struggle with the consequences of hiding the truth from Xianjue.
• Family favoritism and blame: The discussion suggests that different family members are protected or blamed according to their personalities and relationships.
• Childhood mischief and continuity: The adults’ memories emphasize that every family member was troublesome in some way, despite their different styles.
• Appearance versus reality: Yi’an’s dependable image conceals a manipulative side, while the seemingly pathetic Taoist temple may hide an important history.
• Mystery and discovery: The abandoned temple and the children’s suspicious presence hint that the investigation may finally produce a meaningful clue.

Important Character Interactions

• Mother Yan and Father Yan banter affectionately while debating who is responsible for the family’s problems.
• They jointly decide that Yan Ci will probably receive the blame if Xianjue learns the truth, then feel guilty and agree to treat him more kindly.
• Father Yan challenges Mother Yan’s repeated claim that Xianjue is always at the age when boys love tattling.
• The couple exchanges memories of the children’s misbehavior, revealing their shared affection and reluctance to judge any of them too harshly.
• Mother Yan approaches Mai Mai gently and respectfully, while Mai Mai immediately takes control of the conversation by demanding compensation for her information.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chubby, a young boy, is introduced, and his name is found apt for his appearance.
• Mai Mai, a young girl, leads Father Yan and Mother Yan to a Taoist temple on a mountain, revealing it's where the village's ancestors are buried.
• They discover a gravestone with over twenty names, including the religious names and ages at death, and an epitaph detailing a war that killed the Taoist priests who protected the villagers.

Character Developments

• Father Yan: Shows care and understanding towards children, and respects cultural norms, such as not taking photos of a gravestone without permission.
• Mother Yan: Demonstrates empathy and understanding, tactfully gathering information from Mai Mai, and shows respect for the deceased.
• Mai Mai: Shows maturity beyond her age, understanding the concept of helping others and earning rewards, and takes responsibility for guiding the adults.
• Chubby: Remains innocent and childlike, focusing on eating and being carried around.

Significant Themes

• Respect for the deceased and their culture: Both Father Yan and Mother Yan show deference to the gravestone and ask for permission before taking a photo.
• The innocence of childhood: Mai Mai and Chubby exhibit childlike behavior, such as Mai Mai's eagerness for rewards and Chubby's focus on eating.
• The impact of war on communities: The epitaph reveals the devastating effect of war on the Taoist priests and the village they protected.

Character Interactions

• Father Yan and Mother Yan: Work together to gather information and navigate the situation, showing understanding and respect for each other.
• Mai Mai and Chubby: Interact like siblings, with Mai Mai taking care of Chubby and Chubby being oblivious to his surroundings.
• Mai Mai and the Village Chief: Mai Mai respects and follows the Village Chief's instructions, showing a strong bond with the community leader.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan's parents follow Mai Mai's directions to the village chief, who knows their father.
• The village chief reveals he's Yan's father's martial brother and is about to die, having waited over a decade for Yan's family to arrive.
• Yan's parents learn that the village chief has been caring for a crane, a protected animal.

Character Developments

• Village Chief: Revealed to be Yan's father's martial brother, he's eccentric, confident, and holds a deep respect for Yan's father. He's also surprisingly youthful in appearance.
• Yan's Father: Initially hesitant and confused, he becomes more assertive and defensive when the village chief looks down on him.
• Yan's Mother: She's more observant and patient, trying to understand the situation and keep the peace.

Significant Themes

• Legacy and Inheritance: The village chief is a living legacy of Yan's father, and they're both waiting for Yan's family to inherit something.
• Aging and Mortality: The village chief's impending death highlights the passage of time and the inevitability of mortality.

Character Interactions

• Yan's Parents and the Village Chief: The village chief's eccentric behavior and comments leave Yan's parents confused and sometimes irritated, but they maintain respect and patience.
• Yan's Parents and Mai Mai: They interact briefly, with Mai Mai leading them to the village chief and asking for payment.

Chapter Summary: “Do You Want to Go Ask Him Right Now?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Father and Mother Yan visit the village chief to learn whether Father Yan’s deceased father left behind any message.
• After deliberately stalling and reminiscing, the village chief reveals that Father Yan’s father advised him to leave immediately if the Yan family’s fortunes began to collapse, rather than stubbornly remaining.
• The village chief gives Father Yan a palm-sized wooden box left by his father. Inside is a jade plaque engraved with the words: “Those who inherit go before; those who bear follow behind.”
• The village chief explains the inscription as meaning that the actions, virtue, or wrongdoing of ancestors can affect their descendants.
• Father Yan asks whether his father had enemies. The village chief explains that his father was exceptionally talented, wealthy, fortunate, and arrogant, making him widely disliked. One jealous Buddhist monk even competed with him so intensely that he was expelled from his sect.
• Before the Yan couple leaves, the village chief asks them to care for the village children after his death, especially the girls and orphans, who may struggle to adapt to the outside world.

Character Developments

• Father Yan becomes more aware that his father’s seemingly ordinary past concealed a connection to Taoist cultivation. He also realizes that the old man was not the flawless “protagonist” he had imagined, but a talented and highly provocative person whose actions created many enemies.
• Mother Yan is protective of Yan Xianjue and immediately rejects the idea of him becoming the village chief’s disciple because he already has a girlfriend and plans to marry. Her reaction also shows her skepticism toward the supernatural world.
• The village chief is revealed to be over 120 years old, a Taoist cultivator, and Father Yan’s father’s former fellow disciple—and possibly his senior by age and lineage. Despite his spiritual background, he is humorous, forgetful, pragmatic, and openly motivated by worldly benefits. Beneath his teasing manner, he is deeply concerned about the village children.
• Father Yan’s father emerges as a gifted but overconfident cultivator who neglected humility and diplomacy. His final advice suggests that, despite his arrogance, he understood the dangers facing the Yan family.

Significant Themes

• Inheritance and ancestral influence: The jade plaque emphasizes that descendants inherit the consequences of their ancestors’ choices, both positive and negative.
• The danger of brilliance without humility: Father Yan’s father’s wealth, talent, and success inspired jealousy and resentment because he failed to keep a low profile.
• Family responsibility: The village chief’s request shifts the focus from supernatural secrets to the practical duty of protecting vulnerable children.
• Fate, divination, and discretion: The village chief acknowledges Taoist and Buddhist practices while stressing that predictions should not be revealed plainly, suggesting that knowledge of fate carries ethical consequences.
• Appearance versus reality: The Yan family’s assumptions about their father and the village chief are repeatedly overturned by humorous revelations.

Character Interactions

• The Yan couple’s silent frustration with the village chief’s forgetfulness creates much of the chapter’s humor.
• The village chief teases them about Yan Xianjue becoming his disciple, while Mother Yan firmly defends her son’s current life and future marriage.
• Father Yan questions the village chief about his father’s past, leading to revelations about the family’s Taoist connections and his father’s personality.
• The village chief’s sarcastic responses contrast with Father Yan’s increasingly serious attempts to understand his family history.
• The final request for the Yan couple to care for the village children introduces a sincere and emotional bond between the visitors and the isolated community.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Father Yan and Mother Yan speak with the village chief, who reveals more about Father Yan’s late father and his connection to Daoist cultivation.
• The village chief explains that Father Yan’s father did not willingly begin cultivating. He first visited Taoist temples, Buddhist monasteries, and lama temples seeking answers, but became disappointed with all of them and decided to pursue enlightenment himself.
• Contrary to expectations, he eventually joined the mountain sect because the village chief was poor and needed support—not because he had initially desired a formal religious life.
• The village chief reveals that the Taoist temple outside the village belonged to him and that the more than twenty people commemorated by the Longevity Adept’s epitaphs had all been his disciples.
• Those disciples died during an earlier conflict while the village chief and the Longevity Adept were away. The jujube tree near the graves was planted by the Longevity Adept after he completed the epitaphs.
• The Longevity Adept specifically asked the village chief not to reveal his cultivation background to Father Yan, though Father Yan’s older brother later recognized the chief as a Taoist—largely because the chief was openly wearing Taoist robes.
• The village chief agrees to host Father Yan, Mother Yan, and their bodyguards overnight and show them around the village the next day.
• The couple examine a mysterious jade plaque and decide to send a photograph to Yan Xianjue under the pretense of considering it as a pendant for him.
• Meanwhile, Yan Xianjue discovers that the game he and Zhou Ye are playing has caused them to lose money rather than earn it. Their flawed strategy involved repeatedly consuming stamina potions while crafting more potions, making their supposed business venture ridiculous and unprofitable.

Character Developments

• Father Yan gains important insight into his father’s past, realizing that his father’s path toward cultivation was driven by skepticism, independence, and practical circumstances rather than devotion.
• Mother Yan proves more perceptive and resourceful than Father Yan, especially when devising a believable way to ask Yan Xianjue about the jade plaque without revealing the truth.
• The Village Chief is shown to possess a deep connection to the Longevity Adept and the village’s tragic history. Despite his immortal-like appearance and serious past, he is blunt, practical, humorous, and unconcerned with maintaining a dramatic image.
• Yan Xianjue continues to demonstrate familiarity with the older generation’s thinking, while also showing a comically poor understanding of the game’s economic system.
• The Longevity Adept is further characterized as secretive, pragmatic, and connected to the village chief’s deceased disciples, while also being someone who used bodyguards and behaved in practical, worldly ways.

Significant Themes

• The contrast between appearance and reality: The village chief looks like an immortal but is poor, practical, and reliant on ordinary village assistance. The Longevity Adept, despite his cultivation and mysterious reputation, also behaved like a worldly person.
• Skepticism and self-reliance: Father Yan’s father rejected established religious authorities after finding them unsatisfactory and chose to seek answers independently.
• Hidden histories and incomplete family knowledge: Father Yan continues uncovering secrets about his father’s life and realizing that his family knew far less than they believed.
• Humor amid tragedy: The deaths of the village chief’s disciples and the Longevity Adept’s involvement are serious revelations, but the chapter undercuts solemnity with jokes about robes, bodyguards, poverty, and failed in-game business.
• Practicality over mysticism: Daoist figures are repeatedly presented as ordinary people concerned with money, food, lodging, and survival rather than purely spiritual matters.

Character Interactions

• The village chief candidly answers Father Yan’s questions, correcting his assumptions about his father’s past.
• Father Yan and Mother Yan react with shared disbelief to the chief’s revelations, especially his claim that poverty led to Father Yan’s father joining the sect.
• The chief lightly mocks the family’s large security detail, comparing them unfavorably with the Longevity Adept.
• Mother Yan takes the lead in contacting Yan Xianjue about the jade plaque, while Father Yan struggles to maintain the cover story.
• Yan Xianjue confronts Zhou Ye over their failed gaming strategy, turning their supposed money-making scheme into a comedic argument about incompetence and unreliable advice.

Chapter Summary: “Is Your Second Uncle Cao Cao?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou Ye and Yan Xianjue joke about Zhou Ye’s second uncle, particularly his lack of an heir. Yan Xianjue sarcastically suggests that the uncle should have a son to compete with Zhou Ye for inheritance.
• They discuss Zhao Lesi’s family situation. Her husband married into the Zhao family, but after their first child was born a daughter, Zhao Lesi’s father manipulated the children’s surnames: the daughter, Ruan Baibai, took her father’s surname, while the second child took the Zhao surname.
• The conversation reveals that Ruan Baibai’s parents are still married, despite living separately in practice and largely neglecting their children. Yan Xianjue is shocked that Ruan Baibai still intends to marry Zhou Ye’s second uncle, joking that this would amount to bigamy.
• Zhou Ye proposes arranging a blind date for his second uncle. Yan Xianjue mocks the idea and refuses to continue playing games with him, teasing Zhou Ye for being overly dramatic and jealous of his other friendships.
• After ending the call, Yan Xianjue checks the family group chat and sees a photograph of a jade pendant acquired by his parents. The pendant bears eight engraved characters that resemble his grandfather’s distinctive handwriting.
• Yan Xianjue’s mother explains that the engraving may have been made by his grandfather and later entrusted to the village chief, though she cannot confirm it.
• Yan Xianjue reflects that his grandfather was the protagonist of a metaphysical novel, making it plausible that he created such jade pendants himself. He decides that, regardless of its origin, the pendant should be brought back.
• Yan Yi’an overhears Yan Xianjue’s thoughts and becomes concerned by references to their grandfather, metaphysical fiction, and the concept of inherited karmic burdens. Their mother reveals that she and Yan Xianjue’s father found the grandfather’s senior fellow disciple, now the village chief, who had been safeguarding the pendant.
• The village chief has also asked the Yan family to care for the local children. Yan Yi’an agrees to arrange help and begins researching Taoist teachings about inherited consequences.
• Yan Yi’an forwards Yan Xianjue’s remarks to their mother and Yan Shan. His mother reassures him that, whatever spiritual or karmic implications may exist, Yan Xianjue is still her son and Yan Yi’an’s younger brother.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue remains sarcastic, irreverent, and easily amused, but his attitude shifts when he notices the pendant’s connection to his grandfather. Although he treats the matter casually, he instinctively recognizes its importance and wants it retrieved.
• Yan Yi’an demonstrates his protective nature and growing seriousness. He efficiently manages work so Yan Xianjue will lose less money while gaming, but becomes deeply concerned when he hears about karmic inheritance and the grandfather’s possible involvement.
• Yan Xianjue’s mother provides crucial information about the village, the pendant, and the grandfather’s disciple. Her calm statement that she will protect Yan Xianjue emphasizes her maternal loyalty.
• Zhou Ye and Yan Xianjue maintain a close friendship built on exaggerated teasing, mock complaints, and familiar banter.
• Ruan Baibai is characterized indirectly through her unstable family background and troubled relationship with her mother and career.

Significant Themes

• Family inheritance and hidden consequences: The jade pendant and the discussion of Taoist “inherited burden” suggest that the family may be connected to spiritual or karmic consequences originating with the grandfather.
• The collision of the ordinary and the supernatural: Casual discussions about blind dates, games, and family gossip exist alongside metaphysical novels, Taoist texts, and mysterious heirlooms.
• Family loyalty and protection: Yan Yi’an’s concern and the mother’s reassurance show that the family intends to protect Yan Xianjue regardless of possible supernatural dangers.
• Identity and lineage: The Zhao family’s dispute over surnames parallels the Yan family’s investigation into ancestry, inheritance, and the effects of previous generations.
• Humor as emotional defense: The characters use sarcasm and absurd jokes to handle uncomfortable subjects, including infidelity, inheritance disputes, and potentially dangerous spiritual matters.

Important Character Interactions

• Zhou Ye and Yan Xianjue exchange playful insults about heirs, marriage, blind dates, and Yan Xianjue’s supposed attraction to handsome friends.
• Yan Xianjue communicates with his mother about the jade pendant and its suspicious engraving.
• Yan Yi’an privately questions his mother after hearing Yan Xianjue’s unusual comments, prompting her to explain the connection to the village chief and their grandfather.
• Yan Yi’an researches the meaning of karmic inheritance and shares his findings with the family, revealing that he takes Yan Xianjue’s seemingly careless remarks seriously.
• The chapter ends with the mother and Yan Yi’an affirming their familial bond and their commitment to Yan Xianjue, despite the mysterious danger implied by the pendant.

Chapter Summary: “Let Him Come See Me”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Yi’an compiles the family’s questions about the village chief, Yan Xianjue’s time-traveling grandfather, and the possibility of mystic arts. After Father and Mother Yan screen the questions, they send them to the village chief.
• The village chief replies that Yan Yi’an should bring Yan Xianjue to see him as soon as possible.
• Father and Mother Yan spend the morning with the village chief. He has already prepared a simple breakfast of porridge and casually orders them to accompany him to the village school.
• Chubby appears for breakfast and is treated as a familiar part of the village chief’s household. The village chief carries him in an unusual but clearly practiced manner.
• At the school, Father Yan observes that it is essentially an old-fashioned private school, with the village chief as the only teacher and children grouped loosely by age. He recommends replacing it with a modern school that can prepare students for university entrance examinations, and the village chief agrees.
• While resting beneath a tree, the village chief suddenly asks Father and Mother Yan to have their younger son, Yan Xianjue, come see him.
• The village chief briefly pretends to be dead, alarming both the Yan couple and the children. Although he laughs it off, his earlier warning that he is nearing death makes the incident feel serious.
• Father and Mother Yan decide that Yan Xianjue must come. Mother Yan relays the request through Yan Yi’an rather than contacting him directly.
• Yan Yi’an arranges transportation, while Yan Shan wakes Yan Xianjue and tells him that a distant elder is dying. Yan Xianjue protests that he does not even know the man, but reluctantly agrees to go.

Character Developments

• Father Yan continues to show respect toward the village chief, accepting a subordinate position despite his own age and status. He also demonstrates practical judgment by evaluating the school and suggesting reforms.
• Mother Yan is observant and emotionally perceptive. She notices the village chief’s possible health problems before Father Yan does and quietly supports her husband while also worrying about their son’s safety.
• The village chief appears playful, blunt, and eccentric, teasing Father Yan and handling Chubby roughly but affectionately. Beneath this humor, however, he seems physically weakened and aware that his time may be limited.
• Yan Yi’an acts efficiently and responsibly, coordinating the journey and ensuring Yan Xianjue is brought to the village.
• Yan Shan remains direct and unsentimental, using a practical excuse to get Yan Xianjue out of bed.
• Yan Xianjue is confused and reluctant, but his eventual compliance suggests that the village chief’s request may have significance connected to his mysterious family history.

Significant Themes

• The inevitability of change: The village chief’s traditional school contrasts with modern educational needs, highlighting the tension between preserving old ways and adapting to the present.
• Mortality and urgency: The chief’s joking behavior masks a potentially serious illness, creating a sense that Yan Xianjue’s arrival may be time-sensitive.
• Family responsibility: The Yan family responds collectively to the village chief’s request, even when the connection is unclear, showing their concern for one another and willingness to confront unanswered mysteries.
• Hidden knowledge and the supernatural: The family’s questions about time travel and mystic arts remain unresolved, while the village chief’s insistence on meeting Yan Xianjue suggests he may know more about the family’s secrets.
• Humor amid tension: Domestic comedy, the village chief’s teasing, and Chubby’s behavior soften the increasingly serious atmosphere surrounding the chief’s health and the impending meeting.

Character Interactions

• Father Yan and the village chief interact like an awkward elder-and-junior pair: the chief constantly mocks him, while Father Yan remains respectful but internally frustrated.
• Mother Yan mediates between them, comforting Father Yan and recognizing the chief’s hidden weakness.
• The village chief and Chubby display a familiar, affectionate relationship, with Chubby calmly accepting the chief’s unconventional way of carrying him.
• The village chief is warmly connected to the village children, who panic when they think he may have died.
• Yan Shan and Yan Xianjue exchange sarcastic remarks, with Shan pushing him into action despite his confusion.
• The chapter ends by setting up an important encounter between Yan Xianjue and the village chief, likely tied to the family’s supernatural and time-travel-related mysteries.

Chapter Summary: You Matter Most

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Yi’an and Yan Xianjue travel to visit a mysterious elderly relative, accompanied by the Yan family’s medical team and bodyguards.
• Their parents have discovered something supernatural: the village chief, who initially appeared youthful, suddenly aged into a man in his seventies or eighties and revealed that he is over 120 years old.
• Yan Xianjue is brought before the village chief, who asks the others to leave so they can speak privately.
• The village chief hints that Yan Xianjue may have a connection to another place or reality, asking whether he wants to “go back.” Yan Xianjue firmly refuses, declaring that his current world is his only home.
• The village chief reveals that the world’s existence depends on Yan Xianjue’s thoughts and insists that Yan is more important than everyone else.
• He further claims that the world does not need a protagonist, and that only when the protagonist disappears can the world return to normal.
• The village chief explains that Yan Xianjue’s grandfather resisted a predetermined fate in a world filled with strange plots and theories, ultimately using his death as an act of rebellion against mysterious forces.
• He identifies himself as the Carefree Master, Yan Xianjue’s grandfather’s senior martial brother.
• Rather than urging Yan to kill the supposed protagonists, the Carefree Master gives him practical final instructions and possessions:
  • He wishes to be buried beside his disciples.
  • He leaves Yan a blood-tested sword from wartime, hoping it will protect him.
  • He leaves medicinal prescriptions for the Yan family.
  • The Yan family has promised to care for the village’s children in exchange.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue: Initially skeptical and humorous, Yan becomes deeply unsettled by the Carefree Master’s revelations. He struggles with the possibility that his grandfather abandoned the family because of a larger, predetermined narrative. Despite his emotional hurt, he reasserts his attachment to his family and current home. His joking response that he might strike first against the Lin Household also reveals a willingness to act decisively if his loved ones are threatened.
• Yan Yi’an: He remains unusually solemn and evasive, suggesting that he understands the gravity of the situation more clearly than Yan Xianjue. His concern is shown through bringing the family’s medical team and closely monitoring the conversation.
• Father and Mother Yan: They are visibly disturbed by the supernatural events but continue to protect Yan Xianjue emotionally. Mother Yan deliberately removes the others so the Carefree Master can speak privately, while Father Yan shows conflicted feelings about what they are learning.
• Carefree Master: Though ancient and near death, he is calm, humorous, and patient. He acts as a final guide for Yan Xianjue, revealing the truth about the world while also making practical arrangements for his death.

Significant Themes

• Free will versus predetermined fate: The chapter suggests that the world may operate according to a fixed plot, with “protagonists” forced along predetermined paths. Yan Xianjue and his grandfather represent resistance to that system.
• The importance of individual choice: Yan’s thoughts may determine whether the world remains stable, making his personal decisions enormously consequential.
• Family and belonging: Although Yan is tempted with the idea of returning elsewhere, he insists that his current world is his true home. His emotional pain comes from wondering whether his grandfather rejected both the world and his family.
• Inheritance and responsibility: The Carefree Master passes on weapons, medical knowledge, and obligations, emphasizing that inheritance involves both protection and duty.
• Humor in the face of death and the unknown: Both Yan Xianjue and the Carefree Master use jokes and sarcasm to cope with frightening revelations and impending death.

Significant Character Interactions

• Yan Yi’an and Yan Xianjue’s conversation establishes the family’s secrecy and anxiety surrounding the visit.
• Mother Yan pushes Yan Xianjue toward the village chief while shielding him from the others’ interference.
• The Carefree Master’s affectionate gesture of patting Yan’s head links him to Yan’s grandfather and creates an immediate sense of familial familiarity.
• Their conversation shifts from cryptic questions about Yan’s identity to revelations about the world, the grandfather’s death, and Yan’s possible role as the central figure.
• Yan challenges the Carefree Master’s claims, but the old Taoist responds with patience and humor rather than force.
• The final exchange transforms the Carefree Master from a mysterious informant into a mentor figure, leaving Yan not only with disturbing knowledge but also with tangible tools and responsibilities for the future.

Chapter Summary: “It Had to Be You”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue questions Carefree Master about his origins, his grandfather’s knowledge, and why he was chosen to cross into this world. Carefree Master reveals that Yan’s grandfather was initially delighted by the birth of someone outside the bounds of fate and sought Carefree Master’s help when Yan was seriously ill.
• Carefree Master confirms that Yan was saved through a combination of science and mysticism, though Yan’s grandfather paid a personal price. He also insists that Yan’s transmigration was not random: “It could only have been you.”
• Carefree Master refuses to explain everything, saying Yan must unlock the remaining “locks” himself. He gives Yan a final command: “Four years. End it.” He emphasizes that this is Yan’s last chance.
• Yan promises to restore the world—one governed by protagonists and predetermined plots—to normal, even though he does not yet understand why he bears this responsibility.
• Carefree Master dies after entrusting Yan with this mission. Yan breaks down crying, and his family comforts him.
• The Yan family and the villagers organize Carefree Master’s funeral. The villagers reveal that their village chief had long said he was waiting for certain people to arrive before he could leave, confirming that the Yan family were the people he had been expecting.
• The villagers initially believe Yan Father or Yan Yi’an should perform the traditional act of smashing the funeral basin, but Yan insists on doing it himself, declaring, “I am his heir.”
• The family spends a week settling Carefree Master’s affairs. Yan’s family promises to support the village children, particularly Chubby, including helping arrange their education.
• After returning home, Yan becomes obsessed with studying transmigration novels and possible world settings, trying to uncover the meaning of Carefree Master’s words and determine how he is meant to change the world.
• His family attempts to distract him by suggesting he spend time with Lili or Zhou Ye. Zhou Ye, meanwhile, is trying to make money through online games but has already lost several thousand.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue: He moves from emotional uncertainty to accepting a major responsibility. His grief shows how deeply he connected with Carefree Master despite meeting him only once. He also openly reveals his transmigration secret for the first time, suggesting increased trust and emotional openness. After the funeral, his anxiety manifests as obsessive research into transmigration narratives.
• Carefree Master: He is revealed as a guardian who helped preserve Yan’s life and waited specifically for Yan’s arrival. Although he remains cryptic, he provides the crucial confirmation that Yan’s existence and mission are intentional. His final words place the fate of the world in Yan’s hands.
• Yan Xianjue’s family: His parents comfort him without judgment, while Yan Yi’an and Yan Father take responsibility for the funeral and the village children. Yan Yi’an becomes more determined to train Yan as his successor, despite jokingly resolving never to have children himself.
• Yan Mother: She provides emotional support, allowing Yan to grieve openly and reminding him that emotional bonds are not measured by how long people know one another.
• The village children: Chubby demonstrates a blunt understanding of death, while Mai Mai teases Yan for crying and insists that he is still a child. Their interactions lighten the otherwise tragic chapter.

Significant Themes

• Destiny versus choice: Yan is told he was chosen because he alone could fulfill the role, yet he must still discover the truth and make his own decisions.
• Inherited responsibility: Carefree Master’s final command makes Yan the heir to both a personal legacy and a world-altering mission.
• Love beyond blood and time: The chapter emphasizes that family and emotional bonds can form regardless of biological relation or length of acquaintance.
• Grief and acceptance: Yan’s sorrow, the family’s support, and the villagers’ respectful funeral all show different ways of responding to death.
• The burden of knowledge: Yan’s unanswered questions and obsessive research highlight the psychological strain of being given a vast responsibility without a complete explanation.
• Community and care: The Yan family accepts responsibility for the village children, continuing Carefree Master’s concern for them after his death.

Character Interactions

• Carefree Master and Yan discuss Yan’s origins, his grandfather, his illness, and his role in correcting the world. Their exchange combines affection, teasing, and deliberate mystery.
• Yan’s mother consoles him after Carefree Master’s death, indulging his childish complaints about the family, his grandfather, and Yan Yi’an.
• The villagers speak with Yan Father about Carefree Master’s long wait and treat the family as the people the village chief had been expecting.
• Yan and the children provide comic relief during the mourning period: Chubby corrects Yan’s comforting explanation about death, while Mai Mai mocks Yan for crying and calls him a child.
• The family debates who should perform the funeral ritual, ultimately recognizing Yan as Carefree Master’s chosen heir.
• After returning home, Yan’s parents try to draw him out of his grief and obsession by encouraging him to spend time with Lili or Zhou Ye.

Chapter Summary: “Counterfeit Goods”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Yan family discusses Yan Xianjue’s subdued mood after learning that Carefree Master—his grandfather’s senior brother—has died.
• Yan Wan tries to distract him by bringing up Ruan Baibai, a dancer who left for an overseas dance troupe after a conflict with her mother. She invites Yan Xianjue to watch the troupe’s auditions, but he declines.
• Yan Shan offers to deal violently with anyone who may have upset Yan Xianjue, prompting jokes that he sounds like Yan Ci.
• Yan Xianjue questions his parents about why they were present during the events involving Carefree Master and the jade plaque. His mother gives a carefully constructed explanation, which he accepts without openly challenging.
• The family discusses Yan Ci’s international esports tournament. Although he only won a bronze medal, they argue that the competition was difficult, the schedule was poorly organized, and bad luck affected the team’s performance.
• Two days later, Yan Ci returns home by private plane. He gives Yan Xianjue his medal in an attempt to cheer him up, but Xianjue dismisses it because it is not gold and cannot be sold.
• When Yan Ci points out that the gold medal is not actually made of gold either, Yan Xianjue jokingly calls it “counterfeit goods.”
• Yan Ci then asks about Xianjue’s recent bad mood, preparing to address the deeper emotional issue.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue struggles to understand why Carefree Master’s death affects him so strongly. He recognizes that he may have transferred unresolved feelings about his grandfather onto someone he barely knew.
• Yan Wan continues acting as a thoughtful mediator, trying to comfort Xianjue and redirect his attention toward the dance troupe.
• Yan Shan displays his blunt, protective personality by immediately offering to beat up anyone who hurt Xianjue.
• Mother Yan demonstrates her composure and resourcefulness by smoothly concealing the family’s true involvement in the recent events.
• Yan Ci returns exhausted but satisfied that he gave his best in the tournament. Despite being teased as “useless” and a “big idiot,” he remains generous and tries to reconcile with Xianjue by giving him the medal.
• The family’s affection is shown through teasing, indirect support, and practical attempts to improve one another’s moods.

Significant Themes

• Grief and emotional projection: Xianjue’s reaction suggests that his grief is connected not only to Carefree Master but also to unresolved feelings toward his grandfather.
• Family support and communication: The Yan family struggles to speak directly about emotions, instead relying on humor, distractions, gifts, and protective behavior.
• Expectations versus reality: Yan Ci’s bronze medal is treated as a failure by Xianjue despite being a strong achievement under difficult circumstances, highlighting unrealistic standards for exceptional people.
• Authenticity and value: The “counterfeit goods” joke reflects the family’s tendency to mock material symbols while emphasizing that emotional significance matters more than an object’s monetary or literal value.
• Questionable narratives and hidden truths: Mother Yan’s explanations reveal that the family is still withholding information from Xianjue.

Character Interactions

• Yan Wan attempts to engage the withdrawn Xianjue in conversation, while Yan Shan offers aggressive protection.
• Xianjue’s questioning makes both parents uncomfortable, exposing the family’s unease over their concealed actions.
• Yan Yi’an and Yan Wan defend Yan Ci’s tournament performance, contrasting with Xianjue’s harsh judgment.
• Yan Ci and Xianjue resume their familiar teasing dynamic, with Xianjue calling him a “big idiot” and dismissing his medal.
• Despite the mockery, Yan Ci’s gift and concern reveal genuine brotherly affection, setting up a likely conversation about Xianjue’s emotional state.

Chapter Summary: It Was All Yan Yi’an’s Fault

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Ci teases Yan Xianjue after noticing his suspicion that their parents are hiding something from him. Their joking argument escalates into a physical scuffle, leaving the living room in ruins.
• Yan Shan interrupts and reminds them to fight in the training room rather than the living room. The brothers immediately shift blame onto each other for damaging their father’s recently purchased antique tea set.
• When Father Yan returns, Yan Ci and Yan Xianjue jointly claim that the destruction was somehow Yan Yi’an’s fault, despite Yan Yi’an having been working at the Yan Corporation and nowhere near the incident.
• Father Yan attempts to discipline the two by deducting their allowances, but Yan Yi’an points out that he will probably secretly restore the money later. Mother Yan then arrives, dismisses the damage, and cheerfully offers to pay for the repairs.
• Yan Ci and Yan Xianjue celebrate their mother’s leniency, while Father Yan and Yan Yi’an remain the innocent victims of the family’s chaotic behavior.
• Shen Fangli later speaks with Yan Xianjue over the phone. She observes that his mood has improved since Yan Ci returned and invites him to her upcoming wrap party.
• Yan Xianjue admits he has paid little attention to her filming because he has been occupied with “serious business” at home: researching a hundred methods of time travel.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue appears suspicious and emotionally unsettled by the secrets his family is keeping, but his usual seriousness gives way to childish competitiveness around Yan Ci. His mood improves noticeably through their interaction.
• Yan Ci acts as a mischievous but affectionate older brother, deliberately provoking Yan Xianjue while also helping him recover emotionally. He quickly joins Xianjue in shifting blame to protect them both.
• Yan Yi’an becomes the comic scapegoat despite being uninvolved. His calm, responsible image contrasts with the brothers’ chaos, though he knowingly participates in the family’s pattern of indulgence.
• Father Yan is portrayed as the long-suffering authority figure whose attempts to impose discipline are repeatedly undermined by the rest of the family.
• Mother Yan remains warmly indulgent, treating the brothers’ destructive behavior as harmless and immediately offering to pay for the damage.
• Shen Fangli recognizes that Yan Xianjue’s behavior changes when Yan Ci is involved. She understands that his apparent toughness hides strong attachment and vulnerability.

Significant Themes

• Family affection expressed through teasing and chaos: The brothers’ fighting and blame-shifting function as signs of closeness rather than genuine hostility.
• Indulgent family dynamics: Authority and punishment are constantly softened by parental affection, especially from Mother Yan.
• Hidden secrets and mistrust: Yan Xianjue senses that the family is concealing important information, though the chapter treats his suspicion humorously.
• Emotional healing through companionship: Yan Ci’s return helps improve Yan Xianjue’s mood, revealing how important their relationship is to his emotional stability.
• The unreliable scapegoat: The repeated joke that everything is “Yan Yi’an’s fault” highlights the family’s playful tendency to protect the younger brothers while burdening the eldest.

Character Interactions

• Yan Ci and Yan Xianjue exchange insults, wrestle, cooperate in blaming Yan Yi’an, and ultimately demonstrate their close sibling bond.
• Yan Shan acts as the practical mediator, directing the brothers toward the training room and commenting on the damage.
• Father Yan confronts the brothers but is outnumbered by the family’s united indulgence.
• Yan Yi’an dryly exposes Father Yan’s predictable weakness: threatening punishment while secretly intending to compensate the brothers later.
• Mother Yan reinforces the family’s permissive atmosphere by dismissing the destruction and praising Xianjue’s energy.
• Shen Fangli gently probes Yan Xianjue’s emotional state and invites him to reconnect socially, while he responds with deadpan seriousness and an absurd explanation about researching time travel.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue discusses his research progress with Shen Fangli, using webnovels as inspiration.
• The Yan family discusses the nature of their world and the possibility of returning to normal.
• Yan Xianjue speculates about the Lin Household's connection to the four-year clue and suggests eliminating them.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue shows his analytical skills and logical thinking, but also his impulsive nature and lack of filter.
• Yan Ci demonstrates his mature and rational thinking, while Yan Yi'an reveals his ruthless side.

Significant Themes

• The nature of reality and the influence of webnovels on their world.
• The power dynamics between the Yan and Lin households.
• The consequences of unfiltered thoughts and impulsive decisions.

Character Interactions

• Yan Xianjue interacts with Shen Fangli, showing his honest and straightforward nature.
• The Yan family members discuss their thoughts and theories, demonstrating their unity and shared perspective.
• Yan Yi'an's suggestion about the Lin Household reveals a darker side of the Yan family's dynamics.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli discuss causing trouble for the Lin Household, with Yan Xianjue recalling the original plot's car accident involving Lin Lang.
• Yan Xianjue suspects his eldest brother, Yan Yi'an, might also be a transmigrator.
• Yan Shan suggests using a 'joker bomb' strategy to deceive Yan Xianjue if Yan Yi'an is indeed a transmigrator.
• Yan Xianjue plans to arrange an 'accident' for Lin Lang using Ji Xi's help.
• Shen Fangli teases Yan Xianjue about a gift she's sending him, leaving him curious.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue: Shows laziness and arrogance, but also displays keen observation and suspicion about his brother's possible transmigration.
• Shen Fangli: Plays a prank on Yan Xianjue about the gift, showing her playful side.
• Yan Yi'an: Feels pressured by his siblings' expectations and considers using Yan Shan's strategy as a backup plan.
• Yan Shan: Demonstrates unconventional thinking and strategic planning.

Significant Themes

• The influence of the original plot and the potential for deviation due to transmigration.
• The dynamics of family relationships, trust, and deception.
• The power of observation and suspicion in uncovering hidden truths.

Character Interactions

• Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli: Share a playful, teasing dynamic, with Shen Fangli keeping Yan Xianjue in suspense about the gift.
• Yan Xianjue and Yan Yi'an: Yan Xianjue suspects his brother's possible transmigration, while Yan Yi'an considers deceiving him.
• Yan Shan and the Yan siblings: Yan Shan offers a strategic plan to deceive Yan Xianjue, with the family discussing and considering her idea.

Summary of “What Grandpa Drew”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue finds a sword manual among the books left behind by his grandfather, Yan Wan. Since he has recently learned that his grandfather was the protagonist of a metaphysics novel, he wonders whether the manual might contain genuine techniques.
• He attempts to read the manual but quickly dismisses it as nonsense. Yan Yi’an, concerned for their grandfather’s reputation, offers to teach him personally.
• Yan Yi’an demonstrates the sword technique with a wooden sword, revealing that he was trained directly by their grandfather as the intended successor. Impressed, Yan Xianjue immediately decides that he wants to learn.
• While Yan Yi’an coaches him on stance and sword grip, Yan Xianjue asks why Yi’an previously arranged surveillance cameras in the research institute. Yi’an gives a carefully prepared explanation involving research confidentiality. Xianjue accepts it without suspicion.
• Mother Yan calls to announce that a package addressed to Yan Xianjue has arrived. The family gathers downstairs, clearly eager to see what Shen Fangli—Xianjue’s romantic interest or “sister-in-law”—has sent.
• Yan Xianjue begins opening the package while his family watches. Yan Ci teases him about the obvious importance of the delivery, and the brothers jokingly threaten to expose embarrassing childhood secrets.
• Yan Ci ultimately bribes Yan Xianjue with a Golden Bear collectible to keep him quiet. Xianjue agrees, though his attention quickly returns to Shen Fangli’s gift.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue remains impulsive, outspoken, and self-confident. He is quick to blame the manual if he cannot understand it, but he becomes genuinely enthusiastic once Yan Yi’an demonstrates the technique. His unquestioning acceptance of Yi’an’s explanation also highlights his trusting, somewhat straightforward nature.
• Yan Yi’an is shown to be highly skilled, disciplined, and protective of the family’s image. Although he considers using the sword lesson as an excuse to punish Xianjue for teasing him, he restrains himself and instead patiently teaches him. His carefully constructed explanation about the surveillance system demonstrates his cautious and deceptive side.
• Yan Ci maintains a teasing but affectionate relationship with Xianjue. He knows how to control his younger brother and uses both embarrassing memories and material incentives to stop him from revealing secrets.
• The Yan family is close-knit and entertained by Xianjue’s romantic excitement. Their collective curiosity about the package creates a playful, conspiratorial atmosphere.

Significant Themes

• Family inheritance and legacy: Yan Xianjue’s discovery of the sword manual connects him to his grandfather’s hidden abilities and raises questions about what knowledge and skills have been passed down.
• Appearances versus reality: Yan Yi’an’s calm, office-bound image hides his combat training, while the seemingly nonsensical manual may possess greater significance than Xianjue initially assumes.
• Sibling affection expressed through teasing: The brothers mock, threaten, and bargain with one another, but their interactions reveal familiarity and genuine affection.
• Romantic anticipation: Shen Fangli’s package becomes the center of Xianjue’s attention, showing how emotionally invested he is in their relationship.
• Trust and concealed motives: Yi’an successfully gives Xianjue a partial truth about the surveillance system, suggesting that important secrets remain hidden within the family.

Character Interactions

• Yan Yi’an and Yan Xianjue shift from comedic disagreement to a teacher-student dynamic during the sword lesson.
• Xianjue’s blunt questioning about the surveillance cameras tests Yi’an’s ability to conceal his motives, but Yi’an’s plausible explanation succeeds.
• The entire family gathers to observe Xianjue open Shen Fangli’s package, treating his excitement as entertainment.
• Yan Ci and Xianjue exchange threats involving embarrassing memories, with Yan Ci finally silencing him through a promise of a desired collectible.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue receives a wooden box containing two custom ceramic figures from Shen Fangli: a little girl holding a leopard and a boy holding a pear.
• Yan Xianjue's family teases him about the figures, and he takes photos to send to Shen Fangli.
• Shen Fangli reveals that the figures can be posed in different ways, and Yan Xianjue shares the discovery on his Moments.
• Yan Xianjue goes to the company and finds a turtle crawling around, which is Screenwriter Lei's pet.
• Yan Xianjue interviews Wang Peter, who wants to join the company to find someone who helped him over a decade ago.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue: Shows affection for Shen Fangli's gift, interacts playfully with his family, and demonstrates professionalism during the interview.
• Shen Fangli: Shows thoughtfulness and creativity in her gift to Yan Xianjue.
• Wang Peter: Shows professionalism and determination to find the person who helped him in the past.

Significant Themes

• Family dynamics and teasing.
• The power of small gestures and gifts to express affection.
• Professionalism and ethics in the workplace.

Character Interactions

• Yan Xianjue and his family: The family teases Yan Xianjue about Shen Fangli's gift, and he interacts playfully with them.
• Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli: They exchange messages about the ceramic figures, with Shen Fangli teasing Yan Xianjue and him playfully responding.
• Yan Xianjue and Wang Peter: They have a professional interview, with Yan Xianjue asking insightful questions and Wang Peter showing his dedication to finding the person who helped him in the past.