Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Xi and Yan Xianjue discuss hiring Wang Peter, who will serve as a short-term investor and assist with company management.
• Wang Peter questions the company’s overtime practices after learning that Ji Xi works roughly ninety hours a week. Yan Xianjue insists Ji Xi works overtime “voluntarily,” though Ji Xi’s unwilling expression suggests otherwise.
• Ji Xi explains that the company is small but financially secure, and that its flexibility often means extended working hours. He also advises Wang Peter to approach him directly with problems because Yan Xianjue will simply pass them back to Ji Xi.
• Ji Xi reveals that he will be transferring to a branch office for three or four years beginning in September. Wang Peter will therefore help manage the main company in his absence.
• Yan Xianjue leaves the meeting, amused by Ji Xi’s growing confidence and bluntness.
• Afterward, Yan Xianjue visits Zhou Ye to collect rose bushes from Zhou’s second uncle’s garden. They dig up eleven plants, which Yan plans to have Shen Fangli cultivate rather than buying imported cut roses.

Character Development

• Ji Xi has become tougher, more assertive, and more openly critical of Yan Xianjue after months of excessive work. Unlike his initially timid self, he now confidently presents the company as financially capable and gives direct instructions—even to his boss.
• Yan Xianjue remains irresponsible and opportunistic, treating himself as a “mascot” while expecting employees to handle the company’s real work. However, he recognizes and is entertained by Ji Xi’s transformation.
• Wang Peter appears conscientious and knowledgeable about labor rights. His admiration for Yan fades when he realizes the extent of Ji Xi’s overtime, and he struggles to reconcile the company’s explanations with common sense.
• Zhou Ye is cooperative and accustomed to secretly taking plants from his family’s garden. His easy banter with Yan shows their long familiarity.

Significant Themes

• Workplace exploitation and labor ethics: The humor centers on Ji Xi’s excessive overtime and Yan’s flimsy justification that it is “voluntary.”
• Growth through pressure: Ji Xi’s competence and confidence have developed because of the demanding environment, though the change also reflects the personal cost of overwork.
• Small company, ambitious operations: Despite its limited staff, the company has money and significant plans, requiring employees to take on broad responsibilities.
• Friendship and informal relationships: Professional and personal boundaries blur, with friends supporting—or enabling—one another through teasing and favors.
• Practicality over appearances: Yan chooses locally adapted rose plants over an impressive but impractical shipment of 999 imported roses.

Character Interactions

• Ji Xi and Yan Xianjue exchange sarcastic, familiar remarks that reveal a strained but comfortable working relationship. Ji Xi openly reprimands Yan, while Yan enjoys provoking him.
• Wang Peter challenges both men over overtime and labor law, acting as the chapter’s moral and practical counterpoint.
• Ji Xi protects the company’s workflow by warning Wang Peter to bypass Yan and contact him directly.
• Yan and Zhou Ye joke while stealing rose bushes, with Zhou criticizing Yan’s “stinginess” and Yan defending his practical plan to grow the roses through Shen Fangli.

Chapter Summary: “My Dad Bought You a Car”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the Rose Garden gardeners report that Zhou Ye had been digging there, Zhou Er places him back in his office and assigns him to review old cases. Zhou Ye still finds ways to slack off.
• Zhou Ye sees news that Yan Xianjue sent Shen Fangli 999 roses to celebrate the end of her filming. Confused because they had supposedly agreed not to send cut flowers, he questions Yan, who dismisses him by asking who had ever agreed to that.
• Shen Fangli and Yan spend time together privately while waiting for filming to finish. Yan explains that the public gesture was meant to silence gossip about their relationship, even though he is normally not showy.
• They discuss Shen Fangli’s new apartment near university and whether she will live in the dorms or commute. Yan prioritizes her convenience and worries about her wasting time traveling.
• Shen surprises Yan by telling him that her father bought him a car—the same model as her G-Class—to use when he visits her university and handles errands. Yan is delighted and interprets the gift as proof that her father approves of him.
• After a few additional shots, director/actor Zhuang Yushu approaches them. He warns them to be careful because people at the film studio might secretly photograph them. He also worries that Yan’s constant praise is making Shen overly confident.
• The chapter ends with Shen teasing Yan about why wealthy young people in their year rarely study abroad: there is little need to build connections overseas when Yan is already the most valuable connection in Shenzhen. Yan jokingly counters that Zhou Ye is an even better connection.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue: Shows a more openly affectionate and public side by sending the roses. He remains playful and arrogant, but his actions reveal that he wants to protect Shen Fangli from gossip and demonstrate his commitment. He is also deeply pleased by her father’s acceptance.
• Shen Fangli: Becomes increasingly comfortable and confident in her relationship with Yan. She understands the entertainment industry better and recognizes that gossip cannot be entirely prevented. Her self-confidence is strong—possibly dangerously so from Zhuang Yushu’s perspective—but she is also affectionate and teasing toward Yan.
• Zhou Ye: Continues to function as the good-natured victim of Yan’s teasing. Although assigned serious work, he remains easily distracted and provides comic relief.
• Zhuang Yushu: Acts as a responsible, cautious mentor. He worries about Shen Fangli’s growing confidence and reminds the couple that public behavior can create problems in the entertainment industry.
• Shen Fangli’s father: Though off-page, he demonstrates approval of Yan by buying him a practical car and treating him as someone who belongs in Shen’s life.

Significant Themes

• Public image versus private affection: Yan’s grand gesture is not simply romantic; it is also a deliberate response to public speculation and media scrutiny.
• Family acceptance: The car symbolizes Shen Fangli’s father recognizing and approving Yan’s place beside his daughter.
• Confidence and humility: Shen’s self-assurance is celebrated by Yan but viewed warily by Zhuang Yushu, highlighting the tension between confidence and overconfidence in show business.
• Love as mutual teasing and support: The couple’s relationship is marked by playful insults, shared humor, physical affection, and practical concern for each other’s future.
• Connections and privilege: The discussion of studying abroad humorously emphasizes Yan’s social and financial influence, suggesting that elite connections can replace conventional paths to success.

Character Interactions

• Zhou Ye and Yan: Their exchange highlights Yan’s habit of teasing Zhou and Zhou’s patience with him.
• Yan and Shen: They flirt, joke, discuss university arrangements, and reassure each other about family approval. Their banter shows intimacy and mutual confidence.
• Yan and Shen’s father: Although indirect, the car gift establishes a positive relationship and signals the father’s approval.
• Zhuang Yushu and the couple: Zhuang acts as a concerned mentor, offering a warning about secrecy and public conduct. The couple responds obediently but later jokes about him being overly formal and old-fashioned.
• Shen and Yan regarding Zhou Ye: Their final exchange turns Zhou Ye into a humorous benchmark for social influence, reinforcing the close, teasing dynamic among the group.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Fangli and Yan Xianjue discuss Zhou Ye, clarifying that Zhou is not Yan’s “lackey” despite often calling him “Brother Yan.” Zhou is the heir of the Zhou Household and Yan’s longtime friend.
• Shen Fangli tells Yan that he is the most important person to her. Her words unexpectedly remind him of his late grandfather and the similar importance his grandfather once attributed to him.
• Yan reveals that he has lost weight and struggled to eat while staying in a village after the old Taoist priest’s death. He admits that his grief may also be connected to missing his grandfather.
• Shen Fangli suggests visiting his grandfather’s grave. Yan explains that his family plans to bring humorous paper offerings modeled after a “Yellow Peach Monster,” a childhood game character his grandfather disliked.
• Yan mentions that the family will visit the grave before his second sister, Yan Shan, returns to her research institute. Shen and Yan also discuss Shen’s collaboration with Yan Shan on a location app, whose design has become increasingly elaborate under Shen’s influence.
• At the production wrap party, Yan accepts several toasts from the cast and crew. Although he initially appears intimidating, he treats everyone courteously and only takes small sips, avoiding drunkenness.
• Yan explains that he respects the actors because they work for him and may hope to be remembered for future opportunities. His attitude demonstrates a practical but considerate approach to leadership.
• When Shallow Sea University begins registration, Yan enrolls with his entire family accompanying him. His family gives him supplies and a meal card loaded with 100,000, joking that this amount is already the card’s maximum limit.
• After seeing his family off, Yan heads to his class meeting. Zhou Ye calls to tease him about being late and possibly lost, prompting Yan to ask for his location.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue: His grief over the old Taoist priest’s death remains strong, affecting his appetite and evoking memories of his grandfather. Despite his emotional vulnerability, he continues to behave responsibly as a business owner and shows tact toward employees and actors. He is also beginning his university life with the support of his large, affectionate family.
• Shen Fangli: She offers emotional comfort and reassurance, recognizing Yan’s hidden sadness even when he disguises it with indifference. Her closeness with Yan’s family is growing, particularly through her work with Yan Shan.
• Zhou Ye: His status as an equal heir and genuine friend of Yan is emphasized. His playful, familiar personality contrasts with Yan’s more intimidating presence.
• Yan Shan and the Yan family: The family is shown as eccentric, generous, and supportive. Yan Shan is portrayed as intellectually focused and unconventional, while the family’s joking interactions reveal their closeness.

Significant Themes

• Grief and remembrance: Yan’s mourning connects the old Taoist priest’s death with memories of his grandfather. The planned grave visit combines sorrow with affectionate family humor.
• Emotional support and intimacy: Shen’s reassurance helps Yan confront his sadness, while Yan’s reaction shows how deeply he values her words.
• Leadership and respect: Yan believes authority should be balanced with courtesy. He understands that employees seek recognition and future opportunities, but he refuses to exploit or humiliate them.
• Family affection and eccentricity: The Yan family’s generosity, teasing, and unusual traditions demonstrate their strong bonds.
• New beginnings: University registration marks Yan’s transition into a new stage of life, though he remains surrounded by familiar relationships and responsibilities.

Character Interactions

• Shen teases Yan about Zhou Ye’s reputation and reassures him of his importance.
• Yan and Shen comfort each other while discussing grief, his grandfather, and the upcoming grave visit.
• Yan jokingly blames Shen for influencing Yan Shan’s increasingly elaborate app design.
• Yan interacts diplomatically with the cast and crew at the wrap party, accepting their toasts without allowing the situation to become excessive.
• Yan’s family accompanies him to university, provides practical support, and teases one another over his meal card.
• Zhou Ye ends the chapter by calling Yan and joking about his lateness, reinforcing their long-standing, playful friendship.

Chapter Summary

Plot and events

Yan Xianjue begins university and discovers that his class has fewer than forty students, many of whom he already knows. He quickly realizes that several classmates deliberately enrolled in the program—or stayed in the country—in hopes of befriending him because of his wealthy family background. Zhou Ye, Ni Qiu, and Wang Zihe are among these privileged students, treating university as an easy way to coast through life.
During the opening class meeting, students introduce themselves. Yan gives only his name and refuses to offer the usual promise of becoming friends with everyone, prompting loud cheers and teasing from the class. Zhou Ye receives a similarly enthusiastic reaction. Afterward, Qi Tianchou invites Yan to socialize, but Yan declines, saying he must take his girlfriend to school, and leaves while the class teases him. Zhou Ye stays behind to explain Yan’s personality and social preferences to Qi and Ni Qiu.

Character development

• Yan Xianjue is established as aloof, blunt, and highly selective about relationships. He dislikes insincere politeness and refuses to pretend he wants friendships he has not agreed to. Although wealthy and socially sought after, he is uncomfortable with people approaching him solely because of his status.
• Zhou Ye acts as Yan’s closest friend and social intermediary. He understands Yan’s habits, protects his boundaries, and is confident enough to joke with him constantly.
• Ni Qiu shows himself to be perceptive and interested in understanding Yan better after realizing that his own attempt to befriend Yan may have followed the wrong approach.
• Qi Tianchou is introduced as a socially confident outsider who tries to connect with Yan but is not offended by Yan’s rejection.
• Wang Zihe contributes to the playful, teasing atmosphere among the group.

Themes

The chapter explores privilege, social networking, and the artificial nature of relationships formed around wealth and status. It also contrasts conventional friendship-building with Yan’s unusual need to establish a clear connection or relationship before spending time with someone. The humor comes from the mismatch between the characters’ apparent adulthood and their childish, high-school-like behavior, reinforcing Yan’s feeling that university is both a new beginning and strangely unchanged.

Character interactions

Yan and Zhou Ye maintain a familiar, teasing friendship, with Zhou acting as Yan’s translator and buffer. Ni Qiu and Wang Zihe join their banter, while the class reacts noisily to Yan and Zhou’s reputations. Qi Tianchou’s attempt to invite Yan out highlights Yan’s distrust of overly familiar strangers. Later, Zhou explains to Qi and Ni Qiu that Yan’s relationships must follow a particular order: first establish a connection, then spend time together, and only afterward become friends. Ni Qiu realizes that he had approached Yan in the wrong sequence.

Chapter Summary

• Move to university: Yan Xianjue accompanies Shen Fangli to her university, though her father, President Shen, has already arranged everything. He shows them a luxurious apartment near campus, with a separate downstairs residence for bodyguards and assistants and an individual bedroom prepared for Yan Xianjue. Shen Fangli jokes that the room is meant to let her father monitor him, prompting playful banter about whether Yan is a “gentleman” or a “villain.”
• Romantic teasing: While looking over luggage and preparations for school, Yan and Shen flirt openly but discreetly because President Shen is nearby. Yan’s provocative whisper makes Shen Fangli blush, and she quickly changes the subject when he pulls her close. Their affectionate hand-holding and teasing demonstrate their increasing intimacy and comfort with one another.
• School arrangements and long-distance relationship: Shen Fangli plans to live in the dormitory only when necessary, since her studies and entertainment-industry work require flexibility. Her father intends to arrange an access pass allowing her to commute. During dinner and a tour of the campus, President Shen accepts her choice to study law, believing legal knowledge will help protect her in the entertainment industry. Yan, meanwhile, is pleased to discover potential places for future dates.
• Family wealth and support: Both families are shown to be exceptionally generous. Yan mentions that his family’s private helicopter has even obtained a regular flight route, making the couple’s upcoming separation less difficult. Shen Fangli compares the families’ indulgence, while Yan explains through his actions that he is mainly concerned about her safety and well-being rather than showing off.
• Yan’s plot-related worries: Yan asks for the names of Shen Fangli’s three roommates and checks whether they are connected to any significant “plot” events. He is relieved to find that none are story characters, although Shen finds his assumption that she is unusually unlucky amusing and slightly insulting. She also points out that the previous storyline involving Lin Shi and Su Su has already collapsed, with the female lead imprisoned by her own boyfriend.
• Parental concern: After military training begins, Shen Fangli realizes Yan’s caution may not have been entirely unfounded, since one concluded story can be followed by another. She also defends Yan when her father suspects his unusual interest in her roommates reflects romantic motives. President Shen worries that Shen may struggle in a four-person dormitory and offers to stay until military training ends, but she persuades him to return to work. His protectiveness reflects his anxiety about his daughter living away from home for the first time.
• Affection and mutual reliance: President Shen tells Shen Fangli to call him if she encounters any problems. Yan silently mouths that she should call him instead, making her laugh. Their private exchange highlights their closeness and the playful competition between Yan and her father for her attention and protection.
• Cliffhanger: Although President Shen and Yan had planned to stay for a meal with Shen’s roommates, Yan receives an urgent call and reveals that his second brother has been involved in a car accident. He apologizes and prepares to leave, abruptly changing the chapter’s lighthearted mood.

Key Themes

• Romantic intimacy expressed through teasing and physical closeness
• Family wealth and overprotectiveness
• The difficulty of balancing university, career, and relationships
• Anxiety about fate, “plot” developments, and unforeseen danger
• The contrast between playful domestic happiness and sudden family crisis

Chapter Summary: “I Just Won’t Be Reasonable”

Plot and events

Shen Fangli learns that Yan Ci has been involved in a car accident with Lin Lang. At the hospital, Yan Wan and Yan Yi’an confront Yan Ci, who admits that the crash was deliberate—or at least intentionally caused—because he saw Lin Lang in the neighboring car. Wanting to retaliate against Lin Lang for plotting against their family, Yan Ci deliberately failed to yield and collided with him. Yan Ci suffers a minor ankle fracture, while Lin Lang’s recently healed leg is fractured again, forcing him back into a wheelchair.
Yan Xianjue arrives after receiving an unusually rapid report through the family’s security company, which he now manages. Furious at Yan Ci’s recklessness, he declares that all of Yan Ci’s bodyguards will be sent for retraining. When Yan Ci protests that the accident was not their fault, Yan Xianjue openly admits that he is refusing to be reasonable. Yan Ci reluctantly apologizes, but Yan Xianjue leaves with Yan Wan and Yan Yi’an. Back home, Yan Ci discovers that Yan Shan is also present and jokingly asks whether his leg needs to be amputated. He hastily proves that the injury is minor by hopping to the sofa.

Character development

• Yan Ci shows both fierce loyalty to his family and reckless impulsiveness. He retaliates against Lin Lang without considering the consequences, then becomes timid and submissive when confronted by his siblings.
• Yan Xianjue demonstrates his expanded authority within the family by revealing that he now oversees security operations. His anger comes from concern for Yan Ci’s safety, though he expresses it through harsh punishment and deliberately unreasonable behavior.
• Yan Wan remains the family’s intimidating disciplinarian, physically reprimanding Yan Ci while still participating in protecting and supporting him.
• Yan Yi’an acts as a stern mediator, understanding Yan Ci’s motives but refusing to excuse his recklessness.
• Yan Shan provides comic relief with her exaggerated concern and unsettling suggestion of amputation.

Themes

The chapter emphasizes family loyalty, revenge, and the consequences of acting impulsively. It also highlights the Yan family’s complicated style of affection: concern is expressed through scolding, threats, punishment, and sarcasm rather than tenderness. The siblings’ shared awareness of the danger posed by Lin Lang—and the trauma surrounding their parents’ deaths—motivates their protective but extreme behavior. The title reflects Yan Xianjue’s decision to prioritize protecting Yan Ci over fairness or rationality.

Character interactions

The hospital scene centers on the Yan siblings’ teasing, intimidation, and mutual understanding. Yan Wan disciplines Yan Ci, Yan Yi’an questions his motives, and Yan Xianjue imposes consequences while mocking him. Despite their harsh exchanges, the siblings clearly care about one another and act as a unified family against external threats. Back at home, Yan Ci’s exchange with Yan Shan continues the chapter’s blend of familial concern and absurd humor.

Chapter Summary: “You Don’t Find That Unlucky?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Ci returns home after the car accident involving Lin Lang. Before Yan Ci can explain himself, Yan Xianjue demands that he be given a mechanical leg as punishment, suggesting that the family considers the accident far more serious than Yan Ci admits.
• Yan Xianjue reveals that his bodyguards investigated the incident. He does not send the report to the parents, choosing instead to let the siblings handle the matter privately and avoid worrying them.
• The investigation largely confirms Yan Ci’s account: he swerved to avoid an elderly man who had run a red light, accidentally colliding with Lin Lang. Since the elderly man was not arranged by Yan Ci, the encounter with Lin Lang was technically coincidental.
• Rain washed away most physical evidence, making it difficult to prove intentional wrongdoing. The traffic police therefore treated the incident as an accident, though Lin Lang remains convinced that Yan Ci deliberately targeted him.
• Yan Ci admits that he took advantage of the coincidence and expresses no regret. He even jokes that Lin Lang’s possible death would be a good omen and insists that Lin Lang is not worth as much as Yan Ci’s expensive car.
• Yan Xianjue agrees to have the damaged car repaired and modified, despite criticizing Yan Ci for his reckless attitude.
• Yan Wan privately warns Yan Ci that there must not be a repeat incident. Yan Ci promises to control himself, admitting that he did not intend to kill Lin Lang yet, but implying that he has considered more serious retaliation.
• Yan Wan tells Yan Ci to placate Yan Xianjue, whose anger stems from concern and the family’s habit of indulging him.

Character Developments

• Yan Ci: Reveals himself to be calculating, reckless, and openly hostile toward Lin Lang. He did not arrange the accident but deliberately exploited the opportunity to harm someone he dislikes. His casual jokes about Lin Lang dying show both his ruthlessness and his confidence that the family will protect him. At the same time, he recognizes that he must avoid escalating matters.
• Yan Xianjue: Demonstrates competence and responsibility in managing the bodyguard company and investigating the accident. Though he harshly criticizes Yan Ci, he protects him by keeping the report from their parents. His anger is rooted in fear for Yan Ci’s safety rather than simple disapproval.
• Yan Wan: Acts as the family’s firm but protective mediator. She understands Yan Ci’s personality and extracts a promise that he will not repeat the behavior.
• Yan Yi’an: Quietly evaluates both the report and Yan Xianjue’s growing competence. His reactions show that he is protective of the younger siblings but struggles to enforce serious discipline.
• Lin Lang: Though absent from the scene, he is established as believing that Yan Ci attacked him intentionally, creating a continuing conflict between them.

Significant Themes

• Family protection and indulgence: The siblings criticize and protect one another simultaneously. Even when Yan Ci behaves dangerously, the family handles the matter internally rather than exposing him to their parents or outside consequences.
• Moral ambiguity and privilege: Yan Ci benefits from wealth, influence, and the accidental nature of the event. The family’s ability to manage evidence and investigations allows him to escape serious punishment.
• Recklessness versus consequences: Yan Ci treats the accident lightly, while his siblings recognize that a modified car or different circumstances could have killed him instead.
• Sibling responsibility: Yan Xianjue’s anger, Yan Wan’s warning, and Yan Yi’an’s supervision all show that the family’s concern is expressed through scolding, investigation, and control rather than tenderness.
• Accident versus intention: The event is legally an accident but morally complicated because Yan Ci consciously takes advantage of it and harbors violent feelings toward Lin Lang.

Character Interactions

• Yan Xianjue confronts Yan Ci and sarcastically proposes a mechanical leg as punishment.
• The siblings review the bodyguard report together, with Yan Yi’an noticing improvements in Yan Xianjue’s management of the company.
• Yan Ci jokes about Lin Lang’s potential death, shocking Yan Xianjue and prompting him to question whether Yan Ci has a personal grudge.
• Yan Wan reprimands Yan Ci for his dangerous behavior, while Yan Ci insists that he knows his limits.
• Yan Wan concludes that Yan Xianjue’s frequent emotional outbursts are the result of being spoiled by the family, highlighting the affectionate but teasing dynamic among the siblings.

Chapter Summary: “I Hate You”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Ci complains that Yan Xianjue is difficult to deal with, prompting Yan Wan to tease him about not actually having a girlfriend and compare him to Yan Xianjue’s apparently well-behaved girlfriend.
• Following the car accident involving Yan Ci and Lin Lang, Yan Xianjue represents the Yan family at the Lin Family Hospital to convey condolences. Because of his status, the Lin family sends Lin Shi to handle the matter personally.
• Lin Shi and Yan Xianjue meet in the hospital corridor outside Lin Lang’s room. Their conversation begins with casual irritation and childhood teasing but gradually turns into a serious discussion about the Lin family’s internal power struggle.
• Lin Shi reveals that, after returning to the Lin family, control of two-thirds of its influence may change hands. He asks Yan Xianjue to save him once when necessary, promising him everything the Lin family possesses in return.
• Lin Shi hints that he may not survive the coming conflict and repeatedly speaks as though death is an acceptable or even likely outcome. He even offers Lin Lang’s life as a “deposit” for Yan Xianjue’s cooperation.
• Yan Xianjue is genuinely tempted by the possibility of destroying or taking control of the Lin family, but rejects Lin Shi’s attempt to involve him through emotional or moral pressure. The chapter ends with the two men casually discussing ownership of Lin Lang’s life outside his hospital room.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue: Remains blunt, detached, and hostile toward the Lin family, but his interest in Lin Shi’s offer reveals his unresolved desire for revenge and control. Although he claims he can obtain whatever he wants independently, he is clearly tempted by the chance to exploit Lin Shi’s conflict with Lin Lang.
• Lin Shi: Presents himself as lazy, sarcastic, and self-deprecating, but reveals considerable ambition and ruthlessness. He intends to challenge the Lin family’s existing power structure and is willing to bargain with his own life, Lin Lang’s life, and the family’s wealth to achieve his goals.
• Yan Ci and Yan Wan: Their brief exchange emphasizes the family’s habit of teasing one another and monitoring Yan Xianjue’s romantic life.
• Lin Lang: Remains unconscious after surgery, yet his presence drives the central conversation. His past cruelty and influence within the Lin family make him the object of both Lin Shi’s resentment and Yan Xianjue’s revenge.

Significant Themes

• Mutual hatred and complicated attachment: Yan Xianjue and Lin Shi claim to hate each other, but their shared history and mutual fascination suggest a deeper, more complicated relationship.
• Family power and inheritance: Lin Shi’s plan reflects the Lin family’s ruthless internal hierarchy, where influence, bloodline, and succession determine survival.
• Revenge and moral ambiguity: Yan Xianjue wants to destroy the Lin family, yet he is forced to consider whether cooperating with Lin Shi makes him complicit in another person’s possible death.
• Death as leverage: Lin Shi treats death casually, using the possibility of his own death—and Lin Lang’s—as bargaining tools.
• The contrast between childhood innocence and adult cruelty: Memories of Yan Xianjue’s spoiled childhood clash with the present-day discussion of murder, family destruction, and political maneuvering.

Character Interactions

• Yan Ci and Yan Wan exchange lighthearted banter about Yan Xianjue’s relationship.
• Lin Shi and Yan Xianjue trade sarcastic insults, with Lin Shi recalling Yan Xianjue’s spoiled childhood and Yan Xianjue criticizing the Lin family’s distorted values.
• Their conversation shifts from playful hostility to an explicit negotiation: Lin Shi asks for Yan Xianjue’s help, while Yan Xianjue questions his trustworthiness and motives.
• Lin Shi uses provocative statements about dying and surrendering Lin Lang’s life to test and manipulate Yan Xianjue, while Yan Xianjue tries to remain emotionally detached despite being tempted by the offer.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Shi tells Yan Xianjue that he will attend Medical University in the same city as Shen Fangli, inviting Yan to visit him when he sees her.
• He reveals that he plans to study pharmacy rather than clinical medicine. His original interest in clinical medicine was tied to wanting to kill Lin Rui, but since Lin Rui has already died from anger, that motivation is gone.
• Lin Shi claims his previously injured wrist makes him unsuitable for surgery, though Yan Xianjue recognizes that he is exaggerating. Lin Shi then reveals that he has unusually sensitive pain receptors and has studied nervous-system drugs, including one that can induce madness.
• Lin Lang awakens in the hospital. Yan Xianjue and Lin Shi visit him, ostensibly regarding the car accident and possible reconciliation.
• Yan blames Lin Lang’s driver for the accident, provoking Lin Lang. He then presents him with a bouquet of green peonies, white chrysanthemums, pine, and willow—technically carrying auspicious meanings but resembling a funeral offering.
• Yan adds a bank card as compensation and warns Lin Lang not to escalate the conflict. He makes clear that, unlike his cautious brother, he acts according to personal preference and has little to lose.
• Yan threatens that if the conflict becomes violent, Lin Shi will willingly act as Lin Lang’s opponent or sacrifice himself in Yan’s place.

Character Developments

• Lin Shi: Confirms his decision to pursue pharmacy and suggests he is moving away from the revenge-driven path of the original plot. He remains provocative, theatrical, and openly hostile toward both Yan Xianjue and Lin Lang. His revelation about his pain sensitivity adds vulnerability beneath his joking and manipulative exterior.
• Yan Xianjue: Demonstrates a sharp, retaliatory sense of humor through the funeral-like bouquet. He remains cold toward Lin Shi but shows some awareness of Lin Shi’s past injuries and possible trauma. He also adopts a more openly threatening stance toward the Lin family.
• Lin Lang: Tries to maintain authority and appear strong despite his injuries, but is angered and humiliated by Yan’s treatment. He attempts to use Lin Shi’s family obligations against him, only to have Lin Shi openly reject any loyalty toward him.
• Lin Rui: Though absent, his death remains important because it removes Lin Shi’s original reason for studying clinical medicine and pursuing surgery.

Significant Themes

• Revenge and changing motivations: Lin Shi’s career choice reflects how events have altered the original storyline and weakened his former revenge-oriented goals.
• Performance and deception: Lin Shi pretends to be physically incapable of surgery, while Yan uses polite explanations to disguise an unmistakably insulting funeral arrangement.
• Power and intimidation: Yan’s compensation and threat establish that he is willing to confront the Lin family directly, regardless of consequences.
• Trauma and vulnerability: Lin Shi’s heightened pain sensitivity suggests that his apparent recklessness and refusal to fight back may be rooted in physical or psychological suffering.
• Hostility disguised as courtesy: The hospital visit, flowers, and compensation appear civilized on the surface but function as deliberate provocations and warnings.

Character Interactions

• Lin Shi and Yan trade sarcastic remarks, with Lin Shi provoking Yan and Yan responding with dry contempt.
• Yan recognizes that Lin Shi is exaggerating his wrist injury, while Lin Shi turns the injury into a joke and tries to make Yan feel responsible for his career change.
• Yan and Lin Lang immediately clash: Yan blames Lin Lang’s driver, and Lin Lang accuses him of deliberately sending funeral flowers.
• Lin Shi refuses to mediate between them, openly admitting that he dislikes both men and would not intervene if they fought.
• Yan uses Lin Shi as part of his threat against Lin Lang, implying that Lin Shi is both expendable and willing to stand against his own family.

Chapter Summary

Plot Points and Events

• After Lin Lang’s surgery, Yan Xianjue gives the Lin Household a large sum of money in exchange for resolving the immediate conflict. Lin Shi accepts the bank card instead, jokingly treating it as a bargain and an unexpected windfall.
• Yan Xianjue leaves after warning Lin Lang that he should stop while he is ahead. Lin Lang angrily promises to repay the money.
• Once Yan Xianjue departs, Lin Shi confronts Lin Lang. He snaps Lin Lang’s pointing finger away and makes it clear that he will no longer support his uncle after Lin Lang’s attempts to undermine and frame him.
• Lin Shi declares that their conflict has only just begun and tells Lin Lang that they are enemies despite sharing the surname Lin.
• Later, Old Master Lin reprimands Lin Lang for confronting the Yan Household too early and for mishandling the situation. Furious and embarrassed, Lin Lang blames his assistant for being absent during the surgery, though the assistant points out that he had only followed Vice President Lin’s instructions.
• Yan Xianjue returns home in a good mood and tells his elder brother, Yan Yi’an, about the successful payment. Yan Yi’an jokes that the money should be deducted from Yan Xianjue’s second brother’s allowance, which has already been completely deducted for the current year.
• Yan Xianjue then teases Yan Ci by spinning his wheelchair, provoking an irritated response.
• The chapter also explains the origin of the villa near Zhou Ye’s home. Yan Xianjue’s classmates prepared it as a surprise gift, converting a room into an enormous esports space with more than twenty computers. Yan Xianjue finds the setup excessive and compares it to a private computer lab, but admits that he would never tolerate the environment of an internet café.

Character Developments

• Lin Shi becomes openly hostile toward Lin Lang, abandoning any pretense of familial loyalty and confidently asserting his independence.
• Lin Lang is shown to be increasingly isolated and powerless. Although he believes himself to be the victim, his poor judgment and failed scheme cause both the Yan Household and Old Master Lin to criticize him.
• Yan Xianjue remains carefree, sharp-tongued, and financially unconcerned. He enjoys provoking others and views his actions as benevolent even when they are deliberately irritating.
• Yan Yi’an acts as the more practical and responsible elder brother, while still indulging Yan Xianjue’s eccentricities.
• Yan Ci remains vulnerable because of his recovery, allowing Yan Xianjue to tease him with little resistance.
• Zhou Ye and Yan Xianjue’s classmates demonstrate their affection through an extravagant but impractical gift.

Significant Themes

• Family conflict and betrayal: Shared blood or surnames do not guarantee loyalty, as Lin Shi explicitly rejects Lin Lang’s expectation of family support.
• Power and humiliation: Financial compensation, public warnings, and Old Master Lin’s reprimand all emphasize shifting power between the Lin and Yan families.
• Consequences of poor judgment: Lin Lang’s premature attack on the Yan Household leaves him criticized and exposed.
• Affection expressed through teasing: The Yan brothers’ rough jokes and Zhou Ye’s impractical gift reveal closeness beneath their constant bickering.
• Wealth and privilege: The characters treat large sums of money, allowances, private villas, and fully equipped gaming rooms casually, highlighting their affluent lifestyles.

Character Interactions

• Lin Shi and Yan Xianjue cooperate smoothly against Lin Lang, exchanging sarcastic remarks while treating the financial settlement as routine.
• Lin Shi directly confronts Lin Lang, turning their relationship from strained family rivalry into an openly declared war.
• Old Master Lin reprimands Lin Lang by phone, refusing to let him justify his actions.
• Yan Xianjue and Yan Yi’an exchange playful but revealing banter about medical friends, allowances, and responsibility.
• Yan Xianjue teases Yan Ci physically and verbally, while Yan Ci tolerates it to avoid exposing his injury to their mother.
• Zhou Ye and Yan Xianjue share a humorous disagreement over the absurdly large esports room, with Zhou Ye framing the gift as heartfelt and Yan Xianjue criticizing its impracticality.

Chapter Summary: “Anything Like That?”

Plot and events

Zhou Ye persuades Yan Xianjue to join a gaming guild he created, joking that the guild will give Yan’s classmates an equal chance to interact with him instead of approaching him individually. He makes Yan Xianjue deputy guild leader without hesitation. Their conversation leads Yan to suspect that his eldest brother, Yan Yi’an, deliberately influenced his choice of major so he would meet more people.
Later, Yan Xianjue goes to his injured brother Yan Ci and asks him to power-level his game character while he is recovering at home. Yan Ci refuses and suggests hiring someone else, but Yan Xianjue insists because leveling is tedious and his upcoming military training will leave little time for gaming. At dinner, Yan Xianjue tries to persuade Yan Yi’an to help him avoid military training through a medical exemption. Yan Yi’an briefly considers obtaining one, but Yan Shan points out that Yan Xianjue is now healthy, making the excuse unreasonable. In the end, Yan Xianjue decides he will return to his villa at noon during training, where the butler and chef will prepare his meals.

Character development

Yan Xianjue is shown as calculating, spoiled, and unwilling to tolerate inconvenience, but also witty and self-aware. He manipulates Yan Ci into helping him while pretending the request is “important business.” He also becomes increasingly suspicious of Yan Yi’an’s efforts to manage his college life. Yan Ci remains sarcastic and resistant, yet indulgent toward his younger brother, even while recovering in a wheelchair. Yan Yi’an’s protective and overly accommodating nature is emphasized when he immediately considers arranging a medical leave note. Zhou Ye is portrayed as shameless, playful, and proactive in solving social problems for Yan Xianjue.

Themes

The chapter highlights sibling teasing and familial intimacy, especially the way affection is expressed through insults, manipulation, and mock arguments. It also explores overprotective family dynamics and the tension between Yan Xianjue’s desire for independence and his family’s attempts to arrange his life. Humor comes from the contrast between the family’s polished appearances and their childish, chaotic interactions.

Character interactions

Zhou Ye and Yan Xianjue banter over the gaming guild, classmates, and the idea of “selecting concubines.” Yan Xianjue and Yan Ci bicker over power-leveling, with Yan Xianjue exploiting Yan Ci’s limited mobility. At dinner, Yan Xianjue steps on Yan Ci’s foot after he reveals too much, prompting Yan Ci’s exaggerated complaint and a joke about a “dog.” The exchange accidentally insults both brothers, demonstrating their comfortable but combative relationship. Yan Yi’an’s detached phrasing also causes Yan Ci to choke on his food, while Yan Shan criticizes his manners.

Chapter Summary

Plot points and events

• Yan Xianjue’s family continues to emphasize education despite their wealth and indulgence. His father and mother have raised their children to be capable, while his eldest brother, Yan Yi’an, has already arranged the practical matters of university life for him.
• Yan Xianjue remains skeptical of his brother’s plans but accepts that, as an adult, he should handle things himself.
• During his regular phone calls with Shen Fangli, Yan Xianjue complains about university life and discusses their shared online game. He reveals that he has assigned his second brother—an esports player—to complete the game’s story and level his account.
• Shen Fangli is shocked and jokingly criticizes him for using a professional esports player as a power-leveling service. Yan Xianjue sees nothing wrong with it and even offers to let Shen hand over her account as well.
• Shen declines because she wants to experience the game’s story herself with her roommates. Yan then invites her to join his guild, but she hesitates because of her heavy first-year schedule.
• The couple compares their university workloads and discusses applying for exemptions from English classes, since both were educated by bilingual tutors and already have strong language skills. Yan Xianjue reflects that his eldest brother, Yan Yi’an, is exceptionally talented, though he cannot understand why Yi’an still lost to Lin Lang in the original novel.
• Yan suggests that Shen buy a bicycle to travel more easily around her large campus. She plans to purchase an inexpensive one because bicycles are frequently stolen, rejecting Zhou Ye’s expensive recommendations.
• They joke about how the media might interpret an ordinary bicycle as evidence that their wealthy families are bankrupt or that their relationship is failing. Yan realizes that Shen is not yet famous enough for such speculation to matter and jokes that, once she becomes famous, he may be known as “Shen Fangli’s boyfriend.”
• Shen says she does not mind and then complains about dormitory life, including room inspections and the rule prohibiting students from lying on their beds.

Character developments

• Yan Xianjue shows his relaxed, extravagant, and somewhat shameless personality. He is confident in relying on his family, especially his esports-player brother, and treats their privileges as perfectly ordinary. At the same time, he is attentive toward Shen Fangli and remembers practical details about her campus.
• Shen Fangli displays increasing confidence and expressiveness, likely as a result of her acting classes and filming experience. She remains practical and modest despite her wealthy background, preferring a cheap bicycle and wanting to play through the game herself. She also demonstrates dignity and independence by refusing to have someone else power-level her account.
• Yan Yi’an is characterized as highly capable and accomplished, fluent in seven languages and competent enough to handle Yan Xianjue’s game progression. Yan Xianjue views him as nearly perfect but remains puzzled by his failure in the original novel.
• Yan Xianjue and Shen’s relationship appears comfortable and affectionate, with frequent teasing, shared routines, and an easy willingness to discuss everyday concerns.

Major themes

• Privilege and indulgence: Yan Xianjue casually benefits from family wealth and his brother’s professional gaming skills, while Shen is more conscious of appearances and practical costs.
• Education and self-sufficiency: Despite their privileged upbringing, the Yan family values competence and education. The characters consider exemptions only because they already possess the necessary skills.
• Celebrity and public perception: Their conversation about bicycles and media rumors highlights how wealth, romance, and social status can be distorted by gossip once Shen becomes famous.
• Everyday intimacy: Much of the chapter focuses on ordinary conversations—classes, gaming, transportation, dorm rules—which emphasizes the natural closeness of the couple.
• Growth and changing identities: Shen’s improved expressiveness and developing acting career suggest her gradual transformation from an aspiring actress into a more confident public figure.

Chapter Summary: “Raspberry Mini Cakes”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Fangli complains to Yan Xianjue about the difficulty of her university’s military training. Yan comforts her by comparing it to stricter programs at other schools and joking that his brother can arrange a medical leave for him.
• Their affectionate phone call is interrupted when dorm inspectors arrive. Yan has raspberry jam mini cakes delivered to Shen Fangli, ordering enough for all four roommates.
• Shen’s roommates tease her about her relationship with Yan and about his apparent preference for sweet-and-sour foods. Shen reveals that Yan was the one who arranged for a chef to prepare those dishes during their travel variety show, suggesting his behavior was motivated by personal amusement rather than concern for public opinion.
• While eating cake and chatting, Shen reflects on unresolved suspicions involving Zhou Ye, Yan’s old injury, and Lin Shi. She believes Zhou Ye may know about Yan’s kidnapping and may have deliberately prevented Yan from encountering Lin Shi during school.
• Shen and her roommates play games after finishing the dorm inspection. She later sends Yan a photo of her half-eaten cake, prompting another playful exchange.
• Yan holds a conference call with Ji Xi to warn him not to let his hostility toward Lin Shi turn into violence. Ji Xi insists he would not commit a crime over Lin Shi, though his sarcastic responses leave Yan unconvinced.
• Yan worries that Ji Xi may actually confront Lin Shi, especially because Ji Xi’s branch office is located across from Lin Corporation. He jokingly considers preparing a psychiatric evaluation for Ji Xi.
• Meanwhile, Lin Shi visits his mother in the psychiatric hospital. He deliberately smokes around her, knowing it worsens her condition, and has the doctor administer medication to bring her temporarily to awareness.
• Lin Shi unexpectedly asks whether she wants to find Li Shuo. His mother reacts with joy but also fear, having realized that Lin Shi views her not as a mother but as an enemy and seeks to control her rather than care for her.

Character Developments

• Shen Fangli: Adjusts to university life and becomes increasingly comfortable with her roommates’ teasing. She remains open about her relationship with Yan and shows growing perceptiveness about the hidden history connecting Yan, Zhou Ye, and Lin Shi.
• Yan Xianjue: Demonstrates affection through practical gestures, such as ordering cakes for Shen and her roommates. He is playful and indulgent but also protective, attempting to restrain Ji Xi’s anger toward Lin Shi and prevent violence.
• Ji Xi: Shows how his difficult past and years of working for the Yan brothers have shaped him into a sharp, sarcastic, highly capable employee. Although he denies intending criminal retaliation, his hostility toward Lin Shi remains obvious.
• Lin Shi: Is portrayed as cruel, controlling, and emotionally detached. His treatment of his mother confirms that he sees relationships through domination and hostility rather than affection.
• Lin Shi’s mother: Has lost hope of being rescued by her son and now recognizes the abusive nature of their relationship. Her reaction to the mention of Li Shuo reveals that she still longs for escape or connection despite her fear.

Significant Themes

• Affection expressed through everyday actions: Yan’s teasing, food deliveries, and concern for Shen reveal intimacy more effectively than grand declarations.
• Public image versus private reality: Shen’s roommates expect celebrity relationships to follow media-friendly scripts, while Shen explains that Yan often behaves simply because he wants to, not because he is managing public opinion.
• Trauma and its lasting influence: The characters’ present behavior—Zhou Ye’s avoidance, Ji Xi’s anger, and Lin Shi’s cruelty—is shaped by past violence and unresolved events.
• Control versus genuine care: Yan tries to protect people by setting boundaries, while Lin Shi attempts to control his mother and turn her into an obedient subordinate.
• Humor amid darker conflicts: Light dorm-room teasing and the raspberry cakes contrast sharply with the threatening conversations about violence, psychiatric illness, and abuse.

Important Character Interactions

• Shen Fangli and Yan Xianjue: Their call combines playful teasing, emotional comfort, and thoughtful gestures, showing a stable and affectionate relationship.
• Shen Fangli and her roommates: The roommates jokingly investigate her relationship and celebrity life, while Shen responds candidly and gradually builds camaraderie with them.
• Yan Xianjue and Ji Xi: Their conversation is sarcastic but protective. Yan distrusts Ji Xi’s ability to remain calm around Lin Shi, while Ji Xi resents being treated as though he is on the verge of committing a crime.
• Shen Fangli and Zhou Ye/Lin Shi: Though they do not interact directly in the chapter, Shen’s observations deepen the mystery surrounding their shared past and Zhou Ye’s possible efforts to protect Yan.
• Lin Shi and his mother: Their disturbing encounter exposes their fractured bond. Lin Shi behaves like a tormentor and jailer, while his mother responds with fear and the painful acceptance that he does not love her as a son should.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Shi visits his mother, who has been subjected to experiments, in a hospital ward.
• Lin Shi reveals that Li Shuo, his half-brother, wants to take their mother back, offering any price, including his life.
• Lin Shi refuses to let Li Shuo take their mother, stating that her life is useless to him.
• Lin Shi asks his mother if she has only one child, expressing resentment for being chosen over Lin Rui.
• Lin Shi decides not to kill his mother but to make her live in pain, becoming a burden to Lin Rui.
• Lin Shi plans to take his mother back in a few days, instructing the doctor to make her look human again.

Character Developments

• Lin Shi: Reveals his resentment towards his mother for choosing Lin Rui over him. Struggles with his feelings, trying to maintain a cold facade but showing concern for his mother's condition.
• Lin Shi's Mother: Admits to never loving Lin Shi, revealing that he was the result of marital rape. Accepts her fate and wants to die but is forced to live by Lin Shi.

Significant Themes

• Family and Parent-Child Relationships: The complex and twisted relationships between family members, with Lin Shi's mother prioritizing Lin Rui over him, and Lin Shi's resentment towards her.
• Revenge and Retribution: Lin Shi's desire for revenge against his mother and his plan to make her a burden to Lin Rui.
• Mental Health and Trauma: The psychological toll of the experiments on Lin Shi's mother and the emotional trauma experienced by both mother and son.

Character Interactions

• Lin Shi and His Mother: Their interaction reveals the deep-seated resentment and pain between them, with Lin Shi struggling to maintain his cold demeanor while his mother accepts her fate with resignation.
• Lin Shi and the Doctor: The doctor serves as a sounding board for Lin Shi, offering commentary on the situation and questioning Lin Shi's true feelings towards his mother.

Summary

Key plot points and events

• During university military training, Yan Xianjue discovers that nearly half of his class has taken sick leave, most of them being his former high school classmates.
• Zhou Ye explains that students in their major routinely skip military training because everyone has obtained sick-leave notes. Yan realizes his eldest brother, Yan Yi’an, had known about this arrangement when he casually offered to get him a note.
• Zhou predicts the absent students will return once Yan attends, since their families will pressure them to maintain connections with him.
• In the afternoon, nearly all the students cancel their leave and return, leaving Yan to face their resentment when he refuses to follow their informal “rules.”
• After training, one classmate invites himself to Yan’s villa to play games, showing that the group intends to use Yan’s presence as an excuse to socialize.

Character developments

• Yan Xianjue remains observant, sarcastic, and resistant to being treated as a social or financial resource. He is frustrated by the classmates gathering around him but is willing to help genuine friends if doing so does not disturb his life.
• Zhou Ye demonstrates strong social awareness and insider knowledge. He understands the relationships among the wealthy students and accurately predicts both their return to training and their reaction to Yan’s behavior.
• Qi Tianchou reveals that he is engaged in a bitter inheritance struggle with his stepmother and half-brother. He has transferred to Yan’s university because his father believes Yan could be a valuable ally.
• Yan Yi’an is shown indirectly to be familiar with the major’s habit of avoiding military training and appears to have anticipated Yan’s situation.

Significant themes

• Elite social networks and opportunism: The students’ connection to Yan is influenced by his family background and perceived usefulness.
• Friendship versus strategic alliances: Zhou distinguishes between casual companions and people who share hardship, while Qi’s interest in Yan is clearly partly motivated by inheritance politics.
• Family conflict and inheritance: Qi’s story introduces a ruthless struggle involving his stepmother, questionable paternity, and the possible financial ruin of his family.
• Resistance to manipulation: Yan refuses to become involved in other people’s family battles or let his classmates dictate his actions.
• Humor in privileged hardship: Military training is treated as a major hardship by wealthy students, creating a comic contrast with their comfortable circumstances.

Character interactions

• Yan and Zhou Ye: Their teasing, long-standing friendship is evident. Zhou provides gossip and practical insight, while Yan mocks Zhou’s exaggerated sense of hardship and social instincts.
• Yan and Qi Tianchou: Qi openly explains his motives for attending the university and asks, indirectly, for Yan’s protection. Yan redirects him toward Lin Shi, whom he considers more experienced with complicated schemes, but ultimately refuses direct involvement.
• Yan and his classmates: The classmates initially avoid training, then return specifically because Yan attends. Their resentment and eagerness to socialize with him highlight their dependence on his presence and status.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue’s classmates tease him about romance and pressure him into hosting a gathering at his villa. They are eager to play games with him and excitedly arrange food, transportation, and even alcohol.
• Yan initially refuses, threatening to make their military training harder, but eventually agrees to let them gather at his home.
• Zhou Ye admits that the gathering was partly arranged because Yan’s family wants him to socialize more in college. Yan objects that he is being forced to organize the “group activity” himself.
• When Yan returns home, he discovers more than twenty classmates waiting outside the villa. They are visibly nervous because Yan’s older brother, Yan Yi’an, is also inside.
• The classmates had apparently hoped to gain Yan Xianjue’s protection or support, and Qi Tianchou feels particularly guilty and intimidated by Yan Yi’an.
• Yan invites everyone inside, though they hesitate. Zhou Ye courageously leads them in, fearing Yan Yi’an’s reaction.
• Inside, Yan Yi’an explains that their parents sent him to check whether Yan Xianjue is adjusting well to the villa and has everything he needs.
• Yan dismisses the concern, insisting that he is capable of taking care of himself. Yan Yi’an then notices the classmates and asks whether Yan has made new friends, leaving the group extremely anxious.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue remains blunt, independent, and easily exasperated by his classmates’ antics, but he ultimately indulges them and agrees to host the gathering. His teasing and willingness to let them into his home also reveal a softer, more tolerant side.
• Zhou Ye acts as the organizer and mediator. Although he initially tries to avoid Yan’s anger, he explains that Yan’s family asked him to encourage Yan to socialize. He also bravely leads the classmates into the villa despite being intimidated by Yan Yi’an.
• Yan Yi’an is introduced as an imposing older brother whose presence makes the students extremely nervous. Despite his intimidating reputation, he is attentive and responsible, checking on Yan’s well-being at their parents’ request.
• The classmates, especially Qi Tianchou, are shown to be playful and shameless when teasing Yan, but they become timid and uncomfortable around Yan Yi’an. Their desire to socialize with Yan suggests that they admire or seek support from him.

Significant Themes

• Friendship and social integration: Yan’s friends push him to participate in college life rather than remain isolated, while his family similarly encourages him to build social connections.
• Family concern versus independence: Yan’s parents and brother care about his adjustment, but Yan resists being treated as helpless or childlike.
• Intimidation and reputation: Yan Yi’an’s presence creates fear and awkwardness despite his calm behavior, showing how reputation can shape people’s reactions.
• Humor through group dynamics: Much of the chapter’s comedy comes from the classmates’ shameless teasing, sudden cowardice, and collective attempts to avoid responsibility.

Character Interactions

• Yan repeatedly scolds his classmates and Zhou Ye for forcing him into hosting, while they respond with exaggerated pleading and evasive behavior.
• Zhou Ye explains the family’s intentions and tries to placate Yan, though Yan accuses him of “screwing him over.”
• Qi Tianchou openly complains that Yan never warned them Yan Yi’an would be present, prompting Yan’s retort that they never asked.
• Yan Yi’an calmly questions Yan about his new friends, while the classmates react with near-panic, setting up an awkward social encounter for the next scene.

Chapter Summary: “I Have Some Bad News and Some Bad News”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Yi’an unexpectedly visits Yan Xianjue while he is spending time with classmates. Yan Xianjue jokingly claims that his older brother came only to mooch a meal, and Yan Yi’an calmly confirms it.
• The classmates are shocked by Yan Yi’an’s unexpectedly caring behavior. Instead of acting like the ruthless CEO they have heard about, he asks whether Yan Xianjue is settling in, needs anything, or has made friends.
• Yan Yi’an initially plans to return to work, but Yan Xianjue tells him not to work overtime and invites him to stay for dinner. Yan Yi’an declines, saying he does not want to interrupt the students’ gathering.
• Yan Yi’an gives Yan Xianjue his medical certificate, which states that he is physically weak and unsuitable for strenuous exercise. Yan Xianjue is embarrassed and determined not to let anyone else see it.
• After Yan Yi’an leaves, the classmates relax and head to the esports room. They joke that being frightened by Yan Yi’an has brought them closer together.
• Meanwhile, Ji Xi discovers that photos of more than twenty luxury cars leaving Yan Xianjue’s school have become a stubbornly popular trending topic. Online users accuse wealthy students of flaunting their lifestyles and expose that some students skipped military training.
• Ji Xi suspects the Lin Household may be responsible, while Yan Xianjue identifies Lin Lang as the person most likely behind the incident. He tells Ji Xi not to worry about Lin Shi.
• Yan Xianjue decides to publish his own response and have the company repost it. He then ominously tells his classmates that he has “some bad news and some bad news,” leaving them anxious.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue: Reveals his playful, sharp-tongued personality and close familiarity with his brother’s habits. Although he complains about Yan Yi’an’s concern and the medical certificate, he accepts the help without resistance. He also shows confidence and initiative when handling the online scandal, quickly identifying a likely culprit and planning a public response.
• Yan Yi’an: Is shown as protective and quietly affectionate rather than merely intimidating and businesslike. His concern for Yan Xianjue’s health, insistence on giving him the medical certificate, and questions about his life demonstrate a parental, almost overprotective side.
• Zhou Ye: Uses humor to cope with Yan Yi’an’s intimidating presence and openly comments on the unusual closeness between the brothers. His fear of Yan Xianjue tattling leads him to maintain a friendly alliance with him.
• Ji Xi: Acts as a practical manager and crisis handler, immediately trying to suppress the trending topic and investigate who is manipulating it. His concern indicates that the incident may be more serious than ordinary gossip.
• The classmates: Initially terrified of Yan Yi’an, they gradually bond through their shared fear and begin joking together once he leaves.

Significant Themes

• Family affection hidden beneath teasing: The brothers express care through sarcasm, complaints, and practical gestures rather than openly sentimental language.
• The gap between public image and private reality: Yan Yi’an is feared as a ruthless CEO, but privately behaves like a concerned parent. Yan Xianjue, meanwhile, is more capable and calculating than his joking behavior suggests.
• Wealth and public judgment: The luxury-car incident highlights how quickly wealthy students can be criticized for privilege, even when the facts are incomplete or deliberately manipulated.
• Friendship through shared experiences: The classmates’ fear of Yan Yi’an unexpectedly strengthens their group unity, turning a tense encounter into a bonding moment.
• Manipulation and retaliation: The suspiciously persistent trending topic suggests an organized attempt to damage Yan Xianjue’s reputation, setting up a conflict with Lin Lang.

Character Interactions

• Yan Xianjue and Yan Yi’an: Their banter is sarcastic but affectionate. Yan Yi’an nags and protects him, while Yan Xianjue mocks him yet follows his advice and accepts his help.
• Yan Xianjue and his classmates: He teases them for being afraid of Yan Yi’an and threatens to report Zhou Ye’s comments to his brother, demonstrating his mischievous authority within the group.
• Zhou Ye and Yan Xianjue: Their exchange shows a long-standing friendship based on mutual teasing, with Zhou Ye carefully avoiding becoming the target of Yan Xianjue’s “tattling.”
• Ji Xi and Yan Xianjue: Their phone call establishes a professional relationship built on trust. Ji Xi handles the crisis while Yan Xianjue takes responsibility for the public response and directs the investigation toward Lin Lang.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue confronts his classmates over the scandal trending online. The controversy claims that their group’s absence from class reflects the university’s materialistic atmosphere and suggests that Yan is forming an exclusive clique.
• The students discover that the article used photographs of their expensive cars and misleadingly connected their group leave to Yan Xianjue. Several students immediately try to distance themselves from responsibility, creating a humorous split within the room.
• Yan takes charge of handling the situation. His classmates agree to repost a clarification, while he privately contacts Lin Shi for damaging information about Lin Lang.
• Lin Shi offers evidence of Lin Lang’s misconduct in exchange for access to Yan Corporation’s and Yan Xianjue’s shares in the Lin Corporation. Yan accepts the deal and forwards the material to Ji Xi for possible use.
• Rather than writing a long defense, Yan simply reposts the original article with the brief statement: “Didn’t take leave.”

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue remains calm, sharp-tongued, and practical despite being repeatedly dragged into online scandals. He shows strong leadership by organizing his classmates and choosing a concise, confident response instead of overexplaining himself.
• The classmates reveal their immature and chaotic personalities. They panic, blame one another, and ignore the clique accusation, but ultimately cooperate with Yan and support his clarification.
• Wang Zihe is embarrassed by his cousin’s inappropriate enthusiasm and tries to explain why the boy was present.
• Lin Shi demonstrates his willingness to trade useful information for power and profit. His mysterious agenda continues, and his actions suggest that he may be manipulating events surrounding Lin Lang.
• Ji Xi is increasingly exasperated by the bizarre behavior of the Lin family but dutifully handles the evidence Yan sends him.

Significant Themes

• Public opinion and online scandal: The chapter mocks how easily misleading articles and photographs can create controversy and damage reputations.
• Class prejudice and social assumptions: The students’ luxury cars are used to criticize the school’s “atmosphere,” exposing how wealth can become a target for public judgment.
• Strategic silence versus overexplanation: Yan’s short response reflects his confidence and refusal to legitimize baseless accusations by giving them excessive attention.
• Manipulation and hidden agendas: The repeated use of Yan in scandals hints that larger schemes—possibly connected to the original plot and the Lin family—are still unfolding.
• Comedic dysfunction: The students’ panic, Wang Zihe’s cousin, and the bizarre behavior of the Lin household provide humor amid the business and reputation conflicts.

Character Interactions

• Yan silences and disciplines the students, while Zhou Ye acts as a mediator and explains the article’s implications.
• Wang Zihe awkwardly defends himself and introduces his younger cousin, whose excitement about appearing in the news further embarrasses him.
• The classmates accuse one another of taking leave, then quickly cooperate once Yan proposes a solution.
• Yan and Lin Shi negotiate information for corporate shares, revealing their pragmatic but distrustful relationship.
• Yan and Ji Xi exchange dry remarks about the Lin family’s insanity, reinforcing their familiarity and shared exasperation.

Chapter Summary: “Everyone Here Was Talented”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue’s classmates defend their mass absence from military training after the incident becomes a trending topic. Each student provides a genuine or exaggerated medical excuse, including heart disease and malnutrition.
• Yan Xianjue is exasperated by their absurd arguments but acknowledges that they technically followed school procedures. He suggests casually reposting their evidence so the controversy will fade.
• Qi Tianchou points out that they should investigate the student who leaked the information, both to determine whether it was deliberate and to protect the school’s reputation. Wang Zihe agrees, especially since nearly half the class had taken leave that morning.
• Qi Tianchou volunteers to investigate through his school connections, surprising Yan Xianjue, who initially mistakes his confidence for hacking ability.
• The students continue avoiding military training in a more organized way, privately arranging a rotating leave schedule so their absences are less obvious while maintaining some attendance.
• They remain active online during breaks, arguing with critics and defending themselves.
• Unlike Yan Xianjue, who dislikes the rules but generally follows them, Lin Shi openly skips all of military training and leaves the country with his mother.
• Yan Yi’an is informed of Lin Shi’s departure but deliberately chooses not to tell Yan Xianjue. He wants to prevent Lin Shi from appearing vulnerable and receiving Yan Xianjue’s sympathy.
• The chapter ends with Yan Yi’an deciding that Lin Lang’s actions can provide Yan Xianjue with a distraction, while privately instructing his assistant to handle the situation.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue: Displays patience and reluctant leadership while managing his classmates’ chaotic excuses. He remains pragmatic, willing to use available resources to investigate the leak, and shows an instinctive tendency to be lenient toward Lin Shi.
• Qi Tianchou: Reveals himself to be socially resourceful, observant, and capable of gathering information through connections. His initiative earns Yan Xianjue’s surprise and approval.
• Wang Zihe: Acts responsibly by recognizing the potential damage the students’ actions could cause to future students and the school. He also shows a teasing, rough affection toward his cousin.
• Lin Shi: Demonstrates his rebellious and unconventional approach by completely abandoning military training rather than merely manipulating the attendance system.
• Yan Yi’an: Shows himself to be highly protective and distrustful. He sees Lin Shi and Lin Lang as threats to the Yan family and deliberately manages information to prevent Yan Xianjue from becoming emotionally involved.
• The special assistant: Understands Yan Yi’an’s motives but privately finds the justification that Yan Xianjue is “busy” unconvincing, recognizing that much of his time is spent dealing with online disputes.

Significant Themes

• Ingenuity and rule manipulation: The students exploit legitimate procedures and coordinate their absences cleverly, blurring the line between following rules and evading them.
• Talent expressed through mischief: The title reflects how every student possesses unusual abilities—social, argumentative, strategic, or deceptive—which they use to defend themselves.
• Family protection and control: Yan Yi’an’s decisions show his desire to shield Yan Xianjue, though his protection involves controlling information and making unilateral judgments.
• Different approaches to authority: Yan Xianjue works within the system, while Lin Shi ignores it entirely; both contrast with Yan Yi’an’s behind-the-scenes manipulation.
• Prejudice and predetermined relationships: Yan Yi’an believes Lin Shi was never suitable to become Yan Xianjue’s friend, revealing the Yan family’s longstanding bias and distrust toward the Lin family.
• Freedom versus responsibility: The students seek freedom from military training but begin organizing their behavior more carefully once they realize their actions could affect the school and future students.

Important Character Interactions

• Yan Xianjue repeatedly tries to restore order as classmates defend increasingly ridiculous medical explanations.
• Qi Tianchou and Wang Zihe push the group toward investigating the leak and taking responsibility for the school’s reputation.
• Wang Zihe jokes with and lightly hits his cousin, highlighting their familiar, playful relationship.
• Yan Yi’an and his special assistant discuss whether to inform Yan Xianjue about Lin Shi. Their exchange emphasizes Yan Yi’an’s secrecy and the assistant’s awareness of the gap between Yan Yi’an’s stated reasons and reality.
• Yan Yi’an’s thoughts contrast sharply with Lin Shi’s earlier hope that he and Yan Xianjue might have become friends, establishing that the true obstacle was not merely the feud between their families but Yan Yi’an’s belief that Lin Shi was unworthy of Yan Xianjue’s friendship.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Yi'an asks Yan Wan to keep an eye on Lin Shi, who has gone abroad with his mother.
• Lin Shi's assistant is angry with him for not discussing the trip with him.
• Lin Shi and his assistant have a tense conversation on the plane, with Lin Shi insisting on going through with the plan despite his assistant's concerns.

Character Developments

• Yan Yi'an: Shows concern for Lin Shi's actions and involves Yan Wan in monitoring him.
• Yan Wan: Demonstrates understanding and cooperation with Yan Yi'an's request, showing her maturity and capability.
• Lin Shi: Reveals his determination to follow through with his plans, regardless of the consequences.
• Lin Shi's assistant: Shows frustration and anger towards Lin Shi's decision-making, hinting at a complex relationship between them.

Significant Themes

• Family dynamics and loyalty: The Yan siblings' bond and their differing views on the Lin family are emphasized.
• Power struggles: The tension between Lin Shi and his assistant highlights the power dynamics within the Lin household.
• Personal sacrifice: Lin Shi's decision to send his mother away shows his willingness to make personal sacrifices for his goals.

Character Interactions

• Yan Yi'an and Yan Wan: Their conversation shows a close, cooperative relationship, with Yan Yi'an trusting Yan Wan's judgment.
• Lin Shi and his assistant: Their interaction reveals a complex, tense relationship, with the assistant questioning Lin Shi's decisions and Lin Shi remaining steadfast in his plans.