Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Shi waits outside the ICU after the doctor enters to treat Lin Rui, smoking and reflecting on his failed attempt to seize Lin Lang’s shares.
• He decides to temporarily return to school and avoid further action until suspicions surrounding him are cleared. He expects Lin Lang to consolidate power and Old Master Lin to support him.
• Inside the ICU, the doctor reveals that Lin Rui is the first test subject for a drug developed by Lin Shi and himself. The medicine forcibly prolongs consciousness while draining the patient’s remaining life force.
• Lin Rui suffers extreme pain and dies despite trying to curse or plead with the doctor. The doctor coldly refuses to convey any last words and even suggests Lin Rui should be grateful that Lin Shi chose pharmaceuticals rather than surgery.
• The doctor confirms Lin Rui’s death to Lin Shi. Lin Shi calmly claims he stayed to see his father through his “final journey,” masking his revenge beneath an expression of filial duty.
• Lin Shi later checks his phone and finds messages from Old Master Lin and Lin Lang, including pressure to sign the Share Transfer Agreement. He ignores them and instead opens a trending livestream involving Yan Ci.
• In the livestream, Yan Ci and Lei Xuan aggressively use paid scrolling comments to defend their opinions and overwhelm critics. Their behavior disrupts filming and frustrates the director.
• Yan Xianjue calls Yan Ci and threatens to report him to their mother if he continues causing trouble. The people nearby are stunned, while Shen Fangli privately compares Yan Xianjue to a child who runs to his mother whenever he is upset.

Character Developments

• Lin Shi: Demonstrates patience, strategic restraint, and ruthless vengeance. He accepts the temporary setback involving the shares and appears emotionally detached after Lin Rui’s death, though his decision to remain nearby suggests the moment matters to him.
• Lin Rui: Is reduced to a helpless, suffering patient and dies as the victim of Lin Shi’s calculated retaliation. His inability to communicate his final words emphasizes his loss of power.
• The Doctor: Reveals himself to be Lin Shi’s subordinate and collaborator. He is clinically detached, darkly humorous, and fully willing to participate in the experimental treatment and Lin Rui’s death.
• Lin Lang: Continues maneuvering for control by pressuring Lin Shi to sign over the shares, though he remains unaware of Lin Shi’s broader plans.
• Yan Ci and Lei Xuan: Display impulsive, flamboyant personalities by dominating the livestream with extravagant gifts and provocative comments.
• Yan Xianjue: Acts as the exasperated older brother trying to control the situation, but his threat to tell their mother exposes a childish and humorous side.
• Shen Fangli: Observes the family dynamic and internally comments on Yan Xianjue’s behavior, adding an outside perspective and comic relief.

Significant Themes

• Revenge and justice: Lin Rui’s death is presented as the culmination of Lin Shi’s retaliation for past wrongs, particularly the revelation involving Lin Rui’s wife.
• Power and inheritance: The struggle over the Lin family shares and presidency remains central, with Lin Shi choosing patience over reckless confrontation.
• Manipulation and deception: Lin Shi disguises vengeance as filial concern, while Lin Lang uses seemingly polite messages to pressure him.
• Moral ambiguity in medicine: The experimental drug, informed-consent loophole, and doctor’s detached commentary blur the boundary between medical treatment and deliberate torture.
• Dark humor and absurdity: The grim ICU scene contrasts sharply with the ridiculous livestream conflict and Yan Xianjue’s childish threat.
• Family dynamics: Both the Lin and Yan families are defined by power struggles, hidden motives, and complicated forms of loyalty.

Character Interactions

• The doctor clinically explains the drug’s purpose to Lin Rui while ignoring his pleas, creating a cruel imbalance between doctor and patient.
• Lin Shi and the doctor share a conspiratorial relationship, with the doctor reporting Lin Rui’s death and Lin Shi responding with cold approval.
• Lin Lang and Old Master Lin pressure Lin Shi through messages about family obligations and the share-transfer agreement.
• Yan Ci and Lei Xuan collaborate to silence livestream critics through flashy comments and gifts.
• Yan Xianjue confronts Yan Ci and threatens to involve their mother, prompting shock and amusement from the director, onlookers, and Shen Fangli.

Chapter Summary: What Window Did God Shut on Him?

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue refuses Yan Ci’s request to send more promotional gifts during the livestream, teasingly treating his eighteen-year-old age like that of a child.
• Yan Ci reveals that he has already purchased promotional exposure for the show. The program is briefly featured, causing the director to restart the broadcast after a prolonged tour of the model home.
• Lei Xuan takes over the phone and calls his father, Boss Lei, to ask whether he hired online trolls to defend him. Boss Lei admits that he did, indignant that viewers criticized both Lei Xuan’s taste and his identity.
• The father-son exchange becomes unexpectedly childish and affectionate. Lei Xuan theatrically begs his father not to overuse his influence, claiming that his boss might fire him.
• The chaotic phone call and gift effects eventually end, allowing the livestream comments to return to normal. The director finally redirects the camera toward Ji Xi.
• Viewers joke about the participants flaunting not only their wealth but also their powerful fathers. They contrast the wealthy heirs’ carefree personalities with the stereotype that rich second-generation heirs should be troubled or depressed.
• Ji Xi quietly signs off on extremely expensive purchases, including a custom bed costing over one hundred thousand and a complete lounge-furniture set. Viewers are stunned by his calmness and begin questioning whether he is truly an impoverished student.
• Lin Shi notices the comment challenging Ji Xi’s poverty. In response, he spends an enormous amount on virtual gifts—forty spaceships—and posts a prominent comment insisting: “Ji Xi is an impoverished student.”

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue remains mischievous and outspoken, confidently controlling the situation despite the livestream chaos. His interactions with Yan Ci show a familiar, sibling-like dynamic.
• Yan Ci demonstrates his willingness to manipulate publicity and use money to support Yan Xianjue, while also enjoying the spectacle he creates.
• Lei Xuan reveals a playful, shamelessly spoiled side when dealing with his father. His dramatic begging contrasts strongly with his usual image as a powerful or intimidating figure.
• Boss Lei is shown to be an indulgent and emotionally expressive father rather than the stern business leader others expect. His sensitivity to criticism of his son makes their bond clear.
• Ji Xi appears calm, efficient, and financially unconcerned while selecting costly furnishings. His behavior intensifies the mystery surrounding his supposed poverty.
• Lin Shi displays a sharp, malicious sense of humor. Rather than defend Ji Xi verbally, he uses extravagant spending to mock the idea that Ji Xi is poor, creating an even more absurd contradiction.

Significant Themes

• Wealth and privilege: The chapter humorously exaggerates the participants’ access to money, influence, and powerful family members.
• Family indulgence: The wealthy fathers are not distant authority figures; they actively spoil and defend their children.
• Public image versus reality: Ji Xi’s calm spending and mysterious background conflict with his reputation as an impoverished top student.
• Spectacle and livestream culture: The variety show becomes increasingly dominated by gifts, comments, promotional manipulation, and audience reactions rather than the planned content.
• Humor through contradiction: Characters who should be intimidating behave childishly, while the supposedly poor student spends money without hesitation.

Character Interactions

• Yan Xianjue and Yan Ci bicker like close brothers, with Yan Ci deliberately provoking him and Yan Xianjue responding irritably.
• Lei Xuan and Boss Lei share an exaggeratedly affectionate father-son exchange, with Boss Lei defending his son and Lei Xuan playfully asking him to restrain his influence.
• The cast’s antics frustrate the director, who struggles to keep the show focused and technically under control.
• The viewers collectively react to the wealth display, turning the livestream comments into a source of satire.
• Lin Shi directly responds to the audience’s doubts about Ji Xi by spending lavishly and publicly reaffirming that Ji Xi is “an impoverished student,” making the contradiction even funnier.

Chapter Summary: “If You’ve Been PUA’d, Blink Twice”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Shi posts a provocative comment implying that Yan Ci may reveal more information about Ji Xi, then leaves, anticipating that Lin Lang will prevent him from interfering in company affairs.
• His comment remains pinned during the livestream, causing viewers to speculate about Ji Xi’s finances, Yan Ci’s possible spending, and whether Ji Xi falsely claimed financial hardship.
• The production team worries that the controversy surrounding Ji Xi’s supposed financial aid will resurface. The director decides Ji Xi should clarify the matter during a later interview.
• Shen Fangli brings the viewers’ questions directly to Ji Xi. Realizing the issue requires immediate clarification, Ji Xi enters the livestream and addresses the comments himself from a sofa in the furniture store.
• Ji Xi explains that he receives a scholarship, not financial aid, and that his school does not offer ordinary financial assistance. He confirms that he is genuinely poor despite attending a wealthy school.
• He reveals that his purchases are being reimbursed by his “boss,” Yan Xianjue, who is taking the group to furnish their new office before the Gaokao.
• Ji Xi describes his job as paying only 3,000 yuan per month while requiring him to be on call constantly, provoking viewers to accuse his employer of exploiting or “PUA-ing” him.
• He further jokes that someone offered 500,000 yuan to buy his position, prompting viewers to question whether he has been manipulated into accepting terrible working conditions.
• Yan Xianjue calls Ji Xi back, hands over the payment card, and confirms that Ji Xi has explained everything. He later sighs that Shen Fangli and Yao Weiran are the least troublesome members of the group.

Character Developments

• Ji Xi: Demonstrates composure, wit, and strategic awareness. Rather than becoming defensive, he directly addresses the rumors and uses humor to control the narrative. His comments also reveal how demanding and poorly paid his job is, though he appears resigned to—or perhaps unusually tolerant of—the arrangement.
• Yan Xianjue: Acts as Ji Xi’s employer and casually supports the clarification by covering the group’s purchases. His concern is understated, and he trusts Ji Xi to handle the livestream controversy himself.
• Shen Fangli: Shows perceptiveness by bringing the viewers’ accusations to Ji Xi instead of allowing the rumors to spread unchecked. She is also entertained by the chaotic livestream and increasingly interested in Yan Xianjue’s studio.
• Lin Shi: Continues to stir controversy indirectly, using the livestream to create trouble for Ji Xi while expecting to have little immediate involvement in the consequences.
• The director and assistant: Reveal how difficult it is to manage a livestream where the participants repeatedly act outside the planned script.

Significant Themes

• Public perception versus reality: Viewers quickly assume Ji Xi’s spending contradicts his supposed poverty, revealing how easily online audiences turn incomplete information into accusations.
• Class and privilege: Ji Xi attends an elite school but is genuinely poor, while his academic excellence allows him to earn scholarships and opportunities unavailable through ordinary financial aid.
• Exploitation disguised as opportunity: Ji Xi’s low salary, constant availability, and lack of days off suggest an unhealthy work arrangement, even though he speaks about it lightly.
• Humor as self-defense: Ji Xi uses sarcasm and deadpan answers to deflect judgment, expose the absurdity of the rumors, and entertain the audience.
• The unpredictability of reality television: The production team’s carefully prepared plans are repeatedly overwhelmed by spontaneous conflicts, viewer reactions, and the cast’s unconventional behavior.

Character Interactions

• Lin Shi and the livestream audience: Lin Shi’s comment fuels speculation and renews scrutiny of Ji Xi.
• Shen Fangli and Ji Xi: Shen directly informs Ji Xi of the accusations, giving him the chance to respond publicly.
• Ji Xi and the viewers: Ji Xi answers their questions candidly but humorously, correcting the scholarship rumor while revealing details about his finances and employment.
• Ji Xi and Yan Xianjue: Their interaction reinforces their boss-employee relationship. Yan provides the money for the purchases and trusts Ji Xi’s handling of the situation.
• Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli: Shen is amused by the day’s events, while Yan jokingly contrasts her and Yao Weiran with the more troublesome members of the group.

Chapter Summary: “Use Your Pig Brain!”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The livestream concludes successfully despite the chaos nearly causing the director to suffer a heart attack.
• The director gives Ji Xi a bonus, while Ji Xi firmly declares that he never wants to participate in another variety show.
• Ji Xi’s blunt response during the livestream successfully redirected audience attention and indirectly promoted Yan Xianjue’s company.
• Although the livestream attracts little attention from the wider entertainment industry, it catches the notice of several business figures because Boss Lei repeatedly promotes it on his social media.
• These businessmen underestimate Yan Xianjue, assuming he is merely a wealthy second-generation heir experimenting with entertainment investments.
• They discuss his supposed million-yuan investment, unaware that he has already spent far more on furniture and possesses immense resources, including an entire unused floor at Cloud Summit.
• Old Wang argues that Yan Xianjue does not need immediate success because people in their position will still have to respect and accommodate him.
• The businessmen also discuss Boss Lei’s decision to support Yan Xianjue by moving his son, Lei Xuan, closer to him and encouraging their association.
• After the others leave, Old Wang explains to his nephew that they have misunderstood the situation. Yan Xianjue is connected to the Ji Household, has received personal support from President Yan, and is being treated seriously by Boss Lei.
• Old Wang decides to stay neutral and avoid opposing Yan Xianjue, warning that anyone attempting underhanded tactics will do so without his involvement.

2. Character Developments

• Ji Xi: Reveals his exhaustion and dislike of variety shows but proves himself capable under pressure. His honesty and quick thinking help rescue the livestream and promote the company.
• Yan Xianjue: Is shown to possess significant wealth, connections, and influence, even though outsiders mistake his actions for casual spending by a rich heir. He appears to be quietly building a business network.
• Lei Xuan: Gains importance as Yan Xianjue’s associate. His repeated use of “little boss” and his enthusiasm suggest that he genuinely admires or enjoys following Yan Xianjue. His father views the relationship as strategically beneficial.
• Boss Lei: Demonstrates his favoritism toward his son but also his shrewdness. By supporting Yan Xianjue and sending Lei Xuan to accompany him, he strengthens ties with the powerful Yan Household.
• Old Wang: Shows himself to be observant and politically cautious. Unlike the others, he recognizes Yan Xianjue’s family connections and chooses cooperation rather than hostility.
• Secretary Wang: Is portrayed as naïve and lacking judgment. He notices sensational family scandals but misses the important business and social connections surrounding Yan Xianjue, earning Old Wang’s repeated reprimand.

3. Significant Themes

• Appearances versus reality: Outsiders see a small livestream, young employees, and a modest investment, but the reality is that Yan Xianjue has deep resources and powerful connections.
• Power through relationships: Business influence is shown to depend not only on money but also on family alliances, personal introductions, and strategic goodwill.
• Underestimation of the young: The older businessmen dismiss Yan Xianjue and his young associates, failing to realize that their youth does not reflect their influence or potential.
• Strategic cooperation over rivalry: Old Wang emphasizes that people in the same industry do not have to become enemies; cooperation may be safer and more profitable than resisting a powerful newcomer.
• The importance of perception and awareness: Old Wang’s criticism of his nephew highlights the need to look beyond gossip and understand the deeper forces shaping events.
• Family inheritance and responsibility: Boss Lei’s willingness to support Lei Xuan reflects his belief that his son will eventually inherit everything, allowing him to pursue unconventional interests without serious financial risk.

4. Character Interactions

• Ji Xi and Yan Xianjue: Their post-livestream exchange is teasing but practical. Yan Xianjue praises Ji Xi’s response, while Ji Xi insists he was simply telling the truth.
• Yan Xianjue and the director: The director is visibly relieved to finish the livestream and pay Ji Xi, suggesting that Yan Xianjue’s project has placed unusual pressure on the production team.
• Boss Lei and Yan Xianjue: Though they do not interact directly in the chapter, Boss Lei publicly promotes Yan Xianjue’s livestream and supports his relationship with Lei Xuan, signaling approval and political goodwill.
• Lei Xuan and Yan Xianjue: Their growing closeness is evident through Lei Xuan’s eager, repeated use of “little boss.” Their relationship is viewed by outsiders as both personal and strategically advantageous.
• Old Wang and the other businessmen: Old Wang challenges their dismissive assumptions and urges them to recognize Yan Xianjue’s influence instead of provoking him.
• Old Wang and Secretary Wang: Their exchange provides the chapter’s comedic element. Old Wang scolds his nephew for focusing on gossip while missing the important social and business connections, repeatedly calling on him to “use his pig brain.”

Chapter Summary: “Salary Slip Disaster”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the variety show recording, Yan Xianjue forgets about the controversy, leaving post-production and review to Ji Xi.
• Yan Xianjue attends Lin Rui’s memorial service with the Yan family. His eldest brother, Yan Yi’an, leaves immediately afterward to catch an international flight for a meeting.
• While waiting in the car, Yan Wan discovers that the variety show has become a trending topic again—not because of planned publicity, but because an employee accidentally exposes her company’s paid-commenter scheme.
• The employee posts her salary slip, revealing unusually high overtime pay. She explains that workers were rewarded with paid leave or extra wages for using alternate accounts to praise Boss Lei’s son during the livestream.
• Netizens connect the “paid commenters” and the phrase “bad taste” to the variety show, where Lei Xuan made extravagant and questionable fashion choices.
• Online users investigate Lei Xuan’s identity, linking him to the wealthy owner of a major insurance company named Lei. They compare Boss Lei’s voice with Lei Xuan’s and infer that the two are father and son.
• Netizens also speculate about Yan Xianjue’s wealthy background, based on his expensive preferences during the livestream.
• When Yan Wan tells Yan Xianjue that the show is trending, he is irritated at being awakened but becomes surprised by the sudden development.
• Before netizens can fully confirm Lei Xuan’s identity, his company responds with a bizarre nine-photo grid of Lei Xuan’s colorful selfies, effectively confirming the connection.
• The company launches a giveaway offering ten cash prizes of 10,000 yuan, requiring participants to write sincere, lengthy praise of Lei Xuan. Netizens jokingly admit that money can overpower their conscience and alter their sense of taste.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue: Remains lazy, spoiled, and theatrically self-centered, especially around family. He complains internally about Yan Wan disturbing his rest but is unable to resist her teasing. His expensive and selective tastes are indirectly revealed as evidence of his privileged upbringing.
• Yan Wan: Acts as a playful but perceptive older sister. She follows online developments, teases Yan Xianjue, and enjoys watching him lose arguments. Her observations also reveal the family’s affectionate dynamic.
• Yan Yi’an: Is portrayed as highly responsible and overworked, immediately leaving for an international meeting. Yan Xianjue praises him but clearly has no intention of sharing his workload.
• Yan Ci: Though absent, his history of rebellion and punishment is mentioned humorously, reinforcing the family’s varied personalities.
• Lei Xuan: His wealthy background becomes public through the salary-slip scandal. His flamboyant appearance and self-presentation are mocked, especially through the insurance company’s awkward promotional response.
• Yan Xianjue’s parents: Quietly enjoy seeing their youngest son teased by Yan Wan, showing their fondness for the family’s playful conflicts.

Significant Themes

• The power of social media gossip: A casual salary-slip post spirals into the exposure of corporate manipulation, family wealth, and a celebrity’s identity.
• Wealth and privilege: Netizens recognize that certain tastes and behaviors are shaped by money, while Lei Xuan’s and Yan Xianjue’s backgrounds become subjects of public speculation.
• Commercialization of public opinion: The company’s use of paid commenters and the giveaway demonstrates how online praise can be purchased.
• Appearance versus reality: What seemed like ordinary livestream behavior is reinterpreted as evidence of wealth and deliberate image management.
• Family affection through teasing: The Yan family expresses closeness through sarcasm, mockery, and playful embarrassment rather than overt sentimentality.
• Satire of online culture: The chapter humorously portrays internet users as detectives, marketers as opportunists, and public opinion as something easily manipulated by money.

Character Interactions

• Yan Wan teases Yan Xianjue by waking him and pinching his cheek after telling him the show is trending.
• Yan Xianjue mentally complains about Yan Wan while being unable to challenge her, amusing their parents.
• Yan Wan and Yan Xianjue discuss whether netizens will identify Lei Xuan’s father, with Yan Xianjue considering the connection obvious.
• Their parents silently observe the siblings’ exchange and enjoy seeing Yan Xianjue—usually the one who bullies others—being overpowered by his sister.
• The family reacts collectively to Lei Xuan’s flamboyant selfies, with Father Yan dryly admitting that his generation cannot understand modern taste.

Chapter Summary: “Spread the Word: Ji Heng Can't Cut It”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Online discussion explodes over Yan Xianjue’s wealth and his decision to work for someone else. Yan Wan finds the public reaction amusing and notes that the variety show is receiving unexpected attention.
• Yan Xianjue remains skeptical of the show’s popularity. He believes the current buzz is only temporary curiosity caused by the unusual guests and predicts that interest will fade unless the guests later become notable Gaokao top scorers.
• He decides to use the temporary publicity to connect Ji Xi with the other academically gifted guests. Yan Xianjue transfers money to Ji Xi so that Ji Xi can send a red packet to the show’s director when requesting a group chat, refusing to make Ji Xi cover business expenses himself.
• Yan Xianjue realizes that Ji Xi has been handling nearly every aspect of the company alone, including future recruitment and arrangements for the other guests to train at Yan Corporation headquarters after the Gaokao.
• Ji Xi calls from the Ji Household, surprising Yan Xianjue and the Yan family. Ji Xi explains that hiring will begin after the Gaokao, when the company moves to Cloud Summit.
• The chapter reveals the origin of Ji Heng’s public statement defending Ji Xi. After Lin Shi’s livestream comment exposed Ji Xi’s identity as a poor student, viewers reported him to the school. Though the school considered the complaint ridiculous, it informed Ji Corporation because of its investment in the school.
• Ji Heng personally posted a statement in Ji Xi’s defense, but because his account was unverified and had no previous activity, the public assumed the statement was merely part of the joke and did not take it seriously.
• The chapter ends with the Yan family listening as Yan Xianjue asks Ji Xi why he is currently at the Ji Household.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue: Demonstrates his practical, business-minded nature and sharp skepticism about publicity. Although he is often stingy and neglectful of administrative details, he is not exploitative: he makes sure Ji Xi is reimbursed and recognizes that Ji Xi should not have to pay company expenses personally. He also begins realizing how much responsibility Ji Xi has been carrying.
• Ji Xi: Continues to function as the company’s reliable all-purpose manager while balancing his final Gaokao preparations. He has independently arranged future hiring and the guests’ training, showing competence, endurance, and loyalty to Yan Xianjue.
• Ji Heng: Attempts to publicly acknowledge or defend Ji Xi, but his effort is ineffective because of his poor judgment and lack of credibility online. His eagerness to repair his relationship with Ji Xi contrasts with his inability to handle the situation successfully.
• Yan Wan and the Yan parents: Serve as amused observers of Yan Xianjue’s behavior, particularly his extreme frugality and lack of awareness about his own company’s administrative shortcomings.
• Ji Xi’s mother: Is described as living an ordinary, domestic life away from the Ji Household, despite her strong and influential past. This creates curiosity about her history and her relationship with Ji Heng and Ji Zhi.

Significant Themes

• Publicity versus genuine success: The chapter questions whether viral attention represents lasting popularity or merely temporary curiosity.
• Competence and exploitation: Ji Xi’s ability to manage the company is impressive, but the chapter also highlights how much work he handles without adequate staff or support.
• Family reconciliation and failed communication: Ji Heng’s attempt to defend Ji Xi suggests guilt and a desire to reconnect, yet his poorly executed statement shows that good intentions alone cannot repair damaged relationships.
• Class and public perception: Netizens are fascinated by the contrast between Ji Xi’s wealthy background and his identity as a seemingly poor student, while their assumptions repeatedly distort the truth.
• Humor through understatement: Yan Xianjue’s blunt observations, his family’s silent agreement that he is miserly, and the public’s refusal to believe Ji Heng create much of the chapter’s comedy.

Character Interactions

• Yan Xianjue and Yan Wan discuss the variety show’s popularity, with Yan Wan teasing him about its success and questioning his refusal to reimburse Ji Xi through formal company channels.
• Yan Xianjue and Ji Xi speak about recruitment, company logistics, and the handling of the other guests. Their exchange shows Ji Xi’s professionalism and Yan Xianjue’s casual, hands-off management style.
• Yan Xianjue questions Ji Xi about his unexpected presence at the Ji Household, while the Yan family listens closely, intrigued by the unusual development.
• Ji Heng’s public statement, though not shown directly, represents his attempted intervention on Ji Xi’s behalf; its failure reinforces the chapter’s running joke that Ji Heng is inept at handling the situation.

Chapter Summary: Ten Years of Good Deeds Gone Again

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue learns that Ji the Old Master has been declared brain-dead after Ji Yue’s youngest son deliberately knocked a cabinet onto him. The Ji family holds a meeting to decide what to do, but they are unlikely to stop treatment because of social judgment and the family’s wealth.
• Yan Xianjue’s family discusses the difference between brain death and legal death. Yan Wan recalls a foreign case in which a dancer’s father was declared brain-dead and returned home in an urn, briefly creating a somber atmosphere.
• The Yan family visits their horse ranch. Yan Xianjue happily reunites with his champagne-gold foal, Little Gold Ingot, and its mother. The two horses compete for his attention, amusing the family.
• Yan Wan declines to ride because she is concerned about injuring her legs and affecting her dancing career. Yan Xianjue goes to change while waiting to see whether Zhou Ye will arrive.
• Zhou Ye arrives with gossip from Lin Rui’s memorial service. The event was less a mourning ceremony than a business gathering, with many guests using Lin Rui’s death to strengthen their connections.
• Lin Lang takes advantage of the memorial service to negotiate with Lin Rui’s former business partners and deliberately excludes Lin Shi, presenting himself as the victor in their family conflict.
• Lin Shi appears detached, sitting alone and playing on his phone. However, he secretly causes the venue’s lights to go out and makes Lin Rui’s portrait emit a frightening green glow.
• In the resulting panic, someone shoves Lin Lang, causing him to hit his forehead on the memorial platform. The lights return immediately, and Lin Lang is left with a visible injury.
• Zhou Ye reports that Lin Lang stayed behind after the guests left and behaved as though he were begging Lin Rui’s forgiveness. Rumors spread that Lin Rui’s death was connected to Lin Lang and that Lin Lang was kowtowing to prevent supernatural revenge.
• Yan Xianjue regrets leaving the memorial service early because he missed the spectacle.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue remains playful, mischievous, and fond of dark humor. He sympathizes with the tragic story Yan Wan shares but quickly returns to joking about Ji Yue’s son. His bond with the horses, especially Little Gold Ingot, highlights his affectionate and carefree side.
• Yan Wan is observant and emotionally sensitive. Her memory of the foreign dancer’s father shows compassion, while her refusal to ride reflects her cautious concern for her dancing career.
• The Yan parents continue to enjoy gossip and treat the misfortunes of hostile families with barely concealed amusement, though they are capable of briefly acknowledging tragedy.
• Lin Shi demonstrates that his apparent indifference is deceptive. Though he acts uninvolved at the memorial service, he quietly retaliates against Lin Lang through a calculated supernatural—or technologically mysterious—prank.
• Lin Lang appears confident and opportunistic in public, using Lin Rui’s memorial to consolidate business relationships. His later fear and apparent panic suggest that his confidence weakens when confronted with the possibility of Lin Rui’s revenge.
• Zhou Ye serves as the bearer of gossip and comic commentary, enthusiastically recounting Lin Lang’s humiliation.

Significant Themes

• Hypocrisy and social performance: The Ji family’s continued treatment of the brain-dead patriarch and the business dealings at Lin Rui’s memorial show how family reputation and public judgment influence people’s actions.
• Revenge and consequences: Lin Lang exploits Lin Rui’s death, but Lin Shi ensures that he is publicly frightened and humiliated, suggesting that wrongdoing eventually invites retaliation.
• Appearance versus reality: Lin Shi looks like an indifferent teenager, yet he is secretly controlling events. Lin Lang appears victorious, but his position is less secure than it seems.
• Dark humor amid tragedy: Death, brain death, and memorial rituals are treated with a mixture of seriousness and absurdity, reflecting the chapter’s satirical tone.
• Family affection and companionship: The Yan family’s teasing relationship and Yan Xianjue’s affection for the horses provide a warm contrast to the hostility and opportunism surrounding the Ji and Lin families.

Character Interactions

• Yan Xianjue jokes with his parents and Yan Wan about the Ji family’s predicament, while they exchange gossip and speculate about Ji Heng’s choices.
• Yan Wan shares a painful story from her dancing career, briefly bringing the family together in sympathy.
• The Yan family enjoys watching Little Gold Ingot and its mother compete for Yan Xianjue’s attention.
• At the memorial service, Lin Lang sidelines Lin Shi while pursuing business agreements, reinforcing their rivalry.
• Lin Shi responds indirectly rather than confronting Lin Lang openly, using the darkened venue and glowing portrait to frighten and embarrass him.
• Zhou Ye later recounts Lin Lang’s humiliating behavior to Yan Xianjue, who reacts with amused disappointment at having missed it.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue and Zhou Ye ride horses together at the Yan family ranch, exchanging jokes about their privileged upbringing and embarrassing childhood histories.
• They discuss Lin Shi’s bizarre public actions after Lin Rui’s death, especially the spontaneous burning of Lin Rui’s memorial portrait. Yan finds the incident darkly amusing and recognizes it as one of Lin Shi’s schemes.
• Yan jokes that he brought both his “family” and his horses because he “can’t bear to give up either the mother or the daughter,” prompting Zhou Ye to laugh at how much the remark makes Yan sound like a womanizer.
• Yan’s longtime horse, Goldie, chases Zhou Ye’s Arabian horse around the ranch. Goldie obeys Yan perfectly and intimidates Zhou Ye’s horse, demonstrating the deep bond between Yan and the animal.
• Zhou Ye brings up the rumor that Yan once tamed a fierce horse through his good looks. Yan’s embarrassed reaction confirms that the story is probably true.
• The narrative shifts to Lin Lang, whose living room has been destroyed in his anger after the memorial-service incident. His new assistant suggests Lin Shi may be responsible.
• Lin Lang confirms that he suspects Lin Shi but is furious that the boy not only desecrated Lin Rui’s memorial portrait but also publicly humiliated him.
• Lin Lang orders an investigation into who pushed him during the memorial service. Surveillance footage shows that he apparently fell by himself, but Lin Lang refuses to accept the explanation and rejects the idea that Lin Rui’s ghost was responsible.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue: Displayed as relaxed, witty, confident, and accustomed to privilege. His teasing personality contrasts with his strong emotional loyalty to Goldie, whom he has trusted since childhood. His reaction to the horse rumor reveals a rare moment of embarrassment.
• Zhou Ye: Shown as talkative, playful, and fond of gossip. He is willing to provoke Yan repeatedly despite suffering the consequences when Goldie chases his horse. His close, casual friendship with Yan is evident.
• Lin Lang: Revealed to be volatile, suspicious, and deeply concerned with maintaining his authority and reputation. His anger over the memorial incident suggests that he sees Lin Shi’s actions as a deliberate challenge to his position.
• Lin Shi: Though absent from the chapter, he is characterized through others’ reactions as bold, vindictive, and unpredictable. His apparent attack on Lin Rui’s memorial portrait is interpreted as an attempt to embarrass both Lin Rui’s memory and Lin Lang.
• Lin Lang’s assistant: Loyal but politically naïve. He struggles to understand the hostile dynamics within the Lin family, though Lin Lang values his unquestioning loyalty.

Significant Themes

• Privilege and family upbringing: Both Yan and Zhou come from powerful families that lavish resources and attention on their heirs.
• Humor amid dysfunction: The playful horse-riding scene contrasts sharply with the Lin family’s bitterness, violence, and political maneuvering.
• Reputation and public humiliation: Lin Shi’s actions matter because they occur publicly, allowing gossip to spread rapidly through their social circle and threatening Lin Lang’s status.
• Trust and loyalty: Yan’s bond with Goldie reflects long-term mutual trust, while Lin Lang distinguishes between an assistant’s loyalty and intelligence.
• Suspicion and manipulation: The chapter emphasizes hidden motives, surveillance, rumors, and the difficulty of determining who is truly responsible for events.

Character Interactions

• Yan and Zhou exchange affectionate insults and childhood stories, revealing a comfortable, longstanding friendship.
• Yan uses Goldie to retaliate against Zhou’s teasing, while Goldie’s obedience reinforces Yan’s control and confidence.
• Zhou’s questioning about Yan’s rumored ability to tame horses demonstrates his curiosity and tendency to gossip.
• Lin Lang and his assistant discuss Lin Shi’s possible involvement, exposing the assistant’s limited understanding of the family’s internal conflict.
• Lin Lang’s distrust of the surveillance evidence highlights his isolation and growing paranoia.

Chapter Summary: “You’re Being Awfully Rude!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue shares the Lin Household’s latest scandalous incident with his family. Everyone laughs, including Yan Ci, though Yan Wan criticizes Yan Xianjue for being too rude.
• Yan Wan, having learned about the Yan family’s tragic future, has become unusually tolerant of other families’ misfortunes and even praises Lin Shi’s decisiveness.
• After the Ji family meeting about Ji the Old Master’s brain death, Ji Xi throws himself into developing the company in Qianhai City.
• Several potential employees hesitate to join because of the low salary and demanding, around-the-clock expectations. Yan Xianjue proposes reimbursing travel expenses and providing housing to attract them.
• As the Gaokao approaches, the students’ academic pressure intensifies. Even normally relaxed Class Seven becomes serious, while Lin Shi returns to the Top Student Class and Shen Fangli complains about the oppressive atmosphere.
• Yan Xianjue becomes increasingly restless rather than hardworking as exams near. Ji Xi tries to force him to study physics, using notes compiled by himself and Shen Fangli.
• Yan Xianjue distracts himself by issuing numerous trivial demands to Ji Xi, though some of his business ideas—such as a joint livestream and recruiting Top Student members for Lei Xuan’s variety show—are practical.
• The travel variety show begins losing momentum because its content cannot sustain public interest. Ji Xi gains the nickname “Runaway Young Master” online and secretly reports comments using it as “false information,” amusing Yan Xianjue.
• The mood changes when damaging information about Yao Weiran appears online, including an official school notice stating that he was expelled for plagiarism.
• Lei Xuan aggressively defends Yao Weiran online, insulting their former school administrators. Yan Xianjue realizes the situation is escalating and decides to register a verified account so he can respond personally.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue: Remains mischievous, sharp-tongued, and unwilling to study, but shows growing involvement in business planning and concern for his friends. He also recognizes the danger of public controversies and prepares to intervene.
• Yan Ci: Continues to be mocked for his earlier doubts about Yan Xianjue’s inner thoughts, while his family freely laughs at his expense.
• Yan Wan: Displays a darker, more cynical sense of humor after learning about the Yan family’s future, though she remains controlled and observant.
• Ji Xi: Develops from a diligent top student into a highly capable, somewhat vindictive subordinate. He handles company planning efficiently, supports Yan Xianjue academically, and subtly retaliates against Yan’s teasing.
• Lei Xuan: Shows fierce loyalty to Yao Weiran by defending him aggressively online, even at the risk of creating further controversy.
• Yao Weiran: Becomes the target of renewed public scrutiny over his alleged plagiarism and expulsion, placing his career and reputation in danger.
• Shen Fangli: Continues contributing academically and feels the pressure of the approaching Gaokao.

Significant Themes

• Workplace and friendship-based teasing: Yan Xianjue’s relationships are marked by constant mockery, but the humor also reflects closeness and mutual trust.
• Academic pressure: The approaching Gaokao changes the atmosphere at school and forces even carefree students like Yan Xianjue to confront anxiety and responsibility.
• Power dynamics between employer and employee: Ji Xi outwardly obeys Yan Xianjue but increasingly learns to retaliate in subtle ways, challenging the idea that workers must silently endure unreasonable bosses.
• Public image and online judgment: Ji Xi’s nickname and Yao Weiran’s scandal demonstrate how quickly online narratives can define people and damage reputations.
• Loyalty and solidarity: Lei Xuan’s defense of Yao Weiran highlights the importance of friendship, even when defending someone may worsen the controversy.
• Fate and foreshadowing: Yan Xianjue’s reflection on having “raised a flag” suggests that his earlier assumptions about a peaceful variety-show production are now coming back to haunt him.

Important Character Interactions

• Yan Xianjue’s family laughs at the Lin Household’s misfortune while Yan Wan reprimands him for his rudeness.
• Ji Xi forces Yan Xianjue to confront his neglected physics studies, while Yan Xianjue retaliates by burdening Ji Xi with excessive instructions.
• Yan Xianjue and Ji Xi collaborate on company recruitment, livestream planning, and casting for Lei Xuan’s variety show.
• Yan Xianjue mocks Ji Xi’s “Runaway Young Master” nickname, only to discover Ji Xi has been reporting the comments.
• Ji Xi delivers the news about Yao Weiran’s scandal with barely concealed amusement, reversing their usual dynamic.
• Lei Xuan publicly fights with netizens and condemns Yao Weiran’s school, prompting Yan Xianjue to prepare a verified online response.

Chapter Summary: “What a Shame!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• During dinner, Yan Ci teases Yan Xianjue about the online backlash against his new subordinate, Yao Weiran, a rainbow-haired young man who appeared on a livestream.
• Yan Xianjue’s family learns that Yan Ci has sold all three members of his former esports team. Although the transfers benefited both the players and their new clubs, Yan Ci was heavily criticized online.
• Yan Yi’an reveals that Yan Ci personally argued with hundreds of fans online for an entire night, losing more than 500,000 followers and offending much of the esports community by criticizing players recommended by fans.
• Yan Xianjue suddenly remembers that Yan Ci’s Youth Training Camp may contain promising players he had previously advised Yan Ci not to overlook. Yan Ci plans to enter the trainees in minor summer tournaments, and Yan Xianjue eagerly insists on joining to help evaluate them.
• The family discusses Yao Weiran’s situation. Yan Xianjue had rescued and hired him after encountering him by chance, but failed to tell his family. Yao’s former teacher and an old associate have begun attacking him online through a paid article.
• Yan Xianjue privately reveals that he anticipated the attack and had been waiting for Yao’s former mentor to make the first move. He regrets that the man acted before Yao’s film-directing project could generate more publicity, intending to use the resulting attention to promote Yao later.
• The chapter ends by introducing Yao Weiran’s former teacher and a young man who was Yao’s classmate. They discuss whether buying a smear article will work, suggesting a larger conflict involving Yao’s past.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue: Shows sharp awareness of online publicity and hidden motives, despite his scattered and impulsive behavior. He is protective of Yao Weiran and has already prepared for possible attacks. His instinct to turn controversy into publicity also reveals his increasingly business-minded, “capitalist” approach.
• Yan Ci: Demonstrates his stubborn, confrontational personality by personally fighting with fans instead of following the PR department’s strategy. Although he dislikes his former players, he still ensures they receive fair transfers and plans to develop new talent through his Youth Training Camp.
• Yan Yi’an: Acts as the family’s calm, blunt commentator, exposing Yan Ci’s disastrous online argument and highlighting his reckless behavior.
• Yan Xianjue’s family: They remain amused and exasperated by the brothers’ bickering but are attentive to Yan Xianjue’s new career and concerned about Yao Weiran’s safety.
• Yao Weiran: Though absent from the family dinner, he becomes more significant as the target of a coordinated attack linked to his former teacher and classmate.
• Yao’s former teacher: Is revealed to consider Yao difficult to control and believes money will not be enough to silence him, hinting at a complicated history between them.

Significant Themes

• Family teasing and support: The Yan family’s constant arguments conceal genuine concern and cooperation.
• Public opinion and online backlash: The chapter explores how easily internet disputes escalate and how public relations can affect careers.
• Turning crises into opportunities: Yan Xianjue views controversy as a chance to generate publicity, showing his talent for exploiting attention.
• Ambition and capitalism: Yan Ci and Yan Xianjue both approach people and events strategically, though Yan Xianjue’s enthusiasm for monetizing attention makes even Yan Ci see him as unusually ruthless.
• Protection versus exploitation: Yan Xianjue genuinely wants to protect Yao, but he also plans to benefit commercially from Yao’s future exposure.
• Past relationships returning: Yao’s former teacher and classmate re-enter the story as antagonistic forces, setting up a conflict over reputation and old grievances.

Important Character Interactions

• Yan Ci and Yan Xianjue exchange their usual sarcastic insults, with Yan Xianjue eagerly enjoying the revelation that Yan Ci deserved his online criticism.
• Yan Yi’an exposes Yan Ci’s behavior, while the rest of the family silently acknowledges that Yan Ci’s domineering personality made the incident predictable.
• Yan Xianjue’s inner thoughts reveal his plans and worries, while the family reacts to thoughts he does not openly voice.
• Yan Ci initially resists letting Yan Xianjue join the Youth Training Camp evaluations but agrees after considering the poor judgment of his current team.
• The final father-son conversation establishes Yao Weiran’s former teacher as a serious opponent and foreshadows an upcoming confrontation.

Chapter Summary: “Point-Blank Ultimate”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Siji and his father, Zhao Jiazheng, discuss Yao Weiran’s refusal to become Zhao Siji’s ghostwriter or assistant director.
• Zhao Jiazheng reveals that he intends to suppress Yao Weiran’s career by withholding opportunities until his talent and ambition fade. Both men view this as a normal tactic in the entertainment industry.
• At Yan Corporation, Ji Xi efficiently handles work for Yan Xianjue, including sending him the login details for a newly verified social-media account. Additional accounts have also been created for Yao Weiran.
• Ji Xi lives with his mother, Ji Zhi, in an apartment provided by Yan Xianjue as a supposed work residence. Ji Zhi tries to care for him by making health soup and inviting him to watch a variety show, but Ji Xi avoids her because he knows she is watching the embarrassing program involving him.
• After arranging his father’s funeral, Ji Xi notices that his mother has become more relaxed, which reassures him.
• Yan Xianjue uses his new account to publicly confront Zhao Jiazheng, accusing him of buying paid articles and stealing others’ work.
• Yan Ci reposts and tags Zhao Jiazheng, rapidly drawing public attention to the conflict. Netizens become curious about whether the famous director is about to be exposed, though some criticize the accusation as unsupported.

Character Developments

• Zhao Jiazheng is shown as calculating and deeply cynical. He believes success depends on connections and moral compromise rather than talent or integrity.
• Zhao Siji displays resentment and insecurity toward Yao Weiran. Although he complains that Yao is arrogant, his anger suggests jealousy and frustration over Yao’s greater ability.
• Yao Weiran is characterized indirectly as principled and independent. He refuses to compromise himself by accepting Zhao Siji’s proposed arrangement.
• Ji Xi continues to prove himself as highly capable and hardworking. Despite his competence, he remains awkward and embarrassed by his mother’s affection and by Yan Xianjue’s reckless online behavior.
• Ji Zhi appears more cheerful and emotionally recovered after her husband’s burial. Her teasing and concern show her renewed energy and closeness with Ji Xi.
• Yan Xianjue takes an aggressive, direct approach to defending Yao Weiran, openly attacking Zhao Jiazheng online.
• Yan Ci continues his habit of provoking controversy, helping amplify Yan Xianjue’s accusation without hesitation.

Significant Themes

• Corruption versus integrity: Zhao Jiazheng argues that maintaining a strong moral compass is a disadvantage in the entertainment industry, while Yao Weiran’s refusal challenges that worldview.
• Power, connections, and exploitation: The chapter emphasizes how established figures can suppress talented newcomers by controlling resources and opportunities.
• Public exposure and social media justice: A single post and repost can quickly turn a private dispute into a public scandal, though the truth remains uncertain to outsiders.
• Family care and emotional recovery: Ji Zhi’s domestic concern contrasts with the ruthless entertainment-industry politics, while Ji Xi’s attention to her wellbeing reflects their family bond.
• Work and personal entanglement: Ji Xi’s professional responsibilities increasingly involve managing Yan Xianjue’s unpredictable public actions.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Jiazheng lectures Zhao Siji over dinner, shaping his son’s understanding of morality and survival in the industry.
• Ji Xi and Ji Zhi share a humorous but affectionate exchange over health soup, hair loss, and watching television.
• Ji Xi silently reacts to Yan Xianjue’s provocative post, revealing his exasperation with the young master’s behavior.
• Yan Xianjue directly targets Zhao Jiazheng online, while Yan Ci intensifies the confrontation by reposting and tagging him, prompting widespread public speculation.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After exposing director Zhao Jiazheng as the person behind the accusations against Yao Weiran, Yan Xianjue logs off, leaving others to argue online.
• Lei Xuan reposts Yan’s statement with Zhao’s ID photo to confirm his identity, then calls Yan for clarification.
• Yan reveals that Zhao was not merely Yao’s teacher but was connected to Yao’s expulsion from the drama academy for alleged plagiarism. He also confirms that Zhao and his son can be arrested because Yan has already gathered evidence through employee background checks.
• Yan orders Lei Xuan to continue provoking Zhao publicly and force him to respond rather than immediately releasing all the evidence. Yan wants Zhao to lose his reputation and possibly his career, not merely face legal punishment.
• Yan points out that the academy’s official announcement about Yao’s expulsion is still online, making Zhao’s wrongdoing especially damaging to Yao’s reputation.
• Because Lei Xuan doubts their ability to overcome Zhao’s status as a respected director, Yan contacts Lin Shi and demands to borrow his hacker.
• When Lin Shi objects to Yan’s commanding attitude and reminds him of the poor relationship between their families, Yan blackmails him by mentioning that he knows Lin Shi caused his father’s death.
• Lin Shi indirectly admits the accusation is true, then agrees to lend Yan the hacker—but insists that the arrangement go through him.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue remains calm, blunt, and highly controlling. He focuses on results rather than explanations and is willing to use public humiliation, legal action, and blackmail to achieve his goals.
• Lei Xuan is revealed to be impulsive and surprisingly uninformed. Despite defending Yao online for days, he had not investigated Yao’s background or verified the academy’s expulsion notice. However, he is loyal and willing to follow Yan’s orders.
• Yao Weiran is shown indirectly to be cooperative and considerate in daily life, helping with household chores rather than taking advantage of Lei Xuan’s hospitality. His past expulsion and damaged reputation become central to the conflict.
• Lin Shi displays a sharp, guarded personality and refuses to submit easily to Yan. His reaction to the accusation about his father reveals hidden guilt and suggests a morally ambiguous, dangerous history.
• Yan’s references to Ji Xi and his “obedient dog” status emphasize Yan’s habit of viewing subordinates in terms of loyalty and usefulness.

Significant Themes

• Reputation versus justice: Yan wants Zhao not only arrested but publicly disgraced, showing that social punishment can matter as much as legal consequences.
• Power and manipulation: Characters rely on status, information, threats, and connections to control events rather than straightforward cooperation.
• Public opinion and institutional authority: Zhao’s respected position makes it difficult to convince the public of his guilt, while the academy’s official announcement continues to harm Yao.
• Loyalty and exploitation: Lei Xuan willingly follows Yan’s orders, while Lin Shi agrees to help only after being pressured and while maintaining control over the arrangement.
• Hidden truths: Yan’s knowledge of Zhao’s crimes and Lin Shi’s secret involvement in his father’s death demonstrates how concealed information becomes a weapon.

Character Interactions

• Yan and Lei Xuan’s conversation highlights their unequal relationship: Lei Xuan asks questions and voices concerns, while Yan gives commands and expects results.
• Yan dismisses Lei Xuan’s lack of preparation but still entrusts him with the public campaign against Zhao.
• Yan never directly consults Yao in the chapter, but he frames the plan around whether Yao would prefer quiet justice or public revenge.
• Yan and Lin Shi engage in a tense power struggle. Lin Shi challenges Yan’s arrogance, but Yan gains the upper hand by revealing his knowledge of Lin Shi’s crime.
• Their exchange ends in a wary alliance, with Lin Shi agreeing to provide technical assistance under conditions he controls.

Chapter Summary: “Make Him Shut Up”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Xianjue agrees to Lin Shi’s request and presents his conditions for helping. Lin Shi criticizes him for taking on troublesome subordinates and questions whether Yan can protect weak companions forever.
• Yan retaliates by warning Lin Shi that, at eighteen, he is no longer protected by juvenile detention and should know his limits. Their exchange ends when Yan hangs up.
• Yan reflects on the plan to deal with Zhao Jiazheng and Yao Weiran. He has entrusted parts of the matter to Lin Shi’s hacker ally, Hacker Lord, and to Lei Xuan, believing their online abilities may be enough to expose or punish Zhao without his direct involvement.
• With the Gaokao approaching, Yan focuses on studying. He compares himself unfavorably with Ji Xi, who achieves an outstanding first-place score despite appearing too busy to study.
• After school, Yan leaves with Zhou Ye and Shen Fangli. A large man suddenly attacks them at the school gate.
• Yan instinctively protects Shen Fangli and kicks the attacker down. School guards intervene, initially suspecting the man may be carrying out a random attack.
• Shen Fangli recognizes the attacker as her cousin, Fang Zhiyuan. Fang claims Shen caused his mother’s imprisonment and demands that Shen financially support him.
• Yan dismisses Fang’s shameless demand. When Uncle Lu arrives, Yan orders him to “make him shut up.” Uncle Lu subdues Fang and dislocates his jaw.
• To prevent the guards from interfering, Zhou Ye calmly explains that Uncle Lu is their family’s bodyguard. The guards withdraw but advise them to contact the police.
• Since the incident is inappropriate to handle at the school entrance, Yan orders Uncle Lu to take Fang into a nearby alley.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue remains calculating and sharp-tongued. He is willing to invest in useful allies but refuses to explain himself to outsiders. Despite his apparent confidence, he recognizes his academic shortcomings and works seriously toward the Gaokao.
• Lin Shi shows his distrust and concern about Yan’s habit of protecting or recruiting weaker people. His provocative remarks reveal an antagonistic but intellectually matched relationship with Yan.
• Shen Fangli is shown to have complicated family problems. Her cousin’s appearance links her to the criminal behavior of her relatives and places her in immediate danger.
• Uncle Lu demonstrates his role as a highly capable and ruthless bodyguard, obeying Yan’s command without hesitation.
• Zhou Ye proves socially perceptive and composed, smoothly distracting the guards and protecting the group’s interests.
• Ji Xi is established as exceptionally talented academically, contrasting with Yan’s need to work hard for his results.
• Lei Xuan and Hacker Lord are characterized as valuable indirect allies who can attack enemies through online manipulation and exposure.

Significant Themes

• Strength versus weakness: Lin Shi questions whether weak people can truly be considered companions, while Yan’s actions suggest that usefulness and loyalty matter more than conventional strength.
• Protection and responsibility: Yan protects Shen Fangli immediately, while simultaneously questioning the burden of taking responsibility for others.
• Family dysfunction and exploitation: Fang Zhiyuan attempts to force Shen to support him after his mother’s imprisonment, highlighting the selfishness and criminality within Shen’s family.
• Privilege and power: The students’ wealth and connections allow them to handle the confrontation differently from ordinary people, while Zhou Ye’s composure and Uncle Lu’s violence reveal the advantages of their social position.
• Indirect justice and revenge: Yan relies on Hacker Lord and Lei Xuan to target Zhao Jiazheng, suggesting that enemies can be defeated through information, public opinion, and manipulation rather than direct confrontation.
• Academic pressure: The approaching Gaokao contrasts with the characters’ dangerous personal affairs, while Ji Xi’s effortless brilliance intensifies Yan’s insecurity about his own abilities.

Important Character Interactions

• Yan Xianjue and Lin Shi: Their phone conversation is a battle of sarcasm and veiled threats, with both testing the other’s judgment and limits.
• Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli: Yan instinctively shields Shen during the attack, showing his protective side even while he remains sarcastic about her family situation.
• Shen Fangli and Fang Zhiyuan: Their confrontation exposes Fang’s entitlement and his belief that Shen owes him financial support.
• Yan Xianjue and Uncle Lu: Yan gives a brief, severe command, and Uncle Lu responds with immediate, excessive force.
• Zhou Ye and the school guards: Zhou diplomatically prevents the guards from intervening further, demonstrating his ability to manage tense social situations.
• Yan Xianjue and Ji Xi: Though they do not interact directly in the chapter, Ji Xi’s academic success serves as a contrast to Yan’s struggles and motivates his continued effort.

Chapter Summary: “The Rule of Law Saved You”

Key plot points and events

• Zhou Ye’s driver discovers Uncle Lu carrying an injured person into an alley. Zhou Ye confirms he is unharmed and leaves after learning Uncle Lu is assisting Yan Xianjue.
• Yan Xianjue questions Shen Fangli about Fang Zhiyuan, who apparently tracked her down despite having little contact with her family.
• Yan suspects either Lin Shi or Su Su may have directed Fang Zhiyuan to Shen Fangli, with Su Su seeming especially plausible because of her connection to Shen’s second aunt.
• In the alley, Uncle Lu reveals that Fang Zhiyuan approached Shen Fangli to demand money for gambling debts. Fang had already taken over a million from Shen’s second aunt and had apparently gambled it away, then accumulated more debt.
• Fang Zhiyuan threatens Shen by invoking her mother and grandmother, claiming they will reject Shen’s family if she refuses to help him. Shen realizes these threats are empty attempts to exploit her mother’s emotional vulnerabilities.
• When Fang insults Shen Fangli and her mother, Yan Xianjue orders Uncle Lu to punish him. Uncle Lu punches Fang, injuring his mouth.
• Yan interrogates Fang about who sent him, while Shen refuses to accept responsibility for his debts. When Fang continues acting arrogantly, Yan steps on and apparently breaks his wrist.
• Fang challenges them to kill him, but Shen sarcastically points out that the law is the only reason he survives.

Character developments

• Shen Fangli becomes more assertive and emotionally detached from her exploitative relatives. She rejects Fang’s demand for money and recognizes that she is not responsible for the Fang family’s behavior.
• Yan Xianjue displays his protective nature and willingness to use intimidation and violence against anyone who insults or threatens Shen. He also shows sharp reasoning by correctly identifying Fang’s gambling problem and seeing through the family’s manipulation.
• Fang Zhiyuan is revealed as irresponsible, manipulative, shameless, and deeply addicted to gambling. Despite his desperate circumstances, he continues to threaten and insult Shen rather than accept responsibility.
• Uncle Lu proves efficient and intimidating, extracting information quickly and obeying Yan’s orders without hesitation.
• Zhou Ye remains largely peripheral but demonstrates trust in Yan and Uncle Lu by leaving rather than interfering.

Significant themes

• Family exploitation and emotional blackmail: Fang Zhiyuan uses threats involving Shen’s mother and grandmother to pressure her into paying his debts.
• Breaking away from toxic family obligations: Shen rejects the idea that blood relations require her to sacrifice her family’s money or well-being.
• Protection and loyalty: Yan’s immediate response to Fang’s insults emphasizes his growing protectiveness toward Shen.
• Law versus personal retaliation: The chapter humorously contrasts Yan’s violent punishment with Shen’s reminder that legal consequences prevent them from killing Fang.
• Consequences of irresponsibility: Fang’s gambling and entitlement have left him in danger, but he still expects others to rescue him.

Character interactions

• Yan and Shen discuss Fang’s suspicious appearance and investigate him together, strengthening their cooperation.
• Fang attempts to manipulate Shen through threats against her mother and grandmother, but Shen and Yan quickly expose his deception.
• Fang insults both Shen and her mother, provoking Yan and leading to Uncle Lu’s violent intervention.
• Yan’s protection of Shen, combined with her willingness to stand up to Fang, reinforces their increasingly close and mutually supportive relationship.

Chapter Summary: The Vice Principal Doesn't Have Much Hair Left!

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• After Fang Zhiyuan attacks Shen Fangli, Yan Xianjue and Uncle Lu overpower him. Yan breaks both of Fang Zhiyuan’s hands, mocking the idea that this will stop an addicted gambler from gambling.
• Yan suggests sending Fang Zhiyuan to Harbor City, where his creditors could deal with him, but Shen Fangli rejects the idea as excessive and insists on using legal, conventional methods.
• Fang Zhiyuan quickly loses his arrogance and begins begging and kowtowing. Under pressure, he reveals that Su Su sent him to find Shen Fangli.
• Su Su told Fang Zhiyuan that Shen Fangli had become wealthy and had found a rich boyfriend, leading him to believe Shen could provide money.
• Fang Zhiyuan also explains that Su Su gave him Shen’s school location and schedule. He had been unable to contact Fang Qin because she had changed her number and blocked him.
• Yan realizes Fang Zhiyuan was referring to him as Shen’s wealthy connection. He becomes suspicious of Su Su’s motives but dismisses the possibility that Lin Shi was involved.
• Shen advises calling the police. Yan reveals that he has secretly recorded Fang Zhiyuan’s confession and sends it to a police contact.
• Fang Zhiyuan realizes he has been tricked. Shen explains that his embezzlement of one million and gambling activities are enough to put him in prison.
• Yan further suggests that Su Su deliberately redirected Fang Zhiyuan toward Shen to eliminate her own financial problem. He pressures Fang Zhiyuan to tell the police the truth.

2. Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue: Displays a darker, more ruthless side while remaining technically within the law. He is perceptive, sarcastic, and strategically manipulative, using Fang Zhiyuan’s fear to extract information. His concern for Shen is evident in his decisive protection of her.
• Shen Fangli: Remains disgusted by Fang Zhiyuan’s cowardice and firmly rejects unnecessarily cruel retaliation. She shows practical judgment by choosing legal action and demonstrates greater confidence in dealing with threats.
• Fang Zhiyuan: His arrogance collapses almost immediately after being physically subdued. He proves cowardly and self-serving, betraying Su Su without hesitation to save himself.
• Su Su: Is revealed as calculating and manipulative. Rather than help Fang Zhiyuan, she appears to have used Shen as a scapegoat and redirected Fang’s financial demands toward her.
• Fang Qin: Though absent, her situation has improved after Fang Zhiyuan and other family burdens were removed, suggesting her independence and recovery.
• Lin Shi: Yan briefly suspects him of enabling the incident for entertainment but dismisses the theory because Lin would not risk damaging his strategic relationship with Yan.

3. Significant Themes

• Justice versus revenge: Yan considers brutal solutions but ultimately relies on evidence and the police, emphasizing that legal consequences are more effective than personal retaliation.
• Manipulation and self-preservation: Fang Zhiyuan and Su Su both attempt to exploit others for money or protection, but their schemes turn against them.
• Cowardice under pressure: Fang Zhiyuan’s rapid shift from aggression to begging exposes the emptiness of his bravado.
• Family exploitation: Shen’s relatives treat her as a source of money, highlighting the destructive effects of greed and dependency.
• Power and strategic control: Yan’s recording, psychological pressure, and ability to anticipate motives establish him as someone who controls the situation without needing prolonged violence.

4. Character Interactions

• Yan and Shen work together against Fang Zhiyuan, with Yan taking the aggressive role and Shen acting as the practical moral counterbalance.
• Yan mocks Shen’s father for failing to stop Fang Zhiyuan’s gambling, while Shen acknowledges that further violence is unnecessary.
• Fang Zhiyuan pleads directly to Shen, calling her his sister, but she responds with disgust rather than sympathy.
• Yan interrogates Fang Zhiyuan about Su Su and exposes the likely motive behind her actions.
• The chapter ends with Yan forcing Fang Zhiyuan to cooperate with the police, turning the criminal’s own confession into the weapon that will bring him down.

Chapter Summary: Do You Have No Idea What You've Done?

Key Plot Points and Events

• During class, Su Su is called away by an unfamiliar girl and disappears for the rest of the day. The students speculate about what happened.
• Yan Xianjue receives confirmation from the police that Fang Zhiyuan—the person involved in the incriminating recording—has been taken into custody. Shen Fangli is delighted, hoping Su Su will remain away from school until the Gaokao.
• Several days later, Su Su unexpectedly returns. Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli suspect that Lin Shi may have bailed her out.
• A police message confirms that Su Su was released on bail. Shortly afterward, Lin Shi arrives at school with Su Su, proving that he was the one who secured her release.
• Lin Shi casually explains that Su Su is his girlfriend and that he could not leave her in custody. Su Su is initially pleased by his acknowledgment of their relationship but is offended when he bluntly references her detention.
• Su Su mentally blames Fang Zhiyuan for failing to protect her and rationalizes Lin Shi’s delayed intervention by accepting his explanation about the turmoil in the Lin family following his father’s death.
• Su Su and Lin Shi’s relationship has apparently been confirmed, and she begins encouraging him to fight for his inheritance.
• Shen Fangli arrives, laughs at Su Su’s self-important expression, and exchanges playful banter with Yan Xianjue and Zhou Ye.
• Su Su, resentful of Shen Fangli and believing she has caused her recent misfortunes, approaches her and claims there may be a misunderstanding between them.

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue: Remains strategic, observant, and openly hostile toward Lin Shi and Su Su. He is frustrated that Lin Shi quickly undid the consequences of his efforts against Su Su.
• Shen Fangli: Shows relief at Su Su’s temporary absence and continues to respond to the situation with humor and sarcasm. Her resentment toward Su Su remains, though she maintains a lighter outward attitude.
• Su Su: Returns more calculating and self-assured after securing Lin Shi as her boyfriend. She is eager to benefit from his family’s inheritance struggle but remains resentful of those she believes have obstructed her.
• Lin Shi: Demonstrates influence by bailing Su Su out, but his careless, teasing manner humiliates her even while publicly acknowledging their relationship. His position in the Lin family remains unstable after his father’s death.
• Zhou Ye: Acts as an amused observer and raises the possibility that Lin Shi was responsible for Su Su’s release.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and consequences: Yan Xianjue’s actions lead to Su Su’s detention, but Lin Shi’s intervention prevents lasting consequences.
• Power and social influence: Su Su’s release reflects the importance of family connections and status, particularly within the powerful Lin household.
• Self-deception: Su Su excuses Lin Shi’s delayed rescue and convinces herself that their relationship gives her security and future status.
• Resentment and rivalry: Su Su increasingly views Shen Fangli as the source of her troubles, while Yan Xianjue and Lin Shi remain openly antagonistic toward one another.
• Humor amid conflict: The characters’ sarcastic exchanges and inner observations contrast with the serious issues of detention, family power struggles, and betrayal.

Character Interactions

• Yan Xianjue and Shen Fangli: Share information about Su Su’s arrest and bond over their hope that she will remain absent. Their teasing conversation highlights their familiarity.
• Yan Xianjue and Lin Shi: Confront each other indirectly over Su Su’s release. Yan Xianjue accuses Lin Shi through his hostility, while Lin Shi responds casually and provocatively.
• Lin Shi and Su Su: Their relationship is publicly established, but Lin Shi’s bluntness undermines Su Su’s attempt to appear dignified. Su Su nevertheless chooses to support and flatter him.
• Shen Fangli and Su Su: Their mutual hostility becomes increasingly obvious. Su Su approaches Shen Fangli under the pretense of resolving a misunderstanding, though resentment remains beneath the surface.
• Zhou Ye and the others: Zhou Ye provides comic relief, laughing at the exchanges and innocently drawing attention to the group’s conversations.

Chapter Summary: “Be Good, Don’t Provoke Him”

Plot and key events

Shen Fangli confronts Su Su over Fang Zhiyuan’s gambling debts and rejects Su Su’s claim that his arrest was merely a misunderstanding. When Su Su implies that Shen should help a relative in trouble, Shen sarcastically points out that Su Su’s mother once relied on unrelated customers to pay off her debts, exposing Su Su’s hypocrisy. Su Su threatens to accuse Shen of spreading rumors, but Yan Xianjue counters by playing a recording of Fang Zhiyuan’s testimony and warning that the Yan Household’s legal department can pursue the matter. He then humiliates Su Su by offering to introduce her to various wealthy men, while emphasizing that Shen, as the Shen Household’s heiress, does not need to marry into wealth.

Character developments

Yan Xianjue demonstrates confidence, loyalty toward Shen Fangli, and a sharp willingness to defend her. He also reveals that he is not intimidated by Lin Shi’s status, despite Lin’s position as the Lin Household’s heir. Shen Fangli emerges as perceptive, well-informed, and verbally aggressive when confronting Su Su. Su Su’s manipulative and class-conscious nature becomes clearer: she presents herself as helpless, attempts to gain sympathy, and looks down on Yan because he has lost his inheritance rights. Lin Shi, meanwhile, reveals a much harsher side. Rather than comforting Su Su, he mocks her dependence on status and warns her that provoking Yan could lead him to end their relationship.

Significant themes

The chapter explores hypocrisy, social status, power, and the difference between genuine affection and relationships based on advantage. Su Su claims to value Lin Shi regardless of his reduced standing, but her contempt for Yan exposes that she still measures people by wealth and inheritance. The chapter also emphasizes the danger of underestimating people who have lost power, as Yan’s connections and confidence remain formidable. Public humiliation and private intimidation further reveal how characters use social position and emotional pressure to control one another.

Character interactions

Shen and Su Su engage in a hostile verbal confrontation, with Shen turning Su Su’s own argument against her. Yan supports Shen by presenting evidence and directly attacking Su Su’s character, while Zhou Ye observes and asks Yan for clarification. Yan then orders Lin Shi to control Su Su and warns that he will not tolerate another incident. Afterward, Su Su tries to persuade Lin that Yan has insulted him, praising Lin’s superior status. Lin rejects her flattery, deliberately blows cigarette smoke in her face, and reminds her that his own position has declined. He pinches her cheek and issues a chilling warning: she must behave and avoid provoking Yan, or Lin will break up with her. Frightened, Su Su begs him not to leave her.

Chapter Summary: “Repay grievances with grievances, repay grudges with grudges”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Fangli, Yan Xianjue, and Zhou Ye leave after exposing evidence of Su Su’s actions. Shen worries that allowing Su Su to escape punishment will make her more cautious, especially with Lin Shi protecting her.
• Yan Xianjue reveals that he has no intention of letting the matter go. He plans to use the company’s legal department to sue Su Su for defamation and pressure the school to explain why she was not punished for instigating harm against a student.
• The group returns late to class. The physics teacher ignores their tardiness, while Zhou Ye teases Yan Xianjue. Ji Xi quietly gives Yan his completed class notes.
• After class, Yan assigns Ji Xi to handle the legal and school-related strategy. He wants Ji Xi to use the situation as practice for confronting Lin Shi in the future.
• Ji Xi recognizes that Lin Shi deliberately brought Su Su into Yan Xianjue’s presence to provoke him. Yan confirms this, explaining that both his retaliation and Lin Shi’s provocation are motivated by practical gain.
• Although Yan Xianjue and Lin Shi previously agreed to cooperate, their interests now conflict. Yan decides to play along with Lin Shi’s scheme while simultaneously drawing firm boundaries between Lin Shi and Yan Corporation.
• Yan concludes that the proper response is to retaliate directly: “repay grievances with grievances, repay grudges with grudges.”

Character Developments

• Yan Xianjue: Demonstrates his calculating, vengeful nature while remaining outwardly relaxed and playful. He quickly identifies Lin Shi’s strategy and turns it into an opportunity to train Ji Xi. His protectiveness toward Shen Fangli is also evident when he reassures her, “I’m here.”
• Shen Fangli: Initially worries about Su Su escaping consequences and briefly feels sympathy for her after realizing Lin Shi is exploiting her rather than caring for her. She is easily distracted by Yan’s teasing, despite being aware of the larger conflict.
• Zhou Ye: Shows his familiarity with Yan’s grudge-holding personality and understands that Yan will eventually retaliate, even if he appears calm.
• Ji Xi: Displays increasing strategic maturity. Rather than reacting emotionally to Yan’s provocation, he correctly analyzes Lin Shi’s motives and understands that the public confrontation was intentional. He is entrusted with handling the legal and administrative counterattack.
• Su Su: Remains dependent on Lin Shi’s protection and appears to be acting according to his plans, though his motives are exploitative rather than affectionate.
• Lin Shi: Emerges as a deliberate manipulator who intentionally provokes Yan to force a reaction and gain an advantage in their unstable cooperation.

Significant Themes

• Revenge and retaliation: The chapter emphasizes answering hostility with equal force rather than passively accepting injustice.
• Strategic conflict: Personal grudges are inseparable from business interests; cooperation lasts only as long as it remains profitable.
• Manipulation and exploitation: Lin Shi uses Su Su as a tool, while Yan turns Lin Shi’s scheme against him.
• Growth through experience: Yan treats the conflict as practical training for Ji Xi, preparing him for future confrontations.
• Appearance versus reality: Yan appears carefree and lazy, but he is constantly analyzing events and planning his next move.
• Moral consequences: Shen Fangli recognizes that Su Su’s current predicament is largely the result of her own choices.

Important Character Interactions

• Yan and Shen Fangli: Their playful exchange over her “vicious female supporting character” persona highlights their growing familiarity. Yan teases her but also comforts and protects her.
• Yan and Zhou Ye: Zhou’s teasing reflects his long history with Yan and his certainty that Yan will seek revenge.
• Yan and Ji Xi: Yan acts as both employer and mentor, assigning Ji Xi the task of countering Su Su and Lin Shi while encouraging him to develop independent judgment.
• Ji Xi and Yan: Ji Xi challenges Yan’s immediate reaction by pointing out that Lin Shi is baiting him. Yan acknowledges the insight and confirms that he intends to retaliate strategically.
• Lin Shi and Su Su: Their relationship is shown to be based on calculation and exploitation rather than genuine affection, despite Su Su’s possible belief that Lin Shi cares for her.

Chapter Summary: “Yan Household Roundtable”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Yan family holds an unusual after-dinner roundtable discussion about Yan Xianjue’s recent actions against Lin Shi and Su Su.
• Yan Yi’an approves of Xianjue’s decision to sue Su Su and pressure the school, recognizing that he acted strategically rather than impulsively.
• Yan Ci is confused because Xianjue’s actions appear to be directly opposing Lin Shi. Yan Wan and the others explain the political strategy behind Lin Shi’s behavior.
• Lin Shi is deliberately pretending to be love-obsessed and hostile toward the Yan Household in order to prove his loyalty to Old Master Lin.
• Because the Yan Household acquired Lin Corporation shares at a suspiciously convenient time, Old Master Lin may suspect that Lin Shi is secretly allied with them. Lin Shi therefore needs to make himself appear completely disconnected from the Yan family.
• By publicly confronting Yan Xianjue over Su Su, Lin Shi can:
  • Create the appearance of enmity with Yan Corporation.
  • Demonstrate that he is impulsive and controlled by romance.
  • Make himself seem easier for Old Master Lin to manipulate than Lin Rui’s more powerful younger son, Lin Shi’s uncle.
• The family concludes that Lin Shi may have intentionally arranged for Su Su to be brought before Xianjue so that Xianjue would react angrily and provide Lin Shi with a useful public conflict.
• Xianjue recognizes that Su Su is merely a tool being used to “draw fire” for Lin Shi. However, he refuses to follow Lin Shi’s planned script and intends to let Lin Shi retrieve her while continuing to make her suffer outside his control.
• Xianjue also argues that the Yan Household and Yan Corporation should distance themselves from Lin Shi, rather than allowing him to dictate the terms of their relationship.
• The discussion ends with Yan Yi’an observing that the Lin family members all enjoy manipulating one another through elaborate schemes.

Character Developments

• Yan Yi’an: Shows clear growth in his relationship with his siblings. Instead of isolating himself to work, he participates in a family discussion and patiently explains the political situation to Yan Ci. His understanding of the novel’s original plot also makes him more cautious and proactive.
• Yan Xianjue: Demonstrates strategic intelligence and independence. He understands Lin Shi’s hidden intentions but refuses to cooperate obediently. He also begins thinking in terms of separating the Yan family from Lin Shi’s plans.
• Yan Wan: Acts as the family’s sharp, teasing older sister. She quickly understands the political maneuvering and mocks Yan Ci’s lack of business sense while offering Xianjue blunt, imperfect comfort.
• Yan Ci: Remains naïve and confused outside esports. After initially misunderstanding Xianjue’s actions, he gradually grasps Lin Shi’s strategy, though the family continues to regard him as comically lacking in business judgment.
• Lin Shi: Is revealed to be deliberately performing the role of a weak, impulsive romantic to deceive Old Master Lin. Beneath this appearance, he is calculating and willing to use both Su Su and the Yan Household as pieces in his larger power struggle.
• Su Su: Functions as Lin Shi’s pawn and scapegoat. Although she may benefit from the relationship if she knows when to withdraw, she is also in danger because Lin Shi despises being used by others.

Significant Themes

• Strategic deception: Characters manipulate appearances to control how others interpret their motives.
• Family and political power struggles: The conflict is not merely romantic; it reflects the larger battle for control within the Lin family and between the Lin and Yan corporations.
• Performing weakness as a weapon: Lin Shi deliberately presents himself as emotional and foolish to appear controllable while secretly pursuing his own ambitions.
• Breaking free from predetermined roles: Xianjue’s refusal to follow Lin Shi’s “script” reflects the family’s growing ability to resist the novel’s original plot.
• Family relationships and changing communication: Yan Yi’an’s willingness to spend time explaining matters to his siblings shows that knowledge of the original story has encouraged him to become more emotionally involved with the Yan family.
• Mutual manipulation: The chapter emphasizes that nearly every major character is using someone else, creating a cycle in which alliances are temporary and betrayal is always possible.

Important Character Interactions

• Yan Yi’an praises Xianjue’s maturity, while Yan Wan and Xianjue tease Yan Ci about his poor business ability.
• Yan Wan physically and verbally corrects Yan Ci, reinforcing her role as the family’s domineering but caring older sister.
• Yan Yi’an, Yan Wan, and Xianjue jointly explain Lin Shi’s strategy to Yan Ci.
• Yan Wan attempts to comfort Xianjue, but her blunt reassurance only makes him complain.
• Yan Xianjue challenges Lin Shi’s intended narrative, insisting that he will not cooperate simply because Lin Shi has created a script for him.
• The siblings’ shared analysis turns the roundtable into both a strategic meeting and a display of their increasingly close family dynamic.

Chapter Summary: A Decision That Defied the Ancestors

Key plot points and events

• During a family tea discussion, Yan Yi’an reveals that Lin Lang is the person most likely to challenge Lin Rui’s position as president of Lin Corporation.
• He explains that Lin Rui helped raise Lin Lang and once viewed him as a trusted ally. However, after entering Lin Corporation, Lin Lang seized control of two important subsidiaries and openly turned against Lin Rui.
• Lin Lang’s rise was enabled by Old Master Lin’s reluctance to let Lin Rui accumulate too much power. Lin Lang understood this political dynamic and used it to secure his own future.
• The Yan siblings then shift from discussing the Lin family to discussing Yan Xianjue’s upcoming Gaokao. Yan Yi’an insists that Xianjue maintain a healthy routine and prepare seriously.
• Yan Ci complains that the family is treating the exam too seriously. Yan Wan reminds him that he once tried to drop out of high school to pursue professional esports, a decision that nearly led to punishment and caused Yan Yi’an to take a hit for him.
• After the younger brothers leave, Yan Wan teases Yan Yi’an for acting like a parent toward Xianjue. His awkward response reveals that he cannot imagine starting a family of his own.

Character developments

• Yan Yi’an is established as observant, knowledgeable, and responsible. He understands the hidden motives behind Lin Lang’s rise and acts as the practical caretaker of the Yan family.
• Lin Rui is portrayed as emotionally attached to Lin Lang because he helped raise him, making Lin Lang’s betrayal especially painful. His possessiveness and irritability stem from feeling threatened by someone he once trusted.
• Lin Lang emerges as ambitious and politically shrewd. He recognizes Old Master Lin’s fear of Lin Rui’s influence and exploits it to overcome older, more established relatives.
• Yan Xianjue is playful and mildly rebellious but ultimately willing to listen to Yan Yi’an. His internal thoughts show that he enjoys the special attention given to him as a senior-year student.
• Yan Ci remains outspoken and jealous of the attention Xianjue receives. His past decision to pursue esports highlights his impulsiveness.
• Yan Wan acts as a perceptive mediator, defending Yan Yi’an while teasing him about his overprotective behavior.

Significant themes

• Betrayal and misplaced trust: Lin Rui’s relationship with Lin Lang shows how affection and mentorship can become sources of deep betrayal.
• Family power struggles: Advancement within the Lin family depends not only on ability but also on understanding Old Master Lin’s fears and preferences.
• Parental and sibling responsibility: Yan Yi’an has taken on a parental role toward his younger siblings, despite being too young to have been their father.
• Individual choice versus family expectations: Yan Ci’s desire to become a professional gamer contrasts with the family’s generally open-minded values and their limits regarding reckless decisions.
• Emotional burdens of responsibility: Yan Yi’an’s inability to imagine starting a family suggests that his early responsibilities have shaped his view of adulthood and family life.

Character interactions

• Yan Yi’an shocks the others with his explanation of Lin Rui and Lin Lang’s history, while Yan Xianjue actively analyzes Lin Lang’s motives.
• Yan Yi’an and Xianjue exchange playful complaints about studying and family authority, with Yan Wan supporting Yi’an’s concern for the exam.
• Yan Ci’s jealousy creates comic tension, but Yan Wan silences him by recalling how Yi’an once protected him.
• The chapter ends with Yan Wan teasing Yan Yi’an about his fatherly attitude toward Xianjue, prompting an unexpectedly vulnerable response about his uncertainty regarding marriage and family.