Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Chen is awakened at night by a call from an associate reporting that “the old fox” has arrived and that the police are aware. The caller also asks Xie Chen for another Peach Blossom Talisman because he is lonely.
• Huo Wenye overhears the conversation and asks Xie Chen to make a Peach Blossom Talisman for him. Xie jokes that, due to his former cultivation of the “Heartless Dao,” he can guarantee only that the talisman will bring a relationship—not that it will be a good one or involve a particular gender.
• Huo cleverly shifts the conversation toward Xie Chen’s mysterious past. Xie admits that he possesses memories of multiple past lives, expecting disbelief, but Huo calmly says he believes him and asks Xie to recount them someday.
• Xie falls asleep and experiences another recurring nightmare involving a crime scene and mysterious runes. The runes now appear clearer, and their spiritual power seems connected to returning someone to the past.
• The dream abruptly shifts to an earlier period in Xie and Huo’s lives. In the memory, a younger Huo confronts Xie for leaving a hotel without saying goodbye after they apparently slept together while drunk.
• Huo insists that Xie take responsibility, revealing that it was his first sexual experience. Xie tries to dismiss the encounter and claims it was not his first time, provoking Huo’s jealousy and emotional reaction.
• The memory becomes increasingly intimate and comedic, with Huo offering to help Xie clean up and asking whether they can do it again. Xie angrily refuses.
• Xie wakes in the present to find Huo watching him. Embarrassed by the dream’s physical effects, Xie denies having dreamed and rushes into the bathroom. Huo seems pleased and wonders whether Xie is beginning to recover his memories.

Character Developments

• Xie Chen: His mysterious history becomes more explicit as he acknowledges memories of numerous past lives and his former cultivation of the Heartless Dao. Although he presents himself as detached and experienced, his reactions to Huo reveal embarrassment, confusion, and possible buried feelings. His recurring nightmares appear to be unlocking memories.
• Huo Wenye: He demonstrates patience, perceptiveness, and considerable cunning when questioning Xie. His calm acceptance of Xie’s past-life memories shows his unusual trust in him. The past-life memory also reveals a more openly emotional, possessive, and affectionate side of Huo.
• Their relationship: The contrast between their present restraint and their past intimacy becomes clearer. Huo appears to remember or at least understand more than Xie does and is eager for Xie to recover those memories.

Significant Themes

• Recovered memories and past lives: Xie’s dreams connect his current life to earlier experiences, suggesting that the truth of his relationship with Huo is buried in his past.
• Fate and romantic destiny: The discussion of Peach Blossom Talismans humorously raises the possibility that love may be unavoidable, unpredictable, or already present.
• Emotional repression versus desire: Xie claims detachment through the Heartless Dao, yet his dreams and physical reactions contradict his attempts to remain emotionally uninvolved.
• Trust and acceptance: Huo accepts Xie’s extraordinary claims without ridicule, reinforcing the growing intimacy and mutual understanding between them.
• Comedy in romantic tension: Their arguments over responsibility, virginity, and the possibility of repeating their encounter turn potentially serious revelations into playful banter.

Character Interactions

• Xie jokes with his associate about talismans and romance.
• Huo teases and interrogates Xie about the Heartless Dao and his past lives, while Xie tries to evade his questions.
• In the recovered memory, Huo confronts Xie over their one-night encounter and demands emotional and romantic accountability.
• Xie responds with denial and sarcasm, while Huo becomes jealous and possessive when Xie claims prior experience.
• In the present, Huo notices Xie’s reaction after the dream and quietly takes pleasure in the possibility that Xie is starting to remember their shared past.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• At a Harvard classroom, Professor Xie Chen presents a graphic murder case during a livestreamed lecture. Although he appears distracted, he uses the case to lead students toward identifying a hidden murderer.
• Huo Wenye immediately deduces that the first police officer at the crime scene was likely the culprit because he entered without gloves and contaminated possible evidence.
• The students expand on the deduction, connecting the case to earlier Harvard student suicides and suspecting that members of the secretive X Club may be involved. They speculate that the organization could have infiltrated the police and other professions.
• The livestream audience recognizes that Xie Chen is deliberately using the public class to steer people toward investigating X Club and its membership.
• Qin Huai watches anxiously from his law office and realizes that Xie Chen’s tactics may expose the organization. He contacts his master, Taiyu Perfected One, for instructions.
• Taiyu dismisses the threat, claiming that powerful officials are already under X Club’s control.
• The chapter then reveals that Taiyu is torturing Xie Yongan to obtain a bank password. Xie Yongan refuses, threatening to expose evidence that Taiyu once harmed the Xie family.
• Xie Yongan challenges Taiyu directly, asserting that Taiyu fears Xie Chen’s abilities and knows Xie Chen could ultimately destroy him.

2. Character Developments

• Xie Chen: Demonstrates his strategic intelligence and ability to manipulate a classroom discussion into a broader investigation. He also becomes visibly flustered by Huo Wenye’s presence, revealing a personal emotional distraction beneath his confident professor persona.
• Huo Wenye: Shows exceptional observational and deductive ability by identifying the murderer from a seemingly minor detail. His calm, confident behavior contrasts with Xie Chen’s internal exasperation.
• Qin Huai: Is revealed to be deeply loyal to Taiyu and involved with X Club. Despite his initial fear, he regains confidence after hearing that the organization controls influential officials.
• Taiyu Perfected One: Appears ruthless, confident, and politically powerful. He casually oversees torture and believes X Club’s influence will shield him, though Xie Yongan’s accusations expose a possible fear of Xie Chen.
• Xie Yongan: Despite being injured and tortured, remains defiant. He uses his knowledge of Taiyu’s crimes as leverage and refuses to surrender the password.

3. Significant Themes

• Intelligence and deduction: Small details, such as the lack of gloves at a crime scene, can expose larger conspiracies.
• Public information as a weapon: Xie Chen uses education and livestreaming to spread suspicion and mobilize public attention against X Club.
• Institutional corruption and infiltration: The discussion suggests that X Club has influence across law enforcement, government, and other professions.
• Power and fear: Taiyu claims absolute control, but Xie Yongan argues that his confidence masks a deep fear of Xie Chen.
• Resistance under oppression: Xie Yongan’s refusal to cooperate shows that physical suffering does not necessarily overcome determination or the desire for justice.
• Personal distraction amid conflict: Xie Chen’s feelings toward Huo Wenye complicate his otherwise focused and controlled behavior.

4. Character Interactions

• Xie Chen and his students: He intimidates them into thinking critically, then allows their deductions to develop into suspicion of X Club.
• Xie Chen and Huo Wenye: Huo’s effortless solution frustrates and embarrasses Xie Chen, while Huo remains composed and confident. Their exchange carries clear personal tension beneath the classroom setting.
• Qin Huai and Taiyu: Qin reports the growing threat posed by Xie Chen, while Taiyu reassures him that X Club controls the upper levels of power.
• Taiyu and Xie Yongan: Their confrontation shifts from false negotiation to open hostility. Taiyu demands the bank password, while Xie Yongan threatens to reveal Taiyu’s crimes and declares that Taiyu fears Xie Chen.

Chapter Summary: “Evil Gets Its Due?!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Ran accompanies his mother, Zhang Fang, on a shopping spree at a luxury store despite the Xie Group’s severe financial problems.
• Zhang Fang continues to act arrogantly, demanding only limited-edition clothing and humiliating a new clerk over the quality of the tea.
• After spending hours selecting clothes, Zhang Fang attempts to pay with several bank cards, only to discover that all of them have been frozen.
• Xie Zhenting explains that the Xie Group has gone bankrupt and its assets were used to repay debts. Zhang Fang angrily refuses to accept that her wealth depended entirely on the company.
• Store employees have security remove Zhang Fang after she causes a scene. One clerk records and livestreams her humiliation, quickly making the incident—and her past bullying—go viral.
• Topics about the Xie Group’s collapse, Zhang Fang’s arrogance, and the lack of public sympathy for her trend across social media.
• Lu Fei sends the online backlash to Xie Chen, who confirms that the entire incident was deliberately orchestrated. The bad tea, humiliated clerk, camera placement, frozen cards, and timely arrival of security were all part of his plan to destroy Zhang Fang’s reputation.
• The chapter ends with Huo Wenye teasing Xie Chen about a video he recorded of Xie Chen while he was dreaming, making Xie Chen worry that he may have been filmed having a sexual dream.

Character Developments

• Zhang Fang: Her arrogance, entitlement, and dependence on the Xie Group are exposed. Her sudden fall from apparent luxury to bankruptcy drives her into hysterics, revealing how incapable she is of accepting reality.
• Xie Ran: He recognizes the family’s financial collapse but remains passive and self-protective. Rather than defend Zhang Fang, he stands aside to avoid damaging his entertainment career.
• Xie Zhenting: He confirms the company’s bankruptcy and shows frustration with Zhang Fang’s delusions about having independent wealth.
• Xie Chen: He emerges as calculating and vindictive, having meticulously engineered Zhang Fang’s public humiliation and downfall.
• Lu Fei: He assists Xie Chen by amplifying the scandal online and enthusiastically praises the success of their scheme.
• Huo Wenye: He continues his flirtatious, teasing behavior toward Xie Chen, shifting the ending from revenge and humiliation to playful romantic tension.

Significant Themes

• Retribution and “evil getting its due”: Zhang Fang’s mistreatment of others and arrogant behavior return to haunt her through public humiliation and social condemnation.
• The fragility of wealth and status: Zhang Fang’s luxurious lifestyle disappears instantly once the Xie Group collapses, exposing that her power was borrowed rather than truly hers.
• Public image and social media judgment: A single livestream transforms a private disgrace into a viral scandal, showing how quickly reputations can be destroyed online.
• Calculated revenge: Xie Chen’s plan demonstrates that revenge can be carefully staged rather than openly confrontational.
• Moral ambiguity: Although Zhang Fang is unpleasant and receives little sympathy, Xie Chen’s deliberate manipulation of the situation raises questions about whether his justice is also cruel.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Fang bullies the store clerk while the manager obediently caters to her, highlighting her sense of superiority.
• She snaps at Xie Ran, who quickly appeases her instead of confronting her.
• Her phone argument with Xie Zhenting reveals the family’s financial collapse and the conflict between her entitlement and his frustration.
• Xie Ran refuses to help when security removes Zhang Fang, prioritizing his own career.
• Lu Fei and Xie Chen exchange messages celebrating the success of the scheme.
• Huo Wenye ends the chapter by teasing Xie Chen about secretly—or “openly”—recording him during a dream, creating an embarrassed and suggestive moment between them.

Chapter Summary: “Want to Try It for Real?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Zhenting retrieves his mother, Zhang Fang, from the police station and angrily confronts her for going shopping and causing a public disturbance while the Xie Group is facing bankruptcy, overwhelming debt, and government intervention.
• Zhang Fang refuses to accept responsibility, blaming her sons for failing to save the company. Xie Zhenting angrily reminds her that her testimony helped drive their father away with the company’s money.
• Zhang suddenly realizes that Xie Ran was not present during her humiliation and threatens to punish him. Xie Zhenting, disgusted by her behavior, pushes her away and condemns her for not caring about her own children before abandoning her.
• Reporters surround Zhang, questioning her about the collapse of her wealthy lifestyle, Xie Yuchen’s investigation overseas, and Xie Ran’s failure to help her. She breaks down and flees while they pursue her.
• Lu Fei watches from a distance, satisfied that the plan is progressing, and sends Xie Chen a recording of the incident.
• Desperate to save the Xie Group, Xie Zhenting calls Xie Chen and begs for help. Huo Wenye answers instead, revealing that he is living with Xie Chen and mockingly explaining that Xie Chen has not helped the company—he has accelerated its destruction.
• Xie Chen refuses to speak to Xie Zhenting, reinforcing his rejection of the Xie family. Xie Zhenting returns home furious, while his brother Xie Jinran proposes flying overseas to confront Xie Chen directly.
• In the final scene, Huo Wenye and Xie Chen share an intimate moment. Huo teases Xie about dreams in which Xie supposedly called his name and desired him, then provocatively asks whether Xie wants to make those dreams real.

Character Developments

• Xie Zhenting becomes increasingly desperate and resentful as the family business collapses. Though he seeks Xie Chen’s help, his anger toward Huo Wenye shows that he still feels entitled to control Xie Chen’s relationship with the family.
• Zhang Fang remains arrogant and irresponsible, refusing to acknowledge her role in the family’s downfall. Her public breakdown marks the collapse of her former social status and influence.
• Xie Chen demonstrates deliberate revenge against the Xie family by contributing to the company’s destruction and refusing to rescue them. His emotional and physical closeness with Huo Wenye also suggests that his feelings are becoming harder to deny.
• Huo Wenye acts as both Xie Chen’s protector and tormentor, taunting the Xie family while confidently taking control of his intimate relationship with Xie Chen.
• Xie Jinran appears loyal to the family but reacts impulsively, planning to confront Xie Chen overseas.
• Lu Fei is revealed as an active participant in the scheme against the Xie family, monitoring events and reporting their success to Xie Chen.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of irresponsibility: Zhang Fang’s extravagance and testimony contribute to the family’s financial and personal collapse.
• Revenge and rejection: Xie Chen’s refusal to save the Xie Group shows that he has turned against the family and is actively punishing them.
• The downfall of wealth and status: Zhang’s transition from wealthy socialite to publicly humiliated debtor emphasizes how fragile privilege can be.
• Manipulation and control: Characters attempt to use one another for survival, while Huo Wenye controls both the phone conversation and the intimate encounter.
• Suppressed desire: Xie Chen denies wanting Huo Wenye, but his physical stillness and growing comfort in Huo’s embrace suggest an internal conflict between denial and attraction.

Character Interactions

• Xie Zhenting and Zhang Fang: Their confrontation exposes the family’s resentment and Zhang’s refusal to accept blame.
• Xie Zhenting and Xie Chen: Xie Zhenting begs for help, but Xie Chen rejects him indirectly and refuses contact.
• Xie Zhenting and Huo Wenye: Huo mocks Xie Zhenting and reveals that Xie Chen is deliberately destroying the company, intensifying Xie Zhenting’s hatred.
• Xie Zhenting and Xie Jinran: The brothers share panic over the crisis, with Jinran offering to confront Xie Chen personally.
• Xie Chen and Huo Wenye: Their flirtatious, physically intimate exchange forms the chapter’s closing focus, escalating their relationship from teasing ambiguity toward possible consummation.

Chapter Summary: “The Plot Has to Get Down and Dirty!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Huo Wenye teases Xie Chen about recreating the intimate events of Xie Chen’s dream. Xie Chen briefly responds suggestively before realizing what he is saying and retreating to the bathroom under the excuse of needing another shower. The livestream audience enthusiastically speculates about their relationship and possible past intimacy.
• After dinner, Xie Chen teaches his evening class while Huo Wenye watches from the front row. During the lesson, police arrive and urgently request Xie Chen’s assistance with an investigation.
• Before leaving, Xie Chen assigns the students a difficult research report based on the case discussed in class, requiring an original premise, a complex angle, and a legal method of proving the suspect innocent. The students are horrified by the demanding assignment.
• Huo Wenye accompanies Xie Chen to the police station. The police chief asks Xie Chen to help identify a mole within the station. Xie Chen dismisses the task as simple, suggesting confidence in his investigative abilities.
• Meanwhile, Xie Jinran prepares to leave for the United States after seeing footage of Zhang Fang’s breakdown and becoming disillusioned with Xie Ran. He condemns Xie Ran for failing to help their mother and accuses him of trying to sell a jade pendant with a dangerous history.
• Xie Ran denies possessing the pendant and assumes Xie Jinran is merely jealous. Shortly afterward, Zhang Fang attacks him, accusing him of abandoning her and trying to escape. She tears out some of his hair, ruining his mood before an upcoming audition.
• At the audition and filming set, Li Jingfei and Director Chen deliberately cast Xie Ran as a “green-tea” villain because his unpleasant reputation suits the role. Meanwhile, actor Luo Mingyu becomes exasperated after being forced to repeatedly film intense kissing scenes, while Li Jingfei insists the production needs to be more provocative.

Character Developments

• Xie Chen remains outwardly composed and principled but is easily flustered by Huo Wenye’s flirtation. His willingness to accept Huo’s company shows growing trust and dependence.
• Huo Wenye acts boldly and seductively toward Xie Chen, appearing increasingly comfortable with their ambiguous relationship. He also quietly supports Xie Chen by accompanying him to the police station.
• Xie Jinran becomes colder and more decisive after witnessing Zhang Fang’s collapse and Xie Ran’s apparent indifference. He chooses to leave for the United States, likely to help another family member, while severing emotional ties with Xie Ran.
• Xie Ran remains selfish, deceptive, and convinced that others are motivated by jealousy. His confidence is undermined by Zhang Fang’s violent outburst, but he still focuses on preserving his career and attending the audition.
• Zhang Fang displays worsening mental instability and directs her anger toward Xie Ran, whom she views as abandoning her.
• Li Jingfei proves manipulative and entertainment-minded, intentionally exploiting Xie Ran’s reputation to generate audience hatred and maximize the drama of the production.
• Luo Mingyu becomes increasingly frustrated with the excessive romantic filming, providing comic relief through his protests.

Significant Themes

• Romantic tension and public speculation: Xie Chen and Huo Wenye’s flirtation is amplified by the livestream audience, blurring the line between private emotions and public entertainment.
• Trust and emotional loyalty: Huo Wenye’s support contrasts with the fractured relationships within the Xie family, especially Xie Ran’s abandonment of Zhang Fang.
• Family betrayal and resentment: Xie Jinran’s departure reflects his growing disappointment in Xie Ran and his rejection of false familial obligations.
• Reputation as a weapon: Xie Ran’s public image is deliberately used to cast him as an unlikeable character, showing how scandal can harm someone personally while benefiting the entertainment industry.
• Performance and manipulation: The chapter repeatedly contrasts genuine feelings with staged behavior—whether in romance, family interactions, livestreaming, or acting.
• Humor amid conflict: Xie Chen’s embarrassment, the students’ despair, and Luo Mingyu’s outrage lighten the darker developments involving the Xie family and Zhang Fang’s instability.

Important Character Interactions

• Xie Chen and Huo Wenye: Huo teases Xie Chen about his dream, while Xie Chen retreats in embarrassment. Their playful tension suggests increasing intimacy.
• Xie Chen and his students: Xie Chen abruptly leaves for the police investigation but assigns an especially difficult task, reinforcing his strict and demanding teaching style.
• Xie Chen and the police chief: The chief admires Xie Chen’s expertise, while Xie Chen remains direct and confident, treating the mole investigation as a relatively easy problem.
• Xie Jinran and Xie Ran: Xie Jinran confronts Xie Ran over the jade pendant and his treatment of Zhang Fang, exposing deep resentment and a breakdown in their brotherly relationship.
• Xie Ran and Zhang Fang: Zhang Fang physically attacks Xie Ran, accusing him of abandoning her. Their violent confrontation reveals the extent of the family’s dysfunction.
• Li Jingfei, Director Chen, and Luo Mingyu: The director and producer push for increasingly passionate scenes, while Luo Mingyu protests that the kissing has already gone far beyond reasonable limits.

Li Sifan and Luo Mingyu argued over their repeated kissing scenes, while Xie Ran joined the production as Wang Chen and tried to drive a wedge between the leads. During filming, Li Sifan unexpectedly dragged Xie Ran away and told Luo Mingyu he was tired of waiting, leaving Luo Mingyu stunned.

• Li Jingfei convinced Li Sifan that Luo Mingyu might be encouraging their kissing scenes because he had a crush on him, so Li Sifan went to confront him.
• Xie Ran interviewed with Director Chen, who hired him as Wang Chen after hearing him defend the character.
• Xie Ran arrived on set and tried to hint to his assistant that he had a complicated history with Li Sifan and Luo Mingyu.
• During the first scene, Li Sifan pushed Xie Ran away, then grabbed him and acted as if he would take him home after Luo Mingyu taunted him.
• Li Sifan told Luo Mingyu he had waited a long time and was tired, leaving Luo Mingyu speechless as Xie Ran was dragged from the room.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Jinran arrives in the United States and visits Xie Yuchen, who remains in police custody because the Xie Family cannot afford his bail.
• He explains that Xie Group is collapsing under mounting debts, its assets have been frozen, and the family is close to bankruptcy. Xie Yuchen’s mother has testified against them, while their father has fled after his car accident.
• Xie Jinran decides to beg Xie Chen for help, hoping their former family bond will persuade him to save the family or at least pay Xie Yuchen’s bail.
• Meanwhile, Xie Chen assists the police by providing a large list of individuals connected to criminal forces. The police commissioner praises him and hints at future cooperation, but Xie Chen dismisses the suggestion.
• Xie Chen and Huo Wenye return to the Harvard dormitories, where Xie Jinran is waiting.
• Xie Jinran apologizes and attempts to beg for forgiveness, even offering to kneel. Xie Chen refuses and reveals that he deliberately orchestrated the Xie Family’s downfall.
• Xie Chen also admits that he was behind the online video damaging Xie Jinran’s birth mother and threatens to make the family suffer even more.
• The confrontation is captured on camera, causing excitement and confusion among livestream viewers, many of whom support Xie Chen’s revenge.

Character Developments

• Xie Chen fully embraces his role as the Xie Family’s enemy. His bitterness and determination show that he no longer seeks their love or recognition; instead, he intends to repay the suffering they caused him.
• Xie Jinran shifts from confidence to desperation. He begins by expecting Xie Chen to help because of their shared upbringing, but is left stunned when Xie Chen admits responsibility for the family’s ruin.
• Xie Yuchen becomes emotionally overwhelmed after learning that the family has abandoned him and may be unable to pay his bail.
• Huo Wenye continues to support Xie Chen, appearing amused and pleased by Xie Chen’s refusal to conceal their closeness. He quietly follows Xie Chen after the confrontation.
• The police commissioner and officers develop admiration and curiosity toward Xie Chen, especially regarding his influence and relationship with Huo Wenye.

Significant Themes

• Revenge and justice: Xie Chen views the Xie Family’s collapse as repayment for the despair and mistreatment they inflicted on him.
• Betrayal and broken family bonds: The family’s abandonment, denial, and past cruelty have destroyed any emotional connection between Xie Chen and the others.
• Desperation and downfall: The Xie Family’s financial collapse, legal troubles, and internal betrayals reveal how quickly power and wealth can disappear.
• Public exposure: The livestream turns a private family conflict into public entertainment, allowing viewers to judge and support Xie Chen’s actions.
• Reclaiming power: Xie Chen has moved from craving family acknowledgment to controlling the family’s fate himself.

Character Interactions

• Xie Jinran and Xie Yuchen: Jinran delivers the bad news about the family’s collapse, while Yuchen reacts with panic and demands immediate help.
• Xie Chen and the police commissioner: Xie Chen provides valuable intelligence but rejects attempts to draw him into future cooperation.
• Xie Chen and Xie Jinran: Their confrontation is hostile and decisive. Jinran begs for mercy, but Xie Chen mocks his expectations, refuses forgiveness, and openly declares his revenge.
• Xie Chen and Huo Wenye: Huo offers to remove Jinran, but Xie Chen chooses to confront him personally. Their easy coordination and Huo’s supportive presence suggest growing intimacy.
• Xie Chen and the livestream audience: Though indirectly, Xie’s blunt confession wins public approval, with viewers cheering his retaliation against the Xie Family.

Chapter Summary: “You Can’t Hide”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Xie Family becomes universally condemned after its illegal activities and abuse of power are exposed. Although Xie Chen admits during a livestream that he helped accelerate the Xie Group’s collapse, the public praises him as a brave whistleblower and symbol of justice.
• A censored video of Madam Xie further fuels public outrage, reinforcing the perception that the wealthy Xie family believed itself above the law.
• Director Li enjoys the rising livestream viewership, especially whenever Xie Chen or Huo Wenye appears. His wife calls angrily, demanding that he punish Xie Jinran for previously abusing Xie Chen and now seeking his help. Director Li talks her out of physically attacking him.
• In the dormitory, Xie Chen discovers that he and Huo Wenye share one bed. Huo questions him about his earlier claim that the Xie Family nearly drove him to death. Xie pretends to fall asleep to avoid answering, but Huo sees through him and teases him, warning that he cannot hide.
• Meanwhile, the police chief launches an emergency operation to eliminate moles within the department. The investigation alarms the Taiyu Sect and forces Qin Huai to report to Taiyu Perfected One.
• Taiyu orders the release of the detained students, the suspension of sacrificial rituals, and a temporary retreat until the investigation dies down. He remains confident that the crackdown is only superficial.
• Xie Yongan, imprisoned and broken, mocks Taiyu from inside the Buddhist hall, declaring that Xie Chen is dismantling the sect piece by piece.
• Qin Huai grows increasingly doubtful of his master. With their funding cut, rituals suspended, police attention intensifying, and his brother still in custody, he begins wondering whether he should secretly prepare an escape.

Character Developments

• Xie Chen: Gains massive public support and is increasingly viewed as a righteous figure, though he remains evasive about the trauma inflicted on him by the Xie Family.
• Huo Wenye: Shows growing concern about Xie Chen’s past and becomes more openly affectionate and physically teasing. He is determined to make Xie Chen reveal the truth rather than allowing him to evade the subject.
• Director Li and his wife: Their humorous exchange highlights how emotionally invested the public has become in Xie Chen’s situation. Director Li’s wife is fiercely protective of him.
• Taiyu Perfected One: Remains calculating and confident, attempting to wait out the investigation while abandoning or postponing risky operations.
• Qin Huai: Begins losing faith in Taiyu. He recognizes that the sect’s position is deteriorating and fears that he may eventually be discarded like Xie Yongan.
• Xie Yongan: Though physically and psychologically ruined, he retains enough clarity to taunt Taiyu and recognize Xie Chen’s success in destroying the sect.

Significant Themes

• Justice versus privilege: The Xie Family’s downfall demonstrates that wealth and influence cannot permanently shield people from public or legal consequences.
• Public opinion and media power: Livestreams transform Xie Chen into a symbol of justice and help expose corruption, while also turning personal suffering into public spectacle.
• Truth and concealment: Xie Chen tries to hide his painful past, but Huo Wenye insists that the truth cannot remain buried.
• Collapse of corrupt systems: The police crackdown, disrupted funding, and halted rituals show the Taiyu Sect’s network beginning to unravel.
• Loyalty and self-preservation: Qin Huai’s doubts reveal how fear replaces loyalty when a leader begins sacrificing subordinates and losing control.

Important Character Interactions

• Director Li and his wife argue humorously over whether Xie Jinran deserves punishment, with her acting as an aggressive defender of Xie Chen.
• Huo Wenye presses Xie Chen about the Xie Family’s abuse, while Xie Chen tries to evade him by pretending to sleep. Huo responds playfully but firmly, making clear that Xie Chen cannot hide from him.
• Qin Huai reports the police crackdown to Taiyu, who orders the sect to retreat temporarily.
• Xie Yongan taunts Taiyu from confinement, claiming that Xie Chen is steadily destroying everything Taiyu built.
• Qin Huai privately questions whether his master will abandon him once he is no longer useful.

During a school-days flashback scene, Xie Ran panicked after claiming he saw a ghost and fainted, while Luo Mingyu grew jealous of Li Sifan's old crush on a transfer student. That night, a drunk Luo Mingyu confronted Li Sifan and asked whether he was better than the fake innocent.

• Director Chen forced Li Sifan to follow the script and escort Xie Ran to the restroom.
• Luo Mingyu remembered how he and Li Sifan had fought over a transfer student named Wang Chen at school.
• Xie Ran screamed that he had seen a ghost, then fainted after Luo Mingyu and Li Sifan mocked his jade pendant.
• Luo Mingyu accused Li Sifan of liking people like Xie Ran and denied that he was jealous.
• Luo Mingyu entered Li Sifan's room drunk and asked whether Li Sifan should like him instead and whether he was better than the fake innocent.

Li Sifan restrained himself as drunk Luo Mingyu flirted with him, while Xie Ran was sent for psychiatric treatment after his breakdown. In the United States, Xie Chen recognized the cursed jade pendant and suspected Xie Yongan had given it to Xie Ran, as uniformed officials began investigating the pendant.

• Luo Mingyu took off his shirt to prove he was better-looking, then fell asleep clinging to Li Sifan before answering whether he liked him.
• Xie Zhenting agreed to have Xie Ran transferred to a specialist hospital, and Xie Ran claimed he could sell his jade pendant for tens of millions.
• Xie Zhenting overheard uniformed men asking which ward Xie Ran was in and suspected a special department wanted the cursed pendant.
• Xie Chen recognized the pendant in a photo, warned Huo Wenye that it was cursed, and said Xie Yongan had given it to Xie Ran.
• Xie Chen reflected that Xie Ran's mother had given him a Yin Talisman and his father had given him the pendant.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Xie Chen reflects on the Xie Family’s cruel treatment of him, realizing their claims of “compensation” and resentment over Xie Ran were merely excuses for prolonged abuse. He recalls how Xie Chen was imprisoned in a basement over a fabricated kidney-transplant illness.
• Xie Chen had secretly known that Xie Yongan stole the Xie Family’s Destiny Pattern and had endured the family’s actions to expose the hidden mastermind. However, the mastermind abandoned their informant and disappeared, leaving Xie Chen without a clear lead.
• A photograph sent by the special department shows a sinister, yin-filled object—apparently the ancestral jade pendant—which Xie Chen suspects may belong to him or be connected to his past.
• Huo Wenye notices Xie Chen’s obsession with the jade pendant and teasingly offers to obtain it for him, despite the authorities already possessing it. He then leaves to handle the matter, while Xie Chen insists he can sleep alone even though he clearly dislikes being separated from Huo.
• While studying the pendant’s photograph, Xie Chen falls asleep and dreams of a past life or memory in which he is Professor Smith at a university.
• In the dream, a forum post accuses “Professor Smith” of having a one-night stand and refusing to take responsibility. The accompanying photograph reveals only a person’s body and collarbone, but the implication causes Xie Chen intense embarrassment.
• Huo Wenye appears at the university and admits he posted the image, claiming he did so because he feared Xie Chen would refuse to take responsibility after their encounter.
• In the enclosed backseat of Huo’s car, Huo unexpectedly announces that they will travel to a country where same-sex marriage is legal and marry the following month. He declares that Xie Chen can only have him from now on.

Character developments

• Xie Chen: Becomes more aware of the Xie Family’s deliberate cruelty and remains determined to uncover the mastermind behind the Destiny Pattern theft. His fixation on the jade pendant suggests a deep personal or supernatural connection to it. Despite his sharp tongue and apparent independence, he is emotionally attached to Huo Wenye and becomes flustered whenever their relationship is discussed.
• Huo Wenye: Displays confidence, possessiveness, and an increasingly direct commitment to Xie Chen. He uses teasing and shameless logic to force Xie Chen to confront their relationship, ultimately escalating from flirtation to proposing marriage.
• Xie Yongan and the Xie Family: Their past actions are reframed as intentional cruelty rather than misguided attempts at compensation. Xie Yongan’s theft of the Destiny Pattern remains central to the mystery.
• Sophie: Acts as a gossiping colleague who enjoys embarrassing Professor Smith and immediately speculates about his relationship with Huo Wenye.

Significant themes

• Abuse disguised as affection or compensation: The chapter exposes the Xie Family’s supposed love as manipulation and cruelty.
• Responsibility and commitment: The title’s accusation becomes a playful romantic conflict, with Huo turning “taking responsibility” into a demand for marriage.
• Supernatural inheritance and hidden conspiracies: The jade pendant, Destiny Pattern, yin energy, and missing mastermind deepen the mystery surrounding Xie Chen’s past.
• Public image versus private truth: Online gossip distorts or sensationalizes Xie Chen’s relationships, while Huo deliberately uses that gossip to pressure him into acknowledging their bond.
• Emotional dependence beneath denial: Xie Chen insists he can sleep alone and remain unaffected, but his actions and reactions reveal how strongly he relies on Huo.

Character interactions

• Xie Chen and Huo exchange flirtatious, argumentative banter over the jade pendant and whether Xie Chen will “take responsibility.”
• Huo teases Xie Chen about missing him, while Xie defensively denies it.
• In the dream, Sophie embarrasses Xie Chen by questioning him about the scandalous forum post and trying to inspect his collarbone.
• Huo confronts Xie Chen publicly, admits to posting the accusation, and uses their private encounter as justification for demanding a committed relationship.
• The chapter ends with Huo taking Xie Chen’s hand and proposing marriage, while Xie reacts with shock and disbelief.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Chen tries to escape after Huo Wenye unexpectedly proposes obtaining a marriage certificate after their one-night encounter. Huo threatens to release compromising bed photos, though he claims he will censor them, forcing Xie Chen to agree to date first.
• Huo Wenye demonstrates that he has investigated Xie Chen’s life, knowing his teaching schedule and arranging to pick him up after class. Xie Chen suspects Huo may be treating their relationship as an entertaining “forceful romance” game that will eventually lose its novelty.
• After Xie Chen’s class, Huo meets him with proof that he deleted the forum post. He proposes an elaborate date involving Michelin food, shopping, and a five-star hotel. Xie Chen interprets the plan as the routine of being financially kept and becomes increasingly flustered when Huo implies their relationship could include sex.
• Xie Chen insists they are only dating, not sleeping together. Huo jokingly—or perhaps sincerely—argues that marriage would make intimacy more proper. Xie Chen angrily rejects him, but later wakes from another suggestive dream involving Huo, realizing his subconscious attraction is growing.
• The chapter shifts to the return of Harvard’s missing students. They appear dazed and unresponsive, and Xie Chen tells the president that their souls have been lost and can be summoned back. Motivated by the promise of a bonus for each student, Xie Chen enthusiastically accepts the task.
• At midnight, Xie Chen and Huo enter the dark dormitory corridor to perform the soul-summoning. Xie Chen explains that Taiyu Perfected One likely set a trap or created a backlash. When a ghostly flame approaches, Xie Chen attacks it with a spinning kick, vowing to defeat Taiyu Perfected One.

Character Developments

• Xie Chen: Remains outwardly resistant to Huo’s advances, using sarcasm and anger to protect his dignity, but his repeated dreams and involuntary embarrassment reveal a growing attraction. He is also pragmatic and money-conscious, accepting the soul-retrieval task because of the financial reward. In the supernatural conflict, he shows confidence, quick reflexes, and a combative sense of humor.
• Huo Wenye: Continues to be domineering, calculating, and unusually direct about wanting Xie Chen. He uses threats and teasing to keep Xie close, but also shows attentiveness by researching Xie’s schedule, arranging dates, deleting the compromising post, and accompanying him during the dangerous soul-summoning. His suggestive remarks are delivered with startling seriousness, making his intentions difficult for Xie Chen to dismiss.
• Taiyu Perfected One: Though absent in person, he remains an active antagonist. Xie Chen expects him to interfere with the soul-summoning and prepares for retaliation.

Significant Themes

• Reluctance versus attraction: Xie Chen verbally rejects Huo while his reactions and dreams betray increasing interest.
• Control and pursuit: Huo’s forceful courtship contrasts with Xie Chen’s attempts to retain independence and set boundaries.
• Humor in romance: Threats, misunderstandings, and exaggerated discussions of dating, sex, and marriage create a comedic tension between the characters.
• Supernatural responsibility: Beneath the romantic comedy, Xie Chen is tasked with restoring the students’ souls and confronting the consequences of Taiyu Perfected One’s schemes.
• Independence versus dependence: Xie Chen rejects the idea of being financially supported by Huo, insisting that earning his own living matters more than receiving handouts.

Character Interactions

• Xie Chen and Huo’s exchanges are dominated by bickering, flirtation, and misunderstandings. Huo repeatedly interprets ordinary dating plans through the lens of physical intimacy, while Xie Chen angrily tries to redefine their relationship.
• Huo’s teasing exposes Xie Chen’s hidden embarrassment and attraction, especially when he suggests supporting Xie financially or questions whether intimacy should be separate from dating.
• Despite Xie Chen’s protests, Huo remains close and helpful, taking his lesson plans, meeting him after class, and accompanying him into the dangerous dormitory.
• Their romantic tension carries into the supernatural plot, with Huo acting as Xie Chen’s calm companion while Xie Chen takes the lead in confronting the ghostly threat.

Qin Huai secretly allied with Xie Yongan to obtain his money and betray Taiyu Perfected One, while Luo Mingyu woke up embarrassed after drunkenly confessing to Li Sifan. Back on set, the cast learned Xie Ran had been hospitalized, and Director Chen prepared Li Sifan and Luo Mingyu to film their bed scene.

• Taiyu Perfected One coughed up blood after Xie Chen turned his power against him, and Qin Huai began doubting whether his master could survive a direct confrontation.
• Qin Huai learned that Xie Yongan would hand over his savings and promised to free him in exchange for half the money, relying on Xie Chen to defeat Taiyu Perfected One.
• Luo Mingyu woke in Li Sifan's room and watched surveillance footage of himself drunkenly confessing his love and trying to seduce Li Sifan, then fled in embarrassment.
• Director Chen announced that Xie Ran had been hospitalized and replaced as Wang Chen.
• Director Chen told Li Sifan and Luo Mingyu to prepare for their bed scene and encouraged them to finish filming it in one take.

Luo Mingyu’s jealousy on set led him to admit that he liked men and had feelings for Li Sifan, who confessed that he felt the same. Back at their apartment, Li Sifan kissed Luo Mingyu, but Luo Mingyu still denied being in love with him.

• Luo Mingyu objected to Li Sifan filming an intimate scene with Wang Chen, and Director Chen privately told Li Jingfei that Luo Mingyu was finally catching on.
• Li Sifan grew anxious when Luo Mingyu disappeared, then found him smoking and confronted him on set.
• Luo Mingyu admitted that he had harassed Li Sifan while drunk and accused him of encouraging it, while Director Chen and several crew members watched from around the corner.
• Luo Mingyu tried to leave their apartment with a suitcase, but Li Sifan stopped him and confessed that he liked men too.
• Li Sifan kissed Luo Mingyu and asked if he had fallen in love with him, but Luo Mingyu denied it and accused Li Sifan of biting his tongue.

Chapter Summary

• Aftermath of the supernatural incident: The missing students return safely, but their memories of the experience have been erased. The X Club’s hideout also disappears, leading Xie Chen to conclude that they suffered traumatic memory impairment rather than being affected by a Daoist technique. The principal remains intrigued and gradually realizes that Huo Wenye was the mysterious man connected to Professor Smith.
• Mission completed: Xie Chen reminds the principal about his year-end bonus before leaving. Huo Wenye ominously tells the principal that he will return, triggering the principal’s belated realization that Huo was involved in the rumored one-night stand with Professor Smith.
• Growing emotional tension: Huo Wenye temporarily leaves to collect a package, frustrating Xie Chen, who disguises his disappointment as irritation. His complaints reveal that he cares deeply about Huo’s attention, despite insisting otherwise. The livestream audience openly interprets their behavior as jealousy and romantic tension.
• The Twin Dragon Jade Pendant: Huo returns with the pendant Xie Chen wanted. Although Xie initially pretends not to care, he eagerly accepts it. Touching the bloodstained jade pendant causes Xie to see fleeting, fantastical images of storms, armies, and journeys through different worlds. He hides the truth from Huo, who notices but does not force him to explain.
• Intimacy and vulnerability: Huo asks for a return gift and pulls Xie onto the bed. Xie, exhausted—or comforted by Huo’s closeness—falls asleep in his arms. This reinforces their physical and emotional intimacy, even as Xie continues denying his feelings.
• A vision of the past or another timeline: Xie awakens in what appears to be a boxing gym, where he is a skilled fighter and Huo is waiting outside in a luxury car. Their interaction suggests a version of their relationship in which Huo openly pursues him. However, Xie rejects Huo, emphasizing their different social backgrounds: Huo is a wealthy heir, while Xie was adopted from an orphanage.
• Separation conflict: Xie claims he wants to end their relationship and denies that the Xie Family influenced him, though Huo suspects otherwise. Huo, hurt and desperate, asks Xie to spend one final night with him before he leaves overseas forever. Xie immediately asks whether Huo will truly keep that promise, exposing his fear of abandonment and lingering attachment. Huo bitterly recognizes that Xie only seems to value promises involving separation.

Character Development and Interactions

• Xie Chen: Continues to act cold and sarcastic, but his jealousy, eagerness to receive the pendant, unconscious trust, and concern over Huo’s departure reveal strong romantic feelings. His visions also suggest a larger supernatural or reincarnational connection.
• Huo Wenye: Becomes more openly affectionate and emotionally vulnerable. He gives Xie the jade pendant, seeks a return gift, and reacts painfully to Xie’s attempt to distance himself.
• Principal: Provides comic relief while slowly piecing together Huo’s identity and connection to Professor Smith.
• Xie Chen and Huo Wenye: Their relationship shifts between teasing, physical closeness, denial, and painful emotional confrontation. Both appear deeply attached, but Xie fears their social mismatch and possible outside interference.

Significant Themes

• Memory and hidden truths: The students’ erased memories and Xie’s unexplained visions suggest that reality and memory can be manipulated.
• Denial versus genuine affection: Xie repeatedly rejects Huo verbally while his actions reveal jealousy and dependence.
• Class and social inequality: Xie uses their unequal backgrounds to justify separation, whether from genuine insecurity or pressure from others.
• Promises and abandonment: Huo’s final promise to leave exposes the emotional wounds underlying their conflict.
• Supernatural destiny: The jade pendant’s visions hint at connections across worlds, past lives, or alternate timelines, expanding the story’s mystery beyond the immediate romance.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Huo Wenye and Xie Chen stage an intense farewell before Xie Chen returns to Harvard, using their apparent separation to mislead the people behind X Club.
• Huo secretly arranges a flight in his own name only to make Xie Chen believe he has left, while actually remaining involved in the plan. Their reunion is later revealed to have been partly a dream or memory, framed by their exaggeratedly passionate relationship.
• After Xie Chen returns to Harvard, his father, Xie Yongan, confirms that he has cut ties with Huo Wenye and orders him to stay out of the X Club investigation. Xie Yongan threatens that Huo’s life will remain in danger if Xie Chen continues interfering.
• Xie Chen outwardly obeys but privately resolves to destroy the people controlling the situation and reunite with Huo once the danger is removed.
• Xie Chen concludes that Taiyu Perfected One is helping Xie Yongan steal Destiny Patterns. He plans to use evidence and possibly turn Taiyu’s disciples against him before Taiyu can be silenced or escape prosecution.
• Qin Huai attempts to contact Xie Chen because he wants to help dismantle the Taiyu Sect, but Huo Wenye blocks the conversation. Qin decides to approach Xie Chen in person.

Character developments

• Xie Chen: Presents himself as obedient and emotionally defeated to deceive his father, but internally remains determined, strategic, and resistant. His main goal becomes eliminating the threat surrounding Huo Wenye and reuniting with him.
• Huo Wenye: Revealed to be intensely possessive and deeply devoted, yet also calculating. He maintains the separation façade to protect Xie Chen and continues watching over him despite pretending to leave.
• Xie Yongan: Becomes more clearly manipulative and controlling. He treats Xie Chen’s future as something he can arrange, while concealing the full extent of the danger connected to X Club and Huo.
• Taiyu Perfected One: Emerges as the suspected mastermind or key accomplice in the Destiny Pattern theft, though he may still be vulnerable if his disciples can be persuaded to testify.
• Qin Huai: Shifts from an outsider trying to make contact into a potential ally against the Taiyu Sect, despite Huo’s interference.

Significant themes

• Love as both weakness and protection: Huo and Xie Chen’s relationship creates danger but also motivates them to endure separation and fight their enemies.
• Deception and hidden agendas: Nearly every major character is concealing their true intentions, from Huo’s fake departure to Xie Chen’s false obedience and Xie Yongan’s withheld information.
• Control versus autonomy: Xie Chen resents being managed by his father and refuses to accept a life dictated by others, even while temporarily pretending to submit.
• Justice and evidence: The investigation depends on preserving a chain of evidence and turning insiders against Taiyu before he can eliminate witnesses or escape.
• Comic relief amid danger: The exaggerated intimacy between Xie Chen and Huo, along with the livestream fans’ teasing and Qin Huai’s frustration, lightens the otherwise serious conspiratorial plot.

Character interactions

• Huo and Xie Chen’s passionate, possessive exchange highlights both their intimacy and the lengths they will go to protect one another.
• Xie Chen’s phone call with Xie Yongan shows the father’s authority and manipulation versus Xie Chen’s concealed defiance.
• Huo dismisses Qin Huai’s attempt to speak with Xie Chen, emphasizing his jealousy and protectiveness.
• Qin Huai’s reaction humorously reinforces how inseparable Huo and Xie Chen have become, while setting up his planned attempt to recruit Xie Chen against the Taiyu Sect.

Luo Mingyu and Li Sifan dealt with the aftermath of their hookup as rumors and angry fans exposed the scheme behind their relationship. Li Sifan feared Luo Mingyu would learn the truth, and ended the chapter by kissing him before he could ask about the scandal.

• Director Chen teased Luo Mingyu about walking differently, and Luo searched online for advice about hooking up with his sworn enemy.
• Li Jingfei warned Li Sifan that Luo Mingyu might find out the truth about how he had won him over.
• Fans outside the set threw eggs at Li Sifan and accused him of scheming against Luo Mingyu, who hurried him into the car.
• Li Sifan saw trending topics exposing Li Jingfei's role in the leaked kiss and the setup behind Summer Memories, then asked his sister for help.
• Li Sifan pleaded with Luo Mingyu not to check the internet and suggested they leave show business and move abroad, making Luo suspicious.
• When Luo Mingyu began asking whether something was online, Li Sifan kissed him and confessed in his thoughts that he had liked Luo for ages and used trickery to make him his.

Li Jingfei admitted to Boss Luo that she had caused the Weibo revelations, while Li Sifan held a press conference to confess how he had pursued Luo Mingyu and vowed to respect his choice. Li Sifan returned to an empty apartment fearing Luo Mingyu would not forgive him, while Luo Mingyu revealed to Dad Luo that he had posted the revelations himself.

• Li Jingfei visited Boss Luo, took responsibility for the Weibo revelations, and asked him to blame her instead of Li Sifan.
• Boss Luo told Li Jingfei that Little Luo would decide who was held responsible, then privately said he would support his son.
• Luo Mingyu woke to Li Sifan's note announcing a press conference and opened Li Sifan's livestream shortly before it began.
• Li Sifan apologized publicly for using tactics to pursue Luo Mingyu, credited Li Jingfei for encouraging him, and said he would respect Luo Mingyu's choice.
• Li Sifan returned to the apartment, found Luo Mingyu gone, and feared he would not be forgiven.
• Luo Mingyu told Dad Luo that he had posted the revelations on Weibo.

Luo Mingyu revealed that he had known about Li Sifan and Li Jingfei’s schemes, but confessed that he wanted Li Sifan too, and the two reconciled and went public. Meanwhile, Xie Chen and Huo Wenye hinted at becoming a couple before an unknown person warned that the Taiyu Sect was about to kill indiscriminately, prompting Xie Chen to threaten them in return.

• Luo Mingyu told his father that he wanted to be with Li Sifan, and his father reluctantly accepted his choice.
• Li Sifan welcomed Luo Mingyu home and asked him to forgive his apology, but Luo Mingyu revealed that he had known about the scheme with Li Jingfei and had played dumb.
• Luo Mingyu admitted he wanted Li Sifan too, and the two reconciled as Li Sifan promised to stay with him.
• Li Jingfei discovered that Luo Mingyu and Li Sifan had gone public and angrily complained online that they had not told her first.
• Director Li asked Xie Chen and Huo Wenye about their relationship, and Huo Wenye said good news would come soon as Xie Chen failed to deny it.
• An unknown person warned Xie Chen that the Taiyu Sect was about to kill indiscriminately, and Xie Chen threatened them to change their attitude.

Chapter Summary: “Can You Just Spit It Out?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Huai approaches Xie Chen during a livestream to discuss an important matter, but Xie Chen’s threatening attitude forces him to request a private conversation.
• Huo Wenye insists on accompanying Xie Chen, preventing Qin Huai from isolating him. Qin Huai attempts to provoke tension between them, but Xie Chen rejects his interference and leaves with Huo Wenye.
• Qin Huai reveals that Taiyu Perfected One, weakened by Xie Chen’s attacks, plans to recover by sacrificing the fortune and lives of others.
• The intended target is Chinatown’s upcoming lantern festival and Dragon-Playing-with-Pearls performance. Taiyu Perfected One plans to cause a supernatural “accident” amid the crowds.
• Xie Chen dismisses Qin Huai after hearing the warning, then asks whether Xie Yongan is still alive. Qin Huai confirms that Yongan is being severely tortured.
• Qin Huai returns to the Taiyu Sect and visits Xie Yongan, who desperately asks whether Xie Chen will rescue him.
• Qin Huai confronts Yongan about stealing the Xie Family’s Destiny Pattern and participating in the deaths of Xie Chen’s parents. Terrified, Yongan admits Taiyu Perfected One forced him and offers Qin Huai a share of his money in exchange for help.
• Qin Huai agrees to consider the deal, while Yongan remains convinced that Xie Chen is still psychologically controlled by him and will inevitably save him.

Character Developments

• Xie Chen: Remains arrogant, impatient, and intimidating, but shows strong independence and loyalty to Huo Wenye. His satisfaction at Xie Yongan’s suffering suggests resentment toward his adoptive father and possibly knowledge of Yongan’s crimes.
• Huo Wenye: Demonstrates protectiveness and confidence, refusing to let Qin Huai separate him from Xie Chen. Their physical closeness and united stance reinforce their strong bond.
• Qin Huai: Acts as an informant while also maneuvering for personal gain. He fears Taiyu Perfected One and the Taiyu Sect but is willing to betray Xie Yongan for money.
• Xie Yongan: Reveals his selfishness, desperation, and delusion. Despite his guilt, he still believes years of manipulation have made Xie Chen obedient and unable to resist rescuing him.
• Taiyu Perfected One: Emerges as a dangerous figure planning a mass sacrifice disguised as a festival accident.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation versus personal freedom: Xie Yongan believes his long-term conditioning still controls Xie Chen, while Xie Chen’s actions show increasing independence.
• Betrayal and self-interest: Qin Huai’s willingness to expose Yongan for money highlights the unstable loyalties surrounding the Taiyu Sect.
• Justice and retribution: Yongan’s torture and fear contrast with his past crimes, while Xie Chen’s lack of sympathy suggests unresolved anger and a desire for justice.
• Power and loyalty: Qin Huai’s conversation with Xie Chen and Huo Wenye shows how power determines who can speak, interfere, or survive.
• Hidden truth: The stolen Destiny Pattern and the deaths of Xie Chen’s parents deepen the mystery surrounding his past and suggest that the full truth may soon be revealed.

Important Character Interactions

• Xie Chen and Qin Huai: Their exchange is hostile and impatient, with Xie Chen repeatedly interrupting and intimidating Qin Huai.
• Xie Chen and Huo Wenye: They act as a united pair, with Xie Chen taking Huo Wenye’s hand and leaving alongside him.
• Qin Huai and Xie Yongan: Qin Huai interrogates and exploits Yongan’s fear, using the truth about the Destiny Pattern to pressure him into offering more money.
• Xie Yongan and Xie Chen: Though Xie Chen is absent, Yongan’s fixation on him reveals the controlling relationship that shaped their past and his misplaced confidence that Xie Chen remains obedient.