Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Artificial Respiration Was His Specialty?!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Director Li arranges an artificial-respiration demonstration as part of the children’s emergency-rescue lesson, clearly intending to tease the adult participants.
• Xie Chen becomes flustered at the idea of performing artificial respiration with Huo Wenye, especially when the livestream audience begins joking about their relationship and “guilty consciences.”
• Chen Chen defends the activity as a legitimate emergency procedure, while Director Li deliberately pressures Xie Chen to participate.
• Luo Mingyu and Li Sifan are assigned to demonstrate as well. Luo Mingyu suggests using camera angles to fake the contact, but Li Sifan challenges him to do it for real.
• During the demonstration, Huo Wenye performs CPR on Xie Chen. When their lips briefly touch during the artificial respiration portion, Xie Chen panics, pushes Huo away, admits that he has a guilty conscience, and runs laps.
• Luo Mingyu reacts similarly and runs away alongside Xie Chen. Their synchronized embarrassment delights the livestream viewers, who interpret both pairs’ reactions as romantic tension.
• Director Li eventually reveals that the school already has human-body training models and warns the children not to imitate the flawed demonstration. Xie Chen realizes he was deliberately used for entertainment and runs even faster out of embarrassment and frustration.
• Elsewhere, Lu Fei receives a call from Xie Yongan of the Xie Group, who is trying to arrange a meeting with Professor Smith. Lu Fei confirms that Smith will arrive in Hua Nation the day after tomorrow but refuses the offer of a grand reception, suggesting that Xie Yongan is about to face an unpleasant surprise.

Character Developments

• Xie Chen: His normally confident and argumentative personality collapses whenever Huo Wenye is involved. His panic, flushed embarrassment, and impulsive escape reveal that he is increasingly conscious of his feelings and physical attraction toward Huo.
• Huo Wenye: He remains outwardly composed but participates in the staged demonstration despite understanding Director Li’s intentions. His subtle frown at Xie Chen’s words and willingness to perform the intimate task hint at deeper feelings.
• Luo Mingyu: Shows that he is just as inexperienced and easily embarrassed as Xie Chen. His attempt to avoid real contact fails, and he ultimately flees with Xie Chen.
• Li Sifan: Acts cool and deliberately provocative, challenging Luo Mingyu to stop pretending and perform the demonstration honestly.
• Director Li: Demonstrates a mischievous, teasing side, manipulating the activity to create entertaining romantic tension while hiding behind the excuse of public-safety education.
• Lu Fei: Remains calm and sarcastic while handling Xie Yongan’s call. He appears confident that the Xie family’s attempt to contact Professor Smith will work in his and Xie Chen’s favor.
• Xie Yongan: His respectful but probing call shows that the Xie family is actively pursuing Professor Smith and likely has an ulterior motive connected to their business or family interests.

Significant Themes

• Embarrassment and romantic tension: The artificial-respiration exercise exposes the characters’ suppressed attraction and lack of romantic experience.
• Public image versus private feelings: Xie Chen is especially distressed because the intimate moment occurs in front of cameras and a huge livestream audience.
• Teasing and manufactured entertainment: The production team turns a legitimate educational task into a spectacle, blurring the line between real instruction and romantic entertainment.
• Inexperience and innocence: Xie Chen and Luo Mingyu’s panicked reactions contrast with the audience’s enthusiastic interpretation of their behavior.
• Hidden schemes and impending conflict: Lu Fei’s conversation with Xie Yongan establishes a parallel plot involving Professor Smith and hints that the Xie family is walking into a trap.

Important Character Interactions

• Xie Chen and Huo Wenye: Their artificial-respiration demonstration results in brief lip contact. Xie Chen’s immediate flight highlights his growing emotional vulnerability around Huo.
• Xie Chen and Director Li: Director Li repeatedly provokes Xie Chen, who protests but ultimately cannot escape the setup.
• Luo Mingyu and Li Sifan: Luo tries to avoid genuine intimacy, while Li intentionally pressures him, producing a second source of romantic comedy.
• The livestream audience and the couples: Viewers enthusiastically ship both pairs, interpreting their embarrassment and synchronized escapes as evidence of mutual attraction.
• Lu Fei and Xie Yongan: Lu Fei adopts a mocking, controlled attitude while Xie Yongan attempts to arrange a meeting, setting up an anticipated confrontation involving Professor Smith.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Yongan successfully arranges a meeting with Professor Smith, impressing his eldest son, Xie Zhenting, and reaffirming his influence.
• The family then discusses the scandal caused by Xie Ran’s fabricated tragic backstory. Xie Yongan criticizes Ranran for damaging both his public image and the Xie Group’s stock value.
• Xie Zhenting and Mother Xie defend Xie Ran, blaming his agent and adoptive parents. Xie Yongan counters that the Xie family itself mistreated Xie Chen, exposing their hypocrisy and favoritism.
• At lunch on set, Xie Chen eats excessively after the exhaustion of filming. Huo Wenye notices a grain of rice on his mouth and teases him suggestively before handing him a napkin.
• Their flirtatious exchange attracts the attention of the others. Luo Mingyu, Li Jingfei, and Wei Mingqi all suspect that Xie Chen and Huo Wenye share a romantic connection, while Xie Ran watches resentfully.
• After lunch, Xie Ran confronts Huo Wenye about refusing Xie Zhenting’s offer to destroy a damaging recording in exchange for a fifty-million-yuan land bid.
• Huo Wenye counters by demanding that the entire Xie Group be transferred to Xie Chen. When Xie Ran protests, Huo declares that Xie Chen dislikes him and that he is merely helping Xie Chen vent his anger.
• Furious and jealous, Xie Ran implies that Xie Chen must have slept with Huo Wenye and angrily claims he could offer himself as well.

Character Developments

• Xie Yongan: Reasserts his authority and influence, but also reveals a growing awareness of the injustice done to Xie Chen. His criticism of Mother Xie exposes his disapproval of the family’s unequal treatment.
• Xie Zhenting: Continues to support Xie Ran and the family’s efforts to protect him, showing loyalty to his biological brother despite the scandal.
• Mother Xie: Openly admits that she never truly regarded adopted son Xie Chen as family, highlighting her favoritism and moral hypocrisy.
• Xie Chen: Appears relaxed and natural around his companions, though he becomes flustered and embarrassed by Huo Wenye’s teasing. His growing emotional sensitivity toward Huo is evident.
• Huo Wenye: Becomes increasingly protective and openly flirtatious toward Xie Chen. He is willing to challenge the Xie family and use the recording as leverage against Xie Ran.
• Xie Ran: His jealousy, resentment, and desperation intensify. He feels threatened by Xie Chen’s relationship with Huo Wenye and reacts with increasingly bitter and inappropriate accusations.

Significant Themes

• Family favoritism and hypocrisy: The Xie family claims to protect Xie Ran while having neglected and excluded Xie Chen because he was adopted.
• Public image and manipulation: Xie Ran’s false tragic narrative damages the family’s reputation and finances, showing how manufactured publicity can backfire.
• Protection and loyalty: Huo Wenye’s defense of Xie Chen contrasts with the Xie family’s conditional and self-serving support.
• Jealousy and romantic tension: Huo’s teasing and Xie Ran’s reaction emphasize the developing attraction between Huo and Xie Chen.
• Power and leverage: The recording and the proposed transfer of the Xie Group’s shares demonstrate how personal conflicts are tied to wealth, reputation, and corporate influence.

Character Interactions

• Xie Yongan confronts Mother Xie over her unequal treatment of Xie Chen, forcing her to acknowledge her prejudice.
• Xie Chen and Huo Wenye share a teasing, intimate lunch exchange that embarrasses Xie Chen and fuels speculation among the cast.
• The surrounding cast members gossip about their apparent closeness, while Xie Ran silently seethes.
• Huo Wenye rejects Xie Ran’s attempt to negotiate and makes clear that his loyalty lies with Xie Chen, leaving Xie Ran humiliated and enraged.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Ran remains convinced that he can seduce Huo Wenye, believing his youthful appearance and gentler personality give him an advantage over Xie Chen. He dismisses the public backlash surrounding him, confident that the wealthy Xie Family can buy resources and repair his reputation.
• Huo Wenye finds Xie Chen surrounded by children at the orphanage. He becomes visibly jealous when Chen Chen clings to Xie Chen and pulls the child away, warning him not to touch Xie Chen.
• Chen Chen asks when Huahua will return. Xie Chen patiently reassures him and offers to leave contact information with the orphanage director. Huo Wenye interrupts, coldly insisting that Huahua will return that afternoon, then walks away.
• Huo Wenye secretly orders his associates to release damaging evidence against Xie Ran and Xie Feng immediately rather than waiting for the planned recording. Within minutes, multiple scandals trend online:
  • Xie Ran’s adopted parents expose his lies and mistreatment.
  • Evidence shows Xie Ran spread rumors.
  • An adoption-agency employee falsified records, with a department director suspected of bribery.
  • Xie Feng’s abusive treatment of Huahua is revealed.
  • Xie Chen is named a public-service ambassador and child-safety advocate.
• Public opinion turns sharply against the Xie Family. Netizens condemn Xie Ran, Xie Feng, and the family’s silence while praising Xie Chen and sympathizing with the abused children.
• Lu Fei tells Xie Chen that his social-media following has risen by millions and that the Xie Family has effectively been “hammered into the ground.” Xie Chen insists he did nothing, but suspects that Huo Wenye is responsible and becomes embarrassed by the thought.
• During the closing activities of Transform, Freaks!, guests exchange gifts with the children. Xie Ran tries to create a favorable image by presenting an expensive snow globe and prompting the child to open it on camera.
• Instead, the child gives Xie Ran a drawing labeling him a “big bad guy.” Xie Ran becomes angry and tries to destroy it, but the cameraman stops him so the livestream audience can see it, turning the moment into another public embarrassment.

Character Developments

• Xie Ran: His arrogance and self-confidence remain intact, but his carefully constructed public image continues to collapse. His manipulative attempt to appear generous is exposed when the child rejects him.
• Xie Chen: He demonstrates patience, kindness, and genuine concern for the orphanage children. His popularity and reputation rise rapidly, even though he has not deliberately orchestrated the media campaign against the Xie Family.
• Huo Wenye: He becomes increasingly protective and possessive toward Xie Chen, showing jealousy over Chen Chen’s physical closeness. He also takes decisive, covert action to defend Xie Chen and destroy the Xie Family’s influence.
• Chen Chen: He remains outspoken and mischievous, openly teasing Huo Wenye about his jealousy while relying on Xie Chen for reassurance.
• Lu Fei: He recognizes the scale of Xie Chen’s sudden popularity and humorously assumes that a professional marketing team—or possibly Huo Wenye—is behind it.
• Huahua and the other children: Their experiences of abuse and exploitation become central to the public backlash against the Xie Family and related officials.

Significant Themes

• Justice versus manufactured reputation: The Xie Family attempts to control public opinion through wealth and resources, but documented evidence and public exposure undermine their influence.
• Protection of vulnerable children: The chapter highlights abuse, exploitative adoptions, falsified records, and the need to safeguard orphaned and adopted children.
• Genuine kindness versus performative charity: Xie Chen’s sincere care earns public support, while Xie Ran’s expensive but insincere gesture is rejected.
• Hidden support and romantic possessiveness: Huo Wenye’s behind-the-scenes intervention reveals both his protective instincts and growing attachment to Xie Chen.
• Public opinion as a weapon: Social media rapidly transforms the balance of power, elevating Xie Chen while isolating and condemning the Xie Family.

Important Character Interactions

• Huo Wenye and Xie Chen interact in front of the children, with Huo Wenye’s jealousy and protectiveness clearly visible.
• Chen Chen teases Huo Wenye about being jealous and continues demanding answers from Xie Chen about Huahua.
• Huo Wenye privately takes action on Xie Chen’s behalf, though Xie Chen does not yet confirm his involvement.
• Lu Fei calls Xie Chen to discuss his sudden rise in popularity, prompting Xie Chen to think awkwardly about Huo Wenye.
• Xie Ran’s interaction with the child during the gift exchange exposes the contrast between his staged generosity and the children’s genuine dislike of him.

Chapter Summary: “Xie Chen: My Name Opens Doors”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After humiliating himself on camera, Xie Ran abandons any attempt to maintain a respectable image and angrily insults the children from the orphanage, claiming their bad manners make them undesirable for adoption.
• He tears up a child’s portrait while ranting, causing viewers to condemn him. Even the cameraman leaves because Xie Ran’s behavior is damaging the show’s reputation.
• Meanwhile, the other guests enjoy a lively gift-exchange session with their young partners:
  • Luo Mingyu and Luo Xiaopang mock each other over impractical gifts, particularly concert tickets.
  • Li Jingfei gives her partner a necklace and offers to sponsor her education, while receiving a handmade thousand-paper-crane.
  • Wei Mingqi also shares a positive farewell with his partner.
• Xie Chen gives Chen Chen what appears to be a simple piece of paper, but it contains the contact information for TS, a prestigious overseas youth boxing organization. He tells Chen Chen that his name will open doors and encourages him to contact them.
• Xie Ran interrupts, accusing Xie Chen of deceiving the child with a fake promise. Huo Wenye supports Xie Chen by offering his phone so Chen Chen can call TS immediately.
• The organization answers and confirms that Xie Chen had contacted them in advance. They offer Chen Chen a boarding scholarship, including airfare, to train in boxing.
• Xie Ran continues accusing Xie Chen of staging a fraudulent phone call. The TS representative reacts angrily and threatens legal action against Xie Ran for defamation, leaving him visibly shaken.

Character Developments

• Xie Ran becomes increasingly hostile and shameless. His resentment and insecurity cause him to attack both the orphanage children and Xie Chen, further alienating viewers and damaging his public image.
• Xie Chen demonstrates that his apparent arrogance is backed by real influence and connections. His gift to Chen Chen reveals genuine consideration for the boy’s future rather than empty showmanship.
• Chen Chen shifts from suspicion to excitement when he realizes Xie Chen’s promise is genuine. The boxing opportunity gives him hope and validates his trust in Xie Chen.
• Huo Wenye acts decisively and fairly, helping verify Xie Chen’s claim instead of allowing Xie Ran’s accusations to dominate the situation.
• Luo Mingyu and Luo Xiaopang strengthen their humorous, teasing relationship through their mutual complaints about their gifts.
• Li Jingfei displays compassion and responsibility by offering long-term support for her partner’s education.

Significant Themes

• Authenticity versus hypocrisy: Xie Ran claims to expose others’ true natures but reveals his own cruelty, while Xie Chen’s boastful words are proven genuine.
• Reputation and public judgment: The livestream audience quickly turns against Xie Ran, showing how his behavior affects both his personal image and the program’s brand.
• Actions versus appearances: Xie Chen’s seemingly unimpressive gift initially looks like a trick, but it becomes far more valuable than a conventional present.
• Opportunity and mentorship: The boxing scholarship represents a life-changing chance for Chen Chen and highlights the importance of adults using their influence to help children.
• Humor amid conflict: The other guests’ playful gift exchanges contrast with the hostility surrounding Xie Ran and Xie Chen.

Character Interactions

• Xie Ran’s rant alienates viewers and separates him from the cheerful group atmosphere.
• Luo Mingyu and Luo Xiaopang trade accusations over their thoughtless gifts, creating a comic exchange that entertains the audience.
• Li Jingfei and her partner share a sincere, emotional farewell through their gifts and embrace.
• Xie Chen presents Chen Chen with the boxing opportunity, and Chen Chen responds with growing excitement and trust.
• Xie Ran attempts to undermine Xie Chen, but Huo Wenye and the TS representative protect the truth. Xie Ran’s accusations ultimately backfire when the organization threatens legal action against him.

Chapter Summary: “Is It Hot Wearing So Many Disguises?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Ran is humiliated during the livestream after viewers challenge him to provide evidence for his accusations. Unable to respond confidently, he retreats from the filming site, making himself look guilty and pathetic.
• Xie Chen reassures the child involved in the controversy that he can leave whenever he wants and then impresses everyone by using a privileged hotline connected to the TS Youth Boxing Club in Hua Nation. This sparks speculation about his mysterious background and multiple hidden identities.
• Chen Chen gives Xie Chen a recording of the children singing along to Xie Chen’s childish performance from earlier in the show. Xie Chen is embarrassed and refuses to let Huo Wenye copy the recording, while Huo’s amused reaction reveals their growing intimacy.
• Huo Wenye’s gift arrives in the form of Huahua, who is returned safely to the welfare home by the Women’s Federation. The variety show’s exposure of Huahua’s situation helped invalidate her adoption and rescue her from an abusive or unsuitable environment.
• A Women’s Federation representative praises Xie Chen for providing crucial evidence, though Xie Chen pretends not to know what she means. Director Li becomes comically jealous that Xie Chen once again receives all the credit for the show’s charitable work.
• Filming for the second season ends with Huahua’s joyful reunion with the other children.
• After boarding the bus, Xie Chen discusses an upcoming confrontation with the Xie Family. He intends to appear at the arranged meeting and publicly humiliate them, preferably in front of reporters.
• Huo Wenye unexpectedly asks whether Xie Chen is finally preparing to “take off his disguises,” suggesting that he knows more about Xie Chen’s hidden identities and plans than Xie Chen realized.

Character Developments

• Xie Chen: Continues to reveal signs of an extraordinary background while carefully concealing his true identity. He is compassionate and protective toward the children, yet also mischievous and vengeful toward the Xie Family. His embarrassment over the recording contrasts with his usual confidence.
• Huo Wenye: Shows increasing affection and understanding toward Xie Chen. He enjoys teasing him, values even his embarrassing childhood performance, and appears perceptive enough to recognize Xie Chen’s concealed identities.
• Chen Chen: Demonstrates affection and playful loyalty by preserving Xie Chen’s singing performance as a “classic.” His gift strengthens the warm bond between him and Xie Chen.
• Xie Ran: Loses credibility after retreating when challenged, reinforcing the audience’s perception that he is weak and possibly dishonest.
• Director Li: Becomes comically frustrated and jealous when Xie Chen receives the praise intended for the program and its charity efforts.
• Luo Mingyu and Luo Xiaopang: Notice the romantic tension between Xie Chen and Huo Wenye, serving as humorous observers of their relationship.

Significant Themes

• Hidden identities and disguises: Xie Chen’s unexplained access, abilities, and connections suggest that he is maintaining several identities or concealing a powerful past.
• Justice and social responsibility: The show’s entertainment format produces real social change by exposing Huahua’s situation and helping bring her home.
• Public image and humiliation: Xie Ran’s livestream failure and the anticipated media coverage of the Xie Family show how public opinion can be used as both a weapon and a source of accountability.
• Family and chosen bonds: The welfare-home children’s affection, Huahua’s return, and Xie Chen’s relationships with Chen Chen and Huo Wenye emphasize the importance of care and belonging.
• Romantic understanding: Huo Wenye’s teasing and insight into Xie Chen’s secrets deepen the suggestion of mutual attraction and emotional closeness.

Character Interactions

• Xie Chen comforts the child and coordinates with the boxing club, displaying authority and compassion.
• Chen Chen playfully embarrasses Xie Chen with the MP4 recording, while Huo Wenye openly enjoys the performance and asks for a copy.
• The children joyfully welcome Huahua home, creating the chapter’s emotional climax.
• The Women’s Federation publicly credits Xie Chen, unintentionally exposing his behind-the-scenes involvement.
• Xie Chen and Huo Wenye end the chapter in a tense, intimate exchange when Huo hints that Xie Chen’s secrets may soon be revealed.

Chapter Summary

• Luo Mingyu witnesses gossip firsthand: On the bus, Luo Mingyu secretly records Huo Wenye and Xie Chen sitting close together. His phone’s camera flash exposes him, and Huo Wenye coldly catches him filming. Luo panics, fearing retaliation, while Wei Mingqi encourages him to learn from the experience and immediately begins editing the photos for potential publicity.
• Xie Chen flees from Huo Wenye: After the bus returns downtown, Xie Chen runs off before signing the contract for the next season, apparently desperate to escape Huo Wenye and protect his secrets. Huo notices and follows him.
• The car confrontation: Xie Chen’s manager, Lu Fei, picks him up, but Huo Wenye unexpectedly gets into the car as well. Hoping to drive Huo away, Xie Chen jokingly claims that Huo must be attracted to him. Huo calmly admits that he is and gives Xie the room number of his long-term hotel suite, inviting him to visit that night. Xie escalates by suggesting they sleep together, only to become flustered when Huo accepts the challenge without hesitation. He retreats from the car, insisting that his words should be forgotten, while Lu Fei secretly enjoys the flirtatious exchange.
• Huo’s interest in Xie Chen: After Xie leaves, Huo questions Lu Fei about his relationship with Xie Chen, making Lu Fei nervous enough to insist that they have always been merely classmates and never crossed any boundaries. Huo then orders Lu Fei to drive him to Central Tower, seemingly hoping that Xie Chen may actually come to meet him.
• The Xie family’s new plan: The following morning, Xie Yongan dresses carefully to meet Professor Smith, a highly influential American law professor. He believes Smith may be the only person capable of helping free Xie Feng from prison. Xie Yongan and his mother discuss arranging a proper welcome, revealing the family’s belief that Xie Feng’s abuse of Xie Chen—illegally adopting him and repeatedly burning him with hot oil—was insignificant. Their conversation exposes the family’s cruelty and their refusal to acknowledge the suffering they inflicted on Xie Chen.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Xie Chen remains outwardly bold and sarcastic, using provocative jokes to defend himself, but Huo’s confident responses reveal his underlying panic and vulnerability. His instinctive thought that dating Huo “would not be that hard to accept” hints at growing attraction, which he immediately denies.
• Huo Wenye displays controlled confidence, emotional composure, and a possessive interest in Xie Chen. Rather than being offended by Xie’s teasing, he turns it around and openly challenges him.
• Lu Fei acts as Xie Chen’s nervous but opportunistic manager. He is intimidated by Huo and fascinated by the apparent romantic tension between the two.
• Luo Mingyu and Wei Mingqi provide comic relief through their eagerness to capture and exploit celebrity gossip.
• Xie Yongan and Mother Xie reveal the Xie family’s hypocrisy and moral callousness as they focus on rescuing Xie Feng while minimizing Xie Chen’s abuse.

Significant Themes

• Romantic tension and power reversal: Xie Chen tries to control the situation through teasing, but Huo Wenye’s calm confidence repeatedly reverses the power dynamic.
• Celebrity gossip and public image: The bus passengers’ interest in filming Huo’s possible relationship highlights the role of scandal, publicity, and media attention in the entertainment world.
• Fear versus attraction: Xie Chen’s panic and denial coexist with signs that he may be genuinely drawn to Huo.
• Abuse and family injustice: The Xie family’s dismissal of Xie Chen’s suffering emphasizes their favoritism toward Xie Feng and establishes the broader conflict surrounding justice and accountability.
• Secrets and exposure: Several characters attempt to hide their motives or relationships, while others actively seek evidence and information for personal gain.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Yongan prepares for Professor Smith’s arrival at Central Tower, ensuring reporters and legal and financial media are present to create a favorable impression for the Xie Family.
• He orders his son, Xie Zhenting, to make Xie Yuchen distance himself from the scandal involving Xie Feng. Xie Yongan criticizes his family for repeatedly mishandling situations and hints at a long-hidden secret involving the Xie bloodline.
• Meanwhile, Lu Fei arrives at Xie Chen’s apartment after Chen oversleeps and ignores his phone. Lu worries that the Xie Family may cancel the appointment, but Xie Chen confidently predicts that Xie Yongan will not give up after finally securing Professor Smith.
• Xie Chen and Lu Fei arrive late at Central Tower in a modest Wuling Hongguang. Reporters are already harassing Xie Zhenting for keeping them waiting.
• Xie Zhenting insults Xie Chen for appearing in a domestic car and assumes he has come to cause trouble. Lu Fei defends domestic products and openly mocks Xie Zhenting.
• Xie Chen reveals that he is Professor Smith. Xie Zhenting refuses to believe him and threatens to call Professor Smith’s assistant to expose the supposed impersonation.
• Lu Fei then answers the call while posing as Professor Smith’s assistant, confirming Chen’s identity and warning that canceling the appointment will forfeit the deposit. Xie Zhenting is left stunned, realizing that he and the Xie Family have been outmaneuvered.

Character Developments

• Xie Chen is shown to be relaxed, calculating, and confident. Rather than rushing to meet the Xie Family, he deliberately lets them wait, knowing their desperation will prevent them from abandoning the deal. His secret identity as Professor Smith demonstrates his hidden abilities and strategic advantage.
• Lu Fei acts as Chen’s loyal and energetic partner. Although initially anxious, he quickly embraces the opportunity to profit from the Xie Family’s lateness and helps Chen maintain the deception.
• Xie Zhenting appears arrogant, reactive, and incompetent under pressure. He blames others for the family’s troubles, underestimates Xie Chen, and is easily humiliated in front of reporters.
• Xie Yongan is revealed as controlling, calculating, and deeply concerned with the family’s public image. His comments also suggest guilt or fear connected to a concealed past involving the Xie family lineage.
• Xie Yuchen is criticized for failing to manage the scandal involving Xie Feng, though he does not appear directly in the chapter.

Significant Themes

• Underestimation and reversal: The Xie Family dismisses Xie Chen because of his casual appearance and inexpensive car, only to discover that he is the distinguished professor they desperately need.
• Image versus reality: The family focuses on appearances, media coverage, luxury, and reputation, while Chen’s true identity and capabilities remain hidden beneath his ordinary presentation.
• Manipulation and strategic patience: Chen exploits the Xie Family’s desperation, allowing the delay to increase their dependence on him and potentially secure more money.
• Family dysfunction and blame: Xie Yongan’s family members avoid responsibility and shift blame, revealing internal conflict and poor leadership.
• Hidden identity and secrets: Chen’s revelation as Professor Smith reinforces the chapter’s focus on concealed identities, while Xie Yongan’s remarks hint at a larger secret about the Xie bloodline.

Character Interactions

• Xie Yongan harshly reprimands Xie Zhenting over the family’s recent mistakes and demands tighter control of the media narrative.
• Lu Fei repeatedly pressures Xie Chen to answer his phone and arrive on time, but ultimately joins Chen in exploiting the situation.
• Xie Zhenting confronts Chen and mocks his circumstances, while Lu Fei publicly defends Chen and insults Zhenting.
• Chen taunts Zhenting by asking how important Professor Smith is, then dramatically reveals that he himself is the professor.
• Lu Fei completes the humiliation by pretending to be Professor Smith’s assistant, confirming Chen’s claim and threatening the loss of the Xie Family’s deposit.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Xie Zhenting accuses Xie Chen of fraud and impersonating Professor Smith, claiming that he scammed the Xie Group out of more than ten million and threatening legal action.
• Reporters surround Xie Chen, demanding proof that he is Professor Smith and questioning why he concealed his identity.
• Xie Zhenting tries to discredit Xie Chen publicly, but his angry outbursts make him look increasingly foolish.
• Xie Yongan, the Xie Family’s true authority, arrives and initially does not know what is happening. After reporters reveal that Professor Smith is actually Xie Chen, he confronts Xie Chen directly.
• Xie Chen calmly confirms that he is Professor Smith and refuses to refund the consultation deposit.
• Xie Yongan realizes that the family badly misjudged Xie Chen, but hides his anger behind forced praise and orders Xie Zhenting to leave.
• The revelation spreads through a livestream and social media. Harvard officially verifies Xie Chen’s identity, shocking the public and turning the incident into a dramatic humiliation for the Xie Family.

Character developments

• Xie Chen remains composed, sarcastic, and confident. His hidden identity as a renowned Harvard law professor is finally exposed, proving that he possesses extraordinary talent and status far beyond what the Xie Family assumed.
• Xie Zhenting becomes increasingly frantic and humiliated. His attempt to accuse Xie Chen backfires, exposing his ignorance and inability to control the situation.
• Xie Yongan shifts from confusion to shock and concealed hostility. He recognizes Xie Chen’s importance but does not show genuine remorse, instead reacting with resentment and regret over the family’s mistake.
• The reporters and public transform Xie Chen from a controversial figure into an admired genius after Harvard confirms his identity.

Significant themes

• Revenge and reversal: The Xie Family’s attempt to threaten Xie Chen turns into a public defeat when his true identity is revealed.
• Hidden talent and underestimated ability: Xie Chen’s ordinary or mediocre reputation conceals an exceptional academic career.
• Public image and truth: Media exposure quickly changes the narrative, while official verification destroys the family’s accusations.
• Regret and missed opportunities: The Xie Family realizes that they rejected and mistreated someone extraordinarily valuable.
• Power through composure: Xie Chen’s calm confidence contrasts sharply with the family’s panic and anger, giving him control of the confrontation.

Character interactions

• Xie Chen mocks Xie Zhenting’s sudden concern for legality, highlighting his hypocrisy.
• Reporters repeatedly pressure Xie Chen for proof while also questioning the Xie Family about their failure to recognize his abilities.
• Xie Yongan angrily silences Xie Zhenting, showing that even he recognizes how badly his son is damaging the family’s image.
• Xie Chen and Xie Yongan exchange restrained but hostile words, with Xie Chen subtly warning that more revelations about his abilities will follow.
• The chapter ends with Xie Chen’s identity publicly confirmed, while he privately finds the entire verification process absurd because he never needed to prove that he was himself.

Chapter Summary

Plot and events

After leaving the confrontation with the Xie family, Xie Chen wonders who revealed his identity as a Harvard professor online. Lu Fei suggests Huo Wenye may have contacted Harvard, but Xie Chen questions how Huo could have known about his position. Meanwhile, Weibo erupts with hashtags exposing Xie Chen’s remarkable academic history and the Xie family’s mistreatment of him. Netizens discover that he deliberately maintained average grades for years before achieving the highest score on the college entrance exam, suggesting he had been secretly controlling his results. Testimony from Wang Qiming further reveals that the Xie family suppressed Xie Chen whenever he outperformed their biological son.

Public backlash

Online users condemn the Xie family for exploiting and suppressing Xie Chen. The Xie Group is forced to disable comments, while Xie Ran’s account is flooded with angry messages. Xie Ran becomes furious and insults the netizens, dismissing Xie Chen as a poor outsider despite his abilities.

Character developments

Xie Chen remains calm, skeptical, and self-reliant. He trusts Lu Fei but continues investigating Huo Wenye’s motives. His past as a deliberately underestimated genius becomes public, shifting public sympathy strongly in his favor. Lu Fei continues to act as a loyal friend, though he privately suspects Huo Wenye is romantically interested in Xie Chen.
Xie Ran displays entitlement and resentment, unable to accept that public opinion favors Xie Chen. Mother Xie refuses to acknowledge the family’s wrongdoing and convinces Xie Ran that Xie Chen fabricated the scandal and hired online trolls. Xie Yongan, facing a corporate crisis, is forced to reconsider his approach and personally contacts Xie Chen.

Character interactions

Xie Chen and Lu Fei discuss the mysterious source of the online revelation while driving to eat hot pot. Mother Xie comforts Xie Ran but reinforces his hostility toward Xie Chen. At an emergency Xie Group meeting, Xie Yongan’s executives fail to find a solution to the scandal. After dismissing everyone, he calls Xie Chen and pretends to lovingly invite him home. Xie Chen immediately sees through the act, mocks him for using the title “Dad,” and firmly declares that even such false affection will not bring him back.

Major themes

The chapter explores hidden talent versus imposed identity, the consequences of family exploitation, public judgment and online justice, and the Xie family’s denial of responsibility. It also emphasizes Xie Chen’s emotional independence and his refusal to be manipulated by belated familial affection.

Plot and key events

• Luo Mingyu discovers online that Xie Chen is Professor Smith and excitedly tells his rival, Li Sifan. Li pretends not to care, though his family wants access to the famous professor.
• Li persuades Luo to meet secretly and plan how to win Xie Chen’s favor during the third season. He suggests this could help Luo earn his father’s respect.
• At a dim lounge bar, the pair argue over Luo’s clothing and trade insults. Their quarrel turns into a physical scuffle, leaving them tangled together. A customer recognizes them and photographs the apparent embrace, delighted by the spectacle.
• Meanwhile, Xie Chen is woken by Director Li and rushed to a public-service-announcement shoot. He arrives at 8:20, ten minutes before the scheduled start but half an hour later than the strict Director Qin expects.
• Director Qin chastises Xie Chen for arriving only on time and implies that his overseas habits are unwelcome. Xie responds coolly that arriving early is unnecessary, then points out that their argument is wasting time. The crew watches in shock, while Director Li worries about the confrontation.

Character developments and interactions

• Luo Mingyu and Li Sifan remain sworn enemies, but their shared interest in Xie Chen briefly brings them together. Their attempt at cooperation collapses into their usual bickering and a chaotic fight, with comic romantic-looking optics.
• Xie Chen is relaxed and irreverent, refusing to defer to authority or apologize for his timing. His composed defiance sharply contrasts with Director Qin’s strictness.
• Director Li acts as Xie’s anxious intermediary, trying to keep the shoot on track and fearing the consequences of Xie’s bluntness.
• Director Qin is established as demanding and suspicious of celebrities who favor overseas opportunities; his clash with Xie reveals a broader tension over punctuality, authority, and national loyalty.

Significant themes

• Rivalry and reluctant cooperation: Luo and Li can unite around a common goal, but hostility quickly overwhelms their plans.
• Public image and rumor: A fight can be mistaken for an intimate embrace, and a single photograph may reshape how others see them.
• Authority versus personal independence: Xie challenges expectations of deference, while Director Qin insists on discipline and respect.
• Status and ambition: Xie’s sudden fame and identity as Professor Smith make him a coveted connection, especially for families seeking influence.

Chapter Summary

Plot and Events

• Xie Chen confronts Director Qin after being challenged to perform without preparation. Their verbal exchange intensifies the already tense audition atmosphere.
• Director Qin gives Xie Chen a thick script and only ten minutes to prepare, seemingly intending to make him fail and replace him as the CCTV public-service spokesperson.
• Xie Chen reads and memorizes the script in roughly five minutes, despite its technical language, shocking Director Li, Director Qin, and the screenwriter.
• During the test shoot, Xie Chen delivers the advertisement with confidence and authority. He improvises additional closing remarks and references to real cases, producing a version that Director Qin considers even better than the original.
• Director Qin immediately approves him and asks for another take with makeup and costume, though Xie Chen warns that his improvised performance cannot be perfectly replicated.
• Later, Director Li discusses Xie Chen’s frightening competence with Lu Fei. Lu Fei explains that Xie Chen was already terrifying as a student and was nicknamed “the Demon King” by students at Harvard, where he could deliberately control his grades and intimidate classmates.
• Meanwhile, Xie Yuchen, living irresponsibly abroad and frequently partying, is forced to attend class after a warning that he will receive an automatic failing grade. There, he overhears Chinese students discussing Professor Smith’s exposure on television and learns that Professor Smith is actually Xie Chen, prompting him to react with shock.

Character Developments

• Xie Chen demonstrates extraordinary memory, improvisational ability, confidence, and control under pressure. His sharp humor and refusal to be intimidated make him appear both arrogant and highly capable.
• Director Qin shifts from hostility and skepticism to astonishment and approval after witnessing Xie Chen’s performance. His authority is undermined by Xie Chen’s talent.
• Director Li begins worried that Xie Chen will be sabotaged but becomes deeply impressed and somewhat intimidated by him.
• Lu Fei confirms that Xie Chen’s intimidating reputation is longstanding, not limited to the current filming situation.
• Xie Yuchen is portrayed as irresponsible and hedonistic, but his sudden recognition of Xie Chen suggests the two may share a significant past or family connection.

Significant Themes

• Genius versus authority: Xie Chen repeatedly overturns the expectations of directors and professionals who assume they can control or test him.
• Preparation and innate ability: His ability to master a difficult script almost instantly emphasizes his exceptional intelligence and performance skills.
• Power reversal: Director Qin initially holds the power to reject Xie Chen, but Xie Chen’s talent quickly places him in the dominant position.
• Reputation and hidden identity: Xie Chen’s public image as Professor Smith and his feared academic reputation are revealed to people who previously knew him only by another name.
• Contrast between discipline and indulgence: Xie Chen’s remarkable competence is contrasted with Xie Yuchen’s wasted opportunities and irresponsible lifestyle.

Character Interactions

• Xie Chen and Director Qin engage in a tense, sarcastic exchange that exposes their mutual unwillingness to back down.
• Director Li tries to mediate and protect Xie Chen but is ultimately left speechless by his performance.
• Director Qin and the screenwriter are both stunned when Xie Chen delivers material he could not reasonably have memorized so quickly.
• Lu Fei reassures Director Li that Xie Chen’s frightening competence has always been part of his personality.
• Xie Yuchen overhears classmates discussing Xie Chen’s televised appearance, creating a cliffhanger as he realizes Professor Smith’s true identity.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• At Harvard, Xie Yuchen learns that Professor Smith’s Chinese name is Xie Chen, the same Xie Chen he knows. Shocked and humiliated, he insists that Xie Chen must be impersonating the professor.
• After being reprimanded by the professor, Xie Yuchen messages his biological older brother, who dismisses him and tells him to investigate online.
• Xie Yuchen discovers that Harvard has officially cleared Xie Chen’s name and appears to have created a Weibo account specifically to support his identity and reputation as Professor Smith. He is stunned by Xie Chen’s true status.
• While browsing Weibo, Xie Yuchen is overwhelmed by angry messages condemning him for defending Xie Feng, abandoning the situation overseas, and mistreating Xie Chen and Huahua.
• Afraid that Xie Chen may use his influence to punish him, Xie Yuchen posts a public apology for failing to recognize Xie Feng’s wrongdoing. He also claims that his relationship with Xie Chen remains strong and will become “even closer than family.”
• The public rejects the apology, accusing Xie Yuchen of trying to exploit Xie Chen’s newfound prestige. Xie Ran becomes furious at the backlash and insults both Xie Yuchen and the online commenters, though he hides his spiteful nature from their mother.
• Meanwhile, the third season of Villains Variety begins with the contestants being sent to a horror amusement park. Luo Mingyu refuses to participate because he is terrified of ghosts.
• His father forcibly ties him up and brings him to the filming location. Upon arriving, Luo Mingyu agrees to cooperate, but his father immediately ignores him to flatter Xie Chen and seek his contact information for future legal assistance.

Character Developments

• Xie Yuchen: His arrogance collapses when he realizes Xie Chen is a highly respected Harvard professor. Fearful of legal or social consequences, he attempts to repair his image through a carefully worded apology, but his opportunism is obvious to the public.
• Xie Chen: Though mostly offstage, his rise to prominence as Professor Smith is confirmed as legitimate and influential enough to attract Harvard’s public support and the attention of wealthy families.
• Xie Ran: His outwardly gentle persona contrasts sharply with his private resentment and contempt. He becomes enraged when public opinion attacks him and Xie Yuchen, revealing his jealousy and narrow-mindedness.
• Luo Mingyu: Despite claiming not to fear death, he openly admits that ghosts terrify him. His dramatic resistance to the show’s horror challenge highlights his comedic vulnerability.
• Father Luo: He is domineering toward his son but immediately becomes obsequious toward Xie Chen, prioritizing professional connections and potential advantages over Luo Mingyu’s feelings.

Significant Themes

• Exposure of hidden identities and abilities: Xie Chen’s true accomplishments are publicly revealed, overturning the assumptions held by his family and former critics.
• Consequences of hypocrisy and opportunism: Xie Yuchen’s apology and sudden insistence on brotherly closeness are viewed as attempts to benefit from Xie Chen’s success rather than sincere remorse.
• Public judgment and online reputation: Social media becomes a force that condemns wrongdoing and exposes the characters’ motives, though it also intensifies conflict.
• The contrast between appearances and reality: Xie Ran appears kind but is inwardly malicious, while Xie Chen—previously dismissed as ordinary—turns out to be exceptionally accomplished.
• Comedic fear and humiliation: Luo Mingyu’s terror of ghosts, combined with his father’s betrayal and the livestream audience’s amusement, establishes the variety show’s comic tone.

Character Interactions

• Xie Yuchen clashes with Harvard students, who mock him for being inferior to Xie Chen, and with his older brother, who refuses to indulge his shock.
• Xie Yuchen’s public attempt to reconnect with Xie Chen is rejected by netizens, who view him as a hypocrite.
• Xie Ran vents his anger at Xie Yuchen and the online community while maintaining a false image of innocence before Mother Xie.
• Luo Mingyu argues with his father over the variety show, but Father Luo disregards his protests and instead eagerly courts Xie Chen.
• Xie Chen greets Luo Mingyu’s humiliating arrival with amusement, while the livestream audience joins in mocking the unfortunate contestant.

As the guests arrived at the Horror Amusement Park for season three of Transform, Freaks!, their parents treated them like reluctant children while seeking Xie Chen’s attention. Xie Yongan’s attempt to use his investment to secure more opportunities for Xie Chen met with a chilly reception, and Luo’s father openly criticized him for mistreating his son.

• Netizens questioned whether filming season three at a horror amusement park fit the show’s purpose, so Li Huixing explained that the season’s theme was courage.
• Luo’s father and Li Pengfei brought Luo Mingyu and Li Sifan to the park, then eagerly asked Xie Chen for his contact information.
• Wei Mingqi arrived with old Wei from Yiling and joined the other subdued guests while their fathers chatted with Director Li.
• Xie Yongan arrived with Xie Ran, offered to increase the Xie Group’s investment, and asked Director Li for more advertising opportunities for Xie Chen.
• Luo’s father rejected Xie Yongan’s attempt to socialize and accused him of mistreating his biological son while praising his adopted son.

Xie Yongan tried to repair his image and Xie Ran attempted to reconcile with Xie Chen, but Xie Chen kept his distance and demanded the Xie Group’s promised funding. As the guests prepared for the haunted-house challenge, Huo Wenye objected to entering alone and said he wanted to go in with Xie Chen.

• Xie Yongan claimed the online abuse rumors were a misunderstanding, then left the filming site after telling Xie Ran to behave.
• Xie Ran asked Xie Chen to stop being angry with him, but Xie Chen refused to accept his apology and urged Director Li to check whether the Xie Group’s funding had arrived.
• After Xie Yongan and the business moguls departed, Luo Mingyu and Li Sifan relaxed, and the crew prepared the haunted-house challenge.
• Li Sifan tried to run when he heard about the haunted house, while the other guests worried about the challenge and looked to Xie Chen for protection.
• Xie Ran resented having to defer to Xie Chen and considered finding a stronger backer, then glanced at Huo Wenye.
• When the guests chose Xie Chen as captain, Huo Wenye said he also thought entering the haunted house alone was unreasonable and wanted to go with Xie Chen.

Chapter Summary

• Plot and events: Director Li and the planner debate whether to let the guests enter the haunted attractions as a team. Although they worry that Xie Chen will make the challenge too easy, the production team allows teamwork to increase publicity—but raises the requirement from finding one clearance note to finding seven. The guests then enter the horror amusement park’s first attraction, a Japanese-style “murder house,” where they must investigate a homicide and locate evidence of the murderer’s crime. At the entrance, they discover a stroller containing an extremely realistic display of chopped-up flesh and limbs. Xie Ran is the first to approach it closely and vomits from shock. Director Li warns that anyone making no contribution will receive the lowest rating and be forced to enter another haunted house alone, causing the frightened guests to reluctantly gather around the stroller.

Character developments

• Xie Chen remains calm and observant, quickly treating the stroller as a potential crime scene rather than reacting emotionally. He is also amused by the possibility that the normally imposing Huo Wenye might be afraid of ghosts.
• Huo Wenye appears equally composed beside Xie Chen, reinforcing his intimidating and capable image. His decision to team up becomes a source of curiosity for Xie Chen.
• Xie Ran tries to act like an inconspicuous background figure, but jealousy over Xie Chen and Huo Wenye’s apparent chemistry pushes him between them. His attempt to interrupt their interaction ends with him vomiting after seeing the stroller’s contents.
• Luo Mingyu, Li Sifan, and Li Jingfei are established as frightened, comedic participants who complain, scream, and hide behind the stronger guests. The threat of punishment forces them to participate despite their fear.
• Director Li demonstrates that he is willing to manipulate the rules and increase the danger for entertainment and ratings.
• Character interactions: Xie Chen and Huo Wenye immediately take the lead in examining the murder scene, while the other guests rely on them for protection. Xie Chen privately watches Huo Wenye, imagining how amusing it would be to see him frightened. Xie Ran’s jealousy leads him to deliberately separate the pair, though his reaction only makes him more vulnerable. The frightened guests bicker with one another, especially when Luo Mingyu blames Li Sifan for screaming, while Li Jingfei mocks their cowardice.
• Significant themes: The chapter emphasizes the contrast between appearances and reality: the wealthy, powerful guests are reduced to terrified participants, while Xie Chen and Huo Wenye remain unnervingly calm. It also highlights entertainment-driven manipulation, as the production team deliberately increases the challenge and uses punishment to force cooperation. Jealousy and romantic tension emerge through the apparent chemistry between Xie Chen and Huo Wenye, with Xie Ran’s insecurity serving as a humorous counterpoint. Finally, the realistic horror setting tests each character’s courage, competence, and willingness to work together.

Chapter Summary: “This Is an Expert!”

Plot Points and Events

• Xie Chen challenges Huo Wenye’s assumption that the stroller is the primary crime scene. By examining the blood trail beneath it, he determines that the baby was dismembered elsewhere and then placed back inside.
• Huo Wenye produces an evidence note confirming Xie Chen’s deduction. He had found it hidden among the minced remains, claiming he retrieved it because Xie Chen might consider the stroller dirty.
• The note reveals that the baby was dismembered while still alive in the kitchen, based on human fibers and bloodstains found there.
• Xie Chen investigates the kitchen and theatrically picks up a real kitchen knife, frightening both the production staff and Xie Ran. He pretends to threaten Xie Ran, then reveals he was only playing a prank.
• After inspecting the crime scene further, Xie Chen concludes that the murderer was left-handed.
• His astonishing deductions leave the guests, viewers, director, and planner stunned. The production team realizes that inviting a law professor to a criminal-investigation game has made the challenge far too easy for him.
• As the group heads upstairs, Luo Mingyu jokingly asks whether Xie Chen’s school is accepting students. Xie Chen dismisses the idea, claiming intelligence is innate and advising Luo to remain a wealthy heir.

Character Developments

• Xie Chen demonstrates exceptional forensic reasoning, observation, and knowledge of criminal investigation. He confidently identifies the true crime scene, interprets blood patterns, and determines the killer’s dominant hand.
• Huo Wenye initially makes an incorrect judgment but quickly finds the confirming evidence note. His quiet willingness to handle the disgusting evidence for Xie Chen suggests attentiveness and possible affection.
• Xie Ran is exposed as timid and easily frightened despite insisting that he is not scared. Xie Chen’s prank humiliates him further, while the cameraman openly mocks his attempt to maintain a brave persona.
• Luo Mingyu becomes increasingly impressed by Xie Chen and humorously considers studying under him to improve his intelligence.
• Director Li and the planner grow anxious as Xie Chen effortlessly solves the carefully designed mystery, realizing that his expertise undermines the game’s difficulty.

Significant Themes

• Expertise versus manufactured challenges: Xie Chen’s professional knowledge allows him to dismantle a supposedly difficult mystery almost immediately.
• Performance and reputation: Xie Ran’s attempt to appear brave collapses under pressure, while Xie Chen’s calm competence reinforces his public image.
• Humor amid horror: The gruesome crime scene is repeatedly undercut by comic reactions, playful teasing, and the production crew’s panic.
• Affection expressed through actions: Huo Wenye’s retrieval of the note from the gore, and his explanation that he was protecting Xie Chen from dirt, create a flirtatious dynamic.
• Public judgment and entertainment: Online viewers interpret every interaction, criticize Xie Ran, and celebrate Xie Chen’s talent, showing how the variety-show setting turns both crime-solving and personal conflict into spectacle.

Character Interactions

• Xie Chen and Huo Wenye: Their investigative partnership is strengthened when Huo produces evidence supporting Xie Chen’s deduction. Huo’s considerate excuse carries romantic undertones.
• Xie Chen and Xie Ran: Xie Chen deliberately scares and humiliates Xie Ran with the kitchen knife, exposing the gap between Xie Ran’s claims of bravery and his actual fear.
• Luo Mingyu and Xie Chen: Luo seeks advice and admires Xie Chen, but Xie Chen responds with blunt, teasing insults.
• Director Li and the planner: They argue over the decision to invite Xie Chen, with the planner joking that they should exclude him from future seasons.
• The cameraman and Xie Ran: The cameraman sides with Xie Chen, praising his skill and ridiculing Xie Ran’s frightened reaction.

Xie Chen and the others explored a blood-soaked bathroom scene in the haunted house, where a dismembered corpse was missing its head and male organ. Huo Wenye identified the missing organ and revealed his interest in forensic medicine, surprising Xie Chen as the group continued the challenge.

• Luo Mingyu dragged the frightened Li Sifan upstairs with him, and the two exchanged teasing remarks as they clung together.
• Xie Chen scolded Li Sifan for screaming near the bathroom while Luo Mingyu pulled him away and insisted he was only worried about being dragged down with him.
• Xie Ran guessed that the dismembered corpse's missing organ suggested organ trafficking, but Huo Wenye pushed him out of the bathroom and shut the door.
• Xie Chen examined the corpse and asked what was missing besides its head.
• Huo Wenye identified the missing male organ and said he had studied forensic medicine, prompting Xie Chen to discover they shared an interest.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Director Li and the planner argue over the episode’s gruesome murder-mystery script, particularly its focus on dismemberment. Although Director Li criticizes the violence, he becomes anxious about whether the plot will satisfy his wife, who enjoys detective mysteries and wants Xie Chen and Huo Wenye to receive more screen time.
• Inside the haunted-house crime scene, Xie Chen and Huo Wenye examine a dismembered male corpse. From the evidence and notes, they infer that the victim was the unfaithful husband and that his wife killed and dismembered him.
• The pair discover that the wife suffered from mental illness and depression. Her prolonged repression and delusions led her to kill not only her husband but also their child.
• Xie Chen finds a medicine bottle associated with mental illness and uses it, along with the notes, to reconstruct the case.
• The livestream audience is impressed by Xie Chen and Huo Wenye’s deductions, while also reacting emotionally to the tragic circumstances of the murder.
• Xie Ran becomes increasingly upset because he and Luo Mingyu are excluded from the crime scene and ignored by the others. He feels that the show uses him merely as a foil for Xie Chen and questions why he returned to the Xie Family.
• Huo Wenye concludes that the case serves as a warning about infidelity and the consequences of betraying one’s family. He then earnestly agrees with Xie Chen that people should remain faithful, though Xie Chen realizes they were discussing different kinds of relationships.

Character Developments

• Xie Chen demonstrates strong observation, deduction, and knowledge of psychology and forensic reasoning. He confidently reconstructs the crime and maintains a composed, teacher-like attitude.
• Huo Wenye proves more cooperative and perceptive than expected, offering accurate theories and complementing Xie Chen’s analysis. His serious endorsement of faithfulness hints at his personal interest in romantic loyalty.
• Xie Ran grows resentful and insecure after being excluded from the investigation. His frustration reveals deep dissatisfaction with his position within the Xie Family and his perceived lack of popularity.
• Luo Mingyu provides comic relief through his fear of the crime scene and his misunderstanding of Xie Chen’s ability to identify the medicine.
• Director Li appears authoritative when dealing with the planner but becomes comically submissive when dealing with his wife.
• The planner and assistant contribute humor through their anxiety about the script, the director’s temper, and the director’s wife’s influence.

Significant Themes

• Infidelity and its consequences: The murder is presented as the devastating result of betrayal within a marriage.
• Mental illness and repression: The wife’s untreated depression and delusions distort her perception and ultimately lead to tragedy.
• Family dysfunction and resentment: Xie Ran’s alienation reflects his belief that the family and show favor Xie Chen over him.
• Performance versus reality: The supposedly scripted variety-show mystery produces genuine emotional reactions from the cast, audience, and production team.
• Loyalty and love: The investigation concludes with a moral warning about remaining faithful, while Huo Wenye’s response adds a possible romantic undertone.

Important Character Interactions

• Director Li clashes with the planner over the violent script but privately relies on the planner to keep his wife satisfied.
• Xie Chen quizzes Huo Wenye like a student, and Huo Wenye responds with surprisingly accurate deductions, strengthening their investigative partnership.
• Xie Chen and Luo Mingyu exchange humorous remarks, particularly when Xie Chen admits he guessed the medicine’s purpose rather than smelling it.
• Huo Wenye and Xie Chen agree on the importance of fidelity, though Huo Wenye interprets Xie Chen’s comment romantically while Xie Chen is referring more broadly to family loyalty.
• Xie Ran’s exclusion from Xie Chen and Huo Wenye’s investigation intensifies his jealousy and sense of rejection.

Chapter Summary: “Give In, Admit Defeat, Play Coward?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Chen’s comment about love lasting “from beginning to end” is interpreted by the livestream audience as a romantic confession toward Huo Wenye. Xie Chen becomes embarrassed and quickly distances himself before searching for more clues.
• Xie Chen finds all the remaining evidence notes in only ten minutes. The final clue is hidden inside a diary locked in a safe.
• The show’s planner is shocked when Xie Chen opens the safe without finding the intended password clue, apparently using sound and touch to manipulate the lock. Director Li realizes ordinary challenges cannot defeat him and begins planning to exploit Xie Chen’s apparent fear of heights.
• The diary reveals the tragic story of a mentally unstable housewife consumed by grief after her husband’s infidelity. She eventually feeds her family sleeping pills and dismembers the bodies.
• A major twist reveals that the child was not killed by the mother, but by the father. Xie Chen deduces this from the father’s left-handedness, based on the handwriting and daily habits described in the diary.
• Xie Ran challenges Xie Chen’s conclusion and tries to support Huo Wenye’s earlier judgment that the mistress killed the child. Xie Chen disproves him by examining a severed left arm and pointing out the calluses indicating habitual use of the left hand.
• With all seven notes collected, the group prepares to leave the haunted house. Luo Mingyu nearly falls on the stairs but is caught by Li Sifan, leading to an awkward, physically charged moment between them.

Character Developments

• Xie Chen continues to display extraordinary intelligence, observational ability, and practical skill. He effortlessly solves the safe and identifies the true murderer through subtle physical evidence. Despite his composure, he becomes visibly flustered by the audience’s romantic interpretation of his words toward Huo Wenye.
• Huo Wenye remains emotionally restrained and perceptive. He notices Xie Chen’s behavior but does not openly comment on it. He coldly rejects Xie Ran’s attempts to flatter or ally himself with him.
• Xie Ran grows increasingly embarrassed and insecure after his challenge is disproven. His attempt to curry favor with Huo Wenye fails, especially when Huo openly dismisses him.
• Director Li reveals a competitive, somewhat vindictive side. Frustrated by Xie Chen’s competence, he intends to exploit Xie Chen’s fear of heights rather than defeat him through normal puzzles.
• Luo Mingyu provides comic relief through his fear and disgust at the realistic corpses. His near-fall also creates an opportunity for Li Sifan to show concern.
• Li Sifan catches Luo Mingyu before he falls, but masks his concern with an insult, suggesting awkward affection or growing intimacy between them.

Significant Themes

• Love and family: The chapter contrasts destructive marriage and betrayal with the idea that genuine love can strengthen people. The audience also treats Xie Chen and Huo Wenye’s exchange as evidence of romantic feeling.
• Maternal love and misplaced blame: The mother’s mental collapse is tragic, but the story emphasizes that she never intended to harm her child. The father’s hidden responsibility exposes how appearances can distort judgment.
• Intelligence versus manipulation: Xie Chen repeatedly overcomes the show’s carefully designed obstacles, prompting Director Li to target his personal weaknesses instead.
• Evidence over assumption: Xie Chen demonstrates that reliable physical clues matter more than instinct or preconceived conclusions.
• Fear and vulnerability: Although Xie Chen appears nearly invincible intellectually, his suspected fear of heights hints at a weakness that others may exploit. The characters’ physical and emotional reactions also reveal vulnerability beneath their public personas.

Character Interactions

• The livestream audience enthusiastically “ships” Xie Chen and Huo Wenye after Xie Chen’s romantic-sounding remark.
• Xie Chen and Huo Wenye share a tense, understated exchange filled with embarrassment and unspoken emotion.
• Xie Ran attempts to use the murder mystery to question Xie Chen while aligning himself with Huo Wenye, but both efforts fail.
• Huo Wenye sharply rejects Xie Ran’s interference, humiliating him.
• Xie Chen proves his conclusion by presenting the severed hand as evidence, silencing the dispute.
• Li Sifan catches Luo Mingyu on the stairs, then hides his concern behind a sharp reprimand, creating a brief moment of awkward intimacy.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After leaving the haunted house, Xie Chen and Huo Wenye walk together while the cameraman gives them privacy. Huo questions why Xie Chen did not correct his mistaken deduction earlier, then asks to become Xie Chen’s private student in criminal investigation and forensics.
• Huo’s intense gaze and possessive interest make the interaction seem romantic, but Xie Chen awkwardly ruins the mood by asking whether he has something in his eye. He then pulls away before Huo can press the moment further.
• Huo asks how Xie Chen discovered the safe’s password. Xie Chen cannot reveal his past experience as a secret agent skilled at breaking security systems, so he dismisses it as luck. Meanwhile, viewers begin speculating that Xie Chen has a mysterious hidden identity and launch an online investigation into his past.
• Director Li introduces the next challenge: the “Terror Grand Wheel.” The guests initially mistake a small nearby wheel for the ride, but discover that they must board a gigantic Wheel of Fate reaching high into the sky.
• Director Li offers anyone with heart problems or a fear of heights the chance to withdraw by admitting they are scared. No one volunteers, largely because the guests fear embarrassment and the cameras.
• Luo Mingyu hides his terror, thinking of his strict father, who would force him to ride repeatedly if he admitted fear. Xie Chen also confidently denies being afraid of heights, remembering that his past life in a cultivation world involved flying through the sky on a sword.
• The guests board the ride. Their screams, panic, and bodily fluids create chaotic comedy as the wheel spins faster and higher.

Character Developments

• Xie Chen: Remains observant, highly capable, and evasive about his extraordinary past experiences. His lack of romantic awareness contrasts sharply with Huo Wenye’s obvious emotional intensity. He is also fearless regarding heights because of his former life as a cultivator.
• Huo Wenye: Becomes increasingly direct and emotionally fixated on Xie Chen. His request for private tutoring appears to be motivated by more than academic interest, and his gaze suggests he sees Xie Chen as someone precious who has returned after a long separation.
• Luo Mingyu: Reveals that he is genuinely terrified of the ride but refuses to admit it because of his father’s harsh expectations and the pressure of being filmed.
• Xie Ran and the other guests: Show varying degrees of fear but suppress their desire to quit in order to maintain their public image.

Significant Themes

• Hidden identities and extraordinary abilities: Xie Chen’s unexplained expertise continues to attract suspicion, while his past lives remain concealed.
• Romantic tension versus obliviousness: Huo’s intense affection clashes humorously with Xie Chen’s inability to recognize or respond to romantic signals.
• Public image and performance: The guests endure fear rather than appear weak on camera, highlighting the pressure of reality television.
• Comedy through contrast: The terrifying ride is juxtaposed with sarcastic commentary, awkward romance, and the guests’ chaotic physical reactions.

Character Interactions

• Huo presses Xie Chen about his judgment and offers to pay any price for private tutoring, creating strong romantic tension.
• Xie Chen unintentionally deflects the mood by asking whether he has eye gunk, then avoids Huo’s questions about the safe.
• Director Li deliberately provokes Luo Mingyu and Xie Chen to test whether they will admit fear.
• The guests’ panic on the ride leads to bickering, especially between Luo Mingyu and Li Sifan, while the livestream audience enthusiastically mocks and ships the cast.