Chapter Summaries

After Qin Chuyu was removed from the show, the guests received a talent-show assignment at the nursing home. Xie Chen handed out eggs to prove his promise, while the Villain Group helped him prepare and Li Sifan announced he had chosen an act.

• Luo Mingyu told Xie Chen that Qin Chuyu had left the show after his fans drew public backlash, and Director Li said the decision had come from above.
• Director Li assigned the guests two hours to prepare performances for the nursing-home residents, who would vote for the winner.
• Xie Chen received fifty kilos of eggs and began bagging them to disprove Xie Ran's accusations that he had lied.
• Huo Wenye and the other members of the Villain Group helped Xie Chen sort the eggs, while Luo Mingyu asked him to put in a good word for them.
• Luo Mingyu warned Li Sifan not to perform rap, but Li Sifan said he had already chosen his act, leaving Luo Mingyu upset that they might not perform together.

Chapter Summary: “Brother Ye's Look Seemed Like He Wanted to Kill Me?!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Director Li becomes furious when Xie Chen interprets the assigned performance task as delivering eggs to the nursing-home residents instead of preparing a formal show. He blames the planner for making the task too easy, though the planner privately feels the guests are simply exceptionally capable.
• While distributing the eggs, Xie Chen wins the affection of the elderly residents. Their praise quickly turns into teasing about his relationship with Huo Wenye, forcing Xie Chen to change the subject.
• Xie Chen asks about Chen Shuhua and learns that she was taken away by her wealthy son. Before the resident can explain further, the nursing home’s strict administrator orders everyone to report for mealtime.
• The elderly residents immediately become fearful and obedient, lining up like prisoners rather than happily going to eat. Xie Chen notices the nursing home’s oppressive atmosphere.
• Auntie Wang identifies the administrator as Xie Weiquan, who controls the staff and residents. Xie Chen becomes suspicious upon hearing another person with the surname Xie is involved.
• Huo Wenye reveals that Xie Yongan once invested in the nursing home, though his remaining stake is now small. He casually offers to buy out the rest of Xie Yongan’s shares for Xie Chen.
• Xie Chen asks to inspect the cafeteria, but Auntie Wang refuses because she fears retaliation from Xie Weiquan. The group eventually leaves the residential building without investigating further.
• At dusk, Huo Wenye tells Xie Chen that he acquired the nursing home “for you,” creating an emotionally charged moment that is abruptly interrupted by Luo Mingyu, who calls Xie Chen to rehearsal.
• Luo Mingyu realizes too late that he has interrupted an intimate moment and notices Huo Wenye’s murderous expression. The livestream audience jokes that Huo truly wants to kill him for ruining the atmosphere.

Character Developments

• Xie Chen: Demonstrates initiative and kindness by distributing eggs, while continuing to investigate Chen Shuhua’s disappearance. He grows increasingly suspicious of the nursing home and its possible connection to the Xie family.
• Huo Wenye: Shows strong affection and possessiveness toward Xie Chen. His willingness to acquire the nursing home’s remaining shares for him, and his admission that he bought it for Xie Chen, reveal both his wealth and his determination to support him.
• Luo Mingyu: Remains energetic and oblivious, but his interruption exposes how perceptive he can be when he senses Huo Wenye’s hostility.
• Auntie Wang: Is helpful but intimidated by the nursing home’s administrator. She follows authority out of fear, though Huo Wenye’s presence makes her feel somewhat safer.
• Xie Weiquan: Emerges as a powerful and threatening figure who controls the nursing home through fear and rigid rules.
• Director Li and the planner: Provide comic relief through their argument over Xie Chen’s unconventional interpretation of the task.

Significant Themes

• Institutional abuse and control: The nursing home resembles a prison, with residents forced to follow rigid schedules and obey threatening staff.
• Hidden family connections and corruption: Xie Chen suspects the facility may be tied to the Xie family through investment and the presence of another powerful man named Xie.
• Romantic devotion and protection: Huo Wenye’s actions show that he is willing to use his influence and fortune to protect or assist Xie Chen.
• Comedy through interruption: The chapter balances the disturbing nursing-home environment with exaggerated reactions from the production staff, livestream viewers, and Luo Mingyu.
• Appearances versus reality: The nursing home initially seems ordinary and welcoming, but the residents’ sudden fear reveals its darker nature.

Important Character Interactions

• Xie Chen charms the elderly residents while subtly gathering information about Chen Shuhua.
• Auntie Wang warns Xie Chen and Huo Wenye about Xie Weiquan’s authority and the staff’s fear of him.
• Huo Wenye reassures Xie Chen by offering to acquire the remaining shares connected to Xie Yongan.
• Huo’s romantic confession-like statement creates a tense, intimate exchange with Xie Chen.
• Luo Mingyu interrupts the moment, prompting Huo Wenye’s threatening glare and becoming the target of the livestream audience’s jokes.

At the nursing home rehearsal, Luo Mingyu was tricked into singing Kunqu opera, while Xie Chen and Huo Wenye were pushed toward a duet. Away from rehearsal, Xie Ran met Xie Weiquan to discuss hiding the nursing home’s medical records, then drew suspicion with his excuses and asked to perform with Huo Wenye.

• Li Jingfei and Li Sifan baited Luo Mingyu into singing Kunqu opera, and he impressed the others with his performance.
• Director Li asked Xie Chen and Huo Wenye what they would perform, and Huo Wenye proposed a duet that Auntie Wang approved.
• Xie Ran secretly met Xie Weiquan, who urged him to tell Xie Yongan to contact the nursing home’s other shareholders about the threatened exposure of medical records.
• Xie Ran returned to rehearsal and claimed he had gone to the bathroom, but Director Li called out his insinuation that the show had treated him unfairly.
• Xie Ran asked the assistant whether guest stars had to perform alone, then requested to team up with Huo Wenye.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Ran learns that Huo Wenye already has a duet arranged with Xie Chen’an, a revelation that frustrates and humiliates him.
• The duet is titled “Kindred Lovers,” which intensifies Xie Ran’s jealousy. He views the song as overly sentimental and resents the special treatment Xie Chen receives from Huo Wenye and the show’s staff.
• Feeling excluded, Xie Ran calls his eldest brother, Xie Zhenting, and complains about Qin Chuyu’s downfall after offending Xie Chen.
• Xie Zhenting advises Xie Ran to avoid competing against Xie Chen while he is favored by the authorities. He suggests that forfeiting can be presented as a strategic decision to conceal Xie Ran’s abilities.
• Encouraged by this advice, Xie Ran claims to have a stomachache and forfeits his performance.
• Director Li reacts angrily and sarcastically to the excuse, but proceeds with the evening entertainment program.
• The elderly audience, forced to attend by the administrator, chats nervously about disappearances and suspected abuse by the authorities. Xie Chen’s livestream captures their conversation, apparently intentionally.
• The first act is announced as a duet by Luo Mingyu and Li Sifan, nicknamed “Dog Luo” and “the edgy singer.” They perform a song called “Huo Yuanjia,” but the title causes confusion because an elderly man assumes they will sing the famous patriotic theme associated with the historical martial artist.
• The performers instead launch into a modern, repetitive song beginning with “Huo, huo, huo, huo,” leaving the old man bewildered.

Character Developments

• Xie Ran becomes increasingly resentful and insecure. He believes Xie Chen has stolen the affection, opportunities, and social position that should have belonged to him. Rather than compete, he chooses to withdraw after receiving his brother’s advice.
• Xie Zhenting outwardly treats Xie Ran with patience but privately regards him with disgust, recognizing his hypocrisy. His thought—“If only Xie Chen were my real younger brother?”—reveals that he values Xie Chen more than Xie Ran despite their family relationship.
• Xie Chen continues to demonstrate intelligence and control. He records the elderly residents’ gossip while blending into the crowd, suggesting that he is carefully gathering information about the oppressive environment.
• Huo Wenye’s willingness to perform a duet with Xie Chen highlights his unusually favorable attitude toward him.
• Director Li is shown as blunt, irritable, and skeptical of performers who shirk their responsibilities.
• Luo Mingyu and Li Sifan provide comic relief through their mismatched performance and the confusion surrounding their song choice.

Significant Themes

• Jealousy and displacement: Xie Ran feels replaced within the wealthy family and cannot understand why Xie Chen receives affection despite his difficult origins.
• Favoritism and social power: Xie Chen’s influence with authorities protects him, while those who oppose him, such as Qin Chuyu, suffer severe professional consequences.
• Hypocrisy and false appearances: Xie Ran pretends to be vulnerable and obedient, using illness as an excuse to avoid competition, while Xie Zhenting conceals his dislike behind familial concern.
• Oppression and surveillance: The elderly audience’s fearful comments imply that the administrator controls the community through intimidation, forced participation, and possible abuse. Xie Chen’s recording of their conversation may become important.
• Comedy amid tension: The variety-show performances and misunderstandings create humor, contrasting with the darker background of coercion, blacklisting, and fear.

Important Character Interactions

• Xie Ran and the assistant: The assistant bluntly informs him that Xie Chen and Huo Wenye have a duet, openly dismissing Xie Ran’s jealousy.
• Xie Ran and Xie Zhenting: Xie Ran manipulates the conversation by presenting himself as hurt and sympathetic toward Qin Chuyu. Xie Zhenting advises him to forfeit, though his private thoughts reveal emotional distance.
• Xie Chen and the elderly residents: By sitting among them and recording their unguarded conversation, Xie Chen gains access to information they would likely conceal from the administrator.
• Luo Mingyu and Li Sifan: Their duet produces an amusing mismatch between the audience’s expectations and the actual performance.

The performers entertained the elderly audience with songs and skits, and Huo Wenye and Xie Chen won the talent show with their duet. Huo Wenye explained that he had changed the lyrics because he felt he had known Xie Chen for two lifetimes, leaving Xie Chen convinced he knew about his rebirth.

• Li Sifan and Luo Mingyu performed a duet, and the elderly audience praised Luo Mingyu's singing while teasing them both.
• Li Jingfei sang "Who Says Women Are Inferior to Men," and Wei Mingqi performed "Wu Song Fights the Tiger" to enthusiastic applause.
• Xie Chen reluctantly joined Huo Wenye for "Kindred Lovers," then reacted with alarm when Huo Wenye sang about rebirth and changed the lyrics.
• Director Li announced that Luo Mingyu and Li Sifan had come last, then declared Huo Wenye and Xie Chen the winners.
• Huo Wenye said he felt as though he had known Xie Chen for two lifetimes, and Xie Chen wondered if Huo Wenye knew his secret about being reborn.

Chapter Summary: “Who Wants to Eat Your Big Drumstick?!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Chuyu has a breakdown backstage after losing work following the public scandal surrounding his association with Xie Chen. He destroys equipment until Qin Huai arrives and sends the manager away.
• Qin Huai reprimands Qin Chuyu for ignoring his warning to stay away from Xie Chen. He explains that Xie Chen’s former weakness was an act and that his success as a genius lawyer in the United States proves he has always been highly capable.
• Qin Huai advises Qin Chuyu to go abroad temporarily, with the Xie Group paying his breach-of-contract penalties. He intends to use his legal control over the Xie Group’s case to force Xie Yongan to comply.
• Xie Yongan angrily rejects responsibility for Qin Chuyu’s personal misconduct, but ultimately agrees to pay the penalties because Qin Huai has leverage over the company. He plans to recover the money later.
• Xie Zhenting becomes increasingly uneasy about the family’s worsening situation and identifies Xie Chen as the central cause of their troubles. He considers bringing back the other Xie brothers from abroad in hopes that they can appeal to Xie Chen’s former family ties.
• Meanwhile, Xie Chen celebrates winning the talent show with an extravagant meal. His exaggerated enthusiasm for food becomes comic entertainment for the others.
• Huo Wenye notices Xie Chen’s deep fear of hunger and offers him his own drumstick, revealing concern for the trauma Xie Chen suffered while being neglected and imprisoned by the Xie Family.
• Luo Mingyu and Li Sifan provide a lighter comedic exchange when Luo misinterprets Li’s offer to share food as something suggestive.

Character Developments

• Qin Chuyu is shown as emotionally unstable and increasingly desperate after losing professional opportunities. He remains unable to accept how thoroughly Xie Chen has changed, but depends on Qin Huai to rescue him.
• Qin Huai emerges as calculating, authoritative, and protective of his brother. He recognizes Xie Chen’s true abilities and weaponizes his position as the Xie Group’s lawyer.
• Xie Yongan reveals growing frustration and the first signs of regret over choosing his biological son over Xie Ran. Although he resents Qin Huai’s coercion, he submits to it while secretly planning retaliation.
• Xie Zhenting becomes more anxious about the family’s decline and realizes that events are moving beyond the family’s control.
• Xie Chen remains playful and humorous in public, but his compulsive eating exposes the lasting psychological effects of past starvation and abuse.
• Huo Wenye demonstrates increasing tenderness toward Xie Chen. His attention shifts from teasing or observing him to actively comforting and caring for him.
• Luo Mingyu and Li Sifan continue their playful dynamic, with Luo’s embarrassment contrasting against Li’s innocent confusion.

Significant Themes

• Consequences and downfall: Qin Chuyu and the Xie Family begin suffering tangible professional and financial consequences for their actions.
• Power and leverage: Qin Huai uses legal authority to force the Xie Group into paying costs it does not want to accept.
• Trauma and survival: Xie Chen’s overeating is connected to his past imprisonment and starvation, showing how abuse continues to shape his behavior.
• Regret and family rejection: Xie Yongan begins questioning whether acknowledging his biological son was a mistake, highlighting the family’s failure to value Xie Chen.
• Care and emotional healing: Huo Wenye’s offer of food symbolizes protection and reassurance, contrasting sharply with the Xie Family’s neglect.
• Humor amid conflict: Food-related jokes, livestream comments, and romantic misunderstandings provide comic relief while reinforcing the growing affection between the characters.

Character Interactions

• Qin Huai confronts and advises Qin Chuyu, combining harsh criticism with practical protection.
• Qin Huai pressures Xie Yongan through the legal case, while Xie Yongan submits unwillingly and plots future repayment.
• Xie Zhenting discusses the crisis with Xie Yongan and worries that only the absent Xie brothers might repair the family’s relationship with Xie Chen.
• Director Li jokes with Xie Chen about his appetite, while Xie Chen turns the teasing into a reference to his trauma.
• Huo Wenye responds seriously to Xie Chen’s hidden pain and gives him his drumstick, creating a tender, affectionate moment watched by the livestream audience.
• Luo Mingyu and Li Sifan share a humorous misunderstanding over Li’s offer to share food.

Luo Mingyu, Li Sifan, Li Jingfei, and Wei Mingqi shared a secret delivery of drumsticks before discovering Xie Weiquan’s staff preparing to give an elderly woman electric shock treatment. Xie Chen and the others confronted the administrator, and the woman was released and angrily denounced her son on camera.

• Luo Mingyu and Li Sifan waited by the fence for their food delivery, and Wei Mingqi and Li Jingfei caught them trying to keep it secret.
• Li Sifan promised Li Jingfei the biggest drumstick, and the Villain Group shared the food in a dark corner.
• Luo Mingyu and the others saw Xie Weiquan’s care workers dragging an elderly woman toward treatment and recorded the incident on their phones.
• Xie Weiquan heard the guests, and Xie Chen confronted him while the Villain Group emerged with their drumsticks.
• The care workers released the woman, who accused her son of neglecting her and threatened to take back the family assets.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• A blunt, fierce Northeast China auntie publicly exposes the nursing home during a livestream. She reveals that the facility’s caregivers mistreat residents and use electric shocks as punishment, despite advertising itself as a luxurious, comfortable home.
• She identifies herself as the former chairwoman of a pickled mustard tuber company and publicly calls for her son, Zhao Dahai, to come see her.
• Zhao Dahai, secretly watching the livestream, panics and immediately leaves to retrieve his mother. He angrily confronts Xie Zhenting, who had recommended the nursing home, and curses him for concealing its abusive practices.
• While Xie Weiquan and several caregivers attempt to escape, the Villain Group blocks them and demands answers about the alleged mistreatment and the auntie’s supposed mental illness.
• Huo Wenye arrives and announces that he has acquired most of the nursing home’s shares. He replaces Auntie Wang as chief administrator and threatens to fire Xie Weiquan, who protests that he is protected by his connection to Xie Group.
• The livestream audience realizes that the nursing home systematically abuses elderly residents and compares it to institutions that claim to reform difficult children while subjecting them to cruelty.
• Xie Yongan recognizes that the scandal may expose Xie Group’s involvement. He orders the remaining nursing home shares to be sold immediately and threatens the responsible executive if the sale is not completed by the next day.
• Xie Chen escorts the auntie back to her room, where she gives him a jar of homemade pickled mustard tuber as thanks. Zhao Dahai finally arrives, only to be slapped by his mother for abandoning her.

Character Developments

• The Northeast China auntie is established as outspoken, fearless, and physically intimidating. She refuses to be silenced and uses the livestream to expose the nursing home and pressure her son into action.
• Zhao Dahai is shown to be cowardly around his mother despite being a powerful businessman. His fear and guilty reaction reveal that he knows she is capable of punishing him, while his eventual arrival suggests reluctant concern.
• Xie Weiquan shifts from an arrogant administrator to a cornered suspect. He tries to deny responsibility and escape, but his authority collapses once Huo Wenye takes control.
• Huo Wenye demonstrates decisive power and willingness to intervene. By acquiring the majority of the shares, he gains the authority to remove the corrupt administrator.
• Xie Yongan proves politically and commercially calculating. Rather than defend the nursing home, he immediately attempts to distance Xie Group from the scandal by selling its shares.
• Xie Chen continues acting compassionately toward the elderly residents, earning the auntie’s trust and gratitude.
• Auntie Wang is positioned to become the new administrator, suggesting a possible shift toward better treatment of the residents.

Significant Themes

• Abuse hidden behind respectable institutions: The nursing home presents itself as a high-end facility but secretly uses violence and electric shocks to control residents.
• Public exposure and accountability: The livestream prevents the perpetrators from quietly suppressing the auntie and forces the abuse into public view.
• Family neglect and responsibility: Zhao Dahai abandoned his mother in a facility chosen for convenience, only confronting the consequences when she publicly exposed him.
• Power versus justice: Xie Weiquan relies on institutional connections, while Huo Wenye uses financial control to remove him.
• Corporate corruption: Xie Group’s involvement suggests that profit has been prioritized over the welfare of vulnerable elderly people.
• Humor amid serious wrongdoing: The auntie’s aggressive personality, her slap of Zhao Dahai, and the audience’s reactions provide comic relief while emphasizing the absurdity and cruelty of the situation.

Important Character Interactions

• The auntie verbally battles Xie Weiquan and directly addresses the livestream audience and Zhao Dahai.
• Zhao Dahai angrily confronts Xie Zhenting over the nursing home’s electric-shock practices.
• The Villain Group challenges Xie Weiquan and the caregivers, questioning their authority to label residents mentally ill.
• Huo Wenye confronts Xie Weiquan, removes him from power, and announces Auntie Wang’s promotion.
• Xie Chen comforts and assists the auntie, prompting her to give him homemade food.
• The chapter ends with the auntie confronting Zhao Dahai physically, reinforcing their humorous but tense mother-son relationship.

Chapter Summary: “Big Shots Are Big Shots!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Dahai is confronted and physically punished by his elderly mother for sending her to the nursing home and failing to visit. Despite his complaints, he quickly becomes obedient, massaging her shoulders and legs.
• Director Li arrives after hearing about the commotion. Luo Mingyu accuses the nursing home of secretly taking residents away for electric-shock treatment, while Zhao Dahai angrily demands the administrator be brought out.
• The old woman reveals that Zhao Dahai is her son, transforming what appeared to be a serious institutional scandal into a chaotic family dispute. Director Li decides to postpone resolving the matter until the next day.
• Meanwhile, Xie Chen leaves the elderly dormitory with pickled mustard greens and heads toward Huo Wenye, who is handling Xie Weiquan’s dismissal.
• Several men ambush Xie Chen, but he quickly defeats them. Under pressure, they confess that Xie Ran and administrator Xie Weiquan hired them.
• Xie Ran, who had secretly recorded the assault, attempts to flee. Xie Chen catches him, knocks away his phone, and beats him.
• Xie Chen taunts Xie Ran about the Xie family’s lack of genuine affection, insisting that family members are valued only for their usefulness. Xie Ran refuses to believe he is merely one of many expendable heirs, so Xie Chen kicks him in the stomach before leaving.
• Huo Wenye witnesses Xie Chen’s actions. He reveals that Xie Weiquan has not yet been dismissed because he offered to become a cooperating witness and help Xie Chen fight for guardianship.

Character Developments

• Zhao Dahai: Despite appearing imposing, he is completely submissive toward his mother. His fear and obedience create comic contrast with his earlier aggression.
• Zhao Dahai’s mother: She is forceful, domineering, and comfortable asserting authority publicly, immediately taking control of the family situation.
• Director Li: His response reveals a cautious, conflict-avoiding personality. He instinctively sympathizes with the dominant elderly woman because her behavior reminds him of his own wife.
• Xie Chen: He demonstrates strong combat ability, decisiveness, and a vengeful streak. He deliberately attacks Xie Ran but also reveals that he prefers watching his enemies gradually lose everything rather than defeating them immediately.
• Xie Ran: His confidence in his privileged position within the Xie family begins to crack, though he still reacts with denial and resentment. His reliance on secret recordings and hired attackers also exposes his weakness.
• Huo Wenye: He remains calm and observant, quietly managing the situation behind the scenes. His ability to turn Xie Weiquan into a cooperating witness highlights his influence and effectiveness.

Significant Themes

• Family authority and power: The Zhao family’s conflict shows how authority can operate within a family, while Xie Chen’s confrontation exposes the Xie family’s ruthless, utilitarian values.
• Blood ties versus usefulness: Xie Chen argues that the Xie family does not truly care about kinship; members are valued only according to their usefulness.
• Revenge and psychological destruction: Xie Chen’s goal is not merely to defeat Xie Ran physically but to dismantle his confidence and make him suffer emotionally.
• Public chaos and entertainment: Serious accusations, family violence, and criminal behavior unfold under the cameras, reinforcing the absurdity of the “Villains Variety Show.”
• Powerful people manipulating outcomes: The ending suggests that influential figures like Huo Wenye can resolve conflicts through strategy and connections rather than brute force.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Dahai and his mother engage in a comic reversal of authority, with the supposedly powerful son reduced to a frightened, obedient child.
• Luo Mingyu and Zhao Dahai unite against the nursing home administrator, treating the alleged mistreatment as a shared injustice.
• Xie Chen interrogates and defeats the hired attackers, then confronts Xie Ran directly.
• Xie Chen attempts to shatter Xie Ran’s belief that he is specially valued by the Xie family.
• Huo Wenye silently observes Xie Chen’s revenge and then surprises him with news that Xie Weiquan may become an ally, demonstrating how political and legal maneuvering can complement Xie Chen’s direct methods.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Injured after confronting Xie Chen, Xie Ran messages Director Li to quit the production and threatens legal action. Director Li initially dismisses him, assuming he is merely causing trouble.
• Director Li then discovers that the nursing home serves residents diluted milk and frozen, poor-quality food, unlike the specially prepared meals provided to the production crew. He realizes the elderly may be being deliberately mistreated.
• At the hospital, Xie Ran’s parents arrive. His mother angrily blames the production team, while Xie Yongan coldly orders him to return to filming once discharged.
• Xie Ran accuses Xie Chen of assaulting him, but Xie Yongan demands concrete evidence. The doctor confirms that Xie Ran only has soft-tissue injuries and cannot file a meaningful police report.
• Xie Yongan accuses Xie Ran of framing Xie Chen and harshly threatens to expel both Xie Ran and his mother from the family if they continue causing trouble.
• Back at the nursing home, Xie Chen exposes the cafeteria’s disgusting soup, which contains cockroaches and ants. Zhao Dahai then attacks the cook for feeding such food to his mother, though Xie Chen ensures the violent footage is not broadcast.

Character developments

• Xie Ran becomes increasingly desperate and victimized, attempting to use his injuries to turn his family and the production team against Xie Chen. His lack of evidence leaves him powerless, however.
• Xie Yongan reveals his ruthless favoritism and pragmatic nature. Rather than defend his injured son, he prioritizes evidence, reputation, and the family’s interests, while showing little sympathy for Xie Ran.
• Mother Xie remains fiercely protective of Xie Ran but is emotional and impulsive, immediately demanding revenge and threatening legal action.
• Xie Chen continues exposing the nursing home’s corruption with sarcasm and composure. He also protects the people involved by stopping the assault footage from airing.
• Zhao Dahai demonstrates a strong sense of filial responsibility: although he tolerated mistreatment from his own mother, he cannot tolerate outsiders abusing her and responds violently.

Significant themes

• Family favoritism and rejection: Xie Ran’s biological status does not guarantee protection, while Xie Yongan treats family members as useful or disposable assets.
• Abuse hidden behind appearances: The production team receives decent food while the elderly residents are given unsafe, substandard meals, revealing exploitation concealed from outsiders.
• Evidence versus accusation: Xie Ran’s claims fail because he cannot prove them, whereas Xie Chen’s discoveries expose wrongdoing through observable facts.
• Filial loyalty and moral boundaries: Zhao Dahai’s actions suggest that enduring personal mistreatment is different from allowing someone else to harm one’s parent.
• Public image and media control: The livestream, the production team, and the decision to cut violent footage highlight how truth can be manipulated or selectively presented.

Character interactions

• Xie Ran clashes with Director Li over his departure and threatened lawsuit.
• Xie Ran’s mother comforts and defends him, while Xie Yongan challenges his accusations and ultimately rejects his demands.
• Xie Yongan’s harsh treatment exposes the deep tension between him, Xie Ran, and Mother Xie.
• Xie Chen confronts the nursing home’s staff indirectly by revealing the contaminated food.
• Zhao Dahai’s attack on the cook becomes a dramatic expression of his anger over his mother’s mistreatment, while Xie Chen quietly manages the consequences by preventing the footage from airing.

After the cafeteria abuse was exposed, Xie Chen’s remarks about Zhao Dahai’s mother stirred public outrage and Director Li announced a window-cleaning task. Xie Chen then revealed that Xie Yongan’s nursing-home scheme had been exposed online, leaving Xie Yongan to confront the trending scandals.

• Aunt Zhao stopped Zhao Dahai from beating the cook, then chased and hit Zhao when he pleaded with her to stop.
• Xie Chen filmed Zhao Dahai, said he envied him for still having his mother, and viewers called for oversight of eldercare facilities.
• The nursing-home director apologized and promised to revoke the cafeteria’s operating rights, while Director Li assigned each guest a floor of windows to clean.
• Xie Yongan brought Xie Ran back to filming, and Director Li blurted out his annoyance at seeing Xie Ran return.
• Xie Yongan tried to pressure Zhao Dahai over their ties and the nursing-home shares, but Zhao refused to invest.
• Xie Chen told Xie Yongan that his nephew had exposed his scheme, and Xie Yongan saw the nursing-home scandals trending on Weibo.

Chapter Summary: “Which Fly Is Buzzing?!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Huo Wenye and Xie Chen prepare to expose the nursing home’s abuses. With insider Xie Weiquan cooperating as a tainted witness, Huo’s team gathers medical records, procurement contracts, and residents’ health reports.
• To prevent Xie Yongan from destroying evidence or controlling public opinion, Xie Chen and Huo Wenye plan to release the exposé between 2:00 and 3:00 a.m., giving the scandal time to spread before anyone can respond.
• Huo suggests that Xie Chen undergo a paternity test with Grandma to strengthen his guardianship case. Although they are not biologically related and Xie Chen refuses to forge evidence, Huo believes their physical resemblance makes testing worth attempting.
• Xie Yongan tries to distance himself from the scandal, condemning his “nephew” and promising an investigation. Xie Chen confronts him, pointing out that Xie Yongan’s handwritten signature appears on the incriminating documents.
• Xie Chen comforts Zhao Dahai and urges him to protect his mother. Their conversation highlights Zhao’s devotion despite their playful bickering.
• Xie Chen briefly becomes melancholy over the family affection he has lacked in both his previous and current lives, but Luo Mingyu’s interruption quickly lifts his mood.
• Back at the Villain Group, Xie Chen demonstrates how to clean windows. When Xie Ran mocks the others for praising him, Luo Mingyu viciously dismisses him as a “buzzing fly” and insults him as a “pighead.”

Character Developments

• Xie Chen: Becomes more confident and strategic in his revenge plans. He is grateful for Huo Wenye’s support and begins recognizing that his new friendships and allies may compensate for the family love he never received. His possible resemblance to Grandma rekindles hope that he may have a genuine familial connection.
• Huo Wenye: Shows remarkable loyalty, competence, and affection toward Xie Chen. He handles the investigation proactively, offers to protect Xie Chen from legal consequences, and gently encourages him to pursue the paternity test. His past connection to Xie Chen’s academic life also hints at how closely he has followed him.
• Xie Yongan: Reveals his instinct for self-preservation by immediately denying responsibility and attempting to leave. His composure masks concern over the evidence implicating him.
• Zhao Dahai: Demonstrates sincere admiration for Xie Chen and strong filial loyalty toward his mother. His straightforward personality contrasts with the scheming behavior of the Xie family.
• Luo Mingyu: Acts as a cheerful, loyal friend whose humor dispels Xie Chen’s sadness. He also becomes openly hostile toward Xie Ran, defending Xie Chen through sharp insults.
• Xie Ran: Remains arrogant, resentful, and jealous of Xie Chen’s growing support within the group. His attempt to belittle Xie Chen only makes him the target of Luo Mingyu’s ridicule.

Significant Themes

• Justice versus corruption: Xie Chen and Huo Wenye carefully build a legal and public case against the nursing home rather than acting recklessly.
• Found family: Although Xie Chen lacks affection from his biological or adoptive family, he realizes that his friends in the Villain Group—and especially Huo Wenye—provide loyalty, protection, and belonging.
• Hope and emotional healing: The possibility of a biological connection with Grandma gives Xie Chen renewed hope, while his friends help him recover from loneliness and disappointment.
• Loyalty and protection: Huo’s willingness to take responsibility for Xie Chen and Zhao Dahai’s commitment to his mother emphasize the value of protecting those one cares about.
• Humor as emotional relief: Playful banter, especially between Xie Chen, Zhao Dahai, Luo Mingyu, and Xie Ran, lightens the chapter’s darker themes of betrayal and family neglect.

Character Interactions

• Xie Chen and Huo Wenye: Their strategic partnership deepens into emotional intimacy, with Huo offering unwavering support and Xie Chen developing a subtle romantic flutter toward him.
• Xie Chen and Xie Yongan: Xie Chen openly challenges Xie Yongan’s attempt to evade blame, showing that he is no longer intimidated by the older man.
• Xie Chen and Zhao Dahai: They bond over directness, family responsibility, and mutual respect.
• Xie Chen and Luo Mingyu: Their playful exchange reflects genuine friendship and helps pull Xie Chen out of his loneliness.
• Luo Mingyu and Xie Ran: Luo publicly mocks Xie Ran, turning Xie Ran’s attempt at criticism into another humiliation.

Xie Chen’s group turned a window-cleaning task into a water fight before resuming work when he reminded them to hurry for lunch. Meanwhile, Wang Qiming secretly obtained hair from an elderly woman at the Xie Family villa and escaped without paying Aunt Shen.

• Xie Ran resented Xie Yongan for ordering him back to filming without addressing Xie Chen’s assault, while Luo Mingyu and Li Sifan botched the window cleaning and started a water fight.
• Director Li considered stopping the chaos but let it continue after seeing the livestream audience approach a hundred million viewers.
• Elderly residents praised Xie Chen for helping improve the nursing home and remembered his concern for his grandmother, Chen Shuhua.
• Xie Chen told the Villain Group to return to cleaning before they missed their meal, and they eagerly obeyed.
• Wang Qiming offered Aunt Shen five hundred yuan to pull out hair from the elderly woman in her wheelchair, then took the hair and fled without paying her.

Huo Wenye retrieved hair from Old Mrs. Chen while helping Wang Qiming worry about her care, then joined Xie Chen at the variety show. Xie Ran shirked his work as Xie Chen and Huo Wenye shared a flirtatious moment on camera.

• Aunt Shen backed down from calling the police when she realized it could alert the Xie Family, and she returned to Old Mrs. Chen.
• Wang Qiming gave the hair he had collected to Huo Wenye, who said he was worried about Old Mrs. Chen’s care and admitted he knew Xie Chen from the past.
• The Villain Group guests finished their chores, but Xie Ran did a poor job cleaning windows and argued with the assistant director.
• Luo Mingyu gave Xie Chen water, and Li Sifan asked to drink from Luo Mingyu’s bottle.
• Huo Wenye arrived, and Xie Chen asked if he had been away handling something before Huo Wenye asked for strands of his hair and joked that he would keep them as a token of love.

Chapter Summary: “Kill Me with Dopamine”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Huo Wenye playfully asks Xie Chen for a “token of love,” prompting Xie Chen to pull out a single strand of hair.
• Huo reveals that the hair is likely intended for the paternity test he mentioned the previous night, leaving Xie Chen embarrassed and furious after realizing he has been teased.
• Rather than chase after Huo, Xie Chen heads to the cafeteria, determined not to fall behind him and curious about the newly improved meals.
• The cafeteria is filled with elderly residents praising the new administration and openly discussing the nursing home’s former abuses. They express relief that Wang has replaced the old administrator, Xie Weiquan.
• The Villain Group helps serve food. Luo Mingyu becomes emotional while talking about his father, and Li Sifan reveals that he once stayed overnight at the hospital when Luo suffered a severe asthma attack. Their exchange suggests deep, possibly romantic feelings beneath their bickering.
• Xie Chen inspects the meal arrangements and advises that elderly residents receive lighter food, while joking that the guests should be given richer, more flavorful dishes.
• Auntie Wang jokingly calls Xie Chen the “boss’s wife,” then corrects herself by calling him and Huo Wenye “two bosses,” further fueling the audience’s speculation about their relationship.
• Director Li, frustrated by Xie Chen’s growing influence over the nursing home and production team, informs him that government authorities are forming a special investigation team to investigate the nursing home scandal.
• Director Li jokingly suggests that Xie Chen must have powerful connections, since special investigations seem to arise wherever he goes.

Character Developments

• Xie Chen: Becomes increasingly flustered by Huo Wenye’s romantic teasing but also shows signs of caring about him and refusing to be left behind. He takes an active leadership role in inspecting the cafeteria and protecting the elderly residents’ interests.
• Huo Wenye: Continues to use affectionate teasing to provoke Xie Chen, but his request for Xie’s hair may also serve the practical purpose of conducting a paternity test. His sincerity remains ambiguous, keeping Xie and the audience guessing.
• Luo Mingyu and Li Sifan: Their relationship deepens through a revealing emotional moment. Li remembers important details about Luo’s childhood illness, while Luo is surprised and touched that Li knows so much about him.
• Auntie Wang: Emerges as a confident and perceptive administrator who openly supports Xie Chen and Huo Wenye’s partnership while helping create a healthier, more transparent environment.
• Director Li: Becomes increasingly resentful of Xie Chen’s influence but remains dependent on him to manage the situation. His irritation is mixed with reluctant admiration and humor.

Significant Themes

• Romantic teasing and emotional ambiguity: Huo’s flirtation blurs the line between genuine affection and practical motives, while Xie struggles to interpret his feelings.
• Reform and justice: The nursing home is beginning to change under new leadership, with residents finally able to speak freely and receive decent, sanitary food.
• Community and care: The guests’ work in the cafeteria demonstrates their growing connection to the elderly residents and their willingness to participate in meaningful reform.
• Hidden affection: The exchanges between Xie and Huo, as well as Luo and Li, reveal feelings through teasing, concern, memory, and acts of service.
• Power and influence: Xie Chen’s growing authority contrasts with Director Li’s loss of control, suggesting that genuine leadership comes from trust rather than formal position.

Important Character Interactions

• Xie Chen and Huo Wenye: Huo flirts by requesting Xie’s hair; Xie reluctantly complies before realizing he may have been manipulated.
• Luo Mingyu and Li Sifan: Luo recalls his father’s harsh training, while Li reveals he once cared for Luo during a medical emergency, exposing their intimate history.
• Xie Chen and Auntie Wang: Wang affectionately labels Xie the “boss’s wife,” then reframes him and Huo as equal partners, embarrassing Xie and delighting the audience.
• Xie Chen and Director Li: Director Li warns Xie about the upcoming investigation and sarcastically acknowledges Xie’s mysterious ability to trigger official scrutiny wherever he appears.

Chapter Summary: “Has the Spotlight Been Stolen Again?!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A young television reporter arrives at the elder-care facility with a cameraman, publicly condemning its poor conditions and alleged abuse. She highlights reports of cockroaches, ants, forced psychiatric diagnoses, electric shocks, and residents being unable to leave without relatives’ signatures.
• A government special investigation team arrives to investigate the facility. The reporter immediately questions the team leader about why the abuses were exposed by a variety show rather than by official inspections.
• The director attempts to present himself as the facility’s representative, while introducing Auntie Wang as the new administrator. He explains that Huo Wenye is now the actual operator.
• While the officials are being led toward the office, Team Leader Qin notices Xie Chen filming nearby and approaches him directly.
• Xie Chen is caught casually squatting beneath a tree and eating ice cream, yet Team Leader Qin treats him with great admiration, addressing him as “Professor Smith” and eagerly requesting his contact information.
• Director Li tries to attract the officials’ attention and promote his own involvement in public welfare, but Team Leader Qin ignores him in favor of Xie Chen. Director Li once again feels that Xie Chen has stolen the spotlight.
• Team Leader Qin privately assures Xie Chen that the investigation will properly address Grandma Chen’s guardianship case. He reveals that Huo Wenye specifically instructed him to handle the matter carefully.
• Xie Yongan becomes alarmed after hearing that the investigation will not allow unqualified guardians to continue harming Grandma Chen. He rushes upstairs to check whether his mother is conscious, while Mother Xie mocks his sudden concern and questions his sincerity.

Character Developments

• Xie Chen: Remains calm and detached despite becoming the center of attention. His reputation as the respected “Professor Smith” earns him immediate admiration from officials. He is cautious about Qin’s intentions but relaxes once he learns Huo Wenye is behind the investigation.
• Huo Wenye: Although absent from the scene, he demonstrates consideration and influence by ensuring that Grandma Chen’s guardianship issue receives serious official attention.
• Team Leader Qin: Initially formal and stern with the reporter and facility staff, he becomes enthusiastic and respectful upon meeting Xie Chen. His conduct suggests deep admiration for Xie Chen’s accomplishments.
• Director Li: Becomes increasingly frustrated and jealous as the officials ignore him and focus on Xie Chen. His failed attempt to reclaim the spotlight provides much of the chapter’s humor.
• Xie Yongan: Shows panic and possible guilt when the investigation threatens his position as guardian. His sudden concern for his mother appears performative or self-protective.
• Mother Xie: Remains cynical and distrustful of Xie Yongan, openly mocking his apparent attempt to pretend to be a devoted son.

Significant Themes

• Public exposure versus official responsibility: The chapter questions why serious abuse was revealed through entertainment media rather than government inspections.
• Justice and accountability: The investigation promises to uncover the truth and protect vulnerable elderly residents from abusive or unqualified guardians.
• Reputation and influence: Xie Chen’s achievements give him unusual authority and respect, even when he is behaving casually.
• The struggle for attention: Director Li’s repeated failure to become the center of attention creates comic relief and contrasts with Xie Chen’s effortless popularity.
• Sincerity versus performance: Xie Yongan’s sudden concern for Grandma Chen is portrayed as suspicious, while Xie Chen and Huo Wenye’s actions appear genuinely protective.

Character Interactions

• The reporter aggressively questions Team Leader Qin about official negligence, establishing pressure from the media.
• The director and Auntie Wang attempt to cooperate with and appease the investigation team.
• Team Leader Qin warmly introduces himself to Xie Chen, exchanges contact information, and assures him of the investigation’s seriousness.
• Director Li tries to insert himself into the officials’ interaction but is dismissed, reinforcing his comedic rivalry with Xie Chen.
• Xie Yongan reacts anxiously to the officials’ defense of Grandma Chen, while Mother Xie responds with open contempt.

Xie Yongan forced medicine on Chen Shuhua while she secretly worried about Xie Chen, and the show’s guests spent the afternoon cleaning and joking around. The planner then proposed a mysticism theme for the show’s final season at Mount Liutai Taoist Academy.

• Xie Yongan dismissed Aunt Shen, questioned Chen Shuhua about the past, and forced her to take medicine; after he left, Chen Shuhua made herself vomit and worried about Xie Chen.
• Luo Mingyu complained about the cleaning assignments, then showed off his muscles to Li Sifan and stirred up a commotion among the nursing-home residents.
• Xie Chen enjoyed the playful time with the villain guests, reflecting that life since his rebirth had been happy despite the pain of his previous life.
• The planner pitched a mysticism theme for the final season and suggested filming at Mount Liutai Taoist Academy, surprising Director Li.

Chapter Summary: “I Didn’t Film You Running Naked”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Special Investigation Team begins examining the nursing home’s records under Qin’s direction.
• Xie Ran becomes increasingly anxious and repeatedly tries to leave his cleaning assignment, pretending to have stomach trouble. The assistant stops him, but Xie Ran eventually rushes to the office building to contact Qin.
• Xie Ran tells Qin that he is Xie Yongan’s youngest son and attempts to invite him to dinner on his father’s behalf. Qin refuses, pointing out that Xie Yongan is directly involved as a nursing-home shareholder and saying the investigation team will contact him if necessary.
• Realizing the cameraman has filmed the exchange, Xie Ran angrily accuses him of violating his privacy. The cameraman mocks him, noting that the program is livestreamed and that he did not film Xie Ran “running naked.”
• Xie Yongan watches the incident, becomes furious, and shuts off the livestream. Online viewers speculate that the Xie family is attempting to bribe or influence Qin and predict that the family may soon collapse.
• Meanwhile, Xie Chen finishes his assignment and meets Huo Wenye. Huo eats directly from Xie Chen’s ice cream before giving him the results of a DNA test.
• The test confirms that the elderly woman is Xie Chen’s biological grandmother. Shocked because he believed himself to be an orphan, Xie Chen begins to suspect that someone may have borrowed or exploited the luck—or even the lives—of his biological parents before losing consciousness.

Character Developments

• Xie Ran becomes more desperate and erratic as the investigation threatens his family. He relies on feigned weakness and victimhood, but his attempt to approach Qin exposes his family’s possible involvement.
• Qin remains calm, professional, and distrustful. He refuses to meet privately with Xie Ran or accept an invitation from someone connected to the investigation.
• The assistant and cameraman continue to oppose Xie Ran’s attempts to evade work. The cameraman’s sarcastic persistence highlights his long-standing grudge and his determination to capture Xie Ran’s suspicious behavior.
• Xie Yongan reacts harshly to his son’s public embarrassment and appears increasingly concerned about the investigation and public criticism.
• Xie Chen moves from playful interaction with Huo Wenye to profound shock and confusion after learning about his grandmother. His emerging suspicion suggests that his family history is tied to supernatural or fate-related exploitation.
• Huo Wenye remains teasing but supportive, obtaining the DNA results quickly and catching Xie Chen when he collapses.

Significant Themes

• Exposure and surveillance: Xie Ran’s attempts to hide his actions fail because the livestream and cameraman capture everything.
• Corruption and accountability: The investigation into the nursing home and the public’s suspicions place the Xie family under increasing pressure.
• Family identity and hidden origins: Xie Chen’s confirmed biological relationship challenges his understanding of being an orphan.
• Luck, fate, and exploitation: The possibility that someone stole or borrowed the luck—or lives—of Xie Chen’s biological parents introduces a darker supernatural mystery.
• Public image versus reality: Xie Ran performs innocence and victimhood, but his behavior causes viewers to become more suspicious of him and his family.

Important Character Interactions

• The assistant repeatedly clashes with Xie Ran over his unfinished cleaning duties and attempts to escape.
• The cameraman follows Xie Ran and confronts his privacy complaint with humor, making Xie Ran look even more suspicious.
• Xie Ran approaches Qin on behalf of Xie Yongan, but Qin firmly rejects the implied private negotiation.
• Huo Wenye playfully shares Xie Chen’s ice cream, then delivers the DNA report that dramatically changes Xie Chen’s understanding of his past.

After Xie Chen woke, Huo Wenye revealed that someone had placed a curse on him to stop Xie Chen from learning the truth about his origins. Meanwhile, the investigation into the elderly care facility advanced, and Qin Huai contacted Team Leader Qin on behalf of the Xie Group.

• Xie Chen woke and denied remembering anything, then asked the others to leave so he could speak with Huo Wenye alone.
• Xie Chen told Huo Wenye to stay out of his problems, but Huo Wenye insisted he was already involved and showed him a curse mark on his chest.
• Huo Wenye said the curse appeared when he picked up the test report, and Xie Chen angrily vowed to find whoever had placed it before claiming he had only been quoting movie lines.
• Qin continued working late on the elderly care facility investigation with help from an insider.
• Qin Huai called Team Leader Qin, urged him to question Xie Weiquan, and asked him to clear Mr. Xie's name.
• Qin messaged Professor Smith, then apologized after learning that Huo Wenye had answered from the professor's phone.

Chapter Summary: “Can He Really Tell Fortunes?!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Chen tests whether his mystical abilities survived rebirth by practicing hand seals from the nursing home balcony. His ritual causes bizarre, rapidly changing weather—dark clouds, thunder, rain, and sudden sunshine—alarming the elderly residents and Director Li.
• Huo Wenye notices Xie Chen’s actions and confronts him. The black Curse Art on Huo Wenye’s body is still faintly visible, though its pain has diminished.
• Huo Wenye reveals that he unlocked Xie Chen’s phone with facial recognition to check a late-night message from Team Leader Qin. Xie Chen becomes outraged over the violation of his privacy and worries about Huo Wenye’s trustworthiness.
• Huo Wenye pretends that his stomach hurts because of the Curse Art, but Xie Chen immediately sees through the act, recognizing that Huo is deliberately trying to keep him close.
• With filming nearly finished, the production team focuses on cleaning the nursing home while Director Li and the planners begin scheming for the next season.
• The nursing home scandal continues to spread online. Several caregivers are taken away for questioning, the food supplier is investigated, and the elderly residents gain greater freedom as the institution’s abusive management collapses.
• Some children come to retrieve their parents only because of public pressure. The elderly refuse to return, openly exposing their children’s hypocrisy and rejecting their performative “filial piety.”
• When one unfilial son boasts that he is destined for wealth and honor, Xie Chen publicly predicts that he will become lonely, sickly, and suffer in old age. Xie explains that the man had originally possessed a fortunate destiny but ruined it through his own actions.
• Huo Wenye then unexpectedly asks Xie Chen to calculate his romantic prospects. Xie panics and denies that he reads romantic fortunes, while Director Li fears that Xie’s fortune-telling abilities may draw the production into another major incident.

Character Developments

• Xie Chen: Demonstrates that his mystical powers have returned, or at least that he can still channel supernatural energy. He becomes more confident in using his abilities publicly, especially when defending the elderly. His sharp understanding of fate and karma is contrasted with his awkwardness around Huo Wenye.
• Huo Wenye: His Curse Art remains active but less painful. He shows increasing curiosity and possessiveness toward Xie Chen, secretly accessing Xie’s phone and provoking him with the subject of romance. His fake stomach pain suggests he is becoming more openly playful and flirtatious.
• Director Li: Continues to be bewildered by Xie Chen’s unexplained abilities. He mistakes the supernatural weather effects for a possible health-related treatment and becomes increasingly worried that the show will once again become entangled in dangerous supernatural events.
• The elderly residents: Grow more empowered as the nursing home’s abusive systems are exposed. Rather than passively accepting their children’s authority, they assert their independence and openly criticize neglectful family members.
• The unfilial son: Serves as an example of someone whose privileged fate is destroyed by his own immoral behavior.

Significant Themes

• Fate versus personal choice: Xie Chen emphasizes that destiny is not entirely fixed. The son may have been born with wealth and honor, but his cruelty and disrespect toward his mother have damaged his future.
• Karma and filial responsibility: The chapter strongly condemns performative filial piety and argues that genuine respect for one’s parents affects both moral worth and one’s fortune.
• Justice and social exposure: Public attention and online criticism help reveal abuse within the nursing home and force neglectful families to face consequences.
• Freedom and dignity in old age: The elderly residents’ refusal to return home highlights their desire for autonomy rather than being treated as unpaid caregivers or burdens.
• Mysticism in everyday life: Supernatural phenomena are presented alongside ordinary production work, social media scandals, and family conflicts, creating both humor and suspense.
• Romantic tension and privacy: Huo Wenye’s intrusion into Xie Chen’s phone and his teasing request for a love reading reveal growing intimacy, while Xie remains defensive and flustered.

Character Interactions

• Xie Chen and Huo Wenye: Their relationship becomes more intimate and antagonistically playful. Huo monitors Xie’s messages and deliberately provokes him, while Xie complains about his privacy and tries to maintain distance. Huo’s final request for a romantic fortune reading exposes the chapter’s underlying romantic tension.
• Xie Chen and the elderly residents: Xie protects and reassures them, using fortune-telling to condemn an abusive son. The residents trust him enough to ask whether his prediction is genuine.
• Xie Chen and the unfilial son: Xie directly challenges the man’s self-satisfied belief in his fortunate destiny, arguing that immoral actions can ruin even an excellent fate.
• Director Li and Xie Chen: Director Li remains unaware of the full extent of Xie’s abilities, but his growing suspicion and fear suggest that he recognizes Xie is at the center of increasingly strange events.
• The elderly residents and their children: Their confrontations expose the children’s selfish motives. The parents reject their attempts to appear filial merely because of public pressure and cameras.