Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: Life’s Launch Began at Dragon Pool Lake

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sun Yating realizes that Qin Fen is upset because the wild ginseng he gave her has already been used in a deal involving Song Shaoqing’s seriously ill father.
• She reassures Qin Fen that she has protected his identity and acted only as an intermediary, promising that no trace of him will remain.
• Qin Fen tests her loyalty by suggesting that the property purchased with the ginseng be placed in her name. When she accepts and jokingly suggests he pursue her, he immediately withdraws and leaves.
• At the elevator, Qin Fen cleverly retracts his offer, claiming he never agreed to give her the villa. Sun Yating is frustrated but amused by his slyness and begins interpreting his behavior as “playing hard to get.”
• Song Shaoqing receives his father’s medical report from Sun Yujie. The report shows that his father’s condition has stabilized and his kidney function is improving, confirming that the ginseng was effective.
• Although Song Shaoqing complains about paying nearly five million for only half a root of ginseng, he accepts the cost because his father’s health matters more. He briefly tries to discover the identity of Sun Yating’s mysterious male friend, but Sun Yujie refuses to reveal anything.
• Sun Yating takes Qin Fen to the villa purchased through the ginseng deal. The property is in a luxurious, secluded development beside a lake, with a mountain behind it and a golf course nearby.
• Standing by the lake, Qin Fen views the villa and its surroundings as the starting point of his future ambitions.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen shows himself to be cautious, observant, and financially self-interested. He tests Sun Yating’s trustworthiness but ultimately refuses to surrender the villa, revealing a playful yet calculating side beneath his usually serious demeanor.
• Sun Yating becomes increasingly emotionally attached to Qin Fen. She admires his sincerity, lack of greed, and willingness to help others, while also enjoying their flirtatious verbal sparring. Her frustration at his rejection is mixed with amusement and growing romantic interest.
• Song Shaoqing demonstrates filial devotion. Despite resenting the enormous price, he considers the treatment worthwhile because it improves his father’s condition. He remains curious about Qin Fen’s identity but decides not to investigate further.
• Sun Yujie acts as a discreet and reliable intermediary. She refuses to gossip about her sister or reveal the source of the ginseng.
• Song Shaoqing’s father shows measurable medical improvement, confirming the extraordinary value of Qin Fen’s ginseng.

Significant Themes

• Trust and testing: Qin Fen deliberately tests Sun Yating’s motives, while she attempts to prove that she can protect his interests.
• Romantic tension and emotional uncertainty: Sun Yating’s teasing masks genuine feelings, while Qin Fen remains guarded and unwilling to respond openly.
• Wealth and value: The five-million-yuan property represents both the material value of the ginseng and Qin Fen’s growing ability to improve his circumstances.
• Filial devotion: Song Shaoqing’s willingness to spend heavily on his father highlights the importance of family above money.
• New beginnings and ambition: The lakeside villa symbolizes the beginning of Qin Fen’s larger plans and changing life.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Sun Yating engage in flirtatious but strategic exchanges, with her offering emotional and romantic hints while he responds with avoidance, teasing, and calculated skepticism.
• Sun Yating and Sun Yujie are connected by family loyalty, though Yujie refuses to disclose details about her sister’s private affairs.
• Song Shaoqing complains to Sun Yujie about Sun Yating’s expensive demands, but Yujie reminds him that his father’s recovery makes the transaction worthwhile.
• Qin Fen’s arrival at the villa marks a shift from private dealings and hidden opportunities toward a more ambitious future.

Chapter Summary: “Hidden in Plain Sight”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sun Yating helps Qin Fen complete the necessary arrangements for his sudden wealth and new villa. Qin Fen dismisses her afterward, believing that keeping the number of people aware of his secrets to a minimum is safest.
• Qin Fen settles into the enormous lakeside villa and stores his Heavenly Court treasures, including Monkey Wine and a protective talisman. He deliberately gives Sun Yating part of the mountain ginseng because her identity can help shield him from future trouble.
• He prepares a flower bed by removing the existing flowers and mixing in soil from the Heavenly Court. He then plants potatoes, beginning his plan to cultivate supernatural produce in the mortal world.
• Qin Fen decides to turn the villa into an upscale food and tea business. Rather than selling raw ingredients, he plans to control the supply and serve finished dishes, possibly establishing a teahouse by the lake.
• He contacts Food God through Heavenly Court Moments, teaches him how to make “Bursting-Juice Piss Beef Balls,” and then asks him to obtain Monkey Wine and flowers or tea leaves from the Great Sage. Food God agrees to handle the request and its costs.
• Qin Fen notices the Star Officer on Duty complaining about uncontrolled pets and mounts in Heaven. He proposes registering the animals with identification tags and suggests giving the unwanted beasts to Matchmaker Yue as prizes for matchmaking events.
• The Star Officer is relieved by Qin Fen’s solution. Qin Fen then cleverly asks for one of the creatures as a pet, presenting the request as a small favor after helping solve the larger problem.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen becomes increasingly strategic and business-minded. He is less concerned with immediate wealth than with building a sustainable, exclusive enterprise based on Heavenly Court resources.
• He also shows growing confidence in manipulating supernatural connections while maintaining plausible deniability in the mortal world. His ability to disguise self-interest as helpfulness becomes more pronounced.
• Sun Yating remains useful to Qin Fen as both an organizer and a potential protective connection, though their relationship is practical rather than sentimental.
• Food God gains confidence from Qin Fen’s unusual recipe and is eager to use it to expand his growing reputation. He accepts Qin Fen’s instructions and becomes a willing intermediary.
• The Star Officer on Duty shifts from frustration and helplessness to gratitude and admiration after Qin Fen solves his stray-beast problem. He now views Qin Fen as a powerful and dependable ally.
• Qin Fen’s desire for a pet is revealed, but he disguises it behind a carefully calculated exchange of favors.

Significant Themes

• Concealment and hidden identity: Qin Fen believes that true safety lies in keeping his supernatural abilities and resources secret while operating openly in the human world.
• Resourcefulness and repurposing: Heavenly Court soil, inferior magical beasts, flowers, and Monkey Wine are all transformed into useful commercial or social assets.
• Business and exploitation: Qin Fen builds relationships through mutually beneficial arrangements, though he consistently ensures that he gains the greater advantage.
• Social networks and influence: His Heavenly Court connections allow him to acquire rare materials, solve bureaucratic problems, and create opportunities unavailable to ordinary people.
• Appearances versus reality: Qin Fen presents himself as helpful and generous, but many of his actions also serve his private plans.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Sun Yating part on tense but familiar terms, with her accusing him of being ungrateful while he firmly removes her from the villa.
• Qin Fen and Food God interact as master and subordinate. Qin Fen offers culinary guidance, then immediately assigns Food God a task, using the promise of knowledge to secure cooperation.
• Qin Fen and the Star Officer on Duty begin with the officer’s confusion over the mysterious adviser’s identity. Qin Fen maintains an exaggerated immortal persona, gives practical advice, and turns the officer’s administrative crisis into an opportunity to acquire a pet.
• Through the proposed matchmaking scheme, Qin Fen indirectly connects the Star Officer’s unwanted beasts with Matchmaker Yue’s plans, demonstrating his talent for linking unrelated problems to create useful solutions.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Duty Star Officer delivers Qin Fen’s purchased “immortal beast,” revealed to be a tiny Chihuahua-like creature with an extremely diluted Howling Celestial Hound bloodline.
• Although disappointed by its unimpressive appearance and low bloodline concentration, Qin Fen spends 12 Merit to obtain it, treating it as a possible companion and long-term gamble.
• The puppy, whom Qin Fen nicknames Little Bean, immediately displays unusual intelligence and behavior:
  • It recognizes Qin Fen as its owner.
  • It marks the boundaries of his property by urinating around the fence.
  • It imitates Qin Fen’s gestures.
  • It digs up and eats raw potatoes.
  • It destroys household objects and bites through the metal frame of a recliner.
• Qin Fen goes out to buy dog food and encounters Ye Xiang, a wealthy resident driving a Land Rover. Ye Xiang’s aggressive Doberman, Black Shadow, nearly bites Qin Fen, while Ye Xiang dismisses the incident without apologizing.
• Qin Fen becomes quietly angry and follows Ye Xiang out of the residential complex, hinting at a possible future conflict.
• Back home, Qin Fen attempts to discipline and feed Little Bean. The dog refuses ordinary dog food unless bribed with Monkey Wine and appears capable of understanding complex speech.
• When Qin Fen threatens it with a talisman, Little Bean immediately cowers, proving it knows how to bully the weak and fear the strong. Qin Fen finally persuades it to accept dog food mixed with Monkey Wine.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Displays his usual practicality, sarcasm, and short temper. Though initially humiliated by the beast’s ridiculous appearance, he accepts the purchase as a worthwhile investment. He also reveals a softer, more patient side while trying to raise Little Bean, though his frustration quickly leads to threats and intimidation.
• Little Bean: Despite its tiny Chihuahua-like body and weak bloodline, it possesses remarkable intelligence, physical strength, instinct, and mischievousness. It can damage metal, understand Qin Fen’s words, imitate actions, negotiate for better food, and recognize threats.
• Duty Star Officer: His strange selection of the beast reinforces his eccentric and potentially devious personality. Qin Fen suspects he deliberately chose such an absurd-looking creature to mock him.
• Ye Xiang: Introduced as a confident, wealthy, and somewhat arrogant neighbor. His careless attitude toward Black Shadow’s attempted attack suggests he is accustomed to acting aggressively and without concern for others.
• Black Shadow: Ye Xiang’s fierce Doberman serves as a contrast to Little Bean, appearing physically intimidating but less subtly intelligent.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus true potential: Little Bean looks ridiculous and nearly powerless, yet its Howling Celestial Hound heritage and abnormal strength suggest hidden potential.
• Bloodline and inheritance: The chapter raises questions about how much power can remain in a creature despite an extremely diluted ancient bloodline.
• Comedic inversion of expectations: Rather than a majestic mythical beast, Qin Fen receives a pocket-sized Chihuahua, creating humor through the contrast between grand descriptions and reality.
• Domestication and control: Qin Fen struggles to impose authority on a creature that is intelligent, shameless, and difficult to manage.
• Power and intimidation: Little Bean’s fear of the talisman and Qin Fen’s response to Ye Xiang’s provocation both show how characters assess strength and react to threats.
• Foreshadowing: Little Bean’s ability to bite through metal and understand speech hints that it may eventually develop far beyond its current appearance.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and the Duty Star Officer: Their indirect transaction leaves Qin Fen feeling deceived and mocked, though he ultimately accepts the beast.
• Qin Fen and Little Bean: Their relationship begins as a chaotic owner-and-pet dynamic marked by bargaining, threats, imitation, and mutual curiosity. Qin Fen is annoyed by Bean’s antics but already treats it as a companion.
• Qin Fen and Ye Xiang: Their first meeting is tense after Black Shadow nearly bites Qin Fen. Ye Xiang’s dismissive behavior provokes Qin Fen’s anger and may establish an upcoming rivalry.
• Qin Fen and Black Shadow: Black Shadow reacts aggressively to Qin Fen, contrasting with Little Bean’s smaller but potentially more dangerous nature.

Chapter Summary: “Flower-Fruit Mountain Specialties”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen lies awake, exhilarated after unexpectedly acquiring a large house and some savings, which he views as the first major achievement toward his life goals.
• He thinks about Sun Yating, recognizing that she helped him secure the property, though he decides not to contact her because he feels guilty for standing her up and ruining their dinner plans.
• Qin Fen’s dog, Little Bean, climbs into bed for the air conditioning. Qin Fen jokingly threatens to neuter him after discovering the dog has drooled on him.
• In Heaven, the Earth God suffers as the children reading Investiture of the Gods become embroiled in violent factional disputes. Their arguments escalate from childish brawls into battles involving older siblings and young adults.
• Matchmaker Yue arrives and realizes that the strange book—and possibly the entire situation—may be connected to Immortal Nature, Qin Fen’s disruptive influence in Heaven.
• Matchmaker Yue interprets the chaotic fighting as a bizarre but potentially ingenious matchmaking strategy, since the combatants are forced into close physical contact. The Earth God, unable to understand the logic, simply concludes that Immortal Nature is extraordinarily profound.
• While Heaven descends into chaos, Qin Fen remains unaware and unconcerned, focusing instead on his earthly plans.
• Qin Fen receives flowers, fruits, and vegetables obtained through the Food God’s connection with the Great Sage. He pays for the flower shipment and prepares to use them to decorate his new property in a luxurious, relaxing style.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen becomes increasingly confident and ambitious after gaining a home and financial stability. He begins planning how to transform the property into an impressive leisure space.
• Sun Yating is shown to have quietly supported Qin Fen by helping him obtain real estate, though Qin Fen also recognizes her intimidating and troublesome personality.
• The Earth God shifts from enjoying a peaceful period to feeling overwhelmed and victimized by the consequences of Qin Fen’s influence. He fears being blamed for the Heavenly Court’s disorder.
• Matchmaker Yue is horrified by the fighting but tries to rationalize it as a sophisticated matchmaking tactic devised by Immortal Nature.
• Little Bean is portrayed as mischievous, territorial, and comically self-protective when Qin Fen threatens him.
• Immortal Nature, though absent, gains an even more powerful reputation as Heaven’s officials attribute the strange events to his supposedly unfathomable schemes.

Significant Themes

• Unintended consequences: A simple reading activity escalates into sectarian conflict and widespread violence.
• Cultural misunderstanding: The Earth God and Matchmaker Yue interpret Qin Fen’s modern ideas through their limited worldview, turning ordinary or accidental events into mysterious strategies.
• Modern influence on Heaven: Qin Fen’s books, purchases, and casual actions continue reshaping the rigid Heavenly Court.
• Material success and personal ambition: Qin Fen celebrates his new home as evidence that he is finally advancing in life and immediately begins planning its improvement.
• Comedy through contrast: Qin Fen’s mundane concerns—sleeping, decorating, and dealing with his dog—are juxtaposed with Heaven’s catastrophic battles.

Important Character Interactions

• Qin Fen reflects on Sun Yating’s assistance but avoids contacting her after disappointing her.
• Qin Fen and Little Bean share a humorous owner-and-pet exchange centered on the dog’s intrusion into bed and territorial behavior.
• The Earth God and Matchmaker Yue discuss the Heavenly Court’s chaos, both blaming or crediting Immortal Nature while admitting they cannot understand his methods.
• The Food God supplies Qin Fen with specialty flowers, fruits, and vegetables from the Great Sage, enabling Qin Fen to begin decorating his new property.

Chapter Summary: “What It Did Best Was Claim Territory”

Key plot points and events

• Qin Fen begins the morning with a run around Dragon Pool Lake, having realized that physical stamina is important after acquiring the Food God’s experience.
• He encounters his neighbor, Ye Xiang, who is walking his aggressive Doberman, Black Shadow.
• Ye Xiang deliberately allows Black Shadow to chase Qin Fen, enjoying Qin Fen’s panic. His hostility stems from resentment: he had once wanted Qin Fen’s lakeside villa for his own business plans and dislikes Qin Fen’s presence in the neighborhood.
• Qin Fen reaches his home, but Black Shadow leaps in front of the gate and blocks him. Ye Xiang pretends that the dog is difficult to control, though Qin Fen immediately recognizes that the intimidation is intentional.
• Qin Fen’s tiny dog, Bean, appears and calmly faces the much larger Doberman.
• Ye Xiang mocks Bean as a useless Chihuahua. Qin Fen counters that Bean’s greatest talent is “claiming territory”—any place Bean recognizes as its territory effectively belongs to it.
• The chapter ends as Bean suddenly dashes forward toward Black Shadow, setting up a confrontation.

Character developments

• Qin Fen: Shows increasing awareness of his physical abilities and the importance of endurance. Though generally mild-tempered, he demonstrates pride, discernment, and a willingness to stand up to deliberate provocation.
• Ye Xiang: Is established as arrogant, territorial, competitive, and somewhat malicious. He uses Black Shadow to humiliate Qin Fen while maintaining plausible deniability. His confidence comes from his wealth, business success, and physical ability.
• Bean: Appears tiny and unconventional but is portrayed as fearless, self-assured, and potentially far more capable than its appearance suggests. Its calm indifference toward Black Shadow contrasts sharply with the Doberman’s aggression.

Significant themes

• Appearance versus ability: Ye Xiang assumes Bean is helpless because of its small size, while Qin Fen hints that the dog possesses an unusual and formidable talent.
• Territory and dominance: The chapter uses the dogs’ confrontation to reflect the human rivalry between Qin Fen and Ye Xiang. Both men are concerned with ownership, status, and control over their surroundings.
• Bullying and resistance: Ye Xiang attempts to establish superiority through intimidation, but Qin Fen recognizes the manipulation instead of accepting Ye Xiang’s excuses.
• Hidden strength: Bean’s unassuming appearance conceals its true capabilities, continuing the chapter’s emphasis on not judging by outward appearance.

Character interactions

• Qin Fen and Ye Xiang exchange polite words during their first encounter, but the interaction quickly becomes antagonistic when Ye Xiang uses Black Shadow to chase him.
• Ye Xiang mocks Qin Fen’s fear and later ridicules Bean, while Qin Fen responds with restrained sarcasm and confidence.
• The relationship between the two men is revealed as a territorial rivalry, with Ye Xiang viewing Qin Fen as an intruder and Qin Fen becoming increasingly unwilling to tolerate his provocations.
• Bean’s arrival shifts the balance of the encounter. Its sudden charge toward Black Shadow suggests that the conflict may soon move from verbal intimidation to a direct contest between the dogs.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Little Bean, Qin Fen’s tiny Chihuahua and supposed descendant of the Howling Celestial Hound, decides to claim the surrounding area as his territory.
• He repeatedly urinates near—and nearly on—Ye Xiang and his Doberman, Black Shadow, treating the man, the road, trees, and even the other dog as his possessions.
• Ye Xiang attempts to stop Little Bean, but the Chihuahua’s speed and evasive movements allow him to escape every attack.
• Black Shadow becomes enraged by the humiliation and chases Little Bean. During the pursuit, he accidentally crashes headfirst into Ye Xiang’s crotch, knocking Ye Xiang to the ground.
• Little Bean uses guerrilla-style tactics to torment Black Shadow: provoking him, fleeing, circling him, and repeatedly forcing him to give chase.
• The leash eventually tangles Ye Xiang and Black Shadow together, leaving them helpless while Little Bean continues marking his territory.
• Little Bean escalates by urinating directly on Black Shadow’s hindquarters, symbolically claiming ownership of the Doberman as well.
• Unable to control the situation and still suffering from his injuries, Ye Xiang unclips Black Shadow and tries to persuade Qin Fen to stop the dogs himself.
• Qin Fen humorously refuses responsibility, claiming that Little Bean is difficult to control when playing. The chapter ends with the conflict unresolved and the chaotic dog battle continuing.

2. Character Developments

• Little Bean: Reveals himself as extremely bold, shameless, clever, and confident despite his tiny size. His defining “talent” is territory claiming, supported by exceptional speed, agility, and provocative tactics.
• Ye Xiang: His confidence and dignity are completely destroyed by Little Bean. He shifts from anger and attempted retaliation to helplessness, physical pain, and desperate manipulation of Qin Fen.
• Black Shadow: His Doberman pride is deeply offended by being challenged by a Chihuahua. His anger overwhelms his judgment, causing him to fall into Little Bean’s traps and accidentally injure his own owner.
• Qin Fen: Acts as an amused spectator rather than a responsible dog owner. He remains calm, smoking and making dry observations while enjoying Ye Xiang and Black Shadow’s humiliation.

3. Significant Themes

• Smallness versus strength: Little Bean defeats a much larger dog and a human through speed, strategy, and audacity rather than physical power.
• Pride and humiliation: Black Shadow’s canine pride and Ye Xiang’s human dignity both collapse because they cannot handle Little Bean’s provocations.
• Chaos as entertainment: Qin Fen’s detached amusement contrasts with Ye Xiang’s suffering, turning the entire incident into a slapstick spectacle.
• Territory and dominance: Little Bean’s repeated marking functions as a comic display of ownership and dominance, parodying the chapter’s grand descriptions of bloodlines, heavenly descendants, and martial prowess.
• Guerrilla tactics: Little Bean’s hit-and-run movements allow him to control the encounter despite being vastly outmatched in size.

4. Character Interactions

• Little Bean and Ye Xiang: Their interaction is an absurd contest of dominance. Little Bean repeatedly marks Ye Xiang’s surroundings and mocks his attempts to catch him.
• Little Bean and Black Shadow: The Chihuahua deliberately provokes the Doberman, exploiting his anger and pride to make him chase and embarrass himself.
• Ye Xiang and Black Shadow: Their partnership becomes a source of physical comedy when Black Shadow drags Ye Xiang around and later crashes into him, leaving them tangled together.
• Qin Fen and Ye Xiang: Qin Fen offers superficial apologies and sarcastic commentary while refusing to help, worsening Ye Xiang’s frustration.
• Qin Fen and Little Bean: Qin Fen appears impressed and entertained by Little Bean’s behavior, treating his outrageous antics as a successful performance rather than misbehavior.

Chapter Summary: “Dogs of the Heavenly Court Were Usually Badass”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Xiang provokes Qin Fen by releasing his powerful Doberman, Black Shadow, expecting it to overpower Qin Fen’s tiny Chihuahua, Little Bean.
• Qin Fen responds confidently, claiming that even he cannot always control Little Bean, and allows the dogs to fight.
• Black Shadow chases Little Bean into a wooded area, but the Chihuahua effortlessly evades every attack using extraordinary agility and footwork.
• Little Bean runs up a tree, launches itself onto Black Shadow’s back, and bites into the Doberman’s neck. Its teeth are strong enough to tear away a chunk of flesh despite using only part of its strength.
• Black Shadow repeatedly attempts to shake Little Bean off, but the smaller dog remains in control. Little Bean later dodges another charge and attacks Black Shadow’s hind leg, apparently injuring it severely and knocking it out of the fight.
• After defeating the Doberman, Little Bean circles it triumphantly, provokes one final attempted bite, and urinates beside it to claim territory.
• Qin Fen returns to the villa with Little Bean, leaving Ye Xiang furious, humiliated, and unable to retaliate because of the setting and the fact that he initiated the confrontation.

Character Developments

• Little Bean: Revealed to be far more than an ordinary Chihuahua. As a descendant of the Howling Celestial Hound, it possesses immense strength, exceptional toughness, superior intelligence, acrobatic speed, and an aggressive, domineering temperament. Its victory confirms its status as a supernatural or divine beast.
• Qin Fen: Remains calm and self-assured throughout the fight. He uses Little Bean’s victory to mock Ye Xiang and cleverly turns Ye Xiang’s earlier provocation back against him.
• Ye Xiang: Begins the encounter arrogant and confident in Black Shadow’s abilities, but becomes increasingly shocked, enraged, and embarrassed as his prized Doberman is defeated by a Chihuahua. His frustration is intensified by Qin Fen’s sarcastic comments.
• Black Shadow: Initially appears powerful and aggressive, but is completely outmatched by Little Bean’s speed, intelligence, and bite force. Its repeated failed attacks make it appear increasingly confused and desperate.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: Little Bean’s tiny, harmless-looking appearance contrasts sharply with its overwhelming combat ability, while the imposing Doberman proves ineffective against it.
• Humiliation and reversed power dynamics: Ye Xiang expects to dominate the encounter but instead loses face when his stronger-looking dog is defeated.
• Confidence and provocation: Ye Xiang’s arrogance creates the conflict, while Qin Fen’s calm confidence allows him to control the situation and retaliate verbally.
• Supernatural creatures hidden in ordinary forms: Little Bean’s nature as a descendant of a celestial beast emphasizes that extraordinary power can exist in seemingly mundane beings.
• Comedy through exaggeration: The chapter relies on absurd physical contrasts, dramatic reactions, and Qin Fen’s shameless sarcasm to turn a dogfight into a humiliating comedic victory.

Character Interactions

• Ye Xiang and Qin Fen engage in a tense exchange of boasts and insults before the fight.
• Qin Fen repeatedly undermines Ye Xiang by emphasizing that Little Bean is “only a Chihuahua,” making Black Shadow’s defeat even more embarrassing.
• Little Bean treats Black Shadow with contempt, deliberately evading, overpowering, provoking, and finally marking territory around it.
• After the fight, Ye Xiang can only glare at Qin Fen and care for his injured dog, while Qin Fen leaves triumphantly without facing any consequences.

Chapter Summary: “Demonic Strangeness and Seductive Wickedness”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Xiang remains troubled and confused after the earlier incident involving Qin Fen’s Chihuahua, Little Bean, whose outrageous territorial behavior turned the situation into a farce.
• Qin Fen takes Little Bean home without worrying about retaliation. He believes the wealthy residents of Dragon Pool Lake Villa District are unlikely to act recklessly, especially since Ye Xiang’s side provoked the conflict.
• Qin Fen decides to place some of the flowers he obtained from Flower-Fruit Mountain around his house in decorative pots rather than planting everything in the limited nursery space. He hopes to sell some of the plants later.
• He recognizes that the plants may not survive in the ordinary world without Heavenly Court soil, so he plans to earn more Merit and acquire additional supplies.
• Qin Fen travels by scooter to a large flower-and-bird market on the outskirts of Yiling City. He admires the orchids, roses, and other plants but avoids the animal section, not wanting to bring home another troublesome creature.
• He chooses the upscale Qinyuan flower shop, intending to purchase high-quality purple-clay flowerpots suitable for his future boutique plant business.
• The shop owner, a young man known as Brother Ming, personally assists Qin Fen and explains the different types and price ranges of flowerpots.
• While shopping, Qin Fen is unknowingly recognized by the shop owner’s female guest as the strange young man associated with the flashy scooter whom she has encountered before.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Demonstrates confidence, practicality, and a growing entrepreneurial mindset. Rather than rushing into conflict with Ye Xiang, he focuses on expanding his flower business and improving his home. He also develops a clear “high-end” business strategy, preferring expensive purple-clay pots and attractive presentation over cheap products.
• Ye Xiang: Is left frustrated and bewildered by the unexpected outcome of the earlier confrontation. His inability to understand Qin Fen’s behavior reinforces his sense of being outmatched by the situation.
• Little Bean: Continues to be portrayed as an unusually aggressive and shamelessly territorial Chihuahua, serving as the source of the previous conflict and much of the chapter’s humor.
• Brother Ming: Appears socially capable, well-connected, and surprisingly approachable. Despite owning several businesses and having influential connections, he treats Qin Fen politely and gives him attentive service.
• The female guest: Is introduced as an attractive, socially prominent woman who has recently returned from America. Her recognition of Qin Fen suggests that their earlier encounters may become significant.

Significant Themes

• Practical ambition and entrepreneurship: Qin Fen transforms his supernatural advantages into a commercial plan, aiming to sell rare plants as premium products.
• Quality and presentation: His insistence on expensive purple-clay pots reflects his desire to build a refined, boutique image rather than operate as an ordinary plant seller.
• The tension between the supernatural and the ordinary world: Qin Fen’s plants require Heavenly Court soil to thrive in the mortal environment, highlighting the difficulties of bringing celestial resources into everyday life.
• Social class and hidden influence: The conversation between Brother Ming and his guest reveals a world of political families, influential elders, and powerful connections beneath the ordinary-looking flower market.
• Comedy through contrast: Qin Fen responds calmly and logically to events that others find absurd, especially the Chihuahua’s bizarre behavior and the unexpected consequences of their confrontation.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Ye Xiang are indirectly connected through the earlier dispute involving Little Bean; although they do not interact in this chapter, Ye Xiang remains affected by Qin Fen’s actions.
• Qin Fen treats Little Bean casually and brings him home, while deliberately avoiding other animals because of the Chihuahua’s disruptive nature.
• Brother Ming and his female guest converse familiarly about their families’ political backgrounds and health, revealing their close relationship and privileged social circles.
• Brother Ming then shifts his attention to Qin Fen, politely asking what he needs and guiding him toward the purple-clay flowerpots.
• The female guest observes Qin Fen and recognizes him as the unusual young man she has previously encountered, establishing a potential future connection between them.

Chapter Summary: “Enchanting Delinquent Girl, Seductive Good Girl”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen encounters Sun Yujie in an antique shop and realizes she is the female doctor he previously helped at the hospital. Neither immediately recognizes the other with certainty because their earlier meeting involved disguises, darkness, medication, and altered voices.
• The shop owner recognizes Sun Yujie and becomes nervous, remembering the sisters’ frightening childhood reputations.
• Qin Fen considers buying an intricately crafted purple clay pot. The owner claims it is worth 13,000 and offers it to Qin Fen for 10,000.
• Sun Yujie examines the pot, deliberately—or at least suspiciously—drops and breaks it, then offers to compensate the owner by taking the damaged pot home for her father to reuse.
• Her repeated emphasis on the pot’s high price pressures the owner into effectively waiving the cost, especially because he had heavily inflated its actual value.
• The chapter ends with the owner inwardly lamenting that Sun Yujie remains as manipulative and “black-hearted” as she was in childhood.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Remains observant and cautious. He recognizes Yujie from their earlier encounter but is embarrassed by his memories of her appearance. He also shows unfamiliarity with the inflated prices of refined antiques.
• Sun Yujie: Her outwardly pure, quiet, and obedient appearance contrasts sharply with her manipulative nature. She uses politeness, feigned clumsiness, and social pressure to take control of the situation.
• Sun Yating: Though absent, she is characterized as Yujie’s opposite: aggressive, fearless, and physically violent. Her reputation establishes the sisters as terrifying figures from the shop owner’s childhood.
• The shop owner: His fear and resentment reveal how deeply the sisters traumatized the children of their old compound. He is also exposed as a dishonest seller who marked up the pot’s price dramatically.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: Both sisters conceal dangerous personalities beneath attractive or respectable exteriors.
• Fear and reputation: Their childhood behavior continues to control people even in adulthood.
• Manipulation and social power: Yujie defeats the shop owner not through force, but through deception, politeness, and psychological pressure.
• Humor through contrast: The sisters’ elegant beauty is juxtaposed with their ruthless behavior, while the owner’s exaggerated internal panic creates much of the chapter’s comedy.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Yujie cautiously observe one another while trying to determine whether they have met before.
• The shop owner treats Qin Fen warmly after learning he may know Yujie, hoping to avoid trouble.
• Yujie indirectly manipulates both men: she engages Qin Fen while using the broken pot to corner the owner.
• The owner’s fearful memories of the sisters contrast with their seemingly harmless adult appearances, reinforcing the gap between how they look and who they really are.

Chapter Summary: “Born for Each Other”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen, unfamiliar with flowers and antique-style pots, considers buying a purple-clay pot from a shop owner who initially prices it at more than ten thousand.
• Sun Yujie immediately recognizes that the pot is worth only around one or two thousand and realizes the owner is trying to exploit Qin Fen’s lack of knowledge.
• To protect Qin Fen—and prevent her father from criticizing him for overpaying—Sun Yujie deliberately smashes the pot, putting the owner in an impossible position.
• She repeatedly pressures him to reveal the cost price or accept compensation, forcing him to abandon the inflated price. He eventually lowers the price to five thousand and claims it is already a bargain.
• Qin Fen observes the exchange and realizes the owner has been overcharging him. With Sun Yujie’s silent encouragement, he begins bargaining himself, pretending that five thousand is unaffordable.
• When the owner refuses to lower the price further, Sun Yujie suggests taking the broken pot to her father to see if it can be repaired, using the threat of Uncle Sun’s involvement to intimidate the shopkeeper.
• The owner finally agrees to sell the pot for whatever Qin Fen has brought. Qin Fen claims he has only five hundred, and the owner reluctantly accepts to avoid further trouble.
• Qin Fen then reveals that he wants ten pots and will pay by card, meaning the owner has effectively sold them for five hundred each. The chapter ends with the shopkeeper realizing he has been thoroughly outmaneuvered.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen begins as an inexperienced and trusting customer but quickly demonstrates intelligence and adaptability. After watching Sun Yujie bargain, he joins her strategy and proves surprisingly capable at negotiating.
• Sun Yujie is shown to be sharp, bold, protective, and ruthlessly effective. She knows the true value of the pot and uses both embarrassment and her father’s influence to defend Qin Fen.
• The shop owner shifts from confident and opportunistic to frustrated, cornered, and resigned. He recognizes that Sun Yujie and Qin Fen have teamed up against him but cannot escape the situation without taking a loss.

Significant Themes

• Mutual compatibility: Qin Fen and Sun Yujie work together effortlessly, anticipating each other’s moves and quickly creating a successful bargaining strategy.
• Protection through wit: Sun Yujie’s aggressive behavior is motivated by concern for Qin Fen and a desire to prevent him from being cheated.
• Appearances versus reality: Qin Fen’s ordinary clothing causes the owner to underestimate him, while his seemingly naïve behavior hides a sharp bargaining instinct.
• Social influence and intimidation: Sun Yujie’s family reputation, especially the possibility of involving her father, becomes a powerful tool in forcing the owner to compromise.
• Commerce and deception: The chapter humorously exposes the inflated pricing and negotiation tactics common in business transactions.

Character Interactions

• Sun Yujie dominates the confrontation with the owner, repeatedly forcing him to retreat from his original price.
• Qin Fen initially watches passively but gradually understands Sun Yujie’s intentions and joins her performance.
• Their shared feigned innocence and coordinated remarks turn the negotiation into a cooperative act, leaving the owner helpless.
• The playful teamwork reveals strong rapport between Qin Fen and Sun Yujie, suggesting they complement each other naturally.

Chapter Summary: “People of Principle”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen and Sun Yujie join forces to bargain with a shop owner who initially quotes Qin Fen an inflated price. Qin Fen pretends he can pay by card, exploiting Sun Yujie’s influence and the owner’s fear of offending her powerful family.
• The shop owner reluctantly accepts the lower price and is forced to thank both of them, leaving him furious and humiliated after the deal.
• In the Heavenly Court, the Gold-Bearded Daoist observes that Matchmaker Yue has unexpectedly recovered from his recent setbacks. Matchmaker Yue proposes an exchange gathering in the Jade Emperor’s name, apparently pursuing a larger plan related to solving the Heavenly Court’s population problem. The Gold-Bearded Daoist vows to oppose him.
• After leaving the shop, Qin Fen thanks Sun Yujie for helping him avoid being cheated. They exchange false or partially disguised names: she introduces herself as Bai Xiaojie, while he gives the name Qin Bing.
• Sun Yujie twists her ankle when her heel slips into a gap. Qin Fen offers to take her home, and she accepts despite discovering that he arrived on a small scooter rather than in a car.
• The chapter ends with Sun Yujie sitting sideways on Qin Fen’s scooter, prompting Qin Fen’s startled reaction.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Demonstrates quick thinking, shameless bargaining tactics, and an instinct for exploiting opportunities. He is also considerate toward Sun Yujie after her injury, though his deception and playful behavior remain prominent.
• Sun Yujie/Bai Xiaojie: Reveals herself to be clever, manipulative, and highly skilled at social maneuvering. She recognizes Qin Fen’s intelligence and enjoys their coordinated performance. Her graceful, innocent image is shown to conceal a calculating personality.
• The Shop Owner: Becomes a victim of Qin Fen and Sun Yujie’s combined pressure. His frustration highlights the power imbalance created by Sun’s family background and his inability to retract his agreement.
• Matchmaker Yue: Appears to have recovered from previous humiliation and begins organizing a major gathering, suggesting he is preparing a new scheme.
• Gold-Bearded Daoist: Remains suspicious of Matchmaker Yue and resolves to interfere with his plans.

Significant Themes

• Deception and social performance: Both Qin Fen and Sun Yujie conceal their real identities and present carefully controlled versions of themselves.
• Power and influence: Sun Yujie’s family status enables her to pressure the shop owner, while Qin Fen cleverly borrows her influence for his own advantage.
• Mutual cunning: Qin Fen and Sun Yujie recognize one another as equally calculating, creating a relationship based on playful manipulation and mutual respect.
• Appearances versus reality: Their polite, sincere expressions conceal dishonesty and strategic behavior. The shop owner mistakes them for ordinary customers, while their true personalities are much more complex.
• Unexpected companionship: A simple shopping encounter develops into cooperation and a potentially closer relationship after Sun Yujie accepts Qin Fen’s help.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Sun Yujie work together seamlessly against the shop owner, each reinforcing the other’s strategy.
• Their exchange of names becomes a subtle contest of deception, with both maintaining convincing expressions while hiding their real identities.
• Sun Yujie’s injury gives Qin Fen an opportunity to act protectively, and her willingness to ride his scooter indicates growing trust or curiosity.
• The Gold-Bearded Daoist and Matchmaker Yue remain opposing forces in the Heavenly Court, with the former anticipating and resisting the latter’s next move.

Chapter Summary: “About to Break Down”

Key plot points and events

Qin Fen drives Sun Yujie away from the flower and bird market on a small electric scooter. Since Sun Yujie rarely rides motorcycles and has never ridden one with another person, she sits sideways and becomes increasingly frightened as the scooter accelerates and navigates the badly damaged suburban roads. Qin Fen repeatedly slows down and tells her to relax, but potholes, trucks, and uneven ground make the ride more frightening. When the scooter hits gravel and suddenly bounces upward, Sun Yujie instinctively grabs Qin Fen tightly and presses herself against his back to avoid falling.

Character developments

Sun Yujie is shown as inexperienced, nervous, and easily embarrassed, but her fear gradually overrides her concern about personal space. Her instinctive attempts to hold onto Qin Fen reveal her vulnerability and growing physical dependence on him in the situation. Qin Fen remains calm and technically competent, trying to control the scooter and reassure her, though he is also uncomfortable when she grips him too tightly. His practical, straightforward personality contrasts with her anxiety.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes trust, vulnerability, and forced physical closeness. A mundane journey becomes a test of composure and mutual reliance. The contrast between Qin Fen’s calmness and Sun Yujie’s fear creates both humorous tension and a subtle sense of intimacy.

Character interactions

Sun Yujie repeatedly asks Qin Fen to slow down and clutches his clothing or waist whenever she feels unstable. Qin Fen responds with reassurance and mild teasing, pointing out that her tight grip might cause them both to lose balance. Their conversation highlights their differing perspectives: he sees the ride as manageable, while she experiences every bump as a potential disaster. The chapter ends with her pressing tightly against him after the scooter jolts, while Qin Fen checks whether she has been hurt.

Chapter Summary: “Planting Flowers in Progress”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen and Sun Yujie continue walking together after their earlier confrontation. Sun Yujie unknowingly squeezes Qin Fen too hard while supporting him, causing him considerable embarrassment and discomfort.
• Sun Yujie, acting as a doctor, repeatedly insists on examining what she assumes is an old physical injury. She eventually realizes that she—not an illness—caused the problem by pressing against him too forcefully.
• Both become awkward and silent. Sun Yujie asks Qin Fen to put her down when they reach the road, implicitly acknowledging what happened. Qin Fen leaves without pursuing the embarrassing incident.
• After returning home, Qin Fen is greeted by Little Bean, who jokingly begs for a reward. Qin Fen promises it a piece of old mountain ginseng root fiber if it helps with his work.
• The flowerpots Qin Fen ordered arrive. He begins transferring unusual flowers from the Heavenly Court into purple clay pots, planning to beautify the area around his lakeside villa and eventually turn it into a profitable flower-related business.
• Qin Fen knows little about gardening and plants the flowers roughly, relying on the Heavenly Court’s special soil and fertilizer to ensure they grow successfully. Little Bean assists him.
• Ye Xiang arrives and comments on Qin Fen’s gardening hobby. Although he acts friendly and claims to have forgotten the earlier conflict involving their dogs, his internal thoughts reveal that he remains angry and is merely concealing his resentment.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Remains practical, restrained, and somewhat shameless in embarrassing situations. He does not exploit Sun Yujie’s awkwardness and focuses instead on his long-term business ambitions. His gardening project marks the beginning of his plan to develop the villa into an attractive and profitable destination.
• Sun Yujie: Shows professional concern as a doctor but becomes deeply embarrassed once she understands the real cause of Qin Fen’s discomfort. Her reserved reaction highlights her modesty despite her relatively open-minded upbringing overseas.
• Little Bean: Continues to behave like a clever, mischievous assistant. It understands the value of rewards and willingly helps Qin Fen with the flowers in exchange for promised compensation.
• Ye Xiang: Demonstrates strong emotional control by hiding his anger and pretending to be friendly. Beneath the polite exterior, he is still resentful over the earlier incident and is clearly assessing Qin Fen as a rival.

Significant Themes

• Embarrassment and restrained attraction: The awkward incident between Qin Fen and Sun Yujie creates comedic tension while suggesting growing familiarity between them.
• Entrepreneurship and long-term planning: Qin Fen views gardening not merely as a hobby but as the first step toward improving his property, attracting customers, and building multiple sources of income.
• Hidden advantages: Qin Fen’s amateur gardening succeeds because he possesses rare Heavenly Court materials, emphasizing how his extraordinary resources compensate for his lack of expertise.
• Outward politeness versus concealed hostility: Ye Xiang’s friendly behavior contrasts sharply with his private resentment, illustrating the tension beneath seemingly civil interactions.
• Companionship and cooperation: Qin Fen and Little Bean work together harmoniously, creating a humorous image of master and servant laboring toward a shared goal.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Sun Yujie’s conversation is dominated by mutual embarrassment and indirect acknowledgment of her accidental mistake.
• Qin Fen and Little Bean interact like a demanding but indulgent master and a mischievous dependent, with rewards motivating Little Bean’s cooperation.
• Qin Fen and Ye Xiang exchange superficially friendly words about flowers, tea, and future visits, but both understand that their relationship is shaped by the earlier conflict between their dogs and by deeper rivalry.

Chapter Summary: “There Really Are Dumbasses in the Heavenly Court”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Qin Fen and Ye Xiang conclude their discussion, Ye Xiang decides to begin transforming his villa into a clubhouse. He plans to bring workers over the next morning.
• Qin Fen continues improving the residence, arranging flowerpots, planting trees, and developing the nursery. The changes boost his mood and make the previously lifeless property feel more vibrant.
• Matchmaker Yue begins recruiting influential immortals for the Jade Emperor’s planned banquet and matchmaking gathering. Surprisingly, most immortals agree without resistance.
• He then visits Li Jing’s household, expecting difficulty because Li Jing is powerful, traditional, and previously hostile toward him.
• Before Matchmaker Yue can explain his purpose, he finds Li Tingyu crying over a previous conflict with Wen Xin’er. She complains that the Third Prince and Muzha failed to properly defend her because of old sect affiliations and lingering rivalries from the Investiture of the Gods.
• The Golden-Bearded Daoist suggests that everyone attend the Jade Emperor’s banquet to settle the children’s dispute and prevent future conflicts.
• Matchmaker Yue realizes that the Daoist is secretly manipulating events. However, the Daoist’s scheme accidentally helps him: by encouraging Li Jing’s family to attend, he advances the matchmaking plan.
• Matchmaker Yue recognizes that the Heavenly Court’s internal foolishness and political maneuvering may work in his favor.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen is shown as industrious, optimistic, and increasingly invested in improving his surroundings. His enthusiasm reflects his growing confidence and satisfaction with his current plans.
• Ye Xiang becomes more proactive, committing to the clubhouse project and taking concrete steps toward making it profitable.
• Matchmaker Yue shifts from nervous vigilance to confident amusement. He remains aware of the hidden threat but now feels capable of countering it.
• Li Tingyu is portrayed as emotional, stubborn, and still resentful about being inadequately defended. Her childish complaints expose deeper tensions between old factions.
• The Third Prince, Muzha, and Jinzha appear caught between family loyalty and the need to avoid reigniting ancient sect conflicts. They are embarrassed and cautious rather than eager to fight.
• The Golden-Bearded Daoist is revealed to be a covert agent of the Demon Tribe. He is manipulative and calculating, hoping to exploit old grudges and lure Heavenly Court youths into the mortal realm.
• Li Jing does not appear directly, but his reputation as an influential and difficult patriarch shapes the scene.

Significant Themes

• Schemes backfiring: The Golden-Bearded Daoist intends to sabotage Matchmaker Yue’s banquet, but his manipulation unintentionally makes the event more likely to succeed.
• Old grudges versus present harmony: Ancient conflicts between Chanjiao and Jiejiao continue to influence the younger generation, despite the Heavenly Court’s claims of unity.
• Political maneuvering: The banquet is presented as both a family dispute-resolution gathering and a way to preserve the Jade Emperor’s authority.
• Generational conflict: Li Tingyu’s childish quarrel reveals how inherited rivalries and sect identities are passed down to younger immortals.
• Hidden threats beneath apparent cooperation: The Heavenly Court’s peaceful surface conceals factional agendas, including the Demon Tribe’s plan to manipulate and corrupt its younger members.
• Irony and comic misunderstanding: Multiple characters believe they are cleverly using others, while their actions actually advance Matchmaker Yue’s objectives.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Ye Xiang: Their cooperation continues as Ye Xiang prepares the clubhouse while Qin Fen focuses on beautifying the property.
• Matchmaker Yue and the immortals: Yue successfully persuades several immortals to attend the banquet under the Jade Emperor’s authority.
• Li Tingyu and the Nezha family: Li Tingyu accuses the Third Prince and Muzha of failing to support her, leading Jinzha to reprimand her for refusing to apologize.
• Golden-Bearded Daoist and Li Jing’s family: He calmly reframes the quarrel as a reason to attend the banquet, secretly hoping the gathering will revive old hostilities.
• Matchmaker Yue and the Golden-Bearded Daoist: Yue identifies the Daoist as the hidden instigator. Instead of confronting him, Yue decides to exploit his mistake and mockingly concludes that the Daoist has outsmarted himself.

Chapter Summary: “There Really Were Idiots”

Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen sleeps peacefully, unconcerned with the turmoil in the Heavenly Court involving Matchmaker Yue, the Earth God, and their changing plans.
• He wakes late and begins preparing to develop his villa’s surrounding grounds into a leisure venue. His immediate plan is to plant flowers and later purchase furnishings, materials, and hire renovation workers.
• The property management office calls to approve Qin Fen’s plans and offers workers to help him beautify the residential complex.
• Upon leaving his villa, Qin Fen discovers that someone has planted a large number of trees across his open land overnight, reducing the space available for his planned venue.
• The culprit is revealed to be Ye Xiang, who secretly bribed the property manager and moved trees from his own area onto Qin Fen’s land. His goal was to disrupt Qin Fen’s plans and force him to redesign the venue.
• However, the property management staff had misunderstood the situation. They arrive intending to help Qin Fen plant vegetation, unaware that Ye Xiang had already filled the space with trees.
• Qin Fen pretends not to know who planted them and sarcastically praises the unknown person for doing a good deed anonymously.
• The security guards conclude that whoever paid to plant the trees must be an “idiot” for spending money to help someone else. Ye Xiang is humiliated when he realizes their insults are directed at him.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen remains calm, observant, and mischievous. Rather than confronting Ye Xiang directly, he recognizes the prank immediately and turns it against him through sarcasm.
• Ye Xiang is shown to be petty, calculating, and vindictive. He attempts to attack Qin Fen financially and strategically rather than physically, believing that disrupting the venue’s layout will cause serious trouble.
• Ye Xiang’s confidence collapses when his scheme produces the opposite effect: instead of weakening Qin Fen, it makes him look foolish in front of the guards.
• The property manager and security guards act opportunistically but are also comically incompetent, as they fail to understand who arranged the tree planting and accidentally expose Ye Xiang’s mistake.
• Little Bean has a brief humorous appearance, lazily judging Qin Fen after he wakes it.

Significant Themes

• Irony and poetic justice: Ye Xiang intends to sabotage Qin Fen but ends up being mocked as an idiot for doing so.
• Cleverness over confrontation: Qin Fen defeats Ye Xiang through composure and verbal manipulation rather than anger or force.
• Pettiness and revenge: Ye Xiang’s actions show how far resentment can drive him, even when the resulting plan is costly and unnecessary.
• Miscommunication and unintended consequences: The property manager’s misunderstanding causes Ye Xiang’s sabotage to become strangely beneficial to Qin Fen.
• Humor through humiliation: The chapter’s comedy comes from Ye Xiang’s private triumph turning into public embarrassment.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Ye Xiang exchange polite but loaded remarks, with Ye Xiang pretending the newly planted trees are attractive while secretly celebrating the damage to Qin Fen’s plans.
• Qin Fen subtly mocks Ye Xiang by thanking the supposed anonymous benefactor, making it clear that he knows exactly who planted the trees.
• The security guards unknowingly insult Ye Xiang by calling the tree planter an “idiot,” leaving Ye Xiang furious and humiliated.
• The chapter ends with Ye Xiang forced to listen to others ridicule the very scheme he believed was clever.

Chapter Summary: “Flower-Fruit Mountain—Tell Me, Aren’t Flowers Awesome?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen discovers that Ye Xiang secretly moved saplings and planted flowers around Qin Fen’s property, apparently intending to inconvenience or provoke him.
• Rather than confront Ye Xiang directly, Qin Fen cleverly tells the security guards that he had only mentioned the landscaping issue to their manager. This makes the guards assume the person responsible is an unknown “idiot.”
• After Qin Fen leaves, the guards openly insult the culprit, praising Qin Fen as refined and well-mannered while unknowingly humiliating Ye Xiang.
• Ye Xiang realizes Qin Fen deliberately engineered the situation and is forced to endure the guards’ mockery without revealing that he was responsible. Overwhelmed by embarrassment and anger, he leaves.
• Qin Fen rewards the guards with cigarettes and bottled water, then decides the extra plants actually suit his desired pastoral-style layout and may even save him money.
• Sun Yating calls Qin Fen to remind him of his promise to cook for her. She invites him to her home because her mother is unwell and her father enjoyed Qin Fen’s winter melon soup.
• Qin Fen briefly misunderstands the invitation as a meeting with her parents, then agrees to come and cook. He considers bringing a gift and ultimately buys a potted plant, jokingly connecting it to the flowers and fruits of Flower-Fruit Mountain.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen demonstrates his talent for indirect retaliation. He maintains an outward image of courtesy while delivering a sharper humiliation than a direct confrontation would have caused.
• His confidence and mischievous side become especially clear in his private satisfaction at manipulating the guards’ interpretation of events.
• Qin Fen also shows practical flexibility: instead of remaining angry about Ye Xiang’s interference, he incorporates the unwanted plants into his own plans.
• Ye Xiang is exposed as petty and easily provoked. His attempt to cause trouble backfires completely, leaving him humiliated and powerless to defend himself.
• Sun Yating continues to challenge Qin Fen’s shamelessness and insists that he honor his promises. Her invitation also suggests growing familiarity and comfort between them.
• Qin Fen’s willingness to cook for Sun Yating’s family hints at a developing personal connection, even though he remains comically wary of romantic implications.

Significant Themes

• Indirect revenge and social humiliation: Qin Fen defeats Ye Xiang through carefully chosen words rather than open aggression.
• Appearance versus reality: Qin Fen appears courteous and generous, but his politeness conceals deliberate mockery. Ye Xiang, meanwhile, must hide his true role.
• Pride and consequences: Ye Xiang’s unnecessary attempt to embellish the landscaping creates the very humiliation he hoped to inflict on Qin Fen.
• Hospitality and social customs: Bringing a gift and cooking for Sun Yating’s family reflect traditional expectations surrounding visits and relationships.
• Turning obstacles into advantages: Qin Fen transforms Ye Xiang’s sabotage into a useful addition to his garden design.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Ye Xiang engage in a silent battle of wit, with Qin Fen controlling the situation while pretending innocence.
• The security guards unknowingly act as Qin Fen’s instruments, praising him and condemning Ye Xiang in his presence.
• Qin Fen and Sun Yating exchange playful, antagonistic dialogue about promises, food, and payment, revealing their familiar and teasing relationship.
• Sun Yating’s mention of her parents and Qin Fen’s cooking creates a domestic, almost familial setting, while Qin Fen’s exaggerated anxiety about “meeting the parents” adds comic tension.

Chapter Summary: “Flower-Fruit Mountain Products Must Be Premium”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen visits Sun Yating’s family home, located in a prestigious sanatorium near Dragon Pool Lake, after being invited to cook for them.
• He arrives on his scooter carrying bean sprouts he grew himself and a potted flower produced through Heavenly Court Moments’ Flower-Fruit Mountain products.
• Sun Yating’s parents welcome him warmly. Her mother worries that Sun Yating is unmarried and compares her to her younger brother, while her father takes a more relaxed attitude.
• A sturdy young man named Xiao Chen, apparently a guard or bodyguard, comes out to move Qin Fen’s flowerpot.
• Before anyone can touch it, Sun Yating’s father abruptly stops them and closely examines the plant.
• He recognizes that it resembles a rare Three-Core Butterfly Orchid but realizes it is an unfamiliar and unusually valuable variety. He is so excited that his normally calm demeanor disappears.
• Qin Fen pretends not to know much about the flower. When Father Sun asks whether he can have it, Qin Fen casually offers to take it back, but Father Sun immediately claims it.
• Qin Fen realizes the orchid is extremely valuable and sees the gift as a strategic form of discreet advertising among wealthy, influential people.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Shows confidence, independence, and a refusal to feel inferior because of the Suns’ status. He acts naturally around the family and demonstrates his business sense by recognizing the orchid’s potential as premium advertising. He deliberately positions his products as rare, high-end goods rather than inexpensive mass-market items.
• Sun Yating: Appears comfortable with Qin Fen and guides him into the house. Her playful refusal to save food for her younger sister reveals a relaxed family dynamic, while her parents’ comments highlight her stubborn independence and unmarried status.
• Father Sun: Initially amiable and composed, but his passion for plants overwhelms his usual calm when he sees Qin Fen’s orchid. His expertise allows him to immediately identify the flower as extraordinary and valuable.
• Mother Sun: Practical, outspoken, and motherly. She worries about Sun Yating’s marriage prospects and initially regards the flowerpot as an unnecessary gift, not realizing its value.
• Xiao Chen: A vigilant, physically capable guard who quickly becomes suspicious when Father Sun reacts dramatically. He remains cautious and protective even after discovering that the “threat” is merely an unusual flower.

Significant Themes

• Confidence despite social differences: Qin Fen refuses to be intimidated by the Suns’ elite background, believing self-reliance is more important than status or connections.
• Quality and exclusivity: The chapter emphasizes Qin Fen’s determination to sell only premium products. The Flower-Fruit Mountain goods are portrayed as rare, superior, and valuable enough to impress experts immediately.
• Strategic generosity and business insight: Qin Fen understands that giving away an exceptional product to the right person can create better publicity than ordinary advertising.
• Family expectations and marriage: Sun Yating’s parents’ teasing and concern reflect traditional expectations that she should marry and have children.
• The contrast between appearances and true value: The family initially sees the orchid as an ordinary potted plant, but Father Sun’s expertise reveals its extraordinary worth.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Father Sun establish a friendly relationship through their shared appreciation of the bean sprouts and later the orchid.
• Mother Sun’s marriage-related nagging embarrasses Sun Yating and makes Qin Fen uncomfortable, creating a humorous first meeting.
• Xiao Chen’s suspicion contrasts with Father Sun’s fascination: the guard treats the flowerpot as a possible security risk, while Father Sun treats it as a priceless botanical discovery.
• Father Sun and Mother Sun display a familiar marital dynamic—she criticizes his exaggerated reaction, while he becomes completely absorbed in his passion for rare plants.
• By the end of the chapter, Father Sun’s interest in the orchid confirms Qin Fen’s belief that his products can attract influential, high-value customers.

Chapter Summary: The Mad Orchid of Flower-Fruit Mountain

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen visits Sun Yating’s family home to cook as repayment for a previous favor. He is still unaware that the unusual orchid he planted came from the Great Sage’s territory and is not an ordinary market flower.
• Sun Yating’s father, an enthusiastic and knowledgeable flower cultivator, becomes increasingly fascinated by the orchid. Despite his experience, he cannot identify its variety or explain its unusually beautiful colors and distinctive fragrance.
• While Qin Fen cooks, Sun Yating supervises from the kitchen doorway, creating a lighthearted domestic scene.
• Secretary Huang, the former leader’s previous secretary and now Yiling City’s top official, arrives with businessman Ye Jinmin. They come partly to visit and partly to discuss plans for a floriculture and horticulture exposition.
• Secretary Huang explains that the exposition will promote rural planting, urban beautification, environmental improvement, and the development of a more civilized city. Sun Yating’s father approves of the plan and praises its environmental focus.
• Ye Jinmin brings locally produced liquor as a gift. Sun Yating’s father initially rejects it, but Secretary Huang smoothly explains the gesture, preventing awkwardness.
• The visitors admire the mysterious orchid. When Ye Jinmin reaches out to touch it, Sun Yating’s father unexpectedly shouts at him, frightening everyone present.
• He orders the flower moved into his study, declaring that it is too precious to handle casually. Ye Jinmin, now convinced the orchid is extraordinary, secretly photographs it and decides that he must acquire it.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Shows humility and practicality by admitting he knows little about flowers and focusing on cooking rather than pretending expertise. His connection to the mysterious orchid remains largely accidental and unaware.
• Sun Yating: Appears comfortable and playful around Qin Fen, teasing him while also helping and supervising his cooking. Her close relationship with her father and familiarity with the orchid’s origin are implied.
• Sun Yating’s father: Revealed as a retired but highly influential official with a refined interest in horticulture. His normally calm and cultured personality gives way to intense protectiveness once he recognizes the orchid’s exceptional value.
• Secretary Huang: Demonstrates political tact and respect toward his former superior. He uses the flower exposition to seek advice and strengthen his relationship with the retired leader.
• Ye Jinmin: Initially nervous and deferential because of Sun Yating’s father’s former authority. His fear turns into greed and determination after seeing the orchid, leading him to secretly photograph it and plan to obtain it.
• Little Chen: Acts as an attendant and observer, visibly surprised by the retired leader’s uncharacteristic outburst.

Significant Themes

• Hidden value and ignorance: Qin Fen does not understand the importance of the orchid, while experienced flower enthusiasts immediately sense that it is rare. The chapter emphasizes that extraordinary treasures may be overlooked by their owner.
• Power and influence: Although Sun Yating’s father is retired, his authority still commands great respect and anxiety from current officials and businessmen.
• Nature and environmental development: Secretary Huang’s exposition proposal links horticulture with rural modernization, urban improvement, and responsible development.
• Possessiveness and desire: The father’s fierce protectiveness and Ye Jinmin’s sudden determination to acquire the orchid show how rarity can inspire both admiration and covetousness.
• Social appearances and political etiquette: The visit involves gifts, flattery, careful speech, and strategic relationship-building, contrasting with the more relaxed interactions in the kitchen.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Sun Yating share a teasing, familiar dynamic as he cooks and she supervises.
• Sun Yating’s father treats Qin Fen’s orchid as a treasured object, even though he does not know its true origin.
• Secretary Huang respectfully consults his former leader and uses praise to maintain a warm relationship.
• Ye Jinmin remains nervous around the retired official, whose sudden warning about the orchid overwhelms him.
• The visitors’ admiration of the flower reinforces its mystery and sets up Ye Jinmin’s likely attempt to obtain it.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen prepares a simple but highly refined meal for Father Sun’s family, including light dishes, fish, vegetables, tofu, and his signature winter melon soup containing bone broth, meatballs, and bean sprouts.
• Rather than attend the family gathering, Qin Fen deliberately leaves on his scooter. He wants to maintain an air of mystery and promote his cooking and flowers through an exclusive, low-key network rather than openly seeking fame.
• At the Sun family banquet, Father Sun eagerly searches for Qin Fen’s bean sprouts and ignores the wine and formalities once he discovers they are included in the winter melon soup.
• The soup impresses everyone. Father Sun eats enthusiastically, Mother Sun asks for Qin Fen to visit more often, and Secretary Huang and Ye Jinmin abandon their wine to focus on the food.
• Ye Jinmin is particularly astonished that such ordinary ingredients surpass expensive delicacies. He also admires the intricate carvings on the winter melons.
• Secretary Huang and Ye Jinmin realize that Sun Yating’s “friend,” Qin Fen, is someone worth cultivating. They begin thinking of Sun Yating as their connection to Qin Fen’s cooking and future banquets.
• Unaware that his reputation is spreading among influential people, Qin Fen returns home and begins planning renovations and the arrangement of his plants.
• Ye Xiang again taunts Qin Fen, boasting about an expensive sculpture and announcing plans to build a private open-air café. He belittles Qin Fen’s flowers and subtly attempts to provoke him.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Shows strategic intelligence and confidence. He deliberately avoids publicity, choosing an exclusive, understated approach to building influence. He also continues developing his home and cultivating valuable plants.
• Father Sun: His attitude toward Qin Fen changes from ordinary interest to strong enthusiasm. He openly prioritizes Qin Fen’s bean sprouts and cooking over social etiquette and alcohol.
• Mother Sun: Quickly recognizes the value of Qin Fen’s cooking and cleverly uses her health as an excuse to invite him back regularly.
• Secretary Huang and Ye Jinmin: Both become deeply impressed by Qin Fen’s culinary talent and begin viewing him as an important person to remember and cultivate connections with.
• Sun Yating: Feels irritated by the crowded banquet but is pleased by the guests’ reactions. She becomes increasingly confident in Qin Fen’s abilities and serves as the link between him and the influential visitors.
• Ye Xiang: Remains jealous and antagonistic. His comments about décor and his expensive sculpture reveal his desire to compete with and undermine Qin Fen.

Significant Themes

• Excellence in simplicity: Qin Fen’s humble ingredients outperform luxurious delicacies, suggesting that genuine skill matters more than expense or appearance.
• Low-key influence and exclusivity: Qin Fen intentionally avoids direct self-promotion, allowing his creations to generate curiosity and prestige within select circles.
• Social status and networking: The banquet demonstrates how exceptional talent can quickly attract influential people and create valuable connections.
• Appearance versus substance: Ye Xiang emphasizes expensive objects and fashionable presentation, while Qin Fen’s understated flowers and food possess real quality.
• Rising reputation: Qin Fen’s influence begins spreading rapidly, even though he remains unaware of the effect his work has made.

Character Interactions

• Father Sun enthusiastically questions Sun Yating about the bean sprouts and claims the winter melon soup for himself.
• Mother Sun and Sun Yating exchange amused remarks about Father Sun’s sudden obsession with the dish.
• Secretary Huang and Ye Jinmin silently recognize Qin Fen’s value and exchange knowing looks about using Sun Yating to reach him.
• Ye Jinmin admires both Qin Fen’s cooking and the artistic presentation, associating it with refined luxury.
• Ye Xiang confronts Qin Fen at home, mocking his flowers and flaunting his own expensive sculpture in an attempt to assert superiority.

Chapter Summary: “Buying Flowers at a Restaurant Gives You Class”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Xiang, still humiliated by Qin Fen’s previous victories, decides to retaliate through business and finances rather than direct violence. He plans to use his own influence and territory to undermine Qin Fen, while masking his hostility with polite teasing.
• Qin Fen remains unconcerned, continuing to plant osmanthus trees and dismissing Ye Xiang’s ambitions. He believes his own dream is far beyond what ordinary people can understand.
• After several days of vacation, Qin Fen returns to work at Lotus Pavilion Restaurant. Although he now possesses some money, he chooses not to quit because the restaurant gives him valuable cooking practice and allows him to become familiar with the mysterious phone-related abilities he is developing.
• Qin Fen leaves Little Bean behind, though the dog dramatically protests and demands better compensation than a simple breakfast.
• At the restaurant, Qin Fen’s reputation has grown. The staff treat him with increased respect, and business has improved significantly since his arrival. A newly hired chef also joins the kitchen.
• Lotus Pavilion becomes extremely crowded at lunchtime, demonstrating Qin Fen’s positive effect on the restaurant’s popularity.
• Ye Jinmin, a representative of Rice Fragrance Liquor and apparently connected to Ye Xiang, arrives at the restaurant—not to dine, but to purchase the rare orchids Qin Fen previously gave Sun Yating’s father.
• Sun Yating initially responds dismissively, claiming she is taking a “beauty nap,” but eventually meets Ye Jinmin. He explains that he is willing to pay a high price for the orchids and wants them as soon as possible.
• Sun Yating realizes the flowers are connected to Qin Fen and goes to question him while he is cooking, teasing him about the unexpected business opportunity and asking how he will repay her for helping.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Remains confident, irreverent, and focused on long-term growth. He values practicing his cooking and cultivating his unusual talents more than immediately pursuing wealth. His influence at Lotus Pavilion is clearly increasing, as reflected in the staff’s changed attitude and the restaurant’s rising business.
• Ye Xiang: Develops from an openly humiliated rival into a patient, calculating opponent. Rather than acting recklessly, he plans to attack Qin Fen through professional and financial channels.
• Ye Jinmin: Appears eager and somewhat anxious to acquire Qin Fen’s orchids. His willingness to offer a high price suggests that the flowers’ true value lies in their connection to Qin Fen and possibly in their unusual qualities.
• Sun Yating: Demonstrates her bold, domineering personality through her dismissive treatment of Ye Jinmin. She also becomes increasingly intrigued by Qin Fen’s hidden abilities and finds amusement in exploiting his growing reputation.
• Little Bean: Continues to display comic possessiveness and exaggerated pride, protesting Qin Fen’s departure while demanding better treatment.

Significant Themes

• Hidden value and underestimated talent: Qin Fen’s flowers, cooking, and other abilities are dismissed or misunderstood by ordinary people, yet they attract powerful figures and generate unexpected opportunities.
• Patience and long-term strategy: Ye Xiang emphasizes careful planning, while Qin Fen patiently builds his skills and reputation rather than rushing to spend his money or leave his job.
• Business as social competition: Rivalries are expressed through markets, reputation, influence, and valuable goods rather than direct confrontation.
• Comedy through misunderstanding: The idea of visiting a restaurant to buy flowers creates an absurd situation, reinforcing the chapter’s humorous tone and the increasingly strange consequences of Qin Fen’s actions.
• Growing fame: Qin Fen’s presence is changing Lotus Pavilion, improving its business and giving him a stronger position among the staff and customers.

Character Interactions

• Ye Xiang and Qin Fen: Exchange superficially friendly remarks while concealing their hostility. Ye Xiang hints that Qin Fen lacks style, while Qin Fen responds casually and refuses to take him seriously.
• Qin Fen and Little Bean: Their relationship remains affectionate but comedic, with Little Bean demanding rewards and resisting Qin Fen’s departure.
• Ye Jinmin and the waitress: The waitress is confused by his unusual request to buy flowers at a restaurant, adding to the chapter’s humor.
• Ye Jinmin and Sun Yating: Ye Jinmin politely asks to purchase the orchids, while Sun Yating deliberately makes him wait and treats his request with playful arrogance.
• Sun Yating and Qin Fen: Sun Yating approaches Qin Fen while he cooks, teasing him about the orchid business and implying that she expects compensation for handling the request.