Chapter Summaries

After a car accident sent Yu An into the world of a novel, he tried to find a way to die but met the supposedly deceased He Li'an at St. Phelien Noble Academy. He Li'an carried the injured Yu An toward the infirmary, and Yu An decided he could keep living a little longer.

• Yu An concluded that he was an unnamed extra after 250 people failed to recognize him and headed toward the school gates to get hit by a car.
• The crowd rushed to greet He Li'an, knocking Yu An down and injuring his ankle.
• He Li'an approached Yu An, checked his sprain, and offered to take him to the infirmary.
• He Li'an carried Yu An in his arms, and Yu An eagerly thanked him and decided not to die that day.
• He Li'an asked whether Yu An was in the high school division, and Yu An claimed he was a college freshman.

Yu An met He Li'an at the campus hospital after spraining his ankle and began to suspect that He Li'an's recognition could make details about him real. After learning Yu An had a ligament sprain, He Li'an helped him with a wheelchair, but Yu An's reckless joy riding it ended in a safety warning and a promise they could race again after he recovered.

• Yu An told He Li'an that they shared a major and explained that the "An" in his name referred to eucalyptus, then asked whether He Li'an liked the trees.
• At the campus hospital, Yu An noticed his name badge had become legible after He Li'an acknowledged his name and wondered whether earning He Li'an's trust could make anything he wanted real.
• He Li'an filled out Yu An's consultation form, learned that Yu An had sprained a ligament, and arranged an electric wheelchair for him.
• Yu An sped around the hospital lobby in the wheelchair, and He Li'an stopped him and took the controls before he could crash.
• He Li'an told Yu An they could race again once his injury healed, but Yu An disappointed him by saying to forget it.

After Yu An rejected He Li'an again, he persuaded He Li'an to take him home and stay with him while he recovered. At lunch, Yu An refused every dish the servants offered, leaving He Li'an to ask what was wrong.

• Yu An told He Li'an he hated waiting and agreed to go home with him rather than contact family.
• At He Li'an's estate, Yu An pretended his own home had a vast living room with three chandeliers, and He Li'an introduced him to his butler, Zhu Wen.
• He Li'an ordered lunch according to Yu An's preferences and showed him the estate, including the orchard behind the lawn.
• Yu An refused Zhu Wen's offer to push his wheelchair and asked He Li'an to take him back instead.
• At the lavish lunch table, Yu An rejected every dish the servants offered, and He Li'an asked whether none of the food suited his taste.

Yu An refused unfamiliar food, then confronted Zhu Wen’s hostility and suspicion about his identity. After Yu An deliberately fell into the artificial lake, He Li'an rescued him, and Yu An woke to hear He Li'an and Zhu Wen arguing about whether he could be trusted.

• Yu An had the chef remake the meal with simple ingredients, then told He Li'an he had lost his phone at the school gate.
• After He Li'an left, Yu An accused Zhu Wen of wanting to drown him and went for a walk alone.
• Yu An reached the artificial lake, where Zhu Wen revealed that Saint Birien University had no record of anyone named Yu An among He Li'an’s junior schoolmates.
• Yu An told Zhu Wen to consider how he would explain himself to He Li'an, then let himself fall into the lake.
• He Li'an jumped into the water and rescued Yu An, who lost consciousness after inhaling water.
• Yu An woke as He Li'an and Zhu Wen argued about Yu An’s unusual behavior and He Li'an’s habit of trusting people too easily.

Yu An overheard He Li'an defend him to Zhu Wen, then pretended to feel unwell to see He Li'an worry over him. After the doctor confirmed he only needed rest, He Li'an cared for Yu An and took him to dinner.

• Yu An heard He Li'an scold Zhu Wen for pushing him into the water and insist that Yu An was his direct junior.
• He Li'an asked Zhu Wen to apologize to Yu An, then checked on Yu An at his bedside.
• Yu An claimed he was having trouble breathing, so He Li'an called the doctor; Yu An admitted he felt better when He Li'an tried to arrange an examination.
• The doctor found nothing serious and advised Yu An to rest while moving around carefully because of his ankle injury.
• He Li'an apologized to Yu An, who called him good-looking and noticed that he was embarrassed.
• He Li'an helped Yu An put on socks and a jacket, saying he had only taken care of Yu An, his little junior, while Yu An insisted that he was eighteen.

Yu An confronted Zhu Wen about his suspicion, accepted his apology, and explained that he had clung to He Li'an for survival rather than to harm him. He Li'an helped Yu An learn to use crutches, and Yu An wondered whether people often approached him with ulterior motives.

• Yu An left for a walk alone, and Zhu Wen confronted him, warning that he would stop Yu An from getting close to He Li'an.
• Yu An questioned Zhu Wen's reasoning and mocked his intelligence and academy, prompting Zhu Wen to defend his qualifications and pledge to protect He Li'an.
• Yu An told Zhu Wen he had clung to He Li'an to survive and would not hurt him, and Zhu Wen apologized for his earlier behavior when He Li'an arrived.
• He Li'an took the crutches from Zhu Wen and patiently taught Yu An to walk with them.
• He Li'an explained that he had learned to use crutches so he could catch Yu An if he fell, and Yu An asked whether many people deliberately got close to him.

Yu An tried to grow closer to He Li'an and planned to secure a home and money by earning his trust. After He Li'an and Zhu Wen accepted his explanation for his unusual phone case, Zhu Wen told him he would need to study at home to become a partner worthy of He Li'an.

• Yu An leaned on He Li'an while they walked, admitted he was deliberately getting close to him, and let He Li'an pat his head.
• Unable to sleep well in the unfamiliar bed, Yu An decided he could obtain a house and money by staying close to He Li'an.
• Yu An teased Zhu Wen over breakfast, and He Li'an called him a little panda because of his dark circles.
• Zhu Wen brought He Li'an a phone from the school, and Yu An recognized it as the phone he had used before entering the novel.
• Yu An said he admired strength to explain the phone case, and He Li'an and Zhu Wen both claimed to understand.
• After He Li'an left for school, Zhu Wen gave Yu An course materials and videos and told him to study at home.

Yu An tried to understand Zhu Wen’s sudden encouragement and learned that Zhu Wen believed he had injured himself to win He Li'an’s pity. After a week of recovery, Yu An prepared to return to school, and He Li'an helped straighten his uniform.

• Zhu Wen repeatedly urged Yu An to study, and Yu An complained to He Li'an about being supervised.
• He Li'an reprimanded Zhu Wen for pressuring Yu An, while Zhu Wen said Yu An was sincere and courageous.
• Yu An asked Zhu Wen why he thought that, and Zhu Wen explained that he believed Yu An had hurt himself to get close to He Li'an and earn his pity.
• Zhu Wen stopped supervising Yu An so strictly and arranged Yu An’s favorite baby carrots for after dinner.
• After Yu An’s week off ended, Zhu Wen brought him a uniform, and He Li'an asked to straighten it himself.

Yu An went to St. Phelien Noble Academy with He Li'an, who fussed over him before letting him head to class alone. After Yu An was surrounded by students, he discovered they wanted his phone case because it depicted He Li'an's body.

• He Li'an adjusted Yu An's tie, let him try his perfume, and dabbed some beneath Yu An's nose and on his clothes.
• At the academy entrance, He Li'an reassured Yu An about his fans, gave him his meal card, and asked Zhu Wen to watch over him before deciding against following him himself.
• Unable to find his classroom, Yu An sat by a flowerbed and was surrounded by students led by Song Yuechi.
• Song Yuechi offered Yu An one hundred thousand for his phone case, and Yu An accepted the money and asked why Song Yuechi wanted it.
• Song Yuechi excitedly explained that the phone case showed He Li'an's body.

Yu An sold Song Yuechi and his friends cheap phone cases for a huge profit, then joined their He Li'an fan club to earn more. At lunch, Yu An admired a photo of He Li'an and tried to explain the phone case, but He Li'an misunderstood his intentions and was flustered by Yu An's compliment.

• Yu An sold Song Yuechi and his friends phone cases for one hundred thousand each, and they helped him get to class.
• Song Yuechi invited Yu An to become vice president of the Happy Club, and Yu An joined after learning how many members wanted his phone case.
• Yu An noticed that Sheng Xize, one of the men he had seen arguing, ranked second in the campus forum's poll of suitable partners.
• Yu An attended finance classes and mourned that his savings had not come with him when he transmigrated.
• Yu An ate lunch at a restaurant recommended by He Li'an and enlarged a photo of He Li'an after swimming.
• Yu An tried to explain his phone case to He Li'an, then said He Li'an's photo looked especially good, making He Li'an choke on his water.

Yu An ate with He Li'an, whose early death worried him, while Song Yuechi rushed over to meet his idol. After class, He Li'an called Yu An to go home together, stirring an old memory that Yu An could not bring himself to separate from what had happened afterward.

• Yu An urged He Li'an to look after his health, then received Song Yuechi's message about secretly coming to join them.
• He Li'an asked why Yu An had sold his phone case, and Yu An said the buyer had offered too much.
• Song Yuechi arrived pretending to run into Yu An and He Li'an, then sat beside Yu An while admiring He Li'an.
• Yu An asked Song Yuechi why he did not confess to He Li'an, and Song Yuechi explained that he saw He Li'an as someone to admire from afar.
• He Li'an called Yu An after class and told him to meet at the car so they could go home together.
• Yu An remembered hearing those words as a young child, then found He Li'an's car and walked toward it.

Yu An accompanied He Li'an to the He Group, where he waited in He Li'an's office and looked up marriage law while considering what would happen to He Li'an's money if he died. He Li'an felt an unsettling attraction while explaining a book to Yu An, and the two left together for a restaurant Yu An had chosen.

• Yu An agreed to go with He Li'an to the He Group instead of heading home, and they discussed having dinner together.
• While He Li'an attended a meeting, Yu An explored his office, sat in his executive chair, and searched for marriage law on his phone.
• He Li'an returned and explained an unfamiliar word in a professional book to Yu An, but Yu An's perfume made him feel secret restlessness.
• He Li'an suggested making notes for Yu An and invited him to dinner at six.
• Yu An showed He Li'an a restaurant he had picked, and He Li'an agreed to go there with him.
• The secretaries stared at Yu An as they left, and He Li'an reassured him before the group looked away.

Yu An deliberately brought He Li'an to a couples' restaurant while acting as if he did not know what kind of place it was. After He Li'an asked whether he had pretended not to know, Yu An admitted it, leaving him uncertain about He Li'an's unexpected reaction.

• Yu An held onto He Li'an's sleeve as they entered the elevator, letting He Li'an think he was unsettled by other people's curious looks.
• Yu An led He Li'an to a couples' restaurant and pretended not to know what kind of restaurant it was, so He Li'an agreed to go inside rather than embarrass him.
• The waiter seated them at a secluded table, where He Li'an grew uncomfortable over the couples' set meals and told Yu An to order.
• Yu An claimed he had not known it was a couples' restaurant, and He Li'an asked whether he really did not know or was pretending.
• Yu An admitted he was pretending and asked He Li'an if he was angry, noticing that He Li'an seemed happier than before.

Yu An and He Li'an shared a meal, where He Li'an teased Yu An and warned him against getting too close to Song Yuechi. Yu An posted photos of their dinner to Moments, then hesitated over the strongly seasoned food as they began to eat.

• Yu An struggled to choose from the unfamiliar menu, so He Li'an ordered for him, and Yu An pointed out that the dishes were cheaper as a set meal.
• Yu An explained that he and Song Yuechi were friends, and He Li'an advised him to avoid spending too much time with Song Yuechi because complicated people could hurt him.
• Yu An told He Li'an that he was complicated too, but refused to explain how.
• Yu An photographed their heart-shaped main dish and glasses of water, then posted the pictures on Moments while He Li'an served him food.
• Yu An frowned at the reddish-brown meat, and He Li'an asked why he was not eating.

Yu An explained how his family had abandoned him after a near-fatal bout of food poisoning, which had led him to become extremely strict about food. With He Li'an's reassurance, he tried the couple's meal and enjoyed it, then asked Zhu Wen whether he still had a chance with He Li'an.

• Yu An worried that the restaurant food was unhealthy, and He Li'an learned that Yu An feared food poisoning because he had nearly died from it as a child.
• Yu An recalled that his family had left him alone with money and an apology note after his parents and younger sister departed, and he had raised himself according to strict nutrition rules.
• He Li'an offered to take Yu An home, but Yu An chose to stay and eat with him; Yu An tried the dishes and found them delicious.
• Zhu Wen wheeled Yu An inside, and Yu An asked whether he had a chance with He Li'an after taking him to a couple's restaurant.
• Zhu Wen said He Li'an was decisive in relationships and rejected every pursuer, but insisted Yu An was different and encouraged him to keep trying.

Yu An asked Zhu Wen to buy materials for phone cases, but He Li'an took over the errand after noticing Zhu Wen’s good mood. The next morning, Yu An read Song Yuechi’s excited messages and went to find He Li'an for help with his tie, leaving He Li'an’s oddly concealed phone unexplained.

• Yu An gave Zhu Wen a list of phone-case materials and transferred him 1,500, including a 500 tip.
• He Li'an questioned Zhu Wen about his rapport with Yu An, took the list, and had Zhu Wen transfer the money to him.
• Yu An woke to Song Yuechi’s messages worrying that Yu An had gone on a date and might have been taken to a room.
• Yu An noticed Zhu Wen had liked his post, replied to Zhu Wen, and liked Zhu Wen’s pinned Royal Butler Academy anniversary post.
• Yu An struggled to tie his tie and went to ask He Li'an for help; He Li'an put away his phone before greeting him.

Yu An went to the student union after lunch so He Li'an could teach him to tie a tie. Just as He Li'an reached for Yu An's tie, someone burst into the office.

• He Li'an tied Yu An's tie in the morning and told him to meet at the student union after lunch for a lesson.
• Song Yuechi teased Yu An about He Li'an, and Yu An explained that he had tricked He Li'an into dinner and was staying at his home while recovering.
• Yu An told Song Yuechi that the phone cases would be ready by the weekend and that he would bring them next Monday.
• He Li'an called Yu An while he ate a cod set meal, guessed what he had ordered, and made him wait before hanging up.
• Yu An arrived at the student union office, huffed at He Li'an for delaying the call, and accepted hot water before their tie lesson began.
• As He Li'an reached to remove Yu An's tie, someone pushed open the office door and called out.

Yu An and He Li'an were interrupted while He Li'an taught him to tie a tie, and Song Yuechi mistakenly thought they were behaving intimately. As He Li'an challenged Yu An about his boldness and asked whether he wanted to be liked, Yu An calmly said yes, and He Li'an dismissed him as a child.

• Song Yuechi walked in on He Li'an removing Yu An's tie, misread the scene, and ran out after accusing He Li'an of being that kind of person.
• He Li'an taught Yu An to tie his tie, then asked whether Yu An would believe someone else's misunderstanding if He Li'an were with another person.
• Yu An said He Li'an would not teach anyone else to tie a tie and explained that He Li'an's strong boundaries kept others from approaching him.
• He Li'an confronted Yu An about admiring his bare-chested photos and using one of his pictures to draw a phone case, then asked how Yu An dared to offend him.
• Yu An called himself brave, said he was not afraid of ghosts, and asked He Li'an if he liked someone as brave as him.
• Yu An calmly admitted that he wanted He Li'an to like him, and He Li'an coldly said a child did not understand liking someone.

Yu An rested in He Li'an's private lounge and learned that He Li'an's personality was more complicated than he had expected. After Song Yuechi agreed to keep making phone cases with him, he questioned Yu An about his unfamiliarity with people at their school.

• He Li'an offered Yu An his lounge until his afternoon class and arranged to wake him at three.
• Yu An napped in He Li'an's pajamas and resolved to keep making phone cases to earn money.
• Yu An worried Song Yuechi would spread rumors about He Li'an after seeing his Moments post and went to find him.
• Song Yuechi said they would continue making phone cases because he was afraid of provoking He Li'an.
• Song Yuechi asked Yu An where he was from, noting that he had never noticed him despite their being classmates.

Yu An became friends with Song Yuechi, who explained that He Li'an was a powerful investor with influence across A City. After Song Yuechi teased him about his relationship with He Li'an, Yu An received a message telling him to wait for the driver and not be too greedy, leaving him confused about what He Li'an meant.

• Yu An and Song Yuechi exchanged compliments, and Yu An asked why Song Yuechi had said he could not afford to offend He Li'an.
• Song Yuechi explained that the He family had invested across A City and that He Li'an was a respected angel investor and Saint Belien's living billboard.
• Song Yuechi asked Yu An whether He Li'an was good in bed, and Yu An clarified that He Li'an had only taught him to tie a tie.
• After school, Yu An saw He Li'an's messages telling him to wait for the driver and not to be too greedy, but He Li'an did not answer Yu An's question about where he was.