Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Qi and Cheng Cheng confront their shared desire for Shen Ranxin and agree to cooperate against Lu Zhi, whom they see as the main obstacle. Shen Qi manipulates Cheng Cheng by arguing that removing Lu Zhi is necessary to protect Shen Ranxin and complete Shen Ziqing’s unfinished research.
• Although Cheng Cheng rejects the idea of “sharing” Shen Ranxin, he is willing to work with Shen Qi if it guarantees Shen Ranxin’s safety and drives Lu Zhi away.
• Shen Qi reflects on how far he has fallen morally. He recognizes that his ambition and possessiveness have made him resemble Shen Ziqing, despite once wanting to protect Shen Ranxin.
• After a successful photo shoot, Lu Zhi and Shen Ranxin discuss whether their photos should become popular. Lu Zhi is jealous of the attention Shen Ranxin may receive but ultimately agrees to let the photos be promoted.
• Lu Zhi asks Shen Ranxin to sleep with him instead of Shen Qi and expresses intense possessiveness and insecurity. He offers his body, gland, blood, and even his bones as things Shen Ranxin can have, revealing how little personal value he places on himself.
• Shen Ranxin jokes about sterilizing Lu Zhi and claims Lu Zhi’s body as his own, while warning him not to become scarred or damaged. Lu Zhi’s memories of being imprisoned and repeatedly attempting escape reveal the psychological trauma underlying his obsessive behavior.
• Fang Yu and Jiang Ye’s comedic photo session interrupts Lu Zhi and Shen Ranxin’s intimate conversation. Their contrasting costumes and awkward dynamic provide comic relief.
• The three photo sets are posted online for fan voting. Shen Ranxin and Lu Zhi’s pairing becomes overwhelmingly popular, bringing them widespread attention and securing Shen Ranxin the lead role in the planned microfilm.
• Director Chen announces that all six guests must create the microfilm themselves—including writing, acting, filming, editing, and dubbing—in only seven days. The production team will provide supplies and meals.

Character Developments

• Shen Qi reveals increasing ruthlessness and self-awareness. He knows his manipulation is cruel but believes obtaining Shen Ranxin justifies any method. His reflections show guilt, resentment, and a deep-rooted belief that survival requires abandoning morality.
• Cheng Cheng remains possessive of Shen Ranxin but shows concern for his mental health. Despite rejecting Shen Qi’s terms, he is tempted by the possibility of removing Lu Zhi and regaining access to Shen Ranxin.
• Lu Zhi displays extreme devotion, jealousy, emotional instability, and self-destructive tendencies. His willingness to sacrifice parts of himself stems from trauma and the belief that his body is the only thing he can offer Shen Ranxin.
• Shen Ranxin continues to respond to Lu Zhi’s intensity with sarcasm and teasing, but he also shows signs of understanding and accepting Lu Zhi’s emotional dependence. His declaration that Lu Zhi’s body belongs to him suggests a possessive attachment of his own.
• Fang Yu and Jiang Ye maintain a humorous, affectionate dynamic. Fang Yu is amused by Jiang Ye’s awkwardness, while Jiang Ye remains shy and obedient around him.

Significant Themes

• Possessive love and obsession: Shen Qi, Cheng Cheng, and Lu Zhi all treat Shen Ranxin as someone to be claimed, protected, or controlled rather than fully respected as an independent person.
• Trauma and self-worth: Lu Zhi’s extreme offers reflect the damage caused by imprisonment and exploitation. Shen Qi’s past as a “lowly slave” similarly explains his belief that ruthlessness is necessary for survival.
• Moral corruption: Shen Qi recognizes that he has become like Shen Ziqing, sacrificing love and morality for control and personal goals.
• Public image versus private desire: The glamorous photos generate public excitement and fandom shipping, contrasting with the dangerous schemes and emotional instability unfolding behind the scenes.
• Performance and reality: The characters’ staged photos and planned microfilm blur the boundaries between acting, romantic fantasy, and genuine relationships.

Character Interactions

• Shen Qi and Cheng Cheng form a fragile alliance based on mutual desire and hatred of Lu Zhi, though both intend to pursue their own interests.
• Lu Zhi repeatedly seeks reassurance and possession from Shen Ranxin, while Shen Ranxin deflects his intensity with humor but does not fully reject him.
• Fang Yu and Jiang Ye’s playful embarrassment contrasts with the darker, more volatile relationships among Shen Qi, Cheng Cheng, Lu Zhi, and Shen Ranxin.
• The public overwhelmingly embraces Shen Ranxin and Lu Zhi as a romantic pairing, giving them the lead roles and increasing the stakes surrounding their relationship.

Chapter Summary: “A Dad with Boyish Charm”

Plot and events

The six characters gather to review a script initially created by Fang Yu and revised by Lu Zhi. Lu’s version is wildly inappropriate and self-indulgent: Shen Qi is kicked away in the opening, Cheng Cheng is turned into a pig served on a table, Jiang Ye barely remains human, and most of the short script consists of the two male leads kissing. The absurdity culminates in Lu giving Shen Ranxin a son. Horrified, Cheng Cheng demands a rewrite, and the responsibility ultimately falls to Shen Ranxin.
Later that night, Shen Ranxin intends to go downstairs to write, but Shen Qi stops him and claims to understand his true motives. Shen Qi argues that Shen Ranxin approached Lu Zhi to investigate the truth behind the fire years earlier, suggesting that their old bond still matters. He provocatively implies that Shen Ranxin should choose him over Lu Zhi. Shen Ranxin responds with cutting sarcasm, rejecting Shen Qi’s assumptions and defending Lu Zhi indirectly. When Shen Qi refuses to let him leave and becomes emotional about their shared past, Shen Ranxin punches him twice, knocking him unconscious.
Shen Ranxin then goes downstairs, where Lu Zhi is waiting. He discovers that Lu has been drawing a highly suggestive picture of him. Instead of addressing it, Shen Ranxin begins preparing coffee so they can finish the script. Lu Zhi offers a more intimate method of waking him and kisses him, ending the chapter with playful sexual tension.

Character development

• Lu Zhi displays his shameless, childish, and possessive side through his ridiculous script, exaggerated complaints, vanity about his hair, and overt affection toward Shen Ranxin. His behavior is comedic but also reveals his confidence in their relationship.
• Shen Ranxin remains sharp-tongued, emotionally guarded, and physically formidable. He refuses to acknowledge Shen Qi’s emotional claims directly, but his defense of Lu Zhi suggests growing attachment and favoritism.
• Shen Qi becomes jealous and vulnerable, insisting that his history with Shen Ranxin should still matter. His confidence collapses when Shen Ranxin rejects him and knocks him unconscious.
• Cheng Cheng acts as the most practical critic, objecting to the script’s absurdity and protecting the production’s viability.
• Fang Yu distances himself from the disastrous script, embarrassed that Lu Zhi’s version is associated with his original draft.
• Jiang Ye is relieved merely to have avoided the script’s humiliating treatment.

Major themes

The chapter emphasizes romantic rivalry, unresolved trauma from the past, and the contrast between genuine affection and manipulative claims of familiarity. It also uses exaggerated comedy and absurd fictional roles to highlight the characters’ personalities. Shen Ranxin’s sarcasm and violence function as defenses against emotional vulnerability, while Lu Zhi’s playful intimacy steadily draws him closer.

Character interactions

The group’s script discussion becomes a comedic clash between Lu Zhi’s shameless imagination and everyone else’s frustration. Shen Qi’s private confrontation with Shen Ranxin is tense and emotionally charged, centered on their shared history and the mystery of the fire. Shen Ranxin rejects Shen Qi’s flirtation and emotional pressure, while his later willingness to work beside Lu Zhi—and Lu Zhi’s kiss—underscores the developing intimacy between them.

Chapter Summary: Teacher Shen, So Well-Behaved

Key plot points and events

• After exhausting himself, Shen Ranxin falls asleep downstairs. Lu Zhi carries him upstairs, bathes him, and puts him in bed.
• Lu Zhi goes to Shen Ranxin’s room to retrieve clean clothes. He finds Shen Qi unconscious by the door, having been knocked out by Shen Ranxin’s precisely controlled punch.
• Assuming Shen Qi tried to sabotage him, Lu Zhi mocks him and strips him naked before writing “Tiny dick, big mouth” on his thigh in permanent red marker. He then moves Shen Qi into the hallway, joking that freezing him is acceptable so long as he does not freeze to death.
• Lu Zhi dresses Shen Ranxin in pajamas and carries him downstairs. While Lu Zhi works on his laptop, Shen Ranxin clings to him in his sleep, bites his neck, and begins sucking on it. Lu Zhi affectionately humors him and jokes that he has become “Cao’s Duck Neck.”
• By morning, Lu Zhi finishes writing just as Shen Qi loudly calls his name from the hallway. Shen Ranxin wakes in irritation and instinctively tries to throw Lu Zhi’s laptop at the noise, but Lu Zhi stops him.

Character developments

• Lu Zhi is shown as possessive, mischievous, and vindictive, but also highly attentive toward Shen Ranxin. He cares for Shen Ranxin while asleep, comforts him instinctively, and protects him from damaging the laptop.
• Shen Ranxin remains powerful and precise, demonstrated by his controlled knockout of Shen Qi. While unconscious, he becomes unusually clingy and affectionate toward Lu Zhi, biting and sucking his neck without realizing it.
• Shen Qi is reduced to the target of Lu Zhi’s revenge and humiliation after apparently attempting to trip or obstruct him.

Significant themes

• Affection expressed through teasing and retaliation: Lu Zhi’s cruel pranks toward Shen Qi contrast with his gentle, almost domestic care for Shen Ranxin.
• Protective intimacy: Shen Ranxin’s unconscious dependence on Lu Zhi and Lu Zhi’s soothing response emphasize their growing closeness.
• Comedic possessiveness: Lu Zhi treats Shen Ranxin as his “wife” and reacts dramatically to anything that might threaten their bond or embarrass him.
• Power and control: Shen Ranxin’s exact control over his strength and Lu Zhi’s confident handling of the household reinforce both characters’ unusual abilities and strong personalities.

Character interactions

• Lu Zhi physically cares for Shen Ranxin by bathing, dressing, carrying, and comforting him.
• Lu Zhi retaliates against Shen Qi through insults, marker graffiti, and rough treatment.
• Shen Ranxin unconsciously seeks physical closeness with Lu Zhi, while Lu Zhi responds tenderly despite joking about the situation.
• The chapter ends with Shen Ranxin’s explosive reaction to Shen Qi’s shout, creating immediate tension and comic conflict.

Chapter Summary: “I Love You”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Zhi wakes Shen Ranxin by repeatedly kissing him after spending the night writing their microfilm script. Shen Ranxin complains about Lu Zhi’s stamina, prompting Lu Zhi to explain that his unusually strong Alpha glands make him less affected by external stimulation—except when Shen Ranxin is involved.
• Lu Zhi dramatically drops to his knees while trying to defend himself, leading Fang Yu to discover the scene and jokingly interpret it as palace-drama cosplay.
• Shen Ranxin helps Lu Zhi upstairs and learns that Lu Zhi held him all night while he slept, supposedly to keep him warm. Shen Ranxin dismisses the excuse, but Shen Qi’s subsequent sneezing fit proves that the weather is cold.
• Shen Qi is revealed to have slept shirtless in the hallway overnight. He develops a severe cold and high fever and is taken to the hospital, preventing him from participating in that day’s filming.
• The group gathers to discuss Lu Zhi and Shen Ranxin’s script. Cheng Cheng asks whether his role is human, while Fang Yu and Jiang Ye praise the script.
• The group discovers that the script includes an especially unpleasant villainous father who is ultimately stabbed to death by his own son. Since no one wants the role, everyone avoids volunteering.
• Shen Qi reads the script in the hospital and realizes that his romantic rival has assigned him the hated villain role. Fang Yu attempts to console him by pointing out that the role has many scenes.

Character Development

• Lu Zhi continues to show his affectionate, playful devotion to Shen Ranxin. He is comfortable being physically intimate and emotionally open, even joking about his embarrassing situation.
• Shen Ranxin remains easily exasperated by Lu Zhi but responds to him with obvious care, helping him upstairs and reacting protectively when Shen Qi becomes ill.
• Shen Qi suffers the consequences of his rivalry and impulsive behavior. His fever forces him out of filming, and he becomes the target of Lu Zhi and Shen Ranxin’s script-related revenge.
• Cheng Cheng shows genuine concern about Shen Qi’s hospitalization, though his blunt question—“He didn’t die?”—makes his concern sound hostile and fuels speculation about a new romantic pairing.
• Fang Yu acts as a comic observer and commentator, teasing the others while also praising the script and attempting to comfort Shen Qi.
• Jiang Ye provides a straightforward, practical perspective, focusing on the unpleasantness of the villain’s role rather than the script’s deeper qualities.

Significant Themes

• Affection expressed through teasing: Lu Zhi and Shen Ranxin’s relationship is defined by physical affection, sarcasm, and playful arguments.
• Romantic rivalry and revenge: Shen Qi’s rivalry with Lu Zhi manifests through the script, turning role assignment into an opportunity for retaliation.
• Consequences of recklessness: Shen Qi’s decision to sleep shirtless in the hallway results in illness and removes him from filming.
• Performance and identity: The characters joke about cosplay and fictional roles, while the script forces them to embody exaggerated versions of themselves or their relationships.
• Humor in domestic intimacy: Everyday incidents—sleeping arrangements, illness, and arguments—are used to highlight the closeness and absurdity of the group’s relationships.

Character Interactions

• Lu Zhi and Shen Ranxin share a flirtatious morning exchange that combines kisses, complaints, and physical affection.
• Fang Yu interrupts them and mocks Lu Zhi’s kneeling posture as a palace-intrigue scene.
• Shen Ranxin takes care of Lu Zhi while simultaneously responding to Shen Qi’s illness with amused disbelief.
• Cheng Cheng’s reaction to Shen Qi’s hospitalization causes the audience to speculate about an enemies-to-lovers pairing.
• Lu Zhi and Shen Ranxin jointly control the script’s protagonists and indirectly punish Shen Qi by assigning—or preparing to assign—the villainous father role to him.

Chapter Summary: “Microfilm”

Key Plot Points and Events

• With Shen Qi still hospitalized, the rest of the group approves the microfilm script and begins production.
• Lu Zhi revises the character settings to emphasize Shen Ranxin’s cold, aloof personality.
• The film follows Shen Ranxin, whose ruined family forces him to marry an older warlord for protection. After the warlord disappears in battle, his adopted son Lu Zhi returns from overseas, takes control of the household, and joins the resistance.
• Although Lu Zhi releases the warlord’s concubines, he refuses to let Shen Ranxin leave. Shen Ranxin initially despises him, believing him to be as cruel as his father, but their relationship gradually becomes emotionally complicated.
• The warlord eventually returns, revealing that he engineered the Shen family’s downfall to force Shen Ranxin into his household. Lu Zhi kept Shen Ranxin with him to protect him from learning that his family was already destroyed.
• In the conclusion, Lu Zhi and Shen Ranxin unite against the warlord, and Lu Zhi helps Shen Ranxin kill him and avenge his family.
• The first scene filmed depicts Shen Ranxin attempting to flee the Lu residence and being forcibly brought back by Lu Zhi.
• During filming, Shen Ranxin bites Lu Zhi hard enough to draw blood. After the director calls “cut,” he worries that he truly hurt Lu Zhi, but Lu Zhi teasingly says he enjoyed it and likes Shen Ranxin touching him.
• The cast completes the microfilm after seven days of intense work. Shen Qi is discharged and must reshoot his scenes, particularly the physically demanding confrontations with Lu Zhi.

Character Developments

• Shen Ranxin: His icy, resentful personality fits the role perfectly. He becomes deeply immersed in the character’s hatred of Lu Zhi and reacts with genuine anger during the biting scene. Off-camera, however, he shows concern for Lu Zhi’s injury and embarrassment at Lu Zhi’s suggestive teasing.
• Lu Zhi: He takes on the role of the controlling, intimidating adopted son with confidence. His character’s possessiveness and apparent cruelty conceal a protective motive, while the actor himself openly enjoys Shen Ranxin’s passionate reactions.
• Shen Qi: Though still recovering from hospitalization, he returns to complete the warlord’s scenes. His role becomes central to the final confrontation, and he must endure being “beaten up” in the film.
• Jiang Ye and the others: The group shares production duties beyond acting, serving as camera operators, stagehands, prop workers, and consultants.

Significant Themes

• Possessive love and protection: Lu Zhi’s refusal to release Shen Ranxin is presented as both controlling and protective, reflecting the complicated nature of their relationship.
• Misjudgment and hidden motives: Shen Ranxin believes Lu Zhi is inherently cruel like the warlord, only later learning that Lu Zhi’s actions were meant to protect him.
• Revenge and justice: The story centers on Shen Ranxin confronting the man responsible for destroying his family.
• Performance versus reality: The actors become so absorbed in their roles that genuine emotions—anger, concern, embarrassment, and attraction—blur with the scripted relationship.
• Humor amid melodrama: The dark, coercive romance of the microfilm contrasts with the cast’s playful backstage interactions, especially Lu Zhi’s teasing of Shen Ranxin.

Character Interactions

• Lu Zhi and Shen Ranxin enact a violent, emotionally charged confrontation in which Lu Zhi restrains and kisses Shen Ranxin, while Shen Ranxin curses and bites him.
• After the scene, Shen Ranxin checks Lu Zhi’s wrist, revealing concern beneath his hostility. Lu Zhi responds flirtatiously, intensifying Shen Ranxin’s embarrassment.
• Shen Qi’s return creates a playful dynamic with the group: Lu Zhi and Shen Ranxin jokingly tell him that his role is to “get beaten up.”
• The later filming requires Shen Qi to confront Lu Zhi repeatedly, setting up the story’s climactic conflict.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Qi finishes his late-night reshoots, while Shen Ranxin falls asleep nearby.
• Lu Zhi arrives, carries the sleeping Shen Ranxin, and tenderly fusses over him. Shen Qi attempts to take Ranxin back to their shared dorm, but Ranxin chooses to leave with Lu Zhi instead.
• Outside the studio, Lu Zhi joyfully realizes that Shen Ranxin has “chosen” him. Ranxin does not deny his favoritism as he normally would, signaling a meaningful shift in their relationship.
• Lu Zhi reveals that he has waited eleven years, eight months, and three days since their separation at the slave market. Ranxin responds gently and invites him to resume their old “Evening Story Hour” at Lu Zhi’s residence.
• Shen Qi returns alone and becomes increasingly distressed by Ranxin’s absence. He reflects on how close he once was to Ranxin and struggles to accept that Ranxin now loves Lu Zhi.
• Shen Qi receives a call from Shen Ziqing, who criticizes his lack of progress in winning Ranxin back. Their conversation reveals that Shen Qi has been working with Shen Ziqing and that Shen Ziqing is hiding from the Anomaly Management Center.
• Shen Ziqing suggests that Shen Qi abandon attempts to win Ranxin through affection and instead use hatred. He proposes causing Lu Zhi to lose control by making him believe Shen Ranxin has died.
• Shen Qi is horrified, especially because Shen Ziqing is Lu Zhi’s father. Shen Ziqing coldly insists that Lu Zhi should support him rather than oppose him.

Character Developments

• Shen Ranxin becomes more openly affectionate and decisive. Rather than denying his preference, he openly chooses Lu Zhi and initiates private time together.
• Lu Zhi displays intense devotion and long-suppressed longing. His emotional reaction to Ranxin’s choice reveals how deeply he has waited and hoped for their relationship to be restored.
• Shen Qi becomes increasingly jealous, possessive, and desperate. His insecurity is exposed as he compares his former closeness with Ranxin to Lu Zhi’s present place in Ranxin’s life.
• Shen Ziqing is revealed as manipulative and morally ruthless. He treats both Shen Qi and Lu Zhi as tools in his plans and is willing to endanger his own son to achieve his goals.

Significant Themes

• Choosing and being chosen: Ranxin’s decision to leave with Lu Zhi carries emotional weight, confirming Lu Zhi’s belief that their bond survives even after separation and memory-related changes.
• Love versus possession: Lu Zhi’s affection is portrayed as open and earnest, while Shen Qi’s attachment increasingly resembles jealousy and an unwillingness to accept Ranxin’s autonomy.
• The persistence of emotional bonds: Despite the passage of over eleven years, Lu Zhi and Ranxin retain an intimate connection.
• Manipulation and emotional exploitation: Shen Ziqing attempts to weaponize love, jealousy, and grief, arguing that hatred may be more powerful than affection.
• Family loyalty and betrayal: Shen Ziqing’s claim that Lu Zhi should stand with him as his son contrasts sharply with his willingness to sacrifice Lu Zhi’s loved one and potentially destroy Lu Zhi psychologically.

Important Character Interactions

• Ranxin and Lu Zhi: Their playful, tender exchange establishes their renewed intimacy. Ranxin’s acceptance of Lu Zhi’s affection and his invitation to continue their old storytelling ritual mark a major emotional advance.
• Ranxin and Shen Qi: Ranxin rejects Shen Qi’s attempt to control the situation, bluntly reminding him that he can walk and make his own choices.
• Shen Qi and Lu Zhi: Their brief confrontation is outwardly polite but charged with rivalry over Ranxin.
• Shen Qi and Shen Ziqing: Their phone call exposes their shared history and strained alliance. Shen Ziqing pressures Shen Qi to act more aggressively, while Shen Qi resents being manipulated and blames him for the breakdown of his relationship with Ranxin.
• Shen Qi and Shen Ziqing’s plan: The suggestion to fake or cause Ranxin’s death establishes a dangerous future conflict aimed at destabilizing Lu Zhi and evading the Anomaly Management Center.

Chapter Summary: “Love and Kill Each Other”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Qi considers cooperating with Shen Ziqing despite knowing that Shen Ziqing is selfish, cruel, and dangerous. He is willing to pay any price to recover Shen Ranxin, whom he realizes he has loved since their childhood.
• Shen Ziqing promises to return a version of Shen Ranxin to him, explaining that his laboratory contains countless “Shen Ranxins” who could be recreated if their memories are extracted. He pressures Shen Qi into obeying, insisting that Shen Qi has no other way to take Ranxin back from Lu Zhi.
• Meanwhile, Lu Zhi reminisces with Shen Ranxin about their past at the Shen family manor, including Ranxin’s childhood habit of secretly eating too much candy and crying during a tooth extraction.
• Shen Ranxin asks about his mother. Lu Zhi remembers her as a contradictory person but hesitates to discuss her, suggesting that her past may be painful or damaging for Ranxin to recover.
• A playful exchange between Lu Zhi and Shen Ranxin causes Lu Zhi’s pheromones to activate. Shen Ranxin reacts badly because his transplanted gland has become accustomed to functioning without Lu Zhi’s pheromones during their four-year separation.
• Lu Zhi apologizes and begins carefully suppressing his pheromones, carrying inhibitor patches so that he does not cause Shen Ranxin pain. He even proposes removing his own gland and becoming a beta to eliminate the problem.
• Lu Zhi reveals that he has discovered suspicious copied data within the Anomaly Management Center. This indicates that a traitor may be leaking information, possibly connected to Shen Ziqing’s gland-transplantation research.
• The chapter explains the broader social consequences of gland transplantation: if glands can be freely exchanged, people may buy their way into the privileged Alpha or protected omega classes, while betas—often the most disadvantaged group—remain socially marginalized.

Character Developments

• Shen Qi: His feelings for Shen Ranxin become clearer. He recognizes that his attachment is not merely familial dependence but deep love, and this realization drives him toward an extremely dangerous alliance with Shen Ziqing.
• Shen Ziqing: His manipulative and emotionally sadistic nature is emphasized. He uses gentle language to issue cruel threats and treats human identity and memory as materials that can be copied and reproduced.
• Shen Ranxin: He remains teasing and emotionally guarded, but he actively investigates his past by asking about his mother. He also demonstrates growing awareness of the physical and emotional consequences of his gland replacement.
• Lu Zhi: His possessiveness and instability are balanced by genuine concern for Shen Ranxin. He restrains his powerful pheromones, apologizes for hurting Ranxin, and is willing to sacrifice his gland—even his secondary gender—to keep Ranxin safe and comfortable. His investigation also shows him acting as a protector against institutional corruption.

Significant Themes

• Love as both devotion and possession: Shen Qi’s and Lu Zhi’s love for Shen Ranxin motivates extreme choices, but it also risks becoming controlling or destructive.
• Identity and memory: Shen Ziqing’s ability to create multiple versions of Shen Ranxin raises questions about whether a person is defined by their body, memories, or unique consciousness.
• Bodily autonomy and exploitation: Gland transplantation has moved from medical treatment toward commercial and social manipulation, allowing people’s bodies and secondary genders to become commodities.
• Class inequality: The hierarchy between Alphas, omegas, and betas is reinforced, especially the systemic disadvantage faced by betas.
• Trauma and reunion: Although Lu Zhi and Shen Ranxin have reunited, the four years apart have permanently changed their bodies and relationship. Their former intimacy can no longer be recovered without pain.

Character Interactions

• Shen Qi and Shen Ziqing interact through a coercive bargain: Shen Qi seeks Ranxin’s return, while Shen Ziqing exploits that desire to secure his obedience.
• Lu Zhi and Shen Ranxin share an intimate, teasing relationship built on childhood memories, physical closeness, and unresolved pain.
• Their flirtation exposes the incompatibility between Lu Zhi’s pheromones and Ranxin’s altered gland. Lu Zhi responds with vulnerability and self-sacrificing promises, while Ranxin reacts with skepticism and dry humor.
• Lu Zhi’s discussion of the Anomaly Management Center shifts their relationship from private intimacy to shared awareness of the larger conspiracy surrounding Shen Ziqing’s research.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter reveals the brutal history of the Empire’s underground gland-trading industry. Betas and women were exploited, children were trafficked, and beta infants were often killed because they were considered useless for reproduction.
• Shen Ranxin realizes that Lu Zhi spent sixteen years growing up in this environment and feels deep remorse for not rescuing him earlier.
• Lu Zhi explains that Shen Ziqing’s research, the fire that damaged Shen Ranxin’s memories, and the Anomaly Management Center’s actions are all closely connected. The Center released Lu Zhi as bait because they believed he could lead them to the stolen data and possibly to Shen Ziqing.
• Lu Zhi reveals that he escaped the Center repeatedly over five years but deliberately stayed hidden because finding Shen Ranxin would have put Shen at risk. He wanted Shen to live freely rather than survive in hiding.
• Shen Ranxin understands that Lu Zhi endured horrific experimentation—including gland injuries, needles, blades, and the Bite Guard—while pursuing Shen Ziqing for personal revenge and to protect Shen.
• Shen Ranxin decides to join Lu Zhi’s plan and face the Anomaly Management Center and Shen Ziqing together.
• The following morning, Shen Ranxin and Lu Zhi behave like an established couple, sharing a room, belongings, and domestic routines. Jiang Ye notices Shen leaving Lu Zhi’s room and later sees the handprint on Lu Zhi’s face.
• The cast completes dubbing for Instant Heart. Cheng Cheng watches Shen Ranxin and Lu Zhi’s obvious intimacy and becomes increasingly jealous.
• After the microfilm’s release, it becomes highly popular, and the “Zhi-Ran” pairing trends across the internet. Shen Ranxin becomes famous almost overnight, though old accusations and scandals resurface.
• Director Chen worries that Shen Ranxin will be hurt by the online criticism, but finds him calmly playing a game with Lu Zhi instead.

2. Character Developments

• Shen Ranxin: Becomes more perceptive about the conspiracy surrounding his lost memories and Shen Ziqing. His pity and guilt toward Lu Zhi deepen into active commitment: he chooses to participate in Lu Zhi’s dangerous plan rather than let him face it alone. He also becomes more openly comfortable with their intimate relationship.
• Lu Zhi: His traumatic past and sacrifices are further exposed. Although he claims to be selfish and motivated only by revenge, his actions reveal that he has endured years of suffering to protect Shen Ranxin and give him a safe, free life. He remains flirtatious and possessive, using humor to soften his pain.
• Cheng Cheng: His jealousy intensifies as he witnesses how natural and close Shen Ranxin and Lu Zhi have become. His crushed water bottle symbolizes his frustration and inability to compete with their bond.
• Jiang Ye and Director Chen: Jiang Ye quietly recognizes the relationship between Shen Ranxin and Lu Zhi, while Director Chen’s concern for Shen’s emotional well-being proves unnecessary when Shen remains cheerful despite public scrutiny.

3. Significant Themes

• Exploitation and class inequality: The history of gland trafficking shows how social hierarchies and reproductive value enabled the abuse of betas, women, and children.
• Trauma and survival: Lu Zhi’s endurance reflects the physical and psychological cost of living through institutional cruelty and experimentation.
• Love as protection and choice: Lu Zhi’s survival is driven by his desire to find and protect Shen Ranxin, while Shen now chooses to share Lu Zhi’s danger rather than remain protected from it.
• Guilt versus agency: Shen Ranxin regrets failing to save Lu Zhi in the past, but the chapter shifts him from helpless guilt toward deliberate action in the present.
• Public image versus private truth: Online fans celebrate the pair’s romantic chemistry while simultaneously reviving damaging rumors about Shen Ranxin, contrasting their public popularity with the unresolved secrets of their past.
• Humor amid darkness: Domestic teasing and flirtation provide emotional relief from the grim revelations about abuse, conspiracy, and revenge.

4. Character Interactions

• Shen Ranxin comforts Lu Zhi physically and emotionally, while Lu Zhi responds with teasing affection and possessive intimacy.
• Their conversation about the past moves from Shen’s remorse to mutual understanding, culminating in Shen’s promise to fight alongside Lu Zhi.
• The pair’s morning routine—sharing a bathroom, toothbrushes, and playful arguments—shows their increasing domestic closeness.
• During dubbing and afterward, they communicate with effortless familiarity, even sharing the same bottle without hesitation.
• Cheng Cheng’s restrained jealousy contrasts with the natural intimacy between Shen Ranxin and Lu Zhi.
• Their public chemistry fuels the online “Zhi-Ran” fandom, while Shen’s calm reaction to criticism demonstrates that his private relationship and emotional security matter more to him than public opinion.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Director Chen departs, Shen Ranxin jokes that old secrets should be dug up and exposed, reinforcing the chapter’s focus on uncovering hidden truths.
• As the first season of Instant Heart reaches its conclusion, Director Chen reflects on the chaotic three-month dating show. The guests had to cook for themselves, resulting in wildly inconsistent meals and frequent comedic disasters.
• Despite the show’s unconventional format—full of scheming, troublemaking, and emergencies—it becomes a huge commercial success, surpassing 100 million in popularity and earning over ten billion in revenue. Director Chen immediately changes his mind about filming another season and decides Shen Ranxin is worth inviting back.
• The cast begins the final filming activity: retrieving red cords from paperbush trees and carrying them to a temple associated with romantic fortune. The cords symbolize lovers staying together for life.
• The established couples, Fang Yu and Jiang Ye, exchange one another’s cords. Lu Zhi retrieves Shen Ranxin’s cord, while Shen Ranxin must collect cords representing Lu Zhi, Gu Yifei, Cheng Cheng, Shen Qi, and possibly others.
• Shen Ranxin notices that his tree is overloaded with cords because he has been giving or receiving them from nearly everyone. He jokes that he is essentially a wholesale red-cord supplier.
• While packing, Shen Ranxin secretly separates Lu Zhi’s thirty cords from the rest, ties them into a concentric knot, and hides them in his chest pocket.
• Lu Zhi catches him and teasingly asks whether Shen Ranxin is secretly in love with him.

Character Developments

• Shen Ranxin: Continues to use sarcasm and humor to mask his feelings, but his careful preservation of Lu Zhi’s cords reveals genuine emotional attachment. His secretive, almost embarrassed behavior suggests he is becoming more openly invested in Lu Zhi despite his teasing exterior.
• Lu Zhi: Remains observant and playful. He notices Shen Ranxin’s hidden actions and deliberately exposes them through flirtatious teasing, showing confidence in their growing intimacy.
• Director Chen: Moves from exhaustion and regret over the chaotic production to delight when confronted with the show’s immense success. His attitude toward Shen Ranxin shifts from frustration to enthusiastic approval.
• Fang Yu and Jiang Ye: Their relationship is portrayed as stable and affectionate. Jiang Ye is openly eager about the temple’s romantic symbolism, while his past jealousy over Fang Yu’s interactions with others is humorously referenced.
• Cheng Cheng, Shen Qi, and Gu Yifei: Their connections with Shen Ranxin are reflected through the numerous red cords he collects, emphasizing his importance within the group.

Significant Themes

• Hidden feelings and emotional disclosure: Shen Ranxin’s covert handling of Lu Zhi’s cords contrasts with his joking, defensive personality, suggesting that affection is revealed through actions rather than words.
• Love and symbolic commitment: The paperbush trees and red cords represent enduring love, partnership, and the wish to remain together throughout life.
• Chaos as success: The show’s messy cooking, unusual personalities, and constant trouble become the very qualities that make it popular, suggesting that authenticity and unpredictability can be more compelling than polished romance.
• Public image versus private emotion: Although the cast performs for cameras, Shen Ranxin’s most revealing moment occurs when he believes he is unobserved.
• Humor in romance: Romantic development is presented through banter, jealousy, embarrassment, and teasing rather than solemn declarations.

Character Interactions

• Director Chen and Shen Ranxin trade jokes about the lavish farewell meal, with Shen Ranxin humorously trying to exploit the “unlimited budget.”
• Fang Yu teases Shen Ranxin about his abundance of red cords, and Shen Ranxin responds by pretending to run a discount wholesale business.
• Jiang Ye and Fang Yu exchange cords and share a playful moment about the temple’s supposed romantic effectiveness.
• Shen Ranxin quietly sorts Lu Zhi’s cords and hides them, but Lu Zhi catches him and teases him about being secretly in love, ending the chapter on a flirtatious and emotionally revealing note.

Chapter Summary: “Fortune-Telling”

Plot Points and Events

• Lu Zhi teases Shen Ranxin after discovering that Shen Ranxin was secretly interested in his red string and love knot. He points out that Shen’s ears turn red when he lies and openly declares that he loves him.
• Embarrassed by Lu Zhi’s confession, Shen Ranxin avoids responding and leaves.
• On the way to the mountain camp, Lu Zhi jealously prevents Cheng Cheng from sitting beside Shen Ranxin. Cheng Cheng reminds Lu Zhi that he once saved Shen, but Lu Zhi coldly threatens him, leading to childish bickering.
• Shen Ranxin tries to arrange the seating, but Cheng Cheng, Shen Qi, and Lu Zhi all compete for his attention. Lu Zhi eventually sits on Shen Ranxin’s lap, causing Shen to become so flustered that he volunteers to drive.
• The group reaches the mountain and discovers that the “romantic” activity requires them to climb a long flight of stone steps while carrying red strings and other supplies. Director Chen, meanwhile, takes the easy route by riding a cable car to the summit.
• Shen Ranxin becomes exhausted halfway up the mountain, so Lu Zhi carries him the rest of the way. Jiang Ye considers doing the same for Fang Yu, but Fang Yu refuses and continues on his own.
• Lu Zhi and Shen Ranxin arrive at the mountaintop first, where they encounter a beautiful young Taoist fortune-teller.
• The Taoist immediately recognizes Lu Zhi as a wealthy and important person and attempts to sell them a fortune reading. Shen Ranxin agrees to draw a fortune stick, but none comes out. When Lu Zhi shakes the cylinder, a stick falls immediately—revealing an extremely ominous fortune.

Character Developments

• Shen Ranxin remains easily embarrassed and reluctant to admit his feelings, but his reactions reveal increasing affection for Lu Zhi. He also attempts to manage the group’s conflicts, despite being overwhelmed by their competitiveness.
• Lu Zhi becomes openly possessive and affectionate toward Shen Ranxin. His teasing, jealousy, physical protectiveness, and willingness to carry Shen up the mountain emphasize how deeply attached he is.
• Cheng Cheng continues to challenge Lu Zhi and assert his own connection to Shen Ranxin, though Lu Zhi’s hostility makes their rivalry increasingly tense.
• Shen Qi displays confidence and competitiveness, particularly in claiming a seat beside Shen Ranxin.
• Jiang Ye shows concern for Fang Yu and attempts to imitate Lu Zhi’s intimate gesture, but retreats when Fang Yu rejects his help.
• Fang Yu is portrayed as independent and unwilling to accept special treatment.
• The young Taoist priest is introduced as charming, mischievous, and possibly more calculating than his innocent appearance suggests.

Significant Themes

• Romantic possessiveness and jealousy: Lu Zhi’s behavior shows his desire to monopolize Shen Ranxin’s attention and exclude rivals.
• Tsundere affection and emotional denial: Shen Ranxin refuses to verbalize his feelings, while his blushing, embarrassment, and dependence on Lu Zhi reveal them indirectly.
• Comedy through rivalry: The characters’ arguments, competition for seats, and exaggerated threats turn romantic tension into playful humor.
• Fate and ominous foreshadowing: The fortune-telling scene introduces the possibility of future danger, especially through the unusually bad fortune drawn by Lu Zhi.
• Performance versus sincerity: The dating show claims to promote romance but subjects the cast to exhausting challenges, while the director avoids the hardship. The characters’ genuine emotions emerge despite the artificial setting.

Character Interactions

• Lu Zhi openly flirts with and provokes Shen Ranxin, while Shen responds with embarrassment and avoidance.
• Lu Zhi and Cheng Cheng exchange hostile threats over Shen Ranxin, establishing their rivalry.
• Shen Ranxin tries to seat everyone fairly, but each person competes to sit closest to him.
• Lu Zhi carries Shen Ranxin up the mountain, contrasting with Jiang Ye’s unsuccessful attempt to help Fang Yu.
• The young Taoist grabs Shen Ranxin’s hand while targeting Lu Zhi for a reading, prompting Lu Zhi to slap his hand away protectively.
• Shen Ranxin and Lu Zhi draw fortunes together, culminating in the revelation of a highly inauspicious omen.

Chapter Summary: Defy Fate and Change Destiny

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Zhi and Shen Ranxin visit what they believe is a place where fortunes can be told. Lu Zhi draws a fortune stick, which predicts a terrible omen connected to a major disaster.
• Shen Ranxin repeatedly asks whether the omen can be avoided. At his insistence, Lu Zhi draws five times, and every result is another terrible omen.
• The young Taoist priest suddenly produces an extremely auspicious fortune stick and declares that he has “defied fate and changed destiny,” claiming Lu Zhi has survived a great tribulation and will enjoy smooth fortune from then on.
• The Taoist demands an absurd payment of 88,888 yuan. When Lu Zhi tries to leave, the priest warns that refusing to pay would create bad karma and make him responsible for any future misfortune.
• Shen Ranxin cleverly argues that the production crew should cover the cost because they are filming together. The Taoist has him sign a repayment contract with his fingerprint, effectively securing payment despite their doubts.
• The Taoist gives Shen Ranxin several talismans, predicts that his good days are ahead, and then quickly disappears.
• A monk arrives afterward and reveals that the location is a Buddhist temple, not a Taoist temple. He recognizes the young priest as Xie Ji, an infamous fortune-teller and apparent con artist.
• The monk calls an elderly Taoist, angrily asking why he has once again allowed Xie Ji to sneak down the mountain and tell fortunes.

Character Developments

• Lu Zhi remains skeptical and practical. He does not truly believe in divination and becomes increasingly irritated by the Taoist’s unreliable methods and blatant money-making scheme. His protective instincts emerge when the Taoist attempts to pressure Shen Ranxin.
• Shen Ranxin is more open-minded and emotionally affected by the omens. Though he knows the Taoist seems suspicious, he trusts him enough to sign the contract and accept the talismans, hoping to prevent disaster for himself and Lu Zhi.
• The young Taoist/Xie Ji is revealed as confident, shameless, and highly persuasive. He appears to be a skilled scammer—or at least someone who treats fortune-telling as a lucrative business. His calmness under Lu Zhi’s Alpha pheromone pressure suggests he may possess unusual strength or abilities.
• The monk serves as the voice of reason and exposes the absurdity of the situation. His anger implies that Xie Ji repeatedly causes trouble by leaving the temple to swindle visitors.
• Lu Zhi and Shen Ranxin’s relationship is highlighted by their mutual concern. Shen Ranxin worries about Lu Zhi’s fate, while Lu Zhi tolerates the fortune-telling mainly because Shen Ranxin cares about it.

Significant Themes

• Fate versus free will: The Taoist theatrically claims to “defy fate and change destiny,” but his solution is simply replacing bad omens with a good fortune stick. The chapter humorously questions whether fate can truly be changed.
• Faith and skepticism: Lu Zhi dismisses fortune-telling, while Shen Ranxin wants to believe it may protect them. Their contrasting attitudes create both tension and comedy.
• Scams disguised as spirituality: Xie Ji uses mystical language, karma, and talismans to justify an outrageous fee, blurring the line between genuine divination and fraud.
• Trust and protection: Shen Ranxin’s willingness to indulge the Taoist reflects his concern for their future, while Lu Zhi’s hostility shows his instinct to protect Shen Ranxin from exploitation.
• Comic subversion: The supposedly mysterious Taoist encounter turns out to take place at a Buddhist temple, and the “master” is revealed to be a repeat offender with a history of fraudulent fortune-telling.

Important Character Interactions

• Shen Ranxin repeatedly questions the Taoist about resolving the terrible omen, while Lu Zhi grows impatient with the endless redraws.
• Lu Zhi threatens the Taoist through his aggressive Alpha presence, but the priest remains completely unfazed.
• Shen Ranxin negotiates the payment by shifting responsibility to the production crew, only to be trapped into signing a formal contract.
• Lu Zhi criticizes Shen Ranxin for allowing himself to be scammed, while Shen Ranxin rationalizes the payment as purchasing a lucky sign.
• The monk confronts them about Xie Ji and then angrily contacts the elderly Taoist responsible for him, confirming that the entire fortune-telling episode was part of Xie Ji’s recurring misconduct.

Chapter Summary: “Xie Ji and Dogs Not Allowed Inside”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter opens with a heated phone argument between a monk and an elderly Taoist. The monk angrily condemns Xie Ji for charging a wealthy visitor an exorbitant fee for a fortune stick, accusing him of swindling people and blaming the Taoist for allowing him to leave Azure Crane Temple.
• The Taoist implies that Xie Ji is genuinely influential and skilled, revealing that even the Taoist Association’s president currently needs his help. This leaves Shen Ranxin stunned by the bizarre exchange.
• At the temple entrance, Shen notices rules forbidding Taoists from interpreting fortune sticks, alongside signs banning Taoists and dogs. He humorously concludes that the temple has effectively banned “Xie Ji and dogs.”
• The exhausted guests arrive at the temple. Fang Yu complains about being forced to participate in physically demanding activities, while Jiang Ye kindly gives him water.
• Director Chen explains the temple’s romantic tradition: visitors may burn red strings bearing their beloved’s name to seek Matchmaker Yue’s blessing. Shen Ranxin jokes that burning all of his strings might make him look promiscuous.
• Director Chen announces that, as filming of the first episode concludes, the guests will make their own romantic choices without production interference. The livestream audience eagerly speculates about the couples, particularly Fang Yu and Jiang Ye (“Yeyu”) and Shen Ranxin and Lu Zhi (“Zhi-Ran”).
• Neither Fang Yu nor Shen Ranxin burns a red string. Jiang Ye appears surprised but respects Fang Yu’s choice, while Lu Zhi also refrains from participating.
• Since no pair has mutually burned each other’s strings, the planned paired descent becomes impossible. The six guests must instead descend the mountain separately, disappointing the viewers and frustrating Director Chen.
• Fang Yu, isolated on the descent, messages most of the guests to check on them—but pointedly does not message Jiang Ye.
• Before Shen Ranxin can see Fang Yu’s message, he receives a private exchange from Lu Zhi. Lu gives an unexpectedly sincere explanation for not burning Shen’s name, saying their bond does not need religious blessing and promising to stand beside him regardless.
• Shen teases Lu by threatening to compare his romantic messages with Shen Qi’s. Lu becomes comically jealous and begs for reassurance, ending the chapter on playful flirtation.

Character Developments

• Xie Ji: Though absent, he is portrayed as a notorious and highly capable fortune-teller—or at least an exceptionally effective scammer. His reputation is strong enough to intimidate religious authorities and attract powerful clients.
• Shen Ranxin: Remains witty and irreverent, using humor to defuse awkward romantic expectations. His teasing of Lu Zhi also reveals that he is comfortable provoking Lu’s jealousy.
• Lu Zhi: Shows a more earnest and romantic side. He has apparently studied how to comfort and flatter Shen Ranxin, suggesting genuine investment in their relationship. His jealousy is exaggerated for comedic effect but indicates strong attachment.
• Fang Yu: Rejects the expected romantic ritual and chooses not to burn Jiang Ye’s red string. His decision seems to reassure him personally, yet he avoids contacting Jiang Ye during the descent, hinting at emotional uncertainty or deliberate distance.
• Jiang Ye: Acts considerate and respectful toward Fang Yu, helping him when he is exhausted and not pressuring him about the red string. He appears confused by Fang Yu’s choice but remains patient.
• Director Chen: Shifts from manipulating romantic situations to allowing the guests greater autonomy, although the lack of mutual romantic gestures leaves him questioning whether the dating show can continue.
• The livestream audience: Their reactions emphasize the gap between the couples’ apparent on-camera chemistry and their actual choices, especially their panic over the possible collapse of the Yeyu pairing.

Significant Themes

• Authenticity versus manufactured romance: Director Chen’s earlier attempts to engineer chemistry contrast with his decision to let the guests choose freely. Their reluctance to perform romantic rituals suggests that genuine feelings cannot be forced.
• Love beyond ritual and external approval: Lu Zhi argues that his relationship with Shen Ranxin does not require divine or social validation. Their commitment is presented as more important than the temple’s blessing.
• Public image versus private feelings: The audience interprets every action—especially the unburned red strings—as evidence about the couples, while the guests’ actual emotions remain more complicated and private.
• Humor and absurdity: The chapter mixes religious satire, exaggerated online reactions, and playful banter to offset the potentially serious romantic tension.
• Jealousy and emotional vulnerability: Lu Zhi’s jealousy and Fang Yu’s avoidance both reveal how the characters struggle to express or define their feelings openly.

Character Interactions

• The monk and Taoist engage in an absurdly hostile argument over Xie Ji’s fortune-telling and alleged exploitation.
• Jiang Ye supports Fang Yu physically and emotionally by giving him water and respecting his decision about the red string.
• Shen Ranxin jokes with Director Chen about burning multiple red strings, reinforcing his reluctance to take the romantic ritual seriously.
• Fang Yu’s failure to message Jiang Ye, despite contacting others, creates subtle tension between them.
• Lu Zhi and Shen Ranxin exchange flirtatious messages. Lu offers a sincere declaration of devotion, while Shen provokes him by mentioning Shen Qi. Lu responds with exaggerated jealousy, revealing both his affection and insecurity.

Chapter Summary: “President Lu Cracked”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Ranxin teases Lu Zhi in their group chat by joking about being interested in Shen Qi. Lu Zhi reacts with an increasingly frantic stream of jealous messages, eventually begging Shen Ranxin not to pursue Shen Qi.
• At the restaurant, Shen Ranxin tries to avoid Lu Zhi, but Director Chen inadvertently exposes his arrival. Lu Zhi pretends he is going to the restroom and drags Shen Ranxin along with him.
• In the restroom, Lu Zhi kisses and teases Shen Ranxin, openly expressing his jealousy. Shen Ranxin apologizes for provoking him, while Lu Zhi uses the opportunity to be affectionate and physically intimate. Shen Ranxin eventually persuades him to return to the private room.
• The rest of the group arrives safely. Jiang Ye notices that Fang Yu has been unusually distant and avoids speaking to him in front of others. Although Jiang Ye feels confused and slightly hurt, he rationalizes Fang Yu’s behavior and continues treating him warmly.
• During the celebratory meal, Director Chen thanks everyone for participating in the dating show and presents contracts for the next season. He reveals that Shen Ranxin’s agent has told him Shen has no other engagements for three years.
• A powerful entertainment agent, Zhang Yu, unexpectedly interrupts the gathering. She wants to place two of her newer artists on the next season of Instant Heart, despite previously declining to participate when the program was struggling.
• Zhang Yu targets Shen Ranxin, asking to speak with him privately and attempting to pressure him into giving up his guest position. Shen Ranxin agrees to meet her, surprising Director Chen.
• In private, Zhang Yu offers Shen Ranxin a recommendation for the less prestigious reality show Wilderness Survival in exchange for his position on Instant Heart. Shen Ranxin immediately recognizes that she is trying to exploit his old scandal and poor reputation.
• Shen Ranxin calmly challenges her claims, pointing out that Wilderness Survival is inferior and that his reputation has already improved significantly because of his successful appearance on Instant Heart.

Character Developments

• Shen Ranxin: Displays his mischievous, confident personality by deliberately provoking Lu Zhi, but also shows tenderness by apologizing when he realizes he has pushed Lu too far. In his confrontation with Zhang Yu, he demonstrates sharp judgment, confidence, and awareness of his changing public image. He is no longer the passive or disgraced figure others assume him to be.
• Lu Zhi: His jealousy becomes comically extreme, leading to a flood of desperate messages and an emotional outburst. Despite his intimidating public image, he is clingy, affectionate, and vulnerable around Shen Ranxin. He quickly shifts from anger to indulgent intimacy once Shen apologizes.
• Jiang Ye: Shows emotional innocence and kindness. Though he notices Fang Yu avoiding him, he does not become resentful. His lack of romantic experience leaves him confused, but his instinct is to respect Fang Yu’s presumed need for privacy.
• Fang Yu: Appears to be deliberately distancing himself from Jiang Ye in public, particularly around cameras. His behavior suggests concern about public scrutiny or his celebrity status, though his true intentions remain unclear.
• Director Chen: Acts as a host and protector of the show’s participants. He recognizes Zhang Yu’s attempt to take advantage of Shen Ranxin and worries that Shen may be bullied.
• Zhang Yu: Is introduced as an influential, aggressive agent who uses her industry power to secure opportunities for her artists. She underestimates Shen Ranxin and assumes his old reputation makes him easy to manipulate.

Significant Themes

• Jealousy and possessive affection: Lu Zhi’s reaction illustrates how deeply attached he is to Shen Ranxin. Their conflict is played for humor but also reinforces the intensity of their relationship.
• Public image versus reality: Zhang Yu relies on Shen Ranxin’s outdated reputation, while his performance on the dating show has already transformed how the public views him.
• Entertainment-industry exploitation: Zhang Yu attempts to use Shen Ranxin’s past scandal and perceived lack of influence to obtain a valuable opportunity for her own artists.
• Privacy and celebrity relationships: Jiang Ye’s confusion over Fang Yu’s public avoidance highlights the pressures celebrities face when managing romantic relationships in front of cameras.
• Personal agency and self-confidence: Shen Ranxin refuses to accept an inferior offer simply because others consider him disgraced. He understands his current value and is prepared to defend it.

Important Character Interactions

• Shen Ranxin and Lu Zhi: Their teasing escalates into jealousy, reconciliation, kissing, and playful intimacy. Their relationship combines emotional dependence, possessiveness, and mutual affection.
• Jiang Ye and Fang Yu: Jiang Ye notices Fang Yu’s withdrawal but responds with patience rather than anger, while Fang Yu remains difficult for him to understand.
• Shen Ranxin and Zhang Yu: Their private negotiation becomes a confrontation. Zhang Yu attempts to intimidate him, but Shen calmly exposes the weakness of her offer and refuses to be treated as an expendable former scandal figure.
• Lu Zhi and Zhang Yu: Though they do not directly confront each other, Zhang Yu visibly restrains her aggression in Lu Zhi’s presence, suggesting that even a powerful agent is wary of his influence.
• Director Chen and Shen Ranxin: Director Chen wants to protect Shen Ranxin from being exploited, while Shen insists on handling the situation himself, revealing his growing confidence and independence.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Ranxin meets privately with Zhang Yu, who wants him to give up his contract for Fleeting Moments so she can obtain a guest position on the popular dating show Instant Heart. Despite her aggressive behavior, she offers him fifty million yuan to leave the program.
• Shen Ranxin refuses the offer, joking that someone willing to pay him so much money cannot honestly claim not to have a crush on him. Zhang Yu leaves furious.
• Shen Ranxin reveals that he has already voluntarily given up the contract, confusing Director Chen and Fang Yu. He explains that Zhang Yu was “quite polite,” deliberately understating the hostile conversation.
• Lu Zhi quietly supports Shen Ranxin throughout the dinner by peeling shrimp for him. The two’s growing intimacy is evident to the people around them.
• After the wrap-up dinner, the guests separate. Fang Yu gets drunk and is escorted home by Jiang Ye, Shen Ranxin is collected by his manager, Lu Zhi is summoned away by Old Master Lu, and Cheng Cheng accompanies Lu Zhi.
• The next morning, Shen Ranxin’s manager reminds him to post promotional material for Instant Heart. Still hungover, Shen Ranxin uploads a video and copies Fang Yu’s promotional caption without checking the file carefully.
• The uploaded file turns out not to be the edited promotional clip, but a 784-minute surveillance backup from Lu Zhi’s room. Most of it is dark and contains only indistinct sounds, but the ending includes intimate voices and a brief glimpse of the disordered room.
• Netizens become fascinated by the accidental post, generating massive attention and explicit speculation about Shen Ranxin and Lu Zhi’s relationship. Shen Ranxin deletes the post, tags the official show account and other guests, and tries to redirect the publicity.
• Humiliated, Shen Ranxin considers escaping to Mars and later jokes that he needs a coffin with Wi-Fi. His manager reassures him that the scandal may actually benefit the dating show because of the popularity of his and Lu Zhi’s pairing.
• Shen Ranxin’s company decides to take over management of his social-media account to prevent future mistakes. His manager brings him food and medicine, then reveals how financially unsuccessful Shen Ranxin’s career has been: her salary had been only 300 yuan per month before Instant Heart, rising to 3,000 yuan after the show’s success.
• Feeling guilty, Shen Ranxin sends her a red packet—only ten yuan—prompting her dry response that her work is not difficult, merely “a hard life.”

Character Developments

• Shen Ranxin: Demonstrates confidence, wit, and stubborn independence by refusing Zhang Yu’s huge offer. However, his careless and half-asleep social-media behavior creates a major public-relations disaster. His embarrassment exposes his vulnerability beneath his usual composure, while his concern for his manager shows a developing sense of responsibility.
• Lu Zhi: Continues to show quiet affection and attentiveness toward Shen Ranxin, especially by peeling shrimp for him. The accidental video reveals that their private relationship is far more intimate than the public realizes.
• Zhang Yu: Becomes increasingly desperate and aggressive as she tries to exploit Instant Heart’s success. Her failed attempt to buy Shen Ranxin out leaves her furious and humiliated.
• Director Chen: Is strongly protective of Shen Ranxin and Instant Heart, but his confidence collapses when he learns Shen Ranxin surrendered the contract. His anxious reactions provide comic relief.
• Fang Yu and Jiang Ye: Their interaction remains affectionate and practical, with Jiang Ye soberly taking care of the intoxicated Fang Yu.
• Shen Ranxin’s manager, Sister Zhao: Is revealed to be overworked and severely underpaid because of Shen Ranxin’s stagnant career. Despite her frustration, she continues to care for him and manage the consequences of his mistakes.

Significant Themes

• Public image versus private reality: Shen Ranxin’s public persona, the dating show’s manufactured romance, and the accidentally exposed intimacy between him and Lu Zhi collide dramatically.
• Celebrity publicity and loss of control: A simple promotional mistake becomes a viral event, showing how quickly celebrities’ private lives can be consumed and reinterpreted by the public.
• Humor amid humiliation: Shen Ranxin uses sarcasm and absurd jokes to cope with embarrassment, while the surrounding characters’ reactions heighten the comedy.
• Career recovery and economic hardship: The chapter contrasts the growing popularity of Instant Heart with Shen Ranxin’s years of professional failure and his manager’s precarious financial situation.
• Affection expressed through practical care: Lu Zhi’s peeled shrimp and Sister Zhao’s food and medicine show care through small, concrete actions rather than direct declarations.

Character Interactions

• Shen Ranxin and Zhang Yu clash over the Fleeting Moments contract, with Shen Ranxin responding to her pressure through mock politeness and teasing.
• Lu Zhi supports Shen Ranxin during the dinner, silently serving him food and later becoming the unintended subject of the viral video.
• Director Chen and Fang Yu defend Shen Ranxin and criticize Zhang Yu, though they are shocked by Shen Ranxin’s decision to relinquish the contract.
• Netizens collectively interpret the leaked footage as proof of a romantic and sexual relationship between Shen Ranxin and Lu Zhi, intensifying their “ZhiRan” pairing.
• Shen Ranxin and Sister Zhao interact like an exhausted, financially strained team: she scolds and cares for him, while he belatedly recognizes how badly his career has affected her.

Chapter Summary: A Good Show Ahead

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Ranxin’s popularity continues to rise after his recent success, bringing him a flood of new work opportunities.
• His manager, Sister Zhao, presents him with an extremely packed three-month schedule and urges him to capitalize on his comeback after being shelved for five years.
• Shen Ranxin remains deliberately pessimistic and unmotivated, joking that he would rather be considered dead than work constantly. He argues that avoiding effort guarantees him at least some comfort.
• Sister Zhao reminds him that, despite lacking a traditional fanbase, his popularity among CP fans and his natural appeal as a “gay icon” have made him highly marketable.
• During a phone call with Lu Zhi, Old President Lu enthusiastically insists that Shen Ranxin come to the Lu family home for dinner. He repeatedly calls Shen his “daughter-in-law” and offers to transfer ten million yuan into Shen’s account.
• Lu Zhi objects to his father’s teasing and tells him to address Shen by name, but Old President Lu continues treating Shen as part of the family.
• Sister Zhao is shocked to discover that Shen has such a close connection to the Lu family. She becomes even more eager to escort him there after learning that Old President Lu is transferring money, jokingly treating Shen like a wealthy young master.
• On the way to the estate, Shen becomes carsick and vomits upon arrival. The Lu family servants mistakenly speculate that he may be pregnant, creating another comic misunderstanding.
• Old President Lu personally greets Shen and hurriedly drags him into the estate’s basement to show him something.
• In the basement boxing ring, Shen sees Lu Zhi brutally beating Cheng Cheng. Cheng Cheng is thrown against the ropes, collapses, and is covered in blood.
• Old President Lu reveals that Lu Zhi did not want Shen to witness the fight, so he secretly brought Shen in to watch it anyway.

Character Developments

• Shen Ranxin: Remains sarcastic, emotionally guarded, and resistant to the pressures of fame. Although he complains about his schedule, he accepts Old President Lu’s financial generosity without protest. His unexpected entry into the Lu family’s inner circle becomes increasingly apparent.
• Sister Zhao: Shows strong determination to revive Shen’s career and exploit his sudden popularity. Her attitude shifts comically once she realizes Shen has powerful Lu family connections, and she begins treating him like an important heir.
• Lu Zhi: Demonstrates a tender, affectionate side toward Shen over the phone, calling him “Baby,” while also showing a violent and intimidating side in his confrontation with Cheng Cheng. His attempt to hide the fight from Shen suggests he is protective of Shen’s perception of him.
• Old President Lu/Lu Yeshan: Is energetic, mischievous, and immediately embraces Shen as a member of the family. He enjoys provoking Lu Zhi, calling Shen his “daughter-in-law,” offering him money, and arranging for him to witness the fight.
• Cheng Cheng: Appears vulnerable and defeated during the fight, suffering severe injuries at Lu Zhi’s hands. His conflict with Lu Zhi is clearly serious, though the precise reason is not yet explained.

Significant Themes

• The cost and meaning of success: Shen questions whether hard work truly guarantees results, contrasting his manager’s faith in diligence with his own desire for comfort and emotional detachment.
• Celebrity and commercialization: His rising popularity quickly turns into an overwhelming work schedule, showing how fame can become an exhausting business rather than a personal achievement.
• Power and privilege: Shen’s career prospects change dramatically once his connection to the wealthy Lu family becomes known. Money and influence offer him opportunities that effort alone might not provide.
• Family acceptance and belonging: Old President Lu instantly treats Shen as family, even though Shen himself seems confused by the relationship and has only just learned about the extent of the connection.
• Public image versus private violence: Lu Zhi presents a gentle, affectionate persona toward Shen but is simultaneously capable of extreme brutality, highlighting the contrast between his romantic behavior and his darker private dealings.
• Humor amid tension: The chapter balances Shen’s dry sarcasm, Sister Zhao’s exaggerated reactions, and the servants’ absurd pregnancy speculation against the disturbing sight of Cheng Cheng being beaten.

Character Interactions

• Shen and Sister Zhao argue humorously over his workload, with her pushing him toward a comeback and him resisting through deadpan remarks.
• Lu Zhi and Old President Lu bicker over how Shen should be addressed and who should pay him, revealing their contrasting personalities and the old man’s eagerness to claim Shen as family.
• Sister Zhao’s attitude toward Shen changes after learning about his Lu family connection, shifting from manager to exaggerated servant.
• Shen’s arrival at the Lu estate brings him directly into the Lu family’s chaotic household dynamic.
• Old President Lu deliberately takes Shen to watch Lu Zhi fight Cheng Cheng, creating a dramatic collision between Shen’s sheltered understanding of Lu Zhi and the latter’s violent reality.

Chapter Summary: “My Baby”

Plot points and events

• Shen Ranxin is brought to witness Lu Zhi brutally defeating Cheng Cheng in a boxing ring. Lu Yeshan explains that Cheng Cheng is his biological but illegitimate son, born to a former household maid through artificial insemination.
• Cheng Cheng is beaten nearly to death but kept alive under Lu Yeshan’s orders because he is the Lu family’s only biological heir. Doctors place him in a medical pod while treating his injuries.
• Despite his condition, Cheng Cheng angrily confronts Lu Zhi, accusing him of taking away everything that should have belonged to him—including Shen Ranxin. He confesses that he genuinely loves Shen Ranxin and begs Lu Zhi not to compete with him.
• Lu Zhi mocks Cheng Cheng’s self-pity and rejects his claim to Shen Ranxin. He reminds Cheng Cheng that he only survived because he once saved Shen Ranxin, and he threatens him while making clear that his devotion to Shen Ranxin is absolute.
• Lu Yeshan explains Cheng Cheng’s background: Cheng Cheng’s mother used stolen materials from the Anomaly Management Center to conceive him, then sought wealth and status from Lu Yeshan. Although Lu Yeshan raised and educated Cheng Cheng, Cheng Cheng became consumed by resentment and cruelty.
• Lu Yeshan reveals that his original plan was to place Cheng Cheng in the Shen family to help expose Shen Ziqing’s forbidden experiments, but Cheng Cheng’s hatred and lack of moral restraint caused the plan to fail.
• Walking away with Shen Ranxin, Lu Yeshan discusses the Anomaly Management Center, which he founded to protect people with abnormal glands from persecution and to prevent dangerous pheromone episodes from ending in tragedy.
• He reveals that he and Shen Ranxin’s father, Shen Ziqing, once shared this goal but eventually became enemies. He also reveals that after the fire, the Center recovered two bodies: Shen Ranxin’s mother’s and another unidentified body—not Shen Ziqing’s—suggesting that Shen Ziqing may still be alive.

Character developments

• Shen Ranxin: Learns shocking truths about Cheng Cheng’s origins, his father’s past, and the possibility that Shen Ziqing survived the fire. His curiosity and suspicion intensify as he reevaluates his father’s identity.
• Lu Zhi: Demonstrates fierce possessiveness and devotion toward Shen Ranxin. Though violent and sarcastic, he also acknowledges that Cheng Cheng once saved Shen Ranxin, implying that his hatred is complicated by a sense of debt.
• Cheng Cheng: Is exposed as jealous, resentful, manipulative, and emotionally desperate. His wounded confession shows that his cruelty coexists with a genuine fixation on Shen Ranxin and a deep sense of deprivation.
• Lu Yeshan: Provides important family and historical context. He appears stern but not wholly heartless, having raised Cheng Cheng and devoted himself to protecting people with abnormal glands. His relationship with Shen Ziqing is revealed to have once been idealistic but later fractured.

Significant themes

• Nature versus upbringing: Lu Yeshan questions whether Cheng Cheng was inherently evil or shaped by abandonment, resentment, and life “in the shadows.”
• Possessive love and rivalry: Cheng Cheng and Lu Zhi both claim Shen Ranxin, but their approaches differ—Cheng Cheng begs and blames, while Lu Zhi expresses absolute loyalty and protection.
• Family, legitimacy, and identity: Cheng Cheng’s illegitimate birth and Lu Zhi’s stolen identity create resentment over inheritance, status, and belonging.
• Moral responsibility: The chapter examines whether trauma excuses cruelty and whether people shaped by harsh systems can still be held accountable.
• Hidden history and unresolved mysteries: The Anomaly Management Center, the fire, forbidden experiments, and Shen Ziqing’s possible survival establish major unanswered questions.

Character interactions

• Shen Ranxin questions Lu Yeshan about Cheng Cheng’s upbringing and confronts him over his responsibility as a father.
• Cheng Cheng pleads with and attacks Lu Zhi verbally, insisting that Lu Zhi has taken everything from him.
• Lu Zhi responds with mockery, threats, and physical force, denying any brotherly bond with Cheng Cheng while defending his relationship with Shen Ranxin.
• Lu Yeshan and Shen Ranxin share a more serious conversation about the past, the Center’s purpose, and Shen Ziqing, ending with the revelation that Shen Ranxin’s father may still be alive.

Chapter Summary: “Cheng Cheng’s Background”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Yeshan suggests that Shen Ziqing may have survived the fire that supposedly killed him, using it as a diversion to escape Federation punishment. Shen Ranxin is horrified by the possibility, especially because Shen Ziqing’s wife died in the blaze and Shen Ranxin may also have been intended to die.
• Lu Yeshan apologizes for Cheng Cheng’s past actions toward Shen Ranxin, explaining that Lu Zhi has already punished Cheng Cheng. Shen Ranxin questions why Cheng Cheng escaped legal consequences despite being involved with Shen Ziqing.
• Lu Yeshan recounts Cheng Cheng’s disturbing childhood:
  • When Cheng Cheng was three, his biological mother—the nanny who had hoped to marry into the Lu family—died under circumstances ruled a suicide. Lu Yeshan privately suspected Cheng Cheng may have been involved, though there was no evidence.
  • As a child, Cheng Cheng responded brutally to bullying. Several children who had tormented him suffered psychological collapse, withdrew from school, or died, yet no proof connected Cheng Cheng to the incidents.
  • Cheng Cheng openly relied on his status as a minor, recognizing that Federation Law would protect him.
• Lu Yeshan admits that despite teaching Cheng Cheng kindness and compassion, Cheng Cheng grew into someone cruel and manipulative. He believes Cheng Cheng was created and raised as a tool, partly because of his own failures as a father.
• Lu Yeshan tells Shen Ranxin that Cheng Cheng must eventually pay for his actions, but insists that he will never abandon him as his son. He offers Shen Ranxin and Lu Zhi access to the Lu family’s money and resources.
• Lu Yeshan invites Shen Ranxin to a media-filled dinner party and encourages him and Lu Zhi to publicly associate with the Lu Corporation for protection. Shen Ranxin initially doubts Lu Yeshan’s sincerity but agrees to attend.
• Lu Zhi returns after placing Cheng Cheng in a medical pod and playfully clings to Shen Ranxin. Their flirtatious exchange includes jokes about pregnancy and their future child.
• Shen Ranxin chooses an elegant dark green suit with golden bamboo embroidery. Lu Zhi becomes intensely attracted to him, and the two share a passionate but restrained intimate moment.
• At the banquet, Shen Ranxin is deliberately insulted and drenched first with juice and then with red wine by an arrogant young man who claims Shen Ranxin ruined his expensive outfit. Shen Ranxin responds sarcastically, provoking the man further.
• The chapter ends as the young man angrily raises his hand, apparently preparing to strike Shen Ranxin.

Character Developments

• Shen Ranxin: Shows continued trauma from the fire and distrust toward powerful figures, but remains composed and sharp-tongued. He is willing to accept Lu Yeshan’s public protection while still questioning whether the Lu family can truly be trusted.
• Lu Yeshan: Reveals guilt and paternal conflict regarding Cheng Cheng. Though he condemns Cheng Cheng’s behavior, he still acknowledges him as his son and wants to ensure he is not abandoned. He also begins actively supporting Shen Ranxin and Lu Zhi.
• Cheng Cheng: His backstory establishes him as calculating, violent, and highly skilled at exploiting legal loopholes from an early age. He appears to have been dangerous since childhood, possibly connected to his mother’s death and the ruin of his school bullies.
• Lu Zhi: Demonstrates a contrasting personality: ruthless and physically violent toward Cheng Cheng, yet affectionate, playful, needy, and almost shamelessly flirtatious with Shen Ranxin. His protectiveness and attachment to Shen Ranxin remain strong.

Significant Themes

• Parental responsibility and guilt: Lu Yeshan struggles with regret over Cheng Cheng’s upbringing and his own role in turning—or failing to prevent—the child’s development into a dangerous person.
• Nature versus upbringing: Cheng Cheng’s cruelty raises questions about whether he was inherently vicious, shaped by being treated as a tool, or both.
• Justice and legal loopholes: Cheng Cheng repeatedly escapes punishment because of his age and the lack of evidence, highlighting the limitations of Federation Law.
• Trauma and survival: Shen Ranxin’s memories of the fire remain an ongoing source of physical and emotional pain.
• Protection through power: Lu Yeshan advises Shen Ranxin to rely on the Lu Corporation’s influence to avoid harassment, while Shen Ranxin remains wary of the cost and sincerity of that protection.
• Contrasting forms of love: Lu Yeshan’s conflicted paternal love for Cheng Cheng contrasts with Lu Zhi and Shen Ranxin’s playful, intimate relationship.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu Yeshan and Shen Ranxin: Lu Yeshan confesses Cheng Cheng’s history, apologizes for his actions, offers support, and asks Shen Ranxin to trust Lu Zhi rather than himself.
• Lu Yeshan and Cheng Cheng: The flashbacks show Lu Yeshan initially trying to protect Cheng Cheng’s innocence, only to discover that Cheng Cheng manipulated situations and used his age to avoid responsibility.
• Lu Zhi and Cheng Cheng: Lu Zhi has violently punished Cheng Cheng and places him in a medical pod, though he jokingly threatens to beat him again.
• Lu Zhi and Shen Ranxin: Their reunion is affectionate and flirtatious, with Lu Zhi acting clingy and physically intimate while Shen Ranxin teases and restrains him.
• Shen Ranxin and the arrogant guest: Their first encounter at the banquet becomes immediately hostile after the guest humiliates Shen Ranxin and damages his clothing. Shen Ranxin’s sarcastic response escalates the confrontation, ending the chapter on a cliffhanger.

Chapter Summary: “Picking a Fight”

Key Plot Points and Events

• At a Lu family banquet, Shen Ranxin is confronted by a young actor connected to Zhang Yu. The man claims that the dating-show guest slot currently held by Shen Ranxin was supposed to go to him.
• The actor insults Shen Ranxin and relies on Zhang Yu’s influence to intimidate him. Shen retaliates immediately, slapping him, throwing vodka in his face, and demanding one million as compensation for the trouble.
• When the man refuses to apologize or pay, Shen ties a rope around his ankles and hangs him upside down at the banquet entrance.
• While dangling, the actor reveals that Lu Zhi is not the Lu family’s biological son and suggests that Shen and Lu Zhi will lose their positions once the family’s real heir returns.
• Lu Yeshan arrives and unexpectedly supports Shen’s actions rather than reprimanding him. He even orders that the man be moved to the Lu family’s main gate, where his humiliation will be more public.
• Because the suspended man is a recognizable minor actor, the incident is likely to become a trending scandal and cause Zhang Yu significant public-relations damage.
• Shen changes out of his soaked and dirty clothes with Manager Zhao’s help. As he finishes dressing, Cheng Cheng suddenly appears at the changing-room door despite being badly injured and previously advised to remain in a medical pod for three days.

Character Developments

• Shen Ranxin demonstrates a major change from his formerly passive self. He now responds to harassment aggressively and confidently, refusing to submit to industry power plays or social expectations.
• He remains irreverent and unconventional, showing little concern for the banquet’s formality or the Lu family’s status. His humorous “sixteen-character maxim” reflects his new willingness to prioritize himself over conventional morality.
• Manager Zhao notices Shen’s transformation over the past five years and suggests that he would not once have fought back so boldly. Their exchange shows familiarity and comic rapport.
• Lu Yeshan is revealed to be just as ruthless and mischievous as Shen, openly backing Shen’s retaliation and escalating the punishment.
• The young actor begins the chapter arrogant and protected by Zhang Yu’s reputation but becomes frightened and helpless once Shen turns the tables on him.
• Cheng Cheng’s unexpected appearance creates a new mystery, particularly because he has ignored medical advice despite his serious injuries.

Significant Themes

• Reclaiming power: Shen refuses to be bullied or controlled by influential figures, marking his shift from vulnerability to self-assertion.
• Consequences of relying on connections: The young actor assumes Zhang Yu’s status will protect him, but his arrogance only worsens his humiliation.
• Defiance of social conventions: Shen and Lu Yeshan disregard the etiquette expected at an elite family banquet, using public embarrassment as a weapon.
• Public image and revenge: The incident’s likely appearance on trending topics shows how social reputation and media fallout can be more damaging than a private confrontation.
• Changing identity: Shen’s comment that he has “figured things out” suggests a broader personal transformation after five years.

Character Interactions

• Shen and the young actor clash over the dating-show slot, with Shen dominating the encounter through physical intimidation and sarcastic demands.
• Lu Yeshan arrives as an apparent authority figure but sides with Shen, turning the punishment into an even more humiliating public spectacle.
• Shen and Manager Zhao share a lighthearted exchange about his changed personality, emphasizing their comfortable working relationship.
• The chapter ends with Shen confronting Cheng Cheng, whose unexplained decision to leave medical care introduces tension and anticipation for the next chapter.

Chapter Summary: “Crisis”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cheng Cheng confronts Shen Ranxin in a dressing room and asks why Shen cannot love him as he loves Lu Zhi.
• Cheng argues that Lu Zhi already possesses many advantages and pleads for at least one thing—Shen’s love—to belong to him.
• Shen rejects Cheng’s transactional way of viewing people, criticizing him for treating relationships and even family members as objects whose value can be exchanged.
• Cheng reveals his traumatic childhood: his mother gave birth to him as part of an attempt to marry into the Lu family. After Lu Yeshan refused her, she blamed Cheng for her failed ambitions and abused him severely.
• Cheng admits that he caused his mother’s death and describes vividly remembering her beatings, strangling attempts, and hateful words.
• He compares his suffering to Lu Zhi’s, insisting that he deserves more sympathy and that Shen should choose him instead.
• Shen firmly rejects this comparison, explaining that suffering cannot be measured or used to justify love. He loves Lu Zhi because of Lu Zhi’s character, not merely because Lu Zhi has endured hardship.
• Cheng secretly drugs Shen. As Shen becomes weak and disoriented, Cheng declares that he has “given him a chance” and intends to take Shen for himself—just as he believes he deserves everything Lu Zhi has.
• Shen loses consciousness while thinking of Lu Zhi.
• In the darkness of unconsciousness, Shen searches unsuccessfully for the white orb that previously represented light or escape. He finally hears someone call “Lu Zhi,” causing a crack of white light to appear.

Character Developments

• Cheng Cheng: His desperation, possessiveness, and distorted understanding of love become fully exposed. His traumatic history explains—but does not excuse—his manipulation and violence. He sees relationships as compensation for what he believes was taken from him and uses his suffering to demand love.
• Shen Ranxin: He shows greater insight into Cheng’s trauma but maintains firm moral boundaries. He refuses to equate pain with worthiness and makes clear that his love for Lu Zhi is based on genuine admiration. Despite being physically incapacitated, he resists Cheng psychologically and remains emotionally devoted to Lu Zhi.
• Lu Zhi: Though absent from the direct confrontation, Lu Zhi remains central to the conflict. Cheng sees him as a rival who has taken everything desirable, while Shen’s thoughts instinctively turn to him in danger.
• Lu Yeshan: His past rejection of Cheng’s mother indirectly shaped Cheng’s childhood and resentment, though he does not appear directly in the scene.

Significant Themes

• Trauma versus accountability: Cheng’s abuse explains his emotional damage but does not excuse his decision to drug and violate Shen’s trust.
• Love versus possession: Shen understands love as recognition of another person’s qualities, while Cheng treats it as something owed to him or transferable between people.
• The danger of comparing suffering: Shen emphasizes that pain cannot be ranked; claiming to have suffered more does not heal trauma or create a right to another person’s affection.
• Transactional relationships: Cheng’s worldview was formed by being treated as a tool, and he now repeats that pattern by treating others as possessions and sources of compensation.
• Hope and rescue: The return of light at the mention of Lu Zhi suggests that Lu Zhi remains Shen’s emotional anchor and may represent rescue or a path out of Cheng’s control.

Character Interactions

• The confrontation begins as an emotional appeal but escalates into accusation, confession, and coercion.
• Cheng physically grabs Shen and demands love, while Shen responds with criticism and attempts to calm him.
• Shen briefly acknowledges Cheng’s suffering, but Cheng weaponizes that sympathy to justify his claim that he deserves Shen more than Lu Zhi does.
• Their interaction ends with Cheng overriding Shen’s refusal through drugs, transforming the scene from a painful confession into an immediate crisis.

Chapter Summary: “What a Big Deal”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Ranxin awakens bound, shackled, and blindfolded in an unfamiliar room after being kidnapped.
• Cheng Cheng approaches him inappropriately, but Shen Qi stops him and reminds him that their priority is keeping Shen Ranxin safe as bait for Lu Zhi.
• Shen Ranxin reveals that he is awake. Cheng Cheng removes the blindfold, and the two captors openly discuss their plan to deal with Lu Zhi.
• Shen Qi declares that he will eliminate Lu Zhi so Shen Ranxin cannot return to him. He insists that Shen Ranxin belongs to him forever.
• Shen Ranxin mockingly attempts to create tension between Shen Qi and Cheng Cheng, but the two join together over their shared goal of killing Lu Zhi.
• Shen Ranxin realizes that Shen Ziqing is involved and correctly suspects that Zhang Yu and the manipulation of public opinion were part of a long-term kidnapping scheme.
• Shen Ziqing reveals that he wants Lu Zhi’s gland. Shen Ranxin provocatively claims he can persuade Lu Zhi to surrender it, using exaggerated sexual remarks to shock and manipulate the others.
• Shen Ziqing refuses to believe the offer and orders Cheng Cheng and Shen Qi to guard Shen Ranxin, confident that Lu Zhi will come for him.
• Shen Ziqing frames Lu Zhi’s potential rescue as a test of whether he will sacrifice everything for Shen Ranxin.

Character Developments

• Shen Ranxin remains composed and sharp despite being restrained. He uses sarcasm, psychological manipulation, and deliberate provocation to maintain control of the situation.
• Shen Qi shows intense possessiveness, regret, jealousy, and emotional instability. His belief that he loves Shen Ranxin is inseparable from his desire to control and possess him.
• Cheng Cheng appears detached and playful but is equally dangerous. He cooperates with Shen Qi while making it clear that he has his own interest in Shen Ranxin.
• Shen Ziqing is revealed as the mastermind behind the kidnapping and broader manipulation surrounding Shen Ranxin. He views his son as both a prized possession and a tool for obtaining Lu Zhi’s gland.
• Lu Zhi, though absent, becomes the central focus of everyone’s fear, hatred, envy, and strategic planning because of his exceptional Alpha power and his bond with Shen Ranxin.

Significant Themes

• Possession versus love: Shen Qi claims to love Shen Ranxin, but his actions reveal that his love is rooted in ownership and control.
• Manipulation and power: Nearly every character attempts to manipulate someone else, while Shen Ranxin turns his captivity into a psychological contest.
• Jealousy and rivalry: Cheng Cheng and Shen Qi resent each other and especially envy Lu Zhi’s place in Shen Ranxin’s affections.
• Family betrayal: Shen Ziqing’s involvement exposes the corruption of parental love, as he treats Shen Ranxin as an instrument rather than a son.
• Sacrifice and devotion: The chapter establishes the coming test of whether Lu Zhi will risk everything to rescue Shen Ranxin.

Character Interactions

• Shen Ranxin mocks Cheng Cheng’s inappropriate behavior and later tries to turn Cheng Cheng against Shen Qi.
• Shen Qi confronts Shen Ranxin about choosing Lu Zhi, exposing his unresolved guilt over abandoning him in the past.
• Cheng Cheng and Shen Qi temporarily set aside their rivalry to oppose Lu Zhi.
• Shen Ranxin challenges Shen Ziqing directly, demonstrating that he understands the conspiracy behind his abduction.
• Shen Ziqing, Cheng Cheng, and Shen Qi all treat Shen Ranxin as bait, while Shen Ranxin attempts to manipulate them into releasing him or revealing more of their plan.