Chapter Summaries

Chapter 181 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Family Mediation’s ratings surge: X City TV Station’s ratings rise from 0.6% to over 1% once the program begins airing an interview with Chang Mingfeng, drawing enthusiastic reactions from the staff.
• The station defends the interview: Some employees worry that exposing Chang Mingfeng’s story could anger Cheng Lang, but others argue that the program is only presenting her side neutrally and has a journalistic duty to investigate a major public controversy.
• Chang Mingfeng tells her story: She tearfully describes years of poverty, hardship, and illness. She claims she wants Cheng Lang’s forgiveness and hopes to make up for abandoning him before she dies.
• The host challenges her excuses: When questioned about why she waited nineteen years to acknowledge Cheng Lang, Chang Mingfeng admits that she abandoned him because she could not raise him. She says she left him at an orphanage through her friend, the orphanage director, believing he might be adopted by a wealthy family.
• Her explanation is exposed as questionable: The host points out that the director knowingly concealed Chang Mingfeng’s child abandonment. Chang Mingfeng insists the woman acted with good intentions, but the host presses her on whether she truly abandoned Cheng Lang “for his own good.”
• Public opinion turns against Chang Mingfeng: Viewers and netizens accuse her of being selfish and opportunistic, suspecting that she only returned after learning Cheng Lang had become wealthy and successful. Others debate whether she genuinely has a terminal illness or intends to seek money for medical treatment.
• Debate over Cheng Lang’s family background: Online discussion expands to the Cheng Family’s refusal to raise him, the role of his biological father and the legal wife, and whether Cheng Lang might compete with the Cheng Family’s only legitimate son for the inheritance of Chengyi Restaurant.
• Cheng Xingwang makes a public offer: Hoping to gain Cheng Lang’s favor and avoid prison, Cheng Xingwang announces that he is willing to undergo a paternity test with Cheng Lang. If Cheng Lang is confirmed to be a member of the Cheng Family, Xingwang promises to transfer 16.5% of Chengyi Restaurant’s shares to him as compensation.

Character Developments

• Chang Mingfeng presents herself as remorseful and desperate, but her evasive answers make viewers question her sincerity. Her past as an abandoning mother and former mistress becomes the focus of public condemnation.
• Cheng Lang does not appear directly, but his growing reputation and financial success dominate the discussion. Public sympathy increasingly favors him as a victim of both parental abandonment and family rejection.
• Cheng Xingwang shifts from avoiding responsibility to actively trying to appease Cheng Lang. His offer of shares reveals both his willingness to acknowledge Cheng Lang and his desire to secure leniency.
• The television host and staff demonstrate confidence and resolve, prioritizing public accountability over fear of Cheng Lang’s influence.

Significant Themes

• Truth versus self-serving narratives: Chang Mingfeng frames abandonment as an act of sacrifice, but the interview exposes contradictions in her story.
• Parental responsibility and abandonment: The chapter questions whether poverty, shame, or good intentions can excuse a parent’s decision to give up a child.
• Public judgment and media influence: The television program dramatically shapes public opinion, turning a private family conflict into a nationwide controversy.
• Money, status, and family recognition: Much of the public suspects that Chang Mingfeng and the Cheng Family are motivated by Cheng Lang’s wealth and success rather than genuine affection.
• Justice and redemption: Cheng Xingwang’s offer suggests an attempt to compensate Cheng Lang, though it is driven partly by self-preservation rather than pure remorse.

Character Interactions

• Chang Mingfeng and the host: The host remains calm and skeptical, repeatedly challenging Chang Mingfeng’s emotional explanations and forcing her to confront her responsibility.
• Chang Mingfeng and the orphanage director: Chang Mingfeng defends the director’s role in helping place Cheng Lang in the orphanage, though this also highlights their shared concealment of the abandonment.
• Cheng Xingwang and Cheng Lang: Although they do not interact directly, Xingwang publicly offers Cheng Lang a substantial share of Chengyi Restaurant in an effort to gain his cooperation and forgiveness.
• The public and Cheng Lang’s family: Online commentators debate the moral responsibility of Chang Mingfeng, Cheng Xingwang, the legal wife, and the Cheng Family, further intensifying the conflict.

Chapter 97 Summary

• Public uproar and legal developments: Cheng Xingwang’s revelation about Cheng Lang’s origins triggers widespread online speculation about an old affair, the destruction of a family, Cheng Lang’s disputed inheritance, and the future of Chengyi Restaurant. Authorities quickly intervene, announcing that Cheng Lang is cooperating with an official paternity investigation. His earlier statement—“Even if they need treatment, they still have to go to prison”—reinforces the public image of him as determined and unforgiving.
• Cheng Lang’s attitude toward his parents: The public reflects on Cheng Lang’s abandonment by both biological parents. Chang Mingfeng allegedly gave birth to him to use him as leverage, while Cheng Xingwang refused to acknowledge responsibility. Their claims of regret and attempts to avoid punishment cannot erase the resentment caused by leaving him for nineteen years. Cheng Lang even turns the scandal into a comedic crosstalk performance, suggesting that he is using both business tactics and public humiliation as forms of revenge.
• Unexpected paternity-test results: A week later, the official tests produce a shocking result: Cheng Lang is not biologically related to either Cheng Xingwang or Chang Mingfeng. Cheng Xingwang is relieved because he no longer faces imprisonment or the possibility that Cheng Lang will target the Cheng family over his origins. In contrast, Chang Mingfeng collapses emotionally and refuses to accept that Cheng Lang is not her son.
• Chang Mingfeng’s disbelief: Chang Mingfeng insists that she carried and gave birth to Cheng Lang, accusing the authorities of falsifying the results. Because of the case’s intense public attention, multiple hospitals repeat the testing, but every result confirms that she and Cheng Lang have no blood relationship. Chang Mingfeng is left wondering what happened to the child she originally gave birth to and whether that child might still be alive, wealthy, or willing to pay for her medical treatment.
• New legal action: Before she can investigate further, Cheng Lang sues Chang Mingfeng again, this time for spreading rumors and attempting extortion. Her insistence that he is her son, despite all DNA evidence proving otherwise, becomes the basis for further legal consequences.
• Media speculation and investigation: The bizarre contradiction reignites online debate. Netizens propose several theories, including a hospital baby switch, deliberate substitution, or Chang Mingfeng’s mistaken memory. Others argue that she could not plausibly forget giving birth and question why she would falsely claim Cheng Lang nineteen years later if a paternity test would expose her. Under intense media pressure, Chang Mingfeng finally identifies the hospital where she gave birth. Reporters immediately travel there, setting up a new investigation into what happened to her original child.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Cheng Lang remains calculating, vengeful, and legally aggressive, using both lawsuits and public performance to retaliate against those who abandoned or exploited him.
• Cheng Xingwang shifts from anxiety to relief after learning Cheng Lang is not his son, prioritizing his own freedom and reputation.
• Chang Mingfeng moves from manipulative claimant to desperate, confused victim of a possible child-disappearance or hospital-switch incident. She confronts her former friend, the dismissed orphanage director, who insists that the child Chang Mingfeng handed over was the same one later raised as Cheng Lang.
• The media and online public function as an investigative force, amplifying every revelation and pressuring institutions and individuals to uncover the truth.

Significant Themes

The chapter explores the consequences of parental abandonment, the limits of biological ties, revenge and accountability, the unreliability of memory, and the power of public opinion. It also introduces a mystery surrounding Cheng Lang’s true identity and suggests that his already complicated past may involve a hospital error, deliberate child-switching, or another hidden crime.

Chapter Summary

• Investigation into Cheng Lang’s origins: After confirming that Chang Mingfeng was not Cheng Lang’s biological mother, reporters searched old hospital records from the day she gave birth. They discovered that five other babies had been born there, including three boys from local families. One boy’s father was revealed to be the city’s richest man, causing the internet to explode with speculation that Cheng Lang may have been switched at birth.
• The wealthy family’s dilemma: The richest man and his wife began questioning whether their son, Chenchen, was truly their biological child. Although the wife suggested a paternity test, the couple hesitated because Chenchen was studying abroad and had been raised by them for nineteen years. They feared hurting him or creating an embarrassing scandal if no mix-up had occurred. The wealthy man decided to wait until the other families tested their children and to observe Cheng Lang’s reaction first.
• The wealthy man’s growing interest in Cheng Lang: The father privately suspected that Cheng Lang might be his son, especially because Cheng Lang was exceptionally clever, decisive, and calculating—traits that reminded him of his own youth. He also worried that Cheng Lang would resist being controlled by biological parents, particularly since Cheng Lang had publicly rejected the idea of searching for parents who might interfere in his life. The family additionally remained attached to Chenchen and had no intention of abandoning him, regardless of the test results.
• Cheng Lang rejects the search for biological parents: Reporters repeatedly contacted Cheng Lang about taking further paternity tests. He responded impatiently, arguing that the authorities had already established that he was unrelated to Chang Mingfeng and that the possible identities of other children had nothing to do with him. At nineteen, he felt he no longer needed parents to support or protect him and had no desire to invite controlling or troublesome relationships into his life.
• Cheng Lang and Qin Mu’s relationship: Cheng Lang’s contentment with Qin Mu is a major reason he does not want to pursue his biological family. While speaking with reporters, he relaxes comfortably in Qin Mu’s arms and accepts fruit from him, highlighting their intimacy and domestic closeness. Cheng Lang also worries that biological parents might not accept his relationship with another man, making distance seem safer and more peaceful.
• Upcoming reality-show appearance: Cheng Lang tells Qin Mu that he will spend three days and two nights filming an outdoor wilderness-survival reality show with Meng Tianye. The appearance is part of a promotional strategy for Forest Style Milk Tea’s new products. Since the brand exclusively sponsors the program and Meng Tianye is its spokesperson, Meng has agreed to participate despite the show’s difficult and relatively dangerous format.

Key Themes

• Biological family versus chosen relationships: The chapter contrasts blood ties with the bonds formed through years of care and emotional attachment. Both the wealthy couple and Cheng Lang recognize that biology does not automatically determine family.
• Independence and resistance to control: Cheng Lang values autonomy and refuses to let the possibility of biological parents disrupt his life or impose unwanted obligations.
• Parental love and conflicting loyalties: The wealthy couple care about both Cheng Lang and Chenchen, creating a potential emotional conflict if the children were switched at birth.
• Public speculation and media intrusion: Reporters and online gossip drive the investigation, while Cheng Lang struggles with unwanted attention and refuses to let public curiosity dictate his choices.
• Romantic comfort and stability: Cheng Lang’s relationship with Qin Mu provides him with emotional security, reinforcing his decision not to seek out an uncertain biological family.

Chapter 98 Summary

Plot points and events

• Meng Tianye suggests that Cheng Lang join the production of Wilderness Survival. Cheng Lang agrees as the show’s major investor and exclusive sponsor, partly because he wants to supervise how Forest Style Milk Tea advertisements are integrated into the program.
• While the richest man from a neighboring city prepares to convince Cheng Lang to take a paternity test, he discovers that Cheng Lang has already gone into the mountains with the television crew.
• The chapter explains Cheng Lang’s complicated history with X City TV Station. Although his publicity stunts repeatedly embarrassed and exploited the Tomorrow’s Starlight production team, they also boosted the show’s popularity and linked Forest Style Milk Tea closely with it. Because of their mutual publicity benefits—and because the station respects Cheng Lang’s strategies and Qin Mu’s influence—the station now treats him as an important business partner.
• At a planning meeting, producer Fang Yunshan introduces Cheng Lang to the director and the five guests. The first episode will be filmed in a primitive mountain village in Cloud Province rather than the true wilderness, allowing both the crew and guests to adapt safely.
• Cheng Lang proposes combining the filming with charity work, such as poverty alleviation and assistance for left-behind children. His suggestion would benefit the villagers while enhancing the show’s public image, the sponsor’s reputation, and the program’s social impact.
• The production team plans to leave in three days. Afterward, Cheng Lang returns to the studio and invites Shen Huaiyu to accompany him.

Character development

• Cheng Lang is shown as commercially shrewd, confident, and unusually farsighted. He understands how to turn sponsorship into publicity while also recognizing the value of humanitarian initiatives and social responsibility.
• His concern for Shen Huaiyu becomes clearer. Cheng Lang believes Shen has lived in an emotionally and physically restricted world and wants him to experience nature, different communities, and a broader range of life. He also worries that Shen remains sensitive and fragile, especially because Cheng may eventually leave him.
• Fang Yunshan gains new respect for Cheng Lang after realizing that Cheng’s business instincts extend beyond profit to public relations and social benefit.
• The TV station’s attitude toward Cheng Lang has changed from resentment and competition to cautious respect and cooperation.

Themes

• Mutual benefit and media strategy: Cheng Lang’s aggressive promotional tactics ultimately create a mutually profitable relationship between Forest Style Milk Tea and the television station.
• Social responsibility and reputation: The proposed charity work shows how commercial entertainment can be combined with genuine aid and positive public relations.
• Personal growth through experience: Cheng Lang believes exposure to the wider world can help Shen Huaiyu heal, mature, and gain perspective on his past suffering.
• Separation and preparation: Cheng Lang’s thoughts reveal his awareness that he cannot remain with Shen forever, motivating him to prepare Shen for an independent future.

Character interactions

• Cheng Lang interacts professionally but assertively with Fang Yunshan and the production team, influencing the show’s location and potential charitable direction.
• The station’s staff treat Cheng as an honored sponsor, reflecting his elevated status and their recognition of his value.
• Cheng’s invitation to Shen Huaiyu is motivated by affection and concern, though Shen is initially surprised by the offer.

Chapter 99 Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Cheng Lang invites Shen Huaiyu to join a reality show filmed in a remote mountain village in Cloud Province. The program aims to document rural life and explore ways to help the villagers, while Cheng also sees it as an opportunity to promote their milk tea business.
• Shen agrees after Cheng assures him that their partners can manage the milk tea shop during their absence. They have three days to arrange their work and obtain leave before departing.
• Qin Mu, in his snow leopard form, becomes upset upon learning that Cheng will be away. Cheng comforts him by promising to return within seventy-two hours and bring back local specialties.
• Qin admits that he will miss Cheng, moving Cheng deeply. Although Qin is reluctant, he ultimately supports Cheng’s trip and insists that he is not an overprotective or unreasonable partner.
• Three days later, Cheng and Shen travel to the airport, where they meet the other guests and production crew. Their journey consists of a three-hour flight followed by a four-hour drive through cities, farmland, dirt roads, and mountain passes.
• Upon reaching the village, the guests admire the scenery and learn that they must complete difficult, deliberately entertaining tasks before earning the right to choose their accommodations.
• While the other guests are assigned to chop firewood, Cheng and Shen explore the village’s old bamboo houses and lush vegetation. Shen reveals that he brought insect repellent and other supplies prepared by his family.
• They encounter Meng Tianye struggling with a large load of firewood. Cheng jokingly suggests that the exhausted guest should be given milk tea, using the moment to promote their company’s sponsorship.

Character Developments

• Cheng Lang demonstrates his practical and entrepreneurial nature by viewing the show both as a charitable opportunity and as a way to advertise the milk tea shop. He is also affectionate and attentive toward Qin, taking care to soothe his anxiety before leaving.
• Shen Huaiyu becomes more adventurous and willing to step outside his familiar environment. His preparedness and consideration—especially bringing insect repellent—show his dependable and thoughtful personality.
• Qin Mu reveals his strong attachment to Cheng while maintaining self-awareness and restraint. Though he dislikes the separation, he supports Cheng’s work and expresses his feelings openly by admitting that he will miss him.
• Meng Tianye is portrayed humorously as exhausted by the show’s labor-intensive tasks, while Cheng takes pleasure in teasing him.

Significant Themes

• Love and temporary separation: Qin and Cheng’s exchange highlights how even a short absence can feel difficult for deeply connected partners.
• Adventure and personal growth: The trip introduces the characters to unfamiliar rural life and offers them new experiences beyond their usual business and urban routines.
• Rural hardship and social responsibility: The program’s purpose draws attention to villagers who remain in the mountains, particularly elderly people and children left behind by migrant workers.
• Commercialism within entertainment: Cheng’s repeated attempts to promote milk tea show how charitable media projects can also serve business and sponsorship interests.
• Comfort versus unfamiliarity: The contrast between Cheng and Shen’s polished lives and the village’s rustic conditions creates both comedy and a sense of cultural immersion.

Character Interactions

• Cheng persuades Shen to join the trip, balancing an appeal to social responsibility with the promise of business promotion.
• Cheng and Qin share a tender farewell, with Qin’s jealousy and longing softened through Cheng’s reassurance and promises.
• Shen’s practical preparation earns Cheng’s approval and reinforces their cooperative partnership.
• Cheng teases the exhausted Meng Tianye, using humor to lighten the situation while opportunistically advertising the milk tea brand.

Chapter 186 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Forest Style Milk Tea has successfully expanded into bottled products through its partnership with First Milk Tea. Its two new products are:
  • Original Milk Tea, priced at 3.5 yuan.
  • Classic Milk Tea, priced at 8 yuan and made primarily from Milk Tea Paste.
• Despite being more expensive, Classic Milk Tea sells over twice as much as Original Milk Tea, demonstrating consumers’ preference for its richer taste.
• Cheng Lang sponsors the variety show Survival in the Wild to promote the bottled milk teas. He asks the production team to integrate the products naturally into the show, even using them as game props if possible.
• After completing an exhausting day of assigned tasks, the guests discover that they must also cook their own dinner.
• The five guests who cannot cook struggle to light fires and boil water in the village kitchens, becoming smoky, hungry, and increasingly frustrated.
• Meanwhile, Cheng Lang, Shen Huaiyu, and the crew enjoy instant noodles with eggs. Their comfortable meal contrasts sharply with the guests’ suffering.
• Meng Tianye angrily accuses the production team of going too far and suggests that Cheng Lang would be more entertaining than the actual contestants.
• The director invites Cheng Lang to join the show on camera, hoping his presence will improve ratings and promote the sponsor’s brand.
• Cheng Lang repeatedly refuses, claiming that appearing on camera would undermine the products’ “class.” However, he finally reveals that he might participate—if the production team pays him more.

Character Developments

• Cheng Lang continues to display his shrewd, playful, and shamelessly business-minded personality. He enjoys teasing Meng Tianye, refuses to endure the show’s hardships without compensation, and treats even a potential television appearance as a commercial negotiation.
• Shen Huaiyu acts as a calmer and more considerate counterbalance to Cheng Lang. He gently pats Cheng Lang, recognizing that Cheng’s deliberate enjoyment of the noodles is provoking the hungry guests.
• Meng Tianye becomes increasingly exasperated by the show’s harsh conditions. His frustration is intensified by Cheng Lang’s teasing, though he also recognizes Cheng’s natural talent for comedy and variety-show entertainment.
• The guests are shown to be inexperienced in practical survival skills. Their helplessness in front of the stove creates both sympathy and humor.
• The production staff and director begin to see Cheng Lang not merely as a sponsor but as a potentially valuable television personality who could boost the program’s ratings.

Significant Themes

• Commercial promotion and entertainment: The chapter highlights how sponsorship influences the show’s design, including the planned integration of Forest Style Milk Tea into the challenges.
• Class and consumer appeal: Classic Milk Tea’s higher sales despite its price suggest that quality and taste can outweigh affordability.
• Privilege versus hardship: Cheng Lang and the crew enjoy instant noodles while the guests struggle to prepare food, emphasizing the unequal experiences within the production.
• Rules and responsibility: Cheng Lang insists that the guests agreed to the show’s conditions and must follow them, even while he avoids subjecting himself to the same hardships.
• Humor through contrast: The guests’ misery, Cheng Lang’s smug comfort, and the director’s attempt to recruit him create the chapter’s main comedic tension.

Character Interactions

• Meng Tianye confronts Cheng Lang over the exhausting challenges, while Cheng responds with mock innocence and playful sarcasm.
• Cheng Lang and Shen Huaiyu cook and eat together, with Shen Huaiyu subtly criticizing Cheng’s provocative behavior.
• The guests and production staff exchange embarrassed and pitying looks as the guests fail to cook.
• Meng Tianye turns the situation around by proposing that Cheng Lang join the cast, prompting the director and staff to seriously consider the idea.
• The director attempts to persuade Cheng Lang by appealing to brand exposure and ratings, but Cheng rejects the proposal until payment is offered, ending the chapter on a humorous bargaining note.

Chapter 100 Summary

Plot points and events

• The Survival in the Wild staff suggest that title sponsor Cheng Lang appear on the program as a guest to attract attention to the new, niche show.
• Cheng Lang shocks everyone by insisting that, since he is already the program’s sponsor, he should also receive an appearance fee. He argues that his current popularity makes him the show’s biggest potential celebrity.
• The chief director consults producer Fang Yunshan, who later calls Cheng Lang to negotiate a “friendly” or fly-in guest appearance.
• Fang appeals to Cheng Lang’s role as sponsor and suggests that a successful show would benefit Forest Style Milk Tea. Cheng counters that the program’s quality and popularity are the production team’s responsibility, not the sponsor’s.
• Cheng further points out that his sponsorship contract already protects him: if the show performs poorly, Forest Style Milk Tea can withhold the final payment.
• Fang admits that the program needs Cheng’s help but explains that its budget is limited. Cheng humorously counters by claiming that his own young brand is also struggling financially and that he has worked as a resident singer to fund it.
• Fang finally asks Cheng how much he wants, while revealing that the show’s highest-paid guest earns only 800,000 yuan per episode.

Character developments

• Cheng Lang is shown as shrewd, confident, and highly skilled at negotiation. He refuses to let the program exploit his sponsorship or popularity and uses both contract terms and persuasive rhetoric to protect his interests.
• Despite his ruthless bargaining, Cheng presents himself as cooperative, repeatedly claiming that he is willing to help as long as the compensation is appropriate.
• Fang Yunshan begins by trying to persuade Cheng to appear without additional payment, but gradually realizes that Cheng cannot be pressured through emotional appeals or business logic. He becomes increasingly helpless and ultimately has to negotiate directly.
• The program staff recognize Cheng’s enormous popularity, reluctantly admitting that he would overshadow all the officially invited guests.

Significant themes

• Business negotiation and self-interest: Both sides claim to be helping one another, but each is primarily protecting its own financial interests.
• Power and popularity: Cheng’s status as sponsor and celebrity gives him unusual leverage over the program, even though he is not an official guest.
• Humor through verbal sparring: The chapter’s comedy comes from Cheng’s shameless demand for an appearance fee and his exaggerated “financial hardship” story.
• Mutual dependence: The show needs Cheng’s publicity, while Forest Style Milk Tea needs the show’s promotional value, creating a partnership that is cooperative but tense.

Character interactions

• Cheng Lang and the production staff exchange awkward, restrained reactions as he turns their request into a payment demand.
• Cheng and Fang Yunshan engage in a prolonged battle of persuasion: Fang emphasizes the show’s limited budget and potential benefits, while Cheng calmly dismantles each argument.
• Their conversation remains outwardly polite but is filled with sharp, humorous subtext, ending with Fang reluctantly asking Cheng to name his price.

Chapter 101 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fang Yunshan offers Cheng Lang an appearance fee of 800,000 yuan per episode for the variety show.
• Cheng Lang refuses to accept the low offer immediately and calls Lü to assess his current popularity and market value.
• Lü advises him to base his fee on his value in White Jade Capital rather than demanding the rate of a first-tier celebrity.
• Cheng Lang negotiates with Fang Yunshan and settles on a fee of two million yuan per episode, presenting it as a compromise beneficial to both sides.
• The program team prepares the contract, and Fang Yunshan transfers the money to Cheng Lang as soon as he signs.
• Cheng Lang jokingly tells Shen Huaiyu that his appearance fee will help support their financially strained household, and Shen responds with amused admiration.
• Having accepted payment, Cheng Lang becomes more diligent during the show’s tasks.
• When the guests struggle to prepare dinner in a remote village, Cheng Lang demonstrates how to light and maintain the primitive stove.
• The other guests reveal that they cannot cook, start fires, or understand the villagers’ dialect. Cheng Lang appears able to understand the local speech, greatly reducing the difficulty of the task.
• Rather than cooking for everyone, Cheng Lang assigns the others to prepare the food while he handles the fire. When they admit they cannot cook, he tells them simply to ensure the food is cooked through.
• Meng Tianye jokingly offers to pay Cheng Lang extra to cook, leaving the group speechless.

Character Developments

• Cheng Lang: Displays confidence and shrewdness in negotiating his worth, while also showing a practical, responsible side after being paid. His unusual competence with the stove and apparent ability to understand the local dialect reinforce that he possesses extraordinary abilities and knowledge. At the same time, he remains unwilling to perform unnecessary labor for others, especially cooking, partly because he worries Snow Leopard would become jealous.
• Fang Yunshan: Shows hesitation during the negotiation but ultimately accepts Cheng Lang’s two-million-yuan fee as a reasonable compromise. He is relieved that Cheng Lang does not insist on the much higher rate of a first-tier celebrity.
• Lü: Acts as a trusted adviser, helping Cheng Lang evaluate his public value and suggesting a negotiation strategy that Fang Yunshan can accept.
• Shen Huaiyu: Reacts warmly and humorously to Cheng Lang’s successful negotiation, praising him as “President Cheng.”
• Meng Tianye and the other guests: Are portrayed as inexperienced and helpless in the rural setting. Their dependence on Cheng Lang becomes obvious, and Meng Tianye’s willingness to pay extra highlights their desperation.

Significant Themes

• Self-worth and negotiation: Cheng Lang refuses to undervalue himself and carefully balances confidence with practicality.
• Competence beneath appearances: Although presented as a wealthy business executive, Cheng Lang possesses hands-on rural skills and supernatural communication abilities that surprise everyone.
• Class and lifestyle contrasts: The urban guests are helpless without modern conveniences, while Cheng Lang adapts easily to the primitive environment.
• Responsibility and reciprocity: Cheng Lang feels obligated to work conscientiously after accepting payment, reflecting his personal sense of fairness.
• Hidden abilities: His understanding of the dialect hints at his extraordinary connection with living creatures, though he conceals the true source of his powers.
• Affection and jealousy: Cheng Lang’s refusal to cook is connected to his concern that Snow Leopard might become jealous, showing the importance of their relationship even when Snow Leopard is absent.

Character Interactions

• Cheng Lang and Fang Yunshan negotiate in a playful but strategic manner, ultimately reaching a mutually acceptable agreement.
• Cheng Lang consults Lü before making his counteroffer, demonstrating trust in Lü’s judgment.
• Cheng Lang jokes with Shen Huaiyu about earning money, and she responds with affectionate amusement.
• The other guests turn to Cheng Lang for guidance when they cannot operate the stove or communicate with the villagers.
• Cheng Lang takes charge of starting the fire but firmly refuses to cook, leading Meng Tianye to jokingly offer him additional payment.

Chapter 102 Summary

Key plot points and events

During the reality show recording, the guests desperately seek someone to cook for them after Cheng Lang refuses to help, believing his refusal will create entertaining footage. Shen Huaiyu unexpectedly volunteers to cook in exchange for payment, claiming he wants to earn travel money. Cheng Lang realizes Shen is actually trying to help him avoid a task he dislikes.
Shen later negotiates with the five guests, who have no cash because the production crew confiscated their wallets and phones. Instead of accepting an IOU, he asks them to promote Forest Style Milk Tea by each posting an original advertisement on Weibo. Meng Tianye immediately agrees, finding the request surprisingly simple. The staff and guests are shocked that the normally quiet and refined Shen Huaiyu negotiates such valuable publicity for the price of a meal.

Character developments

Shen Huaiyu shows increasing confidence and willingness to step into the public eye. He explains that he once avoided media exposure because of the humiliation connected to Lu Chengxuan, but his experiences with Cheng Lang and the founding of Forest Style Milk Tea have helped him stop living according to others’ judgments. He now wants to face challenges alongside Cheng Lang rather than remain hidden behind him.
Cheng Lang is supportive of Shen’s growth, encouraging him to participate only as much as he feels comfortable. He also explains that his refusal to cook is deliberate: it is meant to create a comedic storyline for the show, and the production crew will provide instant noodles if the guests’ food is inedible.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes overcoming shame and fear of public judgment, taking responsibility as a business founder, and learning to face difficulties together. It also highlights partnership and mutual support: Shen protects Cheng Lang from unwanted pressure, while Cheng Lang encourages Shen to leave his comfort zone. Entrepreneurship is treated humorously through Shen’s unexpectedly aggressive marketing negotiation.

Character interactions

Shen and Cheng discuss their partnership openly, with Shen offering to shoulder burdens Cheng does not want to carry. Cheng reassures him that he need not expose himself unnecessarily but supports his decision to try. Later, Shen bargains with the hungry guests, turning a simple cooking arrangement into a promotional deal for Forest Style Milk Tea. The guests and production staff are amused and impressed by his unexpectedly shrewd business instincts, reinforcing the similarity between Shen and Cheng as entrepreneurial partners.

Chapter Summary

Key events

Meng Tianye explains that his agency controls his Weibo account during filming, so he cannot immediately promote Forest Style Milk Tea. Cheng Lang clarifies that celebrity endorsements require negotiations, fees, approved copy, and platform coordination—not just a casual post. Shen Huaiyu realizes his request was overly simplistic and apologizes, embarrassing himself.

Character developments and interactions

The guests reassure Shen Huaiyu and begin offering alternative forms of promotion. One female guest reveals she already likes Forest Style Milk Tea’s Milk Tea Paste and has tried—and failed—to learn Tea Whisking from the company’s videos. Shen offers to teach her, prompting another female guest to volunteer as well and promise to post a video using the product. Recognizing the business opportunity, the remaining guests agree to help too. Their willingness reflects both genuine interest and their desire to build relationships with the founders of a promising brand.

Production changes

Cheng Lang decides to incorporate Tea Whisking lessons into the program. Since the guests are already scheduled to pick tea with local villagers, Shen suggests making Milk Tea Paste from local tea leaves. He further proposes experimenting with locally available goat’s milk, cow’s milk, camellias, and wild roses to develop new floral and regional milk tea flavors. The production team and guests enthusiastically approve, viewing the activity as both meaningful content and possible product development.

Themes

The chapter highlights the complexity of celebrity marketing, the importance of industry knowledge, and how business opportunities can emerge from sincere personal interactions. It also emphasizes cooperation, adaptability, and the blending of commercial promotion with cultural and local experiences. Shen’s product creativity and willingness to teach strengthen his connection with the guests.

Ending

Before the group can discuss the plans further, everyone’s hunger becomes impossible to ignore. Shen begins preparing dinner. Although his outdoor cooking experience comes from childhood trips with his parents, his skills are only adequate—he can reliably cook food through, but is not an especially accomplished cook.

Chapter 103 Summary

Key plot points and events

Shen Huaiyu prepares a simple tomato-and-egg dough drop soup for dinner, but the guests find it bland and struggle to eat it. Cheng Lang obtains fragrant, spicy Rice Blossom Fish Sauce from nearby villagers, which improves the meal. He jokingly suggests that everyone eat boiled eggs with the sauce the next morning, but Meng Tianye reminds him that Cheng Lang is now a guest cast member as well.
That night, Cheng Lang calls Qin Mu before surrendering his phone to the production crew. He explains that his participation in Survival in the Wild will promote Forest Style Milk Tea, whose sponsorship is financially significant for the young brand. Cheng Lang recounts the day’s events, including the rustic dinner and his success in starting the fire.
Back in the room, Cheng Lang finds Meng Tianye composing a song inspired by local women singing folk music. The next morning, Shen Huaiyu comments on how tirelessly the cast and production crew work, often staying awake through the night.

Character developments

Cheng Lang shows consideration toward Qin Mu by calling before losing access to his phone, while also revealing his pride in his role on the show and his ability to help the other guests. Qin Mu, despite being displeased by the separation, responds maturely and recognizes the importance of promoting the milk-tea business.
Meng Tianye continues to demonstrate his artistic sensitivity and dedication, immediately turning a local musical experience into a new song. His light mockery of Cheng Lang also reveals their growing familiarity.
Shen Huaiyu remains insecure about his cooking but receives encouragement from the guests. His observations about everyone’s exhausting work trigger memories of his own hardships and deepen his appreciation for Cheng Lang’s past assistance.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes perseverance, labor, and the relentless pressure of making a living. The cast, production crew, and Shen Huaiyu are all portrayed as people enduring exhaustion while finding small ways to recover and continue. It also highlights mutual support, adaptability, and the contrast between humble rural life and the demanding entertainment industry.

Character interactions

Cheng Lang and the guests bond over the unsuccessful soup and fish sauce, with humor easing the awkwardness of the meal. Cheng Lang and Qin Mu share a warm phone conversation, balancing affection with practical concerns about business and sponsorship. Cheng Lang and Meng Tianye share a room and exchange teasing remarks, while Cheng Lang admires Meng’s creative dedication. Finally, Shen Huaiyu’s conversation with Cheng Lang leads him to reflect on the difficulties of both their lives and on how crucial Cheng Lang’s support has been to him.

Chapter 104 Summary

• Shen Huaiyu’s emotional growth: Shen reflects on how Cheng Lang helped him escape a life of despair and emotional emptiness. After witnessing the hardships and resilience of the villagers in Cloud Province, he realizes that everyone struggles, yet continues trying to live. He sincerely thanks Cheng Lang for bringing him on the show and compares himself to the mountain camellias—flowers that endure harsh conditions before blooming brightly. Cheng Lang agrees, admiring Shen’s beauty and renewed vitality.
• Tea-picking excursion: The next morning, the guests dress in local ethnic clothing and follow a lively young guide into the mountains to pick tea leaves. The damp, slippery trail proves difficult, especially since the villagers climb it before dawn every day to maximize their working hours. The contrast between the villagers’ familiarity with the mountains and the guests’ awkwardness highlights the villagers’ hard-working lifestyle. Shen, having learned tea-picking before, modestly asks the guide for instructions rather than assuming he already knows what to do.
• Qin Mu’s unexpected arrival: Before the tea-picking lesson can begin, Cheng Lang is called away. Qin Mu has flown overnight from X City on his family’s private plane, claiming he is visiting to inspect a branch office. In reality, his hurried trip is clearly motivated by concern for Cheng Lang, especially since he has brought chefs and partially prepared food from Delicacies Pavilion for the cast and crew.
• Improved meals for the production: Qin Mu politely explains that he only wants everyone to have better food after their exhausting work. The director reassures him that the difficult conditions are part of the show rather than deliberate mistreatment. The guests enthusiastically accept the food, since they have grown tired of working hard while eating poorly. To preserve the program’s planned footage, the cast agrees to continue performing the scheduled cooking scenes and eat Qin Mu’s food afterward.
• Cheng Lang and Qin Mu’s relationship: In private, Qin Mu inspects Cheng Lang’s small bamboo room and pauses when he notices Cheng shares two beds with Meng Tianye. He then hugs Cheng Lang and immediately announces that he must leave to inspect other branches, asking whether they can return to X City together afterward. Cheng Lang readily agrees. Their brief interaction shows Qin Mu’s restrained but unmistakable concern and the intimacy of their relationship.

Key Themes

• Recovery and renewal: Shen’s transformation from despair toward gratitude and hope is symbolized by the resilient camellias.
• Resilience and labor: The villagers’ demanding daily work contrasts with the guests’ temporary discomfort and emphasizes the strength required to survive in difficult environments.
• Care expressed through action: Qin Mu avoids openly discussing his concern, instead demonstrating it by making an exhausting overnight trip and arranging better food.
• Authenticity versus performance: Although the guests continue filming according to the script, their real needs and relationships exist beyond the staged television scenes.

Chapter 105 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After completing the tea-picking portion of the reality show, the guests begin making Milk Tea Paste under Shen Huaiyu’s direction. The segment was originally intended to feature tea cakes, but the sponsor altered it to promote Forest Style Milk Tea.
• Meng Tianye worries that Shen Huaiyu might accidentally reveal the company’s commercial production methods. Shen explains that the process is only a simple homemade experiment using local ingredients and does not expose any secret formulas.
• Shen proposes transforming Forest Style Milk Tea shops into tea-house-style establishments that offer free Tea Whisking lessons during lunch and evening hours. Cheng Lang recognizes the idea’s commercial potential: it would distinguish the brand, promote traditional culture, build customer loyalty, and generate sales of tea tools and products.
• Cheng Lang approves of the proposal, greatly encouraging Shen. Shen’s admiration for Cheng deepens, while Cheng feels slightly uncomfortable under Shen’s almost worshipful gaze.
• Two days later, filming ends. The production team returns to work on post-production, while Cheng Lang travels to neighboring Li City to meet Qin Mu.
• While waiting, Cheng Lang reads online discussions about his parentage. Netizens have investigated other babies born at the same hospital as Chang Mingfeng’s child. Paternity tests have ruled out two families, leaving only the son of the Zhao Family, a wealthy family whose child is studying abroad.
• Qin Mu reveals that the Zhao Family has summoned their son home and that Chang Mingfeng is increasingly desperate for the possibility that he is her biological child.
• Cheng Lang suddenly remembers that the Zhao Family’s son was an important love interest of Lu Chengxuan in the original novel and nearly became the story’s ultimate romantic lead. He finds the situation increasingly amusing and intriguing.
• The chapter ends with the Zhao Family visiting Cheng Lang after his return to X City. Zhao, his wife, and their son Zhao Chenxu have already confirmed through testing that Chenxu is not their biological child. Zhao’s wife is visibly emotional, while both Zhao and Chenxu bear a striking resemblance to Cheng Lang.

Character Developments

• Shen Huaiyu becomes more confident and creatively engaged. His idea for Tea Whisking classes shows that he can connect traditional culture with business innovation. Cheng Lang’s approval has a powerful emotional effect on him, reinforcing his dependence and admiration.
• Cheng Lang demonstrates strong business judgment by supporting Shen’s proposal and shows increasing awareness of how events in the current world intersect with the original novel’s plot. His reaction to the Zhao Family suggests he is already anticipating further complications.
• Cheng Lang and Cheng Lang’s relationship grows closer professionally and emotionally. Cheng’s praise validates Shen, while Shen views Cheng almost as the person responsible for giving him a new life.
• Chang Mingfeng becomes increasingly desperate and emotionally unstable as the possibility of finding her biological child grows more urgent during her treatment.
• The Zhao Family is introduced as a major new force. Their failed paternity test with Zhao Chenxu places them directly in the search for Cheng Lang’s true identity.

Significant Themes

• Traditional culture and commercialization: Tea Whisking is presented as both a cultural practice and a modern business opportunity, allowing Forest Style Milk Tea to differentiate itself through cultural education.
• Identity and blood relations: The paternity investigation continues to challenge assumptions about family, adoption, and biological identity.
• Fate versus the original narrative: Cheng Lang’s awareness of the original novel allows him to recognize people and events that may have been connected to Lu Chengxuan’s story, suggesting that the current world is diverging from or recreating the novel’s plot.
• Emotional dependence and renewal: Shen’s admiration for Cheng reflects how Cheng has helped him regain confidence and a sense of purpose.
• Public curiosity and gossip: Online speculation drives the paternity investigation and shows how personal family matters become public entertainment.

Important Character Interactions

• Shen Huaiyu and Meng Tianye: Meng worries about commercial secrets, but Shen reassures him that the Milk Tea Paste demonstration is harmless.
• Shen Huaiyu and Cheng Lang: Shen presents his Tea Whisking business concept, and Cheng enthusiastically recognizes its value. Their exchange strengthens Shen’s admiration for Cheng.
• Cheng Lang and Qin Mu: Qin updates Cheng on the Zhao Family’s response and Chang Mingfeng’s desperation, prompting Cheng to recall the original novel.
• Cheng Lang and the Zhao Family: The chapter closes with their first meeting. Zhao and his wife appear emotionally affected, while their son Zhao Chenxu visibly resembles Cheng Lang, setting up a likely revelation about Cheng Lang’s true parentage.

Chapter 194 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Zhao couple decide to keep Zhao Chenxu as their adopted son rather than return him to his unreliable biological parents, Chang Mingfeng and Cheng Xingwang.
• They support Cheng Lang’s plan to sue Chang Mingfeng and Cheng Xingwang for abandoning Zhao Chenxu. This time, Zhao Chenxu himself becomes the plaintiff.
• The Zhao couple agree to pay for Chang Mingfeng’s medical treatment. They view this as settling the debt of childbirth and thanking her indirectly for exposing the identity mix-up.
• Zhao Chenxu negotiates with Cheng Yan and Mrs. Cheng. He refuses any claim to the Cheng family’s property and does not want to acknowledge himself as their illegitimate son. He prefers remaining the Zhao family’s adopted son.
• Relieved, Mrs. Cheng attempts to transfer Chengyi Restaurant shares and other assets into Cheng Yan’s name, largely to protect them from Cheng Xingwang and Zhao Chenxu.
• Cheng Yan, however, proposes giving half of the restaurant shares to Zhao Chenxu. He argues that Zhao Chenxu is still Cheng Xingwang’s biological son and deserves compensation, while also warning that refusing him anything could damage the Cheng family’s reputation and business.
• Mrs. Cheng eventually rejects the idea of giving away the restaurant shares but considers offering Zhao Chenxu several houses in a neighboring city instead.

Character Developments

• Zhao Chenxu: Clearly chooses emotional loyalty over biological ties. He rejects the Cheng family’s identity and inheritance, valuing the Zhao couple who raised him. His willingness to serve as plaintiff shows that he now actively confronts the parents who abandoned him.
• The Zhao couple: Demonstrate strong parental devotion despite learning Chenxu is not their biological child. They protect him legally, financially, and emotionally, while still accepting responsibility toward Chang Mingfeng.
• Cheng Yan: Emerges as kindhearted, fair-minded, and unusually considerate. He refuses to exploit his mother’s protection and wants Zhao Chenxu to receive a rightful share of the Cheng family’s assets.
• Mrs. Cheng: Becomes increasingly calculating and self-protective. She prioritizes Cheng Yan and the family fortune, distances herself from Cheng Xingwang, and views property transfers as a way to control potential conflict.
• Cheng Xingwang: Is left isolated and disgraced. His abandonment of Zhao Chenxu and betrayal of his wife have destroyed his standing within the family.
• Chang Mingfeng: Remains dependent on others for medical care and faces legal consequences for her role in abandoning Chenxu.

Significant Themes

• Nature versus nurture: Zhao Chenxu’s loyalty lies with the parents who raised him, not with his biological family.
• Family responsibility and abandonment: The chapter emphasizes that biological parenthood does not excuse neglect or abandonment.
• Inheritance and legitimacy: Property becomes a measure of recognition, justice, and family status, though Chenxu personally rejects the Cheng family’s wealth.
• Reputation and social consequences: Cheng Yan worries that refusing to compensate Chenxu will make the Cheng family appear cruel and damage Chengyi Restaurant’s reputation.
• Moral contrast: Cheng Yan’s generosity contrasts sharply with Mrs. Cheng’s opportunism and Cheng Xingwang’s irresponsibility.
• Justice versus compassion: The Zhao couple pursue legal punishment while also paying for Chang Mingfeng’s treatment, balancing accountability with gratitude and compassion.

Character Interactions

• The Zhao couple jointly decide Chenxu’s future and protect him from being forced back into an unstable biological family.
• Zhao Chenxu negotiates directly with Cheng Yan and Mrs. Cheng, setting firm boundaries regarding his identity and inheritance.
• Cheng Yan tries to persuade Mrs. Cheng that Zhao Chenxu deserves compensation and that helping him is both morally right and beneficial to the family’s public image.
• Mrs. Cheng initially dismisses Cheng Yan’s concerns but gradually recognizes the practical logic behind them. Nevertheless, she refuses to sacrifice the restaurant shares and instead offers less valuable real estate.
• The chapter highlights the growing contrast between Cheng Yan’s desire for fairness and Mrs. Cheng’s determination to protect her own son and wealth.

Chapter 106 Summary

Key plot points and events

Mrs. Cheng reprimands Cheng Yan for objecting to Cheng Lang’s place in the Cheng Family. She reminds him of the family’s past scandal, insisting that she protected their position and that Cheng Yan should be grateful to still have a father. Meanwhile, Zhao Chenxu follows Cheng Lang to the restroom to discuss their situation privately. He promises not to compete with Cheng Lang for the Zhao Family’s wealth, parental affection, or inheritance. He even offers to distance himself from the family, repay the value of the gifts he received, and remain overseas after graduation if Cheng Lang wants him gone.

Character developments

Zhao Chenxu reveals intense guilt, insecurity, and fear of being viewed as a greedy impostor. Although he loves the Zhao Family and cannot bear to abandon the parents who raised him, he is prepared to sacrifice his relationship with them to compensate Cheng Lang for the nineteen years he lost. He has researched Cheng Lang’s life and deeply admires his achievements, especially because Cheng Lang succeeded despite growing up in an orphanage without family support. Cheng Lang’s reaction—laughing gently rather than becoming angry—shows that he does not see Zhao Chenxu as an enemy and is beginning to understand his sincerity. Cheng Yan, by contrast, remains influenced by Mrs. Cheng’s defensive and resentful view of the family’s history.

Significant themes

The chapter explores guilt and responsibility after a life-changing identity mix-up, questioning whether an innocent person should be punished for circumstances beyond his control. It also contrasts biological ties with emotional bonds formed through upbringing. Other major themes include family loyalty, fear of rejection, sacrifice, gratitude, and the pressure of comparing two people whose lives were shaped by radically different circumstances.

Character interactions

Mrs. Cheng’s harsh exchange with Cheng Yan reinforces the tensions within the Cheng Family. Zhao Chenxu’s heartfelt conversation with Cheng Lang is the chapter’s emotional center: he repeatedly insists that he is not manipulative or ungrateful, while Cheng Lang responds with quiet amusement and reassurance. Zhao Chenxu’s admiration for Cheng Lang and willingness to withdraw create the possibility of reconciliation rather than rivalry between the two young men.

Chapter 196 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Chenxu, overwhelmed by guilt and insecurity, tells Cheng Lang that he plans to leave the Zhao Family completely. He believes disappearing will allow Cheng Lang to reunite with their biological parents without conflict or comparison.
• As Chenxu explains himself, he becomes increasingly emotional, crying and insisting that he is not trying to manipulate Cheng Lang’s sympathy. He promises never to appear before Cheng Lang or make the Zhao parents feel they love their adopted son more than their biological son.
• Cheng Lang comforts him, gives him tissues, teases him about his melodramatic assumptions, and reassures him that he has no intention of forcing him out. He emphasizes that affection comes from years of living together, regardless of blood ties.
• Cheng Lang reveals that he is in a serious relationship with Qin Mu, the head of Weng Group and Qin Dynasty. Since they are both men and do not plan to have children, Cheng Lang argues that Zhao Chenxu should remain responsible for inheriting and continuing the Zhao family business.
• Chenxu is stunned and worries that the Zhao parents may object, but Cheng Lang firmly states that he is an adult and will not allow anyone to control his personal life.
• After the brothers return to the reception room, the Zhao parents anxiously await Cheng Lang’s decision about acknowledging them.
• Cheng Lang tells them that because they raised Chenxu for nineteen years, their parent-child bond should continue. He suggests that the responsibility and emotional significance of raising a child may outweigh the biological connection created by birth.

Character Developments

• Zhao Chenxu reveals deep insecurity and self-sacrificial tendencies. He assumes that his existence will interfere with Cheng Lang’s family reunion and is prepared to erase himself from the Zhao family to prevent conflict.
• Cheng Lang demonstrates emotional maturity and compassion. Rather than treating Chenxu as an obstacle, he validates their shared history and insists that Chenxu has a rightful place in the family.
• Cheng Lang also asserts his independence by openly discussing his relationship with Qin Mu and rejecting the idea that his biological parents can dictate his future.
• The Zhao parents remain anxious and uncertain, fearing that Cheng Lang may reject them or that their relationship with Chenxu will be threatened. Their concern suggests genuine emotional attachment but also highlights the complicated consequences of the family’s late reunion.

Significant Themes

• Nature versus nurture: The chapter questions whether biological parentage is more important than the love and responsibility developed through nineteen years of raising a child.
• Family and belonging: Cheng Lang rejects the idea that recognizing a biological child requires abandoning the child who was raised in the family.
• Self-sacrifice and insecurity: Chenxu’s willingness to disappear reflects his fear of being unwanted and his belief that he must give up his own happiness for others.
• Personal autonomy: Cheng Lang insists that, as an adult, he alone has the right to determine his relationships, sexuality, and future.
• Reassurance through affection: Their interaction shows the brothers gradually building a genuine bond despite their complicated origins.

Character Interactions

• Cheng Lang comforts Chenxu physically and verbally, wiping away his tears, teasing him gently, and even patting his head.
• Chenxu repeatedly seeks reassurance that Cheng Lang does not pity him and will not allow the Zhao parents to abandon him.
• Cheng Lang’s announcement about Qin Mu shocks Chenxu but also provides a practical reason for Chenxu to remain in the family.
• In the closing exchange, Cheng Lang addresses the Zhao parents directly, encouraging them to preserve their relationship with Chenxu rather than treating biological ties as automatically superior.

Chapter 107 Summary

• Cheng Lang sets firm boundaries with the Zhao family: When Mr. and Mrs. Zhao express their desire to acknowledge him as their biological son, Cheng Lang responds coldly. He agrees to confirm their relationship through a paternity test but makes clear that he does not need parents to manage his life, career, or relationship with Qin Mu. He also states that he has no interest in inheriting the Zhao family business and that their biological connection gives them no authority over him.
• The Zhao couple accepts his guarded attitude: Although disappointed by Cheng Lang’s bluntness, Mr. and Mrs. Zhao understand why he is wary. He grew up without them, has already established an independent career, and has reason to suspect the motives of people suddenly claiming him. They reassure him that they will not interfere and only hope to gradually make up for the nineteen years they missed.
• The biological relationship is confirmed: Cheng Lang accompanies the Zhao family to the hospital for testing. Several days later, the results prove that he is truly their son. The confirmation establishes Cheng Lang’s connection to the Zhao family but does not immediately change his independent stance.
• A business partnership is proposed: After the test results, Mr. Zhao proposes that Forest Style Milk Tea collaborate with Ruyi House, Zhao Corporation’s famous traditional pastry brand. Ruyi House originated from the Zhao ancestors’ history as imperial chefs and has successfully modernized and expanded traditional Chinese pastries both domestically and overseas.
• The collaboration is strategically compatible: Forest Style Milk Tea’s elegant branding, Milk Tea Paste, and Tea Whisking method fit naturally with Ruyi House’s emphasis on refined traditional cuisine and Chinese aesthetics. Cheng Lang recognizes the proposal as a mutually beneficial opportunity and is interested in pursuing it.
• Connection to the original novel’s events: Cheng Lang recalls that Zhao Chenxu’s future involvement with Lu Chengxuan originally began when Chenxu tasted Shen Huaiyu’s distinctive tea-whisking technique at a banquet and wanted to collaborate. However, Lu Chengxuan controlled Shen Huaiyu completely, treating him as a possession and preventing him from developing an independent career.

Character Development and Interactions

• Cheng Lang demonstrates emotional distance, self-reliance, and strong control over his personal boundaries. He is willing to acknowledge the Zhao family biologically but refuses to surrender autonomy or allow family status to influence his decisions.
• Mr. and Mrs. Zhao show patience and maturity by accepting responsibility for their absence without demanding immediate emotional closeness.
• Mr. Zhao and Cheng Lang begin shifting from a purely familial confrontation toward a potential professional partnership.
• Qin Mu is important as Cheng Lang’s chosen partner and one of the reasons he rejects any attempt by the Zhao family to interfere in his life.
• Shen Huaiyu and Lu Chengxuan are discussed through Cheng Lang’s memories of the original storyline, emphasizing the contrast between creative freedom and oppressive control.

Major Themes

• Biological family versus chosen relationships: Blood ties alone do not create trust or parental authority.
• Independence and personal boundaries: Cheng Lang insists that his achievements and life choices belong to him.
• Reconciliation through patience: The Zhao family accepts that rebuilding a relationship will require time rather than forced intimacy.
• Business and cultural innovation: The planned partnership combines traditional Chinese pastry culture with modern tea and beverage branding.
• Freedom versus possession: Shen Huaiyu’s past treatment highlights the dangers of controlling another person’s talent, ambitions, and autonomy.

Chapter 108 Summary

• Business partnership proposal: Cheng Lang prioritizes a partnership between Forest Style Milk Tea and Shen Huaiyu’s Ruyi House. Forest Style will introduce Ruyi House’s pastries in its milk tea shops, while Ruyi House will sell Forest Style’s drinks. They also discuss creating milk teas and fruit-flower teas specifically paired with pastries, potentially expanding into breakfast and afternoon-tea sets.
• Shen Huaiyu disappears: Cheng Lang attempts to contact Shen Huaiyu so they can discuss the partnership, but Shen does not answer. Jin Huaiyuan searches the university campus, nearby milk tea shop, and other locations, while Luo Pu and the studio also confirm that they have not seen him. Shen has not attended class or contacted anyone, raising serious concerns.
• Suspicion involving Lu Chengxuan: Cheng Lang remembers that, according to the original novel, Lu Chengxuan eventually restricts Shen Huaiyu’s freedom and confines him in a villa. He asks the System Companion about the timeline and receives details about the villa’s location. Although the System suggests that changes to the plot and Shen’s personality may prevent the original events from occurring exactly as written, Cheng Lang remains deeply worried.
• Zhao Family offers support: Zhao Chenxu notices Cheng Lang’s concern and asks whether Shen has disappeared. Because he has met Shen before and admires his gentle nature and tea-making abilities, Zhao is genuinely worried. He cautions Cheng Lang against confronting Lu Chengxuan alone, fearing Lu’s bodyguards and possible violence. Zhao’s parents likewise offer assistance, and Mrs. Zhao recommends involving the police first.
• Police report filed: Following Mrs. Zhao’s advice, Cheng Lang reports Shen’s disappearance despite fewer than twenty-four hours having passed. He explains that a competitor may have illegally detained Forest Style Milk Tea’s chief technology officer to interfere with the company’s operations. Because Shen controls the brand’s patented formulas, the police take the case seriously and formally open an investigation.
• Character developments and themes: Cheng Lang demonstrates practical business judgment but also strong loyalty and protectiveness toward Shen. Zhao Chenxu’s concern reinforces that his feelings toward Shen are likely admiration rather than romantic interest, challenging the original novel’s interpretation of his motives. The chapter highlights the contrast between the original story’s distorted assumptions and the current timeline, while emphasizing trust, corporate rivalry, personal freedom, and the danger of powerful people manipulating others.

Chapter Summary

After leaving the police station, Cheng Lang notices that someone has photographed him and posted the images online. The public speculates about why he was at the station, but surprisingly, few comments are hostile, suggesting that people either trust Cheng Lang or are wary of provoking him.
Cheng Lang plans to go to the Lu Group to confront Lu Chengxuan and rescue Shen Huaiyu, fearing that Lu may mistreat him while the police investigation proceeds. Qin Mu offers to accompany him, and the Zhao family also insists on coming. Cheng Lang initially worries that the hostile “World Consciousness” might target Qin Mu, but eventually accepts their support.
At the Lu Group, Cheng Lang asks Qin Mu to remain in the car because he does not want him to meet Lu Chengxuan. Qin Mu interprets Cheng Lang’s reluctance as jealousy and happily agrees. Meanwhile, Zhao—the family patriarch—accompanies Cheng Lang into the building, determined to protect his son from being bullied by Lu Chengxuan.
The receptionist initially tries to refuse Cheng Lang access, but he warns that the matter has already been reported to the police and is spreading online. Fearing further scandal, Lu Chengxuan agrees to see him. The secretary allows only Cheng Lang into the president’s office, leaving the Zhao family waiting outside.
Lu Chengxuan attempts to intimidate Cheng Lang and claims that he has no right to interfere because Shen Huaiyu is legally his partner. He accuses Cheng Lang of meddling in another couple’s relationship and insinuates that Cheng Lang has romantic feelings for Shen Huaiyu. He further tries to create conflict between Cheng Lang and Qin Mu by suggesting Qin Mu would be suspicious of Cheng Lang’s concern for Shen.
Cheng Lang remains calm and amused rather than defensive. He reframes his actions as legitimate business and legal concerns: Shen Huaiyu is Forest Style Milk Tea’s partner, while Lu Chengxuan may have unlawfully detained the company’s chief technology officer in an attempt to steal its core formula and sabotage its promotional plans. Cheng Lang also points out that the Lu Group has interests in the tea-beverage industry, implying a possible commercial motive behind Lu’s actions.

Character Development and Interactions

• Cheng Lang remains confident, sharp-witted, and strategically composed. He protects Shen Huaiyu while presenting his intervention as both legally justified and commercially motivated.
• Qin Mu shows strong loyalty and affection toward Cheng Lang. He willingly stays behind when asked and is secretly pleased by what he interprets as Cheng Lang’s jealousy.
• The Zhao family openly supports Cheng Lang, with Mr. Zhao taking on a protective paternal role and accompanying him into the Lu Group.
• Lu Chengxuan attempts to regain control through accusations, relationship-based manipulation, and threats, but Cheng Lang easily turns his arguments against him.
• Cheng Lang and Lu Chengxuan engage in a battle of verbal manipulation: Lu invokes Shen’s legal relationship with him, while Cheng Lang counters with allegations of corporate espionage, unlawful detention, and sabotage.

Significant Themes

• Public scrutiny and reputation: The online photographs increase pressure on Lu Chengxuan and make it harder for him to conceal the situation.
• Protection and loyalty: Qin Mu and the Zhao family demonstrate their willingness to stand behind Cheng Lang, while Cheng Lang risks confrontation to protect Shen Huaiyu.
• Law versus privilege: Cheng Lang invokes legal procedures against Lu Chengxuan’s assumption that his wealth and status place him above consequences.
• Manipulation and counter-manipulation: Lu tries to weaponize romantic suspicion, but Cheng Lang remains emotionally controlled and redirects the confrontation toward Lu’s possible business crimes.
• Family and chosen alliances: The Zhao family’s immediate support reinforces Cheng Lang’s growing network of allies against Lu Chengxuan.

Chapter 109 Summary

Plot points and events

Cheng Lang confronts Lu Chengxuan over the illegal detention of Shen Huaiyu, arguing that Lu is abusing the Lu Family’s wealth and power. He warns Lu to release Shen and stop targeting him, otherwise he will retaliate. Lu refuses, mocks Cheng Lang’s background and dependence on Qin Mu, and boasts that Shen Huaiyu had been tied to his bed and subjected to his control. Enraged, Cheng Lang strikes Lu twice, despite Lu’s threats to call security or the police.
Cheng Lang then receives a call from Qin Mu informing him that Shen Huaiyu has been found, but that his condition is serious and he needs immediate hospital treatment. Cheng Lang demands to know what Lu did to him, while Lu remains defiant and insinuates that Cheng could suffer the same fate.

Character developments

Cheng Lang abandons his earlier restraint and openly declares war on Lu Chengxuan. His anger reveals how strongly he wants to protect Shen Huaiyu, and he resolves to eliminate Lu as a threat without necessarily killing him. The system reminds him that Lu, as the original novel’s male protagonist, must remain alive, prompting Cheng Lang to consider other ways of ruining him.
Lu Chengxuan becomes increasingly exposed as arrogant, abusive, and morally corrupt. He relies heavily on his family’s wealth and Qin Mu’s supposed protection of Cheng Lang, underestimating Cheng’s independence and willingness to fight back. Qin Mu’s role also becomes more active as he locates Shen and coordinates his rescue.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes the abuse of power, class arrogance, and the consequences of treating vulnerable people as possessions. It also explores Cheng Lang’s rejection of the original story’s oppressive logic: rather than accepting Lu’s dominance, he challenges it directly. Protection, retaliation, and the conflict between legal limits and personal justice are central themes.

Character interactions

Cheng Lang and Lu engage in a hostile verbal confrontation that escalates into physical violence. Lu repeatedly insults Cheng’s origins, relationship with Qin Mu, and business, while Cheng condemns Lu’s treatment of Shen and threatens to destroy his privileged position. Qin Mu’s phone call interrupts the confrontation with news of Shen’s rescue, shifting Cheng’s focus from arguing with Lu to urgently seeking medical help for Shen.