Chapter Summaries

Family Mediation interviewed Chang Mingfeng about abandoning Cheng Lang, and the broadcast sparked widespread debate about his past and the Cheng Family. As public attention surged, Cheng Xingwang offered Cheng Lang a paternity test and a share of Chengyi Restaurant if the results confirmed their relationship.

• X City TV Station staff celebrated as Family Mediation's ratings rose above 1% and debated whether interviewing Chang Mingfeng might anger Cheng Lang.
• Chang Mingfeng told the host she had abandoned Cheng Lang because she could not raise him, while the host challenged her claims and asked about the orphanage director's role.
• Viewers argued online about Chang Mingfeng's motives, Cheng Lang's relationship with the Cheng Family, and whether he might seek an inheritance.
• Family Mediation unexpectedly dominated online trending searches as discussion of the interview spread.
• Cheng Xingwang offered to take a paternity test with Cheng Lang and promised to transfer him 16.5% of Chengyi Restaurant's shares if the results confirmed their blood relationship.

After multiple official tests showed that Cheng Lang was unrelated to Chang Mingfeng and Cheng Xingwang, Cheng Lang sued Chang Mingfeng for spreading rumors and extortion. The mystery of Chang Mingfeng’s missing biological child drew intense online and media attention, and reporters began investigating the hospital where she had given birth.

• Authorities conducted paternity tests at several hospitals, and every result confirmed that Cheng Lang was not related by blood to Chang Mingfeng or Cheng Xingwang.
• Cheng Xingwang felt relieved, while Chang Mingfeng rejected the results and accused the authorities of tampering with the tests.
• Chang Mingfeng demanded that her former friend, the dismissed director of X City Orphanage, explain what had happened to her child.
• Cheng Lang sued Chang Mingfeng for spreading rumors and extortion.
• Netizens speculated about how Cheng Lang came to be raised as Chang Mingfeng’s child, and news outlets investigated her birth nineteen years earlier.
• Chang Mingfeng revealed the hospital where she had given birth, and reporters traveled there to investigate.

After reporters uncovered several boys born at the same hospital as Cheng Lang, the richest man in a neighboring city wondered whether Cheng Lang might be his son but chose to wait before testing Chenchen. Cheng Lang rejected calls to search for his biological parents and prepared to join Meng Tianye on a wilderness survival show.

• Reporters found records showing that five other babies, including three boys, had been born at the hospital on the day Chang Mingfeng gave birth, and one boy's father was the city's richest man.
• The richest man and his wife considered testing Chenchen but decided to wait for the other families to act first.
• Cheng Lang told a reporter that he would not take a paternity test or look for parents, since he was already nineteen and had no blood relation to Chang Mingfeng.
• Cheng Lang relaxed with Qin Mu and explained that he preferred to avoid the conflicts that finding his biological parents might bring.
• Cheng Lang told Qin Mu that he would join Meng Tianye on a three-day wilderness survival show sponsored by Forest Style Milk Tea.

Cheng Lang joined the Wilderness Survival production as Forest Style Milk Tea’s sponsor and persuaded the crew to add charitable activities to its mountain-village filming plans. He invited Shen Huaiyu to come along, hoping the trip would broaden his experience, and the story left with their departure approaching.

• Cheng Lang met with Fang Yunshan, Zhao Mengjie, the production staff, and the show’s guests as Wilderness Survival’s exclusive sponsor.
• Fang Yunshan explained that the first episode would be filmed in a primitive mountain village in Cloud Province for safety and to help the crew and guests adapt.
• Cheng Lang suggested working with local authorities on poverty-alleviation charity activities, and Fang Yunshan agreed to set off in three days.
• Cheng Lang returned to the studio and invited Shen Huaiyu to join the mountain trip.
• Cheng Lang hoped Shen Huaiyu would gain experience and become more prepared to face life on his own.

Cheng Lang persuaded Shen Huaiyu to join him in filming a show in a remote village in Cloud Province, while Qin Mu reluctantly saw them off. After arriving, Cheng Lang and Shen Huaiyu explored the village as the other guests began their first challenge.

• Cheng Lang convinced Shen Huaiyu to leave the milk tea shop in their partners’ hands and travel with him to film the show.
• Qin Mu was upset about Cheng Lang’s trip but let him go after Cheng Lang promised to return in three days and bring him local specialties.
• Three days later, Cheng Lang and Shen Huaiyu flew to Cloud Province and traveled by van into a mountain village.
• The production crew told the guests they had to complete tasks before choosing their houses, then sent them to help villagers chop firewood.
• Cheng Lang and Shen Huaiyu admired the village’s bamboo houses and greenery, and Shen Huaiyu said he had brought insect repellent.
• Cheng Lang teased Meng Tianye as he carried firewood and urged the production crew to provide milk tea and promote their sponsor.

Cheng Lang’s milk tea sponsorship featured prominently as the guests struggled through Survival in the Wild’s exhausting tasks and were forced to cook dinner. After Meng Tianye proposed putting Cheng Lang on camera, Cheng Lang refused unless the production team paid him more.

• A staff member gave Meng Tianye Forest Style Milk Tea, and the chapter explained that Cheng Lang and Shen Huaiyu had launched bottled versions to promote through the show.
• Meng Tianye complained that the show was exhausting, while Cheng Lang teased him as he carried firewood uphill.
• After the guests finished their tasks and chose houses, they learned they had to cook dinner themselves, while Cheng Lang, Shen Huaiyu, and the crew ate instant noodles.
• Meng Tianye accused the production team of going too far, but Cheng Lang insisted the guests had agreed to follow the rules and continued eating in front of them.
• Meng Tianye suggested Cheng Lang join the show, and the director urged him to participate, but Cheng Lang said he would only consider it if they paid him more.

Cheng Lang negotiated with producer Fang Yunshan over appearing as a guest on Survival in the Wild, insisting that the show pay him an appearance fee despite his role as its title sponsor. Fang Yunshan asked how much Cheng Lang wanted, then disclosed that the highest-paid guest received eight hundred thousand per episode.

• Cheng Lang told the program staff that he should receive an appearance fee if he appeared on Survival in the Wild.
• The chief director called Fang Yunshan, and they discussed asking Cheng Lang to make a guest appearance.
• Fang Yunshan asked Cheng Lang to appear as a friendly fly-in guest to attract viewers and promote Forest Style Milk Tea.
• Cheng Lang refused to appear without sufficient pay and argued that producing a successful show was the production team's responsibility.
• Fang Yunshan asked how much Cheng Lang wanted and revealed that the highest-paid guest received eight hundred thousand per episode.

Cheng Lang negotiated a two-million-per-episode appearance fee with Producer Fang Yunshan, then helped the guests start a fire at their remote village camp. He left the cooking to them, and Meng Tianye asked whether he could pay extra for Cheng Lang to help.

• Cheng Lang consulted General Manager Lü about his appearance fee and then agreed to sign with Fang Yunshan for two million per episode.
• The program team prepared the contract, Fang Yunshan transferred the fee, and Cheng Lang told Shen Huaiyu the money would help with living expenses.
• Hungry guests complained that they could not start a fire or cook, so Cheng Lang lit the stove and showed them how to use the bellows.
• When the guests asked about his skill with the local dialect, Cheng Lang offered to start the fire while they cooked, but refused to cook for them himself.
• Meng Tianye asked Cheng Lang whether he could pay extra, leaving the guests speechless.

Shen Huaiyu agreed to cook for the guests in exchange for promotional posts for Forest Style Milk Tea, while explaining to Cheng Lang that he wanted to stop hiding from public attention and face challenges alongside him. The guests accepted Shen Huaiyu’s deal, though Meng Tianye was the first to agree.

• Shen Huaiyu offered to negotiate payment for cooking, hoping to help Cheng Lang and earn travel money for their business.
• Shen Huaiyu told Cheng Lang that he wanted to step out of his comfort zone and face the media and their business challenges alongside him.
• Cheng Lang explained that he had made the guests cook to create comedy for the show and would provide instant noodles if their food proved inedible.
• Shen Huaiyu proposed cooking for the five guests in exchange for each of them posting a promotional Weibo post for Forest Style Milk Tea.
• Meng Tianye readily agreed to Shen Huaiyu’s deal.

Shen Huaiyu’s proposal for the guests to promote Forest Style Milk Tea was met with some awkwardness until Cheng Lang explained the usual advertising process, and the guests agreed to help. The group planned a tea-picking and Tea Whisking segment using local ingredients, then Shen Huaiyu started cooking for the hungry guests.

• Meng Tianye explained that filming had taken his phone and his company had changed his Weibo password, so he would arrange a promotional post after filming.
• Cheng Lang explained the process for celebrity promotions, and Shen Huaiyu apologized for not knowing how complicated it was.
• Two female guests offered to promote Forest Style Milk Tea through Weibo posts and videos, and the remaining guests agreed to help as well.
• Cheng Lang proposed filming the guests learning Tea Whisking from Shen Huaiyu, while Shen Huaiyu suggested making Milk Tea Paste from local tea, milk, camellias, and wild roses.
• The guests eagerly agreed to the new activities, but their hunger interrupted their excitement, so Shen Huaiyu rolled up his sleeves and began cooking.

Shen Huaiyu served a simple dinner while Cheng Lang joined the other guests, then Cheng Lang called Qin Mu before his phone was taken for filming. The next morning, Shen Huaiyu reflected on the hardships that had shaped his life and on how Cheng Lang had helped him.

• Shen Huaiyu made tomato dough drop soup, and the guests used Cheng Lang's Rice Blossom Fish Sauce to improve the meal.
• Cheng Lang called Qin Mu to explain that he would be unable to contact him while appearing on Survival in the Wild, then described the day's filming and his dinner.
• Meng Tianye stayed up writing a song inspired by local women singing folk music in the village.
• Shen Huaiyu told Cheng Lang that the production crew had worked late, and he recalled his family tragedies, Lu Chengxuan's mistreatment, and Cheng Lang's support.

Shen Huaiyu thanked Cheng Lang for helping him rediscover his love of life, then joined the guests on a tea-picking trip in the mountains. Qin Mu arrived by private plane with prepared food for Cheng Lang and the crew, but left soon afterward to inspect branch offices.

• Shen Huaiyu told Cheng Lang that the trip had helped him appreciate his life and compare himself to the blooming camellias.
• Shen Huaiyu and the other guests climbed a slippery mountain trail with a local guide to reach the tea fields.
• Shen Huaiyu asked the guide how to pick tea leaves, but a crew member interrupted to tell Cheng Lang he had a call.
• Qin Mu arrived from X City with kitchen staff and prepared ingredients, saying he had come to inspect a branch office and brought food for everyone.
• Qin Mu hugged Cheng Lang in private, said he had to inspect more branch offices, and arranged to return to X City with him afterward.
• The production team and guests agreed to keep filming as planned and eat Qin Mu's food after recording if their own cooking was unpalatable.

After filming ended, Cheng Lang traveled to Li City to meet Qin Mu and learned that the Zhao Family had recalled their son for a paternity test. The next day, Zhao, his wife, and Zhao Chenxu visited Cheng Lang in X City after confirming that Zhao Chenxu was not their biological child.

• Shen Huaiyu proposed teaching Tea Whisking at Forest Style Milk Tea shops, and Cheng Lang approved the idea for further discussion.
• After filming ended, Cheng Lang called Qin Mu and traveled from Cloud City to Li City to meet him.
• Cheng Lang learned that the Zhao Family had summoned their son home amid the investigation into Chang Mingfeng's biological child.
• The system reminded Cheng Lang that the Zhao Family's child was a significant lover of Lu Chengxuan in the original novel.
• The day after Cheng Lang returned to X City, Zhao arrived with his wife and Zhao Chenxu after a paternity test confirmed Zhao Chenxu was not their biological son.

The Zhao couple decided to keep Zhao Chenxu as their adopted son and pursue legal action against Chang Mingfeng and Cheng Xingwang for abandonment, while paying for Chang Mingfeng’s treatment. Cheng Yan urged Mrs. Cheng to compensate Zhao Chenxu, and she reluctantly offered him several houses instead of restaurant shares.

• The Zhao couple decided Zhao Chenxu would remain their adopted son and made him the plaintiff in a case against Chang Mingfeng and Cheng Xingwang for abandonment.
• The Zhao couple agreed to pay for Chang Mingfeng’s treatment, and Zhao Chenxu settled matters with Cheng Yan and Mrs. Cheng by refusing the Cheng Family’s property and ties.
• Mrs. Cheng transferred Cheng Family assets, including Chengyi Restaurant shares, into Cheng Yan’s name, while Cheng Yan wanted to give Zhao Chenxu half the restaurant shares.
• Cheng Yan argued that compensating Zhao Chenxu would protect the Cheng Family’s reputation and help keep Cheng Xingwang out of prison.
• After considering the Zhao Family’s influence, Mrs. Cheng refused to share Chengyi Restaurant’s shares but offered Zhao Chenxu several houses in the neighboring city.

Zhao Chenxu told Cheng Lang he would give him space and repay the Zhao Family’s gifts, fearing that he had taken Cheng Lang’s place for nineteen years. Cheng Lang reassured him, and Zhao Chenxu explained how much he admired Cheng Lang and regretted the opportunities he had lost.

• Mrs. Cheng warned Cheng Yan that Cheng Lang’s mother had once threatened her place in the Cheng Family, and Cheng Yan fell silent.
• Zhao Chenxu followed Cheng Lang to the restroom and offered not to compete for the Zhao Family’s assets or affection, proposing to avoid the family and repay the gifts he had received.
• Zhao Chenxu said he would stay overseas if Cheng Lang did not want him around, while admitting he hoped to keep visiting the Zhao Family during holidays.
• Cheng Lang laughed and tried to reassure Zhao Chenxu, who insisted he was not pretending to cry or trying to win sympathy.
• Zhao Chenxu praised Cheng Lang’s achievements and said he felt guilty that Cheng Lang had grown up without the support of the Zhao Family.

Cheng Lang stopped Zhao Chenxu from deciding to leave the Zhao Family and told him about his relationship with Qin Mu. He then urged the Zhao couple to keep raising Chenxu, leaving his own relationship with them unresolved.

• Zhao Chenxu tearfully vowed to leave the Zhao Family so Cheng Lang could be with their parents, but Cheng Lang reassured him that he would not drive him away.
• Cheng Lang told Zhao Chenxu that he and Qin Mu were seriously dating and that Chenxu should inherit the Zhao Family business.
• Shen Huaiyu reassured the anxious Zhao couple while they waited for Cheng Lang and Zhao Chenxu to return.
• Cheng Lang told the Zhao couple that their nineteen years of raising Zhao Chenxu had created a parent-child bond worth preserving.

Cheng Lang set firm boundaries with the Zhao Family, then agreed to verify their relationship through a paternity test. After the results confirmed he was their son, Mr. Zhao proposed a partnership between Zhao Corporation’s Ruyi House and Forest Style Milk Tea, which Cheng Lang considered promising.

• Cheng Lang told Mr. and Mrs. Zhao that they could acknowledge their blood relationship but could not interfere in his life, career, or relationship with Qin Mu.
• Mrs. Zhao accepted Cheng Lang’s caution and asked him to give the family a chance to get to know one another gradually.
• Cheng Lang went with the Zhao Family to take a paternity test, and the results several days later confirmed that he was their biological son.
• Mr. Zhao proposed introducing Forest Style Milk Tea’s Milk Tea Paste and Tea Whisking method at Ruyi House.
• Cheng Lang viewed the collaboration as a good fit and recalled how Zhao Chenxu’s interest in Shen Huaiyu’s tea had been blocked by Lu Chengxuan in the original novel.

Cheng Lang pursued a partnership between Forest Style Milk Tea and Ruyi House, but became concerned when Shen Huaiyu could not be found. Suspecting Lu Chengxuan had detained Shen, Cheng Lang went to the police with the Zhao family to report him missing.

• Cheng Lang proposed that Forest Style Milk Tea and Ruyi House sell each other's products and develop teas to pair with Ruyi House's pastries.
• Cheng Lang called Shen Huaiyu to discuss the partnership, but Shen did not answer, so he asked Jin Huaiyuan to look for him.
• Jin Huaiyuan, Cheng Lang, and the studio failed to find Shen Huaiyu, and Zhao Chenxu offered his concern and help.
• Cheng Lang recalled the original novel's plot about Lu Chengxuan restricting Shen Huaiyu's freedom and asked the System Companion where Lu had kept him.
• The Zhao family urged Cheng Lang to involve the police, and Cheng Lang filed a report alleging that a competitor had detained Shen to disrupt Forest Style Milk Tea.

Cheng Lang went to confront Lu Chengxuan at the Lu Group after reporting him to the police over Shen Huaiyu’s detention. He left the Zhao Family waiting outside and accused Lu Chengxuan of targeting Forest Style Milk Tea’s trade secrets.

• Cheng Lang saw that netizens had posted photos of him leaving the police station and found that their comments were mostly not negative.
• Qin Mu and the Zhao Family accompanied Cheng Lang to the Lu Group, though Qin Mu stayed in the car and the Zhao Family waited in the reception area.
• Cheng Lang threatened to make the matter worse through the police and online attention, prompting the receptionist to arrange a meeting with Lu Chengxuan.
• Lu Chengxuan claimed that his relationship with Shen Huaiyu was private and tried to suggest that Cheng Lang’s concern meant he liked Shen Huaiyu.
• Cheng Lang said he had reported Lu Chengxuan as Shen Huaiyu’s partner, accusing him of unlawfully detaining Forest Style Milk Tea’s chief technology officer to steal trade secrets and sabotage the brand.

Cheng Lang confronted Lu Chengxuan over Shen Huaiyu’s detention, beat him when he boasted about abusing Shen, and threatened to ruin him. Qin Mu then called to say Shen Huaiyu had been found in poor condition, leaving Cheng Lang to rush to the hospital and demand to know what Lu Chengxuan had done.

• Cheng Lang demanded that Lu Chengxuan release Shen Huaiyu and stop targeting him, but Lu Chengxuan insulted Cheng Lang and bragged about having Shen at his mercy.
• Cheng Lang punched Lu Chengxuan twice and warned him that he would make him regret harming Shen Huaiyu.
• The system reminded Cheng Lang that Lu Chengxuan had to remain alive, and Cheng Lang replied that he could make him wish he were dead.
• Qin Mu called Cheng Lang and said they had found Shen Huaiyu in poor condition, then told Cheng Lang to come downstairs so they could go to the hospital.
• Cheng Lang demanded to know what Lu Chengxuan had done to Shen Huaiyu, and Lu Chengxuan challenged him to find out for himself.