Chapter Summaries

Cheng Lang realized he had missed the original plot in which Lu Chengxuan rejected him and took Shen Huaiyu away, then learned from Wang that the big boss's connection to the Qin family was complicated. After work, General Manager Lü offered Cheng Lang a ride back to school.

• Chen told Cheng Lang that Wang Liu'an would prepare a costume for him before the birthday banquet.
• Cheng Lang learned from the system that he had missed the planned encounter with Lu Chengxuan and could not reach Shen Huaiyu by phone.
• The shift supervisor warned Cheng Lang to stay out of Lu Chengxuan and Shen Huaiyu's affairs, but Cheng Lang said he felt responsible for bringing Shen Huaiyu to White Jade Capital.
• Wang took Cheng Lang's measurements and warned him to watch what he said at Old Master Qin's birthday banquet because the big boss's ties with the Qin family were complicated.
• General Manager Lü stopped beside Cheng Lang after work and offered him a ride back to school, while eyeing his roasted sweet potatoes.

Cheng Lang declined General Manager Lü’s invitation to join Qin Dynasty Records, though she left the door open for a future internship. The next morning, he defended Shen Huaiyu against his roommates’ questions and persuaded them to blame Shen Chengan for the scandal.

• Cheng Lang told General Manager Lü he lacked the time to work as an agent, and she invited him to consider an internship at Qin Dynasty Records during a school break.
• Cheng Lang got out of General Manager Lü’s car at the school gate, leaving the roasted sweet potatoes behind.
• After Shen Huaiyu returned to the dorm, a roommate asked where he had been, and Shen Huaiyu looked anxiously at Cheng Lang.
• Cheng Lang blamed Shen Chengan for withholding the money from Shen Huaiyu’s family home and smearing Shen Huaiyu, winning the roommates’ agreement.
• The roommates promised to tell anyone who asked about Shen Huaiyu what Shen Chengan had done.

Cheng Lang helped Shen Huaiyu’s roommates understand his hardships and stand up for him, then took Shen Huaiyu to their milk tea shop, where they discovered Liang Yanyan had nowhere to stay. Cheng Lang and the others arranged for beds and considered turning the shop into a late-night study space, leaving Liang Yanyan grateful for their help.

• Cheng Lang told Shen Huaiyu’s roommates about his brother’s medical expenses and the money Cheng Lang had recovered, prompting them to offer Shen Huaiyu their support.
• Cheng Lang brought Shen Huaiyu and their roommates to the milk tea shop before opening and found Liang Yanyan cleaning there early.
• Liang Yanyan explained that she had lost her previous room and had slept on the shop floor after cleaning late into the night.
• Cheng Lang proposed buying foldable bunk beds for the shop, and the roommates suggested using it as a late-night study space with drinks for sale.
• Cheng Lang asked Liang Yanyan to choose two bunk beds for the shop, and she accepted, moved by their consideration.

Shen Huaiyu continued developing his milk tea products while Cheng Lang handled the shop’s business and encouraged him to see their project as a partnership. When Shen Huaiyu worried Cheng Lang would judge him for going out with Lu Chengxuan, Cheng Lang reassured him and urged him to challenge rumors instead of accepting blame.

• Shen Huaiyu explained that he was developing Milk Tea Paste and a Tea Whisking method, while Cheng Lang would handle marketing and business matters.
• Cheng Lang offered the two roommates work-study jobs helping expand the market once the Milk Tea Paste was ready.
• After lunch, Cheng Lang registered official accounts for the shop while Shen Huaiyu practiced Tea Whisking.
• Shen Huaiyu told Cheng Lang that he had gone out with Lu Chengxuan and asked whether Cheng Lang would look down on him.
• Cheng Lang said Shen Huaiyu had been coerced and was not to blame, then advised him to clarify rumors and stop accepting blame for things that were not his fault.

Cheng Lang and Shen Huaiyu drew a crowd to their milk tea shop when Shen demonstrated his prototype Milk Tea Paste and Tea Whisking. The free samples attracted more customers, though the shop ran out of time to make Tea Whisking for those who arrived later.

• Cheng Lang promoted Shen Huaiyu’s unfinished Milk Tea Paste and Tea Whisking to customers at the shop.
• Shen Huaiyu demonstrated Tea Whisking, creating flowers, plants, and an inscription in a tea bowl.
• Cheng Lang offered free samples to the customers in the shop, and two girls praised the tea’s rich fragrance and refreshing taste.
• Customers placed orders and waited while Shen Huaiyu prepared samples, with Cheng Lang explaining that Tea Whisking took time.
• After the samples were handed out, social media posts brought in more customers, but Shen Huaiyu could not make any more Tea Whisking.

Cheng Lang promoted the milk tea shop and encouraged Shen Huaiyu to develop its Tea Whisking and guqin performances. After the two men shared a meal at a neighboring noodle shop, the shop owners learned of their hardships and agreed to recommend the milk tea shop in return for referrals.

• Cheng Lang announced a 20% opening discount, and Shen Huaiyu agreed to teach employees simplified Tea Whisking patterns.
• Cheng Lang asked Shen Huaiyu to record himself playing guqin music for a promotional video, and Shen Huaiyu chose "Flowing Water."
• Cheng Lang and Shen Huaiyu ate at a nearby Sichuan-style noodle shop, whose owner waived their bill as a gesture between neighbors.
• Cheng Lang sent milk tea to the noodle shop, and its owners discussed the students' claims that he and Shen Huaiyu were orphans facing financial hardship.
• The noodle shop owner told his wife to recommend the milk tea shop, hoping Cheng Lang and Shen Huaiyu would return the favor.

Shen Huaiyu and Cheng Lang discussed a noodle shop owner’s kindness before Cheng Lang went to work at White Jade Capital, where he learned more about accompanying Qin Mu to Old Master Qin’s birthday banquet. Lu Chengxuan taunted Cheng Lang about Shen Huaiyu and threatened him, but Cheng Lang struck him and challenged him to continue.

• Shen Huaiyu praised the noodle shop owner’s generosity, and Cheng Lang encouraged his positive outlook while hiding his amusement.
• Cheng Lang arrived early at White Jade Capital and confirmed that Chen had chosen him to accompany the boss to Old Master Qin’s eightieth birthday banquet.
• The shift supervisor advised Cheng Lang to use the banquet to make useful connections, but Cheng Lang expected trouble and focused on getting through it safely.
• Lu Chengxuan questioned why Qin Mu had chosen Cheng Lang and boasted that he had kept Shen Huaiyu from ending their relationship by threatening to sleep with Cheng Lang.
• Lu Chengxuan grabbed Cheng Lang by the collar, and Cheng Lang punched him in the stomach before warning that there were no cameras nearby.

Cheng Lang provoked Lu Chengxuan by claiming he would seek Qin Mu’s protection, only to discover Qin had overheard him. He then confronted Shen Huaiyu about sacrificing himself and warned him not to ruin his life for someone who might not appreciate it.

• Cheng Lang told Lu Chengxuan he would seduce Qin Mu for protection, and Qin Mu overheard him from inside the restroom.
• Qin Mu left without responding to Cheng Lang or Lu Chengxuan, and Cheng Lang taunted Lu Chengxuan about Qin hearing his threats against Shen Huaiyu.
• Cheng Lang found Shen Huaiyu delivering drinks and told him that Lu Chengxuan had bragged about forcing him to stay by his side.
• Shen Huaiyu insisted he had chosen to stay and said he did not want to drag Cheng Lang down.
• Cheng Lang told Shen Huaiyu he was angry that he had sacrificed himself without considering Cheng Lang’s feelings, then warned him not to give up his life for someone who might call him worthless.

Cheng Lang comforted Shen Huaiyu after he broke down over Lu Chengxuan’s threats, then was summoned to prepare for his crosstalk performance at Old Master Qin’s birthday banquet. The chapter ended with Chen insisting that Cheng Lang write out his routine for review.

• Shen Huaiyu apologized to Cheng Lang and admitted he feared Lu Chengxuan would hurt him.
• Cheng Lang reassured Shen Huaiyu that he could end his relationship with Lu Chengxuan and urged him to treat himself better.
• The floor manager brought Cheng Lang to Chen, where he found Qin’s assistant and Gu Yong waiting.
• Chen asked Cheng Lang about his crosstalk script for Old Master Qin’s birthday banquet, and Cheng Lang admitted he planned to improvise.
• Gu Yong accused Cheng Lang of slacking off, but Cheng Lang promised to perform well for the appearance fee.
• Chen told Cheng Lang to write down his routine so they could check that it would suit Old Master Qin.

Cheng Lang learned that Qin’s side wanted him to prepare a performance, then returned to the banquet and turned his late arrival into jokes about Chen. He left the guests laughing and refused a request for a song from Breathless.

• Cheng Lang told Chen he would choose classic routines for Old Master Qin, then joked that his good looks might make the old man enjoy them.
• Assistant Hu asked Cheng Lang if he would change jobs, and Cheng Lang hinted that he had encountered Qin without revealing what happened.
• Cheng Lang returned downstairs and joked with the audience about Chen repeatedly summoning him to the office at night.
• Wang Liu'an pointed out that Cheng Lang did not work during the day, so Cheng Lang explained that he was attending school.
• A guest teased Cheng Lang about his demanding schedule and requested a song from Breathless, but Cheng Lang said he could not play it.

Cheng Lang entertained the White Jade Capital guests with jokes and songs, then asked Wang Liu'an for help finding a supplier for his milk tea shop’s uniforms. Wang Liu'an agreed to give him a contact who could offer a discount.

• A guest praised Cheng Lang’s talent for wild humor and self-mockery, and Cheng Lang learned he was an advertising designer.
• Cheng Lang played “New York Herald Tribune” on guitar and joked with the guests about his past jobs, including singing under overpasses and selling melons.
• After the two-hour performance, Wang Liu'an gave Cheng Lang water and complained about being made a punchline.
• Cheng Lang said he needed uniforms for his milk tea shop and asked Wang Liu'an for a supplier contact and an employee discount.
• Wang Liu'an agreed to share a contact who would give Cheng Lang twenty percent off.

Cheng Lang worried about his performance outfit and awkwardly avoided Qin Mu at White Jade Capital before joking with Shen Huaiyu about buying a car. The next day, Cheng Lang and Shen Huaiyu bought a brown Wuling Hongguang to help with milk tea shop supplies.

• Wang told Cheng Lang his custom performance outfit would be ready in about half a month and reminded him not to let White Jade Capital down at Old Master Qin's birthday banquet.
• Cheng Lang embarrassed himself while joking with customers in the restroom queue, then told Gu Yong he was afraid of running into Qin.
• Cheng Lang blamed Lu Chengxuan for offending Qin and worried that Qin was still angry with him.
• Cheng Lang and Shen Huaiyu waited in the cold for a taxi, and Cheng Lang said he wanted to buy an affordable Wuling Hongguang.
• The next day, Cheng Lang and Shen Huaiyu went to a dealership and bought a brown Wuling Hongguang for just over fifty thousand.

Cheng Lang drove Shen Huaiyu to White Jade Capital in his new Wuling Hongguang and turned the car into material for jokes during his performance. Qin Mu listened from a private booth, while Chen and Assistant Hu wondered whether Qin Mu might be interested in Cheng Lang.

• Cheng Lang drove Shen Huaiyu to White Jade Capital in his Wuling Hongguang and parked among the luxury cars.
• White Jade Capital staff teased Cheng Lang about his inexpensive car, and he defended it as an honest, reliable working man's vehicle.
• Cheng Lang joked about the Wuling Hongguang onstage, making the guests laugh when they realized what car he meant.
• Chu Suiyi mocked Cheng Lang's car and wondered if it was lowering White Jade Capital's standards, while Qin Mu kept listening to Cheng Lang.
• After Cheng Lang's two-hour performance, Wang gave him water and remarked that he kept turning his life into a joke.

Cheng Lang spoke with Gu Yong about getting an employee parking pass for his Wuling and finishing a crosstalk script for Qin Mu's birthday banquet. When Qin Mu arrived, his unusually detailed reply to Cheng Lang's question drew everyone's attention, and Cheng Lang tried to build a connection with him.

• Cheng Lang explained to Gu Yong that he had bought the Wuling to transport supplies for his milk tea shop and get home from work.
• Gu Yong told Cheng Lang to use the employee entrance and asked about the crosstalk script for Qin Mu's birthday banquet.
• Qin Mu arrived with Chu Suiyi and others, and Gu Yong explained why he had been speaking with Cheng Lang.
• Chu Suiyi teased Cheng Lang about driving his beat-up Wuling among luxury cars, and Cheng Lang said he drove steadily.
• Qin Mu told Cheng Lang that the VIP rooms had their own restrooms, prompting his companions to notice how much he had said.
• Cheng Lang told Qin Mu they were fated because they kept running into each other near the second-floor restroom.

After Qin Mu left, Cheng Lang dealt with rumors about their restroom encounter and talked with counselor Meng Haiyang about his orphanage past and upcoming leave. He waited at school to be picked up for Old Master Qin’s birthday, only to discover Qin Mu had come himself.

• Cheng Lang denied that anything had happened between him and Qin Mu, but Gu Yong said he would keep the matter quiet.
• Meng Haiyang questioned Cheng Lang about his unknown parents and his grandfather, then approved his leave slip for Old Master Qin’s birthday.
• Meng Haiyang invited Cheng Lang to visit Liang Shuyi and mentioned she had found the outfit he wore when he was brought to the orphanage, but Cheng Lang refused to discuss finding his biological parents.
• Cheng Lang waited outside the school the next afternoon, and Qin Mu arrived in a Rolls-Royce Phantom to pick him up.

Qin Mu brought Cheng Lang to the Qin Family Estate for Old Master Qin’s birthday banquet, where Qin Mu’s relatives tried to belittle Cheng Lang and undermine his employer. Cheng Lang answered their provocations with sharp remarks, leaving his position at White Jade Capital unchanged.

• Qin Mu complimented Cheng Lang’s black suit as they traveled to the Qin Family Estate for Old Master Qin’s birthday.
• Qin Mu’s third uncle welcomed them and implied Cheng Lang was a performer Qin Mu’s uncle had chosen for him.
• Cheng Lang explained that he had been paid for his work, while a younger Qin Family relative accused him of being shamelessly motivated by money.
• Qin Mu’s third uncle tried to recruit Cheng Lang and advised him to endure present losses for future rewards.
• Cheng Lang rejected the advice, asking why bosses did not take the losses themselves and leave the blessings to employees.

Cheng Lang verbally humiliated Qin Mi at the Qin Family villa and entered the birthday celebration with Qin Mu. There, Old Master Qin summoned Qin Wenyu and questioned the tense relationship between father and son, leaving the family reunion awkward.

• Qin Mi insulted Cheng Lang, who demanded extra payment for personal abuse and stopped Qin Mi from grabbing him.
• Qin Third intervened and apologized, while Zhao backed Cheng Lang and warned Qin Mi that the Qin Family name could not replace money.
• Cheng Lang followed Qin Mu into the villa, where Assistant Hu praised his quick tongue and promised the company would treat him well.
• Old Master Qin welcomed Qin Mu and asked Qin Third to bring Qin Wenyu over, calling Qin Mu the Qin Family's returned eldest grandson.
• Qin Wenyu arrived with a beautiful young married woman and challenged Qin Mu for failing to greet him, while Old Master Qin questioned whom he meant by his son.

At Old Master Qin’s birthday banquet, Third Master Qin blamed Qin Mu for the ancient tomb discovered beneath the Lincheng project, but Qin Mu reminded him that the main family had taken the project from him. Old Master Qin smoothed over the conflict and had Qin Wenyu escort Qin Mu to his seat, while Assistant Hu explained the family’s history to Cheng Lang.

• Third Master Qin accused Qin Mu of knowing about the tomb beneath the Lincheng project and deliberately setting a trap for the main family.
• Assistant Hu defended Qin Mu, and Qin Mu pointed out that Third Master Qin had insisted on taking the project.
• Qin Mi demanded that Qin Mu give up his shares in Qin Group, but Old Master Qin rejected the demand and declared that Qin Mu would always be the main branch’s eldest grandson.
• Old Master Qin told Qin Wenyu to take Qin Mu to his seat, while servants directed Cheng Lang and Assistant Hu to the outer tables.
• Assistant Hu told Cheng Lang that Qin Mu’s parents had entered a business marriage and that Old Master Qin had promised Weng Suying to make Qin Mu the family’s first-in-line heir.

Cheng Lang learned more about Qin Mu’s family history and his close friends’ concern over Qin Mu’s interest in him. The conversation ended when Yao Liangsheng and Yao Liangjing approached Cheng Lang at the Qin Family banquet.

• Assistant Hu told Cheng Lang that Weng Suying had forced Qin Wenyu to undergo a vasectomy before leaving the Qin Family with Qin Mu.
• Assistant Hu explained that Qin Mu had thwarted the main branch’s attempt to take over the Weng Group and had built the Qin Dynasty into a thriving company while in college.
• Cheng Lang and Assistant Hu joked about becoming crosstalk partners and splitting the tips from White Jade Capital.
• Assistant Hu said that he, Chu Suiyi, Han Mingchen, and Qin Mu had grown up together, and warned Cheng Lang to behave himself around Qin Mu.
• Yao Liangsheng and Yao Liangjing greeted Cheng Lang as he and Assistant Hu talked.

Cheng Lang attended Old Master Qin’s birthday banquet and was challenged to perform crosstalk after Master Yao and Xu Rujun impressed the guests. The chapter ended as Cheng Lang, dressed in a black suit, took the stage before an eager audience.

• Yao Liangsheng and Yao Liangjing told Cheng Lang they had come with their master to perform crosstalk for Old Master Qin’s eightieth birthday, and they invited Cheng Lang to meet Master Yao after the show.
• Assistant Hu warned Cheng Lang that the Qin Family might rearrange the performances to embarrass him, while Master Yao and Xu Rujun performed a celebrated birthday routine.
• Qin Mi urged Old Master Qin to hear Cheng Lang perform, then mocked Cheng Lang’s ambition to earn one hundred million; Qin Mu and Chu Suiyi defended him.
• Old Master Qin agreed to let Cheng Lang perform, and Cheng Lang walked onstage in a black suit as the guests waited to hear him.