Chapter Summaries

Cheng Lang and Qin Mu agreed to keep in touch more often and decided their first time together would be at Qin Mu’s home. Cheng Lang returned to perform at the club, where Meng Tianye waited to discuss the next public performance and a customer teased him about forgetting an old flame.

• Qin Mu and Cheng Lang promised to call, message, and video call each other regularly.
• Qin Mu said he wanted their first time to be at home, and Cheng Lang agreed to go to his place after work.
• Qin Mu offered to let Cheng Lang finish work an hour early after his performance, and Cheng Lang headed downstairs.
• Meng Tianye stopped Cheng Lang to ask whether Qin Mu had been upset and to discuss the next public performance later.
• Cheng Lang answered an audience member’s teasing remark and went onstage to perform.
• A customer claimed Cheng Lang had forgotten their past closeness, while Han Mingchen and Hu Li agreed before Qin Mu’s look silenced them.

Qin Mu told Han Mingchen and Hu Li that Cheng Lang would take leave so they could go home together, while Cheng Lang entertained the White Jade Capital crowd with jokes and drinks. After his performance, Cheng Lang confronted a suited man who criticized his work, and asked how much the man earned each month.

• Qin Mu said he would ask for leave on Cheng Lang’s behalf so they could go home together after the performance.
• Han Mingchen warned that Meng Tianye had come to White Jade Capital to discuss Cheng Lang’s next public performance, while Hu Li insisted Cheng Lang would still leave afterward.
• Cheng Lang traded jokes with the customers, who teased him about neglecting them for new flames and demanded drinks as compensation.
• Cheng Lang appeased the heckling crowd by drinking several glasses and earned a large sum in commissions and tips.
• A suited man criticized Cheng Lang’s work as a bar singer, and Cheng Lang responded by asking how much the man made each month.

Cheng Lang traded insults with Xin Bosong, an executive from First Milk Tea who warned him not to provoke the brand. After Qin Mu invited Cheng Lang and Meng Tianye to a private room, Cheng Lang reassured Meng Tianye that meeting his boyfriend would be fine.

• Cheng Lang mocked Xin Bosong’s lack of dignity and avoided a customer complaint by pointing out he was off duty.
• Xin Bosong introduced himself as First Milk Tea’s Operations Director for Greater China and accused Cheng Lang of studying the brand’s sponsorship of Tomorrow’s Starlight.
• Cheng Lang teased Xin Bosong about First Milk Tea’s lack of presence, then Xin warned him not to provoke the company and left.
• Cheng Lang searched for First Milk Tea’s founder and noticed the founder shared Xin’s surname.
• Qin Mu called Cheng Lang and suggested that he and Meng Tianye move their conversation to a private room on the second floor.
• Cheng Lang told the reluctant Meng Tianye that Qin Mu was his boyfriend and that they would need to get to know each other.

Cheng Lang introduced Meng Tianye to Qin Mu, who tried to hide his jealousy while treating Cheng Lang attentively. After Shen Huaiyu joined them, Cheng Lang discussed how Meng Tianye could adapt an excerpt from The Interrupted Dream for his next live performance.

• Cheng Lang brought Meng Tianye upstairs and introduced him to Qin Mu, who greeted him politely but privately judged him as a romantic rival.
• Qin Mu and Cheng Lang ordered a lavish late-night meal, and Qin Mu arranged for A Li to take Shen Huaiyu home and bring Cheng Lang a change of clothes.
• Shen Huaiyu joined Cheng Lang, Qin Mu, and Meng Tianye for the meal and greeted Qin Mu.
• Cheng Lang told Meng Tianye to adapt an excerpt from The Interrupted Dream into a rock performance and gave him Wen Yuan's playlist as reference.

After Meng Tianye found inspiration for a melody, Cheng Lang and Qin Mu returned home, where Qin Mu had prepared a candlelit, rose-petal surprise. Cheng Lang coaxed him into putting out the candles and joining him for a bath, and the chapter left Cheng Lang waking alone in bed the next morning.

• Meng Tianye thanked Cheng Lang for his idea and rushed off to write down a melody inspired by the Kunqu excerpt.
• After their late-night snack, Qin Mu and Cheng Lang went home together while Meng Tianye left on his own.
• Qin Mu revealed that he had covered the villa with rose petals and scented candles to surprise Cheng Lang.
• Cheng Lang persuaded Qin Mu to put out the candles and suggested they take a bath together.
• Qin Mu returned to the bathroom with pajamas, and Cheng Lang pulled him inside and shut the door.
• Cheng Lang woke close to nine the next morning, alone in the dim bedroom with the blankets tucked around him.

After spending the night together, Cheng Lang teased Qin Mu over breakfast and learned Qin Mu wanted to keep cooking for him. Qin Mu invited Cheng Lang to visit his company, but Cheng Lang said he had plans with Meng Tianye, so Qin Mu offered to drive him.

• Cheng Lang woke up sore and joked with the system about wanting a pain-relief pill, then dismissed its reminder about his mission.
• Qin Mu made Cheng Lang breakfast and promised to learn the foods he liked, including fried dough sticks for the next morning.
• Cheng Lang asked whether Qin Mu had enjoyed the night before; Qin Mu said he was especially satisfied and asked Cheng Lang the same question, which Cheng Lang affirmed.
• After breakfast, Qin Mu invited Cheng Lang to visit his company, but Cheng Lang said he had plans with Meng Tianye to go to Grand View Stage.
• Qin Mu offered to drive Cheng Lang to meet Meng Tianye.

Qin Mu and Cheng Lang discussed setting up a home together and what they might do after a future fight. Qin Mu revealed how his parents’ broken marriage had shaped his fears, and Cheng Lang reassured him that he would not cheat or leave.

• Qin Mu asked Cheng Lang to send him the address for a studio he planned to rent during winter break, then asked about decorating their new home.
• Cheng Lang suggested getting a comfortable sofa, and Qin Mu decided that he would sleep on it if they ever fought.
• Qin Mu told Cheng Lang that his parents had never fought, then recalled how Mrs. Weng divorced Qin Wenyu after discovering his affair and took Qin Mu away from the Qin Family.
• Qin Mu warned Cheng Lang that he would fight with him rather than break up if Cheng Lang cheated, and said he would stay by his side.
• Cheng Lang embraced Qin Mu and promised not to cheat while they were dating, while Qin Mu vowed not to let their relationship end.
• Cheng Lang told Qin Mu to get ready for work before he went with Meng Tianye to Grand View Stage.

Cheng Lang visited the Grand View Stage and asked the Yao brothers to help Meng Tianye prepare for his Kunqu Opera performance. The Yao brothers invited Cheng Lang to join them onstage for an impromptu exchange, and the three went out to perform.

• Cheng Lang arrived at the Grand View Stage after saying goodbye to Qin Mu, where Meng Tianye had been waiting for him.
• Cheng Lang slipped backstage, greeted the Yao brothers, and asked them to help Meng Tianye prepare for his Kunqu Opera performance.
• Yao Liangsheng offered to take Meng Tianye to see The Peony Pavilion after the crosstalk set.
• Yao Liangjing suggested that Cheng Lang perform with the brothers, and Cheng Lang teased them until their fellow disciples challenged him to an onstage exchange.
• Cheng Lang and the Yao brothers went onstage after the host introduced them.

Cheng Lang performed crosstalk with the Yao brothers at Grand View Stage, and a video of his act went viral, drawing attention to his milk tea shop. Meanwhile, Meng Tianye made connections with Kunqu Opera performers, and Cheng Lang extended the shop’s hours to support students cramming for exams.

• Cheng Lang bantered with White Jade Capital regulars before performing crosstalk with the Yao brothers at Grand View Stage.
• A netizen uploaded a video of Cheng Lang’s performance, and he paid to promote the resulting online buzz.
• Yao Qixian called the Yao brothers and asked them to invite Cheng Lang to perform again, but Cheng Lang politely declined for now.
• The Yao brothers introduced Meng Tianye to Kunqu Opera actors, who discussed his planned rock adaptation of The Interrupted Dream with him.
• Cheng Lang returned to his milk tea shop and, after consulting Shen Huaiyu, kept it open around the clock for students studying for final exams.

Shen Huaiyu proposed offering free Big-Bowl Milk Tea at Forest Style Milk Tea after midnight, and Cheng Lang agreed. The new drink became popular with students and brought many of them into the shop as regular customers.

• Cheng Lang returned to the busy milk tea shop, joked with customers who recognized him, and took Shen Huaiyu out to dinner.
• Shen Huaiyu suggested setting up a stand to offer free Big-Bowl Milk Tea after midnight for customers and passersby who could not afford other drinks.
• Cheng Lang approved the plan, and Shen Huaiyu ordered a tea-brewing setup from Luo Pu and developed the recipe over several days.
• Forest Style Milk Tea launched Big-Bowl Milk Tea, which students welcomed as an affordable, tasty late-night drink.
• Students who first came for free tea began buying the shop’s other drinks and gradually became loyal customers.

Cheng Lang and Xin Bosong clashed at Tomorrow's Starlight over First Milk Tea's promotional event and the future of Forest Style Milk Tea. Xin Bosong dismissed Cheng Lang's brand, while Cheng Lang stayed composed as the confrontation continued.

• Cheng Lang and Shen Huaiyu continued Forest Style Milk Tea's free Big-Bowl Milk Tea tradition after weighing its costs against increased revenue.
• Luo Pu moved production equipment into the newly completed Forest Garden Food Processing Factory, where workers began building inventory for Lunar New Year.
• Cheng Lang launched Forest Style Milk Tea's online store and released a promotional song MV produced by Meng Tianye with support from Qin Dynasty Records' producers.
• Cheng Lang and Wang Liu'an arrived at Tomorrow's Starlight and saw First Milk Tea's support booths promoting contestants outside the TV station.
• Xin Bosong offered Cheng Lang and Wang Liu'an First Milk Tea and boasted about its promotional event and bestselling product.
• Xin Bosong belittled Forest Style Milk Tea as a no-name brand, while Cheng Lang calmly answered him and Wang Liu'an grew angry.

Cheng Lang arranged to obtain footage of Xin Bosong’s condescending remarks, seeing a chance to use First Milk Tea’s promotion for his next move. During the live performance round, Meng Tianye’s backing track repeatedly failed, disrupting his performance and leaving him angry and rattled.

• Cheng Lang praised Xin Bosong’s sponsorship and promotion efforts, then asked nearby fans to record what had happened and offered to pay for the footage.
• Wang Liu'an complained that Cheng Lang had stopped him from confronting Xin Bosong, and Cheng Lang explained that First Milk Tea’s actions would help his next promotional move.
• At the eleventh episode’s live performance round, Meng Tianye’s backing track failed when he began performing, but the Kunqu Opera performer supplied a backup.
• Meng Tianye and the Kunqu Opera performer delivered an energetic rearrangement of The Interrupted Dream, winning over the audience.
• The production team interrupted Meng Tianye four times over backing-track problems and then questioned his backups, leaving him furious and unsettled.

After repeated recording failures, Meng Tianye used Cheng Lang’s advice to perform without relying on the backing track, turning his frustration into an improvised rock performance. His rebellious set electrified the audience as he recognized the production team was trying to sabotage him and get him eliminated.

• Meng Tianye complained that the production team had disrupted all four of his recordings, angering fans of the other contestants.
• Cheng Lang and Wang Liu'an followed Meng Tianye to the restroom, where Cheng Lang suggested he play the guitar himself if the backing track stopped.
• Meng Tianye began his next recording with an improvised electric guitar solo before the backing track started.
• When the delayed backing track arrived, Meng Tianye changed the lyrics and added guitar chords to keep control of the performance.
• The audience reacted excitedly to Meng Tianye’s fiery performance as he realized the production team planned to use a bad take to justify eliminating him.

Meng Tianye overcame the production team's sabotage by improvising a guitar-and-rap performance of The Interrupted Dream, then quit the competition on his own terms. His departure stirred the audience, and the chapter left the studio restless as his fans questioned why he had to leave after performing so well.

• When the accompaniment cut out, Meng Tianye improvised electric-guitar backing and a rap alongside the Kunqu Opera performer.
• Meng Tianye ended the performance with a fierce guitar solo, drawing a roaring standing ovation from the audience.
• Meng Tianye thanked the supporting performer, declared that he was quitting, and walked offstage with her.
• The studio erupted, reporters sent out videos, and Cheng Lang and Wang Liu'an left while Meng Tianye's fans began to follow.
• As fans continued leaving, one audience member angrily asked why Meng Tianye had to quit after performing so well.

Meng Tianye withdrew from Tomorrow's Starlight after a powerful rock performance and the audience erupted over equipment failures and suspected unfair treatment. As the production team struggled to contain the backlash, sponsor Xin Bosong dismissed Meng Tianye's departure and urged the show to continue.

• The audience called for Meng Tianye to advance, while others objected that equipment failures had made the earlier contestants' performances unfair.
• The host tried to calm the crowd and promised the production team would check the equipment, but fans accused the show of mistreating contestants and shouted that it was rigged.
• Meng Tianye demanded that the assistant director let him leave, while the production team tried to stop him and the guest singers at the studio entrance.
• Cheng Lang threatened to call the police unless the staff moved aside, and the assistant director let them go so they could discuss the situation.
• Xin Bosong stopped the chief director from speaking with Meng Tianye and told the production team to calm the audience and resume the competition.

After Meng Tianye withdrew from Tomorrow's Starlight, leaked footage and rumors linked his departure to a dispute between title sponsor First Milk Tea and Forest Style Milk Tea. The ensuing online brand battle boosted Forest Style Milk Tea's recognition while First Milk Tea's supporters were drowned out.

• The chief director let Meng Tianye and his group leave as the production team focused on calming the studio audience.
• Fans and reporters spread news of Meng Tianye's withdrawal, and secretly filmed footage of the recording soon went viral.
• Online rumors claimed Tomorrow's Starlight targeted Meng Tianye because he had promoted Forest Style Milk Tea, angering title sponsor First Milk Tea.
• X University students and Meng Tianye's fans promoted Forest Style Milk Tea online, helping spark polls and comparisons between the two brands.
• First Milk Tea's management watched Forest Style Milk Tea gain recognition and saw its reputation suffer as customers from both brands argued online.
• Forest Style Milk Tea's young customers and Cheng Lang's fans overwhelmed First Milk Tea's supporters in the online dispute.

Forest Style Milk Tea turned First Milk Tea’s attack into a sales and publicity victory, while Meng Tianye’s accusations intensified suspicion that First Milk Tea had influenced the competition. Cheng Lang then escalated the fight into the stock market, where First Milk Tea’s shares plunged and the Xin family realized someone was shorting the company.

• Xin Bosong issued a statement condemning Forest Style Milk Tea’s marketing, and Cheng Lang replied by inviting consumers to judge its products for themselves.
• Forest Style Milk Tea sold all one hundred thousand packs of Milk Tea Powder in a day and thanked customers for their support.
• A video of Xin Bosong’s remarks spread online, weakening criticism of Forest Style Milk Tea and reviving attention to the dispute.
• Tomorrow's Starlight aired Meng Tianye’s episode with his strongest performance omitted, after which Meng Tianye questioned whether First Milk Tea had treated contestants fairly.
• Speculation spread that First Milk Tea had pushed the production team to eliminate Meng Tianye, and rumors of unfair competition helped trigger a sell-off of its shares.
• The Xin family tried to support First Milk Tea’s stock, but the price fell from eighty to 69.7, and they realized someone was shorting the company.

Half a month earlier, Cheng Lang gathered several wealthy customers to help him short First Milk Tea, and Qin Mu joined the plan after learning what he was doing. The group agreed to proceed, while Cheng Lang also asked Qin Mu to lend him his private equity fund.

• Cheng Lang invited several customers with money and no ties to Forest Style Milk Tea to discuss shorting First Milk Tea.
• The customers questioned Cheng Lang’s experience and asked him to prove his plan was convincing.
• Qin Mu arrived, realized Cheng Lang wanted to short First Milk Tea, and complained that Cheng Lang had not asked him for money first.
• Cheng Lang explained his short-selling plan, and the customers agreed to join before leaving to raise funds.
• Cheng Lang asked Qin Mu to lend him his private equity fund and explained that bringing in the customers would spread risk and build business connections.

Cheng Lang used Qin Mu’s backing to short-sell First Milk Tea, earning 600 million as its market value plunged, then met Old Master Xin to propose a partnership between First Milk Tea and Forest Style Milk Tea. Old Master Xin read Cheng Lang’s proposal and recognized how meticulously he had planned the whole affair.

• Cheng Lang decided to use Qin Mu’s investment company’s five-percent stake in First Milk Tea to help his short-selling plan.
• Cheng Lang’s operation drove First Milk Tea’s market value from 11.9 billion to 9.8 billion in three days, earning him a net profit of 600 million.
• Old Master Xin called Cheng Lang to seek peace, and Cheng Lang flew to Hong Kong Island to meet him.
• Cheng Lang praised Old Master Xin’s success, then proposed that Forest Style Milk Tea provide recipes while First Milk Tea handled packaging and production.
• Old Master Xin read Cheng Lang’s proposal and remarked that Cheng Lang had planned everything meticulously.

Cheng Lang pressed Old Mr. Xin to accept a partnership between Forest Style Milk Tea and First Milk Tea, arguing it could restore the latter’s image and reach younger customers. Old Mr. Xin distrusted Cheng Lang and his motives, and remained frustrated that First Milk Tea might not be able to refuse.

• Cheng Lang thanked Old Mr. Xin for cooperating with him and proposed assigning an experienced manager to oversee the partnership.
• Old Mr. Xin rejected the proposal, but Cheng Lang pointed to First Milk Tea’s stock price and said cooperation could resolve its current troubles.
• Old Mr. Xin accused Cheng Lang of using underhanded tactics and demanded to know what he wanted from First Milk Tea.
• Cheng Lang said First Milk Tea was losing consumers under twenty-five, while Old Mr. Xin recalled how Forest Style Milk Tea’s campaign had undermined First Milk Tea’s sponsorship of Tomorrow's Starlight.
• Old Mr. Xin concluded that cooperation with Cheng Lang would be dangerous, but feared refusing would be difficult, and blamed Xin Bosong for letting the crisis grow.