Chapter Summaries

Cheng Lang pitched Old Mr. Xin a partnership between Forest Style Milk Tea and First Milk Tea, using Meng Tianye’s rising fame to promote a new product line and repair the brands’ public image. The chapter ended with Meng Tianye refusing to endorse First Milk Tea.

• Cheng Lang proposed that Forest Style Milk Tea and First Milk Tea jointly launch a new milk tea line, with each company contributing its marketing strengths.
• Old Mr. Xin weighed the benefits against his concerns about Cheng Lang and First Milk Tea’s difficulty attracting younger consumers.
• Cheng Lang suggested making Meng Tianye the new line’s spokesperson and described how the campaign could turn rumors about First Milk Tea into a publicity stunt.
• Cheng Lang advised Old Mr. Xin to buy First Milk Tea shares while the stock was low and laid out a launch plan for the summer.
• Meng Tianye angrily refused to advertise First Milk Tea or say that he chose it for milk tea.

Cheng Lang convinced Meng Tianye to endorse a new Big-Bowl Milk Tea line jointly developed by First Milk Tea and Forest Style Milk Tea. He also secured the partnership with Old Master Xin, who agreed to remove Bosong from his executive role and consider buying out shareholders who wanted to leave.

• Meng Tianye refused Cheng Lang’s offer, believing First Milk Tea and Forest Style Milk Tea were rivals and that endorsing First Milk Tea would betray his friends and fans.
• Cheng Lang told Meng Tianye that the two brands would collaborate on Big-Bowl Milk Tea and that the endorsement was for the new product line.
• Cheng Lang explained that he had reached a preliminary partnership agreement with Old Master Xin that afternoon, helping stabilize First Milk Tea’s falling stock price.
• Cheng Lang warned Old Master Xin that President Xin’s recklessness had caused the company’s losses and said he did not want him overseeing the partnership.
• Old Master Xin agreed to remove Bosong as Operations Director for Greater China and send him back to a grassroots position.
• Cheng Lang advised Old Master Xin to buy shares from minority shareholders who wanted to withdraw so the Xin family could retain control of First Milk Tea.

Cheng Lang persuaded Meng Tianye to accept First Milk Tea’s endorsement and follow a fast-paced debut plan designed to capitalize on the publicity surrounding Tomorrow’s Starlight. After explaining that the endorsement supported his business strategy, Cheng Lang got Meng Tianye to agree to sign and told him to keep his schedule open for variety-show appearances.

• Old Master Xin rejected Cheng Lang’s proposal, saying the Xin family had no spare money and he would try to persuade First Milk Tea’s shareholders not to withdraw their investments.
• Cheng Lang explained that he had targeted First Milk Tea to raise capital, gain access to its brand and marketing network, and retaliate against its Greater China operations director.
• Cheng Lang told Meng Tianye to release a debut single rather than an album and said he would seek variety-show appearances to build his popularity before summer vacation.
• Cheng Lang argued that Meng Tianye should debut while publicity from Tomorrow’s Starlight and the two milk tea brands could benefit him, and hinted that Star Entertainment Media and the production team would face consequences for forcing him out.
• Cheng Lang revealed that First Milk Tea and Forest Style Milk Tea had only tentatively agreed to cooperate, and Meng Tianye agreed to sign for the endorsement.
• Cheng Lang told Meng Tianye to ask his manager to keep his schedule open while he discussed recommending him for variety shows with First Milk Tea.

Cheng Lang discussed Meng Tianye’s New Year plans and then asked Qin Mu for help with a business deal, only for Qin Mu’s explanation of his love to make Cheng Lang suspect that Qin Mu had developed self-awareness. The chapter ended with Cheng Lang asking the system whether Qin Mu had become self-aware.

• Meng Tianye said he could appear on a variety show and bring his parents to X City for New Year, and Cheng Lang agreed to postpone the show until after the holiday.
• Cheng Lang planned to ask Qin Mu to lend his legal team for a contract to establish a production line with First Milk Tea.
• Qin Mu offered to transfer his five percent stake in First Milk Tea to Cheng Lang, but Cheng Lang refused the gift.
• Qin Mu said he loved Cheng Lang because Cheng Lang felt real, and Cheng Lang reacted with sudden unease.
• Cheng Lang asked the system whether Qin Mu had developed self-awareness.

Cheng Lang learned that Qin Mu had awakened self-awareness and discovered that the World Consciousness had repeatedly tried to erase him, including through the car accident Cheng Lang had prevented. The chapter left Cheng Lang facing the threat posed by Qin Mu’s awakening and the revelation that Qin Mu’s attachment to him came from a desperate desire to survive.

• The system admitted to Cheng Lang that Qin Mu had awakened self-awareness.
• Cheng Lang recalled his mission to restore novel plots and eliminate awakened characters, while realizing Shen Huaiyu’s improving mental state had made the mission seem easy.
• Cheng Lang connected Qin Mu’s awakening to the unexplained car accident and questioned the system about it.
• The system confessed that the World Consciousness had arranged the accident to eliminate Qin Mu and protect Lu Chengxuan’s protagonist status.
• The system explained that Qin Mu’s repeated resistance to being erased had strengthened his desire to survive, which transformed into an intense love for Cheng Lang after Cheng Lang saved him.

Cheng Lang struggled to decide how to save Qin Mu from the World Consciousness erasing his awakened self-awareness. He considered bringing Qin Mu into the System Space and erasing his memories, while Qin Mu mistook his gloom for worry about their contract.

• Cheng Lang rejected the system's suggestions to make Qin Mu a task executor or erase his consciousness, then worried about what would happen to him after the mission.
• Cheng Lang argued that repeated erasure could turn Qin Mu into a rebel and proposed bringing him into the System Space while erasing his memories.
• The system warned that Cheng Lang's colleagues could tell Qin Mu about their past, making the memory erasure pointless.
• Cheng Lang sighed over his predicament, and Qin Mu offered to have the legal team draft contract terms the next morning.

Cheng Lang spent the morning with Qin Mu, visited his company to arrange their partnership, and received five percent of First Milk Tea. On the drive back to school, he bet Qin Mu that he would not fail his exams, with Qin Mu agreeing to grant him one request if he lost.

• Cheng Lang decided to enjoy his relationship with Qin Mu for now, and Qin Mu made him shumai and congee for breakfast.
• Cheng Lang agreed to move in after his final exams and warned Qin Mu not to help him with his affairs unless he asked.
• Qin Mu introduced Cheng Lang to the company executives and shareholders, and Cheng Lang worked with the legal team to finalize their partnership terms.
• Qin Mu transferred five percent of First Milk Tea's shares to Cheng Lang, who declined an offer to get an employee card.
• After Cheng Lang's advisor scolded him for missing class, Cheng Lang bet Qin Mu that he would not fail; if Qin Mu lost, he would have to agree to one thing.

Cheng Lang returned to the milk tea shop after discussing his terms with Qin Mu, where he and Shen Huaiyu talked about developing bottled Big-Bowl Milk Tea. Lu Chengxuan arrived and took Cheng Lang outside to confront him about his relationship with Qin Mu and his newly acquired shares in First Milk Tea.

• Cheng Lang told Cheng Lang that they would discuss his request when the time came, then dropped him off at X University.
• At the milk tea shop, Shen Huaiyu worried that bottling and additives could affect Big-Bowl Milk Tea, while Cheng Lang encouraged him to develop flavors for the public.
• Lu Chengxuan stormed into the shop, grabbed Cheng Lang by the collar, and demanded to speak with him outside.
• Shen Huaiyu followed them and warned Lu Chengxuan that he would call the police if Cheng Lang did not return within half an hour.
• Lu Chengxuan drove around the area with Cheng Lang and confronted him about spending the night at Ah Mu's place and receiving five percent of First Milk Tea's shares.
• Cheng Lang answered Lu Chengxuan with a taunt, and Lu Chengxuan revealed that he had people watching Cheng Lang.

Cheng Lang confronted Lu Chengxuan, baiting him into revealing his intentions toward Qin Mu while secretly calling Qin Mu to let him hear the exchange. After Lu Chengxuan hung up and disabled the first phone, Cheng Lang produced another and faced off with him.

• Lu Chengxuan offered Cheng Lang money to leave Qin Mu, accusing him of seeking Qin Mu’s wealth.
• Cheng Lang accused Lu Chengxuan of targeting Qin Mu’s admirers to spite him and suggested Lu Chengxuan wanted to humiliate Qin Mu.
• Qin Mu heard the conversation through Cheng Lang’s call and angrily called out to Lu Chengxuan.
• Cheng Lang handed Lu Chengxuan the phone, but Lu Chengxuan hung up, switched it off, and threw it onto the back seat.
• Cheng Lang revealed he had another phone, and Lu Chengxuan threatened to call the police if Cheng Lang hit him.
• Cheng Lang pointed out that he was in Lu Chengxuan’s car and could claim self-defense after Lu Chengxuan took his phone.

Cheng Lang rebuffed Lu Chengxuan’s attempt to buy him off, exposing Lu’s lack of money and hypocrisy. He reflected on how domineering CEOs condemned partners for discussing money despite making their relationships material transactions.

• Cheng Lang reassured Qin Mu over the phone that Lu Chengxuan could not hurt him and said he would return with Qin Mu that night.
• Lu Chengxuan accused Cheng Lang of pursuing Qin Mu for money and asked how much it would take for him to leave.
• Cheng Lang pointed out his earnings from shorting First Milk Tea, the value of its shares, and Qin Mu’s wealth, then challenged Lu to explain what he could afford.
• Cheng Lang mocked Lu for repeatedly trying to keep him despite lacking the money to pay, then left the car.
• Cheng Lang reflected that domineering CEOs coerced partners into material relationships, then condemned them for asking for money or resources.

Cheng Lang returned to the milk tea shop and confronted Lu Chengxuan over his treatment of Shen Huaiyu, warning him to stop misrepresenting their relationship or damaging Shen’s reputation. Lu Chengxuan was forced to admit that he was pursuing Shen Huaiyu, while Cheng Lang cautioned him not to risk Lu Group’s reputation.

• Cheng Lang returned to the milk tea shop, where Shen Huaiyu worriedly asked whether Lu Chengxuan had made things difficult for him.
• Cheng Lang told Shen Huaiyu to ignore Lu Chengxuan’s advances and said their success with Forest Style Milk Tea would help Shen protect himself.
• Cheng Lang asked Lu Chengxuan how much he had spent on Shen Huaiyu, exposing that Lu had never paid him for anything.
• Cheng Lang warned Lu Chengxuan that he would sue if Lu damaged Shen Huaiyu’s or Forest Style Milk Tea’s reputation.
• Cheng Lang made Lu Chengxuan clarify that he was pursuing Shen Huaiyu, then warned him to consider the consequences for Lu Group.

After Cheng Lang warned Lu Chengxuan to leave Shen Huaiyu alone, Shen Huaiyu felt relieved that he might finally explain their relationship on his own terms. Cheng Lang later performed at White Jade Capital and began building connections with investors for Forest Style Milk Tea.

• Cheng Lang warned Lu Chengxuan not to challenge his patience, and Lu Chengxuan left furious.
• Shen Huaiyu smiled brightly and invited Cheng Lang to dinner because he believed he would have a chance to explain his past relationship.
• Shen Huaiyu treated Cheng Lang to a lavish meal, leaving Cheng Lang too full to drink during his performance at White Jade Capital.
• After Cheng Lang's performance, several guests tried to recruit him into their private equity circles, but he focused on Forest Style Milk Tea and future investors.
• Cheng Lang told Shen Huaiyu to get to know potential investors as he drove him back to school.

Shen Huaiyu quit his job at White Jade Capital to focus on developing Forest Style Milk Tea and becoming Cheng Lang’s business partner. Cheng Lang planned to rent a studio near school as their base, while their roommates hoped to join their ventures after hearing about Cheng Lang’s success shorting First Milk Tea.

• Shen Huaiyu told Cheng Lang he had resigned from White Jade Capital and planned to work on new milk tea flavors and help at the shop.
• Shen Huaiyu teased Cheng Lang about Qin Mu, and Cheng Lang described Qin Mu as a startled Snow Leopard while Qin Mu followed them in his Rolls-Royce.
• Back at the dorm, Cheng Lang packed for winter break and suggested that he and Shen Huaiyu rent a studio near school as their base for the next four years.
• Their two roommates eagerly asked about the studio and whether Cheng Lang could bring them along in his business ventures.
• X University students began admiring Cheng Lang after learning he had earned several hundred million by shorting First Milk Tea, and his roommates envied Shen Huaiyu for being included in his plans.

Cheng Lang recruited a team for Forest Style Milk Tea after announcing a casual job notice that sparked rumors of a future public listing. Once the team was assembled, he welcomed them at a banquet while his senior employees remained wary of his business plans.

• Cheng Lang planned to recruit college students and experienced managers to build Forest Style Milk Tea’s sales and marketing teams.
• Cheng Lang posted a recruitment notice online, including an urgent opening for an HR manager, and rumors spread that Forest Style Milk Tea would go public within a year.
• Applicants sent in résumés, and Cheng Lang assembled the HR manager, marketing manager, and other department staff in less than half a month.
• Cheng Lang hosted a banquet for the new team and promised that employees would not suffer under his management.
• Senior staff stayed alert, recognizing that Cheng Lang intended to use the partnership with First Milk Tea to build Forest Style Milk Tea’s offline distribution channels.

Shen Huaiyu deferred Forest Style Milk Tea’s management to Cheng Lang, while Cheng Lang and Qin Mu continued their affectionate relationship after the company dinner. The next morning, Qin Mu saw Cheng Lang off to his final exam, where Cheng Lang encountered academic advisor Meng Haiyang as an invigilator.

• Shen Huaiyu said Cheng Lang would handle the company’s management while he focused on developing new milk tea flavors.
• Qin Mu drove Cheng Lang and Shen Huaiyu home, then prepared hangover soup and a late-night snack for Cheng Lang.
• Cheng Lang and Qin Mu spent the night together, leaving Cheng Lang tired the next morning.
• Qin Mu made Cheng Lang an exam-themed breakfast and gave him chocolate before driving him to school.
• Cheng Lang entered the classroom for his final exam and saw Meng Haiyang among the invigilators.

Cheng Lang rejected Meng Haiyang’s repeated suggestions that he search for his biological parents, then looked for a workspace with Shen Huaiyu and found a photography studio he wanted to rent. The studio owner offered to lower the rent in exchange for photographing Cheng Lang and Shen Huaiyu.

• Meng Haiyang asked Cheng Lang whether he would fail his exams and invited him to spend winter break and New Year with him, but Cheng Lang declined.
• Meng Haiyang pressed Cheng Lang about finding his biological parents, and Cheng Lang warned that he would consult a lawyer if they appeared to claim kinship.
• Cheng Lang returned to his exam, and after it he and Shen Huaiyu searched nearby office buildings for a workspace but found none they liked.
• Cheng Lang spotted a For Rent notice at the photography studio where Shen Huaiyu had filmed his Tea Whisking video and proposed renting it.
• The studio owner explained that he was closing because his father wanted him to inherit the family business, then offered to rent the studio to Cheng Lang and Shen Huaiyu for three million a year if they let him photograph them.

Cheng Lang confronted a woman claiming to be his mother and threatened legal action over his abandonment and attempted murder. He pressed Meng Haiyang for what he and his mother knew, and Meng Haiyang revealed that the woman had brought Cheng Lang to his mother as an infant eighteen years earlier.

• Cheng Lang and Shen Huaiyu returned to school for their exams and found Meng Haiyang arguing with a woman.
• The woman claimed to be Cheng Lang's mother and tried to embrace him, but Cheng Lang demanded a paternity test and cited the crime of abandonment.
• Cheng Lang told the woman to leave or face the police, then took Meng Haiyang aside to question him.
• Cheng Lang accused the woman of trying to kill him and warned Meng Haiyang that he could be treated as an accomplice.
• Meng Haiyang said the woman was his mother's good friend and had brought a child to her eighteen years earlier, asking her to take the child in.

Cheng Lang rejected Meng Haiyang’s attempt to use his mother’s upbringing of him as a debt, pointing out how much he had done for the Meng family in return. After the two entered the exam room, he discovered that a video of the confrontation was online and that accounts linked to Star Entertainment Media and X City TV Station were pushing public pressure on him to support his biological parents.

• Cheng Lang challenged Meng Haiyang’s claim that his mother had raised him, arguing that caring for orphanage children had been her job and recounting how he had helped Meng Haiyang avoid trouble and get into college.
• Meng Haiyang fell silent as he realized Cheng Lang resented his biological mother’s sudden attempt to reclaim him after he had started making money.
• The exam bell interrupted their argument, and Cheng Lang told Meng Haiyang to take the exam before continuing the discussion.
• Cheng Lang and Meng Haiyang entered the classroom, where the examinees stopped whispering and looked toward Cheng Lang before turning away.
• Cheng Lang checked the video of the school-gate confrontation online and found accounts linked to Star Entertainment Media and X City TV Station urging him to support his biological parents.

As Cheng Lang took an exam, online discussion about his suspected biological mother and the orphanage director’s role in concealing his abandonment spread rapidly. Meng Haiyang realized the scandal could ruin his mother’s position and regretted helping her intervene.

• Netizens argued over whether Cheng Lang should forgive and support the parents who had abandoned him, prompting others to defend him.
• Cheng Lang calmly put down his phone and continued answering his exam while Meng Haiyang struggled to stay composed as a proctor.
• Meng Haiyang found the long video of Cheng Lang confronting him at school among the trending discussions and watched the comments turn against the woman and the orphanage director.
• Netizens questioned whether Cheng Lang’s suspected mother and the orphanage director could face legal consequences for abandoning him and concealing it.
• Meng Haiyang regretted agreeing to help his mother persuade Cheng Lang as he realized the scandal might cost her her job and bring him public judgment.

After finishing his exams, Cheng Lang saw that public opinion had turned in his favor and responded to a blogger who criticized him for considering legal action against his birth mother. He and Shen Huaiyu then signed a lease for the photography studio, and their dinner with its owner ended with the owner lamenting that he had to inherit his family business.

• Cheng Lang found that online opinion supported him, accepted his classmates’ comfort, and posted a reply to a blogger who called him immoral.
• Cheng Lang and Shen Huaiyu returned to the photography studio after exams to take photos in exchange for rent.
• The studio owner signed a lease with Cheng Lang and Shen Huaiyu, setting April 1 as the start date and allowing a month for renovations.
• Shen Huaiyu offered to make tea for the owner, while Cheng Lang explained that Shen Huaiyu was too busy developing new products to teach Tea Whisking.
• Cheng Lang, Shen Huaiyu, and the studio owner went for hotpot, where the owner complained that he did not want to inherit the family business.