Chapter Summaries

Cheng Lang and Shen Huaiyu shared a meal with Cheng Yan, then Cheng Lang rejoined Qin Mu, who gave him an investigation report about Chang Mingfeng. The report linked Chang Mingfeng to an abandoned infant, leaving Cheng Lang with new information about the paternity-test story.

• Cheng Yan told Cheng Lang about his family’s Chengyi Restaurant and his wish to pursue photography rather than cooking.
• Cheng Lang and Shen Huaiyu ate hot pot with Cheng Yan, who asked them to preserve his photo studio’s sets when renovating it into milk tea shops.
• Cheng Lang and Shen Huaiyu put the drunken Cheng Yan into a taxi and arranged for his family to collect him.
• Qin Mu picked up Cheng Lang and Shen Huaiyu, then Cheng Lang answered questions about the trending topic while walking around the school track.
• Qin Mu gave Cheng Lang an investigation report stating that Chang Mingfeng had left an infant with orphanage director Jiang Feng after her attempt to force her way into a family failed.

Cheng Lang turned the unexpected controversy over a woman claiming to be his mother into an opportunity to establish an Orphan Aid Fund and shift public attention toward charity and his business. With the woman’s next move still unknown, he waited at the photography studio while his company prepared to relocate.

• Cheng Lang and Qin Mu realized Chengyi Grand Hotel had become the current Chengyi Restaurant, and Cheng Lang declined Qin Mu’s offer to deal with the woman claiming a relationship with him.
• Cheng Lang visited the relevant department to ask how to establish an Orphan Aid Fund, explaining that his own difficult childhood had inspired him to help abandoned children.
• Cheng Lang pledged one million yuan to establish the fund, with the X City Orphanage where he had once lived as its first recipient.
• Media reported on Cheng Lang’s charitable fund, and public attention shifted from his background to his career and charity.
• Cheng Lang told Shen Huaiyu that he wanted to counter the controversy and protect Forest Style Milk Tea’s reputation, then waited to see what the woman would do next.
• After final exams ended and business slowed, Cheng Lang gathered his company to begin moving.

Cheng Lang outlined plans to turn his new headquarters into a combined office and themed milk tea restaurant, while the Cheng Family worried that he might seek revenge after learning about his past. Cheng Yan discovered that Cheng Lang was his younger brother and defended their friendship to his parents.

• Cheng Lang explained how he would use the four-floor photography studio as Forest Style Milk Tea’s office and customer space, and reassured employees about security and trade secrets.
• Cheng Yan’s mother warned Cheng Xingwang that Cheng Lang’s influence and business skills could threaten the Cheng Family if he wanted revenge.
• Cheng Yan overheard his parents reveal that Cheng Lang was his younger brother and reacted with surprise.
• Cheng Yan’s mother told him to stay away from Cheng Lang, but Cheng Yan insisted they had become friends by chance.
• Cheng Yan defended Cheng Lang, explaining that he had grown up in an orphanage and earned his success through hard work.

Cheng Yan’s parents revealed that they had known Cheng Lang was Cheng Xingwang’s son and explained how Chang Mingfeng left him at an orphanage after they refused to raise him. The Cheng Family had initially planned to persuade Cheng Yan’s mother to take Cheng Lang in, leaving his fate unresolved.

• Cheng Yan defended Cheng Lang and warned his parents that Cheng Lang might see them as irresponsible people seeking benefits from him.
• Cheng Yan’s mother admitted that she and Cheng Xingwang had known about Cheng Lang for years.
• The family recounted how Chang Mingfeng returned to X City with baby Cheng Lang and asked Cheng Xingwang and his wife to raise him.
• Cheng Yan’s mother refused, and the Cheng Family’s elders abandoned their plan to bring Cheng Lang home after she threatened divorce.
• Chang Mingfeng left Cheng Lang at an orphanage and departed X City, while the Cheng Family considered persuading Cheng Yan’s mother to take him in.

Cheng Yan’s mother admitted why she had kept Cheng Lang out of the Cheng Family and feared he might retaliate, while Cheng Yan said he would not blame her. Meanwhile, Cheng Lang prepared to use Meng Tianye’s debut single to promote Forest Style Milk Tea, and the chapter ended with Cheng Lang and Zhao Mingyue disagreeing over the music video’s location.

• Cheng Yan’s mother explained that she had blocked the Cheng Family from taking Cheng Lang in and stopped them from supporting the orphanage because she feared Chang Mingfeng and the director would use him to cause trouble.
• Cheng Yan’s mother confessed she feared Cheng Lang would take revenge on her but asked him not to harm Cheng Yan.
• Cheng Lang decided to release Meng Tianye’s debut single on the day Tomorrow’s Starlight streamed its national finals.
• Meng Tianye revised Wild Growth after withdrawing from Tomorrow’s Starlight, and Zhao Mingyue agreed to produce the song.
• Cheng Lang funded a music video for Wild Growth in Forest Style Milk Tea’s name, but he and Zhao Mingyue disagreed about filming it abroad.

Cheng Lang backed Meng Tianye’s concert-style debut MV, which launched on the day of Tomorrow’s Starlight’s national finals and drew comparisons that made the show’s performances look weak. While criticizing the finals production in a livestream, Cheng Lang also mocked a commenter who challenged him over his biological parents.

• Meng Tianye and Zhao Mingyue favored filming Wild Growth as a concert, and Cheng Lang agreed to produce an elaborate ten-thousand-person-style venue and direct the lighting and stage design.
• Qin Dynasty Records released Wild Growth at noon on the day of Tomorrow’s Starlight’s national finals, and its polished concert atmosphere and Meng Tianye’s performance impressed viewers.
• Netizens compared Meng Tianye’s MV with the finals contestants, whose performances suffered from thin vocals, a lackluster audience atmosphere, and nervous mistakes.
• Cheng Lang livestreamed critiques of the finals production, praising the contestants while attacking the show’s lighting and malfunctioning microphones.
• When a commenter called Cheng Lang coldhearted for considering legal action against his biological parents, Cheng Lang sarcastically offered to send his mother to the commenter to support instead.

After Tomorrow's Starlight's successful finale boosted Meng Tianye's music sales and Forest Style Milk Tea's new products, Cheng Lang prepared to expand the brand with directly operated stores. Cheng Yan's mother called to ask him not to take revenge on her family, but Cheng Lang rejected her assumptions and warned her against defamation.

• Tomorrow's Starlight's finale drove Meng Tianye's debut single MV to more than six million sales, and Qin Dynasty Records considered producing a physical album.
• Forest Style Milk Tea gained a surge of followers and sales, then Cheng Lang and Shen Huaiyu planned to expand with directly operated branches and train flagship-store employees for management roles.
• Cheng Yan's mother called Cheng Lang and asked him to direct any revenge at her and Cheng Xingwang rather than Cheng Yan.
• Cheng Lang said he would handle the matter through legal channels and warned Cheng Yan's mother not to make baseless accusations that could damage his or Forest Style Milk Tea's reputation.
• Cheng Yan's mother denied intending to provoke Cheng Lang and explained that she feared his power and his past actions against First Milk Tea.

Cheng Lang confronted Cheng Yan's mother for slandering him out of fear that he might retaliate over the past. Afterward, he checked on Chengyi Restaurant's sales with Shen Huaiyu and planned to go home for the holiday.

• Cheng Lang accused Cheng Yan's mother of trying to protect her own interests by morally pressuring him and harming his reputation.
• Cheng Lang told Cheng Yan's mother that she had no right to provoke an innocent person while protecting her own vested interests.
• After ending the call, Cheng Lang looked out at the festive New Year's Eve crowds as Shen Huaiyu asked if he was all right.
• Shen Huaiyu reported that Chengyi Restaurant's sales department was receiving orders from major supermarkets, and Cheng Lang urged the team to learn from First Milk Tea's distributors.
• Cheng Lang told Shen Huaiyu he planned to go home for the holiday.

Cheng Lang agreed to spend New Year's Eve with Qin Mu at the Qin Family Ancestral Residence, and the two prepared and shared a seafood feast at home. The next morning, Qin Mu woke Cheng Lang early so they could arrive in time for the ancestor worship.

• Shen Huaiyu told Cheng Lang that Huaiyuan's mother had invited them for New Year, but Cheng Lang declined and offered to keep Shen Huaiyu company instead.
• Qin Mu insisted that Cheng Lang come with him to the Qin Family for New Year's Eve, and Cheng Lang agreed despite worrying about Qin Mu's family.
• Cheng Lang and Qin Mu bought seafood and snacks at a nearby supermarket, then cooked and ate a lavish seafood dinner together.
• After dinner, Qin Mu reassured Cheng Lang that he enjoyed cooking with him, and Cheng Lang admitted that preparing ingredients and washing dishes together was nice.
• On New Year's Eve, Qin Mu woke Cheng Lang before dawn and told him they had to reach the Qin Family Ancestral Residence in time for ancestor worship.

Qin Mu brought Cheng Lang to the Qin Family Ancestral Residence for the New Year, where Qin Mu openly introduced him as his beloved. The family reacted with shock, while Old Master Qin recognized Cheng Lang from their previous meeting and let the awkward exchange pass without challenging Qin Mu.

• Qin Wenyu warned Qin Mu to show restraint, and Qin Mu suggested Qin Wenyu investigate whether Xu Manyi's unborn child was really his.
• Qin Wenyu threatened to cast Xu Manyi out if a DNA test proved the child was not his, while Cheng Lang pointed out that Qin Wenyu seemed unconcerned for her and the baby's safety.
• Qin Mu and Cheng Lang entered the ancestral residence, where Qin Mi questioned Cheng Lang's place in the family.
• Qin Mu introduced Cheng Lang to Old Master Qin as his beloved, and Cheng Lang joked that he could be a filial grandson if he could not become Old Master Qin's son.
• Old Master Qin recognized Cheng Lang from their earlier meeting and chose not to press the matter, mindful of Qin Mu's grievances toward the family.

Cheng Lang waited with the Qin Family for the New Year ancestral rites, defended Qin Mu’s character to the young women, and warned Third Uncle Qin about the risks of investing in stocks. He returned to the table beside Qin Mu, where the family still waited to eat because Old Master Qin was absent.

• Cheng Lang told the Qin Family girls that Qin Mu was caring in private, though they doubted his good nature.
• The girls praised Cheng Lang as an appealing partner, and he explained that Qin Mu showed his love through attentive actions.
• After waiting more than three hours for the ancestral rites to end, Cheng Lang went to the restroom and encountered Third Uncle Qin.
• Third Uncle Qin asked Cheng Lang to help him make money in the stock market, and Cheng Lang agreed if he accepted the risks.
• Cheng Lang returned to sit beside Qin Mu, but the family had not begun eating because Old Master Qin was away.

At the Qin Family’s New Year’s Eve dinner, Cheng Lang’s relationship with Qin Mu and his financial success drew everyone’s attention, making the family treat him with newfound respect. After dinner, Qin Mu took Cheng Lang to see the snow-covered plum blossoms, which inspired Cheng Lang to suggest making plum blossom cakes.

• Qin Mu poured tea for Cheng Lang, and Third Uncle Qin praised Qin Mu’s attentiveness before Cheng Lang called him Third Uncle and offered to invest for him.
• Cheng Lang explained Third Uncle Qin’s investment proposal to the family, and Old Master Qin urged the family to support one another.
• The Qin Family discussed Cheng Lang’s short-selling success and cautiously avoided offending him because of his financial influence and his relationship with Qin Mu.
• After New Year’s Eve dinner, Qin Mu led Cheng Lang through the back garden to a plum grove where the blossoms were in bloom beneath the snow.
• Cheng Lang admired the plum blossoms and suggested they would be perfect for making plum blossom cakes.

On New Year's Eve at the Qin Family residence, Qin Mu showed how much influence he held and openly arranged to share a room with Cheng Lang. After caring for Cheng Lang's wet hair, Qin Mu pinned him against the bathroom counter, leaving their flirtation poised to become more intimate.

• Qin Mu offered to have plum blossoms made into pastries, then insisted on taking flowers from Old Master Qin's treasured grove despite the younger relatives' resentment.
• Cheng Lang learned that Qin Mu could disregard rules that applied to other Qin Family members because of his standing in the family.
• The Qin Family ate dumplings after midnight, and Qin Mu said Cheng Lang would stay in his room.
• Cheng Lang teased Qin Mu while draping himself over him, and Qin Mu insisted on drying Cheng Lang's wet hair after his shower.
• Qin Mu carried Cheng Lang to the bathroom counter and pressed him against it as Cheng Lang joked about trying something new.

Cheng Lang and Qin Mu spent a sleepless night before joining the Qin family for New Year breakfast. When Qin Mi and Second Madam Qin insulted Qin Mu and his mother, Qin Mu exposed their grievances and left the family gathering in turmoil.

• Cheng Lang woke to the butler's recording of firecrackers, and he and Qin Mu eventually got up and went to breakfast.
• Qin Mi mocked Qin Mu for arriving late, and Qin Mu challenged him to follow the family rules and show respect to his elders.
• Second Madam Qin defended Qin Mi, disparaged Qin Mu's mother, and questioned Qin Mu's place as heir to the Qin Group.
• Qin Mu pointed out Second Madam Qin's resentment toward his mother and the eldest-branch inheritance rule, then taunted her about Qin Wenyu's inability to have children.
• Qin Wenyu rebuked Second Madam Qin, Second Master Qin told her to be quiet, and Old Master Qin dismissed her complaint by saying that unkind elders invited disrespectful juniors.

Qin Mu defended his deceased mother from a rude remark, then shared breakfast and a stroll through the plum grove with Cheng Lang and the Qin family. Old Master Qin worried that Qin Mu’s family circumstances and relationship with Cheng Lang left him without dependable support, but chose not to confront him about it.

• Qin Mu reminded the Qin Family's second aunt that the dead deserved respect, and Old Master Qin told him to mind his words because she was his elder.
• Cheng Lang teased Qin Mu about becoming his straight man, then joked that he should keep his domineering CEO image instead.
• Old Master Qin had plum blossom cakes served, and Qin Mu put another one in Cheng Lang’s bowl, planning to learn how to make them for him.
• Old Master Qin recalled Qin Mu’s childhood mischief in the garden and reflected on how Qin Mu became taciturn after his parents’ marriage fell apart.
• Old Master Qin worried that Cheng Lang was not a dependable partner for Qin Mu, but kept his concerns to himself to avoid pushing Qin Mu away.

Cheng Lang spent New Year’s Day with the Qin Family, checked in with Shen Huaiyu about Shen Wojin’s recovery, and played a mobile game with Qin Mu. When Cheng Lang suggested they might leave everything behind to experience a different life together, Qin Mu agreed and gave himself three years to arrange his retirement and hand over his companies.

• Cheng Lang laughed with Qin Mu over Old Master Qin’s stories about Qin Mu’s childhood, then joined the family indoors.
• Cheng Lang called Shen Huaiyu, who said Shen Wojin’s condition had improved and that Uncle Luo and Senior Brother Huaiyuan had visited him at the hospital.
• Cheng Lang spent the morning sending New Year’s greetings before Qin Mu brought him tea and suggested playing cards.
• Cheng Lang taught Qin Mu a popular mobile game, and the two explored its virtual scenery together.
• Cheng Lang asked if Qin Mu would leave his current life to travel with him, and Qin Mu agreed to retire early and go on a honeymoon.
• Qin Mu told Cheng Lang he needed three years to settle the Weng Group and Qin Dynasty Group’s operations and prepare a successor.

Cheng Lang suggested that Qin Mu try acting, but Qin Mu interpreted the idea as role-play and enthusiastically joined him. As they settled into life together, Cheng Lang urged Qin Mu to learn practical skills for their future work, unaware that Qin Mu had misunderstood his reasons.

• Cheng Lang decided Qin Mu had about three years to prepare for returning to the System Space and suggested that he try acting.
• Cheng Lang and Qin Mu returned from the Qin Family Ancestral Residence, and Qin Mu surprised Cheng Lang by preparing a role-playing scenario.
• Cheng Lang guided Qin Mu through their role-play, and the next morning Qin Mu made him a generous breakfast.
• Cheng Lang suggested that Qin Mu learn self-defense and other professional skills for their future missions.
• Qin Mu mistook Cheng Lang's advice as dissatisfaction with his physical condition or role-playing, and silently planned which skills to learn.

Cheng Lang and Shen Huaiyu faced a sudden online controversy after a TV program announced an interview with Chang Mingfeng, who appealed to Cheng Lang for forgiveness while claiming she had cancer. As speculation tied Chang Mingfeng to Chengyi Restaurant’s owner, Cheng Xingwang, Cheng Lang suspected someone was steering public opinion, and Cheng Yan’s mother called to deny exposing his background.

• After breakfast, Qin Mu drove Cheng Lang to the studio, continuing their daily routine since Cheng Lang moved in with him.
• Shen Huaiyu told Cheng Lang that Family Mediation planned to interview Chang Mingfeng, and Cheng Lang watched the teaser in which she described her illness and hoped to make amends.
• Online commenters debated whether Cheng Lang should help Chang Mingfeng, while others connected her past affair to Chengyi Restaurant and speculated that Cheng Lang might sue Cheng Xingwang or inherit his wealth.
• Cheng Lang observed that the online discussion seemed deliberately directed toward pressuring him to sue Cheng Xingwang, despite the lack of a paternity test.
• Cheng Yan’s mother called Cheng Lang, denied revealing his background, and said she had no reason to offend him.

Cheng Yan’s mother failed to persuade Cheng Lang to spare the Cheng Family, while Cheng Xingwang blamed Chang Mingfeng and questioned whether Cheng Lang was his son. The couple considered seeking a paternity test and offering Cheng Lang shares, but Cheng Yan’s mother insisted the business belonged to Cheng Yan.

• Cheng Yan’s mother could not bring herself to ask Cheng Lang to spare the Cheng Family, then blamed Cheng Xingwang after ending the call.
• Cheng Xingwang claimed Chang Mingfeng might have deceived him about Cheng Lang’s paternity and admitted his pride had kept him from acknowledging the boy.
• Cheng Yan’s mother suggested consulting a lawyer and arranging a paternity test, hoping it would prevent Cheng Xingwang from being charged with abandonment.
• Cheng Xingwang proposed meeting Cheng Lang and offering him half the shares in Chengyi Restaurant if the test proved he was his son.
• Cheng Yan’s mother rejected the offer and warned Cheng Xingwang that Cheng Lang might still take him to court.

Cheng Xingwang offered Cheng Lang half the shares in Chengyi Restaurant, while Cheng Yan’s mother considered protecting her son’s inheritance by moving the family’s assets into his name. In an interview, Cheng Lang explained that he would fulfill any legal support obligation to Chang Mingfeng while still pursuing her for child abandonment, and the chapter ended as the Family Mediation episode featuring her began airing.

• Cheng Xingwang insisted that Cheng Lang accept half the shares in Chengyi Restaurant, hoping the offer would show that his son had forgiven him.
• Cheng Yan’s mother became furious at Cheng Xingwang and considered transferring the Cheng Family’s shares and assets to Cheng Yan.
• Cheng Lang told First Business Opportunity that if a paternity test confirmed Chang Mingfeng was his mother, he would provide legally required support and pursue her for child abandonment.
• Cheng Lang argued that bystanders had no right to forgive a perpetrator on behalf of a victim.
• The Family Mediation episode featuring Chang Mingfeng aired at 7:45 on Friday evening.