Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: Sleeping in the Same Bed, Alone Together

Plot Points and Events

• Lin Yuan’s elementary school classmate visits him to borrow money. When Lin Yuan refuses, the classmate becomes resentful and guilt-trips him, causing their reunion to end badly.
• Lin Yuan explains that lending money often creates trouble because borrowers are difficult to deal with when it is time to repay them.
• Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin return to his small family home late at night. Since Lin Yuan’s mother occupies one room and there is only one other bedroom, they initially plan to sleep separately, with Lin Yuan taking the floor.
• Gu Lianyin worries about Lin Yuan sleeping on the cold, damp floor, but he insists he will be fine.
• Remembering Lin Yuan’s promise that she could touch his abs after meeting his parent, Gu Lianyin playfully demands to do so immediately. She teases and wrestles with him until he gives in.
• After touching his abs, Gu Lianyin compliments his physique. Lin Yuan pulls her into his arms and kisses her, despite her warning that his mother is in the next room.
• Gu Lianyin returns to the bed, embarrassed but secretly pleased. She reflects that Lin Yuan may become even more assertive as their relationship progresses.
• Unable to sleep, the two discuss the next day’s plans. Lin Yuan intends to buy rice, eggs, and flour for the elderly villagers in order to maintain good relationships and prevent village gossip. They also plan to visit his mother and return home that afternoon.
• Because Lin Yuan is uncomfortable on the floor, Gu Lianyin eventually invites him to share the bed. They sleep together, with her reassuring herself that she can call for Lin Yuan’s mother if he misbehaves.
• The next morning, Gu Lianyin wakes up extremely close to Lin Yuan. He teases her for clinging to him throughout the night, stealing the blanket, and repeatedly wrapping her arms and legs around him.
• Embarrassed, Gu Lianyin asks whether he touched her while she slept. Lin Yuan avoids answering directly, leaving the question unresolved.

Character Development

• Lin Yuan: Shows firm boundaries and practical judgment by refusing to lend money to someone he distrusts. He is also socially aware, recognizing the importance of maintaining good relations with the villagers. In private, he becomes more playful and physically affectionate with Gu Lianyin, though he continues teasing her about her reactions.
• Gu Lianyin: Displays a more mischievous and flirtatious side than her usually sweet demeanor suggests. Although she acts shy and warns Lin Yuan not to go too far, she clearly enjoys their physical closeness and gradually becomes comfortable sharing the bed with him. Her internal thoughts reveal both romantic excitement and concern about moving too quickly.

Significant Themes

• Boundaries and trust: Lin Yuan’s refusal to lend money emphasizes his right to make personal decisions, while Gu Lianyin’s reliance on the nearby presence of his mother helps her feel safe.
• Growing romantic intimacy: The couple’s teasing, touching, kissing, and eventual decision to share a bed show their relationship becoming more physically affectionate.
• Embarrassment and playful courtship: Much of their interaction revolves around flirtation, teasing, and each character trying to hide or manage their attraction.
• Community relationships and reputation: Lin Yuan’s plan to provide supplies for elderly villagers highlights the importance of social goodwill and avoiding gossip in a close-knit rural community.
• Domestic closeness: Sharing a small room and bed creates an intimate, almost domestic atmosphere that contrasts with Gu Lianyin’s continuing shyness.

Character Interactions

• Lin Yuan clashes with his former classmate over the request for money.
• Gu Lianyin supports Lin Yuan and criticizes the classmate’s manipulative behavior.
• Gu Lianyin playfully insists on touching Lin Yuan’s abs, while Lin Yuan tries to resist before giving in.
• Lin Yuan kisses Gu Lianyin, and she responds with embarrassment and mock indignation.
• Their late-night conversation shifts from practical plans to mutual concern, culminating in Gu Lianyin inviting him into bed.
• The following morning, Lin Yuan teases Gu Lianyin about her clingy sleeping habits, while she nervously questions whether he took advantage of her closeness.

Chapter Summary: “Car Scratched, Making the Culprit Regret It”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gu Lianyin wakes up after spending the night at Lin Yuan’s home and shyly checks whether anything happened while she slept. Lin Yuan’s mother, Lin Xianglan, warmly accepts her and jokingly urges Lin Yuan to marry her soon so she can have grandchildren.
• During breakfast, Lin Xianglan fusses over Gu Lianyin, giving her special rice noodle rolls while making Lin Yuan eat congee and pickles. Gu Lianyin finds the family’s affectionate dynamic amusing and shares the food with Lin Yuan.
• Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin spend the morning helping villagers by buying rice and eggs and delivering them to elderly residents.
• While returning to the car, Lin Yuan reassures Gu Lianyin that her parents will eventually approve of him and offers to visit them formally. Gu Lianyin remains doubtful, believing he is only comforting her.
• They discover that Lin Yuan’s car has been vandalized: its windows are smashed and its body is deeply scratched. Gu Lianyin wants to call the police, but Lin Yuan decides to confront the likely culprit first.
• Lin Yuan visits a former elementary-school classmate, whom he suspects because of their past conflict. The classmate admits to damaging the car, claiming resentment toward Lin Yuan’s success and attitude. He refuses to pay compensation and behaves arrogantly.
• The system presents Lin Yuan with three choices: ignore the crime, force the classmate to compensate him, or make him recognize his wrongdoing and sincerely apologize.
• Lin Yuan chooses the third option and tells Gu Lianyin to call the police. When the classmate becomes violent and throws a chair at him, Lin Yuan effortlessly catches it. He defeats the classmate in a fistfight, dodges an ashtray, and pins him to the ground.
• Villagers gather after hearing the disturbance, and Lin Xianglan arrives, becoming furious when she learns that the classmate vandalized Lin Yuan’s car and attacked him.

Character Developments

• Lin Yuan is shown as confident, considerate, and deeply integrated into his family and community. He helps villagers, reassures Gu Lianyin about their future, and remains calm when confronted. His exceptional physical strength and self-control become evident during the fight, though he is also willing to use force to make the culprit face consequences.
• Gu Lianyin becomes increasingly comfortable with Lin Yuan’s family and humble lifestyle. She is touched by Lin Xianglan’s kindness, participates in helping the villagers, and shows concern by immediately wanting to report the vandalism.
• Lin Xianglan enthusiastically welcomes Gu Lianyin and treats her like a future daughter-in-law. Her protective anger emerges when she learns Lin Yuan has been targeted.
• Lin Yuan’s former classmate is portrayed as bitter, irresponsible, and consumed by jealousy. He blames Lin Yuan for his own failures, shows no initial remorse, and escalates the conflict through violence.

Significant Themes

• Family acceptance and domestic warmth: Lin Xianglan’s affection toward Gu Lianyin suggests that Lin Yuan’s family already regards her as part of their future.
• Class resentment and envy: The former classmate’s vandalism stems from frustration over Lin Yuan’s success and his own sense of inadequacy.
• Justice versus tolerance: The system’s choices frame the conflict as a decision between avoiding trouble, seeking material compensation, or forcing genuine accountability. Lin Yuan chooses personal and moral correction rather than simply financial gain.
• Humility and community responsibility: Despite his success, Lin Yuan continues helping villagers and remains connected to ordinary life.
• Strength and restraint: Lin Yuan’s superior abilities allow him to dominate the fight, but he does not initiate the violence; he reacts after the classmate attacks him.

Character Interactions

• Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin share a shy, affectionate relationship, with Lin Yuan offering reassurance about meeting her parents.
• Lin Yuan and Lin Xianglan interact as a close but teasing mother-son pair. She openly favors Gu Lianyin and pressures Lin Yuan about marriage.
• Gu Lianyin and Lin Xianglan begin forming a warm bond, with Gu Lianyin appreciating her hospitality.
• Lin Yuan’s confrontation with his former classmate reveals the classmate’s jealousy and hostility. Lin Yuan refuses to argue and instead calmly exposes and overpowers him.
• The chapter ends with the villagers and Lin Xianglan witnessing the aftermath, setting up the classmate’s likely public humiliation, police involvement, and forced realization of his wrongdoing.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Police arrive after Lin Yuan’s elementary school classmate vandalizes his expensive car. The classmate admits destroying the vehicle but refuses to pay the several-hundred-thousand-yuan repair bill or show remorse.
• Lin Yuan points out that the man’s family owns a house and land that could be used for compensation. When the classmate refuses, Lin Yuan threatens to discuss selling them with his elderly grandmother.
• The grandmother arrives, scolds her grandson, and begs Lin Yuan not to pursue the matter. She nearly kneels to him, then collapses after becoming overwhelmed by anger and grief.
• Lin Yuan provides first aid and stabilizes her. At her urging, the classmate apologizes, though Lin Yuan rejects his first insincere apology and pressures him to genuinely acknowledge his wrongdoing.
• The classmate finally sincerely repents. Lin Yuan agrees not to press the matter further, but requires him to repay the damages gradually through his own efforts.
• Lin Yuan’s car is sent for repairs, so he and Gu Lianyin return by taxi. After taking her home, Lin Yuan visits Su Yan’s company and attends a meeting about the launch of a luxury facial mask called the “Moon Goddess Mask,” priced at 18,888 yuan.

Character Developments

• Lin Yuan demonstrates firmness, strategic thinking, and compassion. Although he appears harsh, he uses the threat of financial consequences to force his former classmate to confront his behavior and change.
• The elementary school classmate begins as arrogant, irresponsible, and shameless, refusing to apologize or accept responsibility. His grandmother’s suffering and collapse finally awaken his regret, leading to a sincere apology and a commitment to repay the debt.
• The grandmother is loving but distressed by her grandson’s behavior. Her willingness to sacrifice her savings and dignity for him highlights both her devotion and the burden his actions place on her.
• Gu Lianyin gains a deeper appreciation for Lin Yuan’s character after witnessing his actions. She sees that his apparent cruelty is actually an attempt to guide someone back onto the right path, while her affection and reluctance to part from him become more evident.
• Su Yan continues to act as a capable and professional business leader, confidently presenting the new product and involving Lin Yuan in the company meeting.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility and repentance: Genuine change requires more than a superficial apology; the classmate must recognize the harm he caused and accept the consequences.
• ** tough love and moral guidance:** Lin Yuan deliberately plays the villain to force his classmate to reform, showing that punishment and compassion can work together.
• Family devotion and sacrifice: The grandmother’s suffering exposes the emotional and practical consequences of her grandson’s irresponsibility.
• Redemption through effort: Lin Yuan does not simply forgive the debt. Requiring gradual repayment gives the classmate motivation to work and rebuild his life.
• Romance and separation: Gu Lianyin and Lin Yuan’s farewell emphasizes their strong affection and the loneliness caused by their time apart.
• Business ambition: The final section shifts toward Lin Yuan’s expanding commercial success and the high-end positioning of the Moon Goddess Mask.

Character Interactions

• Lin Yuan confronts his former classmate and uses the threat of losing the family home and land to pressure him into changing.
• The grandmother repeatedly pleads with both men, scolds her grandson, and ultimately persuades him to apologize.
• Lin Yuan cares for the grandmother when she faints, revealing that his harsh stance is not motivated by cruelty.
• Gu Lianyin silently observes Lin Yuan’s handling of the conflict, then shares a tender but reluctant farewell with him.
• At Su Yan’s company, Su Yan presents the product plan and invites Lin Yuan to address the employees, setting up the chapter’s concluding moment of excitement around the new business venture.

Chapter Summary: “Li Bai’s Poem”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Yuan announces major improvements for his company, urging employees to work hard and grow alongside it. He then shocks everyone by promising to double all salaries and provide year-end bonuses, causing widespread excitement among the staff.
• Employees quickly become highly enthusiastic toward Lin Yuan, with some female workers openly showing romantic interest. Uncomfortable with the attention, Lin Yuan leaves the company.
• He reviews two rewards from the Future News system:
  1. A hidden cellar containing gold and antiques will be discovered during the demolition of an old house on October 9.
  2. On October 15, customs officials will arrest a criminal suspect attempting to flee the country.
• Concerned about the second event, Lin Yuan locates the suspect’s rental house, which is more than a thousand kilometers away. However, he decides to deal with the treasure discovery first rather than immediately report the suspect.
• Lin Yuan rents the soon-to-be-demolished old house from its owner, claiming that an elderly relative wants to relive memories of living in such a house. He pays generously and waits until the owner moves out.
• Using his Eye of Truth, Lin Yuan detects a concealed cellar beneath an empty patch of ground beside the house. He buys digging tools, uncovers the entrance, ventilates the cellar, and goes inside.
• The cellar contains a chest of gold bars, valuable antique vases and jars, and oil-paper-wrapped calligraphy and paintings.
• Among the items, Lin Yuan discovers a calligraphy piece bearing a poem signed by Li Bai. Since the poem cannot be found anywhere online, he realizes it may be an unknown, unpublished work by the famous poet and potentially worth more than all the gold.
• Because he is carrying extremely valuable treasures, Lin Yuan calls Su Yan and asks her to come to the old house. She arrives at the end of the chapter.

Character Development

• Lin Yuan demonstrates his growing wealth and generosity by dramatically increasing employee salaries, though he remains modest and uncomfortable with excessive attention.
• His possession of the Eye of Truth and knowledge of future events make him increasingly capable of exploiting opportunities, yet he remains cautious about legal and practical risks.
• Lin Yuan also shows a sense of responsibility: he is troubled by the future criminal escape and intends to prevent it rather than simply ignore the warning.
• The old homeowner is portrayed as practical and easily persuaded by Lin Yuan’s generous rental offer.
• Su Yan continues to act as a reliable person Lin Yuan can call upon when he needs assistance.

Significant Themes

• Wealth and opportunity: Lin Yuan uses foreknowledge to acquire both financial assets and historically important treasures.
• Responsibility and morality: His concern over stopping the criminal suggests that he does not view the Future News system merely as a tool for personal gain.
• Historical and cultural value: The possible discovery of an unknown Li Bai poem emphasizes that cultural artifacts can be more valuable than gold because they contribute to national history.
• Power and social influence: Lin Yuan’s salary announcement instantly changes how employees treat him, highlighting the influence wealth and generosity have within the workplace.
• Caution and secrecy: Lin Yuan disguises his motives, secures the house, and takes precautions before entering the cellar to avoid drawing attention or encountering danger.

Character Interactions

• Lin Yuan addresses the company employees and wins their admiration through his promises of higher salaries and bonuses.
• He negotiates with the old homeowner, inventing a sentimental reason for renting the property and successfully persuading him with an unusually high daily payment.
• Lin Yuan contacts Su Yan after finding the treasures, relying on her to help transport or manage the valuable discoveries.
• His internal consideration of whether to contact authorities about the future criminal event shows his continuing struggle between acting indirectly and personally intervening.

Chapter Summary: “Tracking”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Yuan brings Su Yan to an old house filled with antiques and boxes of gold bars. He reveals that the gold may be worth nearly—or more than—ninety million yuan.
• With Su Yan’s help, he loads the antiques and gold into his car and stores them at his villa. He then treats her to dinner at Haidilao.
• During dinner, Su Yan discusses her single life and demanding career. Lin Yuan receives a video call from Gu Lianyin but initially avoids answering to prevent an awkward explanation.
• After dinner, Lin Yuan calls Gu Lianyin back. He jokes about dining with a beautiful woman, but she does not seriously believe he is being unfaithful.
• The following day, Lin Yuan retrieves his repaired car and drives roughly a thousand kilometers to track down a suspected traitor or spy.
• He locates the man’s hideout and secretly reports him to the authorities. Officers arrive and arrest the man.
• As Lin Yuan is leaving, a frightened woman emerges from the building carrying an important-looking bag. Realizing she may be another spy, he follows and reports her taxi’s license plate.
• The woman reaches a crowded urban village, where Lin Yuan loses sight of her. He pays a sex worker for information and learns that she knows where the woman lives, though she attempts to pressure him into sleeping with her before helping.

Character Developments

• Lin Yuan: Demonstrates wealth, resourcefulness, determination, and strong investigative instincts. He remains focused on exposing the spies and personally confirms the traitor’s arrest rather than relying solely on authorities.
• Su Yan: Is portrayed as capable, independent, ambitious, and cautious about romance. Her conversation with Lin Yuan reveals her loneliness and reluctance to marry without finding someone she genuinely respects.
• Gu Lianyin: Appears affectionate and trusting toward Lin Yuan, though she is curious about his whereabouts and mildly suspicious when he avoids her call.
• The second spy: Is introduced as frightened and possibly desperate, suggesting the espionage network is larger than Lin Yuan initially believed.

Significant Themes

• Duty and justice: Lin Yuan’s long journey and insistence on seeing the traitor arrested reflect his commitment to punishing betrayal.
• Trust and romantic tension: His dinner with Su Yan and delayed call to Gu Lianyin create potential complications in his relationship.
• Wealth and hidden power: The valuable antiques and gold bars emphasize Lin Yuan’s expanding resources and influence.
• Suspicion and pursuit: The discovery of a second spy shifts the chapter into a more urgent investigation and reinforces the danger surrounding Lin Yuan.
• Independence and social expectations: Su Yan’s career-focused life contrasts with her family’s pressure for marriage.

Character Interactions

• Lin Yuan and Su Yan work together to recover the valuables, then bond over dinner while discussing careers, relationships, and marriage.
• Su Yan notices Lin Yuan’s hesitation to answer Gu Lianyin and correctly suspects the caller is his girlfriend.
• Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin share a playful video call, with Lin Yuan teasing her about jealousy.
• Lin Yuan interacts with the authorities indirectly by reporting the spies rather than confronting them himself.
• After losing the second spy, he bargains with a sex worker for information, leading to an awkward and suggestive encounter at the chapter’s cliffhanger.

Chapter Summary: “Biological Father Appears”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Yuan tracks down a suspicious woman after paying another woman to reveal her location. He finds her attempting to leave a rented room and prevents her escape.
• Discovering fake identification documents in her possession, Lin Yuan restrains her and secretly reports the matter to the police. Officers arrive shortly afterward and take her away.
• With school about to begin, Lin Yuan is forced to miss registration with Gu Lianyin because his mother, Lin Xianglan, urgently summons him home.
• Lin Xianglan reveals that Lin Yuan’s biological father has returned after abandoning them years earlier. She warns Lin Yuan not to agree to anything the man requests.
• A stern man arrives at the house and identifies himself as Zhao Zhixiong, Lin Yuan’s biological father. Lin Yuan agrees to speak with him privately but remains emotionally distant.
• Zhao reveals that he has a seriously ill daughter who needs a bone-marrow transplant. He asks Lin Yuan to donate and offers him two million yuan in compensation.

Character Developments

• Lin Yuan demonstrates physical strength, caution, resourcefulness, and a strong sense of justice while dealing with the woman possessing fake documents. He also remains calm and controlled under pressure.
• His emotional detachment from his biological father is clear: he considers the man dead to him because of his past abandonment.
• Lin Yuan shows concern and tenderness toward his mother, comforting her and using his special tea to help stabilize her emotions.
• Lin Xianglan is deeply shaken by Zhao Zhixiong’s return, revealing the lasting emotional damage caused by his abandonment.
• Zhao Zhixiong appears confident and pragmatic, approaching Lin Yuan primarily because he needs a bone-marrow donor for his sick daughter.

Significant Themes

• Abandonment and resentment: Lin Yuan refuses to acknowledge the father who abandoned him and his mother.
• Family versus obligation: Zhao expects biological ties to create responsibility, while Lin Yuan sees their relationship as meaningless.
• Justice and hidden wrongdoing: Lin Yuan intervenes against the woman with forged documents, acting anonymously rather than seeking praise.
• Money and moral pressure: Zhao’s offer of two million yuan frames the donation as a transaction, creating tension over whether family duty can be bought.
• Maternal protection: Lin Xianglan’s fear and warning emphasize her desire to shield Lin Yuan from further harm.

Character Interactions

• Lin Yuan rejects the young woman’s attempts to manipulate or distract him and forces her to lead him to the suspect.
• He confronts the suspicious woman, blocks her escape, and turns her over to the police.
• Lin Yuan reassures and cares for Lin Xianglan after learning of his father’s return.
• His first meeting with Zhao Zhixiong is cold and strained: Zhao tries to approach him as a father, but Lin Yuan physically withdraws and declares that his biological father is already dead.
• The chapter ends with Zhao making a life-changing request—bone-marrow donation for his daughter—in exchange for a large sum of money.

Chapter Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Zhixiong visits Lin Xianglan and her son, Lin Yuan, because his seriously ill daughter needs a bone marrow transplant. Since Lin Yuan is his biological son and may be a compatible donor, Zhao offers him two million yuan—one million before and one million after the donation.
• Zhao explains his past abandonment by claiming he did not know Lin Xianglan was pregnant and only learned about Lin Yuan after he had already started another family. He says he stayed away to avoid disrupting everyone’s lives.
• Lin Yuan is skeptical because Zhao’s explanation contradicts the story his mother told him. Rather than argue, he rejects Zhao’s request and prepares to leave.
• Zhao increases his offer from two million to five million, but Lin Yuan refuses bluntly, telling him to “get lost.”
• Lin Yuan selects a system option that rewards him whenever he strikes a blow against Zhao. His first rejection earns him a lottery draw, through which he receives 30% of the shares in Balance Technology Co., Ltd.
• After returning home, Lin Yuan reassures Lin Xianglan that he did not agree to donate bone marrow. She is relieved, knowing Zhao might try to manipulate him through sympathy for his sick daughter.
• Lin Yuan then contacts Gu Lianyin, who has arrived safely at university. She tells him that enthusiastic male upperclassmen helped her find her dormitory and carry her luggage.
• Worried about the attention Gu Lianyin may receive because of her beauty, Lin Yuan becomes eager to finish his own affairs and publicly establish himself as her boyfriend.

Character Development

• Lin Yuan: Demonstrates strong resentment toward Zhao Zhixiong and unwavering loyalty to his mother. He refuses to be emotionally manipulated or bought, even by a large sum of money. His choice of the system’s third option also reveals his desire to punish Zhao rather than merely reject him. At the same time, his concern about Gu Lianyin shows a possessive and protective side.
• Zhao Zhixiong: Appears desperate to save his daughter but relies heavily on money to solve the situation. His frustration grows as Lin Yuan refuses increasingly generous offers. His account of abandoning Lin Xianglan is presented ambiguously, leaving his true motives uncertain.
• Lin Xianglan: Remains anxious that Lin Yuan might forgive Zhao or agree to help him. Her relief after Lin Yuan’s refusal highlights her fear of being hurt or abandoned again.
• Gu Lianyin: Has successfully begun university life and continues to show her dependence and affection for Lin Yuan. Her exceptional beauty immediately attracts attention from male students, creating a potential source of tension.
• Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin’s relationship: Lin Yuan’s concern over other men approaching Gu Lianyin reinforces that they are romantically involved, while his jealousy suggests how deeply invested he is in the relationship.

Significant Themes

• Abandonment and resentment: Lin Yuan’s rejection of Zhao reflects the lasting emotional damage caused by Zhao’s disappearance from his and his mother’s lives.
• Money versus genuine responsibility: Zhao attempts to purchase Lin Yuan’s cooperation, but Lin Yuan views the offer as insulting because money cannot erase years of neglect.
• Family loyalty: Lin Yuan sides completely with Lin Xianglan, valuing his relationship with his mother over biological ties to Zhao.
• Justice and retaliation: The system rewards Lin Yuan for confronting Zhao, turning his personal anger into a source of power and material gain.
• Love, jealousy, and insecurity: Lin Yuan trusts Gu Lianyin’s feelings but remains uneasy about the attention she receives from other men, setting up possible romantic conflict at university.
• Uncertainty and hidden truths: Zhao’s explanation for abandoning Lin Xianglan conflicts with her version, suggesting that the circumstances of Lin Yuan’s birth and abandonment may later be clarified.

Character Interactions

• Zhao repeatedly bargains with Lin Yuan, escalating his offer from two million to five million yuan.
• Lin Yuan responds with cold rejection, refusing to show sympathy for Zhao’s daughter or accept Zhao as a father figure.
• Lin Yuan and Lin Xianglan share a reassuring mother-son exchange in which he promises not to yield to Zhao’s demands.
• Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin communicate by phone, with her casual report about helpful upperclassmen triggering his protective jealousy.

Chapter Summary: “Slapping Zhao Cuimei in the Face”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Yuan realizes that his biological father, Zhao Zhixiong, will not easily give up trying to obtain his bone marrow for Zhao Zhixiong’s sick daughter, Qianqian. He anticipates that Zhao Zhixiong may eventually use coercion if persuasion and money fail.
• Zhao Zhixiong returns to Lin Yuan’s home with his wealthy wife, Zhao Cuimei, and begs Lin Yuan to reconsider. He offers to satisfy any conditions Lin Yuan names.
• Lin Yuan demands that Zhao Zhixiong kneel and apologize to Lin Yuan’s mother for abandoning them in the past. Zhao Zhixiong does not accept the demand.
• Zhao Cuimei attempts to buy Lin Yuan’s cooperation, first offering five million and then ten million. Lin Yuan rejects the money, emphasizing that he is no longer poor and will not sell his bone marrow.
• After Lin Yuan shuts the door in their faces, Zhao Cuimei insults him and repeatedly calls him a “bastard.” When Lin Yuan reopens the door, she assumes he has accepted the money.
• Angered by her insults, Lin Yuan slaps Zhao Cuimei so hard that she hits the wall, loses several teeth, and begins bleeding. When she continues insulting him and threatens him, Lin Yuan slaps her a second time.
• Zhao Zhixiong tries to intervene, warning Lin Yuan that Zhao Cuimei is someone he cannot afford to offend and appealing to their biological relationship. Lin Yuan rejects him, saying that being his biological father means nothing, and pushes him aside.
• Lin Yuan orders them to leave. Zhao Cuimei departs frightened and humiliated, but vows revenge and wants Lin Yuan crippled or killed.
• Zhao Zhixiong reminds her that their daughter’s condition is urgent: Qianqian needs a bone marrow transplant within two months. Since Lin Yuan refuses money, Zhao Zhixiong proposes using the Zhao Family’s influence to pressure Lin Yuan’s mother, Lin Xianglan, by having her fired.

Character Developments

• Lin Yuan: Demonstrates his pride, independence, and explosive temper. He refuses to be manipulated by money or by Zhao Zhixiong’s biological connection to him. His calm demeanor while angry suggests confidence and danger, while his physical retaliation shows that he is prepared to defend his mother and himself.
• Zhao Zhixiong: Appears desperate to save his daughter but remains weak and submissive toward his powerful wife and her family. He is frightened by Lin Yuan’s aggression and unwilling to stand up to Zhao Cuimei, yet he begins considering more ruthless ways to force Lin Yuan’s cooperation.
• Zhao Cuimei: Is introduced as wealthy, arrogant, class-conscious, and verbally abusive. She views Lin Yuan as an inferior illegitimate child and believes money gives her control over him. After being slapped, her confidence turns into fear and hatred, fueling her desire for revenge.
• Qianqian: Though absent from the scene, her critical illness motivates the conflict. Her limited treatment window increases the pressure on Zhao Zhixiong and Zhao Cuimei.

Significant Themes

• Family abandonment and resentment: Lin Yuan refuses to honor a biological relationship that was never accompanied by parental care or responsibility.
• Money versus dignity: Zhao Cuimei assumes that wealth can purchase Lin Yuan’s cooperation, but he considers the offered sums meaningless compared with his self-respect and current status.
• Power and social status: The Zhao family relies on wealth, influence, and intimidation, while Lin Yuan challenges their assumption that a poor or illegitimate child can be controlled.
• Revenge and escalating conflict: Zhao Cuimei’s humiliation transforms the dispute from a negotiation over bone marrow into a personal vendetta.
• Parental responsibility and favoritism: Zhao Zhixiong prioritizes his daughter’s survival but attempts to force Lin Yuan—whom he previously neglected—to make a physical sacrifice for the family that rejected him.

Important Character Interactions

• Lin Yuan and Zhao Zhixiong: Their exchange exposes the emotional distance between biological connection and genuine fatherhood. Lin Yuan demands an apology to his mother and dismisses Zhao Zhixiong’s claim to parental authority.
• Lin Yuan and Zhao Cuimei: Their confrontation moves from financial bargaining to open hostility. Her insults provoke Lin Yuan into physically retaliating, leaving her humiliated and vengeful.
• Zhao Zhixiong and Zhao Cuimei: Zhao Zhixiong is clearly subordinate to his wife and cannot defend himself against her criticism. Despite her reckless anger, he tries to redirect her attention toward saving Qianqian.
• Zhao Zhixiong and Lin Xianglan: Though Lin Xianglan does not appear, she becomes the next target of the Zhao family’s pressure strategy because of her connection to Lin Yuan.

Key plot points and events

• Zhao Zhixiong decides to pressure Lin Xianglan by getting her fired and preventing her from finding another job, hoping hardship will eventually force Lin Yuan to donate bone marrow to his sick daughter.
• He orders an investigation into Lin Yuan, learns of his academic and media achievements, and offers Lin Yuan’s prospective university two million yuan to expel him.
• At the hospital, Zhao Cuimei falsely tells her daughter, Qianqian, that Lin Yuan attacked her and knocked out her teeth. Zhao Zhixiong supports the lie.
• Angry on her mother’s behalf, Qianqian contacts her biological uncle and asks him to identify and punish Lin Yuan.
• Lin Yuan reflects on his growing business interests and plans to report to a local university to claim a mysterious identity-related reward.
• Lin Xianglan calls to say Balance Technology fired her, apparently under Zhao Zhixiong’s influence, and warns Lin Yuan to be careful. He asks which company employed her so he can assess the threat.

Character developments

• Zhao Zhixiong favors indirect coercion and tries to use the Zhao family’s influence to isolate Lin Xianglan and corner Lin Yuan. He is cautious about violence because of the risk of public scandal.
• Zhao Cuimei remains openly vindictive and lies to manipulate Qianqian into sharing her anger.
• Qianqian is physically weak but fiercely protective of her mother; she turns to her uncle to retaliate against Lin Yuan.
• Lin Xianglan remains focused on her son’s safety, even after losing her job.
• Lin Yuan is increasingly influential in business and prepares to claim a new advantage, while becoming alert to the Zhao family’s escalating pressure.

Significant themes

• Power and coercion: The Zhao family uses money, business influence, and threats to force compliance.
• Manipulation and revenge: Zhao Cuimei’s false account fuels Qianqian’s anger and sets up further conflict.
• Family loyalty: Both Lin Xianglan and Qianqian act out of devotion to their family members.
• Rising stakes: Economic retaliation and the threat of violence suggest the dispute is moving beyond negotiation.

Character interactions

• Zhao Zhixiong restrains Zhao Cuimei from acting recklessly, while she insists she can handle matters.
• Zhao Cuimei and Zhao Zhixiong deceive Qianqian about the confrontation; Qianqian responds by contacting her uncle.
• Lin Xianglan warns Lin Yuan about her dismissal, and Lin Yuan begins investigating the company and the Zhao family’s reach.

Key plot points and events

• Lin Yuan learns that Balance Technology dismissed his mother, Lin Xianglan, under pressure from the powerful Zhao Group.
• Using his 30% shareholding, he orders the company’s chairman to reinstate her, give her an easier job, and triple her former salary. The chairman explains that the company initially gave in to the Zhao Group, but agrees to hire her back privately.
• Lin Yuan receives a system reward for completing his choice: ownership of Cloudtop Hotel, a lavish, hugely expensive hotel.
• He immediately orders the hotel to refuse service to everyone from the Zhao Group.
• Zhao Zhixiong arrives at the hotel with a major client to discuss a multibillion-yuan project. The hotel turns them away, embarrassing him and unsettling the client.
• When the hotel’s general manager calls the mysterious owner for an explanation, the owner asks to speak directly to Zhao Zhixiong. The chapter ends on that cliffhanger.

Character developments

• Lin Yuan responds to the Zhao Group’s pressure with growing resolve, using both his corporate influence and his newly acquired hotel to retaliate.
• Zhao Zhixiong shifts from confident host to confused and embarrassed businessman as the hotel’s refusal threatens an important deal.
• The company chairman and General Manager Zheng Ping are cautious intermediaries, willing to act once Lin Yuan or the hotel owner gives clear instructions.

Character interactions

• Lin Yuan firmly confronts Balance Technology’s leadership over his mother’s dismissal, while the chairman explains the Zhao Group’s influence and offers a workaround.
• At Cloudtop Hotel, Zhao Zhixiong tries to preserve his standing with Manager Zhang, but the refusal prompts the client to question the Zhao Group.
• Zheng Ping mediates between Zhao Zhixiong and the unseen hotel owner, ultimately putting the call through to Zhao.

Significant themes

• Power and retaliation: Lin Yuan turns financial influence and new ownership into tools against the Zhao Group.
• Family loyalty: His first response to the company’s treatment of his mother is to secure her reinstatement and better pay.
• Status and reputation: The hotel’s public rejection threatens Zhao Zhixiong’s credibility during a crucial business negotiation.
• Suspense: The mysterious owner’s identity and what he will say to Zhao Zhixiong are left unresolved.

Chapter Summary: “A Successful Blow and a Lucky Draw”

Key plot points and events

• Zhao Zhixiong tries to resolve the Zhao Group’s exclusion from Cloudtop Hotel so he can keep an important business deal alive. He is stunned when the hotel’s owner turns out to be Lin Yuan.
• Lin refuses to explain himself and bans the entire Zhao Family from the hotel. Zhao Zhixiong leaves with his client, Manager Zhang.
• Zhao Zhixiong tells Zhao Cuimei what happened. She is shaken by Lin’s sudden wealth, but remains focused on obtaining his bone marrow for Qianqian and even suggests using violence.
• Lin receives a system reward for striking a second blow against Zhao Zhixiong: ownership of International Shopping Network. He discovers that the reward has given him legitimate control and contacts within the company.
• Lin messages Manager Zhang to ask whether the company is negotiating with Zhao Group.
• Meanwhile, Zhao Zhixiong and Manager Zhang discuss a deal to give Zhao Group medicines a dedicated section on the platform. Zhang agrees to the favorable terms, and Zhao Zhixiong believes the contract is nearly settled—just as Zhang receives Lin’s message.

Character developments and interactions

• Lin Yuan demonstrates confidence and hostility toward the Zhao Family, then uses his new authority to investigate their business plans.
• Zhao Zhixiong is rattled by Lin’s status and humiliation but remains determined to secure the Zhao Group deal and protect his position.
• Zhao Cuimei reacts with disbelief, then reveals her desperation and ruthlessness over Qianqian’s need for a transplant.
• Manager Zhang is initially prepared to partner with Zhao Group, though the chapter ends before he responds to Lin’s message.
• Lin and Zhao Zhixiong’s phone confrontation escalates their conflict; afterward, Zhao Zhixiong confides in Zhao Cuimei. Zhao’s hopeful toast with Zhang is interrupted by Lin’s intervention.

Significant themes

• Reversal of power: Lin’s wealth and influence overturn the Zhao Family’s assumptions about him.
• Ambition and insecurity: Zhao Zhixiong’s business success is tied to his standing within the family and company.
• Desperation and moral compromise: Zhao Cuimei’s urgency to save Qianqian leads her to contemplate violence.
• Fortune and control: Lin’s lucky draw grants him influence over a deal that could strengthen the Zhao Group, setting up another confrontation.

Chapter Summary: “Another Blow to Zhao Zhixiong, Another Draw”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chairman Lin instructs Manager Zhang to immediately end International Shopping Network’s planned partnership with the Zhao Group.
• Lin’s stated reason is personal: he dislikes Zhao Zhixiong and refuses to cooperate with the Zhao family.
• Zhao Zhixiong, who had been celebrating the apparently successful negotiations, is stunned when Manager Zhang cancels the deal.
• Desperate for an explanation and hoping to restore the partnership, Zhao follows Manager Zhang and begs to speak directly with the chairman.
• During the call, Chairman Lin taunts Zhao, asking whether he does not already know what he did wrong. Zhao suddenly realizes that Lin is also the mysterious owner of Cloudtop Hotel and the chairman of International Shopping Network.
• Overwhelmed by the revelation, Zhao drops the phone. Manager Zhang retrieves it and ends the call.
• Lin’s system announces that he has dealt Zhao a third blow and rewards him with another roulette draw.
• Lin draws the development rights to Sun Bay, a large island purchased at auction for more than eighteen billion. He recognizes its immense value and considers partnering with real estate developers to develop it.
• Lin wonders whether the Zhao Group might eventually seek cooperation over Sun Bay.
• Standing outside the university, Lin thinks about Gu Lianyin but avoids entering because he fears involving her in his conflict with Zhao. He sends her a selfie and a message before leaving.

Character Developments

• Lin Yuan: Becomes increasingly powerful and confident as his businesses and system rewards allow him to retaliate against Zhao Zhixiong. He takes satisfaction in defending himself and his mother, though he remains protective of Gu Lianyin and deliberately keeps his distance from her.
• Zhao Zhixiong: Suffers another major setback and is humiliated by his inability to understand why the partnership was canceled. His shock deepens when he discovers Lin’s true business influence, leaving him frightened and mentally overwhelmed.
• Manager Zhang: Acts as the intermediary between Lin and Zhao. Though uncomfortable with the chairman’s unexplained personal decision, he follows orders and remains professional while handling Zhao’s increasingly desperate demands.
• Gu Lianyin: Does not appear directly, but Lin’s thoughts reveal his affection for her and his desire to protect her from danger and anxiety.

Significant Themes

• Power and revenge: Lin uses his growing wealth and influence to repeatedly punish Zhao for past wrongdoing.
• Hidden identity and dramatic revelation: Zhao learns that the person he has offended controls not only Cloudtop Hotel but also another major company.
• Consequences of wrongdoing: Zhao’s past actions continue to bring unexpected losses, even when he believes his business dealings are progressing well.
• Protection through distance: Lin sacrifices contact with Gu Lianyin because he believes staying away will keep her safe.
• Fortune and opportunity: The system’s rewards dramatically expand Lin’s business empire, turning personal retaliation into broader financial dominance.

Character Interactions

• Lin and Manager Zhang: Lin gives Zhang direct instructions to cancel the Zhao Group partnership, and Zhang complies despite not understanding the personal reason.
• Manager Zhang and Zhao Zhixiong: Zhang informs Zhao of the cancellation and later reluctantly arranges his call with Lin.
• Lin and Zhao Zhixiong: Their phone conversation is brief but psychologically devastating. Lin’s contemptuous words make Zhao realize the extent of Lin’s power and his own vulnerability.
• Lin and Gu Lianyin: Although they do not speak directly, Lin sends her a photo and a farewell message, revealing both his longing for her and his determination to shield her from his troubles.

Chapter Summary: Gu Lianyin: A Date with a Senior

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• After Lin Yuan leaves, Gu Lianyin finishes class and discovers that he had come to her university but left after waiting only briefly. She feels disappointed and realizes how much she misses him.
• Gu Lianyin explains that she chose her university specifically because Lin Yuan attends it. Although her parents initially opposed the decision, they eventually stopped objecting.
• She returns to her dormitory, where her five roommates tease her about having a boyfriend and become curious about him.
• Gu Lianyin shows them travel photos of herself and Lin Yuan. The roommates praise their looks and relationship, but are surprised when she admits that she pursued Lin Yuan rather than the other way around.
• The roommates discuss the many male students who try to approach Gu Lianyin, including one who offers money for secretly taking her photographs. Her roommates defend her and reject the idea.
• Gu Lianyin receives a message from Lin Yuan saying he will visit once he finishes handling his affairs. Proudly, she tells her roommates that he is the national Gaokao top scorer and therefore receives special privileges.
• Wanting to make Lin Yuan come sooner, Gu Lianyin follows her roommates’ advice and deliberately makes him jealous. She claims that seniors give her gifts and that a handsome archery-club senior teaches her to shoot while holding her hand.
• Lin Yuan warns her to stay away from people with ulterior motives and jokingly threatens to find other pretty girls with whom to discuss “life goals.” Their playful argument ends with Lin Yuan promising to visit within a week.
• Meanwhile, Lin Yuan takes precautions against Zhao Zhixiong by moving his mother into the villa. When a neighbor reports that a stranger searched the house, Lin Yuan realizes Zhao and his wife are still targeting him and resolves to retaliate.

2. Character Developments

• Gu Lianyin becomes increasingly dependent on Lin Yuan emotionally. His absence makes her feel bored and lonely, confirming how central he has become in her life.
• She also displays a playful, mischievous side by intentionally provoking Lin Yuan’s jealousy. Her pride in him is obvious when she boasts about his academic achievement.
• Lin Yuan is portrayed as busy, protective, and alert to threats. He responds to Gu Lianyin’s teasing with humor but also recognizes that the seniors may be pursuing her for ulterior motives.
• Lin Yuan’s preparations to protect his mother show his growing caution and willingness to confront his enemies decisively.
• Gu Lianyin’s roommates become closer to her and act protectively despite their teasing and curiosity. Their reactions reinforce Gu Lianyin’s popularity and privileged background.

3. Significant Themes

• Longing and emotional dependence: Gu Lianyin realizes that life feels empty without Lin Yuan nearby.
• Romantic teasing and jealousy: Their exchange shows affection through playful provocation, possessiveness, and reassurance.
• Beauty, popularity, and unwanted attention: Gu Lianyin’s appearance attracts obsessive interest from male students, creating both inconvenience and potential danger.
• Loyalty and friendship: Her roommates may joke about her relationship, but they defend her against anyone who might exploit or embarrass her.
• Protection and looming conflict: Lin Yuan’s actions suggest that the romantic storyline is unfolding alongside a more serious struggle with Zhao Zhixiong and his wife.

4. Character Interactions

• Gu Lianyin and her roommates bond over gossip about her boyfriend, with the roommates admiring Lin Yuan and questioning how their relationship began.
• The roommates protect Gu Lianyin from the idea of secretly photographing her and affirm their loyalty to her.
• Gu Lianyin and Lin Yuan exchange flirtatious, jealous messages. She tries to pressure him into visiting sooner, while he counters by pretending he might seek out other girls.
• Lin Yuan and his mother remain connected as he arranges her safety. Her report about the stranger’s visit confirms that the threat against him is ongoing.

Chapter Summary: “I Won’t Cooperate with Zhao Group”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Yuan invites several real estate developers—including Zhao Group—to Cloudtop Hotel to negotiate cooperation on developing Sun Bay, whose development rights he controls.
• Zhao Group is already suffering because Lin Yuan has severed its relationship with Cloudtop Hotel and caused the collapse of a major business deal.
• The chairman of Zhao Group harshly blames Zhao Zhixiong for the company’s losses. Zhao Cuimei defends her husband and suggests hiring outside representatives so Zhao Group can still attend the Sun Bay negotiations.
• A sharp, capable woman is hired to represent Zhao Group. After Zheng Ping confirms with Lin Yuan that she may enter, she joins the other developers at the meeting.
• The developers initially underestimate Lin Yuan because of his youth, but he takes the central seat and reveals that he is the owner of the Sun Bay development rights.
• After hearing the competing proposals, Lin Yuan rejects Zhao Group’s exceptionally attractive offer, openly declaring that he will not cooperate with Zhao Group because of Zhao Zhixiong.
• The Zhao Group representative reports the failure to the chairman, who immediately summons Zhao Zhixiong in fury.

Character Developments

• Lin Yuan becomes increasingly assertive and strategic. Rather than merely reacting to Zhao Zhixiong’s past betrayal, he uses his business power to punish Zhao Group directly and make Zhao Zhixiong suffer the consequences.
• Zhao Zhixiong loses status and influence within Zhao Group. He endures public humiliation from his father-in-law, has his position taken away, and becomes consumed by hatred toward Lin Yuan.
• Zhao Cuimei continues defending Zhao Zhixiong, but her growing exhaustion suggests that her faith in their marriage is weakening. She begins to regret having opposed her father and chosen Zhao Zhixiong.
• The Zhao Group chairman becomes increasingly hostile toward Zhao Zhixiong, whom he blames for damaging the company. His anger culminates in another furious summons.
• The Zhao Group representative demonstrates professionalism and competence, securing highly favorable terms, but cannot overcome Lin Yuan’s personal refusal to cooperate.

Significant Themes

• Revenge and justice: Lin Yuan seeks to make Zhao Zhixiong and Zhao Group pay for abandoning him and mistreating his mother.
• Power reversal: The family that once ignored Lin Yuan is now forced to confront his wealth, authority, and influence.
• Consequences of betrayal: Zhao Zhixiong’s past abandonment of Lin Yuan returns to damage his career, reputation, marriage, and standing within Zhao Group.
• Business as a weapon: Lin Yuan uses the Sun Bay project and Cloudtop Hotel to exert pressure and punish his enemies.
• Family loyalty and regret: Zhao Cuimei’s defense of her husband conflicts with her growing regret, while Zhao Zhixiong remains focused on protecting himself rather than accepting responsibility.

Character Interactions

• The Zhao Group chairman repeatedly berates Zhao Zhixiong, while Zhao Cuimei attempts to defend and comfort her husband.
• Zhao Zhixiong expresses his hatred for Lin Yuan and promises Zhao Cuimei that he will not fail her, though she no longer finds his assurances reassuring.
• Zheng Ping follows Lin Yuan’s instructions and seeks permission before allowing Zhao Group’s representative into the hotel.
• Lin Yuan confronts the real estate developers directly, establishes his authority, and rejects Zhao Group in front of its representative and competitors.
• After learning that Lin Yuan blamed Zhao Zhixiong specifically, the Zhao Group chairman calls him back in anger, setting up another confrontation.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Zhixiong is summoned back to the Zhao Group and harshly reprimanded by his father-in-law, Chairman Zhao, for causing the company to lose the Sun Bay development rights.
• The development-rights holder specifically refused to cooperate because Zhao Zhixiong belonged to the Zhao Group. A representative later describes the mysterious winner as a young, handsome man, leading Zhao Zhixiong to realize it is likely Lin Yuan.
• Chairman Zhao learns that Lin Yuan is Zhao Zhixiong’s abandoned biological son and is astonished by Lin Yuan’s wealth and achievements. He also reminds Zhao Zhixiong that Lin Yuan’s bone marrow may be needed to treat Qianqian’s illness.
• Zhao Zhixiong decides to hire a hacker to investigate Lin Yuan, while considering more coercive methods to obtain the bone marrow.
• Meanwhile, Lin Yuan receives a system reward for striking Zhao Zhixiong for the fourth time: a hidden identity as the nation’s top hacker, “Shadow.”
• After absorbing the hacker’s skills, Lin Yuan infiltrates the Zhao Group’s systems, accesses its surveillance network, and uncovers evidence of tax evasion, bribery, and other illegal dealings.
• Lin Yuan discovers that the hacker Zhao Zhixiong hires is actually communicating with him under a deliberately provocative contact name. He sends Zhao Zhixiong a link that will allow him to access everything on Zhao’s phone.
• Trusting the hacker’s reputation, Zhao Zhixiong clicks the link, ending the chapter on a cliffhanger.

Character Developments

• Zhao Zhixiong becomes increasingly desperate and hateful toward Lin Yuan. He feels unfairly blamed by Chairman Zhao but also recognizes that Lin Yuan has become powerful enough to threaten the Zhao family.
• Chairman Zhao grows more furious with Zhao Zhixiong and more impressed—and jealous—of Lin Yuan’s success. He pressures Zhao Zhixiong to resolve the situation.
• Lin Yuan gains another powerful identity and skill set, expanding his ability to retaliate against the Zhao family. He shifts from merely resisting them to actively gathering evidence that could destroy the Zhao Group.
• Lin Yuan also shows increasing confidence and cunning by manipulating Zhao Zhixiong into compromising his own phone.

Significant Themes

• Revenge and consequences: Zhao Zhixiong’s past abandonment of Lin Yuan begins to produce serious consequences as Lin Yuan repeatedly undermines him.
• Power reversal: The once-discarded son now possesses wealth, influence, and technological power, while Zhao Zhixiong becomes increasingly dependent and vulnerable.
• Family betrayal and exploitation: Zhao Zhixiong views Lin Yuan primarily as a source of bone marrow for Qianqian, revealing the selfish motives behind his attempts to reconnect.
• Hidden identities and information control: Lin Yuan’s hacker persona allows him to uncover the Zhao Group’s secrets and control the flow of information.
• Corruption and justice: The Zhao Group’s illegal activities provide Lin Yuan with evidence that could expose and punish the family.

Character Interactions

• Chairman Zhao humiliates and blames Zhao Zhixiong for the failed Sun Bay deal, while Zhao Zhixiong struggles to defend himself.
• Zhao Zhixiong questions the company representative and gradually realizes that Lin Yuan is behind the development-rights victory.
• Chairman Zhao reacts with surprise and resentment upon learning that Zhao Zhixiong fathered such a successful son, while emphasizing the need to save Qianqian.
• Zhao Zhixiong contacts a hacker to investigate Lin Yuan, unaware that the hacker is actually Lin Yuan himself.
• Lin Yuan cleverly sends Zhao Zhixiong a malicious link, and Zhao unknowingly grants Lin Yuan access to his phone.

Chapter Summary: Lifelike Robot Lily

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Yuan hacks into Zhao Zhixiong’s phone after Zhao clicks the link he was sent. The link appears as garbled text, but it secretly gives Lin Yuan access to the phone’s data.
• Lin Yuan discovers sensitive information about the Zhao Group, along with intimate photos and videos of Zhao Zhixiong and Zhao Cuimei.
• Seeking to destroy Zhao Zhixiong’s reputation, Lin Yuan sends the compromising materials to everyone in Zhao’s contacts, including clients, employees, executives, social-media contacts, and company group chats.
• Zhao initially assumes the hacker has replied, but soon realizes that the embarrassing materials have been distributed widely. He is overwhelmed by calls and messages, and the recall period expires before he can retract them.
• Zhao becomes devastated and desperate. He avoids returning home, smokes heavily, considers abandoning his identity, and eventually learns from Lin Yuan that the incident was deliberately orchestrated.
• Enraged, Zhao blames Lin Yuan and decides to kill him with a kitchen knife. He plans to cripple Lin Yuan and use his bone marrow to help his daughter, who apparently needs a transplant.
• Zhao destroys his phone and wanders the streets in frustration, but his inability to pay for transportation or contact anyone further exposes how helpless he has become.
• His humiliation and despair trigger the system’s reward mechanism, giving Lin Yuan his fifth successful strike against Zhao and earning him a lottery draw.
• Lin Yuan wins a future-technology item: the Lifelike Intelligent Robot Butler.
• He customizes the robot as a sweet, obedient girl named Lily, designed to look around twelve or thirteen years old.
• Lily materializes in the hotel suite and behaves so naturally that Lin Yuan initially struggles to believe she is a machine. She offers household services and introduces herself as his devoted servant.

2. Character Developments

• Lin Yuan becomes increasingly ruthless and calculating. Rather than merely defeating Zhao financially, he targets Zhao’s public reputation and personal life, taking pleasure in the destruction he causes.
• Lin Yuan also demonstrates restraint and consideration when he decides not to model Lily after Gu Lianyin, recognizing that she might be upset by having an artificial duplicate.
• Zhao Zhixiong undergoes a rapid collapse from powerful businessman to humiliated, panicked, and emotionally unstable fugitive. His desperation over his daughter’s condition pushes him toward murder.
• Zhao’s paternal concern remains evident, but it is expressed through increasingly violent and irrational decisions.
• Lily is introduced as an advanced artificial intelligence with humanlike appearance, warmth, emotional reactions, and social behavior. Her obedient yet seemingly innocent personality immediately adds a new dynamic to Lin Yuan’s life.

3. Significant Themes

• Revenge and humiliation: Lin Yuan’s retaliation is designed not only to harm Zhao but to make him publicly disgraced, showing revenge as psychological and social destruction.
• Power and vulnerability: Zhao’s wealth and influence cannot protect him once his phone and private information are compromised.
• Technology as a weapon: The hacking incident shows how digital access can destroy reputations, while the lottery introduces technology capable of imitating human life.
• Desperation and moral collapse: Zhao’s fear for his daughter leads him to contemplate murder, illustrating how crisis can distort love into violence.
• The boundary between human and artificial life: Lily looks, feels, and reacts like a real person, raising questions about whether advanced technology can convincingly reproduce human behavior and emotion.
• Systemic reward and escalation: Lin Yuan’s system rewards him for repeatedly damaging Zhao, encouraging a cycle in which retaliation becomes progressively more extreme.

4. Character Interactions

• Lin Yuan and Zhao begin indirectly through the hacker link, with Zhao unknowingly giving Lin Yuan access to his phone.
• Lin Yuan manipulates Zhao’s contacts and social circles, turning Zhao’s own relationships and business connections against him.
• Zhao receives shocked calls from clients and executives, who question him about the explicit material and confirm the scale of his disgrace.
• Zhao refuses to answer Zhao Cuimei’s call, overwhelmed by shame and fear of confronting her over the videos.
• Lin Yuan later sends Zhao a message revealing that the attack was intentional and motivated by someone paying him, prompting Zhao’s murderous rage.
• After obtaining Lily, Lin Yuan interacts with her as both a technological marvel and a household servant. Lily responds respectfully, offers to perform domestic and intimate services, and reacts shyly when Lin Yuan undresses, creating an awkward but playful master-and-servant dynamic.

Chapter Summary: “Zhao Zhixiong’s Final Madness”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Yuan finishes dressing after Robot Lily prepares to help him, but he remains embarrassed by her obedience and humanlike appearance.
• Concerned that Lily’s robotic identity will be exposed by airport security or advanced scans, Lin Yuan decides to introduce her as a relative’s daughter staying with him temporarily.
• Lily is revealed to be highly versatile: she can cook, clean, perform artistic skills, operate without food or sleep, recharge through sunlight, and protect Lin Yuan.
• The next morning, Lin Yuan learns that Zhao Zhixiong has suffered public humiliation after sending intimate photos and videos to company employees and his contacts. Zhao’s actions also severely traumatize Zhao Cuimei, the woman involved.
• Driven mad by shame and resentment, Zhao Zhixiong disguises himself and travels to Cloudtop Hotel with a kitchen knife, intending to kill Lin Yuan.
• Zhao attacks Lin Yuan outside the hotel, but Lily blocks the knife with her metal fist. She activates combat mode and defeats Zhao with a powerful spinning kick, breaking several of his ribs.
• Lily asks whether she should kill Zhao, but Lin Yuan orders her to call the police instead. Zhao is arrested and handed over to authorities.
• Zhao’s father-in-law, the chairman of Zhao Group, arrives and learns the truth. Zhao admits that he wronged Zhao Cuimei, while the chairman angrily acknowledges the damage Lin Yuan has inflicted on the Zhao family and company.
• Zhao Cuimei’s younger brother, still seeking revenge for Lin Yuan’s earlier assault on his sister, mobilizes more than a thousand construction workers. He promises to pay their overdue wages if they join him in searching for Lin Yuan, creating a new and potentially dangerous threat.

Character Developments

• Lin Yuan: Becomes more cautious and strategic after humiliating Zhao Zhixiong. He recognizes the danger of retaliation and relies on Lily for protection, but chooses to have Zhao arrested rather than killed.
• Lily: Demonstrates her true nature and combat abilities. Her transformation from an innocent-looking child into an efficient fighting machine emphasizes both her usefulness and her frightening potential. Despite her literal obedience, she follows Lin Yuan’s moral command not to kill.
• Zhao Zhixiong: Descends from humiliation into madness and violence. Unable to accept the destruction of his reputation, he attempts murder but is quickly defeated and imprisoned.
• Zhao Cuimei: Suffers severe emotional distress and shame after the scandal, hiding herself and demanding an explanation from Zhao Zhixiong.
• Chairman of Zhao Group: Reacts with fury toward Zhao Zhixiong but recognizes that the Zhao family has been publicly disgraced and strategically defeated.
• Zhao Cuimei’s younger brother: Becomes increasingly vengeful and escalates the conflict by organizing a large group of workers to hunt Lin Yuan.

Significant Themes

• Revenge and escalation: Zhao Zhixiong’s attempt to retaliate shows how humiliation can turn a personal conflict into criminal violence.
• Justice versus vengeance: Lin Yuan is justified in feeling anger, but he stops Lily from killing Zhao and chooses legal punishment instead.
• Technology and hidden power: Lily’s humanlike appearance conceals her robotic body and extraordinary combat abilities, making her both an advantage and a liability for Lin Yuan.
• Public humiliation and reputation: The scandal destroys Zhao Zhixiong’s social standing and damages the Zhao Group, demonstrating the power of private information exposed publicly.
• Consequences of wrongdoing: Zhao Zhixiong, Zhao Cuimei, and the wider Zhao family all suffer different consequences from their actions and choices.

Character Interactions

• Lin Yuan awkwardly refuses Lily’s assistance while dressing, establishing his discomfort with her childlike appearance despite her artificial nature.
• Lin Yuan consults Lily about her fighting ability, and her assurance that she can protect him gives him confidence.
• Zhao Zhixiong confronts Lin Yuan with a knife, but Lily intervenes and defeats him.
• Lin Yuan confronts Zhao after the attack, tells him to reflect in prison, and refuses to allow Lily to kill him.
• Zhao breaks down in front of Chairman Zhao, admitting his wrongdoing, while the chairman condemns his behavior.
• Zhao Cuimei’s brother recruits thousands of workers for revenge, widening the conflict beyond the original confrontation.

Chapter Summary: “The End, Enrollment”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• After leaving Cloudtop Hotel, Lin Yuan notices that Lily’s hand was cut during the earlier confrontation. Lily explains that only her outer layer was damaged and that glue can repair it.
• Lin Yuan uses his newly earned prize-draw opportunity and receives an anti-gravity car, an advanced piece of future technology. He decides not to reveal or use it publicly because it would attract worldwide attention.
• Zhao Zhixiong’s brother-in-law, Zhao Wu, tracks Lin Yuan down and arranges an ambush. He orders construction workers to block Lin Yuan’s Porsche on a deserted road.
• Zhao Wu threatens Lin Yuan with violent humiliation, intending to film and post the abuse online. He also plans to take Lin Yuan’s bone marrow for Qianqian’s transplant.
• When Zhao Wu attacks, Lin Yuan orders Lily to intervene. Lily easily defeats him, demonstrating overwhelming strength despite her small and harmless appearance.
• Lily threatens the surrounding workers and breaks Zhao Wu’s arms and leg when he continues resisting. The workers refuse to fight after realizing the danger.
• Police arrive and take everyone to the station. Lin Yuan is released after giving a statement as the victim.
• Still furious, Lin Yuan hacks into Zhao Group’s affairs and exposes its tax evasion and tax fraud, forcing the organization to deal with serious legal and financial problems.
• A few peaceful days later, Lin Yuan begins attending school as part of his mission to rapidly improve his studies and rank first in his class.
• He is introduced as a transfer student. His handsome appearance immediately attracts attention from the female students, especially a beautiful girl in the front row who seems unusually excited to see him.

2. Character Developments

• Lin Yuan: Becomes increasingly decisive and ruthless when threatened. Rather than continuing a physical conflict himself, he relies on Lily’s abilities and later retaliates against Zhao Group through hacking and legal exposure. He also begins pursuing his academic mission.
• Lily: Her identity as an extraordinarily powerful combat robot is reinforced. She is fiercely loyal to Lin Yuan, calling him “Master” and reacting instantly to protect him. Her casual attitude contrasts sharply with her devastating physical strength.
• Zhao Wu: Is portrayed as arrogant, violent, and protected by family influence. His plan to humiliate Lin Yuan and obtain his bone marrow reveals his cruelty. His confidence collapses when Lily defeats and cripples him.
• The construction workers: They are shown to be unwilling participants who obey Zhao Wu mainly because of pressure and unpaid wages. Once threatened, they refuse to risk their lives for him.
• The front-row girl: She is introduced as cheerful and openly interested in Lin Yuan. Her internal thoughts suggest she may already be familiar with him or especially eager to interact with him.

3. Significant Themes

• Power and intimidation: Zhao Wu relies on wealth, family connections, and hired men, but these forms of power prove meaningless against Lily’s superior strength.
• Protection and loyalty: Lily’s immediate defense of Lin Yuan demonstrates her absolute devotion and willingness to punish anyone who threatens him.
• Justice versus retaliation: Although Lin Yuan is legally treated as the victim, he personally ensures Zhao Group suffers by exposing its financial crimes.
• Hidden technological power: The anti-gravity car highlights the gap between Lin Yuan’s advanced resources and the modern world, while also emphasizing his need to conceal them.
• Transformation and new beginnings: Lin Yuan’s enrollment marks a shift from his recent conflicts into a new phase centered on education, competition, and social relationships.
• Appearance versus reality: Lily looks like a defenseless girl but is immensely powerful, while Zhao Wu’s outward authority proves fragile.

4. Character Interactions

• Lin Yuan checks on Lily’s injury, showing concern, while she reassures him that the damage is minor.
• Zhao Wu confronts Lin Yuan and threatens to publicly humiliate him, revealing the hostility between Lin Yuan and the Zhao family.
• Lin Yuan remains calm and challenges Zhao Wu, then commands Lily to act.
• Lily repeatedly warns Zhao Wu’s men not to interfere and punishes Zhao Wu whenever he continues resisting.
• Lin Yuan later retaliates against the Zhao Group through technological means rather than further physical violence.
• At school, Lin Yuan introduces himself to the class and immediately draws the attention of the female students, particularly the smiling girl in the front row, setting up a likely future relationship or plot connection.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Yuan introduces himself to his university class and is revealed by the counselor to be the year’s gaokao top scorer, surprising his classmates because he chose an ordinary university instead of a prestigious one.
• He takes a seat near the back and begins attending class, relying on his photographic memory to catch up with the material.
• The counselor assigns the class monitor, Gu Lianyin, to help Lin Yuan collect his textbooks.
• Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin leave together, revealing to the reader that they are already boyfriend and girlfriend, though their classmates do not know this.
• On the way, they encounter Vice President Wang, who appears interested in Gu Lianyin and hostile toward Lin Yuan.
• After collecting the books, Lin Yuan holds Gu Lianyin’s hand in a secluded area. Although she initially pretends to object, she happily allows it.
• They pass two male students while still holding hands, shocking them because Gu Lianyin is widely admired as the university’s beautiful, talented, and academically gifted “goddess.”
• Lin Yuan boldly declares that he wants everyone to know Gu Lianyin is his girlfriend, though he lets go of her hand before they return to class.
• At the end, a female classmate calls Gu Lianyin to a saved seat in the front. Gu Lianyin begins to move toward it but suddenly stops, creating a small cliffhanger about whether she will sit with Lin Yuan instead.

2. Character Developments

• Lin Yuan: Demonstrates humility despite being the national-level top scorer. He is calm, confident, academically capable, and openly possessive of Gu Lianyin. His jealousy toward Vice President Wang reveals his strong affection, while his hand-holding shows a growing willingness to assert their relationship publicly.
• Gu Lianyin: Acts playful and slightly tsundere toward Lin Yuan, teasing him by denying that she missed him. Despite her popularity and many admirers, she remains deeply devoted to him. She enjoys his jealousy and assertiveness, though she also worries about the attention their relationship may attract.
• Vice President Wang: Introduced as a possible romantic rival. His polite behavior masks clear hostility and interest in Gu Lianyin.
• The classmates: Their reactions establish Gu Lianyin’s status as a campus celebrity and Lin Yuan’s unexpected importance as the university’s top gaokao scorer.

3. Significant Themes

• Love and possessiveness: Lin Yuan wants to make clear that Gu Lianyin belongs with him, while Gu Lianyin takes pleasure in his jealousy and protectiveness.
• Public image versus private affection: The couple acts intimately in private but remains cautious about openly announcing their relationship to the entire class.
• Humility despite exceptional ability: Lin Yuan’s top-scorer status does not make him arrogant; he quietly focuses on studying and adapting to university life.
• Romantic competition: Gu Lianyin’s beauty and popularity attract many admirers, setting up potential rivalry and conflict.
• New beginnings: Lin Yuan’s arrival marks the start of his university life and his reunion with Gu Lianyin in a new social environment.

4. Character Interactions

• The counselor publicly praises Lin Yuan and assigns Gu Lianyin to assist him.
• Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin exchange playful, flirtatious remarks while walking to collect his books.
• Vice President Wang questions Gu Lianyin while scrutinizing Lin Yuan, establishing tension between the two men.
• Lin Yuan admits he is jealous, pleasing Gu Lianyin and strengthening their romantic bond.
• Gu Lianyin allows Lin Yuan to hold her hand despite initially pretending to resist, and she accepts his declaration that she is his girlfriend.
• The chapter ends with Gu Lianyin hesitating between joining her friend in the front and presumably staying closer to Lin Yuan, leaving their seating arrangement unresolved.

Chapter Summary: “May I Sit Here?”

Plot and events

In class, Gu Lianyin hesitates between sitting with her friends and joining Lin Yuan, who is alone in the back. Her friends tease her about being interested in the handsome new top-scoring student, but Gu privately thinks of Lin Yuan as her boyfriend and becomes jealous when classmates show interest in him.
Meng Na, a flirtatious and manipulative classmate known for using men to buy her expensive gifts, deliberately sits beside Lin Yuan and attempts to attract his attention. Lin Yuan ignores her completely, focusing on memorizing his textbooks and refusing to respond to her provocations. Meng Na, unaccustomed to rejection, becomes more determined to win him over. Gu Lianyin is secretly pleased by Lin Yuan’s indifference.
Later, in the cafeteria, Lin Yuan notices Gu Lianyin eating with two friends at a table with one empty seat. The system presents him with choices, including sitting opposite Gu or taking the lion’s head meatball from her tray. He chooses the option that will publicly signal their relationship and approaches her table, politely asking, “May I sit here?” The chapter ends as Gu becomes excited and her friends assume Lin Yuan is trying to pursue her.

Character developments

• Gu Lianyin displays strong affection and possessiveness toward Lin Yuan. Although she trusts him, seeing other girls approach him triggers jealousy and a desire to establish their relationship openly.
• Lin Yuan remains calm, focused, and emotionally restrained. He ignores Meng Na’s seduction attempts and begins considering how to make his relationship with Gu publicly clear.
• Meng Na is presented as manipulative and confident, treating romantic relationships as games and viewing Lin Yuan’s aloofness as a challenge rather than a rejection.
• Gu’s friends act as observers and commentators, teasing her while judging Meng Na’s behavior.

Significant themes

• Jealousy and romantic insecurity: Gu’s confidence in Lin Yuan is tested by the attention he receives from other women.
• Public acknowledgment of relationships: Lin Yuan’s cafeteria decision suggests he wants to make it clear that Gu is already taken.
• Resistance to manipulation: Lin Yuan’s indifference undermines Meng Na’s usual methods of controlling men.
• The system as a relationship catalyst: The choice-based system nudges Lin Yuan toward more direct romantic action.

Character interactions

Gu’s friends tease her about Lin Yuan and criticize Meng Na’s aggressive flirting. Meng Na repeatedly tries to engage Lin Yuan, but he responds only minimally and continues reading. In the cafeteria, Lin Yuan approaches Gu’s table, creating an unexpectedly intimate and potentially public moment that leaves Gu hopeful and her friends surprised.