Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “I’ll Help You Eat It”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Yuan arrives at the university and joins Gu Lianyin for lunch.
• Lianyin’s two new friends initially reject Lin Yuan’s request to sit with them, claiming that Lianyin’s friend will be using the seat. However, Lianyin unexpectedly welcomes him, confusing her classmates.
• Lin Yuan notices the lion’s head meatball Lianyin has saved because it is her favorite dish. Pretending to prevent food waste, he takes a bite from it.
• Lianyin’s friends angrily defend her and demand that Lin Yuan leave, assuming he is behaving arrogantly and inappropriately.
• Lianyin herself reacts with mock anger, takes the meatball back, and eats from it despite Lin Yuan already biting it. Her reaction reveals that she and Lin Yuan are much closer than her friends realized.
• Lin Yuan jokingly threatens to cancel the meal he planned to treat her to. Lianyin immediately softens and gives him the remaining meatball in exchange for being taken out to eat.
• Lianyin then reveals that Lin Yuan is her boyfriend, shocking her two classmates. Lin Yuan apologizes for his earlier behavior, and the misunderstanding is resolved.
• After lunch, Lin Yuan returns to his dormitory and meets his three roommates: Dai Jiexing, Lin Zhiqing, and Zheng Haiming.
• When the roommates learn that Lin Yuan is in the same class as the beautiful Gu Lianyin and had lunch with her, they become intensely curious and jealous. Lin Yuan conceals the fact that she is his girlfriend, sparing them an even greater emotional blow.

Character Developments

• Lin Yuan: Displays confidence, playfulness, and a deliberately shameless sense of intimacy with Lianyin. He uses teasing and food-related antics to strengthen their public relationship and fulfill his goal of making their romance known. He also quickly establishes friendly relationships with his roommates.
• Gu Lianyin: Shows a playful, food-loving side and demonstrates that she is comfortable with Lin Yuan’s closeness, even when she pretends to be angry. By openly introducing him as her boyfriend, she confirms their relationship without embarrassment.
• Lianyin’s classmates: Initially protective and suspicious of Lin Yuan, they assume he is an overconfident stranger taking advantage of Lianyin. Their attitude changes once they learn he is her boyfriend.
• The roommates: Their admiration for Lianyin grows into exaggerated envy when they hear Lin Yuan has eaten lunch with her. Dai Jiexing is insecure but infatuated, Lin Zhiqing treats Lin Yuan as an impressive example, and Zheng Haiming becomes so interested that he abandons his video game.

Significant Themes

• Public acknowledgment of romance: Lin Yuan’s actions are part of his effort to establish his relationship with Lianyin publicly and prevent others from pursuing her.
• Intimacy and familiarity: Sharing food, teasing, and bargaining over a favorite dish reveal the couple’s comfortable and affectionate dynamic.
• Appearance and social perception: Lianyin’s beauty causes classmates and roommates to idealize her, while Lin Yuan’s handsome appearance helps shape their assumptions about him.
• Jealousy and admiration: The chapter humorously contrasts Lin Yuan’s ordinary familiarity with Lianyin against the awe and insecurity she inspires in other students.
• Misunderstanding and revelation: Lianyin’s friends misinterpret Lin Yuan’s behavior until his true relationship with her is revealed.

Character Interactions

• Lin Yuan and Lianyin engage in playful teasing over her lion’s head meatball, using food as a symbol of their closeness.
• Lianyin’s friends confront Lin Yuan to protect her, but are stunned when Lianyin accepts his behavior and identifies him as her boyfriend.
• Lin Yuan bonds with his roommates during dorm introductions, while their fascination with Lianyin creates a humorous contrast between their distant admiration and his close relationship with her.

Chapter Summary: “I’ll Say a Few Words to Him”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Yuan claims his reward for completing the choice mission and receives a USB drive containing the unreleased novel A Sword Shatters the Nine Heavens, a massive, multi-million-word work with over a thousand chapters.
• He begins reading the novel and becomes completely absorbed, recognizing it as an exceptionally exciting, potentially bestselling book. However, since he does not need money or fame, he postpones deciding when to publish it.
• During class, Meng Na once again sits beside Lin Yuan and deliberately wears perfume, apparently trying to attract his attention. Gu Lianyin’s friends worry that Meng Na may be pursuing him, but Gu Lianyin remains confident in both her relationship and Lin Yuan’s loyalty.
• Lin Yuan tells his roommates that he has a girlfriend, surprising them since he has only just arrived at the university. He refrains from boasting further out of consideration for his single roommates.
• Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin meet outside the school. Gu Lianyin’s beauty attracts widespread attention, and students are stunned when she happily takes Lin Yuan’s hand and leaves with him.
• Their relationship quickly becomes a major topic on the school forum, with some students initially refusing to believe that Gu Lianyin is dating someone.
• The couple eats together at McDonald’s. They exchange affectionate and playful remarks, revealing their growing comfort and romantic closeness.
• Their date is interrupted when Gu Lianyin receives a WeChat call from the irritating student-council vice president—the same man they encountered earlier while collecting books. Lin Yuan offers to answer the call and “say a few words to him.”

Character Developments

• Lin Yuan: Demonstrates his ability to recognize quality in the gifted novel and shows increasing confidence in his relationship with Gu Lianyin. He is affectionate, mildly playful, and protective when the student-council vice president calls.
• Gu Lianyin: Becomes more openly affectionate and secure as Lin Yuan’s girlfriend. She trusts him completely, willingly gives him her phone, and appears pleased to publicly establish their relationship.
• Meng Na: Continues attempting to draw Lin Yuan’s attention, though she does not directly confront Gu Lianyin in this chapter.
• Lin Yuan’s roommates: Learn about his girlfriend and react with surprise and envy, establishing a friendly dormitory dynamic.
• Student-council vice president: Remains an unwanted presence in Gu Lianyin’s life and appears to be pursuing or harassing her.

Significant Themes

• Romantic trust and public acknowledgment: Gu Lianyin is confident in Lin Yuan and wants their relationship to become publicly known.
• Jealousy and rivalry: Meng Na’s continued attempts to approach Lin Yuan and the vice president’s unwanted attention create potential romantic conflicts.
• Beauty and social attention: Gu Lianyin’s exceptional appearance draws admiration and gossip, contrasting with her desire to be treated normally.
• Hidden talent and opportunity: The gifted novel represents Lin Yuan’s immense potential and the possibility of future fame, though he remains indifferent to recognition.
• Affection through teasing: The couple’s playful conversation and flirtatious exchanges show their increasing intimacy.

Character Interactions

• Lin Yuan and his roommates joke about his new relationship, while they react enviously to his having a girlfriend.
• Gu Lianyin reassures her friends that she trusts Lin Yuan and is not concerned about Meng Na.
• Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin publicly hold hands, confirming their relationship to the watching students.
• During their meal, they flirt and tease each other over Lin Yuan’s compliments.
• When the student-council vice president calls, Gu Lianyin immediately hands her phone to Lin Yuan, allowing him to confront the unwanted caller on her behalf.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Yuan answers a call on Gu Lianyin’s phone from “Vice President Wang Toad,” a nickname that amuses him.
• Vice President Wang pretends to be concerned about rumors claiming Gu Lianyin was holding hands with another man, offering to help identify the person spreading them. His behavior reveals that he is romantically interested in her.
• Lin Yuan deliberately provokes Wang by claiming to be Gu Lianyin’s boyfriend. Wang refuses to believe him and accuses him of stealing Gu Lianyin’s phone.
• Gu Lianyin confirms the relationship herself, telling Wang that she is having dinner with her boyfriend. Wang is deeply disappointed and realizes that her earlier claim of having a boyfriend was genuine.
• At the restaurant, Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin openly display their affection. He initially refuses to feed her French fries unless she says something flattering, while secretly enjoying her attempts to act sweet. He eventually gives in.
• Their intimate behavior attracts a large crowd of students, many of whom are heartbroken to see their admired “goddess” with a boyfriend. Some leave before finishing their meals.
• Gu Lianyin becomes suspicious of Lin Yuan’s interactions with other girls and asks whether he has been flirting with anyone. When she asks to inspect his phone, Lin Yuan agrees but asks to see hers as well.
• Gu Lianyin becomes evasive and jokingly claims she was only testing his trust, ending the chapter with the implication that her phone may contain something she does not want him to see.

Character Developments

• Lin Yuan: Shows confidence and a playful, teasing personality. He enjoys asserting his relationship with Gu Lianyin, especially when confronting Wang, but also indulges her affectionate behavior despite pretending to resist it.
• Gu Lianyin: Acts increasingly affectionate and spoiled around Lin Yuan, openly treating him as her boyfriend. However, her hesitation when asked to exchange phones suggests she may be hiding something or may be more socially connected with other men than she admits.
• Vice President Wang: His concern for Gu Lianyin is exposed as self-serving romantic interest. Learning that she truly has a boyfriend leaves him emotionally devastated, though he remains unwilling to abandon the possibility of pursuing her.

Significant Themes

• Public displays of romance: Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin’s affection causes a strong reaction among other students, emphasizing Gu Lianyin’s popularity and the social impact of their relationship.
• Jealousy and trust: Gu Lianyin worries about other girls in Lin Yuan’s life, while her own reluctance to show her phone raises questions about mutual trust.
• Romantic rivalry: Vice President Wang represents an outside threat to the couple, believing he can eventually win Gu Lianyin away despite her relationship.
• Playful intimacy: Teasing, pet names, feeding one another, and flirtatious behavior strengthen the couple’s bond and establish their comfortable, affectionate dynamic.

Chapter Summary

Plot and Events

• Lin Yuan notices Gu Lianyin becoming unusually nervous when he mentions her phone and suspects she may be hiding something.
• Gu Lianyin tries to change the subject by urging him to eat, but her awkward behavior only deepens his suspicion.
• Lin Yuan ultimately decides not to inspect her phone, choosing to trust her and emphasizing that mutual trust is essential in a relationship.
• Although touched by his trust, Gu Lianyin becomes increasingly guilty and worries that he may secretly suspect her.
• To prove her innocence, she insists that Lin Yuan choose a chat from her contact list for him to inspect.
• Lin Yuan first chooses one number that makes Gu Lianyin panic because she wants to keep the contents private. He then chooses another, eventually selecting her conversation with Ling Wanqing.
• Gu Lianyin reluctantly opens the chat and hands him the phone, visibly embarrassed and anxious.
• Lin Yuan reads the conversation and discovers that it contains highly suggestive discussions, including revealing private photoshoots, ending the chapter on a cliffhanger.

Character Development

• Lin Yuan is shown as observant and curious but ultimately trusting and emotionally mature. Rather than immediately invading Gu Lianyin’s privacy, he prioritizes trust within their relationship.
• Gu Lianyin is deeply devoted to Lin Yuan but extremely nervous about being misunderstood. Her guilt and overthinking lead her to impulsively offer proof of her innocence, even though she fears the contents of her chats will damage Lin Yuan’s impression of her.
• Her embarrassment reveals both her desire to maintain a good image and her willingness to confront the consequences of her own rash promise.

Significant Themes

• Trust versus privacy: Lin Yuan recognizes that romantic partners can still have personal secrets, while Gu Lianyin struggles with the tension between privacy and transparency.
• Overthinking and insecurity: Gu Lianyin repeatedly imagines the worst, even after Lin Yuan reassures her.
• Honesty and unintended consequences: Her attempt to prove she has nothing to hide forces her to reveal something far more compromising than she expected.
• Romantic intimacy and embarrassment: The playful food-sharing scene contrasts with the increasingly tense revelation about the chat contents.

Character Interactions

• Lin Yuan questions Gu Lianyin’s nervousness, while she attempts to distract him and conceal her anxiety.
• He reassures her by saying he trusts her and interlocks their fingers, offering physical and emotional comfort.
• Gu Lianyin repeatedly insists that he inspect a chat, turning the exchange into a playful but tense test of trust.
• Their teasing dynamic shifts when Lin Yuan’s curiosity grows and Gu Lianyin is forced to expose her private conversation with Ling Wanqing.

Chapter Summary: “Can I Kiss You?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Yuan reads through the private chat history between his girlfriend, Gu Lianyin, and Ling Wanqing. The messages contain provocative photos and teasing conversations, embarrassing Gu Lianyin when Lin Yuan sees them.
• Lin Yuan admits that he enjoyed the photos and jokingly asks Gu Lianyin to send more. She becomes extremely embarrassed and changes the subject by feeding him fries.
• After eating, the couple begins their date around the university district. They stop at a claw machine, where Gu Lianyin chooses a plush puppy.
• Lin Yuan fails several times but eventually wins the toy on his fifth attempt. Gu Lianyin is delighted and rewards him with a kiss on the cheek.
• Later, Gu Lianyin takes Lin Yuan to “Love Slope,” a popular dating spot on campus. They sit together quietly under the moon.
• Lin Yuan notices that Gu Lianyin may be cold, gives her his jacket, and pulls her into his arms. He carefully asks for permission before kissing her, and she agrees.
• They share a long, passionate kiss before returning to their separate dormitories.
• Gu Lianyin happily tells her roommates that Lin Yuan is her boyfriend, openly acknowledging their relationship.

Character Developments

• Lin Yuan: Becomes more affectionate and emotionally attentive toward Gu Lianyin. Although he teases her about the private photos, he reassures her that his feelings are not based solely on physical attraction. His decision to ask for consent before kissing shows greater consideration and respect.
• Gu Lianyin: Initially feels ashamed and anxious that Lin Yuan might judge her for the provocative messages and photos. His reassurance restores her confidence. She grows more secure in their relationship, openly identifies him as her boyfriend, and privately imagines marrying him.
• Ling Wanqing: Appears indirectly through her playful and provocative chat exchanges with Gu Lianyin, revealing a teasing relationship between the two women.

Significant Themes

• Trust and reassurance: Gu Lianyin’s insecurity is eased when Lin Yuan directly addresses her fears about being judged or viewed merely as an object of desire.
• Romantic intimacy and consent: The chapter emphasizes emotional closeness through small gestures and highlights Lin Yuan asking permission before initiating the kiss.
• Public acknowledgment of love: Gu Lianyin’s willingness to tell her roommates about Lin Yuan marks a step toward openly embracing their relationship.
• Playfulness and embarrassment in romance: Their teasing, awkward moments, and lighthearted date activities add warmth to their developing relationship.

Important Character Interactions

• Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin joke about the private photos, with Gu Lianyin becoming increasingly embarrassed.
• Lin Yuan comforts Gu Lianyin when he realizes she fears losing his affection.
• He tries to win her a plush puppy, and she responds with an affectionate kiss.
• At Love Slope, Lin Yuan protects her from the cold and seeks her consent before kissing her.
• Gu Lianyin later confirms to her roommates that Lin Yuan is her boyfriend, showing her happiness and growing confidence.

Chapter Summary: “You’re Blocking My View of the Book”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gu Lianyin proudly tells her roommates that she has started dating Lin Yuan, enthusiastically listing his many virtues: his looks, kindness, academic achievements, cooking and singing abilities, and other talents.
• Her roommates are amazed and eager to meet the seemingly “perfect” boyfriend, while Lianyin secretly enjoys their envy.
• That night, Lianyin messages Lin Yuan affectionately before going to sleep, replaying their kiss at Love Slope and becoming embarrassed and excited by the memory.
• News of Lianyin’s date spreads throughout the university because she is widely regarded as the school’s most beautiful girl. Students speculate about her mysterious boyfriend, especially the male students who admire her.
• Lin Yuan arrives at class and realizes the rumors are circulating. He is unconcerned, since the attention is part of what he intended.
• Lianyin ignores the attention surrounding her and sits beside Lin Yuan. The two openly behave like a couple and make plans for another date, including hot pot and an escape room.
• Meng Na arrives dressed provocatively and deliberately sits beside Lin Yuan, attempting to attract his attention and flirt with him.
• Lianyin becomes jealous and pinches Lin Yuan’s waist when she notices him looking toward Meng Na.
• Lin Yuan immediately withdraws his attention from Meng Na and dismisses her flirtation by telling her she is “blocking his view of the book.”

Character Developments

• Gu Lianyin: Becomes increasingly open and proud about her relationship with Lin Yuan. She enjoys showing him off to her roommates and displays a playful, affectionate, and possessive side. Her jealousy toward Meng Na reveals how seriously she now regards Lin Yuan as her boyfriend.
• Lin Yuan: Remains calm and self-assured amid the school rumors. He understands Lianyin’s thoughts and responds to her desires thoughtfully, while also making it clear through his actions that he prioritizes her over Meng Na.
• Meng Na: Introduces herself as a rival for Lin Yuan’s attention. She deliberately uses her appearance and flirtatious behavior to provoke a reaction, but her efforts fail because Lin Yuan is not interested.
• Lianyin’s roommates and classmates: Their reactions emphasize Lianyin’s popularity and the social impact of her new relationship.

Significant Themes

• Romance and public attention: Lianyin and Lin Yuan’s relationship quickly becomes a subject of widespread campus gossip because of her beauty and reputation.
• Pride and affection: Lianyin’s exaggerated praise of Lin Yuan reflects both her admiration for him and her happiness at being in a relationship.
• Jealousy and possessiveness: Lianyin’s reaction to Meng Na highlights her growing emotional investment and fear of losing Lin Yuan’s attention.
• Appearance versus genuine connection: Meng Na relies on her revealing outfit to attract Lin Yuan, but he values his relationship with Lianyin more than superficial seduction.
• Humor and romantic rivalry: The contrast between Meng Na’s calculated flirtation and Lin Yuan’s blunt rejection creates the chapter’s main comedic moment.

Character Interactions

• Lianyin enthusiastically discusses Lin Yuan with her roommates, presenting him as an ideal boyfriend.
• She and Lin Yuan exchange affectionate good-night messages and later casually discuss their next date in class.
• Meng Na attempts to draw Lin Yuan’s attention by sitting beside him and leaning over his book.
• Lianyin responds with jealousy by pinching Lin Yuan, while Lin Yuan reassures her indirectly by ignoring Meng Na and telling her to move because she is obstructing his reading.

Chapter Summary: “Making Money Mission”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Meng Na realizes Lin Yuan is uninterested in her after noticing him holding hands with Gu Lianyin. She concludes that Gu Lianyin is his girlfriend and abandons her attempt to pursue him.
• Lin Yuan spends the day using his Photographic Memory to study, but the intense effort leaves him exhausted. His considerate roommates keep the dormitory quiet while he sleeps.
• The next day, Teacher Zhang gives the students an assignment: legally earn as much money as possible within two months, starting from nothing.
• The system offers Lin Yuan two choices:
  • Ignore the assignment and receive a “Lazy” title.
  • Complete it and have all his earnings during the two months multiplied by 10,000.
• Lin Yuan chooses the second option and decides to earn money by publishing a novel using the “godly book” stored on his computer.
• Lin Yuan suggests that Gu Lianyin become a streamer because of her singing, dancing, and appearance. She accepts the idea and plans to begin streaming the following day.
• After returning to the dormitory, Lin Yuan registers on Qidian Chinese and publishes the opening 10,000 words of his novel, A Sword Shatters the Nine Heavens.
• Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin arrange to play an escape-room game together that evening.

Character Developments

• Meng Na: Accepts that Lin Yuan cannot be won over and gives up on pursuing him, returning her attention to more receptive upperclassmen.
• Lin Yuan: Demonstrates exceptional learning ability and determination. He also begins using his hidden resources and talents to complete the money-making mission through writing.
• Gu Lianyin: Becomes increasingly comfortable and affectionate with Lin Yuan. She trusts his advice, shows interest in his writing, and decides to try streaming as a way to earn money.
• Teacher Zhang: Introduces the students to the practical difficulty of earning a living, balancing humor with a serious lesson about their future.
• Lin Yuan’s roommates: Show consideration by keeping quiet while he recovers from his exhausting study session.

Significant Themes

• Romantic exclusivity and jealousy: Meng Na and the other students recognize Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin as a couple, leading to envy and wounded pride among their classmates.
• The difficulty of earning money: Teacher Zhang challenges the students to understand the effort required to become financially independent.
• Opportunity and talent: Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin identify practical ways to monetize their abilities—writing for Lin Yuan and streaming for Gu Lianyin.
• The system’s influence: Lin Yuan’s supernatural reward system turns an ordinary class assignment into a major opportunity for rapid financial gain.
• Affection expressed through familiarity: Gu Lianyin freely drinks Lin Yuan’s valuable tea and shares his cup, showing how close and comfortable they have become.

Character Interactions

• Meng Na observes Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin holding hands and silently accepts that they are together.
• Gu Lianyin asks Lin Yuan for advice about making money, and he recommends streaming.
• Lin Yuan reveals that he plans to write a novel, surprising Gu Lianyin and prompting her to ask to read it.
• Gu Lianyin drinks Lin Yuan’s expensive old tea tree tea without hesitation, and Lin Yuan casually drinks from the same cup afterward.
• Their public closeness causes classmates—especially the boys who admire Gu Lianyin—to become jealous, while Vice President Wang withdraws from her.
• Lin Yuan agrees to accompany Gu Lianyin to an escape room, reinforcing their growing romantic relationship.

Chapter Summary: “I Quit Playing”

Plot Points and Events

• Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin arrange to visit an escape room together.
• They drive into the city, buy tickets, and listen to the staff explain the rules.
• The escape room has a terrifying mental-hospital theme, featuring darkness, bloody handprints, skulls, eerie music, corpse props, sudden scares, and actors dressed as ghosts.
• The group of eleven participants is frightened almost immediately. Several players scream, flee, or cling to their partners.
• Gu Lianyin, who is afraid of ghosts but curious about the experience, repeatedly asks Lin Yuan to protect her.
• As the scares intensify, Gu Lianyin hides in Lin Yuan’s arms, eventually crying and saying she no longer wants to continue.
• Lin Yuan shields her from the other players and quietly signals one ghost actor not to frighten her. The actor cooperates and leaves them alone.
• After completing the escape room, the participants emerge shaken. Gu Lianyin swears never to play again.
• Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin have a late-night snack, return to school, and share an intense farewell kiss.
• The chapter ends with Lin Yuan worrying that his growing physical desire might eventually overwhelm his self-control.

Character Development

• Gu Lianyin: Her adventurous curiosity leads her to try something she knows she fears. The experience exposes her timidity, but also shows her willingness to depend on Lin Yuan and seek excitement despite her anxiety. By the end, she is deeply traumatized and firmly rejects the idea of playing again.
• Lin Yuan: He acts as Gu Lianyin’s calm protector throughout the escape room, remaining composed while others panic. His protective instincts become especially clear when he shields her from the crowd and asks the ghost actors not to scare her. However, his romantic and physical feelings for Gu Lianyin are becoming increasingly difficult for him to control, creating an internal conflict.

Significant Themes

• Fear versus curiosity: Gu Lianyin wants to experience the thrill of the escape room despite being frightened, illustrating the tension between wanting excitement and confronting one’s fears.
• Protection and emotional dependence: The escape room strengthens the image of Lin Yuan as Gu Lianyin’s protector, while Gu Lianyin openly relies on him for safety and comfort.
• Public bravado versus genuine fear: Several male participants claim to be brave but end up screaming even louder than the girls, suggesting that courage is often performative.
• Desire and self-restraint: The concluding kiss shifts the focus from physical fear to Lin Yuan’s fear of losing control over his romantic and sexual impulses.

Character Interactions

• Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin’s affectionate relationship is emphasized through her linking arms with him, holding his hand, hiding in his embrace, and relying on his reassurance.
• Lin Yuan repeatedly comforts and physically protects Gu Lianyin, including shielding her from the crowd and calming her after each scare.
• The ghost actor recognizes Lin Yuan’s protective request and deliberately avoids frightening Gu Lianyin.
• The other couples and friends provide contrast: some use fear to strengthen romantic intimacy, while others panic independently or loudly pretend to be brave.
• The chapter closes with Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin sharing a passionate kiss, underscoring both their closeness and Lin Yuan’s concern about his loss of control.

Chapter Summary: “Gu Lianyin’s Birthday Surprise”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Yuan reflects on his growing physical attraction to his girlfriend, Gu Lianyin, but decides to restrain himself because they are still young and he does not want their relationship to cross legal or personal boundaries.
• His novel passes review, gets signed, and quickly becomes highly successful. It enters the new-release rankings, reaches the top ten before reaching 100,000 words, gains over 10,000 bookmarks, and receives overwhelmingly positive feedback.
• Gu Lianyin begins streaming online. Her appearance helps her gain followers rapidly, eventually surpassing 10,000 followers, attracting gifts, and earning her first few hundred yuan. The platform even considers signing her.
• Their teacher discusses the class’s money-making assignments, inspiring more students to try activities such as making videos, running stalls, doing odd jobs, or boosting game accounts.
• Gu Lianyin secretly prepares a birthday celebration for Lin Yuan. Lin Yuan discovers her plans by reading her thoughts but pretends not to know.
• On his birthday, Lin Yuan speaks with his mother, Lin Xianglan, who can only wish him well over the phone. He reflects that his past birthdays had been modest and that he had never had a birthday cake before.
• Gu Lianyin directs him to Room 520 at the Starry Sky Hotel. Lin Yuan initially imagines that the surprise might involve an intimate encounter.
• The hotel room is romantically decorated with balloons, lights, music, roses, and a “Happy Birthday” display. Gu Lianyin jumps out of a large box with a birthday cake and surprises him.
• She gives Lin Yuan a handmade scarf, explaining that she knitted it for the coming cold weather.
• After they share the cake, Gu Lianyin performs a dance she practiced especially for him. At the end, she kisses him first.

Character Developments

• Lin Yuan: Continues building financial independence through his novel while becoming more emotionally attached to Gu Lianyin. His birthday makes him appreciate her thoughtfulness, and his wish—to grow old with her—reveals the seriousness of his feelings.
• Gu Lianyin: Becomes increasingly successful and confident as a streamer. She is affectionate, energetic, and devoted to Lin Yuan, demonstrating her love through careful planning, a handmade gift, a dance, and an affectionate kiss.
• Lin Xianglan: Shows maternal concern despite being unable to celebrate with Lin Yuan in person, reinforcing Lin Yuan’s modest family background and emotional connection to his mother.

Significant Themes

• Young love and restraint: Lin Yuan struggles with attraction while trying to respect boundaries and avoid acting impulsively.
• Ambition and self-reliance: Both protagonists pursue ways to earn money, with Lin Yuan succeeding as a novelist and Gu Lianyin beginning a promising streaming career.
• Affection expressed through effort: Gu Lianyin’s surprise emphasizes that love is shown through preparation, handmade gifts, and personal sacrifice rather than money alone.
• Emotional fulfillment: Lin Yuan’s first elaborate birthday celebration contrasts with his simple childhood birthdays, marking a meaningful change in his life.
• Growing public recognition: Their personal successes mirror each other as Lin Yuan’s novel and Gu Lianyin’s online presence rapidly gain popularity.

Character Interactions

• Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin frequently encourage each other’s careers and celebrate one another’s progress.
• Gu Lianyin enthusiastically shares updates about her followers, gifts, and possible contract, while Lin Yuan explains his novel’s strong performance.
• Lin Yuan speaks tenderly with his mother about his birthday and reassures her that he is taking care of himself.
• During the birthday celebration, Gu Lianyin lovingly decorates the room, gives Lin Yuan a scarf, shares cake with him, dances for him, and ends the evening by initiating a kiss.

Chapter Summary: Lianyin’s Aunt Flo Arrives

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Gu Lianyin spends two weeks preparing a birthday surprise for Lin Yuan. She books and decorates a hotel room, orders a custom cake, practices a dance, selects an outfit, and buys gifts.
• At the hotel, Lianyin performs a provocative dance and kisses Lin Yuan. Misinterpreting the setting, her clothing, and her behavior as an invitation to intimacy, Lin Yuan becomes sexually aggressive.
• Lianyin repeatedly asks him to stop. Although he eventually does, the encounter leaves her embarrassed and uneasy. Lin Yuan apologizes and offers to grant her one unreasonable request as compensation.
• Lianyin’s “excessive” request is simply that Lin Yuan reimburse her for the money spent on the birthday preparations. They leave the hotel, eat an inexpensive late-night meal, and return to their dormitories.
• The following day, Lianyin tells Lin Yuan that her period has started and that severe cramps prevent her from attending class.
• Lin Yuan struggles to decide how to comfort her. A system presents him with three choices, and he selects the option intended to affect her emotionally.
• He leaves class, buys brown sugar and other ingredients, cooks brown sugar water in the cafeteria, places it in a thermos, and brings it to the girls’ dormitory.
• The chapter ends with Lin Yuan unable to enter the dormitory or get Lianyin downstairs, leaving him unsure how to deliver the drink while it is still warm.

2. Character Development

• Gu Lianyin: Her careful preparation shows that she is thoughtful, devoted, and eager to make Lin Yuan happy. At the same time, she remains innocent, conservative, and anxious about sexual intimacy. She demonstrates growing confidence by dressing boldly and performing a dance, but the resulting misunderstanding reinforces her boundaries and fears.
• Lin Yuan: He is impulsive and driven by desire during the hotel encounter, failing to respect Lianyin’s repeated requests to stop. Afterwards, he recognizes that he crossed a line and offers compensation. His later actions show a more considerate and proactive side: he makes a special effort to care for Lianyin during her painful period.
• Their relationship is portrayed as affectionate but immature, with both characters still learning to communicate boundaries and expectations.

3. Significant Themes

• Miscommunication and consent: Lianyin intends to create a romantic birthday surprise, but Lin Yuan interprets it as sexual consent. The scene emphasizes the danger of assuming that clothing, location, or affection automatically signals agreement.
• Youth and sexual boundaries: Lianyin’s hesitation reflects her emotional uncertainty and desire to wait until she feels older and ready.
• Affection expressed through effort: Lianyin’s elaborate preparations and Lin Yuan’s later attempt to prepare a warm remedy both show love through practical effort.
• Care and responsibility: Lin Yuan’s response to Lianyin’s menstrual pain marks a shift from self-centered desire toward concern for her wellbeing.
• Humor and everyday intimacy: The inexpensive late-night meal, teasing over repayment, and dormitory difficulties provide a lighter contrast to the more emotionally tense hotel scene.

4. Character Interactions

• Lianyin’s dance and kiss intensify Lin Yuan’s attraction, but his reaction conflicts with her intentions and boundaries.
• After the encounter, Lianyin scolds him gently and hints that intimacy should wait until she is twenty, though she is too embarrassed to state it directly.
• Lin Yuan accepts her request to reimburse the birthday expenses, effectively paying for his own gift.
• The couple share a casual meal, exchange good-night wishes, and make plans to meet again.
• When Lianyin later reports her painful period, Lin Yuan seeks advice, rejects a generic response, and chooses to show care through action.
• His attempt to deliver brown sugar water creates the chapter’s cliffhanger: he has prepared something thoughtful but cannot yet find a way to get it to her.

Chapter Summary: “Gu Lianyin’s Gratitude”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Yuan learns that Gu Lianyin is suffering from severe menstrual pain and secretly goes to her dormitory to help her.
• He brings her steaming brown sugar water, snacks suited to her condition, and personal necessities for women—items he courageously purchased despite potential embarrassment.
• Gu Lianyin is deeply touched by his thoughtfulness, and the warmth and care noticeably ease her pain.
• At lunchtime, Lin Yuan sends her specially prepared brown sugar, millet, and red-date porridge through one of her roommates, since he cannot conveniently enter the dormitory when it is crowded.
• He later prepares a full dinner of blood-nourishing dishes and soup for her, which Gu Lianyin personally comes downstairs to collect.
• After completing a system-assigned choice, Lin Yuan receives increases to his charm and appearance, along with a Physique-Enhancing Potion.
• He gives the potion to Gu Lianyin, who soon experiences dramatic improvements: her stomach pain disappears, her complexion becomes rosy, and her body feels unusually healthy.

Character Developments

• Lin Yuan: Demonstrates exceptional attentiveness and devotion. He is willing to enter the girls’ dormitory, buy embarrassing personal supplies, arrange special meals, and repeatedly care for Gu Lianyin despite inconvenience.
• Gu Lianyin: Becomes increasingly touched and reassured by Lin Yuan’s actions. Her affection and pride in him grow, and after experiencing the potion’s effects, she resolves to remember his kindness and repay him someday.
• Gu Lianyin’s roommates: Recognize Lin Yuan as a devoted boyfriend and become protective of Gu Lianyin while also feeling envious of her relationship.

Significant Themes

• Love expressed through practical care: Lin Yuan’s affection is shown through concrete actions rather than words alone.
• Trust and emotional security: Gu Lianyin accepts the potion without hesitation because she completely trusts Lin Yuan.
• Devotion overcoming embarrassment: Lin Yuan ignores social awkwardness to obtain the supplies Gu Lianyin needs.
• Romantic envy and social approval: Her roommates admire their relationship, teasingly complaining about its sweetness while supporting the couple.
• Gratitude and reciprocity: Gu Lianyin’s comfort develops into a desire to repay Lin Yuan’s generosity.

Character Interactions

• Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin share several tender moments, including him wiping and warming her hands, touching her cheek, kissing her forehead, and later receiving a kiss from her in thanks.
• Lin Yuan bonds with Gu Lianyin’s roommate by promising gifts and asking her to look after Gu Lianyin.
• Gu Lianyin proudly shows her roommates the food Lin Yuan prepared, enjoying their envy.
• After taking the potion, Gu Lianyin realizes how extraordinary Lin Yuan’s care is and silently vows to repay him.

Chapter Summary: Lin Yuan’s Archery Skills

Key plot points and events

• Gu Lianyin, having recognized Lin Yuan’s gentleness after the previous day’s events, becomes more openly affectionate and gives him men’s skincare products.
• She invites him to join her Archery Club so they can participate in activities together. Though initially uninterested, Lin Yuan agrees after seeing her hopeful expression.
• At the club, Lin Yuan receives basic instruction and tries archery for the first time. His accuracy rapidly improves, progressing from barely hitting the target to consistently striking the inner rings and eventually the bullseye.
• The club members are stunned by his natural talent, joking that he could become an Olympic champion with proper training. Lin Yuan’s skill and appearance make him immediately popular.
• After returning home, Lin Yuan uploads his latest writing. His novel continues rising in the new-book rankings, though some people accuse him of falsifying its impressive statistics.
• Lin Yuan later watches Gu Lianyin’s livestream. She is popular for her natural appearance and earns a steady income through viewer gifts.
• When a wealthy viewer sends her an expensive gift, Lin Yuan becomes jealous and responds by changing his username to “Lianyin’er’s Husband Lin Yuan” and sending five grand rockets. Gu Lianyin recognizes him, becomes angry over his wasteful spending, and warns him never to send gifts again.

Character developments

• Gu Lianyin’s feelings for Lin Yuan deepen from simple fondness into genuine love. She becomes more attentive, gives him a thoughtful gift, and wants to share her hobbies with him.
• Lin Yuan demonstrates extraordinary natural ability in archery, apparently combining his physical strength, memory, and rapid learning skills.
• Lin Yuan also reveals a possessive but affectionate side through his dramatic livestream donation and public declaration that he is Gu Lianyin’s boyfriend.
• Gu Lianyin is shown as increasingly confident and successful as a streamer, though she remains embarrassed and exasperated by Lin Yuan’s behavior.

Significant themes

• Natural talent and rapid growth: Lin Yuan masters archery almost immediately, highlighting his exceptional abilities.
• Romantic affection and mutual support: Gu Lianyin and Lin Yuan strengthen their relationship by sharing activities and openly expressing care.
• Jealousy and possessiveness: Lin Yuan’s extravagant donation reflects both his affection and discomfort with other men showering Gu Lianyin with attention.
• Online popularity and luck: The chapter contrasts Lin Yuan’s successful writing and Gu Lianyin’s profitable livestreaming with the uncertainty and competitiveness of internet fame.

Character interactions

• Gu Lianyin persuades Lin Yuan to join her club through her affectionate enthusiasm.
• The Archery Club president patiently teaches Lin Yuan, then becomes amazed and slightly suspicious of his unprecedented progress.
• Other club members admire Lin Yuan, compare themselves unfavorably to him, and praise him and Gu Lianyin as a perfect couple.
• During the livestream, Gu Lianyin thanks viewers for gifts, while Lin Yuan privately observes her popularity before publicly identifying himself through his username and donations. Her subsequent reprimand creates a playful conflict between them.

Chapter Summary: “Angrily Sending a Hundred Rockets”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Yuan sends gifts to his girlfriend, streamer Gu Lianyin, but she angrily objects because livestream platforms take a large cut and she believes he is wasting money.
• A wealthy viewer, identified as “Brother Wang,” enters the stream and sends Gu Lianyin ten “Big Rockets,” dramatically increasing the stream’s popularity.
• Lin Yuan becomes caught up in a competition with Brother Wang. The system presents him with two choices:
  • Remain calm and receive the “Unflappable” title.
  • Send gifts and defeat Brother Wang, earning ownership of Shark Live Network Technology Co., Ltd.
• Lin Yuan chooses the second option and rapidly sends one hundred rockets, spending hundreds of thousands of yuan. He then activates the expensive “Jade Emperor” title, gaining elite privileges on the platform.
• The gift barrage pushes Gu Lianyin’s stream to the top of the trending rankings.
• Rather than being pleased, Gu Lianyin becomes furious over Lin Yuan’s reckless spending and calls him for an explanation.
• Lin Yuan reveals that he already owns Shark Live. Since the platform’s gift revenue ultimately returns to him, the money is essentially circulating within his own business.
• Gu Lianyin is stunned but eventually understands and calms down.
• The chapter ends by revealing that “Brother Wang” is Wang Xiaocong, a wealthy second-generation heir who had noticed Gu Lianyin’s extraordinary beauty and is now interested in competing with Lin Yuan.

Character Developments

• Lin Yuan: Displays competitiveness, confidence, and strategic thinking. Although his actions appear extravagant, he is deliberately using the system’s reward to acquire Shark Live. He also enjoys demonstrating his wealth and outdoing Wang Xiaocong.
• Gu Lianyin: Shows herself to be practical, frugal, and genuinely concerned about Lin Yuan’s habits. Her anger comes from caring about him rather than from wanting the money for herself. Her belief that he is merely wasting money changes after she learns he owns the platform.
• Wang Xiaocong: Is introduced as a rich, confident heir accustomed to getting what he wants. He views Lin Yuan’s hundred rockets as a challenge and appears prepared to compete for Gu Lianyin’s attention.
• The viewers: Become increasingly excited by the dramatic gift competition, helping drive the stream’s popularity and turning the event into public entertainment.

Significant Themes

• Wealth and power: The chapter contrasts ordinary viewers’ understanding of money with Lin Yuan’s ability to spend enormous amounts without suffering a real loss.
• Competition and male pride: Lin Yuan’s decision is motivated partly by the strategic value of acquiring Shark Live and partly by his desire not to lose face to another wealthy man.
• Love versus money: Gu Lianyin emphasizes that she values Lin Yuan himself, not his fortune. Her anger reflects concern for his judgment rather than greed.
• Appearances versus reality: What looks like reckless tipping is actually a calculated acquisition. Similarly, Gu Lianyin’s popularity rises rapidly because of the public spectacle surrounding the gifts.
• Technological and system-assisted advancement: The system transforms Lin Yuan’s impulsive choice into a major business opportunity, accelerating his rise in wealth and influence.

Character Interactions

• Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin: Their exchange highlights both affection and differing attitudes toward money. Gu Lianyin scolds him like a concerned partner, while Lin Yuan initially keeps his real motive secret before patiently explaining it.
• Lin Yuan and Wang Xiaocong: They do not interact directly yet, but their rivalry is established through the competing rocket gifts. Lin Yuan wins the immediate confrontation, while Wang Xiaocong’s reaction suggests the conflict will continue.
• Gu Lianyin and the viewers: She follows common streamer practices by thanking Brother Wang and encouraging viewers to follow him. The audience treats her as an idealized “wife” and enthusiastically comments on the escalating gift battle.
• Wang Xiaocong and Gu Lianyin: Wang becomes fascinated by her natural beauty after confirming that she is not relying on heavy filters, setting up his interest in pursuing her.

Plot points and events

• Wang Xiaocong becomes infatuated with streamer Gu Lianyin and expects lavish gifts to earn her contact details, as they have with other streamers.
• He sends 500 rockets—worth over 500,000—yet still gets no contact information.
• Lin Yuan, secretly competing with Wang, sends 1,000 rockets. Gu’s popularity surges to first place, and the platform features her stream.
• Wang checks whether Lin’s account belongs to a promotional studio. Learning that it does not, he sends 2,000 rockets to protect his pride.
• Lin responds by sending gifts until he has reached 10,000 rockets, then closes his laptop, confident he has won. Meanwhile, his roommates happily enjoy the McDonald’s meal he bought them.

Character developments and interactions

• Wang Xiaocong shifts from confident seducer to irritated rival. His attraction to Gu is mixed with possessiveness and wounded pride; he assumes she will eventually be his.
• Lin Yuan stays calm and treats the contest as a means to secure a reward, spending heavily but concealing his wealth from his roommates.
• Gu Lianyin is startled by Lin’s enormous gift but had been warned in advance. Her stream’s sudden popularity brings her to the top of the rankings.
• Lin’s roommates warmly flatter him after he treats them, showing how quickly generosity earns their attention.

Significant themes

• Wealth and status: The rocket contest turns money into a public display of power and influence.
• Pride and rivalry: Wang’s spending escalates less from affection than from refusing to lose.
• Transactional romance: Wang sees gifts as a route to access and possession, while Gu’s reserved response disrupts his usual approach.
• Appearance versus motive: The spectacle looks like generosity, but Lin and Wang spend for very different reasons.

Chapter Summary: “Gu Lianyin’s Contact Information Leaked”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Xiaocong becomes enraged after losing a livestream donation competition to someone who spends over twenty million yuan on rockets for Gu Lianyin.
• Determined to recover his pride, he asks Gu Lianyin for her contact information, but she refuses because she does not know him.
• He pressures a Shark Platform executive into abusing company privileges to retrieve Gu Lianyin’s private contact details, including her phone number.
• Wang calls Gu Lianyin, openly admitting that he obtained her information without permission. She immediately hangs up, blocks him, and reports the incident to her boyfriend, Lin Yuan.
• Lin Yuan, who is the CEO of Shark Platform, orders an investigation. The company discovers that an executive leaked Gu Lianyin’s information to Wang Xiaocong.
• Lin has Wang’s Shark account permanently banned and instructs the platform to prevent similar privacy violations. Wang loses access to virtual currency worth hundreds of thousands of yuan but remains unaware of the ban.
• Gu Lianyin decides to replace her phone number to avoid further harassment. Lin comforts her and promises to take her out for a meal.
• After several peaceful days, the chapter ends with a return to university life. A teacher asks the class how much they earned from a money-making assignment given two months earlier.

2. Character Developments

• Wang Xiaocong is portrayed as arrogant, entitled, impulsive, and unable to accept rejection. His willingness to spend lavishly does not earn him Gu Lianyin’s affection, and his abuse of influence ultimately causes him losses and humiliation.
• Gu Lianyin becomes more cautious and assertive. She firmly rejects Wang’s advances, blocks him, reports the violation, and agrees to change her phone number for her safety.
• Lin Yuan demonstrates his authority, protectiveness, and concern for Gu Lianyin. He uses his position responsibly to investigate the leak and punish those involved, while also comforting her emotionally.
• The Shark Platform executive is shown as willing to compromise company rules for personal connections, though he later cooperates with the investigation.

3. Significant Themes

• Abuse of power and privacy violations: Wang’s ability to obtain Gu Lianyin’s private information exposes the dangers of institutional privilege and poor data security.
• Entitlement versus genuine affection: Wang believes his money should grant him access to Gu Lianyin, but his behavior only disgusts and frightens her.
• Protection and trust in relationships: Lin and Gu’s relationship is strengthened as she turns to him for help and he responds decisively.
• Consequences of reckless behavior: Wang’s harassment leads to his account being banned and his unspent platform currency being lost.
• Return to ordinary life: After the conflict, the story shifts back to the couple’s peaceful university routine.

4. Character Interactions

• Wang repeatedly pressures Gu Lianyin for contact information, while she remains polite at first but firmly refuses him.
• Wang and the Shark executive collude to obtain her private data.
• Gu Lianyin rejects Wang over the phone, blocks him, and then confides in Lin Yuan.
• Lin confronts the platform administration indirectly by ordering an investigation and punishment.
• Lin reassures Gu, supports her decision to change her phone number, and promises to make it up to her with a meal.
• The chapter closes with the teacher addressing the students, setting up the next plot point involving their earnings assignment.

Chapter Summary: “Revenge, Arresting People”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Teacher Zhang reviews the students’ two-month money-making assignment. The students describe various part-time jobs and small businesses, with earnings ranging from a few hundred yuan to several thousand.
• One student reports earning over ten thousand yuan through short-video work, impressing and envying his classmates.
• Gu Lianyin reveals that she earned more than ten million yuan from livestreaming, though Teacher Zhang mistakenly hears it as only a little over one thousand yuan. She remains embarrassed and plans to quit livestreaming soon.
• Lin Yuan says he earned about fifty thousand yuan from publishing his novel, A Sword Shatters the Nine Heavens. His classmates recognize it as a highly successful and popular work.
• The narrative shifts to Lin Yuan’s conflict with the Zhao Family. Zhao Zhixiong’s daughter has died after failing to receive a timely bone-marrow transplant, while Zhao Zhixiong is imprisoned.
• Zhao Cuimei blames Lin Yuan for the family’s misfortunes and hires desperate gamblers to assassinate him.
• Lin Yuan hacks into the Zhao Family’s communications, intercepts evidence of the murder plot, and reports it to the police.
• He also has Lily monitor the area around the university for suspicious individuals.
• The system presents Lin Yuan with two choices: remain at the university for a month to avoid danger, or actively find and arrest the assassins for rewards. Lin Yuan chooses the proactive option.
• Using call records, photographs, and surveillance, he identifies several suspects. Two of them appear near the university, prompting Lin Yuan to disguise himself, contact Lily and the police, and move to arrange their arrest.

Character Developments

• Lin Yuan continues to demonstrate intelligence, caution, and resourcefulness. He remains emotionally detached from the Zhao Family’s suffering but refuses to wait passively for their revenge. His decision to pursue the assassins shows growing confidence and willingness to use both technology and the system to protect himself.
• Gu Lianyin is uncomfortable with the attention and wealth brought by livestreaming. Her decision to quit reflects her desire for a quieter life, while her warm interaction with Lin Yuan shows her emotional dependence on and trust in him.
• Zhao Cuimei becomes consumed by hatred and revenge. Rather than accepting responsibility or the consequences of the family’s actions, she escalates the conflict by commissioning Lin Yuan’s murder.
• Teacher Zhang acts as a supportive mentor, encouraging students to gain practical experience and praising their efforts regardless of how much money they earn.

Significant Themes

• Learning through hardship: The assignment teaches students about work, earning money, and preparing for adult life.
• Different forms of success: The students earn money through varied skills, including employment, commerce, content creation, livestreaming, and writing.
• Revenge and accountability: Zhao Cuimei’s desire for revenge contrasts with Lin Yuan’s reliance on evidence and legal authorities.
• Technology and surveillance: Lin Yuan uses hacking, call records, cameras, and Lily’s monitoring abilities to uncover and counter the assassination plot.
• Emotional detachment versus compassion: Lin Yuan no longer feels pity for the Zhao Family because of their previous arrogance and mistreatment of his mother, especially their refusal to apologize.

Character Interactions

• Teacher Zhang questions each student about their earnings and encourages them.
• Gu Lianyin and Lin Yuan share a quiet, affectionate moment when he reassures her after her livestreaming income is misunderstood.
• A classmate recognizes Lin Yuan’s novel, revealing its popularity and earning him admiration from the class.
• Zhao Cuimei communicates with hired gamblers, ordering them to kill Lin Yuan by any means necessary.
• Lin Yuan coordinates with Lily and the police as he prepares to confront and arrest the suspected assassins.

Chapter Summary: “Talisman”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Dagui, a migrant worker ruined by gambling, loses all his savings and resorts to stealing and selling scrap to continue gambling.
• Desperate to recover his losses, he accepts a contract from his employer to kill a university student with a vehicle in exchange for 500,000 yuan.
• He plans to disguise the murder as an accidental traffic incident caused by fatigue.
• Before he can attack his target, Lily approaches the van and exposes his identity, gambling history, and assassination contract.
• Lily reveals that she has already called the police. When Zhang tries to escape, she displays extraordinary strength, preventing him from starting the vehicle or fleeing.
• Zhang attempts to hit and shove Lily, but she remains completely unharmed and immovable. Terrified, he eventually waits for the police to arrive.
• Lin Yuan has also captured two other criminals, tying them up and handing them over to the police.
• Lin Yuan receives a system reward for completing his assigned choice: increased Intelligence and two talismans capable of resisting “negative energy entities.”
• He keeps one talisman and gives the other to his girlfriend, Gu Lianyin, who accepts it because it is a gift from him.
• Later, Gu hears rumors that a girl committed suicide in a sealed dormitory after being bullied. The room is covered with talismans and a Bagua mirror, leading Gu to wonder whether Lin Yuan knew about the supernatural danger and gave her the talisman for protection.

Character Developments

• Zhang Dagui: His greed and gambling addiction drive him from financial ruin into attempted murder. His confidence collapses when Lily demonstrates supernatural strength, leaving him more afraid of her than of the police.
• Lily: Despite her childlike appearance, she is extraordinarily strong, fearless, and capable of uncovering hidden criminal information. Her innocent demeanor contrasts sharply with her intimidating abilities.
• Lin Yuan: He continues using the system to intervene in dangerous situations and is rewarded with intelligence and supernatural protective items. His growing awareness of the talismans suggests he is becoming involved in increasingly fantastical events.
• Gu Lianyin: She remains affectionate and trusting toward Lin Yuan, readily accepting the talisman despite not believing in ghosts. Hearing about the haunted dormitory begins to make her reconsider his mysterious abilities.

Significant Themes

• Greed and moral corruption: Zhang’s gambling addiction leads him to sacrifice morality and risk another person’s life for money.
• Justice and punishment: Criminals are stopped before carrying out their plans, with Lily and Lin Yuan acting as unusual agents of justice.
• The supernatural entering ordinary life: The chapter shifts from a realistic crime plot to unexplained strength, a game-like system, and protective talismans.
• Trust and protection: Gu accepts the talisman because she trusts Lin Yuan, while its possible connection to the haunted dorm suggests he is trying to protect her.
• Appearance versus reality: Lily looks like a harmless young child but possesses overwhelming strength and fearlessness; the talisman appears simple but may defend against supernatural entities.

Character Interactions

• Lily confronts Zhang directly, revealing his crime and ordering him to remain in the van until the police arrive.
• Zhang repeatedly tries to overpower or escape from Lily, but she blocks him effortlessly and survives his slap without injury.
• Lin Yuan captures two other criminals and turns them over to the police, reinforcing his role as an unconventional crime-fighter.
• Lin Yuan gives Gu Lianyin a talisman and insists that she carry it, while she accepts it affectionately despite her skepticism.
• Gu later discusses the talisman with her roommates indirectly, connecting it to the rumored suicide and supernatural protections surrounding the abandoned dormitory.

Chapter Summary: “Marriage Matters”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gu Lianyin becomes frightened after her roommates share numerous ghost stories about their university, including mysterious footsteps, shadows, and singing in the restroom.
• She mistakenly assumes that the protective talisman Lin Yuan gave her was intended to guard her against these supernatural rumors. Lin Yuan’s confused reply only reinforces her misunderstanding.
• During class, Gu Lianyin asks whether Lin Yuan bought the talismans because of the rumors. He realizes through her thoughts that she has completely misinterpreted the situation but chooses not to correct her.
• That night, after her roommates revive the ghost-story discussion, the dormitory lights go out. Gu Lianyin becomes too frightened to sleep or use the restroom alone.
• While in the restroom, she hears footsteps approaching and panics, only to discover that the person outside is her roommate. She then finds the talisman under her pillow and resolves never to leave it behind again.
• The next morning, Lin Yuan gives her tea infused with old tea tree leaves, which quickly restores her energy after a sleepless night.
• As the semester passes, the New Year holiday approaches. Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin decide to celebrate together at the Gu residence.
• Lin Yuan plans to bring his mother, Lin Xianglan, so she can meet Gu Lianyin’s family. The chapter ends with both families gathered to discuss the couple’s marriage.

Character Developments

• Gu Lianyin is shown to be imaginative, easily frightened by supernatural stories, yet too proud to admit her fear to Lin Yuan. Her dependence on the talisman and her determination to keep it close reveal her growing trust in him.
• Lin Yuan remains calm and amused by Gu Lianyin’s misunderstanding. He demonstrates care by giving her protective items and restorative tea, while affectionately finding her frightened behavior endearing.
• Lin Xianglan becomes more directly involved in Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin’s relationship as she prepares to meet the Gu family.
• The Gu family takes an active role in discussing the couple’s future, signaling that their relationship is progressing toward marriage.

Significant Themes

• Misunderstanding and communication: Gu Lianyin’s assumptions about the talismans create humorous confusion because she and Lin Yuan interpret events differently.
• Protection and emotional dependence: The talisman serves as both a literal object of reassurance and a symbol of Gu Lianyin’s faith in Lin Yuan.
• Romantic progression and family approval: The story shifts from campus romance toward formal discussions of marriage and the joining of two families.
• Humor in everyday life: Gu Lianyin’s exaggerated fears and Lin Yuan’s bafflement provide comedy amid ordinary college routines.

Important Character Interactions

• Gu Lianyin repeatedly questions Lin Yuan about the talismans, while he struggles to understand what she means.
• Lin Yuan quietly takes care of Gu Lianyin by giving her tea after noticing her exhaustion, while teasingly choosing not to expose her fear.
• Gu Lianyin’s roommates fuel her anxiety with ghost stories, though one ultimately comforts her accidentally by appearing outside the restroom.
• The chapter concludes with Lin Yuan, Gu Lianyin, and their mothers and family elders gathered to discuss the couple’s marriage prospects.

Chapter Summary: “Nighttime Talk”

Key Plot Points and Events

• During a family gathering, Gu Lianyin discovers that the elders have already discussed her and Lin Yuan’s future marriage without informing her.
• Gu Tianlong accepts their relationship but sets a condition: after marriage, they must have children within five years. The first child may take the Lin surname, while the second must take the Gu surname.
• Gu Lianyin becomes embarrassed and upset that her grandfather is making decisions about her future and children without asking her.
• Lin Xianglan, initially worried that the wealthy Gu Family might oppose the relationship or impose demanding marriage conditions, is reassured by their friendliness and willingness to accept Lin Yuan.
• Lin Yuan and his mother are shown their rooms in the Gu Family’s traditional, spacious estate.
• While walking around the grounds, Lin Xianglan encourages Lin Yuan to marry Gu Lianyin and have children soon. Lin Yuan avoids committing, believing he is still too young and wants to enjoy life before settling down.
• At dinner, the family again pressures the couple about marrying, becoming engaged, and having children. Lin Yuan says they should prioritize their studies but admits that engagement could be possible.
• Gu Lianyin secretly pinches Lin Yuan to signal her displeasure, while he remains outwardly calm. When asked directly, she nervously agrees that there is no need to hurry.
• Later that night, Gu Lianyin sneaks into Lin Yuan’s room to confront him. She demands to know why everyone knew about the marriage discussions except her.
• Lin Yuan explains that Gu Tianlong had originally asked him to make a demand that would cause him to leave Gu Lianyin, but he ultimately persuaded the elder to accept their relationship. He presents the story in a way that emphasizes his efforts and difficulties, omitting or embellishing certain details.

Character Developments

• Gu Lianyin: Reveals a shy but strong-willed personality. She is embarrassed by the elders’ discussion of marriage and children, frustrated at being excluded from decisions about her own future, and openly confronts Lin Yuan later that night.
• Lin Yuan: Remains composed under family pressure and avoids rushing into marriage. He values his youth and freedom, though he is willing to consider engagement. His private explanation to Lianyin shows that he is careful about how she views his role in preserving their relationship.
• Lin Xianglan: Becomes more accepting and enthusiastic about Gu Lianyin as Lin Yuan’s future wife after seeing the Gu Family’s generosity and lack of controlling demands.
• Gu Tianlong: Acts as the dominant family elder, casually attempting to arrange the couple’s engagement, marriage, and future children. His main motivation is the desire to see the family continue through another generation.
• Gu Hai and Qin Liyun: Show strong approval of Lin Yuan and treat him as an accepted future member of the family.

Significant Themes

• Family influence versus personal choice: The elders casually make major decisions about marriage and children, while Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin struggle to preserve their own right to decide their future.
• Marriage and family expectations: The chapter emphasizes traditional expectations surrounding engagement, childbirth, surnames, and carrying on the family line.
• Youth versus settling down: Lin Yuan resists immediate marriage because he feels life should first be enjoyed and explored, contrasting with the older generation’s desire for stability and grandchildren.
• Communication and secrecy: Gu Lianyin’s anger stems not only from the marriage discussion but from being kept uninformed. The nighttime confrontation highlights the need for honesty between the couple.
• Affection beneath embarrassment: Although both are uncomfortable with the elders’ pressure, their hand-holding, teasing, and silent understanding show a close and affectionate relationship.

Character Interactions

• The elders jointly discuss Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin’s marriage while the couple listens nearby, creating embarrassment and tension.
• Lin Xianglan and Gu Tianlong reach an informal understanding about the relationship and future children.
• At dinner, the family collectively pressures the couple, while Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin subtly communicate through his evasive answers and her pinching his waist.
• Lin Yuan and Gu Lianyin later meet privately, where her frustration leads to a direct confrontation and his explanation attempts to restore her trust.

Chapter Summary: “Sweet Journey”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gu Lianyin initially confronts Lin Yuan because she is upset that everyone knew about her grandfather’s past opposition to their relationship except her.
• Lin Yuan explains that her grandfather once pressured him to leave her, but he refused to give up. Realizing how close she may have come to losing him, Gu Lianyin’s anger turns into guilt and gratitude.
• She embraces Lin Yuan and thanks him for staying, though their affectionate interaction becomes embarrassing enough that she quickly flees his room.
• Gu Lianyin encounters her mother, Qin Liyun, who immediately guesses where she has been and notices her flushed face. Qin quietly accepts that her daughter is growing up and falling in love.
• Time passes: Gu Lianyin finishes high school and enters university, reflecting calmly on adulthood and hoping to remain with Lin Yuan as her life changes.
• During the New Year celebration, the Gu family enjoys fireworks and snow. Gu Hai and Qin Liyun reminisce about youth and discuss traveling together once they are less occupied with work.
• Gu Lianyin pulls Lin Yuan into the snow, leading to playful teasing and a snowball fight. When he warms her frozen hands inside his clothes, she mischievously touches him, but retreats when he jokingly suggests she visit his room later.
• Lin Yuan stays up all night secretly preparing a surprise for Gu Lianyin.
• After the Spring Festival, Lin Yuan and Lin Xianglan leave the Gu residence. Gu Lianyin joins Lin Yuan for a romantic trip to his private resort island.
• On the island, Lin Yuan has workers constructing an extravagant swimming pool in a rocky location overlooking the sea. Gu Lianyin does not yet know about the surprise.
• During their first day, the couple fishes, gathers seashells, and enjoys the beach while maintaining their affectionate but restrained relationship.

Character Developments

• Gu Lianyin matures emotionally, recognizing the depth of her dependence on and love for Lin Yuan. She begins viewing herself as an adult entering a new stage of life.
• Lin Yuan is shown as both steadfast and playful. He once endured pressure to abandon Gu Lianyin and now expresses his devotion through careful planning and romantic surprises.
• Qin Liyun becomes more accepting of her daughter’s adulthood and romantic relationship, loosening her protective control.
• Gu Hai and Qin Liyun reveal a desire to reclaim some youthful freedom by traveling together in the future.

Significant Themes

• Devotion and perseverance: Lin Yuan’s refusal to leave Gu Lianyin proves the strength of his commitment.
• Coming of age: Gu Lianyin moves from adolescence into university and adulthood, reflecting on future changes.
• Youth and nostalgia: The New Year snow scene evokes memories of childhood and the fleeting nature of youth.
• Love expressed through care: Affection appears through physical closeness, shared activities, and Lin Yuan’s elaborate preparations for Gu Lianyin.
• Balance between intimacy and restraint: The couple is deeply affectionate but continues to avoid crossing their final boundary.

Character Interactions

• Gu Lianyin and Lin Yuan reconcile through an emotional embrace, followed by playful and flirtatious teasing.
• Qin Liyun silently recognizes her daughter’s romantic relationship and chooses not to interrogate her.
• Gu Hai and Qin Liyun share a tender conversation about escaping their busy lives and traveling together.
• Gu Lianyin and Lin Yuan bond through snowball fights, physical warmth, beach activities, fishing, and collecting seashells, reinforcing their close and playful relationship.