Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yu Tu awakates in his aberrant state after sensing Lu Mi’s danger through the Partner Mark. Remembering everything—including his relationship with Lu Mi—he feels intense guilt and tenderness toward him.
• Yu Tu uses his immense origin power and white ancient vines to heal Lu Mi’s wounds. The exertion causes him to collapse into a dormant, unconscious state.
• Lu Mi wakes safely in Yu Tu’s arms, discovers that his chest wound has vanished, and realizes Yu Tu sacrificed himself to save him. Though initially embarrassed by their intimate position, Lu Mi becomes deeply emotional and apologizes while Yu Tu remains unconscious.
• Lu Mi brings Yu Tu to his rest cabin, personally cleans and changes him, then orders Black Shadow to guard him. He specifically forbids everyone—including Ming Qiuxue—from approaching Yu Tu.
• Returning to First Prison, Lu Mi investigates the attack on Yu Tu. The official account reveals that prisoner 0763, Ai Mu, was manipulated into attacking Yu Tu after being encouraged to treat him as a “pet.” Surveillance was destroyed and the prison staff were deliberately distracted.
• Lu Mi discovers suspicious staff scheduling: Ai Mu was repeatedly assigned to Yu Tu’s work area, while Yu Tu’s normal rotation was altered. When prison officer Zhang Qing refuses to confess, Lu Mi kills him.
• Lu Mi intimidates the remaining prisoners and officers into reporting what they know. He identifies prisoners 0765, 0767, and 0768 as the people who incited Ai Mu, while prison officer Peter appears to be involved as well.
• Peter attempts to draw his weapon and then kill himself, but Lu Mi overpowers him, dislocates his jaw and hands, and cripples his knee. Lu Mi orders the three prisoners to be whipped and has Peter carried away for further interrogation or punishment.

Character Developments

• Yu Tu: His aberrant state restores his memories of Lu Mi and reveals the depth of his attachment and remorse. Despite being physically overwhelmed by his power, he instinctively protects and heals Lu Mi.
• Lu Mi: His feelings for Yu Tu become increasingly clear through his distress, apology, caretaking, and strict protection of Yu Tu. At the same time, he remains ruthless and terrifying as warden, using violence and fear to uncover the conspiracy.
• Black Shadow: It acts as Lu Mi’s loyal companion and surveillance partner. Though jealous and comically vain, it obediently guards Yu Tu.
• Lin Luo, Mo Ke, and Luo Wei: They function as Lu Mi’s reliable assistants, helping remove bodies, secure the investigation, and restrain or transport suspects.
• Peter and the conspirators: Their involvement exposes corruption or manipulation within First Prison and suggests that the attack on Yu Tu was deliberate rather than an isolated incident.

Significant Themes

• Memory and identity: Yu Tu’s aberrant transformation restores memories that had been suppressed or lost, reconnecting him with Lu Mi.
• Protection and sacrifice: Yu Tu’s healing of Lu Mi and Lu Mi’s subsequent care and defense of Yu Tu demonstrate their increasingly mutual devotion.
• Guilt and reconciliation: Both characters carry guilt over the harm they caused or failed to prevent, expressed through Yu Tu’s remorse and Lu Mi’s emotional apology.
• Power and cruelty: Lu Mi maintains order through intimidation and brutal punishment, presenting a darkly ironic version of justice in First Prison.
• Manipulation and corruption: The attack results from deliberate scheduling changes, incitement, and interference by both prisoners and prison staff.

Character Interactions

• Yu Tu tenderly calls Lu Mi “little black panther” and embraces him while healing him.
• Lu Mi alternates between embarrassment, teasing, gratitude, and heartfelt remorse toward the unconscious Yu Tu.
• Lu Mi jokingly argues with Black Shadow about its appearance and its preference for Yu Tu, then entrusts it with Yu Tu’s protection.
• During the investigation, Lu Mi uses threats and execution to force cooperation from the prison population.
• He confronts Peter directly, defeating him before ordering the remaining conspirators to receive severe punishment.

Chapter Summary: “Yu Tu Is Mine”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cang Qi secretly asks Lu Mi whether Yu Tu is safe, but Lu Mi openly declares that Yu Tu is “mine” and says he will protect him without hiding their relationship.
• Lu Mi brings Cang Qi, Zhang Jiao, and others to Cang Qi’s workroom to examine Peter’s memories.
• Cang Qi uses the remaining energy in his Brain Scanner’s Memory Origin Crystal. Peter resists the scan, so Lu Mi knocks him unconscious to force the procedure to succeed.
• Peter’s memories reveal that he has been communicating with an unseen “Master,” identified by the code name Falcon No. 03. He has been spying on Yu Tu, spreading rumors, and deliberately trying to create situations in which Yu Tu would be punished by Lu Mi.
• Peter also reports Yu Tu’s transfer to the Second Prison, his severe injuries, and Lu Mi’s rescue of him. Before Peter is exposed, he receives orders to go to the Seventh Operations Room and asks his Master to erase their communications.
• The memory scan ends after revealing Peter’s recent activities. Cang Qi discovers a concealed device inside Peter’s left eye.
• Lu Mi brutally removes the object, killing Peter in the process. Cang Qi identifies it as a Slave-Taming Eye, proving that Peter was controlled or monitored by an external force.

Character Developments

• Lu Mi: Becomes openly possessive and protective of Yu Tu, refusing to conceal their relationship. He remains ruthless and practical, using violence to obtain information and eliminate threats.
• Yu Tu: Though absent from the chapter, he is revealed to be the target of a deliberate surveillance and manipulation scheme. His connection with Lu Mi has also become widely rumored throughout the prisons.
• Cang Qi: Shows guilt over failing to protect Yu Tu and agrees to use his precious Memory Origin Crystal to help Lu Mi investigate Peter. His distress over Yu Tu’s suffering is emphasized.
• Peter: Is exposed as a spy working for an unknown master. He manipulated events to endanger Yu Tu and attempted to conceal his involvement, but is ultimately killed and revealed to have possessed a control device.
• Zhang Jiao: His extreme fear of blood provides comic relief; he faints when Lu Mi removes the device from Peter’s eye.
• Lin Luo, Mo Ke, and Luo Wei: React with shock and amusement to the revelation that Lu Mi and Yu Tu are romantically involved, particularly joking about their intimate relationship.

Significant Themes

• Possessiveness and protection: Lu Mi openly claims responsibility for Yu Tu and promises to protect him, signaling a major shift from secrecy to public acknowledgment.
• Trust and guilt: Cang Qi’s remorse reflects the consequences of failing to protect someone entrusted to him.
• Surveillance and manipulation: Peter’s implanted Slave-Taming Eye and secret communications reveal a larger conspiracy operating within the prisons.
• Violence as control: Lu Mi’s harsh methods contrast with the chapter’s romantic and comedic moments, showing how his protectiveness is expressed through force.
• Rumor versus truth: Prison gossip about Lu Mi and Yu Tu turns out to contain elements of truth, though the exaggerated details become a source of embarrassment and teasing.

Character Interactions

• Cang Qi cautiously asks about Yu Tu, while Lu Mi deliberately answers aloud to make his feelings public.
• Lu Mi relies on Cang Qi’s technology and cooperation to investigate Peter.
• Peter openly resists Lu Mi, but Lu Mi overpowers him and forces the memory scan.
• The recovered memories cause the prison officers to confront Lu Mi about his relationship with Yu Tu.
• Lu Mi’s discovery of the Slave-Taming Eye shifts the situation from personal betrayal to evidence of a broader hidden enemy.

Chapter Summary: “Defying Orders Openly”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cang Qi explains the origins of the “Slave-Taming Eye,” a controversial device designed twelve years earlier by the famous mechanic Master Moore.
• The device implants permanently into a secondary controller’s eye, allowing a primary controller to communicate through blue-light messages and activate a lethal self-destruct function. Its design directly contradicted Moore’s belief that machines should protect human rights.
• Moore died in an accident three days after releasing the blueprint, and the controversy surrounding the device faded. Because the device requires an unprecedented breakthrough in space-folding technology, its recent appearance suggests that an extraordinarily talented mechanic has recreated it.
• Lu Mi realizes that Ming Qiuxue is likely the second target of the conspiracy involving Yu Tu. The plan was apparently to make Ming Qiuxue kill Yu Tu during an interrogation, then use the incident to discredit and punish her.
• Lu Mi suspects the Emperor of the Blue River System is behind the scheme, intending to eliminate Ming Qiuxue because of her power and remaining influence.
• As predicted, the authorities issue a suspension order against Ming Qiuxue for failing to intervene in Yu Tu’s emergency interrogation. Control of the Second Prison is transferred to Qi An, warden of the Third Prison.
• Lu Mi is also ordered to hand Yu Tu over to Qi An. He refuses, telling the authorities to “keep dreaming.”
• When Third Prison officers arrive to seize Yu Tu, Lu Mi leads First Prison officers in a direct assault. A fistfight breaks out, and Lu Mi’s forces decisively overpower the opposing guards.
• Qi An arrives furious but attempts to maintain a cordial tone. Lu Mi enters the Second Prison and openly admits that he has defied the transfer order, challenging Qi An to decide what should happen next.

Character Developments

• Lu Mi becomes increasingly bold and confrontational. He moves from investigating the conspiracy to openly resisting the authorities, prioritizing Yu Tu’s safety over obedience to official orders.
• Cang Qi demonstrates deep mechanical expertise and becomes distressed by the possibility that someone has achieved a major breakthrough in space-folding technology. His curiosity and obsessive nature are emphasized.
• Ming Qiuxue is revealed to be the target of a larger political attack. Her suspension shows how the authorities are exploiting the Yu Tu incident to weaken her.
• Yu Tu remains at the center of the conspiracy, though he is largely passive in this chapter. His survival depends on Lu Mi’s protection.
• Qi An is placed in charge of the Second Prison but immediately faces Lu Mi’s defiance. His authority appears official, but Lu Mi refuses to recognize it without resistance.
• The Emperor is presented as the likely hidden antagonist, using legal procedures and political manipulation to eliminate rivals while maintaining a respectable public image.

Significant Themes

• Authority versus conscience: Lu Mi openly rejects orders he believes are unjust, arguing that moral responsibility matters more than bureaucratic obedience.
• Political manipulation: The authorities disguise an assassination plot as lawful interrogation and disciplinary action, using Yu Tu’s fate to attack Ming Qiuxue.
• Human rights and technological ethics: The Slave-Taming Eye represents the danger of creating technology that strips individuals of freedom and makes them permanently vulnerable to another person.
• Power disguised as law: The Emperor’s alleged scheme relies on exploiting legal systems to achieve political ends while avoiding direct blame.
• Defiance and solidarity: Lu Mi’s protection of Yu Tu and his officers’ willingness to fight show how loyalty can challenge institutional power.

Character Interactions

• Cang Qi and Lu Mi discuss the Slave-Taming Eye and its creator, with Cang Qi focusing on its mechanical impossibility and Lu Mi focusing on its connection to Yu Tu and Ming Qiuxue.
• Lu Mi and Zhang Jiao interact over the suspension and transfer orders; Lu Mi dismisses the authorities’ demands and orders Zhang Jiao to reject them.
• Lu Mi and the Third Prison officers clash physically when they attempt to take control of the Second Prison and seize Yu Tu.
• Lu Mi and Qi An exchange sarcastic congratulations before confronting the central issue: Lu Mi has openly disobeyed the order to surrender Yu Tu. The chapter ends with their tense power struggle unresolved.

Chapter Summary: “Furious Panther!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Mi confronts Qi An about Ming Qiuxue’s suspension and learns that Ming has accepted the imperial order without resistance.
• Lu Mi visits Ming Qiuxue’s office, where Ming, along with deputies Jinshan and Yinshan, has already removed his warden insignia.
• Although Lu Mi mocks Ming for being obedient, Ming insists that the Ming Family is loyal to the emperor and that he cannot defy an imperial decree.
• Qi An escorts Ming to Third Prison, where Ming is supposedly placed in a single-occupancy cell during his suspension. Lu Mi realizes that the “suspension” is effectively imprisonment.
• Back in his quarters, Lu Mi receives a message from Golden Eye, conveyed through Black Shadow, confirming that Ming is waiting to initiate “Plan F.” Lu Mi agrees to wait for the order.
• Golden Eye stays with Lu Mi because it may also be targeted, but it immediately approaches the sleeping Yu Tu and curls up beside him.
• Black Shadow becomes comically jealous, while Lu Mi repeatedly insists that Yu Tu belongs to him. Lu Mi eventually throws Golden Eye away from the bed.
• The chapter ends with Ming witnessing the possessive and absurd scene through Golden Eye and jokingly concluding that the snake has inherited his owner’s attraction to handsome men.

Character Developments

• Lu Mi remains bold, domineering, and openly hostile toward Ming, but his behavior toward Yu Tu reveals an intensely possessive and affectionate side. His jealousy of Golden Eye is exaggerated for comic effect.
• Ming Qiuxue demonstrates his unwavering loyalty and discipline by accepting the emperor’s decree without protest. Despite being imprisoned, he remains composed and communicates secretly through Golden Eye.
• Qi An acts as a cooperative intermediary between Lu Mi and the authorities. He lightly complains about the injuries caused by Lu Mi’s officers but otherwise follows orders.
• Black Shadow is portrayed as fiercely loyal to Lu Mi and comically jealous of Golden Eye, imagining itself as a proud battle panther constantly being restrained.
• Golden Eye is revealed to be an aloof but surprisingly affectionate pet mech. Its attachment to Yu Tu provokes Black Shadow and Lu Mi.
• Yu Tu remains asleep throughout the events, but his presence is the focus of Lu Mi’s possessiveness and the animals’ rivalry.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and obedience: Ming’s acceptance of the imperial order reflects the Ming Family’s stated devotion to the emperor, even when obedience results in imprisonment.
• Hidden political conflict: The suspension appears to be part of a larger power struggle, with Ming secretly preparing “Plan F” and both Ming and Golden Eye potentially under threat.
• Possessiveness and affection: Lu Mi’s repeated claims over Yu Tu show his romantic attachment, while Golden Eye’s behavior creates a humorous rivalry.
• Public authority versus private emotion: The serious political consequences of Ming’s suspension contrast sharply with the ridiculous domestic quarrel over Yu Tu.
• Comedic relief amid danger: The chapter balances the looming battle on Calamity Planet and political danger with exaggerated jealousy and pet-mech antics.

Character Interactions

• Lu Mi and Qi An exchange sarcastic remarks about Ming’s suspension and Lu Mi’s violent methods.
• Lu Mi mocks Ming for submitting peacefully, while Ming responds with calm dignity and reminds him of his family’s loyalty.
• Qi An formally escorts Ming to his “temporary residence,” revealing the punitive reality behind the order.
• Lu Mi communicates with Golden Eye through Black Shadow and agrees to await Ming’s signal.
• Black Shadow repeatedly threatens or resents Golden Eye for approaching Yu Tu.
• Lu Mi and Golden Eye compete over Yu Tu’s attention, with Lu Mi physically removing the snake and emphasizing his claim over Yu Tu.
• Through Golden Eye, Ming witnesses Lu Mi’s behavior and ends the chapter with a dry, humorous observation about Golden Eye’s preferences.

Chapter Summary: “You Punish Me”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Late at night, Yu Tu awakens Lu Mi with Bean Sprout, playfully trying to draw Lu Mi toward him.
• Yu Tu asks for a “reward” after obeying Lu Mi’s earlier instructions to wait patiently and refrain from using his vines. When Lu Mi says Yu Tu should punish him instead, Yu Tu enthusiastically accepts.
• The following morning, Lu Mi is exhausted and sore from Yu Tu’s overwhelming enthusiasm. Yu Tu massages his injured waist with his vines, while Lu Mi complains that Yu Tu has excessive stamina.
• Lu Mi eventually gets up to cook and prepare medicine, wearing a cat apron. Yu Tu watches him and feels that the domestic scene is strangely familiar.
• Black Shadow and Golden Eye compete for Yu Tu’s attention. Golden Eye impresses Yu Tu by forming hearts and Vs with his metallic body, making Black Shadow jealous.
• Black Shadow storms outside to create his own romantic gesture. He returns with the tip of his tail ground into a heart shape and proudly presents it to Yu Tu.
• Lu Mi is furious because the heart was made from his cherished mechanical “butt,” but he reluctantly agrees with Yu Tu that it is cute.
• In Third Prison, Ming Qiuxue quietly observes that Black Shadow has become emotionally unbalanced as well, meaning he is no longer lonely.

Character Developments

• Yu Tu: Becomes increasingly bold, affectionate, and mischievous with Lu Mi. His innocent appearance contrasts with his uninhibited behavior and enormous stamina. He also shows a playful, childlike fondness for the pets and enjoys praising them.
• Lu Mi: Despite presenting himself as a powerful warden, he is playful, indulgent, and vulnerable around Yu Tu. He willingly allows Yu Tu to “punish” him, then suffers the consequences while still caring for Yu Tu by cooking and preparing medicine.
• Black Shadow: Develops intense jealousy toward Golden Eye and becomes determined to win Yu Tu’s approval. His competitive behavior escalates into an absurd but heartfelt romantic gesture.
• Golden Eye: Reveals himself to be flamboyant, clever, and shamelessly attention-seeking. He enjoys performing for Yu Tu and easily captures his affection.
• Ming Qiuxue: Remains detached but perceptive, recognizing that Black Shadow’s emotional turmoil gives him companionship rather than isolation.

Significant Themes

• Affection expressed through teasing: Yu Tu and Lu Mi communicate love through provocative jokes, mock complaints, and playful power reversals.
• Domestic intimacy: Cooking, massage, medicine, and shared routines portray their relationship as warm and settled beneath the absurdity.
• Jealousy and competition: Black Shadow and Golden Eye compete comically for Yu Tu’s attention, turning affection into a contest.
• Role reversal and vulnerability: Lu Mi, normally authoritative and powerful, willingly places himself in Yu Tu’s hands and accepts being cared for afterward.
• Found companionship: Even the mechanical pets experience attachment, rivalry, and emotional belonging, reinforcing the chapter’s humorous but affectionate portrayal of family.

Character Interactions

• Yu Tu and Lu Mi: Their central interaction combines flirtation, mutual trust, physical affection, and domestic care. Yu Tu’s directness overwhelms Lu Mi, but Lu Mi remains indulgent and devoted.
• Yu Tu and Golden Eye: Golden Eye performs heart-shaped and V-shaped formations, winning Yu Tu’s enthusiastic praise and physical affection.
• Black Shadow and Golden Eye: Their rivalry is openly hostile but fundamentally motivated by a desire for Yu Tu’s attention. Black Shadow’s heart-shaped tail tip is his exaggerated attempt to match Golden Eye’s charm.
• Lu Mi and Black Shadow: Lu Mi casually kicks Black Shadow as usual, only to discover the mech has sacrificed part of its tail for the romantic gesture.
• Ming Qiuxue and Black Shadow: Though they do not interact directly, Ming Qiuxue observes Black Shadow’s emotional transformation and views his jealousy as a kind of companionship.

Chapter Summary: “Sudden Mutation!!!!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After lunch, Lu Mi makes Black Shadow stand in the kitchen as punishment for transforming its lethal tail weapon into a heart-shaped object to attract Yu Tu’s attention.
• Black Shadow admits that it becomes emotionally dependent on Yu Tu’s affection and even asks Lu Mi to carve hearts onto its rear so Yu Tu will pet it.
• Black Shadow becomes jealous when Golden Eye’s Golden Python Mecha climbs onto Yu Tu’s lap. It attacks the python and sits on it possessively, revealing the two mechas’ absurd rivalry.
• Yu Tu explores Lu Mi’s resting cabin and accidentally answers Lu Mi’s communicator. Lin Luo informs Lu Mi that the authorities have issued him a warning, but Lu Mi dismisses it and insists that Yu Tu will remain at the First Prison.
• Yu Tu’s affectionate behavior and desire for intimacy embarrass Lin Luo, who realizes that the formidable Boss Lu is completely submissive and devoted in private.
• Meanwhile, an Imperial warship arrives at the Second Prison carrying roughly two hundred soldiers. Lieutenant General Zeng Yun and Major General Chang Feng have come to take Ming Qiuxue back to Blue Star.
• Ming Qiuxue is brought out in prison clothes and shackles. Lu Mi and his colleagues worry that once Ming is removed, Lu Mi will become the authorities’ next target.
• Chang Feng reveals that Ming Qiuxue’s parents have been imprisoned for years. Through a holographic message, they say goodbye before jointly committing suicide.
• Overcome with grief and fury, Ming Qiuxue rejects the Empire’s authority and declares that he will rebel.

Character Developments

• Lu Mi: Shows a softer, domestic side while cooking and washing dishes, yet remains defiant toward Imperial orders. His protectiveness toward Yu Tu is clear, and he trusts Ming Qiuxue’s plans despite the danger.
• Yu Tu: Remains affectionate, impulsive, and openly desirous of Lu Mi. He is also comfortably attached to Lu Mi’s companions, eating Cang Qi’s nuts and encouraging the mechas’ rivalry.
• Black Shadow: Undergoes a comic emotional “mutation,” becoming obsessed with Yu Tu’s attention and jealous of Golden Eye.
• Golden Eye: Enjoys teasing Black Shadow and affectionately playing with Yu Tu, although its behavior provokes Black Shadow’s possessiveness.
• Lin Luo: Loses some of his reverence for Lu Mi after accidentally witnessing evidence of Lu Mi’s intimate domestic life, becoming shocked and embarrassed.
• Ming Qiuxue: Changes from a composed, restrained prisoner into an openly enraged revolutionary after learning of his parents’ deaths.
• Chang Feng: Reveals deep loyalty to Ming Qiuxue’s family, honoring him as his former commander and delivering the devastating message from his parents.

Significant Themes

• Affection and possessiveness: The mechas’ jealousy mirrors the romantic attachment between Lu Mi and Yu Tu, mixing comedy with genuine emotional dependence.
• Defiance against authority: Lu Mi ignores Imperial warnings, while Ming Qiuxue ultimately rejects the Empire after years of persecution.
• Family sacrifice and injustice: Ming Qiuxue’s parents sacrifice themselves rather than continue living under unjust punishment, exposing the cruelty of the ruling system.
• Dual identities: Lu Mi’s intimidating public reputation contrasts sharply with his domestic behavior, while Ming Qiuxue’s calm exterior conceals profound grief and anger.
• Loyalty: Characters remain committed to one another despite institutional pressure, particularly Lu Mi’s loyalty to Yu Tu and Chang Feng’s loyalty to Ming Qiuxue’s family.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu Mi and Black Shadow clash over the mecha’s ridiculous attempts to gain Yu Tu’s affection.
• Black Shadow and Golden Eye engage in a humorous territorial struggle over Yu Tu.
• Yu Tu unintentionally exposes Lu Mi’s affectionate private life to Lin Luo.
• Lu Mi reassures his staff that Ming Qiuxue must have a reason for allowing himself to be taken.
• Ming Qiuxue speaks with Zeng Yun and Chang Feng about his parents, then receives their final message and openly declares rebellion.

Chapter Summary: “Free Plan Revised: F Annihilation!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ming Qiuxue fully transforms into his Beastified form, gaining golden python-like markings, vertical pupils, and overwhelming defensive strength.
• He easily destroys the restraints imprisoning him, confirming Zeng Yun’s suspicion that he has rebelled.
• Qi An explains that Emperor Lan Xiao had offered Ming Qiuxue a chance to serve on Calamity Planet despite the Ming Family’s treason, but Ming rejects the offer with open defiance.
• Using the Longevity Lock, Ming Qiuxue captures Qi An and Zeng Yun and summons the Second Prison and the Ming Family Army, ordering them to kill.
• Meanwhile, Lu Mi learns that Ming’s original F Plan has been changed into the F Annihilation Plan. Instead of merely seeking freedom, the group will fight their way out and destroy their enemies.
• Lu Mi, Yu Tu, Cang Qi, Lin Luo, Mo Ke, Luo Wei, and Zhang Jiao choose to join the rebellion. Lu Mi removes his official insignia and leads the group out of Cang Qi’s workshop.
• Lu Mi and Yu Tu head toward the First Prison warden’s office. Lu Mi broadcasts a call for all prison officers to fight for their future and prepare for a violent escape.

Character Developments

• Ming Qiuxue openly abandons any pretense of loyalty to Lan Xiao. His savage confidence shows that he has fully embraced rebellion and is prepared to lead a violent uprising.
• Lu Mi accepts that freedom cannot be achieved peacefully and decisively becomes the leader of the F Annihilation Plan. He also openly frames his relationship with Yu Tu as something worthy rather than criminal.
• Yu Tu remains devoted to Lu Mi and enthusiastically supports the rebellion, though he is insecure about whether Lu Mi truly loves him.
• Cang Qi recognizes that both he and Lu Mi are already considered unforgivable criminals because of their forbidden relationships and accepts that open revolt is their only realistic option.
• Lin Luo notices the depth of Lu Mi and Yu Tu’s relationship, understanding that Lu Mi’s actions reveal a love much stronger than he admits.
• Qi An and Zeng Yun shift from prison authorities observing Ming to direct targets of his rebellion.

Significant Themes

• Freedom versus obedience: The original goal of freedom evolves into total annihilation of the system that denies it.
• Rebellion and self-determination: The characters reject the authorities’ attempts to define them as criminals and choose their own futures.
• Love as an act of defiance: Lu Mi argues that his relationship with Yu Tu is not a crime but a natural, perfect bond.
• Loyalty and betrayal: Ming’s rebellion exposes the failure of Lan Xiao’s attempt to control him through surveillance, mercy, and political pressure.
• Violence as liberation: The group concludes that peaceful escape is impossible, making armed resistance necessary.

Character Interactions

• Qi An tries to shame Ming Qiuxue by reminding him of Lan Xiao’s “mercy,” but Ming responds with sarcasm and attacks him alongside Zeng Yun.
• Lu Mi and Yu Tu openly affirm their devotion while preparing to fight. Lu Mi’s romantic declaration makes Yu Tu hopeful, though Lu Mi teasingly denies having more than slight affection.
• Cang Qi and Lu Mi discuss their forbidden relationships, while Lu Mi corrects Cang Qi’s view that they are merely criminals, calling them instead “a match made in heaven.”
• Lin Luo silently recognizes that Lu Mi’s willingness to sacrifice himself for Yu Tu proves his love is profound.
• Lu Mi finally rallies the prison officers, transforming the group’s escape plan into a large-scale uprising.

Chapter Summary: “Tumi, Rebrewed Wine”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Calamity Planet, formerly Blue Ocean Planet, is introduced as a devastated former ocean world. A meteorite caused its ice to melt and its water to disappear, transforming the planet into a desert and leading to the deaths or displacement of most life and inhabitants.
• As the Blue River System’s prison planet, Calamity Planet houses both dangerous criminals and prison officers who have been politically abandoned or denied recognition.
• Lu Mi declares that the prisoners and officers must seize their own freedom rather than wait for permission from His Majesty Blue River.
• In response, nearly seventy percent of First Prison’s officers symbolically renounce their official identities by removing their caps and epaulets. Led by Lu Mi and Yu Tu, they leave the prison to fight for their future.
• The conflict at Second Prison intensifies. Ming Qiuxue fights Zeng Yun and Qi An simultaneously, using the Longevity Lock to defend himself and attack both opponents. Chang Feng also battles Qi An.
• Lu Mi arrives with First Prison’s forces and deliberately disrupts the battle by provoking Qi An. Golden Eye defeats Qi An’s Vulture Mecha, while Lu Mi confronts Qi An directly.
• Qi An accuses Lu Mi of joining the Ming Family’s rebellion. Lu Mi reveals that he is actually Lu Xiaojiu and declares that Yu Tu stands behind him, exposing the personal bond that has changed his loyalties.
• Qi An realizes that Yu Tu has also been pretending to be harmless or uninvolved. He decides to kill both Yu Tu and Ming Qiuxue to fulfill what he believes are His Majesty’s wishes.
• Yu Tu asks Lu Mi for permission to kill Qi An, but Lu Mi orders him to remain safely on Black Shadow and promises to handle Qi An himself.
• Lu Mi fully beastifies and attacks Qi An, while the forces of First Prison join the larger battle. The chapter ends with Cang Qi demonstrating a new Energy Sprayer and Yu Tu eagerly asking to use it.

Character Developments

• Lu Mi/Lu Xiaojiu: Fully embraces rebellion and openly rejects the identity imposed on him as First Prison’s warden. His declaration that Yu Tu is “at his back” reveals his emotional dependence and loyalty. He takes responsibility for protecting Yu Tu and confronting Qi An.
• Yu Tu: Shows increasing confidence and emotional openness. Though flustered when exposed, he is no longer passively hiding behind his false persona. His attachment to Lu Mi is clear, and he eagerly participates in the rebellion despite Lu Mi’s attempts to keep him safe.
• Qi An: Changes from a seemingly genial authority figure into a threatening antagonist. He interprets Yu Tu’s silence and aura as proof of rebellion and becomes determined to eliminate him and Ming Qiuxue.
• Ming Qiuxue: Demonstrates formidable strength by holding off two Diamond Rank opponents at once, establishing him as a central and capable figure in the rebellion.
• First Prison’s officers: Move from disillusioned, abandoned officials to an organized revolutionary force willing to sacrifice their institutional identities for freedom.
• Cang Qi: Shows his inventiveness by unveiling an experimental energy weapon, even though its current power is limited.
• Supporting characters: Lin Luo remains comically concerned with his appearance before battle, Zhang Jiao contributes enthusiastic encouragement despite fainting at blood, and Black Shadow remains devoted to Yu Tu.

Significant Themes

• Freedom versus imposed authority: The prison officers reject the identities and limits forced upon them, choosing to create their own future.
• Loyalty and chosen family: Lu Mi’s claim that Yu Tu is his support contrasts with Qi An’s belief that Lu Mi is isolated and controllable. Personal bonds become a source of strength rather than weakness.
• Identity and hidden selves: Lu Mi’s real name, Lu Xiaojiu, and Yu Tu’s concealed abilities reveal that both characters have been living behind constructed identities.
• Rebellion against political abandonment: Calamity Planet’s prisoners and sidelined officers unite because the system has discarded them, turning marginalization into collective resistance.
• Humor amid danger: Playful exchanges involving Black Shadow, Yu Tu’s grievances, Lin Luo’s hairstyle, and Cang Qi’s weapon balance the deadly battle with warmth and comedy.
• Rebirth and renewal: The title’s reference to “rebrewed wine” evokes old identities and hopes being revived in a new form, particularly through Lu Mi’s return as Lu Xiaojiu.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu Mi and Yu Tu: Their intimate trust is central. Lu Mi protects and directs Yu Tu, while Yu Tu openly seeks Lu Mi’s approval and relies on him emotionally.
• Lu Mi and Qi An: Their confrontation is both physical and ideological. Qi An believes Lu Mi can be controlled because he is alone, while Lu Mi disproves him by revealing his identity and bond with Yu Tu.
• Yu Tu and Qi An: Qi An treats Yu Tu’s silence and hidden power as evidence of treason. Yu Tu responds with offended disbelief, emphasizing his combination of innocence, pride, and dangerous strength.
• Lu Mi and Black Shadow: Lu Mi orders Black Shadow to protect Yu Tu, showing his trust in the beast and prioritizing Yu Tu’s safety.
• Cang Qi and Yu Tu: Their brief exchange adds levity and highlights Yu Tu’s curiosity and eagerness to join the fighting, even as Lu Mi tries to restrain him.

Chapter Summary: “I’m Lu Mi’s!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cang Qi gives Yu Tu control of the Energy Sprayer, despite having never used it before. To help him understand how to operate it, Cang Qi jokingly tells him to treat the weapon like Lu Mi and “put his back into it.”
• Yu Tu initially fires a weak shot because he is still severely weakened after losing his Diamond-grade Energy Crystal. After realizing he held back because he associated the weapon with Lu Mi, he unleashes its true power.
• Yu Tu’s second attack nearly hits Qi An but instead strikes a nearby Third Prison officer. He continues using the Energy Sprayer while Cang Qi assists him.
• Lu Mi dominates Qi An in combat, repeatedly smashing him into the sand whenever he tries to recover. Qi An angrily curses Lu Mi and condemns his past decisions, especially rebelling with Ming Qiuxue and protecting Yu Tu.
• Qi An’s insults draw Yu Tu’s attention. Yu Tu begins targeting him with the Energy Sprayer, eventually striking him in the eye. Their exchange is aggressive but also comic, with Yu Tu insisting that he was never merely “playing” with Qi An.
• Ming Qiuxue remains victorious over Zeng Yun, while Lu Mi overwhelms Qi An. Their side appears certain to win until more than one hundred spacecraft belonging to the Prison Directorate arrive above Second Prison.
• Deputy Director Tian Chi emerges with Imperial Army forces and orders the soldiers to kill all rebels, including Yu Tu. Yu Tu immediately attacks him and angrily rejects Tian Chi’s implication that he belongs to the Directorate.
• When Tian Chi asks whose Yu Tu is, Yu Tu declares, “I’m Lu Mi’s!”

Character Developments

• Yu Tu: Demonstrates both his diminished power and his dangerous combat ability. He is initially inexperienced with the Energy Sprayer but quickly adapts. His fierce loyalty to Lu Mi becomes explicit when he rejects Tian Chi and publicly claims Lu Mi.
• Cang Qi: Acts as Yu Tu’s guide and supporter. His playful instructions reveal his mischievous personality, while his reactions show growing amusement and confusion over Yu Tu and Lu Mi’s relationship.
• Lu Mi: Continues to display overwhelming strength and ruthless combat efficiency, humiliating Qi An by repeatedly forcing him into the sand. His protection of Yu Tu remains a central motivation.
• Qi An: Shifts from confident opponent to furious and helpless target. His insults reveal resentment toward Lu Mi’s rebellion and his choice to protect Yu Tu.
• Ming Qiuxue: Easily maintains the upper hand against Zeng Yun and responds to the arrival of the Prison Directorate with bloodthirsty anticipation. His mockery of Tian Chi highlights his provocative, fearless personality.
• Tian Chi: Arrives with overwhelming military force and immediately escalates the conflict by ordering the rebels’ execution.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and belonging: Yu Tu’s declaration that he is “Lu Mi’s” emphasizes his emotional attachment and allegiance to Lu Mi, directly opposing the Directorate’s claim over him.
• Power versus vulnerability: Yu Tu’s weakened condition contrasts with the devastating force he can unleash when he stops holding back. Lu Mi’s dominance over Qi An similarly reinforces the gap between apparent resistance and actual power.
• Rebellion against authority: Lu Mi, Ming Qiuxue, and their allies are positioned against the Prison Directorate and Imperial Army, turning a prison conflict into a larger political confrontation.
• Humor amid violence: Cang Qi’s suggestive instructions, Yu Tu’s misunderstanding, Qi An’s curses, and Ming Qiuxue’s insults create comic relief within an otherwise brutal battle.
• Possessiveness and public allegiance: The repeated question of who Yu Tu belongs to culminates in Yu Tu choosing Lu Mi openly, making their relationship a symbolic act of defiance.

Character Interactions

• Cang Qi playfully coaches Yu Tu and reacts with disbelief to the weapon’s unexpectedly sexual comparison with Lu Mi.
• Yu Tu and Qi An exchange hostile remarks while Yu Tu attacks him with the Energy Sprayer.
• Lu Mi and Qi An engage in a one-sided physical battle, with Lu Mi repeatedly overpowering and humiliating him.
• Ming Qiuxue mocks Tian Chi’s appearance and status when Tian Chi arrives.
• Tian Chi attempts to assert authority over Yu Tu, but Yu Tu rejects him and declares his allegiance to Lu Mi.

Chapter Summary: “Confession”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• During the battle on Calamity Planet, Tian Chi taunts Yu Tu by claiming that Lu Mi treats him as a disposable toy.
• Lu Mi angrily interrupts and openly declares that Yu Tu is the person he loves, refusing to let Tian Chi insult or hurt him.
• The surrounding fighters react with intense amusement and gossip, while Yu Tu becomes deeply embarrassed. His mechanical companion, Bean Sprout, even forms a heart in celebration.
• Tian Chi reveals that Emperor Lan Xiao had originally ordered Yu Tu’s immediate execution but was advised against killing the First Commander on Blue Star. This suggests that a powerful, hidden figure has been influencing events.
• Tian Chi presents Lan Xiao’s “Thousand Pardons Edict,” which orders the release of violent offenders from Calamity Planet’s three prisons. In exchange for helping eliminate the supposed rebels, the prisoners are promised freedom, pardoned crimes, wealth, and advancement.
• The released criminals flood the battlefield, dramatically shifting the advantage. The First and Second Prisons, which had previously been overpowering the Third Prison, become surrounded and overwhelmed.
• Tian Chi specifically places a reward on Yu Tu’s capture, making him the primary target of the violent offenders.
• Yu Tu devises a tactic: instead of fighting the attackers directly, he decides to reach Lu Mi, effectively targeting the leader of his group and seeking his help.
• Riding Black Shadow with Cang Qi, Yu Tu escapes the pursuing prisoners and reaches Lu Mi in the middle of combat.
• Lu Mi angrily scolds Yu Tu for putting himself in danger, then kisses him and tells him to leave, revealing both his concern and affection.

2. Character Developments

• Lu Mi: Moves from guarded affection to a public declaration of love. His anger at Tian Chi’s insult shows how strongly he protects Yu Tu, while his embarrassment afterward reveals his vulnerability. His kiss at the end combines frustration, worry, and tenderness.
• Yu Tu: Despite maintaining his intimidating commander persona, he is visibly flustered by Lu Mi’s confession. He remains resourceful under pressure, quickly devising a strategy when brute force is no longer enough. His decision to approach Lu Mi also demonstrates his trust and desire to remain beside him.
• Tian Chi: Acts as a manipulative and calculating antagonist. He exploits political authority, releases dangerous criminals, and uses Yu Tu’s romantic connection to provoke the group. He also secretly reports his suspicions about Yu Tu and Lu Mi to Lan Xiao.
• Ming Qiuxue: Becomes furious at Lan Xiao’s willingness to unleash dangerous prisoners merely to eliminate Yu Tu and himself. His rage reinforces his opposition to the emperor and drives him to attack Tian Chi.
• Cang Qi: Shows anxiety over the battle and his responsibility for the group’s weapons, but continues supporting Yu Tu. His inventions and assistance remain crucial even though he is more comfortable developing toys than weapons.
• Zhang Jiao: Provides comic relief by fainting before the attackers can even strike him.
• Lan Xiao: Though absent, his authority drives the chapter’s events. His order to pardon and release violent offenders portrays him as increasingly ruthless or desperate.

3. Significant Themes

• Love as defiance: Lu Mi’s public confession directly rejects Tian Chi’s attempt to define Yu Tu as expendable. Their relationship becomes an act of resistance against political manipulation.
• Public and private emotion: Both men struggle to maintain their dangerous public personas while revealing affection through blushes, glances, and physical gestures.
• Power and manipulation: Tian Chi and Lan Xiao treat prisoners, soldiers, and political authority as tools. The mass release of criminals demonstrates how far those in power will go to eliminate opponents.
• Trust and cooperation: Yu Tu, Lu Mi, Cang Qi, and their allies survive by relying on one another rather than individual strength.
• Chaos overturning power: The battlefield’s balance repeatedly changes—from prison forces holding the advantage, to Tian Chi’s army and released criminals trapping them—emphasizing the instability of the conflict.

4. Character Interactions

• Tian Chi verbally attacks Yu Tu’s relationship with Lu Mi, prompting Lu Mi’s direct confession.
• The surrounding characters tease and celebrate the confession, embarrassing both Lu Mi and Yu Tu.
• Ming Qiuxue confronts Tian Chi over Lan Xiao’s policies and attacks him alongside Lu Mi.
• Tian Chi uses the loudspeakers and the emperor’s decree to turn the prison population against the rebels, while also reporting his suspicions to Lan Xiao.
• Yu Tu and Cang Qi work together to survive the battlefield; Yu Tu protects Cang Qi from blame and relies on his weapons.
• Yu Tu uses Black Shadow to reach Lu Mi, and Lu Mi responds with anger, concern, and a sudden kiss before ordering him away from danger.

Chapter Summary: “Purple Vines, Kill!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yu Tu becomes delighted after realizing that visiting Lu Mi earns him kisses, but his attempt to ask Lu Mi about it is repeatedly interrupted by Imperial Army soldiers and felons attacking them.
• Lu Mi protects Yu Tu while fighting off the attackers with overwhelming strength, using his Black Panther abilities and Dark Leather Whip.
• Enraged by the constant interruptions, Yu Tu enters one of his frighteningly violent moods. He crushes an Imperial soldier’s energy gun, kills the soldier, and terrifies the surrounding enemies into backing away.
• Once the battlefield briefly clears, Yu Tu finally asks Lu Mi whether he can use his vines again. He explains that he wants to kill Tian Chi, believing that eliminating the enemy leader will make the battle easier and reduce Lu Mi’s exhaustion.
• Lu Mi warns Yu Tu that Tian Chi is a Diamond-Grade Bay Crocodile with extremely powerful defenses, but reluctantly allows Yu Tu to try after Yu Tu promises not to get hurt.
• Yu Tu, Cang Qi, and Black Shadow move away from the central battle. Yu Tu announces that he will launch a “sneak attack,” then manipulates the sand from a distance.
• He summons ten massive purple vines from beneath Tian Chi. Tian Chi recognizes them as the legendary Violet Slaughter Vine and is shocked, believing Yu Tu’s Energy Crystal had previously been removed.
• The chapter ends with Yu Tu commanding the vines to kill Tian Chi, setting up the next confrontation.

Character Developments

• Yu Tu: Displays his contrasting personalities: affectionate and shy around Lu Mi, yet brutally violent when obstructed. He is embarrassed while asking Lu Mi for permission to use his vines and shows genuine concern for Lu Mi’s safety and exhaustion. His ability to use the Violet Slaughter Vine again suggests that his powers are returning or were never truly lost.
• Lu Mi: Continues protecting Yu Tu and demonstrates immense combat strength. He is exasperated by Yu Tu’s timing and behavior but remains deeply concerned for him, requiring a promise that Yu Tu will not be injured before allowing the attack.
• Cang Qi: Acts as an observer and assistant, remaining bewildered by Yu Tu’s sudden shifts between cuteness and terrifying brutality.
• Tian Chi: Is revealed to be a powerful Diamond-Grade Bay Crocodile with extraordinary defensive abilities. His shock at seeing the purple vines suggests that Yu Tu’s power is rare and connected to an important past event.
• Black Shadow: Faithfully carries Yu Tu and Cang Qi away from the main battle, following Yu Tu’s commands.

Significant Themes

• The contrast between tenderness and violence: Yu Tu can be shy, affectionate, and playful one moment, then terrifyingly ruthless the next.
• Love expressed through protection: Yu Tu wants to kill Tian Chi partly to spare Lu Mi from prolonged fighting, while Lu Mi prioritizes Yu Tu’s safety.
• Hidden or restored power: The reappearance of the Violet Slaughter Vine raises questions about Yu Tu’s lost memories, Energy Crystal, and true abilities.
• Humor amid brutality: Yu Tu’s childish insistence on asking a question, his cute behavior, and his polite farewell are juxtaposed with a battlefield covered in blood and severed bodies.
• Trust and dependence: Yu Tu seeks Lu Mi’s permission and reassurance, while Lu Mi trusts him enough to let him attack despite the danger.

Character Interactions

• Yu Tu repeatedly tries to speak with Lu Mi, but the battle interrupts him, provoking his furious reaction.
• Lu Mi protects Yu Tu physically and later listens to his request, warning him about Tian Chi’s strength.
• Yu Tu acts shy and affectionate toward Lu Mi, pinching his waist and asking to use his vines.
• Cang Qi questions Yu Tu’s plan and is astonished by the idea of launching a long-distance sneak attack.
• Tian Chi reacts with disbelief and fear when Yu Tu’s purple vines emerge, recognizing the technique and questioning how Yu Tu can still use it.

Chapter Summary: Yutu-Brand Cat Teaser

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yu Tu dominates the battlefield with ten Violet Slaughter Vines, rapidly defeating Tian Chi and capturing eight Imperial Army soldiers.
• His vine-based attack accidentally functions like a “cat teaser,” distracting Lu Mi and weakening his attacks. Lu Mi struggles to resist the comforting, hypnotic sensation but continues fighting while loudly apologizing to Yu Tu.
• Yu Tu becomes amused by Lu Mi’s submission and promises to kill the enemies quickly so he can “punish” Lu Mi afterward. He then slams the captured soldiers, including Tian Chi, into the ground.
• Tian Chi reveals that he has used emptied syringes and a bell to control Yu Tu. The bell forces Yu Tu to retract his vines, attempt suicide, and attack Lu Mi.
• Yu Tu’s control is disrupted when he is thrown toward Lu Mi. Lu Mi catches him, and Yu Tu’s own vine pierces his shoulder instead of Lu Mi.
• Despite Tian Chi repeatedly ringing the bell and ordering Yu Tu to kill Lu Mi, Yu Tu instinctively protects and embraces Lu Mi, declaring that he likes him most.
• Tian Chi realizes that Yu Tu’s removed Energy Crystal has weakened the control’s effectiveness.
• Enraged by Yu Tu’s mistreatment, Lu Mi undergoes complete Beastification and agrees with Ming Qiuxue that the corrupt world deserves to be overturned.

Character Developments

• Yu Tu: Demonstrates overwhelming combat power but is revealed to have been mentally controlled and abused by Lan Xiao. Even while under the bell’s influence, his emotional attachment to Lu Mi remains strong enough to resist the command.
• Lu Mi: Shows both comedic devotion and deep emotional attachment to Yu Tu. His anger at Yu Tu’s suffering transforms into grief and rage, pushing him into complete Beastification.
• Tian Chi: Initially appears defeated but reveals a powerful control method involving the bell and Yu Tu’s altered condition. His confidence collapses when Yu Tu’s love overrides the command.
• Ming Qiuxue: Continues to criticize Lu Mi’s public displays of affection but recognizes the broader injustice behind Yu Tu’s treatment.
• Cang Qi and the others: React with alarm when Yu Tu suddenly falls under Tian Chi’s control and rush to intervene.

Significant Themes

• Love resisting control: Yu Tu’s bond with Lu Mi survives even mental manipulation, demonstrating the strength of genuine emotional attachment.
• Abuse and dehumanization: Tian Chi’s commands expose how Lan Xiao treated Yu Tu as an obedient weapon rather than a person.
• Rage against injustice: Lu Mi’s grief over Yu Tu’s abuse reinforces the chapter’s growing theme of rebellion against a corrupt world.
• Comic intimacy amid danger: Lu Mi and Yu Tu’s playful relationship contrasts sharply with the violence around them, creating both humor and emotional intensity.
• Identity and autonomy: Yu Tu’s struggle between imposed commands and his own instincts highlights the importance of recovering personal will.

Character Interactions

• Yu Tu defeats Tian Chi and captures him, while Lu Mi is distracted by Yu Tu’s vine technique and loudly pleads for forgiveness.
• Lu Mi’s exaggerated apologies entertain Yu Tu and draw ridicule from Ming Qiuxue and the battlefield.
• Tian Chi uses the bell to command Yu Tu to harm himself and kill Lu Mi.
• Lu Mi catches Yu Tu and shields him, but Yu Tu’s vine pierces Yu Tu’s own shoulder instead.
• Yu Tu embraces and kisses Lu Mi, openly declaring his affection despite Tian Chi’s commands.
• Lu Mi comforts Yu Tu after realizing the extent of his abuse, promising not to cry while emotionally committing himself to overthrowing the system that allowed it.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tian Chi reveals that the Emperor secretly planted self-destruct devices beneath the three major prisons and activates the countdown, intending to eliminate Ming Qiuxue and the prison escapees.
• Before Tian Chi can detonate the device, Zeng Yun shoots him through the heart and destroys the detonator. He reveals that he is sacrificing himself to repay Ming Qiuxue’s former recognition and protection.
• Qi An then reveals that Zeng Yun’s device was only a decoy; he possesses the real detonator. He activates it, causing the Second Prison to explode.
• Ming Qiuxue uses the Longevity Lock to form a massive energy shield, protecting Lu Mi and the others from the blast despite suffering internal injury. He pledges to help Lu Mi protect Yu Tu and urges everyone to flee together.
• As survivors escape, Cang Qi discovers that Lan Su has left the supposedly safe Sky Prison Cell and come searching for him, accompanied by Rete and Vicks.
• Qi An orders the Imperial Army to bombard the area and search Calamity Planet until Ming Qiuxue and Yu Tu are found. The Imperial forces destroy the prison ships and nearly wipe out the escapees.
• The survivors reach Shelter No. 1, an emergency refuge secretly prepared by Ming Qiuxue. Nearly two-thirds of their group has been lost.
• Yu Tu falls into a coma with a severe fever, likely because the Desire Compound and Tian Chi’s control agents have accumulated in his body. Lan Su suggests that Lu Mi must help him metabolize the drugs through intimate physical contact.
• Lu Mi takes Yu Tu into a private room, while Cang Qi innocently wonders what is happening. Lan Su cryptically explains that Lu Mi has gone “to become a beast,” prompting the chapter’s humorous closing reaction.

Character Developments

• Zeng Yun proves his loyalty to Ming Qiuxue and his teacher by sacrificing himself. His final act shows courage, gratitude, and hidden competence.
• Qi An is revealed as utterly ruthless and devoted to the Emperor. He kills Zeng Yun’s hope of saving everyone, detonates the real device, and even orders Imperial soldiers left behind to be destroyed.
• Ming Qiuxue shifts from isolated survivor to committed protector and leader. He accepts that he has no remaining personal weakness and forms a new alliance with Lu Mi, promising mutual survival.
• Lu Mi becomes increasingly protective of Yu Tu, shielding him emotionally and physically. Despite his embarrassment and uncertainty, he accepts the dangerous treatment Yu Tu needs.
• Cang Qi remains emotionally devoted to Lan Su and distressed by Yu Tu’s suffering. His naive, incessant questions provide comic relief amid the disaster.
• Lan Su demonstrates that he values Cang Qi enough to abandon safety and search for him. He also provides the crucial explanation for Yu Tu’s condition.
• Yu Tu remains unconscious and physically unstable, making his survival the immediate concern of the group.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice and loyalty: Zeng Yun gives his life to repay Ming Qiuxue, while Ming Qiuxue and Lu Mi commit themselves to protecting one another and Yu Tu.
• Betrayal and hidden schemes: Tian Chi’s trap, Zeng Yun’s concealed counterattack, and Qi An’s backup detonator emphasize the constant deception surrounding the prison escape.
• Survival amid oppression: The escapees must endure mass casualties, bombardment, and pursuit by the Imperial Army while trying to preserve their remaining community.
• Found family and mutual protection: Despite their losses, the survivors repeatedly choose to return for one another, especially Lan Su’s decision to find Cang Qi and Ming Qiuxue’s promise to stand with Lu Mi.
• Humor amid tragedy: Cang Qi’s innocent misunderstanding of Lu Mi’s private treatment of Yu Tu provides comic relief after the chapter’s violence and devastation.

Character Interactions

• Tian Chi taunts Ming Qiuxue and the prisoners before Zeng Yun turns against him.
• Zeng Yun addresses Ming Qiuxue with gratitude and formally bids him farewell before sacrificing himself.
• Qi An undermines Zeng Yun’s sacrifice by activating the true detonator and later orders the Imperial Army to kill everyone remaining on the planet.
• Ming Qiuxue protects Lu Mi and Yu Tu with the Longevity Lock and invites Lu Mi to survive and overturn their world together.
• Cang Qi reunites emotionally with Lan Su, who admits that he came because he was worried about him.
• Lan Su advises Lu Mi on how to save Yu Tu, while concealing the explanation from Cang Qi to prevent further confusion.
• Lu Mi carries Yu Tu into a private room to begin the treatment, leaving the others to interpret the situation with amused disbelief.

Chapter Summary: “Brother, Take a Break”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Mi brings the unconscious Yu Tu into Shelter No. 1, cleans him with the limited water and supplies, and affectionately kisses him while waiting for him to wake.
• In the Endless Universe, Tian Chi’s condition deteriorates aboard Imperial Army Ship 246. His heart stops, forcing the doctors to use a cardiac stimulant and divert the ship to a nearby planet for emergency surgery.
• At the exact moment Tian Chi’s heart is restarted, Yu Tu awakens in the shelter in a confused and highly aggressive state. His eyes are clouded, and he warns Lu Mi to stay away, fearing he will kill him.
• Yu Tu’s trauma surfaces: he recalls being imprisoned, drugged with Desire Compound, and surrounded by women. His violent reactions suggest how desperately he struggled to resist the drug’s influence.
• When Yu Tu attacks with his Violet Slaughter Vine, Lu Mi proves his identity by touching and kissing the dangerous vine and revealing his Partner Mark. He reminds Yu Tu that he is “Lu Xiaojiu,” Yu Tu’s beloved Little Black Panther.
• Lu Mi embraces and kisses Yu Tu, successfully calming him and breaking through his confusion.
• The intense noises from their room alarm the exhausted prison officers, who initially believe they are under attack. They eventually realize the sounds are coming from Lu Mi and Yu Tu and awkwardly return to resting, while Ming Qiuxue prevents them from gossiping too openly.
• Tian Chi’s emergency heart surgery succeeds, and he is temporarily stabilized.
• Afterward, Yu Tu regains his clarity but becomes concerned that he has hurt Lu Mi. Lu Mi reassures him and asks him to massage his aching waist.
• Yu Tu explains that he remembers being imprisoned and forced into proximity with numerous women, but insists that he hates the situation and only wants intimacy with Lu Mi.

Character Developments

• Lu Mi: Demonstrates unwavering confidence in his bond with Yu Tu. Rather than fearing Yu Tu’s aggression, he calmly identifies the source of his confusion and uses affection, trust, and their Partner Mark to bring him back to himself. He also maintains a playful, teasing attitude afterward.
• Yu Tu: Reveals severe psychological trauma caused by imprisonment and the Desire Compound. Even while hallucinating or losing control, he struggles to protect himself from harming others. Once recognized, he becomes vulnerable, affectionate, and remorseful, reaffirming that Lu Mi is the only person he desires.
• Tian Chi: Survives a critical medical emergency after his heart stops. His successful surgery provides a parallel moment of danger and recovery.
• Ming Qiuxue and the prison officers: Their reactions add comic relief. They quickly understand what is happening and protect Lu Mi’s privacy by discouraging further gossip.
• Lan Su and Cang Qi: Their brief interaction highlights Cang Qi’s sharp hearing and the group’s exhausted but humorous response to the disturbance.

Significant Themes

• Love as an anchor: Lu Mi’s relationship with Yu Tu gives Yu Tu a way back from trauma, confusion, and violent instinct.
• Trauma and recovery: Yu Tu’s behavior reflects the lasting effects of captivity, coercion, and drugging. His recovery begins through recognition, safety, and emotional intimacy.
• Identity and recognition: The Partner Mark and Lu Mi’s familiar nickname allow Yu Tu to distinguish reality from the threatening memories overwhelming him.
• Protective devotion: Both men show a strong desire to protect one another—Lu Mi by calming Yu Tu, and Yu Tu by insisting he only wants Lu Mi and worrying that he has injured him.
• Humor amid danger: The prison officers’ misunderstanding and Ming Qiuxue’s irritation lighten an otherwise tense chapter.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu Mi and Yu Tu: The chapter centers on their intimate reunion. Lu Mi confronts Yu Tu’s fear without backing away, while Yu Tu gradually recognizes him and returns to his affectionate self.
• Yu Tu and his memories: His fragmented recollection of captivity explains his hostility and fear of losing control.
• Ming Qiuxue and the prison officers: Ming Qiuxue shuts down their gossip, indirectly protecting Lu Mi’s secret and dignity.
• Tian Chi and the military doctors: The doctors’ urgent intervention saves Tian Chi’s life and allows the ship to continue its mission after his recovery.

Chapter Summary: “Black Shadow’s Great Achievement”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qi An leads a massive Imperial Army search of Calamity Planet, using excavation machinery to search beneath the sands. Based on his progress, Shelter No. 1 will likely be discovered within two months.
• Inside the shelter, Ming Qiuxue, Lu Mi, Lan Su, Cang Qi, Yu Tu, and their mechanical companions face dwindling water supplies and worsening conditions.
• Ming Qiuxue proposes sacrificing himself and several allies to distract Qi An so the others can escape. Lu Mi rejects the idea, while Lan Su challenges Ming to go beyond merely fleeing and openly rebel against Lan Xiao’s corrupt rule.
• Ming reflects on his parents’ deaths. Lan Su explains that their suicide was not a rejection of him, but a final message that they had abandoned their loyalty to an unjust emperor and wanted Ming to choose his own path.
• A discovery by Black Shadow changes the group’s prospects. The panther mech’s tail has been worn into the shape of a heart after contact with an exceptionally hard metal.
• Cang Qi realizes the metal could be used to manufacture powerful weapons capable of cutting through spacecraft. Ming orders Golden Eye to communicate with Black Shadow and locate the metal deposit.
• While Golden Eye and Black Shadow struggle through their incompatible, overly elaborate “conversation,” Qi An detects Golden Eye’s movements with a new mech-tracking system and begins pursuing him.

Character Developments

• Ming Qiuxue begins moving from escape and self-sacrifice toward the possibility of rebellion. He remains burdened by guilt over his parents’ deaths but is encouraged to interpret their final act as permission to reject the imperial system.
• Lan Su acts as Ming’s ideological challenger and emotional support, urging him to transform his personal tragedy into resistance against the Blue River System.
• Lu Mi remains practical and protective, opposing Ming’s plan to sacrifice himself. His frustration with Black Shadow also provides comic relief.
• Cang Qi demonstrates resourcefulness and technical expertise by recognizing the strategic value of the mysterious metal and proposing new weapons.
• Black Shadow proudly claims credit for discovering the metal, presenting itself as the group’s heroic contributor while also showing its comedic vanity and affection for Yu Tu.
• Golden Eye remains jealous and antagonistic toward Black Shadow, especially over Yu Tu’s attention, but is still entrusted with the important mission of retrieving the metal.

Significant Themes

• Freedom versus loyalty: Ming must decide whether to continue serving the empire or pursue true independence and rebellion.
• The collapse of unjust authority: Lan Su argues that the Blue River System is already morally rotten, suggesting that resistance may be necessary rather than reckless.
• Sacrifice and legacy: Ming’s parents’ deaths become a message of liberation, allowing him to inherit their convictions without repeating their submission.
• Hope through ingenuity: Even while trapped and deprived of water, the group finds a possible advantage through technology, cooperation, and an unexpected discovery.
• Comic relief amid danger: The rivalry between Black Shadow and Golden Eye lightens the chapter’s otherwise desperate atmosphere.

Character Interactions

• Ming, Lu Mi, and Lan Su debate whether to flee or fight, with Lan Su pushing Ming toward rebellion and Lu Mi prioritizing survival.
• Lan Su gives Ming a new interpretation of his parents’ deaths, helping him confront his guilt.
• Black Shadow attempts to impress Yu Tu with its heart-shaped tail, provoking Golden Eye’s jealous insults.
• Lu Mi repeatedly disciplines Black Shadow for showing off and refusing to communicate efficiently.
• Cang Qi praises Black Shadow’s discovery and turns its accidental achievement into a potential military advantage.
• Ming assigns Golden Eye and Black Shadow to work together, despite their mutual hostility.
• The chapter ends with Qi An detecting Golden Eye, creating immediate danger and threatening the group’s attempt to obtain the weapon-making metal.

Chapter Summary: The Locked Secret

Key Plot Points and Events

• Golden Eye returns to Shelter No. 1 carrying an unknown metal object shaped like a large-headed fish. Completely drained, it collapses dramatically, alarming the prison officers.
• The officers assume Golden Eye was attacked, but Ming Qiuxue realizes it has exhausted itself through its connection to him. He warns the pet mecha not to take such risks again.
• Golden Eye suddenly recovers and launches itself into Yu Tu’s arms, clearly using its weakness as an excuse to gain affection and provoke Black Shadow.
• Black Shadow angrily accuses Golden Eye of being manipulative, while Lu Mi reluctantly translates its complaints. Yu Tu defends Golden Eye, causing Lu Mi to become jealous and frustrated.
• Cang Qi examines the recovered object and recognizes its design as an exact copy of his academy admission project: a combination-locked White Whale mechanism. However, the material and construction indicate that someone else made it.
• With encouragement from Lan Su and the others, Cang Qi attempts the password. It works, revealing that the object is actually a projector.
• The projector displays Cang Qi’s youthful confession to Lan Su: “You’re unbelievably handsome! I hereby declare that I’m in love with you!”
• Cang Qi is mortified, while Lan Su calmly admits that he already knows Cang Qi has loved him for a long time.
• The device then changes again, revealing that Cang Qi’s original admission project contained an additional hidden secret—something he believed he had permanently locked away.

Character Developments

• Golden Eye is shown to be clever, theatrical, and mischievous. It pretends to be near death in order to receive Yu Tu’s attention and irritate Black Shadow.
• Yu Tu becomes increasingly protective of Golden Eye and openly defends it, while also displaying a growing closeness with Lu Mi.
• Lu Mi struggles with jealousy when Yu Tu favors Golden Eye. Though outwardly cold and irritated, he quietly seeks reassurance by interlacing his fingers with Yu Tu’s.
• Black Shadow behaves like an emotionally dramatic, jealous pet, taking Golden Eye’s affection-seeking behavior personally.
• Cang Qi is exposed as having loved Lan Su since his academy days. His embarrassment reveals a shy and vulnerable side beneath his usual competence.
• Lan Su responds with warmth and confidence, suggesting that he has long understood Cang Qi’s feelings and accepts them.
• Ming Qiuxue acts as a practical observer, encouraging Cang Qi not to fear failure and reminding him that life is too short to avoid pursuing what matters.

Significant Themes

• Hidden feelings and secrets: The locked device symbolizes Cang Qi’s long-suppressed love and the emotional truths people conceal.
• Love expressed through teasing and protection: Golden Eye’s antics, Yu Tu’s defense of it, and Lu Mi’s jealousy all reveal affection through indirect behavior.
• Fear of failure versus taking risks: Ming Qiuxue encourages Cang Qi to act despite the possibility of losing what is inside the device.
• Embarrassment and acceptance: Cang Qi’s confession is humiliating to him, but Lan Su responds without judgment, turning the revelation into a tender moment.
• Found family and companionship: The group reacts collectively to the discovery, mixing concern, teasing, gossip, and support.

Character Interactions

• Yu Tu protects Golden Eye from Lu Mi, while Lu Mi becomes jealous of the snake’s closeness to Yu Tu.
• Black Shadow and Golden Eye engage in a playful rivalry, each competing for attention from their respective owners.
• Lan Su comforts and encourages Cang Qi, holding his hand and urging him to unlock the device.
• Cang Qi’s public confession causes the prison officers to gossip excitedly, while Lan Su responds affectionately.
• Yu Tu and Lu Mi mirror Cang Qi and Lan Su’s intimacy by holding hands, though Lu Mi remains irritated by the surrounding displays of affection.
• The chapter ends on a cliffhanger as the projector reveals that Cang Qi’s locked secret is not yet fully exposed.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cang Qi discovers that the projector has transformed into a music box bearing the message “Welcome home.” At its center is a removable key.
• When Cang Qi removes the key, the music box becomes dangerously hot, transforms into a molten iron ball, and melts through the shelter floor, creating an extremely deep black hole.
• Ming Qiuxue attempts to probe the hole with the Longevity Lock, but a powerful wind suddenly erupts from it. A strange voice repeatedly calls, “Welcome home,” while White Star reacts excitedly to the scent of sea wind.
• At the same time, Qi An and Imperial Army forces surround Shelter No. 1 and launch an attack.
• Realizing that open conflict is unavoidable, Lu Mi organizes the prison officers for battle. He orders Ming Qiuxue and several others to help escort Lan Su, Cang Qi, Rete, Vicks, and Yu Tu to a spaceship while he attempts to seize one for their escape.
• As the shelter’s exit opens, Lu Mi and the prison officers prepare to confront the Imperial Army. Before the battle begins, Cang Qi throws the mysterious key into the black hole, possibly activating or changing whatever lies below.
• Lu Mi faces the enemy with confidence, declaring that the day is both a good day and the fulfillment of a long-held dream.

Character Developments

• Lu Mi/Lu Xiaojiu demonstrates leadership and self-sacrifice by putting himself at the front of the battle and prioritizing Yu Tu and the others’ escape. His resolve reflects his deep loyalty and love for Yu Tu.
• Yu Tu is visibly distressed when Lu Mi orders him to leave rather than fight beside him, revealing how strongly he cares for Lu Mi.
• Cang Qi remains impulsive and curious, first investigating the key and later tossing it into the mysterious hole despite believing it was unlikely to save them.
• Ming Qiuxue takes responsibility for investigating the hole and briefly loses his usual composure when blasted by its wind.
• Lan Su shows concern for Cang Qi after his hand is burned and recognizes the sea-like scent coming from the hole.
• White Star reacts joyfully to the sea wind, hinting that the hole may lead to an ocean or another familiar place.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice and loyalty: Lu Mi willingly risks his life so the others, especially Yu Tu, can escape.
• Love fulfilled through devotion: Lu Xiaojiu’s love for Yu Tu is portrayed as complete because he can fight and potentially die for his commander.
• Courage in the face of death: The prison officers stand together without hesitation despite being surrounded by overwhelming forces.
• Mystery and fate: The key, the “Welcome home” message, the bottomless hole, and the sea wind suggest a hidden connection to another place or a larger destiny.
• Hope amid danger: Although the situation appears desperate, the mysterious hole may provide an unexpected means of survival.

Character Interactions

• Lu Mi jokingly comforts himself after being mocked for his poor interpretation of the music box, while Yu Tu humorously reassures him.
• Lan Su tends to Cang Qi’s burned hand, creating a tender moment between them.
• Ming Qiuxue and Lu Mi silently coordinate the defense after learning that Qi An has surrounded the shelter.
• Lu Mi commands Yu Tu to obey him and leave with the others; Yu Tu’s emotional reaction shows his unwillingness to abandon him.
• The chapter closes with Lu Mi and the prison officers facing Qi An’s army, while Cang Qi’s seemingly reckless action with the key leaves the outcome uncertain.

Chapter Summary: “Little Seven Castle”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The stone door opens, unleashing a massive rush of seawater as the ground around Shelter No. 1 begins breaking apart and sinking.
• Lu Mi is pulled underwater while trying to reach Yu Tu. Using the Dark Whip, he manages to seize Yu Tu and hold him close, believing they may die together. In a desperate, emotional moment, Lu Mi kisses him.
• Outside, Qi An orders the Imperial Army to evacuate aboard the ship as the collapsing ground spreads.
• Lan Su, demonstrating the full power of his Diamond-Grade White Whale and source-energy weapon, the Unknown Whale, rescues Cang Qi and the others. He uses the weapon to draw back the seawater and create a protective air-filled barrier.
• The survivors escape immediate drowning, but Lan Su is gravely injured: using the Unknown Whale causes severe bleeding from his amputated leg.
• Yu Tu offers to heal Lan Su, but Lan Su refuses, partly because he dislikes others seeing his wounds. Rete attempts to stop the bleeding with medicine, but it is ineffective.
• The mysterious voice repeatedly says, “Welcome home,” growing closer until the entire group falls through darkness.
• They land safely in a new location. An AI child’s song announces that they have arrived at “Little Seven Castle,” welcoming its “daddies.” The chapter ends as the group sees an unfamiliar world.

Character Developments

• Lu Mi: Reveals the depth of his love and protectiveness toward Yu Tu. Even while facing death, he prioritizes Yu Tu’s survival and expresses his feelings through their kiss. He also becomes more openly attentive to Yu Tu’s emotional reactions.
• Yu Tu: Shows concern for Lan Su and attempts to use his powerful healing ability to save him. His attachment to Lu Mi is increasingly evident, though his unusual innocence and sensitivity remain prominent.
• Lan Su: Demonstrates extraordinary strength and self-sacrifice by using the Unknown Whale despite knowing it will worsen his condition. He remains composed and reassuring, especially toward Cang Qi, even while bleeding heavily.
• Cang Qi: Becomes deeply distressed by Lan Su’s injury and cries openly, but is reassured by Lan Su’s tenderness.
• Rete and Vicks: Help protect Lan Su’s privacy and attempt to treat his wound, highlighting their loyalty and practical support.
• White Star: Displays an amusing dislike of Yu Tu, whom Lan Su jokingly associates with pigs.

Significant Themes

• Love amid catastrophe: Lu Mi and Yu Tu’s intimate moment emphasizes that affection and devotion persist even during apparent death.
• Self-sacrifice: Lan Su risks his life and worsens his injury to save everyone, embodying responsibility and protection.
• Trust and vulnerability: Lan Su hides his wound and refuses Yu Tu’s healing, while others struggle to respect his privacy without abandoning him.
• Home and belonging: The repeated “Welcome home” and the AI’s song suggest that the survivors are entering a place connected to their past, identities, or hidden origins.
• Hope after destruction: Although the shelter collapses and the group nearly dies, they emerge into a new world, creating a transition from disaster to mystery.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu Mi saves Yu Tu underwater and kisses him, revealing intense romantic feelings.
• Lan Su rescues Cang Qi, holds and comforts him, and promises that they will soon return home.
• Lu Mi asks Yu Tu to heal Lan Su, but Lan Su refuses and instead asks Rete to treat him.
• Lu Mi tries to calm Yu Tu when White Star reacts negatively to him, while Cang Qi’s crying intensifies at the discussion of Lan Su’s wounds.
• The group’s survival depends on Lan Su’s cooperation with White Star and the Unknown Whale, underscoring the close bond between them.
• The chapter closes with the entire group collectively entering the mysterious Little Seven Castle, where an unseen AI welcomes them as “daddies.”

Chapter Summary: “Who Do You Want to Kiss, Huh?!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group enters Little Seven Castle, a massive spherical structure filled with rooms, advanced equipment, recreational facilities, weapons, and automated systems.
• A holographic User Guide explains that the castle’s automated food-production system can only activate after a “family playground” check-in: two “dads” must bring a “baby” to play for thirty minutes and then kiss the baby.
• Because everyone is injured, exhausted, and soaked, Ming Qiuxue instructs the group to rest, change clothes, and investigate the castle.
• Lu Mi and Yu Tu retreat to a luxury suite. While bathing, Yu Tu becomes physically affectionate and admits that he was afraid Lu Mi would die in Shelter No. 1. His confession quickly turns into a provocative declaration that he would rather kill Lu Mi himself than let someone else do it.
• Lu Mi rejects Yu Tu’s attempt to challenge him, insisting that a proper warden does not allow himself to be provoked by a prisoner.
• Outside, Qi An’s fleet searches Calamity Planet for survivors, unaware that the planet has been completely flooded. Believing Yu Tu and Ming Qiuxue dead, Qi An orders the ships to return to Blue Star.
• Cang Qi explains Little Seven Castle’s history: twenty-five years earlier, it struck Blue Ocean Planet and absorbed all its seawater using spatial-folding technology, leaving behind the desert known as Calamity Planet. After the key activated it, the water was released and the planet became an ocean again.
• The group learns that the food-production system does not require genuine family relationships. Any three people can act as two parents and a baby, making the required check-in technically possible.
• No one volunteers because the process requires public role-playing and kissing. Yu Tu immediately volunteers to be Lu Mi’s “baby,” forcing Lu Mi to angrily ask which person Yu Tu wants to serve as the other father.

Character Developments

• Lu Mi remains practical, intimidating, and easily flustered by Yu Tu’s affection. He takes responsibility for Yu Tu’s well-being, insisting that he bathe and avoid getting sick, but disguises his concern with insults and stern commands.
• Yu Tu displays both genuine emotional attachment and provocative possessiveness. He reveals that he feared losing Lu Mi and uses humor, flirtation, and deliberate teasing to test Lu Mi’s boundaries.
• Ming Qiuxue acts as a calm organizer, prioritizing the group’s recovery and directing them to investigate the castle systematically.
• Cang Qi demonstrates his analytical ability by reconstructing the castle’s origins, energy source, and relationship to the disaster that transformed Calamity Planet.
• Qi An mistakenly concludes that Yu Tu and Ming Qiuxue have died, creating dramatic irony and allowing the group to escape immediate pursuit.

Significant Themes

• Affection hidden behind hostility: Lu Mi and Yu Tu express care through insults, teasing, and provocation rather than open tenderness.
• Survival through absurdity: The group has survived extreme danger only to face a ridiculous bureaucratic requirement involving pretend family roles and kissing.
• Technology and mystery: Little Seven Castle’s spatial-folding abilities and connection to the Slave-Taming Eye suggest a larger, unexplained technological history.
• Found family and role-playing: The castle’s check-in system forces the characters to perform a family structure, blurring the line between artificial roles and genuine bonds.
• Dramatic irony: Qi An believes the protagonists are dead while they are safely hidden inside the newly activated castle.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu Mi cares for Yu Tu during their bath but insists their actions remain innocent, while Yu Tu intentionally pushes against that boundary.
• Yu Tu’s confession about fearing Lu Mi’s death reveals sincere vulnerability beneath his sexual humor.
• Cang Qi explains the castle’s history to Lu Mi, who reacts with skepticism and frustration toward the increasingly complicated mystery.
• The group collectively refuses to volunteer for the embarrassing check-in ritual, but Yu Tu enthusiastically nominates himself as Lu Mi’s “baby,” provoking Lu Mi’s furious and jealous-sounding question about the other “father.”

Chapter Summary: “Daddies and Baby”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yu Tu becomes upset when Lu Mi admits he has been mean to him, interpreting this as Lu Mi no longer wanting him as his “baby.” Lu Mi quickly apologizes and agrees to participate in the amusement park’s “daddies and baby” check-in game.
• The group needs two “daddies” and one “baby.” Lu Mi assigns Ming Qiuxue as the second daddy, but then unexpectedly volunteers to be the baby himself, with Yu Tu and Ming Qiuxue as his “daddies.”
• Lu Mi privately persuades Yu Tu to cooperate by promising a more exciting cosplay game later. Ming Qiuxue reluctantly agrees because no one else would dare participate with Lu Mi.
• The entire group enters the spatially expanded amusement park. The check-in system requires at least thirty minutes of playtime, so Yu Tu and Lu Mi explore the park together while Ming Qiuxue reluctantly joins them.
• The amusement park creates a cheerful childhood environment of blue skies, birdsong, insects, and flowers. Lu Mi pushes Yu Tu on a swing and reflects that he hopes Yu Tu—whose memories have been altered—can still experience happiness.
• After thirty minutes, the group must complete the required “kiss” portion of the check-in. Yu Tu and Lu Mi successfully share the first baby-and-baba kiss.
• Lu Mi’s initial kiss toward Ming Qiuxue fails because the system detects that it lacks genuine affection. Cang Qi suggests using affectionate words and tone to satisfy the system instead.
• Both Lu Mi and Ming Qiuxue struggle to pretend affection, nearly disgusted by the performance. Eventually, Lu Mi uses a deliberately sweet, coquettish voice to say “Daddy Ming, mwa, mwa,” and the system accepts it.
• The amusement park mission succeeds, activating the Fully Automated Integrated Food Production House and beginning a twelve-hour food-production cycle. The group eagerly goes to inspect the Food Production Hut.
• Lu Mi and Ming Qiuxue immediately agree that the participants should be switched the next day, clearly unwilling to repeat the experience.

Character Developments

• Lu Mi: Shows emotional flexibility and protectiveness toward Yu Tu. Though initially irritated, he apologizes, sacrifices his dignity to complete the mission, and deliberately creates a happy experience for Yu Tu. His willingness to become the “baby” also reveals his practical and manipulative side.
• Yu Tu: Displays strong emotional dependence on Lu Mi and quickly becomes reassured after Lu Mi agrees to participate. He remains innocent and enthusiastic throughout the game, sincerely encouraging Lu Mi during the embarrassing kiss requirement.
• Ming Qiuxue: Is forced into an absurdly affectionate role despite his hostility toward Lu Mi. His reluctant cooperation and exaggeratedly gentle performance highlight his pride, discomfort, and antagonistic relationship with Lu Mi.
• Cang Qi: Acts as the organizer and problem-solver. He keeps the game moving, explains the rules, and discovers the loophole that allows Lu Mi to pass the affection requirement through verbal performance.
• The prison officers: Enjoy watching the usually intimidating wardens endure the humiliating game, treating the event as a rare spectacle.

Significant Themes

• Affection and emotional reassurance: Yu Tu’s fear of being rejected shows his need for reassurance, while Lu Mi’s apology and actions demonstrate care beneath his usual coldness.
• Happiness amid altered identities and memories: Lu Mi’s wish that Yu Tu can still have a happy childhood, despite his overwritten memories, gives the playful scene an underlying emotional poignancy.
• Performance versus genuine feeling: The game requires visible affection, but Lu Mi and Ming Qiuxue must fake it. The system distinguishes between empty gestures and convincing emotional expression, making their performance central to the mission.
• Humor through role reversal: Powerful, intimidating wardens are reduced to embarrassing “daddies” and a “baby,” creating comic contrast and exposing their vulnerabilities.
• Community and shared survival: Despite their rivalries, the wardens cooperate to complete the mission, gain access to food production, and improve conditions for everyone.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu Mi and Yu Tu reconcile after an emotionally charged argument, with Lu Mi apologizing and Yu Tu openly affirming his affection.
• Lu Mi and Ming Qiuxue exchange hostile looks and sarcastic remarks, yet cooperate when the mission requires it.
• Yu Tu enthusiastically supports Lu Mi, unaware—or unconcerned—that he is encouraging him to perform an embarrassing affectionate act toward Ming Qiuxue.
• Cang Qi mediates the group’s participation and provides the solution that allows Lu Mi and Ming Qiuxue to pass the final check-in.
• The prison officers tease and cheer on Lu Mi, enjoying his discomfort while also celebrating the successful completion of the mission.