Ch. 201Boyfriend, Was That the Default? (cont.)

Chapter 201 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lu Ming learns that Lu Annuan will eventually move to the capital and plans to follow her to protect her, honoring his late Aunt Lu’s request that he look after her.
  • Ran Yanyue decides to apply to a university in the capital as well. When Lu Ming asks what influenced her decision, she answers simply, “You,” implying that she intends to remain by his side.
  • Ran Yanyue frames her decision as the responsibility of a deskmate and disciplinary committee member, since she fears Lu Ming could eventually become a criminal or the “great demon king” responsible for destroying the world.
  • Lu Ming accepts her support, hoping that having Ran Yanyue near him will help alter the disastrous future he remembers.
  • Ran Yanyue then questions Lu Ming about attending Ji Mengran’s concert, hinting at possible jealousy or concern about his interest in other girls.
  • After school, Lu Ming accompanies Tang Zhiqing to a supermarket near her home. They buy food before attempting to locate an Evil Beast, since eating properly improves their magical efficiency.
  • Lu Ming uses his Evil Beast-related abilities to identify spoiled vegetables. Their comfortable, domestic behavior causes bystanders and the cashier to mistake them for a couple.
  • Lu Ming is initially annoyed by the misunderstanding, but becomes secretly pleased when Tang Zhiqing does not correct the cashier’s assumption that they are together. He is especially happy when she lets him carry her groceries.
  • After eating at Tang Zhiqing’s home, they begin their magical operation. Tang Zhiqing draws on Lu Ming’s immense magical power and expands her sensory range in search of the “fat guy” Evil Beast.
  • Her detection range surpasses its former limit of five thousand meters, suggesting that both her magic and her connection to Lu Ming have grown stronger.

Character Developments

  • Lu Ming: Shows increasing determination to change his doomed future and protect Lu Annuan. He also becomes more aware of his emotional attachment to Tang Zhiqing, reacting with disappointment and jealousy when their relationship is treated as merely platonic.
  • Ran Yanyue: Makes a major commitment by planning to attend university in the capital with Lu Ming. Her blunt declaration that she chose the capital because of him reveals strong concern and possibly romantic feelings, though she disguises it as duty.
  • Tang Zhiqing: Demonstrates growing trust and closeness with Lu Ming. She is comfortable sharing ordinary domestic activities with him and using his magic directly. Her ability to draw out more of his power reflects their increasing magical and emotional compatibility.

Significant Themes

  • Changing fate: Lu Ming believes the future is beginning to shift as Ran Yanyue commits to staying near him, potentially preventing his transformation into a world-destroying villain.
  • Responsibility and protection: Several relationships are defined by promises to watch over or guide Lu Ming and Lu Annuan.
  • Unspoken romance: Both Ran Yanyue and Tang Zhiqing express closeness indirectly—Ran Yanyue through her decision to follow Lu Ming, and Tang Zhiqing through domestic familiarity and acceptance of others’ assumptions.
  • Trust and magical connection: Lu Ming’s enormous power can be accessed because of his deep trust in Tang Zhiqing, and their growing emotional bond appears to strengthen her abilities.
  • Everyday normality amid supernatural danger: Shopping for vegetables, eating dinner, and walking home contrast with the characters’ dangerous mission to hunt Evil Beasts.

Character Interactions

  • Lu Ming and Ran Yanyue: Discuss their future plans, with Ran Yanyue openly tying her university decision to Lu Ming. She also questions him about Ji Mengran’s concert in a manner that suggests jealousy.
  • Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing: Act like a comfortable couple while shopping, teasing one another and sharing household responsibilities. Lu Ming notices his own growing romantic feelings when Tang Zhiqing does not deny their apparent relationship.
  • Tang Zhiqing and Lu Ming during the mission: They perform their familiar magic-transfer ritual, with Tang Zhiqing holding Lu Ming’s hand and drawing on his power. Their trust enables her to extend her magical sensing abilities beyond their previous limits.

Ch. 202Tang Zhiqing

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Tang Zhiqing realizes that Lu Ming’s magic power has dramatically amplified her abilities—more than five times stronger than before.
  • While searching for the Code-named Evil Beast “Fatty,” she expands her sensing range to over 21,000 meters and successfully locates it hiding in a hotel.
  • Fatty, accustomed to overwhelming local Magical Girls, is shocked when Tang attacks from roughly 20,000 meters away. Her magic arrows severely damage it and prevent it from escaping.
  • Fatty survives the initial barrage by shrinking and conserving magic power, intending to consume a human and recover.
  • It encounters Ji Mengran, secretly the powerful Evil Beast known as the Witch. Mistaking her for an ordinary girl, Fatty attempts to eat her.
  • The Witch effortlessly pierces Fatty’s defensive barrier, restrains it, and mocks its weakness. When Fatty tries to self-destruct, she suppresses the explosion and crushes it completely.
  • Ji Mengran reveals that she deliberately lured an “interesting guy”—apparently Lu Ming—to her upcoming concert and is intrigued that someone has “stolen” him from the Empress’s attention.
  • After Fatty’s destruction, Tang detransforms on a balcony. She believes another Magical Girl may have finished the Evil Beast because she lost track of it during the attack.
  • Tang becomes physically exhausted from using so much of her own and Lu Ming’s magic power. Lu Ming catches her when her legs weaken and carries her to bed.
  • After resting, Tang recovers physically but remains out of magic power. Watching Lu Ming worry sincerely about her causes her heart to race, though she wonders whether it is merely a side effect of magic power.

Character Developments

  • Tang Zhiqing: Demonstrates a major increase in power and combat range through Lu Ming’s assistance. Despite her preference for maintaining a normal identity as Student Council president, she accepts the necessity of borrowing his power. Her vulnerability after the battle also exposes her growing emotional sensitivity toward him.
  • Lu Ming: Shows concern for Tang’s health rather than focusing on their intimate circumstances. He supports her during her exhaustion and carries her to bed, reinforcing his dependable and morally restrained nature.
  • Ji Mengran / the Witch: Her immense strength and cruelty are emphasized. She treats a dangerous Code-named Evil Beast as insignificant, kills it without effort, and reveals that she has been manipulating events around Lu Ming for her own entertainment and purposes.
  • Evil Beast “Fatty”: Its arrogance collapses into panic once it encounters Tang’s long-range attack and, especially, the Witch. Its death highlights the gap between ordinary Code-named Evil Beasts and the Witch’s power.

Significant Themes

  • Power amplification and its cost: Lu Ming’s magic greatly enhances Tang’s attacks, but using it places considerable strain on her body and depletes both of their magical reserves.
  • Hidden identities and secrecy: Tang wants to preserve her ordinary school life despite being a Magical Girl, while Ji Mengran conceals her identity as the Witch behind the image of a beautiful performer.
  • Predator hierarchy: The chapter contrasts local Magical Girls, powerful Code-named Evil Beasts, and the Witch, establishing an extreme hierarchy of supernatural strength.
  • Emotional intimacy: Lu Ming’s genuine concern and physical support deepen the connection between him and Tang, while Tang begins to recognize her own emotional response to him.
  • Manipulation and competing interests: Ji Mengran’s comments suggest that Lu Ming is caught between powerful figures, including the Witch and the Empress, both of whom are interested in him.

Character Interactions

  • Tang and Lu Ming: Tang borrows Lu Ming’s magic to defeat Fatty. Afterward, he catches and carries her, while she notices his sincere worry and reacts with a quickened heartbeat.
  • Fatty and Tang: Fatty initially dismisses the local Magical Girls but is horrified by Tang’s unprecedented long-range magical attacks.
  • Fatty and the Witch: Fatty attempts to attack and later bargain with Ji Mengran, but she humiliates and kills it effortlessly.
  • The Witch and Lu Ming: Though Lu Ming is not present during their direct encounter, Ji Mengran’s remarks show that she has deliberately influenced his movements and views him as an entertaining, valuable person connected to the Empress.

Ch. 203Ji Mengran: Hello, Lu Ming

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • After defeating another code-named Evil Beast, Lu Ming visits Tang Zhiqing while she rests at home.
  • Lu Ming takes the initiative and kisses Tang Zhiqing passionately. Their affection becomes increasingly intense, but he stops before taking the relationship further.
  • Lu Ming openly admits that he has feelings for Tang Zhiqing, though he clarifies that he wants the independent, decisive version of her rather than someone whose emotions might be altered by magic.
  • Tang Zhiqing explains that the magic’s side effect does not create false emotions; instead, it draws out feelings that already exist. She realizes that her affection for Lu Ming is even stronger than she had believed.
  • Lu Ming leaves before the situation becomes more intimate. Tang Zhiqing watches him go, quietly acknowledging that she would also have struggled to restrain herself if he had stayed.
  • The next day at school, Lu Ming worries that he has not received any new abilities from the Evil Beast’s defeat. He suspects the system may have failed to credit him because he did not deliver the final blow.
  • Ran Yanyue notices Lu Ming’s fatigue and unexpectedly offers him her arm as a pillow during study period. They secretly hold hands beneath the desk, and Ran Yanyue gradually returns his affection.
  • After Lu Ming wakes, Li Deng invites him to attend a concert, revealing that he acquired tickets during the recent Evil Beast-related disruptions.

Character Developments

  • Lu Ming: Becomes more direct about his feelings and takes the initiative with Tang Zhiqing, but ultimately restrains himself because he values her genuine independence and does not want their relationship influenced by magical effects. His attraction to both Tang Zhiqing and Ran Yanyue remains obvious, though he presents his behavior humorously.
  • Tang Zhiqing: Shows strong romantic feelings toward Lu Ming and becomes emotionally vulnerable around him. She recognizes that her affection is authentic and may have existed more deeply than she previously understood.
  • Ran Yanyue: Displays a softer, more caring side. Although outwardly calm and strict, she comforts Lu Ming, allows him to hold her arm and hand, and subtly tightens her grip after he falls asleep, suggesting growing affection.
  • Li Deng: Remains enthusiastic about the upcoming concert but tries to deny being an idol fan.

Significant Themes

  • Authenticity versus magical influence: The chapter questions whether Tang Zhiqing’s feelings are genuinely hers, ultimately suggesting that magic reveals rather than fabricates emotions.
  • Romantic restraint and responsibility: Lu Ming’s desire conflicts with his wish to preserve Tang Zhiqing’s autonomy, emphasizing the importance of consent and emotional clarity.
  • Hidden tenderness: Ran Yanyue’s quiet gestures reveal affection beneath her usual cold and disciplined exterior.
  • Comedy amid danger: Romantic tension, school life, and Lu Ming’s exaggerated inner thoughts contrast with the ongoing threat of Evil Beasts.

Character Interactions

  • Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing: Share an intense kiss and discuss the nature of their feelings. Their relationship grows more emotionally intimate, though neither openly labels it as a romantic confession.
  • Lu Ming and Ran Yanyue: Exchange playful, understated affection through her offer of physical comfort and their secret handholding during class.
  • Lu Ming and Li Deng: Discuss the concert, with Li Deng attempting unsuccessfully to conceal his excitement.
  • Tang Zhiqing and Lu Ming: Their farewell carries mutual romantic tension, with Tang privately admitting that she would have been unable to resist him if he had remained longer.

Ch. 204Witch (187 Under Review Again)

Chapter 204 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Li Deng warns Lu Ming not to imagine that Ji Mengran, a nationally famous idol, would be interested in an ordinary high school student. Lu Ming replies that he is not interested in idols, privately comparing her unfavorably to his beloved “Lu Annuan.”
  • After school, Lu Ming and his friends encounter Tang Zhiqing. She reminds Lu Ming to be careful, showing clear concern and favoritism toward him. Lu Ming deliberately avoids looking at her body because of their intimate encounter the previous day.
  • Tang Zhiqing then speaks with Ran Yanyue about the recent battle against an Evil Beast. Ran asks whether the creature was especially powerful, and Tang confirms that it was, casually mentioning that she was bitten several times—while omitting the more embarrassing details of the fight.
  • Lu Ming and his friends attend Ji Mengran’s concert at Haiying Gymnasium. The venue is packed with devoted fans, including several students from International Middle School, whom Lu Ming previously embarrassed.
  • The International Middle School students explain that Ji Mengran is admired not only for her beauty but also for her mature stage presence, excellent songs, fair treatment of fans, and refusal to exploit them commercially. Lu Ming becomes impressed by her reputation, though he still considers Lu Annuan superior.
  • During the concert, Ji Mengran performs flawlessly. Her singing, appearance, stamina, and confident style leave the audience—including Lu Ming—deeply impressed.
  • At the end of the concert, Ji Mengran announces that she will randomly select one audience member to have dinner and interact with her privately.
  • The selected seat is H36—Lu Ming’s seat. Ji Mengran immediately recognizes him and addresses him by name, shocking Lu Ming and everyone around him.
  • Li Deng reacts with envy and regret, lamenting that he could have been selected if they had not switched seats. The International Middle School students interpret Lu Ming’s extraordinary luck as further proof of his intimidating “natural suppression” over their school.
  • Ji Mengran begins introducing the concert’s final song, while the audience excitedly sings along.

Character Developments

  • Lu Ming: Remains outwardly calm and modest but is increasingly drawn into extraordinary situations. He is impressed by Ji Mengran’s talent yet remains emotionally devoted to Lu Annuan. His unexplained connection to Ji Mengran becomes more apparent when she recognizes him personally.
  • Li Deng: Acts as Lu Ming’s skeptical friend and comic foil. His disbelief turns into intense jealousy when Lu Ming is chosen for the private dinner, especially because he had briefly occupied the seat that Lu Ming later took.
  • Tang Zhiqing: Shows obvious concern and special attention toward Lu Ming. Her teasing comments about the Evil Beast battle hint at their growing intimacy and her lingering embarrassment or amusement over what happened.
  • Ran Yanyue: Continues recovering from the previous conflict and demonstrates concern for Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing’s efforts. Her conversation with Tang reveals her awareness of Lu Ming’s exhaustion and recent activities.
  • Ji Mengran: Is established as a highly talented, disciplined, and principled idol rather than merely a beautiful celebrity. Her deliberate selection of Lu Ming suggests she may know more about him than the others realize.

Significant Themes

  • Luck and fate: Lu Ming’s improbable selection reinforces the recurring idea that extraordinary opportunities seem to find him.
  • Public image versus reality: Ji Mengran’s appeal is shown to come from genuine talent, discipline, and respect for fans, not just her appearance.
  • Romantic attention and rivalry: Lu Ming is surrounded by attractive, influential girls, while Li Deng serves as a humorous observer frustrated by Lu Ming’s constant good fortune.
  • Hidden connections: Ji Mengran knowing Lu Ming’s name raises questions about their prior relationship and suggests that the concert encounter may not have been entirely random.
  • Comedic contrast: Lu Ming treats the situation with relative calm, while his friends and neighboring fans react with exaggerated envy and alarm.

Important Character Interactions

  • Li Deng and Lu Ming: Li Deng warns Lu Ming against pursuing Ji Mengran, then becomes jealous when Lu Ming is selected for a private dinner with her.
  • Tang Zhiqing and Lu Ming: Tang openly shows concern for him, while Lu Ming struggles to maintain composure because of their previous physical intimacy.
  • Tang Zhiqing and Ran Yanyue: They discuss the Evil Beast battle and Lu Ming’s exhaustion, revealing their shared concern and different degrees of knowledge about what happened.
  • Lu Ming and the International Middle School students: Despite their fear and resentment toward him, they explain Ji Mengran’s appeal. Their unease grows when Lu Ming is chosen for the special opportunity.
  • Ji Mengran and Lu Ming: Ji Mengran publicly identifies Lu Ming by name and selects him for a private dinner, creating the chapter’s major mystery and cliffhanger.

Ch. 205Everything Is Part of Ji Mengran’s Plan

Chapter 205 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • After Ji Mengran’s concert, Lu Ming is taken backstage to meet her. Her manager initially assumes he is an enthusiastic fan and warns him not to approach Ji Mengran too closely because of her obsessive fanbase.
  • Lu Ming reveals that he is not actually Ji Mengran’s fan; he supports the figure-skating prodigy Lu Annuan instead, who is also his childhood friend. This leaves the manager embarrassed and confused.
  • Ji Mengran invites Lu Ming to show her around Haiyang. Despite her manager’s objections, she disguises herself with sunglasses and a cap and leaves with him.
  • Lu Ming takes Ji Mengran through the old district, where they encounter a film director who tries to recruit her as an actress. Lu Ming jokingly claims that Ji Mengran is his mute younger sister, causing the director to leave.
  • Ji Mengran asks whether Lu Ming has ever seen Haiyang “burn,” hinting at her investigation into the mysterious Divinely Blessed Land and the traces of power recently detected in the city.
  • A rusted railing collapses toward a visiting mother and daughter. Lu Ming saves them instantly. Ji Mengran realizes that he moved during what appeared to be a time stop.
  • Lu Ming denies having supernatural powers and claims he simply runs fast.
  • Intrigued by his apparent Time Stop ability and his connection to Empress, Ji Mengran decides to deliberately make him fall in love with her, believing her beauty makes failure impossible.
  • Lu Ming asks for her autograph—not for himself, but to sell or trade to a classmate in exchange for being called “Dad” for a year. Irritated, Ji Mengran signs his clothes and adds “To Lu Ming,” ensuring the autograph cannot be resold.

Character Developments

  • Lu Ming: Remains straightforward, irreverent, and seemingly indifferent to Ji Mengran’s celebrity status. He demonstrates extraordinary reflexes or supernatural power by moving during a time stop, while continuing to conceal the truth. He also shows a strong instinct to protect innocent people.
  • Ji Mengran: Initially views Lu Ming as an ordinary boy connected to Empress, but becomes increasingly fascinated after witnessing his Time Stop ability. Her curiosity shifts into a competitive desire to seduce him and provoke Empress. Despite her confidence, Lu Ming’s indifference repeatedly frustrates her.
  • Ji Mengran’s manager: Starts suspicious and protective but becomes embarrassed when she learns Lu Ming is not a fan. She remains concerned about Ji Mengran’s safety and public exposure.
  • Empress: Does not appear directly, but her interest in Lu Ming becomes an important mystery. Ji Mengran cannot understand why someone as powerful and selective as Empress would care about him.
  • Lu Annuan: Does not appear, but her close relationship with Lu Ming and his admiration for her are emphasized.

Significant Themes

  • Hidden power beneath ordinary appearances: Lu Ming presents himself as an average student, yet possesses an ability comparable to the legendary power of stopping time.
  • Celebrity image versus personal identity: Ji Mengran is adored as an idol, but Lu Ming treats her casually and refuses to be dazzled by her beauty or status.
  • Curiosity and manipulation: Ji Mengran plans to use her beauty to control Lu Ming, partly to amuse herself and partly to provoke Empress.
  • Supernatural intrigue: References to the Divinely Blessed Land, Evil Beasts, Witches, and Empress expand the chapter’s larger mystery surrounding Lu Ming’s abilities.
  • Comedy through emotional imbalance: Ji Mengran expects instant admiration, while Lu Ming remains practical and unserious, repeatedly undermining her confidence.

Important Character Interactions

  • The manager mistakes Lu Ming for a devoted fan, but his blunt answers expose the misunderstanding.
  • Ji Mengran takes Lu Ming’s hand and personally leads him out, beginning a more intimate and deliberate interaction.
  • Lu Ming protects a mother and daughter while Ji Mengran witnesses his impossible movement, changing her view of him.
  • Ji Mengran attempts to draw closer and charm him, but Lu Ming’s request to sell her autograph frustrates her and reinforces his resistance to her allure.

Ch. 206Everything Is Part of Ji Mengran’s Plan (Continued)

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Ji Mengran asks Lu Ming about his academic performance, expecting him to be an average student. Lu Ming reveals that he recently tied for first place in a major exam—and believes he could have ranked first outright.
  • Their conversation turns to the Empress, whom Ji Mengran clearly dislikes or envies. Lu Ming carefully answers her questions about who is prettier, saying Ji Mengran is more beautiful because she is the one standing in front of him.
  • Ji Mengran becomes increasingly pleased with Lu Ming, especially when he makes mildly critical remarks about the Empress. Her favorable impression of him rises, and she invites him to continue showing her around Haiyang.
  • Lu Ming warns that it is late and that Ji Mengran’s celebrity status could attract trouble. They briefly discuss the recent increase in Evil Beast activity, including the dangerous Code-named Evil Beast Rabbit Bone.
  • They encounter a street boxing stall where participants can win an expensive Givenchy necklace by landing three punches on the stall owner. The stall owner challenges Lu Ming after noticing Ji Mengran’s beauty and hoping to gain publicity.
  • Lu Ming accepts and effortlessly dodges or intercepts the boxer’s attacks, touching him three times without being hit. He jokingly attributes his success to “luck,” while the increasingly frightened stall owner realizes Lu Ming is far more capable than he appears.
  • Lu Ming wins the necklace and leaves with Ji Mengran while the defeated stall owner laments in the background. Ji Mengran compliments Lu Ming’s agility.

Character Developments

  • Lu Ming: Reveals that he is academically gifted despite presenting himself as merely average. He also demonstrates exceptional physical ability, reflexes, and confidence, though he deliberately hides the extent of his strength behind humor and false modesty.
  • Ji Mengran: Becomes more entertained and favorably disposed toward Lu Ming. Her initial intention to pity or tease him shifts into genuine amusement and interest. She is especially pleased by his refusal to praise the Empress over her.
  • Boxing stall owner: Begins as a confident opportunist hoping to exploit Ji Mengran’s appearance for publicity. After facing Lu Ming, he becomes confused, intimidated, and increasingly desperate to protect his reputation and prize.
  • The Empress and Rabbit Bone: Neither appears directly, but both are established as powerful figures. The Empress is a source of rivalry and resentment for Ji Mengran, while Rabbit Bone is identified as the only Evil Beast in Haiyang who might genuinely pose a challenge.

Significant Themes

  • Hidden ability beneath an ordinary exterior: Lu Ming repeatedly pretends to be average while revealing exceptional academic and physical talent.
  • Humor through misunderstanding and understatement: Lu Ming’s claims of “luck” contrast sharply with the boxer’s obvious realization that he has been completely outclassed.
  • Beauty, fame, and exploitation: The stall owner views Ji Mengran primarily as a means to gain online popularity, highlighting the opportunistic attention surrounding celebrities.
  • Rivalry and comparison: Ji Mengran constantly compares herself with the Empress, while Lu Ming carefully navigates the rivalry without openly offending either side.
  • Power concealed in everyday life: The supernatural conflict involving Magical Girls and Evil Beasts exists alongside ordinary city entertainment, such as exams, street stalls, and casual sightseeing.

Character Interactions

  • Ji Mengran repeatedly tests Lu Ming with questions about his grades, the Empress, and physical attractiveness. Lu Ming responds with teasing but tactful answers that amuse her.
  • Lu Ming treats Ji Mengran casually rather than reverently, which distinguishes him from the people who are stunned by her beauty and celebrity.
  • The boxing stall owner attempts to use Lu Ming and Ji Mengran for publicity, but Lu Ming turns the situation around by humiliating him effortlessly.
  • Ji Mengran observes Lu Ming’s abilities with amusement and approval, ending the chapter by acknowledging his remarkable nimbleness.

Ch. 207Remember to Tell Lu Ming to Put on a Raincoat

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Ji Mengran and Lu Ming rest together after Lu Ming defeats a stall owner in combat. Ji Mengran recognizes that Lu Ming is exceptionally strong, even compared with experienced fighters.
  • Lu Ming reveals that the Givenchy necklace he intended to give Ji Mengran is counterfeit. Ji Mengran argues that something should not be dismissed merely because it is labeled fake if it looks beautiful and is personally valued.
  • Lu Ming comforts her by comparing the necklace to his beloved childhood bootleg Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, explaining that personal attachment matters more to him than authenticity. His words deeply affect Ji Mengran, who secretly identifies with the idea of being a “fake” or rejected Magical Girl.
  • Ji Mengran accepts the necklace, saves her phone number in Lu Ming’s contacts, and deliberately establishes an excuse to keep contacting him. She plans to turn him into a devoted fan while insisting to herself that she has no romantic feelings.
  • After leaving, Ji Mengran effortlessly destroys an Evil Beast from a distance, joking that even a “bootleg Magical Girl” should contribute. Her manager notices the necklace but assumes it is simply jewelry someone gave her.
  • The next morning, Ji Mengran sends Lu Ming several casual text messages, showing that she intends to maintain their connection. Lu Ming is embarrassed by how much she communicates with him and remains suspicious of her motives.
  • Lu Ming takes time off school to attend Lu Annuan’s important provincial skating competition. He visits her backstage before the event.
  • Lu Annuan asks what reward she will receive if she wins. Lu Ming suggests practical or financially generous gifts, but she rejects them, clearly hoping for something more personal.
  • Lu Ming eventually proposes that they kiss. After some hesitation, he boldly suggests kissing once every day. Lu Annuan does not answer directly, but before leaving for the competition she warns him not to break his promise, implying that she accepts the arrangement.

Character Developments

  • Ji Mengran: Becomes increasingly interested in Lu Ming. Although she claims to view him only as an amusing target for manipulation, his acceptance of “fake” things gives her emotional hope that even a Witch might be accepted by someone. She begins actively cultivating a relationship with him.
  • Lu Ming: Remains wary of Ji Mengran’s attention and does not want to be manipulated, yet he responds sincerely to her insecurity. His interactions with Lu Annuan also reveal growing romantic curiosity and a willingness to test the boundaries of their childhood-friend relationship.
  • Lu Annuan: Shows clear romantic feelings for Lu Ming. Her dissatisfaction with his practical rewards suggests she wants affection rather than material gifts. Her embarrassed warning confirms that she takes his promise of regular kisses seriously.
  • The manager: Continues to worry about Ji Mengran’s safety, unaware of her supernatural strength and her hidden identity.

Significant Themes

  • Authenticity versus personal value: The counterfeit necklace and bootleg cards establish that emotional meaning can matter more than official status or objective authenticity.
  • Acceptance and identity: Ji Mengran’s thoughts connect Lu Ming’s words to her own status as a Witch, someone viewed as an imitation or corrupted version of a Magical Girl. His acceptance briefly makes her wonder whether she too could be loved.
  • Manipulation versus genuine affection: Ji Mengran claims to be pursuing Lu Ming only to make him a fan, but her emotional reaction suggests her interest may be becoming more sincere.
  • Romantic misunderstanding and indirect communication: Both Lu Ming and Lu Annuan struggle to express what they actually want, leading them to hide romantic intentions behind jokes, practical offers, and teasing.
  • The contrast between ordinary life and supernatural danger: Texting, school competitions, jewelry, and kissing coexist with Ji Mengran’s effortless destruction of Evil Beasts.

Character Interactions

  • Ji Mengran and Lu Ming bond over the meaning of counterfeit objects, creating an unexpectedly intimate emotional moment.
  • Ji Mengran deliberately secures Lu Ming’s contact information and begins texting him, while Lu Ming reacts with embarrassment and suspicion.
  • Lu Ming and Lu Annuan exchange playful insults and flirtatious remarks backstage. Lu Annuan repeatedly rejects material rewards because she wants a more affectionate gesture.
  • Their conversation culminates in a tentative agreement to kiss regularly, marking a significant escalation in their relationship.

Ch. 208A Childhood Friend’s Confession

Chapter 208 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lu Ming watches Lu Annuan prepare for the final figure-skating performance and realizes he is unusually nervous and attracted to her.
  • Spectators doubt Lu Annuan because of her inconsistent recent performance, but she enters an exceptional “Zone,” performing with extraordinary focus.
  • She lands difficult moves, including a triple-triple jump and a quadruple toe loop, astonishing the audience and intimidating the other competitors.
  • Afterward, Lu Annuan winks at Lu Ming and silently reminds him not to renege on their bet.
  • Coach Jiang praises Lu Annuan’s performance and jokingly—or somewhat seriously—questions whether she and Lu Ming have become physically intimate because they live next door to each other.
  • Lu Annuan panics and insists they have not reached that stage, though she admits Lu Ming cares deeply about her. Coach Jiang advises her to avoid pregnancy during her athletic career and to practice safe sex.
  • Lu Annuan later meets Lu Ming, and they go to her school cafeteria for a meal. Lu Ming notices a powerful Evil Beast hiding somewhere on campus but does not investigate further.
  • While eating, Lu Annuan suggests pooling their money into a fixed bank deposit for university. She proposes placing the savings in Lu Ming’s account, treating their finances—and their future—as shared.

Character Developments

  • Lu Annuan regains her peak athletic form and demonstrates that her recent inconsistency does not reflect her true ability.
  • Her feelings for Lu Ming become increasingly obvious. She is embarrassed by romantic and sexual implications but is also comfortable imagining a shared future with him.
  • Lu Ming becomes more aware of Lu Annuan’s charm and his own growing attraction to her. He remains oblivious to how seriously she views their relationship, while joking about money and domestic roles.
  • Coach Jiang shifts from strict coach to protective, almost parental adviser. She trusts Lu Ming but worries about Lu Annuan’s career and future.
  • Lu Annuan shows increasing financial maturity by thinking about saving money for university and managing their resources together.

Significant Themes

  • Romantic tension and mutual affection: Lu Ming and Lu Annuan are close, but both remain awkward and indirect about their feelings.
  • Athletic excellence and confidence: Lu Annuan’s performance illustrates how focus and emotional motivation can bring out her best abilities.
  • Growing up and future planning: Their conversation about savings, university, and shared finances suggests a transition from childhood friendship toward adult partnership.
  • Comedy through misunderstanding: Coach Jiang interprets their closeness as sexual intimacy, while Lu Annuan’s embarrassment reveals that she is thinking about the possibility more than she wants to admit.
  • Balancing romance and ambition: Lu Annuan must maintain her figure-skating career while navigating her developing relationship with Lu Ming.

Character Interactions

  • Lu Ming watches and supports Lu Annuan during her competition, providing emotional motivation even without directly assisting her.
  • Coach Jiang praises Lu Annuan, teases her about Lu Ming, and gives her serious advice about relationships, contraception, and her career.
  • Lu Annuan and Lu Ming eat together after the competition, teasing one another about their schools and cafeterias.
  • Lu Annuan offers to pay for their meal and suggests combining their savings, reinforcing how naturally she views Lu Ming as part of her future.

Ch. 209We’re Kissing, and Mom Lu Is Calling

Chapter Summary

  • During breakfast, Lu Ming tells Lu Annuan that an Evil Beast called Watcher from Rabbit Bone has infiltrated her school. It displaced the statue of the school’s deceased principal and disguised itself as a statue on the athletic field.
  • Watcher is known for remaining disguised for years and attacking only when at least three thousand people gather nearby. Since the school currently has only about 2,500 students, it may never reach its preferred target count. Lu Ming and Lu Annuan initially decide not to confront it directly because it is extremely durable while disguised.
  • Lu Ming considers using the Golden Orb, part of the Sage’s inheritance, as bait to lure Watcher into revealing itself. He also briefly considers using Mingming, though Ran Yanyue closely monitors him.
  • Several girls approach Lu Ming in the cafeteria, excited because of his reputation for defeating their school. They flirt with him and ask whether he has a girlfriend. Lu Ming says that he does, indirectly confirming Lu Annuan as his girlfriend.
  • Lu Annuan becomes visibly embarrassed and pleased. She brings Lu Ming another chicken drumstick, continuing her oddly serious habit of describing food as “nice-looking.” Their playful exchange reveals their comfortable, affectionate relationship.
  • Lu Annuan recalls how Lu Ming suffered from a severe fever as a child. She stayed beside him for an entire week and sang to him while he was unconscious. Lu Ming remembers the experience as feverish dreams filled with fire, ruins, and monsters, but also remembers hearing her singing.
  • Lu Annuan says that Lu Ming is the most important boy in her life and asks him to sing for her if she ever becomes seriously ill. Lu Ming promises that he will, even if she no longer recognizes him. His response reflects his deep love and willingness to protect her at any cost.
  • That evening, Lu Ming and Lu Annuan return to International Middle School to deal with Watcher. Lu Ming brings the Golden Orb as potential bait. Since the school is closed, Lu Annuan attempts to persuade the security guard to let them inside by claiming she left her socks in the lounge. The chapter ends when the guard notices that Lu Ming is an outsider.

Character Development and Interactions

  • Lu Ming becomes more openly protective and emotionally attached to Lu Annuan. Though he tries to hide his feelings, her affectionate words cause him to blush, and he privately acknowledges that he loves her.
  • Lu Annuan shows her playful, sincere, and increasingly romantic feelings toward Lu Ming. Her embarrassment after he claims to have a girlfriend suggests that she is happy to be viewed as his partner, even if she avoids directly acknowledging it.
  • Their childhood bond develops into a more clearly romantic relationship, blending teasing, shared memories, mutual care, and implicit confession.
  • Lu Ming and Lu Annuan also function as a supernatural team, planning how to expose and defeat Watcher.

Significant Themes

  • Childhood friendship becoming romance: Their long history makes genuine romantic feelings difficult to distinguish from ordinary childhood affection, but their emotional intimacy is unmistakable.
  • Memory and devotion: Lu Annuan’s care during Lu Ming’s childhood illness becomes a foundational memory and symbol of their lasting bond.
  • Protection and sacrifice: Lu Ming’s promise to stay beside her—even if she forgets him—foreshadows his willingness to go to extreme lengths for her.
  • Disguise and deception: Watcher’s disguise parallels the emotional disguises between Lu Ming and Lu Annuan, who hide romantic feelings behind the familiar label of “childhood sweethearts.”
  • Everyday life alongside supernatural danger: Cafeteria jokes, flirting, and family-like affection occur alongside the threat of a powerful Evil Beast hidden within the school.

Ch. 210We’re Kissing, and Mom Lu Is Calling (Continued)

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lu Ming and Lu Annuan visit their school at night, where security guard Aunt Rong allows them inside for only five minutes.
  • Lu Ming identifies the principal’s statue as the Evil Beast known as Watcher. The statue appears ordinary but reacts when Lu Ming squeezes its foot.
  • Lu Annuan transforms into Magical Girl Polaris and charges a powerful magic cannon while Lu Ming lures Watcher out with the Golden Orb, which contains a strong life aura.
  • Watcher abandons its durable statue form and attacks Lu Ming, expecting him to be an ordinary human. However, Polaris’s attack is vastly more powerful than anticipated, destroying over half of Watcher’s body.
  • When Watcher tries to swallow Lu Ming and the Golden Orb, Lu Ming defeats it with a punch and finishes it with a kick.
  • Lu Ming absorbs a trace of magical power from the defeated Evil Beast, suggesting he may gain another magical ability.
  • The pair leave the school before Aunt Rong’s five-minute deadline. Pleased by their punctuality, Aunt Rong gives Lu Ming bread as a midnight snack.
  • Lu Ming returns home eager to discover the magical item or ability gained from eliminating Watcher, following his previous acquisition of Time Stop.

Character Developments

  • Lu Ming demonstrates increasing physical strength and combat confidence. He cleverly deduces Watcher’s weakness and personally delivers the finishing blows.
  • Lu Annuan/Polaris reveals that her magical power has unexpectedly multiplied to an extraordinary level. Although initially startled by the increase, she successfully annihilates most of Watcher with one attack.
  • Watcher is characterized as cautious but gluttonous. Its hunger for the Golden Orb overrides its survival instincts, causing it to underestimate both Lu Ming and Polaris.
  • Aunt Rong is established as strict but kind. Her intimidating rules conceal genuine concern, and her gift of bread shows approval of Lu Ming’s reliability.

Significant Themes

  • Underestimation and hidden power: Watcher assumes Lu Ming is helpless and Polaris is merely a weak “country” Magical Girl, only to discover that both possess far greater power than expected.
  • Teamwork and coordination: Lu Ming’s bait and positioning work together with Polaris’s overwhelming ranged attack.
  • Comedy amid danger: Romantic misunderstandings, exaggerated comparisons, and Aunt Rong’s strict five-minute rule contrast with the deadly battle.
  • Growing supernatural abilities: Lu Ming and Lu Annuan’s powers continue to evolve, suggesting a larger mystery surrounding their increasing strength.
  • Trust and companionship: Their childhood relationship is reflected in their teasing, shared memories, and easy cooperation during the fight.

Character Interactions

  • Lu Annuan introduces Lu Ming to Aunt Rong as a “good friend,” while their playful banter hints at romantic closeness.
  • Lu Ming and Lu Annuan joke about childhood memories, food, and their supposed future of always eating together.
  • The two coordinate their attack closely, with Lu Ming directing Polaris’s position and using the Golden Orb to provoke Watcher.
  • Aunt Rong treats Lu Ming suspiciously at first but rewards his obedience, creating a humorous contrast between her intimidating demeanor and her kindness.

Ch. 211An Incredibly Awesome New Ability

Chapter Summary

  • After Lu Annuan finishes showering, she sits beside Lu Ming on the sofa and proudly tells him that she won first place in a provincial competition. Her obvious enthusiasm suggests she is reminding him of their earlier agreement: if she won, they could touch lips.
  • Lu Ming realizes that Annuan is deliberately hinting at the promised kiss. Although he tries to act indifferent, he is eager to fulfill the bet and regrets not negotiating for something more intimate.
  • Annuan worries that Lu Ming has forgotten their agreement. When he finally suggests they “touch lips,” she becomes delighted, closes her eyes, and eagerly leans toward him. Lu Ming puts an arm around her waist and prepares to kiss her.
  • Their moment is interrupted by a video call from Lu Ming’s mother, Hou Caiyi. Both Lu Ming and Annuan are visibly flushed, prompting his mother to question what they had been doing.
  • Lu Ming awkwardly avoids answering and arranges the phone while Annuan explains that she won the provincial championship. She behaves modestly in front of Hou Caiyi, despite having bragged enthusiastically to Lu Ming earlier.
  • Hou Caiyi observes how close the two childhood friends have become after years of barely speaking. She is pleased and clearly views Annuan as a future daughter-in-law, attributing their renewed closeness to the deep bond of childhood sweethearts.
  • Hou Caiyi sends Lu Ming away so she can speak privately with Annuan. She reassures Annuan that she considers her family and promises to punish Lu Ming if he mistreats her.
  • When asked about her feelings, Annuan shyly but firmly admits that she likes Lu Ming and is interested only in him. She asks Hou Caiyi not to press her for details, but confirms that her feelings are romantic.
  • Hou Caiyi enthusiastically supports the relationship and asks how far the two have progressed. Annuan innocently reveals that they were about to kiss before the call interrupted them.

Character Development and Interactions

  • Lu Ming remains outwardly tsundere and sarcastic but is increasingly attracted to and emotionally invested in Annuan. His embarrassment and eagerness reveal that he is no longer indifferent to her.
  • Lu Annuan becomes more openly affectionate and proactive. She uses her competition victory to claim the promised kiss and openly acknowledges her feelings to Hou Caiyi, though she remains shy around Lu Ming.
  • Hou Caiyi is controlling and teasing toward her son but warm and protective toward Annuan. Her approval strengthens the romantic relationship between the two.

Significant Themes

  • The chapter emphasizes the contrast between outward embarrassment and genuine romantic desire.
  • It develops the childhood-sweethearts theme, suggesting that Lu Ming and Annuan’s old bond has survived their years of distance.
  • Family approval becomes important, with Hou Caiyi treating Annuan as part of the Lu family and tacitly endorsing their relationship.
  • Humor comes from interrupted intimacy, Lu Ming’s evasive behavior, and the difference between Annuan’s boastful private personality and her modest public demeanor.

Ch. 212What Shoe Size Do They Wear?

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Ms. Hou Caiyi accidentally calls Lu Ming while he and Lu Annuan are kissing, realizing that their relationship has become much closer. She suspects Lu Ming’s father may have helped him improve his romantic skills.
  • Lu Annuan speaks with Lu Ming’s mother about his favorite foods and proudly claims she can cook all of them. Afterward, Lu Ming and Lu Annuan share a brief, affectionate kiss.
  • Lu Ming prioritizes Lu Annuan’s sleep and figure-skating routine over prolonging their intimacy. Touched by his consideration, she kisses him again and tells him that, among all the choices in the world, she chooses him and wants him to choose her in return.
  • The next morning, Lu Ming obtains a new magical tool from the defeated “Warden,” who had been disguised as the principal of Haiyang No. 2 Middle School. The tool, the Weather Globe, allows him to change the weather once per day.
  • When Lu Annuan casually wishes for rain to relieve the summer heat, Lu Ming secretly uses the tool. A large rain system forms over Haiyang City, despite the forecast predicting clear and hot weather.
  • The sudden rainfall alarms the Code-named Evil Beasts in the city. They suspect a powerful magical being has directly manipulated the weather and conclude that Haiyang is an unusually dangerous place.
  • Ji Mengran traces the magical source of the rain and identifies Lu Ming. She becomes more interested in him and even less willing to hand him over to the Empress. She also notices Lu Annuan beside him and begins questioning who she is.
  • At school, Lu Ming encounters Zeng Yi and Ye Xun in the rain. He teases Zeng Yi about her appearance and makes inappropriate observations about both girls, while Ye Xun attempts to smooth over the interaction.

Character Developments

  • Lu Ming becomes increasingly affectionate and considerate toward Lu Annuan. Although he enjoys their romantic progress, he deliberately restrains himself to protect her health and figure-skating schedule. His new Weather Globe also greatly expands his magical capabilities.
  • Lu Annuan grows more confident and direct in expressing her feelings. Her declaration that she chooses only Lu Ming shows her emotional commitment, while her playful farewell kiss reveals her increasing comfort with romance.
  • Ms. Hou Caiyi recognizes how rapidly Lu Ming and Lu Annuan’s relationship is developing and humorously attributes his romantic improvement to possible guidance from his father.
  • Ji Mengran becomes intrigued by Lu Ming’s unexplained power. Her attitude shifts from simply monitoring him to actively wanting to keep him away from the Empress, while she also becomes suspicious of Lu Annuan.
  • Zeng Yi remains defensive and wary around Lu Ming, especially about his habit of staring and teasing. Ye Xun acts as a calmer, more diplomatic presence between them.

Significant Themes

  • Romantic choice and commitment: Lu Annuan’s statement about choosing Lu Ming emphasizes love as a deliberate decision amid countless possibilities.
  • Care versus desire: Lu Ming demonstrates that genuine affection involves restraint and concern for the other person’s well-being, not merely pursuing personal wants.
  • Growing supernatural danger: The Weather Globe reveals that Lu Ming’s powers are becoming increasingly formidable, attracting the attention and fear of powerful magical beings.
  • Ordinary life amid extraordinary events: Romance, school, breakfast, and commuting continue alongside magical battles and city-wide weather manipulation, blending comedy with escalating fantasy stakes.
  • Misunderstanding and secrecy: Lu Annuan believes Lu Ming caused the rain through intelligence or luck, while he hides the truth about his magical ability.

Character Interactions

  • Lu Ming and Lu Annuan share affectionate, playful exchanges that deepen their romantic relationship.
  • Lu Annuan speaks warmly with Lu Ming’s mother, strengthening the connection between the two families.
  • Ji Mengran observes Lu Ming remotely and becomes curious about his relationship with Lu Annuan.
  • Lu Ming teases Zeng Yi at school, prompting her to become defensive, while Ye Xun tries to reassure him and ease the tension.

Ch. 213Dating Two Beautiful Girlfriends

Chapter 213 Summary

Plot Points and Events

  • After a violent summer rainstorm, Lu Ming returns to school with Ye Xun and Zeng Yi. He jokingly claims responsibility for making it rain, impressing Ye Xun but irritating Zeng Yi.
  • At the Student Council room, Lu Ming finds President Tang Zhiqing soaked from helping move supplies during the storm. He offers to help dry her clothes and begins wiping her damp collar.
  • Their interaction becomes increasingly flirtatious, with Lu Ming privately admiring Tang Zhiqing and attempting to offer more intimate help. Before anything can happen, Ran Yanyue unexpectedly enters and interrupts them.
  • To reward the Student Council members for their hard work, Ran suggests that she, Lu Ming, and Tang Zhiqing visit an amusement park together. Both Tang and Lu agree.
  • Lu Ming confidently predicts that the next day will be sunny despite the uncertain forecast. The prediction comes true, and the chapter shifts to their outing at Haiyang Glory Amusement Park.
  • At the amusement park entrance, Lu Ming waits for the girls while joking with Li Deng in a group chat. He boasts that he is spending the day with two beautiful girls, outdoing Li Deng’s arcade-related bragging.
  • Tang Zhiqing arrives dressed casually in jeans, a white shirt, and a baseball cap, drawing attention from everyone around her. Lu Ming gives her a chilled ramune soda, which she drinks from after realizing he had already been drinking from it.

Character Developments

  • Lu Ming continues to behave confidently and flirtatiously around Tang Zhiqing, while maintaining a humorous, self-aware inner monologue. He also demonstrates his apparent ability to control or predict the weather.
  • Tang Zhiqing shows a softer, more relaxed side outside her Student Council duties. Although she allows Lu Ming’s closeness, she remains composed and quickly avoids a potentially intimate moment when Ran arrives.
  • Ran Yanyue takes the initiative by inviting Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing on an outing. This reflects her growing desire to spend time with Lu outside work, though she feels embarrassed and conflicted because of her mother’s encouragement to pursue him romantically.
  • Ye Xun and Zeng Yi retain their familiar dynamic: Ye Xun admires Lu Ming enthusiastically, while Zeng Yi remains skeptical and sharp-tongued toward his exaggerated claims.
  • Li Deng serves as a comic contrast to Lu Ming, boasting about defeating an arcade champion and unknowingly setting up Lu Ming’s superior boast about his date.

Significant Themes

  • Friendship becoming romance: The amusement-park trip begins as a reward for Student Council work but carries clear romantic undertones, especially because all three characters usually meet only for official duties or battles.
  • Jealousy and romantic competition: Ran’s thoughts reveal that her family views Lu Ming as an ideal partner and wants her to pursue him, suggesting increasing tension among the girls surrounding him.
  • Comedic exaggeration and flirtation: Lu Ming’s grandiose claims, suggestive thoughts, and attempts to disguise romantic behavior as ordinary friendship drive much of the humor.
  • Work and personal relationships: The chapter shifts the trio’s relationship from a purely professional Student Council partnership toward a more personal and intimate friendship.
  • Public admiration and private familiarity: Tang Zhiqing attracts attention from strangers because of her beauty, while Lu Ming interacts with her comfortably and intimately, emphasizing their special closeness.

Character Interactions

  • Lu Ming jokes with Ye Xun and argues playfully with Zeng Yi during the storm.
  • Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing share a flirtatious moment while he helps dry her clothes, with Tang appearing receptive but still maintaining control of the situation.
  • Ran Yanyue interrupts their private interaction and later invites both of them to the amusement park, creating the chapter’s central three-person outing.
  • Lu Ming and Ran exchange playful confidence and trust when he promises the weather will clear.
  • At the amusement park, Lu Ming indulges Tang by buying her a drink, while Tang’s willingness to drink from the same bottle subtly suggests growing comfort and intimacy between them.

Ch. 214Dating Two Beautiful Girlfriends (Continued)

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing visit an amusement park together. When several boys begin eyeing Tang Zhiqing, Lu Ming takes her hand under the pretense of preventing them from getting separated.
  • Ran Yanyue arrives late in a Bentley, drawing everyone’s attention. She joins Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing, creating the appearance of an unusual outing involving two beautiful Student Council figures and Lu Ming.
  • At the ticket booth, Lu Ming jokingly calls Ran Yanyue a “veteran” to obtain a discount. She steps on his foot and calmly corrects him, revealing their playful antagonism.
  • Lu Ming overhears a former middle-school acquaintance insulting Tang Zhiqing and calling her behavior and clothing inappropriate. He memorizes the man’s face and quietly decides to deal with him later rather than ruin the outing.
  • Lu Ming suggests beginning with the carousel. Tang Zhiqing declines as childish, while Ran Yanyue agrees to ride with him.
  • Because the carousel horse is too small for two adults, Ran Yanyue sits close to Lu Ming. The ride creates an awkward physical situation when Lu Ming becomes aroused, but both attempt to ignore it and maintain composure.
  • Afterward, Tang Zhiqing teases Lu Ming about sitting closely with Ran Yanyue and jokingly offers to ride with him, only to reveal that she was teasing him.
  • The group continues exploring the park. Lu Ming finds the rides unimpressive compared with battling Evil Beasts.

Character Developments

  • Lu Ming: Displays a protective and possessive side toward Tang Zhiqing, though he disguises it as concern about crowds. He also shows loyalty by silently defending her reputation and planning to confront the person who insulted her. His interactions with both girls reveal his increasing romantic tension and his tendency to use humor to defuse awkward situations.
  • Tang Zhiqing: Becomes aware of Lu Ming’s apparent possessiveness and responds with amused acceptance. She remains composed and observant, later teasing him about Ran Yanyue and enjoying the effect of making him flustered.
  • Ran Yanyue: Despite her cold and formal exterior, she willingly participates in the outing and enjoys the carousel more than she admits. Her discomfort and curiosity during the close physical contact suggest that she is beginning to recognize Lu Ming’s attraction to her and may be developing feelings of her own.
  • The ticket seller and other visitors: Serve mainly as observers, emphasizing the striking appearance of the three protagonists and the public’s surprise at their apparent relationships.

Significant Themes

  • Romantic rivalry and jealousy: Lu Ming’s hand-holding with Tang Zhiqing and Ran Yanyue’s reaction suggest growing emotional competition between the two girls.
  • Public image versus private feelings: Ran Yanyue maintains a cool façade despite embarrassment and pleasure, while Lu Ming hides attraction behind jokes and practical explanations.
  • Protectiveness and loyalty: Lu Ming’s decision to remember Tang Zhiqing’s insulter shows that his concern for her extends beyond playful romance.
  • Comedy through contrast: The characters’ serious Student Council identities clash with the childish amusement-park setting and their awkward romantic interactions.
  • Supernatural danger versus ordinary leisure: Lu Ming compares the amusement park’s excitement unfavorably with fighting Evil Beasts, highlighting how extraordinary his daily life has become.

Character Interactions

  • Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing hold hands, prompting public assumptions that they are a couple.
  • Ran Yanyue reacts negatively to their closeness but relaxes when Lu Ming offers to hold her hand as well.
  • Lu Ming and Ran Yanyue share a cramped carousel ride, leading to mutual embarrassment that both conceal through casual conversation.
  • Tang Zhiqing teases Lu Ming about Ran Yanyue’s scent and their physical closeness, revealing her awareness of the attraction between them.
  • Lu Ming repeatedly uses humor and blunt honesty to navigate the contrasting personalities of the two girls.

Ch. 215Dating Two Beautiful Girlfriends (Continued)

Chapter 215 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lu Ming, Tang Zhiqing, and Ran Yanyue continue their amusement-park outing.
  • At the haunted house, Ran Yanyue waits outside while Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing enter together. Lu Ming uses the attraction’s scares as an excuse to hold Tang Zhiqing’s hand, embrace her, and place a hand around her waist.
  • Tang Zhiqing remains largely unafraid, even kicking one of the costumed staff members when startled. The staff eventually drives Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing out because of Lu Ming’s excessive “protectiveness.”
  • Ran Yanyue immediately notices Lu Ming’s suspiciously close contact with Tang Zhiqing. Lu Ming insists he was merely frightened and trying to prevent them from getting separated.
  • At a baseball-throwing attraction, Lu Ming encounters Bai Hongwei, the boastful young man who had previously known Tang Zhiqing. Bai tries to show off in front of her and provoke Lu Ming.
  • Lu Ming effortlessly outperforms Bai, throwing a baseball with such force that he destroys the target. His feat shocks the crowd and humiliates Bai.
  • After Bai insults Tang Zhiqing, mysterious lightning strikes near him repeatedly. He panics, runs into a parade float, and suffers a serious arm fracture, ending his baseball career.
  • Lu Ming quietly takes satisfaction in Bai’s misfortune while pretending not to know what happened. Tang Zhiqing recognizes that Lu Ming used his abilities to defend her.
  • Because of the unexplained lightning, the amusement park closes early. Before leaving, Tang Zhiqing suggests taking a group photograph.
  • The three pose together at sunset, creating an image that resembles a romantic couple’s photo. They agree to return to the amusement park together, reaffirming the unity of the Student Council trio.

Character Developments

  • Lu Ming: Becomes increasingly bold and flirtatious with Tang Zhiqing, exploiting the haunted house to maintain physical contact. He also demonstrates overwhelming physical power and secretly protects Tang Zhiqing from Bai Hongwei. His outward innocence contrasts with his obvious satisfaction and possessiveness.
  • Tang Zhiqing: Shows confidence and composure in the haunted house, remaining calm while Lu Ming pretends to protect her. She recognizes and appreciates his defense of her against Bai, responding with a knowing smile. Her affectionate feelings toward Lu Ming become more apparent during the photograph.
  • Ran Yanyue: Maintains her usual cold, observant attitude and becomes suspicious of Lu Ming’s behavior with Tang Zhiqing. Although she complains about the awkward romantic implications, she participates warmly in the group photo and suggests visiting the park again.
  • Bai Hongwei: Begins as a confident professional baseball player who wants to impress Tang Zhiqing and belittle Lu Ming. His arrogance turns into humiliation, fear, and physical injury after Lu Ming’s overwhelming display and the subsequent lightning strikes.

Significant Themes

  • Romantic tension and jealousy: Lu Ming’s closeness with Tang Zhiqing and Ran Yanyue’s reactions highlight the complicated affection within the trio.
  • Hidden power and protection: Lu Ming conceals his supernatural abilities while using them to defend Tang Zhiqing and punish someone who insults her.
  • Humor through misunderstandings: Lu Ming’s transparent excuses about being “timid” and the haunted-house staff’s frustration create much of the chapter’s comedy.
  • Friendship and unity: Despite romantic undertones and jealousy, the three remain closely connected and reaffirm that their Student Council group will stay together.
  • Arrogance brought low: Bai Hongwei’s attempt to show off backfires completely, contrasting his vanity with Lu Ming’s effortless superiority.

Character Interactions

  • Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing share increasingly intimate physical contact in the haunted house, with Lu Ming using fear as an excuse to hold her.
  • Ran Yanyue confronts Lu Ming about his behavior, though he continues to feign innocence.
  • Bai Hongwei challenges Lu Ming indirectly through the baseball game, but Lu Ming decisively humiliates him.
  • Tang Zhiqing realizes Lu Ming retaliated on her behalf and responds approvingly rather than criticizing him.
  • The final photograph brings all three together, visually and emotionally suggesting a romantic relationship while symbolizing the lasting bond of the Student Council trio.

Ch. 216Accepting Tutor Lu’s Offer

Chapter 216 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • After leaving the amusement park, Lu Ming walks between Tang Zhiqing and Ran Yanyue while holding both of their hands. He initially worries that interlocking fingers with both girls is too forward, but neither objects.
  • Ran Yanyue only asks him to loosen his grip, and she gradually tightens her own hold. Tang Zhiqing teases Lu Ming for acting nervous, comparing the situation to “puppy love.”
  • A passing couple assumes Lu Ming is dating two beautiful girls. Tang Zhiqing calmly says that appearances do not matter as long as the Student Council has a clear conscience, while Lu Ming privately admits that he does feel guilty.
  • Tang Zhiqing and Ran Yanyue both become more openly affectionate by tightening their grips, reinforcing their romantic closeness with Lu Ming despite his insistence that they are merely “good friends.”
  • Lu Annuan returns home after celebrating her provincial figure-skating championship with her teammates. Although the restaurant did not offer takeout, she secretly packed food for Lu Ming because she wanted him to experience the meal.
  • Lu Ming eats the food she brought, including a piece of bread she had already bitten. He notices its fragrance and realizes he is actually sensing Lu Annuan’s scent and saliva, embarrassing both of them.
  • Meng Xuan messages Lu Ming, revealing that she witnessed Lu Annuan deliberately saving her own portion for him while the other girls were also packing food. Lu Ming pretends not to be moved.
  • When Lu Annuan asks whether the meal was good, Lu Ming jokingly claims it was ordinary. He then kisses her, saying that the “fresh flavor” is better than the food.
  • Lu Annuan eagerly accepts the kiss and invites him to continue. They move to the couch and share a prolonged, passionate kiss, with Lu Annuan wrapping her legs around Lu Ming’s waist before eventually stopping to catch her breath.

Character Developments

  • Lu Ming: Becomes increasingly bold and physically affectionate with the girls, though he continues using the “good friends” explanation to hide his romantic feelings and guilt. He also playfully teases Lu Annuan before openly initiating a kiss.
  • Tang Zhiqing: Shows greater comfort with public intimacy, interlocking her fingers with Lu Ming’s and responding confidently to outside judgment.
  • Ran Yanyue: Initially appears cautious but accepts Lu Ming’s affection and reciprocates by tightening her grip, signaling growing trust and attachment.
  • Lu Annuan: Her championship success highlights her disciplined and accomplished side, but she remains affectionate, generous, and somewhat mischievous. She secretly saves food for Lu Ming and becomes increasingly direct about wanting his attention and kisses.
  • Meng Xuan: Acts as an amused observer who confirms Lu Annuan’s special treatment of Lu Ming.

Significant Themes

  • Romantic ambiguity and denial: Lu Ming insists that his relationships with Tang Zhiqing and Ran Yanyue are merely proper Student Council friendships, despite behavior that clearly resembles dating.
  • Affection expressed through ordinary gestures: Holding hands, sharing food, and remembering someone’s preferences become meaningful demonstrations of love.
  • Public image versus private feelings: The trio dismisses outsiders’ assumptions, while Lu Ming privately recognizes that their situation is more romantic than he admits.
  • Mutual desire and emotional intimacy: The chapter shifts from playful teasing to increasingly open physical affection, especially between Lu Ming and Lu Annuan.
  • Sharing happiness: Lu Annuan’s decision to bring home food emphasizes her desire to include Lu Ming in her achievements and experiences.

Character Interactions

  • Lu Ming’s hand-holding with Tang Zhiqing and Ran Yanyue reveals a comfortable but increasingly intimate three-way relationship.
  • Tang Zhiqing teases Lu Ming while still reciprocating his affection.
  • Ran Yanyue communicates her boundaries without rejecting him, and then quietly returns his affection.
  • Lu Annuan and Lu Ming bond over the food she brings home, with the interaction turning into flirtation and kissing.
  • Their final couch scene demonstrates that Lu Annuan and Lu Ming are becoming more physically comfortable and emotionally direct with one another.

Ch. 217Planning with the Witch to Take Lu Ming Down

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lu Ming and Lu Annuan share an increasingly intimate kiss. Their physical attraction escalates, but Lu Ming stops before things go too far because Lu Annuan has a figure-skating practice match the next day and he does not want to affect her health or performance.
  • Lu Annuan, embarrassed but concerned about Lu Ming’s discomfort, vaguely promises to “help” him next time before fleeing to her room. Lu Ming spends the night imagining what she meant.
  • The next morning, Lu Ming and Lu Annuan go to school together. Lu Ming continues thinking suggestively about Lu Annuan’s hands and legs, joking that they are potential “tutoring tools.”
  • At the Student Council room, Lu Ming notices that Tang Zhiqing, Ran Yanyue, and the cat seem to have created a more harmonious atmosphere. A group photo from the amusement park now sits prominently on the president’s desk.
  • Tang Zhiqing explains that the city contains several extremely dangerous Code-named Evil Beasts. Because waiting is too risky, she proposes using the Golden Orb’s life aura to lure one out and eliminate it.
  • The Rabbit Bone Evil Beasts hold a secret meeting. They discuss recent deaths among their companions, the mysterious rain, the presence of the Witch, and whether they should cooperate with her against the people of Haiyang.
  • Bone Eater, one of the country’s top-fifty most dangerous Evil Beasts, leaves the group to hunt humans on the outskirts. It senses the Golden Orb’s powerful life aura and follows it.
  • Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing set up the trap in farmland near Tang’s family dojo. Tang reveals that the land belongs to her family and was being cultivated for their own use.
  • Bone Eater arrives and confronts them. Tang identifies it as a physically powerful Evil Beast known for breaking Magical Girls’ Magic Cores.
  • Lu Ming asks Tang to leave Bone Eater to him while she guards against possible reinforcements. Tang transforms and departs, trusting Lu Ming’s strength, leaving Bone Eater shocked that a Magical Girl would abandon a seemingly ordinary human beside the enemy.

Character Developments

  • Lu Ming: Shows strong physical attraction to Lu Annuan but also restraint and responsibility, prioritizing her well-being and skating career. His confidence continues to grow, as he volunteers to confront a top-fifty Evil Beast alone.
  • Lu Annuan: Becomes more openly affectionate and willing to express her feelings, though she remains shy and easily embarrassed. Her cryptic offer to “help” Lu Ming suggests increasing romantic intimacy between them.
  • Tang Zhiqing: Takes a proactive leadership role in defending Haiyang. She trusts Lu Ming enough to leave him alone against Bone Eater and focuses on strategic preparation and protecting civilians.
  • Ran Yanyue: Appears relaxed and comfortable in the Student Council room, casually reading while caring for the black cat. Her interactions suggest that the relationship among the three council members has improved.
  • Bone Eater: Is established as arrogant, aggressive, and confident in its physical strength. It dismisses most Magical Girls and does not initially recognize Lu Ming as a serious threat.

Significant Themes

  • Restraint and responsibility: Lu Ming’s decision to stop despite his desire demonstrates concern for Lu Annuan’s future and well-being.
  • Growing intimacy: The awkward exchange between Lu Ming and Lu Annuan shows their relationship becoming more physically and emotionally direct.
  • Escalating supernatural danger: The Evil Beasts are organizing, forming possible alliances, and preparing to attack Haiyang.
  • Trust and hidden strength: Tang’s willingness to leave Lu Ming alone reflects her confidence in his abilities, while Bone Eater’s surprise emphasizes the gap between Lu Ming’s appearance and his true power.
  • Protection of home and community: The characters seek to eliminate threats before they can harm Haiyang, while Lu Ming also worries about the destruction of local farmland and ordinary people’s work.

Character Interactions

  • Lu Ming and Lu Annuan’s intimate encounter shifts from playful teasing to mutual embarrassment and restrained affection.
  • Tang Zhiqing and Lu Ming discuss the Evil Beasts and develop a concrete plan to lure one out using the Golden Orb.
  • The Rabbit Bone members debate strategy, revealing their fear of recent losses and their interest in cooperating with the Witch.
  • Tang and Bone Eater exchange a brief confrontation before Tang withdraws.
  • Lu Ming directly claims responsibility for fighting Bone Eater, creating the chapter’s final tension as the Evil Beast realizes the “ordinary human” may be far more dangerous than he appears.

Ch. 218Tang Zhiqing: Okay, Husband.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lu Ming confronts Bone Eater, a highly ranked Evil Beast, while Tang Zhiqing leaves him to handle the battle alone.
  • Bone Eater boasts that it will eventually kill the Witch, destroy all Magical Girls, and become the strongest Evil Beast. Lu Ming casually counters that he already has two Magical Girls waiting to marry him.
  • Lu Ming overwhelms Bone Eater with a single punch, shocking it because its supposedly indestructible bone armor is cracked.
  • Rather than immediately defeating it, Lu Ming deliberately prolongs the fight to test his newly enhanced physical strength. Bone Eater increases its power and speed fivefold, but Lu Ming continues blocking and evading its attacks.
  • Bone Eater briefly believes Lu Ming is weaker and prepares to finish him, only for Lu Ming to slam it into the ground again. Lu Ming declares that the real fight is just beginning.
  • Meanwhile, Longhorn, another one of the fifty most dangerous Evil Beasts, meets the Witch—Ji Mengran—on a rooftop in Haiyang City.
  • Longhorn asks the Witch to let the Evil Beasts remain in the city while they search for the Divinely Blessed Land and prepare for their leader’s arrival. It also proposes attacking local Magical Girls and eating Lu Ming for energy.
  • The Witch initially tolerates Longhorn but becomes furious when it mentions harming Lu Ming. She declares that Lu Ming is hers to eat and attacks Longhorn with violet-black flames.
  • Longhorn escapes by splitting off a smaller body, while the Witch reveals that she intends to toy with Lu Ming, make him her devoted admirer, and use him to anger the Empress.

Character Developments

  • Lu Ming: Demonstrates a dramatic increase in physical power, enough to overpower Bone Eater and withstand its enhanced attacks. His confidence and playful arrogance grow, and he treats the battle as a training exercise rather than a life-or-death struggle.
  • Bone Eater: Its pride is badly shaken. Despite its reputation and fivefold physical enhancement, it cannot understand why Lu Ming is so much stronger than expected.
  • Tang Zhiqing: Her decision to leave Lu Ming alone shows that she trusts his abilities. Their earlier martial-arts practice also establishes how difficult it is for her to train against his unusually durable body.
  • Ji Mengran/The Witch: Her possessive interest in Lu Ming becomes explicit. Although she claims she wants to eat him, she also intends to manipulate him into becoming her admirer and use his importance to provoke the Empress.
  • Longhorn: Revealed to be cautious and politically submissive toward the Witch. Despite being a powerful Evil Beast, it is terrified of her and ultimately prioritizes escape over confrontation.

Significant Themes

  • Power reversal and underestimated strength: Bone Eater assumes Lu Ming is merely an unusually strong human, but the battle reveals that Lu Ming may vastly exceed the power of ordinary Magical Girls and even elite Evil Beasts.
  • Pride versus reality: Bone Eater’s arrogance collapses as its confidence repeatedly clashes with Lu Ming’s overwhelming strength.
  • Possessiveness and rivalry: The Witch’s claim over Lu Ming turns him into a point of conflict among the Evil Beasts, while her interest in him is also motivated by her ongoing rivalry with the Empress.
  • Humor amid danger: Lu Ming’s casual remarks, Bone Eater’s confusion, and the Witch’s absurdly possessive logic undercut the seriousness of otherwise deadly confrontations.
  • Hidden agendas: The Evil Beasts gather under the pretext of seeking the Divinely Blessed Land, while the Witch has her own motives and refuses to cooperate fully with them.

Important Character Interactions

  • Lu Ming and Bone Eater: Their confrontation is dominated by Lu Ming’s teasing confidence and Bone Eater’s increasingly desperate rage. Lu Ming allows Bone Eater to attack so he can measure his own strength.
  • Ji Mengran and Longhorn: Longhorn attempts diplomacy, but its suggestion of eating Lu Ming immediately turns the Witch against it. Her reaction reveals that Lu Ming is far more important to her than Longhorn expected.
  • Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing: Though Tang Zhiqing does not appear directly in the fight, her trust in Lu Ming’s ability—and their competitive training relationship—helps establish his development.
  • The Witch and the Empress: The Empress remains offstage, but the Witch’s actions are partly designed to provoke her, reinforcing their long-standing rivalry.

Ch. 219Tang Zhiqing: Okay, Husband. (cont.)

Chapter 219 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Police officers confirm that a Witch has appeared near Haiyang. They are shocked by her beauty and power but keep their distance, realizing that dealing with a Witch of her level is beyond them. Xu Guoan informs Meng Xuan that the Empress will personally handle the situation.
  • Lu Ming fights Bone Eater, an Evil Beast renowned for its tremendous physical strength and bone armor. Despite Bone Eater’s confidence, Lu Ming overwhelms it with his superior physique and brutal hand-to-hand combat.
  • Bone Eater attempts to counterattack, but Lu Ming withstands its blows, breaks its body apart, and ultimately kills it. Its remains dissolve into black mist, and Lu Ming appears to absorb its magic power.
  • Tang Zhiqing reports that she has eliminated several ordinary Evil Beasts, though she and Lu Ming agree that they should avoid attracting too many enemies at once.
  • Longhorn suddenly appears and attacks Tang Zhiqing with a light-based ability traveling at the speed of light. Enraged that Tang Zhiqing was attacked, Lu Ming instantly reaches Longhorn and destroys it with a single punch.
  • Tang Zhiqing suffers no visible injury from Longhorn’s attack. The two decide that they must investigate what the ability actually did.
  • Lu Ming remains overnight at Tang Zhiqing’s family dojo so they can monitor her condition. During dinner, Tang Zhiqing casually suggests that he could live with her, then seems unaware of the romantic implications of what she said.

Character Development

  • Lu Ming: Demonstrates overwhelming physical strength, defeating two Code-named Evil Beasts almost effortlessly. He is particularly protective of Tang Zhiqing, becoming genuinely furious when Longhorn attacks her. His concern about accidentally hurting people as his body grows stronger also reveals a more thoughtful and responsible side.
  • Tang Zhiqing: Continues to display elegance and competence in battle, contrasting with Lu Ming’s direct and violent fighting style. She becomes more emotionally open, admitting that she was happy when Lu Ming called her “my Tang Zhiqing.” Her unconscious suggestion that he live with her hints at growing romantic feelings.
  • Bone Eater: Experiences the reversal of its usual role as a brutal predator. Having tormented weaker Magical Girls, it is forced to understand their helplessness when Lu Ming completely suppresses and destroys it.
  • Longhorn: Shows arrogance and a rebellious personality, believing its ability to sow distrust will eventually give it an advantage. However, its attack on Tang Zhiqing provokes Lu Ming and leads to its immediate defeat.

Significant Themes

  • Power and reversal of dominance: Bone Eater, once confident in its physical superiority, becomes the helpless victim of the same kind of overwhelming violence it inflicted on others.
  • Humanity versus monstrosity: Lu Ming’s extraordinary strength and ability to absorb magic power make Bone Eater question whether he is truly human.
  • Protectiveness and affection: Lu Ming’s immediate rage at Tang Zhiqing being attacked exposes the depth of his feelings for her.
  • Unconscious romantic intimacy: Tang Zhiqing’s pleasure at being claimed as “my Tang Zhiqing” and her invitation to live with her suggest feelings she is beginning to express before fully recognizing them herself.
  • The danger of uncontrolled power: Lu Ming worries that increasing strength may affect ordinary physical contact and his future relationships.

Character Interactions

  • Meng Xuan and Xu Guoan discuss the Witch’s arrival and learn that the Empress intends to intervene.
  • Lu Ming and Bone Eater engage in a one-sided but intense physical battle, with Lu Ming treating the Evil Beast like an unusually satisfying training partner.
  • Tang Zhiqing and Lu Ming cooperate in eliminating Evil Beasts, with Lu Ming admiring her graceful fighting style.
  • Longhorn attacks Tang Zhiqing, prompting Lu Ming’s fiercely protective response and resulting in Longhorn’s death.
  • On the walk back, Tang Zhiqing teases Lu Ming about calling her “my Tang Zhiqing,” and his willingness to repeat it makes her visibly flustered.
  • During dinner, Tang Zhiqing offers Lu Ming a place to live with her, creating a quietly intimate moment that Lu Ming deflects by returning to the mystery of her unexplained condition.

Ch. 220Hearing Tang Zhiqing’s Inner Thoughts—It Feels Amazing!

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing receive information from Officer Zhao Chuncui about the Evil Beast still hiding in the city. It is identified as Longhorn, whose ability forces people to speak their true feelings.
  • Although Longhorn does not physically harm its victims, its power can destroy relationships and cause widespread social panic by exposing people’s hidden complaints, jealousy, resentment, and desires.
  • The only known way to remove the effect quickly is through another Evil Beast, True Sheep, located in Rabbit Bone, whose special magic can neutralize Evil Beast abilities.
  • Tang Zhiqing becomes increasingly cautious around Lu Ming, worried that the ability will make her say things she does not intend to reveal.
  • Despite trying to limit conversation, Tang Zhiqing repeatedly blurts out intimate or affectionate remarks:
    • She accidentally calls Lu Ming “husband.”
    • While showering during a power outage, she impulsively tells him to join her.
    • Later, she calls him “husband” again.
  • Tang Zhiqing attempts to explain away these comments as effects of Longhorn’s power, while Lu Ming is secretly delighted and interprets them as evidence that she has special feelings for him.
  • The next morning, Tang Zhiqing minimizes her speech to avoid further mistakes. At school, however, Xia Lan jokingly asks whether Lu Ming spent the night at Tang Zhiqing’s house.
  • Under Longhorn’s influence, Tang Zhiqing openly confirms that they did spend the night together, shocking Xia Lan. Lu Ming quickly clarifies that he stayed because he helped Tang Zhiqing harvest wheat, preventing the misunderstanding from escalating.
  • Tang Zhiqing praises Lu Ming for explaining the situation well, acknowledging that he is the only person aware of her condition.

Character Developments

  • Tang Zhiqing: Her normally composed and restrained personality is disrupted by Longhorn. Her involuntary statements reveal possible affection and intimacy toward Lu Ming, though she insists internally that some remarks are accidental or contextual. Embarrassed and frightened by her lack of control, she tries to reduce contact and conversation.
  • Lu Ming: He becomes excited by Tang Zhiqing’s unfiltered comments and eagerly interprets them as proof that he occupies a special place in her heart. Rather than feeling hurt by her accidental remarks, he enjoys hearing what may be her genuine feelings and becomes more hopeful about their relationship.
  • Officer Zhao Chuncui: Provides crucial information about Longhorn and the possible cure, establishing the practical problem the protagonists must solve.
  • Xia Lan: Acts as an outside observer who playfully teases Tang Zhiqing and Lu Ming, unintentionally exposing how suspicious their closeness appears to others.

Significant Themes

  • Truth versus social harmony: Longhorn’s power demonstrates that complete honesty can be destructive. Hidden thoughts often contain resentment or selfishness that people suppress to preserve relationships.
  • Emotional repression and vulnerability: Tang Zhiqing’s controlled personality clashes with the Evil Beast’s ability, forcing her private feelings into the open.
  • Romantic misunderstanding: Lu Ming treats Tang Zhiqing’s involuntary comments as genuine confessions, while she struggles to distinguish her true feelings from the effects of the power.
  • Trust and intimacy: The chapter suggests that Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing have grown close enough for domestic routines, private living arrangements, and romantic implications, even if Tang Zhiqing is not ready to acknowledge them directly.
  • Comedy through unintended honesty: The dangerous ability creates humorous situations, especially Tang Zhiqing calling Lu Ming “husband” and inviting him to shower with her.

Character Interactions

  • Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing discuss Longhorn’s ability and the danger it poses to human relationships.
  • Tang Zhiqing repeatedly speaks impulsively to Lu Ming, then attempts to retreat behind formal explanations and silence.
  • Lu Ming supports her by taking care of the dishes and respecting her decision to limit conversation, though he privately celebrates every revealing statement.
  • At school, Xia Lan teases the pair about staying together overnight. Tang Zhiqing’s unfiltered answer nearly confirms a romantic relationship, while Lu Ming provides an innocent explanation.
  • The chapter ends with Tang Zhiqing recognizing Lu Ming’s unique role as the only person who understands what is happening to her.
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