Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• During the basketball game, International Middle School’s captain, Yan Qisheng, deliberately attempts to injure Lu Ming by hiding an elbow strike from the referee and Tang Zhiqing.
• Lu Ming reacts instantly, dodging the elbow and using Yan’s momentum against him. By bracing his leg against Yan’s, he sends him crashing to the ground, seriously injuring him.
• Lu Ming publicly insists that the game should continue fairly, avoiding fouls and trash talk even after Yan’s attack. This wins him admiration from Haiyang No. 2 Middle School and further embarrasses the opposing team.
• Lu Annuan detects invisible black magic emerging from Yan Qisheng’s injured body. The magic disperses like fireworks, suggesting that Yan had been used in an Evil Beast-related experiment.
• Lu Ming, Lu Annuan, and Tang Zhiqing leave the court temporarily to investigate the incident. Tang theorizes that Death Spiral implanted converted magic into Yan as a test subject.
• Tang concludes that the experiment likely succeeded, meaning Death Spiral has discovered a way to store or use magic through humans. However, their rushed choice of Yan suggests they are panicking and operating under pressure.
• With Yan removed from the game, International Middle School loses momentum, and Haiyang No. 2 Middle School steadily takes control even without Lu Ming playing.
• Lu Ming later speaks with Lu Annuan, who brings him water and explains that several girls from her school are interested in him and have asked her to pass along their contact information.

2. Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Demonstrates exceptional reflexes and combat ability, but also maintains a public image of fairness and restraint. He is increasingly involved in investigating Death Spiral while remaining uncomfortable with Tang’s extreme methods and Magical Girl connections.
• Yan Qisheng: Revealed to be deliberately violent and reckless. His injury exposes him as an unwitting test subject in Death Spiral’s magical experiment.
• Tang Zhiqing: Shows a fiercely protective and ruthless side. She believes Lu Ming should have seriously crippled Yan and is willing to use her police connections to justify or conceal vigilantism. She also provides the key analysis of Death Spiral’s experiment.
• Lu Annuan: Detects the magical residue surrounding Yan and remains attentive to Lu Ming’s safety. Her decision to seek him out rather than join the other girls’ conversations subtly highlights her personal interest in him.
• Meng Xuan: Provides comic relief by joking about disowning the International Middle School team and marrying into Lu Annuan’s family.
• International Middle School players: Lose confidence and cohesion after their captain is injured and removed from the court.

3. Significant Themes

• Fairness versus retaliation: Lu Ming insists on obeying the rules, while Tang Zhiqing argues that deliberate violence justifies harsher revenge.
• Hidden magical warfare: An ordinary school basketball game becomes connected to the larger conflict with Death Spiral and the Evil Beasts.
• Escalating conflict: Death Spiral’s desperate experiment suggests that both sides are under increasing pressure and that the enemy is advancing its magical research.
• Public image and private power: Lu Ming appears righteous and sportsmanlike in public, despite possessing the ability to overpower opponents; Tang presents herself as a disciplined student leader while advocating extreme vigilante justice.
• Romantic attention and jealousy: Lu Ming attracts attention from girls at the opposing school, while Lu Annuan’s choice to personally find him suggests growing affection or special concern.

4. Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and Yan Qisheng: Their confrontation shifts from basketball competition to physical combat after Yan attempts to injure Lu Ming.
• Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing: Tang checks Lu Ming’s condition and praises—or criticizes—his response, revealing how differently they view self-defense and justice.
• Lu Ming, Lu Annuan, and Tang Zhiqing: They silently recognize the magical anomaly surrounding Yan and cooperate in deciding to investigate it.
• Lu Ming and Lu Annuan: Their conversation is playful and increasingly intimate. She brings him water, searches for him during the game, and openly delivers other girls’ contact information.
• Meng Xuan and Lu Annuan: Their joking exchange about abandoning International Middle School reinforces the friendly, comedic atmosphere surrounding the more serious supernatural plot.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Annuan approaches Lu Ming on behalf of her female classmates, who want his contact information. She explains that some students mistakenly believe she and Lu Ming are dating.
• Rather than give out his personal account, Lu Ming provides the QQ account they used together as children, claiming he has no time to chat with “little sisters.” This reassures the girls that he is not casually flirting with them.
• Lu Annuan promises to correct the rumors about their relationship, though her shy smile and lingering glances suggest she may not dislike the misunderstanding.
• Back at the basketball game, Lu Ming jokes with Li Deng about secretly watching him interact with Ran Yanyue. He reveals that he had distracted Lu Annuan so Li Deng would not be caught spying.
• During the fourth-quarter break, both schools run out of drinking water. The students consider borrowing water from the nearby Figure Skating Department, but Coach Jiang refuses to help International Middle School.
• Lu Ming personally asks Coach Jiang for water. Contrary to everyone’s expectations, she warmly agrees and lets him take two cases, while he also brings a case to the opposing team so the match remains fair.
• Coach Jiang invites Lu Ming to visit the Figure Skating Department, watch Lu Annuan train, and even practice skating himself. She also mentions that Lu Annuan has a new competition outfit.
• Lu Ming initially suspects the invitation is a trap but accepts politely. However, students remind Coach Jiang that school rules prohibit students from other schools from entering the campus.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming remains sarcastic and self-assured, but he also demonstrates fairness and sportsmanship by helping International Middle School despite the rivalry. He is increasingly drawn into Lu Annuan’s world while pretending to be indifferent.
• Lu Annuan becomes more openly shy and emotionally invested in Lu Ming. She worries about how he will respond to rumors and seems pleased when he says he does not mind them.
• Coach Jiang shows an unexpected softer side toward Lu Ming. Her usual intimidating, uncompromising demeanor changes into warmth and hospitality, suggesting she has a special interest in him or in his connection with Lu Annuan.
• Li Deng is embarrassed when Lu Ming exposes his attempt to spy on him and Lu Annuan, but the exchange reinforces their friendly relationship.
• The students view Lu Ming as unusually attractive and admirable, especially after seeing Coach Jiang treat him favorably.

Significant Themes

• Rumors and romantic ambiguity: The chapter plays with the gap between Lu Ming and Lu Annuan’s stated relationship and the way others perceive their closeness.
• Childhood bonds and emerging affection: Their shared QQ account and childhood memories provide an innocent foundation that may be developing into something more romantic.
• Sportsmanship and fairness: Lu Ming refuses to let either team suffer simply because they lack water, emphasizing that victory should be earned rather than obtained through unfair circumstances.
• Rules versus personal influence: Coach Jiang’s willingness to bend or reconsider school rules for Lu Ming contrasts with her usual strictness and highlights his unusual influence over her.
• Comedy through internal monologue: Lu Ming’s exaggerated thoughts, sarcasm, and pop-culture references create humor while revealing his reluctance to acknowledge romantic situations.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and Lu Annuan: They discuss contact information and dating rumors. Their conversation is teasing but emotionally charged, with Lu Annuan displaying clear embarrassment and interest.
• Lu Ming and Li Deng: Lu Ming catches Li Deng spying and jokes that he protected him from being discovered by Ran Yanyue. Their banter shows mutual camaraderie.
• Lu Ming and Coach Jiang: Lu Ming’s respectful request for water earns him treatment no other student receives. Coach Jiang then invites him into the Figure Skating Department and encourages him to watch or participate in training.
• Coach Jiang and International Middle School students: She refuses their request for water, reinforcing her reputation as strict and impartial—until Lu Ming asks, prompting a dramatic change in her attitude.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Coach Jiang obtains a school pass for Lu Ming so he can visit Haiyang No. 2 Middle School more easily and encourages him to come more often.
• She and two basketball scouts compete over Lu Ming, each trying to recruit him. Coach Jiang wants him for the figure-skating department, while the scouts believe his physique and athletic ability could make him a basketball star.
• Lu Ming rejects both paths, insisting that he wants to focus on his studies, though Coach Jiang and the scouts argue over his potential.
• Lu Ming returns to the basketball court carrying water for the players. He reassures Student Council President Tang Zhiqing that she is his top priority and that he will not be tempted by International Middle School.
• Tang rewards him with access to the Student Council computer and later gives him a little red flag and an Outstanding Class award after Haiyang No. 2 Middle School wins the basketball match 74–73.
• Tang praises Lu Ming for bringing honor to the school, while Ran Yanyue notices his distracted reaction to Tang’s physical closeness and mocks him.
• On the bus home, Lu Ming is approached by Attendant, an executive of the evil organization Death Spiral. Attendant reveals that he knows Lu Ming’s identity and asks why Lu Ming possesses such overwhelming strength.
• Attendant offers Lu Ming a place in Death Spiral. Lu Ming pretends to be interested, but Attendant immediately recognizes that he is lying.
• Lu Ming then jokingly—or partly sincerely—claims to dislike Magical Girls and describes absurd fantasies involving Magical Girl Polaris and the disciplinary committee member.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Demonstrates strong athletic ability, social quick-thinking, and caution. He refuses recruitment into basketball and figure skating, prioritizing school and his loyalty to Tang. On the bus, he remains composed and avoids fighting because civilians could be harmed. His playful lies and provocative comments reveal both his mischievous personality and his complicated attitude toward Magical Girls.
• Coach Jiang: Becomes highly invested in Lu Ming’s athletic future and treats him as a prized potential recruit, even attempting to claim him for figure skating despite his lack of agreement.
• Tang Zhiqing: Shows increasing trust and favoritism toward Lu Ming by granting him access to the Student Council computer. She openly praises his performance and appears pleased by his declaration that she is his “only sun,” while still teasing him about becoming conceited.
• Attendant: Is established as an intelligent and observant Evil Beast. He is curious rather than immediately hostile, capable of analyzing human behavior, detecting lies, and maintaining his composure in a crowded public setting.
• Ran Yanyue: Continues to act as an observer who notices Lu Ming’s inappropriate or distracted reactions and responds with sarcasm.

Significant Themes

• Exceptional talent and competing expectations: Lu Ming’s physical abilities attract attention from multiple adults and institutions, but he resists being defined solely by his talent.
• Loyalty and personal priorities: Lu Ming repeatedly emphasizes his devotion to Tang and Haiyang No. 2 Middle School, using humor to reassure her and reject outside temptation.
• Public safety versus private conflict: Lu Ming and Attendant both recognize that fighting on a crowded bus would endanger innocent people, highlighting restraint and responsibility.
• Deception and identity: Lu Ming attempts to deny his identity, while Attendant demonstrates that he can see through lies. Their exchange establishes a battle of wit in addition to their potential physical conflict.
• Comedy through exaggeration: Recruitment disputes, Lu Ming’s internal commentary, Tang’s praise, and his outrageous claims about Magical Girls turn potentially serious situations into comic scenes.

Character Interactions

• Coach Jiang physically and verbally claims Lu Ming as a possible figure-skating recruit, leading to a comedic confrontation with basketball scouts.
• Lu Ming jokes with Tang Zhiqing about rejecting the school pass and being devoted only to her. Tang rewards him, praises him, and playfully worries that success will make him arrogant.
• Lu Ming and Tang share a celebratory high-five after Haiyang No. 2 Middle School’s narrow victory.
• Ran Yanyue silently observes Lu Ming’s reaction to Tang and mocks him.
• Attendant confronts Lu Ming on the bus, questioning his strength and offering him membership in Death Spiral. Lu Ming responds with evasive humor and bizarre declarations, creating an uneasy but comedic exchange between enemies.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ming continues questioning the Evil Beast Attendant aboard a bus. The Attendant reveals that the Evil Beasts’ magic-circle plan is much larger than the Magical Girls realize—only about one-third of its core has been uncovered.
• Lu Ming mocks the Evil Beasts’ lack of attractive female members. The Attendant mentions Witch, a powerful Evil Beast in the capital who cares only about fighting the Magical Girl Empress and would not cooperate with their organization.
• The Attendant boasts that the Evil Beast leader is as powerful as Witch and would defeat her if he were not injured. He then waits until the bus has left the city, intending to kill Lu Ming without interference from nearby Magical Girls.
• When the Attendant attacks, Lu Ming activates the Bird System’s time-stopping ability. During the three-second pause, he brutally defeats the Attendant, punching through his head and chest before throwing him from the bus into the sea.
• The Lion Cadre, who had been watching and expecting Lu Ming’s death, is shocked to see the Attendant nearly destroyed instead. The other Evil Beasts become uneasy and begin wondering whether Lu Ming is more frightening than they are.
• After time resumes, Lu Ming casually explains his position on the bus window as an attempt to watch fish, preventing the passengers and driver from realizing that a battle occurred.
• Because he missed his stop, Lu Ming takes a taxi home. He sends Officer Zhuang the information he learned and tells Lu Annuan that he was involved in an Evil Beast attack.
• Lu Annuan waits anxiously for him and checks his body for injuries. When Lu Ming worries that they might be mistaken for a couple if her school acquaintances see them, she confidently says she is not afraid. Her suggestive wording causes both of them to become embarrassed.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming remains calm, sarcastic, and highly resourceful. He deliberately draws information from the Attendant while appearing unconcerned, then uses timing and the open bridge location to defeat him efficiently. His casual lies afterward demonstrate his ability to conceal supernatural events from ordinary people.
• The Attendant is shown to be loyal to the Evil Beast leader and committed to eliminating anyone who threatens the plan. Despite his confidence and considerable strength, he is overly certain of humanity’s weakness and completely underestimates Lu Ming.
• The Lion Cadre shifts from smug anticipation to fear and confusion after witnessing the Attendant’s defeat. His reaction suggests that the Evil Beasts are beginning to recognize Lu Ming as a serious threat.
• Lu Annuan displays genuine concern for Lu Ming and becomes more emotionally direct. Her willingness to ignore public opinion hints at growing confidence in her feelings, though her subsequent blushing shows that she is still easily embarrassed.
• The Evil Beast organization is established as larger and more dangerous than previously understood, with a powerful leader, numerous cadres, and a plan whose true scale remains mostly hidden.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and underestimation: The Evil Beasts assume Lu Ming is merely human, but his calm behavior and time-stopping ability allow him to overwhelm them.
• Appearance versus reality: The Attendant believes humans are weak because they are emotionally soft, yet Lu Ming’s relaxed exterior conceals overwhelming power and tactical awareness.
• Secrecy in an ordinary world: The battle occurs in public, but Lu Ming carefully prevents the passengers from realizing anything unusual, maintaining the boundary between supernatural conflict and daily life.
• Fear and shifting power dynamics: The Evil Beasts begin to fear Lu Ming after seeing one of their stronger members destroyed, suggesting that the balance between the human, Magical Girl, and Evil Beast factions may be changing.
• Romantic tension and embarrassment: Lu Annuan’s concern and bold declaration create an awkward, flirtatious moment with Lu Ming. Their mutual embarrassment contrasts with Lu Ming’s composure during the battle.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and the Attendant: Their conversation is framed as an interrogation, but Lu Ming controls it through sarcasm and probing questions. The Attendant attempts to assert dominance, only to be violently defeated.
• Lu Ming and the Lion Cadre: The Lion Cadre observes the confrontation from outside and expects revenge, but the Attendant’s defeat leaves him terrified of Lu Ming.
• Lu Ming and the bus passengers: Lu Ming protects their ignorance by inventing a harmless explanation for standing on the window, while the passengers mistakenly assume he might be contemplating suicide.
• Lu Ming and Lu Annuan: Their reunion reveals her deep concern and increasing boldness. Her statement that she is “not afraid” sounds romantically suggestive, making both of them flustered.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After defeating the Code-named Evil Beast “Attendant,” Lu Ming reassures Lu Annuan that he is unharmed, though he privately acknowledges how dangerous and resilient the enemy was.
• Lu Annuan worries intensely about Lu Ming and becomes embarrassed by how openly concerned she was. Their conversation reveals her growing awareness that their relationship may be changing as they mature.
• On the way home, they encounter Grandpa Zhang, who assumes they are dating. He recalls how close they were as children:
  • Annuan followed Lu Ming everywhere and ignored other boys.
  • Lu Ming protected her from stray dogs and cared for her like a younger princess.
• These memories surprise Annuan and make her view Lu Ming’s childhood actions—and their bond—in a new light. Lu Ming is embarrassed but admits internally that he would still protect her.
• Back at home, Officer Zhuang and Xu Guoan arrive to investigate Attendant. They confirm that he was a highly dangerous Code-named Evil Beast with the ability to see through lies and a history of appearing across multiple regions.
• The officers reveal that they have located more of the magic arrays connected to Death Spiral’s plan. With information from Empress, they intend to destroy all the arrays simultaneously in ten days.
• Lu Ming and Lu Annuan agree to participate in the operation.
• After dinner, Lu Ming exchanges messages with Tang Zhiqing and learns through Qin Hanyu that Tang was genuinely worried about him, despite pretending to care only about his Student Council duties. Lu Ming feels comforted by knowing others care about him.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Demonstrates overwhelming strength by defeating Attendant, though he remains wary of the Evil Beast’s power. He is embarrassed by reminders of his childhood protectiveness toward Annuan but still values her deeply and would make the same choices again.
• Lu Annuan: Her concern for Lu Ming becomes more emotionally intense, and she grows self-conscious about possibly having romantic feelings for him. Learning about his past protection of her strengthens her affection and appreciation.
• Xu Guoan: Gains greater respect for Lu Ming after realizing he defeated a Code-named Evil Beast almost effortlessly. He also takes on a more authoritative role in organizing the attack on Death Spiral’s magic arrays.
• Zhuang Ming: Provides a more casual, humorous contrast to Xu Guoan, appearing in sheep slippers and openly questioning their apparent romance.
• Tang Zhiqing: Though outwardly focused on Lu Ming’s work responsibilities, she is revealed to have been anxious and concerned for his safety.
• Grandpa Zhang: Acts as a catalyst for revealing the pair’s childhood history and teasing them about their relationship.

Significant Themes

• Childhood friendship developing into romance: The chapter repeatedly suggests that Lu Ming and Annuan’s lifelong closeness may be becoming romantic, even though neither directly acknowledges it.
• Protection and mutual concern: Lu Ming’s instinct to protect Annuan in childhood mirrors her current worry for him after the battle.
• Embarrassment versus genuine affection: Both characters hide or downplay their feelings, using denial and jokes to cope with their increasing emotional intimacy.
• Growing responsibility: The discussion of the magic arrays shifts the story from personal encounters with Evil Beasts toward a larger coordinated battle against Death Spiral.
• Hidden care beneath humor: Characters often express concern indirectly through sarcasm, teasing, or practical comments rather than openly admitting their feelings.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and Lu Annuan: They discuss his condition after the battle, with Annuan visibly anxious and Lu Ming teasingly minimizing the danger. Their awkwardness suggests romantic tension.
• Lu Ming, Annuan, and Grandpa Zhang: Grandpa Zhang exposes their childhood attachment and embarrasses Lu Ming by offering proof of his past efforts to protect Annuan.
• Lu Ming and the officers: Xu Guoan questions him about Attendant and is impressed by his extraordinary strength. The officers also update them on the coming assault against Death Spiral.
• Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing: Their sarcastic messages conceal Tang’s genuine concern, which Qin Hanyu accidentally reveals. Lu Ming is touched by this indirect expression of care.

Chapter Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ming receives messages from Ran Yanyue after the recent danger. She jokes that Haiyang No. 2 Middle School’s rules forbid unnatural student deaths and tells him not to die. Their exchange reveals that Ran likes cats.
• After showering, Lu Ming is asked by Lu Annuan to help her prepare for the upcoming ranking exams. She is struggling with online lessons, especially because Coach Jiang has urged her to study seriously.
• Lu Ming enters Lu Annuan’s decorated bedroom, which contrasts sharply with the family’s otherwise rough, “Syrian-style” home. He jokes about the room and learns that Lu Annuan had asked his mother about expanding her room, but rejected the suggestion of taking over his room.
• They decide to study physics instead of English. Lu Ming discovers that Lu Annuan scored only 46 on her English exam, allowing him to tease her after she had mocked his English ability.
• Lu Annuan brings out difficult physics exercises from her teacher Zhao Ruian, a notorious former top student and obsessive educator known for producing exceptional but exhausted students. Lu Ming recognizes the teacher’s reputation through Cao Guang’s past experience.
• Lu Ming tutors Lu Annuan through the physics problems, explaining concepts such as relative displacement and conservation of energy.
• Feeling more confident, Lu Annuan proposes a bet: if she solves the next paper, she can draw on Lu Ming’s face; if she fails, he may draw on hers. Lu Ming accepts.
• As she concentrates on the paper, Lu Ming becomes distracted by her appearance, pajamas, and the sweet natural scent of her room.

Character Development

• Lu Ming remains sarcastic, observant, and protective, but he also demonstrates strong academic ability and patience as a tutor. His teasing relationship with Lu Annuan becomes more playful and intimate.
• Lu Annuan shows vulnerability about her poor English performance and academic struggles, yet she is playful, competitive, and willing to challenge herself. Her confidence increases as Lu Ming explains the physics material.
• Ran Yanyue is briefly characterized as disciplined, blunt, and secretly fond of cats.
• Lu Ming’s mother is portrayed humorously as favoring Lu Ming’s sister enough to suggest giving up his room, reinforcing the family’s comedic dynamic.

Significant Themes

• Family intimacy and domestic comedy: The chapter uses the shared home and sibling-like arguments to show familiarity, affection, and humorous conflict.
• Academic pressure: Ranking exams, demanding teachers, and difficult subjects highlight the intense expectations placed on students.
• Mutual support: Lu Ming’s tutoring helps Lu Annuan overcome her confusion and gain confidence.
• Playful rivalry and growing attraction: Their bet and teasing create a competitive bond, while Lu Ming’s attention to Lu Annuan’s appearance and scent hints at his developing romantic feelings.
• Contrast between appearances and abilities: Lu Annuan seems confident and playful but struggles academically, while Lu Ming’s casual attitude conceals considerable knowledge and competence.

Character Interactions

• Ran Yanyue and Lu Ming exchange dry, teasing messages after his dangerous encounter.
• Lu Annuan awkwardly asks Lu Ming for help, and he responds with jokes before agreeing.
• The siblings tease each other about English proficiency, eventually reaching a humorous “non-aggression pact.”
• Lu Ming patiently explains physics while Lu Annuan asks questions and gradually begins solving problems independently.
• Their drawing bet turns tutoring into a playful contest, strengthening their rapport and adding romantic tension.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ming sends Li Deng a photo of the back of his hand, asking whether Li Deng’s aunt sells perfume with Lu Annuan’s distinctive scent. Their exchange quickly turns into teasing, as Li Deng suspects Lu Ming is secretly in a girl’s room for romantic reasons.
• Lu Ming claims he is tutoring a relative’s child in physics and blocks Li Deng when his friend continues to question the explanation.
• Lu Annuan notices Lu Ming taking a photo and becomes visibly flustered. Lu Ming initially worries she thinks he photographed her legs, then realizes she may not have objected because she is comfortable with him.
• Lu Annuan deliberately stretches her legs out in front of him while pretending to focus on her test. Lu Ming eventually takes a photo of her studying and saves it in a locked album.
• After finishing the test paper, Lu Annuan reminds Lu Ming that she lost their bet and tells him to draw wherever he wants. She nervously closes her eyes, leaving the chapter on the implication that Lu Ming is about to make an intimate or mischievous move.
• At school, Lu Annuan prepares for another physics exam. Unlike her usual anxious behavior, she is calm and highly focused, having recently studied with Lu Ming.
• She has the words “Keep it up” written on her palm, apparently as encouragement from Lu Ming, and smiles when she looks at them.
• During the test, terrifying physics teacher and academic director Zhao Ruian inspects the classroom. He discovers that Lu Annuan is solving the exam seriously and efficiently, with extensive calculations and progress ahead of her classmates.
• Instead of criticizing her, Zhao Ruian confirms that her answer is correct, surprising Meng Xuan and suggesting Lu Annuan’s academic performance is improving dramatically.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Becomes increasingly aware of his attraction to Lu Annuan, especially his fascination with her appearance. He remains self-conscious and comedic about his thoughts, while also showing genuine concern for her studies and confidence.
• Lu Annuan: Grows more comfortable and bold around Lu Ming. Her deliberate posing and willingness to let him choose where to draw suggest increasing romantic interest. Academically, she shows a sudden improvement in concentration and performance after studying with him.
• Li Deng: Functions as Lu Ming’s suspicious, teasing friend, quickly detecting that Lu Ming’s explanation about tutoring is incomplete.
• Meng Xuan: Remains fiercely protective of Lu Annuan, imagining herself defending her from Zhao Ruian despite being intimidated herself. She is astonished by Annuan’s unexpected academic progress.
• Zhao Ruian: Although feared as a harsh, almost inhumanly serious physics teacher, he recognizes the correctness of Lu Annuan’s work and gives her rare approval.

Significant Themes

• Emerging romance and mutual attraction: Lu Ming and Lu Annuan communicate through teasing, embarrassment, physical proximity, and indirect gestures rather than openly expressing their feelings.
• Support and encouragement: Lu Ming’s tutoring and the “Keep it up” message help Lu Annuan gain confidence and improve academically.
• Transformation through attention: Lu Annuan’s change from anxious, distracted student to focused problem-solver shows the positive effect of personal encouragement.
• Comedy through misunderstanding: Lu Ming’s fear that he looks like a pervert and Li Deng’s suspicions create much of the chapter’s humor.
• Reputation versus reality: Lu Annuan is known for poor performance, yet her actual abilities begin to emerge when she receives the right support.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and Li Deng: Their chat highlights their teasing friendship and Lu Ming’s desperate attempts to hide his romantic situation.
• Lu Ming and Lu Annuan: Their tutoring session is charged with awkward attraction. Lu Annuan appears to test Lu Ming’s interest, while Lu Ming struggles to interpret her behavior.
• Meng Xuan and Lu Annuan: Meng Xuan watches over Annuan closely and is surprised by her unusual confidence and concentration.
• Zhao Ruian and Lu Annuan: Their interaction reverses expectations: rather than scolding her, Zhao Ruian validates her correct solution, marking a significant academic breakthrough.

Chapter 88 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Ruian unexpectedly praises Lu Annuan for carefully completing her physics paper, noting that many Rocket Class students lost points through carelessness.
• Lu Annuan explains that Lu Ming, her friend from Haiyang No. 2 Middle School, helped her review. Zhao Ruian recognizes the effort required for such detailed tutoring and uses Lu Annuan as an example to criticize the less diligent students.
• Meng Xuan is shocked by Lu Annuan’s improvement and notices the encouraging words “Keep it up?” written in Lu Annuan’s palm, realizing that Lu Ming likely wrote them. She concludes that Lu Annuan and Lu Ming may be balancing both romance and studying.
• At Haiyang No. 2 Middle School, Lu Ming and Li Deng joke around. Their conversation about buying cards becomes increasingly absurd, especially when Lu Ming tells a misleading story about a father buying Pokémon cards for his sick son. Ran Yanyue becomes emotionally invested, only to learn that the “illness” was merely a mild fever and the father had entered the wrong shop by accident.
• The math lesson is unexpectedly replaced by physical training. All second-year students are sent to the gymnasium for fitness tests and possible ball games.
• Before the test begins, the system gives Lu Ming a mission: achieve a good ranking in the physical assessment, earning one point of Magic Power. The mission is connected to a past regret in which Lu Ming had performed poorly because he was distracted by Lu Annuan’s bad grades.
• Lu Ming forms a team with Li Deng and intends to recruit Cao Guang, but Ran Yanyue assumes she is part of the group and confidently joins them. She begins planning their strategy, leaving Lu Ming and Li Deng unsure how to explain that she was not originally included.

Character Developments

• Lu Annuan: Demonstrates significant academic improvement through sustained effort and Lu Ming’s tutoring. Her diligence earns praise from Zhao Ruian, changing the class’s perception of her beyond her appearance and figure-skating talent.
• Lu Ming: Shows that he has been seriously helping Lu Annuan study, while also revealing his tendency to deny or minimize his concern for her. The system confirms that his feelings for Lu Annuan once affected him deeply.
• Meng Xuan: Becomes more aware of Lu Annuan and Lu Ming’s close relationship and interprets their study sessions as evidence that they may be developing both academically and romantically.
• Ran Yanyue: Displays curiosity, emotional sensitivity, and strong confidence. She briefly sympathizes with the supposedly sick child before becoming frustrated by Lu Ming’s anticlimactic explanation. She also boldly inserts herself into Lu Ming and Li Deng’s team.
• Li Deng: Continues serving as Lu Ming’s comedic companion and eagerly looks for opportunities to show off during the physical test.
• Zhao Ruian: Though normally harsh and intimidating, he shows that he recognizes genuine effort and is willing to praise students who work hard.

Significant Themes

• Diligence versus natural ability: Lu Annuan’s improvement comes from effort and focused tutoring, challenging assumptions that academic success depends only on innate talent.
• Hidden affection and denial: Lu Ming insists that his concern for Lu Annuan is merely natural friendship, but his past reaction and current support suggest deeper feelings.
• Expectations and personal growth: The system’s mission frames Lu Ming’s desire to correct a past failure, emphasizing how people try to overcome regrets.
• Comedy through misunderstanding: Lu Ming’s deliberately disjointed storytelling and Ran Yanyue’s mistaken assumption about the team create much of the chapter’s humor.
• Balancing responsibilities: Lu Annuan is shown managing both figure skating and academics, while Lu Ming and his friends prepare to balance school requirements with their usual antics.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Ruian and Lu Annuan: His praise boosts her confidence and publicly validates her hard work.
• Lu Annuan and Lu Ming: Although Lu Ming is not physically present during her classroom scene, his tutoring and encouragement strongly influence her progress.
• Meng Xuan and Lu Annuan: Meng Xuan observes Lu Annuan’s improvement and playfully interprets her relationship with Lu Ming.
• Lu Ming, Li Deng, and Ran Yanyue: Their conversations highlight the contrast between the boys’ chaotic humor and Ran Yanyue’s more serious, literal reactions.
• Lu Ming and Ran Yanyue: Ran Yanyue quickly recognizes Lu Ming’s self-deception about Lu Annuan and confidently joins his physical-test team, setting up a potentially awkward and competitive interaction.

Chapter 82 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ming, Ran Yanyue, and Li Deng prepare to leave the school gymnasium, but Lu Ming insists they first register their names with the PE teacher. He also clarifies that their team consists of the three students from his class, deliberately excluding Cao Guang.
• During the physical tests, Lu Ming performs exceptionally well while intentionally holding back. His standing long jump reaches 3.25 meters, impressing the PE teacher and revealing his unusual physical ability.
• Tang Zhiqing supervises the testing. Lu Ming is briefly distracted by her appearance, but she teases him after noticing his disappointment when she skips the side-to-side jumping test.
• Lu Annuan messages Lu Ming about her physics score and tells him that Zhao Ruian praised her improvement. She credits a friend from Lu Ming’s school for helping her study. Her questions about whether Lu Ming has been spending time with Tang Zhiqing make him nervous, so he carefully denies anything suspicious and claims he is focused on studying.
• Tang Zhiqing privately informs Lu Ming that Little Butterfly has detected a weak trace of Evil Beast magic in the gymnasium. The source is likely an ordinary person who has been contaminated or deceived by an intelligent Evil Beast.
• She suspects the incident may be connected to Death Spiral. To help identify the affected person, she asks Lu Ming to play badminton with her while Little Butterfly scans the spectators.
• Their match attracts widespread attention. Lu Ming deliberately runs around and appears to struggle while Tang Zhiqing returns every shot without moving, creating the impression that he is making a great effort to show her respect.
• When Tang Zhiqing eventually misses a shot, Lu Ming claims that his racket strings broke and argues that the point should not count, presenting himself as fair-minded and unwilling to benefit from an unfair advantage.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Continues to show extraordinary physical strength while concealing his true abilities. He is observant, quick-witted, and skilled at maintaining a harmless public image. He also demonstrates loyalty by honoring his agreement with Ran Yanyue and tactfully managing Lu Annuan’s suspicious questions.
• Tang Zhiqing: Acts decisively as a magical-girl leader, coordinating the investigation while maintaining her composed and teasing personality. She trusts Lu Ming enough to involve him in the detection operation.
• Ran Yanyue: Functions as a reliable teammate and badminton referee. She is willing to challenge Lu Ming’s dishonest attempt to invalidate the point.
• Lu Annuan: Shows academic improvement and growing confidence after receiving praise. Her pointed questions suggest she may be suspicious of Lu Ming’s relationship with Tang Zhiqing.
• Little Butterfly: Demonstrates its role as a magical detection tool by searching the gymnasium for Evil Beast contamination.

Significant Themes

• Concealed identity and deception: Lu Ming hides both his physical abilities and his connection to magical incidents, while intelligent Evil Beasts deceive ordinary people.
• Trust and loyalty: Lu Ming makes a point of keeping his promises and protecting the expectations of his friends.
• Public image versus reality: The badminton match becomes a performance in which Lu Ming disguises his superiority as politeness and effort.
• Teamwork and investigation: The magical threat is handled through cooperation between Tang Zhiqing, Little Butterfly, and Lu Ming.
• Academic and personal growth: Lu Annuan’s improved score and Lu Ming’s efforts to appear studious reinforce the chapter’s interest in gradual self-improvement.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and Ran Yanyue discuss team registration and later clash humorously over whether his broken racket should cancel the badminton point.
• Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing exchange teasing remarks about his visible disappointment and work together to investigate the gymnasium.
• Lu Ming and Lu Annuan communicate by text, with Lu Annuan subtly probing his relationship with Tang Zhiqing.
• The students watching the badminton match provide comic commentary, interpreting Lu Ming’s deliberate restraint as exceptional social awareness.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ming completes the badminton challenge by defeating all sixteen members of the Badminton Club. He earns a mission reward of one point of magic power, though he still does not fully understand how to use his abilities beyond creating defensive barriers.
• After the physical tests, Tang Zhiqing identifies Ye Xun, a shy first-year student and Volleyball Club member, as a potential victim of an Evil Beast’s manipulation.
• Ye Xun’s mother was injured at work, leaving the family in financial difficulty. Because medical expenses are becoming unaffordable, Ye Xun is considering dropping out of school to work.
• Earlier, a mysterious man dressed in black offered Ye Xun a magical utility knife and promised to heal her mother if she stabbed Lu Ming, claiming that even a minor wound would eventually kill him.
• While cleaning up after the school event, Ye Xun is assigned to carry trash with Lu Ming. She tries to judge whether he is truly a villain, especially after hearing rumors that he is romantically involved with Tang Zhiqing and Ran Yanyue.
• Lu Ming casually explains that he has recently been training at Tang’s house and eating at Ran’s home, which confuses Ye Xun and weakens her resolve to attack him.
• After school, Ye Xun decides not to harm Lu Ming and throws the enchanted knife into a trash can. Lu Ming appears beside her, revealing that he had noticed her murderous intentions.
• Lu Ming asks about her mother and offers help through the Student Council. He then proposes that they find the person who gave her the knife.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming demonstrates overwhelming athletic ability, defeating the entire Badminton Club with ease. Despite his joking and seemingly flirtatious behavior, he is perceptive, compassionate, and alert to supernatural threats.
• Tang Zhiqing continues to act as a responsible Student Council president, organizing the physical tests, overseeing cleanup, and identifying students who may need assistance.
• Ye Xun is introduced as shy, polite, and academically capable but emotionally vulnerable because of her mother’s injury and her family’s financial problems. Although she briefly considers killing Lu Ming to save her mother, her conscience ultimately prevents her from harming him.
• Ran Yanyue remains an important but unseen influence on Ye Xun’s judgment. Ye Xun initially views her as a rival and idealizes her intelligence, beauty, and elegance, while Lu Ming privately doubts whether she deserves such admiration.
• The mysterious black-clothed man is established as an antagonist who manipulates desperate people through magical bargains and bears a grudge against Lu Ming.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and moral choice: Ye Xun is pressured to commit murder by exploiting her fear for her mother, but she ultimately rejects the bargain.
• Appearance versus reality: Lu Ming appears to be a womanizer because of his closeness with multiple girls, yet his actual relationships are more innocent and complicated than the rumors suggest.
• Compassion and community support: The Student Council and Lu Ming represent an alternative to the Evil Beast’s predatory offer, suggesting that people can receive help without sacrificing their morality.
• Power and responsibility: Lu Ming’s immense magical power contrasts with Ye Xun’s helplessness, but he uses his strength to protect and assist others rather than dominate them.
• Youthful misunderstanding and humor: Ye Xun’s serious interpretation of Lu Ming’s relationships, along with his internal complaints about being labeled a “scumbag,” provides comic relief amid the darker plot.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing interact as trusted partners, with Lu Ming teasing her while respecting her leadership.
• Lu Ming and Ye Xun develop an unexpected connection during cleanup. He treats her kindly, offers to help with her burden, and notices that something is troubling her.
• Ye Xun questions Lu Ming about his relationships, believing he is a dangerous romantic manipulator. Lu Ming’s casual explanations only deepen her confusion.
• After discovering Ye Xun’s attempted attack, Lu Ming does not punish or condemn her. Instead, he focuses on her mother’s condition and suggests confronting the person who exploited her, positioning himself as both protector and investigator.

Chapter 91 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Attendant reveals that three years earlier, he manipulated a boy who admired the powerful Magical Girl “Empress” into luring her out. Because Empress was protecting the boy, she could not fight at full strength, and the Attendant seriously injured her.
• The Attendant attempts to ambush Lu Ming using the Witch’s “Thorns” technique, which is designed to restrict the movement of even extremely fast Magical Girls. However, Lu Ming uses his hidden Time Stop ability to bypass the attack and instantly shatter the Attendant’s head.
• Lu Ming continues attacking the weakened Attendant with a piece of paving brick, then questions him about manipulating Ye Xun into attacking him. The Attendant admits that he exploits human desires and has been strengthening other Evil Beasts by distributing his magic power.
• The Attendant transforms into his Evil Beast form, disperses into smoke, and dies. Lu Ming reflects that the Attendant’s reliance on schemes caused his defeat, since confronting Lu Ming directly might have been more dangerous for Lu Ming due to nearby civilians.
• After the Attendant’s death, Lu Ming absorbs his residual magic power and obtains a new ability: Healing, which uses magic power to restore injuries.
• Lu Ming contacts Officer Zhuang to report the Attendant’s defeat and the damage to the alley. Ye Xun becomes less suspicious of him after learning that he cooperates with the police.
• Lu Ming asks about Ye Xun’s mother. Ye Xun explains that her mother will not be paralyzed but will have difficulty walking and faces expensive medical treatment. She refuses to borrow money because her mother would dislike accepting financial help from a classmate.
• Lu Ming visits the hospital with Ye Xun. After noticing the Attendant’s residual magical presence, he uses his newly acquired healing ability on Ye Xun’s sleeping mother.
• The healing visibly relaxes the woman and appears to ease her pain. Ye Xun realizes what Lu Ming has done, thanks him emotionally, and bows deeply—accidentally spilling the vase’s water over him.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Demonstrates the effectiveness and secrecy of his Time Stop ability, defeats another Code-named Evil Beast, and gains a healing power. He also shows compassion by secretly treating Ye Xun’s mother rather than simply offering money.
• The Attendant: Is revealed to be manipulative and devoted to the larger plan involving “the Sage.” He has been strengthening Evil Beasts by sacrificing and redistributing his own magic power. Despite his experience and defensive techniques, his arrogance and reliance on indirect schemes lead to his downfall.
• Ye Xun: Remains brave and independent despite her mother’s injury and financial difficulties. Her suspicion of Lu Ming fades after seeing his connection to the police, and she becomes deeply grateful when he helps her mother.
• Ye Xun’s mother: Her condition improves enough to avoid paralysis, though she will still face long-term difficulty walking and significant treatment costs.

Significant Themes

• Deception and manipulation: The Attendant exploits human desires and trust, believing people are easily controlled. His history with Empress demonstrates how emotional attachments can be weaponized.
• Hidden strength and misunderstanding: The Attendant cannot understand Lu Ming’s ability and mistakenly interprets it as rapid movement. Lu Ming’s true power remains concealed even from powerful enemies.
• Compassion versus pride: The Attendant uses others as tools for a grand plan, while Lu Ming quietly helps Ye Xun and her mother without demanding recognition.
• The cost of power: The Attendant’s plan involves dividing his magic power to empower other Evil Beasts, while Lu Ming’s healing ability consumes substantial magic power to restore another person.
• Trust and social credibility: Ye Xun becomes reassured by Lu Ming’s cooperation with the police, showing how institutional trust influences her judgment.

Character Interactions

• The Attendant and Lu Ming clash in the alley, with the Attendant questioning Lu Ming’s nature and ability before being defeated.
• Lu Ming reports the battle to Officer Zhuang, maintaining his unusual but increasingly accepted relationship with the police.
• Ye Xun questions Lu Ming about whether he is secretly a villain, but quickly relaxes after learning that the authorities trust him.
• Lu Ming and Ye Xun discuss her mother’s condition and financial problems. He offers emotional and practical support without directly forcing her to accept money.
• In the hospital, Ye Xun discovers Lu Ming healing her mother and thanks him sincerely, ending the chapter with an accidental splash of water on him.

Chapter 92 Summary

Plot and Key Events

• Lu Ming heals Ye Xun’s injured mother using his newly discovered miraculous ability. Her recovery is so rapid that the doctor is astonished and says she will only need to remain in the hospital for another day or two.
• While waiting, Ye Xun changes Lu Ming out of his soaked clothes and adopts an exaggeratedly shy, flirtatious attitude toward him. She repeatedly thanks him and hints that she owes him something in return.
• Lu Ming jokingly demands 50,000 yuan for the treatment. Ye Xun takes him seriously and begins calculating how to borrow money and work as a delivery rider to repay him. Realizing she is genuinely worried, Lu Ming admits he was joking.
• Ye Xun insists that he is her benefactor and promises to repay him whenever he needs help. Her suggestive wording makes Lu Ming briefly imagine inappropriate possibilities, but he rejects the idea and tells her he has no interest in her romantically.
• Concerned about Ye Xun’s family’s financial hardship, Lu Ming arranges a part-time job for her at the supermarket owned by Ran Yanyue’s family. The work will allow her to continue attending school. Tang Zhiqing had helped initiate the arrangement.
• Ye Xun becomes emotional, grateful that Lu Ming has protected her education without making her feel pitied. She jokingly—or perhaps teasingly—assumes his kindness is connected to his ambitions to become the next student council president and promises to help conceal his supposed relationships with two girlfriends.
• After they part, Ye Xun reflects that Lu Ming is unusually respectful and does not leer at girls, unaware that his friends have trained him to behave properly.
• On her way home, Ye Xun is lured into an alley by another Evil Beast. It offers to grant her wish if she brings it a powerful human. She immediately calls Lu Ming for help.
• Lu Ming arrives and finds Ye Xun holding a fruit knife imbued with the Evil Beast’s aura. She seriously announces that she may need to stab him with “copper wire” again. Lu Ming takes the knife and begins questioning her about what happened.

Character Development

• Lu Ming: Demonstrates genuine kindness beneath his sarcastic and opportunistic behavior. He heals Ye Xun’s mother, refuses payment, and finds Ye Xun employment so she can remain in school. He also continues developing his ability to identify and confront Evil Beast powers.
• Ye Xun: Reveals herself as financially responsible, proud, hardworking, and deeply devoted to her family. Although she acts shy and flirtatious, her behavior is partly theatrical and partly a way of expressing gratitude. She grows to trust and admire Lu Ming, viewing him as a benefactor and a fundamentally decent person.
• Tang Zhiqing and Ran Yanyue: Though mostly off-page, they support Lu Ming’s efforts by helping arrange Ye Xun’s part-time work.
• The new Evil Beast: Introduced as a different supernatural threat from the earlier Attendant, using a separate type of aura and attempting to manipulate Ye Xun.

Themes

• Kindness versus obligation: Lu Ming’s healing could have created a financial burden for Ye Xun, but he ultimately helps her without demanding repayment.
• Pride and dignity: Ye Xun wants to support her mother and pay her own way rather than accept charity, while Lu Ming finds a solution that preserves her independence.
• Comedy through misunderstanding: Ye Xun’s exaggerated flirting and Lu Ming’s cynical reactions create humorous tension, especially when she misinterprets his kindness as romantic interest.
• Emerging supernatural danger: Ye Xun’s tendency to attract Evil Beasts suggests that her unusual emotional or magical nature may make her important to the larger conflict.
• Public image and relationships: Ye Xun misunderstands Lu Ming’s connections with Tang Zhiqing and Ran Yanyue, while Lu Ming remains concerned with how his behavior and ambitions appear to others.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and Ye Xun’s relationship shifts from benefactor and rescued junior to one based on trust and mutual familiarity.
• Ye Xun’s teasing, flirtatious behavior repeatedly unsettles Lu Ming, while his jokes and practical help leave her emotionally moved.
• Lu Ming’s arrangements through Ran Yanyue and Tang Zhiqing show his ability to use his social connections to help others.
• The chapter ends with Ye Xun again summoning Lu Ming into a dangerous supernatural encounter, reinforcing that their relationship will continue through both comedic and threatening situations.

Chapter 93 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Xun explains that an Evil Beast lured her into an alley and instructed her to stab someone in exchange for having her wish granted. After hesitating, she thought of Lu Ming but insists she never truly intended to hurt him.
• Lu Ming investigates why Evil Beasts repeatedly target Ye Xun. She reveals that she has suffered extraordinary bad luck since childhood, often being forgotten or left behind, and has learned to hide her beauty and personality to avoid attracting jealousy or further misfortune.
• Moved by Ye Xun’s optimism and self-sacrificing attitude, Lu Ming promises that if he becomes Student Council president, he will create an environment where she can openly shine.
• Lu Ming and Ye Xun go to KFC together. During a phone call, Tang Zhiqing discusses using Ye Xun as bait for dangerous Evil Beasts. She also agrees to have a private meal with Lu Ming in the future, creating a subtly romantic exchange.
• Ye Xun hesitates to eat too much because she believes finishing the meal would use up all her luck. Lu Ming reassures her that, with him, her luck will never run out and buys another meal, making her flustered and happy.
• While they eat, Ye Xun tells Lu Ming about the rivalry between the Tang Zhiqing and Ran Yanyue factions at school.
• Several students from International Middle School loudly criticize Lu Ming’s basketball victory, claiming he defeated Yan Qisheng through tricks. Ye Xun loudly and innocently praises Lu Ming, indirectly insulting the students and defending him.
• Ye Xun admits afterward that she could not tolerate hearing people speak badly about Lu Ming. She says goodbye and leaves for the evening.

Character Developments

• Ye Xun: Her history of misfortune and her strategy of disguising herself are revealed. Despite her hardships, she remains optimistic and grateful. Her “innocent” appearance conceals a sharp, teasing, and highly defensive personality. She also becomes more openly attached to Lu Ming, defending him and enjoying his attention.
• Lu Ming: He recognizes Ye Xun’s loneliness and hidden brilliance, viewing her as deserving of a better life. His promise to help her shine shows genuine concern beyond his usual teasing and flirtation. He also continues strengthening his relationships with Tang Zhiqing and Ye Xun.
• Tang Zhiqing: She displays practical thinking by suggesting Ye Xun could help lure Evil Beasts. Her willingness to accept Lu Ming’s invitation to eat together hints at growing romantic interest.
• The Evil Beasts: They appear to deliberately target vulnerable, unlucky people like Ye Xun, suggesting a more organized or psychologically manipulative method of choosing victims.

Significant Themes

• Misfortune and resilience: Ye Xun’s bad luck has shaped her behavior, but she chooses gratitude and optimism instead of bitterness.
• Hidden identity and self-expression: Ye Xun conceals her beauty and personality to protect herself, while Lu Ming encourages her to stop hiding and thrive.
• Kindness and emotional security: Lu Ming’s casual generosity and promise of continued support give Ye Xun a sense of stability she rarely experiences.
• Romantic rivalry and teasing: Conversations about factions, meals, and “winning girls over” highlight the playful love-triangle dynamics surrounding Lu Ming.
• Appearances versus reality: Ye Xun looks fragile and innocent but is clever and verbally aggressive; the students’ assumptions about Lu Ming also contrast with his actual abilities.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and Ye Xun discuss her attempted manipulation by the Evil Beast, with Lu Ming teasing her while becoming increasingly sympathetic.
• Lu Ming promises to create a Student Council where Ye Xun can flourish, deeply moving her, though she jokingly interprets it as romantic flirting.
• Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing exchange flirtatious remarks over the phone and arrange a future meal together.
• Ye Xun and Lu Ming share a warm, awkward meal in which his reassurance makes her feel valued.
• Ye Xun publicly defends Lu Ming against the visiting students through exaggerated praise and subtle insults, revealing her growing loyalty to him.

Chapter 94 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ming arrives at school early and sleeps at his desk before math class, which he considers almost hypnotic.
• Ran Yanyue returns to her seat and reveals that she has arranged for Lu Ming and her to remain desk partners if the class seating changes. Her insistence suggests she values their proximity, though she disguises it as concern for classroom discipline.
• Ran tells Lu Ming that Ye Xun has begun working at the supermarket outside school hours. She subtly implies that Lu Ming will visit Ye Xun and warns him to protect the attractive junior from harassment.
• After class, Lu Ming goes to the Student Council room, only to find the door locked from the inside. Because of his increased strength, he accidentally breaks off the doorknob and barges in.
• He discovers Tang Zhiqing changing clothes. After waiting outside briefly, Lu Ming returns to explain himself.
• Tang Zhiqing scolds him and jokingly treats the incident as evidence of his “initiative.” When Lu Ming is asked to evaluate what he saw, he declares that her body is “the finest treasure in the world,” provoking a frighteningly calm reaction.
• Tang punishes him by making him carry a bucket and ordering him to repair the broken doorknob.
• Ran Yanyue finds Lu Ming being punished and believes Tang Zhiqing has gone too far. She tells him to put down the bucket and offers to confront Tang on his behalf.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming remains careless, playful, and oblivious to romantic subtext. He jokes freely with Ran and unintentionally makes an extremely bold comment to Tang Zhiqing. His superhuman strength is again shown when he accidentally breaks the door handle.
• Ran Yanyue displays possessiveness toward Lu Ming by ensuring they remain desk partners. She also demonstrates her usual strictness and concern for order, while revealing that she pays close attention to Lu Ming’s relationships and movements.
• Tang Zhiqing becomes embarrassed and flustered after being seen changing, though she maintains a composed and authoritative exterior. Her interest in using Lu Ming to draw out Evil Beasts remains in the background, and she punishes him after his provocative evaluation.
• Ye Xun does not appear directly, but her new supermarket job creates an opportunity for Lu Ming to visit her and potentially encounter more Evil Beasts.

Significant Themes

• Romantic misunderstanding and jealousy: Ran’s comments about Ye Xun and her insistence on staying beside Lu Ming suggest concealed feelings, while Lu Ming remains largely unaware.
• Comedy from innocence and accidents: Lu Ming’s lack of awareness, broken doorknob, and ill-timed compliment create the chapter’s main humor.
• Secret identities and hidden motives: Tang and Ran both interpret Lu Ming’s behavior through their own suspicions, while Lu Ming considers how Ye Xun might attract Evil Beasts.
• Power and responsibility: Lu Ming’s growing strength causes practical problems, while his nominal role as Tang’s secretary contrasts with his lack of actual administrative work.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and Ran Yanyue: They exchange teasing remarks about their seating arrangement, with Ran masking her desire to stay near him as concern for his disruptive behavior.
• Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing: Their interaction shifts from accidental embarrassment to disciplinary comedy. Tang is visibly flustered but punishes Lu Ming after his overly direct compliment.
• Lu Ming and Ye Xun: Though they do not meet in the chapter, Ran’s news about Ye Xun’s job sets up Lu Ming’s likely visit and future interaction.
• Ran Yanyue and Tang Zhiqing: Ran implicitly challenges Tang’s punishment, showing her protective attitude toward Lu Ming and her willingness to confront the student council president.

Chapter 95 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ming waits outside the Student Council room while Ran Yanyue speaks intensely with Tang Zhiqing about his accidental intrusion while Tang was changing clothes.
• Tang claims Lu Ming’s punishment—carrying a bucket—is justified because he entered while she was changing. Ran Yanyue initially intends to defend him but is silenced by Tang’s explanation.
• Lu Ming jokes with Ran Yanyue about gender equality and potentially barging in while she changes. The exchange embarrasses her, especially as she becomes preoccupied with comparing herself to Tang.
• Lu Ming reveals that he has learned a healing technique. He offers to try using it on Ran Yanyue, whose chronic weakness and heart-related exhaustion may be curable. Ran is shocked and hopeful, agreeing to discuss it with her family and return after school.
• Before leaving, Ran unexpectedly tells Lu Ming, “Bigger isn’t necessarily better,” apparently referring to her earlier comparison with Tang. Lu Ming is confused by the remark.
• Tang asks Lu Ming to wait for her after school so they can visit Ye Xun and consult a teacher about the midterm exams.
• While waiting at the school gate, Lu Ming talks with Li Deng about a girl who messages him “goodnight” every day. Lu Ming gives intentionally evasive and sarcastic advice, while Li Deng mistakenly believes he has received meaningful romantic guidance.
• Tang eventually arrives, explaining that delays with a new teacher’s poorly formatted exam questions caused her to be late.
• Lu Ming and Tang visit One Tree Supermarket to find Ye Xun. They discover that Ye Xun is working there as a cashier and greets Lu Ming flirtatiously with a secret V-sign.
• Tang immediately suspects that Lu Ming and Ye Xun’s relationship is more intimate than he claimed. Lu Ming goes to confront Ye Xun and clarify the misunderstanding.
• Ye Xun responds by jokingly offering to punish anyone who interferes with Lu Ming’s “date” with Tang, then realizes that Lu Ming and Tang are not actually dating.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Demonstrates increasing confidence in his healing abilities and genuine concern for Ran Yanyue’s health. He continues using humor and sarcasm to navigate awkward romantic situations, especially with Tang and Ye Xun.
• Ran Yanyue: Shows unusual emotional vulnerability when Lu Ming suggests her lifelong physical weakness might be treatable. Her embarrassment and jealousy become more apparent, particularly in her remarks about Tang’s body.
• Tang Zhiqing: Maintains her commanding, teasing personality and uses the changing-room incident to control the situation and embarrass Lu Ming. She also displays suspicion toward his closeness with Ye Xun.
• Ye Xun: Appears playful and deliberately provocative, greeting Lu Ming in a way that makes Tang misunderstand their relationship. She remains deeply grateful to Lu Ming and humorously exaggerates her willingness to defend him.
• Li Deng: Continues to be romantically inexperienced and overly confident in his understanding of Lu Ming’s advice.

Significant Themes

• Romantic misunderstandings and jealousy: Tang, Ran, Ye Xun, and Lu Ming repeatedly misread or manipulate the apparent relationships between one another.
• Growing trust and emotional intimacy: Ran’s willingness to consider Lu Ming’s healing ability reflects her trust and hope in him.
• Humor through embarrassment: Much of the chapter’s comedy comes from suggestive remarks, accidental misunderstandings, and Lu Ming’s inability to interpret the girls’ indirect comments.
• Power and social maneuvering: Tang and Ran both control conversations in different ways, while Lu Ming jokingly wonders whether the Student Council girls are manipulating him.
• Healing and vulnerability: Ran’s possible recovery introduces a more serious emotional thread beneath the chapter’s romantic comedy.

Character Interactions

• Ran and Tang discuss Lu Ming’s intrusion, with Tang effortlessly defeating Ran’s attempt to defend him.
• Lu Ming teases Ran about changing clothes, causing her embarrassment and prompting her cryptic “bigger isn’t necessarily better” comment.
• Lu Ming offers Ran hope of curing her chronic illness, creating a sincere moment between them.
• Lu Ming gives Li Deng dubious romantic advice about his daily conversations with a girl.
• Tang questions Lu Ming about his relationship with Ye Xun after seeing Ye Xun greet him flirtatiously.
• Lu Ming confronts Ye Xun, who escalates the misunderstanding with an exaggerated joke about punishing Tang before acknowledging her mistake.

Chapter 96 Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing visit Ye Xun at her supermarket job as part of a Student Council effort to check on students facing family difficulties.
• Tang Zhiqing immediately demonstrates that she knows extensive details about Ye Xun, including her exam ranking, classmates, and home address. Her intimidating presence makes Ye Xun extremely nervous.
• Ye Xun explains that the supermarket manager styled her hair and uniform, making her look far more attractive than she does at school. She also admits that dressing differently helps her avoid being recognized by classmates.
• Lu Ming teases Ye Xun about her appearance and compares her with Tang Zhiqing, provoking jealousy and prompting Tang to reprimand him for comparing girls’ looks. Lu Ming cleverly apologizes while still flattering Tang.
• Inside the supermarket, Lu Ming encounters Li Deng and members of the school basketball team, who have come specifically to see the newly famous beautiful cashier and ask for her contact information.
• The basketball players awkwardly attempt to obtain Ye Xun’s contact details under the excuse of arranging future purchases. Ye Xun politely redirects them to the manager’s WeChat account instead.
• Lu Ming buys snacks and jokingly flirts with Ye Xun. She offers to add him on WeChat and deliver healthier food to him, making the interaction appear suggestive to the basketball players.
• Tang Zhiqing then asks to add Ye Xun on WeChat as well, using teachers’ snack orders as an excuse. She also reveals that she knows about Evil Beasts and wants to discuss the matter with Ye Xun.
• Ye Xun is surprised and disappointed to learn that Tang also knows Lu Ming’s supernatural secret. Tang’s faint smile suggests she has gained the upper hand in their relationship.
• The chapter ends by emphasizing Ye Xun’s efficiency and experience as a cashier, contrasting her practical competence with Lu Ming’s lack of real work experience.

Character Developments

• Ye Xun: Reveals herself to be attractive, witty, observant, and more socially confident than she first appears. She skillfully avoids giving out personal contact information while playfully teasing Lu Ming. Her efficient cashiering also suggests considerable experience working part-time jobs.
• Tang Zhiqing: Shows her intimidating authority, sharp observational skills, and extensive knowledge of the students around her. Despite her sternness, she acts protectively toward Ye Xun and subtly asserts control over the situation.
• Lu Ming: Continues acting as a mediator between the two girls, but his careless comparisons and flirtatious jokes repeatedly create tension. He also realizes that Tang and Ye Xun are beginning to compete for his attention.

Significant Themes

• Jealousy and romantic rivalry: Ye Xun becomes jealous when Lu Ming praises Tang, while Tang subtly reacts to Ye Xun’s flirtation with him.
• Hidden identities and secrets: Ye Xun conceals her appearance at school, while Lu Ming’s Evil Beast-related secret is gradually being revealed to more people.
• Social masks: Ye Xun’s supermarket appearance contrasts with her school persona, showing how people alter their behavior and presentation to avoid attention.
• Student responsibility and mutual support: The Student Council’s visit highlights concern for students with financial or family difficulties.
• Competence versus inexperience: Ye Xun’s polished work skills are contrasted with Lu Ming’s limited experience, adding humor and respect to their interactions.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and Ye Xun: Their conversation is playful and flirtatious, with Ye Xun deliberately provoking Lu Ming while pretending to be innocent. Her interest in him becomes increasingly obvious.
• Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing: Lu Ming tries to placate Tang after making her angry, while Tang maintains authority and quietly pressures him through her expressions and actions.
• Tang Zhiqing and Ye Xun: Their first direct meeting is tense because of Tang’s intimidating presence, but Tang offers support and later invites Ye Xun to discuss Evil Beasts.
• Ye Xun and the basketball team: Ye Xun handles their attention politely and professionally, avoiding personal involvement while preserving good customer service.
• Lu Ming, Tang, and Ye Xun: The three form a tense, comedic triangle in which both girls subtly compete for Lu Ming’s attention, while Lu Ming struggles to prevent their relationship from turning into “palace drama.”

Chapter 97 Summary

Plot and Key Events

• Lu Ming learns that Ye Xun has worked part-time since childhood to help support her family. Although her family’s finances have improved, she still helps her mother make plastic flowers and string beads.
• While Ye Xun is working at a supermarket, she jokingly encourages Lu Ming to buy high-profit items such as gum, cigarettes, and condoms. Lu Ming stops her from pretending to select the wrong product.
• After leaving the store, Lu Ming is ambushed and pinned down by members of the basketball club, including Li Deng. They are jealous that he knows another attractive girl and demand to know how he met Ye Xun.
• The students are shocked to discover that Lu Ming has already added Ye Xun on WeChat. They tease him about secretly developing relationships with attractive girls and mock his past bad luck in a game.
• Tang Zhiqing exits the supermarket, immediately intimidating the basketball players through her authority as Student Council president. The students quickly make excuses for gathering around Lu Ming and leave.
• The chapter highlights Tang Zhiqing’s respected reputation. The students obey her not merely because she is beautiful or holds the title of president, but because she has genuinely improved school life and once rescued a student from drowning.
• After Ye Xun finishes her shift, she tells Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing that the Evil Beast from their earlier encounter came specifically to find her in a dream. It told her that she could seek it out after stabbing someone.
• Tang Zhiqing proposes that they go find the Evil Beast. Ye Xun is nervous about entering the dangerous area, particularly because Tang Zhiqing appears to be an ordinary girl, but Lu Ming reassures her.

Character Development

• Ye Xun is shown to be hardworking, candid, and unashamed of her family’s financial situation. She also displays a playful, slightly mischievous side while working as a cashier. Her dream connection with the Evil Beast suggests that she is becoming increasingly involved in the supernatural conflict.
• Lu Ming remains the target of his friends’ jealousy and teasing because of his connections with attractive girls. He is cautious about sharing Ye Xun’s contact information without permission, showing consideration for her boundaries. He also takes responsibility for investigating the Evil Beast.
• Tang Zhiqing continues to demonstrate leadership and moral authority. Her classmates respect her because of her concrete achievements, discipline, and willingness to help others. She is decisive in suggesting that they confront the Evil Beast.
• Li Deng and the basketball club students serve as comic relief. Their exaggerated jealousy of Lu Ming reveals how unusual his relationships appear to his peers.
• Tang Zhiqing and Ye Xun have a developing connection. Tang appears sympathetic toward Ye Xun’s circumstances and is willing to accompany her into danger.

Significant Themes

• Hard work and dignity: Ye Xun’s family struggles financially, but she treats honest labor as something honorable rather than shameful.
• Reputation earned through action: Tang Zhiqing commands genuine respect because of her behavior and accomplishments, not simply her position or appearance.
• Friendship and jealousy: The basketball club’s reaction to Lu Ming highlights the contrast between ordinary teenage concerns about romance and his unusual supernatural life.
• Growing supernatural danger: The Evil Beast is no longer a distant threat; it has deliberately contacted Ye Xun and appears to be luring the group into a confrontation.
• Trust and responsibility: Lu Ming respects Ye Xun’s privacy while also taking her connection to the Evil Beast seriously.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and Ye Xun banter over her supermarket sales tactics, showing their increasingly familiar relationship.
• The basketball students tease and interrogate Lu Ming about Ye Xun, while Lu Ming refuses to reveal her contact information without consent.
• Tang Zhiqing’s arrival instantly changes the students’ behavior, demonstrating her authority over them.
• Tang Zhiqing and Lu Ming wait for Ye Xun after her shift, and the three unite to investigate the Evil Beast.
• Ye Xun’s fear contrasts with Lu Ming’s confidence and Tang Zhiqing’s decisiveness as they prepare to enter a potentially dangerous situation.

Chapter Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Ye Xun tries to pull Tang Zhiqing away from an Evil Beast, but Tang transforms into the Magical Girl “Crystal” and destroys it with a magical arrow. The beast is unusually powerful, suggesting that Haiyang’s dungeon level—and consequently its danger—has increased.
• Ye Xun discovers that the admired Magical Girl Crystal is actually Student Council President Tang Zhiqing. She realizes Lu Ming already knew and becomes jealous, assuming he likes Magical Girls.
• Lu Ming, Tang Zhiqing, and Ye Xun discuss using Ye Xun as bait to lure out Evil Beasts because of her special constitution. Tang emphasizes that Ye Xun can refuse because the plan is dangerous, but Ye Xun readily agrees.
• Ye Xun admires Tang’s beauty, academic ability, leadership, and secret role as Haiyang’s protector. She also declares herself Lu Ming’s “little follower,” making Tang jealous and prompting Lu Ming to clarify that Ye Xun is merely an ordinary classmate and that he does not expect repayment for helping her.
• Ye Xun exchanges WeChat contacts with Lu Ming and secretly resolves to pursue him gradually. After Tang leaves, Ye Xun admits that she feels intimidated by Tang’s overwhelming presence.
• The next morning, Cao Guang asks whether Lu Ming is interested in the beautiful cashier from One Tree Supermarket. Lu Ming reveals that she attends their school—implicitly referring to Ye Xun, whose disguise has prevented others from recognizing her.
• At school, Ran Yanyue tells Lu Ming that she has informed her parents about his treatment that is helping restore her physical condition. Her parents reacted with both hope and concern, and her father questioned Lu Ming seriously.

Character Developments

• Ye Xun: Her admiration for Tang grows after learning that she is Crystal, while her feelings for Lu Ming become more obvious. She willingly accepts the dangerous bait role and decides to pursue Lu Ming patiently, despite being intimidated by Tang.
• Tang Zhiqing: She is shown as a powerful, responsible Magical Girl who protects Haiyang and prioritizes Ye Xun’s safety. However, she becomes visibly jealous when Ye Xun describes herself as Lu Ming’s follower.
• Lu Ming: He remains practical and modest, refusing to treat Ye Xun as someone obligated to repay him. He also notices the tension between the girls but tries to avoid becoming involved in their jealousy.
• Ran Yanyue: Her trust in Lu Ming has deepened enough for her to tell her parents about his treatment, suggesting that his help may significantly improve her life.

Significant Themes

• Hidden identities: Tang’s public identity as Student Council President contrasts with her secret life as Magical Girl Crystal, while Ye Xun’s beauty is concealed by her disguise.
• Responsibility and sacrifice: Tang protects Haiyang despite the danger, and Ye Xun volunteers to help despite being an ordinary girl.
• Jealousy and romantic rivalry: Ye Xun’s feelings for Lu Ming intensify, while Tang reacts possessively to Ye Xun’s closeness with him.
• Trust and gratitude: Ye Xun wants to repay Lu Ming, but he insists that their relationship should not be based on obligation.
• Rising danger: The stronger Evil Beast indicates that Haiyang’s supernatural threat is escalating.

Character Interactions

• Tang and Ye Xun begin with a potentially intimidating dynamic: Ye Xun admires Tang but feels pressured by her beauty and authority, while Tang responds warmly to Ye Xun’s kindness.
• Ye Xun repeatedly flirts with or clings to Lu Ming, causing Tang to become jealous. Lu Ming attempts to reassure Tang by denying that Ye Xun is his follower.
• Lu Ming and Cao Guang have a humorous exchange about the mysterious beautiful cashier, with Lu Ming challenging Cao Guang to identify Ye Xun.
• Ran Yanyue’s conversation with Lu Ming introduces the next conflict: her parents’ cautious reaction to his treatment and their likely scrutiny of his role in their daughter’s recovery.

Chapter 99 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ran Yanyue speaks with her parents about Lu Ming’s plan to cure her illness. Although Lu Ming cannot guarantee success, her parents—especially her normally strict father—agree to trust him because he saved their family and has proven dependable.
• Ran Yanyue tells Lu Ming that her parents have agreed. Li Deng overhears and mistakenly assumes the two are already discussing marriage, leading him to jokingly worry that Lu Ming is progressing too quickly romantically.
• Li Deng tries to create jealousy by mentioning Lu Ming’s conversation with a beautiful supermarket cashier, but Ran Yanyue remains calm and unconcerned. Lu Ming clarifies that he and Ran Yanyue were only discussing visiting her family on her birthday.
• During English class, Ran Yanyue suddenly realizes how Li Deng may have misunderstood their conversation. Embarrassed, she stands abruptly and pretends she only wanted to close the window. She later punishes Li Deng with extra homework for laughing at her.
• During P.E., Ran Yanyue watches the students playing basketball and expresses her hope that, once cured, she can participate in physical activities like them. Her innocent comment leads to one of Lu Ming’s inappropriate misunderstandings, which she quickly corrects.
• At lunchtime in the Student Council room, Lu Ming begins treating Ran Yanyue. He first holds her hand and channels his magic power into her body.
• The treatment works unusually well: unlike Ye Xun’s mother, Ran Yanyue is highly compatible with Lu Ming’s magic power and absorbs it effortlessly. However, the effect only reaches her arm and does not extend to her heart.
• Lu Ming realizes that his healing ability requires physical contact with the affected area. After an awkward misunderstanding, Ran Yanyue suggests treating her from the back, since her back is close to her heart. The chapter ends as she lifts her clothing slightly and asks Lu Ming to place his hand there.

Character Developments

• Ran Yanyue: Becomes more emotionally open and trusting toward Lu Ming. She is embarrassed by romantic misunderstandings but also shows determination and courage in pursuing treatment. Her hope of recovering and living like an ordinary student becomes more apparent.
• Lu Ming: Demonstrates his willingness to help Ran Yanyue and discovers that his magical power is exceptionally compatible with her body. He remains reliable but also displays his usual teasing, blunt, and occasionally inappropriate sense of humor.
• Ran Yanyue’s parents: Their trust in Lu Ming strengthens, particularly because of his past actions in saving their family. Their support gives Ran Yanyue greater confidence in proceeding with the treatment.
• Li Deng: Acts as a comic troublemaker by misinterpreting Lu Ming and Ran Yanyue’s relationship and attempting, unsuccessfully, to stir jealousy. His teasing earns him extra homework.

Significant Themes

• Trust and emotional support: Ran Yanyue’s parents choose to trust Lu Ming despite the uncertainty surrounding the treatment, reinforcing the importance of faith in someone’s character.
• Hope for recovery and normalcy: Ran Yanyue longs to regain her health and participate in ordinary teenage activities, especially sports.
• Growing intimacy: The treatment requires physical contact, creating awkwardness and romantic tension between Lu Ming and Ran Yanyue.
• Comedy through misunderstanding: Li Deng’s assumption that Lu Ming and Ran Yanyue are discussing marriage, along with Lu Ming’s suggestive misunderstandings, provides much of the chapter’s humor.
• Magic as a healing force: The chapter reveals that Lu Ming’s magical power does not affect everyone equally; Ran Yanyue’s unusually high compatibility may be important to the success of her cure.

Character Interactions

• Ran Yanyue’s parents reassure her that Lu Ming is trustworthy.
• Li Deng teases Ran Yanyue about Lu Ming’s interactions with other girls, but she shows no jealousy.
• Ran Yanyue and Lu Ming joke awkwardly about basketball and the nature of her treatment.
• Lu Ming heals Ran Yanyue by holding her hand, and the two grow increasingly embarrassed as they determine where physical contact is needed for the magic to reach her heart.

Chapter 100 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ming uses his healing ability on Ran Yanyue through direct physical contact, explaining that skin contact is necessary for the healing to work effectively.
• Ran Yanyue experiences a dramatic improvement: her chronic discomfort disappears, her heart feels warmer, and her body becomes noticeably more relaxed and energetic.
• Lu Ming wonders whether transferring so much of his magical power into Ran Yanyue might affect her body or even turn her into a Magical Girl.
• Tang Zhiqing unexpectedly returns to the Student Council room and nearly catches Lu Ming and Ran Yanyue in an awkward position. Ran Yanyue has not yet refastened her clothing, so she hides the problem while Lu Ming invents an excuse, claiming that Ran Yanyue is angry because he failed an English vocabulary quiz.
• Tang Zhiqing asks Lu Ming to massage her stiff shoulders. Afterward, Ran Yanyue also asks Lu Ming to massage her, creating an awkward, faintly competitive atmosphere between the two girls.
• Once Tang Zhiqing leaves, Ran Yanyue explains that the healing has eased the strain on her heart, though several sessions will probably be needed for a more substantial recovery.
• During afternoon class, the teacher announces that PE and math classes have been repeatedly exchanged, surprising the students with the unexpected amount of PE.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Demonstrates increasing confidence and effectiveness with his healing ability. He remains considerate toward Ran Yanyue but becomes flustered by the intimate situation and by the apparent tension between Ran Yanyue and Tang Zhiqing.
• Ran Yanyue: Experiences genuine hope for the first time regarding her health. She becomes emotionally vulnerable, sincerely thanking Lu Ming and telling him that he has changed her life. She also begins imagining what she would do if she became healthy, especially exercising freely.
• Tang Zhiqing: Continues to act as a supportive student council president and close friend to Ran Yanyue. Her familiarity with Lu Ming is shown through their comfortable massage routine, while her unexpected entrance adds comic tension.

Significant Themes

• Healing and hope: Ran Yanyue’s recovery represents the possibility of a future she had previously considered impossible.
• Trust and intimacy: Lu Ming’s healing requires physical closeness, forcing both characters to navigate embarrassment, privacy, and mutual trust.
• Gratitude and life-changing kindness: Ran Yanyue recognizes that Lu Ming’s help is far more significant than ordinary academic assistance.
• Romantic tension and jealousy: The massage scene hints at a subtle rivalry or possessiveness between Ran Yanyue and Tang Zhiqing.
• Imagining the future: Ran Yanyue begins to envision an active, healthy life rather than simply accepting her physical limitations.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and Ran Yanyue share an intimate healing session marked by awkwardness but growing trust.
• Tang Zhiqing’s arrival interrupts them, leading to Lu Ming’s improvised explanation and Ran Yanyue’s embarrassment.
• Lu Ming massages Tang Zhiqing, then Ran Yanyue, with Ran Yanyue making pointed remarks that suggest jealousy or suspicion.
• Ran Yanyue openly tells Lu Ming that he has changed her life and promises to help him whenever he needs it.