Chapter Summaries

Chapter 101 Summary

Key plot points and events

• Lu Ming and his classmates finally get PE after math had taken two previous classes. At the gym, the senior students are allowed free time while the first-years practice radio calisthenics.
• The boys discuss and admire the younger female students, particularly a blonde girl and another seemingly innocent girl.
• Ye Xun approaches Lu Ming and asks him to teach her the exercises because her class has an odd number of students. Lu Ming repeatedly refuses, claiming he has promised to play Yu-Gi-Oh! with his friends.
• His classmates are shocked and impressed that he prioritizes his friends over an attractive junior. When another classmate volunteers to help Ye Xun, she immediately rejects him, revealing that she specifically wants Lu Ming’s attention.
• Lu Ming eventually agrees to supervise Ye Xun rather than practice with her. She performs the exercises exaggeratedly, pretending to be tired and using tiptoes to make her legs look longer.
• Lu Ming recognizes that Ye Xun is deliberately acting cute and flirtatious. Their banter reveals that she is intelligent, confident, and skilled at manipulating appearances. She boasts about ranking first in her year, while Lu Ming awkwardly avoids admitting his own academic standing.
• Lu Ming asks whether Ye Xun encountered any Evil Beasts on her way home the previous night. Her hesitant answer suggests that she did encounter one, raising questions about her connection to Evil Beasts.
• The scene ends when a loud volleyball spike interrupts them. The volleyball players criticize Yang Xing for hitting too powerfully during practice.

Character developments

• Lu Ming: Maintains a guarded and skeptical attitude toward Ye Xun, refusing to be drawn in by her innocent appearance. He values his friends and uses humor and evasiveness to conceal his academic insecurity. His concern about Ye Xun’s possible Evil Beast encounter also shows that he is increasingly alert to supernatural dangers.
• Ye Xun: Demonstrates a playful, manipulative, and flirtatious personality beneath her innocent façade. She clearly targets Lu Ming specifically, rejecting other potential helpers and performing exaggeratedly to impress him. Her excellent grades establish her as both attractive and highly capable. Her response about the Evil Beast hints at a potentially important secret.
• Lu Ming’s classmates: Initially envy Lu Ming’s popularity with girls, but they are surprised and impressed by his apparent loyalty to his friends. Their reactions provide much of the chapter’s comedic commentary.
• Yang Xing: Introduced as a powerful volleyball player whose aggressive style may cause problems for others, though his role in the larger story remains unclear.

Significant themes

• Appearance versus reality: Ye Xun looks shy and helpless but is actually physically capable, academically outstanding, and socially manipulative.
• Loyalty and friendship: Lu Ming’s refusal to abandon his friends for Ye Xun earns their admiration, even though he ultimately continues interacting with her.
• Flirtation and emotional manipulation: Ye Xun uses vulnerability, praise, and theatrical behavior to draw Lu Ming’s attention, while Lu Ming tries to resist her influence.
• The supernatural encroaching on ordinary life: A mundane PE class is intertwined with the ongoing Evil Beast mystery, suggesting that Ye Xun may have a deeper connection to the supernatural conflict.

Character interactions

• Lu Ming and Ye Xun: The chapter centers on their teasing, distrustful exchange. Ye Xun openly seeks his attention, while Lu Ming calls out her exaggerated behavior and tries to maintain emotional distance.
• Lu Ming and his classmates: His classmates mock, admire, and misunderstand his refusal to help Ye Xun, creating a humorous contrast between his private suspicions and their romantic interpretation.
• Ye Xun and the other classmate: Her rejection of another volunteer makes it clear that she is not simply looking for any partner—she specifically wants Lu Ming.
• Volleyball players: Their complaints about Yang Xing’s overly forceful play provide the chapter’s closing interruption.

Chapter 102 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ming observes tension within the Volleyball Club, whose members appear dissatisfied with Yang Xing.
• Ran Yanyue joins Lu Ming and Ye Xun. She recognizes Ye Xun as a talented, high-achieving student and learns that Ye Xun hopes to become Lu Ming’s secretary.
• Ran confidently announces that she intends to become Student Council president the following year, implying that Lu Ming will remain secretary rather than take the presidency himself. Lu Ming is irritated by her confidence.
• Ye Xun reveals that the Student Council may have become connected to the Evil Beasts. The previous night, she witnessed an Evil Beast speaking with a student outside her home.
• She then saw the creature transform into black mist and enter the student’s body, effectively possessing him.
• Ye Xun identifies the possessed student as Yang Xing, a member of Haiyang No. 2 Middle School’s Volleyball Club.
• A volleyball fired toward Ran Yanyue, but Lu Ming caught it effortlessly without turning around, drawing admiration from the surrounding students.
• Ran goes to find Tang Zhiqing while Lu Ming remains behind to keep Yang Xing under control.
• Lu Ming recalls the devastating casualties that even a single nearly evolved Evil Beast can cause, realizing that Yang Xing could pose a major threat if he loses control inside the school.
• Lu Ming approaches Yang Xing under the pretense of wanting to practice volleyball with him and brings Ye Xun into the interaction, attempting to keep Yang Xing calm while they wait for help.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Demonstrates exceptional reflexes and physical control by stopping the incoming volleyball instantly. He becomes more cautious and strategic after learning that Yang Xing is possessed, understanding the danger the situation presents.
• Ye Xun: Continues presenting herself as an admiring, seemingly innocent junior, though Lu Ming and the narration suggest she may be more calculating than she appears. She proves observant and courageous by reporting what she witnessed despite being frightened.
• Ran Yanyue: Displays her usual confidence and competitive attitude, openly claiming the future Student Council presidency. She is wary of Ye Xun and notices the junior’s interest in Lu Ming.
• Yang Xing: Is revealed to be the likely host of an Evil Beast. He appears detached and uninterested in Lu Ming’s conversation, but his true condition remains unclear.
• Tang Zhiqing: Does not appear directly but is summoned because her assistance is needed to handle the potential possession.

Significant Themes

• Hidden danger beneath ordinary life: A normal school volleyball practice conceals the presence of a possessed student and a potentially catastrophic supernatural threat.
• Competition and rivalry: Ran Yanyue and Lu Ming compete over the future Student Council presidency, while Ye Xun’s admiration for Lu Ming creates additional interpersonal tension.
• Trust and deception: Ye Xun’s innocent demeanor contrasts with the narrator’s suspicion of her motives, while Yang Xing’s possession raises questions about whether he is responsible for his behavior.
• The cost of unchecked power: Lu Ming’s memory of a past Evil Beast attack emphasizes how quickly supernatural threats can cause mass casualties.
• Maintaining composure under pressure: Lu Ming avoids alarming Yang Xing and uses casual conversation and volleyball as a way to stall while preparing for a dangerous confrontation.

Character Interactions

• Ran Yanyue evaluates Ye Xun as both a talented student and a possible rival for Lu Ming’s attention.
• Ye Xun openly praises Ran but also declares her desire to become Lu Ming’s secretary, provoking Ran’s suspicion.
• Lu Ming jokingly downplays his relationship with Ran, though his explanations only make the situation sound more intimate.
• Ye Xun informs Lu Ming and Ran about the Evil Beast possession and identifies Yang Xing.
• Lu Ming calmly challenges Yang Xing to play volleyball, positioning himself near the suspected host while concealing his real purpose.
• The chapter ends with Yang Xing questioning Ye Xun’s membership in the Volleyball Club, leaving the confrontation poised to escalate.

Chapter 103 Summary

Key plot points and events

• Lu Ming, Ye Xun, and Yang Xing meet at the gymnasium during the daily check-in period. Lu Ming jokes about Ye Xun being an inactive “ghost” or “zombie” member, while Ye Xun continues making suggestive remarks about being close to him.
• Lu Ming proposes playing volleyball with Yang Xing to stall for time until Tang Zhiqing arrives. Each side forms a two-person team: Lu Ming and Ye Xun versus Yang Xing and a thinner rookie from the Volleyball Club.
• Although Ye Xun has little practical volleyball experience, she understands the basic rules and quickly proves surprisingly capable. Her first reception and set to Lu Ming are exceptionally accurate.
• Lu Ming responds with an overwhelmingly powerful spike that slams the ball into the floor beside Yang Xing and sends it flying into the wall. The spectators, including the PE teachers, are shocked by his speed and strength.
• Ye Xun angrily defends Lu Ming after a student jokes that he could become a “wife-beater,” but her declaration that she is “willing” creates an even more embarrassing misunderstanding. Lu Ming hurriedly silences and pulls her away.
• Yang Xing becomes increasingly unsettled by Lu Ming’s strength. The pressure causes the Evil Beast’s aura inside him to begin emerging, suggesting that he may lose control or reveal his supernatural secret.
• Tang Zhiqing arrives and reassures Lu Ming simply by being present. Ran Yanyue also appears and encourages him to win on behalf of the Student Council.
• Motivated by the encouragement of the two senior girls, Lu Ming decides to take the match seriously and defeat the Volleyball Club’s main player. Ye Xun becomes jealous because Lu Ming reacts more strongly to Tang Zhiqing and Ran Yanyue’s encouragement than to hers.

Character developments

• Lu Ming: Initially intends only to stall for time, but his competitive spirit is awakened by the support of Tang Zhiqing and Ran Yanyue. His extraordinary athletic ability also becomes more publicly visible, potentially drawing attention from the PE teachers and Yang Xing.
• Ye Xun: Demonstrates natural talent and strong coordination despite being considered an inactive club member. Her loyalty to Lu Ming is obvious, and she openly identifies more with the Student Council than the Volleyball Club. Her flirtatious behavior and jealousy become increasingly pronounced.
• Yang Xing: Reveals his ambition to become a national volleyball champion and eventually a wealthy professional athlete with the Evil Beast’s assistance. Lu Ming’s spike shakes his confidence and triggers the Evil Beast’s influence.
• Tang Zhiqing: Acts as a calming and dependable presence for Lu Ming. Her arrival immediately makes him feel secure, though her amused attention toward him and Ye Xun hints that she notices their closeness.
• Ran Yanyue: Offers restrained but meaningful support, reinforcing Lu Ming’s sense of duty to the Student Council.

Significant themes

• Ambition and temptation: Yang Xing’s dreams of fame and wealth are empowered by the Evil Beast, raising concerns about the moral cost of achieving success through supernatural means.
• Loyalty and belonging: Ye Xun’s claim that her “heart” belongs to the Student Council reflects the growing unity and influence of the organization.
• Competition and pride: The volleyball match becomes more than a casual game, as the Volleyball Club seeks to defend its status while Lu Ming is drawn into proving himself.
• Romantic tension and jealousy: Ye Xun’s possessive affection and jealousy toward Tang Zhiqing and Ran Yanyue create much of the chapter’s humor and interpersonal conflict.
• Hidden supernatural danger: Lu Ming’s impressive performance unintentionally agitates Yang Xing and begins to expose the Evil Beast’s presence.

Character interactions

• Lu Ming and Ye Xun exchange constant teasing, with Ye Xun repeatedly making bold romantic comments that embarrass Lu Ming.
• Ye Xun and Lu Ming cooperate effectively on the court, revealing an unexpectedly strong partnership.
• Lu Ming’s spike humiliates and alarms Yang Xing, shifting the balance of the confrontation.
• Tang Zhiqing’s arrival reassures Lu Ming while also observing his closeness with Ye Xun.
• Ran Yanyue and Tang Zhiqing encourage Lu Ming, prompting him to fight seriously.
• Ye Xun reacts jealously when Lu Ming responds more enthusiastically to the senior girls’ support than to her own cheering.

Chapter 104 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• During the volleyball match, Ye Xun becomes upset after eating several buns, but Lu Ming reassures her that her cheering motivated him. Her spirits recover, and the two resolve to win together.
• Yang Xing, empowered by the Evil Beast inside him, dramatically increases his physical abilities and unleashes powerful jump serves. He believes he can defeat Lu Ming and become the most impressive player on Haiyang’s court.
• Lu Ming effortlessly intercepts and returns Yang Xing’s supposedly unstoppable attacks, shocking the students, teachers, and especially Ye Xun, who gains a new appreciation for his strength.
• Yang Xing asks the Evil Beast for even more power. The creature warns that using too much magic could expose them, but Yang Xing’s obsession with defeating Lu Ming leads him to ignore the danger.
• Lu Ming recognizes that Yang Xing is being controlled by something and warns him to stop. The Evil Beast then takes control, emerges from Yang Xing’s body, and transforms into a massive One-Eyed Evil Beast.
• The Evil Beast attacks the gymnasium. The PE teachers evacuate the students, while one teacher risks himself to rescue Yang Xing. Lu Ming saves the teacher from the Beast’s claw, even joking about the teacher’s cigarettes afterward.
• Magical Girl Crystal arrives at the perfect moment and destroys the Evil Beast with a magical arrow, first shattering its head and then its core as it attempts to flee.
• Instead of leaving immediately, Crystal praises Lu Ming for bravely protecting the teacher. In front of everyone, she hugs him and gives him a magical crystal-butterfly blessing before disappearing.

Character Development

• Lu Ming: Demonstrates overwhelming athletic ability and calmness under pressure. He remains compassionate and courageous, risking himself to save the PE teacher. His awareness of the Evil Beast’s presence also suggests he understands more about the supernatural situation than he reveals.
• Ye Xun: Regains confidence through Lu Ming’s encouragement and becomes openly impressed—and romantically flustered—by his strength and bravery.
• Yang Xing: His pride and fixation on defeating Lu Ming grow into reckless behavior. He willingly accepts dangerous additional power, ultimately losing control of his body and becoming a vessel for the Evil Beast.
• The Evil Beast: Reveals that it had been using Yang Xing while planning to absorb more magical energy, evolve, and find a stronger host—possibly Lu Ming.
• Magical Girl Crystal/Tang: Acts decisively in battle but shows unusual personal interest in Lu Ming by publicly praising, embracing, and blessing him.

Significant Themes

• Courage and self-sacrifice: Lu Ming and the PE teacher risk themselves to save others, contrasting with Yang Xing’s self-centered pursuit of victory.
• Power and control: Yang Xing’s desire for strength allows the Evil Beast to dominate him, showing the dangers of ambition without restraint.
• Hidden identities and supernatural awareness: Lu Ming recognizes the Evil Beast, while Crystal’s behavior hints at her concealed connection to him.
• Romantic admiration: Ye Xun’s feelings deepen as she witnesses Lu Ming’s power, while Crystal’s public embrace creates new romantic tension and mystery.
• The contrast between appearance and reality: The volleyball match initially seems like a school competition, but it becomes a supernatural battle disguised beneath ordinary events.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ming encourages Ye Xun, strengthening their supportive junior-senior relationship.
• Yang Xing directly challenges Lu Ming, turning the volleyball game into a personal contest.
• Lu Ming warns Yang Xing to stop, implying he knows Yang Xing is being influenced by the Evil Beast.
• Lu Ming saves the PE teacher, who is shocked and touched by his bravery.
• Magical Girl Crystal publicly singles out Lu Ming for praise and affection, hugging him and giving him a magical blessing before vanishing.

Chapter 105 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Crystal kisses and hugs Lu Ming in front of the gymnasium, nearby students overwhelm him with questions about their relationship and Crystal’s identity.
• Tang Zhiqing and Ran Yanyue observe the commotion. Ran reveals that she decided to run for Student Council president partly so she could give Lu Ming, the president’s secretary, more work.
• Throughout the afternoon, Lu Ming is interrogated by classmates curious about Crystal. He insists that he has no relationship with her, though he privately remembers his much closer physical interactions with Tang Zhiqing during training.
• Tang Zhiqing arrives and disperses the students before class. She explains that the One-Eyed Evil Beast relied on possession rather than direct combat.
• Yang Xing survives but is hospitalized. He has lost the memories of the previous several weeks, suffered a broken leg when the Evil Beast stepped on him, and may never again be able to participate in strenuous exercise.
• Lu Ming asks Tang Zhiqing why she hugged him. Instead of answering, she teasingly tells him to guess, leaving him uncertain whether she may have romantic interest in him.
• After school, Lu Ming discovers missed calls from Lu Annuan and a concerned message from Meng Xuan. Realizing Annuan is worried because of the Evil Beast attack, he decides to visit her at International Middle School using Coach Jiang’s access card.
• At the skating department, Coach Jiang worries that Lu Annuan’s concern for Lu Ming is affecting her performance before an important practice match attended by national sports officials. Mr. Wang tries once again to invite Coach Jiang to dinner, but she rejects him because of the match.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Becomes the center of attention after Crystal’s public affection. He remains oblivious or uncertain about Tang Zhiqing’s feelings, though he privately recognizes his attraction to her. His concern for Lu Annuan motivates him to visit her.
• Tang Zhiqing: Continues to tease Lu Ming and deliberately avoids explaining her hug, suggesting a more personal interest in him. She also maintains her composed, capable leadership as Student Council president.
• Ran Yanyue: Shows signs of jealousy or displeasure after seeing Crystal hug Lu Ming. Her decision to pursue the presidency is partly motivated by wanting authority over Lu Ming and more opportunities to assign him work.
• Lu Annuan: Though she does not appear directly, her missed calls and distracted skating reveal that she is genuinely worried about Lu Ming.
• Coach Jiang: Demonstrates concern for Annuan’s mental state and the consequences it may have for her important performance. She remains direct and uninterested in Mr. Wang’s romantic advances.
• Yang Xing: Suffers serious consequences for allowing the Evil Beast to possess him and endangering the school.

Significant Themes

• Public image and celebrity: Magical Girls are treated like idols, and even a brief hug becomes a major source of gossip.
• Romantic ambiguity: Crystal’s kiss, Tang Zhiqing’s teasing, Ran Yanyue’s irritation, and Annuan’s concern all complicate Lu Ming’s relationships.
• Responsibility and consequences: Yang Xing’s injuries emphasize the danger of cooperating with Evil Beasts and placing others at risk.
• Jealousy and competition: Several girls’ reactions to Lu Ming suggest growing romantic rivalry, while Lu Ming remains slow to understand it.
• Duty versus emotion: Annuan’s worry affects her athletic responsibilities, while Lu Ming chooses to check on her despite his own busy day.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and the students: His classmates repeatedly question him about Crystal, treating his encounter with her as extraordinary.
• Tang Zhiqing and Ran Yanyue: Their conversation exposes Ran’s hidden motivation for seeking the presidency and hints at tension between them over Lu Ming.
• Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing: He asks why she hugged him; she responds with playful mystery rather than honesty, reinforcing their flirtatious uncertainty.
• Lu Ming and Lu Annuan: Though they do not meet in the chapter, her calls and his decision to visit her show mutual concern.
• Coach Jiang and Mr. Wang: Mr. Wang makes another romantic approach, but Coach Jiang rejects him firmly and prioritizes the skating match.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Coach Jiang spots Lu Ming at the school gate and immediately welcomes him into the skating rink to watch Lu Annuan’s practice competition.
• Mr. Wang, apparently interested in Coach Jiang, invites her to dinner, but she directly rejects him, leaving him devastated. Lu Ming comments that she could have been more tactful, but Coach Jiang defends her straightforward approach.
• Lu Ming explains that he rarely has to reject anyone because few people confess to him. Coach Jiang is relieved to learn he is not a flirt or involved with another girl.
• Inside the rink, the competition is filled with elite skaters, including provincial champion Tang Jie and Shanghai twins Ye Qian and Ye Zhen. Professional judges, reporters, and knowledgeable spectators recognize the event as highly competitive.
• Reporter Xia Xuan notices that Lu Annuan appears distracted and unusually unfocused during warm-ups. Other competitors also recognize her poor condition and see an opportunity to surpass her.
• Tang Jie performs an impressive 2S1A combination, confidently challenging Lu Annuan.
• When Lu Annuan notices Lu Ming in the stands, her skating suddenly improves. She smiles toward him and successfully performs a quadruple jump, stunning the entire venue.
• Despite her spectacular performance, Lu Annuan remains preoccupied with whether Lu Ming is safe. She worries that he may have fought an Evil Beast, been secretly injured, or even died in some unpleasant accident.
• She has contacted Tang Zhiqing for information but considers asking Lu Ming’s other friends, such as Ran Yanyue, although jealousy makes her reluctant to add more of his female acquaintances.

Character Developments

• Coach Jiang is shown to be emotionally honest, decisive, and uninterested in misleading people. Her blunt rejection of Mr. Wang reflects her mature and practical attitude toward relationships. She also demonstrates strong confidence in Lu Ming’s potential as a skater.
• Lu Ming appears polite and somewhat uncomfortable with attention. He is close enough to Lu Annuan to influence her performance simply by being present, while Coach Jiang views him as a promising athlete.
• Lu Annuan is revealed to be deeply worried about Lu Ming. Her distraction comes from concern for his safety, but seeing him immediately restores her confidence and allows her to perform at her highest level. Her concern also reveals both affection and jealousy.
• Mr. Wang is clearly interested in Coach Jiang, but her firm rejection leaves him crushed.
• Tang Jie is portrayed as a talented, ambitious rival who recognizes Lu Annuan’s weakened state and openly challenges her.
• Xia Xuan acts as an observant reporter and supporter of Haiyang’s skating community. She quickly notices Lu Annuan’s unusual condition and becomes anxious about her performance.

Significant Themes

• Directness in relationships: Coach Jiang believes clear rejection is kinder than giving someone false hope.
• Emotional influence on performance: Lu Annuan’s skating deteriorates when she is worried, but Lu Ming’s presence gives her immediate confidence and inspiration.
• Competition and pressure: The rink is filled with elite athletes, making the event a serious test of skill and reputation.
• Affection and jealousy: Lu Annuan’s concern for Lu Ming suggests romantic feelings, while her reluctance to contact his female friends reveals possessiveness.
• Public image versus private emotion: Lu Annuan appears distracted and vulnerable beneath the scrutiny of judges, competitors, reporters, and spectators.

Character Interactions

• Coach Jiang warmly greets Lu Ming and grants him access despite his attendance at a rival school.
• She rejects Mr. Wang’s invitation without ambiguity, prompting Lu Ming to comment on her harshness.
• Coach Jiang questions Lu Ming about his romantic experience and is reassured that he is not a playboy.
• Tang Jie indirectly challenges Lu Annuan through her impressive skating display.
• Lu Annuan responds to Lu Ming’s presence with a dramatic improvement, effectively answering Tang Jie’s challenge with a quadruple jump.
• Although Lu Ming is physically present in the stands, Lu Annuan’s thoughts remain focused on whether he has been injured while fighting Evil Beasts.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• During warm-ups, Lu Annuan notices Tang Jie performing several impressive jumps. Although impressed, she worries Tang Jie may be wasting energy before the competition.
• When Lu Ming arrives, Lu Annuan becomes visibly motivated and performs a quadruple jump during warm-ups—an exceptionally difficult feat that stuns everyone present.
• Xia Xuan explains how remarkable the jump is and speculates that Lu Annuan must have been unusually happy or excited to attempt it spontaneously.
• Lu Annuan competes to the music of Moonlight and delivers an outstanding performance. Lu Ming confidently predicts her success, knowing her habits and recognizing that she never loses when she adopts a serious expression.
• After the event, Lu Annuan ignores the expected interview and goes directly to Lu Ming, proudly asking for his opinion. She reveals that she had worried when he failed to message her and had been distracted by concern for him.
• Tang Jie congratulates Lu Annuan and admits that the gap between them is much larger than she expected. She jokingly—or perhaps seriously—suggests that Lu Ming may be the reason Lu Annuan is so strong.
• Lu Annuan insists that Lu Ming is only her childhood friend, but Tang Jie’s innocent questions leave her embarrassed and flustered.
• Tang Jie accepts her defeat gracefully and vows to beat Lu Annuan next time. She then decides she should find a childhood friend of her own.
• Everyone already assumes Lu Annuan has won first place, even before the official results are announced.
• The chapter ends abruptly when the principals of both Lu Ming and Lu Annuan’s schools appear and notice the pair holding hands across the rink. Their stern expressions create an ominous and embarrassing cliffhanger.

2. Character Developments

• Lu Annuan: Her competitive confidence is reinforced, but her emotional dependence on Lu Ming becomes increasingly obvious. His arrival gives her an immediate boost, and she performs partly to impress him. She is also embarrassed by how naturally affectionate their interaction appears.
• Lu Ming: Though unfamiliar with figure skating, he understands Lu Annuan exceptionally well and notices subtle habits that even Xia Xuan has missed. He remains calm, observant, supportive, and quietly protective of her feelings.
• Tang Jie: She is established as a talented, straightforward, and highly competitive skater. Despite losing, she is respectful and determined to improve. Her literal-minded comments about childhood friends provide comic relief and unintentionally expose Lu Annuan’s feelings.
• Xia Xuan: She acts as an enthusiastic observer and commentator, gradually realizing that Lu Ming is not merely a casual fan but someone deeply familiar with Lu Annuan.
• The Principals: Their sudden appearance introduces tension, suggesting that Lu Ming and Lu Annuan may face consequences or questioning over their intimate-looking behavior.

3. Significant Themes

• Affection as motivation: Lu Ming’s presence directly inspires Lu Annuan’s best performance, showing how deeply their bond affects her.
• Childhood intimacy and romantic ambiguity: Their relationship is described as “healthy” childhood friendship, but their effortless hand-holding, emotional closeness, and Lu Annuan’s embarrassment suggest romantic feelings beneath the surface.
• Competition and sportsmanship: Tang Jie admires Lu Annuan’s ability, accepts defeat maturely, and promises to return stronger.
• Perception versus reality: Outsiders interpret Lu Ming and Lu Annuan’s relationship differently. Lu Annuan insists they are only childhood friends, while others—including Tang Jie and the principals—see something more intimate.
• Humor through misunderstanding: Tang Jie interprets relationships through the lens of skating, while Xia Xuan initially misunderstands Lu Ming’s connection to Lu Annuan.

4. Character Interactions

• Lu Annuan silently compares herself with Tang Jie, then dramatically outperforms her after seeing Lu Ming arrive.
• Xia Xuan questions Lu Ming about his knowledge of Lu Annuan and becomes amazed by how closely he observes her.
• Lu Ming and Lu Annuan reunite warmly, holding hands without realizing how intimate they appear.
• Tang Jie directly questions whether Lu Ming is Lu Annuan’s boyfriend and whether he contributes to her skating ability, causing Lu Annuan considerable embarrassment.
• The chapter concludes with the principals silently confronting the pair, turning their innocent interaction into a potentially serious misunderstanding.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ming is caught holding Lu Annuan’s hand in front of both the Haiyang No. 2 Middle School principal and the International Middle School principal.
• The principals question why Lu Ming is at the competition and why he and Lu Annuan are holding hands, since both schools prohibit romantic relationships.
• Lu Ming calmly explains that he came to support Lu Annuan, whose family has been close to his for years. He justifies holding her hand by comparing it to how her deceased mother used to encourage her during competitions.
• After learning that Lu Annuan’s mother died when she was young, the Haiyang principal feels guilty for challenging their behavior. Both principals silently agree to overlook the apparent relationship and accept Lu Ming’s explanation.
• Lu Annuan accidentally worsens the situation by mentioning that Lu Ming will carry her backpack—containing her underwear and clothes—and that they will go home together, unintentionally implying that they live together.
• Lu Ming quickly clarifies that their homes are next door, allowing the principals to maintain their convenient pretense.
• Meng Xuan arrives and openly jokes that Lu Ming and Lu Annuan are dating, nearly exposing them. The principals reprimand her for making an “irresponsible” assumption and force her to copy the school rules as punishment.
• After the principals leave, Meng Xuan praises Lu Ming and Lu Annuan for their boldness. Lu Ming insists there is nothing to fear because they have done nothing wrong.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming demonstrates composure, quick thinking, and social intelligence. He takes control of the situation by offering the principals a plausible explanation rather than denying everything.
• Lu Annuan is nervous and embarrassed but instinctively clings to Lu Ming for reassurance. Her panic causes her to reveal increasingly intimate details about their relationship and living arrangements.
• The two principals reveal a pragmatic side. Though they suspect Lu Ming and Lu Annuan are dating, both choose to ignore it to preserve appearances and avoid conflict.
• Meng Xuan remains outspoken and mischievous, but her impulsive teasing nearly creates a serious problem. She also reveals a comical, exaggerated view of relationships, marriage, and legitimacy.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: Everyone recognizes that Lu Ming and Lu Annuan likely have a romantic relationship, yet the principals deliberately accept a more innocent explanation.
• School rules versus human compassion: The strict prohibition against dating gives way when the principal learns about Lu Annuan’s mother and understands the emotional meaning behind Lu Ming’s support.
• Social maneuvering and saving face: The principals and Lu Ming cooperate—implicitly and humorously—to avoid public embarrassment.
• Family-like intimacy and emotional support: Lu Ming’s closeness with Lu Annuan reflects their long history as neighbors and his effort to fill an emotional gap left by her mother’s death.
• Comedy through misunderstandings: Hand-holding, shared clothing, and living next door are interpreted as evidence of romance, while every character struggles to preserve plausible deniability.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and Lu Annuan: Their nervous hand-holding and mutual dependence suggest deep intimacy, even though neither openly confirms their relationship.
• Lu Ming and the principals: Lu Ming remains respectful but confident, persuading both principals to overlook his behavior.
• The principals with each other: Despite usually being rivals, they cooperate perfectly in covering up the situation.
• Meng Xuan and the group: Meng Xuan’s teasing exposes how obvious Lu Ming and Lu Annuan’s closeness appears to outsiders, but her poor timing leads to punishment rather than clarification.

Chapter 109 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the skating competition, Meng Xuan leaves Lu Ming and Lu Annuan to return home together.
• While walking under the streetlights, Lu Annuan recalls how nervous she used to become before competitions. When they were children, her mother would hold her hand to calm her.
• Lu Annuan reveals that she once wished Lu Ming would hold her hand, but he refused because he was watching another girl skate—apparently Tang Zhiqing.
• Feeling guilty and nostalgic, Lu Ming takes Lu Annuan’s hand, describing it as a small way to make up for the past. She accepts happily.
• Lu Annuan reminisces about meeting Lu Ming at Disneyland in third grade. She remembers the exact date and time because she had been counting the time she spent with him.
• She explains that she ran toward him at Disneyland because she was excited to see him, then fell and cried. Lu Ming had held her hand for the rest of the day, which helped make hand-holding natural and familiar to her.
• After dinner, Lu Annuan goes to bed early because the competition has left her unusually exhausted. She and Lu Ming jokingly calculate exaggerated “recovery rates.”
• In her room, Lu Annuan becomes embarrassed while thinking about Lu Ming holding her hand. She messages Meng Xuan, who teases her and insists that she and Lu Ming are clearly suited for each other.
• Lu Annuan secretly enjoys the idea and stays awake smiling until late at night. The chapter ends with the arrival of Saturday.

Character Development

• Lu Ming: Becomes more conscious of his feelings for Lu Annuan. Holding her hand makes him nervous, and he begins to notice her beauty and the emotional intimacy between them. His gesture also shows growing willingness to acknowledge and repair their shared past.
• Lu Annuan: Reveals that she has treasured memories of Lu Ming since childhood and has long felt emotionally comfortable with him. Though she acts embarrassed when teased, her affection is increasingly obvious and sincere.
• Meng Xuan: Continues acting as an observant, playful friend who recognizes the romantic connection between Lu Ming and Lu Annuan before they openly acknowledge it.

Significant Themes

• Nostalgia and shared history: Childhood memories, family trips, and Lu Annuan’s early skating experiences show how deeply the two protagonists’ bond has developed over time.
• Affection expressed through physical gestures: Holding hands becomes a symbol of comfort, reconciliation, trust, and the gradual shift from childhood familiarity toward romance.
• Unspoken romantic feelings: Both characters are affected by their closeness, but their relationship remains indirect and shy, with humor masking deeper emotions.
• Emotional continuity: Small events from childhood—such as Lu Ming holding Lu Annuan’s hand after her fall—continue shaping their present relationship.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and Lu Annuan: Their walk home is the chapter’s central interaction. They discuss childhood memories, compare their recollections, and share a meaningful hand-holding moment.
• Lu Annuan and Meng Xuan: Their text exchange exposes Lu Annuan’s embarrassment and growing feelings. Meng Xuan openly encourages the possibility of a romantic relationship.
• Lu Ming and Lu Annuan’s families: Their shared upbringing and frequent family outings establish why the pair are so comfortable and emotionally connected.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• With only five days before Death Spiral’s public announcement, Tang Zhiqing gathers Lu Ming and Ran Yanyue to discuss the organization’s activities.
• Lu Ming meets Tang Zhiqing at Ran Yanyue’s family café. Their playful interaction includes Tang asking him to pat chalk dust from her shoulder, while Lu Ming tries to avoid creating rumors about them dating.
• In the Student Council room, Ran Yanyue lightly criticizes Tang for visiting Lu Ming in class and distracting students. Lu Ming teases both girls about their beauty, unintentionally pleasing Ran Yanyue and warming Tang Zhiqing toward him.
• Tang reveals that Lu Ming was indeed attacked the previous night. Through information obtained by Little Butterfly, she identifies two Death Spiral executives still operating in Haiyang: Merchant and Tiger Demon.
• Merchant is suspected to be a human cooperating with Evil Beasts and may be connected to students at their school. Tang gives Lu Ming a photograph identifying Zeng Yi, the class monitor from another class, whose uncle owns a corporation where police discovered magic arrays.
• Tang asks Lu Ming to question Zeng Yi because Zeng distrusts or dislikes both Tang and Ran Yanyue due to their backgrounds. Lu Ming initially plans to avoid the task, believing Zeng will refuse to cooperate after their argument the previous day.
• Lu Ming encounters Zeng in the hallway, where she ignores him angrily. During lunch, he investigates her social-media accounts instead of approaching her directly.
• Lu Ming discovers that Zeng Yi’s online personality is far more reasonable than her arrogant behavior at school. She opposes bride prices and has been criticized by extreme online feminists, though she holds unusually harsh views about eliminating stray cats and dogs.
• Lu Ming concludes that Zeng is a complex, three-dimensional person rather than simply a spoiled rich girl, and his opinion of her improves.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Continues balancing his duties as Student Council secretary with his romantic and supernatural complications. He is observant, evasive when faced with difficult tasks, and increasingly capable of navigating the rivalry between Tang Zhiqing and Ran Yanyue. His investigation causes him to reconsider his negative opinion of Zeng Yi.
• Tang Zhiqing: Shows strong trust and familiarity with Lu Ming, openly initiating affectionate physical contact despite possible rumors. She demonstrates leadership by sharing intelligence about Death Spiral and assigning Lu Ming the investigation.
• Ran Yanyue: Displays jealousy and protectiveness toward Lu Ming, questioning Tang’s frequent visits. She is secretly pleased when Lu Ming calls her beautiful, revealing a softer emotional side beneath her cool exterior.
• Zeng Yi: Appears arrogant and hostile at school but proves unexpectedly moderate and thoughtful online. Her extreme hostility toward stray animals shows that she remains morally complicated rather than simply virtuous.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: Tang and Ran’s public interactions with Lu Ming conceal romantic tension, while Zeng Yi’s online and offline personalities differ sharply.
• Complexity of human nature: Lu Ming realizes that people are not one-dimensional; even someone unpleasant in person may possess reasonable beliefs and admirable qualities.
• Romantic rivalry and jealousy: Tang and Ran compete subtly for Lu Ming’s attention, while Lu Ming tries to mediate their tension.
• Duty versus avoidance: Lu Ming is tasked with investigating a possible Death Spiral connection but repeatedly looks for ways to avoid confronting Zeng.
• Supernatural conspiracy: The chapter advances the Death Spiral plot by identifying possible executives and linking the organization to both Evil Beasts and influential human families.

Character Interactions

• Tang and Lu Ming share flirtatious, physically intimate moments, though Lu Ming conceals his less-than-pure thoughts behind responsible excuses.
• Tang and Ran exchange veiled challenges over Lu Ming’s attention, framing their jealousy as concern for his studies.
• Lu Ming acts as mediator between the two girls, teasing each while trying to survive their emotional pressure.
• Lu Ming and Zeng Yi have a tense nonverbal encounter after their previous disagreement, setting up the expected investigation.
• Lu Ming’s indirect examination of Zeng’s online presence becomes the first step toward understanding her more sympathetically.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ming, still on poor terms with Zeng Yi after reprimanding her the previous day, browses Blue Bird and searches for her account.
• He discovers that Zeng Yi has a locked, private account with no followers or following. Using his magical Unlock ability, he accesses it.
• The account contains numerous personal selfies, including lightly revealing “stress-relief” photos, as well as diary-like posts about her family pressure, social difficulties, romantic attention, and irritation with Lu Ming.
• Lu Ming realizes that Zeng Yi’s photos are not intended for public attention but function as a private outlet for stress. He also learns that she is struggling with her parents’ expectations and uncertainty about interacting with other students.
• Later, Lu Ming encounters Zeng Yi while she is preparing for school-team tryouts. She remains openly hostile toward him, while he casually questions her about her stress.
• A boy from another class approaches Zeng Yi, apparently intending to confess his feelings. To prevent the awkward situation, Lu Ming asks Zeng Yi whether she hates him.
• Zeng Yi declares that she hates Lu Ming and says she has no intention of dating anyone in high school, indirectly rejecting the boy before he can confess.
• Lu Ming then brings up whether she will join the “Azure Dragon Study Group,” confusing both Zeng Yi and the boy.
• The boy explains that he came to thank Zeng Yi for helping two friends who had been manipulated into spending a large amount of money on a girl from Class One.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Becomes increasingly curious about Zeng Yi after discovering her private account. Although he views her photos in a teasing and somewhat voyeuristic manner, he also recognizes that she is genuinely under pressure and has not morally “gone astray.” He remains observant, emotionally detached, and willing to interfere in social situations for his own purposes.
• Zeng Yi: Is revealed to be far more vulnerable and stressed than her proud exterior suggests. She struggles with parental expectations, social relationships, unwanted romantic attention, and feelings of isolation. Despite her arrogance toward Lu Ming, she demonstrates a strong moral sense by defending students being exploited by another girl.
• The round-faced boy: Shows courage in approaching Zeng Yi but becomes discouraged when she appears to reject him. His interaction with Lu Ming and Zeng Yi reveals that he mainly intended to thank her rather than confess immediately.

Significant Themes

• Private identity versus public image: Zeng Yi appears arrogant and untouchable at school, but her private account reveals insecurity, stress, and emotional confusion.
• Pressure and coping mechanisms: Academic and family expectations push Zeng Yi to seek unusual but private ways to relieve stress.
• Adolescence and social difficulty: The chapter portrays uncertainty surrounding friendship, romance, reputation, and communication among teenagers.
• Moral judgment and intervention: Zeng Yi condemns exploitative behavior even while struggling with her own social problems.
• Misunderstanding and indirect communication: The apparent confession scene is defused through Lu Ming’s interruption, while Zeng Yi’s words unintentionally serve two different purposes—rejecting romance and responding to Lu Ming.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and Zeng Yi: Their relationship remains antagonistic. Zeng Yi dislikes Lu Ming for criticizing her, while Lu Ming treats her hostility with calm curiosity and privately knows more about her than she realizes.
• Zeng Yi and the round-faced boy: He approaches her nervously, but she panics because she assumes he may confess. Her statement that she will not date in high school effectively discourages him.
• Lu Ming and the round-faced boy: Lu Ming’s interruption prevents a potentially embarrassing confession. The boy later clarifies that he came to thank Zeng Yi for helping his friends.
• Zeng Yi and the exploited students: Although they are not present, the boy’s account shows that Zeng Yi has defended classmates who were manipulated into spending money, highlighting her underlying fairness and sense of responsibility.

Chapter 112 Summary

Key plot points and events

• Zeng Yi’s classmate fails to confess his feelings to her after seeing her talking with Lu Ming and assumes the two may be close, though Zeng Yi has said she does not plan to date.
• Lu Ming helps Zeng Yi escape an unwanted romantic situation by pretending to be familiar with her. She recognizes his intention and thanks him.
• Zeng Yi offers Lu Ming money as compensation, but he refuses, joking that his friend Zhi Qing would punish him if he accepted it.
• Their conversation turns into playful verbal sparring. Lu Ming unintentionally—or perhaps deliberately—offends Zeng Yi by criticizing her communication skills and teasing her about her lack of extracurricular training.
• Ye Xun arrives and notices Lu Ming speaking with Zeng Yi. Her expression suggests mild jealousy or displeasure, though she quickly hides it.
• Zeng Yi denies being close to Lu Ming and returns to her class for the upcoming student selection. Before leaving, she seems as though she wants to thank him again but does not because Ye Xun is present.
• While walking to class, Ye Xun reveals that she deliberately tried to make Lu Ming look at her longer by asking him to identify what was different about her. Nothing had actually changed; she simply wanted his attention.
• Lu Ming realizes that Ye Xun was seeking emotional reassurance and secretly enjoys the feeling of being wanted, though he continues to tease and lecture her.
• Ye Xun explains that Zeng Yi is popular among the first-years because she is intelligent, responsible, attractive, and generous. However, some girls associate with her mainly to benefit from her allowance and criticize her as stingy when they receive less money.

Character developments

• Lu Ming: Shows his usual sarcastic, observant personality but also demonstrates kindness by helping Zeng Yi. He becomes more aware of Ye Xun’s emotional needs and realizes that her playful attention-seeking reflects affection and a desire for validation.
• Zeng Yi: Reveals a more vulnerable and socially awkward side beneath her proud, confident exterior. She understands that Lu Ming defended her and wants to thank him, although she remains easily irritated by his blunt remarks. Her generous nature is also complicated by poor communication and uncertainty about how others perceive her.
• Ye Xun: Displays subtle jealousy when she sees Lu Ming with Zeng Yi, then playfully seeks his attention. Her mischievous behavior and affectionate flattery show that she is becoming more openly attached to him while still maintaining a cheerful, innocent facade.

Significant themes

• Miscommunication and social perception: Zeng Yi’s blunt comments and poor way of expressing herself cause others to misunderstand her intentions.
• Emotional validation: Ye Xun’s prank demonstrates her desire to be noticed and reassured by Lu Ming, while Lu Ming begins to recognize the importance of providing that attention.
• Jealousy and romantic tension: Ye Xun’s reaction to Zeng Yi hints at growing possessiveness and romantic feelings.
• Appearances versus reality: Zeng Yi seems arrogant and distant, but she is also grateful and socially inexperienced; Ye Xun appears playful and carefree but carefully seeks Lu Ming’s approval.
• Friendship and exploitation: The discussion of Zeng Yi’s classmates highlights how popularity and generosity can attract people with selfish motives.

Character interactions

• Lu Ming and Zeng Yi: Their relationship is defined by teasing, irritation, and reluctant gratitude. Lu Ming helps her, while Zeng Yi tries to repay him and understand his attitude toward her.
• Lu Ming and Ye Xun: Their walk becomes a playful, flirtatious exchange. Ye Xun deliberately captures his attention, and Lu Ming responds with mock criticism while secretly enjoying her affection.
• Ye Xun and Zeng Yi: Although they do not directly confront one another, Ye Xun’s suspicious reaction to Lu Ming’s conversation with Zeng Yi establishes a subtle rivalry or jealousy between them.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Xun explains that Zeng Yi and another student were collecting school symbols together, suggesting Zeng Yi values even friends who may be motivated by her wealth.
• Ye Xun asks Lu Ming whether she or Zeng Yi is prettier. Lu Ming flatters Ye Xun, and she happily declares herself the prettiest first-year girl.
• Back in class, Ran Yanyue reprimands Lu Ming for being late but then gives him a carton of milk out of concern for his health after his recent battle with an Evil Beast.
• Lu Ming teases Ran Yanyue about sharing the milk, evoking their previous indirect kiss. Ran Yanyue becomes embarrassed and defensive, though she secretly continues thinking about their earlier intimate contact.
• During a break, Li Deng and several boys take Lu Ming to another building to compare themselves physically. Their shocked reaction implies that Lu Ming is unusually well-endowed. Ran Yanyue overhears their vulgar conversation and silences them with an intimidating display of authority.
• Lu Ming leaves the school building and checks Zeng Yi’s Blue Bird account. Her posts reveal that she is exhausted by school-team tryouts, worried about an injured arm, and uncertain whether another girl inviting her to Starbucks expects her to pay.
• Feeling that he owes Zeng Yi for allowing him to view her private posts and photos, Lu Ming decides to help her with the tryouts and heads to the gymnasium.
• At the gym, he finds a lively school-team selection scene, with first-year girls cheering for players and handing them drinks. Lu Ming views the atmosphere as overly romantic and inappropriate for a Chinese school campus.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Continues behaving playfully and self-confidently, especially around Ye Xun and Ran Yanyue. He also shows a growing sense of responsibility toward Zeng Yi, although his motives remain mixed with voyeuristic curiosity and teasing.
• Ran Yanyue: Her concern for Lu Ming becomes more obvious through the milk she gives him. She is increasingly flustered by memories of their accidental intimacy and appears confused by her physical and emotional reactions.
• Ye Xun: Displays strong vanity and competitiveness, seeking Lu Ming’s confirmation that she is more attractive than Zeng Yi. She remains cheerful once reassured.
• Zeng Yi: Is portrayed as hardworking but burdened by school responsibilities, social expectations, and her reputation as someone with money. Her posts also reveal vulnerability and uncertainty.
• Li Deng and his friends: Serve as comic relief through their crude curiosity and exaggerated reaction to Lu Ming.

Significant Themes

• Romantic tension and embarrassment: Small gestures, such as sharing milk, carry greater emotional weight because of the characters’ unresolved attraction.
• Youthful competition: Ye Xun’s comparison with Zeng Yi and the school-team tryouts highlight rivalry, popularity, and the desire to stand out.
• Privacy and voyeurism: Lu Ming secretly reads Zeng Yi’s private posts, creating a morally questionable but comedic situation in which he justifies his intrusion as concern for her well-being.
• The contrast between ordinary school life and fantasy elements: Everyday classes, crushes, and school clubs coexist with Lu Ming’s recent battles against Evil Beasts and his magical-girl-related circumstances.
• Social expectations and emotional confusion: Zeng Yi worries about money and obligation, while Ran Yanyue struggles to understand feelings that are unfamiliar to her.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and Ye Xun: Their conversation is playful and flattering, with Ye Xun openly seeking his approval.
• Lu Ming and Ran Yanyue: They exchange teasing remarks over the milk, revealing mutual awareness of their past indirect kiss and increasing romantic awkwardness.
• Ran Yanyue and Li Deng’s group: Her silent intimidation forces the boys to stop their vulgar discussion.
• Lu Ming and Zeng Yi: They do not meet directly in the chapter, but Lu Ming learns about her problems through her posts and decides to assist her at the school-team tryouts.
• Zeng Yi and her classmates: Her posts suggest strained interactions involving friendship, injury, money, and expectations from other students.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ming visits the first-year classes to find Zeng Yi and learns that she is regarded as a wealthy, highly admired student.
• While searching, he jokingly threatens a student with his Student Council authority, then discovers that many students dislike him because of rumors about his relationships with Tang Zhiqing and Ran Yanyue.
• At the gymnasium, Lu Ming catches a basketball flying toward Zeng Yi, protecting her while her supposed friends abandon her without warning.
• He realizes that Meng Wenying and the other girls have isolated Zeng Yi from the rest of Class Three while presenting themselves as her close friends.
• Lu Ming deliberately claims to be Zeng Yi’s close friend, embarrassing her and provoking the girls.
• He exposes their selfishness by agreeing to join them for cake but insisting that they pay, since Zeng Yi has already spent her allowance treating them.
• When the girls make excuses and refuse to spend their own money, Lu Ming declares that they have failed his “friend test” and tells them to stay away from Zeng Yi.
• Meng Wenying attempts to use her boyfriend against Lu Ming, but the boyfriend recognizes Lu Ming as the famous senior who helped the basketball team and immediately shows him great respect.
• Lu Ming uses this encounter to further intimidate Meng Wenying and her friends, effectively breaking their hold over Zeng Yi. He then tells Zeng Yi that she is free to reconnect with them if she disagrees with what he did.

2. Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Displays his usual irreverence and confidence, but also shows that he is observant and protective. He quickly identifies the false friendship surrounding Zeng Yi and intervenes directly. His reputation and supernatural power give him considerable influence over other students.
• Zeng Yi: Initially remains hostile and embarrassed by Lu Ming’s presence, still resenting his absence from extracurricular classes. However, she becomes increasingly hurt and disappointed when her “friends” refuse to spend even a small amount of their own money on her. Lu Ming’s defense of her causes her to question the sincerity of those relationships.
• Meng Wenying and her friends: Are revealed to be opportunistic and dependent on Zeng Yi’s wealth. Their friendliness appears motivated by access to her money and status rather than genuine affection. They are intimidated once Lu Ming exerts magical pressure.
• Meng Wenying’s boyfriend: Initially appears ready to confront Lu Ming, but recognizes him as a respected basketball senior and immediately changes to an admiring, deferential attitude.
• The first-year students: Their reactions establish Lu Ming’s contradictory reputation: he is widely considered a womanizing troublemaker, yet he is also feared and respected because of his abilities and accomplishments.

3. Significant Themes

• True friendship versus exploitation: The chapter questions whether relationships based on wealth, popularity, and social access are genuine.
• Protection and loyalty: Lu Ming’s actions suggest that he is willing to defend Zeng Yi even while she openly dislikes him.
• Reputation and appearances: Students judge Lu Ming through rumors, while his actual behavior is more complicated. Likewise, Zeng Yi’s popular friends appear kind publicly but reveal their selfishness privately.
• Power and social status: Lu Ming’s magical pressure and basketball reputation allow him to dominate the situation, showing how supernatural strength translates into social influence.
• Emotional isolation: Despite being admired and surrounded by people, Zeng Yi is lonely because her friendships lack sincerity.

4. Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and Zeng Yi’s interaction remains tense and antagonistic, but his rescue of her and defense against her false friends create a subtle shift in their relationship.
• Lu Ming deliberately presents himself as Zeng Yi’s close friend, embarrassing her while challenging the girls’ claims to greater intimacy.
• His “friend test” exposes Meng Wenying’s unwillingness to reciprocate Zeng Yi’s generosity.
• Meng Wenying tries to rely on her boyfriend for protection, but the boyfriend instead sides with Lu Ming after recognizing him.
• The chapter ends with Lu Ming giving Zeng Yi a choice, allowing her to judge whether he was right to interfere.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zeng Yi and Lu Ming discuss their complicated relationship after Lu Ming reassures her, saying, “It’s not your fault.” Although he claims he was only trying to help, his blunt remarks repeatedly irritate her.
• Zeng Yi offers Lu Ming money as thanks, but he rejects the idea and instead asks her to learn photography. She begins taking and posting more daring photos on Bluebird, believing only Lu Ming can see them.
• When Zeng Yi asks whether they are friends, Lu Ming casually withdraws his earlier claim, saying they should be strangers because they are not close. His response embarrasses and frustrates her, despite her secretly wanting a closer relationship.
• At school, Zeng Yi notices that her classmates—including people who previously avoided her—are now speaking to her normally. She enjoys these ordinary interactions more than the superficial influencer-centered attention she used to receive.
• Zeng Yi asks Ye Xun whether she and Lu Ming are close. Ye Xun confidently says they are, leaving Zeng Yi disappointed. Ye Xun privately feels annoyed at Lu Ming as well.
• Lu Ming later sees Zeng Yi’s improved photographs and recognizes that she has become both more skilled and bolder. He enjoys the private nature of her posts and feels that both of them benefit from the arrangement.
• The chapter then shifts to Lu Annuan, who sneaks into Lu Ming’s room to check whether his phone wallpaper is still her picture. She wants evidence that he likes her.
• Influenced by Meng Xuan’s teasing and the school’s sensationalized news posts, Lu Annuan estimates that Lu Ming’s probability of liking her is 95.28%, using a humorous formula based on her beauty, athletic achievements, time spent together, and even her mediocre mathematics.
• Lu Annuan checks the phone and reacts happily to what she sees, though the exact wallpaper is not explicitly described.
• After Lu Ming showers, he sees Lu Annuan in a cheerful mood. She invites him to go to the supermarket with her, and he struggles to control his attraction to her.

Character Developments

• Zeng Yi becomes more self-aware about her pride, emotional immaturity, and desire for genuine friendship. She also begins opening herself to ordinary classmates and develops an interest in photography.
• Lu Ming remains blunt and emotionally evasive, often provoking Zeng Yi unintentionally. At the same time, he enjoys her private attention and recognizes her progress.
• Ye Xun presents herself as confidently close to Lu Ming, but her private irritation suggests she may also have romantic feelings for him.
• Lu Annuan grows increasingly convinced that Lu Ming likes her. Her insecurity contrasts with her outward confidence, and she seeks reassurance by checking his phone.
• Meng Xuan continues acting as a teasing matchmaker, openly pushing Lu Ming and Lu Annuan together.
• Lu Ming’s attraction to the girls around him becomes harder for him to manage, though he tries to maintain self-control.

Significant Themes

• Miscommunication and romantic uncertainty: The characters repeatedly misread or conceal their feelings, creating jealousy and embarrassment.
• Genuine connection versus superficial attention: Zeng Yi prefers normal conversations with classmates over the shallow popularity and influencer culture surrounding her.
• Growing emotional maturity: Zeng Yi begins recognizing her own flaws and experimenting with healthier forms of self-expression.
• Private intimacy: Zeng Yi’s exclusive photos and Lu Annuan’s secret phone check both reflect the characters’ desire for personal reassurance and hidden closeness.
• Comedy through exaggeration: Lu Annuan’s mathematical love formula, the school’s melodramatic news headlines, and Lu Ming’s internal reactions create a playful contrast to the characters’ real emotional uncertainty.

Important Character Interactions

• Zeng Yi and Lu Ming: Their conversations mix gratitude, irritation, teasing, and unspoken romantic tension.
• Zeng Yi and Ye Xun: Zeng Yi’s question about Lu Ming exposes her jealousy, while Ye Xun’s answer hints that she also has feelings for him.
• Lu Annuan and Meng Xuan: Meng Xuan aggressively ships Lu Annuan with Lu Ming, while Lu Annuan tries to deny her embarrassment and calculate the chances that he likes her.
• Lu Annuan and Lu Ming: Lu Annuan secretly investigates his feelings, then invites him out in a noticeably happier mood, while Lu Ming struggles with his physical attraction to her.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ming and Lu Annuan go shopping together for household necessities, including items Lu Annuan will soon need for her period.
• At the supermarket, a cashier offers them a prize-draw game involving colored keys and lockers. The grand prize is a plush toy.
• Lu Annuan becomes extremely excited because she has loved plush toys since childhood, though she has lost some of that enthusiasm as she grew older.
• Lu Ming studies the keys and lockers, correctly deducing that their colors and materials form a pattern. Although his first three attempts fail, he ultimately uses a crowbar to force open the correct locker and claims the plush toy.
• Lu Annuan is delighted and praises Lu Ming. Their conversation turns emotionally intimate when she says that, since he is good at studying, he could simply stay by her side and handle difficult things for her.
• Their romantic tension grows as they walk home in silence, both aware of their accelerated heartbeats.
• The moment is interrupted when they unexpectedly encounter Tang Zhiqing, who notices them shopping together and asks about their relationship.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Becomes increasingly conscious of Lu Annuan’s beauty and seems eager for her to confess her feelings. He shows his intelligence and resourcefulness during the prize game, while also revealing a more serious romantic interest in her. He deliberately describes her as a “neighbor” when Tang Zhiqing appears, suggesting he wants to conceal that they live together.
• Lu Annuan: Displays a softer, playful side through her excitement over the plush toy. Her childhood memories reveal an enduring fondness for dolls and her sadness over losing her mother. She becomes more emotionally direct with Lu Ming, implying that she wants him to remain beside her in the future.
• Tang Zhiqing: Reenters the story at an inconveniently intimate moment, creating tension and threatening to expose the closeness between Lu Ming and Lu Annuan.

Significant Themes

• Growing romantic feelings: Lu Ming and Lu Annuan’s relationship moves beyond casual familiarity as both begin to acknowledge their attraction.
• Childhood innocence and emotional comfort: The plush toy reconnects Lu Annuan with happier childhood memories and provides comfort after the loss of her mother.
• Intelligence versus luck: The prize game appears to depend on chance, but Lu Ming approaches it logically and ultimately relies on ingenuity when the system does not work as expected.
• Unspoken relationships and secrecy: Lu Ming’s attempt to describe Lu Annuan merely as his neighbor highlights the gap between their actual intimacy and what they are willing to admit publicly.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and Lu Annuan tease each other while shopping, with Lu Ming privately admiring her and imagining their future together.
• Lu Ming helps Lu Annuan win the plush toy, strengthening their bond and making her visibly happy.
• Lu Annuan’s remark that Lu Ming should stay by her side functions almost like a confession, leaving him flustered and unable to respond jokingly.
• Tang Zhiqing interrupts their romantic atmosphere, questioning why they are together and forcing Lu Ming to explain their relationship.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After school, Lu Ming encounters Tang Zhiqing, who is dressed casually after showering. She explains that she was out shopping and has already given the police information from Zeng Yi regarding the danger threatening Haiyang.
• Lu Ming notices that the grocery bags are hurting Tang Zhiqing’s hands and carries them home for her, framing the outing as “friend time” rather than student council business.
• When they reach Tang Zhiqing’s apartment, they discover that the door has been forced open and the interior ransacked. Lu Ming determines that it was not a real robbery but an attempted attack on Tang Zhiqing. The intruder likely intended to disguise the assault as a burglary.
• Police arrive and confirm through surveillance footage that a hooded man carrying a knife had targeted Tang Zhiqing. Officer Zhao Chuncui, Tang’s police contact, says the attacker may be difficult to catch quickly.
• Zhao urges Tang to depend more on adults and not overexert herself while investigating the larger threat to Haiyang. Lu Ming volunteers to stay overnight and protect Tang if the attacker returns.
• Lu Ming demonstrates unusual strength by twisting Zhao’s handcuffs into an iron ball, making it clear that he is not an ordinary person. Zhao jokingly refers to him as Tang’s boyfriend and privately concludes that the two make a good couple.
• Lu Ming informs Lu Annuan that he will stay at Tang’s apartment. He and Tang then clean up the ransacked home together. While tidying the bedroom, Lu Ming notices Tang’s personal belongings and becomes embarrassed when he realizes she may have intentionally sent him there.
• Tang prepares fruit for him and treats him with increasing domestic familiarity, while Lu Ming wonders why she was willing to let him handle her private belongings.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Becomes more openly protective of Tang and willingly places himself between her and danger. His superhuman strength is revealed again, reinforcing that he can protect her despite being viewed as an ordinary boy. He also grows more comfortable with their personal relationship, though his curiosity and embarrassment create comedic tension.
• Tang Zhiqing: Shows both competence and vulnerability. She continues prioritizing Haiyang’s safety over her own, but her home being attacked exposes the risks she faces as a Magical Girl. She accepts Lu Ming’s help, allows him into her private space, and displays subtle trust and affection.
• Officer Zhao Chuncui: Acts as Tang’s responsible adult contact within the police force. She is concerned about Tang’s safety but recognizes that both Tang and Lu Ming possess abilities beyond ordinary people. Her observations encourage the idea that Lu Ming and Tang are becoming a romantic pair.
• Lu Annuan: Accepts Lu Ming’s decision to stay with Tang without protest, showing trust in him and awareness that the situation is serious.

Significant Themes

• Protection and trust: Lu Ming’s decision to stay overnight demonstrates his commitment to Tang, while Tang’s willingness to rely on him signals growing trust.
• The burden of responsibility: Tang continues focusing on the threat to Haiyang even after being targeted herself, highlighting the self-sacrificing nature of her role.
• Hidden identities and abnormal strength: The contrast between Lu Ming’s ordinary appearance and his extraordinary physical power reinforces the story’s recurring tension between normal life and supernatural danger.
• Growing intimacy: Domestic activities such as carrying groceries, cleaning together, and sharing food create a more personal bond between Lu Ming and Tang.
• Humor amid danger: The chapter balances the serious assassination attempt with jokes about Lu Ming’s strength, Zhao’s matchmaking assumptions, and Lu Ming’s awkward discovery of Tang’s underwear.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and Tang shift from formal student-council cooperation into a more relaxed friendship, with Lu Ming explicitly calling their time together “friend time.”
• Lu Ming protects Tang by carrying her groceries and volunteering to remain at her apartment.
• Tang and Zhao share a mentor-like relationship: Zhao worries about Tang’s wellbeing, while Tang insists that the investigation into Haiyang’s danger take priority.
• Zhao teases Lu Ming and Tang about being a couple, privately deciding that they are well matched.
• Lu Ming and Tang work together cleaning the apartment, creating an intimate domestic atmosphere and suggesting that their relationship is becoming closer.

Summary

Lu Ming helps Tang Zhiqing after her home is broken into, organizing her belongings and noticing that her student-council diary contains many entries about him, suggesting that she may be secretly interested in him. Tang Zhiqing also writes frequently about Ran Yanyue’s academic excellence and diligence, though she rarely mentions Lu Ming and Ran together.
Because Lu Ming is acting as Tang Zhiqing’s bodyguard, they argue over where he should sleep. Tang insists that he use her bed rather than the sofa, eventually proposing that they sleep together because the bed is large enough. Lu Ming is extremely flustered by the arrangement, but accepts on the grounds that staying close will help protect her.
During the night, Lu Ming struggles with his attraction to Tang Zhiqing. When her pajamas slip and reveal part of her chest, he briefly considers touching her but ultimately straightens her clothes instead, refusing to betray the trust she has placed in him. Tang is secretly awake and notices his restraint. She is pleased by his gentlemanly behavior, though mildly disappointed that her intended “reward” does not work, and decides to give him a better one in the future.
The next morning, Lu Ming wakes from an embarrassing dream in which Tang appears in a bunny-girl outfit and treats him like a king. He then discovers that he has unconsciously pulled Tang into his arms while sleeping. Tang remains calm and pretends that his phone had been pressing against her rather than acknowledging his obvious physical arousal. She tells him to get ready and advises him to stop staying up late using his phone.
Lu Ming becomes mortified when he realizes that Tang has likely noticed his reaction. Unable to leave the bed without revealing it, he internally tries to suppress his lust and convince himself that he is still a gentleman.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Demonstrates strong attraction to Tang but also self-control and respect for her trust. His embarrassment and internal monologue reveal his struggle between desire and his wish to behave honorably.
• Tang Zhiqing: Becomes more openly teasing and intimate with Lu Ming while maintaining a calm exterior. Her diary, willingness to share a bed, and deliberate “reward” suggest romantic feelings for him.
• Ran Yanyue: Appears indirectly through Tang’s diary, where she is praised for her grades and responsible nature, though she has little direct interaction with Lu Ming in these entries.

Major Themes

• Trust and restraint: Lu Ming’s decision not to touch Tang despite temptation emphasizes the value he places on her trust.
• Romantic tension: Forced proximity, shared sleeping arrangements, teasing, and mutual awareness create growing romantic chemistry.
• Appearance versus inner thoughts: Tang remains composed outwardly while secretly observing and teasing Lu Ming; Lu Ming presents himself as respectable while internally panicking over his attraction.
• Awkward adolescence: The chapter uses humor to portray teenage desire, embarrassment, and the difficulty of maintaining dignity around someone one admires.

Key Interactions

• Lu Ming and Tang debate whether he should sleep on the sofa or in her bed.
• Tang proposes that they share the bed, intensifying their romantic tension.
• Lu Ming resists touching Tang while she sleeps, and Tang secretly observes his restraint.
• The next morning, Tang calmly addresses their sleeping positions and teases him indirectly about his physical reaction, while Lu Ming struggles to hide his embarrassment.

Chapter 119 Summary

Plot points and events

• After an awkward morning at Tang Zhiqing’s home, she explains that a reported burglar and Lu Ming’s involvement earned them permission to arrive late. They go downstairs for breakfast before heading to school.
• Ran Yanyue notices that both Tang and Lu Ming are absent. She leaves Lu Ming a carton of milk, then becomes visibly irritated when he still has not arrived.
• At a noodle shop, Lu Ming overhears two students from International Middle School discussing Tang and Lu Annuan. One boy boasts that he has a chance with Tang after she helped him retrieve his wallet—then learns that the student he is speaking to is Lu Ming.
• Tang arrives, joins Lu Ming, and they eat together. She mentions that his exam results have risen enough to surpass hers. Lu Ming jokingly asks her to tutor him after his next ranking drops.
• Tang pays, as she does when out with Student Council members, and the two return to school together. Lu Ming later finds Ran’s milk waiting on his desk.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Zhiqing remains composed and capable, but recalls feeling flustered when Lu Ming held her earlier. At breakfast, she is attentive and familiar with him, though she frames her helpfulness as part of her Student Council responsibilities.
• Lu Ming is relaxed around Tang and amused by the other boys’ assumptions. He also playfully uses the prospect of tutoring to build a closer connection with her.
• Ran Yanyue shows quiet concern for Lu Ming by leaving him milk, but his absence alongside Tang unsettles her. Her mood affects the classroom, and the teacher nervously wonders whether he has upset her.
• The International Middle School boys see Lu Ming as an impossibly successful rival: he defeated their school’s basketball team and appears close to both Lu Annuan and Tang.

Significant themes

• Romantic ambiguity and jealousy: Tang’s uncharacteristic embarrassment and Ran’s irritation hint at feelings beneath their usual composure.
• Public image versus private familiarity: Outsiders idolize Tang as a school beauty, while her easy, practical interactions with Lu Ming make their relationship seem much more intimate.
• Responsibility and care: Tang’s habit of paying for Student Council outings and Ran’s small gift of milk show how each expresses care through dependable, everyday actions.

Key plot points and events

• Lu Ming arrives at school late with Tang Zhiqing after spending the night at her home, where he guarded her from a knife-wielding intruder.
• Ran Yanyue confronts him, initially assuming his lateness and arrival with Tang signal a romantic relationship. Lu Ming’s calm answers make her jealousy and concern more apparent.
• The homeroom teacher explains the real reason for Lu Ming’s absence: a dangerous intruder broke into Tang’s house, and Lu Ming stayed to protect her. His classmates are impressed and revise their opinion of him.
• Ran learns she misjudged Lu Ming, worries that he was hurt, and gives him the milk she had brought. She is relieved that he and Tang are not confirmed as a couple.
• The principal, concerned for both students’ safety, grants them a week of leave.
• Tang tells Lu Ming they should investigate the attack together after school. She suspects the intruder was sent by Death Spiral and believes Lu Ming’s presence may have deterred further danger.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Ming remains outwardly composed while allowing others to discover his heroic actions for themselves. He enjoys the admiration and privately indulges in suggestive thoughts about both girls.
• Ran Yanyue shifts from jealousy and suspicion to embarrassment, concern, and relief. Her feelings for Lu Ming are implied by how strongly she reacts to the possibility that he and Tang are together.
• Tang Zhiqing stays authoritative and focused on the threat, treating Lu Ming as a trusted partner in investigating it.
• Classmates and school staff move from gossip and suspicion to admiration for Lu Ming’s willingness to risk himself.

Significant themes

• Appearance versus reality: classmates mistake Lu Ming’s lateness for romantic mischief, while the truth is that he protected Tang.
• Jealousy and unspoken affection: Ran’s assumptions reveal her emotional investment in Lu Ming and her attachment to the trio’s school life.
• Courage and reputation: Lu Ming’s quiet act of protection transforms his standing among his peers.
• Comedy and romantic tension: misunderstandings, school gossip, and Lu Ming’s shameless inner monologue balance the danger posed by the suspected Death Spiral attack.