Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Plot and Events

• Lu Ming accidentally enters the women’s bath before receiving the message warning him not to. Tang Zhiqing discovers him in the water and is shocked and embarrassed, while Ran Yanyue reacts coldly and suggests he should be punished.
• Lu Annuan explains that Lu Ming entered the bath by mistake after finishing his exam early, clearing up the suspicion that he deliberately intended to spy on them.
• Several girls approach the bath, so Tang Zhiqing positions herself to block their view of Lu Ming and sends them elsewhere.
• While the girls chat, one mentions that Lu Annuan was confessed to by Zhu Jiaxuan, a handsome and wealthy figure skater. Lu Annuan rejects the idea that wealth or status should determine romantic feelings, and Ran Yanyue adds that Zhu is reportedly violent.
• After the other girls leave, Lu Ming remains in the bath with Tang Zhiqing, Lu Annuan, and Ran Yanyue. The situation becomes increasingly awkward as all four become conscious of one another’s bodies.
• Lu Ming questions Lu Annuan about the confession. She teasingly implies that she likes someone with a surname similar to hers, indirectly referring to him.
• When Tang Zhiqing and Ran Yanyue notice Lu Ming smiling at Lu Annuan, they become suspicious and jealous, prompting him to reassure them that the Student Council is his “second home.”
• When they leave, Lu Ming gallantly exits first, but slips on the conditioner and loses his towel. The three girls accidentally see him fully before he hurriedly leaves.
• Tang Zhiqing, Lu Annuan, and Ran Yanyue change in embarrassed silence, all preoccupied with what they saw.

Character Development

• Lu Ming: Remains oblivious or resistant to Lu Annuan’s romantic hints, but becomes increasingly self-conscious as the intimate situation develops. Despite his embarrassment, he tries to behave like a gentleman.
• Lu Annuan: Defends Lu Ming’s character and worries about him being misunderstood. Her romantic feelings become more obvious through her teasing and indirect confession that she prefers someone like him.
• Tang Zhiqing: Shows unusually strong embarrassment, anger, and possessiveness after Lu Ming sees her at close range. Her reaction suggests that her feelings for him are deeper than she openly acknowledges.
• Ran Yanyue: Maintains her cool, sharp demeanor but also shows interest in Lu Ming’s physique and potential as a healthy partner. Her comments and jealousy reveal that she is emotionally invested in him.
• The three girls collectively: Their reactions shift from indignation over Lu Ming’s accidental intrusion to mutual embarrassment and curiosity after seeing him exposed.

Themes

• Romantic tension and jealousy: The bath incident intensifies the emotional rivalry among the three girls and reveals their growing attraction to Lu Ming.
• Embarrassment and intimacy: The lack of clothing creates an unusually vulnerable situation, forcing the characters to confront their feelings and physical awareness of one another.
• Love versus status: Lu Annuan argues that genuine affection should matter more than wealth, fame, or appearance.
• Misunderstanding and trust: Lu Ming is initially treated as a voyeur, but the misunderstanding is resolved when his accidental entry is explained.
• Awkward transition from friendship to romance: Familiar relationships become charged with romantic implications as the characters begin seeing one another differently.

Important Interactions

• Tang Zhiqing and Ran Yanyue jointly question Lu Ming’s behavior, while Lu Annuan protects him.
• Lu Annuan indirectly flirts with Lu Ming by describing her ideal partner.
• Tang Zhiqing and Ran Yanyue react jealously when Lu Ming appears pleased by Lu Annuan’s teasing.
• The final silent exchange among the three girls suggests that each is privately reflecting on Lu Ming’s body and on her own feelings toward him.

Chapter 162 Summary

• After the earlier awkward situation, Lu Ming returns to the hotel and has a comedic exchange with Guo Futao, who mistakes Lu Ming’s vague comments about going out for food and “a lollipop” for something more suggestive.
• Outside the hotel, Lu Ming encounters a promotional mascot handing out balloons, then notices Lu Annuan returning from her shower. He is immediately struck by her beauty and becomes flustered by his attraction to her.
• Lu Annuan invites him to eat at a popular local bun shop. The shop offers couples a twenty-percent discount, so the two childhood friends decide to pretend to be a couple to save money. The owner, however, assumes they are genuinely together because they stand so close and act naturally around each other.
• Lu Ming internally insists that they are merely innocent childhood friends, despite repeatedly imagining kissing Lu Annuan and acknowledging that he would not actually object if the opportunity arose.
• A student from International Middle School witnesses the pair buying the “couples’ meal” and reports it to her friend. The information reaches Meng Xuan, who is competing in a Go match upstairs. Seeing that Lu Ming and Lu Annuan are eating together gives Meng Xuan an emotional boost—“sugar” becomes her source of power—and she suddenly regains her focus in what had seemed to be a nearly lost game.
• While eating on a bench, Lu Ming watches Lu Annuan enjoy her bun and becomes increasingly distracted by her appearance. Their conversation reveals Lu Annuan’s playful personality: she explains that she eats Goubuli buns before competitions because their poor taste makes her angry enough to fight harder.
• Lu Annuan shares her food with Lu Ming and reminds him that she chose “Moonlight Sonata” earlier because he had once told her 215 times that the moonlight was beautiful. Her precise memory demonstrates how closely she pays attention to things connected to him.
• Lu Ming’s attraction intensifies as he recalls seeing Lu Annuan earlier and compares his emotional defeat to a hero being overwhelmed by a powerful monster. He then brings up the “touch” she still owes him.
• Embarrassed, Lu Annuan pretends not to remember and protests that they cannot do anything intimate in public. Lu Ming playfully rephrases his request as using his mouth to touch her mouth, leading her to realize that he is asking to kiss her. The chapter ends with her blushing intensely while the two face the possibility of finally kissing.

Character Development and Interactions

• Lu Ming: Becomes more openly aware of his romantic and physical attraction to Lu Annuan, though he hides his nervousness behind exaggerated jokes, teasing, and inner monologues.
• Lu Annuan: Shows her affectionate attentiveness by remembering Lu Ming’s repeated comments about the moonlight. She is comfortable and natural around him but becomes shy and flustered when their relationship turns explicitly romantic.
• Meng Xuan: Demonstrates how emotionally affected she is by news involving Lu Ming; seeing him with Lu Annuan gives her renewed confidence during the Go match.
• Guo Futao: Provides comic relief through his misunderstanding of Lu Ming’s words.

Major Themes

• Romantic tension between childhood friends: Lu Ming and Lu Annuan continue to insist they are innocent friends even as their behavior and feelings increasingly resemble those of a couple.
• Embarrassment and indirect confession: Humor and wordplay allow Lu Ming to approach intimacy without directly expressing his feelings.
• Food and emotional energy: The buns serve as a setting for bonding, while “sugar” metaphorically gives Meng Xuan the strength to recover in competition.
• Memory as a sign of affection: Lu Annuan’s exact recollection of Lu Ming’s words emphasizes how important he is to her.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ming and Lu Annuan continue their playful argument over the meaning of “touching,” which is actually a euphemism for kissing.
• Lu Annuan initially pretends that only touching mouths is acceptable, but she becomes flustered when Lu Ming moves closer. After cleaning her lips and preparing herself, she allows him to kiss her.
• The kiss becomes mutual and increasingly passionate. Lu Annuan eventually takes the initiative, and the two remain embraced and kissing beneath a streetlamp for several minutes.
• Afterward, Lu Annuan insists that Lu Ming has now repaid the “touch” he owed her and is not allowed to do it again. Both are embarrassed, though Lu Ming clearly wants to continue.
• Lu Ming receives a message that teachers are checking the students’ rooms, forcing him and Lu Annuan to return to the hotel.
• Before leaving, Lu Ming asks whether Lu Annuan might kiss someone else in the future. She reveals that she avoids talking to boys because she wants to tell Lu Ming everything first, leaving him stunned by the sincerity and intimacy of her feelings.
• On the way back, Lu Ming tries to retrieve a cola stuck in a vending machine. Lu Annuan teases him, then accidentally gets a second bottle stuck while attempting to help.
• Tang Zhiqing arrives and becomes involved after her own drink also gets stuck. The three unsuccessfully consider kicking the machine.
• Lu Ming uses his supernatural ability, Mechanical Speech, to communicate with the vending machine, only to learn that it had no intention of releasing the drinks. He kicks it anyway, causing all three bottles to fall.
• The trio retrieves their drinks but feels strangely dissatisfied by the victory. Lu Annuan and Lu Ming then part ways for the night.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Becomes increasingly aware of his attraction to Lu Annuan. Though he disguises his feelings with jokes and euphemisms, he actively seeks more intimacy and becomes jealous at the possibility of her kissing someone else. His Mechanical Speech ability is used humorously rather than heroically.
• Lu Annuan: Shows that she is just as attracted to Lu Ming despite her outward composure. She becomes flustered, takes the initiative during the kiss, and indirectly confesses that Lu Ming is the person with whom she most wants to share her thoughts. She also displays her usual shamelessness and talent for rewriting embarrassing situations in her favor.
• Tang Zhiqing: Appears as a practical but easily frustrated senior figure. She tries to prevent the students from damaging school property, but her own irritation with the vending machine nearly causes her to attack it.

Significant Themes

• Romantic tension and denial: Lu Ming and Lu Annuan insist that their intimacy is merely “touching,” using technical language to avoid acknowledging that they are behaving like a couple.
• Childhood friendship evolving into romance: Their familiarity and emotional closeness are beginning to move beyond ordinary friendship, creating both excitement and embarrassment.
• Playful deception and shamelessness: The characters constantly reinterpret events to avoid admitting fault or vulnerability, especially Lu Annuan.
• Emotional exclusivity: Lu Annuan’s statement that she wants to tell Lu Ming everything first emphasizes the special place he holds in her life.
• Comedy through mundane conflict: The vending-machine incident contrasts with the romantic scene, using exaggerated frustration and supernatural abilities for comic effect.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and Lu Annuan share a prolonged, mutually desired kiss while teasing one another and pretending it is only an obligation.
• Lu Annuan playfully hints at her emotional dependence on Lu Ming, while he struggles to understand how directly she is expressing her affection.
• Lu Ming, Lu Annuan, and Tang Zhiqing bond through their escalating, futile battle with the vending machine, ending in a humorous victory with little actual satisfaction.

Chapter 164 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After returning to the hotel, Tang Zhiqing instructs Lu Ming to secretly visit her room after lights-out. Lu Ming eagerly agrees, while Guo Futao later invites him to sneak food; Lu Ming chooses Tang’s invitation over the spicy snacks.
• Ran Yanyue returns with the Haiyang No. 2 Middle School students. Her classmates praise Lu Ming’s intelligence, athletic appearance, and performance in the exams.
• Cai Muju challenges Lu Ming to compete against him the following day, wanting to determine who is stronger after Lu Ming previously outscored him.
• The girls discuss Lu Ming’s physique and speculate about the relationship between physical strength and sexual desire. Ran Yanyue becomes embarrassed as she remembers accidentally seeing Lu Ming undressed in the bathhouse.
• Ran Yanyue encounters Lu Ming in the corridor and questions him about returning late, unintentionally sounding like a concerned wife. Lu Ming mentions the bathhouse incident, and she reassures him that it was not his fault.
• After lights-out, Lu Ming shares cola with Guo Futao, waits until he falls asleep, and sneaks toward the girls’ floor. Using his extraordinary physical abilities, he climbs along the walls to avoid a patrolling teacher.
• On the stairs, Lu Ming unexpectedly meets Lu Annuan and Meng Xuan. Meng Xuan teases them about their earlier kiss and quickly realizes that they really kissed, including a little tongue-kissing.
• Later, Meng Xuan questions Lu Annuan about the kiss. Lu Annuan admits that she wants to kiss Lu Ming again, revealing that her feelings and desire for him are growing rapidly.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Remains bold, shameless, and sexually suggestive, joking with both Ran Yanyue and Meng Xuan. His superhuman physical abilities are emphasized when he effortlessly hides from the teacher by bracing himself against the walls. He is also increasingly conscious of the romantic “imbalances” between himself and the girls around him.
• Ran Yanyue: Though outwardly calm and strict, she is visibly affected by Lu Ming’s body and their increasingly intimate interactions. Her questioning of his whereabouts suggests growing personal concern and possible romantic possessiveness.
• Lu Annuan: Becomes more emotionally and physically aware of her attraction to Lu Ming after their kiss. She is shy and embarrassed but privately wants to repeat the experience.
• Meng Xuan: Acts as a teasing confidante. She quickly exposes the truth about Lu Ming and Lu Annuan’s kiss and enthusiastically encourages their relationship.
• Tang Zhiqing: Maintains a secretive, assertive role by arranging a private late-night meeting with Lu Ming.
• Cai Muju: Establishes a competitive rivalry with Lu Ming by challenging him to a contest.

Significant Themes

• Romantic and sexual awakening: The girls’ conversations and Lu Annuan’s confession show their increasing awareness of attraction and physical desire.
• Jealousy and romantic competition: Lu Ming’s interactions with several girls hint at a developing love polygon, while his own thoughts frame relationships in terms of fairness and “making up” for what he has not yet experienced.
• Secrecy and rule-breaking: Lu Ming and the others sneak around after lights-out, reflecting their youthful excitement and willingness to break school rules for romance or fun.
• Physical prowess and masculinity: Lu Ming’s athletic body and supernatural strength are repeatedly admired and used as sources of humor and attraction.
• Contrast between outward restraint and inner desire: Ran Yanyue and Lu Annuan act embarrassed or composed externally while privately thinking about Lu Ming and their intimate encounters.

Important Character Interactions

• Ran Yanyue’s classmates praise Lu Ming, while Ran Yanyue struggles to hide her embarrassment over having seen him naked.
• Ran Yanyue and Lu Ming have an awkward, almost domestic exchange in the hallway.
• Lu Ming, Lu Annuan, and Meng Xuan meet during the nighttime escape; Meng Xuan’s teasing reveals the kiss.
• Lu Annuan privately confesses to Meng Xuan that she wants to kiss Lu Ming again, confirming her deepening attraction.
• Tang Zhiqing’s planned secret meeting with Lu Ming creates anticipation for another intimate encounter.

Chapter 165 Summary

Plot and Events

• Lu Ming sneaks to the fourth floor to meet Tang Zhiqing, using Time Stop to avoid being seen by the teacher stationed in the corridor and to prevent Tang from getting involved.
• He arrives at Tang Zhiqing’s room and finds her returning in her Magical Girl form after investigating the restaurant incident.
• Tang reveals that the Evil Beast One-Eye was not completely destroyed. The magic power remaining at the restaurant matches the power previously detected on Cai Muju, and One-Eye may possess humans.
• The police have discovered clues, but Tang believes One-Eye may still be hiding at Haiyang Stadium. She and Lu Ming plan to search for and eliminate it the following day.
• Tang explains that One-Eye belongs to Rabbit Bone, a powerful and dangerous Evil Beast organization. Rabbit Bone was once comparable to Death Spiral, but Death Spiral has weakened since its leader, Sage, was seriously injured.
• While discussing the threat, Tang and Lu Ming share a self-heating hotpot in her room. Their casual, intimate interaction contrasts humorously with the seriousness of their investigation.
• Tang introduces the mysterious Divinely Blessed Land, a rumored place or object sought by powerful Evil Beasts. Its true nature is unknown, but it may grant extraordinary strength.
• The chapter ends with Lu Ming asking Tang whether she has ever imagined betraying someone close to her and becoming their enemy, reflecting his concern about the tragic future he has glimpsed.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming remains cautious and resourceful, using Time Stop to protect Tang from being implicated in his actions. His concern for Tang and Lu Annuan becomes evident when he asks about the consequences of Magical Girls losing their powers.
• He also grows increasingly troubled by the possibility that the future he witnessed—particularly his conflict with Lu Annuan—could still happen.
• Tang Zhiqing demonstrates her investigative ability and responsibility as Student Council president and Magical Girl. She is attentive to Lu Ming, casually shares food with him, and displays a more relaxed, domestic side outside her public role.
• Tang’s willingness to feed Lu Ming and discuss inviting him to her home suggests increasing comfort and intimacy between them.
• Lu Annuan appears only briefly but is embarrassed by Meng Xuan’s teasing about Lu Ming using her legs, reinforcing the chapter’s recurring playful romantic tension.

Themes

• Hidden threats and unfinished danger: One-Eye’s survival shows that apparent victories may be incomplete, while Rabbit Bone represents a larger threat still developing behind the scenes.
• Trust and betrayal: Lu Ming’s question about turning against loved ones reflects his anxiety about whether the future can be changed and whether close relationships may eventually collapse.
• Fate versus change: His memories of a tragic future make him question whether events are predetermined or whether his current choices have already altered the outcome.
• Intimacy amid danger: The shared hotpot and playful conversation humanize Tang and Lu Ming while they prepare to confront serious supernatural threats.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing work together as investigative partners, comparing information about One-Eye, Rabbit Bone, and the Divinely Blessed Land.
• Their conversation becomes increasingly personal and affectionate through physical closeness, shared chopsticks, Tang feeding him, and discussion of visiting her home.
• Lu Ming’s concern for the safety of Magical Girls reveals his protective feelings toward Tang and Lu Annuan.
• The final exchange shifts their relationship from lighthearted intimacy to a serious discussion about loyalty, betrayal, and the possibility of becoming enemies.

Chapter Summary: “I Think You’re Great”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing discuss whether their relationship might change in the future. Lu Ming insists that they will always remain close friends, regardless of whether they ever become romantically involved.
• Tang Zhiqing deliberately gives Lu Ming the impression that she is confessing to him, then teases him by demonstrating how students confess during “puppy love.” She embraces him and whispers, “Lu Ming, I like you,” causing him to instinctively hug her back.
• Lu Ming tells Tang Zhiqing that she is his “most precious treasure” and that he also wants to remain with her forever. He then leaves, only to realize he has forgotten about a patrol teacher in the hallway and uses Time Stop to avoid being caught.
• Alone afterward, Tang Zhiqing reveals her genuine embarrassment and affection. She blushes while recalling Lu Ming’s scent and becomes flustered by the physical effects of their embrace.
• The next day, Lu Ming rapidly finishes another exam, continuing to shock Shi Jingsheng, who has become accustomed to Lu Ming’s overwhelming academic performance.
• Lu Ming encounters Lu Annuan and Meng Xuan carrying KFC. He accepts food from them, leading to a comedic misunderstanding about whether he likes legs more than chicken wings.
• Lu Annuan becomes jealous and insecure when Lu Ming casually says he likes legs. She tries to determine whether he truly prefers her legs, eventually insisting that legs are his favorite.
• Meng Xuan recognizes that she is being used as a companion in Lu Annuan’s flirtatious attempts to influence Lu Ming. Lu Annuan privately considers sending Lu Ming more photographs of her legs after remembering their intimate encounter the previous day.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Shows deep emotional loyalty toward Tang Zhiqing, describing her as a precious person and affirming that he wants their bond to last. He remains oblivious to some of the romantic implications of his interactions with both Tang Zhiqing and Lu Annuan.
• Tang Zhiqing: Becomes more openly affectionate and flirtatious with Lu Ming, though she disguises her feelings as teasing and educational demonstrations. Her private embarrassment and longing show that her feelings are more serious than she admits publicly.
• Lu Annuan: Displays growing romantic attachment and jealousy toward Lu Ming. She is particularly sensitive to his preferences and tries to secure his attention by presenting her legs as attractive. Her thoughts reveal increasing willingness to flirt and send him suggestive pictures.
• Meng Xuan: Acts as an amused observer and facilitator of Lu Annuan’s behavior, recognizing that she is being used as a “tool” in Lu Annuan’s attempts to win Lu Ming’s affection.
• Shi Jingsheng: Has become resigned to Lu Ming’s extraordinary academic ability after repeatedly being outperformed.

Significant Themes

• Friendship versus romance: Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing insist that their bond will endure, even as their teasing and physical closeness increasingly resemble romantic intimacy.
• Unspoken affection and misunderstandings: Both Tang Zhiqing and Lu Annuan express attraction indirectly, while Lu Ming frequently misunderstands or overlooks their romantic intentions.
• Jealousy and competition: Lu Annuan’s irritation over Lu Ming’s casual preferences reflects her desire to be uniquely important to him.
• Comedic contrast: Serious declarations of loyalty and magical abilities are juxtaposed with mundane situations involving school exams, KFC, and awkward romantic confusion.
• Public restraint versus private feelings: Tang Zhiqing maintains a composed presidential persona in front of Lu Ming, but privately becomes openly flustered and affected by their embrace.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing: Share the chapter’s most emotionally significant exchange. Their teasing confession and embrace blur the boundary between friendship and romance, while both ultimately affirm their lasting bond.
• Lu Ming and Lu Annuan: Engage in playful but jealousy-filled banter over food and Lu Annuan’s legs. Lu Annuan manipulates the conversation to obtain reassurance that Lu Ming finds her attractive.
• Lu Annuan and Meng Xuan: Meng Xuan gently exposes Lu Annuan’s motives, while Lu Annuan denies them and continues trying to influence Lu Ming.
• Lu Ming and Shi Jingsheng: Their brief interaction highlights Lu Ming’s exceptional academic ability and Shi Jingsheng’s growing resignation.

Chapter Summary

Plot and events

After finishing lunch and their exams, Lu Ming joins Student Council President Tang Zhiqing and committee member Ran Yanyue to supervise the basketball game. He notices Tang is wearing borrowed, tight-fitting uniform pants and awkwardly compliments her appearance. He then praises Ran Yanyue, teasing her until she admits that his compliment made her “a little happy.” When Ran attempts to compliment him in return, she hesitates after almost saying something suggestive, then settles on calling him generous and a good person. Lu Ming is pleased by her approval, imagining it as an impressive résumé endorsement.
Lu Ming realizes he has neglected Tang and asks her to compliment him as well. Instead, he blurts out that her butt is “full, like a peach,” immediately creating an uncomfortable silence. Ran becomes cold, Tang sighs, and the three walk to the basketball court without speaking.
At the court, Cai Muju of Shiheng School provocatively challenges Lu Ming, assuming he will play. Lu Ming reveals that he is not even on Haiyang No. 2 Middle School’s basketball team. Cai returns to his teammates embarrassed, explaining that Lu Ming is not “chickening out”—he simply cannot play. The Shiheng players are stunned that someone who had displayed exceptional shooting ability is not on the official team.

Character development

• Lu Ming remains confident, playful, and socially careless. He enjoys teasing Ran and praising the girls but fails spectacularly when he speaks without considering how his words sound. His unusual strength and basketball skill continue to contrast with his lack of official involvement in the team.
• Ran Yanyue shows a small increase in emotional openness. Although she maintains her cool, rational façade, she admits Lu Ming’s praise makes her happy and subtly softens toward him. Her attempted compliment also reveals that she has noticed and is affected by his physical presence.
• Tang Zhiqing remains composed and good-humored, but Lu Ming’s inappropriate compliment leaves her exasperated. Her reaction highlights her greater awareness of social boundaries.
• Cai Muju becomes frustrated and humiliated after realizing his taunts were aimed at someone who was not participating. His resentment toward Lu Ming and Haiyang No. 2 Middle School intensifies.

Themes

• Romantic awkwardness and adolescent attraction: The girls’ curiosity about Lu Ming and Ran’s embarrassment suggest mutual awareness and budding attraction, while Lu Ming remains oblivious.
• The gap between intention and effect: Lu Ming tries to be encouraging and charming, but his blunt phrasing repeatedly produces awkward or inappropriate results.
• Hidden ability and institutional absurdity: Lu Ming is clearly talented enough to impress rival players, yet he is not on the school team, creating comic confusion and reinforcing the story’s exaggerated humor.
• Emotional restraint versus genuine feeling: Ran’s controlled exterior clashes with her subtle happiness, while Tang and Lu Ming express themselves more openly and impulsively.

Character interactions

Lu Ming and Ran develop a teasing, increasingly comfortable exchange, with Ran reluctantly acknowledging his positive qualities. His interaction with Tang shifts from ordinary praise to a disastrous physical compliment, damaging the group’s mood. Meanwhile, Cai Muju’s attempted confrontation with Lu Ming collapses when he learns Lu Ming is not a player, leaving Cai and his teammates bewildered and embarrassed.

Chapter 168 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Yanheng speculates that Lu Ming was ostracized from Shiheng School’s basketball team because he was too skilled. The chapter contrasts Shiheng’s competitive system with Haiyang No. 2 Middle School’s Student Council-controlled, almost feudal structure.
• Lu Ming orders basketball captain Cao Guang to bring chairs and Coca-Cola for Tang Zhiqing and Ran Yanyue, casually treating the team captain like an underling.
• Before the match, Lu Ming analyzes the opposing star player, Cai Muju, and devises a strategy: Cao Guang must block and provoke him, preventing him from entering the three-point area or receiving the ball.
• Cao Guang taunts Cai Muju by calling himself Cai’s father. The provocation works, and Cao Guang successfully restrains him.
• Using his enhanced eyesight and physical abilities, Lu Ming reads the players’ movements and directs Haiyang No. 2 Middle School’s team from the sidelines. His tactical instructions make the players seem almost mechanical and allow them to compete effectively against the stronger Shiheng team.
• At halftime, the score is 24–26. Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing discuss the possibility that an Evil Beast may be possessing one of the players. Tang notes that the Evil Beast’s aura has weakened, suggesting it may be concealing itself or preparing an attack.
• When play resumes, Cai Muju angrily confronts Lu Ming. However, the Evil Beast suddenly emerges from Xie Yanheng, not Cai Muju, forming a massive black claw and attacking Lu Ming.
• Lu Ming uses Time Stop for seven seconds. Rather than attack immediately, he prioritizes protecting everyone nearby, pushing students—including players from all three schools and Cai Muju—out of the claw’s range.
• Once time resumes, the Evil Beast is revealed to everyone. Lu Ming orders the crowd to flee through the emergency exits, and the students instinctively obey him.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Demonstrates exceptional strategic intelligence, enhanced perception, leadership, and bravery. He turns a basketball game into a tactical demonstration, then risks himself to save everyone when the Evil Beast attacks. His decision to use Time Stop for rescue rather than offense highlights his protective instincts.
• Cao Guang: Initially uncertain about Lu Ming’s plan, he follows the instructions and successfully contains Cai Muju through both physical defense and psychological provocation. His performance earns him an important role in the game.
• Cai Muju: Becomes increasingly frustrated by Lu Ming’s tactics and his own inability to break through Cao Guang’s defense. His anger ultimately distracts him from the actual supernatural threat.
• Xie Yanheng: Is revealed to be the person possessed by the Evil Beast. His transformation is sudden and terrifying, recontextualizing his earlier interest in Lu Ming.
• Tang Zhiqing: Continues to act as a composed Student Council president and supernatural investigator. She notices the Evil Beast’s changing aura and remains close to Lu Ming during the attack.
• Ran Yanyue: Provides dry, perceptive commentary, especially when correcting Lu Ming’s deliberately absurd explanations.

Significant Themes

• Leadership and competence: Lu Ming’s influence extends beyond formal authority; his quick thinking makes an entire team act with precision.
• Protection over victory: When given the chance to attack the Evil Beast, Lu Ming instead saves the students, emphasizing that human lives matter more than winning or proving strength.
• Hidden danger: The Evil Beast’s concealed presence creates tension and shows that appearances—and even supernatural detection—can be misleading.
• Comedic subversion: Basketball strategy is described through exaggerated gaming and anime references, while Lu Ming’s ridiculous personality contrasts with his genuine competence.
• Reliability beneath chaos: Though Lu Ming behaves irresponsibly and jokes constantly, his actions during the crisis reveal him as dependable and courageous.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ming humorously dominates his interactions with Cao Guang, ordering him around while Cao Guang reluctantly complies.
• Lu Ming works closely with Cao Guang on the court, using him as the key defender against Cai Muju.
• Tang Zhiqing and Ran Yanyue observe Lu Ming’s coaching and exchange comments with him about his strange personality and thought process.
• Cai Muju’s hostility toward Lu Ming grows as Lu Ming repeatedly frustrates him from the sidelines.
• The final attack changes the group dynamic: the students, players, and rivals all follow Lu Ming’s commands, recognizing him as the most reliable person in the crisis.

Chapter Summary: “Witch” Will Come Looking for You

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ming has exhausted his powerful Time Stop ability, leaving him unable to use it in the coming battle against Code-named Evil Beast One-Eye.
• One-Eye, having completely emerged from Xie Yanheng’s body, transforms into a massive, mountain-sized beast. He correctly deduces that Lu Ming’s extraordinary ability has limitations and intends to kill him before it can be used again.
• Because some students remain inside the cultural center, Tang Zhiqing and Lu Ming decide to contain the fight and prevent civilian casualties while waiting for help.
• Just as One-Eye attacks, a new Magical Girl arrives: Kagura, a shrine-maiden-style Magical Girl wielding a golden Kagura Bell. Her bell exerts crushing force and drives One-Eye into the ground.
• Tang Zhiqing explains that Kagura is an island-born Magical Girl studying in China who has operated in central cities for about a year. She also notes that Evil Beasts in the island nation are fewer and generally weaker, though more violent because of the population’s chronic overwork.
• Kagura and Tang attack One-Eye together, attempting to keep him inside the cultural center. One-Eye focuses on Lu Ming, recognizing him as the true threat.
• Kagura tries to protect Lu Ming when One-Eye charges him, but Lu Ming effortlessly smashes away a large portion of the beast’s body with one punch.
• One-Eye attempts to bite Lu Ming, only to be stopped by Lu Ming’s transparent magic barrier. Realizing Lu Ming is far more powerful than expected—and possibly responsible for killing Sage—One-Eye tries to flee.
• Lu Ming pursues and destroys One-Eye’s head with another punch, killing him completely.
• Upon death, One-Eye’s magic power flows into Lu Ming instead of dispersing. This shocks One-Eye, who realizes Lu Ming may be the mysterious entity the Evil Beasts have been searching for.
• Before vanishing, One-Eye warns Lu Ming that Witch will come looking for him and implies that Lu Ming may encounter him again.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Demonstrates overwhelming physical strength and defensive magic even without Time Stop. His ability to absorb an Evil Beast’s magic power reveals that he may possess a rare or dangerous connection to the Evil Beasts.
• One-Eye: Shifts from arrogant confidence to fear and desperation after discovering that Lu Ming is far stronger than anticipated. His final realization suggests Lu Ming is connected to a larger supernatural mystery.
• Tang Zhiqing: Acts strategically and calmly, directing the battle and protecting the students. Her remarks about “our Haiyang” suggest she is developing a stronger sense of belonging to the city.
• Kagura: Is introduced as a brave but inexperienced ally. She initially misunderstands Lu Ming’s apparent calm as helplessness and risks herself to save him, only to discover that he is vastly stronger than she is.
• Xie Yanheng: Is no longer directly involved once One-Eye fully emerges from his body, though his earlier possession enables the confrontation.

Significant Themes

• Hidden power and mistaken assumptions: One-Eye assumes Lu Ming is limited and vulnerable, but Lu Ming’s strength exceeds even the expectations of experienced Magical Girls.
• The mystery of Lu Ming’s nature: His ability to absorb Evil Beast magic power appears to be unique and may identify him as the entity the Evil Beasts seek.
• Protection and responsibility: The heroes must balance defeating One-Eye with protecting the students trapped in the cultural center.
• Cultural and regional differences: Kagura’s arrival introduces contrasts between China and the island nation, including differences in Magical Girls, Evil Beasts, and social conditions.
• Foreshadowing and escalating danger: One-Eye’s final warning establishes Witch as a future threat and suggests that Lu Ming’s identity will attract powerful enemies.

Character Interactions

• Tang and Lu Ming coordinate to contain One-Eye and protect the students.
• Tang gives Kagura tactical instructions, which Kagura follows because she respects Tang’s apparent strength.
• Kagura initially worries that Tang is indifferent to Lu Ming’s danger, then realizes both Lu Ming and Tang are far stronger than she assumed.
• One-Eye repeatedly focuses on Lu Ming, viewing him as more dangerous than the two Magical Girls.
• One-Eye’s final words directly connect Lu Ming to Witch and the broader search for a mysterious supernatural being.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After defeating the Evil Beast One-Eye, Lu Ming meets Magical Girl Kagura, who reveals herself to be Morikawa Chihiro, an ordinary student from Shiheng School.
• Lu Ming jokingly claims to be the “Great Demon King Who Will Destroy the World,” but Tang Zhiqing’s casual orders—such as asking him to move a chair and retrieve her bag—make Chihiro realize he is not genuinely threatening.
• Chihiro explains that she avoids the police and leaves, telling Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing that she practices at the swimming pool if they need to find her.
• The students evacuated from Haiyang Stadium gather at a hotel while police investigate the Evil Beast incident. Many fear that Lu Ming has died because he stayed behind to help them escape.
• When Lu Ming returns with Tang Zhiqing, his classmates surround and embrace him in relief. Cao Guang becomes emotional, and Cai Muju feels ashamed for previously resenting Lu Ming despite being saved by him.
• Tang Zhiqing announces that the Evil Beast warning has ended, the examination is suspended, and everyone must remain at the hotel.
• Lu Ming showers and returns to find his male classmates sleeping in his room to ensure he does not suffer trauma after the disaster.
• As Lu Ming prepares to sleep, he turns over and sees a huge eye, ending the chapter on a cliffhanger.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Continues to act casually and humorously despite having risked his life to protect others. He enjoys teasing people but accepts his classmates’ emotional support without rejecting them. His physical strength and healing abilities are also emphasized.
• Tang Zhiqing: Demonstrates authority and composure as student council president. She organizes the students, checks on Lu Ming’s condition, and shows subtle concern for his safety. Her brief hesitation when discussing examining Lu Ming hints at possible awkwardness or concealed feelings.
• Morikawa Chihiro/Kagura: Is introduced as a magical girl and an ordinary student. She initially finds Lu Ming frightening but quickly recognizes that his exaggerated “Demon King” persona is mostly a joke.
• Cao Guang and the classmates: Their fear and relief reveal how deeply they value Lu Ming. Cao Guang’s anger and tears show genuine friendship, while Cai Muju experiences guilt and embarrassment after realizing Lu Ming saved him.
• Cai Muju: Begins to recognize Lu Ming’s courage and kindness, contrasting sharply with his earlier selfish attitude.

Significant Themes

• Heroism and self-sacrifice: Lu Ming’s willingness to stay behind and guide others to safety makes him an unintentional hero.
• Friendship and communal support: The students’ reunion, embraces, and decision to sleep in Lu Ming’s room show how people bond after surviving a crisis.
• Humor amid danger: Lu Ming’s absurd self-descriptions and internal commentary contrast with the seriousness of the Evil Beast attack.
• Public identity versus private personality: Chihiro’s magical-girl identity and Lu Ming’s fake Demon King persona both conceal more ordinary, approachable selves.
• Growing emotional awareness: Tang Zhiqing’s concern and the classmates’ reactions suggest that Lu Ming’s relationships are becoming more emotionally significant.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and Chihiro exchange jokes, with her initially mistaking his exaggerated claim of being a world-destroying demon for a real confession.
• Tang Zhiqing’s commands immediately establish her authority over Lu Ming, undermining his supposedly terrifying image.
• Lu Ming reunites with his classmates in an emotional group embrace, while Cao Guang openly expresses his fear of losing him.
• Tang Zhiqing and Lu Ming discuss his injuries, healing ability, and the need to rest, mixing genuine concern with their usual teasing.
• The chapter closes with Lu Ming surrounded by classmates for protection, only to discover a mysterious giant eye beside him.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ming absorbs the remaining magical power of the Code-named Evil Beast One-Eye. His Constitution and Endurance increase, and his healing ability is enhanced.
• Although the healing ability’s effective range becomes smaller, its power improves dramatically: Lu Ming completely heals Cao Guang’s bruised arm with a single touch.
• This gives Lu Ming greater confidence that he can eventually heal Ran Yanyue, though he worries about getting past her parents.
• The next morning, Cai Muju and several students from Shiheng School visit Lu Ming to thank him for helping them escape the previous day and carrying Xie Yanheng to safety.
• Cai Muju apologizes for insulting Ran Yanyue but asks Lu Ming to apologize on his behalf. Lu Ming refuses, telling Cai Muju that genuine regret is his own responsibility.
• At breakfast, Lu Ming eats with Lu Annuan, who deliberately joins him and appears pleased when he agrees to get a goose leg with her.
• Tang Zhiqing and Ran Yanyue join them. Ran explains that Shiheng School now believes she is Lu Ming’s girlfriend.
• Lu Annuan reacts possessively, giving Lu Ming her goose leg and displaying signs of jealousy.
• The chapter closes with Lu Ming commenting on Lu Annuan’s unfamiliar jeans and deflecting when she asks what he thinks of her appearance.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Gains a stronger but more concentrated healing power and becomes more confident in his ability to help Ran Yanyue. He remains sarcastic and self-aware, especially regarding his relationships with the girls around him. He also demonstrates moral firmness by refusing to excuse Cai Muju’s past insult.
• Cai Muju: Shows accountability by thanking Lu Ming and admitting that his earlier anger toward Ran Yanyue was impulsive and regrettable. However, Lu Ming’s refusal leaves him humbled.
• Lu Annuan: Becomes increasingly open about her interest in Lu Ming. She engineers opportunities to sit with him, seeks his opinion about her clothes, and reacts jealously when Ran Yanyue is identified as his supposed girlfriend.
• Ran Yanyue: Her connection with Lu Ming is now widely misunderstood as romantic, strengthening the social tension surrounding them. Her relationship with Lu Ming also remains important because he is determined to heal her.
• Tang Zhiqing: Continues to act as a socially perceptive presence and benefits from Lu Ming’s public praise of her leadership.
• Cao Guang: Serves as the immediate test subject for Lu Ming’s improved healing ability and confirms how much stronger it has become.

Significant Themes

• Power growth and control: Lu Ming’s improved healing demonstrates that magical advancement may involve trade-offs—in this case, greater healing strength but reduced range.
• Responsibility and repentance: Cai Muju’s apology raises the question of whether regret alone is enough to repair harm. Lu Ming insists that Cai Muju must deal with the consequences himself.
• Romantic jealousy and rivalry: The breakfast scene highlights the growing tension among Lu Ming, Lu Annuan, and Ran Yanyue, especially as rumors label Ran Yanyue as Lu Ming’s girlfriend.
• Humor and self-awareness: Lu Ming’s internal monologue turns potentially dramatic situations into comic ones, particularly his complaints about the System and his exaggerated thoughts about Lu Annuan’s behavior.
• Public perception versus reality: The students’ belief that Lu Ming and Ran Yanyue are dating contrasts with the complicated and mostly unspoken feelings among the characters.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and the System exchange sarcastic thoughts over the unusual changes to his healing ability.
• Lu Ming heals Cao Guang while he is asleep, demonstrating the ability’s effectiveness.
• Cai Muju respectfully thanks Lu Ming, but Lu Ming rejects his request to pass along an apology to Ran Yanyue.
• Lu Annuan seeks Lu Ming’s company at breakfast and subtly competes for his attention.
• Tang Zhiqing and Ran Yanyue join the breakfast table, prompting Lu Annuan’s jealousy.
• Ran Yanyue reveals the rumor that she is Lu Ming’s girlfriend, while Lu Annuan reacts through increasingly possessive behavior.
• Lu Ming notices Lu Annuan’s effort to attract his attention but avoids directly answering her when she asks whether he likes her outfit.

Chapter Summary: My Girlfriend Is a Magical Girl!

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ming, Lu Annuan, Tang Zhiqing, and Ran Yanyue eat breakfast together at a crowded buffet restaurant. Because of Lu Ming’s heroic actions the previous day—and because he is sitting with three exceptionally beautiful girls—many students watch them.
• Lu Annuan wants Lu Ming to compliment her appearance, but he hesitates because they are in public. Their playful exchange highlights their familiarity and mutual affection.
• Tang Zhiqing teases Lu Ming and Lu Annuan about being childhood sweethearts. Lu Ming internally acknowledges his possessive feelings toward all three girls and jokingly—and sincerely—admits that he wants them all, revealing his desire for a harem.
• Lu Ming asks about the powerful “Witch,” whom One-Eye warned would come after him. Tang Zhiqing knows little, but Lu Annuan reveals that she personally encountered the Witch in Magic City.
• Lu Annuan explains that the Witch attacked and destroyed several Code-named Evil Beasts, despite being an Evil Beast herself. She is hostile both toward Evil Beasts and Magical Girls and is believed to embody negative emotions originating from Magical Girls.
• Lu Ming proposes that the Witch might be an “enemy Magical Girl,” but the others remind him that she remains an Evil Beast rather than a normal human or Magical Girl.
• After breakfast, an unfamiliar male student attempts to sit with the girls. Lu Annuan cheerfully allows him to sit, then immediately leaves, leaving him awkwardly alone. Tang Zhiqing and Ran Yanyue also depart together.
• As Lu Ming leaves the hotel, Lu Annuan runs after him and asks where he is going, setting up the next interaction.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Shows his usual playful confidence and teasing nature, while also revealing possessiveness and romantic interest toward all three girls. He remains concerned about the Witch and the threat she represents.
• Lu Annuan: Demonstrates shyness beneath her competitive confidence, especially when publicly seeking Lu Ming’s praise. She also establishes herself as an important source of information about the Witch.
• Tang Zhiqing: Continues to tease Lu Ming and Annuan while maintaining a close, playful relationship with Lu Ming. Her position as Student Council President and her sense of distance from the childhood sweethearts are emphasized.
• Ran Yanyue: Remains blunt and emotionally restrained, responding dryly to Lu Ming’s flirtation and helping Tang Zhiqing with official reporting.
• The Witch: Gains greater definition as a mysterious, exceptionally powerful being with conflicting qualities: she resembles Magical Girls in some ways but remains an Evil Beast hostile to both sides.

Significant Themes

• Affection and possessiveness: Lu Ming’s bonds with the three girls combine friendship, romantic desire, and adolescent possessiveness.
• Public image and intimacy: Lu Annuan’s embarrassment over receiving praise in public contrasts with the couple’s casual physical familiarity in private.
• Moral ambiguity: The Witch does not fit neatly into the categories of Magical Girl or Evil Beast, suggesting a more complex conflict between the two.
• Identity and duality: The Witch may represent the darker emotions and impulses of Magical Girls, making her a distorted mirror of their nature.
• Jealousy and social dynamics: The girls’ teasing and the outsider’s failed attempt to join them highlight the special closeness of the central group.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and Lu Annuan flirt and bicker like long-time companions, with Annuan demanding praise and Lu Ming teasing her.
• Tang Zhiqing jokes about being excluded by the childhood sweethearts, prompting Lu Ming to reassure her of their closeness.
• Ran Yanyue dismisses Lu Ming’s exaggerated sentimentality but still participates in the group’s ongoing concerns.
• Lu Annuan explains her encounter with the Witch while Lu Ming and the others react with surprise.
• The visiting male student misreads Annuan’s friendliness as romantic interest, only to be humorously abandoned when she leaves the table.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Annuan reminds Lu Ming to inspect Haiyang Stadium before her upcoming skating competition. On the way, she presses him to keep the promise he made to compliment her.
• Lu Ming praises her appearance and athleticism, then teasingly compliments her tongue. The remark embarrasses Lu Annuan, who secretly wants to kiss him again but fears being teased.
• At the damaged stadium, Lu Annuan feels guilty for arriving too late to help during the previous battle. Lu Ming reassures her that the fight ended quickly and that her absence prevented additional injuries.
• Their conversation turns toward their relationship and Lu Ming’s other female acquaintances. Lu Annuan worries that he may not treat her as specially as he treats other girls.
• Lu Ming mocks her academic performance and explains an obscure idiom. Lu Annuan insists that, despite being less educated, she will stay by his side and depend on him.
• Without thinking, Lu Annuan says she wants to “stick to” Lu Ming for her entire life. Both realize the romantic implication, leading to mutual embarrassment. Lu Ming changes the subject by offering to buy her fruit tea.
• While queuing at the shop, Lu Ming rejects a rude girl’s attempt to cut in line and exchange contact information. Lu Annuan arrives, confidently clings to him, and makes it clear that Lu Ming already has her contact information, effectively driving the girl away.

Character Developments

• Lu Annuan: Her crush on Lu Ming becomes increasingly obvious. She is embarrassed by her own desires and jealous of his interactions with other girls, but she is also becoming more direct and possessive. Her declaration that she wants to remain with him for life reveals the depth of her feelings.
• Lu Ming: He continues to tease Lu Annuan, especially about her innocence and academics, but also shows emotional dependability by comforting her when she feels guilty. He recognizes that his own affection for her is extremely strong, even while pretending their physical intimacy is innocent.
• Relationship: Their bond shifts further from childhood friendship toward romance. Neither has formally confessed, but their flirtation, physical closeness, jealousy, and mutual desire make their feelings increasingly unmistakable.

Significant Themes

• Unspoken romantic feelings: Both characters avoid directly confessing, using jokes and teasing to conceal their attraction.
• Dependability and emotional reassurance: Lu Ming’s ability to comfort Lu Annuan strengthens her trust and attachment to him.
• Jealousy and possessiveness: Lu Annuan’s concern about other girls and her confrontation at the tea shop show her desire to claim a more special place in Lu Ming’s life.
• Innocence versus desire: The characters jokingly describe their intimate behavior as “pure,” while their thoughts and actions clearly suggest growing physical and romantic attraction.
• Self-worth and dependence: Lu Annuan’s insecurity about her grades contrasts with her confidence as an athlete and her determination to remain close to Lu Ming.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu Ming’s teasing compliments make Lu Annuan flustered while also encouraging her attraction.
• His reassurance about the stadium incident helps restore her confidence and reinforces his role as someone she relies on.
• Their exchange about staying together for life briefly exposes their mutual feelings before both retreat into embarrassment.
• At the tea shop, Lu Annuan publicly positions herself beside Lu Ming and rejects another girl’s advances, marking one of her clearest displays of romantic possessiveness.

Chapter 174 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Annuan aggressively defends Lu Ming when another girl appears to slight or bully him, revealing how fiercely protective she is of people she cares about.
• At Haiyang Stadium, Lu Ming and Lu Annuan observe the ongoing repairs and police activity following the previous day’s Evil Beast attack.
• Meng Xuan teases Lu Ming and Lu Annuan’s relationship. She also confirms that the unusual idiom “throwing whips to block a river” refers to an overwhelmingly powerful army, relieving Lu Annuan’s anxiety about her poor academic performance.
• Meng Xuan identifies Zhu Jiaxuan, the boy who recently confessed to Lu Annuan. Zhu attempts to impress Lu Ming by emphasizing his connections, his knowledge of the stadium, and his familiarity with the police.
• Zhu introduces Zhuang Ming as an exceptionally capable police officer, hoping to demonstrate his own superiority. However, Zhuang Ming immediately approaches Lu Ming and asks for his help, unintentionally undermining Zhu’s attempt to compete with him.
• Zhuang Ming gives Lu Ming a golden sphere containing life force that Sage had harvested from the city’s residents but had not yet used. Sage’s defeat prevented a much larger catastrophe, and One-Eye had apparently intended to take advantage of the same power.
• Lu Ming and Lu Annuan examine the sphere. Lu Annuan senses its immense vitality but cannot determine its purpose.
• With the final stage of exams beginning the next day, Lu Annuan challenges Lu Ming to rank first. Lu Ming negotiates a reward: if he succeeds, he may touch her lips—and, after Lu Annuan boldly suggests it, her tongue as well.

Character Developments

• Lu Annuan: Shows her fierce loyalty and willingness to confront others for Lu Ming’s sake. Her romantic feelings become increasingly obvious, though she continues to rationalize their flirtation as harmless “touching.”
• Lu Ming: Becomes more openly confident and flirtatious with Lu Annuan. He recognizes the advantages of having her beside him and privately acknowledges that he wants her to remain with him permanently.
• Meng Xuan: Continues acting as a teasing, mischievous observer of Lu Ming and Lu Annuan’s relationship. Her irreverent humor contrasts with Lu Annuan’s embarrassment.
• Zhu Jiaxuan: Attempts to recover his pride after Lu Annuan rejected his confession by proving himself more impressive than Lu Ming. His efforts fail when Zhuang Ming singles Lu Ming out for assistance.
• Zhuang Ming: Is revealed to be far more influential and capable than her exhausted appearance suggests. She is trusted by the police and relies on Lu Ming in handling important matters.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and mutual protection: Lu Annuan and Lu Ming mirror one another in their refusal to allow loved ones to be mistreated.
• Romantic tension and emotional honesty: Their teasing grows more intimate, even as both continue avoiding a direct confession.
• Hidden strength: Zhuang Ming’s reputation and Lu Ming’s growing importance show that appearances do not reflect a person’s true abilities or status.
• Consequences of the Evil Beast threat: The golden sphere emphasizes the scale of Sage’s plans and the danger prevented by Lu Ming’s victory.
• Competition and pride: Zhu Jiaxuan’s attempt to outshine Lu Ming illustrates how romantic rejection and wounded pride can turn into rivalry.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu Annuan intimidates the girl who threatens Lu Ming, then smugly seeks his approval.
• Meng Xuan teases Lu Ming, calls him “Master,” and openly supports the pairing between him and Lu Annuan.
• Zhu Jiaxuan tries to establish superiority over Lu Ming through his connections and knowledge, but Lu Ming remains polite and unimpressed.
• Zhuang Ming bypasses Zhu and directly recruits Lu Ming, demonstrating her trust in him.
• Lu Annuan and Lu Ming flirt over the exam reward, ending with a mutual, embarrassing agreement involving intimate physical contact.

Chapter Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ming and Lu Annuan inspect the skating venue and confirm that the competition can proceed. Lu Annuan happily goes to practice, while Lu Ming leaves her with Meng Xuan and returns to the hotel to show Tang Zhiqing the Golden Orb obtained from Officer Zhuang.
• Zhu Jiaxuan follows Lu Ming, hoping to regain his pride after being overshadowed by Lu Ming’s connections and social standing. He decides to demonstrate his “flirting skills” on Tang Zhiqing.
• Zhu Jiaxuan attempts a contrived pickup strategy by calling Tang Zhiqing by the wrong name and pretending she resembles an ex-girlfriend. Tang immediately exposes his personal information and threatens to contact his parents, forcing him to retreat in humiliation.
• Lu Ming then approaches Tang Zhiqing under the pretense of “chatting her up.” He cleverly suggests taking a selfie together as Student Council members. Tang agrees, and Lu Ming successfully gets a close photo with her.
• Lu Ming tells Tang he has something interesting from Officer Zhuang and will visit her later. Tang privately admits that his approach was entertaining and considers making him repeat it in the future.
• Ran Yanyue arrives to meet Tang. Lu Ming jokes that he missed her and calls her “Yan-baby” after she says he need not use her formal title. Ran is left speechless and irritated.
• Ran gives Tang the information she requested, then notices Lu Ming. When Tang happily recounts Lu Ming’s attempt to chat her up, Ran becomes visibly jealous and concludes that she is not happy about it.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Demonstrates confidence, cleverness, and social boldness. He effortlessly turns Zhu Jiaxuan’s failed stunt into an opportunity to flirt with Tang while maintaining plausible deniability through Student Council business. He also enjoys teasing Ran Yanyue.
• Lu Annuan: Remains devoted to figure skating and eagerly practices once the venue is approved, showing her passion for the sport.
• Zhu Jiaxuan: His confidence collapses after being humiliated first by Tang’s intimidation and then by Lu Ming’s much more successful interaction with her. His admiration for Lu Ming shifts toward bewildered respect.
• Tang Zhiqing: Reveals her sharpness by instantly investigating and intimidating Zhu Jiaxuan. With Lu Ming, however, she is relaxed and amused, secretly enjoying his attention and the closeness between them.
• Ran Yanyue: Displays jealousy when she learns that Tang enjoyed Lu Ming’s flirting. Her usually controlled attitude slips, suggesting stronger feelings for Lu Ming than she openly acknowledges.

Significant Themes

• Confidence versus genuine charm: Zhu Jiaxuan relies on rehearsed techniques and appearances, while Lu Ming succeeds through familiarity, humor, and emotional awareness.
• Social status and insecurity: Zhu Jiaxuan’s desire to prove himself is driven by his envy of Lu Ming’s connections and popularity.
• Playful romantic ambiguity: Lu Ming repeatedly hides flirtation behind Student Council responsibilities, allowing him and the girls to enjoy romantic tension without openly violating rules.
• Jealousy and unspoken affection: Tang’s enjoyment of Lu Ming’s attention and Ran’s negative reaction reveal the increasingly complicated emotional relationships surrounding him.
• Humiliation as comedy: Zhu Jiaxuan’s failed attempts provide comic contrast to Lu Ming’s effortless interactions.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and Zhu Jiaxuan develop an antagonistic but increasingly humorous dynamic, with Zhu Jiaxuan repeatedly trying—and failing—to compete with him.
• Tang Zhiqing is intimidating toward Zhu Jiaxuan but warm and playful with Lu Ming, highlighting the difference in her feelings toward them.
• Lu Ming and Tang share a flirtatious selfie and a private understanding that their Student Council excuse is only partly sincere.
• Lu Ming teases Ran Yanyue with “Yan-baby,” while she reacts with exasperation rather than genuine rejection.
• Ran’s reaction to Tang’s happiness over Lu Ming’s attention establishes a clear hint of romantic rivalry between the two girls.

Chapter 176 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ran Yanyue is irritated that Lu Ming violated school rules and flirted with Tang Zhiqing—but especially that he did not flirt with her. She tells him to copy the Student Conduct Guidelines, though Tang Zhiqing suggests using Lu Ming as an example during future harassment-prevention lessons.
• Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing study the Golden Orb in her room. They determine that it contains condensed life force mixed with Evil Beast magic power. Magical Girl magic cannot safely interact with it, and contamination causes a severe cold-like illness.
• Lu Ming wants to return the stolen life force to Haiyang City’s residents, but Tang Zhiqing explains that the Orb cannot currently be absorbed by ordinary people and would attract Evil Beasts if destroyed. They decide to preserve it for later.
• Tang Zhiqing gives Lu Ming candy to help him during the final day of exams. Ran Yanyue then discovers him in Tang’s room during a dorm inspection and orders him to leave the girls’ dormitory.
• After midnight, Lu Ming joins Lu Annuan and Tang Zhiqing in eliminating another wave of Evil Beasts. As a result, he is exhausted the next morning despite his improved physique.
• During the final exams, Lu Ming uses loud page-turning and an intimidatingly fast pace to psychologically unsettle the other students, though he briefly reveals that he had merely turned back to an earlier page.
• Tang Zhiqing notices his fatigue and personally massages medicated oil into his temples, helping him recover before the next exam.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Shows strong civic responsibility by wanting to restore the life force taken from Haiyang’s residents. He continues behaving playfully and provocatively around Ran Yanyue, while also demonstrating confidence and cunning during the exams. His nightly battles begin affecting his ordinary human stamina.
• Tang Zhiqing: Displays scientific caution regarding the Golden Orb and takes a nurturing, considerate role toward Lu Ming. Her candy and temple massage reveal growing intimacy and concern.
• Ran Yanyue: Her irritation suggests jealousy toward Tang Zhiqing and frustration that Lu Ming does not direct the same attention toward her. She remains strict about school discipline but is also personally invested in Lu Ming.
• Shi Jingsheng: Sees Lu Ming’s exhaustion as an opportunity to surpass him academically and intensifies the competitive atmosphere of the examination.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility and justice: Lu Ming believes the Golden Orb’s stolen life force should be returned to the people, even though doing so is currently impossible.
• The tension between ordinary and magical life: Lu Ming still needs regular sleep despite fighting Evil Beasts, while Magical Girls can recover through magic-enhanced rest.
• Romantic jealousy and affection: Ran Yanyue’s resentment and Tang Zhiqing’s physical care reveal competing emotional bonds around Lu Ming.
• Competition and psychological warfare: The exams become not only tests of knowledge but also contests of intimidation, strategy, and confidence.
• Duty versus personal limits: Lu Ming continues helping fight Evil Beasts despite the resulting exhaustion and academic pressure.

Character Interactions

• Ran Yanyue and Tang Zhiqing exchange subtle, competitive remarks about Lu Ming and Student Council equality.
• Tang Zhiqing and Lu Ming cooperate to investigate the Golden Orb, with Lu Ming revealing his idealistic motives.
• Ran Yanyue catches Lu Ming in Tang’s room and enforces school rules, while Lu Ming teasingly suggests visiting her room instead.
• Tang Zhiqing cares for Lu Ming before the exam by offering candy and massaging his temples, creating one of the chapter’s clearest moments of tenderness.
• Lu Ming’s exam behavior provokes the other students, especially Shi Jingsheng, turning the classroom into a humorous battle of nerves.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The joint examination continues with Chinese and English. The Chinese paper focuses heavily on Evil Beasts and Magical Girls, including an admiring description of the powerful Magical Girl Empress.
• Lu Ming performs exceptionally in most subjects, though he essentially gives up on English because he has not studied vocabulary or grammar.
• At the closing ceremony, Haiyang No. 2 Middle School takes first place overall. Ran Yanyue and Lu Ming tie for first, while Tang Zhiqing ranks seventh.
• Lu Ming completes his mission of helping the school win the joint exam. His reward is the promise of a new magical tool the next time he kills a Code-named Evil Beast, making him eager for another battle.
• The students return home after the exam because Haiyang Stadium is still damaged from the earlier Evil Beast attack.
• Lu Ming learns that Dongming International School performed well in the sports competition, but its students are intimidated by him and even consider a marriage alliance with Haiyang No. 2 Middle School.
• Lu Annuan wins first place in figure skating but stays temporarily at her coach’s home for additional training, leaving Lu Ming to cook for himself.
• That night, Lu Ming dreams about living with Lu Annuan, Tang Zhiqing, and Ran Yanyue after graduation. The dream is interrupted by a vision of a mysterious woman known as the Witch.
• The Witch is shown defeating and humiliating the extremely dangerous Code-named Evil Beast Gale. She rejects Gale’s attempts to explain its nature and crushes it before turning her attention toward Haiyang, suggesting that she is coming there.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Demonstrates strong academic ability, especially in mathematics and Chinese, while openly abandoning English. He becomes increasingly excited about obtaining another magical tool and shows growing romantic and protective feelings toward the three girls around him.
• Ran Yanyue: Performs brilliantly, likely earning full marks in English, and remains calm and disciplined. Her health appears to be improving significantly, and she becomes more attentive to Lu Ming’s diet.
• Tang Zhiqing: Continues acting as Lu Ming’s devoted and capable Student Council president. She supports him during the exam period and depends on his approval.
• Lu Annuan: Wins first place in figure skating, revealing her continued excellence and competitive strength. Despite being away, she still worries about Lu Ming’s health and cooking.
• The Witch: Is introduced as an extraordinarily powerful, beautiful, and dangerous figure. She easily defeats Gale and appears to possess her own agenda involving Haiyang and possibly Empress.

Significant Themes

• Academic achievement and school pride: The exam results establish Haiyang No. 2 Middle School’s superiority over rival schools and reinforce the importance of reputation and competition.
• The overlap of ordinary life and supernatural danger: Exams, cooking, school rivalries, and romantic fantasies coexist with battles against Evil Beasts and powerful Magical Girls.
• Care and affection: The girls’ concern for Lu Ming’s performance, meals, and health reveals the closeness of their relationships, while Lu Ming’s thoughts show his growing attachment to them.
• Power and hierarchy: The Witch’s effortless destruction of Gale emphasizes the enormous gap between powerful supernatural beings and ordinary or lesser Evil Beasts.
• Hidden threats: The Witch’s arrival signals a new danger and suggests that events in Haiyang are connected to a much larger conflict involving Magical Girls and Evil Beasts.

Character Interactions

• Tang Zhiqing massages Lu Ming’s temples and urges him to make her proud, while Ran Yanyue studies beside him, causing other schools’ students to envy their treatment.
• Lu Ming and Ran Yanyue compare their English exams, though Lu Ming’s idea of “finishing” the paper is far less ambitious than hers.
• Lu Ming jokes with Guo Futao about rival schools’ achievements and learns about Lu Annuan’s figure-skating victory.
• Lu Annuan reminds Lu Ming to cook healthy food, Tang Zhiqing asks for some of his fried rice, and Ran Yanyue offers to create a nutritious meal plan.
• The Witch confronts Gale, dismisses its authority, and kills it when it challenges her, establishing her dominance and foreshadowing her arrival in Haiyang.

Chapter Summary

• The Witch’s transformation: The Witch senses the Divinely Blessed Land near the capital and decides to investigate Haiyang. She recalls having lived and attended school there when it was still a small city. To avoid attracting the Empress’s attention, she chooses a new identity and unexpectedly transforms into a beautiful purple Magical Girl—despite being an Evil Beast.
• Lu Ming’s return to school: Lu Ming is greeted with surprise after ranking first in the joint examination. His friend Li Deng, who had expected him to fail, accuses him of secretly studying. Their banter reveals Li Deng’s shock and humorously connects him to the “Milk Dragon” monster Lu Ming encountered earlier.
• Ran Yanyue’s treatment: During lunch, Lu Ming visits the Student Council room and finds Ran Yanyue there instead of Tang Zhiqing. He explains that his Healing ability has become stronger but now requires direct, close contact with the area in front of her heart. Though the situation is awkward, Ran calmly agrees because healing her congenital heart condition is her priority.
• Healing progress: Lu Ming activates the enhanced green Healing power, which gradually begins affecting Ran’s heart. His nervousness contrasts with Ran’s composed attitude, though her trembling eyelashes reveal that she is not entirely unaffected. Lu Ming realizes how desperately she has longed to be cured after years of hopeless medical diagnoses.
• Ran’s hopes for the future: To ease the silence, Lu Ming asks what Ran wants to do once she is healthy. She admits that she wants to ride a bicycle, despite never having learned, and later says she wants to run until she is exhausted while looking at the sky. Lu Ming enthusiastically promises to arrange these experiences with their friends, suggesting a summer bicycle trip to Azure Sky Lake. Ran’s final wish—to go into the mountains and hunt wild boars—adds a humorous and unexpectedly adventurous note.

Character Development and Interactions

• The Witch shows nostalgia and adaptability, willingly abandoning her monstrous identity to experience ordinary life again. Her transformation hints at a deeper connection to Magical Girls than her status as an Evil Beast suggests.
• Lu Ming continues to appear playful and shameless in conversation, but his concern for Ran is sincere. He is sensitive to her discomfort and determined to help her achieve normal experiences.
• Ran Yanyue remains restrained and rational, yet she begins openly sharing personal dreams that she has been unable to pursue because of her illness. Her willingness to imagine a future marks a subtle emotional change.
• Lu Ming and Li Deng maintain a teasing friendship, with Li Deng’s disbelief highlighting Lu Ming’s unexpected academic success.
• Lu Ming and Ran grow closer through the treatment. Their awkward physical proximity is balanced by genuine trust and mutual concern.

Significant Themes

• Hope against fate: Ran’s dreams represent her refusal to let illness define her life.
• Healing and normalcy: The treatment is not only physical; it opens the possibility of ordinary joys—riding bicycles, running, traveling, and spending time with friends.
• Hidden identities: The Witch’s transformation and Lu Ming’s concealed abilities both emphasize the contrast between outward appearances and inner identities.
• Friendship and companionship: Lu Ming’s promises show how friendship can help turn long-denied wishes into achievable experiences.
• Humor amid vulnerability: Awkward medical circumstances and playful dialogue soften the chapter’s more emotional focus on illness, isolation, and the desire to live freely.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ran Yanyue jokingly says she wants to hunt “one hundred wild boars,” revealing her fascination with hunting scenes in movies while still giving the idea a morally respectable justification.
• Lu Ming continues healing Yanyue’s severely damaged heart with his magical ability. Her condition improves dramatically, recovering from catastrophic Gatling-gun injuries to wounds comparable to being shot several times by a pistol.
• During the treatment, Lu Ming and Yanyue become physically intimate on the Student Council sofa. They embrace closely, though both humorously insist that the contact is merely “medical treatment.”
• Tang Zhiqing unexpectedly enters and catches them sitting together. They pretend to be studying English, although Yanyue is holding her book upside down.
• Afterward, Yanyue reveals that the thing she most wants to do once her health improves is eat a popsicle with Lu Ming during summer—a simple pleasure she has been unable to enjoy because of her illness.
• Back in class, Yanyue reestablishes emotional distance by pointing out the “38th Parallel” between their desks. Lu Ming’s teasing exchange with Li Deng exposes that Li Deng secretly ate cotton candy with his girlfriend.
• After school, Yanyue is taken to the hospital for further examination. Her butler is excited by the possibility of a major improvement in her health and addresses Lu Ming familiarly as “Young Master Lu,” prompting astonishment from a passing student.
• Lu Ming waits at the school gate for Tang Zhiqing, who tells him that her cousin Qin Hanyu has been repeatedly followed at university. A hidden camera recording appears to show a mysterious figure watching Qin.
• Lu Ming and Tang go to the Tang family dojo, where they find Qin Hanyu. Qin immediately hugs Lu Ming and theatrically claims to be frightened, though she had just been relaxing and watching comedy.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Becomes increasingly attracted to Yanyue and allows their relationship to grow more physically intimate. He remains shamelessly humorous, but also begins feeling guilty about his attraction to both Yanyue and Tang Zhiqing. His healing ability continues to prove exceptionally powerful.
• Ran Yanyue: Shows a softer, more vulnerable side. Although normally strict and disciplined, she relaxes around Lu Ming, enjoys his company, and admits that a simple outing with him is her greatest current wish. Her feelings for him are implied through her willingness to remain close and accept his embrace.
• Tang Zhiqing: Continues to act as Lu Ming’s mentor, offering him advanced training. She remains observant and composed, gently reminding Qin Hanyu to maintain appropriate boundaries with Lu Ming.
• Qin Hanyu: Maintains her playful, dramatic personality. Despite claiming to be frightened by the stalker, she is shown casually enjoying comedy before enthusiastically clinging to Lu Ming.
• Li Deng: Is humiliated when Lu Ming reveals knowledge of his date, quickly apologizing after realizing Lu Ming somehow learned about it.

Significant Themes

• Healing and emotional intimacy: Lu Ming’s magical healing creates both literal and emotional closeness with Yanyue. Physical recovery parallels Yanyue’s gradual willingness to experience ordinary happiness.
• Longing for normal life: Yanyue’s wish to eat a popsicle emphasizes how her illness has deprived her of simple teenage experiences.
• Comedy through denial: Lu Ming and Yanyue repeatedly label their intimate behavior as “medical treatment,” creating a humorous contrast between their obvious attraction and their formal excuses.
• Rules versus personal feelings: Yanyue’s strict discipline conflicts with her growing affection for Lu Ming, represented by both her willingness to embrace him and her insistence on maintaining the “38th Parallel” in class.
• Mystery and looming danger: Qin Hanyu’s apparent stalker introduces a new threat and sets up the next stage of the plot.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu Ming and Ran Yanyue: Share a private healing session that becomes an intimate embrace; Yanyue later expresses her desire to share a popsicle with him.
• Lu Ming and Tang Zhiqing: Tang praises his academic performance, arranges advanced training, and brings him into the investigation concerning Qin Hanyu.
• Lu Ming and Li Deng: Lu Ming teasingly exposes Li Deng’s secret date, demonstrating his sharp memory and access to information.
• Lu Ming and Qin Hanyu: Qin hugs Lu Ming upon seeing him, while Tang Zhiqing reminds her to maintain proper boundaries.
• Ran Yanyue and her butler: Her butler eagerly takes her to the hospital, hopeful that Lu Ming’s treatment has finally produced a breakthrough.

Chapter Summary: “An Ordinary Lu Ming Surrounded by Danger”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ming visits Tang Zhiqing and Qin Hanyu at the dojo. While they prepare tea, he uses Mechanical Speech to question the dojo’s surveillance cameras about anyone suspicious watching the area.
• Two Evil Beasts secretly observe the dojo, intending to consume Qin Hanyu, Tang Zhiqing, and Lu Ming. They reveal that many Evil Beasts have been drawn to the area because of the powerful life force there.
• Lu Ming unexpectedly captures one of the Evil Beasts before it can attack. The second Evil Beast attempts to punch him, but Lu Ming effortlessly shatters its fist.
• Through questioning and deliberate feigned fear, Lu Ming learns that:
  • The Evil Beasts were attracted by someone’s information about the dojo.
  • The organization or group known as Rabbit Bone is involved.
  • Evil Beasts from other cities have gathered in Haiyang to evolve by consuming concentrated sources of energy.
• The Evil Beasts attack Lu Ming together, but he destroys both of them with overwhelming ease. Their bodies dissolve into black dust.
• Lu Ming returns to the dojo and tells Tang Zhiqing what happened. She contacts Officer Zhao Chuncui, who agrees to investigate.
• Because the identity of the shadow and the larger Evil Beast threat remain unknown, Lu Ming decides to stay overnight at the dojo.

Character Developments

• Lu Ming: Demonstrates that his strength and reflexes are far beyond what the Evil Beasts expect. He remains calm and playful during the confrontation, using humor and deception to extract information. Although outwardly called “ordinary,” he is clearly a formidable fighter and protector.
• Tang Zhiqing: Becomes more familiar and comfortable with Lu Ming, treating him less formally. She is also shown taking the threat seriously and immediately contacting the police.
• Qin Hanyu: Continues to act hospitably toward Lu Ming, helping prepare tea, while remaining one of the major targets because of her immense life force.
• The Evil Beasts: Reveal that they are not acting entirely at random. Their gathering is connected to Rabbit Bone and a coordinated plan to help Evil Beasts evolve.
• Officer Zhao Chuncui: Provides a humorous but supportive response while agreeing to investigate the danger.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and mistaken identity: The Evil Beasts assume Lu Ming is an ordinary, vulnerable human, only to discover that he vastly outmatches them.
• Organization as a source of danger: Lu Ming recognizes that coordinated Evil Beasts are far more threatening than isolated monsters, emphasizing the importance of structure and cooperation.
• Humor amid danger: Lu Ming treats the deadly encounter with sarcasm and playful deception, balancing the serious threat with comedy.
• Predation and power: The Evil Beasts view magical beings and life-force-rich humans as food, framing the conflict as one between hunters and prey.
• Escalating conspiracy: The mention of Rabbit Bone suggests that the attacks are part of a broader scheme rather than isolated incidents.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ming interacts humorously with the dojo’s surveillance cameras, even promising to improve one camera’s screws.
• The Evil Beasts discuss Lu Ming as an easy “dessert” before discovering that he has captured one of them.
• Lu Ming manipulates the surviving Evil Beasts by pretending to be frightened, encouraging them to reveal information about Rabbit Bone.
• Tang Zhiqing worries about Lu Ming’s safety when he disappears and later reports the incident to the authorities.
• Zhao Chuncui teases Tang Zhiqing about her relationship with Lu Ming, while Tang quickly insists that they are merely classmates and fellow Student Council members.