Chapter Summaries

Cai Jinbai, a mysterious overseas tycoon, arrived in S City after buying a landmark office tower and surrounding land in the New Urban District. His young, striking appearance and the dangerous-looking man accompanying him left Kong Da stunned as the group prepared to visit a property.

• A mysterious tycoon won the bid for the New Urban District's landmark tower and bought the surrounding land outright.
• Kong Da accompanied Yuan Guangjin to the airport to meet his employer, hoping to make a good impression.
• Yuan Guangjin excitedly pointed out Cai Jinbai, whose youth and appearance surprised Kong Da.
• Kong Da greeted Cai Jinbai and thanked him for the opportunity to help, while noticing the imposing man beside him.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Kong Da escorts Cai Jinbai, Xuan Yu, and their attendants from the airport to Crescent Villa. He is surprised that their new home costs only around ten million, considering their immense wealth and ability to purchase entire office buildings and land.
• Cai Jinbai explains that he prefers a residence large enough only for himself and Xuan Yu. The two are powerful cultivators from the great world of Heavenly Mirror who have come to this small world seeking a breakthrough through the accumulation of merit.
• At the villa, Kong Da meets Cai Jinbai’s attendants: Butler Ding Xingwang, driver Yun Hengtong, housekeeper “Auntie Cai,” and Assistant Yuan Guangjin. He becomes increasingly curious about Xuan Yu’s relationship with Cai Jinbai.
• Butler Ding describes them as childhood companions who are closer than blood brothers. Xuan Yu privately clarifies that they share a life-bound contract, allowing them to depend on one another and share life force.
• The attendants are revealed to be puppets created by Cai Jinbai. They were used to establish a legitimate family history and help him integrate into the modern world. Over generations, the puppet-run Cai family accumulated enormous wealth and became one of the world’s richest families.
• Kong Da notices the unusual symbolism in the attendants’ names, which all suggest wealth and prosperity. Meanwhile, the puppets organize the villa while Xuan Yu makes Cai Jinbai comfortable.
• Xuan Yu asks how Cai Jinbai intends to accumulate merit. Cai Jinbai explains that he can read people’s Wealth Aura and identify kind, virtuous individuals with “Proper Wealth” whose fortunes have declined. He plans to help such people change their fates and succeed.
• Cai Jinbai begins searching online for potential candidates. He observes that people’s written words carry traces of their Wealth Aura and notices several loyal fans waiting for an absent actor to return.

Character Developments

• Cai Jinbai is established as a cultivator who entered the Dao through wealth. He has mastered Wealth Aura, possesses extraordinary insight into fortune and character, and treats money as an essential force in life. Despite his immense resources, he is practical and modest about his living arrangements.
• Xuan Yu is revealed to be Cai Jinbai’s lifelong companion and a black dragon who cultivates spatial power. He is protective, possessive, and intimidating, but also attentive to Cai Jinbai’s comfort and deeply committed to him.
• Kong Da remains impressed and bewildered by the pair. His attempts to understand their wealth, relationship, and eccentric household provide a grounded outsider’s perspective.
• The attendants—Ding Xingwang, Yun Hengtong, Auntie Cai, and Yuan Guangjin—are not ordinary employees but loyal puppets created by Cai Jinbai. They convincingly maintain the appearance of a wealthy family household.

Significant Themes

• Wealth as a path to cultivation: Cai Jinbai’s wealth is not merely material; it is the foundation of his spiritual path and Dao.
• Fate, fortune, and merit: The chapter introduces the idea that financial fortune reflects destiny. Cai Jinbai seeks merit by helping virtuous but unlucky people rise in life.
• Loyalty and chosen family: Cai Jinbai and Xuan Yu’s bond surpasses blood relations, emphasizing companionship, mutual dependence, and shared destiny.
• Adapting to different worlds: The pair must conceal or modify their supernatural nature to integrate into the small modern world.
• The meaning behind names and symbols: Wealth-related names, gold and silver imagery, and Wealth Aura reinforce Cai Jinbai’s identity and worldview.

Character Interactions

• Kong Da politely questions the attendants about their roles and probes Xuan Yu’s identity, while the staff carefully offer only explanations that fit the local world.
• Xuan Yu deliberately frightens the aquarium fish with his aura, prompting Cai Jinbai to reprimand him for risking a bad omen. Their exchange shows Xuan Yu’s intimidating nature and Cai Jinbai’s calm authority over him.
• Xuan Yu insists that their relationship be properly understood, while Cai Jinbai lightly criticizes him for giving the puppets too little information.
• At home, Xuan Yu tends to Cai Jinbai by preparing cushions, slippers, and water before asking about their plans.
• Cai Jinbai explains his method of identifying future candidates to Xuan Yu, who shows interest in the people Cai Jinbai is examining online.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cai Jinbai researches actor Xu Yuqing after seeing fans defend him online. Xu was once a hugely popular actor known for his looks, intelligence, and strong acting, but his career collapsed after he was falsely implicated in a drug scandal.
• Although Xu was repeatedly proven innocent, Star Universe Entertainment used the scandal to blacklist and shelve him for three years. The company also caused him to lose endorsements, pay massive breach-of-contract fees, and be denied acting opportunities.
• Xu’s remaining fans continue to support him, but his online fan community has become quiet. Antis still accuse him of drug use and question his character because of his friendship with Gao Chi, a member of the powerful Gao family.
• Cai Jinbai decides to investigate Xu after sensing a faint trace of Proper Wealth Aura attached to Xu’s final online message.
• He summons Cai Jinbao, his sentient Golden Ingot artifact. Jinbao can track Wealth Aura, observe people’s financial fortunes, and connect to the internet. Cai orders it to find Xu and report his current situation.
• The chapter then shifts to Xu’s life in S City. He lives in a shabby rented apartment and has almost no money left after paying the penalties imposed following his blacklisting.
• Despite years of rejection and deliberate obstruction, Xu refuses to abandon his principles. He chooses to continue improving his acting skills and wait for another opportunity.

Character Developments

• Cai Jinbai is introduced as a powerful cultivator and master artifact refiner specializing in Wealth Aura. He is perceptive, compassionate, and especially affectionate toward Cai Jinbao, whom he treats like a beloved companion.
• Cai Jinbao is established as a cheerful, childlike artifact spirit. It eagerly accepts Cai Jinbai’s mission and demonstrates loyalty and enthusiasm.
• Xu Yuqing is portrayed as principled, resilient, and self-reliant. Though repeated setbacks have weakened his confidence, he still refuses to compromise his morals or depend on his parents financially.
• Xu’s past fame contrasts sharply with his present poverty and isolation, emphasizing how completely the entertainment industry has abandoned him.

Significant Themes

• Integrity versus survival: Xu refuses to betray his values even when doing so might restore his career.
• The cruelty and unfairness of the entertainment industry: Powerful companies can manipulate public opinion, suppress careers, and punish people regardless of the truth.
• False judgment and rumor: Xu’s innocence is supported by evidence, yet public suspicion continues to define him.
• Persistence and hope: Xu believes acting ability cannot be taken from him and continues preparing for a future opportunity.
• Recognition of hidden worth: Cai Jinbai’s interest suggests that Xu’s fortune and potential may not truly be exhausted despite his current circumstances.
• Loyalty: Xu’s remaining fans continue defending him, while Cai Jinbai and Jinbao begin taking an active interest in his fate.

Important Character Interactions

• Xu’s fans argue with antis, defending him against renewed accusations of drug use and condemning Star Universe Entertainment’s treatment of him.
• Cai Jinbai interacts warmly with Cai Jinbao, allowing it to call him “Master” and indulging its playful personality.
• Cai Jinbai assigns Jinbao the task of locating Xu by following his remaining Wealth Aura.
• Xu recalls his confrontation with Star Universe Entertainment’s president, in which he rejected the company’s demand that he abandon his principles. This memory highlights the conflict between Xu and the corrupt forces that ruined his career.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Xu Yuqing survives financially by tutoring while waiting for his five-year contract with Star Universe Entertainment to expire. After three years of suppression, he believes he will soon be free to resume acting.
• His agent, Liu Rong, visits and tells him that a legitimate small company is willing to sign him after his contract ends, though he would have to rebuild his career through minor roles.
• Encouraged by this opportunity and by seeing continued support from his fans, Xu Yuqing begins to feel hopeful and considers responding to them.
• Liu Rong then learns that the small company has withdrawn its offer, apparently because Star Universe Entertainment pressured it not to sign him.
• Star Universe’s president, Gao Su, personally calls Xu Yuqing. He accuses Xu of having sent Gao’s younger brother to prison and declares that Xu will not be allowed to leave or rebuild his career. Gao openly admits that he has deliberately tormented Xu and intends to continue destroying his prospects.
• The company blocks Xu’s future by warning other industry employers against signing him and invoking complicated contract clauses requiring an enormous penalty for termination. A lawsuit would demand money, legal expertise, and connections Xu does not possess.
• After a week, Xu becomes visibly exhausted and hopeless. He tells Liu Rong that even if he eventually wins his freedom, Star Universe will continue suppressing him as long as it remains powerful in the industry.
• The chapter ends with Xu recognizing one possible—but morally devastating—way forward: begging Gao for mercy, sacrificing his principles, and possibly selling himself in exchange for renewed career opportunities.

Character development

• Xu Yuqing: Begins the chapter optimistic, determined, and energized by the possibility of leaving the company. He remains grateful to his fans and tries to encourage himself after each setback, but Gao’s threats and the company’s legal and industry pressure gradually crush his hope. By the end, he is physically and emotionally worn down and forced to consider compromising his dignity and morality.
• Liu Rong: Demonstrates continued loyalty and compassion by supporting Xu financially, professionally, and emotionally. She tries to secure him a new contract, but her powerlessness against Star Universe’s influence frustrates and distresses her.
• Gao Su: Reveals himself as vindictive, powerful, and openly abusive. His goal is not merely to enforce a contract but to prolong Xu’s suffering and destroy his future as revenge for his brother.

Significant themes

• Abuse of power and industry control: Star Universe uses its wealth, influence, and connections to monopolize Xu’s career and intimidate smaller companies.
• Hope versus despair: Xu’s brief hope of freedom is repeatedly replaced by darker obstacles, showing how oppression can make even escape seem impossible.
• Perseverance and dignity: Xu wants to continue acting without betraying his principles, but the company forces him to weigh survival against his moral boundaries.
• Loyalty and support: Liu Rong’s assistance and the fans’ continued devotion provide Xu with emotional anchors amid his isolation.
• Legal and economic inequality: Although Xu technically has a contract and the law on his side, lacking money, connections, and influential legal representation leaves him vulnerable.

Important character interactions

• Liu Rong reassures Xu that he can rebuild his career through small roles and encourages him not to lose faith.
• Xu expresses gratitude toward Liu Rong and promises to continue pursuing acting, while also trying to protect her from Star Universe’s retaliation.
• Xu looks through his fan forum and realizes that supporters have remained loyal throughout his disappearance, giving him renewed confidence.
• Gao Su confronts Xu by phone, taunting him and threatening to prevent him from leaving the company or working elsewhere.
• Xu later confesses to Liu Rong that Star Universe may have left him no viable path except surrendering his principles to Gao.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Yuqing firmly decides to leave the entertainment industry rather than betray the principles behind his past actions. He accepts that abandoning his dream is a painful but necessary compromise.
• Liu Rong receives an unexpected call from Jinbai Entertainment, which wants to sign Xu. Though initially hopeful, Xu quickly becomes pessimistic, fearing Star Universe Entertainment’s legal threats and industry-wide suppression.
• Liu Rong persuades him to meet Jinbai, arguing that he should pursue every possible opportunity rather than surrender without trying.
• Xu prepares carefully for the meeting, determined to appear professional and make one final effort.
• At an upscale restaurant, they meet Yuan Guangjin, assistant to Jinbai Entertainment’s president and vice president. Xu and Liu are surprised to learn that both executives are personally attending.
• Initially, they assume Jinbai is an obscure or inexperienced company incapable of resisting Star Universe Entertainment. However, President Cai Jinbai confidently offers Xu a contract after praising his acting and image.
• Xu explains the serious dispute surrounding his contract, including Star Universe’s refusal to release him and its demand for compensation.
• Cai reveals that he knows the full truth behind Xu’s scandal: Xu had gone to Gao Chi’s gathering to rescue someone, unintentionally exposing Gao Chi’s drug use. A reporter photographed Xu during the ensuing chaos, and Star Universe used the incident to make Xu the scapegoat.
• Xu is stunned that Cai knows details that even he has been unable to uncover, leaving him questioning how Jinbai learned the truth.

Character Developments

• Xu Yuqing: Moves from resignation and despair toward cautious hope. Although he believes another opportunity will end in disappointment, he chooses to try rather than regret giving up. His steadfastness is also emphasized: he still believes his original choice was right and refuses to compromise his integrity.
• Liu Rong: Demonstrates loyalty and practical courage. She supports Xu emotionally, encourages him not to surrender, and helps him pursue the meeting despite the overwhelming odds.
• Cai Jinbai: Is introduced as a perceptive, well-informed, and decisive executive. He directly acknowledges Xu’s abilities and the injustice he suffered, suggesting that Jinbai may be willing to challenge Star Universe.
• Xuan Yu: Remains mostly silent but attends alongside Cai, indicating his support for Jinbai’s decision.
• Star Universe Entertainment and Gao Su: Their continued influence is shown through their legal intimidation, suppression of Xu’s career, and manipulation of public opinion.

Significant Themes

• Hope amid despair: Even after repeated rejection and betrayal, Xu is urged to pursue the small possibility of escape.
• Integrity and conviction: Xu remains unwilling to regret or renounce the decision that led to his downfall.
• Power and industry oppression: The chapter highlights how a dominant entertainment company can control contracts, reputations, and career opportunities.
• Truth versus public perception: Xu was publicly branded as a drug user despite acting selflessly, while Star Universe concealed the truth and redirected blame onto him.
• Second chances: Jinbai’s offer introduces the possibility that Xu’s career—and his reputation—may still be restored.

Character Interactions

• Xu and Liu share a close agent-actor relationship built on trust. Liu comforts him, challenges his pessimism, and motivates him to act.
• Xu’s interaction with Cai is cautious and defensive. He explains the risks honestly, while Cai responds by demonstrating that he already understands Xu’s situation in detail.
• Cai’s revelation about the scandal profoundly shocks Xu, since it confirms that someone may finally know and recognize the truth behind his persecution.

Chapter Summary

• Cai Jinbai reveals he investigated Xu Yuqing’s past before offering him a contract. He points out that Xu was abandoned and exploited by people around him after Star Universe Entertainment suppressed him, yet Xu insists he does not regret saving the woman whose scandal caused his downfall. He only regrets acting impulsively without considering the risks.
• Xu’s moral character is emphasized. Despite being betrayed, silenced, and deprived of work, he believes he acted according to his conscience. His Proper Wealth light continues to shine, symbolizing his integrity and good intentions.
• The danger from Star Universe Entertainment becomes more serious. Cai warns Xu that leaving the company will not necessarily end the conflict. Liu Rong suggests that the company might use criminal and covert methods—possibly even arranging for Xu to become addicted to drugs—to destroy him completely.
• Xu recalls his confrontation with Gao Chi. When Xu rescued a woman from Gao Chi’s private room, Gao Chi threatened to kill him. Gao was subsequently arrested for drug use and harboring drug users, but he warned Xu that he would not escape retaliation. Afterward, Star Universe Entertainment shelved Xu, suggesting that Gao’s influence and hostility were behind the company’s continued suppression.
• Xu becomes frightened and helpless, realizing that the threat may extend beyond lawsuits or contract penalties and could endanger his life, reputation, and family. Cai then offers a solution: Xu can sign with Jinbai Entertainment, which will help him terminate his contract with Star Universe and protect him from further consequences.
• Liu Rong remains cautious. She questions whether the newly established Jinbai Entertainment has enough power to challenge a major company and worries that Xu might simply be exchanging one exploitative employer for another. Xuan Yu dismisses Star Universe as merely a “tiny” company, hinting that Jinbai Entertainment has a powerful and undisclosed background.
• Cai confidently promotes Jinbai Entertainment. He promises Xu better resources, stronger career opportunities, and a path to greater fame. He insists that resolving Xu’s current troubles would be trivial for him and makes clear that his assistance is conditional on Xu signing with Jinbai.
• The contract is presented without pressure. Cai gives Xu one week to consider the offer and encourages him to have a lawyer review the agreement. After Cai, Xuan Yu, and Yuan Guangjin leave, Xu and Liu examine the contract and find its terms unusually favorable, though Liu remains suspicious of hidden clauses and advises seeking professional legal advice.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Xu Yuqing remains principled but becomes increasingly fearful as he understands the extent of Star Universe’s potential retaliation. His interaction with Cai shifts from skepticism to cautious hope.
• Cai Jinbai demonstrates thorough preparation, emotional insight, confidence, and apparent sincerity. He both exposes Xu’s painful past and offers himself as Xu’s protector.
• Liu Rong acts as Xu’s practical guardian, warning him about the entertainment industry’s darker methods and carefully questioning Cai’s motives and resources.
• Xuan Yu appears intimidating and extremely confident in Jinbai Entertainment’s power, while Yuan Guangjin serves as a polite intermediary who reinforces Cai’s sincerity.

Significant Themes

• The cost of integrity in a corrupt industry.
• Betrayal, abandonment, and the exploitation of vulnerable people.
• The contrast between Xu’s moral instincts and the ruthless power structures surrounding him.
• Fear of hidden manipulation versus the possibility of genuine rescue.
• The importance of trust, caution, and legal protection when escaping an abusive system.

Chapter 7 Summary

Plot and Key Events

• Liu Rong and Xu Yuqing initially remain cautious about Jinbai Entertainment, worrying that the newly established company might be another trap or might lack the power to challenge Star Universe Entertainment.
• Their doubts disappear when Liu Rong examines Jinbai Entertainment’s introductory materials and discovers that its address is an entire landmark office building in the center of S City’s New Urban District.
• She explains that the thirty-eight-story building and surrounding land were purchased outright by a mysterious wealthy foreigner, revealing that Jinbai Entertainment is backed by extraordinary wealth and influence.
• Liu Rong concludes that Jinbai can likely protect Xu Yuqing from Star Universe Entertainment and may even be stronger than its established rival.
• Convinced that this is a rare opportunity, Xu Yuqing immediately decides to sign with Jinbai Entertainment rather than wait a week or consult a lawyer.
• Xu Yuqing then urges Liu Rong to leave Star Universe and join Jinbai as well. He fears Star Universe may retaliate against her for helping him terminate his contract.
• Liu Rong recognizes the danger and quickly decides to ask President Cai for a position. However, Xu Yuqing persuades her to stay and celebrate first, so the two eat together after finally setting aside their anxiety.

Character Development

• Xu Yuqing changes from doubtful and nervous to excited and decisive once he realizes Jinbai Entertainment’s immense financial strength. His eagerness shows both his desperation to escape Star Universe and his willingness to seize an opportunity immediately.
• He also demonstrates gratitude and loyalty toward Liu Rong, worrying about the consequences she may face after supporting him and attempting to protect her by inviting her to join Jinbai.
• Liu Rong remains more cautious and experienced than Xu Yuqing, initially advising him not to rush. However, she is perceptive enough to recognize both Jinbai’s power and the potential danger from Star Universe, leading her to make a practical decision to change companies.

Significant Themes

• Opportunity versus caution: Xu Yuqing and Liu Rong must decide whether Jinbai Entertainment is a risky trap or their only chance to escape an oppressive situation.
• Power and wealth: The office building’s ownership serves as evidence of Jinbai’s hidden strength and suggests that financial power can challenge even a major established corporation.
• Loyalty and mutual protection: Xu Yuqing’s concern for Liu Rong reflects their long-standing professional bond and his desire not to abandon someone who supported him.
• Hope and new beginnings: Jinbai Entertainment represents a possible fresh start for both characters after their difficult experiences with Star Universe.

Character Interactions

• Liu Rong reassures and grounds Xu Yuqing whenever his excitement becomes excessive, while he encourages her to think about her own safety and future.
• Their conversation reveals mutual trust: she has guided him professionally, while he now tries to protect her from possible retaliation.
• Their final decision to eat and celebrate together marks a shift from fear and suspicion to optimism about joining Jinbai Entertainment.

Related Chapter 6 Details

• On the way home, Cai Jinbai removes his glasses because they have become uncomfortable. Without them, his normally distant appearance softens, revealing his striking eyes and more approachable side.
• Xuan Yu notices Cai Jinbai’s discomfort and naturally massages his ear where the glasses have pressed against it, showing familiarity and attentive care.
• Cai Jinbai continues researching information on his tablet, using his photographic memory and ability to perceive different forms of Wealth Aura. This reinforces his exceptional abilities and suggests that his plans for Jinbai Entertainment are carefully informed and deliberate.

Chapter Summary

Plot points and events

Cai Jinbai uses the internet and his ability to perceive “Wealth Aura” to research potential talents and plan the next stage of expanding Jinbai Entertainment. Confident that Xu Yuqing and his agent Liu Rong will accept his offer, he is proven right when Xu contacts him the next day to announce that both he and Liu Rong want to join Jinbai Entertainment. Xu explains that he wants to protect Liu Rong from possible retaliation by Star Universe Entertainment after his contract termination. Cai warmly welcomes them and instructs his assistant to discuss Liu’s arrangements.

Character developments

Cai Jinbai demonstrates confidence, strategic foresight, and generosity. He recognizes Liu Rong’s loyalty and professional ability, acknowledging that she supported Xu during difficult periods. Xuan Yu’s possessiveness and protectiveness toward Cai are emphasized; he views Cai as his treasured companion and reacts jealously when Jinbao imitates his affection. However, Xuan Yu also shows that he can be reasoned with. Jinbao, a young and innocent artifact spirit, is revealed to imitate Xuan Yu because he wants to treat Cai well, not because he intends to compete with Xuan Yu. Xu Yuqing develops greater trust in Cai and responds to Cai’s sincerity with openness.

Significant themes

The chapter explores loyalty, trust, possessiveness, and the meaning of companionship. Xuan Yu’s jealousy initially appears threatening, but it is softened by genuine devotion and the life-bound bond he shares with Cai. Jinbao’s imitation shows how affection and behavior are learned through close relationships. The business plot also highlights Cai’s ability to recognize people’s character and use both insight and kindness to build a loyal organization.

Character interactions

Cai praises Jinbao, delighting the artifact spirit, while Xuan Yu tries to prevent Jinbao from intruding on his private time with Cai and flicks him away in jealousy. Cai reassures Xuan Yu that no one can replace him, calming his dragon aura. He then explains Jinbao’s behavior, allowing Xuan Yu and Jinbao to reconcile; Xuan Yu reluctantly accepts Jinbao but warns him not to interrupt again. Meanwhile, Cai and Xu have a sincere phone conversation in which Xu requests that Liu Rong join him. Cai readily approves, affirming his respect for Liu and showing that both recruits are welcome at Jinbai Entertainment.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Liu Rong realizes that remaining at Star Universe Entertainment could lead to her gradual suppression, loss of authority and artists, and eventual humiliating dismissal. After meeting Yuan Guangjin and discussing an employment contract with Jinbai Entertainment, she becomes determined to resign.
• Cai Jinbai hires Xiang Yizhou, a highly prestigious and undefeated lawyer, to handle Xu Yuqing’s contract-termination lawsuit.
• Xiang Yizhou exposes loopholes and unfair clauses in Xu Yuqing’s contract, showing that similar problems exist in other artists’ contracts. He warns Star Universe Entertainment that pursuing the matter could destabilize the company and encourage other artists to leave.
• Xiang refuses to reveal Cai Jinbai as his client but confidently states that he has at least an 80% chance of winning. Faced with the legal and reputational risks, Gao Su reluctantly agrees to release Xu Yuqing from his contract.
• Xu Yuqing is finally free from Star Universe Entertainment. He signs with Jinbai Entertainment and visits its impressive headquarters, where he learns that he is currently the company’s only signed actor.

Character developments

• Xu Yuqing moves from despair and thoughts of abandoning the entertainment industry to renewed hope and gratitude. He resolves to repay Cai Jinbai by becoming a successful actor and earning substantial revenue for the company.
• Cai Jinbai demonstrates his wealth, influence, and decisive support for Xu Yuqing. What seemed like an impossible crisis to Xu is treated by Cai as a minor matter.
• Liu Rong becomes more confident and committed to leaving Star Universe Entertainment, recognizing the opportunity offered by Jinbai Entertainment.
• Xiang Yizhou is established as an exceptionally capable, polished, and formidable lawyer who protects his client while maintaining professional discretion.
• Gao Su loses control of the situation. His confidence in suppressing Xu Yuqing collapses when confronted with Cai’s hidden backing and Xiang’s legal threat.
• Yuan Guangjin continues acting as Cai’s efficient assistant, helping organize contracts, staff, and Xu Yuqing’s transition into the new company.

Significant themes

• Power and wealth as protection: Cai Jinbai’s resources allow Xu Yuqing to challenge an exploitative entertainment company.
• Freedom versus corporate control: Xu’s contract symbolizes the industry’s ability to trap and suppress artists, while his termination represents liberation and a fresh start.
• Justice against exploitation: Xiang’s exposure of unfair contracts highlights the abuse of power within entertainment companies.
• Loyalty and gratitude: Xu Yuqing’s determination to repay Cai shows his growing emotional investment in his new employer.
• New beginnings: Jinbai Entertainment is still under construction and has only one actor, emphasizing both its inexperience and its vast future potential.

Character interactions

• Liu Rong’s discussions with Yuan Guangjin strengthen her decision to join Jinbai Entertainment.
• Xiang Yizhou confronts Gao Su, using legal pressure and the threat of broader industry consequences to force Xu’s release.
• Xu thanks Xiang, but Xiang redirects the gratitude toward Cai Jinbai, making clear that Cai’s support made the lawsuit possible.
• Xu formally thanks Cai and signs with Jinbai Entertainment, pledging through his future work to repay him.
• Cai introduces Xu to the company’s environment through Yuan Guangjin, while Xu discovers that he is currently Jinbai Entertainment’s sole actor.
• At the end, Xiang privately greets Cai as an old acquaintance, while Xuan Yu finally pauses his game and looks up, suggesting a significant past connection or upcoming conversation.

Chapter Summary

• Cai Jinbai meets with lawyer Xiang Yizhou, who has successfully helped resolve Xu Yuqing’s contract termination and is now assisting with additional legal documents. Xiang is highly capable, meticulous, and willing to use aggressive but still lawful methods to win cases.
• Xuan Yu displays obvious possessiveness toward Cai Jinbai. He dislikes Xiang from the start and becomes visibly displeased when Xiang compliments Jinbai’s charm. Xiang notices how physically close Xuan Yu and Jinbai are, but neither Jinbai nor Xuan Yu seems to recognize that their behavior appears unusually intimate.
• After Xiang leaves, Xuan Yu asks whether Jinbai intends to recruit him for Jinbai Group. Jinbai explains that Xiang already has his own law firm and would more likely become a business partner. Xuan Yu’s mood improves when Jinbai refers to the company as “our company,” revealing his emotional investment in Jinbai’s affairs.
• While reviewing possible investments, Cai Jinbai identifies director Chen Chengrong as his next candidate. Jinbai believes Chen’s unreleased film will become Xu Yuqing’s opportunity to return to the screen and achieve renewed success.
• Jinbai’s judgment is supported by his supernatural ability to perceive Wealth Aura, allowing him to sense people’s future fortunes and identify investments likely to succeed. He has also sent Jinbao to investigate Chen.
• Chen Chengrong is introduced as a once-celebrated, talented director whose low-budget debut film became a major success. He later wrote and directed acclaimed films, but is now struggling to secure funding for a screenplay he has spent years developing.
• Chen’s personal troubles are severe: he suffers from insomnia, poor appetite, weight loss, and premature graying because he fears his unfinished film will never be made. His wife worries about his deteriorating health and urges him to eat.
• The chapter reveals the tragedy behind Chen’s decline. More than four years earlier, his parents died in a car accident while his wife was seriously injured and his daughter narrowly escaped with minor injuries. During the same period, Chen’s film production also encountered major problems, contributing to his current hardship.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Cai Jinbai remains calm, perceptive, and confident in his ability to identify profitable opportunities. He respects Xiang’s legal talent and is determined to support Xu Yuqing’s comeback.
• Xuan Yu becomes increasingly protective and possessive of Jinbai, though he disguises it as concern. His physical closeness with Jinbai is natural to him, while Jinbai remains oblivious to its romantic implications.
• Xiang Yizhou is portrayed as observant and self-possessed. He recognizes the unusual intimacy between Jinbai and Xuan Yu, while also showing admiration for Jinbai.
• Chen Chengrong is shown at his lowest point: creatively frustrated, financially strained, and emotionally burdened by past family tragedy. His wife provides practical and emotional support.

Significant Themes

• Unrecognized intimacy and possessiveness: Xuan Yu’s jealousy contrasts with Jinbai’s complete lack of awareness regarding their relationship’s emotional implications.
• Fortune and destiny: Jinbai’s Wealth Aura allows him to perceive hidden opportunities and guide people toward success.
• Perseverance amid adversity: Chen’s devotion to his film reflects the struggle to preserve one’s creative work despite financial, personal, and emotional setbacks.
• Lawful ambition and calculated investment: Jinbai and Xiang both pursue success strategically, but Xiang remains within legal limits and Jinbai seeks opportunities that can benefit everyone involved.

Chapter Summary

Chen Chengrong faces a severe financial crisis while trying to secure funding for his next film. His wife suggests selling their house, but Chen explains that even this may not be enough. He considers selling the small foundation plot inherited from his parents—a deeply sentimental refuge filled with childhood memories—but both he and his wife are reluctant to give it up. Having already sold their car and borrowed from everyone they could, Chen feels trapped.
His wife suggests approaching former investors, but Chen angrily rejects the idea. Those investors had previously interfered with his production by forcing unsuitable actors into important roles. Although Chen had already begged them for funding, they made the same demands, causing him to lose his temper and curse them. Despite later regretting his reaction, he ultimately remembers how badly they had damaged his earlier film and refuses to compromise his principles.
The chapter recounts Chen’s former success and perfectionism. Once celebrated as “Director Chen,” he was renowned for producing high-quality films, including a low-budget project that became a major box-office success. He was meticulous about every detail, from sets and makeup to dialogue and acting, and demanded the same standards from everyone around him. Although many actors considered him difficult and temperamental, his strictness consistently produced successful films and made his name a guarantee of quality.
At the height of his reputation, Chen prepared an ambitious, award-focused film. Investors eagerly offered money, while actors competed for roles. However, once production began, the investors demanded that he cast people connected to them and give those individuals prominent roles. Proud and unwilling to sacrifice the film’s quality, Chen refused, even when they threatened to withdraw their funding.
His crisis worsened when his entire family was involved in a car accident. His parents died, while his wife and daughter were hospitalized. Overwhelmed by grief, medical expenses, funeral arrangements, and production obligations, Chen divided his time between the hospital and the film set. When his wife’s condition became critical, he temporarily entrusted the production to the producer, instructing him to follow the script and consult Chen before making changes.
The producer initially agreed but later accepted bribes from the investors. He secretly altered the script, added scenes, and allowed the demanded actors into the film. When Chen called from the hospital, the producer lied that everything was proceeding normally. After his wife stabilized, Chen returned to the set and discovered that the crew had stopped recognizing him as the director; they followed the producer instead. The film had been changed beyond his control, yet Chen’s name remained attached to it.
When the film was released, audiences were furious. They had trusted Chen’s reputation and expected an award-worthy production, but instead encountered a disorganized plot, illogical character behavior, poor performances, and awkward dialogue. Although the film retained a minimal narrative core and some capable actors, the huge gap between expectations and reality led viewers to feel deceived. Online criticism became vicious, with people accusing Chen of selling out to investors, chasing money, losing his talent, and becoming arrogant after years of success. The film became the greatest stain on his career, and many predicted that he would never make another good movie.

Character Development and Interactions

• Chen Chengrong: Shown as talented, proud, perfectionistic, and deeply devoted to filmmaking. His earlier confidence and authority have been replaced by financial desperation, grief, regret, and emotional exhaustion. Nevertheless, he continues to resist investor interference and protect his artistic principles.
• Chen’s wife: Practical and supportive, she urges him to consider selling assets and contacting former investors, but she also understands the emotional value of his inherited land and warns him against sacrificing it.
• The investors: Represent financial pressure and artistic corruption. They attempt to control the casting and story for their own benefit.
• The producer: Initially appears cooperative but betrays Chen by accepting bribes, changing the script, and taking control of the production.
• The public: Once treated Chen’s name as a guarantee of quality, but after the failed film they turn against him, judging him without knowing the circumstances behind the production.

Significant Themes

Artistic integrity versus commercial pressure

The fragility of fame and public reputation

The personal cost of perfectionism

Grief, family responsibility, and financial hardship

Betrayal and loss of control

The danger of judging people without knowing the truth

The contrast between public perception and private reality

Chapter Summary

Chen Chengrong becomes the target of widespread online ridicule after his previous film fails. Although some people defend him, their explanations are drowned out by public hostility, jealousy, and deliberate manipulation from the producer and other industry figures. Capital controls the online narrative, suppressing comments that support Chen and pushing him toward the brink of being excluded from the film industry.
Rather than defend himself publicly, Chen withdraws from the internet to care for his wife and daughter, who have recently survived a dangerous ordeal and need peace and rehabilitation. Although he accepts responsibility as the film’s director, he believes his reputation can eventually be restored through better work. However, when he completes a new script, he struggles to find funding because investors remain wary after his previous conflict with powerful producers. He considers selling his house and inherited land to finance the film himself.
At this desperate moment, Chen receives an unexpected call from someone offering to invest. Curious and hopeful but unsure of the caller’s identity or conditions, he goes to Jinbai Entertainment the next morning with his script. Yuan Guangjin, Cai Jinbai’s special assistant, personally receives him and explains that Cai has taken a strong interest in the project. Chen is encouraged by the company’s resources and the importance given to his visit.
Cai Jinbai meets Chen in his office and agrees to consider investing. Chen is intimidated by Cai’s striking appearance and becomes extremely nervous while describing the script, stumbling over his words and worrying that his poor communication will cause Cai to reject him. Cai calmly asks to read the script instead. While Cai studies it, Xuan Yu—actually a black dragon—rests in a miniature form around Cai’s wrist, mostly hidden beneath his cuff. Cai casually strokes him, revealing their familiar and intimate bond, while Xuan Yu remains largely uninterested in the script.
The screenplay, titled “Black or White,” impresses Cai with its careful construction, strong foreshadowing, reversals, and emotionally powerful climax. It follows an undercover police officer who gradually becomes psychologically affected by prolonged exposure to crime and corruption. Once an idealistic young policeman, he begins questioning his own morality, his colleagues, and even his identity as the boundary between justice and evil grows increasingly unclear. Though he nearly loses himself, he ultimately defeats the major criminal force and allows justice to prevail.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Chen Chengrong is shown as principled, resilient, and devoted to his family, but also socially awkward and deeply insecure after public humiliation. His meeting with Cai gives him renewed hope of returning to filmmaking.
• Cai Jinbai appears powerful, composed, and attentive. His willingness to read Chen’s script himself suggests genuine interest rather than superficial investment.
• Xuan Yu remains physically close to Cai in dragon form, emphasizing their unusual trust and intimacy. His playful response when Cai touches him contrasts with his indifference toward the film.
• Yuan Guangjin acts as a courteous intermediary, personally escorting Chen and helping reassure him of Cai’s serious intentions.
• Chen’s wife provides emotional support and asks about the unexpected call, sharing in his happiness when he learns the film may receive funding.

Significant Themes

• The manipulation of public opinion by capital and online crowds.
• The entertainment industry’s jealousy, competition, and willingness to destroy reputations.
• Responsibility, perseverance, and redemption through meaningful work.
• The moral ambiguity between good and evil, reflected in the film’s title and plot.
• The psychological cost of prolonged exposure to darkness and corruption.
• The contrast between outward appearances and hidden realities, seen both in the screenplay’s themes and Xuan Yu’s concealed dragon form.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Cai Jinbai finishes reading director Chen Chengrong’s script and agrees that it is worth investing in.
• He sets one condition: he wants actor Xu Yuqing to be given the opportunity to audition for the important third male lead, Zhuang Xiaowu.
• Chen initially fears that this is another case of investors forcing an unsuitable actor into the cast. Because the third male lead represents the protagonist’s return to hope and is central to the film’s emotional climax, Chen is unwilling to compromise the role’s integrity.
• Cai reassures him that Xu will only audition and that Chen will retain full authority over the casting decision. He also promises to provide whatever funding the production requires and agrees to formalize the arrangement in a contract.
• Xu Yuqing studies the script and returns two days later for his audition. Rather than choosing an easy scene, he selects the film’s most difficult moment: Zhuang Xiaowu’s silent, final exchange of gazes with the protagonist before his death.
• As the audition begins, Xu completely enters the role, transforming into the upright, fearless police officer whose unwavering faith and sacrifice restore the protagonist’s hope.
• The preceding scene from Chapter 12 shows Cai Jinbai and Xuan Yu visiting a popular ice cream and bread shop together. Their striking appearance and aloof demeanor attract attention from bystanders, while Xuan Yu thoughtfully buys several desserts for Cai.

Character developments

• Chen Chengrong is revealed to be deeply protective of his artistic vision. His previous experience with investors damaging a film has left him fearful and distrustful, but Cai’s unusual willingness to guarantee funding without controlling the casting gradually restores his confidence.
• Cai Jinbai demonstrates both financial power and respect for Chen’s authority. Although he wants to help Xu Yuqing, he avoids directly imposing him on the production and instead offers a fair audition.
• Xu Yuqing treats the audition as a major chance to revive his acting career and return to public attention. His choice of the hardest scene shows ambition, seriousness, and confidence, while his performance suggests genuine acting ability.
• Xuan Yu continues to show quiet consideration toward Cai Jinbai, taking care of him during their outing and willingly handling the purchase of the desserts.
• The protagonist and Zhuang Xiaowu are further defined through the script: Zhuang’s death becomes the turning point that rekindles the protagonist’s moral courage and ultimately enables the destruction of the region’s greatest threat.

Significant themes

• Artistic integrity versus commercial influence: Chen must decide whether accepting investment means surrendering control, while Cai offers a model of cooperation rather than coercion.
• Hope passed through sacrifice: Zhuang Xiaowu’s final gaze and death symbolize the transmission of faith, allowing the protagonist’s extinguished sense of justice to return.
• Second chances and revival: Chen seeks to revive his directing career, while Xu hopes to return to the entertainment industry; both view the film as an opportunity to begin again.
• Trust and professional respect: Cai earns Chen’s trust by guaranteeing funding while allowing the director to judge Xu solely on merit.
• Light and justice: Zhuang embodies moral clarity and becomes the “light” that guides the protagonist toward defeating evil.

Character interactions

• Cai and Chen negotiate the investment with tension at first, but their conversation develops into mutual understanding once Cai promises not to force Xu into the role.
• Cai and Xu are connected by Cai’s recommendation, with Cai providing Xu a rare opportunity to regain his career.
• Chen and Xu interact during the audition, where Chen’s skepticism gives way to attention and anticipation as Xu tackles the most emotionally demanding scene.
• Cai and Xuan Yu’s shopping-street outing highlights their comfortable, caring relationship, particularly through Xuan’s attentive service and Cai’s playful selection of multiple desserts.

Chapter Summary

Plot and events

Cai Jinbai and Xuan Yu visit a popular ice cream shop, where their striking appearance attracts attention from nearby girls and a food blogger named Nuannuan. While waiting in line, Cai checks the online reaction to Xu Yuqing’s announcement that he has left Star Universe Entertainment and signed with Jinbai Entertainment. Fans worry that the newly established company may be unreliable, while antis mock both Xu and his new agency. Cai deliberately waits for the right moment before officially acknowledging Xu’s signing through Jinbai Entertainment’s Weibo account, intending to build public interest.
Nuannuan livestreams from the shop, and her viewers notice Cai and Xuan in the background. Their beauty and intimate, natural interaction immediately become the focus of the livestream. Xuan senses that they are being filmed, but Cai reveals that the exposure is intentional and part of his plan.

Character development

Cai Jinbai demonstrates strategic thinking and confidence. He carefully manages the timing of Jinbai Entertainment’s public acknowledgment of Xu Yuqing, showing that he understands publicity and intends to use public attention to benefit the company. He is also relaxed and affectionate with Xuan Yu, openly sharing food and accepting their unusual closeness without embarrassment.
Xuan Yu remains vigilant and protective, noticing the livestream camera immediately and reacting sharply when he realizes they are being recorded. Despite his intimidating presence, he is gentle and accommodating toward Cai, sharing ice cream and indulging Cai’s preferences. Their deep trust and familiarity are emphasized.

Themes

The chapter explores public image and celebrity culture, especially how quickly appearances can create online fame. It also highlights social-media influence, with fans and antis shaping public opinion about Xu Yuqing and Jinbai Entertainment before knowing anything about the company. Another major theme is the contrast between private intimacy and public attention: Cai and Xuan behave naturally together, unaware—or unconcerned—that observers may interpret their closeness romantically. The chapter also suggests the importance of strategic publicity and controlling one’s narrative.

Character interactions

Two girls speculate excitedly about Cai and Xuan’s relationship, while both men ignore the gossip. Cai and Xuan casually share different ice cream flavors, with Xuan eating the leftovers Cai does not want and Cai choosing flavors suited to Xuan’s tastes. Their teasing and effortless physical familiarity reveal a bond built over many years. Nuannuan’s livestream unintentionally captures this interaction, and her viewers become fascinated not only by the men’s looks but also by their compelling chemistry.

Chapter Summary

• The viral ice-cream video: Nuannuan’s livestream captures two exceptionally handsome men, Cai Jinbai and Xuan Yu, sharing ice cream and bread in an intimate, affectionate manner. Viewers are struck not only by their looks but also by Cai Jinbai’s intimidating presence and his unusually gentle, attentive behavior toward Xuan Yu. Their apparent closeness sparks widespread speculation that they are more than friends or brothers.
• Online popularity: The brief, low-quality clip unexpectedly becomes a major internet sensation. Hashtags such as #IceCreamHunks and #CanHumansReallyHaveFacesLikeThis reach the top of the trending searches, making both men—and the ordinary ice-cream shop—famous. Netizens are especially fascinated by the contrast between Cai Jinbai’s cold, powerful aura and his tenderness toward Xuan Yu.
• Xu Yuqing’s career opportunity: While the ice-cream video attracts attention, Xu Yuqing’s new company announces that he will appear as the third male lead, Zhuang Xiaowu, in Director Chen Chengrong’s upcoming film Black or White. Chen is returning to filmmaking after four years, and although he initially doubted Xu’s ability, Xu’s audition deeply impresses him. His performance convinces Chen that he embodies the character and demonstrates the value of the three years Xu spent practicing acting while being shelved by his former agency.
• Character developments: Xu Yuqing is portrayed as hardworking, humble, and emotionally affected by the recognition he receives after years of neglect. Chen Chengrong regains confidence and enthusiasm after finding an actor who matches his carefully developed script. Cai Jinbai remains calculating and composed, treating publicity as a strategic tool rather than merely a means of promoting Xu’s film.
• Cai Jinbai’s publicity strategy: Cai plans to use the public’s attention to revive Xu Yuqing’s career, introduce Jinbai Entertainment, and accumulate Wealth Aura. He deliberately brings Xuan Yu to the shop whose popularity can be exploited, then coordinates the film announcement to capitalize on the viral attention. He orders the Golden Ingot, “Jinbao,” to intensify online discussion and ensure the film-related topic ranks alongside the ice-cream video.
• Backlash and manufactured controversy: Fans initially worry that Xu is being exploited: Chen’s last film was poorly received, Xu is only the third male lead, and his new company is unknown. Cai uses these doubts to generate even more publicity, directing paid commenters to post both praise and insults. Anti-fans revive Xu’s past connection to a drug-related incident and criticize Chen Chengrong’s reputation, while supporters defend Xu and investigate his history.
• Character interactions: Cai and Xuan Yu’s intimate interaction at the shop drives the first wave of attention, with Cai naturally feeding and caring for Xuan Yu. Cai then works closely with Xu Yuqing, Chen Chengrong, and Jinbao to orchestrate the second wave. Chen praises both Xu’s acting and Cai’s judgment, while Cai focuses on manipulating public opinion.
• Key themes: The chapter emphasizes the power of beauty, intimacy, celebrity culture, and viral media. It also explores reputation management, the deliberate construction of public narratives, the contrast between genuine talent and manufactured hype, and Cai Jinbai’s belief that attention—whether positive or negative—can be converted into wealth and opportunity.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Online discussion erupts over Xu Yuqing joining Jinbai Entertainment and appearing in director Chen Chengrong’s new film. Netizens mock both Xu’s past scandals and Chen’s poor reputation as a director, assuming Jinbai Entertainment is an insignificant company.
• Xu Yuqing’s fans, worried about his career, flood Jinbai’s official account with questions about the company and whether Xu willingly accepted the role.
• Photos of Cai Jinbai and Xuan Yu at S City Airport are posted online. Their extraordinary looks attract far more attention than the original controversy.
• Netizens discover that the two handsome men are actually Jinbai Entertainment’s president and vice president. The company’s official account confirms their identities and introduces them publicly.
• Further investigation reveals that Jinbai owns an entire landmark office building and the surrounding land in S City’s New Urban District. This shocks the public, who realizes Jinbai is an extremely wealthy and powerful company rather than a small entertainment workshop.
• It is also revealed that Jinbai Entertainment invested in Chen Chengrong’s new film, suggesting that Xu Yuqing’s role is part of a larger company-backed project.
• Jinbai Entertainment dominates the trending topics, while Xu’s fans celebrate that he has found a powerful new employer and mock those who previously insulted the company.
• Fans begin enthusiastically speculating about the relationship between Cai Jinbai and Xuan Yu. When one fan jokingly guesses their dynamic, the official assistant, Little Jin, unintentionally confirms the guess in a way that fuels the speculation.

Character Developments

• Xu Yuqing: His reputation initially appears damaged, and fans fear his new company may be obscure or exploitative. The revelation of Jinbai’s immense wealth and influence reassures them that he now has strong backing and better career prospects.
• Cai Jinbai: Publicly revealed as Jinbai Entertainment’s president and one of its founders. His wealth, business success, and impressive appearance make him an instant online sensation.
• Xuan Yu: Revealed as the company’s vice president and Cai Jinbai’s partner in founding Jinbai. Like Cai, he becomes extremely popular because of his looks and mysterious background.
• Little Jin: The assistant managing the company’s official account. Eager to answer questions and promote the company, Little Jin accidentally encourages rumors about Cai and Xuan’s personal relationship.
• Cai Jinbao: Cai’s small assistant or companion. It innocently asks whether it answered incorrectly after Little Jin’s revealing response, providing a humorous ending.

Significant Themes

• Public perception and sudden reversals: Netizens quickly shift from mocking Jinbai Entertainment to praising it once its wealth and status are exposed.
• Power and reputation: The company’s financial strength transforms how people view Xu Yuqing’s future and undermines the influence of his critics.
• Celebrity culture and appearance: Cai and Xuan become popular largely because of their looks, demonstrating how quickly online attention can be redirected from scandal to fascination.
• Misunderstanding and viral speculation: A few photos and official posts trigger massive rumors, showing how social media can exaggerate and reshape events.
• Hidden identities and elite backgrounds: Cai and Xuan’s ordinary-looking airport appearance conceals their extraordinary wealth and authority.

Character Interactions

• Xu Yuqing’s fans interact with Jinbai Entertainment online, demanding information and defending their idol.
• Netizens compare Jinbai Entertainment with Star Universe Entertainment and debate which company has greater influence.
• The official account formally introduces Cai and Xuan, while Little Jin engages directly with fans.
• A fan playfully speculates about Cai and Xuan’s relationship; Little Jin’s literal confirmation creates comic confusion and intensifies the fandom’s shipping.
• Cai Jinbao questions Cai Jinbai about Little Jin’s response, ending the chapter on an innocent and humorous note.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Cai Jinbai and Xuan Yu prepare to fight back against the smear campaign targeting actor Xu Yuqing and director Chen Chengrong.
• Online haters initially mock Xu Yuqing’s new company, Jinbai Entertainment, assuming it is small and poorly funded. Their attitude changes after the company is revealed to occupy a valuable landmark building in the New Urban District, suggesting Cai Jinbai has substantial wealth and influence.
• Paid posters and marketing accounts then revive old accusations against Xu Yuqing, especially claims that he used drugs and had serious character problems. They also insinuate that Cai Jinbai and Xuan Yu signed Xu because of sexual or improper relationships.
• Cai Jinbai deliberately allows the accusations to spread and secretly helps intensify the controversy. He wants the false claims to reach maximum public attention before revealing the truth, ensuring the clarification will have the greatest impact.
• Xuan Yu supports Cai Jinbai while feeding him watermelon, showing their close and affectionate relationship despite online insinuations about them.
• Once the smear campaign peaks, Cai Jinbai tells his artifact spirit, Cai Jinbao, to release the evidence.
• A Weibo post by the account “People Can’t Live Without Conscience” trends rapidly. It claims that Xu Yuqing was completely innocent in the old scandal and that Star Universe Entertainment deliberately destroyed his career.
• According to the post, Xu Yuqing never used drugs or attended the gathering for that purpose. He went there to rescue a female junior from the same company after she requested his help.
• The gathering involved drug use and was connected to Gao Chi, the younger brother of Star Universe Entertainment’s boss. After Gao Chi was arrested, his family retaliated against Xu Yuqing by shelving him and spreading false accusations.
• The female artist Xu saved allegedly failed to defend him, while others profited from the resources taken from Xu during his career suspension.
• The public reacts with shock and skepticism. Fans are encouraged by the explanation, while rational observers demand evidence and haters accuse Jinbai Entertainment of fabricating the story.

Character developments

• Cai Jinbai is shown as strategic, patient, and protective. Rather than reacting emotionally, he orchestrates the smear campaign’s rise so that the truth will receive maximum exposure. His goal is not merely to defend Xu Yuqing but to permanently remove the drug-related stigma from Xu’s career and punish those responsible.
• Xuan Yu remains relaxed and closely attached to Cai Jinbai. His casual care—feeding Cai watermelon—and lack of concern about the online drama contrast with Cai’s calculated planning.
• Cai Jinbao acts as Cai Jinbai’s eager artifact spirit and assistant. It worries about giving an appropriately mature answer but quickly follows its master’s command to release the truth.
• Xu Yuqing is reframed from a disgraced, shelved actor into a selfless person who risked his career to save another artist. The revelation emphasizes both his moral character and the injustice he suffered.
• Chen Chengrong is included in the planned defense because the smear campaign has also dragged him into the controversy, though his career is less dependent on public image than Xu’s.

Significant themes

• Truth versus manufactured public opinion: The chapter shows how paid posters, marketing accounts, and trending topics can create a false narrative before the truth is known.
• Strategic justice and reputation restoration: Cai Jinbai uses the enemies’ own tactics against them, allowing false accusations to gather momentum before exposing the facts.
• Abuse of corporate power: Star Universe Entertainment is portrayed as using its influence to suppress Xu Yuqing, protect Gao Chi, and destroy an innocent actor’s career.
• Betrayal and ingratitude: The female artist Xu rescued reportedly refuses to help him, becoming an example of someone benefiting from another’s sacrifice while abandoning him.
• Loyalty and protection: Cai Jinbai’s determination to clear Xu’s name demonstrates his commitment to his artists, while Xuan Yu’s everyday care highlights the couple’s intimacy.
• The lasting damage of scandal: Drug-related accusations are described as especially destructive in the entertainment industry, capable of permanently limiting an actor’s opportunities even without proof.

Character interactions

• Cai Jinbai and Cai Jinbao discuss the smear campaign, with Cai Jinbai reassuring the spirit and later directing it to release the prepared truth.
• Xuan Yu and Cai Jinbai share an affectionate domestic moment as Xuan Yu feeds him watermelon while they monitor the online controversy.
• Cai Jinbai’s planned defense centers on restoring Xu Yuqing’s reputation and exposing Star Universe Entertainment, Gao Chi, and the people who profited from Xu’s downfall.
• Online interactions among fans, haters, paid posters, and bystanders show the rapid polarization of public opinion. The chapter ends with skeptics demanding proof and haters mocking the exposé, setting up the next stage of the public confrontation.

Chapter 16 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• A blogger known as People Can’t Live Without Conscience releases surveillance footage disputing the allegations against Xu Yuqing and accusing others of hiding the truth.
• The video shows Xu Yuqing and Liang Yi leaving together before encountering Mu Xiaoying, who appears distressed, disheveled, and possibly drugged.
• A group of men forcibly drags Mu Xiaoying away. Xu Yuqing tries to intervene, but they threaten him. Liang Yi restrains Xu Yuqing and later leaves in the opposite direction.
• Xu Yuqing ultimately returns, rescues Mu Xiaoying, covers her with his jacket, and helps her escape. The footage later shows Gao Chi and his associates fleeing, implying their involvement in Mu Xiaoying’s assault and possible rape.
• The revelation overturns the old narrative that Xu Yuqing attended Gao Chi’s drug-related party. Instead, he had gone there to save Mu Xiaoying.
• Netizens realize that Liang Yi’s past statement—claiming Xu Yuqing had a good relationship with Gao family members—helped fuel rumors linking Xu Yuqing to Gao Chi and damaged his career.
• The public begins demanding that Xu Yuqing be cleared, that Liang Yi and Mu Xiaoying explain themselves, and that the police investigate Gao Chi’s additional crimes.
• Cai Jinbai reveals that the footage was recreated by Cai Jinbao, using the Wealth Aura, because the original surveillance recording had been destroyed.
• Xuan Yu deduces that Gao Su likely did not order the latest smear campaign, since attacking Xu Yuqing would be strategically pointless after Jinbai Entertainment had protected him.
• Cai Jinbai confirms that Mother Gao hired the marketing accounts and paid commenters to smear Xu Yuqing and Chen Chengrong.
• At the Gao residence, Gao Su angrily confronts his mother. She admits responsibility and insists that Xu Yuqing deserves punishment for Gao Chi’s imprisonment.
• Mother Gao demands that Gao Su remove the video and suppress the trending topics, but Gao Su reveals that neither the video nor the online discussions can be deleted or controlled.

Character Developments

• Xu Yuqing is vindicated as courageous and compassionate. The footage proves he risked himself to save Mu Xiaoying rather than participating in Gao Chi’s crimes.
• Liang Yi is exposed as morally compromised. He benefited from Xu Yuqing’s downfall, failed to help Mu Xiaoying, discouraged Xu Yuqing from acting, and later made insinuating remarks that encouraged rumors.
• Mu Xiaoying is revealed to have been a victim of Gao Chi’s group, though her later silence and career advancement make her relationship with the scandal suspicious to the public.
• Cai Jinbai demonstrates strategic insight and satisfaction that the truth has finally emerged. He also openly credits Cai Jinbao for reconstructing the evidence.
• Xuan Yu shows strong analytical ability, correctly assessing Gao Su’s motives and the likely consequences of the smear campaign. He is visibly pleased by Cai Jinbai’s praise.
• Cai Jinbao remains cheerful and affectionate, delighted whenever Cai Jinbai praises him and quietly noting that Xuan Yu reacts similarly.
• Gao Su appears more rational and cautious than his mother. He recognizes that the smear campaign has backfired and understands that the situation may be impossible to contain.
• Mother Gao is revealed as vindictive, entitled, and unconcerned with the seriousness of Gao Chi’s crimes or the consequences of covering them up.

Significant Themes

• Truth versus manufactured public opinion: Evidence overturns years of rumors created through insinuation, paid accounts, and corporate manipulation.
• The corruption of the entertainment industry: Powerful companies exploit scandals, redirect resources, suppress victims, and sacrifice innocent people to protect influential families.
• Betrayal and opportunism: Liang Yi’s rise is tied directly to Xu Yuqing’s downfall, highlighting how ambition can lead people to abandon morality.
• Justice and vindication: Xu Yuqing’s good deed is finally recognized, while those who harmed him begin facing public scrutiny.
• The limits of power and censorship: The Gao family cannot erase the reconstructed video or suppress the trending topics, suggesting that truth can overcome institutional control.
• Loyalty and support: Jinbai Entertainment’s protection of Xu Yuqing contrasts sharply with Star Universe Entertainment’s exploitation and abandonment of him.

Important Character Interactions

• Xu Yuqing and Liang Yi initially leave together, but their opposing reactions to Mu Xiaoying’s abduction reveal their differing morals.
• Xu Yuqing attempts to stop the kidnappers and later returns to rescue Mu Xiaoying, while Liang Yi abandons the situation.
• Xuan Yu and Cai Jinbai discuss who orchestrated the smear campaign, with Xuan Yu impressing Cai Jinbai through his reasoning.
• Cai Jinbai praises Cai Jinbao for recreating the lost footage, making the Golden Ingot extremely happy.
• Gao Su confronts Mother Gao over her reckless campaign, exposing the conflict between his caution and her vengeful obsession.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gao Su tells Mother Gao that Gao Chi’s prison sentence may be increased because the newly released surveillance video could lead investigators to uncover his other crimes.
• He blames Mother Gao’s earlier actions for provoking Jinbai Entertainment and worsening the situation, though he does not realize Cai Jinbai was determined to expose the truth regardless.
• Mother Gao, once arrogant and confident, becomes terrified and regretful when she realizes the scandal may spiral beyond her control.
• The surveillance video is impossible to remove. Attempts by Gao Su, Starlight Entertainment, and Liang Yi to suppress it, control online comments, or contact the blogger all fail.
• The video causes public outrage toward Liang Yi and Mu Xiaoying. Netizens accuse Liang Yi of exploiting Xu Yuqing’s downfall to obtain resources and condemning Xu rather than defending him.
• Liang Yi’s followers begin abandoning him, while his manager tells him not to worry because Mu Xiaoying is likely to receive even harsher criticism. Liang Yi adopts this selfish perspective and waits to see how she responds.
• Mu Xiaoying eventually posts a statement admitting that she wronged Xu Yuqing but portraying herself as another victim. She explains that she was traumatized, afraid of Gao Chi’s revenge, pressured by Starlight, and worried about public gossip.
• She includes screenshots showing that Xu Yuqing had asked her not to reveal the incident, presenting his compassion as evidence that she should not be blamed.
• Her fans rally to her defense, arguing that Starlight and Gao Chi were the true perpetrators and that Mu Xiaoying was too frightened and powerless to speak out. Public opinion briefly begins shifting in her favor.

Character Developments

• Gao Su: Becomes resigned and pragmatic, recognizing that Gao Chi’s situation is worsening and refusing to sacrifice Starlight’s future for his imprisoned brother. He also criticizes Mother Gao for acting recklessly.
• Mother Gao: Loses her previous smugness and confidence. Fear and regret replace her belief that she could control the scandal.
• Liang Yi: Reveals his lack of remorse. Rather than accepting responsibility, he justifies taking Xu Yuqing’s resources as normal industry competition and relies on Mu Xiaoying to divert public anger. His concern centers on his reputation and declining followers.
• Mu Xiaoying: Attempts to reshape the narrative by emphasizing her fear and victimhood. Her post avoids fully accepting responsibility, but her emotional explanation and evidence of Starlight’s pressure win sympathy from many supporters.
• Xu Yuqing: Although largely absent from the present events, his earlier courage and generosity become clear. He saved Mu Xiaoying, endured three years of professional damage, and even protected her from further public harm.

Significant Themes

• Truth versus manufactured public opinion: The surveillance video breaks through years of manipulation by Starlight and exposes how the entertainment industry shaped the public narrative.
• Moral responsibility and complicity: The chapter distinguishes between failing to act out of fear and actively harming someone for personal gain. Liang Yi is condemned for attacking Xu Yuqing, while Mu Xiaoying is judged for remaining silent after being rescued.
• Power and capital in the entertainment industry: Starlight’s ability to manipulate resources, interviews, and careers contrasts with Jinbai Entertainment’s greater power to uncover evidence and influence public discourse.
• Self-preservation versus gratitude: Characters justify betrayal as necessary for survival, while Xu Yuqing’s actions represent genuine kindness and moral courage.
• The instability of public opinion: Online sentiment rapidly shifts as new evidence and emotional explanations emerge, showing how easily sympathy can be won or lost.

Important Character Interactions

• Gao Su and Mother Gao: Gao Su warns her that Gao Chi’s legal troubles may worsen and rebukes her for triggering the crisis. Mother Gao pleads for him to save the family.
• Liang Yi and his manager: The manager minimizes Liang Yi’s wrongdoing, persuading him that resource competition is normal and that Mu Xiaoying will absorb most of the backlash. Liang Yi accepts this excuse.
• Netizens and Liang Yi: Commenters contrast his selfishness with Xu Yuqing’s courage, accusing him of betraying a friend for career advancement.
• Netizens and Mu Xiaoying: She initially receives even more severe condemnation than Liang Yi because she benefited from Xu Yuqing’s sacrifice while remaining silent. Her subsequent statement and her fans’ defense begin to restore her image.
• Xu Yuqing and Mu Xiaoying: Xu’s old message shows that he deliberately protected her from secondary harm, while Mu Xiaoying uses that same kindness to support her defense rather than fully confronting her own responsibility.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

The blogger People Can’t Live Without Conscience releases authentic screenshots of Mu Xiaoying’s private conversations with her best friend. The messages reveal that Mu voluntarily attended Gao Chi’s party hoping to become involved with him, escaped when she discovered drug use and sexual misconduct, and was rescued by Xu Yuqing. Although she acknowledged that Xu was a decent person, she repaid him only with a token “thank-you” and refused to defend him when his career was ruined. Mu also admits that Boss Gao paid her to remain silent and threatened to retaliate against her if she spoke out.
Mu’s fans initially dismiss the screenshots as fabricated and attack the blogger. However, the blogger insists they are genuine and explains that they were sold by Mu’s former best friend. As the evidence spreads across Weibo and other platforms, attempts to delete comments and suppress the story fail. Mu panics, orders her staff to control the situation, and finally smashes her phone in despair.
Public opinion turns violently against Mu and Liang Yi while sympathizing with Xu Yuqing. Netizens praise Xu for keeping silent for three years despite losing his career, and his follower count rises sharply. Further investigations expose Liang Yi for accepting expensive gifts from fans and sleeping with one, while photos prove that Mu was happily vacationing during the period when she claimed to be traumatized and terrified.

Character developments

• Mu Xiaoying: Her carefully maintained image collapses. She is exposed as manipulative, opportunistic, ungrateful, and willing to sacrifice Xu’s career for money, resources, and self-preservation. Her fear shifts from confidence and denial to panic and terror as she realizes her career may be over.
• Xu Yuqing: His suffering is reinterpreted by the public. His silence, loyalty, and willingness to rescue Mu despite the consequences establish him as kind-hearted and honorable, leading to a surge in support and new fans.
• Liang Yi: His reputation worsens as his history of exploiting fans and engaging in inappropriate relationships is uncovered.
• Mu’s former best friend: By selling the screenshots, she betrays Mu and permanently ends their friendship, though her actions help reveal the truth.
• The blogger: Continues releasing evidence and resisting fan attacks, becoming the force that exposes Mu’s hypocrisy.

Significant themes

• Truth versus manufactured public image: Authentic evidence destroys the celebrity personas Mu and Liang have built.
• Ingratitude and moral accountability: Mu’s betrayal of Xu becomes the central moral outrage, especially because he suffered for protecting her.
• Celebrity culture and fan worship: Fans initially defend their idols blindly, but many turn against them once undeniable evidence appears.
• Power, blackmail, and exploitation: Gao uses money and threats to control Mu, while the entertainment industry allows careers and reputations to be manipulated.
• Justice and redemption: Xu’s good character is eventually recognized, suggesting that honesty and kindness may ultimately be rewarded.

Character interactions

Mu’s private messages with her best friend expose her cynical view of Xu and her agreement with Gao’s demands. Her staff tries unsuccessfully to help her suppress the scandal, while privately recognizing her hypocrisy. Fans confront Mu and Liang online, contrasting their behavior with Xu’s selflessness. The former friends’ betrayal and fallout further demonstrate how relationships in their circle are driven by money, resources, and self-interest.