Chapter Summaries

Chi Ning and Qin Heng attended Gu Zhe’s music festival performance, where Qin Heng kept close to Chi Ning and indulged his craving for fried yogurt. A random audience selection put Chi Ning on the big screen beside the young man Qin Heng had displaced, leaving Chi Ning unhappy and Gu Zhe delighted.

• Qin Heng pulled Chi Ning away from a young man who tried to chat with him, then changed into a fashionable shirt he thought matched Chi Ning’s outfit.
• Chi Ning bought fried yogurt with money from Qin Heng’s pocket, despite Qin Heng telling him he had already eaten enough ice cream.
• Chi Ning and Qin Heng returned to the packed audience and watched Gu Zhe sing at the festival.
• Gu Zhe announced that the organizers would give matching custom pendants to a randomly selected couple, or to two people who might become a couple.
• The screen selected Chi Ning and the young man beside him, while Qin Heng sat on Chi Ning’s other side; Chi Ning frowned and Gu Zhe laughed at the awkward pairing.

After Chi Ning and Qin Heng kissed at the music festival, they went to an arcade, where Qin Heng won enough tickets to get Chi Ning a Red Blood Cell Pillow. They left together, content that being together was already enough.

• Chi Ning kissed Qin Heng at the music festival after Qin Heng paid him ten coins, and the crowd cheered when they recognized Chi Ning.
• A festival staff member gave Qin Heng the couple's pendants, and Qin Heng told Chi Ning he liked the way he spoke to him.
• Since Chi Ning could not go home before eleven, Qin Heng took him to an arcade, where Chi Ning spotted a Red Blood Cell Pillow that cost ten thousand tickets.
• Qin Heng played games and amassed a mountain of tickets while Chi Ning fell asleep, then gently answered a child's questions about how to get good at the games.
• Chi Ning told Qin Heng that people could not have everything, and Qin Heng said being together was already very good.
• Qin Heng traded their tickets for the Red Blood Cell Pillow Chi Ning wanted.

Chi Ning’s interview with official media revealed his reasons for choosing Gangnan University and skipping the national competition, and the resulting article became a sensation. As freshmen prepared to meet him, students debated whether his reputation for effortless achievement was true.

• Chi Yang told Chi Ning that an official media reporter was coming to their home, and Chi Ning hurried through breakfast before the interview.
• Chi Ning answered the reporter’s technical questions about his patents and said Qin Heng had earned his way into Gangnan University after meeting him.
• Chi Ning explained that he chose Gangnan for its convenient location and relaxed policies, and skipped national competition because he found it exhausting.
• The reporter’s article about Chi Ning went through two extra print runs, and the outlet released it early to give Gangnan University students time to react.
• Gangnan University freshmen discussed Chi Ning’s reputation, while a student from Yangcheng No. 1 High School insisted that he really was exceptional.

Chi Ning was recruited to join a national military medical initiative focused on combining medicine and computers. Tempted by its advanced research and flexible hours, he asked whether his future patents would still belong to him, and the old gentleman assured him they would.

• A No. 1 High School alumnus showed new students footage of Chi Ning playing snooker and explained how his aloofness and rare moments of attention made classmates admire him.
• As class representative and a lab project leader, Chi Ning scolded students over mistakes while the project advanced slowly and kept him talking more than he liked.
• A distinguished old gentleman summoned Chi Ning and praised his work on cranial nerves and neural activation before inviting him to a military medical initiative.
• Chi Ning asked about the initiative’s hours, location, personal freedoms, and cafeteria, then resisted joining because he refused to work overtime.
• The old gentleman described flexible hours and access to advanced technologies, and Chi Ning asked whether his other patents would remain his; the old gentleman said they would.

Chi Ning signed an agreement to join an academic laboratory, while Qin Heng and Ye Xinran met outside it and acknowledged Qin Heng’s place in Chi Ning’s life. The story left off later in their university years, with a student asking Chi Ning whether Qin Heng split household garbage-bag costs.

• Chi Ning carefully reviewed and signed the laboratory’s confidentiality agreement, then asked whether research at his family’s company would count as a second job.
• The old gentleman told Chi Ning that Ye Xinran had returned to Yangcheng to visit his teacher, and Qin Heng met Ye Xinran outside the laboratory.
• Qin Heng fed the birds as he and Ye Xinran talked about Ye’s visit to Teacher Wang Quan and his use of the Chi family’s hair-growth serum.
• Chi Ning returned, invited Qin Heng and Ye Xinran to eat, and told them he planned to focus more on laboratory work.
• Qin Heng agreed to pick Chi Ning up after work, and Ye Xinran accepted that he and Chi Ning could remain friends.
• In third year, a student teacher asked Chi Ning whether Qin Heng split the cost of garbage bags at home.

Chi Ning tried to understand Qin Heng’s collection of coins and realized their relationship had stalled partly because he had missed Qin Heng’s subtle advances. He buried himself in work at the institute while Qin Heng sought advice from Xu Jiahao and Zhang Qiuwen about taking their relationship further.

• Chi Ning learned Qin Heng had collected a garbage bag full of one-yuan coins and went to the Life Sciences Institute to investigate further.
• Chi Ning told the old professor that he and Qin Heng had not fought, then reconsidered whether he had overlooked Qin Heng’s hints and agreed to stay at the institute for ten days.
• Chi Ning’s sudden burst of work overwhelmed his coworkers as he rapidly completed tasks and started new experiments.
• Qin Heng told Xu Jiahao he worried Chi Ning did not want to take the next step, and Xu Jiahao questioned whether Chi Ning had understood his hints.
• Zhang Qiuwen advised Qin Heng to speak plainly instead of waiting for a definite answer, and Qin Heng agreed he had a point.

Chi Ning tried to leave the locked institute to spend New Year’s with Qin Heng, and Qin Heng arrived just as Chi Ning climbed the wall. After Qin Heng caught him, they escaped together, and Qin Heng admitted he had feared Chi Ning no longer liked him because he had not called for ten days.

• Chi Ning finished a demanding experiment, and the old professor announced that the institute would lock down for the holiday.
• After realizing he had missed the chance to leave through the gate, Chi Ning arranged to climb the western wall with a researcher.
• Chi Ning climbed onto the wall and found Qin Heng waiting below in a business van.
• When a security guard shouted, Chi Ning jumped into Qin Heng’s arms, and the researcher covered their escape by calling it a fire drill.
• Chi Ning and Qin Heng drove away from the institute, and Qin Heng confessed that Chi Ning’s silence had made him worry he was no longer loved.

Chi Ning and Qin Heng traveled to a quiet beach for New Year's Day, where Qin Heng prepared to propose. He knelt before Chi Ning with a ring and told him that meeting him had been the luckiest thing in his life.

• Qin Heng invited Chi Ning to spend New Year's Day at a private beach, and Chi Ning agreed after learning Qin Heng had brought in his Red Blood Cell Pillow.
• Chi Ning and Qin Heng shared the leftover cafeteria meal before boarding a plane, and Chi Ning fell asleep against Qin Heng during the flight.
• At the beach, Chi Ning returned a sea urchin shell to its hermit crab, and Qin Heng found him another shell to take home.
• Chi Ning found a ring inside a mint-green sea urchin shell, and Qin Heng revealed that he wanted to propose.
• Qin Heng knelt before Chi Ning with the ring and said that meeting him had been the luckiest thing that ever happened to him.

Chi Ning and Qin Heng exchanged rings on the beach, confessed their love, and celebrated their engagement with a cake at the hotel. The chapter ended as a lotus candle on the cake opened in a burst of flame.

• Chi Ning accepted Qin Heng’s proposal and put on the ring Qin Heng had bought for himself.
• Chi Ning told Qin Heng he loved him as a real, imperfect person and slid the matching gold ring onto Qin Heng’s finger.
• Qin Heng kissed Chi Ning, then helped him stand when his legs went numb.
• Chi Ning and Qin Heng walked back to the hotel hand in hand, where they found the cake Qin Heng had ordered.
• Qin Heng lit a lotus candle in the center of the cake, and it opened with a burst of flame.

Chi Ning and Qin Heng celebrated New Year's with cake, jokes, and kisses before Qin Heng pursued a more intimate encounter. The chapter ended with them together in their sea-view room while students at Gangnan University watched a GIF of Chi Ning climbing over a wall to meet Little Qin.

• Chi Ning used coins to tease Qin Heng into kissing him, and Qin Heng jokingly negotiated rent in exchange for more kisses.
• Qin Heng suggested a new project, and Chi Ning awkwardly apologized for missing his earlier hints before offering him a medical checkup.
• Qin Heng told Chi Ning that Dr. Chi could examine him that night, and they became intimate in their room.
• Qin Heng carried Chi Ning to the bathroom after Chi Ning finally kicked him and said he wanted to sleep.
• Students on the Gangnan University forum shared a GIF of Chi Ning climbing the Institute of Life Sciences wall while Little Qin waited below, worried about him.

After spending the night together, Chi Ning and Qin Heng exchanged Golden Needle Hoops as tokens of staying together forever and discussed Qin Heng visiting Chi Ning’s family to talk about their wedding. The chapter left them preparing to meet Chi Baichuan, who was stunned to see Qin Heng wearing Chi Ning’s hoop.

• Chi Ning woke up tired and hungry after spending the night with Qin Heng, who brought him seafood congee and repaired the sea urchin-shell lamp.
• Qin Heng braided a new cord for Chi Ning’s Golden Needle Hoop, and Chi Ning explained that giving one to a spouse symbolized staying together forever.
• Chi Ning braided a longer cord for Qin Heng and placed the second Golden Needle Hoop around his neck, while Qin Heng said he wanted everyone to know he liked Chi Ning.
• Chi Ning told Qin Heng to bring Uncle Xu when he visited Chi Ning’s family to discuss their wedding.
• Chi Baichuan saw Qin Heng wearing Chi Ning’s Golden Needle Hoop and was overwhelmed as he remembered Chi Ning growing up.

Chi Ning and Qin Heng’s families negotiated a generous share exchange after their engagement, and Chi Ning agreed to a modest wedding after graduation. In his senior year, Chi Ning helped the neural interface project achieve a major breakthrough, and researchers asked how he had been so sure their approach was right.

• Xu Jiahao visited the Chi family and proposed exchanging shares between the families before Chi Ning and Qin Heng married.
• Chen Mingxian agreed to offer VLLV shares, while Xu Jiahao offered shares from his family and a gift of shares for Chi Ning.
• Qin Heng helped Xu Jiahao and Chi Baichuan sign the share exchange contract, and Chi Ning suggested holding their wedding at the hotel in Gangnan Global Commercial Center after graduation.
• Chi Ning’s team at the Life Sciences Institute successfully used artificial skin’s neural reflex ports to control a drone.
• Researchers praised Chi Ning for insisting the project’s direction was correct, and one asked how he had been so certain.

Chi Ning and Qin Heng prepared for their wedding while Chi Ning invited his institute colleagues and shared their wedding candies. Xu Jiahao boasted about his godsons to Old Xu, and Qin Heng picked Chi Ning up from work as the families planned to discuss the wedding menu and overseas marriage registration.

• Chi Ning comforted the researchers, proposed testing an interface, and invited colleagues to his wedding after they secured leave.
• Chi Ning handed out sour bayberry candies and Qin Heng’s homemade tea eggs and chocolates, which the researchers sampled and praised.
• Xu Jiahao told Old Xu that Chi Ning was his godson and showed off when Qin Heng called him Dad.
• Old Xu asked for a wedding invitation, but Xu Jiahao refused and offered him wedding candy, which proved extremely sour.
• Qin Heng gave wedding candy to the institute guards, and Chi Ning added more candies before leaving with him.
• Qin Heng asked Chi Ning whether he had submitted the paperwork for them to go abroad and register their marriage.

Chi Ning and Qin Heng prepared for their wedding while their families settled the emcee and banquet details. As paparazzi speculated about their relationship and a new platform gained users eager to watch the wedding, the story left them approaching a widely anticipated celebration.

• Chi Ning delayed submitting his travel report and playfully bargained with Qin Heng over the price of kisses and other affection.
• At Tea River Lounge, Chi Baichuan and Xu Jiahao argued over shredded tripe salad and what Chi Ning should call Xu Jiahao, then settled on Abba.
• Chi Baichuan agreed to invite Teacher Wang to emcee the wedding, and Qin Heng helped choose the banquet dishes.
• Paparazzi speculated about Chi Ning and Qin Heng's share exchange and romance, but struggled to find material amid the Morning Star project's awards ceremony.
• A blogging platform spearheaded by Xu Jiahao and Chi Baichuan secured wedding filming rights, and users flocked to register to watch the wedding.

Chi Ning and Qin Heng prepared for their wedding, settled on Zhang Qiuwen and Chi Yang as best men, and began the ceremony surrounded by family and friends. The chapter ended as Wang Quan started officiating and realized his speech about Chi Ning was overly sentimental.

• Chi Ning let Qin Heng post a photo of their engagement rings, then spent two days at home recovering while they ate shrimp and added more seafood to their aquarium.
• Zhang Qiuwen reminded Qin Heng that he expected to be a best man, and Chi Ning's brother Chi Yang called to claim the other best man spot before Chi Ning could contact Li Qiuhe.
• On the wedding morning, Chen Mingxian woke Chi Ning, and Qin Heng gently washed his face before Chi Ning got ready in a white suit.
• Chi Ning and Qin Heng met at the hotel ceremony hall in white suits, with German irises lining the red-carpet aisle.
• Wang Quan began officiating and read a speech praising Chi Ning, then realized the wording was far too sentimental.

Chi Ning and Qin Heng held their wedding ceremony, exchanged rings, and served tea to their parents. After the guests began eating, Chi Ning hurried to the banquet while Qin Heng and Xu Jiahao made sure he got plenty of food.

• Wang Quan invited Chi Ning and Qin Heng forward, and they walked hand in hand to the ceremony stage.
• Chi Ning and Qin Heng exchanged jade rings, then Qin Heng placed a large diamond ring on Chi Ning's hand.
• Chi Ning served tea to the parents, and Xu Jiahao gave him two hefty red envelopes; Chi Baichuan and Chen Mingxian gave Qin Heng bank cards.
• Qin Heng thanked the guests and announced that they could eat, and Chi Ning rushed offstage to start the banquet.
• Qin Heng secretly gave Chi Ning a roasted chicken leg, and Xu Jiahao added a chicken wing to his plate.

Chi Ning and Qin Heng toasted their wedding guests, and tipsy Chi Ning charmed Qin Heng by asking for bayberries. A month later, they registered their marriage in Las Vegas and hurried home; after celebrating with their families, Chi Ning answered a phone call.

• Chi Ning followed Qin Heng around the wedding reception, became drunk, and asked him for the bayberries from the wine bottle.
• A month after the wedding, Chi Ning and Qin Heng flew to Las Vegas, registered their marriage, and returned home immediately.
• The special forces soldiers who escorted them watched Qin Heng beam over their marriage certificate and wished the couple well.
• Chi Ning played Chinese chess with Xu Jiahao while Qin Heng made tea for Chi Baichuan, and Xu Jiahao paid Chi Ning to take back his moves.
• Chi Ning's phone rang, and he answered it.

Chi Ning rejected his university’s invitations to give a speech and teach, then struggled to escape the relentless questions of new lab member Li Qiuhe. The chapter ended with Qin Heng driving Chi Ning away just as Li Qiuhe caught up, leaving Little Ma alone to field the questions.

• Chi Ning refused Gangnan University’s requests to speak as an honorary alumnus or work as a visiting professor because the roles paid nothing or required too much effort.
• Qin Heng agreed to return to his university to give a lecture, while Chi Ning said he had no interest in lecturing.
• The old gentleman brought Li Qiuhe, Chi Ning’s former high school classmate and a new graduate student, to join the lab.
• Li Qiuhe repeatedly asked the lab staff questions, so Chi Ning gave him a list of ten books and slipped away early with Little Ma.
• Qin Heng arrived to pick Chi Ning up, and the two drove off when Li Qiuhe ran over with another question, leaving Little Ma behind.