Chapter Summaries

Chapter 57 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shi Zhongye correctly interprets the insulting sign on Shi Jihan’s door, which bans Zhou Jingcheng and “miscellaneous people” from entering. Zhou objects to being classified as “miscellaneous,” but is too discouraged by Shi Jihan’s continued avoidance to argue for long.
• Zhou tries to lure Shi Jihan out with his favorite snacks—chocolate crispy mochi and salted cream puffs. Shi Jihan initially refuses, but happily accepts when Zhou offers to send him all of them.
• Shi Jihan is forced to go to the filming set after Zero-Zero-Zero reminds him that attendance affects the crew’s pay. His sudden appearance shocks Shi Zhongye, who jokes that it is as unlikely as polar bears sunbathing.
• Lin An struggles to finish and upload the final chapter of his comic, Wednesday’s Funeral. A stalled internet connection leaves his upload stuck at 99%.
• The neighborhood residents engage in absurd attempts to restore or steal WiFi. Cheng Yangguang creates a bizarre signal receiver, Uncle Wang tries to “crack” the password through martial-arts-style mind reading, and Brother Zhao attempts to make his router “entangle” with a nearby coffee shop’s WiFi, nearly burning it out.
• The residents’ chaotic behavior restores Lin An’s inspiration. He decides to create a new comic, Abnormal Human Neighborhood Committee, based on the bizarre neighborhood.
• After filming, heavy rain begins. Shi Jihan forgot to bring an umbrella, despite knowing the forecast, and prepares to rely on his hood.
• Zhou Jingcheng shares Shi Jihan’s oversized hood instead of using one of the available umbrellas. Their awkward attempt to walk together turns into playful teasing, with Zhou joking that Shi Jihan pulled out and “killed” his hairs.
• Xiao Yuan and Shi Zhongye observe the pair and interpret their behavior as vaguely romantic, though Shi Zhongye insists they are simply brothers.
• The rain intensifies, so Zhou covers Shi Jihan with his trench coat and pulls him along. They splash one another accidentally in the puddles, then turn the mishap into a playful “war,” competing to find larger puddles.

Character Developments

• Shi Jihan remains avoidant and reluctant to face Zhou Jingcheng, but his resistance is weakening. He readily accepts Zhou’s snacks, appears at work because of his concern for money, and gradually relaxes enough to laugh and joke with Zhou.
• Zhou Jingcheng continues actively trying to coax Shi Jihan out of isolation. His behavior is affectionate and possessive, though he disguises his concern with jokes and exaggerated complaints.
• Shi Zhongye acts as an amused observer and teasing older brother. He recognizes the tension between Shi Jihan and Zhou but is bewildered by their behavior.
• Lin An experiences creative frustration but regains inspiration by observing the neighborhood’s absurdity. His artistic direction shifts from the bleak Wednesday’s Funeral toward a humorous story drawn from real-life chaos.
• Cheng Yangguang, Uncle Wang, and Brother Zhao are portrayed as eccentric, inventive, and comically irrational, contributing to the neighborhood’s lively atmosphere.
• Zero-Zero-Zero continues functioning as Shi Jihan’s practical supervisor, pushing him to work by reminding him of the financial consequences of skipping attendance.

Significant Themes

• Avoidance versus emotional connection: Shi Jihan tries to hide from Zhou, but ordinary interactions—food, work, rain, and shared jokes—gradually bring them closer.
• Affection expressed through teasing: Zhou’s concern appears through playful persistence, while Shi Jihan responds with mock anger and laughter rather than genuine rejection.
• Absurdity as creative inspiration: The neighborhood’s ridiculous attempts to obtain WiFi transform Lin An’s creative block into renewed inspiration.
• Money and motivation: Shi Jihan’s enthusiasm for work is humorously revealed to be driven primarily by his fear of losing income.
• Improvisation and communal chaos: The residents respond to inconvenience with increasingly ridiculous inventions, highlighting the chapter’s comedic portrayal of community life.

Character Interactions

• Shi Zhongye and Zhou Jingcheng banter over the insulting door sign, establishing their combative but familiar relationship.
• Zhou communicates with the hiding Shi Jihan through messages and successfully tempts him with snacks.
• Zero-Zero-Zero pressures Shi Jihan into returning to set.
• Lin An and Cheng Yangguang exchange sarcastic remarks while dealing with the WiFi crisis, while the neighborhood residents escalate the situation into complete comic disorder.
• Zhou and Shi Jihan share the chapter’s most significant interaction: they squeeze under one hood, tease each other, laugh together, and ultimately engage in a childish puddle fight.
• Xiao Yuan and Shi Zhongye observe the pair’s unusual closeness, with Xiao Yuan hinting at romantic undertones that Shi Zhongye fails to recognize.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Shi Jihan and Zhou Jingcheng playfully compete in the rain, eventually slipping into a puddle and accidentally ending up in an intimate embrace.
• After returning to the courtyard and showering, Shi Jihan gives Zhou Jingcheng a gray scarf as a gift. Zhou is delighted, especially because it is his first official present.
• Zhou interprets the scarf romantically, while Shi Jihan privately worries that the inexpensive gift will seem inadequate. Shi eventually ties the scarf around Zhou’s neck so tightly that it nearly chokes him, using it to force him to stop mentioning his “small accounts” nickname.
• Shi Jihan and the system, 000, realize that Shi Zhongye and Xiao Yuan—who were expected to remain emotionally distant—have become physically involved.
• Shi Zhongye kisses and bites Xiao Yuan, then dismisses the encounter as “reading the script.” Zhou immediately sees a marketing opportunity and suggests photographing them kissing to generate publicity for the film.
• The unexpected development causes the system to issue a warning: the main plot has deviated severely. However, the Main System advises Shi Jihan not to interfere, predicting that an upcoming obstacle will naturally redirect the relationship.
• Meanwhile, Secretary Sun works to attract investors for the film. He selects a bizarre luxury bathroom-products company whose featured product is a diamond-studded smart toilet plunger.
• The company agrees to invest on the condition that its young master be allowed to visit the film set, setting up the next major plot complication.

2. Character Developments

• Shi Jihan becomes increasingly flustered by the romantic developments around him. Though he tries to maintain control, his gift to Zhou and his panic over Shi Zhongye and Xiao Yuan reveal his emotional investment in everyone’s relationships.
• Zhou Jingcheng displays growing affection for Shi Jihan. He treasures the scarf, deliberately asks Shi to put it on him, and immediately accepts even its uncomfortable tightness. His shamelessness and business-minded attitude remain prominent.
• Shi Zhongye and Xiao Yuan have clearly progressed into a physical relationship despite denying that they have reconciled. Their actions contradict their words, suggesting unresolved feelings and a complicated “friends-with-benefits” dynamic.
• 000 and the Main System struggle to manage the rapidly changing plot. The Main System admits that the original storyline depended on missed opportunities and ambiguity, but the characters’ actions are now disrupting its calculations.
• Secretary Sun proves highly effective at promoting the film, creatively choosing an investor whose strange branding matches the production’s chaotic and low-budget image.

3. Significant Themes

• Romance emerging through teasing and ambiguity: Zhou and Shi’s scarf exchange reveals affection beneath their bickering, while Shi Zhongye and Xiao Yuan express intimacy without openly acknowledging their feelings.
• The failure of predetermined narratives: The system’s planned plot is increasingly undermined by the characters’ spontaneous choices and emotional development.
• Comedy through contradiction: Characters repeatedly deny what their actions plainly show, such as Xiao Yuan claiming he and Shi Zhongye were “reading the script.”
• Commercialization and opportunism: Zhou immediately treats the kiss as a potential publicity stunt, while Secretary Sun turns the film’s bizarre circumstances into an opportunity for investment.
• Control versus emotional chaos: Shi Jihan and the systems attempt to manage the story, but relationships continue developing beyond their control.

4. Character Interactions

• Shi Jihan and Zhou Jingcheng move from playful competition to physical closeness in the rain, then share a teasing and affectionate scarf exchange.
• Zhou’s flirtatious behavior both embarrasses and attracts Shi Jihan, though Shi responds by tightening the scarf around his neck.
• Shi Jihan and 000 react with shock when they discover Shi Zhongye and Xiao Yuan together.
• Zhou treats the pair’s intimate encounter as a potential promotional event, embarrassing Shi Jihan and irritating Shi Zhongye.
• Shi Zhongye and Xiao Yuan maintain a verbal denial of reconciliation despite their unmistakably intimate behavior.
• Secretary Sun’s negotiations with the unusual investor introduce a new outsider whose arrival is likely to disrupt the already unstable relationships and plot.

Chapter 58 Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Lin Xubai arrives late to the village production site as the new investor and presumed “roadblock” to the romance plot.
• Shi Jihan and Zhou Jingcheng are sent to greet him. Lin appears artistic and eccentric, releasing a mosquito because he believes all living things have spirits.
• During their handshake, Shi discovers that Lin, despite his refined appearance and art-school background, is exceptionally muscular from studying sculpture.
• Lin proposes producing a separate spin-off or short film based on Shi Jihan’s writing, using the existing production crew while leaving the main movie unchanged.
• Shi agrees enthusiastically, especially after receiving a task from 000 to write and perform an absurd script for Malice Points.
• Inspired by the desire to embarrass Xiao Yuan and Zhou Zeyang, Shi writes an outrageous fantasy script centered on a diamond-studded toilet plunger and the battle cry “Abyssal Siphon!”
• Lin approves of the script and mistakenly assumes Shi himself will perform the lead role.
• The crew eagerly supports this misunderstanding, forcing Shi to act while everyone records and enjoys his humiliation.
• The chapter ends with Shi preparing to perform the ridiculous scene, while Zhou Jingcheng praises his exaggerated expressions and physical movements.

Character Developments

• Shi Jihan: Continues using absurdity and mischief to earn Malice Points. He is delighted by the opportunity to torment Xiao Yuan and Zhou Zeyang but becomes horrified when Lin assigns him the lead acting role. His embarrassment is intensified by the crew’s lack of sympathy.
• Lin Xubai: Introduced as an eccentric, gentle, and physically powerful investor. He is compassionate toward insignificant creatures, highly receptive to Shi’s creative work, and eager to build relationships with the crew. However, he repeatedly misunderstands Shi’s intentions and assumes Shi wants to act.
• Zhou Jingcheng: Acts as a sarcastic mediator and enthusiastic spectator. He initially tries to keep Lin away from the main cast but cannot resist filming and encouraging Shi’s humiliation.
• Xiao Yuan and Zhou Zeyang: Enjoy seeing Shi forced to perform the absurd script, treating the situation as deserved revenge for his earlier antics.
• Shi Zhongye: Encourages the performance and takes pleasure in watching the chaos unfold.
• 000: Continues commenting on the situation, mocking Shi and tracking his Malice Points.

Significant Themes

• Humiliation and poetic justice: Shi’s habit of embarrassing others rebounds on him when the crew eagerly forces him into the same situation.
• Creative absurdity: The ridiculous toilet-plunger script reflects Shi’s unconventional imagination and his use of comedy as both entertainment and revenge.
• Miscommunication: Lin interprets Shi’s enthusiasm for writing as enthusiasm for acting, creating the central comedic conflict.
• Found-family camaraderie: Although the crew mocks Shi, their teasing and collective participation reveal a playful, familiar bond.
• Appearance versus reality: Lin looks like an artistic, delicate young man but possesses extraordinary strength; his strange behavior contrasts with his sincere kindness and professionalism.

Character Interactions

• Shi and Lin form an unexpectedly positive first connection, though Shi privately labels Lin a “roadblock” and is startled by his strength.
• Zhou Jingcheng attempts to control Lin’s proximity to Shi but ultimately helps introduce them and later joins the crew in teasing Shi.
• Lin sincerely praises Shi’s writing and encourages him to perform, unaware that he is setting Shi up for embarrassment.
• Xiao Yuan and Zhou Zeyang silently unite with the crew against Shi, delighted that he must act out the humiliating plunger scene.
• The entire production team turns Shi’s forced performance into a spectacle, cheering, filming, and urging him to display the protagonist’s “heroic” dignity.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shi Jihan is forced to act in the outrageous plunger advertisement he wrote. When the “Demolition Crew” attacks him in the commercial, he dramatically uses a toilet plunger and shouts, “Abyssal Siphon!”
• The advertisement is released three days later and becomes an instant online sensation. Shi Jihan’s absurd acting, exaggerated narration, and deadpan promotional lines generate widespread amusement.
• Shi Jihan’s brothers, Shi Bochuan and Shen Qinghuai, watch the advertisement while supporting his misfortune. They mock him affectionately, change their usernames to plunger-related names, and use the family group chat to tease him.
• Shi Jihan continues filming bizarre promotional scenes for the company, including:
  • Interrogating a “villain” with an electric toothbrush to advertise its cleaning power.
  • Blowing up the set with a dish-soap-and-sugar prop to promote degreasing.
  • Covering the production crew in foam while delivering serious product claims.
• Netizens create memes of Shi Jihan’s “cold smirk,” while Shi Group promotes the advertisement and hosts a 660,000-yuan giveaway. The system rewards Shi Jihan with only nine Malice Points, leaving him dissatisfied.
• Shi Jihan decides to enter his brother’s giveaway repeatedly using alternate accounts, determined to recover some compensation.
• Lin Xubai approaches Shi Jihan during lunch. Shi Jihan becomes extremely embarrassed around him because Lin knows about his earlier outrageous writing involving flushing the Earth down a toilet.
• Lin asks Shi Jihan to help improve a sculpture intended as a gift for his senior, Xiao Yuan. The system assigns Shi Jihan a task to help Lin complete it.
• Lin reveals that the sculpture consists of his own body with Xiao Yuan’s head attached, while Xiao Yuan’s original body is represented by headless knight sculptures. Shi Jihan finds the result disturbing but agrees to help.
• The following day, Xiao Yuan discovers the revised sculpture in the plaza. Although its head and upper body are beautifully sculpted, its waist connects directly to tiny legs, making the statue look absurd and humiliating.

Character Developments

• Shi Jihan is unwillingly pushed into acting but unexpectedly excels at physical comedy and deadpan absurdity. His embarrassment becomes a source of public entertainment, though he remains resentful about the small system reward.
• Shi Bochuan and Shen Qinghuai continue their role as supportive but merciless brothers. They enjoy Shi Jihan’s misfortune, publicly promote the advertisement, and turn the family teasing into an ongoing joke.
• Zhou Jingcheng acts as Shi Jihan’s exhausted accomplice. He tolerates being force-fed food to help Shi Jihan avoid Lin and correctly predicts that Shi Jihan will exploit the giveaway.
• Lin Xubai grows more interested in and comfortable with Shi Jihan. He recognizes the advertisement’s success and deliberately uses the project to reduce the distance between them, advancing a larger personal plan.
• Xiao Yuan becomes the target of Lin and Shi Jihan’s unusual artistic project. His reaction to the deformed sculpture sets up further embarrassment and conflict.

Significant Themes

• Karma and poetic justice: Shi Jihan, who previously wrote ridiculous material for others, is forced to perform his own absurd scripts.
• Public humiliation as entertainment: The advertisement turns Shi Jihan’s embarrassment into commercial success and online amusement.
• Family affection through teasing: The brothers show support not through sympathy, but through relentless mockery, reposting, and exploiting the situation for laughs.
• Artistic absurdity: The sculpture project parodies artistic seriousness, mixing genuine craftsmanship with bizarre proportions and inappropriate subject matter.
• Manipulation and unintended success: What begins as an embarrassing commercial becomes an effective marketing campaign, while Lin uses the opportunity to move closer to Shi Jihan.

Character Interactions

• Shi Jihan and the “Demolition Crew” perform an exaggerated commercial battle centered on the plunger.
• Shi Bochuan and Shen Qinghuai tease Shi Jihan through the family group chat and publicly support the advertisement.
• Shi Jihan and Zhou Jingcheng share comic complicity, with Zhou reluctantly helping him avoid Lin and enter the giveaway.
• Lin Xubai and Shi Jihan work together on the sculpture, with Lin using flattery and a request for help to draw Shi Jihan closer.
• Xiao Yuan encounters the humiliating final sculpture, unaware of the strange process and motivations behind its creation.

Chapter 59 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yuan discovers that the embarrassing dwarf sculpture in the square is meant for him. While he tries to avoid acknowledging it, Lin Xubai activates the remote-controlled cars beneath the sculpture, making the dwarf perform an awkward dance and deliver Xiao Yuan a bottle.
• The bottle is labeled as “canned air” from a specific latitude, supposedly containing mountain wind. Xiao Yuan calls it a scam, but the public spectacle fulfills Lin Xubai’s task of creating and giving him a better artistic work.
• Shi Jihan receives a system reward of 14 Malice Points for helping Lin Xubai complete the project.
• Shi Jihan and Lin Xubai jokingly develop an absurd canned-air business, advertising varieties such as “Sunset West Coast,” “Polar Glacier,” sandstorm air, and plum-rain air. Lin Xubai enthusiastically agrees to invest in every product and becomes Shi Jihan’s “number one patron.”
• Shi Jihan celebrates online, posting payment receipts and announcing his new business relationship with Lin Xubai. Zhou Jingcheng becomes jealous when he sees Shi Jihan helping decorate Lin Xubai’s studio and decides to invest as well.
• Zhou Jingcheng ultimately transfers even more money than Lin Xubai, determined to remain Shi Jihan’s most important patron. Shi Jihan’s bank account rapidly fills, and he spends the money extravagantly on a new game update, buying skins and weapons immediately.
• That night, Shi Jihan and Zero-Zero-Zero see what appears to be a ghostly figure digging a grave beneath a hawthorn tree, with a suspicious body-like object nearby. Terrified, Shi Jihan grabs Zhou Jingcheng when he passes by and brings him outside to investigate.

Character Developments

• Shi Jihan continues to exploit ridiculous situations for profit. He proves highly entrepreneurial, instantly transforming a joke into a business venture, while also showing childish excitement over money and games.
• Lin Xubai reveals himself to be playful, eccentric, and extremely generous. His strange artistic methods and willingness to invest in canned air show that he shares Shi Jihan’s unconventional sense of humor.
• Xiao Yuan is publicly humiliated by the moving sculpture and canned-air gift, becoming increasingly exasperated with Shi Jihan and Lin Xubai’s antics.
• Zhou Jingcheng displays strong jealousy and competitiveness. His decision to invest is motivated less by business sense than by his desire to reclaim his place as Shi Jihan’s “number one” supporter.
• Zero-Zero-Zero remains a sarcastic but easily frightened companion, commenting on Shi Jihan’s acting expressions and panicking at the apparent ghost.

Significant Themes

• Absurdity and comedy: The chapter turns art, entrepreneurship, friendship, and even possible murder into exaggerated comic situations.
• Jealousy and possessiveness: Zhou Jingcheng’s investment is driven by rivalry over Shi Jihan’s attention and loyalty.
• Performance versus sincerity: Shi Jihan criticizes his own stiff acting while naturally expressing genuine joy in real life, contrasting scripted emotion with spontaneous feeling.
• Money and affection: Financial support becomes a humorous proxy for closeness and importance, with Lin Xubai and Zhou Jingcheng competing to support Shi Jihan.
• Misinterpretation: The nighttime scene appears to be a supernatural murder, but the characters’ fear is based on incomplete information, setting up a comic reveal.

Important Character Interactions

• Shi Jihan and Lin Xubai: Collaborate on the sculpture and canned-air business, with Shi Jihan treating Lin Xubai as both a client and a wealthy patron.
• Lin Xubai and Xiao Yuan: Lin’s bizarre gift is intended for Xiao Yuan, but it mainly causes him public embarrassment.
• Shi Jihan and Zhou Jingcheng: Their rivalry intensifies as Zhou tries to compete with Lin Xubai for Shi Jihan’s favor and financial importance.
• Shi Jihan and Zero-Zero-Zero: Their banter highlights Shi Jihan’s shameless greed, dramatic personality, and genuine cowardice.
• Shi Jihan and Zhou Jingcheng at the end: Shi Jihan mistakes Zhou’s nighttime movement for part of a murder scene, attacks him from behind, and then enlists him to investigate the mysterious figure.

Chapter 60 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou Jingcheng and Shi Jihan spot a mysterious white figure in the courtyard at night. Shi Jihan is terrified, while Zhou Jingcheng rationally insists that ghosts cannot exist.
• Despite claiming bravery, Zhou Jingcheng’s adrenaline is extremely high, and he deliberately walks slowly. Shi Jihan clings tightly to his arm for protection, unknowingly making Zhou both nervous and secretly pleased.
• The “ghost” turns out to be Lin Xubai, who is burying the broken dwarf statue of Xiao Yuan. Shi Jihan accidentally steps on the statue’s head, prompting an awkward apology.
• Lin Xubai explains that Xiao Yuan once accidentally destroyed one of his unfinished sculptures. The accident inspired Lin artistically and eventually contributed to his success in designing products for Plunger Company. Lin now regards Xiao Yuan as his “muse.”
• Zhou Jingcheng interprets Lin’s artistic inspiration as a successful business strategy: Plunger Company filled a high-end market gap with unusually abstract, diamond-studded plungers.
• The next day, Shi Jihan asks Xiao Yuan about Lin. Xiao Yuan barely remembers him, recalling only that Lin’s clay got on his trousers. Lin’s intense admiration is therefore entirely one-sided.
• Shi Jihan tries to encourage Lin to interact more with Xiao Yuan, hoping to generate Malice Points, but Lin insists that “art is silent.” His melodramatic behavior evokes crime-story titles such as The Crime of Silence and Silent Witness.
• Shi Jihan completes Lin’s “Romance Flower House Studio,” decorating it with cheap leftover chrysanthemums, lilies, incense, flower petals, and Lin’s statue. The result resembles a funeral hall more than a romantic studio.
• Shi Zhongye reacts with confusion and earns Shi Jihan Malice Points. Lin, however, praises the mixture of Eastern Zen aesthetics and Western classicism.
• Lin gives Shi Jihan permission to arrange a dinner for himself, Shi Zhongye, and Xiao Yuan. A new mission appears: organize a romantic dinner for three in exchange for ten Malice Points.

Character Developments

• Shi Jihan: Remains fearful but resourceful, using Zhou Jingcheng as emotional protection and improvising excuses when caught. He continues exploiting misunderstandings and inexpensive materials to earn Malice Points.
• Zhou Jingcheng: Displays a calm, rational exterior but is physically nervous around the “ghost.” He enjoys Shi Jihan’s dependence on him and subtly prolongs their close contact.
• Lin Xubai: Is revealed as an eccentric, highly dramatic artist who treats Xiao Yuan as his inspirational muse. His romantic or artistic fixation is so extreme that ordinary events become solemn rituals.
• Xiao Yuan: Has almost completely forgotten Lin, remembering only the practical inconvenience of clay-stained clothing. This highlights the imbalance between Lin’s deep admiration and Xiao Yuan’s indifference.
• Shi Zhongye: Continues struggling with stalled filming and relies on chrysanthemum tea. His practical reactions contrast with Lin’s artistic romanticism.

Significant Themes

• Comedy through misunderstanding: A supposed haunting becomes an absurd artistic burial, while a “romance” studio resembles a funeral parlor.
• One-sided admiration: Lin sees Xiao Yuan as a transformative muse, but Xiao Yuan barely remembers him, creating a humorous emotional imbalance.
• Art versus practicality: Lin interprets accidents and decorations through lofty artistic ideas, while Zhou and Shi Jihan reduce them to market analysis, cheap bargains, or snack-related jokes.
• Performance and hidden emotions: Zhou pretends to be fearless while secretly reacting strongly to Shi Jihan’s closeness; Lin presents his eccentric behavior as artistic seriousness.
• Economy and opportunism: Shi Jihan repeatedly turns cheap or discarded items into impressive-looking arrangements while pursuing Malice Points.

Character Interactions

• Shi Jihan clings to Zhou Jingcheng during the nighttime scare, creating mutual nervousness and romantic tension.
• Lin Xubai explains his history with Xiao Yuan to Zhou and Shi, framing an accidental sculpture breakage as the origin of his artistic success.
• Shi Jihan attempts to push Lin toward Xiao Yuan, but Lin remains trapped in poetic idealization.
• Shi Jihan and Lin collaborate on the flower studio, while Shi Zhongye exposes how funeral-like the décor appears.
• Lin invites Shi Zhongye and Xiao Yuan to dinner, setting up the next romantic-comedy mission.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shi Jihan receives a 30,000 budget from Lin Xubai to prepare a banquet, apparently as part of a mission to create a romantic scene involving three people.
• Instead of preparing real food, Shi Jihan exploits the budget and his connections to create an absurd “refined” menu consisting mostly of flowers, water, seeds, and empty plates:
  • Dew-boiled flower petals
  • Air-fried dandelion
  • Clear Breeze and Bright Moon Soup
  • Ephemeral Blossom Pudding
  • One Point of Zen
  • Morning Dew Sashimi
  • Jasmine Scrambled Eggs
• He also steals wine from Zhou Jingcheng’s room, provoking Zhou’s sarcastic threats to call the police. Despite complaining, Zhou accepts the banquet invitation menu and later shows concern about Shi Jihan’s drinking.
• Shi Zhongye, Xiao Yuan, and Lin Xubai attend the banquet expecting an extravagant meal. Their anticipation turns to disbelief and anger as each “dish” is revealed to be almost entirely inedible.
• The guests accumulate malice points as they react to the banquet’s deception. Shi Jihan successfully completes the mission, earning an additional ten points.
• When Shi Jihan tries to escape after completing the mission, Shi Zhongye forces him to remain and “enjoy” the feast. Shi Jihan drinks heavily instead, becoming intoxicated and full from the wine.
• Xiao Yuan asks Shi Zhongye to cook noodles afterward, leading Shi Jihan to jokingly interpret Xiao Yuan’s willingness to eat Shi Zhongye’s cooking as evidence of true love.
• Returning to his room, Shi Jihan discovers Zhou Jingcheng and Zhou Zeyang there. He has apparently wandered into Zhou Jingcheng’s room by mistake.
• The brothers are livestreaming, and the audience witnesses Zhou Jingcheng’s irritated but concerned reaction to Shi Jihan’s drunkenness. Viewers enthusiastically begin shipping the two men as a couple.
• Worried that the livestream may expose the situation or create a scandal, Zhou Jingcheng tells Zhou Zeyang to move the equipment and continue streaming from another room.

Character Developments

• Shi Jihan remains shameless, opportunistic, and highly creative in manipulating situations for mission rewards. He treats the banquet as a chance to profit while deliberately provoking his targets.
• Lin Xubai supports Shi Jihan’s plan and plays along with the elaborate banquet setup, even praising the ridiculous dishes.
• Shi Zhongye shifts from trusting his younger brother’s culinary ability to furious betrayal. His anger becomes particularly evident when he forces Shi Jihan to stay and endure the consequences.
• Xiao Yuan is bewildered by the banquet but continues interacting with Shi Zhongye. His request for Shi Zhongye’s noodles suggests growing comfort or affection between them.
• Zhou Jingcheng acts annoyed by Shi Jihan’s theft and drunkenness, yet his sharp concern over Shi Jihan’s alcohol consumption reveals genuine care.
• Zhou Zeyang becomes an unwilling observer of Shi Jihan’s intrusion and the increasingly intimate-looking interaction between Shi Jihan and Zhou Jingcheng.
• 000, Shi Jihan’s system, mirrors his hunger, anxiety, and excitement, functioning as a comic partner in his schemes.

Significant Themes

• Deception and performance: Shi Jihan disguises an almost nonexistent meal as an elite banquet, exposing how presentation and language can create the illusion of luxury.
• Exploitation and opportunism: He turns someone else’s budget and possessions into personal profit while framing his actions as helpful or generous.
• Malice as reward: The story humorously converts other characters’ frustration and anger into measurable benefits for Shi Jihan.
• Romantic ambiguity and public interpretation: Zhou Jingcheng’s concern for Shi Jihan is immediately interpreted by livestream viewers as romantic affection, demonstrating how easily relationships can be reshaped by spectators.
• Food as intimacy and conflict: The banquet creates hostility, while the prospect of Shi Zhongye cooking noodles creates a more personal interaction between Shi Zhongye and Xiao Yuan.
• Comedic role reversal: Shi Jihan expects to manipulate others, but his drunkenness and forced participation leave him vulnerable to Shi Zhongye’s retaliation and Zhou Jingcheng’s scrutiny.

Character Interactions

• Shi Jihan and Zhou Jingcheng exchange sarcastic threats and insults over the stolen furniture and wine, but Zhou’s later concern reveals an underlying closeness.
• Shi Jihan deliberately provokes Shi Zhongye and Xiao Yuan through the fake banquet, while Lin Xubai reinforces his performance.
• Shi Zhongye’s anger at the “feast” contrasts with Xiao Yuan’s confused but cooperative responses, creating comic tension and hinting at their developing bond.
• The livestream audience transforms Zhou Jingcheng’s worried questioning of Shi Jihan into evidence of a romantic relationship, enthusiastically shipping them.
• The chapter ends with Zhou Jingcheng attempting to regain control of the livestream before Shi Jihan’s drunken presence causes a public incident.

Chapter 61 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• During a livestream, Shi Jihan becomes visibly drunk and acts unusually clingy toward Zhou Jingcheng. Their affectionate behavior causes the celebrities and viewers watching the stream to enthusiastically ship them as the “Wu Bai CP.”
• Zhou Zeyang prepares to leave the room, but before he can fully shut the door, Shi Jihan bites Zhou Jingcheng’s hand and then kisses and licks his cheek, leaving a red mark. He drunkenly complains that Zhou’s “mochi” skin cannot be bitten through.
• Zhou Zeyang closes the door, cutting off the livestream at the most exciting moment. Viewers only see Zhou Jingcheng lean close to whisper in Shi Jihan’s ear, causing further speculation and excitement.
• In private, Zhou Jingcheng playfully encourages Shi Jihan to bite him again. Shi Jihan continues to treat him like food, calling him “mochi,” sniffing him, and commenting on his pleasant scent. He eventually falls asleep in Zhou Jingcheng’s arms.
• Zhou Jingcheng supports Shi Jihan’s lower back and considers taking him back to his room, but ends up letting him sleep against his chest. He blames Shi Zhongye for failing to feed Shi Jihan enough dinner.
• Meanwhile, Shi Zhongye sneezes while cooking extremely poor-quality tomato-and-egg noodles for Xiao Yuan. Xiao Yuan politely eats them despite their bizarre appearance and texture. Shi Zhongye, pleased that someone appreciates his cooking, offers to make him several more bowls.
• The next morning, Shi Jihan wakes up in Zhou Jingcheng’s room, with Zhou still nearby and the blanket pinning him in place. Shocked and unable to remember the previous night, he panics and asks the system what happened.

Character Developments

• Shi Jihan: His drunken state reveals a playful, needy, and physically affectionate side. He becomes openly intimate with Zhou Jingcheng, though he interprets the latter as edible “mochi” or “daifuku” rather than consciously recognizing his romantic behavior. By morning, he is embarrassed and confused about how he ended up in Zhou’s room.
• Zhou Jingcheng: He responds to Shi Jihan’s drunken advances with patience, indulgence, and growing emotional intensity. Although he jokes with him, his actions—supporting him, protecting him from the livestream, and allowing him to sleep safely—show considerable tenderness. His flushed ears and hoarse voice suggest that Shi Jihan’s behavior affects him deeply.
• Zhou Zeyang: He acts as the practical observer who recognizes the danger of letting the livestream continue. He quickly shuts the door, though only after the viewers witness the kiss.
• Shi Zhongye: He remains comically oblivious to the situation and demonstrates terrible cooking skills while sincerely trying to feed Xiao Yuan.
• Xiao Yuan: He shows politeness and endurance by eating Shi Zhongye’s nearly inedible noodles, strengthening their humorous domestic dynamic.
• Zero-Zero-Zero: The system reacts nervously and dramatically, urging Shi Jihan to stay quiet so Zhou Jingcheng will not discover their conversation.

Significant Themes

• Romantic tension and accidental intimacy: Shi Jihan’s drunken affection exposes the attraction and emotional closeness developing between him and Zhou Jingcheng.
• Public spectacle versus private feelings: The livestream turns their interaction into entertainment for viewers, while the most meaningful and intimate moments occur after the camera is shut off.
• Care expressed through teasing: Zhou Jingcheng uses humor and indulgence to look after Shi Jihan, masking genuine concern and attraction.
• Comic domesticity: The disastrous noodles and casual household interactions provide comic relief while emphasizing the characters’ growing familiarity.
• Memory, misunderstanding, and embarrassment: Shi Jihan’s drunken confusion creates uncertainty about what happened and sets up the next morning’s awkward confrontation.

Character Interactions

• Shi Jihan and Zhou Jingcheng share the chapter’s central interaction: biting, kissing, teasing, physical closeness, and Zhou’s quiet caretaking.
• Zhou Zeyang interrupts the livestream by closing the door, frustrating the viewers and protecting the pair’s privacy.
• The livestream audience collectively reacts to and romanticizes every interaction between Shi Jihan and Zhou Jingcheng.
• Shi Zhongye and Xiao Yuan share a humorous meal in which Xiao Yuan endures Shi Zhongye’s terrible cooking while Shi Zhongye proudly offers to make more.
• The chapter ends with Shi Jihan and Zero-Zero-Zero secretly panicking together as Zhou Jingcheng begins to wake.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Shi Jihan wakes up after getting drunk and is horrified to learn from Zero-Zero-Zero that he clung to Zhou Jingcheng all night, bit him repeatedly, grabbed his tie, and refused to let him leave or turn off the lights.
• Zhou Jingcheng teases Shi Jihan by pretending to have recorded videos of his drunken behavior. Shi Jihan panics, steals his phone, and tries to delete the nonexistent recordings.
• Shi Jihan’s embarrassment intensifies when he realizes he spent the night sprawled over Zhou Jingcheng in an extremely intimate position. Zhou continues teasing him with suggestive remarks about Shi Jihan calling him “soft mochi skin.”
• Afterward, Shi Jihan visits Romance Flower House Studio with Lin Xubai to “heal his soul” through clay sculpting. He creates a bizarre, wide-mouthed Plankton sculpture, which Lin Xubai praises as an expression of existential rebellion.
• Lurdan humorously lodges itself inside the sculpture’s mouth, while Zero-Zero-Zero reacts with despair.
• Shi Jihan spots Zhou Jingcheng outside the studio and immediately becomes flustered, hiding his face and regretting his drunken behavior.
• Lin Xubai reveals that their toilet-plunger advertisement has become extremely popular and boosted company sales. He has created an official social-media account and begins livestreaming sculpture-making with toilet plungers.
• During the livestream, Lin Xubai uses the plunger and clay to create a miniature Venus de Milo. He awkwardly reads a hostile viewer comment criticizing the performance as meaningless “artistic garbage.”

2. Character Developments

• Shi Jihan becomes increasingly aware of how physically affectionate and uninhibited he is toward Zhou Jingcheng when drunk. His shame and avoidance show that he has strong feelings but is not yet comfortable confronting them.
• Zhou Jingcheng displays a playful, teasing side. He deliberately exploits Shi Jihan’s embarrassment while also revealing that he was willing to stay with and indulge him throughout the night.
• Zero-Zero-Zero continues acting as a sarcastic commentator, listing Shi Jihan’s embarrassing actions and mocking his reactions. Its exaggerated despair adds comic relief.
• Lin Xubai demonstrates unexpected artistic skill and a sincere willingness to support both the company and Shi Jihan. His praise gives Shi Jihan an immediate emotional boost, even though the sculpture is objectively absurd.
• Lurdan remains a chaotic comic presence, physically interacting with the sculpture and causing Zero-Zero-Zero further distress.

3. Significant Themes

• Embarrassment and self-denial: Shi Jihan tries to distance himself from his drunken behavior, but the physical evidence and Zhou’s teasing make denial impossible.
• Hidden affection and intimacy: Shi Jihan’s unconscious clinginess suggests feelings he cannot openly acknowledge, while Zhou’s patience and amusement imply mutual attachment.
• Comedy through contrast: Shi Jihan’s intense mortification contrasts with Zhou’s calm teasing and Lin Xubai’s serious interpretation of ridiculous art.
• Art and absurdity: The Plankton sculpture and toilet-plunger Venus de Milo parody artistic pretension while also suggesting that meaning can be created from unconventional materials.
• Commercial success versus artistic expression: The company’s viral advertisement turns eccentric creativity into marketing, while the livestream blurs the boundary between genuine art and publicity.

4. Character Interactions

• Shi Jihan and Zero-Zero-Zero argue over his drunken behavior, with the system repeatedly exposing details he wishes to forget.
• Zhou Jingcheng teases Shi Jihan with physical evidence of the biting and pretends to have recordings, provoking panic and anger.
• Lin Xubai praises Shi Jihan’s clay sculpture, restoring his confidence after his humiliating morning.
• Lurdan’s collision with the sculpture turns the scene into further slapstick comedy.
• Shi Jihan avoids Zhou Jingcheng when he sees him outside, revealing how deeply affected he is by their night together.
• Lin Xubai and Shi Jihan collaborate on the company’s livestream, though Lin takes Shi Jihan’s vague approval as enthusiastic support.
• During the livestream, Lin interacts stiffly with viewers while Shi Jihan assists off-camera, setting up a comedic clash between serious presentation and absurd subject matter.

Chapter 62 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• During a livestream, Shi Jihan defends his “second-ranked big brother” from an insulting viewer, responding with exaggerated sarcasm about sending the person a plunger. The audience initially praises his wit.
• The comments suddenly shift toward teasing Shi Jihan about his apparent romantic relationship with Zhou Jingcheng, referencing their previous livestream and kiss. The moderator tries desperately to ban the comments, while Lin Xubai and Zero-Zero-Zero deliberately make the embarrassing material more obvious.
• Zhou Jingcheng happens to see the livestream and becomes jealous when he notices Shi Jihan and Lin Xubai standing close together. He enters the studio and accuses Shi Jihan of avoiding him and becoming too familiar with Lin Xubai.
• Shi Jihan struggles to explain himself. When he says he cannot always stay with Zhou Jingcheng, Zhou unexpectedly replies that he wants to always be with Shi Jihan.
• Zhou openly confesses, saying, “Shi Jihan, I like you. Can you feel that?” Shi panics, assumes Zhou may be delirious or poisoned, and tries to silence him by covering his mouth after realizing they are still livestreaming.
• Zhou’s confession and the intimate moment are captured by the livestream. Lin Xubai ends the broadcast, but clips have already spread across the internet.
• The footage becomes viral, with fans analyzing Zhou’s expressions and enthusiastically “shipping” the pair. Related hashtags, including Zhou’s confession and their earlier kiss, trend together.
• After the livestream, Zhou stops Shi Jihan from fleeing and clarifies that he is not trying to pressure him. He admits he missed Shi Jihan and asks sincerely, “Can I pursue you now?”
• Shi Jihan remains overwhelmed and embarrassed, replaying Zhou’s words in bed and ultimately screaming into his pillow.

Character Developments

• Shi Jihan: Displays his usual sharp-tongued confidence when defending others, but becomes flustered, evasive, and helpless when confronted with Zhou’s romantic feelings. His repeated denials suggest he is emotionally affected, even though he cannot yet acknowledge or articulate his own feelings.
• Zhou Jingcheng: Moves from jealousy and indirect teasing to direct emotional honesty. He openly confesses his love, expresses his desire to stay with Shi Jihan, and carefully reassures him that pursuing him is not meant as pressure.
• Lin Xubai: Acts as an amused bystander and unintentionally contributes to Zhou’s jealousy. Once the romantic tension intensifies, he recognizes that he is extraneous and ultimately ends the livestream.
• Zero-Zero-Zero: Continues exposing Shi Jihan’s lies and embarrassing him by replaying past livestream comments. Its panic over the “no-romance male lead” becoming romantic adds comic relief.
• The livestream audience: Functions almost like a collective commentator, magnifying the romantic tension and turning the pair’s private emotional moment into a public spectacle.

Significant Themes

• Public versus private emotion: Zhou’s confession occurs during a public livestream, forcing Shi Jihan to confront feelings he would prefer to avoid privately.
• Romantic pursuit and emotional honesty: Zhou demonstrates that direct communication is necessary, openly stating his feelings while emphasizing that Shi Jihan has the freedom to respond at his own pace.
• Embarrassment and denial: Shi Jihan’s comic resistance contrasts with his obvious emotional reaction, suggesting that denial is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain.
• Fandom and spectacle: The audience transforms real interactions into viral romantic content, showing how public perception can intensify and reshape personal relationships.
• Role reversal: Shi Jihan, normally the verbally dominant one, is rendered speechless by Zhou’s confession, while Zhou takes control of the situation.

Important Character Interactions

• Shi Jihan verbally battles an insulting viewer and wins the audience’s approval.
• Lin Xubai teases Shi Jihan by reading romantic comments aloud and replaying embarrassing footage.
• Zhou Jingcheng confronts Shi Jihan over avoiding him and standing too close to Lin Xubai, revealing his jealousy.
• Zhou and Shi share a highly charged moment when Shi covers Zhou’s mouth, only for the livestream audience to witness it.
• Zhou confesses his feelings and asks permission to pursue Shi, leaving Shi deeply flustered but unable to dismiss the emotional impact of his words.

Chapter Summary

Plot points and events

Shi Jihan cannot sleep after Zhou Jingcheng’s public confession. While Zero-Zero-Zero struggles to understand why the original novels’ plots are collapsing, it assigns Shi Jihan a new mission: recreate the original romance scene in which Lin Xubai embraces Xiao Yuan beneath the stars, surrounded by fireflies. To fulfill the mission, Shi Jihan invites Lin Xubai hiking and then goes into the woods at night to catch fireflies. Zhou Jingcheng unexpectedly joins him. After a difficult and mostly unsuccessful search, they manage to catch only a few fireflies before returning at dawn.

Character developments

Shi Jihan remains embarrassed and defensive about Zhou Jingcheng’s feelings, but his behavior increasingly suggests that he is affected by and perhaps receptive to Zhou’s attention. He allows Zhou to hold his hand, accepts his help while climbing the tree, and playfully responds to his teasing, even while verbally rejecting him. Zhou Jingcheng becomes more openly affectionate and shamelessly flirts with Shi Jihan, confidently treating their mutual attraction as obvious. His protective actions—holding Shi Jihan’s hand on the slippery path and physically supporting him—contrast with his teasing manner. Zero-Zero-Zero becomes increasingly confused by the mismatch between Zhou’s supposed “no-CP” role and his obvious romantic behavior.

Character interactions

Zhou and Shi trade sarcastic remarks throughout the night. Zhou jokes that Shi may like him and asks how many people are ahead of him in Shi’s “waiting line” for romance. Shi names food stalls and snacks instead of actual romantic rivals, while Zhou continues to flirt by suggesting that he is “tasty.” Their physical closeness grows through hand-holding and Zhou’s assistance with the tree. At dawn, they encounter Shi Zhongye, who is shocked by their having spent the night together. Zhou casually announces that he has confessed to Shi Jihan, leaving Shi Zhongye stunned and uncomfortable with Zhou’s intimate nickname for his brother.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes the contrast between scripted fiction and uncontrollable reality. Zero-Zero-Zero tries to force events to follow the original romantic plot, but Shi Jihan and Zhou Jingcheng’s relationship develops in its own unpredictable way. It also highlights growing intimacy disguised as bickering, with physical care and playful banter revealing feelings that Shi Jihan refuses to acknowledge directly. The collapse of the original “no-CP” storyline becomes increasingly evident as Zhou openly pursues romance instead of focusing solely on career development.

Chapter 63 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou Jingcheng publicly confesses his feelings for Shi Jihan and immediately begins calling Shi Zhongye “brother-in-law.”
• Shi Zhongye is initially shocked and assumes the confession may be a joke or a punishment from a game. Once he realizes Zhou is serious, he becomes fiercely protective and questions why Zhou thinks he is worthy of Shi Jihan.
• Shi Zhongye calls Shi Bochuan, who is vacationing overseas with Shen Qinghuai, to report that Shi Jihan is dating someone. Neither believes him at first; they assume the call is a scam, extortion attempt, or evidence that Shi Zhongye has been kidnapped.
• Shi Zhongye sends Zhou’s public confession video to the family group chat. The family reacts dramatically, accusing Zhou of secretly pursuing Shi Jihan for a long time and “seducing” their supposedly innocent youngest brother.
• The family’s overprotectiveness becomes comical when they discuss guarding Shi Jihan from Zhou. Shi Jihan sees the messages, objects, and is immediately removed from the group by Shen Qinghuai. Shen then creates a new group and pretends nothing happened.
• Shi Jihan’s system, Zero-Zero-Zero, comments on how the Shi family—especially Shen Qinghuai—has completely abandoned its former dignified image.
• Later, Shi Jihan goes to the set and pauses outside Zhou’s room, seemingly hoping to see him. He learns Zhou has already been working since early morning.
• Zero-Zero-Zero worries about Shi Jihan losing his accumulated money when he eventually leaves the world and promises to find a way to convert it into Malice Points. Shi Jihan is less concerned, though the system is determined to protect his finances.
• Shi Jihan encounters Zhou, who has apparently witnessed him speaking to the invisible Zero-Zero-Zero. Rather than questioning him seriously, Zhou jokingly greets the “invisible gentleman,” horrifying the nearby staff.
• Their physical and verbal flirtation continues: Shi Jihan grabs Zhou’s hand in embarrassment, they briefly hook pinkies, and Zhou turns Shi Jihan’s approving thumbs-up into an intimate thumb touch followed by a finger-heart.

Character Developments

• Shi Jihan: Though embarrassed by Zhou’s confession and by his family’s reactions, he is increasingly comfortable seeking Zhou out and engaging in affectionate contact. He remains oblivious to how openly he is reciprocating Zhou’s feelings, but his behavior—waiting near Zhou’s room, holding his hand, and responding to flirtation—shows growing attachment.
• Zhou Jingcheng: He becomes openly affectionate and shamelessly pursues Shi Jihan. His confidence is matched by patience and emotional acceptance; he does not judge Shi Jihan’s strange behavior and turns potentially awkward situations into playful intimacy.
• Shi Zhongye: He shifts immediately into the role of suspicious, overprotective older brother. He is bewildered by Zhou’s confession but clearly cares deeply about protecting Shi Jihan.
• Shi Bochuan and Shen Qinghuai: They display exaggerated disbelief and family protectiveness. Their frantic reactions reveal how seriously they view Shi Jihan as the family’s cherished youngest member, while their group-chat antics highlight their lack of composure.
• Zero-Zero-Zero: It continues to act as Shi Jihan’s commentator and practical companion, balancing sarcasm with genuine concern—especially regarding Shi Jihan’s finances and future.

Significant Themes

• Family overprotectiveness: The Shi family treats Shi Jihan as helplessly innocent, creating a comic contrast with his actual growing romantic relationship.
• Romance through teasing and physical affection: Zhou’s confession develops into playful banter, hand-holding, pinky-hooking, and subtle gestures that reveal mutual attraction.
• Self-deception and denial: The family refuses to accept Shi Jihan’s romantic development, even removing him from the group to avoid acknowledging embarrassing messages.
• Acceptance of the unusual: Zhou’s willingness to accept Shi Jihan talking to an invisible companion demonstrates his unconditional affection and reinforces their unusual but increasingly natural relationship.
• Public image versus private reality: Zhou is praised publicly as a responsible producer, while the family recognizes that he has been using his work and proximity to Shi Jihan to pursue him.

Important Character Interactions

• Zhou repeatedly calls Shi Zhongye “brother-in-law,” provoking shock and outrage.
• Shi Zhongye consults Shi Bochuan and Shen Qinghuai, who reject the idea that Shi Jihan could be dating anyone.
• The family group chat becomes a source of comic conflict when Shi Jihan discovers their protective discussion and is removed from the group.
• Zhou gently touches and fixes Shi Jihan’s hair, then accepts his invisible conversations without judgment.
• Their interaction ends with Zhou turning a simple thumbs-up into a flirtatious thumb touch and finger-heart, leaving Shi Jihan embarrassed and increasingly aware of Zhou’s intentions.

Chapter 64 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shi Jihan brings Zhou Jingcheng inside, where Zhou immediately teases Shi Zhongye by calling him “Second Brother-in-Law.” Shi Zhongye angrily rejects the implication, while Zhou jokingly suggests that Shi Zhongye call him “Second Uncle” instead.
• On set, comic artist Lin An has replaced his angst-filled comic Wednesday’s Funeral with the healing comedy Abnormal Human Neighborhood Committee. The comic draws heavily on the bizarre daily lives of his neighbors:
  • Cheng Yangguang and the Sunset Red Dance Troupe feud with the Demolition Crew through competing dances, slogans, music, and exercise routines.
  • Auntie Li’s unreliable weather-prediction ability causes further neighborhood chaos.
• The new comic becomes highly popular, improving Lin An’s income. His relationship with the neighbors also warms: Auntie Li criticizes his worsening dark circles and gives him nourishing ingredients, while Cheng Yangguang aggressively tries to make him exercise and get sunlight.
• Cheng Yangguang continues tormenting the Demolition Crew by playing exercise music before dawn, taking revenge for their earlier nighttime raid, which was exposed by Shi Jihan’s chickens.
• Shi Jihan and Zhou Jingcheng discuss creating a romantic setting for Xiao Yuan and Lin Xubai, proposing increasingly absurd ideas involving fireflies, LED-lit mosquitoes, bug spray, and electric mosquito swatters. Their “romantic” plans are deliberately dangerous and ridiculous.
• Zhou Jingcheng openly flirts with Shi Jihan on set, resting against his shoulder and pretending that Shi Zhongye is bullying him. The staff enthusiastically interpret their behavior as romantic, especially after Zhou declares that he is “trying to please” Shi Jihan.
• Shi Zhongye becomes increasingly furious and jealous, while Zhou deliberately provokes him by insisting on calling him “Second Uncle.”
• Shi Jihan asks Shi Zhongye to join him in going up the mountain that night to gather inspiration and look at the stars. Zhou interrupts to volunteer himself and successfully secures an invitation.
• Zhou sleeps on set until evening. When he wakes, he discovers that Shi Jihan has changed his ringtone to an absurd eunuch-style imperial alarm and arranged fruit around him as though they were holding a court assembly.
• Finding the fruit arrangement strange but endearing, Zhou photographs it and posts a nine-photo collage online, proudly writing that the fruit was given to him by “the person I like.”

Character Developments

• Shi Jihan: Becomes more comfortable responding to Auntie Li and engaging with the chaotic neighborhood. He also shows growing acceptance of Zhou Jingcheng’s closeness, though Zhou’s overt flirting still embarrasses and surprises him.
• Zhou Jingcheng: Grows bolder and more proactive in pursuing Shi Jihan. He deliberately uses physical affection, playful manipulation, and public declarations to provoke both Shi Jihan and Shi Zhongye. His social-media post openly hints at his feelings.
• Shi Zhongye: Becomes increasingly protective and hostile toward Zhou, whom he considers too shameless and unworthy of his younger brother. His repeated attempts to separate the pair only make Zhou’s teasing more effective.
• Lin An: Shifts from writing tragic material to comedic, healing stories inspired by his neighbors. His success and interactions with them help him become less isolated and more connected to ordinary life.
• Cheng Yangguang and Auntie Li: Continue acting as energetic, eccentric neighbors, but their concern for Lin An reveals genuine warmth beneath their disruptive behavior.

Significant Themes

• Healing through community: Lin An’s comic and improved livelihood show how the strange but caring neighborhood helps him move away from isolation and emotional heaviness.
• Comedy in everyday chaos: Ordinary activities—exercise, weather predictions, waste collection, and neighborhood disputes—become sources of absurd humor.
• Romantic pursuit and shameless affection: Zhou’s strategy is to pursue Shi Jihan openly, physically, and persistently, turning teasing and public embarrassment into a form of courtship.
• Found family and care: The neighbors’ eccentric interference often masks concern, as seen in Auntie Li’s health advice and Cheng Yangguang’s efforts to make Lin An exercise.
• Performance and spectatorship: The set staff, comic audience, and online followers all observe and interpret the characters’ relationships, effectively turning Zhou and Shi Jihan’s interactions into live entertainment.

Character Interactions

• Zhou and Shi Jihan share increasingly intimate, playful exchanges, with Zhou leaning on him and provoking him while Shi Jihan struggles to respond.
• Zhou and Shi Zhongye maintain an antagonistic but comedic rivalry, centered on Zhou’s deliberate “brother-in-law” jokes and Shi Zhongye’s outrage.
• Lin An interacts with Auntie Li and Cheng Yangguang in ways that show his gradual social integration.
• The staff members enthusiastically “ship” Zhou and Shi Jihan, while the online audience is invited into the developing romance through Zhou’s social-media post.

Chapter 94 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shi Jihan secretly saves a close-up photo of Zhou Jingcheng’s attractive hands, prompting the system, Zero-Zero-Zero, to tease him about his growing attraction.
• Zhou Jingcheng wakes up after Shi Jihan changes his ringtone and sets an alarm. Their playful argument quickly turns flirtatious, with both joking about emperors, concubines, and Zhou’s place among Shi Jihan’s imaginary “favorites.”
• Xiao Yuan observes that Shi Jihan and Zhou Jingcheng are unusually compatible, while Shi Zhongye worries that Zhou will get too close to his younger brother. Despite his suspicions, Shi Zhongye decides to join the planned nighttime outing to prevent them from being alone.
• Because it begins raining, the mountain stargazing trip is canceled. Shi Jihan assures Zero-Zero-Zero that he can recreate the required “starry sky” indoors.
• Shi Jihan arranges an improvised romantic setting: a large-screen astronomy film, a few fireflies, and signs labeled “Fireflies” and “Starry Sky.” Zhou Jingcheng helps him prepare the room.
• The plan goes wrong when Shi Zhongye sits on the remote and accidentally activates a sequence of horror films. Everyone panics and clings to one another.
• Lin Xubai hugs Shi Zhongye, Xiao Yuan also grabs him, and the two fight over him in their fear. Shi Jihan hides inside Zhou Jingcheng’s arms and collar.
• Shi Jihan accidentally tears Zhou Jingcheng’s shirt and touches his bare chest. Zhou’s involuntary reaction makes the moment intensely awkward and intimate.
• Despite the chaotic circumstances, the mission requiring “two people embracing beneath the starry sky” is completed beyond quota, earning 16 Malice Points.

Character Developments

• Shi Jihan: His attraction to Zhou Jingcheng becomes increasingly obvious. He is flustered by Zhou’s appearance and hands, yet continues disguising his feelings behind jokes and elaborate schemes. He also demonstrates creativity in exploiting system loopholes.
• Zhou Jingcheng: He openly teases Shi Jihan and appears increasingly comfortable with their flirtatious dynamic. He helps with the indoor “starry sky” setup and shows clear physical and emotional reactions when Shi Jihan embraces him.
• Zero-Zero-Zero: The system becomes increasingly exasperated as Shi Jihan repeatedly derails the intended plot while still completing the missions. It is overwhelmed by the romantic tension and eventually forcibly logs off.
• Shi Zhongye: He remains protective and suspicious of Zhou Jingcheng, determined to prevent him from being alone with Shi Jihan. His accidental interference with the remote, however, causes the night to become even more intimate.
• Xiao Yuan and Lin Xubai: Both contribute to the chaotic group embrace during the horror-movie incident, though their intended romantic scenario is fulfilled in an unconventional way.

Significant Themes

• Romance emerging through comedy and chaos: The characters’ genuine attraction develops amid jokes, accidents, and misunderstandings rather than deliberate romantic gestures.
• Subverting predetermined plots: Shi Jihan continually finds unconventional ways to satisfy mission requirements, showing that emotional outcomes matter more than faithfully following the original scenario.
• Physical intimacy and embarrassment: Small details—hands, proximity, a torn shirt, and accidental touching—highlight Shi Jihan’s growing awareness of Zhou Jingcheng’s physical appeal.
• Protectiveness and possessiveness: Shi Zhongye’s concern over Zhou Jingcheng’s relationship with Shi Jihan adds comic tension and reveals his strong attachment to his brother.
• System failure versus human emotion: Zero-Zero-Zero’s inability to process the unfolding romance underscores how far the characters’ real feelings have moved beyond the artificial mission framework.

Important Character Interactions

• Shi Jihan and Zhou Jingcheng trade affectionate insults and flirtatious jokes, showing their increasingly natural rapport.
• Xiao Yuan and Shi Zhongye discuss whether the two are a good match, with Xiao Yuan recognizing their unusual compatibility.
• Shi Jihan and Zhou collaborate on creating an indoor substitute for the canceled stargazing event.
• During the horror-movie mishap, Shi Jihan instinctively seeks refuge in Zhou’s arms, while Lin Xubai and Xiao Yuan cling to Shi Zhongye.
• Shi Jihan’s accidental contact with Zhou’s bare chest creates the chapter’s most intimate and revealing moment, leaving both the characters and the system overwhelmed.

Chapter 65 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After their previous encounter, Zhou Jingcheng catches Shi Jihan’s hand on his chest and discovers that his shirt has been torn open, leaving him largely exposed. Shi Jihan awkwardly tries to justify the situation by joking that “a good man doesn’t keep a mistress,” then becomes increasingly embarrassed as Zhou Jingcheng teases him.
• The pair notice Shi Zhongye being physically restrained by Lin Xubai and Xiao Yuan. Shi Jihan and Zhou Jingcheng mock him for appearing to wear a “crop top,” earning Shi Zhongye additional Malice Points.
• The television suddenly freezes and the room goes dark. Shi Jihan instinctively jumps onto Zhou Jingcheng, who holds him close while deliberately pretending not to know where the light switch is. Xiao Yuan eventually turns the lights back on.
• Shi Zhongye is exhausted after struggling against the others. Lin Xubai apologizes by promising to give him “diamond-studded toilet plungers,” leaving Shi Zhongye horrified. Xiao Yuan then admits, indirectly, that he had pretended to be frightened, causing Shi Zhongye to feel betrayed.
• The next day, Zero-Zero-Zero is rebooted and returns enthusiastically. It checks whether anything inappropriate happened between Shi Jihan and Zhou Jingcheng; Shi Jihan insists that they only tore some clothes.
• Zero-Zero-Zero explains that the money accumulated in the game world can be converted into real currency, though at a terrible 10,000-to-1 exchange rate. It suggests Shi Jihan could use the money to hire male models, prompting him to accidentally say the idea aloud.
• Zhou Jingcheng becomes jealous and interrogates Shi Jihan about the supposed male models. Their exchange turns flirtatious, with Zhou joking that he is a “fragrant wildflower.” He then feeds Shi Jihan pomelo, and their fingers briefly touch, further emphasizing their intimate relationship.
• Shi Zhongye notices the pair feeding each other and becomes annoyed, but retreats when he sees Lin Xubai approaching, fearing another round of toilet-plunger gifts. He returns to directing the production and pushes the crew to finish filming.
• The chapter shifts to the filming of the drama. The demolition captain, pressured by his boss and desperate for his delayed wages, decides to force the residents from the building by cutting off their gas.
• Instead of leaving, the residents improvise by setting up an outdoor barbecue. The demolition crew is confident their plan will succeed, but the captain soon follows the irresistible smell of food and discovers the residents’ barbecue stall.

Character Developments

• Shi Jihan becomes increasingly flustered by Zhou Jingcheng’s teasing and physical closeness, though he continues denying or disguising his attraction. His internal arguments with Zero-Zero-Zero show that he is aware of the growing romantic tension but unwilling to admit it.
• Zhou Jingcheng grows bolder and more openly possessive. He deliberately teases Shi Jihan, questions his interest in male models, and uses the opportunity to maintain physical intimacy. His jealousy is playful but unmistakable.
• Shi Zhongye is repeatedly victimized by the chaotic group dynamic. He becomes more frustrated with Shi Jihan, Lin Xubai, and Xiao Yuan, while also desperately trying to regain control as director.
• Lin Xubai remains mischievous and eccentric, showing affection through absurd gifts and teasing. His toilet-plunger joke becomes a source of genuine anxiety for Shi Zhongye.
• Xiao Yuan reveals a slyer side by pretending to be scared so that he could cling to Shi Zhongye, then calmly turning on the lights and exposing the deception.
• Zero-Zero-Zero returns from rebooting with renewed energy and acts as both commentator and unwilling observer of Shi Jihan and Zhou Jingcheng’s increasingly intimate behavior.

Significant Themes

• Romantic tension and denial: Shi Jihan and Zhou Jingcheng’s interactions are full of flirtation, jealousy, physical contact, and double meanings, even as Shi Jihan insists nothing is happening.
• Comedic reversal: Attempts to frighten, control, or drive people away repeatedly produce the opposite result. The dark-room scare becomes an excuse for intimacy, and the gas cutoff leads to a barbecue instead of an evacuation.
• Group chaos and chosen intimacy: The characters’ relationships are expressed through teasing, clinging, mock hostility, and absurd cooperation rather than straightforward declarations.
• Class and economic hardship: The drama subplot highlights the demolition crew’s unpaid wages, family responsibilities, and dependence on exploitative promises from their employer.
• Resourcefulness and resistance: The residents refuse to be driven out by the gas shutoff and creatively turn a hardship into a communal outdoor meal.

Character Interactions

• Zhou Jingcheng and Shi Jihan engage in escalating flirtation, with Zhou teasing him about male models and feeding him pomelo.
• Shi Jihan and Zhou mock Shi Zhongye while he is trapped between Lin Xubai and Xiao Yuan.
• Lin Xubai torments Shi Zhongye with bizarre apologies involving toilet plungers.
• Xiao Yuan clings to Shi Zhongye while pretending to be frightened, then betrays the act by turning on the lights.
• Zero-Zero-Zero comments on and criticizes Shi Jihan’s influence over Zhou Jingcheng, while Shi Jihan defensively insists Zhou was already improper.
• In the filmed story, the demolition captain’s economic desperation drives him to cut off the residents’ gas, but the residents’ communal barbecue undermines his plan.

Chapter 66 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Residents repurpose the Demolition Crew’s barricades and construction scraps for a barbecue, mockingly claiming the crew “sponsored” their festival. Auntie Li even sells the grilled food back to the demolition workers.
• Shi Jihan receives praise for devising the absurd lighter-and-barbecue stunt and becomes visibly conceited. However, System Zero-Zero-Zero reminds him that their mission was originally to make the film lose money, with failure costing 800 points.
• Shi boasts that the movie will win major domestic and international awards and surpass ten billion at the box office, though his confidence is clearly comedic rather than credible.
• Lin Xubai, previously committed to an extremely pure and ascetic diet, eats spicy processed snacks after suffering low blood sugar. He and Shi Jihan bond through their shared struggle with the food.
• Shi and Lin manipulate the situation so Zhou Jingcheng agrees to take them to S City, where he will attend an important commercial symposium.
• The system assigns Shi a new mission: undermine the symposium’s commercial value and cooperate with Zhou’s greatest competitor, earning 23 Malice Points.
• Zhou changes his flight and leaves Shi in Shi Zhongye’s care, but Shi soon joins him on the trip. Zero-Zero-Zero frantically spends its stored points to grow stronger, fearing it may be forced offline by Shi’s schemes.
• On the plane, the system explains that the symposium is a major industry event involving national media organizations, influential business figures, and discussions that could shape the future of film and television.
• Shi begins preparing to act as a malicious “roadblock” against Zhou, while jokingly negotiating imaginary automobile sponsorships with the system.
• At the hotel, Zhou describes his competitor, Li Changyuan, in elaborate and insulting metaphors. The receptionist assigns Zhou and Shi a single presidential suite, strongly implying she assumes they are a couple.

Character Developments

• Shi Jihan remains shameless, theatrical, and opportunistic. He takes pride in his ridiculous schemes, enjoys provoking Zero-Zero-Zero, and immediately turns his assigned villain role into an excuse for mischief. Despite his stated goal of sabotaging Zhou, his attachment to Zhou is increasingly obvious.
• Zhou Jingcheng becomes more openly indulgent toward Shi, praising his script, feeding him food, changing his travel arrangements, and bringing him along on the business trip. His dry, refined insults reveal a playful side.
• Zero-Zero-Zero grows increasingly exasperated and anxious about Shi’s unpredictable behavior. Feeling threatened by the possibility of going offline, it invests all its savings into skill growth and becomes determined to “grow up.”
• Lin Xubai experiences a humorous transformation from aloof, health-conscious ascetic to someone willing to eat intensely processed spicy food. His devotion to Shi and Zhou’s relationship is also highlighted.
• Shi Zhongye and Xiao Yuan continue providing deadpan commentary, particularly about Zhou’s unsettling smile and apparent resemblance to a corpse.
• Auntie Li demonstrates her practical, entrepreneurial nature by instantly turning the neighborhood’s prank barbecue into a business opportunity.

Significant Themes

• Absurdity and comedic subversion: The residents turn demolition materials into a barbecue, reversing the power dynamic with the Demolition Crew.
• Food as bonding and comedy: Barbecue, pomelo, and spicy snacks drive many interactions and reveal characters’ personalities.
• Manipulation and playful scheming: Shi constantly engineers situations to get what he wants, while the system attempts to direct his actions.
• Romantic intimacy beneath rivalry: Shi is supposedly meant to sabotage Zhou, yet he deliberately travels with him and depends on his care.
• Conflict between missions and personal feelings: The system expects Shi to oppose Zhou, but Shi’s attachment and mischievous loyalty make genuine sabotage unlikely.
• Public image versus reality: The prestigious symposium contrasts sharply with Shi’s childish plans and bizarre behavior.

Character Interactions

• Auntie Li undercuts the captain by selling him the food made from his own crew’s materials.
• Zhou and Shi engage in affectionate teasing, with Zhou praising Shi’s creativity and feeding him snacks.
• Lin Xubai joins their playful dynamic by giving Zhou the spicy food to feed Shi and jokingly comparing him to a “pigeon.”
• Shi torments Zero-Zero-Zero with jokes about crashing and going offline, while the system reacts with frantic determination.
• Shi probes Zhou about his competitor, but Zhou responds with elegant, exaggerated insults rather than straightforward information.
• The hotel staff interpret Zhou and Shi’s shared suite as evidence of a romantic relationship, creating another layer of comic misunderstanding.

Chapter 97 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• On the way to the presidential suite, Shi Jihan questions Zhou Jingcheng extensively about Li Changyuan, asking about his business, investments, stock performance, family, and private life.
• Zhou Jingcheng becomes jealous and complains that Shi Jihan is more interested in Li Changyuan than in him. He sarcastically lists Li Changyuan’s children, including “Li Doesn’t Care About Me.”
• When Shi Jihan explains that he only asks about Li because Li is unfamiliar to him, while there is nothing unknown about Zhou, Zhou is immediately reassured.
• Zhou insults Li Changyuan while praising himself as handsome, conscientious, and well-mannered. Shi Jihan counters that Zhou lacks virtue, prompting Zhou to suggest that their shared lack of virtue makes them a perfect match.
• At the suite, Shi Jihan assigns himself the bedroom with the bathtub and sends Zhou to the other room. Zhou becomes flustered after Shi initiates physical contact by taking his hand.
• While Shi showers and sings, Zhou nervously occupies himself with his luggage and pretends to read a hotel brochure upside down. He is increasingly distracted by the sounds and blurred silhouette of Shi behind the frosted bathroom glass.
• Shi emerges in only a towel because he forgot his pajamas. He asks Zhou to retrieve his pajamas and underwear. The exchange embarrasses both men, while the system repeatedly awards Malice Points and Zero-Zero-Zero repeatedly shuts down from embarrassment.
• After Shi dresses, Zhou tries to regain composure by pretending to study the brochure. Shi realizes Zhou has been staring at it upside down for nearly an hour.
• Zhou then notices Shi’s exposed legs and becomes flustered, using the excuse of taking a shower to escape his growing attraction.
• Shi pushes Zhou into the bathroom, but Zhou teases him by implying that he might undress in front of him. Shi immediately slams the door shut.
• Alone, Zhou admits that although he is inexperienced at love and still gets embarrassed, he must learn to flirt if he wants to win Shi over. He concludes that he may need a cold shower.

Character Developments

• Zhou Jingcheng becomes openly jealous and increasingly transparent about his romantic feelings for Shi Jihan. His usual confidence gives way to nervousness, daydreaming, and physical embarrassment.
• Zhou also reveals a more playful and shameless side, attempting to flirt despite his lack of experience. His self-praise and teasing are largely efforts to attract Shi’s attention.
• Shi Jihan remains blunt, practical, and oblivious to much of Zhou’s romantic behavior. However, he casually initiates contact by taking Zhou’s hand and displays growing comfort and familiarity with him.
• Shi is also easily embarrassed once the situation becomes suggestive, especially when asking Zhou to retrieve his underwear or when Zhou hints at undressing.
• Zero-Zero-Zero functions as a comedic observer, repeatedly expressing disbelief at Zhou’s shameless flirting and shutting down when the situation becomes too awkward.

Significant Themes

• Jealousy and possessiveness: Zhou’s irritation over Shi asking about Li Changyuan exposes how strongly he wants Shi’s exclusive attention.
• Romantic awakening: Ordinary actions—holding hands, sharing a suite, retrieving clothes—take on heightened emotional and physical significance for Zhou.
• Embarrassment versus flirtation: Both men struggle between maintaining dignity and expressing attraction. Zhou decides that pursuing love requires him to overcome his embarrassment.
• Obliviousness and miscommunication: Shi interprets Zhou’s behavior literally or casually, while Zhou attaches deep romantic meaning to small gestures.
• Comedic intimacy: The awkward hotel setting, towel scene, upside-down brochure, and system malfunctions turn growing romantic tension into humor.

Character Interactions

• Zhou and Shi trade insults and flirtatious banter, with Zhou repeatedly trying to position himself as Shi’s ideal partner.
• Shi’s straightforward responses often undercut Zhou’s confidence, but his reassurance that there is “nothing” about Zhou he does not know comforts him.
• Their physical proximity in the suite intensifies Zhou’s attraction, while Shi remains mostly unaware until Zhou begins teasing him directly.
• The chapter ends with them separated by the bathroom wall, both clearly affected by the encounter but unable to openly acknowledge their mutual tension.

Chapter 67 Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Shi Jihan receives a task ordering him to trip up the “Qidian male lead,” Zhou Jingcheng, in the bathroom for Malice Points.
• Using the system store, Shi Jihan activates a hot-and-cold shower skill. Zhou Jingcheng is first drenched in cold water, then warmed up again, completely unaware that Shi Jihan is manipulating the bathroom.
• Worried that the bathroom may not be soundproof, Shi Jihan searches for the air-conditioning controls. He accidentally turns the shower’s frosted glass transparent, allowing him to see Zhou Jingcheng bathing.
• In a panic, Shi Jihan repeatedly presses buttons, causing the glass to alternate between opaque and transparent. He then activates nearly every feature in the suite—lights, television, speakers, curtains, and a robot vacuum—turning the room into a colorful nightclub.
• Room service arrives, and the hotel manager witnesses the chaotic scene, forming a highly embarrassing impression of Zhou Jingcheng and Shi Jihan.
• Zhou Jingcheng has ordered numerous cakes. Shi Jihan eagerly tries to eat them, but Zhou insists that Shi Jihan dry his wet hair first.
• Their playful argument brings them extremely close. Shi Jihan becomes distracted by Zhou’s long eyelashes and accidentally plucks one out.
• Zhou teases Shi Jihan about watching him shower and implies that he could undress for him. When Shi Jihan covers Zhou’s mouth to stop him, Zhou kisses Shi Jihan’s palm.
• Shocked and flustered, Shi Jihan realizes Zhou has kissed his hand. Zhou shamelessly claims that placing a hand near his mouth was effectively an invitation.

Character Development

• Shi Jihan remains easily embarrassed and impulsive, but his actions reveal increasing curiosity and attraction toward Zhou. Although he insists that everything is for completing system tasks, his panic and fascination suggest otherwise.
• Zhou Jingcheng becomes even more openly flirtatious and teasing. He deliberately exploits Shi Jihan’s embarrassment, showing growing confidence in their physical and emotional closeness.
• Shi Jihan’s perception of Zhou as a shameless “peacock” is reinforced, but he is also visibly affected by Zhou’s attention and intimacy.
• Zhou’s attitude toward Shi shifts toward indulgent fondness: despite being annoyed, he tolerates Shi’s antics and prioritizes his comfort, such as reminding him to dry his hair.

Significant Themes

• Romantic tension and mutual attraction: Physical proximity, teasing, and the palm kiss intensify the unresolved attraction between the two.
• Embarrassment and comedic miscommunication: Shi’s attempts to complete the system task repeatedly create awkward situations that both characters interpret differently.
• Loss of control: Shi Jihan’s frantic button-pressing mirrors his inability to control either the hotel room or his own emotional reactions.
• System-driven comedy: The task system turns ordinary interactions into absurd challenges, while Shi’s supposed “malice” repeatedly produces romantic or affectionate consequences.

Character Interactions

• Shi secretly manipulates the bathroom while Zhou unknowingly endures the changing water temperature.
• The two exchange playful accusations over wet hair, the bathroom glass, and Shi’s apparent desire to watch Zhou bathe.
• Their near-embrace while reaching for the cakes creates a brief romantic pause, broken by Shi’s awkward comment about Zhou’s eyelashes.
• Zhou teases Shi about undressing, while Shi attempts to silence him by covering his mouth.
• Zhou turns the gesture into an intimate act by kissing Shi’s palm, leaving Shi deeply flustered and uncertain how to respond.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shi Jihan and Zhou Jingcheng continue their playful argument over pastries, trading insults that reveal their growing comfort and intimacy.
• Zhou dries Shi’s hair, and the two flirt while joking about hair colors. Shi retaliates by roughly drying Zhou’s hair and styling him with a towel in increasingly ridiculous ways, including a “wonton wrapper,” an Indian turban, and a masked figure.
• Zhou receives a call from Secretary Sun, who reminds him that he still has to prepare the speech for the next day’s business symposium. Zhou realizes it is already past midnight and begins working while sharing cakes with Shi.
• Shi remembers that he is supposed to sabotage the symposium as a “malicious cannon fodder” character. He approaches Zhou under the pretense of reviewing the speech, but Zhou openly calls him his “sweetheart,” leaving Shi flustered.
• Zhou admits that everything about Shi is worth liking. Their romantic tension intensifies when Zhou covers Shi’s exposed legs with a blanket and warns that Shi’s continued teasing will make him “hotter.”
• Zero-Zero-Zero returns and reveals that the hotel manager has been secretly watching their room from the hallway. Zhou realizes the manager is suspicious after noticing that he is unfamiliar despite Zhou’s previous stays at the hotel.
• The manager is revealed to be working for Li Changyuan. He has been ordered to steal Zhou’s symposium speech so Li can present it as his own proposal.
• Acting on a message that the room lights are off, the manager enters the suite with a stolen keycard and approaches the laptop, intending to take the document.

Character Developments

• Shi Jihan becomes increasingly comfortable expressing affection through teasing and playful revenge. Although he still remembers his mission to harm Zhou’s career, his genuine attraction and emotional vulnerability are becoming harder to conceal.
• Zhou Jingcheng openly shows his fondness for Shi, shifting between professional competence and flirtatious tenderness. His confession that there is “nothing” about Shi not worth liking marks a significant step in their relationship.
• Zero-Zero-Zero remains comically overwhelmed by the couple’s romantic exchanges, repeatedly “crashing” or fleeing when their intimacy becomes too intense.
• The hotel manager is exposed as an antagonist and subordinate of Li Changyuan, demonstrating that the threat surrounding Zhou’s speech is deliberate and organized.

Significant Themes

• Romance through banter: Insults, teasing, and practical jokes function as expressions of intimacy between Shi and Zhou.
• Conflict between duty and emotion: Shi is still expected to sabotage Zhou, but his growing feelings make that mission increasingly difficult.
• Performance and role-playing: The towel costumes, emperor ringtone, and playful “shows” mirror the characters’ tendency to hide sincerity behind humor and theatrical behavior.
• Professional rivalry and plagiarism: Zhou’s speech represents a major challenge to the stagnant film industry, while Li Changyuan’s attempt to steal it introduces a conflict over intellectual ownership and power.
• Comedic domestic intimacy amid danger: The chapter contrasts lighthearted romantic scenes with the serious threat of espionage outside the room.

Character Interactions

• Shi and Zhou flirt through insults, hair-drying, cake-sharing, and towel-based costumes.
• Shi attempts to embarrass Zhou, but Zhou repeatedly turns the teasing into flirtation, leaving Shi shy and defensive.
• Zhou includes Shi in his work by showing him the symposium speech, then deliberately unsettles him by describing him as his sweetheart.
• Shi notices the manager’s suspicious behavior with Zero-Zero-Zero’s help, while Zhou connects the surveillance to the speech.
• The manager enters the suite to steal Zhou’s document, setting up the chapter’s cliffhanger and the likely confrontation to come.

Chapter 68 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The hotel manager secretly copies a file titled “Very Important File” before escaping. Shi Jihan and Zhou Jingcheng realize the manager is connected to their opponent.
• Shi Jihan reveals that the replacement file contains embarrassing but artistically impressive photos of Zhou Jingcheng dressed as “Wonton Skin” and recreating The Silence of the Lambs poster as a masked figure.
• Zhou Jingcheng is horrified at the prospect of the photos being displayed publicly and jokingly behaves as though his life is over. Shi Jihan teases him rather than offering much sympathy.
• While looking through Shi Jihan’s phone, Zero-Zero-Zero discovers that Shi has also saved highly suggestive fan art of the Wu Bai pairing, leaving Shi deeply embarrassed. Shi insists that he did not upload those images.
• In the bathroom, Zhou has Secretary Sun investigate the manager. The culprit is confirmed to be Li Changyuan, proving that the sabotage is specifically aimed at Zhou.
• The industry forum begins the next afternoon. Shi arrives in an elegant white suit with blue cufflinks borrowed from Zhou.
• Zhou initially tries to avoid attending because he fears Li will expose the embarrassing photos, but Shi drags him out of the car.
• Li Changyuan approaches them. Zhou introduces Shi as his “younger brother,” while Shi deliberately repeats “Brother” several times to embarrass him. Zhou becomes visibly flustered.
• Li reveals that he has changed the speaking order and will present before Zhou. He possesses the stolen USB drive and plans to claim Zhou’s ideas as his own.
• During the forum, Shi grows bored and plays with Zhou’s hand while waiting for his presentation. Li unexpectedly goes onstage first and begins presenting material based on Zhou’s forum topic, clearly stealing his work.

Character Developments

• Shi Jihan remains mischievous, confident, and deliberately provocative. He enjoys teasing Zhou, especially by calling him “Brother,” but he is also careful not to expose the truly compromising fan art.
• Zhou Jingcheng is shown as unusually vulnerable and embarrassed. His polished business persona collapses when faced with the photos, though he immediately regains his professional composure around Li Changyuan. His physical reactions to Shi’s teasing suggest growing emotional sensitivity toward him.
• Li Changyuan emerges as the main antagonist. He is smug and vindictive, believing he can use Zhou’s stolen ideas to advance his own reputation and humiliate Zhou publicly.
• Zero-Zero-Zero continues to provide comic commentary, worrying both about Zhou’s mental state and Shi’s potentially disastrous decisions.

Significant Themes

• Public image versus private embarrassment: Zhou’s elite businessman persona contrasts sharply with his fear of being exposed in ridiculous photographs.
• Trust and intimacy: Zhou claims he has no trust in Shi, yet allows Shi to remain physically close and clearly reacts strongly to his teasing.
• Comedy amid rivalry: The sabotage and intellectual theft are serious threats, but the chapter presents them through absurd humor, especially Zhou’s “wonton” trauma.
• Competition and appropriation: Li Changyuan’s plan to present Zhou’s ideas as his own highlights the ruthless nature of business and intellectual competition.
• Performance and identity: Characters repeatedly shift between private and public roles—Zhou changes from melodramatic embarrassment to a flawless executive, while Shi uses the “younger brother” act to provoke him.

Character Interactions

• Shi and Zhou exchange playful threats and sarcastic remarks over the photos, with Shi insisting they are artistic masterpieces and Zhou treating them as a personal catastrophe.
• Shi repeatedly calls Zhou “Brother” after Zhou introduces him as his younger brother, causing Zhou visible embarrassment and forcing him to silence Shi physically.
• During the forum, Shi plays with Zhou’s hand and continues teasing him, while Zhou complains but still holds Shi’s hand tightly.
• Li and Zhou maintain outwardly polite business smiles despite their hostility. Li’s stolen presentation marks the beginning of his public attack on Zhou.