Ch. 21Chapter 21

Chapter 21 Summary

Plot Points and Events

  • An Xiang, neglected by her parents and often left without food, taught herself to cook. She now prepares meals daily for An Zimo and the children.
  • Pei Chen helps her in the kitchen, ostensibly with the vegetables but secretly hoping to grow closer to her. He asks whether she is divorced and learns that she has never been married; she simply chose to have a child on her own.
  • Pei Chen is delighted by this revelation, though he worries that Pei Yizhou may object if he pursues a relationship with a human woman.
  • During the meal, Pei Nuo wants to sit beside An Zimo, but he refuses. An Xiang comforts her by letting her sit beside her and feeding her.
  • Pei Nuo asks whether An Xiang has a boyfriend, then tries to set her up with Pei Yizhou by giving her his private contact information. An Xiang sends a friend request, which Pei Yizhou immediately rejects. To avoid upsetting Pei Nuo, An Xiang lies and says he accepted it.
  • An Zimo becomes visibly gloomy after watching An Xiang give Pei Nuo so much attention. An Xiang realizes he is jealous, though she finds his reaction amusing rather than confronting him.
  • Pei Yizhou messages Pei Chen, reprimanding the family for giving out his number. Pei Chen indirectly asks whether he would oppose him marrying a human woman who is older and already has a child. Pei Yizhou unexpectedly replies that Pei Chen may do whatever he likes, though the chapter’s ending joke suggests he may regret giving such broad permission.

Character Developments

  • An Xiang: Demonstrates independence and domestic competence, while also showing warmth and patience toward the children. Her gentle care for Pei Nuo contrasts with her inability to fully connect with An Zimo, who is unusually self-sufficient.
  • Pei Chen: Develops romantic interest in An Xiang. He is bashful and inexperienced around her but makes clear efforts to help and learn about her personal life.
  • Pei Nuo: Reveals herself to be affectionate, spoiled, and eager to bring An Xiang into the family. Her matchmaking attempt shows how quickly she has grown attached to An Xiang.
  • An Zimo: Displays jealousy when An Xiang focuses on Pei Nuo, despite maintaining his usual quiet and emotionally restrained behavior.
  • Pei Yizhou: Appears stern and difficult to approach, but his response shows that he is fundamentally open-minded about his family’s romantic choices. His thoughts also hint at a growing awareness of An Xiang.

Significant Themes

  • Found family and domestic warmth: An Xiang’s home-cooked meal creates a comforting family atmosphere that the children clearly enjoy.
  • Neglect versus care: An Xiang’s childhood deprivation contrasts with the nurturing environment she tries to create for the children.
  • Jealousy and emotional attachment: An Zimo’s jealousy and Pei Nuo’s matchmaking both reveal the children’s desire for An Xiang’s attention and continued presence.
  • Human–Vampire relations: Pei Yizhou’s acceptance of human partners reflects the Pei family’s rejection of the Vampire Clan’s extreme obsession with blood purity.
  • Romantic misunderstandings: Pei Chen’s attraction, Pei Nuo’s matchmaking, and An Xiang’s awkwardness create lighthearted tension around potential relationships.

Character Interactions

  • Pei Chen and An Xiang grow closer while cooking together, with Pei Chen subtly observing and admiring her.
  • An Xiang comforts Pei Nuo by feeding her and allowing her to sit beside her, strengthening their bond.
  • Pei Nuo attempts to connect An Xiang with Pei Yizhou, while Pei Chen becomes suspicious and embarrassed.
  • An Zimo silently reacts to An Xiang’s affection toward Pei Nuo, revealing his possessive or jealous feelings.
  • Pei Chen and Pei Yizhou exchange messages about relationships, with Pei Yizhou unknowingly granting permission for the very situation he may later have to face.

Ch. 22Chapter 22

Chapter 22 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • After Pei Chen and the others leave the milk tea shop, An Xiang cleans up and carries her sleeping son, An Zimo, home.
  • On the way, An Zimo wakes and becomes uncomfortable with An Xiang’s affectionate behavior. She reassures him that he is her favorite and jokes about not finding a cruel stepfather. Her genuine concern for his safety unsettles him because it conflicts with his memories of her abusive behavior in his previous life.
  • An Zimo pinches her to escape her embrace and runs ahead, while An Xiang chases after him joking that she will not eat him. They return home exhausted.
  • The next morning, An Xiang treats mosquito bites on An Zimo’s face and considers moving to the city. Their abandoned neighborhood is soon revealed to be slated for demolition.
  • Two representatives offer An Xiang compensation for her three properties: 1,100 square meters at 20,000 per square meter. She eagerly chooses cash compensation, amounting to tens of millions, and signs the agreement.
  • The representatives explain that the land was purchased by Huaxing Group, led by Pei Yizhou. An Xiang recognizes him as the distinguished man she saw at the kindergarten and becomes flustered after looking him up online.
  • Excited by their sudden wealth, An Xiang rushes to tell An Zimo and nearly chokes him by tossing him into the air while he is eating. She celebrates the possibility of buying a crystal coffin, though An Zimo finds the idea ridiculous.
  • An Xiang decides to leave immediately, temporarily moving herself and An Zimo into the milk tea shop while searching for a new home. An Zimo is delighted to escape their unpleasant old residence.
  • At lunch, they run into Pei Chen. After learning that An Xiang needs a home near Rainbow Kindergarten, Pei Chen offers to arrange the sale of one of his family’s nearby properties.
  • Pei Chen rushes to Huaxing Company to ask his great-grandfather, Pei Yizhou, for permission. Pei Yizhou realizes that Pei Chen is infatuated with An Xiang and questions his motives.
  • Pei Yizhou agrees to meet An Xiang personally, claiming he wants to determine whether she genuinely needs help, though he is also suspicious of the woman who has captivated his naïve great-grandson.

Character Developments

  • An Xiang: Continues to show herself as affectionate, protective, eccentric, and financially naïve. Her priorities increasingly center on An Zimo’s comfort and education. The demolition windfall gives her new freedom and prompts her to plan a more stable life in the city. She also begins to react shyly and romantically to Pei Yizhou after recognizing him.
  • An Zimo: Remains suspicious and emotionally conflicted. His hatred of An Xiang, rooted in his previous life, clashes with her unexpected kindness and maternal affection. He deliberately maintains emotional distance, yet he is clearly affected by her sincere concern. He is practical about money and housing, impatient to leave the old neighborhood, and amused—or horrified—by his mother’s strange vampire-related ideas.
  • Pei Chen: Becomes more openly infatuated with An Xiang and eagerly tries to help her. His naïveté and lack of financial understanding lead him to propose selling a valuable property for an absurdly low price. He is willing to challenge his great-grandfather but remains easily intimidated.
  • Pei Yizhou: Is established as powerful, perceptive, financially sophisticated, and protective of Pei Chen. He views Pei Chen’s attraction to An Xiang with skepticism and intends to investigate her circumstances personally.

Significant Themes

  • Uncertainty caused by changed fate: An Zimo struggles because An Xiang’s transformed behavior contradicts the abuse he remembers, forcing him to question what his rebirth and revenge are supposed to mean.
  • Maternal love and emotional confusion: An Xiang’s sincere affection gradually undermines An Zimo’s certainty that she is his enemy.
  • Security and family responsibility: An Xiang’s concern about insects, housing, schooling, and a potential abusive stepfather reflects her determination to protect her son despite her eccentricity.
  • Money and social class: The demolition compensation dramatically changes An Xiang’s prospects, while the Pei family’s immense wealth highlights the gulf between them.
  • Comedy through misunderstanding: An Xiang’s vampire habits, coffin obsession, and innocent financial behavior contrast with An Zimo’s cynical thoughts and Pei Yizhou’s serious suspicions.

Character Interactions

  • An Xiang and An Zimo: Their relationship combines genuine tenderness with resistance and comic conflict. An Xiang constantly treats him like a beloved baby, while An Zimo rejects her affection, insults her internally, and tries to preserve his hatred.
  • An Xiang and the demolition representatives: She is initially cautious but becomes enthusiastic once she learns about the compensation, quickly signing the agreement.
  • An Xiang and Pei Chen: Pei Chen offers practical help because of his romantic interest, while An Xiang sees him mainly as a friendly acquaintance with many wealthy friends.
  • Pei Chen and Pei Yizhou: Their conversation reveals Pei Chen’s naïve infatuation and Pei Yizhou’s guarded, teasing protectiveness. Pei Yizhou decides to meet An Xiang to assess whether she is sincere or exploiting Pei Chen.

Ch. 23Chapter 23

Chapter 23 Summary

  • Pei Yizhou agrees to help Pei Chen meet An Xiang, unaware that she is the woman Pei Chen has fallen for. Pei Chen tells An Xiang that his “friend” may sell her a home and arranges a private meeting, while offering to watch An Zimo.
  • An Xiang prepares carefully for the meeting, choosing an elegant dress and light makeup. Pei Chen is visibly flustered by her appearance, revealing his youthful affection. He takes An Zimo to an arcade while An Xiang meets the supposed property seller.
  • The identity deception is exposed immediately: Pei Yizhou enters the café, and An Xiang recognizes him as the man she previously encountered. A phone-call test confirms that he is the “friend” Pei Chen mentioned. Pei Yizhou silently curses Pei Chen for putting him in this awkward situation.
  • Pei Yizhou and An Xiang speak awkwardly but meaningfully. He learns her name and gently repeats it, showing an unexpected tenderness. He offers her a discounted apartment in the expensive Lijing Jiangshan development, using Pei Nuo’s fondness for An Xiang’s cooking as a justification.
  • An Xiang becomes suspicious. She finds Pei Yizhou’s generosity unnatural and refuses to accept the apartment immediately, leaving the café before he can persuade her. She even pays for her own coffee, reinforcing her independence and caution.
  • Pei Yizhou is disappointed but increasingly interested. After she leaves, he saves her phone number and sends her a friend request under the name “Good Mommy,” but she rejects it. His frustration turns comedic as he wonders whether he should pursue someone else, despite clearly wanting An Xiang to become close to him.

Character Developments and Interactions

  • Pei Yizhou shifts from investigating An Xiang from a distance to deliberately seeking a personal connection. Although he presents his offer as practical assistance, he privately hopes she will desire his wealth or be attracted to him. His normally controlled personality is undermined by romantic confusion and rejection.
  • An Xiang remains kind but perceptive. Despite being hesitant and socially awkward, she recognizes that Pei Chen manipulated the meeting and refuses an offer that feels suspiciously generous. Her careful behavior shows both self-respect and financial caution.
  • Pei Chen is enthusiastic and naïve, attempting to help his great-grandfather pursue An Xiang while concealing their relationship. His obvious embarrassment around An Xiang suggests a crush, though his actions unintentionally create an awkward confrontation.
  • An Zimo reacts irritably to Pei Chen’s physical affection and internal wish to be called “Dad,” maintaining his usual aloofness.

Significant Themes

  • Romantic misunderstanding and deception: Pei Chen’s harmless matchmaking scheme forces Pei Yizhou and An Xiang into an unexpected meeting.
  • Pursuit versus independence: Pei Yizhou tries to draw An Xiang closer through financial assistance, while An Xiang refuses to become dependent on him.
  • Hidden affection: Pei Yizhou’s restrained exterior contrasts with his increasingly obvious desire for An Xiang’s attention.
  • Comedy from reversed power dynamics: The supposedly powerful, ruthless CEO is rendered helpless by a woman who doubts his motives and rejects his friend request.

Ch. 24Chapter 24

Chapter 24 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • An Xiang meets Pei Chen outside the arcade and gently rejects his attempts to help her beyond introducing customers to her milk-tea business. She explains that accepting too much from him could create misunderstandings and insists that she will solve her housing problems herself.
  • She indirectly acknowledges that she knows Pei Chen’s offer to sell her a house cheaply was motivated by personal feelings. Pei Chen realizes she has seen through him but is preserving his dignity by rejecting him tactfully.
  • Pei Yizhou finds Pei Chen upset after being “dumped.” He teases him in his usual restrained way, appearing amused by Pei Chen’s heartbreak while pretending otherwise. During their conversation, Pei Yizhou learns that An Xiang’s demolished house was located on land connected to his company’s new development.
  • An Xiang explains to An Zimo that kindness should not be exploited and that help always carries a cost or expectation. Because she cannot return Pei Chen’s feelings, she believes refusing his excessive help is best for both of them.
  • The demolition compensation arrives, but An Xiang discovers she has received over forty million instead of the expected amount—roughly twenty million more than stated in her contract.
  • She suspects Pei Chen, but he proves he does not have the money and claims his great-grandfather has even cut off his living expenses. An Xiang begins to suspect Pei Yizhou may be responsible, though she cannot understand why he would secretly give her such a large sum.
  • Delighted by her sudden wealth, An Xiang plans to buy a house, enroll An Zimo in kindergarten, and take him on a vacation to Greenfield Resort.
  • Although An Zimo refuses to go, he appears at the resort the next day wearing a straw hat and carrying a backpack, setting up the chapter’s humorous ending.
  • An Xiang also learns from Pei Chen that Pei Yizhou may be “frigid,” a comment that leaves her startled and curious.

Character Developments

  • An Xiang: Demonstrates emotional maturity, self-respect, and clear moral boundaries by refusing to take advantage of Pei Chen’s feelings. Her financial situation improves dramatically, allowing her to become more confident and optimistic about providing for An Zimo.
  • Pei Chen: Suffers romantic rejection but remains emotionally transparent and immaturely dramatic about it. He is embarrassed and guilty because his offer to help An Xiang was partly motivated by affection.
  • Pei Yizhou: Shows a rare teasing and amused side while speaking with Pei Chen. His connection to the unexpected compensation remains mysterious, suggesting he may be quietly helping An Xiang.
  • An Zimo: Continues to view relationships pragmatically and cynically. He thinks An Xiang is foolish for refusing Pei Chen’s advantageous offer, yet he still follows her to the resort despite initially rejecting the idea.

Significant Themes

  • Boundaries and emotional responsibility: An Xiang refuses to accept benefits tied to feelings she cannot return, believing that exploiting affection would ultimately hurt both parties.
  • Kindness and repayment: She views genuine help as something that should be acknowledged and repaid rather than casually taken for granted.
  • Hidden assistance and mystery: The unexplained extra compensation hints that someone powerful—possibly Pei Yizhou—is helping An Xiang from behind the scenes.
  • Family and parenthood: An Xiang’s newfound wealth is immediately directed toward securing a home, education, and enjoyable experiences for her son.
  • Comedy through misunderstanding: Pei Chen interprets Pei Yizhou’s consolation literally, while An Xiang becomes intrigued by the suggestion that Pei Yizhou is emotionally or romantically “frigid.”

Important Character Interactions

  • An Xiang and Pei Chen: A gentle but decisive rejection establishes emotional distance while preserving their friendship and mutual respect.
  • Pei Chen and Pei Yizhou: Their exchange reveals their unusual great-grandfather–great-grandson dynamic: Pei Chen is openly emotional and accusatory, while Pei Yizhou responds with dry humor and apparent indifference.
  • An Xiang and An Zimo: An Xiang tries to teach her son about gratitude and not exploiting others’ kindness, while An Zimo silently judges her choices and resists her plans.
  • An Xiang and Pei Yizhou: They do not directly interact in the chapter, but his possible involvement in her unexpected fortune creates an important developing connection.

Ch. 25Chapter 25

Chapter 25 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • An Xiang and An Zimo arrive at the luxurious Greenfield Resort for a three-day vacation. The resort offers villas, pools, a wildlife park, amusement areas, stables, golf courses, and other attractions.
  • An Xiang is overwhelmed with happiness because she has never been allowed to enjoy family vacations. Her relatives used to exclude or imprison her while flaunting their own trips. She is grateful that she can now travel with Momo.
  • She enthusiastically suggests various activities, while An Zimo remains reluctant and uninterested. She eventually forces him to go swimming, even stripping off his clothes when he refuses to change.
  • The two wear matching yellow floral swimsuits, much to An Zimo’s embarrassment and annoyance.
  • At the pool, An Xiang buys An Zimo a duck-shaped swim ring and rubber duck. He rejects the toy and throws it into the water. When An Xiang dives in to retrieve it, her leg cramps, causing her to drown.
  • An Zimo initially considers seeking help but stops when he realizes that allowing An Xiang to die would free him from his hatred and let him begin a new life. He watches coldly as she struggles.
  • Seeing An Zimo’s murderous indifference, An Xiang loses the will to fight for survival, devastated that her own son appears to want her dead.
  • Pei Yizhou arrives and rescues An Xiang. He helps her expel the water, gives her a towel, and assists her to a lounge chair.
  • Pei Yizhou notices An Zimo’s abnormal lack of concern and senses what he perceives as a completely evil, emotionless nature. He questions the child about his parents, unaware that An Xiang is Momo’s mother and that the boy may be connected to him.

Character Developments

  • An Xiang: Experiences genuine happiness and freedom during the vacation, but her joy collapses when she realizes An Zimo may want her to die. Her emotional dependence on him is revealed through her inability to understand or accept his hatred.
  • An Zimo: Continues to display emotional detachment, resentment, and hostility toward An Xiang. His willingness to let her drown shows how deeply his past hatred controls him, though his status as a young child complicates his cruelty.
  • Pei Yizhou: Demonstrates calm competence and compassion by rescuing An Xiang. His sharp observation of An Zimo immediately makes him suspicious and hostile toward the child, whom he interprets as inherently evil.

Significant Themes

  • The longing for family and belonging: An Xiang’s excitement over an ordinary family vacation reflects the neglect and abuse she suffered growing up.
  • Maternal love versus rejection: An Xiang believes she and Momo can create the family she was denied, making his apparent wish for her death especially devastating.
  • Trauma and inherited hatred: An Zimo’s cruel reaction is driven by unresolved resentment and a desire to escape the emotional burden of his past.
  • Appearance versus reality: The peaceful, beautiful resort contrasts sharply with the hidden hostility and emotional danger between mother and son.
  • Moral judgment and childhood: Pei Yizhou views An Zimo as purely evil, while the narration emphasizes that his lack of empathy stems from his unusual emotional condition and traumatic history.

Character Interactions

  • An Xiang repeatedly pressures An Zimo to participate in activities, while he responds with irritation and embarrassment.
  • Their matching swimsuits and the rubber duck emphasize An Xiang’s playful attempts to bond with him, despite his resistance.
  • During the drowning incident, An Xiang looks to An Zimo for help, but his cold expression destroys her hope and deepens her emotional pain.
  • Pei Yizhou rescues and comforts An Xiang, then confronts An Zimo with an intimidating question about his parents. An Zimo’s silent response highlights the misunderstanding between them and hints at future revelations.

Ch. 26Chapter 26

Chapter 26 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • After being rescued from the pool by Pei Yizhou, An Xiang recovers enough to sit up, though her leg remains painful and numb.
  • Pei retrieves An Zimo’s rubber duck from the water. An Xiang, saddened that it no longer squeaks, tries to return it to An Zimo, but he refuses.
  • An Xiang thanks Pei Yizhou and asks for his contact information. Pei instead tells her that he lives in Building Seventeen.
  • Pei confronts An Zimo about failing to seek help when An Xiang fell into the pool. He realizes that An Zimo deliberately wanted his mother to die.
  • When An Zimo rudely tells Pei to mind his own business, An Xiang orders him to apologize. An Zimo fiercely refuses, claiming that neither Pei nor An Xiang has the right to control him.
  • Overwhelmed by anger and traumatic memories, An Zimo loses control and shouts at An Xiang. She leaves with him under her arm despite his resistance.
  • Back at the villa, An Xiang spanks An Zimo for wishing her dead and refusing to apologize. He is not physically hurt, but the humiliation deeply affects his pride.
  • An Xiang breaks down crying, asking how he could want his own mother to die. Her genuine sorrow confuses An Zimo, who begins to recognize that she is emotionally hurt despite being the one who punished him.
  • Meanwhile, Pei Yizhou becomes suspicious that An Zimo may be his son. He connects the child’s age and resemblance to An Xiang with a past encounter and begins seriously considering the possibility.

Character Developments

  • An Xiang: Demonstrates resilience after nearly drowning and remains gentle toward An Zimo despite his cruelty. However, his attempt to let her die finally pushes her to discipline him. Her grief reveals how deeply she loves him and how much his rejection hurts her.
  • An Zimo: His hostility and apparent desire for An Xiang’s death become explicit. He reacts violently to authority and carries intense unresolved trauma, especially when An Xiang’s anger resembles painful memories from his past. Although he refuses to admit wrongdoing, her tears create the first crack in his emotional defenses and leave him confused.
  • Pei Yizhou: Acts decisively to save An Xiang and becomes suspicious of An Zimo’s abnormal, malicious behavior. His observation of the dark mist around the child suggests that An Zimo is struggling with a dangerous inner darkness. He also begins to suspect that An Zimo is his biological son.
  • Xu Chuan: Provides a contrast to Pei’s distraction, noticing that Pei is unusually preoccupied after the rescue but leaving him alone rather than pressing for answers.

Significant Themes

  • Parental love and emotional pain: An Xiang’s love remains strong even after An Zimo appears to wish for her death. Her tears force him to confront the emotional consequences of his actions.
  • Trauma and inherited hostility: An Zimo’s violent reaction to An Xiang’s anger suggests that his behavior is shaped by traumatic memories and fear, not simply ordinary childish rebellion.
  • Discipline versus compassion: An Xiang punishes An Zimo for a serious moral transgression, but her discipline is accompanied by sorrow rather than hatred.
  • The possibility of family reconciliation: Pei’s suspicion that An Zimo is his son introduces the possibility that his presence may change the relationship between An Xiang and An Zimo.
  • Hidden supernatural darkness: The black mist surrounding An Zimo, now mixed with dark red, symbolizes the dangerous emotions and internal struggle consuming him.

Important Character Interactions

  • An Xiang and Pei Yizhou: Pei rescues An Xiang and retrieves the duck, while she expresses gratitude and seeks a way to contact him. His questioning of An Zimo establishes a tense but significant connection between them.
  • Pei Yizhou and An Zimo: Pei directly challenges An Zimo’s failure to help his mother. Their exchange is hostile, with Pei recognizing the child’s sinister intentions and An Zimo rejecting Pei’s authority.
  • An Xiang and An Zimo: Their conflict escalates from quiet emotional distance to open confrontation. An Xiang forces him to face consequences through spanking, while her tears make him question the meaning of love, guilt, and emotional pain.
  • Pei Yizhou and Xu Chuan: Xu Chuan notices Pei’s unusual distraction after the rescue, while Pei remains absorbed in the possibility that An Zimo is his son.

Ch. 27Chapter 27

Chapter 27 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • After An Zimo’s rude confrontation with Pei Yizhou, An Xiang composes herself and insists that he accompany her to apologize.
  • An Zimo initially refuses, believing his behavior was justified, but reluctantly agrees after An Xiang threatens to punish him.
  • They change out of their swimsuits and travel to Building Seventeen, only to learn that Pei Yizhou has gone to the racetrack.
  • During the ride there, An Zimo accuses An Xiang of using his apology as an excuse to approach Pei Yizhou because he is wealthy. His mind-reading ability reveals that An Xiang never considered this, embarrassing him and making her suspect he may be unusually intelligent.
  • An Xiang explains that while she will always forgive him as his mother, he has no right to take out his resentment on innocent people. She realizes that excessive indulgence has encouraged his arrogance and resolves to become stricter.
  • At the racetrack, An Xiang and An Zimo are initially denied entry because the area is reserved, but they are eventually admitted after contacting Pei Yizhou.
  • Pei Yizhou meets them after finishing his ride. An Xiang makes An Zimo apologize, forcing him to repeat the apology properly and address Pei as “Mister” rather than “uncle.”
  • An Zimo then nearly reveals that An Xiang may have romantic feelings for Pei Yizhou, prompting her to cover his mouth and hurriedly drag him away.
  • Pei Yizhou interprets An Xiang’s efforts as evidence that she may not be indifferent to him. His attitude toward An Zimo softens, and he humorously begins imagining the child as inheriting his genes and even thinking about a second child.

Character Development

  • An Xiang: Becomes more assertive and decisive as a parent. She accepts that being a mother means correcting An Zimo rather than merely pleasing or indulging him, even if he comes to resent her. Her priority shifts toward raising him into an honorable, well-mannered person.
  • An Zimo: Remains stubborn, sarcastic, and hostile toward Pei Yizhou, but ultimately submits to An Xiang’s authority and apologizes. His mind-reading reveals both his insecurity and his confusion about An Xiang’s possible feelings for Pei. His hatred prevents him from accepting implications about Pei’s relationship with his mother.
  • Pei Yizhou: Initially views An Zimo as an extremely rude child, but his opinion improves after witnessing An Xiang discipline him. He begins to suspect that An Xiang may be interested in him and allows himself to entertain romantic and familial fantasies.

Significant Themes

  • Parental responsibility versus indulgence: An Xiang recognizes that unconditional affection without discipline can damage a child’s character.
  • The burden of motherhood: She accepts responsibility not only for loving An Zimo but also for correcting his behavior and guiding his future.
  • Misunderstanding and romantic tension: An Zimo’s accusations and Pei Yizhou’s interpretations create humorous misunderstandings about An Xiang’s intentions.
  • Hidden emotional wounds: An Zimo’s rudeness stems partly from resentment and insecurity, while his refusal to acknowledge possible family ties reflects his fear and denial.
  • Comedy through contrast: An Xiang’s serious parenting resolve clashes with An Zimo’s cynical remarks and Pei Yizhou’s unexpectedly narcissistic fantasies.

Character Interactions

  • An Xiang and An Zimo: Their confrontation shifts from discipline to emotional honesty. An Xiang firmly challenges his behavior, while An Zimo resists but ultimately obeys.
  • An Xiang and Pei Yizhou: She apologizes for An Zimo and thanks Pei for saving her, while her embarrassment suggests a developing attraction. Pei notices her efforts and begins to hope she cares about him.
  • An Zimo and Pei Yizhou: Their relationship remains openly antagonistic. An Zimo offers a deliberately insincere apology and calls Pei “uncle,” while Pei views him as an unpleasant child before slowly becoming more favorably disposed toward him.

Ch. 28Chapter 28

Chapter 28 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • An Xiang tries to explain away An Zimo’s earlier “nonsense” to Pei Yizhou, embarrassed that he may have implied a relationship between them.
  • An Ruoming and An Yanze arrive at the riding grounds. An Xiang recognizes them as members of her family and immediately becomes distressed, pale, and eager to leave. She takes An Zimo and hurriedly departs.
  • An Ruoming insults An Xiang, calling her a useless “trash” and suggesting that Pei Yizhou could not possibly be involved with someone like her.
  • Pei Yizhou, already irritated by the brothers, reacts coldly. He abruptly withdraws from the planned business cooperation with the An family, claiming An Ruoming’s personality makes him untrustworthy in business.
  • Xu Chuan tries to reason with Pei Yizhou, reminding him of the contract and the potential damage to the company’s reputation. Pei insists that he has control over the family’s shares and can make his own decision.
  • The chapter reveals Pei Yizhou’s difficult family history: his parents abandoned him when he was thirteen, leaving him to manage the Pei family and care for younger relatives. His parents’ current attempt to arrange a match with the An family further annoys him.
  • After returning home, Pei Yizhou carefully dresses, applies perfume, and sends An Xiang a friend request. He deliberately waits ten minutes before accepting her request so he will not appear overly eager.
  • When An Xiang does not respond, Pei becomes increasingly impatient and goes to the villa where she is staying.
  • While An Xiang sleeps, An Zimo secretly completes Pei Chen’s homework, imitating his handwriting while intentionally leaving some mistakes.
  • Pei Yizhou arrives and finds An Zimo answering the door. An Zimo is cold and dismissive, telling him that An Xiang is asleep and asking him to leave.
  • Pei questions An Zimo about his age and birthday while privately wondering whether the child could be his son. An Zimo hears Pei’s thoughts and realizes that Pei may suspect a blood relationship.
  • Instead of answering directly, An Zimo asks whether Pei has a girlfriend. Pei truthfully says he has never had either a girlfriend or boyfriend. He continues trying to determine An Zimo’s age and birth details.
  • An Zimo concludes that Pei may be his biological father, though he remains skeptical and emotionally guarded.

Character Developments

  • An Xiang: Her reaction to seeing the An brothers reveals deep fear, shame, and unresolved trauma connected to her family. She avoids confrontation and prioritizes taking An Zimo away from them.
  • Pei Yizhou: He becomes openly protective of An Xiang despite barely knowing her. His anger at An Ruoming’s insult causes him to jeopardize a major business deal. His carefully staged friend request and impatient wait show that he is developing romantic interest in An Xiang, though he tries to maintain a composed exterior.
  • An Zimo: He remains intelligent, suspicious, and emotionally distant from An Xiang because of memories of his previous life. His past suffering—being forced to study excessively and participate in competitions—explains his resentment toward her. He also demonstrates his ability to manipulate situations and investigate Pei’s possible connection to him.
  • Xu Chuan: He acts as the practical mediator, attempting to prevent Pei from making an impulsive business decision and dealing with the consequences of Pei’s anger.
  • An Ruoming and An Yanze: The brothers’ contemptuous attitude toward An Xiang reinforces the cruelty and dysfunction of her family. An Ruoming’s arrogance directly triggers Pei’s rejection of the cooperation.

Significant Themes

  • Trauma and unresolved resentment: An Zimo’s memories of his previous life continue to shape his relationship with An Xiang, preventing him from accepting her current behavior at face value.
  • Family abandonment and responsibility: Pei Yizhou’s history shows how he was forced to become the head of his family at a young age, while his parents avoided responsibility.
  • Appearance versus reality: Pei and An Zimo both conceal their real thoughts and intentions. Pei pretends to be reserved while secretly obsessing over An Xiang, and An Zimo pretends to be an ordinary child while possessing extraordinary intelligence and mind-reading abilities.
  • Class, status, and prejudice: The An brothers judge An Xiang as worthless because of her reputation, while Pei’s reaction suggests he is beginning to value her independently of her family’s opinion.
  • Possible biological connection: The chapter introduces the possibility that Pei Yizhou is An Zimo’s father, creating a major new source of tension and potential change in their relationships.

Important Character Interactions

  • An Xiang and Pei Yizhou: Their brief conversation is awkward but increasingly meaningful. An Xiang is embarrassed and evasive, while Pei is visibly disappointed when she leaves and later takes the initiative to contact her.
  • Pei Yizhou and the An brothers: An Ruoming’s insult toward An Xiang provokes Pei’s hostility. Pei retaliates by canceling the cooperation, making clear that he will not tolerate the brothers’ disrespect.
  • Pei Yizhou and Xu Chuan: Xu Chuan functions as Pei’s frustrated voice of reason, but Pei dismisses his concerns and asserts his independence.
  • Pei Yizhou and An Zimo: Their first private encounter is tense and adversarial. Pei tries to question the child, while An Zimo refuses to cooperate and silently reads Pei’s thoughts, giving him the upper hand.
  • An Zimo and An Xiang: Although An Xiang is asleep during their main interaction, An Zimo’s thoughts reveal that he still resents her for exploiting his talents in his former life and has no intention of forgiving her easily.

Ch. 29Chapter 29

Chapter 29 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Pei Yizhou asks An Zimo about his birthday, but An Zimo admits he does not know it. He explains that his mother, An Xiang, abandoned him in the countryside immediately after his birth and likely never celebrated or remembered his birthday.
  • An Zimo deliberately reveals this painful information to observe how Pei Yizhou will react. Pei feels pity and guilt, interpreting An Xiang’s actions as possibly forced by her youth and circumstances.
  • Pei considers how to acknowledge An Xiang without hurting her, but worries that she may reject him once she learns the truth. He leaves without waking her.
  • After waking, An Xiang realizes Pei may have visited. An Zimo mischievously tells her that he asked Pei whether he had a girlfriend, embarrassing and angering her.
  • An Zimo develops a plan to escape his current family situation. He intends both to earn money from Pei Chen and to encourage a relationship between An Xiang and Pei Yizhou, hoping they might have another child and send him away.
  • An Zimo tries to persuade An Xiang to take him to a dance by the garden pool. She refuses because she distrusts him, is concerned about the crowds, and is still angry over his earlier behavior.
  • An Xiang declares herself “Demon Mommy,” promising stricter discipline after An Zimo hurt someone and behaved badly. However, she immediately shows concern about whether his punishment has injured him.
  • In a ridiculous attempt to secure permission to attend the dance, An Zimo offers to be beaten again instead of confined, presenting his punishment as a sacrifice for Pei Yizhou’s happiness.

Character Developments

  • An Zimo: Remains calculating, emotionally guarded, and determined to escape being treated as someone’s child. He manipulates both adults while presenting himself as an innocent, mischievous child. His plans reveal his deep distrust of parental affection and his belief that abandonment is inevitable.
  • Pei Yizhou: Begins to understand An Zimo’s traumatic background and responds with sympathy rather than anger. He feels responsible for the situation and starts seriously considering how to approach An Xiang.
  • An Xiang: Shows both firmness and tenderness. Although she punishes An Zimo and refuses to indulge his suspicious request, she remains deeply concerned about him and is visibly affected when he calls her “Mom.”
  • Pei Chen: Is mentioned as a possible source of money for An Zimo’s escape plan but does not appear directly.

Significant Themes

  • Abandonment and parental rejection: An Zimo’s memories and plans are shaped by being abandoned by An Xiang in his previous life and fearing the same treatment again.
  • Miscommunication and hidden identities: Pei Yizhou knows more than An Xiang realizes, while An Zimo manipulates conversations to expose or test the adults’ feelings.
  • Conditional trust and emotional defenses: An Zimo assumes affection is temporary or self-serving, whereas An Xiang and Pei gradually show concern for him despite his hostility.
  • Comedy amid trauma: The chapter balances painful revelations about childhood abandonment with exaggerated humor, especially An Zimo’s matchmaking schemes and willingness to endure punishment.

Character Interactions

  • An Zimo and Pei Yizhou: Their conversation reveals An Zimo’s abandonment history and prompts Pei’s pity, guilt, and desire to handle the family situation carefully.
  • An Zimo and An Xiang: Their relationship alternates between conflict and affection. An Xiang scolds and disciplines him, while An Zimo provokes her but also uses the rare, affectionate address “Mom” to influence her.
  • An Xiang and Pei Yizhou: They communicate by phone after Pei’s visit, with An Xiang slowly realizing he may have come to see her. Their relationship remains undeveloped but is central to An Zimo’s matchmaking plans.

Ch. 30Chapter 30

Chapter 30 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • An Zimo asks An Xiang to take him to the evening swimsuit party, initially claiming that he wants to go because there will be cake.
  • An Xiang realizes that Zimo has never celebrated a birthday and promises to throw him a birthday party on December 24.
  • Zimo uses the conversation to confirm that Pei Yizhou’s birthday is in December, strengthening his suspicion that Pei is his biological father.
  • Wanting to bring An Xiang and Pei Yizhou together, Zimo secretly takes An Xiang’s phone, impersonates her, and invites Pei to the pool party. Pei agrees after pretending to check his schedule.
  • At the party, An Xiang feels self-conscious among the scantily dressed guests, while Zimo searches for Pei and listens to the hostile thoughts of people around them.
  • Pei eventually arrives in ordinary casual clothing, but the party begins before Zimo can bring him and An Xiang together.
  • An Xiang is approached by An Yanze, apparently intending to invite her to dance. Zimo worries that Pei may misunderstand if he sees them together.
  • While trying to reach his mother, Zimo accidentally spills cake on An Ruoming. Ruoming, already angry and resentful toward An Xiang, grabs and mistreats the child.
  • Zimo bites Ruoming’s wrist to escape, but backs into the pool and falls in.
  • Zimo’s fear of water triggers memories of past abuse and causes him to lose his will to struggle. An Xiang immediately jumps into the pool and rescues him.
  • After reaching safety, An Xiang sees the marks on Zimo’s arm and confronts An Ruoming furiously.

Character Developments

  • An Zimo: Continues manipulating events to reunite An Xiang and Pei Yizhou, revealing both his intelligence and his childish desire for a complete family. His joking confidence gives way to vulnerability when Ruoming attacks him and he nearly drowns. His trauma leaves him emotionally numb in the water until An Xiang’s embrace brings him back.
  • An Xiang: Shows increasing tenderness and maternal concern. She regrets never celebrating Zimo’s birthday, promises him a party, protects him from unwanted advances, and risks her own safety without hesitation to save him. Her anger at Ruoming marks a stronger, more openly protective side of her.
  • Pei Yizhou: Although not directly involved in the confrontation, he agrees to attend the party, suggesting an openness toward An Xiang and Zimo. His deliberate, formal replies amuse and irritate Zimo.
  • An Ruoming: Reveals his resentment toward An Xiang and Pei Yizhou, projecting his personal frustrations onto Zimo. His aggression escalates from verbal hostility to physical abuse.
  • An Yanze: Appears at the party and approaches An Xiang, creating a potential romantic misunderstanding and complicating Zimo’s matchmaking scheme.

Significant Themes

  • Motherly love and protection: An Xiang’s willingness to jump into the pool demonstrates the depth of her bond with Zimo.
  • Childhood deprivation and healing: Zimo’s longing for cake and a birthday highlights what he has been denied, while An Xiang’s promise represents a chance to repair those emotional wounds.
  • Trauma and abuse: Zimo’s reaction to drowning connects the present danger to earlier mistreatment, showing how deeply his past has affected him.
  • Family and belonging: Zimo’s schemes are driven by his hope that An Xiang and Pei Yizhou will become a family.
  • Appearance versus reality: The festive, carefree party atmosphere contrasts sharply with the cruelty, resentment, and danger unfolding beneath it.

Character Interactions

  • An Xiang and Zimo share a playful but affectionate exchange about punishment, cake, birthdays, and the swimsuit party.
  • Zimo secretly manipulates An Xiang’s phone to arrange a meeting with Pei Yizhou.
  • Partygoers judge and objectify An Xiang, but Zimo protects her by loudly calling her “Mom.”
  • An Ruoming physically intimidates Zimo, while Zimo resists by biting him.
  • An Xiang rescues Zimo from the pool and ends the chapter by confronting Ruoming with fierce anger.

Ch. 31Chapter 31

Chapter 31 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • An Ruoming attacks An Zimo at the pool, pushing or causing him to fall into the water. When An Xiang sees him bullying her son, her long-suppressed anger erupts.
  • An Xiang tackles An Ruoming into the pool and holds his head underwater, demanding to know whether being hurt “hurts.” She repeatedly submerges him despite An Yanze’s attempts to intervene.
  • An Zimo helps his mother by biting An Ruoming’s arm when Ruoming tries to pull her into the water. His bite draws blood and appears unusually powerful.
  • An Yanze forcibly separates An Xiang from Ruoming. Security arrives and prepares to take An Xiang away, assuming she is responsible for the disturbance.
  • An Ruoming emerges injured and threatens An Xiang. She responds by throwing a crystal glass at him, knocking him back into the pool.
  • An Zimo calls for Pei Yizhou, hoping he will protect An Xiang. Pei arrives after changing clothes and immediately steps between An Xiang and An Ruoming when Ruoming attempts to strike her.
  • Pei refuses to judge An Xiang without hearing the full story. An Zimo calmly explains that his mother acted in self-defense after Ruoming attacked them, pointing out that surveillance footage and witnesses can support their account.
  • An Yanze apologizes and offers to cover An Xiang’s expenses and arrange medical care for An Zimo. An Xiang rejects the offer and leaves with her son, while Pei follows them.

Character Developments

  • An Xiang: Her normally gentle and detached personality gives way to violent fury when An Ruoming targets An Zimo. Her reaction is fueled by childhood abuse, revealing that she has never truly forgotten how Ruoming tormented her. She now refuses to fear or accommodate her former family.
  • An Zimo: He displays courage, loyalty, and impressive composure. He bites Ruoming to defend An Xiang, then strategically presents a convincing version of events to protect them. He also deliberately summons Pei, trying to create an opportunity for Pei to act as An Xiang’s protector.
  • Pei Yizhou: He becomes openly protective of An Xiang, intervening without hesitation despite initially knowing nothing about the conflict. His attraction to her is emphasized by his nervous preparation, his stunned reaction to seeing her, and his eagerness to shield her. He also shows practical judgment by demanding that the complete circumstances be investigated.
  • An Ruoming: His cruelty and cowardice are exposed. He targets An Zimo, attempts to retaliate against An Xiang, and then relies on threats and denial when confronted.
  • An Yanze: Although he tries to restrain the conflict and protect his brother, he recognizes that Ruoming acted improperly and eventually accepts responsibility by offering compensation.

Significant Themes

  • Protection and maternal rage: An Xiang’s violence is presented as the result of defending her child and confronting a pattern of abuse.
  • The persistence of childhood trauma: Her memories of being beaten and abandoned in the cold explain why Ruoming’s treatment of An Zimo triggers such an extreme response.
  • Justice versus social privilege: Security initially favors Ruoming because he is an important resort member, while An Zimo counters this imbalance through evidence, witnesses, and the threat of public exposure.
  • Breaking free from abuse: An Xiang rejects both her former family’s authority and their attempted compensation, asserting her independence.
  • Growing affection: Pei’s protective behavior and awkward romantic feelings toward An Xiang become increasingly obvious, while An Zimo actively encourages their closeness.

Character Interactions

  • An Xiang and An Ruoming engage in a direct physical confrontation, transforming their old family conflict into an open struggle.
  • An Zimo fiercely assists An Xiang and later outmaneuvers Ruoming verbally.
  • An Yanze attempts to mediate but cannot fully defend Ruoming’s actions.
  • Pei Yizhou protects An Xiang, challenges the security guards’ rushed judgment, and casually tells Ruoming that he is interfering simply because he wants to.
  • An Xiang refuses An Yanze’s offer of compensation, while Pei silently chooses to follow and remain near her.

Ch. 32Chapter 32

Chapter 32 Summary

Plot Points and Events

  • After the resort incident, An Xiang walks away wearing Pei Yizhou’s shirt because her own clothes are wet. Pei catches up to check on her.
  • An Xiang thanks Pei for helping her throughout the day, but An Zimo impulsively suggests that she repay him by dancing with him.
  • Pei accepts the suggestion and invites An Xiang to dance. The moment becomes awkward because he is shirtless, An Xiang is inexperienced and embarrassed, and both are visibly attracted and uncomfortable.
  • An Xiang comments that Pei smells better without perfume, unknowingly touching on his private insecurity: Pei has no sense of smell and relies on custom-made fragrances.
  • When An Xiang tries to return his shirt, Pei instead wraps it around An Zimo to protect him from mosquitoes. He misunderstands—or ignores—An Zimo’s attempts to encourage him to pursue An Xiang.
  • On the way back, An Xiang praises Pei’s gentleness and reveals that she knew An Zimo had not actually been pushed down earlier. Nevertheless, she defended him because the other person had hurt him.
  • This realization deeply affects An Zimo. He begins to understand that An Xiang is fundamentally different from the abusive mother he remembers from his previous life.
  • Unable to sleep, An Zimo visits An Xiang’s room. She assumes he is afraid or uncomfortable and invites him to sleep beside her, but he eventually leaves and hides in the wardrobe, which feels safer to him.
  • The chapter ends with An Zimo falling asleep in the wardrobe after sensing something strange about his teeth, hinting at a possible physical or supernatural change.

Character Development

  • An Xiang: Gains confidence after standing up for herself and An Zimo. Her protective instincts become clear, and she shows growing warmth toward Pei and tenderness toward her son.
  • Pei Yizhou: Demonstrates concern for An Xiang and An Zimo, though his attempts at romance are comically misguided. His attraction to An Xiang is evident, as is his unusual sensitivity about his perfume and lack of smell.
  • An Zimo: Experiences a major emotional breakthrough. He recognizes that this An Xiang is not the cruel mother from his former life, though his trauma prevents him from fully trusting or accepting her. He remains convinced that his emotional and physical abnormalities will eventually make him unacceptable.

Themes

  • Healing and second chances: An Zimo begins confronting the possibility that reincarnation has given him a different family and a chance to escape his past.
  • Trauma and mistrust: Despite An Xiang’s kindness, An Zimo cannot simply erase his previous abuse or become an ordinary child.
  • Maternal protection: An Xiang’s defense of An Zimo shows that genuine parental love can prioritize a child’s safety, even when the child has behaved imperfectly.
  • Awkward romance and comedy: The attempted dance and Pei’s mistaken handling of the shirt provide comic relief while highlighting his growing feelings for An Xiang.
  • Identity and transformation: The mysterious change involving An Zimo’s teeth suggests that his body or nature may be developing in unexpected ways.

Character Interactions

  • An Xiang and Pei Yizhou: Their attempted dance creates romantic tension, with physical closeness, embarrassment, and mutual attraction.
  • Pei Yizhou and An Zimo: Their interaction is humorous and indirect; Pei tries to care for him, while An Zimo attempts to push Pei and An Xiang together but becomes frustrated by Pei’s poor romantic judgment.
  • An Xiang and An Zimo: Their walk home and nighttime exchange form the emotional center of the chapter. An Xiang reassures him through instinctive care, while An Zimo silently struggles to accept her as a different, loving mother.

Ch. 33Chapter 33

Chapter 33 Summary

Plot and key events

  • An Xiang prepares to leave the resort for Jiang City and discovers An Zimo examining a loose upper tooth.
  • She assumes he is beginning the normal process of losing baby teeth, but Zimo recognizes that losing a premolar at only three years and seven months is highly abnormal.
  • An Xiang and Pei Yizhou both confidently assure him that his permanent tooth will grow back within about a week, leaving him increasingly convinced that neither adult understands basic human biology.
  • An Xiang returns Pei Yizhou’s cleaned clothes. He invites her and Zimo to travel with him, using her promised meal as an excuse to persuade her to come inside and wait for his driver.
  • Pei Yizhou and An Xiang share a peaceful breakfast. He is unusually happy simply to be near her, while she remains shy and awkward around him.
  • Pei Yizhou personally accompanies them to the car and deliberately arranges for them to sit together in the back. During the ride, he asks about Zimo’s kindergarten plans and learns that An Xiang is still looking for a home.
  • An Xiang offers to treat Pei Yizhou to lunch anywhere he chooses. He accepts with clear ulterior romantic intentions, while Zimo silently realizes that his mother is being maneuvered into spending more time with Pei Yizhou.
  • The chapter’s final reveal explains that Zimo is actually a vampire: the loose tooth is one of his fangs, which naturally fall out between ages three and four and regrow within a week.

Character development

  • An Zimo: His mature, analytical personality is emphasized as he correctly identifies that his tooth loss is abnormal for a human child. He becomes suspicious of his mother and Pei Yizhou’s shared ignorance, though he ultimately understands the real cause. His vampire nature begins to emerge physically after reincarnation.
  • An Xiang: She remains affectionate, trusting, and somewhat naïve. She is openly delighted by Zimo’s tooth loss and increasingly flustered by Pei Yizhou’s attention, yet she is unaware of his romantic motives.
  • Pei Yizhou: He becomes more proactive in pursuing An Xiang. He invents excuses to spend time with her, enjoys their shared breakfast immensely, adjusts his pace to hers, carries her belongings, and carefully creates privacy in the car. His emotional attachment is becoming obvious to everyone except An Xiang.
  • The special assistant: He is shocked to see Pei Yizhou traveling privately with a woman and child, especially because Zimo strongly resembles Pei Yizhou.

Themes

  • Hidden identity and supernatural change: Zimo’s early “baby-tooth” loss is actually evidence of his vampire physiology, hinting at the consequences of his rebirth.
  • Romantic pursuit and misunderstanding: Pei Yizhou deliberately engineers opportunities to be with An Xiang, while she interprets his actions innocently.
  • Family and protectiveness: An Xiang’s instinctive care for Zimo contrasts with his unusually adult awareness and protectiveness toward her.
  • Comedy through conflicting perspectives: Zimo treats the tooth problem as a serious biological crisis, while the adults dismiss it as ordinary childhood development.
  • Foreshadowing: Zimo’s future hostility toward Pei Yizhou is teased, suggesting he may eventually become fiercely possessive and defensive of his mother.

Ch. 34Chapter 34

Chapter 34 Summary

Key plot points and events

  • Pei Yizhou chooses An Xiang’s home as the destination for dinner. Though she offers to shop alone, he accompanies her to the supermarket, leaving An Zimo with his assistant.
  • While shopping, a vendor mistakes them for a couple. An Xiang denies it and mentions that Pei Yizhou’s girlfriend might object; he clarifies that he has no girlfriend, then tells her she can ask him directly if she wants to know something.
  • An Xiang buys beef marrow bones to help ease An Zimo’s upcoming vampire teething. This reminds Pei Yizhou that the boy’s fangs may soon reveal his hybrid identity.
  • At home, Pei Yizhou sees An Xiang’s humorous menu of juice names inspired by people she knows. When she offers him a drink inspired by herself, he says he wants “a glass of you,” making her blush and An Zimo spit out his water.
  • Pei Yizhou becomes certain that An Zimo can read minds after the boy moves away as Pei considers taking a hair for a paternity test. He worries about the child’s unusual ability and what it could mean for An Xiang.
  • The chapter ends with Pei Yizhou entering the kitchen to tell An Xiang something important, apparently preparing to reveal his identity.

Character developments and interactions

  • Pei Yizhou grows more openly attentive to An Xiang, accompanying her shopping, carrying her bags, and responding warmly to being mistaken for her boyfriend. His attraction is clear, but so is his anxiety about revealing that he is a pure-blood vampire.
  • An Xiang remains considerate and practical, planning a meal to suit her guest and caring for An Zimo’s needs. She misreads Pei Yizhou’s personal remarks as possible misunderstandings and is flustered by his flirtatious-sounding request.
  • An Zimo stays perceptive and guarded, silently reacting to the adults’ awkwardness and recognizing Pei Yizhou’s thoughts. Pei’s concern about the boy’s power shifts from suspicion to certainty.

Significant themes

  • Romance and miscommunication: Pei Yizhou’s straightforward hints contrast with An Xiang’s uncertainty about his intentions.
  • Identity, secrecy, and prejudice: Vampires face social fear and discrimination, making Pei Yizhou hesitant to disclose who he is.
  • Family and protection: Pei Yizhou’s concern centers on An Xiang and the risks surrounding An Zimo’s emerging abilities.
  • The supernatural beneath ordinary life: A supermarket outing and family dinner sit alongside vampire biology, mind-reading, and anxieties about hidden identity.

Ch. 35Chapter 35

Chapter 35 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Pei Yizhou privately confronts An Xiang about the mysterious night at the Imperial Splendor Hotel several years earlier—the night An Zimo was conceived.
  • An Xiang pretends not to remember, but Pei Yizhou sees clear signs that she is lying.
  • Pei reveals that he is a vampire, exposing his fangs and confirming An Xiang’s suspicions about An Zimo’s supernatural heritage.
  • He explains that Zimo’s identity and unusual intelligence will eventually require specialized education and guidance, raising concerns about whether An Xiang can continue raising him.
  • An Xiang assumes Pei intends to take Zimo away. She connects Pei to the extra demolition compensation she received and interprets the money as payment for surrendering her son.
  • Overwhelmed by fear and grief, An Xiang cries and tells Pei to leave. Pei awkwardly tries to comfort her, creating a humorous moment when he mistakenly offers a panty liner and toilet paper before wiping her tears with his sleeve.
  • Pei clarifies that he does not currently intend to take Zimo away. He gives An Xiang a company access card and asks her to visit his office whenever she is ready to discuss their responsibilities calmly.
  • After Pei leaves, An Xiang hides her distress from Zimo and resumes cooking. When Zimo complains that his teeth itch, she jokingly gives him a bare beef bone, prompting an indignant reaction when she calls him a dog.

Character Developments

  • An Xiang: Her attachment to Zimo is shown to be deep and maternal rather than related merely to the original mission. She fears losing him and realizes that her own limited lifespan makes her time with him precious. Her emotional response reveals insecurity, protectiveness, and the trauma surrounding the hotel encounter.
  • Pei Yizhou: He finally reveals his true identity and acknowledges his responsibility as Zimo’s father. Although initially stern, he shows unusual patience and concern for An Xiang, apologizes for the situation, and insists that he will not evade his obligations. His awkward attempts to comfort her expose a gentler, less emotionally confident side.
  • An Zimo: He remains unaware of the serious conversation between the adults. His supernatural traits become more apparent through his severe tooth irritation, while his sarcastic response to the bone preserves his childlike personality.
  • Their relationship: The confrontation shifts An Xiang and Pei from vague attraction and suspicion toward an unavoidable discussion of parenthood, identity, and Zimo’s future.

Significant Themes

  • Family beyond blood relations: The chapter emphasizes that genuine family affection comes from care, love, and protection—not blood alone. An Xiang is Zimo’s true mother because she has raised and loved him.
  • Maternal love and separation anxiety: An Xiang’s terror of losing Zimo demonstrates how completely he has become her emotional anchor and family.
  • Responsibility versus circumstance: Although Zimo’s conception was accidental, Pei argues that both parents must now take responsibility for the child’s future.
  • Identity and prejudice: Pei’s vampire nature introduces the social and practical difficulties Zimo may face as a half-vampire or unusual member of the Vampire Clan.
  • Emotional vulnerability and communication: Both adults struggle to speak openly, but Pei’s revelation begins forcing them to confront the past and their responsibilities.

Character Interactions

  • Pei’s direct questioning clashes with An Xiang’s evasiveness and fear.
  • His revelation of his fangs shocks her, while her assumption that he wants custody deeply unsettles him.
  • An Xiang’s tearful reaction leaves Pei helpless; his awkward efforts to comfort her add humor to an otherwise painful confrontation.
  • Pei gives her the access card as a gesture of trust and a promise that he will wait for her.
  • An Xiang conceals her distress from Zimo, then uses playful teasing about the beef bone to maintain their familiar mother-son dynamic.

Ch. 36Chapter 36

Chapter 36 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • An Xiang prepares an elaborate dinner but cannot eat, overwhelmed by worries about An Zimo’s future.
  • Zimo’s teething problems continue. He gnaws on a beef bone until he falls asleep, highlighting his young, vulnerable nature.
  • While watching him sleep, An Xiang reflects on the discrimination and isolation Mixed-Bloods face. She fears that once Zimo learns his identity, he will be rejected and hurt.
  • Unable to settle her thoughts, An Xiang goes to Pei Yizhou’s office late at night and returns the fruit juice he left behind.
  • Pei Yizhou discusses Zimo’s future with her. He offers to arrange a safer home, manage Zimo’s kindergarten enrollment, and protect both mother and child from interference by his family.
  • He asks only that An Xiang not deny him the right to visit Zimo. They agree not to tell Zimo that Pei Yizhou is his father yet; An Xiang plans to explain his Mixed-Blood identity after he loses a tooth.
  • Pei Yizhou introduces Rainbow Kindergarten’s Sunflower Class, a small class designed for Vampire and Mixed-Blood children. The class will help Zimo understand Vampire society without cutting him off from humans.
  • An Xiang agrees to enroll Zimo and accepts Pei Yizhou’s housing arrangements, though she refuses an additional “child support” payment.
  • Pei Yizhou lets her keep her access card and playfully insists that she bring him fruit juice every noon, creating an excuse for continued contact.

Character Development

  • An Xiang: Her fear of losing Zimo and her awareness of his future suffering become more explicit. Although she wants to keep him entirely for herself, she recognizes that he needs protection, guidance, and a connection to his own kind. She begins cautiously accepting Pei Yizhou’s involvement while remaining financially independent and somewhat guarded.
  • An Zimo: He remains innocent and childlike, struggling with his growing fangs and unaware of his Mixed-Blood identity. His sensitivity and difficulty trusting others reinforce An Xiang’s determination to protect him carefully.
  • Pei Yizhou: He demonstrates patience, restraint, and genuine concern. Rather than trying to take Zimo away, he offers practical protection and respects An Xiang’s decisions. His teasing request for daily juice also reveals a growing personal interest in An Xiang.

Significant Themes

  • Identity and belonging: Mixed-Bloods are rejected by both humans and Pureblood Vampires, leaving them without a clear place in society.
  • Parental protection versus truth: An Xiang must balance shielding Zimo from pain with preparing him to understand his heritage.
  • Family and responsibility: Pei Yizhou begins taking responsibility as Zimo’s father while promising not to separate him from An Xiang.
  • Racial reconciliation: Rainbow Kindergarten represents an effort to bridge the divide between humans, Vampires, and Mixed-Bloods.
  • Trust and emotional intimacy: An Xiang and Pei Yizhou gradually move toward cooperation, with their formal discussions carrying increasing warmth and flirtation.

Character Interactions

  • An Xiang tenderly cares for sleeping Zimo, wiping away his drool and replacing his bone when he instinctively reaches for it.
  • During their late-night meeting, An Xiang remains physically distant and cautious, while Pei Yizhou responds with patience and gentle teasing.
  • They negotiate Zimo’s education, identity, and future together, establishing the beginnings of co-parenting.
  • Pei Yizhou’s request that An Xiang deliver juice daily creates a recurring reason for them to meet, suggesting their relationship may develop beyond practical cooperation.

Ch. 37Chapter 37

Chapter 37 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Pei Yizhou quickly arranges a fully furnished duplex in Lijing Jiangshan for An Xiang and An Zimo, including enrolling Zimo in kindergarten. His special assistant handles the move because Pei is busy working.
  • An Xiang is satisfied with the house except for the beds, which she jokingly—or perhaps seriously—asks to have replaced with coffins, revealing her unusual vampire-related preferences.
  • Pei Chen, who lives across the hall with his siblings, discovers that An Xiang has moved in. He enthusiastically offers to look after her and invites her and Zimo to dinner with Pei Yizhou.
  • Pei Chen contacts Pei Yizhou, who immediately agrees to dinner but first asks whether Pei Chen has completed his homework. Pei Chen then pays Zimo to provide a workbook containing forged handwriting and deliberately incorrect answers.
  • Zimo goes to Pei Chen’s apartment to use his computer. Rather than play games, he enters an underground coding competition to make money, quickly winning enough to increase his five-thousand investment to twenty-five thousand before withdrawing.
  • Zimo threatens Pei Chen into keeping his hacking and money-making activities secret, blackmailing him with the possibility of telling An Xiang and Pei Yizhou that Pei Chen wants to become his stepfather and forced Zimo to do his homework.

Character Developments

  • An Xiang: Begins settling into her new home and remains grateful but somewhat guilty about Pei Yizhou’s assistance. Her reaction to Zimo’s possible family relationship with Pei Chen highlights her complicated feelings about Pei Yizhou and the Pei family.
  • Pei Yizhou: Demonstrates efficiency and quiet concern for An Xiang and Zimo by arranging their home and schooling. Though he prioritizes work and neglects meals, he readily accepts Pei Chen’s dinner invitation.
  • Pei Chen: Proves friendly, impulsive, and protective toward An Xiang. He admires her and fantasizes about her marrying Pei Yizhou, even imagining their future children. He is also easily manipulated by Zimo but remains affectionate and impressed by the child’s abilities.
  • An Zimo: Shows extraordinary intelligence, technical skill, and manipulative confidence. He forges Pei Chen’s homework, recognizes opportunities to earn money, excels at advanced coding challenges, and uses blackmail to protect his secrets. His humor and cynicism contrast sharply with his childish body.

Significant Themes

  • Family and unconventional relationships: The chapter continues exploring the confusing family hierarchy between An Xiang, Zimo, Pei Yizhou, and Pei Chen. Their relationships do not fit ordinary social or generational patterns.
  • Secrecy and hidden identities: Zimo conceals both his unusual physical condition and his advanced abilities, while An Xiang’s vampire nature remains unspoken.
  • Childhood versus maturity: Zimo looks and acts like a young child but possesses adult-level intelligence and survival instincts. Pei Chen, despite being older, is emotionally immature and easily led.
  • Trust and mutual benefit: The characters form informal alliances based on favors, protection, and blackmail. Pei Chen covers for Zimo, while Zimo offers to help Pei Chen pursue An Xiang.
  • Independence and survival: Zimo’s decision to make money through coding reflects his desire for financial control and escape from the oppression he experienced in his previous life.

Character Interactions

  • An Xiang and Pei Chen establish a friendly neighborly relationship, with Pei Chen eagerly positioning himself as her protector.
  • Pei Chen treats Zimo like a younger brother but quickly becomes frustrated by Zimo’s sarcasm and intelligence.
  • Zimo secretly manipulates Pei Chen, trading homework for money and later using threats to secure his cooperation.
  • Pei Chen’s admiration for An Xiang reveals his hope that she will join the Pei family, while Zimo observes and exploits those romantic ambitions.
  • Pei Yizhou remains mostly offscreen, but his practical support and brief messages connect him to the developing relationship between An Xiang and the Pei family.

Ch. 38Chapter 38

Chapter 38 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • An Xiang prepares a hot pot dinner for Pei Chen and Pei Yizhou. Pei Yizhou arrives after work, and An Xiang warmly welcomes him by taking his jacket and preparing slippers, creating an almost domestic, husband-and-wife atmosphere.
  • During dinner, Pei Chen reveals that Pei Yizhou has lost his sense of taste and smell. However, after eating the spicy hot pot prepared by An Xiang, Pei Yizhou claims he can taste “Miss An Xiang’s flavor,” creating an ambiguous and romantic moment that embarrasses her.
  • Pei Chen mentions that An Zimo will attend the same kindergarten as the other Pei children and offers to protect him from Pei Yan. Pei Yizhou becomes strangely possessive and forbids An Zimo from calling Pei Chen “big brother.”
  • Pei Yizhou gives An Zimo a GPS-enabled children’s watch for safety, though An Zimo initially refuses to acknowledge it directly.
  • After dinner, An Zimo loses one of his baby teeth. This prompts An Xiang to attempt to tell him the truth about his identity, as she had promised to do when his fangs began appearing.
  • An Xiang solemnly tells him that he is “not human” and then explains that he is a vampire. An Zimo dismisses the idea as ridiculous, using logic about modern society, vampires, sunlight, coffins, and blood-drinking to refute her.
  • When An Xiang confirms that they really do sleep in a coffin, An Zimo realizes that her claim may be genuine but still refuses to believe her. He assumes she is foolishly immersed in fictional vampire stories and goes to bed.
  • An Xiang messages Pei Yizhou for advice, admitting that An Zimo did not believe her. Pei Yizhou gently calls her a “silly girl,” leaving her humorously upset that everyone scolds her despite her telling the truth.

Character Developments

  • An Xiang: Shows increasing domestic closeness with Pei Yizhou and growing concern about how to explain An Zimo’s supernatural identity. Her honesty and lack of tact make the revelation comical rather than convincing.
  • Pei Yizhou: Displays subtle affection toward An Xiang, enjoying the warmth of her welcome and teasing her with the suggestive comment about tasting her “flavor.” He also demonstrates protectiveness toward An Zimo by providing him with a safety watch and reacts possessively when Pei Chen offers to act as the child’s “big brother.”
  • An Zimo: Remains highly intelligent, skeptical, and independent. Even when confronted with the truth about being a vampire, he relies on rational arguments and refuses to accept An Xiang’s explanation without proof.
  • Pei Chen: Continues acting as a cheerful, protective older relative toward An Zimo, though his casual friendliness unintentionally provokes Pei Yizhou.

Significant Themes

  • Family and domestic intimacy: The hot pot dinner and An Xiang’s welcoming behavior create a warm family setting and suggest her growing integration into Pei Yizhou’s household.
  • Romantic tension: Pei Yizhou’s comments and reactions reveal increasing affection and possessiveness toward An Xiang, while An Xiang becomes easily flustered by his attention.
  • Truth versus belief: An Xiang tells the truth about An Zimo’s identity, but because the truth sounds absurd, An Zimo assumes she is lying or delusional.
  • Supernatural identity and acceptance: An Zimo’s lost tooth marks the beginning of his transformation and raises the issue of how he will learn and accept his vampire heritage.
  • Humor through misunderstanding: The seriousness of An Xiang’s revelation contrasts with An Zimo’s practical objections, creating comedy from the gap between supernatural reality and ordinary logic.

Important Character Interactions

  • An Xiang and Pei Yizhou: Their dinner interaction has a gentle, intimate quality. His teasing remark about tasting her flavor embarrasses her, while his later “silly girl” message reinforces their increasingly familiar relationship.
  • Pei Yizhou and Pei Chen: Pei Yizhou sharply stops Pei Chen from calling himself An Zimo’s “big brother,” exposing his unusual jealousy or possessiveness.
  • An Xiang and An Zimo: Their mother-son exchange centers on An Xiang’s failed attempt to reveal the truth about his vampire nature. An Zimo’s disbelief and criticism highlight their contrasting personalities—her emotional sincerity versus his skeptical intelligence.
  • An Xiang and Pei Yizhou by text: An Xiang seeks emotional support after the failed revelation, while Pei Yizhou responds with restrained amusement and affection.

Ch. 39Chapter 39

Chapter 39 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • An Xiang takes An Zimo to his first day at Rainbow Kindergarten. Although adults cannot enter, she struggles emotionally with leaving him and repeatedly reminds him to behave, eat properly, and look after himself.
  • An Xiang begins crying at the entrance because she fears Zimo will be bullied or unable to adapt. Her reaction embarrasses him, especially as nearby parents and children watch.
  • Despite his irritation, Zimo comforts her by giving her a handkerchief, wiping her tears, and insisting that she stop crying so others will not laugh at him. He also waits until she leaves before entering the school.
  • Afterward, An Xiang feels lonely without Zimo and spends the morning at the milk tea shop. She prepares lunch and juice for Pei Yizhou, then brings them to Huaxing.
  • A security guard stops An Xiang, but Pei Yizhou confirms that he gave her the chairman’s access card and authorizes her to enter freely. His public defense of her sparks curiosity among the employees.
  • Pei Yizhou invites An Xiang to eat lunch with him after learning she has not eaten. Their meal becomes an intimate domestic moment, and the staff begin gossiping that their president is dating her.
  • Pei Yizhou struggles with the spicy food, and An Xiang instinctively serves him a non-spicy meatball. He accepts the gesture without hesitation.
  • When An Xiang expresses sadness over Zimo starting kindergarten, Pei Yizhou gently pats her head and invites her to visit him every day at noon. He privately becomes more confident that she will eventually become his wife.

Character Developments

  • An Xiang: Reveals her intense attachment to Zimo and her anxiety about being separated from him. She is nurturing, self-sacrificing, and increasingly comfortable caring for Pei Yizhou as well. Her loneliness after Zimo starts school makes her more receptive to Pei’s companionship.
  • An Zimo: Though outwardly cold and impatient, he shows considerable concern for his mother. He comforts her, wipes her tears, and makes sure she leaves safely before entering kindergarten, revealing a tender and responsible side.
  • Pei Yizhou: Becomes increasingly affectionate and proactive toward An Xiang. He protects her publicly, invites her to share his meals, touches her head comfortingly, and interprets her efforts as evidence of her affection. His normally distant demeanor softens significantly around her.
  • Secretary Zhao and the employees: Their surprise at seeing An Xiang in Pei’s office emphasizes how unusual and significant her presence is within the company.

Significant Themes

  • Separation and parental attachment: An Xiang’s distress reflects the difficulty of a parent letting go as a child begins school.
  • Hidden tenderness: Both Zimo and Pei appear emotionally restrained, but their actions reveal deep care for An Xiang.
  • Domestic intimacy: Preparing food, sharing a meal, and small gestures such as serving meat or wiping tears create a sense of family and growing romantic closeness.
  • Loneliness and companionship: With Zimo away during the day, An Xiang’s emptiness creates space for Pei to become a greater emotional presence in her life.
  • Public perception versus private feelings: The employees interpret An Xiang and Pei’s meal as a romantic relationship, while An Xiang remains largely unaware of Pei’s increasingly obvious intentions.

Character Interactions

  • An Xiang and Zimo share an emotional farewell marked by her worry and his embarrassed but genuine attempts to comfort her.
  • Pei protects An Xiang from the security guard and publicly grants her special access, signaling her importance to him.
  • During lunch, An Xiang cares for Pei by bringing homemade food and adjusting the meal to suit his taste, while Pei encourages her to stay and eat with him.
  • Pei comforts An Xiang over missing Zimo and invites her to visit him daily, strengthening their bond and hinting at his desire for a closer relationship.

Ch. 40Chapter 40

Chapter 40 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • An Zimo officially starts kindergarten and is introduced to his eight classmates.
  • He is seated beside Fu Ze, a chubby, friendly boy who offers him candy. Pei Yan warns Fu Ze that An Zimo is dangerous and persuades him to hand over the candy.
  • An Zimo reports that Fu Ze and Pei Yan are secretly carrying snacks, leading the teacher to confiscate them. Pei Yan becomes angry and predicts that An Zimo will die lonely because he refuses to make friends.
  • During lunch, An Zimo finishes his meal neatly and is praised by the teacher, receiving a red flower and an offer of two desserts. He refuses the ice cakes, believing cold food is unhealthy.
  • Pei Nuo kindly offers to share her dessert with him, but An Zimo rejects it. Pei Yan then deliberately flaunts his ice cake to provoke him.
  • Irritated by Pei Yan’s teasing and mind-reading thoughts, An Zimo throws Pei Yan’s dessert into the trash. Pei Yan attacks him, biting his shoulder, and An Zimo retaliates by biting Pei Yan’s ear.
  • The fight causes chaos in the classroom, with the other children cheering them on. An Zimo loses another tooth during the struggle but considers it a minor benefit.
  • The teacher separates the boys and forces them to hold hands in the corner until they apologize and reconcile. They secretly pinch each other and refuse to yield.
  • When both claim they need to use the restroom, the teacher sends them together, leaving them equally horrified.

Character Developments

  • An Zimo remains highly intelligent, arrogant, emotionally guarded, and contemptuous of ordinary children. He views kindergarten as boring and considers friendship unnecessary, but his intense reactions to Pei Yan reveal that he is more easily provoked and engaged than he admits.
  • Pei Yan continues to resent An Zimo because of their earlier conflict. He is impulsive, competitive, mischievous, and determined to provoke An Zimo, but also reacts strongly when An Zimo destroys his dessert.
  • Fu Ze is portrayed as innocent, food-loving, and eager to befriend An Zimo, though he is easily influenced by Pei Yan.
  • Pei Nuo demonstrates kindness by offering An Zimo half of her dessert, contrasting with his refusal to accept affection or generosity.
  • The teacher is patient but firm. She attempts to teach the two boys cooperation through forced hand-holding and emphasizes that classmates should care for one another.

Significant Themes

  • The contrast between maturity and childhood: An Zimo’s adult-like mentality clashes with the children’s simple concerns about snacks, desserts, and games.
  • Isolation versus friendship: An Zimo insists that he does not need friends, while Pei Yan’s taunt that he will die lonely hints at a truth An Zimo may eventually have to confront.
  • Pride and emotional vulnerability: Both boys refuse to apologize or back down, turning a minor disagreement into a physical fight because neither can tolerate losing face.
  • The limits of intellectual superiority: An Zimo’s intelligence and self-discipline do not help him navigate childish social situations; instead, his disdain makes him appear even more alienated.
  • Childhood conflict as bonding: Despite their hostility, An Zimo and Pei Yan spend the most emotional energy interacting with each other, suggesting that their rivalry may develop into a meaningful relationship.

Character Interactions

  • An Zimo and Fu Ze begin as seatmates, but An Zimo immediately undermines Fu Ze’s attempt at friendship by exposing his hidden candy.
  • An Zimo and Pei Yan engage in constant verbal antagonism, with Pei Yan teasing and An Zimo responding coldly and arrogantly.
  • Pei Nuo offers An Zimo dessert in a sincere gesture of friendship, which he rejects.
  • Pei Yan intentionally provokes An Zimo by displaying and mentally gloating over his dessert, ultimately triggering the fight.
  • After biting each other, An Zimo and Pei Yan are forced to hold hands and later sent to the restroom together, creating an awkward but comic form of enforced companionship.
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