Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Top Star Secretly Meets Three Women at Night”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Chu Xiyue, an overworked office employee and avid gossip reader, notices that multiple trending searches concern rising celebrity Zhou Yigan.
• The rumors involve Zhou Yigan secretly meeting three women, cheating on a wealthy benefactor, dating fans, and using “the blue little pill” to maintain his sexual performance.
• Eager to uncover the truth, Chu Xiyue tries to access the overloaded gossip platform but collapses from sudden chest pain before she can finish reading.
• After her death, she is contacted by the Jinjiang Book-Transmigration Bureau and sent into the world of the novel Rebirth: The Actress Returns.
• She is bound to a Gossip-Eating System, whose exaggerated personality is represented by constant duck-quacking.
• Chu Xiyue learns that she has become a wealthy heiress who rejected her family’s arranged marriage, severed ties with her billionaire parents, and entered show business.
• In the novel’s original plot, her character is a cannon-fodder supporting actress exploited by an unscrupulous agency to attack the female lead; she eventually dies from overwork and sudden death.
• The original owner voluntarily exchanged souls with Chu Xiyue so that each could pursue the other’s life and ambitions. Chu is therefore free to live as she wishes, provided she does not disrupt the main plot.
• Rather than pursuing fame, revenge, or a Best Actress title, Chu is delighted to discover that her system exists solely to provide gossip.

2. Character Developments

• Chu Xiyue: Introduced as exhausted but intensely enthusiastic about celebrity gossip. Her greatest regret at death is not learning the truth about Zhou Yigan’s scandal. After transmigrating, her priorities remain unchanged: she is far more excited about gossip than wealth, romance, or career success.
• The Gossip-Eating System: A lively, noisy, self-congratulatory system that boasts about its superior specifications. It explains Chu’s new identity and assures her that it knows every secret in the new world.
• The Original Owner: Although absent in person, she is characterized as an heiress who rebelled against her family and pursued an entertainment career. Her decision to exchange souls with Chu suggests she is determined to fulfill her own dreams elsewhere.
• Zhou Yigan: He does not appear directly, but his scandal serves as the trigger for Chu’s death and transmigration, establishing the story’s focus on celebrity secrets.

3. Significant Themes

• Gossip as escapism and entertainment: Chu’s obsession with scandals is presented humorously as her main source of energy and emotional stimulation.
• Rebirth and second chances: Both Chu and the original owner receive opportunities to escape their previous lives and pursue different goals.
• Freedom from predetermined roles: Although Chu enters the story as a doomed cannon-fodder character, she is not required to follow the original plot or seek conventional success.
• The dangers of exploitation and overwork: The original owner’s fate highlights how entertainment companies can manipulate vulnerable performers and drive them to exhaustion.
• Identity and personal choice: The soul exchange allows both women to redefine themselves outside the circumstances of their original lives.

4. Character Interactions

• Chu’s interaction with the Gossip-Eating System establishes the central comedic partnership: she is an eager consumer of secrets, while the system is an enthusiastic provider.
• Their first conversation also creates a contrast between Chu’s expectations—counterattacking, becoming famous, and changing her fate—and the system’s actual purpose, which is simply to deliver gossip.
• Chu’s imagined connection to Zhou Yigan is one-sided but important: her desperate desire to learn his scandal’s truth motivates her final thoughts before death and shapes her new life after transmigration.
• The original owner’s soul exchange forms the unseen relationship underlying the chapter, giving Chu freedom while allowing the original owner to pursue her own ambitions.

Chapter Summary

• Gossip about Zhou Yigan: Chu Xiyue and the system discuss the scandal involving celebrity Zhou Yigan. The rumors that he met three women and cheated on a girlfriend were fabricated by a rival, but his private contact with fans and relationships with them were genuine. His ex-girlfriend, once one of his biggest fans, exposed him after he abandoned her to pursue a wealthy older woman.
• Zhou Yigan’s sacrifice and downfall: Zhou Yigan became involved with a wealthy widow in her forties, whose intense demands led him to rely on performance-enhancing pills and severely damaged his health. Although his extreme determination helped him maintain his image and slim figure, the scandal was eventually exposed. State media labeled him a disgraced artist, ending his career. Chu Xiyue is both shocked and grudgingly impressed by his ruthlessness.
• The variety show opportunity: A production crew arrives at Chu Xiyue’s hotel room to film The One She Loves Most, a dating reality show arranged by her company. Chu initially considers refusing because she lacks the original owner’s memories and does not know how to participate, but the system reveals that the show contains abundant gossip. Intrigued, Chu immediately decides to join.
• Chu Xiyue’s on-camera debut: The show is livestreamed from the moment the crew arrives and will continue for a month alongside an edited broadcast. Chu opens the door without makeup, stunning the cameraman and viewers with her natural beauty. Her appearance immediately sparks discussion, with some viewers praising her visual compatibility with her assigned partner and others—especially his fans—accusing her of plastic surgery and trying to exploit his popularity.
• Meeting He Jinyuan: At the bus outside the hotel, Chu meets He Jinyuan, a handsome young idol from the same company. He is a newly promoted talent-show graduate with millions of followers, most of them devoted girlfriend fans. The company had previously manufactured publicity suggesting that he and Chu had romantic chemistry, causing his fans to attack her even before filming began.
• Tension between the leads: He Jinyuan politely introduces himself as her “Senior Brother,” displaying a friendly and gentlemanly attitude, though he is briefly surprised by her beauty. Chu responds courteously but without warmth. Her restrained attitude displeases him, while his fans interpret her lack of enthusiasm as arrogance and accuse her of deliberately clinging to him for fame.

Character Development and Interactions

• Chu Xiyue: Demonstrates curiosity, decisiveness, and a strong appetite for gossip. Rather than avoiding the troublesome show, she embraces it as an opportunity to uncover scandals. She also remains composed under the camera and refuses to cater to He Jinyuan or his fans.
• The system: Acts as Chu’s source of entertainment-industry secrets and explains the show’s premise, though it initially forgets to provide important context.
• Zhou Yigan: Is portrayed as ambitious and exceptionally self-disciplined but morally compromised, willing to sacrifice his health and relationships to advance his career.
• He Jinyuan: Appears outwardly warm and courteous but is sensitive to Chu’s distant response. His enormous fanbase creates immediate conflict between him and Chu.
• Chu and He Jinyuan: Their first meeting is polite but emotionally uneven: He attempts to establish seniority and friendliness, while Chu maintains a detached, professional attitude. Their interaction immediately fuels the show’s intended romantic pairing and the fans’ hostility.

Significant Themes

• Celebrity image versus private reality: Public rumors may be partly fabricated, but hidden misconduct can be even more damaging than the original gossip.
• Ambition and exploitation: Zhou Yigan’s career is built through self-sacrifice and relationships with powerful people, while Chu is pushed into a manufactured celebrity pairing for publicity.
• The power of fans and media narratives: Livestream audiences quickly form judgments based on appearance, company publicity, and idol loyalty, turning Chu into a target before she has done anything.
• Beauty, performance, and authenticity: Chu’s unmade-up appearance challenges assumptions about cosmetic surgery and highlights the contrast between her natural beauty and the carefully constructed images of entertainment celebrities.
• Gossip as entertainment and opportunity: What others might regard as scandal becomes Chu’s main motivation for joining a show that is otherwise expected to fail.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Chu Xiyue and He Jinyuan travel together to the filming location of The One She Loves Most, a variety show featuring three married couples and two trainee couples. They are paired as one of the trainee couples.
• While riding in the car, Chu Xiyue’s gossip-focused system reveals shocking secrets about He Jinyuan’s private life. Although he presents himself publicly as an innocent single celebrity, he has allegedly participated in extreme encounters with wealthy men and women.
• The system explains that He Jinyuan was hospitalized after a particularly dangerous incident involving a wine bottle, then later aggravated the injury while entertaining a wealthy woman.
• Chu Xiyue becomes fascinated rather than judgmental, repeatedly glancing at He Jinyuan and eagerly asking for more details and photographs.
• Her suspicious-looking glances are caught on camera, causing He Jinyuan’s fans to assume she is trying to flirt with him or exploit him for publicity. They prepare to attack her online.
• A bump in the road causes He Jinyuan discomfort because his injury has not fully healed. The system notices this and exposes further gossip about his recent hospitalization.
• Chu Xiyue innocently advises him to perform pelvic floor exercises. Her comment makes He Jinyuan worry that she knows the truth about his private life.
• She explains that she learned about the exercises from a television advertisement, unintentionally dispelling suspicion. The livestream audience finds the misunderstanding hilarious, while He Jinyuan’s fans are briefly silenced.
• He Jinyuan maintains his polished public image, calmly insisting that he is healthy and does not need the exercises.

2. Character Developments

• Chu Xiyue: She is established as shamelessly curious, gossip-loving, and unconcerned with public opinion. Rather than being interested in He Jinyuan romantically, she views him as an extraordinary source of scandal and entertainment. Her bluntness repeatedly creates misunderstandings.
• He Jinyuan: His carefully cultivated image as an innocent, attractive, single celebrity contrasts sharply with his secretive and reckless private behavior. Despite his embarrassment and physical discomfort, he remains skilled at controlling his expressions and protecting his reputation.
• He Jinyuan’s fans: They are highly defensive and suspicious of Chu Xiyue, quickly interpreting her actions as an attempt to seduce or exploit their idol. Their hostility is undercut when her behavior turns out to be motivated by bizarre curiosity rather than romantic interest.
• The system: It acts as Chu Xiyue’s source of scandalous information, enthusiastically uncovering increasingly outrageous details and encouraging her fascination with gossip.

3. Significant Themes

• Public image versus private reality: He Jinyuan’s innocent celebrity persona hides a reckless and complicated private life.
• Celebrity fandom and online judgment: Fans immediately police Chu Xiyue’s behavior and prepare to harass her based on assumptions, showing how quickly public opinion can become hostile.
• Gossip as entertainment: Chu Xiyue treats scandal as a form of amusement rather than a weapon, creating comic misunderstandings.
• Irony and contrast: The more fans expect Chu Xiyue to pursue He Jinyuan romantically, the more her actual interest is revealed to be detached, blunt, and voyeuristically curious.
• Maintaining appearances: Both Chu Xiyue and He Jinyuan navigate the cameras differently—she accidentally creates suspicion, while he carefully suppresses signs of discomfort and anxiety.

4. Character Interactions

• Chu Xiyue and He Jinyuan exchange polite introductions and travel together under the scrutiny of cameras.
• Chu Xiyue repeatedly watches He Jinyuan while secretly receiving gossip about him, making him increasingly uneasy.
• After noticing his discomfort, she advises him to do pelvic floor exercises. He interprets the remark as evidence that she may know his secrets.
• Chu Xiyue gives a seemingly reasonable explanation based on a television advertisement, allowing He Jinyuan to relax and preserve his public image.
• Meanwhile, the livestream audience and He Jinyuan’s fans react to their interactions, creating a humorous contrast between what viewers assume is happening and Chu Xiyue’s actual motives.

Chapter Summary

• Arrival at the dating show: Chu Xiyue and He Jinyuan travel by bus to a seaside villa for The One She Loves Most, an S-tier celebrity dating show. They are one of two trial couples among ten guests. The rough ride aggravates He Jinyuan’s still-unhealed injury, though he hides his discomfort and maintains a gentlemanly appearance. Chu Xiyue and the system privately misunderstand his condition, while viewers criticize Chu’s blunt remarks and defend He.
• First impressions at the villa: As the first guests to arrive, Chu and He receive separate rooms—Chu on the third floor and He on the first. He courteously offers to carry Chu’s suitcase upstairs, but she immediately refuses after recalling the system’s earlier “wine bottle” warning. She carries it herself, impressing He with her physical strength.
• Meeting the other trial couple: Hungry after skipping breakfast, Chu goes downstairs and encounters Li Fan’er and Zhao Xizhou arguing sarcastically. Li, a girl-group member, openly mocks Zhao, a second-tier actor, while he responds with polite but equally pointed remarks. Chu’s arrival interrupts their tense exchange.
• Public feud revealed: Viewers recognize the pair’s hostility and discuss rumors that they have disliked each other ever since insulting one another’s performances on a previous variety show. Their presence together on a romance program seems deliberately designed to create conflict, and the audience eagerly anticipates a fight.
• Hidden relationship exposed: Chu takes a boxed meal and asks the system for gossip. The system reveals that Li Fan’er and Zhao Xizhou were not merely former rivals: they had once been lovers before debuting. Their breakup was unpleasant, explaining their hostility whenever they meet. This revelation establishes that the show’s “trial couples” may contain complicated past relationships beneath their public images.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Chu Xiyue is blunt, physically capable, curious, and highly entertained by celebrity gossip. She remains observant of others’ behavior but is more concerned with eating and uncovering secrets than with performing romance for the cameras.
• He Jinyuan continues presenting himself as patient, courteous, and composed despite physical pain and embarrassment. He treats Chu considerately, even though she repeatedly rejects or misunderstands his gestures.
• Li Fan’er and Zhao Xizhou display unresolved resentment and sharp verbal hostility. Their interactions suggest lingering emotional wounds rather than simple professional rivalry.
• The system acts as Chu’s private source of commentary and gossip, intensifying the comedic contrast between what the public sees and the hidden truths it reveals.
• The livestream audience serves as an active judge of the contestants, defending He, criticizing Chu, and eagerly speculating about the hostile pair.

Significant Themes

• Public image versus private truth: The audience believes He is flawless and innocent, while the system reveals embarrassing realities. Likewise, Li and Zhao’s supposed professional feud conceals a painful romantic history.
• Celebrity performance and surveillance: Every gesture, expression, and interaction is analyzed by viewers, making the contestants’ private discomfort part of the entertainment.
• Misunderstanding and hidden relationships: Chu misreads He’s situation, while the public completely misinterprets Li and Zhao’s past, setting up future revelations.
• Comedy through contrast: Chu’s straightforward personality, the system’s irreverent commentary, He’s forced composure, and the audience’s overreactions create much of the chapter’s humor.

Chapter 5 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chu Xiyue learns through the system that Li Fan’er and Zhao Xizhou are ex-lovers who still have unresolved feelings for each other.
• Li Fan’er joined the dating show for its generous payment, unaware that Zhao Xizhou would be participating. Zhao Xizhou, however, deliberately secured a spot after learning she would be there, exchanging valuable fashion resources to join.
• Chu Xiyue becomes excited by their apparent “enemies-to-lovers” dynamic and privately ships them, comparing their situation to a popular romance novel.
• While eating, she reads a similar novel on her phone during her livestream. A viewer notices and posts a screenshot on Weibo, though the post initially receives little attention.
• Li Fan’er and Zhao Xizhou enter the dining room separately, pretending their meeting is coincidental. The system reveals that Zhao Xizhou had been listening outside his room and only emerged after hearing Li Fan’er come downstairs.
• Li Fan’er gives Zhao Xizhou a boxed meal containing braised eggplant, his least favorite food. The system interprets this as evidence that she still remembers his preferences and may not have forgotten him.
• Their tense interaction continues: Zhao Xizhou deliberately sits beside her, Li Fan’er moves away in irritation, and he subtly shields her from hitting the table when she bends down to retrieve her utensils.
• Most viewers focus on Li Fan’er and Zhao Xizhou’s hostile-yet-intimate exchange, while Chu Xiyue privately delights in observing their relationship.
• He Jinyuan then enters the dining room, dressed carefully despite his casual appearance, and sits beside Chu Xiyue. When she shifts away from him, his smile briefly stiffens and displeasure flashes across his face before he resumes his gentle façade.

Character Developments

• Chu Xiyue: Becomes an enthusiastic observer and shipper of Li Fan’er and Zhao Xizhou. Rather than focusing on her own romantic situation, she treats their unresolved relationship as entertainment and eagerly analyzes every interaction.
• Li Fan’er: Maintains a cold, defensive attitude toward Zhao Xizhou, insisting that her actions do not show concern. Her memory of his dislike of eggplant nevertheless suggests lingering familiarity and emotional history.
• Zhao Xizhou: Revealed to still love Li Fan’er. He deliberately joins the show to be near her and masks his feelings behind calmness, teasing, and apparent indifference.
• He Jinyuan: Shows subtle possessiveness and sensitivity toward Chu Xiyue’s reactions. His momentary displeasure when she moves away contrasts with his outwardly composed and gentle behavior.
• The System: Acts as a highly perceptive commentator, interpreting hidden motives and romantic signals while encouraging Chu Xiyue’s interest in the ex-couple.

Significant Themes

• Unresolved love after separation: Zhao Xizhou’s actions and Li Fan’er’s retained knowledge of his preferences suggest that their breakup did not erase their feelings.
• Appearance versus reality: The characters conceal their emotions beneath hostility, politeness, or carefully managed public personas.
• Romance as entertainment: Chu Xiyue and the livestream audience view Li Fan’er and Zhao Xizhou’s tension as a compelling romantic narrative.
• Performing for the public: The dating show and individual livestreams encourage the contestants to manage how they appear, even as small gestures reveal their genuine feelings.
• Hidden possessiveness and affection: Both Zhao Xizhou’s protective gesture and He Jinyuan’s reaction to Chu Xiyue’s withdrawal expose emotions that their words conceal.

Character Interactions

• Chu Xiyue and the system discuss and enthusiastically interpret Li Fan’er and Zhao Xizhou’s relationship.
• Li Fan’er and Zhao Xizhou exchange sarcastic remarks while communicating concern indirectly through food, proximity, and protective actions.
• Chu Xiyue watches the former couple from a distance, treating herself as a spectator to their romantic drama.
• He Jinyuan attempts to sit close to Chu Xiyue and address her warmly, but her deliberate distance causes a subtle shift in his mood.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• The camera shifts to He Jinyuan and Chu Xiyue while they watch Li Fan’er and Zhao Xizhou.
• He Jinyuan tries to show concern for Chu Xiyue by asking what she wants to eat. She instinctively answers that she wants to “eat melons,” then awkwardly clarifies that she means chilled watermelon.
• He Jinyuan adopts an exaggeratedly gentle, “magnetic” tone and promises to get her a watermelon. Chu Xiyue finds his voice and behavior unbearably greasy, though his fans react enthusiastically online.
• Hoping to fulfill his promise and gain more attention, He Jinyuan asks the director for a watermelon in front of the cameras.
• Instead of granting the request, the director announces the show’s rules: phones will be confiscated, all supplies must be earned through tasks, takeout is forbidden, and the production team has final authority.
• The basic tasks require intense exercise, including frog jumps, jump-rope jumps, high knees, and squats. More difficult tasks require two people.
• He Jinyuan realizes the tasks are dangerous because he recently suffered an injury and was instructed by a doctor to rest and avoid strenuous activity for half a month.
• Despite the risk, he decides to complete a task anyway, believing that backing down on camera would damage his carefully cultivated image and cost him valuable exposure.
• Chu Xiyue worries about his injury and tries to dissuade him, but He Jinyuan insists on warming up and declares that he will keep his promise. She ultimately tells him to be careful.

Character developments

• He Jinyuan: Reveals himself to be highly image-conscious, competitive, and willing to endure significant pain to preserve his public persona. He views the watermelon challenge as both a promise to Chu Xiyue and an opportunity to secure a memorable moment on the popular show.
• Chu Xiyue: Remains blunt, skeptical, and internally critical of He Jinyuan’s affected behavior. However, despite mocking him, she shows genuine concern for his health and does not want him to aggravate his injury.
• The system: Supports Chu Xiyue’s judgment of He Jinyuan’s overly artificial voice and checks online reactions, highlighting the contrast between her opinion and his fans’ adoration.
• He Jinyuan’s fans: Reinforce his celebrity image by praising his voice, appearance, discipline, and dedication to fitness.

Significant themes

• Public image versus personal well-being: He Jinyuan knowingly risks his health to avoid appearing weak and to maintain his popularity.
• Performance and authenticity: His romantic gestures and seductive voice are clearly calculated for the cameras, while Chu Xiyue sees through the performance.
• Celebrity culture and fan perception: The fans’ enthusiastic reactions contrast sharply with Chu Xiyue’s disgust, showing how public personas can be interpreted very differently by audiences.
• Reality-show manipulation and competition: The production team creates restrictive rules and physically demanding tasks to generate drama, while the guests compete for screen time and attention.
• Unexpected concern beneath hostility: Although Chu Xiyue openly dislikes He Jinyuan’s mannerisms, her warning and final concern suggest a reluctant sense of responsibility or care.

Character interactions

• He Jinyuan attempts to impress Chu Xiyue with flirtatious concern, but she responds with annoyance and sarcasm.
• His promise to obtain watermelon becomes a public challenge once the director announces that all food must be earned.
• Chu Xiyue tries to protect him by telling him she no longer wants fruit, but He Jinyuan refuses to retreat because cameras and fans are watching.
• Their exchange establishes a contrast between He Jinyuan’s performative “model couple” behavior and Chu Xiyue’s candid, unimpressed perspective.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• He Jinyuan decides to prove his fitness by exercising during the livestream. Although Chu Xiyue worries that his condition may make strenuous activity dangerous, he chooses to do one hundred push-ups.
• He completes the exercise with good form, impressing the livestream audience. When he lifts his shirt to wipe away sweat, his abs attract even more enthusiastic comments from his fans.
• Chu Xiyue and the system privately discuss He Jinyuan’s past encounter with a wealthy woman, focusing on her fascination with his physique. Chu becomes absorbed in the gossip while He Jinyuan retrieves watermelon for everyone.
• The system reveals that He Jinyuan’s previous injury has reopened because of the exercise. He hides his pain and weakness from the cameras, causing Chu Xiyue to admire his ruthlessness and endurance.
• He misinterprets Chu Xiyue’s look of concern and admiration as romantic admiration, responding with a self-satisfied, flirtatious remark. Chu finds him unbearably greasy and deliberately moves farther away.
• A wealthy couple arrives late: Xu Wenchong, CEO of Azure Sea Entertainment, and his fashionable wife Wan Zhen. Their bodyguards bring in numerous suitcases, creating an extravagant entrance.
• Wan Zhen gives each participant jewelry from one of her company’s subsidiaries, ostensibly as a gift but likely also as promotion. She and He Jinyuan exchange a tense, meaningful glance before behaving politely.
• Wan Zhen reunites with her husband and goes upstairs with him to inspect their room, which Xu has specially prepared according to her preferences.

Character Developments

• He Jinyuan: Demonstrates determination and physical discipline, but also recklessness by exercising despite his reopened injury. He continues to cultivate a confident, flirtatious public image and mistakes Chu Xiyue’s concern for attraction.
• Chu Xiyue: Shows practical concern for He Jinyuan’s health but remains emotionally detached from his performance. She is easily distracted by gossip and reacts with amused annoyance to his flirtatious self-confidence.
• Wan Zhen: Is introduced as wealthy, elegant, socially polished, and highly controlled. Her subtle reaction to Chu Xiyue and restrained exchange with He Jinyuan suggest hidden feelings or prior familiarity.
• Xu Wenchong: Appears attentive and affectionate toward Wan Zhen, taking care to accommodate her preferences and reinforcing their image as an ideal wealthy couple.

Significant Themes

• Public image versus private reality: He Jinyuan appears strong and composed on camera while secretly suffering from his injury.
• Performance and celebrity culture: The livestream, fan comments, beauty, physiques, and Wan Zhen’s jewelry gifts all emphasize how personal appearances are used for popularity and promotion.
• Miscommunication and mistaken perceptions: He mistakes Chu Xiyue’s concern for admiration, while the audience remains unaware of his physical distress.
• Wealth and social status: Wan Zhen and Xu Wenchong’s lavish entrance, branded gifts, bodyguards, and luxury lifestyle contrast with the other participants’ more ordinary circumstances.
• Hidden relationships and tension: The brief eye contact between Wan Zhen and He Jinyuan hints at an undisclosed past or complicated connection.

Character Interactions

• Chu Xiyue warns He Jinyuan not to overexert himself, but he ignores her concern and later interprets her gaze in a self-flattering way.
• Chu and the system bond over gossip about He Jinyuan’s former wealthy partner.
• He Jinyuan interacts with the livestream audience through his exercise and flirtatious performance, while his fans enthusiastically praise him.
• Wan Zhen politely gives gifts to the cast and exchanges a particularly charged but restrained moment with He Jinyuan.
• Wan Zhen and Xu Wenchong present a loving, attentive married relationship as they prepare to settle into their room.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wan Zhen publicly acts adoring toward her husband, Xu Wenchong, creating the image of a loving wealthy couple. Online viewers romanticize their marriage as a classic domineering-CEO-and-delicate-wife relationship.
• Chu Xiyue, however, is more interested in the tense interactions between Li Fan’er and Zhao Xizhou than in the obvious affection between the married couple.
• The system reveals shocking gossip:
  • Wan Zhen has secretly had affairs with several young men and male models, including He Jinyuan.
  • Xu Wenchong has also cheated on Wan Zhen with multiple actresses from his company.
  • Wan Zhen previously seduced He Jinyuan when Xu Wenchong was away. Their encounter involved “Fourth Love,” leaving He Jinyuan so exhausted that he needed medical attention afterward.
  • Wan Zhen continues flirting with He Jinyuan on the show, secretly touching and teasing his hand through a gift box.
  • Wan Zhen originally became Xu Wenchong’s mistress while he was married to her cousin. She and Xu carried on an affair in the first wife’s hospital room, allegedly angering the sick woman to death. Wan Zhen married Xu less than three months after his first wife died.
• Chu Xiyue organizes the tangled relationships and concludes that none of the three—Wan Zhen, Xu Wenchong, or He Jinyuan—is innocent. She happily treats the situation as exceptionally entertaining gossip.
• During the afternoon break, Chu Xiyue, Li Fan’er, and Zhao Xizhou turn off their livestreams, while He Jinyuan keeps his running.
• He Jinyuan reads quietly by a floor-to-ceiling window, attracting enthusiastic audience praise for his looks, intelligence, and disciplined image. Fans also look forward to his upcoming role as Zhou Qiao’an in Galaxy and Stars.
• After a long nap, Chu Xiyue wakes refreshed, washes her face, and turns her camera back on.

Character Developments

• Chu Xiyue: Shows her strong appetite for gossip and her tendency to view complicated relationships as entertainment. She is observant enough to reconstruct the affair network but remains detached because she believes all involved parties are equally morally compromised.
• Wan Zhen: Her public image as a sweet, devoted wife is exposed as a façade. She is revealed to be manipulative, sexually adventurous, unfaithful, and still interested in He Jinyuan despite being married.
• Xu Wenchong: The seemingly loving husband is revealed to be a serial cheater who began his relationship with Wan Zhen through an affair that contributed to his first wife’s death.
• He Jinyuan: His polished, attractive celebrity persona contrasts with his hidden involvement with wealthy patrons, including Wan Zhen. Nevertheless, he maintains a calm, studious public image during the livestream.
• Li Fan’er and Zhao Xizhou: Their subtle antagonism continues to attract Chu Xiyue’s interest, suggesting an entertaining rivalry or romantic tension.

Significant Themes

• Public image versus private reality: The wealthy couple’s romantic public persona conceals mutual betrayal and scandal.
• Gossip as entertainment: Chu Xiyue and the livestream audience consume other people’s secrets as spectacle.
• Complicated relationships and moral ambiguity: Affairs overlap across marriages, family ties, and patronage arrangements, making it difficult to identify a truly innocent person.
• Celebrity performance: He Jinyuan’s quiet reading session demonstrates how carefully curated behavior and appearance shape fans’ perceptions.
• Romance versus reality: The audience sees an idealized love story, while Chu Xiyue—and the system—reveals a far darker truth beneath it.

Chapter Summary: “A Tragedy Caused by a Goose”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chu Xiyue begins streaming from the dating-show villa, though almost no viewers are watching. She is content to remain unnoticed and observe the drama around her.
• The show’s director announces that a problem with the boxed meals means the contestants must complete tasks for the villagers of Big Well Village in exchange for dinner.
• The contestants are paired according to their existing “couples”: Li Fan’er with Zhao Xizhou, Wan Zhen with Xu Wenchong, and Chu Xiyue with He Jinyuan.
• While walking to the village, Wan Zhen pretends to stumble and secretly passes He Jinyuan a note arranging a meeting in the woods at nine that night.
• Chu Xiyue notices the exchange and, through the system, learns that Wan Zhen and He Jinyuan are secretly having an affair. Wan Zhen deliberately enjoys the danger and excitement of carrying on under the cameras and Xu Wenchong’s nose.
• The group is assigned to pick plums in a mountain orchard. He Jinyuan, who has a serious injury, struggles to climb the mountain but hides his pain for the sake of his public image.
• The system reveals that He Jinyuan has reopened his wound while climbing. Chu Xiyue realizes that his visible sweat and discomfort are caused by severe pain rather than exertion.

Character Developments

• Chu Xiyue remains observant, detached, and sarcastic. She recognizes the hypocrisy of the adulterous couple and considers exposing them, though she ultimately decides they are not worth interfering with.
• Wan Zhen appears gentle and affectionate toward Xu Wenchong in public but is bold and thrill-seeking in private, arranging a secret meeting with He Jinyuan.
• He Jinyuan carefully maintains a polished, gentlemanly image on camera, yet secretly participates in the affair. His determination to hide his injury reveals both physical vulnerability and concern for his reputation.
• Xu Wenchong remains unaware that his partner is betraying him, symbolically wearing the “green hat” of a cuckolded man.
• The system provides Chu Xiyue with hidden information about the contestants’ actions and condition, allowing her to see through their performances.

Significant Themes

• Public image versus private reality: The contestants perform romance, politeness, and composure for the cameras while concealing betrayal, pain, and ulterior motives.
• Infidelity and karma: Wan Zhen and He Jinyuan’s affair mirrors the earlier betrayal involving Xu Wenchong and his wife, suggesting that Xu’s current humiliation is a form of poetic justice.
• Voyeurism and thrill-seeking: Wan Zhen is attracted to the excitement of secret relationships conducted in plain sight.
• Endurance and appearances: He Jinyuan suppresses obvious signs of pain to protect his image, emphasizing the pressure placed on contestants in entertainment programs.
• Detached observation: Chu Xiyue acts more like an amused spectator than an active participant, watching the characters’ schemes unfold.

Character Interactions

• Wan Zhen stages a stumble so He Jinyuan can catch her, using the moment to pass him a secret note.
• He Jinyuan responds with exaggerated politeness and later secretly reads the note while pretending to tie his shoe.
• Wan Zhen continues acting affectionate toward Xu Wenchong immediately after arranging her clandestine meeting.
• Chu Xiyue observes the couple’s behavior, judges their hypocrisy, and briefly considers exposing them to create conflict.
• Chu Xiyue and He Jinyuan are paired for the village task, but she becomes more focused on his concealed injury after learning the truth from the system.

Chapter Summary: “A Goose-Triggered Disaster 2”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chu Xiyue checks on He Jinyuan after his apparent injury, but he insists he only needs rest. She accepts his answer and begins picking plums.
• The system alerts Chu Xiyue that Li Fan’er and Zhao Xizhou are arguing privately after a question about first love. Curious, Chu secretly moves nearby to listen while pretending to gather plums.
• Through the system’s commentary, Chu learns that Zhao Xizhou is jealous and upset because Li Fan’er’s answer did not involve him. He demands to know what their years together meant, then impulsively kisses her against a tree. Li Fan’er responds by slapping him.
• He Jinyuan eventually recovers enough to help Chu pick plums. Because he wants to leave quickly and has no energy to perform for the cameras, their group finishes first. Wan Zhen’s group comes second, while Li Fan’er and Zhao Xizhou’s group comes third.
• Chu notices that Zhao Xizhou still has a faint handprint on his face, confirming the intensity of his confrontation with Li Fan’er.
• On the way back, He Jinyuan carelessly comments that a nearby goose would be delicious as stew or roast. The goose appears to understand him and becomes hostile.
• A flock of geese suddenly charges the group, targeting He Jinyuan specifically. Everyone flees, and one of He Jinyuan’s shoes is knocked off.
• The livestream captures He Jinyuan running awkwardly while being chased. Viewers mock his unusual height and movement, joking about his real height.
• The system reveals that He Jinyuan is actually around 1.75 meters barefoot but artificially appears taller through elevator shoes and exaggerated claims about his height.

Character Developments

• Chu Xiyue: Remains highly curious and entertained by other people’s romantic drama. She uses the plum-picking task as an excuse to eavesdrop, while also showing practical awareness by moving away from the geese before they attack.
• He Jinyuan: Reveals himself to be physically vulnerable after his earlier injury and more concerned with finishing the task than maintaining his usual public image. His careless remarks about eating the goose trigger the comic disaster. His concealed height-enhancement practices are also exposed.
• Li Fan’er: Maintains a cold, guarded attitude toward Zhao Xizhou, refusing to explain her first love or acknowledge the emotional significance of their past. Her slap shows that she rejects his aggressive attempt to revive their relationship.
• Zhao Xizhou: Displays unresolved feelings and jealousy toward Li Fan’er. His emotional questioning and impulsive kiss reveal that he remains deeply affected by their former relationship.
• Wan Zhen: Remains mostly in the background, with her group successfully completing the task second.

Significant Themes

• Hidden truths and public image: He Jinyuan’s fabricated height and Li Fan’er and Zhao Xizhou’s concealed relationship tensions show how public personas differ from private reality.
• Romantic unresolved feelings: Zhao Xizhou’s jealousy and Li Fan’er’s refusal to engage highlight the lingering pain and ambiguity of their breakup.
• Comedy through humiliation: He Jinyuan’s injury, the goose attack, and the exposure of his height exaggeration undermine his polished celebrity image.
• Surveillance and entertainment: The livestream and system turn private conflicts and embarrassing moments into entertainment for Chu and the viewers.

Character Interactions

• Chu politely checks on He Jinyuan, while he responds warily and tries to hide his discomfort.
• Chu observes Li Fan’er and Zhao Xizhou’s confrontation through the system’s narration rather than directly participating.
• Li Fan’er rejects Zhao Xizhou’s emotional questioning and responds to his unwanted kiss with a slap.
• Chu notices Zhao’s handprint and silently interprets the aftermath of the argument.
• He Jinyuan’s comments about the goose provoke the flock’s attack, turning him into the group’s accidental target and the livestream’s main source of amusement.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chu Xiyue realizes that both Zhao Xizhou and Li Fan’er have falsified their official heights for career reasons: Zhao claims to be shorter so he can pair more convincingly with actresses, while Li reports herself as shorter to avoid being viewed as too tall for the idol market.
• He Jinyuan is chased by a flock of aggressive geese after provoking them. Their unusually large leader takes flight and attacks him from above.
• He Jinyuan trips on a goose egg and is repeatedly pecked in a particularly painful and humiliating area. The attack is witnessed by the cast, production crew, and livestream audience.
• The incident becomes a viral sensation. A Weibo topic mocking the attack rises into the top trending searches, making He Jinyuan famous for an embarrassing reason.
• The livestream ends early, and He Jinyuan is escorted back to the villa despite insisting that he is fine.
• After showering and changing, He Jinyuan angrily demands that the director capture and stew the offending goose. The director explains that it is actually a wild white swan, a nationally protected Class II animal, so it cannot be captured or harmed.
• Chu Xiyue secretly enjoys He Jinyuan’s misfortune while eating with Li Fan’er.
• Upon returning to the villa, Wan Zhen publicly asks whether He Jinyuan has recovered. Their restrained exchange appears polite, but the system interprets their expressions as evidence of a hidden relationship or plan involving meeting in the woods that night.

Character Developments

• Chu Xiyue: Continues to observe others through the system’s commentary and reacts with amusement and disbelief. She becomes increasingly suspicious of the hidden relationship between He Jinyuan and Wan Zhen.
• He Jinyuan: Suffers a humiliating defeat at the hands—or beak—of the swan, but tries to preserve his dignity by insisting he is unharmed. His anger afterward reveals his pride and frustration, while his sudden fame ironically fulfills his desire to appear in the trending searches.
• Zhao Xizhou and Li Fan’er: Their height-related lies show how both have adapted their public images to entertainment-industry expectations. Their similar behavior also prompts Chu Xiyue to joke about them being exes.
• Wan Zhen: Maintains a composed public façade, expressing concern for He Jinyuan while apparently using the conversation to covertly assess whether he can still meet her privately.
• Li Fan’er: Acts as Chu Xiyue’s companion during the meal and notices Chu Xiyue’s unexplained amusement.
• The Director: Serves as the practical voice of reason, explaining that the “goose” is a protected white swan and preventing He Jinyuan from retaliating.

Significant Themes

• Public image versus reality: Zhao Xizhou, Li Fan’er, and He Jinyuan all reveal different ways celebrities’ public identities diverge from reality.
• Humiliation and celebrity fame: He Jinyuan becomes a trending topic not because of talent or achievement, but because of a painfully comic accident.
• Nature overpowering humans: The supposedly harmless geese—and especially the disguised white swan—demonstrate unexpected power and leave the humans helpless.
• Hidden relationships and secrecy: Wan Zhen and He Jinyuan’s carefully controlled interaction suggests that their true relationship differs from what they show publicly.
• Comedy through contrast: The chapter repeatedly contrasts serious celebrity behavior with absurd events, such as a dramatic attack accompanied by a sentimental ringtone.

Character Interactions

• Chu Xiyue compares Zhao Xizhou’s and Li Fan’er’s height deceptions and jokes about their shared behavior as former lovers.
• The cast and crew rush to rescue He Jinyuan after the swan’s attack, though their concern is tempered by awkwardness over the location of his injuries.
• He Jinyuan confronts the director and demands revenge, but the director explains why the protected swan cannot be caught.
• Li Fan’er questions Chu Xiyue’s unexplained laughter, prompting Chu Xiyue to conceal the real reason.
• Wan Zhen and He Jinyuan exchange polite words in front of everyone, while the system suggests their conversation carries a covert, intimate meaning.

Chapter Summary: “Wild Lovebirds Meeting in the Woods”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Despite being injured, He Jinyuan takes painkillers and continues pursuing Wan Zhen because their relationship can provide him with valuable resources.
• Wan Zhen waits for an opportunity to leave the house and meet He Jinyuan secretly. She subtly encourages Chu Xiyue to return to her room so she can sneak out unnoticed.
• Chu Xiyue realizes what Wan Zhen is planning and pretends to go upstairs, then secretly follows her to the pavilion beside a pond in the eastern woods.
• From behind a tree, Chu Xiyue watches Wan Zhen and He Jinyuan meet. They flirt, kiss passionately, and engage in intimate touching, though they stop before having sex outdoors.
• Wan Zhen and He Jinyuan return separately to avoid suspicion. The system reveals that they have already arranged to meet again the following night.
• Chu Xiyue reacts aloud, calling them overly bold, only to discover another girl, Wu Taotao, hiding nearby and watching the same encounter with a camera.

Character Developments

• Chu Xiyue displays her strong curiosity and love of gossip. Rather than being shocked by the affair, she becomes eager to observe it firsthand, though the actual scene proves less exciting than her imagination.
• Wan Zhen is shown to have a deceptive double life: she acts gentle and respectable around Xu Wenchong but becomes assertive and openly flirtatious with He Jinyuan.
• He Jinyuan appears calculating and opportunistic. He tolerates his injuries and maintains the affair because of the benefits he can gain from Wan Zhen.
• Xu Wenchong remains unaware of Wan Zhen’s nighttime activities, largely because she relies on his predictable sleeping habits.
• Wu Taotao is introduced as another secret observer and apparent gossip enthusiast, creating a new potential connection or complication for Chu Xiyue.

Significant Themes

• Deception and secret relationships: Wan Zhen and He Jinyuan carefully conceal their affair while maintaining respectable public identities.
• Opportunism: He Jinyuan’s willingness to continue despite his injuries emphasizes his desire for resources and advancement.
• Contrast between appearance and reality: Wan Zhen’s demure behavior around Xu Wenchong sharply contrasts with her dominant, passionate conduct with He Jinyuan.
• Voyeurism and gossip: Chu Xiyue and Wu Taotao both take pleasure in secretly observing the affair, turning the hidden romance into a source of entertainment.
• Imagination versus reality: Chu Xiyue expects an extremely dramatic encounter but finds the actual scene comparatively ordinary.

Important Character Interactions

• Wan Zhen manipulates Chu Xiyue into leaving the living room, allowing her to slip away.
• At the pavilion, Wan Zhen takes the dominant role, teasing He Jinyuan and initiating their physical intimacy.
• The system provides Chu Xiyue with directions and live commentary, encouraging her curiosity.
• After the rendezvous, Chu Xiyue accidentally speaks aloud and discovers Wu Taotao, who had also been secretly watching the couple. Their unexpected meeting ends the chapter on a humorous cliffhanger.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Wu Taotao meets Chu Xiyue and is surprised when Chu recognizes her as a famous paparazzo.
• The two bond over celebrity gossip. Wu shares a complicated story about two members of a boy band competing for a girl who actually loved a third member.
• Wu then reveals scandalous details about Best Actor Guo Jingfeng, who publicly cultivated a “good man” image while cheating on his wife with his assistant. His wife allegedly caught him with her brother and hired Wu to expose him.
• Wu asks Chu about the affair between He Jinyuan and Wan Zhen. In exchange for details about the boy-band scandal, Chu reveals highly sensational information about the affair, including their secret encounters and flirtation in front of He’s wife.
• Wu asks whether Chu has evidence, but Chu’s silence makes it clear that she has none. Wu nevertheless thanks her and promises to report honestly on the events she photographed before leaving.
• After Wu departs, the system reveals the tragic reason behind her career: her younger sister, once an artist under Azure Sea Entertainment, was manipulated by a male celebrity, developed depression, and died by suicide after he abandoned her. The company then smeared her reputation to protect him.

Character developments

• Chu Xiyue is shown to be intensely enthusiastic about gossip, even becoming emotionally overwhelmed by the romantic scandals she hears. Her system limits her gossip knowledge to people she has met, but she still enjoys hearing other rumors.
• Wu Taotao appears outspoken, principled, and passionate about exposing hypocritical celebrities. Her work is not merely sensational journalism; it is driven by grief and a desire for justice for her sister.
• Wu and Chu quickly form a temporary bond as fellow gossip lovers, despite Wu initially intending to investigate Chu.

Significant themes

• The hidden corruption of the entertainment industry: celebrities and agencies manipulate public images while concealing abuse, infidelity, and exploitation.
• Truth versus reputation: Wu seeks to expose “good men” whose public personas hide immoral behavior, while Azure Sea Entertainment uses propaganda to suppress the truth.
• Justice and revenge: Wu’s paparazzi career is motivated by her determination to clear her sister’s name and punish those responsible.
• Gossip as both entertainment and power: The characters enjoy scandalous stories, but the information also has the potential to expose wrongdoing and damage powerful people.

Character interactions

• Chu and Wu exchange gossip in an increasingly excited, friendly conversation, each offering more sensational information than the other.
• Wu treats Chu like a trusted fellow investigator and attempts to buy evidence from her, but Chu has only firsthand or system-provided knowledge.
• Their interaction changes Wu from a suspicious paparazzo into someone willing to trust and appreciate Chu, while the system’s revelation gives the reader deeper insight into Wu’s motives.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chu Xiyue asks whether the male celebrity Wu Taotao was watching is He Jinyuan, but the system clarifies that he is actually Feng Xiuzhuo, Azure Sea Entertainment’s top star.
• Wu Taotao, a well-known paparazzo, posts a teaser announcing that she will expose a scandal involving a young male star with an “H” surname and a wealthy married woman.
• Chu Xiyue becomes excited by the gossip, especially because her phone has been confiscated and she must rely on the system to view Weibo.
• Wu Taotao edits and schedules a video exposing He Jinyuan’s secret meeting with a married wealthy woman, identified only as “Z.”
• The next morning, the scandal becomes a trending topic under the headline “He Jinyuan’s Late-Night Tryst with a Married Rich Woman.”
• The video shows He Jinyuan meeting the woman in a secluded pavilion. She behaves flirtatiously and aggressively, touching and kissing him for more than twenty minutes.
• Wu Taotao’s narration frames the encounter as an immoral affair because the woman is married, while emphasizing that she appears to dominate the relationship.
• The internet erupts, particularly because He Jinyuan has cultivated an image as an innocent, devoted, “pure” young man. Fans and critics argue over the authenticity of his public persona, and netizens begin trying to uncover the identity of the wealthy woman.

Character Developments

• Chu Xiyue: Demonstrates a strong interest in celebrity gossip and enjoys sharing it with others. Her curiosity and enthusiasm provide a lighthearted contrast to the scandal’s seriousness.
• Wu Taotao: Is established as a principled and fearless paparazzo. Unlike other reporters who sell scandals for money, she publishes major scoops directly and only acts when she has compelling evidence.
• He Jinyuan: Suffers a major blow to his carefully maintained innocent and faithful image. The footage suggests a hidden, pleasure-seeking side that contradicts his public reputation.
• The wealthy woman “Z”: Appears confident, flirtatious, and dominant in her interactions with He Jinyuan. Her identity remains concealed, creating a new mystery.
• He Jinyuan’s fans: Initially defend him as pure and inexperienced, but their certainty is undermined when the video is released.

Significant Themes

• Public image versus private behavior: He Jinyuan’s scandal exposes the gap between his wholesome entertainment persona and his apparent private conduct.
• Celebrity culture and fan worship: Fans defend their idol despite rumors, while the public eagerly consumes evidence that challenges his carefully crafted image.
• The power of paparazzi and social media: Wu Taotao’s investigation rapidly becomes a national controversy through Weibo, showing how quickly online platforms can shape public opinion.
• Morality and voyeurism: Although the affair is condemned as immoral because the woman is married, the public also enjoys the intimate footage as sensational entertainment.
• Truth versus speculation: Before the evidence is released, netizens guess at the celebrity’s identity and argue based on rumors; afterward, the video gives the scandal apparent credibility.

Character Interactions

• Chu Xiyue and Wu Taotao are connected through their shared interest in celebrity scandals, though Chu mainly observes and reacts to Wu’s investigation.
• Wu Taotao’s footage captures the intimate interaction between He Jinyuan and the wealthy woman, with the woman clearly taking the initiative and He Jinyuan participating.
• He Jinyuan’s behavior in the video directly conflicts with the image promoted by his fans and variety-show appearances.
• Netizens interact indirectly with the scandal by attacking one another, mocking He Jinyuan’s supporters, defending him, and attempting to identify the mysterious woman.

Chapter Summary: “The One She Loves Most” — Original Wife and Mistress Come to Blows

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chu Xiyue follows the online gossip through the system and enjoys interacting with netizens.
• He Jinyuan emerges from his room unaware that paparazzi have photographed his secret meeting and passionate kiss with Wan Zhen in the woods the previous night.
• Believing Wan Zhen will help him obtain valuable entertainment-industry resources, He Jinyuan remains cheerful and relaxed at breakfast.
• Wan Zhen arrives downstairs holding hands with her husband, Xu Wenchong, and discreetly exchanges a glance with He Jinyuan.
• Chu Xiyue quickly joins the others in the living room so she can witness the unfolding scandal in person.
• Once the livestream begins, viewers flood He Jinyuan’s room. His fans attempt to deny that the man in the leaked video is him, while other viewers mock their increasingly implausible explanations.
• Netizens identify the mysterious wealthy woman in the video as Wan Zhen, Xu Wenchong’s wife, by matching her distinctive limited-edition jacket, jewelry, and posture.
• The scandal becomes far more explosive because Wan Zhen is not only married but also a guest on the same reality show. She has been publicly displaying affection for Xu Wenchong while secretly kissing He Jinyuan.
• The production team realizes that the scandal has caused viewership to skyrocket—at least ten times higher than before. Although He Jinyuan’s agent, Wan Zhen’s assistant, and Xu Wenchong’s family try to contact the guests, the director ignores them to preserve the traffic.
• With the guests’ phones confiscated, none of them knows that the internet is dissecting their every interaction.
• Viewers begin carefully analyzing He Jinyuan and Wan Zhen’s glances, body language, and behavior from previous episodes, eagerly anticipating a confrontation between Xu Wenchong and Wan Zhen.

Character Developments

• Chu Xiyue: Becomes an enthusiastic spectator rather than an active participant, using the system to follow the scandal and enjoying the spectacle alongside the netizens. Her amusement and curiosity highlight her detached, gossip-loving attitude.
• He Jinyuan: Remains oblivious to the scandal and confidently believes Wan Zhen’s promise to help his career. His relaxed behavior contrasts sharply with the public crisis developing around him.
• Wan Zhen: Maintains a composed public image by appearing affectionate with Xu Wenchong, while secretly communicating with He Jinyuan through glances. Her dual behavior exposes the tension between her public marriage and hidden affair.
• Xu Wenchong: Appears unaware of his wife’s betrayal and continues to behave affectionately toward her. His ignorance increases the suspense, as viewers wait for him to discover the scandal.
• The netizens: Transform into investigators, using fashion details, body language, and earlier footage to prove Wan Zhen’s identity. Their commentary drives the chapter’s humor and escalating drama.
• The production team and director: Prioritize the show’s surging popularity over the guests’ privacy and safety, deliberately allowing the scandal to continue unfolding live.

Significant Themes

• Public image versus private behavior: Wan Zhen presents herself as a loving wife on camera while concealing an affair with He Jinyuan.
• The power of social media and gossip: A single paparazzi video rapidly becomes a major scandal, with online viewers identifying the people involved and controlling the narrative.
• Celebrity culture and fan denial: He Jinyuan’s fans refuse to recognize him despite clear evidence, illustrating the lengths fans may go to protect an idol’s reputation.
• Entertainment as spectacle: The production team exploits the scandal for ratings, while viewers treat the possible marital confrontation as entertainment.
• Irony and dramatic irony: The audience knows about the affair, but the people directly involved—especially He Jinyuan and Xu Wenchong—remain unaware of the online uproar.

Character Interactions

• He Jinyuan greets the staff warmly and eats breakfast, unaware that everyone is secretly discussing his scandal.
• He and Wan Zhen exchange discreet glances while she publicly holds hands with Xu Wenchong, revealing their secret connection.
• Wan Zhen and Xu Wenchong behave like an affectionate married couple, creating a sharp contrast with her hidden relationship.
• Chu Xiyue deliberately positions herself nearby to watch He Jinyuan and Wan Zhen interact.
• The guests casually chat in the living room, while viewers interpret every look and movement between He Jinyuan and Wan Zhen as evidence of their affair.
• The chapter ends with the audience eagerly anticipating the moment Xu Wenchong learns the truth and the supposed “original wife versus mistress” confrontation begins.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chu Xiyue secretly waits for Xu Wenchong to discover that his wife, Wan Zhen, has been having an affair with He Jinyuan. The production staff have suppressed the news temporarily, but Xu’s assistant is on the way with evidence.
• During a conversation about clothing, Chu casually suggests that Xu Wenchong wear a green tie. Her oddly suggestive response makes the livestream audience wonder whether she knows about Wan Zhen and He Jinyuan’s relationship.
• Xu Wenchong’s assistant arrives and gives him a tablet showing a video of Wan Zhen and He Jinyuan together.
• Enraged, Xu attacks He Jinyuan. Wan Zhen tries to stop the fight, but she and Xu argue over their mutual infidelity. Xu slaps her, and she retaliates by scratching his face.
• The villa erupts into chaos. Zhao Xizhou protects Li Fan’er, while Chu Xiyue happily watches the fight from the sidelines, eating sunflower seeds.
• Staff members eventually separate the three. Filming is canceled, the livestream is shut down, and news of the scandal spreads rapidly online. Xu, Wan Zhen, and He all leave the show.
• After the remaining guests return to normal, a new influencer couple, Miao Qingran and Wei Shaolin, arrives. They are publicly celebrated as a devoted, long-term couple known as “The Evenly Matched Couple.”
• The system reveals that Wei Shaolin is secretly manipulative: fearing Miao Qingran would surpass him academically and leave him, he drugged her before the college entrance English exam, sabotaging her results and preventing her from attending Tsinghua University.

Character Developments

• Chu Xiyue: Shows her detached, mischievous personality by eagerly anticipating the scandal and enjoying the fight as entertainment. She also appears unusually perceptive, causing viewers to suspect she knows more than she should.
• Xu Wenchong: Changes from a composed husband into an enraged and humiliated man after learning of Wan Zhen’s affair. His reaction exposes the hypocrisy and dysfunction within his marriage.
• Wan Zhen: Remains unapologetic about her affair, citing Xu’s own mistresses as justification. Her defiance escalates the confrontation.
• He Jinyuan: Becomes terrified and passive once the affair is exposed, unable to defend himself during Xu’s attack.
• Zhao Xizhou and Li Fan’er: Their interaction during the fight suggests Zhao is protective of Li Fan’er.
• Miao Qingran and Wei Shaolin: Are introduced as an apparently ideal couple, but the system immediately exposes Wei as controlling and self-serving beneath his romantic public image.

Significant Themes

• Public image versus private reality: The supposedly stable marriage and the “Evenly Matched Couple” both conceal serious betrayal and manipulation.
• Hypocrisy and mutual wrongdoing: Xu condemns Wan Zhen’s infidelity despite maintaining mistresses himself, revealing the double standards in their relationship.
• Entertainment and voyeurism: The guests’ scandal becomes public spectacle, while Chu and the online audience treat the violence as dramatic entertainment.
• Hidden information and dramatic irony: Chu Xiyue and the audience know—or suspect—secrets that the characters themselves do not yet understand.
• Control disguised as love: Wei Shaolin’s sabotage of Miao Qingran demonstrates how jealousy and insecurity can turn a relationship into an instrument of control.

Character Interactions

• Chu engages with the system while observing He, Wan, and Xu, privately anticipating the impending confrontation.
• Wan tries to include Chu in the group conversation, while He asks her opinion on Xu’s clothing.
• Xu attacks He after viewing the affair video; Wan attempts to intervene but ends up arguing with Xu and fighting him.
• Zhao shields Li Fan’er during the brawl.
• Chu remains an amused spectator rather than intervening.
• The chapter ends with the arrival of Miao Qingran and Wei Shaolin, whose seemingly affectionate partnership is immediately undermined by the system’s revelation about Wei’s past actions.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Chu Xiyue learns from the system that Wei Shaolin has repeatedly sabotaged Miao Qingran’s ambitions out of jealousy. He caused her to fail her college entrance exams, undermined her bid for student-union president, got her overseas exchange place revoked through an anonymous accusation, and deliberately caused a car accident that made her miss a Tsinghua graduate-school interview.
• Miao Qingran believes these setbacks were bad luck and does not know Wei was responsible. Chu decides she must help Miao discover the truth, though she realizes she needs evidence rather than simply making an accusation.
• Chu meets Miao and Wei. She greets Miao warmly but gives Wei a cold nod, prompting him to suspect Chu dislikes him. Miao dismisses his concern and gently suggests he consider whether he has done something wrong.
• News of the fight between He Jinyuan and Xu Wenchong goes viral. Online viewers rewatch the show and notice Chu repeatedly watching the three people involved in the affair, leading them to suspect she knew about Wan Zhen and He Jinyuan beforehand.
• The production team announces that Wan Zhen and Xu Wenchong are leaving the show for “personal reasons,” while He Jinyuan is withdrawing because of health issues. Online commenters speculate that the couple are divorcing and He was injured in the fight.

Character developments

• Chu Xiyue becomes increasingly protective of Miao and determined to expose Wei’s cruelty. She also attracts online attention as viewers analyze her reactions to the affair scandal.
• Miao Qingran is shown as sweet and perceptive: she notices Wei’s unease and encourages him to reflect on his own behavior, though she remains unaware of his long-running betrayal.
• Wei Shaolin is revealed to be outwardly humble and attentive but secretly controlling and deeply jealous, willing to sabotage the person he claims to love.
• He Jinyuan, Wan Zhen, and Xu Wenchong leave the show after their affair and fight become a major public spectacle.

Significant themes

• Betrayal disguised as devotion: Wei’s polite, accommodating image hides years of deliberate harm.
• Luck versus manipulation: Miao attributes her failures to misfortune, while Chu learns they were engineered by someone she trusted.
• Public spectacle and online judgment: The affair and fight turn the dating show into viral entertainment, with viewers scrutinizing cast members’ expressions for clues.
• Truth and proof: Chu wants to protect Miao but recognizes that revealing the truth will require more than an unsupported accusation.

Character interactions

• Chu’s warmth toward Miao contrasts with her deliberate coldness toward Wei.
• Miao defends Chu’s character at first, then turns the conversation toward Wei’s possible shortcomings, unwittingly echoing Chu’s suspicions.
• Online viewers collectively examine Chu’s behavior and conclude that she may have known about the affair before it was exposed.

Chapter Summary: “Truth or Dare”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Due to the scandal surrounding He Jinyuan, the production team debates whether to remove him, Miao Qingran, and Wei Shaolin from the broadcast. Despite the risk of the show being canceled, the director chooses to keep them in—and even gives them additional screen time—to capitalize on the controversy.
• Rain disrupts the planned outdoor filming, leaving the cast stuck indoors without their phones. Chu Xiyue suggests playing Truth or Dare to relieve the boredom.
• The game’s rules require the person with the lowest dice roll to answer a question drawn by the highest roller. Refusing or lying results in a punishment, including drinking bitter melon juice.
• Li Fan’er and Zhao Xizhou’s past relationship is hinted at when Zhao begins to reveal that Li Fan’er was his first kiss in high school. She stops him by stepping on his foot. The system confirms that she once pinned him down and forcibly kissed him on a rooftop.
• Miao Qingran is asked about her greatest regret. She initially claims to have none, but Chu Xiyue exposes the lie. Miao admits she regrets missing a Tsinghua graduate-school interview after a car accident while Wei Shaolin was driving her.
• Wei Shaolin takes responsibility for the accident, while Miao insists it was not his fault and attributes her repeated misfortunes to bad luck. She punishes herself by drinking three cups of bitter melon juice.
• Chu Xiyue then rolls the highest number while Wei Shaolin rolls the lowest. She draws a provocative question: what is the thing he has done that hurt his significant other the most? The chapter ends with everyone focusing on Wei Shaolin, anticipating an explosive answer.

Character Developments

• Chu Xiyue: Takes control of the situation by organizing the game. Although she presents it as harmless entertainment, she deliberately uses the questions to expose hidden relationships and secrets, particularly those involving Miao Qingran and Wei Shaolin. Her confidence and sharp observation make her a dangerous participant.
• Li Fan’er: Appears aggressive and guarded about her past with Zhao Xizhou. Her reaction confirms that their relationship was intimate and possibly complicated, despite their current hostility.
• Zhao Xizhou: Maintains a teasing, amused attitude toward Li Fan’er but nearly reveals their shared romantic history. His hesitation and reaction show that he is still affected by their past.
• Miao Qingran: Initially tries to conceal her regret to protect Wei Shaolin from guilt, but her lie is exposed. Her willingness to punish herself and her acceptance of misfortune reinforce her self-sacrificing personality.
• Wei Shaolin: Publicly appears caring and devoted toward Miao Qingran, comforting her and accepting blame for the accident. However, Chu Xiyue’s next question suggests that his relationship may contain darker or more complicated truths.
• He Jinyuan: Does not directly participate in the chapter’s events, but the controversy surrounding him shapes the production team’s decisions and the episode’s potential broadcast.

Significant Themes

• Truth versus concealment: The game forces the characters to confront secrets they normally hide, while also revealing how far they will go to protect themselves or others.
• Public image and scandal: The production team treats controversy as both a danger and an opportunity, emphasizing the entertainment industry’s willingness to exploit scandal for ratings.
• Guilt and self-sacrifice: Miao Qingran lies to spare Wei Shaolin guilt, then accepts punishment, while Wei openly takes responsibility for her missed interview.
• Past relationships resurfacing: Li Fan’er and Zhao Xizhou’s unresolved romantic history emerges through a seemingly casual game.
• Manipulation and exposure: Chu Xiyue uses the game strategically, turning an innocent activity into a method of uncovering hidden conflicts.

Character Interactions

• Chu Xiyue challenges Miao Qingran’s lie directly, forcing her to reveal her true regret.
• Wei Shaolin supports Miao by holding her hand, apologizing for her, giving her water, and accepting blame for the accident.
• Li Fan’er and Zhao Xizhou exchange hostile but suggestive reactions, revealing lingering tension and familiarity from their past.
• Chu Xiyue’s increasingly pointed questions place pressure on both couples, especially Wei Shaolin, whose answer about hurting his significant other is poised to expose a major secret.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• During a truth-game on the reality show, Wei Shaolin claims that his greatest regret toward Miao Qingran was causing a car accident while taking her to an exam.
• Chu Xiyue immediately calls him a liar. Although Wei denies it, his nervous reaction confirms that he is hiding something.
• Miao Qingran notices his unease but chooses not to investigate, telling herself that couples can have small secrets and that ignorance may be easier.
• In the next round, the game’s system manipulates the results so Wei receives another unfavorable question: whether he would choose his girlfriend or a promotion with a raise.
• Wei hesitates before claiming that nothing could matter more than Miao Qingran. Chu Xiyue does not expose him, but Miao notices the hesitation and begins to doubt him.
• After the group ends the game for the night, Miao goes to the terrace alone. Chu Xiyue joins her and encourages her to confront the possibility that Wei has concealed something serious.
• Miao asks whether Wei cheated on her. Chu denies that he did, but reveals that his secrets are even more sinister:
  • The car accident before Miao’s graduate-school interview was deliberate.
  • Wei anonymously reported her for misconduct, causing her exchange-student opportunity to be revoked.
  • He switched the speech draft and USB drive during her student-council campaign.
  • He put laxatives in her water before her college entrance exam, causing her diarrhea.
• Miao is left stunned as she realizes that Wei has repeatedly sabotaged major opportunities in her life.

Character Developments

• Chu Xiyue is perceptive, confident, and determined to expose Wei’s lies. With the system’s assistance, she carefully engineers the game to pressure him without revealing everything at once.
• Wei Shaolin presents himself as apologetic and affectionate, but his nervousness, hesitation, and evasive behavior reveal his dishonesty. His apparent concern for Miao is exposed as a façade masking years of deliberate sabotage.
• Miao Qingran initially suppresses her suspicions to preserve her relationship and upcoming marriage. However, Wei’s hesitation weakens her trust, and Chu’s revelations force her to confront the possibility that the man she has loved for seven years has intentionally harmed her.
• The system supports Chu Xiyue by manipulating the game’s results, ensuring that Wei repeatedly faces questions likely to expose him.

Significant Themes

• Deception beneath romantic appearances: Wei’s loving image hides calculated cruelty and manipulation.
• Self-sacrifice and misplaced trust: Miao has repeatedly excused or ignored troubling behavior in order to protect the relationship.
• The danger of “ignorance is bliss”: Avoiding uncomfortable truths may preserve temporary peace but allows betrayal to continue.
• Female empowerment and justice: Chu Xiyue acts as an advocate for Miao, refusing to let Wei’s lies go unchallenged.
• Sabotage and control: Wei’s actions show how abuse can take the form of secretly destroying someone’s education, opportunities, and future while appearing supportive.

Character Interactions

• Chu publicly challenges Wei’s false account, creating immediate tension.
• Wei and Miao perform affection and humor for the group, but Miao privately begins observing his reactions more carefully.
• Chu uses silent eye contact to pressure Wei during the promotion-versus-girlfriend question, causing him to hesitate.
• On the terrace, Chu offers Miao emotional support and gives her permission to seek the truth, helping her overcome her reluctance.
• Miao directly asks whether Wei cheated; Chu clarifies that the betrayal is not infidelity but a long history of intentional harm, leaving Miao shocked and devastated.

Chapter Summary: Miao Qingran and Wei Shaolin Break Up

Plot Points and Events

• Chu Xiyue reveals to Miao Qingran that Wei Shaolin may have deliberately sabotaged several important moments in her life.
• Miao recalls suspicious incidents: Wei causing a car accident that made her miss a university interview, an anonymous tip accusing her of improper behavior, the unexplained substitution of a USB drive, and possibly tampering with her drink before the college entrance exam.
• Miao asks for evidence, but Chu encourages her to investigate independently. A junior traces the anonymous tip to Wei Shaolin’s dormitory IP address, confirming his involvement.
• Devastated and enraged, Miao realizes that Wei—not mere bad luck—caused many of her failures and may have ruined her chance to attend her dream university.
• Chu consoles her indirectly, comparing Wei to a rabid dog that should be dealt with rather than pitied. Miao regains her composure and decides not to confront Wei immediately; instead, she plans to expose him publicly on the livestream.
• The following day, Miao appears in a striking black suit and makeup. In front of the cameras, she abruptly slaps Wei Shaolin, shocking the guests, staff, and viewers.
• When Wei asks why she hit him, Miao coldly confronts him about deliberately causing the car accident. Wei denies responsibility, claiming it was an accident.

Character Developments

• Miao Qingran: Changes from disbelief and grief to anger, determination, and strategic resolve. She recognizes Wei’s betrayal and chooses public exposure over an impulsive private breakup.
• Chu Xiyue: Acts as a calm catalyst, allowing Miao to vent while guiding her toward confronting the truth and reclaiming her dignity.
• Wei Shaolin: Is exposed as potentially manipulative and malicious, having sabotaged Miao for his own interests. He maintains a calm facade and immediately denies the accusation when confronted.
• The audience and other participants: Shift from casual interest in the show’s romantic drama to intense curiosity about Miao and Wei’s sudden conflict.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal by a trusted loved one can distort a person’s entire understanding of their past.
• The chapter contrasts passive suffering with active retaliation and self-empowerment.
• Public reputation and exposure become tools for justice, especially when private betrayal has gone unpunished.
• It also emphasizes the danger of dismissing repeated warning signs as mere accidents.

Character Interactions

• Miao and Chu share a supportive conversation in which Chu helps Miao process her grief and encourages her to focus on the wrongdoer rather than blame herself.
• Miao’s relationship with Wei shifts from longtime affection to open hostility.
• During the livestream, Miao publicly attacks and challenges Wei, while Wei responds with shock and denial.
• Viewers, staff, and fellow guests react with confusion and excitement as the couple’s seemingly stable relationship collapses in front of them.