Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Huang Yayi returns to the Huang Family with the intention of reclaiming everything the first branch lost. Following the system’s strategy, she spreads rumors that whoever wins a major cooperation project will become the family’s next heir.
• The rumor divides the second, third, fourth, and fifth branches. The second and third branches attack one another, while the fourth and fifth branches attempt to exploit the conflict. Alliances repeatedly shift as each branch fights for influence.
• The infighting becomes increasingly violent. The second branch is framed and loses a major project, the third branch’s son narrowly escapes a serious car accident, and Huang Yayi herself survives multiple assassination attempts, including car crashes, falling objects, and an attack with an unknown liquid.
• After the second and third branches are implicated in attempted murder, their madams and sons are arrested. The weakened fourth and fifth branches attempt to expose Huang Yayi, but she confronts the family directly.
• Huang Yayi destroys the Huang Family’s business and reclaims the wealth and status belonging to the first branch. Huang Hongfa is hospitalized, while the fourth and fifth branches are eventually imprisoned. The Huang Family collapses.
• Huang Yayi also takes revenge on Father Chen by exposing Old Master Chen’s sexual scandals, betrayal of business partners, bribery, and tax violations. The resulting media storm leads to a huge fine and leaves him hospitalized alongside Huang Hongfa.
• After the Hong Kong Island family battle ends, Chu Xiyue is invited to join the second season of The One She Loves Most. Although she has largely shifted toward behind-the-scenes work and initially hesitates, she accepts because Cheng Heyun, CEO of one of the show’s funding companies, will appear on camera.
• Chu Xiyue privately views the program as an opportunity to spend time with Cheng Heyun and potentially advance or rekindle their relationship. Online viewers eagerly anticipate her return, mostly because of her entertaining gossip and presence on the show.

Character Developments

• Huang Yayi transforms from a powerless woman forced to marry overseas for protection into a formidable strategist and business rival. She manipulates the Huang branches into weakening one another, survives repeated attacks, and ultimately defeats the entire family.
• The Huang Family’s branches reveal their greed, ruthlessness, and willingness to betray one another for inheritance and business control. Their shifting alliances ultimately cause their collective downfall.
• Huang Hongfa loses control of the family and company, ending up hospitalized after Huang Yayi’s revenge.
• Old Master Chen is publicly disgraced after Huang Yayi exposes his crimes and immoral behavior. He suffers severe financial and personal consequences.
• Chu Xiyue is increasingly semi-retired from acting and is focusing on production and other work behind the scenes. Her decision to join the reality show reflects her desire to spend more time with Cheng Heyun.
• Cheng Heyun makes an unusual on-camera appearance, clearly using the show as a way to reconnect with or deepen his relationship with Chu Xiyue.

Significant Themes

• Revenge and restoration: Huang Yayi’s campaign is framed as reclaiming what was stolen from the first branch.
• Greed and internal betrayal: The Huang Family destroys itself because its members value power and inheritance over loyalty.
• Strategic manipulation: A carefully planted rumor allows Huang Yayi to turn her enemies against one another.
• Justice through exposure: Publicly revealing hidden crimes becomes a weapon against powerful families who previously acted with impunity.
• Power reversal: Characters once treated as helpless or peripheral gain control, while established wealthy families collapse.
• Love amid busy lives: Chu Xiyue and Cheng Heyun’s storyline shifts toward quietly pursuing a relationship despite their demanding careers.

Character Interactions

• Huang Yayi manipulates the rival branches by spreading the inheritance rumor and then confronts them directly once they are weakened.
• The second and third branches alternate between attacking each other and forming temporary alliances against the fourth branch and later Huang Yayi.
• The fourth branch recruits the normally uninvolved fifth branch, but their cooperation cannot withstand the larger family struggle.
• Huang Yayi retaliates against Huang Hongfa and the branches by destroying their company and exposing their wrongdoing.
• She also targets Old Master Chen through the media, turning his past actions into public scandal.
• Chu Xiyue’s participation in the new reality show is motivated largely by her connection with Cheng Heyun, while the audience remains unaware of the romantic reason behind her return.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The second season of The One She Loves Most is announced, with Chu Xiyue as its only initially confirmed guest. Her reputation as a “scandal magnet” makes other potential celebrities reluctant to participate, fearing the negative publicity associated with her.
• To make the season possible, the production team changes the format and invites several manufactured industry “CPs,” or publicity couples, along with supposedly ordinary participants who actually have connections to the entertainment industry. Some hope to become famous, while others have undisclosed personal motives.
• The day before filming begins, the court verdicts for former major figures Wen Yan and Ning Shuixin are announced. Both are revealed to have been masterminds behind numerous past schemes and are sentenced to lengthy prison terms—thirteen years for Ning Shuixin and fifteen for Wen Yan.
• News of their downfall becomes a major trending topic and revives public interest in the scandals from the first season. This dramatically increases anticipation for Season Two.
• Director Wang begins the opening livestream by explaining the revised rules. The season includes three married couples, two dating couples, and four single guests. The couples stay in separate cottages, while the singles live in a separate villa.
• Guests are allowed to visit and interact freely outside of official tasks. The show is filmed at a wealthy seaside resort sponsored by major corporations, reflecting the production’s much stronger financial backing compared with the previous season.
• The livestream initially displays six locations—five cottages and one luxurious sea-view villa—but no guests appear for a long time. Most viewers become impatient and leave, causing the audience to drop by roughly two-thirds.

Character Developments

• Chu Xiyue: Her reputation has become so dangerous that other celebrities avoid appearing alongside her, yet her scandal-filled image also makes her the central attraction of the new season.
• Director Wang: He returns as the host and appears far more confident and prosperous this season because of the support from powerful sponsors.
• Wen Yan and Ning Shuixin: Their public images collapse completely. Once prominent figures, they are exposed as masterminds and receive long prison sentences, becoming a renewed source of public fascination.
• The new contestants: They are introduced indirectly as a mixture of celebrity couples, aspiring entertainers, and people with hidden motives. Their true relationships and reasons for joining are intentionally left mysterious.

Significant Themes

• Scandal as entertainment: Public wrongdoing and celebrity controversy are treated as a form of spectacle, driving both media attention and viewers’ excitement.
• The danger of manufactured relationships: The show openly relies on fake or exaggerated CP pairings, suggesting that romance and publicity are deeply intertwined in the entertainment industry.
• Reputation and public image: Chu Xiyue’s notoriety and the downfall of Wen Yan and Ning Shuixin demonstrate how quickly fame can become either an advantage or a liability.
• Power and commercial influence: The involvement of Skylight Group and Lingyun Group shows the growing role of wealthy corporate sponsors in shaping entertainment productions.
• Suspicion and hidden motives: The mysterious backgrounds of several “ordinary” contestants hint that the season will involve concealed identities, personal agendas, and future revelations.

Character Interactions

• Potential guests interact with the production team indirectly by rejecting invitations after learning that Chu Xiyue will participate, showing their fear of being caught up in her scandals.
• The director engages with viewers through the livestream, though fans impatiently demand that he stop explaining the rules and introduce the contestants.
• The audience reacts collectively to the Wen-Ning scandal and connects it with the new show, demonstrating how public gossip links the previous season to the current one.
• The revised living arrangements separate married couples, dating couples, and singles while still allowing them to visit one another, creating opportunities for future alliances, conflicts, romantic entanglements, and exposure of fake relationships.

Chapter 263 Summary

Key plot points and events

• A couple arrives at House No. 3 on the dating show: Wei Pingqun, champion of the hip-hop program Hip-Hop-Boys, and his girlfriend Han Yanyan, a fashion designer.
• The livestream audience recognizes Wei immediately. His fans react positively to his relationship, teasing one another about Han’s gentle, elegant appearance and jokingly expressing jealousy.
• Wei introduces himself through a freestyle rap, while Han gives a polite, conventional introduction.
• Attention shifts dramatically when Chu Xiyue passes in the background with two bodyguards. Nearly half the viewers immediately leave Wei’s livestream to watch her instead.
• Wei becomes visibly resentful. He had joined the show partly to increase his popularity, but Chu’s overwhelming appeal makes him feel ignored and inferior.
• Han notices his mood and tactfully reminds him to deliver the welcome gifts he prepared for the other guests, particularly Chu. Wei regains his composure and praises Han for being thoughtful and considerate.

Character developments

• Wei Pingqun is established as talented and popular within the niche hip-hop community, but insecure about his comparatively limited fame. His jealousy toward Chu reveals his vanity, competitiveness, and resentment of her privileged background.
• Han Yanyan appears gentle, observant, and emotionally intelligent. She understands Wei’s frustration and smoothly redirects him before his displeasure becomes obvious on camera, presenting herself as both supportive and socially adept.
• Chu Xiyue does not directly interact with the couple, but her brief appearance demonstrates her extraordinary influence and star power. Her presence alone overwhelms Wei’s livestream.
• Wei’s fans are largely accepting of his relationship, suggesting that his fanbase values his talent and tolerates his personal life as long as he avoids serious scandals.

Significant themes

• Popularity and public attention: The chapter contrasts Wei’s niche fame with Chu Xiyue’s broad, magnetic appeal.
• Jealousy and insecurity: Wei’s anger stems less from anything Chu does than from his fear of being overlooked.
• Image versus reality: Wei and Han present a harmonious couple to the cameras, while Wei privately struggles with resentment and ambition.
• Emotional intelligence and social performance: Han’s discreet intervention shows how carefully participants must manage their behavior in a livestreamed entertainment environment.
• Status and privilege: Wei begrudges Chu for benefiting from her family background, revealing tension between earned talent and inherited social advantages.

Character interactions

• Wei and Han cooperate during their introduction, with Han complementing Wei’s flashy freestyle presentation through her reserved demeanor.
• The fans interact energetically in the livestream chat, welcoming Han while joking about their envy of Wei.
• Chu’s indirect “interaction” with Wei—simply appearing in the background—causes viewers to abandon him and triggers his resentment.
• Han then privately steadies Wei and encourages him to approach Chu with the prepared gift, allowing the couple to maintain a gracious public image.

Chapter Summary: The Alliance Between the Wife and the Mistress

Han Yanyan responds warmly to Chu Xiyue’s departure, though her distant tone suggests hidden thoughts or a deeper agenda. She and her boyfriend, rapper Wei Pingqun, unpack their belongings and gifts before visiting Chu Xiyue at the luxurious Seaside Villa, where the reality show participants are staying.
Wei feels jealous of Chu Xiyue’s privileged lifestyle and resents that she has access to such an expansive villa simply because she is the investor’s daughter. However, with cameras recording, he conceals his resentment and pretends that his modest home is more comfortable and intimate. His attitude changes when he sees Chu Xiyue’s extraordinary beauty and wealthy, leisurely lifestyle, and his admiration becomes apparent.
Chu Xiyue is introduced sunbathing in the villa’s garden, surrounded by luxury and attended by a bodyguard. Her beauty immediately captivates both Wei and the livestream audience. Although she is known as the Chu family’s eldest daughter and a highly successful entertainment investor, she behaves calmly and naturally, without overtly flaunting her status. She welcomes Han and Wei, accepting their gift through her bodyguard and inviting them inside.
The meeting is initially awkward. Chu occupies the seat of honor with effortless authority, while Wei and Han sit below her and struggle to find common ground. Wei makes a harmless comment about the tea to fill the silence, but the atmosphere remains uncomfortable until Chu takes the initiative. Displaying her interest in gossip and relationships, she asks how long Han and Wei have been together and how they met.
Han answers that they have been dating for three months. Chu then asks what Han likes about Wei, a question that reflects the viewers’ curiosity about the unlikely pairing: Han appears refined, gentle, and conventional, while Wei is a tattooed, rough-edged rapper known for smoking, drinking, and his flamboyant appearance.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Han Yanyan remains outwardly gentle, polite, and shy, but her subtle tone and brief scrutiny of Chu suggest that she may be more perceptive or calculating than she appears.
• Wei Pingqun reveals insecurity and envy toward Chu’s wealth, though he masks these feelings for the cameras. He is also visibly impressed by Chu’s beauty and status.
• Chu Xiyue demonstrates confidence, social authority, and a relaxed command of her surroundings. She quickly takes control of the conversation and shows a keen interest in the romantic dynamics among the participants.
• The interaction between Chu, Han, and Wei establishes an uneasy contrast between wealth and ordinary life, as well as between Chu’s dominant presence and Han’s seemingly quiet, harmless persona.

Significant Themes

• Appearances versus hidden motives: Han’s sweet exterior may conceal deeper intentions, while Wei hides his jealousy behind polite behavior.
• Class and privilege: Wei’s resentment highlights the divide between ordinary contestants and Chu’s wealthy, influential background.
• Public image and performance: Everyone must carefully manage their behavior because of the livestream and cameras.
• Unusual romantic pairings and social judgment: The audience questions how the refined Han became involved with someone as unconventional as Wei, setting up further scrutiny of their relationship.

Key plot points and events

• On a dating show, Wei Pingqun tells a romantic story about falling in love with Han Yanyan at first sight and pursuing her for three months. Viewers find the couple charming.
• Chu Xiyue’s Gossip-Eating System reveals that Wei’s story is fabricated. Han was his fan; he arranged to meet her privately, got her drunk, and assaulted her.
• The next day, Han considered reporting him, but Wei begged forgiveness and claimed it had been a drunken mistake. Because she admired him and believed his apology, she forgave him and later became his girlfriend.
• Wei was already legally married when he pursued Han. He deceived his wife by claiming the show was scripted and Han was merely a production-arranged “girlfriend.”
• A month earlier, Han discovered the marriage and contacted Wei’s wife. The two women are coordinating a plan to expose him on the show: Han intends to replace the scheduled romantic VCR with evidence of his cheating.

Character developments

• Chu Xiyue shifts from casually listening to the couple’s story to becoming alert and indignant once she learns the truth. She admires Han’s plan and eagerly anticipates Wei’s public downfall.
• Han Yanyan initially appears shy and devoted, but the system’s account reveals her past vulnerability and her present resolve. Though she once forgave Wei, she is now taking deliberate action against him.
• Wei Pingqun presents himself as a devoted romantic partner, but is exposed as manipulative: he fabricated his courtship story, assaulted Han, concealed his marriage, and lied to his wife.

Significant themes

• Public image versus private reality: Wei’s polished romantic narrative hides abuse and deceit.
• Manipulation and power: He exploits Han’s admiration and his wife’s lack of industry knowledge.
• Accountability and revenge: Han and Wei’s wife use the show’s popularity to make his misconduct difficult to conceal or dismiss.
• The danger of idealizing celebrities: Han’s admiration initially makes her more willing to believe Wei’s apology.

Character interactions

• Wei publicly holds Han’s hand and tells their supposed love story, while Han appears shy before the cameras.
• Privately, Wei used an arranged meeting to assault Han, then begged her not to report him and framed his actions as a drunken mistake.
• Han and Wei’s wife have joined forces to expose him, while Chu Xiyue observes the couple and learns their history through her system.

Chapter Summary — Page 266

• Han Yanyan meets Chu Xiyue: Chu Xiyue warmly asks Han Yanyan to call her by her first name and gives her a meeting gift. Han Yanyan is both intimidated by Chu Xiyue’s perceptive reputation and captivated by her beauty. She worries Chu Xiyue might discover her secret plan to disrupt the dating show, but concludes that Chu Xiyue has not seen through her intentions.
• Chu Xiyue takes protective action: Although Chu Xiyue appears friendly and relaxed, she is quietly managing the show’s risks. As an investor, she messages the director and orders Wei Pingqun’s footage removed from the edited broadcast, while allowing it to remain in the livestream. This shows that she wants to protect the program’s profitability without sacrificing the entertainment value of the unfolding drama.
• Major celebrity couple joins the show: The livestream introduces Wang Shuran, a highly acclaimed actress, followed by Fu Chengze, a famous singer and former idol. Viewers immediately recognize them and speculate about their rumored relationship. The two then reveal that they are already married, introducing each other as husband and wife while displaying their wedding rings.
• Public reaction: Their announcement causes an explosive online reaction, with related topics dominating Weibo and forcing the platform to expand its servers. Fans and casual viewers are shocked because the couple had maintained a low public profile and seemed unrelated professionally. Contrary to expectations, Fu Chengze’s fans respond calmly, expressing respect and support for his marriage to Wang Shuran.

Character developments and interactions

• Han Yanyan remains anxious about concealing her disruptive intentions but is visibly affected by Chu Xiyue’s kindness and attractiveness.
• Chu Xiyue demonstrates sharp judgment, emotional composure, and strategic control behind the scenes. She interacts warmly with Han while simultaneously manipulating the show’s production.
• Wang Shuran and Fu Chengze present a united, confident image, revealing that their relationship is more serious and established than the public suspected.
• Chu Xiyue observes the celebrity couple’s announcement and the online reaction with amused interest.
• Significant themes: The chapter contrasts public image with private reality, showing how celebrities can conceal major personal developments from the public. It also explores media spectacle, fan culture, and the tension between entertainment and risk management. Chu Xiyue’s actions further highlight the theme of controlling what audiences see while preserving the drama that keeps them watching.

Chapter Summary: “Peacock Spreading Its Tail”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fans celebrate Fu Chengze’s supposed “release from the single market” through giveaways and congratulatory posts. These organized reactions prevent the announcement from causing a major backlash.
• The system discovers that Fu Chengze’s fan leaders, supportive commenters, and giveaway accounts are actually operated by his studio employees or Fu Chengze himself. He is deliberately controlling public opinion and protecting the woman involved.
• A Weibo post from Wang Shuran’s cousin claims that Wang Shuran and Fu Chengze have secretly been married for years. The cousin points out that they rarely meet, and Wang Shuran’s home shows no evidence of a husband, leading netizens to suspect that their marriage is contractual.
• The system confirms that Wang Shuran and Fu Chengze are indeed contract spouses. Their marriage began as a mutually beneficial arrangement, but Wang Shuran gradually fell in love with Fu Chengze.
• Wang Shuran joins the dating show partly to test Fu Chengze’s feelings and bring them closer. However, she does not realize that Fu Chengze has secretly loved her for years and deliberately arranged their marriage.
• Chu Xiyue becomes excited by their “marriage before love” storyline and decides to promote their relationship as a popular couple on the show.
• When the director asks whether the production team should respond to the online controversy, Chu Xiyue refuses to intervene directly. Instead, she orders the crew to give Wang Shuran and Fu Chengze more suggestive screen time to boost interest in their pairing.
• A new woman, Bai Nian, arrives at the villa and introduces herself to Chu Xiyue.
• While speaking with the system, Chu Xiyue learns about Fu Chengze’s past feelings for Wang Shuran. They were high school classmates, and Wang Shuran defended him when other boys bullied him for being unusually beautiful. Fu Chengze began falling for her afterward.
• Fu Chengze once intended to confess after the college entrance exams, but he saw Wang Shuran embracing her first boyfriend and mistakenly believed he had no chance.

Character Developments

• Chu Xiyue: Shows her entrepreneurial and gossip-loving nature. Rather than worrying about the scandal, she sees the contract marriage as valuable entertainment and actively plans to turn Wang Shuran and Fu Chengze into a popular couple.
• Fu Chengze: Is revealed to be highly calculating in public relations, using fake accounts and hired commenters to manage fan reactions. Beneath this controlled exterior, he has carried a long-standing, unrequited love for Wang Shuran and may have engineered their marriage.
• Wang Shuran: Although she originally entered the marriage for practical reasons, she has developed genuine feelings for Fu Chengze. Her participation in the dating show reflects both emotional uncertainty and a desire to test their relationship.
• Bai Nian: Makes her first appearance as a gentle, refined, and seemingly innocent newcomer. Her immediate appraisal of Chu Xiyue hints that she may become significant.
• Wang Shuran’s cousin: Acts as the source of the contract-marriage scandal, apparently exposing Wang Shuran’s private life out of hostility rather than concern.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation of public opinion: Fu Chengze carefully manufactures fan support and suppresses negative reactions through paid accounts, giveaways, and staged online enthusiasm.
• Public image versus private truth: The public sees Fu Chengze and Wang Shuran as newly involved, while their actual relationship is a long-standing secret marriage.
• Marriage before love and hidden affection: Their relationship follows a romantic trope in which a practical marriage gradually becomes genuine, complicated by Fu Chengze’s years of concealed love.
• Entertainment as business: Chu Xiyue treats emotional developments as content and recognizes the commercial value of promoting a compelling romantic pairing.
• Misunderstanding and missed opportunities: Fu Chengze’s failed confession results from misinterpreting Wang Shuran’s relationship with her first boyfriend, allowing his unrequited love to continue for years.

Character Interactions

• The system and Chu Xiyue investigate the online scandal together, with the system uncovering Fu Chengze’s public-relations tactics and hidden romantic history.
• Chu Xiyue communicates with the director and instructs him to increase the romantic editing and screen time for Wang Shuran and Fu Chengze.
• Bai Nian politely introduces herself to Chu Xiyue, though Chu remains more interested in discussing the Wang-Fu relationship than in welcoming her.
• The system reveals the emotional history between Wang Shuran and Fu Chengze, allowing Chu Xiyue to view their relationship as a genuine romantic storyline rather than merely a publicity scandal.

Chapter 268 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chu Xiyue learns that Wang Shuran and Fu Chengze have a classic “marriage-before-love” relationship. Wang Shuran’s first love once confessed to her in high school, only to find her with her boyfriend and leave heartbroken.
• The system reveals that Wang Shuran’s first love is Ke Yan’an, another male civilian guest on the dating show. Chu Xiyue realizes that Wang’s ex and current husband are about to appear on the same program and eagerly anticipates the resulting confrontation.
• Chu Xiyue also learns that Fu Chengze does not yet know Ke Yan’an is coming, though he will soon find out. Cheng Heyun is expected to arrive as well.
• While Chu Xiyue is absorbed in the potential romantic drama, Bai Nian tries to gain her attention by accusing her of ignoring her. Chu responds bluntly, asking whether they are actually close.
• Bai Nian appears hurt, leading some livestream viewers to defend her, while others suspect she is deliberately acting innocent and using overly familiar language to manipulate public opinion.
• A black Maybach arrives at the resort. The new guest is revealed to be Cheng Heyun, the handsome and intimidating CEO of Skylight Group.
• Viewers initially mistake Cheng Heyun for a new celebrity because of his exceptional appearance. His identity is soon recognized, and employees describe him as the feared “King Yama” of the company despite his elegant looks.

Character Developments

• Chu Xiyue shows herself to be highly entertained by romantic conflict and increasingly treats the unfolding situation like a drama to observe. She remains blunt and socially detached, refusing to indulge Bai Nian’s attempts at forced intimacy.
• Bai Nian presents herself as vulnerable and eager to befriend Chu Xiyue, but her behavior is ambiguous. The public is divided over whether she is genuinely hurt or deliberately creating a victim image.
• Wang Shuran and Fu Chengze’s relationship gains additional background: their marriage developed from a complicated history involving Wang’s first love and Fu’s eventual role as her lifelong partner.
• Ke Yan’an is established as Wang Shuran’s unresolved first love and a potentially disruptive presence in the show.
• Cheng Heyun is introduced as a strikingly handsome but cold and intimidating business leader. His arrival creates excitement among viewers and adds another powerful figure to the cast.

Significant Themes

• Old love versus lasting love: The chapter sets up a conflict between Wang Shuran’s unforgettable first love and her current marriage with Fu Chengze.
• Reality resembling fiction: Chu Xiyue observes that the cast’s relationships resemble the plot of a romantic novel more than the expected entertainment-industry rebirth story.
• Public image and manipulation: Bai Nian’s interaction with Chu highlights how emotional performances can influence livestream audiences and generate conflicting interpretations.
• Appearance versus personality: Cheng Heyun’s stunning looks attract immediate admiration, while employee comments reveal a much harsher, intimidating personality beneath his refined exterior.
• Spectatorship and gossip: Chu Xiyue and the system eagerly anticipate drama, while the livestream audience similarly turns the guests’ personal relationships into entertainment.

Character Interactions

• Chu Xiyue and the system: They enthusiastically discuss the possible confrontation between Ke Yan’an and Fu Chengze, though the system knows more about the situation than Chu realizes.
• Chu Xiyue and Bai Nian: Bai seeks closeness, but Chu rejects the attempt with blunt honesty, leaving Bai appearing wounded.
• Wang Shuran, Fu Chengze, and Ke Yan’an: Though not yet reunited in the chapter, their romantic triangle is established as the central impending source of conflict.
• Cheng Heyun and the livestream audience: His entrance immediately captivates viewers, who first idolize him as a potential celebrity before learning that he is the feared CEO of Skylight Group.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After a clip showcasing Cheng Heyun’s handsome, stern “boss” image goes viral, netizens flood Skylight Group with job applications, even overwhelming the company’s HR system.
• At the dating-show villa, Cheng Heyun arrives and immediately seeks out Chu Xiyue rather than interacting with the other contestants.
• Bai Nian attempts to introduce herself and attract his attention, but Cheng Heyun walks past her without noticing her. He warmly greets Chu Xiyue instead, revealing that their relationship is more familiar and emotionally significant than viewers expected.
• Bai Nian asks Chu Xiyue to introduce Cheng Heyun, using a seemingly considerate excuse that she does not want to upset Chu Xiyue. The system warns Chu Xiyue that Bai Nian has a history of interfering in other people’s relationships.
• Chu Xiyue shows no jealousy and casually tells Bai Nian to ask Cheng Heyun herself.
• Cheng Heyun responds to Bai Nian’s interruption by questioning her age indirectly through her zodiac sign. After learning she is older than Chu Xiyue, he mocks her for calling Chu Xiyue “Big Sister.”
• He continues insulting Bai Nian under the guise of concern, suggesting she undergo another eye examination because she apparently cannot tell that Chu Xiyue looks younger than her.
• Bai Nian struggles to maintain her composure on camera, while livestream viewers laugh at Cheng Heyun’s blunt defense of Chu Xiyue.

Character Developments

• Cheng Heyun: His outwardly cold and disciplined CEO persona disappears around Chu Xiyue. He becomes gentle, attentive, and openly protective, while displaying a sharp, sarcastic side toward anyone who disrupts their interaction.
• Chu Xiyue: She remains calm, detached, and uninterested in competing for Cheng Heyun’s attention. Her refusal to react jealously contrasts with Bai Nian’s attempts to provoke or charm him.
• Bai Nian: Her carefully constructed image of sweetness and vulnerability begins to crack. Cheng Heyun’s indifference and ridicule leave her embarrassed and resentful, revealing her possessive and manipulative inner attitude.
• The System: It identifies Bai Nian as a “green tea” character and warns Chu Xiyue about her history of meddling in relationships, though Chu Xiyue does not feel threatened.

Significant Themes

• Public image versus true behavior: Cheng Heyun appears cold to outsiders but becomes unusually gentle with Chu Xiyue, exposing the difference between his public reputation and private feelings.
• Romantic favoritism and loyalty: His immediate focus on Chu Xiyue makes his feelings—or at least his special concern for her—obvious to both the characters and the audience.
• Social performance: Bai Nian’s sweet, graceful manner is presented as a carefully maintained act that collapses when she loses control of the situation.
• Humor through power imbalance: Cheng Heyun uses his status, composure, and verbal precision to embarrass Bai Nian without openly losing his temper.

Character Interactions

• Cheng Heyun and Chu Xiyue exchange a warm reunion, with his gentleness contrasting sharply with his usual stern demeanor.
• Bai Nian tries to insert herself between them, but Chu Xiyue refuses to engage in rivalry.
• Cheng Heyun directly challenges Bai Nian’s condescending use of “Big Sister” and sarcastically questions her eyesight, effectively defending Chu Xiyue while humiliating Bai Nian.
• The livestream audience recognizes Cheng Heyun’s obvious bias toward Chu Xiyue and jokes that the supposedly cold CEO is essentially her devoted follower.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• After Cheng Heyun harshly criticizes Bai Nian, she retreats to a corner, while viewers comment on his vicious tongue and usual severity.
• The final single guest, Ke Yan’an, arrives. He is a cheerful, attractive musician in his thirties and Wang Shuran’s ex-boyfriend.
• Ke immediately focuses on Chu Xiyue instead of Wang Shuran, asking to call her by her first name. The system explains that he has switched targets because Chu is younger, wealthier, and more advantageous to marry.
• Chu firmly rejects the familiarity, asking him to call her “Chu Xiyue” or “Chairwoman Chu.” Cheng Heyun becomes visibly pleased and uses the opportunity to criticize Ke’s manners while subtly asserting his own closeness to Chu.
• Cheng orders food tailored to Chu’s preferences, further displaying his attentiveness and affection.
• News of Cheng’s appearance on the dating show with Chu quickly becomes a trending topic, with headlines framing them as a real-life domineering-CEO/wealthy-heiress romance.
• Chu Xiyue’s brother, Chu Chengyun, sees the news and angrily messages Cheng, shocked that his friend has joined a dating show with his sister. Cheng teasingly replies by calling him “Big Brother,” worsening his outrage.
• After lunch, the remaining guests begin arriving. The director’s earlier plan to invite established celebrity couples was reconsidered because of scandals from the first season, leading him to investigate the prospective participants more carefully.

Character developments

• Cheng Heyun reveals a jealous and competitive side. Though normally cold and cutting, he becomes gentle around Chu and deliberately competes with Ke through “polite” but pointed remarks.
• Chu Xiyue demonstrates discernment and firm boundaries, refusing Ke’s overly familiar approach and maintaining control of the situation. She also recognizes Cheng’s jealousy with some amusement and confusion.
• Ke Yan’an is introduced as outwardly friendly and energetic, but the system exposes his pragmatic motives: he sees Chu as a more profitable romantic prospect than Wang Shuran.
• Bai Nian attempts to recover from Cheng’s insult and behave normally, though she remains wary of him.
• Chu Chengyun reacts protectively and possessively as an older brother, feeling betrayed that Cheng has apparently “stolen” his sister’s romantic spotlight.

Significant themes

• Jealousy and romantic competition: Cheng’s rivalry with Ke intensifies as Ke openly pursues Chu.
• Appearances versus motives: Ke presents himself as warm and helpful, but his interest in Chu is partly driven by her wealth and status.
• Social performance and manipulation: Cheng uses refined manners and indirect comments to undermine Ke, effectively “fighting tea with tea.”
• Boundaries and personal agency: Chu refuses to let Ke dictate the level of intimacy between them and asserts how she should be addressed.
• Reality-show spectacle: The participants’ relationships immediately become public entertainment, with online audiences and trending headlines shaping the narrative.

Character interactions

• Cheng insults Bai Nian, then becomes markedly warmer when speaking with Chu.
• Ke attempts to establish instant intimacy with Chu, while Cheng interrupts and warns him against it.
• Chu’s rejection of Ke’s nickname request reassures Cheng and strengthens their apparent alliance.
• Cheng orders food for Chu based on her preferences, highlighting their familiarity.
• Chu Chengyun confronts Cheng via text, while Cheng responds playfully and provocatively by calling him “Big Brother.”

Chapter Summary

• Production crisis and revised casting: The director realizes that Season Two’s heavily promoted celebrity “CPs” (couples) are secretly involved with other partners, making potential scandals a serious threat to the show. Because famous couples refuse to participate after Season One’s scandal-ridden reputation, the production team is forced to recruit less-famous guests, outsiders, and ordinary couples instead.
• Season Two’s full cast arrives: The cast now consists of three married couples, two dating or engaged couples, and four single guests. The couples include:
  • A married pair of former popular entertainers who now play parents in dramas.
  • Childhood sweethearts who are engaged.
  • An elderly couple in their seventies celebrating fifty years of marriage.
  • The remaining couples and guests, including the investor pair Chu Xiyue and Cheng Heyun, whose presence draws special attention.
• Viewers sense something missing: Although the livestream contains charming relationships, romantic tension, and pleasant interactions, viewers are dissatisfied because Season Two has produced none of the dramatic scandals associated with Season One. They flood Chu Xiyue’s livestream, hoping she will uncover and reveal secrets.
• Chu Xiyue already knows several secrets: Unlike the audience, Chu Xiyue is unaware of their demands because she has already learned multiple pieces of private information. The married and dating couples live separately from the singles’ villa, but they visit Chu Xiyue and Cheng Heyun after discovering that the show’s investors are present.
• Chu Xiyue and Cheng Heyun’s developing intimacy: After Chu Xiyue wakes from her nap, Cheng Heyun offers her coffee prepared with milk and sugar, clearly remembering her habits and preferences. His normally cold demeanor softens around her, impressing both Chu Xiyue and the viewers. Their quiet, familiar interaction resembles that of a long-married couple, prompting the audience to enthusiastically “ship” them.
• A serious revelation: The visiting married couple, Fang Lingrong and Ding Songwen, ask Chu Xiyue for help. Ding Songwen looks noticeably thinner than in his profile photo because he has recently become seriously ill. He reveals that he was diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer only two days earlier and has been told that he has less than two years to live. Fang Lingrong struggles to speak about the diagnosis, while Ding Songwen comforts her by taking responsibility for explaining the situation himself.

Character Development and Interactions

• Chu Xiyue: Continues to function as the person who uncovers the cast’s hidden secrets, though she remains unaware of the audience’s expectations. Her position as an investor gives other guests a reason to approach her for help.
• Cheng Heyun: Shows a tender, attentive side around Chu Xiyue, carefully preparing coffee for her and remembering her routine. His contrast between his usual aloofness and his warmth toward her deepens their apparent romantic connection.
• Fang Lingrong and Ding Songwen: Their interaction demonstrates a long-standing marriage grounded in mutual care. Fang is emotionally overwhelmed, while Ding remains composed enough to comfort her and disclose his illness.
• The viewers: Actively interpret and romanticize the cast’s relationships, especially Chu Xiyue and Cheng Heyun, while also craving the scandal and secrets that characterized the previous season.

Significant Themes

• The danger of manufactured romance: The production’s reliance on promoted CPs exposes the instability and dishonesty behind entertainment-industry relationships.
• Public image versus private reality: The guests’ apparent romantic identities may conceal complicated personal circumstances, while the audience eagerly searches for hidden scandals.
• Quiet, genuine affection: Cheng Heyun’s small act of making coffee suggests that understated attentiveness can be more meaningful than exaggerated public displays.
• Love and mortality: Ding Songwen’s terminal diagnosis introduces a more serious and emotional dimension to the show, emphasizing the depth of long-term devotion and the fragility of life.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fang Lingrong reveals that her husband, Ding Songwen, has late-stage stomach cancer and may have only months to two years left to live.
• She tearfully asks Chu Xiyue for the original footage from the variety show so she can preserve memories of her husband after his death.
• The livestream audience is deeply moved, and related hashtags about Ding’s illness and the couple’s “devotion” quickly trend online.
• However, Chu Xiyue’s system exposes the hidden truth: Fang Lingrong has been secretly giving Ding carcinogenic substances for years, causing his stomach cancer.
• Ding’s illness is revealed to be connected to an even darker history. He had repeatedly cheated on Fang, visited escorts, contracted AIDS, and transmitted it to her.
• Fang poisoned Ding partly as revenge and partly because he wanted to divorce her for another woman.
• Fang suffers from paranoid mental illness and remains obsessively attached to Ding, refusing to divorce him despite his betrayal and abuse.
• The supposed mistress was also Ding’s fellow patient and eventually died of late-stage cancer before their planned divorce could be completed.
• Alarmed by the couple’s dangerous circumstances and their shared AIDS diagnosis, Chu Xiyue distances herself from them and warns that they should maintain a safe distance.

Character Developments

• Chu Xiyue: Initially sympathizes with Fang and Ding, but her attitude changes completely after learning the truth. She becomes cautious, skeptical, and determined to protect herself, while also recognizing that Fang’s behavior reflects serious psychological problems.
• Fang Lingrong: Appears to be a devoted, grieving wife, but is revealed to be Ding’s long-term poisoner. Her actions arise from both revenge and obsessive attachment, highlighting her unstable mental state.
• Ding Songwen: Initially presented as a seriously ill, sympathetic husband, but is exposed as a serial cheater who contracted and transmitted AIDS, pursued a mistress, and continued harming others despite his condition.
• Cheng Heyun: Remains unaware of the hidden revelations but quietly accepts Chu Xiyue’s sudden closeness and retreat. His slight smile suggests he is pleased by her instinctive reliance on him.
• The system: Provides Chu Xiyue with crucial information, uncovering the couple’s secrets and confirming her suspicions about Fang’s behavior.

Significant Themes

• Deception and false appearances: The couple’s public image of enduring love contrasts sharply with their history of betrayal, poisoning, illness, and obsession.
• Revenge and moral ambiguity: Fang’s poisoning is criminal and dangerous, but it stems from Ding’s infidelity and deliberate transmission of AIDS, making their relationship morally complex rather than one-sided.
• Obsession and mental illness: Fang’s refusal to leave Ding, despite his abuse, shows how psychological illness can distort love, loyalty, and revenge.
• Public sympathy versus hidden truth: The audience is emotionally manipulated by Fang’s performance, while Chu Xiyue knows that the tragic story being broadcast is incomplete and misleading.
• Self-preservation: Chu Xiyue prioritizes her own safety over social expectations of compassion, especially when she realizes both participants may pose physical and psychological risks.

Character Interactions

• Fang appeals directly to Chu Xiyue for the original footage, presenting herself as a grieving wife.
• Chu initially prepares to agree, but after hearing the system’s warning, she quietly moves closer to Cheng Heyun for security.
• When the hidden AIDS diagnosis is revealed, Chu pulls Cheng farther away and uses a supposed cold as an excuse to maintain distance.
• Fang accepts Chu’s explanation and continues discussing Ding’s poor health, unintentionally strengthening the audience’s sympathy.
• The livestream viewers praise Fang and Ding’s apparent devotion, while Chu privately recognizes that their relationship is based on betrayal, revenge, and pathological attachment.

Chapter 273 Summary

Key plot points and events

Chu Xiyue learns through the system that Ding Songwen’s illness is not ordinary AIDS-related cancer. Fang Lingrong previously killed Ding’s mistress by sending her a highly radioactive necklace, causing her immune system to collapse and leading to blood cancer. After the mistress’s death, Ding still wanted to be buried with her, so Fang Lingrong decided to poison him as well, believing that if she could not possess him completely, no one else should.
Fang Lingrong asks Chu Xiyue to help create “beautiful memories” with Ding before his death. Though frightened by Fang’s apparent devotion and instability, Chu agrees and suggests a romantic photo location to get the couple away from the others. Ding, weak but affectionate, wonders aloud whether they will live to see the next summer together, moving the livestream audience to tears.
Once Fang and Ding leave, Chu orders the living room and everything they touched to be thoroughly sterilized. Viewers misunderstand this as discrimination against sick people and angrily criticize her. Chu then adds that the police should be called. With Cheng Heyun’s help, she reports that someone has poisoned and murdered another person, shocking both the crew and the audience.

Character developments

• Chu Xiyue becomes increasingly cautious and perceptive. Although she outwardly cooperates with Fang, she recognizes the danger behind Fang’s loving behavior and secretly takes precautions. Her request for sterilization initially makes her appear cold-hearted, but her police report reveals that she is acting to expose a serious crime.
• Fang Lingrong is revealed as possessive, obsessive, and dangerously ruthless. Her affection toward Ding is genuine, but it is distorted into total ownership: she kills his mistress and plans to ensure that Ding belongs to her even after death.
• Ding Songwen remains weak and unaware of the full danger surrounding him. His tenderness toward Fang and his uncertain remarks about the future make him appear tragic and sympathetic.
• Cheng Heyun quietly supports Chu, immediately calling the police when she instructs him to do so.

Significant themes

• Possessive love and obsession: Fang equates love with ownership and destruction, showing how affection can become terrifying when separated from empathy and freedom.
• Appearance versus reality: Fang and Ding appear to be a devoted, tragic couple to the audience, while Chu knows their relationship is built around murder and manipulation.
• Public misunderstanding and judgment: Viewers quickly condemn Chu based on incomplete information, demonstrating how easily public opinion can misinterpret actions without knowing the truth.
• Mortality and tragic romance: Ding’s uncertain future and the couple’s affectionate interaction evoke sympathy, while the underlying murder plot makes their apparent romance deeply unsettling.

Character interactions

Fang behaves tenderly toward Ding and asks Chu to help preserve their memories. Chu carefully placates her while steering the couple away from the group. Ding responds with gentle obedience and melancholy reflections about the future. After they leave, Chu works with Cheng Heyun and Director Wang to protect the others, arrange sterilization, and report Fang’s poisoning and murder to the police.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Cheng Heyun worries that Chu Xiyue may be ill, but she clarifies that she is not the victim.
• Chu publicly reveals that Ding Songwen was poisoned and accuses his wife, Fang Lingrong, of poisoning him.
• She further warns the staff not to touch cups, tissues, or furniture used by the couple without protection, revealing that both Ding and Fang have AIDS.
• Chu explains that Ding was a habitual client of prostitutes, contracted HIV, and infected Fang. She also implies that Fang poisoned him because of his betrayal and the disease he transmitted to her.
• The production crew and livestream viewers are shocked, and several staff members panic despite Chu’s explanation that ordinary contact does not transmit HIV.
• The police arrive after Chu reports the poisoning. She leads them to the resort garden, where Fang and Ding are walking together.
• Fang appears calm and composed when questioned, showing no obvious guilt. Ding initially defends her, insisting that she is gentle and incapable of wrongdoing.
• The police reveal that Ding is also connected to a case and take both spouses away for questioning, suggesting that he may be more than merely the poisoning victim.
• Public opinion rapidly shifts. Viewers who had believed the couple represented devoted, tragic love now debate whether their relationship was built on betrayal, resentment, and mutual suffering.

2. Character Developments

• Chu Xiyue demonstrates sharp observation, confidence, and fearlessness. She openly exposes the couple’s secrets on camera and immediately reports the suspected crime, taking control of the situation.
• Fang Lingrong remains remarkably calm under police scrutiny. Her controlled behavior and lack of visible guilt create ambiguity about her motives and suggest she may have carefully planned or concealed the poisoning.
• Ding Songwen is revealed to be an unfaithful man who solicited prostitutes and infected his wife with HIV. His initial performance as a worried, protective husband becomes increasingly suspicious.
• Cheng Heyun shows concern for Chu, reinforcing his attentiveness toward her, though he is also shocked by the revelations.
• The staff and viewers transition from curiosity and sympathy to fear, disbelief, and fascination as the couple’s hidden history is exposed.

3. Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: The seemingly loving married couple is revealed to have a deeply toxic and painful relationship.
• Betrayal and revenge: Ding’s infidelity and transmission of HIV provide a possible motive for Fang’s alleged poisoning.
• Public judgment and sensationalism: The livestream audience rapidly changes its opinion as new information emerges, showing how easily public narratives can be overturned.
• Crime hidden beneath entertainment: A romantic reality show abruptly becomes a criminal investigation, emphasizing the contrast between staged appearances and real-life violence.
• Consequences of irresponsible behavior: Ding’s sexual misconduct harms both himself and Fang, while Fang’s possible retaliation brings legal consequences.
• Ambiguity and suspicion: Although Fang is accused of poisoning Ding, the police also treat Ding as a suspect, suggesting that the full truth is more complicated than the initial revelation.

4. Character Interactions

• Cheng Heyun checks on Chu Xiyue’s health, while Chu dismisses concern and focuses on exposing the truth.
• Chu directly confronts the audience and production staff with alarming information about the poisoning and HIV infection.
• Fang remains polite and composed when the police approach, asking to speak with her husband before cooperating.
• Ding instinctively defends Fang, portraying her as gentle and harmless, but is stunned when police announce that he must also be investigated.
• The police treat both spouses as connected to criminal cases, undermining Ding’s apparent role as an innocent victim.
• Online viewers argue over whether Fang’s actions were an unforgivable crime or understandable revenge against a husband who betrayed and infected her.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Chu Xiyue exposed Fang Lingrong’s poisoning of Ding Songwen during a livestream, online debate intensifies. Netizens speculate about Fang’s motives, but almost no one guesses the true reason: she deliberately poisoned Ding with radioactive material.
• The police investigate quickly, aided by Chu’s information, and release an official report confirming that Fang carried a packet of highly radioactive powder and had been administering it to Ding over a long period.
• Fang is arrested for endangering public safety. Ding is detained for fifteen days for spreading a sexually transmitted disease, confirming that he has AIDS.
• Chu deliberately withholds from the police her knowledge that Fang had used the same method to kill Ding’s former lover. However, Ding himself connects the deaths after learning that his cancer was likely caused by radiation poisoning, prompting the police to investigate his former lover’s death. Her leukemia and residual radiation in her cremated remains are expected to provide evidence.
• Online opinion twists the incident into a romanticized story: Fang is praised as a wronged wife who punished an unfaithful husband, while Chu is accused of helping Ding and causing Fang’s arrest.
• Furious at the accusations, Chu takes over the livestream and argues forcefully with viewers. She insists that Fang’s actions were criminal and dangerous to everyone nearby, not a justified act of revenge.
• Chu reveals that Fang did not poison Ding because of his AIDS or infidelity. Fang remained devoted to him and even wanted to be buried beside him. Chu sarcastically describes Fang and Ding as a mutually destructive couple, rejecting the idea that one should be praised by condemning the other.
• After silencing the hostile commenters, Chu becomes thirsty. Cheng Heyun unexpectedly offers her water, and she drinks directly from the glass in his hand, creating an intimate, emotionally charged moment.

Character Developments

• Chu Xiyue demonstrates her strong moral principles and refusal to tolerate excuses for criminal behavior. She is outspoken, quick-witted, and willing to confront an entire livestream audience rather than allow Fang to be romanticized.
• Chu also shows strategic judgment by withholding certain information from the police when she cannot logically explain how she knows it, trusting them to uncover the connection independently.
• Fang Lingrong is revealed to be far more disturbing than the public’s imagined “wronged wife.” Her actions are driven not by righteous anger but by obsessive devotion to Ding, even while deliberately poisoning him and apparently killing his former lover.
• Ding Songwen is confirmed to be both seriously ill and morally corrupt: he has AIDS, cheated on Fang, and may have unknowingly helped reveal the truth about his former lover’s death.
• Cheng Heyun displays quiet attentiveness toward Chu by bringing her water after her heated confrontation. His focused gaze and the intimate gesture suggest growing romantic interest or emotional closeness between them.

Significant Themes

• The danger of romanticizing crime: The public turns a poisoning case into an entertaining revenge narrative, showing how easily people excuse violence when it fits a familiar “wronged woman” storyline.
• Moral responsibility and victim-blaming: Chu rejects the idea that Ding’s wrongdoing justifies Fang’s crimes, emphasizing that condemning one person does not require defending another.
• Public opinion versus truth: Online reactions are based on incomplete assumptions and rapidly shift into misinformation, while the police investigation gradually uncovers the factual reality.
• Obsession disguised as devotion: Fang’s desire to remain with Ding even after death reveals how love, possession, and violence can become dangerously intertwined.
• Justice and evidence: Chu relies on the authorities to establish the truth rather than exposing information she cannot plausibly know, while the police use medical and forensic evidence to pursue the broader case.

Important Character Interactions

• Chu and the police: Chu provides crucial information but carefully limits what she reveals, allowing the authorities to investigate while protecting the credibility of her own account.
• Chu and the netizens: She directly challenges viewers who defend Fang, dismantling their romanticized interpretation and defending the importance of legal and moral accountability.
• Fang and Ding: Their relationship is portrayed as mutually toxic—Fang is obsessively devoted and murderous, while Ding is a cheating, disease-spreading criminal.
• Chu and Cheng Heyun: Cheng’s quiet act of offering water contrasts with Chu’s combative livestream exchange. Her instinctive acceptance of the water and his intense gaze create a subtle romantic moment at the chapter’s close.

Chapter Summary

Plot and events

During the recording, Cheng Heyun quietly cares for Chu Xiyue by handing her a tissue without being asked. Their wordless coordination and mutual attention excite the livestream audience, who enthusiastically ship them as a couple. Chu Xiyue notices the comments and, for the first time, calls Cheng Heyun by his full name instead of “Brother Cheng.” She explains that she simply wanted to say his name and compliments it, prompting a warm, tender exchange between them. Cheng Heyun is visibly affected and becomes embarrassed when he notices viewers demanding that the two kiss or marry, even secretly wondering about the fanfiction they are discussing.

New development

Ke Yan’an interrupts the romantic atmosphere by suggesting that the four participants—Chu Xiyue, Cheng Heyun, Ke Yan’an, and Bai Nian—play a game to make the unscripted recording more entertaining. He proposes mahjong, with the loser having to answer a truth question honestly or accept a dare. Chu Xiyue agrees after warning that anyone choosing “truth” cannot lie. The audience recalls her previous success at exposing someone during a truth-or-dare game and recognizes the danger of challenging her.

Character developments

• Chu Xiyue shows increasing comfort and affection toward Cheng Heyun, openly using his name and complimenting him. She remains confident, perceptive, and fearless about uncovering secrets.
• Cheng Heyun continues to demonstrate understated care for Chu Xiyue. His normally stern demeanor softens around her, and he becomes flustered by the audience’s romantic comments, suggesting that his feelings may be deeper than he admits. He also accepts the mahjong challenge because he dislikes backing down from competition.
• Ke Yan’an deliberately uses the game as an opportunity to test or embarrass Cheng Heyun. Although he presents international mahjong as a fair compromise, the narration reveals that he has secretly prepared and intends to exploit his superior skill.
• Bai Nian has abandoned her initial plan to pursue Cheng Heyun after realizing he is interested in Chu Xiyue. She now mainly wants to finish the show and collect her payment, though the chance to play gives her some welcome entertainment.

Character interactions

Cheng Heyun and Chu Xiyue communicate through small gestures and glances rather than direct declarations, creating strong romantic tension. Their interaction contrasts with Ke Yan’an’s calculated provocation and Bai Nian’s pragmatic detachment. The livestream audience acts almost like a chorus, interpreting every subtle exchange as evidence of romance and pressuring the pair to become openly intimate.

Themes

The chapter emphasizes unspoken affection, mutual understanding, and the contrast between public perception and private emotion. It also introduces competition and truth as central ideas: the mahjong game is not merely entertainment but a possible means of exposing hidden feelings and secrets. The chapter ends with anticipation as Ke Yan’an prepares to target Cheng Heyun in the upcoming game.

Chapter Summary

Plot and key events

During a game of mahjong and Truth or Dare, Ke Yan’an attempts to compete with Cheng Heyun for Chu Xiyue’s attention. Cheng’s exceptional memory and calculation skills allow him to control the game, repeatedly helping Chu win while blocking Ke Yan’an’s moves. Ke loses both rounds and is forced to answer personal questions. When asked about his ideal type, he describes traits that clearly match Chu Xiyue, but Cheng exposes the inconsistencies by listing Ke’s ex-girlfriends. Ke is forced to complete 100 push-ups for lying. In the second round, Cheng reveals that Ke’s first girlfriend broke up with him after catching him cheating, humiliating him further. Ke retreats upstairs and avoids Truth or Dare afterward.

Character developments

Cheng Heyun demonstrates not only extraordinary analytical ability but also extensive knowledge of Ke Yan’an’s past. He remains calm, confident, and openly competitive, using facts and sarcasm to undermine Ke. Ke is revealed to be a former playboy and a poor rival despite his attempts to appear appealing to Chu. His embarrassment causes him to withdraw from the show. Chu Xiyue remains observant and principled, insisting that participants answer truthfully. Bai Nian remains largely passive and fades into the background.

Character interactions

The central interaction is the tense rivalry between Cheng Heyun and Ke Yan’an over Chu Xiyue. Ke makes indirect advances toward Chu, while Cheng repeatedly interrupts and exposes him. Cheng and Chu work together naturally during mahjong, with Cheng deliberately feeding her useful tiles. Although they live together, Chu and Cheng otherwise have surprisingly little direct interaction, usually only meeting at meals or while occupied with separate activities.

Themes

The chapter emphasizes competition, romantic rivalry, public humiliation, and the contrast between appearance and reality. Ke’s carefully prepared image collapses under scrutiny, while Cheng’s intelligence and confidence make him dominant. The livestream audience’s commentary adds a layer of voyeurism and entertainment, turning private scandals and romantic tension into public spectacle. Despite the apparent love-triangle drama, the chapter also highlights the emotional distance between Chu and Cheng, whose relationship remains understated rather than openly romantic.

Chapter 278 Summary

Plot and events

Five days into the variety-show recording, Chu Xiyue and Cheng Heyun have spent most of their time separately working in the villa, giving fans very few interactions to enjoy. Their ordinary but subtly caring behavior nevertheless causes the Yun-Yue CP fanbase to grow, especially after viewers notice Cheng Heyun’s stark contrast in behavior: he is cold and severe toward others but gentle and attentive toward Chu Xiyue.
The next day, the pair livestream from a supermarket because they have run out of snacks. Cheng Heyun films Chu Xiyue from behind the camera, creating a boyfriend-like perspective that excites viewers. After reading comments praising her beauty, he openly says, “She was always beautiful,” though he immediately clarifies that they are currently only friends. Encouraged by fans’ suggestions, he secretly books two tickets to the popular romance film My Lover, intending to invite Chu Xiyue on a movie outing.
While shopping, Cheng Heyun demonstrates how well he knows Chu Xiyue by remembering her favorite drinks, morning juice, and her recent effort to reduce sugar. His thoughtful recommendations cause the viewers to ship them even more intensely.

Character development

Cheng Heyun’s feelings for Chu Xiyue appear to be deepening. Although he maintains that they are “only friends,” he instinctively cares for her, remembers small details about her preferences, compliments her sincerely, and takes the initiative to arrange what may become their first movie date. His normally controlled and authoritative personality becomes shy and gentle when romance is involved, particularly when fans tease him about Chu Xiyue.
Chu Xiyue remains comfortable and natural around him, casually asking for his opinions while shopping. Their ease and familiarity suggest growing trust, even though neither has openly acknowledged romantic feelings.

Themes

The chapter emphasizes the contrast between public perception and the characters’ understated relationship. Fans interpret small gestures—shared routines, remembered preferences, and quiet attentiveness—as evidence of affection. It also develops the theme of “ordinary intimacy,” showing that romance can emerge through practical care rather than dramatic declarations. The livestream setting further blurs the line between private feelings and public entertainment.

Character interactions

Cheng Heyun and Chu Xiyue shop together in a relaxed, domestic manner. He carries the livestream equipment, selects drinks and yogurt based on her preferences, and carefully checks the sugar content for her. Their interaction resembles that of a long-married couple, despite Cheng Heyun insisting they are merely friends. Meanwhile, the livestream audience actively comments on and encourages their relationship, indirectly pushing Cheng Heyun to plan a more overtly romantic outing.

Chapter Summary: “Old, Middle-aged, and Young Generations”

Plot Points and Events

• After leaving the supermarket, Cheng Heyun accidentally leaves the livestream audio running while turning off the video. Viewers overhear him invite Chu Xiyue to see the film My Lover.
• Unaware that the movie is a grim story about marital infidelity, abuse, and murder, Cheng Heyun believes it is a romantic film and confidently recommends it.
• At the cinema, Cheng Heyun buys popcorn and cola before the screening. Chu Xiyue encounters an elderly couple from another show—married for fifty years and still healthy and energetic—and the groups formally meet.
• The movie begins with a warm portrayal of romance, marriage, and family life, misleading Cheng Heyun and the other viewers before revealing the husband’s repeated cheating and emotional cruelty.
• The livestream audience, who can only hear the movie and the couple’s voices, eagerly anticipates Cheng Heyun’s reaction to the disturbing scenes.
• When the male lead’s infidelity is revealed, Cheng Heyun becomes visibly uncomfortable. Chu Xiyue casually offers him popcorn and leans close to him, creating an intimate moment.
• Cheng Heyun becomes flustered when he realizes he has accidentally drunk from Chu Xiyue’s cola. Chu Xiyue laughs at his embarrassment, while the audience desperately tries to decipher their muffled conversation.

Character Development

• Cheng Heyun: Shown as sincere but naïve, especially regarding romantic films and livestream technology. His discomfort with the movie’s adultery reflects his serious and morally grounded nature. His nervous reaction to Chu Xiyue’s closeness and teasing reveals growing romantic feelings and self-consciousness.
• Chu Xiyue: Demonstrates greater awareness of the movie’s true nature and anticipates its darker developments. She remains calm and playful, deliberately—or at least comfortably—creating physical and emotional closeness with Cheng Heyun. Her amused response suggests she enjoys seeing him flustered.
• The elderly married couple: Their long, healthy marriage introduces an example of enduring companionship and contrasts with the dysfunctional marriage depicted in the film.

Significant Themes

• Generational contrasts: The chapter brings together an elderly golden-wedding couple and a younger potential couple, inviting comparisons between different experiences of love, marriage, and companionship.
• Romantic expectations versus reality: The misleadingly sweet title and recommendations clash sharply with the film’s grim content, emphasizing how appearances can conceal painful truths.
• Emotional intimacy: Small gestures—sharing popcorn, drinking from the same cola, leaning close, and laughing together—show the developing bond between Cheng Heyun and Chu Xiyue more effectively than overt declarations.
• Entertainment and audience manipulation: The viewers enjoy listening to the couple’s private interaction more than the movie itself, turning an accidental livestream mistake into a source of suspense and amusement.

Character Interactions

• Cheng Heyun initiates a date by inviting Chu Xiyue to the movies.
• Chu Xiyue questions his choice of film but agrees to go.
• The two meet and exchange greetings with the elderly married couple at the theater.
• During the screening, Chu Xiyue offers Cheng Heyun popcorn and speaks closely into his ear, making him visibly nervous.
• She points out that he drank from her cola, causing him to panic and awkwardly clarify that he had not used that cup.
• Chu Xiyue laughs at his embarrassment, while the livestream audience excitedly speculates about their intimate exchange.

Chapter Summary

• Movie’s plot and impact: Chu Xiyue and Cheng Heyun watch My Lover, a disturbing film about marriage, infidelity, economic dependence, and domestic despair. The male lead becomes wealthier but less generous and affectionate, while the financially dependent female lead endures his affair, emotional abuse, and her son’s lack of understanding. Eventually, she murders her husband in his sleep with a kitchen knife. Their son reports her to the police, and the film ends with her in prison recalling their once-happy past. Its realism has led audiences to call it a movie that makes people fear marriage and childbirth.
• Discussion of marriage: After the screening, Chu Xiyue encounters an elderly couple married for over fifty years. The husband, Liu Xianzhong, reveals that he invested in and inspired the film, and asks Chu what she thought of it. He claims that because he and his wife have no secrets from each other, the movie does not affect them. He jokingly excuses himself and his wife to continue their “date,” appearing affectionate and devoted.
• Hidden truth revealed: The system tells Chu that Liu Xianzhong is actually a lifelong philanderer who has had numerous lovers, despite his outwardly loving marriage. The film was based on his real life and marriage, though its events were altered for the screenplay. Like the male lead, Liu became wealthy from nothing while his wife left work to raise their child, after which he began pursuing other partners.
• Liu’s affairs: His first lover was the film’s director, whom he met when the director was underage and still a young, delicate-looking boy. Liu later financially supported the director’s entertainment career and filmmaking. His second lover was the director’s close friend, who entered Liu’s life while the director was busy working. Rather than fighting, the director and his friend accepted the situation and agreed to share Liu. His third known lover was his friend’s son, whom Liu was asked to look after while expanding overseas. Their relationship lasted seven or eight years before ending when Liu returned home.
• Character developments and interactions: Chu Xiyue begins by analyzing the film’s effect on relationships, especially the seemingly stable elderly couple. Her curiosity and gossiping interest intensify after the system exposes Liu’s hypocrisy and complicated romantic history. The system functions as her source of shocking insider information, while Cheng Heyun accompanies her as they leave the cinema, though their relationship is only lightly emphasized in this excerpt. Liu’s public image of marital devotion sharply contrasts with his secret history, reinforcing the chapter’s focus on concealed relationships.
• Major themes: The chapter explores the fragility of marriage, the dangers of financial dependence, the difference between a catalyst and the true cause of divorce, and the contrast between public appearances and private reality. It also examines infidelity, emotional abuse, societal expectations surrounding marriage and childbirth, and how fiction may disguise or sanitize uncomfortable truths.