Chapter Summaries

Chapter 158: “Tangled Relationships”

• Chu Xiyue learns that Liu Xianzhong’s romantic history is far more complicated than the film My Lover suggests. His lovers included his film director’s lover-turned-godson, that man’s son, and—most recently—his own son-in-law. The relationships span generations and overlap in bewildering ways.
• Liu’s wife knows he has relationships with men and tolerates them as long as they remain discreet and do not threaten her status. Chu is astonished that the wife attended a film based on their marriage, especially since the film softened or altered the real story.
• When Chu discovers Liu has also begun seeing his son-in-law, she is so shocked that she shares the gossip with Cheng Heyun. Their conversation is broadcast on the still-running livestream, exciting viewers who recognize Liu and his wife from the premiere.
• Cheng initially struggles to follow Chu’s explanation, then condemns Liu as unfaithful and irresponsible. Chu’s physical closeness and excitement make Cheng flustered; he pays more attention to her than to the film and seems eager to distinguish himself from Liu.
  Themes: The chapter contrasts conventional expectations of marital fidelity with the wife’s pragmatic acceptance, while using escalating revelations for comic shock. It also blurs the line between fiction and real events, suggesting the film simplified an even more scandalous reality.
  Character interactions: Chu eagerly confides in Cheng, who responds with concern when she coughs and then listens to her gossip. The livestream audience becomes an amused, astonished participant in their exchange.

Chapter 282 Summary

• Plot points: After watching the film, Chu Xiyue tells Cheng Heyun that its lead character, Liu Xianzhong, was based on a real person—and that the movie’s director, Zhao Gangqiang, was one of Liu’s male lovers. She reveals that several other scandalous storylines were also inspired by Liu’s real relationships, including a lover who was Zhao’s best friend, a friend’s son, Zhao’s former godson, that man’s son, and Liu’s own son-in-law. Cheng Heyun is overwhelmed by the tangled revelations.
• The livestream mishap: Chu and Cheng had muted their phones during the movie and forgot their livestream was still running. Their gossip reaches the audience in real time, becomes a major online sensation, and trends across Weibo. When they return to the Vacation Resort, the Director tells Chu she never ended the broadcast. She finally switches it off.
• Character developments and interactions: Chu is delighted to share the gossip and grows increasingly animated as she tells it. Cheng listens in growing disbelief, then composes himself enough to drive them back. Their lively conversation contrasts with his stunned reactions and the viewers’ increasingly incredulous comments.
• Themes: The chapter plays up celebrity scandal, voyeuristic public fascination, and the blurred line between film fiction and real life. Its central comic tension comes from the shocking complexity of Liu’s relationships—and from Chu’s obliviousness to the consequences of broadcasting private gossip.

Plot points and events

• A netizen publishes a detailed investigation identifying several people allegedly involved with Liu Xianzhong, using clues from Chu Xiyue’s revelations and old reports.
• Liu and his wife, Song Guifang, return to the resort after a walk. Staff tell them the allegations are spreading online and urge Liu to address them.
• Liu watches an edited compilation of Chu’s claims, becomes furious, and calls them slander.
• Song questions the assistant, who admits that Chu accused Liu of relationships with Director Zhao, Zhao’s close friend, a godson, and the godson’s son—but deliberately withholds other damaging details.
• Song reveals she has long known about Liu’s affairs and tolerated them because he had not abandoned his benefactors or fathered an illegitimate child.
• Pressed to disclose the truth, Liu admits to another lover: Da Kuan’s son. He still conceals his relationship with his son-in-law.

Character developments and interactions

• Liu Xianzhong shifts from dismissing the backlash as a public-relations issue to panicking and denying the allegations. Under Song’s questioning, he reluctantly confesses to another affair but continues hiding the full extent of his conduct.
• Song Guifang is composed and perceptive. Her calm questioning shows that she has known about Liu’s past behavior for years and sets clear limits on what she considered tolerable.
• The personal assistant tries to manage the crisis but withholds information to protect Liu—or avoid worsening the situation.
• Netizens act as investigators, piecing together identities from public records and clues.

Significant themes

• Public exposure in the internet age: Online crowds can rapidly uncover and circulate private histories.
• Betrayal and selective tolerance: Song’s acceptance of Liu’s affairs had limits, and his concealment suggests that trust between them is badly strained.
• Reputation versus truth: Liu focuses first on calling the claims slander, while Song seeks an honest account of his actions.

Chapter Summary: “Husband and Wife Tear Each Other Apart”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Xianzhong and Song Guifang privately discuss how to counter Chu Xiyue’s revelations about Liu’s inappropriate relationship with his son-in-law. Liu hides the fact that he has also been involved with his son-in-law, believing that no one else knows.
• The couple coordinate their story with Zhao Gangqiang and others before going to confront Chu Xiyue. Song Guifang plans to force Chu to produce evidence during a livestream; if Chu cannot, they will accuse her of lying and demand an apology.
• Chu Xiyue’s system secretly overhears their entire plan and warns her that the couple is coming. She prepares for the confrontation and begins her own livestream.
• Cheng Heyun is present at the resort, having learned about the impending confrontation through his connections.
• Song Guifang and Liu Xianzhong arrive with cameramen and start a simultaneous livestream. Song aggressively accuses Chu of fabricating rumors and challenges her to provide proof.
• Some viewers initially side with Song, reasoning that Chu has not shown evidence and that a wife would not defend her husband if the accusations were true.
• Rather than becoming defensive, Chu calmly tells Song to take her daughter for a medical examination. This strongly implies that Liu’s misconduct may have exposed his son-in-law—and possibly his daughter—to a communicable disease, shocking both the family and the audience.

Character Developments

• Chu Xiyue remains composed and strategic under pressure. Instead of answering Song’s accusations directly, she delivers a devastating insinuation that shifts public suspicion back onto the Liu family.
• Song Guifang is revealed as calculating and fiercely protective of her family’s public image and company stock value. Her confidence begins to falter when Chu raises the possibility of disease transmission.
• Liu Xianzhong continues concealing the full extent of his actions, even from his wife. His hypocrisy and fear of exposure become central to the conflict.
• Cheng Heyun acts as a quiet ally to Chu, monitoring the situation and remaining present during the confrontation.
• The livestream audience shifts from skepticism toward Chu to renewed suspicion of Liu and his family as the implications of Chu’s statement become clear.

Significant Themes

• Public image versus private corruption: The Liu couple prioritizes protecting the company and reputation over confronting the truth.
• Hypocrisy and secrecy: Liu demands a public defense while hiding even worse secrets from Song.
• Power of information and technology: Chu’s system provides her with information the Liu couple assumes is private, while livestreams turn a family scandal into public entertainment.
• Reversal of accusation: The confrontation is intended to discredit Chu, but her calm response redirects scrutiny toward the accusers.
• Consequences of misconduct: Liu’s actions may have endangered not only himself but also members of his family, raising the stakes beyond embarrassment or financial loss.

Character Interactions

• Liu Xianzhong and Song Guifang: They cooperate publicly but are divided by Liu’s hidden secrets. Song believes they are presenting a united front, unaware that Liu is withholding crucial information.
• Song Guifang and Chu Xiyue: Song uses intimidation and rapid questioning to pressure Chu, but Chu refuses to be rattled and responds with a much more damaging accusation.
• Chu Xiyue and Cheng Heyun: Cheng’s presence provides Chu with support and adds to viewers’ speculation about their relationship.
• The Liu family and the public: Their confrontation becomes a livestreamed spectacle, allowing viewers to judge their behavior and interpret Chu’s insinuations in real time.

Key plot points and events

• Chu Xiyue confronts Liu Xianzhong and his wife, Song Guifang, about Liu’s relationships with several men. When they try to leave, Chu reveals that Liu had a sexual relationship with their son-in-law, Wei Ye—and that Liu was the submissive partner.
• Liu denies the accusation and attempts to dismiss Chu’s claims as slander. His defense is interrupted when Song receives a call from their daughter, who says she found intimate photos of Liu and Wei Ye on Wei Ye’s phone.
• Song’s shock turns to fury. She curses Liu and throws nearby objects at him, revealing that she had previously tolerated his relationships with men but never imagined he would betray their daughter in this way.
• The livestream is shut down amid Song’s profanity, but viewers have already recorded and circulated the confrontation. Liu and his lovers become major trending topics, and online investigations expose additional affairs and married partners. Several people deny the allegations; others apologize, but their reputations and careers are badly damaged.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Xiyue remains composed and strategically exposes Liu, preventing him from escaping before the accusation is confirmed.
• Liu Xianzhong shifts from confident denial to visible guilt, then continues to deny the affair even as the evidence emerges.
• Song Guifang moves from defending her husband to confronting him violently and verbally once her daughter confirms the betrayal. Her rage shows how deeply the affair crosses a boundary she had previously tolerated.
• The daughter, though heard only by phone, provides the decisive confirmation, explaining that she discovered the photos herself.
• The public shifts from skeptical curiosity to outrage, amplifying the scandal and investigating those connected to Liu.

Significant themes

• Public exposure and accountability: The livestream turns a private scandal into a widely documented public reckoning.
• Betrayal within family: Song’s anger centers less on Liu’s affairs generally than on his involvement with their daughter’s husband.
• Reputation and consequences: Online scrutiny rapidly damages the careers and social standing of Liu and the other men involved.
• Hypocrisy and deception: The investigation reveals that several men presented respectable public lives while concealing affairs and, in some cases, marriages built on deception.

Chapter Summary: #Love VCR# (Revised)

Key Plot Points and Events

• The scandals among the reality show’s contestants cause several participants to withdraw. Liu Xianzhong and Song Guifang leave filming, while Ke Yan’an has already been exposed as a cheating scumbag and largely disappears from the program.
• The director realizes that only a few reliable contestants remain and that there is not enough footage to complete the season. He activates Plan B, inviting popular and trustworthy couples from the previous season to appear as guest participants.
• By the middle of Season Two of The One She Loves Most, four main couples remain:
  • Cheng Heyun and Chu Xiyue—the Yun-Yue CP
  • Wei Pingqun and Han Yanyan—the Tuxedo CP
  • Wang Shuran and Fu Chengze—the Wang-Fu CP
  • Lu Yao and Zhu Qingyuan—the Mountain High Road Far CP
• The production team moves up the “romantic memories” segment because the scandals have reduced the amount of usable footage. Couples will watch videos of meaningful moments from their relationships.
• Since Chu Xiyue and Cheng Heyun are both single within the show, they are assigned to watch their own shared interactions rather than choose partners. Cheng’s previous elimination of romantic rivals makes the selection unnecessary.
• Chu Xiyue arrives early at the resort’s grand auditorium and brings Cheng Heyun with her. She deliberately chooses a good seat so she can watch the anticipated reunion between Cheng’s former partner, Wang Shuran, and Ke Yan’an.

Character Developments

• The director proves adaptable and strategic, salvaging the program with guest appearances after the original cast collapses.
• Chu Xiyue becomes increasingly excited about the romantic-memory segment. Her decision to arrive early and secure a prime viewing position shows her curiosity and eagerness to observe the tension between Wang Shuran and Ke Yan’an.
• Cheng Heyun continues to be portrayed as powerful and decisive, having already driven away romantic competition and caused Bai Nian to lose interest in pursuing him.
• Lu Yao and Zhu Qingyuan gain popularity despite being ordinary people with no previous fanbase. Their long-term affection and natural attentiveness toward each other make them a viewer favorite.
• Wang Shuran and Fu Chengze are characterized by emotional undercurrents in their “married first, love later” relationship, while Wei Pingqun and Han Yanyan represent a sweet but restrained couple.

Significant Themes

• Scandal and public judgment: The discredited contestants face divorce, withdrawal, and widespread condemnation, reflecting the audience’s intolerance for deception and infidelity.
• Reality television as controlled performance: The director constantly restructures the show to preserve its entertainment value, while the guests’ romances are turned into content for public consumption.
• Authentic love versus manufactured drama: The ordinary childhood-sweethearts couple attracts attention through genuine affection rather than celebrity status, contrasting with the scandals surrounding other participants.
• Romantic memory and emotional revelation: The VCR segment is designed to revisit the beginnings of relationships and potentially deepen connections, especially between Chu Xiyue and Cheng Heyun.
• Second chances and unresolved relationships: The coming encounter between Wang Shuran and Ke Yan’an promises a confrontation between past love, betrayal, and possible emotional closure.

Character Interactions

• The director coordinates with the remaining cast and former-season couples to keep the show running.
• Viewers closely observe Lu Yao and Zhu Qingyuan’s affectionate habits, especially Zhu Qingyuan’s constant attention to Lu Yao and his instinctive rescue when she nearly slips.
• Chu Xiyue and Cheng Heyun continue their ambiguous, inconsistent relationship dynamic: they sometimes seem close, then retreat behind emotional distance.
• Chu Xiyue intentionally positions herself to witness the reunion of Wang Shuran and Ke Yan’an, treating their meeting as both emotional drama and entertaining spectacle.

Chapter summary

All ten guests gather for the first time, and the production team posts a group photo online. Viewers joke about the conspicuous distance between Bai Nian and Ke Yan’an: the two are avoiding each other, while Chu Xiyue is disappointed that Ke Yan’an makes no attempt to reconnect with Wang Shuran. Fu Chengze, by contrast, watches Ke Yan’an nervously.
The first VCR, featuring Fu Chengze and Wang Shuran, reveals their history in reverse. Alongside recent footage, it shows photos Fu secretly took of Wang and a video of a younger Fu watching her with obvious affection. A drunken recording then reveals that he had liked Wang for years and was delighted when she agreed to marry him. Wang is moved, and after Fu cautiously takes her hand beneath the table, she laces her fingers with his. The audience realizes their relationship began not as a simple marriage of convenience, but as Fu’s long-held secret crush.
As Chu Xiyue enjoys watching the couple, the production team starts the next VCR, featuring Wei Pingqun and Han Yanyan. Expecting a dramatic confrontation between a wife and a mistress over a cheating man, Chu excitedly whispers to Cheng Heyun that a “good show” is coming. The excerpt ends before that VCR’s contents are revealed.

Character developments and interactions

• Fu Chengze is shown to have loved Wang Shuran for a long time, despite usually keeping his feelings hidden. Embarrassed by the exposed footage, he still reaches for her hand.
• Wang Shuran learns for the first time how long Fu has cared for her. Her emotional response and returned handhold signal growing closeness.
• Bai Nian and Ke Yan’an remain deliberately distant, with neither acknowledging the other.
• Chu Xiyue acts as an enthusiastic observer and shipper, eagerly anticipating the drama in the next VCR.
• Cheng Heyun listens to Chu Xiyue’s excited aside and is directed to watch the screen.

Significant themes

• Hidden feelings revealed: Private memories and recordings expose love that Fu had kept to himself.
• Emotional vulnerability: Fu’s embarrassment contrasts with his willingness to let Wang—and the audience—see his sincerity.
• Public spectacle and private relationships: The VCR turns intimate moments into entertainment, prompting both romantic reactions and anticipation of conflict.

Chapter 288 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Viewers speculate about what Chu Xiyue and Cheng Heyun whispered about. Although some assume they were discussing Wang Shuran and Fu Chengze, others sense that Chu Xiyue knows about an impending scandal.
• A video begins playing during the program, initially showing footage from Han Yanyan’s birthday. It includes flowers, balloons, a diamond ring, and affectionate moments between Han Yanyan and Wei Pingqun.
• The screen then shows romantic highlights from the variety show, fan edits shipping Han Yanyan and Wei Pingqun, and older photos of them traveling and spending time together.
• Wei Pingqun becomes visibly uneasy because he had instructed the director to use only recent footage. He worries that the older photos will expose that he and Han Yanyan had been together much longer than they publicly claimed.
• He privately pressures Han Yanyan, insisting that the misleading public story was meant to protect her from his fans. Han Yanyan responds calmly and cryptically, implying that she now sees through his excuses.
• The video suddenly changes to footage of Wei Pingqun proposing to another woman. It then shows a marriage certificate bearing his name and reveals that he had been married for years.
• The woman in the footage explains that she and Wei Pingqun met five years earlier, married, and endured his increasing neglect, secretive behavior, and repeated infidelity after he became famous.
• Wei Pingqun panics and attempts to stop the video, but the director ignores him after receiving Chu Xiyue’s signal. Realizing that Han Yanyan orchestrated the exposure, he angrily accuses her.

Character Developments

• Han Yanyan: Her outwardly gentle and vulnerable demeanor remains intact, but she reveals a decisive and vengeful side. She has carefully prepared evidence to expose Wei Pingqun publicly and appears emotionally detached from the romantic memories that once made her happy.
• Wei Pingqun: His polished public image collapses as his panic, dishonesty, secret marriage, and infidelity are revealed. His concern is focused less on Han Yanyan’s feelings than on protecting his career and maintaining his relationship with his fans.
• Chu Xiyue: Her earlier whispering and knowing expression are shown to be connected to the planned scandal. She supports the exposure by signaling the director to continue broadcasting the evidence.
• The Director: Despite Wei Pingqun’s authority and demands, he follows Chu Xiyue’s instructions and allows the incriminating footage to air.
• Cheng Heyun and the viewers: Cheng Heyun is present during Chu Xiyue’s apparent discussion of the coming “good show,” while the viewers gradually realize that the program contains a major hidden scandal.

Significant Themes

• Public image versus reality: Wei Pingqun’s romantic celebrity persona is contrasted with his secret marriage and repeated cheating.
• Revenge and exposure: Han Yanyan waits until Wei Pingqun is trapped in front of a live audience before revealing the truth, ensuring that he cannot suppress or rewrite the story.
• Manipulation and hypocrisy: Wei Pingqun disguises his self-protection as concern for Han Yanyan, while demanding that she help maintain a false narrative.
• The power of evidence: Photographs, videos, marriage documents, and testimony make the scandal impossible to dismiss as rumor.
• Emotional awakening: Han Yanyan recognizes that she had previously been blinded by love and can now see through Wei Pingqun’s “clumsy excuse.”

Character Interactions

• Wei Pingqun confronts Han Yanyan about the old photos, claiming they may damage their public relationship.
• Han Yanyan calmly turns his concern back on him, suggesting that he is afraid of explaining the truth to someone else.
• When the proposal footage appears, Wei Pingqun desperately tries to stop the broadcast.
• After realizing Han Yanyan arranged the exposure, Wei Pingqun glares at her and accuses her directly, marking the beginning of their open confrontation.

Chapter Summary: #Zhu Qingyuan Cheated#

Key Plot Points and Events

• Han Yanyan publicly exposes Wei Pingqun during the livestreamed event, revealing that he concealed his marriage while pursuing her.
• She explains that she dated him for over half a month deliberately, waiting for the opportunity to expose him before the entire country. She also reveals that he had cheated with multiple women over the years.
• Han Yanyan angrily rejects Wei and vows to ruin his reputation. When he tries to retaliate, Chu Xiyue’s bodyguards restrain him, allowing Han Yanyan to leave safely.
• The livestream audience becomes absorbed in the scandal. Viewers piece together that Wei married his former girlfriend when he was poor, relied on her financial support, and later despised her after becoming famous. He refused to divorce her while secretly pursuing other women.
• Han Yanyan is understood to have worked with Wei’s wife and the other women he deceived to expose him. Public sympathy strongly favors the women, while Wei is condemned as a serial cheater.
• Wei’s entertainment career is effectively destroyed. The production team terminates his contract and plans to seek compensation for his breach and the losses caused by the scandal.
• Although the event continues, the audience remains focused on Wei’s downfall, largely ignoring the other couples’ romantic footage.
• Chu Xiyue watches her edited memories with Cheng Heyun and reflects on how close they have become. She especially values their shared habit of gossiping and realizes he is the first person she wants to tell when something interesting happens.
• Lu Yao and Zhu Qingyuan’s VCR is the longest, covering their relationship from middle school through university. Their extensive history emphasizes their status as childhood sweethearts and wins them many fans.
• During the non-livestreamed interview segment, Fu Chengze discusses a memorable incident from high school, while Wang Shuran recalls the first time she saw him as a teenager and how deeply his appearance impressed her.

Character Developments

• Han Yanyan sheds her seemingly gentle and virtuous image, revealing herself as deliberate, bold, and determined to seek revenge. She transforms from an apparently naïve mistress into the person who exposes and destroys Wei’s public image.
• Wei Pingqun is exposed as selfish, hypocritical, and manipulative. His success and fame have not only enabled his infidelity but also made him ashamed of the wife who supported him.
• Chu Xiyue becomes more conscious of her emotional attachment to Cheng Heyun. Her realization is based not on dramatic romance but on their everyday companionship and mutual enjoyment of gossip.
• Cheng Heyun continues to act as a gentle, attentive presence in Chu Xiyue’s life and appears to share her emotional investment in their relationship.
• Lu Yao and Zhu Qingyuan gain popularity as an idealized childhood-sweetheart couple because of the depth and longevity of their shared memories.
• Fu Chengze and Wang Shuran reveal contrasting but meaningful memories: Fu focuses on a significant shared event, while Wang remembers the powerful impression he made on her at their first meeting.

Significant Themes

• Public exposure and accountability: Wei’s deception is punished not privately but before a nationwide audience, showing the power of collective judgment.
• Female solidarity and revenge: Han Yanyan, Wei’s wife, and the other deceived women unite rather than turning against one another. Their cooperation reverses the familiar narrative of wives blaming mistresses.
• The gap between public image and private character: Wei’s successful, respectable celebrity persona collapses once his hidden behavior is revealed.
• Gossip as social entertainment: The audience’s fascination with the scandal demonstrates how strongly people are drawn to dramatic revelations, even when they have no personal connection to those involved.
• Love built through shared experiences: Chu Xiyue’s growing feelings for Cheng Heyun emerge from ordinary companionship, while Lu Yao and Zhu Qingyuan’s appeal comes from years of shared memories.
• Memory and romantic nostalgia: The VCRs and interviews encourage the characters to revisit formative moments and reconsider the relationships they have built over time.

Character Interactions

• Han Yanyan confronts and verbally attacks Wei Pingqun, while Chu Xiyue’s bodyguards physically prevent him from retaliating.
• The audience collectively interprets and discusses the scandal, largely defending Han Yanyan and the other women involved.
• Chu Xiyue and Cheng Heyun quietly watch their relationship footage together, with Chu Xiyue looking at him warmly and acknowledging their growing closeness.
• Lu Yao and Zhu Qingyuan’s long history is presented through their shared activities and milestones, strengthening their image as a beloved couple.
• Fu Chengze and Wang Shuran’s interview answers reveal how differently they remember their relationship: he recalls an important event, while she focuses on the lasting impression he made from the moment they first met.

Chapter Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Chu Xiyue and Cheng Heyun are separately interviewed and asked to name at least ten complimentary qualities about each other.
• Chu Xiyue praises Cheng Heyun’s appearance, wealth, gentleness, thoughtfulness, generosity, responsibility, and especially his “excellent taste.”
• Cheng Heyun appears awkward at first but becomes visibly tender when speaking about Chu Xiyue. He describes her as upright, kind, brave, responsible, dependable, and uniquely warm—like sunlight driving away darkness.
• The production team edits their answers together, creating a highly popular video for fans of the Yun-Yue pairing.
• Lu Yao and Zhu Qingyuan, the other couple, are asked what they want to do together but have never managed to do. Lu Yao says she wants to meet Zhu Qingyuan’s family, while Zhu Qingyuan firmly states that he wants to marry her.
• Their interview trends online, and viewers celebrate them as a devoted childhood-sweethearts couple nearing marriage.
• The next day, however, their image collapses when an online exposé accuses Zhu Qingyuan of cheating on two women and portrays Lu Yao as a knowingly involved “other woman.”
• Chu Xiyue learns of the scandal from the Director and investigates the trending topic on Weibo. The anonymous account “Peach Oolong” claims to be a friend of Zhu Qingyuan’s former girlfriend and describes a long history of betrayal and emotional manipulation.

Character Developments

• Chu Xiyue: Shows her playful, teasing affection for Cheng Heyun through her exaggerated praise. As Chairwoman Chu, she also demonstrates responsibility and composure when confronted with the scandal threatening the program.
• Cheng Heyun: His normally cold and reserved demeanor softens when discussing Chu Xiyue. His sincere description reveals the depth of his feelings and his admiration for her moral strength and warmth.
• Lu Yao: Appears shy but hopeful about formalizing her relationship with Zhu Qingyuan, suggesting that marriage and family acceptance are close.
• Zhu Qingyuan: Publicly presents himself as decisive and devoted by declaring that he wants to marry Lu Yao. The exposé immediately casts doubt on whether this devotion is genuine.
• The former girlfriend: Though absent in person, she is portrayed as having suffered severe emotional damage after being betrayed, including depression and a two-year interruption to her education.
• The production team: Initially capitalizes on the couples’ romantic appeal but is forced to confront a serious reputational crisis after the accusations emerge.

Significant Themes

• Public image versus hidden reality: The chapter contrasts the couples’ carefully presented romance on television with the possibility of betrayal behind the scenes.
• The power of media narratives: Interviews, edited videos, trending hashtags, and online accusations rapidly shape public opinion.
• Romantic idealization: The poetic praise and viewer blessings create an image of perfect love, making the later scandal more shocking.
• Emotional harm and accountability: The exposé emphasizes the lasting consequences of infidelity, manipulation, and unresolved trauma.
• Truth and uncertainty: The accusations are serious but not yet proven, creating suspense over whether Zhu Qingyuan and Lu Yao are truly guilty.

Character Interactions

• Chu Xiyue and Cheng Heyun’s interviews reveal mutual admiration and emotional intimacy, even though they express it in different ways—she jokes warmly, while he speaks with earnest tenderness.
• Lu Yao and Zhu Qingyuan publicly reinforce their romantic image through their answers about family and marriage.
• Chu Xiyue interacts with the Director as the scandal breaks, shifting from participant in the show’s romantic atmosphere to a person responsible for managing its consequences.
• The anonymous exposé describes a destructive triangle involving Zhu Qingyuan, Lu Yao, and Zhu Qingyuan’s former girlfriend, directly contradicting the happy relationship portrayed on the show.

Chapter Summary

• A post titled “Threatening Suicide” accuses dating-show contestants Zhu Qingyuan and Lu Yao of cheating and interfering in another woman’s relationship. Online commenters share rumors about Zhu’s college romance and condemn the pair. The backlash prompts the show’s director to delay a livestream and ask Chu Xiyue what really happened.
• Zhu admits he dated someone in college but denies cheating; Lu denies being a homewrecker but cannot provide evidence. Their guarded responses make the accusations seem plausible to the director.
• Before Chu can answer, the system reveals that the accusations have the story backwards: Lu and Zhu were the ones whose relationship was disrupted, and the accuser allegedly fabricated events to smear them.
• The system explains that the woman—who called herself the college department beauty—had secretly liked Zhu since high school. In college, she repeatedly pursued him, though he turned her down, and she falsely blamed Lu for supposedly interfering with their dates.
• As the chapter ends, the system reveals why Zhu later appeared to have dated her: while Zhu and Lu were close to becoming a couple, the woman confessed to Zhu. After he rejected her, she cut her wrists and refused hospital treatment unless he came to see her.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Chu Xiyue moves from uncertainty to focused interest as the system’s account suggests the scandal is a false narrative. She asks for details and prepares to investigate or defend the pair.
• The system is an openly passionate supporter of Lu and Zhu’s “ship,” indignantly urging Chu to expose the accuser.
• Zhu and Lu remain guarded when questioned, while the system’s version portrays them as victims of manipulation.
• The alleged accuser is presented through the system’s account as persistently pursuing Zhu, misrepresenting events, and using a suicide attempt to pressure him after his rejection.

Significant Themes

• Online rumor and public judgment: Netizens treat hearsay and silence as proof, quickly turning accusations into condemnation.
• Manipulation and coercion: The suicide attempt is described as a means of pressuring Zhu, complicating how the incident is interpreted.
• Truth versus competing narratives: The chapter contrasts the viral post’s claims with the system’s account, leaving the full truth to be established.
• Public image and fandom: The dating-show controversy threatens both the contestants’ reputations and the fans’ idealized view of their relationship.

Key plot points and events

• The system explains the truth behind Zhu Qingyuan and Lu Yao’s relationship: years ago, a distressed admirer repeatedly threatened suicide unless Zhu accepted her confession. Under pressure from her parents and teacher, he agreed. After she received psychological treatment and stabilized, Zhu ended the relationship and got together with Lu Yao.
• Now the former admirer has been triggered by seeing Zhu and Lu Yao on the show. She is spreading false claims that Zhu cheated and Lu knowingly became his mistress. Zhu and Lu fear that exposing the truth could prompt another suicide threat, so they have stayed silent.
• Outraged by the malicious rumors and the threat to the show, Chu Xiyue vows to protect Zhu and Lu. She gives the director instructions and recruits screenwriter Ling Hua to adapt the real events into a television drama.
• Cheng Heyun, the show’s investor, offers to fund the project—even though it has no approval or finished script—enthusiastically promising 100 million yuan or more if needed.
• Online anger continues to grow, with #ZhuQingyuanCheated trending and viewers accusing the production team of protecting him. When Chu’s livestream opens, viewers initially expect an explanation or replacement guest, but are surprised when she introduces Ling Hua and announces a youth-romance drama about childhood sweethearts who grow up and marry.

Character developments

• Chu Xiyue shifts from sympathy to decisive action, choosing to defend Zhu and Lu publicly through a creative response rather than letting the rumors ruin them or the show.
• Zhu Qingyuan and Lu Yao are portrayed as principled but trapped by their fear of provoking the former admirer. Zhu’s past experience has left him wary of women other than Lu.
• Cheng Heyun shows strong trust in Chu, readily backing her undeveloped drama project with major funding.
• The former admirer is depicted as escalating from coercive threats to a calculated smear campaign.

Character interactions

• Chu discusses the situation with the system, which explains the history and supports her plan.
• Chu enlists Cheng Heyun’s investment and brings Ling Hua before the livestream audience to develop the story into a drama.
• Viewers’ suspicions and outrage turn to curiosity when Chu introduces Ling Hua, though many are underwhelmed by the initial description of a conventional sweet romance.

Significant themes

• Coercion and moral pressure: Zhu’s past “relationship” began under threats and social pressure, not genuine choice.
• Rumors and public judgment: Online outrage grows before Zhu and Lu can safely explain the truth.
• Loyalty and protection: Chu acts to defend her friends and preserve the show.
• Turning hardship into art: The real events are reframed as material for a television drama.

Plot points and events

• Chu Xiyue challenges Ling Hua’s view that her story is too melodramatic, arguing that real life can be even more extreme.
• In the livestream, she reveals that Lu Yao and Zhu Qingyuan were childhood sweethearts, and claims their relationship was disrupted by a woman who repeatedly threatened suicide to pressure Zhu Qingyuan into dating her.
• This account reverses the viewers’ assumption that Lu Yao knowingly became a mistress and Zhu Qingyuan cheated. Some viewers remain doubtful, but others reconsider after watching the couple’s behavior on the show.
• When the online poster Peach Oolong insists her claims are true, Chu Xiyue identifies her as Lin Yuqiao and points viewers toward old posts about an incident at Zhu Qingyuan’s university.
• Viewers find a years-old forum comment describing a handsome student whose rejected high-school pursuer threatened to jump from a building unless he dated her, lending support to Chu Xiyue’s story.

Character developments

• Chu Xiyue is blunt and confident, openly defending Lu Yao and Zhu Qingyuan while urging viewers not to accept online accusations uncritically.
• Ling Hua initially doubts that anyone would risk their life over an unreturned love, but Chu Xiyue’s account challenges her perspective.
• Lu Yao and Zhu Qingyuan are presented as victims of coercion rather than the cheater and homewrecker the public had assumed.
• Lin Yuqiao/Peach Oolong is exposed as the person behind the accusatory online account.

Significant themes

• Online rumor and mob judgment: Viewers quickly condemn Lu Yao based on an unverified post, then begin questioning that narrative.
• Evidence and independent judgment: Chu Xiyue urges people to think critically rather than follow the crowd.
• Coercion and responsibility: The chapter contrasts genuine affection with threats used to control another person’s choices.

Character interactions

• Chu Xiyue and Ling Hua debate whether the story’s dramatic events could happen in real life.
• Chu Xiyue confronts Peach Oolong’s claims indirectly on livestream, then names Lin Yuqiao and points viewers toward corroborating material.
• The livestream audience shifts from condemning Lu Yao and Zhu Qingyuan to investigating the allegations for themselves.

Chapter 294 Summary

Key plot points and events

• An old online post from a friend of Zhu Qingyuan resurfaced, corroborating Chu Xiyue’s account of Lin Yuqiao’s past behavior: Lin had pressured Zhu into a relationship by threatening suicide, then continued to cause trouble after he ended it and pursued the woman he truly loved.
• With the evidence exposed, public opinion turned against Lin Yuqiao, known online as Peach Oolong. She was widely mocked, took leave from school, and was eventually sent by her parents to a psychiatric hospital.
• Zhu Qingyuan and Lu Yao thanked Chu Xiyue. She asked them to authorize a television adaptation of their story, which they agreed to do. Screenwriter Ling Hua interviewed them and developed a script with fictionalized characters, though Chu insisted that the role based on Peach Oolong remain largely unchanged.
• Chu Xiyue’s dating show continued without further scandals and concluded with a beachside gathering. Former guests Li Fan’er and Zhao Xizhou remained happily together, while Mo Xiang and Mo Jiang were engaged. Chen Yi, Miao Qingran, and Ding Mengfei joined by video call.
• At the bonfire, Chu reflected on how much her life had changed since transmigrating. Cheng Heyun gave her cola instead of wine, explaining that her brother had arranged for the production crew to monitor what she was served.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Xiyue’s investigation vindicates Zhu Qingyuan and Lu Yao, and she turns their experience into a potential drama—both a creative project and a pointed rebuke of Lin Yuqiao.
• Zhu and Lu are able to move forward after the false accusations and cooperate with the adaptation.
• Cheng Heyun’s affectionate teasing shows his growing closeness to Chu. His comment that he wants to leave a good impression on her brother hints at serious intentions, which Chu notices but does not directly address.
• Chu’s brother remains protective, even from behind the scenes, while Chu is amused by Cheng’s caution.

Significant themes

• The internet’s memory and accountability: Old evidence can challenge fabricated narratives, though online backlash can also become severe.
• Truth and reputation: The chapter shows how easily people can be smeared—and how quickly public judgment can reverse once the facts emerge.
• Turning hardship into art: Zhu and Lu’s painful experience becomes the basis for a fictionalized television story.
• Change and belonging: Chu’s memories of her former life contrast with the warmth and familiarity of the people around her now.

Chapter Summary: The Main Story Ends (Romance Arc)

Plot and events

Chu Xiyue and Cheng Heyun spend a peaceful evening together by the sea. The system suddenly reveals that Cheng Heyun plans to confess his feelings that night. Chu Xiyue has already noticed his suspicious behavior—frequent watch-checking, nervousness, avoiding her gaze, and the faint scent of flowers on his clothes—so she is not surprised. Instead, she deliberately teases him by pretending she might go to sleep before he can do anything. Cheng Heyun becomes increasingly flustered until he realizes that she has figured out his plan. Chu Xiyue openly admits that she knew and asks him to take her to see what he prepared. When she extends her hand, he takes it, holding it tightly in his own.

Character development

Cheng Heyun, normally composed, calculating, and highly capable in business, becomes nervous and transparent when it comes to Chu Xiyue. His inability to hide his feelings emphasizes how deeply he cares for her; the system even describes him as becoming a “lovesick fool.” Chu Xiyue remains perceptive, confident, and playful, choosing to tease him rather than follow the conventional romantic pattern of pretending to be surprised. Her willingness to acknowledge his intentions shows her comfort with and acceptance of their relationship.

Themes

The chapter focuses on romantic anticipation, emotional vulnerability, and the contrast between public composure and private affection. It also humorously challenges conventional romance tropes: Chu Xiyue refuses to behave like a typical sweet-romance heroine, while Cheng Heyun’s normally formidable personality collapses in the face of love. Their growing intimacy is symbolized by the final hand-holding.

Character interactions

Chu Xiyue repeatedly teases Cheng Heyun about his strange behavior, while he nervously denies having anything important planned. The system provides humorous commentary, criticizing Cheng Heyun’s poor secrecy and Chu Xiyue’s unconventional response. Once Cheng Heyun realizes she knows about the confession, Chu Xiyue silences his stammering with a finger to his lips and asks to see his preparations. He responds by taking her hand, marking a tender step toward his anticipated confession.

Key events

• Cheng Heyun takes Chu Xiyue to a pavilion at the resort, where he has prepared a large rose garden as a surprise.
• He reveals that it is the first anniversary of the night they met and confesses, asking her to be his girlfriend.
• Chu Xiyue is surprised to learn he remembered the date. She kisses his cheek, accepts, and tells him she likes both the flowers and him.
• That night, they announce their relationship on Weibo, sharing affectionate posts and tagging each other.

Character developments and interactions

• Cheng Heyun’s usually composed manner gives way to visible nervousness as he prepares to confess. His careful planning—including designing and planting the garden—shows how much he values Chu Xiyue.
• Chu Xiyue is touched by his effort and responds warmly, taking the initiative with a kiss before formally accepting.
• The system helps preserve the surprise by recording the moment and commenting on Cheng’s thoughtful preparation.

Significant themes

• Thoughtfulness and commitment: Cheng’s remembrance of their first meeting and the elaborate garden express the care he has invested in their relationship.
• Mutual affection and openness: Chu Xiyue reciprocates his confession, and both make their relationship public.
• Romantic surprise: The nighttime setting and rose garden turn a private confession into a memorable milestone.