Chapter Summaries

Key events

• Ruan Mian transfers into the class. Shen Baili is startled when her system identifies Ruan as the heroine of a campus novel—while Sang Ya is the heroine of a separate rich-CEO story by the same author.
• Teacher Deng assigns class monitor Shen Baili and deputy monitor Lu Mingqian to help Ruan settle in, and seats Ruan beside Lu.
• Lu politely helps Ruan find the right textbook and catch up with the lesson. After class, Shen Baili and Qiao Yi approach Ruan once her other classmates have finished welcoming her.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Baili is intrigued by Ruan’s gentle, shy appearance but reminds herself not to lower her guard. She agrees to guide Ruan and plans to ask her system, A-Deng, for more information later.
• Ruan immediately admires Shen’s radiant presence, is pleased to learn her name, and hopes they can become friends. She cautiously greets Lu, who responds courteously and focuses on helping her with class.
• Qiao Yi openly finds Ruan cute, comparing her to a childhood pet rabbit; Ji Qi has also described Ruan as rabbit-like and timid.
• Meng Jiu’an quietly watches Shen Baili, captivated by her in the sunlight.

Significant themes

• Unexpected story-world rules: The discovery of two heroines from different genres unsettles Shen Baili’s understanding of her situation.
• First impressions and connection: Ruan’s gentle demeanor invites affection, while her admiration for Shen suggests a possible friendship.
• Quiet attraction: Meng’s silent fascination with Shen contrasts with the practical, polite introductions around Ruan.

Key plot points and events

• Transfer student Ruan Mian is warmly welcomed by Shen Baili, Qiao Yi, and Ji Qi. She and Shen Baili exchange compliments, leaving Ruan Mian visibly flustered.
• Ruan Mian finds the class friendly, though she privately thinks the sleepy Meng Jiu’an seems intimidating and decides to keep her distance.
• Shen Baili asks the system, A-Deng, about a newly revealed “Campus Story” and whether it could affect her mission to resolve obsessions. A-Deng says it probably will not, but can offer only a brief synopsis: Ruan Mian transfers to Haicheng No. 1 High School and causes a lasting stir.
• The character list names Lu Mingqian as the male lead, Meng Jiu’an as “**White Moon,” and Qiao Yi, Su Yan, Yu Jinfan, and Ji Qi as supporting characters. The phrase “**White Moon” is censored, and A-Deng cannot recover it.
• Shen Baili suspects the Campus Story may still connect to the Rich CEO Story and her family’s fate. The censored phrase and her own unfamiliarity with internet culture also prompt her to wonder about her lost memories.
• Overthinking the story’s possible tropes gives Shen Baili a headache. Her friends notice and offer help; she declines the infirmary, asks for medicinal balm, and accepts a drink from Ruan Mian.

Character developments and interactions

• Ruan Mian is shy but kind, quickly responding to her classmates’ warmth. She is especially flustered by Shen Baili’s praise and shows consideration by offering Shen a drink.
• Shen Baili takes on the role of welcoming and protecting the new student, while privately investigating the story’s implications. Her curiosity about the censored information feeds her concerns about her past.
• Qiao Yi welcomes Ruan Mian despite feeling a quiet sense of crisis as she watches her and Shen Baili connect. She later shows concern for Shen Baili and sharply glares at Ji Qi when his suggestion seems unhelpful.
• Ji Qi introduces himself and Meng Jiu’an humorously, then tries to help Shen Baili with Brain Gold or milk.
• Meng Jiu’an, though asleep, is noticed by Ruan Mian, who mistakenly regards him as someone best avoided. He later expresses concern for Shen Baili.

Significant themes

• Warmth and belonging: The class’s welcome helps ease Ruan Mian’s first moments at her new school.
• Uncertainty and unreliable knowledge: A-Deng’s incomplete answers and censored character description leave Shen Baili unable to determine how the Campus Story relates to her mission.
• Lost identity and memory: Shen Baili’s questions about her past resurface as she examines what she does and does not know.
• Care within friendship: The classmates’ concern and practical offers reveal the supportive bonds among them.

Chapter summary

After Shen Baili feels faint, Meng Jiu’an quickly gives her milk, while Qiao Yi stays close and offers to take her to the infirmary if she feels worse. Ruan Mian thanks Meng for the candy he gives her, and, watching Baili’s friends care for her, feels both envious and drawn to their warmth.
At lunch, Baili invites Ruan Mian to the cafeteria and suggests they walk around campus afterward. Ruan Mian is surprised that the group doesn’t rush with the other students, and Qiao Yi explains that they prefer to eat leisurely and talk. Ji Qi asks why Ruan transferred; Ruan gives a prepared explanation that her family changed addresses and Haicheng No. 1 High School is closer to home. She says she previously attended the prestigious Nanya International High School, but avoids discussing her past and instead asks about her new school.
The group shares lunch. Ruan enjoys the braised beef and warmly praises the cafeteria, saying it is better than Nanya’s food. Her reaction hints that Nanya’s polished reputation concealed a rigid hierarchy: its cafeterias were divided by students’ social standing, and Ruan disliked the atmosphere. The passage ends as she recalls that the top student she befriended there had…

Character developments and relationships

• Ruan Mian begins to feel welcomed by Baili’s circle. She is cautious about her past, but expresses genuine gratitude and shows a growing desire to belong.
• Shen Baili looks after Ruan and makes an effort to include her, while also accepting care from Qiao Yi.
• Qiao Yi is attentive and reassuring, helping both Baili and Ruan feel comfortable.
• Meng Jiu’an makes a small but considerate gesture toward Baili, softening Ruan’s impression of him.
• Ji Qi is curious and blunt, but accepts Ruan’s explanation without pressing her.

Significant themes

The excerpt emphasizes kindness, belonging, and the contrast between sincere friendship and social status. Ruan’s favorable impression of Haicheng No. 1 High School grows in contrast with the class divisions she experienced at Nanya.

• Lunch and settling in: Ji Qi brings drinks for the group. Ruan Mian repeatedly thanks everyone for their kindness, revealing how uneasy and unaccustomed she is to receiving help. Qiao Yi, Shen Baili, and Ji Qi reassure her that she needn’t be so formal and should do what feels comfortable.
• Friends reunite: Zhu Zhitao arrives late after her Geography teacher keeps class over time. When the cafeteria has run out of the ribs she wanted, Qiao Yi gives her two pieces, prompting Zhu Zhitao to affectionately hug her—perhaps a little too enthusiastically. Sang Fang then arrives with Su Yan, a new transfer student recently returned from abroad.
• Su Yan joins the group: Zhu Zhitao introduces Su Yan to her friends. Su Yan recognizes the three boys—Ji Qi, Lu Mingqian, and Meng Jiu’an—as the exceptionally handsome students Zhu Zhitao had described. She openly jokes that Ji Qi’s face has “a little handsomeness,” and he readily plays along. Su Yan’s lively, confident humor quickly brings her into the group, while the quieter Ruan Mian and Shen Baili mostly listen and eat.
• Weekend invitation: Su Yan invites everyone to a newly opened amusement park. Zhu Zhitao, Sang Fang, and Qiao Yi agree to go, but Shen Baili declines because she already has plans. Zhu Zhitao is disappointed and asks whether Shen Baili can change them.
  Character developments and interactions: Ruan Mian’s repeated gratitude shows her lingering discomfort, while the group responds with gentle acceptance. Su Yan emerges as outgoing, socially confident, and warmly received; Zhu Zhitao acts as her enthusiastic guide into the friend group. Qiao Yi and Zhu Zhitao’s affectionate, teasing friendship is evident, and the group’s easy banter helps Su Yan feel at home.
  Themes: The chapter emphasizes kindness and belonging, contrasting Ruan Mian’s uncertainty with the group’s welcoming support. It also highlights friendship, playful humor, and the excitement of new connections—and hints at future developments through Su Yan’s arrival and the group’s planned outing.

Chapter 185 Summary

• The amusement-park plan: Zhu Zhitao invites Shen Baili to go out with friends, but Shen declines because she has an important meeting about her game’s launch. She agrees to go another time and warmly invites the quiet Ruan Mian along; Ruan accepts despite finding it difficult to refuse.
• Su Yan’s invitations: Su Yan tries to recruit Meng Jiu’an and Lu Mingqian for the outing, but both decline—Meng bluntly, and Lu politely because of weekend classes. Ji Qi agrees, though he briefly wonders whether it is worth going without his close friends.
• Lunch conversation: Su Yan keeps the group talking with stories about living abroad and her return home. She says she enjoyed her independence overseas but is happy to be back with parents who love and care for her—especially her father, who often cooks for the family. The group compares who cooks at home, revealing that most come from comfortable households.
• School choices and growing rapport: Su Yan asks why they chose Haicheng No. 1 High School rather than an elite private school. Ji Qi says he simply wanted to attend; Zhu Zhitao and Sang Fang mention cost and convenience. Su Yan says she is glad they all ended up at the same school, and her warmth touches Zhu Zhitao.
• Shen Baili’s suspicions: Observing Su Yan’s curiosity and social ease, Shen wonders how she fits into the story’s larger plot—whether she is Ruan Mian’s friend or rival. Shen also wonders about Yu Jinfan’s connection to Ruan Mian and what may lie ahead for Lu Mingqian and Meng Jiu’an, particularly whether their futures could affect the Xie family.
• Ending: After the long school day, Shen leaves on time and gets into a car.

Character Developments and Interactions

Su Yan emerges as lively, perceptive, and adept at drawing people into conversation; she also reveals genuine affection for her parents beneath her complaints about their attention. Zhu Zhitao is welcoming toward Ruan Mian and responds warmly to Su Yan’s friendliness. Ruan remains quiet but accepts the invitation. Shen balances her career priorities with concern about the people around her, while her questions about the story signal growing uncertainty about their future connections.

Significant Themes

The chapter highlights friendship and belonging, family affection expressed through everyday care, and the contrast between independence and parental protection. Shen’s reflections also reinforce the uncertainty of living within a story whose plot and relationships may not unfold as expected.

Key plot points and events

• Zhu Zhitao and Sang Fang notice Shen Baili leaving in an expensive car. Zhu proudly explains that Baili is her close friend, “Suìsuì,” and wishes they had been able to say goodbye.
• Su Yan’s parents pick her up. Her father warmly offers Zhu and Sang Fang a ride, but they decline. The friends arrange to see Su Yan the next day.
• On the way home, Zhu praises Su Yan’s attractive family, prompting Sang Fang to tease her for judging people by their looks. He also encourages her to pay attention in class and reminds her she wants to match Suìsuì’s grades.
• In the car, Su Yan’s cheerful mood fades. Her parents reassure her about adjusting to life back home; she says she enjoyed school and made friends, and is excited to visit an amusement park with them. Her mother is especially glad to have her close again after years apart.
• Shen Baili returns to the Xie residence and affectionately hugs her mother, Shen Wan. Xie Tingsi, resting nearby, feels jealous of their closeness.
• Ruan Mian returns to the home of her birth parents, where everyone struggles to interact naturally. She reflects that she was Yu Mian only a month ago, before an accident changed both families’ lives.

Character developments and interactions

• Su Yan appears sociable at school but reveals private sadness once alone with her parents. She values their affection and is beginning to build friendships.
• Zhu Zhitao is enthusiastic about Baili and delighted by attractive people, while Sang Fang acts as her practical, protective companion, teasing her and urging her to study.
• Su Yun and Su Bowen show warmth toward Su Yan; Su Yun particularly regrets having spent so much time away from her daughter.
• Shen Baili and Shen Wan share an openly affectionate mother-daughter bond, which leaves Xie Tingsi feeling left out.
• Ruan Mian and the Ruan parents want to reconnect but remain awkward and uncertain around one another.

Significant themes

• Family closeness and separation: Su Yan’s return brings her family together, while Ruan Mian’s changed identity makes family reunion difficult.
• Belonging and adjustment: Su Yan and Ruan Mian are both navigating unfamiliar circumstances, but with very different levels of comfort and support.
• Friendship and encouragement: Zhu and Sang Fang’s playful bond, along with Su Yan’s new friendships, offers companionship amid change.

Plot points

• On a clear Saturday morning, Shen Baili and Xie Tingsi head out for their usual run. Tingsi jokes with her about exercise, sleep, and her height; Baili proudly says she has grown three centimeters and insists she will reach 170 cm.
• Xie Zhiyu returns from a business trip and joins them. Though he arrived at 2 a.m., he says he has slept enough and is ready to exercise.
• After stretching together, the three siblings set off running, with Tingsi racing ahead, Baili following, and Zhiyu keeping a close, watchful pace beside them.

Character development

• Shen Baili is cheerful and energetic, openly delighted to see Zhiyu and confident about her growth and ambitions.
• Xie Tingsi shows playful affection toward Baili and deep admiration for Zhiyu. Despite teasing his sister, he worries about Zhiyu’s health.
• Xie Zhiyu remains highly disciplined and energetic, but reveals a softer side at home: he treasures the siblings’ attention and feels relaxed and welcomed there.

Themes

• Family warmth and belonging: The siblings’ teasing, concern, and repeated calls to Zhiyu emphasize their closeness.
• Rest, health, and discipline: The family jokes about balancing sleep and exercise, while Zhiyu’s demanding routine prompts concern.
• Home as refuge: After months away, Zhiyu finds comfort in being with his family.

Character interactions

• Tingsi and Baili trade playful barbs about sleep and Baili’s height, with Tingsi encouraging her while doubting her goal.
• Both younger siblings eagerly welcome Zhiyu back and urge him to rest; he reassures them and joins their routine.
• Zhiyu quietly looks after them as they run, checking their form and warning them to be careful.

Plot points and events

• After a morning run, Shen Baili compliments Xie Tingsi on his beauty. Xie Zhiyu agrees, prompting Tingsi to ask which brother is more handsome. Baili declares Xie Zhiyu the winner, then runs off before Tingsi can demand an explanation.
• Shen Baili and Shen Wan finish a launch meeting for Suìsuì’s Infinite Wardrobe, which is scheduled to release in a month. Shen Wan reflects that building the game with her daughter is exhausting but deeply fulfilling.
• Baili suggests a mother-daughter shopping day. They set out together, singing and joking in the car, and decide to eat at KFC.
• At KFC, they unexpectedly encounter Ruan Mian, accompanied by an unfamiliar middle-aged man and woman.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Baili is affectionate and playful with both Xie brothers and her mother. Her health has improved after months of better meals and exercise.
• Xie Tingsi enjoys teasing and fishing for compliments; Xie Zhiyu is more composed, though he playfully warns his brother when he gets mischievous. Baili’s blunt answer leaves Tingsi chasing after her.
• Shen Wan takes pride in her work and her close relationship with Baili. She has regained confidence and a sense of control over her life, and readily agrees to spend the day with her daughter.
• Baili and Shen Wan share a warm, mutually supportive bond, expressed through their affectionate banter and their song in the car.

Significant themes

• Family and mutual care: Mother and daughter see one another as sources of comfort and strength.
• Renewal and agency: Shen Wan’s work and her ability to choose her own future reflect her recovery and independence.
• Joy in ordinary life: Running, joking, creating together, and sharing a meal make everyday moments meaningful.

Chapter 189 Summary

Key plot points and events

• Ruan Mian runs into her class monitor, Shen Baili, and Baili’s mother, Shen Wan, while out with her own parents. She introduces them, and Shen Wan invites the Ruan family to join their meal.
• The meeting recalls how Ruan Mian came back to the Ruan household after the paternity test revealed the girls’ family situation. The Yu family had proposed raising both daughters, with visits to the Ruan family during holidays. Though Ruan Mian’s parents initially believed this was best for the children, Mianmian later arrived at their door with her schoolbag and asked, “Am I not your daughter?” Her choice to return changed everything.
• Over the meal, Shen Baili and Shen Wan help keep the conversation relaxed. Baili shares food with her mother and recommends the fries to Ruan Mian, who enjoys them. The Ruan parents watch their daughter seem more cheerful and settled.
• Ruan Mother wonders about her other daughter, Yu Jinfan, and how she is getting along with the Yu family. Shen Wan explains that her husband is away on business, so she and Baili are having a mother-daughter outing.

Character developments

• Ruan Mian appears considerate and affectionate toward her parents, but the chapter also recalls her firm insistence on belonging to them. She seems increasingly comfortable and lively around them.
• Ruan Mother still carries grief and uncertainty over the family separation, yet is moved by Mianmian’s presence and choices. She quietly longs for the closeness Shen Wan shares with Baili.
• Ruan Father shows his care in a practical way, standing to take the plate from Mianmian.
• Shen Baili and Shen Wan display an easy, affectionate bond: Baili anticipates her mother’s preferences, and Shen Wan responds with warmth and pride.

Significant themes

• Family and belonging: Ruan Mian’s question—“Am I not your daughter?”—asserts that family ties are more than custody arrangements or surnames.
• Love, sacrifice, and class: The Ruan parents accept a painful arrangement because they believe the Yu family can offer their daughters greater opportunities.
• Different kinds of parent-child closeness: The contrast between the Ruan family’s lingering awkwardness and the Shens’ relaxed intimacy highlights both affection and unresolved distance.

Character interactions

• Ruan Mian’s formal introductions reflect the slight awkwardness between her and her parents, even as their tenderness is evident.
• Shen Wan’s welcoming manner eases the tension, while Baili’s lively conversation and food-sharing help Ruan Mian join in.
• Ruan Mother watches the Shen mother-daughter relationship with admiration and wistfulness, while Ruan Father expresses affection through small acts of care.

Key plot points

• At a meal with the Shen family, Ruan Mian quietly avoids ketchup because she dislikes tomatoes. Ruan Father remembers and trades fries with her; Ruan Mother apologizes and promises to remember next time.
• Ruan Mian responds warmly, and Ruan Mother takes her arm. Both begin trying to repair their relationship, accepting that everyone needs time to adjust after the family mix-up.
• The Ruan and Shen families go shopping together. Ruan Mian is pleased and suggests buying matching family outfits.
• At the mall, they unexpectedly meet Yu Jinfan and Yu Mother. The encounter leaves both families unsure how to address one another.
• Ruan Mian tells Yu Mother she is happy and has made good friends. She deliberately describes the outing as “our families” shopping together, signaling that she is embracing her current life.
• Yu Jinfan gently suggests staying longer because she sees Yu Mother is concerned about Ruan Mian. Ruan Mother calls Yu Jinfan “Fanfan,” but Ruan Mian addresses her by her full name.

Character developments

• Ruan Mian shows affection toward her biological parents while holding firm to her decision to move forward. She acknowledges that her bond with her adoptive parents cannot disappear quickly, and she does not expect anyone else’s feelings to change overnight.
• Ruan Mother recognizes that rebuilding a parent-child relationship requires effort from both sides. She wants to stop dwelling on past mistakes and become more attentive to Ruan Mian.
• Ruan Father demonstrates his care through remembering Ruan Mian’s preferences.
• Yu Jinfan appears considerate of both her mother’s concern and Ruan Mian’s place in the family.
• Shen Baili observes the families’ reactions and quickly deduces the “real and fake heiress” situation, but wisely stays quiet.

Significant themes

• Healing takes time: Family bonds shaped over many years cannot be reset instantly.
• Care is shown through small gestures: Remembering a food preference or making room for someone’s feelings can help rebuild trust.
• Moving forward without erasing the past: Ruan Mian can cherish her adoptive parents while gradually forming a relationship with her biological parents.
• Boundaries and belonging: Ruan Mian’s deliberate wording and use of Yu Jinfan’s full name signal her chosen place in her current family.

Character interactions

• Ruan Mother’s apology and Ruan Mian’s affectionate response mark a small but meaningful step toward reconciliation.
• Ruan Father supports Ruan Mian unobtrusively by swapping the fries.
• Shen Wan and Shen Baili ease the strained mood by suggesting they leave the elevator and continue shopping.
• Yu Jinfan and Ruan Mian exchange cautious, formal greetings, while their mothers show lingering affection and uncertainty about how to relate to both daughters.

Key plot points

• Yu Jinfan reflects on her complicated history with Ruan Mian: she once envied Ruan’s popularity and place in the Yu family, but never hated her. Ruan had also been the only person to show Yu kindness at school. After Ruan left the Yu family, they lost touch.
• When they meet again, Ruan invites Yu to afternoon tea. Shen Baili and her mother, Shen Wan, leave the two families to talk privately, joking that they have stumbled into a “real daughter and fake daughter” drama.
• Shen Wan and Shen Baili enjoy a mother-daughter shopping date, then return to the Xie Residence. With several family members away, Baili asks to share her mother’s bed, and Shen Wan agrees.
• Before bed, A-Deng unlocks a short summary of the Campus Story. It confirms that Ruan Mian was raised as the Yu family’s daughter until a medical test revealed that Yu Jinfan was their biological child. Ruan changed her surname and transferred schools, where she found friendship and love.
• Baili concludes that she and A-Deng correctly identified the story’s “real and fake daughters” setup. She wonders why Ruan’s childhood-sweetheart fiancé is absent from the supporting-character list and asks A-Deng to record the question. The next week begins with Baili heading to school after her morning run.

Character developments and interactions

• Yu’s feelings toward Ruan are conflicted: she resented being overshadowed but recognizes Ruan’s kindness and does not hate her. Ruan’s direct invitation opens the door to a private conversation between them.
• Shen Wan and Baili share a warm, playful bond, prioritizing their own outing while respectfully giving the Yu and Ruan families space.
• Baili shows growing skill in analyzing the story’s tropes and tracking unresolved clues. A-Deng supports her investigation and eagerly takes notes.

Significant themes

• Family identity and belonging: The revelation of the biological daughter’s identity reshapes both girls’ lives.
• Jealousy and compassion: Yu’s envy coexists with gratitude for Ruan’s past kindness.
• Mother-daughter closeness: Shen Wan and Baili’s simple shopping trip and shared bedtime highlight their affectionate relationship.
• Story conventions and mystery: Baili uses genre tropes to interpret events, while the missing fiancé suggests the story still holds unanswered questions.

Key plot points and events

• Shen Baili arrives at school and notices Ruan Mian acting hesitant, though Ruan soon returns to her homework.
• Ji Qi, Meng Jiu’an, and Lu Mingqian explain their exhausted appearance: they camped on a mountaintop to see the stars, after visiting an amusement park the night before. Their teasing reveals Ji Qi was frightened in a haunted house and had accidentally left his Chinese textbooks on Meng Jiu’an’s desk.
• Ruan Mian enjoys watching the lively exchanges, reflecting that high school life is interesting, but keeps a watchful eye on Shen Baili.
• After school, Ruan Mian tries to speak privately with Shen Baili about “that afternoon.” Shen reassures her that she will keep the matter secret.
• At the school gate, a boy arrives and calls Ruan Mian “Mianmian.” He claims she is his fiancée and refuses to end their engagement, drawing attention from nearby students.
• Shen Baili and her companion A-Deng find no meaningful mention of the boy in the available story synopsis. Shen’s instincts tell her he may become important to the plot.

Character developments and interactions

• The three boys’ banter shows their close friendship; Ji Qi is playful and easily embarrassed, while Lu Mingqian delivers dry remarks and Meng Jiu’an bluntly exposes Ji Qi’s exaggerations.
• Ruan Mian appears increasingly observant and quietly pleased by ordinary school life, but remains guarded about her family situation.
• Shen Baili is discreet and considerate toward Ruan Mian, while also alert to the unusual boy’s presence.
• Ruan Mian responds to the boy with distance, contrasting sharply with his intimate, insistent manner. His possessive declaration unsettles Shen Baili.

Significant themes

• Everyday friendship and school life: The students’ teasing and shared routines provide warmth and humor.
• Secrecy and trust: Ruan Mian confides only partly in Shen Baili, who promises not to reveal what she knows.
• Uncertainty and foreshadowing: The boy’s unexplained role and Shen Baili’s unease suggest a new complication in the story.

Key plot points and events

• Quan Yu confesses that he came to see Ruan Mian after secretly slipping away from his driver and bodyguards. Ruan Mian clarifies that they were never truly engaged and firmly tells him she sees him as her best friend, not a romantic partner.
• Quan Yu accepts her rejection without withdrawing his support, promising to stand by her whether she is called Yu Mian or Ruan Mian. His words move her, though she declines his request for a hug.
• Ruan Mian introduces Quan Yu to Shen Baili. They greet each other politely but keep their distance.
• Ji Qi, Meng Jiu’an, Lu Mingqian, Zhu Zhitao, and Qiao Yi arrive, warmly greeting Shen Baili. Their affection reminds her of the school life and future she had long hoped for.
• Little Orange Cat appears and reports that Shen Baili’s Energy Bar has risen by 2%, reaching 45%.
• Zhu Zhitao invites Shen Baili to join the group for milk tea. Shen Baili agrees and asks the others, including Ruan Mian and Quan Yu, to come along.

Character developments

• Ruan Mian sets a clear boundary with Quan Yu while showing that she values his friendship and support. She also reveals, through her envy of Shen Baili’s closeness with the group, that she longs for the same sense of belonging.
• Quan Yu remains devoted to Ruan Mian but recognizes that his possessiveness is surfacing when he sees her among other friends. He becomes curious—and quietly pleased—by her attention to Shen Baili.
• Shen Baili feels increasingly at home among her friends and accepts their invitation, embracing the ordinary happiness she once wished for.
• Qiao Yi appears more outgoing than before, openly expressing her affection for Shen Baili.

Significant themes

• Friendship versus romance: Ruan Mian and Quan Yu care deeply for each other, but she makes clear that their bond is platonic.
• Belonging and chosen family: Shen Baili’s supportive friendships embody the school life and sense of community she has dreamed of.
• Change and insecurity: Quan Yu’s difficulty accepting change shows how past insecurity can fuel possessiveness, even within a sincere friendship.

Character interactions

• Ruan Mian and Quan Yu share a tender but firmly non-romantic exchange.
• Quan Yu and Shen Baili meet politely, while he watches her closely because he senses Ruan Mian’s interest in her.
• Shen Baili’s friends greet her enthusiastically and invite her out; their warmth contrasts with Ruan Mian’s quiet envy of their closeness.
• Shen Baili extends the invitation to Ruan Mian and Quan Yu, bringing the two groups together.

Key plot points and events

• Quan Yu agrees to accompany Ruan Mian and the others to a milk tea shop, wanting to learn about her new life. Zhu Zhitao guesses that he and Ruan Mian are romantically involved, but they both insist they are only good friends.
• At the shop, Shen Baili helps several classmates choose drinks. The group jokes and laughs together, while Zhu Zhitao admits she prefers reading about romance to dating herself and plans to secretly write a novel over winter break.
• Su Yan admires Lu Mingqian and Meng Jiu’an, but Lu Mingqian notices her looking and does not warn her when she nearly trips. Zhu Zhitao catches her before she falls.
• After everyone parts ways, Shen Baili learns from A-Deng that the Campus Story synopsis now identifies Meng Jiu’an as the “first love who died young.” She is unsettled, but the story reveals nothing about how or why he dies.

Character developments and interactions

• Ruan Mian and Quan Yu: Their affectionate, comfortable exchange suggests a close bond beyond ordinary friendship, though both deny dating.
• Shen Baili: She remains considerate of others’ needs and reflects on the newly revealed danger to Meng Jiu’an, trying to work out its cause.
• Zhu Zhitao: Her enthusiasm for romance is fictional rather than personal; she would rather read—and secretly hopes to write—romance novels.
• Su Yan and Lu Mingqian: Su Yan is attracted to the handsome boys, while Lu Mingqian’s response to her near-fall hints at distance or disapproval.
• Meng Jiu’an, Lu Mingqian, and Ji Qi: Their playful competition to get Shen Baili’s help choosing drinks brings out their childish, teasing side.

Significant themes

• Affection and ambiguity: Ruan Mian and Quan Yu’s closeness blurs the line between friendship and romance.
• Ordinary joy amid looming fate: The group’s lighthearted outing contrasts sharply with the ominous revelation about Meng Jiu’an.
• The limits of foreknowledge: Shen Baili learns that Meng Jiu’an is destined to die young, but lacks the details needed to understand or prevent it.

Key events

• Shen Baili studies the sparse clues in a “Campus Story,” inferring that it involves mystery or regret and that the young death of a first love is central. She suspects Su Yan’s feelings for Meng Jiu’an are unrequited, then sets the story aside and falls asleep with the orange cat.
• Quan Yu tells Ruan Mian he is leaving to study abroad for four years. Though surprised, she promises not to forget him and offers to visit. They share an emotional goodbye and agree she will see him off the following Tuesday.
• Ruan Mian’s parents watch from the window. Her father worries about Quan Yu’s intentions, while her mother trusts their daughter’s judgment and sees that Quan Yu cherishes her.
• After Ruan Mian goes inside, Quan Yu remains outside until his bodyguard calls him away. He leaves China on a private plane—but not for the country he told Ruan Mian.
• The next morning, Ruan Mian visits teacher Deng Qin for help with a math problem. She sees Deng gently settle her sleeping daughter before patiently explaining the problem.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Baili shows herself to be observant and analytical, piecing together likely relationships from limited information.
• Quan Yu is deeply attached to Ruan Mian and distressed by their separation. His insistence that he is going abroad—and his concealed destination—suggest he is hiding the real reason or circumstances behind his departure.
• Ruan Mian responds with warmth and loyalty, taking Quan Yu’s announcement at face value and making plans to stay connected.
• Ruan Mian’s parents differ in their reactions: her father is protective and suspicious, while her mother is calmer and respects Ruan Mian’s independence.
• Deng Qin’s tenderness toward her daughter offers Ruan Mian a quiet glimpse of their close bond.

Significant themes

• Parting and unspoken feelings: Quan Yu’s farewell is intimate and emotional, with more beneath the surface than he reveals.
• Trust and protectiveness: Ruan Mian trusts Quan Yu, while her father’s concern reflects a parent’s urge to protect her.
• Hidden truths and incomplete knowledge: Shen Baili can only infer the story from scant clues, and Quan Yu’s true destination remains concealed.

Key plot points

• In the teachers’ office, Ruan Mian finishes getting help from Deng Qin and says she’s happy at her new school. She praises her classmates Baili and Qiao Yi for helping her settle in.
• Deng Qin offers Ruan Mian candy, then discusses the strain of caring for her young daughter, Su Mianmian, while her husband is unemployed and attending interviews.
• Ruan Mian notices a large bruise on Deng Qin’s chest, briefly glimpsed when the teacher bends down. Concerned, she returns to class distracted.
• The class begins signing up for the sports meet. Many students volunteer enthusiastically, including Shen Baili, Ji Qi, Meng Jiu’an, Lu Mingqian, and Qiao Yi.
• Wang Gaoyi assigns Ruan Mian to the girls’ 800-meter race, but she stops him and says she would rather do another event. He suggests the 400-meter relay, and Shen Baili agrees to join it.

Character developments and interactions

• Ruan Mian feels increasingly confident and optimistic about her new school, but the bruise she sees on Deng Qin leaves her troubled.
• Deng Qin is warm and attentive toward Ruan Mian, though the mention of her husband and her bruise hint that she may be dealing with difficulties at home.
• Shen Baili continues to support class activities, volunteering readily for the 800-meter race, high jump, and relay.
• Wang Gaoyi is surprised and pleased by the class’s unusually high turnout, especially the participation of Meng Jiu’an and Lu Mingqian.
• The office teachers express concern that Deng Qin is shouldering too much childcare, while Ruan Mian and Deng Qin share a gentle conversation about settling in and their coincidentally similar names.

Significant themes

• Belonging and support: Ruan Mian feels welcomed by her teachers and classmates at her new school.
• Hidden hardship: Deng Qin’s cheerful manner contrasts with her apparent family strain and unexplained injury.
• Class solidarity and participation: The students’ eagerness to sign up for the sports meet reflects growing group enthusiasm.

• Sports meet: The class sports representative recruits participants with unusual ease, prompting Wang Gaoyi to joke that he loves Science Class 1 and sports.
• Ruan Mian’s concern: Ruan Mian spends the day worrying about the large bruise she saw on their teacher, Deng Qin. She first suspects a serious injury, then recalls that Deng Qin may ride an electric scooter, as Ruan Mian’s mother did when she got a similar bruise. The explanation reassures her. Lu Mingqian returns Ruan Mian’s math notes and gently checks whether she is feeling ill; his quiet consideration comforts her. Shen Baili notices their friendly exchange and wonders if it marks the beginning of a bond between them.
• Shen Baili’s ride home: At dismissal, Shen Baili’s usual driver is absent, and a black Maybach is waiting instead. Assistant Liu explains that Xiao Lin left work early. Shen realizes her eldest brother, Xie Zhiyu, has come to pick her up and joins him in the car. Her friends recognize the Xie family connection; Qiao Yi, remembering Xie Zhiyu from the concert, chooses not to intrude.
• A friendly approach: Meng Jiu’an, Ji Qi, and Lu Mingqian run over before the car leaves. Ji Qi says they forgot to say goodbye and wanted to greet Shen’s eldest brother, setting up an introduction.
  Character developments and interactions: Ruan Mian’s anxiety eases through her own reasoning and Lu Mingqian’s considerate attention. Shen Baili remains observant of her classmates while maintaining a warm connection with her friends and eldest brother. The boys’ eagerness to meet Xie Zhiyu shows their familiarity and growing closeness with Shen; Qiao Yi’s restraint reflects her sensitivity to others’ boundaries.
  Themes: Everyday school life and friendship; quiet kindness and emotional reassurance; curiosity about relationships; and the contrast between ordinary classroom moments and the Xie family’s wealth and status.

Key plot points and events

• Xie Zhiyu politely says goodbye to Lu Mingqian and Meng Jiu’an before leaving with Shen Baili in his Maybach.
• Zhu Zhitao and Sang Fang spot the car afterward. Zhu laments missing a proper look at Xie Zhiyu, whom she considers exceptionally handsome.
• Su Yan asks Zhu and Sang Fang about Shen Baili’s family, especially her brother’s appearance. Zhu praises Xie Zhiyu but says she has no photos of him.
• While waiting for her mother, Su Yan asks about Baili’s home and family routine. Zhu gives only a general answer, and Sang Fang interrupts when Su Yan’s ride arrives.
• As they leave, Sang Fang reminds Zhu not to share Shen Baili’s private information. Zhu assures him she won’t.
• Once alone, Su Yan drops her friendly expression and reveals that her interest in Zhu is insincere. She is frustrated that she learned little about Baili’s family or wealth.

Character developments and interactions

• Su Yan presents herself as sweet and eager to befriend Zhu, but internally regards her as a convenient, shallow acquaintance. Her questions reveal a calculated interest in Shen Baili and her family’s status.
• Zhu Zhitao enthusiastically defends Xie Zhiyu’s looks and warmly agrees to keep Su Yan company. Her loyalty to Shen Baili shows in her refusal to disclose personal details.
• Sang Fang notices Su Yan’s unusual curiosity, keeps the conversation from going further, and reminds Zhu to protect Baili’s privacy.
• Xie Zhiyu remains courteous and considerate in his brief farewell.

Significant themes

• Appearances versus motives: Su Yan’s pleasant demeanor masks social calculation.
• Loyalty and privacy: Zhu and Sang Fang protect Shen Baili’s personal affairs, even when asked indirectly.
• Friendship and social maneuvering: The chapter contrasts Zhu’s sincere affection with Su Yan’s strategic approach to relationships.

Plot points and events

• Su Yan reflects on Shen Baili’s striking beauty and notices how readily it draws attention. Her mother, Su Yun, checks whether she is unhappy or being bullied at school.
• Su Yan asks her parents to attend her upcoming Sports Meet. Though she remembers that they rarely came to her events abroad, Su Yun promises that the family will be there.
• At the Xie residence, Shen Baili tells her mother, Shen Wan, and Aunt Xie Liuzheng about the Sports Meet. They eagerly agree to attend and plan what to wear. Xie Zhiyu cannot come because of a business trip; Xie Chengyue is abroad, and Xie Tingsi is busy with film post-production.
• At the end of October, the Sports Meet begins with a lively opening ceremony featuring a popular boy band. Zhu Zhitao is thrilled to see a performer she admires; Shen Baili, by contrast, thinks none of them is as handsome as Xie Tingsi.
• Su Yan discovers that none of her family has come, despite Su Yun’s promise. Upset, she performs poorly and is eliminated from the high jump after one round.
• Shen Baili advances to the decisive high-jump attempt, with a chance to win Science Class 1’s first Sports Meet victory. Her classmates and friends cheer her on.

Character developments and interactions

• Su Yan reveals how much she wants her parents’ attention, despite trying to sound casual. Her disappointment at their absence affects her performance.
• Su Yun responds warmly to Su Yan’s request and promises the family will attend, but the promise is not kept.
• Shen Baili is modest about signing up for three events and is content that her mother and aunt will support her, even though other family members cannot attend.
• Zhu Zhitao is excited by the band but becomes anxious while watching Shen Baili compete.
• Ji Qi loudly encourages Shen Baili, prompting Meng Jiu’an to outshout him with his own support. Lu Mingqian urges her to stay calm and trust herself.
• Ruan Mian, nearly pushed out of the stands by the crowd, is helped back by Meng Jiu’an and watches from the front row.

Significant themes

• Family presence and broken promises: Su Yan’s hurt shows how much parental support matters to her.
• Encouragement and belonging: Shen Baili receives enthusiastic support from friends and family, while her classmates rally around her as she competes.
• Competition and pressure: The high-jump final puts Shen Baili’s confidence and composure to the test.

Plot points and events

• Shen Baili takes her turn in the high jump as classmates gather to cheer her on. The growing crowd and their expectations make her nervous.
• Seeing her mother, Shen Wan, watching with confidence and trust, Shen Baili regains her composure and clears the bar.
• She realizes she has won, celebrates with her mother and Xie Liuzheng, and savors the moment. Her Energy Bar rises by 1% to 46%.
• Zhu Zhitao rushes to congratulate her and accidentally knocks her onto the mat. As Zhu struggles to get back up, two people catch her by the arms; she recognizes one as a popular boy, but the page ends before identifying the other.

Character developments

• Shen Baili moves from anxiety under attention to confidence, triumph, and delight. Her success reinforces her sense of self and her bond with her mother.
• Ruan Mian is captivated by Baili, seeing her as the kind of person she hopes to become.
• Su Yan feels admiration and happiness alongside jealousy, and begins questioning what exactly she envies.
• Zhu Zhitao shows her enthusiastic affection for Baili, though her excitement leads to an awkward collision.

Significant themes

• Support and self-belief: Shen Wan’s silent trust helps Baili overcome pressure.
• Admiration and aspiration: Baili’s achievement inspires others and prompts them to examine their own feelings.
• Identity and belonging: Shen Wan affirms that Baili is her own person first, as well as her daughter.
• Achievement and recognition: Winning brings Baili a powerful, memorable sense of joy.

Character interactions

• Classmates, especially the sports representative and Ji Qi, loudly encourage Baili, drawing a crowd.
• Shen Baili seeks and receives reassurance from Shen Wan; they celebrate together after the win.
• Xie Liuzheng joins Shen Wan in proudly cheering Baili.
• Zhu Zhitao checks whether Baili is hurt after knocking her down, while two bystanders catch Zhu before she falls again.