Chapter Summaries

Key plot points

• Xie Tingsi leaves Shen Baili in the makeup room while he changes into his Taoist-priest costume. Shen chats with makeup artist Su Rao, admires her makeup case, and learns that Su changed careers after discovering her passion for makeup. They introduce themselves and exchange contact information.
• Shao Ang arrives for makeup and asks about Xie. Xie returns in costume and jokingly offers Shen a fortune reading. He gives her an invented but reassuring prediction; she knows it is made up, yet it cheers her.
• Shao Ang asks for a reading about his career. Xie says he can do only one per day, so Shao pays to reserve the next day. Xie then teases him by demanding he call him “big brother”; Shao cancels instead.
• Xie takes Shen to the busy set. Filming begins, and he immediately enters character as a carefree Taoist priest drinking wine and eating meat in an inn.

Character developments

• Shen Baili shows warmth and attentive curiosity. She listens closely to Su Rao’s career story and helps the makeup artist feel comfortable. She also appreciates how even playful reassurance can lift someone’s spirits.
• Xie Tingsi is protective of Shen, worrying she might get lost, but is also relaxed and playful with her and Shao. Once filming starts, he demonstrates his ability to transform quickly into his role.
• Su Rao is established as passionate and self-directed: she left a field that did not suit her and worked hard to pursue makeup artistry.
• Shao Ang is friendly and eager enough to pay for a fortune reading, though he readily withdraws when Xie’s teasing makes the deal less appealing.

Character interactions

• Shen and Su Rao bond over conversation, and Su Rao’s openness reflects Shen’s skill as a listener.
• Xie and Shen trade jokes through the fortune-reading bit; her laughter and improved mood show their easy rapport.
• Xie and Shao banter like close friends, with Shao’s earnestness playing against Xie’s teasing.
• Shen observes the actors and crew at work, especially Xie’s seamless shift from casual joking to performance.

Significant themes

• Pursuing one’s passion: Su Rao’s story highlights the effort involved in leaving an unsuitable career for meaningful work.
• Kindness through listening: Shen’s attention encourages Su Rao to share her experiences.
• Playfulness as comfort: Xie’s mock fortune-telling is fictional but still gives Shen a moment of optimism.
• Performance and transformation: The crowded set contrasts with the actors’ ability to inhabit their roles, particularly Xie’s immediate immersion in character.

Key plot points and events

• Xie Tingsi films a scene as a charismatic, morally ambiguous Taoist priest. His performance impresses Shen Baili, who becomes absorbed in the character.
• After filming, Xie provides breakfast and milk tea for the crew. Shen recognizes his agent, Yan Qiaolan, a powerful manager known for helping actors win major awards.
• A-Deng unlocks another chapter, confirming Shen’s suspicion that meeting or getting close to important people reveals more of the story.
• At lunch, Shen enjoys the crew’s full meal while Xie sticks to a strict fitness meal for his role. Yan explains that he must maintain his physique and keep working out.
• Yan invites Shen to consider acting, but Shen declines because she wants to focus on school and has no interest. Xie supports her refusal, noting that she is still a minor.

Character developments and interactions

• Xie Tingsi shows his commitment to acting through both his convincing performance and disciplined diet, while his playful, hungry side appears in his banter with Shen. He remains protective of his younger sister.
• Shen Baili admires Xie’s acting, continues investigating how to unlock chapters, and confidently sets her own priorities when offered an acting opportunity.
• Yan Qiaolan comes across as capable, warm, and perceptive. She appreciates the siblings’ rapport and recognizes Shen’s appeal, though she respects their decision.
• The siblings tease each other affectionately: Shen sympathizes with Xie’s diet and encourages him, while he jokes that her encouragement is halfhearted.

Significant themes

• Dedication and sacrifice: Xie accepts the physical demands of acting because he loves the work.
• Family care and protection: Xie looks out for Shen’s well-being and choices.
• Personal agency: Shen chooses education over an opportunity that does not interest her.
• Access to hidden information: Shen’s growing insight suggests that proximity to key characters is essential to uncovering the story.

Key plot points and events

• Yan Qiaolan learns that Xie Tingsi comes from the influential Xie Family, but agrees to keep his identity secret because he does not want it made public.
• At lunch, Yan Qiaolan meets Shen Baili, Xie Tingsi’s stepsister. Xie proudly praises her excellent school results.
• Xie cannot take Shen to the airport, so his assistant Cheng Hui drives her. Xie fusses over her safety and asks her to keep him updated throughout the trip.
• On the drive, Cheng Hui describes Xie’s generosity toward his staff, including paying most of a former assistant’s father’s medical bills and granting her leave. The assistant is expected to return next month.
• Shen realizes this returning assistant may be connected to the betrayal she fears. She considers four possible suspects among Xie’s staff: Fan Bo, Wu He, Cheng Hui, and the absent woman. She dismisses Fan Bo as unlikely to betray Xie, but cannot rule out the others.
• After boarding and messaging Xie, Shen opens a newly unlocked main-story chapter. It reveals that Sang Ya has ended her engagement, stayed at the company after graduating, and moved in with Gu Yeliang near work.

Character developments and interactions

• Xie Tingsi remains protective and affectionate toward Shen, while keeping his family background private. Cheng Hui’s account also reveals that Xie’s kindness extends to his employees and is often kept quiet.
• Shen Baili is academically accomplished and shares a close, comfortable bond with Xie. She is also increasingly alert to the possibility of betrayal, scrutinizing people around him rather than trusting appearances.
• Yan Qiaolan adjusts her plans to respect Xie’s wishes and learns more about Shen.
• Cheng Hui appears loyal, grateful, and diligent, but Shen’s suspicions mean even his praise of Xie does not settle whether he can be trusted.
• The mention of the absent female assistant introduces a new potential figure in the developing mystery.

Significant themes

• Privacy versus power: Xie’s prestigious family ties could affect his career, but he chooses to conceal them.
• Family affection and care: Xie’s protectiveness toward Shen parallels his generosity toward staff.
• Trust and suspicion: Shen must assess possible betrayers based on incomplete evidence, and apparently sincere behavior offers no certainty.
• Quiet kindness: Xie helps others without publicizing his good deeds.

Key plot points and events

• Shen Baili reads further into the story and discovers that Xie Tingsi’s assistant, Cheng Hui, is the suspected traitor. A passage suggests Cheng may be motivated by resentment over a girlfriend who was a fan of Xie Tingsi, though Gu Yeliang hints that the situation is more complicated and that Cheng’s interests are closely tied to Xie’s.
• Shen Baili discreetly alerts bodyguard Fan Bo that Cheng may be dating someone, rather than telling Xie Tingsi directly and risking a confrontation that could warn Cheng.
• Fan Bo begins quietly investigating Cheng’s relationships. He learns Cheng is flirting with someone who may have been his university classmate, but cannot yet confirm whether she is a fan.
• As Fan Bo’s investigation continues, Shen Baili returns to schoolwork, math-olympiad preparation, and fitness training. She also notices her mother, Shen Wan, looking happier and more at ease as she paints.
• Shen and her friends plan to attend singer Bai Ru’s concert. None of them manages to buy tickets when sales open, so Zhu Zhitao suggests trying a scalper.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Baili acts cautiously and strategically: she gives Fan Bo the lead while avoiding alerting Xie Tingsi or Cheng Hui prematurely.
• Fan Bo takes the hint and uses his surveillance skills to investigate Cheng discreetly.
• Cheng Hui becomes the focus of suspicion, though his possible romantic motive remains unconfirmed.
• Gu Yeliang suggests Cheng’s betrayal may stem from more than jealousy or heartbreak; Sang Ya, by contrast, insists love and possessiveness explain it, and the pair’s affectionate banter turns into flirtation.
• Shen Baili and her friends share excitement over the concert, while Sang Fang quietly hesitates at the idea of buying tickets from a scalper.

Significant themes

• Trust and betrayal: Cheng’s apparent loyalty to Xie Tingsi may conceal another agenda.
• Caution and investigation: Shen Baili chooses indirect inquiry over a risky confrontation.
• Romance and interpretation: Sang Ya views betrayal through love and jealousy, while Gu Yeliang points to practical interests.
• Everyday warmth: Shen Wan’s contentment and the friends’ concert plans offer a calmer counterpoint to the unfolding mystery.

Chapter 51 Summary

Key plot points and events

Qiao Yi and Zhu Zhitao discuss attending Bai Ru’s concert together, hoping to create lasting memories before their different academic tracks separate them. Unable to obtain tickets, Shen Baili searches online for alternatives after returning home. Xie Tingsi unexpectedly returns from filming and offers to use his entertainment-industry connections to secure four tickets. Shen Baili is delighted, but while thinking about how to warn him of an upcoming accident, her inner thoughts suddenly become audible to him. She reveals that Cheng Hui will tamper with Xie Tingsi’s safety harness and that someone more powerful is behind the scheme. Frightened by the mysterious voice, Xie Tingsi assumes there is a ghost and flees with Shen Baili, calling for his eldest brother, Xie Zhiyu.

Character developments

Shen Baili is shown to be considerate and loyal to her friends, refusing to let Zhu Zhitao handle the ticket problem alone. She also remains deeply concerned about protecting Xie Tingsi, though she struggles to explain her knowledge without seeming unbelievable. Xie Tingsi demonstrates his generous, affectionate side by obtaining tickets for Shen Baili and her friends. However, his usual confidence quickly gives way to comical panic when he hears Shen Baili’s thoughts. Xie Zhiyu is established as the dependable figure Xie Tingsi instinctively turns to in a crisis.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes friendship, the importance of preserving memories before life changes, and Shen Baili’s growing responsibility toward the people around her. It also develops the supernatural/transmigration element through the accidental exposure of her inner voice, while blending impending danger with humor. Trust and communication are central, since Shen Baili knows the truth but cannot openly reveal how she knows it.

Character interactions

Zhu Zhitao reassures Qiao Yi and expresses her desire to attend the concert together. Shen Baili and Xie Tingsi share a warm, teasing sibling-like exchange, with him jokingly comparing his appearance to Bai Ru’s before offering to get tickets. Their interaction abruptly changes when he hears her unspoken warning. Xie Tingsi then drags Shen Baili toward Xie Zhiyu for protection, creating a humorous contrast between his admired public image and his fear of the unexplained voice.

Chapter 126 Summary

• Key events: After Shen Baili and Xie Tingsi nearly collide, Xie Zhiyu catches them. Xie Tingsi tries to tell Shen Baili about the strange voice he heard, but an unexplained force prevents him from saying it. The next day, Xie Zhiyu takes him to the hospital for a full checkup and tests of his hearing and mental health. The results show that Xie Tingsi is healthy. Xie Zhiyu then reveals that the voice they heard was Shen Baili’s inner voice—and that they can both hear her thoughts. He also tells Xie Tingsi that Shen Baili can predict the future.
• Character developments: Xie Tingsi shifts from worrying that something is wrong with him to accepting the supernatural explanation. Once he learns Shen Baili has a special ability, his shock quickly turns to excitement and admiration, though he wonders whether it comes at a cost. Xie Zhiyu remains calm and patient, quietly confirming what he knows while guiding his brother through the revelation. Shen Baili notices that the brothers are acting strangely but decides not to dwell on it.
• Character interactions: Xie Zhiyu protects both Shen Baili and Xie Tingsi, teases his younger brother, and accompanies him to the hospital. Later, he reassures Xie Tingsi about his health and explains the truth behind the voice. Xie Tingsi initially mistakes it for a female ghost, then recognizes it as Shen Baili’s voice. The brothers share knowledge about her abilities that they cannot directly disclose to her.
• Significant themes: The chapter blends comedy with supernatural mystery, especially through Xie Tingsi’s dramatic ghost theory and enthusiastic response. It also explores the limits of communication: an unknown force blocks the brothers from telling Shen Baili what they know. Their acceptance of her mind-reading and prophetic abilities hints at growing trust in the extraordinary.

Chapter 52 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Zhiyu and Xie Tingsi discuss the danger revealed through Shen Baili’s inner voice: Cheng Hui may tamper with Tingsi’s safety harness, causing him to fall, become disfigured, and suffer serious injuries.
• Tingsi initially refuses to believe Cheng Hui could betray him, emphasizing their close relationship and lack of apparent conflict. However, he ultimately chooses to trust Xie Zhiyu after learning that Shen Baili’s inner voice had previously revealed the truth about Sang Ya.
• Before leaving for the film set, Tingsi visits Shen Baili, bringing her milk, watermelons, concert tickets, and promises of autographed materials. His excessive concern and advice about her health make Shen Baili suspect that he may already know about Cheng Hui’s betrayal.
• Fan Bo sends Shen Baili an investigation report confirming that Cheng Hui has secretly contacted fans, especially one major fan, while leaking Tingsi’s preferences and schedule. Cheng Hui used a private phone and alternate account to conceal his actions.
• Xie Zhiyu and Xie Tingsi learn about Cheng Hui’s activities. Rather than confronting him immediately, they decide to investigate further and identify the person or group behind him.
• Furious and emotionally shaken, Tingsi works out with Shao Ang but keeps the truth secret, worried that revealing too much could compromise the investigation.
• Shen Baili checks on Tingsi through Xie Zhiyu and learns that he is physically safe but struggling emotionally with the betrayal.

Character Developments

• Xie Tingsi: His trust in Cheng Hui changes into anger and disgust. Although he is deeply hurt because he views Cheng Hui as both a loyal assistant and friend, he shows maturity and restraint by agreeing to wait rather than act impulsively.
• Xie Zhiyu: He takes the threat seriously and protects Tingsi while helping him confront the truth. He understands Tingsi’s idealistic, loyalty-driven personality and supports him patiently.
• Shen Baili: She becomes increasingly protective of Tingsi, especially after accepting his gifts and realizing the danger is real. She actively seeks updates and refuses to remain uninvolved.
• Cheng Hui: He is revealed to have secretly exploited Tingsi’s personal information for profit and may be involved in a more serious plot against him.
• Fan Bo: He contributes concrete evidence by investigating Cheng Hui’s secret communications.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal and misplaced trust: Tingsi struggles to accept that someone close to him could exploit his trust.
• Loyalty versus reality: His idealistic belief in friendship clashes with the darker realities of the entertainment industry.
• Protective family relationships: The Xie family and Shen Baili cooperate to keep Tingsi safe.
• Patience and strategic action: Instead of confronting Cheng Hui immediately, the characters choose to gather evidence and uncover the larger conspiracy.
• Mind-reading and hidden knowledge: Shen Baili’s inner voice continues to expose dangers that others cannot yet see, allowing the family to prevent tragedy.

Character Interactions

• Xie Zhiyu reassures and advises Xie Tingsi, persuading him to trust the warning about Cheng Hui.
• Tingsi warmly says goodbye to Shen Baili and showers her with practical advice and gifts, while she privately analyzes his unusual behavior.
• Fan Bo reports Cheng Hui’s suspicious actions to Shen Baili.
• Tingsi trains with Shao Ang but conceals the betrayal and possible conspiracy from him.
• Shen Baili asks Xie Zhiyu whether Tingsi is safe, demonstrating her concern and growing involvement in protecting him.

Plot points and events

• Xie Zhiyu tells Shen Baili that Cheng Hui is being used as bait by someone working behind the scenes. The Xie family won’t fire him immediately, and Xie Zhiyu has arranged professional protection for Xie Tingsi.
• Shen Baili promises to keep their plans secret and feels reassured that the brothers are taking the threat seriously.
• At school, Zhu Zhitao is upset because she failed to buy concert tickets. A scalper demanded nearly fifteen times the original price, insulted her, and blocked her after she argued with him.
• Shen Baili reveals she has four tickets to Bai Ru’s concert through her brother’s connection—reserved friends-and-family seats. Her friends insist on paying her back, especially once they realize the tickets may be very valuable.

Character developments

• Xie Tingsi’s overnight reflection and return to work show how much more mature and steady he has become.
• Xie Zhiyu demonstrates his protectiveness and trust by explaining the investigation to Shen Baili rather than leaving her anxious.
• Shen Baili is considerate and dependable: she keeps the Xie family’s confidence and helps her friends without making them feel indebted.
• Zhu Zhitao’s disappointment reflects how much the concert matters to her, while Qiao Yi and Sang Fang show their concern for her and their group.

Character interactions

• Xie Zhiyu thanks Shen Baili for warning the family and reassures her that he and Xie Tingsi can handle the danger. She responds with trust and promises discretion.
• Zhu Zhitao’s friends comfort her after the failed ticket purchase. Qiao Yi suggests studying together, while Sang Fang offers to look for another solution.
• Shen Baili’s ticket offer turns their disappointment into excitement, but her friends’ insistence on paying shows that they value fairness and the friendship.

Significant themes

• Trust and protection: The Xie brothers take Shen Baili’s warning seriously and include her in their plans.
• Growing maturity: Xie Tingsi’s composure marks his development.
• Friendship and fairness: The students support one another and want to avoid taking advantage of Shen Baili’s generosity.
• Care amid pressure: The group balances their excitement about the concert with the approaching midterms.

Key events

• Shen Baili’s friends urge her to treat them to milk tea as thanks for their help with studying and campus life. She agrees, affirming that they are friends.
• When Zhu Zhitao asks about her brother, Shen Baili explains that she has stepbrothers because she comes from a blended family. Qiao Yi and Zhu Zhitao are surprised but don’t pry; Shen appreciates that they accept her without judgment.
• Sang Fang privately tells Shen Baili that Sang Ya is her older cousin. She explains that she delayed telling her because of the upheaval at the Meng Family banquet.
• Shen asks whether Sang Fang blames the Xie Family for ending Sang Ya’s engagement. Sang Fang says the Xie Family and Sang Ya’s former fiancé were victims of Sang Ya’s own wrongdoing. Convinced of her sincerity, Shen says their friendship can continue.
• The two return to class together, carrying snacks and discussing a math problem. Nearby, Meng Jiu’an, Lu Mingqian, and Ji Qi overhear them. Ji Qi mistakenly interprets their hand-holding as a romantic confession, while the others tease him.
• Back at her desk, Shen asks A-Deng to check whether Sang Fang has appeared in any of the chapters they have unlocked.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen is candid about her family and believes genuine friends won’t reject her for her background. She values honesty and gives Sang Fang a direct chance to explain herself.
• Sang Fang shows trust by revealing her connection to Sang Ya, and she openly separates her own views from her cousin’s actions.
• Qiao Yi and Zhu Zhitao respond with tact, respecting Shen’s boundaries. Shen and Sang Fang reaffirm their friendship through an honest conversation and warm, ordinary companionship.
• Ji Qi’s misunderstanding provides comic relief, while Meng Jiu’an and Lu Mingqian react with amused patience.

Significant themes

• Trust and friendship: Honesty strengthens relationships, while true friends accept one another without judging their families.
• Personal responsibility: Sang Fang distinguishes Sang Ya’s illegal actions from the Xie Family’s decision to end the engagement.
• Boundaries and acceptance: Shen shares what she chooses and appreciates friends who don’t force her to discuss painful history.

Key plot points and events

• Shen Baili learns that Sang Fang’s name is not connected to the Xie Family, confirming that Sang Ya’s separation from them is enough.
• Midterm exams bring good results for the four friends. Zhu Zhitao rises ten places to eleventh from last, while Qiao Yi places first in class and second in school, Sang Fang fifth in class and sixth in school, and Shen Baili second in class and third in school.
• Shen Baili is especially pleased that her chemistry score has risen to 95. Her success also raises A-Deng’s energy bar by one percent, and the two share in her happiness.
• On her sixteenth birthday, Shen Baili expects a quiet day with her mother: the other Xie family members are away or busy, and Shen Baili does not expect them to rearrange their lives for her.
• After her morning run, she reflects on how much stronger and fitter she has become. Shen Wan welcomes her home with longevity noodles and a warm birthday greeting.

Character developments

• Shen Baili sees tangible rewards for her sustained study and exercise. She is proud of her academic progress and values growing stronger, while remaining cautious about how much she expects from the Xie Family.
• Zhu Zhitao gains confidence from her improved ranking and becomes more motivated to study.
• Sang Fang is satisfied with her strong exam performance.
• A-Deng can increasingly sense Shen Baili’s emotions as its energy grows, deepening its shared experience with her.
• Shen Wan continues to show quiet affection and care for her daughter.

Significant themes

• Effort and progress: Hard work produces measurable gains in both school and physical training.
• Belonging and family: Shen Baili appreciates the Xie Family’s recent care but still keeps emotional distance, while her bond with her mother remains a source of comfort.
• Small joys: Academic success, improving fitness, and a simple birthday meal matter more to Shen Baili than grand celebrations.

Character interactions

• Shen Baili, Qiao Yi, and Sang Fang help Zhu Zhitao review her answers and enthusiastically celebrate her improvement.
• Shen Baili and A-Deng share the joy of her exam results as A-Deng senses her happiness.
• Shen Baili returns home to Shen Wan, who serves her birthday noodles and calls her “my darling Suìsuì.”

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Shen Wan and Shen Baili celebrate Baili’s sixteenth birthday with a mother-daughter day at an amusement park. Baili gives her mother roses and thanks her for bringing her into the world.
• Back at the Xie Residence, Xie Liuzheng gives Baili a jadeite Buddha necklace, and Xie Chengyue transfers five million yuan as spending money. Xie Zhiyu arrives from the airport with a gift.
• Xie Liuzheng leads the family to the backyard, where Shen Wan and Baili discover a pear tree in full bloom. The family planted it as a birthday surprise, honoring the special meaning pear blossoms hold for them.
• Later, Baili opens Zhiyu’s gift: a custom sports watch engraved with a pear blossom and her nickname, along with a birthday card. The chapter ends as Shen Wan tells her she has another gift.

Character developments

• Baili’s joy comes less from the presents than from feeling remembered, loved, and at home with the Xie family.
• Shen Wan and Baili’s close bond is reaffirmed through their birthday outing and their shared emotional response to the pear tree.
• The Xie family show thoughtful affection in distinct ways: Liuzheng plans the surprise, Chengyue gives practical spending money, and Zhiyu chooses a personalized gift.

Significant themes

• Family and belonging: The pear blossoms represent happiness, warmth, and home, making the tree a symbol of Baili and Shen Wan’s place in the family.
• Love expressed through care: Each gift and gesture reflects attention to Baili’s wishes and personal meaning.
• Shared happiness: Baili’s happiness is closely tied to her mother’s, while the family’s celebration makes both feel cherished.

Character interactions

• Shen Wan and Baili share a peaceful breakfast and a joyful day together; Baili’s roses and words move her mother.
• Liuzheng warmly hugs Baili, gives her the necklace, and brings her and Shen Wan to the pear tree.
• Chengyue offers Baili money with a simple birthday wish, while Zhiyu welcomes her home and gives her a personalized watch.
• Shen Wan ends the chapter by approaching Baili tenderly with another present.

• Key events: On her sixteenth birthday, Shen Baili receives a handmade silver bangle from her mother, Shen Wan, engraved with a wish for her safety. She treasures it and affectionately thanks her mother. She also appreciates the health-tracking smartwatch from her eldest brother and the giant panda plush sent by her second brother, Xie Tingsi. That night, Tingsi calls to wish her happy birthday, though he is still on set. After Baili falls asleep, A-Deng notices the system’s energy has suddenly surged and excitedly tries not to wake her. The chapter then flashes back to the filming of Tingsi’s safety-harness scene: the crew has carefully checked the equipment, but Cheng Hui seems distracted. Tingsi asks what is wrong and offers him a jacket. The scene ends before the reason for Cheng Hui’s distraction is revealed.
• Character development: Baili is eager to grow stronger so she can protect her mother, but Shen Wan recognizes that she puts too much pressure on herself and reassures her that she can take her time. Baili’s gratitude and warmth show how deeply she values her family. Tingsi comes across as thoughtful and caring, while A-Deng’s exuberance highlights its growing attachment to Baili.
• Character interactions: Shen Wan comforts Baili and gives her a loving birthday gift; Baili responds with a hug and kiss. Baili and Tingsi share a brief, affectionate call. On set, Tingsi shows concern for Cheng Hui and gives him an opportunity to explain what is troubling him.
• Themes: Family affection and belonging; the pressure to become strong for loved ones; care expressed through small, thoughtful gifts; and suspense, as Cheng Hui’s unexplained distraction hints that something may be wrong during the safety-harness filming.

Plot points and events

• Cheng Hui, Xie Tingsi’s assistant, tampers with a safety harness in an apparent attempt to kill him. Caught, he pleads for mercy, but Xie tells everyone to call the police.
• The evidence against Cheng Hui is conclusive, and Xie presses charges for attempted murder. Cheng Hui asks to speak with him and appeals to their relationship, but Xie refuses to go easy on him.
• Xie and his allies have already identified the person who hired Cheng Hui and gathered evidence. Xie had waited to see whether Cheng Hui would confess or protect the person behind the plot; Cheng Hui’s choice confirms his betrayal.
• After Xie cooperates with the police, paparazzi report that he has been arrested, sparking rumors and fierce online debate before the facts are known.
• Xie’s agent, Yan Qiaolan, meets him after his statement and first checks that he is unharmed. Xie tells her Cheng Hui was paid to act, owing ten million in gambling debts.
• Xie names the person behind the attempt as Lu Bai, a celebrated actor and Yan’s former client. Yan is shocked by the revelation.

Character developments and interactions

• Xie Tingsi responds to Cheng Hui’s betrayal with resolve, choosing legal consequences over personal leniency. He also appears to be protecting Yan by not telling her about Lu Bai until the investigation is underway.
• Cheng Hui is revealed as a trusted insider who betrayed Xie for money. His pleas do not undo the harm or restore their relationship.
• Yan Qiaolan shows that her concern for Xie’s well-being comes before publicity or career management. Learning that Lu Bai is implicated reopens an unexplained chapter of her past.
• Xie and Yan share professional trust, while Xie’s disclosure introduces a serious personal complication between Yan and her former client.

Significant themes

• Betrayal and accountability: Personal closeness does not shield Cheng Hui from the consequences of attempted murder.
• Trust and loyalty: The betrayal comes from someone Xie had considered dependable, emphasizing how fragile trust can be.
• Rumor versus evidence: Online speculation rapidly treats Xie as guilty, while the actual investigation points to him as the target.
• Unresolved past conflicts: Lu Bai’s alleged role hints at a hidden history between him and Yan.

• Yan Qiaolan comes clean: She tells Xie Tingsi that she and Lu Bai used to date but parted amicably and remained occasional friends. She insists she knew nothing about Lu Bai’s actions and would never betray her professional responsibilities. Ashamed of her past connection and her failures in team management, she offers to accept termination of her contract.
• Xie Tingsi keeps her on: He says he trusts Yan’s abilities and character, asking only whether she can continue handling the situation or would prefer to step aside. Yan firmly chooses to stay, and they agree to let the police investigation clarify Lu Bai’s motive.
• Cheng Hui’s gambling is explained: Xie reveals that Cheng became addicted to online betting on soccer and horse racing after a friend introduced it. Early wins encouraged him to keep playing; he eventually lost millions, concealed the debt, and took out loans to cover it while gambling in hopes of recovering his losses. Lu Bai exploited Cheng’s vulnerability, though Xie says Cheng’s gambling began independently.
• Lu Bai’s motive remains unclear: Xie cannot see what Lu Bai stood to gain by targeting him, since Lu was already a celebrated and successful actor. Yan briefly wonders if the attack stemmed from unrequited or frustrated love, then dismisses the thought as shock-induced speculation. Xie insists he will not settle the matter privately.
• The scandal reaches the public: As the group arrives at the hotel, Wu He reports that Lu Bai is trending online. Social media erupts after news that both Lu Bai and Xie were seen at the police station. Fans and commenters speculate wildly, defend their favorites, and accuse one another of exploiting the incident for publicity.
  Character developments and interactions: Yan shifts from guilt and fear of losing her job to renewed resolve after Xie’s vote of confidence. Their candid conversation strengthens their professional trust. Xie remains composed and firm, while acknowledging that even he failed to notice Cheng’s concealed gambling problem. The chapter also shows how quickly public opinion turns a serious police investigation into competing fan narratives.
  Themes: Trust and professional accountability; the hidden costs of addiction and debt; uncertainty around motive; and the speed with which online rumor and celebrity fandom distort unfolding events.

Key plot points and events

• An online argument between fans of actor Xie Tingsi and star Lu Bai explodes into a major fan war, disrupting several apps. Wu He discovers paid accounts are directing the discussion to distract from another issue; some appear connected to Lu Bai’s camp.
• Yan Qiaolan organizes a joint statement for 7 a.m., asks fan moderators to calm the fans, and tells the team to monitor the online response. Xie Tingsi, exhausted and hurt, chooses to keep working rather than delay filming.
• After waking, Shen Baili and A-Deng discover their energy level has reached 40%, unlocking a new feature: an affection checker. It can be used once a day on someone she touches.
• Though disappointed that the system has not unlocked a more powerful ability—especially one that could cure cancer—Shen Baili accepts the feature and tests it on A-Deng. The checker reports A-Deng’s affection for her as 88/100.

Character developments

• Xie Tingsi shows professionalism and emotional restraint, resolving to keep personal hurt from affecting his work.
• Yan Qiaolan takes charge of the crisis, coordinating the team’s response efficiently.
• Shen Baili is excited by the system’s progress but manages her disappointment with good humor and affection.
• A-Deng remains hopeful about future upgrades and openly delights in Shen Baili’s praise and attention.

Character interactions

• Yan Qiaolan, Xie Tingsi, and Wu He work together to contain the fan conflict, while Yan offers Xie a chance to rest.
• Shen Baili and A-Deng share a playful, affectionate moment: she cuddles and pets the kitten, and they use the new checker to confirm what they already know about their bond.

Significant themes

• Public image and manipulation: Fan wars can be fueled by paid accounts to conceal other controversies.
• Duty amid personal strain: Xie Tingsi prioritizes his work despite exhaustion and emotional pain.
• Hope and small gains: Though the new system feature is modest, Shen Baili and A-Deng find value and joy in it.

• Plot: Shen Baili asks A-Deng to turn off affection-rating voice alerts so she won’t fixate on other people’s opinions, though she keeps the feature available for later. She then sees news that her brother Xie Tingsi’s assistant, Cheng Hui, attacked him and is under investigation. Actor Lu Bai has also been questioned, prompting speculation that he may have been involved. Xie reassures Baili that he is safe and heading to filming. The original storyline in which Tingsi was disfigured has been averted. Baili wonders whether the mysterious system bug helped protect him, but rushes to school before she can think it through.
• Character developments and interactions: Baili shows growing emotional independence by choosing not to monitor affection ratings, while remaining deeply concerned for her brother. Tingsi sends her upbeat messages to ease her worry, and she replies, “Stay safe, Second Brother.” A-Deng follows Baili’s wishes without fully understanding them. At school, Baili and Zhu Zhitao discuss the news; Zhitao condemns Cheng Hui and reveals she admires both Xie Tingsi and Bai Ru, while classmate Sang Fang teases her for judging by looks.
• Themes: Emotional self-reliance and valuing genuine relationships over popularity; family concern and reassurance; fate changing as the original plot is disrupted; and public rumor and speculation in the entertainment world.

• Plot and events: A paparazzo releases messages and a recording implicating Lu Bai in arranging an attack on Xie Tingsi. In the call, Lu Bai complains about Xie and suggests Cheng Hui injure him. The recording’s recognizable voice makes denial difficult, and Lu Bai’s reputation collapses. Formerly devoted fans turn against him, sharing damaging material about his past relationship with his manager, Yan Qiaolan, including a rumor that she rejected his proposal. Online discussion then spirals into speculation that jealousy over Yan motivated Lu Bai’s actions and that she and Xie may be romantically involved.
• Character developments: Lu Bai is exposed as spiteful and calculating, losing most of his supporters. His remaining fans insist he was framed, while some prominent fans who feel betrayed become critics. Yan is portrayed as career-focused and as having parted from Lu Bai well before joining Xie’s team. Xie remains the target of an attack and of baseless romantic rumors.
• Interactions: Lu Bai’s assistant pressured Cheng Hui to hurt Xie, and Lu Bai reinforced the request in a recorded call. After the evidence goes public, fans and commenters argue over Lu Bai’s guilt and invent or dispute a love-triangle explanation. Xie’s fans defend him and Yan, emphasizing that their relationship is professional.
• Themes: Celebrity worship can turn into rejection when an idol’s conduct becomes indefensible; public scandals are shaped by leaked evidence, fan loyalty, and online rumor. The chapter also contrasts a documented plot to harm someone with unsupported gossip that distracts from the seriousness of the case.

Key plot points and events

• Lu Bai’s public image collapses after police announce that his assistant, Cheng Hui, has been arrested for attempted murder. Lu Bai is questioned, reprimanded for his private insults about Xie Tingsi, ordered to apologize publicly, and sentenced to fifteen days of administrative detention.
• The police cannot prove Lu Bai arranged the attack: he denies Cheng Hui’s claims, and there is no clear record of payment or an explicit agreement. Lu Bai’s apology video and a psychiatry-clinic record appear to show remorse, but many people reject his attempt to excuse his behavior.
• Lu Bai and his agent decide that serving the full detention term and portraying him as a heartbroken lover will distract the public. Lu Bai admits jealousy of Xie Tingsi and frames his insults as part of his feelings for Yan Qiaolan, who is now Xie Tingsi’s exclusive agent.
• On Lu Bai’s sixth day in detention, police search a villa registered to him after receiving a tip and find a large quantity of drugs and records of buying and selling them. Lu Bai realizes his career and freedom are likely finished.
• Xie Zhiyu reveals that he arranged the tip and supplied the transaction records. He had allowed Lu Bai to remain under investigation to help uncover the people behind him. The evidence now points toward the Lu family, including Lu Mingqian and Lu Mingjing, or a wider organization targeting Xie Group.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Bai shifts from calculated denial to panic. He knowingly accepts detention and uses a romantic narrative as damage control, but the drug evidence destroys his confidence.
• Xie Tingsi remains central to the scandal and receives public sympathy; his decision to send his assistant to the police surprises Lu Bai.
• Yan Qiaolan is used by Lu Bai as a tool for public-relations cover. His agent questions whether he is truly still attached to her, while Lu Bai admits the “romantic gossip” is strategically useful.
• Xie Zhiyu acts decisively behind the scenes, engineering the drug investigation as part of a larger effort to identify threats to Xie Group.
• Fans and the public split between a small group of loyal supporters and a much larger skeptical crowd, who argue that mental illness does not excuse cruelty.

Significant themes

• Public image and manipulation: Lu Bai’s apology and lover narrative are calculated attempts to redirect attention.
• Accountability and evidence: His culpability for the attempted murder is hard to prove, but further evidence exposes a separate criminal operation.
• Loyalty, jealousy, and betrayal: Lu Bai’s resentment of Xie Tingsi and rivalry over Yan Qiaolan shape his public story.
• A wider conspiracy: The investigation expands from celebrity scandal to a possible organized threat against Xie Group.

Chapter summary

• Xie Tingsi returns to filming, leaving the aftermath of the case to his eldest brother.
• Cheng Hui is sentenced to nine years in prison for attempted murder. His family disowns him and moves away to escape the gambling debts he cannot repay.
• Xie visits Cheng Hui before his transfer to prison. Cheng Hui cries, apologizes, and claims he only meant to injure Xie—not kill him. Xie sees through the story and concludes Cheng Hui is still lying.
• Cheng Hui then asks Xie for twenty million to protect him from his creditors, even offering to kill Lu Bai in exchange. Xie rejects him.
• When Xie turns to leave, Cheng Hui offers a secret. Xie pretends he will pay, partly to see what Cheng Hui will reveal. Cheng Hui says Shao Ang has been in contact with Lu Bai and once gave Lu Bai information about Xie.

Character developments and interactions

• Xie Tingsi has moved from hurt and unanswered questions toward clear-eyed distrust. He remains controlled during the visit and uses Cheng Hui’s greed against him, rather than giving in to his pleas.
• Cheng Hui shows little genuine remorse: he shifts from self-punishment and apologies to begging for money, then tries to bargain with a threat against Lu Bai. His desperation is mixed with entitlement and a belief that Xie is an easy mark.
• Their encounter exposes how badly the relationship has broken down: Cheng Hui sees Xie as a last resort, while Xie no longer feels obliged to care for or forgive him.

Significant themes

The scene emphasizes betrayal and the collapse of trust, as Cheng Hui’s apologies are undermined by further lies and self-interest. It also contrasts genuine kindness with exploitation: Cheng Hui mistakes Xie’s past generosity for weakness. Finally, the secret about Shao Ang and Lu Bai introduces a new thread of possible collusion and danger.

Plot points and events

• Cheng Hui tells Xie Tingsi that, about two months earlier, he overheard Shao Ang and Lu Bai discussing Xie Tingsi, his agent, schedule, and endorsements. Xie doubts the account but suspects Lu Bai’s interest in his agent—and his apparent closeness to Xie—serves a larger purpose.
• Cheng Hui asks for the promised twenty million. Xie pretends to agree, then clarifies that the “twenty million” is twenty million wishes that Cheng Hui will suffer through his nine-year prison sentence. He leaves without paying him.
• Cheng Hui flies into a rage, assaults prison guards, and is subdued with a stun gun. He is taken for medical examination and faces solitary confinement.
• Outside prison, Xie enjoys the sunlight and feels liberated after settling matters with Cheng Hui. He then calls Shao Ang to arrange a meeting.
• At a private bar, Shao Ang assumes Xie needs comfort and suggests drinking. Xie instead asks directly: “What did Lu Bai offer you?”

Character developments and interactions

• Xie Tingsi shows growing distrust and sharper judgment. He refuses to reward Cheng Hui, uses humor and deception to get the last word, and turns next to confront Shao Ang.
• Cheng Hui remains greedy and self-serving, then loses control when he realizes Xie has tricked him. His violence brings further punishment.
• Shao Ang appears concerned and believes Xie is upset, but his involvement with Lu Bai remains unresolved. Xie’s direct question signals that their relationship is under strain.
• The chapter’s key confrontations are Xie’s sarcastic “blessing” to Cheng Hui and his abrupt interrogation of Shao Ang.

Significant themes

• Betrayal and distrust: Xie questions both Cheng Hui’s testimony and Lu Bai’s motives, while seeking the truth about Shao Ang.
• Justice and consequences: Cheng Hui’s greed and violence deepen his troubles in prison.
• Freedom and closure: Xie’s laughter in the sunshine marks relief at putting one conflict behind him—while another is just beginning.