Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• Shao Ang admits that, for roughly a year and a half, he secretly gave Lu Bai information about Xie Tingsi’s daily life and his agent in exchange for acting opportunities.
• Shao Ang initially justified the arrangement as a way to advance his career. Although he later regretted it and refused Lu Bai’s demand to hurt Xie Tingsi, he delayed warning his friend.
• Lu Bai arranged an attack through Xie Tingsi’s trusted assistant, Cheng Hui. After the incident, Xie Tingsi confronted Shao Ang with evidence.
• Shao Ang explains that he planned to confess on the day Cheng Hui acted and insists he never disclosed Xie Tingsi’s wealthy family background or intended to harm him. Xie Tingsi accepts that Shao Ang is telling the truth, but calls the secrecy and betrayal unforgivable.

Character developments

• Shao Ang reveals how ambition and insecurity led him to betray his closest friend. His guilt and affection for Xie Tingsi are sincere, but they do not undo the harm caused by his choices and prolonged silence.
• Xie Tingsi responds with painful composure. He understands Shao Ang’s motives and recognizes that he could have accepted the arrangement if told openly; what wounds him is that Shao Ang chose easy benefits over trusting him.

Significant themes

• Trust and betrayal: A friendship can be damaged even when betrayal is driven by fear rather than malice.
• Ambition and compromise: Shao Ang’s desire for career success leads him to cross a boundary, then makes it harder to confess.
• Honesty and accountability: Xie Tingsi distinguishes between Shao Ang’s intentions and the consequences of his actions.
• Power and dependence: Lu Bai uses career opportunities to recruit Shao Ang and exert influence over Xie Tingsi.

Character interactions

• Shao Ang confesses and appeals to their friendship, explaining that Xie Tingsi was his first genuine friend in the industry.
• Xie Tingsi questions why Shao Ang did not tell him sooner, arguing that openness would have preserved their friendship and allowed Shao Ang to benefit without deception.
• Their conversation ends with Shao Ang apologizing and Xie Tingsi acknowledging his sincerity while remaining hurt by the betrayal.

Key plot points

• Xie Tingsi ends his friendship and professional relationship with Shao Ang after Shao admits that he betrayed Xie’s trust by working with Lu Bai. Xie refuses Shao’s offer to repay the benefits he received, but insists they follow the standard contract-termination procedure.
• Xie says he will not blacklist Shao, though he warns him not to do anything further against him. He leaves for the set, deciding to focus on work rather than dwell on the betrayal.
• In the car, Xie tells his staff that he and Shao are no longer friends. He considers confiding in someone, then messages Shen Baili instead.
• Shen responds with a hug sticker and a song encouraging him to cry. Their light, awkwardly affectionate exchange eases Xie’s gloom. He offers to get her a gift, but she says she already has the concert tickets and Bai Ru autograph he previously gave her. She ends the conversation because she is sleepy.

Character developments

• Xie is deeply hurt but firm: he refuses to excuse betrayal, while still acting fairly by following the contract terms and not blacklisting Shao. He tries to contain his distress and avoid taking it out on his staff.
• Shao accepts Xie’s decision and apologizes more sincerely than Cheng Hui did. He shows that his career matters to him, but does not ask Xie to reconsider.
• Shen Baili offers quiet support in her direct, understated way. Her simple response and humor help Xie feel less alone.

Character interactions

• Xie and Shao have a final, painful exchange in which Xie draws clear boundaries and Shao accepts the consequences.
• Xie treats Fan Bo and Ning Xin considerately despite his emotional state; Ning Xin checks on him, and Fan Bo remains composed.
• Xie and Shen share a warm, teasing chat. Xie calls her “Little Pear Blossom” and “second brother,” offers her gifts, and she responds plainly before signing off to sleep.

Significant themes

• Betrayal and boundaries: Xie will not preserve a friendship after trust has been broken.
• Fairness and accountability: Even while hurt, he follows proper procedures and does not retaliate by blacklisting Shao.
• Support and emotional recovery: Work and Shen’s small gesture help Xie manage his pain, showing the value of companionship during a difficult moment.

Plot points

• After dealing with Cheng Hui and Shao Ang, Xie Tingsi tells his older brother, Xie Zhiyu, what happened. Zhiyu listens and reassures him: “Don’t be sad” and “You did well.” Tingsi is moved and sends him a playlist for people on the verge of tears.
• Lu Bai’s administrative detention ends. His manager and lawyer arrange a carefully staged exit, hoping photos of him looking “handsomely haggard” will win public sympathy and help repair his declining reputation.
• Lu Bai reflects that the scheme has failed: he has lost the promised film role and may face the anger of the person behind it. He blames Cheng Hui for botching the plan, then deliberately composes himself into a refined, melancholy public image.
• His manager directs him toward waiting paparazzi, who have been paid to photograph his release. Just as Lu Bai settles into a van, police bring him back in handcuffs. The photographers capture the arrest, turning the staged publicity effort into explosive news.
• Lu Bai’s assistant offers him water, and Lu Bai plans to eat at a private dining venue. His manager says food has already been ordered for his return to the villa.

Character developments and interactions

• Xie Tingsi seeks recognition and comfort from Xie Zhiyu after a difficult encounter. His emotional vulnerability contrasts with his playful habit of sending an oddly specific crying playlist.
• Xie Zhiyu shows quiet affection and understanding, responding to his brother’s boastful update with patience and reassurance.
• Lu Bai remains focused on image management and self-preservation. He rehearses an appealing persona for the cameras, while inwardly resenting Cheng Hui and worrying about the fallout.
• Lu Bai’s manager treats appearance and publicity as essential to his career, carefully staging the release and directing the paparazzi shots. The paparazzi, meanwhile, turn from paid photographers into delighted witnesses to a much bigger story.

Significant themes

• Family support and emotional vulnerability: Xie Zhiyu offers the reassurance Tingsi needs, even as Tingsi masks his feelings with humor.
• Public image versus reality: Lu Bai’s polished, sympathetic presentation hides his anxiety and failed scheme.
• The unpredictability of reputation management: A carefully arranged photo opportunity collapses when Lu Bai is unexpectedly taken back into custody, creating a far more damaging headline than the team anticipated.

Key plot points and events

• Lu Bai leaves the detention center, but police stop his car and rearrest him on suspicion of drug use and trafficking. They have evidence and an emergency warrant.
• Documents seized from his villa make the investigation straightforward. Lu Bai confesses and names several people involved, including Xie Tingsi and Yan Qiaolan out of spite.
• Police quickly clear Xie and Yan, while confirming the other names. A broad crackdown by law enforcement dismantles a network of drug users and traffickers in the entertainment industry.
• News of the arrests breaks publicly. Lu Bai is sentenced to seven years; sponsors cancel their contracts, and the authorities ban him from entertainment. His reputation and career are ruined.
• At the film set, Xie finishes a demanding scene in a lake. Ning Xin looks after him with a heat pack, towel, lunch, and ginger soup, having smoothly taken over his assistant duties. Xie invites her to eat with him and asks that they avoid discussing work.

Character developments

• Lu Bai shifts from trying to evade consequences to confessing and implicating others, driven partly by resentment. His choices destroy his career and future.
• Ning Xin proves attentive, capable, and respectful of boundaries in her assistant role. She shows gratitude for Xie’s kindness rather than taking it for granted.
• Xie Tingsi remains focused and professional on set, while showing consideration for Ning Xin by inviting her to share lunch.
• Yan Qiaolan reacts to Lu Bai’s downfall with some wistfulness; Ning Xin responds more sharply, saying he deserves it.

Significant themes

• Accountability and consequences: Lu Bai’s crimes lead to imprisonment, public disgrace, and financial ruin.
• Justice and institutional action: The coordinated investigation reaches prominent figures and dismantles a wider criminal network.
• Public trust and celebrity culture: Fans’ admiration turns to anger when a celebrated entertainer is exposed.
• Care and respect in relationships: Ning Xin’s thoughtful support and Xie’s friendly invitation reflect growing mutual consideration.

Character interactions

• Lu Bai’s manager and lawyer scramble to contain the scandal, including trying to suppress the paparazzo’s report.
• Lu Bai’s false accusations put Xie and Yan under scrutiny, but they are cleared.
• Ning Xin cares for Xie after his cold-water scene, and Xie responds with appreciation and an invitation to eat together.

• Key events: Xie Tingsi wistfully eyes Ning Xin’s lunchbox but sticks to his actor’s meal, mentioning that his younger sister loves fish. At school, Shen Baili and her friends write wishes for a time capsule they will reopen in ten years. Qiao Yi hopes to become a soldier, Sang Fang wants to be a doctor with an aid organization, Zhu Zhitao dreams of becoming a great writer, and Baili wants to be a superhero who protects her family. They also wish to remain friends and draw themselves together.
  An extra chapter then unlocks: “The Death of Xie Tingsi.” It reveals that Tingsi has severe kidney disease and a facial scar. He asks Ning Xin how long he has to live; she admits that, without a suitable donor, he may have only until the next day. He accepts the answer with a smile and thanks her.
• Character developments: Tingsi’s love for his sister and his quiet endurance come through in the lunch scene. The schoolgirls show distinct ambitions and confidence in one another. Baili is cheerful and protective of her family, but the extra chapter sharply unsettles her; she hopes Tingsi can still escape the fate described.
• Character interactions: The four friends openly share and affirm one another’s dreams, promising lasting friendship. Their teacher, Deng Qin, watches fondly. Ning Xin tries to reassure Tingsi, but ultimately answers his direct question honestly; his calm response contrasts with her distress.
• Themes: Youthful hopes and friendship sit alongside illness, mortality, and the unfairness of suffering. The time capsule symbolizes faith in the future, while the newly revealed chapter raises the possibility that changing one part of Tingsi’s fate may not be enough to save him.

• Key events: After finally winning his first Best Actor award, Xie Tingsi’s remaining kidney fails. Doctors say he is too ill for a transplant and urge his family to prepare for his death. The next day, he dies with his father Xie Chengyue and elder brother Xie Zhiyu beside him. He apologizes for worrying them and says he hopes to join their family again in another life. Xie Liuzheng arrives for his funeral; his death marks the beginning of further tragedies for the Xie family.
• Character developments and interactions: Xie Zhiyu desperately bargains with the doctors and begs his brother to hold on, while Xie Chengyue shares a tender final exchange with Xie Tingsi. Tingsi’s last words reveal his deep love for his family and his wish to remain connected to them. In the present, Shen Baili is so affected by the account that she develops chest tightness. Qiao Yi and Zhu Zhitao help her to the infirmary, where she rests and reflects.
• Themes: The chapter emphasizes grief, family devotion, helplessness in the face of death, and the pain of losing someone just as his life and career seem to improve. Tingsi’s hope of finding his family again suggests enduring bonds beyond death.
• Unanswered question: Shen Baili notices that the account repeatedly refers to Tingsi’s “remaining kidney” but never explains why he had only one.

Key plot points and events

• After a bonus chapter unlocks, Shen Baili and A-Deng speculate that it may hint at changes to the original story—especially the possibility that Xie Tingsi once lost a kidney after a safety-harness accident. Though they believe the accident has been avoided, Shen Baili remains anxious and decides the family should get medical checkups.
• Drained by unlocking the chapter, Shen Baili falls asleep at school. On the way home, she is unsettled by memories of Xie Tingsi’s death.
• She finds Xie Tingsi alive, healthy, and cheerfully watching cartoons at home. Overwhelmed with relief, she hugs him and begs him not to die, then faints with a fever.
• During her fever, she relives nightmares of the family’s possible tragedies: Xie Tingsi’s fall, Xie Zhiyu disappearing at sea, Shen Wan’s cancer, and her own death. Shen Wan stays beside her until she wakes.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Baili is increasingly affected by knowledge of the original story. Her relief at seeing Xie Tingsi safe is mixed with intense fear that disaster may still strike.
• A-Deng comforts Shen Baili and supports her plan to have the family checked.
• Xie Tingsi remains lively and affectionate, fussing over Shen Baili’s apparent weight loss. When she collapses, he catches her and urgently calls for a doctor.
• Shen Wan cares for Shen Baili patiently and tenderly, holding her hand through the night and helping her drink when she wakes.

Significant themes

• Fear of fate and uncertainty: Avoiding one known tragedy does not reassure Shen Baili that other dangers have been prevented.
• Family love and protection: The siblings’ concern for one another and Shen Wan’s attentive care provide warmth amid Shen Baili’s anxiety.
• Relief shadowed by trauma: Xie Tingsi’s healthy presence brings joy, but Shen Baili’s memories and nightmares show how deeply the imagined losses affect her.

Key plot points and events

• Shen Baili wakes after fainting and learns she slept for a full day. Her mother, Shen Wan, says she took leave from school and urges her to speak up if she feels unwell again.
• Baili remembers seeing her second brother, Xie Tingsi, before she collapsed. Tingsi has gone to work, after checking on her that morning, and Baili is disappointed she cannot see him.
• After eating and regaining some strength, Baili goes out for a walk and meets her eldest brother, Xie Zhiyu, just back from a business trip.
• Baili wants the family to get full medical checkups but hesitates to ask. Zhiyu, having heard her thoughts, suggests that the whole family get checked while they are at it. Baili eagerly agrees.
• As Baili heads outside for fresh air, Zhiyu reminds her to wear a hat because it is windy.

Character developments

• Baili is recovering and promises her mother she will report future symptoms instead of enduring them. Her concern about Tingsi’s fate in the story remains strong.
• Baili’s trust in Zhiyu is growing; she instinctively believes he can help persuade the family to get checkups.
• Zhiyu shows attentive, protective concern for Baili, recalling her past illness and acting on her unspoken worries.
• Shen Wan is caring and vigilant, prioritizing Baili’s health over school.

Significant themes

• Family care and protection: Baili’s mother and brothers look after her closely.
• Health over obligation: Shen Wan insists that Baili’s well-being comes before school.
• Unspoken understanding: Zhiyu’s ability to hear Baili’s thoughts allows him to respond to needs she struggles to voice.
• Anxiety and responsibility: Baili’s concern about the story’s events continues to shape her actions.

Character interactions

• Shen Wan comforts Baili, explains how long she was unconscious, and secures her promise to speak up if she feels ill again.
• Baili asks after Tingsi and learns he checked on her before leaving for work.
• Zhiyu checks on Baili’s condition, suggests a medical checkup for the whole family, and gently guides her to take precautions outside.

Plot points and events

• After recovering from a fever, Shen Baili heads outside for a short walk. Xie Zhiyu checks her temperature and reminds her not to overexert herself.
• Following Shen Baili’s warning, Xie Zhiyu arranges health checks for the family, especially Xie Tingsi. Everyone is healthy except Shen Wan, whose longstanding ailments are improving. Xie Tingsi’s kidneys are normal, easing Shen Baili’s fear that he could meet the fate described in the original story.
• Shen Baili’s own health has improved, and she is pleased with her increased strength and muscle.
• After a week at home, she returns to school and catches up on missed work with help from Qiao Yi and Sang Fang.
• As the school year ends, the friends finish their final exams and discuss being separated into humanities and science classes. Zhu Zhitao will choose humanities, while Shen Baili, Qiao Yi, and Sang Fang choose science.

Character developments and interactions

• Xie Zhiyu shows his care for Shen Baili through practical support, both checking her recovery and organizing the family’s medical examinations.
• Shen Baili’s vigilance over her loved ones remains strong, particularly regarding Shen Wan’s medication and Xie Tingsi’s health. The reassuring results allow her to relax somewhat.
• Shen Wan’s health continues to improve with regular medicine and supplements, though she needs her family’s supervision.
• Qiao Yi and Sang Fang support Shen Baili’s return to school by organizing notes and assignments. Zhu Zhitao is reluctant to be separated from her friends, but accepts that humanities suits her better; they reassure her they can still visit one another.

Significant themes

• Family care and prevention: The family takes concrete steps to protect one another’s health.
• Changing fate: Shen Baili’s efforts to prevent the dangers she knows from the original story appear to be working.
• Friendship amid change: The students face different academic paths but preserve their closeness and support one another.

• Exam results: After the final exams, the school released overall and subject-track rankings. Lu Mingqian placed first overall, with Shen Baili second; Shen topped the science rankings and earned full marks in chemistry. Zhu Zhitao ranked sixth in humanities, while Qiao Yi and Sang Fang also placed near the top.
• Character development: Shen Baili takes pride in how far her hard work has brought her and is confident she can keep excelling. Zhu Zhitao realizes that she, too, has become a stronger student through her friends’ influence. Her ambition grows: she hopes to become the humanities’ top student. The friends encourage one another to keep striving, even after they split into different subject tracks.
• Friendship and interactions: Zhu Zhitao jokes that her friends are competing for the chance to share first place with her. Shen Baili, Qiao Yi, and Sang Fang play along, teasing her affectionately and urging her not to let her studies slip. Their easy humor reflects their close, supportive friendship.
• Summer plans: The school year ends, and Shen Baili looks forward to a concert and a trip to the panda base with her friends. She has already previewed much of the next year’s coursework and makes a plan to finish the rest during vacation. Her diligence has also inspired Little Butler Lin to learn new skills in his spare time.
• Family celebration: Shen Baili rushes to tell her mother, Shen Wan, about her results. Shen Wan proudly congratulates her and gives her a sunflower. Other members of the Xie family celebrate too: Xie Chengyue sends her two million yuan in spending money, and Xie Liuzheng gifts her a pink gemstone crown. Xie Zhiyu and Xie Tingsi, away on business, hear the news through social media.
  Themes: The chapter emphasizes the rewards of perseverance, the way motivated friends inspire one another, and the warmth of family support.

Key plot points and events

• After seeing Shen Baili’s top ranking celebrated on social media, Xie Tingsi posts about his high-achieving younger sister and enjoys the replies praising her, while putting off a congratulatory call until morning.
• Xie Zhiyu has already congratulated Baili and arranged a gift: lifetime adoption of a giant panda. The gift was prepared regardless of her exam result, as a reward either for ranking first or for completing her first year of high school.
• Baili learns that her adopted panda is An’an, a one-and-a-half-year-old female living at the Giant Panda Base in City C. She is delighted and eagerly anticipates visiting.
• Her excitement distracts her from A-Deng, who points out that their Energy Bar has risen by two percent to 42 percent—about the same increase as after the previous semester.
• When Baili asks what happens at 50 percent, A-Deng reveals it will gain the ability to taste food, and that the threshold may unlock another function. They are eight percent away.

Character developments

• Shen Baili is thrilled by the panda gift and remains focused on pursuing her wishes, while showing growing curiosity about the system’s potential.
• Xie Tingsi openly embraces showing off his sister, warmly engaging with supportive commenters and shutting down hostile ones.
• Xie Zhiyu demonstrates thoughtful, unconditional affection: he planned a meaningful gift that would celebrate Baili regardless of her grades.
• A-Deng is increasingly hopeful about reaching 50 percent, revealing a personal benefit it has been eagerly anticipating.

Significant themes

• Family affection and pride: Baili’s brothers celebrate her achievement in their own ways.
• Gifts as expressions of care: Xie Zhiyu’s present reflects both Baili’s interests and support beyond academic success.
• Progress and anticipation: The Energy Bar’s steady rise offers a new goal and hints at future system developments.

Character interactions

• Tingsi connects with online followers through his proud post about Baili.
• Assistant Li presents the adoption documents and introduces Baili to An’an by video.
• Baili’s excitement over the panda contrasts humorously with A-Deng’s confusion and impatience to discuss the Energy Bar.
• Baili and A-Deng discuss what reaching 50 percent might mean, strengthening their shared anticipation.

Key plot points and events

• Shen Baili encourages A-Deng, her cat-shaped system, to build up energy so it can eventually taste food. A-Deng eagerly lists dishes it wants to try, and they promise to explore food together.
• During the week-long holiday, Shen Baili balances rest with study and exercise: she previews the next school term’s textbooks, completes basic gym training, and grows stronger.
• Shen Baili attends Bai Ru’s concert with Qiao Yi, Zhu Zhitao, and Sang Fang. It is a first concert for Shen Baili and Qiao Yi, while Zhu Zhitao is thrilled to see her idol from excellent seats.
• Bai Ru’s manager brings Shen Baili and her friends backstage at Bai Ru’s request. Bai Ru recognizes Shen Baili as Xie Tingsi’s younger sister and warmly welcomes the group, offering photos and autographs.

Character developments

• Shen Baili’s affection for A-Deng deepens; she looks forward to sharing ordinary pleasures, especially food, with it.
• Shen Baili continues building discipline and confidence through steady academic and physical training.
• Zhu Zhitao openly savors a dream coming true, while Sang Fang expresses quiet happiness at having her family well and her friends near.
• Bai Ru is shown to be friendly and attentive to fans, not merely a famous, talented singer.

Significant themes

• Shared happiness and affection: Shen Baili wants A-Deng to experience the pleasures she enjoys.
• Steady self-improvement: She uses the holiday to strengthen both mind and body.
• Dreams and gratitude: The concert fulfills Zhu Zhitao’s long-held wish and highlights Sang Fang’s appreciation for her loved ones.
• Warm connections: Xie Tingsi’s fondness for his sister creates a friendly bridge between Shen Baili and Bai Ru.

Character interactions

• Shen Baili and A-Deng joke and bond over the foods they hope to share.
• The four friends travel to the concert together, sharing their excitement and happiness.
• Bai Ru greets the group warmly and treats Shen Baili with familiarity because of his friendship with Xie Tingsi; Shen Baili responds politely, though somewhat shyly.

Chapter 64 Summary

Plot and Events

• Before the concert, Bai Ru warmly meets Shen Baili and her friends. He invites them to take group and individual photos, signs autographs, and makes Zhu Zhitao especially thrilled.
• Bai Ru’s concert is highly successful. Shen Baili, Zhu Zhitao, Qiao Yi, and Sang Fang become fully immersed in the energetic atmosphere, particularly during the encore, when the entire audience sings along.
• After the concert, the massive crowd overwhelms them, causing poor phone reception and making it difficult to arrange transportation.
• Zhu Zhitao organizes the group’s departure. They take a free shuttle bus, singing Bai Ru’s songs and enjoying the carefree mood shared by the other fans.
• Once they get off the bus, Shen Baili receives a phone call. Assuming it is Little Butler Lin, she answers, only to hear Xie Zhiyu—her “Eldest Brother”—say that he is behind her.
• Xie Zhiyu arrives in a striking black Hummer. Shen Baili is stunned that he came personally to pick her up, especially since the concert venue is far from his workplace.
• Zhu Zhitao is immediately captivated by both the imposing vehicle and Xie Zhiyu’s exceptionally handsome appearance, praising him in exaggerated, poetic terms.

Character Developments

• Shen Baili: Experiences rare freedom and unrestrained happiness during the concert. She becomes absorbed in the youthful, lively atmosphere before being surprised and somewhat flustered by Xie Zhiyu’s unexpected appearance.
• Bai Ru: Demonstrates warmth, generosity, and attentiveness toward Shen Baili and her friends, reinforcing his image as an approachable and considerate idol.
• Zhu Zhitao: Shows intense enthusiasm as a fan, eagerly taking photos, recording the concert experience, and openly admiring both Bai Ru and Xie Zhiyu.
• Xie Zhiyu: Reveals a protective or caring side by personally coming to collect Shen Baili late at night, despite the distance. His dramatic arrival also emphasizes his wealth and commanding presence.
• Qiao Yi and Sang Fang: Participate in the concert and group activities, with Sang Fang providing dry, humorous reactions to Zhu Zhitao’s comments.

Significant Themes

• Youth and freedom: The concert allows Shen Baili and her friends to temporarily forget their worries and enjoy their youth without restraint.
• Fandom and shared joy: Music unites the crowd, creating a contagious atmosphere in which strangers sing, celebrate, and share excitement.
• Care and protection: Xie Zhiyu’s unexpected pickup suggests his concern for Shen Baili and hints at the importance of their relationship.
• Admiration and idealization: Zhu Zhitao’s enthusiastic descriptions highlight how celebrities—and particularly handsome men—can inspire intense emotional reactions.

Character Interactions

• Bai Ru personally engages with Shen Baili’s group through photos and autographs, making the friends feel specially welcomed.
• Zhu Zhitao repeatedly thanks Shen Baili for arranging the meeting and praises Bai Ru’s character.
• The friends cooperate to navigate the post-concert crowds, with Zhu Zhitao taking the lead in planning their transportation.
• On the bus, they bond through singing and recording the experience.
• At the end, Xie Zhiyu’s sudden appearance shifts the mood from carefree excitement to surprise and romantic tension, while Zhu Zhitao’s immediate fascination provides comic relief.

Key plot points and events

• Zhu Zhitao is captivated by Shen Baili’s handsome eldest brother, Xie Zhiyu, and quietly studies his features for inspiration.
• Xie Zhiyu picks Shen Baili and her friends up after the concert. The group learns he is Shen Baili’s stepbrother, though their closeness resembles that of biological siblings.
• At Shen Baili’s request, Xie Zhiyu drives her friends home. They trade playful nicknames, with the group settling on “Fangfang” for Sang Fang.
• Xie Zhiyu explains that he was nearby visiting a friend and came to collect Shen Baili. They listen to Bai Ru’s song “Summer Rain” during the drive.
• After the others are dropped off, Xie Zhiyu asks whether Shen Baili received his gift. She is delighted by the panda gift and says she plans to visit An’an in C City next week.

Character developments

• Zhu Zhitao is openly dazzled by Xie Zhiyu and delights in observing his looks. She also realizes that he is Shen Baili’s stepbrother.
• Shen Baili is comfortable and affectionate with Xie Zhiyu, asking him to help her friends and thanking him warmly. Her excitement about the panda gift and upcoming visit to An’an comes through clearly.
• Xie Zhiyu shows quiet thoughtfulness by picking Shen Baili up, ensuring her underage friends get home safely, and choosing a gift she would love.
• Sang Fang and Qiao Yi join in the lighthearted teasing and accept their new nickname.

Significant themes

• Family bonds beyond biology: Shen Baili and Xie Zhiyu’s warmth suggests a strong sibling relationship despite being step-siblings.
• Care and consideration: Xie Zhiyu looks after Shen Baili and her friends, while Shen Baili is mindful of getting everyone home.
• Friendship and belonging: The group’s playful nickname exchange reinforces their closeness.
• Admiration and beauty: Zhu Zhitao’s comic fascination with Xie Zhiyu provides a light, humorous thread.

Character interactions

• Zhu Zhitao’s awe of Xie Zhiyu contrasts with the familiar ease between him and Shen Baili.
• Shen Baili asks Xie Zhiyu to take her friends home; he agrees because they are her friends and their safety matters.
• The friends joke about what to call each other, creating an affectionate group dynamic.
• Xie Zhiyu and Shen Baili share a quieter moment after the others leave, centered on his gift and her plans to visit An’an.

Key plot points and events

• Xie Zhiyu explains that he knew Shen Baili liked pandas because she often chose panda-themed belongings and had loved receiving a panda plush.
• Baili tells him she is traveling to C City with her three friends, Qiao Yi, Zhu Zhitao, and Sang Fang. Qiao Yi’s parents will accompany them, easing concerns about safety.
• Xie Zhiyu supports the trip, reminds Baili to be careful, and promises to arrange a visit to An’an at the Giant Panda Base.
• He tells her An’an was born prematurely and given its name in the hope that it would grow up healthy. The story deepens Baili’s affection for the panda.
• A week later, Baili and her friends travel to C City. On the plane they unexpectedly meet Meng Jiu’an, Lu Mingqian, and Ji Qi, who are also visiting a panda they know there.
• The two groups agree to meet up. They share travel information and head in the same direction, though the girls stay at Qiao Yi’s family home rather than the boys’ hotel.
• After settling into the spacious duplex, the girls decide to explore the neighborhood.

Character developments

• Shen Baili is increasingly relaxed with Xie Zhiyu, treating him as both an older brother and a trusted friend. She is excited about the trip and openly shares her interests and plans.
• Xie Zhiyu shows attentive, gentle care: he understands Baili’s preferences, encourages her to enjoy her youth, and helps make her panda visit possible.
• Baili’s friends show excitement about the unexpected opportunity to socialize with the three young men.
• Meng Jiu’an is shy but makes an effort to invite the group to spend time together.

Significant themes

• Care and trust: Xie Zhiyu supports Baili while taking her safety seriously.
• Youth and living in the present: He reflects that young people should enjoy carefree experiences as well as work toward the future.
• Resilience and hope: An’an’s survival after a fragile start mirrors the value of strength and courage.
• Friendship and chance encounters: The shared trip creates an opening for the two groups to connect.

Character interactions

• Baili and Xie Zhiyu share a warm conversation about pandas, travel, and An’an; his reassurance makes her even more eager for the visit.
• On the plane, Baili’s group reconnects with Meng Jiu’an, Lu Mingqian, and Ji Qi. The boys invite them to explore together, and Baili accepts on her friends’ behalf.
• Lu Mingqian proposes staying near one another for convenience and safety, but Baili politely declines because the girls will stay with Qiao Yi’s family.

Key plot points and events

• After eating snacks outside Qiao Yi’s elementary school, Qiao Yi and her friends meet an older couple who knew her as a child.
• Qiao Yi explains that she was the only student in her class rescued from the earthquake. Her classmates’ parents still look at her as a reminder of the children they lost.
• The next morning, Shen Baili and Qiao Yi go running together and discover a group of older residents square dancing in the park. Curious, Shen Baili joins in, bringing Qiao Yi along.

Character developments

• Qiao Yi reveals the grief and responsibility she carries from surviving the earthquake, but also her determination to live fully and pursue her dream of becoming a soldier.
• Shen Baili shows her supportive, energetic nature: she comforts Qiao Yi and eagerly embraces a new activity.
• Sang Fang, less comfortable with emotional displays, nevertheless offers Qiao Yi sincere encouragement.

Significant themes

• Survival, grief, and remembrance: Qiao Yi’s survival connects her to the classmates who died and to their bereaved families.
• Hope and purpose: Qiao Yi turns painful memories into motivation to protect others and live bravely.
• Friendship and everyday joy: Her friends offer acceptance and support, while shared food, exercise, and dancing create moments of warmth and fun.

Character interactions

• The older couple greet Qiao Yi with affection and lingering sorrow; Qiao Yi understands their attention as longing for their own children.
• Zhu Zhitao initially feels apologetic for asking about them, but Qiao Yi reassures her.
• Shen Baili, Zhu Zhitao, and Sang Fang each affirm Qiao Yi’s dream and encourage her.
• Shen Baili and Qiao Yi bond through their morning run, then join the older dancers after an auntie warmly invites them.

Chapter summary

The group begins the day with an hour of square dancing alongside enthusiastic local women. After breakfast, the seven friends set out for C City’s Giant Panda Base, enduring a long, bumpy trip by bus and subway. Zhu Zhitao and Ji Qi suffer motion sickness, and Shen Baili gives them medicine. Ji Qi’s friends Meng Jiu’an and Lu Mingqian tease him, turning his complaint into a playful scuffle.
At the panda base, the group rides a shuttle, enjoys panda-shaped ice cream, and watches the pandas eat, play, and wander. They are delighted by the animals, while Sang Fang matter-of-factly reminds Zhu Zhitao that taking a panda home would be illegal. Meng Jiu’an then reveals that the group can visit a normally restricted area and feed pandas. Shen Baili adds that she has adopted a panda named An’an, surprising everyone.
After screening, the friends put on protective suits and enter the restricted area in smaller groups. Shen Baili meets An’an’s keeper, who begins explaining the rules for interacting safely with pandas, including avoiding makeup. The chapter ends as the visit is about to begin.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Baili shows care for her friends by bringing medicine and surprises the group by revealing she has adopted An’an.
• Zhu Zhitao is exuberant about pandas but gets carsick; Sang Fang gently advises her and later grounds her fantasy of taking a panda home.
• Ji Qi is also carsick and plays along with Meng Jiu’an and Lu Mingqian’s teasing, showing the group’s easy familiarity.
• Meng Jiu’an and Lu Mingqian trade jokes with Ji Qi and protect their ice creams from his attempts to take them.
• The group as a whole shares a warm, playful outing and becomes absorbed in watching the pandas.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes friendship and affectionate teasing, the joy of shared travel experiences, and the group’s wonder at wildlife. It also highlights responsible animal care: visitors keep quiet around the pandas and must follow strict safety rules before entering their habitat.

Key plot points and events

• An’an’s keeper explains that the giant panda is lively and attention-seeking, but warns Shen Baili to treat her carefully because pandas are powerful wild animals.
• The keeper’s initial concern about meeting An’an’s adopter eases as she sees Shen Baili’s affection and respect for pandas. Shen explains that An’an’s name and her own nickname, Suìsuì, are both tied to wishes for safety and well-being.
• On the way to An’an’s enclosure, Shen is startled to learn that An’an’s moo-like calls mean she is hungry. A-Deng unexpectedly says it can understand this particular giant panda.
• An’an ignores the keeper’s offered bamboo shoots and recognizes Shen. She climbs down, rushes past the keeper, and greets Shen as “Yuyu,” asking why she took so long to visit.
• Shen realizes that An’an may remember her as Zhou Yu—her former-life name and nickname. She wonders whether their connection began in her previous life, or whether An’an crossed over with her. A vague memory of a child and panda together briefly appears, then fades.

Character developments

• Shen Baili shows empathy and attentiveness, winning the keeper’s trust. An’an’s recognition prompts her to question the nature of her past-life memories and bond with the panda.
• The keeper shifts from wary to reassured after seeing Shen’s care and respect.
• An’an displays her energetic, food-loving nature, but her unusual response to Shen reveals a personal recognition that goes beyond an ordinary first meeting.
• A-Deng reveals a strange ability to understand An’an’s calls, though neither it nor Shen knows why.

Significant themes

• Continuity across lives: An’an’s recognition of Shen’s former name suggests that relationships may survive death or transmigration.
• Memory and identity: Shen’s blurred recollection raises questions about what she remembers and who she was before.
• Care and trust: Shen’s gentle attitude toward animals helps establish trust with the keeper and may underlie her bond with An’an.
• The uncanny in the everyday: An’an’s speech-like calls and A-Deng’s translation introduce mystery into an otherwise ordinary visit.

Character interactions

• The keeper advises Shen about An’an, then connects the panda’s name with Shen’s nickname and family’s affection.
• Shen and A-Deng try to interpret An’an’s calls, first assuming she wants bamboo or fish.
• An’an bypasses her keeper to approach Shen directly, greeting her as an old friend and turning the visit into a startling reunion.

Chapter 159 Summary

• Reunion: Shen Baili meets An’an, a giant panda who recognizes her as her long-lost friend. Though Shen Baili cannot remember their shared past, seeing An’an stirs an intense, tender sense of familiarity.
• An’an’s affection: An’an peels bamboo shoots and shares them with Shen Baili—something her keeper says she has never done for anyone before. She also gives Shen Baili extra shoots, urging her to eat and “grow up.”
• A-Deng translates: Since human and panda cannot understand one another, Shen Baili asks the red panda A-Deng to interpret. An’an says she and Shen Baili became friends by playing together, and that she never forgot her.
• An’an’s life: An’an explains that she “went to sleep” and woke up small in her new life. She was often sick, but her caregivers repeatedly saved her. Now she enjoys the safe enclosure, plentiful food, and companionship, though she still missed Yu Yu.
• A shared routine: Shen Baili feeds An’an while they talk, and An’an accepts food directly from her. Their easy, trusting rhythm suggests they once shared a close bond. The keeper returns to find them unexpectedly intimate.

Character Developments and Themes

Shen Baili’s uncertain memories begin to connect with a deep emotional response, while An’an’s gestures reveal that her attachment endured despite their long separation. Their reunion highlights friendship, memory, enduring affection, and the comfort of being cared for. The contrast between An’an’s simple explanations and Shen Baili’s emotional questions also gives the scene a gentle, humorous warmth.

Plot points and events

• Shen Baili spends a joyful afternoon with An’an, a young giant panda, and the keeper photographs their time together.
• When Shen Baili has to leave, An’an clings to her leg and begs her to stay. Shen comforts her with apples, and they sit together with the keeper.
• Shen Baili and the keeper make flower-and-bamboo wreaths. Shen places one on An’an, while the keeper gives Shen one too.
• The keeper invites Shen to help decorate An’an’s outdoor-enclosure information sign. Shen draws An’an; the keeper adds bamboo shoots and a paw print.
• An’an loves the sign so much that she tries to bite it. Shen and the keeper stop her and redirect her to a toy. Her tooth marks remain beside the design.

Character developments and interactions

• An’an’s strong attachment to Shen becomes clear: despite knowing her only briefly, she fears Shen will leave and clings to her. Shen reciprocates with warmth and tenderness, making the most of their limited time together.
• The keeper is surprised by how quickly An’an bonds with Shen, but joins in their activities and helps make the visit special.
• Shen and the keeper work together comfortably, sharing jokes and affection for An’an. An’an responds happily to their attention, especially their praise.

Significant themes

• Treasure the present: Shen reflects that her time with An’an is limited, so she values every moment.
• Intuitive connection: The chapter presents the bond between Shen and An’an as immediate and almost magical.
• Affection expressed through play: Wreath-making, drawing, food, and shared laughter show how care can grow through small, joyful interactions.
• Memory and meaning: The sign, complete with An’an’s tooth marks, becomes an accidental keepsake—and is later destined to become a popular photo spot.