Chapter Summaries

Summary of “Happy Wrap Party”

Key plot points and events

• Lu Yan is ultimately captured. Whenever Mo Feng visits Mo Hua’s grave, he finds winter jasmine flowers placed there, symbolizing hope and vitality.
• Mo Hua’s storyline concludes, and Ye Qing finishes filming. Because his role is central to the plot, the production team holds a wrap party in his honor.
• Ye Qing is warmly regarded by the crew for his acting, politeness, and pleasant personality. He is especially touched because this is his first personal wrap party.
• During the celebration, Ye Qing receives several flower bouquets, including one from Gu Ze. Ye Qing gives Gu Ze an unusually conflicted look, suggesting both hatred and another, less clear emotion.
• Ye Qing drinks heavily, partly because he is happy and partly because he cannot bring himself to refuse anyone. He becomes drunk and singles out Gu Ze to escort him back to the hotel.
• Still immersed in his role as Mo Hua, Ye Qing mistakes Gu Ze for Lu Yan. While walking back, he questions “Lu Yan” about being captured, admits he had wanted to stab him, and accuses him of betraying their friendship.
• Gu Ze responds in character, explaining that Lu Yan may have cared for Mo Hua but had no choice except to deceive him. Their conversation reveals the emotional tragedy behind the characters’ fractured friendship.
• When Ye Qing says he no longer wants to walk, Gu Ze carries him on his back to the hotel.
• Once in the room, Ye Qing briefly returns to reality and calls Gu Ze “Brother Gu.” He asks to bathe, insists he can manage alone, and Gu Ze prepares the bathroom before waiting nearby.
• Ye Qing falls asleep in the bath with shampoo still in his hair and water and foam spilling onto the floor. Gu Ze discovers him, wakes him, and is both annoyed and amused by his childlike drunkenness.
• Ye Qing tries to placate Gu Ze by rubbing his cheek against Gu Ze’s hand. The intimate gesture and Ye Qing’s exposed state cause Gu Ze to react with sudden physical attraction.

Character developments

• Ye Qing: Finishes filming an important role and receives recognition from the crew, giving him a sense of belonging and validation. However, the intensity of the role has affected him psychologically; while drunk, he remains emotionally trapped in Mo Hua’s perspective and confuses Gu Ze with Lu Yan. His usually composed personality becomes unusually dependent, obedient, and childlike.
• Gu Ze: Shows increasing concern and tenderness toward Ye Qing. He takes responsibility for getting him safely to the hotel, carries him when he is tired, prepares his bath, and keeps watch outside. His teasing and exasperation gradually give way to unmistakable attraction when Ye Qing behaves affectionately and appears vulnerable.
• Lu Yan and Mo Hua: Though the filming has ended, their tragic relationship continues to shape Ye Qing’s emotions. Their betrayal, friendship, and missed chance at a different life are explored through Ye Qing’s drunken dialogue with Gu Ze.

Significant themes

• The emotional cost of acting: Ye Qing has difficulty separating himself from Mo Hua, showing how deeply the role has affected him.
• Betrayal and friendship: The conversation revisits Lu Yan and Mo Hua’s bond, emphasizing the pain caused when affection and loyalty conflict with unavoidable choices.
• Care and vulnerability: Gu Ze’s practical assistance and patience reveal growing intimacy between him and Ye Qing.
• Hope and closure: The winter jasmine at Mo Hua’s grave symbolizes vitality and hope after tragedy, while the wrap party marks the closing of one story and the possible beginning of another.
• Unrecognized romantic tension: Ye Qing’s dependence and Gu Ze’s protective behavior bring their previously ambiguous relationship closer to romantic awareness.

Character interactions

• Ye Qing and Gu Ze’s central interaction shifts between role-play and reality. Ye Qing addresses Gu Ze as Lu Yan, allowing him to express Mo Hua’s resentment and grief directly.
• Gu Ze patiently engages with Ye Qing’s confusion rather than correcting him harshly, even defending Lu Yan’s motives.
• In reality, Gu Ze treats Ye Qing almost like a child, guiding him through bathing and monitoring him for safety.
• Their final exchange—Ye Qing seeking forgiveness through physical affection and Gu Ze reacting to his exposed body—creates a charged moment that suggests Gu Ze’s feelings are becoming difficult to suppress.

Key plot points and events

• While drunk, Ye Qing lets Gu Ze help wash his hair and upper body. Gu Ze becomes unusually flustered, touches a small mole on Ye Qing’s collarbone, and then stops himself.
• Ye Qing leaves the bath unclothed, so Gu Ze wraps him in a towel, carries him to a chair, dries his hair, and stays nearby on the hotel sofa while he sleeps.
• Ye Qing remembers nothing the next morning. When he notices redness around his collarbone, Gu Ze blames a mosquito, and Ye Qing accepts the explanation.
• After filming wraps, Gu Ze and Xie Quan post congratulatory messages to Ye Qing on Weibo. Their unusual public attention draws fans to Ye Qing’s account.
• Someone asks Xie Quan who the person in his photo is. He refuses to answer, leaving the questioner—addressed as Brother Li—visibly displeased.
• Back home, Ye Qing’s family takes him to a banquet, eager for the gossip. There, the chapter introduces the Li family, notorious for favoring their younger son over their older one. A final revelation: the favored younger son is not their biological child.

Character developments and interactions

• Gu Ze shows an unfamiliar tenderness toward Ye Qing, looking after him throughout the night. His attraction or emotional confusion is evident, but he hides his part in Ye Qing’s collarbone redness.
• Ye Qing remains trusting and carefree: he accepts Gu Ze’s help, forgets the night, and believes the mosquito excuse.
• Xie Quan publicly calls Ye Qing his “dear little brother,” while keeping his identity in the photo private from the person who asks.
• The Ye family are affectionate toward Ye Qing and delighted by the prospect of hearing banquet gossip.
• The Li family are presented through their conspicuous unequal treatment of their two sons, setting up a new family conflict.

Significant themes

• Hidden feelings and denial: Gu Ze’s careful behavior and awkward excuse hint at feelings he is unwilling to acknowledge.
• Trust and intimacy: Ye Qing depends on Gu Ze without understanding how emotionally charged the night is for him.
• Public image and privacy: The social-media posts increase Ye Qing’s visibility, while Xie Quan refuses to reveal more about their relationship.
• Favoritism and family identity: The Li family’s unfair treatment—and the revelation that their favored son is adopted—introduces questions about belonging, biological ties, and parental love.

Chapter summary

At Li Lian’s eighteenth-birthday banquet, the Li family is surprised and delighted when the entire Ye family attends, and guests speculate that the Lis may have secured the Yes’ support. The hosts introduce Li Lian, who openly favors Ye Ci and Ye Chen, apparently hoping to attract one of the wealthy brothers.
The Ye parents let the younger generation handle things, while Ye Qing eagerly takes his brothers on a tour with Li Lian—mainly because he wants to watch the awkward flirtation. In the garden, Li Lian hints that the person he wants is close by. Ye Chen, misunderstanding—or pretending to misunderstand—the hint, identifies a nearby tree as Li Lian’s sweetheart and slips away. Ye Qing’s teasing makes clear that he is not helping Li Lian, and Li Lian’s increasingly obvious attempts to get attention leave both brothers unmoved.
As the group returns to the banquet, Li Lian suddenly falls and tears his shirt, exposing his shoulder. The three Ye brothers all step aside instead of catching him. The Li parents rush to help and begin confronting them, but Ye Qing interrupts with feigned concern. He offers an excuse for stepping back, then suggests the floor should be checked so nobody mistakes the fall for a staged attempt to blame the Ye family. He finishes with a cutting joke that they “couldn’t take” Li Lian’s weight.

Character developments and interactions

• Ye Qing acts as a mischievous observer and instigator. He deliberately puts his brothers in Li Lian’s path, then mocks Li Lian’s flirtation and suspected fall.
• Ye Ci and Ye Chen remain resistant to Li Lian’s advances. Ye Ci barely responds; Ye Chen’s initial politeness gives way to evasions and deliberate misunderstanding.
• Li Lian presents himself as gentle and vulnerable but is shown to be calculated in pursuing a match into the Ye family. His hints and attention-seeking fail, and his apparent fall turns humiliating.
• The Ye parents knowingly stay out of the situation to watch events unfold. The Li parents, by contrast, seem hopeful that Li Lian might connect with one of the Ye brothers and react angrily when he falls.

Significant themes

The chapter uses comedy and social satire to expose matchmaking as a strategic pursuit of wealth and status. It contrasts polite appearances with hidden motives—especially Li Lian’s soft manner and the families’ unspoken calculations—and shows the Ye brothers resisting pressure through silence, evasion, and Ye Qing’s sharp humor.

Chapter Summary: “Heartbroken”

Key Plot Points and Events

• At the Li family birthday banquet, Ye Qing publicly mocks Li Lian’s supposed injury, implying that Li Lian is exaggerating it to manipulate or extort the family. The Li family cannot retaliate because the Ye family clearly supports Ye Qing.
• Li Lian returns to the banquet without even a bandage, but performs weakness during his birthday speech, claiming that an accident has prevented him from giving the performance he originally prepared.
• He then invites his older brother, Li Ling, onto the stage, apparently intending to embarrass him because Li Ling has been neglected and denied proper opportunities by their parents.
• Instead, Li Ling plays the piano piece far better than Li Lian, immediately reversing the expected humiliation.
• Li Ling announces that his “gift” is a theatrical performance exposing the Li family’s history. The play reveals that:
  • The family’s nanny exchanged her own child for the Li couple’s stillborn baby.
  • Li Lian is actually the nanny’s son, while Li Ling is the couple’s biological child.
  • The nanny and her husband manipulated the parents into believing that Li Ling was cursed and Li Lian brought them good fortune.
  • The parents gradually drove Li Ling away, favored Li Lian, and eventually abandoned their biological son.
  • After discovering the truth, Li Lian helped his adoptive parents conceal it and conspired with them to take over the family’s assets.
• After the play, Li Ling presents evidence confirming the story. He then displays explicit photographs and a video of Li Lian, publicly destroying Li Lian’s reputation.
• Li Lian shuts off the video and attempts to strike Li Ling, but Li Ling catches his wrist and sarcastically reminds him that Li Lian was the one who invited him onto the stage. He declares that Li Lian has “broken his older brother’s heart.”

Character Developments

• Ye Qing: Demonstrates sharp wit, confidence, and loyalty to his family. He openly humiliates Li Lian while maintaining a superficially polite tone. His internal commentary shows both moral awareness and a growing desire to see the Li family’s downfall.
• Li Lian: His false weakness and manipulative behavior become increasingly obvious. He expects Li Ling to be humiliated but is instead exposed as deceitful, complicit in the family’s betrayal, and involved in scandalous behavior. His composure collapses into panic and rage.
• Li Ling: Changes from the overlooked, mistreated older son into the person controlling the banquet’s climax. He reveals considerable talent, intelligence, preparation, and emotional strength. His performance is both revenge against his family and a public demand for justice.
• The Li parents: Their favoritism and gullibility are exposed. They have blindly trusted the nanny’s manipulation and treated their biological son cruelly.
• Ye family: Their support for Ye Qing is made clear, intimidating the Li family and preventing them from retaliating against him.

Significant Themes

• Truth versus deception: The banquet becomes a stage where years of lies are dismantled through evidence and public disclosure.
• Favoritism and family betrayal: The Li parents’ preferential treatment of Li Lian leads them to reject their own child and enable the family’s destruction.
• Revenge and justice: Li Ling turns the humiliating performance intended for him into a carefully planned public reckoning.
• Appearance versus reality: Li Lian appears injured, fragile, and favored, but his performance is revealed as an act; Li Ling appears weak and neglected but proves to be the more capable and powerful figure.
• Public humiliation and social reputation: Both families’ standing is affected as private wrongdoing and scandal are exposed before the banquet guests.

Character Interactions

• Ye Qing taunts Li Lian and his parents while pretending to be concerned, forcing them to leave in humiliation.
• Ye Qing’s parents recognize the Li family’s cruelty and discuss the injustice of using Li Ling as a scapegoat.
• Li Lian attempts to use the birthday performance to embarrass Li Ling, but Li Ling surpasses him musically and seizes control of the event.
• Li Ling confronts both his parents’ betrayal and Li Lian’s conspiracy through the play and the evidence.
• When Li Lian attacks him, Li Ling restrains him and mockingly frames the exposure as the birthday “gift” Li Lian requested, ending the chapter with the declaration that his heart is broken.

Key plot points and events

• At Li Ling’s birthday banquet, Li Lian boasts that their parents love him most, while Li Ling calmly says he doesn’t need their affection.
• When the Li parents defend Li Lian and accuse Li Ling of mistreating him, Li Ling reveals another video. It shows the parents conspiring to deceive the family: they bribed a doctor and arranged for a Taoist priest to convince everyone that Li Ling brought misfortune. The scheme helped secure the parents’ favoritism toward Li Lian.
• The parents accept that the evidence is real but struggle to stop caring for Li Lian after raising him as their son. Li Mother slaps him, chiefly because he plotted against them and the family company.
• Li Ling reveals that he controls 40 percent of the company’s shares and is its largest shareholder. Li Lian had only appeared to be in charge; Li Ling had quietly protected the company. Li Ling has his parents escorted away and leaves the family to settle its own affairs.
• He apologizes to the guests and resumes the banquet. The Ye family sympathizes with him, and Ye Mother’s genuine kindness visibly affects him.
• The three younger Ye family members and Li Ling become friends. Ye Qing and Li Ling especially connect, and Ye Qing soon calls him “Brother Li.”
• Later, after filming wraps, Ye Qing hears that Gu Ze is about to shoot his final scene and goes to the set so he can watch.

Character developments

• Li Ling reveals both his strategic patience and his emotional distance from his birth family. Though he once wanted his parents’ love, he has long stopped expecting it and has secured control of the company for himself.
• Li Lian is exposed as part of the deception and as someone who acted against the family’s interests. He feels some guilt, but justifies his actions by blaming the unfair treatment Li Ling received.
• Li Mother and Li Father are forced to confront the truth, though their long-standing favoritism makes it difficult for them to change their feelings toward Li Lian.
• Ye Qing recognizes Li Ling’s sharp wit and later forms an easy, warm friendship with him. Li Ling, in turn, feels particularly compatible with Ye Qing.

Significant themes

• Favoritism and family injustice: The Li parents’ devotion to Li Lian came at Li Ling’s expense, even though Li Lian was not their biological son.
• Truth and accountability: Evidence dismantles the family’s false story, but exposing the truth cannot undo years of emotional harm.
• Independence and self-determination: Li Ling no longer depends on his parents’ approval; he has built power and security on his own.
• Compassion and healing: Ye Mother’s sincere sympathy offers Li Ling a rare moment of warmth, and new friendships begin to replace old family ties.

Character interactions

• Li Ling calmly counters Li Lian’s taunts and his parents’ accusations with evidence, then reveals his control of the company.
• Li Mother confronts and slaps Li Lian, while Li Ling remains emotionally detached from the family’s argument.
• Ye Mother comforts Li Ling with genuine concern; her kindness moves him despite his composed exterior.
• Ye Qing and Li Ling quickly bond, while the broader group of younger Ye family members welcomes Li Ling as a friend.

Plot points and events

• On set, Ye Qing spends time with Xie Quan, praising his gentleness and reassuring him that someone with good taste would like him.
• After filming, Ye Qing tells Gu Ze about Li Ling and Xie Quan. Gu Ze asks how many “older brothers” Ye Qing has, revealing his jealousy. Ye Qing calls Gu Ze his favorite, and Gu Ze’s mood improves.
• In the drama, Lu Yan becomes emotionally numb after Mo Hua’s death and continues his criminal business until the police close in. When his grandfather orders him to save the Lu family, Lu Yan refuses, and the family is soon arrested.
• Mo Feng confronts Lu Yan during questioning, accusing him of regretting his betrayal of Mo Hua and of having loved him. Lu Yan eventually acknowledges privately that his feelings were genuine and that he regrets what happened.
• Lu Yan dies by suicide in custody, clutching a water-damaged piece of writing whose contents remain unknown.

Character developments

• Ye Qing remains warm and attentive, noticing Gu Ze’s jealousy and reassuring him without hesitation.
• Gu Ze recognizes his own possessiveness as childish but is comforted when Ye Qing says he is his favorite.
• Xie Quan is presented as gentle but lacking confidence; Ye Qing encourages him to value himself.
• Lu Yan shifts from a ruthless, controlled criminal to a grief-stricken man who abandons his family’s affairs and ultimately takes his own life.
• Mo Feng channels his grief and anger into confronting Lu Yan, while admitting that he too bears responsibility for Mo Hua’s death.

Significant themes

• Jealousy and reassurance: Gu Ze’s brief jealousy reveals his attachment to Ye Qing.
• Regret and guilt: Lu Yan’s betrayal, Mo Hua’s death, and his unspoken feelings leave him overwhelmed by remorse.
• Responsibility and loss: Mo Feng and Lu Yan recognize different forms of responsibility for Mo Hua’s death.
• Fate and tragic love: Lu Yan believes their story was doomed by circumstances, and that a happy ending was never possible.

Character interactions

• Ye Qing and Xie Quan share an easy, supportive conversation; Ye Qing praises Xie Quan’s character and confidence.
• Ye Qing recounts his recent experiences to Gu Ze, who reacts jealously to the other men in Ye Qing’s life. Ye Qing’s reassurance restores Gu Ze’s good mood.
• Mo Feng strikes Lu Yan upon seeing him, then questions him about Mo Hua. Their tense exchange forces Lu Yan to face the feelings and regret he has tried to deny.

Plot points and events

• Filming ends, and the crew celebrates at a lively wrap party. Gu Ze keeps an eye on Ye Qing’s drinking, and Ye Qing manages not to get drunk.
• On the walk back, Ye Qing accidentally takes Gu Ze’s key card. When he returns to give it back, he gets no answer at first; Gu Ze eventually calls through the door that he has fallen asleep.
• In reality, two young intruders have drugged Gu Ze with a sedative and are trying to take advantage of his unconsciousness. Ye Qing enters with the key card and finds them beside Gu Ze, whose shirt is partly undone.
• Ye Qing gives Gu Ze the intruders’ antidote and prevents the pair from escaping. Once Gu Ze wakes, Ye Qing asks whether to call the police. Gu Ze says to do so, rejecting the intruders’ claim that they are his fans and stating that their actions are illegal.

Character developments

• Ye Qing is protective and quick to act: he worries when Gu Ze does not answer, confronts the intruders, makes sure Gu Ze takes the antidote, and defers to Gu Ze before deciding whether to involve the police. His inner thoughts also reveal his strong admiration for Gu Ze.
• Gu Ze shows firm boundaries despite being vulnerable and disoriented. He refuses to excuse the intruders because they claim to be fans and chooses to report the crime.
• The intruders try to use their youth and supposed fan devotion to avoid consequences, but their confidence falters when Ye Qing confronts them and Gu Ze wakes.

Character interactions

• Xie Quan jokes that Gu Ze looks as though he is parenting Ye Qing, prompting Ye Qing to protest.
• Ye Qing and Gu Ze’s concern for each other is evident: Gu Ze monitors Ye Qing’s drinking, while Ye Qing becomes alarmed when Gu Ze stops responding.
• Ye Qing confronts the intruders protectively, while Gu Ze ultimately takes control of the response by ordering that the police be called.

Significant themes

• Protection and trust: Ye Qing’s concern turns into decisive action when Gu Ze is in danger.
• Accountability: Gu Ze insists that fan status and minor age do not erase the seriousness of the intruders’ conduct.
• Fandom and entitlement: The intruders treat their support of Gu Ze as if it gives them special rights; Gu Ze rejects that logic.

Key plot points and events

• Ye Qing and Gu Ze take two teenage intruders to the police station to avoid being photographed and dragged into another online scandal.
• Police learn that the teens are obsessive Gu Ze fans who used money to obtain his hotel room number and persuade a hotel employee to let them in. They had also prepared sedatives and tampered with his belongings.
• The girl planned to take compromising photos of Gu Ze and pressure him into dating her briefly. Her boyfriend devised and carried out the plan because he wanted to fulfill her wish—even though she was already dating him.
• The girl begs Gu Ze to forgive her, while her boyfriend insists there is nothing wrong with asking an actor to date her. Gu Ze rejects their excuses, saying her feelings have already harmed him.
• When their parents arrive, they initially try to resolve matters with money. They become deferential only after learning Ye Qing belongs to the Ye family. The teens are ultimately sent to juvenile detention.
• Gu Ze refuses to return to his room, so Ye Qing lets him stay in his. Gu Ze showers, and the two share a bed. Their conversation ends with Gu Ze teasingly calling Ye Qing “my young master” and “my benefactor.”

Character developments and interactions

• Ye Qing protects Gu Ze throughout the incident, blocks the girl when she tries to approach him, and uses his family status when necessary. His humor helps ease the tension afterward, though he becomes nervous when sharing a bed with Gu Ze.
• Gu Ze is shaken and angry at the invasion of his privacy, but stays firm about holding the teens accountable. He accepts Ye Qing’s offer of a place to sleep and ends the night with a playful, intimate remark.
• The teens show distorted ideas about love and entitlement: the girl excuses her actions as devotion, while her boyfriend treats helping her pursue Gu Ze as proof of his own loyalty.
• Ye Qing and Gu Ze’s banter and growing comfort with each other provide a warm contrast to the disturbing incident.

Significant themes

• Obsessive fandom and violated boundaries: Admiration does not justify stalking, coercion, or harm.
• Accountability: Gu Ze insists that good intentions or strong feelings do not erase the consequences of one’s actions.
• Privilege and power: The parents’ attitude shifts when they learn Ye Qing’s identity, exposing their assumption that influence and money can settle anything.
• Trust and intimacy: In the aftermath, Ye Qing’s protection and Gu Ze’s willingness to stay with him deepen their closeness.

Summary of “No Self-Control”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gu Ze teasingly suggests that Ye Qing could “keep” him, causing Ye Qing to become flustered and briefly take the suggestion seriously.
• When Ye Qing realizes Gu Ze is joking, he hides under the covers in embarrassment. Gu Ze apologizes and comforts him until Ye Qing forgives him.
• Both men struggle with their growing attraction. Ye Qing recognizes that Gu Ze’s words made him unexpectedly happy, while Gu Ze realizes he may have moved too quickly and worries that he frightened Ye Qing.
• They fall asleep with deliberate space between them but wake up embracing. Both notice the awkward physical consequences of their intimacy and pretend nothing happened.
• After returning home, Gu Ze posts on Weibo asking fans to support celebrities rationally and respect their privacy. Fans infer that obsessive fans were responsible for the recent incident and condemn such behavior.
• Xie Quan calls to check on Gu Ze, having experienced obsessive fans himself. The hotel employee who sold Gu Ze’s information is fired.
• Darkness of Dawn begins airing soon after filming ends. The twenty-six-episode drama receives strong early ratings, helped by its compelling script, fast pacing, and the popularity of Gu Ze and Xie Quan.
• Ye Qing’s family watches the show because it marks his first major public appearance. Viewers praise the police cases, the characters, and especially the chemistry between Mo Hua and Lu Yan.
• Audience enthusiasm turns to shock when Lu Yan kidnaps Mo Hua, leading viewers to suspect that Lu Yan is secretly the mastermind.

Character Developments

• Ye Qing: Becomes increasingly aware of his feelings for Gu Ze. Although embarrassed and irritated by the teasing, he is genuinely pleased by Gu Ze’s attention and begins unconsciously considering a deeper relationship.
• Gu Ze: Reveals both a playful side and genuine concern for Ye Qing’s feelings. He recognizes that their relationship cannot be rushed and takes responsibility for reassuring Ye Qing after teasing him.
• Xie Quan: Shows concern for Gu Ze and empathy regarding the dangers of obsessive fans because of his own past experience.
• Ye Qing’s family: Takes an unusual interest in his career by watching the drama from the beginning, indicating growing recognition of his public work.
• Drama characters Mo Hua and Lu Yan: Their initially appealing dynamic develops enough chemistry to attract viewers, but Lu Yan’s kidnapping of Mo Hua introduces a major shift and raises suspicions about his true motives.

Significant Themes

• Romantic tension and emotional self-discovery: Both Ye Qing and Gu Ze are attracted to each other but remain cautious and indirect.
• Embarrassment and vulnerability: Their awkward morning encounter highlights their lack of emotional and physical control around each other.
• Boundaries and privacy: Gu Ze’s public statement emphasizes healthy support for celebrities and condemns invasive fan behavior.
• Public image versus private reality: Gu Ze appears confident publicly but is privately nervous about Ye Qing, while the drama’s seemingly simple characters may conceal darker truths.
• Deception and hidden motives: The sudden kidnapping of Mo Hua suggests that appearances in the drama—and possibly in the characters’ relationships—cannot be trusted.

Character Interactions

• Gu Ze flirts with Ye Qing, then repeatedly apologizes and comforts him when Ye Qing becomes embarrassed.
• Ye Qing responds with mock irritation but ultimately accepts Gu Ze’s affection, revealing that the exchange makes him happy.
• The two share an unintentionally intimate night and silently agree to ignore the awkwardness the next morning.
• Xie Quan checks on Gu Ze after the fan incident, strengthening their supportive friendship.
• Within the drama, Mo Hua and Lu Yan’s striking first meeting and apparent chemistry captivate viewers before Lu Yan’s betrayal changes the audience’s understanding of their relationship.

Key plot points and events

• The series becomes a major hit, especially because audiences love Ye Qing’s tragic character, Mo Hua, and his on-screen dynamic with Gu Ze’s Lu Yan. Ye Qing’s fame rises sharply, and he now needs a mask to go out.
• The production crew plans a promotional event and asks Gu Ze and Ye Qing to promote their popular pairing. Gu Ze’s manager expects a refusal, since Gu Ze usually dislikes CP promotion—but Gu Ze unexpectedly agrees.
• Ye Qing initially doubts Gu Ze would consent. When Gu Ze confirms and says, “It depends on the person,” Ye Qing grows flustered but agrees to participate.
• At the event, the audience responds enthusiastically to the pair’s small gestures. During audience questions, Gu Ze explains that he sees Lu Yan’s feelings for Mo Hua as friendship.
• Fans then request increasingly intimate stunts: Gu Ze carries Ye Qing and does squats with him in his arms. The chapter ends as a fan asks them to play a shared-biscuit game, leaving Ye Qing bright red.

Character developments

• Ye Qing enjoys his newfound popularity but remains shy and inexperienced with CP promotion. His growing awareness of Gu Ze’s attention makes him visibly flustered.
• Gu Ze reveals a willingness to make an exception for Ye Qing, suggesting personal feelings beyond ordinary professional cooperation. At the event, he confidently indulges the fans’ requests.
• Gu Ze’s manager is surprised by Gu Ze’s sudden agreement and suspects he has a personal interest in Ye Qing.

Character interactions

• Gu Ze’s private message—“It depends on the person”—deeply unsettles and excites Ye Qing, though he tries not to interpret it too boldly.
• Onstage, Gu Ze repeatedly supports and cues Ye Qing, while Ye Qing makes an effort to respond rather than appear awkward.
• Gu Ze checks Ye Qing’s consent before the bridal carry, and Ye Qing checks whether Gu Ze can manage it; their teasing, considerate exchange fuels the audience’s excitement.

Significant themes

• Fame and fandom: The show’s success transforms Ye Qing’s career, while fans actively shape the public meaning of the actors’ interactions.
• Performance and ambiguity: Promotional gestures are officially part of entertainment, yet Gu Ze’s special treatment of Ye Qing hints at genuine affection.
• Shyness and emotional uncertainty: Ye Qing is caught between enjoying the closeness and fearing he may be reading too much into it.

Key plot points and events

• At a promotional event, fans ask Ye Qing and Gu Ze to play the “biscuit game,” which involves eating toward each other from opposite ends of a biscuit. Ye Qing agrees, telling himself it is part of promoting their pairing.
• Gu Ze checks that Ye Qing is comfortable and lets him choose how to play. As they draw close, Ye Qing grows visibly flustered. Gu Ze stops before the game reaches a kiss, and Ye Qing eats the remaining biscuit.
• The event ends successfully, and the pair decline further games. On the ride home, Ye Qing asks whether their staged intimacy is misleading fans. Gu Ze says pairing promotion is common and hints that their behavior may not be entirely an act, but leaves the thought unexplained.
• Their appearance trends online. Fans eagerly circulate edits, including an altered image that makes it look as though the two kissed. Some commenters criticize Ye Qing, but he ignores them.
• As Ye Qing receives more script offers, a friend calls to recruit him for a relaxed family travel variety show. The friend asks him to invite his aunt and uncle; Ye Qing is surprised to learn he is the only guest invited so far.

Character developments and interactions

• Ye Qing agrees to the intimate game despite his embarrassment, reasoning that it will help their public pairing. His growing attraction to Gu Ze is evident in how closely he watches him and how strongly he reacts to his looks. He also shows concern about misleading fans, then accepts Gu Ze’s reassurance.
• Gu Ze is careful not to pressure Ye Qing, checks that he can refuse, and ends the game when Ye Qing’s embarrassment becomes obvious. His cryptic suggestion that their behavior might not be mere performance hints at deeper feelings.
• Ye Qing and Gu Ze share a charged but carefully bounded moment; afterward, their popularity—and fans’ romantic interpretations of their interactions—grows.
• Ye Qing and his friend trade familiar, teasing insults before the friend pleads for help with the show.

Significant themes

• Performance versus genuine feeling: Their public pairing begins as deliberate promotion, but Ye Qing’s attraction and Gu Ze’s ambiguous remark blur the line between acting and sincerity.
• Public image and fan interpretation: Fans turn a staged game into romantic content, while online attention brings both popularity and criticism.
• Boundaries and consideration: Gu Ze gives Ye Qing room to decline and stops when he senses his discomfort; the pair also choose not to overdo the fan-service games.

Key plot points and events

• Ye Qing is unsure whether to join a variety show because he wants to keep his family background private and has no experience with the format. He discusses it over dinner with Gu Ze.
• Gu Ze encourages him to consider going and reminds him that revealing his family situation would not erase the work that earned him success. He also suggests the show could feature friends rather than parents.
• Reassured, Ye Qing feels better about the decision, though he remains frustrated that the director has not yet invited anyone else.
• The two collect pottery they made together. Ye Qing’s cup is crooked, but Gu Ze sincerely likes it and offers to trade. Ye Qing readily accepts, then jokingly entrusts Gu Ze with his cup.
• They go to a hot spring. Ye Qing asks Gu Ze to scrub his back, and Gu Ze struggles to keep his composure while indulging him. When Ye Qing returns the favor, he becomes distracted by Gu Ze’s back and touches him more than he scrubs.
• Ye Qing slips while climbing out of the pool. Gu Ze catches him, leaving Ye Qing in his lap—and aware of Gu Ze’s arousal.

Character developments and interactions

• Ye Qing moves from indecision toward greater confidence, realizing that hiding his family background has made him feel unnecessarily constrained. His playful, impulsive nature also comes through during the pottery exchange and hot-spring visit.
• Gu Ze offers thoughtful support, affirming Ye Qing’s achievements and helping him reframe his worries. At the hot spring, his attraction to Ye Qing becomes increasingly difficult to conceal.
• Their easy teasing and care for one another—especially Gu Ze’s appreciation of Ye Qing’s imperfect cup and his quick response when Ye Qing slips—give their relationship a warm, increasingly intimate quality.

Significant themes

• Independence and recognition: Ye Qing worries that his family background might overshadow his accomplishments, while Gu Ze insists his work stands on its own.
• Affection expressed through small gestures: The cup swap and their mutual back scrubs show fondness and attentiveness beneath the banter.
• Growing intimacy and self-restraint: The hot-spring scene turns their closeness into palpable tension, culminating in Ye Qing discovering Gu Ze’s physical response.

Key plot points and events

• At the hot spring, Ye Qing accidentally lands in Gu Ze’s lap and realizes Gu Ze is aroused. Gu Ze restrains himself, apologizes, and asks Ye Qing to wait outside.
• Ye Qing offers to help, thinking of it as something friends might do, but Gu Ze declines because he doesn’t want Ye Qing’s help under the pretense of friendship.
• On the drive home, Gu Ze asks whether Ye Qing has considered dating and what kind of partner he wants. Ye Qing says he has no firm preferences; Gu Ze openly says he likes men.
• Gu Ze notices two cars following them. The pursuers box in the car and shout abuse at Ye Qing, accusing him of using Gu Ze for attention. They splash what Ye Qing suspects is sulfuric acid on the window, threaten him, and drive off.

Character developments

• Ye Qing becomes more aware of the physical tension between them, though he still interprets his offer to help as friendly and struggles to express himself afterward.
• Gu Ze shows strong attraction to Ye Qing but consciously holds back. His questions about relationships suggest he is testing Ye Qing’s feelings, while his calm driving and protective response reveal his composure under pressure.

Significant themes

• Desire versus restraint: Gu Ze’s attraction conflicts with his wish not to exploit or pressure Ye Qing.
• Ambiguous intimacy: Ye Qing sees their closeness as friendship, while Gu Ze wants something more.
• Celebrity and possessive fandom: Gu Ze’s fans direct hostility toward Ye Qing, treating his friendship with Gu Ze as a threat.
• Protection and composure: Gu Ze stays in control during the pursuit, while Ye Qing refuses to let the fans’ insults define their relationship.

Character interactions

• Gu Ze repeatedly checks his behavior and apologizes, while Ye Qing responds awkwardly but compassionately, even offering help.
• Their car conversation opens the subject of romantic preferences, though neither directly addresses their feelings for each other.
• During the confrontation, Gu Ze protects Ye Qing by locking the car and driving defensively; Ye Qing remains comparatively calm despite the fans’ threats.

Key events

• After Ye Qing’s car is damaged by obsessive fans who block it, Gu Ze apologizes and takes responsibility, though Ye Qing insists the fans’ actions aren’t Gu Ze’s fault.
• Gu Ze identifies the offenders through traffic-camera footage and has them arrested. He reflects that using his influence to protect others can make a real difference.
• Ye Qing considers telling his family about joining a variety show. His mother and two older brothers eagerly agree to appear with him, largely because they’re intrigued by the entertainment industry’s gossip.
• Xie Quan invites Ye Qing to an industry party to help him build connections. After socializing, they retreat to a quiet corner.
• A stern man arrives and orders Xie Quan to go home. Xie Quan refuses. Ye Qing steps in to protect him, and Gu Ze arrives, backing Ye Qing and making clear that Xie Quan will not be forced to leave.

Character developments

• Gu Ze becomes openly angry at harmful fan behavior and accepts some responsibility for the influence he has over his fans. His decisive response also strengthens his understanding of how power can be used to help others.
• Ye Qing remains empathetic toward Gu Ze but is firm in defending people who don’t want to be pushed around. He also begins involving his family in his public career.
• Ye Qing’s family reveal unexpected enthusiasm for appearing publicly, motivated partly by curiosity about industry gossip.
• Xie Quan maintains his refusal to return home, suggesting a strained relationship with the man confronting him.

Significant themes

• The distinction between supportive fans and obsessive, harmful ones—and how much responsibility idols bear for fan conduct.
• Using influence and privilege to protect people and hold offenders accountable.
• Respecting personal agency: Xie Quan’s refusal to go home is supported rather than overridden.
• Family support and the social demands of working in entertainment.

Character interactions

• Gu Ze apologizes to Ye Qing, while Ye Qing reassures him and rejects the idea that he should carry all the blame.
• Ye Qing and Gu Ze both act decisively to protect others: Gu Ze addresses the offenders, and Ye Qing intervenes when Xie Quan is pressured.
• Ye Qing’s family enthusiastically backs his variety-show plans.
• At the party, Gu Ze joins Ye Qing in standing between Xie Quan and the man demanding he return home.

Key plot points and events

• Xie Quan is pressured by a man from the Li family to leave, but Gu Ze and Ye Qing intervene. Xie Quan thanks them and discreetly leaves after noticing the tension between them.
• Ye Qing is flustered when Gu Ze calls him “little friend” and pats his head. Gu Ze treats the nickname casually, while Ye Qing quietly wonders what it means but avoids asking whether Gu Ze likes him.
• Ye Qing learns that the man from the Li family has some history with Xie Quan, though Gu Ze does not know the details.
• Ye Qing’s friend Chi Xiu—known as Little Pomelo—prepares a variety show. Each participant may bring one family member or friend. Ye Qing’s family debates who should join him, and his mother is chosen.
• The live show begins in White Cloud Town. Viewers watch the arrivals of Ye Qing and his mother, actress Lou Xiaofeng with her younger brother, and retired actor Ke Lai with his wife. The fourth family is kept secret until its reveal: Gu Ze is the surprise participant.

Character developments and interactions

• Ye Qing stands up for Xie Quan without hesitation, even though doing so could offend others. Around Gu Ze, however, he becomes shy and uncertain, especially after the affectionate “little friend” remark.
• Gu Ze protects Xie Quan and behaves warmly toward Ye Qing, teasing him and patting his head while acting as though his fondness is entirely ordinary. His appearance as the show’s final guest surprises everyone.
• Xie Quan accepts the help but keeps his distance from Ye Qing and Gu Ze once he senses their unusual dynamic.
• Chi Xiu is energetic and proud of his show, building suspense around the unnamed fourth family.
• Ye Mother is selected to accompany Ye Qing and enjoys the peaceful scenery in White Cloud Town. Viewers admire her beauty and infer that Ye Qing comes from a wealthy family.

Significant themes

• Unspoken affection and ambiguity: Gu Ze’s familiar gestures and nickname leave Ye Qing questioning their relationship, but he is too hesitant to ask directly.
• Loyalty and courage: Ye Qing is willing to stand firm for Xie Quan despite the risk of offending the Li family.
• Public curiosity and spectacle: The live format encourages viewers to speculate about the mysterious guest and comment on the participants’ lives and appearances.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gu Ze unexpectedly appears on the variety show with his mother, delighting Ye Qing and the other guests. His presence explains how Chi Xiu managed to assemble such an impressive cast.
• Gu Ze’s popularity is emphasized when Lou Xiaofeng and Ke Lai ask for his autograph on behalf of themselves or their wives.
• Ye Qing reveals—privately—that he despises men who abuse their families. His suspicion is directed toward Ke Lai, whom he knows is secretly violent toward his wife, Jiang Jing.
• Ke Lai presents himself publicly as a devoted husband, claiming that Jiang Jing sacrificed everything for him and that he cherishes her. The livestream audience accepts this image, while Ye Qing recognizes it as a facade.
• The first competition is a family compatibility quiz. The families answer questions about one another, with matching answers earning points.
• Gu Ze and Ye Qing score nine out of ten, Lou Xiaofeng’s family scores seven, and Ke Lai and Jiang Jing score only five despite having been married for over twenty years.
• Gu Ze and Ye Qing tie for first place. After insisting that the other choose first, Ye Qing selects the wooden cabin, while Gu Ze chooses the neighboring villa. Ke Lai and Jiang Jing are left with the least desirable house.
• That night, Ye Qing reflects on Jiang Jing and Ke Lai’s history and the abuse Jiang Jing has endured.

Character Developments

• Ye Qing: Shows strong moral opposition to domestic violence and becomes increasingly troubled by the contrast between Ke Lai’s public image and private behavior. He is also curious and comfortable around Gu Ze.
• Gu Ze: Demonstrates affection for Ye Qing by surprising him with his appearance on the show. He remains modest and cooperative despite his celebrity status.
• Ke Lai: Maintains a polished, caring public persona, but Ye Qing knows him to be an abusive husband who takes out his frustrations on Jiang Jing.
• Jiang Jing: Is revealed to have once been a highly successful actress who sacrificed her career and connections to support Ke Lai. She now appears emotionally subdued and trapped in an abusive marriage.
• Lou Xiaofeng: Is shown to be a devoted fan of Gu Ze and an easygoing, patient older brother, even when his younger brother’s answers contradict what he expected.

Significant Themes

• Public image versus private reality: Ke Lai’s reputation as a loving husband hides years of domestic abuse.
• Domestic violence and entrapment: The chapter highlights the repeated nature of Ke Lai’s abuse and the difficulty Jiang Jing has in escaping the relationship.
• Sacrifice and unequal relationships: Jiang Jing gave up her career and social standing to help Ke Lai succeed, yet he repaid her with violence.
• Family intimacy and understanding: The compatibility game tests how well family members know one another, revealing both closeness and emotional distance.
• Moral awareness and helplessness: Ye Qing recognizes the abuse but is left questioning why Jiang Jing has never sought a divorce.

Character Interactions

• Ye Qing and Gu Ze reunite warmly, with Gu Ze explaining that his appearance was meant as a surprise.
• Lou Xiaofeng and Ke Lai approach Gu Ze as fans, reinforcing Gu Ze’s immense popularity.
• Ye Qing exchanges polite but pointed remarks with Ke Lai, subtly testing his public claims of devotion to Jiang Jing.
• The families compete in the compatibility quiz, with Ye Qing and Gu Ze displaying the strongest mutual understanding.
• Ye Qing consults Ye Mother before choosing the cabin, while Gu Ze chooses the villa beside them, keeping the two families physically close.

Key plot points and events

• Ye Qing continues thinking about why Jiang Jing cannot bring herself to divorce Ke Lai. He hopes to help her, but knows she must first want to leave; with five days remaining, he believes there is time to act.
• The production crew announces that the guests must cook for themselves and assigns them a memorization task: learn descriptions of local attractions in the morning and serve as tour guides that afternoon.
• The Lou Xiaofeng siblings struggle with both cooking and memorizing, while the other families divide or accept the work more easily.
• Ke Lai criticizes Lou Xiaofeng for not cooking, insisting that women should cook and learn before marriage. She cuts the conversation short, and viewers argue over whether his attitude is sexist.
• On the way to the attractions, Ke Lai repeatedly attends to Ye Qing’s mother, Lan Hui, while paying little attention to Jiang Jing, who has fallen behind. He frames his behavior as looking after someone with less stamina.
• Lan Hui rebuffs his personal questions and points out that he should be caring for his own wife. Ye Qing further embarrasses Ke Lai by asking him to carry him too, exposing the absurdity of Ke Lai’s selective concern.

Character developments

• Ye Qing remains alert to Jiang Jing’s unhappy marriage and looks for ways to help. He also openly defends his mother and uses humor to challenge Ke Lai.
• Jiang Jing stays quiet when Ke Lai leaves her behind and even smiles, suggesting she has learned to accommodate his behavior—or is concealing her feelings.
• Ke Lai comes across as intrusive and patronizing: he imposes traditional expectations on Lou Xiaofeng, then lavishes attention on Lan Hui while neglecting his wife.
• Lan Hui responds bluntly to Ke Lai’s advances and is unimpressed by his claimed concern.
• Lou Xiaofeng tries to preserve her public image during an awkward exchange but refuses to prolong it.

Significant themes

• Gender roles and domestic labor: Ke Lai’s claim that women should cook sparks debate about tradition, fairness, and expectations within marriage.
• Care versus control or performance: Ke Lai presents his attention to Lan Hui as kindness, but his disregard for Jiang Jing makes that concern seem selective and potentially self-serving.
• Public image and private unhappiness: The guests’ interactions are scrutinized by viewers, while Jiang Jing’s quiet response hints at deeper marital problems.
• Speaking up for others: Ye Qing uses humor to challenge Ke Lai and draw attention to his unequal treatment.

Character interactions

• The Lou siblings bicker over who should memorize their assigned material, then split it between them.
• Ke Lai lectures Lou Xiaofeng about cooking; she answers politely but withdraws.
• Ke Lai questions Lan Hui about her habits and preferences; she shuts him down.
• Ke Lai leaves Jiang Jing behind while focusing on Lan Hui. Ye Qing challenges him by asking to be carried as well, and Gu Ze silently watches Ye Qing with affectionate tenderness.

Key events

• Ye Father is furious at Ke Lai’s behavior on the livestream, but Ye Chen calms him down.
• Ke Lai continues pursuing Ye Mother, then returns to fawning over Jiang Jing after Ye Qing rejects him.
• Once the families finish presenting their scenic spots, they explore the grottoes.
• Ye Qing privately approaches Jiang Jing and asks whether Ke Lai abuses her. She denies it, but Ye Qing suspects the truth and urges her to stand up for herself.
• Jiang Jing admits, indirectly, that she is staying silent for her child’s sake: she does not want to destroy the child’s admiration for his father. Ye Qing challenges whether concealing the abuse is truly good for the child.
• Ke Lai interrupts their conversation. Ye Qing covers by saying he was asking Jiang Jing about acting.
• That night, Ye Qing asks Gu Ze for advice and tells him he believes Ke Lai is abusing Jiang Jing, based on injuries he saw. Gu Ze accepts Ye Qing’s conclusion despite the limited evidence.

Character developments and interactions

• Ye Qing acts decisively and compassionately toward Jiang Jing, though he is uncertain how best to help. He also seems increasingly reliant on Gu Ze and privately notices the romantic atmosphere of their nighttime walk.
• Jiang Jing remains quiet and composed, but Ye Qing’s respectful address—“Miss Jiang,” rather than “Mrs. Ke”—touches her. Her loyalty to her child keeps her from exposing Ke Lai.
• Gu Ze supports Ye Qing without demanding proof. Their close nighttime exchange brings out Gu Ze’s bashful reaction to Ye Qing’s proximity.
• Ke Lai is shown as entitled and controlling: he pursues women he sees as accessible and watches Jiang Jing’s conversation with Ye Qing suspiciously.
• Ye Father and Ye Chen briefly interact over the livestream, with Ye Chen managing to calm his angry father.

Significant themes

• Abuse, silence, and protection: Jiang Jing endures mistreatment to preserve her child’s view of his father, while Ye Qing questions whether silence actually protects the child.
• Identity and respect: Jiang Jing responds warmly to being addressed as an individual rather than defined by her marriage.
• Trust and growing closeness: Gu Ze’s readiness to believe Ye Qing, and their intimate late-night conversation, deepen their bond.

Key plot points

• Ye Qing tells Gu Ze about Jiang Jing’s abusive marriage and his uncertainty over whether to tell her son. Gu Ze advises against intervening directly, since good intentions could worsen things, and urges Ye Qing to consider Jiang Jing’s wishes.
• The next day, Jiang Jing begins speaking more openly and letting Ye Qing notice her injuries, suggesting she may be ready to seek help.
• Gu Ze explains that Jiang Jing’s son already knows about the abuse. Though closely monitored by his father, Ke Lai, the boy has quietly tried to interrupt the abuse and gathered evidence. Gu Ze’s people have contacted him and obtained some of it, making it possible to expose Ke Lai soon.

Character developments

• Ye Qing remains deeply concerned for Jiang Jing but recognizes that he may have overlooked her wishes. He also admits feeling incapable and overly dependent on Gu Ze.
• Gu Ze supports Ye Qing’s judgment and compassion while reassuring him that his courage and efforts matter. He says meeting Ye Qing gave him a reason to be there.

Significant themes

• Helping others requires respecting their autonomy; good intentions can have unintended consequences.
• Courage means acting despite the risks, while silence may sometimes reflect a lack of power rather than indifference.
• Trust and emotional support can help people recognize their own worth.

Character interactions

• Ye Qing turns to Gu Ze for advice, and Gu Ze listens without dismissing his concern.
• Gu Ze reveals what he has learned about Jiang Jing’s son and calms Ye Qing when he becomes upset.
• When Ye Qing puts himself down, Gu Ze gently lifts his face and affirms his bravery, deepening the intimacy and emotional trust between them.

Key plot points and events

• Gu Ze reflects that Ye Qing has restored his interest in life. He sees his role as helping Ye Qing navigate the world without losing his optimism and courage.
• Under the moonlight, Gu Ze reassures Ye Qing that he is remarkable and that their reliance on each other is mutual. Ye Qing is deeply moved, though he can only manage a flustered “Got it.”
• Ye Qing mentions Gu Ze’s future girlfriend. Gu Ze tells him he likes men and has someone in mind, describing that person as passionate, brave, and wonderful. Ye Qing grows unexpectedly jealous and asks to meet him; Gu Ze promises he will—hinting that the person is Ye Qing himself.
• The next morning, a fan’s edited footage of Jiang Jing raises suspicions that she is being abused by Ke Lai. The video goes viral, and public opinion quickly intensifies. Gu Ze has quietly helped the story gain traction.
• Ke Lai appears unworried and starts a livestream to defend himself, but another video is uploaded just as he begins.

Character developments and interactions

• Gu Ze recognizes how much Ye Qing has changed his outlook and openly admits that he depends on Ye Qing too. His affection is clear, though Ye Qing fails to understand his indirect confession.
• Ye Qing is reassured by Gu Ze but remains unaware of his own feelings. His distress at hearing Gu Ze loves someone reveals jealousy and attachment.
• Jiang Jing is not present in the central conversation, but the footage suggests she may be frightened and hurt by Ke Lai.
• Ke Lai maintains a confident public front despite the allegations.

Significant themes

• Mutual support and the way love can give life renewed meaning.
• Self-doubt, encouragement, and preserving one’s optimism while facing the world.
• Unrecognized romantic feelings and the gap between what characters say and understand.
• Public scrutiny, celebrity fandom, and using media evidence to expose possible abuse.