Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• Ke Lai livestreams a denial of the domestic-abuse allegations, claiming he has never hit Jiang Jing and suggesting the scandal is being used to distract from something else.
• When Jiang Jing speaks, she contradicts him directly and removes her coat, revealing extensive bruises in various stages of healing.
• Ye Qing and Gu Ze shield Jiang Jing as Chi Xiu restrains Ke Lai. A video of Ke Lai attacking her is uploaded, confirming her account.
• Jiang Jing confronts Ke Lai about monitoring their son, Jiang Xing. She slaps him twice—not for herself, she explains, but because he has harmed their child as well.
• Jiang Jing says she has called the police. Ke Lai tries to dissuade her by warning that a criminal record could affect their son’s future.
• Jiang Xing tells his mother not to endure abuse for his sake and supports her decision to let Ke Lai face the consequences. Reassured by her son, Jiang Jing becomes resolute.
• Jiang Xing openly expresses his hatred for Ke Lai. Ke Lai responds by insisting that his blood will always be part of the boy.

Character developments

• Jiang Jing moves from years of silence and self-sacrifice to publicly naming the abuse and choosing to seek justice. Her son’s support helps her overcome her hesitation.
• Jiang Xing shows unusual empathy and courage, affirming that his mother’s wellbeing matters more than protecting Ke Lai from punishment. His hatred of his father is rooted in witnessing the abuse.
• Ke Lai shifts from confident public denial to panic when the police are involved. His attempted appeal to his son’s future does not win Jiang Jing over.

Significant themes

• Breaking silence and reclaiming agency: Jiang Jing’s testimony and revealed injuries overturn Ke Lai’s public narrative.
• Protection and family: Jiang Jing has endured abuse for her son, while Jiang Xing insists that protecting her matters too.
• Abuse and control: Ke Lai’s violence extends beyond Jiang Jing to monitoring their child.
• Blood versus chosen loyalty: Ke Lai treats biological connection as an unbreakable claim, while Jiang Xing’s actions show that care and conduct—not blood—define family.

Character interactions

• Ke Lai uses a gentle public persona toward Jiang Jing, then turns to rage when she exposes him.
• Ye Qing, Gu Ze, and Chi Xiu intervene to protect Jiang Jing and restrain Ke Lai.
• Jiang Jing and Jiang Xing comfort and strengthen one another: she apologizes for what he has endured, and he reassures her and gives her permission to act.
• Ke Lai’s confrontation with Jiang Xing exposes the deep estrangement between father and son.

• Key events: Ke Lai insults Jiang Xing, but his son seems long accustomed to his cruelty. When Jiang Jing tries to confront him, Jiang Xing stops her; Chi Xiu instead slaps Ke Lai. Police arrive and arrest him, and Chi Xiu ends the livestream. With the immediate danger over, Jiang Jing thanks Ye Qing and Gu Ze, then decides to celebrate her fresh start by treating everyone to a meal.
• How Jiang Jing was persuaded to act: In a flashback, Gu Ze explains that Ke Lai had been monitoring Jiang Xing and shows Jiang Jing evidence. He urges her to recognize that Ke Lai cannot be a good father and reminds her that Jiang Xing already knows what is happening and could bear the truth. Jiang Jing realizes she need not protect her son by carrying the burden alone. Gu Ze reveals he helped because Ye Qing wanted to help her, and asks Jiang Jing to keep their involvement private.
• Character developments: Jiang Jing moves from enduring abuse and hiding it from her son to accepting help and taking steps toward a new life. Jiang Xing’s calm reaction suggests he has long lost hope in his father and is capable of facing the truth. Gu Ze’s direct, practical concern shows that he cares despite seeming detached; his tender smile and undisguised pride reveal his affection for Ye Qing. Jiang Jing recognizes Ye Qing’s kindness and hopes the two men will be honest about their feelings.
• Jiang Jing’s account of her past: While celebrating, she gets drunk and recounts how her childhood in a boy-favoring family left her starved for affection. Ke Lai’s grand, public courtship and attentive behavior initially seemed like the love she had always wanted. She agreed to leave the entertainment industry and have a child, hoping to give her baby the love she never received. His abusive nature emerged after the baby was born.
• Themes and interactions: The chapter highlights domestic abuse, the harm of keeping painful truths hidden, and the importance of accepting support rather than shouldering everything alone. It also contrasts Ke Lai’s performative courtship with his later cruelty. Jiang Jing’s gratitude brings her closer to Ye Qing and Gu Ze, while Gu Ze’s protective warning underscores his wish to keep their role—and his feelings for Ye Qing—private.

Chapter Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Jing reflects on how her marriage to Ke Lai deteriorated. At first, she handled all the housework because Ke Lai claimed filming kept him busy. Over time, this arrangement became expected.
• Ke Lai’s abuse began when he came home drunk and violently beat Jiang Jing while their child slept. He apologized the next day, and Jiang Jing forgave him because she still loved him.
• The violence continued and became a repeated, unapologetic pattern. Jiang Jing eventually stopped hoping for love from Ke Lai but endured the abuse to protect their child and give them a peaceful life.
• While drinking, Jiang Jing breaks down and asks whether her entire life has been a failure. Ye Qing comforts her, telling her that Ke Lai’s actions are not her fault and that trusting the wrong person is merely a mistake, not a reason to blame herself.
• The first episode of the variety show ends. Because Ye Qing feels uncomfortable after learning that Gu Ze likes someone—and because Gu Ze also makes him uneasy—Ye Qing leaves early with his mother instead of traveling back with Gu Ze.
• Gu Ze repeatedly tries to meet Ye Qing, but Ye Qing avoids him with one excuse after another, leaving Gu Ze frustrated and amused.
• The two eventually meet at the White Family’s engagement banquet, where the White Family’s youngest son, Bai Ming, is set to marry Zhao Lan of the Zhao Family.
• Ye Qing discovers that Bai Ming is secretly involved with Zhao Lan’s illegitimate half-brother, Tang Yuan. Bai Ming has been deceiving Zhao Lan while treating his relationships as disposable transactions.
• Tang Yuan, deeply attached to Bai Ming despite knowing his flaws, enters the wedding after learning about the engagement. After Bai Ming and Zhao Lan exchange vows, Tang Yuan exposes him by displaying their private messages and intimate videos.
• The guests are horrified, while Zhao Lan is devastated to learn that her seemingly courteous fiancé has been cheating with her own brother.

Character Developments

• Jiang Jing is revealed as a victim of long-term domestic abuse who has sacrificed her own happiness for her child. Her emotional collapse shows how deeply the abuse and self-blame have affected her.
• Ye Qing demonstrates compassion and emotional sensitivity by recognizing Jiang Jing’s suffering and helping her reject the idea that she is responsible for Ke Lai’s abuse. His discomfort around Gu Ze also becomes more apparent.
• Gu Ze remains persistent in pursuing Ye Qing, though Ye Qing’s avoidance leaves him exasperated. His determination suggests that his feelings are becoming increasingly serious.
• Ke Lai is exposed as an abusive, selfish husband who initially uses apologies to preserve the relationship but eventually abandons even the pretense of remorse.
• Bai Ming is shown to be duplicitous and manipulative. His polite public image conceals a pattern of infidelity and emotional exploitation.
• Tang Yuan is characterized as independent and decisive despite his illegitimate status. His attachment to Bai Ming leads him to disrupt the wedding and reveal the truth.
• Zhao Lan is presented as innocent and undeserving of Bai Ming’s betrayal. Her shock marks the collapse of her idealized view of her fiancé.

Significant Themes

• Domestic violence and victim-blaming: Jiang Jing’s story emphasizes how abuse develops into a cycle and how victims may blame themselves for staying.
• Self-sacrifice and motherhood: Jiang Jing tolerates years of suffering because she wants to protect her child, though this comes at the cost of her own well-being.
• The difference between appearance and reality: Both Ke Lai and Bai Ming hide their true natures behind socially acceptable behavior.
• Betrayal and deception: Bai Ming’s engagement is revealed as a business arrangement built on lies, while his relationships are based on manipulation rather than love.
• Emotional support and validation: Ye Qing’s reassurance gives Jiang Jing a rare moment of recognition and helps challenge her belief that her life has been a failure.
• Consequences of hidden relationships: Bai Ming’s secret affair eventually becomes public, destroying his engagement and reputation.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Jing and Ye Qing share the chapter’s most compassionate interaction. He listens to her despair and reassures her that Ke Lai’s violence is not her fault.
• Ye Qing and Gu Ze grow more distant temporarily: Ye Qing avoids him because he feels uncomfortable about Gu Ze’s romantic feelings, while Gu Ze continues trying to approach him.
• At the engagement banquet, Ye Qing’s observations reveal Bai Ming’s secret relationship with Tang Yuan to the surrounding characters.
• Tang Yuan directly confronts Bai Ming by exposing their messages and videos during the wedding, publicly humiliating Bai Ming and shocking Zhao Lan and the guests.

Plot points and events

• At the engagement gathering, Bai Ming denies posting compromising material about himself, insisting that someone framed him. Zhao Lan is briefly unsure, but Tang Yuan publicly confirms Bai Ming posted it.
• Tang Yuan reveals private knowledge about Bai Ming and hints at further evidence, making the guests—and Zhao Lan—believe the accusation. Bai Ming’s parents leave him, effectively abandoning him.
• Tang Yuan catches Bai Ming when he collapses, admits he stopped the marriage because he loves him, and carries him out despite Bai Ming’s resistance. He also tells Zhao Lan that he is her father’s illegitimate son and warns her to scrutinize those around her, causing her father to panic.
• Zhao Lan is left reeling from the collapse of her engagement and doubts about her father. The gathering breaks up.
• Gu Ze stops Ye Qing as he tries to leave. Ye Qing pretends their meeting is accidental, but Gu Ze says he came to find him and confronts him about avoiding him.

Character developments and interactions

• Bai Ming loses his composure and social standing when Tang Yuan exposes him. Though he resents Tang Yuan and fears his obsessive behavior, he is carried away after his parents abandon him.
• Tang Yuan openly reveals his intense, possessive devotion to Bai Ming. He acts with confidence and disregard for others’ judgment, and believes Bai Ming is now within his reach.
• Zhao Lan moves from suspicion to shock and hurt as she learns of Bai Ming’s deception and Tang Yuan’s family connection. Tang Yuan’s warning turns her attention toward her father.
• Ye Qing watches the spectacle with cynical amusement, then tries to evade Gu Ze. He denies avoiding him but falls silent when pressed.
• Gu Ze makes clear that he deliberately sought Ye Qing and asks whether Ye Qing has been avoiding him because he said he liked someone, ending with the pointed question: “Do you really not know who I like?”

Significant themes

• Deception and public exposure: Private wrongdoing becomes impossible to conceal once confronted with intimate evidence.
• Possessive love and coercion: Tang Yuan frames his actions as devotion, but Bai Ming experiences them as threatening and controlling.
• Family betrayal and appearances: Bai Ming’s parents abandon him, while Zhao Lan is forced to reconsider the image she had of her own family.
• Unspoken feelings and avoidance: Gu Ze’s direct challenge contrasts with Ye Qing’s attempts to dodge the subject of affection.

Plot points

• Gu Ze realizes Ye Qing has misunderstood his hints and confesses outright: Ye Qing is the person he likes.
• Ye Qing is surprised but feels happy rather than uncomfortable. Though he can’t decide whether to accept, he doesn’t pull away when Gu Ze asks to kiss him. Gu Ze kisses his forehead and says he’ll take Ye Qing’s silence as permission to pursue him.
• Gu Ze begins courting Ye Qing with daily good-morning messages and thoughtful gifts. Ye Qing enjoys the attention, even as he insists he isn’t dating anyone.
• The Ye family reacts protectively. Ye Mother approves of Gu Ze, while Ye Father and Ye Chen worry about Ye Qing rushing into a relationship. Ye Ci privately tests Gu Ze, then decides he is decent.
• At the variety show’s next episode, the production team replaces departing participants with Xie Quan, a new guest star Ye Qing recognizes as the man who previously accompanied the Li Family. Xie Quan appears to have ulterior motives.

Character developments and interactions

• Ye Qing begins to recognize that he welcomes Gu Ze’s affection, but he still needs time to understand his own feelings. His shy reactions contrast with his private excitement.
• Gu Ze shifts from indirect hints to an honest confession, then patiently pursues Ye Qing while respecting his hesitation.
• The Ye family reveals its different attitudes toward Ye Qing’s possible romance: his mother is enthusiastic, while his father and brothers are wary and protective. Ye Ci’s scrutiny of Gu Ze ends in cautious approval.
• Ye Qing and Gu Ze share a tender, tentative moment that marks the start of their courtship; Ye Qing and his family have playful disagreements about whether he is already close to dating.

Significant themes

• Honest communication replaces uncertain hints.
• Affection develops through patience, consent, and small acts of care.
• Family protectiveness can be loving but intrusive.
• The romance’s warm progress is set against a new source of possible conflict in Xie Quan’s arrival.

Key plot points and events

• Xie Quan is unbothered by the possibility of a former adversary joining the show, but that guest is replaced shortly before filming. Rising idol-drama star Meng Hao takes his place.
• The production team launches a surprise behind-the-scenes livestream as the guests prepare to travel abroad. Viewers discover Ye Qing lives in an affluent neighborhood and identify his father as a former business figure, revealing Ye Qing’s wealthy background. The revelation makes him trend online, drawing both surprise and criticism.
• Ye Qing and Gu Ze travel on the same flight and sit together. After arriving at the seaside villa rented for filming, they reunite with Xie Quan and Meng Hao; Lou Xiaofeng and her brother have not yet arrived.
• Meng Hao is an enthusiastic fan of Gu Ze and tries to get close to him. Gu Ze politely refuses his offers and asks Ye Qing which room he wants, signaling that he hopes to stay nearby. Ye Qing’s jealousy eases, while Meng Hao looks displeased.

Character developments

• Ye Qing accepts that his privileged background will become public and is largely unconcerned when it does. Around Gu Ze, he is initially awkward after Gu Ze’s confession, but covers his nerves by deliberately acting normal. He also begins to recognize his own possessiveness and possible feelings for Gu Ze.
• Gu Ze remains patient and considerate. He treats Ye Qing as usual rather than pressuring him for an answer, quietly cares for him on the flight, and makes clear he wants to be near him at the villa.
• Xie Quan remains relaxed about his past conflict and seeks Ye Qing out when he arrives, apparently more comfortable with him than with unfamiliar people.
• Meng Hao comes across as energetic and eager to impress Gu Ze, though his attention appears to have a flirtatious edge.

Significant themes

• Public image and hidden privilege: Ye Qing’s wealth becomes public through the livestream, exposing how quickly audiences can uncover—and judge—celebrities’ private lives.
• Romantic uncertainty and jealousy: Ye Qing’s efforts to act unaffected contrast with his growing sensitivity to Gu Ze’s attention toward others.
• Patience and care: Gu Ze’s quiet gestures show affection without demanding an immediate response.

Character interactions

• Ye Qing and Gu Ze navigate the awkward aftermath of Gu Ze’s confession, with Gu Ze offering normalcy and Ye Qing gradually relaxing.
• Ye Father and Gu Father reconnect while traveling; Ye Father praises Gu Ze’s thoughtfulness, while Gu Father privately recognizes that his son’s care for Ye Qing is unusually personal.
• Meng Hao’s eagerness toward Gu Ze brings Ye Qing’s jealousy to the surface, and Gu Ze’s choice to prioritize Ye Qing reassures him.

Key events

• Although Ye Qing feels more at ease, Meng Hao remains bothered by Ye Qing and Gu Ze’s closeness. Gu Ze focuses instead on Ye Qing’s choice of room; they take rooms opposite each other.
• The next morning, the crew launches a surprise livestream wake-up game. Each participant draws someone to wake and a method.
• Xie Quan must wake Meng Hao by imitating a rooster. His terrible crowing startles Meng Hao, and Xie Quan apologizes; Meng Hao diplomatically calls it one of his “unique traits.”
• Meng Hao then draws Ye Qing and has to wake him with a silly, silent dance. He resorts to dancing and shouting, making the scene so absurd that Ye Qing wakes and jokes that a monkey has entered his room.
• Ye Qing draws Gu Ze and is told to repeat “I like you” until Gu wakes. Gu is already awake, but the crew insists Ye Qing say it anyway. Ye Qing does so, and Gu responds, “My honor,” visibly pleased. Ye Qing flees in embarrassment.

Character developments and interactions

• Ye Qing tries to treat the game as a joke, but Gu Ze’s earlier confession makes the scripted declaration unexpectedly awkward. He is increasingly conscious of their romantic tension.
• Gu Ze openly enjoys Ye Qing’s words despite knowing they are part of a game, revealing how much he values even a staged confession.
• Meng Hao continues to feel jealous of Ye Qing and Gu Ze’s bond, and his reaction to Ye Qing’s assigned task shows his frustration.
• Xie Quan discovers an embarrassing weakness in his voice but handles it with good humor and sincerely apologizes to Meng Hao. Meng Hao responds tactfully.
• The crew’s deliberately provocative game fuels teasing among the group and the livestream audience, while Lou Xiaofeng sits out because she is the only woman.

Significant themes

• Public performance versus private feelings: A playful, livestreamed task forces Ye Qing to voice words that carry genuine emotional weight after Gu Ze’s confession.
• Jealousy and romantic tension: Meng Hao’s discomfort contrasts with Gu Ze’s happiness and Ye Qing’s embarrassment.
• Humor through vulnerability: The participants’ awkward performances and attempts to save face create comedy and reveal their personalities.

Key plot points and events

• Ye Qing remains visibly flushed from an earlier morning incident, prompting concern from his father. The group then learns they must forage by the shore and cook whatever they find for lunch.
• Several people—including Gu Ze, Meng Hao, Xie Quan, and Lou Xiaofeng—unintentionally fall into a line behind Ye Qing. When a child points it out, most scatter, but Gu Ze stays beside Ye Qing.
• Ye Qing and Gu Ze gather fish and shrimp in comfortable silence. Gu Ze collects a pretty shell and gives it to Ye Qing, who admires it. The group later cooks their finds into a seafood feast.
• With the afternoon free, the younger cast members play truth or dare. Xie Quan says his greatest regret is “trusting the wrong person.”
• Gu Ze draws a dare to carry someone and squat. He immediately chooses Ye Qing, who agrees. Being held makes Ye Qing flustered; Gu Ze teasingly asks if he is strong enough, and Ye Qing calls him a pervert after mishearing the question.
• That evening, Ye Qing searches for Gu Ze and overhears someone telling him, “Brother Gu, I really do like you,” ending the chapter on a cliffhanger.

Character developments

• Ye Qing grows increasingly aware of his attraction to Gu Ze, though he covers his embarrassment with excuses and teasing.
• Gu Ze shows quiet consideration by giving Ye Qing space, then openly seeks his company. His shell-gifting and playful teasing suggest growing intimacy.
• Meng Hao, who likes Gu Ze, follows him during the outing and later appears to be the person confessing his feelings.
• Xie Quan briefly hints at a painful past through his regret about trusting the wrong person.

Significant themes

• Romantic tension and jealousy: Ye Qing wants Gu Ze’s attention and is reluctant to see him close to anyone else.
• Public spectacle versus private intimacy: The livestream audience celebrates their closeness, while the pair’s quiet moments remain largely inaudible to viewers.
• Awkwardness and miscommunication: Ye Qing’s flustered reactions and mistaken hearing turn attraction into comic embarrassment.

Character interactions

• Gu Ze and Ye Qing move from quiet companionship to more overt physical closeness during the dare, with Gu Ze teasing and Ye Qing responding shyly.
• Meng Hao’s interest in Gu Ze creates a potential romantic complication, foreshadowed by the confession Ye Qing overhears.
• The group and livestream viewers playfully comment on Gu Ze and Ye Qing’s apparent chemistry.

Key plot points and events

• Ye Qing overhears Meng Hao confess to Gu Ze. Gu Ze rejects him, and Meng Hao asks whether Gu Ze likes Ye Qing; Gu Ze leaves without answering.
• Meng Hao catches Ye Qing nearby and warns him not to reveal the confession. Ye Qing refuses to be intimidated and jokes that he is counting on Gu Ze’s affection.
• Meng Hao continues following Gu Ze, often ending up with him and Ye Qing. Their unusual dynamic inspires fan “ships,” including one pairing all three of them.
• After the show ends, fans increasingly pair Gu Ze and Meng Hao. Gu Ze posts on Weibo to make his position clear, inadvertently drawing unwanted attention to Meng Hao.
• Ye Qing invites Gu Ze out. They share a meal, watch a melodramatic film, and take a quiet walk by the river.
• They discuss the film’s idea of hurting someone “for love.” Ye Qing says people who choose to be together should face difficulties together, not harm each other under the guise of protection.
• Ye Qing arranges a fireworks display that ends with the messages “I’m willing” and “GZ, I like you!”

Character developments

• Ye Qing is more openly confident about his bond with Gu Ze. He stands up to Meng Hao and later takes the initiative to create a romantic, personal moment.
• Gu Ze firmly rejects Meng Hao and remains focused on Ye Qing. His delight at their date shows how much he values time alone with him.
• Meng Hao refuses to accept Gu Ze’s rejection, lashes out at Ye Qing, and tries to control the story by monitoring him and encouraging fan speculation. His actions bring him unwanted publicity.

Significant themes

• Love must be mutual: Gu Ze makes clear that Meng Hao’s feelings do not obligate him to reciprocate.
• Love is not an excuse to hurt someone: Ye Qing rejects the idea that causing pain can be justified as protection.
• Facing hardship together: Ye Qing favors honesty and partnership over unilateral decisions made “for” a loved one.
• Public image and private feelings: Fan shipping and celebrity attention distort the characters’ real relationships, while the fireworks create an intimate declaration outside that noise.

Character interactions

• Gu Ze rejects Meng Hao directly, while Meng Hao tries to provoke him by invoking Ye Qing.
• Ye Qing and Meng Hao clash over Gu Ze; Ye Qing responds with humor and refuses to be intimidated.
• Gu Ze and Ye Qing share a relaxed date, discussing love and spending quiet time together.
• Ye Qing’s fireworks message becomes a heartfelt declaration to Gu Ze, who understands its meaning and welcomes it.

Plot points and events

• Ye Qing reciprocates Gu Ze’s earlier confession with a public declaration in the sky, explaining that he couldn’t write Gu Ze’s name because of their circumstances. Gu Ze embraces him, happily accepts Ye Qing’s roses, and the two share their first kiss.
• Ye Qing returns home glowing with happiness. Though he intends to keep the new relationship private for a while, his family can hear his thoughts and learns that he and Gu Ze are dating.
• The next day, Ye Chen and Ye Ci tag along on Ye Qing and Gu Ze’s outing. They monopolize Gu Ze’s attention at the golf course, leaving the couple little time alone. Gu Ze suspects the brothers know about the relationship and are testing him. Their chaperoning continues over the following days.
• At a banquet welcoming the Tang family’s youngest son home from abroad, Ye Qing notices Wen Su behaving badly. Wen Su is fixated on the young man, who dislikes him, yet has also deceived and abandoned a student he used as a stand-in. Gu Ze arrives just as Ye Qing thinks of Wen Su as a “scumbag,” anticipating trouble.

Character developments

• Ye Qing takes the initiative in declaring his feelings and explores romantic intimacy with Gu Ze. His excitement is hard to conceal from his family.
• Gu Ze is deeply moved by Ye Qing’s confession and tender after their first kiss. He also recognizes that winning over Ye Qing’s brothers may be necessary.
• Ye Chen and Ye Ci become protective, intrusive chaperones, apparently scrutinizing Gu Ze despite never openly admitting they know about the relationship.
• Wen Su is presented as entitled and manipulative: he pursues someone who rejects him while misleading and discarding another person.

Significant themes

• Love and vulnerability: Ye Qing’s confession and their first kiss mark a new, mutual commitment.
• Privacy and family: The couple’s wish for discretion contrasts with the Ye family’s unusual ability to overhear Ye Qing’s thoughts.
• Trust and accountability: Gu Ze must earn the brothers’ approval, while Wen Su’s dishonesty and disregard for others’ feelings are condemned.

Character interactions

• Ye Qing and Gu Ze share an affectionate confession, receive each other’s feelings, and kiss.
• Ye Qing’s brothers crowd the couple’s outings, separating them and testing Gu Ze’s patience.
• At the banquet, Ye Qing judges Wen Su’s treatment of both the Tang family’s youngest son and the student he used as a stand-in; Gu Ze overhears Ye Qing’s thoughts as he arrives.

Plot points and events

• At the Tang Family’s welcome-home banquet, Ye Qing watches Wen Su from across the hall. Gu Ze notices, feels briefly jealous, and is reassured when Ye Qing tells him he is his favorite.
• Ye Qing and Gu Ze enjoy the banquet together, then leave to take a walk. They overhear Wen Su confronting Tang Yao, the Tang Family’s youngest son.
• Wen Su insists he still loves Tang Yao and refuses to accept his rejection. Tang Yao finally punches him, warns him to stop pestering him, and walks away.
• Ye Qing decides to find the student Wen Su has deceived and expose Wen Su’s real character. He and Gu Ze soon spot the student.

Character developments and interactions

• Ye Qing is protective and perceptive: his attention to Wen Su stems from concern, not romantic interest. He wants to help the student because Wen Su has more power and influence.
• Gu Ze shows a small, playful flash of jealousy, then supports Ye Qing. Their affectionate teasing and easy companionship underline their closeness.
• Tang Yao is fed up with Wen Su and has become physically stronger, believing force is the only way to make Wen Su understand his rejection.
• Wen Su ignores clear refusals, framing persistence as devotion. His behavior disgusts Ye Qing and raises concerns about how he may treat the vulnerable student.

Significant themes

• Consent and boundaries: Wen Su’s “persistence” is harassment because he refuses to respect Tang Yao’s rejection.
• Power and vulnerability: Ye Qing worries that Wen Su may exploit the student, who has less status and influence.
• Love and trust: Ye Qing and Gu Ze’s affectionate, secure relationship contrasts with Wen Su’s possessive behavior.

Key plot points and events

• Ye Qing and Gu Ze spot Wen Su helping Bian Jing at a snack stall. Bian Jing does most of the work while Wen Su takes frequent breaks, which Bian Jing interprets as a need to rest after a supposed late shift.
• Ye Qing realizes Bian Jing resembles Tang Yao. Wen Su had confessed to Tang Yao the previous night, yet is now dating Bian Jing, apparently using their resemblance and a false story about working to deceive him.
• Bian Jing, who grew up in a welfare home and has little experience with relationships, trusts Wen Su deeply. He works hard, spends money on Wen Su, and treasures the few gifts he receives.
• Ye Qing and Gu Ze decide to tell Tang Yao, reasoning that he will want to intervene. They plan to advise him but stay out of the actual resolution to avoid needless trouble.
• As they walk, Gu Ze takes Ye Qing’s hand under the pretext of keeping him safe. Ye Qing understands the real reason and encourages him to hold on.
• They later meet Tang Yao and explain the situation. Tang Yao is furious.

Character developments and interactions

• Ye Qing feels strong anger at Wen Su’s manipulation and sympathy for Bian Jing. He considers how to help without making matters worse.
• Gu Ze reflects that people can be blinded by feelings, rather than simply failing to recognize a partner’s character. This makes him more willing to help others than he once was. He also becomes more openly affectionate with Ye Qing.
• Bian Jing remains trusting and devoted, unaware that Wen Su is deceiving him.
• Wen Su is portrayed as exploiting Bian Jing’s trust and affection while pretending to be a struggling student.
• Tang Yao becomes the person Ye Qing and Gu Ze hope will act; his anger suggests he will not ignore Wen Su’s behavior.
• Ye Qing and Gu Ze share a playful, tender moment through holding hands, signaling their growing comfort and commitment.

Significant themes

• Deception and vulnerability: Wen Su exploits Bian Jing’s loneliness and limited relationship experience.
• Love versus clear judgment: Bian Jing’s feelings make him trust Wen Su despite the imbalance in their relationship.
• Compassion and intervention: Gu Ze’s changed perspective leads him to help someone who might otherwise be dismissed as responsible for choosing badly.
• Growing intimacy: The hand-holding scene quietly emphasizes Ye Qing and Gu Ze’s affection and desire for lasting closeness.

Plot points and events

• Tang Yao learns that Wen Su has been exploiting Bian Jing and is furious because Bian Jing was hurt as a result of Wen Su’s pursuit of him.
• Ye Qing cautions that Bian Jing may trust his long-term boyfriend over a stranger. She and Gu Ze suggest Tang Yao pretend to date Wen Su and secretly record their conversations, so Bian Jing can discover the truth himself.
• Tang Yao agrees to the plan. Wen Su soon pursues him more insistently, and Tang Yao eventually accepts his offer to date—while privately finding the performance distasteful.
• Tang Yao confronts Wen Su about Bian Jing. Wen Su denies they are boyfriends, claiming he only helps Bian Jing because the student is poor. Tang Yao pretends to be unconvinced and says they should stop seeing each other for a few days.
• Wen Su returns to campus and resumes acting like Bian Jing’s devoted boyfriend, while continuing to reassure Tang Yao by phone. Tang Yao suspects Wen Su’s affection is only talk.
• The chapter ends as Bian Jing receives an audio recording and hears Wen Su’s voice, though he initially assumes it may be a prank.

Character developments

• Tang Yao shifts from anger to a calculated plan, suppressing his disgust to play Wen Su’s boyfriend and gather evidence.
• Ye Qing and Gu Ze act as strategists, steering Tang Yao away from an impulsive confrontation.
• Wen Su remains manipulative and self-satisfied, believing he can keep both relationships hidden. He interprets Tang Yao’s anger as proof of affection.
• Bian Jing remains trusting and accommodating, explaining Wen Su’s absence as a consequence of his new job; the recording may begin to challenge that trust.

Themes

• Truth and evidence: The plan relies on firsthand proof, which may carry more weight than accusations from outsiders.
• Deception and manipulation: Wen Su maintains separate stories for Tang Yao and Bian Jing, while Tang Yao deceives Wen Su in order to expose him.
• Trust and vulnerability: Bian Jing’s loyalty and reluctance to pry leave him susceptible to Wen Su’s lies.
• Moral responsibility: Tang Yao’s anger comes from feeling responsible for the harm Wen Su has caused Bian Jing.

Character interactions

• Ye Qing and Gu Ze counsel Tang Yao and help shape the recording plan.
• Tang Yao and Wen Su perform a new romance, but Tang Yao’s private disgust contrasts with Wen Su’s excitement.
• During their confrontation, Wen Su evades Tang Yao’s accusations with a rehearsed explanation.
• Wen Su alternates between soothing Tang Yao over the phone and behaving affectionately toward Bian Jing, while Bian Jing remains unaware of the deception until the recording arrives.

Key plot points and events

• Bian Jing hears a recording in which Wen Su claims he helped Bian Jing out of pity and calls their relationship insignificant. Though the recording sounds genuine, Bian Jing initially reserves judgment.
• He quietly watches Wen Su and notices that Wen Su wears expensive clothes when they are apart and refuses to say where he works. Bian Jing concludes that Wen Su has been deceiving him and decides to end the relationship, prioritizing his financial future.
• Before he can act, Bian Jing is called in for a restaurant shift. His supervisor tells him to wait outside room 503 until the guests request their food.
• Through the partly open door, Bian Jing hears Wen Su confronted by another man. The man calls Wen Su the eldest son of the Wen family and accuses him of keeping both men, while Wen Su insists the other man matters most and describes Bian Jing as a “stand-in.”

Character developments

• Bian Jing shifts from trust to suspicion and resolve. He is hurt but cautious, choosing to observe Wen Su before drawing a conclusion; once convinced he has been deceived, he decides not to sacrifice his future for the relationship.
• Wen Su appears to have concealed his wealth and identity from Bian Jing. His explanation to the other man suggests he has been involved with both men and views Bian Jing as a substitute.
• The other man emerges as Wen Su’s established or more important partner, confronting him over his deception.

Significant themes

• Deception and trust: The recording and Wen Su’s secrecy undermine Bian Jing’s faith in him.
• Class and money: Bian Jing’s limited means shape his decision to protect his future, while Wen Su’s apparent wealth exposes a divide between their worlds.
• Identity and substitution: Wen Su’s “stand-in” remark raises the possibility that Bian Jing was valued for resembling someone else.
• Appearance versus reality: Wen Su’s behavior and hidden status contradict the relationship Bian Jing thought he understood.

Character interactions

• Bian Jing does not confront Wen Su after hearing the recording; instead, he observes him in silence.
• At the restaurant, the supervisor instructs Bian Jing to wait outside the private room.
• Bian Jing then overhears Wen Su pleading with the other man, who challenges him to admit that he has a boyfriend and accuses him of wanting both men. Wen Su claims his feelings for the other man are strongest and dismisses Bian Jing as a substitute.

Chapter Summary: Wasn’t It Because We Looked Alike?

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bian Jing overhears Wen Su confessing to Tang Yao that he manipulated the situation because he liked him, and Tang Yao ending their relationship.
• Bian Jing realizes that Wen Su had likely been using him as a substitute for Tang Yao, who resembles him.
• Unable to quit his job or openly confront Wen Su, Bian Jing suppresses his anger and later sends Wen Su a breakup message. He immediately blocks him.
• Wen Su reacts furiously, unable to accept that Bian Jing ended the relationship without his permission. He destroys his phone after discovering he has been blocked.
• Wen Su first attempts to win Tang Yao back, but Tang Yao ignores him. He then turns his attention to Bian Jing, assuming Bian Jing will be easier to manipulate.
• Wen Su confronts Bian Jing and complains that Bian Jing has abandoned him despite their promises to work hard and build a future together.
• Bian Jing challenges Wen Su about his supposed job and income, exposing that Wen Su never truly lived the ordinary working life he had pretended to share.
• Realizing the deception is pointless, Bian Jing reveals that he knows Wen Su is the eldest son of the Wen family and firmly ends the relationship.
• Wen Su admits that he concealed his identity to get close to Bian Jing, claiming he did it out of love. Bian Jing responds by asking whether Wen Su only pursued him because he resembled someone else, leaving Wen Su stunned.

Character Development

• Bian Jing: Moves from emotional shock and suppressed hurt to calm, assertive confrontation. He recognizes the inconsistencies in Wen Su’s behavior and refuses to remain a substitute or participate in Wen Su’s manipulative “game.” His breakup demonstrates growing self-respect and independence.
• Wen Su: His possessive and self-centered nature becomes clear. He views both relationships as something he should control and reacts with anger when either man rejects him. Even while claiming to love Bian Jing, he focuses more on being denied and losing control than on Bian Jing’s feelings.
• Tang Yao: Though he has limited direct involvement in the chapter, his rejection of Wen Su establishes that he understands the betrayal and refuses to be drawn back into the relationship.

Significant Themes

• Deception and manipulation: Wen Su constructs a false identity and relationship, believing he can control both men through secrecy and emotional manipulation.
• Being treated as a substitute: Bian Jing confronts the painful possibility that Wen Su’s affection was based on his resemblance to Tang Yao rather than his individual identity.
• Self-respect and emotional boundaries: Bian Jing chooses to end the relationship instead of accepting excuses or continuing to be used.
• Possessive love versus genuine care: Wen Su calls his actions love, but his anger and entitlement reveal that his feelings are largely possessive.
• Class and identity: Wen Su’s hidden status as a wealthy heir underscores the imbalance between him and Bian Jing, who depends on his job and cannot act as freely.

Important Character Interactions

• Bian Jing and Tang Yao: Their brief encounter emphasizes their physical resemblance but also their contrasting personalities. Bian Jing sees that Tang Yao possesses a carefree quality he does not.
• Wen Su and Tang Yao: Tang Yao rejects Wen Su after learning the truth and refuses all further communication, leaving Wen Su frustrated and powerless.
• Wen Su and Bian Jing: Their confrontation exposes the lies in their relationship. Bian Jing questions Wen Su’s fabricated working life, reveals that he knows Wen Su’s true identity, and rejects his claim that deception was motivated by love.
• The chapter ends with Bian Jing’s pointed question—whether Wen Su chose him only because he looked like Tang Yao—forcing Wen Su to confront the central betrayal.

Key plot points and events

• Bian Jing confronts Wen Su and ends their relationship, rejecting Wen Su’s claim that he genuinely likes him and was not treating him as a substitute.
• Wen Su refuses to accept the breakup, grips Bian Jing tightly, and threatens to make him “pay” for the time he spent on him. When Bian Jing resists, Wen Su uses his training to overpower him.
• Tang Yao arrives, pulls Bian Jing away, and stands between him and Wen Su. Wen Su is unable to challenge Tang Yao and watches them leave.
• Once out of danger, Bian Jing thanks Tang Yao. Tang Yao says he intervened because the situation was partly his fault.
• Gu Ze and Ye Qing, having arranged matters, stop monitoring the scene and trust Tang Yao to handle it. Gu Ze turns his attention to the more important matter of meeting the family.

Character developments

• Wen Su drops his affectionate façade when Bian Jing tries to leave, revealing possessiveness and a willingness to use force. Seeing Tang Yao also makes him realize that his feelings are truly directed toward Tang Yao.
• Bian Jing firmly ends the relationship and resists Wen Su despite being frightened and physically overpowered. His first impression of Tang Yao is positive because Tang Yao treats him without contempt.
• Tang Yao takes responsibility for the fallout and protects Bian Jing, openly declaring that he will do so in the moment.
• Gu Ze and Ye Qing show confidence in Tang Yao by leaving the situation in his hands.

Significant themes

• Possession versus genuine affection: Wen Su’s insistence that he likes Bian Jing is undermined by his coercive reaction to being rejected.
• Protection and responsibility: Tang Yao intervenes because he believes he contributed to the situation, and chooses to defend Bian Jing despite Wen Su’s threat.
• Power and vulnerability: Wen Su can physically overpower Bian Jing, but Tang Yao’s presence and status limit Wen Su’s ability to escalate.

Character interactions

• Bian Jing rejects Wen Su, while Wen Su alternates between pleading and intimidation.
• Tang Yao confronts Wen Su, removes Bian Jing from his grasp, and shields him.
• Afterward, Tang Yao and Bian Jing share a brief, quiet exchange in which Bian Jing expresses gratitude and Tang Yao explains why he helped.

Plot points

• Ye Qing and Gu Ze decide to formally tell both families about their relationship. Gu Ze is anxious about meeting the Ye family, though Ye Qing reassures him.
• The Ye family gathers to welcome Gu Ze. Ye Chen questions him closely about how well he knows Ye Qing, while Ye Father asks whether his feelings are sincere.
• Gu Ze declares his love and says he is preparing to transfer his assets to Ye Qing as a sign of commitment. Ye Father accepts that Gu Ze is sincere, though he points out Ye Qing does not need the money.
• After dinner, Ye Qing and Gu Ze go on a date openly, with their relationship now acknowledged by the family.
• Ye Qing reflects on how happy he is: he has family, friends, love, a promising acting career, and the ability to help others. He and Gu Ze promise to stay together for life.
• The author’s closing note explains that this is the end of the book and thanks readers.

Character development

• Gu Ze’s nervousness shows how much he values Ye Qing’s family’s approval. He responds to their scrutiny with confidence and serious promises of commitment.
• Ye Qing is content and secure in the life he has built. He openly expresses his happiness and hopes for a lifelong future with Gu Ze.
• Ye Chen’s protectiveness comes through in his questioning and joking concern that the Ye family may be “losing” Ye Qing.

Significant themes

• Love and commitment: Gu Ze’s devotion is affirmed through both his words and his willingness to make a lasting commitment.
• Family acceptance: The meeting turns the couple’s relationship from something private into one openly recognized by Ye Qing’s family.
• Gratitude and fulfillment: Ye Qing values the many parts of his life—family, friends, career, love, and helping others.
• A happy ending: The chapter closes on mutual reassurance and the promise of a shared future.

Character interactions

• Ye Qing teases Gu Ze about being nervous, while Gu Ze recalls that Ye Qing was once nervous meeting his parents.
• The Ye family combines warmth with protective scrutiny: Ye Mother urges the others to be fair, Ye Chen interrogates Gu Ze, and Ye Father asks the most serious questions.
• Gu Ze answers the family respectfully and directly; Ye Qing is surprised by his financial gesture but supports his father’s view that it is unnecessary.
• By the riverside, Ye Qing and Gu Ze share their hopes and reaffirm their lifelong commitment.