Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• Tang Shiba captures Ouyang Xuan’s Villain System and orders Dumb System to force it to connect. After some threats and rough handling, it reluctantly agrees.
• Tang Shiba questions whether the Villain System arranged the events at Changde Psychiatric Hospital. It denies this at first, but confesses when Dumb System beats it.
• The Villain System explains that it has never upgraded because Ouyang Xuan refused to give it mission points. It secretly took the Changde mission to earn points for itself, hiding its actions from Ouyang.
• It reveals that Si Wuyu’s parents were carrying out the mission. The system says it saved them after their car accident, in exchange for an agreement; their original mission was tied to Si Wuyu’s kidnapping and their attempt to rescue him.
• Outraged by the revelation, Tang Shiba orders Dumb System to beat the Villain System again.

Character developments

• Tang Shiba becomes increasingly suspicious and then furious as she learns the truth about Changde and Si Wuyu’s family. Her concern shifts from uncovering the conspiracy to anger at the harm caused.
• Dumb System appears as a boastful, violent little girl and eagerly imitates Tang Shiba’s tough manner. It enjoys overpowering the weaker Villain System.
• The Villain System is shown to be weak and underfunded, but also self-serving: its desire to upgrade led it to manipulate events and involve other people.
• Ouyang Xuan is portrayed as neglectful of her system, which helped drive its independent scheming.

Significant themes

• Power and control: Tang Shiba and Dumb System use force to extract information, while the Villain System secretly evades its host’s control.
• Self-interest and responsibility: The Villain System’s grievance over lacking upgrade points does not excuse the damage it caused to earn them.
• Betrayal and hidden consequences: Ouyang Xuan’s system operated behind her back, and its mission reaches into Si Wuyu’s family history.

Character interactions

• Tang Shiba directs the interrogation while Dumb System intimidates and beats the Villain System.
• Dumb System taunts the Villain System, and Tang Shiba repeatedly reins it in when its shouting becomes annoying.
• The Villain System describes its strained relationship with Ouyang Xuan, then reveals its connection to Si Wuyu’s parents—news that sharply changes Tang Shiba’s mood.

Key plot points

• The system confirms that Tang Shiba has defeated the Villain System offline and spends all her points to establish a connection that will let her monitor its missions.
• Si Wuyu waits for Tang Shiba outside the hospital. During their drive, she worries that his parents are entangled in crimes: exposing them could destroy the Si Family and leave Si Wuyu without his family, but staying silent would mean protecting criminals.
• Tang Shiba and Si Wuyu reconcile through an intense kiss. He takes her home, then heads to the office despite his injured leg.
• Tang Shiba learns that the Villain System is steadily draining Si Wuyu’s luck, and that the Si Family’s downfall could threaten his role as the male lead. She vows to challenge the story’s predetermined outcome.
• On set, Yang Xin visits Tang Lin and brings him food. Their warm, playful interaction is photographed by Yang Xin’s assistant, who sends the pictures out.
• Hu Ming, now a supporting actor after losing the male lead role, remains wary of Tang Lin and Yang Xin’s closeness. He visits Tang Lin that night under the pretext of rehearsing their scene and asks to make coffee.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba is torn between doing what is right and sparing Si Wuyu further pain. Her affection for him is clear, though she hides it behind teasing and a story about revenge.
• Si Wuyu is tender and eager to regain Tang Shiba’s trust. He worries she may hate him, but her kisses reassure him; afterward, his happiness contrasts with the danger facing his family.
• Tang Lin and Yang Xin appear comfortable and affectionate: they share food, joke together, and seem close enough to invite gossip.
• Hu Ming is suspicious of their relationship and appears to be pursuing a plan involving Tang Lin. His late-night visit sets up a potential confrontation.

Significant themes

• Love versus moral responsibility: Tang Shiba must weigh Si Wuyu’s feelings against the consequences of concealing his parents’ crimes.
• Fate versus personal choice: She refuses to accept that the Villain System’s interference or the prescribed plot must determine Si Wuyu’s future.
• Trust and vulnerability: Tang Shiba and Si Wuyu’s playful intimacy reveals growing mutual affection, even as unresolved secrets remain.
• Appearances and suspicion: Tang Lin and Yang Xin’s innocent closeness attracts attention, while Hu Ming’s motives remain unclear.

Plot points and events

• Hu Ming offers Tang Lin a cup of coffee. Wary of his rival, Tang Lin hesitates but drinks it; soon afterward, he feels feverish and suspects Hu Ming has drugged him.
• While Hu Ming hides in the bathroom, Tang Lin calls Yang Xin for advice. Yang Xin uses the opportunity to post staged-looking photos of herself with Tang Lin to encourage dating rumors.
• A young male crew member suddenly clings to Tang Lin and claims to love him, while Hu Ming takes photos. The young man says Hu Ming arranged the encounter, and Tang Lin suspects the two are acting together to frame him.
• Yang Xin arrives to help, but she and the young man get into a hair-pulling fight. Hu Ming photographs the chaos, apparently hoping to make Tang Lin look like a womanizer involved with both a man and a woman.
• Tang Lin breaks up the fight and drives the men away. Still feeling unwell, he tells Yang Xin he thinks the coffee contained an aphrodisiac. Her teasing offer to help embarrasses him, and he rushes her out.
• Yang Xin’s post and footage of the fight go viral, landing her and the young man third on the trending list. She excitedly tells her mother.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Lin is distrustful and quick to recognize that something may be wrong, despite others viewing him as foolish. Under pressure, he becomes furious but steps in to stop the fight. His embarrassment around Yang Xin’s flirtatious teasing shows his awkward, modest side.
• Hu Ming appears to be plotting against Tang Lin, using the coffee, the young man, and his camera to manufacture damaging rumors. His claim that the coffee affected him too is presented as suspicious.
• Yang Xin is ambitious and deliberately cultivates publicity through staged photos. She nevertheless helps Tang Lin when the young man attacks him, then turns the resulting chaos into a viral moment.
• The young man genuinely seems attracted to Tang Lin, but also cooperates with Hu Ming’s scheme. His confrontation with Yang Xin escalates the situation.
• The chapter’s central interaction is a contest to shape public perception: Hu Ming tries to frame Tang Lin, while Yang Xin’s staged publicity and the real fight create an unexpected viral spectacle.

Significant themes

• Manipulation and reputation: Photos, rumors, and selective recordings are used as weapons in a show-business rivalry.
• Publicity and opportunism: Yang Xin treats online attention as a career opportunity, even when it comes from a chaotic incident.
• Misunderstanding and comic embarrassment: Tang Lin’s suspicion, physical discomfort, and awkward exchanges with Yang Xin drive much of the humor.

Key plot points

• An intimate photo of Yang Xin and Tang Lin undermines Hu Ming’s rumor that Tang Lin likes men. Tang Lin’s anti-fans instead use the photo to fuel gossip that he and Yang Xin are romantically involved.
• Yang Xin and Tang Lin agree to play along with the dating rumors. At her suggestion, they head to Water City to capitalize on its sudden popularity, leaving both production directors scrambling.
• When Hu Ming offers to replace Tang Lin in the production, the director refuses and announces that the entire crew will move to Water City to film for free.
• Hu Ming’s associate proposes faking photos that make Hu Ming look like Tang Lin in an intimate encounter with a man. Hu Ming initially recoils, then agrees to the scheme.
• Photos of Tang Lin with a man appear online. Tang Shiba responds indirectly during Er Gou’s livestream: she applies a face-changing filter to the dog to show that a dog remains a dog, implying the people in the photos are not Tang Lin—or, more pointedly, that the rumor-mongers are acting like dogs.
• Tang Lin’s anti-fans understand the insult, spread the clip, and mock the person behind the rumor. Tang Shiba ends the stream amused by the scandal.

Character developments and interactions

• Yang Xin is playful and opportunistic, treating the fake romance as a chance to visit Water City. Her director worries the staged pairing might become real.
• Tang Lin is embarrassed by the publicity plan but accepts his second brother’s advice and follows Yang Xin’s idea.
• Hu Ming grows resentful of the director’s refusal to cast him, then knowingly joins a deceptive scheme to damage Tang Lin’s reputation.
• Tang Shiba avoids a direct rebuttal and uses humor and her bond with Er Gou to turn the scandal against its creators.
• Er Gou, treated as a canine celebrity, participates in the livestream and becomes the vehicle for Tang Shiba’s joke. Tang Shiba teases it, while Er Gou grumbles internally about its image.

Significant themes

• Rumors and image-making: Public perception is shaped by staged photos, fan speculation, and viral clips.
• Satire through indirect insults: Tang Shiba defuses an attack by mocking its perpetrators rather than arguing with them directly.
• Fame and opportunism: The characters and production crews exploit Water City’s popularity, while Hu Ming tries to exploit scandal for personal gain.

Key plot points

• While Tang Shiba prepares to leave for filming, she overhears Ouyang Xuan and the Counter-System discussing the system’s recovery and plan to get close to the male lead. The Counter-System falsely claims Tang Shiba’s system attacked it; Tang Shiba and her system recognize its dishonesty and resolve to stay alert, suspecting it has influenced more people than just Si Wuyu’s parents.
• Si Wuyu asks Tang Shiba what her earlier kiss meant. She turns the question back on him, and they admit they feel the same way. Tang Shiba promises to explain more after filming; Si Wuyu embraces her, and they share an affectionate moment—interrupted by Er Gou, who complains of jealousy.
• After Tang Shiba and Fang Cheng leave, Si Wuyu continues investigating the danger inside the Si family. The trail has gone cold there, so he arranges to meet Director Wang.
• At the hospital, Director Wang visits Su Chen, encourages him to stay at his home after discharge rather than return to his stepmother’s, and leaves. Su Chen hopes to apologize to Tang Shiba in person once he recovers.
• On the drive to the set, Tang Shiba tells Fang Cheng she is playing a female ghost in a supporting role. Fang Cheng protests that she and he deserve better roles, then joins Tang Shiba in gossiping about Tang Lin, who has abandoned the production to spend time with Yang Xin.
• Tang Shiba and Fang Cheng arrive after dark at an eerie, isolated old mansion for the horror shoot. Fang Cheng is frightened, while Tang Shiba stays calm. The system hints that the filming will be dangerous and promises to explain what it knows about the horror novel.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba and Si Wuyu move from teasing uncertainty toward openly shared romantic feelings. Their intimacy is interrupted by Er Gou’s comic jealousy.
• Tang Shiba and her system share a playful but trusting relationship; she warns it not to deceive her, and it vows loyalty while helping her anticipate the Counter-System’s schemes.
• Fang Cheng remains timid, especially around the haunted-looking set, but accompanies Tang Shiba and tries to build his courage. He is also openly protective of her career.
• Si Wuyu remains determined to uncover who is threatening his family, despite the investigation’s dead end.
• Su Chen is recovering and grateful for Director Wang’s concern, while planning to reconcile with Tang Shiba.

Significant themes

• Deception and vigilance: The Counter-System’s lies make Tang Shiba wary of hidden manipulation.
• Growing affection: Tang Shiba and Si Wuyu’s mutual feelings become increasingly clear.
• Protection and support: Director Wang looks out for Su Chen, while Tang Shiba and Fang Cheng support one another.
• Fear versus courage: The ominous mansion and Fang Cheng’s anxiety set the stage for a horror shoot that may be more than ordinary filmmaking.

Key events

• Following Tang Shiba’s departure, Water City and Cloud City coordinate a covert crackdown on smugglers connected to Changde Psychiatric Hospital. Former patients are helping identify suspects, and Director Wang recruits two junior officers to accompany him while he prepares to film his show.
• At the Si family, Si Wuyu learns that the arrested smugglers knew their superior only as “Boss.” He suspects the mastermind is pursuing something beyond money, power, or status.
• Ouyang Xuan brings Si Wuyu lunch and offers to join the company. Though she secretly intends to undermine him, Si Wuyu agrees, apparently to let his opponents expose themselves. Once she leaves, he orders the food thrown away, wary she may have tampered with it.
• Missing Tang Shiba, Si Wuyu checks in with her by sending stickers. He then arranges to meet Tang Xiao, worried the smugglers may target Tang Shiba’s family.
• Si Wuyu and Tang Xiao privately discuss the Changde case, keeping Gu Qingcheng out of it to spare her worry. She is left feeling excluded and aware of how much she has missed.

Character developments and interactions

• Director Wang continues to rely on Tang Shiba’s past help while presenting himself as a capable officer; he plans to seek a large reward for her.
• Si Wuyu is increasingly suspicious and strategically allows Ouyang Xuan into the company, while remaining emotionally attached to Tang Shiba and protective of her and her family.
• Ouyang Xuan sees the company position as an opportunity to attack Si Wuyu indirectly and plans to consult her system before acting.
• Tang Xiao and Gu Qingcheng are openly affectionate, a contrast to their earlier relationship. Tang Xiao is now protective of her, while Gu Qingcheng feels left out when he and Si Wuyu conceal the investigation from her.
• Si Wuyu and Tang Xiao unite over the Changde matter, suggesting the threat is serious enough to require cooperation.

Significant themes

• Hidden motives and suspicion: The smugglers’ mysterious “Boss” and Ouyang Xuan’s concealed agenda keep trust uncertain.
• Strategic cooperation: The two cities and the Si and Tang families coordinate against a wider criminal threat.
• Protection versus exclusion: Si Wuyu and Tang Xiao try to shield loved ones, but their secrecy leaves Gu Qingcheng feeling powerless.
• Affection amid danger: Si Wuyu’s longing for Tang Shiba and Tang Xiao’s devotion to Gu Qingcheng provide warmth amid the investigation.

Plot points and events

• During filming, Tang Shiba’s frightening makeup repeatedly makes actor Fang Cheng faint, disrupting the shoot. The crew’s arrogant, wealthy male lead, Wang Yue, blames Fang Cheng for the delays, and the two argue.
• Fang Cheng stays close to Tang Shiba despite being scared of her, partly because he has been told to guard her from men with bad intentions.
• Tang Shiba learns through her System that the production is recreating a novel’s events exactly: Wang Yue will turn a romantic scene with the supporting actress into reality, and she will ultimately be burned to death. The director has also taken money to ensure the plot proceeds as written, though he appears afraid of the people behind it.
• The director privately calls Tang Shiba and Wang Yue in, claiming nothing in the film will become real. Wang Yue flirts with Tang Shiba, who sharply rejects him and warns that anyone who crosses that boundary will be punished. The director denies any improper intentions.
• Fang Cheng reports his suspicions to Si Wuyu, who tells him to watch the situation carefully. Tang Shiba reassures Fang Cheng with a cover story about the director offering her a future lead role. Filming continues late into the night.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba remains confident, sharp-tongued, and alert. She treats the crew’s conflict as entertainment but recognizes the danger behind the production and directly challenges Wang Yue and the director.
• Fang Cheng is frightened by Tang Shiba’s appearance, yet remains protective and wary of the men around her. His concern prompts him to contact Si Wuyu.
• Wang Yue is entitled and dismissive of Fang Cheng, and assumes Tang Shiba’s lack of romantic rumors means she is merely acting coy. Her rejection bruises his vanity.
• The director presents himself as reassuring, but privately appears trapped in a scheme to reproduce the novel’s plot.
• Tang Shiba and Fang Cheng share a teasing, protective dynamic; she jokes about his fear, while he insists on staying near her. Tang Shiba also openly confronts Wang Yue’s suggestive remarks and makes the director deny any plan to cross the line.

Significant themes

• The chapter builds suspense through the gap between fiction and reality: the crew says the story will remain on screen, while the director’s hidden motives suggest otherwise.
• It highlights power and entitlement, especially Wang Yue’s belief that his status and wealth should secure his desires.
• Vigilance and protection run through the chapter, as Fang Cheng and Si Wuyu monitor a potential threat to Tang Shiba.

Plot points and events

• During a night shoot, Tang Shiba chats with Si Wuyu using memes. Fang Cheng offers her a collection of flirtier memes, which Shanshan secretly made. Tang Shiba sends one to Si Wuyu, who saves it and asks around for similar images, then admits he wants some too.
• On set, Wang Yue keeps ruining his scenes by gazing too fondly at the supporting actress. Fang Cheng calls him out as sleazy, provoking a heated argument. Fang Cheng’s private thoughts reveal he believes Wang Yue is trying to seduce Tang Shiba.
• A crew member contacts the Sugar Babies’ group, hoping to pass along gossip. The group warns her not to approach Fang Cheng, whom they consider dangerous, and invites her to send detailed scoops.
• Shanshan is distracted by turmoil at home: her mother nearly rushes to the hospital to attack her brother, and the family is under investigation. Shanshan secretly hopes the investigation will bring the family down and free her.
• Before bed, Tang Shiba jokes that staying up late will make Si Wuyu unattractive. He takes her teasing seriously, shuts down his computer, and goes to bed.
• Just after Tang Shiba falls asleep, the system reports that Wang Yue is sneaking around and has cut up Fang Cheng’s clothes. Tang Shiba dismisses the act as childish.

Character developments

• Tang Shiba is open and playful with Fang Cheng and boldly flirts with Si Wuyu, though she remains largely unbothered by conflict on set.
• Si Wuyu shows jealousy over Fang Cheng receiving even a tiny cash gift from Tang Shiba. He eagerly seeks her memes and is easily swayed by her teasing to stop working late.
• Fang Cheng proves protective of Tang Shiba and confrontational toward Wang Yue, openly challenging him despite the risk of escalating the dispute.
• Shanshan remains discreet about making the memes and feels increasingly detached from her troubled family.
• Wang Yue is exposed as flirtatious and spiteful, retaliating against Fang Cheng by damaging his clothes.

Significant themes

• Flirting and jealousy: Tang Shiba and Si Wuyu’s teasing, meme-based exchange brings their growing attraction into focus.
• Standing up to misconduct: Fang Cheng confronts behavior he sees as sleazy, even when it leads to open conflict.
• Gossip and surveillance: The Sugar Babies’ group functions as a network for collecting and sharing information about the crew.
• Family dysfunction and desire for freedom: Shanshan’s relief at the prospect of her family’s collapse contrasts with the chaos at home.

Character interactions

• Tang Shiba and Fang Cheng bond over the memes, while Si Wuyu reacts with jealousy and then tries to get his own.
• Fang Cheng and Wang Yue clash publicly; Wang Yue later retaliates by cutting Fang Cheng’s clothes.
• Tang Shiba and Si Wuyu exchange affectionate, teasing messages, with Si Wuyu responding earnestly to her joke about his looks.
• The Sugar Babies advise a crew member about Fang Cheng and encourage her to report gossip.

Plot points and events

• Tang Shiba sleeps through the system’s attempts to get her involved in trouble, leaving it to practice punches before it goes offline.
• At daybreak, Fang Cheng rushes to her for help: Wang Yue has cut up nearly all his underwear, leaving only strips of fabric. Fang Cheng suspects him but has no proof.
• Tang Shiba and Fang Cheng plan revenge. While Fang Cheng distracts Wang Yue and keeps watch, he sneaks into their room and searches Wang Yue’s suitcase.
• Tang Shiba uses a combination supplied by the system to open the suitcase. They find a bottle of white liquid and a syringe; Tang Shiba swaps the bottle for an identical one, telling Fang Cheng it is medicine and that no one will die.
• Wang Yue assumes Fang Cheng is too timid to retaliate, unaware that they have begun their counterattack.
• On set, Wang Yue films romantic scenes with Tang Shiba. Fang Cheng messages his brother, Si Wuyu, describing their interactions in ways that make Si increasingly uneasy.
• Elsewhere, Si Wuyu learns that the Su and Wang families are resisting the investigation into smuggling and Wang Hao’s death. He orders Chang Hua to involve Tang Second Brother and threaten to expose the case if the authorities still refuse to act.
• The chapter ends with Si Wuyu sending Tang Shiba two selfies and asking her to trade memes for information about him.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba remains sleepy and amused by mischief, but readily joins Fang Cheng’s revenge plan. She enjoys drawing things out rather than confronting Wang Yue directly.
• Fang Cheng is furious at Wang Yue yet wary of fighting him openly because Wang Yue’s assistant might intervene. He follows Tang Shiba’s plan, then taunts Wang Yue while pretending not to retaliate.
• Wang Yue acts smug, convinced Fang Cheng lacks evidence and courage. His flirtatious scenes with Tang Shiba also provoke Fang Cheng’s commentary.
• Si Wuyu grows jealous and protective as Fang Cheng reports Wang Yue’s on-set closeness with Tang Shiba. At the same time, he takes a more forceful stance in the investigation.
• Tang Shiba and Fang Cheng form a conspiratorial team, whispering and laughing as they prepare their retaliation. Si Wuyu and Tang Shiba remain connected through their playful, indirect exchange.

Significant themes

• Revenge and retaliation: Fang Cheng answers Wang Yue’s petty sabotage with a covert counterplan.
• Suspicion, evidence, and secrecy: The characters act on suspicions while the larger criminal investigation struggles to secure arrests.
• Jealousy and possessiveness: Si Wuyu’s discomfort reveals his concern over Tang Shiba’s scenes with Wang Yue.
• Playfulness amid conflict: Pranks, gossip, and meme-trading soften the tension surrounding both personal grudges and serious family scandals.

Plot points and events

• Tang Shiba saves a humiliating meme of Si Wuyu and refuses to delete it, even when he offers ten million. Their playful exchange shows their growing affection.
• On set, Wang Yue tries to get close to Tang Shiba and encourage dating rumors. She rebuffs him with mocking humor, while privately planning to let his staged misbehavior become real.
• Fang Cheng alerts their friends and fan groups about Wang Yue’s behavior, prompting them to discuss how to remove him.
• Police arrest Mrs. Su for smuggling. Susan tells her recovering brother, Su Chen, that he must take charge of the company; she is upset despite knowing their mother is guilty.
• The Wang family is also arrested, bringing the long-running smuggling case to a close. The unnamed mastermind remains at large.
• Si Wuyu suspects either his Second Uncle or Ouyang Xuan is behind the operation. He orders Ouyang Xuan watched as she gains influence at the company.
• Though Si Wuyu is still limping during recovery, Chang Hua reassures him that it should pass once his wound heals.
• Back on set, Fang Cheng asks Wang Yue whether he has stopped using whatever made his face shine. Tang Shiba expects him to use it again and plans to respond with “plan B.”

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba is playful with Si Wuyu, but sharp and strategic with Wang Yue. She coordinates with Fang Cheng rather than confronting Wang Yue immediately.
• Si Wuyu shows a softer, romantic side in his reaction to Tang Shiba’s meme, while remaining focused on the smuggling investigation. He is also self-conscious about the possibility of a permanent limp.
• Wang Yue persists in pursuing Tang Shiba despite her clear rejection, reinforcing the group’s view of him as sleazy.
• Fang Cheng acts as Tang Shiba’s ally, monitoring Wang Yue and following her lead.
• Susan is torn between distress over her mother’s arrest and the practical need for Su Chen to manage the family company. Su Chen reassures her and agrees to step in.
• Ouyang Xuan is gaining allies at the company, making Si Wuyu more suspicious of her.

Significant themes

• Schemes and accountability: The arrests bring consequences for the smuggling network, though its mastermind remains hidden.
• Loyalty and protection: Tang Shiba’s circle rallies around her, while Susan remains emotionally loyal to her mother despite her crime.
• Public image and attraction: Wang Yue tries to manufacture romantic rumors, while Tang Shiba uses humor and careful planning to resist him.
• Vulnerability beneath confidence: Si Wuyu’s fear of losing his handsome appearance contrasts with his otherwise controlled, authoritative manner.

Plot points and events

• Wang Yue confronts Fang Cheng after Fang insults his sickly appearance. Fang Cheng stands his ground, and Wang Yue retreats, choosing to attack him online instead.
• Fang Cheng proudly tells Tang Shiba he has learned her confrontational style. Tang encourages him, then says Wang Yue is close to breaking and that they will act that night.
• Tang gives Fang Cheng frightening ghost makeup, a wig, and a white dress so he can help with the plan. She tricks him into drinking a whole bottle of water by claiming that, as a virgin, he can use urine to repel supernatural beings. Fang Cheng runs off to hide in the cold without his coat.
• Tang learns that the director is speaking with Tao Wanyu, Si Wuyu’s second aunt, whom she suspects of arranging harm against her. She messages Si Wuyu that she is going after Tao. Si orders his people not to interfere and has his assistant prepare damaging gossip about his aunt.
• At the set, Tang unexpectedly shares beef jerky with the crew. Her devoted fans are delighted, though some warn that her food-sharing may bring bad luck to anyone outside her inner circle.
• Before filming, Tang claims she has a stomachache and goes to the bathroom, where she inflates a doll for the coming scheme.

Character developments and interactions

• Fang Cheng grows bolder after standing up to Wang Yue and takes eager part in Tang’s plan, though his gullibility makes him easy to fool.
• Tang Shiba remains mischievous and theatrical, using humor, deception, and a show of friendliness to set up her revenge. Her message to Si Wuyu signals she is willing to confront Tao directly.
• Si Wuyu responds protectively but lets Tang handle the situation, while using his influence to prepare a counterattack against Tao.
• Wang Yue is humiliated and resentful, but avoids a physical fight and turns to social media instead.
• Tang and Fang share a playful, conspiratorial rapport; Tang also engages warmly with the crew, surprising them and exciting her fans.

Significant themes

• Revenge and intimidation: Tang and Fang use performance and fear to unsettle Wang Yue.
• Loyalty and protection: Si Wuyu backs Tang, while her fans watch out for one another.
• Comedy through contrast: Fang’s imposing ghost disguise is paired with his innocence, and Tang’s dramatic schemes are treated with playful absurdity.

Key plot points

• Tang Shiba activates a lifelike doll that looks exactly like her. The doll has her personality—and, to Tang’s dismay, acts like a childish fool—but it knows its assigned script and goes out to film in her place.
• Tang Shiba disguises herself and watches from hiding. The crew assumes she has returned to the shoot.
• The director has already agreed to let Wang Yue turn the scripted intimate scene into a real encounter if Tang Shiba appears willing. The scene echoes the novel’s original plot, in which Wang Yue exploits an actress and later arranges her death.
• The doll seduces Wang Yue as planned, but the scene goes grotesquely wrong: Wang Yue hallucinates that Tang Shiba’s shoe is his lover and kisses its sole.
• Before the director can stop the performance, he and the crew are struck by severe stomach pain, apparently from mass food poisoning. Unable to move or call for help, they can only watch Wang Yue continue his bizarre striptease-like act.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba remains sardonic and mischievous. She mocks the system and its creation, then stands aside and lets Wang Yue’s humiliation unfold rather than helping the crew.
• The doll is a functional stand-in but behaves with Tang Shiba’s teasing, childish manner. Tang Shiba clothes her before sending her out.
• Wang Yue mistakes the doll’s scripted advances for genuine desire and eagerly acts on them; under the hallucination, he becomes fixated on the shoe.
• The director is conflicted and self-protective: he tacitly permits Wang Yue’s plan while hoping to blame him if anything goes wrong. He and the rest of the crew become helpless victims of the apparent poisoning.
• Tang Shiba and the system bicker over whether the doll’s foolish personality comes from the system’s programming or Tang Shiba herself.

Significant themes

• Deception and performance: The doll replaces Tang Shiba, while Wang Yue mistakes acting for consent.
• Exploitation and power: The recalled novel condemns Wang Yue’s willingness to use and discard women for his career.
• Dark comedy and revenge: Wang Yue’s humiliating hallucination and the crew’s sudden helplessness turn a sinister setup into grotesque comedy.
• Fate versus intervention: Tang Shiba uses a substitute to derail the original plot, but the chapter ends with the larger consequences still unclear.

Plot points and events

• Wang Yue succumbs to a drug-like frenzy and hallucinates, behaving obscenely toward Tang Shiba’s shoe. The doll snaps him out of it, leaving him disgusted and confused.
• Tang Shiba exploits his panic by pointing to needle marks and suggesting he is suffering withdrawal. Though he denies using drugs, her accusation makes him fear that the crew has heard and that his reputation is at risk.
• When she threatens to report him, Wang Yue grabs her, then strangles her. The poisoned crew members can only watch, unable to intervene.
• Tang Shiba appears to stop struggling, but Wang Yue continues his assault, slamming her head against a table and throwing her to the floor. He believes she is dead—until she starts laughing again. He then threatens to burn her.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba/the doll stays playful and fearless, deliberately provoking Wang Yue and turning his fear and anger against him. Her apparent vulnerability gives way to a disturbing show of resilience.
• Wang Yue shifts from confused and ashamed to panicked, then violently murderous as he tries to silence Tang Shiba and protect his secret.
• Fang Cheng watches from a distance, expecting Tang Shiba’s apparent death to cue him to intervene and frighten Wang Yue, but events escalate before he acts.
• The director and crew are helpless witnesses: the director fears the consequences of the violence, while the crew grieves and panics over Tang Shiba.

Significant themes

• Powerlessness and complicity: The poisoned crew cannot stop the assault, while those who planned to exploit Tang Shiba confront the consequences of their scheme.
• Secrets and fear: Wang Yue’s fear of exposure helps drive his escalating violence.
• Dark comedy and horror: The shoe hallucination and Tang Shiba’s taunting contrast grotesquely with the increasingly brutal attack, leaving the scene both absurd and terrifying.

Key plot points and events

• Wang Yue, believing he has strangled Tang Shiba, prepares to burn her—actually mistaking a doll for her. Fang Cheng approaches him unseen and plays the part of a vengeful ghost.
• Terrified, Wang Yue confesses that he uses drugs and has encouraged others involved in his short drama—including its lead actress, supporting actress, and supporting actor—to use them too. Fang Cheng beats him, ties him up, and leaves with the doll.
• Fang Cheng discovers the doll is not breathing and fears Tang Shiba may really be dead. The real Tang Shiba appears behind him and knocks him unconscious.
• The doll wakes up, complains that Fang Cheng hurt her, and asks Tang Shiba for a five-star review. Tang Shiba returns her, rates her, and wins a pack of Medium Paper from the system’s prize wheel.
• Tang Shiba wakes Fang Cheng, and the pair return to the bewildered onlookers, bowing and presenting the ordeal as a performance.

Character developments

• Fang Cheng shifts from amused observer to playful ghost impersonator, using Wang Yue’s fear to extract a confession. His worry when he thinks Tang Shiba may be dead reveals genuine concern beneath his antics.
• Tang Shiba remains composed and mischievous, even treating the frightening episode as entertainment and taking advantage of the system’s reward.
• Wang Yue is exposed as both violent and involved in drug use, and quickly collapses into panic and helplessness when confronted.
• The doll shows a comic, self-aware streak, treating her injury as part of a job and asking for a positive review.

Significant themes

• Appearance versus reality: The crowd mistakes the doll for Tang Shiba, Fang Cheng for a ghost, and the apparent killing for reality.
• Crime and moral boundaries: Wang Yue’s drug confession underscores the seriousness and consequences of crossing legal and ethical lines.
• Dark comedy and performance: The characters turn a frightening apparent murder into a staged spectacle, leaving everyone unsure what they witnessed.
• System satire: Tang Shiba’s prize for a five-star rating is comically underwhelming, and her banter with the system highlights their antagonistic relationship.

Character interactions

• Fang Cheng taunts Wang Yue by posing as Tang Shiba’s ghost, then beats and interrogates him until he confesses.
• Fang Cheng’s apparent concern for the “dead” Tang Shiba contrasts with the real Tang Shiba’s blunt decision to knock him out.
• Tang Shiba and the doll exchange dry, businesslike remarks before the doll is returned.
• Tang Shiba and Fang Cheng jointly bow to the crowd, who remain thoroughly confused by the entire episode.

Plot points and events

• During filming, Wang Yue’s drug cravings drove him into a violent frenzy, and he tried to kill Tang Shiba. Fang Cheng—disguised as a ghost at Tang Shiba’s suggestion—frightened Wang Yue unconscious, while Tang Shiba escaped unharmed.
• The police found a bottle of drugs in Wang Yue’s bag and received Fang Cheng’s recording as evidence. They arrested Wang Yue, and the production was suspended.
• The Sugar Baby shared the incident with the fan group, whose members celebrated Tang Shiba’s survival and promised to publicize the scandal.
• Back at home, Tang Shiba and her system discussed Counter-System’s nearly completed mission: the smugglers had been arrested, and Counter-System stood to gain many points. They began considering how to stop it.
• The next day, Tang Shiba returned from the airport to a crowd of fans. Si Wuyu came to pick her up and surprised her with roses.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba remains quick-witted and unfazed by danger, but rejects the police officer’s “cleanup specialist” label because she wants to avoid further trouble. She also continues jokingly teasing Fang Cheng.
• Fang Cheng helps protect Tang Shiba, supplies the police with crucial evidence, and is embarrassed when he discovers his ghost disguise resembles her more than it frightens anyone.
• The Sugar Baby and the fans show their strong affection for Tang Shiba, while Fang Cheng’s protective role prompts some fans to start imagining him as her romantic partner.
• Si Wuyu eagerly anticipates Tang Shiba’s return, interprets her promise to confess as a possible declaration of love, and prepares to meet her himself.

Significant themes

• Justice and accountability: Evidence of Wang Yue’s attempted murder and drug use brings police intervention, while the scandal threatens to expose wider problems in the entertainment industry.
• Loyalty and affection: Tang Shiba’s friends and fans rally around her, and Si Wuyu’s excited anticipation reveals his growing romantic hopes.
• Recurring danger and comic resilience: Tang Shiba jokes that she attracts villains, while her system’s plans to counter another looming threat keep the adventure’s danger intertwined with comedy.

Key events

• Fang Cheng recounts being repeatedly scared unconscious by Tang Shiba’s horror makeup. Tang Shiba teases him about seeing a horror film or trying bungee jumping, while Si Wuyu quietly volunteers to join her.
• Tang Shiba falls asleep against Si Wuyu’s shoulder. Fang Cheng watches their closeness and feels unexpectedly wistful.
• Tang Xiao waits in vain at the airport, suspecting Si Wuyu has picked up his sister.
• At a restaurant, Si Yue forces her way in with Ouyang Xuan despite staff resistance. Once inside, she boasts about her influence and demands that staff arrange a meeting with the person who booked the restaurant; the waiter refuses, but she threatens to report him.
• In a private room, Si Wuyu and Fang Cheng compete to serve Tang Shiba shrimp. Si Wuyu eats the shrimp Fang Cheng offers, then readily finishes the food Tang Shiba leaves in his bowl.
• In the restroom, Si Yue confronts Tang Shiba over her mother’s injury and demands an apology. Tang Shiba brushes her off and insults her.

Character developments and interactions

• Si Wuyu shows growing affection for Tang Shiba through his jealousy, eagerness to accompany her, and attentive care. His rivalry with Fang Cheng over serving her is playful but possessive.
• Tang Shiba remains carefree and unaware of how strongly Si Wuyu attracts her. She teases Fang Cheng, enjoys Si Wuyu’s care, and stands her ground against Si Yue.
• Fang Cheng is comically terrified of frightening activities and tries to avoid being left out, but his playful competition with Si Wuyu gives way to quiet envy of their closeness.
• Si Yue acts entitled, bullying restaurant staff and then confronting Tang Shiba. Ouyang Xuan quietly indulges Si Yue, regarding her as easy to manipulate.
• Tang Xiao is protective and suspicious of Si Wuyu’s intentions toward his sister.

Significant themes

• Romantic jealousy and affection expressed through teasing and small acts of care.
• Contrast between genuine closeness and performative status: Si Wuyu’s attentiveness contrasts with Si Yue’s insistence on privilege.
• Tang Shiba’s blunt independence clashes with Si Yue’s entitlement, setting up further conflict.

Key plot points and events

• Si Yue confronts Tang Shiba on Si-family property, expecting her to back down. Tang Shiba is distracted by her system’s gossip about Si Yue’s eight boyfriends, but when Si Yue waves her hands in Tang’s face, Tang pins her to the floor.
• Si Yue claims Tang attacked her and appeals to her cousin Ouyang Xuan and brother Si Wuyu. Fang Cheng mocks Si Yue, while Si Wuyu checks Tang Shiba’s hands and orders Si Yue blacklisted from the venue.
• Ouyang Xuan discovers that the expensive card she bought to influence Si Wuyu has expired. Tang Shiba’s system laughs at the Counter-System behind the purchase, calling its goods fraudulent and warning that it likely cannot cure Ouyang’s terminal illness.
• After Si Yue and Ouyang leave, Tang Shiba learns that one of Si Yue’s boyfriends is at the mall with a wealthy woman. Tang tries to slip away to watch the spectacle, but Si Wuyu and Fang Cheng accompany her.
• At a jewelry store, they find the boyfriend acting affectionately with the rich woman and persuading her to buy matching bracelets. Tang and her companions recognize the woman as the “Strongwoman” from the psychiatric hospital.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba remains more interested in entertainment and gossip than confrontation, though she readily restrains Si Yue when provoked. She enjoys sharing the drama with her system.
• Si Wuyu openly protects Tang Shiba over his sister, despite the tension between them, and asks Tang to accompany him to the mall.
• Si Yue is exposed as maintaining eight simultaneous relationships, with her system revealing that many of the men are unsuitable or unavailable. Her attempt to cast herself as the victim fails.
• Ouyang Xuan grows increasingly frustrated: her paid card has expired, Si Wuyu is siding with Tang, and Si Yue’s behavior obstructs her plans.
• Fang Cheng joins in mocking Si Yue and eagerly follows Tang, suspecting more entertaining drama awaits.
• The scene at the jewelry store hints at a wider, interconnected cast: Tang’s group recognizes Si Yue’s boyfriend and the wealthy woman he is courting.

Significant themes

• Gossip and comic exposure: Private romantic lives become public entertainment through the systems’ commentary.
• Manipulation and unreliable schemes: Ouyang’s costly card proves useless, undermining her efforts to control Si Wuyu.
• Loyalty versus family ties: Si Wuyu favors Tang over his own sister, while Fang Cheng also sides against Si Yue.
• Drama as spectacle: Tang repeatedly chooses to observe other people’s chaos rather than pursue a serious confrontation.

Key plot points and events

• While shopping, Fang Cheng and Tang Shiba spot Si Yue’s boyfriend, Pang Ming, embracing a wealthy woman. Fang Cheng alerts Si Yue, prompting her and Ouyang Xuan to head to the clothing section.
• The wealthy woman, Lü Jingjing, lavishes gifts and affection on Pang Ming. When Si Yue confronts him, he denies knowing her and claims to love Lü Jingjing instead.
• Si Yue demands back the jewelry she gave Pang Ming, including a necklace from her mother. Lü Jingjing pins Si Yue to the floor and humiliates her.
• Ouyang Xuan tries to intervene, but Lü Jingjing recognizes her as the woman she blames for the deaths of Wang Hao and Hua Yingying. She slaps Ouyang twice, shocking the bystanders.

Character developments

• Fang Cheng eagerly takes on the role of Si Yue’s “younger brother,” quickly warning her about Pang Ming.
• Si Yue shifts from suspicion to anger and hurt when Pang Ming rejects her. She tries to reclaim her necklace but is overpowered and publicly humiliated.
• Pang Ming reveals himself as opportunistic, abandoning Si Yue for Lü Jingjing’s greater wealth.
• Lü Jingjing is domineering and status-conscious, using her wealth and strength to belittle Si Yue; her hostility toward Ouyang Xuan exposes a personal vendetta.
• Ouyang Xuan steps in to defend Si Yue, then becomes Lü Jingjing’s target.
• Tang Shiba and Si Wuyu watch discreetly from a fitting room; their private, affectionate moment contrasts with the public confrontation.

Significant themes

• Money and transactional relationships: Pang Ming chooses the richer patron, and Lü Jingjing treats wealth as proof of superiority.
• Public humiliation and power: The confrontation turns shopping into a spectacle, with physical strength and social status shaping who controls the scene.
• Loyalty and betrayal: Si Yue confronts the gap between Pang Ming’s promises and his actions.
• Revenge and unresolved conflict: Lü Jingjing’s attack on Ouyang Xuan signals a deeper feud that is only beginning to surface.

Character interactions

• Fang Cheng alerts Si Yue, while Tang Shiba and Si Wuyu coordinate their covert watching.
• Si Yue confronts Pang Ming over his betrayal and the jewelry she gave him; he rejects her and sides with Lü Jingjing.
• Lü Jingjing overpowers and insults Si Yue, then shifts her aggression to Ouyang Xuan when she recognizes her.
• Si Wuyu briefly pulls Tang Shiba into a fitting-room embrace, adding a lighter, intimate beat amid the escalating drama.

Key plot points and events

• Lü Jingjing publicly slaps Ouyang Xuan several times after accusing her of acting saintly. Si Yue tries to intervene, but her companion Pang Ming takes her phone and starts arguing with her.
• Ouyang Xuan faints as Lü approaches again. Lü kicks her, pays for her purchase, and leaves with Pang Ming. Si Yue calls the police and an ambulance, while bystanders record the scene.
• Fang Cheng shares the incident in a group chat and posts a video of Ouyang on Weibo. The footage sparks an online uproar, with Ouyang’s fans demanding that Lü be sent back to the psychiatric hospital.
• Ouyang’s anti-fans try to explain the confrontation, but Ouyang posts a photo of her swollen face and threatens to sue Lü, drowning out their response.
• Meanwhile, the Melon System attacks the Counter-System again, leaving it offline. Tang Shiba watches the confrontation with Si Wuyu, but their flirtation turns into a kiss before the system returns.
• Shanshan arrives at the mall after everyone has left. Tang Shiba’s fan group discusses how to grow her following, possibly by recruiting supporters from the Love Challenge audience.

Character developments and interactions

• Lü Jingjing is bold and unapologetic, treating the confrontation as entertainment and leaving with Pang Ming despite the growing crowd.
• Ouyang Xuan privately wants to kill Lü, according to her thoughts to the Counter-System, but publicly presents herself as the injured victim and threatens legal action.
• Si Yue fiercely defends Ouyang and angrily confronts Pang Ming when he takes her phone; afterward, she calls for help and shields Ouyang from onlookers.
• Tang Shiba and Si Wuyu continue their increasingly intimate, teasing dynamic. Tang Shiba protests his public affection, while he jokes that she might accept it at home.
• Fang Cheng eagerly publicizes the incident, unaware that the account he follows for Shanshan is her alternate account.
• The Melon System remains aggressively protective of Tang Shiba, while the exhausted Counter-System can do little but endure its attacks.

Significant themes

• Public image and online outrage: Viral footage and competing narratives shape how the confrontation is understood.
• Manipulation of sympathy: Ouyang’s selfie and lawsuit threat help her regain control of the online story.
• Power, loyalty, and revenge: Ouyang’s private hostility contrasts with her public victimhood, while the systems’ feud mirrors the characters’ conflicts.
• Fandom as influence: Tang Shiba’s supporters see audience growth as essential to countering Ouyang’s greater popularity.

Key plot points

• Ouyang Xuan rejects Lü Jingjing’s public apology and announces she will sue her for intentional assault. Ouyang’s fans retaliate by repeatedly harassing Lü’s beauty salon, leading Lü to seek help from Han Feng.
• Si Yue’s scandal destroys her romantic network: her married partners leave her, one live-in boyfriend is taken away, another tries to break up, and her two gay partners block her. Heartbroken, she withdraws from work.
• Si Wuyu refuses Chang Hua’s suggestion to use the scandal to remove Si Yue from the company. He limits the company’s help in the smuggling and drug-trafficking case to providing information, while ordering protection for Tang Shiba’s family because traffickers may retaliate.
• Chang Hua recruits Li Ba to help with an undisclosed task, then tricks Chris into leaving her room by falsely claiming Fang Cheng has been in a car accident. He expects the ruse to bring them together.
• Tang Shiba celebrates Si Yue’s downfall online, then learns the Counter-System has finished its mission and is counting its points. She and her system plan to obtain those points—ideally by persuading the Counter-System to hand them over willingly—while he considers secretly upgrading himself.

Character developments and interactions

• Ouyang Xuan responds to Lü Jingjing’s challenge with legal action rather than accepting what she sees as a hollow apology.
• Lü Jingjing, isolated after losing her old connections, turns to Han Feng for support.
• Si Wuyu shows concern for Tang Shiba’s safety and restraint in how much assistance he offers Wang Gang, while choosing not to punish Si Yue professionally.
• Chang Hua emerges as a clever, self-appointed problem-solver. He recruits Li Ba, manipulates Fang Cheng into feigning illness, and sends Chris rushing to see him. Li Ba recognizes Chang Hua’s skill at deception; Chang Hua insists he is simply helping his boss.
• Chris is revealed to care deeply about Fang Cheng, immediately panicking at the news of his supposed accident. Chang Hua hopes the encounter will help their relationship.
• Tang Shiba and her system shift from amusement at Si Yue’s misfortune to scheming over the Counter-System’s newly earned points. The Counter-System remains unaware of the impending threat.

Significant themes

• Revenge and escalation: Ouyang Xuan and Lü Jingjing’s conflict moves from public accusations to legal and social retaliation.
• Love, betrayal, and heartbreak: Si Yue’s relationships collapse under the pressure of exposure, while Chang Hua tries to turn Chris and Fang Cheng’s concern into reconciliation.
• Protection amid danger: Si Wuyu anticipates the traffickers’ retaliation and prioritizes the Tang family’s safety.
• Scheming and manipulation: Chang Hua’s fabricated emergency and Tang Shiba’s plan to acquire the Counter-System’s points drive much of the chapter’s comedy and intrigue.