Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• Gu Qingcheng arrives on set with Tang Xueqing, who pressures her to give up the lead role by warning that online attacks will ruin her career. Tang Shiba’s inner commentary reveals that Tang Xueqing has hired trolls to smear Gu and intends to take the role for herself.
• Gu Qingcheng gives in to the pressure and asks for a stand-in for intimate scenes, partly because she wants to avoid kissing anyone other than Tang Xiao. Tang Shiba is chosen to take her place.
• Tang Shiba films the scripted reunion kiss and bed scene with Si Wuyu. Her awkward, tentative pecks contrast with his convincing, increasingly passionate performance.
• During the scene, Si Wuyu bites Tang Shiba’s shoulder hard enough to hurt her. After filming, she promptly falls asleep on the bed, alarming the crew until she assures them she is merely napping.

Character developments

• Tang Xueqing appears supportive of Gu Qingcheng, but her private scheme is to undermine Gu and claim her leading role. Her composure is tested as Tang Shiba performs the intimate scenes.
• Gu Qingcheng is easily swayed by Tang Xueqing and chooses career damage control over defending her position. She also avoids intimate acting herself.
• Tang Shiba remains irreverent and self-aware, treating her unwanted stand-in work as another absurd misfortune. Despite her embarrassment, she follows through with the scene.
• Si Wuyu is amused and attracted to Tang Shiba. Her candid inner thoughts unsettle his composure, and he becomes intensely absorbed in their performance.

Significant themes

• Manipulation and ambition: Tang Xueqing disguises a bid for Gu’s role as friendly advice.
• The overlooked burden of stand-ins: Tang Shiba jokes about being made to handle the intimate scenes others avoid, highlighting how little choice she has on set.
• Performance versus reality: A scripted kiss becomes charged by Tang Shiba and Si Wuyu’s real reactions, blurring the line between acting and genuine attraction.
• Comedy through inner commentary: Tang Shiba’s irreverent thoughts contrast with the seriousness and intensity of what is happening around her.

Character interactions

• Tang Xueqing uses concern for Gu Qingcheng’s career to steer her toward relinquishing the lead role.
• Tang Shiba’s thoughts about Tang Xueqing’s scheme go unheard, while the crew’s gossip reinforces the tension.
• Tang Shiba and Si Wuyu act out the intimate scene: she is inexperienced and awkward, while he takes control and grows visibly affected by her thoughts and reactions.
• The director and crew worry when Tang Shiba falls silent after filming, but she casually reassures them that she is only asleep.

Key plot points

• Tang Shiba proposes taking all the upcoming kissing and bed scenes, and says she’ll practice kissing Si Wuyu off camera to overcome her aversion to men. Director Li casually approves.
• Shiba immediately kisses Si Wuyu in front of Tang Xueqing, then boasts inwardly that it was only acting—and that upsetting Xueqing was a bonus. Si is briefly thrilled before realizing Shiba isn’t serious.
• The crew’s anti-fans begin shipping Shiba and Si, and spread the practice-kissing story online. Casual viewers mostly welcome Shiba trying to improve her acting, though they question why she chose Si.
• Tang Xueqing loses focus during filming, especially around Si, and Director Li angrily berates her. When her second brother, Tang Xiao, arrives, she expects his presence to protect her.
• Xiao claims he is visiting as an investor and challenges the director’s treatment of his sister. Shiba’s thoughts reveal that Xiao is actually trying to help Xueqing take the female lead’s role—and cannot afford even 100,000 yuan.
• Director Li ignores Xiao’s posturing and continues criticizing Xueqing. After a scene, she breaks down in her brother’s arms.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba uses bold, calculated behavior to provoke Xueqing while treating intimacy with Si as professional practice. Her unfiltered thoughts repeatedly expose the motives and secrets of those around her.
• Si Wuyu enjoys Shiba’s unexpected kiss, but misunderstands its significance until her thoughts make clear she sees it as acting.
• Tang Xueqing grows increasingly jealous and unsettled by Shiba and Si’s closeness; her poor performance and tears make her more vulnerable.
• Tang Xiao tries to defend and indulge Xueqing, projecting authority as an investor despite his lack of money. Shiba’s private commentary punctures his impressive façade.
• Director Li remains blunt and uncompromising, refusing to let Xiao’s status claims shield Xueqing from criticism.
• Fang Cheng supports Shiba’s audacity, while the crew and online anti-fans turn her kiss with Si into a playful shipping story.

Significant themes

• Public image versus reality: Xiao’s executive confidence hides his financial weakness, while Shiba’s apparent romantic gesture is merely a tactic.
• Jealousy and favoritism: Xueqing’s distraction is tied to Si and Shiba, while Xiao’s protectiveness threatens to interfere with fair casting.
• Acting and authenticity: Shiba argues that actors should not confuse performance with real feelings, even as the crew and fans speculate about her relationship with Si.
• Power and competence: Xiao tries to use supposed investment influence, but Director Li prioritizes performance over status.

Plot points and events

• Tang Shiba mocks Tang Xiao and Tang Xueqing on set, refusing to help Xueqing and accusing her of being dishonest about how she fell.
• She hints that Xueqing arranged an online smear campaign against Gu Qingcheng and tried to push her out of the leading role, then had Zhou Dan take her to Director Zhang. Tang Xiao is shaken by the allegations but still hopes Xueqing acted out of immaturity.
• Tang Shiba provokes Xueqing by bringing up her crush on Si Wuyu. To make her jealous, Shiba kisses Si Wuyu in front of everyone.
• Xueqing attacks Shiba, who quickly overpowers and slaps her. When Tang Xiao intervenes, Shiba throws him down and beats him too. A bystander trips Xueqing when she tries to retaliate.
• The studio erupts in chaos, though most onlookers focus on calming Director Li rather than stopping the fight. Shiba eventually stops, leaving Tang Xiao bruised and Xueqing sobbing. Her final quip about Xueqing’s “daddy” makes the crowd laugh.

Character developments

• Tang Shiba is openly combative and gleefully provocative, using both insults and violence to expose and punish those she considers hypocritical.
• Tang Xiao begins to doubt Xueqing after hearing the allegations, but remains conflicted. His anger at Shiba turns to humiliation when she defeats him.
• Tang Xueqing loses her composed, victim-like façade under Shiba’s taunts and lashes out physically.
• Gu Qingcheng watches without intervening to avoid suspicion, though seeing Tang Xiao beaten pains her and deepens her resentment toward Shiba.
• Si Wuyu calmly complies with Shiba’s request for a kiss; Fang Cheng is held back from intervening and worries Shiba could face legal consequences.

Themes and interactions

• The chapter contrasts public appearances with private motives: Shiba’s internal insults expose her distrust of Xueqing and contempt for Tang Xiao’s double standards.
• It centers on jealousy, manipulation, and the growing collapse of Tang Xiao’s trust in Xueqing.
• Shiba’s deliberate provocations turn simmering hostility into open violence, while the studio’s amused spectatorship adds a comic, chaotic tone.

Plot points and events

• Tang Shiba defeats Tang Xiao and Tang Xueqing after Xueqing attacks her with a rock. Fang Cheng confirms that Xueqing struck first and explains that he kicked her to stop her from hitting Shiba from behind.
• Tang Xiao accepts that his sister was at fault and takes her to get medical treatment, though he promises to help her secure the female lead role. Xueqing refuses to leave the production, unwilling to miss filming or her chance at the part.
• The crew gossips about the fight, while a group of Tang Shiba’s anti-fans posts a sensationalized video and account of the incident online.
• Fang Cheng asks Tang Shiba to teach him how to fight. She sends him an illustrated medical book titled 108 Methods for Beating People Without Leaving Visible Injuries, which he cannot understand.
• Director Li considers whether to remove Shiba from the production but decides against it, reasoning that controversy can draw attention and that Si Wuyu can help keep the drama on track.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba remains unapologetic and confident. She regards her conflict with Xueqing as irreparable and vows to retaliate if attacked again.
• Tang Xiao is angry and humiliated, but acknowledges that Xueqing provoked the fight and that Shiba is difficult to control. He prioritizes treating Xueqing and protecting the family from further embarrassment.
• Tang Xueqing is injured and upset, but remains focused on winning the female lead role. Tang Shiba’s thoughts cast doubt on the sincerity of her behavior.
• Fang Cheng earns Si Wuyu’s approval by stopping Xueqing’s sneak attack. Grateful, he decides to stay in Cloud City and grows eager to learn Shiba’s fighting techniques—only to be baffled by her “manual.”
• Si Wuyu becomes more protective of Shiba, noting both the danger Xueqing poses and the need to keep Shiba from being ambushed. He also feels secure in their relationship after their earlier kiss.
• Zhou Dan leaves after exchanging a cold look with Shiba, who suspects her of being scheming. Si Wuyu takes note of Shiba’s warning.
• Director Li avoids confronting Shiba and weighs keeping her on the cast as a possible replacement for Gu Qingcheng.

Significant themes

• Self-defense and consequences: The fight is treated as a response to Xueqing’s attack, while the characters recognize that provoking Shiba carries risks.
• Reputation and publicity: The fight feeds online gossip and anti-fan activity, yet the director sees scandal as a potential promotional advantage.
• Loyalty and protection: Fang Cheng’s intervention wins his brother’s support, while Si Wuyu becomes increasingly watchful over Shiba.
• Comedy through contrast: Shiba’s absurdly practical “secret manual” and Fang Cheng’s earnest confusion lighten the aftermath of the violent confrontation.

Key plot points

• After a video of Tang Xueqing and Tang Xiao being beaten up spreads online, Tang Cheng and Song Jia decide not to intervene. They believe removing the posts would only provoke Tang Shiba’s huge anti-fanbase.
• Tang Xueqing tells her brothers that she was wronged; they promise revenge on Tang Shiba. Tang Xiao, however, begins to question the family’s usual instinct to blame Shiba, since Xueqing had clearly started the fight.
• Tang Xiao asks Gu Qingcheng to arrange a role swap with Xueqing. Qingcheng agrees, though her concern for his injuries is rejected as insincere. Xueqing also reproaches her for not helping during the fight, then pretends to reassure her.
• The group goes to ask Director Li to switch the roles. Tang Shiba and a crowd of curious cast and crew gather outside his room, turning the hallway into an impromptu gossip-and-snack audience.
• Inside, Gu Qingcheng says she wants to give up the female lead. Director Li suggests she reconsider and publicly clarify the online video. Tang Xiao argues that her conduct has made her unsuitable, while Xueqing insists she can take the lead role.
• Through Shiba’s inner commentary, the people outside hear that she doubts Xueqing’s acting and thinks the production will suffer if she becomes lead. Director Li eventually calls Shiba into the room and asks her to decide whether the swap should happen, leaving the outcome unresolved.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Xiao shows the first signs of doubting his family’s bias toward Xueqing, but still participates in the effort to secure her the lead. He is increasingly irritated by Shiba’s unfiltered thoughts.
• Gu Qingcheng agrees to the swap and is hurt when Tang Xiao dismisses her concern. Xueqing’s accusation deepens Qingcheng’s guilt, though Xueqing’s apparent comfort is insincere.
• Tang Xueqing presents herself as the victim, pressures Qingcheng, and eagerly claims she can replace her as lead. Her private contempt for Qingcheng contrasts with her outward friendliness.
• Tang Shiba remains detached from the role and entertains the hallway crowd with her commentary. Her assessment of Xueqing’s acting shapes the others’ expectations.
• Director Li is reluctant to replace Qingcheng and, overwhelmed by the dispute, turns to Shiba to settle the question.

Significant themes

• Favoritism and double standards: The family reflexively supports Xueqing, though Tang Xiao begins to recognize that Shiba is being blamed unfairly.
• Public image and accountability: The viral video threatens Qingcheng’s career, while the group debates apologies, blame, and whether the role can be salvaged.
• Performance versus sincerity: Xueqing’s public concern masks private hostility, and characters’ stated motives often conflict with their real feelings.
• Gossip as power: Shiba’s inner monologue becomes public entertainment and influences the cast’s view of the role dispute.

Key plot points and events

• Tang Shiba refuses to decide the casting dispute outright and lets Tang Xueqing and Gu Qingcheng settle it with Rock-Paper-Scissors. Tang Xueqing loses, but Shiba declares that Gu Qingcheng keeps the female lead role.
• When Tang Xiao offers to invest fifty million to secure the part for Xueqing, the director counters that he would need a billion, exposing Tang Xiao’s empty boast.
• Shiba leaves the casting settled, then kisses Si Wuyu on the cheek in front of Tang Xiao and runs off. Bystanders explain it as part of her “Desensitization Therapy,” while Tang Xiao assumes Si Wuyu is being forced.
• Xueqing loses her temper after the casting decision. The system reports that it has found new dirt on her, though uncovering the identity of someone she has been contacting would require an expensive upgrade.
• An anti-fan posts a video of Fang Cheng rescuing Gu Qingcheng. The clip reverses public opinion in Qingcheng’s favor, alarming Xueqing and Zhou Dan.

Character developments

• Tang Shiba shows that she can influence the casting while appearing to leave the choice to others. She favors Qingcheng because she wants to see the drama that follows, and continues teasing Tang Xiao.
• Tang Xueqing drops her meek act when things go against her. She is increasingly desperate: she loses the role, fears having to answer to a mysterious contact, and becomes furious at Shiba.
• Tang Xiao tries to use money and older-brother authority to help Xueqing, but Shiba’s blunt mockery exposes his lack of influence.
• Gu Qingcheng benefits from Shiba’s decision and from the newly released rescue video, which improves her public standing.
• Si Wuyu remains amused and untroubled by Shiba’s public kiss, contrary to Tang Xiao’s assumption that he is unwillingly enduring it.

Significant themes

• Manipulation and appearances: Xueqing’s helpless persona gives way to anger, while Shiba’s ostensible impartiality hides her own motives.
• Power and influence: Casting depends on money, connections, and control of information, but Tang Xiao’s boast cannot change the outcome.
• Public image and scandal: A single video can rapidly reverse public opinion and reshape a celebrity’s prospects.
• Comic misunderstanding: Shiba’s provocative behavior is interpreted differently by those around her, especially Tang Xiao.

Character interactions

• Shiba clashes with Tang Xiao over his demand that she favor Xueqing, using his failure to support her as an older brother to silence him.
• Shiba gives Qingcheng the role partly to preserve the entertaining conflict, surprising Qingcheng and enraging Xueqing.
• Shiba’s cheek-kiss provokes Tang Xiao, while onlookers defend her behavior and Si Wuyu reacts with quiet amusement.
• Xueqing and Zhou Dan both recognize that the rescue video has unexpectedly helped Qingcheng, leaving Xueqing worried about the consequences of failing to secure the role.

Key plot points and events

• After losing the female lead role, Tang Xueqing tells an unknown contact that Tang Shiba interfered. The contact orders her to kill Gu Qingcheng or die herself. Terrified but unwilling to die, Tang Xueqing deletes the message and begins to look dangerous.
• Tang Xiao attends the evening shoot. Though a video has shown that he misjudged Gu Qingcheng and Tang Shiba, his pride keeps him from apologizing. Tang Xueqing plants the idea that Fang Cheng saved Gu Qingcheng because they are close, making Tang Xiao jealous and suspicious of Fang.
• Tang Shiba’s thoughts reveal that Tang Xueqing plans to drug Gu Qingcheng during a scene. She has replaced the harmless prop with real itching powder—not poison—and keeps trying to slip it into the drinks.
• The director repeatedly interrupts the scene, changing the required drink each time. His interventions prevent Tang Xueqing from carrying out her plan, though it is unclear whether he has actually figured out what she is doing.
• The gossip crowd discovers that some people can hear and respond to Tang Shiba’s unspoken thoughts by “quacking.” They recognize one another and are delighted to have fellow listeners.
• Tang Xueqing’s drink scheme is thwarted, but Tang Shiba hints that Xueqing has another plan. The chapter ends as Tang Shiba prepares to film a scene with her.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Xueqing moves from resentment to open malice: she is threatened into targeting Gu Qingcheng and tries to harm her on set, while hiding her intentions from Tang Xiao.
• Tang Xiao remains proud and jealous. He suspects Fang Cheng is a romantic rival, yet he also grows uneasy about Tang Xueqing’s possible actions and does not fully excuse them.
• Gu Qingcheng is disappointed that Tang Xiao seems focused on Tang Xueqing, but prioritizes the filming opportunity and wants to maintain her friendship with Fang Cheng.
• Fang Cheng is confused by Tang Xiao’s hostility and briefly considers avoiding Gu Qingcheng to prevent jealousy. Tang Shiba encourages him not to be intimidated.
• Tang Shiba enjoys watching Tang Xueqing’s scheme fail, while her inner commentary alerts the crowd to the danger.
• The director and gossip crowd help stop the attempted drugging: the director keeps changing the drink, while the crowd listens, worries, and quietly discovers who else can hear Tang Shiba’s thoughts.

Significant themes

• Jealousy and misunderstanding: Tang Xiao’s suspicions distort his view of Fang Cheng and Gu Qingcheng.
• Hidden malice and accountability: Tang Xueqing presents herself as innocent while plotting harm, and Tang Xiao begins to recognize the seriousness of her behavior.
• The power of shared knowledge: Tang Shiba’s thoughts expose secrets, enabling others to intervene and creating an unexpected community among the “gossip” listeners.

Plot points and events

• Tang Xueqing insists on filming despite her bruised face, and Tang Xiao worries she will provoke Tang Shiba again.
• During a scene, Xueqing gives Tang Shiba a cake secretly laced with Itch Powder. Tang Shiba suspects the trick and turns the test around, insisting Xueqing eat some too. The director calls cut once, forcing Xueqing to replace the cake; with the new cake, both eat.
• Tang Shiba secretly uses a laxative instead. Xueqing develops severe stomach trouble and rushes to the restroom, embarrassing herself in front of the crew. Tang Shiba denies doing anything, and no one can prove what caused it.
• Xueqing accuses Tang Shiba and asks Tang Xiao to help punish her by making Gu Qingcheng film without a double. Tang Xiao agrees, not realizing what that would involve.
• Tang Shiba prepares to suggest that Gu Qingcheng use Si Wuyu for a kissing scene. Si Wuyu, Fang Cheng, and the director stop her before she can finish, refusing the idea.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba stays playful and strategic, turning Xueqing’s attempted poisoning into a humiliating mishap. Her private thoughts reveal her delight in outmaneuvering her rival.
• Tang Xueqing grows increasingly hostile toward Tang Shiba, but her plots backfire. After her public embarrassment, she seeks Tang Xiao’s support and tries to redirect her anger toward Gu Qingcheng.
• Tang Xiao is protective of Xueqing but uneasy about her schemes. He agrees to her request without understanding its implications.
• Si Wuyu shows jealousy and discomfort at the prospect of kissing Gu Qingcheng, insisting he will not kiss anyone else. Fang Cheng backs him up, while the director rejects Tang Shiba’s suggestion outright.
• The crew’s “quacking” joke and their barely contained laughter create a comic, gossip-filled atmosphere around the escalating rivalry.

Significant themes

• Schemes backfiring: Xueqing’s attempt to drug Tang Shiba ends with Xueqing suffering the consequences.
• Performance and public image: Xueqing’s polished, innocent persona collapses when she embarrasses herself before the crew.
• Jealousy and possessiveness: Si Wuyu’s refusal to kiss anyone but Tang Shiba hints at his feelings, despite his claim that he agreed only because she dislikes him.
• Comedy through dramatic irony: The audience knows Tang Shiba’s thoughts and plans, while the other characters struggle to work out what happened.

Plot points and events

• Tang Xiao sends Tang Xueqing home, then summons Gu Qingcheng to warn her not to use a body double, saying it could hurt her reputation.
• When Gu returns to filming, Tang Xiao grows jealous of her easy rapport with Fang Cheng. He interrupts her kissing scene with Si Wuyu, first suggesting another take, then asking the director to use a double.
• The director leaves the choice to Tang Xiao, who eventually allows Gu to perform the scene herself. Instead, Tang Shiba becomes Si Wuyu’s kissing partner, and he is delighted.
• Tang Xiao texts his parents to complain that Tang Shiba is filming kissing scenes, but they say they already know and support it as desensitization therapy.
• He pulls Tang Shiba aside afterward, intending to ask her to stop exposing his secrets. Unable to say so, he claims he needs money and asks to borrow some. She suspects he wants to fund Tang Xueqing and refuses, offering punches instead.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Xiao reveals his possessiveness toward Gu and discomfort at Tang Shiba’s boldness. He also feels exposed when she mentally reveals details about his romantic behavior and past interest in female artists. His attempts to control or confront her repeatedly collapse into embarrassment.
• Tang Shiba remains irreverent and perceptive, privately mocking Tang Xiao and openly challenging him. Though she enjoys provoking him, she is baffled by his sudden, awkward request for money.
• Gu Qingcheng follows Tang Xiao’s instruction and proceeds with the scene rather than resisting, disappointing him by giving him little attention afterward.
• Si Wuyu happily kisses Tang Shiba and steps in to protect her when Tang Xiao tries to pull her away.
• Tang Xiao’s parents back Tang Shiba’s filming, undercutting his attempt to tattle.

Significant themes

• Possessiveness and hypocrisy: Tang Xiao encourages Gu’s intimate scenes but becomes jealous once they are about to happen.
• Secrets and exposure: Tang Shiba’s thoughts reveal private information, leaving Tang Xiao feeling completely transparent.
• Power and independence: Tang Shiba refuses to be controlled by her brother and responds to his requests on her own terms.
• Comedy through dramatic irony: The spectators’ gossip and Tang Shiba’s inner commentary make Tang Xiao’s failed interventions—and failed attempt to ask for silence—especially humiliating.

Plot points and events

• Tang Xiao asks Tang Shiba to lend him money. She pretends to be broke, joking that she spent ten million on soy sauce, and he leaves in a huff.
• Tang Xiao confronts Zhou Dan about her role in the dangerous prop incident involving Tang Xueqing. Though Zhou Dan denies knowing anything was wrong, her thoughts reveal she knew the prop contained itching powder.
• Tang Xiao orders Zhou Dan to resign. She pleads for another chance, but he refuses; afterward, she decides to retaliate by exposing damaging information about the company’s artists.
• Tang Shiba finishes filming and plans to get barbecue and investigate gossip about Tang Xueqing. Gu Qingcheng invites Fang Cheng to discuss the script, while Si Wuyu sends him along, hoping to get some time alone with Tang Shiba.
• Si Wuyu asks Tang Shiba to help him practice kissing. She agrees, but just before they kiss, she hears that Zhou Dan is fighting someone and rushes off to find out what happened.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba remains playful, shameless about her appetite, and far more interested in gossip than romance. Although she agrees to help Si Wuyu, her attention wanders before the kiss can happen.
• Tang Xiao acts decisively against Zhou Dan, making clear he will no longer tolerate her misconduct.
• Zhou Dan shifts from pleading for leniency to plotting revenge, revealing a more openly malicious side.
• Si Wuyu gently seeks closeness with Tang Shiba and is disappointed when the moment is interrupted. He also steers Fang Cheng away to create time alone with her.
• Fang Cheng feels hurt that Tang Shiba and Si Wuyu seem to dismiss him, but leaves with Gu Qingcheng.

Significant themes

• Deception and hidden motives: Characters’ spoken denials contrast with what their thoughts reveal.
• Consequences and retaliation: Tang Xiao’s attempt to hold Zhou Dan accountable prompts her to threaten the company in return.
• Romance versus distraction: Si Wuyu tries to build intimacy, while Tang Shiba’s fixation on food and gossip repeatedly undermines the moment.
• Gossip as comic disruption: Tang Shiba’s sudden interest in Zhou Dan’s fight derails the near-kiss and ends the chapter on a cliffhanger.

Key plot points and events

• Zhou Dan and Jiang Na erupt into a public fight after Jiang Na refuses Zhou Dan’s demand that she “keep [the director] company.” Zhou Dan threatens to expose her, and the argument turns physical—with spitting, clothes tearing, and the crowd cheering them on.
• Director Li stops the fight. Through Tang Shiba’s thoughts, the crowd learns that Zhou Dan is planning to blackmail Tang Xiao that night: she knows he has a lover and intends to use compromising information to pressure him into sleeping with her.
• Zhou Dan leaves in humiliation, still intent on continuing the conflict. Jiang Na stays behind, composed, and is admired for standing up to Zhou Dan.
• Jiang Na asks Tang Shiba to help steal Zhou Dan’s phone before Zhou Dan can expose her. Tang Shiba agrees, thinking the plan sounds exciting, though the eavesdroppers misunderstand and believe she plans to “steal” Emperor Si.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhou Dan drops her cool, calculating façade, revealing how far she is willing to go when angry or desperate. Though embarrassed by the fight, she remains threatening and fixated on Tang Xiao.
• Jiang Na proves physically formidable and unexpectedly fearless. She openly defies Zhou Dan, then quickly regains her composure and seeks Tang Shiba’s help.
• Tang Shiba entertains herself by egging on the fight and agrees to Jiang Na’s risky plan. Her inner thoughts keep the crew—and the reader—misinformed about what she intends to steal.
• Director Li is exhausted by the production’s constant brawls and alarmed by the revelations about Zhou Dan’s blackmail scheme.
• Fang Cheng asks whether Zhou Dan’s breasts are fake, prompting an awkward exchange with Jiang Na.
• The spectators turn the events into gossip, mistakenly interpreting Tang Shiba’s plan as an attempt to abduct Emperor Si.

Significant themes

• Public spectacle and gossip: The crew treats a vicious fight and private scandals as entertainment.
• Power through secrets: Zhou Dan uses blackmail and exposure as weapons, while Jiang Na seeks to counter her by taking away her phone.
• Reputation and desperation: Zhou Dan’s fixation on Tang Xiao and fear of appearing humiliated contrast with Jiang Na’s apparent ease after the fight.
• Comic misunderstanding: Tang Shiba’s thoughts and the spectators’ assumptions turn a planned theft of a phone into a rumor about stealing a famous actor.

Plot points

• The system warns Tang Shiba that Tang Xueqing is thinking about killing Gu Qingcheng, though she is waiting for a chance to avoid becoming an obvious suspect.
• Tang Shiba and Jiang Na climb to Tang Xiao’s balcony, intending to watch over him after Tang Shiba predicts that Zhou Dan will visit.
• Zhou Dan arrives and threatens Tang Xiao: unless he lets her stay the night, she will expose damaging material about his company’s artists. Tang Xiao lets her in to trick her into revealing the evidence.
• Zhou Dan shows him disturbing material on her phone, but refuses to hand it over and says she has backups. Tang Xiao smashes the phone, while Tang Shiba realizes Zhou Dan also brought a laptop containing the files.
• Tang Shiba and Jiang Na leave to retrieve the laptop. They agree Jiang Na will pay Tang Shiba for her help, though Jiang Na can afford only 50,000.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba uses her knowledge of events and the system’s updates to protect others. She teases Tang Xiao through her thoughts, takes photos of Zhou Dan for possible leverage, and shifts to a new plan when she learns the evidence is backed up.
• Tang Xiao stays composed under Zhou Dan’s coercion, allowing her inside to inspect the evidence before smashing her phone. He also realizes Tang Shiba is trying to help him.
• Zhou Dan is revealed as manipulative and brazen, using blackmail and sexual advances to pressure Tang Xiao.
• Jiang Na eagerly supports Tang Shiba’s plan, especially the effort to obtain Zhou Dan’s phone and laptop, but reveals she has little money.
• Tang Xueqing’s dangerous intentions toward Gu Qingcheng remain a looming threat.

Significant themes

• Blackmail and abuse of power: Zhou Dan weaponizes private information to threaten Tang Xiao and the company.
• Loyalty and protection: Tang Shiba’s irreverent behavior masks her efforts to help her brother and monitor a potential threat.
• Comedy amid suspense: The nighttime surveillance, gossiping onlookers, and Tang Shiba’s blunt inner commentary contrast with the serious danger of blackmail and attempted murder.

Key events

• Tang Shiba agrees to help Jiang Na retrieve Zhou Dan’s laptop, jokingly charging her after teasing her about having previously spread false gossip.
• The pair sneak into Tang Xueqing’s room. Tang Shiba finds Zhou Dan’s locked suitcase, but Gu Qingcheng’s movement forces them to improvise: Jiang Na escapes downstairs, and Tang Shiba drops the suitcase from the balcony.
• The crash wakes Tang Xueqing. While she is distracted and the room is dark, Tang Shiba pins her beneath the quilt and beats her before slipping away. Tang Xueqing is left frightened and convinced she may have been attacked by a ghost.
• The women take the suitcase into the woods and break it open. Inside, they find Zhou Dan’s laptop, which contains disturbing videos and photos. Tang Shiba guesses the password, deletes the files, resets the laptop, and overwrites its storage with downloaded dramas to prevent recovery.
• Tang Shiba explains that she wanted to destroy the material to protect the people it harmed. She asks Jiang Na to pass the wiped laptop to a production extra, accepts only a small payment, and returns to bed. Meanwhile, Tang Xiao kicks Zhou Dan out. At dawn, an angry roar erupts from the villa.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba is bold, resourceful, and mischievous, but her actions are also motivated by concern for the people targeted by Zhou Dan’s files. Her teasing of Jiang Na gives way to practical help and unexpected generosity.
• Jiang Na is embarrassed by her earlier mistake and initially unsettled by the break-in, but she helps carry out the plan and is grateful to Tang Shiba.
• Tang Xueqing is startled awake and terrified by the unseen attack, unable to identify her assailant.
• Gu Qingcheng’s trip to the bathroom nearly exposes the intruders, forcing them to act quickly.
• A group of gossip-loving spectators follows the operation and trades confused messages with an online group. They later discover the director is also interested in the gossip, adding a comic, voyeuristic chorus to the scene.
• Zhou Dan is not present during the theft, but the destruction of her files and her expulsion set up the fallout.

Significant themes

• The chapter mixes revenge and slapstick with a more serious act of protection: Tang Shiba’s prankish violence against Tang Xueqing contrasts with her purposeful destruction of harmful material.
• Gossip and surveillance shape the setting: onlookers follow events, share rumors, and even treat the director as a fellow spectator.
• Solidarity and compassion appear in Tang Shiba’s willingness to help Jiang Na and protect the people exposed by Zhou Dan, despite the chaotic, morally questionable methods.

Key plot points and events

• Tang Shiba confronts Zhou Dan early in the morning, teasing her about her missing suitcase and stalling her while she searches for it.
• Through her thoughts and the system, Shiba exposes Zhou Dan’s history of exploiting young actresses by offering them to executives. The revelation horrifies the cast and prompts several people to leave for the production team.
• Tang Xueqing accuses Shiba of beating her the previous night. Shiba denies it and suggests someone may have attacked Xueqing to frame her, prompting Xueqing to wonder whether Gu Qingcheng was responsible.
• The system then reports that Zhou Dan has been beaten, stripped, and tied to a tree. The crowd gathers; she is taken away for medical care.
• The director, fed up with the repeated disruptions, complains that Zhou Dan is a liability. The system calls her an “evil spirit” subdued and encourages Shiba to try a prize draw.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba relishes provoking Zhou Dan and exposing her misconduct. She refuses to admit to attacking Xueqing, while enjoying the confusion her denial creates.
• Zhou Dan is furious and suspicious after her suitcase and computer go missing, but her search is interrupted by Shiba. Her public humiliation and injury effectively remove her from the production.
• Tang Xueqing continues to act concerned and innocent, but privately suspects Gu Qingcheng may have beaten her.
• Gu Qingcheng appears during the accusation, becoming a possible suspect in Xueqing’s mind.
• The cast and gossip buddies react with disgust to Zhou Dan’s abuse of actresses; some go to the production team, while others comfort the injured or help summon an ambulance.
• The director is exasperated by the ongoing chaos and the trouble surrounding the cast.

Significant themes

• Exposure and accountability: Shiba’s revelations bring Zhou Dan’s alleged exploitation into public view.
• Revenge and humiliation: Shiba treats the confrontation as entertainment, while Zhou Dan’s downfall is brutal and public.
• Deception and suspicion: Shiba denies her role in Xueqing’s beating, leaving Xueqing to question who she can trust.
• Entertainment-industry abuse: The chapter highlights the vulnerability of performers and the harm caused by those who misuse their power.

Plot points and events

• Tang Shiba ignores the system’s gossip until it reports a wildly exaggerated Weibo story about Zhou Dan’s computer catching fire and Zhou Dan being taken away naked. Tang Shiba laughs at the absurd rumor.
• Tang Xiao stops Tang Shiba after filming, intending to confront her about how she treats Tang Xueqing. But when she challenges him to name his purpose, he admits he came to give her money.
• Tang Shiba eagerly shows him her payment code. Fang Cheng jokes that he also needs spending money, prompting Si Wuyu to transfer Tang Shiba 200,000. Tang Xiao matches the amount, and Si Wuyu then transfers her another 200,000 to outdo him.
• Tang Shiba ends up with 600,000, but refuses to keep Si Wuyu’s money because she has no relationship with him. Instead, she transfers Si Wuyu’s 400,000 to Fang Cheng, who is delighted by the unexpected windfall.
• The group later encounters Tang Xueqing and Gu Qingcheng. Fang Cheng invites them to lunch and boasts about the money changing hands. Tang Xueqing is upset that Tang Xiao gave Tang Shiba money, then criticizes Tang Shiba for giving money to an outsider.
• Tang Shiba warns Tang Xueqing to stop pretending and keep her distance, as the system prepares to reveal more gossip about her.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba remains blunt, money-minded, and suspicious of her family’s motives. Though she enjoys the windfall, she follows her own rule that she only accepts money from people she considers scumbags, so she redirects Si Wuyu’s gift to Fang Cheng.
• Tang Xiao backs down from reprimanding Tang Shiba, recognizing that he has not acted like a proper brother. He tries to reconnect through money, but his competition with Si Wuyu leaves him broke.
• Si Wuyu provokes Tang Xiao by repeatedly matching or exceeding his transfer. He appears to want to win Tang Shiba over, but is displeased when she refuses to keep his money.
• Fang Cheng turns the transfer contest into a joke and benefits from it, concluding that spending time with Tang Shiba brings both entertaining gossip and unexpected rewards.
• Tang Xueqing shows jealousy and resentment over Tang Xiao’s generosity toward Tang Shiba. Her concern about money being given to an “outsider” clashes with her own desire for preferential treatment.
• Tang Shiba and Tang Xueqing’s tense exchange reinforces their hostility, while Tang Shiba’s inner thoughts suggest she still suspects Tang Xueqing of plotting against Gu Qingcheng.

Significant themes

• Money as a substitute for family connection: Tang Xiao uses cash to approach Tang Shiba after admitting he has not fulfilled his role as a brother.
• Jealousy and rivalry: Si Wuyu and Tang Xiao compete over generosity, while Tang Xueqing resents Tang Shiba receiving money.
• Boundaries and trust: Tang Shiba refuses a gift she feels she has no right to keep, even while eagerly accepting money from Tang Xiao.
• Rumor and gossip: Social-media exaggeration and the system’s promised revelations provide comic relief and foreshadow further conflict.

Key plot points and events

• Tang Shiba’s system warns that Tang Xueqing is seeking support for a murder attempt and may use an afternoon water scene to attack Gu Qingcheng.
• Tang Xueqing tries to recruit Si Wuyu’s sympathy by bringing him food, but he refuses it. She then frames Fang Cheng as having deliberately knocked it over, prompting him to apologize. Tang Xiao accepts the unwanted extra meal, unaware of the full context.
• Before filming, Tang Shiba reveals that Tang Xueqing caused her childhood classmate’s death: she deliberately punctured his swimming ring and watched him drown, then concealed her knowledge by claiming he was practicing.
• During the scene, Tang Xueqing pushes Gu Qingcheng underwater and holds her down. The director stops filming and the crew rescues them; Gu Qingcheng is nearly unconscious.
• Tang Xueqing cries to Tang Xiao that she panicked and grabbed Gu Qingcheng because she thought Gu could swim. The memory of her similar excuse after the boy’s death makes Tang Xiao doubt her story. He pushes her away and gives his jacket to Gu Qingcheng.

Character developments

• Tang Shiba remains an amused, sharp-tongued observer, using her private knowledge to expose Tang Xueqing’s past and intentions.
• Tang Xiao shifts from trusting Tang Xueqing to confronting the possibility that she is deliberately dangerous. The revelation leaves him shaken, and he shows concern for Gu Qingcheng over Tang Xueqing.
• Tang Xueqing is exposed as manipulative and potentially murderous. Her staged victimhood contrasts with her genuine fear and violence in the water.
• Si Wuyu stays distant from Tang Xueqing and takes practical precautions once he hears the danger.
• Gu Qingcheng becomes the target of Tang Xueqing’s apparent attempt to drown her.

Significant themes

• Deception and accountability: Tang Xueqing’s familiar excuses have hidden a pattern of cruelty.
• Truth versus appearances: Her tearful performances persuade others, but Tang Shiba’s revelations and Tang Xiao’s memories expose inconsistencies.
• The danger of unchecked manipulation: What once passed as a childhood accident now appears connected to a present-day attack.

Character interactions

• Tang Xueqing pressures Si Wuyu for attention and tries to turn Fang Cheng’s accidental spill into a grievance; both men resist her in different ways.
• Tang Xiao’s growing suspicion of Tang Xueqing is sharpened by the parallel between her childhood excuse and her explanation after the filming incident.
• Tang Xueqing’s attack on Gu Qingcheng transforms the crew from an audience into emergency responders, while Tang Xiao’s choice to aid Gu signals a break in his usual sympathy for Tang Xueqing.

Key plot points and events

• Still shaken by an earlier near-drowning, Gu Qingcheng refuses to enter the pool. Tang Shiba volunteers to perform the next scene with Tang Xueqing.
• During the first take, Tang Xueqing tries to cling to Tang Shiba but suddenly loses strength after being pricked by a toothpick Tang Shiba had planted. She sinks, and Tang Shiba pulls her out before Si Wuyu arrives.
• Tang Shiba mocks Tang Xueqing’s claim that something pricked her, suggesting a ghost is punishing her. The remark reminds Tang Xueqing of the boy connected to her past wrongdoing, and the onlookers begin to suspect she is hiding something.
• For the next take, Tang Xueqing keeps her distance, but Tang Shiba kicks her underwater and frightens her by pretending to be a ghost. Tang Xueqing panics, swallows water, and passes out. The director ends the attempt and orders doubles to be used.
• Tang Xueqing accuses Tang Shiba of deliberately harming and scaring her. Tang Shiba denies it and demands proof. Tang Xiao does not defend Tang Xueqing, then leaves with Gu Qingcheng.
• In private, Tang Xiao tells Gu Qingcheng to stop associating with Tang Xueqing, accusing her of pursuing wealth and status. Gu Qingcheng denies it and begs him not to end their relationship.

Character developments

• Tang Shiba shows her vindictive, playful cruelty, using both a hidden toothpick and a frightening underwater performance to intimidate Tang Xueqing.
• Tang Xueqing becomes increasingly frightened and exposed. Her fear of the “ghost” hints at guilt over a past death, while Tang Xiao’s silence makes her feel abandoned.
• Tang Xiao grows conflicted about Tang Xueqing: he disapproves of Tang Shiba’s actions but cannot bring himself to defend Xueqing because of the person who died because of her.
• Gu Qingcheng is caught between her attachment to Tang Xiao and her connection to Tang Xueqing. She chooses to cling to Tang Xiao when he threatens to cut her off.
• The onlookers turn against Tang Xueqing, while one anti-fan uses the moment to recruit new members into an organized group.

Significant themes

• Guilt and its consequences: Tang Xueqing’s fear of the ghost reflects the unresolved wrongdoing in her past.
• Revenge and cruelty: Tang Shiba’s retaliation blurs the line between comic performance and genuine danger.
• Loyalty and self-interest: Tang Xiao questions Gu Qingcheng’s motives, while his treatment of Tang Xueqing reveals shifting family loyalties.
• Public judgment: The crowd quickly turns suspicion into condemnation, showing how reputations can be shaped by rumor and spectacle.

Character interactions

• Tang Shiba repeatedly provokes Tang Xueqing, who responds with fear and accusations; Tang Shiba counters by demanding evidence.
• Tang Xiao’s refusal to comfort or defend Tang Xueqing deepens her resentment toward him and the Tang family.
• Tang Xiao confronts Gu Qingcheng about her association with Xueqing, and Gu Qingcheng pleads to preserve their relationship.
• The spectators bond over their hostility toward Tang Xueqing and organize themselves into Tang Shiba’s anti-fan group.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• After recovering from the frightening incident, Tang Xueqing confronts Tang Shiba about kicking and scaring her. Tang Shiba claims she was possessed by a little boy who seemed to target Xueqing, unsettling her enough that she leaves.
• Nearby, an anti-fan hears rumors that Xueqing caused a child’s death when they were young by puncturing his swim ring. She shares the allegation in a celebrity gossip group, where members agree to investigate before exposing it.
• Tang Xueqing complains to Si Wuyu that Tang Shiba frightened her in the water and had bullied her before. She then tries to flirt with him and throw herself into his arms. He avoids her and opens the changing-room door, exposing her to the onlookers gathered outside.
• Tang Shiba mocks Xueqing for entering the men’s changing room, while Fang Cheng loudly pretends to search for the woman who tried to seduce Si Wuyu. Xueqing leaves in anger, feeling the production crew has turned against her.
• Xueqing later corners Gu Qingcheng and tearfully asks why she has been avoiding her. Gu admits that Xueqing’s second brother, Tang Xiao, told her to keep her distance.
• Xueqing calls her eldest brother, who reprimands Tang Xiao for ignoring her. Tang Xiao then calls Xueqing back and claims he missed her call, before explaining that he distrusts Gu Qingcheng and is trying to protect her. Xueqing accepts the explanation outwardly, but privately feels her brother has changed.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba stays irreverent and quick-witted, using humor and feigned innocence to unsettle Xueqing and puncture her excuses.
• Tang Xueqing grows increasingly isolated and suspicious. She tries to manipulate Si Wuyu through flirtation and Gu Qingcheng through tears, but neither interaction goes as smoothly as she wants.
• Si Wuyu firmly rejects Xueqing’s advances; Fang Cheng helps expose and ridicule the situation, while sharing playful banter with Tang Shiba.
• Gu Qingcheng feels guilty about avoiding Xueqing but reveals that Tang Xiao instructed her to do so.
• Tang Xiao appears protective toward Xueqing, though his dismissive behavior and evasive explanation leave her uneasy. Her eldest brother intervenes after she complains.
• The anti-fan and gossip group introduce the possibility that Xueqing has a dark childhood secret, though the rumor still needs verification.

Significant themes

• Manipulation and performance: Xueqing uses complaints, flirtation, and tears to influence others, while Tang Shiba and Fang Cheng counter her with humor and public exposure.
• Reputation and gossip: Rumors can quickly become potential scandals, but the group recognizes that evidence is needed.
• Isolation and shifting loyalties: Xueqing senses that people around her are turning away, and even her family’s behavior begins to feel unfamiliar.
• Appearance versus reality: Public explanations, private motives, and uncertain allegations complicate what others believe about the characters.

Key plot points and events

• The director orders Gu Qingcheng to move into Tang Shiba’s room, at Tang Xiao’s request. Tang Xueqing protests, but the decision stands.
• Tang Xueqing confronts Tang Xiao. He says he arranged the move because he believes Gu Qingcheng is dangerous and wants to protect Xueqing. She accuses him of changing and hints that she could expose his relationship with Gu Qingcheng; he rejects the threat and insists the matter is settled.
• Tang Shiba’s supernatural gossip reveals that the director’s hair loss may be linked to shampoo he bought from a friend, and that the celebrity endorsing it is bald beneath a wig.
• Tang Shiba finds the celebrity’s livestream and posts sarcastic warnings about the shampoo and the wig. Her anti-fans recognize her meaning and join in, flooding the stream with accusations of fake products until it is shut down. The controversy trends online.
• The director returns from a phone call and tells the cast to focus on their roles rather than their phones; filming resumes.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Xueqing grows increasingly anxious as her plans involving Gu Qingcheng are disrupted. Her attempt to pressure Tang Xiao with the threat of exposing his relationship fails, and she leaves in tears.
• Tang Xiao acts more distant toward Xueqing and holds firm in protecting Gu Qingcheng, showing that his loyalties and attitude toward his sister have shifted.
• Gu Qingcheng is reluctant to room with Tang Shiba but accepts the director’s decision without further argument.
• Tang Shiba dislikes the idea of a roommate but turns her gossip into a public exposé, while her anti-fans unexpectedly rally behind her.
• The cast members and Si Wuyu and Fang Cheng gather around Tang Shiba as her revelations draw their attention; the director becomes the target of their amusement over his hair loss.

Significant themes

• Changing family loyalties and trust: Tang Xiao’s protection of Gu Qingcheng strains his relationship with Tang Xueqing.
• Exposure and accountability: Tang Shiba’s gossip reveals alleged deception in celebrity product endorsements, while online fans amplify the accusations.
• Comedy through public embarrassment: Private secrets—hair loss, a hidden wig, and Tang Xueqing’s failed maneuvering—become sources of group amusement.

Key plot points and events

• After filming, Tang Xueqing asks Tang Shiba to let Gu Qingcheng stay with her, claiming Shiba has taken enough from her already. Shiba refuses and mocks her, leaving Xueqing unable to name anything Shiba has supposedly stolen.
• Xueqing then asks Shiba to switch rooms. Shiba rejects her again, and Xueqing walks away resentful.
• Fang Cheng shows Shiba news of a celebrity under investigation and tries to draw her into watching Xueqing, but Shiba would rather take her afternoon nap.
• The system warns Shiba that Tang Xiao and Gu Qingcheng are in a compromising situation in her room. Disgusted, Shiba demands a room change and heads to the men’s quarters.
• Shiba evicts Tang Xiao from his room and declares she will stay there. When he tries to make her leave, she insists he either pay her 100,000 or clean her room. Tang Xiao reluctantly agrees to clean it.

Character developments

• Tang Shiba remains irreverent, sharp-tongued, and unapologetically self-interested. She refuses to be drawn into other people’s drama, but takes decisive action when her room is no longer available.
• Tang Xueqing continues to play the victim and frame Shiba as cruel, while also pursuing her own schemes. The system reveals that she is gathering poisonous mushrooms, suggesting danger for Gu Qingcheng.
• Tang Xiao is caught off guard by Shiba’s discovery of his private encounter with Gu Qingcheng. Though furious, he gives in rather than argue publicly.
• Fang Cheng has become so invested in the ongoing drama that he is eager to follow it, while Si Wuyu appears briefly disappointed when Shiba’s visit to the men’s quarters is not about him.

Significant themes

• Manipulation and victimhood: Xueqing presents herself as wronged, but Shiba’s blunt questioning exposes the emptiness of her accusations.
• Boundaries and control: Shiba refuses to accommodate Xueqing and takes over Tang Xiao’s room on her own terms.
• Comedy through contrast: Shiba’s outrageous insults and inner monologue contrast with the others’ attempts to maintain dignity and appearances.
• Hidden schemes and secrets: The poisonous mushrooms hint at Xueqing’s dangerous intentions, while Tang Xiao and Gu Qingcheng’s relationship is no longer as concealed as they think.

Character interactions

• Shiba and Xueqing clash over Gu Qingcheng and the rooms; Shiba’s sarcasm leaves Xueqing with little room to respond.
• Fang Cheng tries to recruit Shiba as an audience for the drama, but she chooses sleep instead.
• Shiba confronts Tang Xiao by taking his room, then uses her leverage over his encounter with Gu Qingcheng to make him clean her room.
• Si Wuyu briefly hopes Shiba has come to see him, only to discover she is focused on Tang Xiao’s room.