Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• Tang Xiao secretly cleans Tang Shiba’s room while she sleeps. Gu Qingcheng finds him and sends him out; Tang Xiao’s assistant notes that his hands are shaking.
• Tang Xueqing brings mushroom soup for Gu Qingcheng and Tang Shiba. Tang Shiba’s inner monologue identifies the mushrooms as poisonous, so Tang Xiao takes the soup away before anyone drinks it. He disposes of it and warns Xueqing after claiming Xiao Wu became ill from a taste.
• Xueqing says she did not know the mushrooms were dangerous, but privately regrets that her plan failed. Tang Xiao no longer trusts her tears and tells her not to disappoint him.
• As filming becomes busier, Tang Shiba’s system reveals that Xueqing is guilty of tax evasion. Onlookers and anti-fans spread the allegation online and call for an investigation.
• The system then warns Tang Shiba that someone with a weapon is coming for her. She rushes off to investigate, leaving Fang Cheng and Si Wuyu unable to follow.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Xiao shows unusual consideration by cleaning Shiba’s room, then protects Gu Qingcheng and Shiba from the suspected poisoning. His attitude toward Xueqing has shifted from unquestioning trust to suspicion.
• Tang Shiba remains irreverent and eager for gossip, but her inner commentary alerts Tang Xiao to the danger in the soup. She also reacts quickly to the warning of an approaching threat.
• Tang Xueqing appears caring by bringing soup, but her evasive explanations and private frustration suggest deliberate scheming. Her relationship with Tang Xiao grows more strained.
• Gu Qingcheng is surprised by Tang Xiao’s cleaning and nearly drinks the soup before he intervenes.
• The system and bystanders fuel the comedy and plot: the system banters with Shiba, while gossipers and anti-fans amplify the tax-evasion allegation online.

Significant themes

• Deception and eroding trust: Xueqing’s apparent innocence increasingly looks like a cover for malicious actions.
• Protection and loyalty: Tang Xiao acts to keep Shiba and Qingcheng safe, even while trying to conceal his concern.
• Gossip and public judgment: Rumors can quickly become online accusations, especially when anti-fans exploit them for attention.
• Comedy amid danger: Shiba’s absurd commentary and the system’s banter contrast with poisoning, tax allegations, and an impending armed threat.

Plot points and events

• Tang Shiba returns to her room with a wooden stick after deciding she needs a weapon. She catches Si Wuyu climbing toward her balcony and threatens to knock him down. He backs off, then stays nearby to guard her after learning someone may be scouting the place.
• Gu Qingcheng remains distant from Tang Shiba, apparently influenced by Tang Xueqing. Meanwhile, Tang Shiba has secretly been tapping Gu Qingcheng on the head at night to keep her awake, believing a kidnapper may strike if they fall asleep.
• Gu Qingcheng confides in Fang Cheng about the strange nightly knocks. Tang Xiao sees them together, becomes jealous, and orders her to stop spending time with Fang Cheng. He offers to investigate the disturbances himself.
• Tang Shiba and Gu Qingcheng both eventually fall asleep. Si Wuyu and Tang Xiao separately check the room and leave, but a man named Zhao Shen then enters, confirms his target, and carries Gu Qingcheng away.
• Tang Shiba wakes, grabs her stick, and pursues Zhao Shen. Tang Xiao hears her thoughts and joins the chase. Gu Qingcheng wakes while bound to Zhao’s back, fights him by struggling and biting his neck, and is slapped in retaliation.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba is resourceful and vigilant, though exhaustion undermines her plan to keep Gu Qingcheng awake. Her teasing confrontation with Si Wuyu gives way to urgent action when the kidnapping happens.
• Si Wuyu shows his growing devotion to Tang Shiba by obeying her warning and keeping watch, while Fang Cheng mocks his lovesick behavior and eventually drags him away.
• Gu Qingcheng grows closer to Fang Cheng through filming and trusts him with her fears. Despite her vulnerability during the abduction, she responds fiercely rather than submitting quietly.
• Tang Xiao displays jealousy and possessiveness toward Gu Qingcheng, but also acts protectively by checking her room and pursuing the kidnapper.
• Fang Cheng offers Gu Qingcheng comfort and candy, while his teasing and fear of ghosts add comic relief.

Significant themes

• Protection and vulnerability: Several characters try to guard the women, but their overlapping visits leave a gap that the kidnapper exploits.
• Trust, jealousy, and control: Gu Qingcheng’s bond with Fang Cheng triggers Tang Xiao’s possessiveness, while Tang Xueqing’s influence appears to strain her relationship with Tang Shiba.
• Deception and mistaken assumptions: Tang Shiba’s strange nightly “haunting” is actually her attempt to prevent danger, but it exhausts both women.
• Resistance under threat: Gu Qingcheng’s struggle and bite show her determination to fight back even when bound and threatened.

Key plot points and events

• Zhao Shen abducts Gu Qingcheng, intending to use her to lure Tang Shiba to him. Tang Shiba and Tang Xiao catch up, but Zhao Shen refuses to release Gu Qingcheng unless Tang Shiba submits.
• Tang Shiba offers to take Gu Qingcheng’s place. Zhao Shen cuts Gu Qingcheng’s neck to force Tang Xiao to tie Tang Shiba up, then grabs Tang Shiba and tries to flee with her.
• Gu Qingcheng seizes an opening to escape. Tang Shiba tricks Zhao Shen by tying the rope to a tree, freeing herself, and hiding in the bushes.
• When the production crew’s lights appear, Zhao Shen tries to escape. Tang Shiba attacks him, but he nearly stabs her. Tang Xiao intervenes and is slashed on the hand before disarming Zhao Shen. The crew arrives and Zhao Shen is restrained.
• Si Wuyu checks that Tang Shiba is safe. Gu Qingcheng treats Tang Xiao’s injury but criticizes Tang Shiba for fighting. Tang Xiao angrily defends her, and Gu Qingcheng runs off in tears.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba remains bold and combative, but also acts to rescue Gu Qingcheng despite their complicated relationship. She improvises under pressure and hides her fear behind sarcastic thoughts.
• Tang Xiao is cautious during the standoff but ultimately protects Tang Shiba, taking a knife wound for her. His anger toward Gu Qingcheng reflects his belief that she fails to appreciate Tang Shiba’s help.
• Gu Qingcheng escapes through her own quick thinking, yet continues to blame Tang Shiba for involving her in the danger. Her tears reveal confusion and resentment rather than gratitude.
• Zhao Shen is driven by revenge against Tang Shiba and proves volatile and dangerous, using Gu Qingcheng as leverage.
• Si Wuyu shows concern for Tang Shiba, relieved when he confirms she is unharmed.

Significant themes

• Rescue and obligation: Tang Shiba saves Gu Qingcheng despite believing she would not normally intervene, because Zhao Shen’s grudge is ultimately against her.
• Misplaced blame and divided loyalties: Gu Qingcheng sees Tang Shiba as responsible for her ordeal, while Tang Xiao sees Tang Shiba as her rescuer.
• Courage and risk: The confrontation highlights both Tang Shiba’s willingness to face danger and Tang Xiao’s readiness to protect her.
• Manipulation and revenge: Zhao Shen’s plan is part of a broader scheme attributed to Tang Xueqing, deepening suspicion and mistrust.

Plot points and events

• Zhao Shen is arrested after confessing to an attempted attack connected to Tang Shiba. He furiously blames her as police drag him away, while Shiba taunts him.
• The crew and onlookers gossip about the arrest. A secret anti-fan posts a gleefully misleading account online, and the “quacking buddies” rush off to watch what happens next.
• Shiba and her friends wake Tang Xueqing, falsely claiming that Zhao Shen killed Gu Qingcheng and named Xueqing as the mastermind. Their aim is to test her reaction and expose her guilt.
• Xueqing pretends innocence but shows excitement at hearing Gu is supposedly dead. Fang Cheng adds to the deception by describing a gruesome death. When staged “police” arrive and claim Zhao confessed, Xueqing panics and smashes her phone.
• The group presents Xueqing with a fake corpse—one of the crew in makeup—then Gu Qingcheng unexpectedly returns alive. Xueqing screams and faints.
• Si Wuyu has the broken phone sent for repair and data recovery. The group disperses, leaving Gu confused about the elaborate performance.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba remains sharp-tongued and resourceful, using a staged police investigation to provoke Xueqing into revealing herself.
• Tang Xueqing maintains her innocent act until the fake evidence and corpse frighten her; her panic and destruction of her phone deepen suspicion that she arranged the attack.
• Gu Qingcheng is unharmed and unaware of the scheme, returning at the worst possible moment for Xueqing’s nerves.
• Fang Cheng, Si Wuyu, and the quacking buddies help stage the deception, showing their willingness to join Shiba’s theatrical scheme. The fake officers and corpse performer turn the confrontation into a chaotic prank.
• The anti-fan enthusiastically reports the arrest and later praises the group’s acting.

Significant themes

• Deception and performance: Characters use acting, false claims, disguises, and staged evidence to expose someone who is pretending innocence.
• Guilt revealed through reaction: Xueqing’s apparent delight at Gu’s supposed death and her panic when confronted suggest more than her denials do.
• Comedy amid danger: A serious attempted crime gives way to exaggerated theatrics, online gossip, and slapstick horror.
• Public image and gossip: The anti-fan’s post shows how quickly an incident can be turned into sensational online commentary.

Plot points and events

• Recovered messages show Tang Xueqing had been manipulating Zhao Shen by repeatedly complaining about Tang Shiba and hinting that Gu Qingcheng had slept with the director. Though the messages do not prove she ordered Zhao’s attack, Si Wuyu tells Chang Hua to publicize their connection and fuel the online backlash.
• Tang Xiao tells Tang Xueqing she is being removed from the drama and ordered home. When she refuses to leave, news breaks that she is under investigation for substantial tax evasion. Tang Xiao orders her removal and calls for a press conference.
• Tang Xueqing resists and bites Xiao Wu. Tang Shiba knocks her unconscious with a hand chop, and Xiao Wu carries her away.
• Gu Qingcheng sees the tax-evasion revelations online and realizes she can no longer defend Tang Xueqing. Tang Xiao warns her to be more careful about her friends and says he has arranged an assistant for her.
• Tang Xueqing and another disgraced star, Zhou Yang, lose fans. Tang Shiba’s Anti-Fans capitalize on the scandal to recruit them, and the group’s numbers later surge from over twenty million to over forty million.
• The production replaces Tang Xueqing with Jiang Na, who is delighted by the opportunity and tries to pay Tang Shiba out of gratitude.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Xiao takes decisive action against Tang Xueqing, but his growing irritation with Gu Qingcheng makes him snap when she tries to defend her friend. He leaves further explanation unsaid when Tang Shiba watches him.
• Tang Shiba remains amused by the chaos, helps remove the resisting Tang Xueqing, and reflects that the change may spare Gu Qingcheng and Tang Xiao from their expected tragic outcomes—though the system says the altered events will have no effect.
• Gu Qingcheng is confused by Tang Xueqing’s dismissal and initially tries to defend her. The public evidence finally forces her to confront Tang Xueqing’s wrongdoing.
• Tang Xueqing continues to play the victim, then reacts with anger and desperation as her career collapses.
• Jiang Na gains an unexpected career opportunity and expresses overwhelming gratitude to Tang Shiba.

Significant themes

• Public exposure and consequences: Online scrutiny and official tax-evasion allegations rapidly destroy Tang Xueqing’s standing.
• Manipulation and misplaced loyalty: Tang Xueqing’s private influence over Zhao contrasts with Gu Qingcheng’s continued trust in her.
• Chaotic, comic justice: Tang Shiba’s unconventional intervention and the Anti-Fans’ aggressive recruiting turn scandal into farce.
• Fate versus changing events: Tang Shiba questions whether altering the story’s course can change its outcomes, but the system insists it cannot.

Key events

• Tang Shiba learns that Tang Xueqing paid tens of millions in taxes with help from a powerful, still-unknown backer. She tells the Gossip Buddies to keep watching Xueqing, wary of future trouble.
• With Xueqing gone, filming becomes more harmonious. Crew members—including the director and Fang Cheng—join the Gossip Buddies’ “ga” conversations. Si Wuyu can understand their chatter, but finds he cannot explain it to Tang Shiba, leaving her amused.
• For a dramatic scene, Si Wuyu deliberately spends an hour in the freezing pool to make his character’s illness convincing. Fang Cheng suspects he is overdoing it and asks Tang Shiba to look after him afterward.
• Tang Shiba’s gossip reveals that Fang Cheng’s childhood friend is a woman who likes him and has been undermining his romantic prospects. Fang Cheng had mistaken her for a boy and, after learning the truth, rushes off to confront her.
• Chang Hua gives Tang Shiba a bathrobe for Si Wuyu, explaining that Si dislikes his assistant’s fussing and that another actress’s involvement might spark rumors. Tang Shiba helps Si after he emerges from the pool, pale and shivering.
• Si Wuyu develops a high fever after filming. When he refuses medicine, Fang Cheng drags Tang Shiba to his room and hands her the medicine, hoping her sternness will persuade him.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba remains alert to the threat posed by Xueqing’s mysterious benefactor. She is also increasingly drawn into caring for Si Wuyu, though she is embarrassed by his intense attention and insists she is not a violent person.
• Si Wuyu shows extreme commitment to acting, but his willingness to make himself ill—and his contentment leaning on Tang Shiba—suggests both recklessness and growing affection. He is captivated by her laughter.
• Fang Cheng becomes part of the Gossip Buddies’ circle, but his confidence is shaken when he learns his childhood friend’s real feelings. He also relies on Tang Shiba to care for Si Wuyu.
• Tang Shiba and Si Wuyu share a playful, increasingly intimate moment after his failed attempt to explain the crew’s “ga” talk. Later, she supports him physically and is asked to help with his medicine.
• The production crew grows closer through the Gossip Buddies’ unusual communication, while Chang Hua’s request places Tang Shiba in the role of Si Wuyu’s caretaker.

Significant themes

• Gossip as connection and disruption: The crew’s shared “ga” language builds friendships, while private gossip exposes hidden feelings and misunderstandings.
• Growing intimacy: Tang Shiba and Si Wuyu’s teasing, blushing, and caretaking deepen their bond.
• Dedication versus recklessness: Si Wuyu’s commitment to authenticity impresses Tang Shiba but worries Fang Cheng.
• Hidden threats and hidden feelings: Xueqing’s unknown backer remains a danger, while Fang Cheng’s friendship is overturned by an unexpected romantic truth.

Key plot points

• Tang Shiba struggles to get a feverish Si Wuyu to take his bitter medicine. She teases him with an embarrassing childhood story about his father once bringing home the wrong child, but ultimately forces the medicine into his mouth.
• Si Wuyu asks for a kiss, and Tang Shiba gives him one on the cheek before he agrees to swallow. His fever breaks by evening.
• That night, two men sent by Si Wuyu’s Second Uncle try to approach the building. Chang Hua subdues them, and Si Wuyu sends a warning to his uncle, explaining that he is letting the man’s schemes continue so he can remove him completely.
• Si Wuyu admits to himself that he deliberately caught a cold to draw out his enemies—but the only reward he got was a kiss.
• After filming wraps, Tang Shiba prepares to go home. A group of about twenty people, led by a former anti-fan, gives her gifts. In return, she shares pearls from a necklace, unaware that each is valuable.
• The former anti-fan recruits the group into a covert fan circle: they should act like critics in public, but protect and support Tang Shiba privately. She reports her success to the Has-Been Celebrity Group.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba shows a mix of bluntness and kindness: she forcefully medicates Si Wuyu, then responds warmly to the fans’ gifts and gives them pearls. She is surprised and moved to learn that people like her.
• Si Wuyu remains calculating even while ill, using his cold as bait for his uncle’s men. His reluctance to take medicine also reveals a childish, affectionate side, especially in his request for a kiss.
• The former anti-fan, Shanshan, shifts from critic to devoted supporter and becomes a leader, recruiting others to quietly defend Tang Shiba.
• Tang Shiba and Si Wuyu share a playful, intimate exchange: she mocks his vulnerability, while he tries to coax a kiss from her.
• Si Wuyu and his Second Uncle remain in conflict. Si Wuyu’s warning signals that he is preparing to eliminate his uncle’s influence rather than simply reacting to each provocation.

Significant themes

• Unexpected loyalty: People who appear to dislike Tang Shiba become genuine supporters.
• Public image versus private affection: The fan group plans to criticize her publicly while protecting her behind the scenes.
• Vulnerability and affection: Si Wuyu’s illness exposes a softer, more childish side beneath his strategic composure.
• Hidden schemes and patience: Si Wuyu tolerates his uncle’s attacks because he intends to use them to bring him down completely.

Plot points and events

• Tang Shiba leaves the villa and rides home with Xiao Wu, Tang Xiao’s frightened assistant. Once the gossip system’s card expires and it begins tallying her points, she falls asleep.
• Si Wuyu arrives looking for Tang Shiba after filming wraps, but learns she has already left. Hurt, he agrees that Fang Cheng should invite her to a meal.
• Tang Shiba returns to a warm welcome from her parents, who fuss over her and take her inside to eat. Tang Lin complains that they seem to favor her.
• Tang Xueqing, jealous of the family’s attention toward Tang Shiba and fearful of losing her place, cries about being unable to act. Tang Xuan offers to let her work at the company under his mentorship, but their parents reject the plan. Tang Lin proposes she work as his assistant instead.
• At dinner, Tang Shiba cheerfully describes filming, while her family privately remembers the danger she faced from Zhao Shen. Tang Xiao says she must appear on the next episode of A Loving Family because she topped the online poll; Xueqing is excluded. Tang Lin volunteers to join, hoping to get even with Shiba, and the family approves.
• Tang Xueqing concludes that joining Tang Company is her best remaining option and turns her attention to Tang Xuan. After dinner, Shiba is stuffed, and the system finishes tallying her points.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba remains carefree and food-focused, unaware that her bluntness and strength unsettle those around her. She is welcomed warmly by her parents and will return to the variety show.
• Xiao Wu is so afraid of Shiba after seeing her beat up her brother that he cries during the drive.
• Si Wuyu is hurt that Shiba left without saying goodbye, while Fang Cheng cheerfully offers to invite her out and sees himself as gaining an advantage with her.
• Tang Xueqing grows resentful as her family’s support fades. Her attempt to secure a place in the company is blocked, leaving her to rely on Tang Xuan.
• Tang Lin feels overlooked but still supports Xueqing; he also volunteers for the show, partly to pursue his own grudge against Shiba.
• Tang Xuan tries to help Xueqing, but their parents oppose the idea. Tang Xiao remains quiet until he announces the next show’s casting.

Significant themes

• Family favoritism and belonging: Tang Shiba’s return highlights her parents’ affection, while Xueqing feels increasingly excluded.
• Consequences and lost status: Xueqing’s inability to resume acting, following her tax-evasion scandal, narrows her options and weakens her influence.
• Jealousy and rivalry: Xueqing resents Shiba’s success and warmth from the family; Tang Lin’s planned appearance on the show hints at further conflict.
• Romantic longing and miscommunication: Si Wuyu’s hurt contrasts with Shiba’s apparent unawareness of his feelings.

Key plot points and events

• Tang Shiba’s gossip system reports she has 800 points, but her daily draw produces only medium paper. She remains unimpressed with the system.
• Tang Lin tells Tang Xueqing that their eldest brother seems to have feelings for her. Xueqing is thrilled and decides to use the idea to upset the family and avoid being sent away.
• Tang Xiao sends Shiba a contract for the renamed variety show A Family of Love and War, with filming to begin in two weeks. He rushes off after Shiba’s thoughts raise fears that Gu Qingcheng may still be in danger.
• Shiba discovers her fee is two million. Her eldest brother dismisses it as small, prompting the system to reveal that he has secretly saved money with a friend and bought Xueqing a bracelet.
• Tang Lin discovers the hidden savings and steals the gift during a sibling scuffle. Their mother takes the bracelet from him in exchange for 100,000, then charges the eldest brother a million to get it back. When he refuses, she gives it to Shiba instead.
• Shiba runs off with the bracelet, leaving her eldest brother furious. She then finds Xueqing feeding something to Er Gou and confronts her.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba remains sharp, opportunistic, and delighted by the family’s chaos. She uses what the system reveals to expose her eldest brother’s hidden money and ends up with his gift.
• Tang Xueqing turns the claim that the eldest brother likes her into a possible tactic for staying in the household and provoking the family. Her later behavior around Er Gou raises Shiba’s suspicions.
• Tang Lin is jealous to learn that his eldest brother has secret funds. He picks a fight, takes the bracelet, and sells it to their mother.
• The eldest brother is revealed to be resourceful enough to hide money, but possessive of his gift and increasingly exasperated as his family repeatedly takes it from him.
• Tang Mother enjoys the brothers’ familiar bickering, then exploits it for her own gain. Her decision to give the bracelet to Shiba suggests resentment that her sons favor Xueqing.
• Tang Xiao shows unusual patience toward Shiba, but leaves abruptly to check on Gu Qingcheng.

Significant themes

• Family conflict as comedy: The siblings’ rivalry turns into open squabbling and petty theft, which their mother watches with amusement.
• Secrets and leverage: Shiba’s system exposes private information, while family members use it to pursue money, gifts, or influence.
• Favoritism and belonging: Xueqing is determined to remain in the family, while the mother’s resentment over her sons’ attention to Xueqing surfaces.
• Shiba’s growing value: Her rising entertainment fee and involvement with the variety show mark her increasing prospects, even as she remains an outsider in the family’s quarrels.

Plot points and events

• Tang Shiba catches Tang Xueqing trying to feed Er Gou a drug intended to make him go into heat. Xueqing accidentally eats it herself while denying what it was. Shiba warns Er Gou not to accept anything from her.
• Shiba takes Er Gou to visit a neighbor’s dog, Little White, but the attempted canine “date” fails when the neighbor’s child recognizes Shiba and shuts the door on them.
• Shiba learns that Tang Third Brother, Tang Lin, is trapped at a bar after his supposed friends order an exorbitantly expensive bottle and mock him for being unable to pay. Tang Lin starts a fight.
• Shiba goes to watch, but the brawl spills toward her. When men threaten to force her to drink or pay, she fights them off, accidentally hitting Tang Lin as well. She escapes with Er Gou; Tang Lin follows.
• After they reach a park, Shiba and Tang Lin trade insults, though Tang Lin grudgingly thanks her. A message then reveals that Tang Xueqing has gone to seduce Tang Eldest Brother, prompting Tang Lin to chase after Shiba to witness the new scandal.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba remains fiercely protective of Er Gou and distrustful of Tang Xueqing. She is combative, blunt, and more interested in enjoying the spectacle than rescuing Tang Lin—though she ultimately fights when threatened.
• Tang Lin is exposed as having unreliable “friends” who turn on him when he is down. He is tough enough to fight back, but depends on Shiba for help and is repeatedly outmatched by her sharp tongue.
• Tang Xueqing is shown as malicious and increasingly brazen, first targeting Er Gou and then apparently pursuing Tang Eldest Brother.
• Tang Dad and Mom recognize that Shiba still feels like an outsider because of how her brothers treated her. They decide to send Xueqing away once Shiba and the others leave.
• Shiba and Er Gou have a comic, close bond: she protects and scolds him, while he eagerly tries to help during the brawl.

Significant themes

• Loyalty and betrayal: Tang Lin’s friends exploit him, while Shiba—despite her insults and reluctance—steps in when danger reaches her.
• Family estrangement and belonging: Shiba’s parents understand that past mistreatment has kept her from feeling part of the family.
• Cruelty and protection: Xueqing’s attempt to harm Er Gou contrasts with Shiba’s fierce care for him.
• Comedy through contrast: Shiba’s savage behavior and irreverent banter sit alongside her genuine affection for Er Gou and her family’s concern for her.

Key plot points and events

• Tang Xueqing is caught in Tang Xuan’s room, crying and disheveled. Their parents believe she was trying to seduce him, while Tang Xuan claims he is responsible and offers to marry her.
• Tang Dad demands Tang Xuan either sever ties with the family or abandon the idea of taking responsibility for Xueqing. He also declares that Xueqing is no longer part of the Tang Family and will leave with only her identification and bank cards.
• When Xueqing realizes Tang Xuan’s account could protect her, she pushes him away and accuses him of making improper advances. She also tries to blame Tang Lin, claiming he told her Tang Xuan liked her.
• Tang Xuan asks whether her earlier confession was genuine. Her denial devastates him, and he gives up defending her.
• Xueqing begs each family member to let her stay, but Tang Dad and Tang Mom refuse. Tang Xiao says she has deceived the family for years, though he withholds the details of an earlier childhood lie.
• As servants prepare to remove her, Xueqing blames Tang Shiba for the family’s change of heart and tries to reclaim her jewelry. Tang Mom orders her stopped and dragged out.
• Tang Xuan privately suggests that Xueqing’s departure may leave him a chance to be with her, despite his apparent heartbreak.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Xueqing shifts from pleading innocence to accusing others and trying to take her possessions. Her attempt to distance herself from Tang Xuan exposes her willingness to sacrifice him to protect herself.
• Tang Xuan initially accepts blame and is willing to defy his parents for Xueqing. Her rejection wounds him, but he ultimately stops defending her; his final thoughts suggest he may still hope to pursue her.
• Tang Dad and Tang Mom act decisively to remove Xueqing from the household. Tang Dad gives Tang Xuan an ultimatum, while Tang Mom rejects Xueqing’s pleas and orders her out.
• Tang Xiao refuses to help Xueqing stay, explaining that she has lied to the family for years. Tang Lin is bewildered when she draws him into the accusations, then avoids further protest under his parents’ anger.
• Tang Shiba, largely an observer, internally rejects being blamed and remains suspicious that the family’s rapid change of heart may not be the whole story.

Significant themes

• Deception and accountability: Xueqing’s shifting story and Tang Xiao’s accusation of long-term dishonesty undermine her appeals for trust.
• Family loyalty and boundaries: Tang Dad forces Tang Xuan to choose between family ties and Xueqing, while the parents draw a firm line against keeping her in the household.
• Self-interest and betrayal: Xueqing’s rejection of Tang Xuan when it suits her contrasts with his willingness to defend her.
• Appearance versus reality: The scene’s apparent scandal is complicated by the characters’ competing accounts and Tang Shiba’s suspicion that events may be more complex than they seem.

Plot points and events

• Tang Xueqing is expelled from the Tang household after her attempt to pursue the eldest brother. The parents feel relieved, though the brothers are upset by the sudden end of their eighteen-year relationship with her.
• Tang Mother sells Xueqing’s belongings and gives the proceeds to Tang Shiba, who is delighted by the unexpected money.
• The family prepares a reunion banquet to announce two things: Xueqing was adopted and has severed ties with the family, and Tang Shiba is their biological daughter.
• Tang Shiba arrives in an elegant pale blue gown. The guests recognize her and react with surprise, wary of her fearsome reputation, but ultimately offer her gifts and accept the announcement.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba remains blunt, mischievous, and unapologetically fond of money. She refuses to treat Tang Lin as an authority and enjoys receiving the relatives’ gifts.
• Tang Lin feels conflicted about Xueqing’s departure but has little influence over his parents’ decisions. He and Shiba continue to trade teasing insults.
• Tang Eldest Brother agrees to his father’s instructions while privately keeping his own plans; Tang Xiao suspects Si Wuyu may have come to see Shiba.
• Si Wuyu watches Shiba intently when she appears, while she notices his attention and wonders whether he thinks she looks beautiful.
• Tang Mother proudly dresses and styles Shiba, and Tang Dad publicly defends her reputation, asking the guests not to hold her past behavior against her.

Significant themes

• Family identity and belonging: Shiba’s biological place in the family is formally recognized, while Xueqing is cut off after the truth comes out.
• Reputation and acceptance: The guests know Shiba’s intimidating public image, yet the family urges them to judge her generously.
• Money and generosity: Shiba’s delight in her windfall and gifts provides comic relief and highlights her frugal, money-loving personality.

Key events

• Tang Xueqing arrives at the Tang family banquet with police, accusing eldest brother Tang Xuan of raping her and claiming the family helped cover it up.
• She presents a carefully angled photo of Tang Xuan holding her and displays bruises as apparent evidence. The accusation turns the gathering against the family.
• Tang Shiba’s thoughts reveal that Xueqing had actually slept with another man and planned to frame Tang Xuan. Shiba tells the police she has a video that can clear him.
• Shiba shows the officers a Weibo post containing photos and an account exposing Xueqing’s encounter with the other man. Realizing she has been exposed, Xueqing is taken into custody.
• Tang Xuan slaps Xueqing and ends their sibling relationship. The scandal ruins her reputation, and the family ends the banquet early.
• Afterward, Tang Xuan asks Shiba to beat him as punishment for how badly he treated her.

Character developments

• Tang Shiba acts decisively to protect Tang Xuan, calm her mother, and expose Xueqing. Her playful eagerness to punish Tang Xuan hints that she still resents his past behavior.
• Tang Xuan finally accepts that he was wrong to keep trusting Xueqing. He rejects her, cuts ties with her, and shows remorse toward Shiba.
• Tang Xueqing is exposed as manipulative and ungrateful: she attempts to frame Tang Xuan and implicate the whole family, but her scheme collapses.
• Tang Mother and Father are shocked and enraged by Xueqing’s betrayal. The mother briefly becomes unwell from the confrontation but recovers with Shiba’s help.
• Tang Third Brother rushes to support his mother, though his bruised face draws her attention.

Significant themes

• Betrayal and ingratitude: Xueqing turns against the family that raised her.
• Truth versus appearances: Her staged evidence initially seems convincing, but the online post exposes the truth.
• Accountability and broken trust: Tang Xuan recognizes his past blindness and ends his relationship with Xueqing.
• Family loyalty and reconciliation: Shiba protects her brother despite their strained relationship, while Tang Xuan’s apology-seeking gesture suggests a possible change.

Character interactions

• Xueqing confronts Tang Xuan and the family; her accusations provoke anger, disbelief, and public gossip.
• Shiba supports her mother, challenges Xueqing’s story, and directs the police to evidence.
• Tang Xuan confronts Xueqing physically and emotionally, declaring their bond over.
• The chapter ends with Tang Xuan asking Shiba to punish him, and Shiba enthusiastically considering it.

Key plot points and events

• Tang Eldest Brother asks Tang Shiba to beat him as a consequence of his behavior. With their parents’ approval, she delivers a thorough beating, scolding him for being arrogant, lovesick, and condescending.
• Fang Cheng watches from the doorway and messages Shanshan about the scene, though he refuses to film it. Shanshan spreads the news through her anti-fan and gossip groups, whose members eagerly discuss Tang Shiba’s latest spectacle.
• After Tang Shiba finishes, Tang Second Brother takes the injured eldest brother away. Their parents then question Tang Third Brother about his swollen face. He says he fought Fang Cheng over the family dog, Er Gou.
• Fang Cheng denies trying to steal the dog, explaining that he was simply feeding him because he thought he was handsome. Tang Third Brother apologizes at their mother’s insistence, then leaves after trading insults with Fang Cheng.
• Si Wuyu tells Tang Shiba that he likes her spirited nature. She feels uncomfortable under his attention and escapes to play with Er Gou; Fang Cheng follows, asking her to teach him how to fight.
• In private, Tang Dad explains to Si Wuyu that Tang Shiba is emotionally guarded and trusts her mother most. He advises Si Wuyu not to pursue her, emphasizing that the family wants her to live freely. Si Wuyu promises not to hurt her, and the two turn to business matters.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba remains blunt and physically formidable, but her family’s acceptance of her behavior suggests they understand and accommodate her. She remains wary of emotional closeness, especially from Si Wuyu.
• Tang Eldest Brother accepts the punishment, though he is stunned by how painful it is. His willingness to submit contrasts with his earlier arrogance.
• Fang Cheng is both alarmed by Tang Shiba and fascinated by her, while maintaining his playful rivalry with Tang Third Brother. He has also become Shanshan’s source of updates.
• Tang Third Brother is hot-tempered and quick to fight, but obeys his mother when told to apologize.
• Si Wuyu shows clear affection for Tang Shiba and responds seriously to Tang Dad’s warning, promising to protect rather than hurt her.
• Tang Dad is protective but restrained: he cautions Si Wuyu while ultimately leaving Tang Shiba’s choices to her.

Significant themes

• Family discipline and acceptance: Tang Shiba’s family openly supports her unconventional way of settling conflicts.
• Emotional guardedness and trust: Tang Shiba’s distance is presented as a response to past hurt, making patience and respect important.
• Protection versus control: Tang Dad wants his daughter safe but does not intend to dictate her relationships.
• Humor and spectacle: The family’s chaos, Fang Cheng’s commentary, and the gossip groups turn private conflicts into comedy and public entertainment.

Key plot points and events

• Tang Xueqing’s scandal becomes a major trending topic, destroying her reputation and career. After being expelled by the Tang family, she smashes her apartment and vows revenge.
• An unidentified person tells Tang Xueqing to stay calm and says she still has a chance to kill Gu Qingcheng, then privately dismisses her as useless.
• Tang Xueqing tries to contact Gu Qingcheng, but gets no answer. Gu Qingcheng’s new phone number and Tang Second Brother’s constant presence keep Tang Xueqing away from her.
• Tang Shiba prepares to leave for a location shoot in nearby Wind City. Her parents worry about her, and Tang Dad gives her a blue jade pendant containing a protective talisman. She happily wears it.
• At the airport, Tang Shiba’s anti-fans gather among the fans of Si Wuyu and Fang Cheng. A group of shippers supporting Si Wuyu and Tang Shiba’s pairing confronts his obsessive solo fans.
• When Tang Shiba’s anti-fans arrive carrying rotten eggs, they mistake the solo fans for Tang Shiba supporters and pelt them. The anti-fans jokingly celebrate recruiting more people into their ranks.
• Si Wuyu and Fang Cheng spot Tang Shiba near the boarding gate and hurry after her, taking care not to draw attention to her.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Xueqing is left desperate and furious, but her anger at the Tang family and Gu Qingcheng remains dangerous. Her mysterious contact treats her as expendable.
• Tang Shiba remains practical and resilient, taking little luggage because she has endured far harsher conditions as an extra. She is also touched by her parents’ thoughtful gift.
• Tang Dad and Tang Mother show affection and concern, supporting Shiba’s trip and trying to look after her.
• Tang Second Brother acts protectively toward Gu Qingcheng, guarding her from Tang Xueqing.
• Si Wuyu enjoys the new shipping fans and understands the danger posed by Tang Shiba’s anti-fans. He and Fang Cheng try to protect Shiba’s anonymity.
• Fang Cheng is amused and concerned by the bizarre fan factions, especially the threat to Shiba at the airport.

Significant themes

• Reputation and public humiliation: Tang Xueqing’s scandal turns her into an industry-wide punchline.
• Protection and family care: Shiba’s family supports her, while Tang Second Brother shields Gu Qingcheng.
• Fan culture and mob behavior: The airport chaos satirizes celebrity fandom, shipping factions, and anti-fans’ hostility.
• Resilience: Shiba’s difficult past shapes her matter-of-fact attitude toward demanding work.

Plot points and events

• On a flight, Tang Shiba is relieved to have escaped a scuffle among Si Wuyu’s fans, only to find Si sitting beside her.
• Si tries to attract her attention with his looks and mentions that his clothes feel tighter from working out. Tang Shiba is tempted, but mostly fixates on his skin and abs; she warms her cold hand on his stomach while snacking.
• Tang Shiba overhears that a man seated ahead is cheating and taking his mistress on a trip. She recognizes him as her uncle, Tang Wang, and tries to photograph the pair as evidence for her mother.
• Si’s attempt to keep Tang Shiba’s hand on his abs makes her drop her phone, which hits the mistress. The woman angrily confronts Tang Shiba, who retorts by calling out her affair.
• Tang Wang recognizes Tang Shiba and tries to pass the woman off as his secretary. Tang Shiba points out the intimacy of their “joking,” while nearby passengers begin gossiping and recording the incident.

Character developments

• Tang Shiba remains irreverent, bold, and delighted by gossip. She quickly turns an accidental confrontation into a public exposure.
• Si Wuyu is openly attracted to Tang Shiba and tries to get closer to her, though his possessiveness—clasping her hand to keep it on his abs—causes trouble.
• Tang Wang becomes nervous and evasive when exposed, apologizing and scrambling to disguise his relationship with the woman.
• The mistress shifts from confrontational to quiet once she realizes Tang Shiba is connected to Tang Wang.

Themes

• Gossip and exposure: Tang Shiba’s talent for uncovering secrets brings private misconduct into public view.
• Infidelity and hypocrisy: Tang Wang and his companion try to conceal their relationship while criticizing Tang Shiba.
• Attraction and comic distraction: Si’s flirtation repeatedly competes with Tang Shiba’s appetite for snacks and scandal.

Character interactions

Tang Shiba and Si Wuyu flirt awkwardly, with her hand on his abs while she hunts for gossip. Their physical closeness leads to the phone mishap that sparks the argument. Tang Shiba then confronts the mistress and exposes Tang Wang’s identity, while the surrounding passengers amplify the humiliation by whispering and filming.

Key events

• Tang Wang leaves the airport in a hurry after Tang Shiba catches him with another woman. Tang Shiba and Fang Cheng discuss the apparent affair, and Fang Cheng enthusiastically goes to expose the pair. Other bystanders stop Tang Wang and the woman, while Tang Shiba records the scene and sends it to her mother with a pointed message.
• Anti-fans witness Tang Shiba with Si Wuyu and misinterpret him tugging her by the sleeve as them holding hands, then rush to share the rumor with a fan-shipping group.
• At the hotel, Tang Shiba discovers she is sharing a room with Gu Qingcheng and another actress. She is happy to sleep alone, but immediately dashes off after her system reports a new scandal.
• Tang Shiba learns that Director Li and his wife, Wu Yan, have reconciled, but his apprentice Wang Ming is trying to force himself on her. Tang Shiba and Fang Cheng race upstairs. At the door, Tang Shiba invents a pretext—claiming they need to scan a code—to get inside.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba remains irreverent and quick to act, turning her uncle’s affair into a public spectacle and eagerly chasing fresh gossip. Her exchanges with the system are teasing and combative.
• Tang Wang is ashamed and desperate to escape exposure; Tang Shiba deliberately sends evidence to her mother.
• Fang Cheng eagerly joins Tang Shiba in pursuing scandals, while Si Wuyu quietly indulges them and escorts Tang Shiba to the hotel.
• The anti-fans’ mistaken report about Tang Shiba and Si Wuyu shows how readily gossip becomes romantic speculation.
• Wu Yan rejects Wang Ming and tries to calm him, but he restrains her and makes threatening remarks. Tang Shiba intervenes, setting up a confrontation.

Themes

• The chapter uses comedy and gossip to expose hypocrisy and infidelity.
• Rumor spreads rapidly and can distort events, as seen in the anti-fans’ false account of Tang Shiba and Si Wuyu.
• Beneath the comic tone, Wang Ming’s coercive behavior introduces a more serious theme of harassment and the need to protect people at risk.

Plot and key events

• Tang Shiba and Fang Cheng find Wang Ming in Wu Yan’s room, where he had been trying to take advantage of her. Wu Yan initially hesitates to expose him, hoping he might change, but Wang Ming gives himself away and agrees to go to the set.
• In front of the crew, Wang Ming claims he and Wu Yan are lovers and demands that Director Li divorce her. He deliberately provokes Li, who has heart disease, insisting Wu Yan loves him and attacking Li’s age and health.
• The crew condemns Wang Ming, while Tang Shiba suggests he is after Wu Yan’s wealth. Wang Ming protests that his feelings are genuine, but his behavior convinces the others that he is exploiting her and trying to get rid of her husband.
• Wu Yan arrives, slaps Wang Ming, dismisses him, and warns him to stay away. She thanks Tang Shiba and Fang Cheng, then offers Tang a card that can help her get acting roles.
• Tang Shiba learns that Wu Yan is the largest shareholder in Shangpin Group, a major film company, and is astonished by her influence.

Character developments and interactions

• Wu Yan moves from cautiously giving Wang Ming a chance to firmly rejecting him. Her willingness to confront him reveals her strength and independence.
• Wang Ming exposes his entitlement and lack of gratitude toward his mentor. His claims of love are undermined by his attempts to provoke Director Li and his interest in Wu Yan’s wealth.
• Director Li stands up for his marriage, though the confrontation nearly overwhelms him because of his heart condition.
• Tang Shiba helps bring Wang Ming into the open, challenges his motives, and receives an unexpected career opportunity. She passes the offer to Fang Cheng, who urges her to keep it.
• Fang Cheng helps prevent Wang Ming from escaping, while Si Wuyu silently intimidates him and confirms Wu Yan’s powerful position.

Significant themes

• The chapter contrasts genuine care and loyalty with manipulation disguised as love.
• Wu Yan’s actions emphasize personal agency: she refuses to be treated as a prize or a means to wealth.
• Wang Ming’s betrayal of his mentor highlights the importance of gratitude and integrity.
• Comedy comes from the crew’s alarm over Director Li’s health, Tang Shiba’s irreverent commentary, and the revelation that Wu Yan is extraordinarily wealthy.

Plot and key events

• In the hotel, Tang Shiba reads messages about her uncle Tang Wangwang’s marital crisis: he is reportedly kneeling on nails after his wife gave him an ultimatum over custody of their children.
• Huang Yue asks Tang Shiba to carry her in a mobile game. Tang Shiba wins easily but refuses to coach her, even when Huang offers her expensive emergency chocolates.
• The next morning, Huang Yue tries to get close to Fang Cheng. Si Wuyu warns his brother not to trust people who flatter him for their own benefit. Tang Shiba jokingly gives Fang Cheng the opposite advice, and he takes it seriously, heading off to befriend Huang.
• On set, Gu Qingcheng repeatedly vomits during an eating scene. Tang Shiba suspects the chocolates Huang Yue offered were expired. Gu eventually finishes filming, while Tang Shiba completes her own simple scenes in one take.
• Huang Yue tells Tang Shiba that Fang Cheng wants to be her friend, apparently hoping to provoke her and gain access to him and Si Wuyu. Tang Shiba mocks her, joking that Huang should call her “Dad” if she wants her blessing.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba remains blunt, playful, and mischievous. She is skilled at the game but uninterested in helping Huang, and she answers Huang’s attempts at manipulation with teasing rather than jealousy.
• Huang Yue is persistent and calculating beneath her coy manner. She uses flattery and gifts to approach Tang Shiba, then tries to get close to Fang Cheng as a route into influential social circles.
• Si Wuyu is protective and perceptive, recognizing Huang’s flattering behavior as self-serving and trying to shield Fang Cheng from it.
• Fang Cheng is trusting and easily influenced. He misunderstands Si Wuyu’s warning because Tang Shiba deliberately gives him misleading advice.
• Gu Qingcheng struggles through filming after becoming sick, though the cause is only Tang Shiba’s suspicion.

Significant themes

• Manipulation versus sincerity: Huang’s friendliness is driven by ambition, while Si Wuyu sees through her motives.
• Comic misunderstanding and teasing: Tang Shiba’s jokes confuse Fang Cheng and put Huang on the defensive.
• Status and ambition: Huang hopes that access to Fang Cheng and Si Wuyu will raise her profile and social standing.

Key plot points

• Tang Shiba scares Huang Yue away with a playful raised hand, then discovers through her information-gathering ability that Huang Yue has bathed and washed her hair with dichlorvos since childhood. Huang Yue’s superstitious family convinced her it would keep evil spirits away.
• Si Wuyu worries that Huang Yue may be toxic and could harm Fang Cheng. He invites Tang Shiba to the snack street by offering to buy her food.
• There, Tang Shiba and Si Wuyu spot Fang Cheng with Huang Yue. Huang Yue flatters him into buying her snacks and gifts, but he leaves her to carry them herself.
• Huang Yue secretly goes looking for dichlorvos. Unable to find any, she enters a men’s restroom and steals urine, believing it has the same cleansing effect. Tang Shiba and the others discover what she is carrying.
• Tang Shiba recruits Fang Cheng to puncture the bag and drain it. He agrees eagerly, though he mistakenly thinks Huang Yue intends to drink the urine. As the group follows the pair back toward the hotel, Fang Cheng still has not carried out the plan; the chapter ends just as an opportunity appears.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba is amused by Huang Yue’s bizarre habits and takes charge of preventing her from bringing the urine back. Her appetite also drives her outing with Si Wuyu.
• Si Wuyu shows concern for his younger brother’s safety and stays close to Tang Shiba. He shares her shock at Huang Yue’s behavior.
• Fang Cheng enjoys Huang Yue’s praise and pays for her gifts, but remains oblivious to her intentions and unhelpful when she struggles to carry them. He readily agrees to Tang Shiba’s “mission,” despite misunderstanding the situation.
• Huang Yue is revealed as deeply shaped by her family’s superstition. She tries to win Fang Cheng’s affection through flattery and gifts, while continuing the dangerous cleansing ritual she was taught.

Significant themes

• Superstition and harmful inheritance: Huang Yue’s family’s beliefs have led her to repeat a dangerous practice since childhood.
• Manipulation and obliviousness: Huang Yue uses praise to get gifts and attention, while Fang Cheng misses both her motives and the truth about her “drink.”
• Comic absurdity: The escalating dichlorvos and urine revelations create the chapter’s central humor, contrasting with the characters’ genuine concern about possible harm.