Chapter Summaries

Plot points

• The Village Chief tells Tang Shiba that, to find wives for Qiao Da and Qiao Er, he has arranged a bride exchange with Fang Cheng’s family: Fang Cheng’s sister will come to the Qiao household, and Tang Shiba will go to Fang Cheng’s.
• Tang Shiba theatrically refuses, then agrees on the condition that she can eat a chicken first. The family happily lets her make beggar’s chicken, and Tang Xiao and Tang Lin return in time to enjoy it.
• Tang Shiba invites the production crew to eat but privately plans to use the meal to lower their suspicion before sneaking away to a banquet.
• At Fang Cheng’s house, Fang Cheng’s mother-in-law berates him over washing vegetables and insults him. Fang Cheng fires back, and she rolls on the ground pretending to be victimized.
• Si Wuyu advises Fang Cheng to roll too and outdo her. Fang Cheng makes outrageous accusations, leaving the mother-in-law speechless. When her son mentions the bride exchange, she immediately gets up and asks which family her daughter will be sent to.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba shows off her convincing acting and quick improvisation, turning the staged marriage proposal into an excuse to cook and eat chicken. She enjoys provoking others and remains focused on her own plans.
• The Village Chief struggles to keep pace with her performance, shifting from stern patriarch to flustered accomplice. Qiao Da and Qiao Er follow his lead and eagerly catch the chicken.
• Tang Lin and Tang Xiao return to find the gathering already underway and promptly flatter Tang Shiba for a share of the food.
• Fang Cheng proves just as shameless and theatrical as his mother-in-law, matching her performance with absurd counteraccusations. Si Wuyu directs the contest, while Fang Cheng’s sister-in-law enjoys seeing the mother-in-law get a taste of her own behavior.
• The mother-in-law’s sudden concern for her daughter shows that, beneath her theatrics, she is protective when the exchange becomes concrete.

Significant themes

• Performance and role reversal: The staged scenario repeatedly turns into a contest over who can act more convincingly—or outrageously.
• Comic power struggles: Tang Shiba and Fang Cheng take control of scenes through confidence, improvisation, and humor.
• Food and self-interest: Tang Shiba’s chicken feast becomes both a family spectacle and cover for her plan to slip away to the banquet.

Plot points and events

• A nasty mother-in-law initially agrees to a pretend household swap, but backs out when she realizes her daughter would be sent to the village chief’s home, whose sons have a bad reputation.
• She refuses to return the gifts already accepted and instead asks to be swapped into a household with an older man she can depend on in her old age. The Dragon God’s private commentary exposes this plan—and suggests the single village chief as a suitable target.
• The village chief comes to bring the family to his house. The mother-in-law keeps making demands, even suggesting she move in herself and, later, that her son divorce his wife so Tang Shiba can become his new wife.
• The arrangement changes when she learns Tang Shiba will be staying with her family. She quickly agrees, eager to impress the Dragon God, and the swap is finalized: Tang Shiba is paired with Si Wuyu.
• Tang Shiba privately realizes the pretend marriage could put her in an awkward position, while Si Wuyu appears pleased. At the end, her brothers, Tang Xiao and Tang Lin, insist they should go with her as part of her “dowry.”

Character developments and interactions

• The mother-in-law is exposed as calculating and shameless: she prioritizes financial security, tries to keep the gifts while backing out, then switches to fawning over Tang Shiba once the Dragon God is involved. Her real daughter-in-law is hurt by the contrast in treatment.
• Tang Shiba remains amused and unexpectedly happy when the mother-in-law proposes her as a bride for her son. She plans to retaliate by acting like a nasty daughter-in-law herself.
• Si Wuyu smiles at being paired with Tang Shiba and stands beside her protectively, while Fang Cheng teases him about keeping his “wife.”
• The village chief is embarrassed and exasperated by the mother-in-law’s advances and the crowd’s jokes, but goes along with the negotiations.
• Tang Xiao and Tang Lin joke about the village chief’s misfortune, then worry about being separated from their sister and demand to accompany her.

Significant themes

• The chapter satirizes self-interest, hypocrisy, and transactional family relationships: the mother-in-law’s principles change as soon as the arrangement benefits her.
• Public scrutiny and gossip shape the characters’ decisions, while the livestream audience and Dragon God’s commentary turn private motives into comedy.
• The pretend marriage creates romantic tension between Tang Shiba and Si Wuyu, alongside the continuing humor of their family’s chaotic loyalty.

Plot points and events

• Tang Xiao and Tang Lin insist on staying at the Old Woman’s house, but are assigned a miserable woodshed as their sleeping quarters. Tang Lin complains privately, while the Old Woman warns them to accept it or sleep with the sheep.
• The Old Woman offers to cook a chicken for Tang Shiba, claiming it is an offering to the Dragon God. Tang Shiba tells her that, if the offering is meant for her, the Old Woman should prepare it herself. Afraid of losing the Dragon God’s favor, the Old Woman cooks while ordering her daughter-in-law to take on other chores.
• The daughter-in-law assigns Tang Lin, Tang Xiao, and Fang Cheng household work. Tang Lin eagerly chooses the sheep; Tang Xiao takes Fang Cheng to feed the pigs and urges him not to cause trouble. Meanwhile, Si Wuyu accompanies Tang Shiba.
• Tang Shiba learns that Sun Qian’s group has encountered a serious problem linked to Qiao Family Village’s marriage-exchange customs. Yang Xin has been taken to another household as a wife after a man paid for her, apparently because he liked her appearance without makeup. The production crew is caught off guard and tries to ensure her safety while allowing the dispute to unfold.
• On her way to the incident, Tang Shiba runs into Si Wuyu. He catches her to keep her from falling and briefly holds her hand, deepening her confusion about their relationship.
• Shanshan discovers that she can hear Tang Shiba’s private thoughts and realizes that this is how the “Gossip Buddies” learn so many secrets. She rushes to witness the unfolding drama.
• Back at the Old Woman’s house, the Old Woman schemes to bring Tang Shiba into her family, hoping the Dragon God will bless her son and help his wife conceive. She also resents and mistreats her daughter-in-law, whom she intends to drive out.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba uses her supposed divine status to make the Old Woman do the work herself, then quickly leaves to investigate Yang Xin’s situation. She also wrestles with her attraction to Si Wuyu, wondering whether their kiss has changed what she feels.
• Si Wuyu stays close to Tang Shiba and catches her when she stumbles. His quiet attentiveness contrasts with her unease and suspicion, though he insists he was only trying to protect her.
• Tang Lin and Tang Xiao adjust differently to their poor lodging and chores: Tang Lin volunteers for sheep duty, while Tang Xiao takes a practical approach and tries to keep Fang Cheng calm.
• Fang Cheng is frustrated by the work and feels ignored when Tang Xiao leaves him to follow Tang Shiba.
• The Old Woman shifts between deference to Tang Shiba as the Dragon God and contempt for her daughter-in-law. Her desire for a grandchild makes her view Tang Shiba as a possible solution.
• Shanshan moves from being excluded from the gossip to realizing she can access Tang Shiba’s thoughts.
• Yang Xin is left frightened after being forcibly taken, exposing the danger behind the village’s marriage-exchange custom.

Significant themes

• Coercion and gender inequality: The marriage-exchange custom enables women to be treated as property, while the Old Woman’s daughter-in-law faces control and abuse within her own household.
• Superstition as leverage: Tang Shiba’s Dragon God persona influences the Old Woman’s behavior, while the Old Woman hopes to exploit that same belief for her family’s benefit.
• Changing relationships and uncertainty: Tang Shiba’s feelings toward Si Wuyu complicate her assumptions about his future and her own romantic intentions.
• Public spectacle versus real harm: What appears to be a reality-show situation becomes a genuine crisis, forcing the production team to confront the consequences of filming in the village.

Plot and key events

• Qiao Wu tries to take Yang Xin from her home, claiming a marriage payment gives him the right to her. Qiao San’s family intervenes, reviving an old feud rooted in Qiao San’s coercive “marriage exchange,” which drove Qiao Wu’s sister to suicide.
• Tang Shiba, hidden nearby, exposes Qiao San’s past abuse and his affair with his adoptive younger brother’s wife, revealing that the brother’s children are Qiao San’s. The furious younger brother attacks Qiao San with a brick, leaving him gravely injured. Tang Shiba calls the police.
• Qiao Wu still refuses to release Yang Xin, while the family who accepted the money refuses to return it. Sun Qian threatens to involve the police, and Tang Shiba finally steps forward to demand that Yang Xin be freed and the money returned.
• Qiao Wu insults Tang Shiba and insists the transaction is legitimate. She points out that he stayed silent when his sister was traded away and is now repeating the same wrongdoing. As police approach, Tang Shiba prepares to confront him.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba shifts from observing the conflict to openly intervening. Her sharp revelations expose the villagers’ hypocrisy, while her anger at Qiao Wu’s entitlement hints at an imminent confrontation.
• Qiao Wu presents himself as challenging an unjust custom, but his desire for Yang Xin and his use of his sister’s bride-price money show that he is repeating the abuse he condemns.
• Qiao San is exposed as abusive and deceitful; his adoptive younger brother’s reaction turns the confrontation violent.
• Sun Qian fiercely defends her daughter and challenges both families’ claims over Yang Xin.
• The Director and production crew struggle to manage what is supposed to be an acted scenario as the villagers’ conduct becomes increasingly real and dangerous. The livestream audience condemns the coercion and urges reporting it.

Significant themes

• Coercion disguised as custom: The village treats forced marriage and the taking of women as normal, though these acts are presented as serious crimes.
• Hypocrisy and cycles of abuse: Qiao Wu condemns Qiao San’s treatment of his sister yet repeats the same pattern with Yang Xin.
• Justice and accountability: Tang Shiba’s disclosures, the threat of police involvement, and the livestream’s attention challenge a community accustomed to impunity.

Key plot points and events

• Tang Shiba beats Qiao Wu after he mistreats Yang Xin. The villagers, frightened by her status as the “Dragon God,” quickly return the money paid for the girl.
• Tang Shiba reports several villagers she suspects of wrongdoing, saying she has evidence. Police arrive and take them away. The confrontation goes viral, putting Qiao Family Village and Wind City in the public eye.
• The show’s director realizes the village’s sudden notoriety could attract tourism investors and contacts the village chief to discuss developing the area.
• Back at the house, an old woman fusses over Tang Shiba but insults her daughter-in-law. When she begs the “Dragon God” to help her get a grandson, Tang Shiba reveals that the old woman’s son may be infertile and recommends medical tests. The old woman faints.
• With too little room for everyone, Tang Lin and Tang Xiao are sent to sleep in a rat-filled woodshed. Chang Hua and Li Ba then squeeze in with them, prompting Tang Lin to protest.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba acts decisively to protect Yang Xin and hold the village’s wrongdoers accountable. She remains impatient with people treating her as a deity, though her feared reputation gives her influence.
• Yang Xin admires Tang Shiba and wants to become her fan; Sun Qian comforts her but worries about Tang Shiba’s dangerous reputation.
• The villagers shift from rejecting Tang Shiba to fearing and obeying her, especially after the police arrive.
• The daughter-in-law endures her mother-in-law’s public criticism, then takes satisfaction when Tang Shiba’s revelation undermines the old woman’s certainty that she is to blame for the lack of a grandson.
• Si Wuyu quietly blocks the old woman from pushing past him, making her retreat.
• Fang Cheng and Tang Lin trade teasing remarks over the sleeping arrangements; Tang Xiao refuses to comfort his brother, and the brothers end up sharing the woodshed with Chang Hua and Li Ba.

Significant themes

• Justice and accountability: Tang Shiba uses her influence to expose exploitation and suspected wrongdoing.
• Fame and public attention: The incident brings the village unwanted scrutiny but also opens the possibility of tourism investment.
• Superstition and authority: The villagers’ belief in Tang Shiba as a divine figure shapes how they respond to her.
• Family pressure and gender expectations: The old woman blames her daughter-in-law for not producing a grandson, while Tang Shiba challenges that assumption.
• Comic reversal: The chapter pairs a serious intervention against abuse with slapstick reactions, family bickering, and overcrowded sleeping arrangements.

Key events

• Chang Hua and Li Ba arrive at the Wood Shed, where Tang Xiao and Tang Lin are already trying to sleep. A bed dispute turns into chaos: the brothers are distracted by an argument next door, and Chang Hua and Li Ba seize the bed.
• The Old Woman wakes and discovers that the money she hid in a pillow is missing. She accuses Fang Cheng and the others, but the real culprit is suspected to be Tang Lin, who refuses to admit anything. The money is eventually found in a different pillow, ending the dispute.
• With no room for four in the bed, the Wood Shed occupants play Fight the Landlord all night. Fang Cheng reports this to Si Wuyu, whose attempt to clarify that it is only a card game prompts teasing from the livestream audience.
• The next morning, the production team gathers the celebrities. When Tang Shiba learns that influencers—including Tang Xueqing—have arrived at the village entrance, she sneaks off to watch the argument. Fang Cheng and the others follow, climbing over a bank and wall despite concerns about their public image. The director joins them, eager to see the spectacle.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Lin’s mischievous reputation is reinforced: Tang Shiba immediately suspects him of taking the money, and Tang Xiao confronts him, though he denies it.
• Tang Xiao is exhausted and uninterested in the bed conflict until Tang Lin’s suspected theft brings him into action.
• Chang Hua and Li Ba bicker over whether to use force, then take advantage of the brothers’ distraction to claim the bed.
• The Old Woman’s attitude toward her daughter-in-law softens when she considers that her family may depend on her; she gives her money for a medical visit and new clothes. The daughter-in-law accepts, knowing it is money her husband had entrusted to his mother.
• Tang Shiba’s appetite for drama draws Fang Cheng, Si Wuyu, and the others after her. Their sneaking away becomes a joke among livestream viewers, while Fang Cheng’s misunderstanding of the card game’s name sparks further teasing.

Significant themes

• Comic suspicion and misunderstandings: The missing money leads to accusations, while the innocent card game is misread for suggestive reasons.
• Scheming and mischief: Tang Lin’s reputation shapes how others interpret events, even without proof.
• Family dependence and changing loyalties: The Old Woman’s treatment of her daughter-in-law shifts when she realizes she may need her.
• Public image versus curiosity: The celebrities risk looking undignified—and the production team abandons its duties—to get a better view of the village drama.

Plot points and events

• A crowd of roughly thirty influencers arrives at Qiao Family Village, hoping to exploit the village’s sudden popularity for views. Villagers block their entry, and some influencers argue and attempt to push past them.
• Tang Shiba and Fang Cheng watch from a field. Tang Shiba’s unfiltered thoughts expose the Village Party Secretary’s diaper use, prompting the villagers to laugh and then worry about his health.
• Tang Xueqing is also outside the village but stays hidden, wary of anti-fans. Shanshan recognizes her and alerts their group, including the “Little Prince of Scandals,” an influencer known for publicizing Tang Xueqing’s scandals. He comes looking for her, hoping to capitalize on the encounter.
• The Village Chief asks the visitors to wait two days while the village prepares, but several accuse the villagers of hiding something and make inflammatory claims about crime and captive celebrities.
• The group discovers they are being filmed for the variety show’s livestream. Instead of condemning their behavior, the show’s anti-fans urge them to keep arguing because they want entertainment—and hope Tang Shiba will keep watching.
• Director Wang is filming the commotion from nearby after the celebrities have left. Tang Shiba enjoys the escalating drama, though she cautions the crowd not to fight.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba remains gleefully absorbed in gossip and drama, quickly shifting attention from one target to another. Her thoughts inadvertently expose private details and drive much of the scene’s humor.
• Fang Cheng is puzzled by the growing group around them and denies bringing anyone; he is also eager to learn who has been smearing Tang Shiba.
• Si Wuyu quietly watches the crowd, intent on identifying Tang Shiba’s detractor so he can have that person dealt with.
• Shanshan spots Tang Xueqing and helps Little Prince locate her, while falsely telling him Tang Shiba is watching.
• Little Prince eagerly prepares to perform for Tang Shiba, believing the encounter could boost his audience.
• The villagers and Village Chief try to protect the village and keep it orderly, while the Village Party Secretary endures awkward scrutiny after Tang Shiba’s remark.
• The influencers shift from aggressive complaints to renewed theatrics once they realize they are on the livestream and see that the audience wants a spectacle.

Significant themes

• Influencer culture and opportunism: The visitors see the village’s popularity as a way to attract attention, not as a genuine reason to visit.
• Publicity and performance: The livestream turns conflict into entertainment, encouraging even hostile behavior for views.
• Gossip’s power: Tang Shiba’s casual observations expose secrets and redirect attention, while characters’ reactions become part of the spectacle.
• Boundaries and community protection: The villagers try to control access to their newly opened home despite pressure and accusations from outsiders.

Key plot points and events

• The Village Chief struggles to control the crowd of influencers, until the Road Patrolman arrives riding a pig. His once-embarrassing hobby has become a crowd-pleaser: visitors line up for photos and ask about riding the pig. The Village Chief realizes it could become a tourist attraction.
• Attention shifts to Tang Xueqing, who is recognized and confronted by anti-fans. She tries to present herself as a philanthropist, offering supplies and then money to build the village a road.
• Little Prince exposes her past scandals and warns the villagers against trusting her. Tang Shiba’s private thoughts reveal that Xueqing’s donated supplies were faulty and that she was previously detained by police.
• The Village Chief refuses Xueqing’s offers, saying the village needs a road—not donations—and that it will not accept help from someone with such a bad reputation. When the villagers learn that Qiao Family Village households have savings, they take pride in their careful living.
• Shanshan and the Qiao brothers throw eggs at Xueqing, who flees. Tang Lin and Tang Xiao make clear that they no longer consider her their sister and feel no sympathy for her.
• Tang Shiba realizes a feast may be starting and hurries off, ending the chapter on a comic note.

Character developments and interactions

• The Road Patrolman embraces his pig-riding image rather than feeling ashamed. His confidence turns him into an unexpected attraction.
• The Village Chief and Party Secretary work together to protect the village from a potentially harmful offer, while the Chief also spots the tourism potential of the pig-riding spectacle.
• Tang Xueqing attempts to use charity to rebuild her image, but her defensiveness and unwillingness to make a substantial commitment undermine her pitch.
• Little Prince openly challenges Xueqing and helps the villagers see through her performance.
• Tang Shiba mocks Xueqing’s public disgrace and jokes internally about Si Wuyu defending her. Si Wuyu reassures Shiba when she puts herself down, though she misses the emotional significance.
• Tang Lin and Tang Xiao reject Xueqing outright, showing how completely their trust in her has broken.

Significant themes

• Reputation and accountability: Xueqing cannot easily escape the consequences of her past actions by presenting herself as charitable.
• Community judgment and self-reliance: The villagers protect their interests and take pride in their savings rather than accepting help at any cost.
• Turning embarrassment into opportunity: The Road Patrolman’s shameless confidence transforms a comic oddity into a possible tourism draw.
• Changing loyalties: Tang Lin and Tang Xiao’s rejection of Xueqing contrasts with Si Wuyu’s quiet concern for Tang Shiba.

Plot points and events

• A pig suddenly charges through the village, frightening everyone. When Tang Shiba thinks it should be killed for a feast, the pig stops, barks like a dog, and wags its tail to prove it is harmless.
• Amazed villagers and livestream viewers treat the pig as a supernatural novelty. The pig warrior comforts it, while influencers feed it; the pig’s barking and spinning tail make it an instant mascot and trending topic.
• Tang Shiba rushes to a village banquet, followed by the production crew, who decide to join her.
• In Cloud City, Qiao Yu holds a press conference after being blacklisted and facing legal action over the face-swapping scandal. Rather than apologize, she attacks Tang Shiba and urges people to boycott her.
• The audience rejects Qiao Yu’s accusations and pelts her with rotten eggs. Furious, Qiao Yu threatens to drag Tang Shiba down with her, then jumps from the rooftop, blaming Tang Shiba as she falls.
• News of Qiao Yu’s death spreads online. Some former critics of Tang Shiba argue that she should not have exposed Qiao Yu publicly, while others remain hostile to Qiao Yu. Anti-fan groups try to contain dissent, and online arguments intensify.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba is amused by the pig’s antics and eager for food, then heads to the banquet. Her actions become the focus of a fierce public debate after Qiao Yu blames her for the suicide.
• The pig warrior shifts from bewildered handler to affectionate protector, promising the pig eggs and enjoying its sudden popularity.
• The pig proves clever and adaptable, using barking and exaggerated tail-wagging to win sympathy, snacks, and fame.
• Qiao Yu remains defiant and unrepentant, lashes out at both Tang Shiba and her former fans, and uses her final act to cast blame on Tang Shiba.
• Fans and anti-fans turn against Qiao Yu at the press conference, but her death divides online groups: some condemn her, while others feel Tang Shiba’s public exposure was excessive. Shanshan and the group owner focus on keeping their fan community intact.

Significant themes

• Livestream spectacle and virality: The pig’s antics become entertainment, while Qiao Yu’s scandal and death are rapidly turned into online controversies.
• Public shaming and accountability: Qiao Yu’s deception has consequences, but her suicide raises questions about the limits and fairness of exposing wrongdoing publicly.
• Online loyalty and mob behavior: Fans quickly change sides, and group leaders manage reputations and membership as public opinion shifts.
• Blame and self-justification: Qiao Yu refuses responsibility and frames Tang Shiba as the cause of her downfall, deepening the conflict.

Plot points and events

• News of Qiao Yu’s suicide draws the influencers away from Qiao Family Village, and the production crew removes the cameras. Tang Shiba suspects Qiao Yu’s death is being used to shift attention and blame onto her.
• The director ends filming early because the village’s harmful customs have already been exposed and it has gone viral. The remaining filming time will be added to the next installment, so the cast will return and keep their pay.
• Tang Shiba asks Old Woman to gather the villagers. At the village chief’s house, she announces that the Dragon God has told her it is time to leave.
• The villagers panic at losing their protector. Tang Shiba reassures them that the Dragon God will still watch over them through the village temple; the system suggests she can use a shop card to make the temple statue respond.
• She urges the villagers to develop Qiao Family Village and make it famous, promising the Dragon God will attend a future assembly if they succeed. The villagers eagerly agree.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba turns the villagers’ devotion into motivation for the village’s development, while recognizing how deeply they depend on the Dragon God.
• The villagers, especially Old Woman, remain fiercely devoted and accept Tang Shiba’s departure only after she assures them their faith will still be rewarded.
• The director ends filming partly to pursue an investment opportunity in the village. Tang Shiba privately sees through his plan and resents his maneuvering.
• Fang Cheng doubts that villagers will keep trusting Tang Shiba given her bad public reputation. Si Wuyu points out that their faith survived an earlier impersonation, suggesting online criticism is unlikely to sway them.
• The cast accepts the early wrap-up once the director promises their remaining time will carry over to the next installment.

Significant themes

• Faith and dependence: The villagers’ devotion comforts them but also leaves them reliant on the Dragon God; Tang Shiba tries to guide them toward greater independence.
• Reputation and public perception: Qiao Yu’s death threatens to fuel blame against Tang Shiba, yet the villagers’ personal faith in her may outweigh online opinion.
• Opportunity amid disruption: The village’s sudden fame creates a chance for development—and competing interests in who will benefit from it.

Key plot points

• Tang Shiba prepares to leave Qiao Family Village. Her brothers bicker over her luggage, which Si Wuyu ultimately takes and wears against his chest to keep it safe.
• Shanshan recruits Qiao Da and Qiao Er to add villagers to the Gossip Buddy group, helping ensure the village’s residents remain loyal supporters.
• The villagers offer Tang Shiba food, crafts, and heirlooms as thanks. She refuses the gifts, directs them to honor the Dragon God at the temple, and appoints the Village Chief as her representative.
• An elderly woman begs Tang Shiba for help after learning her son cannot have children. Tang Shiba tells her to live peacefully and treat her daughter-in-law well; the woman takes this as a promise of a grandson and vows to change.
• Tang Shiba learns that someone has left funeral wreaths outside her home. She spends her newly earned points upgrading the system, which goes offline.
• At the airport, fans crowd the group. Chang Hua and Li Ba draw attention while shielding Tang Shiba, and Fang Cheng asks Si Wuyu to give him the free fighter, Li Ba, as a bodyguard.
• A woman carrying a wreath accuses Tang Shiba of killing Qiao Yu. The Anti-Fans turn on her, destroy the wreath, and frighten her away.
• Back home, the group catches another person leaving funeral wreaths at their door. Tang Lin angrily chases the culprit.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba remains irreverent and self-interested, but uses her Dragon God persona to guide the villagers and calm the old woman. She also invests her points in upgrading the system rather than buying a card.
• The villagers and Village Chief deepen their belief in Tang Shiba as the Dragon God. The Village Chief accepts responsibility for leading the village in her name.
• Tang Xiao and Tang Lin continue their protective, quarrelsome sibling dynamic. They conceal the wreath incident from Tang Shiba, while Tang Lin later reacts fiercely to the culprit.
• Si Wuyu shows affection and protectiveness by guarding Tang Shiba’s luggage and shielding her from the airport crowd. Tang Xiao notices him secretly slipping something into her pocket but does not know what it is.
• Fang Cheng is impressed by Li Ba’s physique and asks to have him as a bodyguard; Si Wuyu agrees.
• The Anti-Fans reveal a strong sense of solidarity: despite their name, they protect Tang Shiba from a hostile accuser.

Significant themes

• Faith and responsibility: Tang Shiba’s performance as the Dragon God inspires the villagers to trust her and follow the Village Chief.
• Community and loyalty: Shanshan’s group-building and the Anti-Fans’ intervention show how shared allegiance can create a protective network.
• Family and protection: The siblings’ teasing and Si Wuyu’s quiet gestures underscore the group’s close, protective relationships.
• Humor amid danger: The chapter pairs threats and public hostility with comic bickering, absurd fan behavior, and Tang Shiba’s dry responses.

Key plot points

• Tang Lin chases off a man who has been leaving funeral wreaths outside the Tang family home. Tang Shiba and Tang Xiao block the likely escape route while the police arrive and catch him.
• The man says a masked woman paid him 200 yuan a day to leave the wreaths, though he knows nothing about her identity. The police take him away for further investigation.
• Tang Shiba rushes home to see Er Gou, who complains that it has been catching intruders repeatedly. The family agrees to install a mild electric fence and lets the dog roam freely in the yard.
• Fang Cheng and Li Ba try to surprise Tang Shiba by climbing over the wall. They are shocked by the new fence, and Er Gou is shocked too when it leaps toward them. Fang Cheng and Li Ba escape, dazed and limping.
• Chang Hua reports their condition to Si Wuyu. Si Wuyu suspects Er Gou attacked them and decides the front gate may be a safer way to visit.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba is protective of Er Gou and quick-witted about guarding the house; her concern prompts the electric-fence plan.
• Tang Xiao supports his sister and sees their improving relationship as a reason to keep trying to connect with her.
• Tang Lin is furious about the wreaths and vows to guard the entrance himself.
• Tang Dad agrees to improve security but recoils from Er Gou because it is shedding.
• Fang Cheng’s eagerness to see Tang Shiba leads him into trouble; Li Ba rescues him from the fence, while secretly reporting on Fang Cheng to a woman who claims Fang is her man.
• Si Wuyu recognizes Fang Cheng’s evasiveness but lets him go, then tries to work out what happened.

Significant themes

• Family protection and loyalty: The Tang family rallies to protect its home and Er Gou.
• Comic misunderstandings and secrecy: Fang Cheng’s covert visit, Li Ba’s divided loyalties, and the mistaken belief that Er Gou attacked them create humor.
• Consequences of intrusion: The new fence turns repeated trespassing into a literal shock, while the source of the funeral-wreath harassment remains unresolved.

Plot points and events

• Tang Shiba learns that her system has been infected by a virus that may have distorted the gossip and character information it has given her. The system says it has not been detected, but clearing the virus will cost 100 points per day.
• As controversy around the late Qiao Yu grows, the Anti-Fans’ group uncovers evidence that Qiao Yu co-founded a cosmetic-surgery company allegedly used for criminal schemes. Some people who had turned against Tang Shiba try to return to her fanbase, but their accounts are reported or exposed.
• Tang Xiao invites Tang Shiba to the office, but she refuses, thinking of Gu Qingcheng’s carefree life in the countryside and saying she already has plans. Tang Xiao assumes she is meeting Fang Cheng and leaves.
• Tang Shiba finds a jadeite bangle matching the pendant she wears, suspects Si Wuyu gave her the pendant, and decides to keep it but give him something in return.
• Tang Shiba meets Fang Cheng and Li Ba at a hotel. Fang Cheng has brought her to watch his brother Si Wuyu film an advertisement. When Si Wuyu arrives, he is accompanied by celebrated actress Ouyang Xuan.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba becomes more suspicious of the system’s reliability, especially its earlier portrayal of Tang Xueqing, but agrees to let it attempt virus removal despite her irritation.
• Tang Xiao shows concern for Shiba’s safety and tries to keep track of her whereabouts; he believes Fang Cheng is a safe companion and regards Si Wuyu as potentially scheming.
• Fang Cheng eagerly shares the chance to watch Si Wuyu filming, while Li Ba reports their hotel visit to an anxious contact, who initially misunderstands the situation.
• Tang Lin, afraid to be left home alone, tries to follow Shiba but is stopped by Er Gou.

Significant themes

• Unreliable information and deception: The virus raises doubts about the system’s past claims, while the online scandal demonstrates how easily public opinion can be manipulated.
• Reputation and social-media punishment: Qiao Yu’s alleged crimes reshape the debate, and former anti-fans find that switching sides does not undo their online consequences.
• Trust, protection, and independence: Tang Xiao’s protectiveness contrasts with Shiba’s desire to rest and make her own plans.
• Affection and reciprocity: Shiba’s decision to keep the jade pendant but give Si Wuyu something in return hints at growing personal regard.

Plot points and events

• Fang Cheng introduces Tang Shiba to his cousin, Ouyang Xuan, an acclaimed but sickly actress who lives with the Si family.
• Si Wuyu changes into an all-white outfit, hoping to impress Tang Shiba. She finds him dazzling and retreats to the restroom to avoid staring.
• In the restroom, Ouyang Xuan suddenly sways. Tang Shiba catches her, but the system tells her to let go because contact with Ouyang Xuan makes it feel as if a virus is invading it. Tang Shiba releases her, and Ouyang Xuan collapses unconscious.
• An assistant wrongly accuses Tang Shiba of striking Ouyang Xuan, and the actress’s fans quickly join in. Tang Shiba offers an improvised explanation involving Ouyang Xuan’s brooch, but the crowd refuses to believe her.
• Fang Cheng backs Tang Shiba and later explains that Ouyang Xuan has a serious brain condition that causes fainting. Surgery might help, but could leave her in a vegetative state, so she has been postponing it.
• Shanshan hears about the incident and sees online rumors that Tang Shiba attacked Ouyang Xuan. She posts a sarcastic message suggesting Tang Shiba frightened the actress into fainting.
• At the hospital, Ouyang Xuan wakes and clarifies that she fainted on her own, not because of anyone else.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba remains irreverent and self-assured, but feels sympathy for Ouyang Xuan once she learns about her illness. She is caught in a misunderstanding despite trying to help.
• Fang Cheng trusts Tang Shiba’s character and defends her against the crew’s accusations. He shares Ouyang Xuan’s private medical situation with her.
• Si Wuyu is pleased that Tang Shiba came to see him, but his attention shifts to Ouyang Xuan when she collapses.
• Ouyang Xuan is revealed to be both a celebrated actress and seriously ill. Her own account ultimately clears Tang Shiba.
• The system reacts strangely to Ouyang Xuan, reporting a disturbing sensation when Tang Shiba touches her; the reason remains unexplained.
• Shanshan responds to the rumors with a mocking, carefully worded post that both defends and teases Tang Shiba.

Significant themes

• Appearance versus reality: The crowd assumes Tang Shiba is guilty based on her reputation, while the actual cause of Ouyang Xuan’s collapse is her illness.
• Rumors and public image: Fans and online posts turn an ambiguous incident into a sensational accusation.
• Uncertainty and compassion: Ouyang Xuan’s dangerous condition—and her fear of surgery’s consequences—adds a serious note beneath the chapter’s comedy.
• Unexplained mystery: The system’s adverse reaction to Ouyang Xuan suggests there may be more to her than her known illness.

Chapter Summary: “A Day at the Haunted House, Scared Out of Their Wits”

Key plot points and events

• At the hospital, Ouyang Xuan tells Si Wuyu that she often faints and worries he may misunderstand Tang Shiba. Her assistant insists Tang pushed her, but Si Wuyu silences the accusation and leaves.
• Chang Hua reports that Tang admitted supporting Ouyang Xuan but denied pushing her; Ouyang Xuan apparently pricked Tang with a needle. Si Wuyu orders the story suppressed so Tang won’t be smeared.
• Alone afterward, Ouyang Xuan wonders why touching Tang makes her faint.
• Tang takes Fang Cheng to an amusement park and drags him into a haunted house despite his fear of ghosts. Using a short-lived transformation card from the system, she becomes ghostlike and frightens visitors and the haunted-house actors alike.
• Fang Cheng gradually overcomes his fear and joins in scaring people, believing Tang’s appearance is makeup. The actors flee, while the manager mistakenly thinks the chaos is a successful performance.
• Tang’s final illusion—a disembodied-looking head—frightens both Li Ba and Fang Cheng into fainting. The transformation card expires, and Tang takes Fang Cheng home while leaving Li Ba behind.

Character developments and interactions

• Si Wuyu openly protects Tang, dismissing the assistant’s accusations and trying to prevent further public criticism of her.
• Ouyang Xuan acts concerned about being misunderstood, but her private question about Tang’s effect on her suggests suspicion or a hidden connection.
• Tang Shiba is mischievous and fearless, teasing Fang Cheng and using the transformation card to turn the haunted house into a real scare-fest.
• Fang Cheng begins terrified and clings to Tang, but gains confidence as he scares others. He ultimately faints again when confronted with Tang’s frightening illusion.
• Tang and Fang share a playful, teasing dynamic: she pushes him into the attraction, comforts him, and then recruits him to frighten others.
• Li Ba disappears during the commotion, then faints when he encounters Tang’s illusion.

Significant themes

• Loyalty and protection: Si Wuyu refuses to let others malign Tang.
• Comedy through fear: Fang Cheng’s terror and the actors’ panic turn the haunted house’s usual roles upside down.
• Appearance versus reality: The visitors and manager mistake a genuine supernatural transformation for an act, while Fang Cheng mistakes it for makeup.
• Growing courage: Fang Cheng briefly discovers confidence by becoming the one who scares others.

Plot points and events

• After Tang Shiba leaves the haunted house, it becomes a sensation online, with rumors that Sunshine Amusement Park contains real ghosts.
• Fang Cheng wakes at Tang Shiba’s home after fainting in the haunted house. He briefly thinks Er Gou is Tang Shiba transformed into a dog, then discovers that his own frightening “monkey-like” makeup is what he saw in the mirror.
• Fang Cheng stays for dinner and boasts to Tang Lin that he was one of the people behind the haunted-house scares. Their teasing quickly turns into another scuffle, with Er Gou joining in by snapping at Fang Cheng’s feet.
• Si Wuyu arrives to collect Fang Cheng, explaining that Chang Hua has gone to retrieve Li Ba, who also fainted. He brings Er Gou a treat, winning the dog’s favor.
• Fang Cheng tells Si Wuyu that Tang Shiba’s head came off during the scare. Si Wuyu insists Fang Cheng must have imagined it, reassuring him—but Tang Lin overhears and is envious that he missed the adventure.
• Before leaving, Si Wuyu gives Tang Shiba ointment for her hand on Ouyang Xuan’s behalf. He then takes Fang Cheng to the hospital to pick up Ouyang Xuan, who is ready to be discharged.
• Ouyang Xuan asks Fang Cheng to take her out for fun sometime. He agrees, though he plans to keep her apart from Tang Shiba. He carries her out of the hospital, prompting Li Ba to briefly mistake her for a rival before learning who she is.

Character developments and interactions

• Fang Cheng remains easily frightened but recovers enough to boast about the haunted-house prank. He is comfortable around Tang Shiba and hopes to visit her again.
• Tang Lin is playful and competitive, repeatedly fighting with Fang Cheng. He becomes jealous when he realizes they shared an exciting experience without him.
• Tang Shiba watches the boys’ antics with amused exasperation and accepts Si Wuyu’s gift, though she is unsure what to make of his concern.
• Si Wuyu shows considerate attention toward Tang Shiba by bringing ointment, while also patiently dealing with Fang Cheng’s panic and storytelling.
• Er Gou is suspicious of Fang Cheng but easily charmed by Si Wuyu’s treat.
• Ouyang Xuan is recovering and eager to go out, while Li Ba briefly reacts jealously to seeing her on Fang Cheng’s back before learning she is family.

Significant themes

• Comedy through fear and misunderstanding: Fang Cheng’s fainting, mistaken perceptions, and repeated startle reactions drive the chapter’s humor.
• Friendship and playful rivalry: Fang Cheng and Tang Lin’s constant bickering and fighting suggest a lively, familiar bond.
• Jealousy and inclusion: Tang Lin resents being left out of the haunted-house adventure, while Li Ba’s brief suspicion hints at his possessive streak.
• Growing consideration: Si Wuyu’s quiet concern for Tang Shiba and Ouyang Xuan’s recovery add softer moments beneath the slapstick.

Plot points and events

• With celebrities’ cosmetic-surgery scandals flooding Weibo, influencers compete for the displaced fans. Tang Shiba starts a livestream despite expecting mostly anti-fans.
• Viewers shower her with gifts, including Si Wuyu, who secretly uses an alternate account and becomes her top gifter. Tang Shiba is delighted to discover she has earned millions.
• At viewers’ request, she connects with other streamers. Yang Xin reacts like an ecstatic fan, but Tang Shiba soon disconnects.
• Tang Shiba then connects with Ouyang Xuan, her recent rival. They agree to a dance battle, and Tang Shiba hastily learns the trending dance “Subject Three” with help from Tang Lin. Ouyang Xuan wins, and Tang Shiba graciously congratulates her before disconnecting.
• Tang Shiba next connects with a male streamer and mistakes him for a woman. They arrange a dog-training contest. His professionally trained dog performs commands, while Tang Shiba threatens Er Gou into imitating her dance. Er Gou’s surprisingly convincing performance entertains viewers and attracts Tang Shiba new fans.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba remains relaxed, irreverent, and unconcerned by insults, turning anti-fan attention into income and popularity. She is a poor dancer but a good sport, and her playful, threatening treatment of Er Gou drives the comedy.
• Si Wuyu quietly supports Tang Shiba by sending lavish gifts. Being called “Brother Royal Disciple” thrills him, revealing his growing affection and fanboy enthusiasm.
• Ouyang Xuan competes with Tang Shiba in a civil dance battle. Winning improves her mood, while Tang Shiba’s respectful response keeps their interaction from escalating.
• Tang Lin helps Tang Shiba learn the dance and later laughs at Er Gou’s unexpected performance.
• Er Gou initially laughs at Tang Shiba’s dancing, then is forced to perform it himself. His clever, showy imitation makes him the surprise star of the stream.
• Yang Xin openly idolizes Tang Shiba, while Tang Shiba finds her excitement confusing and abruptly ends their connection.

Significant themes

• Turning hostility into opportunity: Tang Shiba’s anti-fans send gifts even as they insult her, and the attention boosts her earnings and audience.
• Online popularity as spectacle: Livestream battles, gifts, and viral moments rapidly reshape celebrity attention.
• Humor and resilience: Tang Shiba meets rivalry and criticism with jokes, pragmatism, and little concern for losing.
• Unexpected talent and loyalty: Er Gou’s performance surprises viewers, while Si Wuyu’s generosity shows his devotion.

Plot points and events

• Er Gou wins a livestream PK by performing a dance, turning into an online sensation. The defeated streamer disconnects, determined to train his own dancing dog.
• Tang Shiba ends her stream and discovers she has gained hundreds of thousands of followers and nearly twenty million in donations. Most of the new viewers are anti-fans, and one mysterious account, “Brother Royal Disciple,” supplied most of the gifts.
• She sets aside a million for Er Gou’s food and sends the remaining funds, together with an earlier reward, to Tang Xiao to help build roads in Qiao Family Village. Tang Xiao accepts responsibility for the project, while Tang Shiba privately hopes the villagers will stop treating her as a divine figure.
• Ouyang Xuan also gains over a million followers after her stream. Her assistant Xiao Xiang criticizes Tang Shiba, but Ouyang points out that even hostile attention brings publicity and admits she deliberately joined the trend because of Tang Shiba.
• After watching Tang Shiba’s dance repeatedly, Si Wuyu messages her. She recognizes his account and sends him a ten-cent red packet. He asks Fang Cheng what it might mean, then takes it as proof that she cares about him—even though Tang Shiba only meant to check whether he was online.

Character developments and interactions

• Er Gou becomes more vain after its success and enjoys being called “second brother.” It fantasizes about becoming human, but fears the “shocks” Tang Shiba jokes might bring.
• Tang Shiba remains unfazed by anti-fans and uses her unexpected earnings for practical purposes, including village road construction. Her teasing message to Si Wuyu contrasts with his hopeful interpretation.
• Tang Xiao takes the road project seriously, hoping it will strengthen the villagers’ faith in Tang Shiba.
• Ouyang Xuan treats follower growth as strategically useful and reveals that her appearance in the livestream was motivated by Tang Shiba. Xiao Xiang’s hostility highlights the tension between them.
• Si Wuyu shows growing interest in Tang Shiba, while Fang Cheng eagerly offers romantic advice and laughs at the tiny red packet. Si Wuyu kicks him out, but privately decides that even ten cents counts as affection.
• Tang Shiba’s family and livestream audience react to Er Gou’s newfound fame, while anti-fans paradoxically praise, follow, and gift her.

Significant themes

• Online fame and spectacle: A dancing dog and a controversial streamer can rapidly dominate social media.
• The value of negative publicity: Anti-fans still boost Tang Shiba’s audience and earnings.
• Generosity and responsibility: Tang Shiba channels her windfall toward village infrastructure rather than keeping it all.
• Comedy through misinterpretation: Si Wuyu turns a playful ten-cent check-in into a romantic sign, while Tang Shiba sees it as a joke.

Plot points and events

• Tang Xuan brings actress Wang Jingjing home, apparently intending to introduce her as a potential marriage partner.
• Wang Jingjing complains that Tang Shiba has not come to greet her. The family, especially Tang Xiao and Tang Lin, already dislikes her presumptuous attitude.
• Tang Shiba’s thoughts reveal that Wang Jingjing is connected to Wang Li and has a boyfriend outside the entertainment industry. She suspects Wang Jingjing is being used in a scheme targeting the Tang brothers.
• Tang Xuan quickly insists Wang Jingjing is only a friend once her existing relationship comes to light. Wang Jingjing denies having a boyfriend and claims Tang Xuan is the only one she loves.
• Tang Shiba announces that Wang Jingjing’s boyfriend is outside the house. The family catches him climbing over the wall. He confirms their relationship, and Tang Lin finds intimate photos of the couple on his phone.
• The family returns Wang Jingjing’s gifts and has both her and her boyfriend thrown out. Tang Shiba warns Wang Jingjing that she has copied the photos and will expose them if provoked.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Shiba remains indifferent to her brothers and to Wang Jingjing, prioritizing breakfast over social niceties. Her sharp gossip and decisive warning help expose the deception.
• Tang Xuan shows little commitment to Wang Jingjing and immediately distances himself once her boyfriend is exposed, reinforcing his poor judgment in choosing women.
• Tang Xiao and Tang Lin are protective of their family and openly hostile to Wang Jingjing. Tang Lin confronts and detains her boyfriend; Tang Xiao challenges Wang Jingjing’s behavior.
• Tang Dad and Mom are initially polite but become firmly protective once the deception is clear.
• Wang Jingjing tries to ingratiate herself with gifts, then shifts to denial and aggression when exposed. Her confidence collapses when she realizes Tang Xuan does not truly care about her.
• The brothers’ easy banter and shared reaction to the “gossip” show that, despite Shiba’s distance from them, the family closes ranks against outsiders who threaten them.

Significant themes

• Family loyalty and protection: The Tang family quickly unites when they suspect Wang Jingjing is scheming against them.
• Deception and opportunism: Wang Jingjing presents herself as a marriage prospect while hiding her boyfriend and apparent motives.
• Social status and entitlement: Wang Jingjing assumes her connection to Tang Xuan entitles her to criticize Shiba and command attention.
• Gossip as a source of truth: Shiba’s inner observations reveal the hidden relationships and expose the scheme before it can succeed.

Key plot points and events

• After Tang Xuan ends his brief relationship with Wang Jingjing, she appeals to Wang Li, who brings her to the Tang home to confront the family.
• The Tang family mocks Tang Xuan’s poor judgment and learns that Wang Jingjing has been livestreaming their private confrontation. Tang Shiba decides to let the stream continue, expecting the family to turn the tables.
• Wang Jingjing claims she and Tang Xuan were dating seriously and that he promised marriage. Tang Xuan counters that they dated for only one day and never even held hands. The livestream audience ridicules her account.
• Wang Li defends her niece and accuses the Tangs of mistreating her. Tang Mother rejects Wang Li’s attempt to use family ties to pressure them.
• Tang Wang arrives, and Tang Mother reveals that Wang Li deceived him for years: Tang Shuang is allegedly not his biological daughter. Tang Shiba adds that Wang Li was already involved with another man before marrying Tang Wang—and suggests that the man is connected to Wang Jingjing’s family.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Xuan is embarrassed by his family’s teasing but firmly disputes Wang Jingjing’s version of their relationship.
• Tang Shiba remains composed and sharp, using the livestream—and her knowledge of Wang Li’s secrets—to expose the visitors rather than let them control the narrative.
• Tang Mother moves from criticizing her son’s taste to forcefully confronting Wang Li and revealing the deeper family scandal.
• Wang Jingjing tries to cast herself as a wronged fiancée, but her livestream draws an audience that laughs at her claims; Er Gou also takes over the camera.
• Wang Li arrives confident and protective of Jingjing, but loses control of the confrontation when the Tang family challenges her own history.
• Tang Wang is summoned into the dispute and is shocked by the accusation about Tang Shuang’s parentage.

Significant themes

• Public image and exposure: Wang Jingjing’s attempt to gain sympathy through livestreaming instead attracts ridicule and puts private scandals on display.
• Deception and family secrets: The confrontation expands from a disputed romance to allegations of long-term infidelity and concealed paternity.
• Power and social climbing: Tang Mother accuses Wang Li of exploiting her connection to the Tang family.
• Reversal of accusation: Wang Jingjing and Wang Li come to condemn the Tangs, but the family turns the confrontation back on them.