Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• Ning Shile reveals that Jiang Jingyin’s phone contains a password-protected cloud album documenting his relationship with Luo Xianxian, including their pregnancy and child. It also contains photos from October 28, the night Xianxian was allegedly sexually assaulted while drunk by Jiang and his friends.
• Ning opens the album in front of the crowd, exposes the evidence, and backs it up so it can be used when Xianxian sues. Jiang attacks him, then lashes out at Xianxian and begs Zheng Ye for help. Zheng Ye refuses to shield him, saying the company can afford any resulting penalties.
• The livestream audience turns against Jiang, while viewers recognize Ning and Zheng Ye as the previously famous “Breast Health Hero” couple.
• Zheng Xinxin thanks Ning. She notices Zheng Ye’s unusual concern for him and asks whether they are dating. Zheng calls them married, then clarifies they are engaged; Ning insists theirs is only a contract marriage without romantic feelings.

Character developments and interactions

• Ning Shile demonstrates composure and resolve, using his knowledge of Jiang’s private album to expose him and preserve evidence for Xianxian.
• Jiang Jingyin loses control as his lies and alleged crimes come to light. When Zheng Ye refuses to protect him, he realizes his career and reputation are finished.
• Zheng Ye stands by Ning and refuses Jiang’s plea for corporate protection. He also seems hurt when Ning describes their marriage as purely contractual, though he denies being upset.
• Zheng Xinxin recognizes her brother’s feelings before he does, teasing him about his apparent crush and welcoming Ning as her sister-in-law.
• Ning and Zheng reveal the gap between their public commitment and private understanding: Zheng speaks as if they are a couple, while Ning sees the arrangement as practical rather than romantic.

Significant themes

• Exposure and accountability: Private evidence turns Jiang’s public image against him and may help Xianxian seek justice.
• Power and complicity: Jiang’s celebrity status and business ties cannot protect him once the truth is revealed.
• Love versus obligation: The contract marriage contrasts Zheng’s emerging feelings with Ning’s insistence that their relationship lacks romance.
• Public image and memory: The livestream transforms a fan’s attempt to condemn Zheng Xinxin into a public reckoning with Jiang—and revives Ning and Zheng’s unexpected internet fame.

Plot points and events

• After Jiang Jingyin’s secret marriage, child, and alleged deception become public, he is swiftly condemned online. His production suspends filming, legal teams begin pursuing his contracts and breach of contract, and fans destroy his merchandise.
• Zheng Xinxin takes Minmin to tell Luo Xianxian what happened and urges her to call the police. Minmin’s admiration for his father is gone, and he says he will never seek him out again.
• Ning Shile and Zheng Ye wander around Hengdian and are recruited as battlefield extras. Excited to act for the first time, Ning Shile persuades Zheng Ye to join him.
• They put on costumes and fake blood, then lie among the “corpses” for a large battle scene. When a crew member accidentally triggers a chain of prop explosions, the horses panic and bolt.
• A white horse charges toward Ning Shile. He freezes, resigned to the idea that his life does not matter, but Zheng Ye shields him with his body and tells him not to be afraid.

Character development and interactions

• Ning Shile is exuberant and playful, eager to try acting and unconcerned about looking silly. His thought that he is disposable “cannon fodder” reveals how little value he places on his own life.
• Zheng Ye is reserved but increasingly affectionate toward Ning Shile. Holding hands makes him acutely aware of his feelings, and he responds to danger by protecting Ning Shile without hesitation.
• Minmin confronts the truth about Jiang Jingyin and rejects the father he once admired.
• Ning Shile and Zheng Ye share lighthearted moments on the set, but the accident exposes the seriousness of their bond: Zheng Ye’s actions show that Ning Shile’s safety matters deeply to him.

Significant themes

• Consequences of public scandal: Jiang Jingyin’s exposure brings swift professional and social fallout.
• Self-worth and vulnerability: Ning Shile treats his life as insignificant, contrasting with Zheng Ye’s determined protection.
• Growing intimacy: Their joined hands and Zheng Ye’s protective embrace signal deepening emotional closeness.
• Chaos and safety: The production’s preventable accident turns a staged battlefield into real danger.

Chapter Summary: “The Bottom Lead Makes His Entrance!”

Key plot points and events

• On set, frightened horses run loose. Zheng Ye shields Ning Shile from the animals and is struck in the back by a horse’s hind leg. He insists the injury is minor, but agrees to go to the hospital when Ning Shile presses him.
• While helping Zheng Ye remove his costume, Ning Shile scolds him for taking the risk. Zheng Ye admits he was afraid Ning Shile would be hurt. The close, emotionally charged moment nearly turns into a kiss before Ning Shile’s startled inner thoughts bring Zheng Ye back to his senses. Zheng Ye pretends he was only removing something from Ning Shile’s hair.
• On the drive, Ning Shile asks to see the photos Zheng Ye took. Zheng Ye’s gallery contains only three pictures of Ning Shile; one is an absurdly close-up portrait that Zheng Ye sincerely considers the best. He secretly sends it along with the others.
• To avoid traffic, Zheng Ye takes a remote back road. Ning Shile recognizes it from his notes about the original novel, which describe Zheng Ye meeting the story’s destined romantic lead there.
• Zheng Ye’s car hits a scooter ridden by a young man. He stops to help, and the rider introduces himself as Su Jinyu. Zheng Ye immediately feels an intense, unfamiliar attraction—just as Ning Shile’s notes predicted.
• The streetlights switch on around Zheng Ye and Su Jinyu, framing their meeting. Ning Shile realizes the novel’s protagonist has entered the story and quietly looks away.

Character developments and interactions

• Zheng Ye shows growing protectiveness toward Ning Shile, risking injury to shield him and admitting why. His near-kiss reveals feelings he does not understand, and he is embarrassed afterward. His instant attraction to Su Jinyu suggests the original romance plot is taking effect.
• Ning Shile reacts with worry and guilt over Zheng Ye’s injury, while trying to keep emotional distance when their closeness becomes intimate. He is alert to the novel’s plot and becomes unsettled when its expected romantic encounter occurs.
• Su Jinyu is introduced as the injured scooter rider. He is polite and apologetic despite being hurt, and his first encounter with Zheng Ye sparks the novel’s destined-romance moment.
• The director feels responsible for the accident on set and offers to cover any medical costs. Ning Shile accompanies Zheng Ye and insists he seek care.

Significant themes

• Protection and affection: Zheng Ye’s instinct to protect Ning Shile hints at feelings deeper than ordinary concern.
• Fate versus personal choice: The meeting with Su Jinyu unfolds exactly as Ning Shile’s notes predict, raising the question of whether the characters can escape the novel’s intended plot.
• Awkward intimacy and comedy: Zheng Ye’s earnest close-up photography and the interrupted near-kiss contrast humorously with the chapter’s mounting romantic tension.
• Jealousy and emotional displacement: Ning Shile’s subdued reaction to Zheng Ye’s immediate attraction to the destined lead suggests that the encounter affects him personally.

Key plot points

• Zheng Ye drives the injured Su Jinyu to the hospital, speeding there. Ning Shile notices Zheng Ye’s apparent concern and feels an unexplained pang of jealousy, then tells himself to keep his distance.
• At the hospital, Ning Shile runs into Cheng Yang, who is pleased he came to visit. Cheng Yang asks him to fetch food, and Ning Shile agrees only after Cheng Yang reminds him of a favor he once did.
• While waiting in the cafeteria, Ning Shile overhears Bai Hai and an associate discussing Zheng Ye’s discovery of spies inside Zheng Corporation. Ning Shile recalls from his notes that Bai Hai planted them to steal information for a planned expansion into the Imperial Capital. He decides to warn Zheng Ye.
• Ning Shile brings Cheng Yang food. Cheng Yang gives him a small cat ornament he bought because it reminded him of Ning Shile, admitting he kept it while Ning was away. Ning Shile jokes that this sounds like he missed him; Cheng Yang quietly confirms he did.

Character developments and interactions

• Ning Shile is unsettled by Zheng Ye’s attention to Su Jinyu but tries to dismiss his feelings. He also shows his growing usefulness by recognizing the threat to Zheng Corporation and planning to act. His old, exasperated familiarity with Cheng Yang resurfaces.
• Zheng Ye remains outwardly composed, but his fast driving and support of the injured Su Jinyu suggest concern. His restrained reaction to Ning Shile hints at unspoken tension.
• Cheng Yang continues to tease and boss Ning Shile around, yet his gift and shy confession reveal genuine affection beneath the familiar mischief.
• Su Jinyu is physically vulnerable after his injury and relies on Zheng Ye for support.

Significant themes

• Unspoken feelings and jealousy: Ning Shile’s reaction to Zheng Ye and Su Jinyu contrasts with the affection Cheng Yang struggles to express.
• Affection hidden beneath teasing: Cheng Yang’s demands and jokes coexist with a thoughtful gift and a sincere confession.
• Secrets and political intrigue: The overheard conversation reveals Bai Hai’s spying operation and sets up Ning Shile’s possible role in protecting Zheng Ye and his company.

Plot points and events

• In the hospital, Cheng Yang playfully orders Ning Shile to peel and cut fruit. Ning finally loses patience and stuffs a whole pear into Cheng’s mouth; their teasing reveals familiar, lively banter.
• Cheng Yang tells Ning he is going abroad. Ning is surprised because Cheng’s plans seem to echo the original story despite major changes to events. He wonders whether the plot is still finding ways to repeat itself.
• Cheng asks whether Ning will miss him, then tries to withdraw the question before hearing an answer. Ning reassures him that he will, jokingly crediting the cute cat ornament Cheng gave him.
• Cheng asks about Ning’s connection to Zheng Ye. Ning explains that he was pulled into the situation as a stand-in and that nothing is going on between them.
• Zheng Ye arrives to take Ning home. Cheng warns him to treat Ning well and demonstrates that he can access Zheng Corporation’s surveillance system. Zheng remains unfazed, and the two leave.
• Alone, Cheng eats the pear Ning prepared. Though it tastes crisp and sweet, he finds it bitter and reflects that an unspoken crush is a solitary battle.
• In the car, Ning asks whether Su Jinyu and Zheng Ye were badly injured. Zheng gives brief answers, frustrating Ning, who privately concludes that Zheng is a lovesick fool because of his attachment to Su in the original story.
• Ning’s thoughts mention that Zheng once trusted Su enough to reveal sensitive information, including something about Grandma Zheng. Zheng realizes this may be true of his original-story self.
• Zheng recalls that meeting Su did not feel like love at first sight. Instead, it brought overwhelming, familiar anguish and helplessness, which he cannot explain.

Character developments and interactions

• Ning Shile remains sharp-tempered and sarcastic, but shows affection by promising Cheng he will miss him. His concern about the story repeating itself continues.
• Cheng Yang shifts from mischievous teasing to vulnerability when announcing his departure. His question, warning to Zheng, and bitter reaction to Ning’s leaving suggest an unspoken attachment to Ning.
• Zheng Ye stays reserved in conversation and does not react to Cheng’s threat. His memories complicate his understanding of his supposed feelings for Su Jinyu: what he experienced was profound pain, not recognizable love.
• Ning and Cheng share playful intimacy, while Cheng and Zheng meet in a tense, protective exchange over Ning. Ning and Zheng have a quiet car ride marked by Ning’s unspoken complaints and Zheng’s private reflections.

Significant themes

• Unrequited and unspoken affection: Cheng’s reluctance to ask for reassurance, followed by his loneliness after Ning leaves, frames his feelings as a private struggle.
• Fate versus choice: Ning fears that events may return to the original plot despite changes to the characters’ circumstances.
• Love and suffering: Zheng’s painful reaction to Su challenges the assumption that intense emotion is love, leaving him to question his past and the story’s version of him.

Plot points and events

• Ning Shile returns late to the Zheng family home with Zheng Ye and is warmly welcomed by the household. The housekeeper eagerly makes him mango pudding, while Zheng Mother and Father stay up to spend time with him.
• Zheng Ye acts unusually distant and goes straight upstairs. Ning Shile jokes to Zheng Mother that Zheng Ye seems lovesick over Su Jinyu, prompting her to worry that the two have met.
• Zheng Ye dreams of sharing a loving life with Ning Shile, but an ominous mechanical voice declares that the “kindhearted persona and sweet romance route” no longer fit popular tastes and that the male lead must be replaced. Ning Shile is taken away, leaving Zheng Ye helpless and alone.
• Zheng Ye wakes in distress and rushes downstairs. He grabs Ning Shile away from the bird’s-nest jar he is trying to open and holds him tightly.
• Ning Shile gently asks what is wrong, then comforts and hugs Zheng Ye when he says he had a nightmare. Zheng Mother watches, suspects he is using the nightmare as an excuse to cling to Ning Shile, and leaves.

Character developments and interactions

• Zheng Ye shifts from withdrawn to openly desperate for Ning Shile’s comfort. His dream suggests a deep fear of losing him, even though he cannot recall the dream afterward.
• Ning Shile responds with patience and tenderness, returning Zheng Ye’s embrace and soothing him.
• Zheng Mother remains fond of Ning Shile but grows wary of Zheng Ye’s behavior, interpreting his sudden affection as calculated—or at least suspicious.
• The household treats Ning Shile as family, welcoming him with food and attention.

Significant themes

• Unacknowledged love and fear of separation: Zheng Ye’s dream and urgent embrace reveal how emotionally attached he is to Ning Shile.
• Fate and control: The mechanical voice and forced “replacement” hint that their relationship may be shaped by an outside narrative or system.
• Comfort and belonging: Ning Shile’s presence brings warmth to the household and calms Zheng Ye’s distress.

Plot points and events

• Zheng Mother shows Ning Shile an anonymous post alleging that a corporation is manipulating young female employees into joining its chairman’s “harem.”
• Ning Shile recognizes the story from the novel and checks his notes in private. He discovers the company is Bai Corporation, led by Bai Hai.
• His notes reveal that Bai Hai allegedly uses abusive managers and workplace pressure to break women down, then pits them against one another for his approval. The post is quickly deleted, suggesting the company can suppress public discussion.
• Ning Shile recalls that victims have died by suicide in the original story and that their cases were covered up. Determined to intervene, he applies to the company’s branch office. He receives an interview invitation for the next morning and plans to enter the company to gather evidence.

Character developments and interactions

• Ning Shile shifts from curious gossip-reader to determined would-be investigator, troubled by the danger facing vulnerable job seekers.
• Zheng Mother eagerly draws Ning Shile into the scandal and treats him as a reliable source of gossip.
• Zheng Ye, initially reluctant to let Ning Shile go, pays close attention once Bai Corporation is named. His family’s history with the Bai family gives him a personal reason to welcome their possible downfall.
• Ning Shile’s discovery also sheds light on the Bai family’s earlier attempt to enlist Zheng Ye in a partnership, suggesting they may have been seeking help amid their own troubles.

Significant themes

• Workplace exploitation and abuse of power: The company allegedly disguises a scheme to control women as ordinary employment.
• Silencing and impunity: The post’s deletion and the cover-ups in the original story show how wealth and influence can protect abusers.
• Vulnerability and self-protection: Ning Shile reflects on how society pressures women to be selfless, arguing that vulnerable people need to protect themselves.
• Using knowledge to act: Remembering the novel’s events gives Ning Shile a chance—and a responsibility—to intervene.

Plot points and events

• Ning Shile arrives at a Bai Corporation branch for a job interview and notices the intimidating crowd of polished female applicants. He suspects the company is deliberately fostering competition among them.
• He runs into Bai Qiong-yu, who is there to pick something up. Bai Qiong-yu recognizes him, offers to carry his backpack, and accompanies him toward the interview floor.
• They take the private elevator, where they encounter Bai Hai, Bai Qiong-yu’s grandfather. Bai Hai scrutinizes Ning Shile, who privately finds the attention unsettling.
• Ning Shile’s thoughts reveal that, in the story he knows, Bai Hai despises gay people and later sends Bai Qiong-yu abroad, where Bai Qiong-yu nearly dies. He also thinks Bai Qiong-yu is not Bai Hai’s biological grandson. Bai Qiong-yu overhears these revelations and is shaken.
• The elevator suddenly fails, plunging its occupants into darkness and leaving their phones without signal. Ning Shile stays composed, turns on his flashlight, and urges Bai Qiong-yu to contact emergency services.
• When the elevator drops again, Bai Qiong-yu instinctively shields Ning Shile. Bai Hai then struggles to breathe and collapses against the wall. Ning Shile remembers Bai Hai’s claustrophobia and wonders whether to help him.

Character developments and interactions

• Ning Shile shows calm and practical judgment during the emergency, despite his anxiety about being trapped with Bai Hai. His knowledge of the original story gives him insight into the dangers surrounding Bai Qiong-yu and Bai Hai.
• Bai Qiong-yu is attentive and protective toward Ning Shile, while Ning Shile’s affectionate description of him as a “poor puppy” hints at growing fondness. Overhearing that he may not be Bai Hai’s biological grandson leaves him deeply unsettled.
• Bai Hai is suspicious and openly scrutinizes Ning Shile. His apparent claustrophobia makes him vulnerable once the elevator becomes trapped.
• Ning Shile and Bai Qiong-yu work together to respond to the malfunction; Bai Qiong-yu’s instinctive effort to protect Ning Shile contrasts with Bai Hai’s coldness toward him.

Significant themes

• Foreknowledge and concealed truths: Ning Shile’s knowledge of the story exposes secrets that could reshape Bai Qiong-yu’s understanding of his family.
• Prejudice and family rejection: Bai Hai’s stated hatred of gay people foreshadows conflict with Bai Qiong-yu.
• Crisis revealing character: Ning Shile’s composure and Bai Qiong-yu’s protectiveness emerge under pressure, while Bai Hai’s vulnerability shifts the balance between them.
• Suspense and moral choice: The chapter ends with Ning Shile deciding whether to help someone he distrusts.

Plot points and events

• Ning Shile helps Bai Hai through a panic attack after the elevator is deliberately disabled. Though Bai Hai’s assistants doubt him, Ning’s calm reassurance steadies Bai Hai until rescuers arrive.
• Security brings in the culprit, a teenage boy who accuses Bai Hai of sleeping with his mother. He claims he has printed proof: messages Bai Hai sent her.
• Ning Shile recognizes the incident from his notes and recalls the underlying gossip: the boy’s mother had four children, none fathered by her husband. The boy mistakenly believes Bai Hai was his mother’s lover and sabotaged the elevator to take revenge.
• At Bai Qiong-yu’s prompting, Ning reads the messages aloud, exposing Bai Hai’s absurdly sentimental and suggestive puppy-themed declarations.
• Furious and cornered, Bai Hai blurts out that he is impotent and therefore could not have slept with the boy’s mother. The room is left in stunned, mortified silence, and the interview candidates hurriedly leave.

Character developments and interactions

• Ning Shile shows compassion and composure in the elevator, then becomes gleefully absorbed in the unfolding gossip. He reads the messages despite feeling embarrassed, blaming Bai Qiong-yu for asking him to.
• Bai Qiong-yu silently hears Ning’s thoughts and learns damaging information about Bai Hai. He protects Ning from an assistant’s threats, then encourages him to read the messages, apparently enjoying the spectacle.
• Bai Hai shifts from a vulnerable victim in the elevator to an angry, exposed figure in the conference room. His involuntary confession humiliates him and intensifies the scandal.
• The teenage culprit is revealed as a misguided, angry boy seeking revenge for what he believes Bai Hai did to his mother. His accusations and evidence provoke the confrontation.
• Ning’s calming care for Bai Hai contrasts sharply with the later public humiliation, while Bai Qiong-yu’s protection of Ning and his curiosity about Ning’s thoughts shape their interactions.

Significant themes

• Gossip and private thoughts: Ning’s unspoken commentary drives much of the scene, while private messages become public evidence.
• Reputation and hypocrisy: Bai Hai’s alleged misconduct and embarrassing messages threaten his public image.
• Misunderstanding and unintended consequences: The boy’s revenge rests on a false assumption, but his actions expose a separate, damaging secret.
• Comedy through embarrassment: The dramatic confrontation collapses into awkward farce, especially through the messages and Bai Hai’s blunt confession.

Key plot points

• Ning Shile interviews at Bai Corporation, and Director Bai Hai hires him despite knowing he is engaged to Zheng Ye and may be connected to the Zheng family.
• Bai Hai’s assistant warns that Ning Shile could be a Zheng family spy. Bai Hai dismisses the concern, viewing the hire as an opportunity to provoke Zheng Ye and pursue Ning Shile.
• Bai Qiong-yu, who has been keeping up a playboy act to avoid Bai Hai’s suspicion, realizes Bai Hai is dangerous and contacts Zheng Ye about Ning Shile’s application.
• Zheng Ye is startled to learn that Ning Shile applied without telling him. After searching online for reassurance that a partner has reason to feel upset, he calls Ning Shile.
• Ning Shile admits he will tell Zheng Ye about such decisions in future. Zheng Ye explains that he is concerned for his safety and insists that Ning Shile’s affairs matter to him.

Character developments and interactions

• Bai Hai reveals himself as calculating and predatory: he knowingly hires Ning Shile, treating him as a way to challenge Zheng Ye.
• Bai Qiong-yu recognizes the risk to Ning Shile and tries to draw Zheng Ye into protecting him. His teasing about Zheng Ye’s relationship is met with an abrupt hang-up.
• Zheng Ye shows unusual jealousy and vulnerability. Though he initially frames his anger as a matter of being kept informed, his deeper concern is Ning Shile’s safety—and the importance Ning Shile holds for him.
• Ning Shile responds gently to Zheng Ye’s displeasure, offering to communicate more and downplaying his own affairs. Zheng Ye counters that they do matter.

Significant themes

• Care and communication: Zheng Ye’s irritation becomes a conversation about keeping each other informed and showing respect.
• Growing emotional intimacy: Zheng Ye openly affirms Ning Shile’s importance, while Ning Shile reassures and comforts him.
• Power, surveillance, and danger: Bai Hai’s monitoring of Zheng Ye and his calculated interest in Ning Shile create a looming threat behind the couple’s tender exchange.

Summary

• Ning Shile and Bai Qiong-yu grow closer: After a week of interviews at Bai Corporation, Bai Qiong-yu has been showing Ning Shile around Haicheng. Ning agrees to attend Bai’s birthday party, despite disliking clubs, because it is Bai’s special occasion.
• Zheng Ye’s jealousy becomes obvious: During a video call, Ning affectionately calls Bai “Qiongyu,” which irritates Zheng Ye. Though Zheng pretends he is free while sitting in a meeting with his father and staff, he is so reluctant to end the call that his coworkers see his lovestruck side. He soon books a ticket to Haicheng. Zheng’s parents privately tease him about how devoted—and flirtatious—he has become.
• Bai refuses to rescue Su Jinyu: At the club, Ning recognizes Su Jinyu being forced to drink by a man. Bai initially moves to intervene, but Ning’s thoughts reveal that Su is secretly working for Bai Hai, who paid him to spy on Bai. Bai changes course and leaves Su behind, deciding that their childhood friendship does not outweigh Su’s betrayal. Su drops his helpless act after they leave and appears intent on making sure Bai notices him.
• A supposed love-rival showdown takes shape: In Bai’s private room, Ning finds Chu Ran, who greets him warmly. Ning imagines that Chu Ran will fall for Su Jinyu and fight Bai over him, becoming thrilled by the prospect. Bai is confused by Ning’s assumptions, while Chu Ran is baffled because he believes Ning—not Su—is his destined partner.
• Zheng Ye arrives: Su Jinyu knocks, announcing that the drinks are ready, just as Ning receives Zheng Ye’s message saying he is at the club and asking where they are.

Character developments and interactions

Ning’s lively inner narration turns the gathering into a romantic drama, even as the other characters misunderstand or reject his imagined plot. Zheng Ye’s jealousy and eagerness to join Ning reveal how emotionally attached he is. Bai shows a more calculating, guarded side beneath his cheerful “golden retriever” persona, while Su proves to be an ambitious schemer rather than a genuine victim. Chu Ran’s confusion adds another layer to the tangled romantic expectations.

Themes

The chapter plays with the gap between appearances and reality: Su’s victim act conceals his motives, Bai’s sunny manner hides suspicion, and Zheng’s cold public image contrasts with his devotion in private. It also highlights loyalty, betrayal, and the limits of old friendships, while using dramatic irony and mismatched expectations for comedy.

Zheng Ye arrives and commands attention, while Ning Shile introduces him formally as “President Zheng.” Zheng Ye immediately pushes for a more intimate address, coaxing Ning Shile into calling him “Brother Ye.” The exchange flusters Ning Shile, who tries to convince himself Zheng Ye is only interested in Su Jinyu.
Zheng Ye watches Su Jinyu, but feels none of the strange discomfort he experienced the first time they met. He wonders whether that earlier reaction had another cause. Su Jinyu asks about Zheng Ye’s back, and Zheng Ye politely says it has improved.
Meanwhile, Zheng Ye quietly moves Bai Qiong-yu’s phone to the far end of the sofa, then takes the seat Bai leaves to retrieve it. Bai recognizes the maneuver as a challenge and tries to lure Ning Shile away with a supposed private conversation. Zheng Ye catches Ning Shile’s hand, insists there is no room to pass, and offers to hear Bai’s secret himself. When Bai gives up, Zheng Ye playfully complains to Ning Shile that Bai will not tell him, reinforcing his possessive, teasing interest.
Ning Shile, however, is focused on the expected romantic rivalry. He wonders why Bai and Chu Ran are not reacting to Su Jinyu, who is pouring wine nearby. Su Jinyu has noticed Bai’s sudden distance despite their recent friendly phone calls and suspects something has changed. Confident that he can win Bai back with a few calculated gestures, he approaches with a glass and greets him warmly: “Brother Qiongyu, long time no see.”
Character developments and interactions: Zheng Ye becomes increasingly overt in claiming closeness with Ning Shile, while Ning Shile remains flustered but insists to himself that Zheng Ye likes Su Jinyu. Bai Qiong-yu’s competitive streak emerges in his silent contest with Zheng Ye, though Zheng Ye outmaneuvers him. Chu Ran recognizes Zheng Ye’s performative tactics. Su Jinyu shifts from observing to actively pursuing Bai, whose changed behavior puzzles him.
Themes: Romantic jealousy and possessiveness, misread intentions, social maneuvering, and the contrast between outward politeness and concealed rivalry.

Key plot points and events

• Bai Qiong-yu recognizes Su Jinyu at his birthday gathering. Su warns that the room’s informants may report it to Bai Hai if Bai pretends not to know him, potentially exposing his carefully maintained playboy persona. Bai relents and welcomes Su to stay.
• The guests abandon karaoke and begin the King’s Game, in which the king assigns a forfeit to another cardholder.
• In the first round, Ning Shile draws the ace and Bai Qiong-yu is king. Bai orders him to do ten squats while carrying Ning bridal-style. Ning is startled and embarrassed; Bai teases him, then becomes flustered when Ning admits Bai’s breath is tickling his ear.
• In the next round, Su Jinyu draws the big joker and assigns the queen to wear a blindfold and feed a drink to the king. Ning discovers he is the king and loses his enthusiasm.

Character developments and interactions

• Bai Qiong-yu shifts from guarded hostility toward Su to publicly acknowledging their acquaintance for strategic reasons. During the game, his teasing of Ning gives way to genuine attraction and awkwardness.
• Ning Shile is eager to watch the group’s romantic drama but repeatedly becomes an unwilling participant. His private thoughts contrast comically with his embarrassed reactions.
• Zheng Ye grabs Ning’s wrist to stop the first forfeit and asks for another, showing protectiveness. Ning signals that he is fine and frees himself. Chu Ran objects to Zheng’s grip, partly out of irritation at Zheng’s possessive behavior.
• Su Jinyu uses his understanding of Bai’s predicament to persuade him, then takes an active role in the game by setting the next forfeit.

Significant themes

• Public image and secrecy: Bai’s decision to acknowledge Su is driven by the danger of informants exposing his deception.
• Jealousy and possessiveness: Zheng and Chu both react strongly to Ning’s involvement with others.
• Romantic tension and comedy: The game creates forced closeness between Bai and Ning, while Ning’s dramatic inner commentary undercuts the growing intimacy.
• Unreliable expectations: Ning’s assumptions about how the story and game will unfold are already being contradicted.

Key plot points and events

• Chu Ran draws the queen and concludes that he and Ning Shile are destined partners. When Ning Shile draws the king, Chu Ran blindfolds himself and feeds him wine as the game’s punishment.
• Ning Shile chokes a little as Chu Ran struggles to pour while blindfolded. The intimate scene embarrasses him and captivates Zheng Ye and Bai Qiong-yu. Ning Shile is relieved when the glass is empty and vows to stop playing.
• The group starts another round, and Ning Shile again draws the card targeted by the punishment: the ace. The rule is that the person with the two must kiss the ace. Zheng Ye has the two.
• Zheng Ye pins Ning Shile down, clearly wanting to kiss him, but stops short. Instead, he gently touches his hair and takes the penalty himself, drinking three glasses before leaving the room.

Character developments

• Ning Shile goes from embarrassed resignation to defiant participation, then becomes deeply flustered when Zheng Ye is the one expected to kiss him. Zheng Ye’s restraint leaves him feeling unexpectedly tender and hopeful.
• Zheng Ye recognizes the intensity of his attraction to Ning Shile and begins to suspect it is love. He overcomes his desire to prioritize Ning Shile’s comfort and consent.
• Chu Ran remains possessive and convinced that he is Ning Shile’s destined partner, using the game to create an intimate moment with him.
• Bai Qiong-yu is visibly affected by watching Ning Shile’s earlier punishment, while the childhood friend finds Ning Shile’s repeated bad luck amusing.

Significant themes

• Consent and restraint: Zheng Ye’s decision not to kiss Ning Shile shows that desire alone is not enough; a kiss should be wanted by both people.
• Attraction becoming affection: Zheng Ye’s physical longing gives way to a gentler concern for Ning Shile.
• Fate and misfortune: Chu Ran interprets the cards as proof of destiny, while Ning Shile’s repeated unlucky draws drive the chapter’s comic tension.

Character interactions

• Chu Ran’s possessive attention to Ning Shile provokes Zheng Ye, who objects to the wine punishment but cannot control the game.
• Ning Shile is the focus of the group’s attention during both punishments, heightening his embarrassment.
• Zheng Ye and Ning Shile’s near-kiss becomes the chapter’s emotional turning point: Zheng Ye stops, and Ning Shile privately chooses to interpret his restraint as respect.

Key plot points and events

• Zheng Ye leaves the club early, messaging Ning Shile that work called him away and telling him not to play the games anymore. Ning is disappointed but replies warmly.
• While searching for Zheng, Ning collides with Su Jinyu. He anxiously checks that Su is unharmed, while Su quietly notices Ning seems to know private information about others.
• Outside, Ning overhears a woman confronting a man over photographs of him with Su. The man insists the encounter was staged as part of work connected to Bai Qiong-yu.
• The woman slaps and scratches Su, then spits in his face. The man tries to force her to apologize, and their argument escalates.
• Ning recognizes the scene from his notes: the woman is possessive and unstable, and will soon set the club on fire. The blaze will injure Bai Qiong-yu, leaving him with serious burns and lasting lung damage.
• Su overhears Ning’s warning about the coming fire and reacts with unsettling amusement, deciding he will make the fire burn even hotter.

Character developments and interactions

• Ning Shile shows growing concern for Zheng Ye, then becomes alarmed when Su is attacked. His knowledge of the characters’ secrets and future events continues to shape his actions.
• Su Jinyu remains outwardly composed through the assault, but his cold response and interest in Ning’s knowledge hint at a more calculating side.
• The woman and her partner erupt into a public confrontation. Her jealousy and refusal to accept the man’s explanation turn the dispute violent; he loses control and threatens her.
• Bai Qiong-yu, though absent from the confrontation, is central to the man’s explanation and the fire’s predicted consequences. His later quiet devotion to Su is linked to his injuries.

Significant themes

• Foreknowledge and intervention: Ning’s awareness of what is supposed to happen raises the possibility that the disaster can be prevented—or deliberately intensified.
• Jealousy and possessiveness: The woman’s fixation turns suspicion into violence, putting everyone nearby at risk.
• Appearance versus hidden motives: The staged incident, concealed relationships, and Ning’s uncanny knowledge make the characters’ public explanations unreliable.
• A darkening power dynamic: Su’s composed response and final thought suggest he may not simply be a victim of events.

• The fire is deliberately started: After the woman threatens Su Jinyu and leaves, Ning Shile warns the club manager that she may set a fire. The manager’s surveillance shows nothing, and he politely agrees to watch for trouble. Suspecting the plot may have changed, Ning Shile checks the Third Floor himself but finds no sign of the woman. He also warns the manager about a hazardous eastern emergency exit and leaves—unaware that the woman is hiding in the last room with Su Jinyu.
• Su Jinyu confronts the arsonist: The woman has soaked the room in alcohol. Su Jinyu has stopped her from being discovered, apparently so she can carry out her plan. She lights the room despite his taunting, and the flames rapidly engulf them both.
• Ning Shile leads the evacuation: Back downstairs with Chu Ran and Bai Qiong-yu, Ning Shile smells smoke and discovers flames and smoke coming from above. He raises the alarm and directs guests toward the western escape route, avoiding the dangerous eastern exit and flammable clutter. When he realizes Bai Qiong-yu is missing, he turns back for him.
• Bai Qiong-yu risks himself for a cat: Ning Shile finds Bai Qiong-yu trying to rescue a calico trapped by a window. The frightened cat bites and scratches him before escaping. Bai Qiong-yu then follows Ning Shile, who waits for him despite the smoke and carries the cat out. Bai Qiong-yu is impressed by Ning Shile’s kindness and becomes even more admiring of him.
• Su Jinyu and the woman emerge: After Ning Shile and Bai Qiong-yu escape, the building is engulfed in flames. Su Jinyu comes out carrying the unconscious woman. She is badly burned, especially on the left side of her face—the same side on which she had slapped Su Jinyu. His amused expression and deliberate display of her injury make Ning Shile suspect that Su Jinyu may have allowed or engineered her punishment.
  Character developments and interactions: Ning Shile shifts from uncertainty about whether the story’s events have changed to decisive action, helping evacuate the guests and rescuing Bai Qiong-yu. Bai Qiong-yu’s attempt to save the cat reveals his compassion, while Ning Shile’s return for him deepens his admiration. Su Jinyu remains composed and provocative even amid the fire, and his treatment of the woman suggests a calculated, possibly retaliatory streak. The woman’s rage and determination lead her to start a fire that ultimately leaves her severely injured.
  Themes: The chapter contrasts genuine heroism and care with cruelty and revenge. It also emphasizes the danger of neglected fire-safety measures, the unpredictability of trying to alter a predetermined story, and the way a rescuer—or an emergency exit—can become a source of danger when safety is compromised.

Plot points and events

• After a fire at a club, Ning Shile reunites with Director Li, who remembers his courage in guiding people to safety. Li invites him to join Back to the ’80s, a rural-life variety show filmed in Min Village. Ning is excited because he knows the show will feature several major characters, but hesitates, worried that changing their storylines could affect the world. He agrees to think it over.
• The next day, Ning starts work at a Bai Corporation branch. Though he quickly handles the job, his manager continues to target him. Ning pretends to be compliant while quietly collecting evidence.
• Half a month later, Ning attends a private gathering with Bai Corporation chairman Bai Hai. Before entering Bai Hai’s room, he receives an anonymous post describing alleged corporate abuses, silenced complainants, and suspicious deaths.
• Su Jinyu appears and warns Ning not to enter, offering to “smooth things over” himself. Ning suspects Su means submitting to abuse and refuses. Su challenges him for acting like a savior and asks whether he really thinks he can take down Bai Hai alone. Ning replies that he is not alone, then enters the room.
• At that moment, a livestream begins across major platforms, drawing viewers with its sensational title.

Character developments and interactions

• Ning Shile remains brave and compassionate, but now weighs the consequences of interfering with the story’s established events. His anger at Bai Hai’s alleged abuses strengthens his resolve to act, and his confidence that he has support suggests a plan.
• Su Jinyu offers to protect Ning in his own way, but his concern is masked by cynicism and a sharp rebuke. Ning’s mention of Zheng Ye visibly irritates him, hinting at complicated feelings.
• Director Li recognizes Ning’s kindness and resourcefulness and sees him as a good fit for his show.
• Ning and Su clash over Ning’s decision to confront Bai Hai: Su urges retreat, while Ning insists on taking action.

Significant themes

• Courage versus self-preservation: Ning chooses to confront powerful wrongdoing despite the danger.
• Complicity, abuse, and accountability: The anonymous allegations suggest a system that suppresses complaints and protects influential people.
• Intervention and fate: Ning’s hesitation about joining the show reflects his concern that changing events may disrupt the world’s established story.
• Hidden motives and uneasy care: Su’s harshness contrasts with his apparent willingness to put himself in harm’s way.

Key plot points and events

• Ning Shile attends a drinking party with Bai Hai, chairman of the Bai Corporation, while secretly livestreaming the gathering through a tiny camera hidden in his necklace.
• Viewers recognize Bai Hai and watch him and the other men leer at Ning Shile. When Bai Hai offers him wine, an accomplice secretly slips a powerful obedience drug into the glass.
• Ning Shile drinks it and quickly becomes confused and physically weak. Bai Hai confirms the drug is working, orders him to kneel and undress, and Ning Shile obeys.
• The stream rapidly draws more than a million viewers, who panic, spread the footage, and call for help.
• Su Jinyu arrives just before Ning Shile removes his last shirt. He pretends he has come to inspect the new drug, prompting Bai Hai to boast about its effects and reveal that he has used similar drugs before. Su Jinyu sees Ning Shile’s drugged state and privately judges him for falling for the trap.
• Bai Hai orders the men to proceed with abusing Ning Shile, and the scene ends on the threat of imminent sexual violence.

Character developments

• Ning Shile maintains a friendly, composed façade to conceal his recording, but his plan appears to have left him vulnerable: he fails to notice the drug being added to his drink.
• Bai Hai is exposed as a predatory and calculating chairman who uses drugs to control people and treats them as objects for his amusement.
• Su Jinyu intervenes at a critical moment, though he disguises his intentions and privately reacts with irritation at Ning Shile’s apparent carelessness.

Significant themes

• Abuse of power: Bai Hai exploits his position and corporate influence to prey on employees.
• Coercion and consent: The obedience drug strips Ning Shile of control, making his apparent compliance a product of assault.
• Exposure and public accountability: The livestream turns a private abuse into a widely witnessed event, while viewers attempt to mobilize help.
• Deception and vulnerability: Ning Shile’s hidden recording exposes wrongdoing, but his own lack of awareness leaves him in immediate danger.

Character interactions

• Bai Hai feigns praise and welcome while touching Ning Shile and pressuring him to drink; once the drug takes effect, he issues commands and handles him roughly.
• An accomplice creates a distraction so Bai Hai can drug Ning Shile unnoticed.
• The livestream audience reacts with horror, identifies Bai Hai, and urges others to contact authorities.
• Su Jinyu joins Bai Hai’s gathering under a pretense, watches Ning Shile, and steers Bai Hai into discussing the drug’s use.

Plot points and events

• Ning Shile reveals that he was never drugged: he had hidden the pill in his mouth and spits it out, then throws off Bai Hai’s attempt to have him killed.
• Bai Hai summons armed bodyguards and orders them to attack. Ning Shile’s hidden camera is accidentally exposed, and he admits the confrontation is being livestreamed—making Bai Hai panic as a huge audience witnesses his crimes.
• Zheng Ye, Bai Qiong-yu, Chu Ran, and Su Jinyu arrive to help. The five had coordinated the setup: Zheng Ye diverted Bai Hai’s attention through business maneuvers, Chu Ran prepared Ning Shile for the drug, Bai Qiong-yu helped him evade security with the camera, and Su Jinyu provided timely backup.
• The group defeats the guards. Zheng Ye breaks Bai Hai’s arm after Bai Hai threatens them, while Bai Qiong-yu makes clear he also intends to retaliate for Bai Hai touching Ning Shile.
• The livestream sparks a public scandal. Police investigate the club, reporters swarm the story, and former victims speak out. Bai Hai becomes widely condemned.
• Ning Shile’s unexpected fame inspires a trending “Breast Health Hero ship” hashtag linking him and Zheng Ye. Embarrassed by the name, Ning Shile asks fans to call him Lele instead. Zheng Ye eventually replies flirtatiously, calling him cute and asking if he can kiss him.

Character developments and interactions

• Ning Shile shifts from appearing helpless to confidently exposing Bai Hai, revealing his cleverness and composure under pressure. His indignation at his new nickname adds a comic, more vulnerable side.
• Zheng Ye shows decisive protectiveness in the rescue and later expresses affection publicly, though his blunt, teasing reply flusters Ning Shile.
• Bai Qiong-yu’s usually gentle manner gives way to fierce loyalty and anger on Ning Shile’s behalf.
• Chu Ran supports the plan behind the scenes, while Su Jinyu’s entrance helps turn the confrontation in Ning Shile’s favor.
• Bai Hai’s confidence collapses as the livestream makes his crimes impossible to conceal.

Significant themes

• Teamwork and trust: Each ally contributes a different part of the plan, allowing Ning Shile to survive and expose Bai Hai.
• Accountability and public truth: Livestreaming prevents powerful people from suppressing evidence, while victims’ testimony builds on the exposure.
• Loyalty and protection: The group’s willingness to risk themselves for Ning Shile contrasts sharply with Bai Hai’s abuse of power.
• Comedy and romance amid scandal: Public attention turns the serious “hero” image into an awkward ship name, which leads to a playful exchange between Ning Shile and Zheng Ye.

Key plot points and events

• Back to the ’80s announces its five-person lineup: Ning Shile, Chu Ran, Bai Qiong-yu, Su Jinyu, and print model Yi Chen.
• Online commenters accuse Shile of manufacturing scandals and using his connection to the Zheng family to become famous. Zheng Mother is furious, especially when some commenters also cast doubt on the case against Bai Hai.
• At dinner, Shile explains that Chu Ran, Bai Qiong-yu, and Su Jinyu will be on the show. Remembering that the original novel made the program a major setting for romantic rivalry, he worries that their scenes might again be diverted onto him.
• Zheng Ye announces that he will join the show. His father objects because the company needs him, so Zheng Mother and Father ask Shile to persuade him.
• Zheng Ye says he cannot feel comfortable letting Shile go alone, then offers to attend just one episode. Shile, moved by Zheng Ye’s apparent self-sacrifice, pleads with his parents to let him go. They quickly agree.

Character developments

• Ning Shile is unsettled by the online attacks but remains more concerned with the show’s complicated relationships and the risk of becoming the center of other people’s scenes. He is also torn between wanting Zheng Ye beside him and worrying that joining the show could hurt Zheng Ye’s work.
• Zheng Ye reveals that protecting Shile matters more to him than keeping his usual focus on business. His gentle explanation reassures Shile that he is not joining because of Su Jinyu.
• Zheng Mother and Zheng Father show how fiercely protective they are of Shile—and how readily his pleading can sway them. Father’s business-minded objections give way once Shile asks.

Significant themes

• Public image and rumor: Shile’s sudden fame brings conspiracy theories that twist both his actions and the Zheng family’s involvement.
• Affection versus duty: Zheng Ye chooses time with Shile over work, while Shile wrestles with whether wanting his company is selfish.
• Family loyalty and comic indulgence: The Zheng parents rally around Shile, and the family’s affection makes them unusually easy for him to persuade.

Character interactions

• Zheng Mother defends Shile against the online comments, while Zheng Ye enforces a no-phones-at-dinner rule.
• Shile’s mention of Su Jinyu, Chu Ran, and Bai Qiong-yu makes Zheng Ye visibly uneasy, though he frames his decision to join as concern for Shile.
• When Zheng Ye appears to yield to his parents, Shile takes his side and sweet-talks them into approving the trip.