Chapter Summaries

• Exam day: Yan Wen finishes the entrance exams and has lunch with Tang Yun. Mu Huai’an approaches again, apologizing for having taken Yan Wen’s place in the Mu family and claiming his parents asked him to look after Yan Wen. Yan Wen treats the speech as a performance, while Tang Yun openly challenges Mu Huai’an’s tearful, self-pitying manner. Mu Huai’an leaves looking rejected.
• Yan Wen and Tang Yun: Tang Yun asks about Mu Huai’an, and Yan Wen explains that he is the Mu family’s adopted son, taken in after Yan Wen went missing as a child. Tang Yun warns Yan Wen to be cautious, but Yan Wen jokes that he is not as easy to bully as he looks. Their easy banter continues as they head back for the afternoon exam.
• The sports-field confrontation: After the exam, Yan Wen takes Tang Yun to watch a public argument. A man named Zhao Yuan has caught his partner, He Qian, dating Ren Qian as well. He Qian had concealed his relationship with Zhao Yuan from Ren Qian, who apparently did not know he was involved with someone else. Zhao Yuan lashes out, while He Qian shields Ren Qian. Yan Wen supplies the backstory through information from Xiao Qi, and Tang Yun condemns He Qian’s cheating and Zhao Yuan’s attempt to hit a woman.
• A hint of future trouble: Xiao Qi tells Yan Wen that Zhao Yuan’s father is due to partner with the Mu family on a project the following week, and hints that there is more scandal involving Zhao Yuan’s family. Yan Wen is briefly distracted by the gossip, then tells Tang Yun he is already looking forward to the next school break.
  Character development and relationships: Yan Wen remains amused and observant, using humor to deflect Mu Huai’an’s emotional appeals and openly enjoying campus gossip. Tang Yun shows concern for Yan Wen and is quick to defend him, while their growing camaraderie is marked by teasing and shared curiosity. Mu Huai’an continues presenting himself as a wronged, caring brother, but Yan Wen and Tang Yun are unconvinced.
  Themes: The chapter plays with the gap between appearance and reality: Mu Huai’an’s wounded performance contrasts with Yan Wen’s sweet looks and confident nature, while He Qian’s carefully managed double life collapses in public. It also highlights loyalty, deception, and the appeal of watching other people’s drama.

• The exam rankings: A week after the freshmen’s exam, Yan Wen ranks first, while Tang Yun comes in tenth. Both are delighted to have earned places in the same class. Mu Huai’an ranks 327th—far below Yan Wen—and, furious that Yan Wen has outshone him, punches the glass covering the results before storming off.
• Yan Wen and Tang Yun: The two shop together, where Tang Yun reveals that his family lives in Yan Jing and runs a company, though he calls it small. After their strong results, Tang Yun treats Yan Wen to an extravagant celebratory meal. Yan Wen receives warm congratulatory calls from Su Huilan, Yan Lin, and the Mu family. When he learns Tang Yun feels lonely because his parents are often away for work, Yan Wen invites him to celebrate with his family at the end of the month. Tang Yun accepts, encouraged by Yan Wen’s reassurance.
• The Mu family: Missing Yan Wen, Xie Yunshu and Mu Xu Xi decide to go out seeking gossip, inspired by Yan Wen’s knack for finding it. After the rankings come out, Xie Yunshu excitedly praises Yan Wen and Mu Huai’an and invites them home for a family feast, along with Yan Wen’s adoptive parents. Yan Wen agrees and asks to bring Tang Yun; Xie Yunshu warmly welcomes him.
• Character developments and tensions: Yan Wen’s hard work pays off, and he is buoyed by recognition and his family’s affection. Tang Yun’s joking confidence gives way to a wistful admission about his distant parents, though he allows himself to hope they may surprise him. Mu Huai’an’s resentment deepens as he sees Yan Wen’s success as a personal humiliation. The system explains that Mu Huai’an had hoped to use the results to mock Yan Wen, but instead Yan Wen beat him decisively.
• What comes next: Yan Wen learns that his eldest brother, Mu Xu Ye, will also be home during the visit. Yan Wen worries he might side with Mu Huai’an, but the system says Xu Ye has generally been emotionally distant from him. Yan Wen remains prepared to defend himself if needed.
  Themes: Academic achievement and rivalry; the contrast between family warmth and emotional distance; friendship and inclusion; and the way envy makes comparison painful.

Plot points and events

• Yan Wen, Tang Yun, and Mu Huai’an finish their first month of classes. Mu Xingfeng picks up Yan Wen and Mu Huai’an, with Tang Yun joining them for a visit.
• At home, Xie Yunshu and the family welcome the boys with a party popper and a display of gifts. Yan Wen chooses a watch; Mu Huai’an takes two gifts, and Xie Yunshu divides the rest between them.
• Mu Xu Ye arrives unexpectedly, explaining that his work is finished and he wants to spend time at home and meet his biological younger brother. He and Yan Wen trade sharp, playful introductions.
• During dinner, Yan Wen privately asks Xiao Qi for gossip about Mu Xu Ye. Xiao Qi reveals that, in a future incident, Mu Xu Ye will be drugged and nearly harmed. A male college friend will rescue him, but while drugged Mu Xu Ye will instead pin the friend down. The friend will keep the incident secret and later die protecting him.
• Yan Wen becomes absorbed in the story and asks when it will happen and whether Xiao Qi has the friend’s name or a photo. The chapter ends as Xiao Qi begins searching.

Character developments and interactions

• Yan Wen is curious, outspoken, and quick with comebacks. He remains skeptical of Mu Xu Ye but is eager to learn about him through gossip.
• Mu Xu Ye comes across as stern and intimidating, yet his interest in meeting Yan Wen brings him home. Xiao Qi’s revelations visibly unsettle him.
• Mu Huai’an seems subdued during the ride home, though he insists he is fine.
• Xie Yunshu warmly includes both boys, showering them with gifts and treating them as family.
• Tang Yun easily joins the household’s friendly atmosphere and admires the Mu family’s looks.
• The family’s reactions to Yan Wen’s private conversation with Xiao Qi suggest they can hear or otherwise sense his thoughts: Mu Xu Ci and Mu Xu Xi choke on their food, Xie Yunshu also chokes, and Mu Xu Ye grows increasingly tense.

Significant themes

• Family and belonging: The welcome and gifts affirm Yan Wen and Mu Huai’an’s place in the household, while Mu Xu Ye’s return centers the family’s changing relationships.
• Fate, secrecy, and sacrifice: Xiao Qi’s story foreshadows a dangerous encounter, an unspoken love, and a friend’s eventual self-sacrifice.
• Comedy and dramatic irony: Yan Wen treats a serious future event as entertaining gossip, while the family reacts to details he does not realize they may be hearing.

Plot points and events

• At dinner, Yan Wen reveals through his thoughts that Mu Xu Ye’s former classmate, Qi Shu Yu, is in love with him and that Mu Xu Ye will be drugged at a bar in three days. The Mu family overhears and immediately assumes Mu Xu Ye might return Qi Shu Yu’s feelings, though Mu Xu Ye insists he will handle it himself.
• Later, Xiao Qi alerts Yan Wen that Gu Siyan has kidnapped his ex-wife, Qin Yue, and intends to force her to donate a kidney to his mistress, Ran Zhizhi. Ran has allegedly forged medical records to make Gu believe she needs the transplant.
• Yan Wen rushes to the hospital, followed by Tang Yun and the Mu family. He stops Gu’s men from restraining Qin Yue, confronts Gu and Ran, and exposes the bribed doctor. Mu Xingfeng takes charge of the doctor, while hospital staff arrange to deal with him.
• Yan Wen calls Qin Yue’s brothers. Qin Yu and Qin Xiao arrive, and Qin Xiao and Qin Yu beat Gu Siyan while Ran Zhizhi protests. Qin Yue is examined and confirmed to be safe.

Character developments

• Yan Wen acts decisively to protect Qin Yue, using his knowledge and the Mu family’s influence to interrupt the illegal transplant. He remains outspoken and visibly enjoys seeing bullies face consequences.
• Mu Xu Ye stays composed about the revelation concerning Qi Shu Yu, while his family enthusiastically pushes the possibility of a romance.
• Qin Yu and Qin Xiao show their fierce devotion to Qin Yue; Qin Xiao openly attacks Gu, and Qin Yu joins him before turning to handle the matter.
• Tang Yun is shocked by the attempted forced transplant and supports Qin Yue after the men release her.
• Gu Siyan and Ran Zhizhi are exposed as willing to endanger Qin Yue for Ran’s benefit; Gu dismisses Qin Yue’s pleas, including her claim that she is pregnant.

Significant themes

• Justice and accountability: Yan Wen and the Qin family confront people who believe wealth or personal desire puts them above the law.
• Family loyalty: The Qin brothers’ swift response underscores their protectiveness toward Qin Yue; the Mu family also rallies behind Yan Wen.
• Romance and meddling: The Mu family’s reaction to Qi Shu Yu’s feelings introduces a lighter romantic thread alongside the hospital crisis.
• Dramatic irony and humor: Yan Wen’s private thoughts are heard by the Mu family, and his enthusiastic commentary contrasts with the seriousness of the attempted crime.

Character interactions

• The Mu family teases Mu Xu Ye about Qi Shu Yu and offers their support, while he resists their assumptions.
• Tang Yun and the Mu family follow Yan Wen to the hospital, where he protects Qin Yue and confronts Gu, Ran, and the doctor.
• Yan Wen contacts Qin Yu, who arrives with Qin Xiao; the brothers take over dealing with Gu and Ran, while Qin Yue receives medical care.

Key plot points and events

• Qin Yue recovers in the hospital after Gu Siyan and Ran Zhizhi tried to force her to donate a kidney. She confirms that Gu Siyan ignored her pregnancy and would likely have let her die.
• Yan Wen learns that Gu Siyan spent much of the money he earned at the Mu Group on Ran Zhizhi, whose illness was fabricated. They bribed the same doctor: Gu Siyan paid three million, and Ran Zhizhi paid one million.
• Qin Yue and her brothers arrive and hear Yan Wen’s thoughts about Gu Siyan’s plan to dispose of Qin Yue’s body if the operation killed her. Enraged, Qin Xiao beats Gu Siyan and slaps Ran Zhizhi aside.
• Qin Yu uses Yan Wen’s earlier video and evidence of the new bribery to ensure both are imprisoned. At Qin Yue’s request, they are sent to a notorious prison on an isolated island, where the Qin Family makes sure they cannot escape or die easily.
• Yan Wen later hears where they were sent and jokes that Gu Siyan is an expert at bringing ruin upon himself.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Yue remains composed and decisive despite her ordeal. Rather than settle for a beating, she chooses a severe punishment for Gu Siyan and Ran Zhizhi.
• Qin Xiao’s fierce protectiveness is clear in his attack on Gu Siyan. He is also embarrassed when Yan Wen learns he once lost three million to a phone scam.
• Qin Yu handles the legal and practical consequences, using the evidence to secure the couple’s imprisonment.
• Yan Wen’s private thoughts reveal the couple’s greed and deception, while his casual humor contrasts with the seriousness of the events. The Qin family can hear those thoughts, creating both useful revelations and comic embarrassment.

Significant themes

• Betrayal and accountability: Gu Siyan’s abuse of Qin Yue and Ran Zhizhi’s complicity bring severe consequences.
• Family loyalty and protection: The Qin siblings unite to defend Qin Yue and ensure she receives justice.
• Deception and greed: Ran Zhizhi’s false illness and both characters’ bribery expose their manipulation and selfishness.
• Dark comedy: Yan Wen’s exaggerated inner commentary and the family’s reactions add humor to an otherwise violent, high-stakes confrontation.

Key plot points and events

• Mu Xingfeng and Xie Yunshu give Yan Wen money to take Tang Yun around Weicheng. After three days of sightseeing, Yan Wen brings him home early because he wants to attend a reunion involving his eldest brother, Mu Xu Ye.
• At lunch, Yan Wen’s thoughts reveal that Mu Xu Ye’s former classmate Qi Shu Yu has loved him for years. The Mu family privately encourages Xu Ye to consider giving Qi a chance.
• Xu Ye invites Yan Wen to the reunion, and Yan Wen asks to bring Tang Yun as well. Mu Huai’an watches Xu Ye treat Yan Wen warmly and feels bitter, believing the family has never truly accepted him.
• At the bar, Yan Wen spots Qi Shu Yu and learns that a pink-haired classmate is supposed to drug Xu Ye. The plan is ultimately abandoned, and Yan Wen hopes to bring Xu Ye and Qi closer himself.
• Xu Ye and Qi exchange a nervous greeting. Learning that Qi moved to Weicheng in hopes of being near him, Xu Ye begins to consider trying a relationship.

Character developments and interactions

• Yan Wen is enthusiastic and meddlesome, eager to help Xu Ye and Qi while looking after Tang Yun. His innocent drinking anecdote also amuses the others.
• Tang Yun remains close to Yan Wen, follows him upstairs rather than staying alone, and accompanies him to the reunion.
• Mu Xu Ye is initially uncertain about Qi’s feelings and his own, but Qi’s long devotion makes him more open to exploring a relationship.
• Qi Shu Yu is deeply in love with Xu Ye, though shy and flustered when they finally speak.
• Mu Huai’an grows jealous of Xu Ye’s warmth toward Yan Wen and interprets the difference as proof that the family sees him as an outsider.
• Xie Yunshu and Mu Xu Xi openly urge Xu Ye not to hurt Qi and reassure him that they would support the relationship.

Significant themes

• Long-held, unspoken love: Qi’s years of quiet devotion are beginning to meet the possibility of reciprocation.
• Family belonging and favoritism: Xu Ye’s kindness to Yan Wen contrasts sharply with Huai’an’s sense of rejection.
• Fate and intervention: Yan Wen’s foreknowledge gives him a chance to prevent trouble and nudge the reunion toward romance, though Xu Ye must decide for himself.

• Key events: Yan Wen initially considers letting a flirtatious stranger drug Mu Xu Ye to push him and Qi Shu Yu together, but changes his mind when he worries Mu Xu Ye might resent Qi Shu Yu. When the stranger offers Mu Xu Ye a spiked drink, Mu Xu Ye drinks it anyway; Yan Wen secretly gives him an antidote pill. Yan Wen then encourages Qi Shu Yu to stop hiding his feelings and confess. Qi Shu Yu asks Mu Xu Ye to speak privately, admits he has liked him since their third year of college, and learns Mu Xu Ye is willing to explore whether he might return those feelings.
• Character developments: Qi Shu Yu moves from anxious hesitation to taking the risk of confessing, accepting that he may be rejected. Mu Xu Ye shows more warmth than Qi Shu Yu expects, teasing him about his nervousness and asking him to help determine whether he has feelings in return. Yan Wen’s matchmaking instincts are tempered by concern for his brother’s trust and consent.
• Character interactions: Yan Wen acts as an enthusiastic but conflicted matchmaker, encouraging Qi Shu Yu while worrying about Mu Xu Ye’s reaction. Tang Yun accompanies him as an amused observer. Qi Shu Yu and Mu Xu Ye’s private conversation turns a long-standing, unspoken attraction into an honest conversation and a tentative opening for romance.
• Themes: The chapter emphasizes that love requires courage and honest communication—“How will you know unless you try?” It also contrasts matchmaking schemes with the importance of consent, trust, and allowing people to choose their own relationships.

Plot points and events

• After a five-day break, Mu Xingfeng drives Yan Wen, Tang Yun, and Mu Huai’an back to campus. Mu Huai’an separates from the other two.
• Mu Huai’an tells classmates that he was adopted by the Mu family and claims Yan Wen dislikes him for replacing the family’s biological son. He presents himself as patient and harmless, prompting classmates to offer to defend him. Privately, he intends to use them to target Yan Wen while keeping himself above suspicion.
• Yan Wen learns from Xiao Qi that Mu Huai’an is forming a clique to isolate him, but initially dismisses the plan as childish.
• Yan Wen and Tang Yun investigate a crowd gathered after a student is seriously injured in a fight. They hear that the attacker may be expelled.
• Mu Huai’an arrives with his new allies. They insult Yan Wen and threaten him, while Mu Huai’an pretends to apologize for them.
• When one boy makes a degrading remark about Yan Wen’s parents, Yan Wen attacks him, knocking out a tooth and striking him further. He then calls out Mu Huai’an’s manipulation and warns him that he is willing to fight him directly.
• Mu Huai’an backs down and apologizes, but inwardly remains angry and focused on building connections.

Character developments and interactions

• Mu Huai’an uses a victim narrative to recruit classmates and conceal his own hostility. His false humility contrasts with his private resentment and ambition.
• Yan Wen stays composed while the group taunts him, then responds decisively when they insult his family. He recognizes Mu Huai’an’s strategy and confronts him openly.
• Tang Yun accompanies Yan Wen and is ready to defend him, but Yan Wen stops him from escalating the verbal confrontation.
• Mu Huai’an’s classmates accept his account without question and threaten Yan Wen on his behalf, becoming tools in his scheme.

Significant themes

• Manipulation and appearances: Mu Huai’an’s sympathetic public persona masks his calculated motives.
• Belonging and family: The adoption and biological-son dynamic fuels resentment and assumptions about who deserves a place in the family.
• Loyalty and protection: Tang Yun supports Yan Wen, while Mu Huai’an exploits others’ willingness to defend him.
• Consequences and accountability: The injured student’s case highlights the school’s strict response to violence, even as Yan Wen himself uses violence when his family is attacked.

Plot points and events

• At the infirmary, Mu Huai’an apologizes to Zhang He for Mu Yanwen, while quietly encouraging Zhang He’s resentment. Zhang He and another student accuse Yanwen of cheating his way into Shengyuan and spread a crude rumor about him.
• The boys propose filming an explicit video of Yanwen and posting it to the campus forum to ruin his reputation. Huai’an pretends to object, then agrees, insisting they not go too far because Yanwen is his brother.
• In their dorm, Yanwen and Tang Yun play a game. Afterward, Yanwen learns from his system, Xiao Qi, that Huai’an and the others intend to humiliate and blackmail him. Yanwen takes the threat lightly and asks to be alerted when they act, viewing the coming conflict as entertainment.
• At Mu Heavenly Cauldron Group, chairman Mu Xingfeng notices new employee Song Jing’an’s name but cannot recall why it seems familiar. He also continues to suspect Secretary Liu may be a mole, based on Yanwen’s earlier warning, though he has seen no evidence.
• Secretary Liu secretly informs a rival that Xingfeng’s upcoming business trip could create an opportunity to act. He is told to keep gathering company information, especially documents on a new product. Liu probes an R&D employee about the project and learns its files are secured, then realizes he needs a way into the department.

Character developments and interactions

• Mu Huai’an presents himself as a caring, reluctant brother while manipulating Zhang He and the others into targeting Yanwen.
• Zhang He nurses a grudge against Yanwen and spreads rumors, eagerly joining the revenge plan.
• Yanwen remains confident and amused despite the threat, relying on Xiao Qi to monitor his enemies.
• Tang Yun shares a relaxed, humorous gaming scene with Yanwen, providing a contrast to the schemes unfolding around them.
• Mu Xingfeng takes Yanwen’s warnings seriously enough to watch Secretary Liu, but remains uncertain.
• Secretary Liu acts courteous and helpful at work while covertly serving the rival company and seeking access to sensitive R&D information.

Significant themes

• Deception and appearances: Huai’an’s kindness is a cover for manipulation, while Liu’s helpful professionalism masks corporate espionage.
• Revenge and bullying: The students turn personal resentment into a plan to publicly humiliate and blackmail Yanwen.
• Suspicion and trust: Xingfeng must decide whether to trust an employee who has shown no obvious signs of betrayal.
• Confidence in the face of danger: Yanwen treats impending threats as an opportunity for amusement rather than a cause for fear.

Plot points and events

• Mu Huai’an sees Yan Wen and Tang Yun happily rushing out to find roast duck, and reacts with a tightened grip on his bag.
• At the Mu family dinner, Mu Xingfeng confirms that Song Jing’an has joined the company, as Yan Wen had predicted. The family remains unsure whether Secretary Liu will betray them, since Mu Xingfeng has found no evidence of trouble.
• Mu Xu Ye takes Qi Shu Yu on a date. Qi Shu Yu worries that the restaurant is too modest, but Mu Xu Ye reassures him that they are equals. When Qi Shu Yu accidentally eats a chili, Mu Xu Ye is struck by his vulnerable, flushed appearance.
• Mu Xu Ye asks when Qi Shu Yu began loving him. Qi Shu Yu says his feelings changed in his sophomore year and became clear the following year. Remembering Yan Wen’s thoughts about Qi Shu Yu’s future sacrifice—and the birthday gift he would die carrying—Mu Xu Ye asks him to protect himself if Mu Xu Ye is ever in danger.
• Yan Wen and Tang Yun enjoy a feast of roast duck at the academy. Afterwards, Zhang He probes Mu Huai’an about Yan Wen’s humble upbringing and the family’s affection for him. Zhang He hints at revenge for Yan Wen’s recent beating; Mu Huai’an encourages him while pretending not to understand his intentions.
• Back in his dorm, Yan Wen finishes and submits an assignment, then frightens himself while watching a horror film. A sudden doorbell makes him slam his laptop shut.

Character developments and interactions

• Mu Xu Ye shows growing tenderness toward Qi Shu Yu and, informed by Yan Wen’s knowledge of the future, tries to prevent him from making a fatal sacrifice.
• Qi Shu Yu is shy and self-conscious on the date, but openly describes the gradual growth of his feelings. He readily promises to keep himself safe.
• Mu Huai’an remains troubled by the family’s shift toward Yan Wen and appears to align himself with Zhang He’s resentment.
• Zhang He openly nurses a grudge and plans retaliation, using Mu Huai’an’s insecurity to draw him closer.
• Yan Wen and Tang Yun share an easy, cheerful friendship, contrasted with Mu Huai’an’s silent jealousy. Yan Wen’s comical fear of the horror film provides a lighter ending.

Significant themes

• Love and sacrifice: Mu Xu Ye’s promise asks Qi Shu Yu to value his own life rather than prove love through self-endangerment.
• Foreknowledge and prevention: Yan Wen’s knowledge of future events influences Mu Xu Ye’s choices and may help avert tragedy.
• Belonging, status, and resentment: Mu Huai’an and Zhang He frame Yan Wen’s poverty and biological status as sources of vulnerability, while the family’s changed attention fuels Mu Huai’an’s insecurity.

Key plot points and events

• Tang Yun visits Yan Wen for help with homework. Yan Wen explains the problem, then the two go for an evening walk and listen to a student sing.
• The singer is Han Mo, a talented third-year music student. Through Xiao Qi’s panel, Yan Wen learns that she is destined to be poisoned by her jealous classmate He Yaoyao, lose her voice, be falsely accused of plagiarism, and eventually die by suicide after facing online abuse.
• Yan Wen also learns the shocking family connection: Han Mo was adopted, and her birth mother is the instructor whose daughter, He Yaoyao, is poisoning her. He Yaoyao knows Han Mo is her older sister and fears losing her mother’s affection.
• Yan Wen sees that He Yaoyao is putting poison in Han Mo’s water. Han Mo overhears Yan Wen’s otherwise unspoken commentary, refuses to drink, and questions He Yaoyao’s insistence. Xiao Qi explains that the poison changes the water’s color as it cools, so He Yaoyao had previously made Han Mo drink it hot.

Character developments

• Yan Wen is startled by the horror movie and later horrified by the future he discovers. His reaction shifts from curiosity to moral disgust at He Yaoyao’s calculated cruelty.
• Tang Yun admires Yan Wen’s academic ability and apparent bravery, then accompanies him on a relaxed evening outing.
• Han Mo goes from confidently performing to frightened and suspicious after hearing the warnings. She shows caution by refusing the water.
• He Yaoyao appears caring and affectionate, but is revealed as an intentional, methodical poisoner motivated by jealousy and possessiveness.

Character interactions

• Yan Wen patiently tutors Tang Yun, and their friendly exchange leads naturally to their walk together.
• At the sports field, Yan Wen and Tang Yun watch Han Mo perform and comment on her singing.
• He Yaoyao presents herself as a concerned younger sister, urging Han Mo to drink; Han Mo’s growing suspicion turns the interaction into a tense test of her intentions.
• Xiao Qi guides Yan Wen through the revelations, while Yan Wen’s thoughts—somehow audible to Han Mo—help alert her to the danger.

Significant themes

• Jealousy and possessiveness can become lethal: He Yaoyao’s fear of sharing her mother’s love drives sustained, deliberate harm.
• Appearances conceal danger: He Yaoyao’s warmth masks her betrayal of her own sister.
• The fragility of justice and reputation: Han Mo’s future includes false accusations, online abuse, and her parents’ unsuccessful pursuit of justice.
• Foreknowledge and intervention: Yan Wen learns of a tragedy before it happens, raising the possibility that the course of events can be changed.

Plot points and events

• Han Mo secretly transfers some of her drink into an empty tissue packet. When He Yaoyao offers to replace the water, Han Mo asks her only to pour it out, apparently preserving the sample for testing.
• Yan Wen and Tang Yun stroll around campus, where Xiao Qi spots Cao Dong secretly photographing Yan Wen. Zhang He has tasked Cao Dong with collecting pictures to manipulate and damage Yan Wen’s reputation.
• Xiao Qi reports that Song Jing’an has begun working at Yan Wen’s father’s company, where an undercover secretary is also making moves. Yan Wen worries about his father but feels unable to intervene.
• Han Mo gives the suspicious, yellowed water to a friend in the Medical Department for testing; results are expected the following evening.
• Tang Yun shows Yan Wen a Confession Wall post featuring Yan Wen’s photo. The post and replies portray him as cruel to his adopted brother, Mu Huai’an, and students quickly pile on with criticism.
• Xiao Qi identifies Zhang He as the post’s author and Cao Dong as the commenter who steered the discussion against Yan Wen. Mu Huai’an has stayed silent, allowing himself to appear wronged.
• Instead of defending himself immediately, Yan Wen decides to let the backlash grow and play along until he can raise the stakes. Xiao Qi says videos and recordings are ready to publish when Yan Wen gives the word.
• Zhang He and Cao Dong dismiss Mu Huai’an’s concerns and want Yan Wen to suffer. Though Mu Huai’an appears uneasy, he privately relishes the attack.

Character developments and interactions

• Yan Wen stays composed under public attack and reveals confidence that he can handle confrontation. He intends to use evidence rather than rush into a public explanation.
• Tang Yun worries about the damage to Yan Wen’s reputation, but stands by him and refuses to abandon him.
• Xiao Qi acts as Yan Wen’s informant and potential means of releasing evidence, while expressing concern for his safety.
• Mu Huai’an maintains a victim’s image in public while privately enjoying Yan Wen’s predicament.
• Zhang He and Cao Dong escalate their campaign from covert photography to online smear tactics, with Cao Dong helping direct the comments.
• Han Mo quietly arranges testing of the suspicious water, suggesting a separate conflict may be developing.

Significant themes

• Reputation and manipulation: A few staged images and planted comments can rapidly shape public opinion.
• Patience and strategy: Yan Wen refuses to react on his enemies’ terms, choosing to let their scheme develop before responding.
• Loyalty and trust: Tang Yun’s solidarity contrasts with the conspirators’ false concern and betrayal.
• Appearance versus intent: Mu Huai’an appears worried while privately celebrating, underscoring the gap between public performance and private motives.

Key plot points and events

• Yan Wen continues to face hostility from classmates because of an online post accusing him of misconduct. He calmly rebuffs one student who tries to drive him out of Class One, while Gao Yuyang defends his right to study and refuses to judge him based on rumors.
• After finishing a tutoring session, Yan Wen, Tang Yun, and Gao Yuyang go to lunch and then head to the gym.
• Gao reveals that Gao Zhen is his cousin and that the scandal involving him has been confirmed by authenticated recordings and videos. The two branches of the Gao family have long been rivals, so Gao Yuyang is glad his cousin’s disgrace has weakened his side of the family.
• Separately, Han Mo learns that prolonged use of a drug can permanently damage someone’s vocal cords. She suspects a specific person but lacks evidence, and plans to gather proof before reporting her.
• At the gym, a senior student recognizes Yan Wen from the post. Tang Yun discovers that the rumors have spread further, including fabricated claims that Yan Wen’s parents bribed the school and that Yan Wen worked as a drinking companion. A bar photo has been manipulated to single him out.
• Yan Wen tells Xiao Qi to release a recording of Mu Huai’an and Zhang He plotting to frame him, timed to appear an hour later. He promises his friends that he has a plan to retaliate.

Character developments and interactions

• Yan Wen remains composed under social pressure, answers insults confidently, and focuses on helping others. Privately, he sees Gao Yuyang as a potentially useful connection and prepares a public counterattack.
• Gao Yuyang proves open-minded and supportive of Yan Wen, while revealing his own family’s rivalry with Gao Zhen’s branch and his satisfaction at its downfall.
• Tang Yun stays loyal to Yan Wen, joins in supporting him, and becomes angry when he sees the new rumors.
• Han Mo shifts from alarm at the medical findings to determined resolve: she intends to collect evidence and make the culprit face consequences.
• The classmates and senior student show contrasting reactions: some join the rumor campaign, while Gao Yuyang and the senior express doubts about the accusations.

Significant themes

• Rumor, reputation, and social judgment: Online accusations encourage classmates to attack Yan Wen without knowing the facts.
• Loyalty and fairness: Gao Yuyang and Yan Wen’s question-asking classmate choose to judge people by their actions rather than gossip.
• Revenge and accountability: Yan Wen prepares to expose those framing him, while Han Mo seeks evidence to pursue a suspected attacker.
• Family rivalry and ambition: Gao Zhen’s scandal affects not only him but also the balance of power within the Gao family, potentially elevating Gao Yuyang.

Key plot points

• Mu Huai’an, Zhang He, and Cao Dong gloat over online attacks accusing Yan Wen of misconduct and suspecting he bought his way into Shengyuan. Mu Huai’an pretends to be uncertain, while Zhang He vows to humiliate Yan Wen if they find proof.
• Yan Wen and Tang Yun discover a video posted on the academy’s Confession Wall. It clearly shows Zhang He being beaten in the infirmary, exposing that the earlier incident was staged and implicating Zhang He, Cao Dong, and Mu Huai’an.
• Commenters identify those involved, discuss Mu Huai’an’s connection to Yan Wen as his adopted older brother, and point out that the Mu Family is far more influential than Zhang’s or Cao’s. The post quickly turns public opinion against the three.
• Yan Wen explains that the video is only the beginning: he plans to counter their rumors with real evidence, letting the men try to clear themselves before the truth catches up with them.
• Zhang He and Cao Dong confront Mu Huai’an, accuse him of manipulating them, and threaten him with consequences unless he fixes the scandal. They leave him alone as the online backlash intensifies.

Character developments and interactions

• Yan Wen is calm and strategic, treating the exposure as measured payback rather than a spontaneous response. He believes Mu Huai’an’s carefully concealed involvement will eventually become visible.
• Mu Huai’an is exposed as a deceptive instigator who hides behind an innocent, concerned persona. Once his allies turn on him, his composure collapses into panic and helplessness.
• Zhang He and Cao Dong shift from confident accomplices to angry accusers. They blame Mu Huai’an for drawing them into the scheme and threaten him when their families and reputations are affected.
• Tang Yun enthusiastically supports Yan Wen and delights in the reversal. Xiao Qi helps him post online and offers to monitor Mu Huai’an’s reaction.
• The online commenters function as a collective force: they verify the video, piece together the relationships and status involved, and rapidly redirect their hostility toward Yan Wen’s accusers.

Significant themes

• Revenge and consequences: Yan Wen answers a smear campaign with evidence and promises further exposure.
• Public opinion and digital proof: Online communities can uncover information quickly, but their judgments can also shift just as quickly.
• Deception and betrayal: Mu Huai’an’s performance of brotherly concern contrasts with his hidden role in harming Yan Wen, and his allies’ trust collapses once they feel used.
• Power and reputation: The characters’ family backgrounds shape how seriously others view the scandal and raise the stakes for Zhang and Cao.

Key events

• Mu Huai’an remains the focus of campus outrage after the online scandal. Yan Wen sees him looking isolated and vulnerable, but doesn’t approach him.
• Yan Wen’s classmates apologize for believing the accusations against him. He accepts their apologies and initially declines an expensive gift—until Xiao Qi reveals that the offered watch costs far more than the shoes. Yan Wen takes the shoes instead.
• In class, Yan Wen confirms to Gao Yuyang that Mu Huai’an is his adopted older brother. He explains that his parents adopted Mu after Yan Wen disappeared as a toddler, but have tried to make amends since finding Yan Wen.
• A conversation about clichéd “real and fake heir” stories leads Xiao Qi to describe Li Zhaoxi, a girl in Class Thirteen. Though she is the biological daughter of the wealthy Tao Family, her parents and brothers favor their adopted daughter, Tao Niannian, and treat Li Zhaoxi cruelly.
• Horrified by the abuse, Yan Wen resolves to visit Li Zhaoxi and find out more.

Character developments and interactions

• Yan Wen handles the apologies calmly and generously, while his thoughts reveal his practical, money-conscious side. His anger at Li Zhaoxi’s treatment shows how strongly he reacts to injustice.
• Mu Huai’an appears socially weakened and unsupported, though Yan Wen believes the consequences of the scandal will keep him occupied.
• Gao Yuyang asks about Yan Wen’s family situation and expresses relief that Yan Wen’s parents support their biological son.
• Xiao Qi provides Yan Wen with information about Li Zhaoxi, prompting his concern and intended intervention.
• Li Zhaoxi, described through Xiao Qi’s account, has endured neglect, humiliation, confinement, deprivation, and physical abuse while still apparently hoping for acceptance from her birth family.

Significant themes

• Family loyalty and belonging: The chapter contrasts Yan Wen’s parents’ efforts to make amends with the Tao Family’s rejection of its returned biological daughter.
• The danger of judgment and rumor: Yan Wen’s classmates recognize that they should have checked the facts before joining the backlash.
• Injustice and abuse: Li Zhaoxi’s situation exposes the cruelty of favoring an adopted child while mistreating a biological one.
• Satire of melodramatic tropes: The characters joke about fictional “real and fake heir” plots, only for Xiao Qi to reveal a real-life version that is far worse.

Plot points and events

• After class, Yan Wen eats with Tang Yun and Gao Yuyang. Xiao Qi tells him that Class Thirteen and Tao Niannian’s Class Six have afternoon physical training together, where a major incident is about to unfold.
• Mu Huai’an deliberately bumps Yan Wen’s chair, spilling soup on him. Yan Wen stays calm, dismissing the act as petty.
• The Mu Family watches a verified video showing Mu Huai’an, Zhang He, and Cao Dong plotting to frame Yan Wen. Xie Yunshu is devastated and plans to address Mu Huai’an’s behavior with her husband; Mu Xu Xi reminds her that this is part of a pattern.
• At home, Yan Lin condemns Mu Huai’an but trusts Yan Wen to stand up for himself. He and Su Huilan discuss their nearly completed mission and consider visiting Yan Lin’s father, perhaps bringing Yan Wen along.
• After changing his clothes and losing a frustrating game, Yan Wen heads to the soccer field to watch the coming drama. Xiao Qi identifies Li Zhaoxi, a student in Class Thirteen.
• Li Zhaoxi hears a mysterious voice—Yan Wen’s narration—predicting that her biological family, the Tao Family, will continue mistreating her. The voice describes her eventual terminal cancer diagnosis, regret too late for the Tao Family, and her death five months after returning to her adoptive parents.
• Xiao Qi explains the imminent incident: Tao Niannian and two girls will lock Li Zhaoxi in a restroom stall, causing her to miss calls from a fashion company and lose her dream job. When she confronts Tao Niannian, the Tao Family will imprison and starve her. Li Zhaoxi realizes she must protect herself and her career.

Character developments and interactions

• Yan Wen responds to Mu Huai’an’s provocation with restraint, then eagerly follows Xiao Qi’s lead to witness and possibly intervene in the next “drama.”
• Mu Huai’an is revealed to have escalated from earlier schemes to plotting against Yan Wen with classmates. His family is forced to confront his conduct.
• Xie Yunshu struggles with guilt and disbelief because she treated Mu Huai’an as her own son, while Mu Xu Xi urges her to recognize his repeated actions and discipline him.
• Yan Lin and Su Huilan show confidence in Yan Wen and affection for him, while recalling his bond with his stern but indulgent grandfather.
• Li Zhaoxi, previously obedient to the Tao Family, receives a warning that may help her resist their abuse and protect her ambition. She quietly watches Tao Niannian, preparing for danger.

Significant themes

• Family loyalty and betrayal: Mu Huai’an’s scheme and the Tao Family’s mistreatment contrast with the care shown by Yan Wen’s family and adoptive parents.
• Consequences of abuse and neglect: Li Zhaoxi’s foretold illness, lost opportunity, and suffering show the lasting cost of her family’s cruelty.
• Agency and intervention: Foreknowledge gives Li Zhaoxi a chance to change course, while Yan Wen’s ability to uncover hidden wrongdoing may help prevent harm.
• Restraint and support: Yan Wen refuses to waste anger on petty provocation, and those around him respond to conflict with concern and loyalty.

Key plot points and events

• During a break after exercise, Li Zhaoxi’s friend Yan Xiaoqing asks where she has been. Tao Niannian lies that a teacher called Li to the office, concealing that she had trapped her in a restroom.
• Tao and two classmates lock Li inside a stall and pour cold water over her, intending to leave her there. Li had secretly kept her phone and calls Yan Xiaoqing for help.
• Tao blocks Yan Xiaoqing from reaching the restroom. Yan Wen intervenes indirectly, telling another student that Li needs help. The student and Yan Xiaoqing get past Tao, and Yan Xiaoqing removes the mop handle wedged against the stall door.
• Li is freed with only her trouser legs wet. She has quietly recorded evidence of the bullying.
• Reflecting on how the Tao Family treats her, Li questions whether she wants to stay with them. She remembers that her adoptive parents treated her better and decides that they are the family she longs for.
• Li receives an offer from overseas fashion company LNN to join after graduation and excitedly accepts. Xiao Qi notes that leaving the Tao Family should be straightforward: Li is registered there as an adopted daughter, while the Li Family lists her as their eldest daughter.
• Li identifies Yan Wen as the source of the voice she has been hearing and approaches him, recognizing him as a top-ranked freshman.

Character developments and interactions

• Li Zhaoxi stays composed during the prank, prepares for trouble by keeping her phone, and preserves an audio recording. The incident sharpens her resolve to reconsider her place in the Tao Family and pursue her own future.
• Yan Xiaoqing is loyal and rushes to help Li, despite Tao’s attempts to delay her.
• Yan Wen moves from observing and questioning the story’s implausible coincidences to taking action, recruiting another student to help.
• Tao Niannian uses deception and obstruction to bully Li, but abandons the attempt when help arrives, reassured by her friends that Li is unlikely to report her.
• Xiao Qi explains how the bullying happened and helps Yan Wen understand Li’s family and legal situation.

Significant themes

• Bullying and complicity: Tao’s social privilege enables her cruelty, while her friends minimize its consequences.
• Family and belonging: Li contrasts her blood relatives’ mistreatment with the care she received from her adoptive parents.
• Agency and self-determination: Li gathers evidence, considers leaving an unhappy household, and embraces a promising career opportunity.
• Intervention and support: Yan Wen and Yan Xiaoqing show that even indirect action and timely help can interrupt abuse.

Key plot points and events

• Li Zhaoxi notices that Yan Wen has been adopted by the Mu Family and confides that she is the Tao Family’s biological daughter, though they present her as adopted and treat Tao Niannian as their biological child.
• Yan Wen challenges her to judge the Tao Family by how they treat her, pointing out that they made her sacrifice her chance at a better class for Tao Niannian.
• Li Zhaoxi decides to leave the Tao Family and permanently sever ties. She asks Yan Wen to help her gather evidence and protect her from the family’s influence. He agrees to enlist the Mu Family’s help.
• Planning to document the Tao Family’s behavior, Li Zhaoxi considers recording their calls. She then contacts her adoptive parents for the first time since returning to the Tao Family and tells them she is unhappy and wants to come home.

Character developments

• Li Zhaoxi moves from hoping the Tao Family will accept her to recognizing their mistreatment and choosing her own future. She also renews her emotional bond with the Li Family and resolves to return to them.
• Yan Wen uses his position and family connections to support Li Zhaoxi, eager to help her escape a harmful situation.
• Li Zhaoxi’s adoptive parents respond with immediate concern and reassurance, affirming that she will always be their daughter.

Significant themes

• Love versus blood ties: The chapter contrasts the Tao Family’s biological connection to Li Zhaoxi with the genuine care shown by the Li Family.
• Self-worth and independence: Li Zhaoxi stops waiting for acceptance and decides not to risk her future for people who exclude her.
• Evidence and accountability: She plans to document the Tao Family’s conduct before cutting ties.

Character interactions

• Yan Wen speaks frankly with Li Zhaoxi, helping her recognize how poorly the Tao Family treats her and offering the Mu Family’s backing.
• Li Zhaoxi and her adoptive parents share an emotional phone call. They welcome her home without hesitation, while she promises to return once she has resolved matters with the Tao Family.

• Yan Wen and Tang Yun: Yan Wen meets Tang Yun outside the dorm and lies that he has been exercising. Tang Yun tells him the school will let students who place in the top three of their grade study online. Yan Wen is excited to apply, while Tang Yun worries he cannot keep up. Yan Wen encourages him to try, and Tang Yun resolves to study hard and stay with him.
• Yan Wen asks his mother for help: Yan Wen calls his mother, Xie Yunshu, who assumes he is upset about an earlier post and offers to defend him. Instead, he asks her to support Li Zhaoxi, who wants to sever ties with the Tao Family and may need help holding a Family Severance Banquet. Xie Yunshu sympathizes and agrees to help, affirming that Li Zhaoxi need not feel guilty about leaving an abusive family. Yan Wen reflects that loving parents are not universal—some people simply have not seen the cruelty others endure.
• A warning about Li Zhaoxi’s future: Xiao Qi reveals that, in two weeks, Tao Niannian will fall down the stairs during an argument and accuse Li Zhaoxi of pushing her. The Tao Family will believe her, confine Li Zhaoxi, and force her to donate blood three times, nearly killing her. Yan Wen warns Li Zhaoxi not to return home or be alone with Tao Niannian. She trusts him and agrees to stay away.
• Evidence of the Tao Family’s cruelty: Yan Wen asks Xiao Qi to retrieve footage of Li Zhaoxi’s first meeting with her biological family. It shows Tao Niannian’s mother insulting Li Zhaoxi’s home, the family receiving her coldly, her father demanding she cut contact with her adoptive parents, and her mother assigning her a remote storage room. Xiao Qi also finds footage of Tao Jingxing abandoning Li Zhaoxi on a deserted mountain road in the middle of the night. Yan Wen saves both videos as evidence for the banquet.
• Closing beat: Yan Wen expects not to go home at month’s end and laments missing his mother’s cooking, though Xiao Qi reminds him he will also miss seeing Mu Huai’an get scolded. They agree Xiao Qi can show him a live broadcast; Yan Wen then eagerly asks to see how his eldest brother and Brother Qi are getting along.
  Character developments and relationships: Yan Wen is practical and compassionate, using Xiao Qi’s information to protect Li Zhaoxi and help her plan her separation. Xie Yunshu’s support shows the warmth of Yan Wen’s own family in contrast to the Tao Family’s abuse. Li Zhaoxi’s quick acceptance of Yan Wen’s warning reflects her trust in him. Tang Yun is initially discouraged but gains resolve through Yan Wen’s encouragement.
  Themes: The chapter contrasts loving family bonds with biological relatives who exploit and mistreat a child. It also emphasizes trust, loyalty, and the importance of evidence and support in escaping abuse.

Key plot points and events

• Mu Xu Ye and Qi Shu Yu go on a date. Qi Shu Yu gives Mu Xu Ye roses because he was the one who pursued him, then asks to visit an amusement park. Mu Xu Ye happily arranges to book the entire park for them.
• Yan Wen watches a live feed of their date and is delighted that his older brother has finally made progress with Qi Shu Yu. Xiao Qi reveals that they have already kissed, though Yan Wen chooses not to watch further.
• At the end of the month, Yan Wen stays at school and tells the Mu family he needs to study. Xie Yunshu sends him money, but he already has ample savings and continues to live frugally despite his greatly increased allowance.
• Li Zhaoxi receives harsh calls from Tao Jingcheng and Mrs. Tao, who scold her for not coming home with Tao Niannian and insult her as ungrateful and unlike the Tao family. Li records and backs up both calls, then changes the family’s contact names. She decides to buy Yan Wen a pair of expensive athletic shoes as thanks.
• Mu Huai’an is confronted by Mu Xingfeng, Xie Yunshu, and Mu Xu Xi for posting material that framed Yan Wen. His parents remind him this is another offense after earlier false accusations, and make him kneel and miss dinner to reflect.

Character developments and interactions

• Mu Xu Ye and Qi Shu Yu: Their relationship is becoming more openly romantic. Qi Shu Yu’s shy gift and date suggestion meet Mu Xu Ye’s affectionate teasing and eager accommodation.
• Yan Wen: He is happy about his brother’s romance, but keeps his distance from the private details. He remains financially careful despite his new wealth.
• Li Zhaoxi: She responds to the Tao family’s abuse with emotional distance and preserves evidence rather than arguing. Her gratitude toward Yan Wen motivates her gift.
• Mu Huai’an: He repeatedly apologizes and promises to change, but his pattern of framing Yan Wen has seriously damaged his family’s trust. Mu Xu Xi insists that he seek forgiveness from Yan Wen himself.

Significant themes

• Growing affection and trust: Mu Xu Ye and Qi Shu Yu’s date shows their relationship advancing through small, sincere gestures.
• Family loyalty and accountability: The Mu family emphasizes its rule that sibling bonds come first, while holding Mu Huai’an responsible for repeatedly betraying it.
• Emotional abuse and self-protection: Li Zhaoxi’s recordings and backups show her protecting herself from the Tao family’s mistreatment.
• Gratitude and generosity: Li’s planned gift reflects her appreciation for Yan Wen, while Yan Wen’s frugality contrasts with the abundance now available to him.