Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• While drunk, Yan Wen confesses that he likes Mo Chengzhou. Mo secretly records the confession and tells him he won’t be able to take it back once sober.
• Mo gives Yan Wen hangover medicine, puts him to bed, and sleeps beside him.
• At the bonfire, a woman approaches Qi Shu Yu, but Mu Xu Ye steps in and says Qi Shu Yu has a boyfriend. The couple later return to their room; Mu wants intimacy, but Qi asks him to wait until after they return home.
• The next morning, Yan Wen wakes beside Mo with little memory of the previous night. Mo reminds him of the confession and insists he took it seriously. When Yan Wen objects that he was drunk, Mo starts recording him again and presses him to acknowledge his feelings.
• Yan Wen admits the confession, though he remains embarrassed and uncertain. Mo tells him he had developed feelings for Yan Wen after meeting him at an auction and had taken time to be sure.
• Mo arranges for his assistant to pack and find a light meal while he and Yan Wen prepare to check out.

Character developments

• Yan Wen is startled and embarrassed by his drunken confession, but does not outright deny liking Mo. His lingering uncertainty contrasts with the feelings revealed while drunk.
• Mo Chengzhou openly confirms his affection and turns Yan Wen’s confession into a serious commitment, showing confidence and determination.
• Qi Shu Yu and Mu Xu Ye display established closeness: Mu is protective and jealous, while Qi playfully teases him and sets a boundary around further intimacy.
• Xiao Qi provides humorous commentary, recognizing that both Yan Wen and Mo have fallen in love.

Significant themes

• Confessions and accountability: Mo treats Yan Wen’s drunken words as meaningful, while Yan Wen wonders whether they count.
• Emerging romance: The morning conversation makes the mutual attraction between Yan Wen and Mo explicit, even as Yan Wen struggles to accept it.
• Trust and boundaries: Mu respects Qi’s request to wait, while the chapter also raises questions about how much weight to give a confession made under the influence.

Character interactions

• Mo cares for Yan Wen after his drinking and later presses him to discuss the confession, mixing tenderness with teasing persistence.
• Yan Wen responds with nervousness and embarrassment, but gradually acknowledges what he said.
• Mu intervenes when someone flirts with Qi, then privately seeks closeness; Qi jokes with him and declines for the moment.
• Mo’s assistant handles practical arrangements, while Yan Wen awkwardly offers to pack his own belongings.

Key plot points and events

• Mu Xu Ye and Qi Shu Yu return to Weicheng. Mu offers to prepare gifts for Qi Shu Yu’s next visit to his parents, then teases him about staying over. Qi Shu Yu sends him off, joking that he would get no sleep if Mu stayed.
• Yan Wen returns to the Mu family villa after spending two days away with Mo Chengzhou. He tells his sister Mu Xu Xi that he confessed to Mo and shows her their matching bracelets.
• Xu Xi announces the news to their mother, Xie Yunshu. Though she accepts that Yan Wen and Mo’s feelings are mutual, she is shaken by how quickly her newly reunited son has found a partner.
• Yan Wen’s system, Xiao Qi, explains Mo Chengzhou’s formidable background: his early academic and business achievements, and an attempted murder by relatives when he was twenty-one. Mo later recovered, exposed those responsible, and had them executed.
• Xiao Qi says the family fears Yan Wen could be hurt or overwhelmed by Mo’s power and family circumstances. Yan Wen insists he trusts Mo and can stand up for himself.

Character developments and interactions

• Mu Xu Ye and Qi Shu Yu are affectionate and playful; their exchange shows their closeness and Qi Shu Yu’s teasing reluctance to let Mu stay.
• Yan Wen openly acknowledges his relationship with Mo Chengzhou and remains confident despite hearing about Mo’s dangerous past.
• Mu Xu Xi reacts with comic shock, then reassures her mother that Mo is a good match for Yan Wen.
• Xie Yunshu struggles with the idea of her son leaving the family emotionally so soon after being reunited with him. Her concern is rooted in protectiveness, not rejection.
• Xiao Qi provides background on Mo but deliberately leaves Yan Wen to judge his partner for himself.

Significant themes

• Mutual love and trust: Yan Wen and Mo’s relationship is presented as reciprocated and openly chosen.
• Family protectiveness and independence: The family worries about Yan Wen’s safety and happiness, while Yan Wen asserts his ability to make his own choices.
• Love amid power and danger: Mo’s achievements and violent family history make him intimidating, but Yan Wen sees him as someone worthy of trust.

Key plot points and events

• Qi Shu Yu returns to his family home with his boyfriend, Mu Xu Ye, whose gifts and introduction initially delight Shu Yu’s mother, Bai Yuezhen.
• Shu Yu’s father, Qi Ji, disapproves of his son’s relationship with a man, while his younger brother, Qi Jiawang, makes pointed remarks. Their attitude changes when Mu reveals he belongs to the powerful Mu Family.
• Mu announces that he plans to take Shu Yu abroad at the end of the year. Bai supports the decision and urges them to care for each other.
• The couple stay overnight because driving home would be unsafe. When Jiawang questions their sharing a room, Shu Yu snaps back, and Qi Ji scolds him. Mu steps in to protect Shu Yu and warns Qi Ji to keep Jiawang from interfering.
• After Shu Yu and Mu leave for bed, Qi Ji and Jiawang privately scheme to exploit Jiawang’s resemblance to Shu Yu. They assume Mu’s affection is not genuine and plan for Jiawang to impersonate his brother and win Mu over.

Character developments and interactions

• Qi Shu Yu is affectionate toward his mother but openly resentful of his father’s favoritism toward Jiawang. He firmly defends his relationship and refuses to let his brother intrude.
• Mu Xu Ye is courteous to Bai but assertive with Shu Yu’s family. He stands up for Shu Yu and uses the Mu Family’s status to make clear that mistreating him will have consequences.
• Bai Yuezhen warmly welcomes Mu and supports the couple’s plans to live abroad, prioritizing Shu Yu’s happiness.
• Qi Ji shifts from disapproval to nervous deference once he learns Mu’s identity. He continues favoring Jiawang and encourages his scheme.
• Qi Jiawang shows resentment and envy toward Shu Yu, then becomes eager to impersonate him to capture Mu’s attention.

Significant themes

• Family rejection and loyalty: Shu Yu’s mother accepts him, while his father and brother undermine him.
• Power and status: The family’s behavior changes sharply when Mu’s influential background is revealed.
• Protection and devotion: Mu’s defense of Shu Yu contrasts with the hostility he faces at home.
• Jealousy and deception: Jiawang and Qi Ji’s plan turns rivalry into a deliberate attempt at impersonation.

Plot points and events

• After washing up, Qi Shu Yu and Mu Xu Ye share an intimate night. Shu Yu is hesitant because he is exhausted and worried they have to travel the next day, but Mu Xu Ye persuades him to stay. The night lasts until dawn, when Mu Xu Ye finally carries him to the bathroom.
• At the Mu family villa, Yan Wen gets up early to see Mo Chengzhou off for an 8:30 flight. He rushes through the airport, but Mo Chengzhou finds him before he can locate him.
• Yan Wen gives Mo Chengzhou a handmade stone ring and asks him to open it after boarding. They exchange promises to stay in touch by video call, and Yan Wen says he will visit during the October holiday.
• After boarding, Mo Chengzhou opens the gift: a gray stone ring with a painted red heart, plus a note explaining that Yan Wen made it himself and hopes they will later have matching silver rings made.

Character developments and interactions

• Qi Shu Yu remains bashful and easily flustered around Mu Xu Ye, and he struggles to resist Mu Xu Ye’s affectionate persuasion. Mu Xu Ye is teasing and tender, but also persistently eager for closeness.
• Yan Wen shows his devotion through his effort to make it to the airport and through a personal, handmade gift. His nervous farewell becomes more confident as he asks for regular calls and plans a future visit.
• Mo Chengzhou responds warmly to Yan Wen’s attention, gently fusses over him after his hurried run, and promises to maintain contact while away.

Significant themes

• Intimacy and trust: The first couple’s closeness is tempered by Shu Yu’s nervousness and fatigue, while Mu Xu Ye’s tenderness helps him give in.
• Love expressed through small gestures: Yan Wen’s handmade ring and the promise of future silver rings make their separation feel meaningful.
• Long-distance commitment: The airport farewell emphasizes reassurance, regular communication, and anticipation of reunion.

Key plot points and events

• Mu Xu Ye and Qi Shu Yu stay an extra day at the Qi home. The morning after their intimate night, Xu Ye carries the sore Shu Yu to wash up and fusses over him, while Shu Yu protests once fully awake.
• At dinner, Qi Ji and Qi Jiawang try to ingratiate themselves with Xu Ye. Xu Ye rejects their tactics, makes clear that Qi Jiawang’s serving him food is unwelcome, and accepts food only from Shu Yu.
• When Qi Ji criticizes Shu Yu for serving Xu Ye, Xu Ye confronts him and demands an apology for mistreating his boyfriend. Under threat to the Qi family’s business, Qi Ji apologizes to Shu Yu, who refuses to indulge him.
• Afterwards, Bai Yuezhen privately advises Shu Yu to avoid returning home because she sees Qi Ji and Qi Jiawang’s intentions—and recognizes Xu Ye’s genuine love for him. Shu Yu urges his mother to consider whether she should keep enduring her unhappy marriage.
• Elsewhere, Yan Wen asks his system, Xiao Qi, for gossip. He learns that Jiang Tang rescued her company, ended her arranged engagement to Wen Junchi, and exposed his secret surveillance of her to his family. Yan Wen approves of her response and looks forward to the upcoming Jiang family birthday banquet, hoping to attend with his mother.

Character developments and interactions

• Mu Xu Ye is openly tender toward Shu Yu in private and fiercely protective of him at dinner, using his influence to force Qi Ji to acknowledge his wrongdoing.
• Qi Shu Yu enjoys Xu Ye’s care but remains sharp and self-possessed around his father. In private, he shows concern for his mother and challenges her resignation to her marriage.
• Bai Yuezhen supports her son’s relationship and recognizes the danger of the household’s dynamics, though she remains reluctant to leave her husband.
• Qi Ji acts submissive around Xu Ye but is resentful and self-serving; Qi Jiawang tries to curry favor with Xu Ye and resents being rebuffed.
• Yan Wen is entertained by Jiang Tang’s assertiveness and becomes eager to attend the coming banquet.

Significant themes

• Protective love and loyalty: Xu Ye’s devotion to Shu Yu is expressed through both intimate care and public defense.
• Power and accountability: Xu Ye’s status forces Qi Ji to apologize, while Jiang Tang uses evidence and her family’s standing to counter Wen Junchi’s control.
• Self-respect and autonomy: Shu Yu questions his mother’s acceptance of mistreatment, and Jiang Tang asserts her right to end an unwanted engagement.
• Family dysfunction and resilience: The Qi household’s resentment contrasts with the supportive bond developing between Shu Yu and his mother.

Key events

• Qi Shu Yu and Mu Xu Ye leave the Qi family home after a three-day visit. Bai Yuezhen sends them off with care, while Mu Xu Ye promises to protect Shu Yu. Shu Yu notices Qi Jiawang’s greedy interest in Mu Xu Ye and expects further trouble from him and Qi Ji.
• Yan Wen visits his recovering father, Yan Lin, bringing strawberries. They talk about school; Yan Wen explains that, after ranking first in his year, he has been approved to study from home. Yan Lin is proud, and Yan Wen spends the day with him.
• On his way back, Yan Wen asks to visit Star Entertainment Game City. He explores its attractions, then demonstrates skill at archery, hitting the eight and nine rings. A middle-aged man notices his technique and invites him to try shooting.
• Meanwhile, Mo Chengzhou leads a company meeting and appears distracted while waiting for Yan Wen’s reply. Afterward, Yan Wen apologizes for getting caught up playing and suggests they visit the game city together for a date. Mo Chengzhou is delighted.

Character developments and interactions

• Qi Shu Yu remains alert to the danger posed by Qi Jiawang and Qi Ji, while Mu Xu Ye openly reassures Bai Yuezhen of his commitment to Shu Yu.
• Yan Wen is academically accomplished, affectionate toward his father, and confident in activities requiring physical skill. His warm visit strengthens his bond with Yan Lin, who expresses pride in him.
• Mo Chengzhou maintains a stern public image at work but shows how much he cares about Yan Wen; their messages reveal an affectionate, playful relationship.
• Bai Yuezhen’s loving farewell emphasizes her concern for Shu Yu’s wellbeing.

Significant themes

• Family care and loyalty: Bai Yuezhen’s concern, Mu Xu Ye’s promise, and Yan Wen’s visit to Yan Lin show family members supporting one another.
• Ambition and achievement: Yan Wen’s top academic ranking and practiced archery demonstrate his discipline and abilities.
• Romance and contrast: Mo Chengzhou’s intimidating workplace presence contrasts with his tenderness toward Yan Wen.
• Lingering conflict: Qi Jiawang’s attention suggests that Shu Yu and Mu Xu Ye’s family troubles are not over.

Key plot points and events

• Mu Xingfeng, his family, and Yan Wen attend Old Madam Jiang’s seventieth-birthday banquet at the Star Dome Hotel. The guests bring lavish gifts, and the Mu family presents a rare Ming-dynasty blue-and-white vase.
• Through Xiao Qi, Yan Wen learns a major secret: the staff member assisting Old Madam Jiang is actually her long-lost biological son. She believes her second child died at birth, while he was found and raised by another family. He now works for the Jiang family to pay for his twelve-year-old son’s heart treatment.
• Jiang Tang overhears the revelation and quietly resolves to investigate after the banquet, hoping to confirm whether her grandmother and uncle can be reunited.
• Jiang Jun arrives with his second wife, Yang Mei, and their daughter Jiang Xinyao. Old Madam Jiang openly resents them, rebuking Yang Mei and defending Jiang Tang.
• Xiao Qi reveals that Jiang Xinyao is involved with Wen Junchi, Jiang Tang’s former fiancé. Unable to accept that Jiang Tang rejected him, Wen Junchi has redirected his pursuit toward her more compliant half-sister.

Character developments and interactions

• Yan Wen remains observant and curious, privately prompting Xiao Qi for gossip while outwardly behaving politely. His thoughts expose the family secrets to those who can hear them.
• Jiang Tang appears composed despite friction with her father’s household. Learning the staff member’s identity gives her a practical, protective role: she plans to investigate the possible reunion.
• Old Madam Jiang demonstrates clear loyalty to her granddaughter and contempt for Yang Mei’s claim to family standing, insisting Jiang Tang needs no discipline from her.
• Jiang Jun tries to assert authority over Jiang Tang, but his mother’s intervention undercuts him. Yang Mei attempts to smooth over the conflict but is publicly rejected.
• Wen Junchi, though absent, is portrayed as prideful and possessive: his interest in Jiang Tang is driven less by affection than by wounded ego and a desire to win after being rejected.
• The Mu family greets Old Madam Jiang respectfully, while Jiang Tang and the old woman exchange warm, familiar courtesies.

Significant themes

• Hidden family ties and mistaken identity: A decades-old misunderstanding has separated a mother and son who are now unknowingly close.
• Loyalty and legitimacy: Old Madam Jiang distinguishes between biological family bonds and the status claimed by Yang Mei and Jiang Xinyao.
• Pride and romantic manipulation: Wen Junchi treats courtship as a contest, shifting his attention to Jiang Xinyao when he cannot get the reaction he wants from Jiang Tang.
• Secrets and chance: The potential reunion depends on whether the truth is uncovered and whether mother and son recognize one another.

Key plot points and events

• At the Jiang family banquet, Jiang Tang worries that Jiang Xinyao is putting herself in danger by trusting Wen Junchi. Xinyao dismisses the warning as jealousy, so Tang decides she has done all she can.
• While eating with Mu Xu Ci and Mu Xu Xi, Yan Wen asks Xiao Qi for gossip. Xiao Qi reveals several scandals: a married guest is secretly sleeping with a male server; an executive’s wife secretly switched her husband’s son with the child of her former lover; and Jiang Yaoli’s legs were deliberately worsened by drugs secretly given to him on Yang Mei’s orders.
• Xiao Qi says Yaoli’s condition may still be treated by an elderly physician, though some nerve damage may be permanent. Yaoli has become isolated and appears to have lost hope.
• Granny Jiang privately asks Jiang Tang to arrange a secret DNA test involving her and a subordinate, and to contact the physician about treating Yaoli, agreeing to his demands if necessary.
• Granny Jiang explains that she can hear the characters’ private disclosures. She is angry with Jiang Jun for neglecting Tang’s mother and favoring Yang Mei.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Tang remains concerned for Xinyao despite their strained relationship, but sets a boundary after her warning is rejected.
• Jiang Xinyao continues to trust Wen Junchi and appears eager to curry favor with Granny Jiang, even implying that Tang is careless.
• Yan Wen reacts with disbelief and disgust to Xiao Qi’s revelations, especially Yang Mei’s deliberate harm to Yaoli.
• Granny Jiang shows she is more informed than others realize and takes practical steps to investigate a secret and secure treatment for Yaoli.
• Yang Mei is revealed as manipulative and cruel, having arranged for Yaoli to be drugged while exploiting her influence over the household.
• Jiang Yaoli is portrayed as withdrawn and embittered, with his physical condition worsened by deliberate poisoning.

Significant themes

• Secrets and hidden truths: The banquet’s polite social surface conceals betrayal, infidelity, and criminal conduct.
• Power and manipulation: Yang Mei uses money and influence to control others and harm Yaoli.
• Family loyalty and neglect: Tang still tries to help Xinyao, while Granny Jiang condemns Jiang Jun’s treatment of Tang’s mother.
• Hope and agency: Yaoli may still have a chance at treatment, but his despair could keep him from accepting help.

Plot points and events

• In the days after the Jiang family banquet, Yan Wen spends much of his time catching up on gossip with Xiao Qi and video-calling Mo Chengzhou. Mo patiently comforts him, and agrees to visit Shengyuan next month so they can spend time together.
• The Mu family announces an early-morning trip to the distant family residence. Yan Wen plans to stay up all night but falls asleep; Mu Xu Ci has to wake and dress him, eventually using a cold, damp towel to get him moving.
• After a long drive, the family arrives at the old residence and meets Mu Gensheng, Mu Xingfeng’s father, along with several relatives. The relatives question Mu Xu Xi and Mu Xu Ci about work, studies, and game development.
• Mu Gensheng asks Yan Wen about himself and invites him to play chess after dinner. Meanwhile, Xiao Qi reveals that one of the relatives, Mu Lifang, has been cheated on. Yan Wen becomes engrossed in the gossip and misses the others’ unusual reactions.

Character developments and interactions

• Yan Wen is affectionate and openly dissatisfied with how few dates he and Mo have had, but remains playful and easily distracted by gossip. He is also reluctant to wake early and seeks comfort in familiar family routines.
• Mo Chengzhou shows steady tenderness, soothing Yan Wen and agreeing to make time for him.
• Mu Xu Ci takes a practical, caring role in getting Yan Wen ready for the trip, though he is exasperated by Yan Wen repeatedly falling asleep.
• Mu Gensheng is teasingly critical of his son Mu Xingfeng, but warmly curious about Yan Wen and impressed by his interests.
• Mu Xingfeng and Xie Yunshu reunite with Mu Gensheng; Xie Yunshu brings him a gift, earning his praise.
• Yan Wen watches his siblings handle the relatives’ questions, then forms a first connection with his grandfather through their shared interest in chess.

Significant themes

• Affection and care: Mo’s patient reassurance and Mu Xu Ci’s hands-on help show care expressed through both words and actions.
• Family belonging: The journey back to the old residence introduces Yan Wen to extended family and establishes his place among them.
• Humor and everyday intimacy: Yan Wen’s complaints, sleepiness, and eagerness for gossip keep family life light and lively.
• Curiosity and secrets: Xiao Qi’s gossip hints at family tensions beneath the polite reunion.

Key plot points and events

• Yan Wen learns through Xiao Qi’s gossip that his Second Aunt, Mu Lifang, has been deceived by a younger man who takes lavish gifts and money from her while secretly expecting a child with a company employee. He plans to marry the employee and deny responsibility if Mu Lifang objects.
• Xiao Qi reveals that Yan Wen’s cousin Mu Chenxuan, an actor and son of Mu Haiwen, faces a dangerous scandal: after offending a prominent director, he will be smeared online, drugged, and filmed in a compromising situation. Mu Haiwen has opposed his acting career, leaving them estranged.
• Yan Wen criticizes Mu Haiwen’s attitude toward acting. Ashamed, Mu Haiwen resolves to call his son.
• Yan Wen meets his Third Uncle and Third Aunt, who say their two daughters will visit the next day. Mu Haiwen promises to have one of them bring Yan Wen a new remote-control car.
• The family tours the garden with Mu Gensheng. Yan Wen agrees to play Chinese chess with his grandfather, though he privately admits he has never won a game.

Character developments and interactions

• Yan Wen is curious and outspoken, expressing sympathy for Mu Lifang and concern for Mu Chenxuan. He also shows a playful, material-minded side when hoping for gifts.
• Mu Haiwen moves from embarrassment and defensiveness to recognizing his mistake about his son’s career and deciding to reach out.
• Mu Gensheng warmly includes Yan Wen, encourages the elders to give him a present, and invites him to play chess. Yan Wen’s cheerful companionship clearly delights him.
• Mu Weidong and Ye Yufen cut off gossip about their daughters, then welcome Yan Wen and offer to have his cousins show him around.

Significant themes

• Deception and exploitation in relationships.
• The risks of celebrity and the power of malicious people in the entertainment industry.
• Family conflict, parental acceptance, and the possibility of reconciliation.
• Warmth and connection across generations.

Plot and events

• At a family dinner at the Mu residence, Mu Gensheng welcomes Yan Wen, his newly met grandson. Yan Wen explains that his eldest brother is busy pursuing love.
• Yan Wen’s system companion, Xiao Qi, privately shares gossip about his cousins while the family eats:
  • Mu Qingyan, a company CEO, exposed a supervisor who sexually harassed her by gathering evidence of his affair. He was fired, and his wife later divorced him.
  • Mu Qinghuan was a daring, troublesome child. She once nearly jumped off a roof copying a cartoon, and in elementary school she punished a boy who harassed girls by pulling down his pants and making him apologize.
  • In high school, Qinghuan challenged a teacher who refused to let her visit her hospitalized mother. She went to the principal and obtained permission; the teacher was later suspended for verbally abusing students and imposing unauthorized fees.
  • Qingyan is engaged to Sima Xian, but he is in love with another woman. He plans to marry Qingyan first, then bring his lover home and pressure Qingyan to divorce him, preserving his own status and avoiding conflict with his family.
• Yan Wen is impressed by his cousins’ boldness, but condemns Sima Xian’s selfish plan.

Character developments and interactions

• Mu Gensheng quickly takes a liking to Yan Wen. The cousins greet him warmly, while Qingyan playfully prompts him to acknowledge her as well as Qinghuan.
• Qinghuan and her parents can hear Xiao Qi’s revelations, though the others cannot. Qinghuan quietly hopes her embarrassing childhood stories remain private; her parents privately recall the worry she caused them.
• Qingyan learns unexpected details about her younger sister’s mischievous, protective past and reacts with interest.
• Yan Wen’s admiration for Qinghuan grows as he hears how she stood up for vulnerable classmates and herself. His anger at Sima Xian reflects his strong disapproval of people who exploit others to protect their privilege.

Significant themes

• Standing up to abuse: Both cousins resist mistreatment, whether workplace harassment, school bullying, or an authority figure’s unfairness.
• Family and concern: Qinghuan’s actions stem in part from concern for her hospitalized mother, while her parents remember their responsibility to keep her safe.
• Integrity versus self-interest: Qingyan’s fiancé treats marriage as a scheme to retain wealth and status, contrasting sharply with the cousins’ directness and courage.
• Private knowledge and public appearances: The family sees Qinghuan as gentle and demure, while Xiao Qi’s stories reveal her brash, fearless side.

Key plot points and events

• Mu Qingyan realizes Sima Xian intended to use their engagement to conceal his feelings for Sun Mian. Determined not to be exploited, she refuses to accept the situation quietly.
• Yan Wen and Xiao Qi discuss how Sima Xian fell for Sun Mian after she mistakenly threw away hotel dishes, finding her apparent innocence absurd. Yan Wen also predicts that the powerful Mu family would not tolerate Sima Xian’s scheme.
• During dinner at his grandfather Mu Gensheng’s home, Yan Wen exchanges affectionate messages with Mo Chengzhou. His casual admission that he is dating Mo surprises Mu Xingfeng, while Mu Gensheng tries—and fails—to discourage the relationship by invoking Yan Wen’s studies. Yan Wen reveals he is top of his year.
• Yan Wen video-calls Mo Chengzhou and meets Mo’s grandfather, Mo Qingguo. After confirming Yan Wen is eighteen and dating Mo of his own free will, Mo Qingguo recognizes Yan Wen’s grandfather as his old army rival.
• Mo Qingguo recalls that he and Mu Gensheng competed and bickered during their military service, but that Mu once carried him down a mountain and saved his life. The two men have been out of touch for more than ten years.
• Yan Wen and Mo Chengzhou end the call by affirming their love and their belief that it will last.

Character developments

• Mu Qingyan shifts from disappointment to quiet resolve, recognizing that Sima Xian’s plans will not make her a helpless victim.
• Yan Wen is open and confident about his relationship, balancing his romance with strong academic achievement. He also responds warmly to Mo Qingguo and reassures him about the relationship.
• Mo Chengzhou shows affection through frequent messages and a promise of future commitment.
• Mo Qingguo moves quickly from cautious concern about Yan Wen’s age and consent to warmth, and his memories reveal deep respect for Mu Gensheng.

Significant themes

• Self-respect and manipulation: Mu Qingyan will not let Sima Xian use her to protect his own interests.
• Love and trust: Yan Wen and Mo Chengzhou speak with certainty about their feelings and future.
• Family and generational ties: The young couple’s relationship reconnects two families through the grandfathers’ shared military past.
• Rivalry and loyalty: Mu Gensheng and Mo Qingguo’s competitive friendship was underpinned by a life-saving act.

Character interactions

• Yan Wen and Xiao Qi joke about Sima Xian and Sun Mian, with Xiao Qi echoing Yan Wen’s criticism.
• Mu Gensheng’s attempt to lecture Yan Wen about dating is undercut by Yan Wen’s top grades; the other family members react with surprise or amused embarrassment.
• Mo Qingguo carefully checks Yan Wen’s age and consent, then teases Mo Chengzhou for making Yan Wen confess first.
• Mo Qingguo and Yan Wen bond over the story of the grandfathers, while Yan Wen offers to help Mu Gensheng accept Mo Chengzhou.

• The Ouyang family visits the Mu residence. Yan Wen arrives in the main hall with Mu Qinghuan and Mu Xu Xi, where Mu Gensheng receives Ouyang Hua, his son Ouyang Lingheng, and Lingheng’s wife, Shen Yueli. Xiao Qi reveals that the visitors’ family scandal is the “gossip” everyone is waiting for.
• Lingheng’s marriage is deeply troubled. Three years earlier, the Shen family’s elders arranged his marriage to Shen Yueli instead of Shen Yueying, the illegitimate younger sister he loved. After the wedding, Yueying returned from abroad, and Lingheng moved her into the marital home. He treats Yueli as an intruder, while public opinion has been manipulated to portray her as the homewrecker. Yueli remains silent because her family depends on the Ouyang family’s financial support.
• Both women are pregnant. Xiao Qi explains that Lingheng repeatedly forces himself on Yueli while drunk, then insults her afterward and seeks out Yueying, with whom he also has sex. Yan Wen concludes that Lingheng’s conduct reflects selfishness and lust more than sincere love. The Mu family members share his contempt.
• The Ouyang family’s weakness is exposed. Ouyang Hua cannot control his son, who has taken over family decision-making; Hua’s wife is largely absent and uninvolved. Mu Gensheng grows suspicious of Hua as well and silently asks Yan Wen to find out what kind of person he is.
  Character developments and interactions: Yan Wen is perceptive and outspoken in his private exchanges with Xiao Qi, quickly recognizing the injustice Yueli faces. Xiao Qi supplies the backstory and confirms Yan Wen’s deductions. The Mu family, though outwardly hosting their guests, privately judges Lingheng harshly. The chapter highlights Yueli’s constrained position, Yueying’s role in the scandal, and Lingheng’s abuse of his power.
  Themes: Patriarchal control and family pressure; reputations shaped by wealth and social power; the gap between professed love and selfish behavior; and the vulnerability of people trapped by financial dependence.

Plot points and events

• Mu Gensheng accepts Ouyang Hua’s revised business proposal for the Mu family to consider, then turns the conversation toward family matters.
• Ouyang Lingheng says he and Shen Yueli will not have children. Yan Wen and Xiao Qi privately reveal that Shen Yueli is already pregnant, though Lingheng does not know.
• Xiao Qi describes a future in which Lingheng abandons Yueli for her half-sister, Shen Yueying; later, he denies Yueli medical help during childbirth and tries to force Yueli’s daughter to donate blood to Yueying’s daughter. Both girls ultimately die, and Lingheng blames Yueli.
• Horrified by this future, Shen Yueli decides she will end the pregnancy, believing it is kinder than bringing a child into that life.
• Yan Wen and the Mu siblings are sickened by Lingheng and leave. Mu Gensheng, having finished the gossip, turns back to business.
• At the Mo residence, Mo Chengzhou’s father asks about his relationship with Yan Wen. Chengzhou says the school term may prevent Yan Wen from visiting soon. His father urges him to treat Yan Wen responsibly and jokes about punishing him if he causes harm.
• Chengzhou and Mo Bei discuss the connection between their families: Mo Chengzhou’s grandfather and Mu Gensheng were old military rivals who helped each other. Chengzhou notes that Mu Gensheng seemed displeased upon learning who his grandfather was.

Character developments and interactions

• Shen Yueli moves from warmth about her pregnancy to a painful but determined decision to abort after hearing what Lingheng may do.
• Yan Wen reacts with disgust and helpless anger, sharing his distress with Xiao Qi and leaving with the others.
• Mu Gensheng shifts smoothly from business to probing family gossip, then back to business.
• Mo Chengzhou remains committed to Yan Wen but must navigate their age difference and his family’s concern; he promises to discuss a visit with Yan Wen.
• Mo Bei is protective and teasing, emphasizing that Chengzhou must not mistreat Yan Wen.
• Ouyang Lingheng is portrayed through Xiao Qi’s account as cruel and self-righteous, while his present denial that he will have children sharply contrasts with Shen Yueli’s pregnancy.

Significant themes

• Protecting children and personal choice: Shen Yueli weighs whether to continue her pregnancy in light of the danger her child may face.
• Cruelty and accountability: Lingheng’s future actions—and his refusal to accept blame—underscore the harm caused by selfishness.
• Family care and responsibility: Mo Bei’s warnings contrast with Lingheng’s disregard for Yueli and the children.
• Gossip as revelation: Private conversation exposes hidden truths and changes how characters view the people around them.

Key plot points and events

• At dinner, Yan Wen jokes about his hatred of cilantro while Xiao Qi shares gossip with the Mu family.
• Shen Yueli went to the hospital to arrange an abortion. Ouyang Lingheng wrongly accused her of following him, then learned the truth and forcibly took her home. With Shen Yueying encouraging him, he made the weakened Shen Yueli kneel outside the villa, claiming she should atone for the child’s death.
• Yan Wen condemns Ouyang Lingheng’s cruelty and suggests exposing his affair with Shen Yueying to Ouyang Lingheng’s grandmother, who already disapproves of how he treats Shen Yueli. Xiao Qi agrees to help reveal the truth.
• Xiao Qi then shows Yan Wen a scene of Mu Xu Ye and Qi Shu Yu having dinner. The couple are already intimate; Mu Xu Ye playfully teases and feeds a flustered Qi Shu Yu while keeping him seated on his lap. Yan Wen concludes that their relationship is progressing toward marriage.

Character developments

• Yan Wen is outspoken and irreverent, but his jokes mask real anger at Shen Yueli’s mistreatment. He takes an active interest in helping expose Ouyang Lingheng and delights in Mu Xu Ye and Qi Shu Yu’s romance.
• Ouyang Lingheng appears possessive and self-important: he neither loves nor releases Shen Yueli, and treats her harshly while concealing Shen Yueying’s pregnancy from his grandmother.
• Shen Yueli remains focused on her decision despite Ouyang Lingheng’s accusations, though his forceful intervention leaves her vulnerable.
• Mu Xu Ye and Qi Shu Yu show increasing comfort and intimacy. Mu Xu Ye is confident and affectionate; Qi Shu Yu is shy but receptive.

Significant themes

• The chapter condemns coercion, hypocrisy, and possessiveness, especially Ouyang Lingheng’s disregard for Shen Yueli’s autonomy.
• It contrasts a damaging relationship with a mutually affectionate romance, using the dinner-table gossip and playful commentary for humor.
• Family influence and accountability are raised through the possibility that Ouyang Lingheng’s grandmother may intervene.

Character interactions

• Yan Wen jokes and exchanges gossip with Xiao Qi while his family listens in; Xie Yunshu quietly cares for him by placing fish in his bowl.
• Yan Wen directs Xiao Qi to inform Ouyang Lingheng’s grandmother about the affair and concealed pregnancy.
• In the displayed scene, Mu Xu Ye teases, holds, and feeds Qi Shu Yu. Qi Shu Yu is embarrassed but stays close, and Yan Wen watches their interaction with enthusiastic approval.

Plot points

• At the Ouyang estate, Old Madam Ouyang worries that Lingheng and Yueli seem distant and that Yueli has not become pregnant. A video arrives showing Lingheng at a women’s hospital with Shen Yueying, Yueli’s younger sister.
• At the hospital, Yueying implies that she and Lingheng are expecting a child. Lingheng promises to protect her and says Yueli will never bear his children.
• They discover Yueli entering an observation room. After learning it is used for abortions, Lingheng assumes she is ending his pregnancy and storms in, despite being told to wait.
• Lingheng drags Yueli outside and chokes her, accusing her of harming his child. Yueli defies him, saying she will abort every child of his she conceives.
• Old Madam Ouyang arrives, slaps Lingheng, and condemns him for bringing another woman to the hospital instead of supporting his wife. Yueli confirms she came for an abortion and explains that she sees no future in her marriage. The old madam orders Yueli taken home and goes inside to investigate.

Character developments and interactions

• Old Madam Ouyang moves from private suspicion to direct intervention. She rebukes Lingheng, protects Yueli, and begins to question what is happening between him and Yueying.
• Shen Yueli shows exhaustion and defiance. Rather than conceal her decision, she confronts Lingheng and openly challenges the marriage’s future.
• Ouyang Lingheng displays possessiveness toward the child he believes is his, but treats Yueli with extreme cruelty. His deference to his grandmother contrasts with his earlier aggression.
• Shen Yueying presents herself as frail and concerned while steering Lingheng against Yueli; her private slyness suggests her concern may be calculated.
• The chapter’s central conflict unfolds through competing claims and confrontations: Yueying casts Yueli as a threat to the child, Lingheng attacks Yueli, and the old madam steps in to defend her.

Significant themes

• Marriage without affection: Lingheng’s hostility and Yueli’s resignation expose the marriage as deeply fractured.
• Control and bodily autonomy: Lingheng believes he can dictate what Yueli does with a pregnancy, while Yueli asserts her right to decide.
• Manipulation and appearances: Yueying’s fragile act contrasts with her apparent cunning, while the old madam questions the couple’s public show of affection.
• Power and accountability: Lingheng’s family status silences hospital staff, but his grandmother’s authority temporarily checks him.

Plot points and events

• While watching Shen Yueli’s marital troubles unfold through Xiao Qi’s “live broadcast,” Yan Wen learns that Ouyang Lingheng is the Ouyang Family’s sole male heir. The family patriarch’s preference for sons keeps him in line to inherit despite his incompetence.
• Xiao Qi explains that Lingheng’s mismanagement and arrogance eventually ruin the Ouyang Family’s standing. After divorcing Shen Yueli, Lingheng marries her sister, Shen Yueying, just a month later.
• At dinner, Yan Wen asks after his father and eldest brother, both away from home. He learns that Mu Xu Ye has hired a chef to look after himself and Qi Shu Yu, and plans to take Qi abroad.
• Xiao Qi reports that Qi Ji is still trying to bring Qi Jiawang close to Mu Xu Ye, but the planned move overseas may frustrate their efforts.
• Tang Yun calls to say he will visit Weicheng with his youngest uncle, Mo Chengzhou. They discuss gifts and plans for skiing and sightseeing. Yan Wen is especially pleased that Mo Chengzhou remembered his earlier wish to meet before term starts.

Character developments and interactions

• Yan Wen remains playful and food-loving, but shows concern for his family—especially Qi Shu Yu’s well-being—and excitement at Mo Chengzhou’s attention.
• Xiao Qi serves as Yan Wen’s source of inside information, bantering with him about the Ouyang and Qi families.
• Xie Yunshu warmly cares for Yan Wen at dinner, while Mu Xu Ci and Mu Xu Xi notice his delight over Mo Chengzhou’s visit and suspect their newly returned brother may soon be “swept away.”
• Tang Yun’s affectionate, energetic call reveals his eagerness to see Yan Wen; Mo Chengzhou’s decision to accompany him suggests he took Yan Wen’s invitation seriously.

Significant themes

• Misogyny and poor leadership: The Ouyang patriarch’s preference for a male heir keeps power from more capable women, with costly consequences for the family.
• Consequences of arrogance: Lingheng’s entitlement and refusal to address problems lead to the Ouyang Family’s decline.
• Family care and growing affection: Yan Wen’s concern for Qi Shu Yu and happiness at being remembered by Mo Chengzhou show his growing attachments and sense of belonging.

Plot and events

• On September 10, Yan Wen and Mu Xu Ci meet Tang Yun and Mo Chengzhou at the airport. Tang Yun has arrived early because his uncle, Mo Chengzhou, has business in the city.
• Mu Xu Ci takes the group to a restaurant and adopts a serious, protective attitude, intending to assess whether Mo Chengzhou is suitable for Yan Wen.
• While Yan Wen and Mo Chengzhou are both away from the table, Mo Chengzhou embraces Yan Wen at the waist and teases him about calling him “Uncle.”
• Nervous but emboldened, Yan Wen suddenly kisses Mo Chengzhou and runs back to the table. The kiss is the first for both of them.
• Yan Wen privately celebrates the bold move, while Mu Xu Ci realizes his brother has already taken the relationship into his own hands. He disapproves of Mo Chengzhou’s apparent lack of initiative, but Mo Chengzhou remains resolved to pursue Yan Wen.

Character developments and interactions

• Yan Wen shifts from teasing Mo Chengzhou to acting decisively when faced with his intense attention. Though flustered afterward, he is delighted that he kissed Mo Chengzhou.
• Mo Chengzhou shows his attraction through his embrace and teasing, but remains outwardly composed after the kiss. He is determined not to give up on Yan Wen.
• Mu Xu Ci reveals his protective “older brother” side and wants to vet Mo Chengzhou. Once Yan Wen initiates the kiss, he accepts that he cannot control the relationship, though he still thinks Mo Chengzhou should take more initiative.
• Tang Yun greets Yan Wen affectionately and helps choose the meal. He learns about Yan Wen’s severe allergy to non-dairy cream and avoids ordering cream-based dessert.
• Yan Wen and Mo Chengzhou’s teasing—including Yan Wen calling him “Uncle”—turns into a charged private encounter. Mu Xu Ci’s protective scrutiny contrasts with their growing intimacy.

Significant themes

• Initiative and attraction: Yan Wen repeatedly makes the first move, culminating in the kiss, while Mu Xu Ci questions Mo Chengzhou’s passivity.
• Protectiveness and family acceptance: Mu Xu Ci’s attempted vetting reflects his concern for his brother, but he ultimately recognizes Yan Wen’s autonomy.
• Nervousness and boldness: Yan Wen’s impulsive kiss breaks through his anxiety and marks a turning point in their relationship.

Key plot points and events

• Mo Chengzhou says he will remain in Weicheng for some time while a development project gets underway, delighting Yan Wen, who expects more time together.
• Yan Wen tells Tang Yun he is switching to home study, with only midterms and finals requiring him to return to school. Tang Yun is sad they will see less of each other, but Yan promises to visit.
• Yan Wen privately realizes the awkward family implications of dating Tang Yun’s uncle: Tang Yun could become his nephew.
• During lunch, Mo shows his affection by serving Yan soup and food, remembering Yan’s dislike of cilantro. Tang Yun notices their unusually close behavior and questions Mu Xu Ci, who deflects.
• Yan invites Tang Yun and Mo to stay at his family home. Mo accepts, saying he wants to thank Yan’s parents for hosting Tang Yun previously. Yan’s mother agrees to their visit.
• After the call, Yan’s mother, Xie Yunshu, confides that she is less concerned about whom Yan loves than whether Mo is sincere. With Mu Xu Xi’s help, she devises a plan to test him.

Character developments and interactions

• Yan Wen is openly eager for time with Mo, though still flustered by his public attentiveness. He remains close to Tang Yun and reassures him about their friendship despite leaving regular school.
• Mo Chengzhou is attentive and increasingly invested in Yan, even hoping to be introduced as his boyfriend. His quick acceptance of the invitation suggests he wants to meet Yan’s family.
• Tang Yun remains affectionate and playful with Yan, but begins to suspect something is going on between Yan and his uncle.
• Mu Xu Ci notices the unusual dynamic too, but avoids revealing anything to Tang Yun.
• Xie Yunshu shifts from sadness at the prospect of Yan being “taken away” to focusing on whether Mo can be trusted; Mu Xu Xi supports her and proposes a test.

Significant themes

• Romance and family ties: Yan and Mo’s relationship complicates the existing uncle–nephew connection with Tang Yun.
• Care expressed through small gestures: Mo’s remembered preferences and attentive treatment reveal his affection.
• Friendship and change: Yan’s schooling arrangement may reduce time with Tang Yun, but he promises to maintain their bond.
• Family acceptance and trust: Yan’s mother is willing to accept his feelings, while wanting reassurance that Mo is sincere.

Key events

• Yan Wen, Mo Chengzhou, Tang Yun, and Xiao Qi arrive at the Mu family villa, where Xie Yunshu welcomes them warmly.
• Tang Yun gives Xie Yunshu face masks and Mu Xu Xi cosmetics. Mo Chengzhou presents Xie Yunshu with a jade bangle she loves.
• Mo Chengzhou proposes a business collaboration between his company and Mu Xu Ci’s. Though Mu Xu Ci is reluctant to help a man pursuing his younger brother, the opportunity is too valuable to refuse, and he accepts.
• The group settles in for the night. Yan Wen privately decides to try sleeping in Mo Chengzhou’s room.
• Before Yan Wen can leave, Mo Chengzhou pulls him close and kisses him good night. Flustered, Yan Wen hurries back to his room and insists to Xiao Qi that he had only meant to tease Mo Chengzhou.
• On a call with his father, Mo Chengzhou says he is staying at Yan Wen’s home. His father jokes that he is already with his future in-laws and urges him to bring Yan Wen to meet the family.
• Mo Chengzhou goes to bed, unaware that Yan Wen is still thinking about sneaking into his room.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Chengzhou shows tact and commitment by charming Xie Yunshu with a thoughtful gift and offering Mu Xu Ci a valuable business deal. He also acts boldly with Yan Wen, kissing him good night.
• Yan Wen is increasingly attracted to Mo Chengzhou, though he remains embarrassed and reluctant to admit that his teasing may sound flirtatious.
• Mu Xu Ci struggles between protecting his brother from a suitor and advancing his company, ultimately agreeing to the collaboration while keeping business separate from romance.
• Xie Yunshu appreciates Mo Chengzhou’s courtesy but remains protective of her son.
• Tang Yun fits comfortably into the household and exchanges friendly gifts with the family.
• Mo Chengzhou’s father already treats Yan Wen as a likely future family member, adding playful pressure to the developing relationship.

Significant themes

• Romance and denial: Yan Wen’s attraction is clear, even as he downplays it; Mo Chengzhou responds with confidence and affection.
• Family approval and protectiveness: Both Xie Yunshu and Mu Xu Ci are wary of losing Yan Wen, while Mo Chengzhou’s family is eager to welcome him.
• Business and personal ties: Mu Xu Ci accepts a major business opportunity but insists that professional cooperation remain separate from his feelings about Mo Chengzhou’s pursuit.