Chapter Summaries

Key events

• At the Gao family residence, Gao Yuyang worries that Gao Zhen may harm Yan Wen and his companions. Old Master Gao reassures him that Yan Wen knows about the family’s help and promises to back Yuyang when he returns to deal with Gao Zhen.
• Qi Jiawang confronts his father, Qi Ji, after learning that his birth mother, Huang Ting, is alive. Qi Ji dismisses her as unworthy because she was a bar dancer and admits he concealed the truth to keep Jiawang focused on advancing himself and the Qi family. Jiawang accepts his father’s reasoning, while Qi Ji privately presses someone to act.
• At dinner at the Mu villa, Yan Wen enjoys a crayfish feast and shares peeled meat with Qi Shu Yu. Mo Chengzhou reveals he peeled a bowlful for Yan Wen, prompting teasing from the others.
• Yan Wen learns from Xiao Qi that Qi Ji’s hired assassin has stayed hidden because Qi Shu Yu is always surrounded by the Mu family. They consider how to draw the assassin out, but Yan Wen refuses to put Qi Shu Yu in danger. Xiao Qi suggests asking Yan Wen’s parents for help.
• Qi Shu Yu quietly leaves for a drink, appearing troubled. Yan Wen recognizes that learning his father hired an assassin against him would be painful, though he believes Qi Shu Yu will hold his father accountable.

Character developments and interactions

• Gao Yuyang resolves to return and handle Gao Zhen himself, supported by Old Master Gao. Their exchange emphasizes Yuyang’s gratitude toward Yan Wen and his wish not to burden him.
• Qi Jiawang moves from doubt to apparent acceptance of Qi Ji’s manipulation. Qi Ji shows that he values status and ambition over honesty or Huang Ting’s dignity.
• Yan Wen is affectionate and playful at dinner, but cautious and protective when discussing the assassin. He refuses to use Qi Shu Yu as bait.
• Qi Shu Yu remains subdued after the revelation about his father; Yan Wen notices his distress and offers quiet concern. Mo Chengzhou expresses care for Yan Wen by peeling his crayfish, while the others tease them.

Significant themes

• Loyalty and responsibility: Yuyang wants to repay Yan Wen’s help by facing his family’s problem himself.
• Manipulation and status: Qi Ji uses shame and ambition to control Jiawang, presenting his deception as being “for his own good.”
• Protection versus risk: Yan Wen seeks a way to catch the assassin without endangering Qi Shu Yu.
• Care shown through small gestures: Shared food and quiet attentiveness contrast with the chapter’s family betrayal and threat of violence.

Plot points and events

• Gao Yuyang arrives at the Mu family villa, where he joins Yan Wen and Tang Yun to discuss Gao Zhen and the threat he poses.
• The group realizes Gao Zhen may be getting secret help from his father, Gao Jianwei, despite appearing broke. They also connect his grudge against Yan Wen to Yan Wen’s role in exposing the evidence that helped bring him down.
• Yan Wen’s system, Xiao Qi, reveals that Gao Zhen is working as a bar server. Gao Jianwei has secretly sent him money and urged him to leave, but Gao Zhen intends to stay and pursue revenge. Xiao Qi suggests the bar may give him access to wealthy patrons who could help him retaliate.
• Gao Yuyang and Tang Yun agree they need evidence before telling Gao Jianwei about Gao Zhen’s activities. Yan Wen proposes investigating the bar and arranging a visit.
• Yan Wen deliberately delays sharing what Xiao Qi has told him, so his knowledge seems to come through ordinary investigation rather than supernatural means.
• After Gao Yuyang and Tang Yun leave, Mo Chengzhou embraces Yan Wen, saying he needs to recharge by holding him.

Character developments and interactions

• Yan Wen leads the discussion, stays confident about the group’s ability to protect themselves, and carefully conceals the source of his information. His private rapport with Xiao Qi shows both trust and playful humor.
• Gao Yuyang recognizes that Gao Zhen’s revenge may target Yan Wen as well as the Gao family. He is willing to inform his uncle, but wants proof first.
• Tang Yun helps the others see that Gao Zhen’s apparent poverty does not add up and suspects he may be prepared to take others down with him.
• Gao Zhen is revealed as increasingly ruthless: despite his father’s attempt to get him to leave, he remains focused on revenge, even at great personal cost.
• Mo Chengzhou shows his affection and reliance on Yan Wen through a tender, intimate embrace.
• The group works collaboratively: Yan Wen, Tang Yun, and Gao Yuyang reason through Gao Zhen’s motives, while Gao Yuyang and Tang Yun coordinate discreetly by text.

Significant themes

• Revenge and self-destruction: Gao Zhen’s determination suggests he may sacrifice his own dignity and safety to get even.
• Trust and secrecy: Yan Wen trusts his friends but still manages information carefully to avoid exposing Xiao Qi.
• Loyalty and protection: The characters plan to gather evidence and protect one another rather than act rashly.
• Intimacy and comfort: The closing scene contrasts the tension of the investigation with Mo Chengzhou’s need for warmth and reassurance.

Plot points and events

• Qi Shu Yu agrees that the group may need to take a dangerous step to draw their opponents out. Mu Xu Ye objects, but Shu Yu promises to wait until he returns.
• Worried about Shu Yu, Mu Xu Ye changes his travel plans and takes the earliest available flight home.
• The household spends a quiet night together. Yan Wen and Mo Chengzhou continue their comfortable domestic routine the next morning, including wearing matching outfits.
• Mu Xu Ye arrives during breakfast and explains that he returned early because he was worried about Shu Yu. Shu Yu insists he rest before they discuss their plans.
• Yan Wen learns from Xiao Qi that Gao Zhen will have an accident at a bar at 10 p.m. He plans to go there, hoping the incident may help resolve the conflict. He also says he will visit his former home with Yan Mom, which is being sold.
• Mo Chengzhou offers to accompany Yan Wen. Mu Xu Ci and Mu Xu Xi decide they should go too, since Gao Zhen’s situation concerns them.
• Wu Jinghan sends Mu Xu Ci an affectionate voice message saying he has to return to work but will come back as soon as he can.

Character developments and interactions

• Mu Xu Ye and Qi Shu Yu: Their relationship is marked by mutual concern. Mu Xu Ye rushes home for Shu Yu’s safety, while Shu Yu takes charge of getting him to rest.
• Yan Wen and Mo Chengzhou: Their closeness shows in their matching clothes and easy routines; Mo quietly anticipates Yan Wen’s needs and agrees to accompany him.
• Yan Wen: Though he jokes privately about whether his plan will anger Mu Xu Ye, he remains focused on acting to resolve the threat.
• Mu Xu Ci and Wu Jinghan: Wu’s playful message underscores their affection despite his work-related absence.

Significant themes

• Care expressed through action: Mu Xu Ye changes his plans, Shu Yu prioritizes his rest, and Mo supports Yan Wen’s outing.
• Intimacy in everyday routines: Shared meals, prepared clothes, and familiar habits convey domestic closeness.
• Risk and urgency: The group is preparing to lure their opponents out, while Gao Zhen’s predicted accident may offer a chance to end the conflict.

Key plot points and events

• After being separated for many days, Qi Shu Yu and Mu Xu Ye share a peaceful afternoon together. They wake, exchange affectionate kisses, and Qi Shu Yu offers to cook Mu Xu Ye scallion beef noodles. Mu Xu Ye persuades him to stay close a little longer.
• In Old Moon County, Yan Wen and Su Huilan walk through the family home as it is emptied and repaired. Their memories of the eight years they lived there make the coming move feel especially difficult.
• Su Huilan explains that she and Yan Lin are returning to Cloud Creek. Yan Wen worries that the distance will make visits rare and asks them to celebrate his upcoming birthday with him. They promise to try, and Su Huilan vows not to miss it.
• Yan Lin warns Mo Chengzhou to treat Yan Wen well. He also mentions that the Mu family offered the family a nearby villa, now in Yan Wen’s name, but Su Huilan and Yan Lin have decided to leave.
• Mo Chengzhou has arranged a farewell meal. Yan Wen volunteers to drive, and the group heads to the restaurant together.

Character developments and interactions

• Qi Shu Yu and Mu Xu Ye find comfort in physical closeness after their time apart. Their teasing, tenderness, and easy conversation show their strong bond.
• Yan Wen struggles with the sudden separation from his parents. He expresses sadness and frustration, but also seeks reassurance by asking them to attend his birthday.
• Su Huilan and Yan Lin show affection and regret for not preparing Yan Wen for the move sooner. They reassure him and promise to stay connected.
• Mo Chengzhou quietly gives Yan Wen and Su Huilan space to say goodbye, then takes practical steps to bring the family together for a final meal. Yan Lin’s approval suggests growing trust in him.

Significant themes

• Parting and change: Leaving the family home means losing a familiar place and accepting a more distant future.
• Family bonds and reassurance: Even when separated by distance, promises, visits, and calls can help preserve closeness.
• Intimacy and comfort: The opening couple’s affectionate reunion contrasts with the family’s emotional farewell, while both scenes emphasize the importance of being together.

Key plot points

• Over dinner, Yan Wen’s family tries to enjoy their last meal together before Su Huilan and Yan Lin leave Weicheng for Cloud Creek. Yan Wen decides to visit them during his next break, insisting that an eight-hour journey is manageable.
• Yan Wen drives his parents to the airport. He deliberately takes the journey slowly, and Su Huilan tearfully urges him to care for himself and call when he misses her. After saying goodbye, Yan Wen returns with Mo Chengzhou.
• At the Mu family villa, Xie Yunshu worries that Yan Wen will be upset and buys him a remote-controlled plane to cheer him up. The family also prepares a plan to confront Gao Zhen at the Evening Breeze Bar: they intend to go in disguise, bring a camera, and gather evidence.
• Yan Wen remains sad about his parents’ departure but insists it will not stop him from acting. He tells Mo Chengzhou that Gao Zhen is targeting both him and Gao Yuyang, and asks Mo to alert influential reporters that Gao Zhen—the Gao family’s former heir—is now working as a waiter at the bar.

Character developments and interactions

• Yan Wen shows affection for his adoptive parents and feels the separation keenly, but he also demonstrates resilience and determination. He plans to visit them and proceeds with his effort to deal with Gao Zhen.
• Su Huilan expresses her concern through practical advice about Yan Wen’s health and an invitation to call her whenever he misses her.
• Mo Chengzhou quietly supports Yan Wen throughout the farewell, then offers help with the confrontation. Yan Wen declines direct assistance but asks him to arrange media attention.
• Xie Yunshu is protective of Yan Wen and struggles to remember that he is now an adult capable of managing his feelings. Mu Xingfeng gently reassures her and helps choose and order a gift.
• The Mu family and their companions coordinate a covert plan to record Gao Zhen at the bar, while also wondering when Yan Wen will return.

Significant themes

• Family bonds and parting: The airport farewell underscores the pain of separation, while Yan Wen’s promise to visit keeps the family connected.
• Resilience: Yan Wen acknowledges his sadness without allowing it to derail his plans.
• Care expressed through action: His mother’s advice, Xie Yunshu’s gift, and Mo Chengzhou’s support all show affection in practical ways.
• Reputation and exposure: Yan Wen aims to use media attention to publicly embarrass Gao Zhen, turning Gao’s reduced status into a weapon against him.

Plot points and events

• Yan Wen and Mo Chengzhou visit the rougher Evening Breeze Bar to investigate Gao Zhen, whom Xiao Qi identifies as working there.
• When a patron makes an unwanted advance toward Yan Wen, Yan Wen twists the man’s wrist and warns him off. Mo Chengzhou calls Assistant Xin to bring people, evidently prepared to protect Yan Wen.
• The pair locate Gao Zhen serving drinks and sit with a man in a black shirt and his companion. The men discuss Gao’s fall from his family’s favor and suggest he might provide sexual services for money.
• Yan Wen and Mo Chengzhou pretend to be a couple looking for a private room, giving them cover to follow Gao upstairs.
• A manager takes Gao to a room and leaves. Using Xiao Qi to see inside, Yan Wen learns that the black-shirted man is pressuring Gao to spend a night with him in exchange for granting him a request.
• Gao initially refuses, but after the man threatens him, asks whether he will truly fulfill any request. He then says he will prepare a few things and leaves the room. Yan Wen and Mo Chengzhou avoid being seen as Gao passes.

Character developments

• Yan Wen remains alert and decisive: he defends himself, maintains their cover story, and uses Xiao Qi to track the investigation. Though disgusted by the bar, he focuses on the mission.
• Mo Chengzhou is protective and cooperative, staying close to Yan Wen, backing up his story, and summoning help after the harassment.
• Gao Zhen appears vulnerable under financial or personal pressure, but the exact request he hopes to obtain—and whether he has truly agreed to the man’s terms—remains unclear.

Character interactions

• Yan Wen shuts down the patron’s harassment; Mo Chengzhou responds with a protective, threatening stare and calls for backup.
• Yan Wen and Mo Chengzhou smoothly play affectionate partners to gain access and avoid suspicion, sharing a brief kiss once out of sight.
• The black-shirted man treats Gao’s hardship as leverage, offering a favor in return for a night together and threatening consequences when Gao resists.

Significant themes

• Power and coercion: The black-shirted man exploits Gao’s precarious position to pressure him.
• Trust and partnership: Yan Wen and Mo Chengzhou coordinate seamlessly and support one another while undercover.
• Appearances versus reality: The bar seems respectable on the surface but conceals dangerous behavior and exploitation.

Plot points and events

• Yan Wen learns that the Bar is coercing people into sex work, confiscating their IDs and trapping them there. Xiao Qi says several victims—including a young woman who has been held for a year—are being exploited.
• Determined to address the abuse as well as Gao Zhen’s presence, Yan Wen asks his mother, Xie Yunshu, to report the Bar. She contacts the police and expects them within half an hour.
• Yan Wen coordinates with Mo Chengzhou’s assistant and a group of reporters. He tells them to pose as customers, then photograph only room 218 once the police arrive.
• Police raid the Bar and search its second floor despite a server’s attempt to stop them. They find numerous disheveled people detained along the hallway.
• When room 218 is opened, reporters photograph Gao Zhen. The police thank Xie Yunshu for her help, and Yan Wen watches Gao with disgust. Gao glares at Yan Wen and Mu Xu Ci with intense hatred; Yan Wen responds with taunts, confident Gao has lost his chance to escape.

Character developments

• Yan Wen moves from learning about the Bar’s abuses to taking charge of a coordinated plan involving police, reporters, and his family. He is resourceful and openly defiant toward Gao Zhen.
• Mo Chengzhou quietly supports Yan Wen, providing his assistant and reporters while following Yan Wen’s lead.
• Xie Yunshu acts decisively on her son’s request, using her influence to secure a swift police response.
• Gao Zhen is exposed and detained, and his hostility toward Yan Wen remains intense.

Significant themes

• Justice and accountability: The raid targets both Gao Zhen and the Bar’s exploitation of vulnerable people.
• Power used for protection: Yan Wen and Xie Yunshu use their connections to bring wrongdoing to light.
• Exposure and consequences: The press coverage makes Gao Zhen’s situation public, while the police uncover the Bar’s hidden crimes.
• Defiance and revenge: Yan Wen’s confrontation with Gao shows that their conflict is far from over.

Character interactions

• Yan Wen relies on Mo Chengzhou and his assistant to arrange the reporters, while Mo follows his instructions.
• He persuades Xie Yunshu to involve the police; Mu Xu Ci and the others agree to accompany him upstairs.
• Yan Wen directs the reporters to wait for the police and focus on room 218, balancing publicity with the officers’ work.
• After Gao Zhen is found, the two exchange hostile looks, with Yan Wen deliberately provoking him.

Plot and events

• The Evening Breeze Bar is shut down, its manager jailed, and staff punished. Victims recover their ID cards and can contact their families. Xie Yunshu and the others are thanked before the group heads home.
• In the car, Gao Yuyang accepts that his family will learn what happened to Gao Zhen, blaming Gao Zhen’s choices. Exhausted by the night, Yan Wen falls asleep against Mo Chengzhou.
• Back at the villa, Mo Chengzhou lets Yan Wen sleep while he showers. Yan Wen wakes, washes up, and is visibly distracted by Mo Chengzhou’s appearance in his bathrobe.
• Yan Wen showers, then Mo Chengzhou dries his hair. Yan Wen enjoys the affectionate care and thinks about returning the favor. He changes into pajamas, cuddles into Mo Chengzhou, and falls asleep.
• In a parallel scene, Mu Xu Ye bathes and cares for an almost-sleeping Qi Shu Yu, then carries him to bed.

Character developments and interactions

• Yan Wen is tired but still preoccupied with a plan to help “Brother Qi,” hoping his eldest brother will approve and worrying about being hit if he does not. He is also increasingly comfortable and affectionate with Mo Chengzhou, whose hair-drying has become a familiar ritual.
• Mo Chengzhou shows quiet consideration, letting Yan Wen sleep, tending to his hair, and holding him as he drifts off.
• Gao Yuyang remains resigned about the consequences of Gao Zhen’s actions and suggests Gao Zhen could have avoided them by choosing a respectable life.
• Mu Xu Ye and Qi Shu Yu share a caretaking moment: Mu Xu Ye handles Qi Shu Yu’s bath and bedtime while Qi Shu Yu is too exhausted to stay awake.

Themes

The chapter contrasts the resolution of a serious crime with the quiet intimacy of home life. Care is shown through small acts—protecting someone’s sleep, washing and drying their hair, and tending to them when they are exhausted—while Gao Yuyang’s remarks emphasize personal responsibility and the consequences of one’s choices.

Key plot points and events

• Yan Wen wakes late and eats the beef noodles Xie Yunshu brought up. Mo Chengzhou gently helps him sit up and feeds him, then Yan Wen finishes the bowl and gets ready for the day.
• The family learns that Qi Ji’s hired assassin is growing impatient. Yan Wen and Xiao Qi conclude that the assassin is unlikely to give up; if thwarted, he may recruit help or obtain a weapon.
• Yan Wen considers a plan to draw the assassin out, but Qi Shu Yu proposes the same idea: use himself as bait while others wait nearby to capture the attacker.
• Mu Xu Ye reluctantly agrees, trusting that this is the best way to end the threat, and vows to protect Qi Shu Yu.
• The group rejects having bodyguards follow Qi Shu Yu, since an assassin could spot them and become more dangerous. Yan Wen suggests using ordinary people to lie in wait near an isolated wasteland behind a shopping center.
• They decide to carry out the plan the following evening.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Chengzhou shows attentive, tender care toward Yan Wen, feeding him and urging him to finish his meal before getting up.
• Yan Wen is lively and impulsive, but also thinks strategically about the assassin and challenges ideas that could put the group at greater risk.
• Qi Shu Yu demonstrates resolve by volunteering to serve as bait. Mu Xu Ye is protective and anxious but ultimately accepts the plan, while Qi Shu Yu quietly reassures him.
• The household’s affection for Yan Wen is evident: Xie Yunshu protects him, and Mu Xu Ye is wary of provoking the family by harming him.
• Mu Xu Ci and others contribute to the planning, though Yan Wen’s assessment shapes the final approach.

Significant themes

• Protection and trust: The group balances Qi Shu Yu’s willingness to take a risk with Mu Xu Ye’s determination to keep him safe.
• Family care and intimacy: The opening meal scene highlights everyday tenderness and support.
• Strategy under threat: The characters weigh how an assassin might respond and choose a carefully planned ambush over a straightforward escort.
• Facing danger to end it: They decide that drawing out the assassin is risky but necessary before the threat escalates.

Plot points and events

• Yan Wen and Qi Shu Yu shop at a supermarket while secretly waiting for Black Hawk, an assassin targeting Qi Shu Yu. Xiao Qi reports that Black Hawk is watching them from the seafood section.
• Qi Shu Yu recognizes the masked, scarred man as Black Hawk, a highly ranked assassin. Xiao Qi reveals that assassin rankings are manipulated: Black Hawk is actually eighteenth, and White Wolf—whose death caused little reaction—was far less capable than his supposed third-place ranking suggested.
• To pass the time and maintain their cover, Yan Wen and Qi Shu Yu eat at a notoriously slow restaurant. Mo Chengzhou joins them and reports that Mu Xu Ye and Yan Wen’s second brother have positioned themselves near the vacant lot, ready to help.
• After dinner, Yan Wen pretends he needs the bathroom and leads Qi Shu Yu to the dark lot behind the supermarket. Xiao Qi warns that Black Hawk is approaching. Yan Wen picks up a stick for protection as they hear footsteps behind them.

Character developments and interactions

• Yan Wen stays playful and composed, deliberately drawing Black Hawk toward the planned trap while taking care to keep Qi Shu Yu accompanied. He also misses Mo Chengzhou during the wait and summons him for company.
• Qi Shu Yu shows perceptiveness by identifying Black Hawk from his eyes and forehead scar. Though the danger frightens him in retrospect, he says Yan Wen’s presence has kept him from feeling afraid.
• Mo Chengzhou supports the operation from nearby and comforts Yan Wen after the long meal, while quietly caring for him by rubbing his sore back and serving him food.
• Yan Wen and Qi Shu Yu coordinate their movements and use ordinary shopping and dining as cover. Yan Wen and Mo Chengzhou share affectionate, familiar moments amid the danger.

Significant themes

• Loyalty and protection: Qi Shu Yu is surrounded by allies, and Yan Wen takes an active role in keeping him safe.
• Deception and strategy: The group disguises their plan as everyday errands and uses the vacant lot to draw the assassin into an ambush.
• Appearances versus reality: The revelation that assassin rankings are falsified undermines the prestige of the organization’s hierarchy.
• Humor and domesticity amid danger: Food, teasing, and affectionate gestures contrast with the looming threat.

Key plot points and events

• Warned by Xiao Qi’s night-vision mode, Yan Wen surprises Black Hawk as the assassin approaches. He knocks him down with a wooden stick, removes his weapons, and checks his phone.
• Black Hawk’s messages reveal plans to lure Qi Shu Yu into the unfinished building. Yan Wen replies in Black Hawk’s style and summons Mu Xu Ye and Mo Chengzhou.
• Xiao Qi obtains a Deep-Sleep Pill, which Yan Wen gives Black Hawk. A bodyguard carries the unconscious assassin into the building, where the group ties him to a chair and tapes his mouth.
• Yan Wen sends a message inviting Black Hawk’s contact to come alone. An hour later, Qi Ji and Qi Jiawang arrive. The group hides and watches as Qi Jiawang mistakes the captive Black Hawk for his eldest brother, Qi Shu Yu. Xiao Qi records the exchange.

Character developments

• Yan Wen proves quick-thinking and capable in a crisis, using Xiao Qi’s warnings and system tools to protect Qi Shu Yu and set a trap. He is also eager to expose the family’s deception.
• Qi Shu Yu remains calm and reassures Mu Xu Ye that he is unharmed.
• Mu Xu Ye shows strong concern for Qi Shu Yu, checking him carefully after the attack.
• Mo Chengzhou is protective and attentive toward Yan Wen, lifting him off the cold ground and letting him rest on his lap.
• Qi Jiawang and Qi Ji appear willing to exploit the situation; Qi Jiawang’s failure to recognize his brother highlights his lack of care.

Significant themes

• Loyalty and protection: Yan Wen and his allies act together to keep Qi Shu Yu safe.
• Deception and exposure: The group uses Black Hawk’s messages to draw Qi Ji and Qi Jiawang into a trap, while recording their behavior.
• Familial neglect and betrayal: Qi Jiawang’s mistaken identification—and Yan Wen’s suspicion that Qi Ji chose an ineffectual assassin to save money—underline how little regard the family has shown Qi Shu Yu.

Character interactions

• Yan Wen relies on Xiao Qi for warnings and equipment, and jokes with him while they wait.
• Mu Xu Ye comforts and checks on Qi Shu Yu; Mo Chengzhou similarly looks after Yan Wen.
• The group coordinates the ambush, hiding together as Qi Ji and Qi Jiawang enter, setting up a confrontation that has not yet unfolded.

Key plot points and events

• From hiding nearby, Yan Wen, Qi Shu Yu, and Mu Xu Ye overhear Qi Ji and Qi Jiawang reveal their plan: kill Qi Shu Yu, conceal the crime as suicide, and have Jiawang take his identity. Qi Ji excuses the scheme as necessary for the family and insists Jiawang is the better match for Mu Xu Ye.
• Jiawang stabs the bound victim, only for the men to discover they have killed the assassin, Black Hawk—not Qi Shu Yu. Mu Xu Ye’s bodyguards move in, and Yan Wen and the others reveal themselves.
• Yan Wen confronts the pair and urges Qi Shu Yu to speak up. Qi Shu Yu finally condemns his father and brother, declaring that their actions will disgrace them and ruin the family.
• Jiawang assumes they can escape punishment without surveillance footage, but Yan Wen points out that Jiawang’s fingerprints will be on the murder weapon. Xiao Qi has already called the police, and Yan Wen provides a recording of the crime.
• Qi Ji and Jiawang are arrested and questioned separately. Qi Shu Yu learns that a parent-child relationship can be formally severed with both parties’ signatures, then messages his mother, Bai Yuezhen, so she can learn what Qi Ji has done.

Character developments

• Qi Shu Yu moves from silent shock and hurt to openly confronting his family. He begins taking practical steps to distance himself from his father.
• Yan Wen protects and advocates for Qi Shu Yu, using humor and sharp insults to expose the Qi family’s cruelty and keep the confrontation under control.
• Qi Ji and Qi Jiawang reveal the full extent of their greed and disregard for Qi Shu Yu, then panic when their plan collapses.
• Mu Xu Ye quietly supports Qi Shu Yu and ensures the group is protected by his bodyguards. Xiao Qi contributes by summoning the police.

Significant themes

• Family betrayal and favoritism: Qi Ji treats Qi Shu Yu as disposable while elevating Jiawang.
• Identity and exploitation: Jiawang intends to steal his brother’s name, belongings, and romantic prospects.
• Justice and accountability: The conspirators’ confidence that they can deny the crime is undone by the recording, physical evidence, and police intervention.
• Speaking out and breaking free: Qi Shu Yu’s condemnation marks a first step toward ending his family ties.

Character interactions

• Yan Wen comforts Qi Shu Yu, challenges Qi Ji and Jiawang on his behalf, then encourages Qi Shu Yu to express his anger directly.
• Qi Shu Yu refuses to engage with Qi Ji at first, but ultimately addresses him and Jiawang himself.
• Mu Xu Ye offers quiet physical reassurance and helps coordinate the group’s protection.
• After the arrests, Qi Shu Yu turns to his mother, choosing to tell her the truth about Qi Ji.

Key plot points and events

• The evidence against Qi Ji and Qi Jiawang is confirmed: an authenticated recording, fingerprints on a dagger, and phone records linking them to Black Hawk. They confess, and the police will finalize their sentences after checking all the evidence.
• Yan Wen messages Qi Shu Yu to arrange a severance agreement for Qi Ji to sign, formally cutting ties.
• At the Gao residence, Old Master Gao confronts Gao Jianwei for secretly paying to keep his son Gao Zhen out of prison. Gao Zhen then abused his freedom, including repeatedly attempting to kill his cousin Gao Yuyang.
• Gao Jianwei agrees to sever his family’s ties with the Gaos. Old Master Gao accepts, reclaims half the shares previously given to him, and declares Gao Zhen no longer part of the family.
• Grateful for Yan Wen’s help, Old Master Gao plans to give him a wooden sword. Gao Yuyang is invited to stay with Yan Wen and messages him about the gift and visit.
• Yan Wen and Gao Yuyang also discuss Li, who has secured a job at an overseas fashion-design company. Yan Wen urges Gao Yuyang to take the initiative with her, leaving him confused.

Character developments

• Yan Wen remains practical and generous, helping Qi Shu Yu with the severance agreement and offering Gao Yuyang warm hospitality. He also shows an encouraging, teasing interest in Gao Yuyang’s love life.
• Gao Jianwei accepts responsibility for his family’s disgrace by voluntarily cutting ties with the Gao family, though he retains enough shares to remain wealthy.
• Old Master Gao prioritizes family unity and accountability over protecting a disgraced relative, while recognizing Yan Wen’s repeated help.
• Gao Yuyang is increasingly comfortable with Yan Wen and appears to value their friendship, though he is oblivious to Yan Wen’s hint about pursuing Li.

Significant themes

• Accountability and consequences: Evidence brings Qi Ji and Qi Jiawang to justice, while Gao Zhen’s actions lead to his family’s expulsion.
• Family loyalty versus responsibility: Gao Jianwei’s attempt to protect his son is understandable as a father, but the family refuses to excuse the harm Gao Zhen caused.
• Gratitude and reciprocity: The Gaos seek a meaningful way to thank Yan Wen, despite his insistence that helping was no trouble.
• New beginnings: Severing family ties and Li’s new job both mark transitions toward separate futures.

Character interactions

• Yan Wen reassures Qi Shu Yu that helping him is simply what family does.
• Old Master Gao rebukes Gao Jianwei, then formally cuts his branch off from the family; Gao Yuyang later tries to calm his grandfather and advocates some understanding.
• Gao Yuyang relays Yan Wen’s invitation and discusses the planned gift with Old Master Gao.
• Yan Wen and Gao Yuyang exchange friendly messages, ending with Yan Wen’s playful advice about Li.

Plot points and events

• Yan Wen encourages Gao Yuyang to pursue Senior Li before she leaves for work abroad, then helps Mo Chengzhou dry his hair. Mo brings up their plan to have matching rings made, and the two share a tender, restrained moment.
• The next day, Yan Wen accompanies Qi Shu Yu to the police station to end his legal ties to Qi Ji. Qi Ji signs the agreement, and he and Qi Jiawang are sentenced for their crimes: twenty years for Qi Ji and life imprisonment for Qi Jiawang.
• Qi Shu Yu rejects Qi Ji’s attempt to imagine how things might have gone differently, saying the outcome came from Qi Ji’s own choices. Huang Ting later visits the imprisoned men, leaves homemade dumplings for Qi Jiawang, and departs without speaking.
• With the troubles resolved, Xie Yunshu organizes a celebration. The group prepares to buy cold dishes while Mu Xu Ye and Mo Chengzhou discuss a business partnership focused on new-energy-vehicle components. Mu Xu Ye then sends Yan Wen two million as thanks for protecting Qi Shu Yu.

Character developments and interactions

• Yan Wen continues to act as a supportive matchmaker for Gao Yuyang, while his affection for Mo Chengzhou shows in their domestic intimacy and plans for matching rings. Mo Chengzhou is considerate and tender, stopping himself from going further.
• Qi Shu Yu takes a decisive step toward independence by severing ties with Qi Ji. His firm response shows he no longer accepts excuses for Qi Ji’s choices.
• Huang Ting’s silent prison visit suggests grief and lingering attachment, especially through the dumplings she brings for Qi Jiawang.
• Mo Chengzhou becomes more familiar with the Mu family, adopting their names instead of formal titles at Yan Wen’s suggestion. He and Mu Xu Ye reach a practical business agreement.
• Mu Xu Ye expresses gratitude to Yan Wen in a substantial, direct way.

Significant themes

• Choice and accountability: Qi Shu Yu insists that Qi Ji is responsible for the consequences of his actions.
• Care and affection: The chapter pairs romantic tenderness between Yan Wen and Mo Chengzhou with Yan Wen’s loyalty to his friends.
• Closure and moving forward: Qi Shu Yu’s severed family ties and the group’s celebration mark the resolution of a painful conflict and a return to ordinary plans.

Key plot points and events

• The family shares a lavish late-night meal, with plenty of food and drinks. Mu Xingfeng invites the men to toast, while Xie Yunshu urges him not to overdo it.
• Yan Wen decides to drink beer because the others are drinking, despite disliking its taste. Mo Chengzhou agrees to keep him company, and Yan Wen eventually drinks eight cans.
• As the meal runs late, the younger guests head upstairs to rest. Yan Wen insists he is not drunk, but becomes unsteady and needs Mo Chengzhou’s help washing up.
• Yan Wen falls asleep while sitting over a foot basin. Mo Chengzhou carries him to bed, tucks him in, and then settles beside him with the bedside light left on.

Character developments

• Yan Wen is playful and stubborn, determined to join in drinking despite having little experience. His thoughts about what might happen if he gets drunk reveal his embarrassment and vulnerability.
• Mo Chengzhou shows steady, affectionate care: he keeps Yan Wen company, supports him, waits outside the bathroom, and gently puts him to bed.
• Mu Xingfeng is cheerful and sociable, eager to celebrate, though Xie Yunshu keeps him in check.
• Xie Yunshu acts as a warm, practical host, caring for the younger guests and reminding her husband to drink responsibly.
• Tang Yun and Gao Yuyang joke about being the only single people at the table, adding to the relaxed group atmosphere.

Significant themes

• Family warmth and togetherness: The meal’s teasing, toasts, and shared food create a comfortable celebratory gathering.
• Care and intimacy: Mo Chengzhou’s attentive actions contrast with Yan Wen’s insistence that he needs no help.
• Pride versus vulnerability: Yan Wen denies being drunk even as the alcohol clearly affects him.
• Everyday affection: Small gestures—serving food, helping with washing, and tucking someone in—express closeness more than grand declarations.

Character interactions

• Mu Xingfeng invites Mu Xu Ye and Qi Shu Yu to drink, while Xie Yunshu balances his enthusiasm with gentle warnings.
• Yan Wen invites Mo Chengzhou, Tang Yun, and Gao Yuyang to share drinks, and offers Mu Xu Xi juice when she declines alcohol.
• Tang Yun and Gao Yuyang banter over their single status.
• Mo Chengzhou repeatedly looks after Yan Wen, who protests his concern but ultimately relies on his help.

Key plot points and events

• Mo Chengzhou takes Tang Yun and Gao Yuyang to school because Yan Wen is still asleep after drinking the night before.
• Remembering Yan Wen wanted strawberries, Mo Chengzhou buys some on his way home. The family prepares them the way Yan Wen likes, soaked in honey water.
• Yan Wen thanks Mo Chengzhou with a quick kiss, then shares the strawberries with him.
• With his brother and Qi away buying gifts for a visit to Aunt Bai, Yan Wen feels bored. He decides to go shopping with Mo Chengzhou, agreeing to pick up desserts for Xie Yunshu and Mu Xu Xi.
• During the drive, Yan Wen asks about Mo Chengzhou’s staff and learns that taking control of the company was difficult: Mo had to pass evaluations and withstand scrutiny from senior employees.
• Yan Wen recalls information about an accident that nearly killed Mo Chengzhou and suspects a relative was behind it. He privately plans to meet that person during his visit to the Mo family.
• Yan Wen says he needs shampoo and facial cleanser. Mo Chengzhou suggests buying a recliner, teasing him about falling asleep while washing his feet; Yan Wen huffs and turns away.

Character development and interactions

• Mo Chengzhou shows quiet attentiveness by remembering Yan Wen’s craving, buying strawberries, and helping dry his hair. He is pleased when Yan Wen says he wants to know about the people around him.
• Yan Wen is affectionate and increasingly interested in Mo Chengzhou’s life, but also protective: learning about Mo’s past makes him think seriously about the danger Mo faced. He remains playful and easily embarrassed by Mo’s teasing.
• Their relationship is warm and comfortable, shown through casual affection, shared food, and teasing.
• Xie Yunshu and Mu Xu Xi contribute to the relaxed household atmosphere, suggesting activities and asking Yan Wen to bring back treats.

Significant themes

• Care expressed through small gestures: Mo Chengzhou’s thoughtfulness is reflected in remembering Yan Wen’s preferences.
• Growing intimacy and curiosity: Yan Wen’s questions about Mo’s work and staff signal a desire to understand his life more fully.
• Power and vulnerability: Mo’s explanation of corporate scrutiny—and Yan Wen’s recollection of the attempted fatal accident—hints at the dangers and challenges behind his position.
• Domestic affection and humor: Their easy banter balances the chapter’s darker undertone about Mo’s past.

Key plot points and events

• Over breakfast, Mu Xu Ye and Qi Shu Yu announce they are leaving at noon to visit Aunt Bai and expect to return the following week. Qi Shu Yu cuts food for Mu Xu Ye, drawing affectionate teasing from Xie Yunshu.
• Yan Wen and Mo Chengzhou head out for a long-awaited ring-making workshop. Yan Wen drives despite Mo Chengzhou’s concern that it may tire him.
• At the shop, they choose a ring design and the highest-quality material. With help from an elderly craftsman, they shape and polish the rings, then engrave each other’s names inside: “Mo” in Yan Wen’s and “Wen” in Mo Chengzhou’s.
• They take the finished rings home, stopping to eat along the way. Yan Wen keeps admiring the rings but decides to wait until they get home before putting one on.
• At breakfast, Yan Wen learns through Xiao Qi that Mu Xu Ci spent the night talking on the phone with Wu Jinghan, who initiated the call. Yan Wen is intrigued, though Xiao Qi warns him not to expect a major development soon.

Character developments and interactions

• Yan Wen is excited and playful, eagerly anticipating the workshop and teasing Mo Chengzhou about his worry and affectionate gaze. He takes pride in making the rings himself.
• Mo Chengzhou shows steady tenderness and concern for Yan Wen, supports his enthusiasm, and shares the personal gesture of engraving their names in each other’s rings.
• Mu Xu Ye and Qi Shu Yu display easy domestic affection, while Xie Yunshu gently teases them.
• Yan Wen’s curiosity about Mu Xu Ci and Wu Jinghan’s late-night conversation reveals his interest in his brother’s romantic prospects; Xiao Qi keeps his expectations in check.

Significant themes

• Affection expressed through small acts: caring for a partner at breakfast, looking out for one another, and sharing private gestures.
• Commitment and shared memories: the handmade, personalized rings symbolize the couple’s bond and the value they place on creating something together.
• Family warmth and playful teasing: everyday banter brings the household’s close relationships to life.

Key events

• Yan Wen and Mo Chengzhou return to the Mu family villa after dinner and decline Aunt Lin’s offer of food.
• In their bedroom, Yan Wen presents Mo Chengzhou with a ring and playfully warns him that wearing it means he is Yan Wen’s partner. Mo Chengzhou accepts eagerly, then puts Yan Wen’s matching ring on him with a solemn kiss.
• Their intimate moment is interrupted by a video call from Mo Chengzhou’s grandfather, Mo Qingguo. He checks on their relationship and invites them to visit Yan Jing; Yan Wen says they plan to go after next month.
• In private afterward, Mo Chengzhou tells his grandfather Yan Wen’s birthday is coming up and admits he has not chosen a gift. His grandfather advises him to find something unique and meaningful, prompting Mo Chengzhou to hit on an idea.
• Mo Chengzhou dries Yan Wen’s hair as part of their usual bedtime routine. Yan Wen stays awake admiring his ring, while Mo Chengzhou later joins him in bed without waking him.

Character developments and interactions

• Yan Wen is openly affectionate and delighted by the ring Mo Chengzhou made for him. He treats it as a treasured symbol of their relationship.
• Mo Chengzhou responds with tenderness and commitment, wearing Yan Wen’s ring and carefully placing Yan Wen’s on his finger. He also shows thoughtfulness about making Yan Wen’s upcoming birthday special.
• Mo Qingguo is warmly supportive of the couple and fond of Yan Wen, while teasing his grandson about their relationship and urging him to prepare a meaningful gift.
• The couple’s easy affection shows in their private exchange, their shared bedtime ritual, and Mo Chengzhou’s gentle care after Yan Wen falls asleep.

Significant themes

• Commitment and belonging: The rings symbolize their partnership and mutual devotion.
• Everyday intimacy: Small routines—drying hair, tucking one another in—reinforce their closeness.
• Family acceptance: Mo Qingguo’s welcome and interest affirm the couple’s relationship.
• Thoughtful affection: The chapter sets up Mo Chengzhou’s desire to give Yan Wen a personal, one-of-a-kind birthday present.

Key plot points

• Over the past two weeks, the characters have settled into their usual routines: Mu Xingfeng and Xie Yunshu spend time together, Mu Xu Ci is focused on a game nearing completion, Mu Xu Xi works her regular schedule, and Mu Xu Ye remains close to Qi Shu Yu.
• Yan Wen has been studying at home while Mo Chengzhou handles company work nearby. After Mo finishes, they share an affectionate kiss.
• Yan Wen’s parents discuss holding a banquet for his birthday next week. At the suggestion that his birthday be celebrated on a large scale, Yan Wen becomes subdued: he misses Yan Dad and Yan Mom, who have celebrated with him in previous years.
• Yan Wen admits to Mo Chengzhou that he worries his former parents may be too busy to attend. Mo comforts him and keeps his own birthday present a secret.
• Meanwhile, Tang Yun and Gao Yuyang plan gifts for Yan Wen and discuss arranging leave to attend his birthday. They also consider inviting their families, some of whom want to thank Yan Wen or meet him.

Character developments and interactions

• Yan Wen’s sadness reveals how much he misses Yan Dad and Yan Mom and how important their presence is to him. Mo Chengzhou notices his mood, listens patiently, and reassures him.
• Xie Yunshu is attentive to Yan Wen’s feelings, while Mu Xingfeng suggests sending a private plane to bring Yan Dad and Yan Mom to the celebration. Xie Yunshu is eager to contact them.
• Tang Yun and Gao Yuyang show their affection and gratitude through thoughtful gift planning and efforts to attend the banquet.
• Mo Chengzhou and Yan Wen’s relationship remains warm and intimate; Mo’s secret gift builds anticipation.

Significant themes

• Family and belonging: Yan Wen’s birthday brings his connections to both families into focus, along with his longing for the people who celebrated with him before.
• Care expressed through action: The family’s plan to arrange travel, Mo’s comfort, and the friends’ preparations all show support through practical gestures.
• Anticipation and reunion: The planned banquet and surprise gift create excitement, while Yan Wen’s uncertainty about whether Yan Dad and Yan Mom can attend remains unresolved.

Key plot points and events

• Xie Yunshu gathers the Mu family to plan Yan Wen’s first birthday banquet since returning to the family. They decide to keep it special but not overly extravagant, invite the Four Great Families and close business associates, and ask Yan Wen whom he wants included.
• Yan Wen adds Shen Yueli as the only guest from the Shen family, along with families close to the Mu family. Xiao Qi privately tells him the Ouyang Family is already weakening: Ouyang Lingheng’s repeated offenses and the family head’s failure to restrain him have prompted business partners to cut ties. The family is expected to fall in two years, and Shen Yueli’s family will take its place among the Four Great Families.
• At the Mo family residence, the Chu family visits to discuss business. Chu Huaiyu asks after Mo Chengzhou and learns he is in Weicheng with his boyfriend, Yan Wen.

Character developments

• Yan Wen is drawn into planning his first birthday celebration with his birth family, while showing interest in Shen Yueli’s future rise.
• Xie Yunshu is eager to make Yan Wen feel welcomed, though she and the others agree to respect his likely preference for a modest gathering.
• Mo Chengzhou’s grandfather, Mo Qingguo, recognizes that Chu Huaiyu has long harbored feelings for Chengzhou. He makes clear that Chengzhou is committed to Yan Wen and hopes Chu Huaiyu will accept that.
• Chu Huaiyu’s reaction to hearing Chengzhou is with his boyfriend reveals his lingering attachment, though he leaves without pressing the matter.

Significant themes

• Family belonging and care: The Mu family’s efforts to celebrate Yan Wen’s birthday underline their desire to make him feel at home.
• Consequences of poor leadership: The Ouyang family’s decline follows from its head’s refusal to control Ouyang Lingheng and the resulting loss of business support.
• Unrequited love and acceptance: Mo Qingguo believes Chu Huaiyu must accept that Chengzhou’s feelings are committed elsewhere.

Character interactions

• The Mu family collaborates on the birthday plans, balancing Xie Yunshu’s enthusiasm with Qi Shu Yu’s concern that Yan Wen might dislike an overly lavish event.
• Yan Wen and Mo Chengzhou share the household discussion before returning to their own plans.
• Mo Qingguo treats Chu Huaiyu kindly but directly, while Chu Huaiyu’s parents steer him away from the adults’ business discussion.