Chapter Summaries

Plot points

• Jiang Ze, who had died jumping into the sea to save a child, wakes in the body of a namesake character from the novel My White Moonlight.
• A system tells him he must choose one character to pursue as a “simp” to earn enough points for a new life. With guards about to remove him from the Meng family home, Jiang Ze chooses the powerful villain, Meng Zhiyuan.
• At a birthday gathering, Meng Zimu is defending Shen Yun, who has returned from overseas. Jiang Ze realizes he is the novel’s hapless cannon-fodder character, accused of attacking Shen Yun and causing a scene.
• Instead of meekly accepting the accusations, Jiang Ze publicly reveals that Meng Zimu kept him as a stand-in for Shen Yun—and claims he himself pursued Meng Zimu only because he resembled Meng Zhiyuan.
• Jiang Ze also accuses Shen Yun of faking the incident and pushing him into the pool, suggesting they review the house’s security-camera footage.
• After insulting Meng Zimu and praising Meng Zhiyuan, Jiang Ze turns to leave—only to find Meng Zhiyuan has been standing behind him and heard everything. The system announces that Jiang Ze’s chosen target has appeared.

Character developments

• Jiang Ze shifts from confusion and shock to bold, irreverent defiance. His knowledge of the novel helps him recognize the situation and exploit it, though he quickly realizes his outburst may have created an awkward first encounter with his assigned target.
• Meng Zimu is exposed as possessive and insecure, especially about being compared with his powerful second uncle. He is stunned by Jiang Ze’s unexpected confidence, then reacts angrily when Shen Yun is accused.
• Shen Yun maintains an image of vulnerability and innocence, but Jiang Ze’s accusation suggests he may have staged the confrontation. His brief flash of malice hints at a more calculating side.
• Meng Zhiyuan appears as a composed, imposing figure. His reaction to Jiang Ze’s declaration is not yet revealed.

Character interactions

• Jiang Ze clashes with Meng Zimu, rejecting his authority and openly humiliating him by calling him a stand-in.
• Jiang Ze challenges Shen Yun’s victim narrative and offers the security footage as a way to verify what happened.
• Meng Zimu comforts and defends Shen Yun, while Shen Yun uses tears and apparent fear to draw him closer.
• Jiang Ze’s public declaration of affection for Meng Zhiyuan becomes an unexpectedly direct—and embarrassing—introduction when Zhiyuan appears behind him.

Significant themes

• Transmigration and narrative awareness: Jiang Ze knows the story’s roles and outcomes, giving him a chance to resist the fate of the original cannon fodder.
• Performance and deception: The characters’ public images—victim, protector, and villain—may conceal more complicated motives.
• Power and insecurity: Meng Zimu’s resentment toward his influential uncle shapes his reaction to Jiang Ze’s comparison.
• Reversal and comic embarrassment: Jiang Ze turns the novel’s accusations against its leads, only to discover his chosen “pursuit target” witnessed the entire spectacle.

Plot points and events

• Meng Zhiyuan arrives just as Meng Zimu is embracing Shen Yun and confronting Jiang Ze. He rebukes Zimu for mistreating a guest and sends the onlookers away.
• Zimu blames Jiang Ze for the conflict but cannot retaliate under his uncle’s watch. Shen Yun presents himself as forgiving and persuades Zimu to leave.
• Zhiyuan confirms that he can hear Jiang Ze’s thoughts, including his insults about Zimu and his admiration for Zhiyuan. He orders his aide, Mu Qing, to take Jiang Ze upstairs to change.
• Jiang Ze refuses to wear Zimu’s clothes, so Zhiyuan lends him a spare outfit of his own—an unusual exception for the famously fastidious man. Jiang Ze interprets this as evidence that Zhiyuan is kind and attracted to the “innocent” type.
• After changing, Jiang Ze thanks Zhiyuan, who questions when he supposedly began liking him. Jiang Ze invents a story of secret, long-held devotion, while his thoughts reveal he is improvising and trying to perform a convincing lovesick persona.

Character developments

• Jiang Ze is cold, irreverent, and calculating beneath a deliberately shy, sweet act. He is attracted to Zhiyuan and eager to impress him, but his exaggerated inner commentary repeatedly undermines his performance.
• Meng Zhiyuan remains controlled and authoritative, yet shows unexpected consideration by protecting Jiang Ze and lending him his clothes. Hearing Jiang Ze’s thoughts makes him curious and suspicious; he begins probing the young man’s background.
• Meng Zimu is revealed as a bully who submits to authority, especially Zhiyuan’s, while concealing his resentment.
• Shen Yun maintains a fragile, conciliatory façade, though a moment of determination hints at less innocent motives.
• Mu Qing serves as Zhiyuan’s dependable aide and is surprised by his employer’s unusual generosity.

Significant themes

• Public masks versus private thoughts: Jiang Ze’s timid performance clashes comically with his blunt inner voice, while Shen Yun’s apparent vulnerability may conceal intent.
• Power and intimidation: Zhiyuan’s authority instantly silences the crowd and restrains Zimu.
• Unexpected attraction and intrigue: Jiang Ze’s admiration, Zhiyuan’s special treatment, and Zhiyuan’s newfound ability to hear thoughts create romantic tension and mystery.
• Control and uncertainty: Zhiyuan dislikes what he cannot understand, and Jiang Ze’s strange contradictions make him determined to investigate.

Character interactions

• Zhiyuan publicly reprimands Zimu and defends the expectation that guests be treated courteously.
• Shen Yun plays peacemaker, prompting Zimu to withdraw while reinforcing Zimu’s hostility toward Jiang Ze.
• Zhiyuan and Jiang Ze’s exchanges are marked by a contrast between Jiang Ze’s sweet spoken persona and his shameless internal commentary.
• Zhiyuan questions Jiang Ze’s sudden claim of affection; Jiang Ze responds with a fabricated tale of lifelong, unspoken love.

Key plot points and events

• Jiang Ze continues performing the role of a tearful, innocent admirer, claiming he stayed near Meng Zimu because the younger man resembled Meng Zhiyuan. His private thoughts reveal that he is knowingly acting—and that he expects Meng Zhiyuan to become a villain who will later compete with Meng Zimu over Shen Yun.
• Meng Zhiyuan’s sternness stops Jiang Ze’s crying. After Jiang Ze washes his face, Meng Zhiyuan questions him about the birthday-party confrontation. Jiang Ze blames Meng Zimu for discarding him when his true love returned.
• Jiang Ze’s thoughts reveal that Meng Zimu and his parents may have been involved in the death of Meng Zhiyuan’s mother. Meng Zhiyuan is deeply shaken but conceals his reaction; he decides Meng Zimu should be disciplined and promises Jiang Ze an apology.
• Meng Zhiyuan sends Jiang Ze home. The system tells Jiang Ze that the plot remains unchanged and suggests that Meng Zhiyuan’s willingness to talk indicates interest, though Jiang Ze remains wary of the unpredictable man.
• At the Jiang family villa, Jiang Ze recalls the original owner’s brutal past: his father, Jiang Zhengming, brought home his mistress and her older son, and Jiang Ze’s mother died after discovering the affair. His stepmother, Gu Rou, abused him, while his father also beat him. In the original story, Jiang Zhengming’s violence would have disabled Jiang Ze, contributing to his eventual suicide.
• Jiang Zhengming, drunk and furious that Jiang Ze embarrassed him at the Meng banquet, attacks him with an ashtray. Jiang Ze dodges easily, then uses the system’s beginner gift to obtain a hallucination potion. He plans to make his father mistake him for his favored illegitimate son, setting up a confrontation.

Character developments

• Jiang Ze is theatrical and calculating, using an “innocent” persona to earn points while privately resenting the abuse and injustice the original Jiang Ze endured. His past combat training and resolve suggest he will no longer submit passively.
• Meng Zhiyuan begins taking Jiang Ze’s seemingly outrageous thoughts seriously. The revelations about his mother’s death unsettle him and shift his attitude toward Meng Zimu, though he remains outwardly controlled.
• Meng Zimu is portrayed through Jiang Ze’s account as a self-serving man who used Jiang Ze as a stand-in and discarded him when Shen Yun returned.
• Jiang Zhengming and Gu Rou are revealed as cruel abusers whose treatment of Jiang Ze has left him in danger from the moment he returns home.

Significant themes

• Appearance versus truth: Jiang Ze’s performed innocence contrasts with his sharp private thoughts, while Meng Zhiyuan’s ability to hear those thoughts exposes what people conceal.
• Abuse, betrayal, and injustice: Jiang Ze’s family history shows how adults’ selfishness and violence destroy the vulnerable.
• Fate and agency: Though the system says the story’s plot remains intact, Jiang Ze is already acting to resist the original character’s tragic outcome.
• Power and manipulation: Jiang Ze and Meng Zhiyuan both respond strategically to new information, while Jiang Ze turns the system’s rewards into a means of confronting his father.

Character interactions

• Jiang Ze’s exaggerated confession clashes with Meng Zhiyuan’s skepticism; their exchange becomes a mix of performance, interrogation, and uneasy trust.
• Jiang Ze’s unspoken warnings about Meng Zimu and the Meng family affect Meng Zhiyuan, who quietly resolves to investigate and discipline his nephew.
• The system acts as Jiang Ze’s guide and resource, rewarding his performance and providing the potion that enables his plan against Jiang Zhengming.
• Jiang Ze’s return home immediately pits him against his abusive father, and the chapter ends as he prepares to turn the family’s favoritism against them.

Key plot points and events

• After Jiang Ze beats Jiang Zhengming, the system reminds him to maintain his timid persona. Jiang Ze argues that Jiang Wenbin was the one who appeared to beat his father, while Jiang Zhengming’s potion will keep him alive.
• Gu Rou finds Jiang Zhengming badly injured and assumes a burglar attacked him. She is more concerned with checking her valuables than helping him.
• Jiang Ze pretends to be frightened and claims Jiang Wenbin beat their father. Gu Rou and Jiang Wenbin reject his accusation, and Wenbin tries to hit him.
• Jiang Zhengming wakes, recognizes Wenbin as his attacker, and angrily turns on him. While Gu Rou and Wenbin struggle to manage the confrontation, Jiang Ze slips out of the house.
• With nowhere to stay, Jiang Ze calls Meng Zhiyuan, presenting himself as a rejected, devoted admirer who needs shelter. Meng agrees to pick him up.
• During the drive, Meng gives Jiang Ze his jacket. Jiang Ze enjoys its warmth—and its scent—while Meng watches over him. They arrive at the Meng family villa.

Character developments

• Jiang Ze is calculating and confident beneath his frightened act. He manipulates the Jiang family’s distrust and uses the night’s events to create an opportunity to get closer to Meng.
• Meng Zhiyuan remains outwardly cold but shows growing concern for Jiang Ze. He knows the young man is mistreated and begins protecting him without fully recognizing his own attachment.
• Jiang Zhengming wakes and directs his anger at Wenbin, exposing the consequences of the false appearance Jiang Ze has created.
• Gu Rou and Jiang Wenbin show little compassion for Jiang Zhengming and readily blame or dismiss Jiang Ze, reinforcing their cruelty and selfishness.

Significant themes

• Deception and performance: Jiang Ze’s timid persona conceals his control of the situation, while Gu Rou’s emotional display is also portrayed as an act.
• Family abuse and neglect: Jiang Ze’s poor treatment is contrasted with the family’s indifference to one another.
• Hidden kindness and growing attachment: Meng’s practical gestures—especially giving Jiang Ze his jacket—suggest warmth beneath his reserved manner.
• Power and manipulation: Jiang Ze turns the family’s assumptions and conflicts to his advantage.

Character interactions

• Jiang Ze deflects suspicion by accusing Wenbin, relying on the family’s habitual contempt for him.
• Jiang Zhengming’s accusation sparks a chaotic confrontation with Wenbin and Gu Rou.
• Jiang Ze approaches Meng with a deliberately tender, pitiful plea; Meng responds tersely but comes to collect him and provides warmth.
• During the drive, Jiang Ze’s playful inner commentary contrasts with Meng’s quiet observation and growing protectiveness.

Chapter Summary

• Jiang Ze settles into Meng Zhiyuan’s home. Meng Zhiyuan lets him choose a room on the second floor and makes clear that the third floor is off-limits. Butler Feng welcomes Jiang Ze warmly and offers him ginger soup.
• Jiang Ze recalls the novel’s grim fate for Feng. He remembers that after Meng Zhiyuan’s downfall, Shen Yun and Meng Zimu allegedly framed Feng for arranging a car crash that killed Meng Zhiyuan. Feng was driven to suicide by guilt. Jiang Ze condemns the protagonists’ cruelty, and Meng Zhiyuan overhears his thoughts and takes the warning seriously.
• Meng Zhiyuan offers Jiang Ze a place to stay. He says the offer is partly an apology for his nephew’s insult. Jiang Ze reveals bruises from the Jiang family’s abuse and explains that they threw him out unless he begged Meng Zimu for forgiveness. Meng Zhiyuan is angered by the injuries and tells Jiang Ze he can stay as long as he likes, with no need to do chores. He also has Feng give him scar-healing ointment.
• Jiang Ze learns how the system’s points work. The system says he earns points by helping Meng Zhiyuan and making him happy. Jiang Ze suspects the system is unusually focused on Meng, but it avoids explaining itself. He remains intent on earning points and finishing his beginner’s gift-package redemptions.
• Jiang Ze chooses a room and explores the reward shop. At the system’s suggestion, he takes the second-floor room directly below Meng Zhiyuan’s room. The shop offers many items, but rare and supernatural pills cost enormous numbers of points.
• Jiang Ze questions his new appearance. He examines the body he has inhabited and asks whether he can restore his original face. The system says it has already begun altering the body to resemble him; the change will happen gradually as his soul and body become more aligned.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Jiang Ze uses his apparent vulnerability and genuine injuries to secure a safe home, while his inner commentary reveals both compassion for Feng and growing attachment to Meng Zhiyuan. He is also suspicious of the system’s motives.
• Meng Zhiyuan remains guarded, but Jiang Ze’s knowledge of the future makes him attentive and cautious. He shows unusual concern by offering shelter and medicine, while privately recognizing that both he and Jiang Ze may have reasons for keeping each other close.
• Feng treats Jiang Ze kindly, quickly grows fond of him, and provides practical care.
• Jiang Ze and Meng Zhiyuan interact through a mix of spoken politeness and Jiang Ze’s unspoken enthusiasm, which Meng can hear. Jiang’s thoughts affect Meng’s decisions even when Jiang does not know it.

Significant Themes

• Chosen care versus family abuse: Jiang Ze receives more compassion from strangers than from his own family.
• Fate and foreknowledge: Jiang Ze’s knowledge of the novel may let him prevent tragedies, especially Feng’s.
• Mutual self-interest and trust: Jiang Ze wants shelter and points; Meng wants to monitor an unpredictable newcomer, yet genuine concern is beginning to emerge.
• Hidden motives: The system’s unexplained focus on Meng Zhiyuan hints that Jiang Ze’s mission may be more complicated than it appears.

Key plot points and events

• Jiang Ze asks the system how to adapt to his new body faster. The needed Soul-Stabilizing Pill costs far more than his current 20 points, so he settles for using ointment and promises the original owner he’ll avenge his suffering and live well.
• He initially enjoys his comfortable new life at Meng Zhiyuan’s villa, but the system warns that the story’s original plot—and Jiang Ze’s doomed fate—will continue unless he gains fortune of his own. He can do so by disrupting important events involving the protagonists.
• The system identifies an upcoming encounter at the Meng Group: Shen Yun is due to meet Meng Zhiyuan, a turning point that could draw the villain toward Shen. Jiang Ze hurries there with a lunch he has asked the cook to prepare.
• Shen Yun, secretly reborn, remembers that in his previous life he and Meng Zimu helped bring about Meng Zhiyuan’s death. Yet Meng Zhiyuan had already protected most of the family’s assets, leaving Shen and Meng Zimu disgraced. In this life, Shen plans to win Meng Zhiyuan’s affection instead.
• At the company, Shen pressures the receptionist to let him see Meng Zimu, then softens his manner when Meng Zhiyuan arrives. But Meng Zhiyuan refuses to make an exception or escort him upstairs, contrary to Shen’s expectations.
• Shen offers Meng Zhiyuan one of two lunches he claims to have made. Jiang Ze arrives and urgently tries to stop him, thinking that Meng Zhiyuan should eat the lunch Jiang brought instead.

Character developments

• Jiang Ze shifts from complacent amusement at his comfortable life to anxious determination when he learns that his fate remains dangerous. He begins actively trying to change the plot and protect his powerful backer.
• Shen Yun is revealed as a reborn, calculating character: outwardly gentle, but resentful toward those who obstruct him. His confidence in repeating the successful romantic encounter from his previous life falters when Meng Zhiyuan treats him coldly.
• Meng Zhiyuan remains composed and firm, enforcing workplace rules despite Shen Yun’s charm and claims of familiarity.
• The original Jiang Ze is remembered with sympathy as a young man who had suffered and wanted love; Jiang Ze’s promise to him suggests a growing sense of responsibility toward the body’s former owner.

Significant themes

• Fate versus agency: Jiang Ze’s early escape from danger does not erase his destined ending; he must deliberately change the story to survive.
• Rebirth and altered outcomes: Shen Yun expects his past knowledge to guide him, but events are already diverging from his previous life.
• Fortune and merit: The system frames fortune as something characters can gain through their actions, rather than a fixed resource to steal.
• Performance and sincerity: Shen Yun’s gentle behavior is strategic, while Jiang Ze’s eager concern for Meng Zhiyuan is expressed through the comic rivalry over lunch.

Character interactions

• The system gives Jiang Ze blunt guidance, alternately teasing him and warning him about his precarious future.
• Jiang Ze treats the villa staff warmly, gaining a carefully prepared meal from Mrs. Wang, and asks Uncle Feng about Meng Zhiyuan.
• Shen Yun tries to use his relationship with Meng Zimu and his appeal to Meng Zhiyuan to gain entry to the company, but Meng Zhiyuan prioritizes rules over his requests.
• Jiang Ze’s final interruption sets up a comic contest between him and Shen Yun for Meng Zhiyuan’s attention—and possibly his lunch.

Plot points and events

• Jiang Ze brings Meng Zhiyuan lunch, surprising Shen Yun, who had expected events to follow the pattern of his previous life.
• Shen Yun accuses Jiang Ze of pestering Meng Zimu. Jiang Ze counters by presenting himself as Meng Zhiyuan’s devoted, obedient companion and urging him not to eat food from an “outsider.”
• Meng Zhiyuan accepts the lunch, tells Shen Yun to have Meng Zimu collect his own, and takes Jiang Ze to his office—partly to keep the unpredictable young man close.
• Shen Yun leaves angry after learning Meng Zimu is not at the company. Employees witness the encounter and spread increasingly dramatic gossip about a possible love triangle.
• In the office, Meng Zhiyuan eats the lunch and drinks water Jiang Ze brings. Jiang Ze earns points for these small acts, then receives a huge 50,000-point reward for disrupting the protagonists’ scheduled second meeting.
• Elated, Jiang Ze kneels to massage Meng Zhiyuan’s legs. Meng Zhiyuan pinches his cheek, and their unexpectedly intimate-looking moment is interrupted when someone walks in and assumes the worst.

Character developments

• Jiang Ze is revealed as a cheerful opportunist, focused on earning points through service and disrupting the original plot. Despite his playful scheming, he becomes flustered under Meng Zhiyuan’s attention.
• Meng Zhiyuan remains outwardly composed and hard to read, but he listens to Jiang Ze’s thoughts, accepts his care, and shows unexpected physical fondness by touching his cheek.
• Shen Yun is unsettled when events diverge from his memories. His confidence gives way to anger and confusion when Meng Zhiyuan shows no former tenderness toward him.
• Meng Zimu is absent, but his past relationship with Jiang Ze and his connection to Shen Yun shape the confrontation.

Significant themes

• Fate versus disruption: Jiang Ze’s actions alter a supposedly established plot, earning him a major reward.
• Hidden thoughts and mistaken impressions: Meng Zhiyuan hears Jiang Ze’s inner monologue, while observers misread the pair’s behavior.
• Power, affection, and self-interest: Jiang Ze treats attention and caretaking as a route to points, while Meng Zhiyuan’s response hints at a growing personal interest.
• Gossip and appearances: A brief encounter fuels office rumors, and the final scene is especially easy to misinterpret.

Character interactions

• Jiang Ze and Shen Yun trade polite but pointed barbs over Meng Zhiyuan and Meng Zimu.
• Meng Zhiyuan dismisses Shen Yun’s assumptions and chooses to take Jiang Ze with him.
• Jiang Ze’s eager caretaking amuses and intrigues Meng Zhiyuan, who responds with a cheek pinch.
• An unidentified visitor walks in at the most suggestive moment, setting up a misunderstanding.

Key plot points and events

• Mu Shaoxuan arrives at Meng Zhiyuan’s office and misreads the sight of Jiang Ze sitting beside Meng as evidence of an inappropriate relationship.
• Jiang Ze identifies Mu as Meng’s wealthy, carefree childhood friend—and, through his knowledge of the original story, remembers that Mu’s future will be ruined after Meng falls for Shen Yun.
• Mu pitches an investment in a hiking-variety show produced with Topboat Entertainment and director Guo. Jiang’s thoughts reveal that the show will make Shen Yun popular and help him build a “kindhearted gentleman” image, later damaging the Meng Group when Shen turns against it.
• Jiang also recalls that a celebrity scandal will eventually sink the program, leaving it barely profitable. Meng responds by agreeing to invest but insisting on choosing the guests, presumably to protect the project from its eventual downfall.

Character developments

• Meng Zhiyuan is initially uninterested and irritated by Mu’s teasing, but Jiang’s foreknowledge makes him reconsider the show. His decision to control the guest list shows him acting strategically on information Jiang supplies.
• Jiang Ze remains outwardly innocent while internally judging the people around him through his knowledge of the novel. He tries to correct Mu’s misunderstanding and unknowingly influences Meng’s business decisions.
• Mu Shaoxuan is playful and blunt, but becomes serious when presenting his project. He is surprised by Meng’s interest and leaves pleased after securing the investment.

Significant themes

• Foreknowledge and fate: Jiang’s memories of the original story let Meng anticipate future gains and disasters.
• Appearances and misunderstanding: Mu mistakes Meng and Jiang’s closeness for romance, while Jiang’s quiet thoughts conceal how much he knows.
• Power and loyalty: Meng’s friends may be devoted to him, yet the story’s original events suggest that loyalty alone cannot protect them from Shen Yun’s rise.

Character interactions

• Mu jokes about Meng pursuing a much younger man; Jiang insists he is twenty and that nothing is happening.
• Meng’s annoyance keeps Mu’s teasing in check, but their long-standing familiarity lets Mu speak freely.
• Jiang’s internal commentary influences Meng’s choices, while Mu misreads Meng’s sudden interest as possibly connected to Jiang. Before leaving, Mu gives Jiang a knowing thumbs-up, which only confuses him.

Key events

• After Mu Shaoxuan leaves, Jiang Ze helps Meng Zhiyuan with office work and earns a few system points. Meng takes him to dinner.
• At a French restaurant, Jiang spots Shen Yun and Meng Zimu in the next private room. He exchanges points for enhanced hearing and listens to their conversation.
• Shen Yun persuades Meng Zimu to help recruit Cheng Feng, an underground fighter, claiming he needs a bodyguard. Jiang recognizes Cheng Feng as a future enforcer who will help Shen bring down Meng Zhiyuan and the Meng Corporation.
• Jiang realizes the plot has diverged: Shen is seeking Cheng Feng much earlier than in the original story. He also learns Cheng wants ten million—eight million to leave the fighting ring and two million for his sister’s medical care.
• Jiang decides to reach Cheng Feng first and cut Shen and Meng Zimu out of the deal, but he has neither the money nor the location of the fighting ring.
• Back at Meng Zhiyuan’s villa, Jiang considers asking his wealthy host for a loan—and privately fantasizes about offering himself to Meng for a million. Meng overhears his thoughts and is left amused and surprised by his boldness.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Ze is resourceful and eager to derail the original plot, but his lack of money makes him dependent on Meng Zhiyuan. His irreverent inner monologue contrasts with his outwardly innocent manner.
• Meng Zhiyuan remains composed and attentive, quietly feeding Jiang during dinner. He can hear Jiang’s thoughts and uses them to learn about Shen and Meng Zimu; by the end, Jiang’s fantasies catch him off guard.
• Shen Yun shows his manipulative side: he professes devotion to Meng Zimu while secretly pursuing Cheng Feng for his own strategic reasons.
• Meng Zimu is jealous and financially constrained, but Shen’s emotional appeal quickly softens him. He agrees to help despite resenting Cheng Feng’s high price.
• Jiang and Meng grow more comfortable in each other’s company, with Meng’s practical care and Jiang’s thoughts creating a humorous, unspoken intimacy.

Significant themes

• Changing fate: Jiang uses his knowledge of the original story to try to prevent future harm, while events are already shifting.
• Power and money: Jiang’s plans are limited by his poverty, while Cheng Feng’s choices are driven by his sister’s medical bills.
• Deception and loyalty: Shen’s declarations of love conceal self-interest, contrasting with Jiang’s more candid—even if only internal—thoughts.
• Comedy and dramatic irony: Meng can hear what Jiang thinks, including thoughts Jiang believes are private.

Plot points and events

• Jiang Ze wakes after a sleepless night worrying about how to raise ten million. He finds Meng Zhiyuan unexpectedly home for the weekend.
• Meng offers Jiang a place on the variety show that Shen Yun will join. Jiang accepts because it gives him a chance to disrupt the protagonist’s plans—and because the show offers a route to money and points.
• Meng says Jiang will receive a two-million appearance fee and gives him 500,000 as an advance. In reality, Jiang is being recommended through an investor connection, and Meng is paying the advance himself.
• Flush with cash, Jiang goes shopping. Outside the mall, an old man approaches him with a sob story, then falls when Jiang is shoved from behind and accuses him of causing the fall.
• A coordinated crowd blames Jiang, while a bystander livestreams the incident. The clip quickly trends, and online viewers argue over who is at fault.
• Jiang suspects an organized scam but confirms with the system that the incident is not part of the novel’s plot—he is simply unlucky. He calls the police and calmly explains what happened.
• With no cameras covering the spot, the officer has little evidence. Jiang uses a costly truth serum from the system and asks the old man whether he has accomplices. The chapter ends before the serum’s effect is revealed.

Character developments

• Jiang Ze remains practical and quick-thinking under pressure. Although the public accusations evoke memories of earlier humiliation, he keeps his composure and turns to the police rather than arguing with the crowd.
• Meng Zhiyuan shows a more considerate side: he takes a day off, notices Jiang’s exhaustion, and quietly supports him with the show opportunity and money.
• The old man and a gruff bystander appear to be working together as part of an extortion scam; the old man’s claims and the crowd’s pressure are presented as deliberate manipulation.

Character interactions

• Meng teases Jiang about his height by giving him an egg “to help him grow,” while Jiang privately compares himself unfavorably with Meng.
• Jiang eagerly accepts Meng’s offer, unaware that the advance is Meng’s own money.
• At the mall, the old man accuses Jiang in public, and the crowd joins in before hearing his side. Jiang refuses to be pressured into paying and waits for the police.
• Jiang’s direct question to the old man becomes his attempt to expose the scam.

Significant themes

• Public judgment and performative morality: The crowd condemns Jiang based on appearances and hearsay, echoing the earlier social humiliation he experienced.
• Manipulation and truth: The scam relies on staged events, social pressure, and a viral livestream; Jiang counters it with evidence-seeking and the system’s truth serum.
• Support and dependence: Meng’s financial help gives Jiang an immediate opportunity, while also highlighting how much he relies on the powerful businessman.

Key plot points and events

• Jiang Ze’s unexpected question causes an elderly man involved in a staged hit-and-run scam to confess and identify an accomplice in the crowd. The accomplice tries to flee while carrying a ragged little boy, but police arrest both men.
• The boy is severely malnourished, silent, and frightened. He refuses to go with the police but follows Jiang Ze, who suspects he is the missing child described in a story: the son of Third Master Meng, Meng Zhiyuan’s younger brother.
• Jiang Ze takes the boy from the police station and asks Meng Zhiyuan to let him stay at the villa while they search for his parents. Meng agrees, buys him clothes, and has him cleaned up.
• A livestream of Jiang Ze exposing the scammers goes viral, making him an online sensation. Meng sees the video after Mu Shaoxuan alerts him and contacts Jiang Ze.
• Jiang Ze believes the boy is Meng Zhiyuan’s long-lost nephew and hopes his discovery will earn him system points. Unbeknownst to him, Meng has already arranged a DNA test to verify the child’s identity.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Ze acts resourcefully during the scam and compassionately toward the boy. His playful thoughts about helping Meng for future rewards contrast with his sincere concern for the child.
• Meng Zhiyuan shows unusual trust by agreeing to take in the boy, while remaining cautious enough to seek DNA confirmation. His concern is heightened by his guilt-ridden younger brother’s past.
• The boy remains silent and withdrawn, but shows a rare willingness to trust Jiang Ze.
• Officer Chen is baffled by Jiang Ze’s role in the confession and later views him as exceptionally charitable for taking responsibility for the child.
• Jiang Ze and Meng Zhiyuan’s interaction highlights their growing familiarity: Jiang makes an earnest request, while Meng quietly acts on his suspicions without telling him.

Significant themes

• Compassion and responsibility: Jiang Ze steps in to protect a vulnerable child, and Meng gives the boy shelter.
• Trust and verification: Meng believes Jiang Ze’s intuition but still seeks reliable proof.
• Fate and second chances: The possibility that the boy is the missing child offers hope of repairing a family tragedy.
• Public spectacle: The livestream turns a confusing police incident into viral entertainment, making Jiang famous without his knowledge.

Plot points and events

• Shen Yun is furious that his attempt to cause trouble for Jiang Ze failed and that the men he hired were arrested. He reluctantly pays their leader part of the promised fee, then vows to target Jiang Ze again. He suspects Jiang Ze may also have been reborn and resolves not to let him obstruct his plans.
• Jiang Ze brings the cleaned-up, wary little boy to Meng Zhiyuan and points out how much the child resembles him, hinting that he could be Meng Zhiyuan’s son—or at least a close relative. He leaves the boy in Meng Zhiyuan’s care and encourages him to call Meng Zhiyuan “Uncle.”
• The boy is eager to find his family and manages to speak a few hoarse syllables, suggesting his voice has weakened from long disuse. Jiang Ze decides he should be examined by a doctor.
• The system confirms that the boy is Meng Zhiyuan’s long-lost nephew, rewarding Jiang Ze with 200,000 points. A rushed DNA test independently confirms the child’s identity with 99.99% certainty.
• Jiang Ze also asks the system whether the child he saved in his previous life survived. Reassured that the child was rescued, he finally lets go of the lingering guilt over his own death. Meng Zhiyuan calls his father, Old Master Meng, to report that they have found his third brother’s child.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Ze is compassionate and attentive toward the boy, trying to help him feel safe and find his family. He is also playful and indirect with Meng Zhiyuan, nudging him toward recognizing the resemblance without openly revealing what he knows. His relief about the rescued child reveals how deeply he has carried that old worry.
• Meng Zhiyuan remains composed despite Jiang Ze’s teasing, quietly arranges the DNA test, and reacts with relief when it confirms the child’s identity. He promptly shares the news with his father.
• The little boy remains cautious and largely silent, but shows trust in Jiang Ze and willingness to follow his guidance. His desire to find his family is clear.
• Shen Yun grows more hostile and determined, seeing Jiang Ze as a threat to his ambitions.
• Jiang Ze’s warm, protective handling of the boy contrasts with Shen Yun’s vindictive scheming.

Significant themes

• Family and belonging: The boy’s discovery reunites a missing branch of the Meng family.
• Compassion and responsibility: Jiang Ze’s actions toward both the boy and the child he once saved reflect an enduring sense of care.
• Rebirth and changed fate: Shen Yun’s suspicion that Jiang Ze has also been reborn raises the stakes of their conflict.
• Truth and recognition: The boy’s resemblance, the system’s confirmation, and the DNA report converge to establish his identity.

Plot points and events

• Meng Zhiyuan wakes Jiang Ze early and insists he accompany him to the Meng family estate. Jiang Ze travels with Zhiyuan, Feng, and the little boy, Meng Ziqing.
• The family gathers to welcome Ziqing home. Jiang Ze realizes that the child’s identity has been discovered and that the familiar man in the crowd is likely his father.
• The crowd overwhelms Ziqing, so Jiang Ze explains that the boy is shy and asks the family to give him space. Meng Qingshan disperses most of the relatives.
• Meng Zhixing cautiously approaches his son and tells him he is his father. Ziqing begins to look at him with curiosity, while Jiang Ze steps aside to let them meet.
• Jiang Ze asks about the woman accompanying Zhixing. Meng Zhiyuan explains that she is from the Ruan family and has supported Zhixing for years.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Ze remains easygoing and modest, but shows sensitivity to Ziqing’s fear by speaking up for him and giving father and son room to connect. His thoughts reveal knowledge of the family’s tragic future.
• Meng Zhiyuan is quietly considerate toward Jiang Ze, reassuring him and staying close when the gathering might frighten him. Jiang Ze’s thoughts also reveal that Zhiyuan’s brother’s future troubles him.
• Meng Ziqing is nervous around the crowd but gradually shows curiosity toward Zhixing, suggesting the beginnings of a reunion.
• Meng Zhixing is presented as guilt-ridden and emotionally worn by his son’s abduction and the death of the child’s mother. His eagerness to reconnect is tempered by caution.
• Meng Qingshan is relieved to have his grandson back and quickly responds to the boy’s discomfort by clearing the crowd.
• Meng Zimu recognizes Jiang Ze but withdraws under the stern attention of the family elders.

Significant themes

• Family reunion and healing: Ziqing’s return offers a chance to repair a family wounded by loss and guilt.
• Compassion and patience: Jiang Ze and Meng Qingshan recognize that the child needs space rather than pressure.
• Regret and uncertain fate: Zhixing’s past sorrow—and Jiang Ze’s knowledge that he may face further tragedy—casts a shadow over the hopeful reunion.

• Plot: At the Meng family’s lavish banquet celebrating the return of little Ziqing, Jiang Ze learns from his system that Shen Yun is expected to be drugged and fall into Meng Zhiyuan’s arms. Jiang Ze watches Shen Yun and Meng Zimu together and suspects trouble. Later, when Shen Yun stumbles toward Meng Zhiyuan, Jiang Ze tries to intervene—but Meng Zhiyuan pulls Jiang Ze safely into his own arms instead. Shen Yun falls flat, and Meng Zhiyuan has him carried to Meng Zimu’s room. Jiang Ze receives 50,000 system points for preventing the intended encounter. After the banquet, he falls asleep in a room that turns out to be Meng Zhiyuan’s.
• Character development: Jiang Ze maintains his sweet, obedient public persona while privately fantasizing about Meng Zhiyuan and eagerly pursuing system points. His confident, gracious behavior impresses the influential guests and changes Meng Zhiyuan’s view of him. Meng Zhiyuan grows increasingly protective and attracted to Jiang Ze, even feeling a small pang of loss when their embrace ends. Old Master Meng, having grown more accepting of the younger generation’s complicated romances, quietly arranges for the two men to share a room.
• Interactions: Jiang Ze links arms with Meng Zhiyuan to escape a perfume-wearing socialite, then accompanies him around the banquet and meets prominent guests. When Shen Yun’s plan goes awry, Meng Zhiyuan protects Jiang Ze and orders Shen Yun removed. Old Master Meng asks Mu Qing about Jiang Ze and Zhiyuan, then intervenes discreetly. The chapter ends with Meng Zhiyuan discovering Jiang Ze asleep in his bed.
• Themes: Romantic misunderstandings and jealousy drive the comedy, alongside the contrast between public appearances and private thoughts. The system’s reward mechanism turns Jiang Ze’s interference into a game, while Meng Zhiyuan’s protective gestures hint at genuine affection. The final bedroom discovery sets up the possibility of greater intimacy.

Key plot points and events

• Jiang Ze wakes in Meng Zhiyuan’s bedroom after Grandpa Meng appears to have arranged for them to share a room. He agrees to stay rather than request another room.
• While reaching to turn off the bedside light, Jiang Ze falls onto Meng Zhiyuan’s chest and hurts his nose. Meng Zhiyuan checks the injury, but their awkward closeness leaves him physically flustered; he gets up for a cold shower while Jiang Ze sleeps sprawled across the bed.
• The next morning at the Meng estate, Jiang Ze finds Meng Ziqing being mocked by younger family members for being mute and for attracting his father’s attention. Jiang Ze steps in and brings Ziqing to his side.
• Meng Ziyao, Meng Zimu’s sister, joins Shen Yun in insulting Jiang Ze for supposedly pursuing Meng Zimu. Shen Yun presents himself as Zimu’s intended and claims they will soon be engaged.
• Jiang Ze calmly turns the accusation around, claiming Shen Yun threw himself at Meng Zhiyuan the night before and professed love for him. The gathered relatives are shocked, and Shen Yun’s composed façade falters.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Ze is outwardly confident and playful, though inexperienced and nervous about sharing a bed with a man he likes. The next morning, he shows a protective side by standing up for Ziqing and counters the group’s bullying with a sharp, public retort.
• Meng Zhiyuan remains controlled and unreadable, but his concern over Jiang Ze’s injured nose and his reaction to their physical closeness reveal a growing attraction he tries to suppress.
• Meng Ziqing is isolated and unable to answer the family’s taunts, but appears relieved when Jiang Ze intervenes.
• Shen Yun uses his gentle, respectable image to humiliate Jiang Ze and claim a relationship with Meng Zimu. Jiang Ze’s accusation puts that image—and possibly Shen Yun’s own behavior the previous night—under scrutiny.
• Meng Ziyao readily follows Shen Yun’s lead and attacks Jiang Ze, while other young relatives mostly watch the confrontation as entertainment. One young man openly questions why Jiang Ze would like Meng Zimu.

Significant themes

• Appearance versus reality: Shen Yun’s polished persona contrasts with his hostility, while Jiang Ze’s playful manner hides vulnerability and compassion.
• Bullying and belonging: Ziqing is targeted for his disability and status as the newly returned family member; Jiang Ze’s defense of him challenges the family’s indifference.
• Attraction and self-control: The awkward bed-sharing brings Jiang Ze and Meng Zhiyuan physically close and exposes tension neither openly acknowledges.
• Reputation and reversal: Jiang Ze refuses to accept the role of the shameless pursuer and instead turns the crowd’s attention toward Shen Yun’s own conduct.

Key plot points and events

• Jiang Ze turns Shen Yun’s accusation around by openly admitting he likes Meng Zhiyuan, arguing that pursuing someone while single is no crime. He also reveals that Ziqing’s vocal cords may be damaged rather than permanently impaired, and that treatment could help.
• Old Master Meng and Meng Zhixing hear Jiang Ze’s defense of Ziqing. Meng Zhixing reprimands Meng Ziyao and Meng Zixing for mistreating the child, then takes Ziqing for a medical examination.
• The Meng patriarch offers Jiang Ze a reward for helping the family. Jiang Ze declines, explaining that Meng Zhiyuan has already helped him by letting him stay at his home. The patriarch welcomes him and urges Zhiyuan to look after him.
• Jiang Ze is invited to join a hiking variety show filming on Barren Mountain. Recognizing its importance to Shen Yun’s future storyline—and expecting trouble—he buys hiking and survival supplies.
• To keep supplies from being confiscated, Jiang Ze spends 100,000 points on ten storage slots. He discovers that food kept inside remains fresh because time passes more slowly there.
• Zhiyuan quietly prepares extra supplies for Jiang Ze and personally drives him to the airport, saying he will soon be in C City for business and Jiang Ze should call if he needs help.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Ze is confident enough to deflect gossip and defend Ziqing, while remaining practical and proactive about the risks of the show. Zhiyuan’s care touches him, though he believes his own preparations make him safe.
• Shen Yun tries to protect his reputation by accusing Jiang Ze of pursuing Zhiyuan, but the confrontation draws attention to Jiang Ze’s willingness to admit his feelings.
• Meng Zhiyuan shows a considerate, protective side through his preparations and airport drive. Jiang Ze’s unspoken thoughts reveal that Zhiyuan feels unsettled at the prospect of his absence.
• Meng Zhixing reacts with anger and concern when he learns Ziqing may be capable of speaking, and takes responsibility for getting him medical care.
• Old Master Meng formally recognizes Jiang Ze as the family’s benefactor and gives him permission to stay with Zhiyuan.
• Ziqing remains quiet and frightened, but Jiang Ze’s intervention creates hope that his voice can be treated.

Significant themes

• Reputation and rumor: Shen Yun’s attempt to smear Jiang Ze quickly becomes a public exchange of gossip.
• Care beneath a reserved exterior: Zhiyuan’s practical gestures contrast with his cold manner, deepening his connection with Jiang Ze.
• Protection and responsibility: Jiang Ze stands up for Ziqing, while the older Mengs move to correct the younger family members’ mistreatment.
• Preparation against uncertainty: Jiang Ze anticipates danger on the show and uses his system’s storage to prepare for survival.

Plot points and events

• Jiang Ze arrives in C City for Wild Mountain Survival, a reality show in which celebrity guests trek through remote mountains and earn basic supplies by completing tasks. He is met by production assistant Meng Lin, who assumes he is a minor celebrity; he lets the misunderstanding pass.
• Director Lin gives Jiang Ze a cool welcome, as Jiang was a last-minute replacement. Jiang chooses a room at the production team’s guesthouse and remains unconcerned, viewing the show largely as an opportunity for himself.
• Jiang’s system reveals that Shen Yun is destined to find a jade pendant in the mountains. The pendant can improve its owner’s luck and increase their fortune over time. Jiang wants to find it first, but the system admits it knows no more than the story’s vague account, so Jiang decides to watch Shen Yun closely.
• Over the next few days, the other guests arrive: veteran actor Chen Yong’an, a popular young actress with assistants and lots of luggage, an artsy actress, and a male singer who presents himself as a rich heir. Shen Yun arrives last, on the final day.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Ze is relaxed, self-assured, and practical. He hides his real advantages—especially his system and extensive supplies—and doesn’t take Director Lin’s reserve or the other guests’ attitudes personally. The pendant’s importance gives him a new objective: prevent Shen Yun from gaining its luck-enhancing power.
• Meng Lin is friendly and considerate. She warns Jiang about the show’s harsh conditions and later tries to reassure him about Director Lin’s manner.
• Director Lin is demanding and more welcoming to established guests than to Jiang, reflecting his disappointment at the last-minute casting change.
• Chen Yong’an is warm and humorous. He recognizes Jiang from a viral incident in which Jiang avoided a scam and helped catch human traffickers, and the two share a friendly introduction.
• The popular young actress acts aloof toward Jiang, while receiving a more personal welcome from the director. Chen criticizes the entitled behavior of some young celebrities; Jiang shrugs it off.

Significant themes

• Luck and hidden forces: The pendant suggests that supernatural or unexplained influences exist beneath the story’s ordinary entertainment-industry setting.
• Appearance versus reality: Jiang seems like an obscure, unequipped guest, but his system and preparations make him far more capable than others assume.
• Status and celebrity culture: The differing treatment of Jiang, established actor Chen, and the popular actress highlights how fame shapes people’s behavior and the production team’s attention.
• Shifting from passive participation to strategy: Jiang initially treats the show like a vacation, but the pendant’s connection to Shen Yun’s future fortune makes him alert and watchful.

Key plot points and events

• Shen Yun arrives on the final day of filming, apologizing to the crew and handing out milk tea. He is startled to find Jiang Ze already there.
• Jiang Ze politely explains that he arrived on the first day at the director’s request, subtly making Shen Yun look unprepared. Both men conceal their hostility behind civil behavior.
• The six guests are told to surrender all food and supplies before entering Barren Mountain in pairs. Jiang Ze is paired with the pampered actress Jin Zhizhi; Shen Yun is paired with the nervous singer Du Chen, while veteran actor Chen Yong’an teams up with Chen Ran.
• After a long hike, the teams reach a checkpoint and receive separate tasks. Jiang Ze and Jin Zhizhi must collect mushrooms; Chen Yong’an and Chen Ran must gather firewood; Shen Yun and Du Chen must find edible plants.
• Shen Yun tries to learn what the other teams are doing, but Jin Zhizhi bluntly refuses to share her team’s task. The teams then split up with two hours to gather resources.
• As Jiang Ze follows Jin Zhizhi through the woods, he warns her to watch for snakes and insects. She ignores him. A sudden cry and a dark shape swooping down interrupt their search.

Character development and interactions

• Jiang Ze stays composed and uses courteous remarks to needle Shen Yun. He also takes a cautious, practical approach to the wilderness.
• Shen Yun maintains his gentle public image despite his resentment of Jiang Ze. His attempt to gather information is thwarted by Jin Zhizhi.
• Jin Zhizhi is entitled and openly impatient with the show’s restrictions, but she is also blunt and self-reliant. She dismisses Jiang Ze’s warnings and refuses to cooperate with Shen Yun.
• Du Chen appears physically unfit and uneasy about the mountain, but eagerly supports Shen Yun.
• Chen Yong’an and Chen Ran treat their straightforward firewood task calmly.

Significant themes

• Public image versus private hostility: Jiang Ze and Shen Yun hide their antagonism beneath polite manners.
• Competition and self-reliance: The teams must earn their own food and cannot trade, rewarding independence.
• Privilege meeting hardship: Jin Zhizhi’s complaints about losing her supplies contrast with the show’s demanding wilderness conditions.
• Danger and uncertainty: The difficult terrain and the unexplained shape foreshadow trouble ahead.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• While searching for mushrooms, Jiang Ze pulls Jin Zhizhi out of the path of a brightly colored snake. He moves it away with a stick, and Jin accepts a stick from him without her usual resistance.
• The pair find a large patch of termite mushrooms. Shen Yun and Du Chen arrive and begin picking alongside them. Jin Zhizhi objects, but the men insist the mushrooms are for everyone.
• Jin later spots what appear to be golden mushrooms. Shen Yun and Du Chen rush to collect them, only to discover they are covered in animal droppings—and they have already put several in their baskets.
• On the way back, Jiang secretly takes a chicken and wild greens from his storage slot, then claims he found them in the grass. Jin and the cameraman are astonished, since no chickens have been seen in the area.
• At the mission site, Jiang and Jin’s team earns 235 points, the group’s highest score. Shen Yun and Du Chen earn only 50 after discarding contaminated mushrooms and collecting weeds. Jiang uses his points to cook chicken and mushrooms.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Ze shows practical concern for Jin when the snake appears, stays calm during the gathering, and uses his stored supplies to improve the team’s haul. He also reflects on his uncertain relationship with Shen Yun and whether his presence will alter events.
• Jin Zhizhi remains possessive and sharp-tempered when others take mushrooms, but she accepts Jiang’s help and appears pleased when Shen Yun and Du Chen pick contaminated ones. Her unspoken satisfaction hints that she may have deliberately recognized—or exploited—the trap.
• Shen Yun and Du Chen act overly eager to collect mushrooms and brush aside Jin’s objections. Their confidence turns to embarrassment when the mushrooms are revealed to be covered in droppings. Shen Yun’s pleading manner particularly irritates Jin.
• The director and assistant director are surprised by Jiang’s unexpectedly large haul, which contradicts their efforts to keep the mission’s resources limited.

Significant themes

• Fortune and resourcefulness: Jiang’s team benefits from finding valuable mushrooms, and Jiang supplements their haul through clever use of his hidden supplies.
• Competition and fairness: The dispute over who may collect the mushrooms exposes differing views of shared resources—and the guests’ competitive instincts.
• Appearance versus reality: The golden “mushrooms” look appealing from a distance but are foul once examined, while Jiang’s improbable story about finding a wild chicken masks the truth.
• Shifting relationships: Jin’s brief acceptance of Jiang’s help contrasts with her hostility toward Shen Yun and Du Chen, while Jiang continues to watch how his actions may affect the wider story.

Shen Yun tried to use Du Chen to get food from Jiang Ze, but Jiang Ze refused to let Du Chen take his chicken and shared the soup with Chen Yong'an and Chen Ran instead. After the cast drew sleeping arrangements, Shen Yun maneuvered to leave Jiang Ze alone in the cave.

• Shen Yun told Du Chen that he was unwell and hungry, prompting Du Chen to try to take chicken from Jiang Ze's pot.
• Jin Zhizhi called Du Chen out for trying to steal their food, and the director intervened before the dispute escalated.
• The director gave Du Chen's team meat sausages, while Jiang Ze brought chicken soup to Chen Yong'an and Chen Ran.
• The cast drew lots for the night, and Shen Yun and Du Chen got the luxury tent while Jiang Ze's team drew the cave.
• Jiang Ze asked to switch sleeping arrangements so Jin Zhizhi would not have to stay in the cold cave, but Shen Yun offered Chen Yong'an a place in the luxury tent, aiming to leave Jiang Ze alone.