Arc 18Chapters 426–436

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Chapters 426–436 Vol. 5 Read

Ch. 426Side story: Lu Yubai · What kind of person do you want to become? (Part one)

Lu Xiaoxiao found her runaway younger brother Lu Yubai living in a shabby rental after he left home to pursue esports. She offered him a trial at a youth academy under strict conditions, and he agreed to return with her and prove himself.

  • Lu Yubai argued with Lu Yuan that he wanted to quit school and become a professional esports player, and Lu Yuan forbade it and confiscated his devices.
  • Two days later, Song Zhilan found Lu Yubai gone with a note saying not to look for him, and Lu Xiaoxiao promised to bring him home safely.
  • Lu Xiaoxiao used 037 to locate Lu Yubai at a short-term rental and went there with Ji Yunhuai.
  • Lu Xiaoxiao found Lu Yubai surviving on instant noodles and milk, then offered him a trial at an esports club's youth academy with conditions about training and finishing school if he failed.
  • Lu Yubai accepted the trial and packed his belongings to leave with Lu Xiaoxiao and Ji Yunhuai.

Ch. 427Side story - Lu Yubai: What kind of person do you want to become? (Part two)

After failing to qualify as a professional gamer, Lu Yubai confided his doubts about being ordinary to Lu Xiaoxiao, who helped him accept that he could take time to discover who he wanted to become. He left the park feeling supported by his family and ready to go home.

  • Lu Yubai failed to make the youth training camp’s final selection and felt that he lacked any special talent.
  • Lu Xiaoxiao sat with Lu Yubai in a park and encouraged him by pointing out that reaching the final round showed he was a strong amateur player.
  • Lu Yubai told Lu Xiaoxiao he felt like a failure because he was poor at school, could not become a professional gamer, and seemed less exceptional than his siblings.
  • Lu Xiaoxiao told Lu Yubai that he could be the main character of his own life and take time to figure out what kind of person he wanted to become.
  • Lu Xiaoxiao reassured Lu Yubai that his family loved him, advised him to apologize to their parents, and encouraged him to stay in school while he searched for his direction.
  • Lu Yubai accepted that his family would support him as he kept searching, then went home with Lu Xiaoxiao, eager to see Lightning.

Ch. 428Extra: Cui Anhe-The World a Girl Called Her Own (Part One)

Cui Anhe grew up spoiled, believing she was a princess destined to be rescued by the perfect knight she chose in Ji Yunhuai. Yan Tangyu’s death shattered the sheltered world around her, and Ji Yunhuai began to change.

  • Cui Mingyuan indulged Cui Anhe and taught her fairy tales in which princesses were rescued, leading her to believe she was a princess who deserved a perfect knight.
  • Cui Anhe chose Ji Yunhuai as her knight and grew possessively attached to him as their families and friends spent time together.
  • Yan Tangyu suggested that Cui Anhe and Ji Yunhuai’s families arrange a childhood betrothal, while their circle of friends played together at family gatherings.
  • Yan Tangyu died of illness, breaking Cui Anhe’s sheltered sense of security.
  • Cui Anhe saw Ji Yunhuai’s gentle, courteous demeanor begin to crumble after his mother’s death.

Ch. 429Side story: Cui Anhe-the world a girl possessed (part two)

Cui Anhe’s attempts to cheer Ji Yunhuai after Yan Tangyu’s death ended in a cruel argument that damaged their friendship, but Lu Xiaoxiao later helped them reconcile. Cui Anhe eventually let go of her romantic fixation on Ji Yunhuai and chose to live confidently on her own terms.

  • Cui Anhe attended Yan Tangyu’s funeral and repeatedly tried to draw Ji Yunhuai out of his grief with outings and gifts.
  • When Ji Yunhuai told Cui Anhe to leave him alone, she threw a watch and cruelly compared his grief to her own loss of her mother, prompting him to leave.
  • Cui Anhe persisted in pursuing Ji Yunhuai and publicized their supposed childhood betrothal, while Ji Yunhuai kept his distance but quietly helped her behind the scenes.
  • Cui Anhe met Lu Xiaoxiao, whose boldness and mediation eventually helped Cui Anhe and Ji Yunhuai reconcile.
  • Cui Anhe told Cui Anze that she admired Lu Xiaoxiao as a hero but preferred to remain herself, and she accepted that Ji Yunhuai loved Lu Xiaoxiao.
  • Cui Anhe gave up searching for a prince, deciding that her family, resources, friendships, and freedom made her life complete with or without love.

Ch. 430Extra: Fu Jiuyin · Thoughts on Writing

The author shared a conversation explaining Cui Anze’s reasons for indulging Cui Anhe and describing his pragmatic approach to family, marriage, and power. The author also clarified that Jiang Feiwan viewed He Mingchuan only as a younger brother and that Xiaoxiao and the young master would be the only couple among their friend group.

  • The author explained that Cui Anze would not try to change Cui Anhe unless circumstances became serious, and that her lack of ambition benefited him by leaving him unchallenged for power.
  • The author said Cui Anze genuinely loved Cui Anhe and that their father understood how keeping her carefree could benefit the family and Cui Anze’s reputation.
  • The author described Cui Anze and Jiang Feiwan as close, mutually admiring friends who sometimes flirted but would not marry because both prioritized power.
  • The author said Cui Anze would likely marry a conventional woman from a suitable family, while Jiang Feiwan and He Mingchuan would not become a couple.
  • The author clarified that Xiaoxiao and the young master would be the only couple among their friend group.

Ch. 431Extra story: Fan Chiran · Holding up clear skies once more (Part one)

After Fan Chiran defied Fan Song and left home, the Lu Family sheltered him while he awaited university admissions. He learned his father had secretly changed his major to public administration, and he left the Lu Family in despair, with nowhere to go.

  • Fan Chiran refused to change his university choices from computer science, and Fan Song beat him and drove him from home.
  • Fan Chiran went to the Lu Family, where Lu Yubai and his family welcomed him and gave him a place to stay.
  • Fan Chiran received an admissions call telling him he had been accepted into public administration instead of computer science.
  • Teacher Zhu revealed that Fan Song had asked her to verify the major change, and Fan Chiran realized his father had altered his application.
  • Fan Chiran told Lu Yubai he was going home, then walked out without explaining and headed toward an unknown destination.

Ch. 432Side story: Fan Chiran · Clear skies raised once more (Part two)

After Fan Chiran learned his father had changed his university application from computer science to public administration, Lu Xiaoxiao and Ji Yunhuai found him wandering in the rain and offered to help him transfer back and support his studies. Fan Chiran accepted their help and went with them to the Lu family home, encouraged to keep pursuing his dream.

  • Lu Yubai told Lu Xiaoxiao and Ji Yunhuai that Fan Chiran had left in distress and was no longer answering calls or messages.
  • 037 revealed that Fan Chiran’s father had changed his application to public administration, and that Fan Chiran was wandering in the western old district after spending hours in the rain.
  • Ji Yunhuai arranged to locate Fan Chiran, and he and Lu Xiaoxiao found him crying in the street after a cyclist knocked him down and berated him.
  • Lu Xiaoxiao comforted Fan Chiran beneath her blue-sky umbrella, while Ji Yunhuai explained that the Ji Corporation could support his education and help him transfer into computer science.
  • Lu Xiaoxiao encouraged Fan Chiran to stop blaming himself, and Fan Chiran agreed to study hard and work toward joining the Ji Corporation.
  • Lu Xiaoxiao invited Fan Chiran to stay at the Lu family home until university began, and he accepted her hand and went with her and Ji Yunhuai.

Ch. 433Side story: What wedding dresses meant to them

Ji Yunhuai’s friends mistook Lu Xiaoxiao’s wedding-dress party for an imminent wedding, then learned that Ji and Xiaoxiao planned to stay child-free and that he had booked a vasectomy. The chapter ended with Ji expressing gratitude that Xiaoxiao had chosen to stay in his world, while everyone looked forward to the party.

  • He Mingchuan, Jiang Lei, and Shen Yufeng teased Ji Yunhuai about spending most of his time with Lu Xiaoxiao.
  • Lu Xiaoxiao told Ji Yunhuai that the women had picked wedding dresses for a party and invited the men to watch the photo shoot.
  • He Mingchuan mistakenly thought Ji Yunhuai and Lu Xiaoxiao were getting married and asked whether Jiang Feiwan was marrying Lu Jiaoyue.
  • Ji Yunhuai told his friends that he and Xiaoxiao had no plans for children and that he had booked a vasectomy.
  • Ji Yunhuai said he would follow Xiaoxiao’s lead about marriage and would not let outside expectations restrict her.
  • Ji Yunhuai reflected that Xiaoxiao choosing to stay in his world was the greatest good fortune he could ask for.

Ch. 434Side story: Lu family what-if · If we could return to our first meeting

Lu Shiyan reflected on how the Lu family had failed to give the original Lu Xiaoxiao the warmth she needed, while choosing to love the changed Xiaoxiao without investigating her origins. He and his family then woke in the past, before Lu Jiaoyue went missing and before Xiaoxiao came home, and resolved to protect Jiaoyue and welcome Xiaoxiao properly.

  • Lu Shiyan recalled that the withdrawn Lu Xiaoxiao had seemed utterly different from the bright girl in their home, and suspected her soul had been replaced.
  • Lu Shiyan chose to protect the current Lu Xiaoxiao and keep his suspicions quiet, though he regretted how the family had treated the girl who came before her.
  • Lu Shiyan woke in his teenage body and realized Lu Jiaoyue had not gone missing and Lu Xiaoxiao had not yet been brought home.
  • Lu Yuan, Song Zhilan, Lu Xunli, and Lu Bochen emerged from their rooms, revealing that they had also returned to the past.
  • Lu Yuan declared that the family would keep Lu Jiaoyue safe and bring Lu Xiaoxiao home, determined to make her feel like a true member of the family.

Ch. 436Side story: 037 (Fragment one)

037 adjusted to its new host, Ye Qing, while cherishing its permission to visit Lu Xiaoxiao. It left to see Lu Xiaoxiao and promised to bring Ye Qing modern food.

  • 037 explained that its superiors had granted it indefinite observation access to Lu Xiaoxiao's world while it guided Ye Qing through a historical romance plot.
  • Ye Qing asked about 037's previous host, and 037 described Lu Xiaoxiao's chaotic behavior while insisting that it still liked her.
  • When Ye Qing's borrowed tablet vanished, she and 037 mourned their separation from modern comforts and discussed earning more points through a palace-entry plot point.
  • Ye Qing suggested that 037 visit Lu Xiaoxiao and bring back food, and 037 agreed before vanishing.
Arc 18 of 18