Chapter Summaries

Lu Jiaoyue visited Gu Sipei at his estate to apologize for breaking their previous engagement and give him handmade cuff links. Gu Sipei welcomed her warmly and put them on, while Uncle Sun realized that Gu Sipei cared deeply about her.

• Lu Jiaoyue arrived at Gu Sipei's estate and honestly admitted she knew nothing about the paintings in the entrance hall.
• Lu Jiaoyue greeted Gu Sipei as he read a finance book, and he answered her gently.
• Lu Jiaoyue gave Gu Sipei silver cuff links she had made as an apology for missing their previous reception together.
• Gu Sipei immediately put on one of the cuff links, astonishing Uncle Sun.
• Assistant Lin told Uncle Sun that Gu Sipei had watched Lu Jiaoyue arrive on the security feed before pretending to read, and Uncle Sun resolved to welcome her in the future.

Gu Sipei reflected on his interest in Lu Jiaoyue and how close he had come to abducting her before she accepted his invitation. As they shared desserts, he learned that Lu Jiaoyue wanted to make treats for her family, especially her sister, and asked about their closeness.

• After the butler and Assistant Lin left, Lu Jiaoyue relaxed, while Gu Sipei recalled that he had considered abducting her if she refused his invitation.
• Gu Sipei served Lu Jiaoyue desserts, but she would not eat until he said he had forgiven her for standing him up.
• Gu Sipei claimed he had not been angry, and Lu Jiaoyue believed him and began eating the macarons.
• When Gu Sipei asked why she had missed their earlier meeting, Lu Jiaoyue said she could not reveal the reason because it was a secret.
• Lu Jiaoyue asked Gu Sipei to let the pastry chef teach her to make desserts for her family, especially her sister.
• Gu Sipei noticed how highly Lu Jiaoyue valued her sister and asked whether she was very fond of her.

Lu Xiaoxiao rehearsed her role by making 037 act as cannon fodder, then hurried to hear about Lu Jiaoyue’s visit with Gu Sipei. Lu Jiaoyue returned convinced Gu Sipei was kind, leaving Lu Xiaoxiao surprised by what she learned about his care for wildlife.

• Lu Xiaoxiao made 037 repeatedly act out fight scenes while she practiced her sword choreography and lines.
• 037 alerted Lu Xiaoxiao that Lu Jiaoyue had returned home, and Lu Xiaoxiao rushed downstairs to question her about Gu Sipei.
• Lu Jiaoyue said the visit had gone well, Gu Sipei had accepted her gift, and they had talked about her family and interests over dinner.
• Lu Jiaoyue told Lu Xiaoxiao that Gu Sipei had rescued the doe and fawn from Desert Island Survival and had helped secure approval to make the island a nature reserve.
• Lu Jiaoyue said Gu Sipei seemed gentle rather than cold-blooded and asked Lu Xiaoxiao whether she agreed.

Lu Xiaoxiao encouraged Lu Jiaoyue to form her own opinions about Gu Sipei and everyone else, rather than letting others decide for her. Afterward, Lu Xiaoxiao realized that Lu Jiaoyue’s intense trust in and dependence on her resembled the way Lu Jiaoyue later treated Gu Sipei in the Original Novel.

• Lu Xiaoxiao decided to give Gu Sipei a chance based on his good deeds and told Lu Jiaoyue to make up her own mind about him.
• Lu Xiaoxiao explained that people could judge the same person differently, using Ji Yunhuai and their second brother as an example.
• Lu Xiaoxiao warned Lu Jiaoyue that being led by anyone, even her sister, was a bad sign, and Lu Jiaoyue agreed to think about it.
• Back in her room, Lu Xiaoxiao told 037 that Lu Jiaoyue’s wholehearted trust and dependence on her seemed excessive.
• Lu Xiaoxiao noticed that Lu Jiaoyue treated her as uniquely important and that this behavior resembled Lu Jiaoyue’s later attachment to Gu Sipei in the Original Novel.

Lu Xiaoxiao discussed Lu Jiaoyue’s independence with 037, then learned that Chen Xiwan and her family had died in a gas poisoning incident. She asked Qian Annie to pursue charges against Chen Haiqing and resolved to use her position in the novel’s world to help deliver justice.

• Lu Xiaoxiao told 037 she wanted Lu Jiaoyue to develop her musical talents and live for herself rather than follow Gu Sipei’s lead.
• Qian Annie informed Lu Xiaoxiao that Chen Xiwan and her family had died of carbon monoxide poisoning after Chen Xiwan apparently drugged them and turned on the gas.
• Lu Xiaoxiao said she did not feel responsible for Chen Xiwan’s death, then learned that Chen Xiwan’s cousin Chen Haiqing had survived.
• Lu Xiaoxiao asked Qian Annie to bring charges against Chen Haiqing to prevent him from harming other girls, and Qian Annie agreed to investigate.
• Lu Xiaoxiao told 037 she intended to use her role as a transmigrator to help make sure people received justice.

Lu Xiaoxiao regularly visited the Spirit Abyss Chronicle set to observe the cast, especially Jiang Ci. When Jiang Ci’s mother Zhao Chunfang disrupted filming to demand money, a familiar voice intervened, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• Lu Xiaoxiao spent her visits to the set learning from the cast and admiring Jiang Ci’s acting.
• Zhao Chunfang stormed onto the set and demanded five hundred thousand from Jiang Ci to cover her debt.
• Jiang Ci said she did not have the money, and Zhao Chunfang sat down to wail that her daughter was unfilial.
• Zhao Chunfang threatened to keep disrupting filming until Jiang Ci paid her.
• As Jiang Ci prepared to ask production for help, Lu Xiaoxiao spoke up and rebuked Zhao Chunfang for making a scene at her daughter’s workplace.

Lu Xiaoxiao recorded Zhao Chunfang’s attempt to extort Jiang Ci and drove her off the set, then accepted Jiang Ci’s offer to rehearse together. After leaving the set, Lu Xiaoxiao ran into Ji Yunhuai, who had driven over to pick her up.

• Lu Xiaoxiao recorded Zhao Chunfang’s tantrum and warned that she would post the video online, causing Zhao Chunfang to leave the set.
• Lu Xiaoxiao checked whether Jiang Ci could handle future harassment, and Jiang Ci said Zhao Chunfang did not know where she lived.
• Jiang Ci thanked Lu Xiaoxiao and offered to rehearse a scene with her, explaining the script as they practiced.
• Lu Xiaoxiao left the set thinking over Jiang Ci’s advice, then found Ji Yunhuai waiting in his convertible.
• Ji Yunhuai told Lu Xiaoxiao he had gone out of his way to pass by and pick her up.

Ji Yunhuai invited Lu Xiaoxiao to the shooting range, where she would meet Cui Anze and Cui Anhe. Cui Anhe decided to make peace with Ji Yunhuai and looked forward to spending time with Lu Xiaoxiao, while Ji Yunhuai and Lu Xiaoxiao were on their way to join them.

• Ji Yunhuai invited Lu Xiaoxiao to the shooting range, and she agreed to go and learn how to shoot.
• Lu Xiaoxiao welcomed the news that Cui Anhe would be there and said she liked her because Cui Anhe had given her money and jewelry.
• Cui Anhe recalled her anger at Ji Yunhuai, then decided she could accept being his little sister and spend time with Lu Xiaoxiao instead.
• Cui Anze arranged the outing to help Cui Anhe smooth things over with Ji Yunhuai.
• Cui Anze told Cui Anhe that Ji Yunhuai was bringing Lu Xiaoxiao, and Cui Anhe said she had no intention of arguing with her.

Cui Anhe chose a decorative silver pistol for Lu Xiaoxiao, but it exploded when Lu tried to fire it. Ji Yunhuai protected Lu and accused Cui Anhe of tampering with the gun.

• Cui Anhe picked a lightweight, rhinestone-studded pistol for Lu Xiaoxiao, despite Cui Anze warning that its decorations could make it unsafe.
• Ji Yunhuai and Lu Xiaoxiao arrived, and Lu enthusiastically accepted the pistol Cui Anhe had selected for her.
• Ji Yunhuai demonstrated how to shoot, then coached Lu as she prepared to fire.
• The pistol exploded in Lu Xiaoxiao's hands, and Ji Yunhuai caught her and checked that she was unharmed.
• Ji Yunhuai shielded Lu and demanded that Cui Anhe confess if she had tampered with the gun.

After a defective gun went off, Ji Yunhuai accused Cui Anhe of tampering with it, and she ran away in tears. The gunsmith confirmed the gun had a manufacturing defect, leaving Ji Yunhuai uneasy as Lu Xiaoxiao urged him to sit and talk with her.

• Cui Anhe slapped away Cui Anze's hand, shouted that she hated Ji Yunhuai, and ran out crying.
• Cui Anze defended Cui Anhe and told Ji Yunhuai that his accusations had been hurtful before leaving to find his sister.
• Ji Yunhuai asked the shooting range manager to bring in a gunsmith to inspect the broken gun.
• The gunsmith explained that the gun had a manufacturing defect and had accidentally been mixed in with the display stock.
• Ji Yunhuai realized he had wrongly accused Cui Anhe, while Lu Xiaoxiao invited him to sit down and talk.

Lu Xiaoxiao helped Ji Yunhuai reconsider his long-running conflict with Cui Anhe and encouraged him to apologize and speak honestly with her. Ji Yunhuai embraced Lu Xiaoxiao and asked her to wait for the special surprise he was preparing for his formal confession, and she agreed.

• Lu Xiaoxiao pulled Ji Yunhuai down beside her and urged him to apologize to Cui Anhe and clear up their past misunderstandings.
• Ji Yunhuai explained that he had begun avoiding Cui Anhe after his mother died, and Lu Xiaoxiao suggested Cui Anhe’s pushy behavior had come from concern and insecurity.
• Lu Xiaoxiao convinced Ji Yunhuai that Cui Anhe cared about him and would likely keep his family secret, while Ji Yunhuai reconsidered his own prejudices.
• Lu Xiaoxiao told Ji Yunhuai that Qian Annie had revealed how he quietly helped Cui Anhe, and said they cared for each other in different ways.
• Ji Yunhuai suddenly embraced Lu Xiaoxiao and asked her to wait for the special surprise he was preparing for his formal confession.
• Lu Xiaoxiao teased Ji Yunhuai, then hugged him back and agreed to wait a little longer.

After the shooting-range accident, Ji Yunhuai comforted Lu Xiaoxiao and then went to the Cui Family home to apologize to Cui Anhe. Cui Anhe rejected his apology and declared their friendship over.

• Ji Yunhuai waited with Lu Xiaoxiao for her ride and reassured her that the gun accident was not her fault.
• Lu Xiaoxiao left, and Ji Yunhuai watched her car disappear before heading to his own car.
• Cui Anhe returned home and vented her anger by yelling at and attacking her stuffed toys.
• Ji Yunhuai arrived and caught a stuffed lamb Cui Anhe threw, then told her he had come to apologize.
• Ji Yunhuai admitted he had misjudged Cui Anhe after learning the gun damage was not caused by tampering, but Cui Anhe rejected his apology and ended their friendship.

Ji Yunhuai used the promise of an expensive jewelry set to calm Cui Anhe, then explained that Ji Cheng had mistreated him and favored his older half brother, Fang Youcheng. Cui Anhe learned why Ji Yunhuai had changed after his mother died and forgave him for what happened that day.

• Ji Yunhuai persuaded Cui Anhe not to cut ties by promising her the Queen of Hearts jewelry collection.
• Cui Anhe agreed to hear why Ji Yunhuai had changed after his mother died.
• Ji Yunhuai revealed that Ji Cheng had another family and favored Fang Youcheng, his older half brother.
• Ji Yunhuai told Cui Anhe that Ji Cheng had treated him and his mother badly and that he no longer needed his father's understanding.
• Cui Anhe was shocked and upset by Ji Cheng's treatment of Ji Yunhuai, then told him she forgave him for today.

Jiang Ci came home to find her mother, Zhao Chunfang, waiting inside after secretly following her and getting the landlord to let her in. Zhao Chunfang pressured Jiang Ci into promising to help with her gambling debts, and Jiang Ci transferred her 128,619.23, insisting it was the last time.

• Jiang Ci arrived at her dark hallway and discovered that her apartment door had been unlocked and the living room lights were on.
• Zhao Chunfang appeared inside and admitted that she had followed Jiang Ci home and obtained a key from the landlord.
• Zhao Chunfang served Jiang Ci dinner and pleaded for help paying her gambling debts, invoking the sacrifices she had made raising her.
• Zhao Chunfang dropped to her knees and refused to get up until Jiang Ci agreed to find a way to help.
• Jiang Ci transferred Zhao Chunfang 128,619.23 and said she would seek an advance on her drama pay for the remaining debt.
• Jiang Ci told Zhao Chunfang that this would be the last time she helped her.

Lu Xiaoxiao and Cui Anhe grew closer after Cui Anhe accepted her as a potential sister-in-law and explained that she no longer liked Ji Yunhuai romantically. Thinking about the Original Host, Lu Xiaoxiao tried for the first time to speak to her directly.

• Lu Xiaoxiao apologized for answering Cui Anhe late, and Cui Anhe said she was willing to accept her as a sister-in-law while warning she would keep an eye on her.
• Cui Anhe explained that Ji Yunhuai had told her Lu Xiaoxiao encouraged him to apologize, and that imagining kissing him made her feel scared rather than attracted.
• Lu Xiaoxiao admitted she could imagine kissing Ji Yunhuai, and Cui Anhe joked that she had won their competition and asked to watch them kiss.
• Lu Xiaoxiao and Cui Anhe agreed to keep their chat from Ji Yunhuai, and Lu Xiaoxiao felt they had become ordinary friends.
• Lu Xiaoxiao wondered how the Original Host felt about her taking over her life, then crossed her legs and called out to her, hoping to talk.

Lu Xiaoxiao entered the strange, waterlogged space again after apologizing to the Original Host and asking to talk. When she could not find the Original Host or reach 037, a woman’s voice told her the system could not hear her.

• 037 nervously asked Lu Xiaoxiao whether she really had to speak aloud to the Original Host.
• Lu Xiaoxiao apologized for taking over the Original Host’s body and asked to establish peaceful relations.
• Lu Xiaoxiao entered the dark space and discovered that water covered its floor.
• Lu Xiaoxiao searched for the Original Host, then called for 037 without getting a response.
• A soft female voice told Lu Xiaoxiao that her system could not hear her.

Lu Xiaoxiao met the original Lu Xiaoxiao in the strange space and learned that she could observe the real world but had never left for fear of being taken away. The original Lu Xiaoxiao admitted she had once pitied the newcomer, but now admired her success and felt a little jealous.

• Lu Xiaoxiao excitedly grabbed the original Lu Xiaoxiao's hands, then learned they were both present as souls while their bodies slept.
• Lu Xiaoxiao reassured the original Lu Xiaoxiao that she was beautiful in her own way, despite her comparison with Lu Jiaoyue.
• The original Lu Xiaoxiao explained that she could watch events in the real world, but people and the system could not detect her.
• The original Lu Xiaoxiao said she could leave the space but feared being taken away, so she had never gone outside.
• The original Lu Xiaoxiao recalled feeling sorry that Lu Xiaoxiao had to endure the loneliness she left behind, but said Lu Xiaoxiao had done better than she ever expected and made her a little jealous.

Lu Xiaoxiao reassured the original Lu Xiaoxiao that feeling jealous did not make her a bad person and reminded her that members of the Lu family cared about her. The original Lu Xiaoxiao asked her to find her biological parents, and Lu Xiaoxiao agreed to investigate discreetly before asking to wake up.

• The original Lu Xiaoxiao admitted she felt jealous of Lu Xiaoxiao, but Lu Xiaoxiao said jealousy was normal as long as it did not lead to harming anyone.
• Lu Xiaoxiao told her that her mother and brothers cared about her, though the original Lu Xiaoxiao did not seem convinced.
• The original Lu Xiaoxiao asked Lu Xiaoxiao to find her biological parents and said she wanted to know why they had abandoned her.
• Lu Xiaoxiao promised to investigate while keeping the search hidden from the Lu family, and then asked the original Lu Xiaoxiao to make her wake up.

Lu Xiaoxiao woke after meeting the Original Host and agreed to search for her biological parents, deciding to investigate quietly so the Lu Family and Ji Yunhuai would not misunderstand. She headed to the Film Crew, where she found Jiang Ci speaking with Wei Yun.

• Lu Xiaoxiao woke in her bedroom and told 037 that the Original Host had asked her to find her biological parents.
• Lu Xiaoxiao decided to investigate through the Orphanage herself rather than ask Qian Annie, keeping the search secret from the Lu Family and Ji Yunhuai.
• Lu Xiaoxiao told 037 to return inside her head, then left for the Film Crew with the new driver assigned by the Lu Family.
• Lu Xiaoxiao greeted An Tingxue, who had arrived at the Lu residence to see her third brother.
• Lu Xiaoxiao arrived at the Film Crew and approached Jiang Ci and Wei Yun as they talked.

Lu Xiaoxiao learned that Jiang Ci wanted an advance on her pay to help with her family’s gambling debts, but her agency’s contract made it difficult for Wei Yun to arrange. Moved by Jiang Ci’s thoughtful script notes, Lu Xiaoxiao offered to lend her the money privately, leaving Wei Yun to tell Jiang Ci the advance had been approved.

• Jiang Ci gave Lu Xiaoxiao a script filled with handwritten notes on her scenes, then left to memorize her lines.
• Wei Yun told Lu Xiaoxiao that Jiang Ci had asked for a pay advance, but her agency’s contract prevented the production from paying her directly.
• Lu Xiaoxiao decided to lend Jiang Ci the money herself and asked Wei Yun to keep the arrangement secret for now.
• Wei Yun agreed to help and teased Lu Xiaoxiao about Ji Yunhuai, prompting Lu Xiaoxiao to joke that he might invest another 500 million.