Chapter Summaries

Ji Yunhuai told Lu Xiaoxiao that Old Master Ji’s funeral and the announcement of his will would take place in a few days, and invited her to attend as his family. Lu Xiaoxiao then revealed Ji Cheng’s attempt to pay her to leave Ji Yunhuai and wondered whether his parting threat signaled a deeper danger.

• Ji Yunhuai said Old Master Ji had arranged his funeral in advance and that Uncle Zhong would hold it in a couple of days, when the will would also be announced.
• Ji Yunhuai asked Lu Xiaoxiao to attend the funeral with him, and she agreed to act as his bodyguard.
• Lu Xiaoxiao told Ji Yunhuai that Ji Cheng had offered her five million to leave him, and she had mocked Ji Cheng and sent him away.
• Lu Xiaoxiao told Ji Yunhuai that Ji Cheng had threatened her afterward and suggested the threat might mean more than saving face.

Lu Xiaoxiao and Ji Yunhuai walked home after she hinted at the possibility that Ji Cheng was involved in Old Master Ji’s death, and Ji Yunhuai chose not to discuss it further. A video call with Cui Anhe revealed that the couple had kissed and made their relationship official, while Ji Yunhuai ended the chapter jealous of Lu Xiaoxiao’s affectionate words to Cui.

• Lu Xiaoxiao hinted that Ji Cheng might have been involved in Old Master Ji’s death, and Ji Yunhuai fell silent before taking her home.
• Lu Xiaoxiao and Ji Yunhuai walked slowly through the snow, with Ji Yunhuai patiently following her game of stepping into their footprints.
• Cui Anhe called Lu Xiaoxiao, who showed her that she and Ji Yunhuai were safe, and Cui Anhe noticed their swollen mouths and accused them of kissing.
• Ji Yunhuai took the phone and reassured Cui Anhe, then told her that Lu Xiaoxiao was her sister-in-law now.
• When Ji Yunhuai told Lu Xiaoxiao to stop being disrespectful to Cui Anhe, Lu Xiaoxiao told Cui that she loved her, leaving Ji Yunhuai jealous.

Lu Xiaoxiao questioned 037 about its efforts to persuade her to stay and demanded the truth about returning to reality. 037 admitted her request to return would probably not be approved as she imagined, but Lu Xiaoxiao interrupted to ask why it had transformed into a blond man.

• Ji Yunhuai felt jealous of Cui Anhe, and Lu Xiaoxiao kissed him and promised to spoil him too.
• Lu Xiaoxiao returned to the Lu Family home after dawn and tried to sleep, but found she had stayed awake past the point of sleepiness.
• 037 urged Lu Xiaoxiao to stay with Ji Yunhuai, prompting her to point out that it had always seemed to want her to remain in the novel.
• Lu Xiaoxiao asked what had happened to her body in reality and whether she could truly return to her old life.
• 037 manifested as a blond man and confessed that her request to return would most likely not be approved as she imagined.
• Lu Xiaoxiao asked why 037 had transformed, and 037 protested that the blond human form was its preferred appearance.

Lu Xiaoxiao learned that her real-world body was effectively frozen on the verge of death and accused 037 of misleading her about going home. 037 explained the system’s use of false hope and suggested that the Original Host’s interference might be why Lu Xiaoxiao still remembered her real life so clearly.

• 037 transformed into a blond man and then an old man before Lu Xiaoxiao ordered it to change back.
• Lu Xiaoxiao asked what had happened to her real-world body, and 037 told her it was in a superposition of life and death.
• 037 explained that Lu Xiaoxiao had nearly died from staying up too late and that time in reality was nearly frozen while she carried out missions.
• Lu Xiaoxiao accused 037 of making an empty promise by saying she could go home after her missions.
• 037 admitted that systems told hosts they could return to give them hope, and said most hosts eventually forgot their original lives or chose to stay.
• 037 speculated that the Original Host, Lu Xiaoxiao, had kept Lu Xiaoxiao from integrating fully into the story by observing and contacting her.

037 revealed that Lu Xiaoxiao could not return to her real life without a costly violation of the world's laws, and explained why it had chosen to tell her the truth. Lu Xiaoxiao decided not to go back, leaving 037 stunned by how easily she made the choice.

• 037 told Lu Xiaoxiao that its superiors could not easily extend her real-life lifespan and wanted her to remain in the little world.
• Lu Xiaoxiao questioned why 037 had confessed, and 037 said it cared about her as its first host and wanted her to be happy.
• Lu Xiaoxiao mistook 037's affection for romantic interest, then teased it about its appearance and called it a masochist.
• 037 admitted it would feel guilty keeping Lu Xiaoxiao in the world without her knowing the truth and left the choice to her.
• Lu Xiaoxiao casually said she would not go back, stunning 037.

Lu Xiaoxiao accepted that her life in this world was real and worth choosing, then persuaded 037 to ask its superiors for a one-day return to settle scores with her old boss. She planned to tell her family about dating Ji Yunhuai and reveal her mind-reading ability at a family meeting that morning.

• Lu Xiaoxiao explained to 037 that she viewed her new life as a bargain and wanted to live happily in the world where her family, friends, and Ji Yunhuai were real to her.
• Lu Xiaoxiao asked 037 to request a one-day extension after her mission so she could confront her former boss and coworkers, and 037 agreed to pass along the request.
• Lu Xiaoxiao told 037 she was ready to tell her family that she and Ji Yunhuai were dating and reveal her mind-reading ability.
• As dawn broke, Lu Xiaoxiao went to get ready for the family meeting while 037 anticipated a lively breakfast table.

Lu Xiaoxiao told the Lu family that she and Ji Yunhuai had officially started dating, then explained that Ji Yunhuai’s grandfather had suddenly died. Her family reacted with shock and concern, and the chapter ended with them learning what had happened the night before.

• Lu Xiaoxiao announced over breakfast that she had gone to see Ji Yunhuai and that they were now officially together.
• Lu Shiyan and Lu Xunli reacted with disbelief, while Lu Jiaoyue congratulated Lu Xiaoxiao and Lu Bochen asked whether Ji Yunhuai treated her well.
• Lu Yubai pointed out that he had assumed Lu Xiaoxiao and Ji Yunhuai had already been a couple, leaving the family in awkward silence.
• Lu Xiaoxiao told her family about Ji Yunhuai’s grandfather’s sudden death and what she had seen when she visited him.

After Lu Xiaoxiao’s family accepted her relationship with Ji Yunhuai and encouraged her to support him through Old Master Ji’s death, she confronted them about their strange behavior. The chapter ended with her revealing that she knew their ability to hear her thoughts had stopped working.

• Lu Yuan urged Lu Xiaoxiao to stand by Ji Yunhuai after Old Master Ji’s death, and he and Song Zhilan recalled how they had supported each other through hardship.
• Lu Xiaoxiao’s family accepted her relationship with Ji Yunhuai, though Lu Shiyan remained resentful.
• Lu Xiaoxiao asked her family why they had been acting strangely, and Lu Shiyan, Lu Yubai, and Lu Jiaoyue awkwardly denied that anything was wrong.
• Lu Xiaoxiao revealed that she thought they were acting strangely because their ability to hear her thoughts had stopped working, leaving the dining room silent.

Lu Xiaoxiao revealed that she knew her family had been hearing her thoughts, then explained the ability as the result of a magical dream. Her family accepted the comforting explanation, relieved that they now loved her without needing the ability.

• Lu Xiaoxiao pretended to be heartbroken that her family had kept their mind-reading ability secret, making Lu Jiaoyue cry and Lu Bochen apologize.
• Lu Yuan asked Lu Xiaoxiao to explain how the family had gained the ability to hear her thoughts.
• Lu Xiaoxiao decided to conceal the Original Host's sacrifice and invented a story about an immortal granting her wish for her family to understand and love her.
• Lu Xiaoxiao claimed the immortal had ended the ability because her family already loved her, and said she had only bluffed them into confessing.
• The Lu Family exchanged uncertain looks but felt relieved by Lu Xiaoxiao's explanation and by the thought that they no longer needed the ability to love her.

Lu Xiaoxiao reassured the Lu family after claiming a deity had visited her dreams, and they promised to be more open with one another. After breakfast, Lu Jiaoyue asked to speak privately with her sister and share a few more things.

• Lu Yubai begged a deity to grant his school-related wishes, and Lu Xunli silenced him with a newspaper.
• Song Zhilan and Lu Yuan reassured Lu Xiaoxiao of their love and promised the family would no longer hide things from her.
• Lu Jiaoyue, Lu Bochen, and Lu Shiyan each expressed their trust or gratitude to Lu Xiaoxiao, and she lightened the emotional mood by teasing Lu Yubai.
• The family finished breakfast laughing, then went their separate ways for the day.
• Lu Jiaoyue told Lu Xiaoxiao she had more to confess and a couple of questions, so Lu Xiaoxiao led her upstairs to talk privately.

Lu Xiaoxiao learned that Lu Jiaoyue had secretly confronted Gu Sipei after he mistreated her, helping prompt his sincere apology. Lu Jiaoyue then asked why Xiaoxiao had once thought Gu Sipei was her Mr. Right, wondering whether the immortal in Xiaoxiao’s dreams had revealed their fates.

• Lu Jiaoyue confessed that she had gone to confront Gu Sipei after hearing from Lu Xiaoxiao’s thoughts that he had forced Xiaoxiao to talk.
• Lu Xiaoxiao worried Gu Sipei had harmed Jiaoyue, but Jiaoyue assured her they had only argued and that she had urged him to apologize.
• Lu Jiaoyue explained that Gu Sipei had said he already apologized to Xiaoxiao, and Xiaoxiao realized this explained his unusually generous apology and the Riverside project compensation.
• Lu Xiaoxiao praised Jiaoyue and affectionately kissed her cheek, and the sisters reaffirmed their love for each other.
• Lu Jiaoyue asked why Xiaoxiao had once thought Gu Sipei was her Mr. Right and whether an immortal in Xiaoxiao’s dreams had told her about their fates.

Lu Xiaoxiao reassured herself that Lu Jiaoyue’s feelings for Gu Sipei were genuine and based on her own judgment, then learned that he had arranged for her to meet pianist Lin Mo. Lu Jiaoyue looked forward to pursuing music, while Lu Xiaoxiao resolved to protect her independence if Gu Sipei ever became controlling again.

• Lu Xiaoxiao claimed an immortal in her dream had foretold Lu Jiaoyue and Gu Sipei’s destined bond, then cautioned Jiaoyue not to let the prediction guide her choices.
• Lu Jiaoyue said she liked Gu Sipei because his decisiveness made her feel safe, but added that she expected him to respect her and her loved ones.
• Lu Xiaoxiao accepted Jiaoyue’s feelings after hearing her reasons and asked what Gu Sipei had done to win her over.
• Lu Jiaoyue described the jewelry Gu Sipei had given her and revealed that he had arranged a meeting with retired pianist Lin Mo for the day after tomorrow.
• Lu Xiaoxiao encouraged Jiaoyue to learn from Lin Mo and vowed to keep watch with Ji Yunhuai in case Gu Sipei tried to control Jiaoyue again.

At Old Master Ji’s funeral, Lu Xiaoxiao saw Ji Yunhuai’s relatives feigning grief in the rain and tried to offer him comfort. Ji Cheng then confronted them, objecting to Lu’s presence as an outsider.

• Ji Yunhuai picked up Lu Xiaoxiao and brought her to Old Master Ji’s funeral in the rain.
• Lu Xiaoxiao noticed several mourners standing without umbrellas and asked Ji Yunhuai whether it was funeral etiquette.
• Ji Yunhuai told Lu Xiaoxiao that the mourners needed a little rain to make their grief look convincing.
• Lu Xiaoxiao felt sorry for Ji Yunhuai and tightened her grip on his hand as he held her close beneath the umbrella.
• Ji Cheng blocked their way and questioned Ji Yunhuai for bringing Lu Xiaoxiao, whom he called an outsider.

At Old Master Ji's funeral, Ji Yunhuai publicly declared Lu Xiaoxiao his fiancée and inherited the controlling stake in the Ji Group under the will. The will left Ji Cheng nothing, and he erupted in disbelief as Uncle Zhong confirmed it had been read in full.

• Ji Yunhuai challenged Ji Cheng over bringing Fang Youcheng to the funeral, then introduced Lu Xiaoxiao as his fiancée and explained that she had come to pay her respects to Old Master Ji.
• Ji Yunhuai and Lu Xiaoxiao took their places with the family as relatives delivered eulogies for Ji Wenzhong.
• Uncle Zhong read the will, which gave Ji Yunhuai Old Master Ji's fifty-one-percent stake in the Ji Group and other major assets, while allocating gifts to Ji Ming, the daughters, and longtime staff.
• Ji Cheng waited for his name, but the will made no provision for him.
• Ji Cheng accused Uncle Zhong of presenting a fake or incomplete will, and Uncle Zhong calmly stated that he had read the old gentleman's final wishes in full.

After Ji Cheng accused Uncle Zhong of falsifying the will, Uncle Zhong recalled how Ji Wenzhong had changed it to leave Ji Cheng’s inheritance to Ji Yunhuai. Uncle Zhong confirmed that the will had indeed been changed, leaving Ji Cheng facing the truth before the watching crowd.

• Ji Cheng heard the crowd’s comments and grew enraged when the will excluded him entirely.
• Ji Cheng charged at Uncle Zhong, accused him of replacing the will, and tried to seize the document.
• Uncle Zhong remembered how Ji Wenzhong had changed the will after recognizing Ji Cheng’s attempt to undermine Ji Yunhuai.
• Ji Wenzhong had ordered Ji Cheng’s inheritance redirected to Ji Yunhuai, believing Ji Cheng already had enough wealth and would squander more.
• Uncle Zhong knocked Ji Cheng’s hand away and confirmed that the will had indeed been changed.

After Uncle Zhong revealed that Ji Yunhuai’s grandfather had personally transferred Ji Cheng’s inheritance to Ji Yunhuai, Ji Cheng fled the reporters’ questions in disgrace. Ji Yunhuai and Lu Xiaoxiao prepared to leave the cemetery, but Fang Youcheng stopped them to ask for a moment.

• Ji Cheng accused Uncle Zhong and Ji Yunhuai of changing the will, but Uncle Zhong explained that the old master had made the change himself and transferred Ji Cheng’s entire share to Ji Yunhuai.
• Ji Yunhuai had security guards escort Uncle Zhong away, while reporters surrounded Ji Cheng with questions about his exclusion from the inheritance.
• Ji Cheng fled the cemetery without Fang Youcheng as reporters continued to press him, and Ji Yunhuai’s bodyguards shielded Lu Xiaoxiao from the crowd.
• Lu Xiaoxiao praised Ji Yunhuai’s grandfather for trusting him, and Ji Yunhuai resolved to protect the Ji Family’s legacy despite his lingering hurt.
• As Ji Yunhuai and Lu Xiaoxiao were leaving, Fang Youcheng hurried over and asked Ji Yunhuai for a moment.

Fang Youcheng asked Ji Yunhuai to meet his mother, Shi Zhiyi, and Lu Xiaoxiao encouraged Ji Yunhuai to hear her out. Trusting Lu Xiaoxiao's judgment, Ji Yunhuai agreed and went with her to meet Shi Zhiyi.

• Ji Yunhuai let Fang Youcheng approach and listened as he explained that his mother wanted to meet him.
• Fang Youcheng pleaded with Ji Yunhuai, insisting that Shi Zhiyi was kind and meant him no harm.
• Lu Xiaoxiao quietly encouraged Ji Yunhuai to meet Shi Zhiyi and hear what she had to say.
• Ji Yunhuai trusted Lu Xiaoxiao's judgment and agreed to meet Fang Youcheng's mother.
• Fang Youcheng led Ji Yunhuai and Lu Xiaoxiao toward the temporary parking area beside the cemetery exit.

At the cemetery, Shi Zhiyi apologized to Ji Yunhuai for her past with Ji Cheng and the pain it caused him and Fang Youcheng. She then revealed that Ji Cheng had something to do with Ji Yunhuai’s grandfather’s death, leaving Ji Yunhuai shocked and furious.

• Fang Youcheng brought Shi Zhiyi to meet Ji Yunhuai and Lu Xiaoxiao near the cemetery exit.
• Shi Zhiyi tried to kneel before Ji Yunhuai, but Fang Youcheng and Lu Xiaoxiao supported her and stopped her.
• Shi Zhiyi confessed that she had known Ji Cheng was married, regretted the harm she had caused, and said she had long wanted to apologize to Ji Yunhuai.
• Ji Yunhuai calmly said he had heard her apology and told her to return if she had nothing else to say.
• Shi Zhiyi revealed that Ji Cheng had something to do with Ji Yunhuai’s grandfather’s death, and Ji Yunhuai demanded to know what she meant.

Shi Zhiyi gave Ji Yunhuai evidence that Ji Cheng had arranged to replace Old Master Ji’s emergency medication with ineffective counterfeits, but Ji Yunhuai warned it might not be enough to secure a conviction. Fang Youcheng then offered to help and took out his phone.

• Shi Zhiyi handed Ji Yunhuai a USB drive containing recordings, chat screenshots, and bank-transfer evidence about Ji Cheng’s scheme.
• Shi Zhiyi revealed that Ji Cheng had secretly replaced Old Master Ji’s emergency medication with counterfeits that could not treat an attack.
• Fang Youcheng was stunned to learn his father may have caused his grandfather’s death, while Lu Xiaoxiao reflected on Ji Cheng’s resentment toward Old Master Ji.
• Ji Yunhuai said the evidence might not convict Ji Cheng because he could deny ordering the switch or make a subordinate take the blame.
• Fang Youcheng said he might be able to help and took out his phone.

Fang Youcheng overcame his fear of losing Ji Cheng’s support and gave Ji Yunhuai evidence of Ji Cheng’s financial and corporate crimes. Fang Youcheng and Shi Zhiyi asked Ji Yunhuai to spare them hardship so they could leave the Ji Family and start over.

• Fang Youcheng recalled Ji Cheng’s violence and realized he needed to protect his mother rather than cling to their comfortable life.
• Fang Youcheng showed Ji Yunhuai records of Ji Cheng’s alleged embezzlement, bribery, trade-secret theft, and concealed construction-safety violations.
• Fang Youcheng explained that the evidence could secure a conviction against Ji Cheng even if the murder charge failed.
• Fang Youcheng asked Ji Yunhuai to let him and Shi Zhiyi leave peacefully and promised to support his mother without relying on the Ji Family.
• Shi Zhiyi pleaded with Ji Yunhuai as they waited for his answer.