Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

At the Lu family patriarch’s birthday gathering, Song Chaoyue tells the newly returned Lu Jiaoyue to distrust Lu Xiaoxiao, whom he dismisses as an adopted outsider. Lu Xiaoxiao answers his provocation with sarcastic jokes, angering him further. Lu Yubai warns Song to stop before Xiaoxiao hits him, then nervously insists he respects her.
When Song Chaoyue tries to leave, Lu Jiaoyue stops him and demands an apology. She passionately defends Xiaoxiao, explaining that being adopted was not Xiaoxiao’s choice and that their parents made her part of the family. Overwhelmed, Jiaoyue breaks down crying. Lu Xunli backs her up and firmly orders Song to apologize. With guests watching and Song Chaoyan urging him to end the scene, Song Chaoyue reluctantly apologizes to Xiaoxiao and leaves.

Character developments

• Lu Xiaoxiao responds to Song’s contempt with newfound confidence and sharp humor, rather than her former silence.
• Lu Jiaoyue reveals fierce loyalty to Xiaoxiao. Though Song assumes she will prioritize blood ties, she openly rejects his prejudice and defends her sister.
• Lu Yubai shows that his attitude toward Xiaoxiao has changed; he is now wary of provoking her and claims to respect her.
• Lu Xunli demonstrates calm authority, stepping in to protect Xiaoxiao and support Jiaoyue.
• Song Chaoyue exposes his entitlement and prejudice, but public scrutiny and pressure from his sister eventually force him to apologize.
• Song Chaoyan tries to contain the conflict and prevent further embarrassment.

Significant themes

• Chosen family versus blood ties: The Lu siblings affirm that love and belonging matter more than biological relation.
• Prejudice and entitlement: Song’s belief that adopted children are lesser reflects his class and gender biases.
• Standing up to cruelty: Xiaoxiao’s direct response and Jiaoyue’s emotional defense challenge the family’s past tolerance of insults.
• Public reputation and accountability: Song apologizes partly because the gathering’s guests witness his behavior and begin criticizing him.

Character interactions

Song’s attempt to turn Jiaoyue against Xiaoxiao instead unites the sisters. Xiaoxiao counters him verbally, while Yubai and Xunli offer contrasting forms of support—nervous caution and commanding intervention. Jiaoyue’s confrontation becomes the emotional center of the scene, and Song Chaoyan’s practical pressure helps bring it to a reluctant close.

Key plot points and events

• After Song Chaoyue’s confrontation with Lu Xiaoxiao, Lu Jiaoyue remains distraught. Lu Bochen takes Xiaoxiao’s hand and tells her not to cry; Jiaoyue also rushes to comfort her. Xiaoxiao reassures them that their support makes her happy, then takes Jiaoyue to fix her makeup.
• Lu Shiyan notices that Bochen and Jiaoyue respond to Xiaoxiao’s unspoken thoughts, leading him to suspect they can hear them too. He decides to investigate later, carefully so as not to frighten Bochen.
• Lu Xunli warns Lu Yubai not to get involved in Song Chaoyue’s game project. He explains that its ambitious features are beyond current technology, the company is poorly equipped, and their father’s investment is only a limited amount made at their mother’s request. Their father intends to absorb the likely loss rather than upset her.
• The family discusses how Song Chaoyue’s mother persuaded Lu’s mother to support the venture, while Song Chaoyue’s own father has declined to back it. Lu Yubai is told to keep the conversation private and focus on school.
• At the Song family residence, Xie Qingli brings Song Zhilan and her husband, Lu Yuan, to meet the family elders. Song Zhuting initially greets Lu Yuan coldly but softens after receiving a thoughtful birthday gift.
• Once Xie Qingli leaves, Song Zhilan asks about her younger sister, Song Zhizhu. Their father criticizes Zhizhu for remaining child-free and praises Zhilan for having four sons. Zhilan feels uncomfortable: she loves her children but understands the physical toll of childbirth and respects her sister’s choice.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Xiaoxiao is moved by her siblings’ concern and responds with warmth and humor, helping Jiaoyue recover.
• Lu Bochen shows affection directly by holding Xiaoxiao’s hand and comforting her.
• Lu Jiaoyue shifts from crying over the conflict to reassuring Xiaoxiao and enjoying their sisterly closeness.
• Lu Shiyan is observant and protective, both investigating the possible mind-reading secret and steering Lu Yubai away from reckless involvement.
• Lu Xunli acts as a practical, stern older brother, offering business judgment and keeping Yubai from speaking carelessly.
• Lu Yubai is initially excited by Song Chaoyue’s project, then relieved to learn the family’s investment is limited; he jokes that Xunli acts like a parent.
• Song Zhilan balances respect for her father with sympathy for her younger sister. Song Zhuting remains focused on conventional expectations, judging women by whether they have children. Lu Yuan stays composed and courteous despite his father-in-law’s initial coldness.

Significant themes

• Family support and affection: The Lu siblings comfort one another, contrasting with the pressure and judgment within the Song family.
• Private sacrifice: Lu Yuan’s father quietly accepts a likely financial loss to make his wife happy.
• Generational expectations and women’s autonomy: Song Zhuting treats motherhood as an obligation, while Zhilan recognizes the cost of pregnancy and supports Zhizhu’s choice.
• Maturity and responsibility: The chapter contrasts Yubai’s impulsiveness with Xunli and Shiyan’s judgment, while revealing how early responsibility has shaped Xunli.

Key plot points and events

• At Song Zhuting’s birthday gathering, Song Zhuting, Song Zhulin, and Song Zhibo discuss how to make Song Zhizhu have a child. They propose bypassing her objections by persuading her husband, Chen Jiangshu—and even secretly sabotaging the couple’s contraception.
• Song Zhilan objects, reminding them that her mother nearly died giving birth to Zhizhu. Her father dismisses her concerns and asks her to help pressure her sister.
• Song Zhilan reflects on how the family repeatedly overrode Zhizhu’s choices, including steering her away from science, arranging her marriage, and now disregarding her agreement with Jiangshu not to have children. She recognizes that her own obedience has obscured the pressure Zhizhu has endured.
• Lu Yuan quietly takes Zhilan’s hand in support. Song Zhulin then attempts to persuade Lu to sell the Song Family shares in the Lu Corporation. Lu refuses, pointing out that the proposal is neither necessary nor equitable, and warns that insisting on it could look like a hostile takeover.
• Song Zhulin shifts to criticizing Zhilan’s adopted daughter, Xiaoxiao, calling her a “stand-in” and urging Zhilan to send her away or marry her off for the family’s benefit.
• Zhilan finally erupts, defending Xiaoxiao and confronting her uncle about the Song Family’s refusal to help Lu Yuan during the Lu Corporation’s crisis. Song Zhuting silences and threatens her, demanding an apology or that she leave the family.

Character developments

• Song Zhilan moves from discomfort and uncertainty to clear resistance. She realizes her family has treated her compliance as proof that she will support their control over other women.
• Song Zhizhu, though absent, emerges as someone whose ambitions and reproductive choices have repeatedly been constrained by her family.
• Lu Yuan shows understated support for Zhilan and firmly protects the Lu Corporation from Song Zhulin’s opportunistic proposal.
• Song Zhulin reveals his self-interest and disregard for others’ autonomy, treating both corporate ties and family members as opportunities for gain.
• Song Zhuting prioritizes family authority and tradition over his daughters’ wishes, and responds to Zhilan’s challenge with anger and threats.

Significant themes

• Control over women’s bodies and choices: The men treat Zhizhu’s reproductive decision as something to manage—even suggesting contraceptive sabotage.
• Obedience and complicity: Zhilan understands that her long-standing compliance has led her relatives to assume she will participate in their coercion.
• Family loyalty versus exploitation: The family invokes kinship while seeking business advantage and treating daughters as means to its interests.
• Finding solidarity: Lu’s quiet gesture supports Zhilan as she begins to stand with her sister and defend Xiaoxiao.

Character interactions

• Zhilan challenges her father and uncle over their pressure on Zhizhu, but they dismiss her and enlist her to help persuade her sister.
• Lu reassures Zhilan through a quiet touch, then calmly rejects Song Zhulin’s bid for Lu Corporation shares.
• Song Zhulin insults and devalues Xiaoxiao; Zhilan responds by defending her and accusing him of exploiting the family relationship.
• Song Zhuting sides with his brother and demands that Zhilan apologize, escalating the conflict into an ultimatum.

Key plot points and events

• At Song Zhuting’s birthday banquet, Song Zhilan challenges her uncle’s attempt to buy Lu Family shares cheaply. Her father, rather than defend her, accuses her of disrespecting her elders and meddling in business.
• Lu Yuan reveals that Zhilan owns as many Lu Corporation shares as he does, as well as a stake in every Lu Family property. He explains that he gave her the shares years earlier, though she had misunderstood his mention of the certificate.
• Supported by Lu Yuan, Zhilan confronts her father over the Song Family’s self-interest and its failure to care about her wellbeing. After Song Zhuting defends the plan to send Lu Xiaoxiao away, Zhilan says she will cut ties with the family and leaves with Lu Yuan.
• Outside, Zhilan breaks down briefly but resolves to move on. She warns her younger sister, Song Zhizhu, about the family’s scheme to pressure Zhizhu into having a child. Zhizhu believes her immediately and confronts their brother, Song Zhibo, who tries to minimize the plan.
• Zhilan and Lu Yuan head for the exit to collect their children. As she leaves, Zhilan recalls a line from Zhizhu’s old notebook: “You should fly like a bird toward your mountain, never looking back.” She embraces it as a call to begin a freer life.

Character developments and interactions

• Song Zhilan moves from shock and hurt to clear-eyed resolve. She recognizes that her family values her mainly for what she can provide, and chooses to protect Lu Xiaoxiao and herself rather than preserve a false hope of reconciliation.
• Lu Yuan supports Zhilan both emotionally and materially. His revelation about her shares affirms her independence and counters her father’s claim that she has no place in business.
• Song Zhuting exposes his priorities by defending his brother’s financial demands, dismissing Zhilan’s concerns, and calling Lu Xiaoxiao an orphan. His angry threats fail to stop her departure.
• Song Zhizhu becomes Zhilan’s ally. Her immediate trust and forceful response show that she is not complicit in the family’s plans; she takes the fight directly to Song Zhibo.
• Song Zhibo attempts to bring Zhilan back and conceal or excuse the scheme, but Zhizhu sees through him.

Significant themes

• Family loyalty versus exploitation: The Song elders invoke kinship while pursuing their own advantage.
• Women’s autonomy and solidarity: Zhilan rejects the idea that a woman should be excluded from business, while she and Zhizhu support one another against patriarchal pressure.
• Chosen family and protection: Zhilan’s commitment to Lu Xiaoxiao outweighs her desire to maintain ties with her birth family.
• Freedom and self-determination: Zhilan’s departure—and the image of flying toward her mountain—marks her decision to stop looking back and shape her own future.

Key plot points and events

• The Lu family leaves the Song Family gathering early after Song Zhilan’s conflict with her relatives. In the car, Lu Xiaoxiao approves of her mother’s decision and encourages her to focus on her own interests and the family she loves.
• Back home, Song Zhilan offers to cook dinner. Xiaoxiao and Lu Jiaoyue volunteer to help, and Lu Yubai joins—only to cause a string of kitchen mishaps. Xiaoxiao eventually throws him out.
• Feeling rejected, Yubai declares he will become a “cold, unfeeling study machine” and make his family regret underestimating him. When the family hears he is doing homework, they decide not to interrupt him for dinner. The meal remains warm and cheerful without him.
• During dinner, Lu Xunli announces that he plans to marry Chen Xiwan. Xiaoxiao is shocked and dismayed, having hoped he might choose someone else.

Character developments and interactions

• Song Zhilan appears more confident about distancing herself from her difficult relatives, while her husband and children’s support reassures her.
• Lu Xiaoxiao is affectionate and encouraging toward her mother, but blunt and impatient with Yubai’s clumsiness. She also reacts strongly to Xunli’s marriage announcement.
• Lu Yubai tries to help, fails repeatedly, and turns his hurt feelings into a dramatic vow to study. The family takes his declaration literally but treats it lightly.
• Lu Jiaoyue backs up Xiaoxiao in the kitchen and later reports Yubai’s “rebellion.”
• Lu Xunli calmly reveals a major decision, while Xiaoxiao’s reaction suggests she has reservations about his relationship with Xiwan.

Significant themes

• Family belonging and support: The Lu family’s closeness contrasts with the strain of Song Zhilan’s relationships with her relatives.
• Humor in family life: Yubai’s kitchen disasters and theatrical response provide comic relief.
• Affection mixed with teasing: The family’s blunt jokes and exasperation coexist with warmth and care.
• Unexpected change: Xunli’s announcement abruptly shifts the mood and sets up a potential conflict over his marriage.

Key plot points and events

• Lu Xunli tells his family that his girlfriend, Chen Xiwan, is a little over a month pregnant. He says the pregnancy followed an unplanned encounter after he drank too much and insists he must take responsibility by marrying her.
• Song Zhilan reproaches him for being careless and asks whether Xiwan wanted a child. Lu Xiaoxiao suspects the pregnancy may be part of a scheme, while Lu Yuan urges Xunli to verify the circumstances.
• Xunli says he remembers the encounter clearly and has seen Xiwan’s prenatal report. He argues she is not seeking his wealth: she recently asked to break up, returned his gifts, blocked him, and planned to raise the baby alone.
• He explains that Xiwan feared his family would judge her for becoming pregnant so soon, and believed Xiaoxiao disliked her. She allegedly kept the pregnancy secret because she expected their relationship to have no future.
• Xiaoxiao reads the story very differently, suspecting a staged breakup and emotional manipulation. She thinks returning gifts costs Xiwan little and that the “raise the child alone” story may be calculated to win Xunli’s sympathy.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Xunli is overwhelmed but determined to marry Xiwan, accepting blame for the pregnancy and trusting her explanation.
• Lu Xiaoxiao tries to question him carefully, then grows incredulous as she hears his account. She is convinced he is being manipulated, though she has no proof.
• Song Zhilan shifts from shock to concern and scolds Xunli over his lack of caution.
• Lu Yuan initially listens, then supports Xiaoxiao’s call for caution and questions the details.
• The family challenges Xunli’s decision, while he defends Xiwan and reveals that she herself claimed to feel unwelcome by Xiaoxiao.

Significant themes

• Trust versus suspicion: Xunli believes Xiwan’s account, while Xiaoxiao interprets the same events as manipulation.
• Family responsibility and judgment: The pregnancy prompts debate over marriage, accountability, and whether Xiwan will be accepted.
• Different perspectives: Xiaoxiao’s private suspicions contrast sharply with Xunli’s emotional understanding of the relationship, leaving the truth uncertain.

Plot points and events

• Lu Xunli remains determined to marry Chen Xiwan because he believes he must take responsibility for having slept with her and for her pregnancy. Although Lu Xiaoxiao suspects Chen may be deceiving him, Lu Xunli’s private investigation found her background and social life unremarkable, leaving him inclined to trust her.
• He tells the family he plans to move in with Chen Xiwan. Lu Xiaoxiao is alarmed and asks Lu Shiyan to dissuade him, but Shiyan supports following true love—while advising Lu Xunli to notarize his premarital assets.
• Lu Xiaoxiao realizes Shiyan’s response is colored by memories of his own lost first love. She privately laments that her family seems full of hopeless romantics and resolves to keep her brother close so she can watch the relationship.
• Lu Yuan intervenes: Chen Xiwan should move into the family home, where she can be cared for, and the wedding should wait until after the baby is born. Lu Xunli agrees, ending the argument for the moment.
• Later, exhausted but unable to sleep, Lu Xiaoxiao accidentally calls Ji Yunhuai and is immediately eager to tell him about the family drama.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Xunli shows his traditional sense of responsibility and his reluctance to judge Chen Xiwan based on others’ claims. His investigation, though it found nothing suspicious, leaves him feeling guilty for having distrusted her.
• Lu Xiaoxiao shifts from openly confronting her brother to pretending to accept his choice so she can prevent him from moving out. Her private plan is to keep watch and, if necessary, seek a paternity test after the birth.
• Lu Shiyan backs Lu Xunli’s right to pursue love, revealing—through Lu Xiaoxiao’s thoughts—that his own failed romance shapes his views.
• Lu Yuan balances the family dispute with a practical compromise: bring Chen Xiwan home, but postpone the wedding.
• The scene’s main interactions center on Lu Xiaoxiao trying to persuade Lu Xunli, seeking Shiyan’s support, and ultimately aligning with her father’s solution.

Significant themes

• Responsibility versus trust: Lu Xunli sees marriage as a consequence of intimacy and pregnancy, while his family worries that responsibility may be clouding his judgment.
• Love and vulnerability: Shiyan’s past and Xunli’s devotion suggest that romantic idealism may run through the family.
• Family protection and control: Lu Xiaoxiao’s concern is sincere, but her plan to monitor the couple and test paternity shows how protection can become suspicion.
• Compromise and patience: Lu Yuan avoids forcing an immediate decision, buying the family time while accommodating Xunli’s wishes.

Key plot points and events

• Lu Xiaoxiao tells Ji Yunhuai she suspects her eldest brother’s fiancée, Chen Xiwan, may be unfaithful and that the pregnancy might not be her brother’s. She recalls overhearing Chen Xiwan speaking to another man and doubts that her brother would have slept with her while drunk unless something had been done to him.
• Lu asks her system, 037, to obtain information about Chen Xiwan, but it refuses because she has too few points. Their complaint-filled exchange reveals that 037 earns points when Lu advances the original novel’s plot, which she has not been doing.
• Ji agrees that Lu’s suspicions are plausible and offers to investigate. Lu then teases him about whether he was truly drunk during a past encounter; he dodges the question.
• Their flirtatious banter turns into a joke about Lu having a harem. Ji reacts with mock jealousy and threatens rebellion, and Lu playfully tries to placate him.
• Lu admits that the day’s conversation with Ji has been the only part she enjoyed. She explains that relatives at the Song family’s birthday banquet disliked her and that a cousin picked on her. Though she claims she only joked about wanting to beat him up, Ji takes her hurt seriously and asks whether she was really wounded by what happened.

Character developments

• Lu Xiaoxiao shows sharp instincts about her brother’s relationship, but her lack of system points leaves her unable to verify her suspicions through 037. Beneath her humor and bravado, she is upset by the family’s rejection.
• Ji Yunhuai shifts from playful flirtation to genuine concern. He offers practical help with the investigation and responds seriously when Lu hints at being hurt.
• 037 appears frustrated and under-resourced, and its exchange with Lu adds comic insight into the system’s limits.

Significant themes

• Trust and suspicion: Lu questions whether her brother’s fiancée is honest and whether his apparent drunkenness was manipulated.
• Humor as a shield: Lu uses jokes, exaggerated threats, and teasing to cover or soften her distress.
• Care and emotional recognition: Ji sees past Lu’s joking and asks directly about her feelings.
• Power and constraints: Lu’s limited points and 037’s restricted authority contrast with her determination to act.

Character interactions

• Lu and 037 bicker over the lack of points, each blaming the other for their difficulties.
• Lu confides in Ji, who validates her concerns and offers to investigate.
• Their teasing about the past encounter and the “harem” reveals mutual flirtation, with Ji’s mock jealousy prompting Lu to reassure him.
• Lu recounts her conflict with her relatives; Ji’s quiet question marks a more intimate, emotionally attentive turn in their conversation.

Key plot points and events

• After Song Chaoyue’s rude behavior, Ji Yunhuai checks whether Lu Xiaoxiao is truly okay. Lu admits she wasn’t hurt by Song Chaoyue, but is touched by Ji’s sincere concern.
• Lu and Ji joke about meeting late at night. She agrees and plans to sneak out by climbing down from her second-floor balcony, confidently claiming her climbing skills are excellent.
• Before leaving, Lu notices a message from her cousin Song Chaoyan. Chaoyan apologizes for her brother’s rudeness and compliments Lu’s new confidence and dress.
• Chaoyan asks whether the dress is by designer Luna Devereaux, explaining that she hopes to commission a wedding dress. Lu confirms the designer and asks if Chaoyan wants to commission something too; Chaoyan reveals her wedding-dress plans.

Character developments

• Lu Xiaoxiao remains upbeat and self-assured, but recognizes how much Ji’s attentiveness affects her. She also approaches Chaoyan’s message with cautious openness, preferring a clear request to unexplained concern.
• Ji Yunhuai shows emotional sensitivity and spontaneous affection by immediately suggesting they meet. His concern for Lu contrasts with his playful banter.
• Song Chaoyan emerges as observant and thoughtful. Though she and Lu have barely spoken before, she reaches out to apologize and shows genuine enthusiasm for fashion.

Significant themes

• Care and emotional understanding: Ji notices Lu’s feelings, and his concern makes her feel valued even when she insists she is fine.
• Boundaries and trust: Lu is wary of accepting kindness from someone with whom she has little relationship, but feels more comfortable once Chaoyan’s practical interest is clear.
• Confidence and change: Chaoyan notices that Lu seems more open and confident than before, highlighting Lu’s personal transformation.
• Humor and impulsiveness: Their playful exchange about sneaking out and climbing down the building lightens the emotional moment.

Character interactions

• Lu and Ji share teasing, warm banter while arranging a secret late-night meeting; Ji urges caution about her risky escape plan.
• Lu and Chaoyan begin a tentative reconnection through an apology and conversation about the dress designer, which may lead to a wedding-dress commission.

Plot points and events

• Song Chaoyan tells Lu Xiaoxiao that her family has arranged an engagement and that she has no power to choose whom she marries. She asks Lu to help her contact designer Luna Devereaux so she can at least marry in a dress she likes.
• Lu agrees to ask and reflects that Chaoyan’s wish for “freedom” is modest, but decides not to judge her for making only a small act of resistance.
• Later, Lu prepares to sneak out at night to meet Ji Yunhuai. With 037 acting as a lookout, she climbs out of her window and crosses the grounds, despite their comical alarm over a tiny bug.
• Lu reaches the rendezvous wall, where Ji is waiting. She climbs up just as he looks over and asks, amused, whether she really climbed out.

Character developments

• Lu Xiaoxiao shows empathy toward Chaoyan, respecting her limited choices rather than condemning her for not openly rebelling. She is also bold and playful in arranging a secret nighttime meeting.
• Song Chaoyan reveals her constrained position and her longing for freedom. Choosing her wedding dress is a small but meaningful way to claim some control over her life.
• 037 enthusiastically plays lookout, exaggerating the danger for comic effect, then teases Lu about wanting time alone with Ji.
• Ji Yunhuai is already waiting at the agreed spot and reacts to Lu’s wall-climbing with amused surprise.

Significant themes

• Freedom and agency: Chaoyan’s desire for freedom contrasts with the very limited choice she feels able to make.
• Respect without judgment: Lu recognizes that people respond differently to oppressive circumstances and avoids blaming Chaoyan for accommodating her family.
• Romance and secrecy: Lu’s covert escape to meet Ji highlights the playful, clandestine nature of their relationship.

Character interactions

• Lu responds compassionately to Chaoyan’s request and promises to seek Luna’s contact information.
• Lu and 037 trade teasing banter as he guides her escape and she scolds him for dramatizing it.
• Lu and Ji reunite at the wall, ending the chapter with Ji’s amused question about her daring escape.

Plot and events

• Lu Xiaoxiao is stranded atop a wall because she is afraid to look down. Ji Yunhuai teases her, then opens his arms so she can jump safely.
• He catches her by supporting her under the arms, lets go once she is steady, and opens the car door for her.
• In the car, Lu Xiaoxiao suggests they go drinking and boasts that she behaves better when drunk than Ji Yunhuai does.
• She hints that Ji Yunhuai gets clingy when intoxicated. He denies it, but she keeps needling him, calling him “young master” and pretending to notice his ears turning red.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Xiaoxiao is playful, bold, and quick-witted, using mock innocence to tease Ji Yunhuai while hiding her own embarrassment. Though nervous about the jump, she trusts him enough to take it.
• Ji Yunhuai is amused and teasing, but also considerate: he helps her down without overstepping and makes sure she is settled before leaving. Her taunts leave him flustered and briefly speechless.
• Their banter suggests growing comfort and flirtatious tension. Lu Xiaoxiao provokes him; he tries to defend himself, but her teasing keeps him off balance.

Significant themes

• Trust and care: Lu Xiaoxiao relies on Ji Yunhuai when she is afraid, and he helps while respecting her boundaries.
• Flirtation through teasing: Their playful argument about drinking and clinginess reveals intimacy and mutual awareness.
• Confidence masking vulnerability: Lu Xiaoxiao boasts about her drinking and jokes freely, even as she admits fear of heights.

Key plot points and events

• Lu Xiaoxiao teases Ji Yunhuai while holding his sleeve. Rather than answer, he catches her wrist and turns the flirting back on her, asking whether she ever gets embarrassed.
• His sudden closeness unsettles Lu Xiaoxiao, though she realizes he is deliberately trying to win their playful contest.
• She insists she is thick-skinned, but Ji Yunhuai points out that her cheeks are already red—and even offers to take a picture as proof.
• Flustered and unwilling to concede, Lu Xiaoxiao grabs his chin. After a brief pause, she improvises a bold, threatening comeback: he is “playing with fire.”

Character developments

• Lu Xiaoxiao tries to maintain her confident, teasing persona, but her visible blush betrays how affected she is. Her competitiveness pushes her into a spontaneous, daring gesture.
• Ji Yunhuai reveals a playful, competitive side. He enjoys reversing the tease and calmly watching Lu Xiaoxiao struggle to respond.

Character interactions

Their flirtatious exchange escalates through teasing, close physical proximity, and a playful contest over who can make the other lose composure. Ji Yunhuai catches her wrist; she later takes his chin, reversing the physical dynamic.

Significant themes

• Flirtation as competition: Both characters try to outdo each other and avoid being the one who gets flustered.
• Confidence versus vulnerability: Lu Xiaoxiao claims she is unembarrassable, but her reactions reveal otherwise.
• Playful intimacy: Their teasing and bold gestures suggest growing comfort and attraction, even as both hide behind jokes.

Key events

• Lu Xiaoxiao and Ji Yunhuai’s romantic mood turns comic when she cracks up during a mock “domineering CEO” performance and asks to start over.
• Ji Yunhuai teases that she lacks the money required for the role, prompting Lu Xiaoxiao to try to prove she is wealthy by searching her pockets.
• Finding them empty, she improvises that her hand contains the emperor’s invisible “new money.”
• Ji Yunhuai plays along by slipping a gold bank card into her palm. When she protests that she wasn’t asking for money, he tells her to keep it—and says she can ask him for more when it runs out.

Character developments

• Lu Xiaoxiao is playful, theatrical, and easily flustered, but quickly turns delighted when Ji Yunhuai gives her the card. Her competitive teasing gives way to treating him as her “god of wealth.”
• Ji Yunhuai shows affection through humor and generosity. He enjoys making Lu Xiaoxiao happy and gives her money casually, without even remembering how much is on the card.

Significant themes

• Affection through playful teasing: Their banter keeps the scene light and intimate.
• Generosity as courtship: Ji Yunhuai’s unexpected gift becomes a particularly effective way to delight Lu Xiaoxiao.
• Humor and improvisation: Lu Xiaoxiao’s absurd “invisible money” excuse turns an awkward moment into a shared joke.

Character interactions

• Ji Yunhuai gently mocks Lu Xiaoxiao’s acting and finances, while reassuring her that she handled the domineering part well.
• Lu Xiaoxiao challenges his teasing, then accepts his gift with barely concealed excitement.
• Ji Yunhuai calmly indulges her joke and her reaction, reinforcing their growing warmth and playful rapport.

Plot and character developments

• Lu Xiaoxiao and Ji Yunhuai head to Everlasting Night, a quieter lounge Ji knows through its owner, rather than a noisy bar.
• When Lu Xiaoxiao learns Ji has many friends, she sincerely says she is happy for him. She believes their affection shows that people who get to know him can see his good qualities.
• Her thoughts trace how her view of Ji has changed: she once saw him as a spoiled, arrogant rich kid, but gradually came to recognize his sensitivity and softer nature.
• Lu suspects his sharp, rebellious persona may be a defense against his father Ji Cheng’s rejection. She imagines that, after realizing his father’s dislike had nothing to do with his own shortcomings, Ji may have embraced behavior that gave that rejection an apparent reason. This remains her speculation, not confirmed fact.
• She concludes that Ji’s prickliness protects him and screens people, while he is unusually tolerant and understanding toward those he lets close.

Character interactions

• Ji briefly seems dazed by Lu’s genuine happiness for him, then asks what she means.
• Lu answers warmly and without teasing, praising him as “actually pretty charming” and saying people who know him would want to be his friend.

Significant themes

• Revising first impressions: Closeness reveals qualities hidden beneath a harsh exterior.
• Self-protection and rejection: Ji’s apparent aggression may conceal vulnerability and a response to his father’s lack of approval.
• Friendship and being understood: Lu values the people who see Ji’s goodness and welcomes the possibility of their growing friendship.

Summary

• Key events: While driving Lu Xiaoxiao to a quiet bar, Ji Yunhuai reflects on her attempt to comfort him. He had set out to cheer her up, but she ended up lifting his spirits instead. When she praises his friendships and character, he gently pushes back, explaining that many people seek his friendship for what they can gain—and that he, too, often views relationships as exchanges.
• Character development: Ji Yunhuai realizes more clearly why he is drawn to Lu Xiaoxiao: she is direct, emotionally open, and treats people according to how they treat her. Her uncomplicated warmth contrasts with the secrecy and pretence he has grown up around. His affection for her deepens, though he remains candid about his own transactional outlook.
• Character interactions: Lu Xiaoxiao’s straightforward kindness comforts Ji Yunhuai without her intending to. He appreciates that she openly expresses what she likes and dislikes, and that she accepted his money without pretending otherwise. He responds to her praise with affectionate honesty rather than allowing her to idealize him.
• Significant themes: The chapter contrasts sincerity with social performance, and genuine warmth with relationships driven by self-interest. It also suggests that direct communication can feel liberating to someone raised amid concealed resentment and unspoken expectations.

Chapter summary

Key events

• Lu Xiaoxiao teases Ji Yunhuai about being easily affected by her compliments. Instead of acting jealous, he says her habit of seeing good in others reflects her own kindness, which pleases her.
• They arrive at Everlasting Night, a luxurious lounge bar tucked away from the busy street.
• Lu is impressed by the long-haired bartender’s skill. Ji explains that the man, Yin Jinye, is actually the bar’s owner and enjoys mixing drinks himself.
• Yin greets Ji and playfully suggests that a fortune-teller’s prediction of a distinguished visitor referred to him. He then asks whether Lu is Ji’s new friend.
• Ji tells Yin not to flirt with Lu. Yin jokes that he is simply friendly, and Ji counters that his female guests might disagree.
• Ji pulls out a seat for Lu and lets her choose whether to share her name. She willingly introduces herself to Yin.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Xiaoxiao remains confident and playful, joking about Ji’s supposed jealousy and readily accepting his praise. She is curious about the bar and open to meeting its owner.
• Ji Yunhuai shows growing attentiveness toward Lu: he praises her character, objects to Yin’s flirtatious manner, and gives her a choice about sharing personal information. His possessive-sounding warning is delivered casually, suggesting comfort rather than anger.
• Yin Jinye is introduced as a charismatic, teasing bar owner who appears to know Ji well. Their easy banter suggests a close, familiar relationship.

Significant themes

• Affection through teasing: Lu and Ji express warmth through jokes and playful exchanges.
• Kindness and perception: Ji suggests that the qualities people recognize in others can reflect their own character.
• Care and boundaries: Ji’s concern about Yin’s approach shows his protectiveness, while he still respects Lu’s choice about what to share.

Key plot points and events

• Ji Yunhuai brings Lu Xiaoxiao to a bar run by his old classmate, Yin Jinye. Yin notes that this is the first time Ji has brought a female friend.
• Lu Xiaoxiao struggles to decipher the bar’s poetic drink names. Ji recommends a complicated cocktail mainly to make Yin work harder, but Lu chooses the drink with the name she likes instead.
• Yin offers to prepare both cocktails for her. Lu also orders a nonalcoholic soda for Ji, who is driving, making three drinks in total.
• Lu offers to pay, but Yin explains that Ji invested in the bar and helped fund its opening, so he doesn’t charge Ji or his guests. Ji briefly confirms that he and Yin were high-school classmates, then suggests they move to the sofas and play games while the drinks are prepared.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Xiaoxiao is considerate and earnest: she smooths over Ji’s teasing, looks out for him by ordering a nonalcoholic drink, and wants to treat him in return for his generosity.
• Ji Yunhuai shows his mischievous side by trying to inconvenience Yin, but he readily stops when Lu gives him a look. He also teases Lu about being easily embarrassed, prompting her to snap back.
• Yin Jinye is welcoming and attentive toward Lu. Learning how comfortably she handles Ji’s teasing—and how Ji responds to her—he becomes especially courteous to her.
• Lu and Ji share a playful, familiar rapport: she reins in his troublemaking, while he jokes with her and ultimately agrees to her choice.

Significant themes

• Growing familiarity and affection: Their teasing and easy cooperation suggest increasing closeness.
• Consideration and reciprocity: Lu wants to care for Ji and return some of the kindness he has shown her.
• Generosity and old ties: Ji’s investment and friendship with Yin explain why the bar treats him and his guests without charge.

Plot points and events

• Ji Yunhuai quickly mixes two elaborate cocktails: the blue-green, misty Twilight Forest and the pale-gold Tipsy Moon Shadow.
• Lu Xiaoxiao admires their appearance, photographs them from several angles, and asks Ji Yunhuai to choose which picture she should post.
• Ji picks the shot that includes part of his hand, though he claims the drinks look best in that lighting. Lu posts it, and he quietly enjoys having a small trace of himself appear in her social media.
• Lu then proposes a dice-based game of truth or dare for the two of them.

Character developments

• Lu Xiaoxiao is enthusiastic and playful, delighted by the drinks’ presentation and eager to share the moment online. She takes the initiative in suggesting a game.
• Ji Yunhuai reveals a possessive, present-focused outlook: he prefers keeping what he values close rather than preserving it in photographs. Despite this, he indulges Lu’s enthusiasm and is pleased to be included in her post.

Significant themes

• Living in the present versus preserving memories: Ji values direct experience over photographs, while Lu enjoys capturing and sharing moments.
• Quiet intimacy and possessiveness: Ji is satisfied by the subtle evidence of his presence in Lu’s life, and imagines how He Mingchuan might envy it.
• Playful connection: Their differing attitudes do not create conflict; they lead into a lighthearted shared activity.

Character interactions

• Lu stops Ji from drinking so she can photograph the cocktails, then asks for his opinion. He accommodates her and gives a tactful explanation for his choice.
• Ji secretly hopes the selected image will include him, while Lu remains unaware of his motive.
• Their relaxed exchange shifts into flirtatious play when Lu invites him to play truth or dare.

Summary

Lu Xiaoxiao proposes truth or dare, hoping the game will encourage Ji Yunhuai to open up—and give her a chance to tease him if he chooses a dare. They decide that whoever rolls higher wins. Lu rolls a one and assumes she has lost, but Ji rolls the same number, making it a tie. On the next round, Lu rolls a three while Ji rolls another one, so she wins. Before she can ask him a truth, Ji chooses a dare instead. Lu challenges him to call the first person in his contacts, say he is broke, and ask whether they can take him in. The excerpt ends before he responds to or performs the dare.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Xiaoxiao is playful and mischievous, using the game as a lighthearted way to deepen their relationship. Her confidence briefly collapses after her poor first roll, then returns when the tie gives her another chance.
• Ji Yunhuai readily joins the game and insists on rolling despite Lu’s assumption that she has already lost, presenting his actions as fair play. He chooses a dare rather than answer her anticipated question.
• Their teasing, laughter, and easy participation suggest growing comfort and rapport, though Lu’s hope for a serious conversation remains unfulfilled for now.

Themes

• Trust and openness: Lu believes meaningful relationships grow through honest conversation and hopes the game will prompt Ji to share more.
• Playfulness and fairness: The dice game turns possible vulnerability into a humorous, low-pressure exchange.
• Chance and reversal: Lu’s bad luck seems to doom her, but Ji’s matching roll gives her another opportunity to win.

• Plot points: Lu Xiaoxiao dares Ji Yunhuai to prove she is the first person in his phone. He calls his first contact, and the ringtone reveals that it is Lu Xiaoxiao herself. She discovers he saved her as “Aaaaaaaaaa Xiaoxiao,” explaining her top spot through the contact name’s string of A’s. Ji says the name was He Mingchuan’s idea, though he liked the thought of putting her first. He asks whether passing the dare means she would take him in if he had nowhere to go. After joking about supporting him, Xiaoxiao pushes the banter aside and Ji starts the next round of their dice game.
• Character development: Ji reveals a playful, quietly affectionate side: he keeps Xiaoxiao at the top of his contacts and teases her about taking him in. Xiaoxiao responds with mock exasperation and extravagant jokes, but her willingness to play along suggests warmth and comfort with him.
• Interactions: Their exchange is built on a dare, teasing, and mutual flirtation. Xiaoxiao makes fun of Ji’s contact name and his expensive “young master” habits; he calmly turns her jokes into an invitation to keep caring for him. He also credits He Mingchuan for the naming idea, briefly drawing another character into their banter.
• Themes: The scene uses humor and a lighthearted game to hint at closeness. Small gestures—especially Ji’s contact list placing Xiaoxiao first—carry more emotional weight than either character openly admits, while their joking lets them explore affection without making the moment serious.