Chapter Summaries

Plot points and events

• Lu Jiaoyue visits Gu Sipei at his estate, hoping to make amends for breaking their earlier agreement to attend a reception with him.
• She arrives with a handmade gift: silver cuff links she engraved herself.
• Though the butler expects Gu to be unimpressed by the modest gift and Jiaoyue’s unpolished manner, Gu accepts it immediately and puts one on.
• Assistant Lin explains that Gu had watched Jiaoyue arrive on the security feed and only pretended to read once she reached the house. The butler realizes Gu is romantically interested in her.

Character developments

• Lu Jiaoyue is sincere and unpretentious. She openly admits she knows nothing about art, greets Gu casually, and gives him a heartfelt apology gift.
• Gu Sipei shows a warmer, more patient side around Jiaoyue. His attention to her arrival and eagerness to wear her gift reveal how much he cares.
• The butler shifts from judging Jiaoyue as naive to recognizing her importance to Gu, and decides to welcome her more warmly in future.
• Assistant Lin understands Gu’s feelings and discreetly helps the butler interpret his behavior.

Significant themes

• Sincerity over social polish: Jiaoyue’s honesty contrasts with the guests who pretend to be cultured or sophisticated.
• Affection revealed through small gestures: Gu’s watching for Jiaoyue and wearing her handmade gift communicate feelings he does not state outright.
• Different measures of worth: The cuff links’ value lies in the care and effort behind them, not their material or price.

Character interactions

• Jiaoyue’s straightforward conversation and gift disarm the butler’s expectations and draw unusual warmth from Gu.
• The butler silently observes their exchange, then Assistant Lin pulls him aside to explain Gu’s preparations.
• Their conversation changes the butler’s view of Jiaoyue and confirms that Gu’s interest in her is serious.

Plot points and events

• After being left alone with Gu Sipei, Lu Jiaoyue feels comfortable, believing their long online conversations make them familiar.
• Gu Sipei reflects on her earlier absence and his own possessive interest in her. He admits to himself that he had considered abducting her if she refused his invitation, though she came willingly.
• He serves her desserts chosen with her tastes in mind. Jiaoyue hesitates to eat until he says he has forgiven her; he claims he was never angry, and she happily believes him.
• When Gu asks why she missed an earlier visit, Jiaoyue keeps the reason secret to protect her sister.
• Jiaoyue praises the desserts and asks to learn how to make them for her family. Gu is surprised that she wants recipes rather than simply having the chef prepare more.
• He notices how much importance she places on her sister and asks whether she is especially fond of her.

Character developments

• Gu Sipei is revealed as calculating, ruthless, and possessive, yet he is also attentive to Jiaoyue’s preferences. Her unguarded warmth unsettles him, though he conceals his feelings.
• Lu Jiaoyue remains trusting, straightforward, and family-minded. She readily accepts Gu’s reassurance and is eager to make desserts for her loved ones, especially her sister.

Character interactions

• Their conversation repeatedly exposes a mismatch: Gu reads the meeting as emotionally significant, while Jiaoyue treats it casually and focuses on desserts and family.
• Gu tests her about her absence; Jiaoyue protects her sister by withholding the truth.
• Jiaoyue’s praise makes Gu appear kinder than he believes himself to be, and he lets her keep that impression.

Significant themes

• Possessiveness and control: Gu’s attraction comes with a willingness to use coercion.
• Miscommunication and contrasting perspectives: Gu’s hidden motives clash with Jiaoyue’s innocent, practical outlook.
• Family devotion: Jiaoyue’s care for her family—and particularly her sister—becomes apparent and catches Gu’s attention.

Key plot points and events

• Lu Xiaoxiao spends the afternoon memorizing her script for Spirit Abyss Chronicle and rehearsing fight scenes with 037, repeatedly making it play defeated opponents.
• 037 complains about being cast as cannon fodder and suggests practicing dialogue instead. Lu Xiaoxiao refuses, saying her second brother can help with scenes involving Xiao Lingyi.
• When 037 senses Lu Jiaoyue has returned, it distracts Lu Xiaoxiao from rehearsal. Lu Xiaoxiao rushes to ask how Jiaoyue’s visit with Gu Sipei went.
• Jiaoyue says the visit was pleasant: Gu was gentle, accepted her gift, and told her he had never been angry with her. They shared a meal, talked about family and hobbies, and toured his estate.
• Jiaoyue’s strongest evidence of Gu’s kindness is that he rescued the injured doe and fawn from Desert Island Survival and helped secure approval to make the island a nature reserve.
• Though Yubai had described Gu as cruel and lawless, Jiaoyue now believes he seems gentle and asks Xiaoxiao whether she agrees.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Xiaoxiao takes her first acting role seriously, though her enthusiasm for fight practice turns into playful torment of 037. She is also intensely invested in Jiaoyue and Gu’s relationship, which she sees as crucial to the world’s survival.
• 037 protests its repeated “deaths,” tries to negotiate for dialogue practice, and privately grumbles about Xiaoxiao’s tyranny. Its warning about Jiaoyue’s return successfully gets it out of the rehearsal.
• Lu Jiaoyue comes home cheerful and increasingly impressed by Gu Sipei. Her firsthand experience challenges the negative reputation she had heard from Yubai.
• Gu Sipei, though absent from the scene, is presented through Jiaoyue’s account as forgiving, considerate, and protective of wildlife. Jiaoyue’s closeness with Xiaoxiao is also evident in her eagerness to bring home dessert recipes for the family.

Significant themes

• First impressions versus firsthand experience: Jiaoyue questions Gu’s bad reputation after seeing his kindness herself.
• Compassion and responsibility: Gu’s care for the deer and effort to protect the island suggest concern for animals and the environment.
• Family closeness: Jiaoyue emphasizes that Xiaoxiao is her favorite person and wants to share what she learned and bring treats home.
• Humor and affection: Xiaoxiao’s mock-serious rehearsals and 037’s complaints provide comic contrast to the story’s larger stakes.

Plot points

• Lu Jiaoyue asks Lu Xiaoxiao whether she should trust Gu Sipei’s recent kindness. Xiaoxiao privately suspects he is trying to impress Jiaoyue, but decides to judge him by his actions and give Jiaoyue room to decide for herself.
• Xiaoxiao explains that people can interpret the same person differently depending on their own perspectives, using Ji Yunhuai as an example: she likes him because he treats her well, while their second brother dislikes him because he fears losing her.
• Xiaoxiao urges Jiaoyue to form her own opinions rather than letting anyone—including Xiaoxiao—guide her thinking.
• After returning to her room, Xiaoxiao tells system 037 that Jiaoyue’s complete trust and reliance on her feel excessive. She realizes this resembles Jiaoyue’s later devotion to Gu Sipei in the original novel.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Xiaoxiao shows a more thoughtful, protective side. Though she privately has suspicions about Gu Sipei, she avoids imposing her judgment on Jiaoyue and encourages her independence. She then begins to worry that Jiaoyue’s attachment to her may be unhealthy.
• Lu Jiaoyue trusts Xiaoxiao unquestioningly and wants her sister to tell her what to think. She accepts Xiaoxiao’s advice, but her hesitation and physical tension suggest the call for independence unsettles her.
• 037 listens as Xiaoxiao examines Jiaoyue’s behavior and tentatively agrees that her dependence is unusually strong.

Themes

• Independent judgment: People should form their own opinions rather than being led by someone else.
• Subjectivity and perspective: The same behavior can seem positive or negative depending on personal interests and relationships.
• Trust and dependence: The chapter questions when close trust becomes an unhealthy attachment—and whether even well-intentioned influence can undermine another person’s autonomy.

Key plot points

• Lu Xiaoxiao rejects 037’s suggestion that Lu Jiaoyue’s growing devotion to her will make the romance plot easier. Although it might help the story progress, Xiaoxiao wants Jiaoyue to develop her own identity and ambitions.
• Xiaoxiao argues that Jiaoyue has considerable musical talent and could build a career as a singer-songwriter or artist. She criticizes Gu Sipei’s possessive, “keep her at home” style of romance as unequal and unhealthy.
• Qian Annie calls with news about Chen Xiwan: after the online smear campaign began, Xiwan apparently sedated her family, sealed the house, and killed them and herself with carbon monoxide. Her cousin, Chen Haiqing, was not among the dead.
• Xiaoxiao asks Annie to pursue charges against Chen Haiqing, explaining that he is dangerous and could hurt other girls. Annie agrees to investigate.
• After the call, Xiaoxiao reflects that although real-world justice can be difficult to secure, her position in the novel’s world gives her a chance to help bring it about.

Character developments

• Lu Xiaoxiao shows growing affection for Jiaoyue and a strong desire to protect her independence. She is shaken by Xiwan’s death but does not accept responsibility for Xiwan’s choices; instead, she channels her concern into preventing further harm.
• Lu Jiaoyue is portrayed as talented and full of potential, but vulnerable to surrendering her choices to people she trusts.
• Qian Annie is enthusiastic and capable as an investigator, though she jokes that relationship disputes make up much of her experience. She prefers detective work to romance.
• 037 continues to view events in terms of plot progress, while Xiaoxiao prioritizes people’s wellbeing and justice.

Significant themes

• Independence and self-fulfillment: Xiaoxiao wants Jiaoyue to cultivate her own talents rather than live for a romantic partner.
• Healthy love versus possessiveness: The chapter questions romance that treats a partner like a dependent pet rather than an equal.
• Justice and accountability: Xiaoxiao uses her unusual position in the fictional world to seek consequences for someone she believes may harm others.
• Responsibility and trauma: Xiwan’s tragic choices are presented as shaped by a damaging family history, but Xiaoxiao distinguishes understanding that history from excusing her actions.

Character interactions

• Xiaoxiao and 037 debate whether Jiaoyue’s devotion is useful to the plot; their exchange highlights their different priorities.
• Xiaoxiao and Annie discuss Xiwan’s death, then quickly shift to the practical question of bringing Chen Haiqing to justice. Their friendly teasing shows their growing rapport.
• Xiaoxiao’s final exchange with 037 reinforces her resolve to use her influence to make a difference.

Key plot points and events

• Lu Xiaoxiao regularly visits the Spirit Abyss Chronicle set to learn from the cast. She especially admires Jiang Ci’s acting and hopes to learn from her.
• During filming, Jiang Ci’s mother, Zhao Chunfang, barges onto the set and loudly demands 500,000 yuan, claiming she lost money gambling and is being pursued over the debt.
• Jiang Ci calmly says she cannot provide that much. Zhao sits on the floor and wails that her famous daughter is abandoning her, then threatens to disrupt filming until Jiang Ci gives in.
• With the crew watching and Jiang Ci preparing to involve the production manager, an unidentified familiar woman speaks up, mocking Zhao’s behavior and warning that the public would blame her, not Jiang Ci.

Character developments

• Jiang Ci remains composed and emotionally guarded despite her mother’s public attack. Her resolve sharpens when Zhao threatens her workplace.
• Zhao Chunfang is portrayed as coercive and shameless, using guilt, public humiliation, and threats to get money.
• Lu Xiaoxiao is established as an observant newcomer who admires Jiang Ci and treats the crew warmly; she is also present as the scene unfolds.
• The person who intervenes shows confidence and a willingness to defend Jiang Ci publicly.

Significant themes

• The chapter explores family obligation versus personal boundaries, especially when a parent uses their relationship to demand money.
• It highlights public shame and reputation as tools of manipulation, as well as the pressure celebrities face when private family conflicts spill into work.
• The set’s fantasy atmosphere contrasts with the ugly, disruptive reality of Zhao’s behavior.

Character interactions

• Zhao confronts Jiang Ci, demanding money and accusing her of being unfilial.
• Jiang Ci responds with restraint, refusing the demand and trying to end the disturbance through the production staff.
• The crew watches uneasily, unsure whether to intervene.
• A familiar woman finally challenges Zhao, redirecting the scrutiny toward her conduct.

Plot points and events

• Zhao Chunfang publicly berates her daughter, Jiang Ci, and demands money on the film set.
• Lu Xiaoxiao intervenes, recording the confrontation and warning Zhao that the video could expose her behavior online. Afraid of public shame, Zhao leaves after threatening to return.
• Once the crew disperses, Lu checks whether Jiang Ci is safe. Jiang Ci says Zhao doesn’t know where she lives, so she shouldn’t be able to bother her privately.
• Jiang Ci thanks Lu and, in a rare gesture of openness, invites her to rehearse a scene together. They practice, and Lu leaves impressed by Jiang Ci’s acting advice.
• On her way out, Lu is stopped by Ji Yunhuai in a convertible. She teases him for arranging a “chance” meeting, and he admits he came specifically to pick her up.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Xiaoxiao is quick-witted and protective. She uses the threat of public exposure to stop Zhao without escalating the confrontation, then tactfully assures Jiang Ci that she would have intervened for anyone, avoiding making Jiang feel indebted.
• Jiang Ci remains reserved but shows unusual warmth: she thanks Lu and initiates a rehearsal, suggesting growing trust and willingness to connect.
• Zhao Chunfang is exposed as manipulative and intimidating, but her confidence collapses when she realizes her actions could damage her reputation.
• Lu and Ji Yunhuai share an easy, teasing familiarity. Lu is delighted to see him despite pretending his pickup is a cliché; Ji’s response confirms he came intentionally.

Significant themes

• Public accountability: Recording and the prospect of online scrutiny curb Zhao’s abuse.
• Boundaries and independence: Jiang Ci’s assurance that Zhao doesn’t know where she lives reflects her effort to protect herself from family interference.
• Kindness without obligation: Lu helps Jiang while framing it as a matter of keeping order, allowing Jiang to accept the support without feeling indebted.
• Trust through shared work: Jiang’s invitation to rehearse marks a small but meaningful step toward a closer relationship.

Plot points and events

• Ji Yunhuai invites Lu Xiaoxiao to join him and Cui Anze at a shooting range. He says Cui Anhe will also be there, and bringing Lu along may prevent further misunderstandings.
• Lu cheerfully agrees, eager to try shooting. She jokes with Ji during the drive and says she likes Cui Anhe because, despite their past rivalry, Cui Anhe gave her money and jewelry.
• At the range, Cui Anhe complains that she would rather go shopping. Cui Anze explains that meeting somewhere Ji Yunhuai enjoys is a way to show sincerity and make peace.
• Cui Anze tells his sister that Ji will bring Lu. Cui Anhe insists they will be fine, since Lu never argues with her.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Xiaoxiao remains playful, confident, and unbothered by Cui Anhe’s past jealousy. She treats the gifts as evidence that Cui Anhe is generous, not a threat, and lightly flirts with Ji by teasing him about being wealthy.
• Ji Yunhuai shows consideration by arranging to take Lu home if she declines, and hopes her presence will prevent more awkwardness. He is amused—and occasionally exasperated—by her jokes.
• Cui Anhe has softened since her earlier anger. Though she still feels thwarted by Ji’s rejection, she has decided she can accept being his “little sister” and hopes to spend time with Lu, partly to tease Ji.
• Cui Anze patiently indulges his sister and arranges the outing to help her reconcile with Ji. He worries about possible friction, but Cui Anhe dismisses the concern.

Significant themes

• Jealousy giving way to acceptance: Cui Anhe is beginning to adjust to Ji and Lu’s relationship rather than continue resisting it.
• Humor and unconventional affection: Lu’s money-focused jokes defuse rivalry, while her teasing exchanges with Ji reveal their ease and attraction.
• Reconciliation through shared interests: The shooting-range outing is meant to create a comfortable setting for repairing strained relationships.

Plot points

• Cui Anhe grows impatient while waiting for Lu Xiaoxiao and Ji Yunhuai. Wanting to make a gesture of goodwill, she chooses a light, decorative silver pistol for Lu Xiaoxiao.
• Lu Xiaoxiao arrives with Ji Yunhuai and warmly greets Cui Anhe and Cui Anze. She enthusiastically accepts the pistol and praises Cui Anhe’s taste.
• Cui Anze suggests Ji Yunhuai teach Lu Xiaoxiao how to shoot. Ji Yunhuai demonstrates with a standard pistol, then gives her careful instructions.
• As Lu Xiaoxiao prepares to fire, her silver pistol suddenly explodes. Ji Yunhuai catches her and confirms she is unharmed, then turns on Cui Anhe, accusing her of choosing the gun and demanding to know whether she tampered with it.

Character developments and interactions

• Cui Anhe tries—awkwardly—to show Lu Xiaoxiao kindness, though she is defensive when her brother reveals she had been asking about the visitors. Her intentions appear genuine, but the explosion immediately casts suspicion on her.
• Lu Xiaoxiao responds to Cui Anhe’s gesture with cheerful sincerity, easing the tension between them. She is eager to learn shooting and trusts Ji Yunhuai’s guidance.
• Ji Yunhuai is patient and attentive while teaching Lu Xiaoxiao, then becomes fiercely protective when she is endangered. He positions himself between her and Cui Anhe and confronts the latter.
• Cui Anze teases his sister about her interest in Lu Xiaoxiao, welcomes the guests, and encourages Ji Yunhuai to teach her.

Significant themes

• Good intentions versus consequences: Cui Anhe means to be welcoming, but her choice of an ornamental weapon proves dangerous.
• Trust and suspicion: A friendly exchange turns abruptly into an accusation when the gun explodes.
• Protection and loyalty: Ji Yunhuai’s immediate concern for Lu Xiaoxiao—and his readiness to confront Cui Anhe—underscores his protectiveness.

Summary

• During a shooting-range gathering, Ji Yunhuai accuses Cui Anhe of tampering with the gun that malfunctioned and nearly injured Lu Xiaoxiao. Cui Anze tries to defend his sister, but Anhe rejects his comfort, breaks down in tears, and shouts that she hates Ji before running out.
• Cui Anze insists Anhe had no chance to alter the gun and knows nothing about firearms. Though he admits she can be headstrong, he tells Ji that his accusation was cruel, then leaves to follow her. The gathering ends abruptly.
• At Lu Xiaoxiao’s suggestion, Ji investigates. The gunsmith confirms the gun came from a defective batch and broke from metal fatigue; it had not been deliberately tampered with. Ji realizes he accused Anhe without evidence, driven by fear for Xiaoxiao and resentment of Anhe’s past behavior. He is left feeling guilty and uneasy.
• Ji offers to take Xiaoxiao home and says he will handle matters with the Cui family himself. Xiaoxiao instead asks him to sit and talk, sensing that he is trying to hide his distress.

Character developments and interactions

Ji’s protective concern for Xiaoxiao turns into an unfair, hurtful accusation, and the truth forces him to confront his bias and regret. Anhe’s unusually quiet, devastated tears reveal how deeply Ji’s words wound her. Anze is torn between comforting his sister and challenging Ji, ultimately defending Anhe and holding Ji accountable. Xiaoxiao tries to calm the confrontation, then gently encourages Ji to face his feelings rather than withdraw.

Significant themes

The chapter explores the harm caused by acting on fear and prejudice before confirming the facts, the importance of accountability, and the difficulty of repairing relationships after hurtful words. It also contrasts protective intentions with their damaging consequences.

Key plot points and events

• Ji Yunhuai admits he was wrong to accuse Cui Anhe and says he intends to apologize.
• Lu Xiaoxiao encourages him to address the longer history between them, not just the latest argument. She suggests Cui Anhe’s pushy behavior may come from concern, insecurity, and fear of losing him rather than malice.
• Ji Yunhuai explains that their relationship worsened after his mother died. He withdrew while grieving, and Cui Anhe—unaware of what had happened—tried to cheer him up in ways that only made him feel pressured.
• Lu Xiaoxiao points out that both have cared for each other in their own ways. Ji Yunhuai has quietly helped Cui Anhe, while Cui Anhe’s hurt shows that she values him. He becomes more willing to reconsider his assumptions and plans to visit her and apologize.
• Lu Xiaoxiao reveals she has tried to accommodate Cui Anhe partly because she knows Ji Yunhuai feels responsible for her. Moved by Xiaoxiao’s wish for him to find warmth and affection, Ji Yunhuai embraces her.
• He asks her to wait for his formal confession, explaining that he is preparing a special surprise. Xiaoxiao playfully teases him, then hugs him back and agrees to wait.

Character developments

• Ji Yunhuai shifts from defensiveness and guilt toward a more compassionate understanding of Cui Anhe. He recognizes his own narrow perspective and shows emotional vulnerability with Lu Xiaoxiao.
• Lu Xiaoxiao acts as a perceptive mediator, balancing empathy with practical advice. She remains playful, but openly expresses her hope that Ji Yunhuai will find care and belonging.
• Cui Anhe, though absent, is reframed as someone whose overbearing behavior may stem from concern, insecurity, and attachment. Her feelings for Ji Yunhuai remain complicated and possibly not fully understood even by her.

Significant themes

• Misunderstandings can persist when people grieve differently and fail to communicate.
• Good intentions do not guarantee that care will be received as intended; people may need to learn how to support one another in ways that fit.
• Emotional closeness is shown through quiet, often unspoken acts of care.
• Patience and commitment matter in romance: Ji Yunhuai wants to make a meaningful confession, while Xiaoxiao chooses to wait for him.

Character interactions

• Xiaoxiao gently challenges Ji Yunhuai’s assumptions and helps him imagine Cui Anhe’s perspective.
• Ji Yunhuai listens, jokes with Xiaoxiao, and gradually accepts her interpretation, though he remains uncertain about revealing painful family history to Cui Anhe.
• Their conversation turns from advice about Cui Anhe to mutual tenderness: Ji Yunhuai seeks comfort in Xiaoxiao’s embrace, and she responds with affection and patience.

Key plot points

• After the shooting-range accident, Ji Yunhuai offers to take Lu Xiaoxiao home, but she has already booked a car and urges him to go apologize to Cui Anhe.
• While waiting for her ride, Ji admits he was also worried about Lu, since she was the one who experienced the gun bursting. Lu reassures him that the accident was not his fault and insists she is fine.
• Ji calls her “Xiaoxiao” rather than using one of his usual teasing nicknames. She pauses, then smiles, and their parting carries a new sense of closeness.
• At home, Cui Anhe vents by yelling at and attacking her stuffed toys. Ji arrives, catches one she throws, and tells her he can leave if she truly doesn’t want to speak.
• Cui Anhe angrily admits she deliberately chose a faulty gun to hurt Lu, then challenges Ji to call the police. Ji explains that the range staff found no evidence of tampering, apologizes for suspecting her, and acknowledges he acted impulsively.
• Cui rejects the apology and declares their friendship over.

Character developments and interactions

• Ji Yunhuai shows concern for Lu and takes responsibility for his hasty accusation against Cui. His use of her given name suggests a subtle change in their relationship.
• Lu Xiaoxiao remains breezy and reassuring, even when Ji is blaming himself. Her playful warmth helps lift his mood, though she initially misunderstands what he is worried about.
• Cui Anhe shifts from furious, theatrical outbursts to a serious confrontation with Ji. Though he comes to make amends, she is not ready to forgive him.
• Ji and Lu part on warmly familiar terms; Ji and Cui meet with tension, as his apology cannot immediately undo the hurt between them.

Significant themes

• Care and emotional understanding: Ji worries about Lu, while Lu tries to reassure him, even if she does not fully grasp his feelings.
• Accountability and trust: Ji admits he judged Cui too quickly, but an apology does not guarantee reconciliation.
• Subtle romantic change: Their hug and Ji’s more intimate use of Lu’s name signal an unspoken shift in their bond.

Key plot points and events

• Cui Anhe threatens to cut ties with Ji Yunhuai after their disagreement, but he recognizes that she does not truly mean it.
• Ji Yunhuai offers her the coveted “Queen of Hearts” jewelry collection as an apology. The gift quickly softens her anger, and she agrees not to cut ties.
• With the argument settled, Ji Yunhuai answers a question Cui Anhe has asked for years: why he changed after his mother died.
• He reveals that his father, Ji Cheng, married his mother while already maintaining another family, where he had a favored older son, Fang Youcheng. Ji Cheng treated Ji Yunhuai and his mother badly and regards Ji Yunhuai as worthless.
• Ji Yunhuai says he feels the same contempt for his father and no longer needs Ji Cheng to understand him. Shocked and upset by the revelation, Cui Anhe finally tells him she forgives him for what happened that day.

Character developments

• Ji Yunhuai shows how well he understands Cui Anhe, using humor and the promise of an expensive gift to defuse her tantrum. He also reveals a painful family history with striking calm, suggesting he has emotionally distanced himself from his father.
• Cui Anhe moves from anger and bargaining to genuine sympathy. Learning about Ji Yunhuai’s childhood changes her understanding of his unhappiness and makes her feel protective of him.

Significant themes

• Money as a peacemaker: The jewelry makes Cui Anhe’s anger visibly recede, giving the chapter its comic title.
• Family betrayal and favoritism: Ji Cheng’s secret second family and preference for Fang Youcheng left Ji Yunhuai feeling rejected and mistreated.
• Truth deepening friendship: Ji Yunhuai’s long-delayed explanation allows Cui Anhe to understand him more fully.
• Emotional resilience and detachment: Ji Yunhuai acknowledges the harm his father caused but insists he no longer needs his approval.

Character interactions

• Ji Yunhuai teases Cui Anhe by pretending to accept the end of their relationship, then uses the jewelry offer to bring her around.
• Cui Anhe’s playful indignation gives way to concern as she listens to his story; she reacts with disbelief, defends him against his father’s judgment, and ultimately forgives him.
• Ji Yunhuai’s rare openness contrasts with his otherwise controlled manner, while Cui Anhe’s response shows the closeness and trust between them.

Plot points and events

• After a late day, actress Jiang Ci returns to her rented room and finds the hallway light broken. She notices her door opens after only one turn of the key, despite having locked it twice.
• Alarmed, she prepares to call for help, but discovers the intruder is her mother, Zhao Chunfang. Zhao admits she followed Jiang Ci home after being driven away from the film set, then persuaded the landlord to let her into the room.
• Zhao claims she has come to apologize for disrupting Jiang Ci’s work earlier. She has cooked Jiang Ci’s childhood favorites, though the dishes have gone cold, and urges her to eat.
• Zhao recounts raising Jiang Ci alone and presents her gambling as a misguided attempt to improve their lives. She begs Jiang Ci to help with her substantial gambling debt, eventually dropping to her knees and clutching Jiang Ci’s leg.
• Jiang Ci gives in and transfers Zhao 128,619.23, nearly all her savings. She says she may seek an advance on her drama pay to cover more, but warns Zhao that this is the last time.

Character developments

• Jiang Ci remains composed and guarded, but her response to her mother reveals lingering compassion and vulnerability. She is conflicted by Zhao’s appeals, even as she recognizes the manipulation and the cost to herself.
• Zhao Chunfang shifts from an earlier public outburst to exaggerated apologies, sentimental recollections, tears, and desperation. Once Jiang Ci agrees to help, she quickly stops crying and asks how much more money Jiang Ci can provide.
• Jiang Ci also shows quiet professional generosity: she plans to prepare acting notes for Lu Xiaoxiao, whose earnestness reminds her of her own dedication to acting.

Significant themes

• Family obligation versus self-protection: Jiang Ci feels pressured to support a parent whose choices created the crisis, despite having limited means.
• Emotional manipulation and guilt: Zhao uses memories of motherhood, self-pity, and dramatic pleading to secure money.
• Scarcity and sacrifice: The exact transfer amount underscores how much of Jiang Ci’s financial security she gives up.
• Loneliness and precariousness: Jiang Ci’s modest room, uncertain acting career, and dwindling savings highlight her vulnerability.

Character interactions

• Jiang Ci initially treats Zhao’s unexpected presence as a possible threat, then listens to her apology and plea while maintaining a restrained, skeptical manner.
• Zhao’s cooking and stories of raising Jiang Ci contrast with her insistence that Jiang Ci pay for the consequences of her gambling.
• Jiang Ci helps Zhao up and promises assistance, but ends the exchange by setting a boundary: she will help this time, and it will be the last.

Key plot points and events

• The day after Ji Yunhuai apologized to Cui Anhe, Cui messages Lu Xiaoxiao and says she is willing to accept her as a sister-in-law, though she will keep watching her.
• Their playful discussion of what “sister-in-law” means turns into teasing about whether Lu likes Ji Yunhuai. Lu admits she can imagine kissing him, unlike Cui, who gets goosebumps imagining kissing him herself.
• Cui asks to watch Lu and Ji Yunhuai kiss; Lu refuses, and the two continue joking. They agree to keep their chat from Ji Yunhuai.
• Afterward, Lu realizes she and Cui have moved past seeing each other as rivals and are becoming ordinary friends.
• Lu reflects on how she has been shaping a life and friendships distinct from those of the original Lu Xiaoxiao. Remembering their brief dream encounter, she wonders whether the original self can hear her and tries speaking to her directly.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Xiaoxiao is increasingly open to the possibility of romance with Ji Yunhuai, despite her earlier insistence that they were unsuitable. She also feels happier and more settled in the social life she is building for herself.
• Cui Anhe recognizes that her feelings for Ji Yunhuai were not romantic. She accepts Lu as a potential sister-in-law and treats her with teasing affection, though she remains playfully possessive and curious.
• The two women’s lively, joking chat resolves their imagined rivalry and establishes a warmer friendship. Their exchanges are marked by mock offense, quick apologies, and mutual teasing.

Significant themes

• Friendship replacing jealousy: Honest reflection allows Cui and Lu to move beyond competition and become friends.
• Romantic self-discovery: Both women test their feelings by imagining intimacy, helping distinguish familial affection from romantic attraction.
• Identity and autonomy: Lu recognizes that she is making the original character’s life her own through her choices and relationships.
• Connection across selves: The chapter ends with Lu hoping to communicate with the original Lu Xiaoxiao, leaving open questions about the original self’s awareness and feelings.

Plot and key events

• Lu Xiaoxiao tries to contact the original owner of her body by speaking aloud, apologizing for taking over her life and for actions she may have disliked, and promising to respect her wishes.
• Her attempt succeeds: she re-enters the strange, dark inner space. The floor is covered in water, and she realizes she has accidentally sat in it.
• The original host remains unseen despite Lu Xiaoxiao calling for her. When Lu Xiaoxiao tries to contact her system, 037, a woman’s voice answers instead, saying the system cannot hear her.

Character development

• Lu Xiaoxiao shows empathy and a growing willingness to acknowledge the original host as a person with her own preferences. Her earnest, awkward diplomacy contrasts with her earlier uncertainty about the situation.
• The original host remains mysterious, but her response suggests she is present and able to communicate.
• 037 is anxious about Lu Xiaoxiao’s unusual attempt to make contact, which it thinks looks like a séance.

Character interactions

• Lu Xiaoxiao addresses the original host directly, offering an apology and inviting a peaceful conversation.
• She attempts to call 037 from within the inner space, but the original host—or another unseen woman—responds in its place, indicating the system cannot hear her.

Significant themes

• Identity and consent: Lu Xiaoxiao recognizes that occupying another person’s body affects the original host and tries to respect her agency.
• Communication across divides: The scene centers on an attempted connection between two people who share a body but have not yet established trust.
• Unease and humor: The eerie setting and séance-like behavior are undercut by Lu Xiaoxiao’s comic enthusiasm and her mishap with the waterlogged floor.

Key events

• Lu Xiaoxiao meets the original owner of her body in a shadowy inner space. She is surprised to find that the original can be touched, but learns they are both there in soul form while their bodies sleep.
• The original Lu Xiaoxiao admits she can observe events in the real world, though neither people nor the system can detect her. She could leave the space, but believes she would be taken away if she did, and isn’t ready to go.
• Lu Xiaoxiao asks why the original sought her out before and whether she needs help. The original explains that she once pitied Lu Xiaoxiao for inheriting her lonely, difficult life—but now sees that things have turned out far better than she expected.

Character development and interactions

• Lu Xiaoxiao responds to the strange encounter with curiosity and warmth rather than fear. She enthusiastically greets the original and reassures her that she is beautiful, rejecting comparisons with Lu Jiaoyue and emphasizing that different people have different kinds of beauty.
• The original Lu Xiaoxiao is shy and insecure, especially about her appearance. Lu Xiaoxiao’s sincere compliments seem to reach her, though she remains reserved.
• The original’s feelings shift from guilt and sympathy to admiration—and a little jealousy—as she recognizes how successfully Lu Xiaoxiao has transformed the life she left behind.

Significant themes

• Self-worth beyond comparison: Beauty is presented as varied and personal, not something to rank.
• Identity and inheritance: The two women share a face and body but have distinct personalities and experiences.
• Loneliness, guilt, and change: The original worries that Lu Xiaoxiao has inherited her hardships, then finds comfort in seeing her thrive.
• Agency and transformation: Lu Xiaoxiao’s choices have made life better than the original imagined possible.

Key plot points and events

• The original Lu Xiaoxiao admits she feels jealous of the transmigrated Lu Xiaoxiao, whose life in the Lu family has turned out better.
• The transmigrated Lu Xiaoxiao accepts the confession without judgment. She says feelings like jealousy are normal and that people should be judged by their actions; the original girl has not harmed anyone and has behaved reasonably.
• She reassures the original that members of the Lu family do care about her, pointing especially to their mother and brothers, though she acknowledges Lu Yubai has treated her badly.
• The original then asks Lu Xiaoxiao to find out who her biological parents are. She mainly wants to know their identities, but would also like to understand why they abandoned her if contact is possible.
• Lu Xiaoxiao agrees to investigate, though she expects it may take time and plans to keep the search discreet from the Lu family. The conversation ends with her asking to be woken up.

Character developments

• The original Lu Xiaoxiao openly acknowledges an uncomfortable feeling and begins asking for help, revealing unresolved pain about being abandoned as a child.
• The transmigrated Lu Xiaoxiao shows empathy and a nonjudgmental outlook. Although she has never considered searching for the original’s parents, she agrees because the request matters to the girl.

Significant themes

• Feelings versus actions: Jealousy is treated as an ordinary emotion; moral judgment depends on whether someone acts harmfully.
• Belonging and family: The original struggles to believe the Lu family cares for her, despite Lu Xiaoxiao’s reassurances.
• Abandonment and closure: The search for biological parents reflects the original’s lingering need to understand why she was given up.
• Empathy and responsibility: Lu Xiaoxiao tries to see the situation from the original’s perspective and commits to helping.

Character interactions

• Their candid conversation builds trust: the original risks revealing jealousy, and Lu Xiaoxiao responds with reassurance rather than rejection.
• Lu Xiaoxiao challenges the original’s assumption that the family dislikes her, while acknowledging that Lu Yubai has been unkind.
• The original makes a vulnerable request, and Lu Xiaoxiao responds warmly, promising to investigate without rushing or drawing attention to it.

Key plot points and events

• Lu Xiaoxiao wakes after collapsing and reassures the panicked system, 037, that she is fine.
• She explains that she met the Original Host’s lingering soul. They reached an understanding, and Lu Xiaoxiao agreed to help find the Original Host’s biological parents.
• Since 037 has no information about the parents, Lu Xiaoxiao plans to investigate herself, starting with the orphanage.
• She rejects using Qian Annie’s connections, deciding to keep the search quiet so the Lu Family and Ji Yunhuai won’t misread her motives or become concerned.
• At home, she greets An Tingxue, who has come to visit her third brother, then leaves for the film set with a newly assigned driver.
• Lu Xiaoxiao suspects Lu Shiyan arranged the driver partly to stop Ji Yunhuai from driving her himself.
• At the film crew, she approaches director Wei Yun and Jiang Ci, who are talking together.

Character developments

• Lu Xiaoxiao accepts responsibility for the Original Host’s request and shows resolve to investigate independently. She is also careful to protect her relationships and maintain appearances.
• 037 is initially distraught, but settles down and agrees with Lu Xiaoxiao’s plan.
• Lu Shiyan appears considerate in assigning Lu Xiaoxiao a driver, though she suspects he is also acting strategically.

Significant themes

• Identity and obligation: Lu Xiaoxiao takes on a task for the soul whose life she now occupies.
• Privacy and appearances: She keeps the search secret to avoid disrupting her relationships or drawing unwanted conclusions.
• Family loyalty and strategy: Her decisions reflect concern for the Lu Family, while she recognizes her brother’s calculating side.

Character interactions

• Lu Xiaoxiao comforts and then scolds 037, explaining her plan and correcting his assumptions.
• She reasons through why involving Qian Annie, the Lu Family, or Ji Yunhuai could cause complications.
• She exchanges a courteous greeting with An Tingxue, who is visiting Lu Xiaoxiao’s third brother.
• She heads to the film crew and greets Wei Yun and Jiang Ci.

Plot and key events

Jiang Ci abruptly leaves after handing Lu Xiaoxiao a heavily annotated copy of Spirit Abyss Chronicle. Though she dismisses the notes as something she wrote in her spare time, their care and detail show that she put real effort into helping Lu Xiaoxiao.
Wei Yun explains that Jiang Ci had asked for an advance on her pay, likely to help with her family’s gambling debts. The production cannot safely pay her directly because her contract requires her wages to go through her agency. Moved by Jiang Ci’s kindness and convinced she is worth knowing, Lu Xiaoxiao offers to lend her the money privately, keeping Wei Yun and the production out of the contractual dispute. She asks Wei Yun to keep the arrangement from Jiang Ci for now.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Xiaoxiao becomes more sympathetic toward Jiang Ci after seeing the effort behind her notes. She values kindness and chooses to help, while recognizing the risks involved.
• Jiang Ci remains guarded and proud, but her thoughtful gift reveals a considerate side beneath her icy manner. Her request for an advance suggests she may be trying to deal with her family’s financial troubles.
• Wei Yun is initially concerned about the contractual complications, but agrees to Lu Xiaoxiao’s solution. She also teases Lu Xiaoxiao about her relationship with Ji Yunhuai, whom she openly “ships” with her.

Significant themes

• Kindness repaid with kindness: Lu Xiaoxiao responds to Jiang Ci’s thoughtful help with practical support of her own.
• Pride and vulnerability: Jiang Ci’s restrained manner suggests she finds it difficult to ask for help directly.
• Professional and financial constraints: The agency contract makes an apparently simple pay advance risky for the production.
• Celebrity romance and public enthusiasm: Wei Yun’s playful teasing contrasts with the serious discussion and ends the chapter on a light note.