Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• Lu Xiaoxiao asks Ji Yunhuai what will happen to him within the Ji Family after his grandfather’s death. Ji Yunhuai says the family’s future is uncertain until the will is read at the funeral, scheduled for a few days later.
• Ji Yunhuai reveals that his grandfather had arranged the funeral himself, including having a coffin made, because he feared his family would not handle it properly. Ji Yunhuai admits he had assumed those preparations would not be needed soon.
• Lu Xiaoxiao shares his grief by holding his hand. Ji Yunhuai invites her to attend the funeral as his family, and she agrees to act as his “bodyguard.”
• Lu Xiaoxiao then tells him about her encounter with Ji Cheng the previous night. Ji Cheng offered her five million to leave Ji Yunhuai. She rejected and mocked him, even pretending not to recognize him.
• Beneath the comic story, Lu Xiaoxiao raises a more serious concern: Ji Cheng’s parting remark about “opportunities” and her potentially regretting her choice may have been more than an empty threat.

Character developments and interactions

• Ji Yunhuai acknowledges both his grief and the looming struggle for power in his family, while trying to reassure Lu Xiaoxiao. He accepts her support and explicitly includes her as family.
• Lu Xiaoxiao shows concern for Ji Yunhuai’s safety and political position. She offers practical loyalty by agreeing to attend the funeral, then carefully tells him about Ji Cheng’s attempt to pressure her.
• Their exchange mixes tenderness with familiar teasing: Lu Xiaoxiao’s humorous account briefly eases Ji Yunhuai’s anger, but the conversation turns serious when she mentions Ji Cheng’s warning.
• Ji Yunhuai’s reaction shifts from alarm at the idea that Ji Cheng provoked her to restrained amusement at her retelling, before he recognizes that she has a deeper concern.

Significant themes

• Grief amid political upheaval: Ji Yunhuai may have little time to mourn before the family’s power struggle begins.
• Loyalty and chosen family: Lu Xiaoxiao’s place beside him is affirmed through his invitation to the funeral.
• Threats and manipulation: Ji Cheng tries to buy Lu Xiaoxiao off and may be hinting at future consequences, foreshadowing conflict within the Ji Family.

Key plot points and events

• After raising the possibility that Ji Cheng may have been involved in Old Master Ji’s death, Lu Xiaoxiao lets the subject drop when Ji Yunhuai falls silent. He agrees he understands, then changes the subject and offers to take her home.
• On the quiet, snowy walk back, Lu Xiaoxiao playfully steps in their old footprints. Ji Yunhuai patiently indulges her, and her lightheartedness eases some of his heaviness.
• Cui Anhe video-calls Lu Xiaoxiao, worried because neither of them had checked in. Lu Xiaoxiao shows her that she and Ji Yunhuai are safe.
• Cui Anhe notices their mouths and accuses them of kissing without letting her watch, rekindling a running joke about a promise Lu Xiaoxiao insists she never made.
• Ji Yunhuai takes the phone, reassures Cui Anhe that he is all right, and confirms that he and Lu Xiaoxiao have become a couple. He calls her Cui’s sister-in-law and tells Cui to treat her respectfully. Lu Xiaoxiao instead affectionately indulges Cui, leaving Ji Yunhuai comically jealous.

Character developments

• Ji Yunhuai remains burdened by the possibility of his father’s involvement in Old Master Ji’s death, but Lu Xiaoxiao’s playful company brings him some relief. He is also openly affectionate and comfortable acknowledging their relationship.
• Lu Xiaoxiao shows concern for Ji Yunhuai while knowing when not to press him. Her embarrassment over Cui Anhe’s teasing contrasts with her easy, affectionate way of handling Cui.
• Cui Anhe reveals how deeply she feared Ji Yunhuai might fall into grief as he did after his mother’s death. Seeing him composed reassures her, though she quickly hides her concern behind teasing and bluster.

Significant themes

• Grief and family loyalty: The possibility that Ji Cheng caused Old Master Ji’s death is painful precisely because he is still Ji Yunhuai’s family.
• Care expressed through small gestures: Lu Xiaoxiao’s playful walk and Cui Anhe’s anxious call both show concern without requiring a direct emotional conversation.
• New intimacy and playful jealousy: Ji Yunhuai and Lu Xiaoxiao’s relationship is newly official, but their interactions remain light and teasing.

Character interactions

• Lu Xiaoxiao gently raises a painful possibility, then respects Ji Yunhuai’s decision to stop discussing it.
• Ji Yunhuai accommodates her childish footprint game and later reassures Cui Anhe directly.
• Cui Anhe scolds the couple for disappearing, then teases them about kissing; Ji Yunhuai responds by announcing their relationship.
• Ji Yunhuai tries to establish a respectful “sister-in-law” dynamic, while Lu Xiaoxiao warmly sides with Cui Anhe—prompting Ji Yunhuai’s private, humorous jealousy.

Key plot points and events

• After Lu Xiaoxiao comforts Cui Anhe, Ji Yunhuai admits he feels jealous of her. Lu teases him with a quick kiss and assures him she’ll spoil him too. He’s pleased that their relationship has become official, even though their behavior toward each other hasn’t changed much.
• Lu returns home near dawn intending to sleep, but finds she has passed the point of feeling tired. 037 appears and, moved by the night’s events, urges her to stay in the novel world rather than return to reality.
• Lu recognizes that 037 has consistently tried to steer her toward staying. She challenges it about its motives and asks what has happened to her real-world body, how time passes between worlds, and whether returning would truly restore her former life.
• 037 finally manifests in a new, mature-looking blond form and reveals that Lu’s request to its superiors is unlikely to be approved—and that even approval would not mean what she expects.
• Lu’s first response is to question why 037 transformed, jokingly comparing its appearance to Balala the Fairies. 037 indignantly explains that this is the form it always wanted, while its earlier childlike form was meant to seem less threatening.

Character developments

• Lu Xiaoxiao remains committed to finding the truth about returning home, but her silence when 037 asks her to stay suggests that her attachment to her new life and Ji Yunhuai is becoming harder to dismiss.
• Ji Yunhuai is openly jealous, yet easily reassured by Lu’s affection. He is content that they are now officially together, even without a dramatic change in their relationship.
• 037 drops its playful act and reveals a more detached, serious side, confirming that it has been deliberately trying to influence Lu’s choices.

Significant themes

• Love and jealousy: Ji’s jealousy is softened by affection and reassurance.
• Belonging versus returning home: Lu’s growing emotional ties make her original goal more complicated.
• Trust and manipulation: Lu realizes that 037’s encouragement to stay may serve its own undisclosed purpose.
• Truth and uncertainty: The revelation about her request raises doubts about whether returning to reality is possible in the way she hopes.

Character interactions

• Lu comforts Cui Anhe, then playfully reassures Ji when he shows jealousy.
• 037 tries to persuade Lu to remain, but Lu calmly confronts it about its intentions and demands answers.
• After revealing difficult news, 037 is caught off guard when Lu focuses on its appearance, briefly undercutting the tense conversation with comedy.

Plot and revelations

• After an awkward transformation sequence, Lu Xiaoxiao orders system 037 to change back. It settles on its blond-man form, since neither that nor its other appearances earns it any more respect from her.
• Lu Xiaoxiao presses 037 about why its superiors might reject a permanent passage between worlds, then asks what happened to her real-world body.
• 037 reveals that she was near death from staying up too late when the system brought her into the story. Her body is now effectively frozen between life and death; returning her without intervention would mean she died immediately.
• The system admits it initially promised hosts they could go home after their missions, even though restoring their real-world lives is costly and generally not planned. The promise is meant to give hosts hope and encourage cooperation.
• Most hosts follow the story, receive comfortable new lives in the fictional world, or grow attached to people there and choose to stay. As they identify more with their roles, they often forget their original lives.
• 037 suspects Lu Xiaoxiao’s unusually strong connection to reality may be linked to the original Lu Xiaoxiao’s presence in a “bug” in the world, where she observed Lu Xiaoxiao, used Mind Reading, and interacted with her.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Xiaoxiao remains blunt and unawed by 037’s attempts to look mature, treating the system with familiar exasperation.
• Her shock at learning her body is effectively dead gives way to anger when she realizes the promise of going home may have been misleading.
• 037 reveals information it had previously concealed, but treats the system’s deceptive reassurance as standard practice rather than a serious wrongdoing. It also offers a theory about Lu Xiaoxiao’s unusual attachment to her real identity.

Significant themes

• Truth versus comforting promises: the system withholds the harsh reality of hosts’ situations to secure their cooperation.
• Identity and assimilation: becoming immersed in a fictional role can blur or erase a host’s memories of their former self.
• Belonging and the pull of home: unlike most hosts, Lu Xiaoxiao continues to care strongly about returning to reality despite developing ties in the story world.

Key plot points and events

• System 037 reveals that Lu Xiaoxiao’s difficulty settling into the current world was caused by the Original Host’s lingering influence, which has now disappeared.
• Lu asks whether her request to travel between worlds was denied because it was impossible or simply too costly. 037 admits that extending her real-world life violates the laws of that world, and its superiors would rather she remain where she is.
• Lu questions why 037 told her the truth instead of letting her gradually forget her past. 037 says it cares about her and wants her to have a choice.
• After a comic misunderstanding about what 037 means by “like,” it explains that Lu is its first host and has become special to it—more like a friend.
• 037 admits it hopes Lu will be happy, though it would regret losing her, and leaves the decision entirely to her.
• Lu casually says she will stay. 037 is stunned by how quickly she has decided.

Character developments

• Lu Xiaoxiao remains composed after learning that returning home may be impossible or prohibitively costly. Her choice to stay suggests her priorities have shifted, though her suddenness leaves 037 unsure whether she is serious.
• 037 shows greater emotional depth than expected: it feels affection, guilt, anxiety, and reluctance to lose Lu, yet chooses honesty and respects her autonomy.

Significant themes

• Truth and autonomy: 037 tells Lu the truth so her future will be her own decision.
• Attachment and friendship: Their banter reveals a genuine bond beneath their teasing relationship.
• Home, belonging, and choice: Lu’s decision to stay marks a possible change in what she considers home.
• Comedy amid emotional conflict: Misunderstandings and sharp teasing soften an otherwise consequential conversation.

Character interactions

• Lu probes 037’s motives without anger, while 037 nervously explains its feelings and intentions.
• Lu mistakes 037’s affection for romantic interest, then reassures it in a way that only makes it more exasperated.
• Their familiar teasing—Lu calling 037 a masochist and criticizing its appearance—underscores their closeness.
• 037 offers Lu freedom to choose; Lu’s answer catches it completely off guard.

Plot points and events

• Lu Xiaoxiao explains to system 037 why she no longer wants to return to her original world. She believed she had been unfairly taken from a life she still had time to live; now that she knows she was supposed to die, she sees her current life as a fortunate second chance.
• She rejects abstract worries about whether this world is “real,” deciding that the love, friendships, ambitions, and happiness she has here are real enough to choose. Her guiding principle is to live freely and happily.
• Relieved by her reaction, 037 admits it had feared she would be devastated and promises to communicate more openly instead of worrying alone.
• Xiaoxiao then asks 037 to request one extra day in her original world after the mission. She wants to confront her former boss and colleagues without worrying about consequences. 037 reluctantly agrees to pass along the request, though it cannot promise approval.
• Turning back to her present life, Xiaoxiao decides to tell her family that she and Ji Yunhuai are officially dating and to reveal her mind-reading ability. She looks forward to the family’s reaction and prepares for a lively “family meeting” at breakfast.

Character developments

• Lu Xiaoxiao shows remarkable resilience and pragmatism. She reframes her apparent loss as a bargain and embraces her new life without regret, while remaining mischievous and eager to settle old scores.
• 037 moves from anxious anticipation to relief and greater trust in Xiaoxiao’s emotional resilience. It also learns to be more direct with her, though it remains bemused by her unconventional requests.

Significant themes

• What makes a life real: Xiaoxiao values the relationships and fulfillment she experiences over abstract distinctions between virtual and “real” worlds.
• Resilience and choosing happiness: She responds to unsettling news by focusing on the life she can live now.
• Communication and trust: Xiaoxiao asks 037 to stop withholding information and plans to be more open with her family.
• Freedom and catharsis: Her joking wish for one last day back home reflects a desire to escape the restraints of her former working life.

Character interactions

• Xiaoxiao’s candid, playful reasoning reassures 037 and turns its fear into relief.
• 037 humors her request to seek a one-day return, despite finding the idea outrageous.
• Xiaoxiao and 037 then discuss her plans to disclose her relationship with Ji Yunhuai and her mind-reading ability to the Lu family, setting up a potentially chaotic family breakfast.

• During breakfast, Lu Xiaoxiao tells her family that she went to see Ji Yunhuai the previous night and that they are now officially dating.
• Her announcement leaves the family stunned. Lu Shiyan reacts dramatically, struggling to accept that his younger sister is in a relationship, while Lu Xunli is confused and clearly behind on family news.
• Lu Jiaoyue is delighted and offers the couple her sincere congratulations. Lu Bochen asks whether Ji Yunhuai treats Xiaoxiao well, showing quiet concern.
• Lu Yubai misunderstands the announcement’s significance: he thought Xiaoxiao and Ji Yunhuai had already been a couple for a long time. His blunt remark breaks the tender moment and leaves everyone awkward.
• Xiaoxiao then explains that the night was unusual because Ji Yunhuai’s grandfather had suddenly died. She briefly recounts what she witnessed when she went to see him.
  Character developments and interactions: Xiaoxiao calmly and openly shares both her relationship news and the painful circumstances surrounding it. Her siblings reveal distinct reactions—protective disbelief from Lu Shiyan, happiness from Jiaoyue, concern from Bochen, confusion from Xunli, and oblivious humor from Yubai—while the family’s curiosity reflects their awareness that Xiaoxiao’s inner thoughts are no longer accessible to them.
  Themes: The chapter combines the warmth of family life with the awkwardness of changing relationships, highlighting sibling protectiveness, genuine support, and the contrast between joyful romantic news and sudden grief.

Key plot points and events

• Lu Xiaoxiao’s family learns that Old Master Ji has died. Their shock and sympathy soften their earlier reservations about her relationship with Ji Yunhuai.
• Lu Yuan urges Xiaoxiao to stand by Ji during his grief, drawing on his own difficult years and Song Zhilan’s steadfast support. Their affectionate exchange reassures the family and moves Xiaoxiao.
• The family mostly accepts the relationship, though Lu Shiyan remains resentful.
• Xiaoxiao then raises a second concern: everyone has been acting strangely, as if hiding something. Her relatives nervously deny it, but their conspicuous reactions only deepen her suspicion.
• She finally reveals her suspicion: they are behaving oddly because their ability to hear her thoughts has stopped. The room falls into stunned silence.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Xiaoxiao shows empathy for Ji Yunhuai while remaining playful and observant. After securing her family’s acceptance, she deliberately teases them before confronting their secret.
• Lu Yuan and Song Zhilan model mutual loyalty and affection, using their own history to advise Xiaoxiao.
• Lu Shiyan loses some of his hostility after hearing of Ji’s bereavement, but still struggles with Xiaoxiao’s relationship. He tries to deflect her questions smoothly.
• Lu Yubai, Lu Jiaoyue, Lu Xunli, and Lu Bochen reveal their guilt through nervous, awkward reactions. Yubai’s clumsy denials undermine Shiyan’s attempted cover story, prompting Xunli to glare at him.
• The family shifts from sorrow and warmth to comic tension as Xiaoxiao probes their secret.

Significant themes

• Love as loyalty through hardship: Lu Yuan emphasizes that partners must support one another in adversity.
• Family and emotional understanding: The family’s sympathy for Ji helps them better accept Xiaoxiao’s choice.
• Secrets and transparency: The family’s attempts to conceal the loss of their mind-reading ability contrast with Xiaoxiao’s perceptiveness.
• Humor amid serious moments: Nervous excuses and awkward behavior lighten the conversation before the chapter ends on a dramatic reveal.

Key plot points and events

• Lu Xiaoxiao reveals that she knows her family has been hearing her thoughts, then theatrically claims they have “broken her heart.”
• Her exaggerated “boo-hoo-hoo” exposes the prank, but Lu Jiaoyue and Lu Bochen take her distress seriously and apologize, fearing she might hate them.
• Lu Yuan asks Xiaoxiao to explain how the mind-reading ability began.
• Xiaoxiao chooses not to reveal that the original Lu Xiaoxiao’s soul created the ability to help her family understand and love her. To spare them guilt, she invents a story about an immortal granting a wish.
• In her account, she had wished for her family to understand and care for her more before Jiaoyue returned. The ability was temporary and has now become unnecessary because the family genuinely loves her.
• The family accepts the explanation with relief, reassured that the ability arose from Xiaoxiao’s own wish and that their bond no longer depends on it.

Character developments

• Lu Xiaoxiao shows affection and emotional maturity: she uses humor to break the tension, then puts her family’s peace ahead of telling them a painful truth.
• Lu Jiaoyue is openly remorseful and tender, rushing to comfort Xiaoxiao and confessing why she had stayed silent.
• Lu Bochen reveals his guilt and fear of being rejected, despite struggling to express himself.
• Lu Yuan takes a serious, direct role in seeking answers, representing the family’s need to understand what happened.
• The family as a whole moves from panic and guilt toward relief and confidence in their genuine affection for Xiaoxiao.

Significant themes

• Honesty versus compassionate concealment: Xiaoxiao withholds the painful origin of the ability to protect her family from needless remorse.
• Belonging and reassurance: The family’s central fear is that Xiaoxiao feels excluded or unloved.
• Love beyond extraordinary means: The mind-reading ability may have helped them understand her, but their affection now stands on its own.
• Humor easing conflict: Xiaoxiao’s teasing turns a frightening confession into an opportunity for honest emotional connection.

Character interactions

• Xiaoxiao’s prank initially shocks the family, then prompts Jiaoyue and Bochen to apologize.
• Jiaoyue’s emotional apology and Bochen’s hesitant plea show how deeply they fear hurting or losing Xiaoxiao.
• Lu Yuan redirects the conversation toward the ability’s origin, and Xiaoxiao answers with a carefully invented story.
• The family’s relieved reaction confirms that they are ready to move forward together without the secret—and without depending on mind-reading.

Plot points

• Lu Xiaoxiao’s family accepts her explanation that a deity revealed the truth to her in a dream, easing the tension left by their earlier secrets.
• Lu Yubai humorously prays for an easier school schedule and is promptly silenced by Lu Xunli, breaking the tension at breakfast.
• Lu Yuan and Song Zhilan reassure Xiaoxiao that their love is unconditional and promise that the family will be honest with her from now on. Jiaoyue also vows to confide in her, while Bochen quietly shows his support.
• Lu Shiyan thanks Xiaoxiao for the positive changes she has brought to the family. Xiaoxiao deflects the emotional moment with a joke at Yubai’s expense, and the family ends breakfast laughing.
• After everyone leaves for their plans, Jiaoyue stays behind to tell Xiaoxiao more and ask her a few questions. Xiaoxiao warmly invites her to talk privately in her room.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiaoxiao uses humor and affection to restore family harmony, while recognizing that the family’s warmth has also changed her own life.
• Her parents and siblings move from worry and secrecy toward trust, openness, and renewed closeness.
• Shiyan openly acknowledges Xiaoxiao’s influence: she helped strengthen relationships, resolve conflicts, and bring vitality back to the household.
• Jiaoyue shows growing trust in Xiaoxiao by seeking her out for further honesty and guidance.
• Yubai remains the family’s comic relief, whose antics repeatedly turn heavy moments into laughter.

Significant themes

• Family trust and honest communication: The family agrees to stop hiding things and face problems together.
• Belonging and mutual acceptance: Xiaoxiao is loved as a true member of the family, not merely tolerated.
• Healing and positive influence: Her arrival has transformed relationships and brought warmth to the household.
• Humor as emotional release: Teasing and laughter help the family move past tension without diminishing their sincere feelings.

Key plot points and events

• Lu Xiaoxiao brings her younger sister, Lu Jiaoyue, to her bedroom for a private conversation.
• Jiaoyue admits she once confronted Gu Sipei after learning through Xiaoxiao’s thoughts that he had forced Xiaoxiao to meet him. She was angry at his treatment of her sister and told him to apologize.
• Xiaoxiao panics at the thought of Jiaoyue being alone with Gu Sipei and threatens to have Ji Yunhuai punish him. Jiaoyue quickly reassures her that they only argued and conceals that Gu Sipei forced a kiss on her, worried another conflict will erupt.
• Jiaoyue explains that Gu Sipei later apologized sincerely and gave up the Riverside project as compensation. Xiaoxiao now understands why his apology seemed so out of character.
• The sisters exchange affectionate praise and reassurances. Jiaoyue then asks whether Xiaoxiao once thought of Gu Sipei as her “Mr. Right,” and wonders whether the mysterious immortal from Xiaoxiao’s dreams revealed their family’s fates.

Character developments

• Jiaoyue shows courage and loyalty by confronting Gu Sipei on Xiaoxiao’s behalf, while also hiding her own hurt to protect the improving relationship between him and Xiaoxiao.
• Xiaoxiao’s fierce protectiveness initially makes her fear Jiaoyue was harmed, but she relaxes when reassured. She is deeply touched by Jiaoyue’s loyalty.
• Jiaoyue’s question reveals her curiosity about the source of Xiaoxiao’s apparent knowledge of destiny.

Significant themes

• Sisterly love, loyalty, and mutual protection.
• The tension between keeping painful secrets to preserve harmony and being honest with loved ones.
• Fate and romantic destiny, introduced through Jiaoyue’s question about Gu Sipei being her destined partner.

Character interactions

• Xiaoxiao and Jiaoyue move from a serious confession to teasing, praise, and open expressions of love.
• Xiaoxiao’s hostility toward Gu Sipei resurfaces when she fears he hurt Jiaoyue, while Jiaoyue tries to prevent another fight.
• The chapter ends with Jiaoyue seeking an explanation for Xiaoxiao’s knowledge of her supposed romantic fate.

Key plot points

• Lu Xiaoxiao escapes an awkward question about her earlier “Mr. Right” remark by claiming an immortal in a dream told her that Lu Jiaoyue and Gu Sipei share a destined bond.
• Worried she may be influencing Jiaoyue, Xiaoxiao immediately tells her not to treat the dream as an instruction and asks what she truly feels. Jiaoyue admits she likes Gu Sipei.
• Jiaoyue explains that she admires his decisiveness and competence, which make her feel safe. Her affection is conditional: he must respect her and the people she cares about, and not repeat his past pushy behavior.
• Jiaoyue tells Xiaoxiao that Gu Sipei gave her jewelry, but what moved her most was his arranging a meeting with retired pianist Lin Mo, whom she deeply admires.
• Xiaoxiao encourages Jiaoyue to pursue music and is pleased to see her building a future around her own talent and ambitions.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Xiaoxiao shifts from joking and improvising to seriously protecting her sister’s independence. Once reassured that Jiaoyue’s feelings are her own, she returns to playful big-sister teasing and resolves to guard against Gu Sipei becoming controlling again.
• Lu Jiaoyue shows clearer self-knowledge than Xiaoxiao expected: she can explain why she likes Gu Sipei, state her boundaries, and express determination to develop as a musician.
• Gu Sipei, though absent, is shown supporting Jiaoyue’s musical aspirations by arranging the meeting with Lin Mo. His gift matters less to her than this meaningful opportunity.
• The sisters share a candid, affectionate conversation: Xiaoxiao checks Jiaoyue’s feelings, accepts her answer, and encourages her dream.

Significant themes

• Agency versus destiny: Xiaoxiao worries that invoking fate could steer Jiaoyue, so she emphasizes that Jiaoyue’s own judgment matters most.
• Healthy affection and boundaries: Jiaoyue’s feelings are genuine but depend on respect and considerate behavior, rather than blind devotion.
• Independence and personal growth: Jiaoyue is developing her own musical path instead of becoming dependent on a romantic partner.
• Protective love: Xiaoxiao supports her sister’s choices while remaining ready to intervene if Gu Sipei threatens her freedom.

Old Master Ji’s funeral takes place a week after his death, according to arrangements he made himself. On a cold, drizzly day, Ji Yunhuai drives Lu Xiaoxiao to the cemetery. He shelters her with an umbrella and keeps an arm around her as they walk in near silence.
Lu Xiaoxiao notices several prominent mourners standing without umbrellas, apparently crying in the rain. She wonders whether this is a funeral custom, but Ji Yunhuai tells her bitterly that they need the rain to make their grief convincing. The staged display exposes the hypocrisy of the Ji family’s social world. Lu Xiaoxiao feels sorrow for the harsh environment Yunhuai grew up in and tightens her grip on his hand to comfort him; he responds by holding her closer.
Before they reach the family area, Ji Cheng intercepts them. He looks at Lu Xiaoxiao with open displeasure but restrains himself in front of the guests and media, then challenges Yunhuai for bringing an “outsider” to their grandfather’s funeral.
Character developments and interactions: Yunhuai’s cold contempt for the mourners reveals his disillusionment with his family, while his protective gestures show his closeness to Lu Xiaoxiao. She responds with quiet empathy and support. Ji Cheng’s confrontation sets up a conflict over Lu Xiaoxiao’s presence and place within the family.
Themes: The chapter contrasts sincere, private care with grief performed for public approval, and highlights the emotional coldness and hypocrisy surrounding the Ji family.

Key plot points and events

• At Old Master Ji’s funeral, Ji Cheng publicly rebukes Ji Yunhuai for supposedly behaving inappropriately, subtly portraying him as reckless.
• Ji Yunhuai ignores the bait and challenges Ji Cheng over bringing Fang Youcheng, who is secretly his illegitimate son. Ji Cheng covers by describing Fang as a valued employee and a devoted admirer of the deceased.
• Ji Yunhuai publicly identifies Lu Xiaoxiao as his fiancée, explaining that she came to pay her respects as family. The announcement shocks the guests and reporters, and Ji Cheng is caught off guard.
• The funeral proceeds with eulogies, then executor Uncle Zhong reads Old Master Ji’s will. It gives substantial sums to charity and makes comparatively modest provisions for Ji Ming and Ji Yunhuai’s three aunts.
• Ji Yunhuai inherits the Old Master’s 51% stake in the Ji Group, the ancestral residence, and numerous other valuable assets—making him the company’s controlling shareholder.
• Ji Cheng waits anxiously for his own inheritance, but his name is never mentioned. He erupts, denouncing the will as fake and demanding to know whether anything was omitted. Uncle Zhong calmly confirms that he has read the will in full.

Character developments and interactions

• Ji Yunhuai remains controlled under provocation. Rather than argue with Ji Cheng directly, he exposes the awkwardness of Fang Youcheng’s presence, publicly affirms Lu Xiaoxiao as his fiancée, and accepts his inheritance with solemnity rather than celebration.
• Lu Xiaoxiao recognizes Ji Cheng’s insinuations but avoids a public confrontation, deferring to Ji Yunhuai. She supports him visibly, stays composed under the family’s scrutiny, and accepts his public declaration without wavering.
• Ji Cheng tries to preserve a respectable public image, but the will’s exclusion strips away his composure. His furious outburst reveals his entitlement and desperation.
• Fang Youcheng is embarrassed by the attention surrounding him and keeps his head down. Ji Yunhuai and Lu Xiaoxiao show him restrained sympathy but no closeness.
• Uncle Zhong serves as the dignified executor, delivering the Old Master’s wishes steadily despite Ji Cheng’s challenge. The relatives and guests watch the shifting family power dynamics, while reporters seize on the scandal.

Significant themes

• Legacy and power: The will’s allocations determine control of the Ji Group and reveal whom the Old Master trusted.
• Public image versus truth: Ji Cheng’s polished performance collapses under pressure, while Ji Yunhuai’s measured actions expose the tensions he avoids naming outright.
• Family belonging and recognition: Ji Yunhuai’s declaration makes Lu Xiaoxiao part of the family in public, even as Ji Cheng tries to define who counts as an outsider.
• Restraint and loyalty: Lu Xiaoxiao’s support and Ji Yunhuai’s composure contrast with Ji Cheng’s escalating, public loss of control.

Key events

• Uncle Zhong announces that Ji Wenzhong’s will leaves Ji Cheng nothing, prompting shocked and mocking whispers from the assembled relatives and guests.
• Ji Cheng, humiliated and unable to accept the result, accuses Uncle Zhong of forging or replacing the will and tries to seize it.
• The chapter flashes back to the night Ji Cheng tried to turn Ji Wenzhong against his grandson, Ji Yunhuai. The Old Master saw through the scheme and ordered that Ji Cheng’s inheritance be redirected to Yunhuai.
• Back in the present, Uncle Zhong stops Ji Cheng from grabbing the document and confirms: the will really was changed.

Character developments

• Ji Cheng loses control as his expectation of inheriting is shattered. His public rage exposes the selfishness and insecurity behind his conduct.
• Ji Wenzhong is shown as disappointed but decisive: he values Yunhuai’s ability and character, and believes Ji Cheng has already received more than enough.
• Uncle Zhong moves from lingering sympathy for Ji Cheng to certainty that the Old Master’s decision was justified.

Character interactions

• The crowd’s gossip intensifies Ji Cheng’s humiliation.
• Ji Cheng attacks Uncle Zhong verbally and physically; Uncle Zhong remains composed, then firmly restrains him.
• In the flashback, Ji Wenzhong explains his reasoning to Uncle Zhong: Ji Cheng’s attempt to undermine his own son proves him unfit to receive more of the family fortune.

Significant themes

• Family loyalty and betrayal: Ji Cheng’s effort to damage Yunhuai’s standing turns a family conflict into a moral reckoning.
• Character versus inheritance: Ji Wenzhong believes wealth should go to the more capable and responsible heir.
• Consequences and self-deception: Ji Cheng blames others rather than confronting his own actions, while the will’s revelation makes those consequences public.

Plot points and events

• Uncle Zhong reveals that Ji Yunhuai’s grandfather personally changed the will, transferring Ji Cheng’s entire inheritance share to Yunhuai. He declines to explain the reason publicly.
• Ji Cheng accuses Uncle Zhong and Yunhuai of fraud, but security guards prevent him from reaching Uncle Zhong, who leaves after Yunhuai respectfully thanks him.
• Reporters aggressively question Ji Cheng about being disinherited and his strained family relationships. Unable to respond coherently, he flees the cemetery in humiliation, leaving Fang Youcheng behind.
• Yunhuai’s guards keep reporters away from him and Lu Xiaoxiao. He shields Xiaoxiao as they prepare to leave.
• As they depart, Fang Youcheng nervously approaches Yunhuai and asks to speak with him.

Character developments

• Ji Yunhuai accepts his grandfather’s bequest as both a sign of trust and a serious responsibility. Though he briefly recalls the pain of being called by his deceased uncle’s name—feeling like a substitute—he sets that hurt aside and resolves to protect the family legacy.
• Ji Cheng loses control of the situation: his anger and accusations give way to helplessness and public disgrace.
• Lu Xiaoxiao expresses admiration for the grandfather’s support of Yunhuai and offers him quiet reassurance through her presence.
• Uncle Zhong remains composed under accusation, then withdraws once he has clarified the facts.

Significant themes

• Inheritance as trust and duty: Yunhuai’s controlling share represents more than wealth; it places the family’s future in his hands.
• Hidden emotional pain: Even genuine support cannot erase Yunhuai’s unresolved longing to have been valued as himself.
• Public humiliation and power: Ji Cheng’s private family conflict becomes a spectacle, while Yunhuai’s restraint contrasts with his outburst.
• Choosing responsibility: Yunhuai consciously moves beyond resentment and commits to honoring his grandfather’s wishes.

Character interactions

• Uncle Zhong calmly corrects Ji Cheng’s accusations and confirms that the grandfather alone changed the will.
• Yunhuai treats Uncle Zhong with respect and has security protect him from Ji Cheng.
• Yunhuai shields Xiaoxiao from the reporters; she comforts him and he takes her hand as they leave.
• Fang Youcheng, visibly anxious, seeks a private conversation with Yunhuai at the cemetery’s exit.

Key plot points

• After Ji Cheng’s public downfall, Fang Youcheng approaches Ji Yunhuai and asks him to meet his mother, Shi Zhiyi, who is waiting in a car near the cemetery.
• Nervous and ashamed, Fang Youcheng insists that his mother is kind and means Ji Yunhuai no harm. He suspects Ji Yunhuai already knows who she is.
• Ji Yunhuai stays silent until Lu Xiaoxiao quietly encourages him to hear Shi Zhiyi out. Trusting her judgment, he agrees and asks Fang Youcheng to lead the way.
• Ji Yunhuai takes Lu Xiaoxiao with him, and they head toward the parking area with Fang Youcheng and the bodyguards.

Character developments and interactions

• Ji Yunhuai treats Fang Youcheng with more fairness than he once would have, reflecting his changed view of the half brother who previously refused to help Ji Cheng set him up. Though still wary of their family history, he is willing to meet Shi Zhiyi.
• Fang Youcheng is anxious and self-conscious, but his devotion to his mother gives him the courage to plead for her.
• Lu Xiaoxiao acts as a calm mediator. Her confidence that Shi Zhiyi is genuinely kind—and her concern that Ji Yunhuai is burdened by inherited resentment—helps him reconsider.
• Ji Yunhuai’s decision reveals his trust in Lu Xiaoxiao, while taking her hand as they leave reinforces their closeness.

Significant themes

• Trust and influence: Lu Xiaoxiao’s judgment helps Ji Yunhuai make a choice he might otherwise reject.
• Family resentment and reconciliation: The meeting may offer a chance to judge Shi Zhiyi for herself rather than through the grievances of the past.
• Courage and loyalty: Despite his shame and fear, Fang Youcheng speaks up to protect and support his mother.

Key plot points and events

• At the cemetery, Fang Youcheng introduces Ji Yunhuai and Lu Xiaoxiao to his frail mother, Shi Zhiyi.
• Overcome with guilt, Shi Zhiyi tries to kneel before Ji Yunhuai, but Fang Youcheng and Lu Xiaoxiao stop her. She bows instead and apologizes for her past relationship with Ji Cheng, which harmed Ji Yunhuai’s mother and family.
• Shi Zhiyi says she stayed with Ji Cheng after learning he had a family because she felt unable to raise Youcheng alone. She insists Youcheng was innocent and admits she has lived with guilt and pain for years.
• Ji Yunhuai listens without offering forgiveness or condemnation. He tells her to go home if she has nothing else to say.
• Shi Zhiyi refuses to leave and reveals that Ji Cheng may have been involved in Ji Yunhuai’s grandfather’s death. Ji Yunhuai’s composure breaks as he demands to know what she means.

Character developments

• Shi Zhiyi moves from remorseful apology to determined disclosure, choosing to reveal a far more consequential truth.
• Fang Youcheng is deeply affected by his mother’s confession and briefly wonders whether his existence trapped her in an unhappy life.
• Ji Yunhuai maintains emotional restraint through the apology, but the revelation about his grandfather provokes an immediate, forceful reaction.
• Lu Xiaoxiao quietly supports Ji Yunhuai and helps steady Shi Zhiyi, showing sensitivity to both of their distress.

Significant themes

• Guilt and responsibility: Shi Zhiyi accepts blame for her choices while trying to protect Youcheng from being blamed for his birth.
• The limits of forgiveness: Ji Yunhuai hears her apology but does not say whether he accepts it.
• Truth and consequence: Shi Zhiyi’s confession transforms a painful family encounter into a potentially serious revelation about a death.
• The burden of the past: All four characters are affected by old choices and unresolved family history.

Character interactions

• Shi Zhiyi’s attempt to kneel prompts Youcheng and Lu Xiaoxiao to physically support her; Ji Yunhuai suppresses an instinct to intervene.
• Shi Zhiyi addresses Ji Yunhuai directly with repeated apologies, while Youcheng remains at her side, distressed by what her words imply about his life.
• Lu Xiaoxiao stays close to Ji Yunhuai as he processes the apology, then grips his arm when Shi Zhiyi reveals Ji Cheng’s possible role in the grandfather’s death.

Key plot points

• Shi Zhiyi gives Ji Yunhuai a USB drive containing secret recordings, screenshots of Ji Cheng’s messages, and bank-transfer records.
• She alleges that Ji Cheng arranged to have Old Master Ji’s emergency medication replaced with convincing but ineffective counterfeits, hoping an attack would prove fatal. She begs Ji Yunhuai to use the evidence to hold Ji Cheng accountable and free her from him.
• Fang Youcheng is devastated by the revelation that his father may have killed his own father. Lu Xiaoxiao is also shocked, though she reflects on the resentment that may have fueled Ji Cheng’s actions.
• Ji Yunhuai warns that the evidence may not be enough to secure a conviction: Ji Cheng could deny ordering the switch or make a subordinate take the blame.
• As Shi Zhiyi’s hope collapses, Fang Youcheng finds the resolve to offer help and takes out his phone.

Character developments and interactions

• Shi Zhiyi moves from fear and silence to determined testimony, risking further distress to expose Ji Cheng and seek a way out.
• Ji Yunhuai keeps his anger tightly controlled and assesses the case pragmatically, emphasizing the gap between suspicion and proof.
• Fang Youcheng shifts from stunned disbelief to a painful decision to assist, though the chapter ends before he explains what he can provide.
• Lu Xiaoxiao condemns Ji Cheng’s cruelty while recognizing how old family grievances may have contributed to his resentment.
• Shi Zhiyi entrusts the evidence to Ji Yunhuai; his legal caution discourages her, prompting Fang Youcheng to step forward.

Significant themes

• Justice versus proof: Strong evidence of wrongdoing may still fail to establish direct responsibility in court.
• Family betrayal and resentment: Ji Cheng’s past grievances help explain his motives but do not excuse his actions.
• Moral courage and liberation: Shi Zhiyi’s decision to speak out—and Fang Youcheng’s emerging willingness to help—challenges a cycle of fear and complicity.

Key plot points and events

• Fang Youcheng initially struggles to support his mother’s plan, afraid of losing the comfort and protection provided by his father, Ji Cheng. Remembering Ji Cheng’s past violence toward both him and his mother, he realizes they cannot safely depend on him.
• Youcheng resolves to protect his mother, become independent, and help her start over.
• He gives Ji Yunhuai evidence he secretly preserved while working for Ji Cheng: records of embezzlement through fake projects, bribery, theft of trade secrets, and concealed construction-safety violations.
• Ji Yunhuai recognizes that this evidence may be more useful for securing a conviction than the uncertain murder charge.
• Youcheng asks Ji Yunhuai, in exchange for the evidence, to spare him and his mother from retaliation. He promises they will leave, and that he will find work and support them himself.
• Shi Zhiyi supports her son’s request. Ji Yunhuai’s answer is left unresolved.

Character developments

• Fang Youcheng shifts from fearful dependence to determined responsibility. He accepts that he must leave the Ji family’s protection and build a life for himself and his mother.
• Shi Zhiyi remains vulnerable and distressed, but gains hope as her son finally stands with her and takes responsibility.
• Ji Yunhuai listens carefully and shows some relief as the evidence offers a more practical path to justice, though he has not yet responded to Youcheng’s plea.

Significant themes

• Courage and independence: Youcheng chooses a difficult, uncertain future over the apparent safety of an abusive household.
• Abuse and conditional love: He questions whether Ji Cheng’s attachment to his mother was genuine, and recognizes how easily Ji Cheng’s violence could turn against them.
• Justice and practical evidence: The chapter contrasts a hard-to-prove murder charge with documented financial and corporate crimes.
• Family loyalty and protection: Youcheng’s decision is driven by gratitude and love for his mother, whom he no longer wants to burden.

Character interactions

• Youcheng makes his decision after seeing his mother’s distress and recalling Ji Cheng’s violence.
• He presents his evidence to Ji Yunhuai, who assesses its legal value.
• Youcheng cautiously negotiates for his and his mother’s safety, while Shi Zhiyi reinforces his appeal with a hopeful, pleading gesture.