Chapter Summaries

Key plot points

• Su Miaohan forces Lu Xiaoxiao to sit beside Ji Yunhuai, but Xiaoxiao tries to escape by claiming she needs to speak with Doctor Xiao Yichen.
• Miaohan loudly interprets this as a sign of Xiaoxiao’s romantic interest in Xiao, swaps seats, and leaves the pair together. Xiaoxiao is mortified and suspects Ji Yunhuai reacts with a cold laugh.
• Xiaoxiao uses the opportunity to ask Xiao for a trustworthy mental-health professional for her third brother, Lu Bochen, whose previous psychiatrist has been dismissed.
• She explains that her family’s priority is Bochen’s safety and happiness, not forcing him to socialize or become more independent. She hopes to find someone who can live with the family and monitor him.
• Xiao explains the difference between psychiatrists, who diagnose and medically treat illness, and counselors, who support well-being through conversation and psychological exercises. Xiaoxiao decides Bochen should try counseling, and Xiao offers to recommend people.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Xiaoxiao is flustered by Miaohan’s matchmaking assumptions, but becomes more comfortable once she and Xiao discuss her brother. Her determination to protect Bochen reflects her resolve to prevent the Lu family’s earlier tragedy from recurring.
• Su Miaohan is playful and meddlesome, pushing Xiaoxiao into an awkward seating arrangement and teasing her about which man she prefers.
• Xiao Yichen responds with concern when he thinks Xiaoxiao may be unwell, then offers thoughtful advice and practical help for Bochen.
• Ji Yunhuai remains outwardly aloof; Xiaoxiao senses disapproval in his reaction but cannot tell what he thinks. She ends by insisting to herself that she can be just as cold.

Significant themes

• Care without coercion: Xiaoxiao believes Bochen should be protected and allowed to live in the way that makes him happiest.
• Mental-health support: The chapter distinguishes medical psychiatric treatment from counseling and emphasizes finding appropriate, ethical care.
• Romantic misunderstandings and social awkwardness: Miaohan’s teasing turns an ordinary seat change into an embarrassing matchmaking scenario.

Summary

• Dinner and the growing rift: Lu Xiaoxiao feels strangely unsettled now that Ji Yunhuai has stopped pestering her, but tries to ignore it by enthusiastically tending to Xiao Yichen. She feeds him repeatedly, explaining that she wants to thank him for helping her find a therapist for her third brother. Ji Yunhuai silently makes his glass easier for her to reach, but Xiaoxiao pointedly skips him, joking that he wouldn’t want an ordinary drink and asking the waiter to bring him expensive wine. His expression darkens, while Xiaoxiao carries on chatting with Xiao Yichen.
• The livestream seating: The host gathers all ten guests for a short livestream to close out the show. Xiaoxiao seats herself between Su Miaohan and Lu Shiyan, keeping her distance from Ji Yunhuai. Bai Xinyan, meanwhile, sits beside Lu Shiyan and links arms with Lu Jiaoyue, apparently hoping to spark dating rumors and gain publicity.
• A warning from Xiaoxiao’s thoughts: Xiaoxiao privately resents Bai Xinyan for her earlier mocking behavior and warns Lu Shiyan—without speaking aloud—that his dream girl might see the rumors and misunderstand his closeness with Bai. Lu Jiaoyue and Lu Shiyan hear her thoughts and realize how much information she has revealed. Jiaoyue immediately pulls away from Bai, pretending she is too hot, and Shiyan helps by inviting Jiaoyue to switch seats with Bai. Jiaoyue takes the place beside him, leaving Bai baffled.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Xiaoxiao acts cheerful and generous toward Xiao Yichen while deliberately snubbing Ji Yunhuai. Her effort to appear unaffected by Ji’s silence suggests she may be more bothered by it than she admits.
• Ji Yunhuai remains outwardly displeased but still instinctively accommodates Xiaoxiao by moving his glass toward her. Her deliberate exclusion makes the tension between them more visible.
• Xiao Yichen is surprised and bashful at Xiaoxiao’s attentive treatment.
• Lu Jiaoyue and Lu Shiyan respond quickly to Xiaoxiao’s thoughts, helping prevent Bai Xinyan’s closeness from creating a misleading impression.
• Bai Xinyan is left confused when Jiaoyue suddenly withdraws and Shiyan arranges a seat change.

Significant themes

The chapter plays comic tension between public appearances and private feelings: Xiaoxiao performs casual indifference while clearly reacting to Ji, and the guests must conceal family truths from viewers. It also highlights misunderstandings and jealousy, especially the risk that publicity-driven closeness could complicate genuine romantic feelings.

Key plot points and events

• The cast reunites for a livestream after Desert Island Survival ended early. The host introduces a reveal of the two undercover players.
• Lu Xiaoxiao is revealed as one undercover player, shocking Su Miaohan, who had trusted her and cooked for her throughout the game.
• Su Miaohan admits she suspected Ji Yunhuai instead, reasoning that he seemed to take over the suspicious role of a player who had left.
• Xiaoxiao promises to treat Su Miaohan—and eventually the whole group—to a meal, then points out that Qin Zixuan was undercover too.
• Qin says Lu Jiaoyue quietly warned him about Xiaoxiao. Jiaoyue apologizes for having to deceive him and asks whether he is angry.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiaoxiao feels guilty about deceiving her teammates, especially Su Miaohan, but handles the confrontation with humor and reassurance.
• Su Miaohan reacts dramatically and affectionately, turning her sense of betrayal into a demand for a make-up meal.
• Ji Yunhuai stays composed during the reveal, though he is already in a gloomy mood and bristles when Su Miaohan names him as her suspect.
• Qin Zixuan remains cheerful and credits Jiaoyue for helping him identify Xiaoxiao. Jiaoyue’s apology suggests she cares about his feelings.
• Bai Xinyan notices that Lu Shiyan has abruptly begun addressing her formally, making her anxious about their on-screen “ship.” The livestream comments reflect competing fan agendas and arguments over the cast’s pairings and status.

Significant themes

• Trust and deception: The undercover game turns friendly relationships into sources of suspicion, even after the game ends.
• Affection beneath conflict: Su Miaohan’s mock outrage, Xiaoxiao’s promises, and Jiaoyue’s concern show that their bonds survive the deception.
• Public image and fandom: The livestream comments reveal how viewers interpret every interaction through shipping, celebrity loyalty, and rivalry, sometimes drowning out the ensemble dynamic.

Key plot points and events

• After Qin Zixuan is exposed as an undercover player who lied to her, Lu Jiaoyue tells him she is not angry, but her subdued tone and decision to look away make clear that her trust has been damaged. Qin tries to recover the moment, but she has no interest in continuing the conversation.
• Lu Xiaoxiao silently urges Jiaoyue to retaliate, but Jiaoyue refuses. She feels guilty for having trusted Qin and worries she disappointed her sister; she is also relieved the game is ending before her mistake can affect the final result.
• The host moves the show into its second segment: a viewer-comment Q&A. The first question asks whether Ji Yunhuai and Xiaoxiao knew each other before the show. Yunhuai answers only, “No,” leaving the host awkwardly struggling to fill the silence.
• Xiaoxiao smooths things over by saying she is outgoing and gets along with everyone. Lu Shiyan backs her up. The next question concerns Shiyan’s upcoming drama, and he gives a polished, detailed answer.
• Viewers speculate in the live comments that Yunhuai is jealous or sulking, interpreting his curt reply and reaction to Xiaoxiao as evidence of romantic tension.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Jiaoyue shows that sincerity matters deeply to her: although she remains polite to Qin, she is no longer willing to engage with him as before. Her hurt is mixed with guilt and self-blame.
• Lu Xiaoxiao is fiercely protective of Jiaoyue and privately mocks Qin, but publicly steps in to rescue the host from an awkward exchange.
• Qin Zixuan realizes Jiaoyue has noticed his deception, but his attempt to charm her back fails.
• Ji Yunhuai remains terse and emotionally guarded. His response contrasts with Xiaoxiao’s cheerful explanation and fuels the audience’s shipping theories.
• Lu Shiyan supports Xiaoxiao smoothly on camera, even though Xiaoxiao privately recognizes that his description of her outgoing childhood does not match the original host’s past.

Significant themes

• Trust and sincerity: Jiaoyue’s disappointment shows that a breach of trust cannot be repaired with superficial sweetness.
• Public image versus private truth: The guests perform for the cameras, while Xiaoxiao’s inner commentary reveals a different understanding of their histories and motives.
• Audience interpretation: Viewers turn small gestures and terse remarks into evidence of romance, illustrating how televised interactions can be shaped by fan speculation.
• Protectiveness and family loyalty: Xiaoxiao’s anger at Qin and her quick effort to help Jiaoyue—and later the host—highlight her instinct to protect those around her.

Key plot points and events

• A deliberately provocative question is drawn during the livestream, accusing Doctor Xiao Yichen of killing a child in a medical incident two years earlier. The host and chat’s reaction suggest the question was planted as part of a coordinated attempt to smear him.
• Lu Xiaoxiao realizes Xiao Yichen may face another wave of online abuse if he stays silent. Though she has no evidence to defend him, she gives him a supportive smile and mouths, “You’re the best, don’t be afraid!”
• Encouraged, Xiao Yichen reveals that he brought documents to explain the case. He presents the surgical records and the family’s signed consent form, arguing that the operation was attempted in good faith and failed because the child’s rare condition exceeded the team’s capabilities.
• He explains that the grieving family confronted the hospital after the child died, and that his mentor—the team’s chief physician—was stabbed during the confrontation and later died.
• Xiao Yichen speaks about the pain of being unable to save either the child or his mentor, but reaffirms his commitment to medicine and his desire to honor his mentor’s reputation.

Character developments

• Xiao Yichen moves from avoiding the painful incident to confronting it publicly with composure and conviction. He shows grief, vulnerability, and renewed resolve.
• Lu Xiaoxiao wants to help but recognizes her limits. Rather than attempting an unsupported defense, she offers Xiao Yichen the encouragement he needs to speak for himself.
• The host responds professionally and displays Xiao Yichen’s documents to the camera, helping him present his account.

Significant themes

• The chapter contrasts public opinion and evidence, suggesting that online outrage can be deliberately manipulated.
• It explores medical limits and tragedy: a failed operation is not necessarily proof of negligence, and doctors suffer alongside patients’ families.
• Courage, support, and self-advocacy are central: Lu Xiaoxiao’s encouragement helps Xiao Yichen find the strength to address the accusation himself.
• Xiao Yichen’s account emphasizes grief, responsibility, and devotion to one’s calling, even when outcomes are devastating.

Character interactions

• Lu Xiaoxiao and the system discuss the apparent smear campaign and her inability to clear Xiao Yichen’s name without evidence.
• Lu Xiaoxiao silently reassures Xiao Yichen; he understands her message and responds with a softened expression before speaking.
• Xiao Yichen addresses the host, the viewers, and the child’s family, laying out his defense while acknowledging their grief and honoring his deceased mentor.

Plot points and events

• After Xiao Yichen presents convincing evidence about the abuse and online rumors surrounding his past, the livestream audience turns sympathetic, and the paid trolls fall silent. The show wraps up peacefully after the host steers the remaining segments toward safe topics.
• Once filming ends, Su Miaohan takes staff members—and Ye Xinglan—to play games, deliberately leaving Xiao Yichen and Lu Xiaoxiao alone. Ji Yunhuai stays behind too, visibly in a bad mood.
• Xiao Yichen thanks Lu Xiaoxiao, saying her encouragement helped him face his past and find peace. As he expresses his gratitude, Ji Yunhuai cracks the wineglass in his hand, dismisses it as cheap, and abruptly leaves.
• Lu Xiaoxiao initially refuses to follow Ji Yunhuai, angrily insisting that Xiao Yichen was only thanking her. The system points out that Lu Jiaoyue and Qin Zixuan have also disappeared, prompting Lu Xiaoxiao to suspect Qin may be about to confess his feelings to Lu Jiaoyue.
• She rushes out under the pretext of handling something at home, leaving Xiao Yichen wondering whether she has gone after Ji Yunhuai. He reflects that Lu Xiaoxiao is not his alone to care about.
• While searching the enormous venue, Lu Xiaoxiao gets lost. She discovers from the system that the Louvre Reverie belongs to Gu Sipei, the original male lead, and is shocked that she was not told sooner.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Yichen openly acknowledges how much Lu Xiaoxiao’s support mattered to him. His gratitude carries an emerging affection, though he has not fully recognized it. Seeing her hurry away leaves him subdued and wondering about her feelings for Ji Yunhuai.
• Ji Yunhuai shows jealousy or irritation at Xiao Yichen’s tender exchange with Lu Xiaoxiao, expressing it through a crushed glass and a curt exit rather than speaking directly.
• Lu Xiaoxiao is compassionate toward Xiao Yichen but also frustrated by Ji Yunhuai’s behavior. She reacts sharply, then becomes preoccupied with the sudden disappearance of Lu Jiaoyue and Qin Zixuan.
• Su Miaohan perceptively gives Xiao Yichen and Lu Xiaoxiao privacy by taking the others away.
• Lu Jiaoyue and Qin Zixuan vanish together, raising Lu Xiaoxiao’s suspicion that Qin intends to confess his feelings.

Significant themes

• Support and healing: Xiao Yichen’s ability to confront his past is linked to Lu Xiaoxiao’s encouragement.
• Jealousy and unspoken affection: Ji Yunhuai’s anger and Xiao Yichen’s wistful reflection hint at competing feelings neither man states plainly.
• Public judgment and reputation: The livestream’s reversal shows how thorough evidence can challenge one-sided online narratives.
• Comic misunderstandings and entanglements: Lu Xiaoxiao misreads the system’s warning, juggles several people’s emotional drama, and then gets lost in the venue.

Key plot points and events

• Lu Xiaoxiao realizes that the restaurant is a setting where the original novel’s leads—Qin Zixuan and Lu Jiaoyue—were supposed to meet. She decides not to interfere for now, though she still distrusts both men.
• She is willing to consider Gu Sipei as a partner for Lu Jiaoyue, provided his original novel’s coercive “forced-love” behavior does not occur. She jokingly imagines him becoming Jiaoyue’s devoted “lapdog.”
• After losing her way, Lu Xiaoxiao is suddenly pulled into a dim corridor. She prepares to fight, but recognizes the person as Ji Yunhuai and relaxes.
• Ji Yunhuai unusually says nothing in response to her teasing. He pins her against the wall and asks why she provokes him, accepts Cui Anhe’s request to avoid him, and seeks a therapist through Xiao Yichen rather than through him. He ends by asking why she is kind to everyone but hates only him.
• Lu Xiaoxiao notices the smell of alcohol and asks whether he is drunk.

Character developments

• Lu Xiaoxiao shows more openness toward Gu Sipei as a potential match for Jiaoyue, while remaining protective of her sister and opposed to coercion. Around Ji Yunhuai, she is blunt and teasing, but his unexpected questions catch her off guard.
• Ji Yunhuai appears unusually vulnerable and confused. Rather than trading barbs, he directly voices his hurt and uncertainty about Lu Xiaoxiao’s treatment of him.
• The system is thrilled by Lu Xiaoxiao’s apparent support for the original romance, but misunderstands her joking “lapdog” remark.

Significant themes

• Fate versus interference: The system suggests that the leads’ destined meeting may occur despite the disrupted plot.
• Protectiveness and consent: Lu Xiaoxiao is open to romance only if Gu Sipei does not repeat the novel’s coercive behavior.
• Miscommunication and emotional vulnerability: Ji Yunhuai’s questions expose a painful gap between how he sees Lu Xiaoxiao’s behavior and how she may understand it.
• Comedy alongside tension: Lu Xiaoxiao’s irreverent inner commentary contrasts with the increasingly intimate, serious confrontation.

Character interactions

• Lu Xiaoxiao and the system debate whether to let Qin Zixuan and Lu Jiaoyue meet, with Lu Xiaoxiao distinguishing her views of Qin Zixuan and Gu Sipei.
• Lu Xiaoxiao initially mistakes Ji Yunhuai for an attacker and tries to fight him; once she recognizes him, she scolds him for startling her.
• Ji Yunhuai’s wall pin shifts their exchange from playful bickering to a direct confrontation about why she seems to reject him.

Plot points and events

• Drunk and unusually emotional, Ji Yunhuai corners Lu Xiaoxiao in a corridor and repeatedly demands to know why she hates him. When she angrily says he is harsh with her, he falls silent and looks hurt.
• Lu Xiaoxiao regrets speaking so sharply and prepares to calm him down. Ji rests his forehead on her shoulder and promises, “I won’t be harsh with you, and you’re not allowed to hate me.”
• Meanwhile, Lu Jiaoyue encounters Qin Zixuan in the restroom. He says he came to apologize for his actions during a game and asks whether she is angry with him.
• Jiaoyue insists it was only a game and tries to leave, but Qin stops her, saying she has become formal with him and that he thought they were friends.
• After Jiaoyue struggles to explain her feelings, Qin confesses that he likes her and says his past actions were meant to get her attention. He asks her to give him a chance.

Character developments

• Ji Yunhuai reveals a vulnerable, insecure side beneath his usual reserve. His drunken insistence on Xiaoxiao’s feelings gives way to a tender promise when he believes she dislikes him.
• Lu Xiaoxiao shifts from irritation at Ji’s possessive questioning to concern when she sees how hurt he is, though she has not yet clarified her own feelings.
• Lu Jiaoyue remains socially awkward and unsure how to manage Qin’s emotions. She is uncomfortable with his confession and tries to dismiss it as a joke.
• Qin Zixuan moves from apologizing to openly declaring romantic interest, presenting his earlier behavior as an attempt to win Jiaoyue’s attention.

Significant themes

• Miscommunication and unspoken feelings: Both scenes turn on characters misreading or struggling to express what they feel.
• Vulnerability and reassurance: Ji’s drunken demand exposes his fear of being hated, while Qin seeks reassurance that Jiaoyue still considers him a friend.
• Boundaries and pressure: Ji pins Xiaoxiao in place, and Qin catches Jiaoyue’s arm and presses her for an answer, leaving both women in uncomfortable situations.
• Romantic ambiguity: Neither woman gives a clear response to the men’s declarations or emotional appeals.

Character interactions

• Ji and Xiaoxiao’s tense exchange moves from confrontation to a quiet, intimate moment, though Xiaoxiao’s response remains unresolved.
• Qin and Jiaoyue’s conversation begins as an apology but becomes a confession; Jiaoyue’s confusion and attempted retreat contrast with Qin’s insistence and earnestness.

Key events

• Lu Jiaoyue rejects Qin Zixuan by claiming she already likes Gu Sipei, whom she spots nearby. She rushes over, hugs his arm, and asks him to confirm they are friends.
• Gu Sipei plays along by gently tucking her windblown hair behind her ear and agreeing. Qin Zixuan backs off after Gu gives him a chilling warning, though he privately doubts Gu is a better choice and suspects he is just as false as Qin himself.
• Lu Xiaoxiao reassures Ji Yunhuai that she does not really hate him and had only said so in anger. Ji, still leaning on her shoulder, seems touched—but then abruptly passes out drunk.
• Lu Xiaoxiao grumbles about his timing, moves him to a well-lit spot, and struggles to drag him toward the servants waiting downstairs. As she rounds a corner, her second brother finds them and asks what is going on.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Jiaoyue is too flustered to reject Qin directly, so she improvises by using Gu as an excuse. Her relief suggests she trusts Gu to help her, while Gu’s intimate gesture makes their “friendship” look more complicated.
• Qin Zixuan appears to accept the rejection but remains resentful and competitive, privately judging Gu and refusing to give up emotionally.
• Gu Sipei is reserved but quietly protective: he supports Jiaoyue’s story and uses his presence to deter Qin.
• Lu Xiaoxiao softens toward Ji despite his demanding manner, reassuring him and gently stroking his hair. Her exasperation at having to carry him contrasts with her care for him.
• Ji Yunhuai shows a rare vulnerable side by seeking reassurance, but he passes out before the two can build on their moment.

Significant themes

• Love and rejection: Jiaoyue struggles to reject Qin without hurting him, while Qin’s refusal to let go hints at possessiveness and rivalry.
• Performance versus sincerity: Jiaoyue’s claim about Gu is improvised, but Gu’s tender gesture makes the pretense feel emotionally charged; Qin, meanwhile, suspects everyone is pretending.
• Vulnerability and care: Ji’s drunken dependence lets Xiaoxiao see a softer side of him, while her practical, teasing caretaking deepens their connection.

Plot points and events

• At a party, Lu Xiaoxiao and her second brother, Lu Shiyan, help the drunk Ji Yunhuai downstairs and hand him over to his family’s butler.
• Shiyan realizes Xiaoxiao may have feelings for Ji but tactfully avoids questioning her. He then asks where their sister Lu Jiaoyue went.
• Xiaoxiao hides what she knows: Jiaoyue has gone to spend time with Gu Sipei, and Qin Zixuan’s confession has been interrupted. Jiaoyue messages both siblings to say she will be delayed, so Shiyan and Xiaoxiao head home.
• The next day, Xiaoxiao notices that Ji Yunhuai recalled a message, but he does not reply when she contacts him.
• Jiaoyue brings Xiaoxiao lunch and excitedly reports that she and Gu Sipei have become close enough for him to call her a friend. She explains that when Qin Zixuan confessed, she pretended Gu was the man she liked, with Gu playing along.
• Xiaoxiao suspects Gu’s feelings are genuine, though Jiaoyue believes their encounter was only an act.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Xiaoxiao feels guilty and flustered about being found alone with Ji, but relaxes when Shiyan gives her an easy way out. She is protective of Jiaoyue and quietly encourages her budding relationship with Gu.
• Lu Shiyan is observant and considerate: he recognizes Xiaoxiao’s interest in Ji but chooses not to embarrass her. He is also bewildered by the possibility that both sisters have romantic prospects.
• Lu Jiaoyue is delighted by her growing closeness with Gu and recounts her improvised escape from Qin’s confession. She does not realize Xiaoxiao thinks Gu may truly like her.
• Ji Yunhuai remains absent the following morning, leaving Xiaoxiao curious about his recalled message.
• Gu Sipei helps Jiaoyue evade Qin Zixuan’s confession and plays along with her cover story; Xiaoxiao suspects he welcomed the excuse.
• Qin Zixuan confesses to Jiaoyue, but she rejects his advances indirectly by claiming to like Gu.

Significant themes

• Romantic feelings are often hidden behind awkwardness, teasing, or “pretend” relationships.
• Sibling affection appears in Xiaoxiao and Jiaoyue’s caring gestures, and in Shiyan’s discreet protectiveness.
• Dramatic irony drives the humor: Xiaoxiao understands more about Jiaoyue and Gu’s feelings than Jiaoyue does, while Shiyan struggles to make sense of his sisters’ romantic entanglements.

Key plot points and events

• Lu Jiaoyue explains that, after Gu Sipei helped her deal with Qin Zixuan, she promised to repay him by accompanying him to a business reception the following week.
• Lu Xiaoxiao recognizes the setup as a familiar, melodramatic romance-novel pattern: Jiaoyue will be mocked at the event, appear innocently oblivious, and be defended by Gu Sipei.
• Xiaoxiao nearly reveals that she already knows Jiaoyue met Gu Sipei, but catches herself because Jiaoyue does not know she once followed her and approached her in disguise.
• Jiaoyue realizes she has accidentally implied that Xiaoxiao knows about the meeting. To cover her tracks, she claims they exchanged contact information while shopping for clothes and became friends through messaging.
• To support her story—and distract Xiaoxiao—Jiaoyue eagerly shows her their chat history. Xiaoxiao is delighted to read it.
• The messages show Jiaoyue’s cheerful, frequent attempts to talk with the reserved Gu Sipei. Their exchanges include her asking about his pets, his brief replies, her sharing baking photos, and his offer that she use his name rather than “Mr. Gu.” Their latest messages confirm that he arranged to have her picked up for the reception.

Character developments

• Lu Xiaoxiao is amused and exasperated by the predictable romance plot, but remains careful not to expose how much she knows. Her enthusiasm for reading the private messages also reveals a playful, voyeuristic side.
• Lu Jiaoyue is warm and trusting, openly sharing her conversations with Xiaoxiao. Yet she is also nervous about her own mind-reading-related secret and scrambles to maintain a believable explanation.
• Gu Sipei comes across as reserved and terse, but increasingly attentive: he responds to Jiaoyue’s messages, permits a more familiar form of address, tells her to rest, and arranges her transport to the reception.

Significant themes

• Romance tropes and self-awareness: Xiaoxiao sees the leads’ storyline as formulaic and overly corny.
• Secrets and mistaken knowledge: Both sisters privately worry about what the other knows, creating comic tension.
• Growing intimacy through everyday contact: Jiaoyue’s cheerful messages and Gu’s understated responses suggest a tentative bond.
• Privacy and curiosity: Jiaoyue offers her phone freely, while Xiaoxiao relishes the chance to read the chats.

Character interactions

• Xiaoxiao encourages Jiaoyue to attend the reception, then carefully asks how she became close to Gu.
• Jiaoyue covers her accidental slip with a fabricated account of how they met and became friends.
• Their phone exchange highlights the contrast between Jiaoyue’s expressive friendliness and Gu’s minimal, steady attention.

Plot points and events

• Lu Xiaoxiao reads Lu Jiaoyue and Gu Sipei’s chat history and is impressed that Gu replies to every message. She hopes Jiaoyue’s warmth and initiative will keep him from repeating his controlling, destructive behavior in the original story.
• Xiaoxiao encourages Jiaoyue to keep chatting with Gu and offers to help her with what to say.
• Remembering that Ji Yunhuai had messaged her, Xiaoxiao finds several increasingly impatient messages asking whether she took him home after he got drunk and what he said.
• Ji threatens that she has three seconds to reply. Xiaoxiao cheekily challenges him, and he admits there is little he can do to her.
• She changes his contact name from “Badass sharp-tongued young master” to “Ji Yunhuai,” then falsely tells him that, while drunk, he hugged her, called her “Master,” and barked like a puppy.
• After Ji questions whether he looks easy to fool, Xiaoxiao tells Jiaoyue that playful white lies can add flirtatious “push and pull.” Jiaoyue leaves them to chat.
• Xiaoxiao sends Ji a suggestive voice message, claiming he made her a solemn promise while drunk and teasing: “Young master, do you really not remember?”

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Xiaoxiao is playful, mischievous, and increasingly comfortable teasing Ji Yunhuai. She also takes on a supportive, advice-giving role with Jiaoyue.
• Lu Jiaoyue is affectionate and trusting, eagerly following her sister’s encouragement while showing curiosity about flirting.
• Gu Sipei is presented through his attentive replies and Xiaoxiao’s thoughts: although his original-story self was manipulative and possessive, Jiaoyue’s proactive warmth may offer a healthier path.
• Ji Yunhuai appears concerned about what he said while drunk and impatient for Xiaoxiao’s answer, but his banter reveals a softer, more accommodating side beneath his sharp manner.

Significant themes

• The contrast between possessive control and genuine warmth, especially in Xiaoxiao’s hopes for Gu Sipei and Jiaoyue.
• Flirtation, teasing, and playful deception as ways characters build intimacy.
• The chapter’s light, comic tone is driven by misunderstandings, teasing messages, and Xiaoxiao’s scheming.

Key plot points and events

• Lu Xiaoxiao tries to turn Ji Yunhuai’s misunderstanding into a chance to ask for money. Before she can send her exaggerated story, he transfers 50 million to her.
• Ji says he wants her to speak to him normally, and Lu eagerly agrees—though she celebrates wildly in private.
• When Lu asks why he changed his mind after previously objecting to transactional relationships, Ji says he has worked a few things out. He then tells her plainly: “I want to pursue you.”
• At the Ji family home, He Mingchuan visits after hearing Ji got drunk the night before. He teases Ji about his obvious happiness and asks about Lu.
• He Mingchuan secretly glimpses Ji’s messages and is shocked to learn Ji directly confessed his intention to pursue her. He criticizes Ji’s lack of romantic strategy, while Ji sees no reason not to be straightforward.

Character developments

• Lu Xiaoxiao reveals her unabashedly materialistic, playful side, but also shows curiosity about Ji’s feelings and awareness of why he dislikes transactional relationships.
• Ji Yunhuai has reconsidered his resistance to money and relationships being mixed together. He is increasingly open about his interest in Lu and appears genuinely delighted after telling her.
• He Mingchuan acts as Ji’s teasing, intrusive friend and self-appointed dating adviser, convinced that confessing first puts someone at a disadvantage.

Significant themes

• Money versus affection: Ji’s transfer echoes the transactional relationships he resents, but he insists this is simply generosity rather than a bargain.
• Directness versus strategy in romance: Ji prefers honest declaration, while He Mingchuan believes courtship requires concealment and tactical advantage.
• Humor and emotional contrast: Lu’s private exuberance and He’s dramatic reactions soften the chapter’s romantic turning point.

Character interactions

• Lu and Ji’s playful exchange shifts from a misunderstanding about money to a frank declaration of romantic intent.
• Ji’s banter with He Mingchuan shows their comfortable, long-standing friendship, even as He mocks Ji and pries into his messages.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points

• He Mingchuan complains to Ji Yunhuai that his pursuit of Jiang Feiwan has failed despite his good looks, wealth, and family standing.
• Ji bluntly suggests that He’s unreliability and excessive talking may be the problem. He then explains why he’s confident about winning over Lu Xiaoxiao: he believes he has plenty to offer and intends to court her without changing who he is.
• Ji argues that losing yourself to win someone over is the real defeat. He’s pointedly affected, but insists he’ll keep pursuing Jiang Feiwan for now. The two trade teasing jabs before Ji invites him to lunch with his grandfather.
• Meanwhile, Lu Xiaoxiao excitedly rolls around on her bed, flustered by Ji’s messages and his behavior the night before. She grumbles that he is deliberately teasing her, then sits down to eat the lunch Lu Jiaoyue brought.
• Lu Xiaoxiao’s sister knocks to say Fan Chiran has come by and wants to see her.

Character development

• Ji Yunhuai shows confidence in his own worth and a clear approach to romance: he’ll treat Lu Xiaoxiao well while remaining himself. His amusement at He’s teasing suggests he is increasingly comfortable acknowledging his feelings.
• He Mingchuan is insecure about his failed pursuit of Jiang Feiwan, despite boasting about his advantages. Ji’s criticism makes him reflect, though he continues to cling to hope.
• Lu Xiaoxiao is visibly flustered by Ji Yunhuai, even as she insists he annoys her. Her excited reaction suggests her feelings may be growing.

Significant themes

• Self-respect in romance: Ji believes a person should not erase their identity to gain another’s affection.
• Confidence and insecurity: Ji’s assurance contrasts with He Mingchuan’s doubts and need for reassurance.
• Romantic teasing and denial: Lu Xiaoxiao calls Ji irritating, but her giddy behavior suggests otherwise.

Character interactions

• Ji and He Mingchuan exchange sharp, affectionate banter about their respective love interests; Ji’s advice both encourages and stings He.
• Lu Xiaoxiao talks through her excitement with the system, which observes her behavior but struggles to interpret it.
• The chapter ends with Lu Xiaoxiao being approached by her sister, who introduces Fan Chiran’s unexpected visit.

Plot points and events

• Fan Chiran visits Lu Xiaoxiao, bringing her a fruit basket and a bouquet because he heard she was injured while filming. Lu Xiaoxiao explains that the injury was minor and she recovered quickly.
• Lu Xiaoxiao comes downstairs in pajamas and teases her younger brother, Lu Yubai, who is laughing with Fan Chiran.
• Fan Chiran nervously compliments Lu Xiaoxiao’s appearance and gives her the gifts. She admires the bouquet of lilies and daisies, unaware that daisies can signal a secret crush.
• As Lu Yubai jokes that the house is too warm, he pulls off Fan Chiran’s jacket and notices a large bruise on the back of his neck.

Character developments

• Lu Xiaoxiao is warm and playful, welcoming Fan Chiran and appreciating his thoughtful gifts. She misses the romantic meaning behind the daisies.
• Fan Chiran is shy and conflicted: he wants to conceal his feelings for Lu Xiaoxiao but also hopes she might understand them. Her praise makes him blush.
• Lu Yubai is boisterous and affectionate toward his sister, teasing both her and Fan Chiran. His impulsive attempt to help unexpectedly exposes the bruise.

Significant themes

• Hidden affection and indirect communication: Fan Chiran uses the daisies to express feelings he cannot say aloud.
• Misunderstanding and dramatic irony: Readers know what the flowers mean, but Lu Xiaoxiao does not.
• Care expressed through small gestures: Fan Chiran’s visit and carefully chosen gifts show his concern, while the bruise raises a new question.

Character interactions

• Lu Xiaoxiao jokes with Lu Yubai and compares his argumentative nature unfavorably with Fan Chiran’s politeness.
• Fan Chiran anxiously explains why he visited late and checks on Lu Xiaoxiao’s recovery; she reassures him and thanks him.
• Lu Yubai notices Fan Chiran’s flushed face, jokes that he is overheated, and pulls off his jacket—revealing the bruise.

Plot points and events

• Lu Yubai notices the bruise on Fan Chiran’s neck and angrily assumes that classmates have bullied him while he was away from school. He demands to know who did it and promises to get revenge.
• Lu Xiaoxiao stops Lu Yubai before he can escalate things. She recognizes that Fan Chiran doesn’t want to discuss the injury, so she avoids pressing him.
• Gently helping him put on his jacket, Xiaoxiao notices that Fan Chiran is dressed too lightly for the cold, but does not make assumptions or draw attention to it. She reassures him that he can simply enjoy his visit and suggests the boys play a new game.
• Fan Chiran chooses to speak after all. He explains that his father caused the bruise during an argument, and says his father often disciplines him that way. He downplays the incident and apologizes for worrying them.

Character developments

• Lu Xiaoxiao shows perceptive, considerate care. She understands that concern can feel like pity or charity if it ignores someone’s boundaries, so she offers warmth without demanding an explanation.
• Lu Yubai cares deeply about Fan Chiran but initially expresses it impulsively, assuming he must intervene. Xiaoxiao’s reminder helps him understand that tact and respect matter too.
• Fan Chiran appears embarrassed and guarded about his injuries, but Xiaoxiao’s gentle, nonjudgmental response helps him feel safe enough to disclose what happened.

Character interactions

• Lu Yubai confronts Fan Chiran and presses him about the bruise; Xiaoxiao restrains and distracts him, then quietly gives Fan Chiran space.
• Xiaoxiao’s calm kindness contrasts with Yubai’s forceful protectiveness. Once Yubai understands her approach, he helps redirect the conversation toward gaming.
• Fan Chiran ultimately rejects the offered change of subject and chooses to confide in both siblings, revealing a troubling pattern at home.

Significant themes

• Care without coercion: genuine support respects another person’s boundaries rather than demanding disclosure.
• Dignity and friendship: treating someone as an equal matters more than acting out of pity.
• Abuse and minimization: Fan Chiran describes his father’s violence as routine and “not serious,” suggesting he may have normalized harmful treatment.

Key plot points and events

• Fan Chiran explains that his father, Fan Song, discovered he had secretly been contacting his mother and objected to his wish to study computer science. Fan Song wants him to pursue a more conventional career and responded with anger and violence.
• Lu Xiaoxiao understands the family history: Fan Chiran’s parents divorced when he was young, and he reconnected with his mother only in high school. He also cares deeply for his younger half-sister, Ye Ziqi.
• Lu Xiaoxiao encourages Fan Chiran to pursue the future he wants. She promises to lend him money for college if his father refuses to pay, and gives him two candies to comfort him.
• Fan Chiran accepts her reassurance, carefully saves the candies, and joins Lu Yubai to play a game.

Character developments and interactions

• Fan Chiran shows both loyalty to his father—he recognizes that Fan Song wants what is best for him—and quiet determination to stay in contact with his mother and study computer science. Though initially anxious about burdening Lu Xiaoxiao, he is visibly heartened by her support.
• Lu Xiaoxiao responds with warmth and practical help. She frames the college funding as a loan so Fan Chiran can accept it without feeling indebted. Privately, she also considers how his future talent could benefit her plans.
• Lu Yubai first condemns Fan Song’s harshness, then holds back when Fan Chiran defends his father. Once Xiaoxiao has reassured Fan, Yubai lightens the mood by inviting him to play a game.
• The exchange between Xiaoxiao and Fan Chiran is especially nurturing: her reassurance and small gift give him a sense of hope and belonging.

Significant themes

• Personal autonomy: Fan Chiran must balance his father’s expectations with his own ambitions.
• Family loyalty and conflict: He values both parents despite their strained history and his father’s disapproval.
• Support and independence: Xiaoxiao’s offer of a repayable loan helps Fan pursue his dream while preserving his dignity.
• Hope for the future: The chapter closes on Fan Chiran’s renewed optimism and the belief that his difficulties can be overcome.

Key plot points and events

• Lu Xiaoxiao accepts her second brother Lu Shiyan’s invitation to visit the set of his new drama.
• Ji Yunhuai calls to invite her to lunch. She declines because of the visit, and they trade playful remarks about her ranking him as a suitor and his having spent money.
• Their conversation lingers after they have run out of things to say. When Xiaoxiao jokes that he uses her full name to get her attention, Ji Yunhuai softly calls her “Xiaoxiao,” flustering her so badly that she hangs up.
• Ji Yunhuai later texts that he still prefers her full name and says he will ask her out another day.
• He then visits the Cui family home and specifically asks to see Cui Anhe, surprising the household because he has rarely sought her out and is known to have little patience for her.
• Cui Anhe is delighted by his unexpected visit, dresses up, and hurries downstairs to greet him.

Character developments

• Lu Xiaoxiao remains playful and bold in conversation, but Ji Yunhuai’s unexpectedly tender flirtation exposes her inexperience and makes her visibly flustered.
• Ji Yunhuai shows increasing romantic interest in Xiaoxiao through teasing, lingering on the call, and planning to invite her out again. His visit to Cui Anhe hints at a separate, unexplained intention.
• Cui Anhe interprets Ji Yunhuai’s visit as a sign that their relationship is improving and responds with eager hope.

Significant themes

• Flirtation and vulnerability: Xiaoxiao can joke confidently about romance, but struggles when Ji Yunhuai turns the teasing sincere.
• Misread intentions: The Cui household—and especially Cui Anhe—assumes Ji Yunhuai’s visit signals affection, though his actual purpose is not yet revealed.
• Contrasting relationships: Ji Yunhuai’s warm, playful exchange with Xiaoxiao contrasts with his historically distant relationship with Cui Anhe.

Character interactions

• Xiaoxiao and Ji Yunhuai share a teasing phone call that becomes unexpectedly intimate when he calls her by her preferred nickname.
• Ji Yunhuai politely but firmly redirects the Cui family butler from offering to host him while he waits for Cui Anze, making clear that he came to see Cui Anhe.
• Cui Anhe approaches Ji Yunhuai with excitement and asks what he wanted to see her about.

Key plot points and events

• Ji Yunhuai confronts Cui Anhe over her interference in Lu Xiaoxiao’s life. Anhe denies responsibility, but immediately reveals she had tried to cause trouble for Xiaoxiao and keep her away from Yunhuai.
• Yunhuai warns Anhe that, out of respect for Aunt Xu, he will let past behavior go—but this is her last chance, and he will not tolerate further boundary-crossing.
• Anhe insists that she only wants Yunhuai to herself and threatens to harm herself to pressure him. Yunhuai refuses to be manipulated, telling her to go ahead if she truly means it. Frightened, she backs down.
• Anhe demands to know why Yunhuai prefers Xiaoxiao, arguing that she has known him since childhood and asking what gives Xiaoxiao the right to “take her place.”
• Yunhuai remains silent. Cui Anze arrives, and Anhe runs to him in tears, complaining that Yunhuai does not like her.

Character developments

• Ji Yunhuai is openly protective of Lu Xiaoxiao and firm with Anhe, showing that he will no longer tolerate her possessiveness or manipulation. His indifference to her suicide threat marks a sharp break from how she thought he used to treat her.
• Cui Anhe is revealed as jealous, controlling, and unwilling to accept Yunhuai’s feelings for someone else. Beneath her anger, she is insecure and longs for his affection, but she uses threats and emotional pressure rather than respecting his choices.
• Cui Anze enters as a calm, trusted figure whom the household relies on to manage Anhe. The scene ends before he responds to her complaint.

Significant themes

• Possessiveness versus genuine affection: Anhe treats Yunhuai as someone who should belong exclusively to her; Yunhuai rejects that claim.
• Boundaries and consequences: Yunhuai makes clear that family history and past indulgence will not excuse continued interference.
• Manipulation and emotional coercion: Anhe’s threat of self-harm is exposed as a pressure tactic, which fails to change Yunhuai’s stance.
• Jealousy and insecurity: Anhe’s comparison of herself with Xiaoxiao shows how threatened she feels by Yunhuai’s changing priorities.

Character interactions

• Yunhuai confronts Anhe directly, moving from warning her to refusing to indulge her threat.
• Anhe repeatedly tries to provoke sympathy and obtain reassurance, but Yunhuai gives her neither.
• The servants try to restrain and comfort Anhe, while two security guards silently recognize that she has incriminated herself.
• Anze’s arrival shifts the household’s attention toward him as the person expected to calm Anhe.

Key plot points and events

• Cui Anhe sobs in her brother Cui Anze’s arms after Ji Yunhuai comes to confront her over what she did to Lu Xiaoxiao.
• Anze asks whether Ji’s grievance concerns Lu and whether Ji has feelings for her. Ji openly confirms that he does.
• Anhe cries even harder at the admission. Anze apologizes on her behalf and promises to talk sense into her, while explaining that he cannot host Ji under the circumstances.
• At the film studio, Lu Xiaoxiao finds the cast and crew waiting because actress Sun Ning has not arrived. Her brother Lu Shiyan is dressed as a demon lord for his role, and Xiaoxiao enthusiastically praises his appearance.
• Director Wei Yun reveals that Sun Ning’s agent has abruptly ended her contract on the day of filming, leaving the production unable to shoot her scenes and without an immediate replacement.
• After learning that Xiaoxiao is Shiyan’s younger sister—and that Sun Ning’s character is also his younger sister—Wei Yun appears to have an idea.

Character developments and interactions

• Ji Yunhuai is direct about his affection for Lu Xiaoxiao and remains focused on holding Cui Anhe accountable.
• Cui Anze acts as a calm mediator: he comforts Anhe, treats Ji courteously despite the tension, and takes responsibility for addressing his sister’s behavior.
• Cui Anhe reacts dramatically to Ji’s feelings for Lu, suggesting jealousy or heartbreak, though the reason behind her reaction is not clarified here.
• Lu Xiaoxiao and Lu Shiyan share a warm, playful sibling dynamic. Xiaoxiao admires Shiyan’s costume and praises his humility; Shiyan enjoys her admiration.
• Wei Yun shifts from frustration over the production crisis to warmth toward Xiaoxiao, then seems to recognize a possible solution to the casting problem.

Significant themes

• Family loyalty and mediation: Anze supports his sister while also acknowledging her wrongdoing and offering Ji an apology.
• Romantic feelings and jealousy: Ji’s unhesitating confession intensifies Anhe’s emotional reaction.
• Sibling affection and humor: Xiaoxiao’s extravagant praise and private jokes about her family’s unusual parentage lighten the scene.
• Uncertainty and opportunity: Sun Ning’s sudden departure disrupts filming, but Wei Yun’s final observation hints that Xiaoxiao may be relevant to replacing her.