Chapter Summaries

Key plot points

• During a break from his livestream shift, Hua Jian asks to visit Lu Zexi’s private room, where he recognizes Lu from a previous bartending job at Lu’s winery estate. The guests then specifically request Hua Jian to come upstairs.
• Cui Jili, jealous of Hua Jian’s sudden online popularity, expects him to look worse in person. Instead, he admits Hua Jian is even more handsome than in the livestream.
• Hua Jian makes drinks for Lu, Cui, and Bo Lin. He is clearly focused on Bo Lin, whom he calls “senior,” and is delighted when Bo Lin finally speaks to him.
• Hua Jian persuades the group to take a photo, arranging to sit beside Bo Lin. Later, he privately sends Bo Lin a two-person picture, then invites him to dinner to thank him.
• Bo Lin rejects the invitation and explains that his earlier intervention had been to protect Fanling, not Hua Jian. When Hua Jian keeps pressing him—and admits he once touched Bo Lin’s ears because they looked cute—Bo Lin blocks him.

Character developments and interactions

• Hua Jian remains socially confident and strategic, using the photo and dinner invitation to pursue more contact with Bo Lin. His fixation shows in how closely he watches Bo Lin and how pleased he is by even a brief reply.
• Bo Lin stays reserved and guarded. Though he allows the group photo and responds to Hua Jian, he firmly denies acting for Hua Jian’s sake and ultimately cuts off contact.
• Cui Jili is vain and openly envious of Hua Jian’s follower count, but quickly shifts to admiring his looks and asks for a photo together.
• Lu Zexi recognizes Hua Jian from the winery estate and treats him casually, while warning him to ignore Cui Jili’s teasing.
• Hua Jian and Bo Lin’s interaction contrasts Hua Jian’s persistent warmth with Bo Lin’s reluctance and suspicion; the chapter ends with a sharp rejection.

Significant themes

• Appearance and public image: Hua Jian’s real-life looks exceed expectations, while Cui Jili’s jealousy reflects the importance he places on online popularity.
• Hidden motives and misread kindness: Hua Jian interprets Bo Lin’s past help as personal concern, but Bo Lin insists it was for Fanling’s safety.
• Pursuit versus boundaries: Hua Jian’s clever attempts to get closer to Bo Lin meet Bo Lin’s clear resistance, culminating in a block.

Plot points and events

• After Bo Lin blocks him, Hua Jian asks his roommate for advice. The roommate concludes Hua Jian may have crossed a line by touching Bo Lin’s ear while helping him into a car, and urges him to keep pursuing Bo Lin—though his advice is mostly crude teasing.
• Hua Jian dreams of an intimate encounter with Bo Lin, whose imagined tenderness and endearment unsettle him. On waking, Hua Jian recognizes that his feelings are not merely admiration: he is attracted to men and has feelings for Bo Lin.
• Hua Jian worries about Bo Lin’s powerful family, public expectations, and whether Bo Lin could be interested in men. He also wonders when Bo Lin will unblock him and when they will meet again.
• Three days later, Hua Jian takes a job at a high-end nightclub associated with Cui Jili. When a man in white suddenly lunges toward him, Hua Jian catches him and realizes it is Bo Lin, apparently drunk again.

Character developments

• Hua Jian moves from confused curiosity to acknowledging his attraction to Bo Lin, though he remains uncertain about what that means for their relationship. He is anxious but still hopeful.
• Bo Lin remains difficult for Hua Jian to read: he has blocked him and is usually aloof, yet he appears again in a vulnerable, intoxicated state.
• Hua Jian’s roommate acts as a blunt, comic confidant, offering a mix of practical observation and shameless encouragement.

Significant themes

• Self-discovery: Hua Jian confronts his sexuality and recognizes the romantic nature of his feelings.
• Desire versus uncertainty: His fantasies contrast sharply with Bo Lin’s real-world distance and the lack of clarity between them.
• Power and social expectations: Bo Lin’s status and family pressure make Hua Jian consider the risks and constraints surrounding a possible relationship.
• Comedy and embarrassment: The roommate’s teasing and Hua Jian’s awkward reactions soften the emotional tension.

Character interactions

• Hua Jian and his roommate discuss Bo Lin’s rejection, Hua Jian’s earlier boundary-crossing, and how he might continue pursuing him.
• Hua Jian’s dream depicts Bo Lin as affectionate and desiring, highlighting Hua Jian’s longing rather than revealing Bo Lin’s actual feelings.
• At the nightclub, Hua Jian catches Bo Lin as he lunges toward him, bringing them together again and setting up their next encounter.

Key plot points and events

• While Bo Lin is drunk, Hua Jian follows him to the restroom, concerned about his drinking and wellbeing.
• Bo Lin angrily tells Hua Jian to stop pestering him, saying Hua Jian harasses him in his dreams. Hua Jian realizes Bo Lin’s dreams involve him, and Bo Lin confirms that he has crossed boundaries there.
• Mistaking the intoxicated Bo Lin’s vulnerability for an opportunity, Hua Jian pins him against the wall and kisses his sensitive earlobe. Bo Lin struggles, but the contact makes him go limp.
• A stranger interrupts them with homophobic insults, jolting them back to reality. Bo Lin reveals he had sobered up when Hua Jian kissed his ear.
• Bo Lin demands that Hua Jian let him go and insists he is not gay. Hua Jian tries to play off his advances as a joke, but Bo Lin punches him and threatens him.

Character developments

• Hua Jian shifts from concern to impulsive desire. Learning that he appears in Bo Lin’s dreams emboldens him, but he disregards Bo Lin’s resistance and later faces the consequences.
• Bo Lin is initially impaired and confused, but regains his composure during the kiss. Though visibly flustered, he firmly rejects Hua Jian and asserts control by striking him.

Significant themes

• Desire versus consent: Hua Jian’s attraction leads him to ignore Bo Lin’s resistance, making the encounter a violation rather than a romantic advance.
• Dreams and reality: Bo Lin’s dreams blur into waking life, fueling Hua Jian’s assumptions and exposing a hidden connection between them.
• Humiliation and social prejudice: The stranger’s insults add public shame to an already charged encounter.

Character interactions

• Hua Jian’s concern quickly becomes pursuit; Bo Lin responds with irritation, vulnerability, and then anger.
• Their exchange exposes the imbalance between Hua Jian’s confident advances and Bo Lin’s unwillingness to accept them.
• The stranger’s interruption breaks the moment, after which Bo Lin definitively ends the encounter with a punch and a threat.

Key plot points

• Bo Lin endures a string of blind dates arranged by his sister, Bo Xiao, while his staff keep work away from him. In a group chat, he sees Cui Jili and Lu Zexi discussing Hua Jian—and hears that Hua has an impressive physique. Bo Lin becomes jealous and wonders how Cui could have seen Hua’s body.
• Frustrated with the dates, Bo Lin leaves early and returns to the office. A brief message from him stops Bo Xiao’s dramatic barrage of threats.
• Hua Jian receives a message from Qi Fanling asking whether he knows any gay men. He wonders if her question concerns Bo Lin and feels renewed hope after their month-long silence.
• At Cui Jili’s office, Cui asks whether Hua is gay and warns him not to pursue Cui. He also says Bo Lin is known for avoiding relationships and is unlikely to be gay. Hua admits only to himself that Bo Lin is the one person he wants.
• At Cui’s private party, Hua watches for Bo Lin. When Bo Lin arrives, Hua boldly stops him and offers him a cocktail. Their encounter quickly becomes gossip across the capital.

Character developments and interactions

• Bo Lin remains outwardly controlled but is increasingly preoccupied with Hua. His jealousy and curiosity clash with his reputation for being straight and emotionally detached. His impatience with the blind dates is clear.
• Hua Jian is unsure how to define his sexuality, but his desire is specifically for Bo Lin. Despite their earlier conflict and separation, he approaches Bo Lin warmly and confidently.
• Cui Jili is self-absorbed and blunt, misreading Hua’s intentions and making comments about his appearance. He also uses Hua as a “showpiece” at his party.
• Lu Zexi teases Cui while pointing out that Hua seems interested in Bo Lin.
• Bo Xiao continues trying to push Bo Lin into dating, using exaggerated threats to get his attention.

Significant themes

• Jealousy and unspoken attraction: Bo Lin’s reaction to talk of Hua’s body reveals feelings he has not acknowledged.
• Public reputation versus private desire: Bo Lin is widely assumed to be straight and uninterested in romance, while the people around him speculate about his sexuality.
• Misunderstanding and gossip: Friends’ conversations and party chatter shape how others interpret Hua and Bo Lin, while their actual feelings remain unspoken.
• Persistence after conflict: Hua’s open, gentle approach suggests he has not given up on reconnecting with Bo Lin.

Plot points and events

• At a private gathering, Bo Lin’s friends joke crudely about Hua Jian’s appearance and sexuality. When the remarks become especially explicit, Bo Lin silences the room by smashing his glass and leaves.
• Hua Jian follows Bo Lin into the stairwell, takes his cigarette, and catches him before he can fall. He asks whether Bo Lin was defending him and whether Bo Lin’s lack of recent blind dates has anything to do with him.
• Bo Lin denies caring, but Hua Jian is buoyed when Bo Lin calls him handsome. Hua Jian then blurts out a sexually provocative remark, prompting Bo Lin to try to leave.
• Bo Lin punches at Hua Jian, but Hua Jian dodges and pins him against the stairwell door. Their confrontation turns physically charged, ending with Bo Lin angrily threatening him while Hua Jian admits inwardly that he is a pervert.

Character developments

• Bo Lin shows signs of protecting Hua Jian, though he insists his reaction was simply disgust at the friends’ behavior. His composure gives way to anger and embarrassment as Hua Jian presses him.
• Hua Jian grows bolder in pursuing Bo Lin and reads small gestures—Bo Lin’s defense and compliment—as evidence of affection. Beneath his teasing confidence, he is nervous and prone to saying too much.

Significant themes

• Denial and unspoken attraction: Both men resist naming what may be developing between them.
• Jealousy, protectiveness, and social expectations: Bo Lin’s response contrasts with the group’s casual homophobia and objectification.
• Comic tension and boundary-pushing: Hua Jian’s flirtation repeatedly crosses lines, creating humor alongside the scene’s increasingly intimate tension.

Character interactions

• Bo Lin’s friends tease him about Hua Jian, and Bo Lin’s abrupt departure makes clear their jokes have gone too far.
• In private, Hua Jian probes Bo Lin’s feelings while Bo Lin deflects and threatens him; their banter escalates into a physical struggle charged with attraction and frustration.

Key plot points

• After tutoring Qi Fanling, Hua Jian asks about her earlier reference to homosexuality. Her evasive reaction strengthens his suspicion that it concerned Bo Lin.
• Hua Jian notices an expensive gift and wonders whether Bo Lin’s birthday is approaching. Bo Lin arrives and finds Fanling has prepared a birthday surprise.
• Hua Jian wishes Bo Lin a happy birthday and invites him and Fanling to lunch. Bo Lin rejects the invitation, calls Hua Jian a stranger, and abruptly fires him.
• Hua Jian persuades Bo Lin to speak privately in his study. He admits he wants to pursue Bo Lin and argues that Bo Lin’s troubling dreams and uncertainty about his sexuality are relevant to him.
• Bo Lin insists the dreams mean nothing and says that even if he likes men, he need not choose Hua Jian. Hua Jian then reveals that he knows Bo Lin is “L,” his devoted top supporter on Hua Jian’s livestreams. Bo Lin’s startled reaction convinces Hua Jian his feelings are not one-sided.
• Meanwhile, Fanling misreads their tense exchange as evidence that they are already a couple and messages Bo Xiao excitedly about her uncle’s handsome “boyfriend.”

Character developments and interactions

• Hua Jian remains optimistic despite Bo Lin’s hostility. He takes a calculated risk by admitting his feelings and testing his suspicion that Bo Lin follows his livestreams.
• Bo Lin keeps his emotions tightly controlled, but his anger and panic hint at vulnerability. He regrets having told Hua Jian about his dreams while drunk and reacts strongly when Hua Jian identifies him as “L.”
• Qi Fanling likes Hua Jian and is perceptive enough to notice the tension, but she misunderstands it as romantic familiarity. Her loyalty to Bo Lin makes her cautious around their conflict.

Significant themes

• Denial and emotional vulnerability: Bo Lin tries to dismiss his dreams and feelings, while Hua Jian presses him to confront them.
• Misunderstanding and dramatic irony: Fanling interprets rejection and tension as signs of a secret relationship, while the reader sees Bo Lin’s denial and Hua Jian’s hopeful probing.
• Persistence and uncertainty in romance: Hua Jian’s optimism clashes with Bo Lin’s resistance, leaving their relationship unresolved but suggesting mutual interest.

Plot points

• Hua Jian confronts Bo Lin with proof that he is the anonymous top donor “L,” and pressures him to admit his feelings and agree to a secret relationship.
• Bo Lin responds by kissing Hua Jian passionately, then pulls away and tells him to leave.
• Their conversation reveals that both have shared erotic dreams about each other. Hua Jian asks whether he was the one taking the lead in the dream; Bo Lin’s reaction confirms it.
• Bo Lin insists their dreams should not mean anything in real life, but Hua Jian clings to him and begs not to be sent away.
• Bo Lin recalls how his attraction developed: following Hua Jian’s streams, missing him when he could not watch, inviting him into his home, and even waiting in an alley just to see him.
• Bo Lin finally accepts Hua Jian’s proposal—with a condition: Hua Jian must learn to be his secret lover.

Character development

• Bo Lin moves from denial and embarrassment toward acknowledging his attraction. He recognizes that his feelings for Hua Jian are real, despite his past discomfort with the idea of being attracted to men.
• Hua Jian is bold and teasing, but beneath his confident advances he is anxious about being rejected. He uses their shared dreams and Bo Lin’s hidden attachment to persuade him to stay.
• Bo Lin’s acceptance remains guarded: he agrees to secrecy rather than openly naming or displaying the relationship.

Significant themes

• Denial and self-discovery: Bo Lin’s long-held assumptions about his sexuality are challenged by his specific feelings for Hua Jian.
• Secrecy and vulnerability: Bo Lin wants to protect his private life, while Hua Jian seeks reassurance and commitment.
• Dreams versus reality: Their shared dreams intensify their attraction, but Bo Lin initially uses them as a reason to keep their real lives separate.
• Power and emotional risk: Hua Jian pushes boldly, yet his pleas reveal how much he fears losing Bo Lin.

Character interactions

• Hua Jian confronts and teases Bo Lin, using the donor identity and their dreams to expose his feelings.
• Bo Lin alternates between rebuffing Hua Jian and responding passionately, revealing a conflict between restraint and desire.
• Hua Jian’s embrace softens Bo Lin, prompting him to reflect on how deeply he has become attached.
• Their exchange ends with Bo Lin accepting a secret relationship, while leaving the terms—and his feelings—carefully guarded.

Plot points

• Hua Jian wakes beside his husband, Bo Lin, after dreaming of a past version of himself who struggled to win Bo Lin’s affection. He briefly wonders whether his dream-self and his husband are the same person, then dismisses the thought.
• The couple takes Qi Fanling to Xie Zhiwei and Li Chenglan’s wedding. Hua Jian carries and plays with the nearly seven-year-old girl, while Bo Lin watches fondly and wonders about Hua Jian’s recurring dream.
• At the wedding, Xie Zhiyan complains that Hua Jian has left him helping run the entertainment company. Their teasing turns into a quarrel when Hua Jian tricks him into asking their brother Xie Zhitan about his romantic preferences.
• Guests observe Hua Jian’s continued closeness with the Xie family despite past conflict involving his mother and Xie Cheng. Lu Zexi remarks on how much Hua Jian has helped the family; Bo Lin cautions him not to upset Hua Jian.

Character developments and interactions

• Hua Jian is affectionate and playful with Bo Lin and Qi Fanling, and remains generous toward the Xie brothers. His dream reveals an emotional contrast between his imagined romantic struggles and his happy present marriage.
• Bo Lin is comfortable with Hua Jian’s teasing and attentiveness, though he is sore from their night together. He quietly notices Hua Jian’s lingering dream talk and protects his feelings by warning Lu Zexi.
• Qi Fanling eagerly joins Hua Jian’s “flying” game, showing her closeness with him.
• Xie Zhiyan grumbles about his work but continues to banter with Hua Jian; his relationship with Xie Zhitan is affectionate beneath the exasperation.
• Xie Zhitan tries to keep his younger brother and Hua Jian from making a scene. Lu Zexi envies Hua Jian’s support of the Xie family, while Bo Lin reminds him to be considerate.

Significant themes

• The warmth and stability of Hua Jian and Bo Lin’s domestic life contrasts with Hua Jian’s dream of unrequited pursuit.
• Family loyalty persists despite old conflict, expressed through Hua Jian’s practical support and playful closeness with the Xie brothers.
• Teasing and bickering serve as signs of intimacy, while Bo Lin’s quiet intervention shows his attentiveness to Hua Jian’s feelings.

Plot points

• Li Chenglan and Xie Zhiwei marry in a lively, unconventional wedding. Chenglan gives a confident speech and thanks Hua Jian, who assumes it is for arranging business opportunities for her family.
• Qin Ci attends despite his politically powerful father’s restrictions. He has come hoping to see Xie Zhitan, whom he likes, though Zhitan does not return his feelings. Hua Jian and Bo Lin notice the awkward, one-sided attraction.
• After the ceremony, most guests leave, but Hua Jian and Bo Lin stay for the evening gathering. Zhitan asks whether they will visit Sea City during Fanling’s school break, then tells Hua Jian that Hua Yingrou’s health is failing.
• Hua Jian is troubled by the possibility that Hua Yingrou will die before revealing the truth about his birth mother’s death. He also suspects she may have been involved in Hua Ran’s death, though he knows that mystery may never be solved.
• Bo Lin finds Hua Jian alone and withdrawn. Once reunited, Hua Jian jokes about dreams in which the two of them meet again and fall in love despite both being homophobic. Their playful banter lifts his mood, and they leave together.

Character developments and interactions

• Hua Jian briefly sinks into grief and frustration over Hua Yingrou’s condition and the unanswered questions about his family, but reconnecting with Bo Lin helps him recover his warmth and humor.
• Bo Lin is attentive to Hua Jian’s distress and comforts him. As they drive home, he privately imagines having a wedding of his own with Hua Jian.
• Qin Ci makes a rare public appearance to see Xie Zhitan, highlighting his unrequited affection. Zhitan remains matter-of-fact, while Hua Jian and Bo Lin give them space.
• Li Chenglan and Xie Zhiwei are presented as a devoted couple whose unconventional dynamic is accepted by the Xie brothers.

Significant themes

• Love and commitment: The wedding and Hua Jian and Bo Lin’s teasing show different expressions of devotion; Bo Lin’s final thought hints at wanting a formal celebration of their own.
• Unresolved family secrets and mortality: Hua Yingrou’s deteriorating health may permanently close off Hua Jian’s chance to learn the truth.
• Comfort through intimacy: Bo Lin’s presence and Hua Jian’s affectionate humor help him move through a moment of loneliness and grief.

Plot and events

• In the springtime traffic near the Imperial Capital’s peach groves, Qin Ci nearly encounters Huo Bing, a former middle-school classmate. Huo recognizes him by his old nickname, “Fat Pancake,” and asks for a ride. Qin refuses but agrees to meet him at his café.
• Qin has his assistant, Jiang Yueming, investigate Huo, unsettled by how familiar Huo’s appearance and clothes seem. During the call, Jiang mentions that Professor Xie Zhitan’s flight is due to land at noon.
• Qin rushes to the airport to meet Xie, abandoning the café and his iced coffee. He worries that his casual, revealing outfit will not suit Xie’s taste.
• At the airport, Qin sees Xie chatting warmly with Chen Junyan, another former classmate. Jealous and irritated, Qin breaks his expensive sunglasses. Chen mistakenly assumes Qin and Huo are together; Qin angrily corrects him.
• Xie says he must leave and declines Qin’s offer of a ride. Qin insists, takes hold of Xie’s suitcase, and urges him to come with him.

Character developments

• Qin Ci remains blunt, impatient, and entitled, but his urgent trip to collect Xie—and his concern over what Xie will think of his appearance—reveal strong personal investment. His jealousy surfaces when he sees Xie with Chen.
• Huo Bing reappears as a noticeably slimmer former classmate. He is eager to reconnect with Qin, though Qin’s reaction is guarded and suspicious.
• Xie Zhitan returns to the Imperial Capital looking composed and friendly. He remains polite but cool toward Qin, declining his offer of a ride.
• Chen Junyan is sociable but awkward, misreading Qin and Huo’s brief reunion.

Themes and interactions

• Possessiveness and jealousy: Qin’s hostility toward Chen and insistence on taking Xie suggest a protective, possibly romantic attachment.
• Past and present: Two former classmates unexpectedly re-enter Qin’s life, prompting curiosity about who they have become.
• Status and bluntness: Qin’s wealth and authority shape his casual disregard for others, while his behavior around Xie exposes a more vulnerable side.
• Key relationships: Qin clashes with Huo before agreeing to meet him; he scolds Jiang while relying on him for information; and he presses Xie to leave with him despite Xie’s refusal.

Key plot points

• Qin Ci picks Xie Zhitan up at the airport in his new sports car. Though Xie is uncomfortable with Qin’s fast driving and persistent attention, Qin insists on bringing him to his café for a meal.
• Xie declines, saying he has an upcoming video conference and needs files from his university office. He asks Qin to stop near Imperial University instead.
• Huo Bing, a former middle-school classmate, recognizes Qin and approaches the car. Xie gets out to retrieve his suitcase and leaves without accepting Qin’s invitation to dinner, saying he already has plans.
• Huo makes a disparaging remark about Xie being unfriendly. Qin reacts furiously, threatens him, and orders him to leave.

Character developments and interactions

• Xie Zhitan remains reserved and firm about his boundaries. He notices Huo’s concealed jealousy when he sees Xie getting out of Qin’s car, but doesn’t engage with Huo’s insult.
• Qin Ci is boastful and talkative, using memories of their school days to fill the silence. Despite Xie’s rejection, he keeps trying to look after him and seems displeased when Xie leaves. His anger at Huo’s criticism reveals how strongly he feels about Xie.
• Huo Bing appears eager to reconnect with Qin, but his jealousy toward Xie surfaces before he hides it. His attempt to reminisce is cut off by Qin’s hostility.
• The chapter’s central dynamic is Qin’s persistent pursuit versus Xie’s guarded distance. Qin’s protectiveness contrasts with his casual, abrasive manner.

Significant themes

• Unspoken attraction and jealousy: Qin’s attention to Xie and Huo’s reaction to their closeness suggest competing feelings.
• Boundaries and ambiguity: Xie has already rejected Qin, yet Qin continues to seek time with him, leaving their relationship unresolved.
• Loyalty and defense: Qin’s fierce response to Huo’s insult shows that, whatever his motives, he will not tolerate Xie being disparaged.

Plot points and events

• Xie Zhitan is in Ancheng for a month of academic discussions, but Qin Ci keeps appearing wherever he goes. At a university dinner, Xie asks why Qin Ci does not have a life of his own; Qin replies that he is enjoying himself.
• Qin Ci watches Xie eat, then takes food directly from Xie’s fork despite being told no. Xie reprimands him, and Qin Ci apologizes—offering to buy him another meal—but takes Xie’s composed response as condescending.
• Xie tells Qin Ci to attend to his own affairs and says he is annoying. Qin erupts, declaring he has nothing to do, then leaves after his phone rings. The contrast between Qin’s casual hoodie and the formal academic gathering underscores how far apart the two men seem.
• Outside, Qin berates himself for getting angry and worries that he has genuinely upset Xie. He crushes several cigarettes rather than smoke, remembering that Xie dislikes the smell.
• Huo Bing calls, offering Qin photographs from Xie’s middle-school years. Qin agrees to meet him. He then opens a background file on Huo Bing and discovers that Huo left school because of bullying—and that Xie Zhitan is named in the evidence.

Character developments

• Qin Ci remains bold and provocative, but his flirtation with Xie is also driven by strong affection and insecurity. Xie’s dismissal wounds him, and he is acutely conscious of the differences between their worlds. His restraint around smoking shows how much he considers Xie’s preferences.
• Xie Zhitan maintains his guarded, professional composure and becomes openly stern when Qin crosses a boundary. His calmness leaves Qin unsure whether he is being judged or simply rejected.
• Huo Bing re-enters the story with a potentially significant connection to Xie’s past.

Significant themes

• Unequal worlds and social distance: Qin’s outburst makes him confront the gulf between his casual, wealthy lifestyle and Xie’s academic environment.
• Boundaries and misread intentions: Qin treats closeness playfully, while Xie sees his behavior as intrusive; their different readings deepen the tension.
• Affection, pride, and vulnerability: Qin’s teasing masks genuine concern and hurt, while Xie’s restraint gives little reassurance.
• The weight of the past: The discovery that Xie is linked to Huo Bing’s bullying case raises questions about his history and foreshadows conflict.

Character interactions

• Qin Ci and Xie Zhitan: Their meal shifts from teasing familiarity to confrontation. Qin’s boundary-crossing, apology, and anger expose the unresolved emotional tension between them.
• Qin Ci and Huo Bing: Huo’s call draws Qin toward a meeting and supplies the lead that connects Xie to an old bullying incident.
• Qin Ci and Jiang Yueming: Jiang’s previously sent report becomes crucial when Qin finally opens it and finds Xie’s name.

Key plot points and events

• After Qin Ci leaves their meeting, Xie Zhitan retrieves a small box Qin Ci forgot, checks security footage to confirm it is his, and keeps it in hopes of returning it during another “chance encounter.” Qin Ci does not reappear during Xie Zhitan’s remaining month in Ancheng.
• Back in the Imperial Capital, Xie Zhitan’s younger brother, Xie Zhiyan, tells him that Qin Ci was injured in a bar fight, supposedly over a man. Qin Ci’s orchestra has disbanded, and Zhiyan wants to buy his villa. Xie Zhitan reacts sharply but insists Qin Ci’s affairs are none of his concern.
• Qin Ci, meanwhile, is under house confinement after the fight. A message and video showing Xie Zhitan being picked up by Zhiyan spur him to demand his freedom. He threatens to leave for Y Country if his father continues restricting him.
• Once released, Qin Ci learns from Jiang Yueming that Xie Zhitan has not contacted him. Though hurt by the silence, he tells Jiang to take him to Xie Zhitan.

Character developments

• Xie Zhitan tries to treat Qin Ci as irrelevant, recalling what he has heard about Qin Ci’s past hostility toward him. Yet his keeping Qin Ci’s forgotten box—and his strong reaction to news of the fight—suggests lingering concern.
• Qin Ci is impatient, forceful, and determined to see Xie Zhitan. His eagerness contrasts with his wounded pride over receiving no message. The chapter also clarifies that he was injured while protecting a classmate, not necessarily in a fight over a romantic rival.
• Xie Zhiyan remains carefree and materialistic, focused on buying a villa for his instruments, while casually passing along rumors about Qin Ci.
• Jiang Yueming acts as Qin Ci’s friend and messenger, but openly doubts that Qin Ci and Xie Zhitan belong in the same world.

Significant themes

• Unspoken attachment and miscommunication: Xie Zhitan keeps Qin Ci’s box, while Qin Ci longs to reconnect, but neither has openly expressed what they feel.
• Rumor versus reality: Qin Ci’s fight is reduced to gossip about a romantic rivalry, while the actual circumstances are more complicated.
• Pride and emotional vulnerability: Both men conceal their feelings—Xie Zhitan behind indifference and Qin Ci behind anger and sarcasm.

Character interactions

• Professors tease Xie Zhitan about Qin Ci being his partner; he declines to clarify their relationship.
• Xie Zhitan and Zhiyan discuss Qin Ci, with Zhiyan’s confident gossip provoking Xie Zhitan’s visible irritation.
• Qin Ci confronts his father’s secretary to end his confinement, then presses Jiang Yueming to take him to Xie Zhitan despite Jiang’s skepticism.
• The chapter ends with Qin Ci outside a nightclub, struggling to imagine refined, restrained Xie Zhitan in such a setting.

Plot points and events

• Xie Zhitan meets his old friend Cui Lengyun for drinks after nearly two months apart. Cui notices he is unusually withdrawn and guesses the problem is personal rather than work-related.
• Xie explains that, shortly after returning from An City, he received an anonymous complaint accusing him of unprofessional conduct and bullying a classmate in middle school. He suspects Huo Bing, though he is more troubled by the possibility that Qin Ci is involved.
• Cui offers to investigate Huo Bing. Xie accepts, then encounters Qin Ci in the nightclub restroom.
• Qin Ci teases Xie and brings up their dispute in An City. Xie reacts violently, throwing him into a stall and threatening to kill him if he approaches again. He also warns that Qin Ci’s connection to Huo Bing is not settled.
• After Xie leaves, Qin Ci discovers that Xie smashed the windshield and dented the hood of his sports car. Despite his anger and lingering neck pain, Qin Ci does not retaliate against Xie. Instead, he orders Jiang Yueming to capture Huo Bing, threatening him if he fails.

Character developments

• Xie Zhitan shifts from controlled, quiet frustration to open aggression. The complaint and his suspicions about Qin Ci have pushed him to a breaking point; he also makes clear that his job matters less to him than the conflict with Huo Bing and Qin Ci.
• Qin Ci remains fascinated by Xie, even during a frightening confrontation. His usual anger is tempered by his infatuation, but he redirects his fury toward Huo Bing.
• Cui Lengyun acts as a perceptive, practical friend, recognizing Xie’s distress and offering to investigate.
• Jiang Yueming is intimidated by Qin Ci and accepts the dangerous task of finding Huo Bing.

Significant themes

• Restraint breaking into violence: Xie’s refined, composed image gives way to a startlingly brutal confrontation.
• Obsession and power: Qin Ci’s attraction to Xie persists despite rejection and physical harm, while he uses threats and authority to control those around him.
• Suspicion and blame: Xie fears Qin Ci has again interfered in his life, while Qin Ci believes Huo Bing has manipulated events and damaged his relationship with Xie.
• Professional identity and independence: Xie’s indifference to losing his professorship suggests he refuses to see his career as the only thing sustaining him.

Character interactions

• Cui gently probes Xie’s mood and offers both emotional support and investigative help.
• Xie and Qin Ci’s encounter is charged with antagonism and attraction: Qin Ci teases him, Xie responds with violence and a clear rejection, and their conflict deepens.
• Afterward, Qin Ci’s behavior toward Jiang Yueming shows his continuing pursuit of Huo Bing—and his willingness to threaten subordinates to get what he wants.

• Xie Zhitan resigns: The university’s director tries to talk him out of leaving, offering paid leave instead, but Zhitan refuses. He says he had already been considering a move abroad to finish his academic work. In truth, teaching suited his peaceful temperament far better than business, and he has no desire to join the Xie Corporation.
• Qin Ci remains a sore point: Hua Jian calls to offer help and quickly guesses that Zhitan has resigned because of Qin Ci. Zhitan insists the matter is settled and tells him to stay out of it, but realizes that merely hearing Qin Ci’s name makes him angry. He sees Qin as an unwelcome source of uncertainty.
• Huo Bing is captured: At Qin Ci’s request, Jiang Yueming and his men track down and seize Huo Bing, who had changed his name and undergone extensive plastic surgery abroad. Jiang orders his men to erase their traces and take Huo Bing to the Northern Suburbs.
• The family discusses Zhitan’s future: At a rare gathering of the Xie family, Xie Zhiwei orders Zhitan to join the family company. Zhitan instead says he plans to visit a university in Y Country, though he has not decided what he will do afterward. Bo Lin offers him a role at his venture-capital firm, with assistants to spare him administrative work and social obligations. Zhiwei resists, but eventually drops the matter.
• Hua Jian raises Qin Ci again: After the family discussion, Hua Jian privately asks Zhitan not to be angry and says Qin Ci wants a chance to explain that Zhitan misunderstood him.
  Character developments and interactions: Zhitan’s resignation reflects his longstanding preference for academic work and a quiet life, but his reaction to Qin Ci reveals unresolved anger. Zhiwei tries to assert his authority as eldest brother and direct Zhitan into the family business; Bo Lin counters with a more appealing, low-pressure alternative, while Hua Jian supports Zhitan and privately tries to broker a conversation with Qin Ci. The family’s teasing and banter ease the tension around Zhitan’s possible departure.
  Themes: The chapter contrasts personal independence with family duty, and peaceful academic life with business pressures. It also emphasizes miscommunication and unresolved conflict: Zhitan wants distance from Qin Ci, while Qin Ci is still trying to explain himself.

Key plot points and events

• Qin Ci waits outside the Xie residence after Hua Jian tells him Xie Zhitan won’t see him. He blames Huo Bing for the rift but recognizes that Xie Zhitan’s rejection runs deeper. Though he considers following him, Qin Ci ultimately stays behind.
• Xie Zhitan flies alone to Y Country. He relaxes only after the plane begins taxiing, confirming that Qin Ci hasn’t followed.
• During the flight, Xie Zhitan recalls that the university’s investigation cleared him of bullying Huo Bing. Huo Bing himself had submitted the false report, despite Xie Zhitan having helped him.
• Xie Zhitan falls asleep and dreams of an alternate past: he teaches Shu Yao, who is close to Qin Ci; Qin Ci becomes jealous and accuses Xie Zhitan of wanting Shu Yao.
• The dream shifts to the Xie Family’s bankruptcy. Xie Zhiwei is desperate for money, Xie Zhiyan is preoccupied with pursuing Shu Yao, and a car crash leaves Xie Zhiwei’s fate uncertain. Qin Ci offers to pay for his treatment in exchange for Xie Zhitan staying with him and avoiding Shu Yao.
• Xie Zhitan wakes in distress. He concludes that the dream reflects what would have happened if he had never heard Hua Jian’s thoughts—and feels relieved that events have changed.

Character developments

• Qin Ci shows that his affection for Xie Zhitan persists, even as he struggles with rejection and jealousy. He stays away this time, though his imagined role in the dream is controlling.
• Xie Zhitan remains outwardly composed but is unsettled by his attachment to Qin Ci and by the possibility of the disastrous future he dreams about.
• Huo Bing is revealed to have fabricated the accusation against Xie Zhitan, making his betrayal especially stark.
• Xie Zhiwei and Xie Zhiyan appear in the dream as figures caught in the Xie Family’s imagined collapse, underscoring how much Xie Zhitan fears for his family.

Significant themes

• Changed fate and alternate possibilities: The dream presents a bleak future that Xie Zhitan believes has been avoided because he learned the truth through Hua Jian.
• Betrayal and misplaced blame: Huo Bing’s false accusation contrasts with Xie Zhitan’s earlier help.
• Love, jealousy, and control: Qin Ci’s longing is mixed with possessiveness, especially in the dream.
• Hidden vulnerability: Xie Zhitan’s careful composure gives way to fear and grief when confronted with the imagined loss of his family.

Character interactions

• Qin Ci’s message exchange with Hua Jian confirms Xie Zhitan’s refusal, and Qin Ci privately wrestles with whether to pursue him.
• Xie Zhitan recalls the university’s investigation and learns that Huo Bing—not his actual bullies—filed the accusation.
• In the dream, Shu Yao’s closeness to Qin Ci provokes a jealous confrontation, while Xie Zhitan struggles to make sense of their strange relationships.
• After waking, Xie Zhitan politely reassures the flight attendant and asks for water, concealing how deeply the dream has shaken him.

Key plot points and events

• Xie Zhitan returns to Fog City and settles into his old apartment, 1702. The familiar, quiet surroundings help him feel at ease after the complications of life in the Imperial Capital.
• At a Chinese supermarket, his striking appearance draws attention from international students, though he remains unaware of the rumors and admiration circulating online.
• The apartment next door, 1701, appears occupied. When the landlady calls to report a foul smell, Xie goes to check and assumes the tenant might be Qin Ci.
• Instead, he finds Lü Tianyi, a young man roasting durian. Xie leaves after confirming there is no emergency, concealing that he had nearly called the visitor by Qin Ci’s name.
• Qin Ci later arrives at 1701, furious about the smell and about Lü Tianyi staying there. He checks that his cousin has not been taking drugs, then hears that the neighbor is exceptionally handsome and asks when Lü saw him.

Character developments

• Xie is relieved to return to a peaceful, familiar life and prefers the distance of casual relationships. He finds unwanted admirers more irritating than dealing with Qin Ci.
• Despite telling himself Qin Ci may have moved on, Xie’s instinctive reaction to the apartment and the unfamiliar tenant suggests Qin Ci remains on his mind.
• Qin Ci is shown as volatile and protective: he lashes out at Lü, but his anger quickly turns to concern about his cousin’s health.
• Lü is cheeky and somewhat reckless, but his heart condition and fear of his family’s reaction explain why he drank and stayed at Qin Ci’s apartment.

Significant themes

• Longing and uncertainty: Xie tries to put Qin Ci behind him, yet still expects—and perhaps hopes—to encounter him.
• Home and belonging: Returning to his former neighborhood and university restores Xie’s sense of calm.
• Appearances versus reality: Xie’s handsome image sparks gossip, while the foul-smelling “emergency” proves to be nothing more than roasted durian.

Character interactions

• Xie’s easy reunion with his landlady and colleagues contrasts with his discomfort around admirers.
• Xie and Lü meet briefly as neighbors; Lü notices Xie’s near-slip, but Xie denies calling anyone’s name.
• Qin Ci and Lü bicker like close relatives. Qin Ci scolds him harshly, checks his face for signs of drug use, and then becomes sharply interested when Lü mentions the handsome neighbor.

Summary

Key plot points and events

• After work, Xie Zhitan is followed by a young man who confesses that he likes him. Xie warns him that he will pursue stalking charges and deportation if the boy approaches him again, then leaves.
• Back at his apartment, Xie runs on a treadmill and showers. He notices that the bathroom’s exhaust fan may connect to the neighboring apartment and hears faint running water through it. His thoughts linger on the connection, and he spends unusually long exercising and showering before turning to his studies.
• On Friday, Xie attends a holiday dinner with his professor and the professor’s new partner. As they gather outside a restaurant, a young colleague casually pulls Xie inside.
• Nearby, Lü Tianyi and his school friends discuss the wealthy and influential people at the restaurant—including Xie, whom they recognize as exceptionally attractive.
• Lü messages his cousin, Qin Ci, about Xie’s whereabouts and the young colleague’s apparent interest in him. Qin, who has seemed unusually dejected during his visit to Fog City, immediately asks which restaurant Xie entered.

Character developments

• Xie Zhitan remains controlled and guarded, responding harshly when his boundaries are crossed. Yet his unusually prolonged exercise and shower, along with his attention to the adjoining bathroom, suggest that thoughts of the neighbor are unsettling his usual composure.
• Qin Ci appears withdrawn and unlike his normally energetic self. His immediate interest in Xie’s location suggests that his mood may be connected to him.
• Lü Tianyi is talkative and observant. Noticing Qin’s sudden urgency, he begins to suspect that his cousin may be heartbroken.
• Xie’s young colleague is friendly and physically familiar, though his intentions toward Xie are presented through the others’ speculation.

Significant themes

• Loneliness and emotional restraint: Xie’s quiet walk and disciplined routine contrast with signs of inner disturbance.
• Boundaries and unwanted attention: Xie firmly rejects the stranger’s pursuit and threatens legal consequences.
• Longing and unspoken attachment: The apartment’s shared ventilation, Qin’s apparent distress, and his interest in Xie hint at a connection neither man directly acknowledges here.
• Public image and status: The dinner guests and their observers highlight the influence, wealth, and social circles surrounding Xie.

Character interactions

• Xie confronts and rejects the boy following him.
• Xie attends dinner with his professor and colleagues, allowing one young colleague to lead him inside.
• Lü and his friends gossip about the dinner guests and speculate about the colleague’s interest in Xie.
• Lü teases Qin with updates about Xie; Qin’s abrupt request for the restaurant’s name prompts Lü to suspect romantic heartbreak.

Key plot points

• Nearly two months after the Huo Bing incident, Qin Ci is still hurt and angry that Xie Zhitan distrusted him, blocked him, and left for Fog City. He also struggles with vivid, unwelcome fantasies about Xie Zhitan.
• Qin Ci hears from his teenage cousin Lü Tianyi that Xie Zhitan may be at a restaurant with another man. He rushes to the scene in a flashy yellow sports car, then waits outside rather than joining the boys inside.
• Upstairs, Xie Zhitan chats comfortably with his colleague Ross, who asks whether he likes men and whether he is interested in Jack, a flirtatious new colleague. Xie Zhitan jokes that Jack’s strong perfume would bother his nose.
• Jack approaches Xie Zhitan and admits he likes him. Just as Jack believes Xie Zhitan is drawing close, Xie grabs him by the hair and throws him away, shattering glass and alarming the restaurant.
• Qin Ci and Xie Zhitan lock eyes across the room, bringing the chapter to a dramatic confrontation.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Ci remains possessive and resentful, but his jealousy quickly overcomes his reluctance: he races to find Xie Zhitan and enters the restaurant. His bold, swaggering behavior contrasts with the emotional vulnerability beneath it.
• Xie Zhitan appears relaxed and playful with Ross, yet reacts sharply when Jack’s advances cross a boundary. His sudden violence reveals a guarded, forceful side.
• Lü Tianyi teases Qin Ci about “winning his wife back,” then helps him locate the restaurant, while showing off his cousin’s wealth to his classmates.
• Ross gently probes Xie Zhitan’s romantic preferences and shares an easy rapport with him. Jack openly pursues Xie Zhitan, but his confidence turns to shock when Xie rejects him physically.

Significant themes

• Jealousy and possessiveness: Qin Ci’s suspicion about Xie Zhitan’s companion drives his actions.
• Misunderstanding and unresolved hurt: Qin Ci’s anger over Xie Zhitan’s distrust and departure remains unresolved.
• Desire versus restraint: Qin Ci’s sexual fantasies contrast with his outward impatience and bravado.
• Boundaries and control: Jack mistakes Xie Zhitan’s closeness for encouragement; Xie’s abrupt response makes clear that his attention is not consent.

Plot points and events

• At a high-society restaurant, Qin Ci attacks Jack, whom he believes is pursuing Xie Zhitan. Armed security intervenes, but Qin Ci pays the bills and medical costs. He summons Fog City’s prominent lawyer Dill Jones, whose presence helps persuade Jack to abandon his threat to call the police.
• The onlookers realize Qin Ci is focused on Xie Zhitan, and interpret the scene as a lovers’ quarrel. Xie remains detached, which intensifies Qin Ci’s resentment.
• Qin Ci confronts Xie about his behavior and denies conspiring with Huo Bing, explaining that he only met Huo because Huo was imitating Xie to seduce him.
• Xie dismisses Qin Ci as annoying and leaves. Qin Ci follows him to a restroom, recalling their earlier encounter at a nightclub.
• There, their argument turns sexually charged: Qin Ci declares his attraction and proposes they try being together. Xie recoils, angrily rejects him, and orders him out.
• Qin Ci ends by threatening that Xie must not get close to anyone else, claiming he will kill any man who does.

Character development

• Qin Ci reveals how deeply Xie’s rejection and suspicions have hurt him. His jealousy, possessiveness, and inability to keep his feelings—or his anger—in check become increasingly evident.
• Xie Zhitan maintains a cold, controlled front, but the nightclub memory and Qin Ci’s sexual teasing unsettle him. His flushed embarrassment suggests attraction or conflicted feelings beneath his rejection.

Character interactions

• Qin Ci physically intimidates Jack, then uses Dill Jones’s status to defuse the situation.
• Xie’s indifference provokes Qin Ci into explaining himself and confronting their unresolved past.
• In private, their exchange shifts from accusation to flirtation and then to rejection and threats, exposing the tension between Qin Ci’s desire and Xie’s resistance.

Significant themes

• Jealousy and possessiveness: Qin Ci’s fear of losing Xie drives both his violence toward Jack and his final threat.
• Miscommunication and unresolved hurt: Qin Ci feels wrongly accused and abandoned, while Xie refuses to engage with his explanations.
• Power and control: Qin Ci’s wealth and influence shape the public confrontation, but Xie resists his attempts to control their relationship.
• Desire beneath hostility: Their anger and sharp banter are intertwined with attraction, leaving their relationship unresolved.