Chapter Summaries

Plot points

• Lin Xingye is slapped and publicly abused by his husband, Li Hanwen, after Qin Ke accuses him of bullying him. Qin appears sympathetic but privately mocks Xingye.
• Xingye learns that Li deliberately pressured the hospital to postpone his mother’s urgent operation in retaliation for Qin’s anger. The delay costs her the chance to survive, despite Xingye having apologized as demanded.
• Overcome by grief and guilt, Xingye hears the voices of loved ones from his past and jumps from a window, apparently ending his life.
• In the instant before death, he is asked what he would do if he could live again. He awakens in his former CEO office, eight years earlier, on the day he first met Li Hanwen.
• Recognizing his secretary Chen Xiaoyan—who later helped Li steal the Lin family’s assets—and hearing that “Mr. Li” is waiting outside, Xingye realizes he has been reborn. He bursts into laughter; outside, his younger brother Lin Xingmo mistakes it for a breakdown caused by work.

Character developments

• Lin Xingye begins as a frail, isolated man trapped in an abusive marriage, but his final grief gives way to the possibility of a second life—and revenge or a chance to change his fate.
• Li Hanwen is revealed as cruel and vindictive, willing to punish Xingye through his mother and exploit the Lin family.
• Qin Ke presents himself as innocent while deliberately manipulating Li and taunting Xingye.
• Lin Xingmo appears as a caring younger brother, though he does not yet know why Xingye is laughing.

Themes and interactions

• The chapter centers on betrayal, abuse, grief, and the devastating consequences of misplaced trust.
• The voices of Xingye’s family and Aunt Liu contrast with his present loneliness, emphasizing the love he has lost.
• The tense triangle between Xingye, Li, and Qin is defined by Li’s loyalty to Qin and Qin’s concealed malice toward Xingye.
• Rebirth introduces hope and the possibility of reclaiming control, while the familiar office and returning characters set up Xingye’s chance to confront the people who betrayed him.

Plot points and events

• Lin Xingye arrives at the company intending to meet Li Hanwen, while his younger brother, Lin Xingmo, tries to persuade him to take a break.
• Xingmo hears Xingye’s unspoken thoughts: Xingye plans to confront—and even beat up—Li, whom he remembers as the man who will ruin the Lin family.
• During their meeting, Xingye stays outwardly polite but needles Li with pointed remarks about his business success and the partnership he has won.
• Li tries to charm Xingye by demonstrating how much he knows about his tastes and hobbies. Xingye recognizes this as the same calculated courtship Li used in their previous life.
• Remembering Li’s past betrayal—including drugging him, exploiting the Lin family, and spreading a damaging rumor—Xingye cuts off Li’s performance and accuses him of flirting with prospective partners to secure business.
• Humiliated, Li loses his temper and shouts at Xingye. Xingye remains composed and taunts him further, but then throws a punch just as Xingmo rushes in to stop him.

Character developments

• Lin Xingye is carrying memories of a previous life and has returned determined not to be deceived or used again. Beneath his calm, refined manner, he is furious and openly contemptuous of Li.
• Lin Xingmo shifts from confusion to alarm as he realizes he can hear Xingye’s thoughts. He becomes protective and tries to intervene before the confrontation escalates.
• Li Hanwen appears courteous and polished, but his behavior reveals a manipulative approach to business and romance. When Xingye exposes him, his composed facade cracks.

Significant themes

• Revenge and second chances: Xingye uses knowledge from his previous life to challenge Li before the betrayal can unfold again.
• Appearance versus reality: Li’s gentlemanly image conceals selfish intentions, while Xingye’s pleasant smile masks his rage.
• Family loyalty: Xingmo is eager to protect his brother, even before he fully understands what is happening.
• Hidden thoughts and dramatic irony: Xingmo’s new ability lets him hear Xingye’s private intentions, creating both humor and tension as Xingye remains unaware.

Character interactions

• Xingye and Li engage in a polite but increasingly hostile exchange, with Xingye using barbed remarks to unsettle Li and Li responding with flattery before erupting.
• Xingmo tries to support Xingye, then listens outside the meeting room as his brother’s thoughts reveal Li’s future treachery.
• The chapter ends with Xingmo attempting to stop Xingye’s punch, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

Plot points and events

• Lin Xingye abruptly attacks Li Hanwen at the Lin Corporation. Lin Xingmo and the staff struggle to stop the fight, while Xingye’s intrusive “thoughts” confuse everyone because he tells them to be quiet despite not speaking aloud.
• Xingye humiliates Li publicly, then has security escort him out. Secretary Chen Xiaoyan joins in, trading insults with Li before kicking him out of the building.
• Afterward, Xingye orders Xu Chen to spread the story of Li’s disgrace as widely and damagingly as possible. Xu is surprised by Xingye’s behavior but trusts him.
• While Xingmo treats his injuries, Xingye remembers that in a previous life Li framed him, leading to Xu Chen’s imprisonment. He resolves to protect his loved ones and take revenge on Li and Qin Ke.
• At home, Xingye is overwhelmed by the sight of his family together and breaks down, revealing through his thoughts that he once lost his mother. His family appears able to hear those thoughts.
• During dinner, his thoughts expose his family’s private habits: his mother sneaks junk food, his father secretly smokes, and Xingmo takes risks with extreme sports. The family reacts with shock and amusement.

Character developments and interactions

• Lin Xingye shifts from the considerate, mild-mannered person people expected into someone aggressive and vengeful. His anger is rooted in memories of his previous life, but beneath it is a strong determination to protect his family and friends. His inner thoughts often undercut his serious outward behavior with comic bluntness.
• Lin Xingmo protects and cares for his brother, tending his wounds and growing increasingly suspicious that Xingye’s memories of the future may be real. He quietly shares Xingye’s resolve to keep the family safe.
• Li Hanwen is enraged by the assault and public humiliation, but his attempts to reclaim dignity only lead to a more embarrassing expulsion.
• Xu Chen is unsettled by Xingye’s changed behavior, yet remains loyal and agrees to carry out his request.
• Chen Xiaoyan proves unwilling to tolerate Li’s abuse and confronts him directly, turning his forced escort into a loud argument.
• The family learns—apparently through Xingye’s unspoken thoughts—that he fears losing them and knows intimate details about them. Their shock gradually gives way to humor.

Significant themes

• Second chances and revenge: Xingye’s past-life memories drive him to prevent old tragedies and punish those responsible.
• Family and protection: His grief over losing his mother fuels his vow to safeguard everyone.
• Hidden thoughts and comic irony: Xingye’s private thoughts are audible to others, exposing both his painful memories and his family’s harmless secrets.
• Reputation and humiliation: Li’s effort to preserve his status collapses as the Lin staff publicly eject him.

Plot points and events

• After Lin Xingye returns home, Lin Xingmo tells their parents what happened at the company. Their mother is distraught and furious, while their father and Xingmo try to calm her.
• The family recalls that Xingye was kidnapped as a child while protecting Xingmo, then lost his childhood memories. The incident led them to shelter him and give him a largely carefree life.
• Xingmo suggests they respect Xingye’s wish to handle his revenge himself. Their parents agree to trust him.
• Alone, Xingye remembers his previous life with Li Hanwen: after marrying him, he was betrayed, beaten, and told that Li had siphoned away the Lin family’s assets. Li also implied he had caused the family’s later tragedies and Xingye’s recurring illness.
• Xingye turns from painful memories to action. He orders Xu Chen to fire Chen Qin for insulting a client, saves photos of Li’s affairs as potential evidence, and vows that this is only the beginning of his revenge.
• Elsewhere, people gossip about Li’s beating and mock Xingye as sheltered. Bo Xi, disgusted by their conversation, leaves.

Character developments and interactions

• Lin Xingmo shows deep loyalty to his brother but recognizes that protecting him too much may have held him back. He and their father support Xingye’s independence.
• Their mother is loving and protective, nearly overwhelmed by grief and anger, but ultimately agrees to trust her son.
• Lin Xingye shifts from a history of gratitude and devotion toward Li to clear-eyed anger and calculated resolve. His past idealism and boundaries around intimacy help explain why Li’s cruelty wounded him so deeply.
• Li Hanwen is revealed in Xingye’s memories as manipulative, contemptuous, violent, and driven by money and control.
• Xu Chen assists Xingye by providing information and carrying out his instruction to fire Chen Qin.
• Bo Xi reacts against the crowd’s cruel gossip, distinguishing himself from their mockery.

Significant themes

• Family love versus overprotection: The Lins’ devotion has kept Xingye safe, but they now choose to let him act for himself.
• Betrayal and exploitation: Xingye’s marriage concealed financial manipulation and possible harm to his family.
• Revenge and agency: Rather than rely on his family, Xingye begins gathering evidence and taking deliberate steps against Li.
• Public gossip and judgment: Outsiders ridicule the family and misunderstand Xingye, while their speculation contrasts with the serious private history behind events.

Plot points and events

• Lin Xingye and Lin Xingmo attend City A’s quarterly business seminar, a high-profile networking event where the city’s influential families send their younger generation to build connections and compete for opportunities.
• Lin Xingye intends to disrupt Li Hanwen’s chance to shine at the seminar, as Li did in his previous life. He openly pulls a face at Li, who hides his bruised face and avoids provoking him.
• The Four Great Families arrive, drawing everyone’s attention: Bo Xi of the Bo Family; the Qi siblings, Qi Sijing and Qi Sinian; Cheng Yu of the Cheng Family; and the An siblings, An Ning and An Shi.
• Lin Xingye recognizes their power and reputations, but his irreverent private thought—that all four men are “little fish” in someone named Qin Ke’s “Fish Pond”—mysteriously reaches them. The men are startled and wonder who Qin Ke is and who spoke.

Character developments

• Lin Xingye is confident, mischievous, and determined to change the course of events he remembers from his previous life. His thoughts are bold enough to unsettle the powerful young heirs.
• Lin Xingmo remains at his brother’s side and is quietly embarrassed by Lin Xingye’s crude private remarks.
• Li Hanwen is wary of Lin Xingye and anxious to avoid another confrontation, despite his ambition to make an impression.
• The Four Young Masters are introduced through their contrasting reputations: Bo Xi is a formidable, rising heir; Qi Sijing is cheerful but strategically daring; Cheng Yu is a charming playboy and ruthless businessman; and An Shi is aloof and devoted to medicine. The sisters, Qi Sinian and An Ning, are also presented as distinct figures—one spoiled and romantically interested in Cheng Yu, the other a capable business leader with a strained relationship with her brother.

Significant themes

• Ambition and competition: The seminar is a stage for networking, advancement, and family influence.
• Reputation versus reality: Several characters appear approachable or detached, yet possess formidable ability—or, in Cheng Yu’s case, conceal ruthlessness behind charm.
• Fate and disruption: Lin Xingye’s knowledge of past events suggests he intends to alter outcomes, while the unexplained transmission of his thoughts introduces an element of mystery.
• Family expectations: The heirs’ positions reflect pressure, succession disputes, and differing relationships to family business.

Character interactions

• Lin Xingye provokes Li Hanwen publicly, while Lin Xingmo observes with embarrassment.
• Qi Sinian greets Cheng Yu, underscoring her affection for him and his reputation as a desirable but unreliable playboy.
• The arrival of the Four Great Families shifts the room’s attention and establishes their status.
• Lin Xingye’s thought about Qin Ke reaches the four men, leaving them collectively bewildered.

Key plot points and events

• The four young men—Bo Xi, An Shi, Cheng Yu, and Qi Sijing—realize they can hear Lin Xingye’s thoughts. His private nicknames for them (“little fish”) confirm that the voice belongs to him, though Lin Xingye himself does not know his thoughts are audible.
• Lin Xingmo tries to keep his brother from saying embarrassing things aloud. Lin Xingye remains oblivious and privately fantasizes about enjoying a carefree life dating male models.
• At a seminar hosted by the Cheng Family on hotel-chain development, Li Hanwen impresses the organizers with business ideas. Lin Xingmo leaves to discuss business, while Lin Xingye focuses on eating the banquet’s desserts.
• Qi Sinian complains that the food has run out, and Lin Xingye offers her a cake. A server then knocks it to the floor and apologizes dramatically to Qi Sinian, making it look as though she has mistreated him.
• Lin Xingye recognizes the server as Qin Ke, whom he labels a “tea bag”—attractive on the outside, poor in character—and calls him the “wife” of one of the four men. The four jokingly pass the label among themselves, ending with An Shi denying that Qin Ke is his wife.

Character developments and interactions

• Lin Xingye is kind enough to avoid insulting Qi Sinian directly, but his candid inner commentary is irreverent and frequently ridiculous. He is unaware that the four men can hear him.
• Lin Xingmo acts as his exasperated protector, covering for him and trying to prevent him from embarrassing himself.
• Bo Xi, An Shi, Cheng Yu, and Qi Sijing shift from confusion to shared suspicion, then amusement, as they realize they can hear Lin Xingye’s thoughts. Bo Xi’s reaction to being called “little fish” is especially noticeable.
• Qi Sinian initially looks poised to lash out at Lin Xingye, but his cake offer disarms her. The server’s staged-looking incident then risks making her appear cruel.
• Qin Ke is introduced through an apparent act of victimhood that prompts Lin Xingye’s distrust. The four men, having heard the events through Lin Xingye’s thoughts, are not easily convinced by the scene.

Significant themes

• Private thoughts versus public appearances: Lin Xingye’s inner voice exposes judgments and jokes that contrast with his polite outward behavior.
• Misunderstanding and social performance: Qin Ke’s dramatic apology creates a misleading impression, while the banquet guests’ status-conscious behavior shapes how they interpret events.
• Comedy through overhearing: The four men’s access to Lin Xingye’s thoughts creates shared secrets, awkward reactions, and teasing.
• Status and image: The seminar’s business networking and the guests’ attention to appearances underscore the importance of reputation in their social world.

Key plot points and events

• At the symposium, Qin Ke stages a fall to make it seem that Qi Sinian shoved and bullied him, hoping to attract sympathy and attention.
• Lin Xingye disrupts the setup: he helps Qin Ke up, then pushes him down himself to demonstrate the difference between a real shove and Qin Ke’s fake one. He calls on Qin Ke to apologize to Qi Sinian, and Qin Ke eventually flees in humiliation.
• Qi Sijing had been poised to smooth things over for his sister and invite Qin Ke backstage, but Lin Xingye’s intervention derails that expected scenario. Qi Sinian reluctantly apologizes to Lin Xingye and leaves.
• The host moves the event along to the presentations. Li Hanwen takes the stage, confident that he is impressing the audience.
• Lin Xingye arranges for intimate photos of Li Hanwen with several women to appear on the screen. When Li angrily confronts him, Lin splashes wine in his face. Li’s outburst and reaction draw more attention from the reporters.

Character developments

• Lin Xingye comes across as mischievous and confrontational, using humor and public spectacle to expose deception and sabotage Li Hanwen. His private thoughts reveal he knows the story’s expected plotlines and is deliberately avoiding one involving Qi Sijing and Qin Ke.
• Qin Ke is exposed as a manipulator trying to provoke a rescue and gain affection. His system cannot help him because he has not gathered enough love, leaving him to escape on his own.
• Qi Sinian is annoyed that Lin’s intervention also reveals she had been cursing someone, and she remains confident her family can contain the press fallout.
• Qi Sijing is surprised when Lin anticipates his actions and amused by Lin’s refusal to enter the expected backstage scenario.
• Li Hanwen’s self-assurance collapses when the photos appear, and he openly accuses Lin of setting him up.

Significant themes

• Performance and deception: Qin Ke’s staged victimhood and Li Hanwen’s polished public image both unravel under scrutiny.
• Control versus plot expectations: Lin recognizes familiar story beats but resists being drawn into them, instead redirecting events.
• Public image and accountability: The presence of reporters turns private misconduct and staged behavior into public spectacle.
• Humor through contrast: Lin’s cheerful demeanor and innocent appearance contrast with his provocative actions and cutting inner commentary.

Character interactions

• Lin challenges Qin Ke directly, exposing his fake fall in front of the crowd.
• Qi Sinian and Qi Sijing respond differently to the incident: she resents Lin’s involvement, while he tries to manage the situation diplomatically.
• Lin and Qi Sijing share an unspoken understanding of the expected backstage plot, which Lin avoids.
• Lin and Li Hanwen’s confrontation escalates from public exposure to a face-to-face clash, with the audience and reporters eagerly watching.

Key plot points

• At a public symposium, Lin Xingye provokes Li Hanwen into looking like the aggressor, then punches him in front of reporters. Li retaliates, but Bo Xi blocks his punch.
• Lin Xingmo arrives and slaps Li, while Qi Sijing restrains Lin Xingye. Lin Xingye’s tearful, bruised-looking expression wins him sympathy from the crowd, which blames Li for being reckless.
• Lin Xingmo threatens to sue Li for defamation. Qi leads Lin Xingye away, and Cheng Yu tells the event organizers to control what reporters publish. The symposium is cut short.
• In a guest lounge, Qi kisses Lin Xingye, then pins him down and kisses him again despite his protests. Lin bites Qi’s tongue in retaliation. Qi responds with amusement and admits Lin has excited him.
• Lin Xingmo and Bo Xi enter, find Qi still holding Lin down, and Bo pulls Qi away with a punch before embracing Lin. Lin Xingmo is left awkwardly wondering whether to leave.

Character developments and interactions

• Lin Xingye shows himself to be a skilled provocateur, using the crowd’s assumptions to turn the public narrative in his favor. In private, he fiercely resists Qi’s unwanted advances and fights back by biting him.
• Li Hanwen is once again humiliated in public: although Lin started the physical fight, the crowd sees Li as the aggressor.
• Qi Sijing shifts from soothing Lin to teasing and kissing him without consent. His playful confidence gives way to a flicker of jealousy when Lin suggests he knows how to kiss.
• Lin Xingmo rushes to defend his brother, first confronting Li and later arriving at the lounge. Bo Xi restrains Li, then intervenes against Qi and protects Lin.
• The chapter contrasts the public group’s misreading of the fight with the more serious boundary violation in private.

Significant themes

• Public image and manipulation: Reporters, appearances, and crowd assumptions shape who is believed.
• Power and consent: Qi’s flirtatious behavior is presented alongside Lin’s clear resistance, while Bo’s intervention restores a measure of safety.
• Protectiveness and loyalty: Lin Xingmo and Bo Xi both act to defend Lin, though in very different situations.

Key plot points

• At the symposium, Qi Sijing pulls Lin Xingye into his arms. Lin angrily calls him a pervert, while Bo Xi warns Qi not to bully him. Lin Xingmo backs his brother up, and Qi jokes that Lin is as entertaining as he was in childhood.
• Bo Xi leaves in a troubled mood, thinking about how to shut down male-escort clubs. In the car, Xu Chen reports that he has hidden the evidence so effectively that it will be difficult to trace it back to them.
• Lin Xingye wonders why Bo Xi protected him, then falls asleep and dreams of two children arguing over who gets to play with him. One seems to resemble young Bo Xi.
• At home, Lin searches his room and discovers a locked box containing worn toys and a kindergarten photo album. The pictures show that he knew Bo Xi, Qi Sijing, Qi Sinian, and other prominent children when they were young.
• The photos make Lin question why those people seemed not to know him in his previous life, when they were all devoted to Qin Ke. He suspects Qin Ke’s influence may explain Li Hanwen’s improbable success and believes Qin Ke had deeper reasons for targeting the Lin family.
• In a final scene, Qin Ke is intimate with a wealthy man from the symposium. He confirms with his system that intimacy earns him affection points and makes people obsessively devoted to him. He dismisses Lin Xingye as doomed and plans to take everything he owns.

Character developments and interactions

• Lin Xingye is embarrassed and angry at Qi’s behavior, but remains sharp and determined. He begins investigating Qin Ke’s motives and resolves to expose Li Hanwen at the upcoming banquet.
• Bo Xi protects Lin from Qi, though he does not explain why. His reaction hints at concern and perhaps a complicated history with Lin.
• Qi Sijing treats the confrontation playfully, while Lin Xingmo fiercely defends his brother. Lin Xingye’s provocative thoughts add to the comic tension.
• Xu Chen appears confident in his technical skills. He notices a possible exchange between Lin Xingye and Lin Xingmo, but lets it go.
• Qin Ke is revealed as a calculated manipulator who uses a supernatural system to make intimate partners devoted to him.

Significant themes

• Hidden past and lost memories: The childhood photos and dream suggest that Lin’s relationships with the others began long before he remembers.
• Manipulation and control: Qin Ke’s system turns desire into a means of controlling powerful people, raising questions about how much of the past was engineered.
• Appearance versus truth: Li Hanwen may have been only a pawn, while Qin Ke’s real target was likely the Lin family.
• Loyalty and protection: Bo Xi’s intervention and Lin Xingmo’s defense contrast with the exploitation Qin Ke practices.

Plot points and events

• Lin Xingye relives a disturbing nightmare or memory: someone accuses him of failing to save them and causing his family’s ruin. He wakes—or comes to himself—by an open window with a bloody knife and a cut hand, overwhelmed by guilt and despair. He sits on the windowsill, remarking that autumn has arrived.
• His younger brother, Lin Xingmo, finds him in the early morning and hears his thoughts, which reveal the scene was not a simple accident. Xingye insists he cut himself while slicing fruit, though his private thoughts show he knows the explanation is implausible.
• The brothers prepare for Old Mr. Qi’s seventieth-birthday banquet. Xingmo is dressed and styled elegantly, while Xingye jokes internally about wanting a foil perm and feeling unlike himself in the formal look.
• At the banquet, Li Hanwen hopes to regain Old Mr. Qi’s favor after losing business partners and suffering public embarrassment. He approaches the birthday celebrant just as the Lin brothers arrive.
• Xingye and Qi Sinian exchange hostile thoughts and looks. Qi Sijing also stares at Xingye, prompting Xingye to insult him internally. Sijing notices a well-dressed young man entering with another guest but does not recognize him.

Character developments

• Lin Xingye is outwardly playful and casual, but his nightmare and concealed self-harm suggest profound trauma, guilt, and unresolved memories. He continues hiding his distress from Xingmo with an unlikely cover story.
• Lin Xingmo is increasingly worried about his brother. Though he can hear Xingye’s thoughts and recognizes his lies, he still cares for him and helps tend his wound.
• Li Hanwen remains ambitious and image-conscious, determined to recover his standing with the powerful Qi family.
• Qi Sinian and Qi Sijing show existing tension with Xingye: Sinian is openly exasperated, while Sijing’s attention makes Xingye uncomfortable.

Significant themes

• Guilt and trauma: Xingye’s recurring accusations and despair suggest that past events continue to haunt him despite having “started over.”
• Concealment and care: Xingye masks his pain with jokes and excuses, while Xingmo’s concern reveals a close, protective sibling bond.
• Appearance versus reality: The characters present polished faces at a formal banquet, even as private thoughts expose resentment, insecurity, and ambition.
• Social status and reputation: Li Hanwen’s efforts to regain favor reflect the importance of family connections and public image.

Character interactions

• Xingmo discovers Xingye injured, challenges his explanation through his thoughts, and bandages his hand.
• The brothers share a lighthearted styling scene that contrasts with Xingye’s earlier crisis.
• Li Hanwen approaches Old Mr. Qi, but the Lin brothers arrive and interrupt his opportunity.
• Xingye and the Qi siblings communicate through pointed glances and unspoken hostility, while Old Mr. Qi observes the tension without intervening.

Plot points and events

• At Qi Sijing’s grandfather’s birthday banquet, Lin Xingye accidentally blurts out teasing thoughts about Qi Sijing. Qi stops him with a cheek pinch, while Old Mr. Qi mistakes the interruption for rudeness and gently scolds him.
• Li Hanwen presents Old Mr. Qi with a rare handwritten poem, expecting to impress him. The gift earns only a polite, indifferent response, and Bo Xi’s arrival leaves Li feeling sidelined.
• Qin Ke deliberately approaches Li Hanwen. Knowing Li plans to frame Lin Xingye with a drugged “accident,” Qin Ke intends to manipulate Li and use him as a tool while keeping himself uninvolved.
• Lin Xingye privately celebrates having fed Li false information about Old Mr. Qi’s tastes, then chokes from laughing. Bo Xi checks on him, prompting more affectionate—and critical—thoughts from Lin about Bo’s romantic judgment.
• An Shi asks to examine Lin Xingye’s hand and then says he wants to “study” him. Lin misunderstands this as a threat of human experimentation and withdraws his hand; An Shi calls him “nuts” and leaves.
• Li returns from his encounter with Qin Ke and tries to reconcile with Lin. He secretly drugs one of two glasses of wine, but Lin recognizes the scheme. The people around them hear Lin’s unspoken thoughts and realize Li is attempting to harm him.
• As Li approaches Lin with the wine, Lin Xingmo, Bo Xi, Cheng Yu, and An Shi all react with hostility. Qi Sijing charges in and throws a punch.

Character developments and interactions

• Lin Xingye remains playful and outspoken in his thoughts, but his awareness of Li’s plan exposes his vulnerability and puts the others on alert. His teasing affection for Bo Xi contrasts with his doubts about Bo’s taste.
• Qi Sijing shows a teasing, familiar side with Lin, despite his stern words, and later responds decisively to the threat.
• Li Hanwen is humiliated by Old Mr. Qi’s lack of interest, then turns to plotting against Lin rather than accepting the setback.
• Qin Ke reveals himself as calculating: he uses Li’s revenge plan for his own advantage, aiming to manipulate him while maintaining plausible deniability.
• Bo Xi acts with quiet concern toward Lin, while Lin’s private praise leaves Bo momentarily baffled.
• An Shi shows an unusual flash of emotion after Lin misunderstands his request, but still regards Lin as someone who should not be mistreated.

Significant themes

• Hidden thoughts and miscommunication: Lin’s private commentary is repeatedly overheard, creating comedy and revealing what others truly think.
• Manipulation and revenge: Qin Ke and Li both treat other people as tools, though for different ends.
• Protection and loyalty: The people around Lin react strongly once they realize he is in danger.
• Appearances versus intentions: Qin Ke’s innocent demeanor conceals a calculated agenda, while Li’s attempt at charm masks a harmful plan.

Plot points and events

• At Old Mr. Qi’s birthday banquet, Li Hanwen impulsively scolds Qi Sijing, who is about to hit him. A man steps between them and takes the punch; Qi unexpectedly becomes unable to move freely and speaks against his will.
• Lin Xingye intervenes, sharply reminding Li Hanwen where he is. Qi regains his composure while clinging to Lin Xingye’s injured, bandaged hand, and feels guilty for not noticing the injury.
• Chen Xiaoyan, whom Li Hanwen had helped get fired and then prevented from finding work, barges into the banquet to confront him. She curses and attacks him, while Lin Xingmo apologizes to Old Mr. Qi and arranges to have her removed.
• Another furious husband storms in, accusing Li Hanwen of seducing his wife. Lin Xingye had alerted several husbands to Li’s affairs, but sent them to Li’s company—not the banquet—so he is unsure who redirected them.
• As a lavish fight breaks out, Bo Xi tells Old Mr. Qi to enjoy the “entertainment,” suggesting the chaos is a surprise he arranged. Lin Xingye’s gleeful internal commentary accompanies the brawl. Li Hanwen is beaten and splashed with wine, and realizes the product he bought to conceal his appearance was not waterproof.

Character developments and interactions

• Qi Sijing shifts from aggression to confusion and vulnerability. He feels possessive of the man who protected him, then relies on Lin Xingye for reassurance and worries over his injury.
• Lin Xingye protects Qi Sijing and checks Li Hanwen’s recklessness, while privately delighting in Li’s misfortune. His efforts to expose Li’s affairs indirectly contribute to the banquet’s escalating chaos.
• Li Hanwen loses control of himself in front of Old Mr. Qi, then faces consequences from people harmed by his behavior. His frustration and embarrassment mount as the attacks continue.
• Lin Xingmo tries to manage the disruption and protect his family’s standing, but relaxes once he learns they did not summon Chen Xiaoyan.
• Old Mr. Qi watches the disrespect and disorder with growing displeasure, while Bo Xi treats the brawl as amusing entertainment.
• Chen’s confrontation reveals her resentment toward Li, while the arriving husband’s accusation reflects the wider fallout from Li’s affairs.

Significant themes

• Consequences and retaliation: Li Hanwen’s mistreatment of others catches up with him.
• Public reputation and restraint: The formal banquet setting makes every outburst more humiliating and consequential.
• Protection and vulnerability: Qi Sijing’s dependence on Lin Xingye contrasts with his usual forceful demeanor.
• Chaotic, ironic humor: The characters’ private thoughts, unexpected arrivals, and Li’s failed disguise turn a serious confrontation into farce.

Plot points and events

• Li Hanwen’s argument with two other men turns into a fight. Old Mr. Qi has the three removed from the banquet, and police take them away after they start brawling again. Li’s attempt to salvage his standing with Mr. Qi fails.
• Qi Sijing briefly hugs Lin Xingye, who struggles to get free. Cheng Yu intervenes, joking that Qi should hug Qin Ke instead. Qi leaves, taking An Shi with him.
• Lin Xingye’s thoughts about the expected romantic drama between Qi Sijing, Cheng Yu, and Qin Ke prompt Cheng Yu to pull him away from Qin Ke. Cheng Yu teases Lin Xingye and pinches his cheek; Lin Xingye insults him in his thoughts, then escapes when Cheng Yu looks ready to retaliate.
• Qin Ke is taken away for treatment. The banquet continues, and Lin Xingye concludes that its plot can be changed: Li Hanwen’s removal seems to have spared him the tragedy he remembers.
• Lin Xingye’s mother, Chen Qin, summons him to her room on the fourth floor. In the elevator, however, the attendant reveals he has selected the third floor instead. Lin Xingye recognizes the setup from his previous life and, despite being drugged, shoves the attendant out and repeatedly tries to escape the elevator.
• He exits onto an unknown floor, terrified that his past is repeating and that his pursuers will soon find him.

Character developments and interactions

• Lin Xingye shifts from comic, irreverent commentary to acute terror when the elevator recreates his past trauma. His fear that the story’s events are fixed resurfaces.
• Cheng Yu shows growing attraction to Lin Xingye, even as he becomes exasperated by Lin’s sharp private judgments. Their teasing dynamic is playful but increasingly charged.
• Qi Sijing recoils from Qin Ke’s advances after his earlier loss of control, then withdraws from the scene.
• Lin Xingmo trusts that the danger has passed and encourages his brother to answer their mother’s summons.
• Li Hanwen’s prospects collapse after the public fight and his arrest.

Significant themes

• Fate versus agency: Lin Xingye briefly believes he has changed the course of events, only to face a near-exact replay of his past.
• Trauma and repetition: The elevator’s descent triggers a vivid, bodily panic that overwhelms his ability to think clearly.
• Comedy beside danger: Romantic misunderstandings and Lin Xingye’s sarcastic inner monologue contrast sharply with the chapter’s increasingly serious threat.

Plot points and events

• Lin Xingye has a drug-induced flashback to his previous life, recalling how he once woke at home after Li Hanwen claimed to have brought him back—though neither of them apparently knew where he had gone. The old memory and the fear of being trapped again overwhelm him.
• He pounds weakly on a closed door until Bo Xi pulls him inside. In the dark, Bo Xi comforts him, and Lin Xingye feels unexpectedly safe in his arms.
• Disoriented and aroused by the drug, Lin Xingye kisses and clings to Bo Xi. Bo Xi initially responds, but realizes Lin Xingye is not in control of himself and tries to get him to calm down. When Lin Xingye begs him to “save” him, Bo Xi promises not to take advantage of him and says he will find a way to endure the situation. Lin Xingye continues kissing and teasing him, while Bo Xi tries to restrain himself and protect the bandaged hand he notices.
• Meanwhile, Lin Xingmo realizes his brother never returned from the banquet. His parents say they did not send for him, and although Li Hanwen seems an obvious suspect, the police have already taken him away. Qin Ke also left the banquet with someone, adding to the uncertainty.
• Qi Sijing tells An Shi about his strange experience after medical tests find nothing wrong. They compare it with Lin Xingye’s earlier case and suspect that something may be affecting their past selves or their present behavior. Qi then receives a call from Lin Xingmo asking whether he has seen Lin Xingye.

Character developments and interactions

• Lin Xingye is exposed as deeply traumatized by the events of his previous life. Drugged and panicked, he loses control, but instinctively reaches for Bo Xi and calls on him for help.
• Bo Xi shows tenderness and restraint. Although clearly affected by Lin Xingye’s advances, he recognizes that Lin is impaired, promises not to exploit him, and prioritizes comforting and protecting him.
• Lin Xingmo becomes increasingly worried and begins trying to locate his missing brother.
• Qi Sijing and An Shi move from disbelief toward suspicion of a supernatural or otherwise unexplained force, comparing their experiences with Lin Xingye’s.

Significant themes

• Trauma and memory: Lin Xingye’s past-life terror resurfaces through fragmented memories and triggers a breakdown.
• Trust and safety: In his most vulnerable state, Lin Xingye turns to Bo Xi, whose promise to protect him contrasts with the fear of being harmed.
• Consent and restraint: Bo Xi’s attraction conflicts with his awareness that Lin Xingye is drugged and cannot make clear decisions.
• Unexplained identity and influence: The characters question why their former selves behaved differently and whether an outside force is responsible.
• Uncertainty and disappearance: Lin Xingye’s whereabouts remain unknown to his family and friends, while the likely explanations are incomplete.

Key plot points

• At the banquet hotel, Cheng Yu hears Lin Xingye’s voice coming from a room on another floor and realizes Bo Xi is with him. He confronts Bo Xi, who admits he made a move on Xingye but insists he did not go all the way. Cheng Yu is furious, while Bo Xi remains cool and smug.
• Meanwhile, Lin Xingmo, Xu Chen, Qi Sijing, and An Shi search for Xingye. Surveillance shows Xingye entering an elevator and collapsing after pushing away the receptionist, but the footage is later blacked out. Xingmo eventually receives a message from Xingye’s phone: “This is Bo Xi.”
• Relieved that Xingye is safe, An Shi leaves. Qi Sijing stays behind and orders the hotel staff to find the person who drugged Xingye, refusing to let anyone leave until they do.
• The next morning, Xingye wakes at Bo Xi’s hotel room after dreaming of a frightening incident from his previous life. As he recalls the night before, he realizes that he—not Bo Xi—had been the one acting improperly, while Bo Xi restrained himself.
• Xingye also learns Bo Xi had saved him before, when he fell near a cliff during a hike. Xingye suspects Li Hanwen later took credit for the rescue after seeing marks on him and misunderstanding what had happened.

Character developments and interactions

• Bo Xi is protective and self-controlled, despite Xingye’s drunken advances. He has quietly saved Xingye in the past as well as the present, but never told him. He worries about Xingye’s condition and notices his injured hand.
• Lin Xingye shifts from embarrassment and confusion to recognizing Bo Xi as his long-standing rescuer. He feels frustrated that Bo Xi’s role went unacknowledged, but is too embarrassed to meet his gaze—especially while Bo Xi is shirtless.
• Cheng Yu shows intense jealousy and anger at Bo Xi’s admission, though his relief that Bo Xi did not go further briefly breaks through.
• Qi Sijing is deeply worried about Xingye and channels his anxiety into finding the person who drugged him. An Shi leaves once Xingye’s safety is confirmed, while Xingmo rushes to reassure their parents.

Significant themes

• Misunderstanding and mistaken credit: Bo Xi’s quiet rescues were overlooked, allowing another person to be credited and leaving Xingye with a false account of his past.
• Restraint and protection: Bo Xi’s care is shown through his refusal to take advantage of Xingye and his concern for Xingye’s safety.
• Memory, trauma, and reinterpretation: Xingye’s dream and recovered memories help him reassess painful events from his previous life.
• Jealousy and unspoken attachment: Cheng Yu’s reaction and Xingye’s shy fascination with Bo Xi reveal complicated feelings around their relationships.

Key plot points

• Bo Xi treats Lin Xingye’s injuries from the previous night. When Lin asks why everyone is so good to him, Bo Xi recalls their childhood: Lin was popular in kindergarten, and Qi Sijing, Cheng Yu, and An Shi each had a memorable connection to him.
• Bo Xi admits that he liked Lin then and still likes him now. He also says Lin was brave as a child and once saved everyone.
• Lin reflects on the trauma and fear left by his previous life. He recognizes that his humor and schemes have been ways of masking his anxiety, and resolves not only to settle old matters but also to protect Bo Xi.
• Qi Sijing arrives exhausted and hugs Lin, relieved to find him safe. Bo Xi explains that he already informed Lin’s family and friends.
• Qi reports that the apparent attendant who targeted Lin was actually Duan Peng, a Linghai executive who had disguised himself in a stolen uniform. Duan refuses to accept responsibility, and investigators have not identified who drugged him.
• Lin, puzzled because Duan had no known reason to target him, decides he wants to see him.

Character developments

• Lin Xingye becomes more emotionally open, accepting comfort from Bo Xi and Qi Sijing. He confronts his lingering fear and recognizes that he needs to value the people around him, not focus solely on revenge.
• Bo Xi reveals the depth and constancy of his affection for Lin, while quietly supporting and reassuring him.
• Qi Sijing shows genuine worry and vulnerability, though he quickly returns to seeking Lin’s attention and praise.
• Duan Peng emerges as an unexplained threat: his behavior is out of character, and his motives remain unclear.

Significant themes

• Memory and lasting affection: Lin has forgotten childhood events that others have cherished for years.
• Trauma and healing: His bravado hides fear, and trusted relationships help him feel safe.
• Care and loyalty: The people around Lin continue to protect him, even when he does not fully understand why.
• Uncertainty and justice: Duan’s strange actions—and the unidentified person who drugged him—leave the central danger unresolved.

Character interactions

• Bo Xi tends Lin’s wounds, shares childhood stories, confesses his feelings, and offers Lin a hug.
• Lin accepts Bo Xi’s embrace and later welcomes Qi Sijing’s worried hug, choosing compassion over their usual bickering.
• Qi Sijing competes playfully with Bo Xi for Lin’s attention while recounting his role in the investigation.
• Lin questions Duan’s motives and chooses to confront him directly.

Key plot points and events

• Lin Xingye questions Duan Peng, who says he and Qin Ke are—or were—lovers. Duan seems disoriented and surprised by his own actions, strengthening Lin’s suspicion that Qin Ke is a supernatural being, perhaps a reincarnated fox spirit.
• Lin reviews Qin Ke’s history with Xu Chen. Qin was once an ordinary office worker, but after resigning and cutting contact with everyone, he returned markedly changed: more feminine in appearance and manner, and apparently able to attract and influence powerful people. At the hotel, he has become involved with multiple guests and seems protected from consequences.
• Unsure how to deal with a spirit, Lin considers seeking help from a temple, but his mother’s reaction makes clear that this is not a practical plan.
• Lin eagerly accepts An Shi’s dinner invitation because he wants help regarding Qin Ke. An Shi tries to tell him what Qi Sijing revealed, but finds himself mysteriously unable to speak about Qin.
• An Shi hints that Qin and those close to him are abnormal and may have some kind of power. Lin privately jumps to the fox-spirit theory, which An Shi considers increasingly plausible after the Symposium.
• As Lin focuses on eating, An Shi spots Cheng Yu and Qin Ke behind him and urgently tells him to look.

Character developments and interactions

• Lin Xingye moves from unease to a firm supernatural theory, connecting Qin’s transformation and Duan Peng’s strange behavior with his own experience of rebirth. Though normally guarded, he becomes conspicuously eager to meet An Shi because he needs assistance.
• An Shi is increasingly open to supernatural explanations, but is puzzled when he cannot speak directly about Qin Ke. He tries to warn Lin indirectly, while Lin’s distracted appetite repeatedly interrupts the conversation.
• Duan Peng appears confused and unable to fully account for what he did, suggesting Qin may have affected him.
• Xu Chen supplies Qin’s background and reminds Lin to check the news. The headlines report Li Hanwen’s exposure and assault after his affairs and smear campaigns are revealed, implying the wider consequences of the recent events.
• Lin and An Shi’s awkward, understated conversation contrasts with the urgency of the danger they are discussing. The chapter ends on a cliffhanger as they discover Cheng Yu with Qin Ke.

Significant themes

• Supernatural influence and loss of agency: Qin’s apparent effect on Duan and others raises questions about whether people around him are acting freely.
• Reinvention and hidden identity: Qin’s abrupt transformation from ordinary worker to a striking, socially powerful figure makes his true nature uncertain.
• Clashing worldviews: Lin and An Shi increasingly accept the supernatural, while still reaching for familiar explanations and help.
• Comic contrast: Lin’s serious suspicions and An Shi’s attempted warnings are repeatedly undercut by Lin’s eagerness to eat.

Plot points and events

• Lin Xingye recalls that, in his previous life, Cheng Yu’s first major business failure came when Li Hanwen beat him to a project. He suspects Qin Ke may have been involved, as Cheng Yu is now acting unusually close to him.
• Lin Xingye and An Shi eavesdrop on Cheng Yu and Qin Ke. An Shi finds Cheng Yu’s behavior out of character, while Lin Xingye grows openly hostile toward Qin Ke.
• Lin Xingye approaches the pair and slaps Qin Ke, accusing him of owing him for past wrongdoing. Cheng Yu immediately defends Qin Ke, and Qin Ke plays the innocent victim.
• Lin Xingye accuses Qin Ke of previously framing Qi Sinian, pursuing Qi Sijing, and having a lover, Duan Peng, in Orange. These claims make Qin Ke visibly anxious and draw the attention of the restaurant’s business crowd. Someone alerts Qi Sinian, who heads over.
• An Shi restrains Lin Xingye when he tries to attack again. Cheng Yu remains protective of Qin Ke, appearing dazed and unlike himself. The chapter ends as Lin Xingye confronts Cheng Yu and prepares to strike.

Character developments

• Lin Xingye shifts from joking curiosity to intense anger, suggesting a deep personal history with Qin Ke. Despite his aggression, An Shi’s concern helps briefly calm him.
• An Shi is unsettled by Cheng Yu’s behavior and worries that he may not be acting freely. He steps in to protect Lin Xingye and shows a moment of emotional vulnerability when Lin Xingye calls him “An-An.”
• Cheng Yu behaves in a way An Shi finds deeply uncharacteristic, fiercely defending Qin Ke despite having known him only briefly.
• Qin Ke maintains a helpless, tearful façade until Lin Xingye’s accusations unsettle him. His panic over Duan Peng suggests the accusations have struck close to the truth.

Significant themes

• Manipulation and compromised judgment: Cheng Yu’s sudden loyalty to Qin Ke raises suspicions that he may be under some kind of influence.
• Truth versus performance: Qin Ke presents himself as a victim, while Lin Xingye publicly challenges that persona with specific allegations.
• Revenge and justice: Lin Xingye’s anger appears rooted in past harm, though his impulsive violence complicates his attempt to expose Qin Ke.
• Trust and protection: An Shi’s intervention contrasts with Cheng Yu’s unquestioning defense of Qin Ke.

Character interactions

• Lin Xingye and An Shi share a mix of teasing and tension: they eavesdrop together, then An Shi follows when Lin Xingye’s hostility turns serious.
• Lin Xingye confronts Qin Ke directly, while Cheng Yu repeatedly shields and defends him.
• An Shi restrains Lin Xingye but also challenges Cheng Yu’s sudden protectiveness.
• The restaurant crowd turns the confrontation into public gossip, and Qi Sinian is alerted, setting up a likely escalation.

• Cheng Yu breaks free of Qin Ke’s influence: After Lin Xingye smashes a wine bottle over his head, Cheng Yu seems to regain control of himself. He recognizes that Qin Ke had somehow suppressed his senses and manipulated him, and confronts him. Cheng Yu cannot explain the supernatural nature of Qin Ke’s power aloud, but his rage makes clear that he understands what happened. He throws Qin Ke aside, then destroys a glass case in frustration. Despite the violence, he apologizes, pays for the damage, and covers the diners’ meals and the staff’s distress.
• Lin Xingye and An Shi grow closer: Lin is stunned by Cheng Yu’s strength and begins to regret challenging him. An Shi helps him avoid the broken glass, then tells him that his erratic behavior is unlike the person he has known for over twenty years. An Shi reveals that he has been watching over Lin since they first met and urges him to visit the hospital. He then calmly treats Cheng Yu’s head wound and offers to hear his explanation.
• Qin Ke’s schemes begin to unravel: Qin Ke’s system warns that Cheng Yu’s resistance has damaged his reputation and made it harder to win people over. Fleeing the restaurant, Qin Ke runs into Qi Sinian, whom he previously tried to frame. Qi accuses him of targeting her brother and pursuing the man she likes, then slaps him while bystanders condemn him. Qin Ke remains determined to retaliate and tries to use his manipulative power on a passerby.
• Cheng Yu tries to reassure Lin: Before Lin leaves with Xu Chen, Cheng Yu calls after him and says, “That person just now wasn’t me.” Lin says nothing on the drive home, watching the city pass by, but concludes that he understands.
  Character development and interactions: Cheng Yu shifts from being controlled and confused to angry, self-possessed, and oddly courteous toward the restaurant staff. Lin’s boldness gives way to alarm and uncertainty. An Shi’s long-standing concern for Lin becomes explicit, while Qi Sinian openly confronts Qin Ke over his behavior toward her and her loved ones.
  Themes: The chapter explores regained agency and the consequences of manipulation, alongside loyalty, protectiveness, and the gap between public appearances and hidden motives. Qin Ke’s ability to influence others may be powerful, but his growing loss of reputation and resistance from those he has wronged suggest that his control is weakening.

Key plot points and events

• An Shi concludes that Cheng Yu’s symptoms resemble Qi Sijing’s previous experience, but are more severe. Because Cheng Yu has had greater contact with Qin Ke, An Shi warns that the effects could return.
• Cheng Yu recalls becoming inexplicably friendly with Qin Ke, tolerating his unwanted advances, defending him, and turning against Lin Xingye. An Shi suspects Qin Ke’s hatred of Xingye was somehow transferred to Cheng Yu.
• At home, Lin Xingye withdraws from Xu Chen, who is troubled by Xingye’s silence and by the news that he beat Cheng Yu.
• Xingye realizes Qin Ke may be stripping people of their free will and turning them into puppets. He wonders why Qin Ke targeted the Lin family and blames himself for the suffering of those he loves.
• Traumatic memories from Xingye’s previous life return: Li Hanwen abused and threatened him, Xu Chen was disfigured while protecting him, and Aunt Liu and his mother suffered. Overwhelmed, Xingye strikes the wall until his hand bleeds.
• Xingye recalls that Qi Sijing once asked him to leave with him, then was nearly killed in a car crash on race day. Suspecting Qi may have been trying to rescue him—and that Qin Ke might have known—Xingye receives an invitation to watch another race. He rushes out, determined to save Qi.

Character developments and interactions

• Cheng Yu is ashamed of his past cruelty toward Xingye and recognizes how strangely Qin Ke influenced his feelings and behavior. An Shi acts as his adviser, warning him about the danger of renewed exposure.
• Lin Xingye shifts from stunned, inward distress to urgent action. His guilt and trauma remain powerful, but the possibility that Qi Sijing is in danger gives him a clear purpose.
• Xu Chen shows concern and restraint, giving Xingye space while considering whether to tell the Lin parents. He senses Xingye is avoiding him out of fear rather than dislike.
• Qin Ke is increasingly presented as manipulative, possibly able to influence or control others and make them share his hostility toward Xingye.
• Qi Sijing, though absent, becomes central through Xingye’s recovered memories: his earlier invitation may have been an attempt to take Xingye away from danger.

Significant themes

• Manipulation and loss of agency: People close to Qin Ke may become emotionally controlled or turned into “puppets.”
• Trauma and survivor’s guilt: Xingye revisits past abuse and loss, wrongly blaming himself for the harm suffered by others.
• Memory and missed chances: His belated understanding of Qi’s message makes the past feel newly consequential.
• Urgency and protection: Xingye’s fear for Qi turns helplessness into a desperate attempt to intervene.