Chapter Summaries

After learning more about Chu Yilan’s past, Shen Lian remained furious about Chu Changqi’s abuse while trying to support Chu Yilan. Back on set, Shen Lian confronted Shi Zhujie over his delays and threatened to replace him and find new investors.

• Chu Yilan woke, saw Sun Binghe’s suggestion about heart-shaped eggs on Shen Lian’s phone, and joined Shen Lian for noodles before Shen Lian left for the set.
• Shen Lian arrived at the set quiet and troubled by how Chu Yilan’s suffering had shaped his self-destructive nature.
• Zhao Wenshu prepared to film a rain scene with Shi Zhujie, who complained about the water and refused to begin.
• Shen Lian rebuked Shi Zhujie for delaying the shoot and criticized his acting, then offered to replace him and find better investors.
• Shi Zhujie backed down and shouted that he would shoot after Shen Lian ordered him into position.

Shen Lian’s sharp reprimands improved the production’s pace, and he drove off a stray dog that tried to steal his food. After Director Zhao gave him time off, Shen Lian went looking for Chu Yilan and discovered Yang Bin was taking him to a cemetery.

• Shen Lian publicly scolded Shi Zhujie during filming, and Shi Zhujie’s grief-stricken close-ups improved after he broke down in tears.
• Shen Lian also criticized a young actor for his poor line delivery, and the crew finished filming earlier than expected.
• Shen Lian slapped Sang Biao twice when the stray dog threatened to steal his braised chicken, sending it running.
• Director Zhao gave Shen Lian time off, and Shen Lian drove Jiang You home before returning to his own place.
• When Chu Yilan was not home and did not answer his call, Shen Lian contacted Yang Bin, who drove him toward a cemetery.

At the cemetery, Chu Yilan remembered how he had helped his dying mother escape her suffering and vowed to find Chu Changqi. Shen Lian comforted him, and Chu Yilan left holding on to Shen Lian’s promise that he would always be there.

• Chu Yilan visited his mother and grandfather’s graves and said he would make Chu Changqi kneel before them.
• Chu Yilan recalled telling his dying mother he could take care of himself, after which she removed her tubes and died; Chu Changqi blamed and assaulted him.
• Shen Lian found Chu Yilan at the grave and gently helped him to his feet.
• Shen Lian embraced Chu Yilan and promised to always be there, and Chu Yilan welcomed hearing the promise again.

After visiting the cemetery with Chu Yilan, Shen Lian caught a fever and had to rest at home, where Chu Yilan cared for him. Once Shen Lian recovered some strength, Hu Kailan proposed a fan meet, and Shen Lian agreed.

• Shen Lian and Chu Yilan left the cemetery together, and Yang Bin drove them home while trying not to watch them kiss in the back seat.
• Shen Lian cooked for Chu Yilan, then developed a low fever during the night after they had spent time together.
• Chu Yilan stayed beside Shen Lian and gave him medicine, while Shen Lian explained that the cold wind at the cemetery had made him ill.
• Shen Lian missed Director Zhao's calls, but Zhao Wenshu told him to rest and return to the set when he felt better.
• After lunch, Hu Kailan called Shen Lian about the Studio's overwhelmed inbox and proposed a fan meet, which Shen Lian accepted.

Chu Yilan teased Sun Binghe about wanting to attend Shen Lian’s fan meet, while Shen Lian’s event ended with a man charging at him and a video of the incident spreading online. The chapter left Shen Lian suspecting the attack was not what it seemed as people began calling it a publicity stunt.

• Chu Yilan told Sun Binghe that he could get Shen Lian’s autographs and photos as his boyfriend, then teased him about his fan username.
• Sun Binghe praised Kuang Chenghai’s work during the meeting after Kuang reminded him of a promise, surprising the other executives.
• Shen Lian greeted fans at the meet, signed autographs, and promised to arrange more events and promote his upcoming drama.
• A man charged at Shen Lian outside the venue, but his bodyguards restrained him; Shen Lian quietly told them to hand the man over to Nie Sheng.
• A video of the incident trended online, and despite responses from Shen Lian’s studio and Xingkai, people began claiming the attack was a publicity stunt.

After Lin Zaihao’s attack on Shen Lian exposed his connection to Shi Zhujie, the studios and production team issued statements denying that Shen Lian had bullied anyone. Chu Yilan’s investigation uncovered a hidden watcher exploiting the incident, and he ordered Ming Lin detained.

• Shen Lian’s studio and an official notice revealed that Lin Zaihao had a psychiatric disorder and was a fan of an artist from Dawnlight Media; netizens identified the artist as Shi Zhujie.
• Song Yuan questioned Shi Zhujie, ordered him to contain the online comments, and sought to learn who had paid the trolls attacking Shen Lian.
• Chu Yilan learned that Lin Zaihao had acted after hearing exaggerated claims that Shen Lian had bullied Shi Zhujie, and the production team and Shi Zhujie’s studio denied the claims.
• Song Yuan messaged Chen Mu asking to meet, but Chen Mu remembered Shen Lian’s warning and blocked Song Yuan instead.
• Sun Binghe reported that the paid trolls’ buyer remained unknown and suspected someone inside Chu Yilan’s ranks had been tracking Shen Lian; Chu Yilan ordered Ming Lin detained.

While Shen Lian worried that Chu Yilan was being consumed by revenge, Chu Yilan relentlessly hunted down Chu Changqi’s spies and drove him into hiding. Shen Lian arranged a trip to Canglan Mountain, but Chu Yilan’s promise to spend time together could not keep him from pursuing his vengeance.

• Shen Lian woke at Chu Yilan’s office and found Chu Yilan, Sun Binghe, and Yang Bin working through the night to target Chu Changqi.
• After Shen Lian returned to filming, Chu Yilan had Ming Lin arrested, and Ming Congshan failed to secure leniency for him.
• Shen Lian tried to call Chu Yilan, who did not answer, and resolved to talk with him when he could.
• On the day Destined Splendor wrapped, Shen Lian invited Chu Yilan to visit Canglan Mountain, and Chu Yilan agreed.
• Shen Lian warned Chu Yilan not to get in too deep, but Chu Yilan remained consumed by driving Chu Changqi into a dead end.
• Shen Lian went to the Studio to change for the wrap party, where two major platforms were expected to compete for Destined Splendor’s exclusive streaming rights.

Shen Lian attended a celebratory dinner while worrying that Chu Yilan was becoming consumed by revenge, then was ambushed and kidnapped at gunpoint. As his captors blamed Chu Yilan for giving them an opening, Shen Lian answered with defiance from inside their car.

• Shen Lian joined the dinner, where Liu Tang impressed the guests by drinking baijiu and Kuang Chenghai discreetly protected Shen Lian from drinking too much.
• Shen Lian stayed until late and realized he was upset that Chu Yilan had not contacted him, fearing Chu Yilan was risking a return to the abyss in pursuit of revenge.
• Shen Lian went to the underground garage, where a gunman confronted him and shot out a security camera.
• More than a dozen accomplices overwhelmed Shen Lian's bodyguards, and the gunman threatened to kill them unless Shen Lian got into the car.
• Shen Lian was bound inside the car as one captor blamed Chu Yilan's pursuit of their boss for creating their opportunity, and Shen Lian retorted that their boss had run away like a dog.

Shen Lian was abducted and taken to a yacht, where he discovered that Chu Changqi was behind the kidnapping. Chu Changqi confronted him about Chu Yilan’s feelings and left Shen Lian in his grasp.

• Shen Lian recognized that Chu Changqi was likely responsible as an armed man struck him and drove him away from the banquet.
• The pursuers tried to rescue Shen Lian, but the abductors shook them and drove him to the coast.
• Liu Li brought Shen Lian aboard a yacht and led him to Chu Changqi, who was injured but pleased to see him.
• Shen Lian recognized Chu Changqi’s resemblance to Chu Yilan and understood why Chu Yilan had once rejected his own face.
• Chu Changqi asked whether Shen Lian was the person Chu Yilan liked, grabbed his hair, and taunted him for being afraid.

Shen Lian endured Chu Changqi’s torture and learned that Chu Yilan had suffered the same abuse as a child. After Chu Changqi left him alone, Shen Lian escaped his restraints, overpowered Liu Li, and fled the yacht by boat.

• Chu Changqi tortured Shen Lian in a room full of devices and admitted he had used them on Ming Mei and Chu Yilan.
• Shen Lian pretended to give in, then freed himself with copper wire after Chu Changqi left.
• Shen Lian ambushed Liu Li on the deck, took his gun, and knocked him unconscious.
• Chu Changqi saw Shen Lian escaping in a small boat and discovered Liu Li was missing.

Chu Changqi’s men searched the building for Shen Lian, but missed him hiding outside the torture chamber window. Shen Lian ambushed Chu Changqi in the chamber and dragged him into its darkness.

• Chu Changqi ordered his bodyguards to search the building again and send a drunk man to the torture chamber.
• The leader inspected the chamber, spotted damage above a partly open window, and dismissed his suspicions after finding no one.
• Chu Changqi beat his private doctor and then went to the chamber, planning to torture the drunken man and later kill Shen Lian.
• Chu Changqi noticed rainwater on the floor and a shoe print on the windowsill, realizing someone had entered.
• Shen Lian attacked Chu Changqi from behind, broke his injured leg, took his cane, and dragged him into the darkness.

Shen Lian tortured Chu Changqi with the devices he had used on Chu Yilan, while revealing that he had evaded the yacht crew by clinging to its hull. As Chu Yilan’s team secured the yacht’s next port, Sun Binghe told him that Shen Lian was waiting for him.

• Shen Lian submerged Chu Changqi repeatedly until Chu Changqi begged him to stop, then examined the torture devices on the yacht.
• Shen Lian told Chu Changqi that he had stayed outside the yacht and explained that he had clung to its hull during the storm.
• Shen Lian restrained Chu Changqi in a chair and used a device that delivered electric shocks, while warning a drunken henchman not to interfere.
• Sun Binghe told Chu Yilan that his men had secured the yacht’s next port and that the information was genuine.
• Chu Yilan admitted that he regretted insisting on his own way, and Sun Binghe told him that Shen Lian was waiting for him.

Shen Lian tortured Chu Changqi and prepared to escape when the yacht docked, using Chu Changqi as a hostage. As the door opened, Shen Lian unexpectedly saw Sun Binghe and Chu Yilan.

• Chu Changqi realized his plans had failed as Shen Lian tortured him and confronted him about how he had treated Chu Yilan.
• Shen Lian revealed that Liu Li was the figure who had left on the small boat after Shen Lian knocked him unconscious and took his clothes.
• The yacht docked near a lighthouse, and Shen Lian saw guarded men blocking the dock and decided to use Chu Changqi as a shield.
• Sun Binghe stood in front of Chu Yilan as the group entered the yacht, and Shen Lian called out in surprise when he recognized Assistant Sun.

Shen Lian reunited with Chu Yilan after rescuing him from Chu Changqi, but collapsed from exhaustion and blood loss. Chu Yilan carried him to the hospital and left him for emergency treatment, appearing composed again outside the operating room.

• Chu Yilan arrived, and Shen Lian embraced him before ordering Sun Binghe to take Chu Changqi away.
• Shen Lian collapsed and coughed up blood, then whispered to Chu Yilan that roses never withered before losing consciousness.
• Chu Yilan refused to let Sun Binghe take Shen Lian, but Sun Binghe persuaded him to go to the hospital.
• Sun Binghe drove them to the hospital, where Chu Yilan carried Shen Lian to the operating room.
• Chu Yilan touched Shen Lian's face before the operation and regained his composure.

After Shen Lian survived a heart crisis and infection, Chu Yilan remained at his bedside, haunted by the fear of losing him. Shen Lian woke after four days and comforted Chu Yilan, while Ning Sixian examined him and found his condition improving despite his pain.

• The doctor told Chu Yilan that Shen Lian was out of danger after treating his heart problem, lung infection, and fever.
• Chu Yilan arranged security for the hospital floor and stayed close to Shen Lian as he slept for four days.
• Chu Yilan woke in panic, checked Shen Lian’s breathing, and promised he would never put him through that again.
• Shen Lian woke and quietly moved from the bed to the window while Chu Yilan slept.
• Chu Yilan woke, feared Shen Lian was gone, and embraced him when Shen Lian came over to reassure him.
• Ning Sixian examined Shen Lian and found that his condition had improved, though Shen Lian appeared to be hiding his pain.

Shen Lian reassured Chu Yilan that he did not blame him for the kidnapping, while Chu Yilan struggled with self-hatred as he cared for Shen Lian during his recovery. After Shen Lian fell asleep, Chu Yilan went alone to the room where Chu Changqi had kept him and recognized the objects inside.

• Shen Lian told Chu Yilan he did not hate him and tried to ease his guilt over Chu Changqi's actions.
• Sun Binghe and Nie Sheng confronted Chu Changqi, and Nie Sheng knocked him unconscious when he demanded to see Chu Yilan.
• Chu Yilan cared for Shen Lian through a painful night and helped him rest during his recovery.
• Feng Yueshan and Zhou Yuanlin visited Shen Lian, while Sun Binghe teased Zhou Yuanlin and Feng Yueshan tried to protect him.
• After Shen Lian fell asleep, Chu Yilan went alone to Chu Changqi's room and recognized several objects from his childhood.

Chu Yilan confronted Chu Changqi in the torture room and declared that he had lost, finally free of the fear and hatred Chu Changqi had cultivated in him. Chu Yilan ordered Nie Sheng to take Chu Changqi back to Qu City alive, then returned to Shen Lian and woke beside him the next morning.

• Chu Yilan sat in the torture room and reflected on how the memories of Chu Changqi's abuse no longer held him captive.
• Nie Sheng brought the feverish, injured Chu Changqi into the room, where he tried to threaten Chu Yilan but realized Chu Yilan was no longer afraid.
• Chu Yilan called Chu Changqi the bastard and told him he had lost, while Chu Changqi recalled Old Master Ming's warning and collapsed into despair.
• Chu Yilan ordered Nie Sheng to bring Chu Changqi back to Qu City alive, then returned to the hospital and slept beside Shen Lian.
• Shen Lian woke beside Chu Yilan the next morning, praised his looks, and Chu Yilan told him he was all his.

After Shen Lian was discharged from the hospital, he hosted a feast for his friends, who celebrated his recovery with food, drinks, and teasing. As the lively gathering continued, Chu Yilan kissed Shen Lian, while Sun Binghe waited for Yang Bin to arrive.

• Xu Jingge and Chang Qing visited Shen Lian in the hospital, and Chu Yilan cared for him until he was discharged after twelve days.
• Shen Lian invited Xu Jingge to a feast, and Feng Yueshan brought a live mountain-raised chicken for the restaurant to cook.
• Kuang Chenghai arrived after worrying over Shen Lian and drank to his relief, while Sun Binghe said he was no longer holding Zhou Yuanlin responsible.
• Xu Jingge arrived with his eight-year-old nephew Xu Yang, who charmed the group and eagerly ate the feast.
• The guests drank and joked together, and Sun Binghe messaged Yang Bin to hurry over.
• After Chang Qing accidentally poured wine into Feng Yueshan's glass, Chu Yilan leaned over and kissed Shen Lian.

After a drunken party, Sun Binghe found Xu Yang’s exam paper and was devastated by the nine-point score until Yang Bin calmed him with his own straight-A record. Shen Lian returned to Qu City with Chu Yilan, rested after his ordeal, and learned that Piglet had gone out to play with the orange cat.

• At the party, Sun Binghe found Xu Yang’s English exam paper marked nine points and became distraught, so Yang Bin showed him his own straight-A record to calm him.
• Yang Bin told Shen Lian that he had raised Sun Binghe and was proud of his school grades.
• Chu Yilan took Shen Lian back to the hotel after the party, and they flew home to Qu City the next day.
• Shen Lian posted photos on Weibo and reassured worried fans that he was preparing for a new role.
• Back in Qu City, Shen Lian rested at home and heard from Aunt Fen that Piglet was playing with the orange cat.

Shen Lian offered to pick Chu Yilan up from a work event and arrived with daisies as rain fell over Qu City. There, he ran into Zhou Tangsi and bluntly rejected his attempt to question him.

• Shen Lian asked Chu Yilan whether he needed a ride from Star-Moon Tower, and Chu Yilan invited him to come pick him up.
• At a project reception, Chu Yilan and Feng Yueshan discussed Zhou Tangru’s rivalry with Zhou Tangsi and learned Zhou Tangsi had ended things with Zheng Ge to pursue the Zhou family inheritance.
• Shen Lian left home with daisies and met Yang Bin near Star-Moon Tower, agreeing to have dinner with Chu Yilan at Moonlit Elegance.
• Shen Lian encountered Zhou Tangsi, who asked what he was doing there, and Shen Lian told him it was none of his business.
• Zhou Tangru watched Shen Lian confront Zhou Tangsi and smiled.