Chapter Summaries

After dying while saving a child, Shi Yuan woke in the body of Thorn’s minor character with the same face and voice as his own. He realized he had been forced into a marriage with Wei Zelin as part of Wei Zexuan’s schemes, and the chapter left him trying to understand his place in the story.

• Shi Yuan woke in a hospital after his failed suicide attempt and recognized Wei Zexuan from Thorn when he heard him mention Wei Zelin and their wedding.
• Shi Yuan recalled how Wei Zexuan planned to torment his half brother Wei Zelin and use a marriage arrangement to gain control of the Shi family business.
• Shi Yuan examined himself in the bathroom and found that the character’s face, voice, and mole matched his own.
• Shi Yuan remembered that his family needed 1.5 billion in funding and that Wei Zexuan had offered the money in exchange for leverage over their company.
• Wei Zexuan arranged for Shi Yuan to marry Wei Zelin, and Wei Zelin accepted the marriage without protest despite Wei Zexuan’s insults.

After waking in the body of Shi Yuan, who had died before his wedding, Shi Yuan recovered in the hospital while the Shi and Wei families left him to fend for himself. Wei Zelin finally came to discharge him, and Shi Yuan followed him out, unaware of the cruelty he had once inflicted on him.

• Shi Yuan recalled the original novel and realized his accident had left him trapped in a political marriage neither family would let him escape.
• Wei Zelin briefly visited Shi Yuan in the hospital, but did not return during his month-long recovery.
• Shi Yuan called Father Shi for help with his discharge, but Father Shi refused to collect him and contacted the Wei family instead.
• Wei Zelin arrived to take Shi Yuan out of the hospital, and Shi Yuan followed him despite the sour smell of his clothes.
• Wei Zelin told Shi Yuan to take a taxi after reminding him that he had once called Wei Zelin's car shabby.

Shi Yuan arrived at the Wei Family estate and was treated as an unwelcome outsider, then discovered that he and Wei Zelin had been assigned a bare room in the servants’ quarters. After tearing up Wei Zexuan’s contract and deciding to rely on himself, Shi Yuan told Wei Zelin he had no money.

• Wei Zelin drove into the Wei Family estate without letting Shi Yuan into his car, so Shi Yuan ran behind Wei Zexuan’s car to reach the house.
• Wei Zexuan mocked Shi Yuan and sent him with the butler, who took him to a nearly empty room on the servants’ quarters’ seventh floor.
• Shi Yuan searched his belongings, found Wei Zexuan’s contract, tore it up, and discovered the Shi Family had removed him from its household registration.
• Shi Yuan showered, waited in the bare living room, and told Wei Zelin that he had no money.

Shi Yuan moved into Wei Zelin’s cramped servants’ quarters and remained wary of his unexpectedly friendly behavior. At dinner in the Flower House, the Wei family mocked Wei Zelin and distorted Shi Yuan’s words, while Wei Zelin stayed silent.

• Shi Yuan unpacked in Wei Zelin’s small room, then chose to sleep on the living-room floor rather than share a bed with him.
• Wei Zelin told Shi Yuan that Wei Ming had invited them to dinner at the Flower House, and Shi Yuan went with him.
• At dinner, Shi Yuan told Wei Zexuan that his father’s debts were no longer his responsibility and challenged him to stop demanding gratitude.
• Wei Zexuan falsely claimed that Shi Yuan had complained about their room, and Wei Mother said Wei Zelin could not live in the Flower House because of the old patriarch’s wishes.
• Wei Zexuan suggested that Wei Zelin should at least eat with Wei Ming and Wei Mother, while they continued to belittle him and Wei Zelin remained silent.

Shi Yuan adjusted to life in the Wei household by studying for a teaching qualification and selling the original owner's clothes to afford a bed. After Wei Zelin drove him to the library, he had him followed, while a glimpse of Shi Yuan’s feared future ended with him begging for drugs.

• Shi Yuan decided to study for the Education Studies exam and apply for a Teacher Qualification Certificate.
• Shi Yuan sold the original owner's clothes online, and Wei Zelin agreed to drive him to the city library.
• Shi Yuan saw Wei Zelin eating instant noodles and learned that the Wei Family had not saved him dinner.
• Shi Yuan mailed nine clothing orders, deposited his earnings, borrowed six books, and went to Furniture City to look at beds.
• Wei Zelin told a subordinate to follow Shi Yuan and investigate the packages he had mailed.
• In a glimpse of a possible future, Shi Yuan begged for a drug injection before being dragged into a van.

Shi Yuan met You Gui and learned more about the suffering that shaped her, then began standing up for Wei Zelin after Wei Zexuan attacked him. The chapter ended with Wei Zelin rejecting Shi Yuan’s pity and viewing love as something sickening.

• Shi Yuan asked Wei Zelin to pick him up after buying a folding bed and other supplies, and Wei Zelin agreed.
• Shi Yuan saw Wei Zelin leave work with You Gui and recognized her as the heroine of Thorn.
• Wei Zelin secretly asked someone to investigate whether Shi Yuan had a marketing connection to You Gui.
• Shi Yuan settled into his new bed and reflected on how he had escaped his past and begun a new life.
• Wei Zexuan threw a plate at Wei Zelin during dinner, and Shi Yuan demanded that he apologize.
• Wei Zexuan kicked Wei Zelin to the floor and left; Shi Yuan helped Wei Zelin up, while Wei Zelin dismissed his pity and rejected love.

Shi Yuan pursued his teacher certification while Wei Zelin secretly studied his past and arranged a meeting between Rose’s president and You Gui. After witnessing Wei Zexuan threaten You Gui over Shen Duo, Shi Yuan approached her and told her that Shen Duo had praised her work and exposed Lu Ying’s plagiarism, leaving her stunned.

• Shi Yuan pulled away from Wei Zelin, then traveled home with him in silence as their relationship grew awkward.
• Shi Yuan passed the Education Studies exam, registered for the Teacher Qualification Certificate exam, and bought summer clothes and study materials.
• Wei Zelin reviewed Shi Yuan’s past and arranged for Wei Zexuan to hear that Rose’s president wanted to meet You Gui.
• Shi Yuan saw Wei Zexuan threaten You Gui and redirect her meeting with Shen Duo to the Wei Corporation.
• Shi Yuan stopped You Gui and told her that Shen Duo admired her proposal and had exposed Lu Ying’s plagiarism.
• You Gui was shocked to learn Shen Duo had acted in her defense.

Shi Yuan helped Shen Duo learn that You Gui had left after Wei Zexuan upset her, and encouraged Shen Duo to persuade her to change jobs. Shen Duo confirmed that Shi Yuan was married to Wei Zelin, while Shi Yuan returned to find the Wei estate preparing for Wei Zexuan’s birthday.

• Shi Yuan told You Gui that Shen Duo admired her work and might ask her to join his company, easing her worries about his intentions.
• Shi Yuan pretended to stumble onto Shen Duo’s Maybach, then told Shen Duo that Wei Zexuan had upset You Gui and that she had left.
• Shi Yuan explained that his husband was Wei Zelin and urged Shen Duo to help You Gui leave the Wei Corporation; Shen Duo thanked him and left to pursue the idea.
• Shen Duo called Wei Zelin, confirmed that he and Shi Yuan were married, and decided to discuss recruiting You Gui with HR.
• Shi Yuan returned to the estate and learned from Sister Hong that the servants were preparing for Wei Zexuan’s birthday.

Shi Yuan tried to protect You Gui from Wei Zexuan’s birthday banquet, but Wei Zexuan blocked his way out, leaving him to ask Wei Zelin to watch over her. At the banquet, Shen Duo rescued You Gui from a tycoon’s advances, while Wei Zelin noticed the plot against her and grew more curious about Shi Yuan.

• Shi Yuan recalled that You Gui was at risk of being drugged at Wei Zexuan’s birthday banquet and grew anxious as the event approached.
• Shi Yuan found the path to the greenhouse locked, then learned Wei Zelin was working as a waiter at the banquet; unable to reach You Gui by phone, he messaged Wei Zelin to ask him to keep watch over her.
• Shen Duo arrived at the banquet and intervened when Wei Zexuan’s friends and a Donggang tycoon cornered You Gui, while Wei Zexuan took the scene as proof of their relationship.
• You Gui escaped the crowd with Shen Duo’s help, then accepted her coworkers’ invitation to leave the reception area after remembering Shi Yuan’s warning and setting aside the juice they offered.
• Wei Zelin watched You Gui leave without contacting Shen Duo, then picked up her untouched glass of juice and realized Shi Yuan’s warning had gone unused.

Shen Duo rescued You Gui from a drugged businessman at Wei Zexuan’s birthday banquet, and Shi Yuan learned she had escaped the novel’s expected assault. Two days later, Shi Yuan visited You Gui in the hospital, while Wei Zelin revealed his plan to use Shen Duo and Wei Zexuan’s tangled relationship to destroy the Wei Corporation.

• Shen Duo beat the businessman who had drugged You Gui, wrapped her in his coat, and carried her out of the screening room while Wei Zexuan let him leave.
• Wei Zelin gave Shi Yuan two desserts, and Shi Yuan explained that he planned to take a Teacher Qualification Certificate exam to support himself.
• Wei Zelin told Shi Yuan that Shen Duo had rescued You Gui before the businessman assaulted her, relieving Shi Yuan that this part of the novel’s plot had changed.
• Wei Zelin claimed Xue Ming had asked for Shi Yuan’s contact details, and Shi Yuan told him not to share them with anyone.
• Two days later, Shi Yuan visited You Gui in the hospital with a bouquet, then noticed the flower shop was called Heart in Motion.
• Wei Zelin planned to make Shen Duo join forces with Wei Zexuan’s hated rival to bring down the Wei Corporation and force Wei Zexuan to watch.

Shi Yuan visited You Gui in the hospital, opened up about his troubled past, and tried to build her trust while planning to persuade her to leave the Wei Corporation. Shen Duo and Wei Zelin arrived, and Wei Zelin showed unexpected intimacy toward Shi Yuan as they prepared to leave.

• Shi Yuan brought flowers to You Gui and listened as she blamed herself for what had happened, while she privately wondered whether she could trust him.
• Shi Yuan complained that Wei Zexuan had locked him in the servants' building during the banquet and told You Gui about his estrangement from his family and loss of money and friends.
• Shi Yuan reassured You Gui that he had changed and intended to persuade her to leave the Wei Corporation after they talked longer.
• Shen Duo and Wei Zelin arrived to visit You Gui, and Shi Yuan and Wei Zelin moved aside to let Shen Duo speak with her privately.
• Wei Zelin told Shi Yuan that he and Shen Duo would go to the office, then draped an arm over Shi Yuan's shoulders and asked whether he was cold.

Shi Yuan warned You Gui that Wei Zexuan was pursuing Shen Duo and urged her to leave the Wei Corporation, but Wei Zexuan stormed into her hospital room and abducted Shi Yuan. You Gui was left alone after failing to stop him.

• Wei Zelin and Shen Duo exchanged barbed remarks in the hospital garage before driving away separately.
• Shi Yuan told You Gui that Wei Zexuan was pursuing Shen Duo and urged her to quit the Wei Corporation.
• Shi Yuan explained that Wei Zexuan might target You Gui because Shen Duo had stood up for her and she was beautiful.
• Wei Zexuan entered You Gui's room with a blond man and bodyguards, kicked Shi Yuan to the floor, and slapped You Gui.
• Wei Zexuan ordered his bodyguards to take Shi Yuan, and they restrained You Gui when she tried to stop them.
• You Gui chased Wei Zexuan and his men to the doorway, but they had already disappeared with Shi Yuan.

Wei Zexuan had Shi Yuan taken to Huang Shiren’s Clubhouse and ordered him beaten, while planning to target the Shi Family. You Gui sought Shen Duo’s help, but Wei Zelin refused to intervene, leaving Shen Duo to search for Shi Yuan himself.

• Wei Zexuan left Shi Yuan with Huang Shiren at the Clubhouse and gave Huang Shiren his sports car.
• Huang Shiren had his men lock Shi Yuan in a basement storage room and prepare to make him suffer, while Shi Yuan tried to stay calm.
• Wei Zexuan watched a video of Shi Yuan being beaten and asked Wei Father to help him move against the Shi Family.
• You Gui called the police about Shi Yuan’s disappearance, then contacted Shen Duo when they refused to act.
• Shen Duo promised You Gui he would search for Shi Yuan and asked Wei Zelin to help, but Wei Zelin denied knowing about the abduction and refused to intervene.

Shen Duo rescued Shi Yuan from Huang Shiren, and Shi Yuan reunited with You Gui. You Gui rejected Shen Duo’s offer to join his company and made clear she did not want to rekindle their relationship, leaving Shen Duo to promise he would stop intruding on her life.

• Shen Duo found Shi Yuan at Huang Shiren’s clubhouse and took him away after Huang Shiren claimed he had looked after him.
• Shi Yuan reunited with You Gui at her apartment, where she worried over his injuries and hosted him and Shen Duo for a meal.
• Shi Yuan warned You Gui that Wei Zexuan might target her at work, and Shen Duo offered her a permanent position at Rose.
• You Gui acknowledged Shi Yuan’s attempt to protect her but told Shen Duo she did not want to resume their relationship.
• Shen Duo agreed to help You Gui resign from the Wei Corporation and said he would no longer intrude on her life.

Shi Yuan returned to the Wei estate, where Wei Zelin offered to move out with him and treated the bruises on his back. Later, Wei Zelin learned that Huang Shiren’s men had injured Shi Yuan more badly than intended, revealing how much he cared about him.

• Shi Yuan worried that You Gui’s plan to seek work in S City might change her future with Shen Duo, then returned to the Wei estate and found Wei Zelin waiting.
• Wei Zelin suggested that he and Shi Yuan move out, but Shi Yuan refused because he believed it was not the right time.
• Wei Zelin checked Shi Yuan’s injuries and applied ointment to the bruises on his back, while Shi Yuan tried to suppress his attraction to him.
• Huang Shiren told Wei Zelin that Hou Yuting was stirring up trouble and that You Gui had resigned and gone to S City with Shen Duo’s help.
• Wei Zelin confronted Huang Shiren about Shi Yuan’s injuries, and Huang Shiren explained that Haozi had kicked him too hard during a staged incident.

Shi Yuan agreed to visit his father with Wei Zelin after learning that his mother’s belongings were at stake. He prepared for his upcoming interview and waited for Wei Zelin after work, but spotted him returning from somewhere in his car.

• You Gui told Shi Yuan that she was enjoying her new job at Magic Cube Technology and had made friendly coworkers.
• Shi Yuan’s father invited him and Wei Zelin to dinner and said he would give Shi Yuan’s mother’s jewelry to Aunt Hou if Shi Yuan did not come.
• Shi Yuan remembered how fiercely he had once protected his own parents’ inheritance and decided to reclaim the belongings left by the original Shi Yuan’s mother.
• Shi Yuan asked Wei Zelin to accompany him to the Shi Family home, and Wei Zelin agreed to go after work the next day.
• Shi Yuan studied through the early morning and later went to wait for Wei Zelin near the Wei Corporation.
• Shi Yuan spotted Wei Zelin’s car returning from outside the office and wondered where he had been.

Shi Yuan returned to the Shi Family home with Wei Zelin, where Shi Guohua tried to use his late wife’s belongings and the family’s crisis to persuade him to intervene with the Wei Family. Shi Yuan refused, took a pink diamond ring, and left his father to face the consequences.

• Shi Yuan invited Wei Zelin to dinner at the Shi Family home after Wei Zelin recommended a nearby dessert shop.
• Shi Yuan confronted Shi Guohua about the money he had failed to receive after his apartment and car were sold.
• Shi Guohua brought out the belongings Shi Yuan’s mother had left him, and Shi Yuan took a pink diamond ring.
• Shi Guohua explained that Wei Zexuan had gained control of Shi Family shares by turning a supposed loan into an investment and buying minority holdings.
• Shi Guohua demanded that Shi Yuan or Wei Zelin ask the Wei Family to stop Wei Zexuan, but Shi Yuan refused and pointed out that their mediation would be useless.
• Shi Guohua knocked the safe and jewelry to the floor in anger, and Shi Yuan picked up the ring and told him to look after himself.

Shi Yuan received comfort from Wei Zelin, earned his Teacher Qualification Certificate, and began planning to find a teaching job so he could leave the Wei home. Wei Zelin changed his plan to spare Shi Guohua, while Shi Yuan’s eagerness to move out left Wei Zelin amused.

• Wei Zelin bought Shi Yuan mango-filled mochi after noticing his sadness about the Shi Family, and Shi Yuan felt comforted by the gesture.
• Wei Zelin told his subordinate to leave Shi Guohua a way out instead of pursuing the original plan to the end.
• Shi Yuan nearly fell after washing up, and Wei Zelin caught him and pulled him into an embrace before reminding him to dry his hair.
• Shi Yuan passed his teacher interview, applied for his certificate, and decided to find a school job and a place to live away from the ongoing family trouble.
• Wei Zelin brought Shi Yuan’s Teacher Qualification Certificate home, and Shi Yuan eagerly imagined leaving the Wei residence while Wei Zelin smiled at his naivety.

Shi Yuan struggled to find a teaching job, got injured in a crowd chasing Ren Zhi, and used a false claim of bone cancer to silence a nosy security guard. He discovered that the Shi Group had been taken over by Wei Zexuan and that Shi Guohua had left the country with his wife and daughter, leaving Shi Yuan behind.

• Shi Yuan told You Gui that dozens of applications and eleven interviews had failed to get him a teaching job.
• A crowd of Ren Zhi’s fans knocked Shi Yuan down, and Ren Zhi worried he was having a heart attack before signing Shi Yuan’s résumé.
• Ren Zhi noticed Shi Yuan’s qualifications and appearance, then left with one of his résumés.
• Shi Yuan told the security guard he had bone cancer and claimed the Wei Family would not pay for his treatment, making the guard feel guilty.
• Shi Yuan searched online and learned that Wei Zexuan had taken over the Shi Group and that Shi Guohua had fled to Country D with his wife and daughter.

Shi Yuan received a tutoring lead from Ren Zhi and arranged to meet the Ren family about a job. Meanwhile, Wei Zelin trained at Huang Shiren's underground boxing ring, investigated Shi Yuan's new opportunity, and asked Huang to find more of the rare peaches Shi Yuan had enjoyed.

• Shi Yuan shared enormous peaches with Wei Zelin, then went for a walk with him after dinner.
• Ren Zhi called Shi Yuan and referred him to his eldest brother for a foreign-language tutoring job; Shi Yuan arranged to visit Villa 16, Oak Bay that afternoon.
• Shi Yuan practiced spoken English while Wei Zelin fought a boxing match at Huang Shiren's Clubhouse.
• Wei Zelin learned Shi Yuan was heading to the Ren family's villa and warned Huang Shiren not to investigate the connections between the Ren and Wei families himself.
• Wei Zelin asked Huang Shiren to arrange more of the rare peaches, and Huang called Kuang Yuebin to request several boxes.