Chapter Summaries

Cheng Yue accepted his grandfather’s jade pendant but refused the inheritance Cheng Wenqing offered him, then enjoyed a costume-photo outing with Ji Huaijin in Sucheng. The chapter left Cheng Yue dressed in a red wedding outfit for their final indoor photo set, with his heartbeat quickening.

• Cheng Wenqing gave Cheng Yue his grandfather’s jade pendant and offered him the family assets, but Cheng Yue accepted only the pendant and declined the inheritance.
• Cheng Yue told Ji Huaijin that accepting the fortune would leave him consumed by guilt over not repaying Cheng Wenzhuo while he was alive.
• Ji Huaijin took Cheng Yue to Antique Costume Street, where they dressed in historical costumes and posed for themed portraits together.
• Cheng Yue objected to being cast as a butcher opposite Ji Huaijin’s scholar, but he went along with the abduction-themed photos.
• Ji Huaijin chose the last outfit set, and Cheng Yue realized he was wearing a man’s red wedding outfit as the photographer led them indoors.

Cheng Yue and Ji Huaijin celebrated their wedding-themed photoshoot, shared a romantic night, and returned to Capital City, where their busy schedules and Cheng Yue’s exam preparation brought playful complications. They spent New Year’s Eve together, and Cheng Yue ended the chapter wondering whether something was off about Fang Lele and Ji Huaijin.

• Cheng Yue lifted Ji Huaijin’s wedding veil during their photoshoot, and they exchanged affectionate congratulations as the photographer captured the moment.
• Cheng Yue and Ji Huaijin ate red bean porridge together, then returned home and spent the night making love.
• After flying back to Capital City, Cheng Yue studied for his March exam while Ji Huaijin prepared study materials and quizzed him, turning one wrong answer into a playful punishment.
• Cheng Yue and Ji Huaijin celebrated New Year’s Eve together, and Cheng Yue called Fang Lele, who said he was spending the holiday with Uncle Ji.
• When Cheng Yue asked Ji Huaijin whether something was off about Fang Lele, Ji Huaijin suggested Cheng Yue was just drunk.

As Cheng Yue prepared for the national civil service exam, Ji Huaijin supported him and promised a surfing trip afterward. They visited Green Mountain Temple, where Ji Huaijin bought Cheng Yue an exam-passing charm, and Cheng Yue left wondering about the temple’s feng shui.

• Ji Huaijin arranged Cheng Yue’s meals and study routine, then promised to take him surfing in the Seychelles after the exam.
• Cheng Yue finished reviewing his notes and slept while Ji Huaijin tucked him in.
• Cheng Yue told Ji Huaijin that every day since they met had brought him joy, and Ji Huaijin kissed his hand and said he loved him.
• Cheng Yue and Ji Huaijin climbed the steps to Green Mountain Temple and went to the Marriage Tree for red ribbons.
• Jingyu tried to sell Cheng Yue an exam-passing charm, and Ji Huaijin paid for it after Wuwei called Jingyu away.
• Jingyu gave Cheng Yue the charm and red ribbons, and Ji Huaijin put the charm in Cheng Yue’s pocket.

After Cheng Yue finished his exams, he vacationed in the Seychelles with Ji Huaijin, learned that he had passed, and celebrated with friends at Ding Sheng Lou. The evening ended with a group of angry walk-in customers arriving, and Qi Su and the others noticed a thin figure among them.

• Cheng Yue and Ji Huaijin hung wishes at the Marriage Tree, and Cheng Yue prayed before his exams; he then completed his final exam successfully.
• Cheng Yue vacationed in the Seychelles with Ji Huaijin and teased Qi Su by revealing that Ji Huaijin owned Ding Sheng Lou.
• Cheng Yue received his exam results, learned that he had passed, and thanked Ji Huaijin with a kiss.
• Cheng Yue and Ji Huaijin hosted Qi Su and their friends at Ding Sheng Lou, where Qi Su toasted Cheng Yue and wished him happiness and good health.
• After dinner, Cheng Yue went to the restroom while Ji Huaijin spoke with the manager; a group of angry walk-in customers arrived, and Qi Su and the others recognized a thin figure among them.

Cheng Yue encountered Fang Zhiyou at a hotel, where Fang was being pressured by his agent to appease investor Boss Wang for a role. Ji Huaijin took Cheng Yue home, and later revealed that he had given up his private room and made a memorable night of it to erase Fang Zhiyou from Cheng Yue’s thoughts.

• Cheng Yue and Ji Huaijin saw Fang Zhiyou being urged by his agent to calm down investor Boss Wang so he could secure a role.
• Ji Huaijin offered his private room to the group, and Cheng Yue left the hotel with him without acknowledging Fang Zhiyou.
• After their friends departed, Ji Huaijin asked Cheng Yue to go home with him, and Cheng Yue eagerly agreed.
• After making love, Cheng Yue questioned Ji Huaijin about why he had given up the private room, and Ji Huaijin said he had been showing off.
• Ji Huaijin admitted to himself that he had acted to push Fang Zhiyou out of Cheng Yue’s memories and make Cheng Yue remember only him.

Cheng Yue attended Lin Shuyang’s wedding with Ji Huaijin, where their affection drew warm support from a bridesmaid and the guests. After Cheng Yue won the bridal bouquet, Ji Huaijin accepted his proposal, bringing their story to a close.

• Cheng Yue argued with Ji Huaijin about his former classmate, then prepared for his job interview.
• Lin Shuyang asked Cheng Yue to be his groomsman, and Ji Huaijin joined the wedding party as Lin Shuyang’s older brother.
• At the wedding, Cheng Yue helped a bridesmaid who nearly fell, and later Ji Huaijin cared for him after he drank too much.
• Cheng Yue and Ji Huaijin’s affectionate exchange reassured the bridesmaid, who wished them happiness together.
• Cheng Yue raced for the bridal bouquet, caught it amid the crowd, and threw it toward Ji Huaijin as he fell.
• Ji Huaijin caught the bouquet and told Cheng Yue, “I do,” accepting his proposal.

Fang Lele unexpectedly returned to Capital City and reunited with Cheng Yue at the manor, where Ji Huaijin quietly shielded him from questions. The next day, Ji Huaijin continued distracting Cheng Yue at the Villa, leaving Fang Lele’s reason for coming back unexplained.

• Fang Lele arrived at the manor after taking a train, surprising Cheng Yue and prompting Ji Huaijin to message his uncle about the visit.
• Cheng Yue noticed Fang Lele’s exhaustion, let him shower and eat, then introduced him to the wedding guests.
• Lin Shuyang congratulated Fang Lele with a red envelope, while Ji Huaijin told him to go find Cheng Yue and hinted the gift was well spent.
• Fang Lele stayed overnight with Cheng Yue at the manor and returned to the Villa the next day.
• Ji Huaijin repeatedly distracted Cheng Yue whenever he tried to question Fang Lele, then admitted he was doing it on purpose.

After a day out in Sucheng, Fang Lele was left alone at Ji Fengyao’s Villa and discovered Ji Fengyao apparently interrogating someone in a frightening scene. He fled back to Sui Garden, where the memory kept him awake and distressed.

• Fang Lele received a day off and went sightseeing and ate with the driver in Sucheng.
• The driver took Fang Lele to Ji Fengyao’s Villa while Ji Fengyao was away, then left him there to wait.
• Fang Lele fell asleep on the sofa and woke to sharp noises and faint sobbing from upstairs.
• Fang Lele peered through a partly open door and heard Ji Fengyao ask someone, “Were you wrong?” and “Do you like it?” as the person pleaded for mercy.
• Fang Lele fled the Villa and returned to Sui Garden, where he lay awake reliving what he had seen.

Fang Lele fled after waking from a disturbing encounter with Ji Fengyao, then spent the day at the Capital City villa before Cheng Yue took him out for food and fun. The chapter ends as Cheng Yue and Fang Lele arrive at an upscale club, where someone is already waiting in their private room.

• Fang Lele woke at the villa alone, ate the breakfast Cheng Yue had left, and found the house already clean.
• Cheng Yue returned from training and took Fang Lele shopping, where they bought a digital watch and argued over scarves for Fang Lele's mother.
• Ji Huaijin called and suggested they buy both scarves, then met them downstairs.
• Cheng Yue, Ji Huaijin, and Fang Lele ate a large barbecue dinner before Cheng Yue took Fang Lele to an upscale club.
• Cheng Yue and Fang Lele entered a private room and found someone already inside.

Fang Lele went out with Cheng Yue and the others, but Chu Jiye arrived and confronted him over their past. Chu Jiye claimed Fang Lele still owed him a kiss, leaving Fang Lele shaken as someone knocked at the door.

• Lin Shuyang told Cheng Yue that his mother had monopolized his wife after learning they were expecting a girl.
• Fang Lele realized he had no direct way to contact Ji Fengyao and wondered whether Ji Fengyao had noticed his absence.
• Chu Jiye barged into the private room and tried to grab Fang Lele, but Cheng Yue and the others stopped him.
• Fang Lele told Chu Jiye that he had repaid every expense and owed him nothing.
• Chu Jiye claimed Fang Lele still owed him a kiss from the night before he left, and Fang Lele regretted coming to Capital City as someone knocked at the door.

Ji Fengyao appeared at a private gathering in Capital City, leaving Fang Lele distressed before leaving without explanation. Fang Lele later went to Ji Fengyao’s hotel room, where Ji Fengyao confronted him about running away and asked how he should be punished.

• Ji Fengyao arrived at the private room, greeted Lin Shuyang and Chu Jiye, and left Fang Lele in tears.
• Chu Jiye grew wary after seeing Ji Fengyao, then left the room, while Ji Huaijin explained that Ji Fengyao was in Capital City for work.
• Fang Lele returned to the Villa and received a late-night message saying a car was waiting for him outside.
• Fang Lele went to Ji Fengyao’s hotel room, where Ji Fengyao made him stand as punishment for running away.
• Fang Lele apologized, and Ji Fengyao asked how a misbehaving child should be punished.

Ji Fengyao punished Fang Lele for secretly owing another man a kiss, drawing the frightened boy into his embrace and refusing his request to go home. The chapter ended with Ji Fengyao commanding Fang Lele to be good.

• Ji Fengyao called Fang Lele over and made him sit on his lap.
• Fang Lele sought comfort from Ji Fengyao, but Ji Fengyao gripped his jaw and said he would settle the boy's debts one by one.
• Ji Fengyao reproached Fang Lele for owing someone a kiss and for running away after dirtying his clothes.
• Fang Lele broke down sobbing, and Ji Fengyao wiped his tears and held him until he calmed down.
• Fang Lele asked to go home, but Ji Fengyao ignored his resistance and told him to be good.

Fang Lele returned to Ji Fengyao’s control after their trip to Capital City, then spent a year studying before Ji Fengyao allowed him to visit home. Ji Fengyao kissed him before he left and soon ordered him to return, but Fang Lele stayed past the agreed time.

• Ji Fengyao confiscated Fang Lele’s phone, confined him to the hotel, and fastened a tracker watch on his wrist, telling him he could remove it only with permission.
• Ji Huaijin told Cheng Yue that Fang Lele had left Capital City with Ji Fengyao, leaving Cheng Yue unaware that he had lost his chance to intervene.
• Fang Lele resumed his studies and daily routine, adjusting to Ji Fengyao’s restrictions and accompanying him on a business trip.
• After a year of tutoring, Fang Lele asked Ji Fengyao to let him visit his mother, and Ji Fengyao granted permission before kissing him.
• Fang Lele flew home, but Ji Fengyao sent gifts and called on his third day there, ordering him to return; Fang Lele did not come back on time.

Fang Lele returned to Sui Garden and, after days of waiting for Ji Fengyao's response, was taken to the Villa and punished for disobeying him. The next morning, Ji Fengyao offered to take him to school, while Fang Lele struggled to walk.

• Fang Lele returned to Sui Garden, where Ji Fengyao greeted him calmly and treated him as usual.
• On the evening before school registration, the assistant took Fang Lele to the Villa, where Ji Fengyao waited for him.
• Fang Lele found only a silk robe in the bathroom and realized Ji Fengyao intended to punish him.
• Ji Fengyao made Fang Lele approach him and punished him until he cried and passed out.
• Fang Lele woke in his bedroom at Sui Garden and came downstairs sore and in long sleeves.
• Ji Fengyao stayed home and offered to take Fang Lele to school.

Fang Lele grew increasingly dependent on Ji Fengyao, who trained him to accept intimate grooming and later resumed doing it himself. As winter break began, Fang Lele was invited to dinner by classmates and said he would ask at home before deciding.

• Ji Fengyao threatened to send Fang Lele home, and Fang Lele panicked, clung to him, and begged not to be abandoned.
• Ji Fengyao told Fang Lele to groom himself while he watched, pushing Fang Lele to accept another boundary.
• At a later visit, Ji Fengyao groomed Fang Lele himself and sent him home, while privately wondering whether he had lost patience.
• When winter break began, Fang Lele’s classmate invited him to dinner with their basketball group.
• Fang Lele said he would ask at home before confirming whether he could attend.

Fang Lele spent the days before the New Year at Sui Garden while worrying about his mother, then went to dinner with his classmates at a restaurant he knew through Ji Fengyao. There, he overheard a young woman discussing her much older fiancé and was left standing silently before the mirror.

• Fang Lele’s driver told him Ji Fengyao had asked him to rest at home while Ji entertained an honored guest.
• Fang Lele spoke with Aunt Fang, who reassured him she would celebrate the New Year with neighbors, and he later got Ji Fengyao’s permission to attend dinner with classmates.
• Fang Lele arrived at an exclusive restaurant and learned Zhang Heng’s father had provided a membership card for the group’s meal.
• Fang Lele left the private room to use the shared restroom and overheard a young woman describe her nearly forty-year-old fiancé as looking about thirty.
• After the young woman walked away, Fang Lele stared silently at his reflection.

Ji Fengyao confronted Old Master Ji over his attempt to control his relationship with Fang Lele and refused to choose between sending him away and getting engaged to the Jin Family's daughter. He left after assuring the old man that he had made arrangements to protect Fang Lele’s future.

• Ji Fengyao woke Old Master Ji and said he had come to report the outcome of the dinner.
• Ji Fengyao picked up a Ming dynasty vase and said he would give it to his niece as a belated first-meeting gift.
• Old Master Ji accused Ji Fengyao of abusing his authority for Fang Lele and demanded that he either send the boy away or get engaged to the Jin Family's daughter.
• Ji Fengyao rejected Old Master Ji's ultimatum and said he had taken control of the Ji Family to secure his own freedom.
• Ji Fengyao assured Old Master Ji that he had made proper arrangements for Fang Lele's future, then left with the vase.

After learning that Ji Fengyao had a fiancée, Fang Lele rejected his advances and fled Sui Garden. He spent days alone in a hotel, and the chapter ended with Ji Fengyao arriving at his door.

• Ji Fengyao returned to Sui Garden and found Fang Lele waiting; Fang Lele accidentally spilled hot tea on his hand and then pulled away when Ji Fengyao tried to kiss him.
• Fang Lele told Ji Fengyao that their relationship was wrong because he already had a fiancée, but Ji Fengyao dismissed his concern.
• Fang Lele ran away from Sui Garden after Ji Fengyao left, while Ms. Chen learned that Ji Fengyao was away directing a fire response in a neighboring city.
• Fang Lele spent three days alone in a budget hotel, then decided he would return on his own and leave after graduating.
• Someone knocked on Fang Lele's hotel-room door late at night, and Ji Fengyao told him to open it.

Fang Lele reunited with his mother at Sui Garden on New Year's Eve and grew closer to Ji Fengyao, who reassured him that he had no fiancée. The chapter ended with them affirming their relationship, followed by an afterword recounting Fang Lele's graduation and Cheng Yue's reaction to the couple.

• Ji Fengyao found Fang Lele at a budget hotel and carried him back to Sui Garden, where Fang Lele woke sore and learned he was in Ji Fengyao's room.
• Fang Lele spent the days before the New Year recovering and missing his family while Ji Fengyao remained away.
• Ms. Chen welcomed Aunt Fang to Sui Garden on New Year's Eve, and Fang Lele tearfully reunited with his mother.
• Fang Lele thanked Ji Fengyao, and Ji Fengyao told him there had never been a fiancée and never would be.
• Ji Fengyao asked Fang Lele if he was his boy, and Fang Lele nodded and promised to care for him when he was old.
• After Fang Lele graduated, he and Ji Fengyao brought Aunt Fang to Sucheng, while Cheng Yue later confronted Ji Fengyao about their relationship and backed down.