Chapter Summaries

Wang Xiaoliang discussed his disappointment in Zhou Qiang with Huang Xueli, who argued that people’s fidelity depended on the consequences they faced rather than innate morality. They could not explain why Zhou Qiang had risked everything by cheating on Li Lanxiang.

• Wang Xiaoliang admitted that he could no longer call Zhou Qiang “Brother Qiang” because he had put him on too high a pedestal and felt disappointed by his disappearance.
• Huang Xueli explained that Wang Xiaoliang had never been disappointed in him because Wang had known about his private life and understood what to expect.
• Huang Xueli asked whether Wang Xiaoliang might cheat if Tian Jiayi pursued him, and Wang said he would not because Wei Zijin had no other family and depended on him.
• Huang Xueli argued that fidelity depended on the costs and consequences of cheating, not human nature, and Wang acknowledged that his reasoning had a point.
• Wang Xiaoliang and Huang Xueli wondered why Zhou Qiang had cheated despite knowing Li Lanxiang might expose him and destroy his money and business.

After telling Wei Zijin that Zhou Qiang had been found but was keeping his whereabouts secret, Wang Xiaoliang reflected on the Book of Fate and suspected Zhou Qiang’s affair and disappearance concealed something he did not know. The next morning, Liu Xinyu invited Wang Xiaoliang and Bisheng to a celebration dinner, leaving Wang Xiaoliang with no choice but to wonder what Liu was really planning.

• Wang Xiaoliang told Wei Zijin that Zhou Qiang had been found and asked her not to let Li Lanxiang discover it.
• Wang Xiaoliang read the Book of Fate’s latest passage and concluded that Zhou Qiang had not cared about other people’s judgment, while Li Lanxiang and her mother had been constrained by it.
• Wang Xiaoliang questioned why Zhou Qiang had risked an affair despite knowing its consequences and suspected that Zhou was hiding something.
• Wang Xiaoliang practiced standing meditation the next morning, and Liu Xinyu arrived with breakfast.
• Liu Xinyu announced that he was hosting a celebration dinner for Wang Xiaoliang and Bisheng and arranged to have them picked up at six.

At a victory dinner, Wang Xiaoliang’s friends praised him for leading the operation that saved Zijin and acquired the Jiuqing Liquor factory. He reflected on the many people whose efforts made the victory possible and resolved not to mistake others’ praise for his true self, but Fang Dongxu’s question about Zijin’s endorsement fee left him on the spot.

• Liu Xinyu welcomed Wang Xiaoliang and Luo Bisheng to the victory dinner, where Wang Xiaoliang refused liquor because he was preparing to have a baby.
• Liu Xinyu credited Wang Xiaoliang with directing the crisis response, and the guests praised him for the three-hundred-million-yuan operation and the acquisition of the Jiuqing Liquor factory.
• Wang Xiaoliang considered how Wei Zijin, Xiao Mo, Nuomi, Third Uncle, and the Anyang team had made the victory possible, and reminded himself not to live by other people’s opinions.
• When Liu Xinyu called on him to say a few words, Wang Xiaoliang joked, “Who are you talking about? How come I don’t know him?”
• Fang Dongxu asked Wang Xiaoliang for the minimum fee for one advertising endorsement now that Zijin was so popular.

On the drive home, Wang Xiaoliang explained his plans for Xiaosheng Media and a restaurant chain, while discussing Liu Xinyu’s reasons for involving him in Fang Dongxu’s business troubles. The conversation ended with Yi Jiahui asking to join Xiaosheng Media and Yang Qingyu immediately refusing.

• Wang Xiaoliang confronted Liu Xinyu about using him to discourage Fang Dongxu from pursuing gray-market business, and Liu Xinyu explained that he hoped Fang Dongxu would choose honest work.
• Wang Xiaoliang outlined Xiaosheng Media’s goal of producing accessible, positive content and described a partnership with Mimo that would separate content creation from commercial monetization.
• Wang Xiaoliang named the people he hoped to bring together, including Brother Qiang and Sister Kong, and wondered why Brother Qiang had not been in touch.
• Wang Xiaoliang proposed a restaurant chain built around Tang Heihu's Grilled Wings and Grandpa Liu's Beef Offal, and Yang Qingyu said she had relevant experience.
• Yi Jiahui asked Wang Xiaoliang if she could join Xiaosheng Media, but Yang Qingyu said no before he could answer.

Yang Qingyu prepared to open the first directly operated branch of Grandpa Liu's Beef Offal Shop at Starlight Mendong Night Market, with Liu Xinyu and Wang Xiaoliang helping. Wei Zijin arrived overnight to celebrate with her, and the chapter ended as Yang Qingyu declared the shop open.

• Wang Xiaoliang and Luo Bisheng filmed new skits, bought a Toyota Alphard for Xiaosheng Media, and released Tang Heihu's video announcing the branch opening.
• Yang Qingyu and Liu Xinyu left for the new shop at four in the morning, and Wei Zijin surprised Yang Qingyu by arriving in the Alphard after flying back overnight.
• The group reached Starlight Mendong, where Yang Qingyu's renovated shop had a preparation area, serving windows, tables, and Tang Heihu's calligraphy on display.
• Yang Qingyu tasted the beef offal, noodles, and rice wine, then gave the employees opening bonuses and reminded them to maintain their standards.
• Yang Qingyu called for the shop to open, and Liu Xinyu and Wang Xiaoliang pushed open the heavy doors.

Wang Xiaoliang and Luo Bisheng struggled to find suitable hires for their media company until Wang brought the nervous Ma Haoran inside for his interview. Ma Haoran presented his video-editing work, revealing that he ran a film and television commentary account with over a million followers.

• Luo Bisheng interviewed applicants and rejected most of them, while he and Wang Xiaoliang revised the job requirements to focus on practical skills and experience.
• Wang Xiaoliang noticed Ma Haoran waiting nervously outside the hotel and invited him in for his overdue interview.
• Luo Bisheng asked Ma Haoran about his video-editing background and reviewed his phone and account analytics.
• Luo Bisheng and Wang Xiaoliang saw that Ma Haoran's film and television commentary account had 1,078,000 followers.

Wang Xiaoliang hired Ma Haoran after he forced himself to say that he did not want to be alone anymore, and he and Wei Zijin made plans for their new apartment. After a string of disappointing interviews, Yi Jiahui arrived to interview, claiming her family had agreed to let her work there, and Wang Xiaoliang doubted her as her phone showed an incoming call from her sister.

• Wang Xiaoliang tested Ma Haoran’s resolve to speak aloud, and Ma Haoran said he did not want to be alone anymore.
• Wang Xiaoliang hired Ma Haoran and told him to come in the next morning to complete onboarding.
• Wang Xiaoliang learned that he could take possession of the new apartment and planned with Wei Zijin to turn its second bedroom into a book-lined movie room.
• Wang Xiaoliang and Luo Bisheng rejected several candidates after a disastrous afternoon of interviews.
• Yi Jiahui arrived to interview, said her sister and brother-in-law had agreed, and showed Wang Xiaoliang her phone as her sister called.

Yi Jiahui joined Xiaosheng Media after Yang Qingyu asked Wang Xiaoliang to take her on, and Wang Xiaoliang assigned her company duties. He then advised Luo Bisheng about Chen Zhifei rejecting him, leaving Luo to consider whether to pursue her again.

• Yi Jiahui called Yang Qingyu, who asked Wang Xiaoliang to let her work with Xiaosheng Media and treat her like family.
• Wang Xiaoliang hired Yi Jiahui to handle personnel, attendance, logistics, and outside contacts, then sent her to arrange meals with Sister Li at Second Mom Cafeteria.
• Luo Bisheng explained that Chen Zhifei had rejected him by saying they were not right for each other, and he feared his mother would disapprove of her past.
• Wang Xiaoliang suggested Chen Zhifei might have rejected Luo Bisheng because she felt unworthy or feared being hurt, and urged him to speak honestly with her.
• Wang Xiaoliang advised Luo Bisheng to ask his mother whether she could accept Chen Zhifei, then have a candid conversation with Chen and consider living together to test their compatibility.

Ma Haoran settled into his new video-editing job and impressed the Xiaosheng Media team with a polished comedy video for Tang Heihu. Wang Xiaoliang learned that Ma had recently escaped a fraudulent MCN contract and offered to sign him.

• Wang Xiaoliang introduced Ma Haoran to Yi Jiahui and prohibited the staff from imitating his stutter.
• Ma set up his workstation, received footage of Tang Heihu, and edited it into a comedic video contrasting a sentimental film style with a chicken-wing promotion.
• Wang Xiaoliang and the staff praised Ma’s finished video in the work group.
• Wang asked Ma downstairs whether he had signed with an MCN, and Ma said he had been scammed but had just gotten out of the contract.
• Wang asked Ma to change his content and told him he wanted to sign him.

Wang Xiaoliang prepared to return to Jiangcheng, but a contractor’s urgent offer to take over a nearly finished esports hotel changed his plans. After rescheduling his flight, he read the Book of Fate and considered how Fan Qishan seemed to embody its highest fortune.

• Wang Xiaoliang and Luo Bisheng found a nearby office space to consider renting, and Wang booked a flight to arrive an hour after Wei Zijin.
• Wang Xiaoliang found Fan Qishan reading alone in his bedroom and sat with him.
• While packing Fucheng specialties and Tang Heihu Grilled Chicken Wings samples, Wang received a call from Manager Chen about an esports hotel near University Town whose owner needed to sell urgently.
• Wang canceled his flight, booked an earlier one to inspect the hotel, and told Wei Zijin to go home without him.
• Wang read the Book of Fate’s saying about remaining at ease without dependence and concluded that Fan Qishan alone seemed to possess that highest fortune.

Wang Xiaoliang and Luo Bisheng inspected Boss Wang’s nearly finished hotel and found its construction generally sound. After Boss Wang drove off two opportunistic buyers, he offered to transfer the business to Wang Xiaoliang for the same amount they had offered.

• Wang Xiaoliang and Luo Bisheng arrived at the University Town hotel and inspected its layout, rooms, and renovation work.
• Luo Bisheng judged the workmanship and facilities mostly satisfactory, while Wang Xiaoliang considered whether taking over would save time.
• Old Chen explained that Boss Wang was desperate to sell because debts were mounting and his expected bank loan had been rejected.
• Two prospective buyers offered Boss Wang 1.65 million, but he grew furious when they pressed his financial troubles and raised a length of timber to drive them away.
• Boss Wang turned to Wang Xiaoliang and offered to transfer the hotel for the same amount the other buyers had offered.

Wang Xiaoliang and Luo Bisheng took over Boss Wang’s business after inspecting the renovations, expenses, and lease, agreeing to pay 2.1 million and refund Boss Wang’s investment if they recoup their own within two years. As they drove away, Wang Xiaoliang explained that their ability to bear a loss set them apart from Boss Wang, and Luo Bisheng understood his point.

• Wang Xiaoliang and Luo Bisheng agreed to take over the business after requiring a quality inspection, expense records, and a new lease with the landlord.
• Engineer Zhang inspected the renovations and concealed work, found no problems, and Luo Bisheng slipped him an envelope of money.
• Wang Xiaoliang and Luo Bisheng reviewed Boss Wang’s expense records, verified the landlord’s documents, and confirmed the lease terms.
• Wang Xiaoliang offered Boss Wang 2.1 million on the condition that they would refund his investment if they recouped their own within two years, and they signed the transfer and lease agreements.
• Luo Bisheng transferred the money, and Boss Wang promised to help with suppliers and other contacts until opening day.
• On the drive back, Wang Xiaoliang explained his views on luck and investment risk, and Luo Bisheng recognized that they could afford to lose what they invested.

Wang Xiaoliang’s return to Jiangcheng was blocked by torrential rain and then a citywide flight suspension after a mysterious illness emerged. He stayed in Fucheng to work on the hotel construction while Wei Zijin relayed official reports that the illness, named Hibernation, caused prolonged sleep and had no confirmed transmission route.

• Wang Xiaoliang’s flight and other routes to Jiangcheng were canceled, so he stayed in Fucheng with Luo Bisheng.
• After more than forty hours of rain, Wang Xiaoliang learned that flights to Jiangcheng were suspended and Wei Zijin told him a strange illness was making people fall asleep and not wake up.
• Wang Xiaoliang urged Wei Zijin to go home and stock up on supplies, then told Luo Bisheng that Jiangcheng was locked down.
• Wang Xiaoliang and Luo Bisheng went to the hotel construction site, where Manager Chen and Boss Wang updated them on the work.
• Wang Xiaoliang told Boss Wang he did not need to keep watch, then returned to the villa with Luo Bisheng and filmed a video in the basement.
• Wei Zijin sent Wang Xiaoliang a news report stating that patients generally woke within three to seven days and that experts had named the virus Hibernation.

During Jiangcheng’s lockdown, Wang Xiaoliang kept checking on friends and urged Huang Xueli to stop living alone, while discussing the Book of Fate with Wei Zijin. The University Town branch of Huanluo Esports Hotel neared its opening, and Ma Haoran sent Wang a new commentary video to review.

• Wang Xiaoliang called his friends and urged Huang Xueli to live with his ex-wife so someone could look out for him.
• Wang Xiaoliang joked with Xiao Mo about having a baby, and Xiao Mo asked to borrow Nannan if Nuomi became pregnant.
• Nuomi said she wanted to wait until the Sleeping Beauty crisis passed before having a baby, while Wang Xiaoliang reassured her.
• After more than ten days of lockdown, Wang Xiaoliang saw reports of people living alone dying after falling asleep and pressed Huang Xueli to bring his ex-wife home.
• Wang Xiaoliang and Luo Bisheng reviewed the completed renovations at the University Town branch and planned to train Jiahui as a housekeeper.
• Ma Haoran sent Wang Xiaoliang his first revised long-form commentary video, which opened with a line about Truman discovering the truth.

Wang Xiaoliang watched Ma Haoran’s thoughtful commentary on The Truman Show and praised it to Xiaosheng Media’s team, then arranged a contract for Ma. Despite Wang Xiaoliang’s satisfaction with the video, its views remained far below Ma Haoran’s usual numbers, leaving him wondering whether viewers had lost the patience for long videos.

• Wang Xiaoliang watched Ma Haoran’s video about The Truman Show and reflected on Hu Yang’s question about whether the world was real.
• Wang Xiaoliang shared the video in Xiaosheng Media’s work chat, where Yi Jiahui and Luo Bisheng praised it and Qu Xinya credited Ma with improving her script.
• Wang Xiaoliang awarded Ma Haoran a 700-yuan bonus and Qu Xinya 300 yuan, then asked Yi Jiahui to arrange Ma’s creator contract.
• Wang Xiaoliang recalled advising Ma Haoran to use licensed footage, limit advertisements, and make thoughtful film commentary that recommended genuinely good movies.
• Wang Xiaoliang saw that Ma Haoran’s twenty-minute video had only 40,000 views and wondered whether short-video audiences could still watch long content.

As reports of prolonged hibernation unsettled Jiangcheng, Wang Xiaoliang checked in with friends and promised Zhou Qiang that he and others would care for the children if Zhou Qiang and Xiuyun fell asleep. After hearing Luo Qiqiang’s advice and verifying Mr. Wang’s conduct, Wang Xiaoliang went to the shop with Luo Bisheng to discuss a possible partnership.

• Wang Xiaoliang called Huang Xueli, Xiao Mo, and Nuomi to check on them, and Xiao Mo and Nuomi shared their worries about their relationships and the worsening situation.
• Zhou Qiang told Wang Xiaoliang that Lanxiang had asked him to care for Guo if anything happened to her, then asked Wang Xiaoliang and others to look after Guoguo and Yuanyuan if he and Xiuyun fell asleep; Wang Xiaoliang promised to help.
• Luo Qiqiang advised Wang Xiaoliang to offer Mr. Wang a shop-management role and a proportional investment stake, while keeping close financial oversight.
• Wang Xiaoliang confirmed with Manager Chen that Mr. Wang had paid the renovation balance and workers promptly, and heard that Mr. Wang was genuine but had been let down by a friend who failed to secure a loan.
• Wang Xiaoliang asked Luo Bisheng to accompany him to the shop so they could talk with Mr. Wang.

Wang Xiaoliang offered Wang Deming a manager position and partnership in the esports hotel after hearing how his former friends and family had let him down. Later, Wang Xiaoliang learned that Wei Zijin had secretly bought an apartment in Beijing in his name and planned to help his father buy a car.

• Wang Deming told Wang Xiaoliang and Luo Bisheng how he had financed the esports hotel and how his relatives and friends had refused to help him.
• Wang Xiaoliang offered Wang Deming the manager position and a stake in the business, with a formal partnership agreement to be drafted and signed the next day.
• Wang Deming accepted the offer and promised to work hard, while Wang Xiaoliang insisted that the partnership's rights and obligations be written clearly.
• Wang Xiaoliang called Wei Zijin after returning to the villa and told her he had settled the manager situation and expected the hotel to open by the end of the month.
• Wei Zijin revealed that she had bought an apartment in Beijing in Wang Xiaoliang's name and suggested they buy his father a car for the New Year.

Wang Xiaoliang learned that Huang Xueli had fallen into an unexplained sleep, then received Nuomi’s happy news that she was pregnant. He shared the news with Xiao Mo, who revealed that he already knew about Huang Xueli and agreed that he would wake up.

• Lu Sining told Wang Xiaoliang that Huang Xueli had not woken up and that she was taking him to the hospital.
• Wang Xiaoliang steadied himself by reading the Forty-Eighth Art in the Book of Fate and believing Huang Xueli would wake up.
• Nuomi called Wang Xiaoliang and told him she was pregnant, explaining that Seventh Master had helped Xiao Mo recover.
• Wang Xiaoliang asked Xiao Mo how Seventh Master had cured him, and Xiao Mo described the treatment and its psychological effect.
• Xiao Mo told Wang Xiaoliang that he and Nuomi already knew Huang Xueli had not woken up, and both said he would wake up.

Wang Xiaoliang struggled with fear after Huang Xueli fell asleep from the Hibernation Virus, then used the Book of Fate to steady himself. He ended the chapter reading the Heart Sutra with Fan Qishan.

• Wang Xiaoliang called Zhou Qiang and told him Huang Xueli had fallen asleep, and Zhou Qiang urged him to believe Huang would wake up.
• Luo Bisheng drove Wang Xiaoliang toward the hospital, and Wei Zijin called to tell him she would join the International Expert Group.
• Wang Xiaoliang told Wei Zijin he was worried about Huang Xueli and his friends, but agreed she should go with the expert group and arranged for Sister Nan to stay with Nuomi.
• Wang Xiaoliang visited Fan Qishan and asked what he could do about his fear, and Fan Qishan reminded him that he already had something to help him.
• Wang Xiaoliang reread the Book of Fate's Fifth Art and calmed himself by focusing on the present and facing events one at a time.
• Fan Qishan gave Wang Xiaoliang a copy of the Heart Sutra, and Wang Xiaoliang sat down to read it.

Wang Xiaoliang learned that Xiao Mo and pregnant Nuomi had fallen into an unresponsive sleep, while overwhelmed hospitals could offer them little help. As he waited anxiously for news from Zhao Nan and feared for Wei Zijin, she told him the research team was entering isolation for critical experiments and they said they loved each other before losing contact.

• Wei Zijin told Wang Xiaoliang that experts were investigating the hibernation and that she was working in the experimental group while Xie Hui joined field investigations.
• Zhao Nan told Wang Xiaoliang that Xiao Mo and pregnant Nuomi had not woken up, and emergency services found every nearby hospital full.
• Zhao Nan arranged for Haiyan to help monitor Xiao Mo and Nuomi, then tearfully asked Wang Xiaoliang to tell her parents that she loved them if she also fell asleep.
• Wang Xiaoliang struggled with fear and helplessness as he waited for updates and worried about Wei Zijin's safety.
• Wei Zijin told Wang Xiaoliang that the research team would surrender their phones and enter isolation while investigating the virus's airborne spread and possible resistance.
• Wang Xiaoliang and Wei Zijin confessed their love before ending their call, knowing they might not speak for several days.