Chapter Summaries

After uncovering the truth behind the Forbidden Door, Zhou Cheng ruled for decades, outliving the women he loved and suffering repeated wounds from time. He left the capital to find the Divine Temple, where he located the interstellar spaceship beneath it.

• Zhou Cheng crippled Emperor Qing, executed Master Sanshi, and sent Emperor Qing, Li Chengqian, Li Chengze, and others to the Western Continent.
• Zhou Cheng and Fan Xian opened the Forbidden Door and learned that the Celestial Dragons’ experiments had caused an ice age that destroyed their civilization.
• Zhou Cheng unified Qing, Northern Qi, and other lands, spent decades enjoying his rule, and eventually grew old as his women died, including Haitang Duoduo.
• Li Yunrui left Zhou Cheng after aging made her unable to accept losing her beauty, and Zhou Cheng later began suffering mysterious, repeated wounds.
• Zhou Cheng left the Imperial Villa, traveled alone through the far northern snowfields, and reached the Divine Temple.
• Zhou Cheng explored the Divine Temple, learned more from its artificial intelligence, and found the spaceship hidden beneath it.

After returning to reality from a century in the Joy of Life world, Zhou Cheng received his mission rewards and examined his upgraded system. He discovered that the new prize pool could include the women who had belonged to him there, leaving him eager to bring them back.

• Zhou Cheng returned to his unchanged apartment and struggled to reconcile his hundred years in another world with the brief time that seemed to have passed in reality.
• The system settled his completed missions, awarding him the New Human talent, five free attribute points, and an upgraded draw feature.
• Zhou Cheng reviewed his attributes and learned that the Joy of Life world had been added to a new Level Two Prize Pool that he could populate with one hundred acquired items.
• Zhou Cheng found Sang Wen, Si Lili, Ye Linger, Fan Ruoruo, and Li Yunrui among the potential prizes, but no children, friends, or other characters.
• The system explained that characters appeared only when both Zhou Cheng and the character acknowledged that they belonged to each other, and Zhou Cheng realized he might be able to reunite with his women.

After returning from Joy of Life, Zhou Cheng upgraded his prize pool, drew a Divine Temple Messenger, and learned that his next world would be Romance in the Alley. With a month before the mission begins, he planned to study the drama and visit his parents.

• Zhou Cheng selected a hundred prizes for the Level Two Prize Pool, choosing his women and valuable items, then merged the pool and his remaining belongings into the lottery wheel.
• Zhou Cheng spent his remaining emotion points on draws and received assorted items, then drew a Divine Temple Messenger from the Level Two Wheel.
• Zhou Cheng learned that he could travel only once a month and asked the system to reveal his next world.
• The system selected Romance in the Alley and began a thirty-day countdown; Zhou Cheng looked up the drama and found it was a period piece.
• Zhou Cheng discovered that only lottery prizes had remained in his System Space, then planned to watch the drama and visit his parents before the next mission.

Zhou Cheng awakened in 1977 Suzhou as nine-year-old Zhuang Jingcheng, a member of the Zhuang family and a character in Romance in the Alley. After recovering from the headache caused by his memories, he reassured his worried younger sister, Zhuang Xiaoting, before his father and grandmother arrived.

• Zhou Cheng absorbed the memories of Zhuang Jingcheng and learned that his system missions were to gain absolute say in the Zhuang family and control other people's lives.
• Zhou Cheng recalled the setting and historical backdrop of Romance in the Alley while resting in the family's cramped home.
• Zhuang Xiaoting cared for her feverish brother with a cold towel, and Zhou Cheng reassured her that he was fine.
• Zhuang Xiaoting returned to her homework but kept checking on Zhou Cheng as his headache eased.
• Zhuang Chaoying and Granny Zhuang entered the room, and Zhuang Xiaoting greeted them.

Zhou Cheng stood up for Zhuang Xiaoting after Granny Zhuang insulted her, throwing a cup at Granny Zhuang and then refusing to apologize. Zhuang Chaoying tried to restrain his mother and son, but ended the chapter angrily rebuking Zhuang Jingcheng.

• Granny Zhuang demanded Zhuang Chaoying’s monthly support money and complained that he had reduced it from twenty-five yuan to eighteen.
• Granny Zhuang said Zhuang Chaoying should have given Zhuang Xiaoting away as a burden, and Zhou Cheng hurled his enamel cup at her feet.
• Zhuang Chaoying restrained Granny Zhuang as she tried to strike Zhou Cheng, who claimed his hand had slipped.
• Zhou Cheng told Zhuang Chaoying that he had deliberately helped Granny Zhuang clear her head, prompting his father to angrily scold him.

Zhou Cheng protected Zhuang Xiaoting from Granny Zhuang’s attempt to sell her, using the neighbors’ attention to stop the family argument from escalating. After Granny Zhuang left, Zhou Cheng ignored Zhuang Chaoying’s scolding and devoured the household’s remaining rice to satisfy his body’s intense hunger.

• Zhou Cheng dodged Zhuang Chaoying and Granny Zhuang, then threatened to call the neighbors if they did not stop pursuing him.
• Zhou Cheng’s threat and the neighbors gathering outside made Zhuang Chaoying restrain Granny Zhuang and promise not to hit the children.
• Granny Zhuang left after warning Zhuang Chaoying not to make her return next month, and Zhuang Chaoying scolded Zhou Cheng for smashing the mug.
• Zhuang Xiaoting thanked Zhou Cheng for protecting her, and he reassured her that she was his sister.
• Zhou Cheng’s hunger surged, so he ate several bowls of rice and emptied the pot, leaving Zhuang Xiaoting worried there would be no lunch for Zhuang Tunan.

Zhou Cheng comforted Zhuang Xiaoting with chocolate after standing up to Granny, and she shared the remaining piece with Zhuang Tunan, who praised his younger brother. Zhou Cheng then absorbed sunlight to reduce his need for food, while Zhuang Chaoying returned home and began warming to him when he saw him reading.

• Zhou Cheng gave Zhuang Xiaoting two pieces of chocolate and promised to bring her more, and she saved the remaining piece for Zhuang Tunan.
• Zhuang Tunan returned home, ate the chocolate Xiaoting shared, and praised Zhou Cheng for defending her from Granny.
• Zhuang Tunan and Xiaoting went to cook more rice, while Zhou Cheng learned that his New Human talent could absorb sunlight and other forms of energy.
• Zhuang Chaoying returned and explained a difficult problem to Zhuang Tunan as Zhou Cheng read on the bunk.
• Zhuang Chaoying saw Zhou Cheng reading and felt more favorably toward his second son.

Zhou Cheng settled tensions at home after Granny Zhuang’s visit, then used his skill to win and sell marbles at school for a small profit. A few days later, he traveled with his family to attend Granny Zhuang’s birthday, where his father had warned him to behave.

• Zhou Cheng challenged Zhuang Chaoying’s defense of Granny Zhuang, and Huang Ling backed him before checking that he had recovered from his illness.
• Zhou Cheng went to school, where he learned that classmates would pay for marbles and began winning them with his superior aim.
• Zhou Cheng sold his winnings over three days for a profit of two yuan and fifteen fen, then stopped playing when his classmates could no longer afford it.
• Zhou Cheng traveled with Huang Ling, Zhuang Chaoying, Zhuang Tunan, and Zhuang Xiaoting on a crowded bus to visit Granny Zhuang for her birthday.

Zhou Cheng and his family visited Granny Zhuang’s crowded home for her birthday, where Zhou Cheng challenged his uncle’s complaint about the sunflower seeds and then helped Huang Ling prepare the meal. As dinner neared, Zhou Cheng realized Xiaoting might not get a chicken drumstick, leaving Huang Ling torn while Xiaoting insisted she preferred fatty meat.

• Zhuang Ganmei welcomed Zhuang Chaoying’s family and later scolded Zhou Cheng for eating too many of the sunflower seeds they had brought.
• Zhou Cheng answered that the seeds were for everyone, then left the room for the kitchen with Zhuang Xiaoting.
• Zhou Cheng told Huang Ling what his uncle had said, and he and Zhuang Xiaoting stayed to help her prepare the birthday meal.
• Zhou Cheng urged Huang Ling to give Xiaoting a drumstick before serving the chicken soup, realizing she might not get one at the table.
• Zhuang Xiaoting said she liked fatty meat and urged Huang Ling to serve the soup, while Huang Ling regretted not buying another chicken.

Huang Ling and her children were excluded from the Zhuang family’s birthday meal, so Zhou Cheng secretly saved the chicken drumsticks for himself and Xiaoting. After Zhuang Zhendong exposed them, the family summoned Huang Ling and accused her of favoritism, leaving Zhou Cheng watching from the doorway as the confrontation continued.

• Huang Ling was told to eat in the kitchen with Zhou Cheng and Xiaoting because the Zhuang family claimed there was no room at the table.
• Zhou Cheng revealed that he had hidden both chicken drumsticks, and Huang Ling praised him and ate with her children in the kitchen.
• Zhuang Zhendong found the drumsticks in the children’s bowls and reported them to the family.
• Zhuang Zhendong told Huang Ling that Grandpa and Granny wanted her to come to the main room, and Zhou Cheng followed her.
• Granny Zhuang, Grandpa Zhuang, Zhuang Ganmei, and his wife accused Huang Ling of keeping the drumsticks from the other children and elders.

Zhou Cheng stood up for Huang Ling when the Zhuang family blamed her over two chicken legs, then overturned the birthday banquet table and fled. Huang Ling found him beneath an old locust tree, unsure how to protect him if they returned.

• Zhou Cheng admitted that he had hidden the chicken legs for Xiaoting, shielding Huang Ling from the Zhuang family's accusations.
• When the Zhuang elders criticized Huang Ling and demanded that Zhou Cheng apologize, he challenged them for making her work without a seat at the table.
• Zhou Cheng pointed out how he and Xiaoting had helped prepare the meal and insisted he deserved to eat the chicken legs.
• Zhuang Chaoying ordered Huang Ling to make Zhou Cheng apologize, so Zhou Cheng overturned the table and ran from the house.
• Zhuang Ganmei chased Zhou Cheng but lost him, while Huang Ling ignored his demand to bring the boy back.
• Huang Ling found Zhou Cheng waiting beneath an old locust tree and worried that Zhuang Chaoying would beat him if she took him home.

After Zhou Cheng overturned Granny Zhuang’s birthday banquet table, Huang Ling left the Old Zhuang family home with her younger children while Zhuang Chaoying and Zhuang Tunan were stranded there overnight. The next morning, Zhuang Chaoying returned home to punish Zhou Cheng, but Zhou Cheng resisted when his father tried to grab him.

• Huang Ling took Zhuang Xiaoting and Zhou Cheng away after Granny Zhuang berated the girl, while Zhuang Chaoying kept Zhuang Tunan at the Old Zhuang family home.
• Zhuang Chaoying and Zhuang Tunan missed the last bus, spent the night at the Old Zhuang family home, and rode the first bus back the next morning.
• Zhuang Chaoying found Zhou Cheng and Zhuang Xiaoting at home without Huang Ling, then sent Xiaoting outside with Zhuang Tunan.
• Zhuang Chaoying locked the door and confronted Zhou Cheng about overturning the banquet table.
• Zhou Cheng challenged his father over punishing children for wrongdoing while excusing parents, then caught Zhuang Chaoying’s wrist when he tried to seize him.

Zhou Cheng overpowered Zhuang Chaoying and confronted him over how his parents treated Huang Ling, leaving Zhuang Chaoying unable to discipline him and storming off. Zhou Cheng then reassured Zhuang Xiaoting that he had not been beaten, while Huang Ling returned home to find everything undisturbed.

• Zhou Cheng caught both of Zhuang Chaoying's hands and used his unusual strength to stop him from beating him.
• Zhou Cheng refused to apologize and argued that Zhuang Chaoying's parents disrespected Huang Ling because they looked down on Zhuang Chaoying.
• Zhuang Chaoying raised his hand again, but Zhou Cheng warned him not to start a fight, and Zhuang Chaoying left in anger.
• Zhuang Tunan and Zhuang Xiaoting entered the room, and Zhou Cheng told Xiaoting that he had reasoned with their father.
• Zhuang Chaoying rode to school distracted by Zhou Cheng's accusation, while Zhou Cheng went to school as usual.
• Huang Ling returned from her shift and found the household furnishings neat, with no sign of a fight.

Zhuang Chaoying and Huang Ling learned that their family had been allocated a new home and discussed their soon-to-be neighbor, Song Ying. As the family waited for the keys, Zhou Cheng grew restless, while the restored college entrance examination brought hope to Zhuang Chaoying and the country.

• Huang Ling discovered Zhou Cheng had returned unharmed, and he claimed he had stopped Zhuang Chaoying from hitting him by reasoning with his fist.
• Zhuang Chaoying kept quiet about his encounter with Zhou Cheng, then rejoiced when the country announced the return of the college entrance examination.
• The cotton mill posted its housing list, and Zhuang Chaoying and Huang Ling learned they had received a two-bedroom home with a courtyard and kitchen.
• Huang Ling told Zhuang Chaoying that Song Ying, known for being fierce and outspoken, would share their courtyard as a neighbor.
• Zhou Cheng reflected on how Song Ying had secured housing through a quota exchange after confronting factory officials, then fell asleep as the family waited for their keys.
• Zhou Cheng grew irritable while waiting for the move and enduring school and home life, and the chapter noted that reference books were scarce after ten years without entrance examinations.

After the restored college entrance examination, Zhuang Chaoying was selected to help mark the papers and left home for the assignment. Zhou Cheng inferred that his father would stay at a guesthouse, leaving Zhuang Chaoying surprised by his insight.

• Candidates crowded into the Zhuang family's tiny home to seek exam advice, while Zhou Cheng repeatedly drove away those who freeloaded on Zhuang Chaoying's tutoring.
• Zhou Cheng considered earning money by publishing writing under a pen name because other ways of making money were too risky or difficult to hide.
• The education bureau selected Zhuang Chaoying to take part in the region's sequestered examination marking, and he eagerly prepared to leave.
• Zhuang Chaoying told his family he was going on a work trip, while Huang Ling helped him pack and he instructed Zhou Cheng to look after his siblings.
• Zhou Cheng asked Zhuang Chaoying to bring back empty toothpaste tubes for Zhuang Xiaoting to exchange for candy, then explained that he had deduced his father's guesthouse stay from the timing and circumstances.

Huang Ling and her children moved into their newly allocated home, which was at the far end of an alley and shared a courtyard with Song Ying’s family. Their arrival drew Huang Ling into a dispute between Song Ying and the well-connected Wang Yong, and the chapter ended as Wang Yong shouted over the wall.

• Zhuang Chaoying left on a business trip after Zhou Cheng guessed its purpose and promised to keep it secret.
• Huang Ling borrowed a tricycle cart and moved the family’s belongings with help from Zhou Cheng, Zhuang Tunan, Xiaoting, and their neighbors.
• The family reached their home at the end of the alley, where Huang Ling found that their courtyard lacked convenient access to the communal tap and toilets.
• Huang Ling and the children encountered Song Ying arguing with Wang Yong over a hole in the wall that let his family’s standing water drain into their courtyard.
• Song Ying welcomed Huang Ling and introduced her husband, Lin Wufeng, and their son, Lin Dongzhe, then urged her to complain about Wang Yong.
• Huang Ling hesitated to confront the neighbors, but Wang Yong suddenly leaned over the wall and shouted at them.

After moving into the courtyard, Zhou Cheng showed his new neighbor Lin Dongzhe why he was known as the Marble King. Lin Wufeng brought the family a calendar, and Zhou Cheng asked how they should respond to the neighbors draining water into their courtyard, leaving Lin Wufeng prepared to seek help from the Housing Management Section or block the drain himself.

• Wang Yong and his wife insulted Song Ying while Huang Ling moved the family’s belongings into the new house, with Lin Wufeng helping carry the load.
• Huang Ling took Zhuang Tunan to fetch the rest of the belongings, leaving Zhou Cheng to watch Xiaoting at the house.
• Lin Dongzhe met Zhou Cheng and learned that he was the Marble King after Xiaoting proudly revealed it.
• Zhou Cheng demonstrated his marble skills, impressing Lin Dongzhe so much that the boy tried to kneel and become his disciple.
• Lin Wufeng brought Zhou Cheng’s family a calendar, and Zhou Cheng asked what they should do about the neighbors draining water into their courtyard.
• Lin Wufeng said Song Ying would report the matter to the Housing Management Section and that he would block the hole with bricks and cement if officials did not resolve it.

Zhou Cheng warned Lin Wufeng that the Wang family would keep pushing unless they faced consequences, and Lin Wufeng later regretted being too accommodating after they reopened the patched wall. The Zhuang family settled into their new home, and during the New Year’s holiday Zhou Cheng went with Huang Ling and his siblings to Wu Jianguo’s wedding, where he recalled his poor opinion of Wu’s new wife, Zhang Amei.

• Zhou Cheng advised Lin Wufeng to block the Wang family’s drain and let rainwater flood their home if they refused to cooperate, but Lin Wufeng chose to be patient at first.
• The Zhuang family finished moving in, Huang Ling appreciated the Lin family’s help, and Lin Dongzhe praised Zhuang Tunan and Zhou Cheng to his parents.
• Song Ying complained about the distant toilet, while Lin Wufeng and Song Ying discussed their new neighbors and Lin Dongzhe enthused about Zhou Cheng’s skill at marbles.
• Song Ying complained to the Housing Management Office about the Wang family, and Lin Wufeng patched the wall with cement before the Wang family chiseled the hole open again the next morning.
• Huang Ling and her children visited Wu Jianguo’s home for his New Year’s Day wedding, while Zhou Cheng stayed apart from the other children and thought about Zhang Amei’s calculating nature.

Zhou Cheng watched Wu Shanshan stand apart from the wedding festivities and tried to comfort her with a piece of chocolate. After she accepted it, she cautiously asked him his name.

• Wu Jianguo brought his bride home to a crowd of cheering neighbors while Wu Shanshan watched uneasily from the side.
• Zhuang Xiaoting asked Zhou Cheng for wedding sweets, and he gave her a handful.
• Zhou Cheng offered Wu Shanshan wedding candy, but she refused because it belonged to her family.
• Zhou Cheng gave Wu Shanshan a piece of dark chocolate and urged her to eat it secretly.
• Wu Shanshan tried the chocolate, then asked Zhou Cheng whether his name was Zhuang Jingcheng.

Zhou Cheng warned Wu Shanshan not to expect an easy future with her new stepfamily, while Huang Ling and Song Ying grew closer as neighbors. After Lin Wufeng retaliated against Wang Yong for reopening the courtyard wall, a storm flooded Wang Yong’s home, forcing him to negotiate with Lin Wufeng and stop provoking the Lin family.

• Zhou Cheng told Wu Shanshan to learn to treat herself better, and she understood his warning about Zhang Amei and her daughter.
• Song Ying returned with Lin Wufeng after gathering earth, and she and Huang Ling agreed to share cooking, shopping, and childcare.
• Lin Wufeng blocked Wang Yong’s drain and reinforced the wall with sandbags, causing rainwater to flood Wang Yong’s home.
• Wang Yong failed to get help from the Housing Management Section and asked Lin Wufeng to clear the drain, agreeing to patch the wall with cement first.
• Lin Wufeng cleared the drain after Wang Yong obtained cement, and Wang Yong resolved not to provoke the Lin family again.