Recaps

Chen Shi'an attended morning exercises for the first time, then discovered the academic standings of his classmates on the Honor Roll. He learned that Lin Meng Qiu ranked first in science and Wen Zhixia ranked first in humanities, leaving him determined to aim higher in his studies.

• Chen Shi'an joined Class Five for morning exercises and watched Lin Meng Qiu and Wen Zhixia among the assembled students.
• Chen Shi'an told Zou Xiaokun about Taoist breathing practices, and his classmates asked to become his disciples.
• Chen Shi'an followed the Broadcast Exercises before Principal Lin gave a brief first-day speech.
• Chen Shi'an stopped at the noticeboard and saw that Lin Meng Qiu had ranked first in science with 706 points.
• Chen Shi'an checked the humanities Honor Roll and discovered that Wen Zhixia had ranked first with 689 points.

Chen Shi'an asked Lin Meng Qiu to teach him math after impressing her with his mental arithmetic and solving an equation through cumbersome calculations. Lin Meng Qiu agreed, then secretly checked one of his answers during class and angrily hid her work when he noticed.

• Chen Shi'an praised Lin Meng Qiu's focused problem-solving and asked her to teach him math.
• Lin Meng Qiu tested Chen Shi'an with arithmetic questions, and he answered them quickly and accurately.
• Chen Shi'an solved an equation using a long method, and Lin Meng Qiu explained a more efficient approach.
• Lin Meng Qiu agreed to teach Chen Shi'an, despite regretting that she had invited the trouble.
• During class, Chen Shi'an glanced at Lin Meng Qiu's scratch paper, and she covered it after he caught her checking his multiplication answer.

During his first double math lesson, Chen Shi'an discovered that he could not follow high-school mathematics and began teaching himself from a seventh-grade textbook, finding unexpected wonder in the subject. The chapter ended with Teacher Zhang learning that Chen Shi'an had never attended school and realizing Teacher Liang had concealed how weak his foundations were.

• Teacher Zhang welcomed Chen Shi'an to class and began reviewing the monthly math exam, while Chen Shi'an realized he could not understand the questions or the lesson.
• Lin Meng Qiu advised Chen Shi'an to study middle-school basics, so he put away the exam and started working through a seventh-grade math textbook.
• Chen Shi'an became absorbed in self-study, grasped new mathematical concepts, and worked through more than twenty pages without noticing the lesson had ended.
• Lin Meng Qiu poked Chen Shi'an to get his attention after Teacher Zhang called him several times, and Chen Shi'an apologized for not hearing.
• Teacher Zhang inspected Chen Shi'an's blank exam paper and learned that he had never attended school, then took the paper with him to confront Teacher Liang.

Chen Shi'an studied seventh-grade math on his own and asked Lin Meng Qiu for practice problems and old workbooks. Lin Meng Qiu agreed to bring her workbooks another day, and Chen Shi'an watched her go to refill her cup.

• Mr. Zhang returned Chen Shi'an's test and told him to study on his own and bring questions to him later.
• Chen Shi'an finished two math textbook chapters during independent study, and Lin Meng Qiu noticed his intense concentration.
• Lin Meng Qiu gave Chen Shi'an practice problems and explained that exams required him to show his solution steps.
• Chen Shi'an asked to borrow Lin Meng Qiu's old middle-school workbooks because he had no money to buy new ones, and she agreed to bring them another day.
• Lin Meng Qiu thanked Chen Shi'an as she passed him to refill her cup, and he watched her walk to the water dispenser.

English teacher Ye Mingmei learned that Chen Shi'an knew almost no English and gave him a reading pen to help him study independently. Chen Shi'an accepted it and felt confident he could quickly master English vocabulary.

• The teachers discussed Chen Shi'an's poor performance in most subjects, and Principal Lin agreed with Teacher Liang that he could still improve.
• Ye Mingmei asked Chen Shi'an why he had left the English multiple-choice questions blank, and he explained that he had not understood them and feared guessing correctly would mislead them.
• Ye Mingmei spoke with Chen Shi'an in the corridor and learned about his upbringing, education, and limited English knowledge.
• Ye Mingmei demonstrated how a reading pen could translate and pronounce unfamiliar English, then lent it to Chen Shi'an.
• Ye Mingmei advised Chen Shi'an to memorize ten words each day and offered to help with grammar and pronunciation, while he thanked her and resolved to study.

During English class, Chen Shi'an studied a seventh-grade textbook while Lin Meng Qiu watched him and wondered how he could hope to beat her. At lunch, they discussed their meal arrangements and Lin Meng Qiu's father's kindness to Chen Shi'an; as Chen Shi'an headed to the cafeteria, Little Cicada tapped his shoulder.

• Chen Shi'an used a reading pen to study his seventh-grade English textbook, and Lin Meng Qiu repeatedly glanced at him before returning to her own work.
• After English class, Chen Shi'an and Lin Meng Qiu packed up for lunch, and he said Lin Ming had given him a staff meal card.
• Lin Meng Qiu asked whether Chen Shi'an knew what had happened between his master and Lin Ming, but Chen Shi'an said he did not know and asked her to tell him if she found out.
• Lin Meng Qiu said she would take her lunch back to her room, while Chen Shi'an left his backpack in the classroom and headed to the cafeteria.
• As Chen Shi'an crossed the crowded school grounds, Little Cicada tapped him on the shoulder, and he greeted her with a smile.

Chen Shi'an and Wen Zhixia shared lunch and grew more comfortable with each other as they talked in line. They agreed to become regular meal buddies, with Wen Zhixia promising to wait if he ate more slowly than she did.

• Chen Shi'an walked quickly beside Wen Zhixia on their way to the cafeteria, astonishing her with his unusual stride.
• Wen Zhixia explained the differences between the school cafeterias, and she and Chen Shi'an chose to eat rice together at Cafeteria Two.
• Chen Shi'an used his intent to create a cooling breeze around Wen Zhixia while they waited in line.
• Wen Zhixia explained that she ate alone because she was slower than her dorm-resident friends and did not want to inconvenience them.
• Chen Shi'an suggested that he and Wen Zhixia become meal buddies, and she agreed to wait for him if he ate more slowly.

Wen Zhixia and Chen Shi'an shared lunch, and he taught her simple health exercises while she offered to help him practice English. They agreed to meet for meals and walks, sealing their plans with a pinky promise that left Wen Zhixia flustered.

• Wen Zhixia and Chen Shi'an chose dishes at the cafeteria and shared tastes of each other's food.
• Chen Shi'an showed Wen Zhixia several health exercises to help with her sleep and fitness.
• Wen Zhixia offered to help Chen Shi'an practice English, and he revealed that she had ranked first in the humanities track with the grade's highest English score.
• Wen Zhixia and Chen Shi'an added each other on WeChat and agreed where to wait for meals and walks to school.
• Wen Zhixia asked Chen Shi'an to make a pinky promise, and their linked fingers made her blush.

Chen Shi'an and Wen Zhixia shared lunch, discussed studying and school life, then visited the campus shop together. They ended their break sharing lollipops as buddies before returning to class.

• Wen Zhixia shared English memorization tips with Chen Shi'an, and he agreed to try them.
• Chen Shi'an and Wen Zhixia discussed day students, competitive studying, and how Chen Shi'an already had a Taoist career.
• Wen Zhixia bought pen refills at the campus shop while Chen Shi'an looked around and bought lollipops.
• Chen Shi'an offered Wen Zhixia lollipops as a buddy fee, and she accepted despite trying to lose weight.
• Chen Shi'an and Wen Zhixia ate their strawberry and apple lollipops together and smiled at each other.

During lunch break, Chen Shi'an meditated in his classroom and used his cultivation to extend his awareness beyond the school. He recognized Fat Ink outside a fast-food shop and discovered that the cat had been wandering around to beg for food.

• Chen Shi'an returned to Class Five and found seven classmates studying during lunch break.
• Chen Shi'an meditated at his desk and reflected on the stages of cultivation and his search for the Dao.
• Chen Shi'an's meditation calmed the classroom and made the studying students feel cool and clear-headed.
• Chen Shi'an extended his awareness beyond the campus and heard Fat Ink begging for food outside a fast-food shop.
• Fat Ink sensed Chen Shi'an's attention, grabbed the chicken, and ran away.

Chen Shi'an demonstrated his strength at the classroom water dispenser and spoke with Dong Wenyu about meditation and exercise. Lin Meng Qiu brought him the seventh-grade math materials she had promised, and his gratitude eased her irritation as she left more books for him to study.

• Chen Shi'an effortlessly replaced the water dispenser jug, then caught Dong Wenyu when the skinny student nearly toppled while trying to lift another one.
• Chen Shi'an advised Dong Wenyu to exercise and explained that seated meditation helped him recover his energy.
• Lin Meng Qiu returned to class carrying a heavy backpack after going home during lunch to collect the study materials she had promised Chen Shi'an.
• Lin Meng Qiu placed nearly ten seventh-grade math workbooks and a bundle of test papers between their desks, telling Chen Shi'an to work through them before they discussed later materials.
• Chen Shi'an thanked Lin Meng Qiu warmly, and her embarrassment and irritation faded as she watched him examine the books with care.

Chen Shi'an adjusted to school life, revised his Chinese exam paper, and began catching up in math during science lessons. Lin Meng Qiu erased a tiny crying-bunny drawing from an old workbook after Chen Shi'an noticed it, leaving him curious about her past.

• Chen Shi'an listened to Teacher Liang's Chinese lesson and revised his exam answers into the expected format.
• Qiu Yufu added Chen Shi'an and Lin Meng Qiu to the next day's classroom-duty schedule, and Lin Meng Qiu told him where to take the trash.
• Chen Shi'an decided to focus on Chinese, math, and English, then studied seventh-grade math during physics and chemistry lessons.
• Chen Shi'an asked Lin Meng Qiu about her seventh-grade grades, and she said she had ranked in the class's top ten.
• Chen Shi'an spotted a tiny crying-bunny drawing in Lin Meng Qiu's old workbook, and she denied drawing it before erasing it.

Lin Meng Qiu hid her vulnerability after Chen Shi'an noticed her crying-bunny sketch, while Chen Shi'an focused on catching up with his studies. After joining his classmates for basketball, he revealed extraordinary strength by shattering the backboard with a standing dunk.

• Lin Meng Qiu scribbled over a bunny doodle, and Chen Shi'an quietly used his clarity technique to ease her irritation.
• Chen Shi'an reviewed his study progress and headed downstairs to meet Wen Zhixia before dinner.
• Xu Zihan invited Chen Shi'an to play basketball, where Chen Shi'an made two effortless long-range shots.
• Chen Shi'an performed a standing dunk that shattered the backboard, leaving Xu Zihan and the others stunned.

On his first day at school, Chen Shi'an drew attention after accidentally smashing a basketball backboard, then settled into evening study beside Lin Meng Qiu. The chapter ended with him leaving her two lollipops as a “deskmate fee.”

• Students buzzed about the broken backboard, and Lin Meng Qiu asked Chen Shi'an whether he had shattered it and if he had to pay for the damage.
• Chen Shi'an squashed a mosquito on Lin Meng Qiu's arm, and she thanked him before spraying herself with repellent.
• Lin Meng Qiu noticed Chen Shi'an working through her math workbook and explained three ways to solve a problem he was considering.
• Chen Shi'an secretly wrote down a fourth solution after Lin Meng Qiu returned to studying.
• At the end of evening study, Chen Shi'an left Lin Meng Qiu two lollipops as his deskmate fee and went home.

Chen Shi'an waited for Wen Zhixia after school, and they walked home together while she asked about his strength and Taoist training. They shared grilled sausages before Wen Zhixia went home, and they agreed to meet at the intersection the next morning.

• Wen Zhixia found Chen Shi'an waiting and learned he had shattered the basketball backboard with a dunk.
• Chen Shi'an and Wen Zhixia walked out of school together, talking about his studies in Taoism and the arts.
• Wen Zhixia joked about becoming a nun and felt reassured walking at night beside Chen Shi'an.
• Wen Zhixia bought two grilled sausages and shared one with Chen Shi'an, who offered to make her herbal tea.
• Wen Zhixia reached her residential complex and arranged to meet Chen Shi'an at the intersection at six fifteen the next morning.

After returning home, Chen Shi'an shared Li Wanyin's mung bean sweet soup and chatted with her about food from their childhoods. The evening ended with Chen Shi'an giving some soup to Fat Ink and going to get another bowl.

• Chen Shi'an checked his messages on the way home and replied to Li Wanyin and Wen Zhixia.
• Chen Shi'an found Fat Ink watching television and questioned the cat about sneaking out, then discovered Li Wanyin had filled its food bowl.
• Li Wanyin welcomed Chen Shi'an home and served him the mung bean sweet soup she had made.
• Chen Shi'an and Li Wanyin praised the soup and reminisced about adding dicliptera to mung bean soup.
• Chen Shi'an mixed the remaining soup into Fat Ink's food and went to fetch himself another bowl.

After sharing sweet soup and chatting about work, school, and money, Li Wanyin asked Chen Shi'an to read her fortune. He read her face and palm, leaving her delighted by his prediction of future wealth.

• Chen Shi'an washed the dishes and told Li Wanyin he had learned to cook as a small child on the mountain.
• Li Wanyin chatted with Chen Shi'an while Shi Mo watched television, then joined her former classmates' group chat and declined their offer to pass along Senior Ou's contact details.
• Chen Shi'an returned from his shower, hung up his hand-washed clothes, and talked with Li Wanyin about his classes and her flyer job.
• Li Wanyin asked Chen Shi'an to read her financial luck, and he praised her face as auspicious and her prospects as wealthy and successful.
• Chen Shi'an held Li Wanyin's right hand to examine her palm, and his prediction made her laugh and forget her gloomy mood.

After chatting with Li Wanyin, Chen Shi'an settled into his new routine in the city and went out for an early morning run with Fat Ink. He left the residential compound on foot while the cat used its uncanny agility to descend the building and follow him.

• Li Wanyin ended her late-night conversation with Chen Shi'an, and they each returned to their rooms to sleep.
• Chen Shi'an woke at five, meditated away his fatigue, and released a butterfly from his room through the window.
• Chen Shi'an decided to run before class and took the stairs down, while Fat Ink sprang down the building's wall and balconies.
• At the compound gate, Chen Shi'an spoke with security guard Zheng and introduced himself as a student at Yunqi No. 1 High School.
• Zheng recognized Chen Shi'an as the Taoist he had seen earlier, and Chen Shi'an ran off with the black cat following him.

Chen Shi'an explored the neighborhood on an early-morning run, then met Wen Zhixia on the way to school and received the English grammar notes she had prepared for him. After he massaged her acupoints to dispel her sleepiness, Wen Zhixia headed to class refreshed and eager to learn his technique.

• Chen Shi'an ran through the neighborhood’s alleys and streets for half an hour, then returned home to wash, eat, and leave for school.
• Chen Shi'an met Wen Zhixia at their agreed intersection and took her breakfast while she cleaned spilled soy milk from her hand.
• Wen Zhixia gave Chen Shi'an printed notes covering middle school English grammar that she had stayed up late preparing.
• Chen Shi'an showed Wen Zhixia how to press several acupoints, then massaged her forehead and temples when her own attempts did not help.
• Wen Zhixia’s sleepiness disappeared after Chen Shi'an’s massage, and she eagerly followed him toward school.

Wen Zhixia and Chen Shi'an walked to school together, where she helped him practice English and gave him soy milk. At school, Chen Shi'an and Lin Meng Qiu struggled to coordinate while carrying out their shared cleaning duty.

• Wen Zhixia taught Chen Shi'an to pronounce English words on their walk to school and gave him soy milk before they parted.
• Lin Meng Qiu picked up Chen Shi'an's fallen math worksheet and told him they were both on cleaning duty.
• Chen Shi'an tried to take the classroom trash out alone, and Lin Meng Qiu insisted on helping him.
• Chen Shi'an and Lin Meng Qiu wrapped tissues around the trash bin handles and carried the bin out together.
• Chen Shi'an and Lin Meng Qiu walked at mismatched speeds and tried to turn in opposite directions before Lin Meng Qiu explained the route to the back gate.

Chen Shi'an and Lin Meng Qiu took the trash out together, talking about birds and wild raspberries as they walked through a quiet path. After emptying and rinsing the can at the north gate, they headed back to class, with Lin Meng Qiu telling Chen Shi'an to come earlier next time.

• Chen Shi'an identified white-faced tits and a Chinese hwamei for Lin Meng Qiu as they walked to the north gate.
• Lin Meng Qiu asked Chen Shi'an about red, thorny berries from her childhood, and he identified them as wild raspberries.
• Chen Shi'an and Lin Meng Qiu emptied the trash can together, and Lin Meng Qiu hurried away from the filthy runoff to catch her breath.
• Chen Shi'an rinsed the trash can while Lin Meng Qiu washed her hands, then they dried their hands and the can.
• Lin Meng Qiu told Chen Shi'an to come earlier next time he was on cleaning duty.

Chen Shi'an studied English with materials from his study buddy, stirring Lin Meng Qiu's jealousy and surprising Teacher Ye with how quickly he learned vocabulary. Teacher Ye left impressed, while Lin Meng Qiu offered to help him with English too.

• Lin Meng Qiu posted a warning against dumping soup in the classroom trash, and Liu Zhuoran asked Chen Shi'an to help him apologize for his noodles.
• Lin Meng Qiu noticed Chen Shi'an's grammar notes and grew jealous when he said his study buddy had given them to him.
• Teacher Ye advised Chen Shi'an to read English aloud and learned that he had memorized 473 words.
• Teacher Ye tested Chen Shi'an on words from his textbook, praised his progress, and left for the office.
• Lin Meng Qiu told Chen Shi'an that he could ask her about anything he did not understand in English.

Chen Shi'an asked Lin Meng Qiu to teach him English handwriting, and the two practiced together after morning reading. Their lesson ran past the start of morning exercises, leaving Lin Meng Qiu flustered as she hurried out of the classroom.

• Chen Shi'an finished memorizing 538 English words and decided to ask Lin Meng Qiu how to improve his English handwriting.
• Lin Meng Qiu showed Chen Shi'an his awkward lettering and began teaching him basic strokes, spacing, and handwriting styles.
• Lin Meng Qiu realized she had moved very close to Chen Shi'an and became flustered when he turned toward her.
• The grade head caught Chen Shi'an and Lin Meng Qiu in the empty classroom after morning exercises had begun.
• Lin Meng Qiu hurried downstairs, while Chen Shi'an explained that he had lost track of time practicing handwriting.

Li Wanyin discovered that Shi Mo could turn on the television and shared the news with Chen Shi'an before leaving for an interview. At school, Chen Shi'an continued racing through his studies and went to lunch with Wen Zhixia, while Lin Meng Qiu watched them leave together.

• Li Wanyin found Shi Mo watching television, confirmed the cat could switch it on, and sent Chen Shi'an a photo.
• Li Wanyin fed Shi Mo most of her egg, managed to pet the cat, and left for her interview; afterward, Shi Mo tightened the kitchen faucet, switched off the television, and went roaming.
• Chen Shi'an finished the first volume of seventh-grade mathematics, impressing Lin Meng Qiu, who felt pleased that he had studied her subject during other lessons.
• Lin Meng Qiu cleaned the blackboard while Chen Shi'an waited downstairs for Wen Zhixia.
• Chen Shi'an and Wen Zhixia headed to Cafeteria No. 1 together as Lin Meng Qiu watched them from the corridor.

Chen Shi'an and Wen Zhixia ate lunch at Cafeteria No. 1, where Wen was stunned by how quickly he was learning English and other subjects. When Chen mentioned that Lin Meng Qiu was helping him with math, Wen revealed that she and Lin had once been deskmates.

• Chen Shi'an and Wen Zhixia waited in line for saozi noodles and talked about cooking and their eating habits.
• Wen Zhixia and Chen Shi'an ate together, and Chen told her he had memorized over five hundred English words and textbook passages in a little over a day.
• Chen Shi'an said he was also studying Chinese and math, with help from his class monitor, Lin Meng Qiu.
• Wen Zhixia recognized Lin Meng Qiu and told Chen Shi'an that she and Lin used to be deskmates.