Chapter Summaries

Chen Shi'an's power bank exploded in the laboratory, but he escaped unharmed and went on to perform with Wen Zhixia, Lin Meng Qiu, and their classmates at the School Anniversary Art Performance preliminary selection. Their acts all passed, and the school announced the laboratory accident to the students.

• Chen Shi'an's power bank exploded in the laboratory, and Teacher Yang and the two girls found him unharmed amid the debris.
• Chen Shi'an, Wen Zhixia, and Lin Meng Qiu hurried to the Grand Auditorium after learning they had missed their scheduled performance slots.
• Teacher Li moved their group skit to the end of the selection, and the group performed successfully before the judges.
• Chen Shi'an, Wen Zhixia, and Lin Meng Qiu's acts all passed the preliminary selection.
• The school announced that the power bank explosion had damaged the 406 Physics Laboratory and that it would remain closed pending an inspection.

Chen Shi'an succeeded in charging phones with magic power and prepared New Year's gifts as Yunqi No. 1 High School celebrated its twentieth anniversary. On the way to school with Wen Zhixia, he tried to keep her gift a secret, but she discovered his magically charging phone and searched his belongings.

• After ruining more than a dozen power banks, Chen Shi'an used an Array to charge a phone with magic power and stored his experimental notes.
• Chen Shi'an adapted to life away from the mountain as the final day of 2023 and Yunqi No. 1 High School's twentieth anniversary arrived.
• Chen Shi'an prepared New Year's gifts for Li Wanyin, Wen Zhixia, and Lin Meng Qiu, while Li Wanyin planned to bring lunch to the school celebration.
• Chen Shi'an rode to school with Wen Zhixia, who asked whether he had prepared a New Year's gift for her.
• Wen Zhixia noticed Chen Shi'an's phone was charging and searched his pockets for her gift, so he stopped the bicycle and opened his schoolbag.

Chen Shi'an and Wen Zhixia exchanged handmade New Year's gifts before heading to Yunqi No. 1 High School's 20th Anniversary Celebration. At school, Lin Meng Qiu gave Chen Shi'an a hand-knitted scarf, but snatched it back after he failed to recognize its embroidered bunny.

• Chen Shi'an gave Wen Zhixia a handmade bracelet, and she happily put it on and hugged him.
• Wen Zhixia gave Chen Shi'an a pair of gloves she had knitted herself, and he wore them despite their mismatched fit.
• Chen Shi'an and Wen Zhixia arrived at the decorated school, where she gave him soy milk before going to class.
• Lin Meng Qiu gave Chen Shi'an warm milk and passed him a note saying there was something in his desk.
• Chen Shi'an found Lin Meng Qiu's handmade scarf and asked if its embroidered design was a little bunny, so she blushed and took it back.

Chen Shi'an traded Lin Meng Qiu’s handmade scarf for a Mountain Ghost Flower Coin bracelet, then joined Lin Meng Qiu and Wen Zhixia for lunch with Li Wanyin during the school anniversary celebration. Li Wanyin noticed the bracelets Chen Shi'an had given the girls and looked to him for a gift of her own.

• Chen Shi'an showed Lin Meng Qiu a bracelet, and she handed over the scarf she had knitted for him in exchange.
• Lin Meng Qiu admitted she had spent a month knitting the scarf, and Chen Shi'an put it on and told her he liked it.
• Chen Shi'an, Lin Meng Qiu, and Wen Zhixia left class for lunch, trading barbs about Chen Shi'an's scarf and displaying their new bracelets.
• The three met Li Wanyin at Cafeteria No. 2, where she had brought a meal to celebrate the last day of 2023.
• Li Wanyin complimented both girls’ bracelets and realized Chen Shi'an had given them; she then gave him a reproachful look that hinted she wanted a gift too.

Chen Shi'an, Li Wanyin, and their friends explored Yunqi No. 1 High School’s anniversary exhibition before attending the celebration and its festivities. As night fell, they gathered for the variety show, with Zihan still away in the bathroom.

• Chen Shi'an promised Li Wanyin a New Year present, and she told him she had prepared one for him too.
• Chen Shi'an, Li Wanyin, Wen Zhixia, and Lin Meng Qiu toured the school exhibition, where they found old photographs of Teacher Wu, Lin Ming, and Lin Meng Qiu’s mother, Ling Yingzhi.
• The group spotted funny Sports Day photographs of themselves, including one that caught Lin Meng Qiu laughing and blushing during a relay.
• The anniversary celebration began with Lin Ming’s speech and daytime fireworks, then continued with activities and rehearsals around campus.
• Chen Shi'an and his friends ate dinner at the cafeteria and headed to the auditorium for the evening variety show, while Zihan was still in the bathroom.

Li Wanyin watched the school anniversary celebration at Yunqi No. 1 High School and waited for Chen Shi'an and Wen Zhixia to perform. Their duet of “You Were Once a Youngster” captivated the auditorium and ended with thunderous applause, as they left the stage to a sea of phone lights.

• Li Wanyin took her alumni seat in the Grand Auditorium and prepared to vote for the acts Chen Shi'an was in.
• Backstage, Chen Shi'an and Wen Zhixia calmed the nervous performers with a group cheer before their turn.
• Chen Shi'an and Wen Zhixia took the stage and performed “You Were Once a Youngster” as a duet.
• The song moved the audience, who joined in singing along during the final lines.
• The auditorium erupted in applause and cheers, and Chen Shi'an and Wen Zhixia bowed beneath a sea of swaying phone lights.

Chen Shi'an and Wen Zhixia finished their duet, then performed a comedy skit about the differences between school life in 1993 and 2023. Chen Shi'an and Lin Meng Qiu closed the show with a piano-and-vocal duet of “My Deskmate,” leaving the audience moved and Wen Zhixia jealous backstage.

• Chen Shi'an and Wen Zhixia returned backstage after their duet, and Lin Meng Qiu gave Chen Shi'an warm mineral water before the group prepared for the skit.
• Chen Shi'an, Lin Meng Qiu, Wen Zhixia, and five other students performed a comedy skit contrasting modern campus life with school life thirty years earlier.
• The eight students ended the skit to loud applause, while Principal Lin Ming recorded his daughter Lin Meng Qiu performing.
• Lin Meng Qiu played piano as Chen Shi'an sang “My Deskmate,” and their performance moved the audience to thunderous applause.
• Lin Meng Qiu smiled with relief beside Chen Shi'an, while Xiao Yan tried to keep Wen Zhixia from watching the cheering audience.

Chen Shi'an and his fellow performers won several first prizes at the school anniversary Arts Performance, and Chen Shi'an also received the Most Popular Performer Special Award. After the anniversary celebration and drone show, he invited Wen Zhixia, Lin Meng Qiu, and Li Wanyin to ring in the New Year together.

• Chen Shi'an, Wen Zhixia, Lin Meng Qiu, and the other performers gathered onstage for the award ceremony.
• Chen Shi'an and Wen Zhixia won first prize for their song, and their ensemble won first prize for the skit; Chen Shi'an and Lin Meng Qiu also won first prize for their song.
• Chen Shi'an received the Most Popular Performer Special Award as the audience and Li Wanyin cheered.
• The anniversary celebration ended with a drone show spelling out messages above the sports field.
• Chen Shi'an invited Wen Zhixia, Lin Meng Qiu, and Li Wanyin to a late-night meal and to ring in the New Year together.
• Lin Meng Qiu declined her father Lin Ming's offer of a ride and climbed onto the back of Chen Shi'an's bicycle.

Chen Shi'an, Li Wanyin, Wen Zhixia, Lin Meng Qiu, and Fat Cat went to West River Plaza to celebrate the New Year together. They watched the countdown, exchanged New Year wishes, and Li Wanyin gave everyone red envelopes.

• Wen Zhixia, Lin Meng Qiu, and Li Wanyin squeezed onto Chen Shi'an's bicycle, and he pushed them to Jiahe Residential Community to pick up Fat Cat.
• Chen Shi'an and the others arrived at West River Plaza, shared a late-night meal, and Li Wanyin created a group chat to share photos and videos from the evening show.
• The group watched a drone light show and counted down to the New Year together at midnight.
• Wen Zhixia, Lin Meng Qiu, Li Wanyin, and Chen Shi'an exchanged New Year greetings and hugs.
• Li Wanyin handed out red envelopes to Chen Shi'an, Wen Zhixia, and Lin Meng Qiu, and Chen Shi'an wished Fat Cat a happy New Year.

On New Year's Day, Chen Shi'an and Li Wanyin prepared to visit her family, exchanging thoughtful gifts before they left. Li Wanyin gave him a laptop to support his studies, and the chapter ended with them getting ready to depart after breakfast.

• Chen Shi'an packed gifts for Li Wanyin's mother and younger sister, along with a New Year's bracelet for Li Wanyin.
• Li Wanyin woke early so she and Chen Shi'an could reach her family's home in time for lunch.
• Chen Shi'an gave Li Wanyin a handcrafted beaded bracelet, and she happily put it on.
• Li Wanyin gave Chen Shi'an a laptop as a New Year's present to support his programming studies and other schoolwork.
• Chen Shi'an accepted the laptop, and Li Wanyin suggested they leave after breakfast.

Chen Shi'an and Li Wanyin cycled over a hundred kilometers to her village for the holiday, with Shi Mo riding along. On the way, Chen Shi'an told Li Wanyin he planned to skip winter-break classes and travel by bicycle to visit nearby cities, leaving her to wonder how long he would be away.

• Chen Shi'an packed gifts for Li Wanyin's mother and younger sister, including a consecrated Wenchang Talisman Pouch for Xiao Yue.
• Li Wanyin chose to cycle home with Chen Shi'an instead of taking public transportation, and Shi Mo joined them.
• Chen Shi'an rode with Li Wanyin and Shi Mo toward Qinghua Village, passing traffic and reaching more than halfway through the journey.
• Li Wanyin asked about Chen Shi'an's winter-break plans, and he said he would likely skip extra classes to take a cycling trip and visit his master's old friends in nearby cities.
• Li Wanyin supported Chen Shi'an's travel plans but worried that he would be away from home for a long time.

Chen Shi'an accompanied Li Wanyin by bicycle to her rural home in Santang County for the New Year, where her mother and younger sister welcomed him warmly. The family began gathering as Liu Lingjuan showed clear approval of him, while Li Wanyue recognized him from Li Wanyin’s stories and his Douyin videos.

• Chen Shi'an followed Li Wanyin’s directions through the countryside until they reached her village.
• Villagers greeted Li Wanyin and teased her about bringing her boyfriend home, while she called Chen Shi'an her friend.
• Li Wanyin introduced Chen Shi'an to her mother, Liu Lingjuan, and he wished her a happy New Year and explained that he was Li Wanyin’s housemate.
• Liu Lingjuan welcomed Chen Shi'an inside and questioned Li Wanyin about his age, school, and Taoist practice.
• Li Wanyin introduced Chen Shi'an to her younger sister, Li Wanyue, who said she had heard about him and seen his Douyin videos.

Li Wanyin brought Chen Shi'an to her family home, where her mother and younger sister learned more about him and teased her about their relationship. The chapter left Li Wanyin flustered by her family’s suspicions while Li Wanyue was impressed by Chen Shi'an’s academic results.

• Li Wanyin showed Chen Shi'an her modest childhood home and explained that she planned to renovate it once she had earned enough money.
• Li Wanyin gave her mother, Liu Lingjuan, Chen Shi'an's cured meat and Tranquility Tea, and told her that he could provide acupuncture; Liu Lingjuan asked whether they were dating and worried about their four-year age gap.
• Li Wanyin gave Li Wanyue the Wenchang Talisman pouch Chen Shi'an had prepared for her upcoming high school entrance exam.
• Li Wanyin told Li Wanyue that Chen Shi'an had scored 741 out of 750 on his latest monthly exam, stunning her younger sister.
• Li Wanyue asked whether Li Wanyin liked Chen Shi'an, and Li Wanyin blushed and hurried away without answering.

Chen Shi'an visited Li Wanyin’s family, shared their generous meal, and spoke privately with Liu Lingjuan about Wanyin quitting her job to run a milk-tea stall. Liu Lingjuan realized Wanyin had kept the change from her to spare her worry, and the chapter ended with Chen Shi'an preparing to treat Liu Lingjuan’s chronic back and leg pain with acupuncture.

• Li Wanyue chatted with Chen Shi'an about her studies and thanked him for the Wenchang Talisman Pouch, while Fat Cat enjoyed chicken liver.
• Li Wanyin praised Chen Shi'an’s cooking, and Liu Lingjuan served him and Fat Cat a lavish home-cooked lunch.
• Chen Shi'an made tea for Liu Lingjuan, who quietly asked whether Li Wanyin had quit her job and learned that she had.
• Liu Lingjuan explained that she trusted Wanyin’s plans and had saved the money Wanyin sent her, while Chen Shi'an encouraged her to speak openly with her daughter.
• Chen Shi'an offered to give Liu Lingjuan acupuncture for her chronic pain, and Li Wanyin and Li Wanyue urged their mother to accept.

Chen Shi'an used acupuncture and qi to clear Liu Lingjuan’s blocked meridians and repair injuries in her back and legs, giving her dramatic relief. Liu Lingjuan and her daughters were amazed, and the chapter left Chen Shi'an and Li Wanyin sharing a quiet moment after the treatment.

• Li Wanyin and Li Wanyue brought their reluctant mother, Liu Lingjuan, inside so Chen Shi'an could examine her chronic injuries.
• Chen Shi'an found severe damage in Liu Lingjuan’s back and legs and reassured the family before beginning acupuncture.
• Chen Shi'an carefully circulated qi through the needles, causing Liu Lingjuan intense pain and itching before the sensations eased into warmth.
• Liu Lingjuan stood and walked with far less pain, and Chen Shi'an advised her to rest and promised herbal medicine to support her recovery.
• After Li Wanyue took Liu Lingjuan to rest, Li Wanyin massaged Chen Shi'an’s shoulders and quietly thanked him; Li Wanyue noticed their closeness and returned to the room.

Chen Shi'an, Li Wanyin, and Li Wanyue spent the afternoon gathering wild vegetables and catching fish and shrimp at a village creek. They returned home with a bucket of fish and a basket of greens, while Fat Cat was caught stealing from the bucket.

• Li Wanyin took Chen Shi'an and Li Wanyue out to forage, and they gathered shepherd's purse, purslane, dandelion, and other wild vegetables.
• Chen Shi'an collected two sensitive plants to take back as gifts for Little Cicada and Class Monitor.
• At East Pit Creek, Li Wanyin struck two rocks together, stunning fish and shrimp for the group to collect.
• Chen Shi'an used his magic power perception to guide the sisters to more fish and shrimp as villagers teased Li Wanyin about bringing her boyfriend home.
• Fat Cat secretly stole fish from the bucket until Chen Shi'an called the cat out, and the group headed home at sunset.

Chen Shi'an cooked a lavish dinner for Li Wanyin’s family, then overheard the sisters and their mother discussing money for Li Wanyin’s plans to open a shop. After Chen Shi'an reassured Li Wanyin that she could accomplish anything she wanted, she burst into tears and fled.

• Chen Shi'an, Li Wanyin, and Li Wanyue prepared dinner with their wild vegetables, fish, shrimp, cured meat, mushrooms, and chicken, and Liu Lingjuan praised the meal.
• The family ate together, then Chen Shi'an stayed in the house playing Gomoku and cards with the sisters.
• Li Wanyin showed Chen Shi'an the washroom and told him he could sleep in her room that night.
• After showering, Chen Shi'an overheard Liu Lingjuan offering Li Wanyin money and Li Wanyue insisting her share should go to her sister.
• Chen Shi'an noticed Li Wanyin had been crying, praised her diligence, and told her she could achieve what she wanted, prompting her to burst into tears and run away.

Li Wanyin and Chen Shi'an returned to the village to visit Liu Lingjuan and Li Wanyue, then prepared to leave with food and gifts for the city. On the ride back, Chen Shi'an encouraged Li Wanyin to open the milk tea shop with the money her mother had given her, and Li Wanyin resolved to become an amazing big sister.

• Chen Shi'an taught Liu Lingjuan the Eight-Section Brocade while Li Wanyin prepared breakfast and took him to Town to shop.
• Li Wanyin bought food, herbs, and local rice cakes, then cooked a lavish lunch for her family before they prepared to return to the city.
• Liu Lingjuan urged Li Wanyin and Chen Shi'an to take home food and gifts, and she and Li Wanyue saw them off at the gate.
• Li Wanyin told Chen Shi'an that Liu Lingjuan had given her two hundred thousand to open a milk tea shop and admitted she feared failing.
• Chen Shi'an praised Li Wanyin's determination and told her that he and her family believed in her.
• Li Wanyin gained confidence and declared that she wanted to become an amazing big sister.

After returning from their holiday outing, Chen Shi'an and Li Wanyin invited Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu over for dinner and gave each girl a sensitive plant to grow. Chen Shi'an picked them up by bicycle, and they headed back to his home to eat and prepare for evening study.

• Chen Shi'an and Li Wanyin unpacked their bags, and Li Wanyin asked him to invite Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu for dinner.
• Chen Shi'an video-called the two girls, showed them the food and sensitive plants, and promised a bouquet to whoever grew hers to flower first.
• Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu privately asked Chen Shi'an to pick them up, so he set off by bicycle and collected Wen Zhixia first.
• Wen Zhixia rode with Chen Shi'an and chatted about his trip, then went into the residential complex with his house keys.
• Chen Shi'an picked up Lin Meng Qiu, who hugged him from the back seat as they talked about her musical and his countryside outing.

Chen Shi'an prepared potted sensitive plants for Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu while they did homework, then announced that he planned to skip the winter break extra classes and cycle around nearby cities. After Li Wanyin supported his plan, the girls changed their minds and offered to help him get leave, each quietly considering how to visit him during his trip.

• Chen Shi'an planted two sensitive plants in separate pots and gave one to Wen Zhixia and one to Lin Meng Qiu.
• Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu finished their English homework while Chen Shi'an checked their answers and discussed their assignments.
• Chen Shi'an told Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu that he planned to skip the winter break extra classes and cycle through nearby cities to visit his master's old friends.
• Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu objected to Chen Shi'an missing the extra classes, but Li Wanyin agreed that he could use the break for his own plans.
• Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu changed their positions and offered to help Chen Shi'an obtain leave, while each privately considered visiting him during his trip.