Chapter Summaries

Chen Shi'an and his teammates competed in the Knowledge Competition at Jianzhang No. 1 High School, where their team dominated the buzzer round and built an overwhelming lead. Chen Shi'an finished by correctly reciting the host school's history, leaving the auditorium stunned as Quiet Serenity, Autumn Knowledge secured first place.

• Chen Shi'an drew the third appearance slot, and Quiet Serenity, Autumn Knowledge scored a perfect forty points in the mandatory round, tying the Sharp Thinking Team.
• Chen Shi'an answered the first buzzer question correctly, and Wen Zhixia, Chen Shi'an, and Lin Meng Qiu helped their team score six questions in a row and earn consecutive-answer bonuses.
• Chen Shi'an and his teammates continued to dominate the buzzer round, reaching 260 points by answering forty questions correctly while the Sharp Thinking Team had only eighty-five.
• Chen Shi'an buzzed in on the final question about Jianzhang No. 1 High School's founding year and accurately recited the school's history.
• The host confirmed Chen Shi'an's answer was correct, and the auditorium erupted as Quiet Serenity, Autumn Knowledge completed its commanding performance.

Chen Shi'an led Quiet Serenity, Autumn Knowledge to a decisive Knowledge Competition victory, and both teams prepared to face each other in the debate. The chapter ended as the debate began, with the Sharp Thinking Team arguing that the process mattered more and Chen Shi'an's team arguing that the result mattered more.

• Chen Shi'an answered the final Knowledge Competition question, and Principal Wen announced Quiet Serenity, Autumn Knowledge as the champions.
• During the break, Yuan Xuan congratulated Chen Shi'an's group, and both teams discussed their debate preparations and speaker assignments.
• Li Wanyin brought the contestants snacks and drinks and relayed Lin Ming's encouragement to Chen Shi'an's team.
• The auditorium filled for the debate, where the Sharp Thinking Team took the affirmative and Quiet Serenity, Autumn Knowledge took the negative.
• Lin Ming asked Principal Wen whether process or result mattered more, and Principal Wen said that taking part and growing through the process mattered.
• The teams shook hands and took their places as the Debate Competition began.

The Quiet Serenity, Autumn Knowledge team debated the Sharp Thinking Team over whether the process or the result mattered more, and Chen Shi'an's teammates delivered powerful arguments that shifted the contest in their favor. Chen Shi'an closed by urging the girls to keep striving, leaving the affirmative side seemingly defeated before the judges announced a result.

• Han Xiaojing argued for the affirmative side that the process mattered more, and Lin Meng Qiu answered that results gave effort direction and value.
• Ruan Hang and Xiao Yan sparred over athletic success, work, and relationships, with Xiao Yan's rebuttals putting the Sharp Thinking Team under pressure.
• Yuan Xuan defended the value of the process, but Wen Zhixia countered with practical arguments and an emotional appeal about wanting love to have a good ending.
• Yuan Xuan lost her fighting spirit, and Meng Song's closing statement failed to restore the affirmative side's momentum.
• Chen Shi'an praised his three teammates' effort and declared that results mattered more, prompting the girls to tear up and the audience to applaud loudly.

Quiet Serenity, Autumn Knowledge won the interschool Knowledge and Debate Competitions, and Chen Shi'an and his teammates celebrated with the defeated Sharp Thinking Team. The students left the auditorium focused on the Monthly Exam in three days, which would be their next contest.

• The host announced Quiet Serenity, Autumn Knowledge as the overall champions, and Principal Wen and Principal Lin presented the team with a trophy and gold medals.
• Yuan Xuan and the other students prepared to return to class and study for the Monthly Exam, which both schools saw as their next showdown.
• Chen Shi'an invited the Sharp Thinking Team to take a group photo with his team, and Li Wanyin took the picture as Black Cat joined them.
• Meng Song wished Chen Shi'an luck on the exam, and Yuan Xuan and her teammates left the auditorium.
• Wen Zhixia cheered that their team were champions, and Lin Meng Qiu reflected on how much she valued working alongside her friends before vowing to win the Monthly Exam too.

After winning the Knowledge Competition and Debate Competition, Chen Shi'an accompanied Li Wanyin to visit Elder Zhu, where they discussed whether there was a next life and agreed that this life mattered most. After returning to school, Chen Shi'an left Lin Meng Qiu waiting alone in Class Six, wondering whether he would come back that night.

• Chen Shi'an declined Wen Zhixue's dinner invitation and chose to visit Elder Zhu with Li Wanyin, while Lin Meng Qiu went to find her father.
• On their way to Elder Zhu's home, Chen Shi'an told Li Wanyin a story about mayflies and grasshoppers as they discussed whether there was a next life.
• Chen Shi'an and Li Wanyin agreed that this life mattered more, then rented a bicycle and rode together to the Villa District in West City.
• Chen Shi'an visited Elder Zhu, gave him acupuncture, and accepted food and snacks to take back to school.
• Li Wanyin left in a Bentley, and Fat Cat had to chase after the car before it stopped to let the cat in.
• Lin Meng Qiu sat alone in Class Six and wondered whether Chen Shi'an would return that night.

Chen Shi'an, Lin Meng Qiu, Wen Zhixia, and Yao Jingyan began Jianzhang No. 1 High School’s monthly exam, their last chance to compete during the exchange. On the way to the exam room, Lin Meng Qiu asked whether Chen Shi'an would consider Qinghe so he could attend the same university as her, leaving him torn between Qinghe and Yanning.

• Yuan Xuan, Meng Song, and the other Jianzhang students prepared to defend their school’s honor after losing the Knowledge Competition and Debate Competition.
• Chen Shi'an agreed with Little Cicada’s demand that he win big, then told Yuan Xuan and Yang Chun he was aiming for first place.
• Chen Shi'an tested the shop management system he had made for Sister Wanyin before heading to the Laboratory Building for the exam.
• Yuan Xuan and Lin Meng Qiu discussed their plans after the exchange and asked Chen Shi'an which university he wanted to attend.
• Chen Shi'an said he leaned toward Yanning because Little Cicada wanted to go there, prompting Lin Meng Qiu to ask whether he would consider Qinghe to attend the same university as her.
• Chen Shi'an hesitated between the two universities, while Lin Meng Qiu privately resolved to follow him wherever he went.

Chen Shi'an, Lin Meng Qiu, Yuan Xuan, and Meng Song took the Chinese exam at Jianzhang No. 1 High School. Chen Shi'an finished an eight-hundred-character Classical Chinese essay early, then rested while the others mistook him for still thinking or sleeping.

• Chen Shi'an, Lin Meng Qiu, and Yuan Xuan took their assigned seats in Classroom 406 before the Chinese exam.
• Chen Shi'an recognized that the essay prompt resembled their earlier debate topic and quickly wrote an eight-hundred-character Classical Chinese essay.
• Lin Meng Qiu noticed Chen Shi'an had started with the essay and worried that he was ignoring time management.
• Yuan Xuan and Meng Song saw Chen Shi'an sitting with his eyes closed and assumed he was thinking about his essay or sleeping.
• Chen Shi'an opened his eyes, checked the time, and reviewed his answer sheets, revealing to Meng Song that his essay was already finished.

After the Chinese exam, Chen Shi'an and the girls felt encouraged by their results and reviewed mathematics together before the afternoon exam. Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu competed for space beside Chen Shi'an while studying, then both fell asleep in his dormitory as he read.

• Chen Shi'an collected Lin Meng Qiu's and Yuan Xuan's backpacks, and he told them he had finished the Chinese exam quickly and written his essay in Classical Chinese.
• Wen Zhixia asked Chen Shi'an about his exam, while Xiao Yan said she had performed exceptionally well and the girls gained confidence in Jianzhang No. 1 High School's papers.
• Wen Zhixia went to Chen Shi'an's dormitory for mathematics help, and Lin Meng Qiu followed her after leaving Xiao Yan with a worked solution.
• Lin Meng Qiu claimed Chen Shi'an's bed to study while Wen Zhixia sat close beside him, asked questions, and fed him mandarin segments.
• Lin Meng Qiu peered down at Wen Zhixia like a ghost, startling her; after studying, both girls fell asleep and Chen Shi'an covered them before reading.

Chen Shi'an and the other exchange students finished their exams at Jianzhang No. 1 High School, and Chen Shi'an estimated his score at over 730. A rumor then spread that an essay written in classical Chinese had earned full marks, and Yuan Xuan realized it was probably Chen Shi'an's.

• Lin Meng Qiu and Chen Shi'an finished the mathematics exam, while Chen Shi'an completed the questions far faster than Meng Song.
• Chen Shi'an breezed through the science comprehensive exam and later finished the final English exam with time to spare.
• After the exams, Chen Shi'an estimated his score at over 730, stunning Yuan Xuan, Meng Song, and their classmates.
• Wen Zhixia estimated she had earned at least 680, and Chen Shi'an clarified that his lowest estimate was over 738.
• Students reported that an essay written in classical Chinese had received full marks, and Yuan Xuan recognized that it was likely Chen Shi'an's.

Chen Shi'an’s monthly exam results were revealed, and his classical Chinese essay earned full marks as part of a 145 in Chinese. His classmates crowded around his paper while he wondered whether he might also have earned full marks in English.

• Classmates speculated that Chen Shi'an had written the perfect-score classical Chinese essay, and Lin Meng Qiu eagerly hoped the rumor was true.
• Xin Xin returned with the exam papers, revealing that Chen Shi'an had scored 145 in Chinese and received full marks on his essay.
• Meng Song read Chen Shi'an’s essay and admired its writing, structure, calligraphy, and clear argument, admitting that he could not match it.
• Class Six passed Chen Shi'an’s paper around as classmates praised his essay and were astonished that he had completed the exam so quickly.
• Lin Meng Qiu and Yuan Xuan learned they had both scored 138 in Chinese, while Yang Chun and Xin Xin tied for second place in the class with 139.
• Chen Shi'an learned his Chinese score and wondered whether he might have earned full marks in English as well.

Chen Shi'an and his classmates received their exam results at Jianzhang No. 1 High School, where Chen scored 745 and set a school record with perfect marks in five subjects. Yunqi No. 1 High School also claimed several top spots on the honor roll, leaving Jianzhang’s leading students stunned.

• Lin Meng Qiu, Yuan Xuan, and Yang Chun admired Chen Shi'an’s Chinese paper, which scored 145 with a perfect essay, before Wen Zhixia and Xiao Yan came to see it.
• Wen Zhixia scored 141 in Chinese, Xiao Yan scored 139, and Chen Shi'an told them that Lin Meng Qiu had scored 138.
• Chen Shi'an received perfect scores in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and English, bringing his total to 745 and prompting Jianzhang No. 1 High School’s teachers to recheck his papers and exam footage.
• Jianzhang No. 1 High School posted the honor roll, placing Chen Shi'an first in Science, Lin Meng Qiu second in Science, and Wen Zhixia first in Liberal Arts.
• Meng Song fell to third place in Science and Han Xiaojing placed second in Liberal Arts, as students at Jianzhang No. 1 High School reacted to Yunqi No. 1 High School’s strong rankings.

As the exchange program ended, Chen Shi'an reflected on the friendships he had made and realized he did not want Wen Zhixia, Lin Meng Qiu, and the other girls to become passing acquaintances. On their last evening at Jianzhang No. 1 High School, the group shared a badminton game and dinner before preparing to say goodbye.

• Chen Shi'an watched Lin Meng Qiu, Little Cicada, Xiao Yan, and Yuan Xuan play badminton and thought about fate and the bonds he hoped would last.
• After the game, Lin Meng Qiu treated Yuan Xuan to dinner, and Yuan Xuan gave her a set of art pens as a parting gift.
• Lin Meng Qiu gave Yuan Xuan her little bunny key chain, and Yuan Xuan accepted it warmly.
• The five of them ate together in the cafeteria, then Chen Shi'an, Little Cicada, and Xiao Yan bought snacks to share with their classmates as a final parting gift.

Chen Shi'an, Lin Meng Qiu, Wen Zhixia, and Yao Jingyan said goodbye to their classmates at Jianzhang No. 1 High School and left for Cloud Perch. On the drive home, Wen Zhixia revealed that girls had sent Chen Shi'an love letters, but he refused to read them, easing Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu’s worries.

• Chen Shi'an gave Wenchang Talismans to Yuan Xuan and Yang Chun before the final two mathematics periods.
• Teacher Xue and Class Six gave Chen Shi'an and Lin Meng Qiu a heartfelt farewell, and the classmates shared snacks before leaving the classroom.
• Chen Shi'an and Lin Meng Qiu met Wen Zhixia and Yao Jingyan downstairs, then packed their belongings and left Jianzhang No. 1 High School with Teacher Yang.
• On the drive to Cloud Perch, Wen Zhixia told Chen Shi'an that girls from Class Twelve and a neighboring class had sent him love letters through her and Xiao Yan.
• Chen Shi'an refused to read the letters, and Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu relaxed while arguing over whether Wen Zhixia should keep them.

Chen Shi'an returned to Cloud Perch after a half-month school exchange in Jianzhang and reunited with Li Wanyin at home. After lunch with Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu, he went back to class, where his classmates celebrated his exchange results and Lin Meng Qiu surprised her friends with gifts and an invitation to the restroom.

• Teacher Yang brought Chen Shi'an and the three girls back to Yunqi No. 1 High School and gave them permission to skip afternoon classes.
• Wen Zhixia told Chen Shi'an she planned to visit his Taoist Temple with him during the Qingming break, while Lin Meng Qiu agreed to have lunch at his home.
• Chen Shi'an returned to the Jiahe residential complex, where Black Cat greeted him and Li Wanyin welcomed him with a home-cooked meal.
• Chen Shi'an picked up Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu, and they ate lunch with Li Wanyin and Fat Ink before Wen Zhixia went home.
• Chen Shi'an and Lin Meng Qiu returned to class, where Xu Zihan and the other boys praised his exchange performance at Jianzhang No. 1 High School.
• Lin Meng Qiu gave Qiu Yufu, Zheng Yining, and Xie Mengxuan gifts and agreed to go to the restroom with them, leaving the three girls stunned.

Li Wanyin promoted her upcoming tea shop while Chen Shi'an prepared for the Qingming holiday trip to his Taoist Temple with Li Wanyin, Wen Zhixia, and Lin Meng Qiu. The four boarded a crowded bus, where Wen Zhixia slipped her hand into Chen Shi'an’s pocket and warned him not to move.

• Li Wanyin handed out flyers for Tea Fruit Formula and worried that opening-day crowds might overwhelm her staff.
• Chen Shi'an studied for the next monthly exam, while Wen Zhixia fretted that he might beat her in liberal arts.
• Li Wanyin, Wen Zhixia, and Lin Meng Qiu set out with Chen Shi'an for the Taoist Temple during the Qingming break.
• Fat Cat begged food from Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu, ate both a bun and dumplings, and hid in Li Wanyin’s backpack.
• The four squeezed onto a packed bus, with Li Wanyin leaning against Chen Shi'an as Wen Zhixia put her hand in his pocket and told him not to move.

Chen Shi'an and the three girls reminisced about how each had first met him while they traveled by Route 716 toward his home county. Wen Zhixia recognized the bus where she and Chen Shi'an had first met, leaving Lin Meng Qiu envious as Wen happily recounted their shared memories.

• Wen Zhixia told Li Wanyin and Lin Meng Qiu that she and Chen Shi'an first met on Route 716, while Li Wanyin recalled meeting him when she handed him a flyer.
• Li Wanyin explained that she had met Chen Shi'an before he rented a room from her, while Lin Meng Qiu recalled that he became her deskmate after they met in class.
• Chen Shi'an asked the girls to make gifts recalling their first meetings, and Lin Meng Qiu offered a drawing, Wen Zhixia proposed writing a story, and Li Wanyin offered to make him a cake.
• Wen Zhixia claimed the seat beside Chen Shi'an on the Route 716 bus, while Lin Meng Qiu and Li Wanyin sat directly behind them.
• Wen Zhixia recognized a Hello Kitty sticker and realized that the bus was the one where she and Chen Shi'an had first met, then excitedly retold their story to Li Wanyin.

Chen Shi'an and the three girls traveled by bus toward the Taoist Temple, chatting and deciding to visit Wen Zhixia's family for a meal on their return. After reaching the county terminal, they boarded another bus, where Lin Meng Qiu boldly took Chen Shi'an's hand and sat beside him, provoking Wen Zhixia's jealousy.

• On the bus, Li Wanyin, Wen Zhixia, and Lin Meng Qiu talked about visiting their ancestral graves, and Wen Zhixia coaxed Lin Meng Qiu into drinking soy milk.
• Chen Shi'an told the girls that Aunt Lan had invited them to lunch, but they declined the invitation for the outward journey and agreed to visit on their way back.
• The bus reached Shangping County after delays, and Wen Zhixia showed Li Wanyin and Lin Meng Qiu the streets near her home before they continued to the county terminal.
• The four boarded a K301 bus toward Chen Shi'an's town, and Lin Meng Qiu took Chen Shi'an's hand and asked to sit beside him.
• Wen Zhixia sat behind them and fanned herself furiously, angry that Lin Meng Qiu had claimed the seat beside Chen Shi'an.

Chen Shi'an brought Wen Zhixia, Lin Meng Qiu, and Li Wanyin to Town for Qingming, where they ate noodles and explored before finding a ride back toward the mountain. Aunt Li gave them a lift in her new three-wheeler, and the girls delighted in the bumpy, open-air ride as they headed home.

• Chen Shi'an and the three girls arrived in Town after a long bus journey and drank water before looking toward the distant mountain range.
• Chen Shi'an teased the girls about walking back, then took them around Town for lunch and talked with Li Wanyin about making qingtuan.
• Chen Shi'an and the girls ate noodles at a familiar local eatery while Fat Cat begged food from them.
• Chen Shi'an ran into Aunt Li, who recognized Lin Meng Qiu and agreed to give the group a lift back toward the mountain.
• Aunt Li drove Chen Shi'an, the three girls, and Fat Cat in her new three-wheeler, and the girls laughed and marveled at the bumpy ride and mountain scenery.

Chen Shi'an led Wen Zhixia, Lin Meng Qiu, Li Wanyin, and Fat Cat from the village up the mountain toward Pure Dust Temple. After a tiring climb, the three girls faced a seemingly endless flight of stone steps, and Lin Meng Qiu remembered that Chen Shi'an had carried her up them on her previous visit.

• Aunt Li welcomed Chen Shi'an and the girls to the village, then gave him vegetables, a chicken, and a duck to take up the mountain.
• The group passed the newly completed cell tower and found that their phones had strong signals before beginning the trail toward Pure Dust Temple.
• The girls washed their hands in a mountain stream, took photos, and followed Chen Shi'an up the trail while Lin Meng Qiu confidently gave directions but mistook the first fork.
• After an hour of climbing, Wen Zhixia, Lin Meng Qiu, and Li Wanyin grew tired, while Chen Shi'an remained unruffled and carried the food and cage.
• The group crossed Mistlock Gorge and reached the long stone staircase, where the exhausted girls struggled with the climb and Lin Meng Qiu recalled Chen Shi'an carrying her up it before.

Chen Shi'an carried Wen Zhixia, Lin Meng Qiu, and Li Wanyin in turns up the mountain path to Jingchen Temple. After they reached the temple, Chen Shi'an returned with his guests and greeted his absent master.

• Wen Zhixia eagerly climbed onto Chen Shi'an's back, and he carried her up the stone steps before announcing it was time to switch.
• Lin Meng Qiu took her turn being carried, then Chen Shi'an set her down and offered Li Wanyin the final stretch.
• Li Wanyin accepted Chen Shi'an's offer and rode on his back until they passed the dilapidated mountain gate.
• The four of them climbed the last steps together and arrived at Jingchen Temple, where Fat Cat was basking on the wall.
• Chen Shi'an greeted his master and said he had returned with guests to liven up the temple.