Chapter Summaries

Li Wanyin and Chen Shi'an blended a distinctive seven-fruit drink, and Chen Shi'an agreed to let her sell it in exchange for one yuan per cup. After arranging to cycle with her roommates and bring Chen Shi'an lunch, Li Wanyin left her embarrassing Moments post undeleted.

• Li Wanyin hid her friends’ teasing group messages from Chen Shi'an and explained that they had recognized him from her Eight-Section Brocade video.
• Li Wanyin told Chen Shi'an she planned to sell sweet soup and eventually milk tea, and he made her a carefully blended juice from seven kinds of fruit.
• Li Wanyin praised the drink and asked to learn the recipe, but Chen Shi'an initially offered it for free.
• Li Wanyin persuaded Chen Shi'an to accept one yuan per cup as his share, and he agreed not to give the recipe to anyone else.
• Li Wanyin invited Chen Shi'an to cycle with her roommates at Red Tree Lake, and he agreed; she also arranged to bring him lunch the next day.
• After showering, Li Wanyin looked at her Moments post and decided not to delete it.

Chen Shi'an impressed Class Five with a score of 128 on his English test, then confirmed he would still visit Lin Meng Qiu despite her father being away. At lunch, he and Wen Zhixia met Li Wanyin, whose appearance renewed Wen Zhixia’s suspicions about their closeness.

• Chen Shi'an scored 128 on the English Weekly Test, while Lin Meng Qiu scored 143, and their classmates marveled at his result.
• Chen Shi'an learned that Lin Meng Qiu's father was away and agreed to buy groceries and cook with her before their dinner together.
• Wanyin brought lunch to the school gate for Chen Shi'an and included a portion for Wen Zhixia.
• Wen Zhixia recognized Li Wanyin as the singer Chen Shi'an followed on Douyin and became wary when she saw how pretty she was.

Li Wanyin brought lunch to Chen Shi'an at school and met his meal buddy Wen Zhixia, who soon warmed to her. On the way to the cafeteria, Wen Zhixia asked Chen Shi'an what kind of girl he liked, and their teasing left her flustered when he asked what kind of boy she liked.

• Li Wanyin brought Chen Shi'an two meals and soup, and he introduced her to Wen Zhixia.
• Li Wanyin and Wen Zhixia chatted warmly, and Li Wanyin invited her to cook together sometime.
• Chen Shi'an and Wen Zhixia headed to the cafeteria with Li Wanyin's food, and Wen Zhixia praised Li Wanyin's cooking and kindness.
• Wen Zhixia asked whether Li Wanyin had dated, then asked Chen Shi'an what kind of girl he liked.
• Chen Shi'an said he valued someone who could stay by his side, and Wen Zhixia argued that people stayed together because they liked each other.
• Chen Shi'an asked Wen Zhixia what kind of boy she liked, and she dodged the question by threatening to flatten him.

Chen Shi'an left school with Lin Meng Qiu, planning to cook dinner at her home, but Wen Zhixia joined them and the two girls traded pointed reminders of the gifts Chen Shi'an had made for their families. The chapter ended with Wen Zhixia sprinting away after reminding him of their Sunday movie plan, leaving Lin Meng Qiu furious.

• Teacher Ye praised Chen Shi'an for scoring 128 on his English test, and he shared vocabulary memorization advice with Zheng Yining.
• After class, Chen Shi'an walked with Lin Meng Qiu and offered to cook dinner for her while her father was away.
• Wen Zhixia caught up with them near the school gates and asked what Chen Shi'an planned to give Teacher Ye for her birthday.
• Lin Meng Qiu mentioned Chen Shi'an's handmade incense, and Wen Zhixia countered by bringing up the wood carving he had given her mother.
• As Chen Shi'an and Lin Meng Qiu left to buy groceries, Wen Zhixia reminded him that they had agreed to see a movie on Sunday and ran off.

After Wen Zhixia rattled Lin Meng Qiu, Chen Shi'an embarrassed her again, and the two went shopping for ingredients together. They left the supermarket for the vegetable market, where Lin Meng Qiu followed his lead and paid for the pork, while her father messaged to say there was already food at home.

• Lin Meng Qiu walked home with Chen Shi'an after losing a war of words with Wen Zhixia, and he teased her until she regained her composure.
• Lin Meng Qiu stumbled at a turn, grabbed Chen Shi'an's hand, and blushed when he steadied her and echoed her earlier words back to her.
• Chen Shi'an led Lin Meng Qiu through an alley to the vegetable market after rejecting the supermarket's produce as too poor for his standards.
• Lin Meng Qiu asked about Chen Shi'an's life at the Taoist Temple as they shopped, and he described gathering food in the mountains and invited her to visit.
• Chen Shi'an explained the pork cuts to Lin Meng Qiu and negotiated a small discount, while she paid for the tenderloin and ignored her father's messages about food at home.

Lin Meng Qiu and Chen Shi'an returned to her home, where they prepared dinner together and grew closer as he helped soothe her burning fingers. Chen Shi'an cooked three dishes that delighted Lin Meng Qiu, leaving her thrilled with the meal.

• Lin Meng Qiu and Chen Shi'an walked home from the market together, and she felt relieved that her father was away for the weekend.
• Lin Meng Qiu struggled to find the rice and prepare the ingredients, but she helped cut green peppers and burned her fingers.
• Chen Shi'an rubbed vinegar onto Lin Meng Qiu's fingers until the burning faded, making her blush and hurry away to cool her face.
• Chen Shi'an cooked fish head casserole, shredded pork with green peppers, and stir-fried shredded stem lettuce while Lin Meng Qiu watched and secretly photographed him.
• Lin Meng Qiu tasted the dishes and was so delighted that she mentally awarded them points and deducted twelve points from her father's cooking.

After dinner at Lin Meng Qiu's home, Chen Shi'an stayed to explore her robot vacuum and watch a movie with her. Lin Meng Qiu asked him not to leave and grew comfortable sharing the quiet evening, while the chapter ended with her telling her father that Chen Shi'an had already gone home even though he was still beside her.

• Lin Meng Qiu and Chen Shi'an finished dinner, and Chen Shi'an helped tidy the kitchen before Lin Meng Qiu loaded the dishes into the dishwasher.
• Chen Shi'an examined Lin Meng Qiu's robot vacuum and tested its voice commands while she watched television nearby.
• When Chen Shi'an offered to leave, Lin Meng Qiu blurted out that he was not allowed to go, then asked about his planned movie with Wen Zhixia.
• Lin Meng Qiu chose The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, turned off the lights, and watched it beside Chen Shi'an, gradually relaxing on the couch.
• Lin Meng Qiu's father texted to ask whether Chen Shi'an had gone home, and Lin Meng Qiu answered yes while Chen Shi'an was still with her.

Li Wanyin practiced making Chen Shi'an’s Seven-Fruit Drink and milk teas as she prepared to start a drink stall, while Chen Shi'an helped refine her recipes. The chapter ended with them planning a cycling outing at Red Tree Lake the next morning, where Li Wanyin would teach him to ride a bike.

• Chen Shi'an came home after dinner and a movie at Lin Meng Qiu's place, then tasted the dessert soup Li Wanyin had made.
• Li Wanyin showed Chen Shi'an the ingredients and tools she had bought to prepare for selling milk tea and fruit drinks.
• Chen Shi'an corrected Li Wanyin's pouring order for the Seven-Fruit Drink, and she improved the flavor by adding ice.
• Chen Shi'an created two milk tea recipes, gave Li Wanyin all three recipes, and agreed to receive one yuan for each cup sold.
• Li Wanyin said she wanted to make money to buy a home and car, support her family, gain financial freedom, and travel.
• Li Wanyin and Chen Shi'an planned to meet at Red Tree Lake Park at nine the next morning, and she learned that he had never ridden a bike.

Chen Shi'an visited Wen Zhixia’s family bun shop, then invited her and Lin Meng Qiu to join Li Wanyin and her friends for a cycling trip at Red Tree Lake. The group prepared to meet and ride together, with Black Cat tagging along as Chen Shi'an and Li Wanyin set out.

• Chen Shi'an bought breakfast at Wen Zhixia’s aunt’s bun shop, where Li Yimei gave him a large bag of buns and invited him to dinner.
• Chen Shi'an cooked porridge at home and chatted with Wen Zhixia, who agreed to join his cycling trip after hearing he had invited her.
• Chen Shi'an invited Lin Meng Qiu to cycle at Red Tree Lake, and she agreed to meet him at Wujiao Station.
• Lin Meng Qiu left home for the cycling trip, surprising her father, Lin Ming, who had expected them to play badminton together.
• Li Wanyin agreed to include Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu, and she and Chen Shi'an prepared to leave with supplies for the group.
• Black Cat waited for Chen Shi'an and Li Wanyin outside their building and followed them as they set out.

Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu met outside Chen Shi'an's complex before joining him and Li Wanyin for a cycling trip to Red Tree Lake. Their quiet rivalry continued as they waited, competed over messages and photos, and tried to get close to Chen Shi'an and his cat, Shi Mo.

• Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu unexpectedly met at a bus stop and realized they were both going to Red Tree Lake.
• Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu pretended to message Chen Shi'an, each trying to make the other think she was chatting with him.
• Chen Shi'an and Li Wanyin came out of the complex, and Chen Shi'an revealed he had not seen either girl's messages.
• Chen Shi'an explained that Li Wanyin had gone to buy bread, while Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu traded remarks about their breakfast and outfits.
• Shi Mo leaped onto Chen Shi'an's shoulder, and Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu admired the cat as he moved between them.
• Wen Zhixia photographed Chen Shi'an with Shi Mo, then Lin Meng Qiu took a selfie with them before Wen Zhixia moved in to take one too.

Li Wanyin helped Wen Zhixia, Lin Meng Qiu, and Chen Shi'an get along while they waited for the bus to Red Tree Lake. After realizing both girls seemed interested in Chen Shi'an, she nervously messaged him, then recalled the message and told him not to date while he was still in school.

• Li Wanyin greeted Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu, shared water with them, and drew the quiet Lin Meng Qiu into the conversation.
• Li Wanyin suggested a barbecue at Red Tree Lake, and the others agreed that Chen Shi'an could grill while they teased him for not knowing how to ride a bike.
• Li Wanyin noticed Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu seemed focused on Chen Shi'an and wondered if they had come on the outing because they liked him.
• Wen Zhixia took a bus seat, but Lin Meng Qiu sat beside her and spoiled her plan to sit next to Chen Shi'an.
• Li Wanyin messaged Chen Shi'an about the girls' rivalry, and he explained that he did not want to force them to make peace.
• Li Wanyin sent Chen Shi'an a message saying she thought both girls liked him, recalled it before he saw it, and instead told him not to date while still in school.

Chen Shi'an joined Li Wanyin, Wen Zhixia, Lin Meng Qiu, Wu Jia Yun, and Yan Yufei for a cycling trip around Red Tree Lake Park. After Chen Shi'an quickly learned to ride, Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu raced ahead, leaving Li Wanyin feeling exhausted by the group's odd dynamics.

• Li Wanyin called Wu Jia Yun and Yan Yufei, and the six met near Red Tree Lake Park.
• Li Wanyin created a group chat, and the newcomers exchanged WeChat contacts while Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu still avoided adding each other.
• Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu both invited Chen Shi'an to ride a tandem with them, but he suggested that everyone rent single bikes instead.
• Chen Shi'an tried cycling for the first time and quickly learned to ride with Li Wanyin's help.
• Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu began racing each other and sped ahead, while Chen Shi'an and Li Wanyin rode behind with Wu Jia Yun and Yan Yufei on their tandem.

Chen Shi'an and his friends cycled to a lakeside campsite, where Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu competed until they stopped to rest. At the restroom, Wen Zhixia asked Lin Meng Qiu what she had done with Taoist after dinner the night before, and learned they had watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button at home.

• Chen Shi'an took candid photos of Li Wanyin as they cycled together, and Li Wanyin invited him and their friends to dinner.
• Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu reached the twelve-kilometer viewing platform exhausted after racing each other, while Chen Shi'an teased them about competing again.
• Li Wanyin, Wen Zhixia, and Lin Meng Qiu went to the restroom together, where Li Wanyin invited the two girls to dinner and Wen Zhixia said she had plans with Taoist.
• Wen Zhixia lent Lin Meng Qiu a tissue and asked what she had done with Taoist after dinner the previous night.
• Lin Meng Qiu told Wen Zhixia that she and Taoist had watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button at home.

Chen Shi'an waited for Li Wanyin, Wen Zhixia, and Lin Meng Qiu at a viewing platform, where he took photos of the group and the lakeside scenery. After they took a group photo together, Li Wanyin led everyone toward the campsite for a barbecue.

• Chen Shi'an photographed Fat Ink and was recognized by a tourist as the student who had practiced the Eight-Section Brocade online.
• Wu Jia Yun and Yan Yufei arrived, and Chen Shi'an took photos of them while they waited for Li Wanyin, Wen Zhixia, and Lin Meng Qiu.
• Li Wanyin, Wu Jia Yun, and Yan Yufei posed for a photo, then Wen Zhixia asked Chen Shi'an to take pictures of her and took a selfie with him and Fat Ink.
• Chen Shi'an secretly photographed Lin Meng Qiu beside the lake, and she noticed only after he told her.
• Li Wanyin arranged for a tourist to take a group photo of all six friends with their bicycles.
• Li Wanyin led the group toward the campsite for a do-it-yourself barbecue.

Chen Shi'an joined Li Wanyin, Wen Zhixia, Lin Meng Qiu, and their friends for a lakeside barbecue, where his grilling impressed the group. The chapter ended with them sharing the finished food while nearby visitors asked Chen Shi'an to grill for them, and the girls refused to let him go.

• The six arrived at the lawn campsite, and Li Wanyin redeemed a group-buy voucher for a barbecue setup and ingredients.
• Chen Shi'an and Li Wanyin began preparing the food, but Li Wanyin soon handed her grill over to Chen Shi'an.
• Lin Meng Qiu brought Chen Shi'an cola, and Wen Zhixia fed him a piece of watermelon while he grilled.
• Chen Shi'an gave the first cooked chicken wings to Li Wanyin, then the girls tasted his cooking and praised it.
• Chen Shi'an grilled the rest of the ingredients while Li Wanyin, Wen Zhixia, and Lin Meng Qiu recorded him.
• The group shared the barbecue, and nearby visitors asked Chen Shi'an to grill for them, but Li Wanyin and Wen Zhixia refused.

After the cycling outing, Chen Shi'an and his friends rode the bus home, shared their photos, and Lin Meng Qiu got off at her stop. Wen Zhixia gave Chen Shi'an her access card so he could come to her apartment for dinner after showering and changing.

• Li Wanyin ended the outing, and the six friends boarded a bus together, with Chen Shi'an squeezed between Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu.
• The group discussed splitting the outing costs and sharing photos, so Chen Shi'an connected to Wen Zhixia's hotspot and posted his pictures.
• Lin Meng Qiu saved the candid photo Chen Shi'an had taken of her, while the girls also saved their own pictures and the group photo.
• Lin Meng Qiu got off at East Yufu Station, and Chen Shi'an, Wen Zhixia, and Li Wanyin continued to their residential complex.
• Wen Zhixia gave Chen Shi'an her access card and told him to come straight to her fourth-floor apartment after showering and changing.

Chen Shi'an visited Wen Zhixia, where they shared snacks and watched The Legend of 1900 together on her projector. Wen Zhixia fell asleep against his shoulder, and Chen Shi'an tucked the blanket around her.

• After returning to the rental, Li Wanyin, Wu Jia Yun, and Yan Yufei fell asleep on the sofa, while Lin Meng Qiu went home and napped.
• Chen Shi'an arrived at Wen Zhixia's home, where she gave him essay-writing books and brought out snacks and drinks.
• Wen Zhixia asked Chen Shi'an to dry her hair with a towel, and he used his technique to leave it soft and dry.
• Wen Zhixia set up her projector and electric sofa bed, and she and Chen Shi'an watched The Legend of 1900 beneath a shared blanket.
• Wen Zhixia edged closer to Chen Shi'an and fell asleep on his shoulder, and he tucked the blanket around her without waking her.

Wen Zhixia embarrassed herself by falling asleep on Chen Shi'an's shoulder and drooling on his uniform, then washed and dried the sleeve for him. After Li Yimei caught them in an awkward position, the two resumed their movie, and Wen Zhixia tried to defend herself with a science video about saliva.

• Wen Zhixia woke up and realized she had drooled on Chen Shi'an's uniform, then fled to the bathroom in embarrassment.
• Wen Zhixia tried to wipe and wash Chen Shi'an's uniform while insisting he take it off, and Li Yimei walked in as she tugged at his shirt.
• Chen Shi'an greeted Li Yimei and explained that he and Wen Zhixia had gone cycling and were watching a movie, while Li Yimei invited him to stay for dinner.
• Wen Zhixia washed and hair-dried Chen Shi'an's uniform sleeve, then watched him put it back on before he resumed the movie.
• Wen Zhixia played a science video explaining that fresh saliva was odorless, and Chen Shi'an teased her about it before she claimed Douyin's big data had recommended it.

After watching a movie with Wen Zhixia, Chen Shi'an ate dinner with her family and joined her for evening study, where Lin Meng Qiu lent him writing books and repaid Wen Zhixia for a tissue. At school, Chen Shi'an gave Teacher Ye handmade incense for her birthday, while Lin Meng Qiu's curiosity about his time with Wen Zhixia grew.

• Wen Zhixia brought Chen Shi'an to dinner at her aunt's home, where he charmed her great-uncle with a Chinese chess discussion and chatted with her family.
• Chen Shi'an and Wen Zhixia walked to school and ran into Lin Meng Qiu, who gave Chen Shi'an books to improve his Chinese writing and reading.
• Lin Meng Qiu offered Wen Zhixia a pack of tissues to repay the one she had borrowed, and Wen Zhixia accepted it after Chen Shi'an intervened.
• Chen Shi'an gave Qiu Yufu his handmade incense for Teacher Ye's birthday and showed Lin Meng Qiu her handmade card.
• Lin Meng Qiu questioned Chen Shi'an about his visit to Wen Zhixia's home and dinner there, then grew jealous when he teased her about being curious.

Chen Shi'an continued catching up on his studies while his teachers competed to supply him with materials, and he decided to stay in senior year two rather than skip ahead. After walking home with Wen Zhixia, he told her that Sister Wanyin was starting a dessert-soup stall, and Wen Zhixia hurried off to visit it.

• Chen Shi'an improved his weekly Chinese and English scores, delighting Teacher Liang and Teacher Ye while his subject teachers urged him to study their courses.
• Chen Shi'an reflected that he could have transferred into senior year three, but chose to experience high school alongside Wen Zhixia and Lin Meng Qiu.
• Wen Zhixia asked Chen Shi'an whether he would transfer to her humanities class if he eventually came first in the sciences, and he agreed to consider it.
• Chen Shi'an told Wen Zhixia that Sister Wanyin planned to sell dessert soups at a stall by the West River that evening.
• Wen Zhixia said she would meet Chen Shi'an at the stall after dinner and hurried home.