Chapter Summaries

The Shen family prepared for the New Year together, filling the house with warmth as they wrote fortune characters and shared pastries. Shen Yu ended the chapter by remembering Yao Maolin’s proposal to start a business together and build their own business empire.

• Shen Changgeng wrote spring couplets while Lin Yujing served homemade pastries and Shen Xingshuo joined them downstairs.
• Shen Changgeng invited Shen Xingshuo and Shen Yu to write fortune characters, and Shen Xingshuo produced brush writing that Shen Yu praised.
• Shen Xubai returned home, joined the calligraphy, and Shen Yu went upstairs to bring Shen Jun and Shen Jin downstairs.
• Shen Yu remembered that Yao Maolin had proposed starting a business together and building their own business empire.

Shen Yu told his family he wanted to sell handmade crafts to help Yao Maolin support Zhao Jinren, and Shen Changgeng agreed to invest and offer help. After New Year, Yao Maolin invited Shen Yu and his younger brothers out to escape a noisy family gathering, and Shen Yu agreed when he promised inside information about their class.

• Shen Yu explained that Yao Maolin wanted to start a business to help his friend Zhao Jinren, whose family was having trouble.
• Shen Yu proposed selling handmade crafts with a buy-one-get-one-free offer, and Shen Changgeng promised to invest and help Yao Maolin's friend.
• Shen Xingshuo joked that the deal would give away Shen Yu's smile for free, but Shen Yu insisted the business could succeed.
• Yao Maolin called Shen Yu after New Year and invited him and his younger brothers to escape the noisy children at his home.
• Yao Maolin offered information about next year's students and their teacher's seating arrangements, so Shen Yu agreed to come over.

Shen Yu persuaded Shen Jin and Shen Jun to join him for a meal with Yao Maolin and Zhao Jinren at an upscale Western restaurant. The outing ended in embarrassment when Yao Maolin accidentally ordered the restaurant manager instead of a dish.

• Shen Yu pleaded and threw a tantrum until Shen Jin and Shen Jun agreed to go with him to meet Yao Maolin.
• On the drive, Shen Yu read Yao Maolin's explanation that he and Zhao Jinren chose a Western restaurant to impress Shen Jun and recruit him to their side.
• At the restaurant entrance, Shen Yu loudly pointed out that a formally dressed man looked cold, then hurried inside to greet Yao Maolin.
• Yao Maolin mistook Shen Jun's arrival for a business simulation and nearly greeted him with a handshake before everyone sat down to order.
• Shen Yu warned the group not to order music, and Yao Maolin mistakenly ordered five portions of the restaurant manager's name.

Shen Yu and his companions ate at a Western restaurant, where Yao Maolin shared news about school and a childhood friend. On the way home, Shen Yu approached a familiar businessman who revealed that he had lost everything and was homeless.

• Shen Jun ordered well-done steaks for the group after Shen Yu and Yao Maolin struggled with the menu.
• Yao Maolin told Shen Yu that the top ten students could choose their own deskmates and that an overseas transfer student was their childhood friend.
• Yao Maolin laughed at Shen Yu's business idea and complained that their age prevented them from starting a venture.
• After the group agreed not to visit another Western restaurant, Shen Yu recognized the businessman from the next table and went to speak with him.
• The man told Shen Yu that he had not eaten, had lost everything to someone, and was now homeless.

Mo Zizhan told Shen Yu and the others how his former roommate Jiesiqi stole his designs and ruined his career. Shen Yu persuaded him to start over, and the boys offered their savings to fund a studio, though Mo Zizhan left them his contact information instead of accepting the roadside deal.

• Mo Zizhan explained that his former roommate stole years of his fashion designs and used them to become a famous designer.
• Shen Yu recognized the roommate as Jiesiqi and realized Mo Zizhan was the talented designer behind his success.
• Shen Yu and Yao Maolin encouraged Mo Zizhan to start over and publicly prove that the stolen designs were his.
• Mo Zizhan agreed to restart his career, and Shen Yu and the other boys pooled a little over a million in savings to support him.
• Mo Zizhan declined to finalize a studio partnership on the spot, advised the boys to consult their families and verify details, and gave them his contact information.

Mo Zizhan accepted Shen Yu and his friends’ investment with Shen Xubai’s discreet backing, and Shen Yu started the new semester alongside Shen Jin and Shen Jun. Their first day at school brought a new transfer student, Ji Cizhen, whose arrival prompted Yao Maolin to tease Shen Yu.

• Shen Xubai met Mo Zizhan, offered the Shen Family’s support for the boys’ investment, and asked him to keep the guardians’ involvement secret.
• Mo Zizhan agreed to accept the investment and draw up a contract, while Shen Yu celebrated the start of their studio venture.
• After winter break, Lin Yujing took Shen Yu, Shen Jin, and Shen Jun to school, where Shen Yu promised to protect Shen Jun.
• Shen Jun introduced himself to Class 7, and Shen Yu enthusiastically supported him.
• Ji Cizhen arrived as a transfer student, and Yao Maolin teased Shen Yu that the flower he was protecting had arrived.

The class rearranged its seats for the new semester, bringing Shen Yu together with the returning Ji Cიცen, who seemed to have known him since kindergarten. When Ji Cიცen asked whether Shen Yu remembered him, Shen Yu admitted that he did not, and Yao Maolin hinted that an old incident had affected Shen Yu’s memory.

• Teacher Li announced the seating change, and the students gathered outside to choose new seats.
• Yao Maolin moved over to Ji Cიცen and told him that Shen Yu had been neglecting their friendship for his younger brothers.
• Shen Yu mistook Ji Cიცen for his younger brother, then invited him to sit together and promised to look out for him.
• Shen Yu and Ji Cიცen sat together in front of Shen Jun and Shen Jin, while Yao Maolin and Zhao Jinren sat behind them.
• Yao Maolin recalled that Shen Yu had followed Ji Cიცen around in kindergarten and had been upset when Ji Cიცen moved abroad.
• Ji Cიცen asked whether Shen Yu remembered him, and Shen Yu said they were not close; Yao Maolin then suggested an old incident had affected Shen Yu.

Yao Maolin told Shen Yu and Ji Cицen how Shen Yu had protected Ji Cицen from kindergarten bullies, then hit his head and lost some memories. Ji Cицen thanked Shen Yu for standing up for him and said he had returned for him, while Shen Yu remained oblivious and announced he would rely on his nephew for support.

• Yao Maolin recalled that Shen Yu had helped Ji Cицen fight bullies as children, but hit his head during one incident and then left kindergarten.
• Ji Cицen explained that a teacher had ignored the bullying, and that Shen Yu's injury and departure had helped drive him and his family abroad.
• Yao Maolin described how Shen Yu had been carried away bleeding and how the families later sued the teacher and the other child's family.
• Ji Cицen thanked Shen Yu for protecting him and apologized for leaving, while Shen Yu brushed off the thanks and asked to see childhood photos.
• Shen Yu told his younger brothers to marry someday and declared that his nephew would grow up and earn money to support him, prompting Ji Cицen to say that not marrying was fine too.

Ji Cიცen returned to China and tried to grow closer to Shen Yu, but Shen Yu stayed focused on his younger brothers and friends. As middle school life continued, Ji Cიცen studied Shen Yu’s relationships and decided to change his approach.

• Yao Maolin joked about Shen Yu having five younger brothers, and Shen Yu and Ji Cიცen arranged for Shen Yu to visit Ji Cიცen’s home for Chinese-style steak and barbecue.
• Yao Maolin protested that Shen Yu had refused his invitations, so Shen Yu suggested visiting neither home, leaving Ji Cიცen disappointed and Shen Jin relieved.
• Shen Jun reminded them that textbooks were being handed out, and Ji Cიცen stopped Shen Yu from interrupting him by saying Shen Jun liked quiet.
• Shen Yu continued to regard his younger brothers as delicate and easily bullied, while Shen Jin became openly devoted to both his older brothers.
• After observing Shen Yu’s friendships for two weeks, Ji Cიცen judged Yao Maolin and Zhao Jinren unsuitable role models and decided to imitate Shen Jin’s quiet, seemingly innocent manner.

Ji Cიცen used sweet buns and a feigned illness to draw Shen Yu’s attention and care throughout the school day. Shen Yu promised to share half his candy with him, while Shen Jin began to suspect Ji Cიცen was acting.

• Ji Cიცen left sweet milk buns for Shen Yu, who happily ate them and praised him for being considerate.
• Ji Cიცen opened Shen Yu’s water cup during Chinese class, prompting Shen Yu to sit up and listen attentively.
• After class, Ji Cიცen pretended to feel dizzy, and Shen Yu hurried to fetch him hot water instead of meeting Yao Maolin.
• Ji Cიცen’s feigned weakness made Shen Yu care for him during breaks, and Shen Yu gave him a White Rabbit candy and promised to share half his candy in the future.
• Shen Jin watched Ji Cიცen’s changing behavior and began to suspect that his act felt familiar.

Shen Yu looked after his younger brother Shen Jun on his first day at school while Ji Cицen used a pretense of feeling unwell to get Shen Yu to share his lunch. Ji Cицen ended the meal closer to Shen Yu, drawing Shen Jin's suspicion.

• Shen Yu reassured Shen Jun about his health, while Shen Jin and Yao Maolin watched Shen Yu fuss over him.
• Shen Yu got distracted during math class and attracted the teacher's attention after reacting to a paper ball and Yao Maolin's note.
• Yao Maolin and Ji Cицen escorted Shen Yu to lunch, and Shen Yu found a seat beside Shen Jun.
• Ji Cицen claimed the cafeteria food made him feel unwell, then praised Shen Yu's food and asked to share his tray.
• Shen Jin questioned how close Shen Yu and Ji Cицen were, while Ji Cицen thanked Shen Yu and enjoyed sitting close to him.

Shen Yu tried to arrange for Ji Cიცen to stay at Yao Maolin’s home, and the group made plans to spend their time off together. Their excitement about getting PE class back faded when Ji Cიცen pointed out that training might be for the high school entrance exam.

• Shen Yu asked Yao Maolin to let Ji Cიცen stay at his home, and Yao Maolin agreed to host the group.
• Ji Cიცen said he could go with Shen Yu instead, but Shen Yu suggested they all visit Yao Maolin together.
• Yao Maolin invited Shen Jun, Shen Jin, and Zhao Jinren, and reassured Zhao Jinren that he could stay at his house.
• Shen Yu celebrated when the afternoon English class was replaced with PE, but Ji Cიცen warned that the class might be preparing for the high school entrance PE exam.
• Yao Maolin teased Shen Yu by asking whether he was signing up for the 3,000 meters.

Shen Yu and his classmates trained for the upcoming sports meet, while Ji Cიცen tried to stay close to him amid the lively group dynamics. After the run, Ji Cიცen asked Yao Maolin to buy water with 8.80 yuan, and Shen Yu realized the amount was a joke about Yao Maolin being short.

• Shen Yu urged Yao Maolin to take part in the 1,500 meters and relay, but Yao Maolin said the school was likely following orders from the academic affairs office.
• Ji Cიცen took Yao Maolin's seat beside Shen Yu, and Shen Yu went to class with Shen Jin and Shen Jun.
• Shen Yu ran laps with Shen Jin, accidentally hummed aloud, and blushed when Shen Jin told him he had heard.
• Yao Maolin and Zhao Jinren caught up with the runners, and Yao Maolin teased Ji Cიცen about wanting to become his deskmate.
• After the group finished three laps, Ji Cიცen asked Yao Maolin to buy two bottles of water for 8.80 yuan, and Shen Yu laughed at the joke about Yao Maolin being a little short.

Shen Yu was forced to run in PE after Yao Maolin accidentally ruined his attempt to avoid the long-distance run, then went home and complained to Shen Xingshuo. Shen Xingshuo discussed his debut and online haters before revealing that Qiao Luo had a handsome friend, leaving Shen Yu curious about the gossip.

• Shen Yu tried to get out of the long-distance run by offering to put away the volleyballs, but Yao Maolin volunteered to help and Hong Jian made the class run first.
• Shen Yu blamed Yao Maolin for ruining his plan, while Ji Cicen squeezed in beside Shen Yu and teased Yao Maolin.
• Shen Yu went home exhausted and complained to Shen Xingshuo about being made to run.
• Shen Xingshuo told Shen Yu he should have quietly started putting away the equipment, then shared how he handled school rules.
• Shen Xingshuo discussed the insults he received after debuting and told Shen Yu that Qiao Luo had a handsome friend.

Shen Yu accompanied Shen Xubai to the office and realized that the Shen Family’s bid for a valuable plot called Yaota had caused its downfall in the original story. As the auction began, he urgently tried to stop Shen Xubai from buying the land.

• After Shen Xingshuo and Shen Yu bickered late into the night, Shen Xubai took his sleepy youngest brother to work the next morning.
• Shen Yu watched Shen Xubai handle business and overheard that the auction for a valuable S City plot had been postponed.
• At the auction, Shen Yu recognized Yaota as the plot where an ancient tomb’s collapse would halt construction and ruin the Shen Family.
• Shen Xubai noticed Chu Yansheng at the auction and greeted him while Shen Yu worried that his brother would bid on the land.
• Shen Yu shook Shen Xubai’s arm and warned him not to buy Yaota, saying that it was unlucky and would collapse.

Shen Yu's warning stopped Shen Xubai and Chu Yansheng from bidding on the land, and the former rivals left the auction together for lunch. Over their meal, Shen Yu learned the two men had known each other since university, then heard Shen Xubai accuse Chu Yansheng of poaching his nephew.

• Shen Yu anxiously stopped Shen Xubai from raising his bid, and Chu Yansheng agreed that the land's rumored collapse sounded unlucky.
• The auctioneer revived the bidding, but Shen Xubai and Chu Yansheng both gave up and left the auction, confusing the other bidders.
• Shen Xubai and Chu Yansheng arranged to eat together, where Shen Yu discovered they had attended the same university.
• Chu Yansheng and Shen Xubai teased each other about Chu Yao and their younger brothers, and Shen Yu suggested Chu Yao get a job.
• Shen Xubai accused Chu Yansheng of taking his nephew away to work for him, leaving Shen Yu shocked.

Shen Yu learned that Chu Yansheng had reunited with his childhood friend after once letting his love slip away, then returned home and told Shen Xingshuo he knew who had stolen his teammate’s man.

• Shen Yu misunderstood Chu Yansheng’s family situation and asked whether he liked his nephew, prompting Chu Yansheng and Shen Xubai to cough in shock.
• Chu Yansheng explained that he had reunited with his childhood friend and kicked out his nephew, while Shen Xubai teased him for being too proud to pursue his love earlier.
• Shen Yu realized that Chu Yansheng was Chu Yao’s uncle and that Qiao Luo was the person who had been stolen away.
• Shen Xubai doubled Shen Yu’s pocket money, and Shen Yu returned home delighted despite being confused by the story’s tangled plot.
• Shen Xingshuo asked Shen Yu about his day, and Shen Yu leaned over to tell him he knew who had stolen his teammate’s man.

Shen Xingshuo misunderstood his eldest brother’s rare affection, while Shen Yu persuaded Shen Jin and Shen Jun to join him for a visit to Ji Cицen’s home and sports day practice. The brothers arrived the next morning, where Ji Cицen warmly greeted Shen Yu before another voice called out from the car.

• Shen Xingshuo praised Shen Xubai as a successful man, then ducked when Shen Xubai tried to pat his head.
• Shen Yu explained that Shen Xubai had been trying to share a warm moment with Shen Xingshuo, but Shen Xingshuo said he was not used to affection.
• Shen Yu asked Shen Jin to join sports day and invited him to visit Ji Cицen; Shen Jin agreed, and Shen Jun said he would go too.
• Shen Yu and his brothers arrived at the Ji home early the next morning, and Ji Cицen greeted Shen Yu by smoothing his hair.
• Shen Jin signaled Ji Cицen to lower his hand, then an older voice called out to Ji Cицen from the car.

Shen Yu visited Ji Cицen’s family villa with his friends, while Ji Cицen struggled to get time alone with him. The visit ended with Yao Maolin’s kitchen antics testing Ji Cицen’s patience.

• Yao Maolin teased Ji Cицen at the villa, and Ji Cицen explained to Shen Yu that the house had been maintained since before his family moved abroad.
• Shen Yu took Shen Jun and Zhao Jinren away from the gym to explore the villa, leaving Ji Cицen to train with Yao Maolin and Shen Jin.
• Shen Yu returned to find Yao Maolin exhausted from trying to keep conversation going between Ji Cицen and Shen Jin.
• Yao Maolin volunteered to make smashed cucumber salad and dragged Shen Yu, Zhao Jinren, and Ji Cицen into the kitchen to help.
• Yao Maolin got garlic in his eyes and smeared it across his face, leaving Ji Cицen red-eyed and threatening to decide how Yao Maolin would die.

Shen Yu and his friends enjoyed the school sports day, where Shen Yu became Class Seven’s enthusiastic cheer captain and cheered for Ji Cიცen and Yao Maolin in the 1,500-meter race. As the runners began their final sprint, Shen Jin revealed that Ji Cიცen had taken the lead, possibly after lapping the runner Shen Yu thought was ahead.

• After the Sunday gathering, Shen Xingshuo theatrically said goodbye to Shen Yu, Shen Jun, and Shen Jin before leaving for work, and Shen Yu advised him not to let the internet turn against him.
• After two days of classes, Shen Yu claimed a good spot at the sports field and became Class Seven’s cheer captain.
• Shen Yu handed snacks to Shen Jun and Zhao Jinren while he drummed and shouted encouragement for Class Seven.
• Shen Jin returned after winning the 200-meter final, and Shen Yu praised him and massaged his shoulders.
• As Ji Cიცen and Yao Maolin neared the end of the 1,500-meter race, Shen Yu guessed their positions, but Shen Jin said Ji Cიცen was in first place and might have already lapped the runner ahead.