Chapter Summaries

Xia Zhi used Lu Heng’s supplementary card to buy gifts for Aunt Liu’s grandson and a lavish tea set for Tangtang, while reporting each expense to Lu Heng. After Aunt Liu thanked him for the baby gifts, Lu Heng realized Xia Zhi had been winning people over on his behalf, though he still doubted her motives.

• Xia Zhi woke from a dream about Tangtang being ignored by the villain and found Aunt Liu had come early to prepare seafood congee at Lu Heng’s request.
• Xia Zhi bought clothes and gold bangles for Aunt Liu’s grandson, then sent Lu Heng photos and the expense total.
• Xia Zhi bought an expensive tea set and green tea for Tangtang and told Lu Heng that Tangtang loved collecting green teacups.
• Lu Heng told Xia Zhi she did not need to report every purchase, then agreed to look for teacups for Tangtang in Country X.
• Aunt Liu thanked Lu Heng for the bangles, and he realized Xia Zhi had bought the gifts to win people over for him.
• Lu Heng questioned why Xia Zhi had told Aunt Liu the gifts were his idea, and Xia Zhi replied that she had only done the legwork with his money.

Xia Zhi prepared for Tang Fangjing’s banquet trap and used Lu Heng’s attention to provoke Tang Fangjing at the gathering. She left Tang Fangjing visibly shaken after boasting that Lu Heng chose her dress and called her every day.

• Xia Zhi explained to Lu Heng that she wanted to repay Aunt Liu for returning early, then improvised a story about a kindly grandmother when he questioned her.
• Xia Zhi identified Zhao Qingqing and Fu Ting'an as likely guests at Tang Fangjing’s banquet trap and chose a dress Lu Heng had picked for her.
• Xia Zhi sent Lu Heng a photo of herself in the dress, and he deleted a dismissive reply before switching off his phone; he later dreamed about her.
• Xia Zhi arrived at the banquet with a young woman carrying an extravagant gift box, where Zhao Qingqing and Fu Ting'an were already present.
• Xia Zhi told Tang Fangjing that Lu Heng chose her dress and called her every day, then asked why Tang Fangjing was shaking.

At Tang Fangjing’s birthday banquet, Xia Zhi gave her an antique tea set and used its symbolism and Tang Fangjing’s claimed love of tea to mock her. Tang Fangjing pretended to understand Xia Zhi’s tea trivia, leaving the exchange with her anger barely concealed.

• Xia Zhi presented Tang Fangjing with a tea set chosen at Lu Heng’s request, and Tang Fangjing was enraged by what she took as an insult.
• Zhao Qingqing accused Xia Zhi of mocking Tang Fangjing, but Xia Zhi turned the accusation back on her and criticized the dress she had brought.
• Xia Zhi told Tang Fangjing the tea set was an antique once used by Empress Huìrén, and Tang Fangjing forced herself to say she liked it.
• Xia Zhi recited details about tea culture and quizzed Tang Fangjing about the Sage of Tea’s nine difficulties.
• Tang Fangjing pretended to remember the final difficulty, while Xia Zhi corrected her answer and continued praising her in a way that made her furious.

Xia Zhi used a tea ceremony to show Tang Fangjing that she lacked the skills she pretended to have, then sent Lu Heng photos of her posing with the tea set. After Fu Ting'an followed Xia Zhi away from the table and grabbed her, she resisted him, but he refused to let her go.

• Xia Zhi invited a Tea Artist to demonstrate tea arts, and Tang Fangjing pretended to understand the technique despite being unfamiliar with it.
• Xia Zhi told Tang Fangjing that Lu Heng liked watching tea performances, so Tang Fangjing posed with the tea set while Xia Zhi took and sent him photos.
• Tang Fangjing thanked Xia Zhi and Lu Heng for the tea set, while her relatives watched her grow closer to Xia Zhi.
• Fu Ting'an followed Xia Zhi when she left the meal, grabbed her, and tried to pull her into his embrace.
• Xia Zhi warned Fu Ting'an to let go, but he pinned her against a wall and said he intended to have her.

Fu Ting'an tried to assault Xia Zhi, but she fought him off while Tang Fangjing covered up the incident and secretly took misleading photos. In the restroom, Xia Zhi pretended to call Lu Heng and tell him about Fu Ting'an, leaving Tang Fangjing puzzled about why he was not angry.

• Fu Ting'an admitted he had only wanted Xia Zhi's body and tried to assault her, but Xia Zhi kicked him and struck him with her handbag.
• Xia Zhi told a waiter that Fu Ting'an had molested her, but Tang Fangjing stopped the waiter from calling the police and dismissed the incident as a lovers' quarrel.
• Tang Fangjing pulled Xia Zhi aside and claimed she and Fu Ting'an were only pretending to provoke Lu Heng, while Xia Zhi said she no longer needed to act with Fu Ting'an.
• Tang Fangjing showed Xia Zhi misleading photos she had taken and prepared to send them to Lu Heng, but overheard Xia Zhi pretending to tell him that Fu Ting'an had harassed her.
• Xia Zhi emerged from the stall and told Tang Fangjing that Lu Heng trusted her and was not angry, prompting Tang Fangjing to ask if that meant he was not angry unless something else was true.

Xia Zhi rejected Lu Heng’s calls and acted dismissive toward him in front of Tang Fangjing, Zhao Qingqing, and Fu Ting'an, then panicked when he stopped replying to her apologetic messages. Lu Heng finally read them during lunch with a business partner and felt his tension ease.

• Tang Fangjing urged Xia Zhi to make Lu Heng jealous by letting him catch her with someone else, but Xia Zhi recognized the advice as malicious.
• Xia Zhi rejected Lu Heng’s call and told Tang Fangjing she was angry that he did not get jealous over Fu Ting'an.
• Tang Fangjing answered Lu Heng’s birthday call, then handed her phone to Xia Zhi when he asked to speak with her.
• Xia Zhi spoke coldly to Lu Heng, hung up on him, and complained in front of everyone that he clung to her like a lapdog.
• Xia Zhi sent Lu Heng several apologetic and affectionate messages after he did not respond, while Fu Ting'an continued to watch her intently.
• Lu Heng read Xia Zhi’s messages during lunch with a business partner, and his tension relaxed.

Xia Zhi talked Lu Heng into believing she had hung up to avoid rumors about his closeness with Tang Fangjing, but Lu Heng grew suspicious when he learned Lu Kuo had invited her to a matchmaking event. After a sleepless night, Xia Zhi received a summons from the old madam at breakfast.

• Lu Heng called Xia Zhi from Country X to ask why she had ignored his calls, and she claimed she had been on the toilet before explaining why she had hung up on Tang Fangjing’s phone.
• Xia Zhi warned Lu Heng that people might mistake his closeness with Tang Fangjing for romance, and he agreed to be more careful.
• Lu Heng asked what Xia Zhi had said to Lu Kuo after hearing that Lu Kuo wanted her to accompany him to a matchmaking event.
• Xia Zhi denied doing anything with Lu Kuo, but Lu Heng grew angry and ended the call.
• Xia Zhi and Little Sponge speculated that Lu Kuo might be trying to drive her and Lu Heng apart, while she struggled to sleep.
• The next morning, Xia Zhi received the old madam’s summons while eating breakfast.

Xia Zhi accompanied Lu Kuo on his imperial-decree blind date, worried that helping him might disrupt the story’s intended romance. When Second Miss Ji failed to arrive on time, Xia Zhi stayed with Lu Kuo as they began their meal together.

• The old lady ordered Xia Zhi to help Lu Kuo keep his blind date conversation lively, and Xia Zhi agreed despite worrying about the plot.
• Xia Zhi failed to get a reply from Lu Heng, then received a call from Lu Kuo asking her to support him on his first blind date.
• Xia Zhi advised Lu Kuo to talk with Second Miss Ji about art and agreed to judge the girl for him.
• Xia Zhi met Lu Kuo at a French restaurant, where they waited more than ten minutes past the appointed time for Second Miss Ji.
• Lu Kuo said he was hungry after performing three surgeries, so Xia Zhi agreed to eat with him, then photographed the food as it arrived.

Xia Zhi joined Lu Kuo for dinner while Lu Heng watched their photos from abroad and grew jealous. When Ji Qinghe finally arrived for her blind date with Lu Kuo, Xia Zhi helped keep the conversation friendly, and Ji Qinghe gave Lu Kuo a taste of his own dismissive manners.

• Xia Zhi took photos of Lu Kuo, who sent them to Lu Heng and asked whether he looked good.
• Lu Heng saw the photos and changed his travel schedule so he could return early.
• Lu Heng messaged Xia Zhi after seeing her Moments post, and Lu Kuo took her phone to tease him before hanging up.
• Ji Qinghe arrived late, and Xia Zhi introduced herself and smoothed over Lu Kuo's silence.
• Xia Zhi and Ji Qinghe bonded over painting while Lu Kuo ate; when he finally introduced himself, Ji Qinghe declined to talk until she had finished her meal.

Xia Zhi tried to help Lu Kuo and Ji Qinghe connect during their blind date, while worrying that Ji Qinghe might be hurt if Lu Kuo was destined to fall for another woman. The evening ended with Lu Kuo finally asking to add Ji Qinghe on WeChat, though the two still struggled to talk.

• Xia Zhi toasted with Lu Kuo and Ji Qinghe, then chatted with Ji Qinghe about her art while Lu Kuo felt left out.
• Lu Kuo messaged Xia Zhi that men wanted “some meat,” making her cough and suspect he had developed an interest in Ji Qinghe.
• Xia Zhi and Ji Qinghe talked in the restroom, where Ji Qinghe asked what Lu Kuo was like and what kind of girl he liked.
• Xia Zhi promised to find out Lu Kuo's feelings and warned Ji Qinghe not to fall for him unless he was interested in her.
• Lu Heng called a designated driver, and Xia Zhi urged Lu Kuo to talk to Ji Qinghe during the ride.
• Lu Kuo asked Ji Qinghe to add him on WeChat, and she agreed.

After Ji Qinghe encouraged Xia Zhi to pursue her dream, Xia Zhi auditioned for a television drama and landed a role, even as she kept messaging Lu Heng. Lu Heng received photos of Xia Zhi with Fu Ting'an and angrily demanded to know who had taken them.

• Lu Kuo was called back to the hospital for emergency surgery, and Xia Zhi went home in his car.
• Xia Zhi visited Ji Qinghe's studio, where Ji Qinghe urged her to pursue acting and offered to connect her with a screenwriter.
• Xia Zhi auditioned for A Woman's True Colors, impressed the director, and signed a contract for the role.
• Xia Zhi sent Lu Heng another caring message, but he did not reply.
• Zhou Chijun sent Lu Heng photos of Xia Zhi kissing and embracing Fu Ting'an, and Lu Heng demanded to know who had taken them.

Lu Heng returned from a business trip and grew colder toward Xia Zhi, who tried to welcome him home. After he questioned her about using Lu Kuo’s car, his darkening value rose to 90, leaving Xia Zhi afraid of what punishment might follow.

• Lu Heng ordered the Lu Group to compete with the Fu family for a plot of land in Heyuan Village.
• Lu Heng had Jiang Cheng ask Xia Zhi to pick him up from the airport, and she prepared food for his late-night return.
• Xia Zhi picked Lu Heng up, but he refused her help and told Jiang Cheng to drive.
• Lu Heng questioned Xia Zhi about driving Lu Kuo’s car and implied she might use someone else’s man if he were away longer.
• Lu Heng’s darkening value increased by 10 to 90, and Xia Zhi promised not to use Lu Kuo’s car again.

Xia Zhi was immobilized by the system’s punishment during the drive home while Lu Heng confronted her about photos of her with Fu Ting'an. The chapter ended with Lu Heng grabbing her chin and demanding to know whether she understood boundaries.

• Little Sponge told Xia Zhi that her Immobility Spell punishment would last an hour, leaving her unable to move in the car.
• Lu Heng mocked Xia Zhi about calling him “honey” and accused her of having a lover when she could not answer her ringing phone.
• Lu Heng answered Xia Zhi’s phone on speaker, and Lu Kuo warned her that intimate photos of her and Fu Ting'an had spread through their social circle.
• Xia Zhi suspected Tang Fangjing had taken and circulated the photos, while Lu Heng grew angry at her thoughts about his relationship with Tang Fangjing.
• Lu Heng seized Xia Zhi’s chin and asked whether she understood boundaries.

After Lu Heng confronted Xia Zhi over photos of her with Fu Ting'an, she promised she could prove her innocence and he agreed to show her the pictures at home. As Lu Heng rested in the car, Xia Zhi accepted a system task to collect one hair from the male lead within twenty-four hours.

• Lu Heng told Xia Zhi he had received photos from Lu Kuo and gave her a chance to explain, while she insisted she had done nothing with Fu Ting'an.
• Xia Zhi swore to her innocence and asked to see the photos; Lu Heng said he would show them to her at home.
• Xia Zhi asked Jiang Cheng to drive more slowly, and Lu Heng granted him half a day off the next day.
• Xia Zhi asked Little Sponge how to undo the Immobility Spell, but learned she needed gold coins and chose to take a system task instead.
• Little Sponge assigned Xia Zhi the task of collecting one hair from the male lead within twenty-four hours, and she planned to use returning his car as an opportunity.

Xia Zhi returned home with Lu Heng, who carried her inside after she called him “hubby.” After Lu Heng showered, Xia Zhi got another nosebleed while admiring his appearance, and he ordered her to open her eyes while she cautiously asked whether he was dressed.

• Lu Heng carried Xia Zhi from the car into the villa after she complained that her legs were numb and called him “hubby.”
• Aunt Liu welcomed them home and was delighted to see Lu Heng carrying Xia Zhi upstairs.
• Lu Heng put Xia Zhi on the bed, told her not to peek while he showered, and then came out wearing only a bath towel.
• Xia Zhi got a nosebleed when she saw Lu Heng’s bare torso, and he wiped her face and teased her for coveting his looks.
• Lu Heng ordered Xia Zhi to open her eyes, and she asked whether he was dressed.

Xia Zhi received a beauty-enhancing reward, but Lu Heng showed no interest and went to sleep in the guest room. The next morning, Xia Zhi found that Ji Qinghe had praised her photos, the male lead had mocked them, and Lu Heng had stayed silent.

• Lu Heng teased Xia Zhi, then left to eat after Aunt Liu called; Xia Zhi learned his corruption value had fallen to 80 and received beauty powder from the system.
• Xia Zhi assumed the villain had no reaction to her enhanced beauty because he was gay, and planned a surprise to discourage him from seeking a divorce.
• Lu Heng returned briefly, told Xia Zhi to change the nosebleed-stained sheets, and went to the guest room.
• After her punishment ended, Xia Zhi admired herself in the mirror, took photos, and posted them to her Moments.
• The next morning, Xia Zhi saw Ji Qinghe compliment her looks, the male lead accuse her of using a level-one-hundred filter, and Lu Heng leave no response.

Xia Zhi showed Lu Heng evidence that Fu Ting'an had tried to force himself on her and explained that she had recorded the encounter to protect herself. Lu Heng remained troubled by the recording and asked why she had brought the watch to Xiaojing's birthday party.

• Lu Heng criticized Xia Zhi's Moments post, called her photo average, and decided to drive with her to deliver his brother's car.
• Lu Heng asked Xia Zhi to explain the photos of her with Fu Ting'an, and she played a recording proving that she had rejected him and kicked him away.
• The recording revealed Xia Zhi's staged affectionate phone call and Tang Fangjing's advice to make Lu Heng jealous, leaving Lu Heng vexed.
• At the hospital, Lu Heng returned the recording watch and asked Xia Zhi why she had brought it to Xiaojing's birthday party.
• Xia Zhi explained that she had prepared to guard against trouble and said the watch had helped her clear her name over Fu Ting'an.

Xia Zhi visited Lu Kuo at the hospital with Lu Heng and tried to obtain one of Lu Kuo’s hairs for her mission. When she found none in his wardrobe, she lunged at him, but Lu Heng stopped her and she claimed she had spotted a gray hair.

• Lu Heng freed Xia Zhi from her stuck seat belt, and she regretted that he was gay while admiring his looks.
• Lu Kuo wondered whether Xia Zhi was expecting a baby, but she said she and Lu Heng were not planning on children yet.
• Xia Zhi asked Lu Kuo to show them his break room and searched his wardrobe for a hair, while Lu Heng watched her with interest.
• A nurse called Lu Kuo to see a patient, so Xia Zhi lunged at him before he could leave.
• Lu Heng caught Xia Zhi by the collar, and she claimed she had seen a gray hair on Lu Kuo, who searched his hair with a mirror.

Xia Zhi completed her mission to collect Lu Kuo’s hair, while Lu Heng unexpectedly protected her from the crowd and showed signs that his germophobia did not apply to her. Back home, Xia Zhi prepared for her acting role, and the chapter ended when her phone rang.

• Lu Heng pulled hair from Lu Kuo, and Xia Zhi collected it to complete her mission; Lu Kuo said he would be willing to ask Ji Qinghe out again.
• Lu Heng shielded Xia Zhi from the jostling crowd in the elevator, then told Jiang Cheng to drive them home.
• After they returned home, Lu Heng ordered Xia Zhi to throw away every piece of clothing they had worn to the hospital.
• Xia Zhi studied her script and wrote notes about her character, Shu Man, who eventually married a rich heir whose family was bankrupt.
• Xia Zhi’s phone rang while she was working on her character notes.

Xia Zhi dressed in expensive clothes to impress Tang Fangjing and went to Lu Heng’s office after he invited her to dinner at Tang Fangjing’s house. She waited there until Lu Heng returned, only to embarrass him by hanging upside down in his chair in front of a group of executives.

• Lu Heng invited Xia Zhi to dinner at Tang Fangjing’s house, and Xia Zhi eagerly agreed so she could outshine Tang Fangjing.
• Xia Zhi dressed in a costly outfit and arrived at Lu Heng’s office, where the receptionist initially refused to let her upstairs until Jiang Cheng confirmed Lu Heng’s permission.
• Jiang Cheng welcomed Xia Zhi and served her refreshments while she waited in Lu Heng’s office.
• Bored, Xia Zhi played games in the executive chair and ended up hanging upside down when Lu Heng entered with the executives.
• Lu Heng shut the office door to block the executives’ view, then found Xia Zhi standing beside the desk, frightened and contrite.