Recaps

Jiang Yanchu stayed in Shiban Village to look after Jiang Xun, bringing supplies and making a home beside the chicken coop. Meanwhile, Shen Wangjing’s risky trip to buy medicine softened public opinion, while the director focused on filming the brothers’ interactions and noticed Zhao Pengfei waiting outside Shen Wangjing’s courtyard.

• Jiang Yanchu refused to leave Shiban Village and warned the director that he could involve his lawyer.
• Jiang Yanchu bought supplies for Jiang Xun, secured a place to stay at the Village Chief’s house, and began visiting Shen Wangjing’s courtyard each morning.
• Jiang Yanchu set up beside the chicken coop so he could work despite the poor signal, while Duan Qizhao drank the milk he brought for Jiang Xun.
• The director saw the show’s viewership and Jiang Xun-Shen Wangjing discussion surge after footage showed Shen Wangjing crossing dangerous mountain terrain to bring Jiang Xun medicine.
• The director told the crew to film everyday life naturally and make Jiang Yanchu’s interactions with Jiang Xun a focus.
• A production assistant told the director that Zhao Pengfei was waiting outside Shen Wangjing’s courtyard.

Zhao Pengfei visited Jiang Xun’s courtyard, mistook Jiang Yanchu for another outsider, then warmly welcomed him after learning he was Jiang Xun’s biological older brother. Meanwhile, Liu Wanying learned Jiang Changping and Jiang Huaixiao would return to the Jiang family villa in three days.

• Zhao Pengfei arrived at Jiang Xun’s courtyard with a jar of canned yellow peaches and confronted Jiang Yanchu, whom he mistook for another stranger.
• Jiang Yanchu told Zhao Pengfei that he was Jiang Xun’s biological second brother, and Zhao Pengfei immediately changed his attitude and offered him food and hospitality.
• Zhao Pengfei warned Jiang Yanchu that Shen Wangjing was a murderer, citing Shen Dayong’s drowning and the village’s suspicions about Shen Wangjing.
• Jiang Xun emerged from the main room, complained that the argument was keeping him awake, and accepted Zhao Pengfei’s canned peaches.
• At the Jiang family villa, Liu Wanying read Jiang Changping’s message saying he would return home in three days after his conference ended early.

Liu Wanying hired a PR company to smear Shen Wangjing with rumors about his father’s death and damage Jiang Xun’s reputation. Meanwhile, Jiang Xun accepted a hidden mission for food rewards, and Jiang Yanchu confronted Shen Wangjing over his relationship with Jiang Xun.

• Liu Wanying agreed to pay the PR company to spread claims that Shen Wangjing was responsible for his father’s death and that Jiang Xun had knowingly defended a murderer.
• Jiang Xun agreed to complete the production crew’s hidden tasks after learning he could exchange points for food and earn a restaurant meal for the group.
• Duan Qizhao strained his back and had to stay behind while Jiang Xun rode into town with the production crew.
• Jiang Yanchu told Shen Wangjing he knew about his family’s hardships and his kindness toward Jiang Xun, then warned him not to take advantage of Jiang Xun.

Duan Qizhao nervously watched Jiang Yanchu confront someone at the courtyard gate while waiting for Jiang Xun to return. In the capital, Jiang Yu accused Shen Yuxing of planting the flower pastries that triggered his allergy, and Shen quietly planned how to win over Jiang Huaixiao; in Munich, Jiang Huaixiao saw viral searches about Jiang Xun and the village.

• Duan Qizhao overheard Jiang Yanchu say, “Let’s talk,” and worried that their tense confrontation might turn violent.
• Jiang Yu returned from the hospital and accused Shen Yuxing of planting the flower pastries that caused his allergic reaction.
• Shen Yuxing denied the accusation, and Jiang Yu stormed out, deciding he would rather face Jiang Xun than Shen’s act.
• Shen Yuxing stopped crying and considered winning over Jiang Huaixiao, whom he believed could keep Liu Wanying in check.
• In Munich, Jiang Huaixiao’s secretary showed him trending searches about Jiang Xun, a police report from the Metamorphosis production team, and the Second Brother riding a tractor into the village.

Jiang Huaixiao saw a viral video of Jiang Xun riding on Shen Wangjing’s back and immediately flew from Germany to Capital City. Meanwhile, Jiang Xun cleverly twisted a show task into an excuse to call people around town “big brother,” then returned to Shen Wangjing’s courtyard with bags of buns.

• Jiang Huaixiao watched the viral video of Jiang Xun on a stranger’s back, canceled his work, and booked a flight.
• During the flight, Jiang Huaixiao watched Metamorphosis and took screenshots of every frame featuring Jiang Xun.
• Jiang Xun ate five buns and argued that calling shopkeepers and a cameraman “big brother” fulfilled the show’s task.
• Jiang Xun returned to Shiban Village as Jiang Yanchu and Shen Wangjing faced off in the courtyard, with Blue Hair cowering nearby.
• Jiang Xun kicked open the gate, announced his return, and offered everyone the buns he had brought.

Jiang Xun returned to the village with buns, rejected Zhao Pengfei’s confession, and Jiang Huaixiao confronted Liu Wanying about sending Jiang Xun away. The chapter ended with Liu Wanying learning that Jiang Huaixiao was flying to Yunling to bring Jiang Xun back.

• Jiang Xun brought buns to the courtyard, where Duan Qizhao devoured them and Jiang Yanchu offered to drive him to town.
• Zhao Pengfei pulled Jiang Xun aside and confessed that he wanted to date him, but Jiang Xun mistook his feelings for a desire to sleep with him.
• Jiang Huaixiao returned to the Jiang family villa early and confronted Liu Wanying about sending Jiang Xun away and drugging his milk.
• Jiang Huaixiao told Liu Wanying he would investigate and make everyone responsible pay, then went upstairs.
• Secretary Chen told Liu Wanying that Jiang Huaixiao had booked an evening flight to Yunling, and she realized he planned to bring Jiang Xun back.

Liu Wanying’s smear campaign against Shen Wangjing went live as Jiang Huaixiao prepared to travel to Yunling, igniting public outrage and threatening Metamorphosis with an early shutdown. The director headed to confront the station director as the crew faced the possibility of ending the shoot.

• Secretary Chen told Liu Wanying that he could not disclose Jiang Huaixiao’s plans, and she learned that Jiang Huaixiao would fly to Yunling that evening.
• Liu Wanying’s PR company launched the #ShenWangjingMurderer# hashtag before she could stop them, and she reassured herself that the accusations could not be traced back to her.
• Liu Wanying reviewed the hashtag’s prepared posts and hostile comments accusing Shen Wangjing of killing his father and endangering Jiang Xun.
• The Metamorphosis account’s backend crashed as angry viewers accused the production team of putting participants at risk and demanded that the show stop airing.
• The director suspected the smear campaign used the same tactics as the earlier attack on Jiang Xun, learned the station might end the shoot, and went to call the station director.

Jiang Xun tried several ways to make Shen Wangjing smile for his task, unaware that Shen Wangjing briefly smiled when he was out of sight. At the Village Committee, Jiang Huaixiao confronted Director Zheng about the show’s handling of Jiang Xun and the online backlash, then left to bring his little brother home.

• Jiang Xun tried jokes and pleading to make Shen Wangjing smile, but Shen Wangjing remained impassive and went into the Kitchen.
• After Jiang Xun left, Shen Wangjing briefly smiled, and the Kitchen camera captured it.
• Jiang Huaixiao confronted Director Zheng about the production team’s failures and the negative trending topics targeting Jiang Xun.
• Director Zheng warned that Jiang Xun might be overwhelmed if he returned home unaware of the online attacks.
• Jiang Huaixiao left the Village Committee, saying he was going to bring his little brother home.

Jiang Huaixiao came to the village to bring Jiang Xun home and investigate Liu Wanying’s case, but Jiang Xun refused to return. Jiang Xun instead sent Jiang Yanchu away, then celebrated the chance to go into town with Shen Wangjing.

• Jiang Yanchu argued with online haters defending Jiang Xun and Shen Wangjing until Jiang Huaixiao arrived at the courtyard and asked where Jiang Xun was.
• Jiang Huaixiao found Jiang Xun feeding Shen Wangjing a green jujube and told Jiang Xun to come home so he could investigate Liu Wanying’s case.
• Jiang Xun said the Jiang family home was not his home and refused to return, so Jiang Huaixiao asked what it would take to persuade him.
• Jiang Xun told Jiang Huaixiao to send Jiang Yanchu home first, and Jiang Huaixiao immediately ordered Jiang Yanchu into the car.
• Jiang Xun celebrated Jiang Yanchu’s departure and called for Shen Wangjing to carry him so they could go into town for dinner.

Jiang Xun and Duan Qizhao celebrated completing the hidden tasks with a lavish meal, while the director tried to persuade Jiang Xun to return home with Jiang Huaixiao. Jiang Xun evaded the question, and Jiang Huaixiao finally entered the restaurant after his patience ran out.

• Jiang Xun dragged the director into the production van to claim his reward, and Duan Qizhao eagerly joined him while Jiang Huaixiao followed in his Bentley.
• Duan Qizhao ordered a feast at Guest-Arrives Fragrance, and Jiang Xun and Shen Wangjing shared the food with Grandpa Shen.
• Duan Qizhao got drunk, praised Shen Wangjing and Jiang Xun, and struggled to keep his composure.
• The director told Jiang Xun that Jiang Huaixiao had come to take him home, but Jiang Xun brushed off the idea and asked for another serving of fish with pickled mustard greens.
• Jiang Huaixiao strode into the restaurant after his long journey wore down his patience.

Jiang Huaixiao tried to take Jiang Xun away, but Shen Wangjing intervened and blocked him. Liu Wanying arrived and accused Jiang Xun of slandering her, while Jiang Huaixiao warned that he was investigating the incident involving the milk; Shen Yuxing prepared to speak in her defense.

• Jiang Huaixiao seized Jiang Xun and tried to haul him from the restaurant, but Jiang Xun resisted and shouted for help.
• Shen Wangjing stepped between Jiang Huaixiao and the door, telling him Jiang Xun did not want to go and demanding that he release his wrist.
• Liu Wanying arrived with Shen Yuxing and accused Jiang Xun of blaming her for his sudden illness.
• Jiang Xun mocked Liu Wanying's claim that he had a preexisting condition and questioned why he fell ill only after arriving at her house.
• Jiang Huaixiao said he had sent an assistant to retrieve surveillance footage and someone to question Wang Ma, warning Liu Wanying that she would face consequences if she was involved.
• Liu Wanying secretly prodded Shen Yuxing forward, expecting him to defend her.

Shen Yuxing exposed Liu Wanying’s attempt to manipulate him, while the director persuaded Jiang Huaixiao to let filming continue for one more week. After returning to Shen Wangjing’s courtyard, Jiang Xun settled into a new bed, and Jiang Huaixiao watched him from outside before leaving for the airport.

• Shen Yuxing reminded Liu Wanying that she had offered to pay his school expenses if he agreed to something involving Jiang Xun, causing Liu Wanying to break down.
• Duan Qizhao woke and blurted out an insult, so the director stopped recording and escorted Liu Wanying away from the restaurant.
• The director asked Jiang Huaixiao to let filming continue for a week, promised to protect Jiang Xun and address the online rumors, and said Shen Yuxing would return to the Jiang family with him.
• Jiang Huaixiao asked whether Jiang Xun knew about the online rumors, then left after learning he had no access to outside information.
• Shen Wangjing, his grandfather, Duan Qizhao, and Jiang Xun returned to the courtyard, where they found new beds and supplies left by Jiang Yanchu.
• Jiang Huaixiao stayed in his Bentley outside the courtyard and watched Jiang Xun through a hole in the window paper as his secretary asked when they would leave for the airport.

After Jiang Huaixiao left, Shiban Village was targeted by online crowds who came to harass Jiang Xun and Shen Wangjing. The director called the police as the visitors hurled abuse and eggs, while Shen Wangjing shielded Jiang Xun.

• Jiang Huaixiao watched the sleeping Jiang Xun from his car before telling his secretary to leave.
• The director canceled the livestream and ordered her team to subtitle aerial footage of Shen Wangjing buying medicine to counter accusations against him.
• A geotagged Weibo post exposed Shiban Village, prompting dozens of people to arrive and livestream accusations against Jiang Xun and Shen Wangjing.
• Duan Qizhao confronted the visitors and threatened legal action for filming and trespassing.
• The crowd threw eggs at Shen Wangjing as he protected Jiang Xun, and the director warned that the police were on their way.

Jiang Xun confronted the livestreamers who had come to Shiban Village to accuse Shen Wangjing, demanding evidence and defending him as police sirens approached. That night, Duan Qizhao told Jiang Xun that Liu Wanying had hired trolls to smear him and that Brother Yanchu had been arguing with the haters online.

• Jiang Xun demanded to know who had thrown an egg, and Baseball Cap admitted he had done it.
• Jiang Xun took the red-haired streamer's selfie stick and challenged the crowd to provide evidence that Shen Wangjing was a murderer, warning them that their accusations could count as defamation.
• Jiang Xun defended Shen Wangjing's sacrifices for his family and condemned the crowd for treating online rumors as justice.
• As police sirens approached, the livestreamers and other visitors fled, while the director filmed them and their license plates.
• That night, Duan Qizhao shared beer with Jiang Xun and told him Liu Wanying had hired trolls to smear him and Brother Yanchu had been arguing with his haters online.

After Duan Qizhao accidentally told Jiang Xun about his family’s past and public scandals, Jiang Xun drank until he passed out and revealed how abandoned he had felt growing up. Shen Wangjing carried him to bed, where Jiang Xun clung to him and begged him not to leave; only five days remained before filming ended and Jiang Xun left Shiban Village.

• Duan Qizhao drunkenly told Jiang Xun that his family had ignored him as a child and that Shen Wangjing had once been accused of murder, then realized he had said too much.
• Jiang Xun withdrew behind the shrubs with Yellow Dog, composed himself, and returned without confronting Duan Qizhao.
• Jiang Xun and Duan Qizhao drank bottle after bottle until Duan became incoherent and Jiang Xun fell asleep beneath the jujube tree.
• Shen Wangjing carried Jiang Xun to bed, but Jiang Xun wrapped himself around him, praised his appearance, and begged him not to disappear.
• Shen Wangjing stayed beside Jiang Xun until he slept, tucked him under the quilt, and remembered that only five days remained before Jiang Xun left Shiban Village.

As filming neared its end, Shen Yuxing decided Jiang Huaixiao was his only chance to stay with the Jiang family, while the director prepared for a peaceful finale. On the last filming morning, the crew discovered Jiang Xun and Duan Qizhao had disappeared.

• Shen Yuxing brought tea to Jiang Huaixiao’s study and overheard Jiang Xun condemning a blogger for exploiting people for views.
• Jiang Huaixiao repeatedly replayed footage of Jiang Xun speaking during a livestream.
• The director briefed the crew on the final day’s filming schedule and told them to keep the finale simple.
• Old Zhao arrived at Shen Wangjing’s courtyard and found Jiang Xun and Duan Qizhao missing.
• Old Zhao radioed the director to report that Jiang Xun and Duan Qizhao had disappeared.

Jiang Xun left Shiban Village before dawn to avoid returning to the Jiang family, and Duan Qizhao followed after worrying his note might signal danger. When both were discovered missing, Shen Wangjing led the production team up the mountain, following their tracks toward the cliffs as the search continued.

• The director learned Jiang Xun and Duan Qizhao were missing and ordered the production team to search the village and surrounding fields.
• An aerial camera showed two figures heading toward the mountain, so the director called on Shen Wangjing to lead a search.
• Jiang Xun left a note saying he would return that night because he did not want to go back to the Jiang family, whose attention he felt was only about their bloodline.
• Duan Qizhao found Jiang Xun's note, feared he might be in danger, and followed him without calling out.
• Shen Wangjing found tracks and a piece of blue thread at a mountain fork, then hurried toward the pine forest as the search team struggled to keep up.

Jiang Xun climbed to a cliffside overlook, with Duan Qizhao following and worrying over his reckless disregard for his own safety. Shen Wangjing arrived, pulled Jiang Xun away from the unstable edge, and furiously confronted him.

• Duan Qizhao followed Jiang Xun up the mountain and slipped on a scree slope, so Jiang Xun helped him up.
• Jiang Xun repeatedly guided and protected Duan Qizhao on the dangerous climb, even injuring his own knee without slowing down.
• At the cliff's edge, Duan Qizhao begged Jiang Xun to step back, but Jiang Xun ignored him and admired the view.
• Shen Wangjing reached the overlook, saw Jiang Xun near the drop, and rushed over to drag him away from the edge.
• Shen Wangjing gripped Jiang Xun and shouted at him for risking his life on the unstable mountainside.

Shen Wangjing found Jiang Xun on the mountain and carried him back safely, and the crew finished filming the season. As they packed up, Jiang Huaixiao arrived at the village with Shen Yuxing.

• Shen Wangjing scolded Jiang Xun for acting as though his life did not matter, then carried him down the mountain while Duan Qizhao followed.
• The group returned to the courtyard, where the director brought them breakfast and Duan Qizhao broke down in tears from the ordeal.
• The crew filmed a reunion beneath the Old Locust Tree and declared the season finished.
• Jiang Xun watched the crew pack up as the day’s end settled over the village.
• Jiang Huaixiao arrived in a black Bentley with Shen Yuxing following behind him.

Jiang Xun refused to return to Capital City unless Shen Wangjing came with him, but Shen Wangjing rejected the offer and told him not to come back. Jiang Huaixiao took Jiang Xun away by force, and the Bentley headed toward the airport as Jiang Xun lay curled up in silence.

• Jiang Huaixiao brought Shen Yuxing to ask Jiang Xun whether he agreed to Shen Yuxing staying in the city, and Jiang Xun said he did.
• Jiang Xun told Jiang Huaixiao he would go only if Shen Wangjing came with him, and Jiang Huaixiao said Shen Wangjing had to agree himself.
• Jiang Xun asked Shen Wangjing to come with him, but Shen Wangjing said Capital City was not his home and told Jiang Xun to return and not seek him again.
• Jiang Xun turned toward the mountain, but Jiang Huaixiao grabbed him, carried him to the Bentley, and held him in the back seat.
• The Bentley left Shiban Village for the airport while Jiang Xun curled up silently and Jiang Huaixiao watched him.

Jiang Huaixiao tried to reassure Jiang Xun with promises about his new life, but Jiang Xun rejected the idea that those gestures could make up for seventeen years of neglect. As the cars reached the Jiang family villa, Shen Yuxing reflected on why he had been adopted, and Jiang Yanchu waited anxiously for Jiang Xun to arrive.

• Jiang Huaixiao stroked Jiang Xun's head and promised to investigate Liu Wanying's actions and keep anyone from bullying him.
• Jiang Huaixiao listed changes he had arranged for Jiang Xun, including a renovated room, Jiang Yu moving out, a new chef, and a transfer to Jinghua Middle School.
• Jiang Xun challenged Jiang Huaixiao, saying the changes and kind words could not erase the past or make the Jiang family home his home.
• Jiang Huaixiao seized Jiang Xun's wrist when he reached for the car door, and the two brothers remained locked in a standoff.
• Shen Yuxing rode toward Capital City with Duan Qizhao asleep beside him and reflected that Jiang Huaixiao had adopted him for practical and reputational reasons.
• Jiang Yanchu waited nervously beneath the Jiang family villa's portico as Jiang Huaixiao stepped out of the arriving Bentley.

Jiang Xun returned to the Jiang household but shut himself in his room and stopped eating, while Jiang Huaixiao and the servants watched over him. The chapter ended with the household transformed around Jiang Xun, whose silence and refusal to eat left everyone increasingly worried.

• Jiang Xun ignored Jiang Yanchu and went upstairs to inspect his renovated room, then poured away the warm milk left for him.
• Jiang Huaixiao told Jiang Yanchu that Jiang Xun had reason to see him as a stranger after years of favoring Jiang Yu.
• Jiang Xun skipped dinner, and Jiang Huaixiao fired the chef when Wang Ma reported that he had refused to eat.
• Over the following days, Jiang Xun stayed in his room and ate less until his meals came back almost untouched.
• The servants speculated that Jiang Xun had been mistreated and abused, while Wang Ma tried different foods and sweetened milk without success.
• Liu Wanying moved away, Jiang Yu was sent to boarding school, and Jiang Huaixiao took control of the household as the servants grew worried about Jiang Xun.

Duan Qizhao visited Jiang Xun after their time in Shiban Village and coaxed him into eating cake while he recovered in isolation. He then brought up a viral trending topic about the village, but Jiang Xun refused to engage with it.

• Duan Qizhao arrived at the Jiang house with cakes and went straight to Jiang Xun’s dark bedroom.
• Duan Qizhao opened the curtains and urged Jiang Xun to eat, talking until Jiang Xun finished a small amount of cake.
• Duan Qizhao told Jiang Xun about his family’s reactions to the show and reminisced about their time in Shiban Village.
• Duan Qizhao showed Jiang Xun the viral Shiban Village trending topic, but Jiang Xun said it had nothing to do with him.

Duan Qizhao told Jiang Xun that Li Guizhi and her husband had been arrested after their crimes were exposed, but Jiang Xun remained withdrawn and missed his old life in Shiban Village. Jiang Huaixiao tried to visit him and was shut out, while Duan learned Shen Yuxing would join Jiang Xun and Jiang Yu’s class and then received a call from Jiang Yu.

• Duan Qizhao told Jiang Xun that Li Guizhi and her husband had been arrested for embezzling village funds and hiring thugs, while Jiang Xun quietly ate the dessert Duan had brought.
• Duan Qizhao learned that Jiang Huaixiao had arranged an audit that uncovered the village chief’s embezzlement and evidence against Li Guizhi.
• Jiang Huaixiao asked whether Jiang Xun had eaten, then went upstairs, but Jiang Xun hit him with a pillow and locked him out of the bedroom.
• Duan Qizhao encountered Shen Yuxing, who said Jiang Huaixiao had arranged for him to transfer schools and join Jiang Xun and Jiang Yu’s class.
• Duan Qizhao grew excited at the thought of being classmates with Jiang Xun, then saw Jiang Yu calling him.

Jiang Yu gathered friends at Nightfall Bar and plotted to drive Jiang Xun out of Jinghua, unaware that Duan Qizhao had switched sides. Duan agreed to help while secretly recording Jiang Yu’s plans, leaving him with evidence against his former friend.

• Jiang Yu complained to Duan Qizhao that his eldest brother had forced him into the dorms and vowed to target Jiang Xun at Jinghua.
• Duan Qizhao went to Nightfall Bar, where Jiang Yu and his friends discussed ways to harass Jiang Xun at school and provoke another online backlash.
• Duan Qizhao agreed to help Jiang Yu while recalling how he and Jiang Xun had stood together in Shiban Village.
• After Jiang Yu left the bar drunk, Duan Qizhao’s phone revealed that it had recorded Jiang Yu’s entire plan.