Chapter Summaries

Song Mingzhe grew suspicious of Sun Meifang after hearing servants gossip about her niece and ordered an investigation. Song Yutang learned of the brewing conflict, arranged for Sun Meifang’s baby to be reported as a boy, and visited Jiang Guoqiang and Li Xiulan’s restaurant, where someone arrived asking for Li Xiulan.

• Sun Meifang’s staged chicken soup triggered speculation that she was pregnant, and Song Jianye celebrated by promising her gifts and demanding she give birth to a son.
• Song Jianye criticized Song Mingzhe’s abilities, while Sun Meifang defended him and Song Ruowei suggested a future son could manage the company.
• Song Mingzhe overheard servants claim that Sun Meifang’s niece had worked in a nightclub and that Sun Meifang had plotted to drug him, so he ordered an investigation and requested old surveillance footage.
• Song Yutang heard from Butler Wang about Song Mingzhe’s suspicions and told him to keep watch; she also arranged for Sun Meifang’s baby’s sex to be reported as a boy.
• Song Yutang visited Jiang Guoqiang and Li Xiulan at their private kitchen restaurant, where the floor manager announced that someone outside was asking for Li Xiulan.

Li Xiulan confronted her mother and brothers after they disrupted her restaurant to demand ten million yuan, and she showed them records of the money she had already given them. When she refused their renewed pleas, Mother Li threatened to kill herself in the restaurant.

• Li Xiulan's mother and brothers staged a disturbance at the restaurant entrance and demanded money, so Li Xiulan had security escort them to a reception room.
• Li Xiulan displayed her transfer records and listed the funeral and medical expenses she had paid, totaling more than a million yuan.
• Mother Li and Eldest Li accused Li Xiulan of owing them support, while Li Xiulan recalled how her family had mistreated her and threatened to recover the debts through court.
• Mother Li pleaded for ten million yuan to address her sons' gambling and loan debts, but Li Xiulan refused to take responsibility for them.
• Mother Li rushed toward the wall, threatening to die in the restaurant and bring the media down on Li Xiulan's business.

Li Xiulan refused to give her family more money and threatened legal action after they tried to pressure her at her restaurant. She exposed their past exploitation and warned that recovering the stolen funds could ruin her brothers’ sons, leaving the family to decide whether to keep making trouble.

• Mother Li and the Li Family staged a scene at Li Xiulan’s restaurant to pressure her into paying for medical bills, but Li Xiulan refused to call an ambulance and challenged them to expose her online.
• Li Xiulan reminded the Li Family that they had tried to marry her off at thirteen and warned them that the public would judge their past abuse more harshly than her refusal to pay.
• Li Xiulan gave the family ten minutes to leave and threatened to sue for more than a million yuan they had taken from her.
• When Eldest Li claimed he had no money, Li Xiulan warned that recovering the funds could cost his sons their home and job prospects, and could also freeze Second Li’s construction project payments.
• Li Xiulan threatened to ruin her brothers’ sons’ lives if Mother Li continued to block her and Guoqiang, then picked up a fruit knife when Mother Li pretended to collapse.
• Mother Li sprang up when Li Xiulan threatened to stab her philtrum, and Li Xiulan gave the family five minutes to leave before she contacted a lawyer.

Li Xiulan stood up to her relatives, while Chen Ruyin and Jiang Qingyu plotted to use the Li Family to target her and the Jiang household. Jiang Guoqiang’s restaurant grew more successful, and Song Yutang proposed buying a nearby hill for an ecological farm, prompting Jiang Dingkun to object over the cost.

• Li Xiulan drove the Li Family out of her restaurant and instructed the guards to call the police if they returned to cause trouble.
• Chen Ruyin told Jiang Qingyu that Li Xiulan’s relatives were deep in debt and proposed pushing them to target her and the Jiang family for inheritance money.
• Jiang Guoqiang joined the Chefs Association at its highest chef rank, earned praise for his cooking, and drew enough diners to fill reservations three months ahead.
• Li Xiulan expanded the restaurant’s vegetable plots and livestock, prompting Jiang Dingkun to object when the couple wanted to raise grass carp in his pond.
• Song Yutang suggested buying a nearby hill for an ecological farm, and Jiang Dingkun questioned the expense.
• Song Yutang reminded Jiang Dingkun that he had allowed Second Uncle to lose more than a hundred million on company projects.

Song Yutang and her family challenged Jiang Dingkun to treat the branches of the family equally, using Jiang Boyan’s improved grades to negotiate support for him. Jiang Dingkun agreed to buy a hill for Li Xiulan’s farm and provide Boyan with a ten-million research fund, then asked Song Yutang to keep the household fair in return.

• Song Yutang raised the cost of the family’s private restaurant and asked about the Jiang Group’s value while Li Xiulan, Jiang Guoqiang, and Jiang Boyan lamented never having known Jiang Dingkun’s mother.
• Jiang Boyan showed Jiang Dingkun his final exam report card, and his family defended the dramatic improvement against Jiang Dingkun’s suspicion that he had cheated.
• Jiang Boyan asked Jiang Dingkun to establish a personal research and development fund, arguing that his scientific research could fail just as Jiang Sichen and Jiang Sinian’s ventures had.
• Jiang Guoqiang challenged Jiang Dingkun over his unequal treatment of the family branches, and Song Yutang urged him to set clear rules and treat everyone fairly.
• Jiang Dingkun agreed to buy a nearby hill for Li Xiulan’s farm and give Jiang Boyan a ten-million research fund, then asked Song Yutang to keep her own bowl level as mistress of the household.

Song Yutang and Jiang Muyan discussed their family troubles and flirted about going on a date. A new investigation linked Third Uncle’s car accident to Jiang Chuan, while Jiang Muyan revealed that the second branch had likely colluded with Jiang Dingwen’s family; they still lacked evidence tying the plot to its masterminds.

• Song Yutang told Jiang Muyan how she had persuaded her parents to acquire another property, and he teased her about going on a date with him.
• Song Yutang logged into her encrypted account and received an investigation document showing that Jiang Chuan had paid an overseas assassin organization to target Third Uncle.
• Jiang Muyan explained that Jiang Chuan was a grandson of Jiang Dingwen, a former rival of the Jiang family heir who had moved his family overseas.
• Jiang Muyan said the second branch had likely joined forces with Jiang Dingwen’s side, with Jiang Sichen and his father directing Jiang Chuan’s actions behind the scenes.
• Jiang Muyan said they still needed crucial evidence, since Grandpa’s earlier investigation into Third Uncle’s death had stalled at Jiang Chuan.

Song Yutang and Jiang Muyan plotted to turn the second branch against Jiang Dingkun so he would feel the consequences of his favoritism. Meanwhile, Song Yutang exposed Sun Meifang’s unborn child as a boy and publicly embraced the pregnancy as a source of support for herself.

• Song Yutang and Jiang Muyan discussed Jiang Dingkun’s awareness of the second branch’s schemes and planned to make the branch target him, while Jiang Muyan arranged to replace Jiang Dingkun’s personal caregivers with his people.
• Sun Meifang learned through a blood test that she was carrying a boy but told Song Jianye the baby was a girl.
• Song Mingzhe received the test report confirming the baby was a boy and sat alone in the dark, smoking.
• Song Yutang visited the Song Family with gifts and revealed that Sun Meifang was carrying a boy, presenting the test report as proof.
• Song Yutang gave Sun Meifang expensive pregnancy tonics and called the unborn child the Song Family’s rightful heir, saying she would rely on her little brother for support.

Song Yutang tormented Song Mingzhe by declaring him a concubine's son and treating Sun Meifang's unborn child as the family's legitimate heir. She left after insisting that Song Jianye change his will to favor the baby and offering to invest in a maternity and baby products brand.

• Song Yutang dismissed Song Mingzhe's claim to be Song Jianye's eldest legitimate son because he had registered himself under Sun Meifang's name.
• Song Yutang gave Sun Meifang a property deed and inherited jewelry, then urged Song Jianye to leave most of the family assets to his unborn son.
• Song Mingzhe protested that he was Song Yutang's full brother, but Song Yutang had her bodyguards drag him out and slap him.
• Song Yutang told Song Jianye to reclaim an antique pocket watch he had bought for Song Mingzhe and insisted that Song Mingzhe be excluded from family meals.
• Song Yutang reassured Sun Meifang about her pregnancy and offered to invest in a maternity and baby products brand for the unborn child.

Song Yutang drove a wedge between Song Mingzhe and the Song Family, then returned home and brought Jiang Muyan barbecue while he worked. After discussing the family’s divisions, she remained confident that Song Mingzhe would become increasingly isolated.

• Song Yutang treated Song Ruowei warmly and offered to introduce her to Madam Yang’s eldest son, while Song Mingzhe watched from outside the family dinner.
• After Song Yutang left, Sun Meifang and Song Jianye reassured Song Mingzhe, but he privately resolved to prevent Sun Meifang’s unborn son from threatening his inheritance.
• Song Yutang brought barbecue and beer to Jiang Muyan after noticing he was hungry from working through a serious technical crisis.
• Jiang Muyan recalled his difficult student years, and Song Yutang felt sorry for him and told him things were getting better.
• Song Yutang explained that her visit had deepened Song Mingzhe’s resentment, and Jiang Muyan warned her to be cautious around the Song Family.

Song Yutang reflected on the injustice her family had suffered and was unsettled by the warmth she felt with Jiang Muyan. After she fled to the bathroom to calm down, Jiang Muyan saw Dong Ying’s messages about a romantic hotel setup and mistook it for a planned Qixi date.

• Song Yutang told Jiang Muyan she wanted to reclaim what she and her mother deserved, and he promised to support her.
• Song Yutang felt unexpectedly close to Jiang Muyan, then reminded herself that she barely knew him and retreated to the bathroom to regain her composure.
• Jiang Muyan cleaned up their dinner while Song Yutang was in the bathroom.
• Jiang Muyan checked Song Yutang’s tablet after urgent notifications arrived and found Dong Ying’s hotel plans, including a romance suite, candles, wine, and rose petals.
• Jiang Muyan guessed Song Yutang was arranging an early Qixi date and decided to pretend he knew nothing.

Jiang Muyan discovered that Song Yutang had asked Dong Ying to arrange a meeting with Du Yu and other men as potential donors, and he confronted her in anger. The chapter ended with him demanding to know whether she thought he could not perform.

• Dong Ying sent Jiang Muyan suggestive accessories and pictures of Du Yu, whom he recognized as the actor who played Li Zerui, a character Song Yutang had once dreamed about.
• Dong Ying explained that Song Yutang wanted a child with good genes and had described the man at home as poor quality with a terrible experience.
• Jiang Muyan became jealous and hurt when he learned Du Yu was only one of more than a dozen candidates Song Yutang had considered.
• Jiang Muyan stormed into the bathroom and asked Song Yutang whether she thought he could not perform.
• Song Yutang answered that poor genes could produce poor children, and Jiang Muyan demanded to know if she thought he could not perform.

Jiang Muyan misunderstood Song Yutang’s words and jealousy about Du Yu drove him to restrain and assault her through the night. After she passed out, he fell asleep and dreamed of a woman promising to wait for him to marry her, calling him Wei Xun.

• Song Yutang tried to reassure Jiang Muyan about his past condition, and he interpreted her words as proof that she considered him incapable.
• Jiang Muyan accused Song Yutang of preferring Du Yu and pinned her down despite her confusion and protests.
• After Song Yutang slapped him, Jiang Muyan tore her nightdress into strips and tied her wrists to the headboard.
• Jiang Muyan continued forcing himself on Song Yutang until she lost consciousness as dawn broke.
• Jiang Muyan stopped, considered untying her, then turned away and fell asleep.
• Jiang Muyan dreamed that a woman gave him an embroidered handkerchief and said she would wait for him to marry her, calling him Wei Xun.

Jiang Muyan believed Song Yutang had planned to find another man to have a baby with, so he forced himself on her and insisted he had been teaching her a lesson. Song Yutang denied his accusations, and Jiang Muyan showed her a tablet as evidence before angrily confronting her.

• Jiang Muyan woke beside Song Yutang and decided he had no regrets about forcing her, believing she had sought another man to father a child.
• Song Yutang woke in pain, and Jiang Muyan reluctantly helped her sit up and gave her water.
• Song Yutang remembered the previous night and angrily kicked and scratched Jiang Muyan as they argued over his treatment of her.
• Song Yutang said she had wanted a baby with Jiang Muyan, not to be used as an object, while he accused her of planning to find another man.
• Jiang Muyan handed Song Yutang a tablet and accused her of betraying his support for her after she tapped it open.

Jiang Muyan wrongly believed Song Yutang had arranged a sexual encounter with Du Yu and accused her of seeking other men, but she revealed the plan was meant to help President Zhao foil Li Zifeng and his mother's schemes. After repeatedly kicking Jiang Muyan off the bed, Song Yutang stopped when he admitted jealousy over her mentioning Li Zerui in her sleep.

• Jiang Muyan accused Song Yutang of arranging to meet Du Yu and finding other men behind his back.
• Song Yutang showed Jiang Muyan the messages explaining that Du Yu was being arranged to meet President Zhao as part of a plan against Li Zifeng and his mother.
• Song Yutang scolded Dong Ying for arranging sex toys and warned her not to endanger President Zhao with an overly stimulating plan.
• Song Yutang kicked Jiang Muyan off the bed repeatedly as he tried to apologize.
• Jiang Muyan confessed that he had misunderstood because Song Yutang said Li Zerui's name in her sleep and Du Yu had played Li Zerui, causing him to think she had a crush on him.

Jiang Muyan confessed that jealousy over Song Yutang’s dreams and messages had led him to mistreat her, and he repeatedly apologized as she confronted him. Song Yutang remained angry but massaged his aching back, while Jiang Muyan admitted he had feared she would find someone else.

• Jiang Muyan told Song Yutang he had mistaken her dreams about Li Zerui for romantic interest and had acted out of jealousy.
• Song Yutang scolded and struck Jiang Muyan with pillows, explaining that he had misread her messages and treated her like a slave.
• Jiang Muyan let Song Yutang hit him, then claimed his old back injury had worsened from sleeping on the couch.
• Song Yutang told Jiang Muyan to lie down and massaged his lower back, though she said she was still extremely angry.
• Jiang Muyan embraced Song Yutang from behind and apologized, confessing that he feared she would find someone else and no longer want him.

Song Yutang remained angry with Jiang Muyan after they reconciled, while he cared for her as she recovered from their exhausting night. The next morning, her anger flared again, and Jiang Muyan delightedly wondered if she was losing her temper with him.

• Song Yutang told Jiang Muyan she was still mad, but allowed him to kiss her before Li Xiulan called from outside their room.
• Song Yutang claimed she had a cold to keep Li Xiulan from seeing the wrecked room, then went back to sleep while Jiang Muyan arranged a nourishing meal.
• Jiang Muyan fed Song Yutang congee and glucose water, but she ignored him and kicked him off the bed several times before letting him share her blanket.
• The next morning, Song Yutang insisted on attending business school despite her soreness, then kicked Jiang Muyan off the bed when he suggested she skip class.
• Jiang Muyan took Song Yutang's hand and excitedly asked if she had just been losing her temper with him.

Song Yutang panicked when Jiang Muyan pointed out that she had yelled at and hit him, then tried to retreat into polite distance. Jiang Muyan drew out her anger again and reassured her that he wanted her to be herself, leaving Song Yutang more willing to trust him as he called Zhao Chuan to share that she had yelled at him.

• Jiang Muyan excitedly told Song Yutang that she had hit, kicked, and yelled at him, unlike their usual distant partnership.
• Song Yutang apologized and tried to call their quarrel even, but Jiang Muyan said he preferred her anger to her polite mask.
• Song Yutang fled to the bathroom to calm down, then returned to find Jiang Muyan holding the strip of cloth from the previous night and teasing her about punishment.
• Jiang Muyan admitted he wanted Song Yutang to be herself, and said they could adjust to each other; Song Yutang scolded him for breaking their agreement to talk through conflicts.
• Song Yutang left feeling that Jiang Muyan was someone she might trust with her life, while Jiang Muyan called Zhao Chuan to boast that she had yelled at him.

Jiang Muyan convinced himself that Song Yutang’s anger meant she considered him family, while Jiang Zhixia rejected Ji Chengyu’s attempt to play happy family with her and Tuantuan. After Lin Lu revealed that Guangguang needed a heart transplant, she suggested Tuantuan might be a suitable donor, leaving Ji Chengyu facing a horrifying possibility.

• Jiang Muyan told Gu Zheng that Song Yutang’s scolding proved he was special to her, but Gu Zheng dismissed his reasoning and hung up on him.
• Jiang Zhixia refused Ji Chengyu’s invitation to eat together, and Tuantuan pleaded with him not to scold her mother over Guangguang before Jiang Zhixia left with Song Yutang.
• Ji Chengyu grew angry as Jiang Zhixia drove away, then answered Lin Lu’s call about Guangguang’s end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy and urgent need for a heart transplant.
• Lin Lu blamed Ji Chengyu for her family’s suffering and warned she would not let him abandon her and Guangguang.
• Lin Lu suggested that Tuantuan might be a suitable heart donor because she and Guangguang were close in age and genetically related through Ji Chengyu’s brother.

Jiang Zhixia overheard Ji Chengyu and Lin Lu discussing taking Tuantuan’s heart for Lin Lu’s dying son, so she strengthened security and checked Ji Chengyu’s will. Meanwhile, Song Yutang continued to punish Jiang Muyan with the silent treatment, leaving him trying increasingly desperate ways to win her over.

• Lin Lu told Ji Chengyu she was pregnant and pressed him to consider taking Tuantuan’s heart for Guangguang, while he said he would come to see what could be done.
• Jiang Zhixia listened to their call, ordered heavier protection for herself and Tuantuan, and asked her lawyer to check whether Ji Chengyu had changed his will.
• Song Yutang rejected Jiang Muyan’s attempts to care for her and made him sleep on the sofa, kicking him away when he crept into bed.
• Song Yutang stayed cool toward Jiang Muyan for several days, and he researched ways to make her happy before seeking advice from male models at the Lan Residence.
• Jiang Muyan tried to charm Song Yutang in an open-collared shirt, but she only warned him to button it properly so he would not catch a cold.

Wen Jingyan’s pregnancy delighted the Jiang family, though Jiang Boyan’s blunt remarks about the family’s uncertain blood ties soured the celebration. As the family gathered around Wen Jingyan, Jiang Shiya claimed her depression was returning because she feared the baby would replace her.

• Song Yutang allowed Jiang Muyan to hold her while she considered whether to forgive him after a few more days.
• Jiang Dingkun announced that Wen Jingyan was pregnant, and Song Yutang and the family offered their congratulations and support.
• Jiang Boyan challenged the idea that Wen Jingyan’s child would be part of the Jiang bloodline, upsetting everyone at breakfast.
• Jiang Dingkun offered the unborn child only a longevity lock, while the second branch reacted with disappointment and Wen Jingyan thanked him.
• Chen Ruyin, Wu Caixia, and Jiang Sinian showed Wen Jingyan unusual care, prompting Jiang Shiya to say that the family would no longer care about her and that her depression was worsening.