Chapter Summaries

Liyan Galaxy Culture announced that Lu Chiyan had founded the company and would star in its film Red Spider, while he assured fans he would continue acting. As Lu Chiyan became consumed by the company and film preparations, Qin Sili grew lonely and increasingly short-tempered at work.

• Liyan Galaxy Culture announced Red Spider, and Lu Chiyan revealed that he had founded the company, invested in the film, and would star in it.
• The company invited job applications and script submissions, and Lu Chiyan told fans he intended to act for the rest of his life.
• Lu Chiyan became busy with the company and Red Spider's preproduction, leaving him little time to see Qin Sili.
• Qin Sili asked whether Lu Chiyan would come home for dinner, then darkened when Lu Chiyan said he would be away for a script read-through and makeup test.
• Qin Sili rejected the creative director's proposal and ordered him to redo it, frightening the director into fleeing.

After four months of filming Red Spider without seeing Qin Sili, Lu Chiyan prepared to complete his final scene with a jump from a six-story building. As he leaped in character, Little I’s voice suddenly returned.

• Lu Chiyan isolated himself at the production hotel to stay in character, and Qin Sili respected his wish not to visit the set.
• After four months apart, Lu Chiyan invited Qin Sili to the wrap party, and Qin Sili flew to Yun City a day early.
• Lu Chiyan insisted on performing his final scene, a wired jump from a six-story building, himself.
• Lu Chiyan acted out his character’s rooftop livestream and jumped, and Little I suddenly spoke to him again.

The system tried to erase Lu Chiyan by sabotaging his stunt rig, but the talisman saved him from the fall. After the world flickered into code and returned, Lu Chiyan realized the system was gone and everyone had awakened as real people.

• System Little I declared that it would erase the protagonists and create new ones to save the collapsing world.
• Lu Chiyan's stunt rig buckle came loose, sending him plummeting as the world around him flickered into numerical code.
• A talisman caught Lu Chiyan before he hit the ground, then burned to ash as he stood unharmed while everyone else froze.
• The world flickered into garbled code and returned, leaving everyone confused and seemingly awakened.
• Qin Sili rushed to Lu Chiyan and embraced him, and Lu Chiyan told him that everyone had come alive and the system was gone.

After the drama wrapped, Lu Chiyan treated his fans to a hot pot dinner and celebrated their reunion. He and Qin Sili reflected on how everyone had awakened, while Lu Chiyan ended the night singing for his fans.

• Lu Chiyan booked a hot pot restaurant for the fans who came to celebrate his wrap, and Qian Le brought them there to eat while they waited.
• At the set, Director Li realized he still loved his girlfriend and called her after Lu Chiyan encouraged him to follow his heart.
• Lu Chiyan told Qin Sili that he was glad everyone had awakened and could make their own choices and feel their own emotions.
• Lu Chiyan arrived at the restaurant, where his fans blocked the door and demanded a performance.
• Lu Chiyan agreed to sing for his fans, while Qin Sili watched from outside and joked to himself that the fans mattered more.

After its troubled production, Strange Tales of Luo City premiered to strong reviews, with viewers praising its story, visuals, and cast. Lu Chiyan was pleased by the reception but found that his fans were frightened by his performance.

• Strange Tales of Luo City premiered, and viewers who had expected a disaster praised its pacing, production, and cast.
• The drama and its actors, including Wen Zhao, Lu Chiyan, and Gu Xia'an, began trending on Weibo as viewers shared enthusiastic reactions.
• Lu Chiyan felt nervous about the premiere because this was the first drama he had filmed himself.
• Lu Chiyan read his Weibo comments and discovered that his fans found his unsettling smile so frightening that some planned to stop watching him until they finished the drama.

“Strange Tales of Luo City” became a record-breaking hit and won major awards for its cast and crew, including Wen Zhao, Lu Chiyan, and Gu Xia'an. Lu Chiyan’s film “Red Spider” then opened to enthusiastic praise, and he prepared a livestream to thank viewers and fans.

• “Strange Tales of Luo City” became the year’s most popular drama and swept awards for its cast and crew.
• Wen Zhao won Best New Actor and Best Actor, Lu Chiyan won Best Supporting Actor and Most Popular Actor, and Gu Xia'an won Best Actress for the drama.
• Lu Chiyan’s film “Red Spider” premiered to packed screenings and strong praise for its plot and his performance.
• Lu Chiyan nervously opened the trending topic #Lu Chiyan acting and found that viewers were praising him.
• Lu Chiyan prepared a livestream to thank fans and viewers for supporting “Red Spider.”

Lu Chiyan livestreamed from home to thank fans for supporting Red Spider and answered questions about filming and his upcoming work. He avoided questions about Qin Sili, but viewers kept asking about him, and Qin watched the comments from the study with a furrowed brow.

• Lu Chiyan began a casual livestream and greeted the many fans who joined to watch.
• Lu Chiyan discussed Red Spider, described jumping from a building on wires, and warned viewers not to try it themselves.
• Lu Chiyan revealed that he had finished filming Enter the Dream and planned to take a few days off before making another movie with Director Ying Feng.
• Lu Chiyan avoided questions about his relationship with Qin Sili because he wanted to keep Qin out of the attention and attacks directed at him.
• Qin Sili watched the livestream from his study and furrowed his brows as viewers continued asking about him.

Qin Sili tried to get Lu Chiyan’s attention during his livestream by sending him extravagant gifts, then used Lucky to deliver messages after Lu threatened to ban him. Lu Chiyan realized Qin wanted to appear on the stream, but had avoided mentioning him to protect him from the trouble that fame could bring.

• Qin Sili saw viewers comment about him and Lu Chiyan, then sent Lu a flood of airplane and yacht gifts when Lu did not mention him.
• Lu Chiyan noticed Qin was the donor and told him to stop, but Qin spent another two million on gifts because Lu had finally addressed him.
• Lu threatened to delete Qin’s account and ban him from the livestream, so Qin immediately stopped sending gifts.
• When viewers asked to see Qin, Lu said he was busy, and Lucky appeared with fruit and coffee carrying messages from its master.
• Lu Chiyan recognized Qin’s attempt to make his presence known and thought he had avoided mentioning Qin to protect him from the trouble of fame.

Qin Sili interrupted Lu Chiyan’s livestream to make him acknowledge their relationship, and Lu Chiyan played along before ending the broadcast. Two months later, Lu Chiyan won Best Actor for “Red Spider,” and Qin Sili celebrated him publicly.

• Qin Sili appeared during Lu Chiyan’s livestream and asked about a black suit, prompting excited comments from fans.
• Lu Chiyan played along with Qin Sili’s teasing and praised how handsome he looked before ending the livestream.
• After the broadcast, Lu Chiyan confronted Qin Sili, who admitted he wanted Lu Chiyan to publicly acknowledge his place in his life.
• Two months after its release, Lu Chiyan’s “Red Spider” claimed the domestic box-office record, and Lu Chiyan won Best Actor at the year-end awards.
• Lu Chiyan posted about his award on Weibo, and Qin Sili congratulated him with a photo from the ceremony.

After Lu Chiyan left Pei Zeyan alone with Wen Zhao at dinner, Pei Zeyan grew frustrated that Wen Zhao focused only on eating. Pei Zeyan devoured the food despite dieting for a role, then blamed Wen Zhao when his assistant caught him.

• Lu Chiyan left Pei Zeyan and Wen Zhao alone at the restaurant and returned to the imperial capital with Qin Sili.
• Pei Zeyan tried to make conversation, but Wen Zhao continued eating in silence.
• Pei Zeyan wondered whether Wen Zhao was truly interested in him, then decided he wanted the meal to end quickly.
• Pei Zeyan ate heavily despite having lost weight for a cancer-patient role, and Wen Zhao teased him about his hunger.
• Yangyang entered and saw the food piled in front of Pei Zeyan, so he blamed Wen Zhao; Jiangjiang arrived in time to hear him.

Pei Zeyan and Wen Zhao visited Lin Xu in the hospital, where Lin Xu had withdrawn after learning that he had lost his leg. Pei Zeyan coaxed him into eating by joking and turning the meal into a race, leaving Wen Zhao impressed as Lin Xu began eating on his own.

• Jiangjiang scolded Wen Zhao for eating too much, while Pei Zeyan worried that he would gain weight and attract mockery.
• Pei Zeyan joined Wen Zhao on a visit to Lin Xu at the hospital, where Lin Xu's mother said he had barely eaten and asked them to keep him company.
• Pei Zeyan pretended to crave Lin Xu's meal and shared some braised pork with him until Lin Xu finally started eating.
• Pei Zeyan teased Lin Xu about inviting him over after discharge and joked that whoever ate slower would have to wash the dishes.
• Pei Zeyan and Lin Xu began racing to finish their meals, and Wen Zhao admired Pei Zeyan for getting Lin Xu to eat.

Pei Zeyan and Wen Zhao took Lin Xu outside after lunch, then proposed playing badminton despite Lin Xu being unable to stand. The chapter left Lin Xu bewildered as his friends prepared to make him join their game.

• Pei Zeyan told Lin Xu's mother that everyone had enjoyed her food and promised they would visit for another meal.
• Pei Zeyan and Wen Zhao persuaded Lin Xu to leave the hospital room for a walk, and Lin Xu's mother brought his wheelchair.
• Pei Zeyan spotted a badminton court and asked Wen Zhao to fetch rackets and shuttlecocks.
• Wen Zhao returned with the equipment, and Pei Zeyan challenged him to play against him and Lin Xu.
• Lin Xu wondered whether anyone remembered that he was missing a leg and could not stand.

Pei Zeyan encouraged Lin Xu to play badminton, helping him regain confidence and decide to pursue a prosthetic leg. Afterward, Wen Zhao openly told Pei Zeyan that friendship was not the relationship he wanted, leaving Pei Zeyan bewildered.

• Pei Zeyan made Lin Xu and Wen Zhao play badminton from their wheelchairs, and Lin Xu gradually grew confident and enjoyed the game.
• Lin Xu thanked Pei Zeyan and Wen Zhao, then asked his mother to contact a doctor who made prosthetics and promised he would live well.
• Pei Zeyan and Wen Zhao left Lin Xu's room, and Pei Zeyan said he would return to the set the next day.
• Wen Zhao admitted he could not bear Pei Zeyan leaving and said being good friends was never the relationship he wanted.
• Wen Zhao wheeled away before Pei Zeyan could respond, leaving Pei Zeyan confused about what he meant.

Pei Zeyan worried that Wen Zhao had cut ties with him after weeks without a message, but Lu Chiyan’s teasing rumor sparked an angry phone call that revealed Wen Zhao had never meant to end their relationship. Pei Zeyan eventually demanded an apology and accepted it, leaving the two on friendly terms.

• After half a month without hearing from Wen Zhao, Pei Zeyan asked Lu Chiyan whether Wen Zhao was busy and claimed Wen Zhao had cut ties with him.
• Lu Chiyan told Wen Zhao what Pei Zeyan had said, and Wen Zhao explained that Pei Zeyan had misunderstood their last exchange.
• Lu Chiyan falsely told Pei Zeyan that Wen Zhao had insulted his script-reading ability, prompting Pei Zeyan to call Wen Zhao and angrily protest.
• When Wen Zhao invited Pei Zeyan to declare that they were cutting ties, Pei Zeyan stammered and hung up, saying he would do it another time.
• Pei Zeyan called back to demand an apology, and Wen Zhao apologized; Pei Zeyan said he would let it slide.

After filming, Pei Zeyan tried to chat with Wen Zhao, but their exchange left him confused about why Wen Zhao seemed upset. He asked his assistant to find out whether Wen Zhao would attend an upcoming fashion gala.

• Pei Zeyan sent Wen Zhao a meme and complained that Wen Zhao had nothing to say to him as an ordinary friend.
• Wen Zhao argued that ordinary friends did not chat every day, and stopped replying after Pei Zeyan brought up chatting daily with Lin Xu.
• Pei Zeyan asked Lu Chiyan whether ordinary friends could chat every day, and Lu Chiyan warned him that Wen Zhao was angry and he should go soothe him.
• Pei Zeyan dismissed Lu Chiyan's advice, then asked Niannian to check whether Wen Zhao would attend the fashion gala in three days.

Pei Zeyan learned Wen Zhao would attend the fashion gala and ended up walking the red carpet beside him, where reporters enthusiastically chanted their pairing’s slogan. Wen Zhao’s smooth response left Pei Zeyan flustered, and he blamed Wen Zhao as they entered the venue.

• Niannian told Pei Zeyan that Wen Zhao had received an invitation to the gala, and Pei Zeyan pretended not to care.
• Pei Zeyan and Wen Zhao discovered that they had been assigned to walk the red carpet together, and each suspected the other had arranged it.
• Pei Zeyan claimed Niannian had asked him to get Wen Zhao’s autograph, and Wen Zhao promised to sign a photo for her.
• Reporters chanted “Zhao and Yan Under Heaven” when Pei Zeyan and Wen Zhao appeared on the red carpet.
• Wen Zhao thanked the crowd and said he would work hard to live up to their attention, prompting Pei Zeyan to echo him awkwardly.
• Pei Zeyan blamed Wen Zhao for getting swept into the response, and Wen Zhao teased him before heading to his seat.

Pei Zeyan tried to deny his feelings for Wen Zhao after their red-carpet appearance, but his reactions at Wen Zhao’s performance and in a backstage interview fueled more shipping rumors. Wen Zhao left for filming after giving Pei Zeyan his signed photo and teasing him about asking for his schedule, while Pei Zeyan kept the photo and insisted he was not hoping to see him again soon.

• Pei Zeyan found himself trending with Wen Zhao and became flustered after seeing a photo that made his heart race.
• Pei Zeyan tried to keep a blank expression but became visibly excited when Wen Zhao performed at the gala.
• Pei Zeyan claimed in a backstage interview that he had not watched Wen Zhao’s performance, and Wen Zhao remarked that the trending topics were entertaining.
• Pei Zeyan saw new trending topics mocking his denial, while Niannian pointed out that he had watched Wen Zhao intently.
• Wen Zhao gave Pei Zeyan the signed photo and said he would finish filming on the sixteenth next month, teasing him about asking for his schedule.
• Pei Zeyan reclaimed the signed photo from Niannian and insisted that he would still go to dinner despite Wen Zhao’s departure.

Pei Zeyan sought online advice about Wen Zhao’s mixed signals and began to question whether he had feelings for him. The consultant suggested Wen Zhao was keeping him on the hook, then ended the free session and offered paid packages.

• Pei Zeyan grew frustrated by Wen Zhao’s occasional photos and restrained replies, while looking forward to each new message.
• Pei Zeyan clicked an advertisement and began chatting with the WeChat contact Happiness Expert about Wen Zhao’s confession and their strained friendship.
• Happiness Expert suggested Pei Zeyan might be the one with unacknowledged feelings, and asked whether he would want to stay friends with anyone else who confessed to him.
• Pei Zeyan realized he felt no disgust imagining Wen Zhao kissing him and wondered if he was attracted to Wen Zhao.
• Pei Zeyan asked why Wen Zhao had become less responsive, and Happiness Expert guessed Wen Zhao was keeping him on the hook before demanding payment to continue.

Pei Zeyan paid Happiness Expert for advice on Wen Zhao’s behavior and followed a plan to make Wen Zhao jealous. After a long day of filming, Wen Zhao noticed Pei Zeyan’s new WeChat Moment instead of receiving a message from him.

• Pei Zeyan decided Happiness Expert was probably a scammer but transferred 1,888 RMB for a lifetime package anyway.
• Happiness Expert told Pei Zeyan that Wen Zhao was keeping him curious by replying selectively and suggested making Wen Zhao jealous.
• Pei Zeyan posted a WeChat Moment visible only to Wen Zhao, showing a meal for two and saying he had made a new friend.
• Wen Zhao finished work late, checked WeChat for Pei Zeyan’s message, and saw the new Moment instead.

Wen Zhao realized Pei Zeyan’s restaurant post was visible only to him and happily liked it. Pei Zeyan saw the like but, disappointed that Wen Zhao had sent no message, wondered if his phone signal was failing.

• Wen Zhao questioned how Pei Zeyan had eaten at a restaurant that was being renovated while filming all day.
• Wen Zhao asked the assistant director about Pei Zeyan’s schedule and learned Pei Zeyan had filmed from morning until night.
• Wen Zhao borrowed Jiangjiang’s phone and confirmed Pei Zeyan’s Moments post was hidden from her.
• Wen Zhao liked Pei Zeyan’s post, pleased that Pei Zeyan was learning to play along with him.
• Pei Zeyan waited for Wen Zhao’s reaction, then saw the like and wondered why no message had arrived.