Chapter Summaries

Lu Chiyan and Xie Tongchu exchanged sarcastic remarks when they met on the set of "Strange Tales of Luo City." After warning Lu Chiyan that Xie Tongchu seemed hostile, Gu Xia'an was told to watch out for herself too.

• Lu Chiyan greeted Xie Tongchu and Gu Xia'an when they met for the production.
• Xie Tongchu mocked Lu Chiyan for supposedly chasing trending searches instead of focusing on acting.
• Lu Chiyan retorted that Xie Tongchu had also appeared on trending searches when his movie came out, making Xie Tongchu's expression darken.
• Yan Shengting called everyone to sit, and Lu Chiyan took the seat beside Gu Xia'an.
• Gu Xia'an warned Lu Chiyan that Xie Tongchu seemed ill-intentioned, and Lu Chiyan told her to be careful of her male lead.

At the cast dinner, Xie Tongchu and Gu Xia'an toasted Director Yan Shengting, prompting the other actors to follow. Lu Chiyan eventually joined them, dismissing Xie Tongchu's claim that he could hold his liquor before downing his glass for the director.

• Xie Tongchu praised Yan Shengting and drained a glass in a toast, while glancing at Lu Chiyan provocatively.
• Gu Xia'an toasted Yan Shengting after worrying that she would seem rude if she did not follow Xie Tongchu's lead.
• The supporting actors began toasting Yan Shengting, and Gu Xia'an prompted Lu Chiyan to join them.
• Xie Tongchu challenged Lu Chiyan's reputation for holding his liquor, but Lu Chiyan said the claim was a rumor and toasted Yan Shengting instead.
• Lu Chiyan drained his glass to thank Yan Shengting for the opportunity to work with him.

At a cast dinner, Lu Chiyan turned Xie Tongchu’s attempt to mock his eating into a chance to please Director Yan Shengting. The exchange left Xie Tongchu frustrated and Gu Xia'an trying to hide her laughter.

• Lu Chiyan toasted Yan Shengting with flattering words, and Yan Shengting happily drank with him.
• Lu Chiyan ate several bowls of rice while Gu Xia'an watched hungrily and teased him about gaining weight.
• Xie Tongchu implied that Lu Chiyan was unprofessional for eating freely before filming began.
• Lu Chiyan said Yan Shengting had told him to gain weight, and Yan Shengting confirmed he had followed the director’s advice.
• Lu Chiyan offered Xie Tongchu rice, then joked that water suited him better because he needed to lose weight, making Gu Xia'an laugh.

Qin Sili unexpectedly arrived at the private room where Lu Chiyan was eating with Yan Shengting and the others. He sat beside Lu Chiyan and asked about his drinking, while Lu Chiyan wondered why he had come.

• Lu Chiyan told Qin Sili by message that he had not finished eating, and Qin Sili left his car and headed inside.
• Yan Shengting announced that President Qin was coming, then welcomed Qin Sili into the private room.
• Qin Sili claimed he had been nearby and stopped in after work, though Lu Chiyan doubted his explanation.
• Gu Xia'an gave up her seat beside Lu Chiyan, and Qin Sili sat there.
• Qin Sili noticed Lu Chiyan's empty wineglass, and Lu Chiyan asked why he had come; Qin Sili asked whether he was not allowed to.

At a cast-and-crew dinner, Lu Chiyan learned that Qin Sili had invested an extra fifty million in their drama. When Xie Tongchu thanked Qin for supporting him, Qin rebuked him after hearing Lu Chiyan’s jealous thoughts, leaving the gathering tense.

• Yan Shengting thanked Qin Sili for investing in the drama after its original investor withdrew.
• Lu Chiyan was surprised to learn that Qin Sili had invested in the production without telling him.
• Xie Tongchu thanked Qin Sili for having faith in and supporting him and the drama.
• Lu Chiyan privately resented Xie Tongchu for claiming Qin’s support, and Qin Sili heard his thoughts.
• Qin Sili challenged Xie Tongchu’s claim, and Xie Tongchu explained that he was the male lead.
• Qin Sili sarcastically accused Xie Tongchu of making himself look important.

Qin Sili bluntly defended Lu Chiyan when Xie Tongchu tried to assert his status as male lead, leaving Xie to apologize and drink. Qin Sili then left the dinner with Lu Chiyan, while Yan Shengting hurried to ask if he was leaving.

• Qin Sili said he had invested in the drama because Lu Chiyan took a role and that he did not care who played the male lead.
• Xie Tongchu realized Qin Sili was backing Lu Chiyan, then apologized and drank a glass to smooth things over.
• Yan Shengting grew regretful about choosing Xie Tongchu as the male lead, judging him too impatient and self-serving.
• Lu Chiyan praised Qin Sili for standing up for him, and Qin Sili asked if he had finished eating.
• Qin Sili and Lu Chiyan stood to leave, and Yan Shengting hurriedly asked Qin Sili if he was leaving.

Qin Sili and Lu Chiyan left a cast dinner and joked about Lu Chiyan gaining weight for his role, then bickered about going to a hotel. A paparazzo filmed them leaving, and a misleading video made it look like their relationship was in trouble.

• Qin Sili asked Director Yan if he could take Lu Chiyan away, and Lu Chiyan promised to gain five jin before filming.
• Qin Sili squeezed Lu Chiyan's waist, and Lu Chiyan teased him about having a slim waist.
• Lu Chiyan said he would stay at a hotel, and Qin Sili suggested they could try one together.
• A paparazzo secretly filmed Lu Chiyan walking away from Qin Sili and posted the video online.
• The gossip account claimed Lu Chiyan and Qin Sili had argued, and the hashtag about their fight began trending.

Lu Chiyan insisted on staying at a hotel without Qin Sili, who followed him and booked a presidential suite. Lu Chiyan got a separate king room and headed to the elevators, leaving Qin Sili behind.

• Lu Chiyan asked Qin Sili where they were going when he noticed the car was not heading to the Qin residence.
• Qin Sili took Lu Chiyan to a hotel, and Lu Chiyan decided to go through with staying there rather than back out.
• Qin Sili asked the receptionist for a presidential suite, while Lu Chiyan requested a separate king room.
• Lu Chiyan told the receptionist he was not with Qin Sili and claimed the first place in line; Qin Sili obediently waited behind him.
• The receptionist gave Lu Chiyan the key card to room 1808, and he went toward the elevators without looking back at Qin Sili.

After Qin Sili and Lu Chiyan booked separate hotel rooms, people online speculated that they had fought and broken up. Lu Chiyan checked his unread messages, including Qian Le’s questions about the rumors, but the chapter ended before he replied.

• Qin Sili followed Lu Chiyan to the elevators, but Lu Chiyan shut him out and went to his room alone.
• The receptionist and her coworker wondered whether Qin Sili and Lu Chiyan had fought and broken up after seeing them book separate rooms.
• Hotel guests posted photos of Qin Sili and Lu Chiyan online, and commenters argued over whether the couple was still together.
• Lu Chiyan entered his room and opened WeChat to read messages from Qian Le, Pei Zeyan, Gu Xia'an, and the [Successors to Socialism] group.
• Qian Le messaged Lu Chiyan asking about his dinner with Director Yan, Qin Sili’s appearance, and the fight rumors.

Lu Chiyan discovered that rumors about him and Qin Sili fighting and breaking up had sent them trending. He and Qin Sili denied the breakup in their group chat, where the gossip had sparked lively discussion.

• Lu Chiyan checked Weibo after Qian Le told him to and found trending rumors that he and Qin Sili had fought, broken up, and booked separate hotel rooms.
• Lu Chiyan told Qian Le that the rumors were false and said he and Qin Sili had not fought.
• Qian Le teased Lu Chiyan about booking a cheaper room, then arranged to pick him up for his makeup test and costume photos the next morning.
• Lu Chiyan opened the [Successors to Socialism] group chat and saw the others debating the rumors about him and Qin Sili.
• Qin Sili denied the breakup, telling the group it would not happen even in their next lives and advising them to stop reading nonsense.

Lu Chiyan was relaxing in his hotel room when repeated, unanswered doorbell rings made him suspect the hotel was haunted. He opened the door and was pulled inside by a mysterious figure, who kissed him fiercely.

• Pei Zeyan questioned Lu Chiyan about rumors involving him and Brother Sili in the group chat.
• Zhou Siyan explained that he, Wen Zhao, and Xue Bei had eaten together, and that Xue Bei was Wen Zhao's fan.
• Lu Chiyan set aside his phone and went to run a bath in his hotel room.
• Lu Chiyan heard the doorbell ring repeatedly but saw no one through the peephole.
• Lu Chiyan opened the door, and a dark figure pulled him inside, pinned him against the entryway, and kissed him.

Qin Sili surprised Lu Chiyan in his room and kissed him, then carried him into the bathtub despite his protests. The chapter ended with Qin Sili beginning to unbutton his shirt as Lu Chiyan glared at him from the tub.

• Qin Sili forcefully kissed Lu Chiyan, who struggled to push him away.
• Qin Sili teased Lu Chiyan about having taken off his shirt and suggested they shower together.
• Lu Chiyan told Qin Sili to leave, but Qin Sili insisted they had not tried being together in a hotel yet.
• Qin Sili hoisted Lu Chiyan over his shoulder and carried him to the bathroom.
• Qin Sili put Lu Chiyan into the full bathtub, where he fell in and got soaked.
• Qin Sili began unbuttoning his shirt as Lu Chiyan protested from the tub.

Lu Chiyan impulsively stripped Qin Sili and kissed him, and the two spent the night together in the bathtub. Near dawn, Qin Sili finally let the exhausted Lu Chiyan sleep while holding him close.

• Lu Chiyan admired Qin Sili's physique as Qin Sili undid his shirt buttons.
• Impatient, Lu Chiyan pulled Qin Sili's shirt off and kissed him.
• Qin Sili and Lu Chiyan tumbled into the bathtub and became intimate.
• Lu Chiyan begged Qin Sili to stop, but Qin Sili teased him about calling him big brother and continued.
• Near dawn, Qin Sili held Lu Chiyan as he fell asleep and watched him with affection.

After waking up sore and naked following the night with Qin Sili, Lu Chiyan discovered that Qin had thrown away his clothes and demanded that he bring replacements. Qin agreed, leaving Lu Chiyan waiting in his hotel room as Qian Le arrived.

• Qian Le called Lu Chiyan and told him to get up because he was on his way.
• Lu Chiyan woke fully, remembered the previous night's encounter with Qin Sili, and found himself alone and without clothes.
• Lu Chiyan called Qin Sili and demanded to know where his clothes were.
• Qin Sili said he had ruined and thrown away Lu Chiyan's clothes, then teased him about inviting him to bring a replacement set.
• Lu Chiyan finally invited Qin Sili to bring clothes, and Qin agreed just as Qian Le knocked at the door.

Lu Chiyan refused to let Qian Le into his room because he had no clothes on, so Qin Sili brought him an outfit and let himself in with a key card. Qin Sili stayed to watch Lu Chiyan change, despite Lu Chiyan telling him to leave.

• Qian Le arrived to take Lu Chiyan to a script read-through, but Lu Chiyan refused to open the door because he was naked.
• Qin Sili arrived with a bag of clothes and opened the door using a key card.
• Qian Le saw Lu Chiyan wrapped tightly in a quilt, then waited outside after Qin Sili signaled him to do so.
• Qin Sili gave Lu Chiyan clothes from C, which suited Lu Chiyan's taste.
• Lu Chiyan told Qin Sili to leave, but Qin Sili sat on the sofa and told him to go ahead and change.

Lu Chiyan discovered he was trending again after Qian Le found him outside Qin Sili's room, and learned that people were accusing him of buying his way into the cast and trying to replace the male lead. The script read-through had been canceled, leaving Lu Chiyan to face the rumor.

• Lu Chiyan dressed after joking with Qin Sili, then headed for the door.
• Lu Chiyan found Qian Le waiting in the hallway and learned he was trending again.
• Qian Le told Lu Chiyan the script read-through had been canceled.
• Lu Chiyan pulled Qian Le into the room and shut the door on Qin Sili.
• Qian Le said people were accusing Lu Chiyan of buying his way into the cast, pushing out the second male lead, and planning to replace the male lead.

Lu Chiyan discovered that rumors accused him of buying his way into Strange Tales of Luo City and trying to replace its male lead. Qin Sili denied replacing the lead, while the controversy forced the production team to cancel the script read-through.

• Lu Chiyan saw several trending topics claiming he had bought his way into the cast and wanted the male lead's role.
• Qian Le told Lu Chiyan that he had been the production's only choice for the second male lead.
• Lu Chiyan wondered whether Qin Sili had arranged to replace the male lead, then dragged him into the room to ask.
• Qin Sili denied replacing the male lead and asked whether Lu Chiyan wanted to play the role.
• Qian Le said fans were flooding the production's official Weibo account, so the director canceled that day's script read-through.

Lu Chiyan went live to address rumors that he was replacing Xie Tongchu as the male lead, while Qin Sili held his phone. He began responding to the trending topic, but the chapter ended before he explained further.

• Lu Chiyan refused to take the blame for the unsubstantiated rumors and started a livestream.
• Qin Sili crouched in front of Lu Chiyan and held his phone while the livestream audience surged.
• Viewers argued in the comments, with some accusing Lu Chiyan of stealing Xie Tongchu’s role and others defending him.
• Lu Chiyan said the trending topic had canceled his planned script read-through and that he was going live to respond to it.

Lu Chiyan addressed the trending rumors about his role in Strange Tales of Luo City during a livestream, admitting Qin Sili’s investment could be called buying his way into the cast but clarifying that he had secured the role first. He denied taking another actor’s role or trying to replace the male lead, and apologized for the trouble the rumors caused the production team.

• Lu Chiyan took Qian Le’s phone and began responding to the trending topics one by one.
• Lu Chiyan admitted that Qin Sili’s investment could count as buying his way into the cast, but said Qin believed the drama would make money.
• Lu Chiyan swore that the director had approached no other actor for the second male lead role and denied taking it from someone else.
• Lu Chiyan mocked the rumor that he wanted to replace the male lead, noting that he had signed his contract and nearly memorized his lines.
• Lu Chiyan said he fought for the role before Qin Sili invested, denied having the power to replace the male lead, and apologized to the production team for the disruption.

After Xie Tongchu's contract termination sparked rumors that Lu Chiyan had forced him out of Strange Tales of Luo City, Lu Chiyan was attacked online again. Qian Le learned that the director had replaced Xie Tongchu, leaving Lu Chiyan wondering why.

• After ending his livestream, Lu Chiyan saw Xie Tongchu post a cryptic message, and rumors spread that Xie Tongchu had left Strange Tales of Luo City.
• Fans spotted Xie Tongchu at the airport, and netizens accused Lu Chiyan of lying about replacing him and demanded that Lu Chiyan leave the drama.
• Lu Chiyan asked Qin Sili about the rumors, and Qin Sili said others could have replaced Xie Tongchu.
• Lu Chiyan refused Qin Sili's offer to remove the story from the trending list, worried it would fuel accusations that he used his influence.
• Qian Le called to investigate and told Lu Chiyan that the director had replaced Xie Tongchu himself.
• Lu Chiyan asked why the director had changed his mind after seeming pleased with Xie Tongchu the night before.