Chapter Summaries

Chi Li delivered a flawless performance on the new music show “signal,” drawing an enormous response from the audience. The premiere broke viewership records, and after the first week Chi Li had gained more attention and a larger fanbase.

• The singers before Chi Li each gave memorable performances, and the crowd chanted Chi Li’s name when he was announced.
• Chi Li performed a tightly controlled, high-energy song and dance that thrilled the audience.
• After his performance, Chi Li met Jiang Yue, who praised his growth and said he was glad to have met him.
• Jiang Yue told Chi Li he would not disgrace the active idols before heading onstage.
• The premiere of “signal” broke the record for first-day live-streamed variety-show viewership, and clips of every performance spread across platforms.
• After the first week, Chi Li’s perfect attendance drew the most attention, expanding his fanbase and earning him more listeners willing to pay for his songs.

Chi Li balanced his success on “Signal” with preparations for Old Friends of Mountains and Rivers, then reunited with Shen Xunye by video call after a busy day. The call turned flirtatious, and Shen Xunye began guiding Chi Li through an intimate long-distance encounter.

• Chi Li released a new song for the next round of “Signal” after placing first three times, then announced he would join Old Friends of Mountains and Rivers.
• Chi Li and An Che discussed their roles before the other actors arrived for a table read led by An Yihe.
• After returning to his hotel, Chi Li checked “Signal” rankings and watched performances before accepting Shen Xunye’s video call.
• Shen Xunye teased Chi Li about not being together and admitted he wanted to make up for their lack of intimacy.
• Shen Xunye asked Chi Li to follow his instructions, then told him to look at him and open his mouth.

Chi Li and Shen Xunye shared an intimate phone call, then joked about fanfiction. At dinner after the cast’s table read, An Yihe defended his film’s casting against public criticism, while An Che’s teasing left him exasperated.

• Shen Xunye talked Chi Li through an intimate moment over the phone and asked him to wait for his visit.
• Chi Li hid his face afterward, and Shen Xunye joked that fanfiction had taught him new things.
• The cast finished their table read, and An Yihe treated the main cast to dinner without alcohol before the opening ceremony.
• An Yihe told the cast that the louder the film’s critics became, the more confident he felt about casting newcomers.
• Chi Li said he would focus on acting well, while An Che admitted he often imagined proving critics wrong.
• An Che teased An Yihe about being the flaw in his life, and the others restrained An Yihe when he rose to scold his son.

Chi Li advised An Che to use Shen Yu as a reference for portraying Shen Jinglan’s restrained emotions, and An Che eagerly accepted the idea. At the start of filming, An Che played Shen Jinglan in a scene where Jiang Buyi challenged his determination to pursue the dangerous investigation, and Jiang Buyi began to reveal how his master died.

• Chi Li reassured An Yihe that he had a way to help An Che perform the role well.
• Chi Li suggested An Che study Shen Yu’s expressions, and An Che realized he could use that as an excuse to pester him.
• After the opening ceremony for Old Friends of Mountains and Rivers, filming began with An Che’s scene as Shen Jinglan.
• In the ruined-temple scene, Shen Jinglan insisted on continuing the investigation despite Jiang Buyi’s warnings and recalled his father’s lesson to see things through.
• Jiang Buyi called Shen Jinglan’s choice courting death, then asked whether he knew how his master had died.

Shen Jinglan agreed to take Jiang Buyi somewhere safe before continuing his investigation, while Jiang Buyi tried to persuade him to wait. On set, An Yihe praised Chi Li for helping An Che find a fitting acting method, and Shen Xunye watched Chi Li perform a fight scene.

• Jiang Buyi told Shen Jinglan that his master had died after pursuing a lead too recklessly and urged Shen Jinglan to wait before investigating further.
• Shen Jinglan said he would take Jiang Buyi somewhere safe, then continue alone, and Jiang Buyi angrily hauled him over to warm himself by the fire.
• An Yihe called the scene a keeper and thanked Chi Li for helping An Che find an acting method that suited him.
• Filming went more smoothly as An Che and Chi Li continued working with An Yihe.
• Shen Xunye visited the set and watched Chi Li perform an acrobatic fight scene, which An Yihe praised as a delight to watch.

Shen Xunye visited Chi Li on set, and the two reunited passionately after more than a month apart. After filming wrapped, a bonus clip and a paparazzi sighting of Chi Li with An Che sparked a new fan group shipping them.

• An Yihe praised Chi Li's charm on set and called for another take.
• Chi Li and Shen Xunye teased An Che about notifying Shen Yu that he was waiting eagerly for a visit.
• Chi Li and Shen Xunye discussed their work over dinner, then went back to their room and spent the night together.
• An Che asked whether Chi Li's back could handle his fight scenes, and Chi Li admitted he was still sore.
• After two and a half months, Old Friends of Mountains and Rivers wrapped filming, and An Che got drunk at the party.
• The drama released a bonus clip, and a paparazzi report of Chi Li and An Che returning to the hotel together led fans to start shipping them.

Online rumors about Chi Li and An Che intensified after An Che promoted their CP, while Shen Xunye learned that Shen Yu was planning a vacation with An Che. Chi Li agreed to travel with them, choosing to rest before returning to the stage.

• An Che liked and tipped posts shipping him with Chi Li, sending their CP to the top of the rankings.
• Shen Xunye confronted Shen Yu about An Che's online activity and learned Shen Yu planned to finish work soon and take An Che on vacation.
• Shen Yu admitted he and An Che were not officially a couple and said he had not told An Che about the vacation plan.
• Shen Xunye relayed Shen Yu's plans to An Che, who was delighted and asked where they would go.
• Shen Xunye asked Chi Li whether he wanted to join the trip, and Chi Li agreed to go with them.

An Che’s vacation with Shen Yu, Shen Xunye, and Chi Li drew attention from fans in Han Country, then turned into a plan to visit a nightclub. After Chi Li disguised himself in a dress, Shen Xunye canceled the outing and sent Shen Yu and An Che away, leaving An Che to suspect he had been used.

• An Che, Shen Yu, Shen Xunye, and Chi Li traveled to Han Country, where fans recognized Chi Li and their trip became a topic of online discussion.
• An Che complained about the scenery and suggested going to a nightclub, so Chi Li disguised himself in a black dress and wig.
• Shen Xunye decided Chi Li stood out too much and canceled the nightclub visit, pushing Shen Yu and An Che out of the room.
• An Che wondered whether Shen Xunye had used him to arrange Chi Li’s disguise.

Shen Xunye eagerly admired Chi Li in his disguise and confessed that he wanted to see him in many different outfits. Chi Li teased him and let him continue, leaving Shen Xunye kissing his leg.

• Shen Xunye shut the door and admitted he wanted Chi Li all to himself.
• Chi Li stopped Shen Xunye from rushing ahead and posed for him on the bed.
• Chi Li asked whether Shen Xunye liked him better in women's clothes, and Shen Xunye said he wanted to see many versions of him.
• Shen Xunye knelt, held Chi Li's ankle, and kissed his leg as Chi Li teased him.

Chi Li and Shen Xunye spent an intimate night at the hotel before traveling with An Che and Shen Yu to Japan. At their hot spring hotel, Shen Xunye turned a promised massage into another seduction and carried Chi Li toward the bedroom.

• Shen Xunye teased Chi Li in their hotel room, then spent the night with him.
• At lunch, An Che asked Chi Li and Shen Xunye about their night, and Shen Xunye joked that An Che should see his sister-in-law more often.
• After shopping, Chi Li, Shen Xunye, An Che, and Shen Yu flew to Japan and checked into a hot spring hotel.
• After his online meeting, Shen Xunye joined Chi Li in the hot spring and massaged his legs and thighs.
• Shen Xunye carried Chi Li from the bath toward the Japanese-style bedroom to continue serving him.

Chi Li announced his upcoming concerts and performed his first show before fifty thousand fans. As the audience sang and chanted his name, he realized he was not alone onstage.

• After returning from their trip, Chi Li prepared for his next public appearance while Shen Xunye and Shen Yu returned to work and An Che began training.
• Chi Li announced his new album and upcoming concerts on "signal," prompting fans to discuss ticket sales and possible guests.
• Fans booked nearby hotels and sold out every ticket in one second when sales opened.
• At his first concert, Chi Li rose onto the stage and sang before a sea of fifty thousand fans and their blue lights.
• Chi Li pointed his microphone toward the crowd during the chorus and felt overwhelmed by the voices singing with him.
• After the final song, Chi Li waved as the audience chanted his name and swayed their glow sticks.

Chi Li attended Starlight Entertainment’s annual gala, where An Che and Shen Yu revealed their relationships and Shen Xunye introduced Chi Li as his boyfriend. After the Shen brothers left early with their boyfriends, An Che discussed the upcoming awards-season red carpets, and Chi Li said he would only show his face.

• At Starlight Entertainment’s annual gala, Chi Li answered questions about filming with An Yihe and said An Yihe had never lost his temper with him.
• An Che arrived and called himself Chi Li’s family member, prompting the guests to gossip about their relationships.
• Shen Yu introduced Shen Xunye as his younger brother, and Shen Xunye confirmed that they shared the same mother.
• An Che called Shen Yu his boyfriend, and Shen Xunye introduced Chi Li as his boyfriend.
• Shen Yu asked the guests not to discuss his relationship with An Che publicly, then he and Shen Xunye left the gala early with their boyfriends.
• An Che talked with Chi Li about the upcoming red carpets, and Chi Li said he was only going to show his face.

Shen Xunye told Chi Li that Shen Yu had agreed to a marriage alliance, prompting them to wonder what it meant for Shen Yu and An Che. The next day, Chi Li and An Che attended a promotional event for Old Friends of Mountains and Rivers, where they walked the red carpet and answered reporters’ questions.

• Shen Xunye told Chi Li that Old Madam Shen had suggested a marriage alliance for Shen Yu and that Shen Yu had agreed.
• Chi Li and Shen Xunye discussed Shen Yu and An Che’s relationship, then joked and kissed about their own love story lacking enough twists and turns.
• Chi Li and An Che arrived together at a promotional event for Old Friends of Mountains and Rivers and walked the red carpet.
• Chi Li told reporters that getting up at a fixed time was the hardest part of making his first wuxia movie, while An Che said the fight scenes were most challenging.

After Old Friends of Mountains and Rivers became a hit, Chi Li and An Che earned widespread praise and major awards, while Shen Xunye’s family rejected his wish to go public with Chi Li until Chi Li turned thirty. After the awards dinner, An Che followed Chi Li out to ask him something.

• Chi Li and An Che joked comfortably during a red-carpet interview, then left to attend the event.
• Old Friends of Mountains and Rivers overtook another family comedy at the box office and stayed in the lead through its theatrical run.
• At a family gathering, Shen Ling, Shen Yu, Old Madam Shen, and Shen Wei told Shen Xunye to wait until Chi Li turned thirty before going public with their relationship.
• Chi Li teased Shen Xunye that they would go public when Shen Xunye turned thirty, and Shen Xunye accepted the shorter wait.
• Chi Li won four awards at the music gala and Best New Actor at the film and television gala, while Old Friends of Mountains and Rivers won several awards.
• After Chi Li left the awards dinner, An Che followed him out and said he had something to ask.

An Che asked Chi Li for an invitation to Shen Yu’s engagement party so he could see whether Shen Yu had a heart, and Shen Yu agreed. At the party, Shen Qiang livestreamed his candid conversation with Chi Li and Shen Xunye, ending with Shen Xunye asking Chi Li to let him keep their own engagement party simple.

• An Che asked Chi Li to get him an invitation to Shen Yu’s engagement party, and Shen Yu agreed when Chi Li contacted him.
• An Che told Chi Li he only wanted to see whether Shen Yu had a heart and what it looked like.
• Shen Qiang arrived at Shen Yu’s engagement party with a livestream crew and revealed that Shen Yu, Shen Xunye, and he were brothers.
• Shen Qiang encountered Chi Li and Shen Xunye at the dessert area and interviewed them on camera.
• Shen Xunye finished Chi Li’s cake, complained about the elaborate party, and asked Chi Li to let him make their own engagement party simple.

Chi Li and Shen Xunye went on Shen Qiang’s livestream and publicly showed their affection before leaving together. At the engagement party, An Che met Shen Qiang and led him into a locked lounge, while Shen Yu arrived outside more than twenty minutes later.

• Chi Li exposed Shen Qiang and Shen Xunye’s attempt to stay off camera, then raised the camera so he and Shen Xunye appeared on the livestream.
• Chi Li invited Shen Xunye to show fanservice, and Shen Xunye kissed his cheek on camera, delighting the viewers.
• Shen Xunye tried to take Chi Li to the lounge, but Chi Li said he was waiting for An Che, so Shen Xunye took his hand and led him away.
• After An Che arrived at the engagement party, Shen Qiang met him and suggested they pursue an in-depth collaboration.
• An Che took Shen Qiang to a lounge, locked the door, and joked that he had brought him there to do him.
• More than twenty minutes later, Shen Yu arrived outside the lounge and found the door locked with no answer to his knocks.

Shen Yu and An Che confronted their unresolved feelings at the engagement banquet, and Shen Yu revealed why he had accepted the marriage alliance. They agreed to be honest with each other and left together to eat.

• Shen Yu checked on An Che in the lounge, where Shen Qiang appeared and flirted with An Che before Shen Yu sent him away.
• Shen Yu tried to take An Che home, but An Che said he still wanted to find another CEO and insisted Shen Yu had no right to control him.
• Shen Yu told An Che he wanted them to be together exclusively, and An Che demanded to know whether Shen Yu would hurt someone else too.
• Shen Yu explained that his engagement helped his fiancée gain control of her family and that he would receive half in return, but admitted this was only one reason for their breakup.
• Shen Yu told An Che that An Che's father had confronted him about their relationship, and An Che agreed to wait as long as Shen Yu told him everything and showed his jealousy.
• Shen Yu and An Che went to get something to eat together.