Chapter Summaries

As the survival show's livestream began, Shang Shujue helped prepare the trainees and encouraged Zhang Yunchen's performance. Jian Yichen struggled with troubling thoughts and low blood sugar before Shang Shujue appeared with food.

• Shang Shujue stopped his own makeup styling and directed the stylists to focus on Xu Jiaqiao and Zhang Yunchen, encouraging Zhang Yunchen to do his best.
• Shang Shujue told Yu Zeqi to come use the stylists if his own team did not arrive, then left to make a call.
• Zhang Zhichen led the trainees who had finished styling to the studio while Jian Yichen wondered whether Shang Shujue could save someone in pain.
• Qi Tianlin noticed Jian Yichen looked unwell and realized he had forgotten to eat dinner, so he urged him to get food before performing.
• Shang Shujue met Jian Yichen and Qi Tianlin carrying two paper bags of food.

Shang Shujue tried to make up with Song Yanqing by bringing him homemade pineapple buns, but their argument over the food ended with both of them falling and knocking their heads together. They were left dizzy and in pain while Nuomi commented on how well suited they seemed.

• Shang Shujue gave Jian Yichen and Qi Tianlin some of the pineapple buns he had made, and Jian Yichen and Qi Tianlin started fighting over them.
• Shang Shujue brought Song Yanqing pineapple buns and asked him to eat one as a way to make up.
• Song Yanqing joked that Shang Shujue might have poisoned the buns, angering Shang Shujue and starting a tug-of-war over the bag.
• Song Yanqing let go, but Shang Shujue kept pulling and fell backward; Song Yanqing caught his wrist, and the buns fell to the floor.
• Shang Shujue and Song Yanqing knocked their heads together, and Nuomi joked that their synchronized reactions showed they belonged together.

Shang Shujue covered the lump on his forehead and arrived at the studio, where Chen Jiarui helped him and he learned that everyone loved his pineapple buns. He vowed not to make any for Song Yanqing, while Song Yanqing planned to coax him back for the sake of the buns.

• Shang Shujue arrived at the studio with a bruised forehead, and Chen Jiarui lent him concealer and a mirror.
• Shang Shujue paid Chen Jiarui three thousand yuan as a work bonus for helping him and entrusted his phone to her.
• Shang Shujue spotted Xu Jiaqiao eating one of his pineapple buns and learned that Jian Yichen and others had shared the rest.
• Shang Shujue decided to make more pineapple buns for everyone except Song Yanqing, who ate one despite his bruised forehead.
• Song Yanqing admitted he had angered Shang Shujue and resolved to figure out how to coax him back.

As the trainees began their livestream opening performance, Shang Shujue learned that Jian Yichen was married to his sister, Shang Shuyu, and privately uncovered the story of how they met. The performance continued with Shang Shujue distracted by gossip and dancing so poorly that viewers and mentors noticed.

• Shang Shujue laughed at Jian Yichen for choking on the last bite of pineapple bun, while Qi Tianlin helped Jian Yichen recover and guided him toward the stage.
• Shang Shujue asked Nuomi for gossip and learned that Jian Yichen was Shang Shuyu’s husband, shocking Jian Yichen and the trainees.
• Shang Shujue scrutinized Jian Yichen as the opening performance began, while Jian Yichen struggled to dance without making mistakes.
• Shang Shujue learned that Jian Yichen had first met Shang Shuyu by saving her from a thug before fainting in her arms from low blood sugar.
• Shang Shujue slacked off and flailed through the dance, prompting confused livestream comments and concern from the director and mentors.

During the trainees’ stage introductions and solo performances, Shang Shujue’s unfiltered thoughts revealed Jian Yichen’s future misfortunes and tangled relationships. The others reacted to the revelations, while Jian Yichen wondered whether he had successfully debuted and learned that he had been manipulated into supporting his childhood friend’s family.

• After the theme song dance, Shang Shujue’s thoughts revealed that Shang Shuyu had pursued Jian Yichen after he was disfigured, and the audience pitied them both.
• Shang Shujue revealed that Yang Shaoying had attacked Shang Shuyu and that Jian Yichen had injured him, while Su Youchuan had supplied the real bomb that later disfigured Jian Yichen.
• As Lei Linya called trainees to perform, Shang Shujue’s thoughts revealed that Jian Yichen’s childhood friend loved him, eventually killed him, and died by suicide beside his corpse.
• Bai Zhiyi nearly fell onstage while hearing Shang Shujue’s revelations, and Shang Shujue wondered aloud whether the stand-in had muscle weakness.
• Shang Shujue revealed that Jian Yichen’s childhood friend’s family blamed him for a car accident and that Jian Yichen had been sending them money, prompting Yu Zeqi to protest being compared to him.

Bai Zhiyi performed his original song and dance, impressing the audience and advancing, while Shang Shujue uncovered the tragic connection between him and Zhang Zhichen through Su Youchuan. Afterward, Shang Shujue misread Zhang Zhichen’s brief praise as a lack of interest, unaware Zhang Zhichen believed he could fall in love with Bai Zhiyi.

• Bai Zhiyi introduced his original song and choreography, then began performing as Shang Shujue wondered about his grim future with Su Youchuan and Zhang Zhichen.
• Shang Shujue learned that Su Youchuan would grievously injure Bai Zhiyi and that Zhang Zhichen would eventually end Bai Zhiyi’s suffering, shocking everyone and unsettling Bai Zhiyi onstage.
• Shang Shujue discovered that mentions of major characters used up his gossip chances and that he had six chances remaining, allowing Bai Zhiyi to relax and focus on his performance.
• Bai Zhiyi delivered a powerful song-and-dance routine, won over the audience, and successfully advanced.
• Shang Shujue asked Zhang Zhichen whether Bai Zhiyi impressed him; Zhang Zhichen praised Bai Zhiyi’s talent and privately thought he could easily fall in love with him.
• Shang Shujue assumed Zhang Zhichen felt no spark with Bai Zhiyi, and their unspoken reactions left both men awkward as everyone wondered whether Shang Shujue was obstructing their romance.

During the trainee performances, Shang Shujue kept fishing for gossip while Song Yanqing saved evidence of the online abuse directed at him. After fourteen contestants performed, eight were eliminated, and the staff arranged for Shang Shujue to perform last so he could prepare his song; as he worked at the piano, he began revealing the eliminated trainees’ gossip.

• Song Yanqing saved screenshots of the hostile livestream comments about Shang Shujue and decided to send them to him rather than intervene himself.
• Shang Shujue watched Zhou Zheng perform, then realized he had not submitted his own performance song to the production team.
• Yu Zeqi went onstage to perform, while Shang Shujue imagined ways to stay on the show even if he were eliminated.
• After fourteen performances, Bai Zhiyi, Yu Zeqi, Zhou Zheng, Jian Yichen, Zhang Yunchen, and Xu Zhichen advanced, while eight contestants were eliminated.
• Yu Yang arranged for Qin Shuzhou to perform after Zhang Zhichen and gave Shang Shujue number 98 so he could submit and prepare his song.
• Shang Shujue sat at the piano to write sheet music and, prompted by Nuomi, began revealing gossip about the eight eliminated contestants.

Shang Shujue’s thoughts exposed how Hong Zhenghua had been deceived into supporting a married woman’s family and revealed the grim fate awaiting him. Song Yanqing heard Shang Shujue’s disgust about Han Dong and reacted with anger, while Han Dong remained unaware of the danger approaching him.

• Shang Shujue revealed that Hong Zhenghua’s girlfriend was thirty, already married with three children, and had deceived him after he rescued her.
• Le Tianyu stopped Hong Zhenghua from turning toward Shang Shujue and reminded him that they were live on camera.
• Hong Zhenghua recalled suspicious details about A-Yue and realized she had been exploiting him and supporting her family with his money.
• Shang Shujue revealed that Hong Zhenghua would be sold to Myanmar and die, while A-Yue’s family prospered under Han Dong.
• Song Yanqing heard Shang Shujue describe Han Dong’s attempted assault and reacted angrily as Han Dong remained unaware of the danger approaching.

Su Youchuan and his associates watched the survival show and plotted to target Zhang Zhichen’s lookalike and Song Yanqing’s family after giving up on the Shang Family. Shang Shujue suspected Su Youchuan was plotting against him and Yu Zeqi, while Yu Zeqi quietly laughed at Shang Shujue’s thoughts.

• Lin Xu questioned why the contestants seemed to fear and respect Shang Shujue, and Han Dong blamed Song Yanqing’s backing.
• Yang Shaoying warned Han Dong and Li Yun'ao not to provoke Song Yanqing, while Su Youchuan ordered him to investigate Yu Zeqi and said he wanted him.
• Su Youchuan said they could no longer target the Shang Family because Song Yanqing’s company had partnered with Shang Shujue’s brother and Song Family hackers had entered the Shang Family.
• Su Youchuan proposed sending Yang Shaoying’s younger male cousin to Song Yanqing’s sister’s college, then vowed not to let Shang Shujue get away with crossing him.
• Yu Zeqi and Shang Shujue sneezed, and Shang Shujue warned Yu Zeqi not to trust his scumbag friend or meet him after the livestream.
• Shang Shujue thought Su Youchuan was targeting them and joked that Yu Yang could beat up the older generation, making Yu Zeqi laugh and prompting Hong Zhenghua to decide to end his affair.

During the talent show, Shang Shujue exposed Le Tianyu’s humiliating childhood mishaps through his thoughts, sending the contestants into laughter. Song Yanqing was summoned back to the Song Family ancestral residence and realized Song Yi might be involved in the previous owner’s death, while Song Yi plotted to use Shang Shujue against him.

• As Qiao Ze danced onstage, Shang Shujue burst out laughing at gossip about Le Tianyu, and the contestants applauded to hide it.
• Song Yi told Song Yanqing that the family head expected him at the ancestral residence before eleven, where he would continue copying the family rules until they were finished.
• Shang Shujue recalled Le Tianyu’s embarrassing childhood accidents, prompting Le Tianyu and several contestants to flee backstage or to the restroom.
• After leaving the studio, Shang Shujue laughed aloud, while Song Yanqing concealed his amusement behind a drink of water.
• Song Yi privately planned to find dirt on Shang Shujue so he could control Song Yanqing and help Qu Lin enter the Song Family.
• Song Yanqing suspected Song Yi had helped kill the previous owner of his body, but decided not to reveal his suspicions.

After being teased about his childhood, Le Tianyu listened with the others as Shang Shujue’s inner voice revealed a disturbing story about his supposed future girlfriend and family. The chapter left Le Tianyu suspecting that his mother’s ex-boyfriend had passed off another person as his dead daughter, though he did not understand the motive or how he might be involved.

• Le Tianyu slipped out with Hong Zhenghua and the other eliminated contestants, then endured their laughter over his embarrassing childhood stories.
• Hong Zhenghua asked the group how he could cut contact with someone and recover the money he had given them, but Le Tianyu urged everyone to listen to Shang Shujue first.
• Shang Shujue’s inner voice said Le Tianyu’s future girlfriend was his older half sister, then clarified that they were not related by blood.
• The contestants and livestream viewers reacted to Shang Shujue’s revelations while the show continued, and the trainees who performed all advanced.
• Shang Shujue’s inner voice described how Le Tianyu’s mother’s young daughter had died after being neglected, and Le Tianyu suspected his mother’s ex-boyfriend had passed someone else off as her.

Shang Shujue revealed that Yang Xuelei would destroy Le Tianyu’s family, while her son Le Xiaoyu would grow up to become the villain who nearly killed Su Youchuan. Le Tianyu and the others were left stunned by the future and wondered whether changing Le Tianyu’s fate would prevent Le Xiaoyu from existing.

• Shang Shujue revealed that Le Tianyu’s mother had discovered her ex-boyfriend’s scheme to pass off his daughter with another woman as her own, and that she later met Le Tianqun when he mistakenly defended the ex-boyfriend’s family.
• Shang Shujue revealed that Yang Xuelei later tried to seduce both Le Tianyu and Le Tianqun, but Le Tianqun remained devoted to his wife, Qi Xue.
• Shang Shujue said Yang Xuelei fooled Le Tianyu’s mother, poisoned her, and imprisoned and killed Le Tianyu, while forcing Le Tianqun into a relationship and bearing his son.
• Le Tianyu panicked and shouted that he would avoid green teas, while Hong Zhenghua and Hu Zhiyuan restrained him to keep him from disrupting the livestream.
• Shang Shujue revealed that Le Tianqun later died by suicide and that Le Xiaoyu, abused by Yang Xuelei, would become the villain who nearly killed Su Youchuan.
• Le Tianyu and the others wondered whether changing Le Tianyu’s fate would prevent Le Xiaoyu from existing.

Shang Shujue accepted the karmic cost of changing Le Tianyu’s fate, while Le Tianyu and the others decided to repay him by accumulating merit in his name. As the livestream continued, Song Yanqing recognized that Song Yi had been positioned to test him, and the show ended after Qin Shuzhou’s performance.

• Shang Shujue decided that Le Xiaoyu not being born was acceptable and reasoned that saving Le Tianyu’s family would earn enough merit to offset the karma.
• Hong Zhenghua advised Le Tianyu and the others to donate to charity in Shang Shujue’s name after changing their fates, and they agreed to accumulate merit for him.
• Song Yanqing realized that the head of the Song Family had assigned Song Yi to watch him as a test of his loyalty and ability to protect himself.
• Shang Shujue received six organized sheets of gossip from Nuomi and watched Qin Shuzhou perform a split and backflip before the mentors advanced him.
• The livestream ended when its time limit ran out, and Song Yanqing left with Song Yi as Lei Linya gave the closing remarks.

After the livestream ended, Shang Shujue offered the eliminated trainees a chance to join his brother Shang Shuchen’s struggling company, Shangyu. Four trainees chose to leave the entertainment industry, while four went with Shang Shujue to sign contracts.

• After the livestream ended, Shang Shujue learned from Chen Jiarui that Shangyu was short-staffed and called Shang Shuchen, who described how actors were leaving or being poached by Chao Ci Entertainment.
• Shang Shujue offered the eight eliminated trainees acting opportunities at Shangyu or the option to leave their contact information if they wanted to pursue other paths.
• Le Tianyu declined the offer to return to studying for public-sector recruitment exams, and Hong Zhenghua chose to go home to care for his grandfather.
• Baili Wu and Zhou Qiyuan also chose to leave, while Hu Zhiyuan, Li Ru, Zheng Jiaye, and Zhou Wangqi agreed to join Shangyu.
• Shang Shujue took the four interested trainees to Shangyu, and Baili Wu and Zhou Qiyuan asked Hu Zhiyuan to relay Shang Shujue’s inner thoughts to them.

Shang Shujue read Zhou Qiyuan’s gossip and discovered that, unlike the others, Zhou had enjoyed an almost entirely trouble-free life and was headed for success after leaving the entertainment industry. The group teased Zhou about his good fortune, while he decided not to contact his ex-girlfriend Bai Weiyu.

• Hu Zhiyuan alerted the group that Shang Shujue was about to discuss Zhou Qiyuan, and everyone eagerly followed along.
• Shang Shujue learned that Zhou had been an excellent student, dated a wealthy beauty named Bai Weiyu, and suffered little beyond heartbreak and a bout of acute gastroenteritis.
• Shang Shujue discovered that Zhou would leave entertainment, graduate, and be hired by a major company where Bai Weiyu would be his boss and pursue him.
• Zhou considered asking Bai Weiyu to reconcile but chose to respect her decision to break up.
• Hu Zhiyuan and the others teased Zhou in the group, and Zhou offered to establish a foundation in Shang Shujue’s name.

Shang Shujue discovered that Zhou Qiyuan would lose his fate to Su Youchuan’s nephew, but a protective talisman offered him a chance to avoid that future. He then learned Baili Wu would die stopping Lin Xu from smuggling state secrets and decided to buy him three protective talismans.

• Shang Shujue’s thoughts revealed that Su Youchuan would arrange a fate swap that ruined Zhou Qiyuan’s life.
• Hu Zhiyuan explained how Zhou Qiyuan’s blood donation would save Su Youchuan’s nephew and lead to the fate swap, while the group discussed mysticism and worshipping Shang Shujue.
• Hu Zhiyuan told Zhou Qiyuan that Shang Shujue had bought him an evil-warding talisman, and Zhou Qiyuan agreed to keep the revelation secret.
• Zhou Qiyuan hurried to Baili Wu’s dorm after the group learned Baili Wu was next to have his gossip read.
• Shang Shujue became tearful after learning Baili Wu would die stopping Lin Xu from smuggling state secrets across the border.
• Shang Shujue asked Nuomi to buy Baili Wu peace, good luck, and protection talismans.

Baili Wu shared that he had planned to enlist after leaving the entertainment industry, and his friends promised to see him off. Shang Shujue reassured Hu Zhiyuan and the others about their chances of joining show business, then decided to read Hu Zhiyuan’s gossip.

• Hu Zhiyuan shared the story of Baili Wu and Shang Shujue shedding tears, and the group fell silent as they considered Baili Wu’s resolve.
• Baili Wu said he had planned to enlist after leaving the entertainment industry, and Zhou Qiyuan and the others promised to see him off.
• Shang Shujue wondered whether the four men’s futures were bitter, and they urged him to keep reading their gossip.
• Hu Zhiyuan asked Shang Shujue about the resignations at Shangyu Entertainment, and Shang Shujue admitted he did not know what was happening but offered to help them find work.
• Hu Zhiyuan, Li Ru, Zheng Jiaye, and Zhou Wangqi praised Shang Shujue and said they trusted him, leaving him embarrassed.
• Shang Shujue chose to read Hu Zhiyuan’s gossip to calm himself, while Hu Zhiyuan objected inwardly that his compliments had been sincere.

Shang Shujue exposed Hu Zhiyuan’s private self-bondage kink and revealed that it stemmed from a forgotten childhood kidnapping, leaving Hu Zhiyuan shaken as he began to glimpse a buried memory. The group then learned through Shang Shujue’s thoughts that Hu Zhiyuan and Li Ru would eventually become a couple, before Zhou Wangqi’s choking and Shang Shujue’s insults shifted everyone’s attention.

• Shang Shujue’s thoughts revealed Hu Zhiyuan’s self-bondage kink, and he recalled that it developed after Hu Zhiyuan was kidnapped as a child and traumatized by a boy who died trying to save him.
• Hu Zhiyuan struggled to remember the incident, briefly glimpsed a figure urging him to run, and Li Ru privately advised him to ask his family about it later.
• Shang Shujue’s thoughts revealed that Li Ru was related to Hu Zhiyuan’s childhood rescuer and that Li Ru and Hu Zhiyuan would eventually become a couple, startling both men.
• Zhou Wangqi choked on water and accidentally splashed Zheng Jiaye, while Shang Shujue helped him recover and the others passed tissues.
• Shang Shujue mocked Zhou Wangqi after he recovered, and the group laughed as Zhou Wangqi complained about becoming the center of attention.

Li Ru learned that his cousin Li Qingxu had died saving Hu Zhiyuan and other children, while Shang Shujue’s thoughts revealed how Hu and Li’s relationship developed despite both believing they were straight. The story left off with Hu Zhiyuan and Li Ru reacting to the revelation that Hu later rescued Li from an attempted assault and called for an ambulance and the police.

• Li Ru recalled that his cousin Li Qingxu had deliberately stayed behind to save thirty-seven children, including Hu Zhiyuan, and had died in the process.
• Hu Zhiyuan messaged Li Ru asking about his fragmented memories, and both men questioned how they could end up together when they felt no attraction to each other.
• Shang Shujue’s thoughts recounted how Hu and Li met after being eliminated from a trainee show, then later went separate ways before crossing paths again three years afterward.
• Shang Shujue revealed that Hu found Li fleeing an attempted assault, called an ambulance and the police, and did not take advantage of him while he was barely conscious.

Shang Shujue learned that Hu Zhiyuan and Li Ru’s tragic futures ended when Han Dong killed them, then reassured them that their lives could turn out differently this time. As the group continued toward Shangyu, Shang Shujue prepared to read Zhou Wangqi and Zheng Jiaye’s stories next.

• Shang Shujue learned that Hu Zhiyuan and Li Ru had waited to become a couple until they were established, but Han Dong killed them shortly after they got together.
• Shang Shujue learned about Hu Zhiyuan’s traumatic childhood and Li Ru’s hardships, including his parents’ deaths, and cursed Han Dong for ruining their future.
• Hu Zhiyuan messaged Li Ru that they had time to help his father and build their careers at Shangyu; Li Ru thanked him, and Hu Zhiyuan was moved by his smile.
• Zhou Wangqi and Zheng Jiaye noticed Hu Zhiyuan and Li Ru growing closer but stayed quiet out of respect.
• Shang Shujue decided to read Zhou Wangqi and Zheng Jiaye’s stories while the group still had half an hour before reaching Shangyu.