Recaps

After receiving his acting pay, Song Shi'an sent money to his parents and registered for tennis, borrowing a racket from Pei Zhiyan, whom he jokingly called his godfather. At his first class, Cheng Haotian challenged him and quickly drove the inexperienced Song Shi'an across the court.

• Song Shi'an received thirty thousand yuan for "The Emperor's Ambition," sent ten thousand to the original owner's parents, and set aside the rest for debt repayment.
• Song Shi'an registered for tennis and worried over the cost of a racket until Pei Zhiyan offered him one.
• Song Shi'an thanked Pei Zhiyan by calling him "Godfather," leaving Jiang Ye and Chi Xun stunned.
• At tennis class, Song Shi'an met Zhang Yuanyuan and Cheng Haotian, who appeared jealous of Zhang Yuanyuan's attention toward him.
• Coach Ma taught the class basic tennis techniques, and Cheng Haotian insisted on practicing against Song Shi'an.
• Cheng Haotian hit fierce serves that forced Song Shi'an to scramble across the court.

Song Shi'an redeemed Basic Tennis Technique during class and turned the match around against Cheng Haotian, stunning the court with a leaping smash. Chi Xun recognized him in a viral D Station video, and Song Shi'an watched the clip after class.

• Song Shi'an redeemed Basic Tennis Technique after Cheng Haotian dominated him in tennis practice.
• Song Shi'an returned Cheng Haotian's serves with growing skill and won the rally with a leaping smash.
• Coach Ma praised Song Shi'an's potential, while Zhang Yuanyuan congratulated him and Cheng Haotian left for water.
• Chi Xun recognized Song Shi'an in a D Station tennis video and shared it in the dorm group chat.
• Song Shi'an opened the video and watched footage of his poor play before he gained the tennis skill.

Song Shi'an's viral basketball video brought him praise but no money, while the episode showing Ying Qi's death sent his character trending. The chapter ended with Song Shi'an going to bed before the system suddenly appeared with a message.

• Song Shi'an saw that viewers were praising his basketball smash, but worried about how to raise the rest of his money.
• Song Shi'an returned to the dorm unaware that a candid post-workout photo of him had become popular on the campus confession page.
• Chi Xun showed Song Shi'an that his blurry basketball video had passed eight hundred thousand views, while Song Shi'an lamented that he could not turn the attention into money.
• Song Shi'an watched Ying Qi's final scene in Aspiration to Reach the Clouds with Chi Xun, who mourned the character's death and praised the scene.
• Song Shi'an saw that Ying Qi's death scene had begun trending, then went to bed, where the system suddenly displayed a line of text.

After Song Shi'an passed actor verification, his wrap photo went viral and brought him 260,000 D Station followers overnight. He agreed to meet Stars Entertainment, while newfound attention followed him to class, where a student asked for his autograph.

• Song Shi'an updated his social media profiles, posted a wrap photo from The Emperor's Ambition, and went to sleep.
• As Ying Qi's battle-damaged scene spread online, viewers found Song Shi'an's D Station account, and Chi Xun watched his followers surge to 260,000 overnight.
• Song Shi'an read Stars Entertainment's invitation and arranged to meet them Saturday near Jingchen University.
• Xiao Zhou told Shen Lingshu that Song Shi'an had agreed to meet, and Shen Lingshu decided to attend and prepare a contract herself.
• At thermodynamics class, Song Shi'an noticed classmates secretly looking at him, and a student asked him for an autograph on behalf of his girlfriend.

Song Shi'an gained attention at school, confronted classmates who insulted him, and found fan letters waiting in his bag. He then headed to a part-time job selling press-on nails, where the stall owner was surprised he was a man.

• Song Shi'an signed a photo for a classmate and fled the classroom when other students began seeking autographs.
• Song Shi'an confronted two students in the restroom after overhearing them spread rumors about him, and they hurried away.
• Song Shi'an swept the gifts and letters piled on his desk into his bag while classmates shared a photo of him in his fan group.
• Song Shi'an read two students' affectionate letters in his dorm and put them away in a drawer.
• Song Shi'an rode to a pedestrian street for his part-time job and met the girl selling press-on nails, who was surprised he was a man.

Song Shi'an filled in for Xiaolin at her press-on nail stall and sold nearly all her stock, drawing attention from customers. After earning his commission, he considered what to sell at a stall of his own next time.

• Xiaolin left Song Shi'an in charge of her stall and explained how to sell and apply the press-on nails.
• Song Shi'an sold three sets to a customer and applied them, impressing her with his steady hands.
• Customers gathered around the stall, and Song Shi'an handed over several preordered bags while some customers wondered if they recognized him.
• By around eight, Song Shi'an had sold nearly all the nails, and Xiaolin returned, surprised by how quickly the stock had gone.
• Xiaolin paid Song Shi'an his commission and invited him to help again, while customers messaged her asking about him.
• Song Shi'an rode home and considered what he might sell at his next stall.

Song Shi'an negotiated and signed a contract with Stars Entertainment, insisting on keeping control over his roles and schedule. Shen Lingshu gave him a script for a company-funded campus drama to consider, and he left wondering which supporting role to pursue.

• Song Shi'an met Shen Lingshu at a café to discuss signing with Stars Entertainment and was startled to recognize her as the novel's female lead.
• Song Shi'an rejected contract terms requiring him to take leading roles and attend unwanted events, explaining that he wanted to prioritize school and play supporting roles.
• Shen Lingshu revised the contract, loosening its restrictions while retaining the manager's final say, and Song Shi'an signed it.
• Shen Lingshu gave Song Shi'an a script for a campus drama filming at his university and suggested he consider its supporting roles, though she preferred him for the male lead.
• Song Shi'an told Chi Xun that he had signed with Stars Entertainment and began thinking about the campus drama and its pay.

Song Shi'an received homemade beef jerky from his mother and shared it with his roommates before reading the script Shen Lingshu had given him. He discovered the role of Xia Yu, a lonely student with autism and depression, and began considering the character.

• Song Shi'an collected a heavy package from his mother and reassured Pei Zhiyan that his meeting with Shen Lingshu had gone well.
• Song Shi'an opened the package of beef jerky, and Jiang Ye and Chi Xun eagerly asked him to share it.
• Song Shi'an sent his mother a photo and listened as she offered to make more jerky for him and his roommates next year.
• Song Shi'an read the script for "Endless Summer" and looked for the character with the hardest life.
• Song Shi'an found Xia Yu's character description, which detailed his isolation, his encounter with the female lead, and her occasional observations of him.

Song Shi'an chose to play the bullied student Xia Yu, then learned his new agency had hoped to cast him as the lead in an S+ project. After Ji Shuyao became his agent, Stars Entertainment announced Song Shi'an as a new artist, and fans flooded the announcement with praise for his looks and past roles.

• Song Shi'an read Xia Yu's scenes, confirmed with the system that the role qualified as cannon fodder, and asked Shen Lingshu to let him play Xia Yu.
• Shen Lingshu assigned Ji Shuyao as Song Shi'an's agent, and Ji Shuyao urged him to consider the male lead in an S+ project tailored for him.
• Song Shi'an told Ji Shuyao that he would only accept supporting roles until he graduated, and Ji Shuyao decided to support his choice.
• Stars Entertainment announced Song Shi'an as a new artist, and fans recognized him from his previous roles and a tennis-class photo.

After photos of Song Shi'an sparked sudden attention, his new manager Ji Shuyao tried to discuss a career plan with him. Song Shi'an rejected the proposed persona and suggested his roommate Pei Zhiyan instead.

• Stars Entertainment and marketing accounts boosted Song Shi'an's photos, drawing fans to his dorm the next morning.
• Song Shi'an saw fans photographing him in his worn bear pajamas and hurried back inside to change.
• Ji Shuyao had Song Shi'an brought to him in a minivan and explained that the company announcement had caused the sudden attention.
• Ji Shuyao presented a proposal recommending a contrasting, black-bellied tease persona for Song Shi'an.
• Song Shi'an misunderstood the idea of luring people in as fishing, then said Pei Zhiyan fit the described mysterious persona and asked whether the company wanted to sign him.

Song Shi'an agreed to move off campus after Ji Shuyao explained the company would arrange housing and transportation. He was taken to a luxurious villa and decided he would work for Stars Entertainment for the rest of his life.

• Ji Shuyao persuaded Song Shi'an to move off campus, and Song Shi'an agreed when he learned the company would cover rent and arrange rides to class.
• Lin Fan visited Song Shi'an's dorm to pack his clothes and record the brands and flavors of his daily essentials.
• Pei Zhiyan told Jiang Ye and Chi Xun that Song Shi'an would still stay on campus when he had classes.
• Song Shi'an recognized the villa complex where he had once brought Little Xing home, and the security guard welcomed him as a new resident.
• Ji Shuyao brought Song Shi'an to Villa Seven, where Song Shi'an admired the spacious home and vowed to work for Stars Entertainment for the rest of his life.

Song Shi'an explored Ji Shuyao's villa, used the system to learn Top-Tier Culinary Arts, and decided to earn money by selling food at a night market. He opened his first stall selling foil-tray clams with glass noodles, where a customer thought his masked appearance resembled a popular celebrity.

• After Ji Shuyao left, Song Shi'an explored the villa and learned he could wear the branded clothes in its walk-in closet.
• Song Shi'an bought Top-Tier Culinary Arts from the system for 50,000 Affection Points and cooked a delicious pork and tomato dish.
• Song Shi'an decided to start a food stall, ordered equipment, bought ingredients, and arranged the required paperwork.
• Song Shi'an set up at the night market and began selling foil-tray clams with glass noodles.
• Two girls bought extra servings, and Wenwen wondered whether the masked stall owner resembled a celebrity she had seen online.

Wenwen realized the night-market clam vermicelli vendor was likely Song Shi'an, the actor who had played Ying Qi, after spotting matching moles. As Song Shi'an’s stall drew a growing crowd, food blogger Zhu Tao tried the dish and declared it the best clam vermicelli he had eaten on the street.

• Wenwen devoured the clam vermicelli and noticed the vendor’s eye mole matched Ying Qi’s in Aspiration to Reach the Clouds.
• Wenwen checked Song Shi'an’s drama stills and candid photos, confirmed the matching moles, and regretted buying only one portion.
• Song Shi'an struggled to serve the long queue at his stall, while the neighboring grilled chicken drumstick seller also benefited from the crowd.
• Zhu Tao followed the garlic aroma to Song Shi'an’s stall and began filming a food-blog video.
• Song Shi'an agreed to be recorded, and Zhu Tao tasted the clam vermicelli and praised it as the best he had tried at the night market.

Song Shi'an sold out his food stall, gained new customers through a food blogger's video, and was recruited to join a promotional livestream for The Emperor's Ambition. He worried about appearing on camera, but Ji Shuyao reassured him that a professional team would help.

• Song Shi'an closed his stall after running out of ingredients, formed a group chat with customers, and counted a profit of over two hundred yuan.
• Song Shi'an discovered that blogger Zhu Tao's video had spread his group chat's QR code, bringing in more than a hundred members and a red packet worth eighty-eight yuan.
• Director Zheng asked Song Shi'an to fill in for an actor at The Emperor's Ambition's promotional livestream, and Song Shi'an agreed.
• Director Zheng celebrated after persuading Song Shi'an to participate, while his assistant Xiao Zhou backed away from his smile.
• Song Shi'an asked Ji Shuyao about the livestream, and Ji Shuyao promised that a professional team would help him prepare.

Song Shi'an joined a livestream call promoting the drama and gained a surge of new followers thanks to his appearance. He ended the chapter wishing his growing follower count were an increase in money.

• Ji Shuyao arrived with a crew to prepare Song Shi'an for the livestream, and the stylist was stunned by how handsome he looked in person.
• Song Shi'an spent six hours getting styled, then went to the kitchen and made instant noodles; Ji Shuyao sent Shen Lingshu a photo, and Shen told him to let Song Shi'an eat.
• At seven, Song Shi'an joined the group video call as Meng Zhen, and viewers flooded the comments with praise for his looks.
• Song Shi'an mostly stayed quiet during the two-hour livestream while his Weibo following increased by more than three hundred thousand.
• After the livestream, Song Shi'an checked his D Station dashboard, saw that he had gained over four hundred thousand followers, and told Ji Shuyao he wished the increase were yuan.

Song Shi'an accepted a well-paid cameo as the powerful fox lord Tushan Yan and traveled with his new assistant, Lin Fan, to film it. At the airport, fans recognized him despite his disguise and began spreading photos online.

• Song Shi'an agreed to Director Sen's two-day cameo offer and learned he would play Tushan Yan, the fox clan's formidable divine lord.
• Lin Fan arrived to manage Song Shi'an's trip, and they traveled to the filming city together.
• At arrivals, Song Shi'an learned that Ye Qinghe was holding a concert that weekend and asked Lin Fan to find tickets.
• A fan recognized Song Shi'an at the airport, and Lin Fan hurried him away.
• The fan posted photos on Weibo, and other fans confirmed that the figure was Song Shi'an.

Song Shi'an arrived on set and was cast as Tushan Yan, impressing the crew with his appearance before filming the medicine scene with Zhou Xuye. The chapter ended as Chu Zhaoci begged Tushan Yan for medicine to save his mother.

• Director Sen welcomed Song Shi'an to the set and said he would play Tushan Yan in the medicine scene.
• Song Shi'an was styled in Tushan Yan's white robes, golden contacts, and long wig, and Director Sen was stunned by how well he suited the role.
• Song Shi'an met Zhou Xuye, whose handshake rubbed off part of the dirt makeup on his hands, forcing the makeup artist to touch it up.
• Song Shi'an climbed into a sacred tree as Tushan Yan, while Zhou Xuye began filming as the ragged Chu Zhaoci.
• Chu Zhaoci knelt before Tushan Yan and begged for medicine to save his mother's life.

After filming his scene as Tushan Yan, Song Shi'an endured an unexpectedly long promotional photoshoot and a chaotic exit through a crowd of fans. He discovered that the role's pay came with a fan controversy and finished the day improvising a way to keep his long wig out of his dinner.

• Tushan Yan sent Chu Zhaoci flying off the cliff, and Director Sen called cut after Zhou Xuye landed safely on the mat.
• Director Sen had Song Shi'an pose for dozens of costume portraits before sending him back to the set entrance.
• Lin Fan warned Song Shi'an about the waiting fans, but a fan recognized him as Tushan Yan and Song Shi'an fled the crowd.
• Song Shi'an ordered spicy dry pot, grilled skewers, and cola, then read online comments about the controversial casting and realized his pay was compensation for emotional distress.
• Song Shi'an delivered Lin Fan's share of the food and tied his long hair with a chopstick paper sleeve so it would not fall into his bowl.

Song Shi'an reassured his mother during a video call and returned to filming, where Zhou Xuye struggled to portray Chu Zhaoci's reverence for Tushan Yan without making it look like unrequited love. The chapter ended with Song Shi'an calmly holding and petting a white fox on set as the scene was retaken.

• Song Shi'an told the snack group he would return on the evening of the sixth with something new, and the members excitedly discussed the upcoming concert.
• Song Shi'an video-called Mother Song, told her he was filming in the Capital, and reassured her after she worried about the negative comments on his Weibo.
• Mother Song said she planned to bring Song Shi'an's aunt to a hospital in the Capital and visit him there.
• Lin Fan woke Song Shi'an at five and took him to the set, where the crew prepared him and Zhou Xuye for the day's filming.
• Zhou Xuye repeatedly failed to perform Chu Zhaoci's audience with Tushan Yan without showing an overly tender expression, while Song Shi'an held a white fox beside the Immortal Emperor.

Song Shi'an finished filming with Little Snow, got VIP tickets to Ye Qinghe's concert, and explored Rongcheng before fleeing from an overwhelming bar. He returned to the hotel and checked the snack group chat, where plans for the concert and stall were still underway.

• Song Shi'an fed and played with Little Snow after filming, then remembered Ye Qinghe's concert and rushed to find tickets.
• Lin Fan gave Song Shi'an two front-row VIP tickets and agreed to go with him.
• Song Shi'an explored Rongcheng's night market, ate local food, and exchanged messages with Chi Xun and Jiang Ye.
• A crowd swept Song Shi'an into a bar, where strangers approached him, and he quickly escaped outside.
• Song Shi'an returned to the hotel and read the snack group chat's concert and stall plans.

Song Shi'an and Lin Fan made their way through Rongcheng traffic to Ye Qinghe's concert, where Song Shi'an traded his first-row VIP seat for twenty thousand yuan and gave the seat to Lin Fan. The concert began with Song Shi'an enjoying the show, and the audience rose for Ye Qinghe's hit “Night of Unbridled Revelry.”

• Song Shi'an and Lin Fan battled heavy traffic and arrived at Ye Qinghe's concert venue around five.
• A fan asked Song Shi'an to trade his first-row VIP seat for her second-row seat, and he agreed after hearing she would pay twenty thousand yuan.
• Song Shi'an accepted the payment, then gave the first-row ticket to Lin Fan and took the second-row seat himself.
• Song Shi'an noticed celebrities in the front row and overheard fans discussing Su Ling's reported falling-out with another celebrity.
• Ye Qinghe opened her concert with slow songs, invited the fan in Song Shi'an's former seat to sing, and introduced “Night of Unbridled Revelry,” prompting the audience to stand.

Song Shi'an was accidentally shown singing at Ye Qinghe's concert, gaining new fans before leaving Rongcheng and returning to his food stall preparations. He made braised duck parts for his evening menu, and residents followed the aroma as he pushed his cart out from Villa Seven.

• Song Shi'an sang along at Ye Qinghe's concert, and the director's camera broadcast his voice and face on the big screen.
• Lin Fan praised Song Shi'an's singing, then promoted him online as concert clips attracted new fans.
• Song Shi'an and Lin Fan flew back from Rongcheng, and Song Shi'an headed to the wholesale market to buy spices for braised duck parts.
• Song Shi'an cooked the braised duck, sent the snack group a message about his new menu item, and packed his stall cart.
• Luo Yang and several residents approached Song Shi'an after smelling the braising stock, and Luo Yang was surprised to see him pushing a food cart.

Song Shi'an sold braised food and clams with glass noodles from his night-market cart, drawing a crowd and selling out in under an hour. His fans praised his cooking online, while Wenwen recognized him as her idol and posted about eating food he had made himself.

• Luo Yang and his friends bought braised food from Song Shi'an at his villa and devoured it before they could buy more.
• Song Shi'an arrived at the night market early to find a long line of customers waiting for him, including Zhu Tao recording a video.
• Wenwen recognized Song Shi'an by his voice, bought clams with glass noodles and braised food, and posted excitedly about her idol serving her himself.
• Song Shi'an sold out in less than an hour and gave customers seasoning packets with instructions so they could make the clams at home.
• Zhu Tao posted a video of the stall, and viewers and customers praised Song Shi'an's cooking, fair prices, and kindness in the comments.

Song Shi'an arranged to pick up his mother and aunt and bring his aunt to a Capital hospital for an examination. After reuniting with them at the high-speed rail station, he left the story at the hospital entrance, with Xiao Zhang having helped keep the ride cheerful.

• Song Shi'an discovered Zhu Tao's popular food-review videos and accidentally followed him, leading Zhu Tao to realize the night-market stall owner was Song Shi'an.
• Song Shi'an persuaded his mother to let him pick her and his aunt up, then asked Xiao Zhang to drive them to the hospital.
• Xiao Zhang arrived at Song Shi'an's villa early the next morning with the car polished and ready.
• Song Shi'an found his mother and aunt at the high-speed rail station and learned that his aunt had been referred to a big city for stomach surgery.
• Xiao Zhang entertained Song Shi'an's mother and aunt during the drive, and Song Shi'an thanked him with a thumbs-up when they reached the hospital.

Song Shi'an helped his mother and aunt through his mother's hospital admission and learned her gastric bleeding would be treated with a minimally invasive procedure. In the ward, gossip account owner Lili recognized him, then accidentally played a voice message begging for his autograph, leaving his family wondering whether the message was about him.

• Song Shi'an's mother received a diagnosis of somewhat serious gastric bleeding, and doctors scheduled a minimally invasive procedure for three days later.
• Song Shi'an ran around the hospital completing paperwork and tests while his mother and aunt rested in the ward.
• Lili recognized Song Shi'an as the actor Ying Qi and became flustered when he handed her the phone she could not reach.
• Lili told her friends she had seen Song Shi'an, and one friend sent a voice message asking her to get an autograph.
• The voice message played in the ward, and Song Shi'an's mother and aunt asked whether the person mentioned was someone with his name; he brushed off their questions.