Chapter Summaries

Shen Shuangjian arrived at the coastal filming location with Xie Jinghui, who cared for him as he settled into the cabin. When memories of their past intimacy made Shen embarrassed, Xie placed his ring in Shen’s palm and told him to put it back on if he did not want to continue.

• During the drive from the airport, Shen Shuangjian rested against Xie Jinghui and fell asleep, and Xie woke him gently when they reached the beach.
• Yu Sheng called out to Shen Shuangjian from the water, but Shen walked toward the cabins with Xie instead.
• Xie prepared Shen’s room and helped dry his hair, then remarked that the sea reminded him of their earlier seaside encounter.
• Shen blushed and asked Xie not to question him, so Xie gave him the ring and said he could stop things by putting it back on Xie himself.

Xie Jinghui teased Shen Shuangjian while carefully keeping within the limits he could bear, asking him to put a ring on his finger after ten minutes. The scene ended with Xie Jinghui lifting the exhausted Shen Shuangjian and worrying that going further someday might make him cry and demand to go home.

• Shen Shuangjian lay tangled with Xie Jinghui, clutching Xie Jinghui’s sapphire ring as Xie Jinghui kissed and touched him.
• Shen Shuangjian said he felt bad and wanted to stop, and Xie Jinghui paused when he said he was tired.
• Shen Shuangjian began to cry and accused Xie Jinghui of bullying him, but Xie Jinghui gently denied it.
• Xie Jinghui told Shen Shuangjian to put the ring on him in ten minutes and returned it to Shen Shuangjian’s palm whenever it slipped away.
• When the ten minutes ended, Xie Jinghui lifted the limp Shen Shuangjian from the bed and worried that he might cry and demand to go home if Xie Jinghui went further.

After Shen Shuangjian put a ring on Xie Jinghui, Xie Jinghui cared for him while he recovered. Shen Shuangjian later woke to Xie Jinghui imagining their shared home, and his answer about pets revealed a growing sense of belonging.

• Xie Jinghui guided Shen Shuangjian into putting the ring on him, then washed and changed him before carrying him back to bed.
• The production team announced that Xie Qingchi had withdrawn from the remaining recordings of Real Life, prompting viewers to discuss his departure and his relationship with Shen Shuangjian.
• Shen Shuangjian woke late at night and ate the dinner Xie Jinghui had saved for him.
• Xie Jinghui told Shen Shuangjian about furnishing their home and asked whether he wanted a cat or a dog.
• Shen Shuangjian said he wanted no pets, and Xie Jinghui tenderly agreed.

Shen Shuangjian and Xie Jinghui joined the other guests for a day trip into town, and Xie Jinghui secured Shen Shuangjian as his car partner. After Shen Shuangjian chose ice cream as their first stop, Xie Jinghui imagined spending the rest of the day together like a couple.

• Shen Shuangjian and Xie Jinghui arrived at the meeting point in contrasting casual outfits, drawing attention from the guests and livestream viewers.
• Yu Sheng prepared to invite Shen Shuangjian to ride with him, but Xie Jinghui opened a car door for Shen Shuangjian first.
• Shen Shuangjian got into Xie Jinghui's car without noticing Yu Sheng's expectant look.
• Xie Jinghui asked where Shen Shuangjian wanted to go and offered the aquarium, a restaurant, or ice cream as choices.
• Shen Shuangjian chose ice cream, and Xie Jinghui set off, planning to take him to a restaurant for lunch afterward.

Shen Shuangjian and Xie Jinghui visited an ice cream shop, where Xie Jinghui joked about ordering a couples' set and watched over Shen Shuangjian as he tried ice cream. The milk-and-vanilla flavor brought back a familiar childhood memory, while Shen Sixian's message prompted Xie Jinghui to quietly agree to rein it in.

• Shen Shuangjian and Xie Jinghui arrived at a cleared-out ice cream shop, and Xie Jinghui asked the cashier for the cheaper couples' set.
• Shen Shuangjian received a message from Shen Sixian telling him to rein it in and show Xie Jinghui; after reading it, Xie Jinghui quietly agreed.
• Shen Shuangjian tried his ice cream, but its coldness made his teeth numb and caused him to frown.
• Xie Jinghui worried that Shen Shuangjian disliked the ice cream, but Shen Shuangjian continued eating after it melted.
• Shen Shuangjian recognized the milk-and-vanilla flavor as one from his childhood summer rewards.

Shen Shuangjian and Xie Jinghui cut their company outing short after Shen Shuangjian felt uncomfortable from eating ice cream, and Xie Jinghui took him back to the seaside cottage to rest. After waking hungry, Shen Shuangjian joined the others for their bonfire dinner.

• Shen Shuangjian ate a few bites of ice cream, and Xie Jinghui stopped him when he noticed the cold food was bothering his stomach.
• Xie Jinghui drove Shen Shuangjian back to the seaside cottage, apologized, and helped him settle in for an afternoon nap.
• Shen Shuangjian woke in the quiet bedroom and went outside after resting for a while.
• Xie Jinghui found Shen Shuangjian carrying a blanket and wrapped it more securely around him when he said he was hungry.
• Yu Sheng and Lin Weiluo invited Shen Shuangjian to the bonfire dinner, and Xie Jinghui walked with him toward the group.

At a beach gathering, Shen Shuangjian struggled to join in a conversation about childhood misfortune and described how often he had been sick. Xie Jinghui took his hand and told him he was not unlucky, blaming others for failing to care for him.

• Xie Jinghui stopped Lin Weiluo from offering Shen Shuangjian plum wine and served him stomach-friendly congee instead.
• Yu Sheng made pointed remarks about Xie Jinghui's care for Shen Shuangjian, but Xie Jinghui ignored him.
• Lin Weiluo drew a prompt asking everyone to share an unlucky childhood story, and the others told embarrassing anecdotes.
• When asked to share, Shen Shuangjian said he had often become ill in situations where others stayed healthy.
• Xie Jinghui gently took Shen Shuangjian's hand and told him he was not unlucky because others had not cared for him properly.

Shen Shuangjian became ill with a stomach flu during the beach trip, and Xie Jinghui stayed by his side as he recovered. After Shen Sixian demanded they return to the Capital as soon as Shen Shuangjian could safely fly, Shen Shuangjian woke at noon still weak, and Xie Jinghui urged him to eat porridge before taking his medicine.

• At the bonfire, Yu Sheng and Lin Weiluo reassured Shen Shuangjian that his illness was not his fault, and he soon returned to the cabin with Xie Jinghui.
• After watching a movie with Xie Jinghui, Shen Shuangjian fell asleep, but developed a low fever from stomach flu during the night and suffered stomach pain and dry-heaving.
• Xie Jinghui told Shen Sixian that Shen Shuangjian needed to wait at least thirty-six hours after his fever broke before flying back to the Capital, and Shen Sixian ordered him to bring Shen Shuangjian home as soon as possible.
• The production team told viewers that Shen Shuangjian had a cold, prompting worried livestream comments from fans.
• Shen Shuangjian woke around noon feeling weak, and Xie Jinghui checked his temperature and asked him to eat porridge before taking his medicine.

After Shen Shuangjian returned to the Capital with Xie Jinghui and Shen Sixian, doctors examined his fragile health, and he learned the production team had paid him a large sum. Xie Jinghui then announced that he and Shen Shuangjian were moving into their new house, leaving Shen Sixian trying to persuade them to stay.

• Xie Jinghui gave Shen Shuangjian candy after his medicine and persuaded him to return to the Capital for the sake of his health.
• The production team paid Shen Shuangjian his agreed fee plus thirteen million, while doctors found several health problems during his examination.
• Shen Shuangjian discovered the money in his account and asked Shen Sixian about it, embarrassing himself when Shen Sixian teased him.
• Shen Sixian grew irritated as Xie Jinghui stayed at the Shen Residence and hinted that he should leave.
• Xie Jinghui told Shen Sixian that he and Shen Shuangjian had a house ready and planned to move out together.
• Shen Sixian offered to let Xie Jinghui live in a separate building on the property, hoping Shen Shuangjian would remain nearby.

Shen Shuangjian moved into a new home with Xie Jinghui after Shen Sixian agreed to a limited arrangement, and the three shared a meal there. Later, Xie Jinghui teased the sleepy Shen Shuangjian before initiating more intimate contact, leaving Shen Shuangjian tense and trembling.

• Shen Sixian and Shen Shuangjian compromised so Shen Shuangjian could stay away from the Shen Residence up to three nights a week.
• Xie Jinghui took Shen Shuangjian to their new home, and Shen Sixian inspected it before joining them for dinner.
• Shen Sixian left after spending two more hours at the home, while Xie Jinghui stayed with Shen Shuangjian.
• Xie Jinghui found Shen Shuangjian dozing in front of a movie and teased him when an indecent scene appeared on the television.
• Xie Jinghui brought Shen Shuangjian into the bathroom and asked if they could go further, then slipped a finger inside him, making him stiffen and tremble.

After Xie Jinghui stopped when Shen Shuangjian could no longer bear the sensations, he washed and comforted him until he fell asleep. The next morning, Shen Shuangjian agreed to join the show’s finale livestream and ate breakfast with Xie Jinghui.

• Shen Shuangjian could barely respond while Xie Jinghui held him, so Xie Jinghui stopped and washed him.
• Xie Jinghui soothed Shen Shuangjian after carrying him to bed, and Shen Shuangjian fell asleep in his arms.
• Shen Shuangjian woke the next morning and agreed to join the show’s finale livestream that afternoon.
• Xie Jinghui helped Shen Shuangjian up for breakfast, where Shen Shuangjian curiously inspected Xie Jinghui’s plain, boiled food.

Shen Shuangjian joined a livestream from a home he shared with Xie Jinghui, whose quiet care and easy conversation prompted viewers to speculate about their relationship. They decided to celebrate the winter solstice with hot pot and invite Shen Shuangjian’s brother.

• Shen Shuangjian appeared on the livestream and greeted fans, who remarked on his gentler, more peaceful demeanor.
• When asked where he was, Shen Shuangjian said he was at his home elsewhere.
• Xie Jinghui brought Shen Shuangjian water and asked whether he wanted hot pot for the winter solstice.
• Shen Shuangjian chose to invite his brother over rather than return to the Shen Residence.
• Viewers reacted to Xie Jinghui’s presence and debated whether the two were lovers or close friends.

Shen Shuangjian returned to the Shen Residence with Xie Jinghui for a Winter Solstice hot pot, while Yu Sheng struggled to confess his feelings by message. Shen Sixian performed a hair-cutting ritual for Shen Shuangjian and led him inside, wishing that Zhizhi would live to a hundred.

• Shen Shuangjian and Xie Jinghui arrived at the Shen Residence, where Shen Sixian was preparing tangyuan for their Winter Solstice meal.
• Yu Sheng asked Shen Shuangjian whether he and Xie Jinghui were together, then sent a confession after Shen Shuangjian replied with a question mark.
• Shen Sixian called Shen Shuangjian outside and draped his coat over him.
• Shen Sixian cut a lock of Shen Shuangjian's hair and one of his own, tied them together with help from a lama, and tossed them into the fire.
• Shen Sixian led Shen Shuangjian back inside, saying that after hot pot, their Zhizhi would live to a hundred.

Shen Shuangjian burned his tongue and the corner of his eye during Winter Solstice hot pot, while Shen Sixian and Xie Jinghui tried to care for him. Online speculation about Xie Qingchi leaving the show peaked after he admitted his feelings for Shen Shuangjian had been one-sided and said he would stop bothering him, prompting a flood of ridicule.

• Shen Shuangjian replied to Yu Sheng's Winter Solstice greeting without knowing Yu Sheng had recalled an earlier message.
• Shen Sixian gave Shen Shuangjian a beef ball that scalded his tongue and the corner of his eye, and Xie Jinghui treated the burns with cold water and a wet towel.
• Shen Shuangjian refused food while Shen Sixian and Xie Jinghui tried to coax him, and Shen Sixian blamed Xie Jinghui for suggesting hot pot.
• A video about Xie Qingchi's departure from the show appeared on Weibo, where fans argued over whether his actions were driven by his feelings for Shen Shuangjian.
• Xie Qingchi posted that leaving the show had nothing to do with Shen Shuangjian, admitted his feelings had been one-sided, and said he no longer wanted to bother him.
• Xie Qingchi's confession drew a wave of mockery and criticism in his comments.

Xie Jinghui brought Shen Shuangjian to the Xie Residence and shared memories of his grandparents and the pear tree his grandmother had hoped to see bloom. He placed his grandmother’s sapphire ring on Shen Shuangjian’s finger and resolved to spend his life helping him understand love.

• Xie Jinghui coaxed Shen Shuangjian into visiting the Xie Residence on a pleasant day.
• Xie Jinghui told Shen Shuangjian that his grandmother had urged his grandfather to keep living until the pear tree bloomed, though its roots had already rotted.
• Xie Jinghui explained that his grandmother had given him a sapphire ring and told him to bring someone he loved to see her when he grew up.
• Xie Jinghui realized that rubbing the ring while thinking of Shen Shuangjian was his way of offering his unsettled heart.
• Xie Jinghui knelt beside Shen Shuangjian, placed the ring on his finger, and decided to spend his life explaining love to him.

After reading about love, Shen Shuangjian impulsively kissed Xie Jinghui, who carried him to bed and responded with overwhelming tenderness. The chapter ended with Xie Jinghui telling the tearful Shen Shuangjian that he had lost his ring.

• Shen Shuangjian read a passage describing what it meant to fall for someone and thought about Xie Jinghui.
• Shen Shuangjian caught Xie Jinghui by the collar and tentatively kissed him for the first time on his own initiative.
• Xie Jinghui lifted Shen Shuangjian into his arms and carried him away, while Shen Shuangjian innocently clung to him.
• Shen Shuangjian later searched frantically for his lost ring, and Xie Jinghui told him that it was gone.

After Xie Jinghui and Shen Shuangjian spent the night being intimate, Shen Shuangjian was left exhausted and refused to eat. Shen Sixian discovered his condition and took him away from Xie Jinghui, while the conflict between them remained unresolved.

• Xie Jinghui stopped repeatedly to soothe Shen Shuangjian during their intimate night, but Shen Shuangjian was left too exhausted to get out of bed the next afternoon.
• Xie Jinghui brought Shen Shuangjian congee and tried to persuade him to eat, but Shen Shuangjian refused all day.
• Shen Sixian noticed Shen Shuangjian's exhaustion during a video call and hurried to Xie Jinghui's home.
• Shen Sixian found Shen Shuangjian in bed, carried him downstairs, and called Xie Jinghui a beast.
• Shen Sixian took Shen Shuangjian away in the car, unable to forcibly separate him from Xie Jinghui despite his anger.

Xie Jinghui spent weeks trying to see Shen Shuangjian after Shen Sixian banned him from the Shen Residence, until Shen Shuangjian brought him home for New Year. The three spent the holiday together, and Xie Jinghui received a red envelope from Shen Sixian after Shen Shuangjian offered to share his own.

• After seeing Shen Shuangjian's bruises and hearing that Xie Jinghui had undone his trousers, Shen Sixian banned Xie Jinghui from the Shen Residence and forbade him from seeing Shen Shuangjian.
• Xie Jinghui made repeated visits to the Shen Residence, but Shen Sixian or the household staff turned him away while he stayed in contact with Shen Shuangjian by phone and text.
• Two days before New Year, Shen Shuangjian went outside and returned with Xie Jinghui, who said he had come to spend the holiday with the Shen Family.
• Shen Sixian allowed Xie Jinghui to stay, and the three prepared New Year's Eve dinner together at the brightly decorated Shen Residence.
• Shen Sixian gave Shen Shuangjian two red envelopes, and Shen Shuangjian offered Xie Jinghui half of the thicker one.
• Xie Jinghui declined Shen Shuangjian's envelope, so Shen Sixian gave him a red envelope that he later filled with a thick stack of banknotes.

On New Year’s Day, Xie Jinghui took Shen Shuangjian to pay respects to his grandparents, where they unexpectedly encountered Xie Qingchi. Seeing Shen Shuangjian happy with Xie Jinghui, Xie Qingchi returned to New York, but a failed message revealed that he still loved Shen Shuangjian and had never truly let go.

• Shen Shuangjian slept late after staying up for New Year’s Eve, and Xie Jinghui waited for him to wake before taking him out at noon.
• Xie Jinghui brought Shen Shuangjian to pay respects to his grandparents and hoped to show them the person he wanted to spend his life with.
• Xie Jinghui and Shen Shuangjian unexpectedly encountered Xie Qingchi, who saw their joined hands and passed them without speaking.
• Xie Qingchi returned to New York that night, where he avoided reminders of Shen Shuangjian and convinced himself he had moved on.
• After seeing the cold temperature in Shen Shuangjian’s city, Xie Qingchi tried to message him, but the message failed to send.
• Xie Qingchi realized that he still loved Shen Shuangjian and that the love continued to hurt him.

Shen Shuangjian and Xie Jinghui settled into a peaceful life together, and Shen Shuangjian agreed to go on another date with him. While getting ready, they kissed, and the chapter recalled how Xie Jinghui’s past excesses had upset Shen Shuangjian and drawn Shen Sixian’s scolding.

• Shen Shuangjian spent his days peacefully between his own home and the Shen Residence, with Xie Jinghui keeping him warm and close.
• Shen Shuangjian agreed to go on a date with Xie Jinghui but woke late after they had fooled around the night before.
• Xie Jinghui prepared Shen Shuangjian’s outfit, then kissed him in the walk-in closet after promising not to do anything else.
• The chapter recalled how Xie Jinghui had once overwhelmed Shen Shuangjian, who later fled to Shen Sixian, and how Shen Sixian scolded Xie Jinghui afterward.
• Xie Jinghui accepted Shen Sixian’s insults and remained content to care for Shen Shuangjian tenderly.