Chapter Summaries

At the hockey rink, Lin Fengzhi struggled with jealousy as he watched Lu Lin tenderly help Yan Heqing, while Gu Xingye noticed Lin Fengzhi’s feelings for Lu Lin. Lu Lin invited his friends to join the game, and the chapter ended with him teaching Yan Heqing to skate before the match began.

• Lin Fengzhi watched Lu Lin shield Yan Heqing as he got out of the car, then hurried into the rink to avoid seeing them together.
• Gu Xingye invited Lu Lin and Yan Heqing to eat seafood afterward, but Lu Lin declined because they had plans that night.
• Lu Lin offered to bring friends to fill two spots in Gu Xingye’s hockey game and rented four sets of equipment.
• In the changing room, Ge Tongyuan praised Lu Lin and Yan Heqing as a handsome couple, and Lin Fengzhi snapped at him before leaving.
• Chu Ziyu and Xie Yunjie arrived, while Lu Lin taught Yan Heqing to skate before the match started.

Lu Lin and Yan Heqing joined opposing friends in an ice hockey game, while Lin Fengzhi’s jealousy grew as he watched Lu Lin’s tenderness toward Yan Heqing. After Lu Lin’s team took a commanding lead, he bet that Yan Heqing would move into his house if he scored, or that Lu Lin would move in with Yan Heqing if he did not; the second period began with Lu Lin feeding him the puck.

• Chu Ziyu and Xie Yunjie joined the rink, and Lin Fengzhi asked to play against Yan Heqing’s team.
• Yan Heqing invited Ge Tongyuan onto his team, and Lu Lin checked Yan Heqing’s protective gear before the game.
• Lu Lin told Yan Heqing to stay safe and observe during the first period, while Lin Fengzhi vowed to beat his team.
• Yan Heqing quickly adjusted to skating as Lu Lin scored three goals, giving his team a 3–0 lead by the end of the first period.
• Lu Lin bet that Yan Heqing would move into his house if he scored, while Lu Lin would move in with Yan Heqing if he did not.
• At the start of the second period, Lu Lin began passing the puck to Yan Heqing whenever he gained possession.

During the hockey game, Yan Heqing scored and evaded Lin Fengzhi, who crashed into the boards and was taken to the hospital for surgery. Lu Lin reassured Yan Heqing, introduced himself as his boyfriend, and carried him down the hospital stairs when he noticed Yan Heqing’s shoulder was hurt.

• Ge Tongyuan and his teammate passed the puck to Yan Heqing, who scored during the third period.
• Lin Fengzhi charged at Yan Heqing, but Yan Heqing dodged and Lin Fengzhi slammed into the boards, losing consciousness.
• Lu Lin comforted Yan Heqing and told him the accident was not his fault.
• At the hospital, Yan Heqing called Lu Lin his boyfriend, while Lu Lin explained that Lin Fengzhi needed a minor operation.
• After Lin Fengzhi’s surgery, Lu Lin offered to carry Yan Heqing down the stairs because his shoulder had been hit.

Lu Lin carried the sleeping Yan Heqing home, then left after Yan Heqing invited him to stay. The next day, Yan Heqing visited his lab, declined Gu Xingye’s offer to work together, and met Lu Lin for dinner, where he discussed a possible visit to Lin Fengzhi with Ge Tongyuan.

• Lu Lin carried Yan Heqing home and kissed his eyes before leaving, promising to return the next day.
• Yan Heqing found a bruise on his shoulder and applied the herbal balm Lu Lin had given him.
• Yan Heqing learned that Lin Fengzhi had woken up, then declined Gu Xingye’s proposal to work together on a project.
• After spending the afternoon in the laboratory, Yan Heqing met Lu Lin and ate clay pot rice with him at Cafeteria Three.
• Ge Tongyuan called Yan Heqing to discuss visiting Lin Fengzhi after May Day, and Lu Lin asked if the caller was the student surnamed Ge.

Yan Heqing and Lu Lin chose furniture for the apartment where Yan Heqing would move, while Lin Fengzhi remained withdrawn in the hospital. Lin Fengzhi called Lu Lin and heard Yan Heqing answer, but Lu Lin’s voice reached him just as he was about to hang up.

• Lu Lin showed Yan Heqing his apartment and said they would renovate it for him to live in.
• Lu Lin and Yan Heqing picked walnut furniture, though Yan Heqing noticed Lu Lin seemed unhappy when he chose a large bed.
• Lin Fengzhi stayed silent in the hospital until Lin Fengyi lost his temper and demanded to know what was wrong.
• Lin Fengzhi asked for his phone and called Lu Lin, but Yan Heqing answered from Lu Lin’s car.
• Yan Heqing told Lin Fengzhi that Lu Lin was away and offered to pass on a message, crushing Lin Fengzhi’s hope that Lu Lin was alone.
• As Lin Fengzhi was about to hang up, Lu Lin’s voice came through the phone and asked what he was doing.

Yan Heqing returned home with Lu Lin, who arranged travel plans for them, while Lu Muchi waited outside the residential complex hoping to see Yan. After Yan noticed Zhao Yong asking about his schedule, he went out to find Lu Muchi, who was struggling to retrieve his phone.

• Yan Heqing told Lu Lin he had spoken with his younger brother, and Lu Lin asked about his lease and arranged to book plane tickets using Yan's ID number.
• Lu Muchi waited outside Yan Heqing's residential complex, longing to see him and repeatedly checking his phone.
• Lu Muchi called Zhao Weifang to ask whether Yan had evening self-study, and Zhao Weifang contacted Zhao Yong to confirm Yan's schedule.
• Zhao Yong messaged Yan Heqing asking about his plans, and Yan inferred that someone was trying to find him.
• Yan Heqing took a back route to the complex entrance and saw Lu Muchi struggling to pick up the phone he had thrown away.
• Yan Heqing picked up Lu Muchi's phone as Lu struggled to reach it.

Yan Heqing visited Lu Ruchan with Lu Lin before they flew to Twenty Bridges. Lu Lin brought him to his grandmother's old house, where Old Li welcomed them and a warm meal awaited.

• Yan Heqing returned Lu Muchi's phone and declined to call him by his pet name, then left him outside the residential complex.
• Yan Heqing gave Lu Ruchan lychee honey and taught her to make lipstick before she sent him and Lu Lin to the airport.
• Yan Heqing and Lu Lin landed in Twenty Bridges and drove through the rain toward Lu Lin's grandmother's old house.
• Lu Lin sheltered Yan Heqing with an umbrella as they entered the old water-town house, where Old Li greeted them and left.
• Lu Lin uncovered the home-cooked dishes waiting on the stove after he and Yan Heqing washed their hands.

Yan Heqing and Lu Lin spent a quiet evening at Old Li’s house, playing cards and exchanging promises to ask each other for rewards the next day. After Yan Heqing decided to set aside his phone and enjoy five days away, he and Lu Lin explored the plum orchard and ran into Old Li and his pregnant wife.

• Lu Lin served Yan Heqing chicken soup, and after dinner they played Bluff until they each had two cards left and agreed that both had won.
• Lu Lin promised to ask Yan Heqing for a reward the next day, and Yan Heqing promised to ask Lu Lin for one too.
• Yan Heqing settled into his room, ignored messages from Lu Muchi and his class group, and turned off his phone for the five days he planned to spend there.
• Yan Heqing woke early but went back to sleep, then joined Lu Lin for a late start and a walk through the green plum orchard.
• Old Li and his pregnant wife greeted them, and his wife told Yan Heqing she wanted to look at him so their baby would be beautiful.

Lu Lin and Yan Heqing toured Twenty Bridges, where Lu Lin bought them matching red bean bracelets and brought Yan Heqing to hear pingtan. Yan Heqing said he had turned off his phone for a few quiet days and asked to buy a new one, so Lu Lin found a nearby mall.

• Yan Heqing patiently posed for a photo with Old Li's wife, who gave him green plum wine to drink after the sightseeing trip.
• Lu Lin treated Yan Heqing to noodles, and they joked about keeping accounts as they walked through the crowded scenic area.
• Lu Lin took Yan Heqing along a quieter path, bought two red bean bracelets, and put one on each of their wrists before holding his hand.
• Lu Lin led Yan Heqing to a pingtan hall he had reserved in advance, where Yan Heqing ordered tea and requested “Slow, Slow Song.”
• Yan Heqing told Lu Lin that he had turned off his phone for a few quiet days and wanted a new one, so Lu Lin searched for a nearby mall.

Yan Heqing and Lu Lin explored Twenty Bridges, where Yan Heqing bought a phone to preserve memories of the town. After heavy rain flooded the scenic area and trapped them at home, they cooked and settled in to enjoy the weather together.

• Yan Heqing listened to pingtan with Lu Lin, then ate the sunflower seed kernels Lu Lin had shelled for him.
• Yan Heqing bought a phone with good photography and night-recording features, and he took a picture of Lu Lin.
• After finding their restaurant meal too sweet, Yan Heqing and Lu Lin bought groceries and returned to the old house, where Old Li had left plum wine and jasmine ice cakes.
• As a storm began, Yan Heqing looked at Lu Lin and said he had suddenly realized he had been happy twice.
• Old Li called to report that flooding had closed the scenic area, so Lu Lin cooked with their groceries while Yan Heqing relit the stove.
• With rain expected to continue until the following morning, Yan Heqing opened the window and told Lu Lin that the sound of rain on the banana leaves was heavenly music.

Lu Lin and Yan Heqing shared a passionate kiss, but Lu Lin stopped when he realized he had no protection. They spent the rest of the rainy evening reading and drinking plum wine, and the next morning Old Li arrived after the floodwaters receded.

• Lu Lin kissed Yan Heqing and touched his scar, but stopped when the boiling kettle reminded him that he had no protection.
• Lu Lin left the room, then returned after showering and quietly read The Murder of Roger Ackroyd with Yan Heqing.
• Yan Heqing and Lu Lin drank warm green plum wine, and Yan Heqing fell asleep after a few cups.
• Lu Lin carried Yan Heqing to bed, where Yan Heqing briefly touched his face and apologized before falling asleep again.
• The rain ended overnight, and Lu Lin prepared breakfast and hangover soup before Old Li arrived.

Yan Heqing and Lu Lin toured Twenty Bridges before returning to the capital, where Yan Heqing learned that Lin Fengzhi was unwell and arranged to visit him. Lin Fengyi was so eager for Yan Heqing’s visit that he rushed to swap hospital shifts with Lin Fengxian.

• Lu Lin and Yan Heqing rented a bicycle and cycled around Twenty Bridges, where Yan Heqing leaned against Lu Lin and enjoyed the breeze.
• Back at the old house, Yan Heqing overheard Lu Lin arguing with Lu Changcheng about the Lu Group and Lu Muchi, then kissed Lu Lin as thanks for helping him find his relative.
• The next day, Yan Heqing and Lu Lin shopped, flew back to the capital, and Yan Heqing read Lin Fengyi’s messages saying Lin Fengzhi had been doing poorly.
• Yan Heqing arranged with Ge Tongyuan to visit Lin Fengzhi the next day and told Lin Fengyi he would come.
• Lin Fengyi ran to Lin Fengxian and asked to swap hospital shifts so he could be there when Yan Heqing visited.

Yan Heqing agreed to extend his relationship with Lu Lin indefinitely, then considered how Lu Lin’s decisions might conflict with Lu Muchi and Cheng Jian’s upcoming project. As renovations approached, Yan Heqing planned a combined study and sitting room, and the next day he met Ge Tongyuan to visit the hospital.

• Yan Heqing agreed when Lu Lin asked to extend their relationship indefinitely.
• Yan Heqing inferred that Lu Lin’s decision might conflict with the project Lu Muchi and Cheng Jian planned to launch, and he agreed to attend Lu Muchi’s dinner next week.
• Yan Heqing suggested combining the living room and study, and Lu Lin left the decision to him.
• Lu Lin asked Chu Ziyu to invite Yan Heqing out, while making sure their outings did not interfere with his studies.
• Yan Heqing met Ge Tongyuan at City Hospital Station, gave him a souvenir, and helped him buy fruit for the hospital visit.

Yan Heqing visited Lin Fengzhi in the hospital, where Lin Fengzhi struggled with jealousy over Yan Heqing’s relationship with Lu Lin. After Yan Heqing left, Lin Fengyi realized he had no way to approach him and was startled by Lin Fengzhi standing behind him.

• Ge Tongyuan praised Yan Heqing on the way to the hospital and left after visiting Lin Fengzhi.
• Yan Heqing told the pretending-to-sleep Lin Fengzhi he had brought strawberry pastries, and Lin Fengzhi woke and asked whether he and Lu Lin had traveled together.
• Yan Heqing peeled an apple for Lin Fengzhi, who asked why he had once liked Lu Muchi and now dated Lu Muchi’s uncle.
• Lin Fengzhi admitted his wound hurt and turned away sobbing, while Lin Fengyi returned with water and food.
• Yan Heqing left after telling Lin Fengzhi to recover, and Lin Fengyi sat down to eat before discovering Lin Fengzhi standing behind him.

After Lin Fengzhi demanded that Lin Fengyi compare him with Yan Heqing, Yan Heqing accepted Chu Ziyu’s invitation to spend the afternoon at an arcade. Over dinner, Yan Heqing realized Lu Lin may have arranged the outing to help him make friends, and wondered whether Chu Ziyu had also told Lu Lin about the food street.

• Lin Fengzhi asked Lin Fengyi whether he or Yan Heqing was better, then shoved the food onto the floor when Lin Fengyi could not reassure him.
• Chu Ziyu called Yan Heqing and invited him to use up arcade tokens, at Lu Lin’s request.
• Yan Heqing met Chu Ziyu at the arcade, where Chu guided him through games and they won enough tickets for a rice cooker and a stuffed bear.
• Chu Ziyu took Yan Heqing to a hot-and-sour skewer shop near Beijing University and explained that he used to eat there while waiting for Lu Lin.
• Yan Heqing wondered whether Chu Ziyu had told Lu Lin about the food street.

Yan Heqing spent time with Chu Ziyu and Lu Lin, then received an invitation from Lu Muchi to discuss a major project. Lu Muchi hoped to impress Yan Heqing, unaware that Lu Lin’s investment company was competing for the same deal.

• Chu Ziyu told Yan Heqing stories about Lu Lin’s school days over hot pot, then left with his teddy bear when Lu Lin came to pick Yan Heqing up.
• Yan Heqing nearly asked Lu Lin whether he had noticed his feelings, but said nothing and went home with him.
• During a busy week, Yan Heqing approved Lu Lin’s bookcase-and-fish-tank design and postponed their fishing trip because he had plans.
• Lu Muchi prepared to meet Yan Heqing, believing that winning a project worth over ten billion would prove his ability and serve as a love letter to him.
• Lu Muchi met Yan Heqing at the Five Lakes Hotel and discussed the project, while Lu Lin’s assistant informed him that Lu Muchi and Cheng Jian were meeting there.
• Lu Lin paid little attention to the meeting, confident that his newly backed tech company would make Lu Muchi’s competition more difficult.

Lu Muchi brought Yan Heqing to a business dinner with Cheng Jian, who mistook him for a potential seduction and tried to get him alone. Lu Muchi interrupted their encounter, and an observer later assured Lu Lin that Yan Heqing was safe.

• Lu Muchi and Yan Heqing waited at the Five Lakes Hotel while Cheng Jian delayed their business meeting by claiming to be stuck in traffic.
• Cheng Jian arrived with Xiao Zhou, a former bed partner of Lu Muchi, and openly admired Yan Heqing while Lu Muchi introduced him as a company intern.
• Cheng Jian followed Yan Heqing to the restroom after Yan Heqing left the dining room, and Lu Muchi grew suspicious and went after them.
• Cheng Jian made suggestive remarks to Yan Heqing in the restroom, but Lu Muchi arrived and challenged Cheng Jian's excuse for being there.
• After Yan Heqing and Lu Muchi left, a man reported the encounter to Lu Lin and assured him that Yan Heqing was safe.

Yan Heqing endured Cheng Jian’s wine to change eight words in the contract, then left Lu Muchi to confront Cheng Jian while Lu Lin followed him. Yan Heqing went to Lu Lin’s apartment for a better roasted sweet potato and found Lu Lin waiting with one.

• Cheng Jian offered to let Yan Heqing change one contract word for every glass of wine, and Yan Heqing accepted eight glasses while eating blueberries and keeping Lu Muchi calm.
• Cheng Jian left after eight contract words were changed, and Yan Heqing told Lu Muchi that he had failed to trade people as he usually did.
• Lu Muchi followed Cheng Jian into the hotel lobby, kicked him down, and dislocated both his hands as onlookers filmed.
• Yan Heqing left the hotel, bought a roasted sweet potato, and called Lu Lin to say it was not as good as the ones Lu Lin made.
• Yan Heqing decided to go to Lu Lin’s apartment, where he found Lu Lin arriving with a bag of sweet potatoes.

Lu Lin cared for Yan Heqing after he came home from drinking, and the two shared a tender evening before Yan Heqing slept in Lu Lin’s bedroom. The next morning, Yan Heqing told Ge Tongyuan that he had been the man Lu Muchi and Cheng Jian fought over, while Lu Muchi collapsed outside Yan Heqing’s door.

• Lu Lin roasted sweet potatoes for Yan Heqing, kissed him, and made him sobering soup before letting him sleep in his bedroom.
• Lu Muchi crouched outside Yan Heqing’s door with bloodied clothes and injuries, refused to go to the hospital, and collapsed as Lu Han tried to persuade him.
• Ge Tongyuan messaged Yan Heqing about Lu Muchi beating a man at the Five Lakes Hotel, and Yan Heqing revealed that he had been there.
• Yan Heqing told Ge Tongyuan that he was the mystery man in the fight, then recounted what had happened the night before.
• Ge Tongyuan angrily condemned Cheng Jian, and Yan Heqing listened calmly.

Lin Fengzhi found Yan Heqing in a video from Lu Muchi’s fight and took it as proof that Yan Heqing still liked Lu Muchi, giving himself a reason not to give up on Lu Lin. He got out of bed ready to see Lu Lin, then told Mother Lin his appetite had returned.

• Yan Heqing rebuffed Lu Changcheng’s complaint about Lu Muchi and later asked Lu Lin whether anything mattered more than blood ties; they gave the same answer.
• Lin Fengyi showed Lin Fengzhi a video of Lu Muchi fighting Cheng Jian, but Lin Fengzhi snapped at him and drove him away.
• Lin Fengzhi searched videos of the fight from different angles and spotted a figure he believed was Yan Heqing.
• Lin Fengzhi decided Yan Heqing liked Lu Muchi and was lying, so he did not have to give up on Lu Lin.
• Lin Fengzhi tried to get out of bed to see Lu Lin but became dizzy and fell back; when Mother Lin came in, he asked for several foods he wanted to eat.