Chapter Summaries

Yan Heqing patiently taught children at the orphanage despite having a cold, then escorted Xu Qiaoyin to the subway. After returning home, he received and set up a heater, while Lu Muchi continued having him watched and Lu Lin stayed late at work.

• Lu Muchi told the private investigator to keep watching Yan Heqing, while the investigator waited outside the orphanage.
• Yan Heqing patiently taught pinyin to the children, and Xu Qiaoyin gave up offering him durian when he said he had a cold.
• Yan Heqing gave Xu Qiaoyin a mask and escorted her to the subway station in the rain.
• The private investigator sent Lu Muchi photos of Yan Heqing with Xu Qiaoyin, and Lu Muchi ordered him to keep watching Yan Heqing.
• Yan Heqing returned home, left food for stray cats, and set up a heater delivered to his apartment.
• Lu Lin finished working late, and his assistant told him that his meal had arrived.

Lu Muchi grew convinced that Yan Heqing was being kept by Xu Qiaoyin and stormed into her apartment. The chapter ended with Lu Muchi grabbing Yan Heqing by the throat and slamming him against the shoe cabinet.

• Lu Lin learned that Yan Heqing had resigned, earned first place in his finals, and received a scholarship, then watched their WeChat exchange without replying.
• Lu Muchi received photos of Yan Heqing with Xu Qiaoyin and decided to catch them together before confronting Yan Heqing.
• Yan Heqing visited the orphanage and told a little girl he planned to spend New Year's with the person closest to him.
• Xu Qiaoyin invited Yan Heqing to her apartment for hot pot, while Yan Heqing noticed the private investigator following them.
• Lu Muchi watched Yan Heqing and Xu Qiaoyin enter her apartment, kicked the door open, and grabbed Yan Heqing by the throat before slamming him against the shoe cabinet.

Lu Muchi attacked Yan Heqing in Xu Qiaoyin’s apartment, but stopped when he recognized her as the woman who had disappeared over a decade earlier. Yan Heqing left to keep Xu Qiaoyin safe, while Lu Muchi fled in shock and then stopped before leaving the building.

• Lu Muchi accused Yan Heqing of belonging to him and threatened to cripple and ruin him, recalling how he had once sent Yan to a man who tried to assault him.
• Lu Muchi seized Yan Heqing by the throat and demanded to know whether someone else had touched him.
• Xu Qiaoyin rushed out, tried to free Yan Heqing, and slapped Lu Muchi when he threatened to assault him in front of her.
• Lu Muchi recognized Xu Qiaoyin and fled the apartment, leaving Xu shocked by his relationship with Yan Heqing.
• Yan Heqing reassured Xu Qiaoyin, hurried away, and Lu Muchi stopped as he reached the ground floor.

Lu Muchi returned to Xu Qiaoyin’s apartment and accused her of having an affair with Yan Heqing, while Yan Heqing followed his plan to cut off contact and collapsed outside. Lu Lin came to the hospital after being called and learned Yan Heqing’s condition was not serious, leaving him to wait for Yan Heqing to wake.

• Lu Muchi returned to Xu Qiaoyin’s apartment, demanded to know where Yan Heqing was, and insulted them both.
• Xu Qiaoyin slapped Lu Muchi and told him to leave, while Lu Muchi demanded Yan Heqing’s location and tried calling him.
• Yan Heqing escaped the building, blocked Lu Muchi and his other contacts, and called 120 before collapsing.
• Lu Lin received a call from City No. 2 Hospital and arrived forty-five minutes later to find Yan Heqing unconscious in a ward.
• The doctor told Lu Lin that Yan Heqing had suffered reflex syncope and had bruising, but could recover with rest and be discharged after waking.

Lu Lin stayed with Yan Heqing in a hospital ward after Yan Heqing lost consciousness. When Yan Heqing woke, he said he had nowhere to go and implied that creditors were waiting at his home.

• Lu Lin paid for a bed in a general ward and returned to Yan Heqing's bedside.
• Lu Lin drew the curtain around Yan Heqing's bed and watched over him as he slept.
• Yan Heqing dreamed of his mother protecting him during a fire before waking in the ward.
• Lu Lin helped Yan Heqing sit up and gave him water.
• Yan Heqing told Lu Lin he had nowhere to go, then agreed that creditors were waiting at his home.

After Yan Heqing was discharged, Lu Lin took him to his home, where he gave him candy, toiletries, and clean clothes. Yan Heqing noticed a photograph of Lu Lin with a woman before going to shower.

• Lu Lin took Yan Heqing from the hospital to his home after Yan Heqing completed the discharge procedures.
• At a late-night supermarket, Lu Lin bought Yan Heqing a shoe brush, soap, toiletries, and candy to have after taking his medicine.
• Lu Lin brought Yan Heqing to his top-floor apartment and gave him disposable slippers.
• Lu Lin found clean clothes and toiletries for Yan Heqing and showed him where the bathroom was.
• Yan Heqing noticed a photograph of Lu Lin with a woman in a wheelchair, then went into the bathroom to shower.

Yan Heqing showered at Lu Lin’s home, treated his bruises, and shared a meal with him before explaining his fight and family history. He then washed the shoes Lu Muchi had stomped on, scrubbing away the marks in Lu Lin’s bathroom.

• Yan Heqing found ointment among his clothes and applied it to the bruises on his neck and back.
• Lu Lin served Yan Heqing beef congee and orange-flavored water, then asked about his fight, contacts, and upbringing.
• Yan Heqing said he had won the fight, blocked his creditors, and cut ties with the couple who had adopted him.
• Lu Lin found a mixing bowl for Yan Heqing to use as a basin, and Yan Heqing soaked and scrubbed his shoes to remove Lu Muchi’s footprints.

Yan Heqing rested at Lu Lin’s home, certain Lu Lin had not investigated him, while Lin Fengzhi imagined Yan Heqing’s busy phone line meant a woman was pursuing him. The next morning, Yan Heqing woke early and found a paper bag hanging from his bedroom door handle.

• Lu Lin asked Yan Heqing how the wounded whale could win, and Yan Heqing said it should wait until the sailors weakened without supplies.
• Yan Heqing took his medicine and went to bed, then ignored Lin Fengzhi’s messages and silenced his phone.
• Lin Fengzhi assumed Yan Heqing was talking to a woman and told his cat how much he liked Uncle Lu.
• Lin Fengyi visited Lin Fengzhi, learned he planned to shop with Yan Heqing, and left with a flicker of concern in his eyes.
• Yan Heqing woke at six and found a paper bag hanging from his bedroom door handle.

Yan Heqing spent the morning at Lu Lin’s apartment, where Lu Lin told him he could stay there as long as he wanted. Yan Heqing then arranged to meet Lin Fengzhi, and the chapter ended when he arrived and Lin Fengzhi ran to greet him beside Lin Fengyi.

• Yan Heqing made egg noodles for himself and Lu Lin, then said he had a date when Lu Lin asked if he was going to work.
• Lu Lin gave Yan Heqing the apartment door code and said he could stay until he no longer wanted to.
• Yan Heqing called Lin Fengzhi and insisted they meet immediately; Lin Fengzhi agreed to meet him at a downtown luxury mall.
• Lin Fengzhi rushed out to meet Yan Heqing, and Lin Fengyi offered him a ride and later waited with him at the mall.
• Yan Heqing bought books at a nearby bookstore, then returned to the mall, where Lin Fengzhi spotted him and ran over while Lin Fengyi watched.

Lin Fengzhi misunderstood Yan Heqing’s account of a long phone call and wondered if Yan Heqing liked men, but Yan Heqing explained he had been discussing research with a male classmate. At a menswear store, Lin Fengzhi admired an ivory coat Yan Heqing had chosen and asked the sales assistant to take it down for him to try on.

• Lin Fengzhi realized Yan Heqing had said the person he spoke with was a man and asked what he meant.
• Yan Heqing clarified that he had discussed a research topic with a male classmate, leaving Lin Fengzhi embarrassed by his assumption.
• Lin Fengzhi entered a menswear store and imagined how a navy trench coat would look on Lu Lin.
• Lin Fengzhi found Yan Heqing admiring an ivory coat and praised his choice.
• Lin Fengzhi asked the sales assistant to take the coat down for Yan Heqing to try on.

Lin Fengzhi shopped for New Year’s gifts with Yan Heqing and learned that Lin Fengzhi had fallen out with Lu Muchi. Yan Heqing bought inexpensive clothes and planned to stay at Lu Lin’s house while avoiding Lu Muchi.

• Lin Fengzhi tried to buy Yan Heqing an expensive coat, but Yan Heqing declined and helped him choose a trench coat for Lu Lin instead.
• Lin Fengzhi bought gifts for his family and friends, then chose ties for his eldest and second brothers.
• When Yan Heqing suggested a watch, Lin Fengzhi said he and Lu Muchi had fallen out and that he would return everything Lu Muchi had given him.
• Lin Fengzhi left the mall early, while Yan Heqing went to a fast-fashion store and bought clothes for himself.
• Yan Heqing reasoned that Lu Muchi was probably searching for him, decided Lu Lin’s home was the safest place to stay, and messaged Lu Lin during his lunch break.

Yan Heqing settled into Lu Lin’s apartment and sent Lin Fengzhi a photo of Lu Lin’s shampoo, but the unbranded bottle left Lin Fengzhi unable to identify it. Lu Lin stayed away until late, then returned to the brightly lit residence.

• Lu Lin allowed Yan Heqing to photograph his shampoo after Yan Heqing said a male date wanted to know its scent.
• Yan Heqing returned to Lu Lin’s apartment, found new slippers and groceries there, and cooked and ate alone while Lu Lin stayed out.
• Lin Fengzhi waited for Lu Muchi, but when Lu Muchi rejected his call, Lin Fengzhi threw his gift boxes outside the villa and left.
• Yan Heqing sent Lin Fengzhi a photo of the plain shampoo bottle, then refused to ask Lu Lin for its brand.
• Yan Heqing went to bed after Lu Lin failed to return, while Lu Lin left his office and came back to the brightly lit Lu residence.

Lu Muchi searched desperately for Yan Heqing while Yan Heqing stayed at Lu Lin’s residence, then left it before New Year. Yan Heqing headed toward Lu Muchi’s home through the snow, unsure whether Lu Muchi was waiting for him.

• Lu Changcheng berated Lu Lin for showing no concern about Lu Muchi’s disappearance, but the family learned Lu Muchi had returned to his villa.
• Lu Muchi recalled Xu Qiaoyin’s disappearance and searched the capital for Yan Heqing, worrying about him and realizing how much he missed him.
• Lu Muchi returned to the villa, showered, and set out again to look for Yan Heqing.
• Yan Heqing stayed at Lu Lin’s residence for several days, then cleaned the house, left money and a note, and departed before New Year.
• Yan Heqing bought a cheap umbrella at the metro station and walked through the snow toward Lu Muchi’s home, thinking Lu Muchi might be waiting there.

Lu Muchi asked Yan Heqing to start over, but Yan Heqing reminded him that he had once treated him as merchandise bought with a hundred-thousand-yuan deposit. Lu Muchi decided to take the money back from Yan Heqing’s adoptive parents, while Yan Heqing went inside without joining him.

• Lu Muchi waited outside Yan Heqing’s apartment and asked to get to know him all over again.
• Yan Heqing questioned how someone Lu Muchi had reserved as merchandise with a hundred-thousand-yuan deposit could start over with him.
• Lu Muchi remembered paying Yan Heqing’s adoptive parents and realized his past treatment had hurt Yan Heqing.
• Lu Muchi leaned in as if to kiss Yan Heqing, but Yan Heqing stepped away with a look of distaste.
• Lu Muchi said he would take back the hundred thousand yuan, but Yan Heqing declined to go with him and wished him good night.
• Yan Heqing entered his apartment, leaving Lu Muchi standing in the stairwell before he mechanically went downstairs.

Yan Heqing left home and went to confront his adoptive family while Lu Muchi arrived there to recover the hundred thousand he had paid them. Zhao Huilin was summoned home from a lawyer’s office, where she had been preparing to sue Yan Heqing for support.

• Lu Muchi rushed away, and Yan Heqing calmly washed his new clothes before leaving for the Yan family’s home.
• Lu Muchi reached the Yan family’s building and sent two bodyguards upstairs to demand the return of his hundred thousand.
• The bodyguards entered the apartment and ordered Yan Feng to call his parents back.
• Zhao Huilin learned from a lawyer that she had no clear right to demand support from Yan Heqing, but she still planned to sue him over the 4.9 million.
• Yan Heqing arrived and followed Zhao Huilin into the building as she hurried home to find the bodyguards confronting Yan Feng.
• Zhao Huilin returned to the apartment, and a bodyguard demanded that she repay Lu Muchi’s hundred thousand.

Zhao Huilin discovered Yan Shengbing had gambled away her savings just as Lu Muchi demanded the return of the hundred thousand yuan he had given her. After Yan Heqing watched his family fall into another violent debt crisis, Lu Muchi retrieved the money and returned home, where he learned Lin Fengzhi had discarded his gifts.

• Lu Muchi's bodyguards demanded that Zhao Huilin return the hundred thousand yuan, but she found that Yan Shengbing had gambled away her savings.
• Zhao Huilin called Yan Shengbing, who borrowed money from loan sharks and brought it back as Zhao Huilin and Yan Feng endured the ensuing fight.
• Yan Heqing watched the bodyguards deliver the money to Lu Muchi, received Lu Muchi's message that he had recovered it, and left after hearing his family quarrel.
• Lu Muchi considered going to see Yan Heqing but turned back to shower, then learned that property management was holding items Lin Fengzhi had thrown out.
• Lu Muchi recognized the returned gifts and remembered that Lin Fengzhi liked Lu Lin.

Yan Heqing spent the night at home and visited Rainbow Bridge Welfare Home the next day with books for the children, while Lu Muchi came to his apartment carrying money and found him gone. The chapter ended with Yan Heqing leaving work in falling snow and hurrying toward a flower shop near the subway station.

• Yan Heqing returned home late, warmed up, ate dumplings, and planned to bring New Year’s gifts to the welfare home.
• Yan Heqing bought children’s books and carried them to Rainbow Bridge Welfare Home, where he organized them on the classroom bookshelf.
• Lu Muchi arrived at Yan Heqing’s apartment with a hundred thousand yuan, called him, and learned that he was away and had seen Lu Muchi’s text.
• Auntie Zhang told Yan Heqing about a free amusement park trip for the children and said Teacher Xu had taken leave because she was unwell.
• Yan Heqing finished his last day of work before the New Year and hurried toward a flower shop as snow began to fall.

Yan Heqing bought gladioli and chrysanthemums for his mother before noticing Lin Fengzhi’s post about the gift he had brought for Lu Lin. Lin Fengzhi forced his way into Lu Lin’s office to deliver it, but security removed him before he could hand it over.

• Yan Heqing bought bouquets of multicolored gladioli and white and yellow chrysanthemums.
• Yan Heqing saw Lin Fengzhi’s Moments post showing the gift box intended for Lu Lin.
• Lin Fengzhi disguised himself as a courier and rushed past the lobby receptionist into Lu Lin’s private elevator.
• Lin Fengzhi entered Lu Lin’s office and nervously said he had a New Year gift from Mr. Lin.
• The receptionist and security guards seized Lin Fengzhi, and the gift box fell to the floor as they carried him out.

Lu Lin returned home and found Yan Heqing had left him a New Year’s note and lucky money. Yan Heqing later returned to his apartment, where Lu Muchi confronted him and agreed to give him time to heal, but Yan Heqing shut the door on him.

• Lu Lin sent Lin Fengzhi away, bought New Year’s groceries, and returned to find Yan Heqing’s shoes gone and the refrigerator empty.
• Lu Lin found Yan Heqing’s note thanking him for the food and explaining that the red envelope was New Year’s lucky money, while medical bills would be repaid separately.
• Yan Heqing returned to his apartment through heavy snow carrying two bouquets and found Lu Muchi waiting outside after smoking all day.
• Lu Muchi threw a bag of money into the stairwell and demanded to know why Yan Heqing was still unhappy after he had removed his rival.
• Yan Heqing explained that his surgical marks needed time to heal and asked to pass because he was tired from work.
• Lu Muchi agreed to give Yan Heqing time to heal and asked him to answer his calls, but Yan Heqing closed the door and told him to take his trash with him.

Yan Heqing prepared two bouquets and traveled by bus toward a suburban cemetery, while the Lin family discussed their New Year’s Eve dinner. Lin Fengxian and Mother Lin urged Lin Fengzhi to invite Yan Heqing, but Fengzhi fell silent.

• Lu Muchi crouched down to pick up the scattered items and several banknotes.
• Yan Heqing concluded that Lu Muchi had likely hidden Xu Qiaoyin, then cared for the flowers and finished his evening routine.
• The next morning, Yan Heqing wrapped the bouquets and boarded a nearly empty bus bound for the cemetery in the suburbs.
• Lin Fengzhi, Lin Fengyi, Lin Fengxian, and Mother Lin discussed their New Year’s Eve dinner as the brothers welcomed Lin Fengxian home.
• Lin Fengxian and Mother Lin suggested that Lin Fengzhi invite Yan Heqing to dinner, and Lin Fengzhi fell silent.