Chapter Summaries

After learning that Su Chengjing had been kidnapped and the Su Group was facing upheaval, Huo Yun tried to persuade Ye Jin to build an acting career. Ye Jin refused to continue acting after her current production and proposed that she and Huo Yun start a film and television investment company instead.

• Huo Yun found news that Su Chengjing had been kidnapped abroad and Mrs. Su had become acting chairwoman and CEO of the Su Group.
• Huo Yun apologized to Ye Jin and used the family crisis to argue that Ye Jin should rely on herself and build a career.
• Ye Jin agreed that people should rely on themselves, and Huo Yun praised her acting and promised to help make her a leading actress.
• Ye Jin told Huo Yun she lacked interest in acting and planned to stop after finishing her current production.
• Ye Jin proposed that she and Huo Yun establish a film and television investment company, appealing to Huo Yun's frustration with her management company's short-term priorities.

Ye Jin urged Huo Yun to consider joining her in starting a company, leaving Huo Yun tempted but undecided. Yang Manhui learned that He Cheng and his assistant Meng Xiaoya were growing close, decided to seek revenge, and wrapped filming three days later.

• Ye Jin invited Huo Yun to help start a company, and Huo Yun left to consider the offer.
• Ye Jin arrived on set refreshed, while He Cheng and Yang Manhui looked exhausted.
• Yang Manhui recalled finding Meng Xiaoya's belongings in He Cheng's home and confronting He Cheng, who dismissed her concerns.
• Yang Manhui believed Ye Jin's inner voice about He Cheng and Meng Xiaoya, and decided to get revenge by letting the public see their affection.
• Three days later, Yang Manhui finished filming her final scene and received a grand wrap ceremony from the crew.

Yang Manhui used a livestream to draw the cast and viewers toward He Cheng’s RV after learning he was cheating with Meng Xiaoya. She reached the RV with Ye Jin following, and prepared to expose the pair to the livestream audience.

• Yang Manhui received a private detective’s report confirming that Meng Xiaoya was disguised as a man and that she and He Cheng were intimate.
• Yang Manhui began livestreaming her wrap celebration and introduced the cast, including Ye Jin.
• Yang Manhui learned He Cheng was inside his RV and announced that she would go find him.
• Ye Jin followed Yang Manhui, expecting her to catch He Cheng and Meng Xiaoya in the act.
• Yang Manhui arrived at He Cheng’s RV and asked the livestream viewers if they wanted to see him.

Yang Manhui exposed He Cheng kissing Meng Xiaoya in a livestream, and He Cheng admitted he had fallen in love with someone else. The broadcast viewers began realizing he had cheated on Yang Manhui, while his fans tried to deny the scandal.

• Yang Manhui knocked on He Cheng’s vehicle door while livestreaming, and a nearby driver opened it remotely.
• The livestream revealed He Cheng and Meng Xiaoya passionately kissing inside the vehicle, shocking viewers and Ye Jin.
• Yang Manhui pretended to be startled and put away her phone without ending the livestream, while He Cheng and Meng Xiaoya noticed her.
• He Cheng pulled Meng Xiaoya protectively close and admitted to Yang Manhui that he had fallen in love with someone else.
• Livestream viewers suspected He Cheng had cheated on Yang Manhui, while his fans claimed the man in the vehicle might be a stand-in.
• Yang Manhui spoke calmly but with grief in her voice, beginning a response that undermined He Cheng’s fans’ excuses.

Yang Manhui exposed He Cheng cheating during a livestream, and the footage spread widely online. He Cheng realized the scandal could ruin his career as he confronted her on set.

• He Cheng admitted to Yang Manhui that he had wronged her, prompting livestream viewers to condemn him for cheating and relying on her for resources.
• Ye Jin suspected Yang Manhui had deliberately arranged to expose He Cheng while the cast and crew gathered around them.
• After a crew member warned Yang Manhui that her livestream was still running, she ended it after capturing He Cheng's furious expression.
• Marketing accounts posted clips of the livestream, and the scandal surged to the top of Big-Eyed Boy's trending searches.
• He Cheng angrily accused Yang Manhui of being a lunatic, but she defended herself and reminded him that viewers had heard their conversation.
• He Cheng realized his secret relationship and cheating had been exposed to fans and feared he could be blacklisted.

He Cheng failed to persuade Yang Manhui to spare him, and the scandal rapidly destroyed his public image and professional support. As advertisers cut ties and his team abandoned him, Meng Xiaoya tried unsuccessfully to defend him.

• He Cheng begged Yang Manhui to let him off, but she rejected him and drove away before he could stop her.
• Online topics about He Cheng's cheating, coming out, and entitled behavior spread widely, and many fans abandoned him.
• Advertisers terminated their contracts with He Cheng, and some companies sued him.
• He Cheng pressured his PR team to find a solution, but staff resigned and his manager began contacting other artists as the agency prepared to shelve him.
• Meng Xiaoya tried to plead with the agency boss and defend He Cheng online, but security removed her and netizens mocked her.

He Cheng blamed Meng Xiaoya for his downfall and sought powerful backing to keep his role in Kunlun Duel. Meanwhile, Ye Jin and Huo Yun established Cloud Brocade Entertainment, and Ye Jin saw the troubled drama as a promising investment opportunity.

• He Cheng accused Meng Xiaoya of ruining his career, then left to seek help from a powerful investor so he could remain in Kunlun Duel.
• Yang Manhui stayed silent while public attention focused on He Cheng, and Ye Jin watched his downfall as filming halted and the production searched for a new male lead and investors.
• Huo Yun accepted Ye Jin's proposal, resigned, and established Cloud Brocade Entertainment with a new team.
• Ye Jin recalled that Kunlun Duel had become a major hit and decided the new company should consider investing in it despite He Cheng's scandal.

Ye Jin persuaded Huo Yun to consider investing in Kunlun Duel despite the risks caused by He Cheng’s scandal. After learning that Star Universe Film and Television was pushing to keep He Cheng as the male lead, Ye Jin identified its president Yan Haoqian’s connection to him and proposed persuading the largest investor, Fruit Video, to reject He Cheng.

• Ye Jin acknowledged the risks of Kunlun Duel but argued that its strong IP and potential returns made it worth considering.
• Huo Yun agreed to contact the drama’s investors about investing, while recognizing that the project needed a new male lead to resume filming.
• Star Universe Film and Television urged the other investors to keep He Cheng as the male lead and avoid costly reshoots.
• Ye Jin discovered that Star Universe Film and Television president Yan Haoqian was He Cheng’s fan and longtime supporter.
• Huo Yun warned that her company could not outbid Star Universe, and Ye Jin said they should win over the other investors, especially Fruit Video.

Ye Jin and Huo Yun negotiated with Fruit Video over investing in Kunlun Duel, insisting that the drama replace He Cheng to reduce its losses. Their talks were interrupted when President Fu Ruiming burst in carrying Xiao Rui and accused Xu Yan of humiliating her with money.

• Ye Jin and Huo Yun met He Tu at Fruit Video to discuss investing in Kunlun Duel.
• Ye Jin rejected Star Universe Entertainment's plan to keep He Cheng and said Cloud Brocade Entertainment would not invest unless he was replaced.
• He Tu consulted his superior, and Xu Yan, Fruit Video's senior vice president and Fu Ruiming's wife, took over the negotiations.
• Ye Jin and Xu Yan negotiated for about half an hour without Ye Jin gaining an advantage.
• Fu Ruiming kicked open the conference room door carrying Xiao Rui and angrily accused Xu Yan of using money to humiliate her.

Ye Jin recognized Fu Ruiming and Xu Yan as characters in a novel and recalled how Fu would abuse Ling Xiao Rui, then ruin Xu Yan’s family after she tried to end their affair. Xu Yan overheard Ye Jin’s unspoken thoughts and began to suspect she could hear them.

• Xu Yan calmly offered Fu Ruiming leftover coffee and suggested they talk things over.
• Ye Jin recognized the situation as resembling the novel Domineering CEO's Forced Love and recalled Fu Ruiming and Ling Xiao Rui’s abusive romance.
• Ye Jin remembered that Xu Yan had offered Ling Xiao Rui twenty million to leave Fu, after which Fu would destroy the Xu Family and force Xu Yan into a desperate marriage.
• Xu Yan noticed Ye Jin’s thoughts about the novel despite Ye Jin not speaking aloud.
• Xu Yan regained her composure and guessed that she could hear Ye Jin’s thoughts.

Xu Yan reconsidered her marriage to Fu Ruiming after learning that she was supposedly a vicious supporting character in a novel, and decided to protect her interests rather than cling to the relationship. When Fu Ruiming demanded that she apologize to Ling Xiao Rui and agree to divorce, Xu Yan calmly warned that ending their marriage required both families’ consent and could hurt Fruit Video.

• Xu Yan recalled how her marriage alliance with Fu Ruiming had helped her leave the Xu Group and build her own company while their families benefited from their partnership.
• After Fu Ruiming demanded a divorce, Xu Yan discovered he was keeping actress Ling Xiao Rui and tried to pay her to leave, but Ling Xiao Rui refused and claimed she loved him.
• Xu Yan learned from Ye Jin that the events supposedly matched a novel’s plot, including her future ruin, and inwardly condemned Fu Ruiming’s behavior.
• Fu Ruiming demanded that Xu Yan apologize to Ling Xiao Rui and agree to divorce in exchange for a larger settlement.
• Xu Yan decided to use the divorce to secure benefits and reminded Fu Ruiming that both families had to agree and that the split could affect Fruit Video.

Xu Yan rebuffed Fu Ruiming’s demand that she apologize to Ling Xiao Rui and then resumed the Fruit Video collaboration negotiations, which went smoothly. She escorted Ye Jin and her companion out, leaving Ye Jin feeling sympathetic toward her.

• Fu Ruiming dismissed Xu Yan’s warnings, insisted he would seek his parents’ approval for a divorce, and demanded she apologize to Ling Xiao Rui.
• Xu Yan pointed out that Fu Ruiming, not she, had coerced and threatened Ling Xiao Rui, and Fu Ruiming stormed out with Ling Xiao Rui.
• Xu Yan restarted the meeting and told Ye Jin she preferred avoiding the risky actor He Cheng, helping the parties settle the broad terms of their collaboration.
• Xu Yan escorted Ye Jin and her companion from the building, and Ye Jin grew more sympathetic toward her.

Xu Yan agreed to investigate Fu Ruiming and pursue legal action, while Ye Jin and Huo Yun struggled to restart their project with a new male lead. After Star Universe Entertainment attacked their chosen actor Zhou Yue, a video appeared online that appeared to show He Cheng being subjected to casting-couch rules by a Star Universe executive.

• Ye Jin urged Xu Yan to investigate Fu Ruiming and report him, and Xu Yan realized the case could help her take control of Fruit Video.
• Ye Jin and Huo Yun searched for a replacement male lead, rejected several candidates, and chose Zhou Yue despite concerns about his business practices.
• Star Universe Entertainment hired a water army to spread dirt about Zhou Yue after Fruit Video supported replacing He Cheng.
• A marketing account posted a video that appeared to show He Cheng in a sexual encounter with two older men, one resembling Star Universe executive Grandma Yan.
• Netizens and video-editing experts examined the footage, and several concluded it showed no signs of editing or AI face-swapping.

After He Cheng’s explicit video went viral, the authorities arrested him and ended the dispute over the male lead in “Kunlun Duel.” Ye Jin resumed filming her final drama and learned that Yang Manhui had returned for a cameo and wanted to work with her on future projects.

• A gossip account posted He Cheng’s video, which spread widely before it was censored across the internet.
• Ye Jin learned from Huo Yun that He Cheng had been arrested with the other people in the video, and the authorities removed his online accounts and works.
• He Cheng’s scandal frightened celebrities into behaving more cautiously, and filming for “Kunlun Duel” resumed after he was blacklisted.
• Ye Jin focused on finishing her final drama, which she had invested in, while wondering why Yang Manhui had returned for a cameo.
• Yang Manhui thanked Ye Jin by asking her to consider her for future projects as Ye Jin moved into producing and investing.

After filming “Kunlun Duel,” Ye Jin returned to the Su residence and learned that Su Chengjing had escaped but remained missing. She then discovered that Su Chenglan had come home engaged to Hou Yuanwu, whom Ye Jin recognized as a scheming live-in son-in-law.

• Yang Manhui accepted Ye Jin’s invitation to read her script, exchanged contact details with her, and left for another engagement.
• Ye Jin returned to the Su residence after filming wrapped and learned that Lin Xiwen’s people had failed to find Su Chengjing, who had escaped before police arrived.
• Su Chenglan returned from studying abroad with Hou Yuanwu, surprising Ye Jin and Lin Xiwen.
• Su Chenglan told Lin Xiwen that she had accepted Hou Yuanwu’s proposal and wanted her wedding prepared.
• Ye Jin recognized Hou Yuanwu from a novel and recalled that he had manipulated Su Chenglan to climb into wealth while seeking revenge on his former love’s family.

Ye Jin recalled Hou Yuanwu’s betrayals and cruelty toward Su Chenglan in the novel, then exposed his lies through her inner voice while Su Chenglan introduced him to Lin Xiwen. Lin Xiwen grew suspicious, but Su Chenglan remained defensive as Ye Jin revealed more about Hou Yuanwu’s past.

• Ye Jin recalled that Hou Yuanwu had used the Su Group, sold its secrets, abandoned Su Chenglan, and later prospered with Xie Haoyu’s help.
• Su Chenglan introduced Hou Yuanwu to Lin Xiwen and praised his love and ambition, while Hou Yuanwu promised to treat her well.
• Lin Xiwen sensed that Hou Yuanwu was not as innocent as Su Chenglan claimed and suggested delaying any marriage discussion until they knew him better.
• Su Chenglan tried to defend Hou Yuanwu but could not speak after hearing Ye Jin’s inner voice accuse him of pursuing several rich women and plotting against the Su Family.
• Ye Jin revealed that Hou Yuanwu had once pursued his white moonlight and already had a child bride and two children back home.

Su Chenglan defended Hou Yuanwu against Ye Jin’s unspoken warnings, while Lin Xiwen decided to investigate before approving their marriage. Hou Yuanwu then pretended to withdraw, leaving Su Chenglan torn between her mother and her beloved.

• Su Chenglan reassured Lin Xiwen that Hou Yuanwu had saved her life, but Ye Jin silently thought that he had staged the accident.
• Lin Xiwen decided to seek evidence about Hou Yuanwu’s past, while Su Chenglan privately resolved to investigate and clear his name.
• Hou Yuanwu accused the Su Family of looking down on him and announced that he would leave until he became worthy of Su Chenglan.
• Su Chenglan felt heartbroken at Hou Yuanwu’s apparent sacrifice and resolved not to let him go.

Lin Xiwen saw through Hou Yuanwu’s inflated claims and offered him only a management trainee position at the Su Group, which he accepted to remain close to Su Chenglan. The family’s tension eased for the evening, but the next day Lin Xiwen sent Su Chenglan to work at a magazine backed by the Su Group.

• Hou Yuanwu slowed his steps at the door, then turned back and pleaded with Lin Xiwen for a chance to prove his feelings for Su Chenglan.
• Hou Yuanwu claimed he had secured a senior position at Company C and asked to work in a senior role at the Su Group.
• Lin Xiwen offered Hou Yuanwu a place in the company’s latest management trainee intake and warned that she knew his grades and internship evaluations.
• Su Chenglan defended Hou Yuanwu but agreed to her mother’s decision, and Hou Yuanwu accepted the trainee position.
• Lin Xiwen, Su Chenglan, Hou Yuanwu, and Ye Jin finished dinner together, and Lin Xiwen sent Su Chenglan to a magazine invested in by the Su Group the next day.

Su Chenglan and Hou Yuanwu started entry-level jobs, while Ye Jin heard about Hou Yuanwu’s workplace failures and focused on her own career. At a charity gala, Xu Yan introduced Ye Jin and Huo Yun to major entertainment-industry figures and thanked Ye Jin for helping her in her divorce from Fu Ruiming.

• Lin Xiwen arranged for Su Chenglan and Hou Yuanwu to start at the bottom and forbade them from revealing their connection to the Su Family.
• Lin Xiwen told Ye Jin about Hou Yuanwu’s poor performance, arrogance, and unfinished proposal at work.
• Xu Yan introduced projects to Ye Jin and invited her and Huo Yun to the Xu Group charity gala.
• Xu Yan guided Ye Jin and Huo Yun around the gala, introducing them to major directors and producers and sharing investment opportunities.
• Xu Yan thanked Ye Jin for her earlier warning, which had helped her investigate Fu Ruiming and secure compensation in their divorce.

Xu Yan clashed with her younger brother Xu Chen over her divorce from Fu Ruiming and the future of the Xu and Fu Groups. After Ye Jin recognized Xu Chen and his new secretary, Lu Xiaoye, as characters from a novel, Xu Yan asked whether she could recruit his former secretary, Lu Qinan.

• Xu Chen warned Xu Yan not to jeopardize the Xu Group's cooperation with the Fu Group, and she retorted that their future dealings would be strictly business.
• Xu Chen left with his secretary, Lu Xiaoye, after telling Xu Yan he hoped she would never need to beg anyone.
• Ye Jin suspected Xu Chen and Lu Xiaoye were from the novel "Tyrannical CEO and His Naughty Little Secretary."
• Xu Yan told Ye Jin that Xu Chen's former secretary, Lu Qinan, had been talented and asked if she could poach her.