Chapter Summaries

After Qin Zhuo doted on Xue Ci and prepared to take him to Qin Wuzhen’s home, Qin Wuzhen visited, examined Xue Ci, and agreed to see him again the next day. Qin Wuzhen left jealous and confused by his feelings, then dreamed that Xue Ci treated him as a husband and fed him sweet nectar.

• Xue Ci promised Qin Zhuo he would help him later, but Qin Zhuo licked his feet and Xue Ci told him not to do it again.
• Qin Zhuo admitted he had heard intimate advice at a teahouse and secretly resolved to learn how to please Xue Ci.
• Qin Wuzhen brought Xue Ci’s medicine, examined him, and agreed that Xue Ci and Qin Zhuo could visit his home the next day.
• Qin Wuzhen walked back through the rain with Xue Ci’s umbrella, growing jealous and questioning why he felt troubled by Xue Ci’s marriage.
• Qin Wuzhen dreamed that Xue Ci called him husband, pushed him onto a bed, and fed him sweet nectar.

Qin Wuzhen woke from a shameful dream about Xue Ci and tried to bury his feelings, but became ill while preparing for Qin Zhuo and Xue Ci’s visit. After a family dinner, Xue Ci got drunk and asked Qin Zhuo to fetch a writing brush, but Qin Zhuo misunderstood his words and climbed onto the bed with him.

• Qin Wuzhen dreamed that Xue Ci was intimate with him, then woke and resolved to hide his desire because Xue Ci was married to Qin Zhuo.
• Qin Wuzhen returned home, prepared Qin Zhuo’s room for the couple, and fell ill while punishing himself for his thoughts.
• Xue Ci and Qin Zhuo arrived, and Xue Ci reassured the feverish Qin Wuzhen that they would stay until he recovered.
• Qin Wuzhen’s fever broke, and Xue Ci drank osmanthus wine during dinner at the Qin home.
• After returning to their room, Qin Zhuo washed Xue Ci’s feet, and Xue Ci asked him to fetch a writing brush from Qin Wuzhen’s room.
• Qin Zhuo misunderstood Xue Ci’s request, climbed onto the bed, and pressed his aroused body against Xue Ci’s foot.

Xue Ci helped Qin Zhuo complete his task, then fell asleep while Qin Wuzhen tended his sore foot and gave in to his growing desire. The chapter ended with Xue Ci realizing Qin Wuzhen had been touching him and accidentally brushing his toes against his lips.

• Xue Ci reluctantly used his foot to help Qin Zhuo, then let him kiss his ear before sending him to fetch Qin Wuzhen’s brush.
• Qin Zhuo told Qin Wuzhen that Xue Ci had stepped on him and asked for ointment for Xue Ci’s reddened sole.
• Qin Wuzhen said he was close to finding a cure for Xue Ci’s frailty, then went to tend Xue Ci while Qin Zhuo washed up.
• Qin Wuzhen rubbed ointment into Xue Ci’s foot and questioned him about where Qin Zhuo was not allowed to kiss him.
• Qin Zhuo returned and woke Xue Ci, who realized Qin Wuzhen had been tending him and accidentally brushed his toes against Qin Wuzhen’s lips.

Xue Ci spent the night with Qin Zhuo after hiding the stolen brush, then explored the Qin residence and discovered an erotic book in Qin Wuzhen’s study. Qin Wuzhen caught him reading it and offered to teach him about intimacy, leaving Xue Ci startled by his proposal.

• Qin Zhuo covered Xue Ci with a blanket, and Xue Ci kissed him to stop him from revealing that he had taken Qin Wuzhen’s brush.
• Qin Zhuo brought Xue Ci hot water for a bath, and Xue Ci apologized for suspecting him before they went to bed together.
• Second Mother welcomed Xue Ci at lunch and gave him osmanthus cake and silver before he toured the residence with Qin Zhuo and Qin Wuzhen.
• Xue Ci asked to see Qin Wuzhen’s study, where he found an erotic book in a desk drawer after Qin Wuzhen left.
• Qin Wuzhen caught Xue Ci with the book, explained he was studying how men made love, and offered to teach Xue Ci.

Xue Ci spent time with Qin Wuzhen and Qin Zhuo, while Qin Wuzhen struggled to hide his growing desire for Xue Ci. After Xue Ci publicly chose to buy maltose candy for Qin Zhuo, Qin Wuzhen returned home and overheard what sounded like an intimate moment between the couple.

• Qin Wuzhen gave Xue Ci illustrated medical books he had annotated, then resolved to avoid him after imagining becoming his husband.
• Qin Zhuo brought Xue Ci medicine and candy, and Qin Wuzhen helped him ease the bitter taste with osmanthus cake.
• Xue Ci watched Qin Wuzhen and Qin Zhuo clear stones from the courtyard, then secretly drew Qin Wuzhen and covered the picture with sand.
• Xue Ci supported Qin Wuzhen's decision to rest, then went to the market with Qin Zhuo and bought him a sheet of maltose candy.
• Xie Qiaosi asked Xue Ci for candy, but Xue Ci refused and said he would buy it only for his husband; Xie Qiaosi then bought the stall's remaining candy.
• Qin Wuzhen returned with sweet dates and, outside Xue Ci's closed room, heard sounds that convinced him Qin Zhuo and Xue Ci were being intimate.

Xue Ci tried to complete his task of secretly taking Qin Wuzhen’s handkerchief while Qin Zhuo grew eager to attend school. Qin Wuzhen caught Xue Ci searching his robe and apologized after making him cry, but still struggled to sever his feelings for him.

• Qin Zhuo kissed Xue Ci passionately, then cared for him as they bathed and went to bed.
• Qin Wuzhen dreamed that Xue Ci rejected him, then woke and found the rain had washed away Xue Ci’s drawing.
• Xue Ci tried to get Qin Wuzhen’s attention by pretending to be ill, but Qin Wuzhen saw through the act and kept working.
• Qin Zhuo said he wanted to go to school, raising the progress bar, and Xue Ci agreed to tell Mother.
• Xue Ci went to bring Qin Wuzhen water, searched his robe for a handkerchief, and was caught when Qin Wuzhen grabbed his wrist.
• Qin Wuzhen let go and apologized after Xue Ci became upset, while blaming himself for still hoping Xue Ci might like him.

Xue Ci settled into academy life with Qin Zhuo and grew closer to Xie Qiaosi, while Qin Wuzhen struggled with jealousy and his longing for him. After bringing winter clothes to the academy, Qin Wuzhen reconciled with Xue Ci and gave him a massage, while Xie Qiaosi witnessed their intimate moment through the door.

• Xue Ci completed his task with Qin Wuzhen, then stayed close to Qin Zhuo while Qin Wuzhen watched them with growing bitterness.
• Qin Wuzhen sent pastries and later brought winter clothes to the Song Family, learning that Xue Ci and Qin Zhuo had gone to the academy.
• Xue Ci helped Qin Zhuo improve his studies and befriended Xie Qiaosi, who became attracted to him and wondered about kissing a man.
• Qin Wuzhen visited Xue Ci at the academy, apologized for being harsh, and reconciled with him before taking his pulse and offering a massage.
• While Xue Ci rested beside him, Qin Wuzhen touched his lips and questioned whether Qin Zhuo and Xie Qiaosi had kissed him; Xie Qiaosi saw the intimate scene through the partly open door.

Qin Wuzhen secretly teased the sleeping Xue Ci, then warned him to avoid intimacy while he recovered. Qin Zhuo grew jealous after Qin Wuzhen raised the possibility that Xue Ci might love another man, but later pampered Xue Ci through the night; Xie Qiaosi became increasingly fascinated with Xue Ci and ended by confessing he wanted to lick him.

• Qin Wuzhen woke Xue Ci after secretly putting a finger in his mouth, then advised him to dress warmly and avoid bedroom activities while his health was poor.
• Qin Zhuo told Qin Wuzhen he was studying hard because he feared Xue Ci might leave him, and Qin Wuzhen made him imagine Xue Ci falling for another man.
• Qin Zhuo returned to Xue Ci, asked him not to like anyone else, then sought a reward for his improved schoolwork and pleasured him through the night.
• Xie Qiaosi came across Qin Zhuo preparing food and laundry for Xue Ci, helped start the stove, and secretly took one of Xue Ci's garments.
• Xue Ci visited Xie Qiaosi the next day, and Xie Qiaosi asked whether Qin Zhuo had been intimate with him before admitting that he wanted to lick him.

Xue Ci tried to discourage Xie Qiaosi’s advances, but his illness left him in Xie Qiaosi’s care until Qin Zhuo returned with Qin Wuzhen. After Qin Wuzhen treated him, Xue Ci mistook his intimate attention for ordinary brotherly care, while Qin Wuzhen secretly indulged his desire for him.

• Xue Ci rejected Xie Qiaosi’s offer to become his secret lover and switched seats to get away from him.
• As the weather turned cold, Xue Ci grew ill, and Qin Zhuo left to fetch Qin Wuzhen after arranging for Xie Qiaosi to watch over him.
• While Xue Ci was resting, Xie Qiaosi warmed his feet and confessed that he thought he liked him, but Qin Zhuo and Qin Wuzhen returned before he could explain further.
• Qin Wuzhen treated Xue Ci with silver needles and massage, then questioned him about his closeness with Xie Qiaosi.
• Xue Ci told Qin Wuzhen that only his husband should touch his eyelashes, but he later praised Qin Wuzhen’s massage and agreed to let him massage him every day.

Xue Ci fell gravely ill, but Qin Wuzhen and Qin Zhuo found a snow lotus that helped him recover. As Qin Zhuo healed from the injury he sustained retrieving it, Xue Ci grew closer to him while Qin Wuzhen returned and overheard an intimate exchange.

• The Fragment teased Xue Ci, who then asked to play games in his next world and said he did not want a husband.
• Xie Qiaosi openly pursued Xue Ci, and Xue Ci told him to keep it secret from Qin Zhuo; Xie Qiaosi treated this as permission and showered him with money and gifts.
• Xue Ci developed a severe fever, and Qin Wuzhen said a snow lotus was needed to make medicine that could treat him.
• Qin Wuzhen and Qin Zhuo traveled to find the snow lotus; Qin Zhuo suffered a serious hand wound while retrieving it, but the medicine helped Xue Ci recover.
• Xue Ci cared for Qin Zhuo as his injured hand healed, and Qin Wuzhen overheard their intimate conversation outside the room.

Xue Ci continued recovering while Qin Zhuo repeatedly indulged in secret intimacy with him, and Qin Wuzhen struggled with his own desire for Xue Ci. At the New Year feast, Xue Ci got drunk, completed a task by asking Qin Wuzhen to take him to his room, and then consummated his marriage with Qin Zhuo; afterward, Qin Zhuo went to Qin Wuzhen because Xue Ci had wet the bed.

• Qin Zhuo used his injured hand to coax Xue Ci into kissing him, then secretly handled Xue Ci’s stained clothes after he left for acupuncture.
• Qin Wuzhen treated Xue Ci while he slept, then warned him to avoid intimacy during his recovery, hiding his own desire for him.
• Over the following month, Xue Ci recovered, and the Song Family invited Qin Erniang and Qin Wuzhen to their New Year feast.
• After drinking osmanthus wine, Xue Ci asked Qin Wuzhen to take him to his room, but Qin Zhuo carried him away instead.
• Qin Zhuo washed Xue Ci and, despite his protests, consummated their marriage while Xue Ci was drunk.
• Qin Zhuo woke Qin Wuzhen and awkwardly told him that Xue Ci had wet the bed.

Qin Wuzhen came to check on Xue Ci after Qin Zhuo told him he was unwell, and found him embarrassed and exhausted after their night together. The chapter ended with Qin Wuzhen changing the soiled sheets and secretly sniffing them, while Xue Ci wondered if he had encountered another pervert.

• Qin Wuzhen went to Xue Ci's room after Qin Zhuo reported that he was unwell.
• Xue Ci emerged from under the quilt and was mortified when he realized Qin Wuzhen had seen his disheveled state.
• Qin Zhuo carried Xue Ci to a chair and told Qin Wuzhen to check his pulse.
• Qin Wuzhen said Xue Ci's pulse was slightly unsteady and that his swollen areas needed ointment.
• Qin Wuzhen told Qin Zhuo to apply the medicine and began changing the damp sheets.
• Qin Wuzhen bent close to the sheet and sniffed it, leaving Xue Ci to suspect he was another pervert.

After Xue Ci recovered from his illness, Qin Zhuo returned to school, where a jealous argument with Xie Qiaosi ended in a fight. When Xie Qiaosi visited Xue Ci and tried to kiss him, Qin Wuzhen intervened and took Xue Ci to his room, where he confronted him about whether he would have allowed the kiss.

• Xue Ci reassured Qin Zhuo that he was no longer angry, and Qin Zhuo returned to school while continuing to care for him at home.
• Qin Zhuo accused Xie Qiaosi of taking Xue Ci's brushes and inkstone, and the two fought at school.
• Xie Qiaosi visited Xue Ci at home, complained about his injuries, and admitted he wanted to kiss him.
• Qin Wuzhen pulled Xie Qiaosi away before he could kiss Xue Ci and took Xue Ci to his room.
• Qin Wuzhen asked whether Xue Ci would have let Xie Qiaosi kiss him, then pressed a finger into Xue Ci's mouth.

Xue Ci went out for the Lantern Festival with Xie Qiaosi and Qin Wuzhen, then returned home to Qin Zhuo, who had been injured in a jealous fight. Qin Zhuo became feverishly aroused that night and began pursuing Xue Ci, leaving him frightened and uncertain.

• Qin Wuzhen touched Xue Ci's mouth, apologized for losing his composure, and asked him to slap him; Xue Ci did, and Qin Wuzhen seemed to enjoy it.
• Xie Qiaosi apologized for being forward and invited Xue Ci into town, so Xue Ci asked Qin Wuzhen to come along.
• Xue Ci bought festival treats and toys, while Xie Qiaosi and Qin Wuzhen competed to indulge him; Qin Wuzhen grew jealous when Xue Ci saved malt candy for Qin Zhuo.
• Qin Zhuo returned with bruises from fighting Xie Qiaosi, waited for Xue Ci, and was soothed by the candy Xue Ci brought him.
• Xue Ci treated Qin Zhuo's wounds, but Qin Zhuo grew hot that night and began rubbing and kissing his leg, promising to use his tongue instead of putting himself inside.

Qin Zhuo and Xue Ci grew closer as Qin Zhuo cared for him, while the Song Family’s business crisis was resolved and Qin Zhuo took on extra work. As Qin Wuzhen began caring for Xue Ci in Qin Zhuo’s absence, Xue Ci trusted him—until he realized Qin Wuzhen was licking his chest during a massage.

• Qin Zhuo stopped before going further because he feared passing his cold to Xue Ci, then made Xue Ci feel good and held him as Xue Ci praised him rather than claiming to like him.
• Qin Zhuo bathed and cared for Xue Ci, then resolved to take good care of him for the rest of his life.
• Qin Wuzhen uncovered that a Song Family relative had embezzled far more money than expected, and Madam Liu ordered the relative to repay it and leave.
• Qin Zhuo began working at the Song Family’s dyehouse after school, while Qin Wuzhen took over caring for Xue Ci and taught him about medicinal herbs.
• Qin Wuzhen carried Xue Ci in the mountains and later massaged him; when he licked Xue Ci’s chest, Xue Ci realized what he was doing.

Xue Ci tried to keep his distance from Qin Wuzhen after realizing his feelings, while Qin Zhuo grew worried that his elder brother was replacing him. The chapter ended with Qin Zhuo finding portraits of Qin Wuzhen in Xue Ci’s drawer and fearing that Xue Ci loved his elder brother.

• Qin Wuzhen confessed his feelings to Xue Ci while massaging him, and Xue Ci pretended to sleep through his attentions.
• Xue Ci kept Qin Wuzhen at a distance, but Qin Wuzhen continued helping him dress and wash; Qin Zhuo noticed the change and suspected his elder brother wanted Xue Ci.
• Qin Zhuo told Xue Ci his birthday was coming, and Xue Ci decided to prepare a present for him but returned from town with trinkets for himself.
• Qin Wuzhen took Xue Ci’s things and massaged his shoulders while Xue Ci thought about what to give Qin Zhuo.
• Qin Zhuo entered Xue Ci’s empty room, opened the drawer where he thought his birthday present was hidden, and found several portraits of Qin Wuzhen.
• Qin Zhuo froze and feared that Xue Ci loved Qin Wuzhen and would abandon him.

Xue Ci prepared an oil painting for Qin Zhuo’s birthday while Qin Wuzhen confessed his desire for him, deepening Qin Zhuo’s jealousy and insecurity. Xue Ci avoided Qin Wuzhen at the academy, but after Xie Qiaosi took him out, Qin Wuzhen confronted him in the dark and the progress bar fell again.

• Xue Ci worked on an oil painting for Qin Zhuo’s birthday and saved the money Madam Liu gave him for their future divorce expenses.
• Qin Wuzhen cornered Xue Ci, confessed that he liked him, and offered to serve him, but Xue Ci tried to refuse by appealing to propriety.
• Qin Zhuo saw Qin Wuzhen standing intimately close to Xue Ci and, believing Xue Ci had once loved Qin Wuzhen, hid his hurt and pretended nothing was wrong.
• Xue Ci avoided Qin Wuzhen by spending time at the academy, while Qin Zhuo continued working at the dyehouse and clung to him before leaving.
• Xie Qiaosi took Xue Ci to dinner and shopping, then asked to visit for Qin Zhuo’s birthday and admitted he wanted to lick Xue Ci.
• Qin Wuzhen confronted Xue Ci in his dark room, accused him of avoiding him, and grew jealous when Xue Ci had not rejected Xie Qiaosi; the progress bar dropped by one.

Xue Ci refused to reconcile with Qin Zhuo, and after several days of tension they agreed to divorce. As Xue Ci stayed at the academy and learned to ride with Xie Qiaosi, Qin Wuzhen continued pursuing him and interrupted a private moment between them.

• Xue Ci refused Qin Zhuo’s plea to avoid divorce, while Qin Wuzhen offered to help him bathe and rest.
• Qin Zhuo agreed to the divorce, gave Xue Ci his recent earnings, and moved out with the painting Xue Ci had given him.
• After the divorce, scholars at the academy pursued Xue Ci with letters and paintings, and Xie Qiaosi warned them off and bought back the paintings.
• Xue Ci went to Xie Qiaosi’s horse ranch to learn to ride, and Xie Qiaosi flirted with him as they rode together.
• When Xie Qiaosi took Xue Ci to a hut to treat his chafed thighs, Qin Wuzhen arrived, sent Xie Qiaosi outside, and applied ointment himself.

Qin Wuzhen’s jealousy and Xue Ci’s plan to leave for Jiangnan brought their relationship to a breaking point. After Qin Wuzhen stopped Xue Ci from leaving to find Qin Zhuo, he forced himself on him, leaving Xue Ci shaken as the chapter ended.

• Qin Wuzhen admitted to the Song Family that he loved Xue Ci, and Xue Ci grew angry when he heard Qin Wuzhen claim their feelings were mutual.
• Qin Zhuo left for Jiangnan and began writing to Xue Ci, whose visits and letters helped the progress bar rise to 99%.
• Xue Ci received a task to travel to Jiangnan and confess his feelings to Qin Zhuo, so he secretly bought a pony and prepared to leave.
• Qin Wuzhen caught Xue Ci trying to ride out of town, brought him home, and refused to let him go to Jiangnan.
• Xue Ci told Qin Wuzhen that he loved Qin Zhuo and would never marry him, so Qin Wuzhen forcibly kissed him and assaulted him.

Xue Ci left Cloud Maple Town to find Qin Zhuo but was abducted by A Fei and taken to the bandits’ mountain hideout. Qin Wuzhen and Xie Qiaosi discovered his disappearance and set out to find him, while A Fei began treating Xue Ci as a potential wife.

• Xue Ci’s relationship with Qin Wuzhen remained secret from the Song Family, and Qin Wuzhen and Xie Qiaosi competed for his attention until Xue Ci left for Jiangnan without telling them.
• Qin Wuzhen discovered Xue Ci was missing, and he and Xie Qiaosi learned that bandits had taken him into the mountains.
• Xue Ci woke in a woodshed and learned that A Fei, the bandit leader, had abducted him after he witnessed a man’s finger being cut off.
• A Fei told Xue Ci that his family’s rule required anyone who saw his face to die or become his wife, then offered him food, clean clothes, and a room.
• After hearing his men make crude remarks about Xue Ci, A Fei brought him food and asked whether his husband had been intimate with him several times a day.