Chapter Summaries

Dania reunited with Phrolova before her concert and tried to invite her back into her life, but Phrolova refused and urged her to move forward with her companions. After performing, Phrolova returned to the dressing room, where Funuo Nuo told her that someone had left a note asking her to meet him in the Imperial Capital.

• Dania caught up with Phrolova before she went onstage and thanked her for the birthday cakes, then told her she was happy with Xiao Ling and her new friends.
• Dania invited Phrolova to join them, but Phrolova refused and told Dania to keep their past as a memory and move forward.
• Phrolova reflected on her wish to bring her loved ones back and questioned the harm she had caused in pursuit of that dream.
• Phrolova performed “Deep Dream on the Crimson Shore,” moved the audience to tears, and hurried offstage after the song ended.
• Phrolova returned to the dressing room and found Funuo Nuo, who gave her a note asking her to meet the writer in the Imperial Capital.

Dania told Xiao Ling that Phrolova had wished her happiness but asked her to forget her, and he comforted her before deciding to speak with Phrolova himself. While tracking Phrolova’s frequency, Xiao Ling collided with Funuo Nuo, who was impersonating her, and left her a note.

• Dania told Xiao Ling that Phrolova had asked her to forget her, and Xiao Ling doubted the real Phrolova would say such a thing.
• Xiao Ling teased Dania until she felt better, and she resolved to keep trying to help Sister Phrolova accept happiness.
• Xiao Ling used his Golden Eyes to follow Phrolova’s frequency toward her lounge.
• Xiao Ling collided with Funuo Nuo, recognized that she was not the current Phrolova, and handed her a note before leaving.

During the concert intermission, Xiao Ling reunited with Roccia while Yangyang and Suisui prepared to perform the Tale of the Azure Plume dance. After learning their friends had come to watch, the sisters took heart and headed to the stage.

• Roccia hugged Xiao Ling, teased him about cuddling with Yaya, and sat down after he joked about her age.
• Suisui and Yangyang discussed their upcoming performance, and Yangyang admitted she was nervous about dancing on a large stage.
• The sisters discovered through their group chat that Qingxiao, Baizhi, Chixia, Suoming, Jiyan, Mortefi, Xiangli Yao, and the others had come to the concert.
• Suisui encouraged Yangyang to overcome her stage fright so they could give their friends a good performance.
• Xiao Ling and the others wished the sisters luck, and Yangyang and Suisui went onstage.

Yangyang and Suisui performed a dance to “Tale of the Azure Plume,” bringing the song’s history and grief to life for the audience. Their performance ended to thunderous applause, and Liang Yu believed the story would now be passed down for generations.

• Bu Ling excitedly pointed out Yangyang and Suisui as they took the stage, while Qingxiao, Suoming, and Heartfox anticipated their performance.
• Yangyang and Suisui began dancing to “Tale of the Azure Plume” against a recreation of the Battle of Clouded Cliffs.
• Yangyang conveyed the fallen soldiers’ rage and resolve with the Azure Plume Sword, while Suisui expressed the sorrow of watching loved ones leave for war.
• The audience joined in singing the song’s chorus, moving Yangyang and Suisui as they continued the performance.
• Dania, Aemeath, Tarokiki, Sigrika, and others watched from backstage, while Liang Yu reflected that the song and its history would no longer be forgotten.
• Yangyang and Suisui finished to warm applause, and Liang Yu heard a faint laugh before it vanished.

Yangyang and Suisui’s performance won the audience’s praise, and their friends celebrated with them in the lounge. As the concert continued, Chisa, Teacher Tong, and Lynae performed before Aemeath and her partner headed back to the stage for the next major act.

• Aemeath tearfully praised Yangyang and Suisui’s performance, while Xiao Ling congratulated them and teased Suisui about her red eyes.
• Suisui checked the Huanglong Family group chat and saw Bu Ling, Qingxiao, Suoming, Jing Ran, Zhezhi, and others praise the performance; Zhezhi offered to bring them her drawing.
• Chisa and Teacher Tong sang “The Unfading Light of Summer,” with Qianqian’s Xiao performing the song’s monologue during the instrumental break.
• Xiao Ling pushed a nervous Lynae to perform “Catch me if you can”; Lynae’s dance delighted the audience, though she scolded him afterward.
• Aemeath and her partner accepted their friends’ encouragement and returned to the stage for the major performance before the finale.

Aemeath and kiki performed Wooly’s fan concert, singing Aemeath’s songs for an enthusiastic audience. As the concert continued, dancers in the dressing room joined in, while Xiao Ling and Camellya recorded the fun; the next song was announced as the real highlight.

• Aemeath transformed into her two-dimensional form, lit up the venue, and revealed the concert stage as the audience cheered.
• Aemeath and kiki opened with “Little Miracle,” and Xiao Ling watched backstage, feeling nostalgic and relieved.
• Aemeath sang “Indigo Universe” and the rest of her songs with kiki, adding electronic effects that delighted the audience.
• During “Limit Disco,” Lynae began dancing in the dressing room, and Suisui, Yangyang, and other performers joined her.
• Lupa pulled Cart and Mia into the dancing, while Cantarella drew Carlotta into the crowd and Xiao Ling and Camellya filmed the scene.
• The dressing room remained lively as the group watched Aemeath onstage, and the next song was introduced as the concert’s highlight.

Aemeath, Rover, and Tarokiki performed “Starward's Farewell,” recreating Aemeath’s sacrifice and stirring the audience and backstage guests. Xiao Ling watched with pride and considered rewarding Aemeath with a kiss after the show.

• Female Rover and Aemeath reenacted the moment Aemeath chose to enter Exostrider space and complete the closed loop.
• Snow fell over the stage as Tarokiki, Aemeath, and Rover sang “Starward's Farewell” together and invited the audience to call out “Bon voyage!”
• Sigrika cried backstage while Dania comforted her, and Iuno and Augusta praised Aemeath and discussed preserving her story.
• Xiao Ling watched Aemeath perform and felt relief and pride that she could pursue a passion of her own.
• Xiao Ling considered giving Aemeath a kiss when she came offstage.

Sigrika overcame her stage fright when Xiao Ling brought their friends onstage to dance alongside her. After the successful performance, she thanked Xiao Ling with a kiss, and he teased her in return.

• Sigrika worried about performing, but Xiao Ling encouraged her and the others wished her luck.
• As Sigrika performed “L!!!!ght,” Xiao Ling and Rover brought Aemeath, Dania, and their other friends onto the stage.
• Sigrika led everyone in the Roy Tribe dance, relaxed into the performance, and finished to thunderous applause.
• Sigrika asked Xiao Ling why he had brought everyone onstage, and he explained that he wanted to support her and share any embarrassment.
• Sigrika kissed Xiao Ling as a reward, and he teased her until she called him a pervert.

Aemeath led the concert’s finale, “Stellar Torch Never Extinguishes,” and completed the graduation performance she had missed twenty years earlier. She ended by inviting the audience to move forward together into tomorrow.

• Backstage, Aemeath changed the performers into old-style Star Torch Academy uniforms before Xiao Ling called them to the stage for the closing performance.
• Aemeath sang the opening line of “Stellar Torch Never Extinguishes,” and the audience joined the performers in singing the school song.
• The audience’s singing, tears, and applause gave Aemeath the reception she had missed at her earlier graduation performance.
• Aemeath praised the audience, then invited everyone to face difficulties together and step forward from the past into tomorrow.

After the Solaris concert, Xiao Ling and the others celebrated at Carlotta's villa, where Zhezhi gave the performers portraits she had drawn. Xiao Ling went to bed before their flight the next morning, but Cantarella appeared to him in a strange, drug-induced dream and pinned him down.

• Xiao Ling and the performers held a party at Carlotta's villa, where Qingxiao and other familiar faces joined them after the concert.
• Zhezhi shared lifelike paintings of the performers, and the girls eagerly collected their portraits.
• Xiao Ling drank fruit wine and felt unusually hot, but blamed his reaction on rarely drinking.
• Xiao Ling went to sleep without charging his phone before the group's morning flight.
• A strange fragrance intensified Xiao Ling's heat, and Cantarella appeared to pin him down while insisting it was only a dream.

After Cantarella used love poison to force intimacy with Xiao Ling, she outmaneuvered his attempt to punish her and let him rest before their delayed flight. Xiao Ling and the girls then boarded the Xiao family's private jet for the Imperial Capital, where they would meet his family and learn more about his mother, Xiao Yue.

• Cantarella admitted she had poisoned Xiao Ling with love poison, then used a backup plan to drain his strength when he tried to punish her.
• Cantarella left Xiao Ling to rest, privately reflecting on how formidable his stamina was.
• Xiao Ling and the others rescheduled their morning departure after he overslept, then traveled to the airport that afternoon.
• Aemeath, Dania, Lynae, and the others discussed their impressions of Xiao Yue while Carlotta asked about her past.
• Xiao Ling led the girls aboard the Xiao family's private jet, which departed for the Imperial Capital.

Xiao Ling and the girls arrived at the Imperial Capital, where his cousin Xiao Xue and Ciaccona greeted them at the bus. After Xiao Xue’s overly affectionate welcome sparked a tense, teasing exchange, everyone boarded and headed to the Xiao family residence.

• Xiao Ling and the girls arrived at the Imperial Capital Airport by private plane and spotted Qiushui’s bus.
• Xiao Ling recognized Ciaccona and met his cousin Xiao Xue, who hugged him and teased him about his harem.
• Dania pulled Xiao Ling away from Xiao Xue, but Xiao Xue hugged Dania instead until Xiao Ling intervened.
• Xiao Ling introduced Xiao Xue as his cousin and a well-known violinist who loved anime and games.
• Qiushui teased the girls by calling them nieces-in-law, and the group boarded the bus for the Xiao family residence.

Xiao Ling brought the girls to meet his family at the Xiao family residence in the Imperial Capital, where a tense first meeting turned out to be mutual nervousness. As the family welcomed the guests and settled them into the courtyard house, Xiao Ji bonded with Dania and learned that Sigrika also had feelings for Xiao Ling.

• Qiushui brought Xiao Ling and the girls to the Xiao family residence, and the women nervously prepared to meet his family.
• Xiao Xue led the group to meet Xiao Yu, Xiao Ji, Xiao Yue, and the other elders, whose stern silence made the guests uneasy.
• Xiao Yu admitted that the elders were nervous about the formal meeting too, clearing up the misunderstanding.
• Xiao Yu and the other elders carried the guests' luggage and welcomed them to their spacious courtyard house.
• Xiao Ji apologized to Dania and Sigrika, praised Dania's health, and offered to make her more clothes.
• Dania told Xiao Ji she had given Xiao Ling her body and promised to treat him well, while Sigrika timidly hinted that she also had a relationship with him.

Aemeath asked Xiao Xue about her troubled history with Xiao Yu, while Xiao Ling and Xiao Yue each shared stories about their family’s past. The conversations ended with Aemeath revealing that she and Xiao Yu were already proper lovers, leaving Xiao Xue stunned.

• Aemeath asked Xiao Xue whether she and Xiao Yu had gotten along in the past, and Xiao Xue agreed to tell her their story.
• Xiao Ling explained that he and his cousin had once disliked each other but gradually reconciled, and described how his mother had run away from home to escape their grandfather’s control.
• Xiao Yue told Lynae that she had left home for more than ten years and developed a chronic illness from overwork before her siblings brought her back and helped her recover.
• Lupa joined Xiao Yue and Lynae for tea, and the three began sharing stories from their pasts.
• Aemeath reassured Xiao Xue about her former feelings for Xiao Yu, then said she and Xiao Yu were proper lovers who had done everything lovers were supposed to do.
• Xiao Xue was left stunned by how far Aemeath and Xiao Yu’s relationship had progressed.

Xiao Ling hosted another fan-creation viewing session, where the girls watched videos about Cartethyia, Carlotta, and Phrolova. A fan-made version of Phrolova moved her, and Dania comforted her with the hope that she might reunite with her family someday.

• Xiao Ling introduced the guests and let them choose fan videos, while Phrolova and the Rinascita group sat together despite their hostility.
• Iuno played a video of Cartethyia making cute expressions, and Cartethyia recreated them as the others took photos.
• Cartethyia chose a Carlotta compilation, and Xiao Ling teased Carlotta about being called the Little Potato of Montelli after demonstrating her height.
• Funuo Nuo selected a video featuring chibi versions of Phoebe and Phrolova, and Phrolova was surprised by the affectionate comments about her character.
• Dania held Phrolova's hand and suggested that she might reunite with her family someday, leaving Phrolova quietly hoping she was right.

Years earlier, Xiao Ling brought his hungry cousin Xiao Xue a bowl of egg fried rice, which she remembered as delicious. In the present, Xiao Xue and the others asked him to make it for their large group, and he cooked it in the courtyard as the evening grew lively.

• Xiao Xue stayed up drawing Jinhsi fan art and worried about going hungry until Xiao Ling brought her egg fried rice.
• Xiao Xue accepted the food and later told Xiao Ling she had remembered how delicious it was ever since.
• Dania asked Xiao Ling to cook egg fried rice for the group, and everyone present agreed.
• Xiao Ling built a larger stove in the courtyard and began frying rice while Augusta watched and Honey Peach tried to sneak a bite.
• Lupa tasted an onion strip, Lynae and Professor Morning sneezed from the onions, and Morning considered making a powerful range hood.

Dania checked on the dishes being prepared by Sigrika, Iuno, Chisa, Changli, and Jinhsi, tasting several along the way. Everyone then gathered at Xiao Ling’s house for their first Imperial Capital meal, which ended with a lively feast and Xiao Ling enjoying his egg fried rice.

• Sigrika offered Dania star kara, and Dania praised the dessert before sharing some with Iuno in exchange for a taste of Iuno’s salad.
• Dania watched Chisa stir-fry over towering flames while Jinhsi explained that her time-stopping ability could prevent an accident; Dania then sampled Chisa’s dish and Changli’s spicy meat, which left her coughing.
• Jinhsi gave Dania winter melon and pork rib soup to soothe the spice, and Xiao Ling’s secret-recipe egg fried rice was brought out to the table.
• Everyone raised their glasses and began the meal, while Dania and Xiao Xue quickly devoured much of the egg fried rice and Lynae nearly choked before Professor Morning gave her water.
• Cartethyia asked Xiao Ling to teach her how to make egg fried rice, and the group continued eating and joking together as Xiao Ling enjoyed a mouthful of rice.

Yangyang and her group arrived at Xiao Ling’s mansion, where the reunion turned playful before the guests settled in for the evening. Xiao Ling proposed a group version of the King's Game, and Heartfox volunteered to host as everyone prepared the shared instruction pool.

• Yangyang, Aemeath, Dania, Suisui, Qingxiao, Suoming, and Heartfox arrived at Xiao Ling’s mansion and were warmly welcomed.
• Xiao Ling teased Carlotta about Suoming, and Carlotta threatened him with her gun until he apologized.
• Aemeath picked up Heartfox and petted her; Qingxiao told everyone the fox’s name was Heart.
• After dinner, Xiao Ling proposed the King's Game and explained rules for instructions, timed rounds, voting, rewards, and punishments.
• Heartfox volunteered to host, and Xiao Ling asked everyone to prepare the shared instruction pool.

Xiao Ling hosted a king's game at his house, where Sigrika and Aemeath completed dance and singing challenges. Heartfox secretly inspected the shared instruction cards and looked forward to the chaos they might cause.

• Xiao Ling became king and instructed number twelve to dance, so Sigrika performed Lynae's signature dance with Lynae's help.
• The players praised Sigrika's effort, and she used her right to choose the next player and instruction.
• Sigrika picked number five to sing a song, and Aemeath performed a difficult song from Sigrika's playlist.
• Heartfox secretly used her resonance ability to inspect the shared instruction pool and anticipated a bloodbath.

The girls continued the King's Game, teasing Dania and then Aemeath and Rover into meowing in cat ears. Xiao Ling kissed Rover after she stopped him from kissing Aemeath, and Rover pinned him down to exact the consequences.

• Camellya ordered number nine to make a cat noise, and Aemeath put cat ears on Dania before Dania meowed for the group.
• When Xiao Ling began to reveal Dania's past as a catgirl, Dania pinned him down and bit his arm to stop him.
• Dania chose Aemeath for the next challenge, and Aemeath persuaded Rover to wear cat ears and meow with her.
• Xiao Ling tried to kiss Aemeath, but Rover stopped him and held his wrist.
• Xiao Ling kissed Rover instead, and Rover blushed, pinned him down, and made him yelp.