Chapter Summaries

Cartethyia asked Xiao Ling to accompany her to visit the nursing home where she had once been cared for, but Aemeath and Dania joined them. The group arrived with gifts and were surprised when Lynae opened the door.

• Cartethyia asked Xiao Ling to visit the nursing home with her on Saturday, and he agreed.
• Aemeath joined their outing after Lynae and Sigrika signed up for a conflicting volunteer activity.
• Sigrika prepared fruit platters and sweet drinks for Cartethyia to deliver, so Dania came along with the gifts.
• Xiao Ling, Cartethyia, Aemeath, and Dania arrived at the nursing home and called for someone to open the door.
• Lynae opened the door, and all four visitors recognized her in surprise.

Xiao Ling, Lynae, Aemeath, Cartethyia, Dania, and Little Cart visited a nursing home as part of Lynae’s volunteer work and brought gifts for the elders. As they chatted with the old man who had once taken Cartethyia in, Xiao Ling received an unexpected phone call.

• Lynae invited Aemeath and Little Cart to join her volunteer rounds, and Xiao Ling persuaded Dania to come along too.
• Aemeath and Cartethyia each affectionately claimed one of Xiao Ling’s arms as the group set off to visit the elders.
• Lynae showed the group around the nursing home and explained that she helped residents with chores, companionship, and walks.
• The group visited the old man who had taken Cartethyia in, gave him blankets, fruit, and pastries, and heard how much better life had become for the residents.
• The old man offered Dania a peeled banana, and Xiao Ling received an unexpected phone call.

Xiao Ling spoke with his second aunt Xiao Ji, who had made Dania’s hanfu and wanted him to bring the girls home to meet the family. Before leaving the old man, Xiao Ling learned the other homeless people had returned to their families and affirmed that helping others brought him joy.

• Xiao Ji called Xiao Ling to ask whether Dania liked the hanfu she had made and invited him to bring the girls home to meet their relatives.
• Xiao Ling told Dania that Xiao Ji had made her hanfu and said she would meet his family on their upcoming visit home.
• The old man gave Cartethyia a hand-knitted scarf and sweater, and Cartethyia, Little Ai, Lynae, and Dania wished him well before leaving.
• Xiao Ling asked the old man about the other homeless people, and the old man said their families had taken them home.
• The old man thanked Xiao Ling for helping him, and Xiao Ling said he found joy in helping others.

Sigrika played hide-and-seek with the children at an orphanage until Xiao Ling surprised her and revealed himself as the last hider. Xiao Ling and the others joined the children for another round, which began with Aemeath and Dania as seekers.

• Sigrika found the children hiding around the courtyard, but Xiao Ling sneaked up behind her and lifted her, leaving one shy girl as the final hider.
• Aemeath, Lynae, and Dania watched Xiao Ling tease Sigrika, and Dania told him to put her down.
• Xiao Ling learned that Sigrika had come to the orphanage with Chisa and offered to take the others on a tour, but a shy girl invited him to play.
• Dania volunteered to seek while Aemeath joined her, and Lynae and Cartethyia chose not to play.
• Xiao Ling and Sigrika hid with the children while Little Ai sang for them to get ready, then Aemeath announced the game had begun.

Xiao Ling and Sigrika hid together in a cramped cabinet during the volunteer-work game, where Sigrika tried to kiss him and ended up kissing him by accident. Dania found them and teased them, leaving the pair embarrassed as the game continued.

• Xiao Ling led Sigrika to an old cabinet to hide from the seeker.
• Dania heard them climb inside but pretended not to notice and walked away humming a strange song.
• Sigrika chose to stay hidden with Xiao Ling, enjoying their time alone despite the heat and cramped space.
• Sigrika leaned in to kiss Xiao Ling, but he turned toward her and their lips met by accident.
• Dania opened the cabinet, found them, and teased them while Xiao Ling realized she had likely known their hiding place all along.

Xiao Ling and the others spent the day volunteering at the orphanage, playing with the children, preparing lunch, and teaching them. Morning joined them to teach math and told Xiao Ling that the passage between Solaris and the other world had been opened but remained too unstable for safe travel, leaving her reluctant to return without a reliable way to come back.

• Xiao Ling and Sigrika returned to the courtyard, where Aemeath scolded Xiao Ling and Dania for their suggestive teasing in front of the children.
• Xiao Ling helped Chisa cook lunch while Aemeath sang with the children, Sigrika told them stories, Lynae painted with them, and Dania relaxed in the sun.
• Xiao Ling and Chisa served lunch, and Xiao Ling reassured Chisa that the children enjoyed her cooking even if it tasted different from his.
• Morning arrived at the orphanage and taught the children a math lesson in the run-down classroom, then listed safety and repair concerns for Xiao Ling.
• Morning told Xiao Ling that she had opened a passage between Solaris and the other world, but it was unstable and too risky to use for a round trip.
• Morning admitted she wanted the passage to let them return to visit Xiao Ling, and Xiao Ling hugged her before they noticed the children watching.

Xiao Ling went shopping for the girls at home, then met Phrolova performing violin on the street and spoke with her about a birthday gift and her identity. After he left, Phrolova worried she had nearly revealed herself and found two lemons in her violin case.

• Xiao Ling bought groceries and a limited-edition dessert for Dania, then heard violin music near the dessert shop.
• Xiao Ling approached Phrolova, offered her lemonade, and sat with her while she took a break from street performing.
• Phrolova asked whether Xiao Ling had delivered her birthday gift to a child, and Xiao Ling confirmed the child had eaten it.
• Xiao Ling asked Phrolova about her life and identity, but she gave careful, guarded answers before he headed home.
• Phrolova sighed with relief after Xiao Ling left, then found two lemons in her violin case.

Xiao Ling watched a Solar5 dance video until Dania dressed as a girl group idol to entertain him. Her teasing led to Xiao Ling carrying her to bed, leaving their peaceful afternoon behind.

• Xiao Ling watched Solar5 dance while Dania came into his room and teased him.
• Dania offered to dress as an idol, then transformed into a twin-tailed girl group outfit after Xiao Ling eagerly agreed.
• Xiao Ling admired Dania's outfit while she sat in his arms and he played a game.
• Dania grew jealous of Xiao Ling's focus on his game and began teasing him more boldly.
• Xiao Ling abandoned his game, carried Dania to bed, and ignored her pleas to stop.

After final exams, Xiao Ling and the Solaris girls discussed their summer plans before returning home to find Principal Roccia and Professor Morning visiting. Roccia struggled with her feelings about Xiao Ling as they settled under the same roof, and his teasing left her flustered.

• Xiao Ling asked the girls about their vacation plans, and they described plans to sleep, travel, cook, and pursue hobbies while Sigrika looked forward to their late-July trip.
• Rover said she would watch a certain sex fiend while searching for a way back, and Xiao Ling led everyone home to meet their guests.
• The group found Principal Roccia and Professor Morning waiting at the villa, and Xiao Ling welcomed them and carried in their luggage.
• Roccia recalled her intimate moment with Xiao Ling and worried about living with him and the girls without revealing their relationship.
• Xiao Ling brought Roccia fruit, teased her about letting him have his way, and left her red-faced to prepare lunch.

Xiao Ling hosted a summer vacation party, where he kept the students from drinking and warned everyone about Cartethyia’s poor drinking habits. Principal Roccia ignored her own advice, got drunk on cocktails, and Xiao Ling carried her upstairs to settle her in.

• Xiao Ling’s guests gathered at his house, where Sigrika watched Iuno and the others play and accepted Iuno’s offer to teach her.
• Lupa found her wheat juice in the kitchen, and Xiao Ling let her drink while Roccia and he discussed alcohol’s effects on judgment.
• Xiao Ling replaced Cartethyia’s wheat juice with orange juice and stopped Dania from sneaking a cocktail, while Roccia told the students to avoid alcohol.
• Roccia opened a second cocktail after claiming she knew when to stop, then drank enough to become visibly drunk.
• Aemeath photographed the drunk Roccia, and Xiao Ling carried her upstairs to get her settled.

Xiao Ling took care of the drunken Roccia, but she pulled him into an intimate encounter before he could leave her room. Rover found him afterward and confronted him, then concealed their own scuffle when the others arrived.

• Xiao Ling brought Roccia honey water after she woke, and she kissed him and pulled him onto the bed while drunk.
• Xiao Ling left Roccia's room with his clothes disheveled, and Rover saw him and accused him of mistreating the principal.
• Xiao Ling tried to keep Rover quiet by pinning her against the wall, but Rover struck him and left him sprawled unconscious on the floor.
• Rover told Aemeath that Xiao Ling had tripped and fallen on her, and the others helped him back to his room to rest.

After Roccia woke from a drunken night with Xiao Ling, she asked him to take responsibility and suggested they define their relationship on a date. Their intimate moment was interrupted when Sigrika saw them and left in shock.

• Xiao Ling woke to find Dania riding him, then turned the tables and continued their intimacy.
• Roccia woke hungover, remembered her drunken encounter with Xiao Ling, and worried about facing him.
• Roccia asked Xiao Ling to take responsibility, and he agreed to a date where they would redefine their relationship.
• Roccia asked Xiao Ling to keep patting her head, admitting she was jealous of the students who received his head pats.
• Sigrika saw Xiao Ling and Roccia sharing an intimate moment, then walked downstairs in shock after telling them breakfast was ready.

Sigrika told Dania that she had seen Xiao Ling and Roccia acting intimately, fearing he would abandon Dania for his teacher. Dania reassured her that she was comfortable with sharing Xiao Ling, leaving Sigrika stunned by Dania’s acceptance.

• After witnessing Xiao Ling affectionately touch Roccia’s head, Sigrika worried that their relationship would hurt Dania.
• Sigrika invited Dania to a dessert shop and told her what she had seen between Xiao Ling and Roccia.
• Dania explained that she trusted Xiao Ling and was not upset by the possibility of Roccia joining their relationship.
• Dania admitted she would welcome someone sharing the burden of Xiao Ling’s affection, and Sigrika’s worldview shattered again.

Aemeath pieced together that Xiao Ling and Roccia had become intimate and that Dania supported Xiao Ling having multiple partners. Fearing Roccia would make her move first, Aemeath arranged a romantic date with Xiao Ling for the next day.

• Aemeath noticed Sigrika return home distressed and learned from Dania that Sigrika's worldview had taken a blow.
• Aemeath connected Sigrika's behavior, Roccia's flushed and evasive demeanor, and Dania's outing with Sigrika, then concluded that Sigrika had caught Xiao Ling and Roccia being intimate and that Dania supported their relationship.
• Aemeath decided she could not wait any longer to pursue Xiao Ling and went to his room to ask him out.
• Xiao Ling hesitated because he had already planned to meet Roccia, but agreed to take Aemeath on a date the next day after she threatened to disappear.

Aemeath and Xiao Ling went on a date at the aquarium, where Aemeath delighted in the marine animals and Xiao Ling explained what he knew about them. After feeding the seals together, Aemeath promised to feed Xiao Ling every day, leaving them sharing a happy moment.

• Aemeath enthusiastically began her planned date with a sleepy Xiao Ling and took him to the aquarium.
• Aemeath played with an orca through the glass while Xiao Ling explained orcas’ names, family, and behavior.
• Aemeath explored the penguin, manta ray, beluga, and seal exhibits as Xiao Ling answered her questions.
• Xiao Ling took Aemeath to a seal-feeding session, where she fed the seals and used up his remaining fish as well.
• Aemeath promised to feed Xiao Ling every day, and he affectionately patted her head.

Aemeath and Xiao Ling spent the rest of their date watching Frozen and enjoying rides at the amusement park. As the sun set on the Ferris wheel, Xiao Ling told Aemeath how much her happiness meant to him, and she answered with a kiss.

• Aemeath revealed that she had chosen Frozen for the movie, and she and Xiao Ling held hands through the screening after sharing a playful cheek kiss.
• Aemeath and Xiao Ling rode bumper cars, where she rammed into other cars while he carefully avoided them, then visited more amusement park rides.
• Xiao Ling reluctantly rode the roller coaster after Aemeath coaxed him, while the two agreed to skip the haunted house.
• On the Ferris wheel at sunset, Aemeath asked whether Xiao Ling had enjoyed their date, and he said that seeing her smile made him happy.
• Aemeath kissed Xiao Ling at the Ferris wheel's highest point, and they embraced beneath the setting sun.

After a date and dinner, Aemeath brought Xiao Ling to a hotel and confessed her love, and the two spent the night together. They fell asleep in each other’s arms, with Aemeath murmuring that she loved him most as dawn arrived.

• Aemeath persuaded Xiao Ling to share cocktails with her at dinner after their amusement park trip.
• Aemeath ignored Rover’s calls and messages and took the sleeping Xiao Ling to a hotel.
• Xiao Ling woke when Aemeath came out of the bathroom, then pretended to be asleep as she joined him in bed.
• Aemeath kissed Xiao Ling and firmly told him she would not regret entrusting herself to him.
• Xiao Ling and Aemeath shared an intimate night, then fell asleep together.
• At dawn, Aemeath murmured that she loved Xiao Ling most.

Xiao Ling and Aemeath returned to the villa late the next morning after spending the night away, leaving Rover furious. Rover chased and beat Xiao Ling in the backyard while the others watched and ate watermelon.

• Rover and the others waited anxiously for Xiao Ling and Aemeath to return, then rushed to the entryway when they heard the door open.
• Xiao Ling and Aemeath arrived, and Aemeath struggled to stand after Xiao Ling carried her home.
• Dania helped Aemeath upstairs to rest while Rover ordered Xiao Ling to come to the backyard.
• Rover knocked Xiao Ling down, carried him to the backyard, and pursued him with her sword as he ran.
• Rover threatened to turn Xiao Ling into hand-pounded meatballs, and the chase continued while everyone else ate watermelon.

Xiao Ling complained to Shorekeeper after Rover beat him, while Dania and Aemeath reconciled over their relationship with him. Roccia sought romantic advice from her students and left the room blushing, worried about what might happen with Xiao Ling and Sister Yue.

• Xiao Ling played the victim in Shorekeeper's arms after Rover attacked him for pursuing Aemeath, and the others joked about his romantic ambitions.
• Dania told Aemeath she would not blame her for getting ahead of her and said she was glad to have help handling Xiao Ling.
• Roccia visited Aemeath's room to ask Dania and Aemeath for advice about girl stuff involving Xiao Ling.
• After hearing their descriptions, Roccia returned to the living room blushing and hoped Sister Yue would forgive her when the time came.

Xiao Ling spent the day playing the new Wuthering Waves story and later helped Chongming Plucks Flowers defeat a boss. After he chose to pull for SuiSui, his supposed newbie friend logged into his account and spent thousands to max out Yangyang for him, leaving Xiao Ling suspecting she was SuiSui herself.

• Xiao Ling started the new version of Wuthering Waves and played through its three new story acts while Dania brought him lunch.
• Chongming Plucks Flowers asked Xiao Ling to carry her against the new boss, and he defeated it with Little Ai.
• Chongming Plucks Flowers asked whether Xiao Ling preferred Yangyang or SuiSui, and he said he would pull for SuiSui because of his limited budget.
• Chongming Plucks Flowers logged into Xiao Ling's account and spent around seven or eight thousand to max out Yangyang for him.
• SuiSui laughed as Yangyang sulked over a Rover plushie and said Xiao Ling now owed her a huge favor.