Love Is an Accident Recap, Plot, Synopsis

> Love Is an Accident

Love Is an Accident Synopsis

Li Chuyue, a "drama" girl, who accidentally enters the Yunwei Villa is forced to cooperate with the young master An Jingzhao to pretend to be an unmarried couple.

As they work together to deal with the crisis at the villa, they gradually develop feelings for each other, while the culprit behind the scene gradually emerges.

Love Is an Accident Recap

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Episode 1 Recap

Li Chuyue returns home to find her younger brother, Li Chuyang, using her things and trying to take her money. Their argument is interrupted by their mother, who criticizes Chuyue for not having a boyfriend and gives her an ultimatum: become a successful designer in the next six months or find a stable job. Chuyue confidently declares she will enter the New Designer Competition. Later, she reveals the grand prize she won at her company's annual party is a meteorite.

She explains that experts believe it possesses a unique energy field that can improve sleep and influence brainwaves, possibly inducing dreams of wealth. Her family is unimpressed, and her brother quickly takes the meteorite, leaving Chuyue to lament her lack of a boyfriend, a good job, and now a disappointing lottery prize. Meanwhile, in a historical world, An Jingzhao, the Young Lord of Yunwei Villa, interrogates a captured assassin who only manages to utter the word "Second" before dying.

Jingzhao's subordinate, Donghua, immediately suspects the Second Lord, Zhou Wei. Unbeknownst to them, Chuyue's modern world begins to bleed into theirs. Jingzhao is bewildered by a woman's voice singing about "Calories" and repeating the word "baby." Donghua mishears "baby" as the similar-sounding "baddie" (卑鄙, bēibǐ) and prepares to find the person insulting the Young Lord. Jingzhao then hears gaming taunts like "You can't beat me!"

Donghua reports that no one in the villa is singing, suggesting Zhou Wei might be using sorcery. Hearing more taunts, Jingzhao deems the unseen person a "daring female thief" and demands she show herself. In her own time, Li Chuyue, engrossed in her game, assumes the voice is another player, complimenting the "handsome young man's" voice before her mother tells her to go to bed.

Donghua speculates that the voices belong to two female assassins who are having an internal dispute, misinterpreting Chuyue's talk of a "handsome guy and a partner" as a reference to a handler and a pair of combat elephants. Jingzhao dismisses the idea of an ambush, preferring to "lure the enemy deep" to uncover their plot. Later, a piece of Chuyue's clothing—her vest—materializes and falls into Jingzhao's room. Donghua warns it could be poisoned, suspecting another of Zhou Wei's tricks.

Interpreting this as a direct challenge, Jingzhao prepares to face his unseen foe. Elsewhere, an underling reports to his master that all the assassins sent to the villa have been killed. The next morning, a confused Li Chuyue discovers her vest is missing. At work, Li Chuyue goes to the design department to pick up sample clothes. While the lead designer Ms. Qiao is busy, another designer, Qingfeng, assists her.

Chuyue expresses her admiration for his work and notices his Eston Design College graduation ring. At the same time, in Yunwei Villa, An Jingzhao’s younger brother, An Jingling, arrives for a private conversation. Jingling reveals that their father has become unnaturally drowsy and compliant, listening only to Zhou Wei. He and their grandmother suspect Zhou Wei is poisoning their father with mind-controlling medicine.

Jingling sought help from the renowned Doctor Luo, who initially refused to treat anyone from the martial world. Moved by Jingling's persistence, Doctor Luo eventually gave him a riddle to solve: "How to make water flow in reverse?" Jingling also congratulates Jingzhao on his upcoming marriage selection, a process Jingzhao clarifies was arranged by their grandmother after his previous engagement was voided when the bride went missing. That night, while sleeping, Li Chuyue physically materializes in An Jingzhao's bedchamber.

Jingzhao confronts her, demanding to know if Zhou Wei sent her. Initially believing she's in a vivid dream, Chuyue admires Jingzhao's appearance, calling him the "most handsome boy" she's ever dreamt of, and pinches his cheek. The dream shatters when Jingzhao draws his sword and gives her a small cut on the neck. Panicked, she insists it's a misunderstanding and she simply woke up there. Jingzhao questions her about the "baddie" song.

Chuyue corrects him, explaining the word was "baby," an English term of endearment, and that the taunts he heard were lyrics from a pop song. When Donghua presents her missing vest as evidence, she confirms it's hers and pleads that her slim frame proves she's just an "ordinary employee," not an assassin. Unconvinced, Jingzhao has her taken to a guest room to reflect on what she has omitted.

An Jingzhao deliberately allows Li Chuyue a chance to escape, hoping she will either lead him to the true mastermind or try to complete her mission. After a fire breaks out in Lingxiao Yard, creating a diversion, Chuyue sneaks back into Jingzhao's room to find a way home, muttering that he's a "scumbag" for considering so many potential brides. She tries shouting for her family, hoping the sound will cross between their worlds.

Her father, Li Jianmin, faintly hears her cries in his sleep and dreams of fighting the "evil people" tormenting her. Desperate, Chuyue laments being trapped with a "black-hearted pervert" who wants to kill her. Jingzhao appears and offers her a deal: reveal her master, and he will double their offer of land, gold, or a perfect husband. Li Chuyue maintains her innocence, insisting she isn't from his world.

Their confrontation is interrupted by Bai Zhi, one of the potential brides, who brings Jingzhao an embroidered pouch. To create a scene, Chuyue loudly accuses Jingzhao of kidnapping and molesting her, calling him a "scumbag" unworthy of Bai Zhi's affection. Angered, Jingzhao orders Bai Zhi to leave. Amid the chaos, Chuyue spots the note with the riddle, "How to make water flow in reverse?" Seeing an opportunity, she offers to solve it in exchange for Jingzhao swearing an oath not to kill her.

Episode 2 Recap

Li Chuyue demonstrated an experiment showing water flowing upwards, explaining it as a basic scientific principle involving atmospheric pressure and the expansion and contraction of air. Young Lord Jingzhao, impressed by her intelligence, wondered if she was connected to Zhou Wei. He ordered his subordinate to bring a truth serum from Beiming, a medicine that makes people reveal the truth, to test her.

Li Chuyue, seeing the tea, attempted to talk her way out by flattering Jingzhao, praising his handsome appearance, mature aura, and intelligence, suggesting he should already know she wasn't an assassin. Despite her flattery, Jingzhao quickly administered the tea. Under the influence of the medicine, Li Chuyue revealed her name and described herself as a "delicate piggy girl" who is also "poor." She jokingly claimed to know a "seduction" tactic, highlighting her long legs and swan neck.

When pressed about her identity and purpose, she insisted she was from another world, not an assassin, and did not know Zhou Wei. She then disclosed her two true purposes: to become a fashion designer and to pursue a man. Upon hearing this, Jingzhao's face noticeably flushed. Although his subordinate offered to call a doctor, Jingzhao denied feeling unwell and concluded that while Li Chuyue was likely not a spy for Zhou Wei, her identity remained suspicious.

He ordered her confined to a guest room until her background could be thoroughly investigated. Meanwhile, Jing Ling informed Jingzhao that Doctor Luo had agreed to meet them at Xu River, but only if Jingzhao attended personally, as Doctor Luo had realized Jing Ling was not the Young Lord of Yunwei Villa.

Jing Ling praised Jingzhao for having an expert who could devise such a solution, to which Jingzhao casually replied that Li Chuyue was merely an orphan he had found who happened to know some tricks. Jingzhao then gave Jing Ling some cakes for their aunt. Jing Ling expressed concern about escaping Lingxiao Yard due to Zhou Wei's spies, but Jingzhao assured him he had a plan. Back in her room, Li Chuyue plotted her escape from the "evil Young Lord."

She desperately sought a way out, feigning a sudden urge to use the toilet. When the guard refused, she escalated her act by dramatically clutching her stomach. She threatened the guard, warning that if anything happened to her, Jingzhao would punish him, costing him his job and preventing him from ever seeing his "beautiful Young Lord" again. The strategy worked.

As she tried to slip away, she was confronted by Jing Ling, who questioned how she, a supposed servant, had entered the estate, given that new servants were only hired once a month. Li Chuyue tried to charm him, claiming she was new and wished to become Jingzhao's personal servant. Jingzhao then arrived, asking if her desire to be his servant was genuine. Believing Jingzhao to be an unyielding man, Li Chuyue thought flattery would make him dismiss her.

She declared her long-standing admiration for his handsome looks, saying he fascinated her. However, Jingzhao remained unfazed, remarking that her "seduction ability was just so-so" and revealing that he had recognized her from the start. Li Chuyue pleaded for release, but Jingzhao refused until her true identity was uncovered. He then proposed a deal: if she assisted him with a task, he would lend her his bedroom, referencing her stated goal of finding a way back to her world.

Recalling Jingzhao's previous deceptions, Li Chuyue decided her immediate priority was survival. She agreed to the deal, which required her to accompany him on a picnic the following day and pretend to be an enamored couple, seeing this as a potential chance for escape. Jingzhao then instructed his subordinate, Donghua, to take Li Chuyue to a guest room, explaining that despite her talkativeness, she was timid and would cooperate to save her life.

He also expressed that he found her interesting and looked forward to seeing her next moves. He secretly ordered Donghua to prepare a hidden boat and to contact Mr. Si Xing, the Chief Judicial Inspector, to inquire about the Jiayu case by leveraging a past favor. Meanwhile, Bai Zhi angrily confronted her Godfather, complaining that Jingzhao was favoring an unknown woman and even taking her on a picnic.

Reminding her Godfather of his promise that she would marry Jingzhao, she demanded that Li Chuyue be eliminated. Her Godfather urged her to be calm, but Bai Zhi insisted, referencing his own teaching that "whoever gets in the way should be killed." Her Godfather relented, promising an "explanation" when the time was right, and secretly ordered a subordinate to find skilled fighters to eliminate Li Chuyue if she became isolated during the picnic.

Back in Lingxiao Yard, Jingzhao rejected several outfits for Li Chuyue, finally requesting a special dress his mother had made, which was intended for the future Young Madam. He dismissed the concern, stating it would only be worn once. He then instructed his subordinate, Yuan Shu, not to touch the confidential documents on his table. After he left, it was confirmed the books had been moved.

Jingzhao revealed that he had detected a faint fragrance on Yuan Shu days prior, a scent identical to the incense burned by Zhou Wei, leading him to the grim realization that his trusted servant of over a decade was a spy. A maid arrived to help Li Chuyue change. Li Chuyue was astonished by the exquisite craftsmanship of the dress, praising its rich materials and intricate patterns, which she likened to the complexity of computer programming.

When Jingzhao saw her in the dress, he was visibly captivated. He reminded her to perform her role flawlessly, and Li Chuyue, planning her escape, assured him of her cooperation. As they were about to leave, she playfully flirted, "Why did you harm me? You made me like you." Inside the carriage, Li Chuyue was captivated by the outside world. Jingzhao questioned if she, at twenty-two, already had children.

Li Chuyue playfully insisted she was "still a baby," explaining that in her world, adults her age often referred to themselves this way. Jingzhao found this shameless, and hearing her ease with flirtatious remarks, questioned if she was married. Li Chuyue clarified that such "sweet talk" was common in her world, which Jingzhao found disgraceful.

Upon reaching their destination, Li Chuyue gave a child a piece of candy, boasting that "even your emperor doesn't have this," and asked for a small favor in return. Later, she suggested playing hide-and-seek and proposed a wager: if Jingzhao, blindfolded, failed to find her, he would give her gold; if he succeeded, he could flick her forehead. Jingzhao accepted.

Li Chuyue used the opportunity to escape, but Jingzhao, noting the absence of any "human aura," called her a "cunning fox" and quickly found her. When he gently flicked her forehead, she exaggerated her pain. Amused, Jingzhao offered a "different punishment," then kissed her. Later, Li Chuyue tried to get Jingzhao drunk to escape, but he claimed to be allergic to alcohol and suggested tea instead.

After she drank the bitter tea, Jingzhao gravely announced it was poisoned with "Seven-Step Soul-Breaking Powder" and that the only antidote was within his body, requiring physical contact to work. As she held his hands, Jingzhao appeared to lose his heartbeat, prompting a terrified Li Chuyue to perform CPR. He then revealed he was merely cultivating his internal force, which weakened his pulse. He finally confessed the tea wasn't poisoned but just contained bitter selfheal.

Suddenly, a horse bolted, and Li Chuyue shouted for Jingzhao to chase it while she made another dash for freedom. Jingzhao pursued and caught her, questioning why she ran. Their exchange was interrupted by an ambush. Arrows, which Jingzhao identified as "Crescent Arrows" from Fengnuan Pavilion, rained down. He instantly recognized the attack as Bai Zhi's doing, condemning her as heartless. He pulled Li Chuyue close, instructing her not to move as the attackers were targeting her, and urged her to hold him tightly so he could protect her.

Episode 3 Recap

An Jingzhao reassures Chuyue that the assassins are no longer following them. He needs to leave for a short while and instructs her to create the illusion of his presence in the room, warning her to prevent anyone from entering, especially a potential spy who might force their way in if suspicious. Chuyue considers escaping, but An Jingzhao warns that both the assassins outside and he would pursue her.

Realizing the dangers of the outside world, Chuyue complies, hoping this cooperation will earn her a chance to return home. An Jingzhao promises to let her use his bedroom if she succeeds. An Jingzhao's subordinate informs him that Doctor Luo is waiting at the waterside pavilion, confirming no signs of Zhou Wei's spies nearby.

The subordinate expresses doubt about Chuyue's reliability, calling her strange and a bit foolish, but An Jingzhao affirms his trust in her and insists she be addressed respectfully as "Miss Chuyue." An Jingzhao then meets Doctor Luo and, after praising his medical expertise, reveals his father has been drugged with a mind-controlling substance, pleading for his help. Doctor Luo initially declines, stating he only treats common people and avoids involvement with martial arts sects.

To persuade him, An Jingzhao reveals Doctor Luo's true identity as the sole surviving heir of the Yang family, whose entire clan was massacred in Wuzhou 27 years ago by Zhou Wei, the Second Lord of Yunwei Villa, who coveted the family's spear techniques.

Though shaken, Doctor Luo still attempts to leave, but An Jingzhao convinces him by explaining that Zhou Wei's ambition is to seize control of Yunwei Villa and become the leader of all sects, which would plunge the world into chaos. Moved by the plea to uphold his principle of saving the world through medicine, Doctor Luo agrees to assist. Back in the room, a servant reports finding traces of assassins and offers to brew tea.

Chuyue, maintaining the pretense, quickly states that the Young Lord is already asleep and feigns extreme sleepiness to deter the servant. After the servant leaves, she playfully talks in her sleep, pretending to flirt with An Jingzhao. Just then, the real An Jingzhao returns and overhears her, teasingly asking if her words can be fulfilled, which leaves a flustered Chuyue to apologize.

Elsewhere, Yuan Shu reports to his master about An Jingzhao's sudden new "lover" and their picnic, suspecting a deeper plot. He is ordered to continue his surveillance. Feeling trapped, Chuyue laments her inability to find a way home, as the room has no secret passages or mechanisms. She cries about how everyone seems to want to kill her.

An Jingzhao explains the inherent dangers of the martial arts world, but assures her of her safety within the villa now that he knows she isn't allied with Zhou Wei. Chuyue hesitates, recalling his past hostility, but concedes that with no money, fighting skills, or a place to go, staying is her only viable option, especially with the New Designer Competition approaching.

She reluctantly accepts his offer, secretly hoping that sleeping on his bed might be the key to returning home. She then asks to borrow his bed for the entire night. An Jingzaho playfully refuses, asking where he would sleep and feigning that as a boy, it would be unsafe for him to share a room with her. He then offers to take her somewhere for tea and fun in exchange for a promise.

Jingling finds Bai Zhi looking worried; she brushes him off, frustrated by her lack of progress in martial arts. Later, An Jingzhao consoles his brother Jingling during sword practice, promising to always protect him. Jingling asks about the plan to have Doctor Luo treat their father. An Jingzhao reveals his strategy: they will use their Grandmother's upcoming birthday as the perfect opportunity.

He has intentionally let the spy, Yuan Shu, know that he will meet with someone named Li Qing on that day. This will act as a diversion, drawing Zhou Wei's attention while they execute their real plan, with firecrackers serving as the signal for success. An Jingzhao instructs his subordinate to meticulously prepare a secret room with a comfortable mattress, silk bedding, fresh fruits, and snacks, which makes Jingling wonder when his brother became so particular.

As An Jingzhao takes Chuyue to this secret room, Zhou Wei's men follow and surround the area, determined to uncover his true intentions. Inside, An Jingzhao questions Chuyue about her background. She describes her modern hometown with cars, airplanes, and the internet. She clarifies that her "pursuit" of a man is just a crush on a designer named Gu Qingfeng, and when asked about his unique skill, she describes it as "flirting" (letting out electricity), emphasizing its speed.

Amused, An Jingzhao demonstrates his lightness skill, asking if his speed surpasses "flirting." Sensing men approaching outside, he swiftly pulls Chuyue into a small hiding space. She complains about its size, but he explains it's for practicing inner cultivation and doesn't need to be large. She notices his racing heartbeat, which he attributes to his powerful inner strength, boasting it's stronger than Gu Qingfeng's. Meanwhile, Jingling executes the diversion, sending men to conspicuously follow An Jingzhao towards the back mountain.

He then escorts Doctor Luo into his father Chenghu's room. After examining the unconscious Lord, Doctor Luo explains that the mind-controlling drug is made from rare herbs, some of which he has only ever heard of, making an antidote extremely difficult and time-consuming to formulate. Later, An Jingzhao takes Chuyue to another secret room, sharing his dream of bringing peace to the martial arts world.

He is surprised to learn she's a tailor, as most in the villa are much older. Eager to prove herself, Chuyue offers to design something for him. Noticing fireworks, Chuyue wants to go outside. An Jingzhao explains the exit mechanism requires the weight of two people but can only be activated by two feet. Chuyue suggests he lift her so they can stand on it together, and he complies.

The mechanism opens, but he tells her to not get down yet. Elsewhere, the Grandmother (Her Ladyship) has no mood for her birthday celebration, lamenting that the villa is in chaos with her son, Chenghu, poisoned and controlled by Zhou Wei. Remembering An Jingzhao's instruction to act as if nothing is wrong, she puts on a brave face, trusting him to handle Zhou Wei. She grows anxious when An Jingzhao doesn't appear after the firecrackers—their signal.

She also worries about rumors of An Jingzhao's closeness to a "bold" and "loose" woman named Li Chuyue, fearing her emotionally naive grandson has been taken advantage of. At the same time, Zhou Wei learns An Jingzhao is in Chongyue Pavilion. Realizing his men were diverted from the Lord's chambers by Jingling, he understands he's been tricked. With Li Qing still missing, Zhou Wei's subordinate suggests leveraging Bai Zhi's affection for An Jingzhao.

Zhou Wei agrees, reasoning that as his wife, Bai Zhi would be an invaluable source of intelligence. He decides to formally propose a marriage between Bai Zhi and An Jingzhao at the birthday banquet. At the banquet in Lingyun Pavilion, An Jingzhao arrives late, presenting his Grandmother with vitalizing pills and her favorite cold rice cakes from Xueyue Sect.

As the celebration proceeds, Bai Zhi publicly challenges Chuyue, claiming she is an orphan of unknown origin and likely a spy from the evil sect seeking revenge. Citing the danger to the villa, she urges the Grandmother to act. Swayed, the Grandmother orders Chuyue to be confined for interrogation. An Jingzhao vehemently defends Chuyue, assuring his Grandmother she is a pure and kind person, not a spy.

Given a chance to speak, Chuyue clarifies she is an orphan with no martial arts skills, only some knowledge of "medical cosmetology." Realizing Chuyue is harmless, the Grandmother suspects Bai Zhi of slander and apologizes. Chuyue then charms the room, first by pointing out Bai Zhi's acne and offering skincare advice. She then analyzes the Grandmother's warm skin tone, advising her to switch from pink lipstick to "dusty rose or period red" to achieve a formidable "domineering lady" presence.

She also diagnoses the Grandmother's periodic fatigue as "the blues," a common mood issue. Delighted, the Grandmother asks An Jingzhao to bring Chuyue to visit her more often. At that moment, Lord Chenghu, having partially recovered, arrives at the banquet and playfully addresses his mother as "Domineering Lady." Seizing the opportunity, Zhou Wei formally proposes a marriage between his foster daughter, Bai Zhi, and the Young Lord An Jingzhao.

Episode 4 Recap

At Yunwei Villa, Zhou Wei proposes a marriage between his adopted daughter, Bai Zhi, and the Young Lord, Jingzhao, citing their long-standing mutual affection. The Villa Master, An Chenghu, agrees that an alliance with Fengnuan Pavilion would be a great honor. However, Jingzhao interrupts, declaring it is not the time for romance and reveals he has a pre-existing engagement to Han Wanqing, the Second Lady of the Hanshui Sect.

When Zhou Wei questions how they can prove the identity of a woman missing for years, Jingzhao states his fiancée has a distinctive birthmark. His grandmother, the Madam, correctly describes the birthmark as a yellowish and slightly plump spiritual beast, a detail known only to their family. Tearfully, the Madam embraces Chuyue, welcoming her as the long-lost Han Wanqing.

Despite doubts from Zhou Wei and An Chenghu, who question if a birthmark is sufficient proof, the Madam emotionally coerces her son by reminding him of the hardships she endured raising him and threatening to take her own life if he doesn't trust her. An Chenghu relents, accepting Chuyue as Jingzhao's fiancée. Frustrated, Zhou Wei watches Jingzhao and Chuyue leave together.

Later, Jingzhao confronts Zhou Wei, returning a sword that belonged to his father and implying it does not belong to Zhou Wei. In response, Zhou Wei confidently retorts that there is nothing he wants that he cannot eventually obtain. Hoping to return to her world, Chuyue believes sleeping might transport her back, as it did when she first arrived. Jingzhao enters her room and wordlessly gets onto the bed.

Chuyue protests, but Jingzhao reminds her he only promised her use of the bed, not the entire bed. He assures her he has no interest in her, to which Chuyue retorts that she is more worried about her own potential actions toward him. She admits she only agreed to the ruse because the Madam promised her delicious food, seeing the fake marriage as a temporary cultural experience. Jingzhao sternly reminds her that marriage is not a game.

The next morning, Chuyue is dismayed to find she hasn't returned and panics, as her designer competition registration deadline is in five days. When she tries to sneak out, Jingzhao stops her, claiming he's only preventing her from "making a move" on him. He tells her that if she wastes his time, she'll have to compensate him with labor or silver, clarifying he has no physical interest in her.

Later, Chuyue offers to sew an outfit for Jingzhao in exchange for using his bed on the 15th of the month, believing a portal might open on the full moon. While she grinds ink for him, Jingzhao decides to draw a portrait of her "Prince Charming," Gu Qingfeng, but the result doesn't match her description. During a practice session, Chuyue struggles to defend herself against Jingzhao's attacks.

When Bai Zhi arrives and challenges Chuyue to a duel, Jingzhao intervenes, declaring they will fight together as a couple. With his assistance, they easily defeat Bai Zhi. Jingzhao then tells Chuyue she must serve him until he is satisfied before he will grant her request to use his bed. To earn money, Chuyue begins making and selling her own lipsticks in the garden, with her "Men Slasher" shade proving popular among the maids.

When Jingzhao and his brother, Jingling, discover her business, Jingzhao calls her makeup "ugly," but Jingling finds it "vivid" and charming. Jingzhao and Jingling secretly discuss how to administer an antidote from Doctor Luo to their father, who is constantly monitored by Zhou Wei. Jingling suggests their grandmother is the perfect person for the task, as her eccentric nature means Zhou Wei won't be suspicious, and as an elder, his guards wouldn't dare stop her.

After Chuyue gives her a bold new makeup look, the Madam confidently delivers the medicine, intimidating the guards who, unnerved by her authority and oddly colored lips—which they mistake for a sign of poisoning—decide not to report her to Zhou Wei. The Madam later reassures Jingzhao that the plan is working and teases him about his developing feelings for Chuyue. As her self-imposed deadline nears, Chuyue works tirelessly on Jingzhao's new clothes.

She is invited to the Huaxi Festival banquet, where she presents the finished outfit to Jingzhao. Prodded by his grandmother, he tries it on. Chuyue compliments him by calling him a "beauty", then awkwardly clarifies it can be a gender-neutral term for someone exceptionally good-looking. As part of the festival custom, the Madam instructs Chuyue to draw a healing charm, and when she struggles, suggests Jingzhao teach her "hand-in-hand."

Jingzhao agrees, on the condition that she embroiders the word "Prince Charming" (男神) onto his new clothes. Meanwhile, a furious Bai Zhi learns that Jingzhao is not only celebrating with Chuyue but also intimately teaching her to draw a charm. Determined to stop the marriage, she obtains two pills from Zhou Wei: a colorless, odorless "Lethal Pill" to eliminate Chuyue, and an aphrodisiac.

Zhou Wei's plan is for Bai Zhi to poison Chuyue's wine and then use the second pill to orchestrate a situation where she and Jingzhao are found in a compromising position, forcing the villa to agree to their marriage. Bai Zhi's maid suggests she go to Chuyue under the guise of an apology to trick her into drinking the poisoned wine, a humiliating but necessary step for Bai Zhi to secure her future as the Young Madam.

Episode 5 Recap

At a family feast for blessings, Madam instructs Li Chuyue to share a bench with An Jingzhao due to limited seating. Bai Zhi approaches, ostensibly to apologize to Chuyue for a past sparring incident, and offers a toast. Knowing Bai Zhi’s feelings for Jingzhao, Chuyue pulls her aside, reveals her own disinterest in him and her imminent departure, and offers to help Bai Zhi become the Young Madam.

Chuyue proposes a plan for an "indirect kiss": Bai Zhi will sip from a cup, which Chuyue will then offer to Jingzhao. However, the plan backfires when Jingzhao refuses to drink from a cup used by another woman and instead drinks from Chuyue's own cup. Panicked, Bai Zhi realizes he has consumed the wine she had poisoned, which was intended for Chuyue.

Bai Zhi urgently tries to speak with Jingzhao, but after being rebuffed, she abruptly excuses herself, claiming to feel unwell and privately worrying that a mix-up has caused her to be poisoned instead. Moments later, Jingzhao becomes visibly agitated and feverish, warning Chuyue to stay away. Drawing on her knowledge from watching dramas, Chuyue correctly deduces he has ingested an aphrodisiac. When she tries to leave, she discovers the door is locked.

Overwhelmed by the drug's effects, Jingzhao embraces her, but she cleverly escapes his grasp by claiming she is about to burp. Meanwhile, a rival, Zhou Wei, vows revenge on Jingzhao for a past deception, plotting to have him assassinated in his bridal chamber as a "big gift." The wedding ceremony commences, during which Bai Zhi attempts to trip Chuyue and mocks her for a lack of manners. Jingzhao intervenes, defending Chuyue and taking responsibility for her etiquette.

Touched, Chuyue playfully asks about his ideal wife. He describes a woman who is short, far from beautiful, and unladylike—a description that perfectly matches Chuyue, prompting her to call him "blind." The ceremony is interrupted by masked assailants, whom Jingzhao swiftly subdues, dismissing them as remnants of the Beiming sect. He then instructs Chuyue not to lift her bridal veil before they enter the bridal chamber. Alone in the chamber, Chuyue tries in vain to return to her modern world.

While Jingzhao is outside hosting guests, the assassin Bingqin enters, knocks Chuyue unconscious, and abducts her, leaving a substitute bride in her place. At the banquet, Zhou Wei congratulates Jingzhao, cryptically mentioning a "big gift" and noting that the wine contains a mix of "Cold Lake" and "Bamboo-leaf Green," hinting at a hidden scheme. Returning to the bridal chamber, a suspicious Jingzhao lifts the substitute bride's veil, revealing her to be the assassin, Bingqin.

A fierce fight erupts between her and Jingzhao's subordinate, who was disguised as the groom. The subordinate is injured in the confrontation. It is later confirmed that Bingqin has mastered the Tianxuan Heart Sutra, leading Jingzhao to suspect it was secretly copied by a man named Yuan Shu. He orders his subordinate, Li Qing, to investigate Yuan Shu and confirms that tracing powder was scattered to track the assassins.

Elsewhere, upon learning of the failure, a furious Zhou Wei identifies the expert sword wounds on his fallen men, suspecting the involvement of the highly skilled Li Qing from Yuwei Hall, and orders a piece of fabric from the scene to be traced. Sometime later, Jingzhao attempts to kiss Chuyue. She deflects by asking about local customs to share with her family, but he playfully suggests this includes consummating their marriage.

She refuses, citing loyalty to her modern-world crush, Gu Qingfeng. As Jingzhao leans in and kisses her, they are both instantly transported to Chuyue's modern-day bedroom. They deduce that a passage exists between their rooms, with the bed acting as the conduit. Chuyue excitedly theorizes about wormholes and multiverses. A check of her computer confirms that seven days have passed in both worlds, meaning she has missed a design competition deadline.

Shortly after, Chuyue's parents and younger brother, Yangyang, arrive unexpectedly. Chuyue quickly hides Jingzhao, but Yangyang spots him and loudly announces to their parents that his sister has brought a man home. Chuyue improvises, claiming Jingzhao is a model for a commercial. Suspicious about her recent absence, her parents decide to stay the night to assess him. Alone again, Jingzhao asks about a strange fragrance.

Chuyue jokingly claims it is a powerful sleeping agent she used on him because he is handsome, admitting she took an antidote beforehand before revealing she is teasing. She then introduces him to modern wonders: a humidifier, an AI assistant named Xiaodu that plays music, a computer for accessing global information, and a car for transportation.

Episode 6 Recap

While having dinner at Chuyue's home, An Jingzhao, speaking formally as if still in character from a period drama, informed the family that since he was a guest, they were permitted to dine with him. Chuyue explained to her parents that he was an actor who had just finished a period drama and was perhaps too immersed in his role.

Chuyue's mother, mistakenly believing An Jingzhao was Chuyue's boyfriend, immediately began inquiring about his family's finances, including whether they owned a house and if their property would be demolished. An Jingzhao vaguely responded, stating he lived in a bungalow. When asked what show he was currently filming, An Jingzhao looked at the television and said he was filming a boat scene, which shocked the family due to the phrase's double meaning.

Later, An Jingzhao asked what "shādiao" (thickhead) meant, to which Chuyang eagerly replied it referred to his sister. Chuyue's father then clarified that it simply meant a "sculpture in the desert." During the evening, An Jingzhao was fascinated by a phone, thinking it allowed people to hear each other from a distance. While Chuyue was on a call with her colleague, An Jingzhao overheard her say "hug hug" and promptly walked over to embrace her, much to Chuyue's dismay.

Later, An Jingzhao examined Chuyue's phone, admiring a picture of her and mistaking it for a skilled painting. Chuyue clarified it was a photo and then took one of them together. As the night grew late, Chuyue's mother suggested An Jingzhao share Chuyang's room, but An Jingzhao firmly refused, stating he never sleeps with others. Chuyue then offered to sleep on the sofa herself, allowing An Jingzhao to have her room.

After Chuyue's parents left the room, her father remarked to her mother that An Jingzhao seemed "unsophisticated and upright," and "doesn't mess around," which he found to be a good quality. Despite Chuyue sleeping in the living room, she instinctively returned to her bedroom after using the bathroom and ended up sleeping next to An Jingzhao, who, though surprised, remained silent.

The next morning, Chuyue awoke to find An Jingzhao beside her and immediately accused him of being a pervert and a rascal. An Jingzhao retorted that she was the one who had "sneaked into his bed in the middle of the night," making her the true rascal. He then offered her vast riches, including "ten thousand taels of gold" and "several mansions," if she agreed to return with him to Shangyu.

However, Chuyue refused, declaring she had to stay to fulfill her dream of becoming a designer. Later, An Jingzhao followed Chuyue onto a bus. He was stopped by the driver for not having a card, but another female passenger, charmed by his good looks, swiped her card for him. Chuyue arrived at work, where Director Zhou Meizi confronted her about the missing model for a crucial photoshoot, accusing her of an unexcused absence and failing to complete assigned tasks.

Chuyue defended herself, stating she was never given the responsibility for the model, but Director Zhou refused to accept her explanation, threatening to fire her if the shoot wasn't completed that day. An Jingzhao, witnessing the argument, urged Chuyue to leave with him, but their boss intervened, insisting the poster must be shot regardless. Gu Qingfeng suggested they try An Jingzhao, noting his good figure.

The photographer, Mr. Dachuan, was initially skeptical, but upon seeing An Jingzhao, he admitted his temperament was just as good as the original model's and agreed he could try. An Jingzhao, however, refused to model because Gu Qingfeng had suggested it. To persuade him, Director Zhou offered to recommend Chuyue to Ms. Qiao, a renowned designer, for direct entry into the quarter-final of a designer competition—an opportunity Chuyue desperately wanted.

Seizing the chance, Chuyue made a deal with An Jingzhao: he would model, and she would help him return to Shangyu. An Jingzhao found the modern suit "improper" and wanted to remove some accessories, but Chuyue assured him it was "very decent" and would make him look like a "handsome young man." He then reluctantly agreed to pose. During the shoot, An Jingzhao became noticeably upset when Chuyue laughed and chatted with Gu Qingfeng.

Chuyue quickly intervened, adjusting his collar to soothe him. Later, to enhance An Jingzhao's appeal for the photos, Chuyue unbuttoned his shirt, telling him it would attract more girls. An Jingzhao then saw a magazine and, inspired, requested to take a "couple" photo with Chuyue. The photographer agreed, and they worked seamlessly together, resulting in a successful photoshoot. Following the successful shoot, Director Zhou hosted a celebration dinner.

During the meal, she publicly belittled Chuyue, implying that the expensive king crabs served were not for a "lowly employee" like her. Angered, Chuyue declared she would pay for king crabs for everyone, but her card was declined. An Jingzhao stepped in, announcing he would use his "remuneration" from the photoshoot to treat everyone. He then specifically ordered two king crabs for Director Zhou, sarcastically noting her prior outburst, which publicly humiliated her.

Later, seeking revenge, Zhou Meizi assigned Chuyue a challenging task: to find a specific red windbreaker from a three-year-old collection in the messy warehouse by the next day. She threatened Chuyue, stating that resigning would forfeit her chance at the assistant position, while failing to find the coat would lead to her termination. Overwhelmed, Chuyue struggled until An Jingzhao came to her aid. Observing the layers of dust, he deduced that the oldest clothes were likely on the dustiest shelf and offered to help her find it.

Episode 7 Recap

Li Chuyue, seeking to become Ms. Qiao's assistant, faced a demanding interview. Ms. Qiao outlined the extensive responsibilities, including market research, trend analysis, material sourcing, and production follow-ups, emphasizing her high standards for unique fabrics. Li Chuyue assured Ms. Qiao of her dedication, stating she was not afraid of hardship if it meant learning from her. However, Ms. Qiao dismissed Li Chuyue's initial design drafts as unoriginal and told her to leave.

Undeterred, Li Chuyue pleaded for another chance, expressing profound admiration for Ms. Qiao's "minimal but not simple" design philosophy and her innovative use of colors and lines. She specifically praised Ms. Qiao's "Four Seasons series" and offered a constructive suggestion for a dress in the Winter theme, proposing a green belt to symbolize the transition from winter to spring. Impressed, Ms. Qiao granted Li Chuyue one week to produce a satisfactory design, which she gratefully accepted.

An Jingzhao, eager to return to Shangyu, pressed Li Chuyue to uphold her promise to help him. Li Chuyue affirmed her commitment, clarifying that she was only hesitating over how to request leave from work. An Jingzhao, believing a kiss could trigger his return, made an attempt on Li Chuyue, but it proved ineffective. He assured her he would find his own way back and not be a burden.

Affirming her promise to help, Li Chuyue then tried her own version of the method by standing on a stool to kiss him, which also failed. Despite the setbacks, Li Chuyue generously offered An Jingzhao a place to stay in her home until he could find a way back. Li Chuyue continued to brainstorm, envisioning a novel approach by incorporating Shangyu's traditional patterns into contemporary designs, an idea inspired by a dream of Yunwei Villa and its exquisite oriental clothing.

Meanwhile, An Jingzhao expressed deep concern for his Grandmother and his aide, Donghua, knowing they would be worried by his disappearance. In Shangyu, his Grandmother dispatched Donghua to search for them, spreading the cover story that the Young Lord and Young Madam had caught a cold and couldn't receive visitors. An Jingzhao was confident this ruse would temporarily fool his rival, Zhou Wei, whose suspicious nature would make him hesitate to act.

Indeed, upon hearing the excuse, Zhou Wei scoffed at the clumsy lie but decided to wait for An Jingzhao to reveal his own hand. Amidst his worries, An Jingzhao helped Li Chuyue by drawing Shangyu's traditional patterns from memory for her design. While anxiously awaiting news, Li Chuyue prayed for her design to be accepted, even vowing to let her father gain ten kilograms. Elsewhere, Ms. Qiao reviewed Li Chuyue's design, which had been recommended by Gu Qingfeng.

Impressed by its unique print, she remarked that the designer certainly had their own ideas. Soon after, Gu Qingfeng from the Design Department contacted Li Chuyue to inform her she had been chosen as Ms. Qiao's assistant. Overjoyed, Li Chuyue excitedly told her brother that her "Prince Charming" had delivered the good news. Upon receiving a coffee invitation from Gu Qingfeng, Li Chuyue was ecstatic and quickly prepared to leave.

As she hurried out, An Jingzhao intercepted her, asking for a moment of her time, while her brother, Li Chuyang, urged her to be quick as he wanted to go to the supermarket. At the coffee shop, Gu Qingfeng praised Li Chuyue's work and asked about the inspiration for her distinctive pattern. Li Chuyue explained it came from a dream where she visited "Yunwei Villa" and saw a beautiful bride's dress.

Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by An Jingzhao, who dramatically declared, "Li Chuyue is my wife," presenting a marriage certificate as proof. Flustered, Li Chuyue tried to dismiss An Jingzhao as an actor who was too into his character. Unfazed, An Jingzhao claimed to be the handsome groom from her dream, asserting that she had pursued him, and pointed to words on his clothes and his collection of stickers as things she had made for him.

Later, Li Chuyue confronted An Jingzhao for disrupting her life. He dramatically claimed that when she touched him, she fell for a "trap" from his mental cultivation technique, which would force her to mimic his every move. Dismissing this as a trick, Li Chuyue went to the bathroom, telling him to stay put. Meanwhile, Li Chuyang was cornered by thugs demanding money. He called his sister for help, but An Jingzhao answered.

Learning of Chuyang's predicament, An Jingzhao swiftly arrived, declared himself Chuyang's "brother-in-law," and easily subdued the thugs. Astonished, Chuyang inquired about An Jingzhao's identity. An Jingzhao revealed he was the Young Lord of Yunwei Villa, the top sect in the martial arts world with over 100 rooms, and that Chuyue was his wife. Chuyang, grasping the implications, excitedly realized he had become the brother-in-law of a wealthy family.

An Jingzhao then sought Chuyang's advice on winning Li Chuyue's affection, asking about her favorite foods and her mother's love for money. Chuyang agreed to help, explaining the key was to win over his mother. They pawned a jade token for cash, which they used to buy a fashionable outfit and a mobile phone for An Jingzhao, with Chuyang confident the new look would make his sister fall for him.

When Li Chuyue found them, she expressed concern that An Jingzhao might get lost or abducted due to his delicate appearance, but Chuyang clarified that An Jingzhao had just rescued him. An Jingzhao then had Li Chuyue set up his new phone, asking her to save her parents' numbers and offering to help with her demanding new job, particularly with sourcing fabrics.

Later, An Jingzhao tried a new ritual to return home, one he believed Li Chuyue had told him, which involved saying "Become a designer. Come on. Work hard and make progress every day" at 11:30 PM. He also wondered if Gu Qingfeng's ring, made of an unusual chemical substance, was connected to his travel. Seeking reassurance, An Jingzhao asked Chuyang if he was inferior to Gu Qingfeng.

Chuyang bolstered his confidence, comparing him to a heroic figure and advising him to try acting cute to get his way. While the two were practicing this routine, Li Chuyue walked in and playfully accused them of making trouble. The next day, An Jingzhao accompanied Li Chuyue to a fabric store, where they met Gu Qingfeng.

The store owner mistakenly assumed Qingfeng and Chuyue were a couple, prompting An Jingzhao to interject and assert his place as her true Prince Charming. When a roll of fabric fell, An Jingzhao feigned injury to get Chuyue's attention. As Gu Qingfeng took a call, An Jingzhao boldly challenged him to a match.

Episode 8 Recap

An Jingzhao challenges Gu Qingfeng to a competition: whoever can identify the most types of fabric on a display shelf in the shorter time wins. If An Jingzhao wins, he demands to see Gu Qingfeng's ring and insists that Gu Qingfeng stop making clothes for Chuyue, whom he claims is his wife. Gu Qingfeng scoffs, stating that Chuyue told him she was single, making it a fair competition, though he boasts that An Jingzhao cannot beat him.

An Jingzhao quickly identifies seventy-two types, which is confirmed by a shop assistant, making him the winner. As Chuyue is being rushed by her mentor, Ms. Qiao, to find two missing fabric styles, she quickly pulls Gu Qingfeng away to search elsewhere. Left behind, An Jingzhao spots a man wearing a shirt made from the traditional Grass Cloth they need. He follows the man to his shop and purchases the fabric, surprising Chuyue and Gu Qingfeng with his resourcefulness.

Later, at dinner, Li Chuyang helps An Jingzhao order for Chuyue, noting her preference for meat over desserts and her allergy to lemon. An Jingzhao makes an awkward comment about Chuyue ordering a large papaya juice to improve her bust size. When Gu Qingfeng mentions An Jingzhao’s past as an actor, he jokingly replies that his "online business" was "stripping." After Chuyue gets coffee on her face, Gu Qingfeng gently pats her head.

Witnessing this, Li Chuyang urges An Jingzhao to use the same "head pat" move, but he instead comically lifts Chuyue's hair. Their dinner is interrupted by an urgent call from Li Father, who explains that a collector he invited over has swapped a precious antique vase for a fake. The vase was Chuyue's mother's dowry, and Li Father begs An Jingzhao to retrieve it. An Jingzhao immediately leaves, overpowers the fraudsters, and recovers the vase.

During the confrontation, he is startled to see one of the men holding a "sword of Shangyu," making him wonder if someone from his own time has already come to this world. Back home, Li Father praises An Jingzhao to Chuyue, encouraging her to be kind to him. Chuyue is thrilled to share that Ms. Qiao has recommended her for a second design exam, bringing her closer to her dream.

An Jingzhao reminds her that since he fulfilled his part of their deal by touching Gu Qingfeng's ring, they should try to replicate the conditions of their first communication. Chuyue agrees but suggests they wait until morning, promising to help send him back to Dayu. An Jingzhao, following Li Father’s advice, has brought Chuyue her favorite snack from Granny Yang's Dessert, which softens her mood.

The next day, Chuyue struggles with her design drafts, feeling that combining popular fabrics and techniques makes her work awkward and impersonal. An Jingzhao offers guidance, drawing an analogy to swordsmanship. He explains that simply mixing powerful elements dilutes their unique characteristics and advises her to define what she truly wants to express. His words resonate with Chuyue, and she spends the night pondering them, finding herself thinking of him despite his contradictory behavior.

Before bed, she sends him a goodnight message. An Jingzhao replies, asking why he can't get the "cute emojis" she sends to Gu Qingfeng. On the day of the company's new product launch, Chuyue is busy with final preparations. She discovers a black dress is missing and sends a colleague to retrieve it, assuring everyone she can manage the remaining work alone.

An Jingzhao messages her to ask when he can pick her up, but she is too busy to reply. He goes to her office and finds her asleep at her desk. He gently covers her with a blanket and organizes the clothes and fabric samples. A returning colleague sees him but, at his silent request, leaves them undisturbed. When Chuyue awakens to the neatly organized room, she mistakenly assumes Gu Qingfeng helped and thanks him when he arrives.

Noting she must be hungry, Gu Qingfeng invites himself to her home for dinner, bringing a large amount of fresh seafood a client gave him and suggesting they invite her parents to make it livelier. Chuyue agrees. An Jingzhao, returning with food he bought for her, is saddened to find her gone and is further disheartened by her text praising her "prince charming" for tidying up.

Meanwhile, Li Chuyang and Li Father give An Jingzhao a "coaching session" on how to win a woman's heart, with Li Father demonstrating his own "strategy" of intense eye contact. At Chuyue's home, Gu Qingfeng flatters her in her room, but she feels no spark, wondering if she's been single for too long. An Jingzhao suddenly enters, reminding Chuyue she owes him a wish: a trip to the supermarket.

He then spots one of her dress designs and, to her shock, tries it on, asking if it was made for him and demanding her help to put it on. Exasperated, Chuyue gives in and takes him to the supermarket. There, An Jingzhao overhears that oat milk is good for beauty and buys the entire stock. Chuyue, concerned by his increasingly strange behavior, suggests he see a doctor. He claims he's just "doing something attractive."

When she accuses him of seeking revenge for trying to kick him out, he looks at her intently and confesses, "It's because I like you." During dinner, Li Father interrogates Gu Qingfeng, learning he is a single graduate of Aston Design College with wealthy parents abroad. Eager to play matchmaker, Li Father praises Chuyue's gentle nature, though Li Chuyang jokingly calls her a "fool."

Li Father then creates a scenario for them to get close, asking Chuyue to retrieve a cherished plate from a high cabinet and telling Gu Qingfeng to assist her. As Gu Qingfeng helps, he is distracted by a phone call, and the plate nearly falls. Shortly after, Chuyue feels unwell and retreats to her room. Gu Qingfeng then excuses himself, citing a work emergency. Left alone, An Jingzhao tries again to find a way home.

He asks his AI assistant to play a song and thinks back to his first communication with Chuyue, which happened while he was playing games and singing. He recalls receiving an "ugly stone" at a party the day before and wonders if his erratic behavior and intense feelings for Chuyue are connected to it, holding onto the hope of seeing her again.

Episode 9 Recap

During the Huaxi Festival when she was seven, Li Chuyue witnessed an unusual celestial event where a magical stone fell from the sky. This stone, named the Huaxi Stone, was later embedded onto her bedstead. Years later, Li Chuyue explains to An Jingzhao that this Huaxi Stone and the meteorite he possesses are made of the same material, suggesting they originated from a single source that split between their two worlds.

She deduces that a wormhole forms between the two stones during thunderstorms, which is how she traveled to his world. With a thunderstorm forecast for two days' time, An Jingzhao has a chance to return home. Though saddened by his impending departure, Li Chuyue hides her feelings and congratulates him.

Alone, she reflects on their time together and her growing affection for him, confused by his past hostility when he called her an "assassin" and his recent confession that he hates how she's "always wandering in his head." Later, a frantic Li Chuyang informs Li Chuyue that An Jingzhao has gone to a hotel and is drinking heavily, worrying that his good looks might attract trouble. Li Chuyue rushes to the hotel and finds him seemingly asleep.

However, An Jingzhao is only pretending and, feigning drunkenness, he pulls her in for a kiss. Surprised by her own reaction, Li Chuyue inwardly wishes the kiss hadn't stopped. When he asks why she came, she explains her concern. He then presses her for an answer to his feelings, but she admits she needs more time, still struggling to reconcile his past disdain with his current affections.

While designing, Li Chuyue finds her thoughts consumed by An Jingzhao, wondering if he has already left. She receives a birthday invitation from Gu Qingfeng, followed by a message from Li Chuyang luring her to a nearby park. There, she discovers An Jingzhao has arranged a surprise romantic, candlelit dinner for her birthday. Overjoyed, she thanks him. An Jingzhao presents her with several gifts, calling it a "mystery box" game.

Li Chuyue picks one, and he explains that the French phrase on it asks, "Will you be my girlfriend?" Flustered, Li Chuyue pretends not to understand, and seeing Gu Qingfeng's message, she quickly excuses herself to join her colleagues for another birthday celebration. An Jingzhao later complains to Li Chuyang that Gu Qingfeng is a nuisance for taking Li Chuyue away. At the party, Gu Qingfeng dedicates a song to Li Chuyue, but she is visibly distracted.

An Jingzhao and Li Chuyang arrive to join the celebration. When a champagne cork pops, An Jingzhao instinctively shields Li Chuyue. A colleague praises An Jingzhao for having previously helped her sort a large number of garment samples. Gu Qingfeng then brings up the New Designer Competition, mentioning he heard she was recommended directly to the second round and asks to see her designs. Li Chuyue, her attention on An Jingzhao, politely deflects.

The next day, Li Chuyue is shocked to see her design sketches presented as Gu Qingfeng's new, highly praised work. She confronts him, but he denies the plagiarism, and colleagues defend his reputation. Unfazed, Li Chuyue asserts her own creativity is plentiful, dismisses the stolen design as a "small gift" to him, and suggests he should try designing for himself.

Later, when Li Chuyang calls to comfort her, Li Chuyue admits she isn't heartbroken, realizing she never truly liked Gu Qingfeng. She confesses her long-held feelings for An Jingzhao to her sister. Seeing the sky darken unexpectedly, An Jingzhao worries that Li Chuyue is without an umbrella and calls her. He overhears a group of men confronting her, demanding she pay for her father allegedly ruining their boss's business. He rushes to her side and swiftly deals with the thugs.

Li Chuyue tearfully asks if he missed his chance to go home in the storm to save her, and he replies, "Nothing is more important than you." Back in his room, as she tends to his injuries, he insists he feels no pain with her by his side. He then playfully asks if she will take responsibility for him, and she earnestly promises she will, vowing to cook him restorative soup.

The next morning, she struggles to prepare the ingredients until An Jingzhao, remarking that she's more likely to "chop her hand" than the vegetables, takes over the cooking. Later, while going to brush her teeth, Li Chuyue accidentally walks in on An Jingzhao showering, causing an awkward moment. Her mother then arrives unexpectedly to pick up homework, and Li Chuyue frantically tries to keep her from entering the bathroom. Her mother hears the commotion but doesn't discover An Jingzhao.

Before leaving, she warns Li Chuyue to stay away from him, feeling "something is wrong with him." Afterwards, Li Chuyue reassures a silent An Jingzhao not to worry, explaining she was just afraid her mother would hear the noise. At work, colleagues gossip about An Jingzhao's trending ad, his good looks, and whether he and Li Chuyue are a couple.

The manager informs Li Chuyue that she has been chosen as an assistant for the upcoming Fashion Week, a huge opportunity. However, it comes with a condition: the company, impressed by his viral photoshoot, wants to sign An Jingzhao as a model. When Li Chuyue explains he isn't interested, the manager threatens to revoke her Fashion Week spot. Pressured, Li Chuyue asks An Jingzhao to model for her one last time.

He agrees to help, but only if she does something for him in return. He then secretly texts Li Chuyang, asking for ideas on what Li Chuyue would most want to do. The next day, Li Chuyue tells An Jingzhao she wants to go out and play, asking him to accompany her. At an amusement park, she playfully complains about a detour, but he takes her hand, insisting his hand is cold and needs warming.

After dismissing several rides as boring, Li Chuyue spots a large Pikachu plush she wants. An Jingzhao confidently uses a special token to win it for her. When a little girl calls him her "boyfriend," a flustered Li Chuyue offers the girl the toy, but the girl declines. An Jingzhao then takes a photo with Li Chuyue to commemorate their day.

Episode 10 Recap

A young boy hesitates to accept a Pikachu toy from Chuyue, noting it was a gift from her "boyfriend." Chuyue insists he take it, claiming she no longer likes it, while An Jingzhao promises to win her a new one. At a shooting stall, the owner initially bars them from playing, stating they had already won the grand prize. After Chuyue accuses him of having unfair rules, the owner relents but increases the difficulty by making them use a gun.

An Jingzhao pulls Chuyue close, asking her to be his "wife" so she can stare at him forever. He then proceeds to win all the stall's plush toys. Afterward, Chuyue suggests they ride the pirate ship. On the ride, An Jingzhao teases Chuyue for being scared before pulling her into a kiss.

Later, at a cinema, two girls sitting in front of them comment on An Jingzhao's good looks, speculating that Chuyue must not be his girlfriend because she looks "ordinary." Overhearing them, Chuyue defiantly leans close to An Jingzhao, silently affirming to herself that she is the "most beautiful and lovely fairy," even with her "leg hair." An Jingzhao remarks that their level of intimacy is typical for a couple.

After the movie, An Jingzhao asks Chuyue to wait outside while he speaks to the two girls, who ask for his contact information. He tells them Chuyue is the one he will love for a lifetime and praises her beauty, including her leg hair, before leaving. Chuyue confronts him, accusing him of adding the girls' WeChat, but he shows her his phone to prove he didn't. The next day, they go camping.

Impressed by An Jingzhao's skill in preparing their food, Chuyue remarks that he seems capable of anything, to which he replies there is one person he cannot handle. While drinking beer, Chuyue asks if he's the type to talk nonsense when drunk, as she dislikes that. They play Truth or Dare, and when asked about his first kiss, An Jingzhao says it was with her. When it's Chuyue's turn, she repeatedly chooses to drink rather than answer a question.

An Jingzhao, growing impatient, presses her for an answer, and she reluctantly confesses, "I don't like you." After a moment of silent contemplation, he helps the heavily intoxicated Chuyue to her feet. He tries to guide her into the tent, but she resists, so he lets her be, telling himself that his feelings are his own choice and not her burden.

During a photoshoot the following day, Chuyue feels a pang of jealousy seeing An Jingzhao being admired by fans but reminds herself he will be leaving soon. She approaches him, calling him a "womanizer" hiding behind an innocent facade. An Jingzhao retorts that he never claimed to be innocent and playfully asks her to point out other attractive women for him, causing her to walk away.

He follows, asking why it is so hard for her to admit she likes him. When she denies it, he claims she has forgotten what happened while she was drunk. He then recounts a fabricated memory of her admiring his "handsome face" and "sexy collarbones," confessing her attraction and lamenting her loneliness. To "prove" his story, he produces a photo, claiming she took it as their "wedding photo" and declared they would get a marriage license the next day.

Chuyue insists he is making it all up. When An Jingzhao asks why she can't accept him, Chuyue explains they are from two different worlds and fears being stranded if the passage between them ever closes. That night, he finds her and informs her of an impending thunderstorm that will allow him to travel.

He promises to return to his world, resolve the crisis at his villa, and heal his father, after which he will come back to live with her forever. Chuyue asks for a minute alone and falls into a state of internal conflict. She opens the door and dismisses the topic as too much for late at night, stating she needs to sleep. When An Jingzhao asks to stay in her room, she agrees and lets him in.

Meanwhile, in An Jingzhao's world, Zhou Wei learns of An Jingzhao's continued absence and orders his men to monitor Donghua and his associates. He also tasks a renowned garment merchant with tracing the origin of a rare fabric sample within three days. Separately, Donghua reports to the Madam that An Jingzhao is still missing, and she orders him to expand the search. Zhou Wei's men capture one of Donghua's subordinates, confirming An Jingzhao's disappearance is real.

The merchant reports back to Zhou Wei, having traced the fabric to a woman who received it from a young lady who often buys Custard with Sugar at a local market. The woman explains the lady claimed to weave the fabric herself. Zhou Wei offers the woman a reward for helping him find the lady. Back in her world, Chuyue, an aspiring designer, tries to focus on work.

Her boss, Ms. Qiao of Tangsong Fashion, tasks her with finding the retired patternmaker Mr. Gu Jun for their new collection, providing the address of his distant niece, Li Shengyi. At the address, Chuyue finds Li Shengyi being bullied by classmates. Chuyue intervenes, threatening the bullies with a recording of their harassment.

When they mock her for being nosy and unwanted, Chuyue retorts that she has a boyfriend named An Jingzhao, whom she describes as handsome, a great kisser, and with whom she lives a "shameless life." At that moment, An Jingzhao appears and kisses her, confirming her story. The bullies apologize and leave. Grateful, Li Shengyi gives Chuyue the address of a coffee shop Mr. Gu frequents daily.

Chuyue explains to An Jingzhao she found him using a landmark from a picture he sent. He notes the approaching thunderstorm, and she wishes him luck dealing with the "villain" in his world before heading off. Chuyue arrives at the coffee shop and introduces herself to Mr. Gu Jun, presenting Tangsong Fashion's proposal.

Episode 11 Recap

After a subordinate confirms he has located a woman likely connected to Li Qing, Zhou Wei reveals his scheme: prove An Jingzhao is missing, plant a fake corpse, and blame a demon sect to legitimize his own claim as the new Villa Lord. He then proceeds to Lingxiao Yard with a renowned doctor, feigning concern for An Jingzhao's health to force his way in. Donghua, An Jingzhao’s subordinate, blocks him, stating the Young Lord is resting from a cold.

The Madam arrives and reinforces that An Jingzhao needs quiet, but Zhou Wei insists his doctor can cure the cold. Just as he tries to push past, An Jingzhao’s voice projects from the room, berating Zhou Wei for trespassing. At An Jingzhao's prompting, Chuyue announces that her foster father from the mysterious Laotie Gang will be visiting the next day. Hearing this, the Madam pointedly tells Zhou Wei not to delay her from getting a great-grandchild, forcing him to retreat.

Afterward, Chuyue complains to An Jingzhao for making her call him "husband" and taking advantage of her. An Jingzhao theorizes that the lightning wasn't strong enough for him to cross worlds, only allowing sound to pass through. When the Madam enters the room, Donghua, instructed by An Jingzhao via the sound portal, escorts the concerned grandmother out.

An Jingzhao then secretly instructs Donghua to spread rumors that the Laotie Gang is an immensely powerful and mysterious faction to mislead Zhou Wei. In Chuyue's world, she and An Jingzhao are bickering playfully. As they lean in for a kiss, they are interrupted first by her younger brother, Li Chuyang, seeking help with homework, and then by her mother, Liu Ying. Liu Ying questions An Jingzhao about his intentions and background.

An Jingzhao admits his feelings for Chuyue but states he isn't an actor. He truthfully explains he is the Young Lord of Yunwei Villa from a parallel world, a claim Li Chuyang enthusiastically supports. Unimpressed, Liu Ying dismisses his story, calling him a "rascal" from a gang or a forger of fake documents. Insisting he find a "proper job," she forbids him from seeing Chuyue, stating he cannot provide her with happiness.

Meanwhile, a spy confirms Li Qing's identity by matching a piece of fabric from his torn clothes. Zhou Wei orders Li Qing's family captured to use as leverage and prepares for an armed uprising. However, another report about the "Laotie Gang" gives him pause. The spies describe the gang as being skilled in "disco" and admiring "Zhou Huajian," which Zhou Wei misinterprets as a powerful internal cultivation method and a formidable sword style, respectively.

Worried that An Jingzhao has powerful reinforcements, he decides to halt his plans and re-evaluate. Following a work call, Chuyue watches as a heavy thunderstorm rolls in. An Jingzhao, preparing to return to his world, asks if she has anything to say to him. She coolly replies "no" and tells him to stay in his own world. He promises to return for her after settling matters at Yunwei Villa and even get a marriage certificate.

Overhearing, Li Chuyang excitedly asks to come along. Mistakenly believing a kiss opens the portal, he lunges at An Jingzhao, who corrects him, explaining that specific weather and the meteorite are the keys. As thunder crashes, An Jingzhao vanishes. When Li Chuyang curiously approaches the spot where he disappeared, he is also pulled through the portal. Back in Shangyu, Zhou Wei confronts the captured Li Qing, showing him his terrified mother and wife, Huan, in an adjacent cell.

He threatens their lives to force Li Qing's allegiance, offering him any position he desires in the villa. An Jingzhao successfully rematerializes in his room in Shangyu, followed moments later by a bewildered and thrilled Li Chuyang, who marvels at the martial arts world. Shortly after, Chuyue also drops into the room, claiming she came out of concern for her brother. An Jingzhao teases that she was actually worried about him, a fact Li Chuyang confirms.

An Jingzhao deduces that anyone within a one-meter radius of the meteorite can cross through the portal. His loyal subordinate, Donghua, arrives, overjoyed at his master’s return. An Jingzhao introduces Li Chuyang as his "little brother-in-law" and a "future bigshot," asking Donghua to arrange for a tour and martial arts lessons, which Donghua delegates due to his busy schedule.

The Madam is delighted to meet Chuyue and Li Chuyang, expressing her enthusiastic approval of the "marriage" and her eagerness for a great-grandchild. Chuyue quietly reminds An Jingzhao their marriage is a sham, but he persuades her to maintain the pretense for his grandmother's sake and to deceive Zhou Wei's spies. Meanwhile, Zhou Wei learns of An Jingzhao's reappearance and suspects a ruse, concluding that An Jingzhao was stalling for time.

Later, Bai Zhi approaches An Jingzhao with concern, but he coldly rebuffs her, forbidding her from ever approaching him or Chuyue again. Under duress, Li Qing agrees to poison An Jingzhao after Zhou Wei threatens his wife's life. Zhou Wei provides a colorless, tasteless poison that causes victims to become violent and irritable before dying from organ failure within seven days.

He explains his plan is not to kill An Jingzhao outright, but to make him a "murderous demon" in the eyes of the martial arts world, thereby justifying his own takeover. Li Qing suggests adding the poison to the "lotus dew tea" that An Jingzhao drinks every three days. Li Qing brings the tea to An Jingzhao, who instructs him to investigate Zhou Wei’s deployments. An Jingzhao then drinks the poisoned tea as a helpless Li Qing watches.

Soon after, a doctor diagnoses An Jingzhao with a rare poison that causes violent rage and, if not expelled, death within an hour. An Jingzhao managed to force some of it out, but his full recovery is uncertain. Chuyue rushes to his side and, after he awakens, tells him she has much to say. He provocatively asks if she wants to start working on the great-grandchild she promised his grandmother.

She playfully accuses him of faking his illness, but he turns serious, claiming the poison has entered his bone marrow and is incurable. When she vows to find a cure, he reveals the only remedy: she must stay by his side and never leave.

Episode 12 Recap

Upon seeing Jingzhao, Jingling expressed concern for his well-being. Jingzhao, though mildly poisoned, assured him he felt fine as long as Chuyue was with him, then playfully warned his brother not to stare at his wife. Jingling offered to find Doctor Luo, and despite Jingzhao's refusal, Chuyue insisted, prompting Jingling to promise he would. Meanwhile, rumors spread through Lingxiao Yard that An Jingzhao had been afflicted with an incurable poison, though some suspected he was faking, given his cunning reputation.

The next day, a doctor examined Jingzhao and confirmed that while he was conscious, the poison remained in his system, leaving him weak, prone to drowsiness, and occasional fainting spells. He stressed that the next few days were critical and required regular medication. Chuyang complained that people were taking advantage of him while his brother-in-law was unconscious. When Jingzhao awoke, he initially refused his medicine from Donghua, but relented after Chuyang flattered him with compliments.

Upon Chuyue's return, Jingzhao insisted she feed him the medicine, and Chuyue, treating him as a patient, obliged. Elsewhere, Zhou Wei found Bai Zhi venting her frustrations. He proposed a plan for her to become Jingzhao's concubine: since Fengnuan Pavilion is renowned for its detoxification skills, if Bai Zhi could identify and cure Jingzhao's poison, she would be his savior.

Zhou Wei would then formally propose the marriage to the Lord on her behalf, an idea that intrigued Bai Zhi, who only wished to be with Jingzhao, regardless of her title. Hoping to boost Jingzhao’s immunity, Chuyue prepared porridge for him. Jingzhao asked what else could improve his condition, and Chuyue mentioned that a good mood and sufficient sleep were also vital. Their conversation was interrupted by Bai Zhi's arrival.

Jingzhao angrily ordered her to leave, stating that he now belonged to Chuyue and would not let any other woman touch him, especially after Bai Zhi's past attempts to harm Chuyue. Bai Zhi insisted she was only there to treat his dangerous condition. At Chuyue's urging, Jingzhao reluctantly allowed the examination. Bai Zhi confirmed the poison was life-threatening and required immediate treatment, though she admitted to not having a cure yet.

Seizing the opportunity, Jingzhao pulled Chuyue close, claiming that only her constant presence could give him the good mood and sleep he needed to recover, much to Chuyue’s exasperation as she realized he was manipulating her again. Later, Bai Zhi sent a message to her master confirming the severity of Jingzhao's poisoning. Unbeknownst to them, Zhou Wei was plotting to frame Jingzhao.

He commissioned a forger to replicate the handwriting of Zhu Maoqing, Master of Zhuyin Pavilion, planning to use it to steal martial arts manuals and pin the crime on Jingzhao, thereby removing a "threat" and helping his own master rise. Later, Chuyue's maid, Taoyun, reported that Chuyang was in the backyard, attracting a crowd of disciples while enthusiastically selling various items. Taoyun also mentioned that Jingling had visited with news while Chuyue was resting.

Believing it concerned Doctor Luo, Chuyue went to find him. Chuyue found Jingling saddened that he couldn't deliver fresh lychee syrup to his mother, who was confined to the West Courtyard by their father ten years ago and whom he could only visit once a month. Hearing of this, Chuyue immediately suggested they rescue her. Moved, Jingling told Chuyue she was the first person not to pity or look down on him for his family's situation.

As a token of gratitude, he gave her a small, carved figurine of herself. Chuyue was delighted, joking that it was a "beauty-filtered" version of her. Chuyang then arrived, attempting to sell Jingling a "limited edition ballpoint pen." Chuyue stopped him, insisting Jingling take it for free. Jingzhao then appeared, telling Jingling he could have anything he wanted. To get him to leave, he demanded Chuyue call him "Hubby." Considering his fragile health, she reluctantly complied.

Later, Donghua urgently reported that Chuyue and Chuyang had been abducted on Opera Street by ruffians after Chuyang had stepped in to protect a pair of street performers. Ignoring his own poor health, Jingzhao rushed to their rescue. He offered to spare the ruffians if they released his family. The leader, learning his identity, challenged Jingzhao to a duel for the hostages' freedom.

Despite Donghua’s pleas to conserve his strength, Jingzhao accepted and, without using his internal energy, swiftly defeated the thugs before carrying Chuyue back to the manor. Upon his return, Jingzhao received a challenge letter from Zhu Maoqing for a duel on Mount Lingxiu. Donghua suspected it was a trap by Zhou Wei, but Jingzhao was determined to go, only to cough up blood moments later.

The doctor gave a grave diagnosis: the poison was too strong for the medicine, and his life was in danger. As Doctor Luo was still in the mountains, Jingling and Donghua left to search for him. To prevent Jingzhao from attending the duel, Chuyue planned to give him a sleeping drug. However, Jingzhao saw through her plan and tricked her into consuming the drug herself with a kiss before leaving for Mount Lingxiu.

When Chuyue awoke, she realized she'd been outsmarted and rushed after Jingzhao, donning male attire as women were forbidden on Mount Lingxiu. There, she met Bai Zhi, who confirmed she still had no cure for the rare poison. At the dueling ground, Jingzhao faced Zhu Maoqing and escalated the fight by using a hidden weapon, claiming his opponent was a spy. As Jingzhao prepared a final, powerful blow, Chuyue ran between them, begging him to stop.

To avoid harming her, Jingzhao forcibly retracted his attack, causing a severe internal backlash that made him collapse, coughing up more blood. Jingling returned, having successfully found Doctor Luo. After examining Jingzhao, the doctor confirmed that while most of the poison had been expelled, the rest was spreading rapidly. The only cure was the extremely rare Spirit Pearl Grass from the treacherous Magic Flower Valley.

The Valley Lord was known to be cruel, and the entrance was sealed by a complex stone mechanism that would release poison gas if not opened within a set time. Donghua’s attempt to enter failed, and he returned poisoned. Undeterred, Chuyue announced she would go herself. Despite Chuyang's objections, he grabbed his bag and followed her. At the stone gate, Chuyue's attempt to open it using the known method failed.

Chuyang noticed that the red lion carving was far more worn than the green ones, leading him to deduce the Valley Lord might be colorblind and had publicized an incorrect sequence. He proposed a new code: "green-red-yellow-red-red." They tried it, and the gate opened. As they stepped inside, they were immediately trapped and hoisted into the air as a voice boomed, demanding to know who dared to enter the forbidden grounds of Magic Flower Valley.

Episode 13 Recap

Li Chuyang and Chuyue found themselves in a perilous situation after breaking into the forbidden Magic Flower Valley. The Valley Lord, discovering their presence, ordered his subordinates to prepare them as flower fertilizer: one to be bled and the other chopped and buried. Observing the Valley Lord's meticulously styled but odd attire, Chuyue surmised he was a "refined boy" and swiftly began to flatter him.

Claiming they weren't there for the Spirit Pearl Grass but to witness his legendary charm, she promised to refine his style, making him the "fairest" and "top dog" of the martial arts world. Intrigued, the Valley Lord asked about the "non-mainstream" style Chuyue mentioned, which she explained was even more impressive than being a "superstar."

Though the Valley Lord admitted he liked them, he insisted on burying them directly to avoid a mess, suggesting they start with Chuyue due to her "unsightly" appearance. Sensing the Valley Lord’s interest in literature from the ink stains on his hand, Li Chuyang quickly began a story about Sun Wukong and the Banana Leaf Fan, captivating the Valley Lord. Chuyue seized the opportunity, promising many more stories if he guaranteed their safety.

The Valley Lord, eager to hear the rest, agreed. Meanwhile, An Jingzhao awoke to find Chuyue missing. His grandmother suspected she had gone to the Magic Flower Valley after hearing Donghua had returned from there. Despite his grandmother's pleas, An Jingzhao declared he would not allow anything to happen to his wife and immediately set out to save her. Back in the Valley, Chuyue continued to spin tales, finishing the story of "Empresses in the Palace".

She offered more stories in exchange for a Spirit Pearl Grass, but the Valley Lord, protective of his treasure, refused. Chuyue then pitched a "Substitute Wife of the Domineering CEO" story. The Valley Lord, excited by the concept of a handsome, rich, and powerful man, listened intently as Chuyue narrated the tale of a powerful CEO and an ordinary girl who entered a contractual marriage, only for the CEO to fall deeply in love.

The Valley Lord was moved to tears by the sweetness of the story. After more patient storytelling, he finally conceded, agreeing to give them one blade of Spirit Pearl Grass. Just then, the Valley's stone gate was violently destroyed. An Jingzhao burst in, demanding Chuyue's release and threatening to flatten the Valley if she was harmed.

The Valley Lord, rather than being angered, recognized the scene as a classic "domineering CEO" trope and found it incredibly "sweet" and "touching," immediately ordering a Spirit Pearl Grass to be given to them. After An Jingzhao consumed the Spirit Pearl Grass, Donghua explained to him that Zhou Wei had poisoned his tea to alter his temperament and provoke a conflict with Zhuyin Pavilion.

Zhou Wei's ultimate goal was to plant his own men to steal Zhu Maoqing's martial arts secrets, framing An Jingzhao to ruin his reputation and seize the Lord position. An Jingzhao confirmed he had a plan, explaining that his current "poisoned" state was the perfect cover. He intended to let his father take the final dose of medicine the following night, knowing his feigned illness would mask his true intentions.

When Li Chuyang approached, An Jingzhao told him to keep the recovery a secret, especially from Chuyue. Li Chuyang offered to share classic "sickly and possessive" character lines, but An Jingzhao dismissed the offer, claiming he already knew them. To maintain the ruse, Donghua falsely explained to a worried Chuyue that while the toxins were neutralized, An Jingzhao's temperament would remain altered until he fully recovered. An Jingzhao's "sickly and possessive" act intensified.

He instructed Donghua to feign extreme pain and collapse when he feigned anger. During a discussion about an invitation from the Lingjian Sect, An Jingzhao dramatically refused to attend, claiming he couldn't bear to leave Chuyue and feigning a heart attack, which deeply concerned her. He then took his "anger" out on Donghua, who played along and collapsed. Furious at An Jingzhao for hurting Donghua, Chuyue tended to him.

Later, An Jingzhao confessed to Chuyue that he liked it when she got mad at him. Recognizing the trope, Chuyue called his acting "melodramatic," which An Jingzhao took as a compliment. After she warned him not to scare her again, he acted possessively toward a servant who looked at Chuyue.

When a servant informed him that Chuyue planned to speak with the Second Young Lord after bringing his medicine, An Jingzhao reacted with a dramatic display of illness, claiming he might die if she left. He declared Chuyue was entirely his, "from head to toe, every strand of hair," and forbade her from associating with other men. Later, Bai Zhi forced her way into An Jingzhao's room with medicine, only to find Chuyue embracing him.

Enraged, Bai Zhi lashed out at Chuyue, but An Jingzhao sternly warned her, stating he knew what she had done at Lingxiu Mountain and would not tolerate any further attempts to harm Chuyue. A servant then brought a tonic, but An Jingzhao dismissed him and took the bowl himself, reassuring Chuyue. Elsewhere, An Jingzhao and Donghua discreetly discussed their performances, agreeing they were both effectively "melodramatic."

Meanwhile, Zhou Wei's master received reports from a spy and Bai Zhi confirming An Jingzhao was deeply poisoned and had gone mad, causing a scene in the Lord's room. Believing An Jingzhao's breakdown was real, the master concluded it played perfectly into their plan and ordered the next phase of their operation to begin. Chuyue sought out Jingling to thank him for his help, bringing him a special birthday cake for his mother, a custom from her world.

Jingling was captivated by the cake but felt useless compared to the talented Chuyue and his brother. Chuyue reassured him, praising his exceptional sculpting and painting skills and emphasizing that no skill is insignificant. She encouraged him to trust in his own excellence, noting that he was not favored by the Lord or others in the family. Later, An Jingzhao interrupted their conversation and possessively pulled Chuyue away.

Jingling then took the cake to his mother, who, despite being confined, recognized it as the work of An Jingzhao's wife. Recounting how An Chenghu had married her with false promises only to neglect her for his first wife—whom she admitted to poisoning—she urged Jingling to fight for what he desires and offered him something that could help him become Lord. Jingling, however, rejected the idea and departed.

Frustrated by her inability to find suitable embroidery for her design competition and despairing over the lack of a thunderstorm to return home, Chuyue was in her room when An Jingzhao entered. Still in character, he declared he didn't want her to return and reiterated his possessive claim over her, "from head to toe, every strand of hair." Recognizing the lines from a novel, Chuyue realized An Jingzhao had been acting all along.

Amused, An Jingzhao admitted his deception and invited her to join him in playing out the "good show." Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Chu Feng, who extended an invitation for them to attend the Second Lord's birthday at Black Eagle Hall.

An Jingzhao moved to change clothes, but Chuyue, still annoyed by his deceit, told Chu Feng they were merely "role-playing" and that her "sick" servant, whom she called "Little An-zi," was in no condition to attend the celebration. Later, Li Chuyang expressed his desire to go hunting with Donghua. Chuyue initially objected, citing the lack of GPS and calling out his "double standards" for restricting her while he wanted to have fun.

Donghua offered to take Li Chuyang to Yunwu Mountain, a safe training ground, and guaranteed his safety, so Chuyue reluctantly agreed. Shortly after, Jingling arrived with a gift of flower cakes from Bingquan Villa as thanks for the birthday cake. An Jingzhao immediately warned Chuyue that the cakes were "sweet and greasy," but she ignored him and happily accepted them. Curious about Bingquan Villa's location, Chuyue learned from Jingling that it was a full day's walk away.

An Jingzhao then noticed Chuyue's embroidery, prompting her to ask for Jingling's opinion on her designs. An Jingzhao quickly interjected, warning Chuyue not to strain her eyes. As Jingling prepared to leave, Chuyue invited him to accompany her to the market to find more embroidery samples. An Jingzhao abruptly forbade her from going with Jingling, but when she refused to obey, he insisted on going with her instead, confidently stating he was an "Oscar contender" and wouldn't be exposed.

Chuyue dryly commented that his vocabulary of "deviant" terms had skyrocketed since Li Chuyang's arrival. At that moment, Chu Feng reappeared, re-extending the invitation for An Jingzhao and Chuyue to attend the Second Lord's birthday celebration.

Episode 14 Recap

While hunting, Li Chuyang encountered an old hunter who praised his archery but noted his inexperience, suggesting a more fruitful hunting ground over a hill. Eager for a challenge, Li Chuyang agreed and left a note for Donghua before departing. Soon after, a frantic Donghua reported to An Jingzhao that Li Chuyang had disappeared near the West Mountain.

An Jingzhao deduced that Li Chuyang had ventured into Zhou Wei’s territory, connecting the disappearance to a birthday invitation he had just received from Zhou Wei. He resolved to go, but Li Chuyue insisted on accompanying him, even threatening Donghua to secure her passage. She argued that An Jingzhao needed her to maintain his public image as a frail man and that she would be an asset. An Jingzhao reluctantly relented.

Upon their arrival at Black Eagle Hall, An Jingzhao, appearing unwell, was greeted by Zhou Wei. Bai Zhi acted possessively towards An Jingzhao but was admonished by Zhou Wei. After An Jingzhao presented birthday gifts, Zhou Wei offered to help him to his seat, but Li Chuyue intervened, playfully stating she would be jealous. Surveying the hall's decor, Li Chuyue spotted Li Chuyang’s bracelet on a display.

Realizing the flowers and wine were laced with a weakening poison, she knew they had to act fast. She secretly instructed Donghua to follow a servant to find Li Chuyang and to signal with a cuckoo call. During a dance performance, Li Chuyue created a diversion by loudly criticizing the dancers and intentionally spilling wine on An Jingzhao.

Bai Zhi offered to help him change, but An Jingzhao insisted his messy state was indecent and, declining other offers of help, left with Li Chuyue to change clothes. While searching a restricted area, An Jingzhao and Li Chuyue were nearly discovered by a guard. They feigned an intimate moment to distract him, allowing An Jingzhao to subdue him. They found Li Chuyang, who explained he had tricked a guard into wearing his bracelet, knowing Li Chuyue would recognize it.

As they escaped, they were ambushed by assassins. Donghua arrived to cover their retreat, urging the others to flee. Bai Zhi attempted to aid An Jingzhao, but Zhou Wei stopped her, claiming Li Chuyue was her true rival. When Bai Zhi lunged at Li Chuyue, An Jingzhao deflected the attack and warned her away before escaping in a carriage with his wife. After their escape, Li Chuyang apologized for being misled.

An Jingzhao confirmed his escape plan had worked but suspected Zhou Wei had other schemes. He then revealed he knew the banquet wine was poisoned, which is why he never drank it, and praised Li Chuyue's quick thinking. With a thunderstorm approaching, An Jingzhao insisted Li Chuyue and her brother return home, explaining that she was now known as his weakness and her presence would put them all in danger.

He playfully referenced their feigned intimacy at the hall, causing a flustered Li Chuyue to warn him not to cross a line before they were married. He reassured her, explaining he was staying behind to protect her, as Zhou Wei might try to abduct her and he was "too lazy" to stage another rescue. Touched, she called him a gentleman.

At Black Eagle Hall, a furious Zhou Wei ordered An Jingzhao killed by any means, noting that An Jingzhao's captive father, Lord An Chenghu, remained useful leverage. Meanwhile, An Jingzhao's mother declared they must rescue Lord An Chenghu before Zhou Wei could use him against them. In Lord An's room, Zhou Wei claimed a new medicine was causing him to lose control of his inner force during nightmares, leading to self-harm.

As "proof," Zhou Wei showed an injury on his own arm and proceeded to lock the Lord’s hands and feet for his "safety." After Zhou Wei left, An Jingzhao, who had been hiding, emerged but found the chains too strong to break. Convinced An Jingzhao was in danger, Li Chuyue brandished a sword and forced Donghua to take her and Li Chuyang to the back mountain, bringing a meteorite for protection.

There, An Jingzhao was confronted by masked guards led by his former subordinate, Li Qing, who had orders from Zhou Wei to capture him dead or alive. An Jingzhao accused Li Qing of betrayal, but Li Qing replied that a wise man submits to circumstances. As Li Chuyue’s group arrived, An Jingzhao was cornered at a cliff edge and shot by Li Qing, causing him to fall.

Below the cliff, a relieved Li Chuyang credited An Jingzhao with protecting them all during the fall. Seeing An Jingzhao wounded, a crying Li Chuyue reminded him of his promise to marry her and begged him not to die. Testing her, An Jingzhao asked if she truly liked him. She tearfully confessed her long-held affection, and he promised to marry her.

However, once he was sitting up, she playfully claimed she had only said it because she thought he was dying. It was then revealed that the arrow had been stopped by his Gold Silk Soft Armour, though his arm was still bleeding from the impact. Donghua applied medicine as the sky darkened. An Jingzhao admitted he had exaggerated his injury to elicit her confession, and when he asked if her feelings were real, she quietly affirmed they were.

Episode 15 Recap

Li Qing reported to the Second Lord that An Jingzhao had been shot with a poisonous arrow smeared with Soul-seizing Powder and had fallen off a cliff, with no possibility of survival. The Second Lord, satisfied but still demanding to see a body, allowed Li Qing to reunite with his family. Li Qing, acknowledging he had betrayed his master and could no longer be accepted by Yuwei Hall, pledged his loyalty to the Second Lord to ensure his family's safety.

Despite the report, the Second Lord remained uneasy because An Jingzhao's body was missing. He suspected An Jingzhao might still be alive and, on his subordinate's advice, planned to use An Jingling as bait to lure him out. Meanwhile, An Jingzhao, in the modern world, sensed that Ling was in danger and decided he had to return to Yunwei Villa. He instructed Donghua to take Chuyue and her brother to safety, insisting on facing the peril alone.

Back at Yunwei Villa, news of an impending attempt on An Jingling's life was spread, just as the Second Lord intended, hoping to draw An Jingzhao into a trap. However, the Madam outmaneuvered him. She revealed that the would-be assassin was actually her own man, sent to foil the Second Lord's plot. She confronted the Second Lord, accusing him of moving to harm Ling while An Jingzhao's fate was still unknown.

The Second Lord feigned innocence, claiming his men were there to protect Ling, but the Madam saw through his lies and dismissed him. Later, the Madam met with a concealed An Jingzhao, who was suffering from the Cold Ice Toxin. She gave him a special mind technique to help him expel the poison over the next 100 days and confirmed she had seen through the Second Lord's transparent scheme.

An Jingzhao then showed her a totem from the Iron Rope King Kong chain that the Second Lord used to imprison his father. The Madam recognized it as the symbol of the legitimate disciples of the evil sect, a mark believed to have vanished decades ago after the death of an elder named Yueming. She explained that the seemingly unbreakable chain could only be destroyed by a sacred object belonging to one of these disciples.

An Jingzhao recalled seeing a sword engraved with the character "Ming" in Chuyue's world and realized it might be the legendary Yueming Sword. Determined to rescue his father, he resolved to return to the modern world to find it. He asked the Madam to seek protection from the highly respected Maestro Xuanfeng to deter the Second Lord in his absence. They agreed to communicate on a stormy day and that she would distract the Second Lord upon his return.

In the modern world, Chuyang introduced Donghua to marvels like a refrigerator and Coca-Cola. Donghua, initially baffled by a television, called it a "human box" and wondered what magic was used to trap people inside. As planned, An Jingzhao returned during a thunderstorm. Chuyue was emotional upon seeing him but, feigning indifference, pushed him away and declared she would never forgive him. An Jingzhao promised not to make her worry again.

Shortly after, he felt dizzy from his poison, prompting Donghua to check on him. Recognizing the symptoms of the Cold Ice Palm, An Jingzhao urged Donghua not to tell Chuyue about his condition. Back at Yunwei Villa, the Second Lord convened a meeting to consolidate his power, citing the vacant leadership positions. An elder chief challenged his authority, accusing him of expelling other chiefs without proper discussion.

The Second Lord defended his actions, claiming those chiefs were plotting against the villa. When the chief argued that the Madam and Ling should be consulted, Ling appeared, feigning severe illness. He publicly entrusted all villa affairs to the Second Lord, effectively silencing the opposition. With support from allies like the Chief of Ziyun Hall, the Second Lord officially took control.

An Jingzhao set a trap to acquire the Yueming Sword, using a photo of a rare jade pendant as bait to lure out its current owners. After receiving a message to trade, he instructed Donghua to go without Chuyue due to the danger. However, Chuyue overheard and insisted on coming, convinced she was the only one capable of handling the "swindlers." At a park, they met the antique dealer, Hu Zi.

Chuyue took charge, bluffing and provoking Hu Zi by questioning his expertise and boasting about her "boss's" immense wealth. Her stalling made Hu Zi suspicious, and he ordered his men to seize Donghua and Chuyang's father as hostages. Just then, An Jingzhao appeared, warning them not to touch Chuyue.

As Hu Zi demanded the payment before releasing the hostages, Chuyang and his father, who had been part of the plan, created a diversion, allowing their group to overpower Hu Zi's men and secure the Yueming Sword in the chaos. Weakened by the exertion and his Cold Ice Palm poison, An Jingzhao collapsed. Chuyue rushed to his side, frantic with worry. Donghua began to explain that he was afflicted by the Cold Ice Palm, but An Jingzhao cut him off.

Furious that he had hidden his condition from her again, Chuyue declared that his health was no longer her concern. An Jingzhao tried to explain he only did it to spare her from worry, while Donghua reminded them that his poison was aggravated by cold wind. Asserting that he would not die, An Jingzhao was helped away to rest and recover.

Episode 16 Recap

Chuyue discovered An Jingzhao had collapsed and, despite initially accusing him of feigning illness, quickly became genuinely concerned for his well-being. An Jingzhao, having secretly used a special internal cultivation method taught by his grandmother, claimed to be fine but cold, subtly asking for her help. Chuyue then prepared soup, instructing Li Chuyang to deliver it to An Jingzhao. When An Jingzhao later confronted Chuyue, asking if she wanted him to leave, she confirmed it directly.

An Jingzhao immediately feigned illness again, collapsing to the ground and prompting Chuyue to reluctantly help him back inside. Once in bed, An Jingzhao refused the soup, stating he only wanted fruit, which Chuyue then fetched for him. An Jingzhao apologized for withholding information, explaining that he feared she would worry, but Chuyue retorted that he understood nothing and that she didn't want to see him. Elsewhere, Zhou Wei was busy consolidating his power.

He dictated a letter to the Beiming Sect, promising them half of the Yunwei Villa if they helped him stage a fake elimination of an evil sect to secure his position as Lord. He secretly planned to turn this fake show into a real one once he gained control. His subordinates reported that An Jingzhao's whereabouts remained unknown after falling off the cliff, leading them to believe he was dead.

They also updated him on An Jingling's condition, who was bedridden after being struck by the Cold Ice Palm. Zhou Wei decided to visit An Jingling. Meanwhile, An Jingling gazed at Chuyue's portrait, longing to see her and worried about her safety. He quickly composed himself upon learning of Zhou Wei’s visit. During their meeting, Zhou Wei feigned concern for An Jingling’s injury, offering to help with the healing.

An Jingling, however, declined the offer, having been taught a method by his elder brother, An Jingzhao, to disrupt his own heartbeat. This made his condition appear more severe than it truly was, allowing him to deceive Zhou Wei. After leaving, Zhou Wei ordered his men to surround the Chongyue Pavilion and spread news that the Madam was critically ill from grief over An Jingzhao's death.

He intended to use her precarious health to further his plot: either she would die of natural causes, leaving him blameless, or the news would lure An Jingzhao out if he was still alive. Chuyue was delighted to learn her design had passed the second round of the New Apparel Designer Competition.

Her teacher, Ms. Qiao, informed her that she had half a month to prepare her design for the final and provided an ancient, intricately embroidered fabric piece to inspire her. Later, An Jingzhao found Chuyue and explained his actions. He clarified that he had received intelligence about Zhou Wei's intent to harm An Jingling, necessitating his fake death plan to lower Zhou Wei's guard.

An Jingzhao apologized for keeping secrets, but Chuyue expressed that her true anger stemmed from his lack of communication, stating she wanted to face dangers alongside him, not be shielded from them. Reconciled, An Jingzhao promised they would face everything together from then on. He also updated her on his full recovery from the Cold Ice Palm injury, thanks to his grandmother's cultivation method.

He then revealed his plan to return to Yunwei Villa the next day during a thunderstorm to rescue An Jingling and the Madam. Donghua then interjected, observing how An Jingzhao had transformed from a pure young man into a doting partner since meeting Chuyue, urging her to forgive him.

An Jingzhao then presented Chuyue with a thoughtful gift: an assortment of Yunwei Villa snacks he had personally made, a photo of her at five, recalling her childhood dream of eating every kind of snack, and a blank book, inviting her to fill it with their shared experiences, symbolizing their eternal togetherness. The Madam discreetly dispatched a letter to Master Xuanfeng at Qixia Mountain, instructing her messenger to exercise extreme caution due to Zhou Wei's pervasive spies.

Moments later, Zhou Wei himself entered, dropping all pretense and presenting the Madam with a choice. Her only request before dying was to see her son, Chenghu. Zhou Wei permitted it, and the Madam, heartbroken by Chenghu's unwell appearance, tearfully implored him not to trust Zhou Wei, exposing his treacherous ambition to seize the villa. Zhou Wei promptly cut their reunion short and had her removed.

The Madam’s final request was to hold a ritual for An Jingzhao on the seventh day after his supposed death, which Zhou Wei granted. Unbeknownst to Zhou Wei, this was part of an elaborate counter-plan: the Madam arranged for her reliable people to infiltrate the priest's disciples who would be sent to Lingxiao Yard for the ritual.

These infiltrators would deliberately act suspiciously to make Zhou Wei believe An Jingzhao was alive and likely to appear there, thus diverting his attention. Zhou Wei's men intercepted a decoy letter from the Madam to Master Xuanfeng, which she had intentionally let them find while secretly sending the real one.

As the Madam commenced the ritual, Zhou Wei's vigilant men reported the suspicious behavior of the disciples at Lingxiao Yard, leading Zhou Wei to believe An Jingzhao was indeed alive and hiding there. He confronted the Madam, pressuring her to make a choice. However, Master Xuanfeng unexpectedly arrived, explaining his presence as a debt to An Jingzhao, who had once saved his life. Realizing he'd been tricked, Zhou Wei panicked.

Fearing that Master Xuanfeng discovering the Madam's demise at his hands would undermine his claim to the Lordship, Zhou Wei quickly ordered his men to conceal their preparations, feigned the Madam’s recovery, and swiftly departed. Shortly after, Zhou Wei's men reported unusual activity at the Lord's residence, prompting Zhou Wei to investigate. Inside, An Jingzhao was freeing his father, the Lord, from restraints. The Lord was disoriented, having forgotten much.

An Jingzhao explained that Zhou Wei had administered mind-altering drugs to manipulate him. The Lord initially disbelieved, defending Zhou Wei as his life-saving comrade. An Jingzhao adamantly countered that Zhou Wei was a former evil sect member who infiltrated the villa with the sole ambition of usurpation, recounting Zhou Wei's repeated attempts to harm him and crediting Dr. Luo for his father's recovery.

As Zhou Wei's men closed in, the Lord unexpectedly led An Jingzhao to a secret tunnel, insisting that An Jingzhao leave alone, as his own weakened condition would only be a hindrance. He assured An Jingzhao he could protect himself and that An Jingzhao should return once his plans were set. Reluctantly, An Jingzhao complied. In her own world, Chuyue fretted over An Jingzhao’s safety.

Later, when An Jingling asked Chuyue where she had been, she responded with only a cryptic smile. An Jingzhao then joined them, lightheartedly offering to find An Jingling a wife, a suggestion Chuyue eagerly supported. An Jingling, however, muttered self-deprecatingly that it was "impossible" for him. Before departing on his mission, An Jingzhao asked Chuyue to wait for him at home, but recalling their promise, she insisted on accompanying him. An Jingzhao conceded, on the condition that she remain by his side at all times, to which Chuyue happily consented.

Episode 17 Recap

After sensing An Jingzhao’s presence in his room, Zhou Wei ordered an attack, but An Jingzhao, having anticipated this, had already fled. Zhou Wei was led to believe An Jingzhao was dead. The Madam sheltered the escaped An Jingzhao, who checked on Jingling. Jingling confirmed that the breath-holding technique An Jingzhao taught him successfully deceived Zhou Wei into thinking he was afflicted by the Cold Ice Palm.

An Jingzhao reassured the Madam that with Master Xuanfeng aware of her well-being, Zhou Wei would hesitate to harm her directly. However, anticipating covert plots, he arranged for guards at Chongyue Pavilion and gave her an invisible ink pen from Chuyang for emergency contact. The Madam urged An Jingzhao to use the belief in his death as an opportunity to counter-attack. Meanwhile, to prevent Chuyue from returning to danger, Donghua stole her meteorite.

He informed Chuyang that he was returning to Yunwei Villa and, citing An Jingzhao's orders to protect Chuyue, asked Chuyang to hide the meteorite from her. Though hesitant to take his sister’s treasure, Chuyang agreed. The next morning, Chuyue discovered the meteorite was missing and confronted Donghua just as he was about to leave. She demanded its return, desperate to get back to the injured An Jingzhao.

As they argued over his refusal, a thunderstorm erupted, transporting Chuyue back to Shangyu. An Jingzhao was shocked to see Chuyue, admonishing her for coming to such a dangerous place. She explained that after receiving his blood-stained clothes, she feared she would never see him again. When Jingling asked why he hadn't seen Chuyue the day before, An Jingzhao quickly claimed the bad weather had kept them inside.

He then tried to playfully set Jingling up with a girl, but Jingling despondently replied that it was impossible for him. An Jingzhao prepared to infiltrate the Devil's Cave, leaving Donghua to protect Chuyue, but she insisted on accompanying him, reminding him of their promise to never be separated. He relented, explaining their target was a branch of the Evil Sect led by the formidable Hongfei. Their goal was to secure a letter of collusion from Zhou Wei to her.

Arriving at the location, they saw a maid being reprimanded. An Jingzhao neutralized another maid, allowing Chuyue to don her uniform and act as a lookout while he and Jingling searched Hongfei’s room. When Hongfei returned sooner than expected, Chuyue urged the others to hide, promising to stall the leader. Disguised as a maid, Chuyue approached Hongfei, professing admiration and a desire to serve her.

To gain her trust, Chuyue offered Hongfei a special scented lotion she claimed had seductive powers. As Hongfei considered the gift, a report came that her private bathtub had been destroyed. This diversion, created by Jingling, revealed Chuyue’s ruse and gave An Jingzhao the opening to grab Chuyue and escape. They failed to secure the letter, but a separate scene revealed Zhou Wei had successfully received Hongfei’s reply, confirming their alliance.

Bai Zhi confronted Zhou Wei, returning his gifts and accusing him of orchestrating An Jingzhao's fall from the cliff while posing as her caring godfather. She declared him her enemy. Seeing her determination, Zhou Wei dismissed her, confident that his ascension to Lord was imminent. Elsewhere, Zhou Wei blackmailed Chief Li, whose family he held hostage, into murdering the members of righteous sects Zhuyin Pavilion and Qingning Nunnery.

He had Bingqin teach Chief Li the deadly Cold Ice Palm to carry out the massacres. Zhou Wei’s subordinate noted that with the blame pinned on the Evil Sect, Zhou Wei could volunteer to eliminate them at the upcoming Martial Arts Gathering and earn the respect of the entire martial world. At the gathering, Zhou Wei successfully incited the crowd against the Evil Sect. The other leaders goaded Jingling, as the sole remaining heir, into accepting the dangerous mission.

Jingling received a secret message from his mother urging him to flee, as Zhou Wei intended for him to be killed. However, feeling that no one cared for him and that a relationship with Chuyue was impossible, Jingling resolved to face his fate. He led a group to confront Hongfei, who mocked him as An Chenghu’s "least valued son" and far inferior to his "dead" brother. Enraged, Jingling charged but was swiftly defeated.

An Jingzhao appeared just in time to save him. Chuyue tended to the injured Jingling, criticizing Hongfei’s cruelty. A doctor who brought medicine also remarked on Jingling’s weakness compared to An Jingzhao. Chuyue defended Jingling, stating that his talents were in literature, not combat, and advised him to ignore the critics. Touched, Jingling offered to carve a wooden sculpture for her. Chuyue requested a koi fish, wishing for wealth for herself and "abundant romantic opportunities" for him, a modern phrase that left Jingling baffled.

Episode 18 Recap

While making wooden carvings with An Jingling, Chuyue learned from An Jingzhao that unfamiliar terms she had heard, like "peach blossom luck," were part of the Hanshui Sect's official dialect. An Jingzhao brought her a sugar figurine and some koi he had purchased for her. Chuyue then attempted to roast a fish for them, but it was visibly burnt. Despite this, An Jingzhao insisted it was delicious.

When Chuyue offered it to Donghua, he declined, quipping that he was already full from watching their affectionate display. An Jingzhao then instructed Donghua to discreetly escort An Jingling back, ensuring they were not seen by Zhou Wei's men. Meanwhile, a subordinate informed Zhou Wei that An Jingling had returned severely injured after recuperating at a villager's home, and that rumors were spreading about his incompetence.

Seeing his opportunity to make a move, Zhou Wei decided to use the Evil Sect as a means to eliminate the Madam. Zhou Wei approached the Madam, informing her that he had donated incense on her behalf for a blessing event at Chonghua Temple and offered to escort her there. She declined, preferring to pray for An Jingzhao at Chongyue Pavilion. Zhou Wei then threatened her, suggesting her attendant, Qin, go in her place dressed in fine clothes.

When the Madam accused him of going too far, he warned her to cooperate if she wanted to protect her people. Later, as instructed by An Jingzhao, Chuyue waited alone. The Madam was ambushed by assassins claiming to be from the Evil Sect. Chuyue intervened, impersonating the Evil Sect Lord, Hongfei, to buy time. Just as her ruse was about to be exposed, An Jingzhao arrived and saved them.

He praised Chuyue's quick thinking and advised his grandmother to take refuge with Master Xuanfeng, to whom he had already sent a letter. An Jingzhao tasked Chuyue with escorting the Madam to safety while he carried out the next phase of his plan: allowing Zhou Wei to believe his assassination plot had succeeded, giving him a pretext to attack the Evil Sect. An Jingzhao revealed he had deliberately let two of Zhou Wei's men escape to report back.

At the villa, Zhou Wei announced that the Madam had been murdered by the Evil Sect, inciting outrage and rallying the disciples to his cause. He declared he would lead an expedition to eradicate the Evil Sect and would not return until it was done, leaving a trusted subordinate in charge. After his departure, Bai Zhi forced her way into Lingxiao Yard to mourn An Jingzhao.

There, she renounced her ties to Zhou Wei, vowing he would never again use her poisons or her sect's secret training grounds. Elsewhere, An Jingzhao's informant confirmed that Zhou Wei's attack on the Evil Sect was a sham to build prestige before seizing power. Recognizing the time was right, An Jingzhao prepared to rescue his father with An Jingling, instructing Donghua to stay and protect Chuyue.

Concerned that Bai Zhi knew too much, Zhou Wei ordered his men to prevent her from leaving the villa. She was soon cornered, but Li Qing intervened and saved her, stating he was merely following orders. Concurrently, An Jingling attempted to crack the code on a mobile phone. An Jingzhao joined him, stating that with Zhou Wei about to make his move, it was the perfect time to rescue their imprisoned father, An Chenghu.

Meanwhile, Zhou Wei visited An Chenghu, gloating about his impending takeover. He bitterly recounted their shared past, accusing An Chenghu of betraying him by naming his son as heir. He boasted of killing An Chenghu's eldest son and derided the second as a coward, promising to "send off" An Chenghu soon. An Jingling successfully rescued his father. When guards were alerted, Bai Zhi created a diversion, allowing them to escape.

She later asked An Jingling if An Jingzhao was still alive, suspecting he had sent the expert who saved her. An Jingling dismissed her claim as wishful thinking. Realizing she had been used by Zhou Wei, Bai Zhi decided to return to Fengnuan Pavilion for solitary cultivation and future revenge. An Jingzhao, after sending his father to join the Madam at Master Xuanfeng's, learned from Zhou Wei's men that Chuyue had been found alone.

Hearing this, Zhou Wei declared that with Chuyue in his grasp, An Jingzhao's fate was irrelevant. He then appeared before a captured Chuyue, ominously telling her that her time had come. Zhou Wei returned to the villa to a hero's welcome, with disciples urging him to take leadership. He claimed the ailing An Chenghu had wished for this, but An Jingzhao suddenly appeared, challenging his authority. To everyone's astonishment, An Chenghu then walked in, fully recovered.

He exposed Zhou Wei's treachery, revealing the "King Kong Iron Chain"—a weapon exclusive to the Evil Sect—that Zhou Wei had used to imprison him. An Chenghu also produced a letter proving Zhou Wei's collusion with the sect. Enraged, Zhou Wei confessed to poisoning An Chenghu and orchestrating the attacks on the Madam and An Jingzhao. An Chenghu revealed that An Jingzhao had found the renowned Doctor Luo in time to save him.

As An Chenghu declared his intent to "clean house," Zhou Wei defiantly ordered his men to seize them. At this critical moment, Li Qing revealed he was An Jingzhao's double agent. An Jingzhao had saved his family, and Li Qing had only pretended to serve Zhou Wei. He confessed that poisoning An Chenghu was part of An Jingzhao's plan to gain Zhou Wei's trust, which was then leveraged to help An Jingzhao feign his own death and expose the conspiracy.

It was also revealed that Zhou Wei had been secretly training an elite force at Bai Zhi's Fengnuan Pavilion. Overwhelmed with guilt, Bai Zhi regretted her unknowing complicity. As An Jingzhao confronted Zhou Wei, a subordinate rushed in to report that Chuyue was missing. An Jingzhao furiously demanded to know where she was. Zhou Wei sneered that he had killed her that morning, as easily as swatting a mosquito, prompting An Jingzhao to press him intensely for the truth.

Episode 19 Recap

An Jingzhao was about to kill Zhou Wei, who revealed that if he died, Li Chuyue would be killed by a specific time. He warned An Jingzhao that he would never see her again. An Jingzhao immediately agreed to spare Zhou Wei in exchange for Li Chuyue's location. Upon learning she was at Yunwu Mountain, An Jingzhao rushed there. Meanwhile, a servant, seeing the deadline approaching, sharpened his knife to execute Li Chuyue.

To save herself, Li Chuyue bluffed that she had poisoned his wine with her unique Black Death Poison, which required an antidote within the hour. She pointed to powder on his palm as "evidence." Terrified, the servant untied her to get the antidote. Just as he did, An Jingzhao arrived. The servant begged for the antidote, and Li Chuyue jokingly told him to eat dirt.

After An Jingzhao dismissed the servant, Li Chuyue explained she had only tricked him after noticing some powder already on his hand. An Jingzhao praised her resourcefulness. Back at the villa, An Chenghu announced that with the traitors eliminated, An Jingzhao would manage all affairs during his recovery. He also declared that vacant steward positions would be filled through talent competitions to cultivate new talent, with the first being mounted archery.

Li Chuyue encouraged An Jingling to participate in the archery contest, as he had practiced it since childhood. After he skillfully hit a target, a piece of paper fell from his sleeve. He quickly snatched it back before Li Chuyue could see it. Later, An Jingling borrowed a horse from An Jingzhao to officially enter the competition, surprising his father, An Chenghu, who knew he was usually uninterested in such activities.

During the competition, both An Jingzhao and An Jingling performed exceptionally, leading to a tie-breaking round. However, An Jingling's horse stumbled, causing him to fall. An Jingzhao was also thrown from his horse while trying to save his brother. An Chenghu harshly scolded An Jingling for his recklessness and for injuring An Jingzhao, calling him useless.

Li Chuyue defended An Jingling, arguing that his literary and artistic skills were also valuable talents and that the villa needed diverse abilities to prosper. An Jingzhao was summoned by his father before he could visit An Jingling, so Li Chuyue went alone. She found An Jingling hiding a portrait he was painting. Seeing it was of her, she reassured the shy An Jingling by praising his work's artistic conception, which others in the villa might not understand.

She told him that in her hometown, his talent and charm would make him highly sought after. When An Jingling mentioned he had been to her supposed hometown, Furong Town, she clarified that she had left there as a child and grew up somewhere very different. Observing him struggling with the villa's complex ledgers, Li Chuyue taught him a simpler, modern numerical system, which deepened his curiosity about her origins.

Elsewhere, Hongfei, the new Lord of the Evil Sect, conferred with a subordinate. They were searching for Li San, a former servant of Elder Yueming, who might know the location of the Art of Starshift. The subordinate also reported that Zhou Wei, who had allied with them, had been exposed as a traitor by Yunwei Villa, causing the martial world's hatred for their sect to intensify due to the misdeeds Zhou Wei had committed in their name.

Hongfei dismissed Zhou Wei as a deceitful villain and, rejecting the idea of avenging the former lord whom she believed deserved his fate for practicing dark magic, ordered her followers to strengthen their defenses while she continued her search. Later, at a tavern, she intervened when men from the Qingling Sect harassed the owner, swiftly defeating them with her Nine Poisons Whip.

The next day, An Jingling excelled in the accounting test, completing the complex task quickly and flawlessly using the new method. Impressed, An Chenghu instructed him to assist An Jingzhao. Meanwhile, word spread about the Evil Sect's provocations, and various sects asked An Jingzhao, who had defeated the previous lord, to procure the antidote for the agonizing Nine Poisons Whip. An Jingzhao volunteered to go to the Evil Sect himself. After the test, Li Chuyue praised An Jingling's talent.

Encouraged, he showed her the portrait of her again. Misinterpreting his shyness, she thought he had a crush on someone else and urged him to confess, assuring him that a charming and talented person like him would surely be accepted. Taking her words to heart, An Jingling asked if she truly believed he deserved all good things, and she sincerely affirmed it. Proud of his success, An Jingling visited his confined mother.

She dismissed his achievement, warning that An Chenghu and An Jingzhao would eventually dispose of him like they did Zhou Wei. An Jingling defended his brother, recalling how An Jingzhao had saved him during the archery competition. His mother planted a seed of doubt, suggesting the fall was no accident and urging him to speak with the horse breeder.

The breeder, secretly manipulated by the mother, told An Jingling the horse's shoe was deliberately nailed improperly, which would guarantee a fall. He also claimed that An Jingzhao, being an expert equestrian, would have known. An Jingling felt deeply betrayed, believing An Jingzhao had orchestrated the event to humiliate him and make himself look heroic. His suspicion hardened into certainty when he overheard a conversation between An Jingzhao and Li Chuyue.

An Jingzhao expressed jealousy over her closeness with An Jingling, and Li Chuyue firmly reassured him, stating that An Jingling was only a brother to her and there would never be any romantic possibility between them. Hearing this, a devastated An Jingling became convinced that An Jingzhao was a hypocrite who had stolen everything from him.

Determined to seize power and win Li Chuyue, he went to his mother and asked for a box she had mentioned, a family heirloom from her father. His mother, pleased that her scheme to turn her son against his brother was working, gave it to him. Filled with new ambition, An Jingling proposed a plan to his father. Stating he had researched the Nine Poisons Whip, he claimed the source of its toxins was in the Devil's Cave. He requested permission to go there with An Jingzhao to destroy the poisons and eliminate the threat. Impressed by his son's initiative, An Chenghu granted his request.

Episode 20 Recap

Donghua boasted about the successful secrecy of his recent plans, but An Jingzhao retorted that Donghua now sounded just like Li Chuyang. As they prepared to leave, Li Chuyue, his Young Madam, appeared, insisting she would go wherever he went. An Jingzhao tried to dissuade her, explaining they were headed to the dangerous Devil's Cave and that their previous visit to retrieve a letter had already angered Hongfei, the Lord of the Evil Sect.

Unfazed, Li Chuyue playfully bound herself to An Jingzhao with a rope, reminding him that the knot tightens with struggle and that her quick thinking had been essential during their last mission. Seeing the rope chafing her wrist, a concerned An Jingzhao untied it. They then discussed Ling, An Jingzhao's younger brother, observing that he seemed more mature since a recent incident at the stud farm, speculating that their father had placed too high expectations on him.

An Jingzhao outlined his plan: he would distract Hongfei, Ling would sneak in to retrieve the antidote and destroy the Devil's Cave, and Donghua would serve as backup outside. Upon arriving at the Devil's Cave, they were met by Hongfei, who was still furious about their previous intrusion, the theft of her letter, and An Jingzhao's role in the death of her former Lord, vowing to settle all three grievances.

As they prepared to fight, Li Chuyue disarmed the situation by offering a surprising gesture: to restore the worn-out embroidery on Hongfei's beloved cloak. Intrigued, Hongfei agreed. Just then, An Jingzhao shattered a stone door to enter, demanding Hongfei release them. Li Chuyue quickly intervened, stopping the confrontation to protect her delicate "art restoration." At that moment, Ling appeared, having discovered a secret passage.

An Jingzhao and Li Chuyue entered, followed by a stunned Hongfei, who was astonished that a passage existed in her own domain without her knowledge. Suddenly, the cave began to collapse. Hongfei was caught in a rope trap, and Li Chuyue warned her that struggling would only make it tighter. As stones fell, Li Chuyue pushed Hongfei to safety, but was poisoned in the process. An Jingzhao immediately threatened Hongfei for the antidote.

However, Li Chuyue stopped him, appealing to Hongfei’s conscience instead. She explained she didn't regret saving her, reminding Hongfei of her desire to live and questioning why, after all the kindness she had shown—the gifts, the repaired embroidery, and saving her life—Hongfei still wanted her dead. Moved by her genuine plea, Hongfei's resolve softened. She provided the antidote and urged them to leave, later remarking to herself that she was growing fond of Li Chuyue.

Later, the Valley Lord of the Magic Flower Valley arrived at Yunwei Villa to visit Li Chuyue. After the villa guards, who labeled him as part of an "Evil Sect," were dismissed by An Jingzhao, the Valley Lord and Li Chuyue had a joyful reunion. He brought samples of exquisite flower-dyed fabric, promising to deliver an even more spectacular fabric dyed from the rare "Ghost Lotus" in half a month. Excited, Li Chuyue began planning a new clothing design.

When she suggested inviting Ling to see the fabrics, Taoyun informed her that he had been reclusive lately. Meanwhile, Ling used Li Chuyue’s modern device and realized a map on it depicted a place that was not Shangyu.

His subordinate returned from the Hanshui Sect with a crucial report: the real Han Wanqing, who has a peach-heart shaped birthmark on her arm, was last seen in Qingluo Dock, taken by a trafficker with a mole, a round nose, and burn scars on his left arm. Deducing the burn scars meant the man was likely a cook, Ling dispatched his men to search taverns and restaurants in Qingluo Dock.

His goal was to find the real Han Wanqing and invalidate Li Chuyue's status as the Young Madam. Li Chuyue, pressured by a design deadline, searched for skilled embroiderers. Unsatisfied with the villa’s collection, An Jingzhao’s grandmother suggested they travel south to search. Simultaneously, Ling's plan progressed. His men found the trafficker, who confirmed he had sold a group of girls, including one with the described birthmark, to major sects as maids ten years ago.

Ling obtained the villa's maid registry but, knowing a birthmark is private, devised a new plan. He drew a picture of the heart-shaped birthmark and, leveraging Li Chuyue's ongoing search for embroidery talent among the maids, announced that any woman with a similar mark could claim a reward. During this time, Taoyun asked Ling why Li Chuyue sometimes called herself "Mommy." Ling explained it meant "mother," suggesting Li Chuyue deeply wished for a child of her own.

Taoyun relayed this to An Jingzhao, who was moved and vowed to have a child with Li Chuyue. He resolved to tell his father, An Chenghu, that he would marry Li Chuyue for who she is, not as a substitute for Han Wanqing. However, when he broached the subject, An Chenghu revealed he already knew everything.

He had a letter from the Hanshui Sect confirming that the real Han Wanqing had been found and was none other than their own maid, Taoyun. An Chenghu declared the marriage to Li Chuyue void and, citing a life debt to Taoyun's late father, ordered An Jingzhao to marry Taoyun. An Jingzhao vehemently refused, professing his love for Li Chuyue. The ensuing argument caused his father's old illness to relapse.

Ling soon learned that Taoyun, despite her new identity, refused to marry An Jingzhao, not wanting to be "the other woman" and ruin her friend's happiness. Seeing an opportunity, Ling decided to use Pockface Wang, a man known to be close to Taoyun, to persuade her. He instructed a subordinate to find Wang and prepare a payment, anticipating that his father would soon confront Li Chuyue directly.

Episode 21 Recap

Rumors circulated among the servants that the Hanshui Sect's recent decline made a marriage between Taoyun and An Jingzhao a favorable arrangement for their stability. Since Taoyun was the true Han Wanqing, the union would bring the prestige of Yunwei Villa to the Hanshui Sect. Chuyue overheard these discussions and rushed to find An Jingzhao.

Donghua, An Jingzhao's subordinate, later confirmed to him that he had instructed staff not to tell Chuyue, as An Jingzhao feared her anger and wanted to resolve the matter himself. Donghua also reported that Jingling, An Jingzhao's younger brother, had given Chuyue a handmade hairpin, commenting on his manipulatively coy behavior. Chuyue confronted An Jingzhao, who confirmed that Taoyun was indeed Han Wanqing.

When she asked if he was going to marry Taoyun, An Jingzhao vehemently denied it, but Chuyue pointed out the servants were already talking about it. As she turned to leave, An Jingzhao embraced her, declaring she was the only one he loved and intended to marry. He reassured her that he had not agreed to the marriage, attributing the rumors to gossip within the large villa, and asked her to trust him to resolve the matter with his father.

Later, An Jingzhao and Chuyue were summoned to a family banquet by An Chenghu, An Jingzhao's father. An Jingzhao's attempt to decline was overruled. At the banquet, An Chenghu introduced Taoyun as the "true Young Madam" of Yunwei Villa, asserting that their marriage was the best outcome in the turbulent martial arts world. An Jingzhao voiced his dissent to his father and urged Chuyue to leave, promising to handle the situation.

As Chuyue departed, she told a concerned Taoyun that she was going to find embroidery. An Jingzhao followed Chuyue, concerned about the dangers of her traveling alone as his wife. Chuyue retorted that she was his "ex" at most, but An Jingzhao insisted she would always be his wife. They arrived at the valley where Chief Han, Taoyun’s brother, had disappeared two days prior. Ye Kong, Chief Han's disciple, explained that none of them could descend the perilous cliff.

An Jingzhao resolved to investigate, and after Chuyue insisted on helping her friend, he allowed her to accompany him. Inside the dark, booby-trapped area, An Jingzhao confessed the proposed marriage was his father's idea and that he didn't need a "helpful wife," only her, his life's sole love and source of courage. They found Chief Han, alive but stripped of his martial arts skills.

He recounted being attacked by a masked man who used the "Art of Starshift," a long-lost technique, to absorb his power. Back at the cliff top, An Jingzhao noticed a strange scent on Chief Han. After an incense burner yielded no clues, Chuyue discovered a hidden pouch of "Dissolving Bone Powder" in the lining of his garment, revealing a mole within the Hanshui Sect. She also spotted fresh red "raw lacquer" on the sleeve, a new clue.

Chief Han ordered an investigation into places that sold the poison and also dealt in lacquerware. An Jingzhao then asked Chief Han to cancel the marriage, explaining that neither he nor Taoyun wished for it. Chief Han agreed. Later, An Jingzhao reiterated his refusal to Taoyun, who admitted she only considered it to protect her sect. An Jingzhao promised to treat her as a sister and offer Yunwei Villa's full support.

Jingling offered to help An Jingzhao practice martial arts by reciting the formulas, to which An Jingzhao agreed, telling his brother he could have anything except his beloved. During the practice, Jingling deliberately recited an incorrect move. An Jingzhao then instructed his subordinate, A Qing, to lure Taoyun to his location, claiming Chuyue wanted to meet her there. Shortly after, An Jingzhao felt dizzy and collapsed, embracing the arriving Taoyun while mistaking her for Chuyue.

Chuyue witnessed the scene, and despite An Jingzhao’s attempts to explain his sudden confusion, she left heartbroken. Chuyue traveled north to find the embroidery master Ju Wutang. Lacking funds, she worked at a teahouse to earn money for information and learned Ju Wutang frequented a music house to see a musician named Yuege. Meanwhile, An Jingzhao recovered and, upon reviewing his martial arts manual, realized Jingling had recited the wrong formula, connecting it to his collapse. Learning of Chuyue's whereabouts, he set off for the music house.

Episode 22 Recap

An Jingzhao, recovering from a cultivation setback, privately reflects on his error: he inverted the mnemonic for the Profound Earth Sutra from "Left slash, right dragon" to "Left dragon, right slash," causing his meridians to reverse and inducing hallucinations. He reassures his subordinate, Donghua, that his condition is stable for the next forty hours.

Frustrated that a mole continually anticipates their moves, An Jingzhao learns the shop that sold the Dissolving Bone Powder has been found, but the owner has already fled. He devises a trap, instructing Donghua to tell Master Han to spread a false rumor: they have the seller in custody and will soon interrogate him to identify the buyer. An Jingzhao believes this will force the mole to act.

Instead of waiting, he decides to visit the Pleasure Pavilion to find his "wife," Li Chuyue, using the ruse of a leisurely outing to give the mole time to take the bait. Meanwhile, Li Chuyue arrives at the Pleasure Pavilion to inquire about a reclusive gentleman named Master Ju Wutang. The pavilion's performer, Yuege, initially claims to only be a singer, knowing nothing of the patrons. Sensing her disappointment, Li Chuyue requests a tragic love song.

This prompts Yuege to ask if she is heartbroken, confiding that the woman he loves—the beautiful and formidable Hongfei of the Evil Sect—has been missing for over a month. Li Chuyue, admitting she is also heartbroken, advises him to adopt a "play hard to get" strategy: stop appearing desperate, focus on his career to show he can thrive without her, and she will naturally return.

Impressed by her advice, Yuege provides her with Master Ju Wutang's address, mentioning his reclusive nature. An Ling, worried about Li Chuyue, finds her in the market just as An Jingzhao approaches. An Jingzhao attempts to explain that his meridians became disordered, causing him to hallucinate and mistake another woman, Taoyun, for her. Skeptical, Li Chuyue dismisses his story, but he kisses her to stop her from leaving.

He then reveals the mole is following them and asks her to feign affection with him to lull the culprit into a false sense of security. Observing from a distance, An Ling suspects An Jingzhao is faking his illness. He deliberately knocks over a rack of lanterns, forcing An Jingzhao to use his martial arts to protect Li Chuyue. This swift, powerful action confirms An Ling's suspicion that An Jingzhao has already recovered.

Furious at the deception, Li Chuyue leaves An Jingzhao, declaring she will never trust him again. She tries to visit Master Ju Wutang to learn about his embroidery techniques but is turned away by a servant. Later, An Jingzhao discovers masked assailants threatening Master Ju, demanding his finest embroidery. When Master Ju refuses to let his work be defiled, An Jingzhao intervenes, defeating the attackers.

As thanks, Master Ju offers him any of his creations, but An Jingzhao simply asks for a small favor instead. Elsewhere, An Ling's mother gives him a map left by his maternal grandfather that leads to the Art of Starshift, a legendary Evil Sect technique. She tells him that mastering this art, followed by the Profound Earth Sutra, will make him the most powerful martial artist and secure his position as Lord.

Concurrently, Donghua reports to An Jingzhao that their plan worked: the mole tried to silence their fake informant but escaped. Although Donghua failed to capture him, he identified the mole as a user of Hanshui Sect martial arts and marked him with tracking powder. To finalize their trap and also win back Li Chuyue, An Jingzhao organizes a celebration at the inn, announcing the prize for the pitch-pot game is a first-class embroidery by Master Ju Wutang.

At the celebration, Li Chuyue deliberately teams up with a delighted An Ling for the pitch-pot game, forcing An Jingzhao to partner with Master Han's sister, Wuanqing. Though An Ling and Li Chuyue initially lead, An Jingzhao effortlessly wins the competition and the embroidery. He promises to give the prize to Li Chuyue and arrange a personal lesson with Master Ju if she stays with him until the event ends.

He then explains the full truth: cultivating the Profound Earth Sutra requires a calm mind, and his mistake with the mnemonic not only reversed his meridians but also caused the hallucination where he mistook Taoyun for her. Finally understanding, Li Chuyue forbids him from practicing the dangerous technique or getting hurt again without her permission, which An Jingzhao takes as her forgiveness. During the feast, An Jingzhao reveals the mole's identity.

He explains they spread a false rumor about capturing the poison seller, baiting the true culprit, who is now marked with tracking powder. He exposes Ye Ming, Master Han's senior disciple. Master Han is devastated, but Ye Ming retorts that he was always overlooked in favor of his junior, Ye Kong, who was taught the sect's best techniques while Ye Ming was treated like a servant.

Master Han clarifies that he was waiting for Ye Ming's internal strength to mature before teaching him. Under pressure, Ye Ming confesses he was instigated by Hongfei of the Evil Sect, who promised to help him become sect leader in exchange for his help. Master Han orders Ye Ming to be imprisoned. With the truth revealed, An Jingzhao requests that his engagement to Master Han's sister be annulled.

Wuanqing confirms she does not wish to marry him, and Master Han agrees to inform the Lord. Li Chuyue apologizes for misunderstanding and running away. At that moment, An Jingzhao suffers another dizzy spell. When Donghua steps forward to help, Li Chuyue sharply stops him, stating she doesn't want An Jingzhao to mistake anyone else for her during his episodes. Looking at her, An Jingzhao promises it will never happen again.

Meanwhile, Hongfei confronts the imprisoned Ye Ming, demanding to know who took the Art of Starshift. As he begins to say "An. . ." , An Ling appears and fatally silences him. Hongfei gives chase, but An Ling escapes in the chaos.

Episode 23 Recap

After recovering from his injuries, An Jingzhao prepared to return to his father, eager to continue the search for the individual practicing the Art of Starshift. Chief Han, believing the witch Hongfei to be responsible for Senior Yueming’s death, impulsively sought revenge. An Jingzhao cautioned him, reminding him of Hongfei’s formidable skills and the unconfirmed identity of the true practitioner, taking on the responsibility to investigate the matter himself.

Meanwhile, Chuyue and Miss Han shared a farewell, with Chuyue expressing her desire to become an “emotionless money-making machine.” Later, Li San, caught sneaking around, was brought before An Jingzhao. He revealed that the Art of Starshift manual, which his master had hidden in a secret compartment within the cliff cave to prevent it from harming the martial arts world, had been stolen. He suspected An Jingzhao and his companions, as they were the only recent visitors to the cave.

However, others doubted Hongfei's involvement, believing her nature would preclude her from hiding such an act. During a stop for An Jingzhao to heal, Jingling used the pretext of fetching water to go outside. He then challenged An Jingzhao to a practice duel with a vine, during which he intentionally struck An Jingzhao and feigned it was an accident. Soon after, Hongfei appeared, accusing An Jingzhao of stealing the Art of Starshift and killing Yueming.

Chuyue bravely stepped forward to defend An Jingzhao’s integrity. Furious, Hongfei seized Chuyue, vowing to kill her if An Jingzhao did not return the manual by the next day. While held captive, Chuyue tried to ease the tension with Hongfei by suggesting they talk about "sisterly topics." She mentioned seeing Hongfei’s boyfriend, Yuege, which led to a lighthearted discussion where they rated Yuege and An Jingzhao's attributes.

Chuyue then pleaded with Hongfei to allow An Jingzhao inside to prove his innocence. Hongfei agreed, but forced Chuyue to consume a supposed poison, promising an antidote only if An Jingzhao's innocence was proven. When An Jingzhao arrived, Hongfei examined the mark on his shoulder and recognized it was not from her own Nine Poisons Whip. She apologized for her hasty accusations and vanished, telling Chuyue that she had given her a chance.

Chuyue then feigned discomfort, hinting at Hongfei’s earlier suggestion that intimacy would cure the poison. An Jingzhao, realizing there was no poison, dismissed her antics and urged they find a way out, but Chuyue revealed she already knew the exit and opened it. An Jingzhao later informed his father that Chief Han had recovered but lost his internal power. He also presented a letter from the chief breaking off the arranged marriage, as Miss Han was unwilling to proceed.

An Jingzhao then sought his father's permission to marry Chuyue. His father initially expressed reservations, noting Chuyue's lack of a sect background and her inability to assist in managing Yunwei Villa. An Jingzhao insisted he sought a loving wife, not an assistant, eventually convincing his father to agree on the condition that the marriage would take place only after the Art of Starshift practitioner was found.

Meanwhile, Jingling learned of the impending marriage and resolved to separate the couple by uncovering the secret of Chuyue’s hometown. He instructed a subordinate to follow Chuyue after she was overheard saying she needed to go home. Chuyue, having completed an intricate embroidery for a deadline, desperately needed a thunderstorm to return home and was advised to seek a weather forecast from the master of Tianyun Temple.

Jingling orchestrated a deception, instructing a subordinate to stage a body in the suburbs to appear as if injured by the Art of Starshift, successfully distracting An Jingzhao. Jingling then invited Chuyue to a celebratory dinner for her completed garment. Chuyue was delighted by a dessert resembling tiramisu and speculated the chef might be from her hometown. Jingling revealed he had specially requested it.

Chuyue playfully called Jingling her "brother from a previous life" and described her hometown as technologically advanced, promising to take him there someday. Later, under the influence of alcohol, Chuyue revealed to Jingling that her way home was a "magical passage" in her room, which she intended to use that very night. An Jingzhao arrived, interrupting her before she could say more. A tipsy Chuyue openly flirted with him, calling him a "peacock" that made her want to "sin."

An Jingzhao questioned Jingling about Chuyue’s excessive drinking, but Chuyue interjected, claiming she had wanted to drink. Jingling later brought hangover soup to Chuyue's room, apologizing to An Jingzhao and subtly observing the room's layout before leaving. Afterward, Jingling witnessed An Jingzhao and Chuyue kissing and, in a moment of possessiveness, declared Chuyue was "his." The next morning, Chuyue woke up distressed, realizing she had missed the thunderstorm and her submission deadline.

She prayed to the "Heavens" and the "Dragon King" for another storm. Her brother, Li Chuyang, acting as her guardian, personally delivered her artwork for her. On his way to school, Li Chuyang was questioned by an old man about how they arrived from Shangyu and about a jade pendant, claiming its owner possessed a stolen sword. Li Chuyang denied knowing anything and hurried off.

An Jingzhao was informed of a nun's body found at a relay station, seemingly injured by the Art of Starshift. Upon investigation, he observed no signs of struggle and concluded the nun was killed by a non-martial artist she knew, ruling out Hongfei. A disciple revealed the nun had left to meet an old friend after receiving a letter.

An old letter was found on the body, leading them to inquire about a woman named Fang Yue, whom the nun was going to meet. An Jingzhao learned that Fang Yue possessed a list of names relevant to the case but would not provide it unless he personally visited and demonstrated the Mingxiao Sword Technique, which he decided to do immediately. Separately, Jingling discussed martial arts with his mother, acknowledging he needed to master both "Strong Power" and "Neutral Power." His mother revealed that besides Tie Dalin of the Iron Fist Gang, the Valley Lord of the Magic Flower Valley also practiced "Strong Power," presenting a new target for Jingling.

Episode 24 Recap

Her Ladyship, An Jingling's mother, learned that An Jingzhao had found Fang Yue, the artisan who crafted certain letters. Panicked that a list of poetry club members held by Fang Yue would expose her past, she instructed her son, An Jingling, to intercept An Jingzhao on his return journey and seize the list. An Jingling assured his mother he would succeed. Later, An Jingzhao was found severely injured, having been attacked by An Jingling with the Art of Starshift.

An Chenghu treated him, explaining that An Jingzhao had suffered grave internal damage and lost half his inner force, with his survival now depending on his own will. A deeply worried Chuyue stayed by his side, urging him to wake up and reminding him of their future together. An Jingling suggested she pray for An Jingzhao's recovery at the Miaoyin Temple. At the temple, as Chuyue prayed fervently, a monk approached her.

He discerned that she was from another world due to her unique energy. This monk, secretly an actor hired by An Jingling, spun a tale of deception. He claimed that the conflicting energies between her and An Jingzhao, who was from the world of Shangyu, were causing a destructive backlash. He elaborated that their travel between worlds violated universal laws, leading to a gradual depletion of vitality for one of them.

He theorized that An Jingzhao's stronger vital energy caused him to absorb all the backlash alone, explaining his frequent injuries, slow recovery, and the risk of eventual death from energy depletion. Believing the lie, Chuyue became convinced her presence was the cause of An Jingzhao's suffering. Upon returning, Chuyue found An Jingzhao had awoken. He immediately spoke of leaving the martial arts world to travel with her once he recovered.

However, haunted by the monk's false prophecy, Chuyue announced she wanted to break up, claiming she was tired of a life filled with constant fighting and injury. When a disbelieving An Jingzhao pressed for the real reason, Chuyue, in a desperate attempt to protect him by pushing him away, cruelly stated that he was naive, that she had only been toying with him out of novelty, and was now sick of him.

The Madam comforted a heartbroken An Jingzhao, insisting Chuyue must have a hidden reason for her words. Meanwhile, Chuyue encountered An Jingling. She decided to visit the Magic Flower Valley to check on pigments with the Valley Lord, reasoning that staying away would be best until An Jingzhao recovered. An Jingling then suggested a scenic meeting place: the Whitehorse Peach Grove. An Jingzhao, learning of Chuyue's destination, ordered his men to protect her, convinced she still loved him.

At the Peach Grove, the Valley Lord was ambushed by an assailant using the Art of Starshift. Recognizing the technique and realizing Chuyue would be in danger if she arrived, he chose to fight back rather than escape, but was killed in the process. Chuyue arrived to find his body and tearfully vowed to avenge him.

News that the Valley Lord was killed by the Art of Starshift reached An Jingzhao, who also learned that a red soil-stained item, likely belonging to the killer, was found at the scene. Hearing that a distraught Chuyue was heading to the Zhuyin Pavilion for a meeting about the killer, he immediately set off to join her. At the Zhuyin Pavilion, martial arts leaders, including Chief Han and Zhu Maoqing, discussed the recent victims.

Chief Han accused Hongfei of being the culprit. Chuyue vehemently defended her, pointing out that the Valley Lord's palm-wound injuries were inconsistent with Hongfei's Nine Poisons Whip. An Jingzhao arrived and supported Chuyue, confirming he had fought both Hongfei and the real killer, and that the killer was a man with a different inner force.

He added that the Reverend Mother's death scene showed no signs of a struggle, suggesting she was ambushed with a sharp weapon by an acquaintance before her power was drained. Suddenly, Hongfei appeared, mocking the sects for their baseless accusations. As they moved to arrest her, An Jingzhao intervened. Bai Zhi, An Jingzhao's childhood friend, then arrived and sided with him, stating her Fengnuan Pavilion also opposed a hasty judgment.

Seeing Bai Zhi's familiar concern for An Jingzhao, Chuyue felt a pang of discomfort. Madam Lengmei proposed a compromise: Hongfei would be imprisoned, and An Jingzhao would have two days to find the true murderer. An Jingzhao accepted the seemingly impossible challenge. Later, Chuyue overheard that the pavilion master, Zhu Maoqing, might be planning to kill Hongfei in the specially-rigged dungeon. Unable to save Hongfei alone, she desperately sought An Jingzhao's help.

Still hurt, he questioned why he should help after she ended their relationship. He then revealed he possessed the meteorite, her only way home, and proposed a deal: if she obeyed his every command for seven days, he would agree to their breakup and let her go. Needing the meteorite and his help, Chuyue reluctantly agreed. At his demand, she feigned a cute plea and hugged him.

They then proceeded to the dungeon, which An Jingzhao explained was guarded by sound-triggered hidden weapons. As he led her through the traps, Bai Zhi discovered them, furiously declaring she would never allow them to be alone together again.

Episode 25 Recap

Bai Zhi approached Li Chuyue, confronting her for breaking An Jingzhao’s heart and declaring her own unwavering devotion, stating she would do anything for him. Li Chuyue wished them well, expressing that she would be relieved to see Bai Zhi by An Jingzhao's side. An Jingzhao then summoned Li Chuyue to hold a torch as they entered a prison.

There, they found Hongfei, who warned them that the vines holding her were linked to a trap; breaking them would cause the entire prison to collapse. While searching for the mechanism, Li Chuyue accidentally triggered it and nearly fell, but An Jingzhao saved her. He explained that two switches needed to be pressed simultaneously with perfect timing.

When Bai Zhi offered to help, An Jingzhao dismissed her, stating they lacked the necessary synchronicity and that only Li Chuyue could do it. With Li Chuyue's cooperation, they successfully disarmed the trap and escaped. On the surface, they were confronted by Zhu Maoqing, who accused An Jingzhao of colluding with the Evil Sect and deliberately freeing Hongfei. An Jingzhao retorted that he only acted because Zhu Maoqing had gone back on his word and tried to kill Hongfei.

Despite this, other martial arts leaders sided with Zhu Maoqing, agreeing that An Jingzhao should be confined until his father, the Villa Lord, arrived to handle the matter. Feeling weary, An Jingzhao told Li Chuyue to stay close to him. Back at their residence, Li Chuyue declared she would fight their way out if he wasn't freed, but An Jingzhao calmed her, insisting they focus on finding the real killer.

He then sarcastically remarked that since she no longer wanted to be the Young Madam, she could do chores, ordering her to make soup while asking Bai Zhi to help him to his room. Later, to provoke Li Chuyue, he insisted that Bai Zhi feed him the soup. Meanwhile, Li Chuyue’s brother, Li Chuyang, arrived from the modern world after finishing his summer homework.

He was shocked to see Bai Zhi tending to An Jingzhao and learned from Donghua that Li Chuyue had broken up with him, claiming she never truly loved him and was just toying with him. Li Chuyang, convinced his sister had a hidden motive, vowed to uncover the truth.

Later, he told his sister about a strange old man who knew An Jingzhao was from Yunwei Villa, speculating it could be the Elder Yueming An Jingzhao was searching for, but Li Chuyue refused to pass on the message. Bai Zhi asked Li Chuyang to teach her their "hometown dialect." He taught her modern slang like "laoshuai" (very handsome), which confused her.

Donghua clarified that prefixes like "lao" (old) or "si" (dead) could be used for emphasis, citing "sidang" (best friends) as an example. An Jingling, aware of Master Xuanfeng's severe internal injuries, plotted to absorb his water-attribute "Neutral Kung Fu" and frame Hongfei for it. Puzzled as to why a powerful martial artist like his brother would accept confinement, he continued his plan.

Bai Zhi brought An Jingzhao new clothes, and Li Chuyang commented that they looked like a "couple's outfit" and would make An Jingzhao look "very handsome." An Jingzhao did not put them on and instead spoke aloud of wanting to travel the world with Bai Zhi. Overhearing this, Li Chuyue sarcastically wished them to "get the certificate soon and have two in three years."

Li Chuyang mischievously explained to a confused Bai Zhi that this meant becoming sworn siblings and renewing the oath twice in three years. Bai Zhi rejected the idea and instead wished for An Jingzhao and Li Chuyue to have three children together. Determined to investigate, Li Chuyue snuck into An Jingzhao's room to get a soil sample but was caught. An Jingzhao teased that since she was "throwing herself into his arms," he wouldn't let her go.

Li Chuyue retorted flippantly, "It's just one night," causing a hurt An Jingzhao to walk away. Later, knowing An Jingzhao was listening, Li Chuyue pretended to talk in her sleep, first praising his handsome looks and great physique, but then callously stating she had grown tired of him and just wanted to go home. Deeply wounded, An Jingzhao stormed out. Li Chuyue disguised herself as a servant and followed An Jingzhao and Donghua on their investigation.

An Jingzhao initially ordered Donghua to send her away, but she insisted she would only leave after the killer was found, so he grudgingly let her tag along. After finding the location of the unique soil, An Jingzhao saw Li Chuyue asleep and instructed Donghua to take her back to the villa while he went ahead. Meanwhile, An Jingling ambushed a sedan chair, believing Master Xuanfeng was inside. He was shocked to find An Jingzhao instead.

A fierce battle ensued, and despite An Jingling using the Art of Starshift, An Jingzhao defeated him. After unmasking his opponent, An Jingzhao was horrified to see it was his brother. An Jingling confessed his deep-seated resentment, claiming their father had always favored An Jingzhao, making him feel like an ignored and disrespected illegitimate son. When their father, An Chenghu, arrived, he demanded answers.

An Jingzhao explained his entire plan: he had deduced the killer's pattern from the Holy Token's symbols of water, fire, and ice. The previous victims practiced fire and ice-based arts, so the next target had to be a water-attribute master like Master Xuanfeng. He had then worked with Master Xuanfeng to set a trap.

An Jingzhao revealed that An Jingling was the killer, who had learned the Art of Starshift from a manual his maternal grandfather had been told the location of by Elder Yueming, a secret he learned from his mother. An Chenghu was stunned, unable to believe his non-martial artist son was the culprit.

Faced with An Jingling's confession, An Chenghu, declaring that a life must be paid with a life, ordered his son to confess his crimes publicly at the Martial Arts Gathering the next day.

Episode 26 Recap

An Chenghu, the Lord of Yunwei Villa, plans to convene a martial arts assembly where he demands his son, An Jingling, publicly confess his wrongdoings. Terrified, Jingling begs his father and his older brother, An Jingzhao, for mercy. An Jingzhao attempts to intercede, but a furious An Chenghu orders Jingling to be confined. While imprisoned, An Jingling orchestrates an escape by having a subordinate create a distraction.

Once free, Jingling ambushes and fatally wounds Master Xuanfeng, then sends a messenger to lure An Jingzhao to the scene. An Jingzhao arrives to find Master Xuanfeng dead from a wound consistent with the Profound Earth Sutra, a technique of the Art of Starshift. An Jingling immediately appears and accuses An Jingzhao of the murder. When An Chenghu arrives, he vehemently defends An Jingzhao and exposes An Jingling as the true culprit who has been secretly practicing the forbidden arts.

An Jingling cunningly retaliates by claiming the Art of Starshift manual is in An Jingzhao's room. When the manual is discovered there, An Chenghu collapses from heartbreak and is carried away. An Jingzhao is framed for the murder and sentenced to be whipped at noon before being imprisoned for life on Shihu Mountain. As he is taken away, he denounces his brother as an animal.

As Zhu Maoqing prepares to administer the punishment with the Shenyuan Whip—a powerful weapon capable of destroying a person's internal energy—Bai Zhi intervenes, trying to rescue An Jingzhao. He refuses to flee, unwilling to implicate his villa and believing Chuyue has already left him with nothing to live for. Unexpectedly, Chuyue appears and rushes to his side, refusing to abandon him. To protect her, An Jingzhao shields her with his body and takes the full force of the blow.

Moments later, Donghua and his men arrive to rescue the severely injured An Jingzhao and Chuyue. After their escape, Bai Zhi confirms that the whip has almost entirely depleted An Jingzhao's internal energy, rendering the usual remedy of Spirit Pearl Grass useless. Chuyue suggests they seek out Elder Yueming, believing he may know how to counter the Art of Starshift.

Meanwhile, Bai Zhi has a heartfelt conversation with Chuyue, acknowledging that she and An Jingzhao are truly in love and resolving to step aside and find a reciprocal love of her own. In the power vacuum, An Jingling confronts his ailing father and forces the reluctant An Chenghu to name him the new Young Lord.

Elsewhere, Chuyue confesses to a recovering An Jingzhao, explaining her past coldness was a misguided attempt to protect him from a harmful "backlash" she believed was caused by their inter-world relationship. Elder Yueming then appears, demanding the return of his sword. After An Jingzhao agrees, Chuyue pleads with the elder to cure him. Elder Yueming reveals that only a special orchid from Luofu Mountain can help and agrees to take them to a safe place.

Before leaving, An Jingzhao dispatches his guard, Li Qing, to secretly protect his father and grandmother at the villa. Elder Yueming returns with the vital orchid but explains its extreme coldness requires it to be warmed by body temperature. As internal force would destroy its properties, only Chuyue, who has none, can perform the task. However, the process will infuse her with cold energy, shortening her lifespan to as little as one year.

Chuyue bravely accepts the sacrifice, declaring that An Jingzhao’s life is worth any cost. Shortly after, Chuyue's brother, Li Chuyang, discovers the truth about their world-crossing: it only causes cracks on their respective meteorites, limiting the number of traversals but not causing any physical harm or "backlash." An Jingzhao, now awake, reveals he overheard their conversation. While relieved, he playfully feigns stubbornness, stating his anger over Chuyue's hurtful words will not easily dissipate.

Later, Chuyue learns Elder Yueming's tragic story: his wife, Yunyun, was killed by their sect leader with the Art of Starshift, which is why he hid the technique. He had accidentally traveled to Chuyue's modern world over twenty years ago and has been trying to return to his own world to be near his wife's memory. To thank him, Chuyue cooks spicy hot pot, a dish from her world.

Delighted, the elder rewards her with a bottle of potent medicinal pills. Chuyue then uses playful flattery to coax An Jingzhao into forgiving her, but he remains affectionately stubborn, reminding her he won't easily forget her words before she leaves him to rest.

Episode 27 Recap

Li Chuyue playfully pleaded with An Jingzhao for his forgiveness, joking that if he didn't relent, she would have to change her surname to "Greedy Cat," as she couldn't have the "delicious meal" (him) right in front of her. While An Jingzhao acknowledged her sincerity, he remained angry and sent her away. Frustrated, Li Chuyue complained to Chuyang, who hinted she should use a more seductive approach.

Following this advice, Li Chuyue approached An Jingzhao again while he was taking medicine, warning him not to be angry in his weakened state and then attempting to kiss him. An Jingzhao managed to dodge her advance, later bragging to Donghua that he resisted but privately admitting how difficult it was to withstand her charm. During a later attempt to appease him, An Jingzhao noticed a strange coldness in her body, which was not from a common cold.

Pressed for an explanation, Li Chuyue confessed she had absorbed a dangerous chill into her own system by using her body heat to warm a mystical orchid. An Jingzhao was deeply concerned, but she reassured him that he was powerful enough to find a cure for her. Realizing their location was no longer safe amid the turmoil in the martial arts world, Li Chuyue insisted on sending Chuyang home. Though reluctant to leave, Chuyang agreed and was escorted by Donghua.

Li Chuyue warned them to be wary of search parties led by An Jingling and Zhu Maoqing. Alerted to their departure, An Jingling instructed his men to secretly use tracking powder on Donghua and Chuyang. After they vanished from their room without a trace, An Jingling investigated and discovered that the bed served as a hidden passage, activated by an unknown mechanism. Meanwhile, An Jingzhao suffered a severe relapse from his internal coldness.

Elder Yueming explained that the only, albeit extremely risky, cure was to transfer An Jingzhao's vital energy into the orchid for three days of uninterrupted healing. An Jingzhao resolutely accepted the risks. As An Jingling's forces closed in, Li Chuyue sent Donghua to guard An Jingzhao while she created a diversion. She confronted An Jingling, accusing him of murdering the Valley Lord and framing his brother.

To ensure An Jingzhao wouldn't reveal himself, she shouted for him not to come back. An Jingling, professing his long-held love for her, captured Li Chuyue and took her to his villa, ignoring her declaration that he was no longer her "little brother" but her enemy. At Yunwei Villa, An Jingling tried to appease Li Chuyue with a drawing, which made her suspect he had been coached by Chuyang.

He questioned why his actions were wrong if they were motivated by love, but she countered that true love does not involve imprisonment. Elsewhere, An Chenghu was shocked to find An Jingling's mother freed from her confinement. She revealed that An Jingling was now in charge of the villa's internal affairs and cruelly told An Chenghu that his son, An Jingzhao, had been struck by the Shenyuan Whip and was likely dead, causing An Chenghu to collapse in grief.

As Li Chuyue's condition worsened from the coldness in her system, she deliriously called out for An Jingzhao. A physician determined that a malevolent chill had invaded her organs and could only be removed by a transfer of internal energy. Despite warnings that this would severely deplete his own power and expose him to the same chill, An Jingling immediately began the transfer, proclaiming her safety was his priority.

His mother scolded him for sacrificing himself for someone who didn't love him, but he remained hopeful she would eventually see his devotion. Secretly, his mother plotted to eliminate An Jingzhao to secure her son's position as the villa's lord. Upon waking, Li Chuyue begged An Jingling to return the coldness to her and let her go, calling him selfish for holding her captive.

Enraged, he threatened her, but she stood firm, declaring that she was An Jingzhao's wife and would never abandon him, even in death, as her heart belonged only to him. Having stabilized, An Jingzhao immediately asked for Li Chuyue's whereabouts. Donghua informed him she had been taken by An Jingling to cover their escape. Ignoring Elder Yueming's warning not to exert himself, An Jingzhao resolved to rescue her, while Donghua offered to scout ahead.

At the villa, An Jingling's mother confronted Li Chuyue, demanding she marry her son. When Li Chuyue refused, the mother drew a dagger to kill her, but An Jingling intervened, declaring he would not let anyone harm her. Alone, Li Chuyue reflected with horror on An Jingling's actions. She recalled once using the "Art of Starshift" to save him, but now realized that he had twisted the same technique to harm many people and frame his own brother, An Jingzhao.

Meanwhile, An Jingling strategically spread a rumor that Li Chuyue was gravely ill and had been moved to a secret room, hoping to lure An Jingzhao out. Confined to her room, Li Chuyue searched for evidence of An Jingling's crimes and discovered a drawing of a scene that she recognized from her own mobile phone, revealing a mysterious connection between him and her past.

Episode 28 Recap

Chuyue discovered that An Jingling had not only stolen her phone but also guessed her password, confirming her suspicions that he was a pervert. An Jingling confronted her, demanding to know her true origins, as her device was clearly not from Shangyu. He vowed to uncover her secrets, with or without her cooperation.

Meanwhile, a spy informed An Jingzhao that Chuyue was in critical condition, suffering from a severe coldness invasion after being hidden by An Jingling in a secret chamber. The spy warned that only someone with profound martial skills could extract the coldness to save her, and time was running out. Despite his own primordial energy being unharmonized, An Jingzhao insisted on rescuing her personally. He went to the chamber, where An Jingling was waiting.

An Jingling taunted him, noting his surprising survival from the Shenyuan Whip and warning that saving Chuyue would drain his martial skills, turning him into a "useless person" and costing him the lordship his father, An Chenghu, wanted him to inherit. Wracked with guilt, An Jingzhao imagined Chuyue calling him a hypocrite for prioritizing his power over her life. An Jingling, sensing his hesitation, bid him farewell. However, An Jingzhao entered the chamber anyway, finding Chuyue already trapped inside.

Shocked that he would knowingly walk into a trap for her, she declared her unwavering loyalty, vowing to never leave his side. As poisonous gas filled the room, An Jingzhao revealed his knowledge of a secret exit and helped her escape. An Jingling intercepted them, mocking An Jingzhao's weakened state. In the ensuing battle, An Jingzhao was injured by An Jingling's Art of Starshift but managed to get Chuyue to safety.

Later, Elder Yueming noted that An Jingzhao’s primordial energy was in disarray. An Jingzhao recounted that he had momentarily suppressed the Art of Starshift. Elder Yueming explained he had once theorized that combining righteous and evil primordial energies could counter the technique and even forged the Yueming Sword for this purpose, but abandoned his research after a personal tragedy.

He offered to transfer his own Beiming internal force to An Jingzhao, cautioning it would conflict painfully with An Jingzhao’s Profound Earth Sutra, but An Jingzhao accepted. Soon after, Bai Zhi arrived with a potent elixir to help replenish his qi and warned that An Jingling was intensifying the search for them. Puzzled by An Jingzhao's strange new ability, An Jingling consulted his mother, Madam Shen.

She dismissed his concerns, urging him to focus on becoming the lord and not be distracted by Chuyue. When asked about a counter to the Art of Starshift, she recalled that Elder Yueming had tried and failed, but then murmured "impossible" as if remembering a long-shot theory. Meanwhile, An Jingzhao and Elder Yueming deduced that An Jingling's unstable meridians, a result of not cultivating his internal force from childhood, could be his greatest weakness.

Elder Yueming went to see Lord An Chenghu to confirm this. In Lord An Chenghu's chamber, Madam Shen was already there, plotting with him against her own son. An Chenghu provided her with fake sutra fragments to give to An Jingling, designed to disrupt his meridians during cultivation. Elder Yueming, also present, pledged to teach An Jingzhao the Yueming Sword Technique. Overhearing the name "Yueming Sword," Madam Shen recognized Elder Yueming and realized An Jingling was in a trap.

As she fled to warn him, An Chenghu ordered his guards to kill her to silence her. An Jingling arrived to find his mother dying. With her last breath, she tried to warn him about "Yue. . ." , likely meaning Yueming, but An Jingling tragically misinterpreted it as Chuyue. Enraged, he confronted his father, forcing him to drink poison and revealing he had been secretly poisoning An Chenghu's "nourishing" tonic for months.

He recounted a bitter memory of being forced to stand in the snow with his mother while An Chenghu celebrated with An Jingzhao's mother, implying this cruelty led his own mother to poison the First Madam when he was just a child. As his father died cursing him, An Jingling vowed to kill An Jingzhao and "reunite" their family in death.

He then framed the chief of Qingyun Hall for his father's murder, consolidated power, and declared a three-day mourning period. An Jingzhao learned from Elder Yueming that his father's death was the result of long-term poisoning, revealing the depths of An Jingling's premeditation. Still struggling to balance the conflicting energies within him, An Jingzhao was told of a rare elixir, the Yin-Yang Power-Melting Elixir, which could solve his problem. He resolved to find it, just as one of An Jingling's subordinates rushed in with urgent news.

Episode 29 Recap

An Jingling forcefully takes a part of a scroll from his grandmother, the Madam, stating his intention to practice it diligently. The Madam scolds him, calling him a beast. An Jingling, unconcerned, instructs his guards to confine her to Chongyue Pavilion. He later muses about stabilizing his meridians, indicating the scroll's importance to his cultivation and his efforts to overcome those who oppose him.

An Jingling learns of An Jingzhao and Miss Chuyue's whereabouts and personally sets off to retrieve Chuyue. At their hideout, Yueming Elder warns An Jingzhao that he cannot use his internal force and urges him to leave before An Jingling discovers the Elder's presence. An Jingzhao insists on staying behind to stall An Jingling, urging Yueming Elder and his companion, Li Qing, to go first.

Li Qing objects, emphasizing that An Jingzhao's safety is paramount as he is the only one left who can oppose An Jingling. An Jingling confronts Li Qing, stating he only seeks An Jingzhao and wishes no harm to innocents, but Li Qing defiantly challenges him. An Jingzhao returns and intervenes, leading An Jingling to mock their deep master-servant bond. An Jingling demands to know where Chuyue is hidden, threatening to kill them both.

When An Jingling discovers An Jingzhao has lost all his internal force, he unleashes a fierce attack. Li Qing sacrifices himself by taking a blow meant for An Jingzhao, collapsing severely injured. Miss Chuyue arrives, distressed to see Li Qing wounded. An Jingling orders her to return home with him, but she resists, calling him a devil. Hongfei then appears, declaring she will meddle as long as it concerns Chuyue.

An Jingling announces an alliance meeting in three days where An Jingzhao will be made to atone for his "crimes," and tells Chuyue not to miss it. Discussions reveal that Yueming Elder is still alive and An Jingzhao has inherited his power, soon to master the Art of Starshift, though he is still battling two conflicting streams of primordial energy. Hongfei plans to administer the Power Dissipating Elixir to An Jingzhao at the upcoming gathering to resolve this.

Meanwhile, An Jingling, now addressed as Lord, reviews the list of participating sects. He is informed that An Jingzhao survived his injuries through "evil sect" methods, resulting in an unstable internal force—a fact An Jingling intends to use as evidence of An Jingzhao's "collusion with demons." Chuyue expresses her concern about rescuing An Jingzhao, and Hongfei pledges her assistance.

Yueming Elder emphasizes the urgency of giving An Jingzhao the elixir to help him master the Art of Starshift and vows to hold An Jingling accountable for damaging his sect's reputation and stealing its manual. After learning Hongfei also sought the Art of Starshift, Yueming warns her of its mind-corrupting nature. Hongfei explains she sought it to empower her sect but is now open to its disappearance. Chuyue devises a "create a diversion" strategy.

As part of this, her associate Qing informs a disguised Chuyue that an important person will appear at the meeting, before bringing Yueming Elder into the assembly. At the Martial Arts Gathering, An Jingling presents the captured An Jingzhao, accusing him of using the demonic Art of Starshift and refusing to repent. He apologizes on his brother's behalf, and the crowd roars for An Jingzhao's death.

However, some attendees voice doubts, pointing out that no one witnessed An Jingzhao commit the alleged crimes. An Jingling dismisses these doubts, but Bai Zhi appears, denouncing him as despicable. Hongfei seizes the moment of distraction to rescue An Jingzhao, giving him the Power Dissipating Elixir. An Jingling quickly follows, condemning An Jingzhao for colluding with Hongfei and declaring he must act against his own kin for the sake of justice.

As An Jingling prepares to attack, Master Xuanfeng suddenly appears. He reveals he was attacked with the Art of Starshift but survived by feigning death. An Jingling tries to discredit him by citing An Jingzhao's "evil sect" internal energy, but Master Xuanfeng counters that actions, not energy, determine good or evil. An Jingzhao offers An Jingling a final chance to yield, but he refuses and openly uses the Art of Starshift, exposing himself as the true culprit.

As they fight, An Jingzhao reveals that the Profound Earth Sutra was never a mere "remnant." Yueming Elder also appears with the Yueming Sword. An Jingling, exasperated, accuses An Jingzhao of ruining his plans to marry Chuyue and restore the villa's glory. During their fierce battle, An Jingling callously injures Chuyue. Enraged, An Jingzhao unleashes his full power with the Yueming Sword, destroying An Jingling's Art of Starshift and crippling his martial arts.

Defeated, An Jingling expresses regret for disappointing his mother and asks An Jingzhao to kill him. Instead, An Jingzhao declares him pitiable and unforgivable, sentencing him to lifelong imprisonment within Yunwei Villa with his martial arts permanently crippled. Donghua intercepts a maid delivering flowers, playfully warning her that An Jingzhao and Chuyue are engaged in an intimate moment. An Jingzhao then sweetens Chuyue's bitter medicine with a kiss.

The Madam arrives and gifts Chuyue a magnificent Phoenix Crown, the symbol of Yunwei Villa's madam, for her to wear at the inauguration in three days. A small mishap with the crown prompts An Jingzhao to reveal that one of its key stones is a meteorite whose energy is nearly depleted, with only one use left. He worries that if Chuyue uses it to return to her world, she will not be able to come back.

Chuyue reassures him she has decided to stay. However, she receives a distressing call from her sister that their mother was hit by a car. Worried, Chuyue learns a thunderstorm needed to activate the meteorite is due the next night. When An Jingzhao returns, she gives him paintings she made, suggesting he look at them if he misses her.

Chuyue bids an emotional farewell to the Madam, confiding her fear of not being with An Jingzhao forever and asking the Madam to comfort him if she were gone. Later, Chuyue finds An Jingzhao, and they enjoy the moonlit night together. He suggests they make it an annual tradition.

Chuyue reflects on life's imperfections, but An Jingzhao passionately asserts that as long as they are together, life is complete, promising that if their life is a dream, she will never wake up. She asks him to say something sweet. He proclaims her a fairy, expresses his love, and promises to never leave her side.

Episode 30 Recap

Before her wedding, Li Chuyue anxiously asks An Jingzhao to stay with her for the night. She then makes a strange request, asking him to promise that if she were ever gone, he would live on happily and find love again. An Jingzhao firmly refuses, reminding her that she herself had made him swear to never love another.

He dismisses her concerns as pre-marriage anxiety, reassuring her that he has almost lost her several times and will not let it happen again, promising they will grow old together. On the wedding day, Bai Zhi arrives with precious gifts from Fengnuan Pavilion. However, during the ceremony, Li Chuyue does not appear. Realizing she has left as she hinted, An Jingzhao tells the guests she is feeling unwell and proposes a toast on her behalf.

Afterwards, he meets with his grandmother, formally presenting Li Qing’s disciple and affirming Donghua's competence to manage the villa's affairs. Understanding he intends to leave, his grandmother tearfully gives her blessing. An Jingzhao kneels, apologizing for his departure and entrusting the villa to her before rushing to find Li Chuyue. He embraces her, vowing to never leave her side and confirming that he has left Yunwei Villa in the capable hands of his grandmother and Donghua.

Upon returning to the modern world, An Jingzhao feels unwell, which they attribute to the meteorite's insufficient energy. They hurry to the hospital, where Li Chuyue’s mother is recovering from a lower leg fracture after a car accident. Her mother immediately expresses disapproval of An Jingzhao, criticizing his lack of a proper job. Li Chuyue defends him, while her father and brother, Li Chuyang, also speak in his favor, with Chuyang even praising his suitability as a son-in-law.

Later, Li Chuyue finds An Jingzhao waiting for her outside the hospital. Moved by her mother's words, he resolves to build a successful career in this world to earn her family's approval. Li Chuyue successfully pleads for her job back with her boss, Ms. Qiao, who grants her a one-month observation period and immediately assigns her to assist on a new design project.

Later at home, An Jingzhao is cooking a nourishing soup for Li Chuyue's mother when the family returns unexpectedly. Li Chuyue quickly hides him, but her mother, deducing his presence from the soup, lectures Chuyue, insisting she break up with An Jingzhao for a more stable future. Overhearing this, An Jingzhao quietly leaves to avoid causing more conflict. He returns later to find Li Chuyue sick with a fever.

After giving her medicine, he comforts her with a small, beautiful music box as a gift. After Li Chuyue falls asleep, her mother enters the room and finds An Jingzhao still there. She calls him outside, and while acknowledging his sincerity, she reiterates her concern over his inability to provide a stable life. An Jingzhao reveals he is starting a business, though she remains skeptical about the ease of entrepreneurship.

Later, after checking that her daughter's fever has broken, the mother goes to take out the trash and is surprised to find An Jingzhao still waiting faithfully outside the apartment door. Moved by his unwavering devotion, she informs him that Li Chuyue is recovering. Li Chuyue’s father and brother see a news report on An Jingzhao’s newly opened and highly creative ancient life experience hall. Impressed by his business acumen, they decide to take Li Chuyue’s mother to visit.

In the past, a frustrated Jingling fails at his martial arts practice. Learning that An Jingzhao and Li Chuyue are "traveling the world," he correctly suspects they have crossed over to her realm. He escapes his confinement by feigning smallpox to create a distraction, then investigates An Jingzhao's private chambers. There, he discovers the fractured Huaxi Stone and deduces that a thunderstorm is the key to activating the portal. Li Chuyue’s parents visit the experience hall and are thoroughly impressed.

Her mother, unaware the owner is An Jingzhao, praises his brilliant business strategy and urges Li Chuyue to pursue the "outstanding" manager. During a special event, An Jingzhao, as the manager, announces he will throw a bouquet, and the woman who catches it will dance with him. Li Chuyue catches the flower, and as they dance, he quietly tells her that she is the only one in his heart. Afterwards, he invites Li Chuyue and her mother for tea.

Meanwhile, back in his world, Jingling accepts that he is too weak to defeat An Jingzhao himself. He devises a new plan, deciding to find Zhou Wei—the one person who hates An Jingzhao as much as he does—to enact his revenge.

Episode 31 Recap

Li Chuyue's mother, unaware of An Jingzhao's true identity, enthusiastically praises her daughter and son to him. She highlights Chuyue's sweet appearance, gentle personality, and design talent, mentioning their family company is preparing for an IPO. She also boasts about her son, Chuyang, who consistently ranks first in his grade. When asked for his impression of Chuyue, An Jingzhao candidly describes her as not gentle, but rather carefree and not meticulous in her actions.

However, he praises her kind heart and strong sense of justice, declaring her the love of his life and expressing his wish to be with her forever. To the mother's shock, An Jingzhao then removes his mask, revealing himself to be the "curator" they all knew. Chuyang playfully reminds his mother that he successfully "grabbed him," just as she had encouraged. An assistant informs An Jingzhao that Fashion Week has been moved up due to weather, necessitating their immediate departure.

Soon after, an excited Chuyang tells An Jingzhao that Chuyue's design became the grand finale piece at Fashion Week after the original dress for Ms. Qiao was accidentally damaged. Her last-minute replacement, which she had coincidentally just finished, garnered widespread acclaim. An Jingzhao calmly states he always knew Chuyue would succeed, as she had been diligently preparing for such a moment.

Chuyang clarifies he learned all this from a live interview Chuyue is about to participate in, which is why her phone was busy. During the interview, Ms. Qiao introduces Chuyue as the designer of the final piece, titled "Eternal Love." Chuyue explains the design symbolizes two lovers from different worlds overcoming obstacles, incorporating ancient plum blossoms, the silhouette of the Mingxiao Sword, modern elements, and "Immortality Flowers" to represent everlasting love.

Following this triumph, Ms. Qiao tells Chuyue she has nothing more to teach her and encourages her to become an independent designer, though she cautions her about the challenges ahead. A tearful Chuyue thanks her mentor, who playfully reminds her to complete her Fashion Week report as she is still technically an employee. Meanwhile, An Jingling infiltrates a dungeon, claiming to be from Yuwei Hall to interrogate Zhou Wei.

A surprised Zhou Wei questions how An Jingling, also a prisoner, got there. An Jingling offers him a plan for revenge, revealing a broken meteorite piece. He explains that An Jingzhao's ability to appear and disappear is due to his knowledge of a channel to another world, which he has traversed using such a stone.

An Jingling proposes that Zhou Wei use the broken stone to travel to the modern world where An Jingzhao and Li Chuyue reside and kill An Jingzhao. In exchange, An Jingling promises to give Zhou Wei the Profound Earth Sutra upon his return, emphasizing this is his only chance to change his fate.

He warns Zhou Wei about the modern world's fast cars and cellphones, and most importantly, that its inhabitants, like Chuyue, do not possess martial arts, cautioning him against revealing his own skills. An Jingzhao is busy with an emergency at the experience hall when Chuyue receives a call from a colleague, inviting her to a private night event at an amusement park.

Urged to bring her partner, Chuyue invites An Jingzhao, but he declines due to work, so she goes alone. As she leaves home, Zhou Wei appears behind her, but she doesn't notice him. He covertly follows her through the city until she gets into a taxi. At the amusement park, Chuyue's colleagues encourage her to spin a lucky wheel. Her prize is a note directing her to a specific seat on the merry-go-round, where she discovers an engagement ring.

An Jingzhao then appears and proposes, and Chuyue happily accepts. Chuyang suddenly joins them, playfully offering to "cover" for An Jingzhao if Chuyue ever bullies him, to which An Jingzhao assures Chuyue she can "bully him every day." When their colleagues ask to hear their story, Chuyue feigns a need to use the restroom, leaving An Jingzhao to recount how they met. While she is alone, Zhou Wei confronts her, revealing An Jingling sent him.

He threatens to kill her if she doesn't cooperate. Chuyue screams for An Jingzhao, who quickly appears. She questions how Zhou Wei could have arrived with the broken meteorite. An Jingzhao explains that Zhou Wei's facial scars are proof that the weakened channel injures its users. Worried, Chuyue asks if An Jingzhao was also hurt during their last crossing; he reassures her it was only minor discomfort and vows to protect her.

He also warns that their home may no longer be safe. Later, Zhou Wei finds his way to the Shangyu Life Experience Hall. Inside the crowded venue, he spots An Jingzhao teaching Chuyue archery. Realizing he is outnumbered, Zhou Wei decides to retreat and devise a more comprehensive plan. At home, Chuyue asks An Jingzhao to be her model for an upcoming designer communication event, where she plans to unveil a design using "Ghost Lotus," a special fabric.

An Jingzhao agrees, and they plan a celebratory dinner, though he warns he might be late due to work. While Chuyue waits for him at a restaurant, she feels an unsettling sense of being watched by a masked figure. Meanwhile, upon arriving at the restaurant, An Jingzhao spots Zhou Wei in the reflection of a photo display and checks the security footage, confirming his presence. He finds Chuyue and reassures her, admitting he underestimated Zhou Wei's persistence.

He suggests they leave for the communication event the next morning, confident Zhou Wei doesn't know its location and they will be safe there. On their way, Chuyue expresses how much she misses her family in Shangyu. An Jingzhao comforts her, saying their happiness is what matters. Chuyue proposes naming her future brand "YZ," combining the first letters of the last part of their names, an idea An Jingzhao enthusiastically supports.

They visit "Sloth Delivery," a service where they write letters to their future selves, agreeing to keep the contents and delivery dates a secret. At the designer event, attendees praise An Jingzhao's striking "ancient noble temperament" as a model. He humbly credits Chuyue, calling her "the creator of all this," and hints at a surprise for her later. When Chuyue goes to retrieve her sample outfit, number 28, she discovers it is missing from its spot and is then suddenly pulled away by Zhou Wei.

Episode 32 (Ending) Recap

After learning Chuyue, also known as Miss Li, had vanished while looking for clothes and was not answering her phone, An Jingzhao rushed out to find her. He was immediately confronted by Zhou Wei, who revealed he had taken Chuyue. Zhou Wei demanded An Jingzhao bring a meteorite to a nearby amusement park in exchange for Chuyue's life, promising An Jingzhao he would get what he desired in return.

An Jingzhao swore that if Zhou Wei harmed Chuyue in the slightest, he would make him suffer for the rest of his life. At the amusement park, Zhou Wei had Chuyue suspended high in the air. Chuyue desperately warned An Jingzhao not to approach or trust him. Zhou Wei threatened to drop her, causing her to "fall and shatter" if An Jingzhao took another step. To save her, An Jingzhao agreed to Zhou Wei's demand to not fight back.

Zhou Wei brutally attacked him, declaring he would make An Jingzhao pay for causing him to lose everything and suffer in prison. An Jingzhao endured the beating without resistance, pleading for Chuyue's release and offering himself in her place. Zhou Wei demanded the meteorite first, questioning its authenticity. An Jingzhao refused to risk Chuyue, insisting she be released first. Zhou Wei agreed, dropping Chuyue, but An Jingzhao managed to catch her.

Zhou Wei then proclaimed An Jingzhao was "doomed," as he had come to kill him and take Li Chuyue back to Shangyu. As he spoke, both men began to glow with golden light and vanished, leaving Chuyue to cry out An Jingzhao's name in anguish. One year later, Chuyue remained lost in her memories of An Jingzhao, recalling his promises and his proposal that she would be his wife forever.

Her brother, Chuyang, returned from a trip to Egypt's largest meteorite crater. Worried about her persistent grief, he gave her a meteorite from the site, hoping its energy might help. Chuyue’s professional life was also suffering; a planned exhibition was delayed for a year, and a collaboration with Paris was cancelled. She often rushed home during thunderstorms, a time she associated with An Jingzhao, lamenting his absence but holding onto the belief that he was only missing, not dead.

Occasionally, she would see visions of him, which she dismissed as hallucinations from drinking. To lift her spirits, Chuyang took Chuyue camping. There, she saw a clear vision of An Jingzhao. When she called out to him, he vanished, and she collapsed from the shock. At the hospital, the doctor diagnosed her with exhaustion and recommended her family provide more emotional support. Chuyue insisted to Chuyang that the sighting was real, just like a previous one at home.

Chuyang admitted he had also seen a fleeting glimpse of a figure. Realizing the visions only occurred in places they had been together, Chuyue pulled out her IV drip and rushed back to the campsite, hoping he would reappear. After a long, unsuccessful wait, Chuyang gently convinced her to go home. Chuyang later proposed a scientific theory: An Jingzhao was still alive but existing in a higher dimension beyond their three-dimensional space, where time could be freely navigated.

He explained the sightings were a form of "refraction" and that An Jingzhao was likely choosing specific moments from their shared past to find a way back. This rekindled Chuyue's hope. Chuyang also gave her a letter An Jingzhao had written for her a year prior, in which he expressed his desire to be with her forever. Inspired, Chuyue resolved to pull herself together for his return.

Meanwhile, An Jingling watched a wedding and lamented his own fate as a "sinner" no one would marry. His attendant, Qing, noted that a year had passed and that Zhou Wei and Chuyue should have returned by now. Suddenly, An Jingling saw a vision of An Jingzhao and drew his sword in a rage. When his attendant found him, An Jingling was sweating, and Qing concluded that seeing An Jingzhao's "ghost" must mean he was dead.

An Jingling then frantically assumed Zhou Wei had succeeded and would soon return with Chuyue, and he desperately began searching for his own meteorite. At her studio, Chuyue saw An Jingzhao again and this time distinctly heard him call her name. Overjoyed, she told Chuyang, who agreed it was a major breakthrough. Chuyue prepared for her brand's new product launch, where her mentor, Ms. Qiao, praised a dress that she said should have been a sensation a year ago.

As the event began, Chuyue asked the guests to wait, explaining that a crucial VIP had not yet arrived. Disheartened by An Jingzhao’s absence, Chuyue was consoled by Chuyang. Later, a news report announced that the Orionid meteor shower would be visible that night, recommending viewing from an "open area." Recognizing the clue, Chuyue hurried to a secluded spot she and An Jingzhao had once shared. There, she found him.

She pleaded with him to stay back, fearing he would vanish if she touched him. An Jingzhao confirmed he was truly back and that all her visions had been real. He explained he had been trapped in a dream-like state, able to see their past memories and watch over her life. He revealed that An Jingling had gone mad, which enabled An Jingzhao to retrieve his meteorite.

Combined with the portion Chuyue had saved, the meteorite finally reopened the space-time channel. Chuyue affirmed she always knew he would return, and An Jingzhao told her their powerful connection to each other was what brought them back together, before kissing her to end their long separation.