Love O2O Recap, Plot, Synopsis

> Love O2O

Love O2O Synopsis

The straight-A student and school beauty, Bei Weiwei, aspires to be a game engineer. She played hard to be an online game master with the name of “芦苇微微/Lu Wei Weiwei”.

Because she refused to upload her real photo and was mercilessly abandoned by her partner, “真水无香/Zhen Shui Wu Xiang”, but accidentally got the admiration of “一笑奈何/Yi Xiao Nai He”, the master in online Jianghu.

In order to win the “Couple Challenge”, Weiwei readily agreed to ally with “一笑奈何/Yi Xiao Nai He” and form a couple to join the competition.

They have been keeping in contact with each other in the net world, but Bei Weiwei never dreamed that the partner who was born to die all the way was the popular figure of the same school, her senior brother Xiao Nai.

Whether online or offline, Xiao Nai is a master with outstanding ability. More coincidentally, he is the head of game development and testing.

Online, they are a couple, offline, they are working partners, fate is so wonderful.

When Bei Weiwei discovers this truth, they naturally get together…

Love O2O Recap

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• 10
• 11
• 12
• 13
• 14
• 15
• 16
• 17
• 18
• 19
• 20
• 21
• 22
• 23
• 24
• 25
• 26
• 27
• 28
• 29
• 30

Episode 1 Recap

In the expansive martial arts online game "A Chinese Ghost Story II", Luwei Weiwei and Zhenshui Wuxiang successfully defeated a formidable monster. The creature dropped a Magical Heaven Reversal Necklace, a highly sought-after item. Their friend Nini, delighted by the find, accepted a duel challenge on Weiwei's behalf. The match was set for 5:00 PM at a tavern located just outside Jinling City. Zhenshui and Weiwei had been game partners, known as a "couple," for over six months.

Zhenshui expressed a desire for Weiwei to address him more intimately, but she found the suggestion awkward. He then inquired if she attended university in the capital city, revealing he was also based there, and proposed they meet for dinner offline at a top-tier Japanese restaurant. Weiwei politely declined, emphasizing her preference to keep their interactions within the game. Zhenshui, however, pressed for a photo, citing a common online saying about the uncertainty of who one is truly interacting with.

Before Weiwei could respond, the power in her university dorm room suddenly went out. The unexpected outage was caused by Erxi, Weiwei's roommate, who had been cooking noodles on an electric stove. Weiwei, a Computer Science major, swiftly repaired the circuit. To her dismay, she found her computer was now broken. Erxi confessed to accidentally dropping it the previous day.

Weiwei expressed concern that Zhenshui, who had just requested a photo, would now assume she was intentionally avoiding him out of guilt. She explained that she wouldn't send a picture as their in-game partnership was purely for completing territorial quests. Determined to participate in her evening duel, Weiwei insisted they immediately go buy a new motherboard so she could repair her computer herself. A reluctant Erxi accompanied her.

While passing by a school notice board, they noticed a crowd gathered around an announcement for a campus basketball tournament between the Computer Science and Biochemistry Departments. Weiwei was excited, anticipating the return of Xiao Nai, a fourth-year Computer Science student widely revered as "Xiao God," to play in the game. She praised his exceptional skills and accomplishments, envisioning him as the top-ranked student in any academic leaderboard, similar to game rankings.

Erxi, more interested in his appearance, agreed that they should arrive an hour early to secure good seats. At a digital store, Weiwei and Erxi encountered Meng Yiran, a prominent campus figure known as the school beauty queen. Meng Yiran was in the process of purchasing a RAM stick.

Weiwei, drawing on her computer science expertise, observed that the store owner was attempting to sell a used memory module at the price of a new one, and at double its actual value. She pointed out the discrepancy to Meng Yiran. However, Meng Yiran dismissed Weiwei's warning, completed the purchase, and even defended the owner, asserting that businesses were entitled to make a profit.

Erxi was annoyed by Meng Yiran's aloofness, speculating that Meng Yiran's attitude stemmed from their past competition in a school beauty contest, where Meng Yiran had secured first place and Weiwei second. Weiwei, recalling the contest, pondered why Meng Yiran would harbor animosity towards her, to which Erxi jokingly attributed it to Meng Yiran's "flat chest," leading Weiwei to playfully chide Erxi for her focus on other women.

Later that day, at an internet cafe, Weiwei logged into the game for her scheduled duel. Her opponent taunted Weiwei for her perceived hesitation. However, Weiwei quickly demonstrated her impressive combat skills, utilizing precise jumps and dodges to secure a decisive victory. The online community was abuzz, marveling at Weiwei's prowess and questioning how a player of her caliber was only ranked sixth. Many speculated about the identity and skill of the top-ranked player, Yixiao Naihe.

Her defeated opponent requested a rematch, which Weiwei accepted, noting she had only paid for an hour of internet cafe time. In a separate area of the same internet cafe, Xiao Nai was engaged in a game of Go with his uncle. His uncle inquired about Xiao Nai's post-graduation plans to establish his own company. Xiao Nai confirmed his intention to initially develop two games.

His uncle then generously offered the internet cafe premises to Xiao Nai, suggesting he could renovate it into his initial office space. Xiao Nai, however, respectfully declined, stating his preference for the satisfaction of "starting from the ground up" and revealing he had already secured a location. As Xiao Nai exited the cafe, he paused, observing Weiwei intensely focused on her game, her fingers moving skillfully across the keyboard and mouse, and found himself intrigued.

Meanwhile, Meng Yiran was discussing Weiwei with her friend Na Na. While Meng Yiran conceded that Weiwei was "quite pretty" and "helpful," Na Na strongly disagreed, disparaging Weiwei's appearance as "common" and her presence as "like a flower vase." Na Na warned Meng Yiran not to be swayed by Weiwei's seemingly kind gestures, suggesting Weiwei was merely trying to appear superior.

She then revealed that Cao Guang had recently captured a photograph of Weiwei emerging from a luxury car, implying Weiwei was not as innocent as she seemed. When Cao Guang appeared, Na Na brazenly asked him to show the photo to Meng Yiran, but he claimed to have deleted it, dismissively stating he would never be interested in "that kind of girl."

Na Na then used Cao Guang's remarks to reinforce her warning to Meng Yiran about Weiwei's supposed lack of sincerity. Back at the dorm, Erxi informed Weiwei about internship opportunities at Zhen Yi Technology for Computer Science students and offered to help them apply. Weiwei readily agreed. Soon after, Weiwei successfully repaired her computer by expertly replacing a capacitor part. Erxi praised her hardware skills, playfully remarking on Weiwei's deep passion for gaming.

Weiwei articulated her belief that games were not merely a waste of time but offered "a whole new world" where one could pursue dreams and talent. She shared her aspirations of becoming a game designer for Feng Teng Corporation or contributing to the development of "A Chinese Ghost Story II". Shortly thereafter, Zhenshui Wuxiang contacted Weiwei in the game, requesting they meet at the Stone of Three Lives to dissolve their in-game partnership, without providing a reason.

He offered a set of powerful Heaven Reverse equipment and a "break-up compensation." Weiwei declined any compensation, agreeing to meet him promptly. At the Stone of Three Lives, Zhenshui apologized, to which Weiwei calmly responded, "It's okay." After they symbolically drank the Water of Forget Love, a public announcement in the game declared the dissolution of their partnership, stating that their "fate has ended."

Weiwei again declined any compensation, emphasizing that their partnership had been purely functional for game quests and that she felt no lingering burden. She suggested they might still battle monsters together in the future. Soon, Nini messaged Weiwei, surprised by her composure after the split, and revealed that Zhenshui was on the verge of marrying Xiaoyu Yaoyao, celebrated as the "number one beauty" on the server and winner of the Dream Angel poll.

Nini then hesitantly shared a rumor circulating among players: due to Weiwei's exceptional combat skills, her refusal to seek equipment from male players, and her unwillingness to share photos, many suspected she was a male player using a female character. Weiwei expressed her disbelief, questioning how such assumptions could be made in a "face-focused world" simply because she withheld her photo. Moments later, the game announced the grand wedding of Zhenshui Wuxiang and Xiaoyu Yaoyao, featuring an elaborate procession.

As the lavish wedding procession made its way through the game world, Weiwei, needing a restroom break in real life, left her character standing innocently on the Vermilion Bird Bridge. This simple act was immediately misinterpreted by other players as an audacious attempt to "snatch the groom." The game's public channel erupted with chatter, with many players, observing Weiwei's lone figure, rallying in support of Luwei Weiwei "snatching Zhenshui."

Upon returning a few minutes later, Weiwei found her character surrounded by a massive crowd. Realizing that running away would be seen as a heartbroken retreat, and staying would only perpetuate the misunderstanding, Weiwei decided to act. She set up a makeshift stall, loudly advertising "new potions freshly brewed from the top-level alchemists" at a "20% discount." The irresistible offer quickly drew the crowd away as players scrambled to purchase the discounted items.

Once the throng had dispersed, Yixiao Naihe, the server's top player, appeared before Weiwei. He courteously commented on the grandeur of the recent wedding event, then, to Weiwei's astonishment, proposed that they "couple up" to host "an even grander wedding ceremony."

Episode 2 Recap

Weiwei was taken aback by Yixiao Naihe’s proposal in the game and asked if his account had been hacked. Yixiao Naihe responded by asking if she had seen the latest news on the official website about the couple's PK duel, explaining that he chose her because she was the only female player in the Top 10 rankings.

After some thought, Weiwei considered that if her first in-game marriage was for a quest, then a second one for a PK competition was a logical step, especially with the generous prize. She readily agreed to go to the Stone of Three Lives with him. However, Yixiao Naihe said he needed three days to prepare, proposing they meet at 8 o'clock on the third day. When Weiwei inquired about the preparations, he mentioned a wedding banquet.

Weiwei thought a simple registration would suffice for a PK contest, but Yixiao Naihe insisted that his wedding could not be casual. After Xiao Nai logged off the game, his roommate, Yu Banshan, burst into their dorm, excitedly proclaiming they had a chance to stop being single. He revealed he had recently befriended a girl from Meng Yiran’s dorm who requested their help to fix Meng Yiran's broken computer.

While they suspected she might have ulterior motives, the prospect of getting closer to the school beauty's friends thrilled his roommates. Xiao Nai then spoke up, stating he was already "married" in the game and had a partner, making it inappropriate for him to fix another woman's computer. He offered to introduce his in-game wife to them soon. His roommates, surprised that "Third Brother" had finally shown "mortal desires," eagerly logged into the game to meet the mysterious woman.

Weiwei found herself surrounded by a sudden influx of people, which confused her. Yixiao Naihe introduced them as his regular team: Mo Zhata, Houzi Jiu, and Yu Gong. Weiwei greeted them politely. The friends were thrilled to have a "Third Sister-in-Law," joking that they would no longer be considered the "Bachelor Team." Mo Zhata recognized Luwei Weiwei's username from the rankings and asked if she was Zhenshui Wuxiang's former wife.

Before Weiwei could fully respond, Yixiao Naihe interjected, explaining that she "was attached to the wrong person" and asked them not to discriminate. His friends quickly understood, remarking that "everyone encounters a few scumbags in life." They assured Weiwei that their "Third Brother" was definitely better than her previous partner. Mo Zhata then suggested they run a dungeon together to foster camaraderie.

After completing the dungeon, the friends praised Luwei Weiwei's excellent combat skills, noting how few people could coordinate so well with them. They eagerly asked when the wedding banquet would be held. Yixiao Naihe confirmed it was "the day after tomorrow." Weiwei offered to reschedule if he had other plans, but he declined, explaining that "the day after tomorrow is an auspicious day for the occasion."

Yu Gong was astonished that he would pick an auspicious day for an in-game marriage. Later that day, Weiwei was preoccupied with the upcoming in-game wedding, frequently checking her phone for the time. Erxi reminded her that there was also a basketball game scheduled for that day. Weiwei, worried about missing her appointment with Yixiao Naihe, considered skipping the game.

However, her friends insisted, reminding her of their "group for the Master" and the need for the few Computer Science girls to support their seniors. Weiwei eventually agreed, promising to return early. At the basketball court, Xiaoling's boyfriend, Da Zhong, greeted them, expressing surprise at their early arrival. Da Zhong explained that everyone, including Meng Yiran, had come early because they thought Senior Xiao would be playing. Weiwei asked about Xiao Nai's arrival, expecting him to be warming up.

Da Zhong then revealed that Xiao Nai would likely not be attending, and the poster they had seen was merely a ploy by the team to attract spectators, with Xiao Nai's name never explicitly mentioned—it was all the students' "imagination." Disappointed by the "false advertising," Weiwei and her friends decided to head back to their dorms before grabbing a meal at the cafeteria.

Meanwhile, on the same day, Xiao Nai, representing Zhi Yi Technology, arrived at a gaming entrepreneurship interactive conference. Yu Gong noted the presence of many industry "big shots" and VIPs. Xiao Nai presented their new mobile game, highlighting its innovative blend of multiple playing styles, real-time action, dynamic battles, rich gameplay, and a comprehensive three-dimensional social ecosystem. He emphasized its ability to offer both deep immersion for serious gamers and the casual ease of mobile gaming.

His presentation garnered significant interest from several tech company executives. One CEO expressed surprise that Xiao Nai was still a student—a senior at Tsinghua University—and praised his youthful talent, inviting him to discuss potential collaborations at his company. Xiao Nai graciously accepted. Another executive from Zhen Yi Technologies also commended Xiao Nai's presentation and invited him for a meeting the following Thursday, which Xiao Nai also agreed to attend.

Satisfied with the day's promising outcome, Xiao Nai reminded his team that it was time for his in-game "appointment." Weiwei and Xiao Nai both rushed back to their dorms to log into the game. Yixiao Naihe’s friends welcomed Luwei Weiwei, who apologized for being late, but Yixiao Naihe assured her he had just arrived as well. Weiwei was surprised to see so many players, including leaders of major guilds. She asked Yixiao Naihe why they were there.

One of the guild leaders explained that Yixiao Naihe had once done him a great favor, so he brought his entire guild to celebrate. Another mentioned that everyone was looking forward to Yixiao Naihe’s "red envelopes." Weiwei, seeing the massive crowd, worried that the "Master" might go bankrupt from distributing so many red envelopes. Yixiao Naihe presented Weiwei with a "betrothal gift," which she initially declined, but he explained it would be useful for future PK duels.

Weiwei then offered him a "dowry," to which Yixiao Naihe remarked it was "a bit inadequate" but promised to "make up for it later," though Weiwei assured him his presence was enough. As the auspicious moment arrived, the system announced that "Luwei Weiwei and Yixiao Naihe have taken the eternal vow to enter into marriage."

Yixiao Naihe, mounted on a grand horse, and Luwei Weiwei, in a vibrant red bridal robe, rode through Chang’an City in an eight-person palanquin, followed by a vast procession of players. Yixiao Naihe's friends celebrated, humorously noting that even their eternally single "Third Brother" finally had a wife. However, the "Xiaoyu's family" guild began to spread gossip.

Modao Shixue commented that Luwei Weiwei had "just been dumped," and that Yixiao Naihe, the server's top player, had "picked up a pair of old and used shoes." Others chimed in, stating that Yixiao Naihe should be paired with Xiaoyu Yaoyao, the "top beauty," as they would make a better couple.

Some even claimed to have seen Yixiao Naihe and Xiaoyu Yaoyao together, hinting at a past relationship and concluding that Yixiao Naihe and Luwei Weiwei were just "a couple of spiteful spouses." Yixiao Naihe's friends quickly defended Luwei Weiwei. Weiwei, hearing the rumors, quietly asked Yixiao Naihe if he knew Xiaoyu Yaoyao. He denied it.

When she mentioned people had seen them together, he clarified that Yu Gong had once added Xiaoyu Yaoyao to their team, but Yixiao Naihe had "kicked her out" due to her "shabby skills." He then led Weiwei on a serene tour of the game's scenic locations, completing their "couple quest." Weiwei, observing the full moon, wondered if they were on a "honeymoon," acknowledging Yixiao Naihe’s dedication.

In the cafeteria, Erxi showed Weiwei a new post on the school forum titled "Campus Beauty Exits Luxury Car, My Worldview Crumbles." Weiwei was shocked to see herself in the blurred photo. She remembered that day, explaining it was the mother of the boy she was tutoring who had kindly given her a ride. She expressed frustration that someone would post such "baseless rumors" without understanding the situation.

While Erxi noted the poster had at least blurred her face, Weiwei decided they needed to identify the person. By tracing the poster's ID, she discovered his main account name was "Guangmang Sishe." Erxi recognized the name, identifying him as Cao Guang, a talented student from the Foreign Language Department. Weiwei, not knowing Cao Guang, wondered why he would post such a thing. Weiwei immediately went to the School of Foreign Languages to confront Cao Guang.

She introduced herself and declared she was there to "save his worldview." She presented him with a picture of herself with the boy she tutored and explained the situation: she was the boy's home tutor, the woman was his single mother, and she had simply received a ride as it was on her way. Weiwei admonished him for making "malicious inferences" and posting them online "without any proof."

When Cao Guang asked what she wanted, she demanded he delete the post and apologize. Cao Guang remained skeptical, suggesting that Computer Science students like her could easily photoshop images. He also implied that he specifically suspected her, not every woman in a luxury car. Weiwei retorted that he "crudely rushes to judgment based on appearance."

She then handed him a piece of paper with an address, telling him her student needed an English tutor and he could "try out for it" to "confirm with his own eyes." Back at her dorm, Weiwei recounted the confrontation to Erxi, who was indignant that Cao Guang still didn't believe her. Later, while Weiwei was studying, Yixiao Naihe messaged her to come to the Heavenly Palace.

There, she found Modao Shixue tied to a pillar, immobilized by a "Swing Set Chain" skill. Yixiao Naihe instructed her to use her weakest weapon to "teach him a lesson" for insulting her earlier by calling her "broken shoes." Modao Shixue, recognizing Weiwei, cursed Yixiao Naihe and challenged him to kill him swiftly instead of torturing him with a woman. Weiwei retrieved her "beginner's equipment set" and began slowly attacking Modao Shixue in auto mode.

Modao Shixue complained it would take forever. Yixiao Naihe then revealed his even more "savage" plan: he would heal Modao Shixue whenever his health was low, ensuring he wouldn't die. Weiwei realized Modao Shixue was on a "chain quest" that would reset if he logged off or died, effectively trapping him in this agonizing loop. As Yixiao Naihe stepped away to take a phone call, Weiwei decided to use the time to work on her exam paper.

Soon after, members of "Xiaoyu's family" passed by and noticed the scene. They recognized Modao Shixue and questioned Yixiao Naihe, calling him a "high-level master" bullying a "low-level player" and criticizing the "two against one" tactic. They demanded to know the "personal dispute." Yixiao Naihe coldly responded that they were "settling a personal dispute" and advised the "passerby" to "continue to pass by." When they insisted it was "just a game," Yixiao Naihe issued a chilling warning: "Those who don't want to die should disappear immediately!"

Episode 3 Recap

Xiaoyu's family, specifically Mianmian, arrived and argued with Yixiao Naihe about bullying low-level players. Luwei Weiwei proposed a PK duel based on martial arts protocol: three of them against her and Yixiao Naihe, and if they won, Modao Shixue would be released and never bothered again. Surprisingly, Yixiao Naihe told Luwei Weiwei to rest and said he would handle all three of them alone.

While this was happening, Modao Shixue, who had gone offline to take a shower, returned and tried to intervene, telling Mianmian that he didn't need help and it was good to settle grudges. Mianmian and her companions, feeling unappreciated, left. Modao Shixue then asked Luwei Weiwei to continue his punishment, even offering to wash clothes while waiting. Seeing Modao Shixue's amenable attitude, Luwei Weiwei decided it wasn't worth wasting more time or money.

She declared the grudge settled and went off to gather herbs, leaving Modao Shixue still tied. Curious, Luwei Weiwei asked Yixiao Naihe how he knew Modao Shixue was on a chain quest. Yixiao Naihe logically explained that he had seen Modao Shixue searching for spirit beast skill manuscripts in the world chat earlier that afternoon, which he recognized as part of the 236th step of a chain quest, and even knew the specific NPC, Wunan Dai.

He also revealed that he deliberately waited to confront Modao Shixue until the 299th and final step of his quest, believing it would be more memorable for him to fail at the very end. Luwei Weiwei was greatly impressed by his powerful memory and deductive reasoning. She thanked him, explaining that she had been unhappy earlier due to other matters and had hidden her feelings from her roommates, but his actions had suddenly made her very happy.

Yixiao Naihe smiled, pleased by her happiness. Later, Xiaoyu Mianmian and two companions rushed to Yaoyao to complain that Luwei Weiwei, whom they called an "ugly girl," had bullied them again. Yaoyao advised them to avoid conflicts, as they were soon to join the Jade Seas Guild, making them all guild members. Still upset, Mianmian suggested that Yaoyao participate in the official video contest.

She proposed they film a video together for Zhenshui Wuxiang and Yaoyao to win, specifically to infuriate Luwei Weiwei. The contest involved recording an in-game love story, voted on by players, with the grand prize being a rare seven-colored couple's outfit. Yaoyao, however, was hesitant, not wanting to publicize their feud across the entire server, especially if Zhenshui Wuxiang didn't agree. Seeing Yaoyao's reluctance, Mianmian redirected, suggesting they check out other outfits available for purchase.

Zhenshui Wuxiang then logged off, mentioning he had plans to eat with his cousin. Yu Banshan easily repaired Meng Yiran's computer. When he finished, Na Na, Meng Yiran's friend, discreetly questioned Yu Banshan to confirm if Xiao Nai knew about the repair and that it was for Meng Yiran. Yu Banshan confirmed before leaving, annoyed by her persistent questioning.

Meng Yiran emerged from the bathroom, furious, and blamed Na Na for giving her a "lousy idea," believing Xiao Nai had discovered her intentions and was now embarrassed. Na Na tried to reassure Meng Yiran, claiming that Yu Banshan had told her Xiao Nai was simply busy and regretted not coming, and promised they would find another chance. Just then, Meng Yiran received a phone call from her cousin, Zhen Shaoxiang, inviting her to dinner.

Initially, she declined, citing her bad mood. However, Na Na, excited, urged her to accept, suggesting it was a good opportunity to cheer up and seek advice on how to pursue someone. Meng Yiran agreed, demanding a lavish meal, and Zhen Shaoxiang confirmed their dinner for 6:30 PM. During dinner, Zhen Shaoxiang noticed Meng Yiran's continued low spirits.

Na Na then explained that Meng Yiran was interested in a Computer Science student named Xiao Nai from their university, who had not shown up to fix her computer, leaving Meng Yiran feeling rejected. Zhen Shaoxiang reassured his cousin, highlighting her beauty, personality, and family background, believing no man could refuse her. Meng Yiran clarified that Xiao Nai was a reclusive genius, unlike other men.

Upon hearing the name Xiao Nai, Zhen Shaoxiang recognized him as the head of Zhi Yi Technology. He then revealed that his father's company was planning to acquire Zhi Yi Technology to expand into the online gaming sector, which would include acquiring Xiao Nai's entire team. Excited by this news, Meng Yiran immediately seized the opportunity, urging her cousin to arrange an internship for her at her uncle's company.

Na Na quickly specified that it should be an assistant position in the Gaming Development Department to maximize her chances of working with Xiao Nai. Zhen Shaoxiang, intrigued by Xiao Nai's seemingly captivating nature, agreed to speak with his father. Zhao Erxi excitedly announced to her roommates that they had all received interview notices for summer internships at Zhen Yi Technology's Gaming Development Department.

She had submitted their resumes, and to their surprise, everyone in their dorm had passed the initial screening. The interviews were scheduled for Thursday, leaving them time to prepare. They enthusiastically debated what attire would be appropriate, oscillating between "office lady" professionalism, "energetic student" charm, and ultimately deciding on a "techie geek" style, deemed fitting for a game development role. Zhen Yi Technology arranged a meeting with Xiao Nai to discuss acquiring his team's game.

Meng Yiran, determined to see Xiao Nai, insisted on staying in her uncle, CEO Zhen's, office as a "temporary receptionist," despite her cousin Zhen Shaoxiang's attempts to remove her. During the meeting, CEO Zhen expressed keen interest in Zhi Yi Technology's project. He offered three million yuan to acquire the game's copyright and invited Xiao Nai's entire team to join Zhen Yi Technology to complete the project, promising substantial salaries.

Director Li from the Gaming Investment Department endorsed the proposal, noting that Zhen Yi Technology had similar concepts in development and would welcome Xiao Nai's leadership. Xiao Nai stated that his team would consider the offer. CEO Zhen, discovering Xiao Nai was also a Qing University student, proudly introduced his niece, Meng Yiran, as a popular student from the same university.

Xiao Nai, however, politely stated he had never met her, prompting CEO Zhen to jokingly remark that Xiao Nai must be entirely devoted to his studies and career. After the meeting, Xiao Nai and his team privately discussed Zhen Yi Technology's offer, perceiving it as an attempt to "buy out their rights" and manipulate them. Xiao Nai hinted at retaliating with "unconventional means" and emphasized the need to accelerate their project's development.

As Xiao Nai was leaving, Meng Yiran stopped him, apologizing for her uncle's "old-fashioned thinking" and offering to help negotiate better terms. Xiao Nai graciously declined, stating it was merely "business" and that her intervention might be inappropriate given her family ties. He then departed. Zhen Shaoxiang confronted Meng Yiran, criticizing her interest in Xiao Nai, whom he described as "a pauper with an arrogant attitude," and warned that her parents would disapprove.

Meng Yiran, however, defiantly declared that his independent spirit only made her like him more, confident her parents would eventually agree. She implored Zhen Shaoxiang again to convince their uncle to collaborate with Xiao Nai, but he refused, citing his lack of authority in his father's company. Meng Yiran vowed to find her own way to persuade her uncle. Meanwhile, Weiwei and her three roommates arrived at Zhen Yi Technology for their summer internship interviews.

After Erxi, curious about the interview questions, discreetly gathered information, she learned that they would be asked about their gaming experience and game IDs. Since only Weiwei was an avid gamer, Weiwei quickly devised a plan, instructing her roommates to use her alternate game accounts with similar "Luwei" themed names, like Luwei Yipian, Yipian Luwei, and Luwei Luwei, explaining that it was normal for roommates to have similar names. She promised to provide special training if needed.

As Zhao Erxi was called in, Meng Yiran spotted Weiwei and her friends in the lobby. Seizing an opportunity, she pulled Zhen Shaoxiang into the interview room, suggesting they "listen in" as a way to understand the candidates and for her to demonstrate her value to her uncle. During Erxi's interview, she confidently expressed her interest in game development. However, when asked about her gaming experience and the game she was currently playing, Erxi became flustered.

Forgetting the alternate account name Weiwei had given her, she blurted out "Luwei Weiwei" for her Red-Clothed Female Blade Master character in "A Chinese Ghost Story." Zhen Shaoxiang, who was present, was visibly startled at the mention of the name, recognizing it as his former in-game wife, Luwei Weiwei. Erxi noticed his peculiar reaction and immediately panicked, realizing she had revealed Weiwei's main account and fearing exposure or that he might be one of Weiwei's in-game enemies.

After their interviews concluded, as Weiwei and her friends were leaving, Yu Banshan spotted Weiwei's group and pointed out "department beauty" Bei Weiwei to Xiao Nai, recalling her strong performance in the previous year's school beauty contest. Xiao Nai subtly smiled, remarking that the "department beauty is very good. To be too full is to lose," suggesting a preference for understated excellence. Weiwei then rushed off to her tutoring session, bringing Cao Guang along.

At the house, Weiwei's young student, Xiao Yang, a bright and tech-savvy boy, immediately expressed his dislike for Cao Guang, finding him "not very smart." Weiwei attempted to introduce Cao Guang as a potential English tutor, but Xiao Yang rebuffed the idea, stating he disliked foreign languages and preferred Weiwei's teaching. Xiao Yang had a unique way of opening the door for Weiwei, using a series of knocks that Cao Guang didn't understand.

Xiao Yang explained that Weiwei had taught him Morse code as a secret safety measure when he was home alone. As Weiwei and Cao Guang were leaving, Xiao Yang secretly told Weiwei that he had "tested" Cao Guang and found him "not very good." He then playfully suggested that Weiwei was old enough to date and showed her a photo of Xiao Nai on his phone, declaring him a suitable match and a fellow schoolmate.

Outside, Cao Guang, having observed Weiwei's interactions with Xiao Yang and witnessing her character firsthand, finally realized his misunderstanding. He immediately deleted the slanderous post he had published online and sincerely apologized to Weiwei.

Episode 4 Recap

Cao Guang approached Weiwei to apologize for his previous actions, stating he had already deleted the post he made about her. Weiwei accepted his apology, and when Cao Guang remarked that she was not what he had imagined, she responded that one should not judge a person solely based on assumptions. Cao Guang then inquired about Xiao Yang's legs. Weiwei explained that Xiao Yang had lost his father and the ability to walk in a car accident.

Cao Guang questioned the appropriateness of teaching a child like Xiao Yang to play games, but Weiwei clarified that it was Xiao Yang who taught her. She admitted she used to be prejudiced against games, thinking they were a waste of time. However, when Xiao Yang's mother sought her help to change his gaming habits, Weiwei decided to understand games first.

This experience changed her perspective, leading her to believe that games are a universe in themselves, neither inherently good nor bad. For individuals like Xiao Yang who cannot venture outside, games offer a way to experience new sights and connect with others. Weiwei shared that her only influence on Xiao Yang was shifting his interest towards game development, and inspired by him, her own goal was now to become a game designer.

Meanwhile, Zhao Erxi was in their dorm, diligently playing "A Chinese Ghost Story" to prepare for an upcoming interview. She explained to Weiwei that she had to quickly learn the game to cover up a lie she told during her previous interview, fearing exposure if she got the job and proved clueless. Erxi decided to play on a new server called "Godly Sister," believing it would be easier for a newbie like her to catch up with other beginners.

Weiwei, checking the game's official website for news on the Couple PK Competition, stumbled upon a "Storyline Video Competition." She clicked on a video featuring Zhenshui Wuxiang. The video depicted a clichéd hero-saving-beauty scenario, but then a red-clad female character named "Luweiweiwei" appeared, pursuing Zhenshui Wuxiang with exaggerated crying and distress, making a spectacle of herself. Recognizing the distorted portrayal of her own game ID, "Luwei Weiwei," Weiwei was incensed.

She immediately logged into the game and sent Zhenshui Wuxiang a message, expressing her disgust at his attempt to defame her through the video. Still fuming, she slammed her laptop shut and went to sleep. In their dorm, Xiao Nai’s roommates, Yu Banshan and others, were already aware of Zhenshui Wuxiang’s video, which they angrily described as "making fun of our Third Sister-in-Law."

They complained about Zhenshui’s narcissism and his inferior looks compared to Xiao Nai, speculating that Zhenshui, an heir from a rich family, had ulterior motives. When one of them mentioned how a server mate had claimed Weiwei was dumped by Zhenshui Wuxiang, they were infuriated. His roommates suggested that Xiao Nai hack the offending post.

However, Xiao Nai calmly instructed them to leave the post alone, stating that he would resolve the issue in a civilized manner, planning to wait for Zhenshui Wuxiang to come online the next day. The following morning, Zhao Erxi rushed to class late after breakfast, only to find Cao Guang occupying the seat she had reserved. When he ignored her pleas to move, Erxi’s exasperation escalated into a shout that drew the attention of the entire classroom and the professor.

She eventually squeezed into another seat, only for it to prove broken, causing her to awkwardly slide around. Muttering about her lousy luck and running into a jerk, Erxi’s frustration boiled over when Cao Guang continued to taunt her. She finally snapped and kicked him in the chest, prompting the professor to intervene. When Weiwei logged into the game, she was immediately informed about a duel challenge Yixiao Naihe had sent to Zhenshui Wuxiang.

Rushing to the dueling arena, she found Yixiao Naihe calmly playing his zither, awaiting Zhenshui Wuxiang's arrival. Although Zhenshui Wuxiang was online, he seemed to be deliberately avoiding the challenge. Weiwei’s friends explained that the duel was a result of Zhenshui Wuxiang’s defamatory video. They noted that Yixiao Naihe's challenge was intentionally provocative, offering Zhenshui two rounds and declaring him the winner if he could win just one, while Yixiao Naihe would even voluntarily remove two divine-grade equipment items.

They scoffed, saying Zhenshui wouldn't be a man if he refused. Eventually, Zhenshui Wuxiang appeared with his Xiaoyu clan members. Despite Zhenshui Wuxiang's best efforts, Yixiao Naihe effortlessly defeated him. Zhenshui Wuxiang conceded defeat, agreeing to delete the video. He stated that the two levels he lost would serve as compensation for Weiwei, thus settling their past grievances.

After the crowd dispersed, Yixiao Naihe explained to Weiwei that while she should have handled the matter herself, too many people were watching, and he preferred to resolve it quickly. Weiwei couldn’t help but feel a trace of sweetness in her heart, realizing that Yixiao Naihe was subtly explaining his actions to her. Later, while jogging, Weiwei encountered Cao Guang, who once again apologized for the photo incident and offered to treat her to a meal.

Weiwei politely declined, stating that clearing things up was enough and he should simply avoid similar actions in the future. Cao Guang awkwardly tried to express his happiness at meeting her and then asked if she had a boyfriend. Weiwei responded that she did not, nor did she plan to get one. Back in the dorm, Zhao Erxi vehemently warned Weiwei against Cao Guang, citing his questionable integrity based on the photo incident and his recent behavior in class.

She declared that despite his good looks and talent, second only to Xiao Nai at their university, she disliked him and was sure Weiwei would too. Weiwei confirmed she didn't like Cao Guang. Erxi then light-heartedly joked that if Weiwei couldn't find anyone suitable, she would have to marry Master Xiao Nai. Weiwei, observing Xiao Nai coolly walking past a girl attempting to give him a love letter, had an idea.

She decided to use Xiao Nai's name to politely but firmly reject Cao Guang. Weiwei met Cao Guang in a secluded campus spot and told him she understood his feelings but felt they weren't compatible. When he insisted on pursuing her, she revealed she already had someone in mind—someone from the Computer Science Department, as exceptional as Xiao Nai, with whom she could share a common language.

Unbeknownst to Weiwei, Nana, who was hiding nearby, overheard the conversation and quickly rushed to inform Meng Yiran that Weiwei also harbored feelings for Xiao Nai. Undeterred by Weiwei's rejection, Cao Guang's roommates encouraged him to pursue Weiwei by adapting to her interests. Recognizing Weiwei's passion for games, Cao Guang decided to find out her game ID. Later, at the basketball court, Cao Guang spotted Xiao Nai. He walked up to Xiao Nai and challenged him to a game. Xiao Nai, with a calm demeanor, accepted the challenge.

Episode 5 Recap

A basketball match commenced between Cao Guang and Xiao Nai. Despite Cao Guang's determined defense, Xiao Nai effortlessly broke through and scored. Cao Guang, panting, admitted defeat. As Xiao Nai walked off the court, his roommates informed him that Cao Guang had challenged him because he was pursuing Weiwei, the Department Beauty Queen of their computer science department.

Hearing this, Xiao Nai threw down his towel and declared he wanted to play another game, stating that he had held back earlier. This time, Xiao Nai played with full force, leaving Cao Guang no chance to defend, captivating the crowd. Later, in their dorm room, Xiao Ling and Si Si gossiped about Xiao Nai moving back into the dorms.

Erxi casually revealed that she and Weiwei had known for a while, having witnessed Xiao Nai coolly reject a love letter from a girl without even a glance. Si Si admired Xiao Nai's cool demeanor, while Erxi wondered what kind of girl would be his ideal type. Meanwhile, Weiwei felt a fleeting guilt about her previous words to Cao Guang but quickly dismissed it, confident that Xiao Nai would never find out.

An in-game message from Yixiao Naihe invited Luwei Weiwei to defeat a boss. Upon her arrival, Yixiao Naihe, Yu Gong, and other teammates were already waiting. Yu Gong was thrilled to have found the rare Boss Meng and encouraged Weiwei to join the attack.

Weiwei explained that if only female players attacked the Boss, its power would be halved due to its "protective instinct," but if both male and female players attacked, its power would increase by half due to "jealousy." Curious, Yu Gong asked Weiwei to strike the boss. As soon as Weiwei attacked, the Boss began to explicitly harass her. Amused and disgusted, the team quickly defeated the boss. The loot, however, was disappointing and consisted of unremarkable items.

Inspired by the boss fight, Weiwei proposed a plot for her video contest entry. Her story featured a zither musician traveling to the capital who is captured by a female bandit in the forest. The bandit falls in love with him and treats him exceptionally well, yet he remains unhappy. Eventually, she releases him but, unable to bear his departure, secretly follows him. When a monster attacks the musician, the female bandit bravely intervenes, sustaining injuries to save him.

The musician, finally moved, accepts her, and they return to her stronghold to marry. However, during their wedding, imperial soldiers storm the stronghold. As the female bandit bravely fights, the musician shockingly draws a dagger and stabs her, revealing himself to be an imperial soldier on a mission to eradicate the bandits. When a subordinate questions his act, the musician replies, "Rather than making her live with hatred for me, death is better."

Weiwei then consulted Yixiao Naihe, asking if the ending should include the musician realizing his love for the female bandit and ultimately jumping off a cliff to die with her. To Weiwei's surprise, Yixiao Naihe readily accepted her proposed ending, and they began recording the video. During a break, Weiwei inquired if the male players were roommates, to which Yu Gong confirmed they shared a dorm. Weiwei found it somewhat inconceivable that "Master" Yixiao Naihe was a student like her.

She then asked if they were all Computer Science majors, and Yu Gong confirmed it, prompting Weiwei to reveal that she, too, was a Computer Science student. Yu Gong jokingly wondered if she was a "tough and brawny" female underclassman, to which Xiao Nai interjected that she could also be a male. Erxi, having registered a new game account with the ID "Huantian Xidi," found herself repeatedly dying during the beginner's tasks in "A Chinese Ghost Story".

She reluctantly turned to Weiwei for help. While Weiwei was assisting Erxi, Na Na, who had been tasked by Cao Guang to discover Weiwei's game account, arrived at their dorm, posing as a work-study student selling face masks. Observing Weiwei's computer screen, Na Na saw Erxi's ID "Huantian Xidi," and mistakenly believed it to be Weiwei's account. She promptly called Cao Guang to report her "findings."

Cao Guang, despite his recent basketball loss to Xiao Nai, inwardly vowed not to lose Weiwei to him. Meanwhile, having learned from Na Na that Weiwei also likes Xiao Nai, Meng Yiran visits Zhenyi Technology's Human Resources department. Feigning concern about the intern hiring process, she subtly instructs the HR specialist to ensure that Weiwei and all her roommates are rejected.

Before class, Xiao Nai had a discussion with his father, Professor Xiao, who initially expressed concern about Xiao Nai "wasting his talent" on game development. Xiao Nai defended his passion, explaining that games, like his father's books, were a powerful medium for conveying ideas and creating imaginative worlds. He clarified that game development was a short-term plan, not a lifelong goal. Convinced, Professor Xiao offered his support.

Xiao Nai then announced his intention to attend his father's elective course the following week to boost its notoriously low attendance rate. The next week, Weiwei found herself attending Professor Xiao's history elective. She was startled when Xiao Nai entered and intentionally chose the seat beside her, making her feel as though she were dreaming. News of Xiao Nai's presence quickly spread among the students, transforming the usually empty classroom into a packed lecture hall.

Professor Xiao, realizing his son was the main attraction, playfully challenged the students with a question. Coincidentally, he called on Weiwei, who delivered a detailed and insightful answer that greatly impressed Professor Xiao. Back in their dorm, Weiwei's roommates, Si Si and Xiao Ling, excitedly interrogated her about the class. Weiwei revealed that Xiao Nai had indeed sat next to her. They lamented missing the opportunity and pressed Weiwei about whether she had spoken to him. Weiwei confessed that she had only exchanged two phrases: "No" and "Thank you," leading her roommates to jokingly despair at her missed chance to engage more with him.

Episode 6 Recap

Cao Guang diligently logged into "A Chinese Ghost Story", searching through each server for the in-game character "Huan Tian Xi Di." His roommates marveled at his persistence, with one jokingly asking if the sun had risen in the west. Cao Guang confirmed his quest, stating he knew her ID, making his roommates offer him an "Eastbroc Super Drink" to aid in his tiring search.

Meanwhile, Weiwei opened her computer and saw that Xiao Nai had already sent their collaborative video, "Lady Bandit's Abduction of Her Lover". She started watching it intently, unaware that Xiao Nai was observing her reaction from behind a bookshelf in the same room. Weiwei noticed that Xiao Nai had added animations and fitting sound effects, changing the previously straightforward ending—where the zither musician jumped off Dusk Glow Peak with the female bandit's body—into a much more melodramatic conclusion.

Weiwei found herself moved to tears by the revised ending and felt embarrassed. She immediately logged into the game and asked Yixiao Naihe why he had altered the ending. He replied that he did it to meet the competition's rule of doubling rewards for videos longer than half an hour, explaining that the original ending wasn't suitable for adding enough flashbacks to "water down" the content and extend the duration.

Weiwei realized that the emotional ending that had almost made her cry was simply a pragmatic choice by the Master to meet a time threshold, making her feel naive for being so moved. She then uploaded the video to the official forum, where it received widespread praise, mostly for its touching ending.

Feeling awkward about taking credit as the writer, she mentioned it to Yixiao Naihe, who was unconcerned and simply asked her to notify him when the results were out. Later, in her dorm, Weiwei found Erxi still playing in Pu Village, despite Weiwei having helped her level up to 30. Erxi explained she enjoyed feeling "supreme" among the clumsy newbies there, cherishing the feeling of superiority.

Suddenly, Erxi, playing as "Huan Tian Xi Di," heard a newbie crying for help, surrounded by monsters. Erxi panicked and called for Weiwei's assistance. Weiwei quickly dispatched the monsters. The rescued newbie immediately knelt and asked "Huan Tian Xi Di" to take him as a disciple. Erxi, pleased by the praise, agreed to take him in.

She later boasted to her roommates about her heroic deed and gaining a disciple, earning a light tap from Si Si for her exaggerated pride. In the game, Leishen Nini messaged Luwei Weiwei, asking if she would consider withdrawing from the video contest for a large sum of money. Weiwei immediately guessed it was Zhenshui Wuxiang, noting that if she withdrew, Enchantress Xiao Yu would directly benefit from the "Rainbow Garment" prize.

Nini confirmed, explaining that Enchantress Xiao Yu really liked the garment, and Zhenshui Wuxiang felt awkward asking directly after their previous in-game conflict. Weiwei, feigning indifference to money, scoffed that if Zhenshui Wuxiang intended to offer hundreds of thousands, he should be advised not to make a fool of himself, implying the amount was too low. Nini was surprised, stating Zhenshui Wuxiang was probably thinking in thousands or tens of thousands, and asked if Weiwei was truly that wealthy.

Weiwei casually replied she "kept a low profile." Nini, seeing Weiwei’s disinterest, dropped the offer, but added that she only asked because Zhenshui Wuxiang genuinely loved Enchantress Xiao Yu. Nini revealed that Zhenshui Wuxiang and Yaoyao had met in real life and were now a couple living in the capital city. She offered to show Weiwei a photo of them, but Weiwei politely declined, stating she wasn't interested.

The video contest results were announced, and Luwei Weiwei and Yixiao Naihe's "Lady Bandit's Abduction of Her Lover" proudly secured first place. The system instantly delivered their prizes. Their in-game friends excitedly urged them to try on the new outfits and cycle through the colors. Yixiao Naihe tried on six colors but refused to wear the green one.

Weiwei realized that he probably found the green headwear inauspicious, finding it amusing that "the Great Master" would care about such minor superstitions. In front of her computer, Weiwei couldn't help but ponder her feelings for Yixiao Naihe. She wondered if she would be willing to exchange photos or meet him in person if he suggested it, admitting to herself that she likely would. At the same time, Yu Banshan received a phone call.

The caller introduced herself as Secretary Li from Zhen Yi Technology's Game Development Department. She informed Yu Banshan that their Director Li had a high regard for him and wanted to arrange a private meal. Yu Banshan shared the news with Xiao Nai and the others.

Xiao Nai revealed Zhen Yi Technology's notorious history of corporate espionage: years ago, they had failed to acquire a small company's successful mobile card game, so they poached the entire development team and launched a similar game ahead of the original. Xiao Nai suggested that Zhen Yi Technology was likely trying to repeat this tactic. As they headed to the dining hall, the roommates fussed over their appearances, anticipating female attention due to Xiao Nai's presence.

At the dining hall, Xiao Nai's arrival caused a stir, attracting numerous admiring glances, including from Erxi and Weiwei. Erxi, thrilled to be queuing in the same dining hall line as Xiao Nai, declared her luck unbelievable. Weiwei, inspired, decided she would order whatever Xiao Nai ordered.

During their meal, Weiwei couldn't shake a feeling of guilt, observing that ever since she had lied to Cao Guang about liking Xiao Nai, she seemed to encounter Xiao Nai more and more frequently. Later, in the game, Yixiao Naihe was planning to take Weiwei to complete the final stage of the "Divine Eagle Couple" task, a notoriously challenging quest that no couple on their server had ever successfully finished.

Episode 7 Recap

Luwei Weiwei found herself in a pitch-black area within the game, receiving a system message that declared this the final challenge of the "Legend of the Condor Heroes." Her partner, Yixiao Naihe, had to find her within 16 hours, or the mission would fail. Outside the game, Bei Weiwei was perplexed, noting that this location wasn't even on the game's map. Yixiao Naihe soon messaged her, confirming he also received the mission and asking her to describe her surroundings.

Weiwei responded that it was "very dark, very dark, very dark," with no visual clues, but she could hear the sound of running water. She later informed him that the official website's only tip for this challenge was to "rely on a couple's telepathy." While Weiwei was at a loss, Naihe simply indicated he understood. As Weiwei, unable to find anything in the darkness, decided to work on her exam papers, Naihe began his search.

Yixiao Naihe's journey led him to a precipice where he encountered a Taoist priest. The priest explained that he had been searching for his junior brother but was trapped there for 30 years by a Go game. Naihe easily solved the intricate game. In gratitude, the Taoist presented him with a secret manuscript for passing the "Lovelorn Maneuver" formation and a jade pendant, asking him to deliver it to his junior brother if their paths ever crossed.

After traversing a chasm, Naihe entered the formation. A system message warned that to rescue Weiwei, he had to challenge the Master of the Paired Lovebirds, and failure would result in his cultivation resetting to zero. Naihe accepted the daunting challenge without hesitation. The Master, who was the Taoist's junior brother, recognized the jade pendant on Naihe's waist and realized he had misunderstood his senior brother.

He then informed Naihe that his partner was at the bottom of the valley and granted him the "Paired Lovebirds," two phoenixes that had been his companions for three decades, to take him to Weiwei. Yixiao Naihe descended to find Luwei Weiwei. A system announcement declared their triumphant completion of the "Condor Couple's Quest," awarding them the title of "First Immortal Couple" and the first pair of two-person flying mounts in the game, the Paired Lovebirds.

The news caused a sensation across the server, with players buzzing about the new mounts. Weiwei playfully commented that the phoenixes looked "a little fat" and wondered if they could truly fly. When she asked how Naihe had managed to find her, he explained that while she was struggling, he had simply taken a screenshot of the extensive tips that flashed on the screen for only a few seconds.

As they soared through the sky on their new mounts, Naihe inquired about Weiwei leaving her guild, Bìhǎi Cháoshēng Gé. She recounted how Guild Leader Zhan Tianxia had sided with Xiaoyu Qingqing after Qingqing falsely accused Weiwei of kill-stealing. When Weiwei argued back, Zhan Tianxia, feeling disrespected, brought up an old incident where Weiwei sold potions at the Vermilion Bird Bridge during Zhenshui Wuxiang and Xiaoyu Yaoyao's wedding, claiming she used guild materials.

Weiwei sharply retorted that she had gathered all the herbs herself. She then confronted Xiaoyu Qingqing, demanding an apology and threatening to kill-steal her bosses whenever she saw her. When Xiaoyu's supporters ganged up on her, Weiwei, feeling the guild had changed beyond recognition, decided to leave. Naihe calmly told her it was for the best and that they could now roam the martial world together. His words made Weiwei feel a sweet sensation.

Later, her roommate Xiao Ling noticed Weiwei smiling at her computer and teasingly remarked that she looked like someone who was truly in love online. Meanwhile, Zhen Yi Technology attempted to poach Yu Banshan, offering him a lucrative monthly salary of 120,000 yuan to leave Xiao Nai's team. Meng Yiran confronted her uncle, Zhen Yi's General Manager, accusing him of unethical poaching.

Her uncle dismissed her concerns, explaining that such tactics were common in business and that once they poached Xiao Nai's team, Xiao Nai himself would inevitably follow. Back in their dorm, Yu Banshan dramatically recounted the job offer to his roommates. Xiao Nai, unconcerned, showed his friends photos of their newly renovated office, fueling their excitement about having their own company.

When a roommate requested a beautiful female receptionist, Xiao Nai revealed it was unlikely, as he had just hired Ah Shuang, an expert programmer with severe gynophobia. Xiao Nai then explained that his initial engagement with Zhen Yi was not for collaboration but a strategic move to "test their bottom line."

He informed his team that Feng Teng Technologies was looking for partners to develop a new "A Chinese Ghost Story," and Zhen Yi, being a major competitor, needed to be understood. Later, while tutoring Xiao Yang, Weiwei rewarded him for his correct answers by letting him watch her play. Seeing Xiaoyu Qingqing fighting a monster, Weiwei, recalling the false accusations, decided to playfully kill-steal the boss. To her surprise, she obtained a rare "Diamond."

Xiaoyu Qingqing immediately took to the world chat, feigning distress and accusing Weiwei of bullying. Weiwei retaliated with her own sorrowful monologue in the chat, mimicking Qingqing's tactics. Xiao Yang enthusiastically reported that Yixiao Naihe and his friends were supporting Weiwei in the world chat and exposing Qingqing. Yixiao Naihe posted that he was merely collecting the diamond "to give to my wife to play with," which further infuriated Qingqing. Naihe's friends later confessed to Weiwei that they had used alternate accounts to deliberately kill-steal Qingqing's bosses, all on Xiao Nai's instructions for revenge, a plan Weiwei found amusingly sinister.

Episode 8 Recap

The Couple PK Tournament's points matches began with Luwei Weiwei and Yixiao Naihe facing Zhenshui Wuxiang and Enchantress Xiao Yu. Weiwei proposed a strategy where she would handle the main combat, with Yixiao Naihe providing support only if necessary. Unexpectedly, before the battle could even commence, Zhenshui Wuxiang and Enchantress Xiao Yu promptly retreated, giving Yixiao Naihe and Luwei Weiwei an uncontested victory.

Weiwei found their opponents' swift withdrawal amusing and questioned if they were indeed that intimidating, to which Yixiao Naihe jokingly attributed it to his wife's fearsome reputation. In their second match, Yixiao Naihe and Luwei Weiwei encountered Zhan Tianxia and Chief Diemeng. Luwei Weiwei recognized Chief Diemeng as a former guild leader and friend from her past, who had entrusted the leadership of their old guild, Blue Sea Tidal Pavilion, to Zhan Tianxia.

Yixiao Naihe and Luwei Weiwei secured another effortless win. Following the match, Chief Diemeng initiated a private chat with Weiwei. She fondly recalled their initial meeting and apologized for Zhan Tianxia's previous mistreatment of Weiwei, extending an invitation for her to rejoin the guild. Weiwei politely declined, explaining that her upcoming exams limited her time for extensive gaming, and she intended to participate only in the Couple's PK Competition.

Weiwei then subtly warned Chief Diemeng about Zhan Tianxia's involvement with Xiaoyu Qingqing. Chief Diemeng revealed that she and Zhan Tianxia were a real-life couple and assured Weiwei that she would handle Xiaoyu Qingqing and prevent her from causing further trouble. The Couple PK Competition finals for the Stormy Capital server arrived, pitting Yixiao Naihe and Luwei Weiwei against Zhan Tianxia and Chief Diemeng. However, as the countdown ended, Zhan Tianxia and Chief Diemeng failed to appear.

The in-game spectators buzzed with speculation about their absence. Suddenly, a system message announced that Zhan Tianxia and Chief Diemeng had officially dissolved their in-game couple relationship. This unexpected turn meant that Yixiao Naihe and Luwei Weiwei won the server championship by default, securing their place to represent their server in the all-region elimination rounds. Concerned by Chief Diemeng's sudden breakup, Weiwei attempted to contact her, only to discover her messages were blocked.

She sought information from Leishen Nini, who explained that guild rumors indicated Chief Diemeng had tried to remove Xiaoyu Qingqing from the guild, leading to a major dispute with Zhan Tianxia and their subsequent separation. Yixiao Naihe and Luwei Weiwei continued their dominant performance, easily reaching the all-server grand finals. Hao Mei and Yu Banshan, already confident of their victory, began making elaborate plans for their celebration.

Yixiao Naihe informed Weiwei through a private message that he had a business dinner the following day and might be slightly delayed for their upcoming match, asking her to wait no later than 7:30 PM. Weiwei agreed to adjust her schedule. Meanwhile, Zhenshui Wuxiang was on a phone call with Enchantress Xiao Yu, who was complaining about Weiwei and Naihe's continued wins.

Zhenshui Wuxiang dismissively referred to Luwei Weiwei as a "loser in reality" and promised Enchantress Xiao Yu a Japanese dinner and a shopping spree, reiterating his affection. His conversation was interrupted by a call from his father, CEO Zhen, who criticized him for his lack of maturity and focus on company affairs, urging him to take his management training more seriously.

Later, Erxi excitedly received an internship offer from Zhen Yi Technology, much to her surprise and the envy of her roommates, as Weiwei and the others had not. Erxi, keen to prepare for her new role, convinced her roommates to go shopping for new clothes, especially needing Weiwei's renowned bargaining skills. During their shopping trip, Weiwei humorously lamented her role as an "assistant" in both her real and virtual lives.

As they were leaving a restaurant, the girls were captivated by the sight of Xiao Nai concluding a business meeting. Weiwei couldn't help but wonder if he had looked her way. Her friends also discussed a rumor about Xiao Nai's company facing issues with investors, a surprising development given his reputation. At the same time, Xiao Nai, Yu Banshan, and Hao Mei were discussing their successful negotiation while driving.

Yu Banshan proudly highlighted how someone had attempted to obstruct their financing, commending Xiao Nai's foresight. Yu Banshan then spotted Weiwei across the street, playfully suggesting his frequent encounters with the "beauty queen" might lead to romance, a notion Xiao Nai quickly dismissed. Distracted by their conversation, Yu Banshan failed to notice an oncoming truck, resulting in a severe car accident.

Weiwei rushed back to her dorm, concerned about the time for the game finals, and logged in just as the match was about to begin. However, Yixiao Naihe was conspicuously absent. She attempted to contact him in-game, but the system reported him as offline. The world chat channel exploded with speculation, with many players suggesting that Yixiao Naihe had abandoned Weiwei, echoing the previous breakup of Zhan Tianxia and Chief Diemeng.

Rumors circulated, fueled by Xiaoyu Qingqing and her friends, claiming that Yixiao Naihe had seen through Weiwei's "true colors" and that her "poor family background" had been exposed by Zhenshui Wuxiang. Overwhelmed by Yixiao Naihe's unexplained absence and the subsequent forfeiture, Weiwei was devastated as the championship was awarded to Gaogao Shanshang Youmeinu and Anni Ka from the Raging Golden Sands server.

Meanwhile, at the hospital, Hao Mei and Qiu Yonghou arrived to find a distraught Yu Banshan, blaming himself for the car accident that had left Xiao Nai in the emergency room. Yu Banshan tearfully recounted how Xiao Nai had pushed him out of harm's way, saving him from severe injury. Qiu Yonghou tried to comfort Yu Banshan, assuring him that Xiao Nai was "too evil" for any real harm to befall him.

After an agonizing wait, the operating room doors opened. The doctor emerged, shaking his head, which initially struck terror into Yu Banshan, Hao Mei, and Qiu Yonghou, who feared the worst. Some time later, Xiao Nai finally regained consciousness. His friends and parents expressed immense relief, and Yu Banshan again apologized to Xiao Nai's parents for the accident, to which Xiao Nai’s mother responded with understanding, stating it was an unforeseen event.

After playfully confirming Xiao Nai's mental lucidity, Xiao Nai's first concern was the game final. He immediately instructed his friends to log into "A Chinese Ghost Story" and inform Weiwei about his accident, worried that she might have waited for him all night. Unaware of the real reason for his absence, Weiwei, heartbroken by the loss, began running laps furiously around the campus, leaving her roommates puzzled and concerned by her unusually intense exercise.

Episode 9 Recap

Xiao Nai awakened in the hospital, his first thought was to have his friends log into "A Chinese Ghost Story" to explain his absence to Weiwei. His friends, Hao Mei and Qiu Yonghou, realizing the PK tournament finals had passed, worried that their "Third Sister-in-Law" might have waited for Xiao Nai all night. His parents, entering the room, overheard the term "Third Sister-in-Law" and wondered if Xiao Nai had a girlfriend.

His mother expressed doubt, citing Xiao Nai's eccentric personality since childhood, concluding he might not marry until he's 40. Earlier, upon Xiao Nai's awakening, Yu Banshan had apologized to his parents for the car accident, revealing that Xiao Nai pushed him out of the way just before impact. The parents assured Yu Banshan not to worry, saying such things are unpredictable and that Xiao Nai would have good fortune after surviving such a disaster.

Hao Mei had playfully tested Xiao Nai's lucidity by asking "What is one plus one?" to which Xiao Nai sarcastically replied "249," assuring his friends he was indeed fine. Yu Banshan went to a restaurant near the hospital to buy food. He ordered fish head soup and stir-fried pork liver for Xiao Nai.

For himself, Qiu Yonghou, and Hao Mei, he initially ordered only tomato scrambled eggs and cucumber salad, claiming he had no money and had to cover Xiao Nai's medical expenses despite Xiao Nai's parents not blaming him. His friends reminded him about health insurance reimbursement, after which he also ordered sweet and sour pork ribs for them.

Yu Banshan then shared his deep feelings of gratitude and loyalty, explaining to his friends how Xiao Nai had instinctively pushed him out of the way right before their car crashed into a large truck, risking his own life without hesitation. Overcome with emotion, Yu Banshan vowed to serve Xiao Nai for the rest of his life, willing to go through any difficulty for him.

Hao Mei, ever the pragmatist, playfully interjected that following Xiao Nai would only lead to a luxurious life, not hardship. He then joked that Yu Banshan could only hope to be a concubine, as Xiao Nai already had a "wife." Before returning to Xiao Nai's room, Yu Banshan, conscious of his emotional display, checked if his eyes were red.

Later, Erxi requested Weiwei's help to defeat some monsters in "A Chinese Ghost Story," but Weiwei, visibly distracted, struggled and failed to defeat even minor foes. Erxi questioned her unusual poor performance. Weiwei, after some hesitation, asked Erxi if she had any particularly good friends in the game and if she had ever considered meeting them in person. Erxi saw no reason to meet, stating that it's normal for online friends to come and go.

Weiwei then elaborated on a scenario where a friend you play with daily suddenly vanishes, and you have no idea who or where they are, leaving you with the feeling that even a chance encounter in real life would be with a stranger. While Erxi dismissed this as a normal occurrence in online games, Weiwei acknowledged it, yet felt an unusual anxiety this time, suspecting she had become sentimental and realized she had fallen for someone.

She watched the video she and Yixiao Naihe had created, wondering if he had truly disappeared and if this video would be the only evidence of their connection. Despite hoping he merely had an emergency, she admitted to feeling too scared to log into the game to check. During a film appreciation class, Erxi arrived late and found Cao Guang had saved her a seat and even brought her Yakult.

However, when she sat down, the chair broke, causing her to fall. Cao Guang, quickly volunteering to take her to the school infirmary, drew suspicion from Erxi, who immediately sensed his unusual kindness was a front. She confronted him, accusing him of trying to bribe her to get Weiwei's schedule. Cao Guang admitted his intention was to pursue Weiwei and asked for Erxi's help.

As compensation for her injury and help, Erxi demanded he buy her three meals a day until she recovered, to which he agreed. Later, inspired by this encounter, Erxi found herself longing for love but doubted anyone would like a girl like her. She shared these thoughts with her in-game apprentice, "Huantian Xidi." Unbeknownst to Erxi, her apprentice was Cao Guang, who mistakenly believed "Huantian Xidi" was Weiwei.

To cheer his "master" up, Cao Guang took her to a scenic spot adorned with fireflies and fireworks. Seeing her joyful reaction, Cao Guang gathered his courage. He declared that his level was nearly higher than hers and, therefore, he no longer wished to be her apprentice. He then proposed that she become his in-game partner. Erxi, thrilled by the unexpected confession, happily accepted his offer.

Weiwei received a phone call from the Operations Division for "A Chinese Ghost Story" at Feng Teng Technology. The representative congratulated her on their video winning first place in a contest and informed her that they wished to purchase the video's copyright for promotional marketing. Weiwei, stating she needed to consult her co-creator, requested a couple of days to make a decision. The phone call provided Weiwei with a reason to finally log back into the game.

Immediately upon entering, she received messages from Yixiao Naihe and Yu Gong. Yu Gong messaged her, profusely apologizing and calling himself an "eternal sinner," explaining that he had been driving after a business dinner when they had a car accident and that Xiao Nai sustained a slight concussion. Weiwei's concern immediately shifted to them, and she quickly went to Naihe in-game, asking if his head still hurt. Xiao Nai apologized for missing the PK tournament finals.

Weiwei quickly assured him that his injury was far more important than the missed competition, though inwardly she wondered if he had been waiting for her to log on for days and mistakenly thought she was angry. Xiao Nai then told her that Feng Teng Technology had also contacted him about purchasing the video's copyright. He suggested they discuss the issue face-to-face and provided her with his mobile phone number.

He confirmed he was at Qing University and asked her to meet him at the east entrance at noon the next day. Weiwei, excited, impulsively suggested 11:35 a. m. to avoid waiting, then immediately felt she sounded too keen. Logging off, she informed him she had something important to do. Back in her dorm, Weiwei, uncharacteristically, eagerly recruited her roommates to go shopping for new clothes. When she emerged from the changing room in a striking red dress, her roommates were captivated by her transformed appearance.

Episode 10 Recap

Weiwei, feeling uncomfortable in a low-cut dress, asked her roommates if they could help her find something more modest. Her roommates were surprised by her sudden desire for new clothes, as she usually prioritized inner qualities. Weiwei fabricated a story about her old clothes pilling and needing a new outfit for an important interview scheduled for the next day, which was also the day of their exams.

Secretly, Weiwei knew this "interview" was her first offline meeting with Naihe, and she hoped it could change her life. She even worried about her height, wondering what she would do if Naihe wasn't very tall. As she tried on a "refreshing and neat" dress, she privately thought the fully buttoned-up look was even more alluring.

Meng Yiran and her friend happened to be shopping nearby and spotted Weiwei; while her friend expressed interest in the boutique, Meng Yiran walked away. After hastily finishing her exam, Weiwei rushed to the agreed meeting spot. She saw Xiao Nai standing under a willow tree, seemingly waiting for someone. She found him familiar and wondered who could command such a figure's patience.

She noticed him looking in her direction and rationalized that he might simply recognize her from the Computer Science Department. Deciding to be polite, she approached him and said, "Senior Xiao, what a coincidence!" Xiao Nai walked closer and responded, "It isn't a coincidence. I have been waiting for you." Weiwei was stunned, her mind reeling as she realized that Xiao Nai was indeed Naihe.

She was thankful she hadn't worn high heels, fearing she would have stumbled from the shock. Xiao Nai mentioned her early departure from the exam, and she replied that she didn't want to keep him waiting. He then invited her to lunch. The reality of Xiao Nai being Naihe felt utterly surreal to her.

Xiao Nai took Weiwei to a restaurant owned by Aunt Jiang, a woman who couldn't speak but cooked delicious food and had watched Xiao Nai grow up. He explained that his parents weren't skilled cooks, so he often ate there or at the cafeteria as a child. Aunt Jiang, delighted to see him with a girl, gestured for Weiwei to eat more. Noticing Chinese medicinal herbs in the soup, Weiwei asked about them.

Xiao Nai explained they were to help his recovery after a recent car accident. Weiwei then mentioned having taken his father's class, finding his archaeology stories interesting. Xiao Nai simply stated he knew she had once sat beside him in that class, leaving Weiwei to internally lament her seeming lack of presence.

During the meal, Weiwei felt a new distance from Xiao Nai compared to his online persona and opted to remain silent, wondering if his scholarly family had rules about quiet dining. Suddenly, Xiao Nai's phone rang with the familiar "Female Bandit and the Musician" ringtone, making Weiwei wonder if he missed being "kidnapped" in the game. It was Qiu Yonghou calling to ask if Xiao Nai was coming to the seniors' farewell basketball game that evening.

Xiao Nai told him he was on a date and would bring her along if she agreed. He then asked Weiwei if she wanted to join him. After lunch, Xiao Nai said he would retrieve his bicycle and give her a ride to the stadium. Weiwei felt awkward, expressing concern that people would misunderstand their relationship if they rode together. Xiao Nai calmly retorted, "Since when were we not in this kind of relationship?"

Weiwei's mind raced, torn between her desire for the relationship and her discomfort with such a public display. She eventually decided it was better to ride the bike quickly than to walk and face even more onlookers. Xiao Nai chuckled, remarking that her expression didn't need to be so "somber," as if she were facing death. On their way, Xiao Nai noticed Weiwei subtly trying to adjust her short skirt. Without a word, he pulled over at a supermarket.

He quickly bought a large bag of snacks and handed them to her, which Weiwei gratefully used to cover her lap. She was touched by his unexpected thoughtfulness. Upon arriving at the packed basketball stadium, Weiwei quickly made an excuse to find her roommates, promising to chat with Xiao Nai online later. His appearance at the stadium drew a flurry of attention and camera flashes.

Weiwei playfully told her roommates that Xiao Nai was looking at her, a remark that drew laughter. Her roommate, Er Xi, teased her, saying that according to a popular school forum, she and Xiao Nai were considered the "most unlikely couple." Weiwei dismissed the forum as meaningless, but her roommates elaborated on the forum's description of Xiao Nai as "graceful and elegant like a Chinese ink drawing" and Weiwei as "striking and colorful like an oil painting."

Weiwei retorted that she wasn't "oily" and that their shared major made them "IT heroes," but her friends argued that being in the same profession diminished the sense of idolization. Meanwhile, Meng Yiran's friends were convinced that Xiao Nai's glance had been directed at Meng Yiran, recalling their past interactions at a school event. The basketball game between the Computer Science and Architecture departments was intense, filled with cheers and screams.

Watching Xiao Nai's exceptional performance, Weiwei privately resolved to work even harder if they were to truly be together. After playing half the game, Xiao Nai was substituted out, and Weiwei overheard that it was due to his recent car accident, making her worry about his well-being. Xiao Nai then walked directly to the stands and, squatting beside Weiwei, informed her that he might not be online that night due to a group outing.

He asked her plans for the next day. Weiwei, momentarily speechless, finally managed to say "Studying." Xiao Nai immediately responded that he would join her. He then settled down next to her to watch the game, much to the visible fury of Meng Yiran nearby, who had been hoping for Xiao Nai's attention.

Episode 11 Recap

Xiao Nai sat next to Weiwei at the basketball game, immediately drawing whispers and curious glances from the surrounding girls. Some wondered if it was a mere coincidence, while others firmly believed they were a couple, noting that Xiao Nai had even given Weiwei a ride on his bicycle earlier. The thought of Weiwei "snatching" Xiao Nai was met with envy, considered even more impressive than being crowned School Beauty Queen.

Meng Yiran, also present, appeared to be watching Xiao Nai. As the Computer Science team's lead dwindled to a tie, Xiao Nai calmly told Weiwei not to worry, assuring her the score would widen again once his teammates stopped looking at the spectators. Weiwei took the opportunity to introduce her roommates, Erxi, Xiaoling, and Si Si, to Xiao Nai. He then mentioned that Yu Banshan (Yugong) and Qiu Yonghou (Houzijiou) were downstairs and asked if she wanted to greet them.

Internally, Weiwei wondered if his friends knew she was Luwei Weiwei, to which Xiao Nai replied they did not. She agreed to go meet them. The final whistle blew, sealing Computer Science's victory. Weiwei asked her roommates to wait for her, as she was going with Xiao Nai to meet his friends. She introduced herself as Weiwei, then clarified that she was also Luwei Weiwei from the game.

Yu Banshan was so stunned that he dropped his basketball, realizing that their "Third Brother" and "Third Sister-in-Law" had been "secretly together" all along. The friends joked about Xiao Nai having "landed the beauty queen of our department." Xiao Nai corrected Yu Banshan's misuse of an idiom, clarifying it as "stealthy crossing through Chencang," and they demanded he treat them to a meal.

Before Weiwei left to rejoin her roommates, Xiao Nai reminded her about their planned self-study session, telling her he would wait for her downstairs at 7:30 the next morning and asking her to save him a seat. Back in their dorm, Weiwei’s roommates subjected her to an intense "interrogation." They couldn't believe she had kept her relationship with Xiao Nai a secret, arguing that their behavior at the game suggested they had been dating for at least half a year.

Weiwei pleaded for ten minutes of uninterrupted time to explain. She recounted how she met the "Master" in the game when he came to her rescue, how they became a Couple, and how their real-life meeting that day had unfolded. Suddenly, she realized that the primary reason for their meeting was to discuss a video transfer, chiding herself for being so smitten that she had completely forgotten about their business.

Meanwhile, Hao Mei, having rushed to the basketball court after hearing about Xiao Nai's girlfriend, arrived too late to see her. He expressed his frustration to Yu Banshan and Qiu Yonghou, saying that while he should be happy for his brother, his heart ached for the in-game "Third Sister-in-Law," who had just been stood up by Xiao Nai.

Hao Mei declared Xiao Nai a "scumbag" for having both an in-game and a real-life girlfriend and vowed to seek justice for the in-game "Third Sister-in-Law." Xiao Nai, amused, confirmed he intended to have both. Hao Mei, outraged, called him a "scumbag" again. Seeing his friends barely suppress their laughter, Hao Mei slowly realized the startling truth: Bei Weiwei, the department's beauty queen, and Luwei Weiwei, Xiao Nai's in-game wife, were the same person.

Later, over drinks, the friends discussed last year's beauty queen contest, where Weiwei had controversially lost to Meng Yiran. Xiao Nai quietly accessed the school forum on his laptop and deleted the entire beauty ranking post. The school forums exploded with news of Weiwei and Xiao Nai's relationship, complete with photographic evidence. Cao Guang, whose phone was dead, was blissfully unaware.

Mistakenly believing Weiwei was the in-game character "Huantian Xidi," with whom he had recently formed a couple, he had even bought a necklace as a gift for her. When a friend revealed the truth, Cao Guang was utterly devastated. He angrily called Weiwei "fickle," ranting that they were a couple in the game while she was with Xiao Nai in real life, and questioning if in-game feelings could be trifled with.

Unknown to him, Nana, sitting at a nearby table, discreetly recorded his entire outburst on her phone. While enjoying a late-night snack with his friends, Hao Mei found the food unusually familiar. Upon seeing the chef, he recognized him as the head cook from their school cafeteria. The chef explained he worked part-time at the snack shop at night. The two hit it off immediately, feeling as if they were old friends.

That night, Weiwei was too excited about her upcoming self-study session with Xiao Nai to sleep. However, her roommate Erxi suddenly fell ill with acute gastroenteritis. Weiwei and her other roommates rushed Erxi to the emergency room in the middle of the night. After a long night, Weiwei finally dozed off beside Erxi's hospital bed just before dawn. She woke up at 7 AM, realizing she needed to text Xiao Nai about missing their self-study.

To her astonishment, Xiao Nai was already standing at the hospital room door. He drove all four girls back to school and treated them to breakfast, further cementing his heroic image in the eyes of Erxi and her roommates. Later that morning, Weiwei received a call from Xiao Nai. He asked if she was awake and if she still wanted to go to self-study.

When she noted the study rooms would be full, he assured her he knew a very quiet place off campus for them to go. Weiwei realized that since pictures of them were already circulating online, she no longer needed to worry about others seeing them together.

Episode 12 Recap

Xiao Nai called Weiwei, asking if she still wanted to go to the self-study room. Weiwei worried it might be hard to find a seat, but Xiao Nai offered to take her to a quiet, good place. He brought her to his company, Zhi Yi Technology, explaining that since it was Sunday, no one else was there. Weiwei found the environment new and interesting.

Xiao Nai led her to his office, seating her on a sofa to study while he worked at his computer. After a while, Xiao Nai asked Weiwei to look at the basic character designs for Zhi Yi Technology's self-developed mobile game, wanting her opinion. Weiwei became engrossed and expressed her strong liking for the game. When Xiao Nai wondered if she could like a game based solely on character designs, Weiwei explained that they reveal a lot.

Many online games pander to male players with scantily clad female characters, which she finds unbearable. She chose the Red Clothed Lady Blade Master in "A Chinese Ghost Story" not just for her skills but also for her modest attire. She praised Zhi Yi's game for its normally dressed female characters, seeing it as a sign of confidence in their work, without resorting to vulgar tactics.

Pleased by her compliment, Xiao Nai playfully told her that getting a beta test account would depend on their "favorability" towards each other. They also discussed the video copyright fee. Xiao Nai suggested Weiwei sign the contract with Feng Teng Corporation in her personal capacity. Weiwei proposed splitting the fee five ways among their friends, but Xiao Nai insisted she keep it all, calling it a welcoming gift from him, Yu Gong, and the others to their "Third Sister-in-law."

Weiwei felt a moment of internal panic, briefly wondering if he would call it a "betrothal gift." Meanwhile, Erxi was suffering from gastroenteritis and had also caught a cold. With Xiao Ling and Weiwei out on dates, only Si Si showed concern, giving her cold medicine before leaving for her own study date. Disheartened, Erxi logged into "A Chinese Ghost Story" for comfort. She complained to her in-game partner, Weiguang, about being sick.

He soon appeared and gifted her a horse, sarcastically remarking that it was good at two-timing and very fast, making it a perfect fit for her. Naive Erxi, not understanding the innuendo, was overjoyed. They went boating, and Weiguang continued to make sarcastic remarks, but Erxi interpreted his words positively, believing he was being thoughtful. She decided to make him a unique and special gift. Weiwei met with Feng Teng Corporation representatives.

They confirmed their decision to use her video, "The Bandit and the Musician," as their official promotional video and to incorporate the "bandit abducting grooms" gameplay. They offered ¥20,000 for three years' usage rights, but Weiwei countered by requesting in-game rare Majestic Beasts instead of cash. After negotiation, they agreed to provide Weiwei with five young rare Majestic Beasts along with two rare crafting materials. Later, Weiwei logged into the game to wait for the items from Feng Teng.

She noticed only Mo Zhata was online and playfully teased him about his feminine-sounding in-game name. Thinking Yu Gong and Houzi Jiu had revealed his secret, Mo Zhata, whose real name Hao Mei sounds like "So Beautiful," took revenge on them in the real world. True to their word, Feng Teng delivered the five rare Majestic Beasts and materials on time. Weiwei immediately notified Mo Zhata to come collect his.

Moved by her generosity, Mo Zhata revealed that someone had called their dorm that morning to confess their feelings to Third Brother (Xiao Nai). Trying to save face, Weiwei casually boasted that people had been confessing to her since she was a child. To her dismay, Mo Zhata then revealed that Xiao Nai had just returned, walked right past him as she said it, and was now logging into the game.

Flustered, Weiwei quickly logged off, only to regret it and log back in, claiming she had been disconnected. Not calling her bluff, Xiao Nai deliberately remarked that no one had ever confessed to him in his entire life, making Weiwei blush deeply. He then reassured her by saying that having her was enough.

While this was happening, Xiao Nai's roommates observed him, noting that since being with Weiwei, he was wearing his heart on his sleeve and no longer appeared so cold and expressionless. Later, Nini messaged Weiwei in the game, asking for help with a newly released dungeon boss, the Underworld Ghostly Hag. Weiwei, now with Naihe, agreed to help. Thrilled that the great Naihe was assisting her, Nini followed his suggestion to find a ranged attacker to speed up the fight. She posted a request in the world chat, and was shocked when Zhenshui Wuxiang and Yaoyao immediately responded, offering to join.

Episode 13 Recap

Leishen Nini found herself in an awkward position as Zhenshui Wuxiang and Yaoyao appeared, ready to join the dungeon run. Yaoyao sent a private message to Zhenshui, insisting that since Leishen Nini was in their guild, Yixiao Naihe and his companion should be the ones to leave. After a moment of tension, Yixiao Naihe broke the silence by simply proposing they team up.

As they embarked on the Underworld Cave dungeon, the first few challenges posed little threat despite Yaoyao’s tendency to run around and attract monsters, forcing Zhenshui Wuxiang to repeatedly come to her aid. Leishen Nini commented on Yaoyao's erratic movements but acknowledged the skill of Yixiao Naihe and Zhenshui Wuxiang. Approaching the final challenge against the Underworld Ghostly Hag, Leishen Nini asked who would command.

As both Yixiao Naihe and Zhenshui Wuxiang were level 147, Leishen Nini noted that tradition usually dictated the highest-level player lead. Yixiao Naihe stated that the mission's difficulty was merely average, suggesting anyone could lead. Weiwei, sensing an opportunity to resolve the standoff, offered to command the team herself. The boss fight began with a twist: the Underworld Ghostly Hag, who preferred male players, became hostile upon seeing a female lead.

She immediately cast her "Use Yang to strengthen Yin" spell, which drained the male players' health and transferred it to her. Initially, the team coordinated well, with Yaoyao diligently healing Zhenshui Wuxiang. However, as the fight neared its end, Yaoyao unexpectedly switched her healing focus to Yixiao Naihe, who was the Hag's primary target. This sudden change instantly drew the Hag's aggro to Yaoyao, resulting in her immediate death.

Zhenshui Wuxiang tried to retaliate but was also struck down by the Hag's reflected attack. Weiwei was momentarily paralyzed, realizing that a full attack from her might prevent Yaoyao and Zhenshui Wuxiang from being resurrected. In a stunning display, Yixiao Naihe descended, swiftly resurrecting both Yaoyao and Zhenshui Wuxiang with a wave of his hand, then turned and decisively defeated the Underworld Ghostly Hag. Leishen Nini watched in awe as his actions unfolded flawlessly.

After successfully completing the dungeon, Weiwei and Yixiao Naihe gracefully exited without claiming any spoils. Weiwei praised Yixiao Naihe for his noble act of resurrecting Yaoyao and Zhenshui Wuxiang. Yixiao Naihe replied that doing so would likely make them feel even worse. Weiwei then playfully inquired if he had been on a call during the boss fight, to which he confirmed, explaining he had used earphones. Weiwei was deeply impressed by his ability to multitask so effectively.

In the real world, Xiao Nai was vigorously pursuing the development rights for "A New Chinese Ghost Story" from Feng Teng Corporation, a goal also fiercely desired by Zhen Yi Technologies. Meanwhile, at Zhen Yi, CEO Zhen was equally determined to obtain the rights. He underscored that the project's primary goal was to enhance Zhen Yi's industry standing and influence, which would boost their stock price.

He also expressed his dissatisfaction with Zhen Shaoxiang’s behavior, chiding him for playing on his phone during an important business discussion and remarking on his immaturity. Meng Yiran continued to lament Xiao Nai’s lack of interest. Her friend, Aixiang Nai’er, advised her that her roommate, Na Na, had misled her with aggressive pursuit strategies. Aixiang Nai’er suggested that Meng Yiran should instead rely on her natural charm and beauty to make Xiao Nai pursue her, rather than initiating contact.

She recommended that Meng Yiran attend Feng Teng’s upcoming wine reception to create opportunities to meet Xiao Nai, presenting herself as a refined lady and letting Xiao Nai notice her on his own. Weiwei fretted about Xiao Nai's parents discovering their relationship, especially since Professor Xiao, Xiao Nai's father, was her professor, and her last class with him this semester was that day. Xiao Nai, unfazed, simply advised her to pretend not to know him in class.

After his lecture, Professor Xiao returned home, where his wife eagerly questioned him about their son's girlfriend. Professor Xiao spoke glowingly of Weiwei, praising her excellent academic performance and leaving his wife relieved and happy. Later, in the cafeteria, Hao Mei inadvertently overheard Weiwei's roommates teasing her about Xiao Nai. He couldn't suppress his laughter, drawing Weiwei's attention. He introduced himself as Mo Zhata.

Realizing that he had overheard their entire conversation, Weiwei, momentarily flustered, quickly regained her composure and playfully addressed him as "Mr. Beauty Senior," much to Hao Mei's annoyance. Xiao Nai’s negotiation with Feng Teng Corporation proceeded smoothly, successfully securing a contract for their mobile game. The discussion then shifted to "A New Chinese Ghost Story."

CEO Feng explained that player demand for a new edition was high and expressed his anticipation for Xiao Nai's development proposal, mentioning that his own wife was a player of the original game and was keenly interested in the project.

Episode 14 Recap

Having finished her studies for the day, Weiwei logged into the game as promised to give the remaining Majestic Beasts to Yu Gong and Houzi Jiu, who had been eagerly waiting. Upon receiving their pets, Yu Gong and Houzi Jiu couldn't help but tease Weiwei, questioning her trust in Third Brother (Xiao Nai) alone in the tempting city of Shanghai. They speculated that his presence at a business-related wine party was a cover for a "beauty trap."

Weiwei denied these claims, noting Yu Gong's unusual correct use of an idiom, which prompted him to share a childhood trauma related to his name, Yu Banshan, and the idiom of "Yugong moving the mountain." Meanwhile, Erxi excitedly urged Weiwei to check the school forum. Weiwei opened her computer to a trending post titled "Explosive news! The famous gifted writer of our school takes on the gossip beauty!"

The author, Aixiang Nai'er, acidly claimed that Xiao Nai was only interested in Weiwei's figure. Si Si explained that Aixiang Nai'er was a well-known campus writer, famous for articles on coffee, music, and perfume, and even had a fashion magazine column. Weiwei's roommates guessed that the "Ms. C" mentioned in the post, compared unfavorably to Weiwei, was the campus beauty Meng Yiran.

Weiwei’s roommates then suggested posting her report card to shame Aixiang Nai’er, but Weiwei dismissed the idea, stating she was not the one making a fool of herself. She argued that a nice figure was a gift and that intelligence could only be recognized by those on the same level. At a wine party in Shanghai, Meng Yiran, accompanied by her uncle, made a grand entrance after carefully preparing in the makeup room.

Her appearance drew the attention of most guests, but Xiao Nai seemed oblivious, focused on his business discussions. Meng Yiran recalled the advice she received from Aixiang Nai'er to use her beauty and charm to make Xiao Nai pursue her, but her efforts went unnoticed. Back at the dorm, Erxi excitedly informed Weiwei that Aixiang Nai'er's Weibo had been hacked. Weiwei, however, was certain that Xiao Nai wouldn't do something so direct.

Her intuition proved correct, as it was Xiao Nai's three roommates—Mo Zhata, Yu Banshan, and Qiu Yonghou—who were responsible. Mo Zhata proudly took credit for the hack, while Yu Banshan and Qiu Yonghou pampered him with massages as a reward. Later, upon Weiwei's return to the dorm, Erxi revealed that Xiao Nai had called to say he was back.

Erxi admitted that she had "accidentally" blurted out her deep-seated desire for Xiao Nai to treat them to a meal, boldly suggesting they do so that night since there were no exams the next day. Weiwei chided Erxi for her gluttony. Just then, a delivery arrived at the dorm. It was a beautiful red dress that Si Si and the other roommates had purchased for Weiwei as a gift, insisting that she wear it to dinner.

As they rode in Xiao Nai's car, he asked where they wanted to eat. Erxi quickly suggested a French restaurant. Weiwei was perplexed, knowing her roommates typically preferred Chinese food. However, Xiao Nai, ever accommodating, simply told Weiwei to go with what the guests preferred. At the French restaurant, Meng Yiran and Aixiang Nai'er were dining together.

Meng Yiran thanked Aixiang Nai'er for her advice and presented her with a bottle of Chanel No. 5 perfume, unaware that Aixiang Nai'er's Weibo had been hacked. Outside, Erxi spotted them and was thrilled that her plan to "show off" to Aixiang Nai'er was unfolding perfectly, having learned about the restaurant's grand opening from Aixiang Nai'er's now-hacked Weibo. Weiwei understood her friends' good intentions but suggested they not go in.

She explained that she didn't want to force herself to eat food she disliked just to spite others. The group then changed course and headed to a boiled fish restaurant. Erxi, clutching the menu, declared her intention to make their boiled fish dinner as expensive as a French meal. Weiwei promptly pulled Erxi into the restroom to scold her. When they returned, Xiao Nai had already ordered 4 kilograms of boiled fish and 2.

5 kilograms of crayfish, claiming to know Weiwei's appetite. Weiwei blushed, realizing her roommates had betrayed her. She tried to play it off by saying her high energy consumption from studying required more food, but Xiao Nai merely stated his trust in her ability. Later, as Xiao Nai drove Weiwei back to her dorm, he asked why she hadn't wanted to go to the French restaurant.

Weiwei briefly explained the post by Aixiang Nai'er and told him not to worry about it, as she was no longer bothered. He then suggested that they have another meal with his roommates after exams. Weiwei, feeling that their relationship was progressing so fast it felt unreal, as if their status had already been decided by their friends. Sensing her thoughts, Xiao Nai gently pulled her into a hug and asked, "Does it feel real now?"

Episode 15 Recap

During a film appreciation class, Erxi arrived late and tried to sit next to Cao Guang. Their ensuing argument disrupted the class, leading the professor to assign them the task of filming a documentary about the graduation season for the upcoming graduation gala. Cao Guang, carrying the DV camera, and Erxi, burdened with a heavy tripod, began filming at a career fair and conducting interviews. Erxi complained about Cao Guang deliberately choosing a large, heavy tripod.

Later, Cao Guang asked Erxi to stand in front of the camera for him to adjust the focus. As he looked through the lens, observing her profile, he seemed to experience a shift in his feelings. Spotting Xiao Nai and Weiwei emerging from the library, Erxi, despite Cao Guang's visible disdain, decided to interview them about their thoughts on graduation.

When asked about her boyfriend’s impending graduation, Weiwei explained that since Xiao Nai would be working nearby, there wouldn't be any real separation. Erxi commended this display of affection as a unique way to approach graduation. Unable to tolerate the scene any longer, Cao Guang abruptly took the DV and walked away. Later, while dining, Cao Guang reviewed the footage on the DV. When he attempted to delete the segment featuring Weiwei, Erxi intervened, leading to a struggle.

The DV accidentally fell into a bowl of soup. Cao Guang informed a distraught Erxi that the camcorder cost over ¥10,000 and demanded she pay half of the cost, effectively erasing her happiness about finishing her exams. During a class meeting about summer internships, Erxi suddenly remembered she had passed an interview for an internship at Zhen Yi Technologies. A classmate mentioned the daily pay for interns was ¥100.

Erxi quickly calculated that a month-long internship would earn her ¥3,000, which would cover her half of the DV debt. This realization instantly brightened her mood, and she joyfully shared the news with Weiwei. Xiao Nai had planned a group dinner with Weiwei and his roommates at their usual spot, Tianxiangju. However, Hao Mei suggested a change of venue, taking them to his chef friend's restaurant, which he described as "extremely high-class."

Hao Mei hoped to support his friend's business, but the cool-headed chef friend later told him that he, as a mere cook, would get tired if too many people came, implying Hao Mei should visit alone next time. During the meal, Xiao Nai's roommates teased him about the campus belle, Meng Yiran.

Yu Banshan nearly revealed more details, but Xiao Nai cut him off, stating that Meng Yiran had merely called to explain something, and his only response was, "Who are you?" The roommates then ordered several extra spicy dishes, knowing Xiao Nai couldn't eat spicy food. Weiwei recalled that Xiao Nai had enthusiastically eaten boiled fish with hot chili sauce with her before without any complaints, realizing he must have been accommodating her preferences.

After dinner, the group went to a billiards hall. Weiwei, having never played billiards, initially just watched. With a little instruction from Xiao Nai, she quickly demonstrated a natural talent for the game. Yu Banshan suggested they bring Weiwei along for future outings, but Xiao Nai responded, "There's no next time," explaining his plan to install a pool table at home. Xiao Nai walked Weiwei back to her dormitory.

Weiwei asked him why he hadn’t mentioned his aversion to spicy food when they previously ate boiled fish with hot chili sauce, a meal where all the dishes were extremely spicy. Xiao Nai confessed it was his first time interacting with a girl and he often didn't know what to do, but he wanted to be able to do whatever others could.

Moved by his words, Weiwei asked him to log into the game when he got back to his dorm, as she had something for him. Online, Luwei Weiwei presented Yixiao Naihe with a top-tier hairpin she had crafted as a "dowry" using rare materials obtained from Feng Teng Corporation. She named it "Fa Wei," meaning "Hairpin by Weiwei." Xiao Nai, however, inwardly interpreted it as "to tie hair and be bound to Wei."

Later that night, in high spirits, Xiao Nai challenged his roommates to a game of Dou Dizhu, winning handily. He made Yu Banshan write a "debt statement" promising to buy his meals daily throughout July and August as repayment. The next day, Weiwei was scheduled to leave school early for the summer recess. Xiao Nai saw her off, appearing somewhat unhappy about their temporary separation. Weiwei apologized, explaining that she had booked her train ticket through the school's group purchase before they had even met, so it wasn't intentional.

Episode 16 Recap

Weiwei, observing Xiao Nai's somber expression, tentatively inquired about available train tickets to Wuhan for the upcoming days. Xiao Nai’s face brightened at her question, and he quickly checked his phone, finding no train tickets for the next five days. He then suggested a plane ticket for the day after tomorrow.

Weiwei, mindful of her family’s finances, immediately declined, explaining that she had already promised her father she would be home that afternoon and that staying longer would only delay the inevitable departure. Reluctantly, Xiao Nai conceded, reminding her to call him as soon as she arrived home and to buy a new phone promptly. Weiwei assured him she would get one right after getting home. Upon her arrival at Wuhan station, Weiwei spotted her father waiting amongst the crowd.

She playfully chided him for coming to pick her up, especially since she didn't have a phone, making it difficult if they couldn't find each other. Her father, however, proudly claimed that with such a beautiful daughter, he only needed to observe where people were looking to locate her. Back home, Weiwei's mother had prepared a lavish meal to welcome her daughter, who hadn't been home for half a year.

Later, while in the kitchen, Weiwei confided in her father that a major reason she hadn't wanted him to pick her up was to prevent her mother from taking over the cooking, playfully questioning her mother's confidence in her culinary skills compared to a professional chef. Her father agreed to reclaim the kitchen the following day.

When her mother entered, asking what they were discussing, Weiwei quickly changed the subject, saying they were talking about getting her a new phone, a point her father readily supported. That evening, after her parents left for a night shift at the factory, Weiwei quickly called Xiao Nai. She explained her parents had only just left, jokingly correcting herself to "half a minute ago." Xiao Nai teased that her parents wouldn't allow her to date.

Weiwei confirmed this, adding that her mother was a big gossip and would tell everyone. Xiao Nai mentioned he had a meeting and was editing a proposal. Weiwei encouraged him to work hard to earn money for their virtual "little tigers." Suddenly, her mother returned, curious about who Weiwei was talking to and why she was smiling so foolishly. Thinking fast, Weiwei pretended to be talking to a student she tutored.

Her mother then suggested Weiwei tutor the factory chief's son, but Weiwei tried to decline, claiming she had other summer plans. Her mother dismissed this, insisting a college student had nothing better to do than earn money for a new phone through tutoring. Weiwei argued she could use her scholarship money, which her father had approved, but her mother flatly refused, confiscating the scholarship and reiterating that if Weiwei wanted a new phone, she had to earn it herself.

Xiao Nai held a planning meeting with his team. He announced that their mobile game, "Wandering Journey in Jianghu," had finalized its joint management agreement with Feng Teng and would be released online in October. He then shifted focus to their main goal: developing "A New Chinese Ghost Story." Feng Teng was interested in their preliminary plans, but Xiao Nai emphasized the need for a convincing game demo by late September, as they would be competing against Zhen Yi Technology.

Hao Mei was dismayed, realizing they had less than three months, and pleaded with Xiao Nai to hire more programmers. Xiao Nai refused, stating his preference for quality over quantity. He then delivered what he considered "good news": he would be spending very little time dating, thus having more time to personally write code for the project, much to Hao Mei's annoyance.

Xiao Nai outlined the demo's scope, including a Newbie Village, a core city, outdoor settings, specialty quests, and the unique Hebo Flooding Quest, and decided to maintain their current art style while prioritizing innovation to attract players. Weiwei found solace in logging into the game to be with Xiao Nai after completing her daily chores.

She suggested that Xiao Nai leave the game running in the background while he worked on his coding, as she would take their virtual "little tiger" pets to level up. Later, her mother entered her room, expressing concern about Weiwei's choice to study computer science, warning that staring at the screen for long hours and sleeping late could harm her health and even make her face "square." Once her mother left, Weiwei immediately returned to the game.

She then realized Xiao Nai might have forgotten to eat due to his busy schedule. Wanting to surprise him, she quietly used her home phone to order takeout for him. When the delivery arrived, Xiao Nai was surprised and explained he had to borrow change from a dean because he didn't have any on hand.

The two spent the evening together virtually, some moments chatting and laughing, other times quietly pursuing their separate activities—Weiwei playing the game and Xiao Nai working—yet both feeling a comforting sense of companionship. Hao Mei noticed his computer was acting strangely, telling Yu Banshan that his desktop background, a picture of his "goddess," had been inexplicably changed to a temple and he couldn't revert it.

Xiao Nai quickly identified it as a high-level hack, distinct from Zhen Yi Technology's style, and theorized the hacker deliberately changed the background to reveal their presence, suggesting a personal interest in Hao Mei. To catch the intruder, Xiao Nai installed a monitoring backdoor on Hao Mei's computer, predicting the hacker would return. When the hacker did reappear, Xiao Nai instructed Hao Mei to engage him in conversation to buy time.

Hao Mei, chatting with the hacker online, complained about the changed desktop and asked if the hacker knew him. Simultaneously, Xiao Nai used software to trace the hacker's location, discovering he was in the vicinity of the school. However, before Xiao Nai could discern the hacker's identity, the intruder disconnected, leaving them to wonder who it could be.

Episode 17 Recap

Hao Mei was deeply puzzled by who had hacked into his computer. To console his wounded heart, he decided to treat himself to a big meal at his chef friend KO's eatery. He encouraged KO to drink with him, and after a few drinks, began to complain about how exhausting his work was.

Hao Mei lamented that his brain felt numb and his shoulders and neck ached, claiming his job as a programmer was twice as tiring as KO's work as a chef. KO, cool and collected, suggested he could quit if he was so tired. Hao Mei quickly dismissed the idea, stating it was a company he started with his buddies and he couldn't abandon it.

He then mentioned that their Third Brother, Xiao Nai, had double his workload, which made him feel a little better. As the night progressed, Hao Mei drank heavily and became quite inebriated. Unable to get an address out of him, KO ended up taking Hao Mei back to his own place to sleep it off. The next morning, Hao Mei woke up in KO's bed, feeling unusually revitalized.

He half-jokingly asked KO if he had put something special in his food to restore his energy so quickly, as if his health points had been instantly replenished. After thanking KO for his hospitality, Hao Mei departed. Meanwhile, KO used blocking software to make a call to Xiao Nai. A tech challenge ensued over the phone, with KO challenging Xiao Nai to find his number within half an hour.

Instead of using a technical hack, Xiao Nai took an unconventional approach: he called the mobile carrier, reported being harassed by an unknown number, and was promptly given KO's contact information. When Xiao Nai called him back, he questioned KO's motives, knowing his reputation as a lone wolf. KO then proposed a challenge: they should both compete in the WCTF World Geek Competition. If KO lost, he would work for Zhi Yi Technology for free for an entire year.

Xiao Nai reminded KO that a good hacker isn't necessarily a good programmer, but readily accepted the challenge. They agreed that whoever solved the most problems would win, and Xiao Nai declared his intention to break the existing record. The next day at Zhi Yi Technology, A Shuang and Yu Banshan were abuzz with the news that two Chinese IPs had broken the records at the WCTF competition, scoring 69 and 68 points respectively.

Xiao Nai then announced the arrival of a new colleague, cryptically offering "the temple" as a hint. Hao Mei immediately realized this must be the hacker who had changed his desktop wallpaper to a temple. Enraged, he rushed to retrieve a mop, vowing to teach the perpetrator a lesson. To his utter shock, the new colleague who walked in was his chef friend, KO.

Despite his earlier anger, Hao Mei confessed a certain excitement at discovering the renowned hacker was his friend. His only lingering question was why KO had changed his desktop goddess to a temple. KO's simple response was, "She's not good looking." With KO at the company, Hao Mei's work pressure significantly decreased, and Yu Banshan playfully commented that his face had regained its youthful glow, attributing it to the "power of friendship."

Later, Yu Banshan noticed Xiao Nai leaving early and inquired about his urgent departure. Xiao Nai cryptically replied, "Getting married and having children," leaving Yu Banshan bewildered. In the game, Xiao Nai and Weiwei were preparing for the wedding of their in-game pet tigers. At the Stone of Three Lives, the matchmaker performed a quasi-marriage ceremony for their spirit beasts, stating they could move into their bridal chamber after 8:00 PM.

However, a system message appeared: "Sorry, your Spirit Beasts' online times have not yet reached 150 hours. They are considered minors and cannot move in together." Frustrated, Weiwei had to continue spending time in the game with the tigers to accumulate the required hours. Back home, Weiwei purchased a new phone, intentionally choosing the same model as Xiao Nai's.

Pondering what to send as her first message, she devised a prank: a fake lottery win, requiring a ¥1,000 payment for taxes and fees. To make it convincing, she included her bank account number, fully expecting Xiao Nai to dismiss it as spam so she could tease him about it later. While having dinner with her parents, Weiwei was shocked to receive a notification that Xiao Nai had actually transferred ¥1,000 to her account.

She discreetly called him, and he explained that he knew it was her because he had checked the phone's location. He also teased her about her "unprofessional trickery," as she hadn't included a recipient name for the bank transfer. Xiao Nai then told her the ¥1,000 was for a plane ticket and recited a poetic invitation: "The flowers on the path have bloomed; you may slowly make your return." His words immediately filled Weiwei with an eagerness to fly back.

She successfully convinced her parents by telling them she was going to do a summer internship and would be staying at her good friend Xiao Ling's house. Weiwei took a flight back and headed directly to Zhi Yi Technology, believing Xiao Nai's earlier statement that no one else would be in the office on a Saturday. To her dismay, she found not only Yu Banshan but also a group of clients waiting for Xiao Nai.

Carrying her luggage, Weiwei felt a sudden awkwardness, like she had been caught eloping. Xiao Nai emerged from his office, showing no surprise at her arrival. He calmly handled his clients, then quickly pushed Weiwei's suitcase into his office. Weiwei felt a pang of disappointment at his composed reaction, but as soon as they were alone, Xiao Nai pressed her against the wall and kissed her deeply. Yu Banshan playfully called out a reminder about the waiting clients.

Feeling shy, Weiwei found an excuse to escape after Xiao Nai returned to his guests and went to Xiao Ling's house to start cleaning. After finishing with his clients, Xiao Nai called her. Upon getting the address, he soon arrived, and Weiwei promptly directed him to the kitchen, telling him not to come out until it was spotless.

Episode 18 Recap

After diligently cleaning Xiao Ling's apartment together, Weiwei directed Xiao Nai to shower and get cleaned up, promising to treat him to a meal afterward. As they walked down the street, a sudden heavy downpour forced them to take shelter under an awning. Xiao Nai, concerned Weiwei might catch a cold, instinctively shielded her from the wind and rain. Overwhelmed by the intensity of the rain and worried for him, Weiwei impulsively pulled Xiao Nai into a close embrace.

The moment sparked a flurry of emotions between them, making their hearts race. To break the awkward silence, Weiwei asked why the company staff were on a mandatory two-week leave while Yu Gong was still working. Once the rain subsided, Xiao Nai playfully remarked that the weather had improved as soon as Weiwei arrived.

He couldn't resist leaning in for another kiss, but Weiwei, blushing, pushed him away, reminding him they were on a public street and people might see them. Indeed, a pair of twin sisters nearby were smiling at them, prompting Weiwei to quickly pull Xiao Nai away. They found a quiet spot on a park lawn. Weiwei asked Xiao Nai why he hadn't inquired about her sudden early return.

Xiao Nai, with a confident and slightly narcissistic gaze, simply asked, "Do I need to?" Weiwei teased him for his self-confidence, insisting he ask. He then obliged, and Weiwei revealed she was back for an internship as she couldn't find a suitable position in her hometown. She then asked if Zhi Yi Technology accepted interns.

Xiao Nai replied that their hiring standards were very high, and unless his "lady" was willing to offer a bribe of her beauty, he couldn't make any promises. That night, Xiao Nai's words played on Weiwei's mind, leading her to have a vivid dream. She imagined herself as an intern applicant in a dramatic production called "Seducing the Despotic Company President," where she shared a passionate kiss with the powerful President Xiao. Weiwei woke up thoroughly embarrassed, covering her face.

As she prepared for her first day, she reflected on how her mother had helped her pick out new clothes. She made a quick call to Xiao Ling, who was excited about her return. Weiwei jokingly told her that she had forgotten to clean the apartment, despite having meticulously done so with Xiao Nai the day before. On her first day, Xiao Nai was already waiting for Weiwei downstairs at Xiao Ling's apartment.

Weiwei had carefully chosen her outfit, and by coincidence, it perfectly matched Xiao Nai's, creating an unintentional couple's look. Weiwei initially felt shy about entering the company building with Xiao Nai, but he simply accepted the coincidence. As they entered, they encountered Ah Shuang from the Programming Department. Seeing the new intern holding hands with the boss, Ah Shuang reacted with disbelief and hurried off to inform the rest of the company.

Xiao Nai entrusted Weiwei to Yu Banshan for a tour of Zhi Yi Technology's departments. Yu Banshan enthusiastically guided Weiwei, explaining that the company, primarily focused on development, had a simple structure of five departments: Programming, Planning, Testing, Art, and Administration. He playfully described the Art Department as the most "cunning" and revealed that he had even used his own looks as a prototype for an NPC owner of a "Hospitable Spring Pavilion."

He then introduced her to the Planning Department, jokingly referring to Xiao Nai as her "husband." Weiwei found the company culture reminiscent of a martial arts world, with everyone using informal titles like "Boss," which she found more fitting for the demanding internet industry than standard corporate titles. In the Programming Department, Yu Banshan introduced the "Three Masters."

He pointed out KO, revealing his secret identity as a renowned hacker who had been recruited after losing a hacking contest to Xiao Nai. Yu Banshan then warned Weiwei to avoid another programmer, Ah Shuang, explaining that Ah Shuang found it impossible to write code if women were nearby. Finally, he introduced Hao Mei, also known as "Brother Mei," as the third master.

Yu Banshan also advised Weiwei to be nice to the Administrative Department, as they controlled the quality of their meals. For Weiwei's first task, Yu Banshan assigned her to work with Ah Shuang on mobile game testing. Ah Shuang immediately stuttered and distanced himself from Weiwei, proclaiming that women in IT only "make things worse." Weiwei retorted that he couldn't possibly know that since he hadn't even given her a task.

Annoyed, Ah Shuang challenged Weiwei to solve a complex mobile phone testing issue: finding several incompatible phone models, performing further analysis, and submitting a report by the next afternoon, all within a strict budget of 600 yuan. He added that if she failed, she shouldn't bother coming back. Weiwei confidently accepted, stating she would try her best.

At lunchtime, while Xiao Nai left for an appointment, Hao Mei and Qiu Yonghou expressed their disbelief at Yu Banshan assigning Weiwei to Ah Shuang. Yu Banshan, however, defended his decision as "fighting poison with poison," hoping that Weiwei's strong personality would cure Ah Shuang's aversion to women, thus opening the door for more female hires in their male-dominated company. Weiwei, overhearing their conversation, declared she wouldn't bother Xiao Nai with such a minor issue.

She explained that Ah Shuang's prejudice against women in IT motivated her to prove him wrong, and she had already conceived a secret solution to the task. Later, Weiwei asked Xiao Nai to borrow his bicycle key, which he instructed her to retrieve from a drawer in his office.

Yu Banshan and Hao Mei, witnessing this, worried about the security implications of Xiao Nai casually giving office keys to Weiwei, fearing she might be a "mole" who could steal company code. KO, however, reassured them that Zhi Yi Technology's code was protected by 128-bit asymmetric encryption, making it impossible to crack. Weiwei, amused, retorted that if she were a mole, she would sell them off first.

Weiwei then embarked on her mission, cycling around to various second-hand phone shops and repair stations. Instead of buying, she ingeniously rented the necessary incompatible phone models for just 15 yuan a day. She worked tirelessly through the night, testing the game on the phones and meticulously compiling a detailed report. The next morning, Weiwei presented Ah Shuang with a stack of phones and her comprehensive report, which included all phone models, their issues, assessments, and initial suggestions.

She proudly informed him that she had completed the task well within the deadline and under budget, spending only 150 yuan. Ah Shuang, typically stern, was visibly surprised and stuttered, before quietly telling her to leave so he could review it. As he read through her thorough work, he couldn't help but acknowledge her competence, muttering to himself, "No wonder she's the boss's family." That evening, Xiao Nai returned to the office to find Weiwei still working late.

He informed her that everyone else had gone for dinner and that he had ordered takeout for them, joking that his "lady" would have to make do with eating with him. Weiwei, pleased with her work, boasted about saving the company money. Xiao Nai playfully teased her, saying a portion of the leftover funds, specifically 250 yuan, belonged to her—a pun on the number meaning "dimwitted"—to which Weiwei retorted, "You're the dimwitted one."

Weiwei then thanked Xiao Nai for assigning her to Ah Shuang, admitting she would have felt awkward working directly under him. Xiao Nai, ever teasing, claimed he simply wanted to save himself the trouble, prompting Weiwei to playfully steal food from his plate. Later, Weiwei sent Xiao Nai a text message reminding him to eat and informing him that she wouldn't be joining him for lunch the next day, as she was picking up Erxi. Xiao Nai replied, telling her to return soon. The next day, Weiwei enthusiastically greeted Erxi at the station, taking her luggage and expressing how much she had missed her.

Episode 19 Recap

Zhao Erxi arrives early for her internship and Weiwei picks her up from the station. As they enter Xiao Ling's house, Erxi is astounded by the spacious "mansion" and playfully jokes about Weiwei calling her fat after Weiwei mentions her luggage is heavy. Erxi then enthusiastically proclaims her love for Xiao Ling, calling her a "sugar mama" and even suggesting she'd turn into a boy for her, which Xiao Ling dismisses over the phone.

After settling in, Erxi’s thoughts turn to gossip. She presses Weiwei about whether Xiao Nai had visited the house while they were alone, imagining romantic scenarios. Weiwei, clearly embarrassed, quickly cuts her off and leaves for work, telling Erxi to unpack. Erxi later realizes Xiao Nai must have been there because the kitchen was impeccably clean. Zhao Erxi then calls Cao Guang, offering to pay ¥2,000 immediately and the remaining ¥3,000 in installments.

Cao Guang ridicules her, asking if she plans to take three years to repay such a small amount and complaining about inflation. Erxi retorts, accusing him of being a loan shark and noting that ¥2,000 is half her semester's living expenses. Cao Guang then proposes an alternative: she can work for him to pay off the debt. He provides his address and instructs her to report in an hour, bringing some items for him on the way.

Despite her hurried attempt, Erxi arrives at Cao Guang's apartment fifteen minutes late, leading him to dock her pay. She notes his spacious home, prompting Cao Guang to instruct her to be more "demure." Erxi, defending her "free-spirited" nature, asks if he would prefer Weiwei to be there, causing Cao Guang to hastily declare Weiwei "worse" than her. Erxi vehemently defends Weiwei, reminding Cao Guang that Weiwei rejected him and accusing him of holding a grudge.

Their argument is interrupted by the appearance of Coffee, Cao Guang's cat, which frightens Erxi. Seeing her fear, Cao Guang proposes she simply repay the ¥3,000 debt instead of working. Instantly, Erxi changes her demeanor, showering Coffee with compliments, claiming its "goofiness" matches her own and that fate brought them together.

Cao Guang then outlines the rigorous duties required to care for Coffee: cleaning the litter box twice daily, ensuring three meals with fresh water, bathing it every three days and thoroughly blow-drying its fur, and playing with it whenever it seeks affection. He offers to demonstrate, starting with scooping cat poop. Erxi, struggling with the task and repulsed by the smell, accidentally spills litter on herself, much to Cao Guang's amusement.

Overwhelmed, Erxi rushes to clean up, then makes a quick exit, citing her internship report-in, but promising to learn the rest of the cat care duties later. At the office, Ah Shuang assigns Weiwei the task of testing the BOSS drop rate for the final stage of their mobile game, explaining that with a 1 in 10,000 drop rate, she'll need tens of thousands of simulations for accurate data.

Weiwei confirms that her previous report was satisfactory and that she hasn't "caused more chaos" for him. Faced with the daunting task of manually battling a boss with high health points, Weiwei decides to develop a backend applet to automate the testing process, believing it will be significantly faster. However, when Ah Shuang discovers her method, he chastises her for trying to "slack off" and accuses "girls" of being inherently lazy, despite Weiwei explaining it would speed up the process.

Meanwhile, Zhao Erxi hurries to Zhen Yi Technology for her internship. In the lobby, she briefly crosses paths with Zhen Shaoxiang, who emerges from an elevator. He silently observes her, thinking how surprised Luwei Weiwei would be to learn that Zhenshui Wuxiang (Zhen Shaoxiang) is her supervisor. Erxi is directed to the General Affairs Department, where she expresses concern about being in a "ridiculous place" given the number of programming assistants.

She is assigned a desk by the window with good light and air conditioning. Upon learning her salary is ¥150 per day, the highest for top interns, Erxi is ecstatic, calculating that with the ¥100 from Cao Guang, her total daily income will be ¥250.

Later, other female colleagues in the department notice Erxi sitting idle and gossip about her, speculating that she must have a "special connection with the Young Master" because he personally selected her resume and she had "made eyes" at him. They find her "boorish." Ah Shuang has lunch with a mysterious individual who hands him an envelope of money. On his return to the office, he's caught in a sudden downpour and comes back severely ill with a cold.

Yu Banshan attempts to get him medicine but is interrupted by an urgent call from a client requesting an important document. Consequently, Weiwei is asked to fetch the medicine. She expresses concern that Ah Shuang might refuse medicine from her, but Yu Banshan tells her to go anyway, suggesting they can tell him who bought it after he takes it. Lacking an umbrella, Weiwei returns completely drenched. Xiao Nai, seeing her condition, becomes visibly concerned.

He immediately takes Yu Banshan's jacket and wraps it around Weiwei, then announces they are "going home," opting to skip overtime. In the car, Weiwei worries about getting his car dirty, but Xiao Nai reassures her, explaining they're heading to his house because it's closer and she shouldn't worry about making a mess. Upon entering his apartment, Weiwei notices he only has one pair of slippers, leading her to believe she is his first guest.

Xiao Nai questions why she went out without an umbrella in the rain. Weiwei explains it wasn't raining when she left and that the rain started on her way back. He also asks if Ah Shuang gave her a hard time, and she deflects, not wanting to make him "look bad." Xiao Nai continues to express his concern for her.

The next day, Yu Banshan asks Xiao Nai about Weiwei's cold, revealing that she got soaked buying medicine for Ah Shuang. Ah Shuang expresses guilt, claiming he didn't intend to give Weiwei a hard time. Xiao Nai interrupts, acknowledging Ah Shuang's right to assign tasks since Weiwei was ultimately placed under him.

However, Xiao Nai shares his realization that Ah Shuang's prejudice is not just a general dislike of women, but specifically an "antagonistic" view towards female IT professionals due to being "wronged" in the past. He expresses his hope that Weiwei can change Ah Shuang's deeply ingrained perception. Ah Shuang concedes that Weiwei is indeed "very different." On Saturday morning, Erxi tries to rouse Weiwei, who insists on sleeping in.

Erxi mentions she has to go to work for double overtime pay, but returns shortly after leaving. She asks Weiwei to help her level up her metal forging skills in the game, explaining she's short on time due to her internship and needing to feed a friend's cat. Weiwei agrees. Once Erxi is truly gone, Weiwei hurries to the bathroom to conceal a kiss mark on her neck, fearing Erxi would see it.

Later, while Weiwei is playing on Erxi's account, Cao Guang's in-game character, Weiguang, messages "Huan Tian Xi Di" (Erxi's character), asking if she's working on her metal forging skills. Weiwei realizes he is Erxi's disciple and likely the recipient of the gift. To protect Erxi's secret and prevent Weiguang from knowing Erxi is using a proxy, Weiwei pretends to be Erxi and affirms she is working on the skill, then quickly logs off, citing work commitments.

Episode 20 Recap

While Weiwei was helping Erxi improve her forging skills in the game, Erxi was at Cao Guang's home, working for him by taking care of his cat, Coffee, as a way to pay off her debt. During a phone call with Weiwei, Erxi mentioned that Weiwei was going to have dinner with Xiao Nai that evening. Overhearing this, Cao Guang became infuriated, having previously misunderstood Weiwei's intentions in the game.

His anger boiled over, and he took it out on Erxi. As Erxi was about to leave, he insisted she clean Coffee's litter box. Just as Erxi, suppressing her disgust, finished cleaning it, Coffee immediately soiled it again. Frustrated, Erxi tapped Coffee's head to scold him, and the cat bit her finger. Cao Guang rushed out of his study upon hearing Erxi's scream. Seeing her bleeding finger, he immediately wanted to take her to the hospital for a rabies shot.

However, Erxi, afraid of needles and convinced the probability of contracting rabies was low, proposed that skipping the shot could offset her debt. Cao Guang, exasperated by her stubbornness, insisted on taking her to the hospital. Despite him paying for the registration and medicine, Erxi vehemently refused the injection. Unable to convince her, Cao Guang took Erxi's phone and called Weiwei for help, explaining that Erxi had been bitten and wouldn't get the shot.

Weiwei, despite feeling unwell herself, asked for the hospital's name and promised to be there quickly. At the hospital, Weiwei tried to persuade Erxi to get the shot, but Erxi stubbornly refused. Unexpectedly, Weiwei herself fainted due to a cold and fever. Fortunately, Xiao Nai, who had noticed Weiwei's voice sounding unwell on the phone earlier, arrived at the hospital. He immediately noticed Weiwei had a high fever of 39 degrees and gently carried her back to her apartment.

There, Weiwei received his meticulous care, which, to her, sounded as sweet as heavenly music, despite his gentle commands to drink water, take medicine, and sleep. Weiwei woke up later to find Xiao Nai still watching over her from the living room. He explained that he had stayed, concerned her fever might return during the night, and only truly relaxed after seeing her fever had subsided.

With a doting tone, Xiao Nai teasingly told her he had decided to keep her by his side in the future, as she enjoyed being his follower in the game, so she should continue to follow him. Weiwei timidly mentioned that Ah Shuang had assigned her a task that was still unfinished. Xiao Nai pulled her into his embrace, telling her not to worry about Ah Shuang because he felt bad for her.

At a team meeting, Xiao Nai announced that he had spoken with Feng Teng, and the press conference for their game was moved up to the end of September. He noted that while their game demo was largely complete after a month of accelerated development, some details, particularly the fluidity and transitions of fighting movements, still needed optimization. Hao Mei believed these minor flaws wouldn't hinder their success in securing the project, but KO quietly volunteered to handle the optimization.

Xiao Nai then feigned seeking Ah Shuang's opinion, stating he was short-staffed and wished to borrow some of Ah Shuang's team members. Later, Weiwei transferred her pocket money to Erxi, instructing her to immediately repay Cao Guang, thus making Weiwei Erxi's primary creditor. She urged Erxi to earn money quickly, as Weiwei herself only had ¥600 left for her own living expenses.

At the General Affairs department, Erxi's colleagues noticed her bandaged hand and showered her with concern, offering medicinal wine and advice about rabies shots. Overwhelmed by their excessive attention, Erxi quickly tried to escape and hurried off. Meanwhile, Nana spotted Erxi and expressed her desire to teach her a lesson. Yiran sternly warned Nana against bullying others using her name, especially since Yiran herself had given up on Xiao Nai. Erxi went to Cao Guang's apartment to return the money.

She proudly declared it was her last visit as his debtor, handing him the money Weiwei had sent. She also clarified that while it was her last visit as a debtor, she would continue to care for Coffee for free once he left the country, driven by her affection for the cat. During her lunch break, Xiao Nai invited Weiwei to his office to show her the desktop game demo.

Weiwei immediately became engrossed, deciding to explore the game world on her own. In the market, she saw a flattering vendor selling hair accessories and commented that he resembled Yugong (Yu Banshan). Xiao Nai confirmed that Yugong was indeed the prototype for that character. Weiwei praised the game, finding it unique, vibrant, and with exciting combat.

She became especially interested when she learned about a new life system, completely separate from the combat system, and excited by the vast map of the desktop game. Back at Xiao Nai's apartment, Weiwei suggested improvements to the new game's family system, such as interactions between different families. Xiao Nai, engrossed in playing the guqin, asked Weiwei how the music he was playing was. Annoyed that he hadn't been listening to her, Weiwei bit his hand.

Xiao Nai then playfully retaliated, pinning her down. Weiwei, surprised by his confidence, asked if it was truly his first relationship, noting his "seasoned" behavior. Xiao Nai confirmed it was, claiming he "learned it on his own" after meeting her.

Episode 21 Recap

Luwei Weiwei was diligently writing suggestions for a new game, particularly focusing on fresh gameplay ideas for the Majestic Beast system. While doing so, she suddenly remembered that she hadn't fed her little tiger in a long time. She told the little tiger to stay home and not run off, promising to go find food for it. As she strolled through the city streets in the game, Weiwei unexpectedly met Diemeng and Nini, whom she hadn't seen in a while.

The three friends decided to go to a dungeon together. However, Diemeng seemed a bit rusty, not only failing to defeat the boss but also damaging her equipment. While Diemeng went to repair her gear, Nini confided in Weiwei that Chief Diemeng had been in a bad mood lately. Many of the guild's older members had left, and the remaining new recruits treated Yaoyao as a goddess, with many not even knowing Chief Diemeng.

Nini also revealed that Tianxia had not returned the guild leader position to Diemeng, and now Diemeng's level and skills were not as high as his. Despite this, Diemeng and Tianxia had recently reconciled in real life after Tianxia had attentively cared for her when she was ill. Diemeng, learning that Weiwei was interning in the capital, then invited her out for coffee to chat.

Weiwei considered Diemeng a good friend and, wanting to comfort her, readily agreed to the meeting. Suddenly, Yixiao Naihe (Xiao Nai) appeared online and startled Weiwei by calling her "wife." Xiao Nai then said he remembered his relative's villa was empty and had a pool. He suggested they go swimming, noting that Weiwei needed to build up her health and strength. Weiwei recalled hearing that Xiao Nai was even better at swimming than basketball.

Her imagination conjured a sexy image of him in a swimsuit, causing her face to flush. They arranged for Xiao Nai to pick her up directly from the café where she was meeting Diemeng. Arriving at the café, Weiwei easily found Diemeng by the agreed attire. Upon seeing Weiwei, Diemeng was astonished by her beauty, finding it hard to believe that Luwei Weiwei in real life was so stunning.

She mused that the Xiaoyu's family, who constantly spread rumors calling Weiwei ugly or a transvestite, would be utterly ashamed if they saw her. Diemeng also thought that Zhenshui Wuxiang would surely be filled with regret. Weiwei simply smiled, stating that Zhenshui Wuxiang was like a stranger to her. Diemeng envied Weiwei's ability to let go of the past. She confessed that her own inability to do so had nearly ended her relationship with Tianxia because of Xiaoyu Qingqing.

However, Tianxia had suddenly become very kind to her again, caring for her devotedly when she fell ill, which led her to reconcile with him. Yet, she now understood that a relationship that has changed in quality, much like spoiled food, cannot be kept and must be discarded. She felt very tired from the emotional turmoil. When Xiao Nai suggested they buy a swimsuit together, Weiwei was overcome with shyness.

She rushed to a nearby mall before he arrived and bought the most conservative style she could find. On the way, she secretly planned to stay on the edge of the pool, avoiding the water, and use her phone to capture various swimming poses of the great Master. Thinking of her clever plan, she couldn't help but let out a little laugh.

Meanwhile, Xiao Nai discovered that Weiwei had accidentally brought the wrong pair of his swimming trunks – a very short, revealing style he had received after winning an inter-school swimming championship. Later that evening, Diemeng tried to invite Tianxia out for dinner, but he declined, claiming he needed to help guild members run dungeons. Feeling annoyed, Diemeng logged into the game and told Xiaoyu Qingqing that she had met Luwei Weiwei in person, who was absolutely stunning.

Qingqing was skeptical, recalling that she had heard Weiwei was interning at Zhenshui Wuxiang's company. She then asked Yaoyao to persuade Zhenshui Wuxiang to give them a tour of his company, specifically to get a glimpse of Luwei Weiwei. At Zhenshui Wuxiang's company, the members of Xiaoyu's family mistakenly believed Zhao Erxi to be Luwei Weiwei. They subjected Erxi to a series of annoying requests, ordering her to serve coffee and even search for a dropped earring under a couch.

Unable to offend them as they were friends of the manager, Erxi reluctantly endured their antics. Eventually, Xiaoyu's family proposed that Guild Leader Tianxia organize a real-life guild meetup, and invite Luwei Weiwei, thinking this would reveal her true appearance to everyone. Tianxia readily agreed to Xiaoyu's family's suggestion, and Zhenshui Wuxiang offered to cover all the expenses for the gathering as a show of support.

Tianxia then asked Diemeng to invite Luwei Weiwei, suggesting it would be a good opportunity to clear up past misunderstandings. Diemeng, understanding their true intentions, secretly smirked, wondering who would truly be humiliated at the event. As Xiao Nai drove Weiwei home, his mother called. Xiao Nai cunningly pretended it was inconvenient for him to answer while driving and asked Weiwei to pick up. Weiwei, seeing no contact name, assumed it was a telemarketing call.

After she answered, Xiao Nai calmly informed her it was his mother. Mortified, Weiwei quickly handed the phone back to Xiao Nai, who then put it on speaker. Xiao Nai's mother proceeded to make comments about him "tricking" a good girl and needing to take responsibility, causing Weiwei extreme embarrassment, wishing she could disappear into the ground. That night, Zhao Erxi called Weiwei, complaining bitterly.

She had been mistreated at work by a group of women she referred to as "Young Master's girlfriends," who made her act like a maid. She was particularly upset that one of them had spilled coffee on her new white sneakers. Amidst her complaints, Erxi also mentioned that her Huantian Xidi forging skills had finally reached the maximum level.

She then begged Weiwei to help her with one last ingredient needed for a sword she was making, using her earlier trauma as leverage. Weiwei, despite having just returned home, agreed to help her.

Episode 22 Recap

With Weiwei's help, Erxi finally gathered all the materials for a gift for her online partner, Wei Guang, and went to the blacksmith to forge a top-tier sword. Thrilled with its quality, Erxi was prompted by Weiwei to engrave a personal message on the blade to express her heartfelt wishes. Diemeng called Weiwei, inviting her to dinner the next day. Remembering she owed Diemeng a meal, Weiwei readily agreed.

She wasn't aware that Diemeng's invitation was a trap; while Weiwei considered Diemeng a friend, Diemeng saw her as a tool for revenge against Zhan Tianxia and Xiaoyu's family. Erxi, observing Weiwei meeting two online friends, one of whom was the esteemed Master, began to fantasize about what her own Wei Guang might be like. The image of Cao Guang suddenly flashed in her mind, and she quickly shook her head to dismiss it.

Meanwhile, Cao Guang, who was abroad, received daily updates about his cat, Coffee, from Erxi via WeChat. Their exchanges were filled with playful teasing and arguments, yet their relationship was steadily growing stronger. During lunch, Hao Mei reminisced about a game called "Fantasy Planet" he played before "A Chinese Ghost Story." He played as the Heavenly Physician, a role typically for female players, because its character design appealed to him.

Seeing many friends form couples in the game, he also decided to find a partner, specifically a "demon" player who used a male character. He found a Flower Arrow character named Shouke Zhaixingchen, whose name sounded very feminine. However, he later discovered that Shouke Zhaixingchen was actually a male player, a "shemale among the demons," causing Hao Mei to abandon the game completely.

KO, who had been quietly listening, suddenly asked Hao Mei if his server was "Chang'an under the Moon." A surprised Hao Mei wondered how KO knew, to which KO revealed, "Because I am Shouke Zhaixingchen." Sensing the awkward tension, Yu Banshan and Weiwei quickly made an excuse and discreetly left. Zhan Tianxia and Xiaoyu's family arrived early at the restaurant, eagerly anticipating Luwei Weiwei's appearance, hoping Diemeng would be humiliated.

When Weiwei finally entered, her arrival caused a ripple of astonishment. Zhenshui Wuxiang stared, captivated. Xiaoyu's family members struggled to reconcile the glamorous woman before them with the "ordinary IT woman" they had seen at Zhen Yi Technology. Xiaoyu Qingqing immediately accused Weiwei of being an imposter hired by the real Luwei Weiwei. Hearing this, Weiwei realized these were the people who had tormented Erxi.

Determined to avenge her friend, she noticed their aggressive demeanor and proposed a live in-game PK. She challenged all four of them to individual matches, stating that if she won four consecutive rounds, it would prove she was the true Luwei Weiwei, as accounts could be faked but gaming skills could not. After easily winning all four rounds, everyone was convinced.

Whispers began to spread, noting that Xiaoyu Yaoyao, who they once considered pretty, now seemed to fade into the background next to Weiwei. During the meal, an online acquaintance inquired about Weiwei's university. Not wishing to reveal her true identity, Weiwei casually mentioned that her school had excellent food. Based on a popular rhyme, "Qingda's brand, Beili's food; Beiwai's girls, Beihang's guys," they deduced she was a student at Beijing Institute of Technology.

Weiwei's intention was merely to mislead them without explicitly confirming or denying anything. As heavy rain began to fall, Xiao Nai, concerned for Weiwei, called to offer her a ride. Everyone at the dinner was curious to see the beautiful Weiwei's boyfriend. When Xiao Nai arrived, appearing effortlessly dashing, Xiaoyu Qingqing tried to sow discord. She confronted Xiao Nai, accusing his girlfriend of marrying multiple men in games and having a terrible reputation.

Xiao Nai remained unfazed, simply stating, "As long as she's willing to be with me, I don't care about these things," before calmly putting his arm around Weiwei and escorting her away, leaving a group of stunned onlookers. In the car, Weiwei praised Xiao Nai for his calm performance. She then playfully asked if he would truly not mind if she actually had an affair. Xiao Nai affirmed that he wouldn't.

When Weiwei expressed surprise, he clarified his stance: "At most, if you went over the wall by an inch, I'd move the wall an inch. If you went over by a foot, I'd move it ten feet."

Episode 23 Recap

Cao Guang returned early from abroad and was pleased to see his cat, Coffee, well-cared for, acknowledging Zhao Erxi's consistent efforts. He logged into the game "A Chinese Ghost Story", where Erxi, playing as Huantian Xidi, immediately noticed his online presence. She messaged him to meet at their usual spot outside Jinling City. Upon meeting, Huantian Xidi excitedly presented Weiguang with a top-tier sword she had painstakingly forged.

Weiguang acknowledged it was a good sword and suggested they test it with a PK match. After a few exchanges, Weiguang delivered a final, brutal blow, declaring it the "Severing Ties Sword" and stating he had had enough of playing a hypocritical game with "Bei Weiwei." Weiwei, worried about Erxi, bought a cake as a peace offering.

She apologized to Erxi, explaining that the online gamers who had bullied her mistakenly thought Erxi was Weiwei, making Erxi suffer on her behalf. Weiwei added that she had already avenged Erxi. However, Erxi, still reeling from Weiguang's harsh actions in the game, was enraged. She angrily threw the cake onto the floor, shouting at Weiwei to get out. While dining with Nana, Meng Yiran discovered a video on Nana's phone.

The video showed a drunk Cao Guang ranting about Bei Weiwei, claiming she was a "two-timing" person who was with him in the game while also clinging to Xiao Nai in real life. Furious that Nana had withheld such important information, Yiran argued that Xiao Nai shouldn't be deceived by someone like Weiwei. She demanded Nana send her the video immediately, stating she couldn't wait another minute and intended to show it directly to Xiao Nai.

Meng Yiran called Xiao Nai, requesting to meet him regarding a matter concerning Bei Weiwei. However, Xiao Nai promptly hung up, stating he was not interested. Undeterred, Yiran intercepted him on his usual jogging route. She insisted he watch the video, explaining that her roommate had captured it and was going to post it online, but she had stopped her to prevent Xiao Nai from being deceived.

Xiao Nai watched the video on Yiran's phone, discreetly deleting the video from her phone and copying it to his own. Later, he showed the video to Weiwei, explaining that Yiran brought it to him and he deleted the original. He told Weiwei that while sharing this might add to her worries, he believed she would prefer to handle such matters herself.

Weiwei was shocked by Cao Guang's slanderous remarks, denied his claims, and asked Xiao Nai to delete the video. Zhao Erxi, unaware of Cao Guang's early return, went to his apartment to feed Coffee. Preoccupied, she spilled cat food on the floor. Just then, Cao Guang walked out of his room, startling Erxi. She tried to leave quickly, stating her cat-sitting duties were over.

Cao Guang tried to thank her with chocolates, but Erxi, still furious, rejected them and stormed out, leaving Cao Guang bewildered. Later, as Cao Guang was leaving a friend's house, he encountered Weiwei. She confronted him about the video, and through their heated conversation, Weiwei finally understood Cao Guang's animosity: he mistakenly believed she was his in-game partner, Huantian Xidi, and accused her of two-timing him with Xiao Nai.

After Weiwei sternly told him she was not Huantian Xidi and warned him to stay away, she realized that Cao Guang must have deeply hurt Erxi (the real Huantian Xidi) in the game, which explained Erxi's extreme anger and her refusal to answer calls. Xiao Nai called Cao Guang, arranging to meet at the school basketball court.

There, Xiao Nai told Cao Guang that if he still didn't understand the situation, he didn't deserve his reputation as a Foreign Language Scholar. When a confused Cao Guang asked who Huantian Xidi really was, Xiao Nai refused to give answers. Instead, he informed Cao Guang that Meng Yiran's roommate filmed the video and warned him to resolve the matter and ensure no more negative rumors about Weiwei surfaced.

He also advised Cao Guang not to let his foolishness harm the friendship between two girls. When Cao Guang asked if Xiao Nai ever doubted Weiwei after seeing the video, Xiao Nai confidently replied, "Why would I not trust my girl?" After reflecting on his encounters, Cao Guang finally realized that Zhao Erxi was Huantian Xidi. He waited outside Zhenyi Company to apologize.

Erxi asked him a poignant question: "Did Weiguang in the game ever like Huantian Xidi, even a little bit?" Cao Guang admitted that he always thought Huantian Xidi was Bei Weiwei, implying he viewed Erxi's genuine efforts as Weiwei's insincere games. He tried to suggest they could be good friends, but Erxi sharply retorted, "Who wants to be friends with you? !" and walked away, unwilling to forgive him.

Episode 24 Recap

Zhao Erxi arrived at work feeling dejected, facing a pile of tasks. Zhen Shaoxiang called her into his office to inquire about Weiwei. During their conversation, Erxi realized that the company had hired her because she had used Weiwei’s gaming ID during her interview. Zhen Shaoxiang asked if she was Luwei Weiwei, to which Erxi replied that she was not and had only borrowed her roommate’s username because she lacked gaming experience.

Zhen Shaoxiang then pressed for Weiwei’s real name and university, but Erxi, feeling increasingly exposed, stated she would leave if there were no work-related questions. Later, as she struggled with her tasks, Erxi reflected on how everything she had—her in-game couple, her easy job—was all thanks to Bei Weiwei, making her feel like a joke. Weiwei left work early, intending to talk to Erxi, but found her packing to move back to the school dormitory.

Erxi confronted Weiwei, asking why she had told Cao Guang that she was Huantian Xidi, accusing Weiwei of embarrassing her further. Weiwei explained that she had not done so; Cao Guang had mistakenly thought Weiwei was two-timing. When Weiwei confronted him to clarify, she learned the full story, and Cao Guang must have guessed that Erxi was Huantian Xidi himself. Erxi then apologized for wrongly accusing Weiwei, acknowledging she should have known Weiwei wasn't that kind of person.

However, Erxi’s underlying resentment surfaced as she voiced how Weiwei was prettier, smarter, and more popular. She had never tried to compete but felt everything she had—her job, the treatment she received, and the person she liked—depended on Weiwei’s name because people mistook her for Weiwei. Handing back the money she owed, Erxi insisted on moving out. Heartbroken, Weiwei declared that if someone had to leave, it would be her, and she tearfully left Xiao Ling’s apartment.

Weiwei arrived at Xiao Nai’s apartment, explaining sadly that Erxi didn't want to live with her anymore, so she had moved out. Xiao Nai praised her as a smart girl who knew where to go in crucial moments. Weiwei then asked Xiao Nai if they would ever argue in the future. He confidently replied that they wouldn't, as they could solve all problems without arguing.

He reassured her, telling Weiwei that Erxi was only a small part of her life, while he was her everything. He forbade her from crying for anyone else, especially since he hadn't even made her cry. Weiwei playfully retorted, reminding him of the time she cried when he didn't show up for their final. Feeling less burdened, Weiwei realized she was hungry.

Xiao Nai asked her to help him in the kitchen, and he personally cooked two bowls of noodles for their dinner. Weiwei sheepishly told Xiao Nai she might need to borrow money again as she didn't have enough for a hotel. Xiao Nai invited her to stay at his place, offering to move to his parents’ house the next day. Weiwei quickly declined, not wanting to trouble him.

Xiao Nai joked that if he didn't move out, Weiwei might discover a skill he lacked: cooking, as he only knew how to boil noodles. Weiwei found this amusing, realizing there were things he couldn't do. Weiwei slept in Xiao Nai’s bed, tossing and turning until just before dawn. As soon as it was light, Xiao Nai roused her for a morning jog. They encountered Professor Li from the Economics Department. Xiao Nai introduced Weiwei as his girlfriend.

Professor Li expressed surprise that Xiao Nai, at only twenty-two, had already brought his girlfriend home. He then took out his phone to complain to his own son, who was nearly thirty, about not being married. Upon arriving at the office, Xiao Nai and Weiwei were greeted by Hao Mei, who was lamenting that KO was coercing him into playing an old game and teaming up with him to reclaim his reputation after being mocked previously.

Xiao Nai was amused, noting that he had worried about retaining KO after a year, but now he no longer needed to. Seizing the opportunity, Hao Mei jokingly demanded a 1,000 yuan bonus for being "sacrificed." Xiao Nai readily agreed. Hao Mei, true to his word, immediately approached KO and agreed to team up, promising to treat him to a lavish dinner that evening.

The other colleagues teased Hao Mei about his "fragile chastity" and suggested giving KO the title of "Mr. Beauty" if he successfully lured Hao Mei. Meanwhile, at a restaurant, Xiaoyu's family continued to spread rumors that Luwei Weiwei was pretending to be a university student. Zhenshui Wuxiang, though fully aware of the truth, grew increasingly frustrated by their incessant chatter.

He impatiently waved over a waiter to pay the bill, telling Xiaoyu's family that this would be his last time treating them to a meal, viewing it as a farewell dinner. He then abruptly left. After he left, Yaoyao and her friends, shocked, blamed Luwei Weiwei for the turn of events.

After leaving the restaurant, Zhen Shaoxiang immediately called his company, asking for Zhao Erxi's home address and stressing that he needed it as soon as possible without letting her know he had inquired. A colleague ingeniously created a "commemorative booklet" form to collect Erxi's address. Zhen Shaoxiang received the address, noting that Bao Gui Gardens, where Erxi lived, was on his way.

Later, Weiwei spoke with Xiao Ling on the phone, explaining that she had moved out and that she and Erxi needed some time to calm down. Xiao Ling expressed concern, reminding Weiwei of Erxi’s impulsive nature and advising her not to take her actions too personally. Weiwei admitted that she also felt wronged. Xiao Ling then humorously worried about the Feng Shui of her apartment due to their argument. Weiwei lightly joked back that Xiao Ling's apartment had excellent Feng Shui, with many attractive men visible at the downstairs pool daily.

Episode 25 Recap

Xiao Ling called Weiwei, having learned about her argument with Zhao Erxi and her moving out. Xiao Ling attempted to mediate, explaining that Erxi had a particular temper and suggesting Weiwei be more understanding. After the call, Weiwei was lost in thought, but Xiao Nai interrupted her to say he would help her move her luggage to his apartment after work, and then he would move to his parents' place. Weiwei politely declined, insisting she could manage on her own.

As Weiwei finished packing her bags at Xiao Ling's place and stepped out, she encountered Zhen Shaoxiang, who had sought her out after realizing she lived with Zhao Erxi. Zhen Shaoxiang brazenly approached her, even disparaging Xiao Nai by mentioning that his student team had sought investment from Zhen Yi Technology but was deemed unseasoned. Weiwei, annoyed, stopped to confront him.

She asserted that, to her knowledge, Zhi Yi Technology and Zhen Yi Technology were both competing for the development rights of "A New Chinese Ghost Story," placing them on equal footing. She then questioned Zhen Shaoxiang's position in Zhen Yi Technology, noting that Xiao Nai was Zhi Yi Technology's lead programmer and planner. Unfazed by Weiwei's sharp retort, Zhen Shaoxiang found it amusing that her temperament was just like her character in the game.

Weiwei arrived at Xiao Nai's apartment with her luggage, finding that he had already packed most of his belongings. She asked if he was truly letting her have his apartment, to which Xiao Nai responded that he lacked confidence in his self-control. He added that he was fortunate to have his parents' place as an option; otherwise, he would have to sleep on the office floor. A heavy rainstorm caused a severe leak at Xiao Nai's parents' house.

Fortunately, the family's precious collectibles were unharmed. Xiao Nai decided to move these valuable pieces to his apartment. Citing concern for Weiwei being alone with the valuables, he conveniently made an excuse to stay with her to guard the collection. Later that night, as Weiwei read in bed and Xiao Nai worked on his game in the living room, Weiwei looked at the peaceful scene and imagined their life together decades into the future, finding the thought quite appealing.

Meanwhile, Cao Guang repeatedly watched the videos Zhao Erxi had sent him, documenting Coffee's daily activities. Overwhelmed, he finally sent Erxi a text message apologizing for his previous behavior and offering to wait for her at their usual in-game spot, allowing her to kill him a hundred times to vent her anger. Cao Guang then remembered he still needed to settle a score.

He called Na Na, instructing her and Meng Yiran to meet him at the school's south gate at 10:00 AM the next day. Na Na defiantly questioned his attitude. Cao Guang retorted, reminding her that she had secretly filmed him, distributed the video, and slandered a fellow student, asking what kind of attitude she expected from him. He warned them that if they failed to show up, they would face the consequences.

When Cao Guang met Na Na and Meng Yiran, he ignored their apologies. He simply warned them to mind their words, stating that if he heard any more negative rumors about Weiwei, regardless of the source, he would hold them accountable. Weiwei dozed off on the sofa while logged into her game. Xiao Nai gently covered her with a blanket. He noticed Zhenshui Wuxiang's character standing beside Weiwei's, reminiscing about their past as an in-game couple.

When Zhenshui Wuxiang explicitly requested a fresh start, Xiao Nai, controlling Weiwei's character, typed a single message: "I'm Yixiao Naihe." This revelation infuriated Zhenshui Wuxiang, who almost smashed his computer. Upon learning that Yixiao Naihe was indeed Xiao Nai, Zhen Shaoxiang struggled to process the information. Elsewhere, Zhen Yi Technology held incriminating evidence against A Shuang's friend, coercing A Shuang into obtaining the core code for Zhi Yi Technology's new game.

A Shuang explained that Xiao Nai's critical codes were encrypted with a 128-bit key, making it impossible for him to crack. Zhen Yi Technology then requested any other relevant information. To protect his friend, A Shuang reluctantly disclosed a critical flaw in Zhi Yi's new game: it consumed a significant amount of memory. However, he also revealed that Xiao Nai was developing an optimization tool that, once completed, would drastically reduce memory usage.

Realizing A Shuang's limited access made sabotage difficult, Mr. Zhen suggested approaching Feng Teng Corporation to move up the demonstration date, thereby denying Zhi Yi Technology enough time to finish their optimization tool. Motivated by the competition, Zhen Shaoxiang approached his father, requesting to join the team vying for the "A New Chinese Ghost Story" project.

He declared himself a veteran player and claimed no one in the company understood the game better than he did, vowing to thoroughly defeat Xiao Nai. However, after reviewing Zhen Yi Technology's current game sample, Zhen Shaoxiang was deeply disappointed, calling it unappealing. He criticized the mediocre character designs, indistinct skills, crude scenery, and lack of creativity. He offered five times the regular overtime pay, demanding the design team immediately implement his suggested improvements.

Meanwhile, Yu Banshan discovered two fully paid-off apartment contracts in Hao Mei's drawer, revealing Hao Mei's unexpected wealth. Hao Mei was immediately chastised by his friends, with even KO unable to protect him. Yu Gong pointed out that Hao Mei, a "tycoon," had borrowed money from him, a "proletarian," during their college days and never repaid it.

Hao Mei defended himself, explaining that he was genuinely poor back then; after applying to Qing University against his father's wishes, he was financially cut off and left with only 600 yuan a month for living expenses. He jokingly added that he would never have come to Beijing if he had known it had "Third Brother" (Xiao Nai) and sandstorms. Xiao Nai dryly told Yu Gong to let Hao Mei know that he would remember being equated to a sandstorm.

Episode 26 Recap

Xiao Nai called a meeting, informing his team that Feng Teng Corporation had moved the demo date forward to September 1st. Qiu Yonghou expressed concern that their optimization software, including testing and revisions, couldn't be completed until September 16th. Xiao Nai, however, declared that he would not abandon the optimization. Instead, he planned to pursue a dual approach, working on the optimization tool while making other adjustments simultaneously, confident they could finish everything in ten days.

The seafood celebration that Hao Mei was supposed to host would now be a celebration banquet in Shanghai after their success. The team embarked on a grueling ten-day work schedule, toiling day and night, often napping at their desks and ordering takeout. Observing their exhaustion, Weiwei approached Xiao Nai. She acknowledged that during this critical period, time couldn't be wasted on commuting, but worried their lack of proper rest would lead to illness.

She suggested purchasing blankets and mats for more comfortable sleep. Xiao Nai conceded his oversight and entrusted her with the company's logistical responsibilities, handing her his wallet. Weiwei then arranged mattresses and blankets for everyone. The team appreciated her thoughtful gesture, jokingly calling her a "Snail Girl" and praising the VIP treatment. Weiwei offered to help until school started, and Xiao Nai suggested she continue as an intern, humorously stating he would put her salary into his own account.

Meanwhile, Meng Yiran visited her cousin, Zhen Shaoxiang, having heard he had become an industrious businessman. Zhen Shaoxiang admitted he initially joined the design team to defeat Xiao Nai fairly, but discovered game design was far more interesting than he expected, thus finding something he genuinely enjoyed. Na Na informed Meng Yiran that she had witnessed Cao Guang and Zhao Erxi arguing. Speculating that Erxi liked Cao Guang, who in turn liked Bei Weiwei, Na Na decided to intervene.

She approached Erxi, feigning concern and offering macarons, then began slandering Weiwei with false accusations. However, Na Na's over-the-top lies backfired. Instead of being swayed, Erxi realized just how many baseless rumors and attacks Weiwei had been silently enduring. This made Erxi feel deeply remorseful for her own anger, understanding that Weiwei had been supportive while facing these attacks alone. Oblivious to this, Na Na invited Erxi to a meal with Meng Yiran, ostensibly to console her.

Following this, Erxi received an apology text from Cao Guang. She called him back, not to accept his apology, but to ask if he had apologized to Weiwei, who had been falsely accused of cheating because of their conflict. Erxi urged Cao Guang to apologize to Weiwei, but he refused, admitting he "dared not" apologize. This confirmed Erxi's suspicion that Cao Guang truly liked Weiwei.

Erxi then firmly told Cao Guang that the person she liked was the online persona "Wei Guang," not him, and that she had never liked the real him. She instructed him to pretend they didn't know each other on campus, ending the call with "Goodbye, Wei Guang." Erxi then plucked up the courage to call Weiwei, who had fallen asleep at her desk from exhaustion. Xiao Nai answered, telling Erxi that Weiwei would be very happy to hear from her.

When Weiwei woke and learned of the call, she was overjoyed. Playfully noting he sensed his girlfriend might be moving out, Xiao Nai watched as Weiwei eagerly took his bicycle and bought a cake to meet Erxi. During their meeting, Erxi confessed her foolishness and regret, admitting she wouldn't have understood the situation without "the campus beauty's sidekick" stirring up trouble. Weiwei reassured her it wasn't her fault.

The two had a heart-to-heart, where Erxi confessed her past envy but was now ready to move on. Erxi then playfully interrogated Weiwei about living with Xiao Nai. Weiwei later texted Xiao Nai about moving back, but he called and insisted she stay until school started. To justify staying, Weiwei claimed his valuable paintings needed guarding. Weiwei and Erxi decided to accept the dinner invitation to see what Na Na and Meng Yiran were planning.

At the restaurant, Erxi proceeded to order a large array of desserts and pastries. While secretly trying to record her on their phone, Na Na and Meng Yiran prompted Erxi to badmouth Weiwei, suggesting her words would have more credibility. However, Erxi feigned innocence and replied that such a serious matter required careful thought, stating she needed to "think while eating," much to their frustration.

Episode 27 Recap

Erxi was busily eating at a restaurant when Weiwei arrived. Seeing Weiwei, Erxi delightedly introduced Meng Yiran and Nana, pretending they were close colleagues from Zhen Yi Technology who were treating her to a meal. Weiwei feigned surprise, remarking that Erxi ate so much that it was exceptionally kind of them to host her. She then subtly declined to join them, saying she was not interested in other people's food.

Angered, Meng Yiran stood up abruptly and left, dismissing Nana's attempts to explain. Meng Yiran initially instructed her driver to leave Nana behind, but then had a change of heart and told him to turn back. However, as the car was turning, she overheard Nana cursing her, wishing that no one would ever genuinely like her. Hearing this, Meng Yiran told the driver to drive on, abandoning Nana for good.

As Weiwei and Erxi left the restaurant, triumphant, Erxi lamented the wasted food, even though she enjoyed tricking Meng Yiran and Nana. Suddenly, Weiwei noticed Ah Shuang, who was supposed to be working overtime at the company, stealthily getting into someone else's car. Back at the office, the game optimization was not meeting the ideal target. Xiao Nai and KO, both perfectionists, continued to work relentlessly, barely sleeping.

Hao Mei observed their intense dedication, realizing that the difference between him and them lay not in intelligence, but in their extraordinary stamina and perseverance. He jokingly called them "masochists" and "psychos" for working with only two to three hours of sleep and still having so much energy. Weiwei worried about Xiao Nai's health but refrained from disturbing them, instead waiting outside and eventually dozing off at a desk. Finally, Xiao Nai emerged.

After quickly eating some cold leftovers, he took Weiwei to the flower market. He explained it was the Qixi Festival and he wanted to take her shopping, as he hadn't spent much time with her during the summer. Weiwei casually remarked that the game world might be more lively than reality that night, perhaps with fireworks. Xiao Nai, looking at a billboard, was suddenly struck by an idea.

He quickly led Weiwei to a coffee shop, where he spent the entire night writing furiously on paper. Weiwei sat happily beside him, eating ice cream and watching him work. After an all-night effort, Xiao Nai successfully resolved the persistent issue of reducing the game's memory usage. Subsequent tests showed the game running incredibly smoothly, with memory usage nearly halved.

To prepare for the upcoming demo presentation in Shanghai, Xiao Nai took his team, along with Weiwei, to a mall to buy formal suits. At the mall, Yu Banshan, Qiu Yonghou, and Hao Mei all tried on the same style of suit and began to argue about who looked the most handsome, asking Weiwei to be the judge.

As Weiwei struggled for a diplomatic answer, KO emerged from a fitting room in a black suit, stunning Weiwei, who immediately exclaimed that he looked incredibly handsome. The three friends instantly abandoned their argument and their suits, deciding to find other styles. Later, as Weiwei and Xiao Nai were packing – Weiwei preparing to move back to school for the next day's semester, and Xiao Nai for his flight to Shanghai – the doorbell rang.

Xiao Nai's parents unexpectedly burst into the apartment. Weiwei was extremely flustered, but Xiao Nai's parents were very open-minded. After Xiao Nai explained the situation, they were not upset and seemed very pleased with their son's choice of a future daughter-in-law. Xiao Nai then asked his parents to drive Weiwei to her dorm on their way back, as he didn't have time. They insisted on accompanying her all the way to her dorm entrance. Along the way, other students gossiped, marveling at the sight of someone not just showing off their relationship, but even their "in-laws."

Episode 28 Recap

Erxi went with Weiwei to Zhen Yi to collect her internship salary. Before leaving, Erxi urgently needed to use the restroom. Unexpectedly, she accidentally rushed into the men's room and bumped into Cao Guang. Erxi, remembering their agreement to pretend to be strangers, ignored him and went straight in, only for Cao Guang to point out she was in the wrong restroom. Weiwei encountered Meng Yiran outside the dorm building.

Meng Yiran informed Weiwei that she was leaving to study abroad and was there to complete her paperwork. She sincerely apologized to Weiwei and Xiao Nai for any trouble her past immature actions may have caused. Meng Yiran expressed her envy of Weiwei, not only for her relationship with Xiao Nai but also for her genuine friendships.

Weiwei responded by emphasizing that sincerity is the most valuable quality in friendships, assuring Meng Yiran that if she treats others with sincerity, they will reciprocate. At Zhen Yi, Weiwei waited in the lobby while Erxi went upstairs to collect her pay. Flipping through a magazine, Weiwei recognized Director Li, the head of game development at Zhen Yi, from the cover. She had previously seen him picking up Ah Shuang, a former Zhi Yi employee. Erxi confirmed his identity.

Concerned, Weiwei tried to call Xiao Nai to inform him of this suspicious connection, but his phone was off as he was preparing for a presentation. Xiao Nai and his team arrived for the presentation at Feng Teng Corporation. Director Wang announced that each team would have thirty minutes to present, as President Feng had a flight at 1 PM. Zhen Yi Technology began their presentation.

Zhen Shaoxiang explained that players are drawn to games not just by repetitive battles or endless leveling, but by human interaction and emotional connections. Their new game featured expanded interactive systems, including complex romantic relationships, family systems, alliance systems, and large team missions. The presentation concluded smoothly. As Zhi Yi prepared, Director Li discreetly made a phone call, signaling his intent to disrupt their demonstration. Xiao Nai then began Zhi Yi Technology's presentation.

Director He expressed skepticism about their small team size, but Director Wang defended Zhi Yi's skilled members. During their demonstration, the connection to the server suddenly failed. Director Li immediately seized the opportunity, questioning if Zhi Yi's game itself was flawed, given that Zhen Yi had no connection issues with the identical server provided by Feng Teng.

A staff member confirmed that the server allocated to Zhi Yi had inexplicably shut down and would require at least half an hour to restart. With President Feng needing to leave for the airport in 45 minutes, Director He suggested proceeding with Zhen Yi's game. Unfazed by the setback, Xiao Nai calmly instructed Hao Mei to connect to their mirror server.

When questioned about the fairness of using a different server, Xiao Nai explained that Zhi Yi had prepared a backup server with identical specifications to mitigate risks. To ensure transparency, he provided President Feng with remote login credentials so Feng Teng's IT staff could verify the server's configuration. Xiao Nai elaborated that in the commercial world of online gaming, stability is paramount.

He detailed Zhi Yi's server architecture, which incorporated real-time failover: if one server experienced an issue, a mirrored server would instantly activate, allowing players uninterrupted gameplay. He presented this as Zhi Yi's core principle and a commitment for their future collaboration with Feng Teng. President Feng was highly impressed by Zhi Yi's foresight and meticulousness. Zhi Yi then proceeded with their full demonstration, which ran flawlessly.

Xiao Nai concluded by articulating Zhi Yi's ideals: a commitment to original innovation and viewing games as a medium to spread Chinese culture. President Feng expressed strong agreement with Zhi Yi's vision. Following a brief internal discussion, President Feng emerged from the conference room and shook Xiao Nai's hand, congratulating him. He informed Xiao Nai that he was departing for New York and would discuss the contract upon his return.

Zhen Shaoxiang, though disappointed, accepted the defeat graciously, telling his team that Zhi Yi's design and technology were superior and vowing to learn from the experience. However, he then overheard Director Li speaking on the phone with his father, admitting they had sabotaged the presentation and that Xiao Nai's mirror server had thwarted their plan. Zhi Yi celebrated their victory back in the capital.

Hao Mei, attempting to get Xiao Nai to pay for an expensive meal, was reminded by Xiao Nai and Yu Banshan of his own promise to treat them to a seafood feast, a debt linked to his ownership of "two houses." Hao Mei reluctantly agreed. He then announced that one of his small rooms was available for any brother in need.

During the celebration, Weiwei privately asked Xiao Nai about Ah Shuang, recalling seeing him with Director Li from Zhen Yi. Xiao Nai internally recounted Ah Shuang's earlier confession: Zhen Yi had pressured him into providing information after his childhood friend was sued for trade secret theft. Ah Shuang's friend had released a game developed with his girlfriend, but she had betrayed him and sold it to Zhen Yi. Feeling conflicted, Ah Shuang only shared general project progress with Zhen Yi.

Xiao Nai decided not to inform the rest of the team about Ah Shuang's situation. Later, as the team headed out for karaoke, Xiao Nai revealed to Weiwei that he had actually paid for the dinner, having only pranked Hao Mei. After a night of revelry, Hao Mei slept until 2:30 PM the next day, waking to a knock at his door. He opened it to find KO standing there, carrying several bags and stating that he was there to take up Hao Mei's offer for the spare room.

Episode 29 Recap

KO arrived at Hao Mei’s new apartment, finding it incredibly messy despite Hao Mei having only moved in the day before. Hao Mei asked why KO was there, and KO simply replied he came to ask for a favor. Observing the empty kitchen, KO compiled a shopping list, mostly for cooking utensils and ingredients, indicating his intention to cook at Hao Mei's place. Hao Mei, initially confused by the list, eventually agreed to go shopping with KO.

Upon their return, KO instructed Hao Mei to occupy himself for two hours, after which dinner would be ready. Soon, a feast of Hao Mei's favorite dishes was laid before him. Hao Mei found it almost too good to be true, wondering if KO would disappear by morning. During dinner, Hao Mei asked KO which university he graduated from.

KO revealed he only had nine years of mandatory education, having lost his family at fourteen and lacking funds to continue school. Hao Mei expressed admiration, noting that KO was now more accomplished than many college students. KO then proposed to move in, offering to cook, wash dishes, mop floors, and do laundry, promising to do everything. Hao Mei, seeing this as a great deal, readily agreed.

The following morning, as the team prepared for a weekend outing, Yu Gong jokingly accused Hao Mei of getting special treatment by letting KO move in, but Hao Mei defended himself by listing all of KO's domestic skills. The team then headed to a resort for swimming and a barbecue. Xiao Nai picked up Weiwei, who commented on their noticeable entourage.

Xiao Nai playfully halted the car, mentioning they might not get much alone time during the trip, subtly conveying his desire to spend time just with her. Upon arrival, Xiao Nai gave Weiwei priority in choosing her room. At the pool, Xiao Nai and KO became the center of attention, leading to a proposed swimming race.

Hao Mei initially championed Xiao Nai as an inter-collegiate champion but then praised KO's physique, teasingly earning a remark from Yu Gong about his enthusiasm for KO. In the first round, Weiwei bet on Xiao Nai, and Hao Mei bet on KO, with Xiao Nai emerging victorious. Not satisfied, Hao Mei demanded a rematch, declaring he wouldn't be in the mood for barbecue if he didn't win.

This time, he quickly chose to bet on Xiao Nai, leaving Weiwei to reluctantly bet on KO. To everyone's surprise, KO won the second race, with Xiao Nai later admitting he let KO win so that KO would be in the mood to barbecue for them. KO took charge of the barbecue, but the food was quickly devoured by the hungry group, prompting Hao Mei to lament his inability to get a drumstick.

To manage the food distribution, one of the team members suggested a game of PK in "A Chinese Ghost Story" for chicken legs. Xiao Nai was excluded from playing directly. Weiwei played first and initially lost to Yu Gong, but with Xiao Nai acting as her strategist, she quickly won the next round. Hao Mei then asked to borrow Weiwei's account to try her character class.

As Weiwei logged out of her account, she found a farewell message from Zhenshui Wuxiang. In his letter, Zhenshui Wuxiang confessed to having been aimless but was provoked into game development, where he unexpectedly found a true interest. He admitted that he was prepared for failure but never expected to lose so disgracefully, especially regarding the unethical tactics used by his father's company. He expressed shame and wondered if Weiwei would believe he was unaware of those actions.

He concluded that he could no longer stay in "A Chinese Ghost Story" due to the painful memories, and planned to diligently study and truly learn something. He ended by asking Weiwei to relay a message to Xiao Nai: that he would one day develop a game superior to Xiao Nai's. Reading the letter, Weiwei silently wished him well. Later, Xiao Nai took Weiwei to a scenic spot that resembled Dusk Glow Peak from "A Chinese Ghost Story."

Weiwei expressed concern that "A New Chinese Ghost Story" might lead to a decline in players for the original game, eventually causing Feng Teng to shut down its servers. Xiao Nai reassured her, explaining that no new game could fully replace the original and that Feng Teng had promised perpetual operation.

He added that the game would last at least until their children were old enough to play it, and he would take their child to Vermilion Bird Bridge to tell them that's where their parents first spoke in the game. Weiwei, comforted by his words, realized that even if the game servers eventually closed, their shared experiences and memories would remain in their hearts, unaffected by the disappearance of data.

Xiao Nai playfully asserted his memory would be better than hers. Two years later, Xiao Nai was interviewed by a gaming media outlet after Zhi Yi Technology won international awards for both its mobile and PC games, making the company highly valuable in the industry. The host inquired about rumors of Feng Teng acquiring Zhi Yi Technology, to which Xiao Nai responded that their companies would only engage in product collaborations, with no acquisition plans.

When asked how a male-dominated team designed games so popular with women, Xiao Nai revealed that the information was inaccurate, as his fiancée was also a part of their design team. Watching the live interview, Xiao Ling and Si Si immediately confronted Weiwei, demanding to know when she became Xiao Nai’s fiancée.

Weiwei, equally surprised, recalled an earlier conversation where she had asked Xiao Nai for two summers' worth of intern salaries, to which he had replied, "No money, but if you want a person, there is one." Her roommates teased her about Xiao Nai's devious plans, noting she was his girlfriend before meeting and now his fiancée without a formal proposal, joking about her future "position in the family." Weiwei simply stated that she and Xiao Nai don't fight.

Weiwei finally graduated, and she and her three roommates dressed in their caps and gowns for a photo shoot. Erxi, unsatisfied with two hundred photos, climbed onto a statue for a selfie. At that moment, Cao Guang, who was now working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and accompanying a foreign business delegation, happened to pass by. From her perch, Erxi, not recognizing him, called out to him to take a photo for her.

As he approached, they recognized each other and immediately began bickering. Cao Guang told her to come down and not "ruin the image of our school." Erxi retorted, making fun of him for being an "attendant." As they argued, Erxi lost her footing and nearly fell from the statue. Cao Guang quickly reached out and caught her, holding her securely in his arms. Their roommates, witnessing the scene from afar, observed the romantic atmosphere, commenting that it was a classic moment from a romantic drama, and decided not to intervene.

Episode 30 (Ending) Recap

After graduation, Weiwei asked Xiao Nai to help her move her luggage to Xiao Ling's apartment, explaining that she and her three roommates would still live together, just in a new place. She felt no sadness about leaving the dorm. Xiao Nai questioned if Da Zhong had any objections to this arrangement, and Weiwei innocently asked why he would. Amused, Xiao Nai simply told her to get in the car. He then took Weiwei’s luggage directly to his own home.

Weiwei assumed he would sleep on the sofa and warned him it was bad for his neck, but Xiao Nai assured her he had no intention of sleeping on the sofa. Xiao Nai later informed Weiwei that they would go to Wuhan by car two days after her graduation ceremony. Weiwei was puzzled, stating she wouldn't be working in Wuhan and had no luggage to take back.

Xiao Nai clarified that since she grew up there, she would have items to move to their new home, and driving would be more convenient. He then playfully declared his determination to not return her to her parents. Upon their arrival in Wuhan, only Weiwei's mother came downstairs to greet them. Upstairs, Weiwei’s father was meticulously preparing a comprehensive set of questions on his laptop, designed to test his future son-in-law's strength, endurance, IQ, and EQ.

As soon as Xiao Nai entered, he faced rigorous scrutiny. At dinner, Weiwei's father questioned the reliability of a career in gaming. That night, he insisted Xiao Nai sleep on the sofa to test if he snored. The next morning, he sent Xiao Nai to the supermarket for groceries, intending to test his running speed and endurance.

Weiwei confronted her father about his demanding behavior, asking him to consider how he would feel if Xiao Nai’s parents treated her with such strictness. Her father vehemently responded that his daughter would never suffer such unfair treatment in another family. He then admitted that while he didn't dislike Xiao Nai, his perceived perfection made him uneasy. To counter this, Weiwei revealed that Xiao Nai couldn't cook.

Hearing this, her father immediately deemed it a "fatal flaw," dramatically crossing out all of Xiao Nai’s previous high scores in his notebook and declaring that he would not allow his daughter to marry someone she would have to cook for every day. Feeling she had only made things worse, Weiwei told Xiao Nai what happened. He calmly agreed to speak with her father himself, and Weiwei waited anxiously in the living room.

Just ten minutes later, Weiwei’s father emerged with a completely changed demeanor, now urging Weiwei to marry Xiao Nai as soon as possible, emphasizing the benefits of marrying young and having children early. It turned out Xiao Nai had won him over by discussing the country's two-child policy. The prospect of becoming a grandfather to two adorable grandchildren filled Weiwei’s father with such joy that he was now eager for the wedding.

He was so enthusiastic that Weiwei’s mother playfully asked if she was also going to be a grandmother. With Weiwei's father's approval secured, Xiao Nai immediately called his mother to arrange the betrothal gift, fast-tracking their marriage preparations. Weiwei's roommates visited her new house, marveling at its design style. They all praised Xiao Nai’s skills and playfully asked if he could design their future homes too. Next, they clamored to see Weiwei's wedding gown.

Weiwei told them it was in the bedroom and too heavy for her to carry. Her roommates excitedly opened large boxes on the bed, revealing a stunning traditional phoenix coronet and ceremonial robe. They were awestruck, though one jokingly remarked Weiwei was "wearing a bathroom on her head." Weiwei explained Xiao Nai had assured her it was an investment that wouldn't lose value.

As they left, the roommates playfully tried to invite Weiwei to stay with them, but Xiao Nai gently insisted she stay with him, driving them home instead. Back home, Xiao Nai helped Weiwei put on the intricate layers of her beautiful traditional wedding attire. As he looked at her in the mirror, she appeared angelic. Overwhelmed by her beauty, he kissed her deeply, intending to truly make her his wife that night.

Later, Xiao Nai took Weiwei to the internet cafe where he had first seen her. He revealed that he had bought the property, and Zhi Yi Company would soon be moving their offices there. He pointed to the specific seat where she had been gaming, reminiscing about how her swift and agile movements on the keyboard had first caught his attention. He confessed that if he had known then what he knew now, he would have fallen in love with her at first sight.