My Amazing Boyfriend Recap, Plot, Synopsis
My Amazing Boyfriend Synopsis
After a hundred years of sleep, Xue Lingqiao was accidentally awakened by the unlucky actress Tian Jingzhiin in a car accident.
With the bizarre birth and uncommonly capable, Xue Lingqiao lived in Tian Jingzhi’s house. AlthoughTian Jingzhi pretended not to care, behind the scenes, she tried to get rid of the “demon”.
However, during this period, the relationship between them was warming up, and the ambiguity was spreading quietly.
Later, not only does Xue Lingqiao and Tian Jingzhi’s feeling for each other becomes clear, but also a big conspiracy that spans over a hundred years is slowly revealed.
My Amazing Boyfriend Recap
Episode 1 Recap
The story begins with Xue Ling Qiao, who has walked the human world for 400 years, impervious to pain, injury, aging, or death. He has spent centuries searching for the secret to his immortality, only to find himself confined within a coffin, seemingly awaiting death. A century ago, his blood was drained after his carotid artery was severed, an act that forensic analysis would later suggest was a revenge killing.
This coffin, containing what researchers referred to as the "Sleeping Beauty" or a "dormant body," was later salvaged from a riverbed, its contents remarkably preserved due to the coffin's tight seal. Meanwhile, Tian Jingzhi, a B-list celebrity, was experiencing a public humiliation. She had meticulously planned a grand proposal to her boyfriend, Li Yanzhi, at the Ling Ling Circus, with friends and family secretly present.
However, Li Yanzhi not only rejected her proposal but confessed his love for Xie Lingli, Tian Jingzhi's childhood best friend who had been living with her family since high school. Devastated, Tian Jingzhi fled to the rooftop. There, the security team leader mocked her predictable, dramatic behavior, which surprisingly snapped her out of her despair. She decided against a desperate act, declaring she'd regret it more if she died with uncollected wages and became a ridiculous headline.
As she drove home, distracted by the roses from her failed proposal, she was involved in a major collision with a truck at an intersection on Cheng Xi Road. The truck she crashed into was, unbeknownst to her, transporting Xue Ling Qiao's coffin to a research center. The collision was severe; both truck drivers died instantly, and Tian Jingzhi was left critically injured and unconscious.
As her blood flowed towards the shattered coffin, it made contact with Xue Ling Qiao, miraculously reviving him. Upon awakening, Xue Ling Qiao transferred his healing blood to Tian Jingzhi through a kiss, then vanished before police and paramedics arrived. News reports later detailed the tragic accident and Tian Jingzhi's critical condition, attracting worried fans to the hospital.
Despite a miraculous recovery with no visible injuries, Tian Jingzhi insisted on staying in the hospital to hide from the public scrutiny of her rejected proposal, fabricating various ailments to the exasperated staff. Xue Ling Qiao, now a stranger in the modern world after a century of slumber, was drawn to Tian Jingzhi by an inexplicable connection: he could sense her heartbeat.
He followed this sensation to her hospital room and appeared by her bed in the middle of the night, startling her awake. Her scream prompted him to vanish at super-speed. Nurses found no one, but Tian Jingzhi continued to hear a strong, rapid heartbeat, which they dismissed as a hallucination. Observing Tian Jingzhi, Xue Ling Qiao concluded she was an unlucky but straightforward woman.
He decided that in this strange new era, she might be the only one who could help him investigate the attack on him a century ago. Bored in the hospital, Tian Jingzhi attempted to sneak out for a cake by climbing a wall but comically fell into an open manhole. Xue Ling Qiao, with his enhanced hearing, located her. He posed two questions: whether she believed in immortality and if she desired it.
Tian Jingzhi, assuming he was a psychiatric patient, cautiously answered that she didn't want immortality, as she couldn't bear to watch her loved ones die while she was left alone, treated like a monster. Her heartfelt response deeply resonated with Xue Ling Qiao, echoing his own sentiments, and he rescued her. With no legitimate injuries, Tian Jingzhi was finally discharged. She was immediately ambushed by reporters, who pressed her about her health and the rejected proposal.
One reporter, citing the man who called in the accident, asked about a "pervert fan" who allegedly kissed her while she was unconscious at the scene. Shocked, Tian Jingzhi confronted her mother at home, who nonchalantly confirmed the news was widely reported. Tian Jingzhi lamented the loss of her "first kiss," to which her mother scoffed, mocking her for having seven boyfriends yet remaining so principled.
Initially planning a break, Tian Jingzhi was forced back to work by her father, who presented her with maxed-out credit cards, hospital bills, and car loan payments. The transport company responsible had gone bankrupt after losing its "cargo," leaving her with no compensation. Arriving at her apartment, she found Li Yanzhi waiting. She launched into a rapid-fire speech officially ending their relationship, declaring they would revert to being distant relatives before slamming the door and collapsing in tears.
Li Yanzhi, who had come to investigate the car accident as part of his police duties, was left outside, unable to explain his true purpose. Later that night, Xue Ling Qiao followed the strong heartbeat sensation to Tian Jingzhi's house. As he stood outside, she felt the abnormal heartbeat and stepped out, leading to their silent reunion. At that moment, her ex-boyfriend, Ye Chen, arrived. Despite Tian Jingzhi's hostile reception, Ye Chen insisted on discussing the accident.
He revealed that the truck had been carrying a "dormant body"—Xue Ling Qiao—from a private museum to his research center, but it had vanished after the crash. He showed her a picture, explaining that the cause of death was a severed carotid artery, and suggested the incident was a premeditated murder and theft, not a simple accident. Tian Jingzhi claimed no memory and demanded he leave.
Concerned for her safety as the sole witness, Ye Chen contacted Li Yanzhi to request police protection for her. Li Yanzhi stated he couldn't act without her personal request, dismissing Ye Chen's concern as an overreaction. Nevertheless, Ye Chen, insisting Tian Jingzhi was very important to him, vowed to investigate the matter himself.
Episode 2 Recap
At her agency, Tian Jingzhi discussed her recent struggles with her colleague, Feng Dongdong, revealing she had been dreaming nightly of a mummy knocking on her door. Feng Dongdong casually reassured her that such dramatic events typically only happen to main characters, not to a "National second female lead" like her. Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of A-list actress Zhang Xuanxuan. Despite their friendship, Tian Jingzhi appeared apprehensive.
Zhang Xuanxuan chastised her for avoiding her calls for an entire month and for a past incident where Tian Jingzhi, while Zhang Xuanxuan was abroad, picked all the fragrant roses from her garden for a failed marriage proposal to Li Yanzhi. Zhang Xuanxuan reminded Tian Jingzhi of her earlier warnings, pointing out that Tian Jingzhi's palm lacked a marriage line and that Li Yanzhi rejecting her was "scientific."
Tian Jingzhi lamented that Li Yanzhi always seemed to favor Xie Lingli instead. Later, Zhang Xuanxuan took Tian Jingzhi to visit her master, a fortune teller. The master declared Tian Jingzhi's fate to be an unusually unlucky one, a "life committed to a lone star" that, despite being destined for wealth, was "drifting and rough." He noted that her normally abundant romantic luck had "entered a life of solitude with no possibility of marriage." Zhang Xuanxuan pleaded for a solution.
The master explained that Tian Jingzhi needed to find someone with an even "harder" fate than her own to ward off the bad luck—someone who could be hit on the head with a stone and not die. Tian Jingzhi impulsively asked if the master himself had a "hard" fate, causing him to stumble and knock a valuable porcelain vase onto his head. As he bled and fainted, he muttered that Tian Jingzhi truly possessed "very heavy bad luck."
Upon returning home, Tian Jingzhi posted an online ad for a roommate, including bizarre conditions like needing a "big round head" to meet the fortune teller's criteria for a "hard fate." Though she received many calls, none seemed to fit her peculiar requirements. Meanwhile, Xue Ling Qiao returned to his ancestral home, a Late-Qing manor, only to discover it had been converted into a tourist attraction. With nowhere to stay, he reviewed his situation.
He realized that the two key people in his case, researcher Ye Chen, who was searching for the "dormant body," and police officer Li Yanzhi, who was investigating the accident, were both connected to Tian Jingzhi, the woman whose blood had revived him. He concluded that to find his old enemy, he needed to form an alliance with her.
He also surmised that if her unlucky streak led to her death, he might face problems too, as his awakening was tied to her blood. Xue Ling Qiao spent a month in a library, rapidly absorbing modern knowledge. His photographic memory allowed him to master computer usage quickly. He discovered Tian Jingzhi's online roommate ad and, seeking to make contact, went to her address. Tian Jingzhi initially mistook him for someone from a prank show and refused him entry.
However, moments later, she was astonished to find him casually sitting in her room, watching "One Piece" on her iPad. She soon recognized him as the man she had encountered late at night and, terrifyingly, the "dormant body" that Ye Chen was so desperately seeking. Panicked, Tian Jingzhi feigned going out for coffee to escape but tripped on the stairs. Xue Ling Qiao, demonstrating superhuman speed, caught her just in time.
Xue Ling Qiao explained his need for a place to stay, promising to leave once he found the person he was looking for. Tian Jingzhi, unable to find a valid reason to refuse, reluctantly agreed, feeling as though she was "inviting a wolf into her house." Xue Ling Qiao tried to explain his immortality, recounting that he was a normal human over four hundred years ago but an unexplained event made him ageless.
He mentioned his recent discovery of research on "telomeres and telomerase" as a potential key to his longevity. Tian Jingzhi dismissed his claims, believing he was a psychiatric patient and recalling he was the "crazy person" who had previously rescued her from a manhole. When asked about his diet, Xue Ling Qiao stated he preferred the "liquid" from a normal human diet, such as her favorite milk tea.
Tian Jingzhi then comically suggested he should call her "mother" since her blood saved him, but he reiterated that he was human, just "special," and that his own mother died centuries ago. Unbeknownst to them, Xue Ling Qiao's long-standing enemy, who had caused him to lose part of his memory and had last seen him a hundred years ago, also tracked his whereabouts.
This individual, who had presumed Xue Ling Qiao dead, learned that he was in fact alive and residing with Tian Jingzhi. He then began to orchestrate a larger scheme, stating, "This time, I won't miss out." Meanwhile, Tian Jingzhi searched online for ways to scare "monsters," but her attempts—using sunlight and other methods—always backfired, leading to embarrassing situations for herself. Zhang Xuanxuan had dinner with her fiancé, Hong Shiguang.
They confirmed their engagement was merely a "strategic alliance" for public consumption, not a genuine romance. Zhang Xuanxuan, the sole heiress of the powerful Zhang Corporation, viewed acting as a hobby and intended to eventually take over the family business. She also mentioned recommending Tian Jingzhi to a director for a new film, suggesting they might co-star. Tian Jingzhi later appeared on a program called "More Than Beauty."
During the live call-in segment, a prank caller who had gotten through two days in a row began to mock Tian Jingzhi's failed proposal, much to her embarrassment. The program's assistant director, Feng Dongdong, was subsequently fired due to internal conflicts between the show's producer and his host twin brother. A tearful Feng Dongdong pleaded with Tian Jingzhi for a job. After he passed two of her humorous "interview" questions, she hired him as her personal assistant. When Feng Dongdong later asked why she was always broke despite her high income, she cryptically told him she was secretly "hiring someone to dig a well."
Episode 3 Recap
After a late-night program, Tian Jingzhi, whose car was recently totaled, prepared to ride her small scooter home. Li Yanzhi arrived, expressed concern for her safety, and offered her his car while he took her scooter.
Tian Jingzhi, though trying to appear unaffected, saw the good luck charm she had given him hanging in his car and was flooded with memories: giving him the talisman for his new car, declaring she had loved him since she was eight, and his playful annoyance at her constant affirmations of love. She sarcastically wondered if his car was a "break-up fee" that had conveniently appeared. The next morning, Tian Jingzhi's new assistant, Feng Dongdong, arrived with breakfast.
He was startled to find Xue Lingqiao opening the door and immediately misinterpreted their relationship. Tian Jingzhi clarified that Xue Lingqiao was just one of her many cousins, but Feng Dongdong recognized him as the "library god" who had recently become popular online. He became overly solicitous toward Xue Lingqiao, offering his hacking skills, which annoyed Tian Jingzhi.
Feng Dongdong quickly shifted his attention back to her, briefing her on her schedule: a photoshoot that morning and an audition for a drama in the afternoon. He proudly stated that the director had insisted on Tian Jingzhi for the second female lead role, emphasizing her beauty. Tian Jingzhi, feigning disinterest, quipped that the role lacked challenge, to which Feng Dongdong bluntly pointed out her lack of acting skills.
Meanwhile, Xue Lingqiao, observing the online frenzy surrounding his image, had an ominous premonition. He believed the rapid spread of his photo meant his enemy now knew he had reawakened and was secretly monitoring him, prompting him to accelerate his search. Later, Tian Jingzhi attended the audition. Despite her efforts, the director gave a non-committal response.
She later complained to Feng Dongdong about the hundreds of other hopefuls for a role that was supposedly hers, only for him to reveal that Zhang Xuanxuan, the female lead, had recommended her to the director, giving her the opportunity. Back home, Tian Jingzhi brought Xue Lingqiao cherries for him to juice, and he surprisingly reciprocated with fast food for her. During their conversation, she learned he suffered from amnesia, having lost about ten to twenty years of his memory.
She firmly stated her disinterest in his past, preferring to maintain a simple landlord-tenant relationship. However, Xue Lingqiao soon found her old photo album, filled with pictures of her and Li Yanzhi. He commented that she seemed deeply in love, which she vehemently denied, tossing the album in the trash. He also observed that Li Yanzhi appeared to love her deeply.
Tian Jingzhi admitted that their relationship had once been stable like an "inert gas," but when it changed, it became flammable, exploding and leaving nothing but ashes. Later that night, Xue Lingqiao found her searching for the album he had secretly saved. Handing it back to her, he listened as she confessed she was ashamed to still be in love with Li Yanzhi. Meanwhile, police officer Li Yanzhi was actively investigating Tian Jingzhi's car accident.
After obtaining her hospital records, he noted a significant discrepancy: the amount of blood at the scene was far too much for her minor injuries. Suspecting the blood belonged to someone else, he directed his assistant to search for the bloody skirt Tian Jingzhi wore, which had gone missing from the hospital. He then visited Professor Ye Chen at his research center.
After Ye Chen finished a lecture on cell regeneration and immortality, Li Yanzhi shared his findings about the abnormal blood loss and the missing skirt. They both concluded that a third person must have been present at the accident scene. At home, Tian Jingzhi struggled with her lines for the new role, dramatically asking, "Who do you think turned me into a monster?" Xue Lingqiao bluntly told her that her acting was "bad."
Piqued, and noting her script involved a monster, she asked him what it was like to be different. This prompted Xue Lingqiao to recount his past. Centuries ago, in the renowned Xue Manor, a young Xue Lingqiao lay unconscious with a persistent high fever after being bitten by a cloud leopard. His wound had turned black and festered. His parents summoned a Divine Healer who, after examining him, explained that the potent venom had entered his lungs.
The healer proposed a radical treatment: using "poison to treat poison" with highly toxic substances, combined with daily bloodletting for three days and a diet of only ginseng broth. Desperate, his parents agreed. During the painful treatment, Xue Lingqiao could only consume liquids. When he finally recovered enough to go out, he was met with fear and gossip. People called him a "monster" who survived on poison, and he overheard that his engagement to a general's daughter had been broken.
Even his former friends now taunted him. Three days into the treatment, the Divine Healer was astonished to find that a new cut on Xue Lingqiao's arm healed instantly. That night, Xue Lingqiao overheard his parents discussing their plight: his father planned to resign and flee with him, as powerful officials intended to capture him. Hearing soldiers gathering outside, Xue Lingqiao realized he was a danger to his family.
He tearfully told his parents he had to leave to find a cure and protect them. As he departed, his mother gave him an ancestral jade pendant. Alone, Xue Lingqiao understood that the healer's medicine had transformed him into the "monster" everyone perceived him to be.
Episode 4 Recap
Those who conspired against Xue Ling Qiao, having learned of his awakening, plotted a larger scheme. They commissioned a painting of him, aged it, and contacted him online, knowing he had just learned how to use a computer. Unaware of the potential dangers, Xue Ling Qiao trusted these anonymous individuals. Xue Ling Qiao woke up to find Tian Jingzhi on top of him.
Tian Jingzhi, curious about the strange, powerful heartbeat she had been feeling, realized it was coming from Xue Ling Qiao. He explained that her blood had saved him during the car accident, resulting in a shared heartbeat frequency that allowed them to sense each other within a certain range. He also added that strong mood swings could be sensed regardless of distance.
Wanting to get rid of Xue Ling Qiao, Tian Jingzhi pretended to test the limits of their sensing range. She tricked him into walking further and further away until she claimed she could no longer hear his heartbeat, despite him being "over five hundred kilometers away." She told him to never return, but found him already inside her apartment, online. Frustrated, she called him "really slow."
Seeing her annoyance, Xue Ling Qiao secretly decided to find a way to make her ask him to stay. Tian Jingzhi's parents summoned Feng Dongdong, pressuring him to report Tian Jingzhi's every move to them in exchange for money, wanting to keep her away from possible extortion. They expressed their desire for her to marry a wealthy man and live a "peaceful and normal life," regretting her choice to become an entertainer.
Feng Dongdong initially refused, fearing Tian Jingzhi's reaction, but they persisted. Professor Li, Ye Chen's mentor, encountered Tian Jingzhi at a film location and suggested she visit his research center for a blood exam to check for potential aftereffects from her car accident. Tian Jingzhi, aware that Xue Ling Qiao's blood saved her, politely declined. Hoping to be asked to stay, Xue Ling Qiao attempted to make breakfast for Tian Jingzhi, his first time making porridge.
She found it excessively salty, joking it could "preserve me so that I don't rot for the next two hundred years." Meanwhile, the conspirators confirmed they had sent Xue Ling Qiao the painting and meeting details, emphasizing the need for a flawless "net pulling" operation. Xue Ling Qiao informed Tian Jingzhi about his meeting with the painting owner. Provoked by his past criticism of her acting, Tian Jingzhi left for her film shoot.
On set, she sensed Xue Ling Qiao's erratic heartbeat and wondered if he was nearby to mock her. During a scene where her character was to be cut by a knife, the prop was replaced with a real one, deeply cutting Tian Jingzhi's hand. Xue Ling Qiao entered the building for his meeting and found himself trapped in an elevator, realizing it was a deliberate trap. Unseen antagonists, remotely observing him, confirmed the building was isolated and secured.
They intended to freeze him for "a day and a night" before "draining all the blood out of you" to break his spirit. The cold air continually weakened him. After receiving medical attention, the prop director denied responsibility for the real knife. Later, a news report discussed Tian Jingzhi's injury, stating that a "super fan" had been arrested. Tian Jingzhi, watching the report, criticized the "brain-damaged" fans.
The arrested fan denied swapping the knife, claiming he only collected props and posted about them online. Resting at home, Tian Jingzhi realized Xue Ling Qiao had not returned. Though initially relieved, her thoughts soon shifted to concern, concluding he was "too gullible" and might have been "tricked." Guided by Xue Ling Qiao's increasingly erratic heartbeat, Tian Jingzhi made her way to an uninhabited office building.
She called out his name, and Xue Ling Qiao replied, confirming he was in the elevator and extremely cold. Tian Jingzhi considered calling the police, but Xue Ling Qiao reminded her he was a "monster." She found an axe and used it to pry the elevator doors open a crack. She then located wood and started a fire. As the warmth reached Xue Ling Qiao, his superpowers began to recover. He forced the elevator doors open wide and collapsed into Tian Jingzhi's arms.
Episode 5 Recap
After bringing a weakened Xue Lingqiao home, a frustrated Tian Jingzhi complained that rescuing him had been a mistake, leaving her injured and sick. As she was trying to get him to leave, Xue Lingqiao suddenly kissed her, secretly passing his blood into her mouth to heal her. When a shocked Tian Jingzhi tried to hit him, he stopped her and revealed her hand, which had completely healed from its deep cut.
Tian Jingzhi finally understood that his blood was a powerful cure, which explained her miraculous survival after the car accident. Xue Lingqiao clarified that he couldn't heal her earlier because he had been too weak, and that he hadn't explained his powers because she always ran away whenever he tried. He further elaborated on his abilities: incredible speed, the power to float by filtering hydrogen from the air, and the potent healing properties of his blood.
Tian Jingzhi remarked that while their situation looked like an "idol drama" on the surface, it was really a "horror film" in practice. Shortly after, Xue Lingqiao’s enhanced hearing detected three people approaching the house, with three more waiting outside in a car. At Tian Jingzhi's insistence, he hid just before her mother arrived with Zhang Xuanxuan and a doctor to check on her hand.
Tian Jingzhi frantically resisted when the doctor tried to change the bandage, desperate to keep her miraculous recovery a secret. Sensing her distress, Xue Lingqiao used his power to flick a button and knock over the iodine bottle, preventing the bandage change. Concerned, her mother simply advised her to be careful before leaving with the others. Once they were alone, Tian Jingzhi confronted Xue Lingqiao for stealing her first kiss, ruining a moment she had cherished.
He calmly explained that he had to use his tongue to control his own wound's healing rate, ensuring his blood was transferred to her effectively. Comparing her to yogurt—a means to an end—he suggested she could consider her first kiss still intact. Unconvinced, Tian Jingzhi called him a pervert. Frustrated by his presence, Tian Jingzhi considered asking friends for advice on how to get rid of him but realized no one was suitable.
She decided instead to consult the "Master" that Zhang Xuanxuan had recommended. When she arrived, she explained to the Master that she was being "pestered by a strange thing." The Master, assuming she meant an evil spirit, advised that if this being was clinging to her, it meant it had an unfulfilled wish. He told her it was her responsibility to help him achieve it, quoting the proverb, "Whoever tied the bell must untie it."
Inspired, Tian Jingzhi returned home and pressed Xue Lingqiao for his true purpose. He revealed he was searching for the person who had drained his blood over a hundred years ago, leaving him for dead in a coffin. He admitted to having lost his memories of the decade or so before he was thrown into the lake. He also explained that prolonged exposure to low temperatures could weaken him and diminish his powers.
He believed the research center's interest in him was connected to his unknown assailant and needed Tian Jingzhi's help to get information from her ex-boyfriend, police officer Li Yanzhi. Eager for him to leave, Tian Jingzhi agreed to help. Xue Lingqiao also mentioned visiting his former residence, now a museum, hoping that old photographs might hold clues, as he suspected he was an early photography enthusiast.
Later, Li Yanzhi met with Tian Jingzhi to discuss his suspicions about her car accident. He showed her a photo of her dress, noting the amount of blood far exceeded what her minor wounds could have produced, suggesting it belonged to the thief who stole the dormant body. Tian Jingzhi feigned ignorance, claiming she was unconscious. Unbeknownst to her, Li Yanzhi had lent her the car specifically to track its GPS.
He later noticed the car moving on his phone and, after confirming she wasn't driving, grew more suspicious. At that very moment, Xue Lingqiao was using her car to drive to the city archives to search for information. Soon after, Tian Jingzhi received a fraud alert from her bank for a 62,000 RMB charge. She rushed home to find Xue Lingqiao with several new cameras.
He calmly admitted to buying them with her credit card, which he found on her table, explaining he had just learned to shop online. He justified the purchase as a tool to help him recover his lost memories. Furious, Tian Jingzhi accused him of being a thief. Offended by her words, Xue Lingqiao wrote her an IOU, promising to repay the money.
Realizing how harsh she had been, Tian Jingzhi apologized and offered to help him find a job, explaining that in the modern world, he couldn't "fly around" without being caught on surveillance cameras and needed a normal identity to blend in. Meanwhile, her assistant Feng Dongdong reported to Tian Jingzhi's parents that a "tall, handsome, and well-built cousin" was staying with her.
Her mother, who has many relatives, mistakenly assumed it was her favorite cousin, Ah Qi, and thought nothing of it. To help Xue Lingqiao earn money, Tian Jingzhi introduced him to the owner of a Taekwondo gym, a man she affectionately calls "Gym Owner Dad." She presented Xue Lingqiao as a friend needing a job, and his impressive abilities quickly earned him a coaching position.
The owner joked about him being her new boyfriend, but she clarified he just owed her money. Xue Lingqiao formally introduced himself, explaining his mother named him "Ling Qiao" with the wish that he would be "beautiful and tall." Tian Jingzhi warned him not to smile at others, as his charm was too powerful. When he asked if she liked his smile, she admitted she liked beautiful people, then asked if he saved her for her beauty.
He denied it, saying she was a kind person. She agreed, joking that only someone as kind as her would take in a "third-rate product" like him. Later, Xue Lingqiao admitted his driver's license and other documents were fakes from a "buy-two-get-one-free" deal, explaining that even with his speed, driving a car was essential for maintaining the "pace and lifestyle of normal people" to avoid discovery.
Episode 6 Recap
After his first successful day as a Taekwondo instructor, Xue Ling Qiao returned home with Tian Jingzhi. She playfully urged him to carry her up to their balcony as he had done once before. Although he initially refused, he eventually relented to her pleas. This moment was unexpectedly witnessed by Feng Dongdong, who had been waiting outside Tian Jingzhi's residence. Stunned by what he saw, Feng Dongdong asked Xue Ling Qiao for confirmation, and Xue Ling Qiao simply nodded.
No sooner had Xue Ling Qiao confirmed it than Tian Jingzhi began to complain about his carelessness. Their bickering escalated, with Tian Jingzhi mockingly calling Xue Ling Qiao a "super idiot monster" who had been drained of blood, left as a dormant corpse in a coffin for a hundred years, and awakened without even knowing his enemy's identity.
Xue Ling Qiao countered, labeling her a "complete joke" for being so unlucky as to revive a dormant corpse after a car accident. Mid-argument, they both remembered Feng Dongdong was still present. Hearing the truth about Xue Ling Qiao, Feng Dongdong excitedly declared it "so cool." At the research center, the science-obsessed Professor Li discussed his work with his talented student, Ye Chen.
Professor Li had borrowed the dormant corpse from a private museum, whose owner was a mysterious benefactor who had long supported his research. Professor Li expressed his desire to meet this secretive sponsor, who had finally agreed to a meeting. Concerned for the professor's health, Ye Chen mentioned how his own wife and daughter, Annie, had left him due to his obsessive work habits.
Professor Li, however, remained resolute, believing that together, he and Ye Chen could alter the future of humanity by synthesizing a perfect repair enzyme. Later, while browsing online, Feng Dongdong discovered a viral video of a shadowy figure moving freely across tall buildings, which had already garnered over three million views. Worried that Xue Ling Qiao's identity would be exposed, Feng Dongdong rushed to show them.
The website editor had boasted that if the video reached fifty million views, a clear, thirty-six-second version revealing the figure's face would be released. Tian Jingzhi became frantic, urging Xue Ling Qiao to hide. However, Xue Ling Qiao remained unconcerned, refusing to leave because he wanted to watch the rerun of Zhang Xuanxuan's drama, which only exacerbated Tian Jingzhi's frustration.
She asked if he could hack the server, but he stated it was a crime and that he couldn't hack the original files. Meanwhile, the mysterious sponsor instructed his detective, a Mr. Zhang, to acquire the high-resolution footage from the tech company that published it. The company was negotiating with the original netizen who filmed it, who was demanding 500,000 RMB.
The mysterious sponsor, certain the figure in the video was Xue Ling Qiao, whom he referred to as a "fated old friend," instructed that the video must not be exposed at any cost. He also told Mr. Zhang to arrange his meeting with Professor Li. Tian Jingzhi arrived on set to film a scene where her character, driven by jealousy, cornered Zhang Xuanxuan's character on a rooftop.
In the scene, the male lead would intervene to save Zhang Xuanxuan and then push Tian Jingzhi's character off instead. Suffering from acrophobia, Tian Jingzhi was visibly terrified. Sensing her distress from a distance and remembering his promise to protect her, Xue Ling Qiao used his powers to rush to the set. Witnessing the male lead about to push Tian Jingzhi, Xue Ling Qiao punched the actor and shielded her in his arms.
To defuse the awkward situation, Tian Jingzhi quickly concocted a story, claiming Xue Ling Qiao was her jealous boyfriend, a Taekwondo instructor and parkour enthusiast. She even fabricated a tale of him scaling her hospital room window to win her heart. When someone questioned why the police weren't called, she simply stated it was "the power of love." Xue Ling Qiao remained silent but complimented Zhang Xuanxuan, calling her "even prettier in person."
Recognizing Xue Ling Qiao's handsome appearance and impressive agility, the director offered him a guest role in the drama as a powerful boss. Attracted by the offered pay, Tian Jingzhi readily agreed and persuaded Xue Ling Qiao to take the part. Later, Hong Shi Guang visited Zhang Xuanxuan on set. Upon seeing Xue Ling Qiao, he froze, completely taken aback. He quickly feigned a dizzy spell from low blood sugar to compose himself.
Meanwhile, Li Yanzhi was exasperated by the lack of progress in the dormant corpse case. The Chief informed him that he would be granted a month of paid leave after his commendation for an anti-arms smuggling operation was issued. Upon hearing the news, his colleagues insisted he treat them to a celebratory dinner, and he agreed, taking them to an expensive steakhouse. After filming, Tian Jingzhi and Xue Ling Qiao also arrived at the same steakhouse.
Tian Jingzhi realized Li Yanzhi was at a nearby table and tried to slip away, but a waiter recognized her, leaving her mortified. Just then, Xue Ling Qiao returned from parking, casually put his arm around Tian Jingzhi's shoulder, announced to Li Yanzhi's table that he was her boyfriend, and led her out of the restaurant. A package of condoms Tian Jingzhi had ordered was mistakenly delivered to her parents' house. Shocked, they immediately drove to her home.
At her apartment, Tian Jingzhi was in tears, heartbroken over the incident with Li Yanzhi and furious with Xue Ling Qiao. To quiet her, Xue Ling Qiao pinned her to the sofa, advising her that when one falls, one simply needs to get back up. At that exact moment, her parents burst in and witnessed the compromising scene. Misinterpreting the situation, they began to beat Xue Ling Qiao. Desperate to stop them, Tian Jingzhi blurted out that she was pregnant.
Her mother, Ms. Qiu, sternly told her to go to her room. Just then, Feng Dongdong called to warn her that her parents were on their way. When he asked what was happening, Tian Jingzhi replied that the situation was "more explosive than seeing dead bodies."
Episode 7 Recap
Following Feng Dongdong’s urgent call warning that her parents had discovered Xue Lingqiao was not her cousin and were heading to her house, Tian Jingzhi found herself in a dire situation. Having already been caught with Xue Lingqiao by her parents, she inexplicably blurted out that she was pregnant. Tian Jingzhi listened nervously from her room as her parents confronted Xue Lingqiao, fearing he might harm them.
Peeking out, she was astonished to see him calmly serving tea to her parents, who were now looking at him with great satisfaction and calling him their "son-in-law." Tian Jingzhi tried to interject that she and Xue Lingqiao were on the verge of breaking up, but her mother, Mrs. Qiu, quickly silenced her. Expressing immense approval of Xue Lingqiao, Mrs. Qiu sternly warned Tian Jingzhi that if she got dumped again or harmed her "grandson," she would disown her.
After her parents left, Tian Jingzhi found Xue Lingqiao packing his bags, declaring he was tired of living a life "depending on the mercy of others," a situation he had never encountered in his five hundred years. Terrified by her mother's threat, Tian Jingzhi desperately clung to his leg, pleading with him to stay. She reminded him that he still needed her help to find his enemy and that her mother's temper was not to be underestimated.
Feigning concern that his precarious situation might trouble her, Xue Lingqiao pressed her on whether she genuinely wanted him to stay. To convince him, Tian Jingzhi drafted a "guarantee letter" outlining terms like not hitting or yelling at him, helping him find his enemy, and maintaining their fake relationship without any "perverted desires." Though Xue Lingqiao found the letter old-fashioned and didn't sign it, he implicitly agreed to her terms, much to Tian Jingzhi's relief.
Tian Jingzhi then accompanied Zhang Xuanxuan to visit Hong Shiguang. As their families were discussing a merger, Xuanxuan joked about Tian Jingzhi’s bad luck with stocks. Tian Jingzhi apologized to Hong Shiguang on behalf of her "boyfriend," explaining that his presence had unintentionally disrupted a recent film shoot. She gave a cover story that Xue Lingqiao was a Taekwondo instructor, which piqued Hong Shiguang’s interest due to his own frail health.
After Tian Jingzhi offered an introduction to the studio, Xuanxuan teased Hong Shiguang for enjoying his "patient privileges" and told Tian Jingzhi that she and Hong had a public appearance scheduled for that night. Later, Hong Shiguang and Zhang Xuanxuan attended the opening of a children's welfare institute funded by his corporation. In his speech, Hong passionately emphasized the importance of psychological well-being for children, admitting that his own lack of care as a child led to enduring low self-esteem.
In a private conversation afterward, he revealed to Xuanxuan that he was an illegitimate son born in America, whose mother died in childbirth. Raised by a nanny, he only met his father after his death and had to undergo a paternity test with the corpse to prove his identity and inherit the Hong Corporation. Meanwhile, at the laboratory, Ye Chen discovered an anomalous blood analysis report without a serial number.
He was shocked to find "perfect repair enzymes" in a human blood sample. Professor Li vaguely explained it came from an anonymous "supplier." Suspicious, Ye Chen deduced this was the same person who provided the dormant body's hair sample and speculated the blood was connected to the body itself, even theorizing the body might have awakened and "run away by himself."
Xue Lingqiao, who lost a jade bi—a family heirloom—when he was attacked a century ago, believes his enemy was the one who took it. Having learned that the family who later sold the jade has moved, he devised a new plan. He instructed Tian Jingzhi to use her connection with Li Yanzhi to access the police database under the guise of searching for a lost relative.
When she balked at the idea of displaying affection in front of her ex-boyfriend, Xue Lingqiao encouraged her to embrace her new situation, telling her to "bounce up with all her might" and show everyone how happy she now was. Following his advice, Tian Jingzhi made a grand entrance at Li Yanzhi’s criminal investigation department, feeling triumphant as she brought snacks for the team, courtesy of her "boyfriend."
While she distracted everyone, Feng Dongdong confirmed he could access the police intranet with an ID card and erase the search history. Elsewhere, Zhang Xuanxuan saw a news report of Tian Jingzhi's bold public behavior and grew concerned. Believing Xue Lingqiao must be an "evil, lying con man," she asked Li Yanzhi to investigate his background.
Tian Jingzhi later met with Li Yanzhi and subtly tried to ask about Professor Li, mentioning he had seemed stressed and had offered to do a blood test on her. Yanzhi, however, missed her hints. The conversation sparked suspicion in Ye Chen, who, after drinking, confronted Professor Li. The professor confessed everything: driven by a desperate need for a research breakthrough, he had suspected Tian Jingzhi's miraculous recovery was unnatural.
He orchestrated her hand injury to obtain a blood sample, which confirmed the presence of repair enzymes, though the amount was too trace to be useful. Ye Chen condemned his illegal actions but agreed to keep silent this one time, warning him never to harm anyone again. Later, Xue Lingqiao surprised Tian Jingzhi in her car, revealing he already knew Professor Li had engineered her injury to get her blood.
He warned her that her unique blood could be dangerous if discovered by the wrong people and admitted he was the one who took her blood-stained dress from the accident to hide the evidence. He advised her to keep her distance from Professor Li, as his enemy might be connected to the professor's powerful sponsor. As Tian Jingzhi grew anxious, Xue Lingqiao revealed he was being actively tracked. He identified the search locations as Li Yanzhi's apartment and Zhang Xuanxuan's villa, remarking that they were moving "faster than Cao Cao."
Episode 8 Recap
Tian Jingzhi accompanied Xue Ling Qiao to dinner with Zhang Xuanxuan and her fiancé, Hong Shi Guang. Hong Shi Guang mentioned he had enrolled in an adult Taekwondo class and looked forward to Xue Ling Qiao's guidance. He also brought up Xue Ling Qiao living with Tian Jingzhi, expressing interest in buying a two-hundred-million-yuan mansion on Cheng Zhong Lake's center island.
Hong Shi Guang praised Tian Jingzhi's quiet charity work, such as funding a well-digging crew in Africa, contrasting it with his own more public acts of goodwill. During the dinner, Professor Li received a call from his mysterious "Boss," who sent someone to pick him up, causing Professor Li to depart hastily. This "Boss" is the same robed figure who funds his research and whose face he has never seen.
Meanwhile, an online video of a "midnight monster" had garnered over twenty million views. Unbeknownst to an anxious Tian Jingzhi, Xue Ling Qiao was the mastermind behind it. He had uploaded a blurry version with a promise to release a clear, face-revealing version if the viewership surpassed fifty million. His true intention was to lure out his enemy, reasoning that only this person would be desperate to acquire the video at any cost.
As anticipated, his enemy, who was also Professor Li's mysterious funder, contacted him through the video website, offering five million yuan for the video. Xue Ling Qiao deliberately prolonged the negotiation to give his hacker friend, Feng Dongdong, time to trace the funder's location. However, just as Feng Dongdong was about to succeed, the alert funder detected the trace and cut contact. Although the attempt failed, Xue Ling Qiao confirmed that his enemy was alive and actively plotting against him.
Later, the drama director showed Tian Jingzhi the "HD" version of the "midnight monster" video. To her surprise, it was merely promotional footage from her drama, with the impressive moves attributed to wirework. The director explained that the video website never received a clear version of the monster video, so they collaborated to create a promotion for their drama.
Tian Jingzhi rushed home to share the news but found Xue Ling Qiao and Feng Dongdong were already in on the secret. Xue Ling Qiao confessed he had kept her in the dark because he enjoyed seeing her worry, which left Tian Jingzhi furious at their deception. Separately, Ye Chen gave Professor Li an invitation to an academic symposium, which the professor declined, claiming he had a business trip.
When Ye Chen asked why he missed a discussion forum the previous day, Professor Li claimed he was at the hospital. Having seen his mentor leave in a hurry, Ye Chen knew he was lying, which deepened his suspicions. Despite their ongoing cold war, Xue Ling Qiao and Tian Jingzhi arrived on set. Still fuming, Tian Jingzhi gave him the silent treatment. The director then asked to add a kiss scene between Xue Ling Qiao and Zhang Xuanxuan.
Reluctantly, Tian Jingzhi agreed on the condition that Xue Ling Qiao also consented. To her dismay, both he and Zhang Xuanxuan readily agreed, leaving Tian Jingzhi visibly upset. Seeking to make amends, Xue Ling Qiao asked Zhang Xuanxuan for advice. She suggested he cook for Tian Jingzhi, noting that her anger usually subsides after a good meal. Xue Ling Qiao went to a supermarket where an elderly woman helped him pick out snow pears for a soup.
Shortly after, the woman's purse was stolen. Xue Ling Qiao intervened but misjudged his strength and threw the thief to the ground, breaking three of his ribs. Xue Ling Qiao was then taken to the police station. Upon receiving a call from Feng Dongdong, Tian Jingzhi rushed to the police station. There, her ex-boyfriend, officer Li Yan Zhi, confronted her with Xue Ling Qiao's history of violence, reminding her of a previous incident where he had injured an actor.
After bailing him out, Tian Jingzhi scolded him for his recklessness. Xue Ling Qiao retorted that if he hadn't intervened in her car accident, she wouldn't be alive to lecture him. He then left, spending the night at the place where he had once been submerged in the sea. For several days, Xue Ling Qiao did not return home, and while Tian Jingzhi was worried, she stubbornly refused to admit it.
During this time, the mysterious funder delivered a sample of Xue Ling Qiao's blood to Professor Li. The funder reminded the professor that he was chosen for his love for his daughter and tasked him with finding a way to permanently kill the "monster" and uncover the secret to his immortality, warning him against being too curious. Back on set, Tian Jingzhi shouted "Cut!" during Xue Ling Qiao and Zhang Xuanxuan's kiss scene.
She furiously demanded the director fake the kiss with camera angles, threatening to smash the equipment. Though she quickly apologized, her jealousy was obvious. Later, Zhang Xuanxuan revealed to Tian Jingzhi that Xue Ling Qiao had gone to the supermarket to cook for her and that he was secretly a member of her online fan club under the name "Bodyguard Team Leader." She also added that he had requested the kiss scene be faked.
Afterward, Xue Ling Qiao visited a training center where he encountered a female coach he apparently knew. The coach was speaking with a woman about her son, Xiao Guai. Upon seeing Xue Ling Qiao, the coach angrily confronted him. She revealed a past connection by accusing him of infidelity, asking why he was pursuing another woman when he already had relationships with both her and Tian Jingzhi. A stunned Xue Ling Qiao denied her accusations, leaving the nature of their past relationship unclear but hinting at a significant history.
Episode 9 Recap
After Feng Dongdong discovers Xue Lingqiao has been staying away from home, he finds him at the Taekwondo studio. Xue Lingqiao has just seen a student, Xiao Guai, and his mother off, accepting a gift of homemade cookies from the grateful mother. Witnessing this, Feng Dongdong angrily confronts Xue Lingqiao, accusing him of pursuing other women despite his connection to Tian Jingzhi.
Expressing a strong sense of possessiveness, which he likens to a childhood incident with a beloved toy, Feng Dongdong reveals that Tian Jingzhi waits up for Xue Lingqiao every night. Xue Lingqiao dismisses his concerns, stating that to him, there is no difference between Tian Jingzhi and the mother-child pair. He internally concludes that he must maintain distance from Tian Jingzhi to prevent her from treating him like a personal possession.
Despite this resolution, Xue Lingqiao returns to Tian Jingzhi’s home late that night. He finds her asleep on the sofa, just as Feng Dongdong had described, and gently carries her to bed before leaving again. The next morning, Tian Jingzhi wakes in her bed, hopefully rushing downstairs only to find him gone. Disappointed, she takes out her frustration on Feng Dongdong when he arrives to pick her up.
Later, Tian Jingzhi crouches outside her parents' house, waiting for Xue Lingqiao so they can arrive together and conceal their cold war. She complains to Feng Dongdong about Xue Lingqiao’s perceived poverty and his audacity to stay out all night. Her father, Old Tian, finds her and asks where his son-in-law is, just as Xue Lingqiao pulls up in a luxury sports car. Tian Jingzhi is stunned.
Addressing her father as "Father-in-law" and Tian Jingzhi as "Wife," Xue Lingqiao presents the car, worth millions, as a gift to Old Tian and reveals he has also transferred the money he owed Tian Jingzhi to her account. Inside, a disbelieving Tian Jingzhi asks if he robbed a bank, which he playfully deflects by teasing her about being pregnant. At the police station, the elderly woman Xue Lingqiao had helped clears his name.
Grateful, she praises his kindness and offers to introduce him to her granddaughter. Tian Jingzhi, who is also there, quickly intervenes, throwing her arms around Xue Lingqiao and declaring him her boyfriend. Later, she tells Xue Lingqiao that by falsely accusing him, they are now "even" for him previously hiding the truth about the viral video.
Stating that she always aims to have the upper hand with others but only seeks to be even with him, she proposes they reconcile, to which he agrees. Meanwhile, a mysterious man named Xu Laibao continues to monitor Xue Lingqiao. Upon learning Xue Lingqiao was at the police station for helping someone, Xu Laibao grimly notes his old savior's tendency to get into trouble in the same way.
A flashback reveals that years ago, Xue Lingqiao saved a young Xu Laibao and his sick mother from soldiers. Now, Xu Laibao harbors a deep grudge, believing that if Xue Lingqiao had not hidden his supernatural nature back then, his mother might not have died. Ye Chen, having detected anomalies in Tian Jingzhi's blood sample, visits her on set.
He asks her to be a volunteer for a new experiment, but she vehemently refuses, wary of becoming a "human guinea pig." Undeterred, Ye Chen shares his theory with Li Yanzhi: the dormant corpse from the car accident has awakened. Though Li Yanzhi is skeptical, they question the sole eyewitness, who recalls a "pervert" in a nice suit—matching the dormant body's attire—kissing an unconscious Tian Jingzhi at the scene.
This confirms Ye Chen’s theory: Tian Jingzhi's blood revived the corpse, and in return, the "monster" fed her its own blood, which contains powerful regenerative properties that healed her fatal injuries. While Li Yanzhi finds the story absurd, his intuition tells him it may be the only explanation. He calls Tian Jingzhi, warning her to be cautious as he now believes the dormant body is active.
At that moment, Tian Jingzhi is suffering from a severe stomach ache caused by Xue Lingqiao’s disastrous cooking. She demands he take her to the hospital, jokingly protesting that she doesn't need his "special treatment" and wants to save her "third first kiss" for her boyfriend. Ignoring her, Xue Ling Qiao gives her a deep, healing kiss. This time, her heart pounds and she blushes, prompting him to remark that she is "indeed a woman."
Flustered, she voices her growing fear that Ye Chen and Li Yanzhi, like "Sherlock Holmes and Watson," will soon uncover his identity. To explain the source of his wealth, Xue Lingqiao takes Tian Jingzhi to places from his past to jog his "episodic amnesia." At a Taekwondo studio, he feels a strong sense of familiarity with a mother and child, recalling a similar pair he once saved.
In an old house resembling his former residence, Tian Jingzhi teases him about potential past lovers. Xue Lingqiao asserts he never took a wife and points to the lack of female possessions as proof. He shares a somber view on his immortality, noting that a long life erodes all passion and that only the sun and stars have remained constant since his birth. Tian Jingzhi encourages a more positive outlook, insisting that as long as one is alive, good things can happen.
Episode 10 Recap
After reflecting on how only the sun and stars are constant against the fleeting nature of human life, Xue Ling Qiao mused that immortality eventually erodes all passion. Later, he waited with a child named Xiao Guai at a training center for the boy's mother to arrive. As a thank you, the mother gave him homemade cookies. Feng Dongdong witnessed this and, misinterpreting the innocent exchange, angrily confronted Xue Ling Qiao.
He then urged him to go home, revealing that Tian Jingzhi waits up for him every night. Heeding the warning, Xue Ling Qiao returned to Tian Jingzhi’s home late that night and found her asleep on the sofa. As he carried her to bed, he was troubled by the deep heartache he could sense from her even in her sleep. He left again before she woke.
The next morning, Tian Jingzhi was initially thrilled to find herself in bed, assuming Xue Ling Qiao had returned, but was disappointed to find the house empty. She took out her frustration on Feng Dongdong when he arrived to pick her up. Meanwhile, Ye Chen and Li Yanzhi investigated the car accident, interviewing the sole witness who claimed to have only seen a "pervert" forcefully kissing Tian Jingzhi.
When Ye Chen showed him a picture of the dormant corpse's clothing, the witness confirmed it was a match. This validated Ye Chen's theory: Tian Jingzhi's blood had revived the dormant corpse, who in turn saved her by feeding her its blood, which contained powerful healing enzymes. Though Li Yanzhi found the theory hard to believe without proof, his intuition told him it was the only explanation.
He called Tian Jingzhi to warn her to be careful, as the "monster" was likely awake and at large. Right after the call, Tian Jingzhi, suffering from a stomach ache after eating Xue Ling Qiao’s experimental cooking, asked him to take her to the hospital. Instead, he cured her with a deep kiss, which, unlike previous times, left her blushing.
Concerned by her growing infatuation, Feng Dongdong later warned her that their relationship was a "tragedy waiting to happen," reminding her that humans and monsters walk different paths. Later, Tian Jingzhi waited outside her parents' house, planning to enter with Xue Ling Qiao to hide their ongoing feud. Just as her father found her and asked where his "son-in-law" was, Xue Ling Qiao arrived in a luxurious sports car.
He stunned Tian Jingzhi by announcing the car was a gift for her father and that he had repaid the money he owed her. This revelation of his immense wealth, accumulated over centuries, effectively ended their cold war. Tian Jingzhi later posted anonymously online about her "poor boyfriend" gifting her an antique jade piece. She then decided she couldn't keep it and proposed selling it to fund his well-digging projects in Africa, an idea he warmly accepted.
The man secretly monitoring Xue Ling Qiao, known as "the Boss," was revealed to be Xu Laibao, who holds a grudge against Xue Ling Qiao for what he believes was his role in his mother's death centuries ago. The Boss blackmailed Professor Li, threatening his daughter An Ni, who suffers from a genetic disease, to force the professor to research the monster's weaknesses.
During a later conversation with Ye Chen, Professor Li confessed that he, too, had come to believe the dormant body had awakened but felt the discovery was too dangerous to be made public. To find Xue Ling Qiao’s enemy, Tian Jingzhi and Feng Dongdong decided to hack into Li Yanzhi's police computer. After Feng Dongdong failed to bypass the security, Tian Jingzhi initiated her "Plan B"—setting off the fire alarm to create a diversion.
The chaotic plan worked, and they obtained an address for "Jinlu International." The address led them to a villa that was now a crime scene where a couple had been murdered. Li Yanzhi was already investigating, and Xue Ling Qiao was also present. He spoke with the deceased man's sister, who explained that her brother had sold a family heirloom—a Ming dynasty phoenix jade—to pay for his wife's medical bills years ago.
Xue Ling Qiao revealed the jade's true history: his own great-grandfather, a pawnbroker, had acquired it from a mysterious man over a century ago. He comforted the sister by explaining that fate had brought the jade to her family so it could help them in their time of need.
Episode 11 Recap
Ye Chen met with Li Yanzhi to discuss the dormant corpse disappearance case, though Ye Chen insisted on calling it the "awakened monster" case. As they bickered, Li Yanzhi checked his phone and noticed his tracking software showed the car he gave Tian Jingzhi had been parked at Jin Lu International on the morning of July twelfth, the precise time and location of a recent homicide. Alarmed, Li Yanzhi rushed to investigate.
Meanwhile, Xue Ling Qiao revisited the murder scene, hoping to find traces left by his mysterious enemy. He observed scattered photos, a chaotic room, and a milk bottle on the table. Based on these clues, Xue Ling Qiao deduced that his foe had likely sent an assassin disguised as a milk delivery person. The assailant entered the house when the female victim was about to pay for the next month's milk, then stabbed both her and her husband to death.
Before leaving, the killer took a cherished photograph from a jade box, a picture of a young boy and his mother that the male victim’s sister had previously mentioned. Li Yanzhi analyzed the recent locations Tian Jingzhi's car had visited: a medical school, an auction house, and Shengli Neighborhood. Recognizing that the victims had lived in Shengli Neighborhood six years prior, the astute detective immediately linked Xue Ling Qiao to the case.
Believing Xue Ling Qiao was involved, he went to Tian Jingzhi’s home and brought him to the police station for questioning. Remaining composed, Xue Ling Qiao explained his presence at the auction house and Shengli Neighborhood. He stated that his family's heirloom, a Ming Dynasty phoenix jade, had been lost for over a century, and he had recently learned that someone had entrusted an auction house to sell it.
He was trying to buy back the jade and locate the original seller to inquire about other ancestral artifacts. Xue Ling Qiao's explanation appeared flawless, as both the auction house staff and a resident of Shengli Neighborhood corroborated his story. During the interrogation, it became clear that Li Yanzhi had installed a tracking device in the car, which infuriated Tian Jingzhi, who angrily returned the keys to him.
While Xue Ling Qiao was detained, Feng Dongdong tried to comfort a frantic Tian Jingzhi at her home. Worried sick, Tian Jingzhi called Zhang Xuanxuan for advice, but her friend did not answer. Zhang Xuanxuan was distraught after her mother reneged on a prior agreement, now insisting she marry Hong Shi Guang. Originally, Zhang Xuanxuan had only agreed to pretend to be his girlfriend for the sake of her family's business.
Ye Chen, who happened to be nearby, overheard her emotional phone call and his perception of her began to change. He offered to drive her to dinner, but their car broke down on a deserted road. Stranded, they ended up watching the sunrise together. The next morning, Tian Jingzhi went to Zhang Xuanxuan's house to look for her, only to find that she had run away after arguing with her parents.
Hong Shi Guang also arrived, and he offered to drive Tian Jingzhi home. During the drive, Hong Shi Guang feigned curiosity, asking if Xue Ling Qiao was truly a monster, but Tian Jingzhi playfully brushed off the question. Suddenly, Hong Shi Guang noticed a car chasing them. He sped up to evade their pursuers, terrifying Tian Jingzhi, who frantically called Xue Ling Qiao. In the interrogation room, Xue Ling Qiao heard his phone ringing.
When the officer, Youyuzai, answered it, Xue Ling Qiao heard Tian Jingzhi's panicked voice and realized she was in grave danger. He kicked the door open, startling the other officers, and urgently told Youyuzai that Tian Jingzhi was being chased. Youyuzai immediately dispatched a team to her location. After being released, Xue Ling Qiao was driven to the hospital by Li Yanzhi. Tian Jingzhi, shaken from the car collision, broke down in tears upon seeing him.
When he asked why she hadn't called the police, she admitted that in her panic, he was the first person she thought of, trusting his "monster" abilities to save her. News of Tian Jingzhi's car accident became a trending topic online. After learning Tian Jingzhi was safe, her mother called the hospital and discovered her daughter had lied about being pregnant.
Furious, she rushed to the hospital and started hitting Tian Jingzhi with a pillow until her husband and Xue Ling Qiao intervened. Father Tian even told his wife they had gained a good son-in-law and that a pregnancy would happen eventually. Later, Li Yanzhi discussed the car chase with Youyuzai, noting the lack of surveillance footage and the premeditated nature of the attack. Meanwhile, Officer Miao visited Hong Shi Guang's company to take his statement.
As Officer Miao was leaving, Hong Shi Guang asked him how long a person must be missing before a report can be filed, revealing his concern for the missing Zhang Xuanxuan.
Episode 12 Recap
Tian Jingzhi emerged from the shower, her mind replaying moments of Xue Ling Qiao caring for her, causing her face to flush and her heart to race. She tried to rationalize it was just the warm water, not yet fully realizing the depth of her feelings. Suddenly, Xue Ling Qiao, whom she thought was out, returned, having bought her a new phone. His unexpected appearance while she was only in a towel left her flustered.
After changing, she accused him of being a pervert, but he calmly retorted that having been photographed as a dormant corpse in a museum for years, her situation was trivial. He then turned serious, stating that for her own safety, he no longer wanted her involved in his quest for revenge. Deeply touched but too proud to admit it, Tian Jingzhi feigned indifference, claiming she never wanted to meddle anyway, while privately admiring how handsome he looked being so domineering.
Seeing the new phone, which he had just tested, she privately mused that he must have secretly photographed her because she looked sexy in her bathrobe. At the Taekwondo gym, Hong Shi Guang apologized to Xue Ling Qiao, believing Tian Jingzhi was injured because of him.
He revealed that his cousin, Hong Shi Long, who would inherit the Hong Shi Group if he died, had secretly returned to the country, leading him to suspect the car chase was part of a family power struggle. When Hong Shi Guang asked if Tian Jingzhi had any enemies, the question made Xue Ling Qiao realize the attack was likely retaliation from his own enemy, implicating Tian Jingzhi.
Worried that he had underestimated his adversary and that Tian Jingzhi was the intended target, he resolved to revisit an old clue. Internally, he denied that his growing concern for her was love, telling himself he was simply worried. As Tian Jingzhi prepared to give a statement to the police about the car accident, she warned Xue Ling Qiao to be cautious and avoid Li Yanzhi and Ye Chen, who were both aware that the dormant corpse had awakened.
She lightheartedly suggested that if she got into trouble, he could give her an "emergency treatment kiss." Xue Ling Qiao dismissed her concerns about him being discovered, explaining that his best disguise was living a normal life with a reasonable identity and a beautiful girlfriend. He argued that no one would suspect a man who plays mobile games of being a revived supernatural creature.
To prove his point, he playfully confiscated her phone, determined to maintain his position as the high-score holder in all her games. Meanwhile, Ye Chen continued to press Li Yanzhi for help with the dormant corpse case. He presented his theories, suggesting the creature was hiding in the mountains and feeding on animals from a nearby farm. Li Yanzhi was unconvinced, pointing out the lack of any reported disappearances or deaths.
He questioned the necessity of hunting the creature if it wasn't harming anyone. Ye Chen insisted it was a "very important research material" and not just a person in hiding. Frustrated, Li Yanzhi left, unmoved even by Ye Chen’s appeal to their connection through a "common ex-girlfriend." Later, Tian Jingzhi was surprised to find Feng Dongdong pulling a new van into her driveway.
Feng Dongdong excitedly explained that Xue Ling Qiao had bought it for her use, the same model as Zhang Xuan Xuan's. He added that the purchase would help dispel online rumors that Tian Jingzhi was living frugally to pay off gambling debts. Touched by Xue Ling Qiao's gesture, Tian Jingzhi struggled with her growing feelings. She tried to convince herself it was merely gratitude, not love, for the "five-hundred-year-old blockhead" and vowed to keep her emotions a secret.
The police investigation was stalling. Li Yanzhi’s colleague, You Yu Zai, reported that the car used in the chase was stolen, leaving no new leads and making it unclear if the target was Hong Shi Guang or Tian Jingzhi. The villa murder case was also at a standstill, with a party at the victim's home the night before the crime complicating the forensic analysis.
However, a key clue emerged: at the crime scene, they found four milk bottles dated July 11th, when the daily delivery was only two. This led Li Yanzhi to theorize that on the morning of July 12th, the meticulously prepared killer posed as a milkman to gain entry. Despite this break, the killer's identity remained unknown, and a determined Li Yanzhi stressed that they must be caught.
After filming, Tian Jingzhi was shocked to find a crowd of young women, not mothers, outside Xue Ling Qiao’s classroom at the Taekwondo gym, snapping photos of him. The owner, whom she called "Gym Leader Dad," explained they were art students from a neighboring school, and their presence was boosting business.
When he suggested Xue Ling Qiao teach an additional class to attract more female students, Tian Jingzhi angrily objected, calling it a "disgrace" to profit from his looks and accusing the students of only wanting physical contact. When the owner reminded her that Xue Ling Qiao wasn't her boyfriend, she defiantly declared that she was "in charge of the whole of Xue Ling Qiao."
Tian Jingzhi's jealousy flared again when she saw Xue Ling Qiao warmly interacting with another student's mother. She tried to follow them secretly but was easily spotted. Xue Ling Qiao casually explained he was just walking the mother and son home, cheekily adding that it wouldn't matter if there was another meaning since she was single. Fuming at his nonchalance, Tian Jingzhi returned home.
Meanwhile, Li Yanzhi continued to doubt Xue Ling Qiao's guilt in the murder case, finding it illogical for a killer to act so normally after the crime, and hoped he was innocent. The next morning, Tian Jingzhi, having overslept, found Xue Ling Qiao calmly eating snacks. She unleashed her frustration, chiding him for not waking her and for not respecting her as the "head of the family," even nagging him about how he squeezed the toothpaste.
Episode 13 Recap
Exasperated by what she perceives as Xue Ling Qiao's disregard for her, Tian Jingzhi relentlessly nitpicks about mundane things like squeezing toothpaste from the middle of the tube or the TV volume. She pointedly questions him about sending "other women" home, specifically mentioning those who are divorced with children. Xue Ling Qiao calmly refutes having any relationship with the mother of the child and suggests Tian Jingzhi eat bitter melon to cool her temper.
Tian Jingzhi then shifts the topic, inquiring about his progress on the "crazy murderer" case and offering her assistance. Initially hesitant, Xue Ling Qiao eventually agrees, assigning her a "highly technical" task that requires her to subtly spread information without raising suspicion. Tian Jingzhi arranges an afternoon tea with Ye Chen, intentionally showing him a recently leaked photograph of him and Zhang Xuanxuan.
She reveals that Zhang Xuanxuan’s engagement to Hong Shi Guang is merely a strategic business arrangement, not a genuine marriage, implying Zhang Xuanxuan's true feelings for Ye Chen. Tian Jingzhi also brings up a bizarre pact she and Zhang Xuanxuan made long ago, promising never to pursue each other's ex-boyfriends. She then casually steers the conversation towards dormant corpses, asking if they could awaken.
She mentions a blurry "midnight monster video" that went viral, which the website claimed would release an HD version once it reached five million views. She explains how the so-called HD version turned out to be a promotional video for her own TV show. Her director later confessed the website used their promo because they couldn't find an actual HD version of the original "midnight monster video."
This revelation sparks Ye Chen's scientific curiosity, making him realize the implications of a potentially real "monster." Inspired by Tian Jingzhi's lead, Ye Chen delves into researching the blurry online video, suspecting the figure in it could indeed be a revived dormant corpse. He enlists the help of Officer Li Yanzhi to accompany him to the video website, hoping to obtain a clear version of the video.
At the website, Manager Fang insists that the promotional video they released was the only clear version they had. Under pressure and facing a stern warning from Ye Chen about the severity of the ongoing murder case—where a victim's blood was completely drained, possibly linked to the monster rumor—Manager Fang reluctantly provides them with the online contact details for the video's original uploader, known as "Head of the Bodyguards," though the associated information is now defunct.
He also reveals details about a potential buyer of the video. Unbeknownst to Ye Chen and Li Yanzhi, Xue Ling Qiao has been closely following their investigation. It was he who orchestrated Tian Jingzhi’s seemingly coincidental meeting with Ye Chen, subtly guiding her to bring up the video. This strategic move allowed Xue Ling Qiao to gather crucial information about the person behind his predicament without directly revealing himself.
Meanwhile, the media extensively reports on Zhang Xuanxuan and Ye Chen's photo, fueling rampant speculation. Hong Shi Guang holds a press conference to address the rumors. He dismisses the man in the photo as merely a friend of Zhang Xuanxuan’s and publicly announces that their wedding is scheduled for the end of the year, adding that this friend will also be invited to the ceremony.
Following the lead on the video buyer, Li Yanzhi and Ye Chen locate Detective Zhang, who admits to trying to purchase an HD version of the video. However, Detective Zhang claims he was merely acting on behalf of a client and staunchly refuses to disclose any information about that individual. Xue Ling Qiao, who has been discreetly trailing them, confronts Detective Zhang directly in his office.
Xue Ling Qiao demands to know why the detective sought the HD monster video, boldly claiming to be the person who sold the video. Detective Zhang feigns ignorance, steadfastly upholding his agency's policy of client confidentiality. Frustrated, Xue Ling Qiao departs, realizing that Detective Zhang is bound by a "life-threatening" commission. Upon Xue Ling Qiao's return home, Tian Jingzhi eagerly inquires about his progress.
He, in turn, asks her if she genuinely wishes for the case to be resolved quickly, which would mean he would leave. Tian Jingzhi silently indicates that she does not want him to go. Having seen Hong Shi Guang's televised interview, Zhang Xuanxuan angrily confronts him for unilaterally announcing their wedding date.
Hong Shi Guang explains that the scandal involving her and Ye Chen caused a significant drop in their companies' stock prices, forcing him to take drastic measures to appease shareholders. He suggests they host a charity event focused on "caring for children's spirits" to salvage their reputation and divert public attention. Xue Ling Qiao continues his surveillance of Detective Zhang by tailing his taxi.
Detective Zhang, however, soon realizes he is being followed and deliberately drives to a secluded, abandoned construction site. Xue Ling Qiao approaches him, instructing him to deliver a message to his "boss": Xue Ling Qiao has an abundance of time, a luxury his adversary might not share, and that his boss should reveal himself soon, or lose the chance. He vows to relentlessly pursue him and make him "spit out what he shouldn't have eaten."
Tian Jingzhi grows increasingly jealous of Xue Ling Qiao's daily routine of sending a child from his class, Xiao Guai, and her mother home. To provoke him, she readily accepts a dinner invitation from Ye Chen. Xue Ling Qiao, seeing through her attempts, confronts her, explaining that her actions stem from "possessiveness" rather than genuine affection.
He reminds her of her past statement that everything in his house belongs to her and then challenges her by asking if she now considers him merely another one of her possessions. Tian Jingzhi visits Ye Chen's lab and unexpectedly encounters Professor Li. Professor Li reveals his awareness of the "monster" and claims to have discovered a method to control him, stating that the monster will eventually become his research "specimen."
Tian Jingzhi feigns ignorance and later recounts the alarming encounter to Xue Ling Qiao. Furious, Xue Ling Qiao scolds her for speaking with a strange individual alone, reminding her of her past brush with danger. Tian Jingzhi, feeling misunderstood and upset by his intense reaction, calls him a "bastard" and breaks into tears. Still upset, Tian Jingzhi seeks solace with Zhang Xuanxuan.
Zhang Xuanxuan, herself dealing with the fallout from her public scandal, wearily advises Tian Jingzhi not to "provoke" her further. She jokingly suggests Tian Jingzhi try dating Ye Chen, describing him as a "pretty good" partner. Tian Jingzhi, however, insists that Ye Chen was merely a "playmate" and brings up their shared pact not to pursue each other's ex-boyfriends.
While Tian Jingzhi expresses a willingness to disregard the pact, Zhang Xuanxuan emphatically states that she cares deeply about their twenty-year friendship, valuing it far more than any fleeting attraction she might have felt towards Ye Chen.
Episode 14 Recap
Following her confrontation with Xue Ling Qiao, a distraught Tian Jingzhi sought comfort at her friend Zhang Xuanxuan's home. Xuanxuan, who was also overwhelmed by reporters and her own troubles with Hong Shi Guang, dismissed Tian Jingzhi's situation as a minor lovers' quarrel. Tian Jingzhi suggested Xuanxuan consider a relationship with Ye Chen, but Xuanxuan firmly rejected the idea.
While admitting a slight attraction to Ye Chen, she emphasized that their twenty-year friendship was far more important than dating a friend's ex-boyfriend. Xuanxuan then revealed her plan to hold a charity auction with Hong Shi Guang to mitigate the rumors surrounding their engagement and invited Tian Jingzhi and Xue Ling Qiao to attend and donate an item. Meanwhile, Li Yanzhi met with Ye Chen on a university campus. His unusually melancholic demeanor concerned Ye Chen.
After suddenly coughing up blood, Li Yanzhi confessed the grim truth: he had terminal lung cancer from plutonium exposure during an arms smuggling case. He explained that only his doctor and superiors knew, and he refused to stop working or undergo chemotherapy to avoid being treated like a patient and causing his loved ones pain. This, he revealed, was the real reason he rejected Tian Jingzhi's proposal, feeling their fated connection had ended. Ye Chen promised to keep his secret.
Later, Xue Ling Qiao apologized to Tian Jingzhi for drawing her into danger in his quest for revenge, expressing regret that their paths had ever crossed. He vowed to protect her, urging her to stay safe when he wasn't around and to hold on until he could rescue her if she was ever in peril. Sensing her strong emotional reaction, he noted her possessiveness was flaring up again.
Fueled by two glasses of wine, Tian Jingzhi passionately corrected him, declaring that her feelings were not just possessiveness, but love. She insisted that despite her complaints, she had never felt wronged and had done everything for him willingly. Xue Ling Qiao, skeptical, asked if she was sober.
In a defensive turn, Tian Jingzhi claimed that as a modern, realistic woman, she would never pursue a relationship with no future, stating he only met her standards because of his face and wealth. Xue Ling Qiao replied that it was for the best, as he could never love a normal woman and had no intention of spending his life with anyone. He then told the intoxicated Tian Jingzhi to get off his lap.
Elsewhere, Detective Zhang, aware he was being followed by Xue Ling Qiao, contacted his mysterious boss to report he couldn't meet. His boss, satisfied that everything was ready on Zhang's end, declared it was time to close the net, signaling their plan was about to be executed. While driving a listless Tian Jingzhi home from a shoot, Feng Dongdong learned that she had confessed her love to Xue Ling Qiao and been rejected.
He reminded her to be careful at the upcoming charity event and protect Xue Ling Qiao's identity by introducing him as an official escort, not her partner. The reminder sent Tian Jingzhi into a panic, as she had forgotten to prepare an item for the auction, and she had Feng Dongdong drive her to her parents' house immediately. At her parents' home, her father jokingly referred to Xue Ling Qiao as his "son-in-law."
Tian Jingzhi explained she was looking for a childhood painting to auction off. To ensure it would sell, she planned to bundle it with a valuable artwork from her former teacher, now a famous artist. Her father directed her to a box under her bed where her mother had hidden her old art supplies. Inside, Tian Jingzhi found not only her painting but also a box of condoms and sexy lingerie.
Her father assumed they were hers, but she realized they must have been sent by Xue Ling Qiao, completely misinterpreting his intentions. Back home, Tian Jingzhi decided to act on what she perceived as Xue Ling Qiao's hidden desires. She donned the sexy lingerie and tried to seduce him, but he remained utterly indifferent. When confronted, he explained the items were merely part of an early ploy to secure his living arrangement in her house and had no other meaning.
He then dismissed her attempt as "unrefined," deeply offending the "goddess of all nerds." Her pride wounded, Tian Jingzhi began to suspect Xue Ling Qiao's sexual orientation. She dispatched Feng Dongdong to test him, promising a raise while she watched on a monitor. Feng Dongdong offered to iron Xue Ling Qiao's shirt and then faked a severe burn to elicit a reaction. Xue Ling Qiao calmly administered first aid and left to buy burn ointment.
Realizing her mistake, Tian Jingzhi concluded he wasn't interested in men, then cheekily denied Feng Dongdong's raise by claiming Xue Ling Qiao was only uninterested because Dongdong was "too ugly." The next morning, Tian Jingzhi changed tactics, preparing an elaborate breakfast and adopting a virtuous demeanor. She confessed her desire for a man to love and pamper her, not put her on a pedestal.
When she pressed Xue Ling Qiao for why he didn't like her, he admitted she was charming but explained that he had simply grown accustomed to a solitary life. Understanding, Tian Jingzhi apologized for bothering him. At the charity gala, Xue Ling Qiao and Tian Jingzhi made peace, with him apologizing for his harsh words and her for breaking their agreement. They were greeted by Zhang Xuanxuan and Hong Shi Guang.
As Xuanxuan offered Xue Ling Qiao some cake, he discreetly reminded her he couldn't digest solid food. Their chat was briefly interrupted by the arrival of Professor Li, a top medical professor attending on behalf of his hospital's director. As the auction began, Hong Shi Guang took the stage. The first item, a jade bracelet worn by Xuanxuan, sparked a bidding war. Xue Ling Qiao whispered to Tian Jingzhi that he should have brought an ancient artifact.
When she asked what he did bring, he remained coy. Panicked, she begged him to bid on her painting if no one else would, promising to never make him eat cake again.
Episode 15 Recap
At a charity auction, Zhang Xuanxuan's jade bracelet sold for 1. 5 million yuan. Tian Jingzhi, who had donated a childhood drawing, became anxious, asking Xue Lingqiao to bid on her piece. He agreed on the condition that she promise him something. Shortly after, Tian Jingzhi’s drawing of an "underdeveloped loofah," alongside an early work by her esteemed teacher, was put up for auction.
Xue Lingqiao raised the bid to 800,000 yuan, but it was ultimately purchased by someone else for 1 million. Observing their interaction, Zhang Xuanxuan commented on their "double act," suggesting it would make headlines, while Tian Jingzhi insisted it was all for charity. While excusing herself, Tian Jingzhi accidentally had wine spilled on her dress.
She went to a room to clean up, but an unseen individual blew poison gas into the room, causing her to lose consciousness and be taken away. Back at the banquet, Xue Lingqiao noticed an abnormal throbbing in his heart, sensing that Tian Jingzhi was in grave danger. Indeed, Tian Jingzhi awoke to find herself trapped in a burning room. Just as she despaired, Xue Lingqiao arrived and kicked open the locked door, rescuing her.
Meanwhile, other guests noticed the fire. Zhang Xuanxuan rushed off, worried about Tian Jingzhi, while Hong Shiguang ran to the parking lot, pursuing a masked man. The masked man's car contained a bottle of sedative perfume, which caused him to lose consciousness. His car then crashed into a pile of goods and burst into flames. The police concluded the arson case with the suspect's death and Hong Shiguang's injury during the pursuit. However, the true circumstances seemed more complex.
Zhang Xuanxuan visited Tian Jingzhi in the hospital, warning her to stay away from Hong Shiguang, claiming that bad luck always followed him. This remark made Xue Lingqiao suspicious. Moments later, Hong Shiguang arrived, prompting Xue Lingqiao to directly warn him to keep his distance from Tian Jingzhi, creating an awkward atmosphere. At the police station, Squid and Crystal discussed the series of bizarre incidents, all somehow linked to Tian Jingzhi.
Crystal jokingly theorized that given Tian Jingzhi's extraordinary luck and beauty, her existence as a "female lead" simply made sense. Li Yanzhi then arrived, requesting to cancel his vacation. The Chief, aware of Li Yanzhi's illness, reluctantly agreed, urging him not to leave any regrets. Li Yanzhi later spoke with Tian Jingzhi, explaining that the tracker he placed on her car was solely for her safety.
Still puzzled by his past actions, Tian Jingzhi directly asked him why he rejected her marriage proposal, given his apparent concern. Before Li Yanzhi could answer, Squid called, informing him that the arson suspect's address had been found. Li Yanzhi immediately left for the suspect's home, with Xue Lingqiao discreetly following. Meanwhile, Professor Li watched the news about the charity auction fire.
He recalled obtaining a cup Xue Lingqiao had used and testing it, confirming that Xue Lingqiao was the "dormant body" with the perfect "repair enzyme" that he sought. The deranged professor then burst into maniacal laughter. Having deduced the mastermind's plan, Xue Lingqiao went to the seaside. He mused that the professional killer meticulously kept backups of his work.
Once he found this individual, he planned to "break his neck" and eliminate the threat, after which he would finally leave Tian Jingzhi. He expressed his weariness of living under someone else's roof and rationalized that his inability to say goodbye stemmed from having Tian Jingzhi's blood in his body, a "curse" that made him unable to refuse her. He concluded that they were fated to walk different paths and that he needed to stay away from her.
Later, in the yard, Tian Jingzhi stumbled and fell onto a dazed Xue Lingqiao, humorously calling him a "human sofa" and teasingly daring him to push her off. He did. Ye Chen, who arrived shortly after, bandaged Tian Jingzhi's minor injury, remarking on her uncanny ability to escape dangerous situations unharmed. He subtly tried to explain Li Yanzhi's true feelings, suggesting that some men push away those they love to protect them.
However, Tian Jingzhi was preoccupied and immediately wondered if Xue Lingqiao had pushed her away for her own safety. Upon returning home, Tian Jingzhi confronted Xue Lingqiao about his coldness. Xue Lingqiao sternly told her that she lived too recklessly for a normal human, recalling her casual demeanor during the recent fire. He advised her to always be accompanied by Feng Dongdong or even professional bodyguards.
Tian Jingzhi countered that she had him, but Xue Lingqiao then revealed that he would be leaving very soon, visibly upsetting her. The next day, Xue Lingqiao found Tian Jingzhi alone and announced it was time to show her his true strength. Realizing he was challenging her, she defiantly declared that she didn't need bodyguards or even him and accepted his challenge to fight. He warned her not to hold back, or she would lose miserably.
Episode 16 Recap
Xue Ling Qiao was teaching children at a taekwondo gym when Tian Jingzhi, dressed in a taekwondo uniform, arrived aggressively to challenge him. She declared it was time for him to see her true skills, insisting she didn't need a bodyguard or him, and urged him not to hold back. Xue Ling Qiao simply told the children to move aside and accepted the challenge.
After she was swiftly defeated, Tian Jingzhi complained about her waist hurting and mockingly asked if he wanted to use his "all-purpose kiss" to cure her. Xue Ling Qiao retorted that she shouldn't act like an expert if her skills were only at an elementary school level. When she chastised him for hitting her, he countered that she deserved it for intentionally seeking out danger.
As Xue Ling Qiao carried a pouting Tian Jingzhi home, he admonished her for her reckless behavior. Observing his obvious concern, she playfully accused him of secretly liking her, reasoning that he still worried and protected her despite their agreement. Xue Ling Qiao then clarified his true motivation: during the car accident, her blood had saved him, creating a biological connection between them.
He explained that if she were to die, he would be forced into dormancy, leaving him vulnerable to his enemies. He apologized for the misunderstanding, stating he should have been clear from the start. Heartbroken, Tian Jingzhi concluded that all his actions were for self-preservation and her feelings were just her overthinking things. Questioning if living for centuries had cost him his heart, she declared that she "lost" and urged him to find his enemy and leave.
She had no desire for a love that wasn't unreserved and insisted they return to their separate lives. Zhang Xuanxuan visited Li Yanzhi at the police station with crab porridge, concerned after hearing he was working excessive overtime. Alarmed by how gaunt he had become, she asked if he was hiding something, sensing his sadness and helplessness.
Li Yanzhi deflected, explaining he was swamped with old cases, including the murder in Villa #56, noting how these cases all seemed mysteriously linked to Tian Jingzhi or those around her, leaving him without leads. He then shifted the conversation to Ye Chen, describing him as a man who, despite a lighthearted appearance, was a perfectionist in love and worthy of trust. He urged Zhang Xuanxuan to consider Ye Chen, adding that Tian Jingzhi would want her to be happy.
Zhang Xuanxuan jokingly retorted that he sounded like he was giving a dying wish. When he teased that her lack of a rebuttal meant she was interested, she simply told him to eat. During an emotional scene for her drama, Tian Jingzhi delivered a powerful performance, weeping profusely as her character declared, "You never loved me. You only loved yourself." The director, impressed, praised her for giving the drama its "best scene," unaware her tears stemmed from her own heartbreak.
To avoid Xue Ling Qiao, Tian Jingzhi spontaneously decided to attend an out-of-town event she had previously rejected, demanding her assistant, Feng Dongdong, arrange it immediately, even though it was scheduled for the next morning. Later that evening, Xue Ling Qiao returned to an empty home with Tian Jingzhi's favorite milk tea, only to find she wasn't there. As he looked for her, he saw her old TV interview playing.
In it, she discussed her relationship, stating she had nothing to hide but wished for privacy. When asked what attracted her boyfriend, she confidently replied, "everything." She then shared a humorous anecdote about Xue Ling Qiao's compulsive habit of repeatedly teaching her to squeeze toothpaste from the bottom of the tube. Watching her on screen, Xue Ling Qiao couldn't help but smile.
While Li Yanzhi and his colleague, Little Squid, investigated the murder in Villa #56, Xue Ling Qiao grew increasingly concerned when he couldn't reach Tian Jingzhi. Meanwhile, Feng Dongdong, noticing Tian Jingzhi's fatigue, urged her to call "Brother Da Qiao" (Xue Ling Qiao) back. She vehemently refused, reminding Feng Dongdong that he was "her" assistant and she had no obligation to report her activities to Xue Ling Qiao, who was merely a lodger.
Determined to avoid returning home, she insisted they go to the airport for more activities. Unable to find her, Xue Ling Qiao resorted to checking her Weibo for clues. Upon landing, Tian Jingzhi dragged Feng Dongdong to a shopping mall, buying an excessive amount of furniture and clothes without a plan. Meanwhile, Xue Ling Qiao visited a home management service company to hire a private butler for her, meticulously rejecting candidates for being "too short," "too tall," or "too ugly."
When the manager presented their top-rated bodyguard, Xue Ling Qiao dismissively said he disliked the man's blood type. Accused of causing trouble, he effortlessly subdued the staff who confronted him. Feeling dejected, Tian Jingzhi asked Feng Dongdong if, as an "otaku goddess," she was universally desired by men. She then provocatively asked if he would marry her.
Recognizing the signs of a breakup—working, shopping, and drinking to excess—he reminded her of their agreement not to get serious about a human-monster relationship. At a bar, Tian Jingzhi became heavily intoxicated, and a desperate Feng Dongdong called Xue Ling Qiao for help. He promptly arrived, lifting the disoriented Tian Jingzhi into his arms to carry her home. On the way, Feng Dongdong advised the 500-year-old being to be more lenient with her.
In a drunken, feverish state, Tian Jingzhi voiced her pain, lamenting that she was undesirable after seven failed relationships. She told him to leave and hide, hoping she would die soon so he could be free. As she lamented that women like her were "useless" for not being able to walk away from someone who didn't care, Xue Ling Qiao calmly noted she had a fever.
Episode 17 Recap
After bringing Tian Jingzhi home, Xue Ling Qiao tended to her as she lay feverish and delirious. In her unconscious state, she murmured self-deprecating thoughts, confessing to being stingy, having bad taste, and experiencing a string of failed relationships due to her perpetual bad luck. She urged him to disappear into the forest, reasoning that her bad luck would soon cause her death, freeing him from their connection.
Hearing this, Xue Ling Qiao told her to stop talking nonsense and, after confirming she had a fever, kissed her to heal her. The next morning, Tian Jingzhi woke up feeling perfectly fine. She went to Xue Ling Qiao's room but found it empty, lamenting that no one truly cared about her. She called Feng Dongdong to go drinking, but his concern about her drinking again after the previous night made her realize something was strange.
Noticing a scar on her arm had completely vanished, she deduced that Xue Ling Qiao must have used his powers to heal her. She confronted him, questioning why he would treat her when she wasn't sick and accusing him of initiating it while she was unconscious. She then demanded he admit his feelings for her. Later, Xue Ling Qiao met with an insurance consultant to buy a policy for Tian Jingzhi, naming her as the beneficiary.
He was surprised to see Li Yanzhi at the same café, also meeting with an insurance agent. Using his enhanced hearing, Xue Ling Qiao overheard that Li Yanzhi was also taking out a policy for Tian Jingzhi, a long-standing arrangement he had maintained despite their breakup. Tian Jingzhi tried to rationalize Xue Ling Qiao's emotional distance to Feng Dongdong, arguing it was natural for someone who had lived for five centuries and defied death to be hesitant about love.
Feng Dongdong, however, urged her to stop deluding herself, warning that her perceived hope might be a mirage that would lead to greater despair, reminding her that she has never been lucky. Xue Ling Qiao said an early goodbye to Xiao Guai and his mother. The tender scene was witnessed by a passing Tian Jingzhi, who had Feng Dongdong stop the car. Her confrontational attitude was swiftly deflated when Xue Ling Qiao simply asked why she was following him.
She sarcastically remarked on his unique taste for married women, prompting him to demand she apologize. Tian Jingzhi retorted by telling him to think about his "good deeds" from the previous night before storming off. Upset that Xue Ling Qiao had moved in with Feng Dongdong, Tian Jingzhi called Zhang Xuanxuan for advice. Zhang Xuanxuan, who was working on a script for a novel titled "Mismatched," teased that the title aptly described Tian Jingzhi's relationship.
When Tian Jingzhi expressed doubts about Xue Ling Qiao's affection, Zhang Xuanxuan firmly reassured her, asserting with her "sixth sense" that he truly liked her and encouraging her not to lose confidence. Tian Jingzhi then grilled Feng Dongdong over the phone about Xue Ling Qiao's behavior. Feng Dongdong complained that his new housemate woke him up to clean, forced him to sleep on the sofa, and was obsessively neat.
Satisfied, Tian Jingzhi instructed him to take good care of Xue Ling Qiao with regular reports, fresh juice, and soup, while also forbidding him from bringing women home or getting injured, citing her aversion to sharing needles. While having tea, Hong Shi Guang and Zhang Xuanxuan were approached by Ye Chen, Zhang Xuanxuan's rumored boyfriend. Ye Chen openly declared his affection for her in front of Hong Shi Guang, admitting his jealousy despite her engagement being merely for show.
Zhang Xuanxuan politely excused herself, remarking that she preferred men who rise to a challenge rather than retreat. Xue Ling Qiao asked Feng Dongdong for help finding a person from a photograph. Feng Dongdong suggested posting the picture online with a sensational story to quickly "human flesh" the individual. However, Xue Ling Qiao declined, realizing a quick discovery would mean leaving Tian Jingzhi, which he wasn't ready for. Feng Dongdong later relayed this to Tian Jingzhi.
Upset that he hadn't told her about the photo, she resolved not to help his search. To get his attention, Tian Jingzhi began posting frequently on Weibo, pretending it was to boost her fan engagement. Xue Ling Qiao feigned indifference but secretly scrolled through her posts. Hong Shi Guang gave a media interview about his company's philanthropy, attributing it to a core value inherited from his father.
When asked about his long-absent cousin, Hong Shi Long, he stated that the board's decisions, which fully supported the charity work, represented his cousin's will. During a shoot, Zhang Xuanxuan had to slap Tian Jingzhi for a scene. Afterward, she complained that her hand hurt and expressed anxiety about her upcoming audition for a new drama. Unusually cheerful, Tian Jingzhi offered to accompany her and invited her over for dinner and wine.
Feng Dongdong found Xue Ling Qiao about to eat instant noodles and warned him against it, citing Tian Jingzhi's bizarre theory that they prevent corpses from decomposing. As compensation for staying at his place, Xue Ling Qiao gave Feng Dongdong a bento box he had made, noting that the kimbap inside was Tian Jingzhi's favorite.
When Tian Jingzhi later called, furious that Xue Ling Qiao was cooking for him, Feng Dongdong tearfully described the meal as a near-fatal "punishment," revealing that only the kimbap was edible and that he'd suffered food poisoning from Xue Ling Qiao's cooking before. Amused, Tian Jingzhi recalled once suffering from his cooking herself but refusing his "special treatment" to save her "third first kiss."
Meanwhile, a professor studying the genetics of the "super life form" reported to a mysterious contact that he had found a fatal weakness. The contact, however, was dissatisfied, demanding a method to kill the being outright. The professor requested more blood samples for research, but the contact blackmailed him using his ailing daughter, agreeing to provide only one more sample and demanding results. The desperate professor then asked to speak with his ex-wife.
Elsewhere, Xue Ling Qiao arranged a deal with an antique collector. Because Xue Ling Qiao was unknown in the field and the sum was large, the collector requested a reputable guarantor. Xue Ling Qiao accepted the terms, and they agreed to proceed with the transaction immediately.
Episode 18 Recap
After being asked out by Ye Chen, Zhang Xuanxuan turns him down and later confides in Tian Jingzhi about her dilemma. She admits that while she finds Ye Chen attractive, she feels she cannot pursue her best friend's ex-boyfriend. As she speaks, Tian Jingzhi secretly takes Zhang Xuanxuan's phone and texts Ye Chen, arranging to meet him at 10 PM at a coffee shop near the filming location, much to Zhang Xuanxuan's frustration.
Meanwhile, Professor Li prepares to leave the country, entrusting his lab and research data to Ye Chen. He explains he must go to the United States because his daughter, Annie, is critically ill and her condition is worsening. Concurrently, Professor Li corresponds with his mysterious sponsor, informing them that he has identified the revived superhuman's weakness. However, the sponsor is uninterested in a weakness, demanding a direct method to kill him.
After Professor Li's desperate pleas, the sponsor agrees to provide another blood sample. Xue Lingqiao seeks to retrieve his ancestral jade piece from a collector, but the auction company requires a renowned individual as a guarantor due to the item's immense value. Xue Lingqiao contacts Hong Shiguan for help. During their meeting, Hong Shiguan mentions seeing Tian Jingzhi's social media posts and notes the striking resemblance between Xue Lingqiao and his own cousin.
With Hong Shiguan's guarantee, Xue Lingqiao successfully reclaims his family heirloom. Delayed by his work, Ye Chen arrives late at the coffee shop, only to find that Zhang Xuanxuan has already left. He calls Tian Jingzhi, who jokes about having to play matchmaker for them while she herself is single. Later that evening, Tian Jingzhi is practicing yoga when her father, Lao Tian, calls to announce that he and her mother, Madame Qiu, are at her door.
Panicked, Tian Jingzhi frantically calls Xue Lingqiao, urging him to rush back and pretend to be in her apartment. She tells her parents that her boyfriend is showering, claiming he has an obsessive need for cleanliness. However, Madame Qiu grows suspicious after noticing details around the house that suggest Tian Jingzhi is lying. Just as she is about to expose the deception, the power goes out.
In the darkness, Xue Lingqiao emerges from the bathroom, saving Tian Jingzhi from further questioning. After her parents depart, Xue Lingqiao suggests staying the night in case they make a surprise return, but a naive Tian Jingzhi dismisses the idea. The next day, regretting her decision, Tian Jingzhi arranges to meet Xue Lingqiao. However, while waiting for him, she is kidnapped by a disguised Professor Li. Xue Lingqiao feels an unsettling weakness in his heart while driving.
He arrives at their meeting spot to find only Tian Jingzhi's scattered sunglasses and a yogurt carton, confirming his fears that something is wrong. He sees a message from Tian Jingzhi directing him to Warehouse 33 and rushes there. At the same time, a worried Zhang Xuanxuan, unable to reach either of them, alerts Li Yanzhi.
Upon learning Tian Jingzhi's sunglasses were found at the site, Li Yanzhi tracks her phone records, which lead him and his team to the same warehouse. Xue Lingqiao discovers Warehouse 33 is a cold storage facility. Inside Freezer 15, he finds a shivering Tian Jingzhi. Before they can escape, the door is locked from the outside by Professor Li.
He reveals that he has discovered Xue Lingqiao's weakness: at thirty degrees below zero, his regenerative abilities become dormant, and his body enters a state of suspended animation. Professor Li plans to wait for this to happen before draining his blood, ensuring he never revives. As the temperature plummets, Xue Lingqiao gives his jacket to Tian Jingzhi.
She urges him to keep talking to stay awake, expressing her pity for his lonely five-hundred-year existence and her gratitude that he finally walked into her life. Li Yanzhi's team arrives and arrests Professor Li, but they are unable to open the freezer's password-protected door. Desperate, Li Yanzhi calls Ye Chen for possible passwords. Ye Chen's first guess, Professor Li's daughter's birthday, is incorrect.
With only one attempt left, Ye Chen suggests 20150523, which successfully unlocks the door, and Tian Jingzhi and Xue Lingqiao are rescued. While being transported by two officers, a staged car accident provides a diversion for the mysterious sponsor's agents to incapacitate the police and free Professor Li. After being informed of the escape, Li Yanzhi goes to the research center to question Ye Chen. He suspects the sponsor was involved and demands to know their identity.
Ye Chen admits that Professor Li had been acting strangely since the superhuman's disappearance, and that the sponsor, who originally leased the body for research, was certainly aware of its unique properties and increased value after its revival.
Episode 19 Recap
Following the freezer incident, Li Yanzhi, now convinced of Xue Ling Qiao's unusual nature, seeks answers from Ye Chen at the research center. Ye Chen apologizes for concealing that Professor Li deliberately injured Tian Jingzhi on set to obtain her blood. Li Yanzhi asks who might have hijacked a police vehicle to rescue Professor Li, and Ye Chen admits the professor became erratic after the dormant body vanished.
Li Yanzhi speculates that the person who hired the killer after Tian Jingzhi may have allied with Professor Li. Ye Chen agrees, explaining that anyone aware of the dormant body's unique attributes would want him, especially since his value increased after waking. He adds that Tian Jingzhi is the only link to finding him. Ye Chen reveals that the research center's sponsor, whose identity is unknown beyond receiving overseas transfers, must have known about the body's nature.
Their conversation is cut short by news that Professor Li's secret home lab has been burned down, destroying evidence. Li Yanzhi cautions Ye Chen to keep the "monster's" existence a secret to protect him. At the hospital, Xue Ling Qiao cares for Tian Jingzhi, who expresses her comfort in his embrace and confesses she likes him even more now.
Meanwhile, the mysterious sponsor reprimands Professor Li for his rash actions, warning that the next failure will be worse than losing a finger. Professor Li pleads for his family's safety, explaining his daughter Annie's grave illness drove him to capture Xue Ling Qiao for a cure. The sponsor dismisses his excuses, provides him with lab equipment and a final blood sample, and orders him to find a way to permanently kill the monster or his entire family will be killed.
After her discharge, Xue Ling Qiao takes Tian Jingzhi to the police station to give her statement. Li Yanzhi then speaks with Xue Ling Qiao, stating that while he still has suspicions, his perspective changed after seeing Xue Ling Qiao shield Tian Jingzhi with his own body in the freezer. To explain his concern, Li Yanzhi reveals he grew up with Tian Jingzhi as her "little follower," and they both rebelled against their parents' career plans.
He asks if Xue Ling Qiao loves her, and Xue Ling Qiao affirms it. Li Yanzhi, speaking as a friend, says he doesn't care about Xue Ling Qiao's secrets as long as he can protect Tian Jingzhi and give her a sense of security. On the drive home, Tian Jingzhi jokes that she survives her frequent accidents because a "thousand-year-old monster" lives with her; Xue Ling Qiao corrects her, saying he's a five-hundred-year-old "person."
At her apartment, Tian Jingzhi declares it's now his home too, having already asked Feng Dongdong to move his belongings over. When asked about Li Yanzhi's questions, she says she told him not to meddle. Xue Ling Qiao teases her for hurting her "little follower's" feelings, and she jokingly retorts that Li Yanzhi must be Xue Ling Qiao's ex-boyfriend, accusing him of being jealous. They then banter about their near-death experience.
Feeling guilty, Ye Chen recalls Professor Li's desperation over his daughter's illness, regretting not stopping him sooner. Tian Jingzhi, determined to make Xue Ling Qiao feel at home, sets her selfie as his phone wallpaper and, with Feng Dongdong's help, redecorates his new room with her poster and new bedding. She then sends Xue Ling Qiao out with a long shopping list while she has tea with Zhang Xuanxuan, encouraging her friend to pursue a relationship with Ye Chen.
Afterward, Zhang Xuanxuan calls Ye Chen, and despite his apology for a past incident, she curtly tells him it's best they have no relationship and hangs up. Separately, Li Yanzhi complains about being hung up on daily, implying it's by Zhang Xuanxuan. At the police station, Li Yanzhi and his colleague, Little Squid, examine a CD sent by the sister of the villa murder victim. It contains a video of a birthday party that shows the villa's original decor.
They return to the crime scene to compare the video footage with the current state of the villa and discover that a picture frame is missing. That evening, Tian Jingzhi prepares a candlelight dinner on the rooftop. After a few drinks, she confesses her love for Xue Ling Qiao, insisting she knows he feels the same and dismissing any "monster-human" barriers. As she tearfully asks for his answer, she passes out from the alcohol.
Visibly moved, Xue Ling Qiao begins to respond, but she is already asleep. He then receives a call about a villa he reserved, stating he needs more time to consider the purchase. Later, Xue Ling Qiao overhears a conversation revealing that a police officer had asked the victim's sister about the missing old photo, leading Li Yanzhi to confront him, accusing him of illegally impersonating an officer.
Episode 20 Recap
The morning after they spend the night together, Tian Jingzhi playfully questions Xue Ling Qiao about what he whispered to her while she was drunk. Xue Ling Qiao teasingly dismisses her queries, but their banter is interrupted by a call from Li Yanzhi. Li Yanzhi requests a meeting, revealing that the perpetrator of the villa homicide case took only a century-old photograph from the crime scene.
He suspects Xue Ling Qiao’s involvement, as Ms. Kan had mentioned Xue Ling Qiao asking about the photo. Xue Ling Qiao explains his belief that the man in the photograph might be the person who stole his ancestral jade heirloom a hundred years ago. Intrigued by the killer's unusual motive, Li Yanzhi agrees to cooperate with Xue Ling Qiao to capture the true culprit.
Following their meeting, Li Yanzhi goes to his chief to request the cancellation of his forced medical leave. Concerned for Li Yanzhi’s health, the chief speaks of the enduring sorrow of separation, sensing Li Yanzhi is pushing himself due to his terminal illness. However, recognizing his subordinate's unwavering dedication, the chief grants his request. As part of their plan, Li Yanzhi holds a press conference.
He details the perpetrator's professionalism and then announces that the entire case is linked to the old photograph, suggesting other stolen valuables were merely decoys. He falsely claims that the deceased’s sister has found a copy of the photo and is mailing it, expecting it to arrive in two days. The police, he declares, will spare no effort to uncover the photo's secrets and bring the killer to justice.
Later, Xue Ling Qiao explains the ruse to Tian Jingzhi: their true target is not the hired killer but the "buyer"—his real enemy. This enemy, unaware that Xue Ling Qiao already has the original photo, will likely try to intercept the "copy," thus falling into their trap. Meanwhile, Ye Chen sees the press conference and calls Li Yanzhi, worried about his health. Li Yanzhi reassures him but gently rejects Ye Chen’s romantic feelings for him, stating he wouldn't betray Xuanxuan.
In an attempt to set them up, Li Yanzhi invites Ye Chen and Zhang Xuanxuan to a meal, mentioning he heard they had a recent disagreement. Later, Xue Ling Qiao accompanies Tian Jingzhi to her parents' house for dinner. Her father prepares a lavish feast, and her mother, Madam Qiu, insists they stay the night due to Xue Ling Qiao’s drinking and Tian Jingzhi’s self-proclaimed "unlucky constitution."
That night, assuming Xue Ling Qiao has fallen asleep, Tian Jingzhi playfully teases him, only to discover he is awake, leading to them spending the night together. The next morning, a mortified Tian Jingzhi hides in the dressing room and apologizes profusely for taking advantage of him. Feigning hurt, Xue Ling Qiao alludes to his past betrayals, making her feel guilty.
Tian Jingzhi earnestly promises to take full responsibility, vowing to do whatever he wants, stop throwing tantrums, and even eat his leftovers. Seizing the opportunity, Xue Ling Qiao declares he will consider forgiving her if she fulfills all his wishes for the day, and she readily agrees. While Li Yanzhi and Ye Chen are at a barbecue in Zhang Xuanxuan’s garden, she posts a photo of them online.
Tian Jingzhi, waiting for Xue Ling Qiao at a high-end clothing store, sees the post and becomes irritated at not being invited. Distracted, she gives a vague opinion on the clothes he is trying on. Noticing her mood, Xue Ling Qiao playfully "punishes" her by purchasing several expensive outfits and charging them all to her card, reminding her that taking responsibility includes buying him clothes. Later, Xue Ling Qiao receives an urgent call from Xiao Guai’s mother.
Her estranged husband, Zhao Ming, has left her and their son with massive high-interest debts, and the collectors are now blocking their door. Tian Jingzhi insists on going with him. Upon arrival, Xue Ling Qiao effortlessly overpowers the debt collectors while Tian Jingzhi waits. Inside, Tian Jingzhi introduces herself as Xue Ling Qiao’s girlfriend, much to the disappointment of Xiao Guai, who wants Xue Ling Qiao to be his new father.
The boy angrily confronts Tian Jingzhi, calling her an "ugly woman." Tian Jingzhi calmly explains that Xue Ling Qiao is helping his mother out of a sense of justice, not romantic interest. Afterward, Tian Jingzhi and Xue Ling Qiao discuss his quest for revenge. He reaffirms his intention to find his enemy and make him suffer. Worried, she points out that killing him would make Xue Ling Qiao a fugitive, preventing them from living a normal life together.
She then voices her fear that he might only be with her for the sake of his revenge. As they head home, Tian Jingzhi notices his leg is hurt. He brushes it off as a minor bump, but she correctly deduces that he was kicked by Xiao Guai earlier, teasing him for being injured by a child.
Episode 21 Recap
In an elaborate trap, Li Yanzhi's undercover "Mouse Hunting Team" monitored a logistics center, waiting for their target. In addition to the official employee list, Li Yanzhi had also accounted for temporary workers. As chaos erupted from a sudden infestation of venomous snakes in the sorting area, Li Yanzhi deduced it was a diversion. From the control room, he spotted a masked figure taking the bait—a specially prepared package. The masked man, Detective Zhang, retrieved the package and fled.
Li Yanzhi pursued him, and despite his own worsening illness, he managed to shoot Zhang in the right leg before collapsing from the pain. Watching from a nearby building, Xue Ling Qiao saw Detective Zhang escape and intercepted him in the underground parking garage. Xue Ling Qiao accused the detective of theft, murder, and releasing the snakes. However, Zhang revealed he was completely uninjured, proving the police were not looking for him.
When Xue Ling Qiao tried to take him to the police, Zhang blackmailed him, threatening to expose Xue Ling Qiao’s identity as a revived dormant body. He warned that if he were caught, the mastermind behind him would target Tian Jingzhi. Powerless against this threat, Xue Ling Qiao was forced to let him go. Meanwhile, Tian Jingzhi received a call from Zhang Xuanxuan and rushed to the hospital, where Li Yanzhi had been taken after fainting.
There, Ye Chen and Zhang Xuanxuan explained the real reason Li Yanzhi broke up with her: he has terminal cancer and didn't want to burden her. Tian Jingzhi was heartbroken, realizing that for years, she had only seen him as a younger brother while he had been secretly in love with her. Desperate after doctors offered no hope, Tian Jingzhi remembered that Xue Ling Qiao’s blood, which contains a perfect healing enzyme, had saved her life.
She pleaded with him to save Li Yanzhi, but Xue Ling Qiao refused, arguing that he was not a savior and would not interfere with the laws of nature. He warned her that human greed is insatiable and that using his power would only lead to more demands. Unbeknownst to them, Detective Zhang contacted his boss, confirming the "photo" was a police trap. He explained his escape was possible thanks to a vial his boss had given him beforehand.
The vial contained Xue Ling Qiao’s blood, which the boss had drained a century ago and had been using to survive. Zhang was instructed to drink it if injured, allowing for instant recovery. The boss warned Zhang to be cautious, reminding him that Xue Ling Qiao is a "wolf," not a "dog." After witnessing Li Yanzhi vomit blood and faint at the hospital, Tian Jingzhi's resolve hardened.
She bought cheesecake and Xue Ling Qiao’s favorite organic goat milk, secretly adding a sedative to the milk. As she apologized to a seemingly sleeping Xue Ling Qiao for her plan to take his blood, he opened his eyes. He revealed that any drug or poison is instantly neutralized in his body, and he had only pretended to be asleep.
Seeing her determination, Xue Ling Qiao gave her an ultimatum: he would save Li Yanzhi, but afterward, he would leave her forever, as the act would expose him to his enemy. He stated that he had only used her for his revenge, and now they owed each other nothing. Without waiting for a response, he left a devastated Tian Jingzhi crying alone.
Episode 22 Recap
Alone in his room, Xue Ling Qiao reflected on a montage of his past with Tian Jingzhi. He recalled their playful moments, her heartfelt confession of her feelings for him, her telling him he must live on as someone in the future would be waiting for him, and her desperate plea for him to break his rules to save Li Yanzhi. The memories culminated in him coldly announcing the end of their fake relationship before leaving.
The next morning, Xue Ling Qiao accompanied Tian Jingzhi to Li Yanzhi's hospital room. With the door secured, he used his own blood to save the critically ill Li Yanzhi, who was moments from death. As soon as Li Yanzhi began to recover, Xue Ling Qiao departed without a word. Heartbroken that Tian Jingzhi was willing to expose him for Li Yanzhi's sake, Xue Ling Qiao went to a bar to drown his sorrows.
Later that night, in a drunken stupor under heavy rain, he stumbled into a group of men and was severely beaten. Tian Jingzhi returned to an empty home. Seeing the refrigerator stocked with things he liked, she was overwhelmed by his absence. She lashed out at her driver, Feng Dongdong, warning him to keep Xue Ling Qiao's existence a secret from her parents.
Left alone, the memories of their time together, from their first meeting to their blossoming affection, brought her to tears, and she collapsed sobbing on the floor. At the police station, colleagues joyfully celebrated Li Yanzhi's recovery. They warmly welcomed "Brother Xiao Yan" back, with the Chief offering to treat everyone to a celebratory lunch. Despite Li Yanzhi's eagerness to get back to work on unsolved cases, the Chief advised him to prioritize rest and recovery.
A troubled Tian Jingzhi visited her best friend, Zhang Xuanxuan. Xuanxuan encouraged her to fight for Xue Ling Qiao if she couldn't bear his absence. However, Tian Jingzhi admitted she had given up, feeling that her own actions—forcing him to save Li Yanzhi and risk exposure—had pushed him into an impossible situation. When Xuanxuan suggested she try again with Li Yanzhi, Tian Jingzhi firmly rejected the idea, stating she now only saw him as a younger brother.
Meanwhile, Ye Chen, believing Li Yanzhi’s miraculous recovery was caused by the "dormant corpse" (Xue Ling Qiao), persuaded him to provide a blood sample. The analysis revealed that Li Yanzhi's blood contained the same repair enzyme found in Tian Jingzhi's, reinforcing Ye Chen's conviction that Xue Ling Qiao was the supernatural being. Li Yanzhi, however, dismissed it as speculation, demanding concrete evidence.
With nowhere else to go, Xue Ling Qiao found himself by the sea, confiding his despair to his "divine turtle". Elsewhere, a mysterious person called Detective Zhang, stating that the time for the final "net gathering" had come. He instructed Detective Zhang to meet him the following day at 3:30 PM at Lai Fu Teahouse, adding that he would need to prepare a "bigger cage" for Xue Ling Qiao.
The next afternoon, while waiting at the teahouse, Xue Ling Qiao used his enhanced hearing to detect someone pause outside his door before entering another room to meet Detective Zhang. Rushing to the other room, Xue Ling Qiao found only a messenger; Detective Zhang had already left. The commotion drew the attention of staff and other patrons, including Hong Shi Guang. Hong Shi Guang approached Xue Ling Qiao and invited him for tea.
He explained it was his first time at the teahouse, having been asked to meet his elusive cousin, Hong Shi Long, who then failed to show up. Li Yanzhi arrived at Tian Jingzhi’s home after she didn't answer his calls. He found her dispirited and unwell. She apologized for keeping secrets and for the pain her public rejection caused him, reassuring him that it was all in the past and that she could never hate her "little brother Xiao Yan."
She then gently asked him to leave so she could rest. Xue Ling Qiao followed the messenger from the teahouse. The man explained that Detective Zhang had hired him to deliver a phone and a business card to the person in the private room at 3:30 PM and then to simply remain there for half an hour. Returning to the seaside to clear his head, Xue Ling Qiao contemplated the enemy's methods of using disguises and setting traps. He mused that the person in the photograph he was investigating strongly resembled Hong Shi Guang, but conceded it could also be his cousin, Hong Shi Long.
Episode 23 Recap
Tian Jingzhi struggled with her acting, finding it difficult to cope with Xue Ling Qiao’s absence. She tried to convince herself to live a better and more wonderful life without him. Meanwhile, Li Yanzhi visited Ye Chen’s laboratory, claiming to be looking for inspiration for his detective work. When Li Yanzhi tried to read Ye Chen’s confidential case files on Tian Jingzhi, arguing he had a right to know as her ex-boyfriend, the two playfully wrestled for the documents.
Their scuffle was interrupted by Zhang Xuanxuan, who revealed that Tian Jingzhi and Xue Ling Qiao had broken up and urged Li Yanzhi to comfort his heartbroken friend. Later, while sitting restlessly in her car, Tian Jingzhi's mind was filled with thoughts of Xue Ling Qiao. After sending Feng Dongdong home, Li Yanzhi surprised her by taking over as her driver.
Lost in thought, Tian Jingzhi didn't notice him until he spoke, gently advising her that her self-protection awareness was too low. Unbeknownst to her, Xue Ling Qiao had received an impulsive text she'd sent and was already on his way back to her home. Upon arriving, Li Yanzhi confessed his long-held feelings for Tian Jingzhi, promising to protect her and asking for another chance. Before she could respond, a noise from inside the house revealed Xue Ling Qiao's presence.
Tian Jingzhi quickly made an excuse about a stray cat and urged Li Yanzhi to leave. After he departed, an angry Xue Ling Qiao emerged, having overheard Li Yanzhi's confession. He returned the blood-stained dress she wore during their car accident, calling it a "souvenir." Despite his anger, he reiterated his promise to protect her and offered to help deal with her family.
However, when Tian Jingzhi pleaded that she wanted nothing but for him to stay, he coldly rejected her. Hurt and frustrated, Tian Jingzhi lashed out, calling him a "cold-blooded weird stray cat" and regretting that she hadn't saved some of his blood for its healing properties. After a harsh goodbye, Xue Ling Qiao left, leaving her heartbroken. Elsewhere, Ye Chen delved deeper into the dormant corpse case.
Theorizing that the body had lived for centuries, he connected a jade artifact pawned a hundred years ago with the corpse being submerged around the same time and deduced that the thief who stole the jade was likely the immortal creature. To confirm his theory, Ye Chen called Tian Jingzhi, stating he knew all her secrets, including why she was kidnapped and how Li Yanzhi miraculously recovered.
This infuriated Tian Jingzhi, who passionately defended "Da Qiao" (Xue Ling Qiao), insisting he was her boyfriend, not a monster who was just playing a role. She blamed Ye Chen and his research for forcing Xue Ling Qiao to leave. Distraught, she made Ye Chen promise not to tell anyone, threatening to marry Zhang Xuanxuan herself to stop his relationship with her if he broke his word. Ye Chen reluctantly agreed.
Meanwhile, Li Yanzhi’s investigation continued as he and his team discussed their search for the elusive Hong Shi Long. Concurrently, Tian Jingzhi’s parents visited, worried about her breakup with their "Son-in-Law," Xue Ling Qiao. Her father, concerned she was being mistreated, prepared to call him. However, Li Yanzhi cleverly diverted him by suggesting his twitching eye could be a symptom of a stroke.
Tian Jingzhi then asserted her newfound independence to her parents, stating she had grown up and chosen her own life without regret. She emphasized that her mother should be her father’s ultimate focus of protection. As her parents left, still fretting over the car Xue Ling Qiao had gifted them, she dismissed it as a "breakup fee." Later, Zhang Xuanxuan and Ye Chen discussed Tian Jingzhi’s heartbreak.
While Zhang Xuanxuan felt sorry for her friend, she also saw the breakup as an excellent opportunity for Li Yanzhi and admitted to encouraging him to pursue Tian Jingzhi. Separately, Li Yanzhi arranged a formal dinner with Tian Jingzhi, who cautioned him against it, preferring his old straightforwardness over the bad habits he might learn from "Scum Ye." Admitting he hadn't been romantic in the past, Li Yanzhi revealed a ring he had bought even before they started dating.
He explained that his near-death experience made him want to fight for her again. He told her she didn't have to accept it immediately, but he would wait. Startled, Tian Jingzhi jokingly threatened to call the police, to which Li Yanzhi calmly reminded her that he was the police.
Episode 24 Recap
Picking up after his confession, Li Yanzhi asks Tian Jingzhi to dinner and expresses his deep affection for her, presenting a ring he had bought long before they even started dating. He speaks of cherishing life more after having "died once" and his strong desire to fight for their relationship, vowing to wait for her. Tian Jingzhi, however, gently apologizes, explaining that her heart is already filled by Xue Lingqiao.
She admits that while she knew her love for Xue Lingqiao was impossible from the start, she couldn't help but cling to hope even after their relationship had ended, and she urges Li Yanzhi not to become like her. Their dinner is interrupted by a call from Little Squid, informing Li Yanzhi that Hong Shilong has surfaced and is scheduled to leave the country the next day. Li Yanzhi instructs Little Squid to set up an ambush at the airport.
Unbeknownst to them, Xue Lingqiao, seated at a nearby table, overhears their entire conversation. Misled by Hong Shiguang, Xue Lingqiao believes Hong Shilong is the enemy who drained his blood a century ago. He follows Hong Shilong to the airport's underground parking lot, where a fully armed Detective Zhang attacks Hong Shilong, stabbing him during the struggle. Xue Lingqiao arrives moments later and, seizing Hong Shilong by the neck, prepares to kill him.
However, a perceptive Li Yanzhi senses something is wrong and rushes to the scene with his team. Xue Lingqiao uses his superhuman abilities to vanish, leaving a wounded but alive Hong Shilong to be rescued. At the hospital, Hong Shilong refuses to speak without his lawyer present. Li Yanzhi stations officers to guard his room, but Detective Zhang orchestrates a diversion by having two people stage a fight, luring the police away from their post.
Infiltrating the room, Zhang attempts to strangle Hong Shilong. Just as he is about to succeed, Xue Lingqiao intervenes, saving Hong Shilong for a second time. Detective Zhang's persistent attempts to murder Hong Shilong force Xue Lingqiao to question his own judgment. He re-examines a photo sent by Miss Kan and realizes he has been deceived. His suspicion is confirmed when Feng Dongdong calls, explaining that the photo of the supposed culprit is a fake.
A tiny, almost imperceptible curvature in the brickwork near the man's cheek proves the image was photoshopped, meaning the person in the photo is not the true mastermind. Meanwhile, Li Yanzhi reviews the hospital's surveillance footage, clearly identifying Detective Zhang at the scene of the second attack. He immediately orders Little Squid to apply for arrest and search warrants for the detective. Xue Lingqiao goes to Detective Zhang's office and takes his computer.
He brings it to Feng Dongdong's house, where he unexpectedly finds Tian Jingzhi engrossed in a video game. Masking her feelings, Tian Jingzhi feigns composure as Xue Lingqiao asks Feng Dongdong to decrypt the computer's files. After Xue Lingqiao assures him that Zhang is wanted for attempted murder, Feng Dongdong excitedly agrees.
Tian Jingzhi expresses her concern that Xue Lingqiao might get into trouble hunting his enemy, but he coolly replies that anyone who encounters him is the one in trouble. They also discuss their breakup, with Tian Jingzhi regretting her past treatment of him. When Xue Lingqiao says he doesn't hate her, she misinterprets it as a complete lack of feeling. Following his near-death experiences, Hong Shilong finally tells Li Yanzhi the truth.
He admits to hiring someone to kill Hong Shiguang—the incident behind the car chase—but claims he was forced to act because he knew Hong Shiguang also wanted him dead. He vehemently denies any involvement in the Villa 56 murder or the charity banquet arson. Hong Shilong further asserts that Hong Shiguang is not his uncle's biological son, claiming the paternity test was falsified.
He explains that the doctor who performed the test disappeared after immigrating to Australia, shortly after a large, suspicious wire transfer was made to the doctor's father's account and subsequently moved to the doctor's personal account. Hong Shilong vows to reclaim the Hong Shi Group, which he believes is rightfully his. Unbeknownst to them, Hong Shiguang is listening to the entire confession through a hidden microphone.
Xue Lingqiao takes Tian Jingzhi to the seaside to meet his old friend, a turtle named Shui Sheng that he raised over a century ago. Fascinated, Tian Jingzhi nicknames the turtle "Master Roshi." At her insistence, Xue Lingqiao agrees to take her to the remote mountains where he plans to live in seclusion, framing it as a "break-up trip" to experience his future life.
Before they leave, Tian Jingzhi texts Feng Dongdong, telling him not to contact them even after he decrypts the files. Li Yanzhi's investigation corroborates Hong Shilong's story. He confirms the doctor who performed the paternity test is a reported missing person and traces the unexplained overseas payment. Concluding Hong Shilong's suspicions are credible, Li Yanzhi decides to request Interpol's cooperation.
He instructs Little Squid to keep a close watch on Hong Shilong for his safety and to continue the hunt for the fugitive Detective Zhang. Meanwhile, Zhang Xuanxuan learns from an assistant that Hong Shiguang is reportedly unwell and has been working from home.
Episode 25 Recap
While being driven, Hong Shi Guang experienced a sudden physical collapse, with his veins bulging. He staggered home, and just as he entered, his black hair instantly turned white before he fell unconscious. Zhang Xuanxuan arrived moments later and, seeing him enter without answering her calls or knocks, grew worried. Fearing the frail Hong Shi Guang had collapsed, she called Li Yanzhi for help. Li Yanzhi arrived and had the door opened, finding Hong Shi Guang unconscious.
He was rushed to the hospital, where his hair had miraculously returned to black. It was revealed that before passing out, Hong Shi Guang had used his last ounce of strength to enter a secret room. There, he consumed vials of blood extracted from Xue Ling Qiao a century ago, which caused his rapid recovery. While waiting at the house, Zhang Xuanxuan discovered scratch marks on the floor, which led her to find the hidden entrance to the secret room.
Inside, she was shocked to find numerous vials of blood. She tried to call Ye Chen, but he was in class and didn't answer. Determined to show him her discovery, she drove to his university. However, as she got out of her car, two large men abducted her in a van. The kidnapping was orchestrated by the now-recovered Hong Shi Guang to protect his secret.
Before being taken, Zhang Xuanxuan had managed to send one of the blood vials to Ye Chen via a delivery service. Ye Chen later received the package. Exhausted from a night of research, he nevertheless immediately began analyzing the sample. He theorized to his assistant that the blood contained a "perfect repair enzyme" that was an invasive foreign substance, not something produced by normal cells.
Meanwhile, believing Xue Ling Qiao had brought her to a desolate wilderness, Tian Jingzhi emotionally apologized for causing his troubles and pledged to stay with him, which deeply touched him. She later awoke in a luxurious cabin, realizing the "deep old forest" was a beautiful resort. Playfully angry at being tricked, she confronted Xue Ling Qiao, who had enjoyed her panic after she admitted to secretly learning how to drill wood for fire.
He apologized but sincerely thanked her for her concern, calling her a gift from God. Their day was filled with lighthearted banter as they tried to catch fish with a makeshift trap. Tian Jingzhi shared her dream of acting in Hollywood, which he teased, suggesting she was more suited to be a "hardworking vase." Their peaceful retreat was shattered by news of Zhang Xuanxuan's abduction.
Her mother called Li Yanzhi in a panic, explaining that kidnappers were demanding an exorbitant ransom and had warned against police involvement. The mother, whose husband was flying back from England, forbade Li Yanzhi from contacting the authorities. Shortly after, Li Yanzhi learned from his colleague Little Squid that the ransom video had also been sent to Hong Shi Guang. His secretary mistook it for a commendation report and mass-emailed it to the entire company, causing it to go viral.
News reports soon showed Hong Shi Guang publicly announcing he was liquidating assets to pay the $92 million ransom for his fiancée. Li Yanzhi launched his investigation, discovering Zhang Xuanxuan’s car at the university. He directed his team to review security footage, noting that cameras only covered the ground floor. They found that Xuanxuan had been on the fifth floor for a minute before she disappeared. As the investigation proceeded, Xuanxuan's mother called again, begging him to rescue her daughter.
Li Yanzhi reassured her while advising her to stay home for her own safety. At the cabin, Tian Jingzhi saw the news and made Xue Ling Qiao promise that Xuanxuan would be safe. She warned that if her friend was seriously harmed, she would force him to take actions he wouldn't normally consider, declaring her unwavering loyalty as Xuanxuan's "crazy fan."
Episode 26 Recap
Tian Jingzhi is deeply worried about Xuan Xuan's kidnapping and loses her appetite despite Xue Ling Qiao's reassurances. She wonders if her own misfortune affects those close to her, but Xue Ling Qiao admits the kidnapping might be connected to him. Tian Jingzhi promptly contacts Dong Dong, urging him to decrypt the laptop of a private investigator, hoping to find clues. Hong Shi Guang, revealed to be Xue Ling Qiao's century-old enemy and the mastermind, meets with Detective Zhang.
Hong Shi Guang notes that a scar of his hasn't healed even after consuming blood, vowing that his target will die this time. Detective Zhang arrives to collect his promised 100 million yuan, but sensing Hong Shi Guang intends to betray him, he reveals his contingency plan: if he dies, incriminating evidence will automatically be sent to the police and Xue Ling Qiao. Hong Shi Guang scoffs, dismissing any confession as worthless without hard proof.
Detective Zhang then details the evidence he has kept, recounting Hong Shi Guang's elaborate plans. The charity event fire was orchestrated not to kill Xue Ling Qiao but to create a cover for him to receive a fake photo, leading him to hunt for Hong Shi Long, Hong Shi Guang's mysterious cousin. Meanwhile, Dong Dong decrypts a dashcam video from a car involved in a previous chase, a video the arsonist never gave to the police.
Zhang accuses Hong Shi Guang of stealing the dashcam recorder, hiring the same killer to attack Tian Jingzhi, and then using photos to frame the killer and Hong Shi Long for a villa murder. Zhang demands his payment, rejecting any threats, and mentions a crucial photo, which Hong Shi Guang claims to have burned. As Dong Dong completes the final decryption, he uncovers a photo of Hong Shi Guang with his mother, confirming Xue Ling Qiao's suspicions.
To be certain, Xue Ling Qiao calls Hong Shi Guang, feigning concern for Xuan Xuan, while having Dong Dong simultaneously dial the enemy's number found on Zhang's computer. Hearing Hong Shi Guang's other phone ring, Xue Ling Qiao confirms his identity. Realizing his secret is exposed, Hong Shi Guang ignores Detective Zhang's pleas for mercy and shoots him dead.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan learns that the bank account used to pay off the doctor who faked Hong Shi Guang's paternity test is the same one funding Professor Li's research. He calls Ye Chen, and they piece everything together: Hong Shi Guang is the research's secret sponsor. Ye Chen reveals he received an anonymous blood sample, which he confirms is from the dormant body.
They deduce Xuan Xuan must have mailed the sample after finding it at Hong Shi Guang's house, leading to her kidnapping. Believing Xuan Xuan is now in greater danger, an urgent Ye Chen ends the call to find Tian Jingzhi. At Tian Jingzhi's house, Xue Ling Qiao realizes the irony that his enemy, despite consuming his blood, is in failing health, which explains his desperate research.
He also deciphers that the charity fire was a ploy to manipulate him into finding Hong Shi Long. Elsewhere, Ye Chen is in a taxi when the driver spots a silver van tailing them. The terrified driver drops Ye Chen at a T-junction, where thugs from the van give chase. Just as they corner him, Xue Ling Qiao intervenes and saves him. Soon after, Ye Chen and Xiao Yan arrive at Tian Jingzhi's house.
Ye Chen explains to a skeptical Xiao Yan that Xue Ling Qiao is real and saved his life. He tells them he knows who Xue Ling Qiao's enemy is and that this person also kidnapped Xuan Xuan, urging Xue Ling Qiao to help. Having returned, Xue Ling Qiao is lost in a memory from a century ago, recalling his time with a kind woman and her son, Lai Bao.
He remembers the warmth of their makeshift family, taking a photo he promised would last over a hundred years, and his inability to save Lai Bao's mother from tuberculosis. As the painful memory fades, Tian Jingzhi's voice brings him back to the present, "Monster Xue, you're back?"
Episode 27 Recap
After regaining his memories of their shared past, Xue Ling Qiao returns to Tian Jingzhi's home to find Ye Chen and Li Yanzhi waiting. Li Yanzhi expresses his gratitude to Xue Ling Qiao for saving him. The group confirms Hong Shi Guang is Zhang Xuanxuan's kidnapper and agrees to cooperate to rescue her.
Tian Jingzhi mediates, assuring Li Yanzhi and Ye Chen that despite Xue Ling Qiao's longevity and unique abilities, he is emotionally vulnerable and should not be treated as a monster. She also playfully warns Ye Chen not to have any "indecent thoughts" about Li Yanzhi, reminding him that he is already with Zhang Xuanxuan.
Li Yanzhi asks Xue Ling Qiao to exercise restraint and not kill Hong Shi Guang, adding that Professor Li and Detective Zhang were likely working for him. Meanwhile, Zhang Xuanxuan is held captive in a secluded room. Hong Shi Guang enters and removes her blindfold, noting that she seems to have already guessed his identity. She confirms she knew, as she had uncovered his secret. Hong Shi Guang offers her a farewell drink and recounts his history.
Simultaneously, Xue Ling Qiao tells Tian Jingzhi about his past with the man he once knew as Lai Bao. Centuries ago, Xue Ling Qiao rescued a young Lai Bao and his mother from soldiers, giving them shelter and treating them as family. He taught Lai Bao to read and write and took a photograph of them, which was kept in a jade pendant box. Tragically, Lai Bao’s mother died from an incurable lung illness.
Soon after, a gravely injured Lai Bao stumbled to Xue Ling Qiao's home. Unwilling to watch him die, Xue Ling Qiao saved him with his own blood. Lai Bao was horrified to see his wounds instantly heal, and the revelation of Xue Ling Qiao’s secret filled him with fear. Lai Bao descended into alcoholism. He drunkenly confronted Xue Ling Qiao, angrily questioning why he hadn't saved his mother.
Xue Ling Qiao explained that birth, aging, sickness, and death are natural laws that even he, as an exception, cannot interfere with. Desperate, Lai Bao begged Xue Ling Qiao to make him immortal, promising to do anything, even kill, to achieve it. Seeing Lai Bao’s greed, Xue Ling Qiao realized his compassion had been a grave mistake. He banished Lai Bao, threatening to kill him if he didn't leave.
Xue Ling Qiao reflects that he learned from centuries of living among humans that their greed is a sharp sword, and one must learn endurance to avoid being wounded by it. The next day, a villager reported that Lai Bao had gone mad, exhuming his mother's remains and fleeing to the pier. Xue Ling Qiao understood then that Lai Bao's heart had been consumed by insatiable desire.
In his confession to Zhang Xuanxuan, Hong Shi Guang explains that he exploited Xue Ling Qiao's fear of the cold—a weakness he discovered after inviting him to his hometown in Dongbei. He lured Xue Ling Qiao into an ice cellar, severed his carotid artery, and drained his blood, causing him to enter a dormant state and lose his memories. For the next century, Hong Shi Guang survived by consuming the blood and constantly changing identities.
He reveals that his need for the blood has recently intensified, causing him to age rapidly without it. This prompted him to retrieve Xue Ling Qiao's dormant body for research, but Tian Jingzhi's "unlucky" nature caused a car accident that unexpectedly awakened him. Zhang Xuanxuan questions why, after living for over a hundred years on Xue Ling Qiao's blood, he is still not satisfied.
Hong Shi Guang bitterly complains about life's unfairness, arguing that while Xue Ling Qiao can live forever and has superhuman abilities, he has been forced to live like a "rat in the sewer," constantly hiding. Zhang Xuanxuan rebukes his insatiable greed but is helpless. She offers to read his fortune with tarot cards. He initially scoffs, claiming to only believe in himself, but eventually picks a card before bidding her farewell.
Later, the kidnappers call Zhang's father, instructing him to bring the ransom money in a nanny van and drive alone. After he insists, they let him briefly speak to Zhang Xuanxuan. Li Yanzhi, having deployed police, follows Zhang's father in a separate car with his subordinates, Little Squid and Crystal, while Xue Ling Qiao monitors from the rooftops. Deeming it too dangerous for Tian Jingzhi, Li Yanzhi has her wait in a communication vehicle.
The kidnappers lead Zhang's father on a wild goose chase before directing him to a shop to change his clothes, phone, and mask to shake any police tail. However, Li Yanzhi anticipated this and had a hidden tracker on him. The van then speeds away and abruptly stops, the kidnapper's phone becoming unreachable. Realizing they were tricked, Li Yanzhi orders his team to intercept the van and track Hong Shi Guang's codename, "Mountain Monster."
They apprehend a substitute driver, who reveals the original driver escaped in a different vehicle, allowing Hong Shi Guang to successfully collect the ransom. Subsequently, Zhang Xuanxuan is reunited with Xue Ling Qiao in her new place of confinement. She is unsurprised to see him, explaining that Hong Shi Guang had told her everything the night before, believing she wouldn't survive to repeat it.
Confident in her rescue, she jokes that "China's Best Friend," Tian Jingzhi, would pester Xue Ling Qiao relentlessly until he saved her. She playfully asks him about his species, his origins, and how he endures Tian Jingzhi’s eccentricities, also mentioning that the research center is still looking for the "stolen" dormant body.
Episode 28 (Ending) Recap
Police officers arrived at the scene where Zhang Xuanxuan was held captive. Xue Ling Qiao, having followed the kidnappers from a high vantage point, reached Zhang Xuanxuan first. He assured her that Li Yanzhi and Ye Chen would arrive shortly and then quickly departed. Soon after, the two arrived and took a safe Zhang Xuanxuan back to her home, much to the relief of her mother.
Zhang Xuanxuan's mother expressed deep regret for pressuring her daughter into an engagement with Hong Shi Guang, but Xuanxuan comforted her. Noting Tian Jingzhi's absence, the group assumed she had rushed home to be with Xue Ling Qiao, unaware that Tian Jingzhi had already been abducted by Hong Shi Guang. Meanwhile, Xue Ling Qiao had prepared a farewell meal, intending to leave.
His plans were interrupted by a call from Hong Shi Guang, who used Tian Jingzhi's life as leverage to force a meeting. Xue Ling Qiao arrived at the designated location and confronted Hong Shi Guang, whom he recognized as Lai Bao—a figure from his past he had once trusted, only to be betrayed and left for dead. Lai Bao demanded that Xue Ling Qiao walk into a nearby industrial freezer, promising that only then would Tian Jingzhi be released.
Warning Lai Bao that some things, once lost, can never be regained, Xue Ling Qiao resolutely entered the freezing chamber. Inside, Hong Shi Guang revealed his plan to Professor Li: drain Xue Ling Qiao's blood to render him dormant, then extract his red spinal marrow. Without it, Xue Ling Qiao would lose his ability to regenerate and could never be revived, even with blood.
Professor Li confirmed this but warned of a high risk of rejection if the marrow were transplanted into another body. Undeterred, Hong Shi Guang had Tian Jingzhi brought to the scene. As Xue Ling Qiao succumbed to the cold, Tian Jingzhi felt their unique connection sever, as if he had disappeared. Hong Shi Guang cruelly taunted her, saying that this time, even her blood would be useless.
Desperate, Tian Jingzhi broke the glass of the freezer door, cutting her hand, and tried to feed her blood to the unresponsive Xue Ling Qiao, crying out in anguish. Following the commotion, Professor Li requested twenty minutes to prepare for the procedure and reduce the risk of rejection, then entered an adjacent laboratory. Hong Shi Guang waited outside, believing victory was within his grasp.
After a long wait, he grew suspicious and stormed into the lab, only to find Professor Li had escaped through another exit. His dreams of immortality shattered, Hong Shi Guang's mind descended into a rage-fueled delusion, unable to believe Professor Li would betray him while his family was still held captive. As Tian Jingzhi lay over Xue Ling Qiao's body, she faintly heard him calling her name in his unconscious state, asking her to take him home.
Summoning her remaining strength, she carried him out of the freezer, her bleeding hand dripping blood onto his. Away from the extreme cold, Xue Ling Qiao slowly regained consciousness. Earlier, Ye Chen had informed Li Yanzhi of his suspicion that Professor Li's family in the U. S. was being threatened. Li Yanzhi arranged for assistance from American police to protect them.
It was also revealed that Hong Shi Guang had blackmailed Zhang Xuanxuan's mother, forcing her to drug Tian Jingzhi and hand her over in exchange for her own daughter's safety. After being rescued, Xuanxuan relayed this to the group. Ye Chen immediately emailed Professor Li, offering Xue Ling Qiao's blood to save the professor's daughter in exchange for his cooperation.
However, believing every second of delay put Tian Jingzhi in greater danger, Xue Ling Qiao refused to wait for a reply and rushed to confront Hong Shi Guang. Later, the escaped Professor Li called Ye Chen, confirming he had not extracted the marrow and that Xue Ling Qiao could be revived. He entrusted his daughter, Annie, to Ye Chen's care.
Deprived of a way to sustain himself, Hong Shi Guang's body failed, and he aged rapidly before being apprehended by the police. With the crisis averted, Xue Ling Qiao reflected on the chaos his existence had caused. He realized that saving Lai Bao led to his own demise, and being saved by Tian Jingzhi brought her repeated misfortune.
Concluding he was the source of the trouble, he decided not to seek revenge, believing Lai Bao's fate—to wither away in a nursing home—was more tragic than death. To give Tian Jingzhi the peaceful, normal life he couldn't provide, Xue Ling Qiao withdrew from society and settled deep in the mountains, vowing to always remember her. Months later, Tian Jingzhi's concerned relatives visited, noting her eccentric behavior and urging her to reconcile with Li Yanzhi.
Tian Jingzhi remained steadfast, insisting Xue Ling Qiao had only left temporarily and would return for his ancestral jade pendant and manor deed. Zhang Xuanxuan explained to her that Xue Ling Qiao survived because his regenerative abilities, dormant in the freezer, had reactivated once he was out of the cold. She also mentioned that a remorseful Professor Li had apologized from prison. While still upset with Xuanxuan's mother, Tian Jingzhi found comfort in her unusually strong appetite, which Xuanxuan joked was like that of a pregnant woman.
