Okay so this whole chapter is basically one long sequence where Xia Zhen tries to prove herself and fails spectacularly, but in the most endearing way possible. The plot here isn't about big twists or cliffhangers — it's about a girl who just got attacked by thugs and decides, no, she's going to learn real self-defense. That's the through-line. And honestly? It works because every beat undercuts her confidence just enough to keep it funny. The spar scene is the centerpiece. She comes in confident — "I studied anti-wolf techniques, so be careful" — and then immediately gets dismantled. Elbow to the neck instead of the face. Wrist grab neutralized. Kick to the crotch dodged. It's a comedy of errors, but it's also doing something smarter: it's showing us that last night's failure wasn't just bad luck, it was a skills gap. And she knows it, even if she won't admit it out loud. Then there's the fall. Classic romantic comedy beat — she trips into his arms, time freezes, heartbeat pounding — but the author immediately undercuts it with the old man clearing his throat and Xiao Qi volunteering the commentary. It's so well-timed. The plot doesn't let the moment get too saccharine. What I also appreciated is how the chapter plants the question of Xia Zhen's future self — will she gain weight, have kids, become someone Pei Cheng'an can't stand? — and then has him literally say "I wouldn't mind" to all of it. That's a plot bomb disguised as a casual conversation. She's trying to push him away by being 'unwife-material,' and he keeps refusing to take the bait. The conflict here isn't external; it's her own anxiety about being worthy, and the chapter is structured around her trying to fail at that anxiety and failing at failing.
The stakes in this story are already so high and we're only seven chapters in. Let me just lay it out: An Li is an adopted daughter with no real standing in the Duan family. She has a stutter that makes her a target for bullying. She's been silently in love with the elder brother for four years. And now she has slept with the younger brother, who is holding her love letter as leverage, and the elder brother literally walked in on them this morning. The moment Duan Xingning opens that door and sees An Li hiding under a blanket in his brother's room—what happens then? Does he believe her when she says it was a mistake? Does he believe her when she says she was trying to confess to HIM? Or does he think she's some kind of gold-digger who targeted both his sons? The fact that Duan Zhuo casually lies and says he hasn't seen her tells you everything you need to know about what's coming. And internally, An Li is torn between two brothers—one she's loved for years and one who just claimed her in the worst possible way. Duan Zhuo is forcing her to choose between dating him and having her secret exposed, but the real conflict is deeper than that. She's an outsider in this house, and her only real connection to the Duan family has always been her quiet devotion to Duan Xingning. Now that connection is threatened, and the person she's closest to (her grandfather's will brought her here) is the very reason she has no power. The suspense is maintained so well because every scene has this underlying threat hanging over it. When Duan Zhuo says "I'll tell my brother"—is he bluffing? When An Li runs away in her brother's shirt—does she think that's a solution? The author keeps raising the stakes with every interaction, and I'm genuinely terrified for what happens next because everyone involved has something to lose.
The atmosphere in these chapters is so vivid I can practically smell the factory. Let me paint this for you: sweltering heat, shabby ceiling fans doing absolutely nothing, workers crammed into a small space, the sound of circuit boards being scrubbed, sweat dripping. Li Yan is wiping her brow and resentfully glancing at Cao Yang like 'you dragged me into this hell.' That single image tells you everything about their situation. Then there's the nightclub scene. Mercedes and BMWs in the parking lot at 4:30 AM, girls in dresses waving goodbye, the contrast between the glittering exterior and the grim reality inside. The author doesn't moralize—it just shows you. Manager Xu's line about how eight out of ten waitresses eventually become something more? That's worldbuilding through dialogue, and it's devastating because it's stated so casually. The small hotel room is another gem. Over a hundred rooms, called 'small' only because it's cheap and cramped. Bunk beds still inside because it was previously a restaurant dorm. Rental notices plastered on a red cloth at the entrance. This is the world of migrant workers—transient, utilitarian, barely holding together. And yet Li Yan and Cao Yang make it work. Twenty yuan a night, sharing a room, her changing clothes with her back to him, him pretending not to peek. But the scene that haunts me is the murder. A bare-chested man sprinting, six men with machetes, the casual violence, the blond thug whistling at Li Yan afterward like nothing happened. The author describes this with such matter-of-fact prose that it hits harder than any dramatic flourish could. This is the world they're living in—where a man can be hacked to death on a street corner and the killers stroll away joking, and where a girl getting robbed is just part of the Tuesday night landscape.
Let me just say this upfront: the stakes in these chapters are SO high that I forgot to breathe. Xu Lian is trapped between multiple forces, all of whom want her dead or silenced, and the author makes sure we feel the weight of every single threat. First, there's Gu Ying — the man who raised her for five years, who told her nice things, who then ordered her exiled with a tracking chip and a bomb in her neck. His messages are chilling in their casual cruelty: 'One person about to die, just make do.' 'That woman is cunning, always trying tricks. Don't give her a chance.' He's not even angry. He's dismissive. She's an asset that malfunctioned, and he's already written her off. But here's the thing — she HAS value. 'She had confidential information in her mind and had to die.' That's why she can't just escape. She's a walking secret, and every faction needs her dead to protect theirs. Then there's Song Jinze, who is somehow worse because he pretended to care. The conflict here isn't just external — it's deeply personal. Xu Lian回忆 the surgery, him kneeling beside her, saying 'Look at me, don't think about what's behind you.' That line now reads as one of the most manipulative things ever said to her. He used her vulnerability, her trust, her very body against her. And the stakes? If she removes the chip, they'll know. If she runs, they'll track her. If she stays, White Chess will capture her. Every move is a lose. But the most interesting conflict is the one inside Xu Lian herself. She's not just fighting for survival — she's fighting against the urge to just give up. She could let White Chess take her. She could let the chip detonate. It would be easier. But instead, she shakes Lin Zhaocai awake and screams 'I'm going to die!' like a woman who has decided that dying on her own terms is better than dying someone else's way. 'At this moment, she wasn't leaving anyone alive. She wanted to send them all to hell.' That's not just revenge. That's a woman who has stopped being a victim and started being a force of nature. And honestly? I can't wait to see what happens next.
I just finished reading your book, and I have to say, it’s absolutely fantastic! I truly enjoyed it. I’d love to offer a few tips that might help boost the performance and visibility of your book even more. I believe these could take your work to the next level
it's traditional to give your work a 5 star review. Like the saying goes," Even if no one does, you must "
Such an interesting read!! I love the twist and different story! I can't wait for more chapters.
GoodThink i have read this somewhere before.But it might just be the same trope
Okay spiciest novel ever I'm so excited I simply can't ???wow what a captivating romance.
The way the characters develop, the way the story is so detailed… If this doesn’t deserve to be a movie then nothing does! ???? Disney needs to see this ??????
I've been looking for your book after the other one and finally found it. It would be great if you have a discord so we can have an update in case something happens to your novel again.
First few chapters gave me the urge to read more. I like Baldwin character, the character building is good. I'm curious on what's next to come on next chapters.