Recaps

Jiang Yan Hai warned Ma Yun Fei against expanding Ma Gang into the northern market, then left the Golden Triangle and returned to China with intelligence and a jade stone. Back in the provincial capital, he reported to Fan Tian Lei and faced Director Qiao’s question about Ma Gang.

• Jiang Yan Hai told Ma Yun Fei he was leaving and advised him not to expand into the northern market, warning that a great power could destroy Ma Gang if it crossed the line.
• Ma Yun Fei accepted the advice and gave Jiang Yan Hai ten million US dollars in laundered funds, which Jiang Yan Hai accepted.
• Jiang Yan Hai left the next day, traveled through Myanmar, and bought a semi-gamble jade stone using the Intermediate Scanning System.
• Jiang Yan Hai evaded trackers, crossed back into China through the jungle, and was secretly taken to the provincial capital.
• Fan Tian Lei welcomed Jiang Yan Hai back, and Director Qiao asked whether Jiang Yan Hai had been behind the Ma Gang matter.

Jiang Yan Hai briefed Director Qiao and Fan Tian Lei on Black Star and explained how it might help expose the Sandstorm Organization. He planned to investigate a possible Sandstorm connection in the Republic of Evia before returning for another mission.

• Jiang Yan Hai reported how he had established Black Star within Ma Gang, prompting Director Qiao and Fan Tian Lei to warn that a powerful gang could become difficult to control.
• Jiang Yan Hai explained that Ma Gang could turn the Golden Triangle Special Zone into a secure base and draw the Sandstorm Organization into the open.
• Jiang Yan Hai said he might travel with the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group to the Republic of Evia to investigate William, who allegedly had dirty-bomb technology and ties to Sandstorm.
• Fan Tian Lei and Director Qiao approved the trip and said covert personnel could assist Jiang Yan Hai if he made major discoveries.
• Jiang Yan Hai asked about his Special Forces 1st Battalion assignment, and Fan Tian Lei told him they would discuss it after the mission before sending him off on leave for the New Year.

After his assessment, Jiang Yan Hai accepted Fan Tian Lei’s offer to stay at his apartment and bought tools to carve a gift for Li Ruo Bai. He spent two days sculpting her likeness from glass jade and Imperial Green, then admired the finished figure.

• Four officials completed Jiang Yan Hai’s assessment but refused to share the results with Fan Tian Lei because his clearance was insufficient.
• Fan Tian Lei gave Jiang Yan Hai the keys to his apartment and told him to stay there and put up Spring Festival couplets.
• Jiang Yan Hai bought jade-cutting and carving tools, cleaned Fan Tian Lei’s dusty apartment, and uncovered a piece of glass jade with Imperial Green inside.
• Jiang Yan Hai studied carving techniques, used the Intermediate Scanning System to model the jade, and spent two days carving a lifelike figure of Li Ruo Bai.

On New Year’s Eve, Jiang Yan Hai prepared to visit Li Ruo Bai and arranged for Fan Tian Lei’s people to locate her. After confirming she was at her parents’ villa, Jiang Yan Hai worried about what to bring Li Yun Feng and Li Ruo Bai’s mother, and Fan Tian Lei offered to send him gifts.

• Jiang Yan Hai put Spring Festival couplets on Old Fan’s home and called the number Fan Tian Lei had sent him to ask where Li Ruo Bai was.
• A man in a truck tracked Li Ruo Bai’s phone and had a security guard confirm that she was inside her parents’ villa.
• Jiang Yan Hai learned Li Ruo Bai was at the villa and wondered what gifts to bring her family.
• Jiang Yan Hai asked Fan Tian Lei for gift advice, and Fan Tian Lei said he would have someone deliver gifts for him to carry over.

Jiang Yan Hai visited Li Yun Feng’s home for the New Year and brought gifts, including rare Da Hong Pao tea that impressed his host. He learned that Li Yun Feng’s wife and Ruoruo had gone shopping and would return to make dumplings.

• Jiang Yan Hai accepted two gift bags from Fan Tian Lei’s messenger and waited until after lunch before leaving.
• Jiang Yan Hai registered at the villa complex and rang Li Yun Feng’s doorbell.
• Li Yun Feng welcomed Jiang Yan Hai inside, gave him slippers, and accepted his gifts for himself and his wife.
• Li Yun Feng recognized the tea as coming from the Mother Tree of Da Hong Pao and eagerly prepared to brew it.
• Li Yun Feng told Jiang Yan Hai that Ruoruo, her mother, and the housekeeper had gone to the supermarket and would return to make dumplings.

Jiang Yan Hai spoke with Li Yun Feng about his relationship with Li Ruo Bai and the dangers of his military work, then helped him tidy the backyard. The chapter ended with Li Ruo Bai and the other women returning home, while Jiang Yan Hai and Li Yun Feng were still outside.

• Li Yun Feng warned Jiang Yan Hai to stay safe on missions and not burden Li Ruo Bai with dangers beyond his control, and Jiang Yan Hai promised to take responsibility.
• Li Yun Feng invited Jiang Yan Hai to spend New Year with the family and asked him to help clean the backyard.
• As they worked, Li Yun Feng talked about Li Ruo Bai's childhood and learned that Jiang Yan Hai had earned a bachelor's degree by age twenty after skipping grades.
• Li Ruo Bai and the other women returned home with their purchases, and Li Ruo Bai called for her father to carry them.

Jiang Yan Hai surprised Li Ruo Bai by arriving at her family home for New Year's, where he helped prepare dumpling filling. Li Ruo Bai's parents welcomed him into their preparations as the young couple reunited.

• Li Ruo Bai's mother sent Sister Wang home for the New Year while Li Ruo Bai helped carry the groceries inside.
• Li Yun Feng revealed that he had found someone to chop the dumpling filling, and Jiang Yan Hai greeted Li Ruo Bai's mother in the backyard.
• Li Ruo Bai rushed into Jiang Yan Hai's arms when she saw him, then blushed and followed him and her mother into the kitchen.
• Jiang Yan Hai used his Intermediate Scanning System to chop the meat quickly while Li Ruo Bai washed vegetables beside him.
• Li Ruo Bai's mother teased the pair and rewashed the vegetables, then Li Yun Feng called out that he had heard her joking about him.

Jiang Yan Hai spent New Year with Li Ruo Bai and her family, helping them prepare dumplings and sharing a warm domestic gathering. As they worked together, he realized he was experiencing the feeling of home for the first time.

• Li Ruo Bai and Jiang Yan Hai teased each other while preparing the dumpling filling, and he showed her his vocal mimicry.
• Li Ruo Bai's mother and Li Yun Feng discussed Jiang Yan Hai's return for New Year and teased each other about getting older and feeling jealous.
• Jiang Yan Hai kissed Li Ruo Bai's forehead, and Li Yun Feng kissed Li Ruo Bai's mother on the cheek, leaving both women embarrassed.
• Jiang Yan Hai prepared the filling and wrappers while Li Ruo Bai and her parents made the dumplings with him.
• Jiang Yan Hai reflected that the warmth of a home offered something the army could not.

Jiang Yan Hai spent New Year's Eve with Li Ruo Bai and her family before the two left for her home to celebrate together. They arrived at her decorated house and decided to watch the Spring Festival Gala.

• Jiang Yan Hai reassured Li Yun Feng that he would treat Li Ruo Bai well and take responsibility for spoiling her.
• Li Ruo Bai and Jiang Yan Hai shared a New Year's dinner with her parents, then announced they were going out for the night.
• Li Ruo Bai took the Mercedes keys, and she and Jiang Yan Hai drove away while her parents accepted that they wanted to spend New Year's together.
• Li Yun Feng and Li Ruo Bai's mother reflected on Jiang Yan Hai's sacrifices and watched the Spring Festival Gala at home.
• Jiang Yan Hai and Li Ruo Bai arrived at her decorated home, where she said they would watch the Spring Festival Gala.

Jiang Yan Hai and Li Ruo Bai spent New Year's Eve watching the Spring Festival Gala before playing video games together. At midnight, they exchanged promises of love, shared their first kiss, and Jiang Yan Hai asked to sleep at her place again.

• Li Ruo Bai grew bored of the Spring Festival Gala and set up her Xbox so she and Jiang Yan Hai could play Rayman.
• Jiang Yan Hai and Li Ruo Bai laughed and played together until midnight, then wished each other a happy New Year.
• Jiang Yan Hai gave Li Ruo Bai a jade statue he had carved to resemble her, and she embraced him.
• Li Ruo Bai kissed Jiang Yan Hai and told him she loved him, and he returned her confession.
• Li Ruo Bai asked where Jiang Yan Hai would sleep, and he suggested staying at her place again.

On New Year’s Eve, Jiang Yan Hai and Li Ruo Bai spent the night together, with Jiang Yan Hai choosing to sleep in the living room because he feared losing control. The next morning they returned to Li Ruo Bai’s family home for dumplings and New Year greetings.

• Li Ruo Bai teased Jiang Yan Hai about their past, and he reassured her that he loved her.
• Jiang Yan Hai reflected on the people who sacrificed time with their families to protect the country’s peace.
• Li Ruo Bai invited Jiang Yan Hai to share her bedroom, but he chose to sleep in the living room because he feared he could not restrain himself.
• Jiang Yan Hai and Li Ruo Bai drove to her family home for breakfast on New Year’s Day.
• Li Yun Feng gave Jiang Yan Hai and Li Ruo Bai red envelopes, and Li Ruo Bai’s mother welcomed them to the table for dumplings.

Li Ruo Bai and Jiang Yan Hai changed into matching outfits designed by Li Yun Feng, then left to shop for accessories. Li Ruo Bai tried to protect Jiang Yan Hai from public attention, while he knew security cars were already following them.

• Li Ruo Bai's mother asked Li Ruo Bai and Jiang Yan Hai to go upstairs and try on the clothes she said Li Yun Feng had designed.
• Li Ruo Bai's mother realized Jiang Yan Hai had brought Li Yun Feng a valuable gift, and Li Yun Feng reluctantly agreed to share his good tea.
• Jiang Yan Hai and Li Ruo Bai changed into matching black hoodies with city names printed on the back.
• Li Ruo Bai picked sunglasses and a scarf for Jiang Yan Hai, teased Li Yun Feng, and left the villa with him.
• Li Ruo Bai told Jiang Yan Hai to keep his sunglasses on at the mall, while he noticed that security cars were following them.

Jiang Yan Hai took Li Ruo Bai to a mall, where his unseen followers dealt with a man carrying a hidden camera. At the arcade, Jiang Yan Hai used his sharp judgment to win Li Ruo Bai the Giant Panda plush she wanted and then won another toy.

• Jiang Yan Hai and Li Ruo Bai went to a different commercial center and headed into the mall to play claw machines.
• Jiang Yan Hai noticed several people following them and spotted a man carrying a hidden camera as he moved close to Li Ruo Bai.
• Jiang Yan Hai’s followers carried out Plan Three, and two men attacked the man with the camera while Jiang Yan Hai and Li Ruo Bai continued upstairs.
• Li Ruo Bai led Jiang Yan Hai to a ribbon-cutting prize machine and pointed out the Giant Panda plush she wanted.
• Jiang Yan Hai judged the glass’s slight distortion, cut the string, and won the Giant Panda plush for Li Ruo Bai.
• Li Ruo Bai asked for another toy, and Jiang Yan Hai used the same method to win a smaller plush.

Jiang Yan Hai and Li Ruo Bai enjoyed the arcade together, then stood up for their place in line at the Dancing Machine. When an entitled man tried to cut in and trip Jiang Yan Hai, he ended up with his pants split and his legs forced into a full split.

• Jiang Yan Hai won a teddy bear for a little girl, and he and Li Ruo Bai followed her until they saw her reunite with her mother.
• Li Ruo Bai teased Jiang Yan Hai about having a daughter someday, then asked him to join her at the Dancing Machine.
• Li Ruo Bai paid for two songs, and she and Jiang Yan Hai waited their turn while Jiang Yan Hai flirted with her.
• A man tried to cut ahead of them and offered Jiang Yan Hai two hundred yuan for their spot, but Jiang Yan Hai refused and took Li Ruo Bai to the machine.
• The man discreetly stuck out his foot to trip Jiang Yan Hai, but Jiang Yan Hai kept walking and the man's pants split as his legs were forced into a full split.

Jiang Yan Hai and Li Ruo Bai dealt with a man who tried to trip Jiang Yan Hai, then fled after four men unexpectedly addressed Jiang Yan Hai as their young master. They decided to go to a movie, and Li Ruo Bai pretended to twist her ankle so Jiang Yan Hai would carry her there.

• Jiang Yan Hai turned the man's attempt to trip him against him, and Li Ruo Bai defended Jiang Yan Hai when the man's girlfriend complained.
• The man threatened Jiang Yan Hai, but four men appeared and asked if their young master was alright, leaving the crowd stunned.
• Jiang Yan Hai gave the four men his tokens and dolls, then left with Li Ruo Bai as the men stayed behind.
• Li Ruo Bai bought movie tickets at a nearby cinema, then pretended to twist her ankle and asked Jiang Yan Hai to carry her.
• Jiang Yan Hai carried Li Ruo Bai toward the movie theater.

Jiang Yan Hai carried Li Ruo Bai to the cinema, where they shared an awkwardly intimate movie date before returning to her home. After sleeping peacefully nearby, he unexpectedly entered the Illusion Simulation Combat System again and took off in the Phantom.

• Jiang Yan Hai carried Li Ruo Bai to the cinema and reassured her that he wanted to carry her.
• At the theater, Jiang Yan Hai massaged Li Ruo Bai's foot, and both felt embarrassed during the horror movie.
• Li Ruo Bai chose to return to their home instead of visiting her parents, and Jiang Yan Hai cooked for her while she showered.
• Jiang Yan Hai slept in the living room near Li Ruo Bai's bedroom and felt unusually peaceful.
• Jiang Yan Hai woke inside the Phantom cockpit, answered Control Tower's call, and took off in the aircraft.

Jiang Yan Hai flew Phantom into the western battlefield without the illusion’s warning systems and used extreme speed to evade missiles. He left the missiles’ explosions behind as he continued into the hostile airspace.

• Jiang Yan Hai crossed west of the airfield and evaded two Air Defense Missiles with a sharp roll and a burst of thrust.
• He entered the combat zone at Mach 1.5, where enemy radars began scanning for him.
• Jiang Yan Hai accelerated Phantom to nearly Mach 3 despite the loss of stealth at extreme speed.
• He spotted two incoming missiles and dived as they passed close to his fighter.
• The missiles detonated behind Phantom, and Jiang Yan Hai escaped their blasts and fragments.

Jiang Yan Hai pushed the Phantom Fighter Jet to extreme speeds, destroyed an enemy fighter, and discovered a gigantic Spider Mech beyond the battlefield. After reporting its location, he learned that the Phantom carried valuable data backups and began considering how to save them despite his low fuel.

• Jiang Yan Hai flew straight at high speed toward an approaching enemy fighter while missiles pursued him.
• Jiang Yan Hai launched a short-range missile at the enemy fighter, then dove beneath the explosion and shook off the pursuing missiles.
• Jiang Yan Hai accelerated the Phantom to Mach 4 and outpaced the enemy fighters chasing him.
• Jiang Yan Hai detected a large enemy experimental platform and spotted a Spider Mech nearly a hundred meters tall.
• Jiang Yan Hai reported the Spider Mech's coordinates to Control Tower and learned he had to destroy the Phantom and its data backups if he could not return.
• Jiang Yan Hai realized the Phantom's backups might be valuable and considered making an emergency landing to retrieve them.

Jiang Yan Hai completed the Phantom mission simulation, landed safely, and recovered valuable aircraft data before being extracted. Back in the real world, he received Phantom research rewards and celebrated with Li Ruo Bai, then went to work out.

• Jiang Yan Hai cleared debris from a deserted road with repeated low passes and landed the Phantom safely.
• Jiang Yan Hai activated the Phantom’s missiles, exported its data to a hard drive, and hid among abandoned vehicles while awaiting rescue.
• The Control Tower directed Jiang Yan Hai to Area B8, and the simulation ended with him receiving Phantom engine, stealth coating, and fuel data rewards.
• Jiang Yan Hai cheered at the rewards, woke Li Ruo Bai, and kissed her before she returned to bed.
• Jiang Yan Hai washed up and went to Li Ruo Bai’s fully equipped gym to lift weights.

Jiang Yan Hai studied Phantom's specialized aviation fuel formula and engine manufacturing data, memorizing the details while considering how to present the research as his own. He left the engine blueprints for later and planned to gradually share advanced ideas with Old Liu and the others before going to cook for Li Ruo Bai.

• Jiang Yan Hai warmed up while considering how he could pass on Phantom's fuel data as his own research.
• Jiang Yan Hai reviewed Phantom's aviation kerosene formula and found unfamiliar additives and altered proportions compared with existing fuels.
• Jiang Yan Hai memorized the fuel formula and the engine's material formulas and manufacturing processes.
• Jiang Yan Hai browsed the comprehensive engine blueprints and control-program contents, deciding they would take time to master.
• Jiang Yan Hai planned to introduce advanced theoretical knowledge to Old Liu and the others, then set the data aside to cook for Li Ruo Bai.

Jiang Yan Hai and Li Ruo Bai shared a cozy breakfast before He Chen Guang invited Jiang Yan Hai to a New Year get-together with their comrades. Jiang Yan Hai brought Li Ruo Bai along, and they left after she dressed up for the meeting.

• Jiang Yan Hai made breakfast while Li Ruo Bai clung to him, and they ate together.
• He Chen Guang called Jiang Yan Hai and invited him to meet the others for a New Year meal at his home.
• Jiang Yan Hai told Li Ruo Bai she was coming with him, and she hurried to get ready.
• Li Ruo Bai finished her makeup and changed into jeans, sneakers, and a plaid shirt before leaving with Jiang Yan Hai.

Jiang Yan Hai brought Li Ruo Bai to visit He Chen Guang’s grandparents during the Lunar New Year, where they were warmly welcomed. After the elders left, Jiang Yan Hai and Li Ruo Bai met Tang Xin Yi and waited with He Chen Guang for their other friends to arrive before visiting Er Niu.

• Jiang Yan Hai and Li Ruo Bai bought gifts and drove to the retirement compound where He Chen Guang lived.
• Jiang Yan Hai showed his military documents at the gate, registered, and entered the compound with Li Ruo Bai.
• He Chen Guang introduced Jiang Yan Hai and Li Ruo Bai to his grandparents, and Deputy Commander He saluted Jiang Yan Hai in respect.
• He Chen Guang’s grandparents left to buy groceries, asking Tang Xin Yi to make sure He Chen Guang did not drink.
• Jiang Yan Hai introduced Li Ruo Bai and Tang Xin Yi, while He Chen Guang teased Jiang Yan Hai about his new girlfriend.
• He Chen Guang said they would wait for Long Long and the others before going to find Er Niu.

Jiang Yan Hai reunited with his former comrades, who asked to join his planned transfer, though he had no orders or details yet. The group gathered at a hotel, where Li Er Niu wondered if he had met Li Ruo Bai before.

• Xu Tian Long and Song Kai Fei greeted Jiang Yan Hai and met Li Ruo Bai and Tang Xin Yi.
• The group drove to a restaurant, and Song Kai Fei and Xu Tian Long asked Jiang Yan Hai to take them along in his next transfer.
• Jiang Yan Hai said he had not received orders but would consider bringing them if the higher-ups approved.
• Jiang Yan Hai and the others met Wang Yan Bing, Li Er Niu, and Cui Fen, then continued to a hotel.
• Li Er Niu asked whether he had met Li Ruo Bai before, and Jiang Yan Hai denied it.

Jiang Yan Hai and the others laughed about Chen Shan Ming’s disastrous blind date, which reminded them of Jiang Yan Hai’s past disguise as a woman. Jiang Yan Hai revealed his makeup and styling skills to Li Ruo Bai, and the group ended with affectionate exchanges between the couples.

• He Chen Guang and Xu Tian Long explained that Chen Shan Ming had insulted a blind date who demanded a house and a car, saying she was not as pretty as him in makeup.
• Wang Yan Bing joked that Jiang Ling would haunt Chen Shan Ming forever, prompting the others to reveal that Jiang Ling had been Jiang Yan Hai in disguise.
• Jiang Yan Hai explained his disguise, and Li Ruo Bai recalled his knowledge of perfume and makeup; He Chen Guang said the unit had added cosmetics to its training.
• Jiang Yan Hai offered to do Li Ruo Bai’s makeup and help her coordinate outfits, and she praised him as a treasure trove of surprises.
• Tang Xin Yi urged He Chen Guang to learn from Jiang Yan Hai, and He Chen Guang took her hand; Li Er Niu then offered to do Cui Fen’s makeup and called her the prettiest in his heart.

After spending the Lunar New Year holiday with Li Ruo Bai, Jiang Yan Hai received orders to report to theater command headquarters and prepared to leave. His departure left Li Ruo Bai heartbroken, and she sought comfort from her mother.

• At KTV, Song Kai Fei and two others sang while Jiang Yan Hai, Li Ruo Bai, He Chen Guang, Tang Xin Yi, Li Er Niu, and Cui Fen spent time together; the three women exchanged phone numbers afterward.
• Jiang Yan Hai spent the days through the seventh day of the Lunar New Year with Li Ruo Bai, reviewing information about the Phantom Engine when he had time.
• Jiang Yan Hai received a call ordering him to go to theater command headquarters the next day, then told Li Ruo Bai he was leaving.
• Li Ruo Bai hugged Jiang Yan Hai and tried to hold back her tears as he left, but she broke down after the elevator carried him away.
• Li Ruo Bai's mother comforted her and discouraged her from joining the army just to be with Jiang Yan Hai.