Recaps

Dong Xuebin admitted to hitting Huang Tingting and two other students, while the police questioned him over the school incident. County leaders pressured County No. 1 Middle School to expel the three students, and the police withdrew before Huang Shizhong learned what had happened.

• Dong Xuebin admitted to Xiao Wang and the other officers that he had hit Huang Tingting, Sun Lei, and Meng Fan, then invited the officers to eat with him.
• Huang Shizhong called Pang Dabing to ask about Dong Xuebin and felt reassured when Pang described Dong as unpopular in Nanshan District.
• The County No. 1 Middle School principal convened a committee meeting and proposed expelling Huang Tingting, Sun Lei, and Meng Fan.
• The school committee unanimously approved the expulsions, and the principal issued and signed the documents while Huang Shizhong remained unaware.
• Xiao Wang received a call from the bureau, informed Dong Xuebin, and withdrew the officers from the restaurant.

Huang Shizhong learned that Huang Tingting and her friends had been expelled after he refused to drop his effort to blame Dong Xuebin. He discovered the county leaders had ordered the punishment because Dong Xuebin was engaged to County Chief Hui Lan and Yu Qianqian was County Chief Xie's goddaughter.

• Huang Shizhong coached Huang Tingting on what to tell the police and planned to protect her from a disciplinary record.
• Huang Shizhong and Huang Tingting learned that the school had expelled her and the other students involved.
• Huang Shizhong summoned the No. 1 High School Principal and angrily demanded an explanation for the expulsions.
• The No. 1 High School Principal told Huang Shizhong that the punishment had come from above and reminded him that Yu Qianqian was Director Dong's goddaughter.
• The No. 1 High School Principal revealed that Dong Xuebin and County Chief Hui Lan were about to marry, leaving Huang Shizhong stunned by the county's connection to the case.

Huang Shizhong learned that Dong Xuebin was closely connected to County Chief Xie Huilan and many county leaders, then failed to win Secretary Xiang Daoyu’s help. He finally withdrew his report against Dong Xuebin, though he remained furious about his daughter’s punishment.

• The No. 1 High School Principal told Huang Shizhong that Dong Xuebin and Xie Huilan were a couple, leaving Huang stunned by the revelation.
• Huang Shizhong investigated Dong Xuebin and discovered his powerful connections and fearsome reputation in Yantai County.
• Huang Shizhong decided to seek help from County Party Secretary Xiang Daoyu, believing Xiang disliked Dong Xuebin.
• Secretary Xiang did not respond to Huang Shizhong’s complaint, and Huang realized he would not intervene.
• Huang Shizhong called the Public Security Bureau and withdrew his report against Dong Xuebin.

Dong Xuebin secured the expulsion of Huang Tingting and the other students who bullied Yu Qianqian, while Huang Shizhong withdrew his report and came to apologize. Huang Shizhong and Tingting left the Yu family’s home after making peace with Qianqian, and Dong Xuebin let the matter rest.

• Dong Xuebin thanked Deputy County Chief Cheng Keliang for arranging the students’ expulsion and invited him to dinner.
• A Public Security Bureau officer told Dong Xuebin that Huang Shizhong had withdrawn his report and agreed to settle the matter privately.
• Dong Xuebin reassured Yu Meixia and Yu Qianqian that Tingting and the other students had been expelled, and promised to protect Qianqian.
• Huang Shizhong and Huang Tingting arrived at the Yu family’s home to apologize to Qianqian and her mother.
• Tingting apologized, brought tea, and made peace with Qianqian, while Huang Shizhong showed Dong Xuebin that he accepted defeat.

After a night of drinking with former colleagues, Dong Xuebin returned to Xie Huilan’s home and told her how the school had handled Yu Qianqian’s bullying case. As Xie Huilan soaked her feet in his bath, Dong Xuebin secretly admired her legs and gathered one into his arms.

• Dong Xuebin arrived at Xie Huilan’s home drunk after Secretary Hu drove him there.
• Xie Huilan brought Dong Xuebin a towel and toothbrush while he bathed, then discussed how Huang Tingting and the other students had been expelled and Huang Shizhong had apologized.
• Dong Xuebin urged Xie Huilan to remove Huang Shizhong as Education Bureau director, but she said the timing and political consequences required caution.
• Xie Huilan asked about Yu Qianqian’s recovery and Yu Meixia, and Dong Xuebin explained that he had helped them because they struggled on their own.
• Xie Huilan put her bare legs into Dong Xuebin’s bathtub to soak her feet, and he secretly admired them before drawing one thigh into his arms.

While Dong Xuebin washed Xie Huilan’s legs, he told her about his conflicts with Nanshan District’s leaders and asked how to improve his prospects. Xie Huilan advised him to build ties with a top district leader, and Dong Xuebin resolved to approach Wang Anshi or Geng Yuehua himself.

• Dong Xuebin told Xie Huilan that he had clashed with several Nanshan District leaders, including Xue Qingrong, and asked for advice on advancing.
• Xie Huilan explained that Dong Xuebin had established authority in his subdistrict but needed support from a powerful district leader.
• Xie Huilan advised Dong Xuebin to choose a side and recommended getting closer to Wang Anshi or Geng Yuehua rather than a weaker leader.
• Xie Huilan offered to use her connections to introduce Dong Xuebin, but he refused and said he would handle it himself.
• Dong Xuebin agreed to seek an opportunity to build ties with Wang Anshi or Geng Yuehua and promised to consult Xie Huilan about future work problems.

Dong Xuebin returned to the Guangming Street Office and learned that it had been selected as a National Model Unit for Respecting the Elderly. He announced the news and informed district leaders, securing a major political achievement for himself.

• Dong Xuebin returned to his office and heard Zhou Yanru and Wang Yuling report on the Model Unit selection and local political developments.
• Dong Xuebin received a call from the National Respect for the Elderly Office, which invited his unit to send its top leader to a Beijing commendation meeting.
• Dong Xuebin realized the invitation meant the Guangming Street Office had been selected for the national honor.
• Dong Xuebin told Zhou Yanru and Wang Yuling to summon the department heads for an immediate meeting.
• Dong Xuebin informed Shen Fei, who praised his work and promised to report the news to District Governor Yuehua.
• Dong Xuebin announced the selection at the Conference Room, causing an uproar at the Guangming Street Office.

Dong Xuebin tried to build a relationship with District Party Secretary Wang Anshi by visiting him and signaling his willingness to join Wang’s camp. After seeing Wang’s illness, Dong realized he might use his reverse command to cure it and win Wang’s trust.

• Dong Xuebin suspected Geng Xinke had been involved in Guo Mingfeng’s scheme and considered aligning himself with Wang Anshi instead of District Governor Geng Yuehua.
• Dong Xuebin learned that Wang Yuling’s uncle, Wang Anshi, was suffering from appendicitis complicated by diabetes.
• Dong Xuebin visited Wang Anshi’s home with health supplements, but Madam Yan initially tried to turn him away because of their past encounter.
• Wang Yuling arrived and helped Dong Xuebin enter the home, where he reported the Model Unit commendation and declared that Guangming Street Office would follow Wang Anshi’s leadership.
• Dong Xuebin realized his reverse command might be able to turn back Wang Anshi’s appendicitis and decided he could use it to cure him.

Dong Xuebin used his time-reversal ability to cure Wang Anshi’s sudden appendicitis attack after his family had doubted his medical skills. Wang Anshi recovered and invited Dong Xuebin to stay for a meal.

• Dong Xuebin offered to treat Wang Anshi’s illness, but Wang Anshi initially refused and went to eat.
• Wang Anshi suffered a severe attack just after Dong Xuebin left, so Dong Xuebin hurried back and offered to help.
• Dong Xuebin pretended to perform acupressure, then reversed Wang Anshi’s appendix and nearby tissue by four days.
• Wang Anshi’s pain vanished, and he stood up feeling better than he had before the illness.
• Wang Anshi thanked Dong Xuebin and invited him to eat with the family after refusing to go to the hospital.

Dong Xuebin learned that the Nanqi Morning News had published another distorted report accusing him of assaulting students and a teacher. After discovering links between the reporter Liu Gang, vice president Pang Dabing, and Organization Department Deputy Minister Peng Kun, Dong Xuebin worried that district officials might use the allegations against him.

• The principal of County No. 1 Middle School warned Dong Xuebin that a Nanqi Morning News reporter had visited the school to investigate the assault.
• Zhou Yanru brought Dong Xuebin the paper, which accused him of injuring three students and a teacher and portrayed his past actions in a damaging light.
• Dong Xuebin called Qu Yiqiang to ask about Peng Kun’s dinner with a Nanqi Morning News executive.
• Qu Yiqiang identified the executive as Pang Dabing and said Liu Gang, who wrote both negative reports about Dong Xuebin, appeared to be Pang Dabing’s relative.
• Dong Xuebin remembered their names and worried that district officials would exploit the assault allegations against him.

After the Nanqi Morning News published an inflammatory report about Dong Xuebin, he obtained information on the reporter and editor-in-chief and decided to retaliate. Huang Shizhong feared the article would implicate him, while Dong suspected Xue Qingrong had arranged it and prepared to go after them one by one.

• Dong Xuebin told Xu Yan that the newspaper had distorted the school incident and asked her to find Liu Gang and Pang Dabing’s home addresses.
• Xu Yan sent Dong the two men’s addresses and details, including that Pang Dabing was Liu Gang’s older cousin.
• Huang Shizhong angrily confronted Pang Dabing about the report, but Pang denied responsibility and defended publishing it.
• Huang Shizhong worried that Dong Xuebin and Hui Lan would suspect him of arranging the story and that an investigation could threaten his position.
• Dong Xuebin suspected Xue Qingrong was behind the report and resolved to take down Xue Qingrong, Pang Dabing, and Liu Gang one by one.

Pang Dabing and Liu Gang planned to smear Dong Xuebin through Nanqi Morning News, and Liu Gang confronted him at Guangming Street Office. Dong Xuebin stayed composed, but his final words left Liu Gang facing his anger.

• Pang Dabing told Liu Gang to keep investigating Dong Xuebin and find material to portray him as a violent official.
• Liu Gang agreed to manufacture problems if needed and planned to exploit public distrust of officials to ruin Dong Xuebin's reputation.
• Guangming Street Office staff condemned Nanqi Morning News for publishing another report against their office.
• Liu Gang visited Dong Xuebin and accused him of beating students and a teacher, claiming students had suffered fractures.
• Dong Xuebin challenged Liu Gang to provide evidence and accused the newspaper of distorting facts to deceive the public.

Dong Xuebin confronted reporter Liu Gang over Nanqi Morning News’s planned false reports, then discovered Liu was following him and resolved to use the opportunity to deal with him and Pang Dabing. The chapter ended with Dong Xuebin forming a plan as Liu Gang continued tailing his car.

• Liu Gang provoked Dong Xuebin during an interview and threatened to publish a report portraying him as violent.
• Liu Gang told Pang Dabing he had gathered material and agreed to keep looking for damaging evidence against Dong Xuebin.
• Dong Xuebin told Zhou Yanru he would handle Nanqi Morning News and drove toward Liu Gang’s home, planning to take down both Liu Gang and Pang Dabing.
• Dong Xuebin noticed a red Xiali following him, checked Xu Yan’s notes, and identified it as Liu Gang’s car.
• Dong Xuebin realized Liu Gang was surveilling him to manufacture compromising stories and formed a plan to turn the tailing against him.

Dong Xuebin arranged to meet Xu Yan and led Liu Gang to believe he was secretly involved with a married woman. The chapter left Liu Gang following Xu Yan’s car, unaware Dong had slipped away at a flower shop.

• Dong Xuebin called Xu Yan and arranged to meet her at the Family Compound while Liu Gang continued tailing him.
• Dong Xuebin stopped outside a residential compound, where Xu Yan arrived in a black HuaChen Zhonghua.
• Liu Gang photographed Dong Xuebin and Xu Yan, mistook their meeting for evidence of an affair, and followed Xu Yan’s car.
• Xu Yan’s car stopped at a corner and then drove off, while Dong Xuebin emerged from a flower shop after it passed.

Dong Xuebin and Xu Yan lured Liu Gang into following them, then had State Security agents arrest him. At the Third Division office, Liu Gang learned that the woman he had followed was Xu Yan, the municipal State Security director, and realized Dong Xuebin had set a trap for him.

• Liu Gang told Pang Dabing he was following Dong Xuebin and a woman, then watched their Brilliance stop near an inn.
• Xu Yan approached Liu Gang’s car as State Security agents blocked his escape, and she threw him to the ground when he tried to run past her.
• The agents arrested Liu Gang after identifying themselves as State Security, while Dong Xuebin watched from across the road.
• At the Third Division office, Xu Yan inspected Liu Gang’s camera and deleted its photos of Dong Xuebin.
• The Third Division chief questioned Liu Gang and revealed that he had followed Xu Yan, the municipal State Security director.
• Liu Gang realized Dong Xuebin had deliberately lured him into the arrest.

Liu Gang was confronted with evidence that he had followed Xu Yan, and he claimed he had only been tracking Dong Xuebin for a news story. Xu Yan ordered him detained and investigated for espionage after learning he had met foreigners and traveled to America.

• Liu Gang denied following Xu Yan until surveillance footage showed his car tailing hers for an hour.
• Liu Gang claimed he had followed Dong Xuebin for a report and had mistaken Xu Yan's car for his route.
• Xu Yan revealed that she knew Dong Xuebin from her former role as his superior at National Security and said he had never entered her car.
• A young man reported that Liu Gang had met foreigners and traveled to America, prompting Xu Yan to order an investigation into possible espionage and intelligence leaks.
• Liu Gang panicked at the accusations and blamed Dong Xuebin for setting him up.

Xu Yan’s State Security team arrested Liu Gang and Pang Dabing over Liu Gang’s surveillance of Xu Yan, presenting evidence that exposed a trap arranged with Dong Xuebin. Pang Dabing realized the evidence could implicate them both, and the interrogation continued.

• Xu Yan ordered Liu Gang taken into custody and told the Third Division Chief to establish who had instructed him.
• Pang Dabing waited at Nanqi Morning News for Liu Gang, planning to use any damaging information about Dong Xuebin in an article.
• State Security officers arrested Pang Dabing at the newspaper and searched his office and Liu Gang’s desk.
• At the bureau, the Third Division Chief confronted Pang Dabing with Liu Gang’s statement that Pang had directed him to investigate Dong Xuebin.
• The officers showed Pang footage of Liu Gang following Xu Yan and photographs of her taken with his camera.
• Pang concluded that Dong Xuebin and State Security had set Liu Gang up, leaving them unable to explain away the evidence.

After Pang Dabing and Liu Gang were detained, Dong Xuebin confronted Nanqi Morning News President Dong Haitao over repeated attacks and the surveillance of him. Fearing State Security would implicate the newspaper, Dong Haitao convened its leaders, who voted to dismiss Liu Gang and suspend Pang Dabing.

• Xu Yan told Dong Xuebin that Pang Dabing and Liu Gang had been taken into custody, and Dong Xuebin planned to make sure they could not retaliate after their investigation.
• Dong Xuebin called Dong Haitao and angrily accused Nanqi Morning News of repeatedly framing him and having Pang Dabing send Liu Gang to surveil him.
• Dong Haitao contacted the Municipal State Security Bureau and learned that Pang Dabing and Liu Gang were suspected of espionage and had been arrested.
• Dong Haitao warned the newspaper’s senior leaders that Pang Dabing and Liu Gang’s surveillance of Xu Yan and Dong Xuebin had been confirmed.
• Chief Editor Lao Zhou proposed dismissing Liu Gang and suspending Pang Dabing, and the newspaper’s leaders approved the measures.

Dong Xuebin answered State Security’s questions about the surveillance incident and learned that the Nanqi Morning News had dismissed Liu Gang and Pang Dabing. After confronting both men, he suspected Xue Qingrong had directed the campaign against him and said he was ready to face him.

• Dong Xuebin told State Security that he had met Xu Yan but had not gotten into her car, then asked to confront Liu Gang and Pang Dabing.
• Dong Haitao told Dong Xuebin that Liu Gang and Pang Dabing had been dismissed and that Liu Gang’s expulsion from the Party had been submitted.
• Dong Xuebin told Liu Gang about his dismissal and taunted him over the surveillance and the Morning News articles.
• Dong Xuebin questioned Pang Dabing about who had directed him, but Pang Dabing accepted responsibility and warned that the Nanshan District Discipline Inspection Commission was investigating Dong Xuebin.
• Dong Xuebin suspected Xue Qingrong was behind the campaign and told Pang Dabing to pass on that he would be waiting.

Dong Xuebin heard that the District Discipline Inspection Committee might be investigating him, but he stayed calm and chatted with Qu Yiqiang about cigarettes. News then spread that State Security had detained reporter Liu Gang and newspaper deputy president Pang Dabing, leaving Guangming Subdistrict staff convinced that Dong Xuebin had once again made his enemies suffer.

• Dong Xuebin asked Qu Yiqiang about rumors that the District Discipline Inspection Committee was investigating the Nanqi Morning News report, then gave him two cartons of cigarettes.
• Zhou Yanru came to warn Dong Xuebin about the investigation and a possible follow-up report, but left after hearing he was calmly discussing cigarettes with Qu Yiqiang.
• News spread that State Security had detained Liu Gang after he mistakenly followed and photographed Director Xu, and had also arrested Pang Dabing.
• Nanqi Morning News dismissed Liu Gang and Pang Dabing, and staff at Guangming Subdistrict wondered whether Dong Xuebin had caused their downfall.
• Zhou Yanru recalled Dong Xuebin's prediction that the newspaper would not be able to fabricate another report, and his nickname, Gold Shines Everywhere, began circulating in Nanshan District.

Dong Xuebin drove Xu Yan to Beijing to visit her son, but learned the boy had gone out with his father and Xu Yan, so he brought her back to his apartment. There, he used REVERSE during a massage and made Xu Yan six months younger, leaving her pleased with the result.

• Dong Xuebin learned that the Guangming Street Office had been selected as a Model Unit and that his nickname, the Plague God, was well known in Nanshan District.
• Dong Xuebin picked up Xu Yan and drove her toward Beijing while she explained that Pang Dabing and the others were still being interrogated.
• Xu Yan learned by phone that her son had gone to the Summer Palace with his father and Xu Yan, so Dong Xuebin took her to his apartment instead.
• Xu Yan told Dong Xuebin that his earlier massage had kept the wrinkles from returning, and he offered to try another session.
• Dong Xuebin used REVERSE for three minutes during the massage, making Xu Yan six months younger, and she noticed that her fine lines had faded.

Dong Xuebin worried that his Reverse ability was rejuvenating Xu Yan’s entire body, so he claimed his massage could restore her skin and offered to treat her body as well. After he secretly used Reverse during the massage, Xu Yan noticed her skin had become younger and was pleased with the results.

• Dong Xuebin realized Reverse had been turning back the age of Xu Yan’s whole body, not just her face, and feared she would discover the changes.
• Dong Xuebin told Xu Yan that acupoint massage could restore vitality and elasticity throughout her body, and Xu Yan agreed to let him try.
• Dong Xuebin massaged Xu Yan’s face, arms, back, waist, feet, and legs, then used Reverse while working on her thigh.
• Dong Xuebin canceled Reverse and told Xu Yan to check the results in the mirror.
• Xu Yan touched her arm and thigh, saw the changes in the mirror, and smiled.

Dong Xuebin spent the day caring for Xu Yan, whose appearance improved after his Reverse ability turned back her age, and massaging her again while they discussed an investigation into allegations that he had hit someone. Xu Yan offered to help him investigate and decided to stay the night at his home.

• Dong Xuebin and Xu Yan ate lunch at his home, and he cleaned up while she admired the changes to her skin and face.
• As the heat worsened, Xu Yan asked Dong Xuebin to massage her again, and he agreed.
• During the massage, Xu Yan asked about the report accusing Dong Xuebin of hitting someone and warned that the District Discipline Inspection Committee was investigating him.
• Dong Xuebin said he was close to district party secretary Wang Anshi, and Xu Yan offered to help investigate if trouble arose.
• After the massage, Xu Yan asked to stay the night, and Dong Xuebin offered her the inner room while he slept on the sofa.

Dong Xuebin spent the morning with Xu Yan before calling Wang Anshi’s home to check on his health. That evening, Xu Yan warned him of a rumor that he might be sent to the Municipal Party School, leaving him alarmed that someone in the district was moving against him.

• Dong Xuebin found Xu Yan still asleep, made breakfast with her, and drove her to meet her son.
• Dong Xuebin called Madam Yan and learned that Wang Anshi had been feeling better after Dong’s massage treatment.
• Dong Xuebin slept through the afternoon and later returned Xu Yan’s missed calls.
• Xu Yan told Dong Xuebin that a rumor said he might be sent to the Municipal Party School.
• Dong Xuebin grew alarmed and decided to look into the possible transfer.

Dong Xuebin learned that the district had ordered him to attend a month-long Party School training program, leaving Geng Xinke to oversee Guangming Street Office and claim credit for the Model Unit award. When Dong confronted Geng Yuehua, she revealed that Secretary Wang Anshi had proposed sending him away, leaving Dong shocked that the man whose life he had helped save was behind the decision.

• Dong Xuebin noticed his colleagues acting strangely, then received a summons from the District Committee Organization Department.
• Xue Qingrong told Dong that he had been assigned to a month-long Party School program and that Geng Xinke would take over the office and receive the Beijing commendation.
• Dong rejected the decision and worried that his absence would weaken his control of the office and let Geng Xinke take credit for the Model Unit achievement.
• Dong confronted Geng Yuehua about the timing of his training and the reassignment of the commendation work.
• Geng Yuehua told Dong that Secretary Wang Anshi had proposed sending him to the Party School, and Dong was stunned by the revelation.