Recaps

Yang Zhen and Zeng Ming learned that Dong Xuebin would receive no serious punishment because senior officials considered him difficult to touch. Yang Zhen sought help from Vice Minister Fang, who also warned him to let the matter go.

• Yang Zhen waited for Dong Xuebin to be punished, but Zeng Ming learned that the decision was limited to compensation and a written self-criticism.
• Zeng Ming confronted Zhou Dai, who said Director Zhu had ordered the matter closed and hinted that Dong Xuebin had an unusual background.
• Zeng Ming told Yang Zhen that even Director Zhu found it difficult to punish Dong Xuebin, then accepted the decision and returned to the department.
• Yang Zhen ignored his colleagues’ questions and called his father’s friend, Vice Minister Fang, to ask for help.
• Vice Minister Fang recognized Dong Xuebin’s name, said the matter was beyond his ability, and warned Yang Zhen not to provoke him further.

After the higher-ups spared Dong Xuebin from formal punishment, Yang Zhen accepted defeat and colleagues speculated about Dong’s powerful background. Dong collected compensation for the damage and medical costs, then received a scolding call from Han Jing, who told him to be more careful.

• Yang Zhen heeded Uncle Fang’s warning and gave up trying to fight Dong Xuebin.
• Colleagues in the discipline inspection offices learned Dong had only been ordered to write a self-criticism and pay compensation, and they speculated about his background.
• Dong Xuebin withdrew one hundred thousand yuan from a bank to cover repairs and medical expenses before driving back.
• Han Jing called Dong Xuebin about the workplace fight and car crash, and he admitted what happened while insisting he had been provoked.
• Han Jing criticized Dong Xuebin’s temper but ended the call by telling him to be more careful in the future.

After settling the consequences of his clash with Yang Zhen, Dong Xuebin returned to the office and accepted his colleagues’ invitation to dinner. The group planned to gather at his home, while Han Fei remained curious about his background.

• Dong Xuebin submitted a self-criticism letter to Zhu Weiye and paid seventy thousand in repair costs and medical compensation.
• Dong Xuebin told his colleagues the matter was settled, and Han Fei thanked him for standing up for her and offered to repay part of the cost.
• Han Fei and the others offered to share the payment, but Dong Xuebin refused and agreed to join them for dinner.
• Dong Xuebin invited Yin Cheng'an and the Second Office staff to eat at his home, and Zhang Dongliang volunteered to buy groceries.
• Han Fei wondered whether Dong Xuebin had a powerful background, and He Zhou suggested she ask her father about him again.

Dong Xuebin brought his colleagues from the Second Office to his villa for a meal, surprising them with the contrast between his home and his battered car. When they arrived, they found Su Jia hosting a class reunion there, and Dong Xuebin offered to take his colleagues elsewhere so she and her classmates could stay.

• Dong Xuebin and his colleagues left the government offices to head to his home for dinner after celebrating the Second Office’s success.
• Dong Xuebin guided Han Fei’s car into an upscale residential complex and revealed that he lived in a villa, astonishing his colleagues.
• Dong Xuebin found the villa lit and occupied, then discovered Su Jia was hosting her classmates there with Aunt Luan’s permission.
• Su Jia offered to take her classmates elsewhere, but Dong Xuebin insisted that she continue hosting and said he and his colleagues would find another place to eat.

Dong Xuebin let Su Jia and her classmates use his villa, then took his colleagues to his new home in Houhai for dinner. He revealed that the entire Courtyard House belonged to him, leaving them stunned.

• Dong Xuebin let Su Jia stay in his villa and told her she could use the cars, rooms, and supplies.
• Dong Xuebin told Luan Xiaoping that he had bought another home and invited his colleagues to eat at his place in Houhai.
• On the drive, Dong Xuebin's colleagues wondered how he had become so wealthy and praised his audacity after the car crash.
• Dong Xuebin greeted neighbors in the alley and brought his colleagues into a spacious Courtyard House.
• When Han Fei asked which room was his, Dong Xuebin said the entire Courtyard House belonged to him, stunning Han Fei, He Zhou, and Sun Zhaobang.

Dong Xuebin hosted Yin Cheng'an and his colleagues at his luxurious Courtyard House, cooking them dinner and serving expensive drinks. As the gathering turned into a toast-filled banquet, Han Fei asked why he drove a Xiali, and Dong Xuebin said it had been wrecked and he would probably buy a new car the next day.

• Dong Xuebin stunned Yin Cheng'an and the others by revealing that the entire Courtyard House belonged to him.
• Han Fei and Zhang Dongliang explored the house while Dong Xuebin insisted on cooking dinner for everyone.
• Dong Xuebin served his colleagues a meal, then offered a selection of expensive alcohol and let them stay overnight if needed.
• Han Fei and the others toasted Dong Xuebin for helping her, and Dong Xuebin toasted the group in return.
• After two glasses of red wine, Han Fei asked why Dong Xuebin drove a Xiali, and he said it had been wrecked and he would probably buy a new car tomorrow.

Dong Xuebin hosted his colleagues for dinner and served them rare Big Red Robe tea and expensive Trinidad cigars, leaving them stunned by his extravagant lifestyle. The gathering ended with the officials marveling at how wealthy he seemed.

• Dong Xuebin and his colleagues finished dinner, then gathered around the stone table to drink tea.
• Yin Cheng'an recognized Dong Xuebin's tea as rare old-tree Big Red Robe and declined Dong's offer to take some home.
• Han Fei calculated that the food, wine, and tea had cost hundreds of thousands of yuan, while Dong Xuebin said the supplies came from relatives and friends.
• When He Zhou found his cigarette pack empty, Dong Xuebin brought out cigars that Zhang Longjuan had given him.
• He Zhou identified the cigars as Trinidad, estimated their value at tens of thousands of yuan, and the colleagues marveled at Dong Xuebin's wealth.

After his colleagues left, Dong Xuebin invited Su Jia to his new Courtyard House, where she shared news of her upcoming transfer to Central TV Station. The chapter ended with Su Jia catching him staring at her while they sat together in his study.

• Dong Xuebin saw Yin Cheng'an, Han Fei, He Zhou, and the others off after dinner, then returned to his study to sober up.
• Su Jia called Dong Xuebin and arranged to visit, bringing his Land Rover because his other car had been damaged in a crash.
• Su Jia arrived at the Courtyard House and told Dong Xuebin that her Xinhua News Agency internship had led to a successful assessment for Central TV Station.
• Dong Xuebin showed Su Jia around the house, and she joked that she might stay the night.
• While they sat in the study looking for a movie, Dong Xuebin glanced at Su Jia, and she teased him for being interested in his sister.

Dong Xuebin watched a movie with Su Jia, who stayed overnight before a trip to CCTV, and caught himself staring at her while she changed. His mother, Luan Xiaoping, warned him not to develop improper ideas about Su Jia, leaving him exasperated.

• Dong Xuebin invited Su Jia to watch a movie and sat beside her on the sofa when he could not see the screen clearly from a chair.
• Dong Xuebin grew bored with the movie and secretly looked down Su Jia's sweater, glimpsing her bra when she shifted.
• Su Jia finished the movie and stayed in the North Room, while Dong Xuebin prepared to sleep in the West Room.
• Dong Xuebin saw Su Jia's silhouette undressing behind the North Room curtain and hurried away when the light went out.
• Luan Xiaoping called Dong Xuebin and warned him not to get any ideas about Su Jia because she was his sister and Uncle Yang's niece.

Dong Xuebin helped Su Jia repair her bra clasp before she left for an interview at Central TV Station. On his way to work, he confronted Yang Zhen again and drove his Land Rover into the office compound ahead of him, leaving onlookers astonished by the car’s price.

• Su Jia asked Dong Xuebin to find pliers after the clasp on her bra broke, and he repaired it for her.
• Dong Xuebin saw Su Jia off in a taxi, then drove his Land Rover to work.
• Dong Xuebin spotted Yang Zhen approaching the compound and accelerated to force his way through the entrance first.
• Yang Zhen braked to avoid a collision, and Dong Xuebin entered the compound ahead of him.
• Dong Xuebin and Yang Zhen argued after Dong Xuebin revealed himself, while onlookers recognized him and discussed his expensive Range Rover.

Dong Xuebin settled into his work at the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and received a visit from Luo Haiting, a former subordinate who had come to Capital City for a meeting and to handle a problem. The chapter ended as he greeted her in his office and became distracted by her appearance.

• Dong Xuebin arrived at work in his Land Rover, surprising Han Fei and the staff of Second Office with his expensive car and license plate.
• Dong Xuebin reviewed and processed a backlog of documents before Luo Haiting called to say she was at the compound and needed his help.
• Dong Xuebin asked Zhang Dongliang to let Luo Haiting come directly into his office.
• Luo Haiting arrived, and Dong Xuebin welcomed her and offered her water and snacks.
• As Luo Haiting leaned over to take fruit, Dong Xuebin caught sight of her cleavage and became distracted.

Luo Haiting came to Beijing to stop a petition against the Fenzhou City Discipline Inspection Committee from being submitted, and asked Dong Xuebin for help. Dong accompanied her to the Letters and Visits Office, where Director Sun ordered the petition withdrawn after recognizing Dong.

• Luo Haiting told Dong Xuebin that petitioners had exposed a confidential investigation, allowing the investigated cadre to flee, and were now accusing the City Discipline Inspection Committee of protecting him.
• Dong Xuebin agreed to help Luo Haiting locate the petition and took her to the Letters and Visits Office.
• Dong introduced Luo to Lan Xuewen, who explained that the petition had been forwarded and was due to be submitted soon.
• Director Sun heard Luo's explanation, then ordered Lan Xuewen to withdraw the petition and not submit it.
• Lan Xuewen told Luo that Director Sun had granted the request to give Dong Xuebin face.

Dong Xuebin helped Luo Haiting settle a petition at the Letters and Visits Office, and the two returned to his office to catch up and plan lunch. The chapter ended with Luo Haiting choosing a restaurant while leaning close enough for her chest to brush Dong Xuebin’s head.

• Dong Xuebin accompanied Luo Haiting to the Letters and Visits Office, where the matter was quickly settled and her petition was withdrawn.
• Luo Haiting thanked Dong Xuebin and invited him to lunch, then went with him to his office to wait until noon.
• Luo Haiting told Mayor Zhong by phone that the matter was resolved, and Mayor Zhong asked her to pass along his regards to Dong Xuebin.
• Dong Xuebin and Luo Haiting caught up about their colleagues and agreed to meet again while she was in the Capital City.
• Dong Xuebin searched for nearby restaurants, and Luo Haiting chose Roasted Lamb Leg after leaning over him and brushing her chest against his head.

Dong Xuebin invited the Xie siblings to see his new Courtyard House and met Xie Ran’s girlfriend, Fang Shuiling, for the first time. He welcomed her with an expensive gift, but Xie Jing’s quiet reaction left him sensing something was wrong.

• Han Jing told Dong Xuebin that she had heard about his Courtyard House, and Xie Jing and Xie Hao arranged to visit it.
• Dong Xuebin invited Xie Jing, Xie Hao, and Xie Ran to the house and prepared food for them.
• Xie Ran arrived with his girlfriend, Fang Shuiling, and introduced her to Dong Xuebin.
• Dong Xuebin gave Fang Shuiling a bank card with about one million on it as a first-meeting gift, and Xie Ran told her to accept it.
• Dong Xuebin noticed that Xie Jing was unusually quiet around Fang Shuiling and wondered what was wrong.

Dong Xuebin hosted Xie Ran’s girlfriend, Fang Shuiling, and learned that she belonged to the powerful Fang Family. Xie Jing revealed that the Fang and Xie families had been sworn enemies for years, leaving Dong Xuebin eager to hear the story behind their feud.

• Dong Xuebin questioned Fang Shuiling about her studies and praised her for choosing to study in China, then argued with Xie Jing about studying abroad.
• Dong Xuebin decided to cook lunch for Fang Shuiling and took Xie Jing with him to the kitchen.
• Dong Xuebin confronted Xie Jing about her distant attitude toward Fang Shuiling, and Xie Jing explained that Fang Shuiling’s grandfather was the Premier.
• Xie Jing told Dong Xuebin that the Fang Family and Xie Family had been sworn enemies for many years.

Dong Xuebin learned from Xie Jing about the decades-long feud between the Xie and Fang Families and why she believed Xie Ran could not marry Fang Shuiling. When Fang Shuiling joined him in the kitchen, she reflected on Dong Xuebin’s reputation and remained fascinated by the man who had married Xie Huilan.

• Xie Jing told Dong Xuebin that the Xie and Fang Families had been political enemies for over twenty years, making a marriage between Xie Ran and Fang Shuiling unlikely.
• Dong Xuebin challenged Xie Jing’s double standard about family responsibilities, but she insisted she was entitled not to be friendly with Fang Shuiling.
• Fang Shuiling entered the kitchen and helped Dong Xuebin prepare the vegetables after Xie Jing left.
• Fang Shuiling wondered how Xie Huilan, whom she considered exceptionally beautiful and capable, had chosen Dong Xuebin.
• Dong Xuebin joked about his looks, and Fang Shuiling told him she knew what he was capable of and considered him a legendary figure.

Dong Xuebin hosted Xie Ran, Fang Shuiling, Xie Jing, and Xie Hao for lunch, gave Xie Ran advice about adapting to grassroots work, and lectured Xie Jing about getting along with her leaders. The family recognized the irony of his advice, since Dong Xuebin himself had repeatedly clashed with and beaten leaders.

• Dong Xuebin served lunch with help from Fang Shuiling and the Xie siblings, and Fang Shuiling thanked him for giving her one million yuan.
• Dong Xuebin urged Xie Ran to adapt to county-level grassroots work, while Xie Hao joked that Xie Ran could not copy Dong Xuebin because of his poor physical condition.
• Dong Xuebin asked about Xie Jing's work and told her to get along well with her leaders.
• Xie Jing and the others silently dismissed Dong Xuebin's advice because they knew he had recently beaten someone at the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Xie Ran sought Dong Xuebin’s support for his relationship with Fang Shuiling, but Dong avoided taking sides because the Xie and Fang families had been enemies for decades. Their tea gathering was interrupted when Fang Wenping arrived and demanded that Fang Shuiling open the gate.

• Xie Ran praised Fang Shuiling and tried to persuade Dong Xuebin to support their relationship.
• Dong Xuebin dodged the request and changed the subject after learning Fang Shuiling’s aunt was Fang Wenping.
• Xie Jing and Fang Shuiling joined the group for tea, while Fang Shuiling quietly noticed that Dong had not agreed to help.
• A woman pounded on the courtyard gate and called for Fang Shuiling to open it; Fang Shuiling recognized her aunt, Fang Wenping.

Fang Wenping arrived at the Courtyard House after learning that Fang Shuiling was dating Xie Ran, and the family discussed her notorious history of investigating her own relatives and sending her husband to prison. Xie Ran told Fang Shuiling to open the door, and Dong Xuebin was surprised by how beautiful Fang Wenping looked when she entered.

• Fang Wenping pounded on the door and demanded that Xie Ran open it for running off with someone from her family.
• Xie Ran and Xie Jing told Dong Xuebin that Fang Wenping had investigated three members of the Fang family's faction and later imprisoned her husband for bribery after catching him having an affair.
• Xie Ran decided that Fang Shuiling should face her aunt, and Fang Shuiling opened the door.
• Fang Wenping strode into the courtyard despite Fang Shuiling trying to stop her.
• Dong Xuebin saw Fang Wenping and was surprised by her elegant beauty.

Fang Wenping confronted Fang Shuiling and Xie Ran over their relationship, demanding that Fang Shuiling break things off and return with her. Dong Xuebin finally grew angry as Fang Wenping argued and insulted his family in his home.

• Fang Wenping arrived in the courtyard and scolded Fang Shuiling for dating Xie Ran because of the old feud between their families.
• Fang Shuiling protested that she was an adult and had the right to choose her partner, while Fang Wenping admitted she had someone follow her.
• Xie Ran, Xie Hao, and Xie Jing tried to defend the couple, but Fang Wenping dismissed them and insisted that the relationship could not continue without her approval.
• Fang Wenping grabbed Fang Shuiling and ordered her to leave with her, but Fang Shuiling refused and declared that she would marry Xie Ran.
• Dong Xuebin became fed up with Fang Wenping's insults and silently resolved to confront her.

Fang Wenping came to the Xie family courtyard to force Fang Shuiling to end her relationship with Xie Ran, but Dong Xuebin intervened and clashed with her. The chapter left Dong Xuebin and Fang Wenping still trading insults as Fang Shuiling and Xie Ran tried to separate them.

• Fang Wenping demanded that Fang Shuiling return with her and rejected Xie Ran’s promise to win his parents’ approval for their relationship.
• Fang Jing accused Fang Wenping of breaking up a loving couple, but Fang Wenping insisted that no one could change her mind.
• Dong Xuebin slammed the stone table and confronted Fang Wenping for causing a scene in his home.
• Dong Xuebin and Fang Wenping exchanged profane insults and dared each other to start a fight.
• Fang Shuiling and Xie Ran tried to pull them apart, but the two continued cursing at each other while Xie Hao cheered Dong Xuebin on.

Dong Xuebin and Fang Wenping spent an hour trading insults at the Xie family home, alarming Fang Shuiling and Xie Ran as their argument threatened to worsen tensions between the families. When Fang Wenping ordered her security guard to attack Dong, Dong effortlessly knocked him down twice, leaving everyone convinced he was far beyond the guard’s ability.

• Dong Xuebin and Fang Wenping resumed their heated argument after Fang Shuiling and Xie Ran pulled them apart, while the younger pair tried to protect their families’ relationship.
• Fang Wenping’s security guard arrived, and she ordered him to take Dong Xuebin down despite Fang Shuiling’s protests.
• Dong Xuebin flicked the guard away with one hand, stunning Fang Wenping and Fang Shuiling.
• The guard charged again, but Dong knocked him down a second time without standing up or putting down his teacup.
• Dong warned the guard that even ten men like him would not be a match, and Xie Ran, Xie Jing, and Xie Hao knew Dong’s reputation made the claim believable.

Dong Xuebin and Fang Wenping nearly came to blows in the courtyard before Fang Wenping left for work. Their feud deepened, leaving Xie Ran and Fang Shuiling worried that their hoped-for marriage would become even harder to arrange.

• Dong Xuebin and Fang Wenping traded insults as Fang Shuiling, Xie Ran, and Xie Jing tried to keep them apart.
• Fang Wenping received a work call and announced she had to leave, then warned Dong Xuebin that they would meet again.
• After Fang Wenping left, Dong Xuebin continued denouncing her and declared that their conflict was not over.
• Xie Ran and Fang Shuiling worried that the confrontation had further damaged the chance of a marriage between their families.

After Fang Wenping left, Dong Xuebin remained angry and lonely, then called his partners one by one hoping someone would visit him. When none of them could come, he invited Luo Haiting to his courtyard for dinner.

• Xie Ran, Fang Shuiling, Xie Jing, and Xie Hao left Dong Xuebin’s courtyard after reassuring Fang Shuiling that the argument would not affect his opinion of her.
• Dong Xuebin paced and cursed in the courtyard, then slept until evening and woke feeling lonely and restless.
• Dong Xuebin called Xie Huilan, Qu Yunxuan, Zhang Longjuan, Xu Yan, Geng Yuehua, Jiang Fangfang, and Yu Meixia, but none of them could come see him.
• Dong Xuebin called Luo Haiting, who had just finished a meeting, and invited her to his courtyard for dinner.
• Dong Xuebin gave Luo Haiting his address, then felt conflicted about having invited her so abruptly.

Dong Xuebin invited Luo Haiting to his courtyard for dinner while struggling with his anger at Fang Wenping and his attraction to Luo. Luo arrived and began cooking, leaving Dong Xuebin increasingly tempted as he watched her.

• Dong Xuebin regretted inviting Luo Haiting over because he feared crossing a line with his married former colleague, then tried to convince himself it was only dinner.
• Dong Xuebin continued cursing Fang Wenping over their argument earlier that day until Luo Haiting arrived at his courtyard.
• Dong Xuebin showed Luo Haiting his private courtyard, and she was surprised that he lived there alone.
• Luo Haiting noticed Dong Xuebin's bad mood, but he refused to explain what had upset him.
• Luo Haiting offered to cook, and Dong Xuebin followed her into the kitchen to help before watching her chop vegetables and struggling to control his attraction.