Chapter Summaries

Dong Xuebin traveled from Capital City to Tokyo with help from State Security and began scouting the National Museum’s Asian Gallery. He found the Xie Family’s stolen Bodhisattva Statue on display, leaving him poised to act.

• Old Qian gave Dong Xuebin a passport, yen, and a plane ticket arranged by Director Xu for his trip to Japan.
• Dong Xuebin boarded a late-night flight to Tokyo and told Xie Hao he might not return in time for Madam Han’s birthday.
• Dong Xuebin arrived in Tokyo, checked into a hotel, and went to the National Museum the next morning.
• Dong Xuebin surveyed the museum’s security, cameras, blind spots, and the Asian Gallery for several hours.
• Dong Xuebin recognized the Bodhisattva Statue in a display case as the Xie Family’s Tang Dynasty heirloom.

Dong Xuebin witnessed the National Museum director refuse to return the Bodhisattva Statue and saw Chinese visitors mistreated after protesting. Furious, he decided to expand his plan and headed back to the museum to make a scene before catching his flight home.

• Li Li confronted Tojo Shinji over the Bodhisattva Statue, but Tojo insisted the donation and display procedures were proper and refused to take responsibility for its alleged theft.
• Chinese visitors protested Tojo's response, and museum guards escorted several of them, including an elderly woman, outside.
• Dong Xuebin learned what had been said, became furious, and stopped guards from dragging the elderly woman away.
• Xie Huilan told Dong Xuebin that her mother had been discharged and invited him to come to her home for the birthday celebration that night.
• Dong Xuebin asked Old Qian to arrange a flight back to Beijing, checked out of his hotel, ate lunch, and returned toward the National Museum with a revised plan.

Dong Xuebin used his time-stopping ability to steal the Tianlong Mountain Grottoes Sandstone Bodhisattva Statue from the Tokyo National Museum and escape the exhibition hall without being seen. The museum discovered the theft moments later, but its cameras showed no culprit.

• Dong Xuebin disguised himself and entered the Tokyo National Museum, then waited for the Bodhisattva Statue’s hall to empty.
• Dong Xuebin stopped time in a restroom, covered two surveillance cameras, broke the display case, and took the statue.
• Dong Xuebin hid the statue in his clothing, returned to the restroom, and resumed time without triggering an alarm at the display.
• Dong Xuebin walked toward the main building, but the theft alarm sounded and museum staff called for the exits to be closed.
• Tojo Shinji rushed to the hall and ordered the surveillance footage retrieved, but the cameras showed only black screens.

Dong Xuebin stole Sesshu's Splashed Ink Landscape from the National Museum while time was stopped, adding it to the Bodhisattva Statue he had already taken. As police flooded the museum, he escaped and resumed time outside, leaving officials searching for a thief who was already gone.

• After the Bodhisattva Statue was stolen, Tojo Shinji ordered Republic citizens in the museum to be gathered and searched.
• Dong Xuebin stopped time to evade guards searching the restroom and entered the National Treasure Room.
• Dong Xuebin smashed the display case, stole Sesshu's Splashed Ink Landscape, and left the room before restarting time and triggering its alarm.
• Tojo Shinji ordered an expanded search as museum officials realized the national treasure had been stolen too.
• Dong Xuebin stopped time again, slipped past the police and museum security, and escaped the grounds.
• Dong Xuebin resumed time outside the museum and hailed a taxi while civilians discussed the theft.

Dong Xuebin used his time-stopping ability to smuggle the Bodhisattva Statue and Sesshu's Splashed Ink Landscape past heightened airport security and customs. As he waited to board his flight, he decided he would donate the painting to a museum to retaliate for cultural relics Japan had kept from the Republic.

• Dong Xuebin learned that Old Qian had arranged a 3:05 flight and headed to Tokyo International Airport with the two stolen treasures hidden in his coat.
• Dong Xuebin saw that police had tightened airport security while searching for the missing cultural relics, so he hid both objects in an opaque cloth bag.
• Dong Xuebin stopped time and carried the bag past customs, leaving it concealed in a restroom near Gate 025 before returning to complete the normal security procedures.
• Dong Xuebin stopped time again, retrieved the bag, and carried it to Gate 036 without attracting notice.
• Dong Xuebin considered what to do with Sesshu's Splashed Ink Landscape and decided to donate it to a museum in retaliation for the Republic's unrecovered cultural relics.

On the flight home, Dong Xuebin befriended renowned collector Mu Zhengzhong while discussing antiques and Sesshu's Splashed Ink Landscape. After landing, Dong showed Mu the authentic national treasure he had brought from the National Museum, leaving Mu stunned and eager to know how he had obtained it.

• Dong Xuebin met Mu Zhengzhong on the plane and discussed antiques with him without revealing his identity.
• Mu Zhengzhong explained the historical importance of Sesshu's Splashed Ink Landscape and its status as a Japanese national treasure.
• After landing, Dong Xuebin joined Mu Zhengzhong's car and asked the driver to step away so they could speak privately.
• Dong Xuebin unrolled Sesshu's Splashed Ink Landscape and showed it to Mu Zhengzhong.
• Mu Zhengzhong examined the painting, confirmed it was authentic, and realized it had been stolen from the National Museum.

Dong Xuebin showed Mu Zhengzhong the stolen Sesshu's Splashed Ink Landscape and gave it to him for his private museum to exhibit, hoping it could later be exchanged for Chinese relics. After leaving the painting with Mu, Dong hurried to Madam Han’s birthday gathering because he was already late.

• Dong Xuebin explained that he had brought Sesshu's Splashed Ink Landscape back to give Japan trouble, and Mu Zhengzhong recognized it as a Japanese national treasure.
• Mu Zhengzhong decided to buy the painting, but Dong refused payment and asked him to display it as a donation from a patriot.
• Dong suggested that Mu exhibit the painting before considering an exchange for Chinese cultural relics, and Mu agreed to handle it as he saw fit.
• Mu gave Dong his phone number and offered him a favor, then invited him to dinner.
• Dong left the painting in Mu’s car and hurried to the Mercedes Business to attend Madam Han’s birthday gathering.

Dong Xuebin arrived late to Han Jing’s birthday dinner with a gift, after the family had worried about his absence and mourned the loss of the Tianlong Mountain Grottoes Sandstone Bodhisattva Statue. He presented the recovered statue, but the family mistook it for a replica, just as a news report announced a major theft at the Tokyo National Museum.

• Han Jing’s family checked her health and gathered for her birthday, while Xie Huilan defended Dong Xuebin’s absence and Han Jing waited in vain for Old Master Xie’s customary call.
• Dong Xuebin arrived late, apologized, and joined the family’s birthday celebration with a gift.
• Xie Jing and the others gave Han Jing their gifts, and Dong Xuebin presented her with the Tianlong Mountain Grottoes Sandstone Bodhisattva Statue.
• Xie Huilan and the family assumed the statue was a convincing replica, and Han Jing put it away without realizing it was the genuine one.
• Xie Hao turned up the television after a report announced a major theft at the Tokyo National Museum.

Dong Xuebin watched news of a theft at Tokyo’s National Museum with the Xie family and revealed that he had stolen Sesshu’s Splashed Ink Landscape and the Tianlong Mountain Grottoes Sandstone Bodhisattva Statue. He left the family stunned by admitting that the genuine Bodhisattva Statue he had given Han Jing was the one taken from the museum.

• The Xie family watched reports that two alarms had sounded at the National Museum and that the thief had evaded its security and police.
• Dong Xuebin told the family that Sesshu’s Splashed Ink Landscape had been stolen, though Xie Hao and the others doubted a national treasure could be taken.
• The news confirmed that Sesshu’s Splashed Ink Landscape was among the stolen artifacts, shocking the family.
• The anchor reported that the second stolen artifact was the Tianlong Mountain Grottoes Sandstone Bodhisattva Statue.
• Han Jing recognized the Bodhisattva Statue Dong Xuebin had given her, and he admitted it was genuine and that he had stolen it back.

Dong Xuebin revealed that he had recovered Han Jing’s Bodhisattva Statue and stolen a Japanese national treasure from Tokyo’s National Museum. The Xie family thanked and praised him, while Japanese police mistakenly believed the relics and thief were still in Tokyo.

• Han Jing confirmed the returned Bodhisattva Statue was genuine by recognizing a scratch on its base and tearfully thanked Dong Xuebin.
• Dong Xuebin explained that he had gone to Japan, taken the statue and a national treasure landscape painting, and returned safely, leaving the Xie family astonished.
• Xie Jing thanked Dong Xuebin for recovering the statue, while Xie Hao pressed him to explain how he escaped Japan and asked about the painting.
• Dong Xuebin said he had donated the painting to Mu Zhengzhong’s museum, and Xie Guojian offered to have military personnel guard it when it went on display.
• The Xie family watched Japanese news report that the stolen relics and suspects were believed to remain in Tokyo, though Dong Xuebin was already dining with them in the Republic.

After Dong Xuebin returned from Tokyo, Xie Huilan warned him not to take such risks and urged him to stay at her family’s villa while the situation settled. Han Jing then lifted the requirement that he reach deputy division level before marrying Xie Huilan, allowing them to wed after his next job transfer out of Huilan’s direct authority.

• Old Qian called Dong Xuebin about the Tokyo museum theft, and Dong denied having anything to do with it.
• Xie Huilan kissed Dong Xuebin, praised his courage, and told him to remain at her family’s home until the fallout from the theft had passed.
• Xie Guobang invited Dong Xuebin to stay overnight, openly acknowledging his relationship with Xie Huilan.
• Han Jing told Dong Xuebin that he and Xie Huilan could marry after his next job transfer, without waiting for him to become deputy division level.
• Xie Guobang agreed with Han Jing’s decision, leaving Dong Xuebin relieved and hopeful that he could marry Xie Huilan soon.

Dong Xuebin stayed in the Capital City after the theft of Japan’s national treasure, enjoying Han Jing’s approval and discussing marriage with Xie Huilan. He learned that Mu Zhengzhong had put Sesshu’s Splashed Ink Landscape on display, drawing a huge media crowd, and stayed away from the museum.

• Dong Xuebin called Xie Huilan, who encouraged him to complete his Investment Task and said her bed was waiting for him.
• Dong Xuebin told the Investment Bureau and Zhao Xinglong that he needed three to five days off while he waited to see how the stolen treasure affair developed.
• Han Jing invited Dong Xuebin to breakfast, thanked him for restoring the Bodhisattva Statue, and left for a charity event.
• Feng Xueliang recognized Dong Xuebin outside the Standing Committee Family Compound and invited him to visit with Xie Huilan.
• Dong Xuebin learned that Qu Yunxuan and Mother Qu had gone to Jiangsu and Zhejiang for a week, then called Mu Zhengzhong about the painting.
• Mu Zhengzhong told Dong Xuebin that Sesshu’s Splashed Ink Landscape was already on display, and Dong found reporters and news crews swarming the museum.

Dong Xuebin visited Xu Yan while she was sick, cared for her, and repaid her for arranging his Japan trip. He learned that Old Yang had nearly secured Xu Yan’s transfer to the Fenzhou City State Security Bureau.

• At lunch, Dong Xuebin denied to Old Qian that he had anything to do with the National Museum theft and gave him three cartons of cigarettes.
• Old Qian told Dong Xuebin that Xu Yan was home sick, so Dong went to visit her with gifts.
• Dong Xuebin cooked porridge for Xu Yan, checked her fever, gave her medicine, and promised to help whenever she needed him.
• Dong Xuebin repaid Xu Yan for paying for his Japan ticket and exchanging yen for him.
• Dong Xuebin called Luan Xiaoping and learned that Old Yang had said Xu Yan’s transfer to the Fenzhou City State Security Bureau was basically settled.

Dong Xuebin learned that Xu Yan’s transfer to head the Fenzhou State Security Bureau was nearly settled, then spent the afternoon caring for her while she recovered from a fever. After Xu Yan woke and prepared to get up, someone rang the doorbell.

• Yang Zhaode told Dong Xuebin that Xu Yan’s transfer was basically settled and that her appointment letter would likely arrive that week.
• Dong Xuebin tried to call Su Jia to offer help, but her phone had no signal.
• Dong Xuebin cared for Xu Yan by checking her temperature, covering her with the quilt, and repeatedly cooling her forehead with a wet towel.
• Xu Yan woke, thanked Dong Xuebin for looking after her, and said she felt much better.
• Dong Xuebin helped Xu Yan sit up and put on her slippers, then the doorbell rang.

Dong Xuebin’s intervention secured Xu Yan a cross-province transfer to become Director of the Fenzhou City State Security Bureau, lifting her out of her struggle at the Chengxi Branch. Xu Yan thanked Dong warmly and prepared to cook for him.

• Xu Yan hid Dong Xuebin in her bedroom while Song Shoujie visited and discussed her illness, career troubles, and uncertain transfer prospects.
• After Song Shoujie left, Dong Xuebin teased Xu Yan that she would be leaving Beijing, and her second uncle called to confirm her appointment as Fenzhou City State Security Bureau Director.
• Xu Yan realized Dong Xuebin had helped arrange the transfer and learned that Minister Yang had backed her candidacy through Dong’s mother’s influence.
• Xu Yan clasped Dong Xuebin’s hand, thanked him, and briefly kissed the back of it in excitement.
• Xu Yan insisted she was feeling better and went to cook a meal to reward Dong Xuebin.

Dong Xuebin met Su Jia and Zhou Xiaoru in Beijing and learned they had come seeking a rare Xinhua News Agency internship exchange slot. After their contacts failed to secure one, he decided to look into the matter himself.

• Dong Xuebin called Su Jia and invited her to lunch after learning she was in Beijing.
• Su Jia introduced Dong Xuebin to Zhou Xiaoru, and the three drove to a restaurant together.
• Su Jia and Zhou Xiaoru explained that they wanted an exchange slot at Xinhua News Agency, but Su Jia learned by phone that every slot had been taken.
• Dong Xuebin recognized the exchange program and learned why it could benefit Su Jia’s career.
• Dong Xuebin called Xie Jing to ask about the slots, but her phone was switched off, so he planned to go to Xinhua News Agency headquarters.

Dong Xuebin brought Su Jia and Zhou Xiaoru to Xinhua News Agency to ask Xie Jing for help with their exchange slots. Xie Jing secured two additional places, leaving Su Jia and Zhou Xiaoru grateful and surprised by Dong Xuebin’s connections in Beijing.

• After Su Jia and Zhou Xiaoru’s plans fell through, Dong Xuebin drove them to Xinhua News Agency to seek help with the exchange program.
• Dong Xuebin told Xie Jing that Su Jia and Zhou Xiaoru needed exchange slots, but Xie Jing explained that all the places had been finalized.
• Xie Jing called Director Sun and other officials, then arranged for the agency to add two temporary slots.
• Xie Jing gave Su Jia and Zhou Xiaoru forms to complete, and the three visitors left after thanking her.
• In the car, Su Jia and Zhou Xiaoru thanked Dong Xuebin, while Su Jia marveled at his connections in Beijing.

Han Jing took Dong Xuebin to a clubhouse to exercise after arranging a coveted capital license plate for his car. There, Pan Zhou spotted them and steered snooker player Liu Cheng’s attention toward Han Jing; Dong returned from getting water to find Liu beside her.

• Han Jing told Dong Xuebin the national-treasure controversy had quieted down, arranged a capital license plate ending in 9999 for him, and invited him to exercise.
• At a clubhouse, Dong spotted Pan Zhou arriving with Liu Cheng and recalled Pan’s role in causing trouble over Yantai County’s investment.
• Pan identified Dong to Liu and described Han Jing as his widowed mother, prompting Liu to take an interest in her.
• Han Jing jogged briefly on a treadmill while Dong stayed nearby, then rested as he went to fetch her mineral water.
• Dong returned with a drink and froze when he saw Liu Cheng sitting beside Han Jing.

At the fitness center, Liu Cheng made Madam Han uncomfortable, and Dong Xuebin beat him after Liu Cheng splashed water on her. As Dong Xuebin and Madam Han left, she suggested Liu Cheng may have been used by someone else, leaving Dong Xuebin wondering who was behind the incident.

• Dong Xuebin saw Liu Cheng persistently invite Madam Han to play billiards and angrily ordered him to leave.
• Liu Cheng cursed at Dong Xuebin and knocked his water onto Madam Han, prompting Dong Xuebin to severely injure him.
• Madam Han stopped Dong Xuebin from continuing the beating, and her bodyguard stayed behind to handle the aftermath while they went home.
• In the car, Madam Han told Dong Xuebin that Liu Cheng may have mistaken her for a teacher and could have been used as someone else's weapon.

Dong Xuebin suspected Pan Zhou had arranged Liu Cheng’s harassment of his mother, then was forced to drive Pan Zhou and County Chief Li back toward their counties. He abandoned them in Yantai County to meet investor Peng Kenong, while Pan Zhou tried to turn Li Feng against him over competing investment projects.

• Dong Xuebin spotted the Dafeng County Beijing Liaison Office and concluded Pan Zhou had used Liu Cheng to target his mother.
• Pan Zhou stopped Dong Xuebin’s car and arranged for County Chief Li Feng and himself to ride with him.
• During the drive, Li Feng remained stern and ungrateful while Pan Zhou directed Dong Xuebin toward the Dafeng County government.
• Dong Xuebin stopped by a hotel, claimed he had urgent business, and left Li Feng and Pan Zhou to meet Peng Kenong about Yantai County’s chicken manure processing plant project.
• After Dong Xuebin left, Pan Zhou accused him of poaching Dafeng County’s investment projects, and Li Feng decided they would leave that night.