Chapter Summaries

Dong Xuebin brought Xie Huilan to meet his family, where she quickly won everyone over with her warmth and thoughtfulness. Luan Xiaoping approved of their relationship, and the chapter ended as Xie Huilan came outside while Dong Xuebin was bragging to his mother.

• Dong Xuebin and Xie Huilan arrived at the Luan family home with gifts and greeted his relatives.
• Xie Huilan chatted warmly with the family, and Tang Jin arrived and asked how she and Dong Xuebin had gotten together.
• Xie Huilan told the relatives that she had pursued Dong Xuebin and explained how they first met.
• Luan Xiaoping asked Xie Huilan about her family and marriage plans, and Xie Huilan gave her a diamond-set platinum necklace.
• After dinner, Luan Xiaoping told Dong Xuebin she approved of Xie Huilan, while he boasted that Xie Huilan always listened to him.
• Xie Huilan came out and asked what Dong Xuebin and Luan Xiaoping had been discussing.

Dong Xuebin confronted Xiang Renjie after the young man’s unleashed dog barked at him, then learned that Xiang Renjie was Xiang Daofa’s son and a troublemaker disliked even by his father’s allies. As Dong Xuebin worried that his relationship with Xie Huilan might cost him his post, he resolved that he could not leave just as the Investment Bureau’s major project was about to be signed.

• Dong Xuebin argued with Xiang Renjie after Big Yellow Dog barked and charged at him without a leash.
• Liang Chengpeng greeted Xiang Renjie warmly, and Dong Xuebin drove away without continuing the dispute.
• Dong Xuebin gave Hua a ride to school and asked him about Xiang Renjie.
• Hua told Dong Xuebin that Xiang Renjie was Xiang Daofa’s son, had a history of troublemaking, and was disliked by Hua.
• Dong Xuebin considered the risk that his relationship with Xie Huilan could cost him his position and resolved not to leave before the Investment Bureau’s project was signed.

Dong Xuebin learned that Jia Yan would take charge of the Investment Conference, overriding him and claiming credit for the Investment Bureau’s work. Xie Huilan told him to go to the hospital, hinting that he should fake an illness and withdraw from the conference.

• Hu Silian told Dong Xuebin that Jia Yan would take office that day and that the Standing Committee had given Jia Yan’s decisions priority during the Investment Conference.
• Dong Xuebin called Xie Huilan and complained that Jia Yan was taking over the conference despite Dong’s work securing a nearly hundred-million project.
• Xie Huilan said the Investment Bureau’s achievements had made others eager to claim credit, though they had avoided the conference when it was an unpopular assignment.
• Xie Huilan suggested Dong Xuebin go to the hospital for a checkup because his health had always been poor, hinting that he should feign illness and step away.

After Xiang Daofa stripped Dong Xuebin of authority over the Investment Conference, Dong feigned illness and discussed the political situation with Xie Huilan, who planned to challenge Xiang without trying to remove him. Dong decided to retaliate in his own way, and seeing Xiang Renjie’s unleashed dog at the Family Compound gave him an idea.

• Dong Xuebin called Xie Huilan from the hospital, and she explained why removing Xiang Daofa would create political risks while promising to fight him over the county government’s interests.
• Dong Xuebin told Luo Haiting, Guo Panwei, and others to stay focused on work, then called Hu Silian to ask where Xiang Daofa was.
• Hu Silian grew worried that Dong Xuebin would act recklessly and hurried toward the Family Compound to watch him.
• Dong Xuebin drove to the Family Compound and saw Xiang Renjie arrive with Big Yellow Dog and friends, who joked that the dog could bite people without consequences because Xiang Daofa was County Party Secretary.
• Dong Xuebin became furious at Xiang Renjie’s unleashed dog and came up with an idea to make the Xiang family suffer.

Dong Xuebin used his time-stopping ability to make Xiang Daofa's own dog bite him, then killed the dog while pretending to rescue the county party secretary. He left Xiang Daofa and Xiang Renjie furious as witnesses questioned why they blamed him.

• Hu Silian reluctantly stopped Xiang Renjie from going upstairs, while Big Yellow Dog barked and lunged at her.
• Dong Xuebin saw Xiang Daofa arrive at the compound and froze time with STOP.
• Dong Xuebin positioned Big Yellow Dog behind Xiang Daofa's car and forced it to bite Xiang Daofa's leg before resuming time.
• Xiang Daofa kicked Big Yellow Dog away, but the dog lunged at him again, so Dong Xuebin rushed in and kicked it to death.
• Dong Xuebin claimed he had rescued Xiang Daofa, threw more than two thousand yuan down as payment for the dog, and went upstairs.

After Dong Xuebin killed Xiang Daofa’s attacking dog and saved him, Xiang Daofa scolded Dong and demanded compensation, damaging his standing with those who witnessed it. Xiang later sent his wife to thank Dong, while Hu Silian and Xie Huilan recognized Dong’s scheme, and Dong was satisfied that Xiang had paid a price.

• Dong Xuebin kicked Big Yellow Dog to death while saving Xiang Daofa, but Xiang scolded him and demanded compensation, prompting Dong to leave two thousand yuan and walk away.
• Xiang Daofa regretted his outburst, ordered Xiang Renjie home, and told his wife to return the money and thank Dong.
• Xiang Daofa’s wife visited Dong’s home, returned the two thousand yuan, and thanked him on Xiang’s behalf.
• Hu Silian visited Dong and realized he had arranged for Xiang Daofa to encounter the dog in the courtyard.
• Dong Xuebin told Xie Huilan that Xiang Daofa’s apology came too late, and he reflected with satisfaction on his plan.

After Xiang Daofa removed Dong Xuebin from charge of the Investment Conference, Dong waited in the hospital as Jia Yan took over. Dong told his loyal subordinates to cooperate with Jia Yan, while Xie Huilan said she would play along and let the show unfold.

• Park Yong-hee confirmed that he would discuss the Comprehensive Gymnasium project with Jia Yan and wished Dong Xuebin a proper recovery.
• Luo Haiting, Guo Panwei, and Lin Pingping condemned the decision to replace Dong, but Dong instructed them to keep working with Jia Yan and avoid disrupting the Investment Conference.
• Jia Yan visited Dong in the hospital, showed little respect, and privately planned to claim Dong’s achievements and build support to replace him.
• After Jia Yan left, Dong told Xie Huilan about his attitude and asked whether he had been right to order the cadres to cooperate.
• Xie Huilan agreed with Dong’s approach and said she would let Jia Yan perform the play Xiang Daofa had arranged.

Jia Yan took charge of the Investment Conference and expanded its plans, confident that the work would be easy. County Chief Xie Huilan unexpectedly supplied the money and staff he requested, leaving Xiang Daofa and other officials suspicious as the conference preparations proceeded smoothly.

• Jia Yan assured Xiang Daofa that preparations were progressing and promised to organize the Investment Conference successfully.
• Jia Yan assigned Sun Shuli to contact investors and directed Luo Haiting to secure more funding as he proposed expanding the conference.
• Sun Shuli, Luo Haiting, Jiang Hailiang, and Lin Pingping criticized Jia Yan’s unrealistic plans and recalled that Dong Xuebin had secured the bureau’s major investments.
• The county government promptly transferred Jia Yan’s requested three million yuan, and the Investment Bureau staff cooperated with his orders.
• Xiang Daofa, surprised by Xie Huilan’s cooperation, warned Jia Yan to stay alert and ensure nothing went wrong at the conference.

Jia Yan struggled to secure enough attendees for Yantai County’s investment conference, then tried to increase Park Yong-hee’s project investment to make up for the shortfall. Park Yong-hee’s representative demanded expanded tax exemptions and threatened to withdraw, leaving the nearly hundred-million project in jeopardy just two days before the conference.

• Jia Yan berated Sun Shuli after learning that only seventeen investors had been preliminarily confirmed, and Sun Shuli and the other officials challenged Jia Yan’s unrealistic target of a hundred attendees.
• Jia Yan ordered the Investment Bureau to keep recruiting investors, then invited Park Yong-hee to lunch to discuss increasing the project’s investment.
• Jia Yan met Park Yong-hee’s company representative, who said the company could invest a hundred million and potentially increase that amount by ten percent.
• The representative demanded a five-year corporate income tax exemption and an extended value-added tax concession, and Jia Yan refused.
• The representative said Park Yong-hee would not invest unless the county granted the tax terms, explaining that the letter of intent was not a binding contract.
• Jia Yan realized Park Yong-hee’s nearly hundred-million project might fall through while the conference was only two days away.

Jia Yan’s handling of the Investment Conference faltered when President Park threatened to withdraw his investment, prompting Xiang Daofa to blame Jia Yan and suspect Xie Huilan had maneuvered events to restore Dong Xuebin’s role. Xiang refused to bring Dong back, then asked him to salvage Park’s project, but Dong rejected the demand and denied sabotaging the investment.

• Xiang Daofa summoned Jia Yan and berated him after learning President Park might pull his investment and that few investors were attending the conference.
• Xiang Daofa realized Xie Huilan may have expected Jia Yan to fail so Dong Xuebin could take charge again, but he refused to reverse his decision.
• Jia Yan told Xiang Daofa he was recruiting more investor delegations and promised to keep negotiating with President Park, while implying someone had sabotaged the project.
• At the hospital, Dong Xuebin secretly smoked despite a nurse’s orders and learned from Zhao Xinglong that President Park wanted a five-year tax exemption.
• Zhao Xinglong relayed Xiang Daofa’s request for Dong to persuade President Park to stay, and Dong angrily refused, insisting he had not caused the problem.

Dong Xuebin learned that Jia Yan had failed to secure Park Yong-hee’s investment, while the Investment Conference drew only six attendees. At an emergency meeting, Xiang Daofa refused to replace Jia Yan, but the meeting ended with news that Jia Yan had been hospitalized after drinking too much.

• Dong Xuebin learned from Guo Panwei that Jia Yan had mishandled Park Yong-hee’s investment and refused to contact him to repair the situation.
• Jia Yan and the Investment Bureau officials welcomed investors at Xiangyi Hotel, but only six arrived before the delegation called to cancel its visit.
• Zhao Xinglong reprimanded Jia Yan, who left the hotel after receiving another call, and Xiang Daofa, Xie Huilan, and Cao Xupeng arrived to discuss the crisis.
• Xie Huilan criticized Jia Yan’s handling of the conference, but Xiang Daofa defended him and rejected changing the person in charge.
• Xiang Daofa received a call reporting that Jia Yan had been hospitalized after drinking too much, while Xie Huilan appeared to have anticipated the news.

After Jia Yan was hospitalized on the eve of the Investment Conference, Xie Huilan revealed that she had arranged the drinking trap that sidelined him. Xiang Daofa asked Dong Xuebin to take over, and Dong agreed to return to the conference, motivated by the chance to claim credit for Xiang Daofa’s planned forty-million-yuan project.

• Xiang Daofa and Xie Huilan angrily criticized Jia Yan after learning he had been hospitalized and could not be reached.
• Dong Xuebin found Jia Yan unconscious at the hospital and learned that a Beijing investor had taken him drinking.
• Dong Xuebin texted Xie Huilan and learned that she had arranged the investor to get Jia Yan drunk and sideline him.
• Xiang Daofa called Dong Xuebin and asked him to take charge of the Investment Conference, but Dong hung up before agreeing.
• Xie Huilan told Dong Xuebin to return to the hotel and said she would bring Beijing investment groups to bolster attendance.
• Dong Xuebin learned that Xiang Daofa had a finalized forty-million-yuan project and resolved to take the achievement for himself.

Dong Xuebin took charge of Yantai County’s failing Investment Conference and persuaded Park Yong-hee to proceed with his 100-million investment. He then contacted Mu Zhengzhong, who had been waiting to thank him for donating a Japanese national treasure, and invited him to invest in the county.

• Dong Xuebin calmed the Investment Bureau staff and sent them home to rest before the conference.
• Dong Xuebin met Park Yong-hee, who said he would honor their original agreement and invest an estimated 100 million.
• Dong Xuebin and Park Yong-hee agreed that Park would attend the conference first and reveal his investment plans gradually.
• Dong Xuebin called Mu Zhengzhong, who explained that Sesshu's Splashed Ink Landscape had been exchanged for Chinese cultural relics.
• Dong Xuebin introduced himself as Yantai County's Investment Bureau Director and invited Mu Zhengzhong to invest in the county.

Dong Xuebin rescued the struggling Investment Conference by welcoming President Park and drawing more than eighty investors through Xie Huilan’s connections. As the conference filled with activity, Jia Yan arrived late and mistakenly assumed the success was his own.

• Dong Xuebin prepared the venue, changed the investor speaker, and arranged for staff to watch for arriving businessmen.
• Park Yong-hee arrived and said he would consider investing, easing the Investment Bureau’s worries.
• General Manager Yu arrived with more than thirty investors from Beijing, followed by motorcades from Dongshan Province.
• More than eighty investors arrived within half an hour, bringing the total to about a hundred and prompting county staff to help manage the crowded conference.
• Jia Yan woke in the hospital, rushed to the hotel, and assumed the investors’ arrival meant he had completed his task successfully.
• Jia Yan began issuing orders to Lin Pingping, who and Jiang Hailiang were stunned and furious to see him.

Dong Xuebin and Xie Huilan opened Yantai County’s investment conference while Jia Yan returned from the hospital and learned the event had been handed over to Dong. As the ceremony began, Dong went to receive an important investor representative who had not yet arrived.

• Jia Yan returned to the hotel and asked Lin Pingping about the conference, but she ignored him and Luo Haiting criticized his timing.
• Xie Huilan told Jia Yan that the conference had been handed over to Dong Xuebin and advised him to keep recovering.
• Dong Xuebin told Jia Yan to help Old Sun with the venue, leaving Jia furious about losing control of the conference.
• Lin Pingping hosted the opening ceremony, and Xie Huilan began her speech to the assembled investors.
• Dong Xuebin said an influential investor representative was on the way, then left to receive him after getting a phone call.

After the Investment Conference’s successful opening, Xiang Renjie sent his college friends to disrupt the county’s investor inspection tour. Their reckless driving frightened investors and injured staff, leaving Dong Xuebin furious as he called Qin Yong.

• Xiang Daofa brooded over the Investment Conference’s success, while Xiang Renjie decided to make trouble for Xie Huilan and Dong Xuebin before returning to Beijing.
• Dong Xuebin briefed the Investment Bureau staff before joining Xie Huilan and Hu Silian on the county’s investor inspection tour.
• Xiang Renjie’s friends cut off the convoy, nearly causing a collision and throwing Lin Pingping against a Tour Bus windshield.
• Xiang Renjie encouraged his friends by phone to keep harassing the convoy and scare away investors.
• The Corolla blocked the convoy again near a real estate project, causing more passengers to fall and investors to question Yantai County’s investment environment.
• Dong Xuebin called Deputy Director Qin Yong after the Corolla sped away, while Xie Huilan grew angry.

Dong Xuebin stopped Xiang Renjie's classmates from disrupting the investment inspection by making their Corolla crash, then had them taken away for questioning. Xie Huilan continued the inspection while Dong stayed behind to handle the incident and alerted Huang Li.

• Dong Xuebin told the staff that the Corolla belonged to Xiang Renjie's classmate, while Xie Huilan continued introducing the project to the investors.
• Xiang Renjie told his classmates to cut off the inspection group again, and they drove the Corolla toward the officials and investors, kicking up dust.
• Dong Xuebin used his ability to stop time, set the Corolla's handbrake, and turn its steering wheel, causing it to spin into a wall.
• Dong Xuebin denied responsibility for the crash, questioned the two college students, and had the traffic police take them to the Public Security Section.
• Dong Xuebin called Huang Li and asked him to keep watch on the case, while Xie Huilan and Zhao Xinglong continued the investment inspection.

After the Corolla incident threatened to deepen the conflict between Xie Huilan and Xiang Daofa, Xie chose to keep the matter within the county in exchange for Xiang’s concessions. Xiang agreed to double a connected investor’s planned forty-million-yuan investment, and Dong Xuebin saw a chance to meet the Investment Bureau’s target.

• Dong Xuebin visited Xie Huilan’s home and found Geng Yuchao and Yao Yi discussing the Corolla incident with her.
• Xie Huilan said Xiang Daofa had denied knowing about the incident and that she would prioritize stability over escalating the dispute.
• Xie Huilan explained that Xiang had made concessions on several matters, allowing her work in the county to proceed more smoothly.
• Dong Xuebin asked whether the Investment Bureau would receive compensation for the trouble, and Xie Huilan said Xiang had offered to double a connected investor’s forty-million-yuan investment.
• Dong Xuebin realized the investment might help him reach the Investment Bureau’s five-hundred-million-yuan target.

Dong Xuebin led Yantai County’s Investment Conference closing ceremony, where a series of major contracts brought the signed total to 450 million yuan. Combined with earlier investments, he completed the county’s 500 million yuan annual target in only three months, leaving officials impressed by his achievement.

• Dong Xuebin coordinated the closing ceremony as County Chief Xie Huilan and other county leaders arrived.
• Li Jie signed a 20 million yuan agricultural and sideline products project, and another investor signed a 30 million yuan project, bringing the total to 50 million yuan.
• Zhou Zhengliang signed an 80 million yuan project, raising the total to 130 million yuan.
• Park Yong-hee finalized a 120 million yuan investment instead of withdrawing, bringing the total to 250 million yuan.
• Mu Zhengzhong announced a 200 million yuan investment in a hotel and Commercial Food Street, bringing conference signings to 450 million yuan.
• Dong Xuebin’s earlier 50 million yuan in investments combined with the conference total to complete the 500 million yuan annual target, and the conference closed successfully.

After the Investment Conference, Dong Xuebin spent his day off visiting Yu Meixia and discussing possible work and a move to Fenzhou City for her and Qian Qian. He stayed with Yu Meixia for the day and left their relationship more intimate.

• Dong Xuebin called Yu Meixia and arranged to visit her at home.
• Dong Xuebin learned that Qian Qian was at a school sports meet and that Yu Meixia was unemployed and had few friends.
• Dong Xuebin suggested that Yu Meixia apply for Neighborhood Committee work in Fenzhou City and considered moving her and Qian Qian there.
• Dong Xuebin and Yu Meixia became intimate, and he agreed to stay with her until evening because Qian Qian missed him.