Chapter Summaries

Dong Xuebin spent the morning with Yu Meixia in a secluded car, then kept her company instead of going to work. After Yu Meixia measured him for clothes she planned to sew, Dong Xuebin persuaded her into further intimacy.

• Dong Xuebin met Yu Meixia outside a secluded garden and took her into the Cayenne, where they had sex.
• Yu Meixia cleaned up and worried that Dong Xuebin should get to work, but he said he would spend the day with her.
• Dong Xuebin and Yu Meixia stayed in the car talking while she massaged him and they discussed what to do around the city.
• Yu Meixia took out a measuring tape and recorded Dong Xuebin's measurements so she could sew him a set of clothes.
• Dong Xuebin asked Yu Meixia to measure him with her mouth, and she eventually complied.

Dong Xuebin saw a young driver harass Yu Meixia outside the bus station, then later found the same man attacking Guo Mingfeng on a dark road. The chapter ended with Guo Mingfeng knocked to the ground as Dong Xuebin watched nearby.

• Dong Xuebin saw a young man whistle at Yu Meixia outside the bus station and got out to confront him, but Yu Meixia persuaded him not to give chase.
• Yu Meixia boarded a bus to Yantai County, and Dong Xuebin drove back toward his dormitory.
• Dong Xuebin spotted the same young man arguing with Guo Mingfeng at a poorly lit intersection.
• The young man slapped Guo Mingfeng and beat him until he fell to the ground.

Dong Xuebin returned to work and was questioned by the district Public Security Brigade about injuring Xue Xiaoliang. He learned that Xue Xiaoliang was the son of district Organization Department Minister Xue Qingrong, leaving him with another powerful family member offended.

• Dong Xuebin returned to the Street Office and caught up on documents while Zhou Yanru reported that the model elder-care unit inspection results were expected soon.
• Police officers questioned Dong Xuebin about injuring Xue Xiaoliang, and he said he had intervened after Xue Xiaoliang attacked Guo Mingfeng and then struck him twice.
• Dong Xuebin learned that Guo Mingfeng had called in sick and that he was the only witness to the fight.
• Zhou Yanru confirmed that the injured Xue Xiaoliang was the son of district standing committee member and Organization Department Minister Xue Qingrong.
• Dong Xuebin regretted that he had hit Xue Xiaoliang so hard but maintained that he had acted in self-defense.

After Dong Xuebin visited the hospitalized Xue Xiaoliang, Xue Qingrong refused to accept the self-defense explanation and began using his influence to shape the case. The chapter ended with him pressuring Guo Mingfeng to change or reconsider his account of who struck first.

• Qu Yiqiang and Zhou Yanru told Dong Xuebin that Xue Xiaoliang had several broken ribs and a history of reckless behavior, while worrying about Xue Qingrong's retaliation.
• Dong Xuebin went to Second Hospital, where Director Wu refused to discuss Xue Xiaoliang's condition and arranged an elaborate medical consultation.
• Dong Xuebin visited Xue Xiaoliang and apologized to Xue Qingrong, but Xue Qingrong threatened a police investigation and ordered him out.
• Xue Qingrong asked Director Wu to run more tests after learning that Xue Xiaoliang's injuries were classified as minor.
• Xue Qingrong called Guo Mingfeng and pressured him to reconsider his account of whether Xue Xiaoliang or Dong Xuebin had struck first.

Dong Xuebin learned that Guo Mingfeng and Xue Xiaoliang had accused him of starting their fight, while the hospital reported severe injuries that could lead to criminal charges. He suspected Xue Qingrong had arranged the false testimony and injury report, and, despite Za Xiaoping offering to seek Yang Zhaode’s help, Dong Xuebin insisted he could handle the situation himself.

• Public Security Brigade officers told Dong Xuebin that Guo Mingfeng and Xue Xiaoliang claimed he had started the fight and beaten Xue Xiaoliang, whose injuries included a fractured arm and ribs.
• The officers asked Dong Xuebin to return to the subbureau over suspected intentional assault, and he tried calling Guo Mingfeng without getting an answer.
• Dong Xuebin suspected Xue Qingrong had pressured Guo Mingfeng to give false testimony and arranged for the hospital to issue a severe injury assessment.
• Za Xiaoping called Dong Xuebin and offered to ask Yang Zhaode for help, but Dong Xuebin told her not to interfere and said he could handle Xue Qingrong himself.

After Guo Mingfeng’s testimony left Dong Xuebin facing arrest, Dong Xuebin visited Xue Qingrong and Xue Xiaoliang in the hospital to offer a private settlement. Xue Qingrong refused, and Dong Xuebin ended the meeting with a warning, leaving their confrontation unresolved.

• News spread at the Guangming Street Office that Dong Xuebin would be arrested after Guo Mingfeng testified against him, prompting Zhou Yanru and Qu Yiqiang to condemn Guo and worry about Dong.
• Dong Xuebin calmly told Zhou Yanru and Qu Yiqiang to return to work as officers escorted him from the compound.
• Dong Xuebin asked the officers to take him to the District Second Hospital before going to the subbureau, and they agreed.
• At the hospital, Xue Qingrong and Xue Xiaoliang rejected Dong Xuebin’s offer to settle privately, with Xue Xiaoliang demanding compensation and Xue Qingrong insisting Dong face criminal liability.
• Dong Xuebin warned Xue Qingrong and Xue Xiaoliang that they would regret refusing his offer.

Dong Xuebin hired Lawyer Hu and challenged the severity of Xue Xiaoliang’s injuries, demanding a new examination in front of the police and hospital staff. As everyone followed Xue Xiaoliang’s bed, Dong Xuebin secretly used Reverse on him, leaving the group unaware that the new examination might change everything.

• Dong Xuebin refused to settle with Xue Qingrong and called Lawyer Hu to represent him.
• Dong Xuebin and Lawyer Hu signed the legal paperwork, then summoned Director Wu and requested Xue Xiaoliang’s medical records and X-rays.
• After reviewing the injury report, Dong Xuebin questioned the results and asked for another examination, with the officers and Xue Qingrong as witnesses.
• As Xue Xiaoliang’s bed was taken out, Dong Xuebin secretly touched him and used Reverse before walking ahead.

Xue Xiaoliang underwent repeat imaging after Dong Xuebin challenged the injury evidence, but every test showed that his fractures and other injuries had disappeared. The results suggested that the original examination had been falsified, leaving Xue Qingrong demanding an explanation as Dong Xuebin turned the accusation back on them.

• Xue Qingrong and Director Wu waited for Xue Xiaoliang's X-ray results, expecting them to confirm his fractures.
• Dong Xuebin blocked the doctor from taking Director Wu inside and demanded that the images be brought out.
• Director Wu examined Xue Xiaoliang's right-hand X-ray and found no fracture, while Lawyer Hu secured the image as evidence.
• Director Wu ordered CT scans and repeat examinations, but every result showed that Xue Xiaoliang had no fractures or other injuries.
• Xue Xiaoliang realized that his chest no longer hurt, and Xue Qingrong demanded an explanation from Director Wu as Dong Xuebin challenged them to explain the falsified examination.

Dong Xuebin exposed the forged injury report at Second Hospital and publicly accused Xue Qingrong, Xue Xiaoliang, and Director Wu of framing him. He left the matter headed for court, while the others remained unaware that Dong Xuebin had used Reverse to restore Xue Xiaoliang’s body to its condition before the injury.

• Dong Xuebin confronted Director Wu with the X-rays showing that Xue Xiaoliang had no injuries and accused the hospital of fabricating evidence to extort him.
• Dong Xuebin accused Xue Qingrong and Xue Xiaoliang of faking an illness and arranging the forged examination, while Xue Qingrong denied knowing about it.
• Xue Qingrong blamed the hospital, leaving Director Wu feeling abandoned and making the officers suspect they had been misled.
• Dong Xuebin demanded an explanation and told Lawyer Hu to prepare a lawsuit against Second Hospital and Xue Xiaoliang.
• Dong Xuebin’s Reverse had restored Xue Xiaoliang’s body to how it had been a day earlier, before he was injured.

Dong Xuebin demanded an investigation after Xue Xiaoliang’s supposed injuries were found to be fake, then confronted Second Hospital over its false diagnosis. The hospital director suspended Director Wu pending investigation and removed him from his post, leaving Dong satisfied with the outcome.

• Dong Xuebin asked the police to investigate Xue Xiaoliang’s fake injuries, alleged extortion, and false accusation in the fight.
• The director of Second Hospital apologized to Dong Xuebin and proposed settling the matter with compensation, but he refused.
• The hospital director questioned Director Wu about the X-ray results, and he could not explain what had happened.
• Dong Xuebin asked how the hospital would deal with Director Wu, so the hospital director suspended him pending investigation and reported his removal to the Health Bureau.
• Dong Xuebin told Lawyer Hu to put the matter on hold, then warned Director Wu to open his eyes from now on.

After Xue Xiaoliang’s fabricated injuries were exposed, Dong Xuebin confronted Guo Mingfeng over his false testimony and looked for a way to hold him accountable. Guo doubled down on his accusations, leaving Dong determined to retaliate.

• Dong Xuebin returned to the Guangming Street Office as staff learned that Xue Xiaoliang had faked his injuries to frame him.
• Dong Xuebin met with Zhou Yanru and Qu Yiqiang, learned Zhou had publicly berated Guo Mingfeng, and asked whether Guo had other problems.
• Geng Xinke proposed publicly criticizing Zhou Yanru and denied knowing that Guo had given false testimony, convincing Dong that organizational procedures would not remove Guo.
• Dong Xuebin called Guo Mingfeng, who repeated that Dong had attacked Xue Xiaoliang and suggested Dong might have been drunk.
• Dong Xuebin abandoned his hope that Guo would correct his testimony and resolved to make him pay.

Dong Xuebin used his time-stopping ability to enter Guo Mingfeng's home and overheard Guo admitting that he had falsely blamed Dong to secure a promotion. Guo also boasted about touching Wang Anshi's wife, giving Dong an idea for how to strike back.

• A Public Security Brigade officer told Dong Xuebin that investigators had found no evidence to overturn Guo Mingfeng and Xue Xiaoliang's statements.
• Dong Xuebin decided to use an unconventional method against Guo Mingfeng after normal channels failed.
• Dong Xuebin stopped time, slipped into Guo Mingfeng's apartment, and resumed time inside the bedroom.
• Guo Mingfeng told his wife that Xue Qingrong had pressured him to blame Dong, but he had also hoped to ruin Dong and win a promotion.
• Guo Mingfeng said he had once bumped into Wang Anshi's wife and touched her chest, and Dong Xuebin got an idea for revenge.

Dong Xuebin used Back and Stop to plant Guo Mingfeng’s phone on a live call with District Committee Secretary Wang Anshi, letting Wang hear Guo and his wife insult him and discuss groping his wife. Dong Xuebin left convinced Guo Mingfeng’s career was finished.

• Dong Xuebin rewound time, froze it, and found Guo Mingfeng’s phone hidden beneath a sofa cushion.
• Dong Xuebin called Wang Anshi from Guo Mingfeng’s phone, then froze time and hid the connected phone beneath the cushion.
• Wang Anshi overheard Guo Mingfeng and his wife mock him and discuss Guo groping Wang Anshi’s wife.
• Guo Mingfeng answered Wang Anshi’s call, identified himself, and was disconnected without learning what Wang had heard.
• Dong Xuebin froze time, taunted the motionless Guo Mingfeng about his remarks, and left the apartment.

Dong Xuebin reported Guo Mingfeng to the District Discipline Inspection Committee despite lacking solid evidence, expecting Wang Anshi to act on the matter. After Wang Anshi angrily raised the report at the Standing Committee meeting, Guo Mingfeng was suspended pending investigation and taken away.

• Dong Xuebin told Qu Yiqiang to submit the report materials against Guo Mingfeng to the District Discipline Inspection Committee before the Standing Committee meeting.
• Dong Xuebin defended his decision to Geng Xinke, who dismissed the report as unsupported accusations.
• After the Standing Committee meeting, the District Discipline Inspection Committee suspended Guo Mingfeng pending investigation.
• Geng Xinke told Guo Mingfeng that Wang Anshi had slammed the table over Dong Xuebin's report and that Guo Mingfeng could no longer be protected.
• District Discipline Inspection Committee officials arrived and took Guo Mingfeng away, leaving the Guangming Street Office stunned by Dong Xuebin's influence.

Dong Xuebin watched Guo Mingfeng get taken in for investigation while Xue Qingrong protected his son, Xue Xiaoliang, from the assault case. After the Discipline Inspection Committee uncovered Guo’s misconduct, he confessed that Xue Qingrong had pressured him to give false testimony and accuse Dong.

• District Discipline Inspection Committee staff took Guo Mingfeng in, while Dong Xuebin learned that Xue Xiaoliang’s injury case had been referred to the Health Bureau.
• Xue Qingrong told Xue Xiaoliang to stay home and then visited Wang Anshi, who angrily condemned Guo Mingfeng without revealing why he had targeted him.
• Discipline Inspection Committee staff uncovered evidence of Guo Mingfeng’s minor misconduct, and Guo began confessing after realizing he would lose his post.
• Guo Mingfeng blamed Xue Qingrong and Xue Xiaoliang for his downfall and decided to retaliate by revealing the truth about the assault.
• Guo Mingfeng told the Discipline Inspection Committee that Xue Xiaoliang had attacked him and that Xue Qingrong had pressured him to falsely accuse Dong Xuebin.

Dong Xuebin’s name was cleared after Guo Mingfeng accused Xue Qingrong of forcing him to give false testimony, while Xue Xiaoliang admitted to attacking first. Xue Xiaoliang faced fifteen days of administrative detention and Xue Qingrong received an oral warning, leaving Xue Qingrong furious and Dong Xuebin’s political reputation greatly enhanced.

• Xue Qingrong denied Guo Mingfeng’s accusations, while Guo Mingfeng continued to claim that Xue Qingrong had threatened him into giving false testimony.
• Dong Xuebin learned that Xue Xiaoliang had attacked Guo Mingfeng first and believed Xue Xiaoliang would face punishment regardless of what happened to Xue Qingrong.
• A district branch bureau officer told Dong Xuebin that Xue Xiaoliang had admitted to attacking first and that fifteen days of administrative detention had been proposed.
• The district gave Xue Qingrong an oral warning, and Xue Xiaoliang faced arrest and detention as the case was wrapped up.
• Xue Qingrong blamed Dong Xuebin for his disgrace, while district officials marveled that Dong Xuebin had emerged victorious in the political conflict.

Dong Xuebin used a Party and Government Work Committee meeting to reassign Guo Mingfeng’s duties and reinforce his authority, while announcing that the street office had passed the preliminary review for a National Model Elder Care Unit. He left the meeting planning to take Zhou Yanru and Wang Yuling to the Capital City to submit the final materials and meet the reviewers.

• Dong Xuebin learned that Guangming Street Office had passed the preliminary review and was told to send additional materials to the Ministry of Civil Affairs quickly.
• At the committee meeting, Dong Xuebin warned Geng Xinke about personnel evaluations and reassigned Guo Mingfeng’s civil affairs work to Meng Senguo.
• Dong Xuebin assigned the Disabled Persons Federation and Nursing Home work to Wang Yuling, and no committee members objected.
• Dong Xuebin announced the preliminary-review result and asked Zhou Yanru and Wang Yuling to coordinate on the elder-care model application.
• Dong Xuebin told Zhou Yanru and Wang Yuling to prepare to travel with him to the Capital City to submit the materials and stay for several days.

Dong Xuebin drove Wang Yuling, Zhou Yanru, and Zhou Yanru’s daughter Chengcheng to Beijing, where he treated them to Qianmen snacks and helped Chengcheng learn about the city. He gave Wang Yuling and Zhou Yanru the rest of the day off and lent them his Cayenne, leaving official business for tomorrow.

• Dong Xuebin loaded luggage into his Cayenne and agreed to take Zhou Yanru’s daughter Chengcheng to Beijing with them.
• Wang Yuling drove the group to Beijing while Dong Xuebin chatted with Chengcheng about the city and learned she hoped to attend high school there.
• Dong Xuebin took the group to Qianmen for Beijing snacks and explained the area’s history and local food to Chengcheng.
• After lunch, Dong Xuebin postponed their official business until the next day and told Wang Yuling and Zhou Yanru to enjoy the day off.
• Dong Xuebin lent Wang Yuling and Zhou Yanru his Cayenne and sent them off to explore Beijing.

Dong Xuebin reunited with Yun Xuan from afar and spent the afternoon helping Zhou Yanru find a Beijing high school for Chengcheng. After the schools they visited turned them away, he asked Xie Hao to arrange a transfer to Yucai Middle School.

• Dong Xuebin called Yun Xuan, learned her parents were angry that they could not marry soon, and arranged to meet her that night.
• Yun Xuan tossed Dong Xuebin her car keys so he could borrow her car, and he drove around Beijing through the afternoon.
• Dong Xuebin found Zhou Yanru and Wang Yuling after they failed to secure Chengcheng a place at a Beijing high school.
• Dong Xuebin comforted Chengcheng and called Xie Hao to ask about transferring her to Yucai Middle School.
• Xie Hao promised he could get Chengcheng admitted and told Dong Xuebin to have her come find him.

Dong Xuebin brought Zhou Yanru and Chengcheng to Beijing Yucai Middle School, where Xie Hao used his connections to secure Chengcheng a place. Chengcheng was set to enroll after summer vacation with only a small sponsorship fee.

• Dong Xuebin arrived at Yucai with Zhou Yanru, Wang Yuling, and Chengcheng, who were impressed by the school’s grand gates.
• Xie Hao greeted Dong Xuebin and said he would take Chengcheng to see Principal Liu despite the regular auditing slots being full.
• Xie Hao persuaded Principal Liu to admit Chengcheng, and Zhou Yanru and Chengcheng waited while they discussed the arrangement.
• Principal Liu approved Chengcheng’s enrollment regardless of her entrance-exam score and reduced the sponsorship fee to one or two thousand yuan.
• Zhou Yanru and Chengcheng thanked Dong Xuebin, while Xie Hao told Chengcheng to use his name if she needed anything.