Chapter Summaries

Dong Xuebin learned that his nomination for a substantive Zhengchu-level post was effectively settled, then returned to the Eighth Office as personnel restructuring approached. That afternoon, his appointment as director of the Second Division of the Ninth Supervision Office was announced, surprising colleagues and leaders because of his youth and recent disciplinary penalty.

• Dong Xuebin left Director Zhu Weiye's office confident that his nomination had been approved and returned to the Eighth Office.
• Dong Xuebin told his colleagues he had been reinstated to his original post and discussed the coming creation of the Ninth and Tenth Supervision Offices.
• Han Fei and the others speculated about how the restructuring might affect personnel in the Eighth Office.
• Zhu Weiye called Dong Xuebin with the personnel announcement, appointing him director of the Second Division of the Ninth Supervision Office.
• Dong Xuebin's appointment caused a stir because he was young, had only recently become a nominal Zhengchu-level Inspector, and had received an administrative disciplinary penalty.

After receiving his appointment as director of Ninth Office Second Division, Dong Xuebin hosted a farewell dinner for his colleagues at Wangfu Restaurant. The meal ended with Han Fei making an effort to win his favor, while Dong Xuebin had already considered his plans for the new department.

• Dong Xuebin celebrated his promotion by inviting his colleagues, including Yin Cheng'an and Chen Dayou, to dinner before leaving Eighth Office Second Division.
• Dong Xuebin brought the group to Wangfu Restaurant, where staff greeted him personally and escorted them to a private room.
• Dong Xuebin let his colleagues choose dishes, then added several expensive signature dishes and aged Maotai to the order.
• Dong Xuebin toasted Yin Cheng'an and shared a round of drinks with the group as they began their meal.
• Han Fei served Dong Xuebin food and toasted him for his promotion, while He Zhou and Sun Zhaobang recognized that she hoped to follow him to Ninth Office Second Division.

Dong Xuebin began his first day as director of Second Office and met with his new supervisor, Fang Wenping, to discuss staffing. He nominated Han Fei and Luo Haiting for the department’s remaining positions, then left as Fang Wenping considered the requests.

• Dong Xuebin arrived at his new office and celebrated his promotion before Fang Wenping summoned him.
• Fang Wenping explained that personnel assignments were being arranged and asked Dong Xuebin to nominate capable colleagues.
• Dong Xuebin nominated Han Fei from Eighth Office, suggesting she be considered for promotion.
• Dong Xuebin nominated Luo Haiting, a discipline inspection official from Fenzhou, to join Second Office as deputy director.
• Fang Wenping recorded the nominations and told Dong Xuebin to return to work.

Dong Xuebin secured Han Fei’s transfer to the newly established Ninth Office Second Division, despite Zhu Weiye’s reluctance to release her. Han Fei agreed to go, and her father, Han Zhenghe, called Dong to ask him to look after her.

• Zhu Weiye called Dong Xuebin to question why he had requested Han Fei, and Dong insisted the new division needed her.
• Zhu Weiye summoned Han Fei and asked whether she wanted to transfer; Han Fei agreed to join the Ninth Office.
• Zhu Weiye told Han Fei that Dong Xuebin had specifically requested her and that her rank would likely be raised by one level.
• Han Fei called Dong Xuebin to thank him and agreed to report to the Ninth Office Second Division soon.
• Han Zhenghe called Dong Xuebin, encouraged him to correct Han Fei when needed, and invited him to dinner.

Dong Xuebin pushed to transfer Luo Haiting from the Fenzhou City Discipline Inspection Committee to his newly established office, and He Suien agreed to release her. Luo Haiting learned she was being recruited as a deputy director at Zhengchu Level and was overcome with excitement.

• Dong Xuebin learned there was still no news about Luo Haiting's transfer and called Fang Wenping, who told him to stop asking and ended the call.
• Dong Xuebin called He Suien and asked him to release Luo Haiting, arguing that she was needed as deputy director of Second Office.
• He Suien agreed to speak with Luo Haiting and let her go, noting that the transfer was a promotion.
• He Suien called Luo Haiting at the market and told her the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection had requested her.
• Luo Haiting learned she would likely become deputy director of the Ninth Office Second Division at Zhengchu Level and reacted with excitement.

Dong Xuebin welcomed new staff to the Ninth Office Second Office as colleagues transferred in and reported for duty. Luo Haiting arrived shortly before work, and Dong Xuebin prepared to gather the small team for a meeting.

• Dong Xuebin arrived early and welcomed Zhang Lili, who had transferred from the office handling misconduct and was tidying the office.
• Li Hong reported in after transferring from the Third Supervision Office, and Dong Xuebin welcomed her to the team.
• Han Fei reported in and learned that Luo Haiting, Dong Xuebin's longtime subordinate, had been selected as deputy director.
• Luo Haiting arrived at the office before work began and met with Dong Xuebin.

Dong Xuebin welcomed Luo Haiting to the newly established Ninth Supervision Office Second Division and led its first staff meeting. He then realized that every member of the division except him was a woman.

• Dong Xuebin and Luo Haiting discussed her transfer and their history of working together, then he gave her the keys to her apartment in the Family Compound.
• Dong Xuebin gathered the staff and stressed that the division must take its work seriously despite being newly established.
• At Dong Xuebin’s prompting, Luo Haiting addressed the staff and expanded on his remarks.
• Dong Xuebin noticed that Luo Haiting and every other member of his division were women.

Dong Xuebin drove Luo Haiting to work and offered to help bring her family to the city, but she declined. At the Ninth Supervision Office’s first meeting, Chen Kai'an provoked Dong Xuebin, and the chapter ended as Chen spoke up after Fang Wenping tried to adjourn.

• Dong Xuebin picked up Luo Haiting and offered to help arrange work and school for her husband and child, but she chose to leave them in Fenzhou City.
• Dong Xuebin arrived at the Ninth Supervision Office meeting and introduced himself to the department leaders.
• Chen Kai'an remarked that Dong Xuebin’s department was staffed entirely by women, and Dong ignored him.
• Fang Wenping explained the Ninth Supervision Office’s duties and work assignments in an uninterrupted speech.
• Fang Wenping asked whether anyone had anything else to raise, and Chen Kai'an spoke up.

At a departmental meeting, Chen Kai'an objected to the all-female staffing of Dong Xuebin's Second Division, and Dong Xuebin confronted him over what he called gender discrimination. Fang Wenping ended the meeting before Chen Kai'an could make his case worse.

• Chen Kai'an raised concerns that the female staff transferred into Dong Xuebin's Second Division created a bad impression.
• Dong Xuebin challenged Chen Kai'an and argued that his objection treated male and female leaders differently.
• Dong Xuebin pointed out that Fang Wenping and another female leader also had male subordinates, and demanded that Chen Kai'an's proposal apply to them as well.
• Dong Xuebin said the staffing had been approved by Fang Wenping and the Discipline Inspection Committee Leader and accused Chen Kai'an of questioning their decisions.
• Fang Wenping adjourned the meeting, cutting off the argument.

After clashing with Chen Kai'an over proposed personnel changes, Dong Xuebin returned to his department and discussed the new work assignments with Luo Haiting. Their private meeting ended with Luo Haiting massaging his shoulders, leaving Dong Xuebin looking forward to his new working environment.

• Chen Kai'an left the meeting furious after Dong Xuebin overwhelmed his objections, and Fang Wenping adjourned the meeting before Chen could respond.
• Dong Xuebin cooled off outside with an iced cola, then returned to find Zhang Lili and Han Fei criticizing Chen Kai'an while Li Hong asked whether personnel changes were coming.
• Dong Xuebin reassured his staff that he would discuss the assignments with Luo Haiting before distributing the work.
• Dong Xuebin and Luo Haiting reviewed the work assignments and agreed to focus on their duties without making mistakes others could use against them.
• Luo Haiting offered to massage Dong Xuebin's shoulders, then pressed his head back and massaged his scalp as he enjoyed the attention.

Dong Xuebin and Luo Haiting shared a warm dinner at his courtyard house before their evening turned intimate. Just as they began undressing, Luan Xiaoping arrived unexpectedly and called for Dong Xuebin.

• Dong Xuebin drove Luo Haiting home with him, and she offered to cook dinner at his courtyard house.
• They found the house cold, bought coal from a passing vendor, and installed and lit the stove together.
• Luo Haiting cooked dinner, and she and Dong Xuebin ate beside the stove.
• Dong Xuebin missed a call from his mother, Luan Xiaoping, and could not reach her when he called back.
• After watching the news, Luo Haiting undressed and Dong Xuebin began taking off his shirt, but Luan Xiaoping entered the courtyard and called for him.

Dong Xuebin and Luo Haiting hurriedly dressed when Luan Xiaoping arrived at his new Courtyard House, narrowly concealing their intimate moment. Luan Xiaoping left Qu Qian with him because she and Uncle Yang were sick, and the chapter ended with Qian Qian happily calling Dong Xuebin “Daddy.”

• Dong Xuebin and Luo Haiting hurriedly got dressed when Luan Xiaoping called from outside.
• Luan Xiaoping entered and found Dong Xuebin with Luo Haiting, who he said had transferred to Capital City to help him.
• Luan Xiaoping explained that she had a cold and had brought Qu Qian because she and Uncle Yang were sick and Qu Yunxuan was away on a business trip.
• Dong Xuebin coaxed the shy Qu Qian into his arms by lifting her into the air.
• Qu Qian smiled and called Dong Xuebin “Daddy,” delighting him.

Dong Xuebin happily discovered that his daughter, Xiao Qianqian, had learned to call him Daddy, then began caring for her after his mother left. Luo Haiting returned with baby supplies and helped him handle Qianqian’s first nighttime diaper change and feeding.

• Dong Xuebin delightedly heard Xiao Qianqian call him Daddy, while she refused to call Luan Xiaoping Grandma.
• Luan Xiaoping warned Dong Xuebin about caring for Qianqian before leaving, and Luo Haiting went home.
• After Luan Xiaoping left, Dong Xuebin practiced words with Qianqian until someone knocked at the gate.
• Luo Haiting returned with formula, diapers, a bottle, and other supplies, then warned Dong Xuebin not to leave Qianqian alone on the bed.
• When Qianqian began crying, Luo Haiting realized she had wet her diaper, changed her, and guided Dong Xuebin through preparing formula and feeding her.

Dong Xuebin and Luo Hao cared for Xiao Qianqian, and Luo Hao stayed overnight in case the child became ill. After they shared a late-night meal, they ended up in bed together.

• Dong Xuebin and Luo Hao finally got Xiao Qianqian to sleep, and Luo Hao warned that the girl might be coming down with a cold.
• Luo Hao agreed to stay the night and made a barrier around Xiao Qianqian on the bed to keep her safe.
• Dong Xuebin cooked Noodles with Savory Soybean Paste for Luo Hao, and they ate together.
• After Dong Xuebin cleaned up, he found Luo Hao in the bedroom, ready to sleep there in case Xiao Qianqian needed help.
• Luo Hao embraced Dong Xuebin, and he climbed into bed with her.

Dong Xuebin woke to find Luo Haiting had cared for Qian Qian overnight, then brought his daughter to work because he could not leave her alone. At the Second Office, Han Fei offered to look after Qian Qian while Dong Xuebin handled his work.

• Dong Xuebin realized Qian Qian had cried during the night, while Luo Haiting explained she had changed and fed the child and stayed up with her.
• Dong Xuebin thanked Luo Haiting as she left for work, then made breakfast and stopped Qian Qian from touching the hot stove and power strips.
• Dong Xuebin brought Qian Qian to the agency compound and introduced her to Han Fei, Zhang Lili, and Yin Cheng'an as his goddaughter.
• Han Fei offered to hold and watch Qian Qian at the Second Office, and Dong Xuebin reluctantly handed the child over after warning her to be careful.

Dong Xuebin discovered that Fang Wenping had taken Xiao Qianqian from his office, but found her doting on the child in her office. Fang Wenping refused to return Qianqian until the afternoon and ordered Dong Xuebin back to work.

• Dong Xuebin let his coworkers watch Xiao Qianqian while he processed documents.
• Zhang Lili told Dong Xuebin that Fang Wenping had taken Qianqian after objecting to a child being brought to work.
• Dong Xuebin stormed into Fang Wenping's office, ready to confront her, but found her playing affectionately with Qianqian.
• Qianqian reached for Dong Xuebin when Fang Wenping scolded him, then let Fang Wenping soothe her and kiss her.
• Fang Wenping said she would keep Qianqian until the afternoon and sent Dong Xuebin back to work.

Dong Xuebin let Fang Wenping spend the day with Xiao Qianqian, but panicked when she took the child home without telling him. He went to Fang Wenping’s apartment to retrieve her, and their argument over who could care for Xiao Qianqian continued.

• Dong Xuebin returned to the office without Xiao Qianqian and told his staff to focus on their work.
• Fang Wenping brought Xiao Qianqian to the cafeteria, fed her affectionately, and spent the afternoon with her.
• Dong Xuebin waited after work for Fang Wenping to return Xiao Qianqian, then learned she had left with the child.
• Dong Xuebin called Fang Wenping, who said Xiao Qianqian was with her and invited him to her home to pick her up.
• Dong Xuebin arrived at Fang Wenping’s apartment, where they argued about his childcare and Fang Wenping said she had helped raise her niece Xiao Ling.

Dong Xuebin went to Fang Wenping's home to bring Qian Qian back, but the little girl refused to leave and clung to Fang Wenping. The chapter ended with Dong Xuebin discovering Qian Qian breastfeeding from Fang Wenping and awkwardly retreating.

• Dong Xuebin found Qian Qian playing with a toy car and scolded her for accepting things from strangers.
• Dong Xuebin tried to carry Qian Qian home, but she cried, and Fang Wenping took her from him and comforted her.
• Qian Qian refused to go with Dong Xuebin and stayed with Fang Wenping while he made and ate food in the kitchen.
• Dong Xuebin entered the bedroom and saw Qian Qian breastfeeding from Fang Wenping.
• Fang Wenping demanded to know what Dong Xuebin was looking at, and he sheepishly closed the door and returned to the living room.

Dong Xuebin learned that Yu Meixia had fled an interview after an investor demanded she kiss him, and he rushed to rescue her. He left Xiao Qianqian with Fang Wenping and headed for Yu Meixia’s company.

• Yu Meixia told Dong Xuebin she planned to audition for a supporting role to earn money for Qian Qian’s tuition.
• Dong Xuebin brought Xiao Qianqian to work and struggled to care for her while handling his duties.
• Yu Meixia called Dong Xuebin from a company restroom and said an investor had pressured her to act out a kissing scene, so she ran away and hid.
• Dong Xuebin told Yu Meixia to stay locked in the restroom, wrote down the company’s address, and prepared to go there.
• Dong Xuebin left Xiao Qianqian with Fang Wenping, who eagerly picked her up and began playing with her.
• Dong Xuebin hurried out of Fang Wenping’s office to go help Yu Meixia.

Dong Xuebin found Yu Meixia at the company and learned that she had been pressured to perform a kissing scene during an audition. He took her to confront the people responsible, but their office was empty, and a fellow interviewee told him they had gone to a restaurant downstairs.

• Dong Xuebin drove to the company, forced his way past the security guard, and kicked the guard aside to reach the elevator.
• Dong Xuebin searched the fifth-floor women's restroom and found Yu Meixia hiding in a stall, frightened but unharmed.
• Dong Xuebin took Yu Meixia to the office where the audition staff had been, but the room was empty.
• A fellow interviewee told Dong Xuebin that the investors had gone to eat at a restaurant downstairs.