Chapter Summaries

Dong Xuebin risked his life and used Back to cross the unstable landslide and dig into the buried tour bus. He opened a passage for the trapped passengers, who escaped as the danger and his dwindling Back left his own fate uncertain.

• Dong Xuebin ignored Xie Huilan and Liang Chengpeng's pleas, stayed behind with a shovel, and ordered Chen Fa to drive the minibus away from the landslide.
• Dong Xuebin used Back to avoid sinking into mud and being struck by falling rocks as he crossed the slope toward the buried tour bus.
• Dong Xuebin dug through the mud despite his injuries and opened the bus door, letting fresh air reach Liu Dahai and the trapped passengers.
• Liu Dahai organized the trapped people and helped the children and other passengers climb out before escaping himself.

Dong Xuebin fought off a group that had attacked him at the Police Station, but Chief Zhu prioritized treating the injured and resisted taking action against them. Fang Wenping called her own people for backup, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• Medical staff arrived and treated the injured while requesting more ambulances and support.
• Fang Wenping returned Dong Xuebin's wallet and asked whether he was hurt.
• Dong Xuebin told Chief Zhu that the group had extorted and attacked them, and demanded that the police handle the case.
• Chief Zhu ordered officers to save the injured first and dismissed Dong Xuebin's concerns about the attackers escaping.
• Fang Wenping told Dong Xuebin not to waste words with the police and called Little Yang to demand that her people hurry over.

Dong Xuebin and Zhang Longjuan entered the Gambling Ship’s casino as it opened, hoping Zhang Longjuan could win enough to save her company. Zhang exchanged her remaining five million US Dollars for chips, while Dong Xuebin took only a few chips to play casually.

• Dong Xuebin woke in VIP Room 7 and joined Zhang Longjuan, Shen Xiaoyan, and Shen Xiaomei as they discussed their plans and the casino’s fairness.
• Zhang Longjuan and Dong Xuebin left for the casino, with Zhang Longjuan linking her arm through his as he worried about her company’s financial crisis.
• At midnight, the casino doors opened, and staff welcomed the guests before Director Wei and Director Leng greeted Zhang Longjuan.
• Zhang Longjuan exchanged all five million US Dollars for chips, and Shen Xiaomei said they had mostly chosen thousand-dollar chips.
• Shen Xiaoyan and Shen Xiaomei prepared to handle other matters, while Zhang Longjuan gave Dong Xuebin chips and told him to play casually.

The Chengxi Team faced the Chengdong Team in a crucial match, where the opponents’ rough play and the referee’s calls left Chengxi with several injured players and no substitutes remaining. The score stayed 0–0 at halftime, and Xu Yan worried that the team might be forced to finish short-handed.

• Xu Yan urged the Chengxi Team to win as both teams and their leaders exchanged hostile remarks before kickoff.
• The Chengdong Team attacked aggressively, and Zhuangzi was injured by a dangerous tackle and replaced.
• The Chengxi players protested the rough play, but the referee gave the Chengdong player only a yellow card.
• Near halftime, Chengdong’s number 13 elbowed a Chengxi Political Department player during a header, but the referee did not punish him and instead booked a Chengxi player.
• The first half ended 0–0, with Chengxi having one yellow card, Chengdong four, and Chengxi no substitutes left after the injuries.

Dong Xuebin confronted Vice-Governor Jia, Director Zhou, and the provincial inspection team after they criticized Xie Huilan, and Xie Huilan refused to discipline or apologize for her husband. Dong then accused the team of throwing its weight around, arriving late, and obstructing Xiaxing City's work, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• Dong Xuebin stepped forward and mocked the provincial inspection team for criticizing Xie Huilan.
• The provincial officials learned Dong Xuebin was Xie Huilan's husband, and Director Zhou demanded that she handle him.
• Xie Huilan said she could not handle her husband, surprising the provincial delegation and Xiaxing City officials.
• Dong Xuebin resumed speaking and accused the inspection team of abusing its authority and picking faults.
• Dong Xuebin rebuked the team for making Xiaxing City wait nearly two hours and told them to return to the province.

Dong Xuebin rode with Zhang Longjuan, Zhai Shun, and Old Hong as they surveyed the area around a research institute while planning a rescue for Zhong Lizhen. Their drive came to an abrupt halt when armed American soldiers set up a checkpoint and began searching cars and passengers.

• Zhang Longjuan drove west with Dong Xuebin, Zhai Shun, and Old Hong, disguising herself and Dong Xuebin with sunglasses as they chatted.
• The group passed a research institute, where Zhai Shun and Old Hong observed the exposed surroundings and military patrols while Old Hong secretly took photographs.
• Zhai Shun asked Old Hong to continue south so they could inspect land for the company, and Zhang Longjuan directed him along the route.
• Old Hong spotted two military vehicles stopping traffic ahead, where American soldiers searched cars, trunks, and passengers and demanded identification.
• Old Hong stopped the Buick Business, and Zhang Longjuan and Zhai Shun realized the checkpoint could expose the gun at Zhai Shun's ankle.

Dong Xuebin returned to his dusty apartment after work, gave Li Xiaona a ride home, and gifted her Chanel perfume. Jiang Fangfang visited with groceries and insisted on helping him clean, leaving them tidying the apartment together.

• Dong Xuebin offered Li Xiaona a ride home after learning she was exhausted from investigating townships.
• Dong Xuebin gave Li Xiaona a bottle of Chanel perfume, which she accepted and happily tried after he left.
• Dong Xuebin returned to his apartment and began unpacking, but stopped cleaning when he grew tired.
• Jiang Fangfang arrived with groceries and entered Dong Xuebin's dusty apartment.
• Jiang Fangfang began cleaning the apartment, and Dong Xuebin joined her by sweeping the floor.

Dong Xuebin used a favorable front-page report in the City Daily to protect himself and the Guangming Street Office after Nanqi Morning News criticized their demolition campaign. The district left Dong Xuebin unpunished but gave Peng Kun an internal Party warning, derailing his expected promotion.

• Zhou Yanru brought Dong Xuebin the City Daily, whose front-page article praised his work demolishing illegal structures and omitted the assault allegations.
• Peng Kun realized the City Daily report had thwarted his attempt to shift blame onto Dong Xuebin and feared he would bear the disciplinary pressure alone.
• The district’s rumors of punishing Dong Xuebin faded as officials reconsidered their response to the City Daily’s favorable coverage.
• The district gave Peng Kun a Party warning while issuing no punishment to Dong Xuebin or the Guangming Street Office.
• Peng Kun smashed a cup after learning the warning had cost him his Party school training and expected promotion.

Dong Xuebin faced Zhou Hu, the Card God, in a Zha Jin Hua match that became a contest of cheating techniques. After trading several wins, Dong Xuebin forced Zhou Hu to fold and admit defeat.

• Zhou Hu chose a deck, and the dealer shuffled and dealt while neither player looked at his cards.
• Zhou Hu won the first round by changing his hand into three of a kind, while Dong Xuebin revealed a straight flush.
• Dong Xuebin won the next round with three aces against Zhou Hu’s three kings, bringing his chips back to one hundred million.
• Dong Xuebin beat Zhou Hu’s three aces with 235, the only hand that could defeat three of a kind.
• Zhou Hu folded when Dong Xuebin revealed three aces in the fourth round and admitted there was no need to continue.

Li Taibo threatened to kill baby Qian Qian and confessed to past crimes, while Dong Xuebin secretly tried to save her by using REVERSE on Li Taibo from a distance. The chapter ended as Dong Xuebin began the attempt, with Qian Qian's fate still uncertain.

• Li Taibo refused the Qu family's offers of money, threatened Qian Qian, and admitted to helping Wan Sichao cover up rapes and silence a victim.
• Dong Xuebin told Xie Huilan to stall Li Taibo, then went into a bedroom with Li Taibo's records.
• Dong Xuebin found the record of Li Taibo's near-fatal chest injury during an earthquake four months earlier and decided to use REVERSE to return his body to that condition.
• Dong Xuebin calculated the time reversal, focused on Li Taibo's photograph, and issued the REVERSE command.

In the hospital, Dong Xuebin pressed city officials to return Zhenshui County’s withheld central funds and demanded an extra million in compensation. The mayor ordered the city to transfer the full 46 million soon, and Dong Xuebin remained in the hospital as the dispute was settled.

• Zhao Xu offered compensation, but Dong Xuebin said he wanted the central government funds returned to Zhenshui County instead.
• Jiang Fangfang explained the county’s financial needs, and Dong Xuebin claimed its shortfall was 46 million, a million more than the city owed.
• Zhao Xu offered another 30 million, but Dong Xuebin threatened to transfer hospitals and pursue the matter elsewhere.
• After Zhao Xu reported the dispute to the mayor, the mayor ordered him to give Zhenshui County the money.
• Zhao Xu told his officials to inform the county that the 46 million would be transferred soon.

Dong Xuebin accompanied Xu Yan to a swimming pool, where she planned to exercise and use the visit to watch for anyone from Dafeng County tailing them. They swam together until Wang Bo arrived with Korean investor Park Yong-hee, apparently to inspect the facility, leaving Dong wondering whether their meeting was connected to a sports-center investment.

• Dong Xuebin and Xu Yan circled the county town and found no one following them, then thanked each other for their help.
• Xu Yan brought Dong Xuebin to a swimming pool near their hotel and arranged for her people to watch for suspicious followers.
• Dong Xuebin and Xu Yan bought swimsuits, entered the pool, raced, and Xu Yan corrected his swimming form.
• Wang Bo arrived with Park Yong-hee and other Korean investors to inspect the swimming facility, and Dong suspected they were considering a sports-center project.

Dong Xuebin returned to Qingluan Mountain as police surrounded an armed grave-robbing gang, while officers and archaeologists argued over whether to protect the ancient tomb. He went up the mountain alone to check on the tomb and confront the criminals, leaving the police to reorganize the weakened blockade and search for him.

• Dong Xuebin returned to Qingluan Mountain and learned that police had surrounded the grave robbers, three officers had been shot, and Xiao Lü was gravely wounded.
• Teacher Chu and Old Zhong urged the police to protect the ancient tomb, but Li Zong refused to risk more officers before Armed Police reinforcements arrived.
• Dong Xuebin decided to go up the mountain alone, ordered the others to hold their positions, and crossed the police line despite their objections.
• Zhang Dongfang told Chang Lin to send a team after Dong Xuebin, and thirty officers climbed the mountain to search for him.
• The search party’s departure weakened the blockade, forcing Li Zong and the remaining officers to scramble to restore the encirclement.

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 returned to the Street Office after his clash with Wang Anshi, then arranged for Geng Xinke to attend the Municipal Party School in his place. The chapter ended with the news spreading through the office as staff wondered how many more people Dong Xuebin intended to offend.

• Dong Xuebin arrived at the Street Office and dismissed Meng Senguo's attempts to curry favor after he had avoided Dong during his troubles.
• Zhou Yanru told Dong Xuebin that Wang Anshi had undergone surgery, remained in intensive care, and taken a month of sick leave while District Governor Yuehua acted in his place.
• Dong Xuebin called a meeting and told Zhou Yanru not to notify Geng Xinke.
• Geng Xinke learned that Dong Xuebin had held a Party and Government Work Committee meeting without him, then received a Municipal Party School order to report for cadre training.
• The Street Office staff learned Geng Xinke was being sent to the Party School and reacted with shock at Dong Xuebin's escalating conflicts.

Dong Xuebin led the Provincial Investigation Team and Jiaolin County officials away from the rumored New County Party Committee Compound, then presented a shabby rented site as the county’s new headquarters. When Cheng Wei confronted him with photographs of the palace-like building exposed on television, Dong Xuebin pretended not to know what it was.

• Cheng Wei and the Provincial Investigation Team discussed Dong Xuebin’s defiant attitude and resolved to proceed with their investigation.
• Dong Xuebin reassured Meng Hanmei, Chang Lin, and Sun Changzhi that they would understand his plan soon.
• Dong Xuebin redirected the convoy away from the expected compound and led it to a remote site with small, shabby buildings.
• Su Yan told Dong Xuebin that the rental contract had been signed, and Dong ordered the county’s belongings moved inside.
• Cheng Wei accused Dong Xuebin of trying to fool the investigation team and showed him photographs of the palace-like compound, but Dong pretended ignorance.

Dong Xuebin woke after surgery and received visits from Zhenshui County’s leaders, who promised to handle the dispute with the city while he recovered. He learned that his wife and mother had been notified, and worried about them coming to the hospital.

• Dong Xuebin woke in the hospital, learned it was evening, and heard doctors say his condition was stable and improving.
• Meng Rui, Jiang Fangfang, Yan Yizhi, Chen Xiaomei, and Yao Cui visited Dong Xuebin, and Meng Rui promised to secure an explanation from the city.
• Dong Xuebin recognized that his injury had shifted public pressure onto the city and strengthened Zhenshui County’s position over its funding dispute.
• Jiang Fangfang and Meng Rui prepared to leave, while Dong Xuebin urged Yao Cui, Chen Xiaomei, and Yan Yizhi to rest instead of staying with him.
• Dong Xuebin learned his wife and mother had been notified, then asked the nurse to make sure the visitors had left so he could rest.

Dong Xuebin, Xu Yan, and Yu Meixia woke after spending the night together and awkwardly discussed what had happened. They took birth control, then Xu Yan and Yu Meixia cooked lunch while Dong Xuebin washed the sheets, leaving the three of them sharing a meal at home.

• Dong Xuebin woke beside Xu Yan and Yu Meixia, recalled the night before, and made breakfast while they slept.
• Xu Yan and Yu Meixia woke, acknowledged that the three of them had been together, and agreed to stay for lunch.
• Xu Yan and Yu Meixia took birth-control pills, then went out to buy groceries.
• Xu Yan asked Dong Xuebin to wash the sheets and air out the quilt while she and Yu Meixia prepared lunch.
• Dong Xuebin finished washing the sheets and joined Xu Yan and Yu Meixia for their lavish meal.

Dong Xuebin tried to get the Discipline Inspection Committee to investigate Wan Sichao, but Xiao Bin refused, and the police then declared Qu Yunxuan’s fall unrelated to Wan Sichao. After discovering Liuyang Restaurant had reopened, Dong Xuebin confronted the officers and owner over their account and recorded their names, determined to hold everyone involved accountable.

• Xiao Bin rejected Dong Xuebin’s request to investigate Wan Sichao, insisting that Office One follow procedure and wait for the police investigation.
• Dong Xuebin noticed Liuyang Restaurant had reopened and heard owner Xu Dabing claim Qu Yunxuan had been drunk when she jumped.
• Captain Li Taibo told Dong Xuebin that the police had found insufficient evidence against Wan Sichao and were treating Qu Yunxuan’s fall as voluntary.
• Dong Xuebin challenged Li Taibo’s conclusion and accused Xu Dabing of giving false testimony, but both stood by their account.
• Dong Xuebin wrote down the names Wan Sichao, Li Taibo, and Xu Dabing, vowing not to let anyone involved escape responsibility.

After Han Jing intervened to contain the fallout from Dong Xuebin’s clash at the Municipal State Security Bureau, he checked in with Tan Limei and Xu Yan. Xie Hao and Xie Jing then visited Han Jing’s villa for lunch, where the family teased Dong about his fight and Han Jing urged Xie Hao to focus on his studies.

• Dong Xuebin spoke with Tan Limei, who reported that Wang Sen had suffered multiple fractures and a mild concussion and that the municipal bureau had resumed its meeting.
• Dong Xuebin called Xu Yan, learned she was driving to meet Minister Lü for lunch, and arranged to see her that evening.
• Xie Hao arrived at Han Jing’s villa with Xie Jing, who explained that he had tricked her into driving him there to see Dong Xuebin.
• Han Jing welcomed Xie Jing and Xie Hao inside, and the family shared a lunch she had prepared.
• Xie Hao praised Dong Xuebin for fighting his way through the Municipal State Security Bureau, while Han Jing told him to mind his language and study hard.