Chapter Summaries

Dong Xuebin found Geng Yuehua’s dark red underwear and her father’s ID card in the suit she had lent him, then struggled over how to return them without embarrassing her. After Geng Yuehua told him to bring the forgotten items over, he handed them to her in an opaque bag and was left wondering what she thought of him.

• Dong Xuebin found Geng Yuehua’s underwear and her father’s ID card in the suit pocket and pieced together how they had been left there.
• Dong Xuebin debated whether to return the items, worried that Geng Yuehua would realize he had seen her underwear.
• Geng Yuehua called Dong Xuebin and told him to bring the forgotten items to her.
• Dong Xuebin put the underwear and ID card in an opaque bag and delivered it to Geng Yuehua.
• Geng Yuehua took the bag and closed the door, leaving Dong Xuebin unsure whether she resented him.

After Jiaolin County’s star-studded gala made headlines, officials and families clamored for tickets, and Dong Xuebin controlled access to the remaining seats. He gave ordinary callers tickets readily but made Baohong City officials who had previously declined Jiaolin County’s invitation struggle for them.

• Zhang Dongxing’s son begged to attend the gala to see Amy, so Zhang called Jiaolin County’s Investment Bureau and learned tickets required Dong Xuebin’s approval.
• Zhang Dongxing called Dong Xuebin to request tickets, and Dong reluctantly offered him two after a long string of excuses.
• Provincial officials and leaders from nearby counties and cities called Dong Xuebin to ask for gala tickets.
• Dong Xuebin gave tickets to most callers but stalled and limited the requests of Baohong City officials who had previously refused Jiaolin County’s invitation.
• The Baohong City officials reluctantly kept seeking tickets from Dong Xuebin because they feared being turned away and embarrassed at the gala.

In Tokyo, Dong Xuebin investigated Yu Meixia’s origins and discovered that she might be the daughter Liu Chenglong and Qian Lihua lost decades ago. He arranged a flight home but kept the discovery from Liu Chenglong until he could speak with Yu Meixia.

• Dong Xuebin called Yu Meixia to ask what she remembered about her early childhood and urged her to seek clues from relatives.
• Dong Xuebin stayed behind in Tokyo and invited Liu Chenglong to dinner, where he learned Liu had once been married to Qian Lihua.
• Liu Chenglong revealed that his five-year-old daughter Tong Tong disappeared in Fenzhou City about thirty years earlier.
• Dong Xuebin connected Tong Tong’s age, hometown, and resemblance to Qian Lihua with Yu Meixia and concluded she was probably the missing child.
• Liu Chenglong arranged a two o’clock flight to Beijing for Dong Xuebin, who chose not to tell him about Yu Meixia yet.

After Xiao Yan’s fire lotus devastated the arena, Liu Qing emerged battered but still standing and acknowledged Xiao Yan as a worthy opponent. The two prepared to settle their match with one final move, leaving the victor undecided.

• Xiao Yan’s fire lotus blasted Liu Qing and shattered much of the arena, leaving the spectators stunned.
• Liu Qing emerged from the dust charred and battered, then retrieved his Mountain Splitting Spear and praised Xiao Yan’s strength.
• Lin Xiuya and the others noted that Liu Qing’s defense had let him withstand the attack, while Liu Fei and Yao Sheng reacted with fear and relief.
• Xiao Yan retrieved his Mysterious Heavy Ruler and declared that he would not give up his chance at a top ten spot.
• Liu Qing and Xiao Yan agreed to decide the match with one final move, and Liu Qing raised the Mountain Splitting Spear against him.

Dong Xuebin won the Standing Committee vote against Zhang Dongfang, then faced a sudden emergency when heavy rain cut off contact with nearly a hundred teachers and students on Qing'e Mountain. He joined the rescue effort as the Municipal Party Secretary demanded that everyone be brought back safely.

• Dong Xuebin secured a six-to-five Standing Committee vote, while Zhang Dongfang accepted the defeat and resolved to oppose him more seriously in the future.
• Heavy rain flooded parts of Jiaolin County, causing traffic accidents and a road collapse, so Dong Xuebin ordered departments to activate the emergency response plan.
• Chang Lin told Dong Xuebin that nearly a hundred teachers and students from City First Middle School had been out of contact on Qing'e Mountain for almost three hours.
• Dong Xuebin ordered police and local towns to join the search and went to the scene with Chang Lin, while Su Yan reported that Zhang Dongfang and television staff were already on their way.
• Municipal Party Secretary Qian Litao called Dong Xuebin and demanded that the teachers and students be rescued without anyone coming to harm.

Dong Xuebin welcomed a delegation from Xiaxing City, only for the Jiaolin County officials to discover that his wife, Xie Huilan, was leading it as the city's Municipal Party Secretary. Her status and the visiting officials' deference to Dong Xuebin left the county officials wondering what kind of background the couple had.

• Dong Xuebin arrived late and asked Su Yan to prepare for a visiting delegation from Xiaxing City.
• Su Yan arranged reception and lunch after reporting that the delegation, led by Xiaxing City's Municipal Party Secretary, would arrive at eleven.
• Dong Xuebin, Zhang Dongfang, and Wei Zhixuan welcomed the delegation at the compound.
• The Jiaolin County officials were stunned when Xie Huilan emerged from a city car and identified herself as Xiaxing City's Municipal Party Secretary.
• Xie Huilan and Dong Xuebin greeted each other formally, while the delegation showed Dong Xuebin exceptional respect and treated Zhang Dongfang more coolly.

Dong Xuebin established a Complaint Window at the Street Office and pushed a reporting plan for the communities through a meeting with their leaders. The officials stayed silent during the meeting but complained afterward, waiting to see how Wang Yuling and Wang Anshi would respond.

• Zhou Yanru opened the Street Office Complaint Window, and Qu Yiqiang proposed extending reporting procedures to the communities.
• Dong Xuebin decided to present the community reporting plan himself and asked the Party and Government Office to draft the documents.
• Dong Xuebin met with community officials, announced the Complaint Window and matching penalty standards, and ordered implementation to begin the next day.
• After the meeting, community officials criticized the plan among themselves and chose to wait for Wang Yuling and Wang Anshi to react.

Dong Xuebin rushed to the office building after learning that Xie Huilan had been strapped to a bomb by the escaped prisoner Wu Dagang, but the bomb disposal experts could not defuse it. With the countdown running, Dong Xuebin entered the room and tried to find a way to save her, then locked himself inside with her.

• Wu Dagang kidnapped Xie Huilan and strapped a complicated timed bomb to her before disappearing.
• Dong Xuebin arrived at the cordon and learned that the bomb disposal experts could not safely defuse the bomb, with only minutes remaining.
• Dong Xuebin rushed into the office building despite Liang Chengpeng ordering officers to stop him.
• Dong Xuebin found Xie Huilan seated with the exposed bomb and proposed cutting its strap and shielding her, but a bomb disposal expert warned that the plan would trigger the blast and the shields would not protect them.
• Dong Xuebin locked the office door from inside and took Xie Huilan's hand as the countdown reached six minutes.

Dong Xuebin learned from Xie Jing about the decades-long feud between the Xie and Fang Families and why she believed Xie Ran could not marry Fang Shuiling. When Fang Shuiling joined him in the kitchen, she reflected on Dong Xuebin’s reputation and remained fascinated by the man who had married Xie Huilan.

• Xie Jing told Dong Xuebin that the Xie and Fang Families had been political enemies for over twenty years, making a marriage between Xie Ran and Fang Shuiling unlikely.
• Dong Xuebin challenged Xie Jing’s double standard about family responsibilities, but she insisted she was entitled not to be friendly with Fang Shuiling.
• Fang Shuiling entered the kitchen and helped Dong Xuebin prepare the vegetables after Xie Jing left.
• Fang Shuiling wondered how Xie Huilan, whom she considered exceptionally beautiful and capable, had chosen Dong Xuebin.
• Dong Xuebin joked about his looks, and Fang Shuiling told him she knew what he was capable of and considered him a legendary figure.

Dong Xuebin hosted Xie Ran’s girlfriend, Fang Shuiling, and learned that she belonged to the powerful Fang Family. Xie Jing revealed that the Fang and Xie families had been sworn enemies for years, leaving Dong Xuebin eager to hear the story behind their feud.

• Dong Xuebin questioned Fang Shuiling about her studies and praised her for choosing to study in China, then argued with Xie Jing about studying abroad.
• Dong Xuebin decided to cook lunch for Fang Shuiling and took Xie Jing with him to the kitchen.
• Dong Xuebin confronted Xie Jing about her distant attitude toward Fang Shuiling, and Xie Jing explained that Fang Shuiling’s grandfather was the Premier.
• Xie Jing told Dong Xuebin that the Fang Family and Xie Family had been sworn enemies for many years.

On the opening morning of the Investment Promotion Culture Festival, Dong Xuebin checked preparations and helped staff and early visitors as the crowds began gathering. When Director Sun worried that the gala lacked variety, Dong Xuebin offered to perform magic and made Sun's phone disappear.

• Dong Xuebin arrived early at Central Park, thanked the workers, and promised them credit and bonuses for their hard work.
• Dong Xuebin and Meng Hanmei arranged chairs for elderly visitors waiting in the long ticket line and prepared staff to maintain order.
• Dong Xuebin inspected the festival area and spoke with Director Sun, who said the stage was ready but the gala's lineup felt too heavy on music.
• Dong Xuebin offered to perform magic, then made Director Sun's phone vanish and revealed it in his own hand.

Dong Xuebin broke into Lu Dafa’s home while time was stopped, hoping to find evidence against him, but his search turned up nothing. As he prepared to leave, he discovered Lu Dacai embracing Li Hong and realized he might have found leverage against Lu Dafa.

• Dong Xuebin used Time Stop to enter Lu Dafa’s apartment and search for evidence while Lu Dafa, Li Hong, and Lu Dacai remained frozen.
• Dong Xuebin searched Lu Dafa and Li Hong’s bedroom but found no secrets or suspicious finances.
• Lu Dafa told Li Hong and Lu Dacai that an investigation would find nothing wrong with his finances or private life.
• Lu Dafa left to meet a leader, and Dong Xuebin stopped considering a plan to expose him with compromising photographs.
• Dong Xuebin ended Time Stop and saw Lu Dacai embracing Li Hong in the living room, then realized the scene might give him leverage against Lu Dafa.

Dong Xuebin confronted Dafeng County officials over their treatment of Yantai County and openly tried to lure investors away from Dafeng County’s conference. After Dafeng County complained to the city, Xie Huilan angrily challenged the deputy mayor’s criticism of Yantai County.

• Dong Xuebin argued with Wang Bo, demanding an explanation for Dafeng County’s false accusation against him and questioning whether the county had barred Yantai County residents from its hotel.
• Li Feng ordered Wang Bo to keep Dong Xuebin from causing trouble, while Dong began chatting with an investor and inviting him to consider projects in Yantai County.
• Luo Haiting and Lin Pingping heard about Dong Xuebin’s clash and worried that the dispute would be difficult to resolve.
• Dafeng County complained to the city after Dong Xuebin approached its investors, and city officials criticized Yantai County again.
• Xie Huilan challenged Deputy Mayor Zheng Shizhang, arguing that Yantai County should have the same right to approach Dafeng County’s investors as Dafeng County had to approach theirs.

Dong Xuebin learned that Xie Huilan was pregnant, and the couple celebrated the news together at home. The family gathered for dinner, where Luan Xiaoping fussed over the expectant and new mothers while Dong Xuebin complained about being forgotten.

• Dong Xuebin congratulated Xie Huilan on her pregnancy and joked with her about whether their baby would be a boy or a girl.
• Xie Huilan said pregnancy had made her feel more motherly and planned to tighten her grip on work before her belly began to show.
• Dong Xuebin promised to care for Xie Huilan and doted on her as the two cuddled and kissed.
• Luan Xiaoping prepared chicken soup and nutritious dishes for Xie Huilan and Qu Yunxuan, while leaving Dong Xuebin without the food he wanted.
• Dong Xuebin complained that he had lost his standing in the family, and Qu Yunxuan and Xie Huilan laughed.

Dong Xuebin helped Fang Wenping move into her new home, where Xiao Dongnan tried to pursue her and push Dong Xuebin out. Fang Wenping finally cut their argument short by ordering delivery, and the three sat down to eat in tense silence.

• Dong Xuebin, Fang Wenping, and Xiao Dongnan finished moving furniture and appliances into Fang Wenping's new apartment.
• Xiao Dongnan repeatedly asked Fang Wenping to spend time with him, but she rejected his invitations.
• After Dong Xuebin brought up the groceries, Xiao Dongnan tried to send him home and take over cooking.
• Dong Xuebin challenged Xiao Dongnan, and the two began arguing about his attempt to order him around.
• Fang Wenping slammed down the remote, told them to stop arguing, and ordered five dishes and a soup for delivery.
• When the food arrived, Fang Wenping began eating, followed by Dong Xuebin and then Xiao Dongnan.

After fingerprints and DNA linked Li Taibo and Xu Dabing to Wan Sichao’s death, both accused Dong Xuebin of planting evidence, while Dong urged investigators to examine their past handling of rape cases. Witness testimony revealed that Li Taibo and Xu Dabing were alone during an unexplained gap around the time of the crime, strengthening the case against them.

• Investigators questioned Li Taibo and Xu Dabing separately, and both denied killing Wan Sichao and blamed Dong Xuebin for framing them.
• Dong Xuebin rejected their accusations and urged the officers to investigate Li Taibo and Xu Dabing’s connections to Wan Sichao and earlier rape cases, including Qu Yunxuan’s.
• Luo Haiting testified that she had gone to the restroom before the crime and heard the commotion about two minutes later.
• A waitress confirmed that Luo Haiting had gone to the restroom, and Criminal Investigation Brigade members said they found only Li Taibo and Xu Dabing in Room 18 when they arrived.
• Officials reviewing the testimony concluded that Li Taibo and Xu Dabing had been unaccounted for during a two- or three-minute window around the crime.

After Fang Shuiling helped Zhang Dongfang and his colleagues with Jiaolin County’s approval, Xu Zhuang accidentally spilled tea on Chen Family’s Sixth Child and was surrounded by his companions. Fang Shuiling arrived and challenged Sixth Child over the confrontation.

• Li Xiao left the dinner, and Fang Shuiling praised Dong Xuebin while Zhang Dongfang and Sun Lihan tried to understand her connection to him.
• Xu Zhuang left to use the restroom after drinking and failed to return for several minutes.
• A woman told Fang Shuiling that Xu Zhuang had spilled tea on Chen Family’s Sixth Child, who had grabbed him and refused to accept his apology.
• Fang Shuiling and the others found several young men surrounding Xu Zhuang in the corridor.
• Chen Family’s Sixth Child’s companions relaxed when they learned Xu Zhuang had come with Fang Shuiling.
• Fang Shuiling arrived and asked Sixth Child why he was causing trouble for her.

Dong Xuebin confirmed that FORWARD could reveal the next day’s newspaper and that changing its reported events altered the future. After saving Qian Lihua, he studied the updated paper and considered how to use his ability.

• Yu Meixia told Dong Xuebin she planned to stay with her parents and asked to borrow money to buy them gifts, so he offered her fifty thousand yuan.
• Dong Xuebin concluded that FORWARD was genuine and that he could change events it revealed.
• A newspaper deliveryman brought the current day’s paper, and Dong Xuebin found that the report about Qian Lihua’s fatal accident had been replaced on the front page and her name was absent from the story inside.
• Dong Xuebin realized FORWARD had advanced the newspaper box only at the moment he used it, so it returned to the present after the deliveryman inserted that day’s paper.
• Dong Xuebin burned the newspaper that had predicted Qian Lihua’s death and resolved to make good use of FORWARD.

Zhenshui County’s staff faced threats from city officials despite having finished their preparations, and Dong Xuebin and Chang Juan pushed back against the accusations. The chapter ended when Zhang Longjuan told Dong Xuebin she had arrived in the city to surprise him.

• While other counties rushed to prepare, Zhenshui County’s staff relaxed after completing their preparations.
• Hua Li and Lu Weiguo discussed canceling Zhenshui County’s booth, and a Municipal Investment cadre threatened the county with revocation.
• Zheng Dayou and Chang Juan challenged the cadre’s accusations, and Dong Xuebin demanded that any booth cancellation be formally approved.
• Dong Xuebin received Zhang Longjuan’s call and learned that she had arrived in the city.

After returning to Yantai County, Dong Xuebin focused on how to meet the county’s five-hundred-million investment target and considered holding an Investment Conference. Luo Haiting and Lin Pingping supported the idea, and Dong Xuebin began examining why past conferences had failed.

• Dong Xuebin drove his new Cayenne back to the Investment Bureau and told Luo Haiting and Lin Pingping he wanted to discuss work after lunch.
• Dong Xuebin asked Guo Panwei to eat before they went over the documents from his absence.
• Luo Haiting brought Dong Xuebin lunch and told him that a new project had signed a letter of intent but that negotiations were unfinished.
• Dong Xuebin asked Luo Haiting for ideas to help reach the county’s five-hundred-million investment target, and she suggested an Investment Conference.
• Dong Xuebin asked Luo Haiting to gather detailed materials on the county’s past conferences and other counties’ experiences.
• Lin Pingping argued that an Investment Conference could promote Yantai County more broadly than small project briefings, and Dong Xuebin listened as he began to understand the earlier conferences’ shortcomings.