Chapter Summaries

Dong Xuebin drove Zhang Longjuan toward the provincial capital after dinner, where she arranged for them to visit Xu Yan. When officers tried to catch Dong Xuebin driving drunk, he used REVERSE to make the breathalyzer read zero and drove on, while rival counties remained angry over losing a two-hundred-million investment.

• Dong Xuebin drove Zhang Longjuan and the foreign investors toward the provincial capital, and Zhang Longjuan rode with him instead of taking the crowded tour bus.
• Zhang Longjuan spoke with Xu Yan on the phone, and Xu Yan invited her and Dong Xuebin to her home after they dropped off the investors.
• Zhang Longjuan teased Dong Xuebin about his relationship with Xu Yan, but he avoided answering while driving.
• Police stopped Dong Xuebin at a roadblock for a drunk-driving test, and he used REVERSE before blowing into two breathalyzers that both showed zero.
• Dong Xuebin drove away, while the officers and rival county districts were left frustrated over the investors' two-hundred-million investment going elsewhere.

After Chu Qinghua repeatedly insulted and undermined him, Dong Xuebin looked for a way to sabotage Peace Street Office’s bid for a Respect-the-Elderly Model Unit title. He found a report about an elderly woman who vanished from its nursing home and arranged for the family’s grievance to reach the press, leaving Su Xiaochun determined to demand answers from the visiting inspection team.

• Dong Xuebin told Luan Xiaoping how Chu Qinghua had treated him and decided to retaliate against Peace Street Office.
• Luan Xiaoping found a newspaper report about Su Xiaochun’s mother disappearing from the Peace Street nursing home.
• Dong Xuebin asked Su Jia to investigate and obtained Su Xiaochun’s contact information.
• Dong Xuebin instructed Guo Panwei to pose as a reporter and call Su Xiaochun about the nursing home and Peace Street’s nomination.
• Su Xiaochun learned that the inspection team was visiting and vowed to demand an explanation.

Dong Xuebin brought Yu Qianqian to confront the students who had bullied her and the teacher who had ignored it. He beat the homeroom teacher and Huang Tingting, then revealed that he was unafraid even of her father, Huang Shizhong.

• Dong Xuebin took Yu Qianqian to Grade Two, Class One, where she identified Huang Tingting, Lei Zi, and Xiao Fan as her bullies.
• Dong Xuebin argued with the homeroom teacher, who ordered him out instead of addressing the bullying.
• Dong Xuebin kicked the homeroom teacher into the podium and kicked him again as the class erupted in panic.
• Huang Tingting taunted Yu Qianqian and threatened to use her father's influence, so Dong Xuebin dragged her from her seat and slapped her.
• Dong Xuebin said he did not care who Huang Tingting's father was, even invoking Public Security Bureau Director Liang Chengpeng, and Teacher Li realized they had provoked someone powerful.

At the fitness center, Liu Cheng made Madam Han uncomfortable, and Dong Xuebin beat him after Liu Cheng splashed water on her. As Dong Xuebin and Madam Han left, she suggested Liu Cheng may have been used by someone else, leaving Dong Xuebin wondering who was behind the incident.

• Dong Xuebin saw Liu Cheng persistently invite Madam Han to play billiards and angrily ordered him to leave.
• Liu Cheng cursed at Dong Xuebin and knocked his water onto Madam Han, prompting Dong Xuebin to severely injure him.
• Madam Han stopped Dong Xuebin from continuing the beating, and her bodyguard stayed behind to handle the aftermath while they went home.
• In the car, Madam Han told Dong Xuebin that Liu Cheng may have mistaken her for a teacher and could have been used as someone else's weapon.

Dong Xuebin prepared the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection's Second Office for an inspection during the open day. At the crowded cafeteria, he collided with Fang Wenping, and their old hostility erupted into a public exchange of insults.

• Dong Xuebin coordinated preparations for the inspection group and received reminders from Yin Cheng'an to ensure everything went smoothly.
• The inspection group arrived late, and Dong Xuebin led his colleagues to the cafeteria for lunch as reporters and foreign visitors moved around the compound.
• Dong Xuebin spotted Fang Wenping in the cafeteria, and the two exchanged cold looks without speaking.
• Dong Xuebin and Fang Wenping collided in the crowded cafeteria, spilling both their trays onto the floor.
• Fang Wenping and Dong Xuebin began cursing at each other, stunning the nearby Central Commission for Discipline Inspection staff.

Dong Xuebin returned to Beijing and surprised Qu Yunxuan and her family after finishing his work in Nanshan District. He reunited with Qu Yunxuan and learned firsthand that she was nursing their daughter, Qian Qian.

• Dong Xuebin drove his damaged Cayenne from Nanshan District to Beijing and called Qu Yunxuan without telling her he was already nearby.
• Dong Xuebin bought supplies and surprised Mother Qu and Father Qu at their home, where they checked on him and discussed his rescue work.
• Qu Yunxuan came out of the bedroom, saw Dong Xuebin, and embraced him after making sure he was unharmed.
• Dong Xuebin told the family that he would attend cadre training at the Central Party School for over a month, and Mother Qu celebrated his likely promotion.
• After the older couple left them alone, Dong Xuebin kissed Qu Yunxuan and discovered milk on his hand when he touched her breast.

Dong Xuebin rushed to the District Committee Courtyard after learning that Geng Yuehua was trapped in the burning government Office Building. He found her and several others stranded on the roof, with the fire closing in and no apparent way to rescue them.

• Dong Xuebin sent Wang Yuling to organize rescue operations across Nanshan District and hurried toward the District Committee Courtyard.
• Wang Anshi and Shen Fei learned that Geng Yuehua and more than twenty people were trapped inside the partially collapsed, burning government Office Building.
• Dong Xuebin arrived and, after learning Geng Yuehua was inside, used STOP! to freeze the flames and entered the building to search for her.
• Dong Xuebin found the stairs had collapsed, failed to reach the upper floors, and escaped through a window after inhaling smoke.
• People spotted Geng Yuehua and several injured clerks and officials stranded on the roof, calling for help as the fire approached.

On his second day at the Chengxi Branch Bureau, Dong Xuebin accidentally offended Zhou Changchun by calling him Deputy Director Zhou, then used BACK to rewind the encounter and address him as Director Zhou instead. Zhou Changchun responded warmly, leaving Dong Xuebin relieved that he had corrected his mistake.

• Qu Yunxuan invited Dong Xuebin to breakfast and advised him to watch what he said and follow the rules at his government job.
• Dong Xuebin ran into Aunt Xu and Xiao Dong, then went to work and swept the office corridor.
• Zhou Changchun arrived, and Dong Xuebin called him Deputy Director Zhou, prompting Zhou to give him a cool response.
• Dong Xuebin realized that the other clerks addressed Zhou Changchun as Director Zhou and used BACK to rewind their meeting.
• Dong Xuebin greeted Zhou Changchun as Director Zhou, and Zhou praised him and encouraged him to work hard.

Dong Xuebin traveled from Capital City to Tokyo with help from State Security and began scouting the National Museum’s Asian Gallery. He found the Xie Family’s stolen Bodhisattva Statue on display, leaving him poised to act.

• Old Qian gave Dong Xuebin a passport, yen, and a plane ticket arranged by Director Xu for his trip to Japan.
• Dong Xuebin boarded a late-night flight to Tokyo and told Xie Hao he might not return in time for Madam Han’s birthday.
• Dong Xuebin arrived in Tokyo, checked into a hotel, and went to the National Museum the next morning.
• Dong Xuebin surveyed the museum’s security, cameras, blind spots, and the Asian Gallery for several hours.
• Dong Xuebin recognized the Bodhisattva Statue in a display case as the Xie Family’s Tang Dynasty heirloom.

Dong Xuebin suspected that an armed martial artist was following Xie Huilan and stopped the man on the road. He caught the pursuer with the help of Time Stop, discovered a military pistol, and demanded to know who had sent him as Xie Huilan got out of her car.

• After submitting his self-criticism, Dong Xuebin learned that Deputy County Chief Cheng Keliang was pursuing Xie Huilan.
• Dong Xuebin followed Xie Huilan's car and noticed a Jetta continuing to trail it through several turns.
• Dong Xuebin blocked the Jetta and confronted its young driver, who countered his hold and proved highly skilled.
• Dong Xuebin used Time Stop to seize the driver, then discovered a military pistol at his waist.
• Dong Xuebin demanded to know the armed man's identity and intentions as Xie Huilan stepped out of her Passat.

Dong Xuebin carried the nauseated Zhong Lizhen out of the research institute and faced a large force of soldiers. After a prolonged battle, he defeated them all, leaving himself and Zhong Lizhen as the only survivors at the scene.

• Zhong Lizhen agreed to trust Dong Xuebin and leave with him, but she began vomiting at the sight of the dead soldiers.
• Dong Xuebin carried Zhong Lizhen toward the rear exit and told her to keep her eyes closed.
• Dong Xuebin and Zhong Lizhen found the rear exit surrounded by more than twenty soldiers, an armored vehicle, and several military jeeps.
• Dong Xuebin rejected the soldiers' demand to surrender, and they began firing as he carried Zhong Lizhen through the battle.
• Zhong Lizhen opened her eyes after the gunfire stopped and saw the soldiers dead, the armored vehicle overturned and burning, and only herself and Dong Xuebin still alive.

Liu Gang was confronted with evidence that he had followed Xu Yan, and he claimed he had only been tracking Dong Xuebin for a news story. Xu Yan ordered him detained and investigated for espionage after learning he had met foreigners and traveled to America.

• Liu Gang denied following Xu Yan until surveillance footage showed his car tailing hers for an hour.
• Liu Gang claimed he had followed Dong Xuebin for a report and had mistaken Xu Yan's car for his route.
• Xu Yan revealed that she knew Dong Xuebin from her former role as his superior at National Security and said he had never entered her car.
• A young man reported that Liu Gang had met foreigners and traveled to America, prompting Xu Yan to order an investigation into possible espionage and intelligence leaks.
• Liu Gang panicked at the accusations and blamed Dong Xuebin for setting him up.

Dong Xuebin accompanied Geng Yuehua to Dafeng County for a dinner with Japanese investors, then argued with her on the drive back. After he lost control of the Cayenne on a muddy road, they crashed into a grove and became stranded in the heavy rain.

• Geng Yuehua told Dong Xuebin to stay behind after the investors left, and he waited with her in Dafeng County.
• After meeting with County Chief Li Feng, Geng Yuehua left with Dong Xuebin driving her back to the district.
• Geng Yuehua reprimanded Dong Xuebin for cursing at Secretary Wang Bo and ordered him to submit a written self-criticism.
• Dong Xuebin argued that his harsh words had helped recover the investors, then drove too fast along a muddy back road.
• The Cayenne skidded down a slope into a small grove, stalled, and would not restart, leaving Dong Xuebin and Geng Yuehua stranded in the rain.

Dong Xuebin focused on preparing an earthquake drill as he reunited with former colleagues Sun Shuli and Lin Pingping. When Lin Pingping unexpectedly ran into her college classmate Geng Xinke, the two left to talk about their unresolved past.

• Dong Xuebin arrived at the Guangming Subdistrict Office, thinking through the urgent need to arrange an earthquake drill before the quake.
• Sun Shuli and Lin Pingping visited Dong Xuebin, and the three agreed that Dong Xuebin and Sun Shuli would go to lunch while Lin Pingping spoke with someone she knew.
• Geng Xinke recognized Lin Pingping at the office, and they revealed they had been college classmates who had not kept in touch since graduation.
• Geng Xinke persuaded Lin Pingping to have a meal with him, and they left the office together.
• Geng Xinke asked Lin Pingping why she had remained unmarried, and she stopped him when he began recalling their past.

Dong Xuebin and Geng Yuehua were caught kissing by Lin Pingping, who promised to keep it secret. After learning Yuehua’s cancer might return, Dong gave Geng Xinke three million for medicine, leaving Geng Yuehua unhappy but her family grateful.

• Lin Pingping walked in on Dong Xuebin and Geng Yuehua kissing, and Geng Yuehua told her to keep it secret.
• Geng Xinke, Father Geng, and Mother Geng joined them, and Mother Geng invited Dong Xuebin to dinner to thank him.
• Dong Xuebin warned the family that Geng Yuehua’s condition remained serious, and Geng Yuehua revealed that a Shanghai hospital had confirmed lung cancer six months earlier.
• Dong Xuebin gave Geng Xinke a bank account containing three million to buy Geng Yuehua Wild Ginseng, Taisui, and other medicine.
• Geng Xinke accepted the money as a loan despite Geng Yuehua’s objection and thanked Dong Xuebin on behalf of the family.

Dong Xuebin led his office in a voluntary blood donation event, where he learned that he had rare B-type Rh-negative blood. He then recognized Xie Huilan arriving at the city government as the newly appointed deputy mayor, learning that she had come to Fenzhou to take up her post.

• Dong Xuebin encouraged his staff to donate blood after the earthquake and organized seven donors from his office, including himself and Luo Haiting.
• A doctor told Dong Xuebin that his blood type was B-type Rh-negative, a rare type known as Panda Blood.
• Dong Xuebin donated blood, then had Fei Fan help the pale and nauseous Luo Haiting upstairs.
• People nearby discussed the newly appointed, exceptionally promoted deputy mayor and her luxury Range Rover as she entered the city government's Office Building.
• Dong Xuebin recognized Xie Huilan and realized she had come to Fenzhou City to take up her post without telling him.

Dong Xuebin tried to understand Liu Hanqing’s defiance while settling into his new office, but Liu again parked his Crown across two spaces and ignored Dong’s repeated honking. Dong moved his Porsche elsewhere and decided to answer Liu’s provocations in his own way.

• Luo Haiting warned Dong Xuebin about Liu Hanqing, and Dong asked her to watch Liu while he familiarized himself with the office’s work.
• Ning Shaoyang delivered Liu Hanqing’s meeting documents hours late, while Zhu Zhu brought Dong Xuebin a cafeteria meal card.
• Dong Xuebin went to the Municipal Party Committee First Guest House for lunch and to retrieve belongings, then returned to find Liu Hanqing’s Crown parked across two spaces again.
• Dong Xuebin repeatedly honked, but Liu Hanqing did not come out to move his car, and staff from across the Discipline Inspection Committee watched.
• Dong Xuebin parked near the government office instead and decided to retaliate against Liu Hanqing’s provocations.

Yao Cui refused Ma Bin’s dinner invitation because she was sick, and Dong Xuebin also declined Ma Bin’s call to join the meal. Angry that both had rebuffed him, Ma Bin set off with Section Chief Cai to confront Yao Cui at home.

• Ma Bin summoned Yao Cui to dinner with visiting officials, but her family urged her to stay home because she was ill and they feared Ma Bin’s behavior.
• Yao Cui called Section Chief Cai to report that she could not attend, and Section Chief Cai scolded her before agreeing to inform Ma Bin.
• Dong Xuebin told Yao Cui she would be promoted soon, then declined Ma Bin’s invitation and directed him to discuss work with other county officials.
• Ma Bin learned that Yao Cui had stayed home and became furious, then walked with Section Chief Cai toward her house to bring her to dinner.

After details confirmed the foreign delegation’s enormous wealth, Meihe City’s officials eagerly courted the investors. At a banquet, Dong Xuebin rebuffed county and district directors who wanted his help steering the delegation their way, leaving their inspection plans undecided.

• Information confirmed that Zhang Longjuan’s company held more than ten billion yuan in assets and that most members of the delegation represented major overseas conglomerates.
• At the banquet, Zhang Longjuan invited Dong Xuebin to sit at the main table, but he chose the second table with the county and district Investment Bureau directors.
• Ma Yanfen and other directors questioned Dong Xuebin about the delegation’s schedule and asked him to arrange visits to their jurisdictions.
• Dong Xuebin said the investors would decide their own route and repeatedly refused to promise any introductions.
• Remembering how the city and neighboring bureaus had previously treated Zhenshui County, Dong Xuebin ignored their overtures and focused on eating.

Dong Xuebin and Xie Huilan settled into married life at their new home before receiving a visit from Fenzhou City Education Bureau Director Liao Yimin. As Liao discussed his bureau’s work with Xie, she offered him some of her prized Big Red Robe tea to take home.

• Dong Xuebin and Xie Huilan spent the morning at home, and Xie went out to buy soy milk and fried dough sticks for breakfast.
• After breakfast, Xie received a call from Director Liao Yimin, who said he was downstairs to visit her.
• Dong tidied the apartment and greeted Liao at the door before introducing him to Xie.
• Liao brought modest gifts and discussed the Education Bureau’s work with Xie, who had recently been assigned responsibility for education, culture, and healthcare.
• Xie offered Liao an ounce of her Big Red Robe tea, and he protested that it was too valuable to accept.