Chapter Summaries

Dong Xuebin learned that Li Taibo had called and heard him threaten to throw baby Qian Qian into the sea. As Li Taibo continued to torment the family over the phone, Dong Xuebin suddenly thought of a way he might stop him from far away.

• Dong Xuebin read Li Taibo's detailed State Security file but found no useful clues about his whereabouts.
• Xie Huilan summoned Dong Xuebin to the family compound after Li Taibo called and demanded that Dong be present for his next call.
• Li Taibo called again, and Dong Xuebin and the family heard Qian Qian crying in Li Taibo's arms.
• Li Taibo rejected the ransom and said he planned to throw Qian Qian into the ocean to take revenge on Dong Xuebin.
• Dong Xuebin realized he might be able to kill someone from a thousand miles away and formed a bold plan.

Dong Xuebin arranged passage on a cargo ship bound for Africa as he searched for a way to rescue his missing daughter, Qu Qian. As the ship set sail, he learned that pirates had repeatedly targeted Republic vessels, and he headed toward the dangerous waters with a cold resolve to confront them.

• Dong Xuebin ignored messages from Qu Yunxuan, Xie Huilan, and Luan Xiaoping, then called his contacts to find a ship bound for Africa.
• Liu Dahai connected Dong Xuebin with Captain Niu Dazhao, and Dong used Stop to slip past the port security checkpoints.
• Dong Xuebin boarded Niu Dazhao’s cargo ship despite the lack of documents and warnings that pirates might attack its route.
• After the ship set sail, Dong Xuebin heard the crew discuss pirate attacks on Republic ships and grew determined to face the pirates.

After Luan Xiaoping survived surgery, Dong Xuebin learned that Meng Xianglin had threatened her and confronted him at the hospital. When an elevator accident revealed a way to use his three-minute time-reversal ability, Dong Xuebin sent Meng Xianglin alone into the elevator and reversed time, leaving him trapped in its fatal plunge.

• Sakamoto-sensei withdrew his investment, while Zhang Zhifeng remained arrested and the Japanese men were released after paying a fine.
• Luan Xiaoping's operation succeeded, and Dong Xuebin stayed by her hospital bed as she recovered.
• Xie Huilan told Dong Xuebin that Sakamoto-sensei had canceled the investment, and Luan Xiaoping confirmed that Meng Xianglin had threatened her.
• Dong Xuebin confronted Meng Xianglin at the hospital, but Meng denied responsibility and left to get examined.
• An elevator plummeted with Dong Xuebin inside, and the experience made him realize he could reverse time by three minutes.
• Dong Xuebin rewound time, lured Meng Xianglin into the elevator, and stepped out before its doors closed; the elevator then plunged with Meng trapped inside.

Dong Xuebin broke free of his bonds and crossed onto the Pirate Ship to rescue his daughter, Xiao Qianqian. With the pirates surrounding him and the Republic warship unable to fire, he held his weak daughter and prepared to fight.

• The Pirate Leader ordered his men to ignore the Republic warship and take the hostages away despite the ransom deal.
• Dong Xuebin vowed to kill all twenty-one pirates after they betrayed the Republic and endangered his daughter.
• As the ships drew alongside each other near the Mainland, Dong Xuebin snapped his rope restraints and gathered the boarding hook and rope.
• Dong Xuebin dodged a pirate's gunshot, swung onto the Pirate Ship, and carried Xiao Qianqian into his arms.
• Dong Xuebin apologized to Xiao Qianqian and declared that he was taking her to kill the pirates.

Dong Xuebin brought Xiao Qianqian back to Capital City and reunited with his family, who showered the girl with affection while reproaching him for going alone to rescue her. The family returned to the villa, where Dong soothed Qian Qian when she cried, showing how close they had become.

• Dong Xuebin called Xie Guobang when airport staff refused to check in Xiao Qianqian without her birth certificate, and airport officials arranged for them to board.
• Dong Xuebin flew with Xiao Qianqian to Capital City, where Xie Huilan, Qu Yunxuan, Luan Xiaoping, Father Qu, and Mother Qu welcomed them at the airport.
• Luan Xiaoping and Qu Yunxuan embraced Xiao Qianqian while the family fussed over her, and Qu Yunxuan and Father Qu scolded Dong Xuebin for leaving without telling them.
• The family rode to the villa without room for Dong Xuebin, so he followed in a taxi.
• At the villa, Dong Xuebin calmed Xiao Qianqian by rubbing his stubble against her face and lifting her playfully.

Dong Xuebin celebrated New Year’s Eve aboard the warship with Qian Qian and the soldiers who had rescued the hostages. His speech earned their applause, and after drinking and joking with the soldiers, he revealed that he was a full director at a prefecture-level city’s Discipline Inspection Committee.

• Dong Xuebin realized it was New Year’s Eve, carried Qian Qian around the festive warship, and accepted an invitation to dinner with the crew.
• Dong Xuebin joined the soldiers and officers for New Year’s Eve dinner, while the three former hostages were also allowed to attend.
• Dong Xuebin toasted the soldiers and thanked them for risking their lives to rescue the hostages, calling them his family and earning loud applause.
• Dong Xuebin watched the performances, fed Qian Qian, and drank nearly half a bottle of Moutai.
• Dong Xuebin teased two snipers about their poor shooting and said he had never trained his own marksmanship.
• Dong Xuebin confirmed that he was the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Office Director of a prefecture-level city, shocking the soldiers and officers.

Dong Xuebin and his family visited Wu Er's seaside villa, where they shared a barbecue and met Wu Er's daughter, You You. Dong Xuebin gave You You a valuable jade necklace as Lucky Money, and the group prepared to swim.

• Wu Er welcomed Dong Xuebin, Xie Huilan, and the others to his seaside villa and hosted a beachside barbecue.
• Wu Er told the group that the villa and beachfront had cost about two hundred million when he bought them, and they joked about wealth and expensive diamond rings.
• Wu Er introduced his fourteen-year-old daughter, You You, who joined the group and caught Xie Hao's attention.
• Dong Xuebin gave You You his jade necklace as New Year's Lucky Money, and Wu Er accepted it after learning Dong Xuebin insisted.
• Sun Kai learned from Xie Jing that the necklace was worth about a hundred thousand yuan, then joined the others as they went to change for swimming.

Xie Jing’s parents opposed her relationship with Sun Kai and used their influence to get him fired from his teaching job. After Xie Jing pleaded with Dong Xuebin, he agreed to take Sun Kai away from the Capital City and try to find him a school and a minor leadership position.

• Xie Guoliang and Xia Yanzhen argued with Xie Jing, insisting Sun Kai was unsuitable and that she should focus on her career.
• Xie Guoliang threatened Sun Kai’s job and called a contact to reach the principal of Sun Kai’s school.
• Xie Jing told Dong Xuebin that Sun Kai had been fired after the principal cited complaints from parents.
• Xie Jing said her family would not help Sun Kai and asked Dong Xuebin to find him a school and a path to a minor official position.
• Dong Xuebin agreed to take Sun Kai away the next morning and try to arrange a local school and leadership position, asking Xie Jing to keep it secret.

Dong Xuebin returned to work at the Fenzhou City Discipline Inspection Committee after the New Year and found colleagues keeping their distance because of his reputation and political troubles. He met with Zhan Guiping, who welcomed him warmly and thanked him for helping Zhan Rourou recover, leaving Dong reassured by their strong relationship and support.

• Dong Xuebin returned to the Municipal Party Committee Courtyard and noticed that colleagues greeted him but avoided further contact because they feared his reputation and uncertain political standing.
• Dong Xuebin reviewed his office and work documents, and Luo Haiting told him that Zhan Guiping had returned from vacation and wanted to see him.
• Dong Xuebin visited Zhan Guiping, who warmly welcomed him and said he had been worried about Dong and his family.
• Zhan Guiping told Dong Xuebin that Zhan Rourou had recovered enough to walk and run after surgery, and thanked him for arranging treatment and saving her during the hospital collapse.
• Dong Xuebin accepted Zhan Guiping's invitation to dinner and felt relieved that Zhan Rourou had recovered and that he had Zhan Guiping's support at the Discipline Inspection Committee.

Dong Xuebin and Xie Huilan returned to Capital City for the New Year reunion, where Xie Jing introduced her boyfriend Sun Kai to the Xie family. The elders disapproved of him, and the chapter ended with Xie Jing crying during dinner as Sun Kai was ignored.

• Dong Xuebin, Xie Huilan, and their relatives returned to Capital City and went to Xishan Villa for dumplings with the family.
• Xie Jing brought Sun Kai to meet the elders and introduced him as her boyfriend, but Xie Guoliang reacted with displeasure.
• Han Jing welcomed Sun Kai and later asked Dong Xuebin what kind of person he was; Dong Xuebin described him as honest and respectable.
• Dong Xuebin overheard Xie Guoliang arguing with Xie Jing, who turned away with red eyes.
• At dinner, the elders largely ignored Sun Kai, and Xie Jing began crying into her bowl.

Dong Xuebin and Xie Huilan visited Mayor Zhong and Madam Chen to offer belated New Year’s greetings and strengthen their relationship after Xie Huilan’s promotion to the Standing Committee. Madam Chen finally met the much-discussed Dong Xuebin and found him surprisingly ordinary.

• Dong Xuebin woke late on Saturday, and Xie Huilan told him they would visit Mayor Zhong and his wife for dinner.
• Xie Huilan and Dong Xuebin brought gifts to Mayor Zhong’s home, where officials along the way congratulated Xie Huilan on her promotion.
• Mayor Zhong and Madam Chen welcomed the couple, and the four chatted comfortably as they built closer ties.
• Madam Chen praised Dong Xuebin’s rescue efforts and daring reputation, then privately concluded that he seemed utterly ordinary.

Dong Xuebin investigated suspicious construction materials at Xiping Third Middle School and prepared an anonymous tip-off about possible corruption. Xie Huilan agreed to raise the matter at the Mayor’s Office Meeting, though she warned that officials might hesitate to act.

• After reading a newspaper report about a coming accident, Dong Xuebin asked Xie Huilan about Xiping Third Middle School and learned that Song Fei’s company supplied its building materials.
• Dong Xuebin inspected the unfinished school at night, found that its materials and walls crumbled easily, and photographed the construction site before leaving when security guards arrived.
• Dong Xuebin wrote an anonymous tip-off letter and asked Liu Dahai to arrange for copies to be sent to the City Discipline Inspection Committee and to him.
• Dong Xuebin showed Xie Huilan the photographs and urged her to alert the city’s leaders about the school and other reconstruction projects.
• Xie Huilan agreed to bring the tip-off letter up at the Mayor’s Office Meeting, while cautioning that officials might avoid an investigation because it could disrupt reconstruction.

Dong Xuebin reunited with Xie Hao, Xie Jing, and Sun Kai after rescuing the fishing boats and driving the opposing warships away. He concealed his identity and left with them, while Sun Kai finally understood the scale of Dong Xuebin’s abilities.

• Dong Xuebin boarded the fishing boat and reunited with Xie Hao, Xie Jing, and Sun Kai, who thanked him for returning safely.
• Dong Xuebin declined the rescued captains’ invitations and hid his identity, then left with Xie Hao, Xie Jing, and Sun Kai.
• When Dong Xuebin’s yacht approached again, the opposing warships fled without salvaging their sunk vessel or helicopter, and the rescue crews cheered.
• Dong Xuebin told Xie Jing that damaged spots and physics had helped sink the warship, then warned Xie Hao not to tell their elders.
• Sun Kai reflected on what he had witnessed and recognized why Xie Hao, Xie Jing, and Xie Huilan trusted Dong Xuebin’s abilities.

Dong Xuebin learned that the Discipline Inspection Committee would send out inspection teams and was appointed to lead the third team. His unprecedented appointment surprised his colleagues as he prepared to inspect two counties on the outskirts of Fenzhou City.

• Gao Wenrong informed Dong Xuebin that the Discipline Inspection Committee would hold an afternoon meeting about forming inspection teams.
• At lunch, Zhong Zhengwei offered to recommend Dong Xuebin to lead a team, and Dong Xuebin realized he had a real chance at the appointment.
• At the meeting, Secretary He assigned Xiao Bin to lead Team One and Zhan Guiping to lead Team Two.
• Secretary He appointed Dong Xuebin to lead Inspection Team Three, responsible for two outlying counties, surprising the officials present.

Dong Xuebin brought a Discipline Inspection Committee team to Xiping Third Middle School under the pretext of an undercover inspection, hoping to uncover construction problems before the Teaching Building collapsed. When Deputy Mayor Feng Jie and Deputy District Governor Chu confronted his staff at the site, Dong Xuebin dismissed them as “stray cats and dogs” and ordered his team to keep working.

• Dong Xuebin treated his team to lunch and instructed them to enter Xiping Third Middle School undercover and inspect the construction project.
• Liu Hanqing, Zhu Zhu, Fei Fan, and the others got past the security guard and examined the unfinished Teaching Building while Dong Xuebin waited at a nearby teahouse.
• Dong Xuebin spotted Deputy Mayor Feng Jie arriving with Deputy District Governor Chu and suspected that news of the inspection had reached them.
• Feng Jie and Chu confronted Liu Hanqing and his colleagues about their presence at the school and complained that they had not coordinated with the district.
• Dong Xuebin strode up, called Feng Jie, Chu, and their companions “stray cats and dogs,” and ordered his staff to return to work.

Chengxi Team remained unable to score as Chengdong Team’s dirty play injured another player and sparked a confrontation. After Xu Yan suffered a personal setback and accepted that the match was lost, Dong Xuebin asked to enter the game.

• Chengdong Team fouled Chengxi Team repeatedly, and the score stayed 0–0 as the match neared its end.
• With two minutes remaining, a Chengxi striker broke toward the penalty area, but a Chengdong defender deliberately crashed into him and left him unable to continue.
• Chengxi players confronted their opponents until two Municipal Bureau leaders arrived and Director Lü ordered the teams to resume play.
• Xu Yan’s ex-husband called to take their son away early, and she swallowed half a blood pressure pill after the call left her shaken.
• As Xu Yan slumped on the bench and the match seemed lost, Dong Xuebin clenched his fist and asked to go in.

Dong Xuebin realized that lottery winnings could give him a legitimate source of wealth and protect him from accusations over his expensive car and watch. He used his rewind ability to copy a PK Shi result and bought six bets, then waited to see whether they would win.

• Qu Yunxuan warned Dong Xuebin that the expensive car and watch had led to frequent corruption reports and urged him to stop using them.
• Dong Xuebin considered how to earn legal money and recognized that lottery winnings might solve his problem.
• Dong Xuebin visited a Welfare Lottery Shop and learned that PK Shi held a drawing every five minutes.
• Dong Xuebin watched a PK Shi drawing, memorized its result, and rewound time by two minutes.
• Dong Xuebin placed six pick-ten bets using the memorized sequence just before sales closed.

Dong Xuebin expected to transfer from National Security to a deputy leadership post in the Public Security System, but a stranger accused him of owing gambling debts and the Chengxi Branch Bureau’s leaders blocked his departure. The chapter ended with Dong Xuebin furious after Zhen Anguo refused to approve the transfer and insisted he stay.

• Dong Xuebin’s colleagues learned he was likely to transfer, and Xu Yan supported his move while asking whom he would recommend to replace him.
• Dong Xuebin recommended Guo Panwei for the General Office deputy director position and told him he might take over.
• A middle-aged man shouted outside the branch bureau that Dong Xuebin owed him 254,000 in gambling debts, then fled when officers pursued him.
• Xie Huilan told Dong Xuebin that his transfer depended on Zhen Anguo’s approval, and Dong Xuebin suspected Wei Nan had arranged the accusation to frame him.
• Zhen Anguo used the disturbance as grounds to refuse Dong Xuebin’s transfer, offering instead to seek him a deputy-section-level post at the branch bureau.
• Dong Xuebin argued against being held back, but Zhen Anguo remained firm, leaving Dong Xuebin enraged and his transfer blocked.

Dong Xuebin revealed to the Discipline Inspection Commission that Mayor Xie Huilan was his wife, astonishing his colleagues. The couple left together to buy ingredients for hot pot, while Dong Xuebin enjoyed the attention their marriage drew.

• Dong Xuebin introduced Xie Huilan as his wife outside the Discipline Inspection Commission, shocking the officials and staff who watched.
• Dong Xuebin loaded his luggage into Xie Huilan’s Land Rover as they chatted about making hot pot at home.
• Gao Wenrong and Liang Xuan realized that Xie Huilan’s arrival and the couple’s matching Capital license plates explained their connection.
• Luo Haiting greeted Xie Huilan, apologized for missing her post during the earthquake, and congratulated the couple on their marriage.
• Xie Huilan drove Dong Xuebin away from the Municipal Party Committee Courtyard, and he told her he felt proud of the impression she had made.

On his first day in Second Office, Dong Xuebin kept a low profile and spent the afternoon relaxing until Lan Xuewen brought him a complaint letter concerning a vice governor in Jiangdong Province. Lan then revealed that Xie Huilan had asked him to help Dong familiarize himself with the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

• After lunch, Dong Xuebin returned to the office alone while Han Fei and the others criticized his distant manner and heard Beethoven playing from his office.
• Dong Xuebin texted Xie Huilan, who advised him to keep a low profile and told him Lan Xuewen would visit.
• Lan Xuewen delivered a complaint letter about suspected wasteful projects involving a vice governor in Jiangdong Province, and Dong Xuebin agreed to pass it to Yin Cheng'an.
• Lan Xuewen explained that Xie Huilan had asked him to help Dong understand the situation and get started with his work, and they greeted each other warmly.