Chapter Summaries

Yao Cui remained unaware of her rumored promotion as leaders across the County Government Office treated her with unusual deference. By the end of the morning, her colleagues were convinced her transfer would be significant, though its destination remained unknown.

• After Ma Bin and Section Chief Cai treated Yao Cui warmly, Xiao Hong and other colleagues questioned her about the apparent promotion, but she said she knew nothing.
• Lao Wang apologized to Yao Cui, and Deputy Section Chief Chen investigated with Section Chief Cai before returning and ordering Little Li to take over Yao Cui's work so she could rest.
• Deputy County Chief Lu stopped to greet Yao Cui kindly, surprising the Secretarial Section staff.
• A leader from the Poverty Alleviation Office shook Yao Cui's hand and invited her to a meal, further convincing her colleagues that her promotion would be substantial.

After Jia Yan was hospitalized on the eve of the Investment Conference, Xie Huilan revealed that she had arranged the drinking trap that sidelined him. Xiang Daofa asked Dong Xuebin to take over, and Dong agreed to return to the conference, motivated by the chance to claim credit for Xiang Daofa’s planned forty-million-yuan project.

• Xiang Daofa and Xie Huilan angrily criticized Jia Yan after learning he had been hospitalized and could not be reached.
• Dong Xuebin found Jia Yan unconscious at the hospital and learned that a Beijing investor had taken him drinking.
• Dong Xuebin texted Xie Huilan and learned that she had arranged the investor to get Jia Yan drunk and sideline him.
• Xiang Daofa called Dong Xuebin and asked him to take charge of the Investment Conference, but Dong hung up before agreeing.
• Xie Huilan told Dong Xuebin to return to the hotel and said she would bring Beijing investment groups to bolster attendance.
• Dong Xuebin learned that Xiang Daofa had a finalized forty-million-yuan project and resolved to take the achievement for himself.

Dong Xuebin and Xie Huilan opened Yantai County’s investment conference while Jia Yan returned from the hospital and learned the event had been handed over to Dong. As the ceremony began, Dong went to receive an important investor representative who had not yet arrived.

• Jia Yan returned to the hotel and asked Lin Pingping about the conference, but she ignored him and Luo Haiting criticized his timing.
• Xie Huilan told Jia Yan that the conference had been handed over to Dong Xuebin and advised him to keep recovering.
• Dong Xuebin told Jia Yan to help Old Sun with the venue, leaving Jia furious about losing control of the conference.
• Lin Pingping hosted the opening ceremony, and Xie Huilan began her speech to the assembled investors.
• Dong Xuebin said an influential investor representative was on the way, then left to receive him after getting a phone call.

Dong Xuebin was sent to defuse Director Jiang’s anger over his nephew’s arrest and beating, then used Back to redo a disastrous exchange about a calligraphy piece. He turned the discovery that Director Jiang had written it into a chance to flatter him, and Director Jiang agreed to stop pursuing the branch bureau leaders.

• Xu Yan ordered Dong Xuebin to meet Director Jiang at Kangde Restaurant and promised to settle his promotion if he handled the crisis.
• Director Jiang ignored the Chengxi Branch Bureau leaders’ apology and criticized their responsibility for his nephew’s arrest and injuries.
• After Dong Xuebin insulted Director Jiang’s calligraphy and learned it was his, he used Back three times to rewind the scene.
• Dong Xuebin defended the calligraphy as a masterwork and praised Director Jiang after the restaurant owner confirmed that Director Jiang had written it.
• Director Jiang accepted Dong Xuebin’s explanation, invited him to sit and eat, and said the incident would not be pursued further.

Deputy Department Director Huo investigated Dong Xuebin’s account of the museum theft case and found that Zhangze City police had misrepresented their role and detained the officer who solved it. The provincial authorities punished the responsible officers, credited Yantai County with the case, and Dong Xuebin later received a First Class Merit medal.

• Deputy Department Director Huo arrived at the Zhangze City Public Security Bureau and questioned Dong Xuebin about the dispute and his detention.
• Dong Xuebin explained that he had infiltrated the criminal group, recovered the cultural relics, and killed the criminals while Zhangze City officers stayed out of the fight.
• Deputy Department Director Huo questioned Xiao Wang, Brother Xu, and Hou Qing, whose accounts confirmed Dong Xuebin’s role and exposed misleading reports by Zhangze City police.
• Deputy Department Director Huo confronted Sun Hai and reported the investigation to the provincial department.
• Brother Xu and the thin-faced criminal police officer were suspended, Sun Hai received an internal Party warning, and the evening newspaper credited Yantai County Public Security Bureau with solving the case.
• Dong Xuebin traveled to Beihe Province’s provincial capital and received the First Class Merit medal.

Dong Xuebin accepted Hou Qing’s invitation to dinner after explaining his unusual lack of social engagements to Yang Zhaode and Luan Xiaoping. At the restaurant, Hou Qing introduced him to Lü'an officials who treated him warmly, and Dong Xuebin realized Yang Zhaode’s influence was drawing people around him.

• Hou Qing called Dong Xuebin and invited him to dinner, and he agreed despite Luan Xiaoping wanting him to stay with the family.
• Yang Zhaode learned that Dong Xuebin’s many clashes with senior officials had left him with few social engagements and encouraged him to build ties with Hou Qing.
• Dong Xuebin agreed to invite Hou Qing to meet Yang Zhaode, who hoped to bring the capable official closer to his circle.
• Hou Qing met Dong Xuebin at the restaurant and introduced him to Deputy Mayor Zhou, Director Liu, and Dean Li.
• Deputy Mayor Zhou left during dinner, while the other officials and visiting cadres toasted Dong Xuebin enthusiastically, making him realize Yang Zhaode’s influence was behind the attention.

After a night of drinking with former colleagues, Dong Xuebin returned to Xie Huilan’s home and told her how the school had handled Yu Qianqian’s bullying case. As Xie Huilan soaked her feet in his bath, Dong Xuebin secretly admired her legs and gathered one into his arms.

• Dong Xuebin arrived at Xie Huilan’s home drunk after Secretary Hu drove him there.
• Xie Huilan brought Dong Xuebin a towel and toothbrush while he bathed, then discussed how Huang Tingting and the other students had been expelled and Huang Shizhong had apologized.
• Dong Xuebin urged Xie Huilan to remove Huang Shizhong as Education Bureau director, but she said the timing and political consequences required caution.
• Xie Huilan asked about Yu Qianqian’s recovery and Yu Meixia, and Dong Xuebin explained that he had helped them because they struggled on their own.
• Xie Huilan put her bare legs into Dong Xuebin’s bathtub to soak her feet, and he secretly admired them before drawing one thigh into his arms.

Dong Xuebin escorted Zhong Lizhen through the Research Institute as soldiers closed in after her escape was discovered. He killed the pursuing soldiers with seemingly impossible accuracy, and Zhong Lizhen began to believe he could get her out safely.

• Dong Xuebin and Zhong Lizhen descended through the Research Institute, avoiding soldiers until the alarm sounded and revealed their escape.
• As armed soldiers approached, Zhong Lizhen urged Dong Xuebin to leave her behind, but he insisted on protecting her.
• Dong Xuebin knocked Zhong Lizhen down to shield her and shot two soldiers who appeared around a corner.
• He evaded a hail of gunfire and fired blindly around the corner, killing five more soldiers with shots to their heads or hearts.
• Zhong Lizhen saw the dead soldiers and realized Dong Xuebin might be able to lead her through the encirclement.

Dong Xuebin and the Zhenshui County team struggled to attract investors at the conference, finally securing two for an inspection before Lu Weiguo diverted them to Meiyang District. Gong Na returned to report that the investors had abandoned their visit to Zhenshui County, leaving the team furious at Lu’s interference.

• Dong Xuebin sent Chen Yunsong, Gong Na, and the others to distribute Zhenshui County’s brochures and seek investors throughout the conference grounds.
• After working through lunch, Chen Yunsong persuaded two investors to schedule an afternoon inspection of Zhenshui County.
• Lu Weiguo invited the investors to lunch in the city, and Zheng Dayou sent Gong Na with them to keep the inspection plans on track.
• Gong Na reported that the investors had changed their minds after lunch and gone to Meiyang District instead, allegedly on Lu Weiguo’s recommendation.
• Chang Juan and the Zhenshui County staff condemned Lu Weiguo for undermining their effort to bring the investors to the county.

Dong Xuebin and Xie Huilan shared an intimate night as they confessed their love and explored each other. When Dong Xuebin began having sex with her, he realized Xie Huilan was a virgin.

• Dong Xuebin admired Xie Huilan and asked whether he was dreaming, while she told him she had never loved anyone before and now loved him.
• Xie Huilan kissed Dong Xuebin and playfully dripped red wine on him, licking it from his face and navel.
• Xie Huilan signaled that she was ready, and Dong Xuebin put on a condom before moving between her legs.
• Dong Xuebin began having sex with Xie Huilan and saw pale red fluid seep onto the bedsheet, realizing she was a virgin.

Dong Xuebin visited Yang Zhaode and Luan Xiaoping before his transfer, spending time with his daughter and discussing how to handle his departure from Fenzhou City. Yang Zhaode advised him to maintain relationships at home and start cautiously in the remote area where he would be sent, though the destination remained unknown.

• Dong Xuebin told Luan Xiaoping and Yang Zhaode that his transfer would take him far away, and Yang Zhaode encouraged him to seize the opportunity while Luan Xiaoping worried about him leaving.
• Dong Xuebin picked up Xiao Qianqian and cheered her up by carrying her around the room, then brought her to dinner.
• Dong Xuebin learned Yun Xuan was working a night shift and agreed to attend dinners with his Fenzhou City contacts before leaving, following Yang Zhaode's advice to preserve relationships for Hui Lan.
• Yang Zhaode told Dong Xuebin that his likely destinations were distant national-level impoverished areas and advised him to keep a low profile, think carefully, and rebuild his connections from scratch.

Dong Xuebin shared dinner with Yao Cui and her family, who thanked him for promoting her and discussed how she could succeed as his secretary. Afterward, Yao Cui’s parents urged her to use her new position to find her younger brother a job.

• Dong Xuebin eased Yao Cui’s parents’ nervousness, then toasted with them and thanked Yao Cui for agreeing to help him.
• Yao Cui asked Dong Xuebin how he had risen so quickly, and he promised to explain when he had more time.
• After Dong Xuebin left, Yao Cui’s family praised his career and urged her to perform well as his secretary.
• Yao’s Mother asked Yao Cui to find Yao Li a job, and Yao’s Father suggested placing him in a state-owned enterprise.

Dong Xuebin brought Chang Juan to the Investment Bureau and arranged for her to become its deputy director. He then revealed that the bureau had one month to secure fifty million in investment, or he would resign.

• Dong Xuebin persuaded Chang Juan to join the Investment Bureau as deputy director and promised to arrange her housing.
• Chang Juan met the Organization Department staff and the bureau employees, who accepted her as Dong Xuebin's new deputy.
• Dong Xuebin announced that the Investment Bureau had to secure fifty million in investment within a month of the City Investment Conference.
• Dong Xuebin told the staff that he had pledged to resign if the bureau missed the target, leaving them alarmed about the task and their new promotions.

Dong Xuebin celebrated his expected promotion to deputy section chief with Qu Yunxuan, and the two grew closer during a night out. A few days later, the bureau completed its assessment and proposed his promotion, stunning colleagues with how quickly he had advanced.

• Dong Xuebin told Qu Yunxuan he was certain to be promoted to deputy section chief, and they planned a celebration together.
• Dong Xuebin and Qu Yunxuan went shopping and to a movie, where they flirted and grew more intimate.
• During the movie, Dong Xuebin spoke to Luan Xiaoping on the phone while Qu Yunxuan surprised him with an intimate gesture.
• Pang Bin and the Political Department conducted Dong Xuebin's cadre assessment, consulted colleagues and General Office leaders, and submitted their report to the bureau party committee.
• The bureau party committee proposed Dong Xuebin for promotion to deputy section chief with his position unchanged, astonishing colleagues because he had joined the agency only four months earlier.

Ma Bin discovered that Yao Cui and County Chief Dong were university classmates and worried about repairing the offense he had caused. After dinner, Dong Xuebin walked Yao Cui toward the bus stop and encouraged her to believe she might still be promoted.

• Ma Bin realized that the guest dining at Yao Cui's home was County Chief Dong and asked Section Chief Cai to investigate Yao Cui's background.
• Section Chief Cai found that Yao Cui and Dong Xuebin had attended United University in the same class year, and Ma Bin considered how to make amends.
• Dong Xuebin offered to leave alone because Yao Cui had a cold, but she changed clothes and insisted on seeing him off.
• On the way to the bus stop, Yao Cui said she hoped to become deputy director of the county government office but doubted she would be promoted.
• Dong Xuebin told Yao Cui that her prospects might be better than she thought.

Dong Xuebin fought his way to hotel owner Chang Dajin and accused him of installing hidden cameras in the hotel rooms. After discovering that Chang Dajin had a State Security credential, Dong stole it while stopping time and revealed it to him, leaving Chang stunned.

• Dong Xuebin defeated the hotel guards and entered Chang Dajin's office.
• Dong accused Chang Dajin of placing cameras in hotel rooms, but Chang denied it and warned that State Security agents were coming.
• Dong stopped time, searched Chang's belongings, and found a hidden Police credential.
• Dong resumed time and showed Chang the stolen credential, confirming Chang's State Security connection.
• Chang reached for the credential and realized it had disappeared from his hidden pocket.

After the auction brought Yun De Auction Company’s estimated value close to ten million, Dong Xuebin bought Qu Yunxuan a Mercedes-Benz S-Class and urged her to reinvest the company’s earnings. They ended by planning to collect jadeite rough stone in Ruili for the company’s next Spring Auction.

• Dong Xuebin and Qu Yunxuan celebrated the auction’s success and learned that the company had earned around nine million yuan after taxes, with assets approaching ten million.
• Qu Yunxuan revealed that she had won a license plate lottery, and Dong Xuebin accompanied her to shop for a car before leaving for Yantai County the next day.
• Dong Xuebin insisted that Qu Yunxuan buy a silver Mercedes-Benz S350L, which she loved despite its price of over 1.3 million yuan.
• Dong Xuebin told Qu Yunxuan to keep the proceeds from the Wild Ginseng and Hetian Jade Hairpin in the company and prepare for the next auction.
• Qu Yunxuan suggested that Dong Xuebin use his stone-identification skill on jadeite rough stone, and they agreed to have someone collect stones in Ruili for the Spring Auction.

Dong Xuebin rushed to buy Double Color Ball tickets before sales closed, betting one hundred times on the numbers he knew would win. After the draw matched his ticket exactly, Qu Yunxuan realized they had won one hundred First Prizes.

• Dong Xuebin hurried to a lottery shop and bought one hundred bets on several number combinations before sales closed.
• Dong Xuebin returned home with the tickets, and Qu Yunxuan teased him as they waited for the draw.
• Qu Yunxuan watched the draw with Dong Xuebin and saw the winning numbers match his ticket.
• Qu Yunxuan checked Dong Xuebin's ticket and realized he had won one hundred First Prize bets.

Dong Xuebin proposed to Xie Huilan with a pair of pink diamond rings, and she accepted amid her family’s celebrations. The family agreed to hold a modest wedding at Grandpa Xie’s villa in Beijing, and Xie Huilan invited Dong Xuebin to her room afterward.

• Dong Xuebin gave Xie Huilan a pink diamond ring and proposed to her in front of the Xie family.
• Xie Huilan accepted Dong Xuebin’s proposal and kissed him while her relatives cheered.
• The family admired the rings, and Dong Xuebin explained that lottery winnings and selling a company had funded the purchase.
• Han Jing and Xie Guobang discussed the wedding with Dong Xuebin and settled on a simple ceremony at Grandpa Xie’s villa in Beijing.
• After dinner, Xie Huilan asked Dong Xuebin to sit with her in her room, while Xie Jing and Xie Hao teased them.

Dong Xuebin brought Yu Meixia to dinner at Xu Yan’s home, where the two women quickly bonded while he cooked. The evening ended with Xu Yan and Yu Meixia absorbed in conversation as Dong Xuebin ate and drank by himself.

• Yu Meixia called Dong Xuebin and asked to visit, so he invited her to join him for dinner at Xu Yan’s home.
• Xu Yan welcomed Dong Xuebin and Yu Meixia, and Dong introduced the two women and explained their family connections.
• Xu Yan recognized Yu Meixia as Qian Lihua’s daughter and recalled that Dong had helped her find her parents.
• Xu Yan and Yu Meixia chatted over tea while Dong Xuebin cooked dinner alone.
• Xu Yan and Yu Meixia talked about their children and their school grades during dinner while Dong Xuebin ate and drank by himself.