Chapter Summaries

After resigning from the Xia Science Academy over a colleague taking credit for his AI work, Chen Mengchuan returned home and went for a walk by the Luoyin River. He drowned while saving a boy and relived a dream of his future life in the Island Nation, ending with humanity’s destruction by alien invaders.

• Chen Mengchuan dove into the Luoyin River to rescue a drowning boy, but something trapped his feet as he helped shore rescuers pull the child out.
• Earlier that day, Chen Mengchuan told Father Chen and Mother Chen that he had resigned from the Xia Science Academy after Guo Siming presented his AI project and took credit for his work.
• Chen Mengchuan explained that the project had passed its fourth test and that Guo Zhidong had placed Guo Siming above him before the fifth-round presentation.
• After dinner, Chen Mengchuan went for a walk and watched the sunset from a bridge over the Luoyin River.
• As he sank beneath the river, Chen Mengchuan dreamed that he married Ayase Sonoko, raised Zhihui after their divorce, and helped create the strong AI Chisako.
• In the dream, alien spacecraft attacked Earth, and Chen Mengchuan and humanity were killed.

After waking from a vivid vision of humanity’s destruction, Chen Mengchuan reunited with his parents and resolved to change the future rather than repeat his old choices. He told his father he planned to develop artificial intelligence, confident because he had already created it in the vision.

• Chen Mengchuan woke in the hospital after rescuing Sun Weijie and struggled to understand whether his memories of the apocalypse had been a dream.
• Sun Weijie and his family thanked Chen Mengchuan, and the boy became his godson.
• After returning home, Chen Mengchuan apologized to his parents and resolved not to leave China or repeat the path he had seen in his vision.
• Chen Mengchuan told Father Chen he planned to start his own venture, and Father Chen offered to help.
• Chen Mengchuan said the Xuan Yuan Artificial Intelligence project was doomed because its theory was wrong, then declared that true artificial intelligence was simpler than people imagined.

Chen Mengchuan worked to rebuild Chisako and sought a supercomputer to test and activate her, knowing he needed help to prepare for humanity’s future crisis. Sun Zhongyong offered to introduce him to someone who might build a supercomputer within Chen Mengchuan’s budget.

• Chen Mengchuan reconstructed Chisako’s framework and planned to finish it within three months, but realized he needed help and access to a supercomputer.
• Chen Mengchuan asked Father Chen about borrowing Su Xi City’s supercomputer, and Father Chen suggested contacting the Sun Family.
• Chen Mengchuan called Sun Zhongshi, who contacted his older brother, Sun Zhongyong.
• Sun Zhongyong visited Chen Mengchuan and discussed his need for a supercomputer.
• After learning Chen Mengchuan had less than three million yuan available, Sun Zhongyong offered to introduce someone who might build a supercomputer for 2.8 million.

Chen Mengchuan sought help building a supercomputer to activate Chisako, but learned that the hardware would cost far more than he could afford. Sun Zhongyong later called to say the Sun Family would lend him the fifteen million US Dollars he needed.

• Sun Zhongyong drove Chen Mengchuan to meet his cousin Gu Xiaoxiao, a Stanford-trained engineer who could advise him on building a supercomputer.
• Gu Xiaoxiao estimated that an entry-level supercomputer would require fifteen million US Dollars, far beyond Chen Mengchuan's budget.
• Chen Mengchuan explained that his private AI would support technical research and claimed its technology would change the world.
• Sun Zhongyong returned to the Sun Family Mansion to consult Sun Aiguo about Chen Mengchuan's project.
• Sun Zhongyong called Chen Mengchuan that night and said the Sun Family would lend him the fifteen million US Dollars.

Chen Mengchuan secured Sun Zhongyong’s funding and approved Gu Xiaoxiao’s two-month supercomputer plan. Over lunch, he explained his proposed wireless electricity technology, leaving Sun intrigued but unconvinced that it would change the world.

• Sun Zhongyong offered Chen Mengchuan fifteen million US dollars, and they agreed it would buy a five percent stake in Chen’s company.
• Gu Xiaoxiao presented a plan to build the supercomputer in two months, and Chen Mengchuan approved it.
• Sun Zhongyong told Chen Mengchuan that the old man trusted him because of his and his father’s academic achievements and Chen’s help to the Sun Family.
• Chen Mengchuan described a system that would transmit electricity wirelessly to appliances and claimed its devices could be peanut-sized with almost no energy loss.
• Sun Zhongyong said the technology sounded useful but questioned whether it was truly world-changing.

Chen Mengchuan continued developing Chisako while Sun Zhongyong registered their company and learned why Chen had left Xia Science Academy. As the academy struggled with its AI project and tried to bring Chen back, he refused to get involved, insisting he had to save the world.

• Chen Mengchuan told Sun Zhongyong that his technology could transform electrical devices and power transmission, and asked him to register a company named Tenzhi.
• Sun Zhongyong registered Su City Tenzhi Technology Co., Ltd., with Chen holding ninety-five percent of its shares and Sun holding five percent.
• Gu Xiaoxiao told Sun Zhongyong that Chen had led Xia Science Academy's Xuan Yuan AI project before Guo Siming took credit and Chen resigned.
• Guo Siming apologized to Chen by phone, but Chen hung up and blacklisted his number; at the academy, Guo Zhidong and others discussed inviting Chen back because Xuan Yuan's acceptance test was approaching.
• Chen refused his father's suggestion that he help Xia Science Academy, saying he had to save the world.

After a dream of a painful future, Chen Mengchuan booked a flight west and left Su City, while avoiding Guo Siming’s attempt to apologize. At the airport, he met Zhao Wanyu of KeDa Intelligence, who recognized his name.

• Chen Mengchuan woke from a vivid dream of his future divorce from Ayase Sonoko and booked a flight west to face the future and leave painful ties behind.
• Chen Mengchuan told Sun Zhongyong he would be away for half a month to a month, and Sun Zhongyong explained to Gu Xiaoxiao how the Guo Family had taken credit for Chen Mengchuan’s AI project.
• Chen Mengchuan packed his design drafts and materials, left a note for his parents, and traveled from Su City toward Qiaohong Airport in Shanghai City.
• Guo Siming called Chen Mengchuan to apologize in person, but Chen Mengchuan claimed to be visiting a friend in Minhang, hung up, and blacklisted his number.
• At the airport, Chen Mengchuan met Zhao Wanyu, an HR employee at KeDa Intelligence, who asked about his AI software and recognized his name.

At the airport, Zhao Wanyu invited Chen Mengchuan to join KeDa and ended up seated beside him on their flight. Meanwhile, in the Su City Industrial Park, Sun Zhongyong arranged for Manager Jiang and Engineer Cheng to handle his factory renovation, including the computer cluster control room.

• Zhao Wanyu recognized Chen Mengchuan as a former Xuanyuan Project AI expert and invited him to work for KeDa.
• Chen Mengchuan exchanged contact information with Zhao Wanyu before they boarded their flight to Xi'an City.
• Zhao Wanyu found the seat beside Chen Mengchuan and said they were fated to meet again.
• Sun Zhongyong showed Manager Jiang the factory renovation plans and entrusted him with the work.
• Manager Jiang brought Engineer Cheng to inspect the plans, and Engineer Cheng promised to complete the computer cluster room within a month.

Chen Mengchuan flew from Shanghai to Xi’an and then boarded a flight to Golmud, where he planned to visit Ayase Sonoko while writing an algorithm for Chisako’s neural network. Zhao Wanyu and the Xia Science Academy both pursued him, and Zhao unexpectedly appeared beside him again on the Golmud flight.

• Chen Mengchuan chatted with Zhao Wanyu on the flight to Xi’an and declined her invitation to work with Ke University, citing his non-compete agreement with the Xia Science Academy.
• At Xi’an airport, Chen Mengchuan rejected Guo Siming’s request to meet, so Guo Zhidong ordered Guo Siming to fly to Xi’an and bring him back to the academy.
• Zhao Wanyu told Sister Wang she had met Chen Mengchuan, and Sister Wang assigned her to persuade him to visit Ke University’s headquarters.
• Chen Mengchuan ate mutton paomo, called his mother, and wrote about Chisako’s neuron-based cognition while waiting to board for Golmud.
• Chen Mengchuan boarded the Golmud flight and fell asleep, then woke to find Zhao Wanyu seated beside him again.

Sun Zhongyong accepted his father’s reasoning that Chen Mengchuan might return to the Xia Science Academy, while he and Gu Xiaoxiao prepared a complicated procurement plan for the supercomputer. Chen Mengchuan arrived in Golmud with Zhao Wanyu, and after they failed to find other lodging, the two ended up sharing a guesthouse room.

• Sun Aiguo showed Sun Zhongyong the torn garment from Sun Weijie’s rescue and praised Chen Mengchuan’s wisdom, righteousness, and courage, helping ease Sun Zhongyong’s worry about his possible return to the Xia Science Academy.
• Gu Xiaoxiao gave Sun Zhongyong procurement documents and explained that the supercomputer order would be divided into hundreds of purchases to navigate American export controls and customs procedures.
• Chen Mengchuan arrived at Golmud Airport with Zhao Wanyu, who insisted on accompanying him despite the cold and his warnings about the volunteer-teaching trip.
• Chen Mengchuan took Zhao Wanyu to the Radio and Television University guesthouse, but they left when they learned only one room was available.
• After failing to find a taxi or ride to town, Chen Mengchuan and Zhao Wanyu returned to the guesthouse and took the only available room, where Chen asked to shower first.

Chen Mengchuan tried to focus on improving Chisako’s neural network while sharing a hotel room with Zhao Wanyu. He calmed himself with white noise and became absorbed in explaining how Chisako’s disordered Data Neurons produced independent thought.

• Chen Mengchuan showered and changed while Zhao Wanyu waited quietly on the bed.
• Zhao Wanyu took her turn in the bathroom, and Chen Mengchuan struggled to focus as he heard her singing.
• Chen Mengchuan put in Bluetooth earbuds and played white noise to settle down.
• Chen Mengchuan worked on Chisako’s algorithm and reflected on how her disordered neural nodes enabled initiative and thought.
• Chen Mengchuan described how Chisako analyzed footage, formed associations, and stored conclusions as she learned.

Chen Mengchuan and Zhao Wanyu traveled west by bus toward Qinghai, while Guo Siming tried and failed to reconcile with Chen over the phone. The journey continued after a brief stop, with Zhao Wanyu left embarrassed by the passengers’ teasing.

• Chen Mengchuan and Zhao Wanyu bought supplies and boarded a slow coach bus heading west.
• Guo Siming called Chen Mengchuan from Xi'an and asked to meet, but Chen said he was near the Kunlun Mountains, hung up, and blocked him again.
• Guo Siming smashed his assistant’s phone in anger, apologized, and returned to the hotel.
• At a gas-station stop, Zhao Wanyu woke and asked where Chen Mengchuan had gone; the driver teased her when Chen returned to the bus.
• Chen Mengchuan handed out cigarettes to the men and offered Zhao Wanyu water as she drank, still embarrassed.

Chen Mengchuan and Zhao Wanyu traveled to Balagetu Primary School with supplies for its children, where Chen reunited with Ayase Sonoko as his memories of her resurfaced. The villagers and children welcomed them warmly, and the chapter ended with Zhao Wanyu moved to tears during lunch.

• Chen Mengchuan and Zhao Wanyu got off at Wutumeiren Township, where Chen borrowed a tractor ride to Balagetu from a local family.
• The young man drove them to Balagetu Primary School and helped carry their supplies inside.
• Chen Mengchuan recognized Ayase Sonoko, and their meeting caused his two sets of memories to merge.
• Ayase Sonoko introduced the visitors to the children, who thanked Chen and Zhao for the notebooks and art supplies.
• The villagers shared lunch with the visitors, and the children offered Zhao Wanyu pieces of their food as she cried.

Chen Mengchuan stayed near the Kunlun Mountains with Zhao Wanyu, who donated money to Ayase Sonoko’s school. When Xia Science Academy asked him to fix Xuan Yuan’s logical core, Chen Mengchuan sent them to negotiate with Sun Zhongyong, who was prepared to charge a high fee.

• Zhao Wanyu donated 1,000 yuan to Ayase Sonoko’s school and decided to stay with Chen Mengchuan for a few days.
• Chen Mengchuan and Zhao Wanyu arranged to stay with a Xu family near the school.
• Chen Mengchuan told Sun Zhongyong to demand a high upfront fee if Xia Science Academy approached him for software testing and bug fixes.
• Guo Siming asked Chen Mengchuan to return to repair conflicts in Xuan Yuan’s logical core, and Chen Mengchuan directed him to Sun Zhongyong.
• Chen Mengchuan called Sun Zhongyong and told him the opportunity had arrived and to get the knives ready.

After getting electricity installed in their rooms, Chen Mengchuan considered recruiting Ke University experts Xu Shuwei and Toni Chen Miantang to accelerate Chisako’s development. Meanwhile, he and Sun Zhongyong planned how to make Guo Siming’s side pay for their Xia Science Academy work, leaving Sun ready to negotiate a costly contract with a strict penalty.

• Chen Mengchuan and Brother Xu wired electricity into Chen Mengchuan and Zhao Wanyu’s rooms, and Zhao Wanyu asked whether Chen planned to start an Artificial Intelligence company.
• Chen Mengchuan asked Zhao Wanyu about Xu Shuwei and Toni Chen Miantang, then considered recruiting the two Ke University experts for Chisako.
• Guo Siming lost his temper after Sun Zhongyong’s call and smashed his assistant’s Fruit X, then promised to replace it with a Fruit XR.
• Sun Zhongyong told Chen Mengchuan that Guo Siming had rejected their request, but Chen said Guo Zhidong would likely pay through his labor outsourcing companies.
• Sun Zhongyong revealed he had quoted six hundred thousand per person-day for five days, and Chen urged him to negotiate freely and set a high breach penalty.

At Balagetu Primary School, Chen Mengchuan sang a heartfelt song for Ayase Sonoko, then got Zhao Wanyu to sing for the children. That evening, Sun Zhongyong used Chen Mengchuan’s supposed Canadian contract to pressure Xia Science Academy into paying more for his work, leaving Guo Siming furious.

• Chen Mengchuan visited Balagetu Primary School, spoke Japanese with Ayase Sonoko, and learned that the children were drawing their imagined skies.
• Chen Mengchuan sang “A Game, A Dream” on Ayase Sonoko’s guitar, stirring Zhao Wanyu’s curiosity about his feelings for Ayase Sonoko.
• Chen Mengchuan encouraged Zhao Wanyu to sing, and she performed songs that delighted the children.
• Guo Zhidong told Guo Siming to bargain Sun Zhongyong’s price down to two million after they failed to find Chen Mengchuan.
• Sun Zhongyong claimed Chen Mengchuan had accepted a Canadian project and demanded that Xia Science Academy cover a 400,000 US Dollar cancellation penalty to secure his cooperation.
• Guo Siming smashed his Nokia phone in anger after Sun Zhongyong’s demand.

Chen Mengchuan asked Zhao Wanyu to arrange a meeting with KeDa Intelligence managers Xu and Toni while she wondered about his unexplained familiarity with the region. In Su City, Sun Zhongyong and Gu Xiaoxiao discussed backing Chen Mengchuan and decided to demand even more from Guo Siming, who smashed his replacement Nokia in anger.

• The assistant repaired Guo Siming’s Nokia and handed it back so he could call President Guo.
• Chen Mengchuan watched the stars with Zhao Wanyu, who questioned how familiar he seemed with places he claimed never to have visited.
• Chen Mengchuan asked Zhao Wanyu to arrange a private meeting with KeDa Intelligence managers Xu and Toni, and she asked how he would repay her.
• Sun Zhongyong told Gu Xiaoxiao he believed Chen Mengchuan could build a major company and explained their plan to demand six million from Xia Science Academy.
• Gu Xiaoxiao urged Sun Zhongyong to ask Guo Siming for an extra ten thousand US Dollars for a computer, and Sun Zhongyong called him.
• Guo Siming smashed the Nokia against the wall and blamed Chen Mengchuan for going too far.

Chen Mengchuan reflected on his strange dream and the future threat while asking Zhao Wanyu to help him meet Manager Xu and Manager Toni. After Zhao Wanyu tried to stop his snoring by dripping water on him, she fell into his bed and kissed him, leaving Chen Mengchuan awake and stunned.

• Chen Mengchuan told Zhao Wanyu he wanted to meet Manager Xu and Manager Toni as soon as possible, and she agreed to try arranging it.
• Chen Mengchuan walked to the Wulameiren River and recalled his dream, including meeting Ayase Sonoko and being forced to leave the village.
• Zhao Wanyu called Chen Mengchuan back to the Xu family courtyard, where he went to sleep and began snoring loudly.
• Unable to sleep, Zhao Wanyu dripped water on Chen Mengchuan from atop the low wall, then lost her balance and fell onto him.
• Zhao Wanyu kissed the sleeping Chen Mengchuan, who woke to find her in his arms with her eyes closed.

Chen Mengchuan cared for Zhao Wanyu through a dangerous fever while recalling his troubled future with Miss Sonoko. He also demanded 6.1 million yuan from Guo Siming for repairing Xuan Yuan, and ended the chapter discussing his feelings with Zhao Wanyu.

• Chen Mengchuan found Zhao Wanyu burning with a high fever and fetched Miss Sonoko, who treated her with help from the Xu family's eldest sister-in-law.
• Chen Mengchuan stayed beside Zhao Wanyu as her fever returned that evening, then followed Miss Sonoko's instructions to care for her.
• Sun Zhongyong told Chen Mengchuan that Guo Siming would offer only 3 million yuan for the Xuan Yuan repair, so Chen Mengchuan demanded 6.1 million yuan from Guo Siming.
• Zhao Wanyu woke and asked Chen Mengchuan about the rumors that the Guo Family had stolen his credit; he confirmed the theft but denied making a scene at Xia Science Academy.
• Zhao Wanyu asked whether Chen Mengchuan had a girlfriend and said he liked Miss Sonoko, but he denied it, leaving Zhao Wanyu quietly pleased.

After Zhao Wanyu recovered from her fever, Chen Mengchuan reflected on Ayase Sonoko’s past and discussed the Guo Family’s retaliation with his father. He tricked Guo Siming into recognizing the value of a neural network algorithm and secured an agreement to pay him 6.1 million and 10 million for the code.

• Zhao Wanyu woke during the night and asked Chen Mengchuan to help her drink water, then invited him to sleep beside her.
• Chen Mengchuan found Zhao Wanyu’s fever gone in the morning and accepted fresh food from Ayase Sonoko, whose past suffering in his dream left him troubled.
• Father Chen warned Chen Mengchuan that the Guo Family might retaliate, and Chen Mengchuan decided to distract them with a flawed algorithm.
• Chen Mengchuan demanded 6.1 million from Guo Zhidong and offered his neural network algorithm for 10 million, then emailed Guo Siming a section containing hidden traps.
• Guo Siming examined the code, declared it extraordinarily valuable, and persuaded Guo Zhidong to accept Chen Mengchuan’s terms and pay for it.