Ch. 1Bates Ball
Key Plot Points and Events
- Leng Xiangwen shares his encounter with an unidentified flying object, dubbed the "Bates Ball," which is incredibly fast, agile, and undetectable by radar.
- The Bates Ball has been sighted worldwide, with military jets failing to catch up to it. It's rumored to have caused accidents, including a fatal one.
- Song He promises to help inquire about the Bates Ball.
Character Developments
- Leng Xiangwen: He witnessed the Bates Ball, which challenges his disbelief in UFOs, causing his worldview to shift.
- Song He: He feels the weight of responsibility and fatigue due to his role as the principal, but he remains committed to his duties.
Significant Themes
- Disbelief and Belief: Leng Xiangwen's encounter with the Bates Ball challenges his disbelief in UFOs, reflecting the theme of questioning one's beliefs.
- Responsibility and Fatigue: Song He feels the burden of his responsibilities, leading to mental exhaustion.
Character Interactions
- Leng Xiangwen and Song He: They discuss the Bates Ball, with Leng Xiangwen sharing his experience and Song He offering to help inquire about it.
- Song He and the Technical Soldiers/Genius Institute Students: Song He bids farewell to the Technical Soldiers and Genius Institute students, expressing his hopes for their future and promising scholarships to two students who won against their class teachers in chess and Go.
- Song He and Xiang Xiaotong: They share a moment of reflection on the departure of the students, with Xiang Xiaotong feeling sad about the sudden quietness of the School of Pharmacy.