Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Professor Ma suggests Song He return to high school to quickly finish the curriculum, then come to Jinghai University for in-depth study and research.
• The professors and graduate students invite Song He to visit the laboratory often, expressing their eagerness for his presence.
• Dean Lou arranges for undergraduate students to bring meals to the laboratory, offering Credit in exchange for their help.
• Song He and his team work tirelessly on cultivating the Song He Bacteria Symbiote, making progress on their Black Technology Blueprint.
• At 2 AM, only Song He and Zuo Gaoming remain in the laboratory. Zuo Gaoming falls asleep, and Song He continues working alone.

Character Developments

• Song He demonstrates his dedication and work ethic, staying up all night to work on his research.
• Zuo Gaoming shows loyalty and determination, choosing to stay in the laboratory despite his exhaustion.

Significant Themes

• The importance of hard work and dedication in scientific research.
• The collaborative nature of scientific research, with the professors, graduate students, and even undergraduate students working together to support Song He's research.

Character Interactions

• Professor Ma, Lu Chengen, Tao Miaochun, and Ji Zining express their enthusiasm for Song He's presence in the laboratory, inviting him to "come and play" often.
• Dean Lou offers support to the laboratory, arranging for undergraduate students to bring meals and ensuring the team has what they need.
• Song He and Zuo Gaoming work together, with Zuo Gaoming showing loyalty to Song He's cause, even staying up all night to accompany him.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Competition Students are frustrated and sleepless due to the rebels' (Song He's) dominance in the game.
• Song He's performance impresses the Zhuang family, leading to a discussion about giving him a famous teacher account.
• Principal Ren Zhiyuan is pleased with Song He's progress and compares him to a past exceptional student, Yu Anbang.
• Song He successfully draws a "Fungi Perspective Capsule" from the System, which allows him to perceive the deep state of fungi and induce their evolution.

Character Developments

• Song He continues to excel in the game, drawing the ire of other Competition Students.
• Principal Ren Zhiyuan recognizes Song He's potential and compares him favorably to a past student.
• Song He's roommate, Yuan Guang, is mentioned but doesn't interact with Song He, indicating a lack of development or interaction between them.

Significant Themes

• The theme of exceptional talent and its recognition (Song He, Yu Anbang).
• The frustration and helplessness of the Competition Students due to their inability to compete with the rebels.
• The potential and vast applications of fungi, hinting at Song He's future scientific pursuits.

Character Interactions

• Song He and Ning Mo are briefly mentioned together, with Ning Mo studying in the toilet while Song He reads papers, indicating their continued cooperation.
• The Zhuang family discusses Song He's potential and the possibility of giving him a famous teacher account.
• Principal Ren Zhiyuan shares his thoughts about Song He with his wife, showing his recognition of Song He's talent.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song He and his classmates enter an empty classroom on campus.
• Song He agrees to help his classmates with their incorrect problem books, alternating between biology and mathematics.
• Chu Long and Leng Xiangwen, aware of Song He's prowess, attempt to challenge him with difficult mathematics problems.
• Song He effortlessly solves Leng Xiangwen's problems, causing Leng Xiangwen to leave and Chu Long to step in.
• Chu Long presents Song He with a particularly challenging mathematics problem, asking if he can solve it.

Character Developments

• Song He demonstrates his exceptional problem-solving skills in both biology and mathematics, maintaining his composure under pressure.
• Chu Long, initially confident in his mathematical abilities, begins to feel anxious and tense when challenging Song He.
• Leng Xiangwen experiences a mix of excitement and fear when he realizes Song He might surpass him in the next major exam.

Significant Themes

• The theme of intellectual competition and the desire to prove one's superiority is prominent, as seen in the interactions between Song He, Chu Long, and Leng Xiangwen.
• The chapter also explores the dynamics of mentorship and guidance, with Song He helping his classmates with their homework.

Character Interactions

• Song He interacts with his classmates, helping them with their homework and maintaining a calm and confident demeanor.
• Chu Long and Leng Xiangwen collaborate to challenge Song He, initially using Leng Xiangwen as a proxy before Chu Long steps in to test Song He's abilities.
• The dynamics between Song He, Chu Long, and Leng Xiangwen highlight their competitive nature and desire to measure their intellectual prowess against one another.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song He decides to use Super Bacteria (Acinetobacter Baumannii) to fight the Song He Bacteria Symbiote.
• Professor Ma allows Song He to work with the Super Bacteria under his supervision.
• Song He conducts numerous experiments, trying different concentrations, Culture Medium ingredients, and methods to make the symbiote resist Baumann, but fails repeatedly.
• Zuo Gaoming and Fan Tao, inspired by Song He's dedication, also start working on the symbiote, trying different approaches.
• Song He, Zuo Gaoming, and Fan Tao work late into the night, with Song He falling asleep at around 2 AM.

Character Developments

• Song He: Shows determination and dedication in his research, even when facing numerous failures. He also displays a competitive spirit when he learns about Zuo Gaoming and Fan Tao's efforts.
• Professor Ma: Shows trust in Song He's abilities by allowing him to work with Super Bacteria.
• Zuo Gaoming and Fan Tao: Initially listless, they are inspired by Song He's dedication and start working on the symbiote themselves, displaying a competitive spirit and desire to succeed.

Significant Themes

• Determination and Persistence: Song He's dedication to his research, despite numerous failures, highlights the theme of determination and persistence in the face of adversity.
• Competition and Rivalry: The dynamic between Song He, Zuo Gaoming, and Fan Tao showcases the theme of competition and rivalry, with each trying to outdo the others.

Character Interactions

• Song He and Professor Ma: The professor shows trust in Song He, while Song He is grateful for the opportunity to work with Super Bacteria.
• Song He, Zuo Gaoming, and Fan Tao: The three engage in a silent competition, each trying to outdo the others in creating a more closely symbiotic Song He Bacteria. They communicate through written notes on the glass wall separating their labs.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song He attends a grand welcome banquet organized by the Zhuang and Leng families to celebrate his return and express their gratitude for his potential business partnership.
• The banquet is lavish and extravagant, with the families eager to win Song He's favor.
• Song He spends time with his relatives, teachers from Jinghai No. 4 High School, and professors from Jinghai University during the banquet.
• After the banquet, Song He returns to school and finds the men's restroom in a state of disrepair, with broken flushing pipes causing a severe odor.
• He suggests calling the school to request a better study environment, such as a dorm room with uninterrupted power supply.

Character Developments

• Song He: Shows maturity and modesty in handling the attention and praise from his relatives and teachers. He remains focused on his studies despite the distractions.
• Relatives: Display a mix of pride, excitement, and matchmaking intentions towards Song He's academic achievements.
• Teachers and Professors: Express pride and support for Song He's accomplishments, offering guidance and resources for his future academic pursuits.

Significant Themes

• Recognition and pride in academic achievements
• The pressure and expectations that come with success
• The importance of focus and dedication in one's studies
• The contrast between the lavish banquet and the harsh study conditions at school

Character Interactions

• Song He interacts with his relatives, teachers, and professors, navigating the attention and expectations with humility.
• Song He and his study group (Ding Yangze, Ning Mo, Chu Long, and Leng Xiangwen) share their discomfort in the restroom, highlighting their camaraderie and shared struggles.
• Song He considers calling the school to improve their study environment, showing his initiative and concern for his peers.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song He decides to focus on Mathematics for the preliminary written exam and Biology for the level assessment at Jinghai University.
• He meets Andrei Sergeyevich Primakov, a Russian Mathematics postgraduate student, at the university's dormitory.
• Xie Kefu (Andrei's Chinese name) shares his Mathematics textbooks with Song He and offers to study together.

Character Developments

• Song He: Shows determination in studying Mathematics and maintains humility despite his abilities.
• Xie Kefu: Proves to be an exceptional Mathematics student from Saint Petersburg University, initially skeptical of Song He's abilities.

Significant Themes

• The importance of Mathematics in the Lunar City Project and space exploration.
• The value of mentorship and collaboration in learning, as seen in Xie Kefu's offer to help Song He.

Character Interactions

• Song He and Xie Kefu: Initially surprised to meet each other, they form a study partnership, with Xie Kefu offering his textbooks and expertise to Song He.
• Zuo Gaoming and Fan Tao: Visit Song He to discuss Biology papers, showing their camaraderie and shared academic goals.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song He receives his midterm report card, scoring poorly in Language Arts, English, Physics, and Chemistry, but ranking 410th out of 820 students.
• He decides to self-study one subject every two days, starting with Physics, to improve his ranking for the Six School Joint Exam.
• He spends two days studying Physics intensively, completing a textbook and a practice book, and receives tutoring from Chu Long.

Character Developments

• Song He shows determination and dedication to improving his weak subjects, demonstrating his competitive spirit and resilience.
• Chu Long, as Song He's Physics tutor, shows his expertise and willingness to help, revealing his own Academic Overlord mentality.

Significant Themes

• The importance of self-improvement and hard work, even when faced with difficulties.
• The competitive nature of academic exams and the desire to excel.
• The value of camaraderie and mutual support among students, as seen in Song He's study group.

Character Interactions

• Song He and Chu Long: Song He seeks Chu Long's help in understanding Physics concepts, and Chu Long willingly provides guidance, showing mutual respect and support.
• Song He and Qiu Lingshan: They interact briefly in the cafeteria, with Qiu Lingshan offering to help Song He with his Physics paper, showing friendly concern.
• Song He and his study buddies: They continue to study together, acknowledging Song He's progress and supporting his goal to improve his ranking.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Du Lai's No. 15 Bacteria initially thrive but suddenly stop dividing and start dying en masse.
• Du Lai attempts to save his bacteria by adjusting the culture medium's pH but fails.
• Song He's No. 1 Bacteria, predicted to be doomed, surprisingly forms colonies.
• Students gather around Song He's culture flask, shocked by the size and vitality of his bacteria.

Character Developments

• Du Lai: Becomes desperate and defeated after his bacteria die, despite his initial smugness.
• Song He: Proves his expertise in bacterial cultivation, shocking his peers.
• Xu Tingfeng: Shows surprise and shock at the sight of Song He's bacteria.
• Fan Tao and Xiong Xiuwei: Feel stressed and seek entertainment by watching high school students' experiments.

Significant Themes

• Competition and Rivalry: Du Lai and Song He's competition in bacterial cultivation.
• Expertise and Skill: Song He's superior skills in bacterial cultivation.
• Failure and Resilience: Du Lai's failure and his peers' reactions to it.

Character Interactions

• Du Lai and Wei Huai, Su Xueduan, Lang Gaoge: Work together to try and save Du Lai's bacteria.
• Du Lai and Song He: Du Lai's stubbornness and Song He's calm confidence in their interaction.
• Students and Song He: Students' surprise and disbelief at the sight of Song He's bacteria.
• Fan Tao and Xiong Xiuwei: Share stress and seek entertainment together.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter focuses on the Six School Joint Exam day.
• Song He, unlike his usual anxious self, observes the morning routine of students in the opposite dormitory, realizing he's missed many common high school experiences.
• The Language Arts exam is unexpectedly filled with classical Chinese and ancient vernacular, benefiting Song He who excels in this area.
• Song He aces the Language Arts and Mathematics exams, leaving the exam halls early and standing alone in the corridor.
• The English exam is challenging for all students, taking Song He an unusually long time to complete.

Character Developments

• Song He shows growth in self-awareness, realizing he's missed out on typical high school experiences due to his focus on academics.
• He demonstrates his exceptional abilities in classical Chinese and mathematics, reinforcing his status as a genius.
• Yuan Guang, Song He's roommate, is shown to be less academically inclined, struggling with the exams.

Significant Themes

• The pressure and intensity of high school exams.
• The isolation and loneliness that can come with academic excellence.
• The realization of missed experiences due to focus on academics.

Character Interactions

• Song He and Yuan Guang's interaction shows their differing academic abilities and mindsets.
• Song He's isolation is emphasized by his standing alone in the corridor after each exam, contrasting with the students still struggling inside.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song He arranges for the group to study in Dorm 404 with uninterrupted power.
• They clean the dorm and start studying. The Principal sends liver protection pills for late-night studying.
• Ding Yangze, Ning Mo, and Song He go to the bathroom, leaving Chu Long and Leng Xiangwen alone in the dorm.
• Chu Long and Leng Xiangwen discuss Song He's progress, with Chu Long revealing he can't solve all the problems.
• Ding Yangze and Ning Mo peek at Chu Long's book after they return, wanting to compare their progress with his.

Character Developments

• Song He: Shows leadership and connections by arranging the study session and the dorm. He's determined to learn as much as possible before the exam.
• Chu Long: Struggles with the difficulty of the book and feels threatened by Song He's progress. He's determined to maintain his "divine position" in Mathematics.
• Leng Xiangwen: Supports Chu Long and encourages him to maintain his top position. He's also impressed by Song He's achievements.
• Ding Yangze and Ning Mo: They're eager to compare their progress with Chu Long's, showing their competitive spirit.

Significant Themes

• Competition and Rivalry: The Academic Overlords are driven by competition, both with each other and with their own potential. They strive to maintain or improve their positions.
• Friendship and Rivalry: Despite their competitive nature, the Academic Overlords also support and encourage each other, showing a complex blend of friendship and rivalry.

Character Interactions

• Song He and Chu Long: They subtly compete and support each other. Song He admires Chu Long's abilities, while Chu Long feels threatened by Song He's progress.
• Leng Xiangwen and Chu Long: They discuss Song He's progress and encourage each other to maintain their top positions.
• Ding Yangze and Ning Mo: They bond over their shared eagerness to compare their progress with Chu Long's.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Mathematics Department of Jinghai University reviews a proof of the Woolf-Gong Conjecture, written by students Chu Long, Qiu Lingshan, and Song He.
• The review is delayed due to a trivial formatting issue (large line spacing).
• It's revealed that Song He, a freshman with no mathematical awards, was the main contributor to the proof.
• The students spend less than a night proving the conjecture, which shocks the Mathematics Department.

Character Developments

• Song He: Showcases his mathematical prowess, proving the Woolf-Gong Conjecture in record time. He also expresses frustration with the technicalities of writing a paper.
• Chu Long & Qiu Lingshan: Collaborate on writing the English abstract and narrative sections of the paper, demonstrating their English proficiency.
• Dean Cai & Professor Wang: Realize the exceptional talent of Song He and discuss the possibility of recruiting him to their Mathematics Department.

Significant Themes

• Talent and Genius: Song He's mathematical abilities are highlighted, showing his unique talent and potential.
• Interdisciplinary Excellence: Song He's achievements in both Mathematics and Biology are emphasized, suggesting his versatility and exceptional intellect.
• Competition and Rivalry: The Mathematics Department's shock and the graduate students' feelings of being preempted by high school students highlight the competitive nature of academic research.

Character Interactions

• Song He, Chu Long, & Qiu Lingshan: Collaborate on writing the paper, with Song He focusing on the proof formulas and Chu Long and Qiu Lingshan handling the English sections.
• Dean Cai & Ren Zhiyuan: Engage in a tense phone conversation, with Ren Zhiyuan revealing that Song He was the main contributor to the proof.
• Song He & Zhai Zhu: Discuss the possibility of publishing papers in Chinese, showcasing Song He's ambition and Zhai Zhu's guidance.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Professor Wang Taichu, a mathematics professor at Jinghai University, is known for his laziness and dismissing classes early.
• He assigns the Woolf-Gong Conjecture as a final project to his graduate students, who struggle with it.
• Three students from Jinghai No. 4 High School, surprisingly, prove the conjecture, catching the attention of the university.
• Professor Wang reviews the high school students' proof and finds it correct and beautifully done.

Character Developments

• Professor Wang Taichu: Initially portrayed as lazy and dismissive of his students, he shows a deep passion and respect for mathematics when reviewing the high school students' proof. He becomes excited and eager to meet the student who proved the conjecture.
• Dean Cai: Initially frustrated with Professor Wang's laziness, he becomes enthusiastic about the high school students' achievement and sees it as an opportunity to showcase the Mathematics Department's teaching quality.

Significant Themes

• Laziness vs. Passion: Professor Wang's laziness in teaching contrasts with his passion for mathematics, which is ignited when he sees the high school students' proof.
• Genius and Talent: The chapter highlights the extraordinary intelligence and talent of the high school students who proved the conjecture, challenging the expectations of the university professors.

Character Interactions

• Professor Wang and Dean Cai: Their interaction shows a mix of frustration (Dean Cai with Professor Wang's laziness) and mutual respect (Professor Wang's acknowledgment of Dean Cai's authority).
• Professor Wang and the Graduate Students: Initially dismissive of his students' work, Professor Wang later expresses disappointment in their proof compared to the high school students' work, causing the students to feel devastated.
• Professor Wang and the High School Students (implied): Despite not meeting them, Professor Wang expresses admiration and eagerness to meet the students who proved the conjecture, showing respect for their talent.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song He completes a physics paper in record time, scoring 80 points, surprising his teacher Qiu Lingshan.
• Song He decides to improve his Chinese composition score by studying Perfect Score Essays in the library.
• Principal Ren Zhiyuan reveals that Professor Ma instructed Song He to take exams with senior students to apply pressure for growth.
• Song He decides to read classic literature to improve his language skills and leaves school to visit Xinhua Bookstore.

Character Developments

• Song He demonstrates his exceptional intelligence and work ethic by quickly mastering physics and deciding to improve his Chinese composition score.
• Qiu Lingshan shows surprise and disbelief at Song He's sudden improvement in physics.
• Principal Ren Zhiyuan reveals his knowledge of Song He's situation and offers guidance on improving language skills.

Significant Themes

• The pressure of high expectations and the drive to excel (Professor Ma's influence, Song He's determination to improve).
• The importance of reading and exposure to diverse literature for language development (Song He's decision to read classics).

Character Interactions

• Song He and Qiu Lingshan: Qiu Lingshan is surprised and skeptical of Song He's sudden improvement in physics, while Song He remains humble about his abilities.
• Song He and Principal Ren Zhiyuan: Ren Zhiyuan reveals Professor Ma's intentions and offers guidance to Song He on improving his language skills.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The system completes an upgrade, introducing new features and benefits.
• Song He discovers the changes: lowered prices in the System Shop, a new Wishing Well, and increased Resentment absorption sensitivity.
• He tests the Wishing Well by injecting 100,000 Resentment Value, but no immediate rewards are produced.
• Song He announces the team's next project: developing an Artificial Cornea.
• He assigns the team to study and prepare for an exam on the topic within three days, with only those who pass allowed to join the Spring Festival research and development team.

Character Developments

• Song He demonstrates his generosity by rewarding his team members handsomely for their work on the Short Sleep Pill.
• He shows his determination and ambition by taking on a new, challenging project in Artificial Cornea development.
• The team members express their enthusiasm and dedication to their work under Song He's leadership.

Significant Themes

• Ambition and Determination: Song He's willingness to take on new challenges and push his team to excel.
• Generosity and Reward: Song He's recognition and compensation for his team's hard work.
• Knowledge Acquisition and Growth: The team's collective effort to learn about Artificial Cornea development.

Character Interactions

• Song He interacts with his team members, both rewarding them and challenging them to grow.
• The team members respond to Song He's announcements with enthusiasm, fear, and determination.
• Song He's actions inspire loyalty and dedication in his team, with some expressing their willingness to follow him through thick and thin.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song He passes the university entrance exam and is admitted to Frontier Technology University.
• Upon returning to Jinghai No. 4 High School, Song He surprises his classmates, causing a commotion.
• Song He refuses to reveal details about his work on the Lunar City Project, citing it as a state secret.

Character Developments

• Song He maintains his arrogance and confidence, enjoying his status as the "River God" among his peers.
• His classmates idolize and respect Song He, eager to learn about his experiences and achievements.

Significant Themes

• The impact of fame and success on interpersonal relationships.
• The allure of secrecy and mystery in maintaining one's status.
• The tension between personal ambition and professional responsibility (keeping state secrets).

Character Interactions

• Song He reconnects with his classmates, who are thrilled to see him and eager to learn about his experiences.
• Liu Lu, the teacher, is surprised and pleased to see Song He but maintains professional decorum.
• Song He's classmates, particularly Zhao Yiyi and Ding Yangze, express excitement and curiosity about his work and personal life.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xia Wansan, a provincial Top Scorer, is courted by admissions officers from Tsinghua and Peking University but ultimately chooses Frontier Technology University.
• Xia Wansan, obsessed with money, initially wants to study economics but changes his mind after realizing the practical value of technology in creating wealth.
• Xia Wansan negotiates with Song He to exchange his scholarship and pocket money for goods (medicines) to sell overseas, aiming to gain business experience.

Character Developments

• Xia Wansan: Initially focused on studying economics, he shifts his interest to biopharmaceuticals after recognizing the potential wealth in technology. He demonstrates business acumen and negotiation skills.
• Song He: Recognizes Xia Wansan's potential and agrees to his unconventional requests, showing flexibility and understanding of his students' motivations.

Significant Themes

• The pursuit of wealth and success through education and business.
• The value of practical knowledge and skills versus theoretical understanding.
• The importance of mentors and role models in shaping students' goals and aspirations.

Character Interactions

• Xia Wansan and Song He: Xia Wansan impresses Song He with his clear goals and business acumen, leading to a successful negotiation. Song He, in turn, challenges Xia Wansan to focus on academic excellence while supporting his entrepreneurial spirit.
• Xia Wansan and Admissions Officers (Tsinghua and Peking University): Xia Wansan rejects both prestigious universities, causing disappointment and confusion among the admissions officers. They later express concern about similar situations happening in other provinces.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chenghuang Company introduces its final new product, the Chenghuang Artificial Cornea, which uses human skin cells to create a cornea nearly identical to a naturally grown one.
• The Artificial Cornea has successfully completed 12 transplant surgeries with positive results.
• Chenghuang Company aims to reduce the price of the Artificial Cornea to 20,000 yuan within two years and meet the global demand for corneal transplants within 15 years.
• The company's ultimate goal is to extend human lifespan by developing treatments for various diseases and organ replacement technologies.

Character Developments

• Wei Liqun, the CEO of Chenghuang Company, demonstrates confidence and charisma in presenting the company's ambitious goals and products.
• Song He, the protagonist, feels a mix of excitement and nervousness as he oversees the live broadcast and awaits the sales results of the Short Sleep Pill.

Significant Themes

• Technological advancements and their potential to improve human life.
• The tension between ambition and practicality in business and scientific pursuits.
• The power of promises and commitments, as exemplified by the company's 200-year goal.

Character Interactions

• The interaction between Wei Liqun and the audience is positive, with the audience showing enthusiasm and trust in the company's capabilities.
• Song He's interaction with the computer screen reflects his nervous anticipation of the sales results.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song He visits Liu Lu, his former teacher, now Vice Principal, in her office.
• Liu Lu reveals that the school's business trip, including Principal Ren and other vice principals, is related to Song He's achievements and the resulting opportunities for the school.
• The trip was eventful, with Principal Ren's passport stolen in Milan, his wife's wallet robbed in Paris, and Ye Lianghan's earphones stolen in Birmingham.
• In Chicago, the principals experienced a false alarm, leading to a stampede-like situation in a shopping mall.
• Liu Lu shares that the next destination is Saint Petersburg, Russia, for further investigation.

Character Developments

• Song He shows concern for his classmates and the school's opportunities.
• Liu Lu demonstrates her dedication to her students and the school, expressing gratitude towards Song He for the opportunities he's brought.
• Principal Ren is portrayed as a dedicated leader, willing to face difficulties and risks for the benefit of the students.

Significant Themes

• The ripple effects of Song He's achievements, benefiting not only Jinghai University but also his alma mater, Jinghai No. 4 High School.
• The challenges and risks associated with international travel and study tours.
• The dedication and hard work of educators and school leaders.

Character Interactions

• Song He and Liu Lu catch up, with Liu Lu expressing gratitude towards Song He for the opportunities he's brought to the school.
• Liu Lu shares the challenges and experiences of the school leaders on their business trip, highlighting their dedication and the risks they face.
• Song He expresses concern for his classmates and the safety of the study tours, suggesting safer destinations.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song He arrives in Lvteng City and is greeted by Mayor Li, who welcomes him warmly due to Chenghuang Company's significant contributions to the city.
• Song He learns that both Song He Su and Short Sleep Pill have been approved, and the new product launch conference is ready.
• The motorcade takes Song He through the city, and he sees Chenghuang Building for the first time.
• Mayor Li expresses guilt for not being able to provide a larger, Class A office building for Chenghuang Company and for the slow recruitment progress.

Character Developments

• Song He is initially flustered and surprised by the mayor's warm reception but quickly regains his composure.
• Mayor Li is shown to be genuine in his support and appreciation for Chenghuang Company, going out of his way to welcome Song He and express his gratitude.

Significant Themes

• The importance of business contributions to the local economy and community, as seen through Mayor Li's praise and gratitude towards Chenghuang Company.
• The challenges and growth of a startup, reflected in Song He's satisfaction with the current office building and his vision for the future.

Character Interactions

• Song He and Mayor Li interact warmly, with Mayor Li expressing his admiration and support for Chenghuang Company, and Song He being humble and grateful.
• Wei Liqun acts as an intermediary, introducing Mayor Li to Song He and updating Song He on the company's progress.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The drone testing takes place in a desert sandstorm, with each team drawing lots for their testing order.
• Team Four, consisting of Song He and Xie Yuanxun, draws the last position.
• Team One tests first, achieving a score of 50 points, while Team Two scores 30 points.
• A severe Sandstorm is approaching, making the test increasingly challenging.

Character Developments

• Song He and Xie Yuanxun remain calm and hopeful despite drawing the worst starting position, expecting their new sand-proof drones to perform well in the storm.
• Black Glasses, the teacher, is stern and unsympathetic, refusing to reschedule the test despite the worsening weather.

Significant Themes

• Fate vs. Preparation: The teams grapple with the unfairness of the testing order, attributing it to fate, while Black Glasses emphasizes preparedness.
• Adaptability: The teams must adapt to the harsh, unpredictable desert environment and the intensifying Sandstorm.

Character Interactions

• The teams gossip and speculate about Team Four's chances, with some expressing doubt and others showing gratitude for their seemingly inevitable low score.
• Song He and Xie Yuanxun discuss their strategy and support each other, while Black Glasses remains distant and unsupportive.
• The teams interact with Black Glasses, drawing lots and receiving their test results, with varying levels of disappointment and dejection.