Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Otter is offered a large platter of food, which he eagerly consumes.
• Song He and Xiang Xiaotong interrogate Otter about the decrease in population at the Zoo.
• Otter reveals that most people died from illness or were executed, with a smaller percentage dying from accidents or suicide.
• He describes the various ways people died, including running away and being shot, choking, poisoning, slitting wrists, and falling from buildings.

Character Developments

• Otter: Shows his hunger and eagerness to eat, even when chained up. He displays a mix of fear, disgust, and sadness when recalling the malformed children and the deaths at the Zoo.
• Song He and Xiang Xiaotong: Remain expressionless and professional during the interrogation, showing concern only when Otter describes the malformed children.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of unethical genetic modification and cloning.
• The dehumanization of the clones and the disregard for their suffering.
• The harsh living conditions and lack of basic rights for the clones.

Character Interactions

• Otter pleads with Song He and Xiang Xiaotong to help him eat the boiled egg, but they ignore him, focusing on the interrogation.
• Otter and the interrogators share a tacit understanding about the origin of the food, hinting at their shared knowledge of the clones' history.
• Otter's descriptions of the malformed children evoke empathy and discomfort in Song He and Xiang Xiaotong, highlighting their humanity despite their professional demeanor.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song He is stuck at Bronze level 99 in math, unable to advance despite studying until late at night.
• He encounters Leng Xiangwen in the cafeteria, who is now Silver level 08, and they reaffirm their bet for the upcoming exam.
• In the math class, Song He finishes the difficult test paper in his head and shares the answers with his classmates, deciding to explain the paper to the whole class to gain Resentment Value.

Character Developments

• Song He shows determination and adaptability in his approach to improving his math skills and gaining Resentment Value.
• Leng Xiangwen is shown to be dedicated and confident in his studies, with a competitive streak.
• Zhao Yiyi and other classmates are shown to struggle with the math test paper, demonstrating their academic challenges.

Significant Themes

• The struggle and determination in academic pursuits.
• The importance of adaptability and seizing opportunities (e.g., Song He's decision to explain the test paper to gain Resentment Value).
• Competition and rivalry (seen through Song He and Leng Xiangwen's bet).

Character Interactions

• Song He and Leng Xiangwen's interaction in the cafeteria highlights their competitive dynamic and sets the stage for their upcoming exam bet.
• Song He's interaction with his classmates, particularly Zhao Yiyi, shows his willingness to help and his growing influence as the "Math-Biology Great Emperor."

Key Plot Points and Events

• A group of robbers attempts to intercept an armed train transporting gold in Central Asia, but they are swiftly suppressed by military forces from multiple countries.
• Two gold robbery cases occur in Southeast Asia, with local authorities suspecting an armed gang in a mountain drug den.
• In the Lighthouse, some states dispatch guards to escort gold, while others choose secret routes, leading to some shipments being robbed.
• In Kangaroo Country, a small plane transporting gold crashes into Lake Eyre, revealing that some gold bricks are hollow.

Character Developments

• Xiang Xiaotong, Song He's wife, is shown to be knowledgeable about global events and has access to real-time information about the gold heists.
• Song He is portrayed as being interested in the global events but also prioritizes his personal life, planning to sleep after discussing the events with his wife.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics between different countries and regions, with some having advanced military technology and others relying on more traditional methods.
• The global interconnectedness and the ease with which information can be shared, as seen through the real-time updates Xiang Xiaotong has access to.
• The complexity and unpredictability of global events, with even seemingly simple tasks like transporting gold becoming fraught with danger and intrigue.

Character Interactions

• Xiang Xiaotong and Song He discuss the gold heists, with Xiang Xiaotong providing information and Song He reacting with surprise, amusement, and occasional disbelief.
• The chapter does not feature interactions with other characters, as it is primarily a conversation between Xiang Xiaotong and Song He.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Yiyi begins teaching Durian human language and writing, starting with "hello" and the character for "water".
• Durian struggles to mimic "hello" due to its undeveloped vocal cords, so Zhao Yiyi gives it a voice recorder to listen to and practice.
• Durian's nightly practice of "hello" disturbs the other red-haired gorillas, leading to a confrontation with its father on the fifth night. Durian's voice recorder is destroyed, and Durian is beaten by its father.
• Song He and Xiang Xiaotong, working on Brain Strengthening component Engineered Bacteria at the Brain Institute Laboratory, receive a call from Zhao Yiyi informing them about Durian's beating.

Character Developments

• Durian: Shows determination and effort in learning human language but faces challenges due to its physical limitations. It also experiences a conflict with its father due to its persistent practice.
• Zhao Yiyi: Demonstrates patience and dedication in teaching Durian, showing empathy and concern for Durian's well-being.
• Song He and Xiang Xiaotong: Display dedication and perseverance in their scientific work, showing concern for Durian's welfare when informed about the incident.

Significant Themes

• Communication and learning: The struggle to communicate and learn new things, both for Durian and the scientists.
• Conflict and resolution: The conflict between Durian and its father, highlighting the consequences of persistent behavior that disrupts others.
• Dedication and perseverance: The commitment shown by Zhao Yiyi, Song He, and Xiang Xiaotong in their respective pursuits.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Yiyi and Durian: Teacher-student relationship, with Zhao Yiyi patiently teaching Durian and Durian showing effort in learning.
• Durian and its father: Father-son conflict due to Durian's persistent practice of "hello", leading to a physical altercation.
• Song He and Xiang Xiaotong: Mentor-apprentice relationship, working together on their scientific research and showing concern for Durian's well-being.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song He announces a meeting and offers a choice: a 20-day holiday with a Year-End Bonus of 300,000-500,000, or staying to work with him for a 5-day holiday and a bonus of 500,000-700,000.
• Most team members choose to stay and work, demonstrating their dedication to scientific research.
• Song He presents a plan to extend the survival time of Double Half-Brain Connected Mice from 15 days to 30 days, hoping to trigger brain-strengthening components in the surviving brain tissue.

Character Developments

• Song He: Shows his leadership and dedication to scientific research, offering his team members a choice that respects their personal lives while also encouraging their commitment to their work.
• Team Members: Display their passion for scientific research by choosing to work during the holiday, showing their trust in Song He's vision and their eagerness to contribute to groundbreaking work.

Significant Themes

• Dedication to Scientific Research: The team members' willingness to work during the holiday highlights their commitment to their work and their belief in the potential of their research.
• Commercialization of Research: Song He's emphasis on extending the survival time of the mice to maximize commercial potential underscores the importance of considering the practical applications of their research.

Character Interactions

• Song He and the Team: The dynamic between Song He and his team is one of mutual respect and trust. He values their input and considers their personal lives, while they show their loyalty and dedication to his vision.
• Song He and the Team's Laughter: The shared laughter over Song He's drawing highlights the camaraderie and shared sense of humor within the team, further emphasizing their positive working relationship.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Professor Hope, a chemist, hijacks a passenger plane with a homemade bomb, demanding it continue to its original destination despite severe weather ahead.
• The plane encounters violent turbulence, causing panic and distress among passengers.
• A fighter jet from the Lighthouse (a fictional country) escorts the plane, threatening to shoot it down if it doesn't return.
• A Gaul (another fictional country) fighter jet arrives, likely to monitor the Lighthouse's actions.
• After a tense standoff, the Lighthouse fighter jet retreats, and the plane continues safely.

Character Developments

• Professor Hope: Revealed to be a desperate man with liver cancer, willing to risk everything to reach his destination.
• Pope and Field: Scientists on the plane who initially suspect Hope but later fear for their lives.

Significant Themes

• Desperation and the lengths people will go to for survival.
• The tension between political interests and human lives.
• The power dynamics between countries.

Character Interactions

• Hope and the passengers: Hope threatens the passengers, causing fear and panic.
• Pope and Field: They discuss Hope's actions and fear for their lives.
• Hope and the fighter jets: Hope's actions are monitored and threatened by the Lighthouse and Gaul fighter jets.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The four old classmates visit the zoo, specifically the Gorilla Mountain (Red-haired Gorilla Pavilion).
• Ding Yangze discovers a cave in the artificial mountain, which inspires him to act like a gorilla.
• The four friends engage in a playful, primal behavior, crawling and making gorilla calls inside the cave.
• Song He finds them and scolds them for their immaturity, but later secretly enjoys the experience himself.
• Xiang Xiaotong witnesses Song He's gorilla behavior and joins in, much to his embarrassment.

Character Developments

• Ding Yangze: Shows impulsive and playful behavior, initiating the gorilla role-play.
• Ning Mo, Zhao Yiyi, and Zhang Zhilei: Follow Ding Yangze's lead, displaying a lack of inhibition in a private setting.
• Song He: Initially disapproving, but later secretly enjoys the experience, showing a hidden playful side.
• Xiang Xiaotong: Shows understanding and acceptance of their behavior, joining in with a sense of humor.

Significant Themes

• Releasing Primal Instincts: The characters temporarily shed their adult personas and revert to primal behaviors, highlighting the theme of letting go and enjoying the moment.
• Privacy and Inhibition: The characters only engage in this behavior when they believe they are alone, suggesting that societal expectations and the presence of others can inhibit spontaneous behavior.

Character Interactions

• Ding Yangze and Ning Mo: Ding Yangze influences Ning Mo to join in the gorilla role-play, showing their close friendship and Ding Yangze's persuasive nature.
• Song He and Xiang Xiaotong: Song He's embarrassment and Xiang Xiaotong's understanding create a humorous interaction, highlighting their comfortable and accepting relationship.

Key Plot Points and Events

• An anonymous user posts about a Red-haired Gorilla in their child's kindergarten class speaking human language, sparking widespread disbelief and ridicule online.
• The poster becomes increasingly insistent, even making a poisonous oath, and others claim to have witnessed the same.
• The phenomenon gains media attention, with experts refuting the claims, including Nobel laureate Antonio.
• Antonio provides a detailed, authoritative explanation debunking the rumors, effectively silencing dissenting voices.

Character Developments

• The anonymous poster: Initially believed to be a prankster, they become increasingly desperate to convince others of their claim, resorting to a poisonous oath.
• Antonio: Maintains his calm and scientific demeanor, providing a comprehensive explanation to refute the rumors.

Significant Themes

• The power of misinformation and rumors on the internet.
• The importance of scientific evidence and expert opinion in debunking myths and false claims.
• The public's fascination with extraordinary claims and the desire for proof.

Character Interactions

• The anonymous poster interacts with netizens, initially trying to convince them with their story, then resorting to a dramatic oath when met with disbelief.
• Antonio interacts with the public through his social media post, providing a detailed, authoritative response to the rumors, effectively silencing dissenting voices.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The zoo staff and students have been working tirelessly to increase the intelligence of the monkeys and gorillas using sign language and educational toys.
• After weeks of effort, the brain scans of the monkeys show no significant changes.
• The Dean and Song He suggest focusing on the Gibbons, as they seem to be showing the most brain activity changes.
• Zhao Yiyi suggests using televisions to show the monkeys educational videos, to which the Dean agrees, suggesting projectors instead.
• Xiang Xiaotong suggests using AI to create videos of monkeys playing with educational toys to grab their attention.

Character Developments

• The students (Zhao Yiyi, Ding Yangze, Ning Mo, and Zhang Zhilei) show dedication and resilience in their work, despite the lack of immediate results.
• The Dean and Song He display understanding and support for the students' efforts, offering encouragement and resources.
• Xiang Xiaotong demonstrates critical thinking and practicality, suggesting AI-generated videos to engage the monkeys' interest.

Significant Themes

• Persistence and Dedication: The characters' unwavering commitment to their goal, despite setbacks and lack of immediate results.
• Adaptability: The use of technology (televisions, projectors, AI-generated videos) to engage the monkeys and enhance the learning process.
• Hope and Disappointment: The characters' hopes for a miracle, balanced with the reality of the situation and the need for continued effort.

Character Interactions

• The students interact with the monkeys, teaching them sign language and trying various methods to stimulate their intelligence.
• The students interact with the Dean and Song He, seeking guidance and support for their efforts.
• The Dean, Song He, and Xiang Xiaotong interact with each other, discussing strategies and offering encouragement to the students.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Yiyi and Song He discuss various species of apes and monkeys, focusing on their intelligence levels.
• Song He reveals his plan to build a new zoo to house these animals and feed them brain-strengthening components to enhance their intelligence.
• Zhao Yiyi is appointed as the director of the zoo, tasked with observing and teaching the animals.

Character Developments

• Zhao Yiyi: Initially overwhelmed and hesitant, she accepts the challenge of directing the zoo and becomes determined to take on the role of Jane Goodall.
• Song He: He shows his vision and ambition in enhancing animal intelligence and is confident in Zhao Yiyi's abilities.

Significant Themes

• Animal Intelligence: The chapter emphasizes the intelligence of various ape and monkey species, foreshadowing the zoo's purpose to enhance and study this intelligence.
• Ambition and Responsibility: Zhao Yiyi grapples with the magnitude of the task before accepting the responsibility, while Song He displays his ambitious plans.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Yiyi and Song He: They have a mentor-mentee dynamic, with Song He guiding Zhao Yiyi and expressing confidence in her abilities. Zhao Yiyi, initially overwhelmed, comes to accept and embrace the challenge.
• Zhao Yiyi and the Animals: Though not yet physically present, the various ape and monkey species are introduced as future subjects of Zhao Yiyi's care and study.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song He and Xiang Xiaotong return from a trip, having won a bet about the number of students who chose profit sharing.
• Song He discovers that exactly one student didn't sign the profit-sharing contract.
• Xie Kefu and Lou Jinghui, drunk after a celebration banquet, discuss their financial futures.
• Song He proctors a final exam and helps Ning Mo cheat by subtly signaling answer choices.

Character Developments

• Song He: Shows his caring side by helping Ning Mo cheat on the exam, despite his usual stern demeanor.
• Ning Mo: Struggles with his studies due to missed classes and hospital stay, relying on Song He's help during the exam.
• Xiang Xiaotong: Shows her mischievous side by initiating a bet with Song He.
• Xie Kefu & Lou Jinghui: Reveal their financial aspirations and the impact of the profit-sharing agreement on their lives.

Significant Themes

• Luck vs. Effort: Ning Mo's academic struggles highlight the theme of luck and effort, with Song He's help being a stroke of luck for Ning Mo.
• Financial Freedom: The characters' discussions about profit sharing and financial freedom emphasize the theme of wealth and its impact on their lives.

Character Interactions

• Song He & Xiang Xiaotong: Their friendly banter and bet showcase their close master-disciple relationship.
• Xie Kefu & Lou Jinghui: Their drunken conversation reveals their differing views on financial freedom and their friendship.
• Song He & Ning Mo: Song He's subtle help during the exam demonstrates his hidden caring side, while Ning Mo's reliance on him shows his desperation to pass the exam.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Both sides lose reconnaissance drones, indicating enemy presence in specific locations.
• Song He orders artillery strikes based on the gaps in reconnaissance data.
• Chao Gai lures Song He's artillery with a bait tactic, intending to take out Song He's heavy firepower.
• Song He counters by ordering an assault team to steal Chao Gai's command post.
• Both sides engage in a chaotic artillery battle, with Song He's forces gradually losing.
• Song He decides to send a reserve team to find and decapitate Chao Gai's command post.

Character Developments

• Song He demonstrates strategic thinking and adaptability, learning from Commander Kai Shen's micromanagement style.
• Chao Gai shows aggressive and risky playstyle, underestimating his opponent and overconfident in his tactics.
• Dong Chong serves as a voice of reason, critiquing Chao Gai's strategies and predicting Song He's moves.

Significant Themes

• The importance of reconnaissance and intelligence gathering in warfare.
• The risks and benefits of aggressive, baiting tactics.
• The challenges and rewards of micromanagement in command.
• The role of adaptability and strategic thinking in battle.

Character Interactions

• Song He and Chao Gai engage in a strategic battle, each trying to outmaneuver the other.
• Dong Chong serves as a foil to Chao Gai, providing critical analysis and contrasting his overconfidence.
• Song He's reserve team and Chao Gai's command post become the focus of both sides' strategies.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song He and Xiang Xiaotong work together on mathematical problems, finding them surprisingly simple.
• The Medicine Institute Laboratory winds down as Child Prodigies complete their tasks, awaiting the Dean's solution to resume work.
• Child Prodigies discuss their plans during the unexpected break, ranging from rest to stock trading.

Character Developments

• Song He and Xiang Xiaotong display their mathematical prowess and teamwork.
• The Child Prodigies show their individual personalities and interests outside of their work, revealing their human sides.

Significant Themes

• The pressure and intensity of the Child Prodigies' work, contrasting with their desire for leisure and personal pursuits.
• The Dean's influence and authority, as the Child Prodigies await his solution to resume work.

Character Interactions

• Song He and Xiang Xiaotong interact playfully, demonstrating their shared intelligence and camaraderie.
• The Child Prodigies interact casually, discussing their plans and sharing their thoughts on the Dean's work and their own future.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song He is surprised to learn that he has won the National Science and Technology Progress Award for his work on the Artificial Eyeball.
• The Principal announces that Song He's award is for the first prize and that he hopes Song He will win the other four top awards in the next few years.
• Song He and Xiang Xiaotong's teams celebrate their awards with a dinner, using it as an opportunity to get to know each other better.

Character Developments

• Song He is humble about his award and acknowledges the hard work of his team.
• Xiang Xiaotong is supportive of Song He's success and looks forward to future collaborations.
• Both Song He and Xiang Xiaotong are dedicated to their work and eager to learn from each other.

Significant Themes

• Recognition and reward for scientific achievement.
• Collaboration and teamwork in scientific research.
• Continuous learning and growth in the scientific community.

Character Interactions

• Song He and Xiang Xiaotong share their award news with each other and plan to celebrate with their teams.
• The members of both teams are excited to meet each other and eager to learn from their counterparts.
• Song He and Xiang Xiaotong discuss the potential of Toyama Medical's Brain Cancer Drug and decide to collaborate on safety testing.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Brain Institute's laboratory is less crowded due to many researchers joining the newly established Chenghuang Institutes.
• Song He announces a new project: developing a drug for brain cancer.
• The first step is to create a highly accurate three-dimensional wiring diagram of the animal brain, down to every synapse.
• Song He explains the process of brain cryopreservation and thawing, necessary for creating the detailed brain map.

Character Developments

• Song He demonstrates his confidence and leadership, inspiring his team despite the project's immense difficulty.
• Xie Kefu, a newcomer, shows enthusiasm and curiosity but also naivety in understanding biological technologies.

Significant Themes

• The relentless pursuit of scientific advancement despite the challenges and difficulties.
• The importance of teamwork and collective effort in achieving ambitious goals.

Character Interactions

• Song He interacts with his team, explaining the project's details and addressing their concerns.
• Xie Kefu asks questions, showing his eagerness to learn and understand the project's intricacies, despite some initial misunderstandings.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Foreign language students enthusiastically grade papers for Song He, earning substantial amounts in a short time.
• Song He pays for the grading fees, causing a stir on the Interstellar Scientific Research Platform.
• The first batch of Space City commercial passengers is introduced, with their identities and auction prices revealed.
• The live broadcast of the passengers' journey begins, showcasing the luxurious passenger center of Yuanxun Rocket Company.

Character Developments

• Song He demonstrates his generosity and care for students by paying for their grading fees.
• The passengers show their excitement and anticipation for the Space City tour, revealing their motivations and backgrounds.

Significant Themes

• Wealth and power: The passengers' ability to afford the expensive tickets highlights the theme of wealth and power, with some using their influence to secure seats at the original price.
• Identity and disguise: The old red-haired white man who faked his death raises questions about identity and disguise, as he hides his true identity to escape punishment.

Character Interactions

• Song He and Xiang Xiaotong interact as they watch the live broadcast together, with Song He providing insights about the passengers.
• The passengers interact with each other and the camera, showing their excitement and anticipation for the journey.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiang Xiaotong, a biology teacher, suddenly wakes up in the middle of the night in a trance-like state, frantically calculating neural circuits on her computer.
• Song He, her student, witnesses this and suspects she's experiencing 'Cultivation Deviation', a state of extreme immersion and rapid skill progression.
• Xiang Xiaotong calculates non-stop for hours, her Biology and Mathematics levels skyrocketing. Song He struggles to keep up with her calculations.
• After staying up all night, Xiang Xiaotong collapses from exhaustion. Song He helps her and she asks him to type the final steps of her calculations.

Character Developments

• Xiang Xiaotong: She enters a state of 'Cultivation Deviation', experiencing rapid skill progression and intense focus, pushing her physical limits.
• Song He: He witnesses Xiang Xiaotong's state and struggles to keep up with her calculations. He also becomes more determined to improve his own skills.

Significant Themes

• The intense dedication and single-minded focus required for academic pursuits and skill development.
• The physical toll that extreme focus and dedication can take on a person.
• The struggle to keep up with a mentor or superior in skill and knowledge.

Character Interactions

• Xiang Xiaotong and Song He: Song He struggles to understand Xiang Xiaotong's calculations and becomes increasingly determined to improve his own skills. He also becomes concerned for her physical well-being. Xiang Xiaotong, despite her exhaustion, is determined to complete her calculations and asks Song He for help.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiang Xiaotong, Song He's teacher, wins the prestigious Shiing-Shen Chern Prize.
• Song He informs Xiang Xiaotong about the award, causing her to be shocked and excited.
• Xiang Xiaotong receives numerous congratulatory calls, and they go for a walk in the hospital garden.

Character Developments

• Xiang Xiaotong: Initially in shock and disbelief, she becomes excited and conflicted about whether to attend the award ceremony due to her desire for privacy.
• Song He: Shows maturity and understanding, offering practical solutions to Xiang Xiaotong's concerns.

Significant Themes

• Privacy vs. Public Recognition: Xiang Xiaotong struggles with the trade-off between maintaining her privacy and receiving public recognition for her achievement.
• Mentor-Mentee Relationship: The bond between Xiang Xiaotong and Song He strengthens as they share this significant moment.

Character Interactions

• Xiang Xiaotong and Song He: They interact as equals, with Song He providing advice and support to his teacher, blurring the typical mentor-mentee dynamic.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song He submits a test paper to Xiang Xiaotong, who initially teases him by saying it's wrong, but later reveals it's correct.
• Xiang Xiaotong and Song He begin working together on a Brain-like Chip, starting with the software design.
• They discover that the software is crude and lacks essential functions, making the design process challenging.

Character Developments

• Xiang Xiaotong: Shows her playful side by teasing Song He, but also demonstrates her confidence and ambition in their research.
• Song He: Exhibits determination and dedication to their project, accepting the challenges that come with using the crude software.

Significant Themes

• The challenges and rewards of pioneering new research.
• The importance of perseverance and adaptability in the face of obstacles.

Character Interactions

• Xiang Xiaotong and Song He: Their interaction shows a growing partnership and mutual support in their research, with Xiang Xiaotong acting as the mentor and Song He as the eager student.
• Xiang Xiaotong's playful teasing of Song He highlights their comfortable and trusting relationship.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiang Xiaotong and Song He practice disguising Xiang Xiaotong to minimize attention during her trip.
• They successfully create a sickly, unremarkable look using makeup and accessories.
• Xiang Xiaotong departs for an awards ceremony, with Song He providing extensive safety precautions.

Character Developments

• Xiang Xiaotong shows concern for Song He's anxiety and reassures him.
• Song He demonstrates his dedication and worry for Xiang Xiaotong's safety.

Significant Themes

• Disguise and anonymity to avoid unwanted attention.
• Safety and security in high-profile situations.
• The bond between teacher and student.

Character Interactions

• Xiang Xiaotong and Song He work together to create a disguise.
• They share a heartfelt moment as Xiang Xiaotong departs, with Song He expressing his worry and Xiang Xiaotong reassuring him.
• Song He provides detailed safety instructions for Xiang Xiaotong's trip.