Chapter Summaries

He Mu recruited Director Zhang to Meisheng and planned to copy Su Corporation’s new Optical Module before it launched, then accuse Su Corporation of plagiarism. Director Zhang tried to recruit Guo Dekai, but Guo reported the offer to Su Chen, who had already secured the R&D team’s work with confidentiality agreements.

• He Mu offered Director Zhang twice Su Corporation’s salary to join Meisheng and develop a competing product ahead of Su Corporation.
• Director Zhang agreed to join Meisheng and planned to recruit Guo Dekai to help copy Su Corporation’s new Optical Module.
• Director Zhang offered Guo Dekai twice his salary, but Guo said he needed time to think and immediately informed Su Chen.
• Su Chen reviewed the messages and explained that the R&D team had signed confidentiality agreements to protect the new product.
• Guo Dekai asked Su Chen how to handle Director Zhang while He Mu remained unaware that Su Chen had learned of the plan.

Su Chen promoted Guo Dekai’s loyalty by promising him the R&D Director position and instructed him to trick Director Zhang into buying fake design plans. He then visited Liu Ren, the child trafficker who abducted him fifteen years earlier, and confronted him about the crime.

• Su Chen praised Guo Dekai’s work and promised him a promotion if Su Corporation defeated Meisheng.
• Su Chen told Guo Dekai to offer Director Zhang design plans for five million, then sell him a second set that Su Chen would provide.
• Su Chen visited Liu Ren in Hai City’s Maximum Security Prison, where Liu Ren initially did not recognize him.
• Su Chen reminded Liu Ren that he had abducted a three-year-old boy from the Century Golden Source villa district fifteen years earlier.
• Liu Ren recognized Su Chen as the abducted child and recalled that someone had paid him to take the boy.

Su Chen confronted Liu Ren about kidnapping him, and Liu Ren tried to avoid blame before admitting that someone had ordered the abduction. Liu Ren said he had evidence and could testify against the person behind it.

• Su Chen told Liu Ren that he had reunited with his biological parents, whose family was the richest in Hai City.
• Liu Ren panicked at the thought of retaliation and knelt before Su Chen, apologizing and slapping himself.
• Liu Ren claimed that someone had paid and ordered him to kidnap Su Chen, but Su Chen remained unmoved.
• Liu Ren admitted he had recorded the transaction and photographed the deal fifteen years earlier, and offered to help bring the person who ordered it to prison.

Su Chen learned who had ordered his kidnapping fifteen years earlier and left the matter to the police. After receiving five million for the Optical Module plans, he directed Guo Dekai to monitor Director Zhang, while He Jingtian faced a police visit.

• Old Bald Head told Su Chen who had arranged the kidnapping and revealed where the recordings and photographs were hidden.
• Officer Li promised Su Chen that the police would arrest the person responsible, and Su Chen said he trusted the police.
• Su Chen received five million from Guo Dekai for selling the Optical Module design plans to Director Zhang and sent Guo Dekai fifty thousand with instructions to monitor and guide Director Zhang.
• He Jingtian, staying at the State Guest Hotel to avoid He Mu, heard police pounding on his door and wondered if they had come about the events from more than a decade earlier.

He Jingtian was arrested for arranging Su Chen’s disappearance fifteen years earlier, and news of his scheme spread across Hai City. Su Zhenxing set out to punish He Jingtian and Liu Yanran, while Liu Yanran feared the consequences as she remained in the Su Family.

• Officer Li and another officer arrested He Jingtian, who protested and tried to use his connection to Meisheng to stop them.
• He Jingtian’s arrest and the revelation that he had ordered Su Chen’s abduction dominated Hai City’s Trending topics.
• Su Zhenxing realized He Jingtian had used Liu Yanran to place He Mu in the Su Family and vowed to make He Jingtian suffer in prison.
• Su Zhenxing blamed Liu Yanran for helping He Jingtian’s scheme and left Su Corporation to confront her.
• Liu Yanran saw the news, realized He Jingtian had tried to seize the Su Family’s assets, and feared Su Zhenxing would take his anger out on her.

After learning that He Jingtian had trafficked Su Chen, Liu Yanran sought refuge with He Mu, who talked her out of leaving the Su Family so he could keep using her as an insider. He Mu then learned that He Jingtian had been detained and wanted to see him.

• Liu Yanran comforted He Mu after he apologized for He Jingtian's role in separating her from Su Chen.
• He Mu privately blamed He Jingtian for failing to kill Su Chen and planned to keep Liu Yanran in the Su Family as an insider.
• Liu Yanran asked to stay at He Mu's home to avoid Su Zhenxing, but He Mu warned that leaving could give Su Zhenxing an excuse to drive her out of the family.
• Liu Yanran stopped packing and stayed home, while He Mu realized his warning had worked.
• The Hai City Police Station informed He Mu that He Jingtian had been detained for child trafficking and had requested a visit, making He Mu furious.

He Mu agreed to visit He Jingtian, then tricked him into revealing the password to an account holding tens of millions and planned to keep the money while leaving him in prison. Meanwhile, Liu Yanran took a kitchen knife to defend herself from Su Zhenxing, who armed himself with a pry bar after Li Ma warned him.

• He Mu went to the Police Station and pretended to sympathize with He Jingtian while refusing to use Meisheng's accounts for his lawyer.
• He Jingtian gave He Mu the password to his domestic account, which held seventy or eighty million, and threatened him if he failed to arrange the best lawyer.
• He Mu left intending to transfer He Jingtian's money to himself and make sure He Jingtian stayed in prison.
• Liu Yanran went to the kitchen, took a knife, and prepared to defend herself against Su Zhenxing.
• Li Ma called Su Zhenxing to warn him about Liu Yanran, and he took a pry bar from his car trunk.

Su Zhenxing confronted Liu Yanran over her role in He Jingtian’s scheme against the Su Family, but she refused to admit fault and claimed she was a victim. He broke into the bedroom with a crowbar, leaving Liu Yanran terrified and armed with a kitchen knife.

• Li Ma warned Su Zhenxing about Liu Yanran, and he rewarded her before going upstairs with a crowbar.
• Su Zhenxing confronted Liu Yanran through the locked bedroom door and accused her of helping He Jingtian target the Su Family.
• Liu Yanran denied responsibility, blamed He Jingtian, and claimed she had given Su Zhenxing a filial adopted son in He Mu.
• Su Zhenxing unlocked the door, and Liu Yanran threatened him with a kitchen knife.
• Su Zhenxing smashed the door open, knocking Liu Yanran down, then stood over her with his crowbar as she trembled.

Su Zhenxing beat Liu Yanran after she attacked him with a kitchen knife, while Su Chen returned to the villa and found them. Su Chen allowed his father to continue as long as he did not kill Liu Yanran, leaving Su Zhenxing to confront her over cursing their son.

• Liu Yanran waved a kitchen knife at Su Zhenxing, who struck her wrist with a crowbar and broke it.
• Su Zhenxing continued beating Liu Yanran while accusing her of bringing a wolf into the Su Family and nearly ruining the family.
• Su Chen returned to the villa and found Su Zhenxing beating Liu Yanran.
• Liu Yanran cursed Su Chen and blamed him for her troubles, while Su Chen remained unmoved.
• Su Chen told Su Zhenxing, “Just don't kill her!” and went downstairs to ask Li Ma to prepare a high-calorie meal.
• Su Zhenxing turned back to Liu Yanran and condemned her for cursing her biological son.

Su Zhenxing beat Liu Yanran so severely that she collapsed, then went downstairs to eat with Su Chen while they discussed the Su Corporation. Su Qiqi secretly went to help her mother, but Liu Yanran instead demanded her phone so she could ask He Mu to retaliate against Su Zhenxing and blamed Su Chen for her suffering.

• Su Zhenxing beat Liu Yanran with a crowbar until she lay motionless, then left her and went downstairs to eat with Su Chen.
• Su Zhenxing asked Li Ma about Su Qiqi, and Li Ma said she was likely resting upstairs.
• Su Chen considered the R&D competition, He Mu, and news that Su Lili had escaped the Red Light District by attaching herself to another powerful man.
• Su Qiqi secretly entered Liu Yanran's bedroom, saw her severe injuries, and tried to call Doctor Li for help.
• Liu Yanran demanded her phone so she could tell He Mu what Su Zhenxing had done and blamed Su Chen for her condition.

Su Qiqi tried to stop Liu Yanran from contacting He Mu, while Su Zhenxing sent Doctor Li to treat Liu Yanran’s injuries. He Mu transferred money from one of He Jingtian’s accounts and then messaged Liu Yanran, who was moved by his concern.

• Su Qiqi warned Liu Yanran that He Mu and He Jingtian were trying to seize the Su Family’s assets, but Liu Yanran defended He Mu and cursed Su Zhenxing and Su Chen instead.
• Su Qiqi called Doctor Li, who arrived at the Su Family Villa and was sent upstairs by Su Zhenxing to treat Liu Yanran.
• He Mu transferred money from an account He Jingtian had revealed and resolved to visit him in prison to uncover more assets.
• He Mu messaged Liu Yanran to ask if she was all right and offered to take Su Zhenxing’s anger in her place.
• Liu Yanran read He Mu’s messages while recovering in bed and was moved to tears by what she saw as his care for her.

Liu Yanran complained to He Mu about Su Zhenxing and urged him to punish Su Chen, while He Mu promised to keep her as an informant. He then learned that Painful Jesus had rescued Su Lili from the Red Light District and feared she would return to oppose him.

• Liu Yanran told He Mu that Su Zhenxing had broken her hand and that Su Chen had done nothing to stop him.
• Liu Yanran urged He Mu to teach Su Chen a lesson, and He Mu promised to help while privately resenting her remarks about his expulsion from the Su Family.
• He Mu received an email saying Painful Jesus had gotten Su Lili out of the Red Light District.
• He Mu realized Su Lili might have discovered his intentions and could use American influence to return and interfere with his plans.
• He Mu threw his phone to the floor in anger over Su Lili's rescue and his lost control of her.

As the Su Corporation–Meisheng competition approached, Mayor Guo lost faith in Su Corporation and moved to seek Chen Corporation’s plans, while He Mu pressed Director Zhang to finish Meisheng’s copy of Su Corporation’s Optical Module. He Mu planned to launch it first and use the resulting plagiarism accusations to damage Su Corporation, with Director Zhang as a possible scapegoat.

• Mayor Guo blamed Su Zhenxing and Su Chen for risking Su Corporation’s reputation and ordered Secretary Li to bring Chen Guang to his office.
• Secretary Li went to find Chen Guang while Mayor Guo watched Su Corporation’s nearby building with displeasure.
• He Mu demanded an update from Director Zhang, who said Meisheng’s Optical Module would undergo its final test the next day.
• Director Zhang left to continue development, regretting his break with Su Corporation but believing he had no way back.
• He Mu planned to launch Meisheng’s module before Su Corporation’s and make Director Zhang take the blame if the scheme went wrong.

He Mu expected Meisheng’s launch of an Optical Module matching Su Corporation’s new design to provoke Su Chen into a plagiarism dispute, but Su Chen stayed silent. Su Chen planned to unveil Su Corporation’s superior product during the competition in two days, leaving He Mu uneasy about the lack of a response.

• He Mu arranged for Meisheng to release an Optical Module based on Su Corporation’s design, hoping to stop Su Corporation from using its new product in the competition.
• Meisheng launched its new Optical Module to nationwide attention, and He Mu waited for Su Chen to react.
• Su Zhenxing worried that Meisheng’s publicity would cost Su Corporation market share, but Su Chen said they would unveil their secret weapon at the competition and turn Meisheng’s promotion to their advantage.
• Su Chen privately intended to show He Mu how inferior Meisheng’s product was, while keeping that plan from Su Zhenxing.
• After Su Chen made no response, He Mu called Director Zhang, learned Su Corporation had not confronted him, and grew convinced that something was wrong.

He Mu called Su Chen to probe his reaction to Meisheng’s new product, but Su Chen cursed at him and hung up. He Mu wrongly took this as proof that Su Chen was panicking, while Liu Yanran encouraged He Mu to crush him; the chapter ended with He Mu recalling the abuse he had suffered in America.

• He Mu called Su Chen to learn why he had not confronted him about Meisheng’s new product.
• Su Chen cursed He Mu and hung up, leaving He Mu furious but convinced that Su Chen was desperate.
• Su Zhenxing and Su Chen returned to the Su Family Villa, unaware that Liu Yanran was watching them.
• Liu Yanran messaged He Mu, claiming Su Zhenxing and Su Chen were terrified and urging him to teach Su Chen a lesson.
• He Mu soaked in a rose-petal bath and recalled the whips, wax, and biting the demons in America had used on him.

He Mu brooded over his mutilation and vowed revenge on Su Chen, Su Zhenxing, and He Jingtian, while Su Chen welcomed Fang Qingqing’s support and spent the night with her. The next morning, Liu Yanran waited for Su Chen and Su Zhenxing to leave, intending to punish Fang Qingqing.

• He Mu blamed Su Chen, Su Zhenxing, and He Jingtian for his condition, vowed to take revenge, and exhausted himself until he fell asleep in the bathtub.
• Fang Qingqing told Su Chen she had secured support for Su Corporation against Meisheng, and Su Chen was deeply moved by her concern.
• Su Chen went to the Fang Family, picked up Fang Qingqing, and brought her home, where they spent the night together.
• The next morning, Su Chen left Fang Qingqing sleeping and went downstairs for breakfast, while Su Zhenxing watched him with jealousy and resentment.
• Su Chen asked Li Ma to prepare breakfast for Fang Qingqing when she woke, and Li Ma gladly agreed.
• Liu Yanran waited for Su Zhenxing and Su Chen to leave the villa so she could teach Fang Qingqing a lesson.

Liu Yanran tried to reprimand Fang Qingqing for sleeping late, then panicked when Fang Qingqing seemed ready to tell Su Chen about it. After convincing herself Fang Qingqing would stay quiet, Liu Yanran learned that Fang Qingqing still planned to tell Su Chen about the advice she had given her.

• Liu Yanran waited for Fang Qingqing and criticized her for sleeping until eleven and staying at the Su Family Villa.
• Fang Qingqing pretended to cry and said she would tell Su Chen that Liu Yanran did not welcome her.
• Liu Yanran claimed she had criticized Fang Qingqing for her own good and urged her not to bother Su Chen with trivial household matters.
• Fang Qingqing praised Liu Yanran and said she would learn from her and manage the household for Chen Gege.
• Fang Qingqing said she would tell Chen Gege about Liu Yanran's principles when he returned, and Liu Yanran's smug smile faded.

Liu Yanran tried to slap Fang Qingqing, but Fang dodged and let her fall, then hinted that Su Chen’s deceased grandmother had struck her. Liu Yanran became frightened that the old woman’s spirit was watching and hesitated to attack Fang again.

• Liu Yanran grew angry that Fang Qingqing intended to tell Su Chen and decided to punish her with a slap.
• Fang Qingqing crouched to dodge Liu Yanran’s swing, and Liu Yanran crashed onto the floor.
• Fang Qingqing refused to help Liu Yanran up and innocently suggested that Su Chen’s Grandma had hit her.
• Liu Yanran cursed Fang Qingqing for dodging, while Fang mocked her by comparing the fall to being knocked down by Su Chen’s Grandma.
• Liu Yanran suspected Su Chen’s deceased Grandma was watching and became afraid to continue attacking Fang Qingqing.

Liu Yanran backed down from confronting Fang Qingqing, but Su Chen learned she had tried to bully her and returned to the villa to confront his mother. The chapter ended with Su Chen demanding to know which hand Liu Yanran had intended to use to hit Fang Qingqing.

• Liu Yanran feared the Old Undying would return, so she abandoned her plan to punish Fang Qingqing and went upstairs.
• Fang Qingqing prepared to leave the Su Family Villa, but Li Ma served her the breakfast Su Chen had ordered, delighting her.
• Li Ma texted Su Chen that Liu Yanran had tried to teach Fang Qingqing a lesson, and Su Chen grew angry as Guo Dekai reported to him.
• After returning home, Su Chen went straight to Liu Yanran's bedroom, while Li Ma told Su Zhenxing what had happened.
• Su Chen demanded that Liu Yanran hold out the hand she had planned to use against Fang Qingqing, then mocked her by asking if she meant to use both hands.

Su Chen confronted Liu Yanran for hitting Fang Qingqing and punished her after she refused to say which hand she had used. Su Zhenxing avoided intervening, and the chapter ended with Liu Yanran screaming as Su Chen crushed her left hand under his foot.

• Su Chen slapped Liu Yanran when she insulted Fang Qingqing and demanded to know which hand had hit her.
• Su Zhenxing arrived, saw Su Chen confronting Liu Yanran, and pretended not to have witnessed anything before leaving.
• Liu Yanran cursed Su Zhenxing for abandoning her, then tried to stop Su Chen by invoking his status as her son.
• Su Chen decided Liu Yanran had hit Fang Qingqing with both hands and stomped on her left hand as she screamed in pain.