Chapter Summaries

Duke’s use of Three Purities’ male contraceptive pill sparked intense overseas demand, leading the FDA to accelerate its approval and Three Purities to launch it in Eagle Country first. The pill became a major success and a symbol of shared responsibility for contraception, while women seeking to profit from paternity claims found far fewer targets.

• Duke’s contraceptive-pill story went viral, drawing attention to Three Purities’ male contraceptive pill, Three Purities.
• Overseas interest surged, and the FDA ended the clinical trial early and granted accelerated approval for Three Purities’ pill.
• Wei Kang decided to launch the pill overseas first because demand there far exceeded domestic demand.
• Three Purities’ pill went on sale in Eagle Country and celebrities, wealthy men, and ordinary customers rushed to buy it.
• Women seeking child support through paternity claims condemned the pill, but their criticism was drowned out as it gained popularity across Western countries.

The Male Contraceptive Pill sparked an intense gender dispute in China, leaving Wei Kang doubtful that it would catch on there. In Eagle Country, Saul saw the drug as inspiration for a covert plan to permanently sterilize people.

• The Male Contraceptive Pill reached China's trending searches, and women and men argued fiercely over who should bear responsibility for contraception.
• Wei Kang watched the online conflict grow and concluded that Three Purities should first market the pill to married couples who already had children.
• Saul and Chris discussed how Three Purities' pill could inspire research into a discreet drug for permanently sterilizing people.
• Saul praised Wei Kang's pharmaceutical inventions and said people privately called him the Einstein of the pharmaceutical world.
• The chapter ended with a recommendation for a sci-fi novel about Liang Chao, who sought to recover his stolen kidney and pursued evolution.

Wei Kang agreed to attend a rare disease charity gala with Sheng Changya, whose advice from him led her to choose a comfortable, understated outfit. News of Wei Kang’s attendance drew several actresses to the event, where they watched him arrive and take his seat among them.

• Wei Kang chose to attend the Saturday charity gala for rare disease patients, and Sheng Changya said she would arrange his attendance and accompany him.
• Wei Kang told Sheng Changya to dress comfortably and said he would pick her up, leaving her feeling happy and reconsidering her glamorous wardrobe.
• Sheng Changya put away her tight gown and chose a comfortable dark-blue silk dress with simple accessories for the gala.
• Yan An'an learned Wei Kang would attend and arranged to join the gala, hoping to meet him after studying his news and reading popular science books.
• Kuang Fujun received requests from numerous female celebrities to attend the rare disease gala and arranged their seats without knowing why they were interested.
• Wei Kang arrived with Sheng Changya shortly before the gala began, sat among several actresses, and learned their names from her as they watched the host start the program.

Wei Kang attended a rare disease charity gala, rebuffed Yang Bingbing’s attempt to flirt with him, and donated one million on behalf of Sanqing Beauty. After Yan An’an approached him for photos and exchanged WeChat contacts, Sheng Changya joked that he should use a honey trap to secure her endorsement, and Wei Kang left the venue teasing Sheng Changya as she hurried after him.

• Yang Bingbing asked Wei Kang to explain rare diseases, but he told her she would not understand, leaving her embarrassed and annoyed.
• Jin Cheng accepted a flag for the Sea City Rare Disease Prevention and Treatment Technology Volunteer Service Team and spoke about his life with Type I Diabetes and his charity, Little Sugar People.
• Wei Kang donated one million for Sanqing Beauty, while Yan An’an donated one hundred thousand and Yang Bingbing donated nothing.
• Yan An’an took photos with Wei Kang and added him on WeChat, and Sheng Changya praised his charm.
• Sheng Changya suggested using a honey trap to get Yan An’an to promote Sanqing Beauty, and Wei Kang joked about the idea before walking toward the parking lot with Sheng Changya following.

After misleading reports linked Wei Kang to several actresses, Sheng Changya persuaded him to endorse Sanqing Beauty’s new skincare product. Wei Kang’s selfie and posters drew enthusiastic fan support, and he announced that he would livestream the product launch.

• Wei Kang read fabricated reports about his relationships with actresses and dismissed them as baseless rumors.
• Sheng Changya presented a marketing proposal that used Wei Kang’s popularity and the story behind the Super Moisturizing Factor to promote Sanqing Beauty’s products.
• Wei Kang agreed to become the spokesperson for the new skincare product on a one-month trial basis.
• Wei Kang posted a selfie announcing his endorsement, and fans quickly pushed the news to the top of Langbo’s trending searches.
• Sheng Changya arranged a poster shoot, and Wei Kang shared three posters that fans praised enthusiastically.
• Wei Kang announced that he would livestream the product launch and offer discounts to fans.

Wei Kang learned that he had won China’s National Top Science and Technology Award and traveled to the Capital City to receive it. After he spoke on behalf of the award recipients, news coverage of the ceremony sparked a sensation.

• An official called Wei Kang to tell him that he had won the National Top Science and Technology Award unanimously and invited him to the awards conference.
• Wei Kang recalled the evaluation visits to Three Purities and reflected on the honor and recognition the award would bring.
• Wei Kang told Jian Lianyun that he had won, and she congratulated him and asked when he would leave.
• Three days later, Wei Kang attended the conference in the Capital City and received the award’s medal and certificate.
• Wei Kang delivered a speech on behalf of the recipients, and news reports about the ceremony caused a sensation.

Wei Kang received the National Top Science and Technology Award and Moving China Person of the Year, then shared the state prize money with the Three Purities R&D center staff. He met Jian Lianyun to let her inspect his medal, and their conversation ended with her irritated by his advice about major awards.

• Wei Kang's National Top Science and Technology Award and Moving China Person of the Year honors drew praise from netizens and delighted his fans.
• At the Three Purities R&D Building, Wei Kang displayed the award certificate and announced that the R&D center staff would share the eight-million-yuan state prize.
• Wei Kang kept the medal for himself and arranged to meet Jian Lianyun, who eagerly examined it at a private restaurant.
• Jian Lianyun told Wei Kang she was moving from oncology toward neurosurgery and writing papers, and asked about his neural stem cell research.
• Wei Kang told Jian Lianyun not to chase major awards and joked that the Nobel Prize would come looking for her, irritating her.

Sanqing Beauty’s new skincare line sold out during Wei Kang’s livestream, where he accidentally answered the call announcing that he had won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. He left the broadcast to handle the news, while fans shared the historic moment online.

• Sanqing Beauty’s advertisements featuring Wei Kang caused crowds to gather, and fans mapped routes to photograph all four posters.
• Wei Kang hosted Sanqing Beauty’s launch livestream, promoted the new moisturizing products, and watched them sell out as fans bought other items.
• Wei Kang answered an overseas call he mistook for a scam, then hung up after the caller claimed he had won an award.
• Academician Qi urged Wei Kang to answer the overseas call, and the caller informed him that he had won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for inventing a cancer treatment drug.
• Wei Kang asked whether someone else could accept the award for him, then ended the livestream and left as fans celebrated and shared the call online.

After Wei Kang won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, his recorded reaction became a viral meme and Sanqing Pharmaceutical celebrated his achievement. As official honors and invitations poured in, he received the Stockholm ceremony itinerary but hesitated to travel and wondered whom he could send in his place.

• Wei Kang's Nobel notification video spread across the internet, while Sun Chengren visited him with wine and congratulated him.
• Wei Kang arrived at Sanqing Headquarters to cheers and champagne from employees, then answered questions at a media conference about his award and research.
• Wei Kang welcomed leaders from Kun City and Su City, who praised him and announced that Kun City would hold a commendation ceremony a week later.
• Media, officials, and Wei Kang's former schools celebrated his win, and he attended a reception at the Swedish Consulate General in Sea City.
• Wei Kang received the formal invitation and itinerary for the December 14 Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm but wondered whether to go or send an employee instead.

Wei Kang chose Gu Xian to accept his Nobel Prize on his behalf, with Sheng Changya accompanying him. Sheng Changya then presented a plan to expand Sanqing Beauty overseas using Wei Kang’s Nobel fame, and Wei Kang approved it.

• Wei Kang asked his lab directors who wanted to accept the Nobel Prize for him, and Gu Xian initially stayed quiet because he doubted his qualifications.
• Wei Kang selected Gu Xian for the trip and asked Sheng Changya to accompany him, and Gu Xian gratefully accepted.
• Chen Yiqing resolved to win his own Nobel Prize, while Wenren Long joked about using the ceremony to pursue a Swedish princess and Wei Kang ruled him out as a future representative.
• Sheng Changya presented Wei Kang with a proposal to use his Nobel fame to sell Sanqing Beauty products overseas.
• Wei Kang approved the plan to launch Sanqing Beauty’s Super Moisturizing Factor abroad and compete with Oulaiya, Shiseido, and Procter & Gamble.

Wei Kang and Three Purities became famous overseas after Wei Kang won the Nobel Prize and appeared on the cover of Time Magazine. Mabus publicly declared himself Wei Kang’s number one fan, and his endorsement boosted sales of Three Purities products.

• Wei Kang’s Nobel Prize win remained a major topic, and overseas media praised his medical achievements as Time Magazine featured him on its cover.
• Three Purities launched its beauty products overseas, and customers quickly bought out its available stock.
• Mabus told Business Magazine that biotechnology would be essential for space exploration and named Wei Kang as the person best suited to lead it.
• Mabus praised Wei Kang as both a great scientist and entrepreneur, called himself Wei Kang’s number one fan, and said he used every Sanqing product.
• Mabus’s interview shocked the public and helped drive sales of Three Purities products.

Sanqing Beauty’s products surged in domestic and overseas markets, forcing cosmetics giants to launch global promotions as Sheng Changya expanded the company’s product lines. The chapter ended with Haver spotting Sanqing’s moisturizing serum in an online video, taking a screenshot, and posting it for others to see.

• Eric questioned L'Oréal’s brand directors about falling sales, then ordered a global promotional campaign after they blamed Sanqing Beauty’s rapid rise and Wei Kang’s Nobel Prize endorsement.
• Yadai, Procter & Gamble, Shiseido, and other cosmetics giants also launched promotions as Sanqing’s products drew customers away from their brands.
• Sanqing’s contract factory ran around the clock, while overseas stores and counters expanded and Sheng Changya began developing a perfume line.
• Sheng Changya continued broadening Sanqing Beauty’s offerings, aiming to replace her former employer as the cosmetics industry leader.
• Haver noticed Peach applying a bottle of Sanqing moisturizing serum in an online video, stopped watching, and posted an enlarged screenshot online.

Three Purities' moisturizing essence went viral overseas after adult film star Peach praised it as a long-lasting lubricant, and users and a dermatologist amplified her endorsement. The trend spread back to domestic social media, where netizens reacted with surprise and jokes.

• Haver posted a picture of Peach holding Three Purities' moisturizing essence, and users speculated about its use as a lubricant.
• Peach replied on Twitter that she had accidentally tried the essence as lubricant and found it more effective and longer-lasting than professional products.
• Users tried the product, praised it, and cleared out Three Purities' online stores.
• A dermatologist explained the essence's moisturizing formula and recommended it for uses beyond facial skincare.
• Overseas attention spread back to domestic social media as influencers and netizens shared and joked about the product's unexpected popularity.

Wei Kang licensed Sanqing Beauty’s Super Moisturizing Factor patent to Du Leilei for family-planning products and to Johnson & Johnson for infant and toddler products. The deals left him planning to earn a Three Purities tax from more consumer markets while focusing on pharmaceutical research.

• Du Leilei’s president asked Wei Kang to license the patent for family-planning products, and Wei accepted a share of sales revenue.
• Johnson & Johnson’s president asked to use the patent in infant and toddler products to help revive the company’s reputation after its baby products scandal.
• Wei Kang agreed to license the patent to Johnson & Johnson under terms limiting its use and requiring compensation if the company harmed Three Purities’ reputation.
• Wei Kang decided to expand the patent’s uses through partnerships with leading companies and collect licensing revenue.

Zhang Na and Zhang Li discovered Phoenix cosmetics at Selfridge, where the products impressed them enough to replace Zhang Li’s loyalty to CPB. As Phoenix’s success expanded overseas and strengthened Sanqing Beauty’s market position, Wei Kang decided to reward employees who had developed new formulas to encourage further research.

• Zhang Na and Zhang Li found Phoenix’s counter at Selfridge in place of CPB, and Zhang Na bought a set of its moisturizing products.
• Zhang Na’s skin visibly improved overnight, prompting Zhang Li to try Phoenix products herself and Zhang Na’s classmates to ask about the brand.
• Wei Kang reviewed Sanqing Beauty’s rising domestic and overseas sales and judged that it had become a major cosmetics brand.
• Wei Kang considered how to obtain more formulas for extracting side effects and decided to reward Xiang Gaofei, Li Zhong, and Wenren Long for their contributions.

Wei Kang announced Three Purities’ President’s Award, giving fifty-one employees cash bonuses for drug projects that passed toxicology testing and awarding Wenren Long, Xiang Gaofei, and Li Zhong one million yuan each for drugs selected for further development and launched on the market. He named the winners One-Star Drug Hunters and promised further rewards, leaving the employees eager to pursue new drug projects.

• Xiang Gaofei read an email summoning employees to a meeting about the President’s Award and wondered what it was.
• Wei Kang explained that employees whose new drug projects passed toxicology testing would receive 10,000 yuan, then handed cash bonuses to fifty-one recipients.
• Wei Kang announced that Wenren Long, Xiang Gaofei, and Li Zhong had each won the President’s Award and a one-million-yuan bonus.
• Wenren Long, Li Zhong, and Xiang Gaofei accepted oversized checks as the employees applauded.
• Wei Kang named the three winners One-Star Drug Hunters and described additional benefits for employees who earned more stars, spurring the audience to pursue new drug research.

Three Purities’ generous pay and lifetime retirement support drew attention from laid-off internet workers, while the company’s growing laboratories attracted researchers with ambitious projects. Wang Dong applied for an algorithm position, and Zhang Li chose to apply for an internship in the Neuroscience Laboratory.

• Three Purities’ million-yuan President’s Awards and lifetime retirement support became a top Bihu topic, prompting online discussions about its benefits and job openings.
• After being laid off, algorithm engineer Wang Dong submitted his résumé to Three Purities and received an interview invitation the next day.
• Three Purities expanded its Oncology and Neuroscience Laboratories and pursued research into cancer genetics, neural stem cells, and brain disorders.
• Zhang Li decided to leave the academic path for industry after seeing the impact of a skincare product made with Super Moisturizing Factor.
• Zhang Li reviewed the research directions at Three Purities and applied for an internship in the Neuroscience Laboratory.

Wei Kang reviewed Sanqing's soaring revenue and prepared to open the Pangu Research Institute at the company's new headquarters. After Academician Chang Sanwei confirmed support for recruiting researchers and establishing university partnerships, Wei Kang received a call from Nanda about long-term cooperation.

• Wei Kang calculated that Sanqing's revenue since the anti-cancer drug launched had exceeded 30 billion US dollars and expected the company to rise among the world's leading pharmaceutical firms.
• Wei Kang reviewed construction progress at Sanqing's new headquarters and planned to move the Pangu Research Institute there by year's end.
• Academician Chang Sanwei told Wei Kang that Jingda's laboratories would pursue substantive cooperation with Sanqing and that he would help recruit PhDs for its postdoctoral workstation.
• Wei Kang discussed the Pangu Research Institute's opening and a future lecture with Academician Chang Sanwei, then considered funding research partnerships with Jingda's key laboratories.
• A representative from Nanda's State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology called Wei Kang to propose a long-term cooperative relationship, and Wei Kang asked about its research directions.

Wei Kang secured cooperation between national key laboratories and explained his plan to make Pangu Research Institute a well-funded home for fundamental research. He proposed the Wei Science Award, offering five annual prizes of twenty million yuan each, and gained the academicians’ support as the first awards approached.

• Wei Kang agreed to fund university-affiliated national key laboratory projects on the condition that their core teams conduct the research at Pangu Research Institute.
• Wei Kang planned to use Sanqing’s resources to provide researchers with stable funding and compensation, reduce bureaucratic obstacles, and recruit top domestic and international talent.
• Wei Kang joined a video meeting with more than thirty academicians and proposed an international award covering mathematics, physics, chemistry, life sciences, and medicine and physiology.
• Wei Kang announced that each of the five prizes would carry twenty million yuan in prize money, guaranteed by his shares in Sanqing Group.
• The academicians praised Wei Kang’s plan and pledged to help judge the awards; he proposed initially honoring domestic researchers or overseas Chinese and holding the first ceremony before the next Spring Festival.
• Wei Kang named the award the Wei Science Award.

Sanqing Pharmaceutical opened the Pangu Research Institute and attracted researchers with Wei Kang’s successful laboratories and generous research opportunities. After Chris reported that their mole had stopped responding, Saul planned to exploit the institute’s recruitment drive by sending Eagle Country scholars to infiltrate Sanqing.

• Sanqing Pharmaceutical established the Pangu Research Institute, recruited postdoctoral researchers, and expanded collaborations with laboratories in other countries.
• Wei Kang’s breakthroughs and the crowded laboratories drew researchers from across the country and around the world to Sanqing.
• Chris told Saul that the mole inside Sanqing had stopped responding for two months and that the intelligence line appeared to be dead.
• Saul told Chris that Sanqing’s international recruitment offered a chance to send Eagle Country researchers into the company as postdoctoral scholars.
• Chris praised Saul’s plan to use Eagle Country scientists to infiltrate Sanqing and relay intelligence.