Chapter Summaries

• Key Plot Points: Xia Linfei reveals that in her future, the world is devastated by war and only 10% of the population remains. She believes that Su Yuan's death on February 19, 2013, led to this future.
• Character Developments: Xia Linfei shows remorse for her past actions and reveals that her father, Gao Jun, was present when Su Yuan died. Su Yuan learns that Xia Linfei is her niece and teases her about her relationship with Gao Jun.
• Significant Themes: The theme of time travel and its consequences on the future is explored. The idea that small actions can lead to significant changes in the future is also highlighted.
• Character Interactions: Su Yuan and Xia Linfei have a heart-to-heart conversation, with Su Yuan learning more about Xia Linfei's past and her connection to Gao Jun. They also discuss the fate of Ji Yehao, who was not present during the attack that led to Su Yuan's death in Xia Linfei's worldline.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Yuan and Xia Linfei discuss the events that led to the catastrophic World War III and the subsequent collapse of civilization due to a global virus outbreak.
• They learn that the war was instigated by a group of scientists within the United States, not the political leaders.
• The war resulted in the destruction of the Three Gorges Dam and the Yellowstone supervolcano eruption, leading to mass casualties and the breakdown of the global food chain.
• Humanity enters a 'tribal' melee, with settlements established but conflicts common due to resource scarcity.

Character Developments

• Su Yuan becomes more aware of the consequences of her actions and the dangers of advanced technology in the wrong hands.
• Xia Linfei reveals her true origins and the loss of her parents during the chaos.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of unchecked ambition and power.
• The destructive potential of war and technology.
• The fragility of civilization and the importance of unity in the face of global crises.

Character Interactions

• Su Yuan and Xia Linfei's conversation deepens their bond, with Xia Linfei revealing personal information about her past.
• The relationship between Su Yuan, Xia Linfei, Gao Jun, and Ji Yehao becomes more complex as they learn about the events that led to the current state of the world.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xia Linfei reveals her parents' identities, Liu Piaoxue (Su Yuan's rival) and Shen Huanyin.
• Xia Linfei explains her actions at the engagement banquet, aiming to protect her mother from the historical disaster.
• She shares her world's history post-disaster, including the establishment of Haizhou Base and the war with scientists using alien technology.
• Xia Linfei discusses her plan to prevent her future and Su Yuan's death.
• She admits to swapping the jade to clear Su Yuan's connection to the spacecraft incident.
• Xia Linfei reveals the loss of the time machine she used to travel and her role in changing the future by reconciling Su Yuan and Ji Hao.

Character Developments

• Xia Linfei: Shows determination to protect her mother and prevent her future, revealing her strategic thinking and resourcefulness.
• Su Yuan: Realizes the importance of preventing alien technology leakage and understands Xia Linfei's role in changing their future.

Significant Themes

• The butterfly effect: Xia Linfei's arrival and actions cause significant changes in the future.
• The importance of preventing alien technology leakage to avoid future disasters.
• The power of determination and resourcefulness in shaping one's future.

Character Interactions

• Xia Linfei and Su Yuan: They discuss their plans and the reasons behind their actions, leading to a deeper understanding and trust between them.
• Xia Linfei and Ji Hao (off-page): Xia Linfei's intervention leads to Ji Hao accepting Su Yuan's transformed self, ultimately saving her life.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xia Linfei's arrival from the future is confirmed as the trigger for historical changes.
• Su Yuan realizes her role in driving the change in history and compares herself to a "butterfly" effect.
• Su Yuan and Xia Linfei propose a proactive strategy: Alaya should attack the U.S. lab to eliminate 'Adam' and 'Eve' systems, and transfer important data from their base.
• Su Yuan and Xia Linfei reveal their time-travel origins to Gao Xiang and ask about the missing thirteen hours on the fifth of the moon.

Character Developments

• Su Yuan gains confidence in her ability to influence history and understands Xia Linfei's hesitation in revealing her identity.
• Gao Xiang is initially skeptical but listens attentively to Su Yuan and Xia Linfei's account of time travel.

Significant Themes

• The butterfly effect: Small actions can have significant consequences on history.
• Time travel's impact on history and personal choices.
• The struggle between revealing the truth (Su Yuan and Xia Linfei) and the consequences of doing so.

Character Interactions

• Su Yuan and Xia Linfei work together to propose a strategy and reveal their secret to Gao Xiang.
• Gao Xiang listens to Su Yuan and Xia Linfei's account, trying to understand and accept their extraordinary claim.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Yuan and Xia Linfei visit Gao Xiang, learning about the time reversal on September 5th.
• They decide to visit the time machine Su Yuan used to confirm its connection to Xia Linfei's past.
• Upon inspecting the time machine, they find it broken and unable to access its recorded data.

Character Developments

• Zhou Wan and Gao Xiang discuss Su Yuan and Xia Linfei's visit, with Zhou Wan mistakenly thinking Su Yuan is Xia Linfei.
• Su Yuan and Xia Linfei grow closer as they work together to uncover the truth about the time machine.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of time travel and the potential changes in worldlines.
• The importance of understanding and preserving the past to shape the future.

Character Interactions

• Su Yuan and Xia Linfei's partnership deepens as they share their knowledge and experiences related to time travel.
• Zhou Wan and Gao Xiang's conversation reveals their curiosity and concern about the young women's activities.

Key Plot Points

• The time machine is confirmed to be beyond repair.
• Xia Linfei and Su Yuan discover that there's another time machine in Su Yuan's basement, which might hold answers to their questions.
• They decide to return to Haizhou to examine the basement time machine.
• On their way back, they accidentally hit an old man with their car.

Character Developments

• Su Yuan feels a sense of loss over the time machine's destruction, seeing it as more than just a machine.
• Xia Linfei becomes determined to find answers about her father and the time machine's journey.

Significant Themes

• The significance of the time machine and its impact on destiny.
• The search for answers and the consequences of not having them.

Character Interactions

• Su Yuan and Xia Linfei work together to find a solution, showing camaraderie and mutual support.
• The interaction with the old man highlights the potential consequences of their actions and the unexpected nature of events.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A car accident occurs; an old man, Old Man Gu, runs away instead of confronting the driver, Su Yuan.
• Su Yuan chases after Old Man Gu to understand his strange behavior.
• Old Man Gu repeatedly tells people, including Su Yuan, "I know you, you will die," suggesting he might have prophetic abilities or be mentally ill.
• Su Yuan and Old Man Gu go to the hospital, where he continues to tell random people they will die.

Character Developments

• Su Yuan: Shows responsibility and concern for Old Man Gu's well-being despite his strange behavior.
• Old Man Gu: Revealed to be a once-respected professor who went mad decades ago, now living alone and causing disturbances.
• Sister Mei: A middle-aged woman who is a neighbor of Old Man Gu and helps him out of kindness.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of mental illness on an individual and their family.
• The kindness of strangers and the importance of community support.
• The fragility of human life and the inevitability of death.

Character Interactions

• Su Yuan and Old Man Gu: Initially hostile due to the accident, their interaction becomes one of concern and confusion as Old Man Gu's strange behavior is revealed.
• Su Yuan and Sister Mei: They bond over their shared concern for Old Man Gu and discuss his past and current situation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Yuan learns about Old Man Gu's past as a renowned biology professor who resigned from prestigious positions and later went mad.
• Old Man Gu's family arrives at the hospital, and his eldest son and daughter-in-law, Tian Zhitong, meet Su Yuan. Tian Zhitong recognizes Su Yuan as her former mischievous student.
• Xia Linfei reveals to Su Yuan that she lied about being Su Caiwei's niece to gain her support after arriving in 2006 alone.

Character Developments

• Old Man Gu: Despite his past achievements, he lives a simple life in the countryside after retiring and going mad.
• Tian Zhitong: She is revealed to be Su Yuan's former elementary school homeroom teacher, showing her kindness and understanding when she advocates for letting the accident go.
• Xia Linfei: She demonstrates her resourcefulness and adaptability by using a lie to secure Su Caiwei's support.

Significant Themes

• The fragility of human life and mental health, as seen in Old Man Gu's sudden descent into madness.
• The importance of one's past and the impact it has on present-day relationships, as seen in Tian Zhitong's recognition of Su Yuan.

Character Interactions

• Su Yuan and Tian Zhitong: Their interaction highlights the passage of time and the changes in a person's life, as well as the enduring impact of one's past actions.
• Su Yuan and Xia Linfei: Their conversation reveals Xia Linfei's resourcefulness and the bond between them, as Su Yuan is not surprised by Xia Linfei's lie.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Yuan finds a photo of an unaged Su Caiwei, hinting at time travel.
• Xia Linfei reveals she has a time machine and wants to show it to Su Yuan.
• They discover the time machine in the basement, and Xia Linfei activates its recorder.
• The recorder shows the time machine has made two jumps: from a World with a=1.2 to one with a=1.0, and then to the current World with a=0.9.

Character Developments

• Su Yuan becomes more curious and determined to understand time travel.
• Xia Linfei struggles with her past and the unexpected changes in her plans.
• Su Caiwei remains calm and understanding, accepting Xia Linfei's secret.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of time travel and the desire to change the past.
• The search for an "optimal" World where space isn't shattered, and war doesn't break out.
• The struggle between accepting and hiding one's true identity.

Character Interactions

• Su Yuan and Xia Linfei bond over their shared experience and curiosity about time travel.
• Su Caiwei shows understanding and acceptance towards Xia Linfei's secret, fostering a sense of trust between them.
• The three women work together to uncover the time machine's history and its implications.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xia Linfei tries to understand her arrival in the current world, leading to speculations about the time machine's jumps.
• The time machine's records show it made two jumps: first to a=1.000122, then to a world within the a=0.8 segment.
• Xia Linfei and Su Yuan discover that Worldlines are parallel, forming a Story Tree with converging and independent branches.
• They transfer the time machine's technology to the basement and cause global network disruptions, shifting blame to terrorist organizations.

Character Developments

• Xia Linfei becomes more determined to understand her presence in the current world and the time machine's jumps.
• Su Yuan takes on more responsibility within the family, managing preparations for the New Year and working with Xia Linfei on the time machine's technology.
• Xia Linfei and Su Yuan grow closer as they work together, sharing their knowledge and experiences.

Significant Themes

• The nature of reality and parallel worlds (Worldlines and the Story Tree).
• The consequences of time travel and altering history.
• The struggle for power and control over advanced technology.

Character Interactions

• Xia Linfei and Su Yuan collaborate to understand the time machine's jumps and prevent technological leakage.
• Su Yuan and Su Mengyuan engage in a playful snowball fight, showcasing their sisterly bond.
• Xia Linfei, Su Yuan, and Su Mengyuan work together to prepare for the New Year, highlighting their teamwork and camaraderie.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter opens with a description of Haizhou city during the Lunar New Year, with children playing near a park pond.
• A person falls into the icy pond, and a young man, Gao Xiang, rescues them.
• After the New Year, Gao Xiang returns to Kuocang Mountain Base, where he senses an unusual atmosphere.
• A meeting is called, attended by the old general and another high-ranking official. They announce a plan to use military force against domestic interest groups pressuring Huaxin Technology.
• The meeting's focus shifts to the xk1992 Plan and the spatial rifts, with the leader seeking a solution from the scientists.

Character Developments

• Gao Xiang demonstrates bravery by rescuing the person from the pond.
• Gao Xiang and Zhan Hua discuss their work and the base's atmosphere, showing their camaraderie.
• The old general is revealed to be involved in high-level political decisions, showing his influence and decisiveness.

Significant Themes

• Change and Adaptation: The emergence of Solid-state Energy disrupts the old structure, leading to conflict and change.
• Power and Influence: The struggle between interest groups and the military highlights the power dynamics within the country.
• Responsibility and Duty: The scientists' role in finding a solution to the spatial rifts emphasizes their responsibility and the importance of their work.

Character Interactions

• Gao Xiang and Zhan Hua's conversation reveals their friendship and shared understanding of their work.
• The old general's interaction with the high-ranking official shows their mutual respect and understanding, as well as the old general's influence.
• The researchers' reactions to the meeting's announcements show their shock and realization of the gravity of the situation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A crucial meeting is held to discuss the growing number of spatial rifts (32 discovered).
• Su Yuan and Xia Linfei intervene in Su Mengyuan and Ji Yehao's relationship, with Xia Linfei making a call to Ji Yehao to express her concerns.
• Su Yuan calls Su Mengyuan, revealing that she knows about their relationship but doesn't interfere.
• The next day, the Tian and Gu families visit the Su residence. Old Man Gu's eldest and second sons reveal that their father has died, not due to the car accident with Su Yuan.

Character Developments

• Su Yuan: She shows concern for Su Mengyuan's relationship with Ji Yehao, trying to help them reconcile without directly interfering. She also feels guilty about the car accident with Old Man Gu.
• Xia Linfei: She feels relieved that the future she remembered might not happen, but Su Yuan reminds her that the spatial rift issue is still unresolved.
• Ji Yehao and Su Mengyuan: They reconcile and spend the night together, seemingly strengthening their relationship.

Significant Themes

• Intervention vs. Non-intervention: Su Yuan and Xia Linfei grapple with whether to interfere in Su Mengyuan and Ji Yehao's relationship, ultimately choosing to express their concerns without forcing a decision.
• Consequences of Actions: The car accident with Old Man Gu has consequences, even though it wasn't the direct cause of his death.

Character Interactions

• Su Yuan and Xia Linfei: They work together to help Su Mengyuan and Ji Yehao, showing a growing partnership and mutual respect.
• Su Yuan and Su Mengyuan: Their relationship is strained due to Su Yuan's knowledge of Su Mengyuan's affair, but they maintain a facade of normalcy.
• The Gu and Tian Families: They visit the Su residence, revealing Old Man Gu's death and hinting at potential business discussions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gu Shiguo dies, and his sons visit Su Caiwei and Su Yuan to apologize on his behalf.
• Old Man Gu's dying words instruct his children to apologize to Su Caiwei and her daughter.
• Old Man Gu's illness and subsequent madness are revealed to have started around 1997.

Character Developments

• Su Yuan reveals she has female pseudohermaphroditism and was thought to be a boy until last year.
• The Gu family sons show respect and remorse, following their father's dying wishes.

Significant Themes

• The importance of keeping promises and facing the consequences of broken ones.
• The impact of psychological pressure on mental health.

Character Interactions

• Su Caiwei and Su Yuan interact with the Gu family sons, trying to understand the reason behind Old Man Gu's apology.
• Tian Zhitong, Su Yuan's former teacher, provides background information about Su Yuan's past.

Key Plot Points

• Gu Shiguo, a renowned biologist, went mad, leading to speculation that his research might have caused his mental breakdown.
• The Gu brothers suspect their grandfather's research in life sciences might have led to his madness.
• Old Man Gu's laboratory, submerged underwater due to a reservoir construction, is now inaccessible.
• The Gu family fulfills Old Man Gu's last wish to apologize to Su Caiwei and Su Yuan.

Character Developments

• Su Yuan shows curiosity and intelligence in deducing Old Man Gu's possible research.
• Tian Zhitong's son develops a crush on Su Yuan, displaying his shyness and immaturity.
• Su Caiwei feels guilty for potentially being involved in Old Man Gu's madness and death.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of obsession with research and the inability to accept new truths.
• The impact of societal roles and perspectives on mental resilience.
• The theme of guilt and responsibility for actions indirectly causing harm to others.

Character Interactions

• Su Yuan and Tian Zhitong's son have an awkward interaction due to his crush on her.
• Su Caiwei and Su Yuan discuss the possible connection between Old Man Gu's research and their family.
• Xia Linfei questions the nature of Old Man Gu's research and its relation to Su Yuan.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Caiwei and Su Yuan discuss the possibility of Su Yuan's transformation being related to Gu Shiguo's research.
• They realize Gu Shiguo's authority in biology and his apology before death hint at his involvement.
• Xia Linfei reveals she and her father researched Su Yuan's transformation, with Xia Linfei currently working on it.
• Xia Linfei shows them her underground lab, including a device for incubating solid-state energy using an improved culture medium.

Character Developments

• Su Yuan and Su Caiwei: They become more determined to find the cause of Su Yuan's transformation.
• Xia Linfei: She shows her expertise and dedication to researching Su Yuan's transformation, revealing her secret lab.

Significant Themes

• The limitations of current biotechnology and the challenges of human genetic modification.
• The ethical implications of using a person as a research subject (Su Yuan's discomfort with Xia Linfei's secret research on her).

Character Interactions

• Su Yuan and Su Caiwei: They work together to understand Su Yuan's transformation, showing a strong mother-daughter bond.
• Xia Linfei and Su Yuan: Xia Linfei's secret research on Su Yuan causes tension between them, as Su Yuan feels used.
• Xia Linfei and Su Caiwei: They collaborate on the solid-state energy project, with Xia Linfei keeping the true purpose of her lab secret from Su Caiwei.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xia Linfei discovers that the culture medium used to incubate Solid-state Energy also promotes cell growth, specifically totipotent stem cells from Su Yuan's blood sample.
• Su Yuan is horrified by the possibility of creating countless versions of herself and wants the stem cells destroyed.
• Xia Linfei reveals that the stem cells are useless due to their dependence on a specific culture medium and their cyclical nature.
• Su Yuan and Xia Linfei visit the site of Old Man Gu's submerged laboratory but decide not to proceed due to the flooding.
• They visit Su Yuan's grandparents in the neighboring town.

Character Developments

• Su Yuan: Realizes the implications of having totipotent stem cells derived from her blood and feels threatened. She remains calm and composed despite the situation.
• Xia Linfei: Shows her scientific curiosity and expertise in cell cultivation. She reassures Su Yuan about the stem cells' limitations.

Significant Themes

• Science and Ethics: The chapter explores the ethical implications of creating totipotent stem cells and the responsibility scientists have in handling such discoveries.
• Fear and Acceptance: Su Yuan grapples with fear of the stem cells' potential misuse but ultimately accepts the situation and moves forward.

Character Interactions

• Su Yuan and Xia Linfei: They work together to understand and deal with the stem cell situation. Their friendship deepens as they face this challenge together.
• Su Yuan and her grandparents: They share a warm, familial bond. Her grandparents welcome Xia Linfei into their home without hesitation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The President of the United States and his advisors discuss an impending global catastrophe, likely caused by spatial rifts.
• The President decides to convene a high-level meeting to prepare for the worst, including stockpiling food, medicine, and ammunition.
• Simultaneously, in Binhe City, Zhou Wan prepares a dinner for her family and friends, including Su Mengyuan, Ji Yehao, and the Su sisters.
• Gao Xiang returns home unexpectedly, hinting at an urgent matter.

Character Developments

• The President: Shows concern and understanding of the severity of the situation, agreeing to prepare for the worst.
• Gao Xiang: Returns home unexpectedly, suggesting he has urgent news to share with his family and friends.
• Su Mengyuan: Becomes more lively and feminine, likely due to the absence of the traumatic event that shaped her in her original world.

Significant Themes

• Global catastrophe and preparation: The impending disaster forces leaders to make tough decisions and prioritize the survival of their nations.
• Family and unity: Despite the looming crisis, the gathering of family and friends emphasizes the importance of connection and support.

Character Interactions

• The President and his advisors: They discuss and agree on the necessary steps to prepare for the disaster, showing a united front.
• The Zhou and Su families: They gather for a meal, fostering a sense of unity and warmth amidst the growing unease about the impending crisis.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter begins with a description of the Western Hills of the Capital City and the Military Commission's Joint Operations Command Center, which is on high alert due to an impending disaster.
• High-ranking military officials and political leaders gather in the command center for an emergency meeting to discuss evacuation plans and succession of power in case of unforeseen circumstances.
• The meeting reveals that spatial rifts are out of control, and many countries are making arrangements for a post-disaster period, including dismantling nuclear warhead trigger systems.
• Gao Xiang informs his family about the severity of the situation, giving them only three days before the spatial rifts erupt.

Character Developments

• Su Yuan (Su Mengmei): She reveals her true identity as a time traveler from the future to her family. She expresses her love for Ji Yehao by kissing him in front of Su Mengyuan.
• Su Mengyuan: Initially angry at Su Yuan's actions, she understands and accepts her sister's true identity and feelings for Ji Yehao. She decides not to compete with her for Ji Yehao's affection.
• Ji Yehao: Struggles to process the revelation that Su Mengmei is another version of Su Mengyuan. He also reflects on his past intimate moments with "Su Mengyuan" by the lake, now suspecting it was actually Su Mengmei.

Significant Themes

• Selfishness vs. Altruism: The impending disaster highlights the selfish nature of human survival instincts, with some people being prioritized for evacuation while many others are left to fend for themselves.
• Love and Relationships: The revelation of Su Yuan's true identity challenges the dynamics of the love triangle between her, Su Mengyuan, and Ji Yehao, ultimately leading to acceptance and understanding.

Character Interactions

• Su Yuan and Ji Yehao: Their relationship deepens as Su Yuan openly expresses her love for Ji Yehao, and he begins to accept her true identity.
• Su Mengyuan and Su Yuan: The sisters reconcile after Su Mengyuan learns the truth about Su Yuan's origins and accepts her feelings for Ji Yehao.
• Gao Xiang and his family: Gao Xiang shares crucial information about the impending disaster with his family, leading to a tense and emotional discussion.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Yehao, Su Mengmei, and Su Mengyuan face the spatial rift crisis together.
• Su Yuan decides to use the time machine to travel back and prevent the disaster.
• Ji Yehao and others try to dissuade her, but she insists on going alone.
• The group heads to Haizhou for a final outing before Su Yuan's departure.

Character Developments

• Ji Yehao shows concern and willingness to protect Su Yuan but ultimately accepts her decision.
• Su Yuan demonstrates determination and responsibility, choosing to face the danger herself.
• Su Mengyuan shows understanding and support for her sister's decision.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice for the greater good.
• Acceptance of fate and the unknown.
• The consequences of one's actions on others.

Character Interactions

• Ji Yehao and Su Yuan have a tense exchange about who should travel back in time.
• Su Mengyuan supports her sister's decision, showing a new level of understanding and acceptance.
• The group dynamic shifts as they come to terms with the impending crisis and Su Yuan's decision.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Yuan, a time traveler, crash-lands her time machine in a forest near a lake, damaging the machine and her Worldline Sniffer, a device used to determine the values of the world she's in.
• She discovers she's traveled back to September 3, 2012, the day she returns to school, and sets out to find her past self, Xia Linfei.
• She observes her past self from a distance, noting his attractiveness and gentle demeanor.

Character Developments

• Su Yuan: She shows resilience and adaptability in dealing with the time machine's damage and her broken Worldline Sniffer. She remains optimistic and resourceful, quickly formulating a plan to find Xia Linfei.
• Xia Linfei (Su Yuan's past self): He is depicted as attractive, with a gentle demeanor, and a hint of femininity. He is seen playing with his phone at a shop outside the campus.

Significant Themes

• Time Travel: The chapter explores the concept of time travel and its potential consequences, such as the ability to change one's past and the challenges that come with it.
• Identity: Su Yuan's observation of her past self raises questions about identity, gender norms, and self-perception.

Character Interactions

• There are no direct interactions between characters in this chapter, as Su Yuan is observing her past self from a distance. However, the chapter sets the stage for potential interactions between Su Yuan and Xia Linfei.