Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zhao suggests signing a bulk supply agreement with Yayoi Robot Butler Co., Ltd. instead of suing them.
• Chen Zhao's plan involves supplying Cannon Phones to Yayoi Company, which will then use them to make robot butlers.
• Chen Zhao's strategy is to crush Yayoi Company by causing their robot butlers to fail in the market, leading to the company's bankruptcy.
• Yayoi Company's executives are thrilled with the bulk supply agreement, believing it will lead to a win-win situation for both companies.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao: Demonstrates strategic thinking, ruthlessness, and a long-term vision. He is willing to make short-term sacrifices for long-term gains.
• Xiao Liu: Shows analytical skills and loyalty to Chen Zhao. She initially struggles to understand Chen Zhao's plan but eventually admires his strategy.
• Yayoi Company's executives: Display shortsightedness and overconfidence, focusing on immediate profits without considering the long-term consequences.

Significant Themes

• Strategic planning and long-term vision vs. short-term gains.
• The consequences of underestimating one's competitors.
• The ruthlessness of business and the willingness to make sacrifices for success.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao and Xiao Liu: Chen Zhao explains his strategy to Xiao Liu, who initially struggles to understand but eventually admires his plan.
• Chen Zhao and Yayoi Company's executives: Chen Zhao signs a bulk supply agreement with Yayoi Company, leading them to believe in a win-win situation, while Chen Zhao secretly plans their downfall.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zhao finalizes the Machine Slave design and orders mass production.
• Chen Zhao calls for a company meeting to discuss promotional strategies for the Machine Slaves.
• The company decides on various low-cost, high-impact promotional methods, including investing in a TV drama, influencer collaborations, and a unique promotional approach suggested by Chen Zhao.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao demonstrates his unyielding stance and commitment to the company's success, even against Deng Zixin's proposals.
• Deng Zixin shows her influence and resourcefulness by suggesting a TV drama investment and connecting the company with a famous director.
• Little Bamboo Shoot and Zhao Xiaobai propose influencer marketing strategies using their platforms.

Significant Themes

• The importance of advertising and marketing in business success.
• Chen Zhao's leadership style and his uncompromising stance on decisions.
• The power dynamics between Chen Zhao and Deng Zixin, hinting at their relationship outside of work.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao and Deng Zixin's tense exchange during the meeting, showcasing their differing views and power dynamics.
• Chen Zhao's interaction with the Machine Slaves, treating them as employees and assigning them to specific tasks.
• The collaboration between company executives and influencers (Little Bamboo Shoot and Zhao Xiaobai) to brainstorm promotional ideas.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zhao, the boss of a tech company, proposes deploying Machine Slaves in public places to boost sales.
• The company plans to deploy 10,000 units across major cities, with more in wealthier and larger population areas.
• The first Machine Slave is spotted on the street, causing a stir among pedestrians.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao demonstrates his understanding of marketing psychology and consumer behavior.
• Little Bamboo Shoot shows initiative by suggesting a return policy for Machine Slaves.
• The public reacts with curiosity and surprise to the appearance of Machine Slaves.

Significant Themes

• The power of advertising and consumer psychology in driving sales.
• The public's reaction to new technologies and their integration into daily life.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao convinces his team of his strategy, overcoming initial skepticism.
• The public interacts with the Machine Slave, demonstrating curiosity and acceptance.
• Chen Zhao and Little Bamboo Shoot collaborate on an idea to improve sales strategy.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Humanoid robots, or Machine Slaves, suddenly appear in cities across the country, initially dismissed as a film shoot or special effects.
• After familiarizing themselves with city layouts and customs, the robots begin performing good deeds, such as cleaning streets, assisting the elderly, helping lost children, and apprehending criminals.
• These actions gain significant public attention and go viral on social media.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao (implied, not directly present): Orders the Machine Slaves to learn about each city before starting their tasks.
• Machine Slaves: Prove to be efficient, helpful, and capable of learning and adapting to their environments.

Significant Themes

• Technology and Society: Explores the integration of advanced technology (robots) into everyday life and society's response to it.
• Good Samaritanship: Highlights the concept of doing good deeds, with the robots embodying this ideal.
• Public Reaction: Examines how people react to unexpected and extraordinary events, from initial disbelief to eventual acceptance and appreciation.

Character Interactions

• Machine Slaves and Humans: The robots interact with various humans, from sanitation workers and elderly people to lost children and criminals, assisting and helping them.
• Netizens and Machine Slaves: Online users watch, film, and share videos of the robots' actions, contributing to their popularity and public awareness.
• Machine Slaves and Police: In one instance, a robot assists police in apprehending a thief, demonstrating cooperation between technology and law enforcement.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zhao, busy playing an online game, receives orders for Machine Slaves from various organizations and wealthy individuals.
• He sets the pre-sale price at 799,999 yuan, causing a stir online.
• Yayoi Company, facing competition, panics and decides to intensify its advertising campaign for the Machine Butler.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao remains calm and confident in his company's products, even mocking critics online.
• Yayoi Company executives argue and struggle to decide their next move, showing their desperation and internal conflict.

Significant Themes

• The impact of technology on society and the economy.
• Competition and survival in the business world.
• The influence of advertising on consumer behavior.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao interacts with his secretary, Xiao Liu, discussing the orders and pricing strategy for the Machine Slaves.
• Yayoi Company executives argue and make decisions about their company's future in the face of competition from Chen Zhao's company.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zhao receives an emergency call about Cezanne, an astronaut he was responsible for bringing back from Mars.
• He rushes to the experimental base, where he learns that Cezanne has mutated after secretly eating Gun, a plant found on Mars.
• Wang De shows Chen Zhao photographs of Cezanne's transformation: Cezanne's body turned green, swelled, gained weight rapidly, and his eyes closed and began to grow larger.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao: Initially calm and collected, he becomes increasingly concerned and anxious as he learns about Cezanne's transformation.
• Cezanne: His appearance and physical attributes undergo drastic changes, turning him into a monstrous creature.

Significant Themes

• The unknown consequences of exploring space and encountering alien lifeforms or substances.
• The potential dangers of keeping secrets and not disclosing important information.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao and Deng Zixin: Deng Zixin helps Chen Zhao get ready and expresses concern for his safety. They exchange a brief, affectionate moment before he leaves.
• Chen Zhao and Wang De: Wang De briefs Chen Zhao on Cezanne's transformation, showing him photographs and providing details about Cezanne's condition. Their interaction is serious and urgent, reflecting the gravity of the situation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cezanne's mutation progresses; he's now demonic, with a body like a cow and acid-spitting hands.
• Cezanne escapes from Fort Detrick Biochemical Base, killing guards and destroying property.
• NASA asks Chen Zhao for advice on handling Cezanne and understanding Gun.
• Chen Zhao sends an angry email to NASA, blaming them for the situation and advising them to use bombs.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao becomes increasingly angry and frustrated with NASA's incompetence and deceit.
• Wang De remains calm and professional, facilitating communication between Chen Zhao and NASA.

Significant Themes

• Consequences of human ignorance and arrogance (NASA's disregard for Chen Zhao's warnings).
• The power and danger of unknown lifeforms (Gun and Cezanne's mutation).
• Responsibility and accountability (NASA's responsibility for the biochemical crisis).

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao interacts with Wang De and a young translator, dictating his email to NASA.
• Chen Zhao's anger is directed at NASA through his email correspondence.

Key Plot Points and Events

• NASA's attempt to neutralize Cezanne using armed helicopters fails.
• Cezanne, now a giant acid-spitting monster, terrorizes a town in Maryland.
• NASA bombs the town using high-explosive bombs, seemingly eliminating Cezanne.
• Chen Zhao warns NASA not to conduct further research on Cezanne.
• Chen Zhao is tasked with finding a way to eliminate the Gun on Mars.
• The first batch of Machine Slaves is sent overseas as samples, sparking global enthusiasm.
• Yayoi Company and Chen Zhao Technology Company announce simultaneous new product launches.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao demonstrates his concern for the public's safety and his willingness to warn NASA about the potential dangers of further Cezanne research.
• Chen Zhao's reputation continues to grow internationally, drawing attention to his company's products.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of unchecked scientific advancement and experimentation.
• The global impact and reception of Chinese technology and innovation.
• The competitive nature of the tech industry and corporate rivalry.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao communicates directly with NASA, expressing his concerns about Cezanne and offering advice.
• Chen Zhao and Wang De discuss the Mars Gun problem and potential solutions.
• Yayoi Company and Chen Zhao Technology Company engage in a public relations battle, announcing simultaneous product launches.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zhao launches a new product, the Machine Slave, at a grand event.
• The Machine Slave is a robot with human-like capabilities, including strength, intelligence, and loyalty.
• It comes in two editions: Standard (¥799,999) and Deluxe (¥999,999), with the main difference being customizable appearance.
• The international version costs significantly more (¥1,229,999 for Standard and ¥1,669,999 for Deluxe) due to various factors, including overseas production costs and tariffs.
• Chen Zhao announces a lunar travel project during the event.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao showcases his charisma, humor, and honesty during the launch event.
• He demonstrates his business acumen by explaining the pricing strategy and addressing potential customer concerns.

Significant Themes

• The impact of technology on society and daily life.
• The ethical implications of artificial intelligence and robotics.
• The global market and pricing strategies for international products.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao interacts with the audience, engaging them with humor and honesty.
• Foreign representatives present react to the international pricing, expressing their disapproval.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zhao reveals the company's Earth-Moon spacecraft and lunar base, which have been secretly operational for years.
• He announces the lunar tour program with different packages (15-day and 30-day tours, with and without senior care).
• Chen Zhao details the tour preparations, including medical examinations, acclimatization training, and on-tour arrangements.
• He finally reveals the tour prices, ranging from ¥8,000,000 to ¥15,000,000.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao is portrayed as a charismatic and conscientious entrepreneur, aiming to make the lunar tour affordable for everyone.
• He is shown to be influential within the company, having slashed the initial exorbitant prices set by the executives.

Significant Themes

• Accessibility and Affordability: Chen Zhao emphasizes making the lunar tour accessible to a broader range of people, not just the ultra-rich.
• Humanity's Dream: The lunar tour is positioned as a realization of humanity's long-held dream of space travel.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao interacts with the audience, engaging them and building anticipation for the tour.
• The audience reacts with excitement, disbelief, and disappointment upon hearing the tour prices.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zhao Technology Company's Machine Slave and Yayoi Company's Machine Butler are released on the same day, sparking intense competition.
• Big Water Sister, an influencer, buys both and live-streams a comparison, favoring the Machine Slave's intelligence and efficiency over the Machine Butler's sluggishness.
• The Machine Slave offers to return the Machine Butler to the store, demonstrating its initiative and problem-solving skills.

Character Developments

• Big Water Sister: Shows her idle, carefree lifestyle and lack of initiative, relying on her Machine Slave to handle tasks.
• Machine Slave: Exhibits intelligence, proactivity, and problem-solving skills, proving its worth despite its high price.
• Machine Butler: Displays slow reactions and limited understanding, highlighting its inferior performance compared to the Machine Slave.

Significant Themes

• Intelligence and efficiency vs. price: The Machine Slave's superior performance justifies its higher cost.
• Initiative and proactivity: The Machine Slave takes the initiative to solve problems, contrasting with Big Water Sister's passive approach.
• Consumerism and returns policy: The ease of returning the Machine Butler reflects the consumer culture and companies' return policies.

Character Interactions

• Big Water Sister and Machine Slave: The influencer relies on her Machine Slave for tasks and information, showing a symbiotic relationship.
• Machine Slave and Machine Butler: The Machine Slave outperforms the Machine Butler in intelligence and efficiency, highlighting the gap between the two products.
• Big Water Sister and her followers: The influencer interacts with her audience through her livestream, seeking their opinions and validation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A Machine Slave from Chen Zhao Technology Company enters Yayoi Company Store to return a Machine Butler, causing a stir among customers.
• Chen Zhao observes the successful sales of his products and plans to start a new research project in seclusion.
• Lu Xiaoxiao, a student, is assigned to Chen Zhao, but he initially refuses to mentor her.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao: He is focused on his work and has a strong desire for immortality technology. He is also a dedicated husband, willing to compromise with Deng Zixin.
• Lu Xiaoxiao: She is a wealthy, independent young woman who is determined to become Chen Zhao's student despite his initial refusal.

Significant Themes

• Ambition and the pursuit of immortality.
• The struggle between personal and professional life, as seen in Chen Zhao's desire to spend more time with Deng Zixin while also pursuing his work.
• The power dynamics between mentors and students, as well as the expectations placed on them.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao and Deng Zixin: They have a loving and playful relationship, with Deng Zixin asserting her dominance and Chen Zhao compromising to keep her happy.
• Chen Zhao and Lu Xiaoxiao: Their interaction is minimal in this chapter, but Lu Xiaoxiao's determination to become Chen Zhao's student sets the stage for their future relationship.
• Wang De and Chen Zhao: Wang De tries to convince Chen Zhao to accept Lu Xiaoxiao as his student, but Chen Zhao initially refuses.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zhao takes on Lu Xiaoxiao as his student due to pressure from Commander Wang.
• Chen Zhao and Lu Xiaoxiao have a rocky start, with Lu Xiaoxiao accidentally hurting herself and Chen Zhao being forced to eat vegetables.
• Chen Zhao reveals his plan to build 108 underwater bases worldwide for collecting marine DNA and assigns Lu Xiaoxiao to inspect them.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao: Struggles with his new student, Lu Xiaoxiao, and her unconventional methods. He remains dedicated to his work and shares his plans with her.
• Lu Xiaoxiao: Initially appears irresponsible and careless, but shows enthusiasm for her new role and Chen Zhao's project. She is adventurous and athletic, with a love for travel and exploration.

Significant Themes

• The mentor-mentee relationship: Chen Zhao and Lu Xiaoxiao's interactions explore the dynamics of a teacher-student relationship, with Chen Zhao initially reluctant and Lu Xiaoxiao eager to learn.
• Work-life balance: Chen Zhao struggles to balance his work and personal life, as seen in his conversation with Deng Zixin about taking on a student.
• Responsibility and duty: Both Chen Zhao and Lu Xiaoxiao grapple with their responsibilities, with Chen Zhao feeling pressured to take on a student and Lu Xiaoxiao trying to prove herself in her new role.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao and Lu Xiaoxiao: Their interactions are marked by humor and frustration, with Lu Xiaoxiao's antics often exasperating Chen Zhao. Despite this, they begin to form a bond as teacher and student.
• Chen Zhao and Deng Zixin: Chen Zhao's conversation with his wife, Deng Zixin, highlights their strong relationship and Deng Zixin's jealousy, which Chen Zhao must navigate carefully.
• Chen Zhao and Commander Wang: Chen Zhao's conversation with Commander Wang reveals the pressure he faces from his superiors to take on a student and contribute to the experimental base's goals.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zhao arrives late to a university meeting, causing anticipation among students.
• He announces that humanity is one step away from achieving immortality.
• Chen Zhao Technology Co., Ltd. is recruiting for various positions related to underwater construction and genetic analysis, with salaries ranging from 120,000 to 200,000 yuan per month.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao is portrayed as a charismatic, visionary leader who inspires students with his ambitious goals and recruitment drive.
• Students are shown to be eager, confident, and ambitious, with many willing to work for Chen Zhao despite the relatively low salaries.

Significant Themes

• Ambition and the pursuit of great goals.
• The allure of working for a renowned and capable leader.
• The desire for personal growth and unique experiences (e.g., working underwater).

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao interacts with the students, engaging them with humor and enthusiasm.
• Students eagerly respond to Chen Zhao's recruitment drive, showing their eagerness to work for him and participate in his ambitious projects.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zhao and Lu Xiaoxiao oversee the launch of the Merfolk, an advanced underwater vehicle designed by Chen Zhao.
• The Merfolk successfully completes its initial tests, reaching high speeds and diving deep into the ocean.
• Chen Zhao and Lu Xiaoxiao communicate with the Merfolk's operators, ensuring they're comfortable during the dive.
• The Merfolk encounters unusual floating rocks while descending.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao demonstrates his leadership and calm demeanor during the Merfolk's launch and initial dive.
• Lu Xiaoxiao shows enthusiasm and excitement, contrasting with Chen Zhao's seriousness.
• The Merfolk's operators display professionalism and readiness.

Significant Themes

• Technological Innovation: Chen Zhao's design and creation of the Merfolk showcase his technological prowess and forward-thinking approach.
• Adaptation and Unpredictability: The deep sea is portrayed as an unfamiliar and unpredictable environment, emphasizing the need for adaptability and preparedness.
• Leadership and Teamwork: Chen Zhao's leadership is crucial in guiding the Merfolk's operations, while the teamwork between him, Lu Xiaoxiao, and the operators is essential for the mission's success.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao and Lu Xiaoxiao have a mentor-mentee dynamic, with Chen Zhao acting as the responsible and serious teacher, while Lu Xiaoxiao is enthusiastic and playful.
• Chen Zhao communicates with the Merfolk's operators, ensuring their well-being and readiness during the dive.
• Chen Zhao and Lu Xiaoxiao work together to operate and monitor the Merfolk, demonstrating their compatibility as a team.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Merfolk submarine reaches the seafloor at a depth of 2,877 meters.
• Chen Zhao releases 100 Little Merfolk robots to capture marine life.
• The Little Merfolk capture and grind up various seafloor creatures, bringing back genetic material for analysis.
• The Merfolk's system identifies some captured organisms and discovers new, unknown species.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao demonstrates his expertise in operating the Merfolk and its systems.
• Lu Xiaoxiao shows curiosity and excitement about the discovery of new species.

Significant Themes

• Exploration and discovery of the deep sea and its unknown life forms.
• The use of advanced technology to study and understand the ocean's biodiversity.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao and Lu Xiaoxiao work together to operate the Merfolk, with Chen Zhao guiding Lu Xiaoxiao through the process.
• Lu Xiaoxiao expresses her disappointment at the appearance of the Little Merfolk, while Chen Zhao explains their purpose and function.
• Chen Zhao gently teases Lu Xiaoxiao about her fascination with the scrolling data she doesn't understand.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Merfolk successfully completes its first underwater mission and returns to the shore.
• Chen Zhao, the captain, is exhausted but safe.
• The Merfolk begins daily missions to collect marine life for genetic analysis.
• Chen Zhao starts analyzing the collected genetic data daily.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao's physical stamina is revealed to be poor due to his sedentary lifestyle.
• Chen Zhao's dedication to his work is shown as he starts analyzing genetic data daily.
• Xiao Liu, Chen Zhao's secretary, is depicted as attentive and precise in her duties.

Significant Themes

• The vastness and mystery of the ocean, with countless undiscovered species.
• The importance of genetic research and its potential applications.
• The dedication and hard work required for scientific progress.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao interacts with the officials and workers on the shore upon the Merfolk's return.
• Chen Zhao calls Deng Zixin to reassure her about his condition.
• Chen Zhao communicates with his company via the internal app, issuing instructions for the Merfolk project.
• Xiao Liu prepares tea for Chen Zhao every morning, showing attentiveness and care.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zhao's underwater base project faces resistance from over twenty countries due to territorial water disputes and Merfolk access restrictions.
• Chen Zhao devises individual strategies to negotiate with each country, securing agreements for base construction.
• Protests erupt in Iwate Prefecture, Japan, due to rumors about the underwater bases' impact on the local fishing industry.
• A shooting incident occurs during the protests, leaving multiple civilians dead and injured. Initial reports suggest police opened fire on protesters.
• A press conference clarifies that the deaths were caused by a stampede triggered by warning shots fired with blanks. However, a reporter presents evidence of a gunshot wound, contradicting the police's statement.
• Chen Zhao offers a reward to find out the truth behind the shooting incident.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao demonstrates his diplomatic prowess and understanding of each country's needs to secure agreements for the underwater bases.
• Grigory's character evolves, showing a more cunning and manipulative side, hinting at his involvement in the shooting incident.

Significant Themes

• The power of rumors and misinformation to incite unrest and violence.
• The complex nature of international negotiations and diplomacy.
• The consequences of misunderstandings and escalations in conflict.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao and Secretary Xiao Liu work together to navigate the international negotiations.
• Chen Zhao interacts with various country representatives to secure agreements for the underwater bases.
• Grigory's interaction with Chen Zhao hints at his involvement in the shooting incident and his changing character.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Grigory reveals that he suspects the Japanese delegation of spreading rumors to sabotage the undersea base project.
• He believes that the Japanese Police Agency's second-in-command, Miyabe Haomura, orchestrated a shooting in Iwate Prefecture to prove their innocence, resulting in civilian deaths.
• Chen Zhao is horrified by Grigory's lack of remorse and his acceptance of such actions as part of the natural order.

Character Developments

• Grigory: He has become more ruthless and pragmatic, viewing the world through a Machiavellian lens and showing no remorse for the deaths of innocent people.
• Chen Zhao: He is appalled by Grigory's transformation and struggles to reconcile the friend he knew with the monster Grigory has become.

Significant Themes

• The corrupting influence of power and wealth.
• The dehumanizing effects of viewing people as pawns in a larger game.
• The moral decay of those who embrace a "natural order" that justifies immoral actions.

Character Interactions

• Grigory and Chen Zhao: Their friendship is strained as Chen Zhao grapples with Grigory's callous attitude towards the deaths of innocent people.
• Chen Zhao and Secretary Xiao Liu: They have a brief interaction as Xiao Liu takes out the trash, with Chen Zhao retrieving Grigory's hairs from the discarded jacket.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zhao and Wang De discuss the possibility of creating an identical person using a strand of hair, inspired by a science fiction novel.
• Chen Zhao confesses his intention to take out his business partner, Grigory, due to his involvement in mass killings in Africa and Japan.
• Wang De advises against it, suggesting Chen Zhao gather evidence and hand it over to Interpol instead.
• Merfolk mass production begins, with eighty vessels ready for use.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao: Shows determination to stop Grigory, even if it means taking extreme measures.
• Wang De: Reveals his past experience dealing with foreign spies, demonstrating wisdom and understanding of human nature.

Significant Themes

• Power and Responsibility: Grigory's belief in his superiority leads him to disregard the value of ordinary lives, highlighting the corrupting influence of power.
• Consequences of Action: Wang De warns Chen Zhao about the potential consequences of taking Grigory out, emphasizing the importance of careful consideration.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao and Wang De: Their conversation reveals Wang De's wisdom and understanding, while Chen Zhao's determination shows his moral compass and resolve.
• Chen Zhao and Grigory: Their relationship is strained due to Grigory's actions, with Chen Zhao feeling a responsibility to stop him.