Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Dissension”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A Weibo post exposing a dinner list involving Yingdun Entertainment artists rapidly becomes a nationwide online scandal. Netizens spread it across social media, flood the artists’ accounts with demands for explanations, and call for some to leave the entertainment industry.
• Caught unprepared because the scandal breaks outside working hours, Yingdun recalls its employees, organizes crisis-PR discussions, holds a press conference, and sends lawyer’s letters to both the anonymous exposer and Weibo’s operating studio.
• Before Yingdun can regain control of the narrative, a newly created account called “Exposé Guy” releases a second, far more serious set of materials. The evidence allegedly shows that Yingdun has long controlled artists through usury, drugs, nude images, blackmail, coercion, and forced prostitution.
• The documents describe how Yingdun recruited young hopefuls through training programs and talent shows, bound them to extremely long contracts, forced them to attend dinners and serve clients, and used compromising photos, videos, and drugs to control them. The company also allegedly exploited artists’ trusting fans, turning some into escorts.
• Although key names and identifying details are censored to protect victims, the revelations provoke widespread public anger and throw the entire entertainment industry into turmoil.
• Yingdun denies the accusations, arguing that the evidence lacks witnesses and physical proof and is merely fabricated material intended to extort the company. It holds another press conference and condemns Weibo for permitting the allegations.
• Artists named in the original dinner list also deny that the gatherings involved improper transactions. They claim such dinners are ordinary professional social events and cite other celebrities’ attendance at similar functions as supposed proof.
• By dragging many other entertainers into the controversy, Yingdun’s artists muddy the issue and spread suspicion throughout Hong Kong’s entertainment industry. Gossip publications and paparazzi exploit the scandal, while many celebrities avoid public appearances and refuse to comment.

Character and Group Developments

• Yingdun Entertainment shifts from an initially unprepared and defensive company into an aggressive public-relations operation. Rather than directly addressing the alleged abuses, it attacks the exposer’s credibility, threatens legal action, and attempts to redirect public attention.
• “Exposé Guy” emerges as a careful and deliberate whistleblower. The account protects victims by censoring identifying information while releasing enough material to expose Yingdun’s alleged system of exploitation.
• Yingdun’s implicated artists publicly defend themselves but also participate in the company’s strategy by invoking other celebrities and presenting the scandal as a normal misunderstanding about industry dinners.
• Other entertainers become unwillingly entangled in the scandal. Fearful of angering Yingdun or revealing industry secrets, many remain silent, withdraw from public life, or avoid attending dinners.
• Netizens, media outlets, gossip magazines, and paparazzi become increasingly active participants, intensifying the scandal and turning private industry practices into public spectacle.

Significant Themes

• Power and exploitation: The allegations portray entertainment companies as capable of controlling vulnerable young artists through contracts, debt, blackmail, drugs, and sexual coercion.
• Truth versus reputation management: Yingdun focuses on denying and reframing the accusations rather than confronting their substance, showing how public relations can be used to obscure wrongdoing.
• Silencing and vulnerability: Victims’ identities must be hidden for their protection, while those with power can intimidate witnesses and discourage insiders from speaking out.
• Collective blame and diversion: Yingdun’s strategy of dragging other celebrities into the scandal spreads suspicion and prevents the public from focusing solely on the company’s alleged crimes.
• Media sensationalism: Online crowds, gossip outlets, and paparazzi amplify the controversy, often prioritizing scandal and profit over careful investigation or victims’ privacy.
• Fear and complicity within the industry: Many artists understand that something is wrong but remain silent because challenging powerful industry figures could damage their careers.

Character Interactions

• Yingdun’s management confronts the anonymous exposer through legal threats, public denials, and press conferences.
• “Exposé Guy” indirectly challenges the company by releasing increasingly damaging evidence while concealing victims’ identities.
• Yingdun’s artists align themselves with the company’s defense and invoke other celebrities to normalize dinner gatherings and dilute the accusations.
• Other entertainers become unwilling targets of this defensive strategy, while paparazzi pressure them for statements.
• Netizens respond aggressively to both the company and the listed artists, turning the controversy into a conflict among the company, its performers, the media, and the public.

Chapter Summary: “Who Is the Oriole?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yingdun Entertainment’s attempt to obscure its scandals fails after authorities announce a thorough investigation. Further revelations from “Exposé Guy” expose the company’s practice of using artists to build connections and obtain projects, causing Yingdun Group’s stock price to plunge for several consecutive days.
• The crisis spreads to Qi Group, the influential force behind Yingdun Group. The Wang brothers—Wang Zhonghao and Wang Dafu—meet with Qi Jiaming at a private club to demand protection.
• Wang Dafu anxiously explains that they offended Wei Linxuan and Lu Heng on Qi Jiaming’s behalf and are now being targeted by the Wei family. He also reveals that Yingdun Entertainment’s accounts are fraudulent and could not survive an audit, potentially sending everyone involved to prison.
• Wang Zhonghao subtly threatens Qi Jiaming by implying that the Wang brothers could expose their connection to the Qi family. Qi Jiaming recognizes the pressure but pretends to remain confident.
• Qi Jiaming promises not to abandon them, claiming they are “in the same boat.” However, he makes clear that his main priority is acquiring shares in Wei Group. He tells the brothers to handle the entertainment company’s accounting problems themselves and implies that they should find a way to deal with the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
• The Wang brothers leave temporarily reassured, while Qi Jiaming repeatedly stresses that the funds Yingdun Group provided for the acquisition of Wei family shares must be concealed properly because the transaction could attract scrutiny.
• Once alone, Qi Jiaming drops his friendly facade and becomes furious that the Wang brothers dared to threaten him. He is also unsettled by Wei Linxuan’s unexpectedly ruthless counterattack and begins considering how to respond.
• The chapter ends by noting that the Wang brothers likewise distrust Qi Jiaming. As the scandals, suspected money laundering, falling stock price, and possible bankruptcy dominate public attention, a major financial report is about to redirect the entire situation.

Character Developments

• Qi Jiaming: Revealed as calculating, arrogant, and manipulative. He presents himself as a loyal ally but is primarily concerned with his own power struggle against the Wei family. His confidence is shaken by Wei Linxuan’s effectiveness, and he resents the Wang brothers for using their shared crimes as leverage.
• Wang Zhonghao: Demonstrates greater political awareness than his brother. He understands the danger of openly threatening Qi Jiaming and instead uses indirect, flattering language to pressure him while preserving the appearance of loyalty.
• Wang Dafu: Remains blunt, anxious, and less perceptive. He openly demands Qi Jiaming’s help and reveals sensitive information without recognizing the underlying power struggle.
• Wei Linxuan: Though absent from the scene, he is characterized through others’ reactions as far more capable and ruthless than Qi Jiaming expected.
• Lu Heng: Mentioned as another person the Wang brothers offended, likely as part of their efforts to serve Qi Jiaming’s interests.

Significant Themes

• Political and financial corruption: The chapter highlights Yingdun Entertainment’s manipulated accounts, suspected money laundering, misuse of artists, and improper corporate financing.
• Mutual blackmail and fragile alliances: The relationship between Qi Jiaming and the Wang brothers is based not on loyalty but on shared wrongdoing and the threat of exposure.
• Public scandal versus hidden power struggles: While the media focuses on Yingdun’s collapse, influential families and corporations battle behind the scenes through stock acquisitions and financial manipulation.
• Underestimation and reversal of power: Qi Jiaming underestimated Wei Linxuan, and the resulting crisis threatens to undermine both Yingdun Group and the Qi family’s plans.
• The hidden “oriole”: The title suggests that while everyone is focused on the visible conflict between Yingdun, the Wei family, and the authorities, another party may be preparing to profit from the chaos.

Character Interactions

• The Wang brothers appeal to Qi Jiaming for protection, framing their crimes as sacrifices made for him.
• Wang Zhonghao skillfully flatters Qi Jiaming while indirectly reminding him that the Qi family could be implicated.
• Qi Jiaming reassures the brothers publicly but privately views them as liabilities and resents their attempt to pressure him.
• Their discussion reveals that all three parties are cooperating only out of self-interest, making their alliance unstable and likely to fracture as the investigation intensifies.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qi Group, led by Qi Jiaming, announces the acquisition of 50.01% of Wei Group's shares, making Qi Group the largest shareholder.
• Qi Group plans to merge Wei Group into Qi Group as a subsidiary, with Qi Jiaming becoming the CEO of the new subsidiary.
• The news shocks the business world, sparking speculation about Qi Group's role in Wei Group's internal power struggle.

Character Developments

• Qi Jiaming: Establishes himself as a business genius by orchestrating the acquisition of Wei Group.
• Wei Xiaoyun: Suffers a devastating defeat, seeing his life's work taken over by his mortal enemy, Qi Hongfeng.

Significant Themes

• Rivalry and Revenge: The decades-long feud between the Qi and Wei families comes to a head.
• Power and Control: The struggle for power within Wei Group and the control of its shares.
• Legacy and Failure: Wei Xiaoyun's inability to protect his family's empire and the impact on his legacy.

Character Interactions

• Qi Hongfeng and Qi Jiaming: The grandfather-grandson duo work together to achieve their revenge against the Wei family.
• Wei Xiaoyun and Wei Zhanjie: The father-son pair deal with the aftermath of Wei Group's takeover, with Wei Zhanjie protecting his father from the truth.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qi Jiaming publicly declares victory over Wei Group, drawing global attention.
• Wei Linxuan responds calmly to Qi Jiaming's challenge, dismissing Wei Group's value.
• Qi Jiaming plans to mock Wei Linxuan for supposedly thanking the Qi family.
• Wang Dafu threatens Qi Jiaming about Yingdun Entertainment's involvement in the Wei Group acquisition.
• Qi Jiaming assures the Wang brothers he'll help with Yingdun Entertainment's issues but warns them not to implicate Qi Group.

Character Developments

• Qi Jiaming: Shows arrogance and ruthlessness, but also displays understanding and patience when dealing with the Wang brothers.
• Wei Linxuan: Maintains a calm and confident demeanor despite Qi Jiaming's challenge, hinting at a deeper strategy.
• Wang Dafu: Becomes desperate and threatening due to Yingdun Entertainment's predicament.
• Wang Zhonghao: Acts as a mediator between Qi Jiaming and his brother, showing humility and wisdom.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and rivalry: Between the Qi and Wei families, and within the Wei family itself.
• Business alliances and betrayals: Illustrated by the Wang brothers' involvement with Qi Jiaming and Yingdun Entertainment.
• Public image and perception management: Both Qi Jiaming and Wei Linxuan are aware of the global attention on their feud and act accordingly.

Character Interactions

• Qi Jiaming and Wei Linxuan: Their public exchange sets the stage for further conflict and competition.
• Qi Jiaming and the Wang brothers: Their interaction highlights the complex dynamics of their business alliance, with Qi Jiaming maintaining control despite Wang Dafu's threatening behavior.
• Old Master Qi and Qi Jiaming: The old master's comment reveals his awareness of Qi Jiaming's efforts and the family's expectations.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qi Jiaming and Old Master Qi discuss Yingdun Entertainment’s scandal and growing crisis. They fear the reckless Wang brothers may drag Qi Group down with them.
• Old Master Qi believes the situation will ultimately end with the Wang brothers becoming scapegoats, since neither the Qi family nor the mainland authorities can afford to expose the full network of corruption.
• Qi Jiaming recalls his public clash with Wei Linxuan, while Old Master Qi reassures him that their rivalry is only beginning.
• Lu Chi’s eldest brother reviews Qi Jiaming’s successful campaign against Wei Group: infiltrating the company, manipulating Wei family members, damaging Wei Group’s stock price, and acquiring its shares.
• It is revealed that Qi Jiaming’s apparent success was anticipated by Lu Chi’s eldest brother, who secretly bought Qi Group shares while its price was low.
• The Lu and Wei factions have already made a substantial profit from Qi Group’s rising stock price, but their larger plan is to short Qi Group and eventually acquire it.
• They intend to expose that Qi Group used Yingdun’s illicit money to purchase Wei Group shares. This would connect Qi Group to Yingdun’s scandal, cause its stock to collapse, and create an opportunity for a takeover.
• Rather than allowing the Qi family to quietly sacrifice the Wang brothers, Lu Chi’s eldest brother orders the Qi family’s plans to be leaked to them.
• The leak is meant to provoke the Wang brothers into retaliating and dragging the Qi family into Yingdun’s crimes. The group believes this will buy them the time needed to complete their financial and legal offensive.

Character Developments

• Qi Jiaming is revealed as an exceptionally capable and ambitious strategist, though he remains unaware that his recent victories have been manipulated by Lu Chi’s eldest brother.
• Old Master Qi shows confidence in his grandson but also recognizes the danger posed by the Wang brothers and the wider Yingdun scandal.
• Wei Linxuan acts outwardly submissive and plays the role of a “treacherous minister,” but he is actually an enthusiastic conspirator working against Qi Group.
• Lu Chi’s eldest brother emerges as the central mastermind. Calm, patient, and financially sophisticated, he has anticipated Qi Jiaming’s moves and is orchestrating a broader plan to destroy and acquire Qi Group.
• Lu Heng remains less knowledgeable about finance but is emotionally driven by his hatred of the Wang brothers and his desire to see justice for Yingdun’s victims.
• The Wang brothers are characterized as dangerous men trapped in a corner: Wang Dafu is impulsive, while Wang Zhonghao is calculating. Their likely reaction to betrayal is to retaliate recklessly.

Significant Themes

• Strategic manipulation and deception: Victories and failures are carefully engineered behind the scenes, with Qi Jiaming unknowingly playing into his opponents’ plans.
• Corporate warfare: Stock purchases, short-selling, market panic, and hostile acquisition are treated as weapons in a larger power struggle.
• Justice versus revenge: Lu Heng wants the Wang brothers punished for their crimes, while the others are willing to manipulate them for strategic advantage.
• Sacrificial scapegoats and political compromise: The Qi family and other powerful institutions seek to contain the scandal by sacrificing the Wang brothers rather than exposing the entire corrupt system.
• Patience and timing: The conspirators emphasize waiting for the precise moment when the Qi family and Wang brothers begin fighting, allowing them to profit from the chaos.

Character Interactions

• Qi Jiaming and Old Master Qi discuss the threat from the Wang brothers and Wei Linxuan’s growing rivalry with Qi Jiaming.
• Wei Linxuan flatters Lu Chi’s eldest brother while celebrating their financial success and hidden advantage over Qi Group.
• Lu Heng questions the profitability of their scheme and reacts with excitement when he understands the potential gains.
• Lu Heng objects to helping the Wang brothers escape, but Wei Linxuan and Lu Chi’s eldest brother explain that the leak will instead provoke them into destroying the Qi family.
• The chapter ends with Lu Chi’s eldest brother ordering the leak, setting up a confrontation between the Qi family and the Wang brothers that will benefit the Lu and Wei factions.

Chapter Summary: “The Yellow Oriole’s Perverse Delight”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yingdun Group is collapsing under the fallout from the “YIN Media Scandal.” Most of Yingdun Entertainment’s implicated executives have been detained in mainland China or Hong Kong, and the investigation has expanded to include money laundering, falsified accounts, drug trafficking, organized crime, and coerced prostitution.
• The scandal has damaged Yingdun Group’s formerly respectable reputation. Its stock price and cash flow have plummeted, projects have stalled, employees are resigning, and authorities have restricted the overseas travel of key managers and shareholders.
• The Qi family, which previously used Yingdun as a pawn in its conflict with Wei Linxuan and the Wei family, appears to be abandoning Yingdun rather than protecting it. Executives and shareholders angrily question Chairman Wang Zhonghao about the Qi family’s intentions.
• During a chaotic video conference, Wang Zhonghao receives an anonymous call. The information shocks him, making him realize that he and Yingdun may have been manipulated and deliberately set up as scapegoats.
• Wang orders his trusted associates to prepare records of the secret financial dealings between Yingdun and the Qi Group. If mainland authorities do not transfer the investigation to Hong Kong within one day, he will release the evidence to the Hong Kong press and the internet.
• Wang Dafu angrily concludes that Qi Jiaming intends to betray them and suggests killing him. Before he can continue, someone arrives at the hotel room claiming to be room service, creating an immediate threat.
• The chapter ends with Wang Dafu preparing to sacrifice himself and take responsibility for Yingdun Entertainment’s crimes in order to protect his younger brother, while urging Wang Zhonghao to contact their lawyers.

Character Developments

• Wang Zhonghao: His controlled, confident public image briefly collapses when he learns that the Qi family may have betrayed him. He quickly regains his composure, but his response becomes more desperate and aggressive. Rather than passively accepting blame, he decides to retaliate by exposing the Qi family’s illegal dealings.
• Wang Dafu: Though less intelligent and strategic than his brother, he demonstrates loyalty and courage. He recognizes the danger and is willing to take full responsibility—even potentially face imprisonment or worse—to shield Wang Zhonghao.
• Qi Jiaming and the Qi family: They remain physically absent but become increasingly characterized as manipulative and treacherous. Their apparent abandonment of Yingdun suggests that they intend to preserve themselves by sacrificing their former allies.
• Yingdun’s shareholders and executives: Their fear and anger grow as the company’s collapse becomes unavoidable. Their former obedience to the Qi family is giving way to demands for answers and self-preservation.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal and scapegoating: Yingdun realizes it may have been used by the Qi family and discarded once it became a liability.
• Power struggles and hidden manipulation: The anonymous caller may be warning Wang Zhonghao or deliberately provoking conflict, reinforcing the chapter’s image of unseen players maneuvering behind the scenes.
• Self-preservation versus loyalty: Wang Zhonghao threatens to expose the Qi family to save himself, while Wang Dafu offers to sacrifice himself to protect his brother.
• The collapse of power and reputation: Yingdun’s wealth and public respectability cannot shield it from legal investigation, financial disaster, or internal panic.
• “The mantis and the oriole” metaphor: The chapter suggests that while the visible factions struggle against one another, another hidden player may be waiting to profit from their destruction.

Important Character Interactions

• The video conference shows the shareholders and executives turning against Wang Zhonghao and demanding an explanation for the Qi family’s lack of support.
• The anonymous caller’s warning forces Wang Zhonghao to reassess his alliance with the Qi family.
• Wang Zhonghao and Wang Dafu discuss their remaining leverage, with Wang Zhonghao choosing blackmail and media exposure over continued negotiation.
• Wang Dafu’s proposal to kill Qi Jiaming reveals his anger, while his later offer to accept all blame demonstrates his deep loyalty to his brother.
• The knock at the door interrupts their confrontation and shifts the chapter from political maneuvering to an immediate physical threat.

Chapter 507 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Dafu tells his brother, Wang Zhonghao, that they cannot both be ruined and insists on taking action, suggesting a separation of responsibility between them.
• Qi Jiaming, believing the crisis involving the Wang brothers has been handled by his grandfather, goes to his villa to see his mistress, actress Su Man. He brings ninety-nine red roses to make up for neglecting her.
• Instead, Qi discovers Wang Zhonghao waiting in the villa with numerous armed men. Zhonghao reminds him that the villa originally belonged to the Wang brothers and accuses him of forgetting his dependence on Yingdun.
• Su Man claims that Zhonghao forced her to summon Qi by threatening to release intimate photographs of her and Qi. Zhonghao clarifies that the photographs were secretly recorded at a club by hidden cameras installed because of Wang Dafu’s voyeuristic habits.
• Zhonghao threatens to leak the footage publicly, humiliating both Su Man and Qi and potentially damaging Qi’s business and reputation.
• Qi recognizes that Zhonghao has the advantage and asks what he wants. Zhonghao demands that someone take responsibility for Yingdun Entertainment’s collapse.
• Qi argues that Yingdun Entertainment destroyed itself through its own misconduct and that Wang Dafu, as its president, should bear the blame. He distinguishes Zhonghao from his brother, emphasizing Zhonghao’s respected reputation as chairman of Yingdun Group and head of its charity foundation.
• Qi begins trying to persuade Zhonghao to abandon Wang Dafu and protect his own wealth and public image, subtly encouraging a split between the brothers.

Character Developments

• Qi Jiaming shifts from carefree confidence to alert negotiation when he realizes Zhonghao has trapped him. Rather than panicking, he attempts to manipulate Zhonghao through rational arguments and appeals to self-interest.
• Wang Zhonghao is shown as calculating, composed, and vengeful. He uses the villa, the compromising photographs, and his armed men to establish control and pressure Qi.
• Wang Dafu appears desperate and aware that the brothers may not survive the scandal together. His earlier decision to act hints that he may be willing to sacrifice or distance himself from Zhonghao.
• Su Man presents herself as an unwilling victim, claiming she was coerced into luring Qi to the villa. Her nervousness and evasive behavior leave her actual motives uncertain.
• Qi Jiaming and Zhonghao engage in a battle of manipulation: Zhonghao uses threats and humiliation, while Qi counters by portraying Dafu as expendable and Zhonghao’s public reputation as worth preserving.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility and scapegoating: The collapse of Yingdun Entertainment raises the question of who should bear the consequences—Dafu as president, the Qi Group for withdrawing funds, or Zhonghao as chairman.
• Power through secrets: Private scandals, hidden recordings, and blackmail become weapons more powerful than formal authority.
• Family loyalty versus self-preservation: Both Wang brothers face the possibility that surviving the crisis may require sacrificing the other.
• Public image and hypocrisy: Zhonghao’s charitable reputation contrasts with the corruption and scandal surrounding Yingdun, while Qi suggests that preserving appearances may matter more than loyalty.
• Manipulation and moral ambiguity: Every major character appears to be protecting personal interests, and neither Su Man’s innocence nor Qi’s motives are entirely trustworthy.

Character Interactions

• Wang Dafu urges Zhonghao to act before both brothers are destroyed.
• Zhonghao confronts Qi at the villa and uses Su Man and the hidden photographs to intimidate him.
• Su Man clings to Qi and claims Zhonghao forced her cooperation, while Zhonghao undermines her account by explaining the origin of the photographs.
• Qi and Zhonghao argue over Yingdun Entertainment’s downfall, with Qi defending the Qi Group’s withdrawal and Zhonghao demanding accountability.
• Qi attempts to turn Zhonghao against Wang Dafu by presenting Dafu as the true culprit and urging Zhonghao to protect his own reputation and fortune.

Chapter 508 Summary

Plot and events

Qi Jiaming meets Wang Zhonghao at the villa to negotiate Yingdun Group’s survival during the fallout from the YIN Media Scandal. Qi admits that the Qi family never intended to save Yingdun Entertainment specifically, viewing it as a disposable part of the larger Yingdun Group. However, because Wang possesses damaging evidence of the Qi Group’s embezzlement and Qi Jiaming’s own crimes, the Qi family is willing to temporarily support Wang and help stop the mainland police investigation.

Negotiation and power struggle

Wang Zhonghao demands that Qi immediately contact his family and force them to demonstrate their sincerity. He has already decided to abandon his detained elder brother, Wang Dafu, despite Dafu’s attempt to protect him by surrendering. Qi admires Wang’s ruthlessness but wonders whether Wang would be equally willing to sacrifice his hidden illegitimate children.

Qi’s countermeasure

Qi reveals that he has located one of Wang’s illegitimate children and uses the child’s call to expose his leverage. He also reveals that his watch contains a locator and communication device. Moments later, a red far-infrared targeting dot appears on Wang’s forehead, implying that Qi has arranged for Wang to be targeted by a sniper. Qi quickly dismisses it as a “joke,” but the threat successfully shifts the balance of power.

Character developments

• Qi Jiaming remains outwardly relaxed and charming, but his nervous gestures reveal intense pressure. He demonstrates increasing cunning, preparation, and ruthlessness, carefully turning Wang’s own methods against him.
• Wang Zhonghao is portrayed as calculating and merciless, willing to sacrifice his brother for his wealth and influence. Although initially dominant, he becomes wary and enraged after Qi exposes his vulnerability. His suppressed ruthlessness is stirred by the reversal.
• Su Man remains frightened and submissive throughout the confrontation, serving as both Qi’s companion and part of the tense atmosphere.

Themes

The chapter emphasizes political and criminal pragmatism, betrayal, blackmail, and the transactional nature of loyalty. Family ties are treated as expendable when wealth and power are at stake. It also highlights the fragile balance between two dangerous men who distrust each other but must cooperate to survive.

Key interactions

Qi and Wang engage in a polished but hostile verbal duel, each pretending to trust the other while preparing countermeasures. Wang pressures Qi to use the Qi family’s influence, while Qi uses Wang’s secrets and illegitimate child to force restraint. Their negotiation ends with neither man defeated, but Qi successfully proves that Wang is not untouchable and reignites the conflict between them.

Chapter Summary: “Taking Control”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Zhonghao reveals that he has prepared evidence tying Qi Group to Yingdun Group’s money laundering and the illegal acquisition of Wei Group. He threatens to release proof of Qi Group’s malicious stock manipulation unless the authorities transfer the Yingdun case to Hong Kong.
• Qi Jiaming initially appears confident and dismissive. He brings armed men into the villa and mocks Wang by giving him a fake water gun, claiming that Wang will receive what he wants.
• Despite Qi Jiaming’s confidence, the next morning the evidence is released publicly. News outlets expose a secret agreement showing that Qi Group used Yingdun’s illicit funds to acquire Wei Group.
• Lu Chi’s older brother explains that the evidence came from handwritten financial records Wang Zhonghao had ordered his finance department to maintain. He then signals that their side can begin selling shares, implying that the scandal is part of a larger financial strategy.
• The chapter recounts the chain of scandals that destabilizes Qi Group:
  • Wei Xiaoyun suffers a heart attack after learning that Wei Group’s current CEO caught the former CEO cheating.
  • Yingdun Entertainment’s “YIN Media Scandal” exposes money laundering, drug trafficking, and other crimes.
  • Qi Group announces that it has acquired 50.01% of Wei Group, causing its stock price to soar.
  • Evidence then emerges that Qi Group financed the acquisition with Yingdun’s dirty money and may have orchestrated Yingdun’s scandal.
  • Qi Group’s financial director is questioned by police, causing widespread panic and a sharp stock-price collapse.
• The Qi family tries to stabilize the company by buying up its own shares, but Wei Zhanjie publicly accuses Qi Group of malicious stock manipulation, bribing Wei Group employees, leaking private information, and manipulating Wei Group’s share price before acquiring it.
• With investors losing confidence and the accusations threatening criminal consequences, Qi Group’s stock falls from thirty yuan to 7.5 yuan. Qi Hongfeng is forced to suspend trading.
• At Fragrant City International Hotel, Wei Linxuan and Lu Chi’s older brother discuss the Qi family’s downfall. They acknowledge that Wei Zhanjie’s testimony was crucial because, despite his past distractions and political weaknesses, he understood the company well enough to expose the Qi family’s scheme.

Character Developments

• Wang Zhonghao abandons restraint and reveals himself as ruthless, desperate, and willing to destroy both himself and Qi Jiaming to protect his interests. His hidden financial records demonstrate his long-term planning.
• Qi Jiaming shifts from apparent control to shock and helplessness when Wang’s evidence is published. His arrogance is exposed as misplaced confidence.
• Lu Chi’s older brother appears calm, strategic, and highly informed. He treats the unfolding scandal as part of a calculated market operation and immediately prepares to profit from Qi Group’s collapse.
• Wei Zhanjie moves from being absent during the acquisition to becoming a decisive whistleblower. His accusations give the financial scandal serious legal weight.
• Qi Hongfeng is shown losing control as the company’s stock collapses, ultimately resorting to a trading suspension.
• Wei Linxuan takes satisfaction in the Qi family’s difficulties and recognizes his uncle’s unexpected usefulness in bringing them down.

Significant Themes

• Power and control: The chapter centers on competing attempts to control corporations, public opinion, and the stock market.
• Revenge and mutual destruction: Wang Zhonghao is prepared to expose everything, even at the cost of his own position, while the opposing side exploits the resulting chaos.
• Hidden evidence and long-term preparation: Handwritten records become more valuable than supposedly secure digital systems, showing the importance of foresight and concealed documentation.
• Financial manipulation and corruption: The acquisition of Wei Group is revealed to involve dirty money, bribery, stock manipulation, and deliberate exploitation of scandal.
• The fragility of public confidence: Qi Group’s stock rises rapidly on positive news but collapses just as quickly when scandals and legal threats emerge.
• Appearance versus reality: Qi Jiaming’s display of strength and Wang Zhonghao’s apparent defeat both prove misleading; the real power lies with whoever controls the evidence and timing.

Character Interactions

• Wang Zhonghao and Qi Jiaming: Their confrontation is a battle of threats and intimidation. Wang threatens to expose Qi Group, while Qi Jiaming responds with mockery and a show of force. Wang’s evidence ultimately defeats Qi’s confidence.
• Lu Chi’s older brother and the wolfdogs: He humorously narrates the scandal to the dogs and uses the moment to order the beginning of their financial attack.
• Lu Chi’s older brother and Wei Linxuan: They discuss the collapse of Qi Group, crediting Wei Zhanjie’s intervention and evaluating the weaknesses that allowed the Qi family’s scheme to unravel.
• Wei Zhanjie and Qi Group: His public accusations transform the scandal from a financial embarrassment into a potential criminal case, making him a key force in Qi Group’s downfall.

Chapter 510 Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Qi Group’s secret acquisition of Wei Group shares is exposed before it can fully succeed. Lu Chi discovers the scheme and acts behind the scenes by publicizing Qi Group’s private financial dealings with Yingdun.
• The revelations cause Qi Group’s stock price to swing wildly, transforming it from a stable blue-chip investment into a liability. Wei Renjie’s public accusation that Qi Jiaming manipulated the stock market becomes the final blow, driving Qi Group toward a stock-price collapse and forcing it to suspend trading.
• The Qi family must now handle the suspension, defend Qi Jiaming against accusations of market manipulation, and explain its dealings with Yingdun. Its attempt to take over Wei Group leaves it badly weakened instead.
• The Wei family narrowly avoids losing everything. However, because Qi Group already acquired part of Wei Group, the Wei family must negotiate with its longtime rival and pay to repurchase the shares. Their victory is therefore costly and humiliating.
• Old Master Wei, recovering in the hospital, eventually realizes that Wei Group has changed hands despite the family’s attempts to conceal the crisis. He orders Wei Zhanjie to recover the company.
• Old Master Wei then gives Wei Zhanjie a broader explanation: Wei Group is not merely a burden but the public face and connective link of the Wei family. Preserving it is necessary to maintain the family’s resources, relationships, reputation, and influence.

Character Developments

• Lu Chi is shown as highly perceptive, professionally capable, and strategically bold. His intervention exposes the Qi family’s hidden financial arrangements and changes the outcome of the corporate battle.
• Lu Heng is delighted by the money earned through stock trading and humorously becomes obsessed with calculating profits. His joy contrasts sharply with his former-life reputation for making disastrous investments. He openly credits his success to Lu Chi’s protection and influence.
• Wei Linxuan and Lu Chi share a quiet sense of satisfaction as they watch Qi Group collapse, suggesting their cooperation has paid off.
• Wei Zhanjie is placed under enormous pressure: he must repair the family’s financial position, negotiate with the Qi family, and manage Old Master Wei’s expectations. Although he is portrayed as capable, his willingness to view Wei Group as a useless burden is challenged.
• Old Master Wei appears to have gained clarity after surviving his medical crisis. He is less domineering than before and offers a pragmatic argument about family responsibility and public reputation.
• Uncle Wei is particularly resentful and humiliated by the situation: the family was nearly outmaneuvered, then forced to spend money negotiating with the very people who tried to destroy them.

Significant Themes

• Strategy and counterstrategy: The Qi family’s careful takeover plan is defeated by Lu Chi’s unexpected intervention.
• The danger of hidden corruption: Qi Group’s connection with Yingdun turns its apparently successful acquisition into a liability.
• Family reputation and responsibility: Old Master Wei argues that family businesses represent more than profit; they maintain networks, credibility, and social standing.
• The consequences of ambition: Qi Group’s attempt to swallow Wei Group leaves it damaged, while the Wei family must pay heavily to recover what it almost lost.
• Reversal of fortune: The chapter contrasts the Qi family’s collapse and the Wei family’s humiliation with Lu Heng’s lighthearted financial success.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chi and Wei Linxuan silently share amusement at the Qi family’s predicament.
• Lu Heng excitedly celebrates his stock-market profits with Lu Chi, affectionately calling him his “actual brother.” His enthusiasm also explains why he has abandoned his usual script study and rehearsal routine.
• The entertainment-industry figures around Lu Heng misinterpret his behavior as evidence that he is excessively clingy or henpecked.
• At Old Master Wei’s bedside, Wei Zhanjie attempts to manage the crisis and protect him from emotional distress, but Old Master Wei eventually learns the truth.
• Old Master Wei holds Wei Zhanjie’s hand and reasons with him directly, contrasting his capable younger son with his defeated elder son while persuading him to reclaim Wei Group for the sake of the entire family.

Chapter Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Old Master Wei tells his second son, Wei Zhanjie, that Wei Group must be reclaimed from the Qi family. Although Huaxia Group has developed its own resources, he argues that maintaining the Wei family’s broader business relationships and alliances remains essential.
• He officially entrusts Wei Group to Wei Zhanjie, declaring that the company will belong to him if he can take it back. This shocks the eldest branch, especially Uncle Wei and his wife.
• Old Master Wei explains that his eldest son lacks the ability to protect the company. He fears that, after his death, the Wei family—including the younger generation and Wei Hongxuan, who is still imprisoned—will lose their financial security.
• The eldest daughter-in-law protests that the second branch should not receive both its existing profitable business and control of Wei Group. Old Master and Old Madam Wei reject her argument, emphasizing that the eldest son was deceived by the Qi family and failed to maintain shareholder loyalty.
• The discussion turns to Wei Linxuan’s role in exposing the Yingdun Entertainment scandal. Old Madam Wei wonders whether he obtained evidence that could be used against Qi Group.
• Wei Zhanjie firmly refuses to involve Linxuan in further action, explaining that Linxuan and Lu Chi acted with the Chen family’s support and that the matter is beyond what ordinary businesspeople can safely challenge.
• Old Master Wei ends the discussion, urging the family to stop pursuing dangerous schemes and leave Wei Group’s recovery to Zhanjie.

Character Developments

• Old Master Wei: Despite his declining health, he demonstrates clear judgment about the family’s future. He abandons any expectation that his eldest son can lead and places his trust in Wei Zhanjie.
• Wei Zhanjie: He is revealed as cautious, capable, and protective of both his son and the family’s interests. He refuses to exploit Linxuan’s sensitive information or endanger him and Lu Chi.
• Uncle Wei: His lack of business ability is openly acknowledged. He appears shocked and powerless when his father transfers responsibility for Wei Group to his younger brother.
• Old Madam Wei: She is fiercely defensive of the family business and frustrated by its loss. Though she recognizes Linxuan’s contributions, she considers using his information against Qi Group, revealing her continued willingness to take risks.
• Wei Linxuan: Although absent, he gains greater importance through his successful role in exposing Yingdun’s wrongdoing and helping create an opportunity for Wei Group’s recovery.
• Wei Hongxuan and the younger generation: They are presented as vulnerable dependents whose future motivates Old Master Wei’s decision.

Significant Themes

• Ability versus birth order: Leadership is assigned according to competence rather than seniority or family position.
• Family responsibility and inheritance: Old Master Wei prioritizes preserving the family’s livelihood and protecting future generations.
• Business relationships and loyalty: The chapter stresses that alliances, trust, and long-term connections are as important as financial assets.
• The dangers of ambition: Old Madam Wei’s desire to use Linxuan’s leverage against Qi Group contrasts with Zhanjie’s caution and highlights the risks of becoming involved in larger power struggles.
• Aging and succession: Old Master Wei and Old Madam Wei must confront their declining ability to protect the company, forcing them to determine who can carry on their legacy.

Character Interactions

• Old Master Wei confronts Wei Zhanjie about his assumptions regarding Huaxia Group’s independence, then persuades him to take responsibility for Wei Group.
• He rebukes his eldest son for lacking the competence to defend the company, while the eldest daughter-in-law challenges the fairness of the arrangement.
• Old Madam Wei reinforces her husband’s criticism, pointing out the eldest son’s failure to recognize the Qi family’s manipulation or maintain shareholder loyalty.
• Old Madam Wei questions Zhanjie about Linxuan’s activities in Hong Kong and probes for information that could hurt Qi Group. Zhanjie protects Linxuan by withholding details and warning her not to interfere.
• Old Master Wei ultimately restrains his wife and urges the family to seek peace, formally leaving the group’s future in Zhanjie’s hands.

Chapter Summary: “Charity Banquet”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Old Master Wei resolves the Wei family’s internal power struggle by transferring all of his Wei Group shares to Wei Zhanjie. The shares belonging to Zhanjie’s mother will eventually go to his eldest brother, but only with dividend rights; Zhanjie will retain management control.
• This makes Wei Zhanjie the largest shareholder and effective leader of Wei Group. Although he does not want to manage another company, he agrees to take responsibility and proposes hiring professional managers.
• Old Master Wei plans a family trip to H Province, bringing along Wei Zhanjie’s eldest brother and sister-in-law. This also keeps the family together while avoiding the embarrassment of traveling abroad after the scandals surrounding Wei Hongxuan.
• Wei Zhanjie, pressured by both his family and the Qi family, begins negotiations with Qi Group after their intense stock-market conflict.
• The negotiations result in a cross-shareholding arrangement:
  • Wei Zhanjie invests one billion yuan to repurchase Qi Group’s 25% stake in Wei Group at the low price Qi Group originally paid.
  • This gives Zhanjie absolute control over Wei Group and ends Qi Group’s attempted acquisition.
  • Through Huaxia Group, Wei Zhanjie also acquires 25% of Qi Group’s shares.
  • Wei Group and Qi Group agree to cooperate on a major tourism project in H Province.
• Qi Hongfeng holds a press conference to defend Qi Group’s relationship with Yingdun Group. He claims Qi Group borrowed bridge financing from Yingdun without knowing the money was illicit and denies that Qi Group was behind the “YIN Media Scandal.”
• His explanation successfully protects Qi Group’s public image enough for the company’s stock to recover dramatically, rising from 7.5 yuan to 28.2 yuan. Wei Group’s stock also rebounds.
• In Hong Kong, Lu Chi reveals that he and the two young Wei family members made over two billion yuan through stock trading. He jokes that he is better suited to financial speculation than running a conventional business.
• After the crisis settles in early September, Chen Mengyi approaches Lu Chi. She offers to sell him her 10% stake in Qi Group for 17 yuan per share, despite the stock already trading around 25.2 yuan. The deal represents a major discount and appears to be compensation for Qi Jiaming’s earlier scheme against her.

Character Developments

• Wei Zhanjie accepts a leadership role he never wanted, demonstrating his sense of duty and willingness to protect the Wei family. However, he intends to rely on professional managers rather than personally control every aspect of the business.
• Old Master Wei reasserts himself as the decisive head of the family, settling ownership and succession matters quickly and strategically.
• Wei family’s eldest uncle loses his authority and becomes isolated, but continues acting obediently because he has no means to resist the elders.
• Qi Hongfeng proves himself politically and commercially shrewd by presenting Qi Group’s involvement with Yingdun in the most defensible light possible.
• Lu Chi recognizes that his talents lie in manipulating financial markets rather than managing a traditional corporation. His affectionate interactions with the two young Wei family members also reveal a softer, playful side.
• Chen Mengyi emerges as an independent and financially savvy figure. By offering Lu Chi her shares at a bargain price, she turns the compensation she received from the Qi family into another potentially profitable opportunity.

Significant Themes

• Power, inheritance, and family control: Ownership rights are carefully separated from management rights, showing that control of a business matters more than nominal wealth.
• Pragmatism over personal hostility: Despite their violent stock-market rivalry, the Wei and Qi families cooperate once mutual profit becomes possible.
• Corporate politics and reputation management: Qi Hongfeng’s press conference demonstrates how carefully framed public statements can reshape scandal and protect a company.
• Financial speculation as power: Stock manipulation and strategic shareholding determine the fate of entire business empires, allowing individuals like Lu Chi to wield enormous influence without formally running a company.
• Compromise and strategic alliances: Former enemies become partners through cross-shareholding and joint development, suggesting that business relationships are flexible when profitable.
• Hidden truths and mutual silence: The parties deliberately avoid questioning how Huaxia Group obtained its shares in Qi Group, emphasizing the unspoken agreements and moral ambiguity underlying their arrangement.

Character Interactions

• Old Master Wei and Wei Zhanjie discuss the transfer of control, with Zhanjie reluctantly accepting responsibility while negotiating the practical limits of his involvement.
• The Wei elders collectively marginalize the eldest uncle, who must remain outwardly obedient despite losing power.
• Wei Zhanjie and the Qi family move from market opponents to negotiation partners, ultimately forming a three-way alliance involving Huaxia Group.
• Qi Hongfeng addresses the public and media to protect Qi Group from the fallout of its dealings with Yingdun.
• Lu Chi playfully interacts with the two young Wei family members, who celebrate their newfound wealth and offer to treat him.
• Chen Mengyi approaches Lu Chi directly with her discounted Qi Group shares, creating a new potential financial partnership.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chi meets with Chen Mengyi to discuss the sale of Qi Group shares.
• Chen Mengyi reveals that she wants to sell her shares due to the potential conflict of interest and to avoid further tensions with the Qi family.
• Lu Chi expresses disinterest in becoming a Qi Group shareholder, hinting at his ambition to take over the company.
• Chen Mengyi sells her shares to Lu Chi at a discounted price, citing their friendship and her unwillingness to profit from him.
• Wei Zhanjie discusses the acquisition of Qi Group with Lu Chi, revealing that he stepped in to prevent the acquisition to protect Wei Group's interests.

Character Developments

• Lu Chi demonstrates his ambition and strategic thinking, but also shows a rare moment of helplessness when dealing with Chen Mengyi.
• Chen Mengyi displays her cunning and business acumen, as well as her loyalty to her family and her desire to avoid further conflicts.
• Wei Zhanjie reveals his protective nature towards his family's legacy and his willingness to make tough decisions to maintain it.

Significant Themes

• Ambition and its consequences: Lu Chi's ambition to take over Qi Group leads to complications and setbacks.
• Family loyalty: Both Lu Chi and Wei Zhanjie prioritize their family's interests, leading to their respective actions.
• Business acumen vs. personal relationships: Chen Mengyi balances her business instincts with her personal connections, choosing to sell her shares at a discount to Lu Chi due to their friendship.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chi and Chen Mengyi: Their interaction is marked by a mix of tension and banter, with Chen Mengyi teasing Lu Chi and Lu Chi trying to maintain his composure.
• Lu Chi and Wei Zhanjie: Their conversation is polite but tense, with Lu Chi trying to maintain his calm demeanor and Wei Zhanjie explaining his actions and their consequences.

Chapter 514 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chi discusses the Wei and Qi Group power struggle with Father Wei and his brother. Chen Mengyi has offered to sell Lu Chi her shares, and Father Wei advises him to accept them while repaying the favor later by helping her profit financially.
• Father Wei hints that Lu Chi should pursue investments overseas, where the opportunities are greater, while avoiding overly aggressive or conspicuous tactics.
• The Wei and Lu families have gradually consolidated control over Qi Group. Huaxia Group owns 25 percent, while Lu Chi holds another 10 percent, making the two families Qi Group’s largest shareholders. They plan to quietly acquire additional shares and secure full control.
• Wei Zhanjie has become the largest shareholder and effective controller of Wei Group after receiving the old master’s shares, management rights over the old lady’s shares, and purchasing another 25 percent from Qi Group. Wei Renjie’s family retains only dividend rights and no longer has management authority.
• Wei Zhanjie warns that he will not tolerate further trouble from Wei Renjie’s family, especially if they target Lin Xuan.
• The YIN Media scandal reaches its conclusion. Wang Dafu and other offenders receive prison sentences, Yingdun Entertainment collapses, and Yingdun Group is ordered to suspend operations after investigators uncover money laundering, tax evasion, bribery, and other crimes. Chairman Wang Zhonghao is sentenced to seven years.
• After recovering from his broken leg, Zhao Er Miao is discharged from the hospital. His friends celebrate with a lavish meal, with Zhao enthusiastically ordering expensive food.

Character Developments

• Lu Chi shows that he understands the value of subtle, cooperative financial strategies, even though such methods contrast with his younger, more aggressive instincts. He is increasingly involved in shaping control over major corporations.
• Father Wei demonstrates his political and financial pragmatism, encouraging quiet consolidation rather than openly provoking rivals.
• Wei Zhanjie reveals a harsher, more calculating side. Although he claims he accepted control of Wei Group out of necessity, he is prepared to suppress Wei Renjie’s family if they continue causing trouble.
• Chen Mengyi is shown to be caring and protective toward Zhao Er Miao. She worries about possible retaliation against him and closely monitors what he eats, while also becoming more assertive and playful with her friends.
• Zhao Er Miao has recovered physically but remains dramatic, gluttonous, and humorous. He notices Chen Mengyi’s changed behavior but does not understand that her protective nature has become more obvious.
• Lu Heng and the others maintain their close friendship by teasing Zhao while still treating him generously after his hospitalization.

Significant Themes

• Quiet accumulation of power: The chapter emphasizes that control can be achieved gradually through alliances, share purchases, and strategic patience rather than open confrontation.
• Alliance-building and cooperation: The characters succeed by uniting forces with shared interests and bringing potential opponents onto their side.
• Consequences and justice: The downfall of Yingdun Entertainment and Yingdun Group shows the legal consequences of corruption, exploitation, and financial crimes.
• Power and deterrence: Wei Zhanjie’s warning suggests that control over wealth and business also depends on the ability to prevent rivals from creating further conflict.
• Friendship and care amid conflict: The lighthearted reunion after Zhao’s recovery contrasts with the chapter’s corporate maneuvering and criminal fallout.

Character Interactions

• Father Wei advises Lu Chi on accepting Chen Mengyi’s shares and using future profits to repay her.
• Lu Chi’s brother recognizes the effectiveness of the “unite all available forces” strategy and discusses it with Lu Chi and Wei Zhanjie.
• Wei Zhanjie and Lu Chi’s brother exchange an implicit warning about how Wei Renjie’s family might behave now that they have lost control.
• Chen Mengyi scolds Zhao Er Miao for speaking recklessly, then comforts him and worries about his safety.
• Chen Mengyi teasingly reveals that Lu Heng and the others have made money, prompting Zhao to demand Australian lobster.
• Lu Heng jokes by offering spicy crayfish instead, but the group ultimately gives Zhao a lavish celebratory meal.
• Zhao encourages Chen Mengyi to eat and promises to support her if gaining weight affects her acting career, highlighting their affectionate relationship.

Chapter Summary

• After Wind and Moon Casino finishes filming, Lu Heng explains that his next several months will be consumed by promotions. He must support the Oscar campaign and worldwide release of Spring Renewal, promote Wind and Moon Casino for the domestic holiday season, and prepare for the later release of Sword Ban. His friends recognize that his career is about to reach another major peak.
• At dinner, Chen Mengyi barely eats, picking only at vegetables. Zhao Er Miao persistently peels shrimp and feeds her, refusing to let her skip the meal. Chen changes the subject by asking Lu Heng about his plans, while Zhao Miao’s behavior reveals his attentive, forceful concern for her.
• Zhao Er Miao jokingly reacts with envy to Lu Heng’s promising lineup, praising the Oscar prospects of Spring Renewal, the expected box-office success of Wind and Moon Casino, and the future release of Sword Ban. His exaggerated jealousy keeps the conversation light and emphasizes Lu Heng’s growing status.
• After being absent from the public eye for nearly half a year, Lu Heng resumes an unusually high-profile schedule of appearances, interviews, and promotional events. Reporters repeatedly question him about Huaxia Group’s acquisition of stakes in Wei Group and Qi Group because of his close friendship with Wei Linxuan. Lu Heng avoids commenting, despite privately knowing more about the financial conflict and having profited from it alongside his older brother.
• In early November, Lu Heng returns to Beijing and receives an invitation to a fashion magazine’s charity gala. Although he is highly regarded internationally and frequently courted by luxury brands, he refuses nearly all endorsements except those connected to his own company. Wei Linxuan’s indulgence allows him to maintain this unusual position.
• The chapter explains that endorsements are generally viewed as the clearest measure of a celebrity’s commercial influence. Lu Heng’s refusal to accept them leads detractors to claim that his fashion influence is exaggerated and dependent on Huaxia’s media resources. Supporters counter that his acting achievements and international reputation prove his value.
• Gossipers at the gala escalate their criticism, accusing Lu Heng of using his relationship with Wei Linxuan to advance his career and repeating degrading rumors that he is Wei’s “boy toy.” Before they can finish, someone violently kicks over a large potted plant, frightening the two young artists hiding behind it and signaling an imminent confrontation.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Lu Heng: Moves from a quiet, semi-retired period back into the spotlight, demonstrating both his rising professional stature and his continued reluctance to exploit his fame commercially. He remains cautious and discreet regarding Wei Linxuan’s financial affairs.
• Zhao Er Miao and Chen Mengyi: Their dinner interaction suggests a close, possibly romantic dynamic. Zhao Er Miao is openly attentive and protective, while Chen Mengyi appears embarrassed and attempts to redirect attention.
• Lu Heng and his friends: The group understands the scale of Lu Heng’s upcoming success and reacts with teasing admiration and envy.
• Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan: Their close friendship remains a major subject of public speculation. The rumors contrast with Lu Heng’s private loyalty and Wei’s willingness to let him reject lucrative endorsements.
• The gossiping artists: Their malicious discussion introduces the chapter’s closing conflict, as their homophobic and class-based assumptions provoke an angry, unseen response.

Significant Themes

• The tension between genuine talent and manufactured public opinion.
• Celebrity commercial value, endorsements, and the pressures of fame.
• Loyalty and private relationships versus invasive media speculation.
• Envy within the entertainment industry.
• The protection of personal dignity in the face of humiliating rumors.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wei Linxuan and Lu Heng attend a charity banquet.
• Wei Linxuan accidentally knocks over a potted plant while trying to confront two young artists who were badmouthing Lu Heng.
• The incident draws attention from reporters and guests, leading to a brief commotion.
• Wei Linxuan and Lu Heng handle the situation diplomatically to avoid further trouble.
• After the banquet, Lu Heng tends to Wei Linxuan's injured calf at home.

Character Developments

• Wei Linxuan: Shows impulsive behavior when protecting Lu Heng, but also demonstrates maturity and consideration by smoothing over the incident with the hotel manager.
• Lu Heng: Maintains composure throughout the incident, showing concern for Wei Linxuan's well-being and understanding of his impulsive behavior.

Significant Themes

• Protection and loyalty (Wei Linxuan's impulsive actions to defend Lu Heng).
• Diplomacy and damage control (both Wei Linxuan and Lu Heng work to prevent the incident from escalating).
• Trust and understanding (Lu Heng understands Wei Linxuan's impulsiveness and Wei Linxuan expresses concern about potential misunderstandings between them).

Character Interactions

• Wei Linxuan and Lu Heng: Their dynamic shows a mix of protectiveness, concern, and understanding between them.
• Wei Linxuan and the hotel manager: Wei Linxuan shows consideration for the hotel's reputation, smoothing over the incident.
• Wei Linxuan and the two young artists: Wei Linxuan's impulsive actions lead to a confrontation, but he ultimately lets them go to avoid further trouble.

Chapter Summary — Page 517

Surveillance of the two young artists

Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan learn that the bodyguards following the two suspicious young women found no evidence that they had met anyone at their residence. Wei Linxuan reasons that modern communication makes secret meetings unnecessary, but he still orders expanded surveillance. He intends to keep watching them until he uncovers the larger conspiracy and refuses to ignore even minor suspicious details.

• “Spring Renewal” advances toward the Oscars:
  Director Fang Kaizhi informs Lu Heng that Spring Renewal has qualified for Oscar submission. The film will receive a week-long preview screening beginning in mid-October. Because Lu Heng is connected to Huaxia Imperial Entertainment, the preview is arranged at the Huaxia Grand Theatre in Beijing. Chairman Wei Zhanjie personally orders strict security to protect the film, including banning electronic devices and closely supervising projection staff.

Promotion and fan response

The production team and principal cast launch a prize-based movie-ticket quiz on Weibo to promote the previews. The campaign quickly generates intense excitement, especially because half of the winners will be Beijing residents able to attend immediately. Domestic fans complain about the regional limitation, while overseas fans protest even more strongly because they cannot participate at all. International supporters flood the production team’s social-media account, demanding fair access and global promotion. Even fans from countries associated with earlier filming conflicts express eagerness to see the movie.

First preview screening

On October 24, 2005, the first preview screening takes place at the Huaxia Grand Theatre. Lu Heng and the main production team arrive early, while overseas actors Kelly Brute and William Stephenson make a special trip from Hollywood to show their support. The red-carpet event attracts major celebrities, critics, and industry figures, turning the supposedly modest preview into a glamorous gathering.

Lu Heng’s public persona

Fang Kaizhi keeps Lu Heng beside him to greet guests. Reporters regard Lu Heng as extremely difficult to interview because he is highly visible while promoting films but largely disappears from public view afterward. Lu Heng feels unfairly judged and mischievously responds by giving reporters long, vague answers until they forget their original questions, then jokingly directs them to buy tickets for more information. His playful behavior reveals both his sharp wit and his enjoyment of controlling media interactions.

Atmosphere and emerging interactions

After the guests enter, Lu Heng and Fang walk into the theater lobby. The elegant, carefully managed setting contrasts with Lu Heng’s prankish personality. Guests who had been chatting in the lobby stop and approach the pair with welcoming smiles, signaling that the screening is becoming an important social and industry event and setting up further interactions inside the theater.

Key Themes

• Suspicion and vigilance: Wei Linxuan’s continued surveillance reflects the danger beneath the characters’ public lives and his determination to uncover hidden motives.
• Global popularity and unequal access: The intense international fan response shows Lu Heng and Spring Renewal’s broad appeal, while the ticket restrictions highlight tensions between local arrangements and global fandom.
• Public image versus private personality: Lu Heng’s celebrity reputation as an elusive, difficult interviewee contrasts with his playful, humorous behavior in person.
• Film promotion and prestige: The Oscar submission, controlled preview, star attendance, and media attention demonstrate how carefully the film’s reputation is being built before release.

Chapter 518 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Song Yiyi arrives at the premiere of Spring Renewal with second male lead William Stephenson, demonstrating how much she has grown since her inexperienced beginnings on the film’s set. She has become a confident, glamorous, and highly sought-after actress.
• Song Yiyi appears to have replaced Hollywood actress Kelly Brute as William’s red-carpet partner. Kelly, however, responds graciously and praises Song’s beauty and dedication.
• Song Yiyi quickly smooths over any potential tension by acting warmly toward Kelly, linking arms with her and presenting them as close “sisters” for the reporters. Lu Heng observes the polished interaction without commenting.
• The cast and creative team enter the screening hall, where the main creators sit in the front row. Lu Heng helps Director Fang Kaizhi to his seat before going to greet Elder Ye Fengqi.
• Elder Ye and his disciples tease Lu Heng about his improved appearance, while Elder Ye sternly questions whether he has continued studying medicine. Lu Heng’s evasive answer reveals that he has neglected his medical texts after finishing filming.
• Although Elder Ye is disappointed by Lu Heng’s laziness, he remains deeply fond of him because Lu Heng is kind, respectful, and regularly visits Elder Ye and his wife with food and companionship. Elder Ye’s affection shows that emotional warmth matters more to him than academic achievement.
• The screening begins with evocative traditional music and a detailed portrayal of historical Beijing. The film introduces a crowded marketplace filled with people from different social classes and backgrounds.
• A desperately poor family carries a critically ill elderly man into a Chinese medicine clinic. The physician diagnoses him as beyond saving and explains the condition using complex medical terminology.
• A young boy named Zhong Bai unexpectedly interrupts, insisting that the man can still be saved. He cites having witnessed a Christian priest perform surgery on a patient with similar symptoms, immediately establishing a conflict between traditional medical authority and new medical knowledge.

Character Developments

• Song Yiyi: Her transformation from an inexperienced newcomer into a polished star is emphasized. She is confident, socially intelligent, and skilled at managing the media and potential rivalries.
• Lu Heng: He remains humble and affectionate toward Elder Ye but is revealed to be academically undisciplined, particularly regarding medicine. His continued visits and thoughtful gifts demonstrate strong filial respect and emotional sincerity.
• Elder Ye Fengqi: Though strict and disappointed by Lu Heng’s neglected studies, he clearly favors Lu Heng because of the young man’s warmth, loyalty, and companionship.
• Kelly Brute: She displays grace and professionalism by praising Song Yiyi and accepting the change in red-carpet arrangements without visible hostility.
• Zhong Bai: The film’s young protagonist is introduced as bold, observant, and willing to challenge an established physician. His confidence suggests an early interest in combining or comparing Western and traditional medicine.
• The Chinese physician: He represents established medical authority and initially reacts angrily when Zhong Bai questions his judgment.

Significant Themes

• Growth and transformation: Song Yiyi’s rise mirrors the broader idea that perseverance can radically change a person’s abilities and status.
• Public performance versus private character: The actresses’ graceful behavior before the cameras contrasts with the unspoken competition beneath the surface, while Lu Heng’s genuine care for Elder Ye is shown away from the spotlight.
• Tradition versus modernity: The film’s opening centers on a dispute between traditional Chinese medicine and surgical treatment learned from Western medical practice.
• Compassion as true achievement: Elder Ye values Lu Heng not for academic excellence but for his kindness, loyalty, and willingness to care for others.
• Cultural and historical identity: The elaborate depiction of old Beijing establishes the film’s historical atmosphere and highlights the coexistence of Chinese traditions, foreign influences, and different social groups.

Character Interactions

• Song Yiyi and William Stephenson present a glamorous partnership, but Song later shifts her attention to Kelly Brute to prevent tension and create a friendly public image.
• Kelly responds warmly, and the two actresses cooperate smoothly in front of the press.
• Lu Heng interacts respectfully with Fang Kaizhi, assisting the director, and then reunites with Elder Ye and his fellow disciples.
• Elder Ye reprimands Lu Heng for neglecting his studies, while the surrounding disciples tease and encourage him. Their exchanges reveal a familial mentor-student bond.
• In the film, Zhong Bai directly challenges the older physician’s diagnosis, creating the central medical and ideological conflict of the opening sequence.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zhongbai, a young prodigy from a renowned medical family, diagnoses an old gentleman's appendicitis, advocating for Western medicine over traditional Chinese medicine.
• Despite initial skepticism, the patient's family takes Zhongbai's advice and seeks Father Mike's treatment, with the old physician's reluctant approval.
• Zhongbai argues with his family about the superiority of Western medicine, leading to a physical altercation with his father and a wager with his grandfather: if Zhongbai meets his grandfather's requirements, he will be sent abroad to study Western medicine.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhongbai: Zhongbai demonstrates his medical prowess and confidence in Western medicine. His rebellious nature and determination are evident as he stands up to his family and argues for the superiority of Western medicine.
• Father Chen: Zhongbai's father, a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, is initially portrayed as stubborn and unwilling to accept Western medicine, even resorting to physical violence when challenged by Zhongbai.
• Old Master Chen: Zhongbai's grandfather, the most respected elder of the clan, is more open-minded and willing to consider Zhongbai's perspective. He sets a challenge for Zhongbai, offering to send him abroad to study Western medicine if he meets his requirements.

Significant Themes

• The conflict between traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, with Zhongbai representing the latter's potential superiority.
• The clash between old and new ideas, symbolized by Zhongbai's rebellion against his family's traditional practices.
• The struggle between generations, with Zhongbai's determination to pursue Western medicine causing tension within his family.

Character Interactions

• Zhongbai vs. Father Chen: The tension between Zhongbai and his father escalates due to their differing views on medicine, culminating in a physical altercation.
• Zhongbai vs. Old Master Chen: Zhongbai's interaction with his grandfather is more nuanced, with Old Master Chen showing understanding and offering Zhongbai a chance to prove himself.
• Zhongbai and the patient's family: Zhongbai's confident diagnosis and advocacy for Western medicine earn him the patient's family's trust, highlighting his medical prowess and charisma.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zhongbai begins medical school, excelling in Western medicine.
• War breaks out, and Chen Zhongbai is conscripted to serve as a medical personnel on the battlefield.
• He meets Angel, a battlefield nurse, and General Sutton, his commander, and they form a close bond.
• The army decides to abandon non-white soldiers and severely wounded soldiers due to resource scarcity.
• Chen Zhongbai opposes this decision but is forced to accept it.
• He turns to traditional Huaxia medicine to save lives, realizing its value.
• The unit is surrounded and attacked, leading to heavy casualties, including the medical team.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhongbai: Grows from an eager student of Western medicine to a skilled battlefield doctor who embraces traditional Huaxia medicine to save lives. He also becomes more patriotic and appreciative of his roots.
• Angel: A caring and dedicated battlefield nurse who forms a romantic bond with Chen Zhongbai.
• General Sutton: A compassionate commander who values Chen Zhongbai's skills and becomes his lifelong friend.

Significant Themes

• The value and limitations of Western medicine vs. traditional medicine.
• Patriotism and cultural appreciation.
• The cruelty and senselessness of war.
• Friendship and love born amidst adversity.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhongbai and Angel: Develop a romantic relationship while working together to save lives on the battlefield.
• Chen Zhongbai and General Sutton: Form a strong bond as Chen Zhongbai serves under Sutton, with Sutton appreciating Chen Zhongbai's skills and dedication.
• Chen Zhongbai and his fellow medical personnel: United in their opposition to the army's decision to abandon soldiers, highlighting their compassion and dedication to their patients.