Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Medical Contributions”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao He returns to training at the Special Response Department and begins taking it more seriously, influenced by his dangerous encounter with Spider-Man and by the dedication of Xia Yu, Xie Haining, and Ye Wanqing.
• Cui Man calls Xiao He and Ye Wanqing aside for a special medical test to determine whether Xiao’s ability can counteract diseases.
• Xiao is shown a severely disabled patient suffering from ALS, renamed “Lin Tiannan” to fit the rules of his ability. His power does not activate because it only works against the disease within Xiao’s own body, not within another person.
• Cui Man explains that Xiao’s ability may still have major medical value through the production of therapeutic serum. His antibodies could potentially help researchers study viruses, toxins, and vaccine development.
• Experiments using Xiao’s blood alone had produced no reaction, suggesting that his ability functions only inside his body.
• After discussing the risks, the researchers obtain Xiao’s consent to inject him with a very low-risk coronavirus strain disguised as a vaccine. The purpose is to determine whether his ability can eliminate viruses inside him.
• Immediately after the injection, Xiao claims that his ability activated and that the virus has already been defeated. The medical staff remain skeptical and plan to analyze his blood for confirmation.

Character Development

• Xiao He becomes more responsible and committed to training, though he admits he lacks the exceptional self-discipline of heroic figures such as Batman or Captain America.
• He shows compassion and guilt when he cannot help the ALS patient, revealing that he wants his ability to have meaningful benefits for humanity.
• Xiao is cautious about medical experimentation and recognizes the possibility that a stronger or unknown disease could overwhelm his ability. Nevertheless, he accepts the low-risk test because of its potential importance.
• Cui Man acts as both a scientific coordinator and a responsible authority figure. She explains the medical principles and emphasizes that Xiao will not be forced into the experiment.
• Ye Wanqing continues to be serious and observant, asking an important question about whether Xiao’s antibodies would be sufficient for effective serum treatment.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility and discipline: Xiao’s improved training reflects the influence of both personal danger and the example set by hardworking teammates.
• The limits of power: Xiao’s ability is powerful but highly specific; it can protect him from disease without directly curing others.
• Humanitarian potential: Even a narrowly limited superpower could contribute to medical research, serum production, and faster vaccine development.
• Ethics of experimentation: The chapter considers the dangers of testing unknown pathogens on a human subject, while emphasizing informed consent and risk management.
• Individual ability versus collective medicine: Xiao cannot single-handedly cure everyone, but his body may provide researchers with information and antibodies that benefit society more broadly.

Character Interactions

• Cui Man and Xiao He: Cui Man tests Xiao’s ability, explains serum therapy, and persuades him to participate in a controlled experiment while respecting his right to refuse.
• Xiao He and the ALS patient: Their brief encounter affects Xiao emotionally; he feels sympathy and frustration because he cannot activate his power to help.
• Xiao He and Ye Wanqing: Ye accompanies him during the experiment and contributes to the discussion by clarifying the possible limitations of antibody concentration.
• Xiao He and the medical staff: The staff inject him with the low-risk virus and initially treat the procedure casually, but Xiao’s claim that the virus has already been eliminated suggests that the test may immediately prove his ability’s medical usefulness.

Chapter Summary: “Ingenious Use”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao He’s ability successfully defeats the virus “Lin Tiannan” in only ten minutes, leaving him with a large supply of antibodies. He boasts that the process was easier than solving math problems, though Ye Wanqing reminds him that his fever had made him look seriously ill.
• While Xiao He recovers and eats, researchers make an extraordinary discovery in his blood: a special antibody that can destroy nearly all known viruses and bacteria and potentially reverse cancerous cells into normal cells.
• The researchers isolate the antibody and determine that it is naturally produced by Xiao He’s body. If they can learn to synthesize it, it could lead to cures for cancer and many other diseases, representing a major breakthrough for medicine.
• Xiao He agrees to donate blood regularly, although he worries that his unusual ability could make him a target. He also learns that defeating viruses gives him lasting memory cells, granting him permanent immunity and making his ability a form of biological enhancement.
• Because a serious flu outbreak is spreading through Nanhua City, Cui Man suggests that Xiao He’s power may soon be needed again.
• Before leaving, Xiao He sees Xie Haining and Xia Yu training full-time. Their codenames have not yet been chosen, and Cui Man hints that both will eventually have important opportunities to demonstrate their abilities.
• Xiao He and Ye Wanqing leave during another heavy rainstorm, with their usual driver, Old Li, taking them home.

Character Developments

• Xiao He: Remains confident and irreverent, but shows a willingness to contribute to humanity by donating blood. His ability is revealed to be much more valuable than simple virus destruction: it may provide a route to curing cancer and creating lasting immunity. He also appears slightly gentler after his illness.
• Ye Wanqing: Her concern for Xiao He becomes obvious despite her embarrassed denials. She takes care of him while he eats, worries about his health, and promises to cook for him later. Her relationship with him continues to develop through affectionate but awkward interactions.
• Cui Man: Becomes intensely excited by the medical implications of Xiao He’s blood. She shifts from teasing him about his relationship with Ye Wanqing to treating him as a crucial scientific and strategic resource.
• Xie Haining and Xia Yu: Remain in training, with Cui Man implying that their abilities will be revealed publicly when the right opportunity arises.

Significant Themes

• The broader value of superpowers: Xiao He’s ability is not merely useful in combat; it may transform medicine and benefit the entire human race.
• Science and discovery: The chapter emphasizes the importance of researching and understanding supernatural phenomena rather than using them only for immediate practical results.
• Responsibility and sacrifice: Xiao He accepts regular blood donations because they may help cure devastating diseases, even though he fears exploitation.
• Growing affection: Ye Wanqing’s concern and Xiao He’s increasing gentleness suggest their relationship is becoming more intimate, despite their continued embarrassment and denial.
• Preparation for future conflict: The flu outbreak and the hints about Xie Haining and Xia Yu’s future missions foreshadow further uses of the team’s abilities.

Character Interactions

• Ye Wanqing repeatedly scolds Xiao He for acting proud after becoming ill, while Cui Man teases them about their apparent romantic feelings.
• Xiao He notices and gently responds to Ye Wanqing’s care, including helping her open his drink and accepting her promise to cook for him.
• Cui Man playfully provokes the pair but also takes charge of Xiao He’s medical importance, arranging further blood collection and keeping him at the facility.
• Cui Man discusses Xie Haining and Xia Yu’s potential with Xiao He and Ye Wanqing, hinting that both will receive major roles once they are ready to appear publicly.

Chapter Summary: “Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Special Response Department is beginning to take shape now that it has four Mutants, though three still require extensive combat, fitness, and obstacle-course training. Ye Wanqing is the only one already sufficiently developed.
• Overseas governments continue searching for Mutants and promoting newly discovered heroes. Three LV5 Mutants are introduced:
  • Counterforce Hero from E Country, who uses telekinesis to crush or reshape objects.
  • Apasi from Y Country, who controls water and can fire high-pressure jets powerful enough to cut tank armor.
  • Werewolf from M Country, who transforms into a massive, powerful, regenerative beast.
• The chapter notes that official promotional videos may exaggerate or misrepresent Mutants’ actual abilities, as demonstrated by Xiao He’s own misleading public image.
• Since there are currently no major missions, the Special Response Department organizes publicity activities to preserve Yinglong’s popularity. Xiao He and Ye Wanqing are scheduled to participate in a celebrity interview-style variety video.
• Xiao He dislikes the entertainment industry and feels uncomfortable using celebrity culture to maintain his popularity, while Ye Wanqing tells him he can simply refuse.
• During their daily exercise, the two discuss their upcoming “couple” act and the approaching National Day holiday.
• Xiao He finally succeeds in taking Ye Wanqing to Willow Restaurant after two previous failed attempts. The restaurant staff recognize them and assume Ye Wanqing is his girlfriend.
• The restaurant owners observe that although Xiao He and Ye Wanqing may not officially be a couple, they clearly have strong feelings for each other.

Character Developments

• Xiao He remains uncomfortable with fame, publicity, and the entertainment industry, revealing his reluctance to exploit his superhero status for popularity. At the same time, he puts considerable effort into planning a pleasant outing for Ye Wanqing.
• Ye Wanqing continues to train seriously and maintains her usually blunt, reserved personality. Her actions—watering a tiny plant, admiring the restaurant owner’s appearance, and enthusiastically praising the food—show a softer and more ordinary side.
• Their pretend relationship increasingly resembles a genuine romantic relationship. Xiao He is visibly attentive to Ye Wanqing, while she appears comfortable spending time with him and reacts strongly when others suggest that they have feelings for each other.
• The restaurant owners act as outside observers who recognize the emotional connection between the two more clearly than Xiao He and Ye Wanqing admit.

Significant Themes

• Public image versus reality: Governments and media construct heroic narratives around Mutants, but the truth of their powers may differ greatly from the promotional versions.
• The search for Mutants as a global phenomenon: Yinglong’s emergence has caused governments worldwide to compete in finding and publicizing superpowered individuals.
• Romance developing beneath a pretense: Xiao He and Ye Wanqing’s fake relationship is gradually becoming emotionally genuine, even though both remain reluctant to acknowledge it.
• Normal life amid extraordinary circumstances: Despite their superhero identities and global importance, the characters spend much of the chapter training, jogging, eating out, and teasing one another.
• Persistence and determination: Xiao He’s repeated attempts to eat at Willow Restaurant form a humorous parallel to the famous “Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage,” emphasizing his stubborn commitment to succeeding.

Character Interactions

• Xiao He and Ye Wanqing banter while jogging, discussing publicity work, their staged relationship, and their plans for lunch.
• Ye Wanqing catches Xiao He looking at her and responds defensively, while Xiao He hides his embarrassment behind teasing and practical comments.
• Xiao He calls her “Little Pufferfish,” prompting her to punch him, though he is unaffected by it.
• At the restaurant, the proprietress openly identifies Ye Wanqing as Xiao He’s girlfriend, embarrassing him and irritating Ye Wanqing.
• The restaurant owners suggest that the pair may not officially be together but clearly like each other, causing further awkwardness.
• Ye Wanqing enthusiastically praises the Hainanese chicken rice, ending the chapter on a warm, domestic note.

Chapter Summary: “Complementarity”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao He and Ye Wanqing eat at a small restaurant run by a married couple, later revealed to be called Willow Restaurant.
• The proprietress notices how close they seem despite knowing each other for only about a month. Both Xiao He and Ye Wanqing insist that their personalities are incompatible and compare themselves to fire and water.
• The restaurant owners explain that their own marriage began with mutual dislike but lasted over ten years because of love, compromise, and acceptance of their differences.
• The couple argues that contrasting personalities can be complementary, comparing partners to puzzle pieces that complete one another.
• Before Xiao He and Ye Wanqing leave, the owner privately advises Xiao He to treat Ye Wanqing “like his daughter”—to spoil her and change his attitude toward her rather than constantly treating her as an equal rival.
• On the way home, the pair agree that Willow Restaurant is comforting, welcoming, and worth visiting again. They continue teasing and criticizing one another, but their banter reveals increasing familiarity and attachment.

Character Developments

• Xiao He begins to seriously consider that his conflicts with Ye Wanqing may come from his attitude and expectations. The owner’s advice makes him reflect on how he treats her and whether greater patience could improve their relationship.
• Ye Wanqing remains defensive and verbally combative, but she is clearly affected by the proprietress’s teasing suggestion that she may secretly find Xiao He cute. Her embarrassed denial is unconvincing.
• Both characters acknowledge, at least indirectly, that they enjoy the restaurant, the owners’ company, and the sense of comfort they experience together.
• The restaurant owners serve as an older, more experienced example of a relationship built on accepting differences, compromise, and affection.

Significant Themes

• Complementarity in relationships: Differences do not necessarily create incompatibility; they can allow partners to balance and complete one another.
• Love and acceptance: Irritating habits may become tolerable—or even endearing—when viewed through affection.
• Compromise: The owners’ example of adjusting their tolerance for spicy food illustrates how practical compromise sustains a relationship.
• Changing one’s perspective: The owner suggests that improving a relationship may begin with changing how one views and treats the other person.
• Unspoken affection: Xiao He and Ye Wanqing continue to deny compatibility, but their concern, comfort, teasing, and embarrassment suggest growing emotional closeness.

Character Interactions

• Xiao He and Ye Wanqing repeatedly mock and challenge each other, including arguing over their habits and personalities.
• The proprietress playfully teases Ye Wanqing about her appearance and possible hidden affection for Xiao He, causing Ye Wanqing to blush and become defensive.
• The owner offers Xiao He relationship advice, encouraging him to be gentler and more indulgent toward Ye Wanqing.
• Afterward, Xiao He and Ye Wanqing praise the owners while simultaneously criticizing each other for not matching their example, ending the chapter with another silent glare and quarrel that nevertheless reflects their familiar, increasingly intimate bond.

Chapter Summary: “The Knack”

Key Plot Points and Events

• On the way home, Xiao He reflects on his boss’s advice about treating one’s girlfriend like a daughter and spoiling her. Ye Wanqing thinks about asking the boss how to prepare a sauce.
• After returning home, Ye Wanqing’s cat, Tuantuan, “inspects” her for traces of other cats before she goes to nap. Xiao He cleans the apartment, driven by his neat-freak tendencies.
• With National Day approaching, Xiao He tells his parents he will not return home because of activities organized by the Special Response Department. His parents decide to visit their hometown instead.
• During their usual evening walk, a power outage caused by elevator maintenance leaves the apartment complex completely dark. Ye Wanqing becomes frightened by the darkness and asks to hold Xiao He’s hand under the pretense of showing others they are a couple.
• A branch hitting Ye Wanqing frightens her further, causing her to cling tightly to Xiao He. He teases her but also takes a longer, less wooded route to make her feel safer.
• Later that night, thunder and heavy rain begin. Xiao He discovers that Ye Wanqing is also afraid of thunder and quietly stays beside her while she watches a romance drama.
• Ye Wanqing offers to prepare a late-night meal for Xiao He. She cooks him clear-broth noodles with shredded pork, pickled mustard greens, an egg, and scallions, while eating only a boiled egg herself to maintain her calorie limit.
• Xiao He enjoys the noodles, agrees to wash the dishes, and realizes that he may have discovered the best way to get along with Ye Wanqing.

Character Developments

• Xiao He: His attitude toward Ye Wanqing becomes increasingly affectionate. Although he initially teases her fears, he becomes considerate by holding her hand, changing their walking route, and staying with her during the storm. He also begins to appreciate domestic gestures such as having a girlfriend cook for him.
• Ye Wanqing: Her usually capable and confident image is softened by her fear of darkness, trees, and thunder. She becomes clingy and childlike around Xiao He, while also showing care through cooking for him despite restricting her own diet.
• Their relationship: Their interactions grow more natural and intimate. Xiao He recognizes that teasing, patience, companionship, and accepting small acts of care help them bond.

Significant Themes

• Growing intimacy through everyday life: Their relationship develops through ordinary routines—cleaning, walking, watching television, eating, and sharing household responsibilities.
• Vulnerability and trust: Ye Wanqing’s fear allows her to rely on Xiao He, while his response shows increasing emotional attentiveness.
• Affection expressed through practical care: Holding hands, taking a safer route, staying nearby, cooking, and washing dishes all become signs of mutual concern.
• Domestic companionship: Xiao He begins to understand the comfort and happiness of living with a partner, symbolized by Ye Wanqing preparing him a late-night meal.

Character Interactions

• Ye Wanqing jokingly uses being a couple as an excuse to hold Xiao He’s hand, though her fear is genuine.
• Xiao He teases her about being afraid of the dark and thunder, and she counters by reminding him that he fears cockroaches.
• After the storm begins, Xiao He stays beside her without making a fuss, quietly providing reassurance.
• Ye Wanqing cooks for Xiao He and watches him happily finish the noodles, while Xiao He readily agrees to clean up afterward.

Chapter Summary: “Limitations”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Unusually persistent torrential rain causes the H River to overflow, flooding nearly all of AL City and trapping over 100,000 civilians.
• Xiao He, Ye Wanqing, Cui Man, Xia Yu, and Xie Haining travel by helicopter to assist with rescue operations.
• Xia Yu and Xie Haining reveal their new code names: Gluttonous Beast and Candle Dragon. Xiao He remains dissatisfied with his own name, Life Player, while Cui Man calls him Yinglong because of his powerful weather-related ability.
• Cui Man assigns Xia Yu and Xie Haining to begin rescuing civilians while Xiao He conserves his energy for a later large-scale activation of his ability.
• Ye Wanqing discovers a major limitation: she can rename individual entities, but cannot easily alter the name of a broad phenomenon such as “the flood.”
• To make the flood recognizable as a single entity, Cui Man proposes giving it an official name, announcing that name publicly, and creating an online encyclopedia entry. This may allow Ye Wanqing to use her naming ability without revealing Xiao He’s identity.
• The team reaches AL City, where two-thirds of the city is submerged, roads are blocked, rain continues to fall, and emergency services are overwhelmed.
• Xia Yu and Xie Haining are dispatched to separate disaster zones. Xiao He, Ye Wanqing, and Cui Man remain at the command center awaiting authorization and footage of the rescue efforts.

Character Developments

• Xiao He shows confidence in his ability to handle large-scale disasters but recognizes that his effectiveness depends on conserving his stamina. He also continues to feel embarrassed and resentful about his code name.
• Ye Wanqing becomes increasingly anxious because her ability may not work on the flood. Her limitations are clarified: recognition and the scale of the target determine how effectively she can change names.
• Cui Man demonstrates strategic thinking by devising a way to exploit Ye Wanqing’s ability while protecting Xiao He’s secret. She also takes on a leadership and public-relations role, planning to present the Mutants as heroes.
• Xia Yu and Xie Haining begin their first major public rescue mission, marking their official debut as heroes.
• Xie Haining initially doubts the usefulness of her time-slowing ability in a natural disaster, but Cui Man reassures her that the team’s combined powers will make the operation effective.

Significant Themes

• The limits of power: Even extraordinary abilities have conditions and restrictions, especially when applied to large-scale or abstract targets.
• Recognition and language as power: Ye Wanqing’s ability depends on collective belief and public acknowledgment, suggesting that names can shape reality.
• Teamwork and specialization: Each Mutant has a distinct role—rescue, time manipulation, strategic planning, or large-scale intervention—and success depends on coordinating their abilities.
• Public trust and heroism: The mission is not only about saving civilians but also about proving that Mutants can serve and protect society.
• Duty versus personal anxiety: The characters must act despite fear, uncertainty, and technical limitations.

Character Interactions

• Cui Man playfully teases Xia Yu about her code name, while Xia Yu responds with embarrassed protest.
• Cui Man explains the symbolic meaning behind Xie Haining’s name and encourages her despite her doubts.
• Xiao He internally criticizes the team’s naming system, revealing his ongoing discomfort with his own title.
• Cui Man relies on Ye Wanqing’s explanation of her ability and collaborates with her to develop a practical solution.
• Ye Wanqing worries about the civilians endangered by the delay, while Xiao He tries to calm her and remind her that the other Mutants are already carrying out rescues.
• The chapter ends with Cui Man, Xiao He, and Ye Wanqing waiting anxiously for footage of Xia Yu and Xie Haining’s first major operation.

Chapter Summary: “Split Up and Act”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Wanqing and Xiao He cannot activate their abilities in the current situation, exposing a weakness in their team: if either is incapacitated, both become ineffective.
• Xie Haining and Xia Yu therefore split from the convoy to operate independently in the flooded city.
• Xia Yu drinks an Enhancement Serum containing carefully measured proteins from different organisms. Her ability allows her to temporarily gain animal traits by consuming bodily fluids, though she must avoid accidental ingestion of raw organisms and can only maintain transformations until exhaustion or reversal with her own serum.
• Using a balanced, spider-like enhancement, Xia Yu gains exceptional strength, speed, agility, and wall-clinging ability. She rescues people swept away by the flood, encourages bystanders to cooperate, and pushes a bus carrying passengers toward safety.
• Her actions inspire ordinary civilians to join rescue efforts. Across the city, civilians, firefighters, and armed police work together to save those trapped by the flood.
• Xiao He is deeply moved by the widespread courage and mutual aid among ordinary people. His earlier cynicism about humanity and reluctance to work as Yinglong begin to change.
• Cui Man explains that the central problem is the breach in the H River’s levee. If the breach can be sealed, the flooding will become easier to control.
• Xia Yu continues rescuing people, but her individual strength cannot solve the citywide crisis. Xie Haining also works independently, using his time-perception ability to move with extraordinary precision.
• Xie reaches a family trapped on a rooftop, but because his physical strength remains ordinary, Xiao He and Cui Man are uncertain how he will complete the rescue.

Character Developments

• Xiao He: Moves from passivity and distrust of humanity toward a renewed sense of responsibility. Watching ordinary citizens risk themselves for others convinces him that goodness still exists and that he should contribute, whether as Yinglong or simply as a citizen.
• Xia Yu: Demonstrates courage, physical capability, and a strong instinct to help others. Her rescues make her a symbolic source of hope and motivate civilians to act.
• Xie Haining: Reveals that his seemingly unimpressive ability has practical value. His slowed perception allows him to maintain perfect balance and execute highly controlled movements, making him far more capable than Xiao He expected.
• Cui Man: Provides strategic guidance and technical knowledge about Xia Yu’s powers. She also keeps Xiao He calm and redirects his impatience toward solving the flood at its source.
• Ye Wanqing: Remains unable to use her ability and lightly criticizes Xiao He for his lack of training, reinforcing the team’s interpersonal tension.

Significant Themes

• Ordinary people as heroes: The chapter emphasizes that courage and cooperation do not belong exclusively to superhumans. Civilians repeatedly rescue one another, proving that society can protect itself.
• The value and limits of superpowers: Xia Yu and Xie Haining are useful in specialized ways, but neither can resolve the entire disaster alone. Their abilities complement, rather than replace, collective human effort.
• Hope overcoming cynicism: Xiao He’s negative view of humanity is challenged by the selflessness he witnesses during the flood.
• Team weaknesses and cooperation: The group’s dependence on particular abilities highlights the need for a broader, more balanced team and for members to divide responsibilities effectively.
• Solving root causes: Rescue efforts can alleviate immediate danger, but the levee breach must be sealed to end the larger crisis.

Character Interactions

• Cui Man explains Xia Yu’s ability and its weaknesses to Xiao He, while Xiao He reacts with disbelief to the unusual transformation conditions.
• Cui Man praises Xia Yu’s efforts and points out their inspirational effect; Ye Wanqing uses Xia Yu’s diligence to tease Xiao He.
• Xiao He defends himself by arguing that his ability cannot benefit from ordinary training, though he insists that he does train.
• Xiao He and Cui Man discuss the difference between emergency rescue and addressing the flood’s source. Cui Man calms Xiao He and persuades him to wait until they can act effectively.
• Xiao He and Cui Man observe Xie Haining’s rescue attempt, with Xiao He questioning how an ordinary-bodied person can save an entire family and Cui Man encouraging him not to underestimate Xie.

Summary of “Ace Takes the Field”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Haining rescues a trapped family from a flooded building. He carries the daughter across the flooded area, then uses a grappling hook made from Xia Yu’s exceptionally strong spider silk to swing the two adults to safety.
• Although Xie’s movements are graceful, his limited stamina and physical strength make the rescue slower and more complicated than it would be for Xiao He.
• At the Special Response Department’s command center, Xiao He waits impatiently while rescue operations continue across the city. Cui Man coordinates the efforts and urges staff to speed up the upcoming press conference.
• The authorities officially name the flood “Changyou.” After an online entry describing the disaster appears, Ye Wanqing changes its title, activating Xiao He’s power over the newly named event.
• Xiao He immediately takes flight to begin large-scale rescue work. He briefly attempts to disperse the storm clouds with his fire, but realizes that changing the flood’s name does not give him control over the rainstorm itself.
• Cui Man directs Xiao He to the breached embankment, where firefighters and armed police are struggling to divert the river and seal the breach.
• Xiao He meets Commander Wu Wei, identifies himself as Special Response Department support, and offers assistance.
• Guided by instinct, Xiao He raises his hand and uses an invisible force to tear up a massive section of earth, beginning the excavation of the flood diversion zone.

Character Developments

• Xie Haining demonstrates resourcefulness by combining his ability with specialized equipment rather than relying on physical strength alone. His rescue also highlights the limitations of his stamina.
• Xiao He progresses from an anxious observer to an active crisis responder. Once the flood is named, he confidently takes action, experiments with his fire, and begins discovering practical applications for his newly activated power.
• Cui Man continues to act as an urgent, capable commander, coordinating personnel, assigning rescue priorities, and pushing the team to work faster.
• Ye Wanqing successfully changes the flood’s online entry, enabling Xiao He to use his power and marking her important role in the response.
• Wu Wei represents the cooperation between ordinary emergency forces and the Special Response Department, immediately accepting Xiao He as an ally.

Significant Themes

• Teamwork and coordinated rescue: Mutants, government agents, firefighters, police, and civilians all contribute to the disaster response.
• Resourcefulness over raw power: Xie’s tools and Xiao He’s improvisation show that abilities are most effective when combined with planning and equipment.
• The burden of waiting versus the need to act: Xiao He’s frustration emphasizes how difficult it is for powerful individuals to remain idle while others suffer.
• Names and power: The official naming of the flood is essential because it activates Xiao He’s ability, linking language, public recognition, and supernatural influence.
• Human limitations amid disaster: Even powerful Mutants cannot solve everything instantly; weather, stamina, coordination, and unfamiliar abilities all create obstacles.

Character Interactions

• Cui Man explains the spider-silk grappling hook to Xiao He and later directs the entire rescue operation.
• Xiao He and Ye Wanqing wait anxiously together for the flood’s online entry to appear.
• Cui Man repeatedly communicates with Xiao He through his earpiece, guiding him from the command center to the breached embankment.
• Xiao He introduces himself to Commander Wu Wei, who acknowledges his authority and asks how he can help.
• The emergency workers initially react uncertainly to Xiao He’s dramatic arrival, but Wu Wei’s formal greeting establishes cooperation between him and the rescue teams.

Chapter Summary: “Standing Out Alone”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao He demonstrates a newly mastered telekinetic ability resembling that of Counterforce Hero from E-Russia. During the flood crisis, he uses it to excavate enormous mounds of earth and create a temporary flood-diversion area.
• Under Company Commander Wu’s direction, Xiao He pulls away the riverbank and redirects the floodwater. He then carries two massive earth mounds—large enough to resemble small mountains—and uses them to seal the breach.
• At the command center, Cui Man coordinates drone footage, communications, and rescue priorities. She instructs Xiao He to move rapidly between emergency locations and help anyone in danger.
• Ye Wanqing becomes Xiao He’s communications liaison. She directs him to a flooded subway station, where trapped civilians are running out of time.
• Xiao He uses his telekinesis to draw away the floodwater surrounding the subway entrance, forming it into a huge sphere overhead. This allows firefighters to enter and rescue the trapped people.
• Rather than abandoning the enormous water sphere, Xiao He carries it to a nearby hospital, where he drains the surrounding floodwaters and helps emergency personnel transfer critically ill patients.
• He then gathers nearly all of the remaining standing water in AL City into the same sphere, effectively stopping the flood from continuing to devastate the city.
• The water sphere becomes so massive that Xiao He can barely control it. Unable to determine where to release it, he ultimately decides to carry it away from the city and send the water “south-to-north.”

Character Developments

• Xiao He: His telekinetic abilities have advanced dramatically. He moves from simply using his power in combat or limited tasks to manipulating enormous quantities of earth and water on a citywide scale. His courage and willingness to help are clear, but his impulsiveness creates logistical problems—especially when he gathers far more water than he knows how to dispose of.
• Ye Wanqing: She takes on a practical and important support role, coordinating Xiao He’s movements through their communication link. Her relationship with him becomes more openly affectionate, though she remains focused on the rescue operation.
• Company Commander Wu: He relies on Xiao He’s strength to execute the flood-control plan and is visibly stunned by the scale of Xiao He’s powers.
• Cui Man: She shows strong leadership under pressure, organizing information, prioritizing rescue sites, and making effective use of every available person.
• Rescue workers and civilians: Their initial astonishment at Xiao He’s power gives way to cooperation as they use the openings he creates to rescue people.

Significant Themes

• Heroism through practical service: Xiao He’s powers are used not for glory but to redirect floods, seal breaches, drain dangerous areas, and save civilians.
• The overwhelming scale of power: His abilities are so strong that even successful rescue efforts create new problems, emphasizing that power requires judgment and control.
• Teamwork and coordination: Xiao He’s feats depend on Company Commander Wu’s instructions, Cui Man’s command structure, Ye Wanqing’s communication, and the rescue workers’ efforts.
• Standing out alone: Xiao He becomes the central figure in the disaster response, literally rising above the city while carrying an impossible burden. His uniqueness distinguishes him from everyone else, but also leaves him responsible for problems no one else can solve.
• Humor amid crisis: The exchange between Xiao He and Ye Wanqing—especially her calling him “dear”—adds lightness to the tense rescue operation and highlights their growing intimacy.

Important Character Interactions

• Xiao He and Company Commander Wu: Wu provides tactical guidance while Xiao He executes the plan with overwhelming force. Wu’s stunned reactions reveal how extraordinary Xiao He’s abilities are.
• Xiao He and Ye Wanqing: Their teasing relationship is evident when Ye Wanqing calls him “dear,” causing him to lose concentration briefly. Despite the embarrassment, they work efficiently together as she guides him to rescue locations.
• Cui Man and Ye Wanqing: Cui Man assigns Ye Wanqing to relay difficult rescue missions to Xiao He, showing both her trust in Ye Wanqing and the command center’s dependence on their relationship.
• Xiao He and the rescue workers: He arrives at the subway station and hospital as a powerful outsider, but cooperates with the rescuers by clearing the water so they can perform their work.
• Xiao He and the civilians: His arrival astonishes the people on the scene, reinforcing his emerging image as a superhuman disaster-response hero.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Xiao He flies away from flood-ravaged AL City while carrying an enormous sphere of water using his newly revealed telekinesis.
• His telekinetic lifting ability greatly reduces the physical strain, allowing him to transport the floodwater far beyond the city.
• Through his earpiece, Cui Man, Ye Wanqing, Xia Yu, and Xie Haining praise or tease him for single-handedly resolving the disaster.
• Xiao He discovers that his powers remain active because “Lin Tiannan” is still suspended above him; he has not technically finished dealing with the threat.
• At Cui Man’s urging, he finds a deserted area and detonates the water sphere in midair, spreading it into a massive curtain of rain.
• Immediately afterward, his powers vanish, leaving him stranded and soaked beside a remote highway. He sarcastically curses the inconvenient limitation of his ability and calls for extraction.
• Cui Man arrives by helicopter and reveals that the rescue operation achieved a zero-death outcome, making the mission a major victory for the Special Response Department.
• The team celebrates privately at their military base with takeout food. Xiao He remains irritated about being filmed for publicity and about being left drenched and hungry.
• Cui Man announces that Xiao He has become the department’s central public figure. His previously planned interview is canceled, and he will instead receive a dedicated media interview without revealing his face.
• She also playfully rewards and embarrasses him by pressing his face against her chest.

Character developments

• Xiao He: Demonstrates impressive control and power through telekinesis, proving that he can resolve a large-scale disaster almost single-handedly. Despite his heroic achievement, he remains self-conscious, easily embarrassed, and more concerned with discomfort, bad publicity, and food than with fame.
• Cui Man: Becomes increasingly proud of Xiao He and recognizes his value as the department’s strongest publicity asset. Her teasing and affectionate behavior show her close, playful relationship with him.
• Ye Wanqing: Continues acting as Xiao He’s practical caretaker, offering him food and promising to cook something warm. She becomes flustered when Cui Man jokingly implies that she is Xiao He’s girlfriend.
• Xia Yu and Xie Haining: Acknowledge the huge gap between Xiao He’s capabilities and their own, showing their admiration and recognition of his growing status.
• The Special Response Department: Gains prestige and additional funding because of the successful rescue, while its other powerful members—Candle Dragon and the Gluttonous Beast—are overshadowed by Xiao He’s performance.

Significant themes

• Heroism versus personal embarrassment: Xiao He performs an extraordinary rescue but dislikes being publicly portrayed as a heroic spectacle.
• The limitations of power: His ability is extremely powerful but dependent on defeating or neutralizing its target, leaving him stranded once its condition ends.
• Public image and propaganda: The department plans to use Xiao He’s spectacular actions to promote itself, turning a private hero into a media symbol.
• Found family and team camaraderie: The group’s teasing, concern, celebration, and informal banter highlight their close bonds.
• Comedy amid disaster: The chapter balances the seriousness of the flood and rescue effort with Xiao He’s complaints, awkwardness, and absurdly inconvenient superpower mechanics.

Character interactions

• Xiao He exchanges humorous banter with the team over the radio while flying away with the water sphere.
• Cui Man praises his success but also jokes about sending him to the water-starved capital.
• Ye Wanqing and Cui Man tease each other over Ye Wanqing’s promise to cook Xiao He noodles, implying romantic closeness between Ye Wanqing and Xiao He.
• Cui Man repeatedly embarrasses Xiao He by treating him as both the department’s “miracle boy” and its newest celebrity.
• The chapter ends with Cui Man physically teasing him, while Xiao He protests despite being too embarrassed—and too passive—to resist.

Chapter Summary: “Retribution”

Plot Points and Events

• After successfully resolving the flooding crisis, the group celebrates because the emergency operation resulted in no deaths. Xiao He, exhausted from his efforts, sits apart and hopes to leave early.
• Ye Wanqing joins him and acknowledges that he saved many people by helping drain the floodwaters, allowing firefighters and armed police to rescue trapped residents.
• Cui Man notices Xiao He’s fatigue and sends him and Ye Wanqing home with Li Zhiqiang so they can rest before preparing for the next day’s press conference.
• Xiao He falls asleep in the car with his head resting on Ye Wanqing’s shoulder. She lets him sleep and later teases him about drooling.
• At home, Tuantuan the cat inspects them before allowing them inside. Ye Wanqing prepares Xiao He a hot bowl of pork noodles with pickled mustard greens and an egg, which restores his energy.
• While Ye Wanqing showers, she encounters a slug in the bathroom and panics, calling it a “monster.” Xiao He removes it and throws it outside.
• Although he initially teases her fear, Xiao He stops when he notices she is crying. He comforts her and promises to handle slimy creatures while she deals with cockroaches.
• To make her stop crying, Xiao He jokingly comments on her cartoon-patterned underwear. Embarrassed, Ye Wanqing angrily pushes him out and bans him from approaching the bathroom around her shower time.

Character Developments

• Xiao He: Demonstrates fatigue after his heroic efforts but remains playful and teasing. His response to Ye Wanqing’s fear reveals a gentler, protective side: he stops mocking her once he realizes she is genuinely frightened and comforts her instead.
• Ye Wanqing: Shows appreciation for Xiao He’s achievements and becomes more openly caring by preparing him food. Despite her usual toughness and willingness to tease him, she reveals a strong fear of slimy creatures and becomes vulnerable when confronted with the slug.
• Cui Man and the team: Recognize Xiao He’s exhaustion and prioritize his recovery before the upcoming press conference.
• Tuantuan: Continues its humorous role as the household’s strict “inspector,” checking whether the two have interacted with other cats.

Significant Themes

• Heroism and exhaustion: Xiao He’s success in saving lives comes at a physical and mental cost, emphasizing the personal toll of emergency work.
• Care and domestic intimacy: The quiet routine of returning home, sharing food, and looking after one another contrasts with the earlier disaster and strengthens Xiao He and Ye Wanqing’s bond.
• Vulnerability beneath confidence: Ye Wanqing’s fear of slugs reveals that her confident, teasing exterior does not eliminate ordinary weaknesses.
• Affection through teasing: Their banter masks growing familiarity and mutual concern. Xiao’s teasing ultimately becomes a way to comfort Ye Wanqing and restore her composure.

Character Interactions

• Ye Wanqing praises Xiao He’s rescue efforts, while he responds by teasing her for becoming better at compliments.
• Their playful argument over cockroaches reflects their comfortable, close relationship.
• In the car, Ye Wanqing quietly supports Xiao He by allowing him to sleep on her shoulder.
• At home, she nurses him back to energy with homemade noodles.
• The slug incident reverses their usual dynamic: Ye Wanqing, normally bold and outspoken, clings to Xiao He for protection, while he takes responsibility for reassuring her.
• Their final exchange ends on comic embarrassment, with Ye Wanqing flustered by Xiao He’s teasing and Xiao He privately amused by her more girlish side.

Chapter Summary: “Press Conference”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Xiao He jokes about Ye Wanqing’s underwear, she becomes deeply embarrassed and furious, retreating to her room and venting by yelling into and punching her pillow.
• The next morning, Ye Wanqing prepares to return home for several days during the National Day holiday. She has already arranged leave with Cui Man and reminds Xiao He that the press conference will take place the following afternoon.
• Before leaving, Ye Wanqing makes Xiao He breakfast, asks him to care for Tuantuan, and checks whether he will return home for the holiday. Xiao He offers to take her to the station, but someone sent by Cui Man comes to pick her up.
• Once Ye Wanqing leaves, Xiao He feels unexpectedly lonely despite insisting that the quieter house is better. He distracts himself by playing games until Cui Man sends him the press conference script.
• The following day, Xiao He travels by helicopter with Cui Man to AL City. Xie Haining and Xia Yu accompany them but will not be interviewed because their recent rescue performance was overshadowed by Xiao He’s success as “Yinglong.”
• At the venue, Xiao He is shocked by the enormous crowd of reporters, influencers, streamers, and citizens. The event resembles a celebrity concert, with people cheering, filming, and recounting how they saw Yinglong save the city from flooding.
• Nervous about speaking before such a large audience, Xiao He is reminded by Cui Man to act confidently as Yinglong. She gives him an earpiece for translations and reassures him with an inappropriate joke about rewarding him after the event.
• The chapter ends just as Xiao He is about to begin the press conference, anxious and physically nervous despite having memorized his prepared answers.

Character Developments

• Xiao He: Shows a playful but sometimes insensitive side through his underwear joke. He also reveals that he has grown emotionally attached to Ye Wanqing, becoming noticeably lonely after her departure. His confidence as Yinglong is mixed with ordinary social anxiety when confronted with a massive public audience.
• Ye Wanqing: Remains easily embarrassed and quick-tempered, but her actions show concern for Xiao He. She prepares breakfast, worries about whether he can manage alone, reminds him to eat, and entrusts Tuantuan to his care.
• Cui Man: Acts as Xiao He’s manager and guide, preparing his answers and instructing him how to handle difficult questions. She is confident, teasing, and supportive, using humor to calm his nerves.
• Tuantuan: Displays unusual affection toward Xiao He, quietly comforting him after Ye Wanqing leaves and reinforcing the sense that the two have become a household unit.

Significant Themes

• Growing emotional attachment: Xiao He’s loneliness after Ye Wanqing leaves suggests that their relationship has become more important to him than he admits.
• Public image versus private identity: Xiao He is treated as the heroic celebrity Yinglong in public, yet privately he is awkward, nervous, and easily flustered.
• Fame and responsibility: His rescue work has transformed him into a public figure, creating expectations and pressure that extend beyond his role as a powerful Mutant.
• Comedy and embarrassment: Much of the chapter’s humor comes from sexual awkwardness, teasing, and the contrast between Xiao He’s casual personality and the seriousness of his public position.

Character Interactions

• Xiao He and Ye Wanqing quarrel over his inappropriate underwear comment, but their later exchange reveals mutual concern and familiarity.
• Ye Wanqing entrusts Xiao He with Tuantuan, showing growing trust in him despite her irritation.
• Xiao He finds comfort in Tuantuan after Ye Wanqing departs.
• Cui Man takes charge of Xiao’s press preparation, coaching him on how to respond to reporters and teasing him to ease his anxiety.
• The crowd’s enthusiastic reaction to Yinglong establishes the enormous gap between Xiao He’s private nervousness and his heroic public reputation.

Chapter Summary: “True Heroes”

Plot and Events

• Xiao He, introduced publicly as Yinglong, attends a press conference after saving AL City from a devastating flood.
• Reporters focus almost entirely on Yinglong, asking about his classified Superpower, online criticism, whether he overshadowed his teammates, and why he joined the rescue late.
• Cui Man presents the other two Chinese Mutants involved in the rescue: Xia Yu, “Gluttonous Beast,” whose immense strength allowed her to move vehicles, and Xie Haining, “Candle Dragon,” whose precise and skillful actions saved many people.
• Xiao He confirms that he removed nearly all of AL City’s floodwater by gathering it into a massive water sphere and transporting it elsewhere, where it was detonated to create rain.
• When asked for a message to AL City’s citizens, Xiao He gives his first confident, unscripted statement. He rejects being called a hero, describing himself as merely “a water pump,” and credits the firefighters, armed police, and ordinary citizens who risked themselves to save others.
• The press conference ends with the Special Response Department receiving applause and cheers.
• Ye Wanqing watches the broadcast at home. Her parents tease her about having a boyfriend, clearly noticing her emotional interest in Xiao He.
• Meanwhile, leaders of the O Alliance meet to assess Yinglong’s power. They conclude that he may be above LV7 and speculate that his apparent speed, strength, flight, and water manipulation all stem from extremely powerful Psychokinesis.
• The leaders compare Yinglong with foreign Psychokinetic Mutants, noting that even Ytaly’s strongest can lift only four tons, while Yinglong transported a water mass exceeding one hundred tons. Alarmed by China’s growing advantage, they consider whether to align themselves with M Country against China.

Character Development

• Xiao He/Yinglong: Initially nervous and dependent on a prepared script, Xiao He struggles under media attention. However, he becomes sincere and authoritative when discussing the people who truly deserve credit, revealing humility, moral clarity, and a strong sense of responsibility.
• Cui Man: Acts as Xiao He’s guide and spokesperson, stepping in when questions become difficult. Though disappointed that the media ignores Xia Yu and Xie Haining, she recognizes the strength of Xiao He’s final statement and supports him.
• Xia Yu and Xie Haining: Are formally introduced as important members of China’s Mutant team. Their rescue abilities are impressive, though they remain overshadowed by Yinglong’s extraordinary performance.
• Ye Wanqing: Her teasing reaction and embarrassment suggest that she has developed romantic feelings for Xiao He, despite denying them to her parents.
• Foreign leaders: Become increasingly anxious and politically divided as they realize Yinglong may be far more powerful than any Mutant under their control.

Themes

• True heroism: The chapter challenges the idea that the most powerful or visible person is automatically the greatest hero. Xiao He insists that courage and self-sacrifice—not Superpowers—define heroism.
• Humility versus fame: Yinglong receives the media spotlight, but he redirects praise toward ordinary rescuers, emphasizing teamwork over individual glory.
• Power and international politics: Yinglong’s abilities shift the global balance of power, causing fear, rivalry, and potential political realignment.
• Public image and personal authenticity: Xiao He appears awkward when performing a media role, but his genuine words make the strongest impression.
• Recognition and overshadowing: Xia Yu and Xie Haining contribute significantly, yet public attention remains fixed on Yinglong, highlighting how spectacular power can eclipse quieter forms of heroism.

Important Character Interactions

• Cui Man coaches Xiao He during the interview and answers difficult questions on his behalf.
• Cui Man introduces Xia Yu and Xie Haining, attempting to give them recognition despite the reporters’ fixation on Yinglong.
• Xiao He publicly credits firefighters, armed police, and civilians instead of accepting praise for himself.
• Ye Wanqing’s parents tease her about Xiao He, exposing her hidden affection and embarrassment.
• The O Alliance leaders debate Yinglong’s abilities and how to respond to China’s growing influence, revealing both their fear of him and their political divisions.

Summary of “The Cruel Truth”

Plot points and events

After the televised interview, Yinglong becomes a national superhero, though the Special Response Department’s publicity campaign makes his sincere closing remarks seem exaggerated to some viewers. Xiao He returns briefly to his hometown, Hengwu City, where his parents immediately recognize him as Yinglong despite his mask. They question whether his work is dangerous, and he reassures them—somewhat dishonestly—that the risks are minor and that he plans to leave the partnership once he earns enough money. He gives them one million yuan and spends a warm day eating home-cooked food and discussing his life without revealing that he lives with Ye Wanqing.
Xiao He returns to Beichang City the next day, partly to give his parents their vacation back and partly to avoid revealing more than he should. Alone in the apartment with only his cat, Tuantuan, he realizes how much Ye Wanqing’s absence affects him. He goes out to find dinner, follows Huang Ling’s recommendation to try Blue Lake Eel Noodles, and enjoys the dish—until its extreme spiciness overwhelms him.

Character developments

Xiao He’s growing fame contrasts with his private uncertainty and loneliness. Although he presents himself as confident and independent, he worries about his parents and conceals the true danger of his work to protect them. His thoughts also reveal that he has become emotionally attached to Ye Wanqing: her absence makes the apartment feel empty, and he instinctively wishes to share the meal with her. His final struggle with the spicy noodles leads to a humorous realization about compatibility and daily life.

Significant themes

The chapter explores the divide between public image and private reality. Yinglong is celebrated as a heroic symbol, but Xiao He remains an ordinary young man dealing with family concerns, loneliness, and mundane choices. It also emphasizes familial trust, personal independence, emotional dependence, and the comic difficulties of living with someone whose habits and preferences differ from one’s own.

Character interactions

Xiao He’s parents show concern beneath their teasing and complaints, questioning him about his safety while respecting his independence. Their affection is expressed through food, conversation, and financial trust. Xiao He interacts briefly with Huang Ling, who recommends the restaurant, and with Tuantuan, whose contentment highlights Xiao He’s isolation. Though Ye Wanqing is absent, Xiao He repeatedly thinks about her, revealing that their frequent arguments mask a strong emotional bond.

Chapter Summary: “Sima Face”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao He struggles through an overly salty eel noodle soup, needing to drink大量 water despite barely eating.
• On the way home, he discusses Yinglong with Huang Ling. Huang admires Yinglong as an extraordinary superhero, while Xiao He privately worries that his own Superpower is unreliable and highly situational.
• Xiao reflects on the limitations of his ability: it depends heavily on Ye Wanqing, may fail against unidentified foreign Mutants, and could be exposed if Xia Yu and Xie Haining encounter an enemy they cannot investigate.
• He concludes that his Superpower may be more valuable in medicine or science than combat, though even those fields carry unpredictable risks.
• At his apartment, Xiao He discovers a petite girl sitting on his bicycle. He initially assumes she is a stranger, but realizes she is actually Ye Wanqing.
• Their mutual surprise and embarrassment produce identical blank, awkward “Sima faces.”
• Ye explains that she returned a day early because of a better flight schedule, forgot her keys, and waited for Xiao He to return.
• Xiao learns that Ye has not eaten, so she offers to cook for both of them after noticing that he also did not eat enough.
• During the elevator ride, Xiao compliments Ye’s new bob haircut. She becomes shy and hides her blush.
• Back at the apartment, Tuantuan hisses at Ye despite her absence of only a few days. Ye begins preparing dinner, while Xiao feels relieved and happy that she has returned.
• The chapter ends with Xiao realizing he forgot to bring his bicycle upstairs.

Character Developments

• Xiao He: Becomes more aware of both the weaknesses and potential value of his Superpower. He also unexpectedly recognizes a genuine attraction to Ye Wanqing based on her changed appearance, which leaves him internally flustered despite his outwardly blank expression.
• Ye Wanqing: Returns earlier than expected, showing practical thoughtfulness by offering to cook for Xiao despite just arriving from a trip. Her shy reaction to Xiao’s compliment reveals that she is emotionally affected by his approval.
• Huang Ling: Demonstrates admiration for Yinglong, reinforcing the public image and reputation Xiao He is anxious about maintaining.
• Tuantuan: Continues to behave distrustfully toward Ye, creating a humorous contrast with Xiao and Ye’s reunion.

Significant Themes

• The burden of an unstable identity: Xiao He worries that Yinglong’s reputation depends on circumstances he cannot control and that his Superpower may be exposed.
• Ordinariness versus exceptionalism: Xiao envies the idea of having a more ordinary but dependable ability, even as others admire Yinglong’s uniqueness.
• Growing romantic awareness: Separation allows Xiao to notice Ye’s physical changes and recognize feelings he had previously overlooked.
• Domestic intimacy and reunion: Small actions—sharing food, carrying luggage, cooking, and exchanging compliments—show the developing closeness between Xiao and Ye.
• Comedy through awkwardness: Their synchronized expressions, Tuantuan’s hostility, and Xiao’s forgotten bicycle create a lighthearted tone.

Character Interactions

• Xiao and Huang discuss Yinglong’s appeal and the problems associated with his Superpower.
• Xiao and Ye awkwardly reunite at the apartment entrance, teasing and questioning one another while concealing their embarrassment.
• Ye expresses concern about Xiao’s eating habits, and the two decide to share a home-cooked meal.
• Xiao compliments Ye’s new hairstyle, prompting a shy, emotionally charged response.
• Ye and Tuantuan immediately clash, with Tuantuan hissing at her while Ye reacts with irritation.

Summary of “Three Days Apart”

Plot and events

After being separated for three days, Xiao He reunites with Ye Wanqing at home and notices that she has visibly slimmed down from her training and strict routine. She cooks dinner—braised fish, eggs, and vegetables—and the couple eats together. Xiao He enthusiastically devours the fish and several bowls of rice, while Ye Wanqing teases him and is quietly pleased that he remembers her dislike of poorly prepared fish. Afterward, Xiao washes the dishes, Ye Wanqing packs her luggage, and they go for a walk. Neighbors recognize them as a loving young couple, prompting them to hold hands openly.

Character development

Xiao He realizes that his feelings for Ye Wanqing have deepened and that he is newly aware of her appearance after their short separation. Though he is embarrassed by his interview and easily flustered, he remains attentive and affectionate, remembering small details about her preferences. Ye Wanqing has become fitter through disciplined training and appears more confident, though she still hides her affection behind criticism and teasing. Her anxiety disappears as their ordinary domestic routine resumes, showing how much comfort she finds in their relationship.

Themes

The chapter emphasizes love expressed through everyday domestic behavior: cooking, remembering preferences, eating together, teasing, and walking side by side. It also explores how distance can renew attraction and make familiar qualities newly visible. Another theme is the contrast between public identities and private intimacy: Xiao He is known publicly as Yinglong, while at home he is simply an awkward boyfriend, and Ye Wanqing maintains a separate explanation for her work with her family.

Character interactions

Xiao He and Ye Wanqing trade playful insults over his awkward interview, her appearance, his eating habits, and his occasional swearing. Her cooking and his enthusiastic praise create a warm, familiar atmosphere. Ye Wanqing is secretly touched that he remembers her dislike of fishy food, while Xiao He is reassured when her usual teasing returns. During their walk, he sincerely compliments her beauty, making her blush, and she responds by asking to hold hands. Their affectionate gesture confirms that their emotional tension has eased and that their relationship has returned to normal—perhaps becoming even closer.

Chapter Summary: “Anomaly”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao He becomes increasingly aware of Ye Wanqing’s beauty and struggles to reconcile his growing attraction with the fact that she is supposedly his enemy from nine lifetimes.
• While walking hand in hand, Xiao He awkwardly tries to hide his feelings. To avoid revealing what he really wants, he invites Ye Wanqing to see Gintama: The Final with him. She agrees, on the condition that he accompany her to a movie of her choice later.
• A sudden rainstorm interrupts their walk home. Xiao He worries about Ye Wanqing’s health because she is underdressed for the cooling October weather.
• The next morning, Ye Wanqing has already washed up and prepared a warm breakfast of congee and egg-filled pancakes, suggesting that the mysterious “Zeroing Device” may have altered or eliminated their usual morning bathroom conflicts.
• Cui Man arrives early and jokes about Xiao He and Ye Wanqing behaving like a couple. She reveals that Ye Wanqing returned from leave a day early despite having permission to stay longer, strongly implying that Ye Wanqing missed Xiao He.
• Cui Man then delivers serious news: the prolonged, irregular rainstorms affecting Beichang City may be the work of a newly emerged Mutant with weather-related abilities.
• Xiao He and Ye Wanqing are instructed to finish breakfast and report to the base to investigate the suspected Mutant.

Character Developments

• Xiao He: His hostility toward Ye Wanqing is increasingly undermined by physical attraction, affection, and domestic comfort. He enjoys her care and cooking, worries about her health, and fantasizes about being her actual boyfriend, though he remains conflicted by their past-life enmity.
• Ye Wanqing: She becomes more openly comfortable and affectionate with Xiao He, holding his hand, cooking breakfast, agreeing to spend time with him, and returning from leave early. However, she remains embarrassed and defensive whenever her feelings are exposed.
• Cui Man: She serves as both a teasing observer of their relationship and a professional messenger. Her playful attitude shifts to seriousness when she reports the possible appearance of a new Mutant.

Significant Themes

• Enemies becoming emotionally close: Xiao He and Ye Wanqing’s supposed antagonism is increasingly contradicted by mutual care, teasing, and domestic intimacy.
• Romantic tension and denial: Both characters avoid directly acknowledging their growing feelings, while Cui Man openly points out the romantic implications of their behavior.
• Supernatural mystery: The abnormal rain suggests that a new Mutant may be influencing the weather, introducing the chapter’s central investigative conflict.
• Domestic comfort: Shared meals, concern over clothing and illness, and everyday routines create a sense of intimacy that contrasts with their supernatural and potentially dangerous circumstances.
• Anomalies and disrupted patterns: The unusual weather and the apparent change in the couple’s morning routine both hint at forces or devices affecting normal reality.

Character Interactions

• Xiao He and Ye Wanqing flirt indirectly while walking and holding hands, with Xiao He making excuses for his attention and Ye Wanqing teasing him about ulterior motives.
• Their conversation about seeing movies together resembles a couple making plans, though both avoid labeling it that way.
• Xiao He shows concern when Ye Wanqing sneezes and later tries to wipe her nose, prompting embarrassed resistance from her.
• Cui Man mocks them as “lovebirds,” exposes Ye Wanqing’s likely reason for returning early, and enjoys watching her become flustered.
• After breakfast, Cui Man shifts the mood from playful teasing to urgent discussion, bringing Xiao He and Ye Wanqing together for a mission involving the unexplained rainstorms.

Chapter Summary: “Rain of Superpowers”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After breakfast, Xiao He finishes cleaning up while Cui Man teases Ye Wanqing about her obvious affection for him. Ye Wanqing denies liking Xiao He but becomes flustered when Cui Man suggests another woman might pursue him.
• The group travels to the Special Response Department with Li Zhiqiang. Cui Man notices that Xiao He has lost weight and become more muscular because of his controlled diet, regular exercise with Ye Wanqing, combat training, and missions.
• Xiao He is determined to develop six-pack abs after Ye Wanqing successfully slimmed down her legs, fulfilling a promise between them.
• At the department’s new operations conference room, Old Hu presents data showing increasingly frequent abnormal rainstorms around Beichang City.
• The first unusual rainfall occurred on June 30, two days after White Light appeared. The rains do not follow normal weather patterns and have grown more frequent, eventually making up nearly half of all rainfall by September.
• Cui Man theorizes that the rain is not being used for show but for some practical benefit. Old Hu reveals a strong correlation between the abnormal rain and declining Yellow River water quality.
• The team concludes that the unknown Superpower user may have interests connected to water, such as fishing or environmental protection. Cui Man orders an investigation.
• After the meeting, the team returns to regular physical training. Xie Haining performs best due to his ability to master movements instantly through unlimited Bullet Time, while Xia Yu trains with exceptional determination.
• Inspired—and somewhat ashamed of his own lack of effort—Xiao He decides to train seriously.

Character Developments

• Xiao He: Continues becoming fitter and more disciplined. His weight loss reflects his growing commitment to training and his lifestyle with Ye Wanqing. He also shows a competitive, promise-keeping attitude regarding his goal of getting six-pack abs.
• Ye Wanqing: Her affection for Xiao He becomes increasingly apparent despite her repeated denials. She has also successfully slimmed down through their shared exercise routine.
• Cui Man: Acts as a teasing but perceptive observer of Xiao He and Ye Wanqing’s relationship. Professionally, she demonstrates strong analytical judgment by identifying that the rain likely serves the user’s interests.
• Xie Haining: Establishes himself as the strongest trainee in combat and obstacle exercises, though his ordinary physical condition means he relies on weapons and equipment.
• Xia Yu: Is portrayed as hardworking and intensely dedicated, training despite the physical strain.
• Old Hu: Provides the scientific analysis connecting the abnormal rainstorms to changes in Yellow River water quality.

Significant Themes

• Romantic tension and teasing: Cui Man openly recognizes Ye Wanqing’s feelings before Ye Wanqing is willing to admit them.
• Dedication and self-improvement: Xiao He and Ye Wanqing’s exercise routine reflects their personal growth, while Xia Yu’s determination and Xie Haining’s mastery highlight different forms of strength.
• Mystery and investigation: The abnormal weather suggests the presence of an unknown Superpower user whose motives remain unclear.
• Power with practical purposes: The chapter emphasizes that Superpowers may be used subtly to achieve specific goals rather than simply to demonstrate strength.
• Science and deduction: The department relies on environmental data and correlations to uncover clues about the supernatural phenomenon.

Character Interactions

• Cui Man repeatedly provokes Ye Wanqing about her feelings for Xiao He, while Ye Wanqing responds with embarrassed denial.
• Cui Man also teases Xiao He about his changing body and compares his situation to Li Zhiqiang’s marriage.
• During the meeting, Cui Man consults Xiao He’s perspective on whether artificial rainfall would be impressive or useful, using his answer to support her theory.
• The team members observe and motivate one another during training, with Xiao He becoming inspired by Xia Yu’s effort and Xie Haining’s superior performance.

Chapter Summary: “Tacit Understanding”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After a tiring day of training, Xiao He and Ye Wanqing return home and discuss the unusually frequent rain, which may be caused by supernatural abilities.
• Xiao He jokingly accuses Ye Wanqing of enjoying the rain because it lets her avoid jogging and walking. She insists that she actually likes those activities—especially when she has company.
• Xiao He notices how much slimmer and more adorable Ye Wanqing has become, privately wishing he could show off his “girlfriend,” despite their relationship being fake.
• He proposes investigating the historically recorded “920 AL City Rainstorm.” He theorizes that if the event is renamed the “Lin Tiannan Incident,” his ability might activate and resolve any hidden supernatural mystery connected to it.
• Ye Wanqing is hesitant about investigating without direct orders, but eventually agrees to go with him the next day. Xiao He’s suggestion is partly motivated by wanting an excuse to spend time with her.
• That evening, Ye Wanqing prepares dinner while Xiao He feeds their pet, Tuantuan. They both quietly enjoy their shared mealtime routine.
• After dinner, they decide to wash the dishes together before going downstairs for a walk.
• Their passive ability, Fated Clash, activates when they argue over dishwashing methods—water usage versus dish soap—but they quickly divide the work and cooperate.
• While working in the narrow kitchen, their arms repeatedly brush together. Both become flustered by the contact but pretend nothing unusual has happened.
• Ye Wanqing suggests that they wash dishes together from then on, using efficiency as an excuse to continue spending time with Xiao He. He agrees and offers to help with cooking as well.

Character Developments

• Xiao He continues to be playful, opportunistic, and perceptive. He uses the rainstorm investigation as a legitimate excuse to go out with Ye Wanqing, while also seriously applying his ability to a possible supernatural case.
• Ye Wanqing becomes more comfortable expressing her desire for companionship. Although she remains shy and defensive about her feelings, she accepts Xiao He’s invitation and begins to seek out shared domestic activities.
• Both characters grow increasingly aware of their romantic attraction. Their physical closeness causes genuine nervousness, showing that their relationship is gradually moving beyond a merely fake arrangement.

Significant Themes

• Growing intimacy through ordinary routines: Cooking, eating, washing dishes, and walking together become meaningful expressions of affection.
• Unspoken romantic feelings: Both characters conceal their happiness and attraction behind practical excuses and teasing.
• Domestic partnership: Their arguments reveal differences in habits, but their willingness to compromise demonstrates compatibility and cooperation.
• Supernatural investigation: The rainstorm introduces a potential new case and expands the role of Xiao He’s ability within the broader mystery.
• The contrast between pretense and reality: Though Xiao He and Ye Wanqing call themselves a fake couple, their behavior increasingly resembles that of a genuine romantic pair.

Character Interactions

• Xiao He teases Ye Wanqing about avoiding exercise, while she defensively insists she enjoys walking and jogging.
• They discuss whether they have the authority to investigate the rainstorm, with Ye Wanqing showing caution and Xiao He displaying confidence.
• During dinner, Ye Wanqing watches Xiao He eat and secretly enjoys leaving food for him to finish.
• Their dishwashing disagreement triggers Fated Clash, but they resolve it by dividing responsibilities.
• Their accidental physical contact creates mutual embarrassment and excitement. Neither pulls away, and Ye Wanqing later proposes continuing the shared chore routine, signaling her desire for more time together.

Chapter Summary: “I Am a Fish”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao He and Ye Wanqing rename the “920 Rainstorm Incident” and begin investigating it privately.
• Xiao He discovers that his newly awakened abilities provide him with intuition and heightened senses, though he is physically less powerful than before. He can also fly, giving him the mobility needed for investigation.
• The pair travel to the riverbank, officially to investigate but also treating the outing as a date. Traffic delays their journey, and Xiao He offers to teach Ye Wanqing how to ride a bicycle.
• At the river, Xiao He follows his intuition along the bank. His senses become unusually sharp, allowing him to detect the river’s dampness, algae, and fish activity.
• He deliberately suggests taking a ferry across the river, partly to bring Ye Wanqing to the popular food street on the opposite bank.
• During the ferry ride, Xiao He briefly senses something unusual in the water. After reaching the opposite shore, he suddenly realizes the truth: the Mutant involved in the rainstorm incident is a fish.
• Xiao He concludes that the Mutant causes rain by altering water quality to create a more suitable living environment for itself.

Character Developments

• Xiao He: Becomes more capable of using his intuition and enhanced senses. His investigation shifts from vague speculation to a concrete theory about the Mutant’s identity and abilities. He also shows increasing confidence and playfulness in his relationship with Ye Wanqing.
• Ye Wanqing: Continues to support Xiao He despite being uncertain about his intuition. She is cautious about possible danger but agrees to follow him and becomes more relaxed during their date-like outing. Her cold and sneeze suggest she is still affected by their previous exposure to the rain.

Significant Themes

• Intuition and discovery: Xiao He’s intuitive ability functions like flashes of inspiration, guiding him toward solutions that ordinary reasoning cannot immediately provide.
• Adaptation and survival: The Mutant’s suspected behavior reflects an instinctive attempt to improve its habitat, suggesting that its actions may be motivated by survival rather than simple destruction.
• Romance mixed with duty: The investigation takes place alongside Xiao and Ye Wanqing’s developing relationship, with the date serving as both a personal outing and an accidental clue-gathering mission.
• Identity and transformation: Xiao He’s growing abilities and the Mutant’s hidden aquatic nature both reinforce the chapter’s interest in beings changing or adapting beyond ordinary human limits.

Character Interactions

• Xiao He and Ye Wanqing travel hand in hand and tease one another throughout the trip.
• Xiao He admires Ye Wanqing’s appearance and enjoys the attention they receive as a couple, while Ye Wanqing remains somewhat embarrassed and practical.
• They discuss transportation, including Xiao He’s offer to teach her to ride a bicycle.
• Ye Wanqing worries about danger and urges Xiao He to take the investigation seriously, while he repeatedly relies on intuition.
• At the end, Xiao He excitedly explains his fish theory, physically gripping Ye Wanqing’s shoulders to emphasize the breakthrough.